Chapter 5: Trouble in the Making
~Not a lot had passed since the Rainbooms had met and teamed up with Lightning and Karly. The nine had set off to the city to see if they could find more students lurking about. Then, once they were confident, they were going to try and make the incredible journey to Devil and the Dazzlings. Since they are now aware that they have joined forces, there was no doubt about it that they were already planning something wicked. They didn't have much time left. It was very light in the outskirts of the city and it was already taking a long time for Lightning and Karly's eyes to get used to the bright trees and people. Led by Sunset, they followed the roads that were winding and wide. Karly knew she and Lightning would be instantly lost without their guides and realised that apart from their help, they would have never found out what happened to Steven or any of the students. It wasn't long before they spotted another band of minions tormenting more students. Everyone hastened their footsteps. Then, Lightning wasted no time.~
"Karly and I will handle the minions, you focus on getting the students to safety." she said, and she broke into a run.
~Karly hastened forward until she stood with her in the open for the minions to see them. They cried out then leapt to attack. The girls began running, luring them away from the students and distracting them enough for the Rainbooms to slip past and guide the students to the way to Canterlot High School. When Sunset gave the signal, Lightning nodded and swung herself and Karly into the trees, where they disappeared from the minions' sight. The minions were confounded when they found out they had been tricked and that their prisoners were gone. Then, with a stone in her hand, Lightning threw it far in the opposite direction and hit a tree, causing it to make a small noise and make the minions believe it was them. Of course, they fell for the ruse, and ran to the sound immediately. Lightning and Karly hopped down from the trees then went back out where the Rainbooms were waiting for them. They regrouped.~
"Good job, girls." Lightning said.
"Heh. Thanks!" exclaimed Rainbow. "We make such a great team, don't we?"
"I'll say." Karly replied. "Thank you for getting our classmates out."
"Thank YOU for the distraction." Applejack replied back.
"Something tells me this is going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship." smiled Sunset.
~Continuing their way towards the city, they found one last student just lying on the ground. He was very dazed and he hurt all over. Must have had quite the beating by a minion but miraculously got away, Lightning thought. Applejack helped the lad up to his feet, then looked for signs of broken bones. Thankfully, she found none, but the bruises she found and touched made him wince. According to Lightning and Karly, his name was Fleap. He quickly explained what happened to him to the girls, and why, then, he went on about needing a place to stay and heal.~
"Go to CHS," Sunset said for the fourth time. "We have first aid, company and your principal staying there."
"Umm, no." Fleap answered.
"No?" Rainbow quired.
"Sorry it's just that, I'm...really bad at remembering stuff. Especially directions. I'm- I'm positive that I'll get lost again."
Lightning clicked her fingers. "Oh, yeah, It's true. Fleap here has short term memory loss, and isn't confident with this sort of stuff. Someone is going to have to take him to the school."
"I will then," Twilight volunteered. "Besides, I think he will need some help with his injuries. Plus, somebody should head back and tell Mr. Secret and Principal Celestia all that's happened so far and inform them how much progress we've made."
"Hmm, good thinking."
"Can I come with you then?" Karly asked. "I'd like to see how my uncle is doing."
"Sorry, Karly, but I'm gonna need your help over there. Look."
~Lightning pointed ahead of herself at two specific students fighting with two minions. She never said who they were, but Karly knew and sighed at the conception. Only later will these students be introduced to the Rainbooms.~
"Oh. Right."
Twilight assured her. "It's okay, I'll go alone. And I'll inform Mr. Secret of you two. Promise."
"Okay, Twilight, take Fleap back and make sure nothing terrible happens." Sunset said.
"Do be careful yourself though, darling," added Rarity. "I guarantee that there will still be nasty minions wandering about."
"So hurry back quickly!" Rainbow prompted.
"Thanks girls, and, I promise, I'll be back as soon as possible."
