//------------------------------//
// Episode 5: Operation Sundown Pt 2 
// Story: Sparkling Harmony EQG: Agents of SMILE: Operation Sundown 
// by Captain_Cosmos 
//------------------------------//

Canterlot High
Canterlot City
October 31st, 2022
1900hrs

Autumn groaned as she awoke from a sudden sleep. “Ugh…” She fluttered her eyes open and looked around. “W-where am I?” She asked

Inside the band room, Sparkler, Lyra, Bonbon, and the Rainbooms sat around waiting for the three apparent SMILE agents they had to knock out to awaken. Sparkler heard Autumn and looked to see them starting to wake up. “Autumn, Micro, Chase.” She said as she approached them.

Chase shook his head and opened his eyes. “God I have a headache.” He said. He saw Sparkler, Lyra, and Bonbon approach, and he saw they were in their mission outfits. “Sparkler? What’s going on?” He asked.

“Before that. We need to make sure.” Bonbon said.

“All three of you. When is it right to turn the frown upside down?" Lyra asked.

"It's always the right time to SMILE." Chase, Micro, and Autumn responded, making sure to put emphasis on SMILE.

Sparkler, Lyra and Bonbon sighed in relief. “Thank goodness. It worked.” Lyra said.

“Uh, what’s going on?” Micro asked. “Why did you have us do that?”

“We had to make sure you were back to normal. SMILE is go.” Sparkler explained. 

“Wait, we’re go?” Autumn asked. “What’s going on?” She asked.

Chase was about to say something, before he noticed something behind Sparkler, he squinted his eyes and saw the Rainbooms. “Sparkler? You realize we’re not alone right?” He asked.

Sparkler looked back to the Rainbooms, who had noticed the three had awakened, and she turned back to Chase. “They know we’re agents Chase.” She said. “The situation forced my hand.”

Chase glanced at the Rainbooms, before whispering to Sparkler. “Can they be trusted?” He asked.

“They can.” Sparkler responded.

Chase nodded as he and the other two sat up. “Alright, so what’s going on?” He asked again.

“Yeah. Last thing I remember is the dance.” Microchip said.

Sparkler gestured for everyone to gather around as she tapped her watch to light it up. It projected an image of Sundown Shimmer. “Guys, we have a code Sundown. The demon is back.” She said.

While Lyra and Bonbon were already told, Chase, Autumn, and Micro gasped. “Wait, Sundown?!” Micro asked.

“She’s back?! How?!” Autumn asked.

“We’re still trying to figure that one out.” Twilight responded. “By all accounts she SHOULDN’T be back.”

“So what could have allowed her to return?” Fluttershy asked. “I mean SOMETHING has to have happened.”

Rarity looked at the picture of Sundown, and was deep in thought. She said Sparkler would be…oh no…she…

“Rarity?” Applejack asked. “You ok?”

“…I may know where Sundown came from this time!” Rarity blurted out before she could stop it.

Everyone around her stared in her direction. “What?” Rainbow asked. “You may know?”

Rarity but her lip, and nodded.

“Well don’t leave us hanging!” Pinkie said. “What do you think?” She asked.

Rarity but her lip, she had Pinkie promised Sunset she wouldn’t say anything…but… “I…I pinkie promised Sunset I wouldn’t say it.” She said.

Pinkie frowned. “Rarity, right now Sunset is in trouble. I normally do not condone breaking a Pinkie Promise but in this case, it must be done.” She said. “So spill it.”

Rarity, hearing that, nodded and sighed. “I don’t know if you picked it up, but Sundown mentioned how she would make Sparkler hers.” She said.

“I picked it up alright. And she’s not getting Sparkler.” Twilight said. “She’s mine.” She said, making Sparkler blush and smile sheepishly.

“Yes. I know darling.” Rarity responded. “But it’s important to bring it up. I believe that Sundown may have re-emerged through Sunset’s Jealousy…of you two.” Rarity revealed.

