//------------------------------//
// 59 - Match 
// Story: Gladiator 
// by Not_A_Hat 
//------------------------------//

"Pinkie, what is this?"
 
I glanced at the well-worn book. It was hardbound, emblazoned with the Canterlot High emblem.
 
"A yearbook!" She flipped it open, holding it out to me.
 
"Class of... four years ago?" I hesitantly accepted.
 
"Mmmhmm!" She tucked a stray lock behind her ear. "I'm off! Bye!"
 
"Farewell." Bit gave a small wave.
 
"Later." Sunset looked up from the computer.
 
I slumped on the couch and started paging idly, but kept returning to place she'd opened.
 
There was a familiar picture there.
 
I glanced up, comparing the smiling graduate's photo to the young woman behind Pinkie's desk. They had the same hair. The same eyes.
 
Sunset Shimmer had graduated a year before Pinkie and Co. enrolled.
 
I turned another page.
 
Here was her brother, Splinter. One year older.
 
I rubbed my eyes. My thoughts felt like molasses.
 
There was no magic used in this world. No Royal Guard. No changelings, or not like I'd seen.
 
A normal life. Maybe an exceptional student, but nothing dangerous. Nothing exciting. I glanced at Sunset. In this world, she was top of her class, but in few photos. Still driven, still a loner. Splinter had no awards, but in each picture people were laughing and smiling. Still a guardian, still someone bringing life and cheer.
 
His planned to attend college nearby. Settle down, run a shop. Fix cars.
 
Maybe...
 
I glanced at Sunset.
 
"Sir?"
 
"Yes, Bit?" My aide was staring uncertainly.
 
"Sir, are you contemplating something dangerous?"
 
"Hah. Perhaps." I snapped the book shut. "Can't keep secrets from you, huh?"
 
"No, sir. You can't."
 
"Heh. Well, that's okay."
 



 
"Will you be okay?"
 
"Heh." Sunset sniffled, and sipped her drink. "Will we be okay?"
 
"Heh." I grinned sadly.
 
I still wasn't sure whether visiting his shop had been a good idea. I'd grabbed Sunset, turned on Pinkie's laptop for Bit, and headed out. I hadn't worked up the nerve to explain until I'd asked Sunset to disguise herself. After that, she'd pretty much stopped talking.
 
I pretended I needed advice on a motorbike. It wasn't hard. His shop was messy, but vibrant. He'd been charming and personable, friendly and open. Happy. Content.
 
I'd retreated when the burning in my eyes became hard to hide.
 
"Was it a bad idea?" I stirred my drink, listening to the ice clink.
 
"No." Sunset shook her head emphatically. "No, it wasn't. Maybe not a good idea, but... if we hadn't..."
 
I nodded. If we hadn't gone, we'd have regretted it.
 
"He seemed happy."
 
"He was happy. He has a mare - girlfriend. It..."
 
"It was good to see him happy." We agreed on that.
 
I sipped my drink, and sighed again. We had a battle to plan, a war to wage across worlds.
 
"Alright." I stood, shaking off my melancholy. "Back to work?"
 
"As you say." Sunset rose, squaring her shoulders determinedly. "Back to work."
                    



 
"So. Got a plan?" Rainbow passed the soccer ball.
 
"Not yet." I dribbled back. I wasn't good at sports, but training had given me reflexes and muscles. "That's why we're here." We were currently 'hanging out' on the soccer field, where the showdown between Canterlot High and Ever Free High would happen. We were scouting, looking for opportunity and advantage. There wasn't much.
 
"We've been researching Glisten's spells. Sunset got pictures."
 
"Yeah?"
 
"We think they're simple boosting spells, inked on."
 
"Huh. Is that how your magic works?"
 
"Sorry." I shook my head.
 
"Oh, right. Can't explain." Rainbow tried to slip past, but I jinked to block.
 
"Yeah. My magic is more complicated, but much better. Those spells aren't exactly safe."
 
"Hmm."
 
"They've got no feedback. They just boost. Besides needing external power, like charging from Glisten, they just strip the limiters off your body. They'll make the Shadowbolts fast and strong... but in the end, they'll be the ones who pay. It's a serious strain."
 
