//------------------------------// // Shadows Gather // Story: Equestria Girls: Love Is Magic // by onekface //------------------------------// Chapter 16: The Shadows Gather (Parking lot) It was quiet in the museum parking lot that night. Deathly quiet. One might even say that it was haunting. With the flickering streetlights and this thick heavy fog lingering in the air coupled with the ghastly noises of street animals, you wouldn’t be surprised if a mysterious killer or stalker came out and attack someone. And while many ordinary folks would find this to be absolutely creepy beyond all reason, Rarity would say that this whole place gave the vibe for another one of her fantasy ace-detective stories. Professor Cinch casually walked down the side of the road, one hand on her sling bag. Her footsteps ticked every moment. They were calm, precise and carefully calculated like she was expecting someone or something to appear out of the fog. She spotted her car a few blocks away from her work place. It was the only vehicle there and she liked it that way. She had her own personal private parking space near the museum of course and she loved to use it. But today she needed to be somewhere… isolated. Because tonight was a special night. And she was expecting some rather… pungent guests to arrive any moment now. As she reached for the door handle of her car, a voice called out to her. “Professor Cinch.” It was a voice she knew very well. A voice that she deeply resented. Slowly she turned around and saw the owner of that voice standing a good distance away… and a certain rebel redhead beside her. “Twilight Sparkle.” She uttered that name hiding the spite that she wanted to throw. “And… Sunset Shimmer.” The two girls responsible for her resignation at Crystal Prep. The two who shamed her at the Friendship Games and broke her perfect record. The girls who utterly destroyed her enduring legacy. “How can I help you?” xxxxxxxxxx Twilight felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up at attention when Cinch gave her that glare. It was the look that made gargoyles break under pressure, freeze erupting volcanoes and put the greatest leaders to shame. If looks alone could kill, she and Sunset would’ve died ten times over before they even knew it. Calm down Twilight. We got this. There’s no need to be afraid. You have your friends with you, so there’s nothing Cinch can do to hurt you. “We’d like to ummm…” “We’d like to have a word.” Sunset finished, her tone already dripping with a verdict before the trial. Cinch didn’t seem to take her tone very well but hid it under her eyes. “Oh? And would that be?” “We know you’re responsible for the recent attacks going on around the city these last few days. We also know that you’re using your shadow monster to steal magic from sources to power up that ritual ground.” “Yes. That’s correct.” “And don’t even try to deny it! We’ve got evidence that you’ve…” Sunset blinked when she realized something amiss. “Wait… what did you say?” “I said you’re correct.” Cinch repeated flicking her glasses upward. “I am the one responsible for this creature and all its actions. Uta has been a most loyal pet.” So it really is Uta. Twilight had a rough suspicion that it may have been just a coincidence but hearing the name spoken by another simply confirmed her theory. It really was the monster from the legends. “Then all t-t-these attacks?” She stuttered. “Applejack’s farm, the Dazzlings?” “All my handiwork. Yes.” … … … Ok. That was a lot easier than they thought it would be. For a moment there they actually thought that Cinch would deny all those allegations they had and maybe go around the conversation like some kind of manipulative witch that she always has been. But no. Instead she just confessed to everything and wore it like some kind of badge. The two girls exchanged confused glances not really sure how to proceed. They were ready for an argument, but they never expected the former Principal to just lay it out for them. “If that’s the case, then you know why we’re here.” Sunset gave a threatening tone. “You need to give up your magic, right now.” The older woman gave a passive look. “And why in the world would I want to do that?” “Because they’re dangerous.” A case and point logic. “You don’t understand what you’re wielding. The power you’re using is far too much for an ordinary human. It’s corrupting you. Twisting your desires. You have to give it up before it’s too late.” “You ask me to give up my powers? Yet you still cling to yours? A rather hypocritical standard, don’t you think?” She shot them daggered glares. “What makes children like yourself more qualified to handle such power, than I? Is it genetic? Or is it