//------------------------------// // Aftershock // Story: Equestria Girls: Love Is Magic // by onekface //------------------------------// Chapter 76: Aftershock (House by the hill) Twilight felt relieved to finally be back at the house. Despite its decrepit look, the place did offer a sense of safety amongst other things. And after a grueling encounter at Everton Academy, it was good to be back within the shielded walls of this place. Not to mention the result they managed to acquire was beyond expectations. “ARE YOU INSANE!?” If only her friend saw it the same way. Twilight plugged her ear, recoiling from the sound. “Ow… you don’t have to yell, Sunset. I can hear you just fine.” “That’s because it’s the only way I can my message across! Do you have any idea how dangerous that was!?” Sunset snorted, eyes flaring with restrained anger. “What if something were to happen to you!? You could’ve gotten hurt, or worse!” Oh for goodness sake. She’s been going at it for over twenty minutes now. Ever since they got back from Everton Academy, the redhead has been chastising her like a den mother. She would not stop scolding her. After the events of her dashing escape from the Headmaster’s office, Twilight expected something akin to a massive lockdown. But instead the school was quiet. There were no alarms or scrambling of security personnel. It was almost like nothing happened at all. It was only after they split with the rest of the group, did she decide to tell Sunset of what transpired. And as you can guess, she didn’t take it well. “Relax. I wasn’t in any danger.” Twilight reasoned off which did little to deter her friend’s raging frustration. “Ok look. I know it was reckless of me to go off on my own like that. But I didn’t have any choice. If I brought any of you guys along it would’ve looked suspicious. And the results paid off. This proves that Chrysalis is the one responsible for the earthquake the other day. There is magic in Everton Academy. A whole mess of it.” “That doesn’t justify risking your own neck.” The former unicorn countered, rubbing the side of her nose frustratingly. “Going off like that and breaking into places? That’s not like you.” It really wasn’t. “I understand that this mission is important. But I thought we were in this together.” “We are.” “Really?” She folded her arms disapprovingly. “You’re not exactly showing it.” “Look. I said I was sorry. Ok? What else do you want from me? A hundred page essay?” Sunset’s eyes sharpened. “Don’t tempt me.” “I’ll admit that it wasn’t my best idea. And I doubt she even saw my face. But I came out fine.” “You snuck into the Headmaster’s office and stole a priceless relic from her, nearly getting caught.” The nerd gal paused. “Ok so it wasn’t the most ethical of choices. But let the results speak for itself.” She then placed the evidence she collected on the table. “This broken Portal Stone proves that she was the one responsible for the earthquake. Judging from all that I’ve seen, she must’ve tried the same thing I did when I was in the desert town in Saddle Arabia.” Sunset’s attention was quickly snatched. “You mean that time you and Flash were trapped on the other side of the world?” “The very same.” Twilight then brought out a black gemstone, placing it next to the broken statue. “As you recall, the Portal Stone magic the Yaztec used to travel across the world has two key necessities. 1. Being the Portal Stone. And 2. Is the Portal Gate itself. The stone creates the portal to your destination, and the gateway acts as a binding agent, keeping the magic from going haywire.” “Like the one under Castle Hoofbeard.” “Exactly. I tried doing the same back in Peril Peaks but with only the gateway. And let’s just say the results weren’t… exactly… what I wanted.” “You almost blew yourself up.” Hush you. No one’s asking for details. “Chrysalis on the other hand tried to create a portal without a gateway. Thus the magical backlash was this.” “Uh huh…” The redhead nodded. “That still doesn’t explain what caused the earthquake. A magical backlash shouldn’t have affected anything beyond her office… or her building at least. I should know. I’ve had plenty of those back when I was in Equestria.” “Magic works differently in this world, remember? Equestrian logic doesn’t factor in here. Who knows what kind of mystery a backlash could have on the long term?” She then pull out the second piece of evidence she had on hand. “And speaking of Equestria. I found this in the school’s library. See anything familiar?” Curiously Sunset decided to open the said book, only turn wide-eye when she saw the letters written within. “This is… Equestrian!” “Precisely. It was placed in the unorganized section of the library. It emitted a faint trace of magic.” “And how were you able to get it out? I thought they didn’t allow books to be taken by those other than students and faculty.” “I uh… didn’t really… ask for permission.” “WHAT!?” Sunset choked. “Twilight. Are you saying that you… stole this too?” “Technically it wasn’t theirs to begin with – thus I never stole it.” It was poor logic. But it was all she could conjure. “I’m not really liking this new version of you.” “Oh please. I’m only doing what needs to be done. And no one got hurt in the process. So can you read it or not?” Sunset eyed her, but decided to save that argument for another time and returned her attention to the book. She scanned the first two or three sentences, noticing the strange patterns. “Towar