That night, Sunset Shimmer was in yet another nightmare. This was somewhat different, though. She found herself standing in front of the Crystal Mirror. She was on the Equestria side, and humanized self was in her reflection. To her astonishment, her reflection was moving independently from her actual self, and even speaking to her.
"So, how do you feel right now, Sunny?" the human Sunset said, her voice leaking with mockery and sarcasm.
"That depends which me I'm speaking to..." said the unicorn Sunset.
"Take a wild guess, you little loudmouth." laughed the human Sunset Shimmer. "The one with a backbone!"
"Wrong." said the unicorn. "that would be me! You're just a shallow imitation of what I once was!"
"No, you're wrong." smiled the human. "You're what I once was! Until over a month ago, you were tough and in-control of everyone around you."
"At what cost, though?" asked the equine Sunset. "I was terrible when I was a human."
"You were still terrible, even as a pony."
"Not as terrible as you, though!" said Sunset.
"At least I didn't have to rely on friends or family to bail me out of a situation!"
"Because you had no friends or family! You needed them!"
"No. You...you're lying!" denied the human Sunset, indignantly.
"And look at you, now!" quipped the unicorn Sunset. "You're dead! You don't even exist anymore, except as a cold memory."
"We'll see about that!" growled the human self.
Suddenly, her body was enveloped in a bluish-green light. A tall red-skinned creature with flaming hair, black-and-green eyes, and tattered bat-like wings now stood in her place. She tightened her four-fingered claws, and flew through the mirror. She loomed over the unicorn, laughing maliciously.
"So, what do you have to say about me?" said the creature with a deeper, sultry version of Sunset Shimmer's voice.
"I still say you're dead, you abomination!" shouted Sunset Shimmer angrily. "You're a mockery of me, and everything I should've stood for!"
"I'm not really dead, my little pony." cackled the demoness. "I just got transferred to a new vessel. One much more satisfying than you ever were! You were always a weakling, Sunset Shimmer. You just weren't cut out to be an evildoer."
"Because I'm not a monster, unlike you!" retorted Sunset to her evil side. "And what 'new vessel' are you talking about?"
"You know the one." said a familiar, distorted voice.
"You've got to be kidding..." gasped Sunset, turning around.
Standing before her was none other than the Chrysalis Syndicate enforcer that beat her outside Canterlot High. Suddenly, there was an explosion of magical energy, and the enforcer fell over unconscious. Behind him was none other than...
"Princess Luna!" Sunset exclaimed happily.
"Yes, my student." said the princess of the night. "I have finally come to free you from these horrid nightmares!"
"You win this round, Sunset." growled the demoness.
In a burst of red fire, the creature vanished.
"If you wish to wake up, now would certainly be a good time..." said Luna...
Sunset Shimmer woke up with a start, climbing immediately out of bed. She opened her bedroom door, just in time for Radiant's to open.
"Oh, hey there, sister." said the orange-red stallion. "I was just going to wake you up! It's time for breakfast, if my memory serves me right."
"Thanks, Radiant." smiled Sunset. "Well, let's go on downstairs, shall we?"
"Right!" nodded Radiant Dawn.
The two unicorn siblings went down to the banquet hall, where both Princesses and several other ponies were already seated. Without a word, Sunset quickly seated herself in an empty chair next to Radiant. As the other ponies ate their food, Sunset decided to chat with Radiant.
"So, did you even sleep at all?" asked Sunset.
"A little." said Radiant. "I had a very disturbing dream about you."
"How so?" asked Sunset Shimmer.
"I don't know." said Radiant. "I barely remember it. I just know that I didn't like what was happening at all."
"You're lucky." said Sunset, with a frown. "I remember all my dreams perfectly...whether I like it or not."
Then her eyes started to water, and she sniffled.
"Well, you're all right now." comforted Radiant. "I hate to see you like this, Sunny, all crying and upset. C'mon, let's just have some food. That'll calm your nerves."
"Good idea." said Sunset in agreement.
Later on, Radiant and Sunset finished their breakfast and went outside the city to a grass-covered field where several pegasi in black flightsuits stood in a row in front of Captain Star Shield.
"Thank you, everypony, for volunteering for this training session." said the low, clear voice of the Night Captain. "I must warn you, though, that you will be expected to perform daring feats for Princess Luna. Have I made myself clear on this?"
"Yes, sir!" chorused the pegasi trainees.
"Then make twenty laps around the mountain." said Star Shield.
The trainees all took off into the air, and flew circles around the summit of the mountain. Radiant Dawn and Sunset Shimmer went down to the field where the captain was looking up at the pegasi vigilantly.
"So those are the Shadowbolts?" asked Radiant.
"That is correct, lieutenant." said Star Shield. "Or at least, that's what I intend them to be."
The pegasi flew through the twelfth lap. Then the thirteenth...fourteenth...fifteenth...
"Well, how do you like that?" Star Shield commented, when a golden streak sped around the mountain, outstripping all the other racers. "Miss Lightning Dust has the skills, after all."
"I'm surprised she isn't trying to dive-bomb into anything." joked Sunset Shimmer.
