> Turning Back the Clock > by FlufferNutters > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Change in Staff (edited) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The summer sun blazes down on the city of Canterlot, as the sounds of summer start to arrive as the door open at Canterlot High, the students flood out to the courtyard as today start their summer vacation. Peanut Butter and Sunset Shimmer walk down the hallway, behind the mass of students leaving in a happy mood. Sunset looks at Peanut Butter with a smile. “So, any plans this summer?” Sunset asks. "I got a few tournaments to attend before the family reunion, hopefully the side money I'll be making will get me by." Peanut Butter mentions. "That's right you're doing that pro tour thing starting next week right?" "Yeah, I'll be missing home for sure but at least I'll be doing what I love." "Yeah, so how are you and Applejack doing?" "Great actually, I'm gonna spend time with her before I go." "Well enjoy it while it lasts cause next school year we're seniors." "That we are." "I have to get my team bag from mom's office, care to join me?" "Sure, I have to get my spare clothes from Celestia's office, gym was brutal today." "Can't believe it's been a year." "Yeah, but you've come so far from then." "I guess I have." "You have a family, a home, friends and someone who loves you for who you are." "Yeah." Peanut Butter's mind trails off as he enters the lobby before knocking on Luna's office door. "Come in." Peanut Butter opens the door with a smile. "Hey mom, just here to get my bag, I got a team meeting later I should be back in time." "Actually, I have a meeting to attend to so I'll be late to pick you up." "Okay, I'll see you later." "Okay, behave, I know you have been picking fights lately and if I catch wind of another one you aren't going, understood?" "Yes mom, any idea what it's about?" "No, but I have a feeling on what it might be." "Tell me when you pick me up then." "Alright." "I'll see you later mom." "Have fun." "Will do." Peanut Butter comes out of the lobby to see five people in suits with folders and brief cases. His face changes from smiling to blank and his eyes slanted as he slows down as Sunset exits Celestia's office as the both head out of the main office. Sunset turns to see the look on his face. "What's wrong P.B.?" Sunset asks. "Those guys we just passed worry me for some reason." "I wouldn't be worried, seems like school stuff." "Maybe, but it’s like I’ve seen them before maybe." They both exit the school and walk into town towards Sugarcube Corner. They were silent for half of the trip then Sunset looks at Peanut Butter. "So, how well do you think you'll do?" Sunset asks. "Pretty well, sponsors let me get the good cards." "Who would have guessed a year ago I saw you in a patch of woods, bumming around and now look at you." "Yeah, if I was told this is my life now back then, I'd call you insane." Sunset giggles. "It's true though." "I believe you." They reach Sugarcube Corner five minutes later to see Pinkie Pie behind the counter. Peanut Butter goes up to the counter with an amused smirk on his face. "Hey Pinkie, surprised seeing you here so soon, what's up?" Peanut Butter asks. "The sky, moon, space and just about anything above our heads." Peanut Butter chuckles at this. "So what would you like?" "My usual x-large half and half with three blueberry muffins." "Coming right up." Peanut Butter puts the money on the table as he waits. A couple minutes later Pinkie Pie comes back with a large cup and a brown paper bag. He takes them and smiles before getting up. "Thanks Pinkie." Peanut Butter thanks before leaving. "You're welcome." He walks out the door and heads to the library while Sunset stays. As he walks he notices a large amount of construction vehicles going down the road towards the school. He raises an eyebrow as he turns his head following the vehicles before turning his head back and going his own way. He reaches the library and heads to its basement where his teammates await him. He sets his bag down and high-fives them before sitting down. "Alright, we got a lot to cover and not much to do it, Flip, where are we at with the sponsors?" Peanut Butter asks. "They are all signed on and ready to go." "Good, Streak, the ride all set?" "Yep, RV is ready to go." "Awesome, I'm mostly good on my end, just gotta keep my nose clean until we leave." "Those rumors still going around?" "Yep, just going along with it to save on the drama since we are so close." "Smart move, we'll make sure Dusk stays with you until then so no one can say anything." "In speaking of him, where is he?" "Detention." "What did he do this time?" "One of his pranks on the teachers." "Maybe he wouldn't be a good candidate." "Yeah, but who else can we trust?" "I can handle myself, besides, rumors are the least of my worries." "What else is more important?" "This trip and something personal I’d rather not talk about." Peanut Butter takes a bite out of one of the muffins as he looks over the list in front of him. He swallows and looks at Winning Streak. "I can't believe we're actually doing this." Peanut Butter admits. "Yeah, now let’s get to training." A few hours pass before Peanut Butter's phone rings. He takes it out of his jacket and sees Luna's number. He taps the screen and puts it up to his ear. "Hey mom." He says. "I'll be out in a couple minutes, just have to pack up." "See you in a bit." He hangs up and puts his phone back in his pocket before packing his cards. "Well everyone, by this time next week, we'll be on the road." He announces. Winning Streak and Card Flip cheer as Peanut Butter picks up his bag and heads out of the library. He walks out to the front of the library and towards Luna's car as it pulls up, he looks closer at Luna before tilting his head slightly at the look on her face. He opens the back seat door and places his bag on the floor behind his seat before shutting the door and getting in the front passenger seat. "How was the meeting?" Peanut Butter asks. Luna sighs before she drives off. "I'll tell you once we meet with Sunset and Celestia, it's something that you both need to hear, together." "O- okay." The ride is quiet as Peanut Butter looks out the window with the occasional glance towards Luna, his eyes slightly glassy and squinted, his face expressionless. He looks up towards the sky as his right eye shimmers slightly in the light. Luna pulls into Celestia's driveway and parks before she and Peanut Butter come out of the car and grabs his bag and goes inside behind Luna and shutting the door. They both go into the living room and see Sunset on the couch with a concerned look on her face, almost mirroring Peanut Butter’s. Peanut Butter sets his bag down and sits next to Sunset on the couch as Luna and Celestia stand in front of them. Luna sighs and looks at Celestia. They both nod at each other and look at Sunset and Peanut Butter "As you two know, we had a meeting today and the results of it were, not favorable towards us." Celestia admits. "So you both got fired?" Sunset asks. "Thankfully not, though we had to step down as Principal and Vice Principal, we will just be teachers now." "What was it about?" Peanut Butter asks. "The school's performance hasn't been that well in the past few months and with the incident that you and Blueblood were involved in being the final straw, the board had to take action." "So who is taking over your old positions?" "Prim Act and Proper Upbringing." Just then Peanut Butter's eyes go wide as his breath picks up and his body starts to shake. He then gets up as quick as he can and grabs his bag before heading to the stairs. "We are leaving here, Sunset, get your friends and I'll get mine, we still have time to get out of here and into another town, state, country, where ever." Peanut Butter frantically orders. "Do you know them?" Celestia asks. "They were around during my time in Manehatten." "We met them and they seemed nice." Luna says. "That's just an act, they have something planned, if it's Manehatten all over again, I, I, I don't know what to do." "What happened there?" "If I told you, you would think I'm crazy." "We won't." "They regressed the students and brainwash them before turning the school into an adoption center and giving the kids to other parents." Luna and Celestia raise an eyebrow at him. "See, I told you that you would think I'm being crazy, but we don’t have time for that right now." “We don’t think you’re crazy, it’s just, outlandish is all.” Celestia states. “That still means crazy.” “Fine, it’s crazy, even if it is true, it still makes no sense.” “I just don’t want any of you getting mixed up in all this, I’ve lost too many friends because of them.” “It’s going to be fine.” “Usually you’re right, not this time though.” Peanut Butter takes out his headphones and music player from his bag and heads to the front door. “I’m going to A.J.’s, I have my phone on me, please, just trust me, they are bad news and something is going to happen, I’ll stop them myself if I have to.” He mentions before opening the door and leaving. “P.B. wait-” Luna orders before getting cut off by the shutting of the door. “Just give him some time Luna.” Celestia assures. “Should I tag along?” Sunset asks. “No, just leave him be.” After a half hour of walking he stands in front of her driveway and hears ATVs revving up in the distance behind the house. He walks behind the garage and sees Applejack and Applebloom unloading barrels of apples from a cart being pulled by an ATV driven by Big Mac. Peanut Butter smiles and waves as he walks towards them. Applejack looks up and smiles before running to him and hugging him. “Hey there city slicker, wasn’t expectin’ ya until this weekend.” She greets before pecking him on the cheek. “Well my lovely country girl, let’s just say this visit isn’t the romantic type, more emotional support.” “What’s wrong?” “Can we go somewhere private?” “Sure can.” They both walk to another part of the farm, near the horses and far from the house. They both lean on the fence looking at the horses as Applejack turns her head towards Peanut Butter. “What’s goin’ on sugarcube?” She asks. “My past has come back to haunt me.” “P.B., hun, yer in a better place now, ya don’t need to worry about it anymore.” “I’m being literal this time, two people that I ran into in Manehatten have come here.” “Are they that bad?” “They are nothing but trouble, thing is, no one believes me.” “What do they do?” “Aunt Celestia asked and thought I was crazy when I answered.” “I won’t know until ya tell me.” “Fine, they somehow regress students at school and turn schools into adoption centers and give them away.” “I hate ta say it, but I agree with Celestia, that’s crazy talk.” “Why won’t no one believe me?” “Don’t ya hear yourself with what you’re sayin’?” “Yeah, I do.” “Then you know yer talking crazy, look, yer probably stressed about your tournament tour and it’s not making you think straight.” Peanut Butter sighs. “Maybe you’re right.” “Lemme get ya home so you can get some sleep.” “Not just yet.” “Alright, just a bit longer though.” “Alright.” He leans his head on her shoulder and smiles. An hour later Peanut Butter is dropped off at home and goes inside. Sunset looks up from her book. “Feeling any better P.B.?” She asks. “Not really, just tired is all.” “Get some sleep, I tell them you’re back.” “Thanks Sunset.” “No problem.” Peanut Butter slowly makes his way up the stairs and into his room before falling face first onto the bed and passing out. The following week passes as school lets out. As Peanut Butter grabs his bag for the tour from his room and heads down the stairs. Luna, Celestia, and Sunset are standing by the door as Peanut Butter heads to the front door. He hugs all three of them and smiles. “Be safe and behave.” Luna advises. “I will.” “Eat healthy and try to read.” Celestia advises. “Of course.” “Good luck out there P.B.” Sunset says. “Thanks, well, gotta go, see you guys in a few weeks.” Peanut Butter exits the front door and jumps in an RV and as soon as he gets in it rolls off towards the highway. The summer passes by quickly with family trips, reunions, camp outs, sleepovers, and days in the park. As the new school year starts, Sunset and Peanut Butter look at the school they notice the large building that now stands where the track for the Friendship Games used to be peeking over the dome at the top of the building, with red brick and white stone along the edges. “I still don’t like it, I know in my bones that they are up to something.” Peanut Butter rants as they walk towards the school. “P.B., you’re over reacting, maybe even paranoid.” “I’m not, but, just keep your guard up, please.” “Fine.” “Thanks.” As they reach the school’s entrance they see a large, muscular man in a guard’s uniform with short hair and sunglasses. He stands tall as he looks down towards them and raises an eyebrow towards Peanut Butter. Peanut Butter does the same thing though with a smirk on his face. “Students are to go to the new auditorium.” He says. “Well Bugsy, been a while hasn’t it?” The man groans. “I don’t know you kid, now get.” “Aw, that’s a shame, I guess the Manehattan incident really messed with your head, or maybe it was the ass kicking afterwards.” The man grits his teeth and groans again. Sunset grabs Peanut Butter by the wrist and goes inside the school. Midway through the hallway she lets Peanut Butter go and looks at him. “What is your deal?” Sunset asks. “Nothing wrong with trying to catch up with one of their goons, I think he’s still salty about last time.” “You’re acting ridiculous right now, let’s just go.” “Fine.” They both go down the hall towards the back of the school where the dark hallway is, now lit up and walk through the open double doors. They walk into a long brightly lit hallway and walk down towards the end and see the lush new seats in rows as the seats go higher than the gym used to go with the bleachers. The seats were mostly empty with only a few students seated. The seats themselves are red velvet with wooden arm rests. “I’m sitting in the back.” Peanut Butter informs before going up the near by staircase. Sunset follows though stops halfway up and shakes her head. She then goes to the closest row and sits halfway in. Later she is joined by her friends before they look around. Applejack looks towards Sunset. “Where’s P.B.?” She asks. “In the back, I don’t know if you want to see him though, he’s acting really odd.” “He told me that before summer break ended, told ‘im he was stressed.” “Well he doesn’t have an excuse now.” “Nope.” Just then the lights dimmed and the stage goes bright. > New Faces, New Rules (edited) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The auditorium