del partagesh. Fungil dea…” “Uh… what?” “It’s old Ponish.” Sunset explained. “It’s the old dialect of my world. Kind of like the old colonial language of this world. I took a course during my time in Celestia’s school for Gifted Unicorns. Though I never took much interest in it. I should be able to translate it in a week or two. It’s a thick book.” “Why don’t you ask Starlight for help? That’s what she’s here for after all. Right?” “True.” She glanced over to the music box. “I haven’t heard from her for a while now either. I wonder if things are ok in Equestria.” “I’m sure she won’t mind you dropping by. But that’s not the biggest mystery yet. According to the librarian. The person who donated this book was none other than Sophia Hope.” The name sprang a bell in her mind. “Sophia? You mean… Flash’s mom?” “The very same.” They both turned to the portrait above the fireplace where the woman sat, smiling sweetly at them. “And get this. She’s also an acquaintance of Chrysalis. I saw a picture of them together in her office.” “Ok now that’s really suspicious. How in the world did she get her hands on a book from Equestria?” “That’s the lottery prize question, isn’t it?” Twilight firmly added. “If only we could ask her in person.” “Unless you know how to talk to the dead, I think we’re stuck on that.” “Yup. So I’ll be doing the next best thing. I’ll ask around.” The nerdy gal turned towards the man above Sophie, wearing another childish smile. “But for now, we’d better report all of this to Neighsay. Just in case.” (Flash’s mansion) It was itching again. “Dang it.” Flash cursed to himself as he rubbed the side of his hand, seeing the glow return on his scar. It has been acting more frequently ever since his magic came to be. The pulse that he felt inside was growing stronger, beating to the rhythm of his own heart. It turned from blue to yellow, then green and red. If he were a joking man, he’d say that this was something akin to one of those mood rings that they show on TV. This was really starting to be a problem. He already tried everything. He applied ointment on it, medical salve, herbal balms and other manner of medicinal apparatus, but so far the best he could achieve was a moment of reprieve. It was pretty bothersome, especially before bed. And even worse was the fact that the glow was getting stronger than before. The light inside was practically glowing like his personal mobile disco ball. It shined through his bandages endlessly. He had to wrap his hand over with mittens just to cover them up, and they’re a lot harder to write with too. Maybe he’ll ask Twilight for some advice tomorrow when he learns some magic. *Woof!* Bananas quickly came to his aid, giving a lick on the wound. “Aww… thanks buddy.” He brought the little guy up to his nose. “But I don’t think your licky powers can do much against magic.” “Never hurts to try.” “Master Flash.” His butler’s voice chimed from his door. He quickly wrap his hand before answering. “Come in.” “Pardon the late night intrusion. But your order for Lady Pie is ready.” He presented the gorgeous treat like it was a prized winning trophy. “The choco berry blasted butter biscuit bun cake with five and a half layer of chocolate. Baked to perfection.” “Looks good.” “The chefs really did outdid themselves, sir.” They really did. Just looking at it was enough to make Flash’s stomach growl. The frosting alone was enough to give anyone a sweet tooth. But… “Why is it shaped like a heart?” He asked innocently enough. Edmund’s expression cracked a tiny bit. “Well… it was an aesthetic choice.” “Really?” A sweat drop appeared on his forehead. “The ingredients simply came that way, sir.” Flash didn’t believe it. “Edmund…” “The temperature of the oven must’ve changed its shape from the heat.” “Let me guess.” Flash eyed the older man suspiciously. “Dad?” … … … … “No.” That’s a yes. “Ugh… DAD!” “Yes?” The man in question was easy to find just outside his room. “You know you don’t have to shout. I can hear you perfectly fine where I am. The echoes of this place is rather articulate.” “Did you tell Edmund to make the cake into a heart?” He glanced over to the said cake, then to the butler, then to his son. “Why yes. Yes I did. It does add quite the sweetness to it, don’t you think?” “Why in the world would you shape it into a heart? People might get the wrong idea!” “I don’t see what the problem is. It is a gift for Pinkie. I thought you might’ve been interested so I decided to add a little extra tact for the mood. It would be such a waste seeing how she loves it. Oh and speaking of which, I also brought you a bushel of flowers as a little incentive. Girls love chocolates and flowers. If you want, I can even get you a private cruise around the docks where you can both watch the sunrise.” “Dad. I told you once before: It’s not going to work.” Flash whined pressing his palms together. “Pinkie and I aren’t going out. That’s final. Besides, she doesn’t see me that way. We’re just friends.” “Sure~~ friend~~~~~.” A voice chimed from somewhere. “I beg to differ.” “Well it’s my decision. So please. Just leave it be.” “But she really is a nice girl, Flash. She’s perfect for you.” “You don’t know that.” “Are you perhaps interested in one of her sisters by any chance? Marble might be a little meek but… I hear Maud maybe willing to…” “NO! No one!” He snapped. The thought of hooking up with any of Pinkie’s siblings was just too out of this world. He’s only ever met