//------------------------------//
// Arc 16-3: The Unfriendly Upstagers 
// Story: My Little Pony: One as a Family.  "Life in Canterlot" 
// by SaburoDaimando 
//------------------------------//


	The Unfriendly Upstagers



Wanda Young, Sunset Shimmer and Abigail Albright were running through downtown Canterlot as fast as possible.  Judging by the look on their faces, it appears they’re running late.
“Hurry sis,” Sunset Shimmer said.  “We don’t want to miss out on Trixie’s big performance.”
“I’m running as fast as possible,” Wanda said.  “And I apologize for sleeping in.”
“It’s okay,” Sunset said.  “You’re still feeling the effects of recovering from the Hay Fever virus.”
As the girls ran as fast as possible, the two ran right into the leg of a random mare, knocking them down to the ground all while they both shut their eyes.  Wanda and Sunset shook their heads and began to open their eyes while Abigail stopped right next to the duo.
“What in mother’s name just happened?” Sunset said as she rubbed the horn on her forehead.
As the two looked up, they saw that the hip they ran into was none other than Senator Twinkle Wish, who glanced down at them both.  Wanda looked at Twinkle Wish’s face and immediately hid behind Sunset.
“Bad pony,” Wanda said as she shook behind Sunset.
“Oh look,” Twinkle Wish said in a sarcastic tone.  “It’s Princess Celestia’s favorite pets.”
“Excuse me?”  Sunset said.  “We’re not pets.  We’re adopted daughters.”
“I don’t see any difference whatsoever,” Twinkle Wish said with a scoff.  “Especially with your so-called sister.”
Those words caused Wanda to hide her face even further behind Sunset, as the sun-themed filly got up on her four legs and glared at the Senator.
“What did you call her?” Sunset Shimmer said as she showed her teeth.
“I know exactly what I called her, you entitled brat,” Twinkle Wish said as she used her magic to move Sunset Shimmer out of the way and look down at little Wanda.  “And as for you.”
“Stay away from me,” Wanda said as she covered her face.  “You’re a bad pony.”
“Am I?” Senator Twinkle Wish said with a scorn as she used her magic to move Wanda’s hands away from her face.  “I’m only doing this to protect Equestria from foreign invaders, such as you.”
“No,” Wanda said as she turned away from Twinkle Wish and closed her eyes.  “I am not what you just say.”
“Don’t you dare lie to me,” Twinkle Wish said as she used her magic to turn Wanda’s head back towards her and opened her eyes. “Ever since you humiliated me back when you were a kid, I had to put up with your antics no thanks to Princess Celestia.  Sure you may have won the heart of Chancellor Cinch.  But don’t think you’ll ever win mine.  You’re not wanted here in this land, and if I were Chancellor, I would banish you to the deadlands, FOREVER!”
Senator Twinkle Wish released Wanda from her magical grip.  The man’s cub stared at the senator while tears poured from her eyes.  Sunset Shimmer ran up to her sister as the human looked like she was about to cry.
“WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”  Wanda cried before burying her face into Sunset’s chest.  “I DON’T WANT TO BE BANISHED TO THE DEADLANDS!”
As Sunset Shimmer hugged Wanda close, she glared even more so at Senator Wish.
“That was a low blow,” Sunset Shimmer said.  “First you tormented my mother into signing that horrible bill.  And now this?”
“Maybe if your mother wasn’t such a total idiot into believing the so-called ‘Magic of Friendship,’ then maybe Equestria could be made great again,” Senator Twinkle Wish said as Sunset Shimmer kept her eyes on her face.
“Don’t you ever talk that way about my sister, or my mother, ever again,” Sunset Shimmer replied in a cold tone.
“Fine, suit yourself,” Senator Wish scoffed.  “But don’t think that animal can be let off easy, especially if she shows up at the Grand Gallopin Gala.”
Senator Twinkle Wish held her nose up and walked away from Sunset Shimmer, all while the mare held onto Wanda, allowing the young lady to cry into the sun filly’s chest.
