Phoenix Rising I: Angels and Demons
The days leading up to Prom passed in a whirlwind of activity. It served as a welcome distraction from the odd dreams and nightmares that plagued Sunset while she slept. On top of catching up with her school work, Sunset found herself doing something different everyday in preparation for the big dance. On Wednesday, she and Trixie went shoe shopping. Trixie offered to pay on the condition that Sunset’s weren’t as pretty as hers.
“Trixie was wondering,” she began, looking over a pair of silver stilettos, “if perhaps she could come to Prom with you and your silly entourage?”
Taking off a pair of heels that were a size too small, Sunset said, “I mean, I think my friends would be okay with it. Why don’t you want to go with your friends though?”
“Trixie just thought you could do with some enrichment to your poor social circle, so she will gladly volunteer her stupendous presence.” She cleared her throat. “Also because Lavender and Fuchsia are ditching me for their boyfriends. Traitors.”
Sunset smiled sympathetically. “Of course you can join us, Trixie.”
On Thursday, Sunset went to Rarity’s to get fitted for her dress. Despite the calamitous state the back room was in, what with sheets of fabrics thrown everywhere, the floor covered in sparkles and ribbons, and the wastebasket so overflowing with crumpled papers that a new mountain had formed next to it, Sunset felt relaxed here.
She had given a mere thumbs up at Rarity’s design for her dress. Rarity, who had clearly been expecting more, took Sunset’s measurements in silent poutines.
“I’m sorry, Rarity. I like it, I really do,” Sunset said, trying her hardest to sound sincere.
“No, it’s fine, darling, really. I know you mean it. Maybe seeing the real thing will spark something in you.” She marked down Sunset’s numbers and walked over to her workbench.
Sunset took a seat on the edge of the stage. “Rarity… what if I’m stuck like this forever? I… I want to feel things again. I know I love your dress… I just don’t feel it.”
Rarity swiveled around in her chair and looked at Sunset over her red glasses. “Don’t worry, Sunset. I’m positive we can find a way to spark your fire again.”
Sunset hoped so. If not, she was going to end up like Maud.
“It’s not as if you don’t feel anything, is it?” Rarity asked reaching for some black fabric.
“No. It’s like… standing in the shallow end of a pool,” Sunset said, using the first analogy that came to her head. “It goes deeper, I just can’t seem to go that far. I know I can, I just… don’t.”
“Hmm. An emotional block? It could be some form of post traumatic stress. We just need to get you back into a comfortable environment where you can freely express yourself.”
Sunset didn’t know how many environments were left for that theory to work. If she couldn’t express herself when her friends were around, or when she was alone with Twilight…
“Oh, yeah.” Sunset remembered what Rarity had told her during their skiing trip. “Umm, Twilight told me… she loved me.” She quickly covered her ears as Rarity let out a euphoric scream.
She was up and in Sunset’s face, stars twinkling in her eyes. “Yes! And, and, and? What did you say?”
“I… I told her I loved her, too.” She covered her ears again, though they still rang with Rarity’s happy shriek.
“Yes, yes, yes! At last! Oh, Sunset, you have no idea how happy I am for you!”
“I think I have a good idea,” Sunset muttered, rubbing her ears.
“And see? If you told Twilight that, you must be getting better!”
“That’s the thing, Rarity. I… I know I love her but… when I say it, I don’t feel anything. Being with her doesn’t make me happier or anything. It’s just something I do.”
The jubilation on Rarity’s face winked out of existence. “Oh. W-well, umm… y-you know that deep inside your heart you still love her. Maybe on the surface you don't feel it, but you still know.”
Sunset stared into her lap. “I feel like I’m lying to her. Or not giving as much as she is.”
Rarity sat down next to her and put an arm around her shoulder. “Sometimes love isn’t a fifty-fifty split. Sometimes, one partner has to give a little bit more because the other can’t. You’re still trying. That’s all that matters. I know you’re tired of hearing this, but you’ll get better. Then, you can tell Twilight how much you love her in excruciating detail. And then, you can tell me.”
Sunset almost laughed. “Thanks, Rarity.”
*******
If Twilight had any concerns about their relationship, she didn’t voice them. In fact, Sunset thought Rarity was right on the nose about Twilight giving more. She praised Sunset every time she got a question right, put more passion into her violin, and even more into her kisses. Something weak stirred in Sunset, and she thought maybe Twilight was starting to break through.
On Friday, Prom was the only thing on the seniors’ mind. In a shocking move, Rarity had skipped classes to finish the last round of dresses, which included her own and Sunset’s. Pinkie was also missing, presumably putting the finishing touches on the dance.
Sunset also realized she had not seen Moondancer the entire time she had been awake. When she told her remaining friends at lunch, they all gave conspiring looks toward one another.
“I know,” Twilight said, pulling her phone out. “She texted yesterday saying she was fine, but nothing else. I’m really worried about her.”
“I’m sure she has a good explanation,” Sunset said consolingly.
The intercom came on, and Vice Principal Luna’s voice echoed through the school. “A reminder to everyone attending Prom tomorrow night. Ballots for Prom King and Queen will be handed out in your last period. Be sure to vote. Prom officially begins at six o’clock at the Canterlot Castle hotel. We hope you all have a memorable experience.”
“You know, Sunset,” Applejack said after the feedback faded, “if you had run, you probably could have won Prom Queen. You know, if Rarity didn’t kill you for it first.”
“I’m fine. One crown is good enough.” She remembered winning the Winter Ball and the surprise and happiness that had followed after the initial shock.
“One crown?” Rainbow looked at Sunset like she had sprouted a second head. “You mean like, eight crowns, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“Uhh, you’ve won nearly every dance since you’ve been here, remember?”
Sunset honestly couldn’t. She furrowed her brow in concentration, but all that came was a light pressure on the front of her skull. She couldn’t remember half of her high school experience up until the night of the Fall Formal, and even that was extremely hazy. She remembered, with regret, unleashing some dark magic and becoming something monstrous. She remembered crying. She remembered saving Twilight later in the night. Something told her she didn’t want to remember the rest.
“Sorry, girls. I really don’t. A lot of my memories are kind of scrambled.”
They all looked at her with increasing concern. “What do you remember?” Applejack asked.
“Well… everything in the last couple of months… I think? Parts of the last three years. Mostly just what I learned in class. I can’t remember much about spending time with you girls until around the Fall Formal.”
Silence. Then Fluttershy said softly, “Oh… dear.”
“Yeah, I know it’s pretty bad.”
Rainbow grimaced. “So, which one of us should tell her?”
Applejack sighed. “Sunset, we weren’t exactly friends before the Fall Formal.”
“O-oh.” The hesitant look in Applejack’s eye told her there was more to it than that. “Any particular reason why?”
“Aw, sugarcube. You’re a great girl now. You’re our best friend, and we love you. But… you weren’t always the sweetest apple in the cart. Let’s just say, you had a tough time making friends.”
Sunset looked around the table. Everyone else was avoiding her eyes. She pressed a hand to forehead, trying to draw up a memory, any memory. She could see herself sitting in the factory, listening to music and relaxing, studying for tests, walking down the hall while students jumped out of her way. Her mind then skipped to her going to the mall with Twilight, her first sleepover with everyone, playing music against the Sirens.
“Bad memories,” she whispered.
