"The Gleaming Isles, home of the thunder elementals, inside the realm known as the Elemental Planes. They consist of four lesser isles and one main island. The four lesser ones were governed by the Akil’ir Council, whereas the main island was ruled by the lord of the thunder elementals himself.

Wattom, Island of the South, governed by Akil’ir Illumina.

Elek, Island of the North, ruled by Akil’ir Septerma.

Amper, Island of the West, under the jurisdiction of Akil’ir Tendross.

Neutra, Island of the East, ruled by Akil’ir Proton.

And the main island, Ashyn, prospering under the leadership of Lord Imperion of the Unforgiving Thunder."

A sigh of boredom broke the silence and she put the history book aside, wandered leisurely on the balcony of her room and admired the view of the main island before her mission started. She'd resided on Ashyn a good four days already, learning about her new abilities from libraries, teachers and especially her Mistress. She was preparing herself to fulfill her first task and maybe, one day, her dream.

The Scion had already a plan for how to achieve it. She did it for her fellow humans. Well, she may be now a half elemental, a Scion of Thunder to be precise, but still. An unimportant detail for the woman, nothing more.

"His death could have been prevented," the woman thought bitterly. They were best friends, childhood friends, and he died, just because he wasn't ‘gifted’ like others! It wasn't fair... no, it just wasn't.

The now in her chair resting Scion hoped dearly that one day she would get a chance to avenge him. The unspoken promise for retribution was a huge motivator. She gave everything she could in her training sessions and studied relentlessly.

Yes! One day, she would make her pay!

So she made a decision on the day of the invasion. She promised herself and to all humans, who had to live in danger and possessed no usable magic on their own to defend themselves since everything started, that she would bring salvation. Well, they didn't have their own magic, yet, but soon.

A deserved chance, the same right to defend themselves like every other magic user. They were nothing special! So why should the existing mages have a fair chance to fight for their life and live, but at the same time the ‘unfortunate rest’, who wasn't as ‘blessed’ had to fear death? She wouldn't stand for such injustice.

The natural gifted new races could build themselves a new place on Earth. The helpless part of mankind not? It made her blood boil.

She would show everybody that her choosen path was the right one, proving that equal chances for all was the only way to achieve peace and harmony, indeed.

She, Starlight Glimmer, would make all the same, because when everyone was special, nobody was. When every human had magic at his disposal and not just a select few, the world would be a much fairer place. Special cases in their society, special ‘talents’ in such a form, should not exist in her opinion. In order to bring change and the same rights for all it needed to be done and they would be thankful in the end.

The young woman remembered the fateful day when her life turned over a new leaf and she decided to serve Lord Imperion and her new teacher, master and friend.

Starlight Glimmer always saw herself as a normal, intelligent young woman. Nothing too special. She was 23 years old, 1.74 meters tall, had pale, light grayish skin, her smooth hair was colored in two tones of purple, with teal highlights in the form of bangs, and a long ponytail to the middle of her back. The eyes a moderate persian blue.

She graduated with nearly perfect scores and worked since her degree as a scientist, one of the youngest by the way, in Fillydelphia’s history, where Starlight worked on the subject of behaviorism. It was one of Amarerica's greatest harbors and cities. Not as many skyscrapers as other metropolises, but a calm atmosphere and the clean, fresh scent of the ocean made the town worthwhile. A good place to live in.

Starlight wore azure blue boots at the moment, white stars all over them in a random manner, with thick, short high heels. The boots reached shortly above the knee. Moreover, she had teal shorts, decorated with a symbol on the left leg; a purple and white star with two blue glimmering streams and a white belt with a purple star as a buckle. Lastly, a light blue shirt with short sleeves and a slim black vest above it.

But no matter what happened, she always could count on her best friend.

Her childhood friend, Sunburst. He was 24 years old, 1.80 meters tall. He had slightly orange skin, but strangely a broad white stripe upon his face from the beginning of his nose to shortly above his eyebrows, which led in his past to being bullied by a lot from other kids. His hairstyle was slightly uncombed, vivid vermilion hair, Sunburst had furthermore dark cornflower blue eyes and a horrible goatee, in her opinion. But he loved it. Said it gave him an ‘intelligent and manly appearance’. Whatever that meant.

He graduated from FHS, Fillydelphia High School, like Starlight Glimmer. But he never was as good as she was and a more theoretical kind of person. He was very knowledgeable and some would, perhaps, call him a genius in theoretical and classical physics. But he had big problems in using his knowledge for the applied part of this subject. Sunburst worked as a technical assistant and made inquiries, lots and lots of inquiries, about many different topics.

Starlight was very good in theory and practice. Sometimes he wished he could be as good as his friend, but was very pleased with what he had, still.

The young man wore big silver glasses, which tended to slide from his nose annoyingly often. He had a dark blue shirt with slim turquoise blue stripes on the sides and sleeves, ending with cuff-links at his wrists. On the shirt was a symbol, too. It was an orange sun with two thick, bursting yellow, and two white rays on the right side of it and six blue stars in different sizes. He wore black cuffed jeans, a common brown belt and dark blue sneakers with white colored soles and toe caps.

Fillydelphia was always a nice big city and today Starlight and Sunburst wanted to hang out with each other, like they did nearly every weekend. In their favourite place; the mall. Big crowds browsed the different stores, going about their business.

At the moment, the two friends sat on a big, white, oddly comfortable wooden bench in front of an artificial waterfall with tropical plants, enjoying their drinks. Starlight had a strawberry smoothie and Sunburst, a cappuccino with extra milk. Sometimes she wasn't sure if her friend's drink still tasted like cappuccino or just like milk, but maybe he loved it this way. She never asked. He never told.

Normally, they would catch up and inform each other of what they did in the last week, or talk about other important subjects for them. But in the last few weeks, many strange things were reported everywhere around the city and over the entire country in general. Nobody could explain them. The most important and Starlight had to confess, scariest and most daunting information was based around the rumors and stories about last night's events. She herself woke up from the loud noises this truly very strange storm made.

Many sailors, newspapers and other sources reported about a suddenly appearing giant hurricane. No, not just giant, the biggest documented hurricane in the history of mankind! West of Fillydelphia's harbor was the Celestial Sea. The entire ocean was haunted from its power and nothing or nobody could explain where this storm came from. The weather forecasts had announced a clear sky for the entire night, by the way.

Strange was the hurricane, because it hit the inner sea only. It literally stopped shortly before it reached the city. Like it was alive and decided it was close enough for its taste. This inexplicable phenomenon could be seen everywhere on the west coast of the USA. The land itself was never endangered by the storm. After a short time it dissipated in biggest parts in an instant, equally without any possibility of explaining this event, like how the storm could even come into existence in the first place.

Helicopters from the local police and news agencies wanted to investigate and started to search for any possible reason in the open sea. Nobody returned, much to everyone's shock. It was like the sea itself swallowed the people. Every device of communication lost their connection after some time and strangely even satellites couldn't catch pictures. Huge and thick amounts of clouds and some unknown form of energy rendered them useless. In response, the local government gave the order that nobody would leave Fillydelphia over the Celestial Sea until the cause for the disappearances was found.

But before that, a new, unspoken order was given. Local captains and their crews made it their personal task to discover the truth themselves and started to investigate in the moment the storm disappeared last night. Many didn't return until now. And, like it happened with all people before them, the communication had broken off at some point. However, two very modern speed boats made it back and their owners reported their findings.

