I waited by the school statue early in the morning, far too early for my liking. I got a mass message from Sunset, telling me and everyone to meet her by the statue. I sent a message back, asking why we had to meet up so early. All she replied with was that she wanted me to meet Twilight before the school was open, and that she figure the girls would like to hang out with Twilight before school started. So when I woke up early to get ready, I woke my sister up and let her know I would be heading out.When my sister asked me why I was heading out, I told her that Sunset wanted me to meet one of her friends that could help Sonata. Even though I knew she wouldn't be pleased to hear me mention Sunset’s name, her interest was perked by the mention of Sunset’s friend. After a small chat, she decided she too wanted to meet this Twilight person, and while she was at it, talk to Principal Celestia as well. I personally didn't want to leave Sonata at home by herself, and I didn't want to take the risk of bringing her to the school grounds. Yet I knew I couldn't treat Sonata as a helpless bird trapped in a cage with constant watch. So here we are, me and my sister outside near the school statue.
“Mirage?” I spoke up, sitting on the bench while waiting for Sunset.
“Yes?” She answered tiredly.
“I know you don't like Sunset and all, but-”
“Hate. I hate her.” I was cut off by Mirage who corrected me, not looking me in the eye.
“... Well, I know you hate her, but I think she changed.” I said in a low tone as I knew saying this might draw upon my sister’s wrath.
To my surprise, Mirage didn't yelled back at me or try to contradict what I said. She just sat there, her arms folded, staring off into the distance.
“Mirage?” I tried calling her name, trying to grab her attention. I might as well have called out to thin air as she did not respond. “...Mirage?” I tried again.
“...Are you going to ask me to forgive her.” Mirage asked in a low, malicious tone. “After all she has done to you, to me? She ruin my life at CHS!” She hissed through her teeth, glaring at me. “You don’t know what she did to me, to my friends. No matter what we tried, we could never get anything on her. It was like every evidence against her just… vanish, without a trace. Yet she had everything on us, plus more. She even, she even… ” My sister voice fell as she clenched her fist, gripping at her jeans.
Whatever Sunset had did to my sister during those times, it must have really hurted her more than I previously thought. The anger in her eyes was fierce, yet it was also sad.
“Sis, I-”
“I can not just forgive her like that! I refuse to forgive her, ever!” She said, cutting me off again.
“Sis, I’m not asking you to forgive her, I doubt you ever will.” I said, pulling her close into a hug. “All I ask is you hear her out. Just hear what she has to say, maybe give her a chance to see if she changed. But that doesn't mean you have to forgive her, alright?”
Mirage pursed her lips, her hands folded in her lap. I looked over to the far end of the school, seeing Sunset walking down the street, a cup in hand.
“Just, think it over, okay? Here comes Sunset now.” I said, patting her shoulder.
“Why are you giving her another chance? What good do you see in her?” Mirage asked under her breath.
“What?” I asked flabbergasted.
“Nothing,” she sighed, standing up. “Let's get this over with. Hmm? Where’s her friend that she wanted you to meet.”
“Don’t know," I replied, walking up to Sunset with Mirage at my side. “Maybe she’s late.”
“Hey Blitz, sorry I’m a little late.” Sunset said with a smile on her face. Her smiled slowly faded as she saw Mirage at my side. “Oh, umm, hey Mirage.” Sunset greeted timidly, giving a half hearted wave over to Mirage.
Mirage turned her head to the side, giving Sunset the cold shoulder. I saw the expression on Sunset's face sadden as Mirage kept ignoring her. I gave Sunset a ‘apologetic’ shrug of my shoulders as a sigh escape my lips. Silence fell between us as Sunset dropped her bag to the floor and started to search through it.
“...It’s alright.” I heard her mumbled under her breath. “It’s to be expected.”
I didn’t need to see Sunset face to tell just how hurt she was feeling, her voice alone gave way to it. Mirage gave out a loud sigh as she walked over to Sunset and squatted down in front of her, surprising me and Sunset both. Mirage didn’t say anything at first, she just looked Sunset in the eyes as Sunset pulled out her book.
“Have you really changed?” was all she asked. Sunset looked at her wide eyes as she slowly nodded her head. “I don’t believe you.” Mirage deadpan, no sympathy in her voice. “But since my brother think you have changed, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.” Mirage said, lending in closer to Sunset’s ear. She whisper something into Sunset’s ear, something that made Sunset’s eye go wide and a small blush crossing her face.
Mirage pulled away, looking Sunset in the eyes. “I take it by the look on your face I’m right?” Mirage looked back to me before looking back at Sunset. “You better not hurt him again.” She said with a piercing glare. Sunset nodded again. The look on her face wasn't fright or terror, but sheer embarrassment.
