Five Nights at Equestria Girls

Night 4: What Does the Fox Say: Part 1

Sunset Shimmer pulled up to see her friends already waiting for her by the school entrance. Parking her bike, she ran up to them. Around her was constant chatter about something. But the words were so jumbled and spoken above the others that it was impossible to make out what exactly had gotten said. Just as she stood next to her friends, their gym teacher, Rapid Shadow, walked towards them.

"My ropes! They've gotten obliterated!" exclaimed Rapid Shadow, throwing her hands up. "And they were brand new too..."

The girls all looked at each other, realizing what their gym teacher was talking about and what it meant for them.

"You don't think...?" asked Sunset Shimmer as she watched Rapid Shadow disappear behind a corner.

"Um, I am pretty sure that did happen," said Twilight Sparkle. "And that we should check it out."

With that, all the girls ran over to what should've been the gym doors tied together. Instead, there were torn pieces of rope lying on the ground. The doors themselves had been picked up and set against the wall of the building. There were dents all over them, clear evidence that the animatronics had busted their way through the doors. The force was so strong that the hinges that held the doors to the frame had snapped in half. Approaching the doorway, they looked inside the gym. The damage that had gotten caused there was pretty extensive as well. Parts of the wooden floor were scratched, though there whole sections that were just gone, completely caved in.

"Sweet Celestia! They've escaped," said Sunset, shocked by the damage done by the animatronics.

"Well, the ropes sure didn't last long," said Rarity, picking up what remained of one of the ropes. "Guess that was to be expected."

"D-do you think they are still nearby?" asked Fluttershy, hiding behind her hair as she felt goosebumps form all over her arms. "I-I don't want to have to fight them again..."

"Um, Shy? I don't think they are," said Rainbow Dash, resting a hand on her friend's shoulder. "If they were, I think we'd know."

"She's right," added Applejack. "But now they're free, how are we going to find them? It's a big city, and they could be hiding anywhere."

"I don't know, AJ," said Sunset, sighing. "At the moment, I am just glad they injured no one."

"I just wish we had gotten here sooner, as we had planned," whispered Twilight to herself.

"Why am I not surprised you seven are here?" asked a voice from behind them, startling them half to death.

Sunset Shimmer and the girls turned around to see the school's principal, Principal Celestia, approaching them. She had her hands on her hips, a stern expression on her face. Sunset gulped. She recognized that look from anywhere. That was the same expression both Celestia and Luna had worn the night of the Fall Formal. It was after the talk about the punishment that Sunset ended getting assigned to repair the damage she had made to the front of the school. It was also the same expression Sunset Shimmer had received from Luna when she handed her the brick trowel that night. Gulping, she forced herself to speak.

"H-hi, Principal Celestia." Sunset's voice came weaker than she expected.

"Sunset Shimmer, after the events of the Friendship Games and the debacle at Camp Everfree, I have a feeling equestrian magic has something to do with...this." Principal Celestia pointed to the dented doors. "Is that correct?"

"Yes, Principal Celestia," replied Sunset, her shoulders slumping forward.

She heard the anger beneath the calm and collected facade that their principal put on. And she didn't blame her. It was her idea to trap the animatronics in the gym, hoping that they would stay there. As a result, the gym had some severe damage done to it because of her actions. Yet, just to see that it hurt. Since the Fall Formal, she had worked hard to prove that she had changed, that she was trustworthy. It hadn't been easy, especially during the Battle of the Bands. But she had done it, and she was keen on keeping it. Though, with the animatronics destroying the school because of her, that put that hard-earned trust in jeopardy. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear Principal Celestia walk up to her. Not until she felt a hand touch her shoulder. Looking, she saw that Celestia was gazing at her with a more gentle expression.