Cinch wasn’t in a hurry to step out of her car. Her small umbrella would not be of much use against a rainstorm this fierce.
She found herself not far from the all-too-familiar statue. Or what was left of it. A pair of broken hooves protruded from the base with no body left to support.
The umbrella quickly proved no match for the downpour and stray droplets peppered Cinch. She shuddered but started walking nonetheless. At least the rain hid her from prying eyes—she had no intention of being spotted snooping around Canterlot High.
Since reading Trenderhoof’s original article, Cinch had wondered how she would shut the portal down.
The thought of taking a sledgehammer to it promised some much needed catharsis, but her strength would not be enough for a quick resolution. Who knows? If she damaged the portal without destroying it right away, perhaps someone on the other side would notice and try to stop her.
No, the measures needed to be swift and certain. Which brought her to personally visit the portal, but only to inspect it, not strike it with heavy tools.
Cinch’s boots sloshed in overflowing puddles as she approached. Apart from the rain, it looked just like she remembered it from her visit to the other dimension.
She went to the side facing the school and looked at it, leaning in. Nothing about its stone surface gave it away as a gateway to another world. The surface didn’t shimmer, ripple or swirl. Raindrops slid down to the base of the pedestal undisturbed.
For how disappointingly thick Sparkle had turned out to be, at least she didn’t keep the portal open at all times. Cinch cautiously extended her arm and touched the cold wet stone, half expecting her fingers to phase through. Instead she felt the solid surface that any regular person would’ve expected. She gave it a few taps, withdrew her hand and straightened up.
Sighing, Cinch changed the arm holding the umbrella and slowly moved around the pedestal. She searched it for any signs of damage.
Her plan was simple on the surface. With the statue broken this great stone block was just a ruin. All Cinch had to do was notify the appropriate authorities, perhaps push a few buttons and the offending structure would be up for demolition. Surely, some of the local residents found it unseemly and were just about to file their complaints!
The complications came with deeper analysis. The pedestal stood on the property of Canterlot High and Celestia would be consulted before any action could be taken. She could do a number of things to protect the gateway—put some other statue on top of it, for example—but that required a foundation that was intact or, at worst, repairable.
Unfortunately, despite the energy the statue had been subjected to from Twilight’s magical episode, the pedestal hadn’t suffered any major damage. Cinch hadn’t expected things to be easy, but she was still disappointed. Sighing deeply, wiped the rain from her glasses and returned to her car.
Now that she ruled out the simplest option, it was time to explore her second one.
It was a Saturday evening. If there were ever a time she could meet him, it would be now.
This torrential downpour forced Cinch to drive slowly. A part of her was grateful for any delay. Meeting this man always made her uncomfortable.
A peculiar sight distracted Cinch from those thoughts. Through the falling ocean she made out a figure, walking in the same direction Cinch was driving. This person lacked an umbrella or even a hood over their head. They trudged along the sidewalk, utterly drenched.
Driving by, Cinch looked in the side mirror and recognized the person. A young girl, a student of Canterlot High. Cinch didn’t know her name. She had competed in the archery event at the Friendship Games and accompanied Rarity in the park a few weeks ago.
She looked miserable, hunched over a backpack in her arms, her long hair hanging straight down. Cinch stopped the car. The girl passed by, giving it a wary look. Cinch opened the passenger door.
The girl’s reaction was predictable. As soon as she saw Cinch, her eyes opened wide, a barely audible gasp escaped her lips and her legs sprang of their own volition. She clumsily toppled onto the sidewalk, holding the backpack above herself.
Cinch could only sigh.
“Young lady, despite what your classmates may think, I do not bite.” Cinch turned to the backseat and pulled out a bunch of newspapers to place on the passenger seat. “Would you really rather catch a cold—” she looked over the girl, whose face was completely covered with wet hair “—and possibly drown, than interact with an adult that you deem insufficiently amicable?”
The girl struggled to her feet, but did not approach the open door. In fact, she made an effort to hide her face behind her own hair, all the while visibly quivering.
