(and violent
)Mis Cast · 9:22pm May 20th, 2016
By popular demand, here is my entry for the 2016 Everfree Northwest Iron Authors competition.
It is in it's raw, unedited for for the authentic 'made in 2 hours on a cell phone' experience'.
Enjoy.
“Good morning, Sunset.” Celestia sits calmly at the Cafe Du Prance’s table, a teacup sit’s on the table before her. I had expected Twilight to be with her, but apparently she had something else to do. The absence of guards also puts me a little off as well. I would have expected at least a token escort, tough I guess Ponyville does have a castle just down the block now. “Won’t you join me?” She gestures to a floor pillow with a hoof.
“Of course, Princess.” I approach cautiously, sitting on the offered pillow and pouring myself some tea. It's a little strange being a pony again after being in a human body for so long it, I have to sit differently and the lack of fingers, not to mention walking on all fours, feels a little nostalgic. A waiter approaches the table and waits for my order. I haven’t seen any menus around, so I assumed it'll be regular canterlot fair. “Um, fruit plate and a scone please.” He nods and walks back towards the kitchen.
Celestia adjusts her position and smiles. It has been a while since I’ve spoken with her, but something about this smile strikes me as strange. “I trust you had a pleasant trip?”
I take a sip of tea and nearly spit it out, it’s not terrible tea, but far below castle standard. “It was short notice, but I’m here. You said you had something important to discuss?”
“Indeed!” There’s that smile again. There’s something in her voice too, but I just can't tell what. “Tell me, Sunset. Have you an interest in returning to Equestria?”
That’s a strange question to ask after all that’s happened on my side of the mirror these past years. “Not particularly, why?”
The waiter brings out the food and places it on the table. The fruit looks fine, but the scone looks a little more like a muffin. “Thank you.” I nod and he scampers off gain. I turn back to celestia. “Why would you want me back anyway?”
With another wrong smile she takes a sip of tea, lifting the cup with her hooves instead of magic. “equestria is always in need of strong protectors, and in light of some recent events you're likely unaware of, I feel you would be a valuable asset to the country.”
I’m done with this charade. To much is wrong, that can’t be Celestia. My horn flashes with light, the antimagic pulse quickly filling the room. Before me, in the place of celestia, sits a tall crooked creature. Hard black chiton glistens in the dying fairylight that once mimicked the sun. It laughs, a hideous, cloying sound. “It seems I have underestimated you, little pony. But that’s just fine. You won't get far.”
I bolt out the door. The blue sky had been replaced by utter blackness. The buildings of the town are beginning to melt like wax on a stove. The once cobbled stone is nothing but the rough stone of a well worn cave. And the ponies, every pony that once inhabited this pale mask of a town has turned to bugs, much like the thing that is not Celestia, but smaller. In one vast, buzzing swarm they come at me
I can’t safely teleport without knowing where I am where I am, and I have no chance of fighting this many, no matter how good I am. I cast a shield and the first few bounce off, but they just keep coming, chipping away at the barrier. I need to think fast. What can I do, I need to get out of here. A gravity boost could hold them for a while, but I don't know how long I’d have to maintain it. I could try jumping a few minutes back in time, but then I'd just be stuck here twice. Wait, the book in the forbidden knowledge section on Canterlot Library had a passage on spell reversal. Could I apply that to the time spell to forward instead of back?
A loud crack echoes off the unseen ceiling, my shield is failing. I need to go now. I gather as much mana s i can and pour it into the time reversal spell. White hot sparks begin flying from my horn in a shower of desperate hope. Just as the spell finally takes form my shield falls and I gather it’s spent magic into the reversal. My head spins sickeningly as the magic switches polarity and spin, running counter to my horn channel. The world goes white.
My head's still spinning when I come to. My eyes open slowly. I find myself on my side and stand. All around me I see images of equestria, most of them involve me in some way. In some I see my friends and the princesses scouring equestria as ponies looking for me. I see those black things invading canterlot high and taking over the minds of the entire world. I see my mirror being smashed to pieces to contain the scourge.
Then I hear a voice. “Hello, Sunset Shimmer.” I spin on my hooves and see Twilight Sparkle walking towards me, but she’s nearly as tall a Celestia and her main flows in the aether wind. Broad wings sit restlessly at her sides and she frowns. “You have been gone for quite some time. I've missed you.”
“How long?” I almost don't want an answer, but I need to know.
“One thousand years.”
A certain writer is being a bit too modest by not mentioning that this story won an Honorable Mention for its Interesting Premise.
3973326 Oh ya.
I also forgot to mention that I'm on Patreon now. Tell your friends!