//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: "The Darkest Power: Part 2" ("The Ballad Of Sunset Shimmer") // Story: The Elements of Harmony // by MarcellusMiro66 //------------------------------// "It was you all along! You're Anon-A-Miss!" "We trusted you, Sunset! We thought you were our friend!" "How could you do this? After all we've been through together?" "No, wait, you guys–! I didn't do this! I could never hurt any of you!" "But you did! You must've just been pretending to be our friend, when all along you were just after our secrets! You... You secret stealer!" "No, no! I don't know how she got this stuff, but it–it wasn't me! I'm not this person!" "No, you're not! You're not the person we thought you were! You're not our friend!" "No, I... I am. I promise..." "This is it, Sunset. You're not going to take advantage of us anymore. I'm sorry, but you did this to us. Tell whatever secrets you want...but we don't have to listen." Even after her friends left and the hallway emptied, Sunset remained sobbing on her knees. After everything that's happened between them, things had fallen apart once again, this time only ten times worse than before. It was far worse experiencing the trauma from the perspective of a hero than a villain: a hero felt remorse, a villain didn't. She wanted to believe that her reputation in the long run had been damaged beyond repair, but she had a far greater loss than reputation to lament. The good will she had tirelessly rebuilding up until this point had been annihilated all because of a simple frame-up. No doubt that she would be framed for the entire debacle and be devoid of any proof of innocence. A few weeks later, and that perilous prophecy proved to be poor and precise. Not only was she outed as the primary suspect and subsequent scapegoat with nobody willing to listen to her even as the student board completely descended into madness much like her. Even Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna had their own doubts, and they knew her far longer than the rest of the students and staff. Losing all hope, Sunset attempted to run away...and got her wish. In hot pursuit of Miss Sunset was a group of angry students seeking justice revenge against her. They would not listen to her pleas of innocence, let alone listen to her in general. They all wanted Sunset to rot in the Underworld, contempt having completely consumed them to the core. One of them even brought a handgun with them, yet seldom firing it. The few times they did, though, were the times where the victim very nearly lost her life; a bullet even grazed her in the shoulder before she found it. The portal. It was glowing when Sunset circled back around and retreated to the school to avoid the mob. For a moment, she felt her troubles slip away and was entranced by it. Sticking one hand through the portal before pulling it back out and examining it, she saw no external damage and felt no internal damage. An idea began to grow in that crazy little mind of hers. A crazy, stupid, but foolproof idea. At the same time, a small seed of doubt and reluctance grew alongside it...before it was ripped from the root the moment her ears perked at the sounds of the angry mob. Dangerously close to approach the front of the school, Sunset made a spilt second decision. One that would change her life forever. Losing all hope, Sunset attempted to run away...and got her wish. "The Great and Powerful Trixie...is speechless." It was a sentiment shared by Twilight, Starlight, Apple Cobbler, and Photo Finish as they listened to the ballad of Sunset Shimmer, whose trauma conga line also acted as a slice of misguided laser-guided karma considering her past actions. Of course, this would've been funnier when the pain was inflicted upon a much deserving victim, and even then, the very idea was less desirable. Sunset Shimmer was not a pony when she started out in life, but rather a strange creature known as a human being, descended from the primates but vastly perceived as harder, better, faster, stronger. That didn't make them smarter, however, with faint shreds of actual intelligence only shining through when it counted most. The vast majority also were problematically ill-tempered and more than willing to resort to violence either to solve their problems or create new ones. Out of the six ponies, Twilight was more fascinated than frightened, already brainstorming new experiments and surveys to study the humans. Of course, upon being made known of their overtly violent and nihilistic tendencies, she would have to make mental notes to exercise caution. "Sunset..." Twilight began, "I'm so sorry for what happened to you." "Don't be," Sunset shook her head, "It wasn't your fault. It never was. I never was the kind of person who was one for friendship. Every time I try to make one, I just end up pushing them away. And the few friends I do make...I just end up pushing them even further away." "Well, don't fret, dear," Photo Finish managed a smile despite the situations (the group's as a whole and Sunset's in particular), "Pushing away a friend is the last thing we would do." "No offense," Apple Cobbler stretched her legs as she bit down an apple, "but we barely know each other. I don't think we qualify as friends