Chapter 1
The Canterlot Theater trap room is well designed. Strong wooden walls keep the hidden room sealed against the elements and the audience. It has been soundproofed to keep the illusion of its nonexistence. The door is solid oak and cannot be forced open by flesh and bone. The trap doors could hold the weight of several tons without buckling. It is a great place for actors to warm up or enter the stage. However, there are no controls in the room itself. If someone gets locked in, there isn't a way out.
Firefly paced the floor of her apartment, muttering threats under her breath with her fists clenched tight. She had received an automated call from the school. A certain cyan teenager had missed all of her classes for the day. A certain teenager who had also failed to make the bus ride home. A teenager who will be grounded for a moon when she drags her lazy butt back home!
"Argh!"
The young woman yelled and threw a throw pillow against the window so hard it cracked. On top of skipping class, Rainbow had had the audacity to not answer any of her phone calls. Well, if she wanted to ignore her mother and her responsibilities, Rainbow could kiss her sports teams goodbye until she shaped up! Firefly circled the room, barely stopping herself from stomping on the floor and screaming like a banshee. For the hundredth time that day, she pulled out her phone, dialed Rainbow's number, and waited. For the hundredth time that day, all she heard was 4 tones and a robotic apology.
The front door of the Canterlot Animal Shelter flew in with a bang. Immediately behind it, a grown woman stood wrestling a small dog. It’s pulling, straining and howling was pushing her to the limit.
“Rrgh! Gah! Susie, can you come here a moment?”
A younger woman emerged from the back door, covered in poop-stained straw.
“Coming! What's up?”
“This new dog won't stop fighting! I've tried everything! Even spraying it with water won't phase it!”
“Hold on, let me help.”
Ten minutes later, both emerged from the kennel room, sweating heavily. A long, keening howl sounded from the farther cage.
“There!” *whew* “I wonder what he's all worked up about?”
“Who knows? Hope he gets tired soon. If not, every dog in this building will start howling.”
“It's too bad Fluttershy wasn't here; I'll bet she could've calmed him down.”
“Say, where is that girl? Isn't she scheduled to volunteer today?”
“I called her place, they say she never got home from school.”
“Gosh, I hope she's alright.”
“Don't worry, she'll be okay. There isn't a soul in the world that would hurt that sweet girl. Anyways, do we have someone available to walk the dogs? Maybe our newcomer will tire out after a while.”
“...Nope. We don't have the bodies.”
“Dammit. Oh well. I'll get us the earplugs, it's gonna be a long day”
They've been stuck down there all day. Frustration mounts and tempers flare. Friendships are damaged and a band torn apart. The lost student heals the rift, and things are made better. But still, the door won't open.
The sound of rain gives hope. The Battle can't commence if the people don't come. Maybe the bewitched students would've come, but the townspeople won't. Perhaps they still have time to stop the Sirens.
Yet they wonder why they haven't been found. Why hasn't anyone come for them?
"Dad, Pinkie's missing."
Igneous sighed. He was hard at work on his latest commissioner's rock sculpture and really didn't have time for this.
"Maud, you know how Pinkie throws her random parties. She probably just went out and forgot to charge her phone. Make no mistake, she'll be in trouble when she gets home, but there's no reason to worry for now."
Igneous kept carefully chipping away at the granite boulder, occasionally checking his sketch of a massive winged unicorn, called Tom. Most would've never taken such a feminine sculpture, but it was his daughter's school mascot. Besides, he needed every project he could to support his family. Marble and Limestone weren't about to put themselves through college.
He was halfway through an eyebrow when he felt a hand on his arm. He stopped, unsure how to react. Pinkie ALWAYS was touching him, mostly with hugs, but Maud...
He reluctantly looked away from his sculpture and at his daughter. Maud was staring at him in what looked like her usual way, but there was something strange about it. No one else would've noticed, but the far edges of her mouth were quivering slightly. Beyond that, the old artist noticed his daughter was breathing a little too hard, her completely stoic expression imperfect. Maud had to be worried to show so such obvious emotions.
"Please. Help me find Pinkie." Her voice was almost pleading.
Igneous sighed.
"Get my raincoat."
