Sunset found that morning to be interesting. It was the start of another school week, and since she was still at Applejack’s home, they needed to get up early in order to make it to school on time, that and Granny needed to get there early to help with the breakfast rush.

The interesting thing that happened this morning was when she went to the bathroom and found Apple Bloom sitting against the tub, she looked like she had slept there the entire night. With concern, Sunset slowly approached the youngest Apple child and knelt beside her.

“Apple Bloom, hey, are you okay?” Sunset asked as she lightly shook the young teen.

Apple Bloom stirred awake; she blinked a few times before realizing that she wasn’t in her room. “What the…” She turned to her right and saw Sunset Shimmer beside her. “Sunset?! What are you doin’ in here?!”

“I was going to ask you the same thing, I came in here and found you sitting up against the tub, are you alright?”

“Ah…” Just then, memories of last night’s events replayed in Apple Bloom’s mind again, the weight of the decision that rested on her shoulders, and the evidence that laid within her cellphone.

It all came rushing back to her, and with it all the anxiety and fear that came with it. Without a word, Apple Bloom scrambled to the toilet and once again found herself praying to the porcelain god. Sunset winced upon hearing the heaving sound she was making, but she quickly pushed down her own queasiness and hurried to Apple Bloom’s side.

The former unicorn took ahold of Apple Bloom’s long red hair, keeping it away from the toilet and her mouth as fourteen-year-old emptied her stomach for the second time. Once she was done, Sunset helped Apple Bloom lie back against the tub again, this time more concerned than ever.

“Apple Bloom, what was all that about?! Are you sick?!” Sunset asked.

Apple Bloom glanced at Sunset, she hated that look on her face. That look of concern and of caring was in such contrast with the image of the girl she had known to be a mean spirited person, who tormented not only the high school kids but even the middle school kids as well.

She knew this girl beside her defeated the Sirens along with her sister and their friends, but how does that undo years’ worth of torment and pain? She helped save the world once, and so now they were supposed to forgive her? Were they supposed to believe that someone like that could mend their ways so quickly?

Right now though, Apple Bloom was too weak from two throw up sessions to care. She just wanted someone to care about her. “Y-Yeah…kinda…”

“I’ll go and grab Applejack and then Granny, you can’t go to school after that,” said Sunset as she readied to head down the stairs.

Apple Bloom’s eyes widened upon hearing her big sister’s name, and with what strength she had, grabbed ahold of Sunset’s sleeve and held it tight as she pleaded, “NO, DON’T!”

Sunset was stunned by how Apple Bloom had said that, and the look in her eyes, it was as if she was afraid. “But, Apple Bloom, if you’re sick–”

“Ah’m fine! I just felt a little queasy is all, just please don’t tell my sis or bro, not even Granny! Please?!”

Sunset didn’t like this, something was clearly wrong with Apple Bloom. “Okay, but first, I need you to let me check something before I agree to that.”

Apple Bloom tensed, her eyes briefly flashing to her cellphone that was still on the floor and then back to Sunset. “W-What?”

“I want to check and see if you have a fever, is that okay?”

Apple Bloom released a small sigh of relief. “Y-Yeah, that’s okay.”

Sunset placed her right hand against Apple Bloom’s forehead, while placing her left hand against her own forehead. So, what do you think, is there anything you can do?

}}} There isn’t anything wrong with her, physically that is. Whatever made her the way she was is most likely psychological in nature. {{{

I see…well…at least that’s somewhat good.

Sunset removed her hands and nodded to Apple Bloom. “Okay, I won’t say a word.” Apple Bloom was about to leave the room but then Sunset called out to her. “AB, wait up!”

Apple Bloom wanted to growl, but her throat hurt. “What?”

Sunset bent down and picked up Apple Bloom’s cellphone. “You forgot this.”

Apple Bloom nearly had a heart attack, how in the world could she leave that behind, especially with what was on it. If Sunset saw it, that was it, game over, not just for her family, but for Anon-A-Miss too.

“Oh, t-thanks,” said Apple Bloom with a nervous tone in her voice.

Sunset let Apple Bloom grip her phone, but she didn’t let it go just yet. “Hey, I know we’re not on the best of terms, and I know you don’t have any reason to trust me. But, I just want you to know, you can talk to me, AB.”

Apple Bloom’s heart stung for some reason. “T-Thanks…” She then took the phone back and headed to her room.

