The mahoushoujo and Spike stood in Rarity's living room, staring in horror at the television, which was tuned to Neighpon News Network.
The signal was terrible; the image kept stuttering, dissolving into digital artifact, and losing the channel.
//—apologize for our technical difficulties,// the news anchor was saying. //Unknown at this time is the source of the explosion. Emergency teams are unable to approach Kirin Tower. The Ground Self-Defense Force has been mobilized as a precaution—//
"Well...now we know where she is," Twilight said grimly.
"Are...are you sure it's...her?" Fluttershy asked, wide-eyed.
"If it ain't, then somebody's got some really bad timin'," Applejack said.
"Either way, we can't ignore something of this nature," Rarity said firmly.
Twilight nodded. "Everyone transform. Spike, you can get us there, right?"
Spike was already in his combat attire. "Of course!"
"Good." Twilight squared her jaw. "Let's end this."
Magic 19: サンセット
Spike's teleport dropped the group in the middle of a scene of absolute chaos. Police had set up a cordon, while fire crews stood ready. The remains of Kirin Tower burned brightly, spewing flames, smoke, and debris into the air in a strangely cylindrical column. The perimeter which had formed around the scene was unusual, and the emergency response crews looked tense and angry.
//I repeat, it is unsafe to approach the tower at this time. Please clear the way for emergency response units. Do not approach!//
Twilight looked around. A crowd of onlookers stood behind the cordon. Some were screaming and crying. Some were covered in soot. A few had minor burns. Paramedics were moving among the crowd, searching for wounded. Twilight paled. "There...were people in there," she said shakily.
"Why ain't they goin' in?" Applejack asked. "Ain't they supposed ta...?"
"They can't," Spike said, pointing up at the flames. "Look."
"What?" Rainbow asked.
Rarity was the first to see it. "That...that isn't natural, is it?"
"What isn't?" Rainbow asked. She squinted up at the column of flames and smoke.
Fluttershy gasped. "Shouldn't...shouldn't the smoke be...spreading?"
Twilight scanned the officials for whoever seemed to be in charge. Finding an older man in a suit, a trenchcoat, and a hat standing next to a humvee, with police officers and firefighters swarming around him, she teleported over to him. "Excuse me," she said. "Are you in charge here?"
The man frowned at her. "Yes, and you shouldn't be on this side of the cordon."
"Nevermind that," Twilight said. "Nobody's able to get anywhere near the tower, are they? There's something keeping you out of there."
"Look, miss—"
"Something you can't explain," Twilight persisted. "A barrier."
The man paused, staring at her. "...hai," he said. He pointed up. "That's why the smoke is moving like that. It's like the entire tower is contained..." He trailed off. "Look, this is a crime scene. Get behind the cordon!"
"Thank you, sir," Twilight said, bowing. She teleported back over to her friends. "There's a barrier," she said. "A powerful one."
Spike nodded grimly. "I thought so."
"So what do we do?" Rainbow asked.
"I got this!" Pinkie declared. She unlimbered her bazooka and got down on one knee.
"Pinkie-san, wai—"
"SMILE BUSTING VAGINA!"
Until that point, nobody had taken any notice of them. Pinkie's shout drew a lot of attention, and many of the assembled onlookers and workers turned to stare.
A huge ball of crackling pink-and-black energy exploded out of Pinkie's bazooka, slamming into the invisible barrier encasing Kirin Tower. A concussive shockwave blew dozens of people off their feet; a yellow pulse of light ran up the barrier, accompanied by climbing arcs of blue lightning.
"YOU THERE! DROP YOUR WEAPON! YOU'RE UNDER ARREST!"
"Oh, for...!" Rainbow Dash took to the air, flying between Pinkie, the police detective who was screaming at her through a megaphone, and the dozen-odd police officers and firefighters who were swarming toward them. "HEY! Back off, okay? We're handling this! Or do you not wanna get in there and put out that fire?"
The sight of a girl with wings caused many to falter. Fluttershy joined her, looking down at the crowd.
"Please," Fluttershy said in her usual soft voice, which nevertheless carried over the chaos and confusion, "let us help. That's why we're here."
"It's them! From the news!" someone shouted.
"They're real!"
Twilight groaned. "Nice work drawing attention to us, Pinkie-san," she said.
