Sunset’s ultimatum melted. She said she’ll come back in three days, but they felt just like one. I hadn’t told the princess that Sunset was about to meet me again. Why? I don’t know. I know, I should have, but… my human part was strong, and she saw no threat in Sunset but an opportunity.
Being human again, finally! - But at what cost? You heard the princess! This is madness! - C’mon, it can’t be this bad. Besides, who’s it your deal? Outside Bins we have no connection to these ponies. And she’ll understand!
I knew she would. My desire of being human again, at least. But causing chaos and being the reason Equestria fades to black? Wasn’t so sure she’d understand that.
Again, it was in the middle of the night when Sunset appeared. This time I sat on of the armchairs, waiting. I looked up into her face; she was deadly serious.
“So? What’s your decision?”
“I won’t help you. I can’t be the one you plunges Equestria into chaos.”
You’re making a huge mistake! Think, just for one damn moment!
Sunset looked at my, deciding what she’d do next. When she began to talk again, a shiver rolled down my spine.
“Well, as I said, we don’t like to be disappointed. Especially in this point.. but what could I do? I can’t force you, now can I?”
I didn’t like the way she said that, and I absolutely didn’t like the way she smiled afterwards.
“I guess, I actually can. You’ll help me, if you want to, or not. I don’t need your consent to get what I want. To be honest, I didn’t expected you to be cooperating, so I might have.. set things up to get it rolling.”
I heard a scream from upstairs and my blood ran cold.
Bon Bon! What have I done? - You never listen, you stupid pony! If you’d obey me just one time, you wouldn’t be in this trouble now!
“I’m sure you’ll come just where I want you. At least, if you want to see your little friend again. Oh, and just for the record; come alone, or there might be a terrible accident. By tomorrow, you’ll have all the instructions you need.”
She grinned and teleported away. I was totally in shock, it was all my fault! I slowly sat down and levitated a glass next to me.
No, not this time. I have to stop trying to drown my problems in alcohol. I have to figure out what I can do to help Bons, there must be a chance to get this all end well! - You know what you have to do… - Hm.
I tried to stay awake and waited for someone telling me what to do, where to go, but nobody came.
By the morning, I opened my eyes. In front of my, in the middle of the table, lied a letter. I opened it; these were the instructions Sunset had talked about. Attached to the letter was a small map of the Everfree Forest with a big red circle deep in the woods. This was my target.
Why does it have to look like on a treasure map? Is this some kind of cruel joke? - Shut up and think straight. Bons is in there, so what are we waiting for? Move!
I packed some supplies and water in my saddlebag and left. It was morning and the sun was high up in the sky, but as soon is I stepped into the forest it felt like eternal night. It was dark, cold and moist. I took a look to the map to check that I’m on the right way and kept walking.
It felt like an eternity, but I was on the way maybe for half an hour before I spotted the house in the middle of the woods. This was the location I was said to come. I wasn’t sure if I just should knock the door, but before I could think about that or what to do when I was in there, the door were opened from the inside. A huge colt, gray coat, dark blue mane and not even a cutie mark stood in front of my, staring at me with his brown eyes. He led me inside to some kind of living room. It was very dark, the only light cracking through the darkness was a little lantern that was hanging from the ceiling. On the left side I saw three more colts, all of them wearing black cloaks. On the other side was Sunset, standing tall in her human form. And right in front of her, tied to a chair and gagged, with pure fear in her eyes..
“Bon Bon! I’m so sorry! It’s all my fault! What have they done to you?”
“I wondered when you’d arrive, Lyra. Little Bon Bon was getting nervous..” she patted Bon Bon’s head “but I’m glad you finally made it!”
“Get your dirty hands off of her! I swear to god if you lay a finger on her, I-”
“Jeez, calm down! Nobody harmed her.. yet. But let’s see if that stays that way. You know what I want. Help me this one time and you both are free to go.”
