//------------------------------// // Dark Whispers // Story: Magic Mirror On The Wall, Who Is Mightiest Of Them All? // by Snakeskin Ducttape //------------------------------// It was a testament to the consistency of Sunset Shimmer’s character that she hadn’t yet registered how often she was staring out into space while nibbling at her breakfast, deep in thought, while people were trying to get her attention. “Miss Shimmer?” So Celestia had a new student? One of the many things Sunset felt about that was a sort of dignified indignation. She was Sunset Shimmer. She didn’t need anypony else. Orphaned, cast out, impoverished, and with no social network, she was still the most capable, skilled, dangerous, and mysterious wiza- witch in this school. Hay, let’s not be modest, possibly this entire world. She would laugh in the face of any hardships the universe threw at her. “Miss Shimmer.” She did feel a little phony though, considering she had been so eager to make up with Celestia the day before. But it would make it all the sweeter when she finally became an immortal alicorn and– “Miss Shimmer!” Sunset jumped in her seat, and looked up at the face of the impatient-looking Professor McGonagall. “... Yes, professor?” McGonagall had a talented face, which managed to look very ordinary and impatient at the same time. “Professor Dumbledore would like to speak with you in his office.” “Got it.” There was a moment of silence as every eye around her was aimed directly at her. “... Oh, now?” “Yes, Miss Shimmer.” “Fine, fine,” she said, and reached for her mugs. Trolls. Professors. There were a lot of interrupted meals around this place. Sunset first emptied her coffee, then tea, then juice, in one movement each, then grabbed her sandwiches and stood up, and walked after McGonagall. Her classmates were still staring at her, so she made sure her robe swished just right. As they walked, Sunset kept chewing on her bread. Judging by how fresh it was, it was either produced in the castle, or very close to it, and by people who knew what they were doing. Sunset didn’t want to engage in tribal stereotypes, even flattering ones, but it made her think of Equestria. Every restaurant, noble kitchen, and eatery in Canterlot wanted at least one earth pony present. For luck. It made her consider perhaps looking into cooking herself. An alicorn embodied the strength and abilities of all the pony tribes, although Sunset felt that Cadence was sorely lacking in her unicorn-ness. Perhaps somehow trying to understand all of them, knowing what it truly meant to be one of all of the tribes, could be part of the road to ascension. Minerva McGonagall glanced back at the young student walking so calmly and carefree behind her. Not that she’d ever suggest that there was anything wrong with that, but… Professor McGonagall had been a teacher for a long time now, and learned her trade several decades ago. It didn’t sit perfectly right with her that a student, a first year student no less, could be led to see the headmaster, and not show the least bit of apprehension. Especially when that headmaster was none other than Albus Dumbledore. Right now she would’ve settled for Sunset putting effort into looking calm, and not chewing on a sandwich while idly lolling her head and staring out the windows, clearly in a world of her own. They came to the Gargoyle guarding the stairs up to the headmaster’s office, which seemed to snap Sunset back to reality. “Oh right, why were we here again?” Sunset asked. “Chocolate chip ice-cream,” McGonagall said, in order to allow her passage. “Hm? Oh, no thank you. I just ate,” Sunset said. Minerva kept her head aimed straight ahead, to hide her strained expression from her student, until there was enough room for her to ascend the stairs. Sunset followed McGonagall as she walked up to the door and knocked, whereupon it was opened by a bit of rare, wandless magic from Headmaster Dumbledore. “Ah, Minerva, and Miss Shimmer, do come in” he said, from behind his desk, and waved his wand to summon a pair of comfortable chairs. “Please, sit down.” “Thank you,” Sunset said, matching Dumbledore in playful politeness, as they took their seats. Sunset was starting to suspect that she was visiting this office more often than many of the faculty. It was a good office. It had a large fireplace, and the walls were lined with richly dark wooden shelves and tables, upon which rested grimoires and arcane instruments aplenty. As a fellow wizard, or witch, Sunset approved. It could’ve done with some more cushions and armchairs though. Also there were the portraits who kept staring at them. Sunset felt they were inferior to stained glass windows depicting great triumphs. “Now then, Miss Shimmer, I have some questions I would like to ask you,” Dumbledore said. Normally, Sunset would’ve been a bit apprehensive in this situation. She hadn’t warmed