Twilight leaned in. “What?”
“I can’t remember anything bad.” She looked wide-eyed at Applejack. “But you’re right. I was a bully. I don’t remember it, but I know it.” That almost explained the dark power she remembered from the Fall Formal.
“Do you think this has something to do with coming back from the Soul Lock?” Fluttershy asked.
“Maybe,” Sunset said, dejected. “Maybe not all of me got out.”
“Well…” Twilight began hesitantly. “If you can’t remember the bad… that just means there’s more room to make good memories, right?”
Sunset smiled at her. Maybe she was right. Maybe it was a good thing Sunset couldn’t remember all of the terrible things she had done in the past. She could start fresh; build on the good memories of her friends.
Lunch came to an end, and the girls parted ways for their last period. Voting ballots were handed out as the lesson started, and Sunset recognized most of the names on the list. She voted for Flash in an instant, but hesitated when it came to Prom Queen. She had never interacted with half the girls on the list, at least, she couldn’t remember interacting with them. In the end, she closed her eyes and jabbed her pencil down, landing on ‘Wallflower Blush.’ Sunset wasn’t even sure if that was a real student, but since fate had chosen for her, she filled the bubble in.
*******
Sunset woke up early Saturday morning to go get her hair done. Admiring her new style in the mirror, Sunset had to admit she felt very pretty. Her hair coiled and spiraled down in thick red and gold curls that reminded her of pasta, complete with its own sauce. It bounced against her neck and face as she twisted her head left and right. Two thicker noodles perfectly framed her cheekbones.
After a quick shower, taking care not to get her hair too wet, Sunset slipped on her Rarity-made Prom dress. Silky and glossy, the black fabric glittered under her room light. It trailed down to her ankles, fanning out a little in the back. Red and orange flames danced around the hem trailing up her legs and vanishing around her waist. Black gloves ran up her arms, ending just below her naked shoulders. She put on a pair of emerald earrings and her cutie mark necklace to round off the ensemble.
Returning to the mirror, Sunset smiled at the beautiful girl looking back at her. Maybe tonight really was what she needed to feel okay again.
But beauty is so fleeting. Tomorrow, you’ll go back to looking like your plain old self. Sunset watched her smile fall apart. The cynical voice had a point. And she couldn’t dress up like this everyday. It would look shallow and conceited.
Please, just enjoy tonight for what it is. We can go back to self-loathing tomorrow. Sunset finished applying her lipstick and eye-shadow, then grabbed her purse and the crimson corsage for Twilight, and headed downstairs. A floating camera waited for her at the bottom step. Sunset looked around, seeing neither Artemis nor Trixie nearby. When she looked back at the lens, a bright flash left her stunned.
As she blinked the spots out of her eyes, Artemis appeared in his usual puff of smoke, eagerly grabbing the camera. “It’s time already? Goodness, you don’t take nearly as long as Selena to get dressed up.”
“I heard that!”
Artemis looked at the picture then at the real Sunset, eyes glittering in delight. “You look so beautiful! And on fire! My compliments to the dress maker!”
Sunset smiled. “I’ll pass that along to Rarity. And thank you.” She heard footsteps descend behind her and saw Trixie coming down the stairs, holding the ends of her starry blue ball gown. Unlike Sunset, Trixie’s dress had puffy shoulders and a tall collar, making her look like an old world aristocrat.
The camera snapped another photo when Trixie reached the bottom step. Artemis beamed at her, tears in his eyes. “I remember the day we brought you home from the hospital. Look at how much you’ve grown.”
Trixie tilted her head up and closed her eyes. “Daddy, please. I just put my makeup on and I am in no hurry to do it again.”
Selena walked in from the kitchen and clapped her hands over her mouth. “Oh… look at my two girls. You both look amazing.”
To Sunset’s surprise, something stung the corners of her eyes. She followed Trixie’s lead and tilted her head back to make sure her makeup didn’t run. “We should probably get going. Don’t want to be late for our dinner reservations.”
“Hold on, I still have pictures to take.” Artemis raised the camera and snapped a shot of both girls with their heads back. “Now come on, get together and smile!”
They spent fifteen minutes taking photos, alternating between singles, pairs, and family shots. At a quarter past four, Trixie finally opened up the front door and carefully stepped out to the car. The sun shone brightly overhead, but the ground was still wet from a sudden shower yesterday.
Trixie squeezed herself through the door of her car, then struggled some more with the seatbelt, quietly complaining that it would wrinkle her dress. Once she was all settled, she said, “Trixie thanks you again for allowing her to grace your meager friend group with her presence.”
Sunset mentally removed the condescension from Trixie’s words. “You’re welcome.”
They arrived in front of Rarity’s house ten minutes later, spotting her posing while her mom and dad took pictures. The diamonds running down the trim of her slim silver dress shone in such a dazzling light, Sunset had to question if they were really fake. Rarity had gone with a simple elegance for Prom, the diamonds and a golden ribbon around her waist being the only features to her shoulderless dress. It hugged and emphasized all her best features though, and Sunset thought she resembled a Greek goddess.
“Hello, girls! Oh, goodness me, you both look so fabulous! Sunset, I love what you’ve done to your hair! Come take a few photos with me!”
Sunset and Trixie happily obliged, standing on either side of Rarity while the camera continued to flash. Sweetie Belle watched from the porch, cheeks puffed and arms crossed.
“It’s not fair. I wanna go to the prom too!”
Rarity walked over and kissed her forehead, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the lipstick stain off. “Don’t pout, Sweetie, you’ll have your moment in a few years. Maybe even next year if some strapping senior asks you to accompany him.”
“Over my dead body,” her father mumbled.
Flash arrived next, wearing a black tuxedo with a silver tie to match Rarity’s dress. He presented his corsage and slid it over her wrist, then stood with a goofy smile as Rarity pinned his boutonniere to his chest. They took a dozen pictures together, Flash trading his goofy smile for his trying-to-be-cool-one, which, incidentally, made him look goofier.
Rainbow and Fluttershy arrived next, wearing long dresses that almost touched the ground. Rainbow’s dress matched her name, a vertical spectrum of colors starting with red on one end and transitioning to purple at the other. Puffy white clouds decorated the hem and a golden wreath sat in her curled and bouncy hair.
“This is a one time thing,” she said flatly, catching Rarity’s excited gleam.
Fluttershy wore a glossy green curtain decorated with small flowers and a blue sash that ran down her right shoulder. Her open-toed boots used vines instead of laces, and a blue butterfly sat pinned in her hair.
Applejack arrived not too long after them. Her dress was forest green with a folded collar decorated with a jeweled red apple. She had a brown corset that hugged her middle with a second apple placed at her navel. Her hair was done up in a braided ponytail, and without her stetson hat, Sunset thought she looked quite odd.
Twilight came next, bringing her whole family and Cadence with her. As she stepped out of the car, Sunset’s heart tried to do a backflip, but landed on its face. Twilight wore a shoulderless dark blue dress with purple and white stars decorating the folded skirt. Beneath was a glittering light blue gown that trailed down to her ankles. She had purple bracelets and an orchid in her hair, which was rolled up into a large side bun.
When she stepped onto the sidewalk, she stopped and stared at Sunset, her face turning pink. While Sunset’s face remained its normal color, she too could not take her eyes off Twilight, nor could she think of something to say.