~With that, Twilight took Fleap by the shoulder, and began to walk him back in the direction she and the other girls came from to CHS. The Rainbooms watched them before turning back to Lightning and Karly fighting. They quickly went to help with the students then drag them away from the fight.~
~Back at CHS, Steven and Principal Celestia were talking amongst each other above the inside balcony of the school. They could see all that was happening from down below. Steven's students as well as the CHS students came in eagerly through the door with relief all over their faces. Many of the students that had already been saved were so pleased to see more familiar faces come in so they reunited and began to chat strangely to one another. Some of which went on about how the Rainbooms saved them from Devil's minions and someday they wanted to thank them properly for all they've done for them. Steven and Celestia smiled when they heard that and grinned at the thought of doing something nice. However, Steven was beginning to worry for the Mane 7 after a while.~
"I do hope those girls are alright." he confessed to Celestia.
"Oh, I'm sure they're fine." she said. "With any luck, they've already met up with your two prised students. Whatever were their names again?"
"Lightning Star and Karly Crystal." Steven began to explain. "They're both like daughters to me, you know. Well, Karly is actually my niece, but she isn't like one, let's say. She's more than that. Lightning too. I've known her father for years now and even worked with him in his company for a long time. I only just quit and became a principal six years ago because I was getting old for his job. But, I consider him and her as family. I was so happy when she and my niece became really close friends."
"I have the same feeling towards the girls." Celestia explained too. "Sunset Shimmer used to be a troubled student back in the first few years. She ruled the school with an iron fist, and there was nothing I could do to stop her. But when Twilight Sparkle came to the school, she opened her up and showed her the magic of friendship and a brand new way of living life at its fullest. Now, she helps people and guides them through the tough times."
"Really? That's an amazing development!" Steven marvelled. "What makes them so special to you though, might I ask?" he then questioned. "All of your students here seem extraordinary to me, what makes these seven stand out?"
Celestia laughed. "Oh, you have no idea…"
~At that very moment, they were interrupted by Twilight and Fleap coming through the front doors of the school. They made it to the centre where Twilight released Fleap's shoulder and pointed to a specific location.~
"Here you are, Fleap," she said. "The nurse's office is just to the left of that hallway."
"Okay. Thank you so much." Fleap waved, and he slowly walked off. "Wait, was it right? Or left?" his voice distantly asked after a while.
~Steven and Celestia ran down the stairs and made straight for Twilight. They stopped before her and were happy to see her, yet confused as to why she came back. Nonetheless, they smiled.~
"Twilight Sparkle! How unexpected to see you!" Celestia exclaimed.
"Is everything alright?" asked Steven.
"Oh yes, very well," the tech girl answered. "I just came back to help Fleap find his way here and inform you that Lightning and Karly are by our side now as we speak and are helping us with our mission."
"You found Lightning and Karly?" Steven gasped. "Ah, that's brilliant news, Twilight! And it seems as if you've found most of my students! W-Well done!"
"Thank you, Mr. Secret." Twilight smiled, almost from embarrassment.
"Now, all that needs to be done is for you to face Devil and stop whatever guaranteed plan he has in store for this world!" Steven ordered. "Some fewer students of mine may also be with him and held prisoner. I'm gonna need you to save the last of them too."
Twilight nodded. "Right, I understand. Thanks for the clarification, Mr. Secret. I'll be going now to meet up with the others and tell them what you've told me."
"Indeed you shall." Celestia spoke up. "Keep up the excellent work, Twilight!"
~The tech girl nodded and turned to leave. But, when she went to open the door, she found out that she couldn't. It's like it had been lodged together and no matter how much pulling and pushing and grunting she did, it would not move. The students saw this and almost immediately, anxiety pierced through them like a knife. Steven and Celestia noticed it next.~
"Huh?"
"What's wrong?"
"The door is stuck!" Twilight grunted. "Ngh! It- won't- budge!"
"Here. Let me try." Steven said, and he clutched the handles firmly.
~The principal pulled all with his might but, as Twilight said, it would not budge. Not even his strength could pry it open. He began to wonder why. Until, suddenly, he saw it. Green goop was oozing out of the double doors through the crack between them. Steven scooped up a drop with his finger, and began to play around with it. It was a sticky substance, to which he could not get off his finger once he touched it. He looked back up, and saw a shadow from outside the door and heard a distinct, but familiar evil laugh coming from it. At that point, he knew exactly who was responsible for sealing the doors shut and trapping him, Celestia, Twilight and the other students inside the school.~
"He's here!" he exclaimed.
"Who's here?!" Celestia asked.
"Dr. Devil!" all the students chroused in fear.
