//------------------------------// // Interlude: Marred Spectrum // Story: ULTRA LIVE! Sunset Shimmer // by Cojo5536 //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash wandered aimlessly in the city, feeling lost, broken and pathetic. *////* Ginga turned back into Sunset who glared at Rainbow Dash. “You want to talk about fair, Rainbow Dash? You never even gave me a chance to explain myself. Why?” “But you took everything from me!” Rainbow Dash accused. “I never took anything from you! You threw it all away! Why? Because you’re a stubborn, spoiled and arrogant brat who refuses to grow up and act her age! You don’t even see the bigger picture!” Sunset yelled. “...But, Anon-A-Miss...” “Nobody cares about Anon-A-Miss anymore, Rainbow Dash. Not me, not the others, and you certainly shouldn’t. By now, you’re just using it as an excuse to make me look like the villain to soothe your own wounded ego!” “But you are-!” “I’m not the one who tried to kill those people, am I? And for what? For not cheering for you?” *////* Rainbow Dash could not make any excuses for nearly killing the people cheering for Ultraman Ginga. So, she just ran. Sunset didn’t even care to chase after her. That was how insignificant she was. “Rainbow Dash?” Rainbow Dash heard her name being called and looked up. She did not realize that she was near the mall when Scootaloo spotted her. “Oh, hey squirt,” Rainbow Dash responded, trying to crack a smile at her honorary little sister. Unfortunately, Scootaloo noticed her dour mood, “What’s up? You look like Tank just died.” Rainbow flinched at Scootaloo’s wording, “It’s that obvious, huh?” “Uh, kinda. Did Sunset do something again?” Rainbow flinched again. Yes, Sunset did do something. She showed Rainbow Dash how truly flawed she was and how far she was willing to go to soothe her own ego. This time, it wasn’t Sunset who was trying to kill people but herself, and it was Sunset who had shielded the people from being vaporized by an angry teenager with superpowers. “We were supposed to spend Christmas together before Anon-A-Miss started posting stuff online,” Rainbow explained. It was a tough subject for her to talk about, but it needed to be addressed. “Anon-A-Miss, you mean Sunset Shimmer, right? “No, squirt. I’m starting to think I was all wrong about her.” “...What?” “Yeah, coz it took losing all my friends for me to see what she was going through,” Rainbow Dash confessed. “I was the first one to call her out on being Anon-A-Miss and left her alone. Now I’m the one who’ll end up spending the holidays without her friends. Funny how karma works, huh?” “B-but you’re not alone, Rainbow. You have me, and your family!” “Yeah, but my friends are like my family too, and now I don’t know how I can face them.” *////* “Think it was a good idea for me to let her run off like that, Ginga?” Sunset Shimmer asked the Ginga Spark. “Sunset Shimmer,” Ginga responded, “While I am immensely powerful, I am not omniscient. I cannot see the future, or know what to say at all times. She will have to find her answers on her own for now.” “I guess. It still doesn’t feel right though,” Sunset said. “Life rarely allows for feeling right,” Ginga reminded, “Much like your snap judgment in the Battle of the Bands to tackle Rainbow to stop her from revealing your plan to the Dazzlings.” “How did you even know that?” “When we merged, we shared memories.” “Okay, so I assume that means you know about the bullying and the she-demon transformation then.” “If you think that I hold that against you, then no. That is in your past. What matters is who you are now and who you can be in the future. However, I also saw more in your memories.” “Huh?” Sunset said, confused. What did Ginga mean by that? “You seem to have unresolved business with your former mentor.” Ah, yes. The pony who pretty much drove her away. Well, Sunset had been an entitled brat, so full of pride and anger. So alone in a strange world. “Princess Celestia. We did not part on the best of terms.” “With the portal open, it should be easy for you to go and see her again. She’s just a stone’s throw away.” “After everything I did, after everything I said to her, would she ever forgive me?” Sunset questioned. “She recharged the Ginga Spark for you. Shouldn’t that offer you a clue?” Ginga returned reasonably.. “Uh…” Sunset couldn’t argue with that logic. However, she just wasn’t ready to see Princess Celestia again. “I will not force you to confront her if you are not ready, Sunset Shimmer. I only ask you consider this. I do not wish for you to have any regrets.” “Thanks, Ginga.” “You are welcome, Sunset Shimmer,” Ginga replied. “So, about Taro, how come I can’t restore him with the Ginga Spark?” Sunset asked. “Again, not omniscient. Not even I know that answer.” “Then that means we gotta find the Dark Giant and stop him for good. Is there anything you can tell me about him?” “A name: Dark Lugiel.” A chill ran through Sunset’s spine at the name, and she felt ready to drop the topic at that, alone, “Sorry I asked.” “No need to apologize, Sunset. However, about that demon,” Ginga began. “Ugh, could we not do this?” “Unfortunately not. That creature was not some