Betrayal
Sunset had just finished writing her message to Princess Twilight Sparkle when her hasty barricade of file cabinets, an oak desk and the hallway door blew apart in a flood of magical fire. The force of the explosion sent her flying; flooding the area with dust and debris. As Sunset’s body collided with the wall she felt several of her mechanically reinforced bones snap. Splattered on the wall like a bug on a windshield Sunset could only stare through the dust choked air to where her salvation had rested, its pedestal nothing but ash and splinters; the journal missing. Then gravity resumed its hold on her and she fell to the ground with a thud. Sunset’s vision faded in and out as she struggled to maintain consciousness.
The pain and discomfort was shoved to the back of mind as her face was covered in a cold shadow. Struggling, Sunset went to look up but hissed in pain as her broken bones protested, in truth there was no need for her to look up into the sorrowful violet pupils because she knew who it was.
“Twilight-”
“-No. That girl is dead. My name is Mid-” The cruel puppeteer took a savory yet sad breath. “-My name is Midnight Sparkle…now.”
Despite Midnight’s gleeful expression the heartbreak that flowed with her doleful admission was clear to Sunset. But she had to know, she had to make sure. And so she started to sing. At first the lyrics were broken and listless as she struggled against her screaming injuries in order to recount the half-remembered words she spoke so long ago.
“N- Now... I know… Now I know…”
Sunset shook her head as the words faded as the feeling of her laboring heart echoed in her head. As Sunset seemed to forget the words, her former friend twitched then picked up the song. She sung it as if it were the first time and her words held emotions beyond scorn and hate, she sounded just like she used to...
“I used to think that stories were just that
“Set in stone, concrete as a fact
“It didn't dawn on me
“That I could change history”
As Twilight's words filtered through Sunsets broken mind they mended and healed some cracks bringing forth forgotten memories and Sunset fought through the pain.
“Now I know I'm writing my own song
“Fight my way to the ending that I want
“I'll turn a tragedy”
They locked eyes and for once in the last ten years each held an inner warmth as they sung together, their melodies overlapping; melodies intertwining; bringing back buried memories and reviving dead ones.
“Into an epic fantasy
“You can be a hero (hero) too
“Oh-oh-oh
“Take my hand, I'm here for you
“Come away with me
“Be the legend you are meant to be
“Somewhere's a-”
Twilight’s voice faded out but Sunset continued.
“-Somewhere’s a book
“With it’s… chapters…”
The sound of heavy breathing broke Sunset’s concentration. Looking over she could see the raggedly clothed form of Twilight Sparkle rocking back and forth on the ground with her burned and pockmarked arms wrapped around her sparking mechanical legs. Just over the crackling sound of fire and settling rubble Sunset could make out her friends frantic whispers.
“-Always be there for you.”
“-get used to it.”
“-So simple.”
“-embrace the magic… make it a part of you...”
Sunset tried to sing again but her voice cracked letting loose a high pitched yelp as her body involuntarily shifted towards Twilight. Sunset let out a desperate plea.
“Twi-”
“-You!”
Sunsets vision was suddenly filled with purple sparkles as she felt her bones snap back into place, the sound made her sick to her stomach. But Midnight Sparkle did not care as she dragged Sunset over the rubble. Coming to a halt Sunset could see the flow of magic from Midnights unblemished arm coalescing in her outstretched palms. But Sunsets gaze was drawn into the misty teal pools that were Midnight’s eyes.
“Where is the journal Sunset?” The demon asked.
Sunset ripped her gaze away from Sparkle’s eyes and reeled back, refusing to give her captor the satisfaction of an answer. That was a mistake. Sparkle leaned forward and wrapped her left hand around Sunset's throat forcibly activating her magical power.
Sunset felt the familiar tingle of magic as the urge to use her power flooded her senses. She fought it, resisted it but Midnight Sparkle poured even more magic into her Sunset, forcing a connection open. At last, after a few scant seconds of struggling, Sunset’s defenses broke and her mind was carried away on the tides of her magic.
“Su-t… Sunset… Sunset!”
“Bwah!”
Sunset lept out of her bed and started swinging, her frantic efforts paid off, her attacker fell to the floor with a ‘thud’ and a pained cry. Opening her eyes Sunset widened her stance in preparation of another assault, that assault would not happen because the body that was sprawled out on the floor before her was Twilight Sparkle. Gasping, Sunset quickly realised her error and knelt down to help her fallen friend. Tapping Twilight on the shoulder Sunset got a moan and a mumble in response.
“Sunny… you hit really hard.”
Cringing, Sunset drew back, “Sorry Twilight, i- it’s just with everything that’s happened recently I um- well…” She trailed off embarrassedly but Twilight picked up the slack from her position on the floor.
