//------------------------------// // 54 - Beginning of the End - Angel Dust // Story: Sunset Shimmer - Six Friends One Heart // by Babroniedad //------------------------------// Angel Dust Dust shared with Sunset what was going on at school, including the volunteer work she had taken on to try to atone for her misdeeds. As she spoke, Sunset felt herself slipping further and further into a disconnected state. Eventually, Dust noticed she was fading. “Sunset, you okay? You seem to be spacing out. You sure you don’t want to lay down for a bit?” Sunset turned to face Dust. She could see lines of light radiating out from her, and heard her voice echoing as though she were in a far off canyon. “Dust, I don’t feel so good.” Dust took her shoulders, looking into her eyes. “Sunset, I’m sorry, but you need to lay down. I think you're getting sick or something. Look, I’ll help you up to your bed, and you can rest for a bit. I’ll head back over to school and ask Ms. Celestia to come help you. Okay?” “Okay,” nodded Sunset confusedly. Dust rolled her over to the stairs and onto the lift. Once they were upstairs, Dust rolled her into her room, gently placing her on her bed. She leaned over Sunset. “Sunset. Wait here, okay? I’ll be right back. I’m going to go get Principal Celestia, and bring her back. Don’t wander off, just rest. Okay? Can you do that?” “Okay Dust,” mumbled Sunset. “Okay.” Dust smoothed Sunset’s hair from her eyes, then left. Sunset lay there, delirious. She heard the voices of everyone she’d ever tormented. Every friendship she had ever broken, they were there, standing in her bedroom, tears streaming from their eyes as they stared at her in silent rage. Her friends were there too, crying in betrayal. “Sunset!” they called out. “How could you! We trusted you Sunset! You were family! How could you betray us!” Sunset shook. She cried out. “It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me! I would never do that! I love you! You’re my family! I would never do that!” Writhing in anguish, she moaned and called out in grief. “It wasn’t me! I would never hurt you!” She cried and wailed. One by one, her friends turned silently and walked away. Soon, no one was left, the only sound Sunset weeping piteously. An angel walked slowly into her room, calling out her name. “Sunset.... Sunset…” She turned towards the angel. “Sunset..” called out the angel. Sunset turned to face the angel. Her face was bathed in a beautiful golden light. Her smile was peaceful and serene. Sunset reached out to the angel. “Sunset, it’s time for peace,” stated the angel simply. She held her arms outstretched. “All of this suffering, all of this torment. It must end. It’s time to end it. Come Sunset. Know peace.” The angel stepped forward, drying Sunset’s tears. She gently pulled her up, and lifted her into her chair. “Sunset, let all of this go. Let this life go. Leave it behind you. Come, join us in Elysium Sunset. Time to leave the suffering of this life. Leave this torment behind, and know peace.” Sunset looked at the angle, and nodded her head slowly. “Peace,” she breathed. She looked away to her desk, and said again “Peace.” “Yes Sunset. Let’s leave this life behind. Come with me to Elysium and peace.” The angle started to push her out of the room and into the hallway. “Wait!” shouted Sunset, pointing back to her desk. The angel pushed her back into the room and over to the desk. “Peace,” said Sunset. She pulled down her journal, opening it to the last written page. Picking up a pen, she breathed “Peace”, and began writing. ‘Dear Princess Twilight. I can no longer bear to live with the horrors I have committed in both this world and yours. I am completely unworthy of anyone’s love and forgiveness. I’m sorry to have caused you and all my friends such complete pain and suffering. Please forgive me. I’ll see you someday in Elysium. I love you dearly, thank you for being my friend. Yours in Harmony, Sunset Shimmer’ The angel nodded. “Yes, that will bring peace. Well done Sunset. A note for our loved ones. Now come. It is time for you to know peace.” Sunset placed the Journal on her desk, a beatific smile on her face. The angel rolled her into the bathroom. Placing her next to the tub, she helped Sunset turn on the water. “Let the warmth comfort you on your journey Sunset, as the warmth of eternity prepares to enfold your soul.” When the tub was full, the angle led her over to the sink and helped her remove the blades from her safety razors. “Let the suffering flow from your body. Open your wrists and let the pain and torment leave, never to return.” Sunset smiled. “Peace,” she intoned. Gently, the angel helped her into the tub, placing the blades where she could reach them. “Release your pain Sunset. Release your suffering. Pour out your torment out into the cosmos, let your sorrows flow from you into eternity. Open your wrists, and let your suffering flow out from your wounded spirit!” Sunset nodded. “Peace.” She drew the blade across her wrist with a flinch. She looked curiously at the blood that flowed down her arm from her wrist. “Peace,” she intoned again. She placed the blade in her other hand and drew it across her remaining wrist, once again watching the blood flow down from her hand with detached curiosity. “Peace,” she sighed, then lowered both hands into the water, looking out the window. The angel followed her gaze. Outside clouds drifted by slowly, carried across the small bathroom window by the gentle breeze. Children could be heard playing happily nearby. Sunset smiled serenely. “Peace.” The angel gently kissed her forehead, and tearfully backed through the bathroom door. “I will see you in Elysium, dear soul,” she breathed, then left, never to return.