> CHANGELING Book 2: Destinies Collide > by The Crazed Werewolf > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Shattered Lullabies > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fluttershy stood gripping the chain link fence. She stared at the burnt remains of the warehouse. She couldn't remember much, but what she remembered most was the pain. Suddenly she heard the sound of tires rolling over gravel. Fluttershy turned and looked she saw a Canterlot Police car coming her direction. The car pulled to stop near where she was standing. Fluttershy watched as Rainbows dad got out of the drivers seat, like always he was wearing his mirrored sunglasses. "Hey Fluttershy." Captian Hothoof said. "What did Rainbow do," Fluttershy asked, "put out an APB on me?" "No she called me and asked me to look for you, she said you stormed out of band practice." he answered, leaning against the hood of his car, "want to tell me about it?" "I just get so frustrated, I don't have a clear memory of what happened and everyone is treating me like I am a fragile porcelain doll." Fluttershy said bitterly,What if when I pony-up I become that vampire monster again and hurt everybody. "You know that everyone is just worried about you, Both Windy and I think of you as our unofficial daughter. Rainbow was heart broken when you were missing." Bow said, "after everything that you went through, all your friends want to make sure you aren't hurt." "Some pain never goes away." Fluttershy said quietly. Fluttershy looked back at the remains of the warehouse. Whenever she closed her eyes she caught glimpses of that night, the night her friends found her and rescued her. She couldn't tell what was real and what was part of the nightmare. "Chief Magnus is personally leading the investigation into this place." Bow said after a while seeming to read Fluttershy's thoughts. "So far nothing on King Enterprises. They have damn good lawyers, But trust me, we won't let them get away with this." Fluttershy just listened and stared at the ruins. She shivered slightly as the wind began to pick up and the sun began to set. "Come on, Fluttershy," Bow said, "let me give you a ride home. Don't tell my wife, but there are some donuts in the car if you're hungry." Fluttershy nodded and moved toward the car, and got in the passenger seat. *** "Where do you want this Twi?" Applejack asked. Lifting the CPU of one of Twilight's custom built computers. "You can put that one over in the corner." Twilight said, "thanks again for coming and helping me rearrange my lab AJ." "Ah shucks, it was no problem Twi, but isn't this your parent's garage?" Applejack said. "Oh, they park in the driveway." Twilight answered as if every hose had its own science lab. Applejack looked around Twilight's "lab", there were several massive custom built computers, a seismograph, a device that reminded Applejack of the transporter from Star Trek. Then her eyes landed on Twilight's work bench, she saw a familiar looking round device in several pieces. "Twi, why do you still have this?" Applejack asked. "Mostly as a keepsake to remind me not to ever confuse science with magic again, and that there are somethings in this world that we can still not explain" Twilight said to her friend, "I've been thinking about what happened during the Friendship Games lately." "Twilight, ah want you to listen to me," Applejack said, "you defeated Midnight Sparkle, who no longer has any control over you, she is gone." "If only that were true AJ," Twilight replied, "she still whispers to me in the back of my mind, but I know that as long as I have you and the others, she will never be in control." *** "I don't get it," Rainbow said in frustration, "why would she just storm out of practice like that." "Rainbow, darling, Fluttershy recently went through a very traumatic experience," Rarity said, "her recovery could take a while." "It's been two months," Rainbow responded holding back tears, "I just want my friend back." Rarity looked at Rainbow Dash, she remembered how distraught the athletic girl had been during Fluttershy's ordeal. Rarity had been concerned that Rainbow might have done something drastic if Fluttershy hadn't been found. "It's going to take patience and understanding with Fluttershy," Rarity said, "just like it did with both Sunset and Twilight." "Yeah Dashie, not everyone can do things super duper fast like you!" Pinkie exclaimed. Both Rainbow and Rarity turned and looked at Pinkie. Their normally loud friend had been do quiet that they had forgotten that she was on the stage with them. The band had decided to practice at the amphitheater instead of the school music room. The only other people in the amphitheater were two men in what Rainbow would call the cheap seats and didn't appear to be paying any attention to the girls. "Pinkie, how are you going to get your drums home?" Rarity asked. Pinkie nodded toward a grey SUV that was pulling up behind the amphitheater. "Maude is picking me up." Pinkie answered. *** The sun was beginning to set, on the stage three teenage girls were packing away their instruments. "Sir, we investigated the leak, the only thing that whoever did it managed to get was a few of the CHANGELING files." "Do you know who did it?" the Director asked, a touch of annoyance creeping into his voice. "We're still investigating, whoever it was was an expert at covering their tracks." "Anything else?" the Director asked. "One thing, we managed to recover security footage from the warehouse. The quality is very poor and mostly useless, but there is one thing you must see. I'll have the film for you tomorrow at the office." *** Sunset was curled up on her couch wrapped in a blanket reading a book about human history. The book was titled "the Guns of Navarone". Lying on her coffee table was a journal, the cover had both hers and Princess Twilight cutie marks fused