“This is pretty typical of jerks who side with my mother.”  Sunset Shimmer turned her head to the right and saw Golden Lace walk up to them.  Lace looked at Senator Twinkle Wish walking away from the group and the little filly’s eyes burned bright red.
“Lace,” Sunset said.  “What are you doing here?”
“I came here to get you guys to Trixie’s play,” Golden Lace said.  “But it seems one of my mom’s hench senators decided to give you both a hard time.”
“That’s an understatement,” Sunset replied.  “She had the audacity to tell Wanda that she’s not wanted here, and that she would be banished to the deadlands forever if it were up to her.”
Golden Lace looked down at Wanda, still crying into Sunset’s chest.  She placed her hoof around Wanda’s shoulders, catching the Man’s Cub’s attention.
“Hey, it’s going to be alright,” Golden Lace said in a soothing tone.  “Don’t let that snob get under your skin.  As long as you have friends, that’s what matters the most.”
Wanda looked up at Golden Lace, who gave off a warm and comforting smile.  The human girl’s frown turned upside down as she wiped a tear from her eye and gave Lace a big hug.  Sunset Shimmer walked up to the two and wrapped her arms around them.  Abigail walked up and rubbed her head around Wanda’s hand before the Man’s Cub rubbed her on the head.
“Now doesn’t that feel better, sis?” Sunset Shimmer asked as the three embraced each other.
“Yeah,” Wanda said as she let go of Golden Lace.  “It does.”
As Sunset and Lace got onto their four hooves, Golden Lace waved to Sunset and Wanda and said “Trixie’s been waiting for you guys to show up.  She’s doing a rehearsal for her big show at the Grand Gallopin Gala.  Come on.”
With that, Golden Lace takes off with Wanda, Abigail and Sunset following from behind.

Later that day, in the middle of Canterlot, Starlight Glimmer, Sunburst, Moondancer, Danged Spell, Ditzy Doo and Cozy Glow were seated in front of a large, purple wagon with a light blue, star-themed roof.  The wagon had converted into a stage with Trixie setting everything up.  As she applied the finishing touches to her stage, her eyes caught Wanda, Sunset, Abigail and Golden Lace running towards the audience.
“Well I was wondering when you all would show up,” Trixie said as Sunset, Wanda, and Lace arrived and took their seats, with Abigail jumping into Wanda's lap.  “I wasn’t going to put on the show without the rest of our audience.
“I couldn’t miss it for the world,” Sunset Shimmer said.  “Besides, I heard you can do some really fine work with your magic spells.”
“Oh please,” Trixie said.  “The Great and Powerful Trixie is an expert at this, especially when she learned her skills from her Great and Powerful Father.”
As the younglings cheered for Trixie, Wanda took a glance at Trixie’s wagon and raised her hand.
“You there, Princess Wanda,” Trixie said.  “What do you ask of the Great and Powerful Trixie?”
“Where did you get that wagon, Trixie?” Wanda asked.  “I thought your daddy was going to repair your old one.”
“Well that’s what I thought,” Trixie replied.  “But when my daddy heard about what happened with the Windigo’s Guild, instead of repairing my old one, he gave me a new one.  And it looks even Greater and more Powerful.”
“Windigo’s Guild?” Lace whispered to Sunset.
“It’s a long story,” Sunset whispered back.  “And it involved them attacking us at the Ponyville Fair.”
"But enough talk about recent events," Trixie yelled.  "I, the Great and Powerful Trixie, will perform a series of illusions to dazzle your minds."  Her words caused the crowd to ooooh in excitement.
" I am so excited," Starlight said as she grabbed onto Sunburst and held him right. "I can't wait to see what Trixie has in that magic hat of hers."
"Starlight," Sunburst said as he struggled to breathe.  "That's...too...tight."
Starlight looked at Sunburst and proceeded to let go of him.  The young colt was gasping for air as Starlight blushed with embarrassment.