the simple trickery of fate?” Twilight blinked. Something about her tone made her freeze on her tracks. “Why do you get to enjoy the benefits of magic while the rest of us here toil away with our sweat? What gives you the right to take what I have earned? You don’t even fully grasp the power in which you hold.” She continued, not taking her eyes off them. “You have the ability to change the world at the palm of your hands yet you use them for such mundane things. Helping others, silly construction work, harvesting apples, talking with animals? You can be so much more. But instead you settle for mediocrity.” Her eyes suddenly flared up in anger. “If anything, the one who doesn’t understand the true nature around here is you.” “Please Professor Cinch.” Twilight pleaded. “Don’t do this. You’ve seen what magic can do. While it can do wonderful things, it can also be a source of terrible disasters. It’s not worth whatever it is you have planned.” “And that my dear… is where you are wrong.” Cinch smiled as the shadow behind her rose from the ground forming the image of a giant wolf. Twilight’s body tensed up seeing that beast once again. Memories of their past encounter flooding through her mind. “Magic is far more complicated than you think. And I’m going to need a lot more if I’m going to get what I want. And your little trinkets would make… an excellent addition to my collection.” That didn’t sound good. “Look out!” Sunset shouted as the beast lunge at them, fang and claw together. She immediately grabbed her geode blasting a beam of light through her hand making the monster flinch. The sudden surge of magic coursed through her body as tails, wings and ears grew out donning her Crystal Guardian attire. “Everyone! Together!” Her rallying cry signaled the gang to spring out of their hiding place and attack. The fight was on. (Flash’s house) Sombra let out a sigh as he walked down the hall of his home only to pause when he came upon the family portrait. He glanced up to it, focusing on his younger self starring back and the beautiful woman who sat beside him who had that smile that could melt even the coldest heart. Memories of a happier time played through his head. A time when he could still feel the warmth of her touch, the radiance of her glow, her sweet voice banishing all worries from his mind. “Master Sombra.” His favored butler spoke up interrupting his trip down memory lane. “Will you be having dinner sir?” He retracted his hand from the painting as he answered. “I suppose so. It’s been a while since I had anything close to home cooking. Thank you Edmund.” “Do not mention it sir. Always a pleasure to be of service.” Sombra chuckled. “Speaking of which. Where’s Flash? I was hoping we could dine together for once.” “Master Flash called earlier mentioning that he had a… prior engagement to attend with his friends. He will be returning quite late.” “Does he always do that?” “Quite often, sir.” Sombra sighed once more. It shouldn’t be that much of a surprise. With him being gone for months every time, it was natural that his son would find family comfort elsewhere. Eating alone here all the time must’ve been lonesome for the boy. A home isn’t a home if the people you love aren’t there. It was a feeling he knew quite well. But just as he spoke, the phone in his breast pocket rang. He looked at the number and frowned. It was a simple text message with a single line written. “I’ll have to take a rain check on that dinner after all, Edmund. Something just came up. Have the driver pull up the car for me.” “Meeting with someone sir?” He paused, his mood darkening. “Something like that.” (Parking lot) “Cupcakes in the hole!” Pinkie yelled out as she threw pastries from her cover detonating it over the giant shadow monster. She had a bandolier around her body equipped with a row of cupcakes and other culinary weapons to use. The beast recoiled from the explosion finding it both effective and delicious at the same time. The others have Ponied-up gathering the magic in their geodes transforming them into half-breed heroes and donned their armor. “Applejack, Rainbow Dash. Distract it!” Sunset ordered. “You got it!” “Hey ugly!” Applejack called out to the monster taunting for its attention. “Remember me?” The beast growled back. “I reckon you do. Cuz I got a score to settle with you. Why don’t you try biting me off now? You’ll find me a tougher bone to bite than Big Mac!” She fired a flare off at the creature making it groan in pain. “Pinkie, Fluttershy. You two take the high ground and give them cover.” “Okie dokie lokey!” “Everyone else, with me!” Sunset then led the charge with Rarity and Adagio not far behind. “Get Cinch!” They attacked the woman on