~Their eruptions of panic were cut off by an explosion thundering from overhead. The entire roof of CHS bursted inward, causing rubble and shards of glass to rain down upon them. Thankfully, they were too small to injure anyone when they hit. Twilight ran behind Steven and they both watched as minions rappelled down from the rooftop into the school and began to scatter. The students screamed and ran like gazelles being chased by predators once they landed.~
"What's happening?!"
"We're under attack!"
"This place isn't safe!"
"We're doomed!"
"Run for your lives!"
~They fled to the nearest classroom. Steven, Twilight and Celestia all looked up once again and, next thing they knew, they were surrounded by minions and the three familiar sirens of Equestria were rappelling down. The Dazzlings. Aria was the first to hit the ground and look about, then Sonata, then Adagio. Twilight and the principals froze. They didn't know what to do.~
"Where are they?!" demanded Aria. "Where are the Rainbooms?"
"We know they're around here, so hand them over!" demanded Sonata.
"Patience, you two, patience." Adagio said to them smoothly. "We need to wait for Devil's orders."
"Thank you, Adagio," Devil's voice echoed from above. "I'm so glad one of you knows how to follow commands. Now, do that red soundwavy thing!"
~Adagio obliged. With a sudden twitch of the eyes, her pendant flashed an entrancing ruby red glow for everyone to see before her. The glowing grew bigger, then the soundwave flashed from Adagio's hands and knocked everyone around her to the ground in a sudden blow. Steven, out of everyone, was the most shocked. They all quickly stood back up again. It didn't do much but it went to show that the Dazzlings now held another new special power. This worried Twilight to pieces, and Sunset and the others were not going to be pleased when they hear about it, she said to herself. Devil waited for silence and the wave to stop. Then, once it did, he rappelled down on the dangling ropes and came up face to face with his old enemy.~
"Steven Secret…" he began, "What a surprise. For a moment, I thought you weren't sucked up by that portal and into this colourful wonderland."
"Good day, Devil," Steven said sarcastically. "I am delighted to see that you have come here to meet up with me, as I would find it difficult to visit all of you."
~A minion in the crowd laughed but immediately shut up when the one next to him punched his arm.~
"Relax, we aren't here for you, Secret," Devil continued. "I'm here because my new friends have just told me about seven teenage girls with magical abilities. And Iiii want them."
Steven stiffened visibly at this. That's what was so special about the Mane 7, they have superpowers! "What do you mean…?" he began.
"The Rainbooms! He wants their magic! As of us. So, where can they be found?" demanded Adagio, as she jostled her way through her sisters and minions until she stood before Steven and Celestia.
"They...are not here," Celestia replied, undaunted by the threat. "They went off to find Steven's lost students then put an end to your reign of terror."
"I don't believe you." retorted the siren.
"They wouldn't know where to go!" Sonata piped up. "Would they?"
"No, Sonata. They wouldn't." Aria replied hastily.
"If you're here, you must know of the Rainbooms," Adagio pointed out.
"Exactly! Where are they?" cried a minion from the crowd.
"Show us to them. Are they hiding?" another shouted.
"We will tell you nothing," Steven answered stoutly. "You don't know what you're talking about. There is no such thing as magic!"
Devil scoffed at this. "Then what do you call that red soundwave thing Adagio just pulled from her hands?!" he gestured. "Special effects?!"
~The minions roared of his approval, and Twilight, still hidden behind Steven, feared for him, herself and her friends. Things were becoming ugly.~
"Adagio is right though, you must know of them, so don't try to lie your way out of this situation. Because who knows what might happen if I find out you're lying to me?" Devil threatened. "You know what…?" The doctor clicked his fingers. "Minions! Search the school! See if you can find any of these girls!" he ordered.
"Righty-ho, boss!" the leading minion saluted. "Just, uh, remind us what they look like again?"
"There are seven of them," Aria grumbled, "Do you want us to explain every little detail about each of them?"
"Just say what hair colour they have, Aria!" Sonata smiled. "It's easier that way!" she began to think. "Let's see...one has red hair, one has rainbow hair, one has yellow hair, one has pink hair, one has another pink hair, one has purple hair and one has dark blue hair with a pink and purple streak!"
"You mean like the one behind Secret?" one minion asked.