Sunset watched the young teen leave the bathroom, her mind still wondering why she was like that. It continued to bother Sunset all throughout the time she was getting ready. After washing up and getting dressed, everyone began to file out of their rooms, and the moment that Applejack went to pat her little sister on the back, Apple Bloom flinched and backed away as if Applejack was going to stab her.

Apple Bloom played it off and Applejack wasn’t concerned, but Sunset was as the stark realization hit her. Shit…Oh shit…She knows!

The day was miserable as far as Apple Bloom was concerned. She couldn’t concentrate on the lessons her teachers were giving, no, all of that was background noise. How was she supposed to think about something as ridiculous as Algebra, or when in the hell would she need that on the farm? No, there were bigger things to worry about, mainly that her big brother and sister were screwing each other, and the evidence was on her phone.

Depending on your point of view, it didn’t take long before Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo noticed that Apple Bloom was distracted, and looked really gloomy, “Apple Gloom” as Scootaloo joked. Normally that would make Apple Bloom give her a punch to the shoulder, but she didn’t.

During one of their passing periods, Scootaloo asked, “Okay, what the hell is up with you, Bloom?! You’ve been distracted and looking depressed as all hell, and it’s honestly starting to worry me.”

Apple Bloom remained silent.

Sweetie Belle placed her hand on Apple Bloom’s shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. “Apple Bloom we’re your friends, you can tell us anything, we’re here for you.”

“This…” Apple Bloom relented. “This is somethin’ that’s way too bad fer me to tell you girls…”

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo exchanged concerned looks, that answer did not ease their worries, if anything it just made them worse.

“Did…Did your family find out about us and that?” Sweetie Belle asked.

Apple Bloom shook her head. “No, not that. Somethin’…worse than that…Somethin’ that that Shadow Gal thinks I should do to bury Sunset.”

The other two girls gulped.

“S-She’s not asking you to…” Scootaloo made a motion with her left index finger, running it across her neck as if slitting her throat.

“No, no, nothin’ like that!”

Thank god, Sweetie and Scootaloo thought at the same time.

“Then what is it? If she’s not asking you to do that, then what is it?” Sweetie asked.

Apple Bloom debated telling them all morning. It wasn’t like she was condoning it or anything, but she wasn’t sure how they’d react. Sweetie Belle only had a big sister, but it was possible she could understand her discomfort with this. Scootaloo…Apple Bloom loved Scootaloo like a sister, just like Sweetie Belle, but sometimes, she could do and say the most perverted things that honestly made her wonder about her moral compass.

She knew for a fact that Scootaloo had a thing for both girl-on-girl porn and brother-on-sister porn, add to the fact that she would on occasion make some comment about how she found Rarity or Applejack hot.

Ah swear, she’s spendin’ too much time around Rainbow Dash, thought Apple Bloom.

Still, despite that, Apple Bloom was certain that even she could sympathize with her trauma. Written word and videos were fiction, this was real life, and this was happening under Apple Bloom’s own roof, surely she could push aside her inner pervert and see how much this upset her, right?

The redhead took a calming breath and was about to speak, but was beaten to the punch.

“Apple Bloom.”

All three girls turned around and froze, standing right behind them was Sunset Shimmer. Their minds went into panic mode then and there.

Scootaloo reacted first as she put herself between Sunset and her friends. The spikey haired girl knew she had a snowball’s chance in hell of protecting her friends from Sunset should she attack them, but she was hoping that she could at the very least serve as a human shield for a few minutes.

“W-What do you want?!” Scootaloo asked with a trembling voice.

“Hey, hey, easy girls,” said Sunset calmly. “I just want to talk to Apple Bloom privately.”

“Like hell you are! I’ve seen this movie before, you get her alone, and you hurt her and leave her for dead or something!” Scootaloo accused.

Sunset’s left eye twitched. “First, what the hell kind of movies are you watching? Second, no, I have no intentions of hurting anyone. I just think that…what I want to talk about is something sensitive enough that it’s best that only we speak about it.”

Apple Bloom was steadily coming to the horrifying realization that maybe Sunset knew what was going on with her, and if she did, then this really wasn’t the place to talk about.

“It’s alright…Ah’ll go with her.” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked at Apple Bloom as if she grew a second head.

“Are you insane?! This is Sunset Shimmer here?!”

“Wow, standing right here ya know,” Sunset murmured.

