The Aftermath
“Alright girls, operation save Twilight is a go.” Pinkie Pie had on military-esque clothing, her green helmet had leaves on it and camouflage face paint was smeared on her cheeks.
“Uh, Pinkie, we aren’t apocalypse rebels. You can drop the camo.” Rainbow tossed her soccer ball and caught it with her hands, throwing it up again to balance it on her head.
“I agree. Green really isn’t your color darling. Eugh.”
“Rarity we all know you hate the color green but that’s not the point. We need to do something, otherwise we won’t be able to bring her back at all.” Sunset sat on Pinkie’s bed staring at the ceiling, remembering how her last attempt failed. “If we don’t get Twilight back, then the whole world will fall under their spell.”
“Yeah, yeah, we know. But come on, they haven’t even left town yet. We’ve got plenty of time.”
“No we don’t. They have the whole town, they’ll move on soon.”
“How do you know?”
Pinkie left and returned in her normal clothes instantly. “But the portal to her world is here, so she has to come back.”
“But still, we don’t know how long that would take. We don’t know if they’ll go back to Equestria or not. For all we know they could be gone already!”
“Please calm down Sunset.”
“I-I’m sorry Fluttershy, it’s just…she’s in there somewhere, we just need to reach her. Somehow.”
“Well ah’ll be a buckin’ bronco at a cattle round up, we ain’t gettin’ nowhere with this. We gotta think up somethin’ quick, otherwise Twi’ll be stuck like that forever.”
“Um, girls.”
“I’m trying Applejack, but I can’t think of anything! This must be how Twilight felt, confused and hopeless.”
“Girls.”
“Well shoot, ah didn’t mean it like that.”
“Girls.”
“Huh, oh sorry Fluttershy, what is it?”
“Um, I just saw someone out there. They wanted us to follow them.”
“Eh, probably just some guy trying to bring us out in the open. And when we do go out there, Bam! End of story.”
“Actually Dash, ah think they’re all right.”
“Wowsa, look at that beard!”
“Huh, a beard?” Sunset looked out the window and saw a cloaked figure gesturing towards a building in the south. “Weird.”
After walking outside the figure was gone, leaving Sunset and the others with puzzled looks. “Maybe we should follow him.”
“Pinkie, dearie, I don’t think that would be the best idea.”
“Well it’s better than nothing.” Pinkie crossed her arms in front of her chest.
Sunset sighed. “Alright, I’ll go, if I don’t come back you know to stay away.”
“What!? Are you kidding me? No way am I missing out on this. There could be danger, traps, who knows what. I’m totally going.”
“Well she does say danger is her middle name.”
“See, even Flutters has got my back.”
“But…oh alright, whoever wants to come can. Just stay close ok.”
“Uh, actually I’ll, um, stay here…for when you get back. I’ll keep Spike company.”
“Not so fast Fluttershy, ah reckon Spike’ll wantin’ ta be comin’ to. Right?”
Spike was nowhere in sight, instead sleeping at the foot of Pinkie’s bed. “See, it would be better if I stayed here.”
“Alright, stay here where all the people in town can get you, alone, with no help, cause we’ll be out there, without you.”
Fluttershy sunk back at Rainbow’s description. “On second thought I should probably go to. You know, just in case.”
“That’s the spirit! To the mystery guy!” Pinkie pointed her finger upwards and put her leg up. The others shushed her. “Oh right, whoopsie.”
After what seemed like hours to Rainbow Dash, they found an abandoned construction sight. “Um, girls, I don’t think this is very safe.”
“Oh who cares, this is finally getting exciting.”
“Yep, except excitin’ ain’t really the word ah’d be usin’ now.”
“Let’s just go in and see if there’s anyone here. If not, we can leave. How does that sound?” Everyone nodded their heads and they went inside. After searching for a bit, they shrugged and turned around. “I guess no one was here. How are we supposed to beat the sirens and get Twilight back like this?”
“Perhaps I…may be of some assistance.” A shadowy figure walked into the light, his starry robe flowing in a nonexistent breeze, the bells on his hat chiming softly. Sunset gasped at who she was looking at.
“No way, is that…Starswirl the bearded?”
He stroked his beard and walked closer. “It has indeed been ages since I was last heard of in Equestria, but now we are in a time of great danger. Please, allow me to ask who you are.”
“I’m Rainbow Dash, best athlete at Canterlot high.”
“Howdy, mah name’s Applejack, pleased to meet ya.”
“Hello, my name in Rarity. A pleasure.”
“Hi I’m Pinkie Pie.”
“Oh, um, m-my name is…Fluttershy. I-it’s um, nice to meet you.” She hid behind Rarity.
“My name is Sunset Shimmer. I’ve read so much about you, your work, and all. But to meet you in person…just…wow. Never thought I’d get to do that. Just one question though, how and why are you here?”
“Ah yes, of course. After I banished the sirens to this world, I spent years preparing to go after them. A foolish notion, yet I felt compelled to keep track of them. Though admittedly, the chance to see a new world was too much, so with the blessings of Princess Celestia i found my way here. She put a spell on me so I would not age, and I gave her my final wishes. But as soon as I got here I could not find them. For years they eluded me, I searched the globe for them. I have gained much knowledge during my time here, but yet I still could not conceive where the sirens could be hiding. Finally though, I had heard about what happened here, so I rushed over as fast as I could. I spent seven hours on a plane, such a fascinating device. To be able to fly like a Pegasus, truly marvelous.” Everyone stared in awe, especially Sunset. “So might I ask, what exactly happened? I only know so much about the sirens and what happened. Would you kindly fill me in on the details?”