Epilogue: New Beginnings.
.
Twilight happily flopped on the bed, spread-eagled. Right after a long and luxurious shower, there was probably nothing better than clean sheets and flannel pyjamas.
Well, okay, having hands again was on the list, too.
But, still. Jammas.
With a long sigh of pure luxury, she lay there for a moment, eyes closed. Then, she half-rolled over to glance at Sunset, just sitting down at her desktop.
“What’s up?”
“I’m thinking of checking in with the rest of the girls. We’ve been gone over a week, local time.”
“It’s late,” Twilight observed. “They’re probably all asleep.” Just the same, she rolled the rest of the way over and started tugging her laptop towards her. She’d built it herself, and still tinkered with it now and then. One of the first things she’d put into its design was a faster start-up.
As soon as the screen lit up, she started typing.
DaVinciGirl: Anybody else still awake?
Sunset gave her a pretend sour look, eliciting the grin that she loved so well. Meanwhile, her own Eris finished loading, giving the familiar chime of a response.
Appleseed1988: you coukldn’t slep eighther?
Sunset’s fingers flew over the keys.
NoHornNeeded: Nah, we just got back.
NoHornNeeded: What about you?
Appleseed1988: somethin woke me up caint get back to slep though im really tired
The40%Rule: Yah, I’m still up.
Persona4Dancer: Me too!
Diamond Lil: I’m up as well.
Appleseed1988: aw hell anybodyelse get woke up by a weird dream?
Diamond Lil: No, just working on a project.
Persona4Dancer: Thinking about pancakes.
The40%Rule: No, just thinking.
Appleseed1988: well glasd for that at least
Appleseed1988: had enough coincidedces for s while
DaVinciGirl: What are you thinking about?
Persona4Dancer: Pancakes! :D
Diamond Lil: Goodness, me, too.
DaVinciGirl: *Rainbow.
Persona4Dancer: Oops! Sorry!
DaVinciGirl: np.
Persona4Dancer: You were thinking of pancakes, too?
Diamond Lil: No, darling, I’m glad we’re done with coincidences.
The40%Rule: Just stuff.
Diamond Lil: Because goodness knows, we’ve had more than our share.
Sunset and Twilight exchanged a worried look.
NoHornNeeded: okay, everybody, wait a minute.
NoHornNeeded: Rainbow Dash? You okay?
The40%Rule: Sure.
Diamond Lil: Do pull the other one, darling. It plays music.
DaVinciGirl: …RD?
The40%Rule: Look, it’s no big deal.
The40%Rule: Okay, it kinda is, but…
The40%Rule: Look. Gimme a sec…
Diamond Lil: Take your time, dear.
For almost a full minute, all screens were still. Then:
The40%Rule: I mean, have you guys thought about where we’re going from here? Sure, it’s summer now, and we’ve got the band and everything else… but once the Fall hits, some of you are going to college, Fluttershy’s studying veterinarian medicine somewhere, Rare’s probably going somewhere in Europa to master fashion. AJ’s got her farm, so she’ll stay around…
The40%Rule: This isn’t just the usual Senioritis, you know? I mean, sure, there’s that, too. But together, the Rainbooms helped people. We saved lives. We made a difference.
The40%Rule: Are we just going to stop? If someone’s in trouble, we’re not gonna step up?
The40%Rule: And if we do, and we’re alone, will we make it?
DaVinciGirl: I admit, I hadn’t thought about that.
Diamond Lil: Nor I.
Persona4Dancer: Of course we’ll help people! It’s what we do!
Appleseed1988: sugarcube, whats really got you in a twist like this?
Appleseed1988: I mean thisis valid but theres somethin else too eaint it?
Appleseed1988: crhist I caint tyope tonight
The40%Rule: Well, yeah, I’ve been thinking about this for a while, in a way. But it’s really my problem, not yours.
Appleseed1988: Doesn’t man we aint gonna help.
DaVinciGirl: Look, we respect your privacy, of course. But we’re your friends.
Diamond Lil: If it’s hurting you, dear, that rather makes it our problem.
