//------------------------------// // 36. Concerted Culminations // Story: Mirror Mirror // by LittleFaerieFire //------------------------------// Concerted Culminations Sunset I could only wheeze in disappointment as my partner pulled herself from me. Don’t leave. Finally separating the two of us into two distinct ponies. Why?. Even with magic acting as a buffer to the laws of Equus, reality didn’t enjoy having two existences share a singular place. However, Cadance once again proved that those laws that I was subjected to were mere suggestions for an Alicorn. Even as an Alicorn, I was impressed at how she managed to stride effortlessly away from me. Lucky. It must have been the Earth Pony portion of her. I was unable to follow after her, no matter my countless wishes to do so. I was left behind. I watched as another Alicorn continued to move forwards without me by her side. Only allowing her shadow to encase me, before that even too would fade. Hatred.  Utter loathing once more encompassed me, as once more I watched as I was left forgotten once more. Left in the shadows of the past to rot and be replaced. Once more set to suffer while Equus moved on without me. Flooding my body with a virulent hate that silenced the pleasurable echoes of pain and fatigue. Forcing my limbs to obey my demands, I entwined them with flaming ribbons. One leg after another I stepped forth, off the bed that she had summoned us both to. The same one that we had earlier shared in sleep. Now once more shared.  What we did together would be etched forever into my soul. I sullied her and in turn, I was further sullied myself. Not in blood but in a lustful passion of all things. CHANGE. The reminder of what we had done usurped the hatred that I had been using to puppet my flesh with love which nearly sent me to the ground. We had joined together… Not fully! I couldn’t. Not to Cadance. Not to my partner. I would never harm her. Never again. Even when I no longer drew breath. Even after I had once more failed. She had freely gifted me wonders beyond my dreams, it was the least I could do. Even as we had approached that precipice, when I had stumbled back she had caught me and led me safely down from its vaunted heights. Even then I had nearly deflowered an Alicorn Princess. That thought had me clenching my eyes shut in an attempt to escape the images of what we had done together. Yet even as I returned to a place of darkness and flames those actions we had shared followed. Bringing forth a light that I was unable to smother into the darkest recesses of my mind. I could only imagine what the response would be from the ponies of Equestria. I had not only stolen away their newest princess but nearly devoured her as well. Shock and terror were the usual ways those ponies reacted to me and my actions. This was different, this was entirely something else. This was something that I didn’t burn, this was something that I shared with my partner. This was something more than the usual torments I assailed those common ponies with. How they would react was obvious.  I knew my partner would… She chose me before. She chose me instead of her ponies when Discord himself had given her that choice. SHE CHOSE ME! She would choose me again. She would choose me, I was her partner. Her ally. Her mare friend. ‘She shouldn’t be forced to choose.’ The thought that formed from the mess of love reacted with the final remnants of my hate that had been nearly entirely purged. It was a thought that I could not dare to burn away.  It was true. Cadance deserved better. SHE CHOSE ME! She was forced into playing an impossible game with the spirit of Chaos. When I was about to die and told to either leave me to perish or potentially in the future her ponies would die by my hoof. It was a situation where the choice was obvious to the average pony. Even if it wasn’t the correct one.  For my partner who was a kind pony. Far kinder than I could ever be there was only one way that she could have answered. There was only one way that would have allowed her to save a pony that was in the grasp of death itself. That choice was to choose that pony who was in immediate peril. SHE CHOSE ME! SHE-.  SHE SHOULDN’T HAVE CHOSEN ME BUT SHE DID! The keen screams that echoed in a mockery of my own thoughts were silenced by my own vicious snarls. I could feel something begin to pool in my heart, something far more liquid than the flames that had resided within. I could only feel as if it was incinerated, for only one pony could reside within there.  No. That was no longer the truth, was it? There now was a second pony that my kindled flame allowed entry to the ever-unbeating device that resided within my chest. I couldn’t force her to choose between me and the ponies that she cared for in the future. It wasn’t fair to her. She wasn’t strong in the same way that I was. She cared for the ponies that she would never see. It would hurt her to watch ponies that could have been saved fall. She was just like Celestia in regard to her ponies…  There her name was the one pony that I was most fearful of learning what I had done to her niece. The one that she had claimed as her own. The one that she had claimed as her family. The one that she had claimed as her own blood.  