//------------------------------// // Friday Dec 16 b // Story: A Past Returned // by TacoTues4Eva //------------------------------// Counting her money as she made it several blocks away from the school and hopefully away from any wannabe followers. She needed to get a few groceries to either last until she got paid from the sushi place, got a commission or managed to get some money from her gaming streams. While none paid that great, they did manage to keep a roof over her head and the utilities turned on and pay for some groceries when the resources were pooled together. Sometimes she even got pretty nice bonuses from the commissions for her artwork which she was able to buy a few non-necessities with. With a sigh she realized this was going to be one of the weeks she didn’t have much extra to play with thanks to spending money she didn’t really have on buying Christmas presents for her friends before the whole Anon-A-Miss thing blew up. She seriously thought about taking the things back and seeing if she could possibly get refunds on the stuff only her heart wouldn’t let her. She was angry with her friends, but with the real culprits behind the MyStable page caught she was certain that by the time next weekend was here they would at least be back on speaking terms and possibly even exchanging gifts. Even if that was the case though, Sunset didn’t believe that she would be able to trust them that easily for awhile. Stopping at the crosswalk she noticed an old woman with a scar going over her left eye dressed in some kind of brownish robe that seemed to barely be considered rags standing at the end of an alley watching her. She had a skin tone similar to the woman who was her apartment as she was leaving which worried Sunset a little. Assuming she was homeless though Sunset decided there probably wasn’t much to worry about and with how old she looked there was little the woman could probably do to hurt Sunset. Tearing her gaze from the woman Sunset started to move away a few steps before stopping. If the woman was homeless she may be hungry and despite not having much herself Sunset could make due with free breakfast and lunches at the school a few days. It wouldn’t be the first time she had to do that. Walking back to the woman who ducked back into the alley Sunset called after her when stepping foot into the secluded pathway. “You don’t have to be afraid.” Sunset said softly as she noticed the woman gripping an intricately carved staff that must have been like a walking stick. It seemed to set something off in Sunset as if it was a powerful artifact, but she knew that was impossible. This world didn’t have magic and she doubted the woman had a connection to Equestria seeing that her skin tone was from out of the area meaning it wasn’t pastel like the coats of ponies. “Don’t worry child, I’m very much not afraid.” The woman rasped, a slight grin on her face as her eyes narrowed at Sunset. “I was wondering if you were hungry. I could buy you a meal at the diner over there.” Sunset suggested as she pointed behind her. It was a cheap place to get a decent meal and the best part it wasn’t popular with the children from school. The place didn’t serve any of the popular treats most of them enjoyed and the lack of drinks beside water, tea, some sodas and coffee helped keep the younger crowd away that seemed to need their daily fix of caffeine in more and more complex drinks that seemed to get more expensive the more extravagant it got. “Let me get this straight, you are offering me a meal? The woman asked with a dark chuckle that creeped Sunset out a little. “If you would like one.” Sunset said a little more slowly than she meant as she studied the woman. She seemed really old though the more she studied her the less fragile she seemed to be. “Why I think that would be a wonderful idea child.” The woman nodded as she relaxed and held out a hand to shake which Sunset accepted. “My name is Nerissa.” “Hi, I’m Sunset.” Sunset said as she walked with the woman over to the diner and took a booth toward the back where they would have privacy. “Please order whatever you would like.” “Thank you dear child.” Nerissa said as she once again studied Sunset while pretending to read the menu which sent a few shivers up Sunset’s back. “Are you from around here?” Sunset asked after the waitress came and took their orders and delivered their food. Nerissa having a turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and stuffing and a slice of old fashioned apple pie with a coffee while Sunset stuck with just a Pepsi to make sure she would have a little money left to leave the old woman with while giving Sunset a much needed energy boost from the caffeine. “No, I was actually born in Sheffield not far from