Marble once during a goodwill visit and the two of them hardly even shared a word, much less a glance. And wasn’t Maud seeing someone else? “Please stop playing matchmaker with my life. It’s not going to happen. EVER.” His old man eyed him wearily, but didn’t give much of a hint of his thoughts. He looked rather stoic. Almost like a statue. He seemed almost hell bent on playing cupid shooting out arrows out of a gatling gun each of which had his and Pinkie’s name on them. “Fine.” He said finally with a depressing sigh. “If that is what you really wish, then I’ll stop.” Huh… that was surprisingly easy. Almost too easy. He was expecting a little more resistance like before. “You will?” He confirmed with a nod. “I promise from here on out, I shall stop trying to put you and Pinkie together. You’re a grown man now. And you can make your own decisions and accepting the consequences. You don’t need me holding your hands and pushing you to some random girl you clearly have no attachments to.” Flash couldn’t help but eye his father with suspicion. The man was stubborn to a fault some times. But then again… this could be his way of breaking out of his shell. And he wasn’t gonna look a gift horse in the mouth. “Really?” “Really.” He responded with a casual smile, which hardly eased his worries. “Really really?” “Swear it.” The man raised his hand up like a boy scout. Flash would’ve preffered if he took a Pinkie Promise, but doubtful he’d get it. “Well… thank you. I… guess?” The boy turned to his butler. “Uh… change the shape.” Edmund bowed lowly. “As you wish, Young Master.” Flash would spend the next few minutes cautiously walking back to his room with Bananas trailing not far from his leg. He turned his head repeatedly to face his father, but the old man simply waved at him innocently like the most inconspicuous man in the world. He might not know his dad for a while, but he can tell that he was up to something. The guy had the look of a schemer and he literally had near infinite resources to hatch some diabolical plan. “That was… weird.” He said at last, once he was safely back in his room. “Yup. He’s definitely up to something. You should definitely keep an eye on him. He might try to blindside you just when you aren’t looking.” “Thanks. But I doubt dad will try anything underhanded.” “Hey. You never know what a guy with his money would do. For all you know he could be setting you up with another Pie.” Oh god. He hoped not. That was just a beehive just waiting to be poked. And a lot of people are gonna get hurt for sure. “Or maybe he’ll laced your cake with love potion.” “Love potion? Please. Don’t be… ridi… cu…lous?” It was only after the next few words did Flash realize something strange with this conversation. “Wait. Who am I talking to?” He scanned the room, thinking that he may be speaking with a ghost. “Down here, partner.” The voice added to which he followed. He looked down… and saw his pet dog smiling at him. “Hey there.” The boy’s scar beamed. (CHS) (Neighsay’s office) (The next day) “I must say, I’m rather impressed, Ms. Sparkle.” Neighsay stated as he scanned the contents of her report, showing what looked like a hint of admiration in his voice. It was weird getting praise from someone whom her friends considered an enemy. If it were Cinch or Hoity giving out the praise, she’d be a lot more wary. And it’s not like the praise wasn’t earned. The information they gathered in just a single day’s investigation was beyond what either of them expected. Within 24 hours they were able to deduce the origins of the magical incident, the perpetrator, and the objects of which the magic was used. If she had to give herself a grade, it’d be an A++. Though she did leave out about the book from Equestria. She was gonna keep that to herself for a while longer. “Thank you sir. It was a team effort.” She replied, trying to seem humble. “I admit… I wasn’t expecting much of your report. But it’s a pleasant surprise to find myself wrong for once.” He turned away from the document to face her with a small hint of a smile. “Not only did you find the origin of this rogue magic but you also discovered another Travel Stone to boot.” He gestured to the broken artifact in question. Travel Stone must be the terminology they use for the Portal Stone. “While it is sadly damaged, you were right to take it away from Headmaster Chrysalis. Your efforts are to be commended.” “We’re still not sure what she was trying to do though.” Twilight added. “She attempted to use the stone to open a portal, but it backfired on her.” “It sounds like she’s just another radical who didn’t know what they were doing.” “Huh?” “Oh don’t be so surprised. Every now and then some idiot somewhere would encounter a magical artifact and think themselves their betters. They’d incorporate magic into their daily lives trying to improve their station. It happens more than you think.” That… actually made sense. So far most of the folks they’ve met who encountered magic weren’t… exactly right of mind. Gloriosa became a magical dryad trying to save her camp, Juniper Montage became a mirror monster, Vignette trapped them in a magical dimension, and if Sunset was telling the truth – The Post Crush duo abused the Time Twirler to get that ‘Perfect’ day. It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to see others mishandle powers beyond their own comprehension. “So… what now?” She asked. “What are you gonna do about Chrysalis?” “Nothing for