Celestia was the one who had raised me despite my future that she had long since foreseen. I had repaid such a grand kindness by nearly besmirching her actual family? Defiling the one that she cared for above all her other ponies? I wasn’t sure what emotion obliterated the love that filled my veins, but it tasted reminiscent of the void that slumbered within the cottage.  Clotting within my veins. Silencing my screams. Smothering my thoughts as that void began to desire forever more of myself that it could potentially steal.  Something else. Anything else. DON’T REMEMBER.  Perhaps it was a boon for Celestia to have never claimed me as her daughter. My heart constricted painfully at the thought as my tongue once more tasted iron. A familiar rage found its way back into my veins, and a soothing calm claimed dominion within my blood. Even if it was a horrific thing that had allowed me to escape that void, it was true. The best thing that had ever happened to me since Celestia took me in was Cadance claiming me as her own. This carnal act was merely an extension of that. One further continuation of truth. Why then was it such a mistake?  “Sunset? Why in Equestria are you on the floor?” Before I could contemplate that series of thoughts any further, once more my partner saved me from my own darkened flames. Focusing my eyes upon the reality that had been lost to me, I could see that Cadance’s face was split in twain. Half with shadowed amusement at where she found me, half with worry that swelled within her eyes. I gulped as our eyes met and an underlying edge of sharpened crystals flashed into existence. In both purple eyes was the enthralling dance of crystalline fragments moving to unsung orders from my partner. Strong enough to pierce the veil of reality itself. Weak enough to be shattered by the flailing of a foal’s hoof. She was a peerless contradiction.  “Would you believe that I fell out of the bed?” I knew it was a stupid worthless excuse the moment that it left my lips, yet what else could I say? What else could I do? What else was my option but to once more deny the divine before me the truth? Cadance narrowed her eyes at me, yet she still offered me a hoof. Hoisting me back up, I could only once more barely retain my balance upon shaking hoofs. “Sunset?” Once more my name was a ghost upon her lips. The question asked and yet still unspoken. Leaving the choice in my hooves. Freely giving control of the amount that I would answer, or even if I would. How could I have ever hated her? She was perfect. “I didn’t want” to be left behind “- you to leave me.” I couldn’t help the flood of embarrassment that was caused by my words. I had meant for them to be spoken in my normal tone, yet instead, they were almost fearfully whispered. Even if I had changed what was my answer to her question, I still couldn’t control my tone and the fear that clung to my shaking words. I once more had revealed a failure of mine. Even if this form of weakness was not liquid. This want of mine was unjustified, I had left her alone in the beddings that we had shared. This was the exact same, and judging from the way that her eyes narrowed she knew as well. I couldn’t complain, after all, had I not let her awake alone this morning? Slinking from her side with my magic. Leaving her to wake alone. “Sunset next time just say so,” Cadance spoke, her voice washed over me in a melodious display of understanding. “I didn’t know what to think when I saw you on the floor.” The edge in her eyes didn’t fade, if anything it grew sharper. What had I done wrong? “I swear Sunset when I saw you like that I feared the worst.” The cheer that was inflicted upon her words was barely a foul mockery of her normal radiance. What was the cause? What had spurned the divine? What had I done to dare offend her? Was it because I had refuted the rapturous finale that she offered? A ravenous void opened and consumed all matters of heat that had once been mine. When I had spurned that conclusion had I spurned her in turn? My heart halted, its original task long forgotten. Instead, now it truly was a wasted organ upon one such as I who could never use it. No that couldn’t be it! She understood that I couldn’t. Even if she hadn’t understood why, she had still brought me safely back down. Even as I faltered, she had adapted to my limitations. Even as I had contemplated tearing my eyes from my skull so that I could never see that sight again, she had held my weakened form. Then she brought me back. Was what I could offer not enough? She was the Alicorn of Love. A being that was one step from eternal divinity and life. I was just a Unicorn that had already been thrown away by the Sun. It was an impossibility that I had caught her attention for as long as I had.  