here.” Nerissa said as she slowly ate the meal, her studying Sunset seeming to be over and a more friendly yet guarded look settled in place which was much better in Sunset’s opinion. “I spent some time in the Himalayas after a dear friend of mine died from an accident. I just returned a few months ago.” “I’m sorry to hear that, it’s tough to lose those close to you.” Sunset said unable to keep the sadness out of her voice getting a curious expression from the older woman. “Would you like to talk about it?” Nerissa asked, surprising even herself as she genuinely meant it. “Thank you, I appreciate it, but I still just need to sort things out.” Sunset sighed. “Well if you do need to talk you can find me around here.” Narissa said finishing her food before looking at Sunset’s neckline of her top. “I was wondering what kind of necklace you have. I don’t mean to pry, I’ve just always loved necklaces and all the charms you youngins like to collect.” “It’s something I was wearing when my…old mentor found me when I was younger. I don’t have any memories before that really and can’t remember who gave it to me.” Sunset said, a little hesitant to show it to the woman for some reason. Slowly she pulled it out of her top though left it looped around her neck and held the jewel out for the old woman to see. The greedy, wide-eyed look sent shivers down Sunset as the woman lifted it out of Sunset’s hands only for Nerissa’s eyes to glaze over. “Nerissa? Hey, Nerissa!” Sunset quietly called out to the woman as she reached over to shake her. Sunset jerked back as she saw the old woman be replaced by a hauntingly beautiful younger woman who seemed to radiate power. “We are the spirits of Kandrakar/Harmony.” A ethereal voice echoed from nowhere making Sunset blink and look around for it. She wasn’t sure what Kandrakar was, but she knew what Harmony was. Looking back to the woman Sunset noticed she reverted back to being the old woman making Sunset wonder if perhaps she really seen it. “It’s very beautiful.” Nerissa said as she let the pendant go where it fell back against Sunset while shaking a little. “I truly appreciate the meal child, but I must be going.” “Here, take this in case you need something later.” Sunset said pulling out the rest of the money that she wouldn’t need to pay for the food. “Keep it child, I have all that I need. Stay safe young lady.” Nerissa said as she gripped her staff and hurried away from Sunset ignoring the cried to wait. Thankfully the restraint staff stopped the younger girl from following her wanting pain leaving Nerissa to hurry into the alley and disappear from the ground and reappear on the roof of the buildings. She wasn’t sure what she saw when she touched the Heart, but it wasn’t what she expected. It wasn’t just the Heart of Kandrakar anymore, something else was sharing space with the power and it had shaken her to the core. It was forcing memories of two different lives not her own into her head and making her rethink all of her plans. She couldn’t grasp what exactly was going on because every time she thought it was over it started all over again making her reel. “Are you okay Mistress?” A large, muscular man asked as it landed behind her and kneeled down. He wore a teal open vest with a golden face mask and wild hair that seemed almost snake like. The strangest thing about him was the large feathery wings that folded around him as he kneeled. “I’m fine Shagon, but I have a new task for you.” Nerissa said, her voice unsteady. “Follow that girl, Sunset Shimmer.” “Should I take her out?” Shagon asked, his voice strong and unwavering in his service to Nerissa. “No! No Shagon, no harm is to come to her…for now. Keep an eye on her and protect her. I need to see to some things.” “Of course Mistress, your will be done.” Shagon said as he disappeared from sight with just speed alone leaving Nerissa to grip her staff and lean on it. “Oh Cassidy, what have I become. What should I do?” Nerissa asked the air as she tried to regain an equilibrium from all the emotions and memories that wasn’t her own being forced on her from the so called spirits. She did know that Sunset Shimmer was more like her than anyone else she has met yet the girl had managed to overcome and persevere despite the pain from heartbreaks and betrayals. Sunset finally gave up on trying to find the woman that she was worried for and decided to go ahead and use the little money she had left to buy a few small groceries that wouldn’t exactly cook the most healthy meals, but would keep the hunger at bay until she could get better. She finally made it home only to pause seeing another dark vehicle parked outside her apartment complex. It looked to be like the limousines Rarity gushed over waiting for the stars that