THE FINAL COUNTDOWN: 14

The filly known as Level Five slowly blinked, as all she saw above her was a pure white ceiling. It took her a few seconds as she laid down with a dazed expression to process what'd happened. And when she actually recalled what she saw upon her arrival to the orphanage, she burst up, pacing heavily with her hoof over her chest. The filly then glanced about the room silently, as she noticed that the room was absolutely beautiful. She was not only sitting on a couch fit for royalty, but there was a window on the far end of the room which gave a good view of the beach and the ocean. There was a large desk situated near that window, as well as a book shelf stacked with plenty of books against the right wall of the room. The room was also carpeted, and even had some pretty great air conditioning. Level Five hopped from the couch after asserting the room was safe, and afterwords, simply glanced down at her hoof in particular with wide curious eyes.

She was recalling a particular memory, where she'd been looking upon the shadowed jury. A shadowed pony pointed down at her in the memory, as he exclaimed, Also Level 5 Mary-Sue, make sure you don't use your magic! This is forbidden! Level Five then touched the sharp horn upon her head curiously, before tilting her head to the right. But just as she was lost in thought, the doorknob of the room immediately started turning slowly. Level Five immediately began to scurry, looking for a place to hide frantically as she opened the window, pacing heavily. She saw that they were practically on the top level of the castle and the drop was far too dramatic for her to attempt anything of that sort, even despite the fact she had wings. So she made her way under the desk, biting on her bottom lip the entire time as her eyes shifted nervously from left to right, recalling those level tens.

HIYA! I'm Queen Princess Rainbow Boom Explosion Dashington Rainbow Dash Dashy Pie Pinkie Shy!

I am known as Queen Empress Lord Destiny Rainbow Heart Nightmare Kawii.

Level Five was fearful of them, not only did they look scary but she also didn't trust them for some odd reason. And as the door opened, she buried her head in her hooves, attempting to silence herself in order to not get caught. She could hear the scurrying of what sounded like hoof trots and something else, but she didn't dare to check herself as she remained silent and paranoid.

"Where'd she go Winrawr!? You said she was in here!"

"I could've sworn I smelt bad writing!" A ferocious tone barked.

"Maybe it's the story!" A more feminine sassy voice commented.

"We're in a story right now? How do you know that!?" The ferocious voice beckoned.

"Uhm, I'm 10% Pinkie Pie duh! I read it in my B.S! I can temporarily break the fourth wall!" The feminine voice continued.

Then suddenly cutting in would be a more serious tone, a female, but more calm and collected. "You two, this is no time for games. I wanted to meet the new level five, but here you two are just messing around. Not only that but you do realize we're breaking into the headmistress's office right? If she found out about this, do you know how much trouble we'd be in?" There was a slight pause followed by a tired sigh. "But enough about you two being idiots, what matters is that obviously the new level five isn't here. She's probably already been taken on a tour by the headmistress." Two hoof stomps followed. "Darnit, and this was our only shot without Empress Kawii and Princess Pie Pinkie Shy getting in the way. Whatever, we'll find her later, let's go. I need to practice some more super sonic rainbooms!"

The sassy feminine one replied hastily, "Oh oh what was your record in the courtyard, 2000x last time!?"

The calmed one snickered with confidence. "Hah! In 10 milli seconds flat mind you."

The sassy voice just cheered happily, "OH you're just so awesome Solar Rainbow Flash Blood! Why do you care about this level five anyway!? She's got nothing on your skills, you're a legend! And a level eight!"

The calmed voice revealed as Solar Rainbow Flash Blood just snickered yet again. "Why that's obvious, squash the competition."

Suddenly the sounds of sniffing could be heard.

Level Five just kept her head covered, biting on her bottom lip as her eyes widened.

Solar Rainbow Flash Blood beckoned, "What is it Winrawr? Do you smell something?"

The sniffing ceased. "Under the desk."

But almost immediately after such words were said, the three could immediately be heard gasping, as Solar Rainbow Flash Blood commented, "OH BUCK! Headmistress! We're out of here you two, let's dip!" And then accompanied by what sounded like an intense gust of wind, there only followed silence, as the room felt empty yet again. Level Five remained beneath the desk as suddenly only the sound of one pony trotting into the room could be heard. The trotting soon stopped as Level Five remained still.

"Why, hello there, my little filly."

Level Five uncovered her head, as she glanced over at the pony whom said that with frightened eyes. There she saw a hooded pony who she couldn't describe since her features were hidden, but still appeared fairly kind and not much different from any other ordinary ponies. Level Five then gave her a cautious glare before remaining in a prowling posture like a cat and moving inch by inch from beneath the desk with her eyes locked on the alicorn the whole time who just stared right back at her with an amused smile. Level Five backed away and away until she got back to the couch, climbing atop of it and then sitting. She bit her lower lip, with a glare and just stared at the headmistress with defiant eyes with her two front hooves on her lap.