Should I have… no. no. no. no. NO!!! Thoughts that weren’t even formed were torn asunder by the gaping maw of the forming void of flames. I could not allow myself to remember. I was not doing that to her again! So be it if she would leave me behind! I already knew that she would. That was no excuse. I would be better! I had to be better this time. PERFECT! The void was filled with flames. Continue. My eyes flickered back to Cadance who all but flinched at the meager motion of my gaze once more finding hers. Why? What did I do now? I was trying to be better. No matter what I did I was only doing worse. I truly wasn’t worth-. “Sunset I’m sorry if I pushed you too far.” Cadance’s apology cut off my return to my internal tirade. Confusion. Why was she apologizing? I was the one who had forced her to stop. Her eyes and mane drooped alongside her head. “I… I know that you have…” Her words were unable to fully form as her head lowered even further. Was she-. STOP. “Don’t you dare apologize!” Not about what we had just done. Perhaps I could have worded it in a far kinder way, but the words ripped out of my mouth in an attempt to halt her current actions. Thankfully she didn’t continue that bowing of her head. I wasn’t sure what I would have done if she had continued. I knew however from the blazing of my blood nothing good. Alicorns don’t bow their heads to Unicorns. Unicorns bow their heads to Alicorns, begging for forgiveness for once more failing. Alicorns don’t apologize to Unicorns. Unicorns apologize to Alicorns for being unable to live up to their ideals. Apologizing for their very existence. Yet even as she brought her head back up, I could see the concern flashing within the purple gems that were her eyes. “Is that not why your eyes are once more emerald?” It took me a moment to realize that the question had not been rhetorical and had been indeed directed towards me. I could only shake my head in the negative as I was forced to once more ponder what her fascination with my eye color was. After all, in comparison to her evershifting crystals that found home within her eyes, mine were all too ordinary. At my response, Cadance’s eyes furrowed, and said crystals lost a portion of their edge as they once more began to swim through her irises.  Wait, did she think that she pushed me too far? I couldn’t stop the morbid amusement that the realization brought me. Here I was fearing that I had snubbed her and here she was thinking that she had pushed me too far. We were an amusing match no doubt, made in the deepest recesses of eternity. The slivers of the void that still existed within my flames began to once more disperse back to where it had long since hidden away. Once more, forgotten for a moment longer.  “Mi Amore Cadenza, everything that you have done for me is the pinnacle of my life.” I truthfully told the Pony that had utterly upset my life. Oh no doubt I had thought that she had ruined it at first, but looking back what kind of life was I living? Wasting away as but a shade within that vaunted castle of light? She had usurped the story that I had been carefully weaving with my magics, utterly ruining it beyond any form of recognition. I could watch as the flush that grew on my partner's face, shattered the remaining sharpness upon her crystalline creations. “That includes what we had just done.” The embarrassment continued to swell upon her face at my continued declaration, just as I knew it was upon mine. Yet it paled in comparison to the Love that was shared. “In fact, I do believe that was the highlight of-.” She didn’t even let me finish my teasing. Her face split between embarrassment and something far more shadowed. Yet before I could begin to understand that darkness that flickered, it dissipated before my eyes. “THANK YOU SUNSET! I understand what you mean! There is no need for any further words!” The Princess before me all but squeaked out as her feathers attempted to no doubt strangle me. Instead, they just covered my form. Allowing me to once more be encased within her. She was the one who complained that I didn’t share any form of banter with her. In response, I simply returned her embrace. I enjoyed the way that she tensed in anticipation of my next attack. My partner was easily embarrassed after what we had done, I would have assumed that she as its initiator would be more stalwart. She could deal it out, but couldn’t take it, at least not in the near aftermath of her namesake. She was a beautiful contradiction like that. I allowed the warmth that bled off my partner to seep into my coat and deep into my very being.  “Alright. I’m done teasing you.” I finally broke the pleasant silence that surrounded the two of us. Cadance pulled back some of her feathers so that she could clearly allow her light, almost disbelieving, glare to be seen. “For the moment at least.” I swiftly continued without missing a beat. “Go clean yourself.” Was the only response I received other than an annoyed trill that whistled from my partner's nose as she pulled herself away from me. Did she once more forget that she was an Alicorn? Gifted with the abilities of Unicorn magic? Allowing her to take another step away from me before I was once more bathed in cleansing flames. “Done.” My partner was acting as if she couldn’t hear the smugness that was dripping from my singular spoken word. Refusing to even turn back and even acknowledge my actions. Hah. Once more I had achieved victory over the divine. Once more I had bucked the natural order of Equus. Yet I was a mere Unicorn who stood against the might of an Alicorn. “Well, then should we head out and properly start the day?” My jubilation at having once more bested divinity faltered within my blood. Was it too late to crawl back under the sheets? Perhaps dragging my partner with me? We must certainly be getting close to Hollow Shades at this point, especially with my alteration on the conductor’s mind.  Cadance just twisted her head to look at me once more, a fake innocence glittered in her eyes. I gave her another point and just stiffly nodded before once more beginning to follow in her hoof steps. Only to be swiftly stopped as my partner’s shadow stilled with her halted movements. I tilted my head in confusion as I attempted to spot why my partner had faltered in her trek. Yet my eyes could grasp no reason. Did she perhaps instead realize something? Something that I have yet to comprehend? My idle hypotheses were put on pause as once more my partner began to speak. This time however she didn’t even grace me with a turn of her head, instead she remained stalwartly facing forwards. “Do you really think after what we just did I am going to allow you to walk anywhere but by my side?” I could only gulp down the mess of panic that blossomed within my soul, as once more I was reminded for all of my vaunted strength. I was but a foal playing with embers of power I couldn’t comprehend. There were those far above me, that I could barely perceive their vaunted might.  Within those words that were declared by the pony that was my partner, I could feel the lurking danger expressed within. That if I didn’t heed the warnings that I had been given I would be reminded which of us was a single step from achieving divinity. Further reminding me of my failures. Reaching for the ever-endless pool of vitriol, of burning hate, of unending anger to steel myself against the divine once more. However, I could find little but the paltry remnants of my closest confidante. Instead within the now desecrated recesses of my soul, was something new. Something that as soon as I laid my eyes upon it, bared itself to me. It wasn’t my rage, but to allow me to stand equal against an Alicorn it would work. It would allow me to contest the ones who dared ordain how my tale would end. It would allow me to claim what had been long since promised to me. Bathing in this new flame, as I spread it through my veins. Allowing it to connect to me on a level that most ponies couldn't conceptualize much less comprehend. Once more I was flooded with a flame, this one however was one that was not my own. No, it was a flame that I could never have birthed. For it required more than my own will to grow. Narrowing my eyes at my partner's back. I stepped forth. One hoof after another. Escaping the shadow that trailed behind her physical form. Stepping beyond the darkness that she cast with her very being, so loved by the light. So that I could stand beside her. Not as a follower but as her equal. Something that I knew was a fallacy. Yet thanks to this flame that flooded within, I couldn’t bring myself to care. She wished for me to be by her side, I would be by her side. It didn’t matter the decorum that I was breaching, the unsaid rules that I was shattering. The ones that I had oh-so faithfully followed for my entire life.  For the one who beckoned me to stand by her side was an A-. No. She was an Alicorn, yes, but before that, she was my partner. That alone should be reason enough to once more step beyond the role I have played. Not that she couldn’t change the rules as she saw fit just as her counterpart has so frequently done. Finally, I stood by her side. No longer was I covered in shadow. We may not have been equals, but we were partners. Purple eyes glanced over me once more, filled with an emotion that I couldn’t place. It wasn’t any form of vapid fear that I had once inspired within her eyes. Nor was it the endless swaths of devoted love that I had recently uncovered within her eyes.  It was something speculative. Calculating. Hiding within it was a spark of light that I had seen within only one other pony's wizened eyes. Purple began to fade to pink.  