Sunset drummed her fingers against her leg, gaze remaining focused on the entrance to the rather luxurious apartment complex she now called home. People occasionally crossed in front of her vision, but they were ignored, as none had the bright purple hair Sunset was expecting to see. A very select few of those individuals nodded, or greeted the woman, a move which Sunset reciprocated robotically, her attention never leaving the doors.
Whenever they opened, the cacophony of sound coming from the downpour of rain entered the lobby. When this happened it was accompanied with a slight gust of cool wind that didn't quite reach Sunset. It also made Sunset begin to worry a little more, her teeth clamping down over her bottom lip.
“She’ll be here,” remarked the elderly doorman who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
“I don't know what you’re talking about,” Sunset muttered, arms crossed over her chest.
“It's the one with the glasses right?” asked the older male.
Sunset paused, and turned to the dark skinned man, her expression softening when she laid eyes on the wide smile he wore.
“Yeah…” Sunset admitted.
“She’s running a little late I presume,” he offered.
Sunset Shimmer nodded. “She was supposed to be here a half hour ago.”
“It's just a little rain. I’m sure its nothing,” offered the doorman.
“She's never late though,” Sunset pointed out. “And I think we had a fight earlier in the week?”
“You think you did, or you did?” he asked.
Sunset shrugged. “I’m not sure, but it's been five days since then and she’s barely spoken a word to me.”
“Yet she was still coming here today,” offered the male.
“She did say that,” Sunset admitted.
“Then she’ll be here,” declared the elderly man.
“How can you know for sure?” Sunset retorted, more curious than angry.
“I got a feeling for these kinds of things,” he replied, tapping the side of his head. “Comes with age.”
“Well if you’re certain…” Sunset Shimmer muttered.
As if the old man had predicted the future, Twilight Sparkle walked in a second later with a dour expression on her face and no umbrella above her head. Soaked from the top of her crown to the bottoms of her feet, the girl seemed angry, yet that rage had been sublimated by bitter resentment for her circumstances. Sunset began to move almost immediately, but the elderly doorman somehow managed to beat her to it.
With a towel in hand, the male pulled the door open the rest of the way and flashed the new arrival a wide smile.
“Good evening young miss. May I offer you something to dry off?” he asked.
Twilight blinked, and glanced down at the towel. “Oh, uh thank you,” she muttered, taking the small bundle.
“What happened to you? I thought Timber was going to give you a ride,” Sunset Shimmer hesitantly asked.
“We had… a fight,” Twilight glumly admitted.
Sunset Shimmer frowned as she watched Twilight dry her head, before beginning the arduous process of doing the same to the rest of her body. While the other girl got to work doing just that, Sunset grappled with an internal conflict that threatened to spill past her lips at any moment. Putting away her own desire to pry, and perhaps make them break up was difficult but Sunset managed to do so relatively quickly.
“Come on. I got some spare clothes up in my apartment,” Sunset offered.
“Err should I leave this here or…” Twilight murmured, gesturing to the towel he now had wrapped around her shoulders and upper torso.
“Don't you worry about it none. Just go get warmed up,” offered the elderly doorman.
“Thanks,” Sunset replied.
Twilight nodded. “Yes, thank you sir.”
“Go on then. Don't want to catch a cold now do we?” remarked the male.
“We most certainly do not,” Sunset exclaimed.
Before Twilight could mutter a reply, Sunset grabbed her hand and led her over to the elevator. Immediately after hitting the button the doors parted, allowing the two girls to step inside the steel box. Once there Sunset quickly hit the second largest number of the bunch, and stepped back to appraise the other girl.
She looked miserable. That much was obvious, though there was also an anger there which wasn't quite so readily noticeable.
“Are you alright? You’re shivering,” Sunset whispered, draping an arm over the nerdy girl’s shoulder and pulling her close.
“Just… cold,” Twilight whispered.
“You werent still arguing about Rainbow Dash deciding not to go to college were you?” Sunset inquired.
Twilight stiffened briefly before quickly relaxing and leaning against Sunset’s shoulder.
“No,” she muttered. “I realized that I was being stupid days ago.”
“Then why have you been so… standoffish about it? The girls were getting kind of worried you know,” Sunset pointed out.
“I know, but you have to understand something,” Twilight admitted. “Post secondary education was always so important to me, and to a larger extent, my family. It was drilled into my head at such a young age that one of my first memories is looking through my father’s yearbook from M.I.T.”
