The Siren's Remorse

by TheronSniper

Ch. 29 A Flash of Sunset

Ch. 29 A Flash of Sunset

Canterlot Royal Library 6 A.M.

"I've reorganized and reshelved every book case in the entire archive and I still cannot find that BOOK!" Twilight snorted as her mind began to fry from overthinking anywhere the enchanted journal could be.

With a mane disheveled and stray hairs on her tail poking out, she looked like a whole other mare from the one the adepts came in with. Both of whom kept to themselves while the Princess of Friendship went about her fruitless search, though they needed no one to tell them in her state it was best to not even register. The famous mare had been the type to cause as much chaos as Discord himself, with a few of her less proudest moments before her ascendance affecting a whole town. It took the Princess to undo the damage and bring her back to sanity.

"Twilight, I am fairly certain its been misplaced and quite possible the castle staff have found it and placed it in my sisters study. There is no need to panic at a time like this when we have enough to work with." Luna advised as she placed a comforting wing on the lavender alicorn.

"So much for getting along..." Spectrum murmured just low enough the princesses couldn't hear, only Lapis who shrugged as she reviewed a Starswirl note that pertained to portal generation.

"You don't understand, if something's happened over there and she's been sending me crucial data or warnings or even calls for help that I've been missing! I'm letting them down by staying here and ignoring them because I don't have the book!!" Sparkle raved as her wings fluttered in agitation.

Knowing words were little use when the young mare became consumed like this, she took a hint from her sister just in case something had similarly happened. With a mental note to thank Celestia later, Luna grasped Twilight's face with her hooves and forced her erratic eyes to meet hers. Using the same look she gave a wayward noble or a frantic dreamer caught in a nightmare, she gave a mighty glare that conveyed both a demand for silence and a sense of care.

Suddenly she stopped twitching and arguing, "YOU are doing what you must remember that, in all my years on this world evil never leaps at a seconds notice to ruin all. Evil takes time as a chess game would, any acts committed are small and mere stepping stones for the next. You must have faith in Sunset Shimmer to handle any issues that arise on her side, or lest you become the pull pin to a mana bomb."

Letting her hooves fall from Sparkle and smiling, "As a future ruler, you have to trust your commanders and captains of the guard to serve their duty without you having over their shoulders. I believe we are both in agreement of what Sunset is quite capable of even by herself. She's not alone either, the mirror versions of your friends exist alongside who will help defeat whatever villain arises. Your book will show up eventually, but right now... I believe we have other pressing matters at hoof."

The bit of wisdom sank in, having the same effect as if her mentor were right there before her not scolding her but guiding the train wreck she had been roaring into. A few embarrassing memories surfaced as she realized error of her path, responding to Luna with a blushing smirk as she bowed her head.

"I'm sorry Princess Luna, I just got so worked up losing the only way I can talk to her without taking frequent trips back to the castle and going there myself. I have to be here and not waste time, but I guess I let myself go overboard and ignore the very words I spoke to Vibrant and Lapis." she admitted while stroking her mane to fix the rouge strands.

"Well i must conclude that after so long of a night, I must be off to lower the moon soon. I suggest we call it for the day and rest up for our return. A mystery cannot be solved with a weakened mind, so seek the Royal Bath and relax. You of us all deserve it the most after what you've done time and again." Luna looked to her as her friend and an equal, giving no leeway for the pony to escape the offer.

Sensing the coming end of their session, the adepts packed up their work stations and organized for their return. When the moon needed to fall, it would be the Princess's time for sleep even if she could stay up for days on end without issue. Of course them themselves needed a nap and food too, being regular unicorns meant they had no perks to rely on. Lapis bookmarked the last page she read with a ice blue ribbon, it covered a reasonable theory on forced portal access through the use of powered capacitor crystals. Something she thought should be addressed about the mirror in the Castle of Friendship since it was well known that she never took on her own guard nor any of the Solar or Night for protection.

Spectrum seemed disinterested in the little drama behind him, having had his eyes on a Reneighssance era study of non-pony magical artifacts. Only able to go through half of the documents, it seemed the mages back then came across a few specimens from species beyond the borders which yielded immense amount of magical energies. One of which led to the creation of the Alicorn Amulet if he understood the phrasing right, a commission from the Prance King Phthalo Palissade by a mage guild whose materials were recovered after a Germane inquisition picked up on the dark magic at work. The amulet disappeared before the academy had been surrounded and ransacked for the artifact, which it would turn up later on a rival of Princess Sparkle. There were much more to go through and the creatures that used the items, but a yawn and weary eyes had his body calling for bed.