were in them when watching the different red carpet events to see the different fashions. The windows were tinted too much to make out if anyone was inside, but she didn’t really like all of these vehicles seeming to be around her as much as they have been. “Maybe it is just coincidence.” Sunset said in an attempt to calm herself as she headed to her door and quickly unlocked it heading inside. She jumped back against her door from the inside just after closing it as a woman in a business suit came walking up to her. She had a nagging feeling that she should recognize the dark haired woman. “No need to be afraid young lady, I don’t mean any harm.” The woman said making placating gestures with her hands in an attempt to calm Sunset down. “My name is Susan Vandom, it’s very important that I talk with you.” “You don’t mean any harm but you break into my apartment?” Sunset asked incredulously as she pushed past the woman, anger replacing the shock and fear. She walked over to her small table and laid the single bag of groceries down. “Actually, I bribed the super to let me in.” Susan replied trying to hide the guilt she felt over it. “Great, that’s so much better mom!” Sunset snarked without thinking, covering her mouth with both hands as she gave the woman a wide eyed look. “Look, I’m sorry, I don’t know why I said that. It just felt so familiar.” “Don’t be sorry dear.” Susan said as she moved over to a plush chair near the couch motioning for Sunset to sit down which she reluctantly did. “I admit I’d give anything if finding my daughter was this easy, but I’ve had so many letdowns already.” “What happened to her?” Sunset asked, a little curious while trying to move past the mortification of calling a complete stranger mom, even if in a condescending manner. “It might be hard to believe, but I have a feeling you will after seeing your battle with those sea horse things during that battle of the bands I saw on the internet.” Susan began while giving Sunset a closer look. “Those were all special effects.” Sunset said way too quickly to be believable in the best circumstances. “No they weren’t, please don’t think me an idiot. Ever since my daughter disappeared I’ve seen things I never believed possible and I know real magic when I see it.” Susan said, sadness filling her voice as she pushed on. “My daughter was the leader of a group of girls much like in the video you were in. Only I didn’t know about it until it was too late. She had a falling out with her friends and our relationship was extremely strained because she was hiding things from me and I had my head stuck too far up my ex’s butt to see what was going on around me. An eyewitness that I trust explicitly said he saw my daughter show up in a rage, her powers going into overdrive and single handedly defeated her two enemies while almost killing herself.” “So she didn’t kill herself? She’s okay?” Sunset asked feeling a little bad for the woman. “That’s the problem, I don’t know.” Susan said, wiping tears away while taking the box of tissues Sunset handed to her off the end table. “Thank you dear. Anyways, the pendant she wore was the conduit for her powers and apparently the spirits of the thing appeared before my daughter saying that she risked her life and suffered so much with so little in return. They said she earned their respect and a reward from them, one wish as long as it was within their power to grant. At first she said she wanted to go back in time to fix things and maybe have a better life. Before they granted her wish she changed it wishing for a new chance at life away from the misery her life has become.” “They granted that?” Sunset asked shocked, reaching over to rub the woman’s arm comfortingly seeing how broke up the woman was becoming. “They said that they would grant a combination of the wish, they would give her a second chance at life but she would be responsible for how that lie turned out as they couldn’t control everything in anyone’s life.” Susan sobbed, “She said okay because I had been a horrible mother to her and I have to find her to make it up to her. I love her so much, I really do!” “It’s ok, really. I’m sure you will find her, but why come to me?” Sunset asked, genuinely curious to how she was expected to help this woman find her daughter. “I seen the magic you used at the battle of the bands so I know you have magic. At the least I’m hoping you and your friends can help my daughters friends fend off a threat that they are having a lot of trouble with since their power is only a fraction of what it should be with my daughter.” Susan sniffled, slowly reaching over and taking the rope holding the pendant and pulling it out from under Sunset’s top. “At best, I’m hoping that you…that you are my daughter.”