"Like overdosing on energy drinks?"
 
"A leeetle more problematic. Oh, they're back."
 
"How'd it go?" Rainbow turned to Sunset and Bit, who'd examined the locker rooms.
 
"They won't like it." Bit said to Sunset, who nodded.
 
"Nothing useful?" I frowned. That would be disappointing, but...
 
"No, the plan." Sunset sighed. "I've got one, but neither of you will be pleased."
 
"How bad can it be?" Rainbow took an aggressive stance. "Let's hear." I nodded.
 
"We're..." Sunset paused, taking a deep breath. "We're going to help them cheat."
 



 
"What are you building?"
 
"Hmm?" I looked up from the chip I was coding. Mixing magic and high-tech micro-controllers was more difficult than I'd hoped, but easier than I'd feared. Sunset had helped me get a kludgy spell-code working, although it took several steps. "It's a secret."
 
"Come oooon, you're killing me here!" Sunset leaned her chin on her hand, kicking her feet in the air. She was laying on Pinkie's bed. I was at the computer desk, a dozen pieces of electronics strewn on the desk.
 
"Really, dear. Give the man some space." Rarity looked up from the card-game she was playing with Bit. "True creativity takes time and concentration."
 
"Thank you." I nodded to her. She smiled back.
 
"I told you what my project was!" Sunset frowned petulantly. She'd built an area-effect magic amplifier, but wouldn't tell me why.
 
"Yeah, but it's for the plan. Which you won't explain."
 
"Because you'll veto!"
 
"That makes it okay?" I quirked an eyebrow. "You'll give me no time to consider alternatives? Just trap me into executing it?"
 
"It's not like that." She frowned. "Really, it will work. But you won't see that. How about… I'll tell, if you promise to let me lead."
 
"I'd comply, if you weren't so sure I'd disagree." I carefully slotted my microchip into the charging rig, and started trickling it power.
 
"Say I demand you let me?"
 
"I guess I'd let you." I shrugged. "I'm not power-hungry. But after, it's all you."
 
Sunset grimaced. She didn't want control that bad.
 
"Look, how about a compromise?" I pointed to Bit. Her eyebrows rose.
 
"Seriously?"
 
"He's already agreed with you." I shrugged. "But he'd represent me strongly. If you're both set on this, I'll go along. Bit can coordinate; he's excellent at that. Then neither of us are on command and also point."
 
"You were the reserve." She shook her head.
 
"...oh." I narrowed my eyes. "You were planning on giving Bitterbloom an active role?" No wonder they thought I wouldn't like it.
 
"She agreed." Sunset shrugged. "Still want her to coordinate?"
 
"Sorta." I rubbed my chin.
 
"Really?" She cocked an eyebrow.
 
"Yeah, I've been trying to give him more responsibility. Thing is, he's very poor at improvisation."
 
"If we need to improvise, the plan is shot." Sunset shrugged. "It works, or we fight. By the way, I hope you're building a weapon."
 
"Yes, actually." When the chip was charged, I slotted my emerald into the testing bracket and touched a knob. A gentle hum rang. "I am." I looked back at Bit. "How's this. Link with me, and I promise to listen very carefully before vetoing anything." Sunset frowned.
 
"Have you figured it out?"
 
"A little." I shrugged. "It's numancy, and I'm convinced it has two components. First, soul-energy. When Bit jumped in, I think it… 'locked on' to him. Then, if the… 'target' uses magic, I can grab that. Like a two-step thing. I used to be locked to Twilight, but dimension hopping broke that, and the more dangerous link that helped me recover. But I have to switch the target from Bit. Luna had it suppressed, but when I was locked to Twilight, we shared dreams. Last night, Bit showed up. In my nightmares."
 
"Oh." Her eyes grew wide. "Oh."
 
"Yeah. It was… unpleasant. I hate to ask, but - "
 
"What do I do?"
 
"Thanks." I smiled. "You remember when we both touched the wand?"
 
"Yes."
 
"I need the wand to start the link. But if I have the wand, you can't do magic… and I need that to complete the link. The only choice is for both of us to use it."
 