“But…” Sunset Shimmer gently pressed.
“But that doesn't excuse my actions,” Twilight whispered, shoulders slumped. “I should have realized after everything we went through at Platinum’s that I can be a bit domineering with my opinions.”
“Are you going to apologize to Rainbow Dash on monday?” Sunset asked.
Twilight nodded meekly.
“Then that's all that matters. Now let's get you cleaned up so we can work on our magic together,” Sunset declared as the metal panels parted to reveal the short hallway which ended with Sunset’s front door.
“You still want to do that?” Twilight asked.
“Of course. It would be a shame for you to walk all that way for nothing,” Sunset Shimmer pointed out.
“I suppose,” Twilight half heartedly agreed.
Sunset Shimmer leaned against the wall next to her bathroom door, hands stuffed into her pockets. Behind her she could hear the familiar sound of Twilight combing her hair in a slow, monotonous pace. Steam still billowed out from the cracked door, tickling Sunset’s nose with the scent of lemon body wash.
Though tempted to peek, Sunset resisted that urge, silently reminding herself of how creepy that would be. Twilight was her guest after all, and no matter how much Sunset wanted to see the nerdy girl in her birthday suit, she didn't want it to happen like this. She’d rather that event occur behind closed doors, with Twilight stripping for her, though Sunset cut off that train of thought before it could get away from her.
“So, what were you two fighting over?” Sunset asked somewhat hesitantly. “Sorry if that's a bit personal. You don't have to answer that.”
There was a long pause before the sound of brushing stopped, and Twilight finally responded.
“It was about you,” Twilight murmured.
Sunset’s heart soared, only to return back to earth a moment later when she reminded herself to calm down.
“Sort of,” Twilight added.
“What do you mean?” Sunset pressed.
“Timber may have made a rather bad joke about us making magic together and I took it kinda personally,” Twilight replied.
“And then he kicked you out?” Sunset continued.
“No. I walked out willingly,” Twilight answered.
There was a short pause accompanied by the ruffle of clothes, punctuated by a few grunts as Twilight dressed herself in the unfamiliar garments. While Sunset waited, her mind churned with a million million possibilities, most of which were bad, though a select few werent. Those particularly positive scenarios were almost worse than all the awful ones, as it made Sunset feel a tiny shred of hope.
“I never realized how much bigger you are then me,” Twilight exclaimed.
Sunset Shimmer jumped and spun towards the door where a rather amused looking Twilight stood. The girl wore a slightly baggy sweatshirt marked with their highschool football team’s colors and emblazoned with their logo. She also wore the only pair of sweatpants Sunset had ever owned, the dull grey cloth hanging off Twilight’s wiry frame.
“I didn't startle you did I?” Twilight asked.
“A little,” Sunset admitted, clearing her throat. “And yeah. I was always a little taller than most of you guys and I’ve recently gained a few inches.”
“After the whole… thing, at Platinum’s?” Twilight inquired curiously.
“Yeah I think it's because I got so much more of my magic back,” Sunset replied, conjuring a small orb of fire in her hand before quenching it within her fist.
“Do you think that I might get a little bigger once I activate my own magic?” Twilight asked somewhat hesitantly.
Sunset’s immediate reaction was to glance at the other girl’s relatively flat chest and say ‘I sure hope so’, but she stopped herself from saying that at the last second.
“You might,” Sunset muttered, a blush creeping across her cheeks. “You have both wings and a horn when you ponied up so it seems possible that you will gain at least a few inches.”
“How much taller are alicorns when compared to the general populace?” Twilight inquired.
“A good head above all but the tallest ponies,” Sunset replied before clearing her throat. “Perhaps we should continue this conversation while we go down to the meditation room?”
“Good thinking,” Twilight agreed.
Sunset sat on the ground, legs crossed before her, and her eyes shut tightly. Across from her she knew Twilight was mimicking her actions, and Sunset confirmed this by cracking open a single eyelid. Sure enough, there Twilight sat, her hands clasped on her lap, and her expression distant yet strained at the same time.
The pathways of magic ebbed and flowed around Sunset’s body, their subdued movements all but invisible to most people. Sunset Shimmer was unlike most people however, as she was a freshly awakened former unicorn. Not only that but she had been incredibly powerful, quite knowledgeable, and had received a top tier education.
