Sunset felt the swirl of energy flowing before her, tugging at her nerves. She was standing on the ridgeline above the CHS outdoor concert area where the undeniably ominous tones from the three Dazzlings were pressing outwards. Like a sentinel, a force now stood strong and opposed to the creeping malice: the Rainbooms.
Twilight sung proudly in front of her friends, her voice loud and clear. Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy supported her, singing in harmony to her while playing their instruments. Pinkie Pie kept them steady and in sync with her drumming. They were strong together and the magic, finally, responded.
Each girl was caught up in a rainbow of color a light and grew ears, long tails of hair, and Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy sprouted pairs of wings. The swirling light then lingered, surrounding them, creating a barrier that pushed forward ever so slightly, moving back the miasma from the Dazzlings.
“It’s working!” shouted Spike, as the column of light edged forward.
Yes, thought Sunset, it’s working, but not enough. Rainbooms were holding their own but not pushing back the Dazzlings’ music. They could play until they got tired, but the magic the Dazzlings had already absorbed from the students and from the Rainbooms already meant they had become a colossal threat.
The energy pushed slightly outward with the start of the chorus of the Rainboom’s song. It startled Sunset who stepped cautiously backwards to say beyond the field. She wasn’t sure what to think. The energy was bright, and Equestrian, but that same magic had punished her once, and she was weary to face it again. She doubted she was a threat like the Dazzlings had become, but she had once been, and she didn’t know if the magic would recognize her or not.
Sunset refocused on the battle. The warring energies were becoming more violent as the quick expansion of the Rainboom’s energies stabilized and slowed. It hadn’t been enough to turn the battle. The Dazzlings were still stronger.
On the stage, she saw Adagio flex her wings and lean forward as she sung, an angry gaze directed straight at Twilight. Aria was still smug looking, stretching her wings wide and singing loudly as he eyes glowed red. Sonata appeared to sing with a staunch determination, like she had set herself upon a goal and wasn’t letting herself see any alternative. Upon each of their collars, their red rubies glowed brightly, the same color as Aria and Sonata’s eyes.
Sunset had to do something, but she couldn’t fathom what. The battle was currently even, but that didn’t mean it would stay that way. Eventually one side would tire, and in her gut, Sunset knew that for all the power Twilight brought to bear, she wasn’t inexhaustible.
There was a bright flash of red light and Sunset watched as the glowing rubies around the necks of the Dazzlings became blindingly bright, sweeping the stage and much of the arena in a crimson glow. Sunset put a hand up to shield her eyes from the sight. Then, when it had dimmed slightly, she looked up to see three ghostly forms in the sky, a trio of hippocampi, glaring ominously down at the Rainbooms.
The barrier of magic wavered and shrunk slightly just from the look.
Sunset swallowed.
*** ( MLP ) ***
A young sky blue unicorn wearing a purple cloak walked slowly down a forested path beside an older, tall and regal looking male white unicorn with a red cape trimmed in silver and wearing a gold crown prominently showing a sun and a moon at its crest. The younger unicorn was animated, waving his hooves around as he pointed at the trees and the sky. The older unicorn only smiled.
“Your enthusiasm is admirable, but I don’t see the necessity,” said the older unicorn.
“But, your highness,” said the blue unicorn as he quickly galloped ahead and turned to face the more regal pony. “It’s all connected! Everything, in fact. Understanding the balance is crucial to maximizing crop yields.”
The older unicorn shook his head and slowly walked past the younger. “That’s an Earth Tribe matter, it doesn’t affect us. The Unicorn Tribe only needs to focus on the sun and the moon.”
The younger unicorn walked backwards to stay in the older unicorn’s sight. “But it does affect us, just like the weather does. And all of it is held in balance by the fundamental force: magic.”
“We have magic, the Earth and Pegasus Tribes do not,” said the older unicorn. “That is what makes our tribe the most important.”
The younger pony took a deep breath. “I think the other tribes do have magic, and possibly all living things have magic, they just express it in different ways,” he said. “Ours is external but I think the other races have an intrinsic magical energy they use to be strong or fly. I can’t prove it yet, but I think there’s a way to make all the measurements I’ve taken align. A sort of unifying equation that can prove magic is not only everywhere, but is possibly interchangeable.”