up to the idea of revealing anything about herself, about actually being a unicorn from another plane of existence on a quest for power and ascension into a higher, supreme being. Not to mention that the country’s most prominent wizard, who had seen more concerning her unique situation and abilities than anyone else except possibly for Garrick Ollivander, was sitting in front of her and being coy about wanting to ask questions. Sunset figured she must’ve just happened to have had a superior night’s sleep, and woken up on the right side of the bed, because she nodded calmly. “Ask away.” “It concerns your living arrangements for the summer.” In her head, Sunset turned towards the camera and gave it a smarmy grin. “Sure. What about them?” “Am I to understand that you have no one providing you with a home, or means to support yourself, when school ends?” Dumbledore asked, some of the playfulness leaving his demeanor. “Ah, see, strictly speaking the answer is negative,” Sunset said. “In the spirit of what you’re asking, however, you are technically correct, but no worries. I’ll be fine.” The two teachers were silent for a moment. A part of Minerva McGonagall, which she did her best to suppress most of the time, was glad she hadn’t scolded Sunset for whatever reason that morning. Despite herself, she did worry for her students. “Miss Shimmer,” she started, managing to sound certain but not feeling it. “This matter can not be ignored.” Sunset lolled her head as she thought. “Hmm… I’m not sure about that but… if we don’t?” Dumbledore steepled his fingers. “Perhaps it’s time that you told us more about yourself, and where you came from. <>, was it?” Sunset stiffened up, but did her best not to show it. “You remembered,” she noted, impressed. “I’m surprised you haven’t figured out more yet, no offense.” And she was surprised. There had been a very slight nagging feeling in the back of her mind that Ollivander would tell others about her being a unicorn, but then again she didn’t know what Ollivander and Dumbledore’s relation was, if they had any. Perhaps they were unfriendly rivals. Or perhaps Ollivander had understood that Sunset wanted to keep her secrets, and had not shared them. Dumbledore smiled. “None taken, of course, but the issue remains. Are you certain there is no place for you between semesters?” Sunset shook her head as she prepared herself for that peculiar game of honesty and omission. “I can’t go back where I came from when I got here, but I can make my way alright.” “I’m afraid I must object to that approach,” Dumbledore said. “I would also like to know how you came to be here. Your method of travel puzzled me, to say the least.” Sunset was silent for a moment, looking out at the blue sky as she thought. “... I walked through a magic mirror, and then I woke up in the hospital wing.” “May I ask why?” Sunset and Celestia’s relationship was on the mend, but this still wasn’t a happy topic, especially to talk with others about. “... I saw something in the mirror that I wanted to come true.” “Which was?” Sunset chewed lightly on her tongue before answering. “... I’ll be keeping that to myself.” McGonagall struggled to not seem exasperated. “Miss Shimmer, we are your teachers. You can trust us.” Sunset had so many responses to that, like telling them their assistance was starting to feel very intrusive, that it wasn’t welcome, and asking if the same applied to Snape. “That’s very kind of you,” she said, politely. “But it’s not very interesting.” “Oh I disagree, Miss Shimmer,” Dumbledore said. “But if you do not wish to continue pursuing this topic, we shall not force it. However, this still leaves your time during the summer. If you have no alternative, I recommend we look for a suitable foster family.” Sunset groaned on the inside. This was a kindness she didn’t need. She opened her mouth a few times, trying to seem flippant. “You will require a legal guardian, Miss Shimmer,” McGonagall noted. Sunset paused. “... Wait… what about wizards who have muggle legal guardians? They can’t be expected to enforce magical laws around their charges.” The two teachers exchanged a look, before Dumbledore spoke. “In the case of muggle guardians, the underage witch or wizard will primarily be monitored by the Ministry of Magic, guided by the judgement of the remote monitoring agents.” Sunset’s eyes shifted sideways as she considered this. “That… sounds wildly unfair.” “... I’ll leave my own thoughts on this matter unvoiced,” Dumbledore admitted. Sunset felt that this conversation had too many pauses for emphasis, but another one was called for at this moment. “... So that means that when you say I require a legal guardian, you mean that your personal values and conscience want me to have a safety network in terms of emotional support and economic safety, not that the state apparatus demands that I have one in terms of