"Blech." Sunset grimaced. "How pointlessly arbitrary is this?"
 
"It could be worse." I grinned. "This is magic. No need to make a lick of sense."
 
"Heh." She rolled off the bed. "Okay. I'm guessing it'll hurt like crazy, but let's try."
 
"Good." We sat on the floor, facing each other.
 
"What's this?" Rarity turned to us.
 
"Magic," Bit answered.
 
I concentrated, carefully gathering power. After a minute, I held out the wand. Sunset concentrated and touched it.
 
ZAP.
 
Rarity gasped. Bit sighed. Magic arced, and for a second, the link started.
 
"This is strange." Sunset raised my hand. Her eyes shimmered white.
 
"Like last time." My voice was light to her ears. "Ow."
 
The headache hit, and I throttled the link hard.
 
"Much better." I projected carefully.
 
"Oh, wow. This is still weird. But much less weird." She picked up the trick quickly. "Mind if I…" A trickle of power seeped across the link, and I let it flow into the wand. There was a fizzy feeling, and the tension in my head eased.
 
"Oh, much better." I rubbed my forehead.
 
"Aaaaah…" Bit sighed again. Rarity gave it a strange look, but they turned back to their card game.
 
"Now, what were you planning?" With the headache rapidly fading, I gave Sunset my full attention.
 
"Let me show you…"
 



 
"I still don't like this." I sullenly munched my snacks.
 
"Of course not." Sunset sipped her drink, leaning back. We looked out over the field. "But it'll be okay. Bit will be fine."
 
"That's easy to say."
 
"I am prepared." My ward gave a serious look. "I can do this."
 
"But… but!"
 
"But if something goes wrong?" Sunset gave me a reassuring pat. "We rush to the rescue. But it won't. Bit, you know your mission?"
 
"Infiltrate, execute, escape. Unnoticeably." Bit was 'skinned' to mimic an average student. Its features were forgettable, and its androgynous look served well. Sunset nodded.
 
"Still…" I rubbed my eyes. I didn't like this at all. Sunset had persuaded me Bit was safe, that my paranoia was groundless, but it still grated. I dropped a hand to the modified flashlight clipped to my belt, my new weapon. Its cold steel was comforting.
 
Other than my ward being in danger, it wasn't a bad plan. It skirted the magical laws quite nicely, letting us act decisively while still preserving our integrity. It was summed up in Sunset's line; we were helping the Shadowbolts cheat. That didn't mean I liked it.
 
"Game time is soon. You'd better go." I nodded to Bit, who left wordlessly.
 
"Seriously." Sunset gave me a stare. "Bit will be okay. She's very stealthy, and if anything goes wrong, we'll know immediately."
 
"I wish I could go."
 
"They'd recognize you." Sunset shrugged. "Glisten'd surely spot you. If she's not around, the players you punched would. Otherwise I'd go myself."
 
"I know." I sighed, watching Bit navigate the bleachers. Rainbow had assured us that getting into the locker rooms would be easy; it was only a high-school. Once in, Bit's job was simple; activate and hide Sunset's gadget. Its disguise should let it cautiously slip under the radar.
 
"Rainbow's not happy either." I nodded to the home team, warming up.
 
"She's even loyal to her rivals. It's still the safest plan."
 
I nodded grudgingly. It was ingenious, really. Glisten had supplied the rope; all we were doing was giving a little push. She'd hang herself.
 
I sighed in relief as Bit returned, safe and unobtrusive, as the game started. I took another bite of my apple, and settled in. The plan was under way; now came the waiting.
 
The first injury happened in mere minutes.
 
I winced, as the forward limped off the field. The Shadowbolts had reserves; this wasn't game over.
 
Yet.
 
The best part of this plan was its subtlety. Bit had placed the magic amplifier near the players. That slightly overcharged the booster spells. Without feedback, overcharging made them dangerous. They didn't increase physical capability; they just stripped natural limiters. This boosted speed and power, but made it much easier to overexert tired muscles. Rainbow's team couldn't compete with magically boosted players for long, but they didn't need to. The Shadowbolts would defeat themselves.
 
