//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Final Round (FG Part 3) // Story: Tears of Sunlight // by JWolfSilver //------------------------------// All of the students gathered in the courtyard and Cadence stood at the podium waiting for the students to gather for the final event of the friendship games. All Sunset could think about was how she upset Twilight, a person she didn’t even know. Sure, she looked like the Equestrian princess but, much like Celestia, she was a completely different person.             “I don’t feel like playing these games anymore.” Fluttershy said after Luna had finished explaining the rules for the capture the flag game.             “But we have to play.” Rainbow insisted, “This is the last event!”             “It’s a little hard to focus with all the magic stealing and portal opening” Rarity said.             “And I feel awful about what I said to Twilight.” Sunset told her friends.             “Especially since she obviously didn’t even mean to do the stuff she did.” Fluttershy said, “She’s actually really nice.”             Sunset grimaced at her friend’s honesty and buried her face in her hands. Yep, I’m a horrible person.             “Let’s just get through this last event and prove we’re not a bunch of cheaters.” Applejack said then put a comforting hand on Sunset’s shoulder, “Then you can go over and apologize.”             Sunset sighed, “Yeah. I just wish I had said what I meant. I was just so angry and scared of what could have happened, none of my words came out right. I was just as concerned about her getting hurt as I was about you guys! It came out as if I didn’t care.”             “Now, Sunset.” Rarity said, “It didn’t come across quite like that. Though I am surprised, you haven’t lost your temper like that for quite some time.”             “Yeah, I kind of forgot you had one.” Rainbow said.             Sunset chuckled, “I guess that’s a positive but I’ve been so stressed the past five months that I didn’t have time to be angry.”             Pinkie’s expression turned into shock along with the rest of Sunset’s friends. Sunset raised a brow and Fluttershy pointed to something behind her.             Sunset turned around to see Twilight slowly making her way into the middle of the court yard looking afraid, clutching her pendant.             What is she doing? Sunset thought approaching cautiously as Twilight took off the pendant. She looked to the shadow bolts and saw the look on Cinch’s face. Oh no.             Twilight held the pendant in her hand and traced a finger over it as Luna came over the intercom. That was a look Sunset knew all too well; undeniable temptation.             No, don’t do it. She begged Twilight internally, You don’t want that! I should have taken it from her when I had the chance.             Sunset started running to Twilight as she began to open the pendant.             “Twilight, no!” Her dog yelled, but it was too late.             A powerful wave of energy knocked Sunset and the surrounding students off their feet. Now, all Sunset could do was watch as Twilight was lifted into the air by all the magic she had taken and it began to suck her in. Celestia watched the terrifying scene unfold in front of her. She remembered the night of the formal when she and the entire student body had seen Sunset transform, much like this. The mortified yet sad look on Sunset’s face told her that the young girl remembered the same. The only difference was that in Sunset’s mind, it was more vivid and painful to watch.          Sunset felt as if the claw of her demon was wrapped around her heart, squeezing painfully. She knew that stolen magic burned and turned dark. It feeds on the insecurities buried deep inside, bringing them to the surface, forcing you to watch, having no control over your own body.             Sunset snapped out of her thoughts when Twilight burst from the ball of magic, she saw what the other girl had become and she couldn’t help but blame herself. If she hadn’t yelled at her, tired to explain things and let her know how bad the risks were, even offered to teach her about Equestrian magic, she wouldn’t have run off, she would have known better than to release the magic in her pendant, she wouldn’t have been tempted to do so. Fluttershy had been right in saying that the purple girl hadn’t meant it, that she was actually a kind person. She would have understood.             Now, that same girl hovered in the air with a maniacal laugh in a demonic form with wings and a glowing horn and Sunset only had herself to blame.             Twilight looked to Sunset and laughed, “You were right. I didn’t understand magic before! But I do now!”             Her horn pulsed and magical energy flowed down her arm and out of her hand, blasting the Wonder Colt statue to pieces, but the portal remained untouched. Then, in the same space, a rip opened, revealing a building in Equestria.             Oh no. Sunset gulped.             