Summer Sunset

by RobRoyale


Revelations and Disastor

Chapter 9

“Oh no… oh no, no, no, no, no!” Sunset yelled, pressing her hands against the statue’s marble face. “Why is the portal closed?”
Discord stroked his beard. “Somepony must have closed it after you came through.”
Sunset whirled around to face him. “You’re the Lord of Chaos, can’t you tear a hole through the dimensions?”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“No!”
“Well, you're out of luck.” A small violin materialized and started playing itself. “I’m afraid we’re stuck here, with no way back home! Oh, woe is us!” He snickered. “But in the meantime, I can have some fun here.”
Sunset rubbed her temples and sighed. “You’re not helping, there has to be a way back.”
Discord raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you have your magical journal to write to Twilight?”
“Yes, but I gave it the girls incase they wanted to write me.” She slumped down against the statue. “It could be with any of them now.”
“I believe I can help you. I can sense sources of great magical power.” He shifted into a compass and spun around pointed down the street. “From what I can tell, it's close by.”
Sunset perked up and she jumped to her feet. “Lead the way!”


The trip was surprisingly a quick walk down the street. The pair found themselves in front of a dull gray house. There were no lights on do the hour of night. “This is Pinkie Pie’s house…” Sunset mumbled
“Really now?” Discord scratched his chin. “I was expecting something more… pink.”
“Pinkie Pie lives with her family in this universe.” Sunset knocked on the door then her eyes darted at Discord. “Quick, change into something!”
Discord sighed. “Oh, fine.” In a flash of light he was on all fours as a grey cat with brown pawls and white stripes on his head. “That better?”
Sunset looked down at cat Discord and a smile crept onto her lips. “You look… adorable.”
Discord hissed and scratched at her boot. There was a click and the door opened. A gray skinned girl with monotone purple hair in baggy clothes stared blankly at the two.
Sunset smiled awkwardly and waved her hand. “Hi Maud, sorry it's late but could we talk to Pinkie Pie?”
Maud stared at the pair a few more moments then stepped back motioning for them to enter. When she closed the door Sunset and Discord went to the living room, a few seconds later Pinkie Pie slid down the stairs bounding into the living room.
“Hi there, Sunbutt! What brings you back here?” Even at the late hour she was still bright and hyperactive as usual. “Aw, where did you find this cute little guy?” She knelt down and petted Discord’s head who purred and gave a sly look.
Sunset rubbed her forehead. “Well… I came back through the portal and it was closed by somepony on the other side. I need the journal to write them to tell them I’m stuck here.”
Pinkie stopped petting Discord and looked up. “What happened between you and Twilight?” Discord looked between Pinkie and Sunset and gave her a devious grin.
“What do you mean, Pinkie?” Sunset looked away nervously.
Pinkie picked Discord up in her arms and petted his head as she began to pace back and forth. “Well, you said you were going there for the summer and you would only come back here if there something bad happened, and since you’re here that means something bad happened, and since you were seeing Twilight that means the bad thing that happened was probably with her!”
Sunset stared at her. “Pinkie, that’s… actually pretty logical.”
“I have my moments.” Pinkie raised her chin proudly. “Now what happened between you and Twilight?”
Sunset blushed and looked away. “Well … it's sort of a long story, but…”
“You had a relapse of your behavior and went all she-demon mode on that world’s version of Flash Sentry because he keeps trying to be lovey dovey with Twilight, and that makes you angry because secretly you want to be lovey dovey with Twilight and she saw you going all she demon and got mad and you ran back through the portal in shame and were followed by a shape shifting creature who’s now the cat in my arms and now you finally realized you love Twilight and you want to go back to the world but you can’t because the portal was closed and you need the book.” Pinkie finished, pointing an accusatory finger at Sunset.
Sunset’s jaw hung as she stared at the pink skinned girl. “H-how did you know…”
“Just a hunch.” Pinkie smiled brightly, then she pulled out the journal from her hair. “Also, these messages from Twilight gave me a hint.”
“What?” Sunset jumped up and grabbed the journal flipping through the pages to four new entries from Twilight. As she read them over her eyes widened. “Um… how much time has passed in Equestria since we’ve been here?
“Hm.” Discord meowed. He disappeared from her arms and appeared in his normal form beside Pinkie. “Well, considering the two worlds run on separate planes of time and space, probably a day or two.
Sunset looked back up at him, then back at the book. “…. Get me a pen, we’re going back right now!”


