Morning came over the city of Las Vegas. Following last night's rescue operation, it didn't take long for word to get out about the mysterious place being found in the rubble. As for the stolen relics, Twilight informed the staff about the details but left it vague to avoid linking them to what occurred. As for Isaac, the World Champion was driving to the airport as he had to drop off one guest and pick up another person. The sound of the terminal was heard as a plane was shown landing on the runway.
"Are you and Twilight okay, sugar?" asked Applejack as she talked with her friend, who'd informed her about last night.
"Yeah, we're good. The kids are fine."
"Why didn't y'all ask me for help? After what we went through, you were the one telling me that I could seek help."
"I get it, Aj. But me and Twilight were confident in handling it. Plus… we didn't want to drag you into this mess."
"Sugarcube, I get it. But I'm here if you and Twilight need some backup."
"We appreciate that. But for now, we're gathering details. We'll let you know once we figure out some more info," said the World Champion.
"You better, city slicker."
"Flight 23, now boarding for Canterlot City!"
The flight attendant spoke over the PA system and the call for Aj and her family. The country gal's family presented their tickets as they entered the tunnel to board their flight home.
"Enjoy your break, Aj. We'll need to recharge if we're going to be tag champs and defend them."
"I'll see you soon, partner. Tell Twilight I said take care."
The World Champion smiled as Applejack approached to hug her friend. With a tip of her cowboy hat, she grabbed her luggage and passed the gate to enter the tunnel. Moments later, Isaac looked out the window and saw the plane carrying the country gal and her family heading home. He knew he'd meet with Aj after their short time off to get back on the road to defend their medallions. Once their vehicle was out of view, he looked at his watch and headed to a different airport gate to wait for his guest. At that time, a private jet landed on the runway before coming to a halt. The side of the plane opened as stepping out. Haven, the businesswoman, looked about before putting on her shades and began to walk down the flight of stairs with Cloudpuff in her arms.
Isaac was by the baggage claim. He looked up and saw the CEO, flanked by some of her bodyguards who carried her stuff. He approached the woman before she shoved her dog into him, but she just entered the back of the car without acknowledging her client. The World Champion looked at the small canine who barked at the human holding him before licking his nose.
"Okay then," said Isaac.
At the hotel, Twilight was on her laptop, going over the footage her duel disk recorded of her duel. The card designer was looking at the footage and saw Sunny's mark glowing on her arm, shining brightly. She then pulled up a manuscript on her laptop with a screenshot of some ancient writing she'd researched since her company break-in. Twilight looked at the inscriptions as she read over the translation; as she kept reading, things began to click in her mind.
Haven and Isaac arrived at the hotel. Twilight had informed her husband to meet in the ballroom, as she had spoken with the staff to use the room. The two adults entered, and inside were Twilight and the kids. Upon looking and seeing their mother, Zipp used her hand to cover her face and look away; Haven didn't hesitate as she stormed toward her daughter and forcefully grabbed Zipp's arm.
"Zephyrina!" yelled Haven as Zipp flinched upon hearing her mother address her birth name.
"Um, Mom…"
"You are in big trouble, young lady!" shouted the CEO, none too pleased with her eldest child and her actions the past few days. And what happened to your arm?! Did you get a tattoo without my permission?!"
"I hate to interrupt, but we do have some important matters to discuss," said Twilight as she dimmed the lights.
She then plugged the HDMI cable into her laptop, and her AI projected a hologram screen for all to see. Everyone gathered around as the first image on the projected hologram was a closeup of Sunny, specifically her arm, as it glowed with her mark.
"Now, I'm sure you all are aware of those marks you just received," said Twilight as the kids looked at their arms. "Well, I did some digging and uncovered some answers. But first, let me tell you a story."
Twilight's AI assistant started a slideshow as she spoke about the tale.
"As you all know, the game of Duel Monsters has existed for quite a long time. Long ago, when the pyramids were still young, Egyptian kings played a great and terrible power. Still, these Shadow Games erupted into a war that threatened to destroy the entire world until a brave and powerful pharaoh locked the magic away and imprisoned it with some magical items. Yet, as the years went by, evil forces would appear ever so often to use these dark powers for their own personal gain. One of those people was an evil sorceress; she read about the destruction of the war and how powerful Shadow magic was that she wanted to use to recreate the world in her image. Using the power of the Shadow Realm, she set on her crusade and left nothing but chaos in her wake. A group of brave warriors sought a special power to counter her, but it came at a price."