“Bloom, you don’t have to do that, we can walk away,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Ah said it’ll be alright! She won’t do anythin’, will ya?” Apple Bloom asked as if daring her.

“I won’t, swear on Faust herself,” said Sunset.

“Faust who?” Apple Bloom asked.

“It’s an Equestria thing…”

Apple Bloom shrugged and began walking with Sunset, much to her friends’ protests. Sunset and Apple Bloom began walking down the hall, heading to a restroom that was seldom used at this hour. Once inside, Sunset turned around and showed Sunset her cellphone, on it the numbers “911” were dialed in.

“Try somethin’ and Ah swear Ah’ll push the call button and run like the wind outta here, understand?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I got it.”

“So…w-what is do ya think Ah know?” Apple Bloom dreaded what the answer was.

“I watched you this morning, you were acting like Applejack was a leper or something, then I found you in the bathroom and you threw up not long after that. I really hope I’m wrong, but…did you see something, Apple Bloom? Something so bad that it’s made you afraid of your sister?”

“N-No, Ah didn’t see anythin’!”

“Ah, so you didn’t see Mac and AJ in bed together?” Apple Bloom’s eyes widened as her stomach became queasy again. That was all the confirmation that Sunset needed. “I did too.”

“Wait, ‘too’?! When did you see that?! And they’ve done this before?!” Apple Bloom asked frantically.

“Yes…it was Saturday night…Apple Bloom, you don’t have to be afraid of them, they aren’t bad,” said Sunset.

“Ah don’t know what Ah’m supposed to believe right now! Ah just saw my two older siblin’s doin’ the dirty in our house!…”

Sunset approached Apple Bloom, but the young teen raised her cellphone up as if it was a holy cross to keep Sunset away. The flame haired girl stopped where she was, not wanting to provoke her.

“Apple Bloom, I don’t want to speak for AJ, but you should talk to them, she explained it to me, and while I find it a little weird– ”

Apple Bloom glared at Sunset. “A little weird?! There ain’t nothin’ ‘little’ about this! This is my own brother and sister! They’re…They’re screwin’ each other! How long will it be before they ask ME to do things like that?!’

Sunset narrowed her brow at that accusation. “They would never do that Apple Bloom, they love you too much to do something like! If there’s anything you can believe, believe in that! If you didn’t, then you would’ve said something already!”

Apple Bloom felt like she was being torn apart from the inside out. The moral obligation was to tell an adult, to tell her grandmother about what her siblings were doing, and maybe get them some help to stop. But the other part of her, the part that still loved them, was telling her not to, because there was a good chance that her family would be broken apart, Mac and Applejack might get sent to jail, even Apple Bloom knew that what they were doing was illegal, even if they were eighteen and legally adults.

Then…there was the darker side, the side of her that disliked the girl before her, the girl who was trying to defend her big brother and sister’s actions, she looked upon her with eyes that were kind, and yet she had no idea what Apple Bloom, her friends, and their shadow, were doing to her behind her back. Guilt was rising, and now Apple Bloom had no idea what to believe.

Sunset could sense the turmoil in Apple Bloom, and unfortunately, with how skittish she was around her, anything Sunset said wouldn’t be enough to convince Apple Bloom of anything. “Look, all I can tell you to do is think calmly and rationally. And I urge you to just talk to Applejack about this before you do or say anything.”

Apple Bloom just stood there as she began to walk away, but the redhead then said, “Wait.” Sunset halted. “You’ve known sense Saturday…and ya haven’t said a thing…why?”

Sunset balled her fist, but answered anyway. “Because…AJ’s my friend. All I have here, are the girls, and Principal Celestia. They’re my family now…I’ll help my family, and I want to believe in my family.”

Apple Bloom was glad that her back was to Sunset, because she didn’t want to let her see how much those words stung her in the heart. Sunset continued walking until she left the girl’s room. When she did, Sunset noticed that Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were hiding – poorly – just around the corner.

“You guys might want to go in there, Apple Bloom needs you,” said Sunset.

Before either of the girls could ask why, Sunset walked down the opposite way and disappeared around the corner. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo rushed into the bathroom and saw that Apple Bloom was sitting on the floor, tears in her eyes as she cried silently.

“Apple Bloom, what’s wrong, what did she do?!” Scootaloo asked.

“She didn’t do nothin’…”

“Bullshit! You’re crying!” Scootaloo stated.