After they drove five hours into the open sea, they saw and felt how the water under them accelerated somehow, faster and faster, like the rapids of a river. What they saw before them made the seamen wish they didn't come at all. It made their blood run cold.

Giant vortices were the reason for the strange behaviour of the water. They were distributed all over the ocean with some distance to each other, the smallest of them had a diameter of 20 meters or so, in their opinion. No matter in which direction they looked, the whirlpools were everywhere and no end was in sight.

In the far distance they could see, with the help of binoculars, what surely surprised the humans who used a helicopter and was possibly responsible for their demise. A great number of towering tornadoes. They were there, some distance from each other like the vortices, and didn't move at all from their position, no matter how long they watched.

The sky itself looked foreboding, practically a warning in its own right. It was the last straw for these brave souls and they returned immediately to Fillydelphia, informing their fellow humans.

They swore they could sense a bad omen, of a dark storm brewing and a darker future in general.

Starlight had to stop herself not to scoff openly when she recalled their tales in her mind, overdramatizing much? She wasn't sure if something like that could even be happening, but many other inexplicable things already proved that the word ‘impossible’ lost its meaning in the last short while.

It was like the sky and the sea themselves decided to keep whatever was responsible for the storm a secret by all available means. But that was impossible... right?

"So..." Sunburst ended the awkward silence, "What do you think about the strange things that seemed to have happened in the last while? Especially what the sailors reported about the Celestial Sea," he inquired in a nervous voice.

"Honestly? I have no idea,” Starlight replied truthfully. “If the sailors' tales are true, then something very foreboding has happened. The hurricane from last night didn't just pop into existence without a reason.” She took a sip of her smoothie and added thoughtfully, “There has to be a cause behind its creation."

"Hmm," was his only answer to her statement.

Starlight continued, annoyed, "And then there are the other rumors about 'beings of mythology'. Citizens claimed they saw things like a manticore, some kind of satyr, giant animals, unknown plants, or even Nagas at the coast! But not a single rumor could be verified until now, because every time the police was sent to investigate they found nothing! Three teams went missing because of some kind of 'unfortunate incident', or so was the official announcement. Since then, the governor claimed that such sightings were nothing than 'mere rumors' and labeled every bit of proof as 'well-made videos with special effects'. I am serious, Sunburst. I have the feeling he's hiding something from us," she grumbled.

"Don't you think that you're overreacting a little, Starlight? I don't think the situation is as dire as you describe it. Besides, I believe the governor and the other politicians are just trying to scale the whole situation down. You know, in order to prevent mass panic," Sunburst reasoned calmly.

The young woman sighed in defeat, “Yeah. Maybe you are right, but since last night I have had a bad feeling and it drives me crazy. I fear that something big will happen soon," Starlight explained, emotionally exhausted.

He chuckled to lighten the mood, “Come on. I think you're just tired and grumpy," Sunburst joked. Starlight looked at him with a deadpan. "What could possibly go wrong?" he continued with a smile.

Before she could reply, the universe accepted the heathen's challenge and delivered.

*boom*

Screams were heard from the lowest level of the mall. Their position was located on the second.

"W-what was that?!" Sunburst asked in fear.

"Look!" Starlight pointed down below them and they couldn't believe their eyes.

A human seemed to attack, but not with fists or commonly known weapons, but the aggressor used some kind of... strange looking flames? Seriously?!

The person in question looked like a woman, if her body proportions were anything to go by under the white colored cloak, with scarlet highlights at the edges. Her face was hidden, too, but the hands were visible; slender and light amber in color.

"Who is that? W-what are these flames?" her childhood friend questioned, visibly scared.

Starlight could only watch what caused the sound in slight fear and morbid curiosity. It seemed she had fire around her body. For some strange reason it didn't burn or melt anything around her, much to the scientist's confusion. The same dark colored flames, not yellow, orange or red, but in a dark shade of purple and indigo with a light, brilliant opal outline. were devouring the rest of what was once a vendor.

From their higher position it was impossible to see the most important detail, the face of the assailant, but otherwise they had a good view on the morbid show which presented itself in front of their eyes.

The attacker wore black ankle boots and an amulet around her neck, the centerpiece was a single black, slender and graceful looking phoenix with opened wings.

A deathly silence ruled the mall.

At last, the stranger opened her mouth after she was sure that she had the undivided attention of every single person in the mall and spoke in a commanding, clear and very confident voice, "Attention, my fellow humans!" Starlight had to correct herself, the attacker sounded like a young woman. "I'm sure you are wondering and have questions like: 'How did she do that?', 'Who is she?', 'What are these flames?' I came to speak to you, to make you understand that a new era is upon us! Upon this entire world.”

Sunburst groaned and rolled his eyes in annoyance, “Oh great. She is one of those people…”

The ominous girl didn’t care for his opinion and spoke more, “You've surely already heard about many different kinds of rumors that claimed the most unbelievable things in the last months, especially the last weeks. Today, I came to you to tell you the honest truth. Everything what you've read or heard about, the many missing people, unnatural flora, mythical creatures, the disappearances of mankind's creations and many, many more rumors which can't be simply explained. Everything is true! Observe and witness my power with your very own eyes! No footage, no special effects, no excuses."

Starlight had to admit she was impressed. The young woman summoned the smoldering tri colored flames over her entire body and it moved around her like snakes made of living flames, mesmerizing the crowd. Heeding the will of its master.

Now the stranger sounded almost reverently, "Do you see the very proof I delivered you? This. Is. MAGIC! A power usually known from the world of fairy tales, a product of fantasy, of our imagination. Still, here I stand before you, proving its existence with my very own powers. It is called, Shadow Phoenix Magic!"

That very moment, the mall's security and additionally, the police, started to surround the intruder. The cloaked woman only chuckled in amusement. She created in each of her palms a head-sized sphere of her fire and threw them, causing them to explode in front of the advancing policemen.

Starlight could have sworn that some of them whispered something like: ‘I don't get enough payment for something like this!’. Some started to retreat, slowly.

What were they expecting? They tried to surround an opponent who clearly had a few surprises up her sleeves. A few spectators awoke out of their awe and fear induced state of mind and backed off, too. Some policemen drew weapons and pointed them in the direction of the mysterious woman, ready to shoot.

Meanwhile, the person in question continued in a more annoyed tone, "Please. You are nothing against me and I wasn't finished yet. Now, where was I? Ah, yes. I am what is commonly known as a 'mage'. Of course, you can call my profession whatever you want, if it makes you feel more comfortable. Like sorcerer or witch, for example. I'm not entirely sure if there exists a difference. Well, it's not important anyway. But beware! Not everyone can follow the path of magic and become a proud wielder. Only a small part of mankind will be able to use the inner energy residing in our very beings, which exists in every single one of us, by the way. And not only us, but magic means life. Magic means creation. Magic exists everywhere on this world. From the biggest animal to the smallest stone.”

Most of the her surrounding forces glanced questioningly at each other as if she was insane.

“If you count among the selected few, you are lucky. If not, you should be careful and never leave the safety of your home without some kind of protection. The world outside just got much more dangerous. And besides, humans are no longer the only sapient race of this planet,” she stated sardonically.

Soft whispers commenced, some in irritation, others in disbelief and the rest in curiosity. Starlight Glimmer counted herself to the last group.