quiets down as two women in black suits come on stage, standing by the sides of the large screen in the center. The one on the left with long brown hair, glasses, and a bracelet on her right wrist. The one on the right has dirty blonde hair with an anklet on her left ankle. Both have a microphone in their hand as the one on the left puts it near her mouth. “Welcome students of Canterlot High to a brand new school year, we would like to start off the year by introducing ourselves,” She greets while gesturing her hand to the other woman. “I am Proper Upbringing and I am your principal.” Proper introduces. The other woman puts the microphone in her hand near her mouth. “And I am Prim Act, your new vice principal.” Prim introduces. “Some of you are new, some are about to move on to the next step in their lives, we would like you all to make this year memorable.” “With that said, we have a few new rules,” Proper takes out a remote from her pocket and presses a button on it, causing a slide to appear on the screen. “After a few incidents we have decided that students shouldn’t be left alone in the hallways,” “So from now on you will be escorted to your classes by your homeroom teacher, which brings us to the next rule, though it is more of a reminder.” Proper changes the slide again. “We are enforcing the homeroom rule already in place, but with help from new staff for the position of Hall Monitor.” Proper explains. Just then a light shines down on five men in blue polo shirts and tan slacks standing at attention next to Proper. “Lastly,” Proper says before changing the slide. “We will be changing the disciplinary system within the school by using methods of counseling and exercises than sitting in a classroom after school.” Prim explains. The students start to murmur while Peanut Butter stares from the back, his breath baited as his hands come together by his face before resting his chin on top. “Why this and why now?” He mutters to himself. “We will be making changes to the school through out the year as well, but you don’t need to worry about that.” Proper mentions. “We’ll end this to keep it short, so please go to your assigned homeroom teachers.” Prim instructs. After the lights turn back on the students leave and form a line with their homeroom teachers in the hall, except for Peanut Butter who remains in the back. Prim looks up and smirks and goes towards Peanut Butter. The area now empty of students. “Well young man, you should be going to your homeroom teacher.” She instructs. Peanut Butter glares at her, his eyes showing nothing but an internal inferno within. His nostrils flare and his breath heavy. “You look familiar, have we met before?” Prim asks sarcastically. “Perhaps.” “Where?” “Manehatten maybe.” “Oh now I remember, you’re that punk that ruined our plans in Manehatten and caused trouble for us.” “I’ll stop you like I did before.” Prim gasps sarcastically. “Oh whatever do you mean?” “You know exactly what I mean Prim, I stopped you then like I will here.” “You’re delusional, child.” “Drop the act, you’re not fooling me.” Prim groans. “Fine you little punk, no you won’t, but I won’t say anything more than that, can’t spoil all the surprises this soon, can we?” “I will still stand up and stop you, Prim.” “You can try, but no one would believe you.” “I’ll find a way.” “Good luck with that, now off to your homeroom teacher.” Peanut Butter gets up and grabs his bag before putting it on his shoulder. As he exits the aisle he glares at Prim. He jolts his chest forward at her, making her jump a bit. “Made you flinch.” Peanut Butter whispers before going down the stairs. “Have a good year.” She sarcastically acknowledges. Peanut Butter rolls his eyes and leaves the auditorium and sees Luna at the door. “So you’re a teacher now?” Peanut Butter asks. “ So is Celestia, though in a different homeroom.” “I still don’t like this.” “I’m not a fan of this either, but we have no choice.” They both walk down the hall towards the homeroom. The walk is quiet other than the sounds of their footsteps. “Please, do me a favor and be careful.” Peanut Butter requests. “If that makes you happy, I will.” They reach the homeroom and enter. The room itself is plain with white walls, desks in a grid and the teacher’s desk near a corner next to the board. Students around the classroom chatting with each other before class starts. Peanut Butter scans the room, moving his head and heads towards Sunset in a corner in the back with Rarity and Applejack. “Hey Sunset,” He greets, though no response from any of them. “Hello, earth to Sunset.” Still no response. He groans and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Look, whatever I did to bother you, I’m sorry, between everything that’s going on, I’m a bit on edge right now.” “That’s obvious, but you’re pushing us away because of it.” “I don’t mean to, but I want to protect you guys.” “We get that, but it’s not an excuse to be the way you have been.” Applejack looks at him, tears welling up in her eyes. “P.B., I’ll always be by yer side, but you shouldn’t be pushing me away.” Applejack admits. Rarity looks up from where she sits. “P.B., with the utmost respect, you’re crazy.” She informs Peanut Butter. “I’m not crazy.” “Yes you are P.B., nothing is going to happen.” “Something will happen! I know it.” “What will happen?” “That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” “So how do you know something will happen if you don’t know?” Sunset asks. “How do you know something won’t?” “Come on girls, let’s go elsewhere.” Applejack, Rarity, and Sunset get up and go to the opposite end of the room leaving Peanut Butter to himself and his own thoughts. He goes towards the window and looks out it from the desk closest to it. He sighs heavily and rubs his forehead. His breathing goes heavy and slow. He breathes in deep through his nose and out through his mouth. He falls back from his chair as a gust of wind comes out of his mouth and goes across the classroom, knocking and pushing over desks. The students look around to see what caused the wind, Peanut Butter gets up and looks around. He picks up the chair and desk and sits back down just as the bell rings. “Alright class, line up and I’ll be dropping you off at your classes.” Luna announces. Everyone lines up and they all leave the classroom with Peanut Butter in back. The class walks through the halls as they pass other classes doing the same. A minute later Peanut Butter goes into a classroom and sits down at a desk. He looks around and sees the room is identical to his homeroom. He looks around and sees no one he knows, unlike before, Sunset or one of her friends would be around. He starts bouncing his legs as Miss Harshwhinny enters the classroom. “Hello class.” She greets. “Hello Miss Harshwhinny.” “Welcome to English four, this will be your last year and your toughest one yet, I expect professionalism from you all this year.” The class nods, Peanut Butter watches from the back. Just then Harshwhinny writes on the board. A few seconds later she steps back and what she wrote reads. ‘Stand tall as evil will run from the storm that grows within.’ “Where is this passage from?” Harshwhinny asks. A female student raises her hand. “It’s from The Philosophy of The Storm Sage’.” “Very good Miss Well.” As the class goes on Peanut Butter stays distant and mostly still. The bell rings as students stay in their seats, just then Luna arrives and Peanut Butter gets up and walks towards her. He leaves the classroom and follows her. “How was class?” Luna asks. “I zoned out for most of it, so I don’t know.” “Is everything still bothering you?” “Yeah, now my friends and Applejack hate me and are giving me the cold shoulder.” “I see, give them some space and time, it’ll work out in the end.” “If you say so, I’ll try.” The rest of the morning goes by uneventfully as two more classes pass by. The students are lined up as Luna leads them to the cafeteria. They all enter to see the cafeteria was remodeled with new paint, better tables, booths along the walls, and a few television screens. They then line up at the counter to get their food and sit down moments later. Rarity, Sunset, and Applejack sit at a booth at the far corner of the cafeteria with the others joining them while Peanut Butter sits at a booth next to them, he being behind Sunset. He pushes his food around while staring at it. “What can I do to make this right?” He asks. Sunset says nothing and neither do the other girls. “That’s what I thought.” He gets up and walks towards the doors, just as he does a loud boom of clanging of tables, chairs, food, trays, and students being tossed around as a massive gust of wind is felt behind him. He runs out and down the halls, hiding from hall monitors and making his way to a staircase behind a door. He lifts the door up slightly and turns the nob and goes up the stairs towards the roof. He gets on the roof and sits on top of the small room where the doorway is and looks out towards the small town he’s called home. He sits in a meditative position as a warm breeze blows. He places his hands on his knees, palms down as he takes a deep breath, a stronger breeze comes from it. A few minutes later an alarm rings as noise can be heard from below as it gets louder. Just then the door busts open and three of the hall monitors come out and spread out on the roof. “He couldn’t have gone far!” One of the hall monitors shouts. Just then one of them turns around and looks up. “There he is!” Another one shouts as he points up. “Alright kid, get down from there.” Peanut Butter doesn’t respond. “Enough games kid, cut the voodoo hippy stuff and get down.” The third hall monitor climbs up and touches Peanut Butter and in the instant he does he is pushed off and away from him towards the edge of the roof. “Go check on him, what was that?” A hall monitor asks. The other one goes check on the hall monitor that was pushed back. Peanut Butter starts to have an emerald colored aura surround him just then his eyes open up, his right one glowing the same emerald green. He stands and looks down at them with a blank expression on his face. Just then he shakes his arms out in one motion as a powerful gust of wind blows all around him outward. It pushes the hall monitors back and makes the glass dome vibrate with screams being faintly heard inside. Just then more hall monitors and Luna arrive. Her eyes go wide as she starts to tremble slightly. “Oh no.” She whispers. “What is that?” “All of you, run! I’ll stay and try to calm him.” “What are you talking about?” “If you are who he says you are, your presence alone will anger him more.” The monitors leave as Luna looks at him. “They’re gone P.B., it’s just us now, I know you’re upset about what’s going on, but throwing stuff and people around isn’t the way to do it.” “I tried to make things right, but they just get worse, first no one believes me, now all my friends are giving me the cold shoulder, what am I supposed to do?” “Nothing, you do nothing, you tried to make it right and they refused to take that offer, you can’t help those that don’t want it.” Tears fall down his face as the aura starts to flicker. “I’m so confused, it makes no sense.” “The real world never makes sense, now come down from there, I’ll have Celestia take you home.” Peanut Butter steps off and gently floats down and falls to his knees, the aura and glow in his eye dying out. Luna helps him up and takes him downstairs where Celestia spots them and rushes over. “Can you take him home please?” Luna asks. “Of course.” She takes him from Luna and goes to her car and sets him in the back seat. Celestia gets in the driver’s seat and heads home. When they reach home she helps him to his room and sits him up on the bed. Celestia pulls up a chair and sits down. “Mind telling me what happened?” She asks. Peanut Butter takes off his shoes and puts his knees to his chest. “I tried to make things right, I was ignored, now mom tells me that I should do nothing, I’m so confused.” “I see, does this have to do with Prim and Proper?” “Yes, I know they are up to something, I don’t know what though.” “I can’t say that I believe you, but if you are driven to find the truth, then I won’t stop you, I suggest some rest for you.” “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.” Celestia leaves the room as Peanut Butter lays down and falls asleep a couple minutes later. It is early evening when Peanut Butter starts to stir from his sleep. He wakes up to muffled voices from downstairs. He quietly gets up and makes his way towards the edge of the stairs. “Sunset, what you did today was reckless, giving your cousin the cold shoulder when he was trying to set things right.” Celestia scolds. “He’s been pushing everyone away over his own paranoia.” “That still doesn’t excuse you ignoring him when he was trying to seek forgiveness.” “He needs to snap into reality that nothing is going to happen.” “Look, just play along with it, it may go away in time.” “And if it doesn’t?” “We’ll figure that out if we get there.” “Fine.” Peanut Butter tries to get a better look when everyone’s heads turn. “You forgot about the creaky step didn’t you?” Luna comments. “Obviously.” “How much did you hear?” “Not sure, I heard from Celestia scolding Sunset to now.” “So all of it?” “I guess.” “There’s also another issue too, his magic.” Sunset mentions. Celestia does a double take between Sunset and Peanut Butter. “Are you sure?” “Yes,” Luna interrupts. “He cannot control his magic, that’s what caused the disaster in the cafeteria, his magic is somehow tied to the wind.” Sunset explains. Celestia looks towards Luna. “How do you know this?” Celestia asks. “I saw it first hand earlier today, he was glowing a shade of green and that eye of his was glowing.” Celestia places her thumb and index finger to her chin and closes her eyes. She then opens her eyes and looks at Luna. “We either keep him home, risk taking him to school, or just let everything run its course.” “Bring him to class, we can’t slip anything under the cracks anymore, but we keep an eye on him.” “Fair enough.” “Don’t I get a say in this?” Peanut Butter asks. “No, now with that out of the way, Sunset knows what she has to do.” Sunset goes to Peanut Butter and looks at him. “I’m sorry for how I was acting.” “Apology accepted.” “Just like that?” “Not quite, it really hurt that you did that, I’m supposed to trust you, how can I when you pull that?” “I see your point.” “Glad you do.” Luna and Celestia smile. “Now if we are all ready, dinner still needs to be made.” Celestia mentions. “You two go upstairs, we’ll call you down.” Luna instructs. Sunset and Peanut Butter go upstairs while Luna and Celestia go in the kitchen. “It’s never a dull day with those