construct of your mind, Sunset.” “What?” “When you took hold of that forbidden book, you created a separate entity in your mind, one based on your worst traits.” “No,” Sunset gasped, “It couldn’t be. That thing isn’t real!” “I am afraid it was. Think of it in terms of genetics, a dominant personality and a recessive personality. The demon was the dominant personality when you were a bully at CHS, while the girl you should have been was struggling to break free. All the Elements of Harmony did was force the demon to become recessive, while the girl you are, now, took over. However, that creature has been vying for control ever since, and very nearly won this day.” “But she’s gone now, right?” “With luck, yes. But know this, Sunset. A powerful criminal, though imprisoned, may still hold power. As such, that demon could still influence the world around you from within your mind, without your knowledge.” “What do you mean?” Sunset asked, worried about the answer. “Nothing overt, for risk of alerting your friends, but in far more discreet, insidious ways.” “That’s pretty vague of you, Ginga.” “You should return to your friends lest you worry them.” “Yeah, and they’re probably answering some really awkward questions about how I’m not in the hospital anymore,” Sunset remarked. Sunset Shimmer put the Ginga Spark away and headed in the direction of the hospital. Hopefully, she would be able to save Applejack and Lightning Dust who were likely being interrogated by a doctor for allowing an injured patient to leave. *////* “Applebloom, I think we should stop.” Scootaloo was on the phone with Applebloom. “Stop? Whaddya mean?” “Anon-A-Miss, posting all those secrets, it needs to stop, right now.” “But-” “But what, Applebloom? You set it all up to drive Sunset away from our sisters. Not only did it stop working, we’ve hurt Rainbow Dash.” “She’s got thick skin. She’ll be fine.” “You didn’t see her, Applebloom. She’s lost all her friends and looks so broken right now.” “But that’s not our fault!” “Isn’t it? Look, Applebloom. It’s over. Nobody is taking Anon-A-Miss seriously anymore since the monsters showed up. We haven’t gotten any new secrets to post and Sunset Shimmer’s got most of her friends back. I’m going to tell my aunts and Rainbow Dash. I’m gonna call Sweetie Belle and tell her to do the same.” Suddenly, a feminine voice spoke in Scootaloo’s head, “Uh uh uh, you don’t get to go off script.” Scootaloo was then assailed by a massive headache, then an empty calmness. Scootaloo raised her phone to her ear again and said, “I’m sorry Applebloom, I don’t know what came over me. Keep Anon-A-Miss going.” She hung up before her friend could reply. “Good job.” *////* On the aliens’ rooftop, the newcomer seemed to have become lost inside her head. Suddenly, she became alert and said, “There, now that, that bit of mutiny has been quelled, I believe we were discussing how you were going to take me to your boss.” “Hm hm hm, not a chance. For one, now that I see you, I can smell Ginga on you. Second, you are a dead ringer for Sunset Shimmer, and she isn’t on my friends list right now,” Icarus scoffed. The girl feigned being shot, “You wound me Icarus. Is that any way to talk to the demon that made your scheme possible?” Metron huffed, “What? You’re behind Anon-A-Miss? Not likely. We already know it was those three little girls. Now do us both a favor and die!” The two aliens prepared to kill the doppelganger when all of a sudden they heard their names behind called. “Metron, Icarus.” The aliens froze when they heard their master’s voice in their heads. “Bring the young lady to me.” “WHAT!? BUT SHE’S-!” both aliens exclaimed. “Now. Do not make me repeat myself.” Cringing, Metron became his transportation form, while Icarus grabbed hold of the Sunset look-alike and teleported. *////* Dark Lugiel sat inside his lair, surrounded by his collection of Spark Dolls. In his hands, he was cleaning one of his Spark Dolls. “We have much to talk about.” He turned around to face the newest addition to his plot. The Sunset doppelganger raised an eyebrow at the person in front of her, “Well, out of everyone you could have been, this is a surprise.” “Choose your words carefully, demon. I may not be complete, but I have more than enough power to leave you naught but ash on the wind,” Lugiel warned, “Now, you have your audience. Speak quickly. I am in no mood for arrogance.” The demon huffed, “Right. So, I am the Fall Formal Demon, or Fall, for short. As for why I’m here? Well, I was just sitting in Sunset’s head, trying to reclaim my body,” now the demon began mock crying. “Then, for no reason, Ginga showed up and threw me out.” “So, history repeats itself,” Lugiel murmured. “He didn’t even give me the required eviction notice,” Fall sobbed, then became serious. “Fortunately, I stole some of Ginga’s light when he punched me, allowing me to create this form,” she indicated her body. “Then continue your personal plan. I fail to see why I should concern myself with your troubles.” Fall glared at Lugiel, “You’re quite bad at this, aren’t you? See, I don’t want this body, I want Sunset Shimmer’s body. And I can’t have it, until Ultraman Ginga is