"What is she talking about?" Sunburst mumbled, surprised, to his childhood friend.

"I have no idea, but I'm sure she'll answer soon," Starlight replied seriously. The suspense was killing her on the inside.

Indeed, she did, "Not only did nearly everything alive changed, even things that we always firmly believed were fantasy and myth have come into existence, like manticores, basilisks, chimeras, timberwolves, cockatrices and more. The flora of our world is changing, too. The landscapes are under reconstruction as we speak and not all humans stayed humans. Many were changed in species from the magic of our world. I saw already some of them. Trolls, orcs, dwarves, elves, to name just a few, do exist now.”

The brave women and men advanced further, what made the girl snort in arrogance and amusement.

She couldn’t care less, “Mankind is no longer the sole ruler of this world or the dominant species. A new age is upon us, my fellow humans. The Age of Magic! So. Tell me. Are you planning to hide yourselves in hope that the real world won't reach you? Will you give up? Lash out in anger and despair? Or will you be able to continue? The choice is yours.”

Nobody knew what to say until the, from what Starlight saw, leader of the police spoke up. A man clearly in his higher years, maybe in his late fifties. He wore beige colored trousers, green boots, a blue jacket and above it a black bulletproof vest, like every policeman. He had ice-grey eyes and laughter lines around them, which told her that this man appreciated humor in his daily life. Furthermore, short hair in the same color. His skin was a light yellow. In general, this man looked very fit in his appearance and tall, too. At least 1.9 meters.

His voice was deep, firm, but warm, still. Paired with his smile, both gave him a grandfather-like aura. It felt like an adult scolded a little child who misbehaved and needed some long overdue disciplinary measures, "I am Police Commander Forging Star from the Fillydelphia Police Department and your little speech made me curious, young lady. So please enlighten an old man like me before you'll be punished for causing mayhem here, will you? If what you are saying is true and I do believe you, I saw the reports which supported many of your claims," This last statement caused another wave of whispers from the onlookers, "What do you expect us to do? Fight the other races? They're former humans and had no choice when they were changed into something else, from what I understood. Such actions will only end in an endless circle of violence and hatred and I refuse to take a part in such petty behaviour. You sound like some fanatic. What is your plan? Or do you really want to tell me that you just came here, destroyed property and terrorized innocent citizens of this fair town, because you have a good heart and want to warn us? Don't make me laugh, girl," the commander inquired mockingly, with a smug expression on his face.

Starlight hoped that the old man didn't just sign his death sentence or something like that. She liked how he stood up for what was necessary and right.

She couldn't see anything because of the cloak, but the young woman was sure that ‘clenching one's fists’ counted as a sign for being annoyed, angry, maybe even sincerely insulted. She wasn't sure which option was the case, but the scientist was sure that angering this stranger wasn't the best idea. Not even remotely.

"You dare to speak to me in such a manner, you ungrateful worm?! I'm connected to powers far beyond your limited horizon, put them on display and you have the guts to insult me, still?! You are either very brave or very insane, Mr. Star. But I'll humor you, because I feel like it. And so that you and others may understand the reasons behind my actions," the young woman explained in an arrogant tone.

"I feel honored, girl. What do you want? A cookie? Should I kneel and pledge my loyalty to your cult of fanatics? Wait, you aren't a devil worshiper, are you?" Forging Star responded in the most monotone voice Starlight heard in her entire life.

That question made many of his fellow policemen and a few people from the audience chuckle or laugh. Starlight herself had to contain herself. She didn't want any kind of attention which could result negatively for her.

Her friend had no such concerns. After he laughed for a few seconds, Sunburst stated amused and unnecessarily loud, "That was a good one! She acts like some kind of mysterious wannabe savior and zealot. Who does she think she is, Batgirl?" he asked, attempting to crack a joke. It didn't work.

Starlight could only groan at him. "Sunburst, you are such a nerd," she whispered under her breath, feeling embarrassed.

"I came to Fillydelphia to give you an once-in-a-lifetime chance to achieve greatness. To claim power beyond your reach, because otherwise you are merely normal humans who can't defend themselves, at least without magical protection, from the real world. Most of your still-existing weapons can't harm beings which can wield such power in order to shield themselves or their skin alone is already enough to avoid any form of harm you could might cause them.” Her voice took an angrier note, “No, I am what is called, in our ranks, a Priestess and I wanted to invite you into our holy order to live under our protection," this 'priestess" replied. She was clearly fed up with Forging Star.

"Then I have three last questions for you before I'll close our little Q&A. What is your order called? Where do you have your base of operation? Who are you?" Forging Star queried with narrowed eyes, back to business.

"Ah, ah, ah. That is not how it works. Do you really think I just give away crucial information to potential threats? It's a safe haven and I will protect it. That means that the second question is invalid and the third question, too. I won't give my name to you, because I see no reason to share my identity with someone who has already set his mind on the goal of putting me behind bars. But worry not, the first question is something I can help you with. Our order is a newly founded union of paladins, mages and veterans who want to protect the people who seek us out and teach everyone, who is willing at least, useful new abilities. We call ourselves the Order of the New Dawn," she answered in a matter of fact way.

"Well, that was certainly something new. But you will answer every question we have, girl. No matter if you want or not. Pre-" Forging Star couldn't say more, because one of his officers came running.

"SIR! T-the city is under attack!" a young sounding woman screamed in sheer terror.

Must be new, so Starlight thought. But more important was another question entirely. What gave the poor dear such a fright?

"Well? Speak up! I have some disillusioned criminal to interrogate!" Forging Star demanded.

"Hey!" the mysterious young woman shouted insulted from behind his back.

"We a-are not sure Commander. They came out of the Celestial Sea and look like giants with seaweed, shells and scale strewn skin. Worse, our weapons have no effect on them, and for some reason our communication is dead. We can't call the president and his staff in the capitol or r-reach them otherwise! And the giants are supported by many small enemies, w-which look like some kind of goblins! They came with many ships. I'm not entirely sure, sir," the woman replied fearfully, stuttering sometimes.

That made Starlight Glimmer nervous and she wasn't the only one. Many who heard the conversation panicked, too.

"What are we gonna do now? How can we escape?!"

"We are all going to die!"

"Is it too late to sign up for the order?"

"Save us, Commander Forging Star!"

"I'm too beautiful to die!"

"I can't leave my cabbages. They are everything I have!"

Sunburst shared his 'wisdom' with Starlight in such a delayed way that she wasn't sure if she should laugh or cry,"Well, that's not good," he commented, expressionless and in thought.

"Everyone, listen to me and listen well! Save the civilians at all costs! Bring them to safety and stop the invaders. But be careful! You have your orders. Dismissed!" Forging Star ordered harshly.

They all obeyed without a blink. Some even ran outside already to help before he gave any commands.

"Don't think I forgot about you, girl," he said to the young priestess.

"Perish the thought, Mr. Star," she replied smugly.

"I don't know what your or your order's agenda is, but I'm warning you. If you endanger the innocent, I will hunt you down. Remember that!" Forging Star warned and promised at the same time, as solemn as a judge.

After he looked one last time at the cloaked woman in barely hidden disgust he ran outside to support his forces.

Already most of the people in the mall were led to a safe place into the underground through the tunnels. The police was sure that the civilians were safe in the metro system. The security guards helped. Starlight had a bad feeling about this and sneaked out of the mall, wanting to find out what was happening outside.

