Celestia was always the “sun” of our family.
Our parents loved her. Teachers, too. All the boys wanted to go out with her. All the girls wanted to be like her.
The best of the class, the best of friends.
She was sweet, kind, intelligent, and beautiful inside and outside. She was just… perfect...
I was everything she was not. I never considered myself beautiful, always thinking my face was simply average. I was not as kind or as open to others as she was. I liked solitude. I had few friends and liked it that way.
But that didn’t bother me. I didn’t want to be like her... But the others...
“Celestia is on the honor roll!”
“You could at least try to make an effort at school.”
“Why can’t you be like your sister?”
“She always comes to school with Celestia, right?”
“She’s really unfriendly.”
“I can’t believe that they’re really sisters.”
“I don’t like her.”
Nobody knew me. Some didn’t even know my name. I was just “Celestia's sister”, the one who was not pretty, was not smart, was not kind, was not friendly.
I tried not letting it get to me, but eventually…
“Hey, you're... Celestia's sister, right?”
That was it. The last straw. The lockers clanged as I threw that boy against them. They clanged again when I punched him in the face.
I wasn’t going to let them keep comparing me to her.
Everyone said that I was the opposite of what she was. Maybe that was true. If she was warm and radiant like the sun, then I would be as cold and harsh as the night.
No one messed with me after that. No one spoke to me. They’d get out of my way as I walked down the hall. Student, teacher, didn’t matter. I saw them all the same way: prey. I made a reputation for myself, little by little. Everyone knew me not as Celestia’s shadow, anymore. I was my own person in their eyes.
Of course, there were some people who tried to put me down. I was hollered at, scolded, punished, attacked, but I came out on top every time.
It wasn’t just at school, either. It simply started there. I got into fight after fight with my parents. With Celestia. Finally, I had enough with them, too. I ran out of the house, jumped on my dad’s motorcycle, which still had the key in, and sped off into the night.
I barged into a nightclub, tired and angry. Some jackass started hitting on me, really into the bad girl vibe I was giving off. And I’m not proud of what I did, but he just wouldn’t leave me alone. I hit him over the side of the head with my mug.
That started a big brawl, me at the center. And as luck would have it, I came out on top again. It wasn’t easy. I was beaten, bloody, couldn’t see straight, couldn’t walk straight, but I won.
My reputation spread quickly. Most feared me. Some respected me. I was no longer a school girl, secluded and bored. I was a nightmare in broad daylight.
I decided to seal it. I found a back-alley tattoo parlor willing to ink minors. I came out with the tattoo you saw on my stomach.
That settled it. I wasn’t Luna anymore. I was Nightmare Moon. I forgot about school and family. I had what I wanted. People knew me, feared me. I was the queen of everything, and everyone else was trash under my feet.
Or so I thought...
You see, power is a funny thing. With power comes enemies, and the more power you have, the more powerful they will be...
I got the attention of several gangs. They weren’t happy that a high school girl was so feared throughout the streets.
I ignored them. They weren’t worth my time. But I was worth theirs.
Day after day, night after night, for weeks, months... It was one fight after another. And I always won. I would rise above every leader, humiliating them if possible. Each victory earned me new followers, new opportunities, and new languages that spread my name throughout the city. I was invincible. But if there’s one lesson I had to learn the hard way, it’s this: When you’re at the top, all it takes is one good push to send you tumbling back down.
I was caught alone in a warehouse. Upwards of twenty guys, each armed with pipes, knives, whatever. I went through my little opening ritual. “Poor are they who dare to oppose the queen of the night, who dare to arouse her fury! Whoever is brave or foolish enough, come and face a real nightmare! Come, then, and face Nightmare Moon!”
They all rushed me, and just like every other time, I won. All of my enemies lay all around me. All except one. I glared at him, ready to finish what they started. He reached into his vest, and I charged. Then... a bang.
Time stops. I stop running, a strong burning in my stomach. I feel at it, and my hand feels warm. Sticky. I look down. A hole. I look up at the gangster, and the room blurs. I collapse, and the guy drops the weapon and runs away.
