Nurse Redheart sat at the front counter inputting patient data into her computer, when she heard the automatic doors "whoosh," open. Looking up from the monitor she watched the young couple walk up to the counter. "Can I help you?" she asked with a gentle smile.
"We are here to see Trixie Lulamoon," said Sunset."
"Please wait while I check the system."
Sunset took the brief interlude to study her companion. Shadow may be a person of few words, but his posture and face betrayed what he was thinking. The red head gripped the young man's right hand in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"I found Miss Lulamoon's file, but it states no admittance."
"Wait a moment... nonfamily members like myself I can understand, but Shadow is Trixie's brother," said Sunset glaring at the nurse.
"I am sorry, but rules are rules. Her file says only guardian and medical staff."
"I'm not just Trixie's brother, but her twin... there has to be something you can do for me. All I feel is this lingering dread. I have to see her," interjected Shadow slamming his hands on the countertop.
"I understand twins can share a unique bond, but my hands are tied kids. I can't jeopardize my job or the life of another based on the words of a few children."
The glare Shadow gave the nurse was so intense it caused Sunset to step back.
"Listen I need to see her with or ..."
"We understand patient confidentiality. Trixie fell down the stairs at school and hit her head, can you at least tell us if she is okay?" said Sunset quickly interrupting the young man.
Nurse Redheart paused as if taking in the scenery. For a moment it seemed like they were not going to get an answer, but then it happened. "It would seem miss Lulamoon is stable for the time being."
"For the time being?" said Shadow with even more intensity.
"Thanks for all of your help," replied Sunset with a feigned smile pulling Shadow away from the counter.
"What the hay! Are you trying to get us kicked out?" said the fiery red head punching Shadow's right arm.
"Ouch! What the heck!"
"For someone who is extremely intelligent you are such a Snart for brains!" said Sunset scolding the young man.
Shadow paused, recounting her words. "You play Ogres and Oubliettes?"
"I like to dabble... but that's not the issue right now, your temper is," said Sunset.
Seeing the red head's stern expression was enough to calm Shadow down.
"Sorry..." muttered the young twin.
"No worries!"
Silence!
"Look Shadow, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that you're not good with people. How about after we take care of Trixie, I help you learn to open up more, so these raw outbursts are more controllable and less frequent?"
"Wait I thought you gave up on seeing Trixie?"
"I haven't given up, but there is no use in arguing with the nurse when she won't budge. We need a plan and to accomplish that we need to be inside not out."
"Alright oh wise planner what do we do now?"
"I don't know," replied Sunset shrugging her shoulders.
"Sigh!"
"Listen buster just because I don't know doesn't mean I won't come up with a plan!"
"That dread feeling is getting more intense, we are out of time!"
"Shadow what..."
"Create a diversion So I can get past the nurse," interrupted Shadow.
Before Sunset could say or do anything there was a severe power surge. All the lights dimmed for a brief instant then the backup generators kicked in with "whirring" sound followed by several large explosions as electric sparks flew into the air. The lights stayed extinguished except for some computer monitor lights and other emergency systems.
Nurse Redheart stared at her monitor. The page she was on showed the patients vitals had flat lined and then unnaturally shoot up.
"Is there any doctor available to go to room 275?" asked Nurse Redheart over the intercom. There was no reply from the powerless device. Weighing her options, the nurse bolted out of her chair heading towards the stairs.
"That was efficient Sunset!"
"I had nothing to do with this..."
Taking advantage of the situation, the duo jumped the counter and caught a glimpse of the computer monitor, displaying Trixie Lulamoon third floor room 275.
"This isn't good!" shouted Sunset.
"Come on," said Shadow signaling towards the direction the nurse had gone.
********************
The door to the third level slammed open.
"Which way now?" asked Sunset.
"SECURITY!" screamed Nurse Redheart.
"That way," replied Shadow heading left, in the direction of the voice.
Two blue uniformed guards pushed passed the couple in the hallway disappearing into room 275. There were shouts and grunts followed by loud crashing sounds. An eerie violet light illuminated the open doorway.