two.” Celestia jokes. “No it isn’t, but I’m worried about P.B. and the way he’s been acting.” “What about it?” “Well, I can’t explain it, but a part of me thinks he’s onto something.” “What makes you say that?” “While I was waiting for him, I stood by the doors for a bit and overheard something.” “And that was?” “Something about Manehatten, so I looked into it and found nothing except a school that was shut down after a deadly malfunction with the school’s modified boiler for its heat and a faulty AC unit.” “Do you think there’s a connection?” “Prim and Proper were heads of that school, but I’m not sure if P.B. was involved in that or not.” “It’s best not to prod into it until we get more information.” “Agreed.” The rest of the night goes by quietly as after dinner, they all turn in for the night. Except for Peanut Butter. He sits outside his window, looking up at the moon. “I will protect them, I must.” He whispers before sighing. > Changes (edited) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months into the school year things are normal as they could be with how the school looked, with minor and cosmetic work here and there. Classes stayed the same as well. One day Peanut Butter arrives at the school after being sick for a week and looks up to see the ‘High School’ part of the sign gone. He sighs, closes his eyes and shakes his head before walking into the atrium in the main entrance. He looks to his left and sees the announcement board has changed to a more colorful design with snowflakes, fall leaves, and other festive decor along side the announcements. He shrugs and then walks through out the school and sees some of the classrooms decorated on the outside in colorful paper and decorations, he sees other students, but they look perfectly fine with the juvenile decorations. He continues walking towards his homeroom, though the long way as he sees more decorations on classroom doors and hallway walls. As he walks through the halls the decorations remain, he passes the art room and sees the art along the wall next to the door, it was like a group of elementary kids made the pieces. The drawings, simple with stick figures with hair and stick houses. “Probably from the elementary school.” He says to himself before a picture catches his eyes. It was of a house and four stick figures in front of it, two were tall while two were short. There was a sun with a smile on it in the background and in the corner of the artwork read ‘Sunset S.’ in sloppy letters. Peanut Butter’s eyes widen as his nostrils flare up. “Oh no, oh no, it’s already starting.” Peanut Butter mumbles in a panicked voice. He backs up and darts down the hall towards his homeroom, plowing through other students as he does so. He reaches it and sees the same decorations as the other rooms on the door and on the wall next to it. He looks at the board next to see a list of names in colorful and playful letters. “This can’t get any worse,” He complains. .He opens the door and sees a complete change from the beginning of the year. The room now covered in colorful decorations on the walls and board. He looks at the desks and sees decorated name tags hanging on the front of the desks by tape. “And I spoke too soon.” In the corner in the back of the room are shelves of books with a colorful carpet on the bottom and three bean bag chairs in the center of the carpet and along the same wall cubbies line it, each with a name tag in bright colors and playful letters like the ones on the wall in the hallway. He sees a few students in the room, two talking to each other and two more in the beanbag chairs. He turns his head back and looks over the cubbies, scanning the name tags above the slot for the bookbags. “Found Rarity’s,” He mubbles as he scans them with his eyes. “Found A.J.’s,” He continues to scan them. “Found Sunset’s,” Right next to Sunset’s cubbie he looks at the name tag and his expression goes deadpanned as he raises an eyebrow. “and there’s mine.” He takes off his jacket, leaving his hoodie on and puts it and his book bag in the cubbie before going to the window and just looking out it as leaves dance across the yard and in the distance he sees a playground being built. He sighs and looks over at the other students. They look like teenagers, but act like first graders at best. He looks around before shivering. “I need to figure out how to stop this.” He whispers to himself as he rests his forehead in his hand and rubs them together. He then places his pointer and middle finger and rubs his forehead in circles, closing his eyes. “It’s only a matter of time before they make their move, this is only the beginning.” He mutters. “Wha’ cha’ thinkin’ about?” A voice asks. This causes Peanut Butter to jump and fall to the floor. He opens his eyes to see Applejack and her smiling, yet curious face. He smirks and gets up and hugs her. “I’m so glad to see you A.J., things are crazy here, it looks like an elementary school than a high school.” Peanut Butter explains. He looks at Applejack and notices that she escaped his embrace. “Eww cooties.” She exclaims. Peanut Butter’s eyes go wide as his breathing goes heavy. “A.J., we’ve been together for six months, why are you acting like this?” He asks with a crack in his voice. “What do ya mean?, I dunno you.” “You don’t recognize me?, it’s me, Peanut Butter.” “Nope, don’t ring a bell.” Peanut Butter clenches his fist and gets up, gritting his teeth and breathing heavy as his nostrils flare with each exhale. He storms out of the room and into the hall, swinging the door open causing a loud bang to echo in the halls. The students behind him cower in the corner with the books before he walks out into the hall, slowly, like an oncoming storm taking its time to strike. While in the halls a hall monitor sees Peanut Butter and runs towards him, only to stop about five feet away from him and tremble before running away. the air, thick, warm, and heavy around him as an emerald glow falls around the shadows around him. Other hall monitors arrive and do the same when they get close to him as he makes his way to the main office. He reaches the main office and punches the door hard enough to rip it from the hinges and have it land three feet in front of him, he continues to walk in and head towards Proper’s office. Proper steps out and sees him, she does not move. “What do you want?” She asks in a condescending tone. “What did you do to them?” “Do what?” “You know exactly what I mean, why has Applejack forgotten me, why have the other students suddenly act like kids, and why the fuck do you think this is a good idea when you know damn well I will stop you?” “Oh that, well, the reason is in front of me.” “Why?” “Because we wanted you to know what it’s like to lose everything like we did.” “If you did your research, you would have known I did, twice before.” “Well in that case a refresher was needed.” “You don’t know what you just started.” “Oh? What would that be?” “A war.” “Is that right?” Just then Peanut Butter punches her in the chest, causing her to fall back and lean over as if the air was punched out of her lungs as she hits the bookcase behind her. Peanut Butter’s right eye glows red as he draws back his fist again. “Sister, you are just horrible with words, you should have tried to persuade him first,” A voice says. Peanut Butter turns his head and glares at Prim. “If you play ball, all that pain you have will simply go away, we’ll fix it so your little girlfriend will remember you, and you can live that happy carefree life you probably want so bad.” “Why should I trust you?” “I wouldn’t say that you need to trust us, because if you don’t play ball,” Prim takes out a remote and waves it in front of him. “I will speed up our little plan and regress them first and make you watch before having you join them.” Peanut Butter turns around, still glaring at Prim, a red light from his eye still glowing bright as a sudden wind erupts in the room. Just then Proper rises in the air, her hands trying to get something off her throat. Prim’s eyes go wide and holds up the remote. “Let her go or I’ll do it.” Prim threatens. “Place it down on the table, buttons up.” “Put, her, down.” “Put the remote down, I’d hurry if I were you, she doesn’t have long.” Prim hesitates before setting it on the near by table like he asked. Peanut Butter lowers Proper down before she gasps for air. Prim smirks as she motions her arm quickly out reviling a button under the sleeve and pressing it. Just then a large clear box drops over Peanut Butter and is locked by latches at the bottom. “Foolish boy, did you really think we’d let you off that easy?” Prim taunts, grabbing the remote. She presses a button and instantly a monitor starts to slowly lower behind her. “You’re just in time for the show.” Proper teases just as Prim presses another button. Peanut Butter looks around as a low, loud thud rings through out the school. His eyes widen as he looks at the monitor, his classmates are panicking and running around, banging on the windows and doors that are now sealed shut by metal walls. “Proper, you left it on mute again.” Prim kids as she hits another button, the room is filled with screams and cries for help coming from the monitor. Prim presses the final button, Peanut Butter punches the box as the screen gets foggy. “Stop, stop, STOP!!!!!!” He demands. His knuckles start to bleed as he continues to punch the glass. The students start falling down one by one through the smoke as Peanut Butter’s punches slow down. “Wearing down are we?” Proper asks. “Please, stop this.” “It’s too late, though now, it’s your turn, but before that, just remember, this is all your fault.” Prim presses the side of the remote when a cloud of smoke falls into the box by a tube in the top. Peanut Butter stays on his knees as the cloud falls. A minute later Peanut Butter falls over and the smoke is sucked out of the box. > Project Rewind (edited) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peanut Butter wakes up and finds himself in a new bed as he looks around the room he is in. Between the sky blue of the walls with planes and birds painted on them and the furniture being the same sky blue with the bed being shaped as a plane. He looks down to see him in a set of Mare-Do-Well pajamas and sheets. Just then the door opens to reveal Luna in her usual formal work clothes. "Good morning little guy." Luna greets as she enters the room. "I'm not little." "I know, now get up and let's get ready to see everyone downstairs." "I don't wanna." Peanut Butter lays back down turning over to one side as he pulls the covers over him. Luna giggles a bit as she pulls the covers off of him. "Now now P.B., be good and get out of bed or no TV for the week." Luna warns. "Okay, okay." He gets up as Luna picks out a outfit for him and sets it on the bed. She leads him down the hall to the bathroom near by and lets him in. "I think you're a big enough boy to take a bath and get ready, right?" Luna asks. "Yep!" "Good, I'll be in your room waiting little one." She shuts the door as Peanut Butter gets ready. He gets up on a stool and looks in the mirror and sees himself as a young child no more than seven. The scars on his face and body gone except for the one on his cheek as he brushes his teeth. He takes his shower then leaves the bathroom once he finishes. He returns to his room where Luna laid out his school uniform with extra clothes for after school. A blue shirt, black pants, white socks, a pair of superhero underwear and white shoes. She leaves the room to let him get dressed. After five minutes she checks on him to find him with his shirt and pants on backwards as he tries to put his shoes on. She giggles a bit before entering. Peanut Butter looks away blushing as he pouts. "Better luck next time champ, let me help you with that." Luna teases. Peanut Butter looks away as Luna helps to get him dressed. After she finishes putting his shoes on him she stands back up with a small smile on her face. "Remember what I taught you?" Luna asks. "Bunny ears, Bunny ears, playing by a tree. Criss-crossed the tree, trying to catch me. Bunny ears, Bunny ears, jumped into the hole, Popped out the other side beautiful and bold." Peanut Butter sings as he ties his shoes. "Good boy!" Luna hugs Peanut Butter before he hugs her back giggling. He slides off the bed onto his feet as Luna holds his hand and leads him to the dining room downstairs. Once downstairs he sits next to Sunset Shimmer with his feet off the ground looking over the table as Luna puts his cereal in front of him before pushing his chair towards the table. He and Sunset eat as they swing their legs back and forth as they eat. Luna sits at the table with Celestia. "So what are we doin' today mama?" Sunset asks. "Well, after school I thought we could go see Santa." Celestia answers Both Sunset and Peanut Butter start bouncing in their seats with wide smiles on their faces. "But you two need to be good, especially you P.B.." Luna warns. "I will, I pwomithh." "Good boy, now finish eating your breakfast so we can go." Peanut Butter and Sunset quickly finish their breakfasts and get their book bags and jackets with Luna and Celestia leading them to the car. Luna puts them on the back seat and buckles them in and gets in the car as Celestia gets in the driver's seat and opens the garage door by pressing a button on a small device on her sun visor. She starts the car and heads to the school. Peanut Butter looks out the window as they drive by seeing the rolling hills of snow in people's yards as they drive past them along with Harth's Warming decorations in town. Once they reach the school Celestia parks the car and helps Sunset out. Luna does the same for Peanut Butter as they enter the school and takes them to their classroom. The classroom is decorated with crafts and projects with the theme of Harth's warming. A corner of the room has bean bags with a couple book shelves against the walls of the corner while the back wall has cubbies for the students with their names on them. Celestia hugs Sunset as Luna hugs Peanut Butter. "You two be good, okay?" Celestia states. "We will." Sunset and Peanut Butter say in unison. "Good." Luna and Celestia both leave as Sunset and Peanut Butter go to their cubbies and put their book bags and jackets in them. They see Applejack and Rarity in the corner on the beanbag chairs and go towards them. Peanut Butter sits next to Applejack as Sunset sits next to Rarity. Applejack hugs Peanut Butter before she leans back into one of the chairs. He sits on the same beanbag chair as her and hugs her back. "Mornin' P.B., mornin' Sunset." Applejack greets cheerfully. "Morning A.J.." Peanut Butter and Sunset say in unison. "I heard the teacher has a