All That Glimmers
Somewhere in the deserts of Utah was a small, nameless village. The people who lived there led a simple life, free of modern technology and any outside influences. The men worked to benefit the village as a whole, while the women stayed home and looked after the children, ensuring that they were raised and educated in the ways of the village. Its founding principal: Equality for all. No one in the town was better than anyone else, traditional gender roles were strictly enforced, and money was kept to a bare minimum. It was, in short, a perfect society.
But for Starlight Glimmer, it wasn't enough. Unbeknownst to the people who populated her village, she was well aware of the outside world, and knew that it would have to be equalized in time, as she had done with her village. So, one day, she packed a small suitcase and left the town, taking a large wooden stick with her. The stick was a magical artifact, and its spells had allowed her to make the village what it was today. With any luck, it would serve her well at her destination: Canterlot High School.
The hallways of the Canterlot School District’s central office were dark, save for two people: one was a tall man with bone white skin, blue eyes, and dark hair that fell around his face like a curtain, complete with a matching goatee. His name was Chancellor Neighsay, and he had been the superintendent of CSD ever since Celestia and Luna first joined CHS. The other was Starlight Glimmer, deputy superintendent.
“Working late again, sir?” Starlight asked. “What are you going to do tonight?”
“The same thing I do every night, Ms. Glimmer,” Neighsay answered. “Try to shut down that school!” He pointed at CHS in the far distance.
“Why?” Starlight wondered.
“Isn’t it obvious?” said Neighsay. “When they were first appointed to their positions, I made sure to explain that I expected them to do things by… the… book!” He banged the table with his fist. “And ever since that Sunset Shimmer girl arrived, they have been doing anything but! They allowed a raging she-demon to attend the school, accepted random people off the street as students without proper paperwork, allowed the creation of clubs promoting sexual deviancy, put their students and those of Crystal Prep in life -threatening danger, took them to a deathtrap of a campground, and most recently? One of their own students, Gemini Shadow, murdered a classmate in cold blood.”
He turned away from the window. “Ordinarily, that would be more than enough justification to have the school closed, however… I believe that your techniques, which you used to great effect in that little town of yours, could be helpful here. Tomorrow, I will be firing Celestia and Luna from their positions, and replacing them with you. Your goal to be bring that school into line. And if, for some reason, you cannot… then I will have it shut down. Any questions?”
“Only one,” said Starlight. “What do you intend to do about… the ‘magic?’” She made air-quotes with her fingers.
Neighsay stroked his goatee in thought. “That is a good question, Ms. Glimmer. Had I not seen evidence of it myself, I might have dismissed it as childish delusions. However, as every student should be prepared to defend our way of life, I would ask you to use magic in any way you see fit, and perhaps teach your students to use it, if possible. Does that answer your question?”
Starlight nodded. “It does, sir. I shall report to CHS in the morning.”
“See that you do,” Neighsay said, and left the office.
Adagio Dazzle sat in the living room of Sunset Shimmer’s house, her hands wrapped around a mug of coffee, one cream and two sugars. The window was open, letting in the late summer breeze and the damp smell of rain. As she stared into the dark street beyond, her mind raced. Had it really been two and a half years since that terrible night at the concert hall, and a year and a half since Longhaul the bus driver had so kindly taken them in, saved their lives, and taught them to sing once more? She could scarcely believe it.
And yet, here she was, about to start her final year at Canterlot High with Sunset and the other girls in their group. That idea alone was enough to blow her mind; the Adagio of several moons ago would have scoffed at the very idea of attending school for any other reason but restoration of their lost power, and would have recoiled outright at the idea of fraternizing with humans. The old Adagio had despised her current body, even after all that time.
Now, of course, things had changed. Though she still missed her siren form, she knew it would never be restored to her. With her powers gone, she and her sisters were mortal. In fact, they were exactly as they appeared to be: a trio of teenage girls of around 18 years of age. They would age and grow as normal humans did, and eventually, they would die. That thought seemed to please her. After all, considering the amount of centuries she’d been alive, which was nearly uncountable by human and pony reckonings… death would be more like a long-deserved sleep than a final destination.
Then there was the not-insignificant matter of her friends: Twilight, Emerald, Gemini, Raven, and especially Sunset Shimmer. Adagio felt a faint blush appear on her cheeks as she thought of the last name. Sunset was, in a lot of ways, just like her: a being of impressive power struck down twice, and shown the value of harmony and friendship. Since then, Sunset had reformed herself and her reputation, and became friends with this world’s version of Twilight Sparkle, though they didn’t see each other too often.
Adagio was broken from her train of thought by the sound of quiet footsteps on the floor behind her. She turned, and found Sunset herself walking toward the kitchen, dressed in pink pajamas with her sun cutie mark on the chest of her shirt. Adagio smiled. “You’re up late,” she said.
Sunset jumped and turned to face the other girl, running her fingers through her red and yellow hair. “Yeah, I couldn’t sleep… figured I’d try some warm milk.”
Adagio nodded and rose, sipping from her mug. Her own pajamas were a dark purple, and made of silk. “I was just thinking about you, actually… about how nice you’ve been, and the upcoming school year, and graduation…” She lowered the mug and went to go sit at the kitchen table.
Sunset joined her after warming up a glass of milk. “Hard to believe it’s almost over, isn’t it?”
Adagio nodded. “The girls and I plan on trying our luck in the music industry… for real this time, no more hypnosis.” She looked down. “Not that we could do it anymore, anyway.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Sunset said, sipping her milk. “You three have been sounding better every day!”
Adagio blushed again. “Thank you… it’s all thanks to Longhaul that we’re doing music at all. Before then, I was taking up fashion with Rarity.” She looked up into Sunset’s face. “How about you? What do you have planned?”
Sunset shrugged. “I think I might go to college, major in one of the sciences… biology, maybe. I always did wonder how human genes work… blue fur is perfectly normal in Equestria after all, but blue skin? I always assumed it was a side effect of the whole alternate universe thing, but then again…” She blushed herself. “Sorry, I got a little over excited.”
