Author's Notes:

Introduction chapter for the next arc~! ^^
And now I have to go work on one of the side stories, since it's happening directly after this chapter, but before the first full chapter of this arc xP

Bump

Sunset jolted as the bus hit yet another pothole in the dirt road, debris ricocheting along the bottom of the vehicle as it snaked its way along the ever winding pass. Every once in awhile one of the trees would reach out to caress the maroon paint with its bonelike branches.

“How much longer?” Sonata complained, reaching over the top of Sunset’s seat and resting her aqua arms along the amber teen’s torso.

“I still can’t believe that we were the only ones who wanted to go.” Twilight said, looking around at the small mixture of students that relaxed in the bus.

“You didn’t hear this from me, but,” Cadence started up, looking back at the group of girls that lounged across the seats of the large bus. She had given the senior year plenty of time to get their required paperwork in, but it seemed they would rather stay home. So as a result the bus that was meant to transport close to thirty students with camping gear now carried only ten young women, Dean Cadence, and Shining Armour as the driver. “I am glad that it is just going to be the twelve of us going.”

“Tell me about it.” Aria responded, the pigtail wearing Siren laying back against the window while kicking her feet up onto the seat. “Don’t have to worry about any pussies ruining this trip.”

“Aria, dear.” Adagio said as she stood up behind Aria, looking down at the crass Equestrian. “What did I tell you about running your mouth?” The look on her face was one of contempt.

“Whatever, mom.” Aria snarked as she crossed her arms and stuck her tongue out at the lead of the trio, only to have Adagio strike out like the serpent she somewhat was.

“Does anyone have some soap?” Adagio asked as she grasped the other Sirens slippery tongue between her firm forefinger and thumb. The bus erupted in cheers and laughter, doubling in intensity when Sonata procured a bar of soap from her backpack and deposited it into Adagio’s waiting hand. The Siren gave a devious grin as she looked down at Aria, tears starting to well in the girl’s eyes as she struggled to free herself.

“Come now, Aria, you know you wrought this upon yourself.” She said as she started to scrub the girl’s mouth with the soap, Aria gagging before tearing her head free, fingernails running against her poor soapy tongue in an effort to clean the taste.

“Bleeeeh! You cu-” Aria started, only to freeze in terror when she saw Adagio. “F-fine, I deserved it.” She said meekly as she sat back down properly, digging around in her backpack for her water bottle.

“Guess we know who wears the pants, huh?” Indigo said between laughs, slapping her legs as her frame vibrated with mirth.

“I’m glad to be the one not on the receiving end of that for once.” Sunny said as she watched with a small smile.

“Hey, Shimmer!” Aria called out, back to her normal crass nature. “Think you could magic away these suds for me?”

Sunset shook her head. “Really? You know you deserved that, Aria.”

“C’mon, Red!” Indigo shouted out, standing up from her seat and looking at Sunset with a wide grin. “I wanna see some more magic!”

Various shouts of agreement rang out from the rest of the students, Sunset grinning sheepishly as she looked back at Dean Cadance.

“I am still struggling to comprehend that magic is real, and that other worlds actually exist, but as long as you don’t damage the bus, I think it should be fine.” She said with a calm smile.

“Alright!” Lemon cheered, pulling her headphones down as she stood up herself. “Let’s see some fireworks!”

“I would prefer not to die on this bus.” Sugarcoat monotoned, eye’s not veering from the book in her hands.

“Wait! Let me get Ethyl Mk.3 out!” Twilight exclaimed as she started to rummage through her own backpack in a frenzy. “I could always use some more readings after all!”

Sunset sighed as she made her way over to Aria, the girl smiling before sticking her tongue out in preparation. “Are you ready there, Twilight?”

“All set up!” The scientist responded as she jumped in beside Adagio, the device in her hands giving a small hum.

“Alrighty, here we go.” Sunset said with a smile before closing her eyes. She concentrated on the magic inside herself, calling forth it’s arcane energies. She could hear the humming of Twilight’s device start to pick up, growing more excited as it picked up the energies radiating from Sunset. Slowly, an aquamarine glow gathered around her hand, the extremity starting to move forward and reach towards Aria, the girl humming happily.

“Aaah,” The Siren moaned happily. “Much be-b-b…” Her voice trailed off as her eyes shot open. “Gaaaaah! H-h-hooooot!” She shot to her feet, her hands rubbing along her tongue furiously. Sunset burst out in laughter as her magic died off.

“What’s the matter, Aria? Don’t like the taste of Zebra Fireroot?” She chuckled as tears started to stream down the girl’s reddening face.

“You didn’t!” Sonata cried out, laughing at the misery her sister was suffering from.

“Oh, Sunny,” Adagio purred, reaching out and rubbing Sunset’s arm affectionately. “I didn’t know you were so… deliciously devious.”

Sunset blushed as the rest of the Shadowbolts laughed now at Sunset, the amber teen coughing in an attempt to hide her crimson cheeks.

“Can you put out this fire!?” Aria begged, arms flailing helplessly.

“Alright, ya big baby.” Sunset sneered as her magic flared to life again, Aria letting out a happy sigh as the heat in her mouth died away, replaced with a nice cool.

“Smartass!” Aria said as she playfully slugged Sunset in the arm, the unicorn feigning injury.

“Oh, you wound me! However shall I go on in life?” The performance she gave was one worthy of Rarity, almost everyone bursting into more peals of fresh laughter.

“Would you stop being so overdramatic?” Sour groaned as she brought a hand to her face.