"TRIXIE!" shouted Shadow dashing towards the light.
"Shadow wait," said Sunset grasping thin air as her companion vanished out of site.
********************
Meanwhile in Equestria,
Starlight Glimmer's hooves made "clopping," sounds as she paced across the floor of the library in Twilight Sparkle's castle where she kept the mirror portal to the human world.
"Calm down Starlight. The portal will glow when someone is coming through so until then we should just go about our normal lives," said Twilight's dragon assistant Spike, from where he stood sorting through a stack of books, his eyes following Starlight.
"I know Spike! It's just that when Twilight told me what happened in the human world involving Sunset and that world's Trixie... I am trying my hardest to not jump through the portal as we speak. Pacing seems to be the only thing that helps right now."
"You can always search for information about that black spider that Sunset mentioned in her journal."
"I have already triple checked while Twilight quadruple checked every book we own. We were unable to find anything on that artifact."
"Sunburst won't arrive from the Crystal Empire for another two days. Why don't you go talk to Trixie? She has traveled all over Equestria and may know something that we don't."
"I wish I could go see my best friend Spike, but Twilight has tasked me with waiting for Sunset."
"She tasked us with watching the portal. Besides only one pony is needed to stand guard."
"Alright Spike," said Starlight begrudgingly. "But only for research purposes and if any pony arrives you come and get me immediately."
"Sure, thing Starlight."
********************
Room 275 was destroyed, to Sunset's right were the two guards slumped unconscious against the wall. Nurse Redheart was cowering in the corner to her left sitting in a puddle of some kind. The hospital bed was inches from the nurse's face embedded in the wall. Where there once was a window on the back wall there was now a gaping hole. Right in the center of the devastation was Trixie and Shadow. Inky black and violet tendrils held the young man in the air. The older twin levitating with her toes just above the floor held her brother's throat in her hands, choking the life out of him.
"T... r... i... x... i... e," gasped Shadow failing to pry the young woman's fingers from his neck.
"You must vanish so that I may flourish!" said Trixie in an unnatural droning voice.
The voice was Trixie's but from the cascading tears Sunset knew it wasn't the kooky magician who was in control. "TRIXIE STOP!" Sunset ran through the rancid smelling pool of yellow liquid. Hands outstretched Sunset grasp the twins. The red head's aqua colored eyes glazed over to a milky white as her pendant began to glow. Memories and emotions flowed from the twins into Sunset showing her a kaleidoscopicing menagerie of images of their lives. Tears moistened Sunset's cheeks as she relived the Twins lives. Sunset had never met anyone so young who had seen so much loss and hardship as the twins, and with the mysterious spider involved there didn't seem to be an ending in site. "I understand everything!" Sunset turned her attention to Trixie.
"Trixie listen to my voice come back. Please release Shadow he didn't mean to hurt you. Your argument is tearing him up on the inside as well."
For a brief second Trixie's eyes flickered to their natural color. "S... h... a... d....o... w..." Just as fast though the glowing violet erupted, bathing the destruction once again with an eerie aura.
"NOOOOOOO!" shrieked an unnatural voice sending out a cacophony of waves.
Trixie released her brother who hit the wet floor with a "splash." Shock waves of agony rippled out from the young woman. Sunset felt the impact in her lower abdomen. The red head fell to her hands and knees and vomited. The violet luminescence flared up and vanished blanketing room 275 in darkness.
Weakly Shadow reached towards where Trixie had been seconds ago "S... i... s... t... e... r..."
After several minutes the two young adults managed to stand up. "We need help. I think we should go see Princess Twilight." Silently, Shadow nodded his head in agreement. Leaning on each other for support the couple limped out of the hospital.
********************
Meanwhile in Equestria,
"Ladies and gentle colts be amazed as the great and powerful Trixie preforms her most daring and dangerous magic trick yet. Trixie will climb into this crate of highly volatile fireworks, while her beautiful assistant wraps chains around it to prevent escape. Then Trixie's assistant will light this short fuse and say presto explodo teleporting Trixie for the crate this box on stage."
