Friday Morning

The next day at school, the students were becoming worried. They saw Bon Bon coming to school with Lyra, Octavia, and Vinyl, but she was shaken up so much she didn’t say a word, and kept shivering. The monster she encountered last night sure left its scar on her.

The staff was starting to get worried, and so they tried to get a professional to talk to her, but that didn’t work either. They looked towards the other option, which was get some of the girls who have handled magic before to talk with them.

During the lunch period, Sunset, Coppermane and Fluttershy came down into the counselor's office where Lyra, Octavia, and Vinyl were, and took a seat in two chairs.

“I tried talking to her, but she wouldn’t listen,” Lyra said. “I don’t even know what happened last night.”

“Well, maybe we can,” Sunset said. “We’ve dealt with this kind of thing before, maybe it’d be best if we listen.”

Principal Celestia closed the door.

“Alright, Bon Bon, it's okay.” Celestia assured Bon Bon.

Bon Bon’s attention was brought onto the classmates, sitting in front of her, along with Lyra on her left, and Vinyl and Octavia sitting on her right.

“Any chance you can start from the beginning?” Coppermane asked.

Bon Bon nodded, took a deep breath, and began speaking.

“Okay, um… it was last night. I was in bed, texting with Lyra, having a good time. And, it was around midnight, so late in the evening.”

“Okay.” Sunset replied.

“And everything was alright, but then I heard a clattering noise coming from downstairs in the shop. I thought there might have been some rats making a mess again.”

“So, what happened next?” Fluttershy asked.

“I walked downstairs, and I kept my phone with me. I called Lyra telling her about it, just in case something dangerous was happening. She was worried for my safety and suggested I call the police, but I didn’t.”

“Alright, continue.” Sunset replied.

Bon Bon’s hands were getting a little shaky, and she kept tapping her left foot on the ground.

“I entered the kitchen, and it looked like there may have been somewhat of an infestation. The food I had set up to be sold for the shop were all gnawed through… but… these bites… they weren’t rat bites. They were like something the size of maybe a lion ate through them. I kept looking, and there was also a bit of sticky stuff on my cabinets. I didn’t know what it was. But then I turned around and... “

Bon Bon froze just thinking about what she had witnessed last night.

“That… that thing… the… monster!” she exclaimed, sobbing into her hands at the images.

“Can you tell us what it looked like?” Sunset asked.

Bon Bon took a deep breath, trying to talk through her fearful tears. “It was muscular. It… It looked a little bug-like. There’s no way it was human. There’s no way! I-It had a tail. There were fangs. I… I never seen anything like it. And… It attacked me! Worse… it spoke! It asked where you were, but I blacked out! I don’t know what it wants, but… it left me! What if it comes back?! I… I…”

Bon Bon broke down crying, and Lyra came over to comfort her.

Sunset bit her lip. This thing that Indigo and Lemon had described was now on the prowl. But, one question still bugged her, what is this thing after? Why her? What is it about herself that this thing wanted?

The day was over, and the girls, along with Flash and Coppermane decided to have another sleepover. Something they did on a semi-regular basis. Usually it was to just have fun, and occasionally work on some homework in the company of their friends. However, this time around, the primary focus was on the new updates about this… monster. The place? Pinkie Pie's.

“So this monster that scared Bon Bon, you think is coming after you?” Flash asked.

“Yes, I do,” Sunset said. “If it was asking where I was, it might be after me. But I don’t know why.”

“Maybe it’s not after you! Maybe it's after something you own!” Pinkie said.

“Why would a changeling from Equestria be after something she owned?” Coppermane asked.

“Well changelings are very intelligent. Maybe the person that was fused with the changeling knows something that we don’t,” Twilight replied.

“But why? Why would someone fuse a human being with a changeling?” Rarity asked.

“I don’t know, but that’s something we have to find out.” Twilight replied.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, are you suggesting we have to get close to that thing?” Rainbow asked. She was not looking to get anywhere near it.

“I’m not saying that, but if the creature gave some vital information every time it encountered someone--” Twilight started.

“It will lead us to who made it, who it is, and what it wants.” Flash finished.

“Exactly.” Twilight replied with a smile.

“Well whatever this creature is, I hope it doesn’t do any harm to us. Heaven knows we’re dealing with enough danger with the Crystal Preppers.” Rarity replied.

“Yeah, we are.” Coppermane replied.

"I agree. But maybe we should do something that won't stress us out for a bit. Should we work on some homework?" Fluttershy asked.

"Sure."

"Okay."

"Sounds good!"

"Actually, I've got to look at something real quick. Can you just give me a few moments?"

"Uh, sure. Go right ahead." Flash said.

"Thanks. Oh, Pinkie, did you by any chance... you know..."