"Oops, sorry," Starlight said.
"You can sometimes be a silly pony when it comes to magicians," Moondancer laughed. 
"How so?" Starlight asked.
"Well their goal is to put on a show," Moondancer replied.  "And win the respect of the audience.  It's not like Trixie's going to take out an Ursa Major unless she were an alicorn like Princess Celestia."
"Yeah," Danged Spell said with a smug grin on his face.  "If she were to do that, she would put on a spell of a show.  Get it?"
All of the younglings, especially Trixie, groaned as they yelled out "Danged Spell."  Danged Spell just sat back in his chair with that smug grin still on his face.
"It was worth it," Danged Spell said to himself as he laid back in his seat.
“You really enjoy being a smug little pony, do ya?”  Cozy Glow said as she glared at Danged Spell.
“Why not?”  Danged Spell replied.  “You should truly learn from yours truly.”
But as Danged Spell reclined back, his seat tipped back and fell down, sending him crashing to the ground.  This caused everyone to laugh at him, much to his displeasure.
“Actually,” Cozy Glow said as she laughed with a sinister grin.  “I already did.”
“Oh hah hah hah,” Danged Spell said as he got on his four hooves and lifted his chair straight up.  “Really funny you chowderheads.”
Danged Spell reached up and sat back down in his seat, crossing his arms in disgust.  Cozy Glow just stared at Danged Spell, still maintaining that grin on her face.
“What are you looking at?” Danged Spell said.
“Oh,” Cozy Glow said as she shifted her eyes away with an innocent tone  “Nothing.”
  Back on stage, Trixie takes off her wizard-like hat and places it on top of a table.  The crowd ooohs as the hat balances on top of the tip.
“For my first trick,” Trixie said.  “The Great and Powerful Trixie will pull a rabbit out of her hat.”
Trixie raised her arms into the air before reaching into her hat.  She dug through, trying to find something before she felt a snap at the tip of her hoof, causing her to scream and pull her hoof out.  At the tip of her hoof was a mousetrap, having somehow trapped Trixie’s hoof in its jaw.  Everyone started laughing as Trixie blushed in embarrassment.
“Okay,” Trixie said as she pulled the mousetrap off her hoof and tossed it aside.  “That was not what the Great and Powerful Trixie expected.”  Trixie breathed in and regained her composure before pointing to the audience and said “But there is more to the magic of the majestic hat of the Great and Powerful Trixie….than meets the eye.”
Once again, Trixie thrust her hoof deep into her hat and dug right through, searching for whatever she could pull out.  She felt a slight tug and her face beamed with excitement.  With a mighty pull, she pulled what appeared to be Abigail Albright out of the hat by her tail.  
“What in the?”  Trixie said as she took notice of Abigail.  “How did you get in there?”
Wanda saw Trixie holding Abigail by the tail and looked down at her lap to notice that her cat was no longer on her lap.  She looked up and saw Abigail yelling and hissing at Trixie as she attempted to swipe at Trixie’s face.
“Uhhh,” Trixie said as she dodged a few claw swipes.  “Will the owner of this feral beast please come up on stage and retrieve it?”
Without warning, Wanda jumped out of her seat and ran up onto the stage.  Trixie lowered Abigail down onto the stage and let go of the cat’s tail before hiding behind the stage table.  As Abigail growled at Trixie, Wanda went up behind the kitten and picked her up.
“No Abby,” Wanda said as she walked off stage with Abigail in her arms.  “She didn’t mean to do that.”
Trixie came out from behind the stage table and breathed a sigh of relief as the audience continued to laugh.  
“Well we can all appreciate a good joke and all,” Trixie said.  “But the Great and Powerful Trixie still has a winning hand to show.”
Trixie tapped the side of the stage table and her hat pointed to her face.  Suddenly, playing cards spewed out of the hat and peppered that magical filly, sending her flying down to the ground.  The crowd laughed it up even further.
