//------------------------------// // Dream // Story: Sunset's Scars // by Mystic Shadows //------------------------------// Sunset raced through the city, heart pounding. Glancing back, she could see a flash of pure white, of black, of pink, of purple. Turning her attention forward, she weaved her way through the masses. Spotting a cave, she ducked her way in, her horn scraping the top. She paused for a moment, ears perked up. The cave she was in was small, barely big enough to fit her small stature. Spotting a tunnel at the back of the cave, she made her way over to it. Soon enough, Sunset was crawling through the tunnel, hoping it wouldn't get much smaller. Just as she thought about attempting to wriggle her way back out, the tunnel opened up. The cavern she found herself in was gigantic. Peering up, she was unable to spot the ceiling. Looking across the cavern, Sunset noticed a pool. Walking over to it, Sunset lowered her head, closed her eyes and drank some of the water, noting that it was very cool and fresh. Opening her eyes, Sunset looked at her reflection and screamed. Sunset jumped back from the pool, then carefully crept closer. Taking a deep breath, she looked at her reflection again. Her teal eyes were peering back at her yellow form and there, on her side, was a wing. Turning her head, she noted that, yes, she did have wings, and she still possessed a horn. Sitting back on her haunches, Sunset beamed. Finally, at long last, she was an Alicorn. Sunset opened her wings, and flapping them a few times, rose up into the air. Soon, she was flying in the cavern, reveling in the sensation. Just as she started to make another loop around the cavern, a voice spoke. "Enjoying yourself, darling?" Looking down, Sunset spotted her friends--minus Twilight. Laughing, she made her way down to them. "Hey, girls. Look. Its finally happened." Sunset showed off her wings, nearly bouncing up and down in excitement. "Mighty happy for ya, sugarcube." "They look amazing, darling." "Yay!" "We gotta have a 'Sunset became an Alicorn' party." "Heh. Looking awesome. Wanna race?" Sunset accepted the challenge and rose into the air to race against Rainbow Dash. While Sunset and Rainbow raced, the other girls gathered around the pool on the ground, cheering the two on. Neck and neck, the two crossed the 'finish line' at the same time, landing gracefully on the ground. "Ha, nice race, Sunset. Too bad you were cheating." Rainbow glared at Sunset, ears folded flat. "Wha--Rainbow, I was not cheating. How could you say that?" "No, I agree with Rainbow. You were cheating, Sunset. Ya didn't earn those wings of yours." Applejack stood next to Rainbow. "Since you're an Alicorn, you can give us wings and horns too, right Sunset? Then I could throw the biggest, bestest Alicorniest party any Alicorn ever threw. " "That's not how it works, Pinkie. And what do you mean, I didn't earn them, Applejack?" Sunset folded her ears flat and glared right back at Rainbow and Applejack. "That's very selfish of you, darling. You're supposed to share your good fortune." "And you didn't earn those wings. You used us and our magic, you big meanie." "They're right, you know." Spinning around, Sunset beheld Princesses Celestia, Cadance, Luna, and Twilight, all glaring down at her. "To become an Alicorn, one must show Honesty, Generosity, Kindness, Laughter, and Loyalty--none of which you have." "Excuse me?! I have been showing the Elements." "IT IS DISTURBING TO US HOW THOU HAST BEEN OUR SISTERS' STUDENT, THOUGH THOU HAST BEEN UNDESERVING OF IT." "Yes, it seems like I was remiss in choosing you to be my protege." "There is no love in your heart, Sunset. No love for anyone but yourself." "While you have been showing the Elements, you have been forced to. Left to your own devices, you abandoned your home, your teacher, your family--in search of what? The strongest magic there was?" "Liar" "Meanie" "Fake" Thief" "Not our friend" Backed into a corner, surrounded by her friends and the princesses, all yelling at her--the voices became indistinguishable from each other, all yelling at her. Then--silence. Sunset looks up and around. Her friends--all gone. She stands in a void and a voice speaks out. "All alone now, Sunset?" Sunset sees her friends and starts running to them. As she gets closer, she sees Twilight in the middle of the group. "It's happening again, isn't it? They have Twilight now. Why would they stay friends with you? Why would they need you? The answer is: they don't. They'll forget all about you." Sunset stops and watches her friends laugh. Turning around, she starts to walk into the void, hand hanging low. "But I won't." Looking up, Sunset sees---herself, skin red. Her double smiles, fangs gleaming. "I won't forget you. I'll always be there for you. Everybody trusts us now. We can take over the school again, using niceness" she sneers, "if need be." Sunset backs away, shaking her head. "Fine. New idea. We're the magic experts now. Everybody will listen to us about Magic. We could tell them anything we want about it and they will believe us. Celestia has already entrusted this task to you. All you'll be doing is following orders." Sunset advanced towards her double, head cocked. "Yes. Equestria magic is already here. The Dazzlings proved that. And Twilight Sparkle ripping holes in Space? More Magic had to have soaked through. All we have to do is find it." The Red Sunset cackled. "We'll be unstoppable again." The Red Sunset reached a leg out as Sunset did the same. Sunset opened her eyes and smiled.