Equestria Guardians

By Jacoboby1 and The Incredible Werekitty

Chapter 1

“Welcome to Canterlot High”

“Tropes, Tropes Everywhere”

It was a wide grassy field, with various insects buzzing and flapping to and fro. The long blades of succulent green waved in the breeze as the sun shown down upon the landscape. Trees were dotted here and there leading to a deeper forest, but the field was where the most of the action was taking place.

Twilight felt a warm body press against hers, heard a laugh that was music to her ears...she looked up and saw the silver stallion that often haunted her dreams. He smiled, and said, “I’m here Twilight, I can’t wait to see you soon…”

Twilight blinked open her eyes to find a small spitwad on her forehead. She glared over next to her at her brother Spike who was obviously responsible.

“What the heck was that for, you little cretin?!” Twilight uttered angrily. One did not simply snap Twilight out of her pleasant dream, and expect her to be in a good mood.

“Spike, quit annoying your sister,” Twilight Velvet’s voice came from the front seat. The older woman, with light and dark blue striped hair looked back at the two siblings, with a slightly frustrated air. “I swear you two have made this trip even longer.”

“Sorry, Mother,” Twilight said contritely. “Though I’m excited about moving to Canter City.”

“I know, dear,” Velvet sighed. “But we are moving because your father found a good job, there. Not just for you to go to school under your tutor.”

“Ah let them be excited, Velvet,” Night Light said as he drove down the highway. “It’s Twilight’s first time going to a real school.”

“Which hopefully she won’t spend all her time as a total shut in,” Spike snarked.

“I wasn’t a TOTAL shut in! I went out, sometimes!” Twilight protested. “Museums, the library, concerts, plays…”

“With your tutor. Just your tutor,” Velvet uttered with yet another sigh. “You never made friends.”

“Just please try to make some friends this year.” Velvet practically begged.

Canter City was very different from Maretropolis. It was brighter, seemed cleaner, and was considerably less ominous. It was amazing how different two cities could be, even though they seemed to be made with the same materials. It was obvious this city was administrated very well, and kept clean, and tidy. The people seemed to be quite happy and rather proud of their city, rather than the indifference that pervaded Maretropolis.

Night Light drove the family through the city out into the housing district of the city, he pulled the car into the to the parking lot of a modest two story house. They got out of the car, and started to unpack the car, moving their suitcases into the house. They had already gotten some beds, and basic living items in the house, already, but the moving van would not be there until the next day with the stuff they simply couldn’t fit into the car.

“I want the room with all the bookshelves!” Twilight declared, as she ran inside with her suitcase.

“Hey!” Spike yelled, running after Twilight. Velvet and Night Light looked at each other in amusement, before carrying their bags into the house.
______________________________________________________________________

It took Twilight a little while to get all of her things inside. Her books, her telescope, her games, all the stuff a typical nerdy girl needs. She looked at her new space, and then out the window at her new neighborhood. She sighed as she went to sit on her new bed, when her phone began ringing. She looked at the caller I.D. and smiled at the picture of her tutor, Professor Celestia.

“Ah, Twilight good to hear from you.” Celestia’s soothing, mature voice said over the phone. “I trust you and your family are getting settled into your new home?”

“We sure are! I’ve got an amazing room with lots of bookshelves,” Twilight said happily. “I’ve got my room settled, and I’ll get the books I need for your school, so I will be ready for Monday, bright and early.”

“I hope so. Canterlot High is a wonderful school and I do hope you will enjoy it. Hopefully we can actually get you to not spend every waking hour studying” Celestia said, teasingly.

“But how will I make good grades, if I don’t study?” Twilight asked, frantically. “I must consider my future, and make sure I have great grades, and scores to get into a good college.”

“There’s a lot more to life than just studying Twilight. These are going to be some of the best years of your life. Savor them, take every advantage you can get.” Celestia replied, calmly. “Oh, and after you’re done with school on Monday, there’s a museum exhibit I want you to come see.”

“A new museum exhibit? That sounds fantastic! I’ll be looking forward to it,” Twilight said happily.

Twilight hummed happily, as she walked to her new school. An actual school She had been tutored, before, so this new academic environment would be so different, and kind of exciting. She hoped she wouldn’t be too distracted by the people. She wasn’t the biggest fan of people, because they wanted to take her away from her studies.

“Actually going to school. This is going to be very different,” Twilight observed.

Twilight jumped out of the way just in time for a girl with pink curls to come barreling through them on roller skates. There was another loud crash and Twilight saw that the roller skate wearing legs were sticking out of a trash can. Twilight stared for a few seconds, and sighed. She then went over and helped the poor girl out of the trash can.

Once out of the trash, Twilight saw an overly cheerful looking girl in a light pink skirt with a trio of two blue and one yellow balloons, a white shirt with a pink heart and blue trim, and a blue camisole shirt. The roller skates were strapped to a pair of light blue and white knee boots that had little pink bows at the top of the laces. Her wildly curly hair was a dark pink, and the girl had bright excited blue eyes.

The girl looked at Twilight for a long moment, and then suddenly defied the laws of physics by jumping into the air, gasping in shock, before taking off on her roller skates again.

