Sunset shimmer opens her eyes. The dimly lit interior of their dorm greets her, her friends are all waking up. She pulls the book off of her covers and places it on the bed stand. She takes a moment to throw the covers off and sit up. She reaches forward and holds her head.
“You okay there, sugar cube?” Applejack asks gently.
Sunset nods, “I had a dream.” She’s able to mumble. She shakes her head the memories of the dream fading quickly, she sighs, “It was scary.” She mumbles.
"Aww, there ain't no need to fuss over 'em. We're in a strange place with strange people, I reckon we all had some mighty strange dreams." Applejack says with a smile before giving Sunset’s hair a tussle, "It's like mah old granny says, dreams can teach, and dreams can scare, but in the end they’re all just dreams we wake up from."
Sunset nods as she throws her covers off and stands up, she had taken a shower the night before, and dressing this morning is a simple affair. The school uniforms are not too uncomfortable, though she has found out something. She hates clothes. It’s been quite well expressed to her that humans need to wear clothing for inclement weather, though in the relative comfort of the castle, she doesn’t see the need. She sighs as she pulls the robe over her uniform. She turns around to see Rarity fussing over Rainbow Dash’s usual slovenly ways. That gets a grin from her as she joins her friends to head to breakfast.
Breakfast this morning isn't too bad, her time being a pony again, no matter how short, has messed with her stomach and food preferences a little. The bacon and other breakfast foods don't seem to cause her problems, though she does find her mouth watering at Applejack talking about the food at home. She’s had food at Applejack’s home several times, and she’s always happy to join the Apple family for a down home meal. Before too long, the post has arrived, and the girls troop off to their first class of the day.
Sunset looks at the doorway to the divination classroom, ponies don’t really have much magic to look into the future, though there are items like the legendary Crystal Heart which can give glimpses of possible destinies. It is also said that Celestia can see possible futures. And then there are the stories of Star Swirl, though some said he actually traveled though time to find out things, rather than merely having visions.
The humans don’t seem to know much about divination either, judging by her couple of times in this class. Their teacher doesn’t seem to have much abilities in foretelling, despite her words to the contrary. Sunset lets everything else wash over her as she gazes into the crystal ball before her. Colors wash over it as she watches, red, green, yellow, violet, purple, gray, black, all the colors flash within the ball. Slowly the mists inside the ball take form, a grey skull its mouth opening slowly as a serpent slithers out of it in a long s pattern. Deep in the skulls eyes though, there is more. Voices, smells, rotten wood and brimstone. Yelling.
“There are merely twenty of you!” The demonic ram screams. Sunset glances around, they are all in a large underground room. Those twenty men all stand before him, in identical robes. Their faces uncovered.
One of the others steps forward licking his lips, greasy hair dangling down around his head and sticking to his face.
Rubbing his hands, he smiles as he licks his lips reflexively. “Master, there are students that would be quite amenable to your cause with very little effort. We’ve already been successful with a few Slytherin, I'm certain more will join us with just a little incentive, a little taste of power. And there is always the teacher, Snape.”
"NO!" The white haired man snarls, "He has taken their side."
Licking his lips again the other man shakes his head, "Has he, or you simply dislike him for not taking better care in your son's training?"
"The school." Grogar smiles, "The equestrian is there, we will get her."
The scene shifts…
Grogar walks through Knockturn Alley. Four death eaters are walking with him, their wands out. Sunset follows them, the ram gestures at different mages. In response a wand is raised, and a muttered spell shoots forth. Those hit with the spell get a small smile as the move to join the growing number of those following the ram.
“This imperius curse is quite useful.” Grogar says, “We will gain more here, and wherever your dark mages congregate.” He stops, looking over his shoulder, “YOU!” He growls at Sunset.
“Agh!” Sunset screams as she draws on her magic, her hands glowing briefly as the ball is shot across the room.
Professor Trelawney comes up and puts a hand on her shoulder, “Sometimes the sight can bring about disturbing visions.” She says softly as she pulls out her wand. She mutters, “reparo” and the crystal reforms itself as it floats back towards sunset. As it settles into its base, the teacher moves on.