Pinkie was confused for about two seconds, before catching on. "Oh! Yeah, its right upstairs. Its in the guest bedroom."

Sunset gave her thanks and left the group to make her way upstairs. Upon walking up, she made a turn around a corner and walked right into the guest bedroom. On the floor next to the bed was a giant trunk that was sealed up.

She opened it up, her eyes catching the contents inside. There were some of Smokestack's possessions. And one in particular caught her very eye. A small tape player and headphones within the very bottom of the box. Taking it out carefully, she sat on the bed and placed the player on her lap. And attached to the top of the player was a small note, to Sunset.

She looked at the note once again, sighing in sadness. It read 'To my beautiful Sunset, I leave you this should I ever pass away. I know you will take great care of it, and I know you adore the classics, just like I do'.

Sunset looked into the clear plastic of the player, seeing the red cassette tape resting inside with a strip of tape labeling it 'Retro Classics'. Her finger pressed the play button, and music began to slowly wind up and play from the speaker.

Sunset felt tears welling up in her eyes. She frowned as she looked at the cassette player, and sniffled.

Coppermane was returning to the main room after a quick run to the restroom, but stopped when he heard… crying?

He followed the sound, and soon found himself at the foot of the staircase. It was coming from the second floor. He walked up, and at the top he saw a familiar fiery red hairdo out of the corner of his eye. He looked and saw Sunset with her face buried in her hands, the song still continuing to play.

He didn’t waste another second.

“Sunset? Are you okay?”

The puffy cheeks, bloodshot eyes, and tears leaking from her face shown she wasn’t okay.

“No…” She whimpered.

“Oh, Sunset…” Coppermane held Sunset in a hug as she cried onto his shoulder.

“It’s just… he’s... “

Coppermane looked Sunset in the eye.

“You miss Smokestack, don’t you?”

Sunset nodded somberly.

“I’m so sorry Sunset. I wish I could do something to help.”

“Well there isn’t. Unless Smokie just magically comes back from the dead, I don’t know if I’ll ever get over this.”

Coppermane wasn’t sure of what to do, but an idea had popped into his head.

“Hey, what if you told me some stuff about Smokestack. Maybe tell me some sweet things about him. Maybe that could work?” Coppermane asked. “Besides, I don’t really know that much, and I’ve been wanting to know a little more about him.”

Sunset sighed. Her eyes were filled with such heavy amounts of pain, but eventually a small smile appeared.

“Coppermane, where do I even start?” Sunset said. “He was just so… heroic. Saving CHS from a fire, saving our world from the Changelings, being so nice to me… and sweet. And surviving Neon Lights and his group of monsters…”

“Wait, what?” Coppermane asked.

“Smokie was bullied by Neon Lights and his friends when he was at Crystal Prep,” Sunset said. “He’s the reason for the fake eye.”

“Well, we have the same bully then,” Coppermane said.

“Really?” Sunset said.

“Yeah…” Coppermane said. “But this isn’t about me, it’s about you. What else about Smokestack?"
Sunset sighed again, and a tear trickled down her cheek.

“Coppermane, I’d love to go on and on about how amazing Smokie was… but it just hurts to much to talk about right now,” Sunset said, her lips trembling.

“I understand,” Coppermane said, pulling her into another hug. “Just remember that we’re here for you, okay?”

“Thanks,” Sunset said, reciprocating his embrace.

Coppermane patted her back, and he pulled from the embrace. He looked down at the cassette player that Sunset had stopped.

"Is that a cassette player?" Coppermane asked.

"Y-Yeah..." Sunset sniffled. "This actually belonged to Smokie. He... he told me to hang onto this in case he... he..."

"I understand." Coppermane nodded. "I didn't know he had one of those."

"These aren't even made anymore. He bought this because... he told me the older songs from the 80s and back reminded him of home. Reminded him of what he loved, and... of us." Sunset looked back down at the player and sighed. "And now its just sitting here collecting dust."

Coppermane scratched his chin and offered a friendly smile.

"Hey. What if you kept that with you, like you always have a piece of him with you?"

Sunset for the second time, actually smiled.

"That... that's actually not a bad idea. And there's a clip for this to hang onto, so..."

"You'll be able to have a piece of him wherever you go." Coppermane nodded.

Sunset wiped another tear away. "In fact... I think I might take this down with me."

After getting the strength to get back up on her feet, Sunset and Coppermane walked down the stairs to where the rest of their friends were waiting. All of them had concerned looks when Sunset first saw their faces.

"Sunset? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Really, I am." Sunset said with a genuine voice. "I just... I know he's gone but... it doesn't mean everything of him is gone."

Sunset showed the cassette player in her hands. "I'll always have a piece of him with me. No matter where I go."