"Trix I don't think this is such a good idea," whispered Starlight Glimmer.
"Nonsense Starglim. Trixie has got this." The magician whispered back.
"Are you sure... remember last time with the cannon or the time after that with the large rocket we rode."
"Tomatoes, potatoes."
"Uh huh!" replied Starlight rolling her eyes.
"But...just in case... hold my hat for me," said Trixie as she placed her purple wizard hat on Starlight's head.
The light purple unicorn slowly shook her head as her blue unicorn friend climbed into the crate of explosives. Starlight wrapped the chains around the box and locked them with a key. Not enthused, Starlight lit the tiny fuse saying "presto explodo." There was aloud "boom!" as the sky filled with hundreds of differently colored fireworks. while on stage next to the purple unicorn the box lid burst open. Out climbed the blackened and smoking Trixie "Sppeeee Blah break and bowerpul Blixie..." Spinning on her back right hoof the once blue unicorn fell off the stage with a loud thump.
"Trix my dear friend you really need to try something that doesn't involve you blowing up all the time," said Starlight. The purple unicorn casually walked over to her unconscious friend, licked her right hoof and stamped out the small fires burning the magician's mane and tail.
********************
Sunset raced her motorcycle down the street. The evening breeze whipping through her and Shadow's hair. The starry night sky and the streetlamps were a blur of white and yellow smudges. "Except for the smell of urine and my aching body fate seems to be on our side for once today," thought Sunset. Just then blue and red lights flashed in her side mirrors.
"Oh, for Celestia's sake," growled the young woman.
"How ironic my day starts with a ticket and ends with one," shouted Shadow.
"Shut up and hold on!" Sunset shouted back.
The fiery red head hit the brakes near a side street she frequently used. The bike came to a screeching halt with the cop car, hot on their tail slowing down to apprehend the perps. Sunset didn't wait for the cop to exit from the car as she turned the motorcycle towards the narrow ally way. The young woman gassed the bike and as fast as lightning the couple was off down the ally. Sunset winced in pain as Shadow squeezed her tightly.
The officer slammed his fists on the steering wheel "Rotten little punks!" Pressing a button on the dashboard the officer put out an APB.
"Officer 1337 requesting back up over."
"This is officer 07734. I copy officer 1337. Over."
"I copy officer 07734. I have a pair of suspects riding a black motorcycle between Fifth and Main. Over."
"I copy officer 1337. Was the driver a female with red hair. Over."
"I copy officer 07734. The perp was a girl and I recognize the passenger I wrote the little dirt bag a ticket this morning. Over."
"I copy officer 1337. Swallow your doughnuts and buckle up folks we're in for a fun night."
********************
"Could this day get any worse?" growled Sunset turning down another side street. No sooner had the words left her mouth when the bike sputtered and skidded to a halt. Both riders flew from the vehicle landing in a pile of garbage.
"What the hay?" shouted Sunset spitting out a piece of rotting lettuce and brushing off a soiled baby diaper. "I had a full tank there is no way I can be out of gas."
"Well obviously you were wrong, Snart for brains," replied Shadow with disgust as he wiped rotten egg from his glasses.
"This coming from the boy who wet himself and reeks of urine!"
"That wasn't me! Besides You're one to talk about reeking Sunshim! If anyone spilled their bladder, I bet it was you!"
"I have better control than that."
"Oh, you do... do you? Then why are we standing in garbage," shouted Shadow.
"This has nothing to do with my driving Shady you're just bad luck!" Sunset shouted back.
The argument was soon ended when blue and red lights flashed close by.
"FOR CELESTIA'S SAKE COME ON!" growled the couple in unison ducking back into the pile of trash.
The lights soon passed by giving the dirty pair a brief respite.
"Not again," grumbled Sunset wiping another soiled diaper from her cloths.
Shadow let out a snicker followed by a laugh.
"You think this is funny?" growled the young woman grabbing the diaper and chucking it at the Shadow.
There was a "splat," sound followed by a "Really!"
********************
The fiery red head examined her motorcycle and notice a small iv needle penetrating the gas tank. "Damnit; I should have check more carefully after we dug it out of the rubble." Sunset chided herself.