Thankfully, Cadence poked Twilight in the back and said with a happy grin, “Don’t you have something to give Sunset?”
Twilight underwent a quick restart, blinking furiously before clumsily stepping forward in her high heels. She opened her mouth, only to make a soft squeak. She tried again, this time hiding her mouth behind her corsage for Sunset. “You look really beautiful.”
“So do you.” Sunset offered up her own corsage, gently wrapping it around Twilight’s wrist. She watched as Twilight did the same to her, feeling another faint flutter in her heart.
Cadence and Mrs. Velvet pulled their cameras out and began snapping photos of Sunset and Twilight together. Sunset found it easier to smile today.
Pinkie was the last to arrive, bringing their limousine with her. She hopped out with a somersault and threw her arms in the air. “Are you ready to party?” she shouted.
The main portion of her dress was yellow with darker yellow polka-dots. Underneath that were layered ruffles of purple and white that matched the corset and the bow in Pinkie’s hair.
“You all look so wonderful!” Rarity cried, pressing her hands into her cheeks. “Okay, just a few group photos, then we’re off to the night of our lives!”
She herded them onto the front steps and tried to arrange them by color, keeping Rainbow in the center. Sunset managed a genuine smile for the group shots, but with all the picture taking she had already endured, her cheeks were beginning to hurt.
They filed into the limo, finding comfortable positions despite their large number. Their parents cheered and waved them off as Pinkie directed the driver to the Tasty Treat, their restaurant of choice for Prom dinner. Excited chatter and laughter filled the car, their spirits already high before the fun had officially begun.
“So, R.D, what happened to Thunderlane?” Applejack asked.
Rainbow blew a raspberry. “He’s an okay athlete, but we didn’t really connect outside of that. Besides, I only asked him to the Winter Ball to prove a point.” She pointed two fingers at the pairs of Twilight and Sunset, and Rarity and Flash. “You’re not gonna catch me acting all doey-eyed over anyone.”
Rarity paused in her act of feeding Flash a grape from the mini-fridge. “You say that now, darling, but don’t be so sure you won’t find that special someone.”
“Please. There isn’t a guy awesome enough to keep up with me.” Rainbow grinned. “And I mean that literally now. I’m the fastest girl on the planet!”
Pinkie pressed her lips together and snorted, but lost control when Applejack tried and failed to contain her own laughter. Flash couldn’t help but snicker either, while Fluttershy turned red as a beet.
“Immature children,” Rarity said under her breath.
Twilight looked around at her laughing friends. “I don’t get it.”
The Tasty Treat was a family owned hole-in-the-wall restaurant in downtown Canterlot. Rarity had originally rejected it for not being reviewed in the dining column of The Canterlot Times, but after some hard reassurance from Pinkie, eventually gave in. The Indian themed restaurant was on the small side, but with so few guests already there, there was plenty of room to seat nine. Both the host and the head chef clearly had never had such a large party enter before, for their faces lit up in surprise and excitement.
The food proved excellent, sating a craving for spicy food Sunset didn’t know she had. Trixie complained about the decor, but fell silent once their dishes had arrived. Even Rarity with her refined palette admitted that the food was exquisite. Just after six, they took their leave and moved onto the main event.
The Canterlot Castle Hotel stood proud in the center of downtown, spotlights lighting up its ivory body and gold turrets. A silver, three-tiered fountain bubbled in the center of the driveway, surrounded by purple and gold flowers. Palm trees lined the gold dusted walkway to the front entrance. Limo after limo rolled up to drop off students dressed in their absolute best. Even Ditzy looked like a princess in her cheery yellow ball gown, lending her arm to Bulk Biceps.
Pinkie led their party of nine through the polished lobby and up to the third floor. Sunset could feel the music vibrating against the violet carpet, sending a small thrum through her feet. The thumping bass grew stronger as the girls drew closer, and Sunset could feel the shadow of excitement building in her gut.
The doors to the grand ballroom were wide open, and the imposing crystal chandelier had been dimmed, allowing large braziers filled with blue fire to bathe the room in an eerie glow. They hung from the top of the pillars and matched the blue and gold ribbons spiraling below them. Against the back wall was the DJ table, shooting gold laser lights that bounced against the walls. Large tables circled the dance floor, where hundreds of bodies moved, twirled, and grinded against one another to the rhythm of the music.
“Canterlot High!” an unfamiliar voice boomed over the mic. “Make some noise!”
The room shook with their collective yells and hollers of delight. Sunset squinted her eyes at the turntables, finding a red-haired young man instead of Vinyl. As she brought her sights closer to home, she saw Vinyl dancing with Octavia in the middle of the crowd.
Rarity looked into the crowd and wrinkled her nose at some of the suggestive displays happening. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, but I was hoping for a party with a little more class.”
“Are you kidding?” Rainbow asked, her face split with glee. “This is gonna be awesome! Come on, ‘Shy, let’s dance!” Rainbow grabbed Fluttershy’s arm and ran into the crowd, Fluttershy looking both pleased and terrified.
Pinkie put a hand on Sunset’s back. “Well, what are you waiting for? Go out there and find your spark!” She gave Sunset a little shove. Sunset flailed her arms to keep her balance. She looked into the mob of people, her excitement dissolving into apprehension. She felt a hand slide around her arm and looked over to Twilight.
“It’s not really my thing either, but we could give it a try.” She smiled and pushed her glasses up.
Sunset nodded. “Sure. Why not?” She took Twilight by the hand and led her deeper onto the dance floor, but once they found a spot big enough for them to squeeze into, she was unsure what to do next. She watched Twilight give her shoulders alternating bobs in time with the music and followed suit, eventually adding her arms into the mix. The two fell in sync with one another, moving their arms and hips in a motion one could almost consider dancing. Sunset couldn’t help but feel she was doing something wrong. Hadn’t she been fairly good at this before?
A fine layer of sweat had built up on Sunset’s brow and neck by the fourth song. She slowed the movement of her hips and pointed to the refreshment table off in the corner. “Do you want to get some punch?”
Twilight stopped her duck-footed dance and sighed in relief. “That sounds great.”
It took a great deal of maneuvering to escape the writhing mass of dancers, but Sunset and Twilight eventually found their way out, inhaling a wave of cool air upon their escape. Twilight ladled two cups of punch and handed one to Sunset before taking a sip of hers. She quickly spat it back into her cup. “Ugh, Pinkie was right. Someone spiked it.”
Curious, Sunset took a sip and swished it in her mouth. She swallowed and shrugged. “I don’t taste much.”
“Lucky you.” Twilight dumped her punch into the nearest potted plant and got a cup of water instead.
Pinkie pulled herself from the crowd and twirled over, pressing herself against Sunset, an expectant grin on her face. “Soooo, are you having fuuuuun?”
“I’m enjoying myself, yeah. You know how to throw a good party, Pinkie.”
Pinkie narrowed her eyes. “Not good enough. But just wait until the chocolate fondue fountain gets here. Then this party will really knock your socks off!”
Rarity emerged next from the mob, fanning herself with a hand. “Goodness, I can’t believe I’m sweating this much.” She sat down at the nearest empty table, gratefully accepting the cup of punch Sunset offered. She took a sip and frowned. “Of course someone spiked it.”
“Told you,” Twilight said.