“It’s somethin’ else, Ah promise it wasn’t her…”

Sweetie Belle put her hand on Scootaloo’s shoulder and gave her a look that said to not push it any further. The curly haired girl sat beside Apple Bloom and wrapped her arm around her in a half hug. Apple Bloom leaned into that hug and continued to cry. Scootaloo rubbed the back of her head and then sat down on Apple Bloom’s left, putting her arm over her shoulders.

Apple Bloom was starting to understand what she meant by friends as family, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were like sisters to her, even now, they were sitting with her in this restroom, comforting her. Still, this didn’t ease the turmoil in her heart, Apple Bloom still had a decision to make.

The day dragged on as per usual, but something did occur which gave some pause to that. Principal Celestia called in Granny Smith to her office, and when the elderly lady arrived, she found that she wasn’t alone. Standing next to Celestia’s desk was a woman in a business suit, she had a clipboard with her and a no-nonsense look on her face.

“What can Ah do ya fer, Principal Celestia?” Granny asked.

“Mrs. Smith, I think you should sit down,” said Celestia.

Granny cocked an eyebrow, but did as Celestia instructed. Once seated, the other woman came around and said, “My name is Gerta, if you need to know, I was once a resident of Griffonstone.”

“My condolences,” Granny muttered. “To what do Ah owe the pleasure of this meetin’?”

“Ms. Gerta is a…well…she’s from Child Protective Services,” said Celestia.

The moment that Granny Smith heard that name, her eyes narrowed into slits. “That so, and why in the world would ya need to talk to me of all people.”

“We’ve received an anonymous tip that two of your grandchildren have been engaged in explicit sexual activities,” said Gerta.

Granny Smith crossed her arms. “Don’t see how that’s a problem. Mac and Applejack are both eighteen and consintin’ adults, so long as they ain’t doin’ somethin’ too wild and isn’t illegal, can’t much blame them for bein’ like that. Though Ah am a bit miffed that they didn’t say nothin’ to me.”

Gerta adjusted her glasses and said, “If it was something like that, I wouldn’t be here, Mrs. Smith. No, the tip we received was that your two eldest, Macintosh Apple and Applejack Apple, are engaging in sexual acts, with each other.”

The vein on Granny’s forehead was prominent as she stood up quickly and glared angrily at Gerta. “What in the name of all that’s holy are ya talkin’ about?! What kinda sick shit – pardon meh Prench – is that?!”

“Like I said, Mrs. Smith, it was an anonymous tip. We must take such things seriously, especially when there’s risk to a younger member of your family,” said Gerta.

Granny eyed the Social Worker. “Oh please, ya’ll been lookin’ fer any excuse to take my grandbabies away. Ah’m all they have, and they’re all they have! Ah’ve done everythin’ Ah can to make sure that they grow up healthy, strong, and smart enough to get by in this world! So that way when Ah am gone, they’ll still keep goin’! But Ah ain’t plannin’ on kickin’ the bucket anytime soon either!”

“I assure you, Mrs. Smith, no one at CPS is actively trying to take your children away. We only seek what is best for the children, that is all. As such, I would like to interview them, all three, to determine if this is true or not.”

“Absolutely not!” Granny stated.

Celestia stood up and walked towards Granny Smith. “Mrs. Smith, I know it’s frustrating, but I think it best to cooperate. It will only look as if you have something to hide and they might follow up on it later one way or another. An interview now will at least assuage their suspicions.”

Granny didn’t like giving them that kind of power over them. This wasn’t the first time they tried to take them away, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. However, she admitted that Celestia had a point, better to get it over with now and avoid the headache of them coming to see them on their farm.

“Fine then, do what ya want,” said Granny Smith.

Gerta nodded. “Thank you, Mrs. Smith.”

“We’re fucked!” Applejack exclaimed as she paced the music room.

Sunset stood at the door, her back leaning against it as she watched her country friend have a panic attack. For some reason, a CPS Social Worker was here in the school to talk to Applejack and Big Mac, Sunset had a gut wrenching feeling she knew what it was regarding, and somehow Applejack had the same kind of feeling she did. With what just happened this weekend, it wasn’t a stretch to think that that was the reason.

Currently, Big Mac was being interviewed by the Social Worker, Gerta, which left Sunset and Applejack alone to talk. Sunset hoped it wasn’t Apple Bloom who said something to them, not after the talk they had, for what her word was worth to her, she had hoped that Apple Bloom would’ve talked to her siblings first before going this far.