The older unicorn stopped and turned. He did not look happy. “Star Swirl, your assistance to our tribe in stabilizing the spells to raise the sun has been significant, so I have allowed you to indulge in your fancies, but this is too much.” He rose his head up and looked down at the younger pony. “The Unicorn Tribe is magic. It is our birthright and our honor to lead the lesser tribes through this harsh world. What you propose is blasphemy! The very idea can lead to only one thing: unrest.”
“King Bullion,” started Star Swirl but he was cut off with a simple gesture from the King’s hoof.
“I am unmoved by your appeals,” said King Bullion. “Your plan to tamper with our tradition in this ‘Magical Academy’ is an affront to our values and it cannot be allowed.”
“But my work created the Sunset!” said Star Swirl. “Without that ‘tampering’ our people would be dying with every day, burned out by the exhaustion of lowering the blazing sun. If you can see the value in that—“
“I do,” said King Bullion loudly and with finality. “And for that, I let you speak in this manner to me. But you are not King of our tribe. I must protect our people and, in turn, our agreements with the Earth Tribe and the Unicorn Tribe. For those agreements to stand it must be clear, the Earth Tribe are the only ones who can grow, the Pegasi are the only ones who keep the weather in check, and we are the only ones who can raise and lower the sun and moon. Do you understand?”
Star Swirl looked down at the path and shook his head. “I implore you to listen well,” he said as he looked up. “Knowledge can cause unrest but ultimately nothing can hold it back. If I am right and don’t research this, someone else will and that knowledge will spread without any regard for you or your people. You can’t contain ideas; they spring forth unbidden from the most unexpected places. Believe me, our only hope to avoid the unrest, rather than simply delay it, is to find out everything we can and carefully educate.”
“I do not agree,” said the King. “Just looking for truth in these ideas will cause the trouble you seek to avoid, and then not even proof that they are false will contain them any longer.” He sighed and nodded towards Star Swirl. “I can see the power in your mind, Star Swirl, but it is a power for you alone, not to be broadcast, and not to be shared through this Academy idea. Your brilliance is only outshined by your temperance, but there are far more ambitious and crass unicorns out there that will take your talents and turn them towards ruin.”
The King continued walking as they exited the forest and approached the castle grounds with the looming towers in the distance. He turned as they reached the bridge that crossed the river that separated the forest from the town. “Now I ask you to listen well, my friend,” he said. “Hold this curiosity within you and rededicate yourself to the task this tribe needs most prominently: the eclipse.”
Star Swirl nodded before his liege, his eyes turned downward.
“Our people need relief from holding back the moonless night,” said the King. “Do not come to me again until you have a solution on this matter.”
“Yes, your highness,” said Star Swirl.
With a nod, the King turned and swiftly walked over the bridge and down the path towards the castle. Star Swirl lingered behind, walking up to the top crest of the bridge and then sitting down and leaning against the railings. He sighed and played idly with the edge of his cloak under the bright sun.
After a while he began to feel better, and he turned his thoughts again onto the puzzle of interconnected magics. He was sure there was some angle he hadn’t considered, a means by which the different expressions – direct, indirect, and cosmic magics – might be viewed to present a unified theory.
He grumbled briefly about the King’s inability to see the potential in his idea but his anger fled as quickly as it formed, he just couldn’t stay frustrated for some reason and again he turned towards his unified magic theory.
He looked towards the sun, the powerhouse of magic it was, and wondered again if it were the divine source he sought. The light of the sun touched all things and perhaps, through that light, magic was imparted. Though there was little in his research to support such an idea, he knew that many creatures, ponies include, worked so much harder in the light than in the dark. If there was more than simply pleasant thoughts behind that correleation.
But the light was an interesting thought. Even if magic was not delivered by rays of the sun, it could be harnessed in many ways, and distorted, if viewed through the wrong lens.
Lens, thought Star Swirl. That idea stuck in his head. A lens bent light and focused it, like a unicorn could bend magic and focus it. But there were lots of types of magic if Star Swirl’s theory was correct, so it would be less like a single lens and more like a—
PRISM!
Star Swirl leapt back to his feet. His heart raced as his mind latched onto the idea. Not necessarily a literal prism of glass, but a prism of crystalline magic. He had only just started understanding the basics of crystal magic but his studies were quickly producing scores of theories.
What if crystalline magic – a crystalline matrix! – could produce the results he was looking for. He had already proven that certain mathematical crystal constructs would resonate in contact with a pegasus in flight, if there were other activities in Earth tribe ponies and unicorns then perhaps it would be the connection he was looking for. A start to build a functional equation.