now.” He admitted with a guilty sigh. “She’s a high profile person. Moving against her would only result in unwanted attention. But I believe she will be harmless, provided she has no more magical artifacts or associates who delve in such practice.” “Yeah… about that.” Twilight twiddled her thumbs together. “Actually. There are some questions that I’d like to ask.” “Oh?” “It involves the investigation.” She hastily added. “Think of it as a quid-pro-quo part of this partnership?” The man’s brow rose, intriguingly. “Partnership revolves around trust, my dear. And while I do enjoy this sharing of information, I do not like the fact that you have your friends spying on me.” Ah crud. He must’ve spotted Applejack and her team. “That’s for insurance.” Twilight replied earning a rather surprised look from the older man. “Let’s be honest here. We’re never gonna trust each other. Not after what happened with Hoity Toity. This partnership is about mutual self-interest, not trust. And as much as I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, I can rule out that you can be a threat to me or my friends. Just like you can’t rule out that WE are some radicals who’re using magic for our own gains.” If Neighsay was insulted, he certainly didn’t show it. Instead his gaze sharpened, as if judging her. Twilight stood her ground, unmoving from her seat. She had the advantage here. This guy doesn’t know how many staring contest she won against Shining Armor when they were kids. She can hold them until her eyelids turned purple. And thankfully, he backed down. “I see that have thought this through, Ms. Sparkle. I’m… rarely impressed.” A smile formed on his lips. A genuine smile. “Your ingenuity and willpower are excellent qualities. I don’t suppose you’d be interested in a career working for our Order?” “I’ll think about it.” His mood remained unchanged. “Very well then. Ask you questions.” Thank god for that. “Ok Twilight. This is crucial. You need to pick your words very carefully if you wanna get any information out of him. It’s all about the tone and subtlety…” “Why are you really here?” “Or you can just throw subtlety out the window and do a Hail Mary approach.” Neighsay raised his brow again. “I’m afraid I don’t follow.” “What’s your goal?” She clarified. “I mean what does the Order intend to do here in Canterlot City? According to you, your organization secretly spans across the world. But even a secret organization has limits to its resources. Yet… after thinking about it, I get the feeling whoever is in charge is pouring more effort here than anywhere else.” His eyes suddenly narrowed, drawing a suspicious gaze. “As I have said before. Our organization is created to study and implement magic to…” “What does it have to do with the Chalice of Wishes?” Neighsay’s expression changed immensely. His hands splitting away from the table. “What are you really planning? And what does it have to do with the Winter Solstice? And why here?” These were all lingering questions that have been clogging at the back of her mind since the whole magical fiasco began. She knew about the Chalice and the timing of the whole thing, but could never really connect the dots. What they plan to do with it. What it was for. Why here of all places? She needed answers, and she was gonna get them one way or another. Obviously she didn’t expect him to be completely honest but at least then she’d get some closure. A mixture of expressions folded around Neighsay. He twisted and turned, diverting his eyes away from her as if in thought. It went on for about a minute before he finally decided to answer. “Those are some rather difficult questions, Ms. Sparkle.” He began. “I knew that my colleagues underestimated you and your friends but now that I’ve seen you… I can see why. I’m afraid I can only answer three of those questions.” Quietly he rose from his seat, picking out his black gemstone. Naturally it sparked a hostile reaction from the girl who quickly reached for her geode. “Calm yourself. I am merely explaining it in detail.” He then gently placed the black gemstone on the table letting it glow. “As you know, most of our magic is based around the ancient Yaztec Empire. An empire that once spanned across the world before their mysterious disappearance some ten thousand years prior.” Basic History 101 practically. “Their Shamans used a method similar to what you see here. Their magic alone allowed their soldiers to become super-human, travel across the world using Travel Stones. But what you don’t know is that their magic was not infinite. They require a method of renewing their powers. Think of it like today’s people with their cellphones. And sadly… electricity wasn’t invented during their time.” “So… how did they charge their magical energy?” “Isn’t it obvious? Religious sacrifice. Though mostly animals.” He chuckled dryly. “Mostly…” Twilight couldn’t help but gulp her own fears down. She knew that the Yaztec people had a habit of performing religious sacrifices. Though archeologists today would believe they did it to appease their gods. Never would they imagine that they were actually doing it to recharge their magic. If Fluttershy catches wind of this, she’ll be livid. “And what does this have to do with the Chalice?” “I’m getting there.” The man removed the gemstone from the table, grunting. “To be completely honest, I’m not entirely certain what the Chalice of Wishes does. Though we know to be a vessel of immense power