together. She had been writing Princess Twilight asking for advice on how to help Fluttershy. Twilight had few ideas and was sorry that she couldn't come to help due to her role as a princess in Equestria. Sunset yawned, it was getting late and Sunder decided to go to bed. "So much power," a voice whispered, "so much power..." > Nocturnal Conversations > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "So much power!" Sunset suddenly found herself wide awake. She had thought that she had heard some one speaking in her apartment. She reached over and turned on the lamp on her bedside table. Then she noticed her phone vibrating. She had turned the ringer off before she had gone to bed. She picked it up. "Hello?" she asked groggily. "Sunset?" a soft spoken voice asked. "Oh hey Fluttershy, what's up?" "Um, if you aren't busy do you think you and Twilight could meet me at the diner on 5th Avenue?" Fluttershy asked, "that's if you aren't busy." "Of course, I always have times for my friends," Sunset said, "5th Avenue, that's the Greasy Spoon right? Give me fifteen minutes to get ready and to pick up Twilight and we'll meet you there. Is everything alright?" "Yes, I just need someone to talk to and Rainbow and the others don't know what I'm going through." Fluttershy said. Sunset and Twilight rode in silence to the Greasy Spoon. Twilight wasn't fully awake when Sunset had picked her up at her parents house. As they approached the diner, Sunset saw only Fluttershy's car in the parking lot parked near the front door. When they walked inside they found their friend seated at a booth. Fluttershy only had an untouched glass a water in front of her. The waitress came up to the table as both Sunset and Twilight sat down. "Coffee for me, Twilight?" Sunset said. Twilight only yawned while nodding her head in the affirmative. "Cream or sugar? The waitress asked. "No thank you." Sunset answered, again Twilight only nodded. The waitress promptly brought the two girls their coffee. "Would you girls like to order?" she asked. Both Fluttershy and Twilight shook their heads no. "Could I please get an extra-large hashbrown cooked extra crispy all the way and two sunny-side up eggs with toast, oh and could I get extra jalapeno?" Sunset asked. Both Fluttershy and Twilight looked at her with looks of confusion. Sunset waited for the waitress to leave. "What's up Fluttershy?" she asked finally. "Um, I wanted to talk to you two, since you both had similar experiences" Fluttershy said in a near whisper, "becoming monsters." "What exactly do you want to know Fluttershy?" Twilight asked, her coffee having finally kicked in. "How can you go on living day to day knowing that just beneath the surface..." Fluttershy said. Both Twilight and Sunset looked at each other. It was Twilight who spoke first. "I wish I could tell you that the pain goes away," Twilight said, adjusting her glasses, "but I know that Midnight Sparkle will always be there." "As long as we don't allow our dark sides to have any power over us we remain in control," Sunset replied, "not a day goes by that my inner demons don't try to consume me." Fluttershy looked like she was about breakdown. She had hoped that her two friends had the answers she sought. "But as long as we stick together, we can overcome the encroaching darkness." Sunset said, giving both Fluttershy and Twilight a spark of hope. After dropping Twilight back at her parents house Sunset returned home to her apartment. Since it was a Saturday she decided to go back to bed. Quietly she turned off the lights and slipped between the covers and slowly, sleep overtook her. "So much power, wasted." > Tea Time > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Good morning, is this chair taken?" The Director looked up from his morning coffee and smiled. "Not at all," he said, "and to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" "Tea, Earl Grey, hot." the newcomer said to the barista. "I heard an interesting rumor about you." the Director said pointing at his visitor's car, a 1928 Cadillac limousine, "that you have Capone's real car and the one the recently sold at auction is a fake." "You know I can't answer that." "Yes, yes, so what brings you here today Discord?" the Director asked, "here to arrest me?" "Nothing would give me greater pleasure, but we both know that isn't how the games is played." Discord said as he was given his tea, "besides I know that the barista behind the counter is one of yours, as are the couple at the bus stop and the woman in the apartment across the street watching us through the scope of her rifle. What are they, Israeli or Russian trained?" "I see Division Six has done it's homework," the Director said, "I'm not surprised." "You won't get away with this." Discord said finishing off his tea before standing up and placing a few dollar bills on the table and walking toward his car. He nodded at the person seated in the back then turned to his driver, "the Yacht Club." His companion handed him a file folder. "We aren't the only ones looking into Dream Catcher." she said, " I put Smooze on it." "Interesting," Discord said reading the file, "If there is anything to this, Smooze will find it." Discord looked out the Cadillac's window for a long moment, clearly thinking over his next actions. "Have you been cleared for field operations?" he asked finally. "MD's cleared me last Monday." "Good, put a team together. I have a bad feeling that a war is coming." Discord said. *** Across town at a location known only to the Director and a select few, another conversation was taking place. A teenage girl was strapped down to a stainless steel chair. The room was brightly lit and sterile. She was alone, except for several cameras pointed at her and the loud speaker mounted on the wall opposite of her. "Are you part of Division Six?" the voice asked her. "Huh?!" the girl answered, " I