"Umm...oops?" Pinkie ventured, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly.
Twilight sighed. "Alright. Rainbow-san, get back over here, we need you."
Once Rainbow and Fluttershy rejoined the group, Twilight looked up at the column of smoke and flames. "Pinkie-san's attack didn't break the barrier, but it showed me what I needed to see," she said. "I believe Pinkie-san, Rainbow-san, and I can shatter this barrier if we work together."
"Just tell me what to do," Rainbow said.
"I'm ready!" Pinkie declared, bracing for another shot.
"We each need to project a sustained magical attack against three different points along the barrier," Twilight said. "Rainbow-san, can you generate an electrified tornado?"
"No problem!"
"Pinkie-san, you'll need to use that attack you used against the Changeling princess."
"Smile Just Die Already Vagina? Sure, I can do that."
"And I know what I have to do already," Twilight said. "There's...just one problem."
"What's that?" Rainbow asked.
Twilight frowned. "Pinkie-san will need to attack the same spot again, and you'll need to attack a point about one hundred meters up...but I'll need to target a point fifty meters up. Exactly halfway between the two of you. And I can't fly."
"Fluttershy can—"
"No, I don't think she can handle the recoil from my magic. She's improved, but at that height, with me casting my spell..." Twilight shook her head. "The only way this is going to work is..." She swallowed nervously, looking up at the tower. "I'll have to attack while...falling."
Spike gasped. "Neechan, no!"
"I can do it," Twilight said. "If...if Rainbow-san carries me up a hundred meters, then drops me...after I fall thirty-five meters, I'll begin my assault on the target point, and continue it until I've fallen another thirty meters. Then...then I can teleport back to the ground."
"That sounds...rather suicidal, Sparkle-san," Rarity said.
"Yeah, Ah know you're tough an' all, but..."
"I...I can try to fly you up there," Fluttershy said hesitantly. "I...I don't want you to..."
"I need you to be waiting to catch me in case my safety teleport fails," Twilight said.
"Oh. Well...alright..."
"Neechan..."
"I'll be alright, Spike," Twilight said, swallowing nervously as she looked up at the burning tower. "We have to do this. It's the only way." She looked around at her friends. "I trust all of you with my life. I know...I know whatever happens, I'll be fine."
They looked at one another, then turned back to her and nodded.
"Right!" Rainbow said. "Just tell us what to do."
"Pinkie-san, get ready. Rainbow-san, you're going to carry me up the tower. When I give you the word, you're going to drop me and then start your attack. When Rainbow-san begins her attack, Pinkie-san needs to begin hers. Once I've fallen far enough, I'll begin my attack. If...if I'm right, then we'll be able to destroy the barrier, or at least weaken it enough that a less dangerous attack can finish it off. Fluttershy-san...stay under me, just in case."
"I...oh goodness...I'll do my best."
Twilight took a deep breath. "Let's go."
Pinkie knelt and took aim at the barrier, then trained her eyes on Rainbow as she wrapped her arm around Twilight's waist. Rainbow took off into the air, climbing swiftly and steadily; below, Fluttershy hovered ten meters off the ground and far enough back from the tower to keep an eye on her friends.
"Just a little more..." Rainbow heard Twilight say. "A little more...NOW!"
Rainbow released Twilight, then spun her lance and took aim at the barrier.
"THUNDER TORNADO!"
A furious column of roaring wind ripped away from Rainbow, a twisting miasma of lightning crackling blue-hot in the vortex. It slammed into the barrier, which glowed yellow-white at the point of impact, electricity crawling in snapping arcs along the surface.
Below, Pinkie's bazooka shot a steady lance of pinkish-white energy at the barrier. The yellow-white impact point warped and warbled; a long, fissure-like ribbon of yellow-white light raced up the barrier, connecting the two impact points.
Twilight counted silently in her head, keeping her gaze focused on a single point halfway between the two blasts. She had fallen exactly thirty-five meters. With her baton trained and primed, she unleashed her power with a wordless shout. A blinding column of magenta magic, white-hot at the core, lanced the barrier, which shook violently. The yellow-white crack widened, and crackling arcs of electricity snapped angrily into the sky. The top of the barrier widened; the smoke cloud began to spread outward.
The three girls continued their assault. The ground began to shake. People backed away from the tower; the fire crews readied their equipment. Police barked orders through megaphones. Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Spike watched nervously as Twilight continued to fall, never faltering in her assault...