surprise for us today." "I wonder what it is." "I dunno." Sunset says. "What do you hope Santa brings for Harth's Warming?" "I'm hoping for a new bike!" Sunset answers. "New fabric so Granny needle can teach me more sewing." Rarity answers. "I, don't know really." Peanut Butter answers before looking away. "Really? I'm surprised P.B.." Just then the bell rings as they all get up and go to their seats. The door opens and Prim Lifestyle walks in and stands by the table. She smiles and looks at the class. "Good morning, children." Prim greets in her usual high class tone. "Good morning Principal Prim." They all greet in unison. "I know you were expecting your teacher to be here, but due to some bad things, we had to let him go, but you all have a new teacher." The door opens as Luna comes in heading to the desk and writes her name on the board. Peanut Butter blushes and hides his head in his arms. Sunset shortly follows his lead. Luna notices and giggles slightly at them both. "Hello everyone, I am Miss Solstice, your new teacher." Luna greets as she sets her folders and papers down. "I will leave you all to learn, have a good day." Prim says before leaving the classroom. Prim walks back to the office and knocks on Proper's door. "Who is it?" Proper asks. "It's me sister." "Come in." Prim opens the door and comes in before siting down on a chair on the other side of Proper's desk. "Everything is going to plan sister, they are physically regressed and the chips are working great." "Very good, any signs of change from the boy?" "None so far." "Good, we finally got him, after all this time of him being a thorn in our side we finally won." "Yes, we were so close in Manehatten now we will succeed." "I want an eye on him for the rest of the week at least, just to be sure." "Of course." "Our dream has finally come true." "Sister, there is a question I have been meaning to ask." "That is?" "Why are most of his scars gone besides the one on his cheek?" "Honestly, there are some things I can't explain." "I see." "When do we start phase two?" "Not for a while, remember it was phase two that our plans fell apart." "Do you think he'll catch on?, even if he is in our control?" "Don't know." "The more I think about it, maybe phase three would be a bad idea sister." "Maybe you're right, he won't be in our way, even if he broke from our spell he might not do anything." "Remember what he said in Manehatten?" "Yes I do, I think it would be good to just keep things the way they are for now." "Maybe, but let us see what happens." Back in the classroom the students are at their desks with Luna at the board teaching them basic math. Peanut Butter looks up to see Luna still teaching and writing problems on the board. He rests his head on his hand as she continues her lesson. He draws on another sheet of paper. Luna calls up some students to the board as he draws. She looks at him quickly before standing in front of his desk. She taps her foot on the floor before knocking on his desk. He looks up to see her and scrambles to get his worksheet out. "There's no point in hiding it P.B., maybe if you spent more time studying and less day dreaming, your grades would be better." Luna scolds. "Sorry." "Now come up to the board and solve this problem since you seem so bored." Peanut Butter, Sunset, and Twilight get up from his desk and goes to the board and faces it before taking a dry erase marker to solve the problem. As he tries to he recoils his arm and drops the marker. He looks at his hand moving his fingers before picking up the marker again and writes on the board. He returns to his desk afterwards as Luna checks the answers. She looks at Peanut Butter then to the board. "Peanut Butter got them all right, along with Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle, good job to you three." Luna compliments. They all smile at the praise as the rest of the class goes back to focusing on the board and Luna. A minute later Peanut Butter’s back starts to spasm, like a shiver before going stiff and arching his back and neck in the same direction. Just then a small pop is heard. He leans forward, his breaths light though deep. He looks around the room and to himself before his eyes go wide and starts to hyperventilate. “What happened to me?” He mumbles as he looks over himself while not trying to bring attention to himself. After a few seconds he sighs softly. “So I’m a kid again, but how old am I?” He mumbles to himself again before looking over his shoulder. Under his shirt the Changeling tattoo is barely visible by the top of it. He sighs before turning his head around. “So I’m about seven or eight years old.” He mutters before looking up and seeing Luna looking at him. “Peanut Butter, what are you doing?” “I had an itch on my back.” Luna raises an eyebrow before shrugging. “If you say so, but please pay attention.” “Okay.” Peanut Butter looks up at the board from his desk as he starts spinning his pencil in between his fingers while Luna lectures the class of now first graders. He raises his hand. “Yes P.B.?” Luna asks. “Can I go to the, um.” “Yes you can.” Peanut Butter gets up and takes a small wooden stick that that reads “Hall Pass” on it and leaves. He speed walks to the bathroom and checks the stalls. “So I’m a kid now and the last thing I remember is passing out from, the, gas.” Peanut Butter explains while his fists clench. “Damnit!” He punches the wall in front of him. “Damnit, I was set up, played right into their hands.” He turns on the sink and splashes water on his face. “But how was I like that?” He puts his hand on the back of his neck and stops as soon as he touches his neck towards the base of his skull. He pulls as he winces a bit. He returns his hand back to his front. He looks closely at the black box he is holding, little metal tabs stick out of the sides. “So a microchip that goes on the spinal cord and is a receiver to a signal somewhere here, just have to poke this enough to find where it is and shut it down.” He mumbles to himself before putting it in his pocket, going to the bathroom, washing his hands and returns to class. He opens the door and quietly steps in as the room is darkened with students huddled in one spot in the corner looking up at a TV. “Go sit with the rest of the class P.B., the video just started.” Luna instructs. Peanut Butter goes with the others and looks up. He raises his eyebrow and looks at Sunset Shimmer who is looking up at the black screen. He looks back at the screen, only to see nothing. He nudges Sunset. “What are we watching?” He asks. “It’s about manners.” “Ah.” He closes his eyes before he places his hands on his knees and breathes deep. After a few breaths his body starts to tingle slightly like if a stream was going through him. The middle of his forehead starts to tingle as well. The sounds around him fade as the sound of running water take over. A small breeze is felt on his body. “You must complete your task.” A female voice whispers. Peanut Butter opens his eyes as what he experienced vanishes and he grunts from landing on the floor as he was an inch above the floor. He looks around to see he is back in the classroom, the students still watching the TV. He looks around and Sees a red light on Sunset’s neck. He reaches into his pocket where the chip is and notices a small tab on top. He looks back at Sunset and sees the chip on her neck and the tap at the top by her hairline. He reaches out his arm as if he was stretching, his hand above Sunset’s neck and flips the switch with his finger before returning his arm to his side. Sunset goes limp, slouching forward for a couple seconds before she sits back up. She presses her hand on her head and groans. “Ugh, what happened? I feel like I have a hangover.” Sunset mentions. “Oh thank God, I thought I killed you for a second there, now I need you to not flip out at this next part.” Peanut Butter whispers. Sunset looks around the classroom slowly. “Why are we with the elementary kids?” “Now, this is where I need you to at least not freak out in the open, we’ve been turned into kids again, this is our class.” “W,what?” “Yeah, I’m still wrapping my head around it, there’s a computer chip on your neck, I suggest pulling it off, but be careful, I need to research it or get Twilight to do it.” Sunset reaches for her neck and gently removes the chip and hands it to Peanut Butter. “Thanks, this will be a lot of help.” Peanut Butter thanks, still in a whisper tone. “So does this mean Mom and Aunt Luna have these too?” “Good chance, yeah.” “We have to save them, I’ll just,” “We can’t do anything right now, Prim and Proper have all the cards now, I tried to warn everyone.” Peanut Butter’s eyes start welling up as he looks down. Sunset moves closer and hugs him. “I’m sorry for not listening P.B., I should have heard you out, so what’s the plan?” “Step one is get my, our friends and family back, then we figure out the end goal, finally we stop them.” “Good news is that a good chunk are here, bad news is that I have no idea where the others are or how old they are.” “True, we can’t do it so drastically either, we have to plan out how to do this.” “Who’s next?” “Twilight I think would be the most help.” “Where is she?” Peanut Butter scans the room. “There, in the front by the wall.” “She’s too far from us.” “Then we’ll have to bide our time.” “Wait for the right moment then?” “Bingo, there is a small switch on the top, usually by the hairline that turns it on and off.” “So what do we do?” “Act like we are, we can’t raise suspicion now.” “Okay, and thank you for saving me, you’re a good cousin.” “You’re welcome.” Just then the other students get up from their places and return to their seats with Sunset and Peanut Butter following behind. Luna stands at the board. “Did you all learn something?” Luna asks. “Yes Miss Solstice.” The class answers in unison. “Good, now line up for lunch, children.” They all line up by the door, Sunset gets behind Twilight and Peanut Butter gets behind Sunset. The line moves forward with Sunset looking forward. Peanut Butter looks around towards the ceiling and halls. As they turn a corner his eyes go wide and taps Sunset’s shoulder. “Now.” He whispers. She nods before reaching for Twilight’s chip and hitting the switch. Twilight goes limp for a couple seconds and stands up. “Quick, just follow and we’ll fill you in.” Sunset whispers. Twilight quickly catches up and Sunset fills her in on the situation. “Thanks for saving me Sunset.” She whispers. “I can’t take all the credit, thank P.B., without him, I’d still be in their control, oh, I almost forgot.” Sunset quickly removes the chip from Twilight’s neck and hands it to Peanut Butter. “We’ll need your help later to research these, I need to find where the signal is coming from, hack it or destroy the box sending it.” “Sure, I’ll need the chip though.” “I’ll pass it to you at lunch, can you use your magic?” Twilight closes her eyes and nothing happens. “No, I can’t.” “Something must be suppressing it or absorbing it.” “Yeah.” “Our geodes are missing too.” “Oh, those little lockets?” “Yes.” “Probably with Prim and Proper.” “Yeah, oh, and thank you P.B., sorry for doubting you.” “You’re welcome, A.J. and Rarity are next, but they’ll have to wait a while.” “Why?” “Don’t need to draw attention just yet.” “Got it.” “Say, if I found a way to get a sample of whatever did this to us, could you reverse it?” “I could, but it’s too much of a risk.” “Damn.” “Sorry.” “No, no, it’s fine, just wishful thinking is all.” They reach the cafeteria and line up to get their food. The room is full of other students, all different ages from kindergarten to fifth grade. Peanut Butter’s eyes go wide. “Why do I think they’ve kidnapped recent graduates?” He asks. “Now that I think about it, there are a lot more kids here than there were before.” Sunset mentions. “Did they do this before?” “Not kidnapping adults, no, that’s new.” “People would have noticed by now.” “Not if they got the whole of Canterlot.” “Is that possible?” “It can’t be, signals can only go so far.” “They did it in Manehatten, crude, but it happened.” “So they perfected it.” “Looks like it.” The trio sit down next to each other and sigh. Peanut Butter looks at the food, staring and lifting it up to his nose and smells it. “Don’t eat it.” “Why?” “It smells off, nine times out of ten, that means something is off.” Twilight and Sunset follow his example. Sunset raises her eyebrow while Twilight’s eyes slowly go large and sets it down. “Do you two remember what happened between this morning and now?” Twilight asks. “Yeah, I do, why?” “Same here, what’s going on Twi?” “They cooked Devil’s Breath and LSD into this stuff.” “I’ve heard both, the Changelings used it on targets.” Peanut Butter mentions. “What is Devil’s Breath?” Sunset asks. “Devil’s Breath is also known scientifically as Scopolamine, with a large enough dose, you’re under someone’s control and wake out of it not knowing what you did, it’s usually odorless and tasteless, but cooking it changed that it seems, but there is more than that in it.” “Shit, that means we’ll have to bump up our time frame.” “Looks like it, by my calculations, we have until the end of the school year to stop this.” “Shit.” Peanut Butter sighs and pushes his food away. “You can’t go fasting P.B., your blood sugar will get too low.” Sunset mentions. “I’ll have to until I can get to my stash.” “You have a stash?” “Yeah, in my closet in a hole in the wall.” “You better get me in on that stash.” “Of course.” “Thanks.” Just then the bell rings and the trio gets in line with the rest of their class and heads back to the classroom. Upon returning the students sit at their desks before Luna continues with her lessons. After school ends Celestia and Luna with Sunset and Peanut Butter following her meet at the front and go into the car. After being buckled in they head towards the mall. Sunset looks over at Peanut Butter. “How are you feeling?” Sunset asks in a whisper. “Tingly at my hands and feet.” “Want me to get Aunt Luna to give you something?” “Yeah, she keeps something with her in cases like this, remember to act your age, that includes vocabulary.” Sunset nods and turns towards Luna. “Auntie Luna, P.B. is feeling all tingly in his hands and feet.” Sunset mentions. “How bad is it?” “Pretty bad.” Luna puts her hand in her purse and pulls out a small mint, unwraps it and gives it to Peanut Butter who puts it in his mouth. She then picks him up and carries him. Without Luna looking he raises his eyebrows in an impressed fashion. They walk around for a few minutes, looking at the decorations before Luna looks at Peanut Butter. “Feeling better?” She asks. He nods and Luna sets him down. They reach the display of a snow covered