The40%Rule: Yeah, fair.
The40%Rule: It’s just…
The40%Rule: Ever since we got our magic… I mean… sure, ponying up was awesome when we played. But then in the games, we started getting our real powers. And they really came out at camp. And that’s great.
The40%Rule: Because Fluttershy’s going into vet medicine, and her magic’s perfect for that.
The40%Rule: And Twilight’s got TK from hell, I can only imagine how useful that’ll be in her egghead stuff.
The40%Rule: And AJ’s super strong and she’s doing heavy farm work.
NoHornNeeded: Oh, sweet Jesus.
The40%Rule: I guess force fields aren’t fashion industry material, but they can’t hurt, right?
The40%Rule: And Pinkie Pie is a living party cannon, if there is such a thing.
DaVinciGirl: And you were going into sports.
Appleseed1988: oh hell I am so sorry sugarcube. It didn’t eben register till you said somethin.
The40%Rule: Yeah.
The40%Rule: I was gonna play soccer. Hit the olympics, play professionally.
The40%Rule: Not much point when I can outrun a car.
The40%Rule: Hell, I think I could outrun a plane if I pushed myself.
The40%Rule: But what’s the point of that either?
NoHornNeeded: Oh, geez, Rainbow Dash. (hugs)
Persona4Dancer: (hugs)
Appleseed1988: (hugs)
The40%Rule: Thanks, you guys.
Diamond Lil: (hugs) We should have realized!
Persona4Dancer: (hugs)
DaVinciGirl: (hugs)
The40%Rule: That’s okay.
Persona4Dancer: (hugs!!!)
The40%Rule: Okay, Pinkie, I get it. Thank you.
Diamond Lil: So, what are you going to do, then? If you don’t mind my asking?
Diamond Lil: Because now that you mention it, my own plans have been changing somewhat, as well.
The40%Rule: Well, I’ve been thinking about that. Great power and Uncle Ben, you know?
Persona4Dancer: HUGS!!
DaVinciGirl: Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting? Because keeping a secret identity in modern day would be almost impossible, even without facial recognition software.
The40%Rule: I GET IT PINKIE THANK YOU!
Diamond Lil: I must admit the opportunity to design costumes for us all is certainly tempting. ;)
Persona4Dancer: HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS
Diamond Lil: But regarding the practicalities, well, I must side with Twilight on this one.
The40%Rule: DUDE WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?????
Persona4Dancer: WHAT WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT ME
The40%Rule: WHAT THE FFUCK YOU STARTED YELLING AT ME FIRST!!
Persona4Dancer: I’M NOT YELLING I JUST LIKE TYPING IN CAPS
The40%Rule: OH, YAH? WELL MAYBE I LIKE TYPING IN CAPS TOO! YOU EVER THINK OF THAT? NO! NO YOU DIDN’T!
Persona4Danceer: HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY HUGSITY
The40%Rule: JEEGUS WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU IS THERE EVEN A NAME FOR IT
Persona4Dancer: TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY TYPITY
The40%Rule: BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
Appleseeed1988: (rips the caps lock off both your keyboards)
Appleeseed1988: (throws em away)
Appleseed1988: Now tahts enough outta both yall.
Diamond Lil: LOL!
NoHornNeeded: Best. Eris. Ever.
DaVinciGirl: I think you just won the Internet.
NoHornNeeded: XD
The40%Rule: xD
Persona4Dancer: Yay!
After a few moments of screen inactivity, Twilight began typing again.
DaVinciGirl: So, with that out of the way… RD, you were saying?
The40%Rule: Yeah. Anyway. You guys wanna meet tomorrow, maybe?
The40%Rule: Cuz I think this is a discussion we might want to have in person.
Appleseed1988: im free past about 3pm.
Diamond Lil: I can be there.
NoHornNeeded: I don’t think T and I have any plans.
Persona4Dancer: I’m in.
DaVinciGirl: Nope.
The40%Rule: Cool. T&S, you mind if we meet at your place?
DaVinciGirl: *Nope, we don’t have any plans.