don't know what you are talking about. What is Division Six?" "Tell us your name?" "Moo-(gulp)-Moondancer." Moondancer answered. "Why were you snooping around King Enterprises' servers?" "I was looking for a challenge, hacking is an adrenaline rush for me." Moondancer said quickly. She knew that she had to protect Twilight. "We know you are lying, who ever you are protecting will fall into our hands eventually. But you have talents that we can put to use." Moondancer heard a hissing noise as a sleeping gas was filtered into the room through concealed vents. She managed to scream before darkness overtook her. Two people entered the room. "Prep her." Tempest Shadow said to the man in the lab coat and medical scrubs, "the mind is such a wondrous resource, let's not waste hers, professor." > Countdown > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight waited nervously near the Canterlot High Wondercolt statue. She had arrived at school early that morning in order to speak to another student, she didn't like what she had learned and needed to warn the others. *** Celestia looked out the window as she held the phone to her ear. "You have some nerve calling me," she said, "I no longer work for you or Division Six." "I know, that's why I am calling," her caller said, "our investigations unit has uncovered information that the ISA is targeting some of your students. Tia, it is Project CHANGELING all over again." "Luna and I personally shut CHANGELING down. It was your job to prevent it from returning." Celestia said, wincing at the memory, "Luna still hasn't fully recovered." "Tia, just be on the lookout for anything unusual, I've dispatched a field team to watch over your school, but they can't be everywhere at once." "GOD DAMMIT DISCORD!" Celestia said losing control of her temper, then taking a few deep breaths, " I wish you had consulted me first!" "Like you said, you don't work for me. This appears to be the endgame, Celestia." Discord said before ending the call. Celestia slammed her phone down on her desk, then she turned and looked out the window where Sunset Shimmer and her friends were hanging out before classes started for the day. "Is everything alright sister?" Luna asked. Celestia looked at the door to her office and saw her sister Luna, her secretary Raven and the school nurse, Redheart, standing in the open doorway. "I'm not sure Luna." Celestia said, "let get my thoughts collected then I'll tell you during lunch." *** Twilight had asked her friends to meet her at the bleachers by the soccer field for lunch. Sunset was worried, Twilight was more nervous than normal, and she looked like she hadn't gotten much sleep over the weekend. "What's so important that we have to meet way out here?" Rainbow asked as she took a seat and took a tuna sandwich out of her lunch box. "What do you have to tell us Twilight?" Rarity asked. "Its not what I have to say," Twilight said before pointing at a new comer, "its what she has to say." "Lyra," Rarity asked, "what's with the costume, its hideous" Lyra Heartstrings was wearing a long trench coat and a fedora. "Shhh, no names." she answered, "I was told that you want information about the ISA?" Sunset looked at Twilight before nodding her head. "The ISA has been around for decades centuries even. Waging a secret war of evolution against humanity. No-one knows where their funding comes from. The Vietnam War was one of their testing grounds. They staged the whole thing." Lyra said. Sunset looked concerned. Lyra was known to believe in conspiracy theories and most of the students at CHS didn't take her seriously, but after what had happened to Fluttershy, Sunset had to believe what she was hearing. "How does King Enterprises fit in?" Sunset asked. "King Enterprises is the public face of the ISA," Lyra said, "they also do most of the ISA's dirty work." "Anything else that you can tell us?" Applejack asked. "I've said to much already," Lyra said in a near whisper, "be cautious, the ISA has spies everywhere." With that, Lyra walked back toward the gym. Sunset and her friends sat a silence for a long minute. It was Pinkie who broke the silence. "We need to call the Marines, the Army," Pinkie exclaimed, "maybe G.I.JOE, the Autobots, the Robotech Defense Force!" "Pinkie," Sunset said. "The Jedi Order, SHIELD, Rico's Roughnecks, the ULTRAMARINES!" Pinkie continued. "PINKIE," Sunset said again. "Yes Sunset Shimmer?" Pinkie finally asked. "SHUT UP!" her six closest friends yelled. *** "So Discord called you this morning?" Luna asked her older sister, "what did he want to talk about?" "Apparently, the ISA is up to their old tricks." Celestia said. "Fluttershy?" Nurse Redheart asked looking up from her Caesar salad. "Just the tip if the iceberg according to Discord," Celestia responded, " Discord has dispatched a field team to the school. Raven do you think you could find out who they are?" "My speciality." Raven Inkwell said sipping on her cup of soup. "Discord specifically used the word Endgame when describing what was going on. Luna contact Gloriosa, let her know that we are going to need Everfree ready sooner than we thought." "Why did Discord send a field team here?" Redheart asked. "He claims that ISA is targeting some of our students," Celestia said looking a a picture on her desk, "and I have a good idea who." *** "Director," Tempest said, "she is ready." "Excellent, have her transferred to Tartarus immediately and put her to work." the Director said. Everything was falling into place as he had planned. Discord and his Division Six were in no position to stop his plans this time. "There is something else, our surveillance unit took these photographs outside CHS this morning." Tempest said, handing a high quality photo to the Director. The picture showed a blue skinned woman in her late twenties getting out of a car and walking into the school. The woman wore