field and a path with half of a large house at the end of the path, inside is a bearded man in a red suit with white trim, black boots, white gloves, and a hat with white trim and a white ball on top with a kid on his lap. Peanut Butter hides behind Luna, shaking slightly. Sunset grabs Celestia’s hand and leads her to the line with a smile on her face. Luna looks down to see Peanut Butter hiding. “Scared little guy?” She asks. He nods. “Want to get hot chocolate instead?” He nods again. “Okay, let’s go.” The two go to a near by stand and get hot chocolate before sitting at a bench not far from the display. Peanut Butter takes little sips from his cup and smiles up towards Luna. She looks down and smiles back before taking another sip. Twenty minutes later Celestia and Sunset meet back with them at the bench as Peanut Butter finishes his drink. They go towards the food court and go to a restaurant in the food court and sit down. The walls are covered with things like canoe paddles, a trophy of a moose, kick knacks, memorabilia, and posters. They all sit down, with Peanut Butter and Sunset in booster seats. A waitress dressed in her uniform, a green top, long tan skirt, and black shoes comes to their table. A smile on her face as she takes out a pad of paper and a pen. “Welcome to Nickle Knack’s, I’m your server Star Tracer, what can I get you to drink?” She greets. “Two waters and two apple juices please.” “I’ll bring those right up.” Star Tracer leaves as Luna and Celestia look at Peanut Butter and Sunset with a soft smile on their faces. “Are you two having fun?” Celestia asks. They both nod just as Star Tracer returns with the drinks and places them out. “Are you ready to order?” She asks. “I’ll have a garden salad with grilled chicken and my daughter will have chicken strips.” Celestia orders. “I’ll have chicken Cesar salad and so will my son.” Luna orders. “I’ll get those out for you.” Star Tracer mentions before leaving the table. A few minutes later their food arrives and they all eat. After the bill is paid they all go to the van and head home. > Breaking the Shackles > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- When they reach home Peanut Butter rushes up to his room and opens the closet door. He moves the rug and lifts up a loose floorboard and pulls out bags of snacks and boxes of cereal. “Take some.” He advises. Sunset takes a couple granola bars and eats them. “So what’s the plan?” She asks. “We hope Twilight can make a sort of anti toxin to at least save us and our friends, then we stop Prim and Proper.” “How do you plan on doing that?” “Not sure yet, depends on if we can get our real ages back or not.” “Do you think we can?” “I’m sure of it.” The next day they arrive at the school. When they arrive at the classroom Applejack and Rarity wave at Peanut Butter and Sunset. They all meet up in the corner of the classroom and sit on the beanbag chairs. “Good morning.” Peanut Butter greets. “Mornin’.” Applejack responds. “And a good morning to you as well.” Rarity responds. “Anyone behind us?” Applejack and Rarity shake their heads. “Good, I may have a plan to get us to our age, but I’ll have to do something risky.” “That is?” Rarity asks. “I have to get a sample of that gas in condensed form and give it to Twilight to make an antidote.” “That has to be the craziest idea ever.” Rarity states. “Well what other options are there?” Sunset asks. “Besides, I’m the only one that can really use any kind of magic, Rarity, try conjuring up a shield.” Rarity holds out her arms and gives a focused look. Nothing happens. “Sunset, grab my arm.” She does so and the same result happens, nothing. “Now me.” Peanut Butter closed his eyes and his shoulders relaxed as a light breeze is felt. He opens his eyes and the wind stops. “See my point?” The three girls nod. “We just need a distraction long enough for me to find the source and get a few samples.” “Lunch maybe the best bet, a lot of people around, just have to have a big enough distraction.” Rarity suggests. “How ‘bout a food fight?” Applejack suggests. “It’s our best bet, but they may turn the chips back on.” “It’s a risk we’ll take.” Sunset mentions. Peanut Butter sighs. “Very well, you three start it or get someone to do it and get it large enough and I’ll slip out, get the samples and come back.” “Sounds like a plan P.B..” Sunset compliments just as the bell rings. “Where is Twilight anyways?” “She said she’ll be late today.” “Okay.” Everyone goes to their seats as classes start. As the kids line up Twilight makes it to the classroom and goes in line in front of Sunset. “Hey Twilight.” Sunset whispers. “Hey Sunset, what’s up?” “P.B. and us came up with a way to get a sample to change us back.” “I thought I said no to that.” “We know, but you’re the only one that can do it, I know you don’t want to be like this forever.” Twilight brings her head down and sighs. “You’re right, okay, I’ll help, what’s the plan?” “Massive food fight.” “Got it.” They all sit in the cafeteria as soon as they arrive and pretend to eat. A few minutes in Rarity taps a student on the shoulder and whispers to them along with pointing to someone else. The student picks up a handful of mashed potatoes and throws it at the other student, hitting them in the head, followed by them throwing more food, hitting Rarity and Sunset who returned fire. Just then another student stood up. “Food Fight!” They shouted as everyone started to throw food. The guards rush in, trying to stop the food fight. Peanut Butter gets under the table and heads to the doors leading into the hall. He reaches the end of the table and focuses enough wind at his feet before coming out and going faster than normal. In the hallway he rushes through each hall, trying to find where it could be. At the other side of the school his eyes go wide as he dashes towards the maintenance door. He reaches it before taking out a paper clip and extending it. He puts one end into the lock and wiggles it while moving the handle. A few seconds later it opens and he sneaks inside. He looks around and sees pipes, shelves, tools and equipment. He walks a bit further and sees the boiler with a box in the center of the cylinder. Next to it was a vat connected to a metal box and the vents. Peanut Butter takes out three beakers and goes to the vat. He manages to get the samples just as the sound of a turning doorknob is heard. He corks the last beaker and ducks behind the vat, out of sight. “Dang kids, always making a mess.” A man complains as the sounds of wheels and sloshing water is heard. The door opens again and closes. Peanut Butter puts the samples in his pocket and leaves the room as fast as he could and makes his way back to the cafeteria. On the way back however he runs into Luna who rushes over to him and hugged him. “Where have you been?, I got worried about you after I couldn’t find you.” Luna panicked. “I got scared and hid somewhere.” “Well it’s all over now, come on, let’s join the rest of the class.” They both return to the cafeteria to find it in total chaos as all the students are cleaning it up. “I found him, he got scared and ran off.” Luna explains. “Have him sit out in the hall and wait for his class.” A guard instructs. Luna sits with Peanut Butter in the hallway and plays soft music on her phone while holding him in a motherly embrace. After the cafeteria was cleaned the classes lined up as Peanut Butter got behind Twilight. “You okay?” Peanut Butter asks in a whisper. “Yeah, they didn’t bother with the chips thankfully, we just played along, please tell me it was worth the mess.” “More than worth it.” “Good, slip them into my bag when we get in the classroom.” “Okay.” They all reach the classroom and spread out. Within the chaos of children coming in, Peanut Butter goes to the cubbys and slips the samples into Twilight’s bag before going back to his desk. The rest of class goes by quietly as most of the students are writing lines as punishment for the food fight. After school Sunset and Peanut Butter are taken home. “Can Sunset and me go to our clubhouse please?” Peanut Butter asks. “Yes you can, after Sunset gets cleaned up though.” Luna answers. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” When they get home Sunset is taken to the bathroom to be cleaned up and Peanut Butter goes to his room and puts his bag away. He sighs before heading downstairs. A few minutes later Sunset comes down dressed as both got to a small wooden shed outside in the backyard and enter it. Peanut Butter shuts and locks the doors shut. “Okay, we’re safe.” Peanut Butter confirms. “Easy for you to say, I got grounded over that.” “It won’t matter soon.” “Why?” “Got a few things I want to work on in here.” “Is it really worth all this effort?” “Yes.” “As much as I want to help you stop them, you’re risking everyone else’s well being to do it, you’re obsessed P.B..” “Hey, you guys signed up for it, you knew the risks.” “Yeah, but we risked getting the chips back on, or worse.” “But they didn’t, look, you don’t get what I had to lose the first time around, so don’t act like you know!” “Will you just listen to me!” Just then Sunset grabs Peanut Butter on his arm causing her eyes to glow and her vision goes white. > The Greatest Show in Canterlot (edited) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sky is bright over Manehattan as the sunlight reflects off the reflective glass on the buildings and skyscrapers as the view shifts to the bustling sidewalks and streets of the city, people forming a sea of movement as Peanut Butter walks on the sidewalk, like a salmon going upstream. "Hey Peanut Butter!" A young girl shouts behind him. Peanut Butter turns around to see a young girl with red streaks in her hair wearing a green and red dress with white sneakers. "Hey Cherry Blossom, what's up?" Peanut Butter asks. "Just on my way to school, oh, my mom wanted me to give you this." Cherry takes out a small brown bag and gives it to him. She smiles as they start to walk. "Thank you Cherry, it means a lot that your mom would do this for me." Peanut Butter says. "You're welcome." "So, anything new?" "We're supposed to get a new principal and vice principal today." "Oh?" "Yeah, their names are Prim and Proper." "They don't sound that bad." Cherry Blossom takes Peanut Butter’s hand and looks at him in the eyes. "You know that offer with becoming my brother still stands, my family really likes you." "I know, but, I'm just not ready yet, you know?" "I understand." "Tell her I said thank you though." "Of course, what are friends for?" The memory fades as a new one shows with snow falling at the sight of Cherry's school. He looks over the fence to see moving trucks in front of it. "I haven't seen Cherry in weeks, I wonder if school had anything to do with it?" Peanut Butter asks himself. The view suddenly changes to outside the school window as he looks to see small slides and toys be brought in as the room looks newly painted with decorations of animals and a circus on the walls. The floor is laminate tile flooring with rugs scattered about. "Must be for the kindergartners." He assumes before hearing screams coming from the back of the school. Peanut Butter hears the scream again as his head moves towards the back of the school from the second scream. "Let go of me, someone, help!" The person screams in a plead for help. Peanut Butter’s eyes go wide and starts running towards the noise. "Cherry!" Peanut Butter shouts. He runs faster and turns around the corner to see Cherry trying to run, but only managing to fall every few steps. He races to her and tries to pick her up. Her eyes go wide as she pushes him away. He tries to help her only to be met with more defiance. "Peanut Butter, you have got to run, save yourself, please, for me." Cherry Blossom begs. "I don't want to leave you behind." "Just go!" "I'll be back, I'm gonna save you." Peanut Butter runs away just as other voices are heard in the distance. The next scene is him hiding in a nearby bush as the voices spread through out the campus. The view blocked by leaves as he hides. The memory fades again as he is seen inside a building playing around with wires in a dark room. "Then this connects to here and I would have thirty seconds to get out." Peanut Butter says as he finishes capping off the wires and runs to hide in the near by woods. Suddenly a loud boom could be heard on the roof as the lights in the school and three blocks are knocked out and birds fly from the near by area. Peanut Butter sneaks in, avoiding the guards and teachers as he goes through the building. He looks through the windows in the doors to see toddlers hiding in the corner of the room. After a couple minutes he sees one of the toddlers running in the halls, a girl. He sees her as his eyes go wide and chases her through the hall. He catches up with her and gets in front of her. "I finally found you Cherry, I told you I would be back." Peanut Butter says. The girl cries as he hugs her. "It will be okay Cherry, I'm gonna get you out of here." The toddler continues to cry as Peanut Butter lets her go and steps back. "You're scaring me Cherry, come on, let's go." "She nor you are going anywhere." A woman says as she steps out of the shadows and into the light of a window. "Who are you and what did you do to my friend Cherry?" "My name is Prim, she's been reborn, just like you will be." Peanut Butter pulls out a knife and holds it close to him. "No!" He shouts. "Too bad kid, we can't let you get away." Just then Peanut Butter throws a couple spheres that blasted smoke as he runs into it, avoiding Prim's capture. "Get him!" Prim shouts. He runs down into the basement of the building as he goes back to the wires he was at earlier and messes with them some more. "This is for Cherry you sick freaks." Peanut Butter mutters to himself as he caps the wires and runs. Just as he reaches the forest another boom is heard as the boiler explodes causing smoke to flow out of the school. He continues to run into the city. One of the guards from the school sees him and chases him. A few blocks down Peanut Butter turns into an ally with the guards giving chase, just then a man in a leather jacket covered with holes comes out of the shadows standing between them. "Aren't you Prim's goons?" The man asks. "Yeah, what's it to you?" "You're on our turf, now get before I make you." "That punk behind you blew up the boiler and a unit on the roof at Prim's school." "Is that so?" "Yes, we only want him." "Sorry, no can do." He whistles as more men showed up. "Boys, let 'em have it." They chase after the guards causing them to run. The man turns to Peanut Butter and kneels down to him. "You owe me kid." "I'll do whatever you want in return for helping me." "How about you