"What happened?" asked Sunny.
"They sealed away the sorceress' evil powers but couldn't defeat her herself. As such, they sacrifice themselves to keep the power safe and exile the sorceress. They knew they couldn't keep her locked away for good, so they split it up into several marks to avoid anybody single-handedly taking the power for themselves. However, the darkness was willing to be defeated easily and would rise every millennium for revenge. In turn, the light would select individuals with great attributes that comprise the original power split. It seems the dark power has returned, slowly seeping into our world and infecting it."
"Um, what do you mean by infecting?" asked Izzy.
"Finding hosts to do their evil bidding. This evil sorceress and her darkness have been using her Shadow duelists to scout out individuals who could threaten her, which is why you were all targeted at one point. Their goal is as simple as it's cruel; they want to send you all to the shadows for all eternity. So you can't fight back when the shadow army rises. They use magic to create inescapable dueling fields where all the damage is real."
"You should see their cards. They duel with dark decks," commented Isaac.
"So about these marks?" said Zipp.
The hologram screen then changed to show the kids' marks, and next to them was some ancient text.
"These seven marks were the source of the power the original warriors wielded to defeat the darkness. In addition, the marks represent a harmonic power of unity."
Twilight then posted a clear picture of Hitch's mark, matching it to the one scribbled on the faded stone tablet.
"Hitch, you possess this mark. And this mark represents the kindness of Unity."
The boy looked at his arm and touched the mark, taking in what the woman just told him. Twilight then put up the rest of the clear photos of the boy's friends as she matched them according to the marks and personality that each represented.
"Sunny, you bear a similar mark to Hitch. And you represent the hope of Unity. Izzy, you bear this mark. And you seem to represent creativity."
"Oh, nice," said Izzy as she seemed to vibe with her mark.
"Ms. Petals and Ms. Storm, you two have these marks. And respectively, you represent confidence, and you represent bravery."
Zipp seemed to like hearing that as she fist-pumped herself. She then glanced at Mario and Roll before looking at the hologram screen, which had two remaining marks that were yet unidentified.
"What about them?" said the heiress, pointing at her friends.
Twilight looked at her kids, and a sorrowful expression appeared. She didn't want her kids to be a part of this drama, but it seemed fate wasn't giving her a choice. She let out a deep sigh before zooming in on the two yet labeled marks as the ancient text on the tablet was busted up and faded, making it hard to translate. However, she could decipher what it meant due to her high intelligence and prepared herself. She posted her daughter's mark as it was set by the other mark that matched Izzy's.
"Roll, sweetie. You bear a similar mark to Izzy's. And according to the ancient text… you represent… trust."
"Trust?" said the girl, looking at her mark.
"The trust that exists between friends and the bonds forged by friendship. That trust is what led you to be recognized as a signer and wielder of the power to combat the coming darkness," said Twilight as her daughter grazed her hands over her arm, feeling the tattooed mark. "Mario…"
The boy gazed over at his mother as he felt he wouldn't like what she was about to say. On the screen, his mark, similar to Pipp and Zipp's, appeared as it matched the drawing.
"You… possess… love."
The others all had to do double-takes after hearing that. When he heard his mother say that, Mario immediately stood up and pushed his chair back in defiance. He turned around to leave before flipping the chair over and storming out of the room. A sudden flinch came from the girls, reacting to the loud noise that happened. Twilight sighed, feeling her son would act that way to what she said; Isaac had been watching his wife, as it was clear their son's actions distraught her.
"Love?" said Roll, still not fully processing that that was her brother's so-called element.
"I just called him lover boy to mess around with him. I didn't think it meant literally," said Zipp.
"He helped me and Sunny get together, plus he's had a previous relationship… why didn't I see it?" whispered Hitch under his breath.
"I'm stupid. I crushed on him hard and didn't even put it together. Not to mention how he helped Jazz with Rocky," mumbled Pipp.