Two days had passed since the incident and Twilight couldn’t shake off this empty feeling in her stomach. It was the same feeling she had when Rainbow Dash had left for the Wonderbolt academy. Loneliness. But it this case, it was more. The past two nights, she had trouble getting to sleep worrying about Sunset. The guards were keeping watch over the portal and had closed it. To this end she kept her book by her bedside waiting for it to glow bright pink and vibrate, but there was nothing. She took the book everywhere she went and had even written in it multiple times reaching out for Sunset, but still there was nothing.
She was on a train heading towards Canterlot. Her personal guards were stationed at the train car’s exits with additional guards in adjourning cars. Twilight didn’t take pleasure in the security, but she understood it. She personally requested that Flash Sentry take point in the first car to keep a look out, but truthfully, she just didn’t want to deal with his flirting today. In her lap read over her entries she wrote to Sunset.

Dear Sunset Shimmer,
I understand there have been certain complications to your situation with Flash. Though I am disappointed in what has transpired, I do wish to speak with you. We will sit down and talk about this development as adult ponies. I would appreciate if you would write me back so I may open the portal again for you to come back.
Sincerely,
Twilight Sparkle

Hours had passed since she wrote that message and her worries got the better of her.

Dear Sunset,
Are you doing all right? Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell Celestia what’s happened. I understand I may have acted rashly when I walked in on the situation, but I do wish to talk to you still.
Sincerely,
Twilight


After a day with no response Twilight began theorizing why Sunset might not be writing her back and her fears took hold of her writing.

Sunset,
Please respond soon. I’m heading to Canterlot tomorrow and I need to speak with you before then.
Twilight

Then came the break down.

Sunset, I’m sorry for yelling at you! I don’t know what happened, but I shouldn’t have snapped at you! Please write back! I miss you and I feel horrible for snapping at you! Please respond!

Still nothing. Twilight had to admit, she was worried about Sunset and there wasn’t any denying it. She felt awful for yelling at Sunset and telling her to get out. Her only hope was that Cadence would help her once she arrived in Canterlot. She just had to keep herself composed during her meeting with Celestia and then she could as gracefully as possible break down in front of her sister-in-law.
The train whistled, signaling the end of the journey. The beautiful city of Canterlot came into view outside the windows. The sleek towers rose over the walls and the city was bustling with activity and noble ponies. Canterlot palace stood above the rest as the tallest building in the capital. This was Twilight’s first home, but even now, there was something about it that felt slightly intimidating.