But why would she? As messed up as this situation is, she wouldn’t want her family destroyed…right?

}}} I’ve seen many things, Sunset. And unfortunately, I’ve seen the depths to which humans will go to hurt another, or to self-destruct. {{{

Not really instilling me with a whole lot of confidence.

}}} All I am saying is that you should prepare for the worst. {{{

“I’d rather hold out hope…”

“What was that?” Applejack asked.

“Oh, uh, nothing! But, seriously, relax AJ. They’re probably not here for…that. It’s probably something else,” said Sunset.

Applejack sat on the steps to the conductor’s podium and sighed heavily. “Ah know, Ah know…but with all that’s happened this weekend, meh brain’s just a little frazzled right now.”

*knock, knock*

“GAH!” Applejack yelped as she jumped a little.

Frazzled is an understatement right now. “I’ll get it.”

Sunset walked to the door and opened it, on the other side was someone she both was expecting and at the same time not expecting.

“Is…Is, Sis, in there?” Apple Bloom asked.

“She is, did you say anything to anyone?”

“N-No! Ah swear on my parents’ graves!”

Sunset studied the youngest Apple, but in the end decided to trust that she was telling the truth. The former unicorn opened the door and let Apple Bloom inside. Once she was, Apple Bloom stood in the middle of the room a good distance from her big sister and said, “Hey, Sis.”

Applejack put on a sad smile. “Hey, Sugarcube.” When Applejack got up to walk over and give her a hug, Apple Bloom reflexively took a step back, which made Applejack look at her with concern. “Bloom, what’s wrong?”

Apple Bloom rubbed her arm as she turned her gaze away from Applejack. “Why are ya doin’ that with our brother?”

Applejack’s pupils shrank to pinpricks. “W-What do ya mean?”

“Don’t lie to me right now!” Apple Bloom accused as she glared at Applejack “Ah know what you and Big Mac are doin’ at night! Ah…A-Ah saw you two in bed together last night! You two were havin’ sex!”

Applejack stumbled, as if someone had just given her a punch across the face, several times did Applejack try to speak, but each word died in her throat before it was given the chance to leave her lips.

“Just tell me… ‘cause Ah don’t know what to think about you two…!” Apple Bloom began to cry. “Ah still love you two…despite knowin’ what Ah know, Ah can’t bring myself to hate you two! Please…”

Applejack looked to Sunset, the flame haired girl sighed, but gave her a nod, silently telling her that it was time to tell the truth. Applejack sat back down on the steps and looked up at Apple Bloom. With little recourse, Applejack told her everything, when they started their little activities, and the reasons behind it. She assured Apple Bloom throughout the explanation that they weren’t in love with each other, this wasn’t about being romantic.

Apple Bloom had sat down, listening carefully to her sister’s words, the whole time this was happening, Sunset was watching her expressions. Although Apple Bloom was trying to maintain a neutral one, she couldn’t help let slip a few faces here and there.

When it was done, Applejack looked exhausted. “That’s it…Ah swear to ya, Bloom, we never meant to hurt ya. We certainly never meant fer ya to see us like that. If you never want to speak to us again, Mac and Ah’ll understand.”

Sunset a few tense seconds passed as she watched Apple Bloom and Applejack. The young Apple girl stood up and walked towards her big sister. Applejack didn’t dare look up at her, afraid of what she might see in her little sister’s eyes. But then, she found herself getting tightly embraced by Apple Bloom.

“B-Bloom…?”

“Ah’m sorry…Ah’m sorry Ah ever thought you’d hurt me! Ah didn’t know what to think…but…Ah’m just sorry!” Apple Bloom cried.

Applejack, now snapping back to her senses, smiled and cried too, hugging her little sister just as tightly as Apple Bloom was. Sunset felt a weight lift from the room, perhaps, hopefully, this will just be something they can work through.

The rest of the afternoon went on without much trouble. Gerta didn’t manage to see through the two siblings, not even when she questioned Apple Bloom. So, for now, the crisis was averted. All three siblings took some time to speak privately in one of the music rooms to clear the air with Big Mac, and once all that was done, a lot of hugs were had all around.

Sunset was currently walking down the hallway with Pinkie Pie at her side. The pink party planner couldn’t help but notice that her friend had a nice smile going on right now.

“Something good happen, Sunset?” Pinkie asked.

“Something like that, I got to see a touching family moment,” said Sunset.

“Oooh, that’s really nice! How was working at Applejack’s farm?”