The entire barrier lit up, a vertical column of silver-yellow magic, then shattered into dozens of glowing rings which exploded into glimmering sparks that spread out over the crowd, fading away like so many fireflies.
The crowd cheered thunderously. Rainbow, Pinkie, and Twilight ceased their attacks, plunging the evening into sudden, unnatural darkness.
Twilight continued to fall.
Fluttershy screamed and flew as fast as she could, racing to catch up with the falling mahoushoujo. Twilight was just seven meters from the ground when Fluttershy caught her, grunting as she strained under the additional weight. Slowly, she glided to the ground. She studied Twilight. "Are...are you alright?" she asked.
"I...think...so," Twilight said woozily. "Let's...never do that again..."
Rainbow glided to the ground, landing next to Fluttershy as she gingerly set Twilight down. The crowd attempted to press in around them, but Spike erected a barrier of his own, giving the girls some space. He rushed over to Twilight. "Neechan! Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah," Twilight said. "I could use...a recovery pill," she said.
Spike nodded and fished one out of his pocket, slipping it into Twilight's mouth. After a moment, she stood up, massaging her temples. She looked out at the fire crews, who had moved in and were battling the blaze.
"She's in there," she said. "She's waiting for us. As soon as they put out that fire...we're going in."
"Right!" the others chorused.
* * * * *
At the heart of the inferno, cocooned in a shimmering silver ball of cool, protective magic, Sunset Shimmer felt the barrier collapse.
She smiled, adjusting her grip on her scythe.
"Took them long enough."
In a silver flash, she left the burning tower behind...
* * * * *
"So what's the plan?" Rainbow asked.
"Here's a plan," a new voice intruded. "I kill everyone here."
The mahoushoujo whirled to see Sunset Shimmer standing a mere five meters away. Some of the onlookers had noticed her appearance and gasped. Phones were out, snapping pictures and recording video. Her cape stirred gently behind her, and her scythe shone in the firelight.
"You're not killing anyone else, Sunset Shimmer!" Twilight declared.
"We're gonna put the shiny on your hiney!" Pinkie said, pointing dramatically at Sunset.
"You're goin' DOWN, tramp!" Rainbow yelled.
"You've hurt far too many people!" Fluttershy declared in an unusually firm voice. "Whatever it takes to put a stop to you, that's...that's what we'll do!"
"They weren't kidding, you are quite a skank," Rarity said. "Though I do admit you have the body for that look..."
"An' suddenly Ah feel a lot less naked," Applejack said.
The detective in charge of the scene rushed up. "Anou...is...is she with you? Her appearance is...creating quite a stir..."
"Keibu-san," Rarity said, not taking her eyes off Sunset, "please do your best to evacuate this area. This woman is dangerous."
"Yeah, she blew up the tower," Rainbow added.
"WHAT?" The detective looked at Sunset. "You...! You're under arrest!"
Sunset rolled her eyes and raised a hand, pointing an index finger. A single shaft of blood-red light poured forth from her finger.
"BARRIER!" Twilight shouted, hastily erecting a magical forcefield in front of herself and the detective. Sunset's blast slammed into the glowing, spinning magenta shield, driving Twilight back.
"Get out of here! For your own safety!" Fluttershy pleaded with the detective.
The detective stared at Sunset, eyes wide. "I..."
"Go! Now!" Spike snapped. The detective disappeared in a burst of green flame, reappearing near the police humvee.
Twilight dropped her shield and pointed her baton at Sunset. "REPEL!"
Sunset yawned and held out a hand, taking Twilight's blast at full strength. The palm of her hand smoked and smoldered. When Twilight's attack flagged, Sunset's burned hand regenerated. She flexed her fingers, smirking.
"We can't fight her with this crowd!" Rainbow cried, looking around at the people who were pressed in against the police barricade.
"I don't think we have a choice!" Rarity said, holding her fan at the ready.
"Yeah, these idjits didn't run from a burnin' building, they sure ain't gonna run from this," Applejack said.
"Like I'm giving them a choice!" Rainbow said, taking wing. She spun her lance, pointing it at the crowd of onlookers.
"Rainbow-san, what—"
"BLOW AWAY!"