accountability.” Dumbledore sat still for several moments, and McGonagall’s mouth even fell open slightly, making Sunset worried she had had pushed too far, and seemed too alien to them. She relaxed her posture, smiling in an ever so slightly meek manner. “If you’re worried that there’s going to be a bunch of reports of me breaking magic laws if left to my own devices, don’t worry. There won’t be.” Dumbledore nodded solemnly. “I could believe that, Miss Shimmer, but as you alluded, there is also the ethical matter of leaving a minor without means.” “And I can’t assure you in any way?” Sunset gently probed. There was a moment of silence, before Dumbledore picked up a small metal tube from the desk and opened it. Inside was a slip of paper. “We would all feel better if you at least took this. Write a message on this paper, and burn it, and it will reach me,” he said, before placing the tube on the other side of the desk. Sunset thought that felt fair. She took the tube, fully intending to check for monitoring spells later on. “Alright. That’s very kind. Thank you.” “And please don’t be afraid to use it. We can give you more.” “Got it.” Sunset drummed her fingers on her knees. “So… was there anything else?” Dumbledore gave Sunset a kind smile. “Nothing more for now, Miss Shimmer,” he said, before holding out a bowl of white and red sweets. “Mint candy?” “Please,” Sunset said, taking a piece, and noticed something she was surprised she had missed until now. Perched above a wide brass bowl was a phoenix, looking at them with a dignified bearing. Sunset walked over to the male phoenix and, blocking the view from the teachers, lit a small flame at the tip of her finger, and held it out in front of the fiery bird. “Hello there. I’ve somehow managed to miss you the last times I was here. What’s your name?” The bright red bird’s bearing became a lot more playful, and he trilled melodically as he gently rubbed his neck and cheeks against the finger, enjoying the feeling of the flame licking his plumage. The suggestion of fire-based communication meshed with Dumbledore having a phoenix companion. Before Dumbledore could supply the name, Sunset responded to the bird’s trill. “Fawkes? That’s a pretty name. I should get going, but next time I’ll try to remember to bring some treats. Let me guess; cod? Extra extra well done?” Fawkes trilled happily and puffed his plumage in anticipation, before Sunset walked towards the door, and McGonagall walked up to her. “Miss Shimmer, I strongly urge you to reconsider.” Sunset sighed and tried to keep from shuffling her feet, before looking up at McGonagall with an apologetic face, and holding up the tube she got from Dumbledore. “I’ll keep it in mind, okay?” McGonagall nodded in defeat, but Sunset stopped in the doorway and looked back. “By the way, thank you,” she said, and gestured to their surroundings in particular. “For everything.” “Think nothing of it, Miss Shimmer,” Dumbledore said, and actually smiled, making Sunset feel a lot better before she descended the stairs again, thinking that perhaps she had misjudged McGonagall. McGonagall closed the door, and turned to her headmaster. “Albus, please. We must do something.” “We cannot force her into a foster family,” Dumbledore said in a calm voice. “We both know the Wizengamot inheritance law.” “A misguided law made by old fools to protect estates from imagined usurpers,” Minerva insisted. “A muggle foster family then.” “She can deny that too, and I think she knows it. I’m not willing to go very far attempting to deceive someone like her, nor placing her in a muggle family with too much resentment in her heart.” Minerva said nothing. “I think we have done all we can for now,” Dumbledore continued, and shook his head as he sank into his chair, deep in thought. “Sunset Shimmer is no ordinary eleven year old.” “That much is obvious,” Minerva almost barked as she looked at the door Sunset had exited through, impatient with the world in general, before she turned to Dumbledore, registering his silence. “Albus?” He was staring straight ahead, his fingers steepled, for several moments before he turned to his deputy headmistress. “What do you think of her?” “What do I…? Well, she… is quite capable in class, very capable in fact, though she doesn’t try to show it. I wouldn’t call her modest though- even around teachers she is blunt and aloof, almost impertinent.” Minerva paused, and sighed to herself. “But she is kind, in a certain way. Despite her demeanor, Mister Longbottom has benefitted from her instructions.” “Good.” Minerva gave Dumbledore a questioning look. “Her kind side seems genuine, and she has little interest in manipulation or coercion,” Dumbledore explained. Minerva’s eyes widened in shock. “Albus! You cannot mean to compare her to… to him!” She almost spat the last words out. “I have met two others in my life who have shown extraordinary