“Hey, am I missing something?” I interrupted in confusion as Mirage came back to my side.
“N-n-nothing.” Sunset stuttered, opening her book and turning her back against us.
“What did I miss?” I asked Mirage.
Mirage sighed, grabbing my sweater sleeves, staring at Sunset. “Seems you have more than one eye on you.” Mirage scoffed.
Before I could ask ‘what you mean’, Sunset looked back over to us, her face going back to normal.
“Alright, the girls will be here a little shortly before school start, and Twilight will be here in just a few moments.” Sunset said, leading us towards the base of the statue and satting down.
“So Sunset,” I started once I sat down. “How can your friend, umm, Twilight, help Sonata?” I asked, now that we had a good moment to speak.
“I still don’t know fully myself. Though, considering we both had the same teacher, I have a few ideas.” Sunset replied, pulling a wrapped sandwich from her bag.
“Really, like what?”
“Well, if anything, she is going to try and find the source of the magic. Since their magic is still around, it has to be coming from somewhere or someone.”
“I still don't believe there was magic actually involved in this," Mirage muttered under her breath, loud enough for me and Sunset to hear.
“Sis!” I hissed back.
“I’m just saying.” Mirage defended.
Sunset started to giggle as she ate her sandwich, trying to muffle her laughing. “I’m sorry. It just that, where I was born magic was all around me. So hearing someone say magic doesn't exist is quite funny to me.”
Mirage started to say something back, but was quickly hushed as the statue we was near began to glow and hummed. Sunset scooted to the side as a whirling sound emitted from the statue, followed by a female scream. Within the blink of an eye, a lavender hair girl came crashing out the statue base, landing right in front of us. The girl wobbled a little as she stood up on her feets, dusting off her dress skirt.
“Twilight!” Sunset exclaimed, jumping up and giving Twilight a hug.
“H-how did she… W-where did she...” Mirage mutter and stuttered, looking between the statue and Twilight.
Despite knowing about the magic myself, I never really thought about the magic itself until now. After seeing Twilight spurring out the other end of the statue, I was now more curious and worried about magic itself. Just how much is their magic capable of doing, and how limited is it?
Mirage sat back down on the ground, her legs crossed as she began to try to understand what she saw. I on the other hand just ignored it for now and turn my attention to the lavender haired girl who walked towards me.
“Hello, your name must be Blitz Shot, I’m Twilight Sparkle," Twilight introduced herself, sticking a hand out. “I heard a lot about you from Sunset.”
“Nice to meet you. This is my twin sister, Mirage Shot.” I said, pointing at my sister before shaking her hand. “You’ve heard a lot about me from Sunset, like what if I may ask?”
Just as Twilight open her mouth to speak, Sunset cut her off. “Oh nothing much. Just how you’ve help one of the sirens and befriended them, stuff like that.” Sunset said with a nervous smile.
“Oh, that’s right. You manage to befriend all three of them right?” Twilight asked, her eyes glossing over.
“Yeah, though the other two I’m more associated with than friends.” I stated, feeling the phone in my pocket.
“Well, the point is you manage to get close to them and help them,” said Twilight as a bleak of sadness shadowed her face. “Anywho, Sunset told me that some of the siren’s magic are still in effect. And that those under the spell are attacking them on sight, is that correct?” I nodded my head in confirmation to her question. “I never got the chance to fully study or explore sirens magic. There are little to no books on it and no records of how it differs from unicorns magic, yet we know it's different as no scholar pony manage to fully grasp it magical concept. That again...” She trailed off.
“Pony? Unicorn?” My sister looked up to me, her mind failing to process the new information.
“Twilight?” I cut her off, as it sounded like she was going to give us a full history lesson on magic that we yet to understand. “I don’t mean to sound rude, but do you know how to help?”
“To be honest, I don’t know. I never really worked outside of magic that unicorns aren’t capable of using. Though I do plan to study it and the magic that corrupting the students here.”
I wanted to ask how did she planned on doing that, but I believe my brain would scrambled before I could understand. I look to Sunset, hoping that she might explain things easier.
Sunset and Twilight giggled as she reached into her bag. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to explain how I plan to do this.” I sigh with relief after hearing that. “But I will need your help.” Twilight said, pulling three amulets with purple gems embedded in it that looked to be either sapphire or amethyst.
“What are those?” My sister finally spoke up, confusion laced in her voice.
“Those looked to be warding gems. They are mainly used to block certain spells when powered.” Sunset absentmindedly answered. “Maybe they are power gems. Kinda like a buff to a unicorn’s magic.”