Sunset takes a long time, letting herself recover as she watches Twilight bring her own ball up. To Sunset’s eyes, the ball remains perfectly clear, but she watches as Twilight’s eyes turn white. Sunset leans forward a bit as she can see Twilight’s wand activate within her robes, glowing brightly as Twilight speaks her own prophecy. Sunset shakes her head, this isn’t some inborn vision, she’s using a spell, one she has never seen before. As the spell looses its grip on Twilight, the other girl slumps back, her energy drained for the moment.
Sunset looks back at Rarity, who has lost complete interest in the class, nothing of this is working for her. Sunset shakes her head and looks back at Twilight, who is panting softly as she regains her breath. Twilight back home is an alicorn, and they have magic that even the strongest of unicorns can’t match. Was this spell a manifestation of that magic? How close are these girls to the magic of their counterparts in Equestria?
She watches as Professor Trelawney moves to help another student, Sunset looks at the ball again, “I think I will try again. Maybe we can learn something about Grogar?” She picks up the ball with the black silk, staring through it. What she had seen before is fresh in her mind, if he’s strong enough to be out in public among the other mages, to influence them like that. They are in trouble.
A hand landing on her shoulder gets her to emit a sharp scream. She glances back at Twilight, who has a worried look on her face. “I was concentrating.” She’s able to grumble.
As Twilight explains her reasoning, Sunset agrees and puts the ball back on its stand. For a long time, as she watches, the ball remains clear. Obviously mocking her after her initial success. She hadn’t felt a pull at her magic as she used it before. She tries to pull on her magic, even though her wand stays safely in her robes. She shakes her head as a cold chill makes its way from her head to her toes. She takes a moment to grab her jacket and put it on. The comfort of the warm leather is short lived though as she continues to attempt to feel the magic again. Finally the class ends and Rarity comes up to help her up.
***
Sunset has to stare in wonder, in her conversations with Twilight in Equestria, she’s gotten to know some of what Twilight’s friends are capable of. Rarity has excellent fine control of her telekinesis. And Rarity here, seems to have the same abilities. Her friend is lost in the magic, picking up several things at once, and controlling everything individually. Her wand glows bright blue as she continues to work with simple things, like hot irons, and brushes, and various other cleaning appliances. Then Sunset gets a look on the faces of the other students. They aren’t here to stand out too much. She leans closer to her friend, “Rarity.” She whispers fiercely. But her friend is lost in the magic flowing through her. The teacher quickly steps in to stop her, and everything falls to the floor in a crash as Rarity loses a grip on her magic.
When Professor Flitwick moves away to help the other students, Sunset leans over to talk to Rarity, but is distracted by a candy bouncing off of her head. She looks down at the candy for a long moment, then over where it came from, Pinkie Pie is nearly vibrating at the entrance to the room. Sunset glances at the teacher, Rarity notices what is going on as well, she nods to Sunset with a knowing smile. Sunset slides out of her seat and quietly moves over to the door.
“I found something wonderful!” Pinkie says, pitching her voice low so the teacher doesn’t notice.
Sunset smiles, “What is it?”
“It’s a room. It has Equestrian stuff in it!” She hands Sunset a scroll.
Sunset unrolls the scroll enough to read the title, then she stops, looking up at Pinkie, “How did this get here?”
“Dunno, but you need to come and see.”
Sunset shakes her head, “We have classes, we have to keep up appearances right now.” She gives the scroll back to Pinkie and thinks furiously, glancing back at the teacher, finally she comes to a decision, “At the end of the day, show me where this classroom is. We’ll go and find out what is going on.” She glances back again, “I’ll see you at lunch.”
Pinky nods and skips away as Sunset makes her way back to her seat. A set of Equestrian battle spells, written by no less than Starswirl the Bearded? That’s impossible. There is no way this could actually exist in this world. The only portal from Equestria to this world is back home, in the United States. They are thousands of miles from the portal.
The teacher clears his throat, getting her attention. She glances at Rarity and pulls out her own wand, it’s time to get her head back into classwork.