Sunset took a seat next to Rarity, taking the weight off her sore feet. Who knew dancing in high-heeled sandals would hurt after a while? She felt a small vibration from the small satchel around her waist and pulled out the new phone the Lulamoons had bought for her. She had a text message from a number that looked familiar. It clicked a second later, and something crawled up her spine. It was the number of her old phone. She swiped the message open, and the crawling came again.
“Girls,” she said, her voice lost in the music. “Girls!” It hadn’t been much louder, but her moving mouth caught their attention. She showed the message to them, watching their faces turn pale.
“‘If you value the lives of your friends, come to the terrace alone’,” Rarity mouthed. She lifted her wide eyes to the others. “Do you think it’s Lamia? Or Tempest?”
“I don’t know.” Sunset bit her lips. “What should I do? They… they could be bluffing. But if they aren’t…” Sunset wildly shook her head, feeling her heart accelerate. “I can’t go back to that place! I can’t lose my soul again!”
Twilight pulled her into a protective hug. “We’re not going to let that happen. Not again.”
Rarity placed a hand on both their shoulders. “She’s right. If they want one of us, they get all of us.”
Pinkie put on a savage grin and punched a fist into her palm. “They’ll get a full ballroom blitz! I’ll go get the team!” She bounced into the crowd.
Sunset got control over her breathing and slipped her hand into Twilight’s, a life preserver in the rising deluge of fear. Pinkie returned promptly, Applejack, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Trixie, and Flash in tow.
Rainbow rolled out her shoulders, an anxious grin on her face. “I hope it’s Lamia up there so I can give her the butt whooping of a lifetime.”
“Do you really think we can beat her? Or Tempest?” Fluttershy asked.
Applejack popped her knuckles. “It’s nine against one, maybe two. Magic or no magic, Ah like our odds.”
They formed a protective guard around Sunset and proceeded out of the grand ballroom and down the corridors. It was a tight squeeze, but they managed to fit into the elevator and ride it up to the twelfth floor. A narrow corridor and a short flight of stairs led them up to the rooftop courtyard. A stone path lined with marble columns split two square patches of grass and led to a balcony overlooking the city.
Sunset squinted her eyes at the skyline around them. The sky and buildings flickered and rippled, moving back and forth in a slow, hypnotic fashion. It was like someone was trying to adjust an old television set.
Sunset’s eyes moved across the balcony. There, leaning against the last pillar, was Lamia.
“Of course you all came.” Her words sounded slurred and forced. “Ask for one and they all come running. Predictable.”
She pushed herself off the pillars and stumbled, hunching forward with her arms swinging lazily. Sunset gently pushed her way to the front of her friends to get a better look. Lamia’s hair was disheveled, thick bags hung under her eyes, her skin was pale and clammy, and she shivered with an occasional violent twitch.
“This plan is stupid. You’re all stupid,” Lamia said, panting.
Applejack put an arm in front of Sunset. “What do you want? You got a lot of nerve showing up here tonight of all nights!”
“That’s what I thought!” Lamia threw a hand up. “But she just loves being dramatic!” She let out a bark of laughter then tapped her temple. “Not right in the head, that one. None of them are right in the head. I’m not right in the head anymore!”
She gripped her skull. “I can’t get her to stop. Somebody make her stop. She won’t stop talking… won’t stop hating everything!”
Sunset’s soul shuddered. She felt a pull toward Lamia—a desire to touch, to connect. Was it some kind of empathy? Sunset could see the pain and confusion on Lamia’s face. Something about the whole situation seemed peculiar. “Are you okay?”
Lamia’s eye honed in on Sunset. “You! How did you deal with this? How did you handle this everyday?”
“What do you—”
“I don’t want this anymore!” Lamia clawed at her chest as a sinister blue aura engulfed her body. “I don’t want to be anyone’s pawn! I don’t want this magic! I don’t want your soul! I—” Her rant was cut short as the blue light erupted into a pillar that reached into the night sky. A pained scream came from within, morphing into malicious laughter.
Sunset brought her arm down as the light began to fade, then stumbled back into Twilight’s arms as her worst nightmare hovered overhead. Scarlet’s shadow engulfed them, her wings blocking out the crescent moon.
“She put up one hell of a fight that time.” Scarlet lifted her arms. “But I always win in the end. And oh look, everyone’s here tonight! Boy, this brings back a lot of memories! Like the time you hit me with a rainbow and left me in a crater.”
“Man, you really need to let that go,” Pinkie said.
Scarlet showed off her fangs. “You’re right. We should move on from the past and let bygones be bygones.” She crafted a fireball in her hand. “So, this isn’t for the Fall Formal. This is just because I don’t like you.”
“Scatter!” Applejack yelled. They broke across the terrace, narrowly avoiding the first attack.
Sunset thanked their lucky stars they all managed to move quick enough in their dresses and heels. Her friends were scattered about the courtyard, with Trixie battling Scarlet, firing small lightning bolts from her wand.
Applejack, who had landed across from Sunset, turned toward Flash. “You get outta here! Don’t let anyone come up to rooftop, and if this fight looks like it’s about to get messy, try to get everyone outta the building!”
Flash helped Rarity to her feet and cast an uneasy glance at Scarlet cackling in midair. “Y-yeah, I think I can handle that.” He gave Rarity a quick peck on the lips. “Just be careful, okay?” He ran off before Rarity could respond, with Scarlet paying him no mind.
“You know,” she said, batting Trixie’s magic away with a wing, “as much as I’d love to turn you all to ash, there is a simple solution that will let you all walk away alive… for now.”
Rainbow looked out from behind a pillar. “Yeah right!”
“It’s true. I just want Sunset. Give her to me, and I’ll leave the rest of you alone.”
“Screw you!”
Sunset snuck behind a pillar and huddled against it, trembling uncontrollably. Come on, she willed her body. Do something. Yet her legs had frozen in place. If you give yourself up, your friends might live.
“Why do you even want Sunset?” Twilight shouted.
Scarlet created a ball of fire which morphed into a ring and spread out from around herself, forcing everyone to duck again under the heat wave. “Mostly, I’m just following orders. I’ve been promised the power of a god if I help these losers. But I have to admit, I’m getting real tired of all these rules and orders. I haven’t gotten to run free in days!”
She curled her fingers, and several of the floors tiles ripped themselves from the ground, then flung themselves in Applejack’s direction. “So forgive me if I indulge a little!”
Applejack dove for the ground, avoiding the stone projectiles, only to have them come back around for a divebomb. Sunset screamed, both at the oncoming assault, and at Rarity running to intercept it.
Rarity threw herself in front of Applejack and crossed her arms in front of her, like it might cushion the impact. Sunset threw an arm over her eyes and bit her lip, waiting to hear a scream and a crunch of bone. Instead, she heard the tiles collide with steel. Sunset lowered her arm and gasped in time with everyone else.
Before Rarity floated a diamond shaped shield, glittering like it was made from the actual precious gem. Rarity herself had ponied up, her horn glowing as bright as her diamond. “Oh… wow…” She lowered her arms, watching as the shield faded away.
“Thanks, Rarity,” Applejack said.
Rarity looked back at her. “O-of course. I just… wasn’t expecting to live through that.”
“Yeah, that’s a disappointment for all of us.” Scarlet drifted closer, a dark energy ball in hand. “But, that problem can be easily corrected.”