DaVinciGirl: Also, nope we don’t mind.
The40%Rule: Awesome. I’ll PM Fluttershy, I think she’s got tomorrow off.
Appleseed1988: cool. Im gonnna go back to bd. I think I can sleep now.
Diamond Lil: Yes, do get some rest darling.
DaVinciGirl: Good night.
Persona4Dancer: Nighty-noodles!
NoHornNeeded: Night.
The40%Rule: Night.
Appleseed1988: Night, all.
DaVinciGirl: And on that note, I’m going to retire. Sunny?
NoHornNeeded: Yeah, me, too. Night, all.
Diamond Lil: Likewise. Good night, my dears.
Persona4Dancer: Nighty-night everybody!
The40%Rule: Hey, Pinks, before you go?
The40%Rule: Thanks.
Persona4Dancer: (hugs)
The40%Rule: (hugs)
.
It was hardly a fitting place for such a fateful meeting. It was near midnight, which was certainly a step in the right direction. But she would have preferred someplace more private. More Noir. Perhaps even foreboding, considering what was at stake.
Just the same, she would meet them wherever they desired. They had something she needed. And, unfortunately, they were cunning enough to realize it.
Not as cunning as The Clever and Insightful Trixie, of course. But cunning enough to be taken seriously, just the same.
Cunning. And certainly dangerous.
“Welcome to Meat’N’Malt, home of the famous mac burger,” a plainly exhausted orange girl recited. “Just sit wherever you like, and I’ll be with you shortly.”
Trixie nodded. She allowed the door to finish slowly closing behind her as she took in the denizens of the 24-hour eatery. She knew she cut an appropriate figure in her constellation-covered hat and matching trench coat, for all that the people around her were too dense to notice. Which was mildly annoying.
Still, a good magician always maintains a presence of both drama and mystery.
At length, she made her way to the corner half-booth, where the three sisters waited for her.
“So, you’re finally here,” Adagio said. “We were starting to wonder if you were going to show.”
Trixie gave a careless shrug. “A magician is never late,” she said. “Neither is she early.” Pulling a chair over, she reversed it and sat in it backwards, her right arm resting nonchalantly on the table.
“Yeah, whatever,” Aria scoffed. “You said you were buying.”
“The Great and Powerful Trixie is as good as her word,” Trixie said with a careless gesture. “Order whatever you wish.”
“Yeah, well, maybe I’m tired of take-out, pretty girl,” Aria said, her eyes narrowing hungrily as she considered the blue girl across from her. “Maybe you’re not gonna buy dinner, so much as provide it.”
Trixie glanced at her for a moment, then shrugged.
“If you think you can, then by all means,” she replied. “You are not the same as you were at the Battle of the Bands.” Then, her own eyes narrowing, she smiled, adding, “Neither is Trixie.”
Aria gave Adagio the slightest glance, and, next to her, Adagio gave her the slightest nod. With her eyes still on Trixie, Aria began to sing, low and soft, her siren voice gently encompassing the burger joint and all within it.
Slowly, the background chatter of the place faded to a halt. Humans all around them stopped and stared, their eyes vacant, their hands still. What little energy there was to be had from such sad and mundane creatures, Aria drew in and gladly devoured.
Yet, the blue girl across from her resisted, eyes focused, brow creased slightly in concentration.
At length, Adagio touched Aria lightly on the arm, and the arcane song ceased. All around them, the steady murmur of conversation resumed. The cook gave a startled cry and began quickly flipping singeing burgers, and the cashier began apologizing to someone over his headset.
“Okay, not bad.” Aria grumbled.
“Impressive, in fact,” Adagio said with a smirk. “I’d heard you and your fellow students had faced more magic after we’d left. But I hadn’t expected you, of all people, to gain strength from it.”
“The Great and Powerful Trixie has found many things in her travels,” Trixie smiled. “Greater strength is only one of them.”
“Your ‘travels?’” Aria gave a dismissive wave. “Please. Didn’t you graduate, like, a month ago?”