A crack formed and stretched to Sunset and her friends. They dodged just in time for Twilight to rip it open. More cracks formed and Twilight kept opening portals.             Sunset looked around, She’s going to hurt someone!             “Twilight, you can’t do this!” Sunset yelled, hoping to talk her way out of this.             The last thing Sunset wanted was to subject her to a rainbow laser and she would avoid it at all costs.              “Why not?” Twilight grinned, “There is a whole other world right there and it’s just filled with magic.”             Twilight aimed for the school doors where Celestia, Luna and Dean Cadence stood. Sunset looked horrified as a portal ripped open right were Cadence and Celestia had been standing, Luna, however managed to avoid it altogether. Her heart broke for a moment but Luna caught her eye and gestured for her to remain calm, they were all right.             “But you’re destroying this world to get it!” Sunset yelled back at Twilight.             “So what? There’s more magic there.” Twilight said, “And I want to understand it all!”             Sunset almost realized too late that Twilight was aiming a massive blast at her, but luckily, she managed to dodge, landing hard on her shoulder. The blast however, opened up a giant hole over Equestria that a few students had just avoided falling into. There was no way one of them would survive that fall. Then, the rift began cracking around the edges.             Sunset looked on the ground where she landed and spotted Twilight’s pendant, picking it up though unsure as to what she was going to do with it.             CHS and Crystal prep students helped each other from falling into the hole, Rarity and another student almost falling if it weren’t for the other Crystal Prep students.             Sunset stood up, desperately trying to formulate a plan when Twilight's pendant lit up towards her friends. Then, one by one, her friends began to light up with magical energy and the light began spinning around the watch-like surface of the pendant.             It’s like a spectrometer for magic. Sunset realized.             Then, the answer hit her. At the formal, Sunset hadn’t wanted friends, she didn’t even want help but it wasn’t her this time. Twilight was just in a bad situation. She was nice and Sunset knew she is better person that she was back then. Celestia peaked out from the school doors to see Sunset staring at the pendant before she looked behind her and met Celestia’s eyes. She smiled at Sunset and the teen turned back to Midnight Sparkle with newfound determination. She’s better. Sunset thought.             “This isn’t the way!” Sunset said, getting demon Twilight’s attention, “I know you feel powerful right now! Like you can have everything you want! I’ve been where you are.” Sunset admitted, “I’ve made the same mistake you’re making!”             Sunset breathed, desperately wanting to get through to the other girl. She needed to know that she wasn’t alone.             “I put on a crown and, just like you, I was consumed with the magic it contained.” Sunset said, “I thought it could give me everything I wanted!”             “Oh, you’re wrong.” Twilight said, “Unlike you, I can have everything I want!”             “No, you can’t!” Sunset said with sincerity, “Even with all that power and magic, you’ll still be alone.” She raised the pendant, “True magic comes from honesty, loyalty, laughter, generosity, kindness.”             Each of her friends glowed brighter as Sunset called out each of their elements, trying to draw form her own magic deep in side. The pendant then absorbed their willingly given magic and lifted Sunset in the air.             “I understand you, Twilight.” Sunset said, “And I want to show you the most important magic of all.”             Celestia watched worriedly as Sunset shut the device and threw it to the ground, enveloping her in it’s magic, much like it did to Twilight and to her many months ago. Only this time, it was warm but didn’t burn. It felt as it purified her. She felt as if she created something powerful as the magic flowed through her. No one could believe their eyes as Sunset emerged as something that could only be described as angelic. Her wings were gold and she had a horn that shone with the purity of the Sun.             She wasn’t sure how she knew what to do, and chalked it up to the magic influencing her mind. She blasted rays of light, closing the rips and repairing the ground. Twilight growled and charged at her with a ball of purple energy and Sunset met her with her own. Sending them both backwards but still in the air.             Both girls sent another blast towards each other, constantly outing streams of pure magic. Sunset started to panic as Twilight started to over power her until another voice spoke out through all the chaos.             “Twilight!” Sunset heard spike call.             