Sunny was silent, her thoughts playing out in her mind. The girl recalled the night of the final round of the Friendship Games when she told Mario that she loved him and viewed him like an older brother.
"It was right under our noses the whole time," muttered the girl.
"Getting back on track," said Twilight, getting the attention of the teens as she had more info to go over. "You all were selected as the group to combat and defend the light, not because you guys are good with a deck, but because it seems to have sensed the strong friendship between you all and, therefore, has chosen you to fight against the oncoming army of darkness. You could say it's possibly fate that's guiding you to have something bigger than just a normal life. Each of you fills a unique need in this power to defeat the shadows."
"So what do we do now? What's our plan?" asked Hitch.
"Yeah, do we get like some super dueling decks to fight them or what?" asked Zipp.
"There are no 'super' dueling decks. What's more important is you all understand what this means. All of us are on the same side. Rich or poor, amateur or pro, we're all on the same team. The side of light, the side of life, the side of unity and friendship. The spirit of humanity called out to you all and hoped you could stop the end of the world from happening. The darkness relies on despair and depression; the more people lose hope, the stronger they become. If we fail to defeat this sorceress and her army of shadows, the entire planet will fall into darkness, with no one left to save them. As you can tell, this is more than just defeating an enemy; it's a rescue operation for the entire world and the light. You must each make your choice."
Twilight's statement got the attention of the teens as what she was about to say was important.
"After today, they're no turning back. If you choose to fight, you must commit your body and soul as a signer. As a defender of the light and harmony. But understand this: the battles that will come if you choose to fight it will be unlike any of those from before. Unlike those Shadow Duelists you've all encountered, this coming threat will be stronger. Much stronger. This task may be impossible."
"If you're saying that, then would we even try?" asked Sunny.
"I'm not saying we've lost before the first draw, but it's going to take everything you have just to survive. We're talking about primal forces, pure darkness coming at you all. A foe many would choose to run from. So… I ask you all, if you do not run, you must face them. Together. But know this… even if we do defeat them… I can't promise that we'll all be standing here again. Or that we'll be able to expel the darkness. Every war has its causalities; some of us may be lost to the Shadow Realm. I hope you all can look into your hearts and make the decision the world needs, but I'd be quick… based on what happened last night, we're slowly running out of time, and it won't be long before the evil sorceress herself arrives with her darkness."
Roll was in her room, tossing a ball upwards before catching it with one hand. The girl had returned to her room silently, contemplating all the info her mother revealed about her mark and the incoming darkness that was to follow. It was alot to take in as this was quite possibly the biggest decision of her life. A knock was heard on her hotel door, and it caught her attention.
"Roll, sweetie. Can I come in?"
The girl exited her bed and approached the door to reveal her mother.
"I just wanted to check on you. How are you feeling?" asked Twilight as Roll sat on her bed's edge.
"I don't know, Mom. I… I'm not sure how I feel about this," said Roll, rolling her sleeve to reveal her mark.
"I prayed that you and your brother wouldn't be involved in all this crazy stuff. But… I should've learned from your father. We're always at the source when something crazy goes down. I just… I just wanted you two to have a normal life. But I was a fool to think that as well." said Twilight, sitting next to her daughter as she pulled her in for a one-arm hug. "Roll, you know I only want what's best for you. No matter how old you get, you'll always be my baby. And we'll always love you, me and your father."
"I know, Mom. It's just… I don't know what to do."
"It's not easy, but you must make the decision your heart tells you to. If… you want to fight this darkness, we'll be behind you. Till the bitter end." said Twilight. "I'm just glad that life gave me you, and I wouldn't trade the past 15 years for anything. Everything your father and I said about friendship makes me happy to know you found your group. You found your friends who will stick by you, regardless of where you come from."
"Mom…"
The girl clutched her mother tighter as Twilight petted her hair. She began to sing a little something to calm her daughter's nerves and worries; hearing her mother's lovely voice provided Roll with a sense of clarity. The girl was now looking into her heart as she looked at her mark, knowing what it meant. Twilight ceased her singing as she pulled back to look at her daughter; seeing Roll's face, it was clear the girl had reached her decision.
"So… what are you going to do?" asked Twilight.