join our club?" "Sure." The memory fades out as it turns to black. Sunset lets go of Peanut Butter and moves back a bit before hugging him. "I see why you are the way you are now, it must have been hell for you." "Yeah, losing my friend Cherry was the hardest thing for me after losing my family, I almost had a family again back then." "You have one now." "Yeah, and this time I won't lose it." Peanut Butter gets up to grab a step ladder and places it next to his work bench before standing on it. He grabs some tools before he starts working on what was placed in front of him. Sunset tries to see what he is doing, but cannot get a good look. "What are you working on?" Sunset asks. "An EMP device." "You're going to fry the chips aren't you?" "I'm gonna try, they probably found a way to prevent it, but if I can knock out the receiver then we can save the others." "And if that doesn't work?" "If neither Twilight nor I can stop the signal by these means, I got a much louder plan in mind." "You don't mean?" "I don't plan on a body count, with two exceptions, but if it comes to it, I may need to cause another Manehatten with the broiler." "There's other ways," "Like what, through magic?" "Those would work." "In case you forgot, most of your magic is gone." A small bit of smoke is seen coming from the table. "If you end up blasting the boiler and hurt our friends, I won't forgive you, ever." "I'm trying to avoid that." "So what is the rest of the plan?" "We have options, though since this is so, close to me, we're going to be as under the radar as possible, we're getting our friends back first, and for that, we'll need these," Peanut Butter shows Sunset a black box with antennas sticking up and lights on the box. "What is that?" Sunset asks. "Transmission interrupter, any signal it gets from them will be blocked, it also has a homing signal to help find the source of the signal." "How did you learn all this stuff?" "Internet and The Changelings." "Explains a lot." "Yeah, I made enough for our friends and for Luna and Celestia." "How will we get them on? "Do it naturally, go to a bathroom and slap it on somewhere discrete." "Got it, and if we fail?" Peanut Butter sighs and looks away. "If we fail, it's game over, for all of us." Sunset gasps, leaning back slightly. "Shocking, I know." Peanut Butter states sarcastically. "I'll do it, I want my mom back as well as my friends." "That's the spirit, and done." Peanut Butter gets down from his work bench and faces Sunset. He gives her one of the black boxes he showed her earlier. "Now to turn the chips off on Celestia and Luna, remember act natural." Peanut Butter explains. "Got it." They hide the chips under their sleeves and head back inside the house to see Luna and Celestia sitting in the living room watching TV. Celestia sees them and smiles softly at them. "Hey you two, did you enjoy playing outside?" The both nodded and opened their arms towards Celestia and Luna. Celestia turns towards Luna and pokes her arm gently. "Luna, someone wants attention." She says with a small smile. Luna turns to see Peanut Butter's arms open towards her. She kneels down along with Celestia and hugs him as Celestia hugs Sunset. Just then Peanut Butter and Sunset hug back and flip the switch on the chips on their necks. Luna and Celestia fall on top of them before waking up. "Holy shit P.B., you just killed them!" Sunset shouts. "Just wait, consider this a reboot of the brain from the chip." Just then Celestia and Luna move and groan before suddenly getting up. "Sunset?" Celestia asks. "Peanut Butter?" Luna asks. "Yes?" "What happened to you two?" "Long story, but, Prim and Proper turned all the students in the school into kids." Sunset explains. Celestia and Luna both gasp as Peanut Butter turns his back on them crossing his arms in a self embrace with his head down. “I tried to warn you about them, I tried to have us all leave before this all happened, but you didn’t listen and now look at us.” Peanut Butter explains, his voice cracking as his eyes well up. Luna looks down, slightly teary eyed and kneels behind him, putting her hand on his shoulder. “We’re so sorry P.B., we should have at least listened to you, can you forgive us?” Luna apologizes. “I don’t know if I can right now, but we got larger problems to deal with currently.” “Do you have a plan?” “Yeah, Twilight gave me and Sunset an antidote to the gas that Prim and Proper used, for who we have to talk to, I’ll need to go back to my real age.” “Who?” “The Changelings, I wish there was another way, but we don’t have much to go on and we can get the antidote to everyone faster.” “That’s insane!” Sunset shouts. “I forbid this.” Luna states. “Too late, I meet the queen in the morning.” Just then Peanut Butter wraps a towel around him and pops the top of the vile off. “Well, bottoms up.” He jokes as he raises the vile and drinks it. After a couple minutes he starts to grow as the sound of ripping fabric is heard. His face looks strained as Peanut Butter grows to eighteen years old. He looks at himself from a mirror near by. His facial hair is grown out to cover his neck and jaw, meeting at the sideburns. “Close enough, I’ll get my razor and my change of clothes I have stowed away.” He states as he makes his way upstairs. Sunset goes to the bathroom to grab a towel and the second vile. She does what Peanut Butter did and grows up. “Good to be back.” She exclaims. A few minutes later they return to the living room, fully dressed in their pajamas before the regression. Peanut Butter is in flannel plaid pajama bottoms with a hoodie and shark slippers. While Sunset is wearing violet sweatpants and an orange hoodie with lavender colored slippers. “After the meeting, Sunset and I will have to hide out here until things get set up.” Peanut Butter explains. “What do we tell them?” Luna asks. “Easy, we’re sick.” Sunset answers. “Would they buy that?” Celestia asks. “I’m pretty sure they would, it’s the season.” Sunset answers. “I got a long day tomorrow, I’m going to sleep.” Peanut Butter states before going upstairs. Everyone else follows suit and goes to sleep. The following morning was foggy as Peanut Butter is sitting on a bench in the park wearing two jackets and a pair of jeans with his pajama bottoms sticking out of the legs sightly, looking out at the river. A tall woman with long green dyed hair wearing a tan overcoat and dress pants sits at the bench next to him. “It’s been a long time hasn’t it?” She asks. “It has been a long time Queen Chrysalis, I wish this was a casual meeting though.” “Yes, your situation is quite unfortunate, however we haven’t discussed what I get in return.” “I’ve been thinking about that, best I can think of is joining the hive again.” “Tempting, however I have something in mind that is mutually beneficial.” “That would be?” “Their heads, you see, Prim and Proper have been intruding on our turf with their new gang.” “And you want me to send a message.” “Exactly, I’m quite surprised that you’d be willing to return and throw away everything here.” “That just shows how far I’ll go to protect them.” “Did you bring the vile?” “Yes.” Peanut Butter answers before going into his coat pocket and pulls out a vile of the antidote and gives it to Chrysalis. “Good, we’ll be in touch again when everything is ready.” “Thank you for doing this.” “It’s no problem, even if you aren’t a changeling member anymore, I still care about your well being, and you’re always welcomed back, but on your own terms.” “That, means a lot.” Chrysalis gets up and walks away and a couple minutes later Peanut Butter gets up and walks the other direction. He gets home and shuts the door behind him and takes off his jacket and other layers. He sighs as Sunset comes out from the kitchen with a mug of hot chocolate. “How did it go?” She asks. “It went well.” “So are you with them again?” He shakes his head. “We both have a common goal, after that goal is reached, we go our ways, she said I’m always welcomed, but I declined.” “Okay.” “So now starts out house arrest since we have to wait to hear back.” “Why couldn’t we change the others back?” “It would draw too much attention.” “True, but I hate that we have to go into hiding like this.” “Yeah, but I’m having Rarity make something special for this.” “What is it?” “You’ll see.” “Wanna play Let’s Groove nineteen?” “Sure, get it setup, I’m gonna get in on that hot chocolate action after I put away my extra layers, haha.” Sunset nods as Peanut Butter goes upstairs and opens his bedroom door. His room looks more like his current age with a full sized bed, desk, shelves and a dresser along the wall and his computer. He has a couple posters on the walls as well as his daily affirmations next to his bed. He sighs and smiles before putting away his jeans and jacket and comes back downstairs and makes himself a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows. “Let’s do this.” Sunset affirms as she gives Peanut Butter the second controller. About a two months pass as the weather warms up. Luna is home with Sunset and Peanut Butter. They are all sitting at the table. Luna sitting opposite on Peanut Butter. “So they are about to make their move?” “Yes, at the end of the school year they will ship them out.” “And our friends?” “They’ve been keeping low profiles but are getting antsy.” “Just have to get the phone call to give us the green light.” Just then Peanut Butter’s phone rings. He looks at the number and answers. “Hello?” He answers. “Yes.” “They are going to make their move in about a month and a half.” “So everything is set?” “Permits and all?” “Good, how long to set the tent up and get everything here?” “Already on the way? Good.” “How about the antidote?” “Enough to reverse the effects on everyone? Perfect.” “Okay, five days then.” “Good, see you then.” He hangs up and looks at Luna. His eyes joyful, but face stern. “Five days is how long it’ll be before we take everything back.” “Sunset, you have an important job, you have to sneak into the boiler room and disable the transmitter, we may have to blow the boiler to do it though.” Sunset’s eyes go wide. “But that will hurt people.” “Why do you think I’m setting up this thing? No one should be there.” “If there is?” “Only ones to be there will be the enforcers, you can knock them out, but don’t worry if they become casualties.” Sunset sighs. “Fine, where will you be?” “Well, every circus needs a ring leader and you know how I like to put on a show in front of them.” “But you’ll get caught.” “Not if they don’t see my face.” “True, but what do you have planned?” “You’ll see.” Just then Celestia comes in with a clothes box and a tall hat box and shuts the door. She sets both on the table. “Anything?” She asks. “Five days, did they take the bait?” “Hook line and sinker, the circus is coming to town and the whole school is coming.” “Perfect.” “So what’s in the box?” “Why not I show you?” Peanut Butter takes the boxes and goes upstairs. A few minutes he comes down in a red tailcoat with black along the chest, gold colored cuffs, golden buttons, a white button down, black pants, white gloves, and black high boots. Sunset, Luna, and Celestia all go wide eyed. “That looks amazing.” Sunset compliments. “Thanks, I just have to paint the mask and it’ll be complete, the Changelings have the cane.” He goes back up and comes back in his pajamas. “It’s gonna happen, I can’t believe it, it’s almost over.” He confesses. “We’ll be here for you when it’s over.” Luna assures. “Wouldn’t want it any other way.” Five days pass as the big day arrives and the stripped tent is standing tall as workers set up the tanks with tubes that lead into the fog machines. Peanut Butter has his outfit on with a mask that covers his face. The mask is white with black and gold markings around the edge with gold on one side and black on the other. He peeks out to see the students line up and taking their seats. He takes out his phone and texts Sunset. Five minutes later his phone vibrates and he looks at the message. He nods and puts his phone away. “Showtime.” Peanut Butter mentions before running inside, the thick fog covering his entrance. The inside of the tent has three rings, as he jumps through the middle ring, cane in hand as the other performers are behind him dancing and some doing their acts of juggling, jumping through rings of fire, and acrobatics. “Welcome ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls to the greatest show in all of Canterlot, we have a magnificent show for you all, I’m sure it will grow on you over time if you are not convinced.” Peanut Butter shouts, his voice warped. He leaves the stage as performers take over. A half hour later his phone goes off. He looks and nods with a smile under his mask. He puts it away and goes back on stage. “We have no reached the climax of our show and we have a special treat for you all.” Peanut Butter announces as he presses the left side of the gem on his cane. Just then a faint boom is heard in the distance, followed by the tent filling with fog at a expedient rate. Within a matter of seconds the sounds of screams fill the tent, then silence as the kids from before are now teens once more. Prim and Proper look around. “No, no, no!” Prim shouts. “How could this have happened, unless.” Proper schemes. “There is one last surprise left ladies,” Peanut Butter states as he takes off his mask. He looks at them, his green eye glowing. “Surprise!” Everyone gets up and change into clothes that were laid out for them. “You!” Prim shouts. “Bingo!” “But how?” Proper asks. “Faulty device, saved others, got antidote, not that hard really.” “We’ll get you for this.” Proper threatens. “Funny, the way I see it, there’s the two of you, and an army along with myself, you’re outnumbered, and I don’t believe in a fair fight.” Prim and Proper run out and towards the school, Peanut Butter giving chase as he takes off the costume to show clothes underneath. He reaches the school to see a large pillar of thick, black smoke billowing out of the building. “P.B., here!” Sunset shouts as she tosses a bag. He catches it and opens it to reveal a pair of boots and puts them on hastily. “Let’s go.” “Lead the way P.B.” They both enter the school building as the tent erupts into chaos as students are fighting the enforcers while others try to escape and heading towards the school. > A Good Man Goes To War > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Sunset, go help the other students get out, I can handle this." Peanut Butter orders. "I can't let you take these brutes on by yourself, it's suicide." "Trust me, I got this, go!" Sunset nods and heads out into the halls running as fast as she can. Peanut Butter stands in front of the guards with a smirk as he thrusts his