Star Swirl smiled broadly and breathed deep, feeling he had made a very positive leap.
Then he heard the gentle tones. He turned and looked around for the source of the pleasant notes. Eventually he looked down off the bridge and saw her. A young hippocampus swimming in gentle circles in the water, her head raised just above the surface and singing the melodious notes. Her eyes were closed as she sang and she looked to be smiling during her breaths between notes.
When she stopped to take another breath, Star Swirl spoke up.
“Hello there,” he said simply.
The girl was startled and took a mouthful of water before coughing then treading water. With a strong swish of her tail she propped herself up halfway above the water and gently tapped on her throat with her hoof as she coughed. On her tail was a picture of a heart with a single blue note shaped like a lightning bolt on top of it.
“It was beautiful singing,” said Star Swirl. “I didn’t mean to disrupt you.”
The hippocampus shook her head. Her blue mane flowed gently behind her, somehow not even appearing damp. She blinked her purple eyes. “I didn’t expect you to notice.”
Star Swirl raised his eyebrows. “Why not? I did not recognize the song, but it was lovely to listen to.”
The girl hippocampus giggled. “It should be. It was meant to inspire you.”
Star Swirl blinked. “Inspire me?”
The girl nodded. “And your inspiration was wonderful.” She sighed and patted her belly with her hoof. “It was why I was distracted.” She looked wide eyed at Star Swirl. “Are you special?”
This time Star Swirl laughed. “Well, I’d like to think so, but the jury is still out.” He smiled at her and leaned his leg on the railing. “You seem to be special yourself. Did your song cause me to be inspired?”
The girl shook her head. “The inspiration was there, I just helped it along. It’s just something my brood sisters and I do.”
“Marvelous!” said Star Swirl. He laughed loudly. “You are definitely special in my book. How did you know I was close to an answer? Did you feel it?” He blinked. “Oh, my name is Star Swirl. I’m terribly sorry for not introducing myself. What is your name?”
The hippocampus seemed to blush. “I-I’m Sonata Dusk.”
“How wonderful to meet you, Sonata,” said Star Swirl.
*** ( MLP ) ***
Sunset planted her feet firmly as the magic came crashing down upon her and the Rainbooms. The three phantom hippocampi bellowed mightily down on the ridge, almost doubling the strength of the magic already coming from the stage. The ground trembled from the force and Pinkie’s drum set rattled in its harness.
The music died quickly under the onslaught as the Rainbooms struggled simply to hold onto the instruments they were playing. All the while the pressure from the three phantoms increased, pushing down on their heads and arms, forcing them down to the ground.
Sunset, with nothing to hold onto except her jacket, bent her legs and pushed against the force. She felt her leathers flap against her back as she straightened herself and stared down the enemy.
The hippocampi glared back with glowing eyes and brilliant red light coming from their throats. They barely looked like the hippocampi that Sunset had read about as a kid, they were deformed, exaggerated, made to look sharp and evil where the stories she had read had curves and luxurious hair. It was almost a mockery.
Magic. Sunset understood now. The magic changed everything. Even these girls, who probably fully comprehended what they were doing, they too had been changed by the power. The Elements of Harmony were powerful but indiscriminate. They fed both desire and dread, the dreams and nightmares of the possessors. It was harmony in the most brutal sense, what you always wanted in exchange for what you never wished to see.
She couldn’t help but feel helpless. The forces at play were far beyond anything she’d ever held save for the one time she had the Element of Magic herself. But she didn’t even have that now. She was little more than an observer as he friends kneeled under the collapsing energies of their once proud singing. She was outside of it all. Neither an enemy, nor a member of the Rainbooms. Just there. Helpless.
“Sunset,” came Twilight Sparkle’s voice over the wailing of the Dazzlings. Sunset turned her head to see her rival looking at her. “We need you.”
The unease in Sunset’s stomach intensified. She frowned and shook her head. “I can’t,” she said.
Twilight held out the microphone in her hand. Its grip was extended towards Sunset. “You can,” she said.
Sunset looked slightly away. “I can’t control it,” she said. “I don’t have the conviction to fight for Harmony.”
“You don’t have to,” said Twilight firmly. “Fight for us. Fight for yourself! Don’t you have something to prove?”
To prove?
