//------------------------------// // A New Beginning // Story: Sunset Rekindled // by EldritchNexus //------------------------------// Sunset went over to Donut Joe's shop, where Trixie was boasting about her latest magic show. "Joe, you should've seen me!" said Trixie. "The whole crowd was wild for me! It was undoubtedly the Great and Powerful Trixie's greatest and most powerful performance yet!" "Whatever you say, Trix." said Donut Joe, clearly uninterested. "Look, I love makin' small talk and all, but are you actually gonna have any donuts or what?" "Yes, I'll have two--no, six--with peanut butter-flavored frosting, please!" said Trixie. "Comin' right up!" said Donut Joe, going into the back room. "Hey, Trixie." said Sunset. "Hi, Sunset." said Trixie. "And how may Trixie help you this fine morning?" "I just wanted to see what you were up to." said Sunset, sitting next to her friend. "Ah, I plan to go to Las Pegasus soon." said Trixie. "My father is going to be performing a special magic act for the opening night of some casino there. It will be the first time I've seen my father in a long time." "Sounds exciting." said Sunset. "I bet he'd be proud to see what his daughter's done so far." "I'm a little nervous, though." admitted Trixie. "The Great and Powerful Trixie? Nervous?" asked Sunset Shimmer. "What've you got to worry about?" "Well, it's just that my father's such a good magician that it's going to be very hard to impress somepony of his caliber." said Trixie. "Hey, I'm sure you'll be great." said Sunset. "And even if he weren't, I'm sure he'll still love you." "You're probably right." said Trixie. "Hey, maybe you'd like to come along with me? I heard Las Pegasus is one of the most exciting places in all of Equestria." "Sure, I think that would be great." said Sunset. "Though I was hoping to catch the premiere of Beware the Filly Flasher." "The what?" questioned Trixie Lulamoon. "Oh, that movie that those guys filmed at Daystar Manor." said Sunset. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot about them." said Trixie. "Though I shall admit: I prefer live entertainment." "Okay." said Sunset. "When's your dad gonna be in Las Pegasus, anyway?" "Some time next week." said Trixie. "Then maybe if Princess Luna will left me take a break from her lessons, she won't mind if I come along with you! It'll be so fun!" The door opened, and Radiant Dawn came inside. He rushed to Sunset's side as soon as he saw her. "Hey, girls." he said. "What are you two doing?" "Hey, Red." said Sunset. "Trixie was just telling me that she's going on a trip to Las Pegasus to pay her dad a visit." "Las Pegasus, huh?" repeated Radiant. "I always wanted to go there. I mean, I've read all about that place, but I've never had the opportunity to actually go there. Maybe now would be a good time." "But don't you have a job here, Red? Being a member of the Night Guard and all?" asked Sunset. "The good captain gave me the next week off." said Radiant. "As long as I work twice as hard the week after." "That's nice of him." said Sunset. "That means we'll have more time to spend together." "That reminds me: How's your lessons going with Princess Luna?" asked Radiant Dawn, curiously. "You haven't told me anything about them in ages." "Umm...they're...good?" said Sunset, hesitantly. "I mean, they're great." "Sunset Shimmer, you're not fibbing to your own flesh and blood, are you?" asked Radiant, blankly. "Red, it's really not that big a deal." said Sunset. "I'm just having a little trouble staying awake, is all. I've been doing these lessons every night for nearly three weeks straight. I haven't even left town in days! Even Bathilda's got more free-time than me right now." "Who the heck's Bathilda?" asked Radiant. "Oh, I forgot to tell you." said Sunset. "I got a pet bat a few days ago. I found her eating fruit out of a tree in the palace gardens, and she's stuck with me ever since, and even helps me out during Princess Luna's lessons. I was going to tell you about her sometime, but I haven't gotten the chance until just now." "Maybe you should show her to me sometime?" asked Radiant. "I think I'd like to see your new pet, too." said Trixie. "Maybe later." said Sunset. "I've gotta get back to the palace right now." "Okay. See ya later, Sunset." said Trixie. Sunset climbed off her seat, and left. "Radiant, I was wondering: Where's Lightning Dust right now?" Trixie asked. "I haven't seen her in a while." "She's on a mission in Manehatten, apparently." said Radiant Dawn. "According to Captain Shield, it's classified." In Manehatten, a group of gangsters were robbing a museum. "Let go! You don't know what you're doing!" said the middle-aged earth pony curator, who was being pinned down by a pair of pegasus thugs. "Actually, we do know what we're doing: our job." said the apparent ringleader, a male unicorn wearing a dark blue suit and matching sunglasses. "Now, let's see where that Crystal Scepter is..." Several more thugs were running around, searching every exhibit for the artifact their boss coveted. "C'mon, boys! Pick up the pace! The big boss will want this by next week!" said Mr. Blue. "We don't want to keep him waiting." Suddenly, there were raised voices throughout the building and the sounds of loud crashes. "What the buck is everypony doing?!" "Sorry, dude, but stealing from a museum is not cool!" said a voice. "Who said that?!" said Mr. Blue, looking