//------------------------------// // Mind Games V // Story: Repercussions // by shallow15 //------------------------------// “I know what you are.” Sunset folded her arms and stared down her reflection. It had dropped the demon form, and returned to Sunset's old look. It copied her stance and returned her stare. “Really,” it said. “And what exactly am I?” “You're not some manifestation of my former self. You aren't the embodiment of all my evil or some stupid sci-fi nonsense like that.” “How about I just tell you what I am?” Sunset quirked an eyebrow. “Sure, why not?” “I'm bored.” “Cute,” Sunset replied. “Fine. You're everything I hate about myself. Everything I used to be. Everything I regret. You don't want me to hurt and bleed because you want to punish me for what I've done. You want me to hurt and bleed because that's what you do. “You're my self-loathing.” The reflection brought up its hands and began slowly clapping. “Well done. I'm so impressed. It only took you three days to figure it out.” “Three days?” Sunset's eyebrows raised. “It's only been a few hours.” The reflection laughed. A genuine laugh this time. “You still haven't worked it out, have you? Time is different here. Out there, it's been almost three days since you got zapped. Your little friends probably just lost half of their Friday afternoon with that stunt.” Sunset stared. “Three days?” “Three days. Not that it matters. You're not going anywhere. You're stuck here, with me, until the day you die.” Sunset looked at the contempt on her reflections face and frowned. “You're wrong. I will wake up. My friends will find a way to wake me up.” “Are you sure about that?” The reflection hissed. “She's still out there. And if they push, she's going to push back. All the other times, all seven of you were there. And I don't think she's going to be as reasonable as Juniper was.” “They beat me with only six of them.” “One of which was a newly crowned alicorn princess, plus an Element of Harmony,” corrected the reflection. “You don't have those, despite what Four-Eyes turns into when she ponies up. Face it, they're all dead, they just don't know it yet.” Sunset felt her face flush with anger. “Shut up.” “Why would I? I hate you.” The reflection put its hands behind its back and stepped forward. Sunset's teeth clenched again. It was walking the exact same way Adagio had in the hall when she had confronted the Dazzlings during the Battle of the Bands. Cocky. Arrogant. Smug. “Your friends are going to die, Sunset,” it began. “They're going to go up against her, and without you, they are going to die.” “They're stronger than that. They'll beat her, and they'll get me out.” “You can't lie to me. I'm part of you. I wouldn't be saying that if you didn't believe it on some level.” “They will beat her.” “Are you sure?” The reflection grinned. Just as smug. Just as cocky. Just as arrogant. Sunset's eyes narrowed. “You know how it's going to happen?” it sneered. “Rainbow Dash is going to throw herself headlong at it. Zap. Then Applejack will go right after her when she falls. Double Zap. Rarity and Pinkie Pie? Zap. Zap. “I'm honestly not sure who's going to be the last one to go. Both Fluttershy and Four-Eyes are the weakest of the bunch. Although, Four-Eyes does have the ability to throw crap around, so yeah, she'll be the next one who goes. Zap. Which just leaves poor, sweet Fluttershy.” Sunset glared at her reflection. “Don't.” “Fluttershy, who is going to squeak and cry, and watch as everyone else dies in front of her.” The reflection leaned close and whispered in Sunset's ear. “Right before she gets fried herself. And the last thing she'll think is 'I wish I never heard of Sunset Shimmer.'” Sunset whirled and punched the reflection square in the face. It let out a cry and fell to the ground. Sunset stood over it. “That was for insulting my friends. They are strong. They are brave. They beat us before and they can sure as hell beat her now.” The reflection looked up at her, frowning. “'Us?'” “You're a part of me,” Sunset answered. “And it's time I recognized that. But you aren't going to win. I said it before, I've made peace with what I've done.” “Then why is our past biting us in the ass right now?” Sunset considered this for a minute. “Because some people can't forgive. And I accept that. Some people may never forgive me for what I've done to them or someone they care about. I will have to live with the fact that I did so many shitty things to so many people that there will always be someone who will never believe I've changed. Some of them may come after me. But I'm going to do the same thing to them that I'm going to do to you.” The reflection looked at her, suspicion on her face. Sunset reached down to her. “What are you going to do?” The reflection asked. Sunset's expression softened. “Forgive you. I forgive you for what you've done to me since I got here. I forgive you for what you just said. And that's what I'll do to anyone else who comes after me because I wronged them or someone they care about. “Because if I don't, none of this has meant anything.” The reflection stared at her, disbelief on its face. Sunset gave it a small sad smile and held her hand out again. The suspicion drained out of the reflections face and was replaced with a hurt, vulnerable expression. The same one Sunset was sure she wore the night of the Fall Formal. It reached up and took Sunset's hand. As soon as their hands connected, there was a flash of light. Sunset threw her other hand up to shield her eyes. When the flash faded, she put it down and stared. Her reflection was gone. She was in the throne room of Canterlot Castle. Every detail stood out to her. The stained glass windows. The fountains. The long red carpet leading from the doors to the thrones. And on one of the thrones... “Now,” said Celestia, smiling down at Sunset. “Where were we?”