***
Sunset puts her wand back in her robe, this potion is quite interesting. It takes a long time to make, and the effects of it are rather short lived. She had taken potions in Celestia’s school. Though much of them are far more complex than what she has to deal with here. Pinkie Pie sighs gratefully as she continues with her own cauldron. She keeps an eye on the teacher as they move their cauldrons to a large cupboard, Sunset takes a moment to write her name in flowing script on a small card to identify her work. She looks back at the teacher, they mentioned his name. Why did they do so?
She shakes her head as she starts working on the second potion of the day, a sugar concoction that is more in line with Pinkie’s talents. And in a matter of minutes, Pinkie is bouncing up with completed work. Sunset watches Snape as he evaluates the work. What is he up to? Is he a dark wizard? Would he fall under Grogar’s influence? They are now looking to have a presence in the school. But the only teacher mentioned is Snape. Sunset watches as Snape moves closer, checking on the other students. She hazards a quick glance at Pinkie, who is busy with her own work. The vision she had experienced in Divination is still hanging with her. She shakes her head and stands up. She ignores the looks of the other students as she goes into the potions closet.
She looks at the meticulously labeled ingredients, some are quite familiar to her, she was quite good at potion work back home. She grabs a vial, glancing at the label she puts it back. A small stoppered vial gets her attention, she pulls it out and smiles. The zebras had some really powerful magic in their potions. She grabs a second vial and puts it next to the first.
“You have your own potions work to be doing, Mizz Shimmer.” Comes the teacher’s voice in a slow drawl.
Sunset glances back then reaches up and grabs a third ingredient. She puts that down and closes her eyes, thumping her head with her hand, she’s nearly half way there. "How do you convert that... Just give me a moment, I need to do this." She turns back towards the ingredients looking up at the lists.
“With what you are taking, young lady, you would likely melt the mind of whatever poor soul you choose to inflict that concoction on.” He sneers.
“I’m not planning on giving it to anypony else.” She says absently, “I’ll be taking it myself.” She sets down a fourth ingredient, in a large beaker, “I need to know what is going on.” She picks up another vial, “I can’t lean on Twilight back home for help. I’ve got to do this myself.” She murmurs softly as she puts the vial back.
“That being said, far be it for me to get in the way of you harming yourself.” He starts as she slams down another ingredient. He looks at all she has gathered, “This is exceedingly dangerous.” She turns back and continues her search.
She nods, “I know, but if the spell is charged by an alicor…” her words stumble for a moment, she glances up at him, “An exceedingly powerful magic user. It can be used to view events of centuries, if not millennia before.” She looks down, “I only need a few days. This potion can help me save my friends lives. Save lots of lives.”
He looks at her, “Exactly how much potion work have you done, young lady?”
She whips out her wand, summoning the ingredients to fly through the air to her cauldron. She walks past him, only to be caught by his hand closing around her wrist, “This is not your personal time, young lady.” He sneers, “You need to work on your assignment.”
She jerks her arm away from him, “You don't understand! He’s gathered the Death Eaters.” She looks into his eyes, the pain and fear filling her own, “He is gathering more, converting more, it’s going to be a war. I see nothing but death and destruction because of him.”
He stops for a moment, looking back into the classroom, the students seem to be paying attention to their work, he looks back at Sunset, “I am well aware that the dark lord is coming. I am very well aware that this will bring another war. Your creature can’t do all that much. The Death Eaters will stop him.”
Sunset shakes her head, “Stop him? Stop him? I know about Grogar, they are already enslaved by him.” She looks at the busy students, “He’s controlling the Death Eaters and he’s using them to gather more. This has nothing to do with your Dark Lord.”
He leans down, his greasy hair flopping in front of his face as he hisses coldly, his eyes narrowing, “No creature from your world could do that, gather the Death Eaters.”
She looks up at him defiantly, “You would know, wouldn’t you?” she snarls as she reaches up and grips his left forearm, “I’ve done quite a bit of reading since I’ve gotten here. The Death Eaters talked about you by name in my vision.” She turns away, “I need to find out more. I am the Equestrian here. I am the only one who can do this.” She ignores tears starting to form in the corners of her eyes, “My friends, the mages here, all those that live here are in danger. You have to see that.”