three sides expecting to catch her off guard. “Not so fast.” But the former Principal had more tricks up her sleeves. She raised her hand up and conjured a net-shaped barrier which knocked the three of them down. It vibrated with a blue hue pulsing with a defensive enchantment. “You didn’t think I’d be a one-trick-pony now, did you? You will need to do better than that if you want to outmatch me.” “What the…?” “My turn.” Cinch raised her hand once more swiping it horizontally creating a wave of sorts pushing the fashionista away with an invisible force. “Oh~ that was a lot more fun than I thought.” “Rarity!” “Hey old lady!” Adagio shouted at her grabbing the gem around her neck. “You think you’re the only one who knows how to use force? Let me show you mine!” She gathered air in her lungs and shout it out like a sonic wave cracking window glasses alike. Unfortunately it didn’t seem to penetrate her shield. “Such power.” Cinch grinned back menacingly, eyes gleaming with greed. “It seems like I wasn’t mistaken after all. When my pet sucked the energy from that girl I knew something was different about you. You’re a creature of magic… from another world! So much power in such frail bodies. It’s a wonder how you can hold all of it. You’d make an excellent specimen.” “Dream on.” She unleashed another sound wave, making a crack on the shield. But it mended itself instantly in a blink of an eye. “Hahaha! My dear. With the power I command, my dreams often come true.” The woman then sent the Siren flying against the wall with another gesture of her fingers. “And I don’t let others say otherwise.” “STOP!” A burst of magical energy flung against the old witch making her go on the defensive. But she soon recovered only to sneer at the opponent that dared try to defy her. “Twilight Sparkle. I cannot say that it is good to see you again. Not after what you did to me in the Friendship Games.” “That wasn’t my fault!” Her former student countered. “You forced me to unleash the magic! It was too much and it corrupted me!” “You lost control because you never learned to handle such power to begin with!” Cinch shouted blasting a shadow bolt of her own nearly hitting the girl. “You had all that energy. All that magic! You could’ve done so much! Winning that match would’ve been child’s play! But you failed!” She seethed between her teeth. “Because of you, the record I held for Crystal Prep is gone! Because of you, I had to squander in the dirt! All my labor and love, gone because of you! It was a mistake to bring you there! A mistake I aim to fix!” “Twilight! Look out!” Twilight froze as a bolt aimed for her. But a diamond shield formed in front of her nullifying the attack. “Honestly darling. I’ve heard of people who hold grudges but you are simply taking it way too far for my liking.” Rarity rebuked holding her shield up. “May I suggest getting yourself a hobby? I hear that knitting is a great pastime for the elderly.” “GRAHH!” She fired another bolt but again it bounced off Rarity’s shield without even making a dent. “Oh please. If it didn’t work the first time, then it won’t work a second time either.” But her taunting only served to fuel Cinch’s anger. “Look at you. All of you! You wield such power with such grace and ease yet you use them for the most useless things! That kind of magic should be used to benefit all of mankind! You children are unworthy of it!” However, in her fit of rage Twilight noticed something shining at the woman’s wrist. With her 20-20 vision she was able to spot something amiss. A black gem dangled from a bracelet. It pulsed with magic, glowing just like their geodes. “That bracelet.” She gasped before turning to her friends as realization dawned on her. “Sunset! The bracelet! That’s what she’s using to cast her spells! We take that away and she won’t be able to use magic!” “Got it!” The redhead jumped in blasting another beam at the former Principal but her barrier stood firm. “Gah! It’s no good. Her shield is too strong.” “But it can’t go on forever.” Adagio added. “Her magical energy isn’t unlimited. Every time we damage the shield she needs to use more energy from that bracelet to fix it up. If we pile it on, she’ll run out of juice eventually.” “Sounds like a plan.” Sunset nodded. “You heard her! Pour it on!” They did so and began firing repeatedly on Cinch. Even Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy gave in some free shots from the rooftops whenever they could. While the barrier held, they could clearly see the woman inside struggling to keep up. Cracks and tears began to appear on the shield but every time they appear the witch inside simply mend them back together. However, they could sense more and more magic being