Cinch looked at her, leaning slightly towards the offered seat. After a few seconds of silence she raised her eyebrow. “Well?”
The girl looked around then let her head drop. “A-alright,” she said meekly. “Thank you.”
Cinch held a few extra newspapers against the back of the seat and waited until the girl shook off the rain, sat down and leaned into the sheets. The paper instantly began absorbing water. The girl shivered.
“I’ll turn up the heat,” Cinch said, “Where do you live?”
The girl gulped, not daring to look Cinch in the eyes. Staring instead at her boots, hands clutching the backpack, she mumbled her address.
“Not exactly where I was headed, but I am in no hurry.” That part was true—Cinch was actually glad for the slight detour. “What is your name?”
“Fluttershy,” the girl whispered, still not turning her head.
“So, miss Fluttershy,“ Cinch said, her eyes glued to the road, “just why were you walking in the rain?”
Fluttershy managed to tear her gaze off the floor and look forward. “I-I was working at the animal shelter down the street. I was helping B-Blazkowicz and must’ve lost track of—”
“Blazkowicz?”
“Oh, he’s a blue jay in our care. I found the poor guy one d-day, his wing was injured...”
Cinch responded with mild surprise. Expressed, of course, through a raised eyebrow.
“Do you take any animal off the street into your care?”
Fluttershy glanced at Cinch, somehow looking less intimidated by the principal.
“Yes, little critters are never scared of me… They let me help them, and feed them, and s-some even stay with me afterwards.”
“I was more questioning the point of doing it,” said Cinch.
Fluttershy turned her entire frame towards the woman.
“What do you m-mean the point? It’s a living b-being! A defenceless animal in need of help!” Her voice was louder than before, though that still didn’t amount to much. Cinch quickly looked at the girl before returning her eyes to the road.
“Admirable, I suppose.” Out of the side of her eye Cinch saw Fluttershy suppress a hesitant smile. “Sacrificing your time—even health—for another.”
“I c-can’t ignore someone I can help,” said Fluttershy with conviction.
“And does your generosity extend towards people as well?”
“O-of course!” Fluttershy looked down and quietly added, “Even though it’s much harder to help a person than an animal, I still try my best.”
Cinch glanced in her rearview mirror. "Miss Fluttershy, this may not occur to you as a Canterlot High student—especially not with CHS in its current state—but you would be wise to be more selective of whom you help."
"W-why?"
"People will see that offer of a helping hand," she turned to her passenger, "and help themselves to your whole arm without second thought."
"I-I'm sure it can't be that bad..."
"If you keep taking risks," Cinch said, "you will simply run out of arms."
“But,” Fluttershy stammered, “if everyone thought like that, nobody would ever help one another. That would be awful! Even animals help each other. S-sometimes.” She gently rubbed her backpack for some strange reason. “Is this… Is this what it’s like at Crystal P-Prep? Is everyone... for themselves out there?”
“Not exactly.” Cinch shook her head. “My school is an environment that reflects adult life and its challenges.” She leaned back into her seat a bit. “Better to get them used to it while there are no real consequences.”
Fluttershy furrowed her brow and sat quietly.
“Your school offers shortcuts, be it everyone’s unnatural willingness to help or simply magic”—Fluttershy gave her a look—”that gives you superhuman abilities. It’ll all go away when you’ve graduated.” Cinch paused. “Think of it this way. What would happen to an animal born and raised in a zoo if it gets released into the wild without any preparation?”
“...Most wouldn’t survive,” Fluttershy whispered.
“Precisely.”
The girl was silent for a few seconds, looking thoughtful.
“But... I don’t think the analogy is very good.”
Cinch turned to her passenger with a raised eyebrow.
“Well,” Fluttershy began to explain, “people have much more power to… um… influence th-the environment, I suppose? An animal can’t talk down a predator or a hunter, but if people really want the world to be better, they c-can make it better, at least for themselves and their friends.”
Principal Cinch rolled her eyes.
“So you aim to change society itself?” Before Fluttershy could protest, Cinch went on. “It won’t work like that, I assure you. Unless you magically convert the whole humanity, there will always be people who’ll gladly exploit the likes of you, no matter how strong your beliefs are.”
