//------------------------------// // Wrath of A God // Story: My Little Mages: Goddess of Midnight // by Foxhelm //------------------------------// Once the purple light subsided, Sunset looked at Sci-Twi and saw something different. Sci-Twi’s wings were more feathery then metallic, her glasses frames became blue flame. Her hair stood up and seemed to be like a flame with both of her streaks along both sides. Sunset took another step forward reaching her hand out cautiously. “Sci-Twi? Twilight? Twilight Sparkle?” Sunset asked with a bit of fear and concern in her voice. Sci-Twi laughed, with a maniacal chuckle, which prompted Sunset to take a set back and withdraw her hand. “What a pathetic name for a pathetic girl.” Sci-Twi commented. She paused had had another laugh, “No, I am not ‘Sci-Twi’ or ‘Twilight Sparkle’, I am Midnight Sparkle. It has a je ne sais quoi that ‘Twilight’ just... lacks. Don’t you think?” The recently self-identified Midnight asked rhetorically. Sunset was left speechless only for Midnight to continue to laugh. Once the dark demigod finished laughing she started to flap her wings and began to hover off of the ground. As she ascended she looked down at Sunset, “You were right! I didn't understand my power, the magic that coursed through me before, but I do now!” Midnight began to send blasts of magic, each of the various elements around the area, many hitting the walls and the ground. As everyone tried to take cover from the assaults, Sunny noticed her mother fleeing the scene, like a bat out of hell, “Hey! Where are you going?!” She shouted to her mother questioning her as to why and what she was doing. Cinch stopped for a second and started to answer her question, “Anywhere to avoid that…” she paused as she tried to find the right word to describe Midnight, ultimately she settled on “monster!” she then continued to leave the scene, “And I suggest you do the same!” she shouted back. Sunny only scowled as her mother left the scene to have someone else clean up her mess. Back where Sunset stood, looking towards Midnight, “Twilight, you can't do this!” she requested as she took a moment to look around at what seemed to be a storm forming just over the wall. Midnight laughed at first as she flew higher towards the open sky and threw her arms wide open, “Why not?!” she asked rhetorically as she looked at Sunset for a second, “There's a whole world right there, beyond these walls,” she looked back to sky and the horizon over the walls and shivered in delight and ecstasy, “and it's just filled with power!” Sunset looked to the ground and shook her head in sadness as she recalled her own experience when she tried to attune the Element of Magic to herself. She recalled the power rush she felt, but she knew she that what she did was wrong and the damage that she posed. She could feel that Midnight was by far a greater danger to the world then she was. She looked to Midnight after taking a breath for confidence, “But you'll destroy the world to get it!” Midnight looked from the sky back down to Sunset “So what?” she asked with a shrug, “What has the world done for me?” She continued as she looked left and right to everyone that was still there mentally noting the absence of Cinch, “but make me this” she pointed to herself with her left hand, “and lie to me about my nature?” this time she pointed to Sunset, as she recalled that Sunset knew what she was but withheld that information from her. As she witnessed, Sunset look down to the ground ashamed of herself, she looked to the top of the wall and the world beyond it, “There's power out there, and I will have it all!” She started to again rise in her flight, still far from the top but just tasting the freedom that lay just beyond her reach. Sunset recovered herself and sent a leading fireball shot, which caused Midnight to stop, “This isn't the way!” This declaration prompted Midnight to turn and face Sunset again. “I know you feel powerful right now, like you can have everything you want!” This brought a slight pondering frown to Midnight’s face, for about a second as it shifted to a disgruntled scowl. “I've been where you are, I've made the same mistake you're making! I put on a crown and, just like you, I was overwhelmed by the magic it contained!” Sunset continued to plea to Midnight in hope to reach her, but Midnight only rolled her eyes in bemusement. “I thought it could get me everything I wanted!” Sunset finished as she thought back to her past and seeing another following a similar path. Midnight shook her head in dismissal, “Oh, you're