“Well, that was, interesting.” Spike said, raising an eyebrow at the whole thing.

“Yeah… That was different,” Twilight uttered. “Any wonder why I’m not a fan of people?”

“C’mon, let’s get to school” Spike said as the pair continued to walk towards the school.

Twilight and Spike stopped by the administration office, picking up their schedules and locker assignments, before separating to go to their separate lockers. Spike, naturally, was with the lowerclassmen, he being a 9th grader. Twilight, on the other hand, was a Junior, in the 11th grade, and so was in that particular part of the school.

Twilight opened her locker, stowing her books, and getting her books for her first classes. She had brought some special shelves to make the organization of her locker all that much easier. Once the locker was set up to her satisfaction, she closed it, getting ready to head to her homeroom.

Just as she was about ready to go however, a soccer ball bounced off the locker next to her.

“Whoa! Sorry, ball got away from me!” a girl’s voice said. A most colorful girl came running up. She wore a short-sleeved blue overshirt over a white shirt with an emblem of a cloud with a rainbow colored lightning bolt. Over a pair of black spandex shorts, she wore a pink and white striped skirt, blue knee boots with white trim covered legs with tri-colored socks of yellow, blue and red. Bright maroon eyes looked out from beneath a shock of multihued hair that was the color of the rainbow, and overall the girl looked trim, fit and athletic.

She picked up the soccer ball, saying to Twilight apologetically. “Sorry, again.” She then saw where Twilight was standing. “Hey, you’re my new locker neighbor. Must be the new kid.”

“Uhm… Yes. I’m Twilight,” Twilight said hesitantly. “Twilight Sparkle.”

“And you’re looking at the one and only Rainbow Dash!” She said, spinning the soccer ball on her finger. “Athlete, superstar, captain of pretty much all the good sports teams at the school, not to mention future star player of the Wonderbolts!” She proclaimed proudly.

“The Wonderbolts?” Twilight said, raising an eyebrow. “The famous soccer team? With all the famous players, and the endorsement deals? Those Wonderbolts?”

“Uh, yeah.” Rainbow replied. “Who else could handle a player as awesome as me?”

“Uh huh. I don’t know if the Wonderbolts would take a player who’s so irresponsible that they kick around a soccer ball indoors in a crowded school hallway,” Twilight observed. “After all, they’ve got to be role models for the young athletes of the country, and must be above reproach.”

“Geez, you’re starting to sound like an egghead.” Rainbow said, really only half listening.

“Better an egghead than some jock with delusions of grandeur,” Twilight uttered, hefting her books, and getting ready to head to her homeroom.

Twilight came out of her latest class frowning a bit. So far the school experience, while more -eugh- social was proving inferior to one-on-one tutoring in her mind. The teacher was often overwhelmed, and the students only seemed to be there because they had to not because of their love of learning. Twilight would prefer more learning and less socializing. Making friends was never that important to her.

As she was about to walk to her next class however, she spotted another girl holding a huge stack of crates, and it was about to tip over. “Consarnit! Balance out ya darn boxes!” The girl muttered in a country accent.

“Whoa!” Twilight yelped, rushing over, and helping to keep the boxes from falling. “Maybe you should carry a smaller stack?” she suggested, as she helped keep them balanced.

“Thanks partner!” She said, turning around the boxes so Twilight could get a better look at her. She was a strong-looking girl with tanned skin, freckles, long blonde hair, and bright green eyes. She wore a Stetson hat, a white button-up blouse with a green collar, and placard, a denim skirt, and a pair of cowboy boots with an apple motif.

“Ah got it,” She said, “jus’ lost mah footin there a sec. Say, ain’t never seen you around here before. Names Applejack, pleasure tah see new folks round ‘ere.”

“I’m Twilight. Nice to meet you too… Why are you moving such heavy boxes around, anyway?” Twilight asked curiously.

“Oh these? Ah’m supposed tah take these to the cafeteria. Mah family provides a lot of the food in town. Ain’t nothin like food from Sweet Apple Acres!” She said proudly.

“You don’t have, like, farm hands to do that?” Twilight asked, tilting her head. “Or… Is your helping out part of the tuition?”

“Well somethin’ like that, our farm is a family farm see. Mah Granny, Big Brother, Little Sister, and me all pitch in. Plus, Granny also is the lunch lady”

“So lunch will be better than most school lunches?” Twilight asked, walking with the country gal just in case of another box upset. “Home style cooking and all that, with farm-fresh ingredients?”

“Eeyup,” She said, then blinked. “Oh land sakes, Ah’ve been chattin bout mahself all this time, and Ah didn’t ask nuthin bout you.”

“Oh, I’m nothing special, really. Just your typical egghead, I suppose. I guess that’s the lingo for somebody who actually likes reading, and learning,” Twilight said with a huge sigh.

“Sounds like ya had a run in with Dash. Don’t worry none about her. There’s nuthin’ wrong with havin’ brains.” She said, and soon the pair came up to the cafeteria doors. “Ah got things from here, yer not so bad Twilight, and don’t let Rainbow getcha down, she’s a right mean sort…” She said, and then walked inside the cafeteria. Twilight couldn’t help but notice a rather...biting tone when Aj mentioned Rainbow...seems they didn’t get along at all.