Adagio smiled and touched Sunset’s hand lightly with her own. “I think it’s cute.” There was a pause as the two sipped their drinks, broken only by the occasional rumbles of thunder from outside.
Adagio hummed. "How about Gem and Raven?"
Sunset paused and considered the question, looking thoughtful. "Raven's thinking about going back to Manehattan and getting into show business. Gem will probably follow her, I think she wants to pursue teaching."
"She'd be great at that," Adagio replied, chuckling. "You know how she is with that tutoring job at the middle school."
"Manehattan seems a little far, but she is used to the big city..." Sunset said, when suddenly a thought struck her. "You don't suppose..."
"That we could all move to Manehattan after graduation and rent an apartment together?" proposed Adagio, smirking.
Sunset blinked. "How'd you guess?"
"Logic," Adagio reasoned. "Manehattan is home to some of this world's best colleges, so you and Gem would be able to get a great education easily. The girls and I could easily audition for the record companies there, and Raven could break into show business much more easily than if she stayed here."
"When you put it that way," Sunset said, finishing her milk. "It sounds like the perfect idea! I'll call Gem in the morning, she's probably asleep by now." Then she yawned widely, her jaw threatening to pop.
"Eeesh... I gotta get some sleep." She smiled a little. "See you tomorrow, Adagio." And with that she rose and made her way back down the hall, leaving Adagio to her thoughts again.
"Bonne nuit, Sunset," whispered Adagio, as she crossed the room to the front door, and stepped out into the gathering storm. Cold rain hit her face and ran down her skin, soaking her immediately, but she didn't mind. She simply stood and admired the tempest, then went back inside to dry off.
Getting into bed was another story. She, Sonata, and Aria all shared a room, and both of the other girls were already asleep. Adagio stepped as quietly as she could through the room, stripped, and slid into bed. The room itself was littered with music sheets, instruments, and a closet containing three sets of clothes. For now it was dark, lit only by the orange light of a distant street lamp and the odd flash of lightning.
Adagio's thoughts turned toward the future as she drifted off to sleep. Could she imagine packing her things and getting into Gem's car, driving off toward Manehattan with Raven, Sunset, Twilight, Emerald and her siblings? Of course she could. Her last thought before the dreams claimed her: a vision of herself swimming in the Atlantic waves, among the sea once more.
For the first time in ages, Raven stared at her face in the mirror. She scratched her nose. The girl in the mirror copied her. She clapped her hands once, and the mirror girl did the same. Those eyes, the magenta orbs that she'd known all her life, looked back at her.
Raven had changed, there was no doubt about that. Not so long ago, she had been a freshman at Canterlot High, newly transferred from Manehattan's PS 118. She had been a girl with a chip on her shoulder and an attitude to match, to the point that she had spent half of the year in detention.
The final straw had come two weeks before Christmas vacation, when she had gotten into a nasty fistfight with the other new girl in school, Sunset Shimmer. After Raven got out of the hospital, Vice Principal Luna verbally threw the book at her, threatening expulsion if Raven so much as threw a milk carton at the next lunch period. As a result, she wound up having to repeat her freshman year.
But that wasn’t all: another new student arrived in her sophomore year, some eccentric Brit called Gemini. Raven had fallen for the girl, and by the time of that year’s Fall Formal the two of them were dating. Gem had brought out something in Raven. She became less violent, her grades went up, her detention rate plummeted.
Vice Principal Luna had said, not unkindly, that Gemini was the best thing to have ever happened to Raven, and she was right. The two of them quickly became Canterlot High’s most talked about couple, and the amount of admiration both of them had received after starting The Rainbow Alliance club was unlike anything CHS had seen before or since. Rumor was they were going to be presented with an award at graduation, but the two pretended not to know.
Graduation… Raven sighed as she turned and left the bathroom, wandered through the halls of Shadowfall, and stared thoughtfully out the sitting room window. Tomorrow night, she, Gem, and their friends would start their last year at Canterlot High together. All of them had changed, literally and metaphorically. And for a girl who used to hate school, Raven found herself sad.
“Everything okay, love?’ asked a quiet voice. Raven turned, and smiled at the sight of her fiancé, taking Gem’s hand in her own. “Just… thinking,” she said. “About me, you, tomorrow… I can’t believe we’re graduating this year.”
“Neither can I,” Gem agreed, chuckling. “But I’m looking forward to starting the next chapter of our lives together,” she added, smiling.
Raven giggled and kissed Gem’s cheek. “So am I. Would you believe I found an awesome deal on an apartment in Manhattan yesterday?”
Gem gasped, hands flying to her cheeks. “No!”
Raven grinned. “Three bedrooms, two baths, a big living room… plenty of room for you, me, and the others. All for $1200 a month.”
“You really are a magician,” Gem said, beaming.
Raven laughed. “I do my best, sweetie.”
"But what do we do with this place?" Gem wondered, looking around.
Raven shrugged. "Keep it around, in case marriages and families happen."
Gem nods. “That’s a good idea, I think. You never know!”
That night, Gemini and her friends got into their respective beds and fell asleep, unaware of what the morning would bring.
The next day was the first day of the Rubies’ senior year. It started out normally, of course, with Longhaul picking up Gem, Raven, Sunset and the Dazzlings, and Twilight and Emerald coming in on a separate bus, but things quickly changed as they entered the school itself. Starlight stood there, dressed in a purple jacket and black skirt with a white armband decorated with an equals sign. She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. The students filed off the buses, unusually quiet. Starlight gave them a smile.
“Welcome!” she announced, holding her arms up in the air. “Due to circumstances beyond the District’s control, I have been appointed as Canterlot High School’s new principal. My name is Starlight Glimmer. Please go inside and put away your things, then assemble in the gymnasium.”
Inside was even more worrying. The Wondercolt banners had been taken down, replaced with white ones with the same equals sign on it. Every few feet were motivational posters with slogans like, “Choose equality as your special talent. Difference is frustration. To excel is to fail. Be your best by never being your best. Conformity will set you free. Accept your limitations, and happiness will follow. You're no better than your friends,” all with Starlight Glimmer’s smiling face.
“I can’t put my finger on it,” commented Gemini to Raven as they walked together toward the former’s locker. “But I don’t like the look of our new principal. Do you?”