She was the villain! All she had to prove was how powerful she was, how much she could beat aside challengers and emerge victorious. She had to prove she was worth being a princess, worth inheriting the vast control, and worth being recognized.
But was that the truth? Was that what she thought back then? A villain never really believes themselves to be evil. What did she believe? What did she believe now?
She looked at her friends, shaking to stay upright, pushing against the Dazzlings. The enemy. Sunset had no love for the Sirens, she could see they should be opposed. They all were fighting the same battle and the Dazzlings were on the other side. They had to be stopped or everything in this strange, awkward, magicless world she called home would be in trouble.
Honestly, all she wanted to believe was that she could help them.
But did she?
Sunset reached out and her fingers slipped around the grip of the microphone. Twilight’s hand dropped to the ground to hold herself up as soon as the microphone was taken. Sunset brought the scary instrument towards her mouth.
Unlike a guitar or a cymbal or drums, the microphone gave nothing but notice. Everything came from within the person holding it, only amplified. Every skill or flaw brought out in a hundred times magnification for everyone to see. The question would be answered here and now.
Who was Sunset Shimmer?
She took a deep breath.
*** ( MLP ) ***
Star Swirl adjusted his hat as he walked down the yellow-checkerboard path towards the tall castle. It was nearly a dozen stories tall and six beneath the surface. In any other setting it would be a monstrous eyesore on the humble seaboard. But now it was surrounded by trees growing basketballs, flying otters, self-propelled pink polkadot boulders, and armies of flowering ants marching in formations that created the appearance of scrolling words across the orange grass.
The words read: Yay! Discord is the Best! Discord is the greatest genius in the world!
“Right,” said Star Swirl as he stepped over some punctuation and onto the gangway that led to the main door. As he entered the castle he was announced by a talking shrubbery. At least, Star Swirl hoped it was a talking shrubbery, and not a pageboy that now looked like a shrubbery.
“Obsessive Magical Dolt, Star Swirl the Day Too Late,” said the bush with delight.
Star Swirl rolled his eyes at the mockery and continued downwards towards the general’s quarters. At each level he had to hold back traps designed to wash him to the bottom and impale him on spikes, and every other level he had to avoid fire. The fire was in a new place each time, but there was always fire. It was actually fairly predictable for a disciple of Discord.
Once in at the bottom, Star Swirl held his head high and walked up to the circular dias before the large semi-circular wading pool within which swam three hippocampi.
“Well, well, Star Slump,” said the hippocampus with a strawberry blonde mane named Adagio Dazzle. “Couldn’t keep up with Discord anymore and came to challenge his generals instead?” She smiled broadly. “Don’t expect it any easier here.”
“Adagio!” hissed the blue maned hippocampus named Sonata.
“No,” Star Swirl. “No challenge, just here to talk.”
“Boooring,” said Aria, who didn’t even bother to sit up to throw comments. “Let me know when you want to be angry.”
“Your magic doesn’t work on me unless I let it,” said Star Swirl to Aria, then he turned his gaze towards Sonata. “And you haven’t given me a reason to let it.”
“Yes,” said Adagio before Sonata could respond. “The Crystal Shield. We’ve heard of your immunities. Too bad it couldn’t help dear Princess Platinum. How lonely it must be to have the perfect defense, yet you can’t give it to anyone.”
Star Swirl said nothing and tried not to betray the pain deep in his heart.
“I’m sorry, Star Swirl,” said Sonata softly. “She wouldn’t turn aside and Discord, he, he wouldn’t let it pass.”
Star Swirl nodded, his jaw tight and set. “There is no time for regret in war.”
“There is no war,” said Adagio. “Discord rules Equestria, there is no dispute. Accept it.”
“Discord cannot rule anything,” said Star Swirl. “He is chaos incarnate and he would find more interest in losing than holding power. You should know this. Nothing you have earned from his good favor will last. I beg you, turn aside, give up the spire, and join us.” He shook his head. “Or don’t, but leave, get out of this war. It will get you nothing.”
“It gets us fed,” said Aria as she groomed her purple hair. “If your triumvirate – oh, sorry, duumvirate now – gets their way we’ll be stuck barely getting by again, living a life of starvation.” She swam up to the edge of the pool and glared down at Star Swirl. “You don’t know what that’s like.”
“I know,” said Star Swirl. “I know what it’s like to be missing something that makes you whole, to be teased with satisfaction only to have to get by with next to nothing.” He shook his head. “I was not always a royal advisor.”