The meeting with Celestia was interesting at best. The meeting took place in Celestia’s chambers instead of the throne room and she inquired about most of the details in traveling to the human world. Twilight had brought up some of her findings from Starswirl's book including some of the theories Sunset made but didn’t mention that Sunset had made them. However, Sunset was brought up during the meeting. Celestia pressed on, asking questions about Twilight’s second visit and how Sunset was doing now that she was reformed, even asking how she was recently. Twilight did her best to feign ignorance to the questions, claiming she had not seen Sunset since her second trip to the human world.
Each time Sunset’s name was mentioned, Twilight felt her stomach twist and she had to mentally restrain from confessing the truth to Celestia. It was not easy, even under normal calm pretenses Celestia’s gaze commanded absolute authority. At one point she had considered telling Celestia, but after her relapse, she feared Celestia would have wanted Sunset to be restrained. The thought of Sunset locked up in chains being hauled away never to be seen again or possible be sent to the moon made Twilight’s body shake and her blood run cold. Thankfully, the meeting ended with nothing of the sort being revealed.
Twilight made her leave out of the palace and walked down to the Café De la Trot in upper Canterlot with her escort. She took a seat outside and rested her head on the table groaning. She was far away enough from Celestia to let her defenses down.
A wing draped across Twilight’s shoulder and her muscles tensed. She slowly lifted her head. “Flash, I swear to Celestia, I’m not in the-“ Turning her head, she saw it was not Flash, but Cadence with a mischievous grin on her face.
“My, my, Twilight, I can see why you asked me here.” Said Cadence.
Twilight’s anger dissipated and she embraced her sister in law. “Sorry, thank you so much for coming, Cadence.”
Cadence returned the embrace. “Well, when I read your letter, I couldn’t just sit by and do nothing.” She sat down across from her. “Besides, if I didn’t, your brother would have come.”
Twilight gulped. “Yeah, that might have not been the best thing.” A waiter came over and took their orders. Once he left, Twilight looked to the guards standing close by. “Could we have a little privacy?”
Flash Sentry shook his head. “Sorry Princess, it's our mandate to guard you.”
Before Twilight could respond Cadence raised a hoof. “Flash Sentry, Twilight asked for privacy. You wouldn’t disobey a direct order from your Captain’s sister, would you?”
Flash’s orange fur went pale and he saluted. “N-no, your highness!” He stuttered. “Allow us to leave at once!” He turned and motioned for the other guards to move away with him.
Twilight looked at Cadence with astonishment. “I wish I had known that would have worked.” She giggled.
“It’s all about knowing the right thing to say. Though, do you not like Flash’s company? I sent him here specifically because I thought you liked him.” Cadence said.
Twilight sighed and blushed. “I do like Flash, just… he’s not like the one I met in the human world.”
“Well, from what you told me, I would doubt it. They may have the same personality but their lifestyles are completely different, which sets up how they are as ponies... or people.” Cadence tapped her chin. “But that’s not what you wanted to talk to me about, is it?”
Twilight shook her head. Their drinks and small cakes arrived and she explained the past days events to Cadence. She sat and listened with the utmost attention, sometimes giving different facial gestures to what Twilight said but never interrupting. When Twilight finished, she took a sip of her tea before beginning. “Okay, well now I understand what you meant by ‘out of my depth’” She quoted Twilight's letter. “But let's take a hoof step back a moment.” Cadence gaze focused on Twilight and she rested her chin on her hooves. “Answer honestly, do you like Sunset?”
Twilight cheeks flared up and she stared at Cadence. Her throat went dry and her body tensed up. “W-well, of course I like her.”
Cadence shook her head. “No, you know exactly what I’m talking about, Twilight.”
“Not really!” Twilight defended.
“Twily, I’ve known you since you were a filly and I’ve seen this scenario a lot.” She said.
“B-but… she’s my friend.” Twilight stuttered trying to find a better counter.
“And?”
“And I…” Twilight stopped and looked at her reflection in her tea.
Cadence leaned back with a confident grin. “And you’re unsure of how you feel.” She finished.
“Yes,” Twilight mumbled.
“What makes you unsure?” Cadence asked.
Twilight thought for a moment hesitant to answer but then responded. “I guess I’ve never been really interested in anyone, even human Flash Sentry. I came to realize that my attraction to him was because I was under the influence of human female biology and my attraction to the pony Flash was because I liked the human one. So I’ve never really liked anypony…”
Cadence giggled. “Well, I can understand that. But I also noticed you didn’t say anything about what happened a few days ago.”
This made Twilight raise her head and ears perk up. “Wait… what?”
“You’re unsureness is based on inexperience with genuine attraction. Isn’t it curious you didn’t say it was based on Sunset’s relapse?” She said with a sly smile.