“Okay then,” Twilight murmured, then quickly turned to sprint to her next class. True she wasn’t the biggest fan of people, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t have the power of human decency. And it would not have been nice at all to leave Applejack to fend for herself with that huge stack of boxes. Even so she barely made it to her next class. The teacher, though, was rather shockingly young.

“Cutting it close, weren’t you?” the brown-haired bespectacled woman asked with an amused glint in her eyes.

“Sorry. I was helping Applejack with a huge stack of boxes,” Twilight explained.

“Oh. I see,” the young woman said nodding. “That was quite decent of you. Take your seat, then, and we’ll get this party started.”

The woman stepped to the front of the classroom, and stood there, with crossed arms, and a challenging smirk.

“Ladies, gentlemen, and assorted hooligans, welcome to World History. My name Sour Grapes, that’s MISS Grapes to you lot, and together we will learn how humans in a mere fifteen thousand years went from hunting and gathering-” The teacher, unsurprisingly, was rather rudely interrupted, causing Twilight to roll her eyes. Despite her youth, this one seemed rather intelligent.

“Yo, Teach!” came the rude voice of a flashy young man, with black hair with yellow streaks. “How much of this is gonna be on the test?”

“Ah, yes, ‘the test’. The test will measure if you are an informed, engaged, and productive citizen of the world. And it will take place in schools, in bars, in hospitals, and in places of worship. You will be tested on first dates, in job interviews, while watching soccer, and while scrolling through your Chatter feed. The test will judge your ability to think about things other than celebrity marriages, whether you’ll be easily persuaded by empty political rhetoric, whether you’ll be able to place your life, and your community in a broader context. The test will last your entire life, and be comprised of the millions of decisions that makes your life yours. And everything, everything is on it.”

“Yesssss!” Twilight thought. “A teacher who GETS it!”
_________________________________________________________________________

Spike was waiting for Twilight outside once class was over for that period. Spike walked up to his adopted sister. “Well, this place doesn’t seems so bad. Any luck on the friends department?” He asked.

“One… maybe? Possibly two. I don’t know, I haven’t really been trying, honestly,” Twilight said. “Though Applejack was nice enough. This Rainbow Dash character called me an ‘egghead’ though.”

“Well at least it’s a start” Spike said. “Who knows, maybe the right friend will come right...around…” Spike was looking behind Twilight at something.

To Spike’s eyes, she was a vision in purple. Elegantly curled purple hair, flouncy purple skirt, and purple knee boots. A trio of diamonds decorated the skirt, and set off the light blue blouse the girl wore. On her pale wrists were a pair of gold bracelets, and in her hair was a diamond-looking hair pin. Her eyes were a beautiful clear cyan that sparkled in the light from the nearby windows, as she walked gracefully down the hall.

Spike stared at this vision and his jaw was practically on the floor. Never in his fourteen years of existence had he ever seen something so beautiful. His staring was not lost on his sister. Spike pulled on Twilight’s arm. “Pretend I said something funny!”

Twilight smirked, sniggering at her little brother’s antics. “Geeze, Spike, what’s with you?”

“Sure, fine, whatever. I’ll be only too happy to help my little brother make a fool of himself,” Twilight said with an expansive shrug, and a laugh.

That laugh did cause the girl to come over. Spike stood stiff as she came closer. The girl then stopped and said in an elegant voice, “Oh, I don’t believe we’ve met darlings, are you two new here?”

“Yes we are. I’m Twilight Sparkle, and prince charming, here, is my younger brother, Spike,” Twilight replied, still amused.

Rarity let out a musical little laugh. “My goodness, quite the little charmer.”

“I am Rarity Belle darlings, I do hope you enjoy your time here.” She said with a gorgeous smile.

“So far it’s been all right,” Twilight observed with a smile. “This is my first time in a school environment, and I’m finding it has… more positives than negatives.”

“Well darling if you ever wish to find a few more positives I’d be happy to help. Perhaps I can even get us started on an ensemble.” She said, looking Twilight over with a rather, discerning eye.

“An… ensemble?” Twilight said, looking nervous. “What do you mean by ensemble?”

“I just happen to be quite the aspiring Fashionista. Oh you darling would look simply marvelous in a yellow blouse with a Prench collar, with some nice Venetian lace…” Rarity said, looking Twilight over.

“Way too fancy-smancy for my tastes,” Twilight said quietly. “I prefer simplicity. It’s easier to take care of.”

“Well if you must.” Rarity said with a hint of disappointment. “Do come by the Home Ec room sometime and we can at least get some measurements in darling.”

Spike’s vision of Rarity was still very sparkly. He fought for the right words. “Um if you uh..need any help I could...I mean…”

Rarity smiled, “Oh I could always use the help darling. Thank you Spike you are such a dear.” She said. “Now I must be off darlings, see you all soon.”

“And you’re delusional. Hey, Cassanoa, you’re going to be late to your next class!” Twilight declared, giving Spike a light dope-slap.

“Alright alright!” Spike said, walking off. “But just you wait! One of these days I’ll date that girl!”