"I did spend nine hours just sorting the archive for the book... guess I've lost too much time anyways. I'll consider the rest Princess Luna, but I have to find Princess Celestia to see if indeed one of the maids found it and placed it back in her study room." she dashed off before Luna could say anything else.

"That stubborn mare, reminds me so much of Celestia when she was younger..." thoughts of her youth popped up for a moment, "Doth thou wisheth to have our dinner with us? As overseer thou must relinquish all that hath been learned."

Feeling the pervasive sight upon them, the two adepts assumed position and spoke as one, "In service to the crown and to the future of harmony, we shall join you Princess of the Night."

"I found a unique article on what may lead me closer to understanding what the siren stone is capable of through examples from other beings. You'll want to see it too." Spectrum announced as the two rose from the bow.

Lapis looked up and nodded, "Coincidentally, I found a forced entryway into existing portal spells, it may paint a picture of what we fear might happen that has been tested before."

Using her regal air, "Success young mages, you do your department honor. Shall we be on our way out then?" she gestured with a wing and turned to leave.

Sparkle had left the three early with a mission to find Celestia, she would heed Luna's advise and rest after she confirmed the books location. Perhaps even ask the girls to come over and visit her, she could spend a day sleeping and the next catching up with them. A short breather would be good, and she did not want to risk upsetting Luna by diving back into her rather perturbed state.

With a short farewell to the Night Commanders, she trotted into the winding halls to head straight to where she'd likely find the solar diarch. Half an hour after the raising of the sun, she'd be having her morning tea before the start of the day meal in the royal dining room. Surely she'd be able to see her then and let her into the study for a quick search?

A few maids were milling about watering potted plants and opening long drapes to permit the daylight inside. Wearing black clothing with white lacing as the standard attire for service ponies and cleaners. An occasional Night Guard standing at attention before their day counterparts arrived to replace them, their dull blue and purple colored armor polished to a shine and ready for combat at a drop of a hat. All whom she passed by gave her a salute before resuming their stoic monitoring for saboteurs.

Candle lanterns which lit the corridors flickered as the flames burned the oil fuel the wick sat in. The shadow of the base wavered from the magical enchantment which cycled fresh air throughout the palace, giving an animated feeling to the many pieces of furniture and paintings that dotted her journey. How many times had she been through the area since she had been taken under Celestia's wing as her prized student?

'Should I bother her about the book? Maybe I should just take a sneak peak and see if its not on the desk or anywhere obvious first?' Twilight considered the notion as the dining room drew closer.

Two guards flanked the doors to the room, looking to her once she reached six hoof steps away. Greeting them formally, they saluted her before returning to their ever aware state of their station.

"Pardon me, but I'm looking for Princess Celestia is she inside yet?" she smiled warmly.

"Sorry your highness, she's still in the process of preparation before raising the sun. Today she has not woken up early." one of the golden armor clad soldiers replied with his eyes glued ahead.

"Oh... well I guess I'll check back in a moment then." her body twisted around to head off in another direction.

'Guess that study room is next then. I had hoped she rose early for a refreshment before the ritual. Had my hopes up too high.' she thought as she ventured to find the personal library to quench her thirst to solve the problem at hand.

Canterlot High: Second level hallway

It had been half an hour into the current class period, and outside Sunset's classroom stood the two head officials and a couple of the girls who she was allowed to call over. With Ms. Brilliant and Mrs. Betsy, the teachers who were there to witness the incident talking to Principle Celestia, Sunset waited off to the side against the wall with Pinkie Pie and Applejack. Her friends were consoling her as best as they could out of her shock of the attack, they seen the damage that was done and the trail of something huge carving through part of the school, up the stairs, and on the door that saved her life.

"Ah just can't believe it?! You know?" she said in disbelief.

"I know! It's like the legendary 47 layer devils canyon cake that only the best bakers in the whole world could ever dream of making!" the hyperactive teenager raved on as she rubbed the still quivering girl's back.