used up. “It’s working! Keep it up!” “My my… how enthusiastic.” Cinch laughed. “But a game like this must be played fairly. Why don’t we level the playing field?” She swung her hand up in an arch aiming at each street light, breaking them with just a thought. It didn’t take long for the darkness to envelop the area leaving the girls in pitched black. Afterwards multiple smaller versions of the shadow monster formed around their master, growling threateningly. “Attack!” Seeing the new found enemy multiply, Sunset quickly got to blasting. She fired colorful beams out of her hand to repel them but those that she beat simply slink back into the shadow and restore themselves before attacking again. They snipped and snapped at them. One even got close to her newly grown tail. “Applejack! Rainbow! A little help over here!” But Sunset saw that her friends had their hands full dealing with the giant beast. “Uh… a little busy right now.” Applejack replied roping the monster only to find herself being dragged around like a clown. Rainbow Dash was the same, having difficulties just trying to keep the shadow monster at bay as it snapped at her heels. “We’re fighting a giant wolf monster here!” Up on the rooftops Fluttershy came in contact with one of the creatures. She tried to coo it down with her unique ability like it was any other animal but its snarl only made it clear that it had no intentions of becoming friends. “Look there! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? NOPE! It’s Pinkie Pie!” The pinkette blasted in, putting two smaller wolves out of commission before noting the gang below being pinned. Taking a deep breath, the girl sprinkled sprinkles around her bandolier supercharging her pastries with magic “Looks like this is a job for… Pinkie dive bomb! EVERYONE TAKE COVER!” Hearing her warning and knowing well what she was about to pull off, the gang quickly duck for the closest thing they could use as a shield. Pinkie then took a leap of faith pulling a culinary kamikaze maneuver that wiped the field like an angered chess player. “Pinkie!” The pastry master gave a thumbs up gesture in return as the smoke cleared. “I’m ok! Just a little… sugar crash. I think I’ll… lie down here for a minute.” But her stunt paid off. The wolves that Cinch summoned were all gone. Even the giant Uta felt that explosive force which stunned it for a good moment. “Why you insolent little…” “Think fast!” Rainbow yelled out tossing a trash bin slamming it at her shields, spilling all the trash inside which blinded her for moment. “Oops. Not fast enough I guess.” She giggled childishly. “And I thought Applejack was the messy one.” “RAHHH!” Seeing an opening, Applejack closed in on the older lady throwing a solid punch at her barrier having it tremble under her might. “This is for wrecking my barn!” A crack appeared where her blow landed. “This is for scaring my cows!” It grew wider with the second punch. “This is for ruining half of our corn field!” A third one came and it creaked. “And this… is for BIG M-” “Enough!” The woman shouted creating a shockwave sending the cowgirl back. “If you continue to be persistent, then I guess I’ll have to go a step further! Uta! Come to me!” The wolf howled and slinked back into the darkness merging with Cinch’s shadow. “Let me show you what real magic can do!” Her shadow then split into a dozen taking solid shape of the former Principal like a perfect shadow copy. “Now. Let’s try this again.” They spoke in unison before unleashing a barrage of lightning bolts at each of the girls forcing them to go on the defense. Rainbow Dash rushed over to Sunset’s position, grunting. “Great! Now what? We can’t keep up like this!” “I know that.” Sunset agreed painfully. She ducked behind a knee-high wall hiding from the torrent of electrical shots fired at them. “Twilight! You got the Magic Trap ready?” She nodded back in return. “Yeah. But I can’t use it on Cinch while that barrier of hers is up! And none of our attacks are effective enough.” “Not ours… but Applejack did a number on it.” Sunset reminded forming a plan. “Alright here’s the plan. Applejack. We need you to punch through that barrier. Rarity. You’ll cover her. Everyone else distract the copies until she’s done.” “You got it!” The cowgirl gave a playful salute before putting her fists together. “This one is for Big Mac!” “Ready? GO!” And with the signal Applejack threw out of cover and charged into the line of shadow clones. They spotted her instantly, barraging the poor girl with a volley of lightning bolts that would’ve fried an ordinary man. But Rarity was there to cover her creating a formation of diamonds that shielded her from those attacks. In mere moments she