“If this is a magic show,” Sunset said as she laughed really hard.  “Then this might as well be my favorite ever.”
“I’d say this is the best performance I have ever seen in my life,” Starlight replied.
Trixie got up and stared closely at her hat, growling as the hat belched out a puff of smoke.
“The Great and Powerful Trixie does not want any more funny business,” Trixie scowled.  “You better behave this instant or I will spank you good.  Do you hear me?”
The hat responded by holding up a white flag and waving it before pulling it back in.  Trixie looked down and smiled.
“Very good,” Trixie said as the hat held itself back up.  She turned to the audience and said “And now, the Great and Powerful Trixie will continue from where we left off.  At least this hat won’t belch a rotten tomato in my face.”
Suddenly, a tomato flew from out of nowhere and hit Trixie square in the face, sending her flying to the ground.  She got back up and glanced coldly at her hat.
“I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO THAT,” Trixie yelled.
“Uhh Trixie,” Sunburst said as he held his hoof into the air.  “I don’t think it was your hat that did that.”
Trixie turned to Sunburst and said “Well if that’s the case, then where did this tomato come from?  The sky?”
But before anyone can answer, another rotten tomato hit Ditzy Doo on the back of her head, catching everyone off guard.  Ditzy Doo reached behind with her hoof and pulled out some of the tomato bits, causing her to freak out.
“I’M BLEEDING!” Ditzy yelled as she got out of her seat and ran off. 
“DITZY,” Sunset yelled as she ran after Ditzy Doo.  “Come back here.”
As Trixie and the rest of the audience saw Sunset run after Ditzy, they looked up and saw Hoops, Dumbbell and Score flying in the air holding tons of tomatoes in their hooves.
“Did you losers miss us?”  Hoops said as he juggled a few tomatoes with his hooves.
“You three again,” Golden Lace yelled.  “Why can’t you just leave us alone?”
But as soon as Golden Lace stopped speaking, Score lobbed a tomato, hitting her right in the face and sending her to the floor.  Lace barely got up before shaking the tomato bits off her face.
“That was a low blow,” Danged Spell said as he got up on his two legs.  “Picking a food fight with us while we’re watching a magic show.  You three are completely nuts.”
As Danged Spell finished speaking, a stray tomato flew right from the hoof of Hoops and hit Danged Spell right in the crotch with a loud ding.  Spell’s eyes shrunk down completely as he yelped loudly and collapsed onto the ground, holding his crotch with his hooves..
“THAT REALLY HURTS!”  Danged Spell said in a high pitched voice.  “You meanies have gone too far.”
“Yeah,” Moondancer said as she reached out and pulled Danged Spell up, holding him to his side. “We’re just trying to enjoy a good show and you had to upstage all of it.  Get yourselves lost.”
“Oh we’ve only begun to upstage it,” Hoops said.  He turned to Dumbbell and Score and said “Let em have it, whirlwind-style.”
With that, Hoops, Dumbbell and Score tossed their tomatoes into the air before they flew up and started to spin their arms forward.  The moment the tomatoes hit their hooves, they spin around before launching off and diving towards the stage.   Trixie and the audience looked up and started panic as tomatoes rain atop everyone.  
“IT’S AN ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES!”  Starlight yelled as she hid under a chair.  “EVERY PONY HIDE!”
But as Starlight finished yelled, the tomatoes landed at brutal speed, hitting everyone in the audience either on the head, on the back, or on the butt.  Wanda got hit in the face by a stray tomato while Abigail got buried under another.  Trixie freaked out and hid underneath a chair before another tomato pegs her on the rear end.
“Enjoy the marinara, paisanos,” Dumbbell said with a chuckle.  “We have-a date with-a cross-eyed trash pony.”
Hoops, Dumbbell and Score laughed as they flew off from the now tomato-stained stage.  As everyone got up and began to brush the bits of tomato off their hide,  Wanda wiped the tomato off her face and dusted herself off before picking up Abigail and cleaning her off with a handkerchief.