A powerful wind swelled up from seemingly nowhere, pressing against the crowd. As it picked up in strength, the onlookers were blown back; as they began staggering and debris began flying around, most of the crowd got the message, turned tail, and ran, the considerable tailwind hastening their departure.
Once the stragglers lost their battle against Rainbow's gale, the wind died down.
Twilight magically amplified her voice. "KEIBU-SAN! FALL BACK! GET EVERYONE CLEAR OF KIRIN TOWER! THIS AREA IS ABOUT TO BECOME VERY DANGEROUS!"
Sunset laughed coldly. "How noble of you!" she said. "Very well...since you insist on protecting these pathetic Neighponese...I'll make you a deal. I won't kill these pitiful, powerless fools...until after I've killed you."
Fluttershy and Applejack watched as the police presence pulled back. The onlookers farther from the girls had apparently been unnerved by the sudden gale that blew away a large portion of the crowd; slowly, they began to disperse, their departure hastened by police.
Twilight glared at Sunset. "Only one person is dying here tonight. By order of the Great Sun Sage Celestia...Sunset Shimmer, you are to be executed for your crimes!"
Sunset laughed. "Executed? I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm immortal. And with the power of the Lunar Seal, even your Elements of Harmony can't touch me!"
"We'll see about that!" Rainbow cried. "THUNDER TORNADO!" She aimed her lance at Sunset; the same powerful attack she'd used against the barrier ripped into Sunset, who surrounded herself with a shimmering corona of silver light.
"SMILE JUST DIE ALREADY VAGINA!" Pinkie's bazooka spat a solid stream of pink magic at Sunset, adding to the column of electrified wind attacking her barrier.
"FASHION WAVE!" A fanning blue wave of magic joined the attack.
"SAYOUNARA PARDNER!" Applejack's six-shooters fused into a shotgun, which fired blast after blast of burning orange buckshot into the fray.
"BUTTERFLY STORM!" Hundreds of beautiful pink and gold butterflies made entirely of magic poured out of Fluttershy's shield, flying right into the nexus of magic.
Twilight cupped her hands together and focused. A glowing ball of white-hot magic formed between her palms, magenta sparks coursing around it. "For Celestia-sama! For my friends! For everyone you've ever hurt! MANA RAID!"
A column of blinding white light burst forth from Twilight's hands, slamming into Sunset Shimmer's shield with enough force to shatter it. The other attacks swarmed around it, joining it. The girls continued their assault, even though sweat streamed down their faces.
One by one, the Elements of Harmony appeared in the air above them, shining brightly. Tendrils of rainbow light snaked between the six gems, connecting them. The rainbow grew stronger, weaving like a dancing ribbon around the six girls, bolstering them. With a ringing chime, the Elements released a torrential wave of pure rainbow magic at Sunset Shimmer, enveloping her in a glowing whirlwhind of prismatic magic. The ground shook, and a roar like a hundred freight trains filled the air.
After almost a full minute, the torrential magical onslaught of the Elements died, and they disappeared one by one, returning to their bearers. The girls' magical assault faltered, and they dropped to their knees, gasping for air. A cloud of glowing, multicolored smoke burned where Sunset Shimmer had stood.
"Is...is it over?" Rainbow panted. "Did...did we win?"
A massive crimson fireball exploded out of the smoke, slamming into the six girls and scattering them.
Sunset Shimmer staggered out of the smoke, leaning on her scythe for support. "Alright, playtime's over," she snarled. "It's time for you to di—"
A kunai attached to the end of a chain buried itself in her throat. Spike teleported in behind her, wrapping the chain around her, binding her arms to her side, and wrestled her to the ground. "I'll kill you as many times as I have to until you stay dead," he snarled.
Sunset gurgled, staring up into his furious emerald eyes. Tinges of red fire flickered along the edges of Spike's burning green battle aura.
"Spike-kun," a gentle voice said. Fluttershy flew unsteadily toward them. Behind her, the others had risen to their feet; Twilight was busy healing Rarity and Pinkie, who had taken the worst of the attack. Fluttershy's feathers and hair were singed, but her eyes were full of resolve. "Hold her steady. I think...I think I know how to end this." She gripped her shield by the edges and thrust it into Sunset's face.
"Angel Mirror."
Sunset's eyes filled with terror as her soul was sucked into the blinding light pouring out of the shield.