"Looks like we have something to go off on, but iff'n ah believe what is true then her life is in more danger now." Applejack felt the floor with her boots on the jagged claw marks.

Pinkie frowned for a moment seeing Sunset was still in such a state, "Some huge meanie put a bad juju on her and she doesn't deserve it at all! When I find them I'm going to give those baddies the biggest party cannon blast, they'll be out of it for weeks!" to which she then hugged her troubled friend who leaned into it.

"The problem is, it's in Sunset and ah'm not sure how we're suppose ta help her without Twilight to take her spot so we can power play the hex or whatever outta her. When we pony up we need one of them to I don't know... focus our powers into that beam to undo all this! Question remains now is if we can get the princess here in time before it happens again." the farm girl walked up to the two and knelt down.

Looking at the traumatized girl, she saw what looked exactly like the same kind of face a young bull rider has when they nearly bite the bullet. Staring into the eyes and horns of those massive bovines who could stomp you and ruin your body, it does something to a person that if they don't face the fear soon. The rider's career never goes beyond the one failed ride, they just quit.

The principle and vice principle had concluded their findings for the insurance company, Luna being the one to take the photos. Celestia dismissed the instructors to their classes and made her way to the girls after finalizing the paperwork on the clipboard in her hand. This would be the third magical incident, though luckily this particular only made it the second one to do damage and costs in repairs. However, seeing as this one dealt with the well being of a student, she took it upon herself to deal with it. Her shoes softly clacked on the floor, crunching the bits and debris from the little rampage that dirtied the surface.

She too knelt by Sunset to get to eye level and gave the best comforting appearance she could, "I know your still recovering Shimmer, but when you can I'll need to know everything about what led up to this. From what I learned, it revolves around you and I've been watching you since the Dazzlings were stopped from their little... attempted conquest. As principle of Canterlot High I cannot sit by idly when one of you are in such a danger. Come to my office when you're able, my door is always open to you as is Luna's."

Her eyes beheld a very shaken young woman, she had not shed a tear but the spirit had been rattled. It pained her to see such a state in any of her students as she always strived to create an environment for all to benefit and feel safe in. She was no regular bystander principle who'd just brush things under a rug, she'd never risk the health of any student even if they were from a strange world of magic and monsters. Though an answer was not spoke, Sunset gave her a tremoring smile and nodded as Applejack grasped her hands and rubbed them to help bring her out of the stunning aftereffects.

Seeing as there was little else to be said, Celestia rose up and bid them goodbye. Luna remained for a little longer to finish photographing the stairs and further down the first floor, though she had little to offer herself that the principle already said.

"Sunset, you have our full attention no matter how difficult the future gets. We won't let ya get eat'n up by some demon thing only you can see, why... we'll pony up and shield you if we have to!" the cowgirl chuckled and received a good reaction with.

"Ya, I'll bring over some of Ms. Cake's best bear claws and the latest coffee we got on the house for you. It'll taste so amazing you'll never even feel down ever again!" Pinkie jumped in hoping to help.

Rather than a simple reply, the two were brought into an embrace which surprised them at first until they heard their friend say, "Thanks."

"Ain't no problem there sugar cube, besides Granny Smith wouldn't forgive me if I ever left a friend to the wolves. Now come on and let's get ya something to drink. The Vice principle gave us a pass to miss class to help you, said she wouldn't be able to imagine such a giant beast that was capable of doing what it did and surviving herself." the three slowly rose, hearing how erratic Shimmer's breathing sounded.

Shimmer nodded again and the trio set off to the nearest vending machine, both girls having a hand on her shoulder as a reassurance that they'd be on guard for her. Though she knew that the shadow dragon only appeared when she was alone and away from them, with the hex on her the girls could only act as a deterrent and not really ever face it. This was a waking nightmare as Discord put it, they'd need to break it to solve her situation and they had only magic. There were two ways to undo curses like the type she figured was what she had, although hoping her assumption was true as doubt always creeped around.

In order to find the answers she'd need one of the girls with her to protect the process of accessing the librarium again. Being alone meant the nightmare could pop up at anytime before she fell asleep, possibly the only safe haven for her. The only one who'd fit the bill would be Pinkie since she had done so in the past, that and her bubbly nature often upset the negative emotions the curse often brought with it. That plan felt solid as steel to her, and that set into motion her pursuit to rid herself of the mark before it became even worse.