“Normally,” Wanda said in a calm voice.  “I would go hide somewhere and cry.”  Immediately, her face turned bright red as her teeth showed as Abigail growled loudly.  “BUT THOSE THREE REALLY GET UNDER MY SKIN!”  Wanda yelled.
“Wow,” Starlight said as she hid behind Sunburst.  “Is this a new look for Wanda?”
“I have never seen her act like that,” Sunburst said.
“I have,” Golden Lace replied as she stepped forward.  “When those three took you, Starlight, something within Wanda got really angry.  I think it’s because no one messes with her friends and gets away with it.”
“That’s definitely a scary sight, that’s for sure,” Danged Spell said as he kept his eyes on Wanda. 
Wanda stomped towards Trixie, still holding an angry Abigail in her arms.  Trixie looked at Wanda and her face turned into a smirk
“What is thy wish, oh Great and Royal Princess Wanda?” Trixie said.
“No jerk messes with my friends and GETS AWAY WITH IT!” Wanda yelled.  She regained her composure, brushed off her dress and added  “What do I do, Trixie?”
Trixie smiled as she tapped on the stage board.  A part of the Stage extended out, revealing a whole set of Super Soaker water blasters.
“Take your pick,” Trixie said.  “No charge.”

Meanwhile, at a nearby alleyway, Ditzy Doo was crying in a corner as tomato juice slowly dripped from her mane.  Behind her, Sunset Shimmer walked up to the crying filly and placed her arm around the grey pegasus youngster.
“You okay?” Sunset asked.
“No,” Ditzy cried.  “Those big meanies won’t leave me alone, even after they were banished from La Maresa for an even bigger prank they pulled.”
“Wait,” Sunset said, surprised by Ditzy’s reply.  “They were….banished?”
Ditzy raised her head, turned to face Sunset and said “Yeah.  Sometime after you guys left for Canterlot, they decided to pull an even bigger prank on the last day of the fair by throwing tomatoes at every pony’s face.  As a result, the mayor decided to kick all three of them out, stating that they’re never allowed there again.”
“That was the dumbest punishment ever applied to any colt,” Sunset replied as she put her hoof on her face.  “In fact, they gave Starlight a hard time when we last saw them here in Canterlot.  If anything, that only emboldened them into pulling even bigger stunts than ever.”
“So what are we going to do?” Ditzy asked.
“I’ll tell you what I will do when I get that chance,” Sunset said.  “I’m going to let Granny Smith and Bright Mac know about this.  Maybe they know what to do.”
“Oh you snowflakes won’t do anything.” Those words alerted Sunset Shimmer and Ditzy Doo.  But before either pony could respond, they were snatched out from the ground by Dumbbell and Score and flown upwards.  Dumbbell held Ditzy in a bear hug while Score did the same thing for Sunset Shimmer.
“Hey,” Sunset said.  “Let us go you big palooka.”
“Make us,” Score said with a devious laugh.  
“Now you’re asking for it,” Sunset said as her horn began to glow brightly.
Suddenly, a tomato hits Sunset Shimmer right in the face, causing her to lose her magical focus in her horn.  As Sunset shook the tomato puree off her face, Hoops came right out of nowhere and shoved a tennis ball right on top of Sunset’s horn.
“What the hay did you do, you big dumb meanie?” Sunset yelled.
“Go ahead,” Hoops said.  “Test your horn out.”
Sunset pointed her tennis ball-addled horn right at Hoops.  But to her surprise, only a few sparks shot out, and nothing more.
“What?”  Sunset yelled.  “What did you do to me?”
“Oh we discovered a plant that is capable of blocking out a unicorn’s magic,” Hoops said.  “Can’t believe someone never thought about cultivating that.”
“Yeah,” Score said.  “Unicorn’s Bane.  Just like Wolfsbane.”
“Unicorn’s Bane?” Sunset said.