I’m alone. All alone. I can feel the world fading away. I can’t feel the cold, hard ground beneath me. I can’t feel the flow of blood oozing from the hole in my body. I can’t even feel the person who ran up to me or hear what I know were her desperate screams.
Next thing I know, I wake up in a hospital bed. Miraculously, I didn’t die. And by my side was Celestia, asleep on a chair next to my bed, clasping my hand in both of hers.
I couldn’t fathom why she was there. I abandoned her. I abandoned my whole family to pursue my own selfish wants. And still... there she was, right next to me. My whole body felt cold, but my hand... It was warm...
Then, Celestia woke up. I remember her groan of pain as she straightened her back, but when she met my eyes, she froze, right before throwing herself at me, hugging me tightly as she cried in joy.
I cried with her.
Sunset looks intently at her former vice principal, who keeps her eyes on the city in the distance. They both lie at the bottom of a large hill, the whole city in sight.
The weather was cold, but there was no wind. Soft, light snow begins to fall, glittering in the sunlight as it descends to the world below.
There is silence for a moment. Sunset has no intention of interrupting.
"I had no one at my back at school or at home. That's what I thought, anyway. But the truth is that Celestia was always there for me... I felt so stupid for not realizing that before."
Sunset finally looks away, looking down...
Nightmare Moon... the legend of the Mare on the Moon... a story so old... so well known...
A jealous princess, seeking revenge for her lack of recognition of her hard work, forcing her night on all the ponies of Equestria…
Sunset had heard and read that story hundreds of times. She never knew how true it could be, because Celestia never wanted to tell her the truth behind it. But Sunset did know what happened in the end. Twilight and her friends managed to use the most powerful magic in Equestria and save that corrupt princess, returning her to the sister who, for a thousand years, had pined for her return.
This story was very different... and yet so similar...
In this world, there was no magic force driven by positive feelings. This fight, it was only the two sisters... and somehow... they managed to get through it...
Sunset returns her sight to the vice principal. "Vice principal... I..." She was not sure how to ask her question. "Why did you tell me all that...?"
The answer takes a second to arrive. "Celestia always believed in me, and she always believed that there is goodness in every heart. That's why she became a teacher, and then a principal: so that she could help young people take the right path. That's why, when you arrived at school, she believed in you, that you could put aside that evil attitude and be a good person. "
The words surprise the former equine, who looks downward again sullenly.
Luna continues talking. "I think she saw in you a reflection of what we both lived. I know I did..."
They look at each other, one with surprise, the other without any particular emotion.
"There are times... that we hurt others without realizing it, or we make decisions that affect others, and we don’t realize the damage we are causing."
Sunset frowns and looks away. Hearing those words brought mixed emotions.
Was this what Luna wanted? That's why she brought her here? That's why she had come and insisted on talking to her?
"I know it's hard to admit our mistakes," Luna continues. "But in doing so, you can see the world with different eyes."
Oh, boy. Sunset was sure of that. Those five surely now saw how stupid they had been. Sure, now they saw how their strong friendship was a lie.
Surely, they saw themselves and others as what they are: a bunch of hypocrites and liars.
With each thought, Sunset's frown festers more and more. That does not go unnoticed by Luna.
"Something bothering you, Sunset?" the dark-haired woman asks softly.
The former equine is silent, trying to erase her frown, although her gaze is still annoyed. She looks down, crossing her arms.
"Why did you bring me here?" She asks with some annoyance. "To talk about them?"
The older woman doesn’t respond. She just looks at the young woman for a moment. "No, Sunset, it's to talk about you."
That erases Sunset’s annoyed expression, replacing it with a surprised one. "About me?"
The vice principal seems to think over her next words. "Tell me, Sunset. Are you satisfied with having changed your school?"
The question surprises Sunset, and she hesitates for a moment about how to respond. "Yeah, sure…"
Her voice seemed to hesitate... Why...?
"Crystal Prep is fine," Sunset says, trying to sound more resolute. "I do well in classes, I passed the exams, and I made... new friends. Real friends!"
"And your old friends from Canterlot… Do you not miss them?" asks Luna.
"Friends? What friends?" Sunset snaps sarcastically. "I never had friends at CHS."
"That’s not what I saw," Luna says.