A rainbow blur crashed into her backside and sent her down into the grass, giving her a mouthful of dirt. The blur stopped in front of Applejack and Rarity, grabbed them both by the wrists, and before Sunset knew it, three of her friends stood before her.
Rainbow looked at Sunset, brow furrowed and eyes hard, but her voice held a note of desperation. “We need a plan, now.”
“Why are you looking at me?”
“Because you’re the leader! And because you have the most know-how on magical stuff, and—” Rainbow grabbed them all by the wrist and rushed to the other side of the courtyard. Sunset got a brief since of whiplash before she even knew what had happened. She looked back and saw a pile of cinders where they had all been standing a second ago.
Scarlet perched on the pillar across from them. “You twerps are really starting to piss me off!” Her hair billowed up like an erupting volcano. “Give me Sunset, and I might spare most of your lives!”
Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Twilight ran to stand next to their friends. Pinkie threw her arms out. “If you want her, you have to get through all of us!”
“Fine by me!” Scarlet lifted both hands over her head, conjuring a fire bomb. “Let Tempest throw her hissy fit! It’s time to settle our score once and for all!” She pushed herself off the pillar and rose higher into the air.
“Think you can make another shield, Rarity?” Applejack asked as the group huddled together.
Rarity lifted her hands. “I don’t know if I can make one big enough to block that.”
“The last time this happened, all our pony powers turned on and we made a rainbow,” Pinkie said. She made a weak optimistic smile. “Maybe it’ll happen again?”
Behind Scarlet, Trixie created a lasso from the tip of her wand and flung it around Scarlet’s middle. She gave a harsh tug, interrupting Scarlet’s conjuring. With a loud hiss, the demon lowered one hand and released a pulse of black magic.
Trixie yelped and dodged out of the way, severing her rope’s connection. She perfectly avoided the first shot. The second, however, caught her in its blast radius and swept her into the air. With a loud cry, she hit the railing of the roof and tumbled over it.
“Trixie!” Sunset screamed.
Scarlet sneered and threw the fire bomb toward them with a flick of her wrist. Sunset felt the intense heat against her face, a hundred fire ants biting her skin as the fire descended. She watched Rarity thrust her hands out, conjuring a larger shield than the first time, but far too small to block the fire.
Just like all my nightmares, Sunset thought, clutching tight against Twilight, the heat drying her tears out. This is how they die. By my hand.
A white outline drew itself around the conflagration, halting its fall. The fire shrank more and more until it was back down to the size of a baseball. The outline vanished, and the fire bounced harmlessly off Rarity’s shield.
“Did I do that or…?”
“Moondancer!” Twilight shouted, pointing up to another pillar.
Everyone’s head turned upward as a ray of light dropped from the sky and struck Scarlet in the chest, sending her crashing into the dirt. Moondancer touched down upon the pillar a second later. She wore her white dress with billowing sleeves that flapped in the wind. A pair of wings made from moonlight fanned out from her back, glowing under the night sky.
The smile she gave made the hairs on Sunset’s neck stand up. It was strained, cracking almost, and the look in her eyes was one of fury hiding behind sadistic glee. It was, Sunset thought, rather insane.
“My sincerest apologies for the scare, everyone,” Moondancer said, waving at them in a welcoming gesture. “Let me assure you that only one of you will die tonight. The rest will be kept nice and safe while your souls are sleeping.”
The hopeful light in Twilight’s eyes died. “M-Moondancer… what do you mean?”
Scarlet snarled as she pulled herself off the ground. “You ungrateful brat! What do you think you’re doing?”
Moondancer gave her a sharp look. “You were not ordered to kill them.”
“I’m doing you a favor, honestly. They’re all more trouble than they’re worth.”
“You’ll follow orders or suffer the consequences!”
“Moondancer!” Twilight shouted, drawing both hers and Scarlet’s attention. “What’s going on?”
The maniacal look in Moondancer’s eye flickered and dimmed. She turned her head away.
Scarlet laughed. “Isn’t it obvious? Moondancer’s been playing for the bad guys the whole time, haven’t you, Moony?”
She growled and clenched her fists.
“But, she’s screwed up pretty bad this time. So, she’s going to sacrifice all of you to save her own skin. Either she takes your souls, or Tempest takes hers. Of course, there is the easy way out of this and we just kill all of you here.”
Moondancer hissed. “There’s only one person who has to die tonight. That’ll put an end to the universe’s favoritism.”
Twilight inched to the front of the group, every part of her shaking, even her voice. “She’s… she’s lying, right, Moony? This is some kind of joke, right? You… you would never kill anyone.”
“And that’s where you’d be wrong, Sparky,” Scarlet said, rising into the air again. “She’s the one who told Tempest about Sunset’s magic. She’s why they went after Sunset. That’s why you were pretending to be friends with all of them, right? You wanted to see how their magic worked.”
A red haze drifted over Moondancer’s pupils. “Shut up, Scarlet,” she said, clenching her jaw.
Scarlet put a finger against her bottom lip. “Oh, was that supposed to be a secret?”
“You bitch!” Rainbow shouted. She raced into the air, her fist aimed at Moondancer.
Moondancer angrily swatted her hand through the air, and a vicious gale funneled around Rainbow and threw her hard onto the ground. Sunset swore she heard a bone crack.
“Rainbow!” Fluttershy was ponied up and racing to Rainbow’s side the second she hit the ground. Fluttershy didn’t even notice the fireball aimed at her, and thanks to Rarity, never did.
Rarity snapped her wrist out, and a blue shield appeared in the air between Fluttershy and the fire, taking the blow.
“Stop trying to kill them!” Moondancer yelled at Scarlet.
“The thing is,” Scarlet began with a sadistically amused grin, “they’re like cockroaches. They never die when you want them to anyway.”
“I told you, I need them alive! You can kill Sunset after I get her soul back!”
Sunset sucked in a shuddering gasp. She knew Moondancer didn’t like her, maybe even hated her. But that she wanted Sunset dead? And she had already sold Sunset out once before? Sunset wiped a few tears away, but they were nothing compared to stream flowing down Twilight’s face.
She had one hand clutched tightly onto Sunset’s shoulder while the other made a trembling fist. “Moondancer,” she choked out, “how could you?”
The red haze in Moondancer’s eyes vanished. “I—”
“Moondancer!”
Every head turned to the edge of the roof, where Trixie had just climbed back over, the hem of her dress badly torn. “Take it off, Moondancer!” She thrust her hand out, like she was expecting something returned.
Moondancer clutched at her blouse protectively, her eyes turning red again. “Go home, Trixie! This does not concern you! Go home and forget what you saw!”
Trixie stepped forward tentatively. “Moondancer,” she said pacifically, “I know what it’s like to be forced to do something you don’t want to do. Please, let me help.”
“You can help by leaving! I appreciate the sentiment, cousin, but you cannot fathom my situation right now!” Moondancer’s voice broke and she clapped a hand over her eyes, trying to stop a tear from falling. “You can’t…. I have to do this. I have to take their souls, or she’s going to take mine. I have to survive!”
“Moondancer—aaaah!” Trixie cut her sentence to deflect a stream of fire toward the balcony.