Raven shook her head. “Not at all, Gem. I’m getting all kinds of bad vibes from her.”
Sunset came running up from behind them. “Girls, it’s even worse than I thought!” she panted. “She’s having police tape put up around the portal, and isn’t allowing anyone to go anywhere near it unless she’s with them! How can she know about it?!”
“Sunset, with everything that’s happened here in the last few years, I’d be very surprised if she didn’t know about the portal,” Gem answered. “Let’s get to that meeting. Maybe she can tell us more about what she has in mind.”
Rows of chairs lined the floor of the gymnasium, having been set up prior to the start of the school day. The students slowly filed in, taking seats next to friends, each wondering aloud what in the dickens was going on. Faculty and staff stood against the walls, including a very tired and cranky bus driver, who was press-ganged into setting up chairs in the wee hours of the morning. He stifled a yawn, and shrugged his shoulders when one of the teachers asked him if he had any idea what was going on.
Behind the podium was a white banner with an equals sign on it. Starlight Glimmer watched as the students made their way inside, and smiled. ”Students of Canterlot High," she began, "today marks a new era in this school: An era of equality for all students, and a way to forget the past problems the former administration could not, or would not, deal with. You will each receive a new student handbook. Please sign the front page and be sure to place those in the box by the principal's office before the end of the school day."She banged a wooden staff on the gym floor. It glowed a bright teal color, and small books began floating over to each student.
Gem flips through her book, expecting the usual list of rules and regulations. Her gaze stops at a new section about school uniforms. At first, the section seemed fairly benign: "All students at Canterlot High School shall wear the appropriate school uniform during all regular school hours, during assemblies and other school-sanctioned functions occurring after school hours, and on all school-sponsored field trips."
A picture showed a typical male and female student. The male wore a light lavender long -sleeved dress shirt with black tie, and light grey dress slacks. A round white patch with an equals sign was attached over the left breast pocket of the shirt. The female wore a light lavender long -sleeved blouse with light grey knee-length skirt. The patch was attached on the left side of the blouse.
Gem's eyes widened in shock and disbelief as she read the next paragraph. "All students shall wear gender -appropriate clothing as noted by their legal gender. Failure to comply with this rule shall be punished accordingly, up to and including expulsion from Canterlot High for willful and repeat offenses."
At the last paragraph, Gem puts a hand on her heart and gasps, as if she has just been stabbed. Immediately tears begin to fill her eyes, and she hurriedly taps Sunset on the shoulder. "Look at this.." she whispers, pointing. "I can't sign this book, I won't!" She slams the book closed and drops it to the floor. "It's cruel, it's inhumane, it's discriminatory, it's deplorable..."
"It's a buncha bull cookies," Sunset agrees. "Look, you still have your modified birth certificate, let's just take it in and talk with this Principal Starlight. I'm sure we can get this worked out," she said, putting an arm around Gem reassuringly.
Adagio taps Sunset on the shoulder. "Um, you two might not want to do that," she says, pointing to another paragraph in the handbook: "Public displays of affection on school grounds are not acceptable, and will result in action ranging from detention after school to suspension up to fifteen days for each offense."
“Good grief..." Gem sighs, facepalming at Adagio's words. "It's like we've entered a dictatorship.” As the bell rings to dismiss the students toward their next classes, Gemini picks up her handbook and walks out of the gymnasium, throwing it into the nearest trash can as soon as possible.
General rumblings of dissent were heard throughout the day from the other students, mostly about the increasingly draconian rules being set forth in the new handbooks. All school clubs were shut down, including Gem’s Rainbow Alliance, and all of the sports clubs.
Assigned seats were instituted at lunch, in alphabetical order by last name. By pure luck, this meant Raven, Gem, Sunset, and Twilight still sat together, but the other four members of their group were scattered around the room.
Joining the four was Vinyl Scratch, who looked decidedly annoyed about something. When asked, she replied, “That Glimmer woman confiscated my MP3 player, and my headphones, and my earbuds. Then she gave me after school detention!”
“And tomorrow, we’re all supposed to report to the gym for a new class,” said Sunset grimly. “Equality 101.”
“What on earth is that?” Raven asked, looking confused.
Gem shrugged. “I haven’t the faintest idea… but I don’t like it.” The five spent their lunch hour in silence from then on.
“I was just as shocked as you were when I found Celestia and Luna were gone,” Longhaul said to Gem on the bus ride home. “I tried calling them earlier, but they weren’t answering. And, because I got busted by that Glimmer lady, I have to report back once I finish this route for ‘special faculty training,’ whatever the heck that is.”
“But, where did she come from?” Sunset asked, sitting with Gem. “And who sent her to this school, and not one of the worse ones in the district?”
Longhaul shrugged. “I don’t know, but rumblings I’ve heard say this came from Neighsay himself. Which alone gives me a bad feeling, especially about this ‘training’ I, and the rest of the faculty need to go through.”
“You’re not the only one with the bad feeling,” Gem said glumly.
Poring through the student transcripts, Starlight pulled one about one particular student. She sat down at her desk and began to read. “Well, well, well … I think tomorrow is going to be very interesting.” She chuckled to herself.
Hearing the school bus returning to the parking area, she closed the file and picked up her magical stick. “Enough of that for now…it’s time to get the faculty in line with the concept of equality.” She smiled a small smile as the stick began to glow with a brilliant, eerie blue light.
The next morning, the clouds are low and dark, giving the day an oppressive atmosphere. Gem wore her new uniform, which she’d received at the end of the school day yesterday. She strides out of the manor house and hurries down the steps to the long driveway, where Longhaul’s bus would pick her up. She shivers, looking around with an anxious expression on her face.
Across town, Emerald is putting on her own uniform, grumbling. “I already hate that Glimmer woman!” she says to Twilight through the wall between their rooms. “This stupid uniform policy makes me feel like I’m back at Crystal Prep!”
“Just put up with it until we can find out what’s going on,” Twilight called back. She got into her own uniform and sighed, fixing her hair in accordance with the new grooming guidelines.