Sunset chuckled nervously as she scratched at her chin. “Well it was…tiring, and kind of fun. At least I didn’t have to hear Rainbow Dash make any horse sex jokes.”

Pinkie Pie blushed when she remembered those jokes, but then got a devious look on her face. “Sunset, you didn’t try and seduce any mares while you were there, did you?”

“No, Pinkie, I did not try to ‘seduce’, any of the mares in Applejack’s stable,” said Sunset with a deadpan expression.

“Well that’s good, I’d have been very disappointed in you Sunset! You can’t just go dating any random mare you meet, especially if she’s not into you,” said Pinkie Pie with a straight face.

Just then, Sunset had her own devious look. She brushed her shoulder against Pinkie Pie’s and gave her a smoldering look. “Oh, then does that mean this mare next to me is up for some seducing?”

Pinkie Pie began to stammer for a moment, but then put her hands on her hips as she said back, “If you want this, you gotta put a ring on it.”

“Shoot, I’m broke.”

Both girls began to laugh at their little back and forth as they exited the school. Across the way she could see Apple Bloom talking with her friends, she didn’t see Applejack yet, which meant she was probably getting the truck and bringing it around. As they walked, the sound of tires squealing echoed around them. The students paused, hearing the same noise. Down the street a white van was hurtling towards the school.

The van paid no mind as it jumped the sidewalk, making many of the students jump out of the way to avoid getting run over. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were among those that did, unfortunately, the van came to a halt right before them. The side door slid open as a man clad in black jumped out and grabbed Apple Bloom by the arm. The farm girl yelped from how hard the man grabbed her, she tried to fight back, but he was pulling her quickly.

Scootaloo’s mind finally kicked in as the situation hit her. The spikey haired girl threw caution to the wind and rushed towards the man, aiming a punch straight for the only part of him she knew would make this guy let Apple Bloom go. However, the kidnapper saw it coming and swiftly backhanded Scootaloo, sending the fourteen-year-old flying onto her back.

“SCOOTS!” Apple Bloom shouted.

The man had had enough with the stalling and just hoisted up Apple Bloom and tossed her like a ragdoll into the van. Sunset narrowed her gaze, dropped her backpack and books and dashed straight for the van.

The man in black saw Sunset running towards them and hurriedly jumped into the van, shutting the door. Once inside, the van’s tires dug into the dirt and grass, tearing it up as they took off towards the road.

Sunset stopped next to Sweetie Belle for a moment and yelled, “CALL THE POLICE!” After that, she ran in the direction of the van.

The Witchblade bracelet’s ruby jewel glowed as it imbued Sunset with more strength and stamina, allowing her to run faster. The van was still in her sights, but it’s speed was reduced slightly, thinking that they had no one tailing them. They were wrong.

}}} You won’t be able to catch up to them, at least in this form. {{{

Sunset looked around, she was not going to get naked out in the middle of a neighborhood, especially during the day. Sunset looked around and headed down and adjacent alley, once she was down there and free from prying eyes, she focused all the strength into her legs as she jumped straight into the air, clearing several feet and appearing as a speck in the sky.

“Okay, now!”

Heat rose in Sunset’s body, exciting her, and sharpening her senses. The ruby jewel on the bracelet shined brighter as the metal strands of the Witchblade shot out, expanded, and multiplied as it shredded through all of Sunset’s clothes, replacing it with its mystical, revealing armor. Once fully clad, Sunset willed the armor to create her wings. The bat wings flared from her back as she shot back down towards the ground.

The white van was in range, and with the precision of a diving bird of prey, Sunset landed hard atop the van, causing it to swerve on the road. Sunset willed a chainsaw blade to extend from her right forearm, once it was out, the blades spun at a rapid pace. Cocking back her right fist, Sunset thrust the blade forward, cutting into the roof of the van as sparks flew off.

Sunset worked her claws under the lip of the makeshift hatch she created and ripped it straight up, peeling it like a can of sardines. Inside she could see Apple Bloom tied up, her wrists and ankles bound. From what she was able to see, Apple Bloom didn’t look like she was harmed, physically anyway.

“I’ll say this once! Pull over and let the girl go! Either that or I’ll come in there and rip off your heads!” Sunset made her fingers turn into bigger bladed claws for intimidation. “What’s it going to be?!”

The man in the back looked to the driver, the driver then nodded back to the man behind him. As if given the green light for something, the man stood in front of Apple Bloom, placing himself between Sunset and Apple Bloom.