hand forward into the chest of one of the guards causing him to bend forward towards Peanut Butter as he upper cuts and thrusts his hand forward again along with a powerful gust of wind, sending him flying followed by the guard screaming and then falling to the ground. He looks at the other guard who steps back his mouth open and eyes wide. "Come on big boy," He says as he maneuvers the staff to behind his back. "Let's dance." The guard doesn't say anything before he runs away. Peanut Butter sighs and shakes his head. "Fine, I didn't want to play with you either." Just then the sound of heels tapping on the hallway floor is heard as Peanut Butter turns around to see Prim taping her foot and wiggling her finger back and forth. "Such a bad child, getting into fights and beating up grown ups," She says before taking out a remote. "Looks like discipline is in order." I think you forgot, I’m not exactly a little kid now.” “Doesn’t matter!” She presses a button on the romote, but nothing happens. She does it again with the same result. Her eyes widen as she looks at him before her eyes narrow and she clenshes her teeth. "What did you do?!" She demands. "Did you think I was going to keep it on?" "You little worm, we should have gotten rid of you when we had the chance!" "Well, now's your chance." "Not just yet." She then runs down the hall away from him. Peanut Butter collapses the staff and puts it away. He then raises his arms in front of him like fisticuffs as his left leg goes forward. "Let’s dance." Peanut Butter challenges before running after Prim. Prim swings her right fist at him, he ducks right and swings his left fist at her ribs as he moves out of the way. It connects as Prim flinches. He then throws more punches at her, focusing on the spot he hit. He jumps back as breeze picks up and small rocks are floating around his fists as he charges forward. He throws his right fist, only for Prim to dodge and the wind fires off, creating a hole in the wall. “I’m not letting you get away that easily!” Peanut Butter shouts before throwing his left fist. She dodges again, but gets pushed by the wind’s power. He then takes both hands and hits her in the abdomen and launches her through the wall behind her. Just then the sound of clapping is heard. “Quickly sister, get up, you’re not fooling him.” A voice orders. Prim gets up and runs away. “Get back here!” He yells as he chases after Prim. > Demons Run (edited) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peanut Butter runs through the halls as shouts and clashing of metal and thuds of people falling and being hit against the walls and floors are heard through out as he glares at Prim Act and Proper Upbringing who stand in front of him. "No more games, no more toys or inventions, just you two and I, this ends here and now!" Peanut Butter yells. "You ruined our plans for the final time you brat!" Prim shouts. "You are taking away people's freedom and mentally regressing them to bring them up the way you see it, how is that helping them?" "How dare you question our methods!" Proper shouts. "Our past experiences help us grow into who we are, take that away and you make no progress, from what I have seen here and in Manehatten, you want an uncaring and cruel world of greed and selfishness, I will do what I can to stop you two even if it costs me my life!" "Very well, but I think we need an audience to see your demise." Proper says before snapping her fingers. Shortly after, the guards from before line the outside of the building towards the football field while restraining Applejack, Celestia, Fluttershy, Luna, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Sunset Shimmer, and Twilight as they struggle. Peanut Butter looks around to see them as his breath grows heavy. "We brought you here to witness what happens when you ruin our plans not once, but twice!" Proper announces. "Leave them out of this!" "Silence boy!" "Fuck you!" "I'll make you regret defying us." Just then Prim charges towards Peanut Butter causing him to get into a defensive stance as she swings at him. He slides to the left of her and grabs her arm pulling her down before he swings at her head. She moves back and grabs his arm then throws him across the field, hit a wall on the outside of the building and hits the ground. He shouts in pain before slowly getting back up, struggling in the process. Gritting his teeth and his glare looking at Prim and Proper. Sunset and the others struggle to break free. "P.B.!" Sunset shouts. "Stop fighting back, she'll kill you!" Luna shouts. "You're going to lose, save yourself, please!" Celestia shouts. Applejack has her head down gritting her teeth and eyes closed. "P.B.," Applejack mutters as she opens her eyes and raises her head with tears falling from her eyes. "Kick her ass P.B.!" Rainbow Dash looks at Applejack with wide eyes before nodding. "You got this P.B.!" Rainbow Dash cheers "Knock that bitch down a few pegs!" Rarity shouts. "The odds might be slim, but you CAN win!" Twilight shouts. "You got this!" Pinkie Pie cheers. He falls to his knees again and gets up as Prim charges him and punches him in the gut causing him to cry out in pain and fall to the ground again. She grabs his shirt and raises him up into the air as the shouting of his friends and family are heard in the distance. "You little worm!" Prim shouts as she punches Peanut Butter repeatedly on the head. Peanut Butter groans and wheezes coughing up a bit of blood each time. "When we tell you to die, you, die!" She punches him again before letting him fall to the floor. He slowly gets up with a grin on his face as blood drips down it and onto the floor along side his arm. She raises her fist as Peanut Butter gets into a defensive stance and closes his eyes as she swings her fist. He hears a ring as if someone hit metal before he opens his eyes to show his green eye glowing. He pushes her fist away causing Prim to stumble back with her eyes wide, everyone else looks with eyes wide while Sunset, Luna, Twilight and Rainbow Dash have their jaws dropped. "I'll never give up, I gained so much in a short time and I will not let anyone take that away from me, I will beat you, Count on it! " Peanut Butter shouts as another surge of energy pulsates around him spreading out towards the others. Sunset’s eyes go wide as it hits her and the others. Rainbow Dash looks up and sees clouds spinning in a circle as the wind starts to howl and roar. “Uh guys, we have bigger problems, look!” Rainbow Dash exclaims as everyone looks up and sees the swirling mass of clouds and hear the roaring winds around them. "What is this power?" Prim asks. "How is this possible, there is no kind of magic like this here or in Equestria, what can explain this?" Sunset wonders. "Don't know, don't care, all I know is that it's awesome and we still have a chance." Rainbow says. "I don't think that's just magic Sunset, I think that's just him." Applejack states. "If that's not magic, then what is it?" "His aura, the natural electromagnetic field around a person, most associate it with the soul, but it shouldn’t be possible, unless,” Twilight informs Sunset. “Unless what?” “Unless this is something else, not just pure emotion, but magic driven by it, he’s tapping into some meta physical power, or an energy he can control, but on this scale, he must really be pissed off." "Could it be related to his aura?" "I don’t know." "We should help him, but what can we do?" Rarity asks. "Best we can do is give him our strength and our magic." Sunset answers. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Twilight, and Sunset Shimmer glow from their magic as beams from each of them focus on Peanut Butter. "You're blood is boiling, are you ready for a taste of the pact of the rose?." A voice asks. "Yes, I also feel something else, something different, yet familiar." "That’s your friend’s friendship, their trust and belief in you, do you feel it?" "Yeah I do, they got my back like always." "Wanna use that power?" "Hell yeah!" "Alright here you go!" Just then an orb of many colors forms around him causing Prim and Proper to step back. The orb shatters as if it were an egg as a figure emerges with a white cloak embroidered with a circle of symbols and in the middle a burst in the color of light green. The figure holds a staff in one hand and the shield from earlier in the other. The hood of the cloak falls off to show Peanut Butter with a rainbow colored eye in place of his green eye. The shield disappears in a burst as it turns to dust. He raises his staff and taps it on the ground, the guards holding his friends and family pass out before they break free from their captors. Prim grits her teeth and glares at Peanut Butter. "You will not just lay down and die, will you?" Prim asks. "Nah, not my style and not how I operate." Peanut Butter charged towards Prim while holding his staff like a baseball bat ready to swing. He slides to her right and swings his staff, hitting her stomach and causing her to fly backwards towards her sister, she slams against her sister then hitting the wall. Peanut Butter stands over them with his rainbow eye shining bright as he glares at them. Just then they pull out small devices from their pockets. They look like a locket with a star in the middle. "I think it's time we use out trump card sister." Proper says. "Agreed." They press the center button of their devices as they open up and both are engulfed in a magic orb and break out with wings in black and white feathers on them with Prim's eyes glowing black while Proper's eyes glow white. On Prim's right arm there are symbols in white while on Proper's left arm are symbols that glow black. Sunset looks at their arms before her eyes go wide. "Oh no, oh no, oh no!" Sunset panics. Applejack looks over to her. "What's wrong Sunset?" Applejack asks. "Those marks on their arms are Equestian, Proper's means creation, while Prim's means," "Means what?" "Destruction." "So they are like Yin and Yang?" Twilight asks. "That's exactly what they are like, it also means P.B. is in a lot more trouble now that they have access to magic, but how did they get it?" Proper smirks and looks at Sunset. "You can thank your purple haired friend there miss Shimmer." Proper shouts as she points to Twilight. "I destroyed that device after the Midnight Sparkle incident, how did you fix it?" "We picked up the pieces and worked from there, as for getting the magic, we just had it near your little portal up until it can manage and manifest itself, pretty interesting if you ask me." "So that's why we couldn't use our magic much before now." "Bingo!" "But why?" "Because we needed a bit more punch to handle our little problem, though you," Proper points to Peanut Butter, glaring at him. "Were the problem as usual since we nor the device could detect your magic, you didn’t even know it either though, so it’s a mystery to us all." "Then how can we use our magic now?" "Thank him for hiding it so well, he doesn't have conventional magic like you girls do, his is comes from elsewhere, he took some from each of you and let it manifest and grow, like a garden." Peanut Butter glares at Prim and Proper with his rainbow eye glowing at their direction. "Remember who you are facing Proper." Peanut Butter says. "Prim, deal with this trouble maker." "With pleasure." Prim flies towards Peanut Butter in a blink of an eye and with her right arm glowing and a sphere in her palm. Peanut Butter holds his staff with both hands as he stands with one leg in front of the other with his staff in front of him in a diagonal position. He slides to the right causing her to slide and crash to the ground on the left. Proper strikes Peanut Butter in the back causing him to fly in the air. Prim and Proper fly in the air and punch him at the same time causing him to rise higher in the air. Just as he reaches the peek of the height he went to, Prim and Proper teleport in front of him and punch him causing him to fall quickly to the ground and hitting the ground and bouncing back up from the impact. The cloak vanishes as he falls to the ground again. Sunset and the others look up towards the sky while Peanut Butter fights. Applejack looks over towards Sunset. "We have ta help 'im!" Applejack shouts. "I know, but without our pendants, we can't." Just then Luna and Celestia run into the school towards the office and bust down the door to Celestia's old office. She opens one of the drawers to reveal a small lock box and gives it to Luna. "I know you can pick locks, pick this." Celestia orders. Luna looks over the box and smiles. "I got a better idea, get me a flat head screwdriver and a hammer." Celestia leaves and returns with what Luna requested a short time later as Luna takes them and lines up the screwdriver with the keyhole before striking the top of the screwdriver with the hammer causing it to dig into the keyhole. She hits it a few more times before a loud pop is heard as she pulls out the screwdriver with the lock on the end and opens it. The pendants lay in the corner with the loops all tangled together. Luna picks them up and runs out the office with Celestia behind her. They run through the halls towards the football field before a large guard stands in front of them. Luna stops as Celestia charges towards him, tackling him to the ground. "Go Luna!" Celestia yells. Luna nods before running again towards the field. She runs out to find Prim and Proper standing over Peanut Butter as he lays on the ground looking towards her, the rainbow in his eye gone and returned to the green from before. She sees Sunset and her friends against a corner of the building. She runs towards them just as Proper notices. "Not so fast!" She says before charging towards Luna. Luna runs as fast as she can. "Girls, catch!" Luna shouts before tossing the pendants towards them. The pendants start glowing as they get closer before they separate and go to their rightful owners. They glow with magic as they charge at Prim and Proper without a second thought. Peanut Butter lays in the crater made from his impact, unable to move anything else other than his head. His breath slows down as his eyes close. He opens his eyes to find himself in a field with a lone tree under a bright full moon. "So, how was that taste of my power?." A female voice asks calmly. "It helped me stand a chance, if I had more, I’d be able to stop them." "Well, you can always get more." "How?" "By making a pact with me, The Pact of The Rose." "But my wind magic, Emerald, and my friends, they, they need me though." "Your wind magic will remain, that is a part of you, as for your friends, for now they are holding out, though I doubt for much longer, as for Emerald, she’s me as well, just a part of me is all, your