ability so young, would a third be so strange?” Minerva glanced back at the door. “I see a troubled young girl when I see Sunset Shimmer. I don’t believe I’m looking at a monster.” “He wasn’t a monster in his teachers’ eyes either, but then they did not possess your judgement of character,” Dumbledore offered kindly. “Nor Hagrid’s,” he added, thoughtfully. Minerva coughed slightly impatiently. This wasn’t the time, nor was it ever time she felt, to be taken by compliments. “But something still worries you,” she noted. Dumbledore nodded. “Unless I’m losing my touch, something tells me that Sunset Shimmer is hiding something very profound.” Fawkes landed on the backrest of Dumbledore’s chair, and he reached up to scratch his beloved phoenix’s feathers around the neck. “Like how she knew your name.” Dumbledore suddenly felt the heat lingering around Fawkes’ neck, and his mouth opened slightly. “And how she did this.” — The talk with Dumbledore and McGonagall had left Sunset with a lingering feeling of discomfort. And it wasn’t just that either. The scent of nervousness was everywhere, except possibly around Fred and George, creating what felt like a miasma of unease, and Sunset kept picking it up as if it was something insidious. Everyone except Hermione had underestimated just how much studying this school required of them. Hermione studied feverishly at all times regardless, and she appeared to have infected Harry and Ron as well. Everyone was always bent over a book, mumbling to themselves and staring with tired intensity at the pages, but those three were tense as thestrals at a dog whistle testing facility. Whenever she let her guard down, Sunset felt herself gradually being pulled along and almost caring about grades and teachers’ approval. It was most unpleasant. She stopped whenever she realized what was happening. It was also a welcome reprieve whenever she could read what Celestia had written to her, it was just that in this general situation, there was just so little going on, she felt she had nothing to share. “Pheeew! What is that smell?” she asked one morning, as she descended from the dorms into the common room, along with the trickle of students heading down to the great hall. She looked at the source, a sickly-looking Ron who self-consciously hid his hand inside his robes. Flitwick later threw him skeptical looks throughout the class, which was no wonder considering Ron’s hand was green, swollen, and looked very painful. It also smelled like intentionally funky cheese that had gone off. By the afternoon, Harry and Hermione had taken a stumbling and feverish Ron to the hospital wing before coming back to the common room. They didn’t study though, and Sunset did indeed think they looked like they needed a break. They just sat alone and sometimes whispered short phrases to each other that were incomprehensible without the context. Sunset turned back to her journal, as she lounged with her legs over one of the armrests, and her back against the other one. And so he’s in the hospital wing. By the way, how is Philomena doing? You said the healer was quite skilled, so I hope you’re not worried. She is as well as always. She misses you though, and your fire magic. You’re the alicorn of the sun. You can heat her up too. And I do, you know how much she likes to cuddle in the fireplace, but still, she liked you. Likes you, I mean. Still fireproof in your current form? Yep. I took care of that ages ago. And your living arrangements during the summer? I’m not worried. I have several ideas. Good. You’ll forgive me if I’m still a little concerned. Sunset poked her chin as she thought. Oh, you want reassurance. Please. I’ll be fine. I’ll keep writing, and if I actually need help, which I won’t, I’ll write to Dumbledore. Good. Thank you, Sunset. “What language is that? It’s not English,” Sunset heard Harry say behind her. It took a moment before Sunset’s mind was pulled back to Earth, and she almost jumped when she realized that Harry and Hermione were looking over her shoulder. “What- nothing!” she blurted out. “The language is nothing?” Hermione said, raising an eyebrow. Sunset’s eyes darted back and forth. “Yyyes.” Harry looked at the book, curious. “And it’s writing itself?” Sunset snapped the book closed. “No?” “I’m pretty sure it was.” “Eh, you know… magic castle. Weird sights everywhere,” Sunset said, waving her hand, painfully aware that her classmates were all glancing at her, their minds jumping at the smallest distraction from their studies. She searched desperately for another subject. “So what happened to Ron?” “Nothing!” Harry said, at the same time as Hermione said, “Dog-bite.” Now it was their turn to have the curious gazes of their classmates aimed at them, and look around for inspired changes of subjects. “You know… magic castle. Weird stuff everywhere,” Harry suggested. Harry, Hermione, and