“Heh, yeah. With everything that’s happened we should all be wary.” Smirking, Twilight continued. “Buuut… since you put me down here in the first place how about you help me up?”
Looking at Twilight’s smirk Sunset took a step back.
“You have a plan floating around in that big head of yours, don’t you.”
Twilight face lit up like a cherry as she smiled embarrassedly and curled a lock of hair around her pointer finger.
“Maaaybe…” Twilight drawled innocently. “But if you don’t help me up, you’ll never know.”
Sunset snorted and took a step forward offering a helping hand.
“Fine, I’ll play your ga- mee!”
Twilight took Sunset’s hand pulling herself up and sweeping Sunsets legs out from under her at the same time. The duo fell to the floor in a tangle of sweaty limbs and pained groans. With a victorious smirk on her face Twilight gloated.
“Gotcha Sunbutt.” Then poked Sunsets tanned face with a sharp fingernail. Sunsets dazed look broke, only to be replaced by a smolderingly smug grin.
“No Twily. I. Got. You.”
With each word Sunsets mouth descended closer and closer to Twilights and just as Sunset locked lips with the woman of her dreams everything shattered. Suddenly Sunset found her stomach in her throat and her vision blurring as a choking feeling came over her. She smelled the soft lilac shampoo of Twilights hair and the cloying scent of burning rubber. She felt the soft brush of Twilights lips against her own and the prickling feeling of magic dancing over skin. But what she saw shattered the last vestiges of her dreams. The searing teal pools of Midnight Sparkle gazed softly into Sunsets own. The everything returned with the weight of a freight train.
Twilight had been the traitor. Twilight had been- had been-
“-Poor, poor Sunset Shimmer,” Midnight Sparkle cooed as she lifted a tear from Sunsets face. “How does it feel knowing that she gave me this power. That your precious little Twilight Sparkle gave up; that she betrayed you?” Midnight whispered as she brushed her lips against Sunsets right ear. “How do you feel knowing that I’m back in this monster’s body?”
Drawing her head back, Sunset gathered spit in her mouth then shot it into Midnights leering face. It stopped an inch away from Midnights left eye. A disappointed look crossed over her face and she sighed. Lifting Sunset higher up with her left hand Midnight Sparkle showed Sunset what hung in her right; a stylised purple amulet, an open amulet which Sunset hadn’t seen since the Friendship games. Her eyes widening, Sunset struggled to escape Midnights grasp, but the captor wouldn’t have it.
Tightening her grip on Sunset's throat Midnight throttled Sunset into submission. Once the struggling had subsided Midnight held the amulet up to Sunsets face and watched as the captive girls eyes widened in recognition.
“Dear oh dear ... Twilight was a much more amusing pet than you.”
Sunset tried to choke something out but stopped as Midnight tightened her grip. Midnight Sparkle chuckled upon seeing the light of despair in Sunsets eyes.
“Sunset Shimmer. Brave, heroic Sunset Shimmer broken at last.” Midnight cackled. As her harsh laughter died a cruel light grew in her teal eyes. Leaning in to Sunset she whispered.
Did you know, that when this whole conflict started, when that young ‘terrorist’ sent Manehattan and all its inhabitants to the bottom of the ocean, Twilight turned first to me not to you?”
Midnights ecstatic grin grew as she beheld Sunsets shocked look. Chuckling, she continued,
“That’s right Sunset, little Twily turned to me and and guess what she asked- no… guess what she begged me to do.-” Sunset said nothing. Midnight smirked. “- that naive little girl wanted me to stop the wars, to stop the conflicts, to stop the hate… Do you know what she said to me? She said that she would give me anything I wanted if I could end the conflict. Do you know what I wanted in order to end this conflict? Magic. All the magic. But you…” Midnight Sparkles eyes clouded as anger took hold. “You took it all away from us!”
With that final damning statement, Midnight Sparkle forced the reconstructed amulet against Sunsets stomach.
“And now, I will get it all back!” The putrid scent of burning clothing and flesh quickly filled the air alongside Sunsets screams. The amulet glowed brighter and brighter as it drew out Sunsets magical energy, her magical power. The torture lasted for mere moments but for Sunset it seemed to last for hours. When the amulet had sucked Sunset dry Midnight Sparkle released Sunset but kept the girl suspended.
Taking a step forward Midnight raised her right hand, gathered magic to it then whipped it down; the air shimmered at her hands passing. A second later the ancient throne room of the Crystal Empire shimmered into view. Taking a step into the portal Midnight savoured the feeling of Equestrian Magic then looked back at Sunset Shimmer and said with a dreadful finality,
“She hates you.”
Sunset could hear Midnight’s harsh chuckles even after she disappeared through the portal. A couple of minutes went by then Sunset’s magical suspension dissipated and her body loosely dropped to the floor stirring up concrete dust and shifting some debris. The only thing she could do was cry, and cry she did.