He glances back into the classroom, then back at Sunset, “I don’t respond well to attempts at coercion. The headmaster is quite aware of the past, and of my allegiance is to him.”
She sniffs, “I don’t doubt that, Professor.” She turns away from him, folding her arms, “But as you are likely quite aware, he is out there. Even if you don’t believe me, I had some success in divination this morning. He is a creature of dark magic, of darkness, of chaos and death, he summons the dead to fight for him. And he wants me.” She can’t prevent her voice from shaking, remembering her vision in the crystal ball. “He wants anyone connected to Equestrian magic.”
“Professor Trelawney couldn’t teach her way out of a paper bag.” He growls.
She nods, “That seems to be the case, but I was able to use the crystal ball, and was able to get some information. I need something more concrete. The zebr…” her words stumble again. She lowers her voice to a whisper, “The zebras from my home have potions that might help, but you need to be an exceedingly powerful magic user.”
“Or your mind will be permanently damaged by the potion.” He glances back at the class, then he draws himself to stand taller, “You know the risks of this?”
She nods, “No one else has the knowledge. I'm the only one who can do this. Ever since... I've been trying to keep my friends safe, they don't know the dangers of magic, of an evil like this."
His mouth quirks in a half smile, “You would be surprised what knowledge is out there, young lady. Judging by the ingredients that you’ve gathered, I know that potion. It’s similar to a peculiar mix of the drought of peace, along with veritaserum. Not exact, mind you. But similar enough.” Her eyes widen, “I believe the final potion will be a quite vivid purple, am I right?”
She nods, “It takes the magic to turn it pure white.”
“I will work on that potion for you, Miss Shimmer. Do you have the magic necessary?”
She sighs, “I’m not certain. But I need to try. If not, I know who might.”
“It should take three days to make.” He says softly, “We will check it out then.”
She nods as she follows him into the room, he gathers up the ingredients and takes them to his desk. Dumbledore trusts him, though she still is dubious about him. She has to trust the headmaster’s judgement here. She gets back to her sugar based potion, keeping an eye on her friends as they work.
Rainbow leans over to her, “What was all that about?”
Sunset sighs, “Hopefully we will be getting some answers.”
***
As they walk from the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Sunset gets to return the favor from the morning. She holds Rarity’s shoulders, keeping the other girl walking in a slow march, “It’s alright.” She says for what seems like the hundredth time, “You have the strength, you are needed as much as anyone here. You can do the magic.”
“But what was that thing? It looked like a pony from your world, it almost looked like you darling, well the pony you became when you were changed by the headmaster.”
Sunset sighs, “That is what an equestrian pony looks like, Rarity. Each has their own colorings and markings, that one didn't have my cutie mark. It had yours, well your counterpart’s. That's how your counterpart looks, I only saw her briefly but the mane and tail look just like your hair.”
Rarity shudders, “That was a patronus?”
Sunset shrugs, “I think so, the magic felt right. I think the patronus is a mirror of who we are in side, for the mages, it’s an animal, a deer, or a phoenix. But for us it’s... It’s an embodiment of our Equestrian magic, which comes out as our pony image.”
“Are you ready to go?” Comes a new voice, Sunset turns and smiles at Pinkie Pie with a nod. Pinkie moves over to take up Rarity’s other side, “You need sugar.” She says, stuffing a cupcake in Rarity’s mouth.
Rarity’s eyes bulge under the onslaught as she struggles to chew. She is soon able to swallow a few times, and finally accepts a cup of milk from Pinkie as well. She takes a long sip and when she’s done, “Pinkie, while I appreciate the sentiment…” she trails off as the sugar hits her blood stream, she shakes her head. She looks at the cupcakes and cookies on a small platter in Pinkies hands, she smiles, “Thank you, Pinkie Pie.”
“No problem.” Pinkie chirps as she makes the platter disappear.
Sunset looks at her energetic friend, did it go in her hair? Or where? She shrugs, “So, where is this place?”
