//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: The last moments of peace. // Story: Sunset Shimmer's magical adventures Volume 3: The Conclusion, Part 1 // by Justafanfictioner //------------------------------// A whole month passed, during which both sides, heroes like villains, could enjoy a well deserved moment of peace and freedom. Some have been growing a lot stronger while others, not very much. Sunny passed 3 weeks hunting for 8 of the most dangerous creatures living in Equestria. She almost died at multiple occasions fighting them, but fortunately, Moonlight’s time-freezing spell saved her butt every single time. Tirek, who was missing living in the Wild, returned to Australia for his vacations. Chrysalis and Cosmos, them, went wild, partying almost every day in all sorts of establishments. Sombra and Discord spent their vacations going from Casinos to Casinos, while Nightmare spent his looking for the perfect host to possess. Grogar, him, spent the month on an island he bought and where he was doing all kinds of experiments. As for the girls, they pretty much enjoyed a regular life with their families, while training from time to time. Stygian had been busy writting a new book and the Sirens, new songs. At the moment, our protagonist was playing video games with Rainbow Dash and this one wasn’t feeling quite well. After winning one more game, she shut the console. “What’s on your mind, Rainbow Dash?” asked Sunset. “You don’t suck so much at video games, habitually.” “A lot of things” answered Dashie. “It’s stupid, but i feel like myself and the others are deadweight for you and Twilight.” “Why would you say that?” asked Sunset. “Queen Chrysalis, the Pony of Shadows, Cosmos, the Sirens, Sunny and Moonlight” answered Rainbow Dash. “You and Twilight literally carried us to victory each time.” “Thanks to all of you” said Sunset. “If it wasn’t for the magic of all the Elements of Harmony, i could never had accessed to my Daydream form to defeat them.” “That was true before” said Dash. “But now, you don’t even need us to power-up anymore! You two are all-powerful while we barely improved...And i know why...” “Please, don’t” said Sunset. “When Cosmos trapped us in the Limbos” said Rainbow. “You and Twilight got out on your own!! And wow, what a coincidence: You gained a new transformation!! I’m sure WE would also have grown way stronger if we escaped our prison by ourselves!!” “I don’t think so” said Sunset. “Me and Twilight faced our fears, which was assuming our evil nature. Thus why we gained the ability to transform into demons, which is what me and her turned into. What’s your fear, Rainbow Dash?” “Losing you guys” answered Rainbow Dash. “Being all alone...” “And what power do you think you would have gained if you accepted your fear of losing us?” asked Sunset. “I see what you mean” answered Rainbow Dash. “None of us have unlocked the true power of our geodes yet” said Sunset. “Also, yes, i might tap into my Daydream form by myself now. But that’s at the cost of my own life force...So i’d prefer counting on you and the others to power me up!!” “How do you think we can unlock our geodes’ true potential?” asked Rainbow Dash. “I’ve been thinking a lot about it” answered Sunset. “Our geodes are this world equivalent of the Elements of Harmony from Equestria. Your geode is the Element of Loyalty. Applejack’s one is the Element of Honesty, Fluttershy’s one is the Element of Kindness, Twilight’s one is the Element of Magic, Rarity’s one is the Element of Generosity, Pinkie’s one is the Element of Laugher and my element is the Element of Forgiveness.” “I know embracing our values have a direct influence on our geode’s magic power” said Rainbow Dash. “But simply believing in them is not enough to awaken our true power.” “I’ve been thinking about this for a while” said Sunset. “My theory is that to awaken our true power, we have to reach the limits of our Elements of Harmony and surpass them.” “And how would we do that?” asked Rainbow Dash. “I don’t see anything that could test my Loyalty to it’s limits...” “I don’t know how either” answered Sunset. “But i’ll continue thinking about a solution” “Anyway, let’s continue!!” said Rainbow Dash, starting the console. “Your winning streak is ending right now!!” “Bring it on!!” said Sunset. Meanwhile, At the Animal Shelter, Fluttershy, Sandalwood, Flash Sentry, Bulk Biceps and Wallflower Blush taking care of the animals. They were all having fun and were doing well, except Fluttershy. Like Rainbow Dash, something was on her mind and she could barely focus on the work to do. Flash Sentry was the first to take notice of it, but it was, surprisingly, Wallflower Blush who broke the