“No,” Adagio said sharply and she splashed water at the mage. The droplets struck against an invisible battier and fell away, leaving Star Swirl perfectly dry. “You don’t get to talk up some sob story, your life will continue in luxury even as your ponies try to starve us.”
Star Swirl shook with anger and shouted. “You can be satisfied from inspiration! Why? Why would you do this? Why feed from negative emotions when you can make people’s lives better? I can’t understand why you would do this!” He looked to Sonata. His once wonderful Sonata. He trusted her. He might even have—
“It’s not enough, Star Swirl,” said Sonata. “True inspiration is so rare. We will dwindle and die before we ever eat our fill. And each meal we miss we are that much less capable of inspiring again. We just can’t live like that.”
“But it’s changing you,” shouted Star Swirl. “You can’t take that magic into yourself and not be different after. You do this for too long and you’ll lose yourself entirely.” He stepped right up to the pool and looked as closely into Sonata’s eyes as he could. “You. The real you. The you were born to be.”
Sonata swam right up to him and looked back with a sad smile. “No one can be that person. We all become what we need to be to survive our environment. That girl you met has long since left.” She tapped the edge of Star Swirl’s large floppy hat. “Even you.”
Star Swirl looked down, then, after a moment, he stepped away from the edge and turned away.
“Your time has passed,” said Adagio. “The time of Discord—“
“What if I helped you?” said Star Swirl.
“H-helped who?” said Adagio.
“What?” asked Sonata.
Star Swirl turned back and looked at Adagio this time. “If I could make inspiration last, if you could be sustained on good, positive feelings, would you come to us? Would you help us weaken Discord?”
Adagio looked at Star Swirl like he had grown a second head. “What nonsense is this? You can’t change the way our power works.”
“I can,” said Star Swirl, with a slow nod. “I can capture and transform magic with my crystal lattices. I could store up energy in a – sort of, magic honey pot you carry with you. The positive feelings could be captured and changed into the same magic that inspiration gives you. Then you don’t have to starve anymore. You wouldn’t have to think about feeding again. One act of inspiration could supply you for months.”
“T-this is something you can do?” said Sonata.
Star Swirl looked up at her. He nodded stiffly.
“But you never said—‘ started Sonata.
“I’ve only recently been able to successful alter magic through a crystal well, I wasn’t really sure it could work until I found the tree,” said Star Swirl.
“The tree?” asked Sonata.
Star Swirl shook his head. “That’s my offer.” He turned towards Adagio again. “If your hunger drives you as much as you claim, even Discord cannot offer you what I can. Think it over, and give me your answer within a fortnight.” He closed his eyes briefly then turned and started back up the stairs.
“Star Swirl!” called out Sonata.
He paused but didn’t turn. “No, there’s nothing to say. If it’s come to this, to bargaining, then that girl really is gone.”
He continued up the stairs.
*** ( MLP ) ***
Sunset felt the magic take hold of her and she was suddenly floating in a cloudy abyss.
“Well, here we are again,” came the voice of Star Swirl out of the shadows. He moved into view and was quickly joined by Celestia, Luna, and Twilight.
“S-Star Swirl!” said Sunset as she felt her feet land on solid ground she couldn’t see.
“Been getting on all right without me?” asked Star Swirl with a smile.
Sunset looked around. “I’m in the Element of Magic again? B-but you said I’d never see you--”
“I said only the rightful possessors of the Elements would see me again,” said Star Swirl.
Sunset’s eyes widened. “Does that mean I’m an Element of Harmony?”
The vision of Celestia stepped forward. “Not quite, my student. There are still trials ahead for you, and challenges to overcome within.” She tipped her head slightly. “Should you wish to continue.”
“What do you mean?” asked Sunset. She shook her head. “What’s going on here? Why did you pull me in. There’s still a battle going on!” She suddenly blanched. “I was just about to sing! Am I just standing here with my mouth open?”
“Please, Sunset, don’t worry,” said Star Swirl. “Nothing is happening. If it helps you to understand, consider time to have stopped while we talk.”
Sunset frowned. “But what has happened?”
“Well,” began Star Swirl. “The complexities of inter-field perceptive shift begin with some of the latter chapters of my Magical Fundamentals text, specifically—“
“Star Swirl,” said Celestia firmly.