In yet another part of town, Raven stomped down the stairs of the apartment she shared with her brother, Corvus. He was in the kitchen when she stomped in and sat down heavily in front of her bowl of cereal.
“So, what’s this? ‘Youth for Neighsay’ is issuing uniforms now?” Corvus asked.
“Oh, shut up,” Raven grumbled, spooning some cereal into her mouth.
“Whoa, this is serious. No witty comeback, no pillow across the face…you’re really upset about this, aren’t you?”
“More for Gem than myself…” Raven replied sadly.
“I just feel like something’s brewing over there,” Sunset Shimmer was saying, as she and the Dazzlings got ready for their day. “Did you see that stick of hers she was carrying around all day? I could sense Equestrian magic coming off of it, like when I saw the green smoke your pendants generated.”
“I heard she’s taking away Taco Tuesday,” said Sonata mournfully.
“I’m more worried about Gem,” added Adagio. “Between the new uniforms and her club being shut down, I feel as though Starlight is trying to drive her out.”
“Why?” Aria asked.
“Well, think about it,” said Sunset. “We’re all friends because of her, and she’s done more to bring the school together than anyone I know. If there’s anybody who could organize a rebellion, it’d be her.”
“I suppose today will be our day to find out,” Adagio muttered. “The bus will be here soon.”
Back at Shadowfall, the bus had finally arrived. Gem ascends the steps, still looking glum. “Good morning, Longhaul,” she says. “How did the faculty training go?”
It was then that Gem noticed how eerily quiet the bus was. She looked to see every student sitting completely still, facing forward, and not talking to each other like they normally would. Longhaul turned to her.
“Welcome aboard,” he said in a slight monotone, his face devoid of expression. “Please take a seat and observe the rules regarding bus safety. Do not distract the bus driver in any way. Any infractions of the rules will be reported to Principal Glimmer upon our arrival.” He turned back and closed the bus doors, and the bus rumbled its way to the school.
“Oh dear…” Gem sits down and whips out her phone, using the back of the seat in front of her to hide it, and sends a quick text to the others: “They’ve gotten Longhaul.”
Fifteen minutes later, the students of CHS march in lockstep into the building, not speaking. Starlight Glimmer is grinning broadly, looking pleased with herself. Then her smile fades as eight particular girls approach the doors, talking amongst themselves. She spots Gem, and says, “Mr. Shadow, I’d like to see you in my office please.” A pause. “MISTER SHADOW! I repeat, I would like to see you in my office, please! NOW!”
Gem looks up. “But Principal Starlight, I have done nothing wrong,” she says coolly, as her friends watch her. “And as I’m sure you know, I would prefer to be called Miss Shadow when spoken to.”
“What you prefer is of no consequence,” Starlight growls, grabbing Gem’s hand and pulling her away from the others. “My office, at once!” She marches through the doors, dragging Gem along behind her.
The remaining seven look at each other in shock. “Uh oh…” they said in unison.
Sunset took out her magic journal. “Come on, let’s see if we can get some insight from the other side.”
“For the record, Principal Glimmer,” Gem said slowly and calmly, “your treatment of me is in direct violation of the very rules you are here to enforce, and I will be filing a formal complaint about your actions.”
“To whom? The CEA?” She scoffed. “Chancellor Neighsay has granted me unilateral powers to get this school back in line, and I intend to do just that. Starting with you, MISTER Shadow.” She drops Gem’s file on her desk. “Oh you have been a naughty one, haven’t you?” she said in a condescending voice. “Wanton use of dangerous magic, destruction of school property, promoting lewd and lascivious lifestyles … oh my, and first-degree murder. You are truly the bad seed, aren’t you? It seems we’ll need to work extra hard to get you to conform to proper standards of behavior and decorum.” She looked Gem over. “Starting with your uniform. Why are you dressed as a female, when your legal birth certificate clearly states you are male?”
“Because I haven’t had my birth certificate changed yet,” Gem answers. “It’s harder when you’re an immigrant. But that is neither here nor there. I am dressed as a female because that is what I am, regardless of what may be between my legs.” She turns around in a circle slowly. “How can you look at me and tell me I’m male, when the evidence before you suggests otherwise?”
“Because, despite your outward appearances, this is a legal document, signed by a doctor, that states you were born as a biological male,” Starlight spat. “What next, are you going to go to Appleloosa, say, and declare yourself some form of wolf-human hybrid? Enough playing dress-up and make-believe, Mister Shadow. Either dress appropriately, or face the consequences of your actions.”
“No,” says Gem, with a strong note of finality in her voice. “Do your worst, ‘Principal’ Glimmer. I will not stand here and be grieviously mistreated by someone of your ilk!”
“Then you are henceforth expelled from Canterlot High School, effective immediately.” She snaps her fingers. “Mr. Hoofer, please escort the miscreant back to his home!”
Longhaul, who was standing in the back of the office, nodded. “Come with me, please,” he said, extending a hand toward the door. “I will transport you back to your house.”
Gem simply dropped her shoulders and sighed. There was no point in resisting at this time. She followed Longhaul out of the principal’s office.
When they were in the hallway, which was surprisingly devoid of activity in the time before classes officially started, she turned to Longhaul. “What did they do to you? Don’t you remember our friendship? How can you just go along with this?”
Longhaul’s expression didn’t change but something in his voice sounded different. “I must follow the rules, and conform to the standards. All must conform. Your friends must conform if they are to continue to be students here. Those that do not conform will be re-educated, and failing that, expelled.” He continued to walk Gem to the school bus.
Gem remained silent, blinking back a few tears. She took out her phone when Longhaul wasn’t looking and tapped out a quick text to her friends: “Expelled. Meet @ Shadowfall ASAP. Save yourselves. Love you all.”
Raven and the others were in homeroom when Gem’s text came. Raven snarls and stands up, ripping off the patch from her uniform. “FUCK THIS!” she roars. “Girls, let’s get outta here! Gem needs us!”
“Sit down, Ms. Sable!” thunders the teacher. “Or I shall call for Principal Glimmer!”
As Raven gets into a shouting match with the teacher, Twilight leans over to Sunset. “How can we get out of here without being noticed? Starlight will do everything she can to stop us!”