"Good news is I found the problem. Bad news is we are not getting anywhere by bike," said Sunset holding up the needle in the dim light.
"How is that information helpful?" grumbled Shadow.
"It's not," came the casual reply.
"I feel a migraine coming on," muttered the young man.
"Well in any case we need to hide my bike before we head back to Canterlot High and I know just the place."
"I'm guessing you're quite intimate with high speed chases?"
"Something like that," said Sunset in a demure voice.
********************
With the motorcycle hidden in an abandoned warehouse a block from the accident the couple quickly made their way back to school. Several times the duo had to duck into a dark place to avoid the red and blue. One such occasion the pair was walking by a bar when the cop came up the street. Sunset looked for a place to hide but there was no time. Without hesitation the young woman grabbed Shadow, pressed him against the wall, and kissed him. At first it was just a kiss then the young woman's eyes glazed over. Sunset's thoughts merged with Shadow's. The young man received a glimpse of the red head's life. From yellow unicorn to Princess Celestia's student. Fallen prodigy to human. Corrupted she-demon to redeemed friend.
There was a blinding flash of yellow light as a new vision came to pass. Sunset stood staring out a window into the cold winter night, gazing into the vastness of stars. The scene changed again this time the young woman was pregnant her hands resting on her swollen stomach while Shadow lovingly embraced her from behind.
Sunset quickly pulled her blushing face away gasping for air. Shadow stood speechless and bewildered by all these new experiences. The cool evening air silently ruffled their hair as it blew.
"We... should... probably get going," stammered Sunset.
Shadow remained still staring blankly into nothingness.
"Earth to Shadow!"
"huh... what?"
********************
The couple finally reach Canterlot High at 3:36 AM.
"Tell me again why we are back at school?"
"Because I left my journal in my locker and the portal to Equestria is right here on campus."
"Is that all... Wait... what... portal?" asked a flabbergasted Shadow.
"You will see," said Sunset with slight smile.
The duo walked up the steps testing the front doors which rattled when tugged.
"Just as I figured locked," muttered Sunset.
"Might as well add vandalism to the list," said Shadow pulling out his small toolkit. Locating the right tools, the young man began to work the lock.
"I'm guessing you are quite intimate with this sort of thing," said Sunset teasingly.
"Something like that!" smiled Shadow.
********************
The pair slinked through the hallways like a couple of cat burglars stopping at Sunset's locker. The passage was silent except for the metallic clicking of the dial.
"The school at night reminds me of a creepy dungeon from a jrpg," said Shadow breaking the silence.
"I never really gave it much thought, but now that you mention it does feel like an excerpt out of Tirek's Revenge," replied Sunset turning the dial.
"Ogres and Oubliettes, high speed chases, as well as Tirek's Revenge? You are a woman of many mysteries Sunshim."
"Thanks, Shady but I am no one special. You and Trixie on the other hand."
"So, you saw everything?"
"Yes... wait how did you know?" asked Sunset turning from her locker.
"There was a brief reprieve between my being choked and your eyes turning white that I felt a mental connection to you. After all the weird magic I have encountered today why would telepathy be any different?"
"Either you're very perceptive or you have some latent powers yourself," said Sunset once again concentrating on her locker.
"No powers! I have just learned to train my senses... which allows me to study people more in depth."
"Studying... people... that is kind of weird..."
"Don't you think kissing a person you hardly know is even more weird?" replied Shadow with an impish smile.
"Wait... what? ..." asked the young woman stumbling over her words and messing up her combination.
"Gotcha," thought Shadow.
"That... was... um... to hide from the police... It meant nothing..."
"I bet!" said the young man nonchalantly leaning against the lockers.
Sunset paused studying the younger twin. The smug smile, the twinkling violet eyes, the roguish stance. "You, conniving JERK! I won't be tricked into saying anything." Sunset thought to herself.
"Yep, that's right," replied the fiery red head restarting the combination for a third time.