Sunset pauses. "I guess we were both fooled, then." Sunset pauses again, going through her memories. "I thought they were my friends."
"Are you happy now, without them?" Luna asks again.
"Why do you care?" Sunset demands, her back to the older woman.
"Because I'm worried about you, Sunset," Luna responds calmly but sincerely. "I want to know you're happy with your new life."
"I told you. I'm fine. I have a new school, new classmates and teachers, I have new friends, a new life, and it's much, much better than before."
"Is it? Really?"
Sunset whirls on Luna, finally losing her patience. "Where are you going with this?!"
"I don’t understand why you’re upset," the vice principal says, confused. "If you're happy with your new school, you shouldn’t be so annoyed."
"I’m annoyed because you won’t drop it! It’s none of your business!" Sunset snaps. "I can do what I want with my life!"
Luna looks away to the horizon. "Yes... That's what I said, too."
That leaves the former equine mute. The silence returns... until Sunset, resuming her frustration, breaks it. "Enough! I don’t want to keep talking about this!" She turns again and crosses her arms. "It doesn’t matter if they were my friends or not. That's the past, and the past is not today!" She recites her characteristic phrase with finality, wanting to end the conversation.
Luna turns to face Sunset. "And what is today, Sunset?"
Try as she might, Sunset can’t help but consider the question silently, but the answer keeps eluding her thoughts.
The tension in the air is broken by a single sound. Luna sighs and fishes out her phone, answering the call.
"Yes?"
"You’re paying me to take care of the little princess, not to deal with this," the woman on the other end snaps.
"What happened?"
"No idea, but don’t think I'm going to wipe these two crybabies’ tears and tuck them in!"
"Two, huh?" Luna shakes her head. "All right, give me fifteen minutes, and I'll be there. Thanks for your help." Luna ends the call. Sunset looks at her, puzzled. "I think something happened with Twilight," Luna says. Sunset’s puzzlement is replaced by concern. "Do you want to come?"
Sunset doesn’t hesitate even a second.
*S*A*S*
She stands in front of the door, waits a few seconds, meditates, takes a deep breath, releases the air, and rings the doorbell.
It takes a few seconds, maybe more than she would expect, but the door opens. Her eyes widen in great surprise, seeing a girl with long, purple pigtails on the other side. It takes a few seconds, but she soon recognizes... Sonata's sister...
"…Oh, great," Aria snaps when she lays eyes on the newcomer. For a moment, no one speaks as the two stare at each other. "So, what, are you going to tell me you're coming to see yourself?" she demands.
It takes a moment, but Twilight nods quickly in answer. Aria huffs with annoyance but steps aside, letting her in.
*S*A*S*
In her borrowed room, Princess Twilight is in bed, sitting with her legs covered by the blanket, her attention on the open book in her hands.
She hears a knock on the door, and without giving her time to answer, it opens, Aria appearing in the room.
"Hey, little princess, someone is looking for you."
She is surprised a little, but again, she has no time to respond before seeing her human counterpart behind Aria, giving her a slightly nervous smile. "Um... hello... Princess."
Princess Twilight takes a moment to process the situation, but her surprise melts into a very friendly smile.
"Twilight, hello. Good morning."
"Uh… Good morning... Um..."The scientist falls silent. "I'm sorry. This is so weird... heh..."
The princess just laughs, nodding in agreement. Aria rolls her eyes and huffs, leaving without a word, closing the door with perhaps more force than necessary.
Both are surprised by her rudeness, but soon, the princess waves it off and invites her reflection to sit on the chair next to the bed, and leaving her own book aside, they begin to talk.
*S*A*S*
Aria spends as much time as she can watching television. On the small table in front of the sofa was a list of schedules and what seem like the names of medicine.
She rolls her eyes to the clock on the wall and growls. "Geez, I've been here all damn morning. Damn Adagio making me come here while she curls up in bed with the principal. Ugh... Well, at least they're paying me."
She looks back at the clock, and then turns her eyes to the stairs.
"What are they doing up there?" she thinks, before she growls, "Oh, what do I care?"
Aria gets to her feet. "I'm hungry. I wonder if the old bats have something decent to eat."
With that, she stalks toward the kitchen.