Not again. That spark forewarned any pony that met their gaze, that this pony had foreseen eternity. That this pony had seen how this tale would come undone. That there were no surprises left to be encountered. For this pony stood stalwart against the unrelenting tide of time. Seeing beyond the veil that had been draped across the eyes of all Equus’s inhabitants. She knew what I had done. What I have yet to do. The joint flame that had been conjured began to falter, yet just as quickly as purple faded to pink. It returned with a vengeance, displacing the phantoms of pink once more. A white coat and feathers bled pink once more. The still unnamed flame returned with a vengeance. That accursed spark of insight faded and was replaced with the gentle rolling of crystalline surprise. Almost as if she had seen something that she hadn’t expected.  She didn’t know. Not yet. “Thank you Sunset.” Familiar words snapped me out of the light delusion I had fallen into. Grateful purple eyes danced with crystals that formed into an impossible array of structures that both converged and shattered in the same moment. Those simple words turned the deluge of flames within me into an unmatched flood. Seeing the gratitude held within my partner’s eyes was almost too much as the bloody conflagration swelled even further. Untrusting of my voice I nodded in turn. I moved in turn with my partner as we stepped through the divider of royalty and the common ponies. My flames singing with each of our steps, awaiting something? No, that wasn’t it. The temperature that surrounded us hadn’t risen. I was unsure what these strange flames that I had run throughout my body were awaiting, but the flames were of such density that I doubted their target would leave any remains. Two targets flashed in my mind. The Spirit of Disharmony and that shadowed pony, both had bested me in the past. These flames that filled me would allow me to once more correct the story that had gone awry. Both would be reminded of the roles that they were set to play in this grand tapestry. Just as I would play mine as the ever-reigning victor. “Awfully late start to the morning for royalty, isn’t it?” The Loud Observer spoke as we entered the train car where both it and its counterpart were lounging. I could hear the faint traces of amusement in the creature's tone, however, it was nearly drowned in the palpable fear that it was failing to obscure. Its futile facade shattered as I matched eyes with it. Smiling as it fractured, its next jests no doubt shriveled upon its tongue. My blooming enjoyment curdled as the flames within flickered. Why? My leer fell into a scowl as I turned my attention inward. Pushing the liquid flame to ever more extreme heights in order to burn out that fragment of weakness that had harmed it. Yet even as the flames once more surged I couldn’t find the fault within the still unnamed flames. Tearing my gaze back to reality I found my partner continuing with greeting both the Watching Eyes. I could have interjected, but I had little interest in those two spies. They were here to report all that I did to the one that Princess Celestia cared about after all. Nothing more and nothing less. That didn’t mean however that I entirely tuned out their conversation while I remained still by my partner’s side. “I have already checked in with the engineer, and he estimates a little less than three hours to reach Hollow Shades.” At the second Spies’ words, I frowned. Were we already that close to Hollow Shades? That was convenient. Perhaps my earlier mental meddling was unneeded. Well, I doubt that Cadance will complain as I did save one of her ponies. Banishing the worthless worry that had formed I instead decided to be far more practical with my time and pulled away from my partner. She glanced over to me but after I gestured to the tables of food that had been prepared she nodded in acquiescence and returned to the two so-called ponies.  While I had since learned that the meager rations that I had initially packed for myself to subsist on, were not nearly enough to feed a growing Alicorn. I had however learned from that experience. That was why I had beelined my way to a shop once we had split ways our first night in Wingston. Well, that and… if I was being honest that I wanted to make up for the words that I had spoken towards Cadance.    I was now confident that even with Cadance’s enhanced appetite, the two of us would be able to subsist on what I had purchased for some time. I had nearly cleaned out three entire shops of all non-perishable foods. That safety net was more than worth the strange glances that turned into astonishment that yes I could pay for everything that I requested and then turned into shock when I shoved the various foodstuffs into my sack. However, when there was fresh food prepared, I could save our rations for another day. Casting out a wide net of telekinesis and grabbing an assorted mess of lunch foods. Ignoring the glares that I received from every pony that was currently in line at the buffet. Cadance had slipped on her cloak, yes, but she had the hood down. If any of them were halfway observant they would be able to tell that a member of Equestrian royalty was within the same train car as them. Instead, they were far more concerned with fighting over the various sandwiches