“They are warding gems, but these are a bit different then regular warding gems. While normal warding gems can be use to store, strengthen or help a unicorn defend against magic spells, these are enchanted with a full ward with Celestia’s help.”
“Full ward, you mean it can fully block magic like a shield?” Sunset asked surprised.
I sat down next to my sister, being quiet as we let the two magical being talk it out. The look on my sister’s face as she watch Sunset and Twilight talked was practically hilarious, I never seen her so lost before.
“No, it doesn't create a shield, but a field to disperse hex and trance magic.” Twilight answered.
“Wouldn’t that require a steady flow of magic?” Sunset asked, taking one of the amulets from Twilight’s hands.
“If it was to be use against unicorn magic in Equestria, yes. Since this place has a reduction in magic it self, it doesn't need much to keep the magic flowing. Plus, one of the enchants on it is link to Equestria itself, like our books.”
“But that's not the problem, is it Twilight?” Sunset asked, looking the amulet over.
“I don’t know if this will help against the corrupted siren’s magic. We still don't understand the sirens magical powers, so a corrupt version is even more tricky and complex.”
“So in other words, you're betting on luck with those?” I asked, pointing to the amulets.
“No, these serve a different purpose. Instead of protecting the wearer from magic, it should hopefully remove magic within the surrounding area, or at least lessen the effect.”
“Uh huh, so where do my help comes in?” I asked perplexed.
Twilight gave me a smile, handing me the amulets. “I need you to get those three to wear these, that way I can record the effects of it.”
“Wait a minute,” Mirage spoke up, her eyes fixated on Twilight. “You mean to treat Sonata as a test subject while you record your finding?”
“Ah, well, yes. Only cause the effect is activated, or I assume is activated when one of them is near the students, and I have no other means to study it yet.” Twilight answer, remorse showing on her face.
I held the amulets in my hand, the amethyst glistening as it glowed from my touched. A spark emitted from it as I dropped it to the floor, clutching at my chest. What, what was that feeling just now? That felt so... strange.
“Blitz…” Sunset called out to me, worried on her face.
“Huh?” I answered back, dumbfounded from what happen to me. I looked around, to see not only Sunset looking at me, but Mirage and Twilight as well. “What? Whats wrong?”
Sunset and Twilight just looked at each other as Mirage looked to me with worried. I was missing something, but I didn’t know what. I bent down to pick up the amulets I drop, but I hesitated a little before picking them up by their collar lace.
“Hey Blitz, why did the amulets activate when you touched it?” Twilight asked, walking up to me and looking the gems over.
“I don’t know…” I trailed off, holding the amulets up to my face, looking at it more closely.
“Hey Twilight, Blitz, I just thought about something,” said Sunset, coming up to me as well. “If you want to test these amulets, wouldn't that means Sonata and the others have to come to school?”
Crap, I didn’t even think about that. If Twilight want to test these on the students, and probably keep it safe, that means Sonata will have to come to school.
“Yeah.” Twilight answer confidently. “I was hoping since I’m technically an unofficial student here, I can get all of my classes with her. That way I can take notes and maybe prevent anyone from assaulting her while I’m there.”
“What about the other two?” Mirage asked, mostly to me then Twilight.
“They won’t come, not now at least.” I answered, putting the amulets in my bag. “The next time I see one of them, I’ll give them these amulets. I guess for now, I will have to talk to Sonata about coming to school.”
“I don’t know.” Sunset said with doubt. “It would be pretty hard to near impossible to convince her to come back here.” Sunset said, folding her arms, looking at me.
I knew she was right, and I know Sonata wouldn’t dere to step foot on this school’s grounds. But with these amulets Twilight gave me, plus the extra protection, maybe I could convince her. I wonder what I could do or say to her.
My thoughts was shortly cut off as I heard the sounds of students making their way into the school. Amongst those crowded I spotted a group of four girls heading our way. Wait? One, two, three… yeah there only four. Where’s Pinkie Pie?
“I’m right behind you!” Pinkie whispered into my ear from behind, her hands placed creepily on my shoulder.
I closed my eyes as I tried to catch my breath. “Pinkie? You have got to stop doing that to people.”
Pinkie only giggle as she backed off, running over to give Twilight the actual definition of a bear hug, followed by the other girls as well.
“So Blitz, what are you going to do?” Mirage asked, looking at me with skepticism.
“I don’t know...” Was all I could answered with.
I really didn’t know, but I believe my best bet would be to get her to come here. I just hope it all won’t blow up in my face. A small chill went down my spine as realised what I just said. Please, no blowing up in anyone's face.