a white collar with a small black crescent moon. "Nightmare Moon has come home." the Director said after studying the photograph. "Shall I make reacquiring her a top priority?" Tempest said. "No, maintain observation for now. Her sister must be nearby, which means that Division Six is also nearby," the Director said, "we have other assets in place that are better suited for this." Tempest nodded and turned to leave. She had to transfer Moondancer to Tartarus, and she couldn't be late. After she had left, the Director opened up a file on his computer, he was positive that he knew the number, but it never hurt to double check. Making sure he had the right number he reached for his phone. He only said two words before hanging up. "Sweetie Drops." > A Taste of Blood > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Later that afternoon, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were walking towards Sweet Apple Acres after school. The rest of their friends had to work at their various jobs. The afternoon sun hadn't begun to set, but the shadows cast by the trees were beginning to get longer as the day neared its end. Suddenly the three girls heard something rustling the bushes near them. When they looked they saw two of their classmates, Crystal Dusk and Evening Breeze standing there watching them. "Howdy girls, what brings y'all out this way?" Applejack asked. "Her." Crystal Dusk answered, pointing at Fluttershy. Rainbow put herself in between her friend and the newcomers. "Yeah, and how do you plan to get to her?" Rainbow said on the defensive, raising both of her fists. "Oh please, you couldn't stop us if you tried Dashie." Evening Breeze said mockingly. then as if to make her point she moved with superhuman speed and was in Rainbows face quicker then the polychromatic haired girl could react. Rainbow had never seen Evening breeze move with such speed before. "Subject 01, you could of had it all but instead, you are a freak, and not even a complete freak at that." Crystal Dusk said, "however if you come with us, we promise to take you somewhere to complete your transformation." Rainbow felt herself get pushed over the edge and before she knew what was happening she threw a punch at Evening Breeze. The girl easily side stepped Rainbow's fist before delivering a blow of her own which caused some blood to splatter onto Fluttershy. Rainbow was dazed by the punch, but she wasn't going to let them get near Fluttershy. Fluttershy subconsciously licked her lips tasting the blood there. it was invigorating! She felt better than she had in days! "Rainbow, I'll take care of this." Fluttershy said, a touch of confidence in her voice. Rainbow turned and looked at her oldest friend, Fluttershy's eyes were not their normal color, instead they were a vibrant red. Fluttershy's ears had become pointed, and her hands resembled talons. What Rainbow found most disturbing though was the pair of fangs that were beginning to protrude from the normally shy girl's mouth. "Fluttershy?" Rainbow said in a whisper of fear before Evening Breeze punched her in the stomach. "Applejack, please take Rainbow someplace safe, I'll handle these two." the monster that had been Fluttershy said with a grin. Applejack grabbed Rainbow and managed to drag her away despite her protests. "I'm looking forward to this." Crystal Dusk said cracking her knuckles, revealing her own talons. ***** "AJ, LET ME GO!" Rainbow screamed. Fluttershy needed her! She had to protect her BFF! "No sugarcube. Ah don't know if you noticed, but ah don't think we are a match for them." Applejack said, "besides, ah think Fluttershy could handle this." Suddenly both girls heard a scream from the direction they had both just come from. Rainbow took advantage of the distraction to run back toward the spot she had left Fluttershy. Applejack, cursing under her breath took off after Rainbow. ***** Applejack found Rainbow on her knees in a clearing. There was no sign of Crystal Dusk, Evening Breeze or Fluttershy. There was however, an awful amount of blood. Puddles of blood. As she approached Rainbow she heard her friend sobbing. She looked over Rainbow, making sure that she was unhurt. Satisfied that she wasn't she began looking for any signs of the combatants. Eventually she found what was left of Evening Breeze huddled behind a fallen tree. Barely breathing, her face looked like it had been through a paper shredder "Where is Fluttershy!" Applejack demanded. "She killed Crystal Dusk, then she disappeared." Evening Breeze said through the pain before looking skyward. Applejack heard the sound of a vehicle approaching and she looked toward the road. She saw a black van heading towards them. Thinking quickly, she grabbed Rainbow and ran through the woods in the opposite direction of Sweet Apple Acres. Behind her she heard the breaks on the van sequel as it came to a stop. She and Rainbow never looked back, they both just kept running. ***** Sunset was on her break enjoying a Diet Dew when her phone rang. Looking at the screen she saw that it was Applejack. "What's up AJ?" Sunset asked cheerfully. She became concerned when she heard Applejack's frantic breathing, "what happened?" "Dash, Fluttershy and I were attacked." Applejack said quickly, "I'm not even sure what happened, but Fluttershy is missing." "Is Rainbow with you?" Sunset asked worriedly. "Yeah, but I'd describe her as catatonic right now. " Applejack said. "You still have that spare key for my apartment that I gave you?" Sunset asked, "both if you go to my place, don't let anyone in, the rest of the girls and I will begin there when we get off of work. Don't let Rainbow leave or do anything foolish." > The Gathering Storm > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Why do you waste your power?" ***** Sunset burst into her apartment followed by Rarity, Pinkie and lastly, Twilight. Applejack had