Sunset, all looked at each other and nodded, feeling that these were valid responses, until Hermione quickly stood up. “I think we have some business in the library,” she said. “Yep,” said Harry, standing up as well. “And I need to check something in the dorms,” Sunset said, as they all quickly left to do their own thing. — A few nights later, Sunset woke up from the sound of Hermione coming in through the door and lying down in bed. As she was falling asleep again, she heard what sounded like soft sobbing coming from Hermione’s bed, but it was too late, Sunset had lost consciousness. The next day was Sunday, and as was usual, the student body slept in to varying degrees, and trickled into the great hall over a great span of time. There were unusually few students at the tables though. Many were instead clustered around the hourglasses indicating the house points. Several times a week, Sunset had gotten mildly curious about the house points and told herself that she should take a look at it, and see what she contributed, or perhaps who was winning, but every time, for months, she had just forgotten to look closer. Something about it just couldn’t hold her interest. A more curious thing was Neville shambling in and sitting down by himself, far away from anyone else, looking down at his empty plate. Looking nervous was Neville Longbottom’s default expression, but this was different. His eyes were puffy and red, and his posture was particularly slumped. Sunset slowly chewed her breakfast as she looked at him thoughtfully, before grabbing the rest of her food and walking over and sitting down next to him. He tensed up, worried, as if she’d be hostile in some way, before he slowly slumped again. “So what’s up?” she asked. Sorrow in itself didn’t have a particular scent, perhaps because it wasn’t a particular emotion, but there were several mixtures of other scents, like worry and nervousness, fatigue, and a sort of tired tenseness, among others, that ponies could identify as sorrow. He threw a quick glance at her elbow, before looking away, almost as if struck. “Something happen?” Neville quickly shook his head in minute movements, before continuing to just stare at his plate. “Alright fine,” Sunset shrugged, and pushed her plate with a so-far untouched marmalade sandwich up in front of Neville. “Eat though.” A pair of older boys, probably Ravenclaws, walked by, glaring at them. “Nice job, Longbottom,” one of them said. “Yeah, brilliant,” the other agreed. “Keep walking,” Sunset calmly ordered them without sparing them a glance. “Oh, are you defending him?” one of them demanded, as Sunset turned around and leaned back against the table. “I suppose you thought it was a great idea to–” Sunset flicked her head slightly, a lock of her hair glowing for a blink of an eye as it forced just a small amount of the older boy’s saliva down the back of his throat. He bent over, sputtering and coughing, while his friend tried to tend to him, before casting an alarmed glance at Sunset. Sunset gave them a meaningful look that made them move on, before she turned to Neville again. “Seriously, eat,” she insisted. He looked at her, not sure if he was supposed to be astonished or not, before carefully taking a bite out of the sandwich. “So what happened?” It took a moment before he mumbled an answer. “I was out past curfew.” “Yeah I know. I was there, remember?” “No… again.” “Alright. And?” “I… got caught… by McGonagall.” “Yeah? And then?” “She… gave me detention and… she took away fifty points.” “Oh.” Sunset only barely managed to keep herself from asking if that was a lot, and spun back around in her seat. “So what were you doing? Also, keep eating.” Neville took another small bite. “Harry and Hermione were out past curfew, doing something, and I heard Malfoy was going to tell on them, and I went to warn them.” Sunset suddenly remembered Hermione’s sobbing last night. “Alright, I think I got the picture.” Sunset sighed and lazily looked around the hall as she tried to figure out what to say. “... So you tried being nice and it bit you, and now everyone is mad?” Neville nodded. “I bet you’re mad too.” “Nope. I really couldn't care less about points and stuff.” Neville looked up at her in amazement. “But you earn almost as many points as Hermione.” Sunset shrugged. “I guess. I still don’t really care though.” She sank deep into thought as she considered what Neville had said. “And here I was starting to warm up to McGonagall.” It was a conundrum for Sunset. She could be the toughest and most capable person in the castle all she wanted, but if she started making friends, she felt she should put some effort into helping and protecting them. In fact, she could probably get Neville out of trouble as it was. She could solve whatever detention or task that was assigned to Neville for him. She could even force some more red sand into the Gryffindor