wrong.” Midnight said as she pointed to the sky and pulled the moon from beyond the eastern horizon and brought it to cause a total solar eclipse, “See, unlike you, I can have everything I want!” she said as she sent the moon towards the western horizon to prove her point. She was a demigo… no, demigods could only alter the paths of the sun and the moon and were bond to the amount of time it would take the light from those celestial bodies to travel to the planet… Midnight literally moved the moon at her own will at her own speed and had to effect or affect on the planet… such a power was beyond even beings like Discord. However, Sunset was not phased by this display of power. She knew the truth of her words and of the situation, “No, you can't.” she said calmly, like a patient mother to child. This gave Midnight some pause, “Even with all that magic and power, you'll still be alone!” Sunset closed her eyes and took a breath as she could just sense her words. She look squarely at Midnight and seemed to float up. “True power doesn’t come from forcing yourself on the world but comes from honesty!” An orb of light then formed in the chest of Applejack, “Even when it shatters delusions.” Another orb light then formed in front of Sugarcoat. “Loyalty!” Sunset continued as a light form in front of Rainbow Dash, “Especially when things don’t look well.” another light formed in front of Indigo Zap. Sunset continued, “Laughter!” she declared as a light formed in front of Pinkie Pie, “Even when others don’t get the joke.” A light then formed in front of Lemon. “Generosity!” Sunset continued as a light formed in front of Rarity, “Even when you don’t know who is offering it.” As she spoke a light then form in front of Sunny. “And Kindness!” she declared as a light formed in front of Fluttershy, “Even when has to be firm.” at that line a line formed in front of Sour.  As the lights began to flow towards Sunset. “I understand you, Twilight.” Sunset said as she closed her eyes and took a breath before she smile and looked at Midnight. “And I want to show you the most important magic of all…” Sunset paused as she let the lights from the then enter into her. “...the Magic of Friendship!” Sunset soon felt the rush of power that came to her from the course into and through her, she could have sworn she heard Celestia’s voice, ‘Arise, Daydream Shimmer.’ “Mom?” she asked not believing what she heard, but she didn’t question it as everyone vanished in a vast field of white. The light subsided and Sunset Shimmer  was not standing, but hovering not unlike Midnight. Like Midnight her hair was flowing upwards and from her back were wings, but that was were the similarities ended. Sunset’s wings were white and seemed to be made out of more energy-like substance, where solar yellow in color and looked more chiropteran in their structure. Across Sunset’s face along her eye was red bar shaped tattoo. On her upper arms were tattoos of her aura mark. She was dressed in a pink and white dressed and wore golden boot. She was no longer Sunset Shimmer, like Midnight she had a new name. “I understand you, Midnight,” she said as she addressed her newest friend by her self-imposed name, “I don’t want to fight you, but I will do what needs to be done. And as you embraced the night with your new name, I embrace the day, you will know me as Daydream Shimmer.” Midnight was agape at what she saw, that Sunset, now calling herself Daydream, could do what she did. Absorb and incorporated into her body magic from others and thus ascend beyond the normal mortals. Midnight could feel the power Daydream had, but she also sensed it was in part held back. Midnight laughed as she tried to hide her fear, “Oh, how cute. So you’re where I got this from.” she said as she gestured towards each of their respective current forms. Daydream was not amused, nor did she fall for the attempt. Midnight then laughed again, “Looks like I am the one who taught you.” She then pooled in her hand an orb of dark purple colored magic. “Let’s see what power your ‘friendship’ has?” she then thrust her hand out and the orb started to function like a beam. Daydream was able to catch it and throw it into the sky in silence. Midnight then growled as she conjured another orb of magic. Daydream, elected to match Midnight this time as an orb of red and yellow colored magic formed in her hands. Within seconds they both blasted each of their orbs at each other, Midnight on the offence as  after blast at each other. They grunted and groaned as they flew up into the sky as they sent beam after beam of their respective magic at each other.  