“Sure you will. About the same time I find a boyfriend,” Twilight laughed. “And we both know how likely that is, right?”
____________________________________________________________________

It was the second break of the day, long after lunch, and in the home stretch of the school day. Twilight was gathering her books for her final few classes, making note of which books she’d have to take home for the evening, once the final bell rang, and was about to set off for her next class, well before the class bell rang when something attracted her attention.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?” A redheaded girl asked another pink haired girl as both of them stood beside a bulletin board, where a large and obnoxious poster of the red headed girl was. The pink-haired girl had the biggest, most soulful aqua eyes that anybody has ever seen in a girl. The phrase “moe” sprang to Twilight’s thoughts, as she looked at her. Her white sleeveless blouse was tucked into a green skirt decorated with pink butterflies, and she wore green knee-high green boots. The red-and-yellow haired girl who was bullying the timid looking teenager was a fierce-looking one. She wore a black leather jacket, black knee-high boots with a flame motif, an orange skirt with yellow and maroon stripes, and a maroon shirt with a yin-yang sun symbol.

“Um, I was,” The pink headed girl said quietly. “Just hoping to put up, one of my animal shelter posters.”

“Do you see any room for your rat infested shelter?” The red headed girl said, rather meanly. “Honestly Fluttershy, why would anybody care about your miserable poster when they can be focused more on my campaign for Fall Formal Princess?”

“Well um...your poster does take a lot of space,” Fluttershy said. “It shouldn’t be too much, Sunset, I mean, I can just take a little corner…”

“Because I really really need people to help at the shelter,” Fluttershy implored. “If I don’t, all the little animals will…”

“Yeah, don’t care.” Sunset replied. “Nobody cares about your flea ridden animals anyways.”

“Excuse me, miss thang, but are you so stuck on yourself that you can’t give over a corner for a worthwhile cause? It might even make you look good,” Twilight said coming up to them. “After all, volunteer work does look good on college entrance forms as an extra curricular.”

Both girls turned to look at her. Fluttershy started turning pale, as if Twilight just stepped on a landmine. Sunset meanwhile, smirked. “Oh, and just who are you?”

“Twilight Sparkle. Just your average ordinary egghead, but I do know about looking good for college, so… maybe you might want to let the poor girl have a corner? It’ll look good for you to be nice to the ‘little people’,” Twilight said walking up, and gazing defiantly at Sunset.

Sunset walked up to Twilight, in a manner a tyrannical queen would a peasant. Sunset glared at Twilight. “You’re the new girl. That means you don’t know how things work around here. So let me tell you. I’m Sunset Shimmer, you may have heard of my many awards and contributions to this school. I am this school’s ruler, boss, queen if you will. Everybody stays in line and nobody gets trounced so long as they follow one rule…” She got real close to Twilight at that point. “Don’t, Fuck, with Sunset…”

Sunset blinked, shocked at what Twilight just said. She then growled, “Just stay out of my way…” She then stomped off.

“Wow...I’ve never seen anybody stand up to Sunset like that…” Fluttershy said, walking towards Twilight. “You didn’t have to go to the trouble…”

“I don’t like bullies. I really don’t. Nevermind trying to steal a line from one of the most badassed characters in the Mass Effect universe,” Twilight griped. “Anyway… You need help at the animal shelter? I’m free, most weekends, and I can see if I can drag my little brother along, if he’s not too busy fawning over Rarity.”

“Oh, thank you so much, I didn’t think anybody would want to help.” She said sadly. “Nobody at this school seems to care about the poor creatures without a home. But, anyways please stop by soon. I’d be glad to have the help.” She said, handing Twilight a flyer.

“Nice to meet you, Fluttershy,” Twilight said cheerfully. “I’ll be looking forward to this weekend.”

Twilight sighed, then turned to go to her locker, shaking her head. Man what a day. This school is full of crazy characters. But one or two of them turned out to be nice. So not bad in the friend department, there. She walked on to her last few classes, feeling like her day had been full to bursting already. She just wanted to get through these classes, and go home.

As she was lost in thought during one of her walks however, she accidentally bumped into another figure. Twilight fell over onto her rear and sighed, it was a long day already and-

Twilight looked up. Standing there was… a detective? What? He had brown hair, silver eyes, was wearing a fedora, trench coat, and a very concerned expression. Once more, he was, in Twilight’s eyes, amazingly cute, and Twilight wasn’t one to call a boy cute. This one was, though, and his presence was making it very hard for Twilight to talk.

He held out his hand for her. “Sorry about that, wasn’t watching where I was going, need a hand?” He asked politely.

He smiled, taking her hand and helping her get back to her feet. He seemed a little reluctant to let go of her hand. “I’m uh, Private by the way,” He said, a little nervously at her.

“T-twilight. Twilight Sparkle. Nice to meet you,” she said blushing furiously.

“Oh, right you’re the new girl, heard about you.” He said. “Welcome to Canterlot High, pretty crazy place huh?”

“Crazy doesn’t even begin to describe it,” Twilight replied with a laugh. “But… The people are kind of nice.”

“Yeah, it does give off that impression. I was new a few months ago.” He admitted.