“But you are helping me right now, Principal Cinch!” Fluttershy waved at the torrent of water outside. “You didn’t have to stop for me, but you did. Even though I’m making your s-seat all wet and you have to be somewhere else.”
Cinch allowed herself a light snarl, which caused the timid girl to retreat back into her hair. “I’m not heartless. This doesn’t inconvenience me, and you don’t present a risk. If there was a full-grown man walking there, for example, I wouldn’t have picked him up.”
“W-well… I may not agree with you,” said Fluttershy hesitantly, “but thank you for helping me anyway.”
“You should listen to the advice I give you, miss Fluttershy. I aim to educate, after all.” Cinch turned to the girl once again. ”And learning to be discerning with your selflessness will save you much more health than a car ride during a rainstorm.”
“Th-thank you… I suppose,” said Fluttershy. No more words were exchanged for the rest of the ride.
They pulled up to a modest cottage and Fluttershy was let off. After closing the door, Cinch waited for the girl to enter her home before she pulled away from the curb, and the house disappeared into her rear view mirror.
She avoided inspecting her passenger seat. There was no doubt the water had soaked straight through the newspaper.
The rain had stopped but Cinch was no less hesitant to leave her car.
The car was parked in front of an unassuming house painted in whites and light blues. The man who lived here liked his money, and the shiny, colorful things it afforded him, but he liked staying under the radar more, so he chose the outward appearance of the most run-of-the-mill suburb dwelling imaginable.
Cinch finally gathered her willpower and approached the house. She rang the doorbell and tapped her foot, waiting for the response.
After a wait long enough that anyone who wasn’t Cinch would’ve given up, the door clicked open. There was no one to open it and greet the visitor. Cinch invited herself inside, making sure to shut the door behind her. It clicked once more.
She entered the living room. Excessively encrusted furniture glinted in the dim light of a fireplace and an open laptop on one of the tables. A rough and strained voice with a slight foreign accent greeted her.
“Cinchie, my girl!”
The man was sunk deeply into a large, puffy bright crimson chair across the room. Next to him, a similarly colored wheelchair.
“Haven’t seen you in ages!”
His coal-black hair greyed in uneven chunks. He wore a light grey sweater and dark grey pants; in fact, the only spots of color on his whole person were the multiple jeweled rings on his fingers. Even his once bright green eyes were now faded and dull.
“I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t call me that, Lóbrego,” Cinch said as she sat down on a lounge chair across from him.
“Ah, but where is the passionate, righteous young lady that had once outwitted the big bad crime boss?” The man grew a mocking grin, showing off his pearly whites. They were fake.
“You know where she went,” Cinch said as she narrowed her eyes slightly. “You drove her out.”
Lóbrego’s smile widened for a moment then quickly vanished. He leaned forward in his chair.
“All that aside, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Abacus?” He couldn’t keep himself from grinning again. “I’m sure you don’t need any more of my sage advice. You’ve handled things pretty well for the past couple of decades.”
Cinch sighed, “I don’t need advice. What I need from you is a favor.”
The man raised a thick, bushy eyebrow.
“Oh? I thought you wanted nothing to do with my line of work, Abacus dear?”
“Indeed, coming to you was my last choice.” Cinch shifted on her chair. The seat was uncomfortable. “Do you know Canterlot High School?”
Lóbrego chuckled. “I’m not gonna blow up your rival school just because you didn’t win your stupid games for once.”
Cinch shook her head irritably.
“Amusing,” she said. “But I do appreciate you keeping up with the recent events involving my academy.”
Another chuckle escaped the man’s lips. “I’m always curious about how my star student runs the school she took over.”
“Of course. But no, my request is much simpler. There used to be a statue in front of the school. It was damaged recently, as you may know, and only the pedestal remains now.” Cinch hunched over, her arms resting on her knees. “I need that pedestal gone. Completely. Do it however you wish. Get one of your goons to blow it up, bypass Celestia’s say in the matter and have it demolished. I need that thing gone.”