capable of syphoning magic from elsewhere. These objects are extremely rare even during the Golden Age of the Yaztec Empire. And according to our experts, the vessel is capable of… well……” He paused. “As ridiculous as it may sounds. It can grant wishes.” “Wishes? Like a genie?” “I’m not entirely clear on the details. But you do know how spells are used, right?” “Of course. It takes a recipe, converts magical energy to whatever you want.” “Precisely.” Again, Neighsay nodded, looking even more impressed with her knowledge. “Though at times we do not have the recipe or the methods needed to create the spell we desire. But with the Chalice on the other hand, it circumvents those trivial methods.” “So it’s omnipotent?” “Partially.” He shrugged. “We were supposed to test it during the Winter Solstice as that is the time when magic is strongest. But as you already know, that didn’t happen thanks to the combined efforts of your former Principal. It took forever to collect all that magical energy.” A Chalice that could literally do anything you wanted? Pfft… yeah right. When something that good comes along, you just know there’s a scam behind it. If there was anything she knew about the world of science and sorcery, it’s that nothing comes for free. Well… except friendship maybe. “Oh give me a break.” “Not to mention the rarity of the artifact itself.” Neighsay continued. “As you are aware. The Chalice of Wishes isn’t exactly found in droves. We’ve recovered many of them ourselves but never one so intact. It took forever to sneak one of our agents in that museum. I should’ve known better than to put Cinch in that role.” “That’s putting it lightly.” She agreed, only to pull up a quick stop in realization. “Wait a minute. Professor Cinch? She’s your agent? What about Sombra?” The man unexpectedly raised one eye upward. “The Headmaster of Crystal Prep? What about him?” “Isn’t he part of your organization?” “A man of that stature? Hardly.” Neighsay hummed a humored tone. “He’s much too powerful and too public for our group. Besides, he’s a man of science, not magic.” That was somewhat surprising. Twilight was almost certainly sure that Sombra was a member of their group. He was in a great position, not to mention all the artifacts he had in his possession. “Will that be all, Ms. Sparkle?” Forget it. She’ll have more time to think about it when she gets back home. “There’s one more question I’d like to ask.” She added. “Does the name, Sophia Hope, mean anything to you?” “Sophia Hope?” He placed two fingers on his goatee in thought. “Sombra’s late wife? Why?” “Her name has been coming up a lot in my search. I thought it might’ve been just pure coincidence. But there are just too many factors to rule that out. If you have any information about her, it could expedite our investigation.” “Then I’m afraid you’ll get little from me. I only know the surface level of information regarding this person. Other than her in-depth studies in history, there’s little else I can provide.” So another dead end. Figures it wouldn’t be that easy. “Perhaps you could ask those closer to her for more information.” Neighsay added earning a look. “If I recall correctly. Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna were once close friends of hers. Perhaps they could give you the answers you seek.” “They were friends?” “As far as I could tell. Other than those two, your best bet would be her husband or…… her son.” His face twitched a bit at the mere mention of Flash. “Either way, that will be done at your own time. In the meanwhile, we will begin conducting a thorough investigation over Ms. Chrysalis. We will make sure that she does not do anything that threatens this city again. On behalf of the Order, I thank you, Ms. Twilight. Please pass my regards to your colleagues. And as I promised, you may keep any relics you recover.” “Wait… you’re cutting us off the investigation?” “I asked you to find the source of the rogue magic and you and your friends delivered more than I expected. Anything more will be exposing yourselves to unnecessary dangers. Best leave this sort of matters to more experienced hands.” That made sense… sort of. And she really didn’t want to show her face there again. At least not until she graduates. xxxxxxxxxx “Please tell me you’re not actually gonna let that emo-centric vampire get the better of you.” Twilight rolled her eyes, keeping silent just long enough to make sure no one was around to hear her. “Of course not. And you can already tell what I’m planning. We’re connected after all.” “Just making sure.” She shrugged. “I needed to make sure that we were both on the same page.” “We can’t allow Neighsay or the Order of the Black Stone catch Chrysalis. Not until I understand fully what she intends to do.” The nerdy girl walked up to her locker, grabbing a few books for her next class. “And there’s a good chance that she has a few more magical artifacts under her sleeves. I’d rather have those in our possession than anyone else. Oh! And that reminds me. I’ll need to collect the Magic Trap Mk. 2 from Flash later this week.” “Speaking of Flash. Didn’t you notice him twitching when he mentioned him?” She did. It was perhaps the closest thing the man ever had to an actual expression on his face. Even during the entire interrogation, he was stoic as a rock. But when he just mentioned the boy, his face went all contorted like he just sucked a lemon. “Yeah… I did. And it is rather suspicious.” Twilight