“Follow me!” Pinkie giggles as she bounces off quite literally. Sunset is surprised to see her feet actually hit the ground as she bounces through the school. They head down the stairs from the defense against the dark arts classroom. She looks around, trying to figure out where in the school she is. It seems as though the interior of the school follows a different plan than the exterior. She sighs when Pinkie Pie turns the back the opposite direction for the third time.
“Pinkie, we’ve been down here.” Sunset says, then she stops dead. There’s a door there, it wasn’t there before. Pinkie gleefully skips to the door and opens it. Sunset follows gingerly, Twilight and Rarity in tow. She pokes her head into the room, Pinkie is at one corner, she’s already gotten two ovens working, the smell of baking is nearly overpowering. She looks around, “What is this?”
Pinkie comes up, with two dozen cookies, “I found out the name. It’s called the room of requirement.”
Sunset glances around as she grabs a cookie, “Amazing.” Memories of guard training rooms surface. She looks to see that Rarity has recovered enough. She moves over to the file cabinets and looks at the printed labels, she slides over and pulls a drawer open. She fingers through the folders and pulls one out. Thick parchment sheafs are inside. She pulls one out, instantly recognizing the script, “This is impossible, there is no way this could be here.” She says softly. She moves over to the large bookcases, she pulls out a book, “This compendium, there are three copies, one in Canterlot, one in the Royal Library in Manehattan, and the third was sent to Ponyville. That’s it, three copies, and I’m holding it.” She opens the book, inspecting it, “What magic is this?”
Twilight looks up, she’s got a half dozen books pulled out, “All of this is from Equestria. I don’t recognize any of the titles, and the authors…” She looks at the spines, “I don’t know any of them.” She opens a book, “This is common household spells.” She opens a second book, “Practical pegasus magic.” She opens it up and reads for a moment, “Well, that’s logical, their magic is centered in their wings.”
Sunset grins, “This is perfect, Pinkie, thank you!”
Pinkie brings a book to Sunset, “Of course, we need to find the rest of our friends, but we need to start really learning magic.”
“Even you, Pinkie.”
Pinkie cocks her head to the side, “I’ve got the magic I need.” She hip checks Sunset, “You girls are the real magic users here, I’ll keep you guys going.” Sunset looks down for an instant, then she looks up, Pinkie is in the kitchen, mixing something.
Sunset sighs and looks over at Twilight and Rarity. “Let’s get started!”
***
Lashing out with her wand, Sunset lets out an acid green bolt at the pony form, blowing it’s head off as a green slime starts eating away at the target. She spins and lets out a deep purple bolt, causing the barrel of the form to implode. Dodging side to side, she slides to the right and stretches out her arm, unleashing another blast from her wand, this bolt is electric blue, and causes another form to burst into flames. She stops and pants hard, rubbing her forehead and bangs. It has been over an hour of training, and the new battle spells have been very productive.
“Sunset, I’m pretty sure we’ve got this basic stun spell down.” Twilight says softly.
Sunset turns and looks at Twilight, “Show me.”
Twilight nods once and points her wand at one of the pony forms taking aim. Flinching at the clearing of Sunset’s throat.
“No! At me.” Sunset says firmly.
“What?” Twilight blinks several times as she looks at Sunset, “Are you sure?”
“Yes, you need to practice attacks, and I need to practice defense, now begin.”
Taking a breath Twilight shrugs and backs up a few steps. Sunset has insisted they focus on the spell forms, not worrying about vocalizing the spells. She sends a half dozen bolts at Sunset, who bats them away easily.
Sunset shakes her head speaking sternly, “Faster, learn these spells so they come as second nature, s reflex, they could save your life.”
Twilight nods and turns back to work. Sunset picks up a new sheaf of parchment, she riffs through the pages, “I need something a bit more advanced here.” She says softly as she reads.
“Darling, I do believe we have this spell down. It may be time for us to learn something a bit more than the stun spell.” Rarity looks at Twilight, who is sending a spell down towards a pony form, “You did witness me in the class.” She reaches to pick up a folder, only to pull her hand back at the glare she receives from Sunset.
“You are NOT ready for those yet, Rarity, they are far too dangerous for you, and I don’t want you to get hurt.” Sunset says, going back to her own reading.