Lóbrego looked over Cinch silently, as if waiting for her to continue. Then he sighed.
“You actually do want me to blow it up,” he said. “Incredible.”
“Not the school, don’t be ridiculous!” Cinch protested. “Just the rock in front of it!”
The old man shook his head. “And here I thought you’d realize how ridiculous the whole thing is, and we’d both have a laugh about it.”
“I fail to find the humor in it,” said Cinch. “Although it is not surprising that you would. It has always been a game to you, hasn’t it?”
“Cinchie, you sound—” the man coughed “—like a bitter ex.”
“That”—Cinch cringed—“is revolting!” She squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “You are entirely too gleeful about the influence you’ve had on my life.” Lóbrego grinned. “I only do not detest you because your advice has always been solid, despite your attitude.”
“Has it?” The old man raised his eyebrow. “You say that, yet here you are, asking me to help destroy school property.” Cinch glared at him. “You know, Abacus, everyone is different. I came to this country because it’s a treasure trove for people like me, never burdened by remorse. But you were not like that.”
“I am nothing like you, Lóbrego,” Cinch said through clenched teeth. “I never was and never will be.”
“You sure about that, Abacus?” The man tilted his head, the expression on his face unusually serious. “I’ve always told you my perspective, not facts. Yet you treated it like the latter.”
“Everything you said always turned out to be true.”
“It’s all in the perspective, Cinchie. You’ve adopted mine... and what, if not that, makes a person?” Lóbrego waved at Cinch. “You were always repulsed by my work, victimless as it is, and now you’re here asking what you’re asking.” A violent cough overtook the man. “Been a long time since I talked so much.”
Cinch righted herself and leaned back into the terrible chair. ”Can you do it or not?” She looked around, taking in all the ridiculous jewelry in the room. ”I assume your... trade has been going well enough for you to be capable of something like this, considering you’re still a free man.”
Lóbrego snarled. “How touching that you care about my well-being, Abacus.”
The man put one leg over the other—his slipper threatened to fall off—and began silently tapping his fingers on the armrest, stroking his chin with the other hand. Cinch knew that at times like this she had to wait for him to come to a decision. So she waited and waited some more.
Finally the tapping stopped.
“Well, you’re not wrong, I can do it.” Lóbrego’s lips slowly formed another toothy grin. “But before I agree to anything, you’ll need to tell me the reasons for wanting that thing gone so badly.”
Cinch tensed visibly. “I’m afraid that’s none of your business, Lóbrego.” She forced herself to maintain eye contact with the man as his expression darkened dramatically.
“Oh, but it is my business,” he said. ”You know I don’t involve myself in situations without knowing everything there is to know. Besides, I’m simply dying to learn what that chunk of stone has done to you.” His face flipped back to smirking once more. “You know, Cinchie, all that dirt you’ve had over my head isn’t worth anything anymore. Things change over a decade or two. You may have forced me to guide your pathetic, scared self in the big and menacing world before, but that was a lifetime ago. If I were to help you now, I’d be doing that out of the kindness of my own heart!”
Cinch sat stiff as a board, but she still couldn’t suppress a response from within the depths of her subconscious. “You have no heart, Sombra.”
The man roared with laughter.
“Ha! Funny… hearing it from you, my faithful student!” More guffaws escaped his mouth, followed by a lengthy coughing fit. “Is this something you say to old friends?”
Cinch stood up, “We’re done, Lóbrego.”
“I can see that, Abacus,” Sombra said. ”Been lovely catching up and seeing how much you’ve taken after me.” He waved his hand. ”See yourself out.”
He reached under the armrest of his chair and Cinch heard the front door emit another audible click.
As she drove home, Cinch contemplated how much of a failure the day had turned out to be. Unless she came up with some other idea, shutting the portal permanently seemed out of the question. She’d have to settle for the second best outcome.
The portal, according to Sparkle, opened on its own every ‘thirty moons’. Of course, that natural order had been ruined.