“Yeah, time stopped,” Star Swirl said abruptly.
Sunset sighed.
“You have a choice to make, Sunset Shimmer,” said Twilight Sparkle.
“Boy, every version of you talks like that, huh?” said Sunset with a smirk.
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Would you rather I extol the virtues of keeping an accurate and reliable schedule?”
Sunset laughed. “I would rather you give it to me straight, ‘Twi. No dramatics like the trio from eternity ago, here.”
“Hey!” said Star Swirl.
“Why are you most offended?” asked Luna towards Star Swirl. “You are older than us by far.”
“Yeah, but, she doesn’t have to rub it in!” whined Star Swirl.
“Please, Star, wear your age with dignity,” said Celestia calmly.
“Oh, is that what you do? No wrinkles, no sags, no gray hairs?” asked Star Swirl. “After over a thousand years? I don’t believe it.”
“Alicorns do not age like regular ponies,” said Celestia. “Just as you do not.”
Star Swirl opened his mouth and froze, then looked at Sunset. “Welp, we’d better stop there.”
“Please, keep bickering,” said Sunset, waving her hand towards them.
Celestia smirked impishly. “Afraid of letting some secrets fly?”
“What secrets?” asked Twilight.
“Nothing! This is not at all the point of this conversation,” said Star Swirl quickly and while waving his hands. “The point is: choices.”
“Right,” said Sunset, looking back to Twilight. “So spill it.”
“There’s some ceremony to this,” said Twilight.
“Skip it.” Sunset crossed her arms.
Twilight smiled. “It’s up to you. If you still want magic to be part of your life, you will forever be just on the edge of becoming the demon again. You have already realized why.”
Sunset held her breath. “Magic feeds the good and the bad,” she quietly said.
Twilight nodded. “You will always have those tendencies, the temptation to use the power selfishly. There will never be relief from that, but that doesn’t mean you will indulge. If you trust yourself, you can remain good.”
Sunset frowned. She didn’t really want to hear that, even though she suspected it was true. It wasn’t like her mind had been altered or she had been controlled. The demon was her, just as this was her. The only difference was what she chose.
“Or,” said Twilight after a moment. “You can give it up. We will seal away your magic and you will never need to worry about it again. The world will be safe from you no matter your choices.”
Sunset’s eyes widened again. That sounded terrible to her, like cutting off a limb that was working fine. She loved magic, it was what had made her special.
But it also hurt her, drove her to do things she regretted. Made her harm the people she now cared for. She sighed. Would it be better for her friends if she was never a risk to them again?
“This isn’t fair,” said Sunset with a grumble. She pointed out into the mists. “They’re losing out there, I need the magic to help them. This isn’t a choice at all!”
“Twilight will be protected,” said Star Swirl. “And she will protect her friends. No matter your choice, don’t worry about the Sirens.”
“How can I do that?” asked Sunset. “Those are my friends, this is my home. If I don’t stand up for them, if I don’t fight for my home, what am I supposed to think if something bad happens? If not today, then next time, next battle? Whose fault is it if they fall and I could have helped?”
“No one can truly know the future,” said Celestia. “We can only make the best choices for ourselves and hope for the best.”
“That doesn’t help me,” said Sunset. “I don’t know what to do! I love magic, but I don’t want to hurt my friends ever again.”
Twilight put her hoof on Sunset’s arm. “Then don’t.”
Sunset looked down at the arm. “It’s not that easy.”
Twilight laughed softly. “Nothing easy is worth doing.” She looked into Sunset’s eyes. “Do you really think this is stronger than you?”
Sunset looked away. “It might be,” she whispered.
“But is that risk worth the possibility that your magic might someday save them?” asked Twilight.
Sunset closed her eyes. She could see the laughing demon in her thoughts. She would laugh forever, echoing in her mind, goading her on, pushing her towards the wrong choices.
She opened her eyes. “But I don’t have to listen to her,” she said.
Twilight nodded at her.
“For my friends, I can ignore the demon,” she said with a little more confidence.
Luna looked at her and nodded.
“For my home, I can be strong,” said Sunset.
Celestia turned and nodded.
“I won’t let anyone conquer me,” said Sunset.
Star Swirl smiled. “You can try, anyway. That’s what matters.”
Sunset frowned. Then she stepped over to Star Swirl and looked down at him. She wet her lips. “’If I can, give your love to’... who?”