mumbled. “Could he know about his new found magic? Ugh… I feel like I should’ve pressed more questions on him. There’s still so much I could’ve learned from him.” “I just hope the rest of your friends are as enthusiastic as you are. As far as I’m seeing, only two of you seem to be doing all the work.” “Oh don’t worry. I’m sure everyone’s doing their part.” Twilight’s thoughts were quickly interrupted when her phone buzzed with a familiar number on screen. “Uh… hello?” “Twilight! Hey there…” “Gloriosa? Is that you?” “Yup, it’s me. Your friendly camp counselor, Gloriosa.” She sounded strangely perky. Kind of like she was trying to keep a perky happy smile even though she was panicking inside. “Sorry. I’m probably sounding like a complete lunatic right now.” “A little bit.” “It’s just that I’m a little… anxious right now.” Twilight’s face turned. “What happened? Did the golem move?” “What? No. Of course not. That thing is pretty much the centerpiece of my new campground. You should come see it sometime. I think you might even be impressed of what we’ve done with it. But another time. I was actually calling to ask if you’ve heard from Timber.” “Timber? Well… not recently. Why?” “Well he told me he was coming to visit you yesterday during your fundraising event.” He was here? He never said anything to her. “No. I wasn’t in school during the event. Why?” “It’s just that he was supposed to help me out at the camp today arranging the walk through the woods, but he’s a no show. And now one of my extra-hands is stuck at home with fever. So I’m a little shorthanded. I checked his apartment and the usual haunts but I can’t find him anywhere. I’ve tried to reach him but all my calls are going straight to voice mail. And I know I should respect my brother’s privacy. But as his sister, I’m kind of feeling a bit… worried.” Timber’s missing? That’s not good. Though it wouldn’t be the first time he went off the grid for a while. The boy was a free-spirited one and often goes on long trips before popping back unexpectedly. “I’ll keep an eye out for him.” “Oh thanks Twilight. You’re the best.” Gloriosa sighed with some relief. “And when you do reach him. Please tell him to report to Camp Everfree right away! Sister’s orders. Gotta go now.” She ended the call with an audible click. Hmm… this was strange. Where would Timber be at this time? I understand that he and Gloriosa didn’t have the best of relationships but they still care about one another. Even he wouldn’t leave her alone for long. Hopefully nothing bad happened to him. (Classroom) “Huaaaaa~~~” Oh boy. That was a little loud. Sunset muffled her mouth as she let out a long extended yawn. Thankfully the teacher out front didn’t seem to notice and continued on his lecture. “That was a pickled yawn if I ever heard one.” Rarity pointed out which wasn’t far from the mark. “I’ve done plenty of yawning myself. And I reckon that was an ‘All-Nighters’ yawn. Stayed up late again?” “That’s one way to put it.” She groaned, putting her head between her notebooks to act as a comfort pillow. “Twilight got me translating an old text from Equestria she found during our trip on Everton Academy.” “You mean that little stunt she went on her own?” “Yeah. That.” Everyone was a little bitter about that. The old Twilight would never risk something that dangerous before. But now she was becoming far more daring. More reckless. Like… Rainbow Dash, but worse. “Rarity was pretty ticked off about it. Guess she doesn’t want friends going off on their own. Twilight must’ve done goofed if she got her that riled up.” “Yeah. I gave her an earful last night.” She yawned again, her eyes barely keeping attention to the teacher. “That didn’t stop her from pestering me to translate that darn book.” “So… what’s in the book, exactly?” “Not… sure. It’s written in old ponish so I’m having a bit of trouble translating it. From what I can gather from the few pages I’ve been able to decipher, it appears to be some kind of ancient alchemical formula. The terrible horn-writing wasn’t exactly a big help either.” She scoffed. “At this rate, it’ll take me months before I can translate the whole thing. And I’ll be graduating by then.” “Can’t you ask your friend on the other side to help you?” “Tried that. But Starlight hasn’t been answering my calls. I’ve been trying to use that music box and the journal to get a response, but no dice.” “Then why don’t you stop by their place after school?” Applejack suggested. “I mean the portal between that world and ours is literally just next door.” That was… a rather good suggestion. The portal was just a few steps from the gate. She could pop in with her book and be back within the hour. And even if the Order discovers it, they won’t be able to use it without the ‘Key’. And only she and Princess Twilight have those. “Yeah… that sounds like a good idea. Thanks Applejack.” “You’re welcome, Sugar Cube. This whole fiasco is far too big for just one of us to go at it alone. We all need a little help now and then. That’s what friends are for after all.” The cowgirl waved it off. “And the sooner you guys figure this out, the better. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells every time I come to school. Knowing that Neighsay is still around doing god-knows-what. Sometimes I even get the feeling that he might just go and do some magical mumbo jumbo before any of us know what happened.” “Trust me. You aren’t the only one.” She let out another yawn. “But I do feel a little burned out from all this research and adventuring. It’s been a while since I’ve had a proper break.” “Well if it’s a break you want, then you should join me on a little spa date at the mall after school. Rarity got herself some coupons for a good discount and needs an extra seat filled out. So I figure a little relaxation is deserving, don’t ya think?” Actually… that sounds kind of good. Sunset could really go for a little pampering right about now. It’s no hoofacure, but it certainly does take the stress off one’s body. “Huh… I… might take you up on that offer.” “Great! I’ll text Rarity and tell her to make the reservations.” “Ahem!” The teacher let out an attentive cough, eyeing the two, which quickly hushed their conversation. (Celestia’s Office) Ahh~~… nothing beats a cool working day than a cup of hot coffee in the morning. Celestia took a sip from her cup, enjoying the bitter taste it gave. Class was in session and her paperwork for the day were all done. Her schedule was clear for the day, and there hasn’t been a single report of magic at work around school, which meant that either the Rainbooms were doing a good job, or they were all hypnotized without their knowledge. She was gonna choose the former. It’s difficult to find time for herself these days. Maybe she can consider having a second breakfast, reading over a good book. She’ll finally be able to catch up on that novel she had hidden under her cupboard. So much use over the free time she had. But alas, tis wasn’t meant to be as the door to her office slammed open making her spill her coffee over her table. “I’m not late!” Luna stated panting heavily, looking like a shriveled mess. Her clothes were barely buttoned up and her hair were tangled in places that gave her the appearance of a witch. “I’m not late!” She repeated. Celestia glanced over the clock above the door and grinned. “You’re late.” “Just by a few minutes!” “That’s still count as late.” The Principal added coyly taking another sip from her cup as she penned a mark on a sheet of paper. “That’s your second tardiness of the year. Tut tut tut.” “Ugh… stupid attendance sheet.” “I take it you had fun with the gang last night?” It was pretty obvious from the untidy appearance. After the fundraising event, Cranky invited all the senior staff to a joyride on his new car. They must’ve gotten pretty rowdy because a few of them called in sick today. “You could say that.” Luna’s expression turned dopey for a second there. You could already tell she must’ve had a great time. “Say what you want about Cranky and Matilda. But those old coots still know how to party. Even Granny Smith went on the karaoke.” “Sounds like you had a great time.” The elder sibling raised a comical brow. “Nothing too rowdy I hope.” “Of course not. We’re people, not animals.” She laughed heartily as she took her seat. “You could’ve joined us too you know. It would be like the old times. The old gang hanging out and living life on the edge, and not caring what the next day brought.” They weren’t that old… yet. “Thank you for the thought. But I had my own engagements to deal with.” “Ooh?” Luna gasped intriguingly. “Let me guess…” “I didn’t go out with Sombra.” “Boooo!” She was so surprisingly obvious. “If it wasn’t a hot date, then what was it?” Celestia took a meaningful sip before letting out a sigh. “If you must know. I spent the latter part of the evening consoling our dear friend, Cadance.” That got an interested reaction from her sister who quickly snapped her head in her direction. “Apparently she was really heartbroken when Shining Armor decided to leave for Everton Academy.” “Oooh right. I heard about that from Sombra yesterday.” Luna bobbed her head in realization. “That’s just like Everton. As if it’s bad enough they’re taking away our students. Now they’re poaching staff from other schools? They’re downright criminals. At this rate they might even try to take away our faculties.” “Cadance said the same thing.” It was a real shame. Even the sisters liked Shining Armor. He may have been a smug alumni of Crystal Prep, but he showed many qualities that befitted his station. He was one of the few good ones around here. He was loyal, hardworking, and thrived well under pressure. Not to mention a highly capable leader amongst his peers. You won’t be able to find folks like him around these parts for a long time. “This is bad.” Luna added, followed by a gasp. “Wait. They’re not breaking up, are they?” “Of course not.” At least… not yet. Though Cadance did sound somewhat distraught. Those two seemed like one of the perfect couple despite their age gap. Hopefully they’ll work it out somehow. (Hallway) “Hmm…” Rarity let out a low and curious hum. It was probably the fifth time she did in the last hour which finally prompted Fluttershy to respond. “Is… everything ok, Rarity? You’ve been making that face for a while now.” “I’m just curious, that’s all.” She explained, while her eyes wandered to the crowd around the hallway. “Haven’t you noticed anything strange happening today?” “What is?” The animal lover asked, glancing around her locker area. “Is Rainbow Dash doing another one of her solo musical number? Or is it Pinkie Pie with her vaguely specific twitches?” “None of those.” And we can all be thankful for that. While Rainbow Dash has been known to go on a musical jam in rare occasions, Pinkie’s twitchy senses were far more frightening. And all those who know her long enough, learn