After a few moments, Sunset feels the couch shift as Rarity sits next to her. Shifting through parchments she compares notes before she looks at her wand.
“Sunset.” Rarity says hesitantly.
“Mhmm?”
A protracted silence finally gets Sunset’s full attention, she looks up, to see Rarity sitting there, looking conflicted. Finally, her friend grasps her wrist, “Dear, you are shaking.”
Sunset looks down at her trembling hand. Taking a deep breath, she makes a tight fist and steadies herself before relaxing her hand, “Sorry, I guess I’m just hungry. Low blood sugar.”
Rarity sighs, “It’s more than that and you know it!” She looks up at Twilight, “We’ve been working for a couple of hours now. You’ve tried probably thirty different spells, and all Twilight and I are doing is a basic stun spell.” She snorts, “Honestly, what use would a stun be against that ram?”
Sunset shivers, “You don’t need to worry about him. He’s gathering an army, and that spell will knock a human out for hours if you put enough power into it.”
Rarity grasps her hand, drawing it away from the book, “Sunset Shimmer, we all have to deal with him. You can’t deal with him all by yourself.”
Sunset flinches and reflexively pulls her hand away, “I’ve got to.”
Rarity reaches forward and grabs her hand, “No, you don’t. Twilight and I will help you on the magic side.” She glances towards the door as it opens, bringing in Pinkie with Fluttershy. “We all will help you.”
Sunset slams the folder onto the table, “You can’t!” She shouts, “You aren’t Equestrian, you don’t know what this magic is like,” tears are falling hard and fast now, “You don’t have the years of experience necessary or training necessary. I can't let you get hurt. Not again.”
Rarity slides over and wraps her arms around Sunset, “We are stronger together, dear.”
Another set of arms grab onto Sunset, Twilight adds herself to the hug, “We will do this, we will beat him. Together.”
Sunset comes back to herself with a jolt, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Applejack have all joined in, hugging her. She reaches up and wipes away the tears, “I’m sorry.” She’s able to mutter.”
“There’s nothin ta apologize for, Sunset.” Applejack murmurs softly, “We will learn. And all of us will help where we can. We beat the sirens, we will win.”
Sunset sniffles again, “I don’t deserve you.”
That gets all of them to hug her harder, after a long moment, she sighs, “Thank you.”
Applejack sighs and stands up, “It’s time for supper, and I think you’ll like it.”
***
Sunset walks back into the Room of Requirement with all of her friends. The dinner break had really done her well. She had even enjoyed a piece of chicken to go along with the carbs she had just consumed. Magic is energy, and it takes energy to wield. She sighs contentedly, Twilight and Rarity are going to be able to work on their magic with her.
Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash will be working their brooms on the rings attached to the ceiling, working on their maneuverability. Applejack is helping Pinkie with fighting training. She’s got her gloves on, though Pinkie is showing that she’s quite strong as well. The two practice sparring, Applejack grappling and throwing her friend onto the padded cushions, though Pinkie is giving as good as she’s getting. More than once, Applejack is the one flying through the air as Pinkie uses Applejack’s strength against her. Both girls are laughing as they practice.
Sunset once against settles in to read the spellforms. Though she’s interrupted by Rarity standing before her, her friend playing with the end of her hair as she stands there, a conflicted look on her face.
“Is there something I can help with, Rarity?” Sunset says, setting down the parchment.
Rarity sits down next to her, Spike takes the opportunity to hop into her lap, she absently scratches him behind an ear as she gathers her thoughts, “How did you do it, Sunset?”
Sunset furrows her brow, “Do what?”
If anything, Rarity starts to look even more uncomfortable, “You gave up your magic, when you came through the portal.” She looks down at Spike, who’s reveling as her fingernails scratch his fur, “You gave up your magic. You spent years not being able to use it. I’ve had mine for a matter of weeks, and I’m terrified of losing it. If we make it home, I won’t have my magic anymore. And that scares me.”