“Yeah, it’s shame, really,” Scarlet said, unleashing a second blazing inferno with her other hand. “Guess I’ll settle for killing only one Lulamoon tonight!”
Moondancer struck Scarlet down with a pearl of light. It denoted against Scarlet’s back and flung her toward the door.
“Curb your blood lust or else I add your souls to the delivery pile!” Moondancer bellowed. “The rest of you, stand still, and I will make this as painless as possible!” She raised both of her hands into the air, and a salvo of light flares fired into the air before raining back down upon the terrace.
Everyone snapped out of the trance created by the spectacle between the Lulamoon cousins and Scarlet. Rarity threw one hand up and crafted a shield above the remaining Spectacular Seven. Trixie created a half-bubble above her head. Rainbow and Fluttershy, however, were still in the open.
Rainbow scooped Fluttershy in her arms and zipped in between the light spheres. It almost looked like a high-speed choreographed dance with how Rainbow moved her feet and twirled about with Fluttershy. Despite Rainbow’s surprising amount of grace, a sphere touched the tip of her wing, and she dropped to the ground, her body stiff as stone. Fluttershy rolled across the stone path and jumped to her feet, only to be hit as well and fall to the ground, eyes wide with horror but unable to so much as twitch.
Applejack let out a bellow like an enraged bull and charged out from under Rarity’s protection. She ran to the pillar Moondancer was perched on and slammed her heel into it. It exploded in a shower of dust and rubble, dropping Moondancer to the ground just as Scarlet lobbed a mass of wildfire at her.
Moondancer’s wings caught her, and she spiraled to the right, avoiding Applejack’s fist and Scarlet’s fire. After she gained some distance, Moondancer formed two balls of light tinged with a blood red aura and fired them at Applejack and Scarlet.
Scarlet met hers with a blast of fire. Applejack drew her fist back, but a small diamond shield appeared between her and the attack. Applejack punched it instead.
The shield flew forward, smashed through the light ball, and carried on to crash into Moondancer, throwing her back several yards.
“I don’t know how long I can keep this up!” Rarity yelled, crafting another shield around Rainbow and Fluttershy as Scarlet turned her attention on them again.
Trixie brandished her wand and unleashed a bundle of ropes that lashed out and bound Moondancer’s arms to her side. She thrashed against them, uttering a loud curse.
“Go!” Trixie called to Rarity and Applejack. “I’ll help your friends! You handle the demon.”
Applejack nodded to Rarity, then grabbed a chunk of the fallen pillar and hurled it at Scarlet. She blasted it to ash, then dived at Applejack, claws wreathed in flames. They collided against Rarity’s shield, and just like before, Applejack punched it forward, throwing Scarlet into the wall.
Sunset watched the entire procession with her hands pressed against her mouth. This is all my fault. I’m the one Moondancer really wants. If I had come up here alone, they all wouldn’t be in this mess. If… if I had stayed in the Soul Lock...
Beside her, Pinkie danced on her toes, looking like she desperately wanted to do something, but didn’t know what. Twilight appeared to be watching, but there was a haunted look in her eyes, like she had just seen someone die. Her eyes widened quickly, and her head shot in Moondancer’s direction. She had broken free of her bonds and was rushing toward them on her wings.
Applejack and Rarity were following up on their attack, and Trixie was waving her wand over Rainbow and Fluttershy. Pinkie ran up to meet Moondancer, her pony features coming to life. But before she could do anything, Moondancer cupped a silver orb in her hand and slammed it into Pinkie’s stomach. She wheezed and wrapped her arms around her middle as she collapsed to the ground, whimpering in pain.
Moondancer advanced on Sunset and Twilight, a rapier appearing in her left hand. “Let the stars bear witness to the moon eclipsing the sun.” Her jagged smile returned and a red mist gathered around her eyelids. “This world’s spotlight shines for one.”
Twilight stepped in front of Sunset and threw her arms out. “I won’t let you do this!” Her voice shook, not with fear, but with a sadness Sunset could only barely begin to comprehend.
Moondancer stumbled back, as if seeing Twilight for the first time. She shook her head, then pointed her sword forward. “Step aside, little star.”
“Don’t call me that.” Her voice grew tighter.
The mist around Moondancer’s eyes faded. “Twilight,” she said, her voice more controlled, “please move.”
“Why?” The question rang not just in Sunset’s ears, but across the whole terrace. It was so heavy that she felt the atmosphere shift, and saw Moondancer hunch her shoulders.
“Because she stole everything from me,” Moondancer said in a breathless whisper. “She, a faceless background character, comes in and steals everything I was working toward. She gets magic, she gets my family, she gets you! I’ve been patient! I’ve done my waiting! It’s time I took something! I don’t care if it’s hollow—I don’t care if it’s fleeting! I’ll take revenge and the satisfaction of knowing that Sunset Shimmer can’t beat me ever again!”
She slashed her sword through the air. “Now, move, Twilight! I wish no harm to fall upon you, but I will make you move if I must!”
Twilight stood her ground, arms still fanned out. “You’re not getting to her, Moondancer. Not without a fight.”
Something flickered in Sunset’s heart. A quick spark before it faded away. But Sunset recognized it for what it was: deep, unfathomable affection and admiration.
Moondancer stared at the pair of them, her mouth drawing into a thin line. “Of course,” she growled.
With a thrust of her hand, another gale whipped up and threw Twilight aside. Moondancer took a menacing step forward. “You won’t die yet. I still need your soul. But I promise you, this will hurt.”
A far away instinct, like a quiet voice in her ear, told Sunset to fight back. But she had no idea what to do. She put her fists up in defense, but where did she go from here?
A light so intense came from Sunset’s feet that she had to shield her eyes. She heard a bang and several pops like a firework, and Moondancer shout in surprise. The light faded from behind Sunset’s eyelids, and when she looked, Moondancer was back in the air, fanning the hem of her smoking dress.
Pinkie got to her feet. In one hand she held what looked like a compressed cluster of multicolored lights. They swirled around each other, never leaving Pinkie’s palm.
Sunset didn’t like the way Pinkie smiled. It was a smile of one who had just been given an unreasonable amount of power. “Leave my friends alone!” she shouted, and hurled the prismatic clump at Moondancer. It exploded and let off a burst of colors, just like a firework, lighting up the sky for a brief moment.
Moondancer had danced to the side to avoid it, but a different multichromatic blur streaked into the air and punched her across the face.
Rainbow continued on to rescue a struggling Rarity from Scarlet’s onslaught of fire. She dropped her off in front of Sunset, then looped back around to grab Applejack before she could become Scarlet’s next target.
Sunset hurried over to Twilight, who sat on the ground, looking dazed. She looked up at Sunset’s approach.
“I’m sorry.”
Sunset cocked her head. “For what?”
A jet of fire from one side, and a beam of light from the other stopped Twilight from responding. Rarity threw her arms up and encased them all in a massive forcefield, but the combined energy from both attacks shattered it upon impact.
Rarity swooned and fell to the ground, her ears and horn fading away. “I’m… at my limits,” she panted. “I’m so sorry.”
“Good effort, girls,” Scarlet said, looking battered. Her frock was scuffed and torn along the waist. She brought her hands close together, generating a pulsing black sphere. “But, ultimately futile. There’s no princess to save you. Tonight, you die!”