“Would it be better if I talked like this?” Came an extremely squeaky voice, Sour glowering playfully at Sunset who was whistling in an extremely high pitch, the aquamarine aura around her throat giving her away.

“Really now?” Was Sour’s response.

“I know, right!?” Sour said.

“Wait-” Sour started.

“What!?” Sour interrupted.

“God- C’mon, Sunset!” Sour sputtered out, playful anger being flung at the girl who had started mimicking her now.

Everyone was laughing, even Dean Cadence and Shining Armour.

*

“Finally!” Sonata shouted as she lept from the bus, happily landing on the rocky parking lot. “It was so hot in there!”

“Tell me about it.” Adagio said, fanning herself as sweat seeped into her curls. “I’m going to look forward to a shower to clean up.”

“How is it so much hotter in there than out here!?” Lemon complained as she got out of the bus, attempting to drain her water bottle of the last bits of moisture that remained clung to the sides.

Everyone finished making their way out of the bus, Shining Armor making his way to the side of the bus and unlocking the storage container and starting to remove all of the suitcases stored inside.

“Welcome everyone!” Called out a cheery voice, causing the teens to turn and face the newcomer.

“I would hazard a guess that you all are the group from Crystal Prep Academy?” Asked the young man accompanying a woman with pale reddish skin.

“Yes, we are.” Cadence said, offering a hand out to the pair. “You must be the camp directors?”

“Yes, yes! I’m Gloriosa Daisy! It’s nice to meet you in person, Principal Cadence.” Gloriosa said as she shook the cerise woman’s hand. “And this is my brother, Timber Spruce.”

“Nice to meet you!” He said with a large smile as he shook Cadence’ hand right after his sister.

“You can call me Cadence,” The acting principal said, receiving two nods in response. “And it is a pleasure to meet you two. As I said in the last e-mail, we were going to have a pretty small group, just me and my fiance as chaperones, and these ten girls.”

“Nice to meet all of you!” Gloriosa said as she looked over the students of Crystal Prep. “I hope you are all prepared for a fun weekend here at Camp Everfree!” The students responded enthusiastically, sans Sugarcoat to no one's surprise. “While we have you gathered I’d just like to go over some camp safety rules. Nothing too long though, so don’t worry!”

“Maybe it would be best for them to get their tent assignments?” Timber interjected, looking at all the luggage sitting by the bus.

“Actually, that works just fine!” Gloria responded, handing a bag over to her brother. “All of you young women will take turns drawing tents from the bag Timber is holding, while I go and show your chaperones where they will be staying!”

The two groups separated, Cadence and Shining Armour heading off with Gloriosa while the students lined up single file before Timber Spruce, the young man wearing a slightly too friendly grin.

“Alright ladies!” He said once his sister was out of earshot. “You all look really hot, so why don’t you all come grab your tent from my sack here?”

The girls were stunned, looks of shock barely hidden, or disgust in Sonata’s case. Sunset strode forward and reached into the bag, ignoring Timber who was wiggling his eyebrows, and pulled out a small cardstock card with a blue sphere sitting in the middle.

“Ah, looks like you got sapphire tent, very nice!” Timber said excitedly. “Do you know how sapphire got its name?”

“Latin for blue or something I think?” Sunset said uninterestedly as she walked over to her suitcase, hearing Timber sigh dejectedly.

“Come on down, lucky contestant number two!”

Sunset ignored the girls getting assignments, instead heading for the sign that read “Gemstone Gala”. It listed off various gemstones, making Sunset guess that she should head that way. She made her way through the winding tents, if they could be called tents. They were really fancy looking shelters, tall and covered with hardy materials. She reached forward and brushed aside the fabric that covered the door to the sapphire tent, gasping slightly when she took in the interior. It had two large beds, queen size Sunset figured, covered in what looked like silk sheets, given the way they shone in the limited light. Dressers of solid wood lay at both sides, mirrors sitting atop both, with night tables of the same, maple looking wood sat beside each bed.

“Wooooooow…”

Sunset turned around and regarded Sonata who was behind her.

“So this is our tent huh?” She asked, looking around in glee as she took in their tent. “This is so cool! I’ve never gone camping before!”

Sunset chuckled as she moved further in, allowing the bubbly Siren to rush in and belly flop onto the bed.

“Celestia bless air conditioning!” She moaned happily, Sunset shaking her head in amusement as she deposited her bag and suitcase at the foot of the bed frame.

“If only Celestia was here to get rid of that creep…” Sunset muttered softly, but evidently not softly enough as Sonata shot up.

“I know, right!? He was totally sneezing all over everybody! Doesn’t he know that we’re all too young for him?” Sonata made a disgusted face as she shivered.

“Well, not all of us.” Sunset said playfully. “I may be eighteen next month but I’m older than that back in Equestria.”

“Oh? How old are you, Sun-Shim?” Sonata asked innocently, crossing her legs on the bed and planting her hands on her knees.

“Er…” Sunset looked around in worry. “Did-didn’t I already say?” She gave a worried chuckle to go with her fake smile.

“I don’t think you did?” Sonata stroked her chin in thought. “Does it matter though? I mean, I don’t even know how old I am!”

“True…” Sunset sighed. Next to the age of the Siren, she was positively newborn. “I’m turning twenty five next month.

“Awwww, Sun-Shim is hitting her first quarter century!” Sonata cooed adorably, baby talking the unicorn, much to Sunset’s chagrin.

“Ya, ya…” Sunset responded, her hands resting on her hips. “Yuck it up, granny.”

“I don’t have any children.” Sonata responded. “At least, I don’t think I do?”