//------------------------------// // School, Ultimatums, and Choices // Story: Consequences // by shallow15 //------------------------------// Sunset spent the rest of the afternoon moving. She made her first stop at a drugstore to grab a large manila envelope, then the post office, where she used that envelope to mail the letters she had intended to leave in her apartment to Miss Bookbinder. From there, she moved at random around the city, sticking to back alleys and little used roads. She had no idea if STORM had called in the police to assist them, so she kept away from any authorities she ran across. Her phone blew up with texts and calls. She ignored the calls, but read the texts, confirming her worst fears. Her friends were being hunted down, and there was no way she could get to any of them in time to help. She hated herself. Hated herself for running. Hated herself for being a coward. Hated herself for bringing all this down on them. Her mind kept screaming the litany of failures that had led to all this. If I hadn't let Firecracker die. If I hadn't ruined Gardenia Glow's life. If I hadn't brought the magic here. If I hadn't stolen Twilight's crown. If I hadn't left Equestria. If I hadn't left Princess Celestia. If I hadn't been born. She knew the thoughts were destructive. She knew they were lies. She knew that the good she had done since she'd reformed outweighed the bad of her past. But it didn't stop the thoughts from coming or the worry from trying to overwhelm her. She was so caught up in her litany of self-hate that she barely noticed the sun going down until a streetlight came on above her. Sunset blinked and looked up. She sighed and rolled her eyes. Of course. She was across the street from Canterlot High. She guessed her subconscious had guided her back to the portal. The sun had almost set behind her, casting her shadow almost completely across the street to the plinth where the portal normally existed. Sunset pulled out her phone and checked her texts. Nothing in nearly an hour from any of her friends. That wasn't good. Sunset resisted the temptation to text back. The less she called attention to herself, the better right now. She looked back up at the school and sighed. She needed to get off the streets for the night, and while the school wasn't ideal, it was at least a place she knew she could get into. And maybe I can get some help from Principal Celestia in the morning, she thought. She yawned unexpectedly. The adrenaline from the afternoon was beginning to wear off. Sunset hefted her bag higher on her shoulder and crossed the street. “Status report,” Tempest barked as her team reconvened at the rest stop on the edge of town. The strike team was already transporting the cryptid back to the rendezvous point. The six POIs were secured in a prisoner transport van Tempest had requested. Lightning Dust jerked a thumb behind her at the van. “The POIs are still secure. We confiscated the necklaces. The rainbow haired one is still out cold. I had a medic look at her. She's fine, but she's gonna have a hell of a headache when she wakes up.” “What about the others?” Dust shrugged. “They're keeping quiet. We've got them cuffed to the restraining bars and it looks like you were right about those necklaces. The one who could easily break them doesn't seem to be able to do so. I think we managed to knock the wind out of their sails.” “What about Sunset Shimmer?” Tempest demanded. “Has anybody found her yet?” “Sands and Rain are still looking for her. I sent a couple of rookies to stake out her apartment.” “I want her in custody tonight. Send whoever we can spare to search.” “That's gonna take time,” said Dust, concerned. “And she could be hiding anywhere. Hell, she could have left town for all we know.” Tempest shook her head. “No. She wouldn't leave her friends behind. She told me that much. Wherever she is, she's already planning some idiotic rescue.” “Couldn't we wait for her to come to us then?” Dust asked. “Drop some hints of where we are? Use her friends as bait?” “Normally, I'd say yes. But she still has her necklace and we don't know what it allows her to do. I don't want to take the risk she can hurl fireballs or something like that. I just – “ Tempest trailed off as a thought came to her. “I think I have an idea. Did you confiscate their personal belongings too?” It was getting to be a habit. Sunset had gone back up to the roof to clear her mind and, for the second time in two days, had fallen asleep as soon as she sat down with her back to the library dome. She was startled awake by her phone ringing. Unfortunately, Sunset was never at her best when first awakening and she answered the phone without thinking. “Hello?” “I honestly didn't expect this to work,” came Tempest's voice. “I gave you credit for being smarter, Miss Shimmer.” Sunset's eyes popped open and she sat up straight. “What have you done to my friends?” “Nothing... well, Miss Dash is currently sleeping off a ridiculous amount of tranquilizers. And before you get indignant, our medic's confirmed she'll be fine.” The smug tone of the agent's voice caused Sunset's blood to boil. She felt her face heating up and her anger begin to take control. “Let them go! They have nothing to do with this!” “I think we both