We'd win through attrition. We didn't even need to get up, if the plan worked. Was this how Celestia and Sombra felt, behind their chessboards? I glanced at Bit, and shook my head. Not worth it. I'd leave scheming to the heavyweights.
 
The game progressed slowly. Despite being hard-pressed, the Wondercolts gave an excellent showing. The Shadowbolts were fast and furious, but had trouble cooperating. Despite strength one-on-one, superior teamwork showed; especially when two more players subbed out before half-time.
 
"This is honestly working better than I expected." I crossed my arms as the players cleared the field for their break.
 
"Yeah, I was wondering if - Look!"
 
I followed Sunset's pointing finger. Walking along the Shadowbolt benches, talking to a few players and inspecting the rest, was Glisten.
 
"She's been moving this situation awfully fast." I watched her carefully. If she spotted us, she gave no indication.
 
"Yeah, but if you don't care about consequences, your options broaden." Sunset gave the lieutenant a scathing look. "I bet she's hurt several people to get here."
 
"That's a safe bet. Do you think she'll grasp your strategy?"
 
"Fifty percent chance, at best." Sunset rubbed her jaw. "She might realize. But she'd need to find and understand the gizmo to guess our involvement."
 
"Think she'll react?"
 
"No idea. If she does, it'll be… uh - oh."
 
"Ooo." I grimaced. Glisten strode straight for Rainbow Dash, who was pacing slowly before her bench. "Come on."
 
"What?" Sunset gave a surprised glance as I stood, and beckoning. "Why?"
 
"To back up Rainbow, of course." I started skipping down the steps. As I moved their voices became audible, and then noticeable. "Do you think she'll just play dumb?"
 
Sunset watched the hotheaded captain for a second, before following.
 
"Of course not."
 
"This was in the plan." Bit added, matter-of-fact. Contingency one: In Case of a Fight.
 
"Right." I shrugged. "What were the chances we'd manage this peacefully?"
 
"Low." Sunset grumbled. "Still, It would be nice if - "
 
"One day." I put a hand on the railing and boosted myself over. Sunset and Bit landed lightly behind. We skirted the field edge, trying to look official and imposing. No-one really noticed; most had their attention on the rapidly escalating spectacle of Dash and Glisten.
 
"Oh, here we go…" I muttered, as Rainbow said something particularly caustic and Glisten visibly tensed. I saw emotions flit across her face; frustration blossomed into anger, which cooled into vicious hate. I winced as that finally dissolved into a careless smirk. She pointed at Rainbow, and I broke into a sprint.
 
"…just do it myself!" I barely caught the end of her tirade, as I threw myself between them. Her eyes widened, but her smirk broadened. Her arm spat something with a crack. It hurtled towards me.
 
I whipped the flashlight off my belt, deflecting it with a clang.
 
"Wesley!" Glisten stepped forward, spreading her hands. "How nice! I should have expected you behind this." She motioned to her team.
 
"Mad, bro?" I crossed my arms. "It's like you think I'm stealing something."
 
"Hah." Her glance was haughty, arms akimbo. "As if I care, Wes. Right or wrong doesn't matter now. Only winning."
 
"Too bad, then." Rainbow spat, narrowly missing Glisten's foot. "You're sunk. Even now we can  wipe you."
 
"Don't count me out!" Glisten's voice rose. "If I can't win by proxy, I'll step in myself!" She took a pace forwards, shaking a fist.
 
"This is it!" Sunset muttered. "She's starting to break the ritual. We need to reinforce this. Be loud. Be provocative. Do not attack. I'll find the trophy." I nodded slightly, and tapped my temple. Sunset's eyes widened, but after a second, I felt the link start.
 
"Go!" I sent. "Keep Bit with you." They'd take care of the difficult half. I just needed to keep an loudmouth angry. It shouldn't be hard.
 
"As if!" Rainbow shook a fist. Especially with the help of another. By now, spectators were noticing. Rainbow and Glisten had met far enough from the teams and coaches to avoid immediate notice. But now a few officials were moving towards us.
 