*S*A*S*
Upstairs in the room, the scientist leans forward, wonder on her face. "And how big is Equestria?" she asks, the latest of many questions about Princess Twilight’s homeworld.
"Well, the land of Equestria is about thirty-six thousand square kilometers, but if we take into account the celestial territory, Cloudsdale, and the magical lands surrounding Equestria, it would be almost fifty-one thousand.
"Celestial territory? Like, flying cities?" The scientist takes a deep breath, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, but this all sounds so… crazy. I mean, I think it would be easier to believe that you're just a girl who looks like me and that you have wild, vivid hallucinations about magical worlds."
Princess Twilight can only laugh. "I suppose so, although I can assure you that it is true. But I understand. If I were in your shoes, I probably wouldn’t believe in portals and alternate worlds, either."
There is a brief silence, while the scientist seems to think something. "And, how does Sunset fit into all this?"
The Princess’s eyes widen in surprise, before a pained expression crosses her face. "Sunset also comes from Equestria. She and I were once students of the same teacher, although... she already had years of advanced study when I was a filly."
"Years?" the scientist interrupts with bewilderment. "But I thought... um... How old are you?"
The princess laughs, a little nervous about the topic. "The portal tends to create several alterations when someone crosses it. The body you see before you doesn’t reflect my true age, for instance. But, more to the point… Well, maybe Sunset should tell you the bulk of it, but… Sunset and I were... not friends at first. We were actually pretty bitter enemies… but in the end, with the help of my… my… "
There is silence, an extremely hurt look crossing the princess’s face. The scientist is about to reach out to her, but the princess presses on. "... with some help, I could make her see that being a leader… is not about having power... but... helping... and loving... others..."
With each word, the princess’s composure cracks more and more. Her eyes threaten to burst into tears at any second.
"Then, she and I became friends, and she soon... made more friends... and was finally happy.” The princess sniffles hard. “And then, the Dazzlings arrived, and... we faced them, and we defeated them with our friendship...!"
Tears had begun to fall down the princess's cheeks as she speaks, the memories whirling through her mind. The other Twilight, not sure what to do, simply sits beside the distraught princess and runs a comforting hand down her back.
"Then, I thought everything was fine..." Equestria's Twilight speaks in an almost choked voice. "I thought that Sunset had managed to make friends... I thought they had forgiven her... They were supposed to have accepted her as a friend!"
Her scream is full of anger, pain, sadness, and guilt.
The princess retracts her knees and hugs them to her chest while continuing to pour out her feelings. "But it wasn’t like that. They lied to me. They lied to her. They left her. They blamed her for something she didn’t do. They abandoned her and left her alone!"
The scientific Twilight is surprised, and a thought comes to mind. "Anon-a-Miss..." She watches with awe and worry at the effect Anon-a-Miss had on her double.
"And I... I didn’t do anything for her..."
The human Twilight still doesn’t speak. “What can I say? What can I do? I had only just recently managed to make friends... I have no idea what to do here!”
After regaining a little breath, the princess continues talking. "I thought it would fix itself... That they would see their mistake... I thought... I shouldn’t... worry..."
"Princess... n-no. It wasn’t your fault..." the scientist says.
"YES, IT WAS!" she screams with despair and anger. "I told her to trust them! I told her to become their friend... I believed... that they would accept her... It's my fault... It's my fault they lied to her... That they left her..."
At this point, the scientist has no idea what to do, much less how to feel. What are you supposed to do when you see your own face crying so heavily in front of you?
She felt her own tears fall down her cheeks. She tries to stop herself and hold her tears in; it would not do for both of them to cry.
*S*A*S*
On the other side of the door, Aria stands with a glass of water and some pills. She hear the sobs of the princess and stops herself from opening the door. She listens in.
"Now... Sunset hates me... She hates me... and I... I..."
Aria starts to hear the other Twilight start to cry, too. She trembles and growls with annoyance. Forgetting the medicine, she stomps downstairs and snatches her phone.
*S*A*S*
She did not know how long the princess was crying. She did not know how long she herself cried. She only knew that she was tired.
She stares at the princess, who’s still having trouble keeping her tears in check.
"... Princess... you... love Sunset, right...?"