Twilight stared at her for a few moments. “Oh….” She muttered and her eyes went wide. “Oh!”
“Based on what you told me, I don’t think Sunset lashed out at Flash because she’s jealous.” Cadence rested a hoof against her cheek. “I think it’s because she doesn’t want to share you.” She gave Twilight a wink. Twilight’s blush intensified and she went silent. Cadence got up from her seat and walked over giving Twilight a pat on the head. “I think you should head back to Ponyville to talk to her. Also, I can have Flash recalled and have a new sergeant sent to the squad if you like?”
Twilight looked up smiling and quickly embarrassed Cadence. “Thank you, Cadence… and please.”
Cadence hugged her back. “Anytime, Twilight. Should I tell your brother when the wedding is?”
“C-Cadence!” Twilight cheeks flared and she pushed the giggling pink alicorn away. The pair said their goodbyes and Twilight was rejoined with her escort. On her way back to the train station she had a little spring in her step. She was unsure of how she would do it but when she got back to Ponyville she didn’t care if she had to go through the portal herself to do it. She would go and apologize to Sunset and tell her how she felt.
The train exited the station and Twilight sat in her train car thoughts swimming through her head. As the train pulled out of Canterlot Twilight looked up at the clouds. They had darkened since she entered and the rain started to patter against the windows. She felt unsure about Sunset still but one thing in her mind was clear: She liked Sunset. She didn’t understand how it happened, when it happened, or even why. But under the influence Cadence’s words she felt a sense of assurance when she said to herself that she liked Sunset.
Twilight now understood why Sunset attacked Flash, she didn’t agree with it but the reasoning behind it told her that Sunset did possibly feel something for her. This made Twilight’s heart flutter. With Flash transferred out, she considered that she wouldn’t have any difficulties with Sunset, no relapses, and no interruptions. A whole summer was ahead of them and Twilight had a feeling it would be the best one yet.
There was a buzzing sound in Twilight’s bag. Her ears perked up and she grabbed it pulling out her book that was vibrating and emitting a pink glow. Sunset had responded to the message. Twilight slowly set her hooves down on the cover to lift it. The book was then thrown from her hooves as the train rocked and rumbled at the peak of a deafening explosion. Twilight fell from her seat hitting her head. She got up quickly and lifted her window peering out, the train engine was a plume of smoke and the car behind it was in shambles. Twilight’s eyes widened. Flash!
She bolted out, teleporting passed the guards who followed her. She ran down the next two cars ahead of her. Pegasus guards were exiting, taking up ariel defense positions around the train. They had been stopped on the bridge between the mountain tunnels and the drop below was at least a mile. Twilight pushed passed the two guards in front of the damaged car and stormed through it.
“Flash!” She called out. “Flash!”
There was a groan and Twilight spotted under part of the collapsed roof a orange hoof sticking out. She ripped it away with her magic and saw Flash lying on the ground. His armor was scraped and battered and he was bleeding from the head. He looked up and smirked. “Isn’t this supposed to be the other way around.”
“Shut up, you’re hurt!” She helped him up putting. “What happened?”
Flash put a hoof to his head applying pleasure to his wound. “I don’t know… one second I was heading for the engine car the next there was a bright light and you calling my name.”
Guards entered the car and took up Flash. “Your highness, it’s not safe here. Please go back to your car while we handle the situation.”
Twilight shook her head. “No, there still might be others in the wreckage! I’m not leaving with that possibility.”
Flash raised a weak hoof at the burning wreckage ahead of them. “Hey, I see something…”
The outlines of two figures walked; when they came out of the smoke they were two guards. They made their way over to the group and saluted. However Twilight noticed that they were unharmed and their armor was unscathed.
Flash coughed. “Where’s the engineer?”
“I’m here! I’m alright!” A voice shouted from the wreckage and a tall red earth pony wearing an engineer's cap and tattered suspenders trotted into view. Again, Twilight noticed there was a scratch on him. She looked to the explosion. The engine car was completely engulfed in flames and smoke and the half of the front car was collapsed.
“Good.” Flash weakly smiled. “Then there weren’t any casualties.” He sighed with relief.
“Wait…” Twilight pointed at the engineer and guards. “You were right in the explosion… why weren’t you hurt?”
The three exchanged glances and the one of the guards tapped his horn. “I threw up a shield for us at the last moment.”
Twilight’s gaze didn’t let up. “But not Flash Sentry? Your commanding officer?”
Again, the three exchanged glances but the unicorn guard shrugged. “I didn’t see him.” He went silent as did the rest and Twilight continued to glare. The situation didn’t sit right with her at all.