Midnight was clearly on the offense with how she always tried a different angle of attack, a different element, also trying something new, while Daydream simply stuck to just negating each of Midnight strikes. After about two minutes of this Daydream took the offense and blasted Midnight sending her crashing to the floor, resulting in a fair sized crater in the floor, crying “Noooo!” in her plummet. As the dust cleared, Midnight, battered and bruised with scraps and cuts all over her, struggled to climb out. As the bested Midnight reached the edge, Daydream had floated down and kneeled down to offering to Midnight her hand.  Midnight was at a loss at what to do, but Daydream smiled comfortingly, “Take my hand, Twilight.” she said addressing the confused girl by her actual name. “Let me show you there's another way…” Daydream paused as she thought back to almost a year prior, when she was in a similar crater and Princess Twilight offered her hand to help her out. Daydream knew then and there that she had come full circle in her own life, and now, it was her turn to pay it forward. “just like someone once did for me.” Midnight slowly and timidly reached out and accepted Daydream’s hand, afraid that she might pull it away at the last second. In about a second, Daydream pulled Midnight out of the crater and the two were on their feet. Midnight looked around her and saw the destruction she caused and the fear she instilled based on her recent actions. Her knees gave and she dropped to them as tears started to form in the corners of her eyes, “I am so sorry…” she started to weep in remorse. “I didn't mean for any of this to happen…” Daydream swiftly  took Midnight’s hand and pulled her back to her feet. “I know.” Sunset said and turned her and Midnight’s attention to the Rainbolts. “And going by my own experiences, they'll forgive you.” Midnight looked to the Rainbolts, and while the Rainbooms were more visible with their want to understand her, she couldn’t feel any fear, or anger, or hate from the others present. She smiled as she took a step forward. At that moment the aura marks of the five that come from Mystica started to flash and vibrate, giving their mission accomplished signals. The five turned to face each other and they each smiled. “I think I know why the map called us here.” Fluttershy was the first of them to speak acknowledging the completed mission. Applejack was the first to comment as she nodded in agreement as she surmised what they figured to be the mission, “To help Sunset show what she learned and show Sci-Twi the magic of friendship.” Sour gushed at that statement in a saccharine tone, as she hugged Fluttershy“ Aww, how sweet!” And in an instant her tone went sour as she pulled herself from the moment, “I think you just gave me diabetes.” she said as she ended the hug and gave a slight scowl. Sugarcoat adjusted her glasses, “You can't give someone diabetes, Sour.” Sugarcoat pointed out. “It's non-communicable.” she elaborated. Everyone blinked at her in confusion, “It means ‘non-contiguous’.” Applejack rolled her eyes and shook her head before she placed her hand on Sugarcoat’s shoulder, “Yah know, Sugarcube, yah got a problem with splittin’ hairs.” Sugarcoat paused and thought about what Applejack said, after a couple seconds of thought, “That is a fair and just assessment.” Sugarcoat agreed with the paladin. Unbeknownst to everyone, Cinch arrived back on the scene, in her hand was a wand. She aimed it at Midnight, “Into ashes” she whispered and the wand activated. A black beam flew from the wand and struck Midnight in the back. Cinch frowned and turned, “Well, there’s always plan b.” she said as if nothing happened and left. Midnight’s face went pale and her body began to change back to what it was before, becoming Sci-Twi again. All the while she fell forward. Swiftly, Daydream caught her and helped her to the ground. “What's wrong?” Daydream asked, fear creeping on her face.  