"Is there music in that tape?"

"There is, and that's one of the reasons I brought it down. If you guys don't mind, maybe, we could uh...."

"I don't see any problem with that Sugarcube. Play something from that tape." Applejack grinned.

"Yeah, come on! I want to hear what that guy's always had on those tapes." Rainbow added.

Sunset gave a smile. "Alright. I'll play it."

All of them gathered around a table, sitting down with drinks. Plenty of hot chocolate to go around, and the company of friends to help each other in these dark times.

"This one goes out to you Smokie... may you rest in peace wherever you may go." Sunset said.

"Amen." Everyone spoke.

Sunset's finger pressed play on the cassette player, which began to wind up the tape and play a song.

Watching every motion
In my foolish lover's game
On this endless ocean
Finally lovers know no shame

Sunset smiled, listening to the song. She would have it with her forever, just like the gold necklace around her neck, as tokens of his memory. And she would always treasure it.

As night struck over, everyone had fallen asleep. Well almost everyone…

Coppermane tried getting himself to fall asleep but he just couldn’t sleep. Unable to think of anything else to do, he got up, and snuck his way out of the room without making a creak in the ground which would have awakened Flash.

He moved through the hallway and looked into the girl's bedroom and saw Fluttershy peacefully asleep. He smiled at the sight. His princess was just the cutest thing. He blew her a kiss before proceeding downstairs.

Coppermane felt a little thirsty, so he decided to get some water. After turning off the faucet, he took a seat at the table on the island counter top, and just sat there, drinking, alone in his thoughts. Most of what was going on in his head was the success of making amends with the Bolts, and another successful day with his friends.

“Maybe there’s some hope after all. All we gotta do now is deal with the Shadow… Bolts….”

Copper didn’t finish his sentence, for something had caught his eye. He saw some sticky residue on the floor, gleaming in the small kitchen light. He crouched down to look at it, placed on finger on it, and took a closer look at it.

“What is this?”

A sound had halted his attention. The sound of a music. He stepped up to listen, and heard the sound coming from one of the rooms. He moved towards one of the rooms, getting a clearer indication of where it was coming from. The sound of 80s music and the sound of the pain and groaning of something of a monster. Both sounds alone made him worried.

“Hey, who’s there? Hello?” Coppermane peaked through the cracked door frame and from the moonlight and a bit of light that was turned on, he saw some green liquid spilled on the floor.

“Wait. Is that… blood?”

He moved his eyes up and saw the silhouette of a creature, holding onto his wounded wrist which was cut open, snarling and growling as he tried to hold it together with several towels and bandages within the room. And a very odd distortion of voices mixing throughout.

"I cannot... no, I can't fall apart! She will most certainly want us to find her... She's dead! She'll never return again! That's what you believe..."

“What the…”

And in quick flash, lightning flashed, and thunder clapped making the room dark. Once the light came back on, the figure in the room had vanished, making Coppermane gasp.

“Where...wait… he was...what the hell was that?”

Hoping that was only a figment of his imagination, he walked back over to the kitchen and splashed hot water onto his face, hopefully getting the image out of his head. As the water dripped down his face, he wiped it off with a washcloth.

“That… no. That’s just stupid.” Coppermane talked to himself, praying he was only seeing things.

After considering telling the girls what he saw, he was about to head on upstairs until he stopped to see Fluttershy standing with her back turned in the doorframe on his right.

“Hey, Fluttershy.” Coppermane said with a smile. "You’re up late.”

No reply. She just stood still.

“Fluttershy?” Coppermane coaxed. “Hello?”

And out of nowhere… music. Music just started playing. Coppermane looked around. The stereo system was turned off, and his phone wasn’t playing anything. He looked on the island table and gasped. The same tape player that Sunset brought down was right there, playing a cassette tape. And there were stains of green on some of the plastic.

Take my breath away...
Take my breath away...

“Fluttershy? Babe, did you start that?”

Fluttershy lifted her head up, and turned around to face Coppermane. But that face… that face… it wasn’t Fluttershy’s. Her eyes were black voids, and she was smiling deviously. Coppermane held back a loud shriek at the sight. A quiet giggle bellowed, sending chills down his spine.

The lights sizzled out, becoming dark, and once they flipped on, she was gone. Coppermane’s heart was pounding. He looked everywhere to see where she was, but no signs were available.

“Get out…” A whisper erupted, followed by a creepy yet clear voice.

“Are you him? Are you the one who turned your back on him when he just wanted your help... Are you the one who needs to die? Well, it really doesn’t matter… ”

Coppermane tried slowly backing away, but the minute he turned his head around, he got a surprise grab to the throat and was pinned against a wall, up in the air, with his feet not touching the ground.

