Hide and Seek.

The students of Canterlot High stared in horror at the return of demon Sunset before she disappeared in flames and appeared inside the cafeteria. The students gasped in horror and started to run towards the exits but Sunset waved her hand and the doors suddenly closed, some students tried to open the doors but it wouldn’t budge.

“Leaving so soon? I insist you stay,” The demon spoke, her eyes scanned the students, some of who are huddled together for safety. Her eyes soon landed on the Cutie Mark Crusaders and she smiled a predatory smile.

“S-Sunset?”

Sunset turned to the direction of the weak sounding voice that spoke her name and saw Fluttershy and the rest of her former friends. Fluttershy had her hands in front of her chest, her posture giving off some confidence, but when Sunset looked into her eyes, she saw nothing but fear.

“Well if it isn’t the element of kindness, cruelty is more like it.” Sunset spat which caused Fluttershy to flinch. “Are you finally going to stick up for yourself or wait until after I’m in tears!”

Fluttershy felt tears stinging at her eyes at Sunset’s words, but she fought back the urge to cry. “S-Sunset, is that really you?”

Sunset sneered at this, “Oh, are you finally showing concern for me? Well it’s too late!”

Sunset’s hair flared which caused the students to cower more, Fluttershy’s legs started trembling as she shook her head, she recalled how she yelled at Sunset and accused her of being Anon A Miss; leaving her in tears. But she was posting their secrets, she lied about being their friend...even so, nobody deserved to be beaten the way Sunset was.

“Sunset, It doesn’t have to be this way. Let us help you.” Fluttershy pleaded with her former friend.

“Help me?, do you really believe I need your help?!” Sunset screamed. “Where were you when I was crying in the hallway. Where were you when the entire student body ganged up on me in the hallway, where were you when I actually needed you?!”

Tears started spilling from Fluttershy’s eyes as the hate fueled accusations pierced her heart, Sunset glared at Fluttershy but a tan hand shot out to shield Fluttershy from her glare.

“That’s enough Sunset,” Applejack said as she narrowed her eyes at Sunset.

“I see the liar stepped up to defend her real friend.” Sunset growled.

“Just who are you calling a liar? I wasn’t the one who pretended to be our friend just so she can stab us in the back!” Applejack shouted, her temper rising.

“Temper, temper Applejack, you wouldn’t want to do something you’ll regret.” Sunset said as she cast her gaze at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow for her part just stared at Sunset like a deer caught in headlights, her eyes never leaving Sunset’s form, a form she was forced to become because of her actions. The image of a beaten Sunset flashed in her mind, she wondered if Sunset still had those injuries. Sunset watched the frozen girl asa sly smirk spread on her lips.

“What’s the matter Rainbow? you’re usually never this quiet?” Sunset asks which seems to snap Rainbow out of her daze.

“I-I was just surprised by your appearance.” Rainbow Dash managed to answer defensively.

“Are you sure that’s the only reason?” Sunset asks. “Perhaps there’s another reason you’re so surprised to see me, but don’t want to admit it.”

A drop of sweat ran down the side of Rainbow Dash’s face at what Sunset said, the rest of the students in the cafeteria look at Rainbow curiously, wondering what Sunset is talking about? However Applejack decided to cut in.

“Don’t listen to her Rainbow, she’s just trying to mess with yer head,” Applejack said before glaring back at Sunset. “Let’s focus on getting rid of this demon and getting Sunset back.”

“Quite right darling.” Rarity spoke as she stood next to Applejack. “We’ve beaten her once before and we surely can do it again.”

“Yeah, there’s nothing we can’t do if we stick together!” Pinkie chimed in.

Rainbow looked at her friends who looked at her with kind and encouraging eyes, she felt a pang of guilt that they are supporting her and not knowing about her part in Sunset being beaten up so badly. So she reluctantly nodded and stood by her friends, the rest of the students rallying behind them.

Sunset watched in amusement as they all held hands and started to concentrate, she sat on a nearby lunch table and waited for them to pony up. But after several minutes the girls still hadn’t ponied up and the gathered students looked at them in confusion.

“Hey, hurry and do your magic thing and beat her already.” A female student spoke.

The girls looked at each other in confusion, normally they would’ve already activated their magic, But when they tried to call on it, all they felt was emptiness. Sunset inspected her nails as the Rainbooms tried to wrap their minds on why they couldn’t summon their magic, she soon grew bored of her nails and focused her attention back at the Rainbooms.

“Having trouble calling on your magic?” Sunset asks in a mocking tone. “Want me to enlighten you as to why?”

when none of the Rainbooms answered, Sunset took that as a yes.

“It’s simply really, your magic is the magic of friendship which is made up of Laughter, Generosity, Kindness, Loyalty, Honesty and Magic.” Sunset began to to explain.

“So is that it, we just need Princess Twilight?” Applejack asks which earns a chuckle from Sunset.

“Even if she was here, your magic still wouldn’t activate since you no longer represent the elements of Harmony.” Sunset stated which shocked the girls.

