The door of the Lunar library opened, revealing both of us exiting out of it. Our eyes practically bloodshot due to the crying, but a visible feeling of content can be seen reverberating out of both of us. I felt more mature, more knowledgeable, and seemingly more wise in the process.
“So, yeah. That’s how we got to this… status I guess.” Twilight said. Still accompanying me as we walked throughout the castle. “War forced us to innovate, and when it was over, the innovations spilled over into our daily lives, and, well.”
“Equestria became more advanced in the process.” I completed. “Well, It’s nice to see that Equestria is more modern now, it reminds me of the current place where I live. Still, that much blood…”
“Yeah. I don’t know now. If we still had Starswirl’s time spell, would I change our fate? Am I willing to trade all of this.” She gestured at the various contraptions that now dot the library. “For a more peaceful Equestria? Maybe we can utilize the elements of harmony on Chrysalis, but this time perhaps imprisoning her into stone just like we used for Discord. Maybe send more emissaries to the Imperial Capital, pleading with the Griffonian Emperor to stop his conquests…”
Twilight sighed, seemingly in defeat, a coming realization about how irreversible the current position this world is now. “Well, I guess that time has passed. And there is no turning back from what we have now.”
I was about to ask the prince- no, my friend about something else, but Twilight seemed to remember something she forgot to say. “Oh, and Sunset? Can you also keep a secret for me? Please?”
Twilight turned into a corner within the castle, our faces now overshadowed only by the various paintings within it. “Princess Celestia and Luna has given me the go-ahead to tell you this, but I need full confidence that you can keep this secret. Can you?”
“Uhh, of course!” I said, no hesitation in my mind. “I’m your friend Twilight, of course I can keep a secret for you.”
“Good, because what I’m about to tell you will be denied by all three Princesses, will land you jail time if spoken willy-nilly, and also be denied by my closest friends, understand?” She told me. I only nodded in response. Being Celestia’s prized student for a while, I did manage to gleam several royal secrets that I was forced to keep secret until my death. Of course, when I fled into the portal, all those royal secrets became null. But, knowing that I will be staying in Equestria for much longer, if only to discover just how much the country’s changed, I have no desire to burn bridges with Twilight Sparkle.
“Just tell me, what is it?”
The Princess Of Friendship knelt down and whispered to my ear. “We recently discovered that the Elements Of Harmony has just stopped working for all 6 of us.”
Ah, now I know why this is secret, yeah, that is certainly a conundrum.
“Seriously?” I asked. My tone much more hushed than before, and my mind now filled with a thousand questions. “What happened? Is it because of the war?”
“I don’t know Sunset. Something tells me it is, and how much myself and my friends have changed, but, truth to be told, we don’t know.”
“Is the tree still alive at least?”
“Yes. It’s still alive, and it is still keeping the elements, but whenever we tried to call upon it’s power, it wouldn’t respond. We realized what happened when we tried turning Chrysalis into stone, and didn’t work out. She’s currently imprisoned in a location I will not tell you. But yeah, this is a concern, a significant one.”
I whistled, my head shaking at the very thought of the elements failing. I mean, c’mon! It’s the Elements of Harmony! If the elements did indeed fail, does it signal that Equestria’s doomed? I hope not! The last time it failed to respond was when Celestia first banished Luna, and 1000 years of peace, okay, not exactly absolute peace, but peace nonetheless! Reigned over Equestria. But, in this time? Well, I don’t want to think what the ponies will think if the elements fail a second time, especially in the era they live now.
And let’s not even think about what our adversaries will think if that happens. This is an era of… yep, ‘Mechanized Warfare’ as the book puts it. Machine guns, complex spell matrices, tanks, steel warships, you name it. I don’t want to think about the possibility of that happening for a third time in Equestrian history.
No, I know what I must do now. And I will tell Twilight later in the day, but firstly, I must talk to Sonata.
“Umm, Twilight. Great info session, but do you know where Sonata’s located?” I asked. “I need to tell her about a couple things, I don’t think she wants to stay here any longer. What, with being a former exiled Siren and all.”
“Of, of course!” Twilight replied. “I have some duties to attend to, there are a series of laws that needs reviewing, boring stuff I assure you. Just walk across this hallway, suite number 365. That’s where Sonata is.”
And with that, the Princess of Friendship bowed towards me, and trotted away. “It’s nice meeting you Sunset, I hope you’ll stay here for a bit longer.” She finished.
“I wouldn’t dream of it any other way Princess.” I replied, now walking towards the room where Sonata was held.
There it is, suite number 365. The veritable room where Sonata Dusk is probably chilling inside. Eating Tacos or something (can seaponies eat meat? I guess we’ll find out).