So to her, this barely even noticeable breeze was like a warm summer wind, caressing her features. It gathered around the stone circle which surrounded them, and from there, was dispersed about the room. Where it built up around their heads, becoming a small, perfectly round orb, or an angry turbulent cloud.
Sunset Shimmer had the more stable of the two, while Twilight seemed to be sitting beneath a gathering storm. One glance at which made Sunset begin to worry that perhaps her friend’s fight with Timber had been a little less superficial than previously indicated. Sunset observed the mass for several more seconds, and after it became clear that the situation was not about to resolve itself, opened both of her eyes.
“Stop,” she commanded.
Twilight blinked. “What, why? I could almost feel it.”
“What you were feeling was a knot of negative emotions that was about to explode in your face,” Sunset retorted.
Twilight immediately crossed her arms over her chest. “I don't think it was that bad,” she declared.
“Twilight, after I regained my nearly full power, I’ve been able to detect the faint magic of this world,” Sunset began. “As such I can see the turbulent mass of chaotic energy floating above your head. This power was just waiting for your intention to be forced into it before it exploded into the world.”
“I don't…” Twilight’s bitter reply died on her lips. “I’m just a little conflicted is all.”
“About what, exactly?” Sunset offered, extending a hand. “Because until we get to the bottom of whatever is bothering you then we aren't going to get much further.”
“Before I answer,” Twilight began. “What exactly does magic mean to you?”
“Power,” Sunset responded immediately.
“That's what I thought you-”
“You didn't let me finish,” Sunset interrupted. “When I say Power I mean power like the division of the atom. In the hands of monsters it is capable of incredible evil, but in the hands of the righteous it is the most incredible energy source imaginable.”
“Even then it's not without its faults,” Twilight pointed out.
“True, but the dangers have been vastly overblown by your popular media. Modern day nuclear power is incredibly clean, and harms the environment less then even solar. Your culture is merely stuck in this weird post cold war mentality,” Sunset Shimmer passionately replied, only to chuckle. “But I feel like were getting a bit off topic.”
“Yes, well. The reason I ask is that this feels… wrong, for lack of a better word,” Twilight muttered, turning her hands over in her lap. “When I imagine myself using magic, I can't help but feel like I have a gun in my hands.”
“Did you feel that way when you use your telekinesis?” Sunset remarked.
“Sorta,” Twilight admitted. “Though compared to true magic, telekinesis feels a lot like wielding a particularly sharp butterknife.”
“Then you might be a little shocked to know that Tk is the most well used offensive spell in the history of Equestria,” Sunset Shimmer explained. “In fact it's responsible for the most magic related deaths in perhaps the entirety of history.”
“That doesn't seem right,” Twilight replied. “I’ve seen the fireballs you fling around. Those are way more dangerous.”
Sunset raised a finger and waggled it at the other girl. “Ahh that's the same pitfall I fell into when I was first learning to cast. You see a fireball is loud, takes a while to set up and can only be cast by certain magic users. Even the most novice caster can stab someone with a knife from a distance. In fact they use specially weighted daggers to make it easier to wield with magic, while also increasing the damage it deals.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Twilight muttered, stroking her chin.
“With telekinesis you could pull the ladder out from underneath someone, drop a rock on their head while they aren't looking, or even go bigger and cause an avalanche with minimal effort,” Sunset continued. “The applications are endless, and there were even rumours of ancient unicorns tearing their enemies' hearts out with nothing more than telekinesis.”
“Okay you scared me quite enough now thank you,” Twilight pleaded.
Sunset chuckled. “Sorry Twilight, but you get my point.”
“I do,” Twilight replied.
“So what brought this up anyway? Or did you just feel like having a philosophical discussion out of the blue?” Sunset pressed, leaning towards the other girl.
“Yes, and no,” Twilight answered. “I’ve been ruminating a lot on the ethics of magic, and what it means to gain such a power.”
“And?” Sunset offered.
“And I don't know how to feel. On the one hand it feels like I’m realizing some deep seated human desire to bend the laws of reality, yet on the other it's undeniably capable of great evil,” Twilight declared.
“Are you capable of evil?” Sunset asked.
“I mean… theoretically yes,” Twilight answered.
Sunset merely raised an eyebrow.
“Realistically? No, I don't think I am,” Twilight admitted.