Unknown to Sunset at the time, Twilight’s mind became clear for a single moment. All Sunset felt was Twilight’s magic give. This gave Sunset the window she needed to overpower Twilight, both girls disappearing in a pillar of light.             Twilight opened her eyes in the white void, Sunset floating in front of her. She looked into her eyes, seeing only kindness and empathy. Sunset felt Twilight’s fear, guilt and sorrow. She felt for her, she was her. Not long ago. She could feel the silent plea for help.            “Take my hand, Twilight.” Sunset offered her hand, genuinely giving her a choice, “Let me show you that there is another way.” Just as quickly as it had appeared, the pillar vanished, revealing a very human Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer, hand in hand.            Sunset had never felt so relieved.             Twilight released Sunset’s hand and held her arms close to her body with tears in her eyes, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”             “I know.” Sunset sighed with a smile, “and going by my own experiences, they’ll forgive you.”             Twilight still kept her eyes trained on the ground so, Sunset placed her hands over Twilight’s and smiled.             Suddenly there was barking coming towards them and, next thing they know, Twilight is on the ground having been tackled by her dog. Sunset smiled as Twilight giggled and put her glasses back on.             It was then that Principal Cinch crawled out from whatever hole she was hiding in, straightening herself as she angrily walked up to Celestia who was headed towards the group of girls.             “Principal Celestia,” Cinch said in an annoyed tone, “On behalf of Crystal Prep, I demand that you forfeit the friendship games!”             Sunset watched as Celestia raised an annoyed brow. Dean Cadence looked unimpressed with her colleague and Luna just looked like she was going to pounce on the woman though no one present would have stopped her if she did.             “Clearly, CHS has had an unfair advantage for quite some time,” She crossed her arms confidently, “and it’s certainly obvious that your students have been using magic for their own benefit.”             It was Celestia’s turn to speak, “I’d like to think that saving the world benefits us all.” She spoke with a smile but Sunset could see in her mother’s eyes that she too wanted to slap the bitter woman and she kind of wished she did.             “At least she didn’t manipulate Twilight into releasing all the stolen magic and turning into a power-crazed magical creature that tried to rip the world apart just to win a game.” Another Crystal Prep student, Sugarcoat, said.             Sunset saw Twilight cringe at the last bit so, Sunset placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.             “Wow, that’s a lot to take in when you say it all at once.” Pinkie Pie said.             “That’s ridiculous!” Cinch said.             Spike was the one to speak, “Nope. That’s pretty much what happened.”             Sunset smiled at the talking dog while others, mostly Crystal Prep students, eyed him warily.             “Actually,” Sour Sweet said in a regret full voice, though Sunset couldn’t tell if it was real or not, “We’re all to blame.” Then her tone turned bitter in and instant, “But it was mostly her.” She pointed to Cinch.             Cinch looked as if she was about to blow a fuse, she was so angry, “Obviously, my students have been infected with you’re magic, but I plan on taking all of this up with the school board!”             Sunset’s eyes widened, School board? Celestia and Luna could lose their jobs and my friends and I could be expelled, or worse. She looked worriedly at Celestia who only met her eyes for a moment before speaking. “Good.” She said, and Sunset raised a brow. “I’m sure they would be very interested in hearing all about the magical students with wings.” “Oh, and the portals to different dimensions.” Luna chimed in. It was now Cadences turn, “And don’t forget to tell them about the talking dog.” Sunset couldn’t help but smile as the other student’s giggled, Yeah, we’re good. My family’s awesome. “Because that would never ruin your reputation.” Spike said sarcastically.             Cinch looked around at all the students and staff, clearly against her. Sunset was sure she would flip but, instead, she immediately appeared collected as she straightened her jacket and walked off with no more than a simple ‘humph’.             As soon as she was gone, Celestia spoke. “Well, I know these Friendship Games haven’t been what any of us have expected, but given what we’ve all just been through, I think it’s fair to declare us all winners.”             Then, all of the student’s cheered and some even patted Sunset and Twilight on the back. This caused them both to look at each other and grin. That was also when Sunset remembered she had road rash and probably a minor shoulder injury but she was too happy to worry about it.