“Oh yeah,” Score said as he held Sunset tight.  “Ever since we got banished from La Maresa, we decided to take our heckling on tour across Equestria.  During our search for more snowflakes to ruin, we found a rare plant in the middle of the Everfree forest called Unicorn’s Bane.”
“And now there’s nothing you can do to break free,” Dumbbell said while he held onto Ditzy Doo.  “And we’re going to teach you snowflakes a lesson you’ll never forget.”
“Let me go,” Ditzy cried as she struggled to break free.  “I don’t want to be taught a lesson from you meanies.”
“Oh here’s the thing,” Hoops said as he flew to Ditzy and lifted her head up by her chin.  “You have no other choice.  It’s part of our agenda to melt the snowflake’s emotions and make them tougher.”
“But I don’t wanna be tougher,” Ditzy cried as she started kicking around, causing Hoops to back off.
“Feisty aren’t you?” Hoops said with a laugh.
Suddenly, a blast of water jets from below and hits Hoops, sending him flying upwards before free falling out of control.  Dumbbell and Score looked helplessly as Hoops fell downwards.
“Big bro,” Score yelled as he watched Hoops fall towards the city.
In an instant, more powerful streams of water hit Dumbbell and Score, sending them both falling out of the sky and causing them to lose their grips respectively of Ditzy Doo and Sunset Shimmer.  While Ditzy was able to regain control and flap her wings, Sunset fell from her height as well.
“SOMEONE HEEEEEEEELP,” Sunset yelled. 
Immediately, Ditzy saw Sunset Shimmer and flew as fast as possible before grabbing her with her arms.  
“Don’t worry,” Ditzy said.  “I got you.”
Ditzy came to a stop and began to descend slowly with Sunset Shimmer resting in her arms.  The unicorn filly smiled as she pulled the tennis ball off her horn and tossed it aside.
“Note to self,” Sunset said.  “Ask mother for a bath.  And tell her that it’s because those three jerks infected my horn with Unicorn’s Bane.”

Back on the ground in the nearby alley, Hoops, Dumbbell and Score continued to free fall until they landed on some nearby trash bags.  The three pegasus colts groaned as they slowly got up.
“That is disgusting,” Hoops said as he jumped off the bags.  “Now my fur is going to smell like rotten eggs.”
“WHo did that?”  Score said as he got up from the bags.  “Nobody sprays us out of the sky and gets away with it?”
As soon as Dumbbell got up from the bags and landed next to Hoops and Score, he noticed Wanda, Abigail, Golden Lace, Starlight Glimmer and Trixie standing at the entrance to the alley.  The Man’s Cub and her pony friends were armed with Super Soaker blasters and had war paint on their faces.  Wanda growled at the trio, looking unnerved.
“What’s gotten in with that monkey?” Dumbbell asked.
“This monkey is teed off that you had to ruin her friend’s magic act preparation for the Grand Gallopin Gala,” Wanda snarled as Abigail hissed at the three bullies.  “You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
“Yeah,” Starlight said.  “We were enjoying all of that, and you had to upstage us.”
“I may be one who’s put her past behind,” Golden Lace said as she brushed her mane before pointing the Super Soaker at the three.  “But you three had to go and remind me what a horrible monster I was.”
“You, a monster?”  Hoops laughed as Dumbbell and Score took his side.  “I’ve seen what you once were.  You didn’t have what it takes to be as mean as we are.”
“Doesn’t give you bullies the excuse to pull what you did,” Wanda said as she struck a pose.  “I am the champion of love and justice: Wanda Young, daughter of Princess Celestia and niece of Princess Luna.  And  in the name of the sun and moon, WE WILL PUNISH YOU!”
Trixie aimed her Super Soaker at the three bullies, smiling as the pegasi colts began to freak out.
“Ready, Aim, FIRE!” Trixie yelled before she pulled the trigger on her Super Soaker, sending a powerful stream of water right in Hoops, Dumbbell and Score’s faces.  Wanda, Starlight and Golden Lace followed suit, blasting the three pegasi with enough aquatic force to send them flying out of the alleyway.