“Only from the mundane halls of Canterlot High,” Trixie said. “But regarding Trixie’s true vocation, the journey has only just begun.”
“Can I wear your hat?” Sonata chirped.
Rolling her eyes, Trixie handed over her star-and-moon covered hat. Sonata jammed it onto her head happily, admiring herself this way and that in the night-darkened window beside her.
“Anyway,” Trixie went on, “none of this is why Trixie sought you out.”
“Why, then?” Adagio asked.
“The Wise and Deducing Trixie had determined that the three of you had regained your powers,” Trixie said. “And now she has confirmed it.”
Aria’s eyes narrowed dangerously, her hand balling into a fist as Trixie went on, “And, judging from the green glow beneath your shirt when you sang, your amulets weren’t repaired, they were replaced. Trixie finds that very interesting, and would like to know from whom these crystals were procured.”
“Bitch,” Aria snarled.
Adagio placed a warning hand on Aria’s wrist, who gave her a resentful glare and lapsed into a sullen silence. Then, Adagio turned back to Trixie, and said, “Okay, Trixie. I’ll give you credit for guts. And bonus points for fending off Aria. But it’s very late. And you really should go home now.”
Trixie cocked her head, genuinely curious. “And why is that?
“Because you’ve obviously forgotten who you’re dealing with.”
Adagio’s eyes appraised the blue girl as she continued, “You’re not like the Rainbooms, with their accidental magic powers and bardic gift. I’ll grant you, you may be more determined. Maybe even more aware. But that doesn’t really matter. Because in the end, we’re not like you.
“You’re human, Trixie. Fragile. And mortal in every way.
“Do you really think the Battle of the Bands cost us that much, in the long run?” she sneered. “That it cost us anything? We’re the sirens, kid. We fed on the wars of the ancient Greeks, and when we got tired of them, we led them to their shipwrecks and watched them die. We were in Caligula’s court, and Nero’s. We placed bets on the Napoleonic wars.
“Now, don’t get me wrong. I think you’ve got potential. And you’ve got guts, like I said. Play your cards right, and you could go far. But all you’ve got is human potential. And frankly, you’re playing out of your league.”
“And even if we told you anything, you really think we’d let you just walk away?” Sonata added, teeth still bared. “Or do you think you can resist us all?”
Adagio’s eyes cut towards her sister. “Sonata.”
But Sonata’s voice only dropped dangerously low as she added, “No one will remember your coming in here, the Whatever-and-Whatever Trixie. In a week, no one will even remember your name.”
Trixie’s right hand remained on the table, relaxed as ever. However, from under the table, where her other hand rested in her coat pocket, came the unmistakable click of a revolver’s hammer being pulled back.
For a moment, all three sirens froze, staring at Trixie.
“Trixie loads with silver,” Trixie said nonchalantly. “Just in case that matters.”
Adagio gave Aria a look of pure loathing. “Happy now?” she said through gritted teeth.
Aria crossed her arms, staring at nothing and seething.
“Alright, let’s try this again,” Adagio said to Trixie with a calculating smile. “You want information. Fine. But look at it this way: even if we did get our amulets from someone else, we wouldn’t be in a position to tell you anything about it. That would be tantamount to betraying an ally. And we don’t have too many of those as it stands. You can understand that, right?”
Trixie nodded. “Of course. Trixie is aware of such things.”
“Then why,” muttered a still-seething Aria, “are we here?”
“Besides, he’s also kinda scary,” Sonata added.
Both her sisters rolled their eyes in unison.
“Thanks, Sonata,” Aria grumbled. “That wasn’t idiotic at all.”
Sonata ignored her, enjoying her new hat.
“Trixie only wishes to show you something,” Trixie said. “That is all.”
With her free hand, Trixie reached into her other coat pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, placing it on the table between them all.
It was a photocopy of a page from a very old yearbook. Towards the lower left, circled in magic marker, was a photograph of a plaque on a wall, such as one might see in any high school. On the plaque was a single name.
As one, Adagio and Aria stood, their chairs falling behind them.
Trixie stood as well, stepping back as she did, allowing them room to leave.