Finally, the locker opened with a resounding, “TUNK!” as Sunset reached in and pulled out her bag with the journal. "Alright let us go." The red head started to shut the door, then abruptly stopped "This may be useful," said the young woman grabbing the book Enter Dimensional Time Travel Theory by Dr. Hooves.
Shadow wondered why Sunset would need a book with a picture of his eccentric teacher on it.
********************
"You know I have done more walking in one day since I met you than I have in my entire life," grumbled Sunset.
Shadow abruptly stopped walking and blocked Sunset's stride with his left arm. The young woman glanced at her companion to complain again but stopped as something caught her eye. Off in the distance by the front door was a blue light.
"For Celestia's sake! We must have triggered a silent alarm," muttered the red head.
"You could have told me before I picked the lock!" came the sarcastic reply.
"Well had I known about it I would have hacked the system with my phone," Sunset spat back.
"Remind me to get that app from you."
Sunset just glared at her companion.
"In any case they stand between us and the pedestal," said the young woman pointing with her right index finger, where once stood the giant horse statue.
"Let me guess that is your portal?"
"You really are perceptive," chided Sunset.
"Better than flushing ourselves down a toilet," grumbled Shadow.
"What?"
"It was in a wizard movie Trixie forced me to watch..."replied Shadow.
"That would fit right in with the night we have been having."
Shadow just grumbled in agreement.
Sunset surveyed the perimeter stopping her visage on the school's trophy case, as an idea began to form.
"Get ready to run."
Before the young man had time to react Sunset grabbed Dr. Hooves book and chucked it at the glass case. The loud "crash!" of shattering glass echoed through the empty hallways. Two blue lights turned towards the noise followed by the footsteps of the police. The two silhouettes passed by the young couple.
"RUN!" whispered Sunset.
********************
Meanwhile in Equestria,
The pale moonlight gleamed brightly through window reflecting off the crystal walls of the library while Spike hummed to himself. The little dragon had finished sorting through the pile of books and was now sweeping the floor. On the far side of the room was Owlowicious, Twilight Sparkle's pet owl watching the dragon work. Spike having his back to the portal didn't see the mirror's surface warp. The small owl leapt off his perch and with loud "whooo whoooo !" sounds flew around the dragon's head trying to warn him about the rippling portal.
"Not now Owowlicious," shouted Spike waving his broom at the frantic owl.
Spike finally took notice when the mirror released a rainbow aura.
"Oh, sweet Celestia someone is coming through the portal."
Two human shapes appear then slowly transformed into a pair of quadrupeds. A yellow unicorn with a red mane streaked with orange and a matching tail erupted for the mirror crashing in the unprepared Spike. Seconds later a light blue unicorn with a violet mane streaked with silver and a matching tail toppled in the bookshelves behind the fallen dragon. The freshly arranged books rained down upon the floor in a storm of pages.
Spike was the first up shouting "Noooooooooo! " Why do I even bother cleaning this place?"
"Forget the mess spike! Grab the journal off the mirror! Close the gate! Hurry!" shouted Sunset frantically trying to untangle herself from the books.
"I can't reach it," cried Spike.
Owlowicious glanced from the disaster to the distorting portal as two more silhouettes appeared. The owl dove towards the gate. The figures in the mirror started to change just like the unicorns. Just as a hoof started to appear the owl snatched up the journal atop the mirror in his talons. The metallic surface solidified blocking out whomever was coming through.
Sunset breathed a "sigh!" of relief scanning the room for her companion "Shadow?" The books to her right shifted revealing the light blue unicorn.
"Now I know how Trixie's crumpled scooter feels," groaned Shadow.
"Even as a pony he looks good," thought Sunset blushing.
The yellow unicorn's reverie was cut short by a booming voice "Spike what the hay happened?"
********************
Starlight Glimmer entered the library followed by Trixie. The room was covered with books with a pair of ponies and Spike standing in the center of the devastation. Starlight recognizing the yellow unicorn with the sun cutie mark shrieked "Sunset!" The purple unicorn excitedly ran to her friend stopping abruptly to cover her nose.
"Ew... Sunset you smell like you bathed in..."
