//------------------------------// // Chapter 24 - X3n0heart // Story: SunLight Sliders // by Amber Spark //------------------------------// Peaceful. The temptation to simply stay here with Twilight for the rest of eternity was beyond appealing. Just the two of them, together, forever. But that wasn’t in the cards. Traversing time and space was a fun and incredible experience, even if setting loose interdimensional beings of ultimate destruction was a small hiccup in their journey. Turning her attention back to Twilight, she pulled her in for what just might be their last kiss. A few moments later, Sunset stepped back while still holding onto Twilight’s waist letting out a soft, passionate sigh. “This is it, huh?” Sunset asked as she stared into those big violet eyes of hers. Twilight nodded as she replied. “To quote one of my best friends: ‘Eeyep’.” Both girls giggled at Twilight’s bad imitation of Applejack before returning to the silence of the grassy field, neither one of them really saying what needed to be said. Taking a deep breath, Sunset moved to stand next to Twilight and gave her a slight nod signaling that she was ready. Using the same spell Sparkle used to pull them from space-time both girls found themselves back in it, moving rapidly forward as if time itself were frozen and waiting for them to return. “There!” Twilight shouted as she spotted the crimson beam of light slamming into one of the violet orbs. The girls looked at each other, before immediately following after him. Landing in what seemed to be an exact replica of the grassy field they were just in, both girls had to take a moment to look around, wondering if Sparkle once more used Twilight’s magic to remove them from space-time. “So, it’s come down to this,” a deep voice called out to them as heavy hooffalls shook the ground underneath them. Quickly turning her attention behind them, Sunset spotted their prey. She glared up at him, a slight growl growing in her throat. “Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer,” Tirek gave a slight chuckle as he stepped forward looming over the girls like a menacing mountain, a look of hunger in his eyes. “You’re going back to Tartarus where you belong!” Twilight stated as she took a step forward. Reaching back she felt for Sunset’s hand and pulled her up next to her, interlocking their fingers together. “You know how many times I’ve heard that by now?” Tirek laughed as he looked down at the two girls, his tongue passing over his lips. “Oh, I do very much enjoy the magic you two give me.” Sunset’s hand shook slightly and she felt Twilight’s grip tighter around it, reassuring her. Together. Sunset closed her eyes momentarily and thought before a smile creased her lips. Looking back up at the monstrosity that Tirek had become, she repeated Twilight’s statement in a loud, confident voice. “You’re going back, and we’re going to stop you once and for all!” “You are certainly welcome to try,” he said. He slammed a hoof into the ground, cracking the very earth beneath them and sending the girls off balance. Sunset and Twilight took to the air on their empowered wings, still holding hands as they rose. Tirek’s eyes followed their motion. A single glance was all that was needed and the girls shot off in different directions and away from the surprised Tirek. “Not this time!” He only had time to react to one and apparently, he chose Twilight. Sunset watched his eyes narrow on the small object before her. All that stolen magic had given him more speed than Sunset could have imagined. There was a blur and materialized in front of Twilight, forcing her to pull back. Before she could react, a golden bubble popped into existence around Twilight before she could react. He smiled and pulled the cube away from her. “What’s this?” he asked as he held the tiny object between his large digits. “Probably something to help you capture me. It shall be consumed nonethe—” A beam of pure magic from behind cut off Tirek. Distracted by the cube and his intent to get revenge on Twilight, Tirek had apparently forgotten about Sunset. Still, he shrugged it off and with refocused attention on her. Tirek just smiled as she prepared another blast of magic. “Silly girl... I am beyond such attacks,” he stated as the beam from Sunset unleashed her magic at him. He caught it one hand and simply closed his fist, obliterating it as if were nothing more than scrap. He bellowed with laughter as he approached Sunset, each step making the ground shake. “I will consume you first as Twilight watches. The look on her face never gets old.” For a moment, Sunset felt a jab of fear and panic. All she could do was watch as Tirek crushed the cube into dust. Before she could react, he unleashed his own magical fire. The blast hit Sunset squarely in the chest, knocking her to the ground. After a few painful rolls on the soft grass, Sunset came to a stop on her back, her vision blurred as the large shadowy figure of Tirek loomed over her. She blinked a few times and her eyes drifted to Twilight on the other side of the field. “Sunset!” Twilight cried out as she tried to rip apart her prison with magic, but each attempt simply made the bubble around her stronger. Her eyes glistened, tears threatening to burst forth. Sunset could see her mind racing and for some reason, that made her smile. Sunset rolled over and slowly got up, her right hand holding the left side of her body as each breath brought forth a sharp pain. Not as bad as that roc, but I know he’s just toying with me. Think, Sunset, think… Her eyes darted all around her. As Tirek moved closer, she knew there was nowhere to hide. Not like that would matter to a being like Tirek. One thought came to her as she took to the air once more: The teleporter! Sunset’s reflexes were still slow from that blast and she had only a fraction of a second to brace herself against a suddenly looming shadow. The giant hand of Tirek slammed into her left side sending her flying through the air, once more rolling across the grassy field coming to a stop only feet away from Twilight’s prison. “Sunset...no…” All Twilight could do was watch as Tirek toyed with Sunset like an animal might with its food. Twilight knelt down in the golden bubble, and reached out to Sunset. Tirek’s laughter carried through the heavens like an approaching thunderstorm. Pushing aside the pain, Sunset raised her head up to look at Twilight. She tried to reach for her. Sunset could taste the blood as she managed to gasp two words through the pain. “The teleporter!” With that, her eyes closed, and she fell limp where she lay. Tears fell down Twilight’s cheeks as she pulled the device from her pocket. To her surprise, it was fully charged and ready. As she stood in her magic prison, Twilight only saw one thing. Tirek. Using the information that Sparkle gave her in conjunction with her own magic, Twilight pressed the button designed to track Tirek’s current location. Instantly, two portals opened: one within the bubble and another behind the approaching hulk of Tirek. She stepped through the portal. Twilight’s magic flared with an intensity unknown to her. The magic flowed all around as she felt all the rage and pain inside her increase it dramatically. Clutching at her emotions, she focused her entire being on the one who threatened Sunset. Her eyes glowed with a vibrant violet light. “Tirek! It’s time to finish this, now!”