yet." "I mean..." Starlight chuckled, "we're making good progress so far. Most of us are brought together by a tragedy of some sort. Say, Twilight knew that this Princess Cadance was actually an evil doppleganger but nopony believed her. Sunset was accused of a crime she didn't commit and nopony believed her. And me? I used to run a cult where I implanted the idea in the minds of the townspeople where cutie marks were bad and that differences caused disharmony." An uneasy atmosphere permeated by an awkward silence followed as the rest of the girls stared at a nonchalant Starlight in abject horror, their jaws hanging comically agape. Starlight glanced at the group before a bashful grin and chuckle left her mouth, realizing that she got carried away. "You ran a cult where you implanted the idea in the minds of the townspeople where cutie marks were bad and that differences caused disharmony?" Sunset tilted her head. "I used to run a cult where I implanted the idea in the minds of the townspeople where cutie marks were bad and that differences caused disharmony," Starlight corrected as she crossed her...forearms. "I..." Trixie nervously glanced from side to side, "...don't believe you told Trixie of that tenaciously terrifying tale, Starlight." "Of course, I did, Trixie," Starlight waved her concerns off before turning back to the other girls, "I did, didn't I?" While Twilight and Sunset swiftly shook their heads, Apple Cobbler merely shrugged and Photo Finish responded with: "Well... Considering the fact that we had to stop a Changeling conqueror from taking over Canterlot, had to outrun the Storm King's henchmen, and nearly died going down a waterfall... I don't believe the thought of you regaling your dark and troubled past to us ever occurred to you yet, dear." "...Oh," Starlight sounded almost disappointed, "I guess that's what an adrenaline rush does to you, huh?" "I'd say," Apple Cobbler yawned, "Speaking of which, we do need our rest if we're going to find a nearby town tomorrow." "Before we do, though..." Photo Finish fashioned a makeshift bed from many of her belongings, "Sunset, dear?" "Hmm?" "Don't let the past define your present and future. It is up to you and you only to shape it in your vision. In other words, never look back at the then...because it distracts from the now." Giving her words a brief thought, Sunset nodded and smiled, "Thanks for the advice, um...Photo Finish?" "Of course, dear," Photo Finish nodded and smiled back as she curled into a ball and fell asleep just like that. "That was..." Starlight followed soon after, "oddly wise." "The Great Powerful Trixieeeee..." Trixie was next, "agreeeees..." "This is going very well," Apple Cobbler sighed as she become the third-to-last to drift away into a soft and silent slumber. Twilight and Sunset were eventually the only ones left awake as they made their makeshift beds. "Twilight?" "Yes, Sunset?" "This plan... The one we're pulling off to save Canterlot and possibly all of Equestria... Do you think it's going to work?" "Of course it will...because I don't know what to do if it doesn't." And just like that, Twilight fell asleep, leaving Sunset to grapple with her deepest, darkest thoughts. Well, this was a crazy day so far. One moment I'm just a regular human being dealing with high school, financial troubles, and social media craziness. The next? I'm a freakin' pony, an Unicorn even, tasked with saving the magical kingdom version of my former home. . . . This is just insane. Not even bothering to fight the need for sleep, Sunset yawned and curled into a ball, saving her energy for the next day. . . . And then, she turned over her side to cuddle with a still sleeping Twilight, who seemed to not mind the company. "Cadance...?" "Cadance..." "Cadance!" The Princess of Love awoke with a start and regained her vision, reacknowledging her surroundings and recalling the memories of the days before. Many of the wedding guests (pony and Changeling alike) were chained and locked up in cages like wild animals, with those with horns equipped with collars that dampened their powers. Aunt Celestia, Aunt Luna, and Cadance herself were no exception, but they were entrapped in an obsidian-like material unlike the others. The new bridesmaids, which consisted of five of Twilight's supposed closest friends, were nearby, assauging the fears of three young fillies who bore a resemblance to three of them (perhaps closest relatives?). The one who called out her name was in a cage next to them, his wedding uniform showing some serious wear-and-tear. His moderate cerulean eyes stared back into her own light purple with nothing but concern for his fiancée. Unfortunately, at and for the moment, Cadance could only wish to feel nothing but for her fiancé. "Cadance...are you okay?" Her mood significantly darkened, Cadance sighed and sardonically remarked, "No, Shining Armor. I'm pretty far from okay..." Knowing the cause of her significantly darkened mood, Shining Armor took the hint, nodded in understanding, and slumped against his cage, refusing to push her buttons any further. He could only sigh in regretful resignation. What have I done? Nearby, the Mane Five exchanged looks of sorrowful acknowledgement as well, knowing all too well that their