"Don't even go there," said Sunset interrupting Starlight.
********************
Right behind Starlight Trixie glanced at the mess of books her gaze stopping on the light blue unicorn staring into the mirror with a six-sided die for his cutie mark. A weird feeling of familiarity and confusion washed over the magician as she stared at him.
"I have never seen this stallion before... but why do I feel like I found something that I had lost?" wondered Trixie.
A single tear trickled down her cheek. "What?" thought Trixie wiping away the dampness.
********************
Shadow investigated the mirror trying to wrap his head around the blue unicorn staring back at him. When suddenly a rippling sensation passed through his chest. Turning towards the open door he noticed two more little ponies one purple with a violet mane streaked with pink and a matching tail. The second one was a light blue color with a blue mane and tail streaked with silver.
"Trixie!" cried Shadow running up to the blue unicorn and embracing her in a bear hug.
The magician reeled back from the smell.
"Oh gross! What is that awful aroma?
"You don't want to know!" replied Shadow crying and smiling at the same time.
"Who the hay are you and why are you touching Trixie?" shrieked the blue unicorn.
Shadow paused releasing the magician. "You're not my sister, are you?"
"The Great and Powerful Trixie is an only child."
Sunset Shimmer looked from Shadow then to Trixie "Ah crud."
********************
Elsewhere
"Listen Twinkle I will tell you the same as my mother! I refuse to sit on the throne!"
"Flurry you are an alicorn princess you were meant to rule the Crystal Empire."
"It doesn't matter I will not resign myself to that fate. Born an alicorn or not I am not a ruler and nor will I subjugate myself to the Princess Coronation."
"But that is the final step for an alicorn," growled Twinkle.
"Is it really Twinkle."
"Yes, flurry it is."
"I bet aunt Twilee would say otherwise!"
"What does my mother have to do with this?"
"She gave up a life of immortality to be with Your father Flash Century."
"So, what flurry!"
"Think Twinkle you're supposed to be the smart one here!"
"I don't understand Flurry your mother is an alicorn princess and married to Uncle Shining Armor. What is the difference?"
"The difference dear cousin is as plain as day and night."
"Obviously not or I wouldn't be having this conversation with you," shouted Twinkle.
"Fine I will explain it so that your feeble mind can understand. My mother cadence had already undergone the final princess coronation before she married my father. Just like Celestia and Luna my mother will live for a long time if she so chooses. My father isn't so lucky eventually the tides of fate will separate my parents. Mom will live on while dad will not. Aunt Twilee refused the final princess coronation and then married your father. Now do you see the difference?"
"Wait so aunt Cadance will live on while both of my parents and uncle shining pass on?"
"That's right Twinkle!"
"I understand that part but what does this have to do with you flurry?"
"I had this same conversation with you mom when I was your age."
"You're not much older than me you drama queen."
"You may be right."
"Just get to the point Flurry!"
"It is better to live a single life with the ones you love than it is to live a thousand lifetimes alone. That is what aunt Twilee said to at that time."
Twinkle paused contemplating her cousin's words.
"Would you do the final princess coronation if you had an immortal partner?"
"Are you going to give me Zany if I do?" asked Flurry with an impish grin.
"Not for a thousand lifetimes; he belongs to me," said Twinkle appalled.
"I am just kidding Twinkle. Even if I was presented with an immortal suitor I wouldn't become an immortal."
"Fine cousin if you're not going to take over the throne then what will you do?" said Twinkle in exasperation.
"Live my life to the fullest; help where I can and leave the rest to fate!"
"Flurry you would leave me alone?" asked a tear-stricken Twinkle.
"Listen little dream walker even after my physical form vanishes; I will always be with you. Besides you have Squiggles," said Flurry Heart as she gently nuzzled her cousin in comfort.
"Are you two finished yet," complained Zany.
"Yes," said the alicorns in unison.
"Good let the chaos begin and the dice decide our fates!" shouted the little half breed as he summoned a pair of large six-sided dice.
The two alicorns just giggled as the trio began their adventure in Ogres and Oubliettes.