know that's not true,” said Tempest. “We're very interested in all of you... and those 'friendship necklaces' of yours. How about we talk about those?” “The only thing I have to talk about with you is how much you've pissed me off right now!” Sunset yelled into the phone. “Let my friends go or I swear I'll--” “You'll what?” Tempest's voice was hard and mocking. “Mount a rescue? Come charging in with whatever powers that necklace gives you, save your friends and take down the eeeevil guv'mint agency in the process? This isn't a cartoon, Miss Shimmer. That's not how this works. “You essentially have two choices. One, you can surrender yourself into custody. We'll have a conversation about you, your friends, and what's really been going on in this town over the last year or so and then, maybe, everyone can go back home. We'll probably have to keep the necklaces, of course. That kind of power can't be left in the hands of teenagers.” “You have no right to those!” Sunset snarled. “I have EVERY right!” Tempest snarled back. “This is what we DO! Contain dangerous things the public doesn't need or want to know actually exist out there in the dark! Don't push me, little girl. I've seen and done things you can't possibly comprehend!” “Try me. I'm not exactly a normal teenager, either.” “Oh, I know that,” said Tempest. There was a pause and the sound of a deep breath. “I almost forgot your other option. Would you like to hear it?” “Knock yourself out,” Sunset huffed. “Since I'm not there to do it myself.” Tempest ignored the jibe and continued. “Option two is a lot more messy. You can continue to elude us. You're resourceful enough, I'm sure you'd be a persistent thorn in our sides for months. But, if you do that, well... I'm afraid I can't guarantee any of your friends will be going home any time soon.” “That's illegal and you know it!” “Not if we were to, say, classify them as Enemy Combatants. The powers they possess certainly present a threat to the security of the nation. That would allow us to detain them indefinitely and legally. And even if their parents were to object, we could still keep the case in court for months, if not years. And then there's you.” Tempest's voice went even colder. “I will ensure that every law enforcement agency in the country knows the name of Sunset Shimmer. You won't find a single place where your picture isn't plastered on every post office bulletin board or on every TV screen. We have agents everywhere and they'll all be looking for you. You might be able to run for a while, but you'll be so busy trying to survive, you won't be able to do anything about your friends.” Sunset's teeth were clenched so tightly they felt like they might shatter. Her blood was roaring in her ears and she wanted nothing more than to get her hands around Tempest Shadow's throat. “And if you decide to declare war on us,” Tempest continued. “You can be sure that for every so-called victory you have, your friends will pay the price. And it will not be quick and easy, I can promise you that.” Sunset inhaled through her nose so hard her nostrils nearly collapse. The next words were out with no thought and no hesitation. “So, you didn't learn a damn thing from Glitter Drops after all.” Dead silence on the other then then: “What did you say?” “I know about Glitter Drops. I know she died. And I know ever since then you've been the STORM Director's lap dog hoping he'll throw a few scraps your way so he'll tell you what happened to her.” Now, Tempest was audibly angry. “Don't push me.” “I'll push you if I feel like it!” Sunset snapped. “That's all you've been doing ever since you came to this town! I will rescue my friends, Agent Shadow, and I will find a way to make every little bit of dirty laundry STORM has public! I'm taking option two. Good luck finding me.” There was another pause then: “We already have.” A car horn blared from below the roof. Sunset got up and walked to the edge, keeping back just far enough so she could see over it. Five vehicles were in the faculty lot. Two sedans, two SUVs and a van. Searchlights mounted on the SUVs and the van were shining onto the building. One of the sedan doors opened and Tempest stepped out, still holding the phone to her ear. “You really need to keep that temper of yours in check, Miss Shimmer,” she said. “That kind of anger causes people to make unwise choices. Like arguing with a federal agent on the phone while her team traces the signal. “Fuck you,” Sunset cursed. “My my, such language.” The humor went out of Tempest's voice. “I have agents on every exit out of the building. I'm willing to overlook your little tantrum, Miss Shimmer, provided you surrender yourself.” “And what if I don't?” “Like I said, your friends will pay the price.” Sunset snorted. “What? You're gonna kill them? I can't imagine the Director would be happy about that. And I doubt he'll be willing to talk about Glitter Drops if you tell him you had to kill one or more of us.” Tempest didn't rise to the bait. “No, Miss Shimmer, I'm not going to kill any of them. Surrender, or I can guarantee you that you will never see any of them ever again. In any capacity. Not even from their families, or classmates, or even that obnoxious principal of yours.” Suddenly, Adagio's words echoed