“Just to be chased by you for the rest of our lives? Don’t think I’m silly, Sunset. I talked to Celestia, I know what you’re up to. And I won’t let that happen. Even if that means I won’t ever be a human again, that doesn’t matter to me anymore.” WHAT? Are you kidding me? I WILL make you pay for this, you stupid animal!
I stumbled a second, surprised that my human part still had that much influence on me. Sunset’s expression told me that she was totally aware of what was going on inside my head.
“You have these ‘mind fights’ since your arrival in Equestria, haven’t you? I had them, too, but I soon knew who was right and who was false. How could my human half, my entire former life, betray me? I know that my pathetic pony half was too weak, too nice for my targets. Love and tolerance? More like weakness and anxiety. So I let my human half take control, and now see where I am! Soon I’ll be the ruler of Equestria.” I looked at her, confused. “Oh, you really think I want to go back or something? I never had that in mind. Why would I go back to our world, where I’m just one small person, if I can be Queen in this one? Human psychology is simple; we want power, we want to rule about others. It’s not our greatest preference, but anyway I won’t deny it. And I’m sure not letting a chance like this one skip unused.”
“So what are we going to do now? Fight ‘till one is victorious?”
“Would you? I'm afraid your chances aren’t that big…”
“If I’d have to to save Bon Bon, I’d do it, even if that’d cause my death. But I know, you would never kill me… because you need me, no matter what you do or say. Let Bon Bon go and we’ll have a talk about all that.”
I have to get her out of here, she has to be safe.. I’d never be able to forgive myself if-”
“Bon Bon was just some pony I used to get you, Lyra. I don’t mind her walking home. What could she possibly do? Call our beloved princess? She’s weak. Since my banishment I learned a few new tricks that, and I’m sure about that, could give her some serious struggle.” she smiled evilly, but she really untied Bon Bon.
“Lyra! Lyra, you shouldn’t have come! I was alright, you should never have come alone!”
“It’s alright Bons. You know I had to come. How could I let you die in here just because of me? Now do me a favor and get outta here. I need to know you in safety before…”
Surprisingly, she nodded, with some sparkling in her eyes. I knew she had a plan, and I was grateful for it. Now I just had to waste time until help arrived. We hugged each other tight and she disappeared in the darkness.
“Follow her.” Sunset instructed one of the colts. “Be sure she doesn’t cause any problems. If she does…,” she ran a finger across her throat. The colt nodded and left to follow Bons. It was the same one that led me into the room. I looked after him until the door closed behind him, and suddenly the three remaining colts grabbed me.
“Oh, Lyra, you didn’t think we came just to have a friendly talk, did you? I knew that you won’t help me. At least your pony side won’t…” Her hands began to glow as she casted a spell. The first second nothing happened, but then..
“Aaaah! What the fuck are you doing to me?”
Sunset laughed like in ecstasy. I felt nothing but pain. My body seemed to be ripped into pieces, but my mind didn’t slip away, I couldn’t get unconscious.
Yes! Yes! Release me! “SET ME FREE!” I heard the last words coming out of my mouth without having spoken them.
“It works! It really works!”
I opened one eye and couldn’t believe what I saw. Right in front of me a shadow began to take form. After a few moments it’s contours sharpened and I was face to face with it. With me.
“It’s been so long! Finally I can be myself again! How could you dare and neglect my desire, our desire of being human and stay that ridiculous animal?”
What the f-
“Lyra, may I introduce you to one another? This is your real you, the one you suppressed all the time. Now that I have her, I don’t need you anymore. Everything I need is inside her mind. Now, I’m unstoppable!”
I watched her, shaking in fright. Did she just rip off half of my mind?
“Let’s end your tragic life here. I have no usage for you anymore.”
She suddenly pulled out a knife and came very close, holding it on my throat.
“Die with the knowledge that you saved nobody. Soon, every single pony in my way will join you in hell. Bon Bon, Octavia, Vinyl, and all of your oh so beloved princesses. Maybe I keep the dragon, I always wanted a pet dog.”