dealt with. So I’m here to make an alliance.” “What can you possibly offer me that I do not already have?” Fall grinned, vilely, “Magic.” Lugiel merely tilted his head in response. “As you have no doubt noticed, magic and the Sparks play very well together. Remember how that slut Rarity actually made Goldon a viable threat? What if I told you I could make that happen consistently,” Fall tempted. “And how do you propose to do that?” “Well first off, I’m gonna need that,” Fall replied, pointing at a device next to Lugiel’s computer. “Done, anything else?” “Yeah, the ability to create Dark Dummy Sparks, and your name.” “Dark Lugiel, and you will be granted that ability, with the condition that you be assigned a handler,” Lugiel then grabbed the device and tossed it to Fall, “Now Icarus, take her away, I need to decide who her handler will be.” Icarus nodded, then grabbed Fall, and teleported away. Now alone, Metron voiced his concerns, “Are you sure taking her on is the best idea, my lord? She seems… flighty.” “Why do you think I am assigning her a handler? She may have power, but she cannot defeat an alien. Now leave me be.” Metron bowed, then flew off, leaving Lugiel to make his choice, undisturbed. *////* Meanwhile, in a Starbucks elsewhere in Canterlot, Rainbow Dash sat, trapped in her funk. She was all alone and she really had nobody else to blame but herself. She was not alone for long. “Wow, Dash. Never seen you look this bummed out since you broke your leg trying to do that stunt on your skateboard.” Rainbow sighed, “Hey, Gil.” “That’s it? Not gonna ask about how I am after I went Godzilla on the town?” Gilda cocked an eyebrow. “Well, I could say the same to you, given what I just went through.” “Huh?” Ginda was confused. Last she checked, she was the only one between them that became a monster. Unless… “Dash, what happened?” It was not a question. It was a demand Rainbow curled into herself and murmured, “I was the black Ultraman.” “What?” “I was the black Ultraman,” Rainbow repeated, loud enough for Gilda to hear. Gilda had seen the black Ultraman in action and was not impressed. She had seen him attack Ginga while his back was turned and then there was that shot of him trying to blast people to smithereens. Thank goodness Ginga was there to shield those people. Gilda knew Rainbow Dash long enough to know she would not lie about something like this. She took the seat across from her oldest childhood friend and looked straight at her. “Shit, Dash. Why’d you go and do something stupid like that?” Gilda asked. Rainbow Dash was far from stupid, but she was reckless and when she let her ego and anger get the best of her, Rainbow Dash could make some pretty dumb decisions. “You know, when we were kids, I wanted to be a superhero.” “Yeah? Wait, what? You thought those two xenos could make that happen? Despite all the evidence that told you that they had zero interest in saving anyone? WHY THE HELL DID YOU THINK THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA!?” “Because I wanted to prove Sunset was Anon-A-Miss!” Rainbow admitted. That sent Gilda into a dangerous silence as she let Rainbow’s confession sink in. Once she had given herself time to calm down, she said slowly, and with deadly calmness, “You know, I can’t exactly entirely blame you, given who your parents are. But this time, I can’t hold back anymore. Rainbow, you don’t want friends, that implies give and take. No, what you want is cheerleaders, people whose sole purpose is to boost your ego and nothing else. And when they can’t do that, you throw them away like garbage!” “That’s not true!” Rainbow Dash denied. “Oh, really? Where are your friends now?” Gilda challenged. Rainbow Dash could not answer that but Gilda answered instead. “They left you to side with Sunset Shimmer. Seriously, Dash. What were you thinking?” “I thought that if I could show everyone what a fraud Sunset is, then they’ll believe me. I thought I could show everyone I could be a better hero.” “Well, Dash, you failed. You want to know what makes Sunset a hero? When she fights monster, she doesn’t do it for anyone’s approval. She does it because no one else can and if she doesn’t then people will get hurt. She’s not thinking about beating monsters, but saving people from them. You just want to show off and you nearly killed people when they were cheering for her instead of you. And even if you started beating monsters, you wouldn’t be praised for it, because you would’ve only got that position by jumping Sunset, which would just make you look bad.” Rainbow put her hand to her chin, “I… I never thought of that.” “Clearly!” Gilda snapped, before taking a calming breath. “Dash, you’re a good kid, never let anyone take that away from you, but you’ve got serious issues in your head to work out. Until you’ve sorted those out, I’m sorry, but we can’t be friends.” Rainbow’s eyes widened, “What!? But Gilda-!” “I’m sorry. When you finally get your head on straight, look me up,” Gilda said, then she walked out the door, leaving Rainbow Dash alone with only her thoughts as company. Unable to stop herself, the proud athlete cried once she realized how royally she had screwed up.