managed to get Rainbow cleaned up. Rainbow seemed to be more aware of her surroundings, but she was still in a state shock. Rarity and Pinkie sat down on either side of Rainbow and began to comfort her. "What happened AJ?" Twilight asked. Applejack relayed everything that had happened that evening including the appearance of the black van. "Any idea where Fluttershy could be?" Twilight asked. After Applejack had finished. Applejack only shrugged. Sunset was about to speak when her doorbell sounded. "Who could that be?" Sunset asked aloud. She looked at her friends and motioned for them to be quiet, then she turned off the lights as she stood next to the door. After silently counting to three she opened the door. "How long are you going to make us stand out here Sunset?" Principle Celestia asked from the hallway outside the apartment. "Oh, Principle Celestia, come on in, am I late on the rent?" Sunset asked. After the Battle of the Bands during the Anon-a-Miss incident Celestia had caught Sunset sleeping in the school library. Afterwards Celestia helped Sunset get her apartment. What Sunset wasn't aware of was that Celestia owned the apartment building and that she took the money that girl paid in rent and put it in a college fund she had started for the girl. Sunset turned the lights in her apartment back on and then watched as Celestia, Vice-Principle Luna, Nurse Redheart, and Ms. Inkwell entered her apartment. Redheart took one look at Rainbow and began assisting Rarity and Pinkie Pie. "Turning off the lights has never fooled anyone." Raven said to Sunset. Sunset blushed. "You and your friends are in danger Sunset Shimmer." Luna said. "We've kinda figured that out." Sunset replied. Celestia looked around the apartment. "Where's Fluttershy?" she asked worriedly. Applejack again repeated the events of the afternoon. "That explains why both Crystal Dusk and Evening Breeze were both absent for a week last month." Luna said. "Any idea where she may be?" Redheart asked. Five girls shook their heads. "You know what you must do!" Sunset sighed and closed her eyes to think. She slowly released a deep breath. She felt like she was flying over Canterlot. In her minds eye she could see the city below her. Suddenly she heard crying. Fluttershy was crying. She focused on her friend and soon found herself above the charred remains of a warehouse. "SUNSET!" Celestia yelled. Sunset opened her eyes. She looked down at her friends and the four faculty members in her apartment. She was flying. She was FLYING! That was when the laws of gravity decided to once again apply to her and she came crashing down. Luckily for her it was only a few feet. Celestia and Twilight rushed to her side to help her up. "Sunset, you were levitating." Celestia said not hiding the concern in her voice. "Yeah, it started about a month after we returned from Camp Everfree," Sunset said, "I know where Fluttershy is." ***** Celestia had told Raven and Redheart to stay at Sunset's apartment with Rainbow, Twilight, and Pinkie. She, Luna, Sunset, Applejack and Rarity had gotten into Celestia's SUV and driven out the the remains of the King Enterprises warehouse. When the got there, Luna surprised the three girls by pulling out a pair of bolt cutters and cutting open the lock. She had called it her master key. What Celestia did shocked the girls even more. Reaching under her seat she had pulled out a pair of flashlights, followed by a black box. Unlocking the box, she revealed that it held two small handguns, two P90 submachine guns and a pair of magazines for each. She loaded each weapon then handed one P90 and one handgun and a spare magazine for both weapons to Luna. "I miss my 1911," Luna said, looking at the pistol, "but .40 is better than 9mm." Celestia rolled her eyes at her younger sister. "Applejack, Rarity, you go with Luna," Celestia said, "Sunset, you're with me." Entering the remains of the warehouse, the two groups split up. Sunset followed Celestia. "What's going on?" Sunset asked finally. "Several years ago, Luna, Raven, Red and I worked for an organization known as Division Six," Celestia said, "needless to say, Luna was the victim of something similar to what happened to Fluttershy." "We all left Division Six at the same time and came to CHS." Celestia continued, "Luna has had a long road to recovery." "What exactly happened?" Sunset asked, "I mean I am having trouble picturing you as a bad ass secret agent." "Luna was captured by the ISA," Celestia sighed, "The used their dark science to turn her into a dark and twisted version of herself. I almost lost her." Sunset didn't know what to say, so she did the first thing that came to mind and hugged her Principle. "How do Ms. Inkwell and Nurse Redheart fit in?" Sunset asked. "Red was our field medic," Celestia said hesitantly, " and Raven, well, she was our weapons expert, plus she has mastered five different forms of martial arts. Just hope she never has a grenade, I lost my hearing for a week after the Cuba operation." Sunset was surprised. For four years she had thought that her teachers had been just that, but now to find out that they were actually bad ass secret super spies was a bit much to take in. Sunset looked around, turning on the flashlight app on her phone and shone it around the part of the ruins they were in. She couldn't see any sign of their missing friend. "Tell me Sunset," Celestia began, "how long have you been able to do what you did in your apartment, and can you control it?" "Like I said, it started almost a month after we returned from Camp Everfree," Sunset said, sighing, "I wish I could control it. You have no idea how many times I've bruised my butt because of it." "Is it only the levitation?" Celestia asked. "She knows you are hiding something Sunset Shimmer!" "Uh, yeah, only the levitating." Sunset said quickly. Celestia knew that Sunset was lying, but