~At once, the minions attacked Steven and moved him out of the way so Twilight was divulged to the villains. She yelped at her sudden reveal, and Celestia looked aghast when she saw what was happening. At once, the minions went to grab Twilight but Steven knocked them down in a heap with his foot.~
"Twilight! Run!" he then shouted.
~The tech girl needed no convincing. She pelted down the hallway behind her as fast as she could without looking back.~
"After her!" Devil ordered, and went to follow but Steven blocked his path. "Outta the way, Secret!"
"You're gonna have to try and make me, Devil!"
~The two men stared each other down before going at it in a fist fight. Celestia, meanwhile, fled the scene and went to find the other students. Twilight kept running through the hallways without stopping for a breather. She knew she would not outrun the minions however, despite having a decent head start. She quickly glanced across her shoulder and proved that theory as five went already gaining on her. And fast. She had to hide or at least slow them down. So, using her levitation power, she opened the doors of several lockers in the hallway just as the minions were about to pass them. They smacked face first into them as expected. Sadly, more kept coming and they avoided the rest with grace. Twilight had to carry on. Suddenly, she found herself entering the library. But this wasn't good at all. She realised that she was now trapped. When she looked back at the entrance, the minions had already secluded it off, and surrounded her. She held them off desperately. Tossing books off the shelves, hiding between corridors and jumping from tables and chairs were not enough to stop the minions from chasing her. She levitated herself up in the air to avoid capture, but the magic in her geode was beginning to glow and crackle unstably. She was using too much.~
Twilight felt herself panting. "I...I don't think I can keep this up any longer. I'm outnumbered, and my magic is becoming unstable. I...I must...must...rest..."
~Unable to withstand it anymore, the magic faded and Twilight collapsed exhausted to the ground and let the minions overwhelm her. Steven has been overpowered too. Devil held him in a tight choking headlock and as he struggled to breathe. He cried out for Lightning and Karly, but it was no use. They would not come. Devil laughed hysterically.~
~Back among the roads and groves of Canterlot, the Mane 6 felt a strange tingling feeling from below their necks. When they looked down to see what was causing it, they noticed their geodes sparkling dangerously. The magic was being overloaded and they didn't know how or why. It was at that moment when Pinkie Pie looked up, and saw the white and black and purple streaky blimp hovering over the partially destroyed high school where their friend and all the students they rescued are. Pinkie alerted Rainbow Dash by tugging her jacket.~
"Umm, does that look like a problem to you?" the party girl asked, titling both hers and Rainbow's head upwards.
"A strange suspicious blimp hovering over our school?" Rainbow quired. "Why would that be a problem?"
Lightning gasped. "Oh no…"
"What?" the Rainbooms chroused.
"That's Devil's blimp! Meaning he's invading the school!"
"What?!"
Applejack smacked her fist into her hand. "We gotta get back there then, STAT!"
"Yeah! Maybe there is still time to stop him!" Rainbow shouted.
"I'm afraid not.~" a familiar evil voice sang from the heavens.
~The next instant, the Rainbooms sans Twilight, Lightning and Karly were confronted by The Dazzlings appeared behind them. The Rainbooms stared in horror the moment they saw the leader's mischievous grin and poofy yellow hair.~
"Adagio!" Sunset gasped.
"Hello, Sunset Shimmer." she greeted.
~She then pointed into the distance. With a zoom and enhanced view, the girls peeked over and saw the minions dragging Twilight and Steven onto the roof then loading them onto the blimp. The girls were shattered beyond belief by the event, and they cried out Twilight's name, mostly Sunset.~
"Twilight!"
"Uncle!" Karly cried too.
"Hey! Let them go!" Rainbow demanded of the Dazzlings.
"Or what?" smirked Adagio.
"Or...else we'll come after you!"
"That's what we're hoping for you to do!" Sonata laughed.
"Sonata, don't share our plan with them!" Aria scowled.
"Oh! Sorry!"
Lightning Star was fuming. "Why are you helping our arch enemy!?" she screamed. "You do realise he wants to take over the world!?"
Adagio sneered. "Of course I realise that. Because I want to take over the world too. At first, I wasn't really too satisfied with this guy biting our style. So, we had a little parley. That was when it hit us."