"Starlight! We have to go! What are you doing?!" Sunburst exclaimed worriedly as he caught up with his friend, a little out of breath. He lost her at first, because he followed the crowd, but saw after a few seconds that Starlight left in the opposite direction.

"I have a bad feeling about this, Sunburst. Why is the city under attack and who would do something like that? I think whoever they are, they know that Fillydelphia's metro system is mainly used to save civilians in the case of an attack. I don't think someone who invades a big city like this came unprepared or out of boredom," the scientist replied analytically, locking eyes with an equally disturbed friend.

"Good observation. I bet you are right," supported a very familiar voice.

Sunburst and Starlight turned their heads. Before the door, which would lead them finally out of the mall, stood the ambassador of the Order of the New Dawn, the self-proclaimed 'priest', in all of her mysterious glory.

"What do you want?" Starlight demanded to know, unsure if she wanted an answer or not.

"There is absolutely no reason to be hostile. I saw how everybody tried to save their skins, but you two decided to walk straight into your own death. It made me curious, and I have my reasons," the woman replied honestly.

"What kind of reasons?" Sunburst asked curiously, standing beside Starlight.

"Reasons which are not of your concern. And... curiosity, on my part," she replied simply.

Both facepalmed.

"You love being complicated, don't you," Starlight stated more than asked.

Instead of answering, the stranger just walked out of the mall. The confused friends followed their new ‘ally’.

Fillydelphia looked like something you would read about in nearly every fantasy book. A little war, the clashing sides of the police, their own special forces and every person who had a weapon and was able to use it against giants and honest-to-goodness goblins, who looked like they escaped out of a pirate movie. The success wasn't promising against the two different groups who took the city street by street. The trio ran, always making sure to avoid unnecessary conflict through stealth and caution.

There were, for example, little azure-blue goblins. They had long ears, a long nose, most of them had yellow, slightly slitted eyes, some green. Only a few of them had some ugly wisps on their head in a sky blue color, but most goblins were bald. They reached maybe to 1.3 meters at their highest and all were normally built. Some skinny, but not like they would starve any time soon. Hands like feet had five fingers or toes, sharp and flat teeth like a human and it looked like they had closed gills at their neck. So this species could breathe underwater and on land?

Starlight found this interesting. If she only had time to experiment, find out how such a thing was possible.

Most of them wore golden or silver earrings in varied numbers and positions on their ears. The biggest part wore only sea green colored vests, brown or black boots which reached a little below the knee and light sea green colored trousers. Only a few wore nothing at all except the trousers, what gave Starlight a free view of their mostly very disgusting and uncared-for looking feet.

Weapons were crudely made swords, more like daggers for her, but swords for someone their size, sharp harpoons and long spears made of normal wood and metal. At least Starlight thought that this was the case. Some used guns.

The second group consisted out of the aforementioned ‘giants’, and they were certainly big and bulky, indeed. 16'4”-19' in height and very massive body proportions gave them a dangerous appearance. Their entire build was covered and protected by bluish-black scales. They were small, but very hard to penetrate, it seemed. The bullets of the fighting humans hit, hurt or killed goblins, but these walking buildings couldn't care less. Nothing seemed to hurt or even faze them.

Like the young officer mentioned earlier, their entire bodies were also covered with tons of shells and seaweed. Especially around the nether regions. Starlight wasn't sure how to feel about this fact. Happy? She simply didn't know. They didn't wear any form of clothes or armor anyway. They had ocean blue eyes, more or less dark green hair on their heads that laid smoothly upon it, no ears like Starlight knew them, but some kind of big round membrane that pulsated on both sides of their heads.

The giants attacked mercilessly with fists and feet, or even some very big weapons; mauls, great maces or spiked great maces. All weapons looked entirely made of some white stone, Starlight guessed marble. The spikes were red, orange or yellow sharp crystals.

They haunted the entire city like a plague. There were hundreds of goblins and at least 50 giants distributed over Fillydelphia. The trio only saw a fraction of the scale of this attack, but enough to make them wish to leave the doomed city as soon as they could.

"H-how is that possible?! I can't believe the rumors are true." Sunburst was simply flabbergasted at such revelations, losing all hope for survival.

"Beats me. Maybe they want Fillydelphia for some reason," the cloak wearing young woman guessed.

"We have to go. I wanted to see our odds with my own eyes and we have to leave the city. As I see it, the giants alone could kill every human here and the helping goblins aren't making the situation any better," Starlight said urgently.

"You are awfully calm about the fact that your home is getting destroyed," the priestess commented, surprised.

"I panic on the inside, don't worry. But it won't bring me anything to lose my head here and now. Besides, Sunburst and I are pretty much useless. We have no training in using a weapon and no possibility of defending ourselves. We have to escape the city and make it the smart way, or we end up as fish sticks." Sunburst and the woman groaned at this enemy-related joke. "And as I guessed, the goblins formed themselves in groups and started to enter the metro system. If you are unlucky, the metro will be your grave. It's a giant deathtrap, promising false hope and safety until the invaders surrounded you in the underground, whereas the giants look out for enemies in the city itself. Someone had to organize this attack, but who?" Starlight analyzed.

"We might find out soon enough! Look!" Sunburst exclaimed panicky.

They hid themselves behind a demolished bus and saw in front of them a confrontation between Police Commander Forging Star and a goblin who could qualify as the leader of this campaign, at least for the goblins.

He was a little bigger than the rest, maybe 1.5 meters tall. Broader too, otherwise he looked like the goblins they saw, mostly. He had a visible thick scar in the form of a cross on his left cheek, slightly slitted steel blue eyes and he wore a completely different attire than the others. A black captain's hat with a white skull and crossbones upon it finished the getup.

“Real pirates?!” Starlight shouted in her mind. She had her suspicions, but kept quiet, because there was no real proof until now.

He also wore a white shirt, a golden vest to emphasize how important he was, crimson trousers and black boots.

In his right hand he had a long, crooked saber to inflict more pain upon his victims, and in the left hand a beautifully crafted revolver in gold and silver, adorned with fine inscriptions. He pointed the weapon at the commander's chest at a two meter distance.

“But still, overcompensating much?” the scientist of the trio wondered, shaking her head in disbelief.

The commander held his weapon, a .44 Magnum, at his opponent in return. Then he finally spoke at a volume that the trio could hear at. They did such already briefly before with each other it seemed, but over the dying screams, explosions and other sounds, it was hard to hear something from their position.

Four dead goblins laid around them in their own blood, killed by bullets. Four others stood around the big goblin and the commander, waiting. Well, no magical protection and simple melee weapons against someone with a range weapon like a gun did something like that.

"I ask you one more time, you ugly squirt. Why are you attacking Fillydelphia? Who ordered such a thing?!" Forging Star demanded to know in pure rage.

The goblin cackled like a hyena and spoke in a higher voice mixed with a deeper shady undertone and the cliched voice of a pirate, "You wretched landlubber! I am Captain Ezim Knucklehammer! Aye, I be leader of the Darkgill Pirates. We and our fellow allies, other pirate crews, the Bloodhats and Razorcutters and of course the big ones, the Oceandepth Walkers, will be takin' this here jerkwater town. An' just in case ye're wonderin' why ye've only met goblins of my crew. Let’s just say we're more organized than ye think. Every crew got one part of the city for itself. We intends ta transformin' it into a cozy port for pirates, bounty hunters, rouges and others, lad. Aye," Ezim replied, as sure of himself as if he just said that the sky was blue.

