Sunset sighed as she stared down at the geode held in the air with her magic.
FLASHBACK
Sunset smiled as she watched the 3 pairs of sisters apologising to one another. Her smile widened when the trail of dark magic that had been floating around the Crusaders began to shy away from them. Her smile however, turned into a look of confusion, matching her friends, when the dark magic suddenly gathered in a spiral motion, before there was a sudden flash that temporarily blinded them. When their vision cleared, the dark magic had been replaced by 6 geodes, of different colours, floating in the air. The geodes turned in a circular motion before lining up, side by side, and then floating down to them. Sunset observed each of the geodes and which pony they went to.
Yellow to Fluttershy.
Orange to Applejack.
Blue to Rainbow Dash.
White to Rarity.
Pink to Pinkie Pie.
And finally, the red geode floated down towards herself. There was a flash again, and when they looked down, they realised that the geodes had transformed into a necklace, taking on a more spherical shape, each sphere with their cutie mark embedded in it.
END OF FLASHBACK
They had mixed reactions to the geodes. Rarity had been elated and immediately wanted to head back to her boutique to design costumes that would go well with the geodes. Pinkie and Fluttershy admitted that they didn’t know what happened but they didn’t think it was anything bad. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were indifferent to it, saying that they didn’t mind it as long as it didn’t get in their way. The Crusaders just looked at the geodes in awe.
As for Sunset, as soon as she got home that day, she began to research on what the geodes could be, only to hit dead ends. With no other lead, she took a more hands-on approach, running several analysis spells on it, testing its capabilities and anything she could think of. Eventually, with the help of her friends, she did manage to figure out a portion of what it could do. Fluttershy told her that whenever the geode glowed, she could communicate with the animals a lot better. Applejack mentioned how she could lift the same heavy objects that leave Big Mac panting all by herself without even breaking a sweat whenever she wore the geode. Rainbow Dash told her how she was able to fly at high speed for a longer period of time while wearing the geode. Rarity also gushed to her about how she had been searching for gems to use in her clothes when her geode glowed and all the hidden gems around her had glowed along, revealing their locations. Pinkie had excitedly bounced to her to tell her how she had exploded sprinkles and cupcakes at a recent party she threw and how it brought smiles to so many ponies. The only reasonable conclusion Sunset could derive from that was that the geodes somehow or another boosted their talents and/or abilities.
Which brings her to her next mystery. What does the geodes do for her? She wasn’t sure what her cutie mark meant, so what’s her talent? Her abilities? Was it her strong magic? Would the geode boost her magic? Sunset gave a frown as she waved the geode around in the air, before wearing it and casting some simple spells. No, her magic didn’t seem particularly any stronger. So what does the geode do for her? She let out a loud groan as she collapsed onto her bed, staring out of the window up at the sky. What are these supposed to do for me? Where did they come from? Why were they given to us? Her gaze shifted to the full moon in the sky. Nightmare Moon, huh… On the longest day of the year... Seems like it won’t be long before we meet Princess Luna. She then turned over on her bed, a worried frown on her face. I sure hope there won’t be any problems…
“Not another step.” Sunset looked around, seeing herself in an unfamiliar place. Turning around, she saw a dark blue Alicorn walking out from two thrones.
“Who are you?” Sunset asked as the Alicorn just ignored her.
“Did you really expect me to sit idly by while they all basked in your precious light?” Sunset only felt confusion at what the Alicorn was saying. “There can only be one princess in Equestria, and that princess…will be ME!” She commanded in a loud voice with her eyes glowing, as she stomped down, destroying part of the floor, as well the wall behind her, revealing the Sun. She then raised her hooves and the Moon rose at her command, covering the Sun. Sunset gasped as she stepped back upon witnessing the sight.
“A Solar Eclipse…” She whispered as dark magic trailed down, spiralling around the Alicorn, eventually consuming her. And when the darkness dispersed, where the Alicorn once stood, another being now replaced her. “Nightmare Moon…” Nightmare Moon laughed evilly as Sunset could only watch on in shock.
NO! Sunset flinched, shutting her eyes tightly as a voice yowled out in her head. Stop! What’s happening? This isn’t…This isn’t what I wanted! STOP!!!
Sunset shot up with a loud gasp. “T-That was…when Princess Luna turned into Nightmare Moon?” She took a deep breath to calm herself before frowning. “She didn’t…She didn’t seem like she had intended to turn into Nightmare Moon at all.” She tilted her head in confusion as she looked out of the window at the moon, where she could make out the shape of a mare. “But why did I see that?” An orange light below her caught her attention as she looked down to see her geode glowing. “Wait…was that…from this geode?” She looked up at the mare in the moon again, wishing to test her theory out. “Show me what happened that night, on the night Princess Luna was banished to the moon.” She commanded, closing her eyes. Her geode glowed brighter and she reopened her eyes which were now glowing completely white.
The castle around her was now wrecked, and before her, stood Nightmare Moon. Behind her, stood…
“Princess Celestia!” Sunset gasped before shrinking back, as if it were on instinct. She had wronged her mentor and had yet to apologise to her. Seeing her again like this, even if it was just a vision, still made her nervous.
“Luna! I will not fight you!” Celestia said as she folded her wings. “You must lower the Moon! It is your duty!” Nightmare Moon merely scoffed.
“Luna? I am…NIGHTMARE MOON! I have but one royal duty now; TO DESTROY YOU!!!” She roared as she shot a beam at Celestia, who dodge the attack and took to the skies. “And where do you think you’re going?” Sunset could only watch helplessly as Nightmare Moon gave chase, chasing Celestia around in the sky, before eventually shooting her down.
“Princess Celestia!” Sunset yelled in concern when she ran up to Celestia. “Princess Celestia? You’re ok…right?” She sat down next to Celestia’s limp form and reached out a hoof hesitantly, afraid of confirming her fear. The instant her hoof made contact with Celestia, her eyes flashed white again.
Images flashed through her mind, as did voices. She saw little foals playing in the sun. She saw ponies sing nothing but praise for the sun. She saw ponies being friendly and cheerful to Celestia as she walked around town. Where did I go wrong? Celestia’s voice rang out, voicing her thoughts in the current moment.
Sunset shook her head as she stepped back from Celestia. It didn’t take long for her to realise that she had seen Celestia’s memories, of what she had thought was a happy time, where nothing could go wrong. But Sunset knew better. She had seen, in those memories, something that Celestia had missed all those years ago.
Princess Luna… She’s just like me.