Sunset stops for a long moment, “When I first got here, I didn’t know that I wouldn’t be able to call on my magic. I came through in the middle of the night, and I had to explore, to find out what your world offered.” She’s able to chuckle, “I nearly got arrested, some crazy naked girl prowling around.” She looks at Rarity seriously, “I had to adjust to it.” She glances up, Twilight has pulled up a big cushion and is sitting down, she looks back down, “I was able to suppress my desire to use my magic by replacing it. Replacing that desire with something attainable here. I was power hungry when I came through the portal the first time. I ended up mad with power.” Again, tears cascade down her face, “I nearly destroyed the school in my quest for power. I divided all of you up, any friend group had to be broken up, for me to have control over them.”
“Like how you maneuvered us apart a few years ago?” Rarity asks gently, getting a sob and a nod.
“I was evil. And it culminated in me getting that tiara on my brow. And look what it caused.”
“An obscurus.” Twilight says.
“A what?” Comes from both Sunset and Rarity.
Twilight explains for a few moments, Sunset shakes her head, “I’ve never heard the term, but what you are describing is pretty accurate for a surge. I finally had the magic, but it was corrupted.” She shivers, “I corrupted it. My hunger for power did it. Though I will admit, I did not realize until that moment that I was so starved when it came to using magic.”
“Starved?” Rarity says, paling.
Sunset nods, “I hadn’t used magic for nearly three years at that point. I thought I had put that ache behind me. But then I was able to touch magic, and I’ve been touching magic with you girls for a while now. I never realized how much it hurt to not use it. Not to feel the energy inside me.”
Rarity flinches, “But we aren’t magical, right? We aren’t from Equestria like you are.”
Sunset sighs, “I don’t think that matters anymore Rarity. You have touched the magic, it’s a part of you now.
Rarity looks down, “We are magical beings now?” She says barely audibly.
Sunset nods, “I am no less magical than I was back in Equestria. Touching the magic from there, and now the magic here. I realize that now. The magic is part of me, part of this world, of life itself. I can no more deny this than I could deny that I breathe.”
Rarity sniffles, “But darling, what... What if I don't want to let the magic... what if I can't let the magic go? I don't want it to define who I am.”
“Does your arm define you? Your hair? Your magic is a part of you. It makes you special, but it is intrinsically part of you.”
Rarity slams her hand down on the table, "But what happens if I go crazy and become some kind of a...” she flushes, “no offense.” She stops and takes a few deep breaths, “Or worse what if the magic takes over me and turns me into a unicorn? No offense."
“You won't go crazy. Do you go crazy with your other natural abilities? Fashion? Gems?”
Rainbow Dash is sitting on her broom right behind the couch, "Hello, have you met her, All the time,” she chirps.
Sunset grabs both of Rarity’s hands in hers, “Crazy as in excited, crazy as in passionate.” She gives her friend an encouraging smile, “There is nothing wrong there. Crazy as in destroying the people around you. No. That is not you.”
"Unless her sister gets into her diary.... then then she does that whole 'I will destroy her!' with flames coming out her eyes!" Pinkie says bouncing by.
All the girls giggle as Pinkie settles down on the couch, Sunset smiles, “You girls saved me.”
A sob comes from Twilight, Sunset looks sharply at her, “You saved me too, I had never known how much I wanted magic until I had it within me.”
Sunset smiles, “How does it feel to be using it now?”
Twilight looks at her through her tears, “It feels right.” She pulls out her wand, “After this is over, what are we going to do? I’m with Rarity, I don’t want to give this up.”
Sunset shivers, “I don’t think that decision is up to us.” She guides Twilight’s wand back into her robes, “But no matter what, we will deal with that future together. But first, we need to end the threat that he represents.”
The all nod, and Sunset calls out, “Let’s get back to work.”
***
Sunset snuggles into her covers, she looks at the platter of cupcakes and cookies and other baked goods that Pinkie had somehow left on her bedside table. That girl knows exactly what hits the spot. Tonight has been extremely productive. Though she knows how much power that Grogar represents. What is she going to do? Can they defeat him? How would they do so? He’s been able to control so many of the Death Eaters, what can one Equestrian and her friends do against that kind of power?
She flips over and closes her eyes, “Together, we can do anything.” She’s able to whisper as sleep overtakes her.