hourglass and log it as Neville Longbottom having earned fifty points, attributed to because I say so, signed by Sunset Shimmer. But Sunset wasn’t sure she wanted that. And even if she did, was that the right thing to do? She couldn’t quite figure it out, but something told her she’d be taking on responsibilities by doing so. Could she alternatively just sit by and do nothing? Not even any middle ground she imagined seemed right to her, they all veered too much in one direction. What could she tell him? Not to worry about it? That would only be relevant if he didn’t care for the company of others, which he did. Encourage him to do better? Sunset could think of few more condescending things to say, especially since he had just tried to help. She looked around and saw that the students from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff were occasionally casting Neville the stink eye, and even more at Harry and Hermione, who had just sat down by the table a little ways away as well, huddled together and not looking up. The Slytherins on the other hand were just smirking at them. Sunset figured that she could at least provide some passive support by sitting next to Neville. She had already had breakfast, but reached for some oatmeal anyway, so she looked busy. “Alright, keep eating, and then we’re gonna practice some spells.” — McGonagall’s default facial expression was one of slightly impatient disapproval, which intensified just a little bit whenever she looked at Harry, Hermione, or Neville, while in class. It was one of those subtle things that spoke of poor traits for a teacher according to Sunset. Showing noticeable disdain in a way that left the target unable to counter or defend themselves without looking touchy or paranoid. Then again, considering what Snape got away with on a regular basis, McGonagall was being outright gentle. Still, Sunset could see her faltering somewhat in her mission to disapprove of Neville, who was slightly ahead of the class this lesson, except Hermione and herself, as Sunset had managed to map out the order of the spells that McGonagall had them practice and prepared Neville for it. McGonagall looked up to see Sunset staying behind as the rest of the class filed out. “Yes, Miss Shimmer, do you have a question?” she said, trying not to sound hopeful. “That’s right, Professor,” Sunset said, leaning against a table. “I’d like to know what Neville will be doing for detention.” McGonagall fought to not purse her lips. “I’m sorry, Miss Shimmer, but I cannot reveal that.” “Alright then, I’d like to do it instead of him.” McGonagall was still for a moment. “I’m afraid that is out of the question.” Sunset was silent while trying to figure out the best approach from here. McGonagall spoke first. “I’m sure you realize why we cannot allow students to take each others’ places at detention. I don’t understand why you would want to either.” Sunset drummed her fingers on the desk for a moment. “I believe you. Goodbye, professor,” she said, and turned around and marched out. As the days went by, the students’ deep annoyance with Harry, Hermione, and Neville died down, probably in large parts because it had to take a back seat to the last minute studying before the finals. It still meant that there was a lot of tension and annoyance in the air in general all over the castle, and Sunset could tell that the three of them felt that all short tempers and scowls they encountered were personal. Even Fred and George studied more than usual, and with so few sources of levity left, Sunset did so as well. “So have you given up on studying potions in your free time?” George asked. Sunset glanced up from her armchair to check that Percy was sitting on the other side of the common room, writing furiously on a roll of paper, with a book and notes splayed over the footrest next to his feet. “Of course not, I’m just doing it where no one else can see.” “That’s the spirit, learning and breaking rules at the same time,” Fred said. “You’re a girl after my own heart.” “Oh and mine is so aflutter,” Sunset said, in a bored voice. “Hah,” George said, while a grinning Fred punched him in the shoulder. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you two studying as well,” Sunset noted. The twins looked at each other. “And here I thought we were being so sneaky,” George said. “Aye, she can destroy our reputation with a word,” Fred said. “However can we dissuade her?” “Show me a trick you’ve learned,” Sunset suggested. The twins shrugged, and looked over the backrest of their couch at Percy. “Alright, watch this,” George said, and pointed his wand at Percy’s footrest while muttering something under his breath. Percy scrambled in shock as the footrest started squirming violently and emitting loud squeals. The whole room turned to look as the footrest acted like an angry pig, squealing and squirming, and spilling all of Percy’s notes over the floor. He fumbled for his wand, and after a few attempts he managed to disenchant the piece of furniture and make it return to an inanimate footrest, before scanning the room with a highly indignant look as nearly everyone else in the room looked back at him questioningly. Except Fred and George, who had retreated behind their backrest and were huffing and biting down on fistfulls of their robes in an attempt to keep from guffawing loudly. Sunset grinned widely. “Nice.” — That evening, Sunset was lounging in her bed with a book, reading by candlelight, as Lavender and Parvati came in. “Where was Hermione going?” Lavender asked Parvati. “To detention,” she said. “Pretty strange if you ask me, punishing them for being out past curfew, and then having them be out past curfew.” Sunset nodded in agreement to herself. “I wonder what she was doing out anyway? She’s such a teacher’s pet, and it was the second time,” Lavender said, as they were changing into their sleepwear. “Do you know, Sunset?” Parvati asked. “Can’t say I do, and neither did Neville,” Sunset said, not looking up from her book. “Well, goodnight, you two.” “Goodnight,” Parvati and Lavender said back, as the two other girls slipped into their beds, pulling the curtains partially closed, leaving enough open for their own candlelight and bringing up their own books for last minute study. Sunset stood up and paced back and forth in the room, before standing over by a window and looking out across the dark castle grounds. In the distance, four figures, the tallest of them with a lantern, were walking towards the edge of the forest, where the unmistakable shape of Hagrid stood with a lantern of his own, with Fang waiting next to him. Sunset still couldn’t sort it out. Why would it be her problem, she wondered. But just ignoring it didn’t sit right with her either. After several moments, she sighed to herself, and concentrated on becoming as uninteresting as possible. While Parvati and Lavender were practically begging for their senses to distract them, they were also not exactly the most observant people in the world, and didn’t look up when Sunset walked out. A flash of light later, and Sunset felt the crisp night air as she looked at the two lantern lights in the distance from the greenhouses. Filch and Hagrid conversed about something before Filch turned and left, then Hagrid was talking with the students, Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Draco, for a few moments, before they turned towards the forest and walked in, with Draco being very careful to be in the middle. Filch kept turning around and looking towards the forest with a giddiness Sunset couldn’t help but roll her eyes at. She kept her sensory redirection spells active, first to avoid Filch detecting her, and when she entered the forest, to avoid Harry and Fang from noticing. The forest was dark and damp from mist, and illuminated by only a few strands of starlight peering through the high canopy. She could feel the forest feeling her presence, curious, happy, and… something else. She didn’t stop to try and converse with it though. Talking with forests could be a notoriously drawn out process, and most ponies, even earth ponies, needed a long time of familiarity to understand anything really clear and insightful, especially from a larger body of woods. Even so, she let it know she was listening as she followed the lantern light in the distance, Hagrid’s rumbling voice conversing softly with the others about something. Her classmates were clearly moving too fast for their comfort, as Hagrid’s careful, stalking steps translated to a stride for the much smaller humans. The forest felt friendly to Sunset, but there was a hesitance to its happiness at her presence. “What do you mean?” she whispered to her surroundings in general, as she kept her eyes on the people in the distance. Hagrid stopped, then crouched down and showed the others something before talking meaningfully with them for a moment. After a while, he took out another lantern, handed it to Draco, and the party split into two, with Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid going one direction, and Draco, Neville, and Fang going another. Sunset hurried ahead to what Hagrid had shown, and let out a small gasp at the sight, before rushing ahead and carefully dipping her fingers in the silvery substance on the forest floor. A pool of unicorn blood, shining in the starlight. This explained to Sunset why there was a job to do in the forest. She looked at the pool, wanting to stay and inspect it closer, to see if anything could be learned from it, but the lantern lights were disappearing behind the undergrowth. She stood up, and followed Neville and Draco, who were clumsily following the trail on the ground. After she had caught up enough that she was sure she wouldn’t lose