//------------------------------//
// Unleash the Magic 
// Story: Friendship Reborn 
// by Mystic Sunrise 
//------------------------------//

"Imagine all I'll learn by setting it free," Twilight Sparkle whispered, holding her device like a newborn baby, as her team continued to sing behind her.

"If both teams are ready," Vice Principal Luna said from off to the side.

"And now winning these games depends on me, and what doors might open if I try to use it?" Twilight continued, tuning everything out.

Dean Cadance nodded. "The last event of the Friendship Games begins."

Twilight nodded as she began to open the device. "But the magic's what I really want to see."

Spike watched, horrified. "Twilight, no!"

But Twilight wasn't listening, her mind only on what she could learn by unleashing all of the magic she had collected...

Smack!

Twilight squawked in surprise, falling back as the device was smacked rather forcefully out of her hands, landing a few feet away. She glared at the red-haired girl who had done so. "What the hell Sunset?"

Sunset Shimmer didn't care as she glared right back. "Don't you take that tone with me, Twilight Sparkle. Just what exactly do you think you're doing?!"

Twilight wilted under her glare, suddenly feeling small. Did Sunset have that effect on everyone, or was it just her? "Unleashing the magic?" She replied sheepishly, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

Sunset sighed. "I was afraid of that. Just what makes you think that is a good idea? Have you seen what's been happening with magic this whole time?" She held up a hand as Twilight went to argue. "I hope you're smart enough to know Canterlot High hasn't done anything with it. What's the point?"

Twilight stopped, and for the first time in what felt like a long time, thought about everything that had happened during the Friendship Games, and her heart sank as she realized that Sunset was right. The school had only used the magic to help people, not to try and win an event. "But..."

Sunset's heart fell as well, as she took Twilight's hands. "Twilight. I heard what Principal Cinch said to you. That sounded an awful like blackmail to me. And what do these idiots know about magic anyway? At least you're trying to understand it. They're only using you." She smiled. "Do you want to go to Everton that badly? Is it so important you're willing to be used by people who don't care at all about you?"

Twilight sniffed. What was she doing? Her teammates had treated her like garbage, less than human this whole time, and now she was suddenly listening to them. What was wrong with her? She frowned as she forcibly poked Sunset. "Don't pull the friendship card on me now, Sunset Shimmer. I'm still peeved you yelled at me."

Sunset had the decency to look ashamed of herself. "Yeah. Not my best moment. In my defense, it's been a very long day."

Celestia and Cadance smiled as they joined the two. "That it has, Sunset." She frowned over at Cinch, who was fuming at the ears at this turn of events. "And I also heard what Abacus said. From what Dean Cadance has told us, you were pressured into joining the Crystal Prep team, am I right?"

Twilight nodded glumly. unable to lie to the principal. Something about her just had a calming effect on her. "Yes. I've been studying the magic around your school for months now. This felt like a perfect chance to learn more about it up close. It was going to be my ticket to Everton." She sighed. "Not anymore."

Cinch finally found her voice as she stormed over. "Don't act so high and mighty, Celestia. Canterlot High has been using magic these entire games. I'm sure the school board will be interested in all of this."

"I'm sure they will. Just like they will love to know that you have been blackmailing a student, Abacus," a new voice, heavy with command and authority said.

The three audibly gulped, turning to see a young woman walking towards them. Her blond mane stood out next to her all-pink outfit, something that made Pinkie squee to see. Her blue eyes bored into Cinch.

The principal tried to put on a brave face. "Super Intendent Cosmos. I didn't know you were coming today?"

Cosmos chuckled. "I like to surprise people every now and then, Abacus, you know that." She frowned. "Dean Cadance came to me after your meeting with her and Shining Armor, expressing her worries about miss Sparkle's behavior. I see now that she was right to do so."

Twilight bowed her head, ashamed now of how she had acted then, even though Cosmos was not blaming her for any of it it seemed.

Celestia tried to smile, but it was hard to do so when Cosmos was in this mood. "Have you seen what has been happening, ma'am?"

Cosmos nodded. "I have, and I must say that Canterlot High has shown everything that makes the Friendship Games great. Magic and all."

That made the students feel ten feet tall, and the Rainbooms especially.

Cosmos turned her gaze to the Shadowbolts, who wilted under the glare. "Now. Here is how this will go. We will proceed with the final event of the games as planned." Her gaze hardened. "With none of the magic miss Sparkle has collected. Or I will forfeit Crystal Prep and award the games in their entirety to Canterlot High. Am I understood?"

The group nodded, though none of them were at all happy about it. Cosmos nodded as she turned back to CInch, who had opened her mouth to argue. "And I suggest you do so as well Abacus. We will be discussing you at the next board meeting, and just how much you may or may not have covered up."

Cinch closed her mouth, biting back a retort. While she had friends on the school board, no one dared stand against Cosmos if she had her mind set on something. Especially if the Everfree and Storm families backed her as well.

Sunset sighed with relief, earning an eye roll from Twilight as she walked over to the pendant. "Glad that's taken care of. Now we just need to-"

Before she could finish, however, the pendant popped open, sending a shockwave as a ball of magic floated out of it. Sunset's eyes widened in horror as she was pulled along with it. "Buck!"

Rainbow tried to go after her, but the blast wave held her back, even as Sunset began to be pulled inside the orb of magic. Twilight's eyes widened in horror as Sunset tried to free herself, to no avail, tears streaming down her cheek as they locked eyes. Sunset was able to mouth "I'm so sorry," before she vanished.

The Rainbooms watched in mute horror as Sunset began to change. Her clothes became far more revealing, demonic wings sprouted from her shoulders, a horn seemingly made of sunlight sprouted from her forehead, and her hair took on the look of her namesake.

"Not again," Fluttershy sniffed, as Rainbow held her.

Finally, the sphere of magic was absorbed by whatever Sunset had become, and her new form was revealed. 

Solar Eclipse opened her eyes and laughed as she looked at herself. "Now I have all the power I need. Equestria is mine!" She smirked evilly at her former friends. "And this time, there's no princess to save you!"

Twilight watched in mounting horror as whatever Sunset had become fired a beam of magic at the Rainbooms, who just barely jumped out of the way, even as her now empty pendant landed before her.