My mind is pondering on this little pickle of a problem. On one hand, I do think that Sonata doesn’t want to stay here for any longer. I mean, hey, we stumbled into Equestria by mistake after all. On the other hand, what happens if Sonata doesn’t want to leave? I mean, what then? Do I have to drag her back to Canterlot High or something? Will she even be welcomed in Equestria? If she’s not, how will she react? How will the Princesses even react to this?
You’re overthinking things again. Sunset, you better stop it. Equestria doesn’t need another Twilight, just open the door and tell her that she should go or something. It shouldn’t be too hard now, should it?
My hoof pushed towards the door frame, the big white door opening up as I prepared myself to tell Sonata to leave. She is technically banished from Equestria, although, now that I think of it, how long has it been since the sirens were banished? 1000? 2000 years ago? maybe if I can convince Celestia…
“Oh, hey there Sunset!” Sonata suddenly greeted me. Floating as fast as she can towards me. “The guards just bought me a couple bowls of salad. Let me tell ya, those salads are probably the best salads I’ve ever tasted! I never thought Equestrian cooking would be so tasty even after all those millennia since we’ve been banished. Oh, and also-”
“Uhh, Sonata? Can we talk for a moment?” I asked. My voice significantly calmer than hers. The Siren/Seapony then cocked her head towards me, nodding her head. “Good, because I think that you need to go. Like, go back to the portal go.”
“Oh? Why?” She asked, visibly confused. “It’s been millennia since I’ve been here Sunset, and trust me, I am as good as Twilight when it comes to my, uhh, goodness! It’s not like I have my gems to try to convince ponies to fight against each other or anything. And c’mon, lightning never strikes twice right? or did I mishear that phrase?”
“Eheheheh.. heh.” I laughed awkwardly at her comments. “You’re riiiight, but, well, you’re still technically banished Sonata. I don’t want the Princesses to suddenly arrive here and banish you back to Canterlot High or anything. C’mon, let’s get you back to the mirror before-”
The door suddenly opened, revealing a figure that I really don’t want to meet right now, the first thing I noticed about her was the rainbow mane, and that crown. I instinctively bowed, her sudden presence definitely something quite unexpected. I can only hope that she doesn’t banish Sonata immediately, this is the last time where rash actions are needed.
“Please, Sunset, you don’t need to do that.” The white pony motioned. “I have experienced far too many formalities with regular castle duties, I don’t need more formalities when I’m visiting old friends. Least of all my former student.”
“Sorry Princess Celestia.” I replied, slowly raising my hooves to stand up. “I was just about to take care of Sonata here. She is just going to-”
“Hmm? What do you mean by taking care of? Is there something wrong with this wonderful seapony here? I take it she’s a friend from your world?”
“Well… yeah, she is, but, her history here is, pretty complicated. That’s why I’m kinda sorta urging her to leave.”
“Why is that? Has she done something wrong?” Celestia further asked, now pretty intrigued at the figure besides me. “Now that I think of it, she does look pretty familiar…”
“She’s uhhh… Sonata Dusk.”
“Pardon?”
“She’s Sonata Dusk. Like, one of the three sirens of old.”
“Ah! Ah…”
Her face slowly shifted towards her. “So, you’re a siren?” Celestia said, her tone now shifting visibly. Her voice became much more deeper, almost threatening.
“Uhh, yeah? I guess?” I heard Sonata reply.
“Intriguing. If I am not mistaken, Starswirl banished you from our world. How did you find your way back here?”
“Well, uhh, that’s kinda complicated. So, there’s this portal near Canterlot High, but I guess It’s the mirror portal in your world, and I was sitting with Sunset Shimmer here since she’s my, like, newest friend I’ve just made in that world, and conveniently we’re just sitting right next to the statue where the portal leads to your world. She just told me that the portal’s gone kaput for a while now and we both thought it’d be fine, but then, bam! we suddenly got teleported back to Equestria. I almost got zapped by Twilight and she ordered some guards to take me and here we are. Eheh. That’s the short version of it at least.”
One of Celestia’s eyebrows were raised, seemingly processing and taking apart every single sentence Sonata just made in that little monologue of hers. “Are you… Sunset Shimmer’s friend?” She asked. “I never thought my student would make friends with a former siren.”
“Well. Yeah.” I interjected. “To make a long story short, Sonata and I just clicked when we met for the second time. I don’t know, once the sirens lost all their powers, turns out that Sonata was the one most willing to make friends with me. I still don’t know why though.”
“It’s because you’re awesome Sunset! You’re dependable, reliable, certainly much nicer than both Adagio and definitely much nicer than Aria. I mean, I still like them. But I loooove hanging out with you more Sunset.”
I only smiled at her compliment. It certainly feels nice when a former villain states she likes hanging out with me more than her close buddies.
“But, I understand if you don’t want to see me here Princess Celestia. If you want to, I can just leave and I won’t bother you again, or something.”