Sci-Twi gasped as she answered, “I don't know, but,” she coughed, “I feel like I'm shutting down.” “Stay with me!” Daydream ordered as she took Sci-Twi’s right hand. “Hold on to my hand! Don’t you dare let go!” Sunset’s voice was full of fear. “MEDIC!!!” she shouted as the Rainbooms and the Shadowbolts ran up, sans Sunny. Faster than Sunset could say another word, Applejack was laying her hands on Sci-Twi, and Fluttershy was casting her healing spells, with everyone else using a channeling gem that Rarity had to channel their magic into the two healers. All the while Sci-Twi desperately clung to her life. “Stay with us!” Sunset shouted. “You’re going to be alright! Just hold on!” Sci-Twi looked to Daydream as she started to shiver and tears started to form in her eyes. “I am so…” she started to say. “PHOENIX INFERNO!!!” Daydream shouted as she sent through her hand the blazing and healing fire of the phoenix. Daydream felt Sci-Twi warm up slightly, but it lasted less than three seconds. “Oh no, you don’t!” Daydream took a breath and cast the spell once more. Then twice more and then thrice more. “I am not giving up on you! Don’t you dare give up on me!” Sci-Twi looked at Daydream, as tears continued to pool and then trickle down her cheeks,  “I am scared…” “Don’t you dare give up! Don’t you dare leave me! Don’t you dare let go!” Daydream then closed her eyes and roared as she cast her spell again. In her roar, the shriek of a large eagle could be heard.  Four times more, five times more, six times more, seven times more, Daydream cast her spell. “I’m not giving up! I’m not leaving you! I’m not letting go!” Eight more times, nine more times. The others, sans Applejack and Fluttershy dropped to their knees and ultimately fainted. Pinkie’s hair deflated. Fluttershy then dropped to her knees and finally Applejack. “We..can..do..” Applejack panted. “There’s not…” She couldn’t finish the sentence as Daydream turned to her, tears streaming down her cheeks. Daydream wanted to shake her head, but it was clear the cause was fruitless. Daydream released Sci-Twi’s hand and took her in her arms and held her tight to her chest. Sci-Twi tears began to soak into Daydream’s shoulder, “I don’t… I’m not…” she couldn’t finished her sentences as she began to struggle to breath, almost choking on her tears. Daydream pulled her as close as she could, “I’m not letting go.” she whispered. “I’m not letting you go.” Daydream paused, “I am not letting us go!” Ten more times Daydream cast her spell, as she cast it each time her voice echoed like an eagle’s shriek in a vast canyon, her body reverting back to being Sunset as she casted the spell the second to last time. As her spell finished, she could barely feel Sci-Twi’s heartbeat, let alone her breath. Then it hit her like a freight train, “No.” she whispered as she looked towards the heavens, “Please, let her live! She doesn’t deserve death! Not one like this! Not so soon! Please! Please!” She paused as lowered her head to look at the slowly paling Twilight. ‘I love her,” she whispered. “I love her.” she said a little louder as she looked up. “I LOVE HER!!!” she screamed to the heavens as rivers of tears rolled down her cheeks, and she began to weep. As Sunset wept, a left hand placed what looked like an acorn, but with golden pigments as opposed to the usual shades of brown, on Sci-Twi’s back, aligned with the dying girl’s heart. The hand was Sunny’s, and in her right hand was the holy symbol she wore, “Daybreaker, Ender of The Death of Night, hear my plea. I, Sunny Flare, a cleric of your men-at-arms, request that you break the dawn for this soul one more time. End the night of her death and grant her another day!” The holy symbol glowed, and a purple aura was drawn from the failing body of Sci-Twi into the acorn. Sunset didn’t notice Sunny casting the spell, until it was cast and Sci-Twi’s heart stopped. “No.” she whispered as she almost choked on her tears. She then felt nothing but air as Sci-Twi’s body become nothing but dust in the wind. She opened her eyes in horror. She then closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands as she wept. After another second, she was tapped on her shoulder. She lowered her hands and saw Sunny holding an acorn out to her.  Barely noticeable around the acorn was a purple light. “What did you…” “I asked Daybreaker to end the night of … Sci-Twi’s life and grant her another dawn.” Sunny informed as Sunset took the acorn and held it to her heart. Sunny then got up and started to leave as everyone else went to Sunset. “I have other business to attend to.” Sunny then left them to confront her mother. Following her were Indigo, Lemon, Sour and Sugarcoat. Once they were out of earshot of Rainbooms as they comforted Sunset, “So, the time has come?” Sugarcoat asked. Sunny didn’t turn, “As witnessed by everyone present, Twilight Sparkle was struck down by a death spell when she was no longer a threat and was denied a trial, such actions are grounds for my mother’s removal as baroness. Besides, I refuse to be in her shadow any longer.” Cinch was in her office and placed