involvement in their friend's disappearance and their own subsequent imprisonment was anything but minor. What have we done? Suddenly, the doors of the wedding hall were violently blown open not by a magical blast, but by the sheer force of one Pegasus, who harmlessly crushed a pair of unfortunate Storm Minions who were guarding them. Rainbow Dash was the first to notice the new but certainly not improved Lightning Dust...or Archangel, as she preferred, strut down the aisle while wearing a new uniform supplied to her by Tempest, who was right beside her. With the uniform, she became a mini version of the Unicorn whose horn was damaged beyond repair. "You know," Tempest began as she observed the prisoners in their cages, "I never did ask you--" "Yes, you did, Commander Tempest," Lightning Dust interrupted her, "And I said it once, twice, and now, thrice. I was busy." "Yes...but how busy?" A Few Hours Into The Evening. . . CRASH! A hapless Changeling who had the misfortune of being caught was roundhouse kicked into a bakery door by Lightning Dust, who, much to his misfortune, had no intention of stopping there. Grabbing him by the neck and tightening her grip on it, she smirked a sinister smirk and chuckled a corrupted chuckle. Never once did she drop her frightening facade when proceeding to interrogate her new captive. Instead, she absolutely amplified it with a sickly-sweet simulation, something even she was ultimately uncomfortable with. "So..." Lightning Dust began, "What's a pretty little Changeling like you doing in a big ugly place like that in an equally meaningless time like this?" "I'm... I'm sorry, ma'am," The Changeling timidly apologized, "I was just..." "Following orders?" "Alongside my brother and another...teammate of mine." Thinking real hard about her next decision, Lightning Dust sighed in frustation and nodded in resignation. "Perhaps...you can be of use to me." "Anything. Just spare them." Lightning Dust nodded halfheartedly and beckoned the Changeling to follow her out of the bakery. "Tell me: what is your name, Changeling?" "T-Thorax." "Just Thorax?" When Thorax slightly nodded, Lightning Dust returned the nod and beckoned him to follow her once more. "Well, Thorax... Take me to them." "Enough," Lightning Dust finally replied, "I was busy enough." "With what?" Tempest pressed the issue further to get a clear answer from her. "Forming a new team." This...was not the answer she expected. "I beg your pardon?" "No, you heard me correctly." At that moment, three Changelings entered the wedding hall clad in their modified versions of the standard Storm Empire armor. The Changeling named Thorax had vivid opal eyes, sky blue violet wings, a dark arctic bluish grey mane, a dark arctic bluish carapace, and a sea greenish black chitin. His brother had moderate violet eyes, dark blue violet wings, a deep crimson mane, a dark violet mane, and a very dark grey chitin, a far cry from his fellow Changelings. The youngest of the trio shared the common Changeling appearance: moderate arctic blue eyes, a dark arctic bluish grey mane, a sea greenish black chitin, and a dark blue carapace. "Ah! Thorax, Pharynx, and Ocellus!" Lightning Dust fashioned the same faux-friendly facade again, "Glad of you to be here!" "Save it for somepony who cares, Dust," Pharnyx, Thorax's brother, sneered in disdain, "None of us want to be here, but we have to be. In fact...why are we even here?" "Because Lieutenant Lightning Dust gave us a chance," Thorax stepped forward, "A chance to...start over. Away from Queen Chrysalis." "Is..." Ocellus started softly, "Is it true?" Despite her growing ruthless nature, Lightning Dust's fondness for the younger generation (Pony or otherwise) still stabbed at her heart. It was a sentiment shared by Tempest Shadow, who was far more capable of hiding her emotions. She sighed again and nodded. "Perhaps...if you three can comply with my Commander's orders." "I seriously doubt that." Along with everypony else, the five of them engaged in the conversation turned toward a chortling Chrysalis corrode in her cage, "Ocellus, darling... You have to remember what I am capable of, regardless of the condition I'm in..." Noticing the younger Changeling shiver and take cover behind the two brothers, Lightning Dust and Tempest Shadow stepped forward and approached Chrysalis's cage, their weapons at the ready and murderous intent glimmering in their eyes. The Changeling Queen gulped in nervousness. "And you have to remember my Commander is capable of," Lightning Dust was all too willing to commit murder, "regardless of the condition she is in..." Remembering exactly how their first meeting went, Chrysalis's complacent convictions completely crumble as she swiftly shrunk and slouched down against the iron bars of her cage. "Didn't think so," Lightning Dust chuckled in victory. "I appreciate you acting as my hype pony, Lieutenant," Tempest frowned, "but we have a long way for you to properly earn my respect." "I understand, Captain, which is why I took the liberty of sending a spy to the nearest town in the Badlands. Hopefully he can intercept them there and gather any information the prisoner may have." "And who is this spy you've sent?" Lightning Dust merely smirked before she did answer.