“You were? Wow, that’s neat. So… Do you like it, so far?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah, you get used to it. Well, I hope to see you around Twilight…” He said, giving her a small wave before heading off.

“Yeah,” Twilight said waving a little. “M-me too.” With that she headed off in her own direction, still slightly dazed.

Twilight had packed a light bag with a notebook, and spare pencils. She was sure this trip to the museum would be as educational as any of the other trips with her tutor. Twilight intended to take plenty of notes, and remember everything she learned, in case of a pop quiz later. She skipped merrily to the museum, glad to be doing something other than unpacking, tonight. Moving was never an easy proposition, and her family’s move was no different.

As she stepped into the museum itself she saw a large crowd gathered around a stone carving on display. Twilight moved closer and saw it contained a stylized equine with wings and a horn on display. Around it’s horn were six multicolored gems, all glistening in the light.

Twilight moved closer, so she could read the information placard, and jot down notes about the interesting carving.

Discovered well over a week ago, this strange carving was found buried deep beneath the earth. The gems themselves are impossible to remove from the carving and seem to sport an unknown type of energy. The equine feature in the center may be part of this ancient civilization’s religion.

Twilight gazed upon each of the gems, and the one that was shaped like...like the six pointed star she always used as her emblem. They seemed remarkably familiar.

It was as if time stopped. The people in the museum froze, everything they had been doing seemed as if frozen in amber, or clear acrylic. A moment in time preserved for future reference. Twilight looked around, looking confused. Why was she still moving? What had been that loud bonging sound? Why is everybody frozen like this? These were the questions that went through Twilight’s mind, as she walked through the eerie frozen scene.

She walked towards one of the frozen denizens, and sure enough, the person didn’t react when she ran her hand over the person’s face. Twilight tentatively tried to touch the person, only to yelp in shock when her hand passed right through. She tested it again, only for her hand to continually pass through the person, as if Twilight herself had become totally incorporeal.

“What is going on here?” Twilight asked, as she backed away from the person on whom she’d been experimenting. “And where is Professor Celestia? She was supposed to be here…”

Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud, booming sound. Twilight heard it coming from another wing. Never one to turn away from an opportunity to find out more, she made her way towards the wing. When she got there, her mind could barely comprehend it….

Standing in the center of what was the Dinosaur ring, was a large, well...it reminded her a lot of the Ogres from Age of Dragon. It stood there, menacingly tall with bulging muscles under grey skin, it’s horns protruding out of it’s head, a pair of yellow eyes glaring down, and large hands gripped into fists as it bared its misshapen teeth…

Sunset glared up at the creature. “Figures it’d be one of you, you ogres can’t resist a fight can you?”

It roared at her, and lifted one of its massive fists to try and crush her. Twilight gasped, expecting Sunset to become a pancake...but instead…

In a flash of red light a sword appeared in Sunset’s hand, it was elegant, beautiful, something you would see in fantasy concept art. Sunset swung it at the creature’s hand, and it dug deep, the ogre roared in pain and withdrew it’s hand.

Twilight just stared, aghast, at the scene. This… This shouldn’t be happening. This couldn’t be happening. She must have hit her head, because there is no way she was seeing Sunset Shimmer fighting an ogre with a sword that looked like it was made of ruby and citrine flames. She had to be hallucinating, or dreaming. Twilight shook her head, rubbing her eyes.

The ogre tried to smash Sunset again, this time Sunset swung her sword early...and a wave of flame came from the slash, causing the creature to be driven back.

“This is almost too easy…” Sunset said to herself, and then stabbed her sword into the floor. “It’s time I ended this!” She lifted one of her hands to the sky…

A magic circle appeared above Sunset’s head as the Ogre charged at her for a counter attack. Sunset’s hands glowed brightly and so did the circle as she shouted. “Guardian beast! Salamander!!”

Out of the circle came a large, lizard like creature that lunged at the ogre, it’s scales were the same color as Sunset’s hair. It resembled a real salamander too, but the flames on it’s back were definitely new...it charged at the Orge, biting it’s arm with massive teeth. The ogre yelled in pain, trying to fight off the new creature.

“Oh great shades of Pokemon…” Twilight groaned. “Why aren’t I waking up? This is the weirdest dream I’ve ever had, and that’s saying something… I must have hit my head really freaking hard…” She leaned against the door, shaking her head, and pinching herself. Trying to rid herself of this illogical vision before she was convinced it was real. True she liked fantasy as a genre, but her dreams tended to be more logical, and practical. Fantasy belonged in storybooks, movies, and videogames. Not in a Natural History Museum!

As she tried to get out of the wing, she accidentally knocked over a stand...the ogre stopped..and looked at her.

The ogre used the momentary distraction to knock the Salamander off, and tried to lunge for the weaker prey. Twilight nearly screamed before the salamander got the Ogre’s leg and pulled it back into the fighting.

Sunset took Twilight’s hand. “Come on! Move it!” She pulled Twilight out of the wing, and the girls ran into the hallway, hiding behind one of the benches. Before Twilight could say anything more...Sunset put the sword to her neck. “Just what are you doing here, Sparkle?! How are you moving around during the witching hour?!” She yelled.