Moondancer let out a errant scream and flung a bolt of magic at Scarlet, disrupting her dark spell. “You savage, moronic animal! I need them alive!”
“And I don’t care what you want! I’m going to kill all of them!” Scarlet pointed a claw at Moondancer. “Hell, you can join them! Nobody’s going to miss you! Tempest can whine if she wants; I just want all of you to die!”
Scarlet rushed at Moondancer, balls of fire in her palms. Moondancer gracefully stepped to one side and slashed at Scarlet’s arm, leaving a sizeable gash. In a fury, Scarlet brought her other arm around, and Moondancer ducked under it, raising her sword in an uppercut slash. Scarlet propelled herself backward with a flap of her wings, but still got a nick across her chin. She unleashed both her fireballs, snarling in fury when Moondancer repelled both of them with a protective bubble.
Perhaps it was Sunset’s imagination, but it looked like Scarlet’s fire was getting steadily weaker.
The rest of her friends regrouped, taking the opportunity to catch their breaths. Fluttershy had her hands over Rarity, bathing her in soothing waves of pink.
Pinkie watched the fight above them unfold, another firework in her hand. “So, are we rooting for Moondancer?”
Applejack crossed her arms. “Let’s be honest. We’re rooting against Scarlet.”
“Perhaps it would be best for us to take our leave,” Rarity suggested.
“And what happens when they’re finished?” Applejack asked. “Scarlet wins, she’ll come and burn down the whole ballroom. Moondancer wins… who knows what she’ll do.”
Twilight winced every time Moondancer’s name came up. Sunset put a hand on Twilight’s shoulder, feeling it shake under her touch. Twilight looked back at her, more pain than sadness in her eyes.
“Sunset, I’m sorry,” she said again, her words almost inaudible.
“It’s not your fault.” It felt like a prerecorded message, but it was all Sunset could think to say. Her mind was trying to process eight different thoughts at once. On top of the adrenaline rushing through her veins, she still felt a pull inside her chest. A longing to be whole again.
She watched Scarlet rip a pillar from the ground with her magic and try to smash Moondancer. There was an intense fire in Scarlet’s eye that seemed familiar.
No…
Lamia’s pained words before her transformation echoed back to Sunset. “I don’t want your soul!”
Sunset pressed a hand to her heart. That was it, wasn’t it? Scarlet was part of her. The missing piece—that was where it went. Scarlet had Sunset’s flame. Now, how did Sunset get it back?
Do I want it back?
Scarlet threw the entire pillar at Moondancer and the hotel behind her. Moondancer caught it in her magical grip and used it as a shield against Scarlet’s burst of fire.
Sunset could remember becoming that monster. Taking Scarlet back meant taking back all of the darkness. All of the anger and hatred that she had bottled up and carried with her for years.
The light around the pillar grew in intensity, and its shape split and narrowed. Golden chains danced where the pillar had been, and with a snap of Moondancer’s fingers, they lunged at Scarlet. She disintegrated one with her burning palms, but the rest coiled around her, locking her arms against her sides and her wings against her back. She fell and hit the concrete with a mighty thud!
But if Sunset didn’t take her back, she would never be whole again. She would never be able to truly feel. And Lamia… she was in tremendous pain taking on Sunset’s darkness.
Moondancer aimed her palm at Scarlet. “Looks like this is farewell, treacherous beast. You shall not be missed.” Light gathered at the center of her hand and exploded forth.
Scarlet raised her head and roared, a jet of fire spewing from her mouth. The two forces collided, lighting up the terrace with flashes of red and white.
Sunset saw Moondancer’s light slowly overcoming Scarlet’s fire, and felt conviction stir within her. “Girls, I know how this is going to sound, but we can’t let Moondancer finish off Scarlet.”
Rainbow looked at her like she was crazy. “Yeah, you better have a good reason.”
Pinkie gasped and slapped a hand against her forehead. “Because Scarlet is part of Sunset! She needs her to be Sunset again!”
Rainbow frowned. “Okay, that’s a pretty good reason,” she said begrudgingly.
“And because Lamia is still in there,” Sunset said. “You saw how she was before she transformed. She didn’t want this. I know she kidnapped me but… we have to help her.”
“Ah’m guessing you have a plan?” Applejack asked, watching the beam struggle turn in Moondancer’s favor.
Sunset bit her lips. “I have… a hypothesis.”
“Good enough,” Rainbow said. “What’s the plan?”
“Distract Moondancer, please.”
Rainbow gave her wings a quick ruffle. “Oh, I’m all over that!” She took to the air, looping around the light beam and up to Moondancer, giving her a solid shoulder tackle to the side. The beam dissipated, leaving the fire to erupt through the air.
“Rainbow Dash, how dare you interrupt me! I’m about to rid the world of this darkness!”
“And then, you were gonna steal our souls!” Rainbow put her fists up. “Sorry if I’m not in a grateful mood!”
While Rainbow threw the first punch, Sunset approached Scarlet, still struggling in her chains. Sunset took baby steps, freezing for a second every time her feet matched up. I can do this. She took another step, froze again, gathered her courage, then took another step. Almost there.
Scarlet snapped her head toward her, and Sunset became no more than well-dressed stone.
“You. Maybe I can’t beat Moondancer, but I can still beat you!” Scarlet opened her mouth, an orange glow rising in her throat.
“You need me!” Sunset blurted out.
The glow faded. “I need you?” Scarlet said with humorous disbelief.
Sunset inched closer. “You’re only half complete. And so am I. We’re two halves of the same person. We need each other to survive. Lamia is only human—she doesn’t have any magic in her. You’re feeding off the surrounding magic and it’s fading. I can tell. And I bet you sharing a body isn’t healthy for her either.”
Scarlet made a resentful growl. “Her body is as weak as her will. But I just need her as a vessel. My own strength will come back in time. And then, I’ll have the powers of a god! So no, I don’t need you.” She flexed her arms against the chains, straining their durability.
“You’ve done nothing but shoved me away and ignored me!” she grunted. “I won’t be denied any longer! You’re going to regret throwing away your past—your power!”
The chains snapped, and Sunset threw herself back into the protective arms of her friends as Scarlet stretched her wings and lifted herself up before them.
“This is where you die.” Scarlet’s hand glowed molten red. Rarity raised her arms and tried to conjure another shield, but Scarlet swiped her hand and shattered it like glass. “Sunset first, then the rest of you will follow.”
Pinkie threw her firework, and the blast pushed Scarlet back, but otherwise only irritated her. She glided forward, hand outstretched.
Twilight stood in front of Sunset again. “I will not move this time! I will not lose her again!”
Scarlet drew her hand back. “Don’t worry. The separation will be temporary!”
As Scarlet struck her claws forward, a fleeting inferno blazed through Sunset’s soul. She shoved Twilight out of the way and raised her hand to meet Scarlet’s. They connected, and before Sunset could feel the blistering pain, her world went white.
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THIS WAS SO GOO! AND THE NEXT CHAPTER IS ON MY BIRTHDAY!
SUNNY, TELL MOONDANCER ABOUT HER MOM!
Aaaaand time for Daydream bitches!
I hope? XD
OMG this is so tense! I'm at the edge of my seat!
About time! Moondancer true colors were now exposed! I don't think Twilight would ever forgive her after this!
Oh don't worry Luna, they will.
Oh, it will be the night of your lives alright.