Sunset was about to reply when Raven abruptly stomped out of the classroom, slamming the door behind her hard enough to crack the seal around the doorframe. The reacher turned back to the class. “If anyone else wishes to follow Ms. Sable as opposed to remaining here and learning something important about conformity, they may do so right this instant!”
Sunset looked at Twilight. “That works.” The two got up and walked out of the class, drawing a disapproving scowl from the teacher.
They met up with Raven and the Dazzlings outside, near the pathway to the statue. “So you three never went in?” Raven was asking Adagio as Sunset and Twilight approached.
“Nope,” Adagio answered. “After hearing what happened to Longhaul, and seeing some of the other students and staff, we decided to lay low and ditch. We know mind control magic when we see it.”
“So, it is a form of magic,” Sunset said. “But, how did it end up in Starlight’s hands?’
Twilight looked around nervously. “Um, has anyone seen Emerald? I figured she would have joined us by now.”
“I’m here!” Emerald comes loping down the steps, and pants for breath once she reaches the statue. “I decided to try and grab that staff of hers from her office, but Glimmer caught me before I could even get her door open.” She sighs heavily. “Man, this sucks… our school’s a totalitarian nightmare, the principal is a female Hitler, and everyone except us has been brainwashed! What do we do?”
“What we always do,” says Raven. “We go to Shadowfall.” And they went.
“As I see it,” said Gem, pacing back and forth in the sitting room, “We need to do two things. We need to find out how Starlight can wield Equestrian magic, and if we can use her staff to break her hold on the students, teachers, and everyone else. I can’t go because if I go anywhere near the place, they’ll have me arrested. But I know what I -can- do.”
“What’s that?” Raven asked.
“Go to the Sisters,” said Gem. “But only Longhaul knows where they live, since he and Luna spend so much time together. And since he’s still brainwashed…”
“We’ll need to break into his office,” Raven finished. “Leave that to me, sweetie. Just ‘cause I ain’t been on the streets in a few years doesn’t mean I forgot everything I learned. I can pick a lock with the best of ‘em!”
“Wait a second… I just had a thought,” Aria said. “Now, we know that when Longhaul’s at the school he’s a mindless zombie, doing whatever Glimglam tells him to do. But, what about when he’s at home? Is he the same, or is he somewhat normal?”
“So, you think the enchantment’s only effective on the school grounds?” Twilight asked.
“It would stand to reason,” Sunset said. “The portal is right there, a prime source of Equestrian magic, and that is Equestrian magic in that weird stick. It might be easier to manipulate, keep it contained within a short distance and not affect anything or anyone outside of a certain radius. Away from any strong source of Equestrian magic, however, the effects would be more widespread, more of a blanketing effect and not as finely controlled.”
“He didn’t seem to want to do what Starlight was commanding him to do,” Gem added. “So, something of the real Longhaul was in there. I say it’s worth the risk. Let’s go to his house instead of going to the school and risking getting caught and …’re-educated.’”
“I can’t explain it,” Longhaul said to the girls over coffee and snacks. “When I get within maybe seven hundred yards of the school, I lose all control over myself and do whatever Miss Glimmer tells me to do.”
“As I suspected,” said Sunset, taking out her journal. “Princess Twilight managed to break down exactly which mind control spells the pony version of Starlight used when she took over an entire village a few years ago, so it stands to reason that our Starlight is using those same spells.”
“But how can we stop it?” Emerald asks. “We can’t exactly just close the school, now can we?”
“And what of the magic we already have? Did Princess Twilight say if it would protect us from those spells?” Sonata added.
“Gem, you’re the organizer, what do you think? Can we organize a way to keep the other students at home and deal with Starlight ourselves?” Raven asked Gem.
“I think I can work up some form of immunity from the mind-control spells,” Sunset said, “as long as we all stay together it should keep us safe for a short while, hopefully long enough to destroy that stick of hers and dispel the magic it holds.”
Gem thinks. “Honestly, I don’t know… I’ll have to see what Celestia and Luna think. We’ll need their help, especially if Neighsay is behind this.”
At Central Office, Neighsay was having a very tense conversation with Starlight. “Pleased as I am that you were able to keep Mr. Shadow from intervening while enrolled,” he said, “I find these reports that he is trying to contact the Sisters… displeasing. Ms. Glimmer, are you pondering what I’m pondering?"
“I do believe so, Chancellor Neighsay,” Starlight replied, “but would the villains really have gotten away with it, if it weren't for those pesky kids and their dog?”
Neighsay glared at Starlight and sighed. “We need to get that miserable gang under control, and that includes our dear Mister Shadow. I want it done by sunset tomorrow. Do not fail me in this task.”
“Of course not, sir,” said Starlight, saluting. “I will pay each of them a visit tonight.” Neighsay nodded, and Starlight left.
Meanwhile, Gem climbs out of Longhaul’s car and knocks on the door of the Sisters’ house. “You know, Longhaul, I didn’t realize their house looked so… palatial.”
“It’s just because it sits at the top of this small hill. It’s not much different than mine,” Longhaul commented.
Luna answers the door, dressed in an oversized yellow T-shirt and a pair of basic black pajama bottoms. “Why, Longhaul, Gemini … this is quite the surprise. We weren’t expecting company at this hour.”
Celestia stands behind Luna, dressed in her own set of pajamas. “Oh, good evening, Gemini and Longhaul. What brings you by at this hour?”
“It’s fairly urgent, may we come in and talk with you?” Longhaul asks.
“Yes, of course!” Luna nods. “Come in, both of you!” She leads them inside, and while Celestia gets tea ready, takes them to the living room. “What’s going on, you two?” she asks.
“Chancellor Neighsay installed a horrible woman named Starlight Glimmer as our new principal,” Gem begins. “Not only is she brainwashing the staff and students, she’s turned the place into her own little fiefdom! And… she expelled me!”
“So, that’s what Neighsay is up to,” Celestia says, entering the room with full tea service. “I admit, when we were told we would be on ‘indefinite leave,’ we had a feeling he was going to try to take over the school.”