It was a question, but she was already sure of the answer...
"I do love her. She's one of my best friends... I want... I want her back... Oh, Sunset... forgive me!"
The scientist looks down at the floor, not sure what to say. "You know... after the first time you and I met... I talked to Sunset, and... she told me... that you are very special to her."
The princess, sniffling, looks over at her counterpart. "She... She said that?"
"Yes. She told me that you helped her when she was at her worst moment... and that's why she appreciates you. Even if she's upset... she still loves you."
The princess ceases her crying, a spot of hope blooming in her. "She said that? Really?"
Although the scientist smiles, her eyes hold some pain as she nods. "Yes. She... still cares a lot about you..."
"You... You think so?"
The human Twilight gently touches the hand of the other. "I know so."
The Princess of Friendship rests her chin on her knees, still hurt, still sad, but with some hope in her eyes. "I want her to come back... I miss her so much..."
The scientist seems to act instinctively, gently stroking her hair.
Both of them hears footsteps outside the room. There is a knock on the door, and when it opens, the younger owner of the house enters.
"Twilight?" Luna quickly becomes aware of the double vision. One of the Twilights quickly cleans her face, and the other stands up in a straight, somewhat nervous pose. "Oh, and Twilight, heh," Luna laughs, a little amused by the sight.
The bespectacled Twilight remains ramrod straight, extremely nervous about the sudden appearance of the woman. "G-Good morning! I'm Twilight Sparkle! It's a pleasure!" she says an octave too loudly.
"Um, yes... My name is Luna. My sister Celestia told me about you."
"About me!? What... What did he say...?"
"Well, that you and Sunset are good friends."
"Well, I don’t know if she considers me a good friend... but I... I think... that she’s... a wonderful friend..."
She says that with a soft smile. And that is the moment that the former equine chooses to appear.
"That was nice," Sunset says.
Both Twilights are surprised, one more than the other.
"S-Sunset!"
A strong blush adorns the scientist's cheeks, and all she can do is cover her face with her hands, drawing a laugh from the girl in question, who approaches her and gently strokes her head. "You’re wonderful, too, Twilight."
Even behind her hands, the bright red glow on the scientist’s face is clear as day.
Sunset just chuckles before pointing her eyes to the other Twilight. She smiles softly. "Hey, Princess."
"Sunset..."
The fire-haired girl sits on the bed next to her. "How are you? You look better."
"Um... yes... The principals have taken great care of me, and I think I’m recovering." She brings her eyes to the lady of the house. "Thanks, again…"
Luna just smiles. "Again, you don’t have to thank us. Aria told us something was wrong, so we came to check up on you."
"'We'...?" Her eyes go to Sunset, who instantly seems embarrassed as she turns her head away slightly.
"Uh, yeah! I... I was with the vice principal and... and... well, I came..."
"She was worried about you," Luna says, smirking.
"I was not!" Sunset exclaims, her cheeks just as red as her hair.
That makes the woman laugh, but the princess’s face falls a little.
Sunset catches the princess’s long face and quickly backpedals. "I mean, yes, I was... Well, I wouldn’t say that I was worried. I just wanted to see that you were okay, you know?"
"Is that not worrying?" Luna asks, that smirk still on her face.
"Shut up!"
Even the other Twilight in the room can’t help laughing at the scene.
"You, too!" Sunset’s formerly yellow face is now a bright orange, betraying her embarrassment.
The scene is cut off when the former siren, who is apparently still in the house, enters the room with the pills and the glass of water. "Well, Princess, if you stopped your whining, take your medicine."
Sunset’s eyes widen as Aria hands Twilight the items. "Are you... taking care of her?"
"Only because she’s paying me for it," Aria replies with indifference, pointing her thumb at Luna.
Sunset’s curiosity isn’t satisfied. "I thought you three didn’t need money."
"Of course, we don’t," Aria answers, rolling her eyes. "But having my own money will let me buy what I want without having to listen to Adagio’s bitching." Aria watches as Twilight dutifully takes her pills and drinks the water. She takes the glass and moves to leave, when she pauses, turning to Luna. "Since you’re back, can I go home?"