Star Swirl looked down once, then furrowed his brow as he looked up again. “I guess I need to tell you one last story.”
*** ( MLP ) ***
Star Swirl had to set up listening posts all along the riverline to find them, over seventy to monitor, some with magic, some with protégés in exchange for teaching favors. His patrol took hours and for weeks on end he heard nothing but stories of more empty trading vessels wrecked upon the shores, their cargo gone.
Then, almost three months after taking up the task, he found them. Not holed up in a towering castle or underground caverns, but in a large and quiet estate with a small stream running through it. Star Swirl didn’t believe for a second they built it, and wondered what had happened to the unfortunate resident who once called it home.
As he walked, he adjusted his outfit. The carefully stitched cloak inlaid with the crystal lattice that provided the foundation for his now well-known Crystal Shield. The amulets giving him the fortitude and strength to withstand the strongest and most complex of his spells. The large hat with enchanted bells, each a different task or contingency.
Cautions and backup plans, layers and layers of armor. He didn’t know what he would find on the other side of the large door to the manor, whether they would even be interested in talking or if he would be caught immediately in a battle.
Idly, he recalled that once upon a time he was a scientist; a wide eyed boy with dreams of magical revolution. How little he knew back then of what revolution really was like. When the Unicorn Tribe pushed down the Earth Tribe strike, he fought. When Equestria was founded and the non-pony races rose up, he fought. When Discord conquered Equestria, he fought. And now, he was dealing with the aftermath of that last war on behalf of the two Princesses. If that young boy encountered him now, he would think Star Swirl was a warrior.
He guessed, in a way, he was.
The doors to the manor opened unbidden and Star Swirl came through, on guard, and carefully scanning each room with his eyes. It was tastefully decorated, to his surprise, nice furniture, paintings on the walls, with large bookcases filled with tomes.
When he reached the back of the first floor he found an open area with tall windows, vaulted ceilings, a tasteful fountain with a stone fish spitting water into the air, and three mares sitting on cushions beside a huge stone table covered in a nautical map.
Star Swirl blinked at the mares, but his eyes quickly found the small ruby red gems hung around their necks. The gems were glowing brighter than he had ever seen them before. His heart fell.
“Star Swirl the Bearded,” said Adagio Dazzle, the mare in the center. “Surprised by what you see?”
Star Swirl’s eyes lingered on the gems. “No,” he said with a shake of his head. He stepped over to stand before the three girls. “I’d heard the stories, and while I may have wished them to be untrue, I knew better.” He looked disdainfully at Adagio. “Or do you mean your simple glamor, there? One of my young students could do that.”
Sonata looked away. Aria chuckled.
“What’s your issue, old colt?” asked Aria. “We did what you wanted, we fought against Discord, and you won! You should be happy!”
“I asked you to inspire!” said Star Swirl, frustrated.
“We did,” said Adagio. She got up and walked to the side, looking out the windows on the large farm grounds behind the manor. “I think we saw you out there at the front of some of those battles. We gave those fighting the will to fight on.”
“Then why are you doing this now?” Star Swirl stamped his hoof on the ground in anger. “Why are you back to negative emotions? Why are your gems glowing red?”
“A girl’s gotta eat,” said Aria with a smile.
“No, no, no,” said Star Swirl. “I helped you. I gave you those gems so you could get the most from inspiration. You don’t need negative emotions anymore.”
“But we do,” said Adagio, turning. “Perhaps the wealthy scion of a noble pony house has never known the hunger but it is worth anything to avoid.”
“You weren’t hungry anymore!” said Star Swirl.
“But we were, we were hungry not to be just getting by,” said Adagio. “We were hungry to do more than simply survive. If you had ever lived the life we had, you would not let yourself get even close to it ever again. Negative emotions are much more plentiful, and thanks to you...” she reached up and tapped her gem. “They taste even sweeter than inspiration.”
“That’s not why I made those,” said Star Swirl.
“Perhaps not, but they’ve certainly worked,” said Aria as she laid back on her large pillow. “In fact, we have never been stronger. Not even the boons Discord gave us come close.”
“Then why are you attacking sailors?” asked Star Swirl. “What is that all about?”
Adagio laughed. “We needed the supplies, of course. It takes an awful lot to feed an army it turns out.”
Star Swirl froze. “An army?” he said cautiously.