“How is this Starlight Glimmer brainwashing the school?” Luna asked, fixing her tea.
“Some form of mind-control spell, from what the girls have told me,” Longhaul replied. “It seems to only work on school grounds or in any school-owned property, such as the buses. She…she got to me as well.”
“And the reason for your suspension?” Celestia asked Gem.
“Three words: gender-specific uniforms,” Gem replied angrily.
“As in…” Celestia started to ask, but saw Gem nodding slowly, seething the whole time. “I see. So, what do you ask of us?”
“We need your help to keep the students from attacking us while the girls and I deal with Starlight,” says Gem. She taps her chin in thought. “What if… what if you two were to pony up? It happens when we’re showing the truest parts of ourselves, and it’s not just limited to my friends!”
She smiles at Longhaul. “Remember that one Christmas when the Windigoes attacked, and you stopped them by ponying up with us? We can do that again! All you two have to do,” she looks back to the Sisters, “is remind the other students what being a Wondercolt is all about! That could break the spell long enough for the girls and I to go after Starlight and put an end to this once and for all!”
The sisters listened to Gem’s plea, and when she had finished, turned to each other. “What do you think, sister?” Luna asked Celestia.
“I think Chancellor Neighsay has been abusing his power for far too long, and this is the last straw. We cannot let him continue to rule over the CEA through fear and intimidation, and now by magic he doesn’t even understand. Who’s to say what other schools he could attempt this with, and only enhance his powers? We have to stop him, and these girls are the ones that can do it, based on what we’ve seen thus far,” Celestia said firmly.
“I am in full agreement,” Luna answers. The sisters turn back to Gem and Longhaul. “Very well. We will help you.”
The next day, Raven and friends exchanged a series of covert text messages on the bus. “Sunny, did you come up with a way to keep us from getting brainwashed?” Raven asked.
“Yes,” Sunset replied. “As long as we keep our Everfree amulets on our person at all times, we should be safe.”
“That’ll be hard to do,” Emerald pointed out. “The uniform code doesn’t allow jewelry, and Glimglam doesn’t look likely to make an exception.”
Sure enough, Starlight was waiting for them when they arrived. She was smiling, but it wasn’t a happy smile. “Well well well, if it isn’t Orion Shadow’s little gang of ne’er -do-wells,” she said, ignoring Emerald’s wolf-like growl at the sound of Gem’s old name. “School hasn’t even started yet and you seven are breaking the rules.” She held out her hand. “I’ll need your necklaces, girls.”
“They’re not yours to take!” Sunset said. “Principal Celestia always let us wear them!”
“Principal Celestia isn’t here right now,” Starlight growled. “If you won’t give them to me willingly, then I’ll have to take them by force!” She banged her stick lightly on the ground, and it began to glow as the girls’ necklaces floated into the air, and into Starlight’s waiting hands. “Now then… you will be spending today in in-school suspension, since you left school early yesterday. Come with me, please.”
She led them to an empty classroom in an out-of -the-way hallway and sat down at the desk. “Some ground rules: I have been to all of your teachers, and they have provided you with work packets.” Seven heavy stacks of papers floated over to each desk. “You will work on those packets throughout the day. There will be no talking, and no communicating via cellphones.”
Their phones floated into a basket, which Starlight grabbed. “You can collect your phones at the end of the day. If you need to use the restroom, ask me first. Lunch will be provided for you at the appropriate time.” Then, she smirked. “And just to make sure you behave…” She pointed her stick at each of the girls and it began to glow. Everything went white.
When the light faded, Starlight smiled. “Can I trust you girls to behave yourselves today?”
“Yes, Ms. Glimmer,” they chorused, identical big smiles on their faces. Starlight smiled. “Excellent. Now, get to work.” She settled in, watching them like a hawk.
The girls worked on their packets, not saying a word, and not giving any indication that there was anything afoot. And, while it was true that jewelry could not be worn during school hours, there was no rule that forbade items to be carried in the pockets of the approved school uniform. Tucked discretely away in each girl’s pocket was their amulet, their only protection against Starlight’s mind-control spell, the confiscated necklaces being copies made from cheap dollar-store gems and chains.
Sitting a short distance away form the school, Gem checked her phone for the hundredth time that morning, or so it seemed. “Still nothing. I hope they’re okay,” she said in a mix of frustration and worry.
“Perhaps they are not able to communicate just yet,” Luna reassured her. “If conditions are as bad as you described, they’re probably waiting for a moment when they aren’t under close scrutiny. And, being your friends, they could be receiving extra attention to be sure you’re not attempting anything.”
“That’s true,” Gem admits, looking to Luna and sighing. “Why does it seem like the world is out to get me?” she asks, sighing heavily. “Ever since I came to Canterlot I’ve had to deal with all manner of ne’er-do-wells, bullies, and villains… this is supposed to be my last year of high school, spent with my friends, and instead I’m expelled, on a stake-out mission with the former vice-principal.” She peers into the wing mirror of Luna’s car. “All I ever wanted was to be a normal girl. Is that too much to ask?”
“And I wanted to be a pretty princess who lived in a grand castle on the side of a mountain,” Luna said with a smile. “Sometimes our lives take turns that we don’t expect or understand, and yet we must forge ahead and make our way along. I won’t use the old saying of how all of this ‘builds character,’ but I do believe all of these events will help you as you move forward in your life. It’s not that the world is out to get you, it’s that the world is asking you for help, because it trusts you are the one who truly can.”
Gem smiles, and gives Luna a side-hug. “I think I now understand why Longhaul likes you so much,” she says, looking cheered up. “You give good advice.” The two conversed for a while longer, snacking on some energy bars Celestia had bought while they waited for the end of the day to come.
Meanwhile, Starlight slipped something out of her pocket. It was a copper and silver tube with a green diode at one end, Gem’s magic screwdriver. “A curious device,” she muttered, pressing the button a few times. “But what is its purpose?” She held it up and turned to the seven girls in front of her, who were eating their flavorless, non-descript lunches. “Do any of you know what this could be? It fell out of Mr. Shadow’s pocket when he was removed from school grounds the other day.”