“I have no idea! As far as I know I’m hallucinating the whole thing from receiving a concussion! I came here, because Professor Celestia recommended the new display, I swear. If I’d known I’d get hit on the head, and start seeing fantastic creatures, I’d have stayed home!” Twilight retorted. “The only place I want to see Darkspawn is on my computer screen, thank you very much.”

Sunset sighed, “Okay, fine you clearly have no idea what’s going on. Short version is, the reason nobody’s moving is because of something called a witching hour, that monster can only come out during that hour, and I as a guardian am the only one who can kill it.”

“If it’s all the same to you, Miss Thang, I prefer my concussion theory. Monsters don’t exist, except in books, movies, and video games. Clearly, I’m hallucinating. Don’t know what you’re doing in my hallucination, though,” Twilight replied, rubbing her head. “Seriously, monsters coming out during some kind of ‘witching hour’? That sounds like something right out of the Silent Hill series.”

Sunset groaned, and slapped Twilight across the cheek...the pain was definitely real. The shock on Twilight’s face as it registered that this was really happening was almost humorous.

“Good, I’ve convinced you you aren’t hallucinating, now let me be clear. That monster is very real and knows you can’t fight back and will eat you if you don’t stay out of my way. Go back to the display, hide, whatever just make sure big and ugly can’t see you.” Sunset said, getting up was about to head back into the wing, before the monsters came crashing through.

The girls looked on in shock as the Ogre got a hold of the Salamander, grabbed it in a neck hold and with an audible SNAP cracked its neck...the Salamander fell down and before Twilight’s eyes, vanished.

Twilight got up, scrambling for the door, before the ogre noticed her. She really prefered it when she thought she was dreaming, she really did.

“I’m trapped in a nightmare,” She panted, as she ran back into the new exhibit, trying to find a good hiding space.

Sunset turned and crouched into a fighting stance as Twilight went to hide behind the display. Sunset glared up at the monster as it lumbered in. “C’mon Sunset, you trained for this...I got to…”

She suddenly fell down to her knees, exhausted. “Damnit...used too much power.” She looked back at Twilight. “Sparkle...when I bite the dust...that monster is going to be able to hurt everybody...but..if you’re moving that means...you can at least stall him…”

It clicked in Twilight’s brain, if Sunset died...then everybody here would be vulnerable. And even though she’s a bully… she had some spark of good in her to want to defend these people. She didn’t deserve to die, like this. Twilight had to do something, something to help defeat this ogre, before it hurt anybody, including Sunset.

Her eyes suddenly turned to the display..as the six pointed star gem glowed brightly before her eyes. Twilight shielded her eyes from the light...and when she opened them, she saw herself standing on an invisible platform, under a magenta colored sky…

“Yes, I do. I want to help her, and anybody who needs it!” Twilight said determinedly. “These people are innocent. And while Sunset may be a bully, she has some good in her that makes her want to help people, too. I can’t just let her die, like that.”

Then swear...Sunset will not be the only one in danger. Swear that you will fight to protect those who cannot protect themselves. To save the world from the coming darkness...as a Guardian...Swear on the pact…

Twilight looked up, and saw a large staff before her, with the gem at the top end. It’s rod glowed with brightly colored runes… it too was strangely familiar…

“I so swear. To protect those who cannot protect themselves, and to save the world from the coming darkness. I will become a Guardian!”

A magenta light glowed, and Twilight found herself back in the museum, standing before the Ogre. Sunset looked on Twilight in shock.

The Ogre roared at Twilight, and tried to lunge for her. Twilight’s arms moved almost on instinct, she twirled the staff and swung it, launching a bolt of magic right at the monster’s face, knocking it back.

“Take that, you fiend!” Twilight yelled, then nearly facepalmed at her own cheesiness. She then held up the staff, calling forth a barrage of magical missiles to blast the ogre. The ogre staggered back, not expecting such power to come from a creature so small.

After the spell fired, Twilight stared at her hands, and at the staff, she felt a power flow through her. She shook her head, turning back to the ogre, sending blast after blast at it, again and again. She’ll think about this later, right now she had a baddie to defeat.

“I won’t let you hurt Sunset! I won’t let you hurt these people! I won’t let you do anything to my world! Now either begone, or be destroyed!” Twilight declared, as she kept up the barrage.

The Ogre roared madly, brushing aside her latest barrage, and as it grew closer, Twilight braced herself as she heard a voice…

Twilight blinked, and her eyes grew white as she stabbed her staff into the ground, summoning a magic circle in front of her. She held out her hands as the creature grew ever closer. And just as it was about to smash her to bits, Twilight shouted, in a voice not her own…

Suddenly a purple unicorn burst forth from the magic circle, majestically, rearing and pawing the air before she charged the ogre, her horn bearing down on the beast. Her hoofbeats thundered in the museum, and with a rather meaty squelch, her horn impaled the ogre, right in the heart, if it even had one. The ogre wailed in true pain, before finally going limp, and slowly disappearing in a cloud of dust…

Twilight blinked her eyes again, they returned to normal as she gazed upon the creature. It slowly turned to her, trotting around her for a bit, before standing before her. Twilight tentatively reached out a hand to touch it. It, sweetly pressed its nose to her hand, before it too disappeared.