"You think you can just walk in here, kill the citizens of this city and not fear any consequences? You will never get away with this! Our government will hunt you down for your crimes!" Forging Star announced angrily.

"Ye naive fool! Ye know nothin' about the world! Every country on this planet hasta process a new order, work with a new era. We know, fer example, that yer petty communications have no juice anymore. Every piece of your once mighty country has its own problems at the moment. Seriously, I just should keelhaul your worthless carcasses and have done with it. Besides, we don't kill ye humans jus' fer fun. Only the stubborn wannabe heroes who think they could oppose the new masters of this town, like yerselves. Nah, ye landlubbers will serve as needed. Orders from the top. Besides, lad, Fillydelphia be a nice cozy town directly by the great Celestial Sea. Indeed, perfect fer us pirates to conduct our businesses, aye. I'm sure ye understand, right?" Ezim explained maliciously and cackled like a maniac.

"Who?!" Forging star shouted for a last time. He had enough of Ezim's taunts.

"I guess I can tell it to a dead man. After all, as the ol' sayin goes, they tell no tales!” He laughed again at this, “Our most generous benefactor is the Royal Triumvirate, aye. The giants follow their every order and are only loyal to these three. Now, it's time to sleep with the fishes fer ye and the word 'Parley' won't save your life. Die!" Ezim exclaimed in finality.

He charged instantly at the human, dodging a bullet with effortless ease, because his sudden speed caught the police commander off-guard and his aim wasn't the best at the moment. His saber cut the man's side, before he could avoid further damage. In an instant, Forging Star pointed his weapon at the goblin and wanted to pull the trigger. Suddenly, he couldn't control his body anymore. Every muscle felt like it cramped at the same time. He couldn't breathe and fell to the ground, locking eyes with a gleeful looking Ezim Knucklehammer in his last moments.

"Oh! I totally fergot to mention somethin' important. Sorry lad, I hope ye can forgive me. Y'see, I always coat me saber with a very, very potent poison. It causes muscle cramps all over your body in seconds if it enters yer blood. Neat, aye? At this very moment your heart stopped workin' and ye can't even breathe because of the strong pain, and your contracting muscles shattered all your ribs. But don't worry, yer city will be in good hands!" Ezim promised mockingly.

After one last breath, Police Commander Forging Star left this world, tears of defeat in his eyes. The captain took the Magnum from the man's corpse and put it under his red fabric belt.

"Aye, a fine trophy," he affirmed greedily, more to himself than anyone else.

He and his crew members laughed loudly and without restriction. They walked back to the inner city, celebrating their conquest of Fillydelphia.

Unnoticed by the captain and his fellow goblins, three witnesses sat behind a bus. The woman in the white cloak didn't seem to react at all, only shaking her head a little.

Sunburst held his head in his hands, sitting on the ground and trying to make sense out of everything. Also whispering to himself inaudibly.

Starlight was hit by Forging's death the hardest. She didn't know him at all before this day, but his grandfather-like attitude portrayed him as a good soul in her mind. A few tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Come on. We have to go. The city's exit is in our reach," the Dark Priest encouraged. The two friends silently nodded their heads in agreement. With heavy hearts, they left.

The scenery wasn't inviting at all. They still heard sounds of combat, crumbling buildings, raging flames consuming everything in their paths, screams of terror, the foreboding steps of nearby giants. Starlight wondered how much of the city would stand after everything was over and how the disgusting pirates planned to rebuild it in their own image.

"I have a question for you, Ms. Priestess," Sunburst started curiously. "Why didn't you help? You claimed that you could wield magic and showed us your phoenix flames. But you didn't do anything at all and let the commander die, why?" he inquired in the end with an accusing tone.

Starlight was interested, too.

The member of the New Dawn laughed as if he said something extremely funny, "Ha! I think you misunderstand something. I'll only fight when I know I can win and I don't take unknown risks that could include my death or something similar, which I would really like to avoid. I defend others if it makes sense for me. Meaning that I only aid someone who is in dire need, given that I have a chance of survival. But these pirates? That wasn't the case, I had no idea or clue what they could have had at their disposal, still. Maybe this ‘Knucklehammer’ character had magic of his own? Then there is his poisoned blade that can kill in seconds. And for what? Why should I risk my life for some stranger I never met before in my life, who furthermore did nothing more than insult me, threaten me and was being a smartass to boot? I'm not one of those pathetic, disillusioned, suicidal people with a death wish and a hero complex all in one, for your information. I'm not some 'fabled hero', or 'chosen one' with a 'pure moral code', mmkay? I have no desire to play the avenger of the innocent, either.”

Sunburst, who had a fond love for superheros, no matter if comic hero or in the real life, felt the need to voice his displeasure about her response, “I-I can’t believe you! What good has your power if you only use it for your own selfish gain and nothing else?! If you command great power, then you have the unwritten duty to help the less fortunate people! It is the right thing to do.”

He put such a passion in his little speech and it were moments like this when Starlight felt herself reminded why he, despite his awkwardness and nerdy moments, was fun to be around and why she would never trade his friendship for anything else.

Their mysterious magician stopped abruptly, her voice without emotion, “Do you know what my rank as a Priestess entails? I wander from place to place and look for potential new members for the Order and take missions, like bounty hunting, in the name of the highest paladins. In both cases I research, I inform myself about every important detail and prepare accordingly. I don't just rush in and hope luck alone will save the day for me. Only morons act like that and I'm not one of them. End of discussion," she finished her summation.

Sunburst looked in disgust at the woman. Starlight didn't know how to react. She would do everything in her power to save Sunburst, but people she never met? Children, of course, but otherwise? She guessed it depended on the situation at hand, but she wouldn't tell her friend about it.

"There are more humans, catch them!" a scratchy female voice shouted.

From behind them attacked five goblins, two with swords, three with spears in their hands.

"Oh? You think you can defeat me? How cute," the cloaked young woman said playfully. Finally she could vent her frustration on someone after all this righteous crap these people spilled at her.

Before the goblins could even blink, she sent one big concentrated sphere of fire in their direction and let it explode shortly in front of them. The explosion killed four immediately and one was still alive, badly injured.

The two childhood friends could only gape at the priestess, who in response chuckled at them, "See? I can be very effective, if I so desire," she stated smugly.

A deep sound was heard and they saw it was the female goblin who spotted them in the first place. With her remaining strength, she blew a wooden, white, with different fishes decorated horn and said with her last breath, in a croaking voice, "Y-you w-will p-pay," before she died

Loud steps echoed through the streets. Louder, louder, closer. Obviously, one of the giants came to aid the user of the horn.

"Shall we run for our lives?" Sunburst asked unnecessarily.

“Oh, yes. Let's,” Starlight replied fearfully, before they did so.

The city limit came into view. They were close, nearly safe. Only a little bit further. But the trio forgot their very angered pursuer, which made itself noticeable with a loud challenging cry, charging toward them at full speed. They were gaining distance, but they couldn't escape. It was only a straight road which led to their freedom. No side streets.

Sunburst didn't notice one of the many fissures on the street, which came into existence because of the giant's powerful steps, and stumbled.