Sapphire Shores was not a woman to window shop. If she wanted something, she went out and found it. No wandering and wishing, she got it done.
Normally she would be scouring the highest level stores in Canterlot City, but a dress had caught her eye. It was only a tiny shop, probably worked only by a single bored teenager, but talent is talent, no matter the source. Besides, she had grown quite tired of standing in the rain. Without a moment’s hesitation, she stepped inside, with three tabloid lackeys watching her every move. This dress had better be worth her time.
"Hello! I am..." She announced in her best accent, only to be rudely interrupted.
"Please! Have you seen my daughter?!"
The pop star was shocked to silence. Not only had someone had the audacity to interrupt her mid-sentence, it wasn't your standard shop employee at all. It was Pearl Belle, a high-class lady who usually had front row seats at her shows. Sapphire had no idea what to make of it.
"Oh, I'm sorry Sapphire!" Pearl quickly stammered. "I didn't mean to interrupt you."
"Never mind that! What was that you said? Your daughter is missing?!" High class or not, Sapphire is a woman, and missing children frighten her on a deep level.
Pearl had a stack of fliers handy.
"Yes, my little Rarity! She disappeared with her friends days ago! No one has seen them or can find them! No calls, no note, no anything!"
A hint of doubt flickered through Sapphire's mind.
"She goes to Canterlot High? Are you sure she didn't just run off for a weekend of mischief?"
Pearl's eyes narrowed. Sapphire got the feeling Pearl’s daughter was far more than your typical teenager.
"I'll have you know she is the most responsible and talented girl in this city! You think just anyone could sew a dress that magnificent?!"
To accent her point, she pointed at the lovely piece in the window, the one that had caught Sapphire's eye.
The singer’s eyes widened.
"A high school girl created that gem? Impossible!"
The moment of smugness and pride Pearl felt for her eldest was quickly crushed by her absence.
"Yes... And now I don't know if I'll ever see her again...”
Sapphire no longer cared about her apparel. There was a new mission to complete. She had to find this girl. Only the best could create for her, and Sapphire Shores wasn't about to let a blooming master seamstress slip through her hands.
"You! Paparazzi! Come here!"
The reporters groaned, and two outright fled. But one was curious, and approached the Actress, hoping for a juicy interview. He got more than he expected.
"I'm putting my name behind this missing persons search! I want these girls found! Now, go to your bosses! this goes on the headlines! I want everyone in the city in on this search! Go!"
It's been a long time, no one knows how long. There's no way to tell the time in the dark traproom, except for the chill of the night and the warmth of the day.
They'd called and called for help. Played their instruments as loud as they could bear. And still no one came.
A corner is filthy. It's been chosen as a place for them to relieve themselves. Any urine passed is dark and smelly. Everything stinks now.
Pinkie had Cupcakes, but they're gone now. Even she had her limits. Everyone wishes she had water, they're so thirsty. Their tongues are swollen and their hearts are racing. No one can stand up without feeling faint. The rainstorm still hasn't stopped.
Someone tries to break through the door, but it again holds firm. The instruments are destroyed, smashed against the walls in a futile attempt to escape. It's hot. So awfully hot. Is the pounding from the rain or inside their heads?
"Where is she, Big Mac?! Where's my big sister?!"
Big Macintosh looked away from Apple Bloom. He didn't want her to see him like this, he had to be strong. Granny hadn't raised him to break when family needed him.
"I dunno. We've got everypony searchin’ the suburbs pretty well."
"We gotta find her!" The young girl shouted. "What if someone took her?! What if!.."
Big Mac abruptly silenced her with a finger on the lips.
"Don't you even think about that. Our sister is out there, and we're gonna find her. Okay?"
Apple Bloom nodded, but tears were beginning to fill her eyes.
"We got most of the city lookin' for our sister. Ain't nobody can hide em for long. Now C'mon. Are we gonna stand here and cry, or are we gonna go find our sis?"
Apple Bloom nodded again, but her tears were drying. Instead, a look of fierce determination came across her face, one that normally only appeared when she and her friends were crusading.
"I'll call Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. We'll look over the school and their rooms again."
"Good. Now go."
His little sister scampered off like a roadrunner with a coyote on its tail.