“You people are so obsessed with guns that it wrecks your metaphors. You start seeing everything as yet another weapon,” Sunset admonished. “I don't blame you, but magic is more like… germ theory. Without it we couldn't understand our world, nor could we heal the sick, but we also couldn't create bio weapons.”
“I’m not sure that's quite equivalent,” Twilight pointed out.
Sunset sighed, and ran a hand down her face. “I’m not the best at this sorta thing but what I’m trying to say is that you shouldn't worry so much about what it is capable of but rather who is wielding it. With a few common sense laws, and proper education magical accidents are more or less non-existent, yet stripping the right away completely is wrong.”
“That gun metaphor is looking more and more appropriate,” Twilight remarked.
“I mean you’re not wrong,” Sunset muttered. “It's not some external thing however. To take away someone’s magic is to lop off an arm, or amputate a leg. It's not like taking away a gun from someone who has a history of mental instability.”
“I suppose that makes sense,” Twilight reluctantly agreed.
“So. Now it's my turn to ask you a question. Why are you so hung up on this whole thing? When we first talked about you getting magic you were thrilled!” Sunset proclaimed.
“I was,” Twilight murmured, a soft smile crossing her face. “Its a field that the public doesn't understand, and one that is largely undocumented. I’ve just begun to worry about it, that's all.”
“Giving magic to humans is a long, arduous process. It's not like something you can pick up at a store. There are checks and balances that are easily put in place,” Sunset reasoned.
“I know that logically. But I just can't help thinking about the larger applications that are possible,” Twilight muttered before releasing a long sigh.
“Sometimes you really have to turn that big brain of yours off for a little while,” Sunset Shimmer declared with a smile, fingers splayed and palms up. “Just think about all the lives you’re going to save and all of the innocent people you will be able to protect once you unlock your magic.”
“That helps. Thank you Sunset,” Twilight replied, placing her hand in the other girl’s and squeezing gently.
Their smiles and happy attitudes were dampened by the sudden emergence of over a dozen faint purple lights. These glowing violet orbs swirled around the both of them and were joined by several bright orange ones. Together they began to move in a lazy circle around them, growing faster with each rotation and somehow lifting both of them from their seats.
Holding each other close, the two looked around in wonder, their initial misgivings gone once they realized the magical phenomenon wasn't harmful. Indeed it had the opposite effect on the pair, as they both felt energized, though it was Twilight who gained the majority of the benefits.
Infused with incredible power, the girl suddenly ponied up without even trying, gaining both wings and a horn in the process. She also stood a little taller, and her mane began to wave on an invisible, ethereal breeze that seemed to come from nowhere. That wasn't all though, as Twilight’s eyes began to glow, growing so bright that they were like twin flashlights emitting violet light.
The orbs around them swirled faster, and together the two girls levitated higher into the air, Twilight’s wings flapping languidly. A dull whir could also be heard accompanied by the faint tinkling of distant bells and chimes. Sunset could have sworn she felt her body becoming slightly lighter, though she discarded that thought when she realized that whatever was happening was quickly reaching its zenith.
The many violet and orange balls had risen above their head, spinning so fast they had become a solid halo of energy. Sunset wanted to activate her magic, and to scan the strange objects, but before she could do so they flashed in perfect unison. Bright enough to blind her, Sunset reflexively spread her legs, and extended her arms, though she knew not why.
A second later and she landed on the floor, with Twilight falling into her arms with enough force to knock them both to the ground. Thankfully Sunset’s reflexes were good enough to keep them from getting hurt, leaving them with only a few very minor bruises.
Twilight was slow to regain her sight, blinking away the lingering light which was emitted by her eyes. When it finally went away completely, the girl was surprised to find herself laying across her friend’s lap. Head held up by Sunset’s strong hand, Twilight couldn't help but stare up in wonder at the other girl.
She had never noticed how big, and utterly enchanting the other girl’s teal eyes were. The twin pools of warmth and comfort threatened to swallow Twilight whole, the girl suddenly at peace with the world. This feeling was helped along by Sunset’s strong hands, and protective manner of which she held Twilight in her arms.
“Are you ok-” Sunset began.
Sunset never got the chance to ask her question however, as Twilight had suddenly leaned towards her and kissed the other girl. Though even the word kiss didn't quite describe the manic, almost desperate intensity at which Twilight mashed their lips together. The girl’s all consuming need was obvious, and the desire so palpable that Sunset was completely overwhelmed by it all.