ice and confronted her about it. “Got something on your mind, Fluttershy?” she asked. “Because your clearly not doing great...” “No...I’m fine” answered Fluttershy. “You sure?” asked Flash Sentry. “Cause you’ve been washing the same dog for the third time!!” Fluttershy looked down and realized Flash was right. Embarrassed, she put down her cleaning tools. “Okay, i admit, i’m not myself today” said Fluttershy. “It’s about my place in the group...” “Considering yourself useless?” asked Wallflower. “I’ve been there a lot, in fact, almost everyday...” “Yes” answered Fluttershy. “I barely contributed to the team since the Villain Gauntlet started their offensive. It’s my friends who did all the job, while i did almost nothing. And in the last battles we had, Applejack, Sunset and Twilight single-handedly defeated the opponent. Rainbow Dash as her superspeed, Applejack, her Superstrenght, Pinkie Pie have her Explosive projectiles, Rarity, her Crystal magic, Twilight, Her Midnight form and Sunset, her Devil and Daydreaam form. All i can do is talk to animals and command them, but what can critters do against an opponent that can destroy a city easily? I’m indeed the weakest link of the group, a deadweight...” “At least you have magic powers” said Flash. “Each team has a weak link, it’s inevitable” said Wallflower Blush. “But even if you’re the weakest link of the team, you still contribute to hold the group together. Your more important than you think, Fluttershy.” “If only there was an efficient way to awaken this thing” thought Fluttershy, looking at her geode. “Maybe i would be able to do more than just being useless.” “Fluttershy?” asked Wallflower. She turned and smiled at Wallflower. “I feel better now, thanks to you” she said. “I’m weak, but i still have my role to play in the group.” On those words, Fluttershy continued working, without being distracted this time. At the Apple family farm, Applejack was working harder than she needed to and Big Macintosh and Applebloom knew something was bothering her. Since Mac was a man of very few words, it was Applebloom who went to talk to her instead. “Take a break, big sister, and tell my what’s botherin’ you!” said Applebloom. “When you’re working like that, it’s because you’re troubled...” “Well, i’ll go straight to the point” said Applejack. “I’m worried about not being strong enough to protect my friends. We rely too much on Sunset and Twilight’s godlike powers to save our asses. They might be powerful, but not invincible, and if they fall, who’s gonna protect them? No one...” “I see” said Applebloom. “You want to be stronger, strong enough to protect them if they were to be defeated.” “Exactly, lil’ sis.” said Applejack. “But i’ve been training all month and barely improved my strenght. Sunset told us that she had a vision of her dying during a battle, which might be coming soon. I know that’s because we weren’t strong enough to protect her, i wasn’t strong enough to protect her. She might have accepted what will come for her, but i don’t...and i won’t let her die...” “The Future is not set in stone, Sis” said Big Mac. “If you believe you can change the future, then do everything you can to change it!” “You don’t talk often, big brother” said Applejack. “But when you do, it’s darn inspiring!!” “Yep!” said Big Mac. Rarity, meanwhile, was in her room, working on a collection of super-hero costumes for her and her friends. She had done 6 so far, but had difficulty finishing the last one: Hers. “No, no, no!! That’s not good enough!!” she shouted, throwing the unfinished costume in the trash. “Come on, Rare, you can do better than this!!” Sweetie Belle, who couldn’t stand her sister being like this, entered her room to talk to her. Her room was perfectly clean and organized, which was not normal. Sweetie Belle hugged her sister, who calmed down a little. “I know, Sweetie Belle, i’m not quite myself those days” said Rarity. “Want to tell me about it?” asked Sweetie Belle. “I’m not good enough” she answered. “And i’m refering to my performance in battle. I’m the shield of the team and when i fail to protect them, my friends end up getting injured. During our fight against Sunny, i had control of the situation, i had HER under control. But it wasn’t enough, because she just ate my damn crystal and took me out.” She was crying. “I have one job, and i can’t even do it properly!!” she yelled. “I’m a failure!! I’m not worthy of those powers if i can’t protect my friends with them!!” “Nobody’s flawless, Rarity, not me, not Sunset, not Twilight, not even you” said Sweetie Belle. “I heard your exploits from Applebloom and Scootaloo, and i’ve got to say, i’m proud of you. There’s always room for