the wand of death spell on her desk. She picked up the folder with the title ‘Operation: Midnight.’, and walked over to the fireplace in her office and started a fire in it. Sure Sunset, the rest of Shadow Bolt’s bastard daughters, including the secretary Montage, and Sunny can make the claim of what Cinch planned, but without that folder, without the lab, it would be a he-said-she-said, even if it was seven to one. Just as the fire started to burn the content of the folder, “You know mother-dearest, while you’re right about others underestimating you, you seem to overestimate yourself.” Cinch froze for a second at the daughter’s voice. However, the baroness collected herself in seconds and turned to face her daughter, next to her were her half-sisters, well the ones that Sunny knew were her half-sisters. In the hands of Sugarcoat was a clear gem recording the event, “It appears that I have lost.” she said candidly. “I suppose I am under addressed for murder.” Cinch said as she walked to her desk. “Of course, we can forgo with most of the formalities. I request a trial by combat, here and now. I will be my own champion.” Sunny nodded in agreement, “And I will be the champion of the Law.” Everyone turned to Sunny in shock. “The trial starts now!” Sunny declared. Cinch ran to her desk but before she reached it she was blinded by the exploding acorns that Sunny threw, leading her shot. As Cinch was about to recover she felt her chest be pierced by cold steel. She looked to see Sunny with the sword of the late Shadow Bolt in her hand, the blade itself going into Cinch’s heart. “Yield and you will live in exile, never to return.” Sunny offered. Cinch coughed, before she spoke, “I’d would have killed you without a second thought,” Cinch sputtered. Sunny nodded, “I know, but I am not you. I didn’t coerce Ms. Montage into collecting all those samples, I didn’t try to play God and make my own. I didn’t try to make a living weapon, and I didn’t murder the person that was the intended living-weapon.” Sunny paused for another second, “My offer still stands.” Cinch was silently defiant. “Going once,” Cinch said nothing. Sunny waited three seconds, “Going twice”. Again Cinch said nothing for three seconds solid. “Going thrice.” Sunny stated once more. For three more seconds, Cinch remained silent. “Baroness Abacus Cinch, before you could be formally charged with the murder, you requested a trial by combat. You have lost. Thrice you were offered the chance to yield and to live the rest of your life in exile and rejected in silence thrice. I, Sunny Flare, as the victor and now rightful Lady of Midnight Castle, hereby sentence you to death forthwith.” Sunny then started to drive the blade through Cinch, “May the Divine have mercy on your soul.” Cinch smiled and shed a tear, like any parent proud of their child. Sunny then drew the sword out of Cinch. Cinch’s eyes rolled back as she fell to the ground, dead. Sugarcoat and the rest all took a knee, “Hail Baroness Sunny Flare, Lady of Midnight Castle.” The following day, after Sunny was officially made baroness of Midnight Castle, Sunset et al were in the library, next to the mirror, Rarity was the closest and was trying to align the stars and the swirls. Sunset was holding a small brown ceramic gardening pot. In the pot was a small oak, just barely breaching the surface. Fluttershy gave Sunset a hug, “You’ll want to transplant the oak into place where it will be able to grow more in about a month or two. I’d recommend a place without older trees, and a place where you can watch over it.” Applejack placed her hand on Sunset’s shoulders, “Make sure to have some good-quality fertilizer when yah transplant it. Don’t be afraid to use the carcass of animal.” Everyone froze at Applejack’s statement as they turned to her. “What? Every one of mah family’s apple trees was planted with a cow or pig as part of the fertilization process.” Everyone remained frozen. “Seriously where do yah think wah do with our animals that died?” she asked pointing out the fact. Rarity coughed and went back to the mirror, “Okay… well um…” after a second of stuttering, “We’ll deal with that, later.” Rarity was able to align the stars and most of the swirls, but the last one would not move, “Come on. This worked when we got here.” Back in Mystica, in the Castle of Friendship, A young woman about the same age as Fluttershy et al. She had purple hair that was done in a slight ponytail with streaks of light purple and pale grayish aquamarine, and her eyes were Persian blue, Starlight Glimmer. She was dressed in dress that went past the knee, near the bottom of her left side were two streams of two different tones of light blue that taper to a four-pointed star a lighter shade of purple than the dress with a long sleeved magenta shirt with a pink jacket that sleeves covered over most of shirt with golden trim. On her left shoulder was a metal guard with a purple four-pointed star on an inverted white four-pointed star with a sash that was made of two sashes of two different tones of light blue. On her forehead was a focus gem, unlike the black bar-shaped one she wore before, it was purple gem cut to look like a four-pointed star, and on her feet were brown boots.  