A sharp yell broke the silence. The ponies looked and saw a figure coming out of the fire and smoke. He was bloodied and charred. His clothes were a tatter but the sight that made Twilight’s eyes go wide was he was a red earth pony with a burned engineer hat and torn suspenders. He pointed an accusatory hoof at the trio. “Th-that’s not m-me.” He coughed.
There was a flash of light, the unharmed red earth pony’s center forehead glowed green and shot a beam of magic hitting the damaged one square in the chest. The bloodied earth pony toppled to the ground. Twilight and the others trotted back slowly minus the unharmed guards beside the red earth pony.
“Well, so much for the element of surprise.” The red earth pony’s voice was now feminine and he turned to glare at Twilight with bright green eyes.
“N-no.” Twilight eyes widened.
The red earth pony surrounded itself in magic and morphed into a tall demonic looking alicorn with bug like wings, a misshapen horn, black skin, and a swampy green mane draping down its neck. The two guards beside the creature morphed into changeling guards. The center creature laughed. “Hello, Princess~”
“Chrysalis!” Twilight growled. The guards beside Flash Sentry drew their swords.
“Have you missed me, Twilight?~” She cooed with mock enthusiasm.
“Hardly!” Twilight charged her horn.
Chrysalis drew back putting a hoof to her chest feigning shock. “But Twilight! It has been so long, you’ve become an alicorn and a princess no less since I’ve seen you.”
“Yes, which means I’ve gotten a lot stronger since our last encounter.” Twilight retorted. “You have one chance to turn around, or—”
“Or you’ll what?” Chrysalis interrupted. More changelings came out of the smoke. Yells could be heard outside as guards engaged changeling forces. They were crawling out from under the bridge. “Alicorn or not, you’re out of your league here and you’re friends aren’t here to help you.”
“That doesn’t—”
“Doesn’t matter? What good is a princess of friendship without her friends? You’re powerless.” Chrysalis laughed.
Twilight gritted her teeth and charged the changeling queen. She unleashed a blast of magic, sending Chrysalis back. She shook her head and growled, rearing up on her hooves and firing a blast of magic back at Twilight. Twilight threw up a magic bubble and the blast ricocheted off it. She unfolded her wings and tucked to the side, avoiding another blast and lunged for Chrysalis. She turned around and bucked Chrysalis in the jaw, sending her out of the train car. The queen flew up to the top of the car and Twilight flew out, following her. The guards and changelings were in aerial dogfights with each other except, the changelings had the advantage with their magic.
“Hm, you have improved,” Chrysalis dusted herself off. “But you still can’t win.” Twilight took a step back then and lit her horn, firing another beam of magic. Chrysalis countered with her own, and the beams caused an explosion on impact. Twilight flew up and through the smoke with her horn aglow. But she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the curled up form of Sunset Shimmer.
“S-sunset!” Twilight heart twisted and landed running over to her friend. “What are you doing here? How are you—”
Sunset opened an eye and flashed a dark grin before reeling back a hoof and punching Twilight square in the jaw. Twilight stumbled and was blown back as Sunset head butted her. Her vision went blurry for a few moments and she flew off her hooves as Sunset hit her with a blast of magic.
Twilight got up and shook her head focusing her vision. “S-stop!”
“This is delicious~” The figure of Sunset morphed into Chrysalis, then back to Sunset. “I haven’t felt this power since I fed off Shining Armor’s love for Cadence.” She licked her lips and shivered with a sickening moan. “So many ponies to choose from and this one elicited the best feast.”
Twilight panted and adjusted her balance. “How… dare you…”
Sunset Chrysalis backed Twilight up to the edge of the car. “But Twilight, would you really hurt me?” She placed a hoof on Twilight’s cheek. Twilight’s heartbeat sped up a little. Even though it was fake, the touch felt to realistic to ignore.
“I-I—…” Twilight stuttered, her magical aura of her horn fading. Sunset Chrysalis smiled deviously and her horn lit up, spraying green goo covering Twilight’s horn and mouth. Twilight’s eyes went wide and she struggled but Chrysalis turned back to her normal form and seized Twilight in her magic.
“All too easy~” She laughed and took off with her changelings following her. “Destroy up the bridge!” She shouted. The changelings not involved in combat lit their horns and stormed the bridge supports. They crashed into them, decimating the rock structures, causing the bridge to fall out from under the train with gravity doing the rest. The train still fell down into the abyss below. The remaining guards in the air raced after it. Twilight tried to call for them but the green goo muffled her voice.
Chrysalis cackled as her guards grabbed hold of Twilight binding her hooves and wings. Twilight struggled in their grasp and whimpered. She couldn’t believe this was happened and she couldn’t believe she fell for Chrysalis’s impression of Sunset.
Somepony… anypony! Sunset! Please help me! She mentally cried out as she was carried away.