“Wow,” Twilight whispered, leaning on her staff. She then turned to Sunset, looking her over. “Are you alright?”

Sunset, looked totally shocked...and then glared at her as she stood up. “Why the hell do you have Magic?!” She yelled.

“How should I know? All I know is that the gem at the center of the display started glowing, I was taken to some place with a magenta sky, and asked if I wanted to help. I said I did, and here I am,” Twilight explained. “I don’t know how it happened, I don’t know why it happened, except maybe you needed help before that ogre killed you, and then started nomming on the people here. You’re welcome, by the way.”

“You’re lying…” Sunset glowered, summoning her sword and pointing it at Twilight. “I knew something was off with you. Magic was supposed to be mine.”

“... I’m lying. Me. Who knew nothing about this, who thought this whole sequence was a concussion induced hallucination, and who you had to slap to get me to believe this was actually happening is lying?” Twilight asked

“You’re a good actress then, frankly I don’t care. Now hand over Magic right now before I do to you what your Unicorn, which I have no idea how you managed to summon a creature so powerful, did to that ogre!” She yelled, about to rush Twilight with the blade.

Sunset was stopped by a beam of golden light shooting between the girls, knocking Sunset’s sword out of her hand. “That’s enough Sunset.”

Twilight looked over, and her jaw dropped at the sight of her tutor… It was Professor Celestia. Of course it was Professor Celestia. Twilight knew that voice anywhere, but… but she was moving, during this weird time where monsters prowled, and ordinary people were frozen. And now she seemed to have this… aura. Her hair seemed to be blown by an unseen breeze, and she seemed to just… glow with power. How is she doing that?

“I said that’s enough Sunset, we’ll speak of this later.” Celestia said, in a very firm voice that shut Sunset up in an instance. She then looked to Twilight, and spoke kindly, “I am glad you are safe Twilight, I apologize that I did not arrive sooner…”

“Just… what the heck is going on, Professor?” Twilight asked. “I seem to have been turned into some kind of magical girl, and I’m really confused right now, and Sunset’s pissed at me, because she didn’t get the bauble she wanted.”

Celestia simply stood there, looked to Sunset with a disappointed expression, then back to Twilight. “I will explain in time, both of you will come to the school with me. But first, I have need of something.” She casually walked up to the stone carving, Twilight then noticed, the gem she had wasn’t on the carving anymore. Celestia then raised her hand, and the other gems came out, five in total floating in Celestia’s hand. “Still intact, after all these years.”

Twilight sighed, still leaning on her staff. “This had better be one heck of an explanation… This whole thing is completely unbelievable… Like something out of some anime.”

“I will explain it as best I can, come with me girls...there is much to discuss…”

They had gone back to the school, and to Professor Celestia’s office. It was a fairly bright place, with light beige walls, some scrollwork in the corners for decoration. Celestia sat down behind a sturdy wooden desk decorated with inlay work of a star, a moon, and what looked like rolling waves. On the desk was a phone, the intercom mic, and the control panel for the intercom. Behind the desk was a dry-erase board, outlining future events at the school. To the left of the desk, against the wall, was a bookcase of a slightly darker wood than the desk, filled with books, and one object that looked like either an urn or a trophy.

Principal Celestia sat down behind the desk, looking at her two pupils, calmly. Sunset was still glaring daggers at Twilight, where Twilight looked a combination of tired and confused.

“Now that we are in a safe place, I imagine you have many questions Twilight.” Celestia said.

Before Twilight could answer, Sunset butted in. “Celestia you can’t be serious, we don’t know anything about this girl. She shows up, steals the power of magic, and is able to take out an ogre. That should be several red flags that she’s a-”

“I am well aware of your misgivings Sunset, and I would’ve informed you...if I asked you to go to the museum…” It was Celestia’s turn to look back at Sunset, this time with a very scolding look. “Why exactly were you there when I asked you to stay out of this?”

Sunset growled, “I don’t need this, just be lucky you still have a job, if my mother had things her way-”

Sunset huffed, and stomped outside. Celestia sighed and said to Twilight, “Forgive me Twilight, Sunset has always been...troubled.”

Twilight sighed. “She’s a bully, and a spoiled brat. She accuses me of stealing this… this… whatever-it-is because, apparently, she wanted it. Why she thinks she deserves it, I’ll never know. I didn’t steal it. It chose me… I think… After I was made to realize I wasn’t hallucinating the whole thing. Come on, an ogre? Either I was delusional, or I was dreaming. And now my rational, sensible little world… It isn’t so rational and sensible anymore…”

“I was always trying to prepare myself for this conversation.” Celestia said, with another sigh. “But I hardly know where to start.”

Celestia nodded, “Indeed, what I’m about to tell you Twilight, cannot leave this room except for those you really trust. Your parents cannot know it either, you know how worrisome your mother gets. Heaven help me if Shining Armor finds out.”

“Oh good heavens, Shiny… He STILL thinks I’m a little kid…” Twilight groaned. “And Cadence is almost as bad…”

“I suppose, the beginning is the best place to start.” She said, and held up her hand, a light came from it, slowly forming a hologram like image of a beautiful kingdom, with rolling hills, deserts, mountains and a beautiful capital in the center. “In another world, there was a place called Equestria, a beautiful kingdom brimming with magic and wonder.”