“Come on, Sonata,” Aria said. “We’re out of here.”
Pouting slightly, Sonata skootched out from the booth.
“Thanks for letting me wear your hat,” she said, handing it back as she went by.
Trixie nodded. It was impossible not to smile a little.
The sirens were at the exit when Aria suddenly doubled back, jabbing a finger at Trixie with a hungry leer.
“You’ve got no idea what you’re messing with, little girl,” she hissed. “But you know what? I hope you find what you’re looking for. And I hope I’m there to see it happen!”
Then she stormed out of the restaurant and into the night, she and her sisters heading for a trio of motorcycles parked nearby.
Trixie stood where she was, one hand still in her coat, pointed down. Any good magician knew breath control, it was essential for many escapes. Granted, it gave little control over the jackhammer that had been pounding in her chest throughout the encounter. But a good magician never lets her audience see her sweat.
And besides, she had gotten what she had come for.
“No, Aria,” she said quietly with a growing smile. “Trixie really doesn’t think you do.”
Once the sirens were gone, the Great and Powerful Trixie strode slowly into the night. Rain would have been ideal for such a moment… but there was a drifting, uneven fog about, and that would certainly do.
Ignoring the parking lot completely, Trixie headed down the street, pulling up the collar on her coat as she did. Then, a wave of fog briefly enveloped her, and when it cleared she was gone from all mortal sight.
Also LikedSimilarAuthor
- Coyote de La Mancha · 12k words · 31 2 · 351 views
- Coyote de La Mancha · 2.6k words · 33 0 · 977 views
- Coyote de La Mancha · 2.6k words · 37 1 · 720 views
- Coyote de La Mancha · 2.3k words · 34 2 · 683 views
- Coyote de La Mancha · 2.4k words · 44 1 · 1.3k views
- Coyote de La Mancha · 11k words · 32 0 · 923 views
- Coyote de La Mancha · 1.3k words · 21 0 · 604 views
- Coyote de La Mancha · 11k words · 44 5 · 824 views
Stats
Page generated in 0.098 seconds
Total duration
862 users online
1,258,413 hits today, 2,054,621 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Is this just the girls with guns universe now? Also, I wonder what Fluttershy's username is. UmmI'mSorry?
Wait what?
9782953
No, but a good magician is always prepared.
And Fluttershy’s Eris handle is LessThanThree. She’s had it since before she (or I) heard the song.
Huh. After the first few, I figured that was just how she normally typed. Also, if that's meant to be her birth year, then it's apparently 2006 in the human world. Or the Apple siblings share an Eris account.
On the one hand, a mask actually screws with those algorithms quite well. On the other, the wider variety of hair and skin colors make the girls a lot more distinctive. Especially Dash.
Dash's melancholy is certainly understandable. It's an uncomfortable question, one I'm honestly not sure how to address myself. What do the girls do post-graduation, especially when there's still rogue magic in the world?
And that ending... Just because Sunrise's issues are increasingly (though not completely) dealt with doesn't mean other trouble might arise, whether new or old. Definitely looking forward to seeing how these new threats develop, and how the Rainbooms plan on defending their world.
9784680
Nope, that’s not her birth year. That’s just her favorite version of that particular anime.
Twilight’s knee-jerk response is sometimes to overestimate technology a little bit, perhaps in part because she could tweak it to solve such problems so easily. If she was working for her world’s equivalent of the FBI (by whatever name) probably masks wouldn't be such a problem... even as, ironically, she could side-step the entire issue easily if she were on the supply-side of crime. Or, in this case, vigilantism.
And even as the Rainbooms will continue determining their own place in their world, so will other matters come to light, old and new, both beautiful and terrible.
9782957
Don’t worry, it’s all going somewhere.
9778426 9779279
According to DVD commentary on “Legend of Everfree”, Pinkie’s talent is to make sugar, specifically, explode. It even makes sense, since people really are experimenting with, among other things, sugars-based rocket fuels.
9871428
Interesting. I had not been aware that her magic required a material component. But you are quite right, it does make a great deal of sense.