Roll paused before composing herself and looked at her mother to address her.
"He hecho mi elección," stated the girl to her mother as she smiled.
Hitch was shown in the casino's dining room. The boy had hoped to clear his mind with food, but that seemed far from the case. As he entered the room, he spotted his girlfriend sitting alone at a table with a plate of untouched food. Sunny had been lulling over the thoughts since the meeting's dismissal as she was unsure.
"Hey," said the boy.
"Hey," responded the girl to her boyfriend.
"Guess we both had the same idea," stated Hitch as he sat beside his best friend.
"I'm scared, Hitch. I'm scared of what will happen if we do this and we don't win… our friends, our family… Dad…"
"Grandma Figgy…"
"All gone… forever."
The two teens lulled over the possibility that if they agreed to fight and failed, their only remaining family members would be lost to darkness forever. It was a scary thought for both kids as they feared being alone.
"I just can't bear the thought of being alone, not having anybody left. It scares me, " Sunny said.
"Well, we have each other right," remarked Hitch as the girl looked at him before he put his arm around her. "Sunny… you mean so much to me. I would go to the ends of the earth for you. I'm not just saying that because you're my girlfriend; I'm saying that because you're my best friend. And as long as I'm here, you won't ever be alone. I can't bear the thought of you not being around."
Sunny nearly had her heart melt at hearing her boyfriend's confession. She looked at him before sitting in his lap and pulled him in for a passionate kiss. Hitch closed his eyes and put his arms around his girlfriend as he leaned into the kiss. The pair soon pulled apart as they each held the other's cheek.
"I'm glad you're in my life, Hitch."
"Same here."
The two continued to hold each other as the look on their faces told the whole story.
"So, we doing this?" asked the boy.
"I guess so," confirmed the girl.
"You will not be taking part in it!" shouted Haven.
The businesswoman was in her private suite with her two daughters. Haven was addressing Zipp, not because of what happened a while ago but because the girl had already decided to fight against the army of shadows. Safe to say, she was not happy.
"But Mom…"
"But nothing, Zephyrina Storm! I will not have a daughter of mine be involved in some… some… gangware!" stated Haven.
"It's not a gang, Mom!"
"Either way, I will not allow you to do something so reckless!"
"But it's not your decision to make, Mom! It's mine!" said Zipp as she stood up. "And I know what I want to do. I'm not gonna sit by and watch some crazy, hungry power freak destroy my world and my home! I'm not gonna go down without a fight!"
"You don't realize what you're doing, Zephyrina! I can put up with your attitude and rebellious nature, but I refuse to let you do something as dangerous and stupid as this! You don't realize it's not just you who you're affecting. Your sister is also being affected by your selfish choice, and you are bringing her down with you!" shouted Haven as she pointed at Pipp, who was off to the side, sitting silently and obediently while listening to her older sister and mother bicker.
"I'm not doing that to Pipp!"
"Yes, you are! Look at her. Do you think she wants to get involved?!" said Haven, getting in her daughter's face.
"Actually… I want to help."
Haven and Zipp turned to look at Pipp, who was rather taken aback by what the stylish pop star had just said. Pipp fiddled with her fingers, a bit hesitant about telling her mother her answer, given the lecture she was giving her elder sibling.
"I want to fight, Mom," confessed the girl.
"Pipp…"
Haven couldn't believe what she was hearing from her youngest daughter. Zipp couldn't help but smile as she was glad her little sister was willing to fight against the coming evil. However, her smile didn't last as Haven looked at her.
"I can't believe you, Zephyrina! You've poisoned your sister's mind with your talk!"
"She made her choice, just as I told you mine! You can't stop me from doing this, Mom!"
"Yes, I can! You shouldn't have to worry about this! You should focus on more important matters! Like finding a suitable suitor, taking over the family business, and living up to your duty as a princess by descent! Your purpose in life has already been set, and you will not deviate from it!"
"You can't do this to me!" yelled the heiress.
"As long as you live under my roof, you follow my rules! So what I say goes! Understand!" shouted Haven.
"I sometimes wish you weren't my mom," mumbled Zipp.