“What do you mean we no longer represent the elements?!” Applejack raised her voice.

“It’s as I said, after all a Liar can’t be the element of honesty.” Sunset said mater of fact.

“I am no liar!” Applejack shouted, she’s beginning to get very agitated with Sunset calling her a liar.

“You are a liar,” Sunset began as her tone became more serious. “You lied to my face when you said I was family.”

Applejack opened her mouth to respond but Sunset continued.

“You lied when you said you were my friend, you lied when you told me that you forgave me for what I did to you and your friends!” Sunset shouted, her voice filled with anger and pain.

Applejack was taken aback but quickly recovered and glared at Sunset. “You know what, I’m glad I still had my doubts about you because you ended up proving me right.”

“Remember those words Applejack, you’ll soon regret them.” Sunset snarled.

“Your threats won’t work on me.” Applejack said in a defiant tone.

Sunset focused her attention on Fluttershy who recoiled under Sunset’s gaze but Rarity and Pinkie stood in front of her to shield her while Rainbow Dash held on to Fluttershy.

“For someone who is kind and so very shy, you can be very cruel Fluttershy.” Sunset said which caused the girl to bury her face against Rainbow’s chest and start crying.

“So much for generosity, you selfishly threw me under the buss to save yourself from the humiliation you’re enduring!” Sunset spat at Rarity before turning to Pinkie. “For someone who prides themselves at making people laugh and smile, you have no problem leaving them in tears!”

Pinkie and Rarity felt like they were just struck, Sunset’s words cutting them deep. But why was her words affecting them like this, she was the one who betrayed them right?

“And then there’s you.” Sunset gestures to Rainbow. “You sure showed some Loyalty when you accused me of being Anon A Miss like the others, but you went a step further and lured me into a trap where Gilda and her cronies ambushed me and proceeded to give me the beating of my life.”

The entire lunchroom gasped at this news, the Rainbooms slowly turned their heads towards Rainbow Dash who was looking at the floor.

“Rainbow?” Applejack looked at Rainbow, demanding an answer.

“Is what she said true?” Fluttershy asks as she raises her head to look at Rainbow.

Rainbow was silent for a moment before looking at Fluttershy. “Yes.”

Fluttershy pulled herself away from Rainbow as she shook her head. “How...how could you?”

“I thought she was hurting everyone again.” Rainbow answered weakly.

“And you think that was a good enough reason to beat her half to death?!” Applejack raised her voice.

“Rainbow darling, I know you were upset about the picture but that’s no excuse for luring Sunset into a trap!” Rarity chastised her friend.

“Well your plan to have me killed ultimately failed.” Sunset stated.

“No!” Rainbow suddenly shouted, a surprised and shocked expression in her face. “That was never what I had in mind, you were only suppose to get beat up a little, but you would still be able to walk home.”

“Whether or not you intended for me to be beaten so savagely doesn’t matter, you still wanted me beaten.” Sunset said as she stood up from the table.

Everyone watched as she stretched her arms into the air, her wings stretching outward as well, she looked at the students again before she began to giggle. The students stared at her in confusion, but the confusion turned to unease as the giggling turned into full blown laughter. Sunset laughed for a few minutes before she began to quiet down.

“You know something? I’m actually thankful to Anon A Miss.” Sunset suddenly said which surprised everyone but non more than the CMC.

“W-what do you mean by that?” Fluttershy managed to muster up the courage to ask.

“If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t know what lousy friends you all are.” Sunset said which caused the Rainbooms to flinch. “Also it’s thanks to them that I was able to return and they even got rid of the pesky elements for me.”

Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo visibly gulped, this was their fault, they brought the demon back and now because of them, their sisters are powerless to stop her.

“Say how about we play a little game.” Sunset suggested as she smiled wickedly.

“What kind of game?” Applejack asks cautiously.

“Hide and seek of course!” Sunset says excitedly. “You all hide somewhere in the school while I try to find you.”

“A-and what happens when you find us?” A terrified student asks.

“I’ll make you my slaves like before.” Sunset’s smile turns wicked which causes the students to panic. “I’ll even give you a ten minute head start.”

Sunset snaps her fingers which causes the doors in the lunchroom to open and immediately the students rush out, except for the crusaders who rushed to their sisters/sister figure.

“By the way, in case any of you try to escape you’ll be unable to leave the school.” Sunset says as the students desperately rush out of the lunchroom, her gaze then turns to the Rainbooms and crusaders. “You better get a move on, you only have 9 minutes, 50 seconds left.”

The Rainbooms and crusaders looked at Sunset one last time before leaving the lunchroom together. Sunset watches them leave and soon she’s all alone in the cafeteria, she takes in a deep breath before exhaling, her body shuttering as she did. She waits for the remaining minutes and as the time is up , the PA system turns on.

Attention faculty and staff, we have an emergency situation.

Principal Celestia’s voice can be heard which causes Sunset to smile.

“Now the fun begins.”