Sparkler and Twilight both raised eyebrows. Sunset had been jealous of them? “Are you saying she’s jealous because everyone is finding love but her?” Sparkler asked.

“Partly.” Rarity said. “But there’s something else.”

“What’s that?” Autumn asked.

“Sunset’s jealous because she herself has a crush on Sparkler.” Rarity revealed.

Sparkler and Twilight gasped. “She…has a crush on me?” Sparkler asked. “Why?”

“You have so much in common with her. And there’s the fact that you present an incredible magical mystery. But I’m sure that’s not the main reason.” Rarity responded.

Sparkler and Twilight looked at each other, unsure of what to say to that. Sparkler looked away as she blushed. As one typically would when they found someone had a crush on them.

Chase saw that they were at a loss for words, and decided to move things along. “Ahem, well, it doesn’t really matter HOW Sundown returned.” He said. “What matters is putting her down for good this time.” He said.

“There’s just one problem.” Rainbow said. “She has control of Sunset’s Geode and without it we can’t call on the rainbow laser of Friendship.” She said.

“So, we need to find another way to stop her.” Sparkler said. She turned to Microchip, the guy that knew all of SMILE’S pet projects. “Micro. Does SMILE have anything that could help?” She asked.

Micro thought for a moment. “Hm…well, I do have AN idea.” He said. “If the RLF is out of commission, the second best course of action would be to physically separate Sundown from Sunset. So at the very least we can use lethal force without endangering Sunset.” He said.

“That sounds about right.” Lyra said.

Micro tapped his watch and a hologram of a device appeared next to Sundown’s picture. “SMILE has been working on a device for a situation like this. We call it the de-evilizer. It’s meant to separate a person from their evil alter egos.” He explained.

Twilight stared at the image in awe. “Wait, SMILE has been working on molecular separation?” She asked.

“In the perfect world.” Micro said. “Four De-Evilizers placed in a square or rectangular pattern will create an area of effect Sonic emission that targets and extracts evil alter egos.” He said.

“And you’re sure it will work?” Bonbon asked.

“Like I said. We never tested it so we have no clue.” Microchip responded.

“It’s the best option we have so far.” Sparkler said. “I knew you’d have an idea Micro.” She said.

Micro blushed while Fluttershy nodded. “And what about the zombified people?” She asked. “We still need to free them.”

Twilight nodded. “Ugh. If only I was able to increase the range and effectiveness of my hypno defryer.” She commented.

Microchip nodded, before another idea popped into his head. “Actually, you can.” He said.

“How can she do that?” Pinkie asked.

“The Sparkmobile.” Micro responded. “It has a field generator that emits a shield around it for protection.” She said.

Sparkler got where Micro was going and smiled. “If we can modify the generator to act as the barrel for the Hypno Defryer. We can use it to create a shockwave that will get all of Sundown’s hypnotizations in one felled swoop!” She said.

Twilight’s jaw dropped. “Wait, the Sparkmobile can actually DO that?!” She asked.

“Science later Twilight.” Rainbow told her. “Right now we have a demon to stop.”

Twilight sighed in defeat while Sparkler nodded. “Right. Lyra, Bonbon, Chase, go with Micro to get those De-Evilizers. The rest of us will work on freeing the rest of the school.” She said.

“How are you going to stop Sundown from just rehypnotizing everyone?” Chase asked.

“Don’t worry Chase, we got this covered.” Sparkler said.

Twilight eyed her girlfriend. “What are you up to Sparkler?” She asked.

“Let’s just say when the Sparkmobile is armed and ready, Sundown’s gonna learn why it’s a bad idea to go against SMILE.” Sparkler responded. “For now. You wanted to take a closer look at the car, now’s your chance.”

Twilight blinked…before smiling wildly. “Let’s do this.” She said.

Pinkie pie pumped her fists. “Woohoo!” She said as she put her hand in the middle of the group. “SMILE Rainbooms!” She exclaimed.

Everyone around her looked at her, and each other, before shrugging and placing their hands in the hand pile. “Smile and the Rainbooms are go!”

To be continued…