now wasn't the time or place to push the issue. Celestia's ears perked up. "Do you hear that?" Celestia said. Sunset listened. She could hear a familiar voice crying on the other side of the pile of debris in front of them. They rounded the corner an found Fluttershy. "Fluttershy!" Sunset said, "are you ok?" The shy girl only nodded. Sunset shone her light over her friend. Fluttershy looked like her normal self, except her face and her hands and her clothes were covered in dried blood. Suddenly the sound of a single shot rang out, and Fluttershy folded over. > Event Horizon > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "FLUTTERSHY!" Sunset screamed, she felt as though she was going to vomit. Celestia kept her cool, she immediately drew her weapon and began scanning their surroundings. She turned toward the sound of approaching foot steps. Applejack, Rarity, and Luna rounded the corner. Sunset, sobbing uncontrollably, hugged her two friends. Luna stooped down and examined Fluttershy. "She has been hit with a tranquilizer," Luna said holding up a small dart, "She is out cold." "Whoever did this is still here." Celestia said. "You're right about that," a voice said from the shadows, "now do me a favor and put your weapons down." Both Celestia and Luna placed their weapons on the floor. A tall dark skinned woman with straight turquoise green hair walked out of the shadows. "Chrysalis, I should have known." Celestia said, "you didn't have to tranq her, you know." "You didn't see what she did earlier this evening Tia," the newcomer said, "hey Luna, how have you been?" Luna didn't say anything. Sunset could tell that she was furious. "She didn't go lookin' fer that fight," Applejack said, "those two freaks attacked us. It's the ISA's fault." Chrysalis looked at Celestia and Luna both of whom only nodded, then she looked at Fluttershy. "We have a lab set up in a safe house near here," she said, "we'll take her there. If the doc says that she isn't a threat then you can take her home." "We're coming with you Chrys." Celestia said. "I expected nothing less." Chrysalis replied. ***** They rode in silence to Chrysalis' safe house. Sunset held onto the unconscious Fluttershy the entire trip. Upon arrival at their destination, Sunset recognized the house as an abandoned house she had stayed in when she first came to this world. Chrysalis checked to make sure they hadn't been followed, then led the group inside. "Allow me to introduce you to my team; Time Turner, and Zecora over there are my MD's, Zecora is a Cyberneticist. Behind you, Smooze, is my computers, communications and electronics specialist. And the big guy here is Pharynx, our weapons expert." Chrysalis said, "he also does the heavy lifting." Time Turner and Zecora led Sunset who was carrying Fluttershy down a hallway toward their med lab. Rarity and Applejack followed Sunset. Luna made Smooze visibly uncomfortable when she ran up to him and gave him a hug. Pharynx walked over to a table and began to field strip the tranquilizer gun. Chrysalis handed Celestia a cup of hot tea and an envelope. "Discord wanted me to give you this." Chrysalis said. Curious, Celestia opened the envelope to find a picture of Discord standing in front of a 1928 Cadillac. He was cross-eyed, sticking out his tongue and pointing at the car. "He still has that damn car." Celestia said, "used to drive me crazy when I ran his Executive Protection Detail." "Trust me, it still drives his protection detail nuts," Chrysalis said with a smile, "now tell me about Camp Everfree." "Watcha workin' on Smooze?" Luna asked across the room. Beads of sweat appeared on Smooze's forehead. "No-nothing," he stammered. Luna smirked and cocked an eyebrow. "Really Smoozey," Luna said, "that looks like the ISA D-base to me. At least part of it." "I'm looking f-f-for Tartarus." Smooze said looking down at the floor. Luna's eye lit up and she took a seat next to Smooze. "Find anything?" she asked excitedly. "Only personnel and equipment transfers," Smooze answered, "take a look." Time Turner, Sunset, Applejack and Rarity came out of the lab. "Great wickering stallions, I've got some great news." Time Turner said. Chrysalis and Celestia looked up from their conversation and looked at the doctor. "Fluttershy tested negative for mental conditioning, and cybernetics," Time Turner said looking at the paper in his hands, "not even healing nanites." "Ok, what about the other things they did to her." Celestia asked. "I'm not sure, sometimes the body rejects the foreign DNA, sometimes it absorbs it, and sometimes it integrates itself into the host," Time Turner explained, "it looks like it has integrated with Ms. Shy's DNA." "Ok, Turner, I have one question," Chrysalis said, "is she a threat?" "Good heaven's, I don't believe so," Time Turner answered, "I think that the, ah, event that we witnessed was from a desire to protect her friends." "She was tryn' to keep us safe," Applejack confirmed. Chrysalis looked to be deep in thought for a moment. "Alright Celestia," Chrysalis said, "as soon as the MD's are done, you can go." The ride back to Sunset's apartment was mostly quiet. Fluttershy, having recovered from her ordeal earlier that day was sleeping comfortably next to Rarity in the back seat. Applejack had nodded off as well and snored lightly in the seat next to Sunset. They were nearly back to Sunset's apartment when Sunset's phone rang. "Hello?" Sunset asked. "Sunset?" Lyra's voice said on the other end of the phone. "What's up Lyra," Sunset said, "kinda late isn't it?" "Bonnie is missing." Lyra said with some anguish, "the worst part is that her parents are acting like they don't have a daughter." "What?" Sunset asked in a serious tone. " Bonnie and I were supposed to have a date tonight, but when she didn't show I tried to call her," Lyra explained, "all I received was a number not in service notice. So