"We realised that we had something in common with this doctor…" Aria continued. "Taking our enemies down!"
"Plus, working together, it made the invasion process much smoother!" Sonata said, pushing in between the two.
"What are you planning on doing with Twilight?" asked Sunset incredulously.
"That's up to the boss." Adagio shrugged. "Extract her magic, maybe use her for experiments… We don't know, and we don't care. But, if you want to see her again, come up to the castle on top of that mountain side." and she pointed to the peak just in the right distance of the city where the castle was still being built. "We'll be waiting."
~Laughter overcame her as the blimp was now just coming over their heads. As its shadow swallowed them up, ropes coiled down from the viewing deck and in front of the Dazzlings. They began to climb up them.~
"What? No! Hey! Come back down here!" Rainbow yelled.
"Sorry, we can't hear you! The blades of the blimp are too loud!" Sonata mocked before all three began laughing again.
~With that, The Dazzlings climbed up to the top and the Rainbooms watched with disbelief as the blimp's shadow passed them and made for the half-built castle on the mountain. Sunset Shimmer stood silently with her head bowed.~
"This is bad," Fluttershy squeaked. "Really, really bad!"
"You think? The Dazzlings and that madman, Devil, has got Twilight and Mr. Secret!" Rainbow exclaimed. "We gotta get them back!"
"But you heard the Dazzlings!" said Rarity. "It's obvious that they are setting a trap for us!"
"Trap or no trap, we have to go!" said Lightning. "If we're gonna stop whatever they have planned for us and rescue Twilight, so be it!"
"And my uncle!" added Karly.
"Ya're right, y'all. We promised Mr. Secret we would stop Devil an' the Dazzlings, so that's exactly what we're gonna do!" said Applejack. "I'm in!"
"As am I, darling!" Rarity nodded.
"Duh!" added Rainbow.
"I guess…" Fluttershy whispered.
"Whoo-hoo!" Pinkie cheered. "Rescue mission!"
They all turned to Sunset. "What about you, Sunset?" Lightning called.
~The red girl didn't answer. Fretting with anxiety, anger and despair came over her and she felt like crying. She was so very worried sick about Twilight more than anyone in her group, and her being in terrible danger seriously made her feel dispirited. She had never handled a situation like this before. She realised then that all eyes were on her so she cleared herself up.~
"I don't know," she said at last. "This mission could be more dangerous than I could've ever imagined now. Twilight has been caught, and of course, I wanna rescue her, but what if we can't do it? What if we end up where she is and all is lost from there?"
"Darling, this mission relies on you. Principal Celestia and Steven Secret chose us to do it for a reason, and we will not fail them!" Rarity said in a determined manner.
"Twilight too!" Rainbow reminded her. "We're her best friends, and that makes us responsible for her. She's probably scared and sad where she is right now, true, but one thing she does know is that she is relying on us to come for her!"
"So, we can't give up and abandon her!" said Fluttershy.
Lightning smiled. "I love your determination, girls." she said, and she turned to the fiery girl and put her hand on her shoulder. "Sunset, listen. I know things may seem a little tough right now, but it'll all be okay. You have us, and we will rise up to the challenge and do whatever it takes to save your friend."
"O-of course. We've been doing this for years." said Karly.
"And trust me, when I tell you this. Devil isn't as bad as he seems once you get to know him a little more. He's stereotypical, and quite easy to persuade and trick. You could sweet talk him into buying something useless that's a million pounds and he would not even blink an eye."
~Sunset laughed with the others. She felt really at home around these two, despite only knowing them for a few hours, and with their help, she hoped they would save Twilight. Then they could tackle the Dazzlings. As for this Devil, well, he was no big deal!~
She gave out a relieved sigh. "All right. We can do this."
"Heck yeah we can!" exclaimed Lightning. "So let's go!"
~With that, the eight girls ventured off to the eastern edge of the city outskirts and stepped into wild territory, to which even the Rainbooms have never explored before. This will be an adventure like no other. They began chatting away with Lightning and Karly as they walked.~
"Um...Principal Celestia is okay isn't she?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well, I didn't see her with anyone bad, so I would believe she's okay." Karly noted.
Rainbow scoffed. "Good thing too. Imagine if we had to save our principal."
"Ehh. Wouldn't be the first time…" Applejack said.