covered the distance between her and the former Principal landing one good haymaker on her barrier. Applejack grinned noting that the woman was stuck there so long as she held that shield up. “Oh this is gonna be good.” With her back secured, she went to town with the shield throwing one good punch after another focusing everything on one spot. The crack appeared moments later, growing wider and wider without stop. “No… NO! Stop that at once you insolent child!” “Or what? You gonna sick your dogs at me?” Cinch snarled. “I just might.” She snapped her fingers calling her shadow clones to attack. But before they could blast her, Sunset and the others drop out of cover and returned fire forcing the shadows to duck and dodge. “Grrr! I have had enough of this!” Angered and annoyed, Cinch raised her hand up and fired a steady stream of electricity at Applejack pinning her to the ground. Her friends called out her name but they were drowned out in the exchange of fire. “You never should’ve had these powers to begin with!” “Oh shut yer trap, ya old varmint!” Applejack countered slowly rising back on her feet. “I don’t give two dimes what you think and what you believe in. I ain’t got a clue why we got these powers or why magic is doin what it’s doin. And I don’t give a hoot! All I know… is that you’re the reason why my brother is at the hospital with a broken leg! And right now… I… just… want… to… hit you… with my own fist!” Summoning what little strength she had left, the cowgirl delivered on her promise and bounded the crack on the barrier shattering the entire form like glass. The blue hue surrounding her vanished and the impact sent the woman falling breaking the spell placed on the Uta. Those shadow clones vanished instantly, returning to their master, protecting her from the fall. “Twilight, now!” With haste, the egghead leaped in with her tool getting in close enough to touch her former Principal. She pointed it at her and just as it sensed magic, the purple seashell came to life. Cinch tried to shield herself with her arm but that only gave it a perfect angle for the Magic Trap to do its work. The pure essence of magic flowed from the black gem and into the shell draining it of all potent energy. The shadow wolves tried to resist but without magic to sustain them, they could only howl in futile resistance before vanishing into the darkness. The battle ended with a quick flash as the device finished its task sucking the last drop out of the old witch. She drop on the ground a moment later looking weakened and powerless. Sensing that the danger was no more, Sunset and the gang approached wiping imaginary sweats off their brows. “Did we win?” The redhead asked, panting heavily. Rarity nodded back in confirmation as she helped Applejack off the ground. “I think we did.” They had won. Barely. So many things could’ve gone wrong there but they pulled through in the end. It was a victory worthy of note. Even Rainbow Dash was feeling pretty good of herself after that fight smugly patting the dust off her pony attire. It took a while for Cinch to recover, though she didn’t seem to have the energy to get back on her feet. “No…” She whimpered. “How? How could it be? How can you all possess so much power and still not see?” “It’s over Cinch.” Sunset stepped forward. “You have no magic left.” The woman looked up finding the little girl glaring down at her. “So it would seem.” “Hand over that bracelet.” She demanded in which the old lady chuckled back humorously. “This thing? I can’t give up something that was offered to me. It’s a gift.” “A gift?” Sunset questioned. “From who?” “You think I’d tell you anything?” She frowned. “You don’t have to.” And with a quick motion she grabbed the woman’s arm and let her powers do the rest. The ability to read minds came in handy for stubborn people like her. With this she would be able to find out what her plan was. She’ll find out who gave her this magical charm. Everything will finally be revealed. Everything will… Wait… Something wasn’t right. Normally Sunset would be able to see or feel something out of this. She could find out when Professor Doodle would present another pop quiz in a blink of an eye or find the last moment when someone had their phones. But this time… there was almost nothing. She could see images flash by but nothing solid or clear. It was like trying to watch a television show with terrible reception or a radio station with so much static. “What the? Why can’t I…” Cinch’s chuckle turned to a full blown laugh as she returned the gesture grabbing Sunset by the arm. “Such a predictable little girl.” She grabbed the portable data drive on her neck and pressed a button hidden within. Instantly the Magic