After the final class of the day, Sunset texted the girls to let them know that she'd gone without another attack. By then a contractor had arrived and began taking in the damages, listing the materials his men would need to patch up the stairwell, the floor, and scarred walls. Flash had just appeared as she observed the rather ordinary man who measured the claw marks at the foot of the stairs.

"Yo Sunny! Can you believe what happened? They said some kind of ghost vandalized the school, can you believe it? Gotta be another villain you girls will send off after a laser been of friendship huh?" he chuckled oblivious to the truth of the scene the two of them looked to as a few students were filtering out of the school to head home.

Keeping her eyes stilled to the destruction her own nightmare caused, "Ya... I can believe it. I was there when it happened."

"Your not hurt are you?! What happened?" he turned to the girl eager for an answer, stopping himself from looking over her personally for a caste or bandages.

She sighed and closed her eyes as if to relive the event, "That same thing that paralyzed me... and you two found me in that catatonic state. Same thing happened again only this time it had some form of physical manifestation of contact points with this reality. I could have... it could have..."

He watched helplessly as she brought her hands to her face and rubbed, trying to forces everything she felt from terror to worry and anger to exhaustion. She'd never felt so scared in her life even when she was reformed by Princess Twilight, the thought of being eaten by that curse. Her mind still could not wrap itself around how it even gained any solid tangibility when it was nothing but a dream twisted around. Though she had to give it to Discord himself, who was likely watching from afar and enjoying the show as if it were a matinee.

"Do you want to hold off on the dinner then? I'm sure Rose will understand." he offered as his left arm curled around her shoulder in comfort.

She stammered out an exaggerated sigh as if cold water fell upon her and took a deep breath, "No, I think it'll be best if I'm around someone. It seems only to appear when I'm alone and takes advantage of sowing fear that way, probably anchoring itself with my emotional state. I really need a break anyways..."

With her head leaned into his body, "If Princess Twilight were here she'd be able to solve this... with me affected we can't even use the magical bond we share. We'd just hit ourselves and I don't even want to know what that might do."

Troubled by not knowing what to say he fell on the only reasonable choice of words he could think of, "Probably for the best, you could lose your magic or something like in those movies where the good guys hit themselves when the bad guy redirects their attack. I'm sure Twilight will come to your help soon, have you tried going through yourself?"

She lifted her red yellow locks off of him and turned away, "I'm... afraid to go back."

"Why is that? I'm sure you'd be more welcomed than any of us, a human on the other side." he raised a questioning eye brow.

"I... left home for a reason, there's someone or somepony I don't want to see again." Sunset wanted to avoid talking about her old mentor as best as possible.

Her shame for descending so low as to become a demon for power and control, having sought it out and proved Celestia right about her worry of her goals. It was not that she didn't want to hear the alicorn say she had been right all along, nor did she think she'd be imprisoned for what she'd done to a princess and tampered with magic. The true reason had become what else would Princess Celestia say about her that would somehow predict her next mistake, some big error she'd never realized would be the future path of hers. As hard as she'd been trying to make it up to everyone and prove she was a good hearted soul now, what if she was trying too hard or not enough? Was she going to relapse into grief? Attempt to fix everything and only make it worse? It felt like the solar goddess would be able to see into her soul and fault her for it, like she would become the alternate version of Twilight and never do good. It hurt to feel like she had no home to go back to, that this world was hers now to make something of herself, but the potential felt so empty.

"Hey... you don't need to say anymore if it hurts. I can't blame you for feeling like that, my parents and I are kinda... familiar with it too." he took a few steps to move in front of her so she'd see him.

"You... do?" she asked in a near whisper, her eyes feeling a little watery.

"I use to have a huge family from my mothers side. It all happened when I was a kid, but her father had divorced and remarried. So that put a bit of a rift between my grandparents, which when he developed lung cancer from the factory he worked at. My grandmother did not take kindly to my mother helping him even as he was stuck to a gurney with machines, all those hoses and tubes in his own home. Mother did all she could to help him anyways while none of my other aunts and uncles did a single thing. It... took a turn for the worse when one of them needed cash." he looked to the nearest wall which held a glass display shelf with the trophies of the Wondercolts past victories.