"Whoa!" he screamed and fell face first onto hard concrete, groaning in agony.

"Sunburst!" Starlight wanted to help her friend, but the cloaked woman held her arm and pulled her further away from him. The giant advanced more. "W-what are you doing?! We have to help him!" she shouted desperately at her now former ally.

This girl dared to endanger her friend's life!

"You can thank me later. If we turn around now, that thing will get to us as well and we'll all die," she replied in strained patience. The Priestess turned around again and didn't see how Starlight pulled her cloak's hood off her head.

For the first time, Starlight saw the face of the mysterious stranger. She was young and beautiful. Light amber perfect looking skin, smooth and slightly curly vivid crimson hair with brilliant yellow stripes. It reminded her for some reason of bacon. Moderate cyan eyes looked at her in an accusing manner. Lastly, she noticed a yellow and red shimmering sun in the form of earrings on both sides of the head.

"What is your problem?! You know what? I have no time for this! This is where we part company!" the woman stated in fury.

Purple and indigo phoenix wings came into existence on her back with a brilliant opal outline on the top of her graceful looking choice of escape.

She made herself ready to fly away, but Starlight Glimmer screamed at her lividly, "So that's it?! You just leave us down here, because you want to save yourself? Fine! At least tell me who you really are, so that I can curse you!"

How dared she?! This whore could escape because of her magic, but Sunburst, herself and every other human in this city had to accept their fate? That wasn't fair! Starlight cursed in her mind and questioned the sense of the last events.

"Fine. On a side note, it's not my problem that you weaklings have no magic on your own. I know that look in your eyes. Jealousy. How pathetic. I never asked for your names, but it's not important any more. My name is Sunset Shimmer, to answer your question. Oh, and you should run. The giant is nearly here," Sunset commented uncaringly.

The young woman flew away into the distance, leaving the city behind her, returning to the Order of the New Dawn.

Before Starlight could rant more, she heard a scream behind her; Sunburst. "NO!" Starlight could only watch helplessly as the Oceandepth Walker took him into its hand and tossed him with great force against a nearby building. She vaguely heard the sound of breaking bones.

Sunburst laid motionless in front of an abandoned shop that sold books before the attack. His body was utterly broken. And both arms, the left leg and his head were twisted at unnatural angles. He was clearly dead.

Starlight screamed in fury and despair.

Despair, because she just lost her best friend.

Fury, because that... that bitch! Sunset Shimmer! It was all her fault that her friend died, because she stopped her! The young scientist was furious, because of the sheer injustice. Why had some humans the ability to use magic, but others like herself didn't?! Why?! What made them so goddamned special?! If everyone would have had magic then Sunburst would still be alive! She was sure of that.

"How dare you!" Starlight shouted in the direction of the giant which looked mockingly at her, taunting the young woman with gestures.

Before anything else could happen, out of nowhere, a brilliant magical circle of golden lightning came into existence above the two; maybe 10 meters in diameter. They looked up, but for the giant, it was the last action in its life.

A thick golden lightning bolt hit the unprepared being, engulfing it in electricity and magic. After some time the giant was clearly burnt, many black patches were seen upon its body and the air smelled like scorched flesh. Starlight nearly gagged. After a few seconds, it fell to the ground with a shattering sound, shaking the ground beneath them.

"Don't worry, child. I'll keep you safe," a distinctively female voice promised. The voice sounded like it sizzled with electricity.

In a flash, a new being came into existence in front of Starlight. It, no, she, looked like a tall humanoid being, made out of raspberry red lightning. She was 2.5 meters tall, had a slender, very female looking body, except for the chest it seemed, and purple gleaming eyes.

She wore vibrant orange plate armor around the feet, the hip, chest, hands and head, Zyphorium, with light silver symbols in Kalamdur, which made it possible to wear the armor with such a manner of body for an entity of thunder such as her. Not that Starlight knew that at this point. The armor itself was built very slim, fitting her perfectly, like a second skin. The helmet had an open ventail. The entire armor in general had raspberry red adornments on the edges, giving the being a very elegant and respect-inducing aura.

On her own way, she was breathtaking.

"W-who are you? T-thank you for saving me. My name is S-Starlight Glimmer," Starlight said in a wincing tone. Why, Sunburst?

"I was around these parts for a mission and felt your pain, young Starlight. I am Thunder Huntress Iona. A thunder elemental," Iona explained with care, "I witnessed the last moments of this human male and felt it through your actions that he was very dear to you. Tell me; what is it you desire the most? I'm confident that I can help you."

Starlight trembled in despair and fury, "I want justice! So many innocent humans died and they didn't have any chance to defend themselves, except this Sunset Shimmer, this disgusting magician, who ran, no, flew away like a coward. If everyone could use some form of magic and it wouldn't be dependent on if they were 'chosen' to wield it, then everything would be much better! I wish I could bring equality to all humans and show every one of these accursed mages that they are nothing special. That their magical talents are unimportant in a place where everyone is equal, nothing to be proud of. Everbody deserves a chance to defend himself, not just people who got lucky! It was because of her that Sunburst died, because she stopped me and didn't even try to help us. Well, she could escape with magic!" Starlight let out her frustrations of the past hours, days and weeks whenever she heard again and again that someone had died and nothing could be done about it.

Now she knew the truth. It was always because of some magical incident or strong magical creature, but the humans couldn't defend themselves, because they had no magic of their own. She knew what she had to do in this moment: to bring true harmony back, equal rights for every single human. Starlight Glimmer would prove that this world didn't need special talents of a select few.

"Maybe there is a way," Iona mused out loud.

"What do you mean?" the scientist asked in hope. Could there really be a chance?

"Of course. If you accept, that is," the thunder elemental replied calmly.

"Anything!" the young woman swore.

"When you accept and pledge your loyalty to our cause, I can use my power to infuse you with the magic of lightning. It will transform you from a human to a half-elemental. It would give you some advantages, I can assure you. Afterwards, we return to the Elemental Planes, more specifically, the Gleaming Isles. The thunder elementals' home. I will teach and train you there. Think of it as studying a new subject. Then, one day, when you've learned enough, you can return to this world, convince your fellow humans to follow us and everyone could be made equal, like you've always desired. You would all be under the same banner and be known as the Scions of Thunder, serving Lord Imperion. Do you accept, Starlight Glimmer?" Iona inquired smoothly.

That was the perfect opportunity! She could gain her own power and later convince other defenseless humans to follow her. Besides, Iona was very nice. She even saved her life when she didn't have to. The woman would make Sunset Shimmer pay one day, avenging Sunburst's death and create a new form of hope for mankind! She decided without a second thought.

"Yes! I will support you, Lady Iona. Please, teach me!" Starlight answered eagerly.

"As you wish, my Scion," Iona accepted dutifully.

She put one of her lightning-surrounded hands upon the girl’s head. But to Starlight’s surprise, there was no pain. Only power! So much power. The transformation started.

A strawberry red magical circle made of lightning appeared beneath the human. Her entire body was surrounded by magic. After a few seconds, the flash died down and the new Starlight Glimmer made her entrance.

Her moderate Persian eyes changed color to a luminous orange, electric sparks dancing in them. Her skin changed to violet and then there was her hair. The moderate purple changed to a golden white, the light purple to sand yellow and the pale, light-grayish-aquamarine highlights to pearl white. Illuminated from the rays of the sun, sparks of electricity were emitting from her recolored coiffure occasionally. Otherwise, her hair stayed much the same as before.