Who didn't see this one coming?
To be continued...
Oh this was absolutely epic. Can't wait for tomorrow.
9015331
I think Sunset's a bit distracted due to trying not to die too think of telling Moondancer about her mom. Plus, it wouldn't surprise me if she already knew. Tempest made her choose between Twilight and her mom earlier, and Moondancer chose her mother.
They really need to stop holding dances at Canterlot High School.
Something bad always seems to happen.
Another great chapter. Thank you.
Amazing!!!
SO AWESOME! SPECTACULAR!
I loved this/ so much! So many feels throughout all of this! I felt so much pain for Sunset when she had to be told why she couldn't remember her friendships before the Fall Formal and I also felt so happy for her when Selena called her one of her girls, and seeing all the support she got from her friends really started to help her recover a bit.
The battle was well crafted and really made good use of the reveals and the emotions. It didn't drag and every impact had weight. It was also great to see Sunset go from feeling scared because of what she was missing to knowing she needed Scarlet. And dang, poor Lamia; seeing how she was doing really shows how strong Sunset has had to be to deal with Scarlet. And we finally get to see Sci-Twi's reactions to the truth. I can't wait to see how she does once they reach a calm.
I can't believe this was only part one! It makes me all the more excited for what's going to come next Saturday and Sunday! It was a long journey to get here, but worth it and I can't wait to see how volume two ends!
Also, I think you did really well describing the dresses and all. I felt like I was actually seeing them.
FUSION....
SO. EPIC. EEEEEEEEE!!
Yep, bitchdancer is gonna get what she deserves!
It's been a long time since I read A Long Road To Friendship, so someone remind me. Does Sunset have parents back in Equestria in this universe or is she an orphan? This paragraph means quite a lot if she is an orphan.
9015465
Technically, it's at Canterlot Castle Hotel, but yeah, that school doesn't have the best track record with big events.
The doo-doo hasn't really hit the fan yet for Moondancer, and the spatters will be glorious when it does. Just because she's pulling the girls' butts out of the fire doesn't absolve her. The piper's still waiting with his hand out, foot tapping on the ground, and there's not enough dough on Moony's entire estate to pay him in full.
The descriptions are excellent, from the dresses to the battle. Albi, you've encountered the hazard all male writers have when dealing with stuff like pony -- the occasional need to deep dive into the ultra-girly -- and you did it with panache.
Next week's installment can't come soon enough.
This was a good way to end my Friday. This plus one piece and boku no hero? Damn today was a good day to be a-
NEEEEEEEEEEERD!!!
9015696
Well, good thing it's coming tomorrow. And then on Sunday.
The only thing that I could think while Sunset was confronting Scarlet:
9015465
Luckily enough, this one was in a hotel.
if you want to love twilight again than you bet you damn well do now go get it back
HOLY SHIT I FUCKING LOVE THIS STORY. Seriously if anyone knows someone who can write a better Sunset Shimmer story then Albi then please do let me know because they must be a demigod or something.
À clifhanger ? Again ! Serieus ? What is wrong with you ! Way ?
It still feels like yesterday that the Spectacular Seven & Co. went up against the Sirens.
This is much more exciting. Dear GOD.
9015588
Bitchdancer... Hehehe, nice.
9016759
It was a coin toss between that and Mooncunt.
Ain't that a title.
Ah. That'd about do it.
Oh dear.
Rarity, you're great.
Oh, fuck Moondancer! Not actually though.
Ah Prom. I feel like that's an American thing since I've never heard of it in Europe.
So in addition to taking her passion, Tempest took a lot of her memories.
They're presumably intrinsically linked with that inner fire of yours.
Glad at least someone cares about her.
Dammit, now I'm hungry.
Look, she's trying.
As per usual.
Ahahahaaa, if this is anything like the Gala, this isn't going to end well.
Of course you don't.
Of course.
Moondancer maybe?
That's a bad idea.
I don't.
The hell happened to you?
So that's where Sunset's memories and inner flame went.
I don't believe you.
So, it's power then.
Oh shit!
Hello, you Yandere backstabbing bitch. Or should I just say Syndrome? Because from what I know of you and what this looks like, this looks a lot like Syndrome's plan, take the credit and look like a hero when you had a part in making the villain.
Or she's just lost it.
The hell do you MEAN favoritism? Do you have ANY idea what Sunset's been through? No! No you don't! You have no idea what kind of pain she experienced, feeling her soul burn when she got hit by the Elements of Harmony, feeling her plan and EVERYTHING crumble around her, being unable to lie and having to do as others said while under that curse, almost losing Twilight several times! You don't deserve that magic.
Oh shit...
Oh that's got to hurt.
Right, the Amulet.
Detonated.
Oh no...
DON'T YOU FUCKING START THIS PITY PARTY AGAIN, SHIMMER! YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH AS IS! You had no way of knowing this was happening, this is Moondancer's fault for being a psycho Yandere bitch. Whoops, tautology.
And it ain't you.
... Wow. I know she's supposed to feel sympathetic, but she's just crossed the line too many damn times. And here I thought I'd like you at first.
Go Pinkie!
Something akin to this? 2img.net/h/i139.photobucket.com/albums/q307/godmoder/ova%20trailer/Alucard_closeup_2.jpg
It is. She might have more raw power, but Moondancer has skill. And the Amulet.
Was that a DBZA reference?
It is, isn't it?
So, about 12% of a plan.
And what will you DO with said power? Burn down the world? What then?
Pinkie is essentially Jubilee.
Angels & Demons, its a battle as old as time.... God help those girls...
I swear there's been an undercurrent of RainbowShy over the last arc. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but… Dash enters the dance floor, and her first thought is to grab Fluttershy; and Fluttershy looks pleased by this? I mean, I'm not stretching here, am I?
I am shocked - shocked! - that not one person at Canterlot wants to date Trixie.
Kinky.
Huh. Surprised Sunny is so quick to acknowledge it.
All praise to His noodley appendage!
AJ doesn't have a formal hat?
but is there a girl? Or six?
Unless there's a couple literally trading outfits on the dance floor, it's still tame compared to my senior prom. Also I hope that Celestia and Luna get out on the dance floor for The Time Warp.
An ominous message sure to get all of them out there together.
What's Flash going to do, throw the punch bowl at them?
I'm hoping for an encore performance.
Guess this friendship...
is black magic.
Eh ... I think you mean, pacifyingly? Trixie isn't talking like an ocean.
If this universe's Discord has power, I bet he and Pinkie will be great friends.
Yeah, but if you're whole, you can be Hell
boygirl and whoop Moony's ass.Kind of my own personal fantasy but it would've been amazing to read her and Moondancer in a one on one fight, Fast and Furious 7 ending type stuff, anyone else with me on this?
Bulk and Ditzy? Eh, I ship it.
Seems like when Sunset returned from the soul lock she lost her ability to feel emotions like love and anger.
It's still bad Sci twi,
Reminds me of how it was for her everfree ball look in legend of everfree.
Seems like lamia was demon Shimmer aka scarlet inferno all along. I actually saw that coming ngl.
Good timing.
Question answered where it went but not what I was expecting.
Well it sure was a shocker for the girls to learn the truth moondancer was hiding and we now know where sunset's spark went and who has it. Let's hope this will be fixed and things go back to the way they should be.