The glinting gold and silver awards with pictures and certificates adorned the pride of Canterlot High, each year a new one had to be added thanks to Rainbow Dash and her dogged determination. Of course as Sunset looked to the shelf as well, never a single prize for the Friendship Games in all those years the trophies dated back. It seemed to hit something inside Flash as she gazed upon them, as if they had some similarities to his life in one way or another.

"That's terrible..." he nodded to her comment.

"Mom and dad were getting ready to move here from Wisconsin, we were already hit hard by the costs of moving, getting a new house, and their new jobs. So when she called upon the debt, and not even aggressively. Gran took her anger out on her and told her why she dared to ask her own family of that, but I believe she just wanted an excuse to vent on her for helping grandad. So the whole family basically disowned us, and we took care of grandad till his last days... waiting to move until he was buried... and shortly then we had to bury my step grandmother as well." she could see in his face how tired he was of the memory, as if he felt all he could a long time ago and now feeling little else for the story.

"I'm so sorry for your lose." her hand hesitantly but surely went for his in empathy.

"I never want to ever go back to my home state, we're happy here with my dad's side of the family. They own a shop here and a large ranch close to Applejacks raising cattle and horses, they've always been kind to us and helped when we needed. Done a heck of a lot more than her family ever did. But that's all in the past..." his hand squeezed hers as he let the memories flow off his mind like water.

"Sometimes... we can not forgive for various reasons or we're just to afraid to deal with the origins of the problem." her eyes stared at his hand that gently clasped hers, "Your right though, what's in the past is gone. We have our futures to make and our own problems to solve ourselves."

The two stood in the hallway ignoring the looks from the few students who passed by them still, most observing questioningly with still lips. Though what few still remained happened to be Applejack and Rarity who excused themselves aside the contractor who had since moved up to the second level to inspect the damaged guardrails. The two had been discussing the latest tests coming up when taking their first steps down and seeing the little moment being shared by the two below.

"My word! I can't believe it, am I seeing that right?" Rarity scoffed and an embellished astonishment.

"Now see here Rars, Sunset's been through enough already. If she and Flash want a speck of time to themselves, who are we to step on their picnic? Besides its not like their dating again like you seem to think is happening." she turned to glare at her country girl compatriot.

"I just worry about our group dynamics that's all! Have you seen what happens to..." she tried to defend herself before a staunch hand stopped her abruptly.

"I know very well, as big as mah family is you don't think we've had our fair share of men and women troubles? Our family ain't big as it is without some turmoil, but it works itself out in the end. Life's not all like those shows and novels you drown your free time in." she chuckled as they continued down.

"Why I never!? Fine, have it your way but when Princess Twilight comes and heartbreak occurs, don't come crying to me." she threw her hands up into the air like the diva she tended to be with romance topics.

"Come on and let's head the other way, those two probably need to be left alone without you judging them for being good friends." Applejack led the way to the left of the stairs to the west exit hall.

Oddly enough, Flash and Shimmer did not pick up on the two in their little argument. Having a deep connecting talk put much on their weary spirits, and they seemed content to look at the reflective surfaces of the precious metal cups and statues. For her, they reminded her of Celestia's regalia of gold and jewels, the pony she knew and nothing more but a ruler who tried to teach her the rights and wrongs. As for the boy, the trophies were a reminder of the sunny days he use to spend with his grandfather and second grandmother in their backyard picking golden chinese plums while listening to rock music on the radio. The delicious jams he use to make with them as a kid, and feeding some to their little dogs that slept around the house more often than they were awake.

The only thing to bring them out of their reminisce was the phone call from Rose Luck on Sunset's phone, shaking the two of them as she brought out her flat device. Surprisingly the screen showed a series of texts she missed from accidentally putting the little miniature computer on vibrate and the time that now put them forty five minutes after the last bell.

"Rose Luck? I'm soo sorry for missing your messages, I'm with Flash at school do you want us heading over now?" she grinned feeling embarrassed at the mishap.

"As long as your okay, if you still want to come over mom's about done and ready to plate. I'll tell her to keep it warm for you?"

"Yes we'll be there, again sorry about that." she heard Luck dismiss the error and looked forward to their arrival.

As she stowed away the thin flat piece of metal and glass, "Guess we should head over now?" Flash looked to her with her hand still in his.

Smiling big and securing her grip on his, "Yes, let's go."