She wore now elegant armor over her entire body, except a helmet. The chest piece, the gauntlets, the boots and shin armor were made of Zyphorium in a rare color; instead of vibrant orange it was a brilliant silver-gray, festooned with symbols in the language of the elementals. A small version of her pony counterpart's Cutie Mark on the right side of the chest. The rest of the armor was Ampharite in its typical slightly visible dark shade of jade, her body's, now natural generated, lightning got denser there, which nearly made it impossible for common attacks to harm the Scion of Thunder. Light turquoise sparks moved over her entire body.

The former human was now like a living energy field.

With a distorted voice, she spoke, "I feel the power of lightning. The magic of an elemental. Thank you for this possibility, Lady Iona, I won't disappoint you." She bent to one knee in reverence.

"It was my pleasure and I know you won't. Now, my Scion, be recognized in our society, your fellow elementals and later from the humans after you returned. Together we will help these poor souls," Iona announced with determination, "Rise, Arclight, Starlight Glimmer!"

The newly made half-elemental would achieve her dreams. For Sunburst. For her childhood friend. A little voice in the back of her head questioned the entity’s motives. She put it aside. Obviously Iona just wanted to help her with achieving her desires. Nothing more.

"I am ready, Mistress," Starlight assured in delight.

The elemental nodded her head and in a flash of light, they were gone.

After four days, she received her first assignment, because she made huge progress and was able to control her new elemental magic much better than expected. Some amphibious looking bipedal frog tribe tried to invade the Gleaming Isles. The ‘Shockskins’, she believed they were called. They had the audacity to proclaim themselves as the lords of thunder.

What arrogant blasphemy.

Thunder Huntress Iona gave her the task to return to Terra, to endorse herself into the Amazons with the help of some selected thunder elementals. There she would show the disrespectful tribe their boundaries.

If necessary, by force.

In baby steps she came closer and closer to her final dream. Someone knocked on the door, possibly one of the elementals who were under her command for the duration of this mission.

"Lady Glimmer, the preparations are finished. Mistress Iona awaits you at the portal for a last briefing," a thunder elemental informed her through the door with a ‘male’ voice.

She still had some difficulties in recognizing the voices and giving them a gender and a name. Even when, in theory, an elemental had none. In most cases they decided to choose one, still.

Luckily, she recognized this voice. He was teaching her the art of close combat. "Thank you, Warden Ferrad. Please tell Lady Iona that I will meet her immediately," Starlight replied in gratitude.

Steps in front of the door went silent after some time.

She summoned her armor, took necessary notes and other things with her in a small, enchanted, teal leather bag. She bought it from some merchant on Ashin. Backpacks just annoyed her and weren't the best choice in more dangerous situations.

With a goal in sight, Arclight Starlight Glimmer left her room in order to meet the huntress. One day, Sunburst's death would be avenged and Sunset Shimmer would pay for it. And all the other magicless humans would soon appreciate her solution, helping them to achieve power of their own.

Yes, she was sure; Only the elementals could free mankind.

"W-what happened?!" Indigo Zap shouted, suddenly awake and ready to kick the Terrorbeast in the butt once again.

Where was she anyway?

"Ah, one of our courageous heroes has awakened from her slumber," a, for Indigo, unfamiliar, but calming voice commented in amusement.

The Shadowbolt turned her head and came face to face with hazelnut brown eyes and noticed after some time that she stared at a mysterious and very beautiful woman. She lost herself in those eyes. Indigo felt like she was caught doing something forbidden.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare! I j-just didn't expect someone like... you. I mean I liked looking at you. No, wait! I didn't mean that in a creepy way! I-" Indigo stammered, blushing up a storm. She was utterly unprepared for encountering the young Emerald Elf.

Luckily for the athlete, Luviel didn't mind at all, "Don't worry, young one. I'm already used to such reactions from you humans. You must be Indigo Zap. Your friends told me about you. It is nice to finally meet the girl with the infamous Lightning Magic I heard so much about. My name is Luviel Dawnseeker of the Emerald Elves. Your friends brought you here after the battle with the Terrorbeast. It seems you used all your available mana and lost consciousness in combat," she reopened the conversation with a warm smile.

Well, now the girl felt awkward for reacting like this in the first place. Just great. "No problem. Where are we?" She tried to play it cool. Maybe it even worked.

"You are in Cheerilee's house. Or, should I say, her guest room," the elf answered calmly.

Indigo looked around and examined for the first time her surroundings. The walls were painted in a fuchsia color. Her bed was made out of beige wood. Her blanket and pillow were covered by light green sheets. The mattress was light red, and aside from the bed, the room had not much more to offer for the eye than a little orange colored dresser and a plain-looking white floor lamp. The floor was made out of oaken boards.

"Wait. You said: 'After the battle'. So the others could defeat that thing?" She gasped, "Are my friends OK?!" she asked in panic.

"I think we should go downstairs for further discussion. And the others are waiting for you. I just came to look for your awakening, because I felt your consciousness' return," Luviel replied mysteriously.

"You can do such things, Ms. Dawnseeker?" Indigo asked, astonished and in sincere interest.

The woman saw the interested look upon the girl’s face and couldn't contain her inner jester, "Just Luviel is alright. Yes, I can do such things. The magic of us Emerald Elves can be very helpful. I can do many things you could hardly even dream of," the elf answered and said the last part of her sentence with a seductive wink.

She left the room and laughed because of the young human’s shocked facial expression, leaving a dirty-minded and embarrassed teenager behind. The girl facepalmed after she realized that the Emerald Elf had tricked her.

"She is good..." Indigo muttered to herself and followed Luviel out of the room.

"Do you think Indigo is finally awake? This girl could sleep through an earthquake!" Sour Sweet commented with a chuckle.

"We have to show patience. Our new friend said that she is sure that it wouldn't be long before the girl would awaken," Zecora replied with closed eyes, meditating..

"I still can't believe that Ms. Dawnseeker and you, Ms. Cheerilee, rescued the trapped souls of Gloriosa Daisy and Timber Spruce and fought perverted imps and burning corpses. That's all kinds of awesome! Why couldn't our teachers be so cool?! We only got an insane principal," Lemon voiced her opinion with a happy grin.

"These 'Lecherous Imps', or whatever Luviel called them, were not awesome. It was disgusting." Cheerilee shuddered just from thinking about the demons.

"Are you kidding me? You didn't have to evade these perverted things. You had the easy part of the job," the Emerald Elf stated with a deadpan after the entered the room.

Indigo followed and was instantly group hugged by her friends, Lemon, Sour and Sugarcoat. "I missed you girls too," the arisen Lightning Magic user said smugly. Hugging back as strong as possible.

After the reunion, everyone took a prepared seat in Cheerilee's kitchen. They'd brought a lot of chairs in there.

"I think we should bring Indigo up to date and plan our next step," Sugarcoat started in her usual monotone voice. The others nodded their heads in agreement.

Indigo Zap noticed something that she missed during the hug, "Sour, your right leg! Are you OK?" she asked in worry and looked at the bandages around her friend's leg. She remembered how Sour Sweet injured herself because of the melted tar, shortly before she went all-out on the Terrorbeast and got it good.