"Come on, Glisten. Do you really want to do this? Can't you accept defeat graciously?" I smiled, trying for smugly superior. By the grinding teeth, it seemed effective. "Just pony up and admit you were outmaneuvered. You don't even know what we did." She flinched; that hit. "Typical. Sombra can't even get decent help." I sniffed.
 
"Why, you…" Her eyes blazed.
 
"What a chump!" Rainbow laughed scornfully. "You brought this on yourself! Iiiiidioooot! Fooool! Hahahaha!"
 
Glisten flinched, but I saw her murderous rage dissolve again. This was going to get dangerous, right about - now.
 
Glisten struck, this time with a fist. I could have pushed Rainbow away; I could have blocked. I could have let Rainbow dodge. Instead, I stepped up and took it full-force.
 
It hurt.
 
I grinned, even as pain blossomed in my side.
 
"Hah." Glisten stepped back, as I choked out laugh. "Game over."
 
"Huh?" Glisten looked up as the sky darkened. Rainbow frowned.
 
"You broke the rules." I unslung my flashlight. The crowd became restless. "You set up the game, okay. We didn't know your plans, but you cheated. We didn't know your rules, but you did. So we let you lead us. The injuries? They were all inflicted by your spells. We'd have won, fair and square, no matter what. But you couldn't give up, huh?" I grit my teeth. We'd been trying to avoid disrupting the ritual, but it had always been likely. At least we hadn't instigated. "But now, instead of surrendering, you're changing the game. And that simply will not do."
 
Sunset squeezed a flurry of thoughts through the link. She'd found the trophy; it was in the announcer's booth. Glowing.
 
"Artifacts are finicky." Sunset kicked out the glass on the booth and flung the trophy. It sailed across the field, trailing effervescent magic. "You cheated, Glisten. You broke the rules. That means you lose."
 
"No!" She turned to the trophy. Curls of smoke were rising. Our predictions on this reaction had come up with nothing. We had a chance at control; we hadn't broken the ritual. We were outside, and prepared. One way or another, we'd pull through. Sunset leveled the wand at the trophy. I felt her preparing dozens of spells to react, and one very, very meticulously researched one to seize our chance at returning.
 
"Fine! If it's come to this, then I'll use force!" Glisten waved. The spectators had seen the smoke, and someone had pulled a fire alarm. The bleachers were starting to clear. Still, A half-dozen figures dashed out, forming up behind her. Seeing help apparently headed towards us, everyone else promptly evacuated. The stands cleared quickly.
 
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me!" All the ‘backup’ wore hoods, long pants, even gloves; no visible skin. From beneath the cloth, a dim glow flickered. "Windigolems? Here?"
 
"I made them myself." Glisten grinned, and started to shapeshift. "Think you can take us all?"
 
"Try me."
 
"No need." Rainbow stepped up beside me. "We'll do this together."
 
"Naw." I gave a lazy wave. "I've got this."
 
"Come oooon!" Lyra stepped up, her soccer jersey wrinkled with exertion. "Why you gotta be like that, Wes?"
 
"Hey hey, fighting's not a game!" I frowned at her.
 
"Focus!" Glisten's voice was aggravated as she dashed for me. I easily avoided her blow.
 
"Besides!" I yelled to the two of them. "I need a chance to try this!" I raised the flashlight. It was long enough to grip with two hands, machined from steel and painted black. I'd pulled the guts out, and crammed a handful of magic circuitry inside - including my emerald. I flicked the switch.
 
I'd told Sunset it was a weapon, and that was totally accurate. It was based in my sound-cannon, but built using human-based magitek. And slightly re-purposed.
 
Whummm.
 
"A.." Lyra's mouth dropped open, as the vibroblade sprang to life.
 
"A…" Rainbow's expression changed to shock, as she got a good look. The carrier wave only extended a few feet, but I'd carefully focused all the sound into a thumb-thick stream. It glowed green. Glisten stopped, watching carefully as I gave it an experimental wave.
 
Vuuuuuum-Wum!
 
"A lightsaber!" I grinned. "Or, well, near enough." Glisten frowned, and waved. The windigolems attacked. I responded viciously.
 