"Sure. I'll get you your money here soon," Luna responds with a small smile. Aria says nothing, just leaving the room, and Luna turns to the Crystal Prep girls. "Do you two want to stay for lunch? Celestia will likely return soon."
Both seem to hesitate a moment, until Sunset responds with some nervousness, "Thanks, but... after all that happened, I think I’d rather go back home... I still want to rest."
Twilight responds nervously, too. "Um, I’ll pass, thanks.” She turns to her counterpart. “Um, Princess..." Her double is surprised a little when she’s addressed. "Thanks for... well, for today. And I... well, I'm sorry for... you know..."
The princess is silent for a moment, but she soon smiles and shakes her head. "It's okay. Really. You helped me a lot."
"Uh... but, I didn’t do anything..."
"Yes, you did. You gave me hope." Saying that, the princess gently turns her gaze to Sunset, who watches the scene in confusion and slight embarrassment, starting to feel like she’s watching something she shouldn’t be. Something personal. "Sunset."
Sunset starts in surprise. "Uh, yeah...?"
"Will I see you again? Soon?"
The question leaves Sunset confused and unsure of how to respond. "Y-Yeah, sure... I'll come to see you, one of these days... I suppose."
The answer brings a shine to the eyes of the princess, who smiles softly.
The human Twilight purses her lips slightly and takes Sunset’s hand. "Well, Sunset, let's go!"
"What? Um, okay..."
"Nice to see you, princess," the scientist says in farewell to her double.
"Likewise. I hope to meet again."
"Sure! Goodbye."
Before Sunset can give her own farewell, Twilight pulls her out of the room. Luna promptly follows them.
Now alone, the princess hugs her knees again and sighs, memories of her previous conversation running through her head.
"‘... She told me... that you are very special to her."
"... She still loves you..."
"Sunset... I hope you can forgive me soon..."
*S*A*S*
The night-haired woman says goodbye to the three girls at the door, handing the impatient siren her pay. "Thanks for your help, Aria. Say hello to your sisters for me."
"Thanks for the cash. Good luck with the crybaby." With that, Aria turns around, not bothering to say goodbye before leaving.
Luna just smiles, shaking her head while turning to the Crystal Prep girls. "Come whenever you want. You are always welcome."
"Thanks, Vice Principal Luna," Sunset says, nodding.
"Um, thanks for everything," Twilight says beside her.
One more farewell, and both girls leave, leaving the woman to close the door after she enters her house. The girls soon reach the siren at the end of the driveway, who is counting the money in her hands.
Sunset looks at both of them with some doubt. "Well... now what?"
"I'm going home," the siren responds with indifference. "Do whatever you want. I don’t care."
"Do you want us... to accompany you?" asks the girl with glasses.
"I’d rather slice my neck open than be seen with you two. I'll get a taxi."
Without even saying goodbye, Aria starts stalking away, but Sunset follows her. "Aria, wait!"
"What?" Aria snaps, turning to glare at her.
"Thanks for taking care of Twilight today," Sunset says to her with a small smile.
Aria rolls her eyes. "Don’t thank me. I only did it because they paid me."
Sunset never drops her smile. "Even so, thanks."
Sunset extends her hand. Aria looks at her for a moment. "Do you expect me to shake your hand? Seriously?"
"What, you afraid my fingers will bite you?"
Aria rolls her eyes, clearly annoyed. She looks at Sunset a little more, the former pony just looking back with a smile. Finally, the siren quickly grabs Sunset’s hand before pulling away in the blink of an eye.
"I hope we see each other soon!" the former equine says.
"Don’t get your hopes up."
The pigtailed girl stalks away from the other two girls, who watch her leave. Twilight nervously starts, "Well... she is... um..."
"Nice?"
"… Yeah, really nice."
They both start laughing before taking each other’s hand and walking in the direction opposite of Aria’s.
*S*A*S*
Sitting in the taxi, Aria keeps her irritated grimace up as she leans on the armrest of the door and looks out at the window.
Suddenly, she feels an itch on her arm. She rubs it a little but feels the itch rise up her shoulder, forcing her to move away from the door as she tries to get rid of it.
The sensation goes up a little more and reaches her throat. She touches her neck... feeling... feeling...