"What was that, Zephyrina?!" demanded Haven from her eldest child as she just crossed her arms. "I don't know where you suddenly developed this attitude, but you will cease it! Now… you are going down there and telling Ms. Twilight that you will not participate in this crusade. Am I understood!"
Zipp looked at her mother as the businesswoman slammed the door to her hotel room. Immediately, Zipp grabbed a nearby book and threw it against the wall, expressing her anger and defiance. Pipp sat there, taking in what went down between her sister and mother, as it was clear she was against them putting their lives in danger.
"Zipp… you're not dragging me down."
"It's not just that, Pipp. Our whole lives, it's been 'don't do this,' 'don't do that,' 'a lady doesn't get her hands dirty.' I'm just so sick of being told what to do and not doing things myself. Now I have a chance to do something on my own, and my mom is trying to take that away from me! I'm not looking at this like it's a joke! I do want to fight! I want to protect her. I want to protect you… Pipp… you're my little sister, and I'll always look out for you."
"I appreciate that, Zipp," said the stylish as she rolled toward her sister and put her hand on hers to support her elder sibling. "That's why I want to do this. I want to keep you, Mom, and our friends safe."
Zipp looked at her little sister and smiled, grateful she understood.
Twilight and her daughter were back in the ballroom as the doors opened. In came Sunny and Hitch as the two spotted the pair.
"Listen, guys… if you don't want to take part in this, I understand…"
"We appreciate the concern, Roll. But we're doing this," said Sunny, taking aback the girl. She looked over at Hitch as he nodded to confirm his choice. "We have our reason to fight. That's more than enough."
Twilight smiled, as it seemed her daughter wasn't the only one ready to step up. The doors opened once more, and this time, Zipp and Pipp, flanked by their mother, appeared. The trio saw the two sisters, and the look on their mother's face told the whole story.
"Now… tell her what you told me!" said Haven as she instructed Zipp to approach Twilight and decline the offer to fight.
Zipp took a deep breath before stepping forward to address Twilight. The card designer looked at the heiress; it was clear Haven was against putting her daughters in danger, and she understood where she was coming from. The girl then began to speak.
"Me and Pipp… we're also gonna fight!"
"What?!" yelled Haven, as she didn't expect her daughter to disobey her orders.
Zipp smirked at her mother as her rebellious nature came through, making Haven grit her teeth and growl. Twilight, on the other hand, smiled before putting her hand on the girl's shoulder to pat it.
"Glad to have you two on our side," said Twilight.
"Now, wait just a minute!" said Haven as she looked to confront her daughter before she was stopped by Twilight, who put her hand on the woman's shoulder.
"Why don't we discuss this later?" said Twilight softly as she protected Zipp from her mother's wrath.
Haven merely looked at Zipp who still held her smirk. Regardless, she was gonna have to lecture her daughter again for disobeying her orders.
"Okay, so that makes five of us on board. What about Izzy an-"
"Aw, am I the last person?" stated Izzy as she appeared.
"Izzy…"
"So, are we gonna fight together?"
"You… want to?" asked Hitch.
"Oh, yeah. It took me a while, plus a little dip in the hotel's swimming pool, but… I realized my friends need me. Being with you all has been the best thing that's ever happened to me. I guess… I don't want our adventures to end just yet. And I don't want to lose the first real friends I've ever had. That's why… I want to help." said the girl, as the others felt touched by Izzy's statement.
"Welcome to the team, Izzy," said Sunny as she hugged her friend.
The others all began to do the same as Twilight watched from afar. It did her heart good to see the magic of friendship thriving between her daughter and her friends. She hoped they would be enough to combat the coming darkness, and when this was all said and done, they'd all still be here and go back to the way things were.
"Okay, so Izzy's in, that makes six," said Pipp.
"Which leaves only one left," said Zipp.
"Have you seen your brother, Roll?" asked Hitch.
"Not since he stormed out."
"You think one of us should go find him?" asked Sunny.
"I already have that covered," answered Twilight.
"Mario! Mario! Son!" shouted Isaac as he knocked on the boy's hotel room. "Mario, can you open this door? Hijo, por favor!"