Sunset could only sit there, her eyes wide as Twilight embraced her so passionately that Sunset felt her heart flutter in her chest. Suddenly everything wrong with the world, with her past, and with the trauma which doggedly nipped at her heels was gone. Sunset was alone with all the love she felt, and the focus of that love.
Nothing else matters.
Then it was over, as Twilight had rolled out of Sunset’s grip, her pupils shrinking down to twin pinpricks. The other girl then quickly adjusted her glasses, sprung to her feet, and almost immediately tripped over her baggy pants. Her yearning expression was gone, replaced by sheer panic, and an intense guilt that seemed to have consumed her completely.
“Slow down Twilight. We should talk about this,” Sunset cautioned, following after the other girl.
“No! That was a mistake. I wasn't thinking clearly. The magic, it was…” Twilight didn't even finish her sentence before running for the door.
“Wait, Twilight don't go!” Sunset shouted, shame, guilt and joy warring in her heart.
“I have to. That was… not me,” Twilight muttered.
Before Sunset could respond, the other girl had left the room, and her footsteps could be heard running to the elevator. For a moment Sunset considered going after Twilight, perhaps even stopping her with a tiny bit of force. Yet she didn't do that, for she was also tempted to run away herself.
Left confused, and conflicted, Sunset merely stood there for a few more seconds. Before finally her anger won out and she cursed loudly, stomping about the fake forest with loud, heavy footsteps. She didn't make it far before she found a small potted plant which she booted across the room.
“Stupid, stupid, stupid!” She yelled, falling to her knees.
Now breathing heavily, Sunset stared at the ground as tears streamed down her face in angry rivers. She wanted to scream more, to curse and break things yet her conscience quickly got the better of her. So with a sigh, Sunset used her magic to repair the poor plant’s container before returning it back to its resting spot.
Her second urge was to charge after Twilight, or perhaps attempt a teleport, yet she didn't follow those desires. Instead she did the logical thing, and reached into her pocket, intent on texting or calling her friends. Yet she didn't do that either, her thumb hovering over her contacts list without actually pressing it.
“This isn't something I can talk to them about,” she openly exclaimed.
Sunset immediately thought of the other Twilight, and though she wasn't certain if it would do any good given how little Twilight responded to her, Sunset chose to try anyway.
In little time the girl had returned to her apartment, and had dug out the journal from amongst her most precious possessions. The privacy enchantment, and series of defensive wards had remained predictably intact, meaning no one had messed with it in her absence. Sunset barely even realized this however, as the faintly glowing pages immediately grabbed her attention and held it firmly.
Pulling open the cover, Sunset Shimmer was quickly greeted with not one response, but over a dozen. Paragraph after paragraph of delicate handwriting now covered the pages of Sunset’s journal. Answers to Sunset’s questions, heartfelt apologies for not responding, and stories of recent events in her own life, princess Twilight had included it all.
Though the others were intriguing in their own right, Sunset could feel her attention drawn to the final two paragraphs. The weight of something important hung over them, and Sunset quickly began to read.
Again, sorry about not responding sooner. Celestia has been… difficult. That mare seems intent on saddling me with so many responsibilities that I have little time for anything else. I shouldn't blame her though, as it was I myself who expressed a desire to learn more about the empire, and how to run it. Regardless of all that, I aim to reply more frequently for at least the next few weeks or so before things pick up again.
Your friend, Twilight Sparkle.
P.S. I know I shouldn't be telling you this, what with the file I found being labeled top secret and all, but I can't in good conscience leave it out. I’m not even sure how to bring it up really, but Celestia is thinking of dumping something big through the mirror. Not only that but she is thinking about breaking it completely. I’ve warned her against doing so given the chaotic energy such an act may release, but it was clear that she was only half listening to me.
Stay safe out there Sunset. I’ll do what I can to help but I’m afraid it probably won't be very much.
Sunset crumpled to the ground, her knees having lost all strength in them the moment she realized that the other Twilight hadn't abandoned her after all. Not only that but it seemed as though it was Celestia, not Twilight herself who had been at fault for the new princesses’ absence. Such mundane concerns were quickly tossed aside when Sunset reread the final paragraph.
“What does she mean by big?” Sunset muttered. “Celestia wouldn't really break the mirror. Would she?”
The empty room offered no response, and gave no answer.
“Right. I should probably ask Twilight about that,” Sunset whispered to herself, hand reaching for her pen. “Dear Princess Twilight-”