Celestia’s face didn’t change after our little conversation a while ago. Her mind was probably still processing every single word Sonata has said with precision. Dissecting hidden truths or finding out hidden motifs that might indicate some evil intention.
Finally, seemingly out of middle of nowhere, Celestia approached the former siren, and smiled.
“I see no reason for why you should go back Sonata. I have seen that you are a reformed siren in your own right. Consider this official, but I decree that your banishment from Equestria to be revoked.”
I never thought, in all my life, that I would see a seapony (is she even a siren at this point?) fall down in amazement, the thought of such a thing happening never crossed my mind, I mean, how would a seapony ‘fall down’ in amazement in the first place? Nonetheless, here we are. Sonata suddenly dropped down. Her jaw opening wide open at what Celestia just said. I could almost feel the enthusiasm bursting from her.
“Is… Is this for real?” She asked. Only to get a nod from the Princess of the Sun herself. Before I could fathom what just happened. Sonata leaped towards Celestia, uttering thank yous with utter recklessness.
“You have proved that you can make friends even in a world not your own. And considering that one of your friends is one of my most prized students, well, former student, I see no reason as to why your banishment from Equestria should be maintained. I only hope that you make new friends whenever you visit here.”
“Visit? Aw tartarus no! I’m staying!!!” The siren cried. “I want to explore ALL the sights in Equestria, see how much has changed! I’ve heard from Sunset that there’s this huuuuge city called Manehattan, and it’s located in one of the former regions of darkness?!? Now THAT’s a sight I want to visit.”
The Sun Princess only giggled as the Siren is now fully detailing just how much she wanted to explore all of Equestria. While she’s busy doing that though, I slowly crept up towards the Princess, her attention focused on the former siren, she was a bit surprised when I crept up to her. There is something that I must discuss with her. And the former siren’s adventure can wait.
“Umm, psst, Princess Celestia?” I whispered to her ear. “Maybe we can leave Sonata here to just do her stuff? I have something to discuss with you.”
“Oh? And what is it dear Sunset? Is there something that is so urgent we have no need for Sonata Dusk’s input?”
“I like Sonata, but I don’t think she should hear this. It concerns the Elements of Harmony. Twilight told me everything.”
The now cheery Princess’ mood darkened suddenly when I mention that. “Yes, I don’t think Sonata Dusk should hear this. Alright then. Sonata!”
“Yes Princess?”
“Forgive the interruption. But Sunset and I have some urgent matters to attend to, I’m sure my former student would be thrilled to entertain you on a trip towards the various sights in Equestria, but we must discuss several issues first. In the meantime, would you mind staying in this suite a bit longer? I would make sure the chefs of the castle will bring you our finest cuisine.”
“Oh, of course! Bye Sunset! See ya later!” Sonta said, before Celestia closed the door in front of her.
Turning her attention towards me, Celestia moved her head, motioning me to follow her. “Follow me, there is a good, quiet, and soundproofed room where we can discuss further matters. Would you like to bring Luna and Twilight into the discussion as well?”
“Oh, uhh, maybe when you hear what I have to say on the matter, then you can bring the rest. But, maybe we can keep this just between the two of us.”
“If that is what you wish Sunset. Now, follow me.”
The room that she brought me towards felt weird. It doesn’t feel like It’s made in Equestria. It feels more like those weird boardrooms I see whenever a corporate drama movie came out. There are glass tables, with the window overlooking the Canterlot skyline. A skyline that, conveniently enough. Is filled with skyscrapers towering over Canterlot castle itself. The princess seated herself right next to me. Her form hugging a chair made with some artificial black leather and a metal frame supporting the structure of the chair itself.
This room feels more like the headquarters for an evil corporation than a meeting room in Canterlot castle. Nonetheless, Celestia is here, I am here, and I have something in my mind that I have to bring out to her.
“Princess Celestia.” I said, taking a deep breath before throwing myself into the unknown. “I come to you with a plan to find the new Element Bearers, if what Twilight says to me is true. Then the original Element Bearers might be deemed unfit by the Elements of Harmony for one reason or another. I am ready, with your support, to embark on a quest to discover the new bearers for the Elements of Harmony, and take them back to Equestria.”
Time seemed to stop as Celestia looked towards me, her face unchanging after I proposed my plan. Will she reject it? Will she accept it? I gritted my teeth for the oncoming response, before the Sun Princess opened her mouth.
“I’m glad you’d embark on that quest Sunset. Do you need any help from me? Do you need staff? Crew ponies? Anything? I must tell you, I’ve been visibly waiting for someone to come towards me with such a plan. Seems like everypony’s all too busy these days running official business to go adventuring just like that.”
I sighed in relief, well, that’s one hurdle passed. Now towards planning the adventure...