and salads. Fools and failures, the lot of them. Layering most of my claimed goods onto one larger serving plate that I had snagged with the half of pizza atop it. A second plate was filled with a small salad. I cast a few quick spells over the food I had purloined, ensuring that nothing harmful would get to my partner. Finding nothing out of the ordinary I turned back with the two plates hovering beside me. Odd. While I had been intentionally blocking out the meaningless prattle of the ponies around me I didn’t realize that it had gotten so silent. Glancing at my partner I could see that she had pulled the hood of her cloak up. Yet as the one who had enchanted it I knew the faults within the magic, even without applying the appropriate spell to my eyes I could clearly see for some unknown reason a foreign embarrassment on her face. I tilted my head in an attempt to ask her what had happened as she was staring at me, but instead of answering she just winced. The crystals in her eyes weeping shards as they spun around in a bizarre panic. Strange. Expanding my gaze to the rest of the car’s inhabitants, their numerous eyes locked upon me. Malcontent from the masses was something I was used to through my years as being the Princess of the Sun’s ward. They would have to far more than leer at me. Upon seeing that I wasn’t going to be attacked, I did however run through a rudimentary shielding charm to erupt around my partner on the chance that I was wrong, I continued back towards her side. The two Watching Eyes parted for me just as they had parted for Princess Celestia. The annoying one was covering its mouth with its wings, but in its eyes, I could see an amusement pool. The silent ones’ deadened eyes were still calm, but I could spy the near smirk upon its muzzle as I repositioned myself next to my partner.  “I got you some food,” I informed my partner who proceeded to once more break out into a full-faced flush as my words broke the silence that had encased the room. Waiting for her to grab the plate that was now hovering before her. Upon seeing that she wasn’t going to take the plate that I made for her I shrugged and began to eat from my own plate.  “Excuse me once more, but you realize that the food was meant for every pony?” An almost scratchy voice nasally attempted to interrupt my meal as a bright red Unicorn stomped in front of me. Her horn was not even lit with a spell. I didn’t bother dignifying her with a response as I continued to eat after glancing over to Cadance to check if she was planning to eat any time soon. Her eyes glistened full of crystals with mortification bound within. Yet I could see the way they tightened upon the pony that was before the two of us. “Or are you so uncouth that such acts of decency are beyond you?” The raspberry-colored Unicorn continued on its ineffectual crusade against me. I didn't even bother to grace its attempts with even a blink. Seeing that attempting to interact with me was a lost cause she instead turned to my partner. The two spies at least had the presence of mind to step between Cadance and the irate Unicorn. Even if their actions were unneeded as I was right beside her. “Since I am unable to inspire any conversation with your bullheaded compatriot, I would ask that you return the food that she stole.” The scratchy voice continued. My eyes narrowed as I stopped eating at its words. “I will permit you to keep a portion of the food, as the food here is meant for every pony no matter how uncouth.” The large leech declared with a clearly practiced drawl. I could feel Cadance shifting beside me slightly at the leech's words. “After all one must show her lessers how to properly act.” My remaining patience for this paltry creature snapped. It wasn’t a spell that encased the corpse-feeder's mind, no it was something far simpler. Altering a creature's mind was an arduous process that only increased in difficulty the greater the creature's intelligence. Luckily for me, the process was instantaneous as I pulled its mind into my grasp.  First, it dared attempt to steal Cadance’s food. Then it dared claim that she needed her permission to keep any of the food I had gotten for her. Finally, it dared claim that Cadance was lesser than this creature that feasted upon the remains left for it. I would force it to understand the gravity of its mistake as I molded it so that every moment it believed itself to be encased in flames. Burn. Shockingly, the carrion feeder seemed to actually know a lick of magic as it summoned a faint sprinkling of water atop itself, yet when that did nothing it floundered on the floor screaming for help. Only when Cadance stepped in and soothed it into a slumber did its screams stop. “I can’t take you anywhere, can I Dawn?” Cadance questioned with an annoyed huff as she glanced down at the half-drowned corpse eater. Whose unconscious form was already being removed by the two Watchers. “Technically I invited you to come with me.” I reminded my partner as I resumed eating.