//------------------------------// // Chapter l // Story: Throughout the Sun and Stars // by Izzy_ //------------------------------// Darkness That's the only thing Sunset sees at this moment in time, eerie, unsettling darkness. She tried to speak, or more accurately whisper, but the only thing that came out of her lips were her ragged short breaths. She stood up, despite nothing being there, all she felt was pain coming from her back, as if something sprouted there. Amidst the darkness Sunset could see a light get closer and closer, was this the end, or just her mind trying to fill in the darkness? She did not know, but as the light grew she realised that it was real and quickly grew aware of her surroundings. She looked down, she was expecting to see hooves, or at the very least hands. But what she saw was something beyond what she'd had imagined. Blood red claws is what was revealed before her, and right in the corner of her eye she saw six astounded bipedal beings, seeming to be in utter shock One blue, one yellow, one orange, one pink, one white, and of course, a very familiar lavender princess. She started to tremble, this all seemed too familiar, as the Déjà vu washed over her the purple one began to speak "The magic contained in my element was able to unite with those that helped create it" What is she talking about? But before she could think about what was happening the crown she somehow was wearing started to set a glow and shoot a slow beam of light towards the six friends "Honesty" Why is this so familiar? Sunset looked on, masking her confusion "Kindness" What's going on? "Laughter" Suddenly everything came rushing back into sunsets mind "Generosity" A feeling of extreme dread and worry shot down her spine as she felt herself pale "Loyalty" Oh crap... Her mind was completely phased, as Twilight started rambling on about friendship. Of course, she heard it all before, as she knew exactly what was going to happen next. It's such an honour to have to hear THIS again, Sunset internally rolled her eyes. As on cue of Sunset thinking that, a seemingly colourful, eyesore rainbow crashed into her and all she feels is the sheer pain before all going pitch black once again. CRASH Sunset opens her eyes to see that she had fallen onto the floor in a rather uncomfortable and none the less painful position. Sunset moaned in pain as she stood up on three hooves, as the one she had lifted up took damage from the fall. Sunset grumbled as she noticed that the rather unpleasant fall had made her glass of water, that she left on her bedside cabinet, crash onto the crystal floor erupting into tiny little shards of itself, like a blanket of miniature knives. Not only was she parched from another horrid nightmare, but she also had just realised that the reason her raised leg hurt so much is that there were little cuts and blood oozing out from where the shards had decided to stab her. "Well that's fantastic," she croaked, her voice laced with sarcasm. She heard a faint knock on her door. "Hey, Sunset? Are you okay..? I heard a loud crash and just wanted to make sure you're alright..." Sunset grumbled What in Equestria is she doing up at this hour?! She walked over to the door and encased the doorknob with teal aura "Hey, Twilight..." Sunset muttered trying to hide her wounded leg behind the door "Everything is fine," Twilight was not convinced, she has known Sunset for a good couple of years and she knew when she was lying to her, granted a lot of that friendship was from half a dozen books that were filled to the brim with their conversations, but even then Sunset has been living in her castle for a good several months now and she knew something was up. "Don't lie to me Sunset," Twilight bluntly replied. Twilight pushed the door to find Sunsets wounded leg that her friend and haphazardly tried to hide. Sunset grumbled in annoyance "It's nothing Twilight-" "'It's nothing' my flank! C'mon, let's go to the kitchen and patch it up okay?" Sunset sighed, even if she fought back, she knew she would lose the argument. "Fine..." she said in a hoarse whisper. "How did this even happen?" Twilight questioned as she took little shards of glass out of Sunsets coat and then proceed to wash it with a damp cloth. "I fell out of bed I guess," Sunset exclaimed as she winced and looked away Twilight gazed worryingly into Sunsets eyes after wrapping up her foreleg in a bandage. "You had another nightmare didn't you..." Sunset recoiled as if she just said the most absurd thing she has ever heard. "What?! No, I just..." Sunset looked back at twilight only to see the concern in her friends' eyes, she felt the urge to carry on lying but there was something in them eyes that stopped her, "...yeah," she whispered while bowing her head Twilight sighed, she decided not to go any further with this conversation and just said "Would you like to go to Ssugarcube Corner? The treat'll be on me." "I really don't think that will be-" before Sunset could finish Twilight Had put a hoof over her mouth "I insist," Sunset mumbled something incoherent and then just nodded her head, knowing once again, even is she fought it, she'd lose in the end. "SUNSET SHIMMER!!" A familiar earth pony with different shades of pink for her hair and her mane shouted at the top of her lungs. This, of course, is none other than Pinkie Pie. "Hey Pinkie..." Sunset said awkwardly as she felt multiple eyes of passersby and customers look at her in confusion. "What brings you here?" She says jumping up and down, "Did you come to try out our Summer Sun Celebration cupcakes?!" She was at least only an inch away from Sunsets face now. Sunset shifted uncomfortably "I-" "Of course Pinkie! Are they as good as last years?" Twilight interjected. "BETTER THAN LAST YEARS!" Pinke shouted with excitement and proceeded to flail her arms in the air. Twilight giggled as she walked inside, Sunset trotted not so far behind. Sunset stared at the cupcake, the icing was many different colours of yellow and orange. The Summer Sun Celebration... The memories of the times she attended the celebration, both good and bad, flowed through her mind. She sighed and pushed the colourful cupcake away. "Not hungry?" Twilight said with nothing but the concern in her voice. The only answer she got was a shake of the head "In a couple of days the Summer Sun Celebration will be happening, but all that it reminds me of is how stupid I was back then," Sunset placed her head on top of her crossed forelegs Twilight gazed at her, Sunset and Princess Celestia have made their amends and was even going to Canterlot to meet the Princesses at the Celebration as it was being held in Canterlot this year. Twilight placed a hoof on her friend's foreleg, "Hey, it'll be okay, everyone knows you're not that type of pony anymore and you've gotten so far now, I'm proud of you," she shakes Sunset gently with the last sentence. Sunset looked up and smiles lightly, "You can not even comprehend the number of times I've been told that by my friends back in the human world. But thanks, Twilight, it means a lot to hear it from you," Twilight blushed slightly at the sudden compliment and smiled warmly "The Celebration is going to be great this year, even better now that you're going to be with us," Sunset was a bit shocked to hear that sentence, "Nah, if anything I'm probably going to end up making it worse, bad things always happen to me" "Well now that you've jinxed it, it will!" Twilight said in a joking manner. The only reply she got was a roll of Sunsets cyan eyes as they both stood up and started walking back to the castle to get ready to pack for Canterlot because they were leaving first thing tomorrow morning.