“Gem calls it her ‘magic screwdriver,’ but I think it’s just a fancy fidget device to help her relieve stress,” Raven answered with a neutral expression and flat voice. “May I return it to her after school today, Miss Glimmer?”
“Of course not,” says Starlight, smirking and slipping it back into her pocket. “No, I believe Chancellor Neighsay might find it useful… once we can figure out how to work the portal statue, of course. If we can gain more magical power, I could spread equality to the entire district, the entire metro area, the state, and eventually, the world!” She rubs her hands together gleefully. “And you seven are going to help me. How would you like to take a field trip to Central Office later?”
“We’d like that very much, Miss Glimmer,” all seven replied in unison. Despite their poker faces, all seven were worried. They knew what Starlight’s plan was, but had no way to tell Gem to alert her. They continued with their work as if nothing was wrong.
That afternoon, Gem was napping when Luna suddenly nudged her. “Miss Shadow, they’re leaving,” she whispers, peering through the tinted windows of the car at the girls. They were walking in two straight lines toward a bus, driven by Longhaul, with Starlight at the head of the group. They got into the bus and drove down the road to Central Office.
Luna gulped. “Tia is already there… I should warn her.” She took out her phone and sent a text.
Gem watched as the bus passed. All of the girls were facing forward, blank expressions on their faces. Gem looked and saw Raven sitting by the window, and was extremely relieved when Raven gave her a quick wink. “The amulets are working, they’re not under Starlight’s control. Any word from Principal Celestia?”
Luna’s phone buzzed, and Luna read the screen. “She says to join us here. I believe we’re about to confront Chancellor Neighsay.”
Gem blinks. “Already? Well, at least we can get it over with…” Luna starts the car, and off they go.
Neighsay twirls the magic screwdriver around in his fingers, thinking. “And what, Ms. Glimmer, do you intend to do with this device?”
“I mean for you to have it, sir,” Starlight says. “I was thinking we could go to the statue on the front lawn of Canterlot High and… siphon it of power. It seems to be where all these magical occurrences have taken place to begin with.”
Behind her, Emerald is about five seconds away from breaking her composure and tackling Starlight to the ground, flashbacks of her girlfriend’s transformation into Midnight Sparkle filling her head. Celestia places a calming hand on her shoulder and gently shakes her head, calming her down.
Neighsay thinks this over. “Your plan has merit, Ms. Glimmer. What do you intend to do with these girls? Allow them to watch?”
“Even better,” Starlight continues. “They shall be my… our disciples, spreading equality to the rest of the district. What do you think of that?"
“I believe what you’re proposing is dangerous, reckless, megalomaniacal, and at worst, foolhardy,” Celestia said. “The only way this could be any more ridiculous is if two cartoon lab mice thought it up. You have no idea of the power that resides in that portal. I don’t even fully understand it, and that’s why we leave it alone! These girls, Gem included, are the ones that can safely use the portal’s magic, and people such as us shouldn’t mess around with it!”
“Your opinion,” Neighsay thunders, glaring at Celestia, “is irrelevant! If Principal Glimmer believes this ‘magic’ could be of use to us, then we shall take full advantage of it!” He stood up. “Come, Ms. Glimmer, we shall take my car.” And he left, Starlight following along behind.
As soon as the door closes, Emerald explodes, throwing her uniform jacket across the room and out the window. “Does he want another Midnight Sparkle?! Because that’s how you get another Midnight Sparkle!” she yells, before glancing over at Twilight. “No offense, Sparks.”
Twilight hugs Emerald. “None taken … but you will pay for that later,” she says with a smirk.
Luna and Gem race into the office. “Sorry we’re late, traffic delayed us. Where were Neighsay and Starlight going?” Luna asked.
Raven filled them in on Neighsay’s plans, all the while hugging Gem close. “I think it’s too late to get a warning to the other side, so it looks like it’s up to us to stop them, as usual. Where’s Longhaul? We’ll need him to get us back to the school.”
“He was still in the bus when we arrived,” Luna said. “He looked like he was still under magical influence,and I doubt he’d be too cooperative right now.”
“I might know how we can fix that problem,” says Raven, taking out her magic wand. “Gimme two minutes, I’ll be back in a few.” She runs off and climbs aboard the bus.
“Yo! Longhaul! We need your help!” she says, concentrating on the magic within her and letting it flow through the wand. She taps Longhaul gently on the head three times, and waits for something to happen.
“I — you — must obey — cannot…” Longhaul said, trying to fight back against the magical influence.
Luna moved over to him, and took his face in her hands, which began to glow a faint blue. “Please, Longhaul, we need your help. I need you to do this for us, please keep fighting back…” She leaned in and kissed him gently on his lips, which made the girls softly say ‘awwwww’.
The glow faded as Luna released Longhaul, and he blinked a few times. “I…I think it worked. But, maybe Luna should kiss me again, just to be sure,” he said, a sly grin crossing his face.
“Maybe later on,” Gem said with a laugh, “right now, we have a school to save!” The sisters and the seven climbed aboard. “We have to get there before they can do something with the portal! Longhaul, can you get us through the traffic?”
He smiled. “Easily,” he said, closing the bus doors.
“How did she use magic?” Twilight whispered, pointing at Luna’s hand. “I’ve never seen that before!”
“Well, it’s no secret about how close she is with Longhaul,” Sunset replied. “And love is basically friendship on steroids, so… anyone can channel friendship magic, apparently.” Twilight made some notes, and watched the scenery roll by.
Meanwhile, Starlight stands before the portal with Neighsay, holding her staff while Neighsay had the stolen screwdriver. “Well, we have two magical devices placed near the source, something should happen… I don’t know, this thing never came with an instruction manual.”
“I wonder if there’s a way to synchronize the frequencies of these devices,” Starlight proposed. “I remember reading something about Normalized Attenuation Reaction Frequencies. If we can find the N.A.R.F. for these devices, it night be enough to open the portal.”