The World Champion had comforted his wife after she dismissed the kids to let them think about their decision. Once she was calmed down, he told her that he would go find their son. Given their strenuous relationship, twilight was against the idea, but he assured her he could handle their boy. For the past five minutes, he'd been knocking on the door to his son's room as he knew he was inside, wanting to lock himself away from all that was happening. Eventually, a click was heard as Isaac gripped the door handle; taking a moment to prepare himself, he entered the room.
As expected, the room for his son was dark. Blinds blocked the windows to prevent any sunlight from entering. On the bed was the boy in question, his back turned to his father with crossed arms. His face was angry and disdainful as he didn't know why he even complied with his father's request, given how he felt about him. Isaac approached his son's bed before carefully taking a seat on the edge; the boy didn't react as he refused to even look at his junkie of a father. Isaac just sat there in silence, knowing his son well; he knew he shouldn't try to speak off the bat. Instead, he waited for the right moment. The silence seemed to last forever despite only two minutes had passed; Isaac just kept his head down as he soon noticed his son's deck on the nightstand. He reached over to grab his son's cards and looked through them. He soon stopped on a certain card as it made him smile.
"I remember this card," said the World Champion as he looked at the Winged Kuriboh of his son's deck. "I remember that day as if it were yesterday."
Isaac began to recall the memory that was scared with his son's card while Mario just continued to stare off into the distance while listening.
(Flashback)
"Dad! Dad! Can I have my own cards, please?" begged a young Mario as he confronted his father in the living room.
"What about all those cards that your mother and I gave you and your sister, Mario."
"I hate that I have to share them with Roll! I always have to share everything with her! Why can't I get something that's just my own?"
"Because sharing with your sister is the right thing to do."
"I want my own cards. I don't even have my own deck. Everybody else in my class has at least some cards, and I don't have anything! Please?"
"I'm sorry, Mario. But you're not just not ready yet to have your own cards."
"I am! I'm responsible. I'll take good care of them! Dad, please… it's not fair! I want my own! I want… to be like you! I want to be a duelist!" said Mario, almost crying.
"It's more than just having a deck of cards that makes you a duelist, Mario. There are other aspects, things you're just not ready for. Look, hijo… I get it. But your time will come. And then, only then… will you get whatever cards you want. I promise."
Isaac patted his son's head. The boy didn't seem to like that response from his father. His unhappy expression was clear, as the day was young.
"But… here," said the World Champion as he grabbed the table with a pile of his cards and grabbed one. He then presented it to his son. "Why don't you take this? Something tells me it belongs with you."
"Really? Yes, thank you, Dad! I'll…"
Mario's excitement died when he saw the card his father gave him. The card was none other than Winged Kuriboh, and Mario looked at the winged furball with big eyes. He looked at the monster's stats, confused.
"It's… it's weak, Dad."
"So?" asked Isaac.
"It's not gonna beat anything. Can I get a different one, please?"
"I'm sorry, Mario. But trust me, that card will suit you."
"How? It's too weak to defeat anything."
"Duel Monsters isn't just about attack points; it's more than that. Each card plays a key crucial part in one's deck. You may not see it now, but I assure you this: when you get your own deck, that Kuriboh will be an important part of it. If there's one card that you have to take good care of, let it be that one."
Mario was still unhappy and unsure about his father's decision. The small boy just looked at the card in his hands, and for a second, he felt the card wink at him and make a small, cute sound.
(End of Flashback)
"I remember you were upset that your mom and I didn't give you any cards to call your own. But we had our reasons, Mario. And I was right, wasn't I? When you were ready, you would get whatever cards you wanted."
Isaac looked at his son, hoping for some response, but the boy stayed still. The World Champion sighed before setting his son's deck back on the nightstand.
"Mario, listen. I know things are happening so fast, and you probably don't want to hear this from me. Now, I'm not trying to convince you or anything, son. Whatever decision you make, your mother and I will respect you. But… if you do decide… don't think of it as doing it for me, do it for your mother. For you little sister. Keep them safe."
Isaac looked at his son as Mario still remained motionless. He thought about reaching over and putting his hand on his son's arm but quickly rethought that and pulled his limb back. Instead, he sighed before getting up as he prepared to leave. He opened the door and turned to look at his son one last time.