Trap that Twilight held up reactivated and came back to life. “Wh… what’s going o-arghhh!” Adagio fell the ground a second later feeling the life force being drained out of her. “Adagio? What’s wroo-oooh!” Rainbow Dash was next to fall, hitting the floor faster than she could run. “Wha… I feel… tired.” Fluttershy grabbed her. “Rainbow Dash! No! G… get… get up.” The rest of the gang followed in suit, all fumbling and falling to their knees as the magic sucked out of them like a vacuum. Even Sunset felt her body going limp as she tried to reach for the device that fell out of Twilight’s hands. But Cinch’s wrinkly fingers had it first, scooping it off the floor and held it up to her chest with a triumphant grin. “You didn’t think I would come to a fight without a plan now, did you?” She gloated like a comic villain. “You think I’d let you take this trinket from my office just like that? And here I thought you were smarter than this.” With a few taps on the device the woman returned her magic to her bracelet feeling it supercharged. She could feel the energy coursing through that black gem pulsing with enough power that could level a building. “Cinch… no…” Twilight struggled to reach out but found her arms and legs unresponsive. “You can’t…” “Don’t pretend to know what I’m doing.” The former Principal berated, watching as the girls de-ponied back to their original forms. She glanced up to the Magic Trap eyes lighting up in awe of all the power she had. “Yes. YES! I knew you girls were source of great magical energy. There’s almost enough here to use the Chalice! I can undo everything. All the errors, the mistakes. EVERYTHING! Haha! Just a little bit more and we’ll have a top-up. And I know just where to get more.” Her eyes then cast to Adagio who froze when she realized what she planned to do. She tried to summon her strength but found nothing left in her body. All she could do was crawl in futility. The others tried to stop her but they were just as weak as she was. Even Rainbow Dash tried to grab the woman’s shoes but her fingers wobbled off with little resistance. No… no! Sunset wanted to cry out but she struggled even to speak at this point. The magic was drained out of them, leaving the gang defenseless. Someone… someone help her… Anyone… “Now now dear. Don’t be afraid.” Cinch cooed as she approached the poor Siren, pushing the device closer like an evil dentist frightening her patient. “I just need a little more out of you.” The Magic Trap activated again and soon began draining Adagio of the last trickle of her energy. Her hair began to gray and her face wrinkling into dust. “Yes… YES! That’s it! Just a few more drops!” “I think you’ve had enough for one night, lady.” … Huh? Cinch blinked when she didn’t recognize that voice. She rose and turned to the source just in time to see a wooden bat swinging at her. It happened so quickly that she no way of defending. The woman stumbled back, her hand covering her face for protection. But in the process the Magic Trap slipped from her fingers to which the attacker gladly smack. The purple seashell collided against the nearby building, shattering into pieces. The energy stored inside quickly burst out in a cascade of colors erupting into a volatile element which then exploded, tearing through wall like acid. “NOOOOOOOOO!!!” Cinch wailed in horror seeing her object of desire destroyed in a manner of seconds. She turned to the perpetrator, anger and malice building. “What have you done!? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!? YOU FOOL!” She casted a spell on the attacker striking him with a bolt of lightning which he shielded with his hand. He cursed loudly but quickly recovered and responded with another swing of his weapon snapping it against her wrist. “GRAHHH!!” Cinch tried to cast another spell but quickly discovered her magical trinket gone. “Wha? The gem! Where is it!? Where did it go!?” Another explosion followed making both side flinch as the fire engulfed the parking lot in flames. Two electric poles fell to the ground tearing up wires, shooting sparks everywhere. Seeing this destruction, Cinch decided to call it off and escape to the nearby alley. Sunset felt herself being scooped by the guy cradling her like a bride. “I got ya.” The boy whispered. “Grab on. Quickly.” He moved on to her friends scooping Twilight with his free hand. “Aria, get the van!” She heard someone reply but couldn’t quite make out what it was. “I don’t care! Sonata, grab the other two! I got this.” Aria? Sonata? Aren’t those the other…Sirens? Sunset couldn’t focus anymore. She didn’t have the strength or the willpower to make sentences. The world around her spun violently… before darkness took over.