through Sunset's mind. “This is what you're up against. A quasi-fascist government task force who are so committed to keeping things like us a secret that even the people who know us aren't safe.” Could they actually be that powerful? Could Tempest and her goons silence everybody about the seven of them? And even if they couldn't, what would happen if more rogue magic manifested in town. There would be no one to do anything about it. Except STORM, and if they stepped in, it would only be a matter of time before they found the portal to Equestria. If Princess Twilight did manage somehow to repel the invasion, she wouldn't wait forever to check on what was happening over here. She'd reactivate the portal, increasing the risk of it being found. And if STORM discovered the portal, anything they did with it would only lead to disaster. “Well, Miss Shimmer?” Tempest's voice brought Sunset out of her thoughts. She felt her anger drain out of her. She felt trapped. Every move seemed to be the wrong one. If she ran, her friends would be imprisoned for the rest of their lives and un-personed in the world at large. If she surrendered, the magic would be in STORM's hands and who knew what would happen then. She could just “lose” the geode somewhere, but that would just make Tempest suspicious and the agent would probably tear the school apart looking for it. Besides, in the event the girls could get them back, they'd be extremely useful in making their escape. Of course, Tempest wouldn't wait forever and she'd probably send her goons in to arrest Sunset if she chose to do nothing. There was also the other option. While Canterlot High was only two stories, it was definitely high enough. It was entirely possible that the geodes would stop working altogether if one of the girls died and their connection to the magic stones severed. If the geodes no longer worked, then STORM had no reason to keep the girls prisoner. They might out of sheer pettiness, but what would be the point? STORM had existed this long without the public being aware of them. Six teenagers wild story about being abducted by federal agents sounded too ridiculous to be true. Sunset looked at the edge of the roof. It would be so simple. So quick. One quick dash, a short jump and then... it'd all be over but the paperwork. No Sunset Shimmer. No geodes. No magic. No reason for STORM to keep the others. But that was the coward's way out. And while she may have felt like one earlier, Sunset Shimmer was no coward. And she also knew that being on the run wouldn't help things either. No, there was only one choice. The riskiest, yes, but also the only one that ensured she would be able to help her friends. She had no idea what she was actually going to do to help them, but the first step was making sure they were all together. “All right,” she said quietly. “You win. I'm coming down.” “Down?” Tempest said quizzically. “Ah. The roof. I see.” “Don't send anyone after me,” said Sunset. “I'll come to you. I see any of your goons on my way down and I run. I know every inch of this building. You'll never find me before I'm gone. Deal?” There was another pause then: “If you are not in front of me in three minutes, then don't expect to hear from the other six ever again. Do we have an understanding, Miss Shimmer?” “I'm on my way.” Sunset ended the call without responding and headed to the roof access stairwell. She didn't have a lot of time and there was something she needed to do before she was arrested. She quickly made her way back down to the ground floor. The hallways were dark, only illuminated by the occasional ceiling light for safety and energy conservation. Sunset looked around for signs of flashlights or anything else that may have indicated Tempest had been lying. Seeing nothing, Sunset ran down the halls, keeping to the balls of her feet to minimize noise, until she reached the library. Much to her relief, the door was unlocked and she went inside. She quickly made her way to a shelf in the back of the library and crouched down. She took her journal from her bag and shoved it into a space on the bottom shelf. There was no way in hell she would let any evidence of Equestria's existence fall into STORM's hands. It would be safe here. Sunset doubted anyone would notice the out of place book for a while. She took her bag to the circulation desk and dropped it in the Lost and Found bin behind it. She'd pick it up later. Assuming she would still be able to. She left the library and quickly made her way to the exit leading to the faculty lot. The searchlights and headlights had been trained on the doors and were blazing through the glass. It was blinding and Sunset could barely make out the vehicles. She took a deep breath, then put her hands up and used her hips to hit the crash bar that opened the door. She moved slowly and deliberately until she was outside, where she stood, waiting for the agents to make the next move. Tempest strolled out of the light until she was in front of Sunset. She looked down at the shorter girl with an expression of triumph. Sunset gave her a look of contempt. “This isn't over,” she said quietly. Tempest sneered and produced a pair of handcuffs. “No, Miss Shimmer, it isn't. In fact, I'd say we're just getting started.”