"Try not to stay up too late. I have to take you kids to the airport in the morning. Your Spring Break is over, and you have two months left of your first year of school," said Isaac.
"Leave," mumbled the boy as Isaac heard that loud and clear.
"Okay… I love you… I mean that, son. I love you."
Isaac soon stepped out and closed the door behind him, leaving his son surrounded by the dark room. As he stepped out and walked down the hall, he came across his wife as she spotted her husband and approached him. Twilight put her arms around her husband's neck as he held her.
"Well?" asked the woman to her man.
The World Champion simply sighed his wife before removing her arms from his neck and walked off. Twilight let one out once her husband was out of sight before turning to look at the son's room. She hoped that if her son was going to fight alongside his sister and their friends, he'd decide soon, or else it might be over for them all.
Morning came as the kids were shown packing their stuff. With their Spring Break now over, it was time to return to school to finish their first year. However, once the last two and half months of academia were over, it'd be the start of Summer Vacation. And no doubt, they would then focus on all their efforts to deal with the oncoming darkness. Twilight was in the hotel's front parking lot entrance when she touched her ear; she was contacting Moondancer as she informed her vice-president about moving some procedures ahead of schedule. A van pulled up, and it gave a honk; she turned to see her husband stepping out as she turned, and the lobby doors opened to reveal the teens emerging with their luggage. Haven also appeared as she was still upset with Zipp for what she decided, even after Twilight's talk on trying to convince Haven to let Zipp go through with this professionally.
Roll approached her mother, as she gave a hug to her daughter. At that moment, the doors opened once more, and Mario was shown stepping out. The boy's friends turned as their eyes focused on him after he had vanished the previous day and hadn't seen him until now. Mario gave a huff through his nose as he walked past his friends and father to toss his luggage in the back before climbing into the passenger seat without anyone telling him to. The rest followed his example as they put their luggage in and climbed inside. Twilight came to the open side as she looked to address the kids.
"For now, focus on your studies. Once summer vacation starts, that's when we'll go to work," said Twilight.
The teens nodded as they understood her. Twilight glanced at her son, who was looking out the window. She hoped her son would decide what he wanted to do soon. With that, she said her goodbyes to her daughter and their friends, wishing them a safe return to school. Isaac kissed his wife before stepping into the driver's seat; he started the vehicle and drove down the street. Twilight and Haven waved goodbye to the group as they did the same. It wasn't long before the group arrived at the airport. Isaac checked the kids' stuff before giving them their tickets as they approached the security gate.
"Alright, kids. This is as far as I go," said Isaac, as he couldn't go with them past the gate without a ticket.
"We appreciate all you've done for us. We had a blast," said Sunny, as this was a fun Spring Break.
"It was my pleasure, Sunny. Now… finish school and then… we'll save the world."
"On it!" said Zipp as she couldn't wait to fight against some evil darkness.
"Roll! I'm gonna miss you!"
"I'll miss you too, Dad!" said the girl, hugging her father. The others smiled at the display of affection between the two.
Mario just scoffed and scowled as he looked at his sister and father.
"Your mother and I will continue to work on more details. If anything comes up, we'll let you all know!" Isaac stated as the kids nodded.
"Flight 39, now boarding!"
"That's our cue! Come on, guys!" said Pipp as she grabbed her suitcase and began to roll it behind her.
"Thanks again, Mr. Isaac!" said Hitch, showing respect and gratitude to the World Champion.
Isaac gave a tip of his cap as he watched the group walk past the security gate. Mario was the last to pass as he stopped to look at his father. The World Champion eyed his son as he waited to see if he would say anything. Instead, he just turned and walked past the gate without saying goodbye to his old man. Isaac held a weak smile as he prayed his son had a safe trip return. Moments later, a plane was shown flying among the clouds as it began to head back to Canterlot City.
Author's Note: We finally get some explanation of what's to come. And... we get the significance of the marks that are on the group's arms and what aspect of unity they each represent. For Roll, she seems to represent trust and for Mario... funnily enough, his happens to be love... which, in hindsight, makes sense from all the previous scenarios where he's been at the center that focuses on some kind of love issue. But... we still don't know what his decision is... there's no guarantee that all seven of them are gonna still be here when the battle is over.