}}} BE ON GUARD! {{{

The man was suddenly enveloped in a silver aura, the man’s clothes ripped apart as the aura overtook him. Sunset had to close her eyes for a second, but in that second, she found herself getting struck by something blunt that sent her into the air. Sunset flared her wings to stop her momentum, she shook her head free from the daze and glared at the new opponent before her eyes.

The creature before her was bulky, his body made of some sort of rough, metallic, exoskeletal armor. The color was dark bronzy gold color, with the few gaps in its armor, she could see its muscly arms, legs, and neck. The creature’s head had two large, curved horns, and rows of sharpened teeth. On each of the creature’s forearms were rounded shields that were attached to its armor and bore strange writing along the edges.

“Wendigos?! What the hell’s going on here?!” Sunset forged a large claymore sword in her right hand and flew straight down towards the demon possessed human. She raised up the long sword and brought it down in an overhead strike. The demon raised his right arm up, bearing the shield. The blade struck against it, managing to block the blade from piercing through. “Answer me! What do you want with the girl!?”

The shield wielder said no words, he only took a step forward and pushed back against Sunset, making her have to fly back to avoid getting thrown into something. The shield wielder was stronger than he looked, and was able to fight on top of the van with ease. The van took a sharp turn into an empty lot, screeching to a halt.

The Shielder jumped off the van and banged its shields together, challenging Witchblade. Sunset glared at the monster and landed on the ground a couple of feet away. Sunset concentrated, recalling a few of those anime that Rainbow Dash got her into. She started forming a mental image of the sword she wanted, and into her hand, the Witchblade did form this weapon. When it was finished, Sunset let the blade slam down onto the ground with a great “THUD”.

The blade was at least seven feet long, and three feet wide. The sword itself was double edged, and along the middle of the blade were three jewels, one yellow, another red, and the last blue. To anyone else, such a weapon would be impossible to wield, but for Sunset, it was lighter than air.

The Shielder looked a little nervous, but quickly shook it off and once again banged its shields together in challenge. Sunset grasped the sword hilt in both hands and dashed towards the monster. Shielder raised both arms as it dug its heels into the dirt just as the sword struck against the two shields. A loud “CLANG” reverberated in the air upon impact, the force that it generated made both combatants skid to opposite sides.

Sunset saw that Shielder was further from the van and took this opportunity to take back Apple Bloom. She used her right hand to rip the door off the side of the van. Apple Bloom looked upon Sunset, or rather, Witchblade, with shock. She had seen the video of this woman killing demons like the one that was outside. Despite the danger she was in, Apple Bloom couldn’t help but blush at just how revealing her armor was up close.

“Kid, don’t worry, I’ll get you out of here!” Sunset then looked to the driver and aimed her left hand at him. The armor around her knuckles began to form spikes that had detached slightly, showing that they were ready to launch. “First you –!”

Sunset was then tackled by Shielder and thrown across the dirt. With that distraction taken care of, the second kidnapper unbuckled his seatbelt and went to the back. Apple Bloom’s eyes widened when the man knelt next to her, he then reached out towards her, and she feared the worst was to come. She flinched when he reached into her pocket, Apple Bloom shut her eyes tight, waiting for the inevitable to happen, but…strangely, it didn’t. The man pulled his hand out of her pocket and took out her cellphone.

“H-Hey, what are ya goin’ to do with that?!” she asked.

The man said nothing as he went back to the driver’s seat. Back outside, Sunset was striking repeatedly, wailing on the defending demon. His thick armor was hard to cut through, but Sunset wasn’t about to let them get away, she had kept an eye on the van the whole time, and so far she hadn’t seen any signs that the second kidnapper had moved Apple Bloom.

“Why!”

*CLANG!*

“Won’t!”

*CLANG!*

“You!”

*CLANG!*

“GO DOWN!”

Sunset backed up and dismissed her giant sword. Both of her hands flared up with infernal fire, Sunset brought them together, and thrust her hands forward. A torrent of flames roared towards Shielder, striking the demon’s shields as he held his ground. Just then, Sunset watched as a silver flash went off inside the van, making Sunset worry as to what was happening.

The second abductor came walking out of the van, only this time he was in a demonic form as well. His body was slender, his exoskeletal armor was much more smoothed out and polished than the rugged version of his partner. His forearms from the elbow down were four-foot-long blades, and his legs from the knee down were similarly length blades. How the creature kept its balance, Sunset had no idea.