“Let’s fly outta here,” Hoops said as he struggled to run out of the alleyway.
“Can’t,” Score said.  “Our wings are too wet.
“Then run for your lives,” Dumbbell yelled as the three ran away from Wanda, Abigail, Starlight, Golden Lace and Trixie.
But as Hoops, Dumbbell and Score ran to the opposite end of the alleyway, they saw Sunburst and Moondancer to the side of the street, both holding Super Soakers of their own.
“I don’t like the looks of this,” Score said as he began to quiver in fear.
Moondancer pointed her Super Soaker at the three bullies and said “If I was Danged Spell right now, I think the best pun would be this.  You three are WASHED UP!”
With that, Moondancer and Sunburst fired off streams of water from their Super Soakers, drenching Hoops, Dumbbell and Score once again.
“We’re under attack,” Dumbbell yelled.
“Run you fools,” Hoops yelled.  “Get away from them.”
Without a second thought, Hoops, Dumbbell and Score turned around and quickly ran off as Moondancer and Sunburst shut off their Super Soakers.
“Think that taught them a lesson?” Sunburst asked.
“Not just yet,” Moondancer replied.
Down the street, Hoops, Dumbbell and Score ran as fast as they could, pushing and shoving through the citizens of Canterlot.
“Those kids are completely crazy,” Dumbbell said.
“Who cares,” Hoops said.  “At least we don’t have to put up with them no more.”
But as Hoops, Dumbbell and Score ran up to the fountain, they saw Cozy Glow and Danged Spell pointing Super Soakers at them.  The three held onto each other as they cower helplessly.
“Please,” Score said.  “Spare us, already.  We’re just three helpless colts.”
“Oh no no no,” Cozy Glow replied with a smirk on her face.  “You three decided to pull a mean-spirited prank on us.  So you get what you three deserve.”
Danged Spell smiled at the three colts and said “Hasta la vista, babies.”
With a pull of the trigger, Cozy Glow and Danged Spell fired off streams of water right at Hoops, Dumbbell and Score, drenching the three even further.  The trio jumped out of the stream and began to run off.
“Come on boys,” Hoops yelled.  “Let’s get out of here.”
With that, Hoops, Dumbbell and Score ran off into the distance as Danged Spell and Cozy Glow looked at them.  The unicorn and pegasus duo then faced each other before delivering a hoofbump as Sunburst, Moondancer, Wanda, Abigail, Starlight, Golden Lace and Trixie all arrived.
“That will teach those jerks not to mess with the magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie,” Trixie said as she held her Super Soaker in the air.
Just then, Ditzy Doo hovered down onto the ground as she held Sunset Shimmer in her arms.  Sunset jumped out of Ditzy’s arms and landed on the ground next to Wanda before getting on her two legs and giving her sister a hug.
“Sister,” Wanda said as she hugged Sunset back.  “What happened?”
“Those three decided they wanted to give me skydiving lessons,” Sunset said as she let go of Wanda.  “But thanks to you guys, you showed them who was the boss.”
“IT was scary to see them again,” Ditzy said.  “I guess their banishment wasn’t that much of a deterrent.”
“Which reminds me,” Wanda said.  “If I see Uncle Bright Mac again, he owes us all an explanation about their banishment.”
“Yeah, it doesn’t make sense,” Danged Spell replied.  “I don’t even call that a punishment, but more of a permission to give the whole world an even harder time.”
“But hey, look on the bright side,” Trixie said.  “My great and powerful Super Soakers worked wonders in driving those bullies away for that horrible stunt they pulled.”
“Yeah, that was great,” Golden Lace said to Trixie before turning to Wanda and added “That being said, you might want to cool it down on your anger.”
“Her what?” Sunset asked.  Wanda looked at Sunset and blushed bright red.
“Okay, I admit it,” Wanda said.  “I haven’t forgiven those three bullies for that stunt they pulled on me in La Maresa.  In fact, just seeing those three just makes me really mad.”