the hard way that you should never ignore her senses. “Then what is it?” “I’m about to find out.” Her keen eyes then quickly scanned the surrounding, taking every little detail into account. The special ability that she had been honing ever since she took up fashion was coming into work. “Oh my goodness.” “What? WHAT!? What is it?” “There’s a rumor circulating around school!” … Fluttershy blinked at her purple friend. “Uh… what?” Rarity pulled the girl up to her face, hugging her neck and pointing out to all the signs. “Can’t you see it, darling? The groups huddling together, the hushed whispers, the chuckling of amusement and gasping of shock, the odd glances our way?” “Umm… maybe?” “These are all the telltale signs of a new gossip spreading across school! Ah! Yes. That must be it.” She squealed. “The sensation. I wonder what it could be. Oh! Perhaps Chestnut Magnifico finally got back together with Brad-Brad. Oh! Maybe the Spring fashion lineup is finally in season!” “Or maybe we could just ask what it is.” She gasped. “Oh my. Fluttershy. You’re an absolute genius. It always pay to be in-the-know.” Rarity then calmly galloped to a nearby group of classmates who acknowledged her presence. “Pardon the interruption darlings. But I must positively must know what everyone is talking right now. Judging from the sound of it – it must be positively juicy.” “You don’t know the half of it, Rare.” Cherry Crash was her name, laughed in agreement. “And it’s not just a rumor either. It’s been doubly confirmed by everyone in school.” “Oooh. And what is it?” “You won’t believe it. But yesterday, during the Fundraising event, Flut—err…” Her face and the face of all her friends suddenly turn pale as Fluttershy approached. “Err… I mean… Flubber Blubber’s Gum got a… super—er—healthy new flavor!” Rarity’s head unsurprisingly tilted in confusion. “That’s the rumor everyone’s talking about?” “Yup.” “Absolutely. Definitely nothing else. Ahehehehe.” The second guy added laughing awkwardly. “Oh and look at the time. We’re almost late for class.” “It’s lunch period.” Rarity pointed out. “Well we don’t want to let the food wait. Good to see ya Rare. Hey there Fluttershy. How’s it uh… hangin?” Cherry Crash raised a fist-bump gesture which the girl in question responded with a sweet adorable yet awkward fist of her own. “Uh… pretty good?” “Great great. That’s really great. Well see ya.” The group quickly scattered off in the opposite direction, hastily making themselves scarce, trying to smile it off though unconvincingly. Now that was probably the most bizarre goodbye Rarity has ever heard, and she’d seen Pinkie do her flaming hula-hoop farewells. “Was it just me or was that the strangest thing ever?” “It was.” Fluttershy agreed holding her fist up. “I think that was the first time I ever did a fist-bump. I… I kind of like it.” “No! Not that. They’re clearly keeping the juicy gossip to themselves and leaving me out of the loop.” The fashionista huffed. “Well that’s fine. We can simply ask someone else for the details. Oh hello Scribble Dee.” She found her next friend right off the bat sipping by the drinking fountain. “Oh hey Rarity. What can I dooo…ooooh!?” The girl froze mid drink, her voice suddenly turning to a high pitched squeak. “H… hey there Fluttershy! I didn’t see you there.” “Hello.” She responded, waving her hand sweetly. “H… hi.” Scribble tip-toed back, unconsciously bowing as if she was in the presence of royalty. “Uh… oh! I’m so sorry. Did you want to take a drink? Please go right ahead, Your Honor.” She then quickly pull out her napkin and rub the hose. “Let me just… clean that up for you. Ahe… hehehe. Oh wow. Look at the time. I’m supposed to… be… at class! Right see ya.” “Wait! But it’s still lunch period!” But the girl was long gone before Rarity could stop her. She was practically bolting away like her own butt was on fire. “What in the world was that?” Again Fluttershy shrugged. “I have no idea. But it was very thoughtful of her to clean the hose. I am feeling a bit thirsty.” Ok now she was certain something was definitely wrong here. Rarity tried to shake it off as mere coincidence at first, but now there was no mistaking it. Even as she turned her gaze to the other groups of classmates in the hallway, they would immediately tense up and bolt it out of there like they just saw one of their worst nightmares. Something was up, and it was clear that this innocent lovable wallflower next to her was the root cause. “Fluttershy. Did you do something strange yesterday?” The girl poked her chin innocently in thought. “Hmm… not that I can think of, no.” Ok, either she really has no idea or she was a complete airhead. Or maybe even both. There has to be someone here who can give them a clue. Oh wait. Here comes one now. “Excuse m…” “Eeeeeppp!” The guy screamed, spun a complete 180 and got the heck out of there. Naturally her eye began to twitch irritably. Oh for the love of… “THAT IS IT!” Rarity roared, her hair twinging on all sides. “I’ve had it with this lunacy! I am getting to the bottom of this nonsense, right now!” And thankfully she didn’t have to look far as Snips and Snails exited the bathroom just in time to face her. “YOU!” “Uh oh.” They got about two steps before Rarity confined them in her diamond force field, dragging them to her like prisoners. “Start talking!” “Ok ok ok!” Snips wept. “We confess! It was us! We did it! We’re the ones who keeps taking the soap from the bathrooms!”