growth, Rarity, i hope you can understand that...” On those words, Sweetie Belle left the room, leaving Rarity alone. Her sister’s words were harsh, but right. It’s only through criticisism that one could get better and Sweetie did just that. “There’s always room for growth” she said to herself. “Sound like something Applejack would said...Hi hi hi” Pinkie Pie had been in her room since morning, staring at the ceiling with an empty stare. Knowing this wasn’t normal Pinkie behavior, Maud went in her room and looked at the ceiling with Pinkie Pie. “What’s bothering you?” asked Maud. “Where to begin?” answered Pinkie Pie. “That’s you to decide” said Maud. “I’m scared, Maud” said Pinkie. “What could you be scared about, if it ain’t a failed party?” asked Maud. “One of my friends is going to die soon” answered Pinkie. “And that make me sad...” “In that case, make the last moments you have left with her the bests” said Maud. “Who’s going to die anyway?” “Sunset” answered Pinkie. “She had a vision of her dying during a battle.” “Did she actually died, though?” asked Maud. “Dying and be dead are two different things, Pinkie.” “You got a point, Maud” answered Pinkie. “She clearly said she was dying in that vision, not that she was dead. Plus, she’s the protagonist, she can’t die...Unless it’s one of those tragic stories.” Pinkie Pie’s hairs turned back to normal and got up. Maud’s words was all she needed to get her bright mood back. For the villains’ side, everyone was feeling uneasy. Grogar had summoned everyone back to the castle and now, they were sitting around the meeting table. “I hope that this month of vacation was beneficial for you all” said Grogar. “Because things are going to get serious for now on. I’m getting my hands on the Elements of Harmony before the end of the week.” “So, we can’t retreat, this time” said Chrysalis. “You’re not going to save us if we’re defeated.” “Exactly” said Grogar. “So you better give everything you have in that final battle.” “Is it too late to go back?” asked Sombra. “You could have chosen to not come back when i summoned you to the castle” answered Grogar. “I didn’t force you, after all. You all came back on your own volition, because you are all evil to the core and want to see the world burn, just like me.” “Good point” said Tirek. “We knew what we signed for when we joined you...” Grogar handed to each of them a magic artifact. “I made those artifacts myself” he said. “They will allow you to fight at full power, with no restrictions or backdraws. Tirek, you’ll be able to increase your power without needing to grow in size.” “Awesome” said Tirek “As for you two, Sombra and Chrysalis, your artifacts will make you on par with Alicorns in term of magic power.” said Grogar. “I found the perfect host to corrupt, Master Grogar” said Nightmare. “About time” said Grogar. “Who is it?” “Cozy Glow” answered Nightmare. “She got so, so much insecurities in her...More than Rarity and Luna ever had. She’s an all-you-can-eat buffet of negative emotions.” “You indeed found quite the catch with her” said Grogar. “Sunny, Moonlight, how was your trip to Equestria?” “I found which kind of magic i wanted to specialize into” said Moonlight. “Time Magic. I’m already well advanced in it...” “And i assimilated the DNA of 8 different species of dragon” said Sunny. “A Salamander from the Lands of Ashes, A Celestial Wyvern from the Cloudy Mountains, An Hydra from the Storm Swamps, a Sand Wyrm from the Black-Crystal Desert, A Quetzacolt from the Mystic Jungle, a Sea Serpent from the Lake of Death, A Cold Drake from the Frozen Caves and Finally, A Cockatrice from the Everfree Forest. If you didn’t notice, they all represent a different Element.” “Salamanders represent Fire” said Chrysalis. “Wyverns represent Air, Hydras represent Thunder, Wyrms represent Earth, Quetzacolts represent Nature, Sea Serpents, or Guivres, represent Water, Cold Drakes represent Ice and Cockatrice represent...What exactly?” “I just assimilated one for their powers of petrification” answered Sunny. “And also their paralyzing screams.” “Anyway, you’ll see what we can do really soon” said Moonlight. “When are you planning to lauch the Final Assault? “3 days from now” answered Grogar. “These 3 need to learn how to master their new artifacts and Nightmare have to get used to the new body he’s going to possess.” “What about us?” asked Sunny. “You can test your new powers against those 3” answered Grogar. Sunny cracked her knuckles and looked to the trio with a grin. “Where are Cosmos and Discord, by the way?” asked Sombra “They told me they're not going to intervene in that battle, at all” answered Grogar. He left the room and slammed the door behind him.