Perhaps in small doses the magic was harmless, dispersing quietly into the air. With the portal used more frequently, not to mention the continued presence of that alien girl, Sunset Shimmer, it was only a matter of time before the flow of the corrupting magic became unstoppable.
If Cinch could not destroy the portal, she could at least restore the status quo. And best of all, it was Sparkle herself that had given her the know-how.
As soon as Cinch returned to her apartment, she took out her laptop, opened it and pressed the power button.
The laptop hummed as Cinch struggled to remember how to initiate a video call. Apparently, her cheap computer was capable of such a thing thanks to a built-in camera. The sirens turned out to have a compatible device in their possession which made this mode of contact the most convenient.
Just when Cinch was about to decide she’d been doing something wrong, the call was answered.
“Good evening, Abacus,” a blurry Adagio Dazzle said from the monitor.
All of Cinch’s previous attempts to stop the sirens from calling her ‘Abacus’ had failed, but at least none of them ever thought to say ‘Cinchie’. She tried not to let it get to her, which was harder with Sombra fresh on her mind.
“Tell me, Adagio,” Cinch said, “how well have you three integrated into the student body so far?”
“Like a hot knife into butter!” said Sonata Dusk, moving into the frame behind Adagio’s massive hairdo.
“You’re using the idiom wrong,” Aria Blaze’s voice said, the siren absent from view, “and don’t lie to yourself. Nobody likes us.”
“Maybe not you,” Sonata said and stuck her tongue out. “Because you keep calling people idiots.”
“The word was ‘idiom’, idiot,” Aria answered.
“Can you two shut up?” Adagio pushed Sonata off-screen. “And yes, Abacus, Sonata is wrong. We aren’t quite fitting in yet.”
“If we still had our powers,” Aria grumbled, “this wouldn’t be a problem.”
Cinch raised her eyebrow. “I was under the impression that your powers included singing, hypnosis and draining magic,” she said, “not basic social skills.”
“We never needed any ‘social skills’!” said Aria, getting in the frame. “Like we’ve ever needed to fit in among you pathetic monkeys.”
Adagio gave her a glare and the perpetually annoyed siren shuffled away. “What she meant to say is that whenever we needed anything from a human, we would simply use hypnotic suggestion,” Adagio explained. “Even with the scraps of energy we got there was never a reason to socialize with others.”
“Then the task I have for you won’t be quite as easy,” said Cinch, tapping her fingers on the table. “But you’ll have to figure it out one way or another, and quick.”
“What do you need us to do?” said Adagio, cocking her head.
“I have it on good authority that Sunset Shimmer has in her possession a magical book,” said Cinch. “I need you three to retrieve it for me. Preferably without her knowing.”
“You can’t be serious,” said Adagio. “Their entire school hates us.”
“As you told me, Adagio, they had hated Shimmer too.” Cinch could see Adagio cringing. “And as you also told me, her offences had been more significant than yours.” The woman locked her hands. “Still, they were tricked into ignoring her crimes by the magic permeating their entire school. This magic only got stronger since then—” she smirked “—as you three witnessed firsthand.”
“I see where you’re going with this,” said Adagio. “Very well, I sense that this is not a request.”
“You are correct, Adagio,” Cinch said, leaning back. “It isn’t one.”
Adagio looked downwards, holding a finger to her lips.
“However,” Cinch continued, ”I understand that this could very well be asking for the impossible.” Adagio glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. ”I shall allow you more time to integrate yourselves into Crystal Prep. Accompanying my students during their meetings with Shimmer and her group would be the best approach. Try to get some of Crystal Prep on your side. Their word can now go a long way towards building trust.” Cinch massaged her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. “And do try to be convincing. Even if you can’t deceive competently... at the very least lose the attitudes.”
“So you want us to make friends with Shimmer and then somehow steal her magical book. Great.” Adagio shook her head. “What does her book even do?”
“It is a key to her constant supply of magic,” Cinch said. “Magic she should not wield. Magic I know you cannot wield either—not anymore.” Adagio’s brow furrowed. “So bring that book to me, Adagio, or your time in Crystal Prep will be short-lived.”