The headmistress to sat behind her desk as she noticed her window was open. "Oh?...It seems we had some company hm?" The mistress's eyes could be read with ease as they were slightly revealed due to the ray of sunlight which entered the room. She was obviously upset, as she gave a cold stare towards the skies. "Those children will have to be disciplined a little later. But for now!" She clapped her hooves and just looked straight towards the filly on the couch. "I'm here to welcome you of course! So, what's your name little Level Five? I'm sorry for the scare my two supervisors gave you, they're often eager to meet new orphans."

Level Five remained silent, and just stared at the headmistress.

There was a lingering silence, as the two just stared at one another, accompanied by the sound of crickets.

The headmistress spoke with a raised brow, "A shy personality trait?"

Level Five shook her head before lowering it with a blank stare. "I don't have a name."

The headmistress chuckled softly, "Oh, well we can fix that. Who're your inspirations?"

Level Five glanced up at her, "Well, Princess Luna's my mother, and I have draconequus blood in my veins and I'm part of Princess Cele-" but before she could finish, there was suddenly a scroll which popped up on the headmistress's desk.

"Oh forgive me Level Five, I have to see this." The headmistress opened the scroll before her eyes scanned over it. Her eyes slowly widened as she gasped, "Oh no no no! This isn't good at all! Forgive me Level Five, we must discuss this some other time!"

Level Five just bit on her bottom lip, staring at the headmistress with wide eyes, still sitting on the couch. "Erhm?"

Obviously the headmistress could tell the filly was curious. She made her way to her door as she glanced down at the filly on her way out. "It seems another alicorn has managed to unveil her tragic backstory! Now she's whining so much that she's driving all the other Mary-Sue's mad! This can escalate into something horribly bad! I must go deal with it! Do forgive me Level Five." With that the headmistress was gone in a flash, having descended back down the castle levels to go deal with the issue.

Level Five just remained silent as she sat there, kicking her hind legs momentarily. Her eyes remained wide as she recalled something in particular, "Oh." She glanced to the lower right tiredly, "I don't have my stuff."

"Jeez~ and here I thought she'd never leave. Darn that Headmistress, always getting in the way of my curiosity."

Level Five immediately got off the couch and backed into a corner and lowered her frame in a defensive manner hastily. There stood yet another alicorn, but this one seemed a bit more graceful than the others, as she raised a brow at the little filly.

Level Five still remained on guard however.

The alicorn continued as she regarded the filly with a slightly amused look. "So, you're the new level five huh? Well, no point in getting all serious, I'm not going to hurt you darling. You see, I'm only interested in making your acquaintance. I am none other than Mystery Star. I am a secret Element of Harmony and have mastery over practically the entire universe. I was abandoned by my master years ago. As you can imagine, I am a quite the high level. So I'd suggest calming that tone down a bit, for it won't do you any good." She smirked lightly, "I to have been forbidden from using my magic, but what has me ever so curious is why you, a measly level five, has been forbidden to use her magic? What could you possibly do? Perhaps your B.S consists of many overused tropes." She'd paused, simply waiting for an answer from the filly. "Ah, not much of the talker hm?"

Level Five remained silent, and just glared at her.

Mystery Star only frowned heavily before regarding the filly with a tired look. "Fine, don't answer me, it matters little. But what I can do is show you around more since the headmistress has her hooves full with some trouble sues. It'd do you some good to know your way around the castle, there's plenty of things to see considering how much of us are housed in here. There must be a sense of control when it comes to Mary-Sue's, so of course we have to be given a manageable realm to enjoy ourselves in."

Level Five turned red in the face, as she appeared hesitant to ask something.

Mystery Star raised a brow at her, "Oh? What's this? You're curious about something, come come tell me Level Five!"

Her face scrunched up as she closed her eyes halfway, before glancing up at the alicorn nervously. "Do we ever get to meet our inspirations? Who is Princess Luna? Why're all these ponies I've never met stuck in my head?"

Mystery Star just smirked before raising a hoof. "That my dear, is your backstory. Seeing as you have a relation to Princess Luna, you truly must be quite the Mary-Sue! But don't fret dear, you may never meet the princess, but there's much to keep you occupied here. It's never wise to get too curious about your B.S, you must take it for what it is!"

Level Five just nodded plainly to the alicorn before sighing with a whiny frown. "Mhm."

Mystery Star made her way over towards the filly before lowering her frame, and tilting her head up with a smirk. "Hey, chin up. Don't you fret! Don't forget this place is an orphanage. Of course, I would never give up my position and status here in a thousand years but, children such as yourself, you can never lose hope. There is redemption, even for the Mary-Sue's."

Level Five just glanced up at her with a slightly bitter expression. "Yep."

Mystery Star made her way over to the doorway, before extending a hoof. "So? Shall we go explore little Level Five?" Next Chapter: The Final Countdown: 13 Estimated time remaining: 11 Minutes