"Yes!" I shouted, exultation welling as hypersonic magic sliced a crystal arm. "Yes! YES!" I disabled the first attacker, easily bisecting the second. "Oh, yes!" I beheaded a third, whirling to take the fourth and fifth together, before slamming the blade through the chest of the sixth. "Yes, <HELL YES!>" The golem buzzed for a second, before exploding in a shower of crystal. I spun, leveling the weapon at Glisten. "Want some?"
 
The lieutenant took a step backwards.
 
"H-how…"
 
"You underestimated us, Glisten." I stepped forward. "You really only take yourself seriously, huh? You're just one big wad of conceit. Like Glory. Like Sombra. You've never truly faced us, not as people, not honestly. We're not so weak. We're not so inferior. Kindness, friendship, love; these aren't 'soft' emotions, if you truly understand them."
 
"No, this can't - "
 
"Yield!" I took another pace, raising my weapon. "Yield to me, and I'll - "
 
"No!" Glisten turned, whirling towards the rapidly-forming vortex behind her. "No, I can still win! I'll start my own Tear! I can call more windigos, and you…" I dashed to follow, but too slowly. Sunset stepped forward, pushing surprise aside as she grasped for spells, but Glisten was too fast. She dived past Sunset and grabbed the stone.
 
"AAAAAAH!"
 
By now, the field was mostly empty. Rover had even led the Shadowbolts away. Only Lyra and the Elements had stayed with us. No-one else heard the soul-wrenching scream. I watched, slightly horrified, as gemfire spread down Glisten's wrist. Her crystal body started to fracture, burning lines instantly lacing her face and arms. I stepped forward and raised a hand, unsure of my intent but pushed to action, but I wasn't fast enough. Her shriek degenerated into a fuzz of static, and she crumbled.
 
For a stunned moment, we were frozen.
 
"I-is she dead?" Lyra whispered.
 
"No idea." I grimly snapped the switch on my vibroblade, and clipped it to my belt. "But she's out of our way. I need to help Sunset make our chance to return. Once that's set up, we'll see what we can do, but stay back for now. I really hope we have time before emergency response starts arriving."
 
"Right." Rainbow nodded shakily. Her circle of friends gathered round; I turned my back on them for a moment. I had work to do.
 
"Sunset?" She'd been drawing more and more magic. Despite the hindrance of humanity, she worked smoothly and efficiently. The draw of the link was hard to ignore.
 
"Let's do this." There was a twinge of excitement in her thoughts, regarding the vortex. It was a big project. A challenge, with huge risks and rewards.
 
"Right." I touched her flows of magic, and let the link grow.
 
Power.
 
I could see magic. Both the power, with my wand, and the aura, with my eyes. Still, it wasn't the same as seeing through her. Training, years of study and intensive practice, gave her insight. When I looked at a computer or a car, it was more to me than a black box; I understood the inside. She saw the vortex the same, and it was astonishing. I gulped. This would be tricky.
 
POWER.
 
The stream swelled, and we linked deeper. There was a moment's confused whirl as some part of 'us' assigned roles, before we fell into synch and the magic started flowing. We raised our wand, and drew on the vortex. We split its power into usable pieces, and wove it to our ends. We shaped, reshaped, and finally impressed it back onto the world. It worked, at first. The vortex's aura faded, and we started to write our structure onto reality. It glowed like neon wire-sculpture, vaguely suggesting an intricate gate.
 
We hit a snag.
 
We knew magic. We had experience and learning in every school, principles at least. We knew science; we could harness lighting and fly to the stars, given time and tools. But we couldn't work with the unknown.
 
How could we mix numancy and resography?
 
The magic pouring from the gem was still increasing. The gateway hung, half-complete, but power spilled unused. We were stuck; we couldn't guess our destination. 'Here' was obvious. Where was 'home'? We'd hoped to extrapolate the coordinates as we wrote the gate. The theory was sound. But instead of shapely blanks suggesting simple answers, we'd woven a ragged spell that frayed at the slightest inattention. The gem's power was crude and wild. There was plenty, but it raged at our control. Half-complete spell structures and strangely aligned elemental power writhed as we grasped it. We struggled to layer energy onto the gate, our desperate attempt to pierce reality. It struggled back, trying to accomplish its own arcane ends.
 