The creature’s threatening eyes leered at Coppermane. He breathed heavily as he was held to the wall by the black claw of the monster.

“Let… me...go!” Coppermane said, trying to speak with the creature clamped around his throat.

Coppermane tried to get himself free, but he had no luck. The humanoid changeling was too strong, and he could only look into those scary, turquoise eyes.

“Where do you think you’re gonna go? There’s nowhere to hide… nowhere to run… so tell me... what are you afraid of? Maybe you fear… isolation? Being all alone with nowhere to go… as the walls close in on you, the silence is deafening…. or maybe you fear… losing a loved one? The only girl meant for you? The only one who ever listened to you? The one that saved you from ending it all?”

Coppermane said nothing. His pounding heart rang in his ear like a bell.

“No one survives in this world. What was once a world full of joy and friendship is now slowly becoming a void of chaos and anarchy… with the blood of the innocent… man turning on one another, beginning war after war… thanks to you, however, not so innocent blood has been shed... “

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“The one you call... Neon Lights. His blood has been shed over at Crystal Prep… and now… his new desire is for your blood to be shed… to be splattered at Canterlot High… in front of the girl you love. In front of… FLUTTERSHY! I believe a rather painful death is in order. I believe suffering would do good things. For his soul-- HIS SOUL…. But for now… by setting your eyes on me… you’ve surrendered your right to live. This isn’t your world to rule…. SHE will rise again… now DIE!”

In one quick motion, a claw shrieked across Coppermane’s face, and he was tossed onto the kitchen concrete on his back like a sack of potatoes, and he blacked out.

"I... agh, ow..." The monster's voice slowly started to die down to a much normal tone, but it kept on switching from normal to distorted demon. "I... I will be back soon enough, and I will finish you all off!"

Coppermane’s vision was slowly restored as the shapes of his friends came into focus above him. He could hear their voices speaking overhead. His vision returned, and the first thing he saw was the face of his beautiful princess.

“Coppermane, are you okay?” Fluttershy asked, cupping his face. She looked terrified.

“What happened to you man?” Flash asked.

Coppermane pulled himself up, feeling the scratches around his throat and the bit of the scratch across his face.

“Wh-What happened?” Coppermane asked.

“Sunset's amulet has been stolen!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Wait, what?” Coppermane asked, trying to get up but faltering as soon as a sharp pain rang through his head, bringing him right back down to the floor.

Fluttershy took his hand. “You poor thing. Come with me to the couch.”

Coppermane smiled and allowed Fluttershy to help him up. He leaned on her as she led him to the couch. Everyone else followed.

“Here,” Fluttershy said as he sat down. “I’ll be right back.”

Fluttershy went back to the kitchen as everyone else gathered around.

“Someone came into the house in the middle of the night and stole the amulet around Sunset’s neck.” Applejack replied.

“Hold on, why is bad that the amulet is stolen? I don’t quite understand.” Coppermane asked.

Just then, Fluttershy returned with some hydrogen peroxide and cotton balls. She poured some and applied it on Coppermane’s wounds.

“Thanks,” he said, making Fluttershy smile.

"That's.. that's not good..." Sunset paced. "Wait. Coppermane, how did you get down here? What do you remember? Did you see what happened to it?"

Memories of last night suddenly flooded Coppermane’s mind.

“Wait a minute... I didn't see it last night, but I did see something that's as equally bad.” he said.

“What do you mean?” Flash asked.

“I came down in the middle of the night to get a drink, and I heard a strange noise in the other room. I went to see and it looked like someone was trying to patch up their wound. I thought I was just seeing things, but this creature, thing, pinned me against the wall. I honestly thought I was gonna die. But all he did was just mentally scare me reminding me of what I’m afraid of most, and it said something like Neon Lights was going to die. After that, he scratched my face, tossed me towards the ground and I blacked out.”

Everyone was now concerned. But a new thought emerged into their minds. This creature was hunting for Sunset. And it came into Sunset’s house, yet it didn’t kill her. Was it after the dangerous amulet, or was it after something the other Shimmer possessed?

“That’s not good, that’s very bad! If that changeling took it, then he’s probably causing destruction right about now, and he could be planning to get the changelings over here from Equestria, and that will only escalate our problems even more since we have the Crystal Prep kids and my human equivalent to deal with, and having a changeling army here on Earth will only make things worse than it already is! And I promised Smokie I wouldn't let anything bad happened to it, but now something bad could be happening to it right now!” Sunset yelled.

She buried her face into her hands, trying to keep herself together. But everyone could hear her quietly crying. She was dealing with a major amount of stress. And didn’t help that the situation they were in just got worse….

Predictions?

And please, feel free to comment. I would like to know what you all think of what's going on. Please.