The creature didn’t show teeth, but had a smooth, angular mask. The exposed sections were white in color and showed more lean muscle in comparison to his partner. In the crook of its left arm was Apple Bloom.

Sunset ceased her attack and waited to see what he would do. The Shielder shook off her flames, he looked like he was in a bit of pain, but if it was worse he didn’t let on. The Shielder nodded to the Blader and then he tossed Apple Bloom straight up into the air.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!”

“NO!!!” Sunset shouted.

She forgot about the two demons and shot up straight for Apple Bloom as she flared her wings. Thankfully she was able to catch her in midair, however, after she did, an explosion went off down below. When the two girls looked down, they spotted the van, which was now burning and the demons were nowhere to be found.

“Dammit, they got away,” said Sunset. She then turned her attention to Apple Bloom and asked, “Are you alright?”

Apple Bloom blushed, more out of embarrassment of being held bridal style by a strange girl in revealing armor. “A-A-Ah’m alright, aside from tyin’ me up, they didn’t do anythin’ to me.”

Sunset sighed in relief.

Apple Bloom began to squirm in her grasp and asked, “If ain’t too much trouble, could ya, maybe, let me go…you’re kinda naked-ish.”

The flaming redhead blushed and then cleared her throat. “S-Sorry, but I need to get you back to your family. Could you…put up with this for a little longer?”

“Y-Yeah, Ah can.”

Sunset gave a flap of her wings, propelling her through the skies at incredible speeds. It didn’t take long before Sunset found herself above CHS. Inside her mind she was grappling with the idea of dropping down and letting the students get an up close look at her body in the armor, but she needed to get Apple Bloom back to Applejack.

Time to bite the bullet.

The warrior woman descended from the sky, and of course, it caused a spectacle as several students were already whipping out their cameras and taking pictures of her. Thankfully, Rarity was among the people she saw down there and her face was just as red as hers, feeling the embarrassment vicariously. Applejack and Big Mac broke through the crowd and were now at the head of it.

Seeing this, Sunset descended further and touched down on the lawn of the school. She released Apple Bloom, upon which the youngest Apple ran into the waiting arms of her siblings. Sunset couldn’t help but smile, happy that she was able to save Apple Bloom. Although, it did make her wonder why two Wendigo possessed people went and kidnapped her like that?

Not only that, but they let her go and torched the van…

“Hey, you’re Witchblade!” a raspy voice called out.

Oh shit…

Approaching from her right was Rainbow Dash, she was starry eyed upon meeting the hero, and if Sunset didn’t know any better, probably crushing on her.

“Hey, I just wanted to say thank you!” Rainbow Dash realized she sounded like a fangirl for a sec before straightening up and adding. “Y-You know, for saving me and Lightning.”

Sunset chuckled nervously and said, “N-No problem, it’s what I do…heh, heh…”

Amazingly, Pinkie Pie broke through the crowd as well and managed to get beside Rainbow Dash. The pink curly haired girl bounced in place as she said, “Wow, it’s you! You’re the one who saved me and Sunset from the creep! I never got the chance to thank you, but since you were in the middle of fighting, and making your mysterious exit, I guess it wasn’t the best time to tell but now you’re here so I thought I’d go ahead and say thank you! Again!”

Sunset blinked, leave it to Pinkie Pie to vomit out words like that, nonetheless, Sunset smiled. “You’re welcome, both of you. Now I need to get going, bye!”

With that, Sunset jumped into the air and took off at supersonic speeds, while everybody was looking in the direction Sunset flew in, Rarity was busy, yet discreetly, looking around to see if Sunset was going to double back. And just as she thought, she did. Rarity spotted Sunset flying around the backside of the school while everyone was distracted looking where she went. Not long after that, Rarity received a phone call. With a knowing smirk she picked up the phone.

“Hello, Sunset, I take it you’re in need of a wardrobe change?”

{“Wardrobe change”, try a whole new one!}

“I figured as much, fortunately, I made it a point to have extra clothing packed in my car’s trunk and in my locker, along with some tennis shoes. I don’t normally like to buy cheap ones, but given how many you go through, quantity over quality.”

{You are a life saver, I swear I’ll repay you for this.}

Rarity looked at the three Apples, now reunited and happy. “Believe me, Sunset, what you’re doing, is more than payment enough.”