sight of them, she realized something, and paused, slowly placing a hand on an oak. It made sense now. The forest was worried about her. She patted the oak gratefully to let it know she understood, then pulled her cloak tighter around her. Doubling her efforts to stay hidden, both magicaly and physically, Sunset crept behind Malfoy and Neville as they nervously looked around, their lantern shining like a flare and revealing them to any potential threat around instead of crouching low and letting the moonlight show them the trail of blood. Only Fang made a proper effort to stay hidden. Draco muttered something unintelligible to Neville, who held the torch high, but it seemed Neville managed quite the comeback, because Malfoy just slunk back and seemed to simply stalk Neville. After a while, he slipped behind a tree and let Neville continue without him, and when Neville realized he was alone except for Fang he started looking around wildly, before Draco jumped out with his cloak held out like a big bat and shouting at Neville. Neville shouted as well, and dropped the lantern as he fell to the ground, pulled his wand, and started waving it around wildly, sending red sparks into the air. Sunset could only groan in frustration at the scene. She leaned against a tree and scowled in their general direction as Draco laughed at Neville. Before long, the huge shape of Hagrid came rushing through the undergrowth, and much like a boar, surprisingly quick and quiet for someone of his stature. “‘S goin’ on ‘ere!?” he barked, prompting a mumbled explanation from Neville. “Ruddy idiot,” Hagrid muttered at Draco, and ushered them in front of him, leading them back to where he had come from, fuming. Sunset followed at the same distance as before as all five witches and wizards, and their hound, regrouped, and split up again, this time with Harry, Malfoy, and Fang going to follow the trail Sunset had just left. Deciding to hedge her bets on the trail that Malfoy wasn’t following, Sunset set off after Hagrid, Neville, and Hermione. “I’m sorry, Mister Hagrid,” she heard Neville say. “‘s alright,” Hagrid muttered. “Jes keep yer eyes on the trail.” “Did you see the centaurs as well?” Hermione asked Neville. Sunset froze. Images of the tattooed creatures chasing ponies with bows and arrows through the forests flashed through her head. “No. You met centaurs?” “Aye,” said Hagrid. “They’re strange ones. Never bin able ter figure out what they want. Outsiders cannae understand ‘em and what they want. Ask me, they like it that way.” Sunset didn’t have any trouble believing that. After a few minutes of silent walking, a terrified scream came from the direction Harry and Malfoy had gone. Hagrid and the others noticed it a few seconds later, but by then, Sunset was already off in that direction, the forest lifting its branches and leaves just as she was about to pass through, as she used her magic to jump between branches and on top of thickets. The thumps of hooves were sounding in the distance, just as Malfoy came running at top speed down a trail, fang just ahead of him, still screaming at the top of his lungs. Some sort of commotion was going on further into the dark woods, but then it suddenly stopped. Sunset kept running, and after a few moments, the sound of hooves galloping away from her could be heard. Then, she came across a clearing. There was no Harry, and no centaur, or any other foul creature. What was there though, was a body. A dead unicorn, Canterlot-white in both coat and mane, lying on the ground, silver blood forming small pools on the forest floor from wounds all over its body. The tension instantly flowed out of the forest. Whatever happened here mere moments ago chased away the danger- whatever it was. Sunset would’ve chased after the sound of the hooves, but she couldn’t help but offer the forest her support by being present. It was a disgusting sight, the pure results of knowing evil and cruelty, but Sunset didn’t feel anger, she was preoccupied by the sadness of the woods washing over her, and its gentle but deep sorrow as it mourned a dear friend. She walked over and sat on her knees in front of the unicorn, brushing his mane out of his eyes. At the very least, his expression was peaceful. Sunset didn’t know how long she sat there, but eventually she stood up. The forest knew this stallion, she would leave the honoring of his mortal remains to it. She walked towards the castle, the threatening atmosphere now gone from the woods, and it was just a moonlit forest, watching over her as she walked. She reached the edge of the forest. It bid her farewell, and with a flash of light, Sunset was back in Gryffindor tower. Hermione wasn’t there, but a quick peek down into the common room revealed her, along with Harry and Ron. Confident that no students had been hurt at least, she went to bed, and fell into a deep but numb sleep.