We were losing.
 
"You can do it!" We turned in surprise. Our eyes glowed white, but Pinkie just smiled. She had pom-poms, and she was cheering. "Go, team! You can do it!"
 
"You've got this." Rainbow raised a fist for us. "Don't you give up!"
 
"U-um, …yay!" Fluttershy meekly called.
 
"Really, now. Surely you're not done yet?" Rarity grinned, teasing.
 
"Come on, y'all. Put some back into it!" Applejack crossed her arms.
 
"I believe." Bit gave us a nod.
 
And just like that, it clicked.
 
It wasn't obvious where the knowledge came from, but something shattered, releasing a tiny trickle of memory. It wasn't much. A glimmer of bougainvillea hung in the air. A thousand ticking clocks rang as one. A shimmer of branching crystal gleamed in our mind.
 
It was enough.
 
With a rippling slam, the gateposts crashed into reality. The doors materialized with a hissing crackle. The lintel and threshold appeared with ringing gongs. Intricate designs chimed across the surface, odd curling patterns, spiked and looping to strangely draw the eye. They were almost tribal, spiny and clean with no obvious symbolism.
 
The spell finished. The link broke.
 
"Holy crow." I clapped a hand to my head, surprised to not have a headache. "We did it!"
 
"Impressive, I must say." Rarity stepped forward, inspecting the door. "And this will take you… home?"
 
"Heh, almost." I shrugged. "As long as we got the spell right."
 
"We're good." Sunset drew in a long breath, releasing a deep sigh. "Didn't you feel?"
 
"What?"
 
"My talent! At the end, that was me!" She gave a satisfied grin. "I told you to believe!"
 
"Hah!" I grinned back. "Alright. We need to move. First, Glisten." I glanced at the shards. "Anyone got a broom?"
 
"Oh! Broom emergency! And I have presents!" Pinkie leaped into the air.
 
"Wait, it's not - " Sunset called, but Pinkie had vanished mid-hop. " - necessary." She raised the wand and a cyan aura swirled, gathering the thin mist rising from the corpse.
 
"Just like Shadow." I dug through my pack for a container, but came up empty. "Anyone got a jar?"
 
"Here." Rainbow tossed me an empty soda bottle.
 
"Heh. Hope she likes Coke." Sunset slowly streamed the fog into the container and I capped it tightly. "Think she's okay?"
 
"Couldn't care less." I tucked the bottle into my pack. "We'll hand this over to Celestia, and she can do whatever she did to Shadow. Leave her on a shelf for a thousand years, maybe."
 
"Tadaaa!" Pinkie returned with a flourish, carrying a sack of brightly wrapped parcels and a broom. "This is for pony-Twilight! And this is for pony-me! And this is for pony-Applejack! And this is for - " I snatched the sack, before she passed them all one-by-one.
 
"Are they labeled?"
 
"Yuperooni!" She gave a wide grin.
 
"Good enough." I glanced at Sunset, and at Bit. "Alright. The windigos will dissolve, but there's a lot of broken glass. Can you guys deal with cleanup?"
 
"It's fine, darling." Rarity gave me a wink. "We don't need to explain anything. What happened here was impossible, after all."
 
"Heh, that works. Okay, we need to go, so get your hugs - Oooof!" I gasped, as Pinkie swept me into a rib-crushing embrace. " - now," I wheezed.
 
We would have lingered over goodbyes, but the threat of firemen loomed. We traded hugs, a few kind words, and turned to the door.
 
"Are we really ready?" Sunset gave Bit and me a long look.
 
"Got my pack." I patted my haversack. "And the presents." I hefted Pinkie's gift-bag. "Bit?"
 
"Ready."
 
"Okay." I stepped forward, and pressed one hand to the door. It swung gently open, revealing a swirling portal of hypnotic colors. "Let's do this." I held out my hands. Bit took my right; Sunset grasped my left.
 
We stepped forward together, and fell into space. It wasn't home… but it was enough for now.
 
We were returning.