Big Mac sighed when she turned the corner, his featuring falling. He didn't want to remember, but the memories just wouldn't stay away.
"Reminds me of that day." An old voice croaked behind him.
Big Mac turned to see Granny Smith standing behind him, her seemingly withered old body standing straight and tall. Her eyes were bright and alert and right on him.
"It's a horrible thing, havin someone not come back. Feels like it's rippin your guts right outta your chest."
Big Mac nodded, closing his eyes, trying to hold back his emotions. Trying to hold back the memories.
"Ain't nothin you can do bout it but keep goin', and pray that they'll come home. Shucks, you couldn'd a guessed how long I refused to believe it. My girl and her man done gone and left me behind to raise their youn'in? Just couldn't get it through my head."
Big Mac shuddered. He had been at school that day. In class with that cute girl Cheerilee, thinkin about how nice it would be to done with the farm and go to that math school. How nice it would be to put distance between himself and the family.
"Now I ain't sayin that it's a lost cause. Our girl's still got’ta plenty good shot of findin’ her way home..."
Tears fell from Big Mac's eyes. He couldn’t get the twisted burning car wreck out of his head.
Granny's voice quivered, but when she laid her hand on her Grandson's shoulder, her grip felt as firm as steel.
"But if she don't, you can't let it stop ya. We still got little Apple Bloom, and our Jackie would throw a fit if she ever found out we neglected her little sis.”
The old woman spun her grandson around to face her, her ancient limbs moving his huge frame as easily as if he were a boy.
“Now I ain't got enough years left in me to see Apple Bloom grow up. So you gotta promise me this. No matter what happens, you're gonna ensure your little sisters are looked after."
Big Mac locked eyes with his Grandmother. He understands the importance of this promise.
“I will, Granny.”
She smacked him hard on the back.
"Good! Now git out there and find our girl!"
No one can get up now. Three lie unconscious on the floor. The others don't have the strength to wake them.
It hurts. It hurts so much.
Blood oozes from cracked skin. Blinding headaches interrupt strange visions. They're dying, they know that know. A desperate hope keeps them going, trying to keep their friends up. But with every shaky breath, the Reaper comes closer. The last of their strength is fading.
"Hello! Welcome to animal shelter 17!"
"Hi there, I’m Roger Baxte... Whoa!"
A grown man in airline attire tripped over a potted plant and fell face first into the floor.
"Oh my goodness!" Debra, the shelter receptionist, ran over to help him up. "Are you alright?"
“Yeah, no worries. It happens all the time.” He chuckled self-consciously and put a hand behind his back. It was obvious this man was no stranger to self-injury.
“Oh, well if you're sure.” Debra looked at him with a mixture of bewilderment and amusement. Not often colorful characters stopped by. “Anyways, how can I help you today?”
“Well, that darn rainstorm has grounded all the flights in and out of Canterlot for the next couple days, so I thought I'd stop in and see if you fine folks needed any help looking after the animals.”
She threw her hands in the air. “Yes! Oh thank you! We've been short handed since one of our regular helpers disappeared.”
Debra took Mr. Baxter to the kennels
“Disappeared?” he asked, a trace of fright in his voice. “You mean quit helping?”
"No..." *Debra looked at him with worry clear in her eyes. “She and her friends just completely disappeared two or three days ago. No one has seen them anywhere around town."
“You’re kidding. Do you think…? Do you think someone might’ve taken them?”
She was about to answer when the little purple dog noticed they had come.
“Arfarfarf! Aroooo!!”
They covered their ears, wincing.
"What is wrong with that dog?!" he shouted.
Debra opened the door, wielding a muzzle. After a brief struggle, the dog fell silent.
"We don't know. He has a collar, but no name, no address. We think the poor thing is missing his family, but we have no idea who they are."
Roger's eyes lit up.
"Hey, my daughter helps run a pet shop at my home city. Whenever one of the pets gets antsy, she just takes them for a walk. Works every time!" He swing his arm like he was a master salesman, almost spilled a bag of dog food in the process.
Debra eyed him doubtfully.
"I don't know, this one’s a fighter, if he got off the leash, you'd be hard pressed to catch him again."
"Oh come on, my Blythe is a natural! I gotta have about half of those genes!" he fixed the receptionist with his best smile.