Sunset Shimmer just stared at Wanda with a stern look on her face.  Everyone else just looked at Sunset while sweating deeply.
“I think she might be in big trouble,” Cozy Glow whispered to Danged Spell, who only nodded in agreement.
Wanda just looked at Sunset Shimmer and continued to grin with embarrassment while Sunset walked up to her human sister, still keeping her eyes on her.
“Actually, that does make sense in a way,” Sunset replied.   “Considering that mother and I have been a bit of a bad influence on you.  And truth be told, we tend to be protective of you when big meanies like the Windigo’s Guild.  So I will let that slide.  But promise me you will never flip out like that again.”
Wanda smiled and said “Promise sis.”
“Good,” Sunset said.  “Besides, I don’t want to see it turn into a habit.  Now that being said, there is one more issue I have to address.”
“Really?” Wanda said as she started to sweat nervously.  “And….what would that be?”
Sunset Shimmer's frown turned into a smirk as she grabbed a Super Soaker that was sitting next to Trixie before pointing it at Wanda and pulling the trigger, sending a blast of water at the Man’s Cub and soaking her good.  As soon as the water pressure was reduced to nothing, Wanda shook off the access water from her hair and picked up her Super Soaker.
“What was that for?” Wanda said.
“That was for not letting me on your little Super Soaker fun time,” Sunset said.  “Now let’s see if you really are the master of the Super Soaker.”
“Okay,” Wanda said as she pointed her Super Soaker at Sunset.   “You asked for it.”
And with that, Wanda, Sunset, Starlight, Sunburst, Moondancer, Danged Spell, Golden Lace and Cozy Glow began to spray each other with jets of water from their respective Super Soakers, all while they laughed and giggled.  Nearby, Trixie was just watching on while Ditzy Doo parked right next to her while Abigail runs up and sits next to Ditzy..
“You sure know how to give a fun time, Trixie” Ditzy said.
“Of course,” Trixie replied as she thrusted her arms into the air.  “After all, my daddy bought those Great and Powerful Super Soakers so that we may all have a Great and Powerful fun time.”  She landed on her four hooves and turned to Ditzy before she added “Wanna join in?”
“Nah,” Ditzy said.  “I’m fine.”
“That’s cool,” Trixie replied while Abigail lets out a playful meow.

But as the younglings were having fun with the Super Soakers in the streets below, Quickstrike was watching them from above with great interest.  Behind him, Inferno and Waspinator walked up to their changeling brother.
“Come on, bro,” Quickstrike said.  “Can’t I just grab one of those youngsters and make off with em?”
“No,” Inferno replied.  “The Royalty assigned us to spy on those little ponies.  Besides, you get in their way, they’ll drench you good with those weapons.”
“Aww man,” Quickstrike said as he smacked his hoof on the pavement.  “But I’m too anxious to get one of them.”
“You’ll get your chance soon, Quickstrike,” Inferno replied.  “It is the duty of the Royalty to prepare the ambush at the Grand Gallopin Gala,:
“Oooh, Waspinator likes ambush,” Waspinator said as he rubbed his hooves together and grinned evilly.  “So when will Waspinator ambush little ponies?”
“That will be decided by our queen, Waspinator,” Inferno replied.  “For now, we must make haste to the sub-colony.  She will be expecting us.”
“Alright,” Quickstrike replied as he slapped Inferno on the back.  “I can’t wait to crash the Grand Gallopin Gala and swipe candy from little fillies.”  Quickstrike turned to Waspinator and said “Come on, Waspy.  Let’s get ready for the best night ever.”
With that, Inferno and Quickstrike transformed into a pair of pegasus and flew off from the rooftop with Waspinator looking at them from below.
“Wait for Waspinator,” Waspinator said as he transformed into a pegasus and flew after Inferno and Quickstrike.


	To Be Continued in….


	Evil lurking