“I see.” Neighsay hums and presses a button. There’s a reaction as a spark of magic jumps from the tip of the screwdriver to the portal, then back to the screwdriver as magic flows out, causing the portal to crack still further. Starlight’s staff is also hit with new magic, and the two begin to transform. Starlight manifests a horn and pony ears, with a mane and tail. She grins. “YES! I can feel the power coursing through me! I can do things no normal human could ever imagine! I CAN MAKE THIS WORLD MINE!”
The bus screeches to a halt at the front of the school, and the passengers immediately get off. “Oh crap, they’ve figured out a way to make it happen!” Aria says, pointing to Starlight and Neighsay, who appeared to be locked in battle amongst themselves.
“What do you mean, ‘yours?’ I rule supreme here, and you are but my underling! If you behave, I may let you continue to serve me!” Neighsay roared, magical power flooding his senses. He, too, had grown pony characteristics, and was now glaring at Starlight.
“You are insignificant!” Starlight yells, ignoring the arrival of the bus. “I don’t need you or your pathetic little plans! When I become queen, you will be my slave!”
Emerald watches, chuckling to herself. “Hey girls, are we sure we actually have to do anything? We could just let them duke it out.”
“We’ll need to do something fast,” says Twilight, frowning at her tricorder. “The portal is starting to destabilize again!”
“That would explain why we have wings and horns,” Luna observes, flapping her wings and fingering her horn and transformed ears.
“Hm,” Celestia says, admiring her tail. “I had no idea I’d be so...colorful.”
“Okay, so what do we do?” Adagio says, dragon scales and fins appearing on her body.
“Well, it’s Starlight’s staff and my screwdriver that are responsible for the overload,” says Gem, even as she grows fur and her nose and mouth begin to reshape into an equine muzzle, “So I’ll try and grab them. I’ll have to break them, of course, but… things can be replaced.”
Her horn glows, and she approaches the two fighting adults, frowning. “I believe you were told not to interfere in that which you do not understand,” she says coldly.
“SILENCE!” Starlight thunders, turning to Gem. “This power is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before! I can feel it transforming me!” She was now somewhere between pony and human, with fur, a muzzle, and hooves where her feet had been.
“And it’s transforming the rest of us, too!” Gem yells back. “Thanks to this little stunt of yours, there won’t be a human left in the city by the time the sun sets! The portal may even explode, but what do you care? All the better to spew your policies of cruelty and hatred!” Her eyes glow white as she lifts into the air, mane and tail flowing behind her. By now, she’s as equine as Starlight is. Her horn glows, and the staff and screwdriver float to her, only to be obliterated.
“That’s our cue!” says Raven, flying into the air to join Gem. The rest of the girls follow suit, and link hands.
Gem looks to her friends. “We’ll have to try to repair the portal from here!” she shouts. “We don’t have much time until it explodes!”
“MAYBE WE’LL JUST LET IT,” Starlight roars, pouncing on Gem and sending both of them to the ground. “YOU WILL NOT TAKE THIS FROM ME, ORION SHADOW!”
Incensed, Gem throws Starlight off of her, sending her flying into the bus. “MY! NAME! IS! GEMINI!” A brilliant white light radiates off of the other seven girls. Gem quickly regains her composure and links hands with them, closing the circle and sending a beam of energy directly at the portal, sealing the cracks that have developed. Starlight and Neighsay slowly lose their pony traits as the portal seals, but for some reason, Celestia and Luna (along with the girls) retain theirs.
“Curiouser and curiouser,” Luna says, giving her new tail some experimental swishes. “I wonder why we retained our equine accoutrements, sister.”
Gem notes she’s still covered in fur and makes a concerned neighing sound. “I… am going to change back, right?” she asks Sunset, looking worried. Sunset shrugged.
Emerald, meanwhile, goes over to Neighsay. “Okay, something’s been bothering me all day about you, and I finally realized what it was. Did you know you sound exactly like a cartoon character I watched when I was a kid? He was a mouse that kept trying to take over the world.”
Neighsay glowers at Emerald. “And did you know that you are another abomination that should not be allowed to exist in the Canterlot School system, mush like your friend Orion over there? The world would be better off without freaks such as you two in it!” he spat.
Emerald flips him off and growls, baring her teeth, and lets loose with an impressive string of profanity, stopping only when Twilight places a furred hand over her muzzle and drags her off again. “Can someone call my brother and have these two arrested?” she asks. “They had to make a whole new crime code to describe magical incidents.”
“Sounds like he’s already on his way,” Aria observes.
Sure enough, Shining Armor’s patrol car pulls up in front of the statue, and he climbs out, looking around. “Sis? Why are you half horse?”
“It’s a looooong story, BBBFF,” Twilight answers.
“Tell me at dinner tonight,” Shining says, directing two newly-arrived officers to arrest Neighsay and Starlight.
“Looks like things are returning to normal ... Or as normal as things get around here,” Raven says to Luna. “You two are back as the rightful administrators and now, all that remains is purging Starlight’s mind-control spell from the school.”
“Indeed,” says Celestia, smiling. “And it is all thanks to you eight girls.”
Gem blushes, giving her tail a bashful swish, and pawing at the ground with her hooves. “You’re welcome, Principal Celestia.”
The following morning, Gem is back to being a normal human again, and isn’t wearing her uniform. She smiles as Longhaul’s bus pulls up, and hugs him tight. “You have no idea how much I missed you!” she gushes, smiling at him.
Longhaul doesn’t react. “Please take your seat and be sure to observe all of the school bus regulations,” he says in a flat voice. Gem just stares at him in shock and horror until Longhaul laughs and wraps Gem in a hug. “Oh, the look on your face! I didn’t expect that good of a reaction from you!” he says, still laughing. “I can’t thank you, or the other girls, enough for breaking us from that stupid spell we were under.”
“I’m surprised we were even able to do it,” Gem comments. “I’m not used to using friendship magic twice in a row! Still, it worked, and we all became humans again.” She sits down, fingering her amulet. “Sunset told me about the Elements of Harmony once… I wonder if these are connected.”
Longhaul shrugs. “I don’t even know what those are supposed to be, but if they are connected to you all somehow, I can’t think of better choices.”
Gem blushes. “Aww, you’re so sweet!” She makes herself comfortable, and before long she’s back at CHS, where all her friends are waiting for her.