I went by her house and her parents acted like they didn't know me or who Bon Bon is." "Lyra where are you now?" Sunset asked. "I'm at the 24 hour McDonkey's near my house," Lyra answered, "why?" "Stay there, we'll come get you." Sunset said. Sunset hung up her phone and then relayed the conversation to Celestia and Luna. > Opening Moves > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A light misting rain had begun to fall on Canterlot City, which had put a sour mood over CHS. In addition to Bon Bon, several other students had vanished with out a trace. The news had been full of reports of riots in nearby cities and towns. Luckily, the civil unrest hadn't reached Canterlot yet. Everything was quiet at Canterlot High. The school remained open but classes has been cancelled. The school seemed to be less crowded than usual. In one of the school's music rooms, seven girls met to discuss the situation, joining them was Lyra Heartstrings, who the girls refused to let out of their sight after Bon-Bon's disappearance. "Bon-Bon, isn't the only student who is missing," Rarity was saying, "Sweetie told me at lunch that one of those two girls that were bullying her, Applebloom and Scootaloo was missing." "Yer talkin about Diamond Tiara?" Applejack asked. "Not her," Rarity said, "the other one." "Silver Spoon." Rainbow Dash deadpanned. "Yes her." Rarity said. "That's not the only thing weird going on." Twilight said, "last night while my parents and I were out having dinner with my brother and Dean Cadence, someone broke into my lab." Seven pairs of eyes turned to look at Twilight. "Oh my goodness," Fluttershy said, "did they steal anything?" "That's just it, nothing is missing, and Spike slept through the whole thing," Twilight answered, "the police couldn't even find any fingerprints." "Then how do you know that you lab was broken into?" Lyra asked. "Nothing was where I left it." Twilight answered. Across the school in her office, Principle Celestia was having a similar discussion with her sister, Raven, and Redheart. "No one has any ideas where these missing students are," Raven said, "and when I call their parents I either get the run around or they deny the existence of the student in question all together." Celestia sighed and rubbed her forehead. She felt like a headache was right around the corner. "There's more, unfortunately," Luna said seeing her sisters discomfort, "I did some digging through those files I took from Smooze." Celestia looked up at her sister, Raven cocked an eyebrow as a smirk crept across her face and Redheart just sighed as Luna took a business folder out of her backpack. "This is everything I could find on TARTARUS," Luna said, "I know what it is." Celestia glanced through the folder and gasped. "We need to tell the girls about this immediately," Celestia said standing up, "something tells me that those girls are going to be our only hope." "I think they are in the music room." Redheart said. The girls looked up as Celestia and Luna entered the music room. Fluttershy was doing her best to get Lyra to stop crying, she had started thinking of Bon-Bon and couldn't stop crying. "Girls," Celestia said, "Luna and I have something that you need to hear." A worried expression settled onto Sunset's face, "what?" "I believe that Twilight was looking into TARTARUS." Luna said. "Yes I was," Twilight said, "along with my friend Moondancer, that is until she disappeared." "I know what TARTARUS is," Luna replied, "It's a mobile orbital weapons platform." "A who to the what now?" Rainbow asked confused. "It's a spaceship." Sunset deadpanned. "Oh," Rainbow said, "Just how the hell are we supposed to fight a spaceship?" "I wish we had some Gundams." Pinkie said. "Not helping Pinkie!" Applejack said. Suddenly the doors to the music room flew open and both Flash Sentry and Trixie were standing in the open doorway. "Principle Celestia have you heard the news?" Trixie said as Flash pulled out a radio. "No, what is it?" Celestia asked. "Martial law has been declared, and someone called Director Tirek and the ISA has assumed control of the government!" Flash explained as he tuned the radio. "Luna, I want you and Raven to collect as many students as you can and head to Everfree now." Celestia ordered. "On it." Luna said grabbing both Trixie and Flash. "Girls, you're to stay close to me." Celestia said. There was a flurry of activity throughout the halls of CHS as Celestia led the girls to her office. "Does anybody hear that." Sunset said after a while. Everyone in the office stopped what they were doing to listen. They all heard the distinct sound of a helicopter landing outside the school. The girls followed Celestia out the front of school to find the front entrance surrounded by men and women wearing black bdu style clothing. Some were holding weapons, others seemed to be unarmed. One of the unarmed figures stepped forward, removing her helmet. "BON-BON!" Lyra cried. "Wrong, I am special agent Sweetie Drops," Bon-Bon answered, "and I am here to accept your complete surrender." "What, no." Lyra whispered. Sunset put her hand on Lyra's shoulder. Sunset felt like her blood was boiling. She looked at Bon-Bon, then at CHS and her friends, and then back at Bon-Bon. She took a step forward. "Enough," Sunset said, "you've gone after my friends. You've got no idea what you're facing. You want to see what a real monster is, well lets not disappoint YOU!" Sunset closed her eyes and she felt something rise up deep from inside her. Something she hadn't felt since the night of the Fall Formal. > The Last Full Measure > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunset threw off her leather jacket and took another step forward. "release me." Sunset closed her eyes and allowed herself to be overcome by the darkness within her. She felt the pain as her flesh was burned away and she was transformed from