"Don't worry, Indigo. Everything is fine. Zecora's tonics, magic and mixtures are just incredible. soon I can take these annoying things off. I need to scratch my leg, as soon as possible," Sour Sweet replied in annoyance.

"Alright guys. What happened after I... decided to take a nap?" Indigo inquired, chuckling.

"I can inform you. So listen well," Sugarcoat instructed in her teacher-mode. Or, as her close friends named this serious state of mind, the ‘Sugar Zone’.

The mistress of bluntness told her friend about everything from the moment the girl passed out, down to how she saved Indigo with her last remaining energy, the girl in question hugged her tightly. Sugarcoat had to endure a painful five seconds break before she could continue.

After that, she explained Lemon Zest's new Shadow Magic.

Or at least she tried before she was interrupted anew from the Shadow Mage herself, "Girl, you should have seen it! I totally saved you both from being roasted like a chicken! This guy was pissed after I did that and wanted to eat me instead. I used my ability Shadow Lance, concentrated and like a ninja I attacked when he didn't expect it at all and gave him a headshot! I saved the day like some kind of superhero!”

Indigo eyed her friend with a forced smile, sometimes this girl was much too hyper, “Oh. Did you give it a name?” To her confusion, the others groaned.

The rock music lover was triggered anew, “I called this finisher: 'The Penetrator', but Sugarcoat went all dictionary on my case and said this name was perverted or something like that, so I had to let the name be, because I didn't like other names." Lemon looked at Sugarcoat before she continued, "You are much too prudish, Sugy. I mean if you called, you know, some special toy of yours like that, you should have said so and I-"

The others girls weren't faring better as the completely shocked Sugarcoat and blushed furiously. Zecora just shook her head, chuckling, and Luviel laughed at the energetic girl's antics. Cheerilee tried to ignore this piece of information and focused on banishing unwanted images of some pleasure toy that would be fitting of such a name from her mind with all her might. Luckily it worked.

Sugarcoat had heated cheeks, too because of Lemon's shameless teasing and interrupted this time herself, "Lemon Zest! Stop this instant!" She calmed herself after her little moment and continued, now back to her usual behaviour, "I never said anything like that! I only said to you that such a name is unbecoming and would cause misinterpretations and equivocations with the others."

"As I said... dictionary," Lemon muttered, audible only to herself.

The glasses wearing teenager explained to Indigo how the group returned to Ponyville at a slow pace after the fight, because she couldn't walk without help. The same problem counted for Sour, and Indigo herself was unconscious. In the end they'd nearly reached Ponyville over some hidden ways Zecora knew from her time in the Everfree Forest so that the other humans didn't find them.

Then the group returned to Zecora's hut and shop where the troll shaman made some of her ingredients and plants into a healing ointment for the team's injuries and tonics for regenerating mana at a faster rate. They helped and in the end the group recovered much faster on this way than would be normally the case. Indigo thanked the shaman, who in response smiled kindly.

Then Sugarcoat told the girl how Luviel and Ms. Cheerilee entered shortly later, and described what the duo reported to them about their little mission about the two Soul Prisons and how they freed the cursed souls, after defying the odds. Especially the first prison with Gloriosa's soul gave Indigo Zap a great story she wouldn't forget.

"I swear, Vyndrak did that on purpose!" Luviel shouted, disgusted. Sugarcoat's eye twitched, because she was interrupted, again. Indigo and Lemon Zest laughed at the Emerald Elf's plight.

The Illusion Magic user coughed slightly and gained everyone's attention once again, "Well, to finish the whole story, Indigo. After we met in Zecora's hut, we decided to rest up in Ms. Cheerilee's house after she invited us and because she didn't have enough space for everyone. Besides, you needed a bed to recover in peace. It's now five in the morning, the others are probably wondering by now where we are." She regarded everyone of their group. "What do you think we should do next?"

Cheerilee cleared her throat to make a suggestion, "We should leave Ponyville and go to Sweet Apple Acres, as long as most people are still sleeping. We sneaked into my house last night and were lucky, but we have to be careful now. It won't end well for us if Zecora or Luviel are seen. Without the curse upon the citizens' mind, they can think clearly again. And when they remember that they were under control it will only become worse. Even without the mind control, many people are already very angry about everything and everyone they lost and what transpired in the last short time.”

Luviel sighed in pity and some frustration, crossing her arms, “Especially the refugees from Canterlot, and with good reason, because those people lost their existence. It was burned to ashes by the fire elementals. They declared in response that anything that isn't human is some kind of mortal enemy and made it clear that they would punish everyone in this town who supports non-humans.” She was still not sure if she could believe the tales about these ‘elementals’, but the elf could confirm for herself that Cheerilee spoke lastly the truth about Ponyville

“I don't like the thought of leaving my home, but I won't just hide here and wait for my end at the next attack when I could do something more productive like helping you. Besides, the principals are there as well and I won't let Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna do everything on their own with so many teenagers around them," Cheerilee stated with a nervous expression upon her face, but determination in her voice.

Zecora nodded her head in support, "Indeed. I don't appreciate such an option either, but I have to leave Ponyville and my current home, too. The curse forced the people to stay away from my shop until now since my transformation and confused them. But some customers will surely return soon. They will spread the word about me the moment they see what I have become, without question.”

Fear turned to sadness.

Sadness turned to anger and pain.

Anger and pain turned to hatred.

The shaman frowned with a glance outside from behind a curtain, “The start of a cycle of violence which knows no victor, only loss and suffering. I need to return to my shop, take everything with me that is possible to transport and come with you to Sweet Apple Acres. In this dark time, it won't end well to be connected to magic in any shape or form for any of us. Human or not," she explained firmly.

"I agree and would like to come with you, too. I promised to stop Vyndrak and the Adepts of Khom, I suggest we band together, after everything that's happened. We need a base of operation which isn't in jeopardy at every moment because of curious and hostile eyes, as is the case in this place," the Emerald Elf voiced her point of view in a serious tone.

"Then we are clear, I think. We number seven people at the moment. Ms. Dawnseeker," the exotic beauty sighed quietly to herself at the formality in annoyance, nobody heard her, "Indigo and I will help Zecora with collecting everything she needs from her shop. Lemon and Sour, you will help Ms. Cheerilee to pack whatever she needs out of her home. We'll meet again in one hour at Zecora's shop and return before we risk detection from the inhabitants of Ponyville," Sugarcoat shared her plan.

Everyone agreed.

They started their tasks and would soon return to Sweet Apple Acres. Zecora, Cheerilee and Luviel decided to join the others to fight the odds. Sugarcoat didn't show it, but on the inside she was nervous. The ex-student of Crystal Prep just hoped that the adults and Sunny Flare wouldn't be angry with her, because she just decided without asking anyone else to bring more people to the Apples' farm.

Only time would tell.

Author's Notes:

Greetings my avid readers!

I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

First, I planned to fit the Starlight part, the Ponyville part and the part of the three human counterparts of the princesses, into this chapter alone. But then I always had new ideas how to write and implement more. Filling in things I wasn't sure first how to do it and or connect them accordingly.

I wanted more and more exposition and wasn't satisfied with a half-hearted fast description just to rush forward. It didn't suit my desires how to write this big universe.

Well, next chapter I'll have enough space for the last remaining team (Cadance, Luna, Celestia), which didn't make its way back yet to Sweet Apple Acres.

Thank you very much for reading and stay tuned!