The Shadowbolt trainees finally finished racing, and flew down to the field. At their head was the golden streak. It slowed down, revealing the bluish-green form of Lightning Dust.
"Simply superb, my dear." said Captain Shield in a congratulatory manner to Lightning.
"Thank you, sir." said Lightning Dust, with a salute.
"By the way, where is your wing-pony?" asked the Night Captain.
"Right...here...sir!" puffed a large exhausted pegasus with a light brown coat and a mane with shaggy bangs that obscured his eyes, who slowly approached the two.
"Hoops, what took you so long?" asked Lightning.
"Sorry, Lightning." he said. "I lost track of you at the ninth lap. And then when you started speeding around like that, I wasn't able to keep up."
"Well, I told you to wear those goggles!" prompted Lightning. "Really, how else are you supposed to find anypony if you have your mane in your eyes all the time?"
"Right." said Hoops. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Nevertheless, cadet, you did quite well." said Star Shield. "I saw you were able to hit Mach 3 in twenty seconds. Quite impressive in a new recruit."
"Yeah, but doing that just wore me out, sir." said Hoops. "I don't think I can do it over long distances."
"Understood." said the Night Captain. "Still, I see much potential in you. I hope you do well as a Shadowbolt."
"Thanks, so do I." saluted the sports pegasus.
"What about me, captain?" asked another trainee, a gray mare with a pale blonde mane.
"You did...well enough, Miss Hooves." said Star Shield. "Just try harder not to crash into any of your wing-ponies next time, and you'll do just fine in the future."
"I'll be careful next time, sir!" said Derpy in an awkward tone. "Oh, my muffins are ready! Am I dismissed, sir?"
"You're dismissed." confirmed the Night Captain.
Derpy Hooves promptly shot down to Ponyville, without even removing her flightsuit.
"So, what are we doing next?" asked Lightning Dust.
"I'm going to send some of you on a reconnaissance mission in the vicinity of Vanhoover." answered Captain Shield. "Lightning Dust, I am making you a sergeant for the duration of this task."
"A sergeant, huh? So I'm going to be ordering other ponies around?" asked the blonde-maned pegasus.
"That is correct, Sergeant Dust." said Star Shield, firmly. "You and two other Shadowbolts will be assigned to Lieutenant Dawn and Miss Shimmer over here."
"What?!" the siblings both said in surprise.
"It's no secret that you two are determined to find your mother." explained Captain Star Shield. "But even without Umbriel to pull their leashes, the Changelings and other creatures there may prove to be too much for two unicorns alone."
"Why not send some guards with us?" asked Sunset. "Heck, my brother here's the tamer of bat-ponies!"
"Because we will need everypony here to make sure that Umbriel doesn't escape, and that nothing tries to break him out." said Star Shield. "Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are still discussing their strategies with Captain Armor. I am unable to make any decisions at the moment, since I'm not on-duty at this time. My word as a guard captain is only relevant when the sun goes down."
"What about the Shadowbolts, though?" asked Sunset. "Aren't they an extension of the Night Guard?"
"Not quite. They are an independent branch that answers to Princess Luna, and she has already authorized the mission I have set out for them: protecting her student."
"But captain, I don't need--" Sunset began.
"Miss Shimmer, this was not my decision." said Star Shield, adamantly. "Princess Luna herself explicitly wants you to be kept safe. She's concerned for your well-being. If I remember correctly, you nearly died fighting Umbriel himself...twice. What would you think Princess Luna would say if something happened to you this time?"
"Well, I'd be fine with just Red over here, but okay." said Sunset, reluctantly. "If Lightning Dust is going to be coming with us, that's fine in my book."'
"Awesome!" exclaimed Lightning Dust, excitedly jumping up to hover in the air.
She zipped over to Radiant Dawn like a hummingbird, and hovered so that her head was level with his.
"Looks like you and I are going to have some fun together, big guy." she commented, slyly nudging his plated shoulder with her front-right hoof.
Sunset Shimmer could practically read Lightning's mind as the blue-green pegasus whispered something into Radiant's ear.
"Maybe you could show me what your bedroom looks like!"
"Remember sergeant, this is a very important mission." reminded Captain Shield. "Since Radiant Dawn is one of my highest-ranking officers, you will address him as 'lieutenant' or 'sir'."
"Nah, it's fine, captain." chuckled Radiant. "She doesn't need to be formal with me."
"She needs to understand the importance of this task, Lieutenant Dawn." reminded Star Shield.
"Chill out, captain." said Lightning Dust. "I know just how important this mission is, and am willing to go through with it, no matter what! I mean, like I'd leave my b..."
Then she hesitated when she noticed that Sunset Shimmer was giving her a suspicious look.
"Err, best friend and her brother hanging!" she finished.
"So, how do we get there?" asked Sunset.
"You and your brother will be taking the train from Ponyville to Vanhoover." said Star Shield. "And then you'll journey to your home from there."
"Sounds fair enough." stated Sunset Shimmer. "But if you don't mind, I'd like to bring some friends with us."
"And who would they be?" asked Star Shield.