“Another dimension? Really?” Twilight said sounding fascinated. “And… magic? I… Ugh… I’m a woman of science, and yet I have to accept magic, because I was doing it about an hour ago… Please go on, Professor.”

“In this world, there were no humans, instead, the inhabitants were creatures…” The map zoomed in to a small town on the countryside, and Twilight’s eyes grew wide. All around the place, multicolored Equine creatures all walked around doing business like people. “Were called Ponies. They came in three kinds,” She said, zooming to a trio of the creatures. She gestured to one of them, “Ones without magic or flight, but the strength of the land were called, Earth Ponies.” She then moved on to one with a horn, “You probably recognize this one, they are unicorns, gifted with abilities to manipulate magic and all it’s properties. And last but not least,” She gestured to a pony with wings, hovering off the ground. “These are Pegasi, born with wings that allow them to fly across the sky.”

“... This looks like something out of a cartoon geared toward young girls,” Twilight observed.

“I’m sure, but do the bright colors automatically make whatever it has to say dismissive?” Celestia said with a coy smile. “Now, these creatures lived in harmony with one another, and the land...that was until a great darkness came over the land.” She waved her hand over the map, and it zoomed out to show a great cloud of darkness covering the land. “This darkness...destroyed this once beloved land...leaving it devastated…”

“Okay then… What does that have to do with magical baubles, weird creatures coming over in Silent Hill fashion, and… me?” Twilight asked.

“You see, after the darkness fell, many monsters still roamed the land, and they used a dark spell called the Witching, that allows them to pass over temporarily into our world.” Celestia explained. “This spell however, has it’s limits. A great sorcerer was able to put a counter spell on it, that when the monster came over, time would stop for one hour, and no human can be harmed during that hour.”

“Indeed, to combat these monsters, beings known as guardians were chosen among the human populace. These guardians could move during the witching hour, conjure weapons that can hurt the monsters, as well as summon powerful beasts to destroy them. You experienced all of this yourself,” Celestia pointed out.

“I’m still coming to terms with that,” Twilight said with a sigh, looking at the staff. “Magic exists, monsters exist, and I fight monsters. While Equestria looks like a little pony-loving girl’s dreamland, this whole thing sounds like a monster-of-the-week anime plot. However, I have to believe it, because I experienced it… And I don’t want any innocent people to get hurt.”

“Indeed, Magic wouldn’t have chosen you otherwise.” She said, waving her hand and causing a hologram of the jewel that Twilight saw glowing back in the museum. “Even as a guardian, Twilight, you are special, one of the Elements of Harmony. Powerful Guardians that each embody a virtue, in your case it’s magic.”

“Question: How is ‘magic’ a virtue?” Twilight asked, raising her hand as if in class.

“Magic was always the most mysterious of the elements, and one of the most powerful. It’s the magic of friendship, the will to protect all of those around you. The other elements, are a bit more clear cut.” Celestia conjured the other five gems. “Honesty, Loyalty, Laughter, Kindness and Generosity.”

“... Magic of friendship? Really? The magic of friendship?! Oh good heavens, that tired old trope?” Twilight asked, flopping back and laughing. “Oh wow, the fate of the world depends on Friendship Power, and the one with the most powerful artifact is the most asocial person ever… Wow, did that bauble really mess up.”

“If you’re quite done reeling from TVtropes ruining your life, I would like to continue.” Celestia said, firmly.

“Now, as a guardian, you have new responsibilities. I will inform your parents you will be taking time after school for ‘study sessions’. In reality I will train you personally in the art of utilizing your power. It will be hard, and I expect nothing less than your all, can I count on you for that?” She asked, smiling.

“Well, you are, in essence, telling the truth. I’ll be studying this new magic, and learning how to use it more effectively. And you know how I am when it comes to learning new things, Professor,” Twilight said, a steely look in her eye. “I always give it my all.”

“Very good, now, I also have another task for you.” Celestia slid over a small case, inside were the other five gems. “Seek out the other Elements of harmony, they will be instrumental in your fight against evil. The Element will respond to it’s owner, by glowing brightly.”

“Oh… Goodie… I’m actually going to have to actually try and be sociable, aren’t I?” Twilight said with trepidation.

“Oh yes, socializing is such a painful activity, I’m sure the monsters are the far lesser danger in that respect.” Celestia said, bringing back her coy smile.

“At least the monsters won’t smile to your face, and steal your work behind your back, because they’re too lazy to do their own,” Twilight grumbled, taking the case. “That’s… partially how I ended up being tutored by you, in the first place…”

“Just remember, Twilight, friendship can be a wonderful thing if you give it a chance to grow,” Celestia said. “Also, somebody who steals your work rather than asking for your help with their own is not a true friend.”

“So don’t let one bad experience sour me to the idea. I read you loud and clear, Professor,” Twilight said with a sigh. “Uhm… Now what do I do about this staff?”

Equestria Guardians

by Jacoboby1

Chapter 1 "Welcome to Canterlot High"