around frantically. "Up here!" Mr. Blue looked up, and saw three pegasi in black flightsuits ominously hovering over him. "What the heck?!" "I'm Sergeant Lightning Dust of Princess Luna's Shadowbolts, and I'm placing every last one of you under arrest!" said the pegasus in the middle. "Then come and get us!" said Mr. Blue, whose horn began to glow. Mr. Blue's thugs regrouped, and charged at the three Shadowbolts when they dropped to the floor. But even as they did so, the Shadowbolts shot back upwards, causing several thugs to collide with each other or into the nearby wall. Several paintings and sculptures nearby were enveloped in an aura, and began flying around the room. "Boys, make sure none of that stuff gets wrecked!" said Lightning. "I'll take care of the thugs!" The other two Shadowbolts flew around, catching the flying pieces of artwork as they went, and Lightning Dust flew around the room, grabbing thugs and throwing them into a corner. That is, until she got to Mr. Blue, who blasted her against the wall with a concussive blast from his horn. "You wanna get rough?" panted Lightning, getting back up. "Then let's get rough!" She shot towards him, unleashing a flurry of blows with her front hooves and wings...which Mr. Blue somehow managed to block with a single front leg. "Okay, you're really starting to make me mad!" Lightning growled. She hovered upright, and performed a flash-kick on Mr. Blue, sending him flying into the high ceiling. However, the unicorn was able to catch himself in mid-air with his telekinesis just before he hit the top. He looked down at Lightning Dust, and used his telekinesis to fire himself like a rocket back down to her. Lightning gasped for a second, then shot herself through to air to intercept him with enough speed to produce one of her signature lightning trails. The two collided with each other with great intensity., producing a shockwave that expanded within a ten-yard radius, knocking over anything and everyone near them. The remaining thugs took advantage of this confusion, and bolted out through the main entrance, and disappearing into the crowd of pedestrians on the streets. The Shadowbolts regrouped around Lightning Dust and Mr. Blue. "You're surrounded, buddy-boy." said Lightning. "Now come quietly, or--" "I think not!" said Mr. Blue, whose horn glowed again. "Think fast!" A nearby forty-foot statue of a unicorn mare was enveloped in an aura, and began to tip over. Thinking fast, Lightning Dust's wingponies flew up to catch it before it hit the floor, and set it back in place. Mr. Blue took advantage of the moment by using his telekinesis to catapult Lightning through the air and escape. By the time, Lightning Dust caught herself, he was already gone. "Rats!" groaned Lightning. "We were so close to catching those guys!" "Thank you, ma'am!" said the curator, who got back up from where he was prone on the floor. "You and your men saved the priceless historical artifacts of my beloved museum. How can I ever thank you?" "I don't think you should really thank us." said Lightning. "The bad guys got away." "Yes, they did get away...empty-hooved." smiled the curator. The crowd outside started pouring in, clamoring incessantly and trying to make sense of the battle that just occurred. "Move along, everypony!" said one of the Shadowbolts, who flew up to them with the intent to quell the noise. "This is official royal business! It doesn't concern you!" "So, what were those guys trying to steal anyway?" Lightning asked, amid the noise in the foyer. "They were looking for a relic from the distant past known as the Crystal Scepter." said the curator. "It was an heirloom of the first dynasty of the Crystal Empire, dating back to twelve-hundred years ago. One-of-a-kind, indeed." "But why would they wanna steal it?" "I don't know for certain, but I believe they may have been black marketeers." "Black marketeers?" Lightning Dust repeated. "Yes, ma'am." said the curator. "Ever since the Plunderseed incident in Ponyville and the attacks in Fillydelphia, demand for powerful charms and artifacts has skyrocketed throughout Equestria. And rightfully so, I daresay. After all, we'll need to find something to protect Equestria with the Elements of Harmony gone! But unfortunately, both sides of the law apparently agree with this! I mean, raiding a public museum in broad daylight? How low can these criminals possibly go?" "Do you have any idea who might've wanted the Crystal Scepter, sir?" asked Lightning Dust. "I'm not too sure." admitted the curator. "But I overheard one of the thugs mentioning a buyer in Las Pegasus wanting the Crystal Scepter." "Las Pegasus, huh?" asked Lightning. "That's a long way's away from Manehatten, that's for sure. Whoever wanted the scepter must be or want to be a really powerful guy. I think I'll try and check it out once me and the other Shadowbolts go back to Canterlot." "I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me and my museum." said the curator. "But what if they return?" "Don't worry, old timer." said Lightning. "I promise that I'll tell the princesses about this, and they'll have a whole squad of specially-trained royal guards here in a heartbeat!" "Thank you so much, ma'am." said the curator. "Okay, boys! Let's patch things up and get back to Canterlot!" said Lightning. "I want a clean sweep of the building to make sure there's nothing gone or out-of-place!"