a teenage girl into a raging she-demon. "A demon Sunset, really," Sweetie Drops said sarcastically, "get some new material already." Sweetie Drop's eyes turned inky black and she transformed into a creature that was part bug and part bear. "Bon-Bon, no!" Lyra called out, "think about what you are doing!" "Did she just turn into a... a bugbear?" Pinkie gasped, wide-eyed. The Sunset-demon raised it's arms over its head and conjured a ball of fire before releasing it and sending it flying toward Sweetie Drops. At the last second the bugbear that had once been Sweetie Drops lunged forward and tackled Sunset to the ground and began to savagely claw at the demon's face. With a primal scream, Sunset threw Sweetie Drops off of her and leapt into the air attempting to land on the bugbear, but Sweetie Drops rolled out of the way at the last moment. Unfazed, Demon-Sunset lunged at the bugbear, swiping at her with her own claws. Sweetie Drops, unprepared for the swift ferocity of Sunset's attack, was momentarily caught off guard. ***** Discord looked at his assistant for a long while before speaking. "Activate all our strike teams," Discord said finally, "initiate the NOVA Protocol. We're leaving." "Yes sir," his assistant said as she tapped several keys on her tablet, NOVA Protocol has been initiated. There is a chopper waiting for us on the roof." Discord nodded. "I hate running away." his assistant said as they climbed into the waiting helicopter. "This isn't over'" Discord replied as the helicopter began to lift into the air, "I have a few cards left that Tirek knows nothing about." ***** Sunset staggered as the bugbear took a bite out of one of her demonic wings,causing the demonic girl to cry out in pain. However, Sunset fought on, slashing Sweetie Drops deeply with her claws. Rainbow Dash took a step forward, only to be stopped by Applejack. "What do ya think yer doin Sugarcube," Applejack asked, "we'd only get in the way. Are ya tryin to get herself killed?" "I have to do something!" Rainbow replied. "AJ is right darling," Rarity said, "there is nothing we can do in this situation." "Maybe Fluttershy can go all Flutterbat and help Sunset." Pinkie said. "Um... I don't think it works that way." Fluttershy said. "Ohhhh," Pinkie said, " are we sure that we can't call G.I.JOE or the Autobots?" "Who darling?" Rarity asked as both Applejack and Rainbow slapped theirs foreheads in a face-palm. ***** Director Tirek, stood looking out the window of his tower at the cityscape below. Everything was proceeding according to his plans, despite the idiot Sombra's screw up. "Ms. Hope, has local law enforcement been neutralized," Tirek asked as he walked to his desk and poured himself a glass of brandy. "Yes sir, everything is on schedule," Radiant answered, "Commander Tempest has reported that Tartarus will be ready to enforce your will in the coming week." "Excellent," Trirek said, "any thing else to report?" "Agent Grubber has reported that there is some resistance at one of the local high schools," Radiant said, "but he also reports that your agents should have it pacified momentarily." From behind his drink Tirek could only smile. ***** Sunset had worn Sweetie Drops down and eventually the bugbear had changed back into an unconscious teenage girl. Sunset summoned a fireball and was about to deliver the death blow "SUNSET DON'T!" Lyra screamed as she ran to Sweetie Drops' side. A look of recognition flashed in the demonette's eyes and she turned to face the remaining ISA agents as Lyra dragged Sweetie Drops to safety. Sunset released the fireball at one of the ISA SUV's. Rainbow Dash would later describe the explosion as "so awesome!" The agents now turned their weapons on Sunset, however their firepower had little to no effect on the demonic teenager. No one noticed the helicopter circling over head. ***** "Look down there!" Pharynx exclaimed, pointing the scene below, "looks like civies in need of a pick up." "Get the minigun ready, we're gonna get down in the weeds." Chrysalis said as she recognized Celestia down on the ground. "Is that a demon attacking the ISA?" Time Turner asked. "Who cares as long as it's on our side." Pharynx answered as he manned the minigun. ***** "OH COME ON!" Rainbow exclaimed when she saw the helicopter descending from above, "who is this?" "Decepticons?" Pinkie said, which resulted in strange looks from her friends and Principle Celestia. "I don't think so Pinkie." Twilight said. Sunset began to move closer to the SUVs, placing the plinth of the Wondercolts statue between her and her friends. She howled with rage as tore into the barricade of vehicles. Nobody saw one of the agents, in desperation, ready a rocket launcher and point it at Sunset. Nobody except Rainbow Dash. ***** "ROCKET LAUNCHER LEFT SIDE!" Time Turner called out. "I can't get a shot!" Pharynx answered. ***** Time seemed to nearly stand still for Rainbow Dash as she activated her magic and ran to stop the guy with the rocket launcher! At the very least she could throw off his aim. The air was filled with the roar of the rocket as it sailed through the air, impacting near Sunset's feet and the plinth. Rainbow thought she could hear the sound of a mirror shattering as something knocked her off her feet. "RAINBOW!" Applejack cried out. "SUNSET!" Celestia and Twilight both cried out. Where Sunset and the plinth had been was only a smoking crater! Suddenly the sound of ripping paper filled everyone's ears as the descending helicopter opened fire on the remaining ISA AGENTS. Applejack ran to Rainbow, who lay unconscious with her left arm pinned under a large piece of the plinth. "Oh Rainbow." Applejack whispered. The helicopter touched down and Celestia saw Chrysalis wave for her and the students with her to get aboard the aircraft. Rarity helped Lyra carry Sweetie Drops on board, while Applejack gently placed Rainbow aboard.