She laughed as she was pulled into an open sphere formed within the a set of roots. The sphere was formed with several circles with stars within them. After several minutes the last swirls finally moved and was aligned. “There,” Rarity announced as the portal finally opened. “Sunset, darling, if ever you want to reach out to us, we’ll gladly host you.” “Feel free to transplant the oak into Magiville and feel invited to move if you want, I am sure Twilight wouldn’t mind if you move in.” Pinkie added with a hug before she and Rarity went through the portal first. Fluttershy and Applejack hugged Sunset farewell and started to the portal, “Oh, plants do like classical music and don’t mind being read too.” Fluttershy added. Applejack nodded, “Yup, that’s why Bloomberg got so big.” The two then went to the portal. Rainbow was the last one to go, “She’ll love ‘The Ring of Destiny’.” Rainbow suggested as she gave a copy of the book she had. As Sunset looked at the cover, “Yeah, that’s me. It’s an advanced first edition.” Sunset opened the book and saw the dedication and read it, “Thanks to one of my greatest fans.” Sunset then looked to Rainbow Dash, “Let me guess.  It’s dedicated to Twilight Sparkle.” Sunset joked. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and the two hugged before she followed the rest through the portal. Once Rainbow went through the portal, the portal closed behind her first in Midnight Castle and then in the library of The Castle of Friendship. The five then saw a strange light coming from the throne room. Rarity was first and opened the doors to the throne room, followed by Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. “Finally, we’re here!” the fashion savvy enchantress shouted, “What in Mystica was all that?!” she asked as she elected to get to the brass tacks concerning what they saw, “We couldn’t return from Midnight Castle, no matter what we tried!” “Is everybody okay?” Fluttershy asked as she hoped to defuse a potentially explosive situation. When Spike saw the others, he ran over to them and hugged each of them, kissing Rarity’s right hand, once he finished, “One group of amazing friends – check!” Twilight chuckled, glad to know she was home and that this was over, the other girls also had a short laugh, more so at Spike’s actions. Applejack stopped first as she drew her sword and pointed it at Starlight, “What's she doin' here?” she asked ready to strike Starlight down there and then, with no regrets. “Actually, it's kind of a long story,” Twilight answered as she walked over to Applejack and lowered the blade. “Yeah, we have a story to tell you, too.” Rainbow commented, “You’re not going to believe it.” Just then the blue box that Time Turner owned appeared out of nowhere right in the throne room, it’s door opened and Brighteyes looked out, “Um, Doc, we’re not in the wrong place. You meant your house, not the Castle of Friendship.” “Well, this old girl likes to mess with me time to time. Alright once more. ALLONZY!” After the blue box left, “What the actual…” Applejack started to ask. Epilogue As night was starting, Sunset tended the germinating acorn in the pot. It was only temporary until she found a place she could plant it and let it grow. She looked at the tiny oak. A tear dropped from her eye and landed on the small leaf. “It’s not fair.” she whispered. “She didn’t deserve that.” She wiped her face and took a breath trying to stop herself from breaking down in tears. After a second, she leaned down and kissed the leaf, “I hope Sunny is right.” she whispered more to herself. She then put out the last candle in her room as she went to bed. Unbeknownst to her, a faint outline of Sci-Twi’s aura mark, which was the same as Twilight’s, appeared on the leaf that Sunset kissed. Deep within the Everfree Forest, in part long untouched, a geode made of a what looked like seven gems seemed to pulsate.