She looked at Spike, the little dog’s eyes were wide and he was whimpering. "Well, if you think so..."
“Don't you worry about a thing Mrs. Debra! I'll have him back lickety-split!”
Only Sunset remains awake. The others lie on the floor, only the faintest sounds hinting at life. She would cry if she could, but there are no tears. There haven't been for days.
It's all her fault. All her own mistakes. A thousand choices, a million chances to avoid this fate. All for naught.
She should've listened to Celestia. She should've gone home to Equestria. Or maybe she should've stayed in that crater, surrendered her life to that terrible Rainbow. She should've left the school, never come back.
She should've...
She should've..
She...
“Hey! Come back here! We're supposed to be back at the shelter!”
Spike growled through his muzzle. He had already failed his friends once. It would NOT happen again!
Pouring sheets of rain fell from the sky like a waterfall. Bright flashes of lightning lit the dark clouds like fireworks. None of it matters to the little dog; he knows exactly where to go. He can't smell or see, but he can feel. He can feel Twilight, calling out to him in her heart. Nothing can stop him getting to her.
There! Up ahead, the stadium! The gate is closed, a man stands guard. Spike doesn't care. He's faced much worse in Equestria. He pounces, springing off the man’s jacket and bounding over the chain link fence. The guard yells and tries to catch him, but he's too late. Spike is inside.
Spike bounds forward, the stage empty and dark before him. He saw Trixie trap his friends; he knows they're still down there. Maybe there's still time. Maybe they're still waiting for him to rescue them.
The gate swings open behind him, the two men running down the deserted isles. They'll catch him in a minute. Spike desperately searches for a door. There, down on the left, an access door. He leaps down, but his leash catches on the handle. He's left swinging there, helpless and caught, only feet away from Twilight and his friends. He struggles like a demon, freeing only his lips. But it's enough.
"Hey! Heeey! You guys!"
The guard and man stop, dumbfounded.
"You gotta open this door! They're inside! They're trapped!"
He gestures wildly at the door, still swinging by his muzzle.
The men look at each other, unsure what to do. The shelter man grabs and restrains Spike, but the guard opens the door.
She wanted it to stop. It wouldn't stop beeping.
From beneath the sheets of a hospital bed, a mass of red and yellow hair shifted. A young girl shifted and whimpered, uncomfortable, wanting the noise to stop. A gentle white hand laid on hers, a touch so gentle it could only be a mother's. Whatever was troubling the tiny life in the bed didn't seen as important now. With barely the strength of a newborn, she rolled over, trying to curl up around that calming touch. A grown woman beside the bed smiled, happy tears in her eyes.
It had been so close. Celestia had been so close to losing her beloved students. When Mr. Baxter had called 911, the Rainbooms had barely been breathing, their poor abused bodies clinging to the last threads of life. Only a flagrant disregard for speed limits and the desperation the doctors had heard in the man’s voice had summoned the ambulances quickly enough to save them. Even now, no one was fully recovered, and wouldn't be for quite a while. But they were alive. They were all alive.
Every one of the missing girls had someone fawning over them. Patents, siblings, a whole family reunion in the case of Applejack, even a small dog for Twilight, who could not be moved from her side. But no one had come for Sunset. No parents, no sisters, no friends from school. Only Celestia had come.
To be fair, Luna would've come too if she wasn't needed to keep the school running while this crisis unfolded. Celestia suspected she was a little excited to finally get to use the power her position so often lacked. But Luna didn't know all the students quite as well as Celestia, and hadn't tumbled to the fact that Sunset didn't really have a home. Oh, the little rascal had gotten some forged documents, changed her address from time to time, but not even the most cunning teenager could outwit Celestia. She knew that wherever Sunset rested her head at night, she did so alone, without anyone else. Not one to interfere except in the most extreme cases, Celestia had been content to allow this, but not now. Not when Sunset desperately needed someone to take care of her. Not when she needed a mother.
Little yellow eyelashes flutter open.
Celestia smiled as if she were looking at her own baby.
She sung a lullaby that her mother had once sung.
And Sunset slipped back into her dream, warm and loved and safe for the first time in a very long time.