deal with her will still come through." "Who are you?" "I am many things, the sky, the trees, the water, the fish and frogs, I am all that grows and lives from this earth." "Why am I here?" "To help you, Prim and Proper has disturbed the balance of both nature and time and need to be stopped," Just then a rose rises from the ground in front of Peanut Butter. "Take this rose, and eat its pedals to complete the pact and the deal." "Why?" "This is the way for you to gain the ability to access my power and right now, it’s your only shot." “What what’s the price for this power.” “Very wise of you to ask, the price lies in the fact that those that use my power are maidens.” Peanut Butter blinks and looks at her with raised eyebrows. “So I’ll be a girl?” “Yes, once you eat that, the process will begin, I’d consider thinking of names.” "Fine, if it means saving them, I’ll do it." Peanut Butter plucks the rose and eats the pedals and tossing the stem to the ground. Just then he groans as he covers his right eye with his hands. "Damnit, not again!" He shouts. "It will be over in a second." "Damn, could have warned me." "Sorry, but now you have access to my power, now about that body of yours." Meanwhile at the school the girls are all on the ground, struggling to get up as Prim and Proper stand over them. "Get rid of them." Proper orders. "About time!" A black and dark purple orb forms in the palm of her hand. Just as she throws her arm down towards Sunset vines shoot from the ground and covers Sunset. Prim steps back and the orb disappears. "What the," Prim exclaims before being interrupted by the ground shaking. Just then vines cover the others and Peanut Butter's body. Proper looks around with eyes wide and her jaw dropped. "What's going on?" Proper asks herself. "You're end and my third wind." A voice answers with a loud boom. Just then one of the domes burst open as dust rises from the ground and a female figure rises out of the ground. A glow of green and hot pink is seen through the dust, the ground glows green as more vines rise and go after Prim and Proper. "This shouldn't be possible, you're supposed to be dead!" Prim shouts as she starts to fight back. "Magic, bitch." Just then a vine catches Prim's leg causing her to divert her attention before the rest grab her and force her to the ground and restrain her as the ones after Proper do the same. A female with violet hair comes out of the still lingering dust, her clothes tattered with cuts all over his body. Her right eye now has a tree like design in the iris and is now a mix of green and pink. she walks towards them, calmly, as if she was in no rush as they struggle with their marks glowing, though with no effect. "Prim and Proper, for your crimes against this world and it's people you are to be destroyed." the girl says. "There has to be another way!" Sunset shouts. "No there isn't, you don't know them like I do." Just then Sunset’s eyes widen. "If that’s you P.B., this isn't like you." "They took my friends away from me before and they almost took more as well as my family." "You still have a choice!" Peanut Butter surrounds Prim and Proper in an orb before lifting them in the air. "Peanut Butter, please don't do it, you're better than this!" Applejack shouts. Peanut Butter stops just as the orb starts to crush them and it expands again, just then her eye glows hot pink and they start coughing. She lowers the orb and makes it disappear. Prim and Proper stay silent, pressing up against a wall, eyes wide. Peanut Butter turns to face her friends and family as she breathes heavily and falls on her knees, her eyes half open as she looks at them and smiles before falling on her side. Prim raises her arm as the marks glow and a spear of energy comes out of it. Only to be blocked by a wall of vines. Just then vines wrapped around Prim and Proper only to be thrown up into the air. In a blink of an eye Peanut Butter followed and was above them. The storm was fading around the school. However Sunset squinted her eyes and they went wide. “Everyone, brace yourselves!” Sunset warns, taking cover behind a wall. Everyone looks up to see the wind focused on Peanut Butter’s raised fist as hit makes contact with Prim and Proper before ducking behind solid cover. Just then a loud boom roars as a pillar of wind and debris towers over the area. Chunks of brick, metal, and other materials around hit the walls that everyone hides behind. As the pillar fades out, more debris falls from the sky. Everyone peeks out and sees the shadow of someone standing walks towards them. The shadow slowly comes into view as Peanut Butter falls to the ground everyone rushes to her side as an ambulance arrives and an EMT comes out to look her over. After a couple minutes he sighs and smiles before looking at Luna. "She's going to be okay, she must have exhausted herself and have some minor injuries is all, but she’ll be going to the hospital as a precaution." He says before putting him on a stretcher and taking him to the ambulance. A few minutes later Peanut Butter is looked over at the hospital, the doctor wheels her out to the waiting room in a wheelchair, Luna turns her head and smiles before hugging Peanut Butter. The doctor smiles and looks over papers on his clip board. "By the looks of it she is okay physically, feeling sore, but other than that and a few scratches she just needs rest." The doctor explains. "That's good to hear." Luna looks at Peanut Butter and smiles at the peaceful look on her face as she sleeps. Luna picks her up and carries her to the car and places her in the back seat of the car before Luna goes to be interviewed by the police. Soon after, Luna gets into her car and looks at Peanut Butter. “So, what should I call you from now on since you’re, well who you are now.” “Violet, Violet Rose.” Later she goes home with Celestia and Sunset and brings Violet Rose to her room and places her on the bed and placing a blanket over her. She closes the door and sees Celestia in the living room. She sighs and sits on the stool near the counter as Celestia pours wine for them. She hands Luna a glass and sighs as well. "Long day huh?" Celestia jokes. "Yeah, from nearly losing students and almost family to seeing more magic happen, I think we'll need a vacation after this." "I was thinking of doing a family vacation for the summer." "That will be something." "Now that Sunset and well, now Violet are back to their ages, we have more options." "True, but I think Violet may not enjoy it as much." "This is true." "She’ll need all of us." "That she does, but finally, she looks peaceful in her sleep this time though." "She looked content before, not peaceful like now, it's like the nightmare is finally over, well the nightmare before this one." "It looks like it." "Yeah, I'm happy, it's something she deserves." "Even when he or now she was with Applejack he looked a bit bothered by something." "Yeah," Luna takes a sip of wine. "I hope he can lead a normal life now." "Same here." "The school board is going to feel really stupid after today." "Yeah." They tap their glasses together before drinking their wine before drinking. "I think we can call this a personal victory for everyone." Celestia jokes. "I agree with you there, sis." After their drinks they both go to their rooms for bed. > Moving On (edited) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The weeks following were long and hard as the school rebuilds from the damage caused by the fight and the chips being removed from the students's necks. The school wasn’t rebuilt however. Students of Canterlot High were brought over to Crystal Prep as it was to become a joint school. At Celestia’s house, things were back to normal for the most part. Violet has been adjusting to her new situation and what came with it. One day Luna comes up to her door and knocks. "Come in." Violet responds. Luna comes in and places the plate and cup on the desk and looks at Violet. "How are you holding up?" Luna asks. "I'm still getting used to being a girl, it's embarrassing." "It'll be okay, it'll take some getting used to." "There is one thing that is good about this." "And what would that be?" "I have more energy." "This is true." "Yeah, how is everything at the school?" "It's taking some getting used to." "True, the news is out about what they did in Manehatten as well, which is good." "Yeah, I held up my end and stopped them from hurting others, killing them was the only option." "I agree, but truth does that to people." "Does what?" "Hurt them, I've been meaning to ask this, but when you had that chip on the back of your neck, were you happy?" She stays silent for a couple minutes looking away from her. "I won't be mad at your answer Violet, I'm curious is all." "I was, I was in fucking bliss." "I know you figured this out, but life is always going to hurt, one way or another." "I've been messing around with a few of the chips." "Why?" "I want to feel that bliss again, I want my friends back, I want things to go back to what they were!" "That feeling is like a drug, every high has a fall." "I know, b-but I, I-" Violet bursts into tears and hugs Luna. She smiles and hugs her back. "Shhhhh, it's okay, it's all okay, I'm here." Luna reassures. "I-I-I ju-uh-uh-ust want to be-be-be happy." "I know you do, but this isn't a way to do it, that isn't real happiness." Luna holds him close and lets her cry for as long as she needed until she fell asleep. Later that day Violet is in her room staring at a picture of Cherry Blossom and her former self at a park on the swings with one of him and Applejack next to it on his desk. He soon looks down and away from it as tears well up at the bottom of his eyes. "I wish you could see me now, you'd be happy for me for sure, hell, you probably are, where ever you are," Violet gets up, standing up towards the bed. She sits up on the bed facing him and looks at the pictures. "I'm sorry that I couldn't save you, I should have fought back harder, done more, noticed sooner, something that could have helped, I hope I did you justice, you deserve it, and you will always be my friend, hell Cherry, you were like a sister, I'll never forget you, ever." Just then there is a knock on his door. "Come on Violet, we'll be late!" Luna shouts through the door. "Coming!" She gets up from the bed and grabs her bags and looks back at the picture sitting on the desk. She smiles before turning back and opening the door. She enters the hallways before shutting the door and heading downstairs where Luna, Celestia, and Sunset wait in the living room. Their bags by the door. "There she is, got everything?" Luna asks. "Yeah." "Good, now let's load up the car." They all pack up the car and leave the house. They arrive at what was Canterlot High School, what stands now are steaks with ribbons on them with names and trees with steaks on them in the same fashion. “What’s all this?” Peanut Butter asks. “They tore down the school and turned it into a park, they are currently voting on designs, but we thought you and Sunset should see this.” They get out and look around, while the park is mostly dirt with some trees, the statue that was in front still stands with a plaque on the statue, Violet reads it. For his sacrifice and bravery, this park is dedicated to Peanut Butter. A strong young man who was taken too soon. “Mom, why does it say this?” Violet asks. “We had to make a cover for what happened to you, so we told them who you were was dead since we didn’t find a body, it’ll also help you adjust better, are you mad?” “No, I know who I was, but at the same time, being him was a burden that I can’t bear anymore, nor should I.” “Come on, we have a drive a head of us to the airport.” “I’ll be there in a bit.” Violet stares at the plaque for a few seconds. “This is a fitting end, you, I mean I deserve this kind of end, we’ve gone through so much and you made the ultimate sacrifice,” Violet puts her fist over her mouth. “You died to bring me into this world and for that I am thankful, please, rest in peace.” Violet turns around and heads towards the van. “Thank you.” A faint voice thanks. Violet turns around only to see the statue. She looks around for a bit before returning to the van. She gets in and buckles her seatbelt and turns to Sunset as Celestia starts to drive. “How are the others doing?” She asks. “A.J.’s arm is about to get the cast removed, Rainbow is in PT for her leg, and Rarity has a week left for her arm too, the others are fine or as fine as they’ll be from the bruises.” “That’s good at least.” “Yeah, remember, we’re on vacation, no sad faces, okay?” “Yeah, I’ll try to have fun.” “Good.” About half way through the drive to the airport Sunset and Violet fall asleep. Luna and Celestia smile softly seeing them through the rear view mirror. As Celestia parks Sunset and Violet stir from their slumber. “Hey there sleepy heads.” Celestia greets as she unbuckles her seat belt. They both groan and rub their eyes before unbuckling their seat belts as Luna and Celestia get out and open the doors. After going through security they sit at the terminal Violet sits by the window with her notebook out, writing in it. Sunset is sitting next to her and looks at what she writes. Life gives us twists and turns, ups and downs, and lifts and falls. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t sunny days along with the rainy ones. Your lives will not be forgotten as I gained a new chance a few months ago. While I was blinded by grief and bound by fear, I was afraid to downright terrified to be part of a family. Over time I got better as I was surrounded by people who care about me to the point where they helped me free me from my own prison. I’ll never truly forget those that I left behind in the past, because in the end I will always have people by my side. It can be friends or family. It took me about a year to realize that they have my back. Some maybe think my change in heart is too fast from the streets, to a home. I say that everyone is different. I adjusted better than others could. But after this past school year, I saw how strong the bonds I have truly are. I think now I can honestly say, that I’m home, that I am free, and that I am now at peace. Violet and Sunset look up when a loud beep is heard at the terminal. “Hello ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Air Dash, flight two-twenty-four-fifteen to OrNeighdo is ready to board, will zone one passengers come to the gate to board?” The lady at the gate announces. Violet packs her notebook into her carry on bag and goes towards Luna. She looks and smiles. “Ready for our vacation?” She asks. “Yeah, I am.” “Good, let’s get this vacation started!” They all board the plane and are soon off on their vacation.