“Yes,” said Adagio with a grin. She called out and Star Swirl heard doors open. Like legion ponies and demi-races began stepping out from the many rooms and corridors in the large manor. They flooded into the area and stood at attention, surrounding Star Swirl and the Sirens like an audience to a show. A blank faced, hundred pony large audience.
“Why?” asked Star Swirl with a shake of his head. “You wish to be the new Discord? You’ll fall just like he did, the Princesses can stand against you.”
“Hmm, I wonder if they can stand against their own people though?” said Adagio. “We sang for quite a number of their citizens during the war. I don’t suppose we were being too underhanded back then, were we?”
“No,” said Aria with a grin. “Unless seeding a gentle chord of discontent through the ranks is underhanded, in which case, yeah, we might have done that.”
“Oops,” said Adagio.
Star Swirl looked to the mute and stone faced soldiers around them, stolen from their walks of life and pressed into service by a song on the breeze. It was the antithesis of what Celestia and Luna stood for. The opposite of everything Star Swirl tried to build into Equestria.
He looked at Sonata, who was being quiet and still. If he hadn’t seen her move earlier, he might even believe she were under her sisters’ thrall. But no, as she turned her head to face him, he could see the life in her. Even if it now peeked out from layers of repression.
“Why do you stand for this?” he asked her. “I know you’re better than this.”
Sonata swallowed hard. “You know nothing,” she said, her voice was rough and strained.
Star Swirl was shocked and turned back towards Adagio. “What happened to her?” he said.
“She’s fine,” Adagio said dismissively. Her eyes locked onto Sonata. “She just needs to eat.”
Star Swirl nodded. “She doesn’t agree with this, does she?”
“Don’t think the dozen times she’s met you has changed the fact that she is one of us,” said Adagio. “She stands with her sisters.”
Star Swirl looked back to Sonata. “Have they hurt you?” he asked.
“Don’t talk to her,” said Adagio loudly. “You talk to all of us!”
Star Swirl grimaced and held out a hoof towards Sonata. “Don’t be part of this, come with me and I’ll protect you. Don’t go down with them.”
“You’ll not take her anywhere!” screamed Adagio. She began singing and her gem glowed brighter. She pointed her finger at Star Swirl. “Destroy him!”
The crowd moved as one, converging onto Star Swirl from all directions. Pegasi flew up to cover him from above holding spears or lances from carriers on their flanks. Earth ponies marched forward looking angry. Unicorns levitated pointed stars and maces, brandishing them menacingly.
Star Swirl looked back at Sonata. “Please, Sonata, come with me!”
“Star Swirl,” said Sonata sadly. “It’s too late.”
“He’s finished,” said Aria with a laugh, then she joined in the song.
Star Swirl leapt away from several swings and used his magic to create barriers to push back most of the mindless army. The pegasi kept flying up and around the field and taking swings at him he continually had to avoid.
“I can help you!” yelled Star Swirl over the crowd.
Sonata had her eyes closed tightly and seemed to be shaking.
“Forget him,” said Adagio between notes. “He’s nothing but an obstacle to our victory.”
“He’s just keeping us from what we want,” said Aria. “We can have the world!”
Sonata snapped open her eyes and then got up from the pillow. She pushed forward through the crowd of soldiers until she was standing before Star Swirl’s barriers. She stared at him, her eyes watering. Then she stepped forward, finding resistance for just a moment before a breach opened in the barrier and she moved through.
Star Swirl was sweating from the effort of holding back the other attackers but he managed a slight grin for Sonata. “Thank yo—“
Then Sonata reached towards his collar, shoved her hoof through he loops in his necklaces, and tore them away. They clattered to the floor in a pile. Star Swirl stared at her in complete shock as his barriers flickered and broke under the pressure of a hundred ponies and other races.
“Wh-“ started Star Swirl, but he was unable to finish because Sonata slugged him in the jaw. He crumbled to the ground as his magics broke around him. He clutched his face in pain.
The singing faded and Adagio and Aria laughed. “You did the right thing, sister,” said Adagio.
Sonata shook her head as she stepped over Star Swirl. “I never wanted the world,” she said with her raspy voice. “I just wanted a family.”
Aria stopped laughed. “What?”
Sonata took a deep breath as he gem glowed, releasing a flood of crimson energy that was absorbed into her throat. The gem’s glow faded and then died entirely, and finally it turned bright white like a diamond.
Then she screamed.
It was a single loud note that swept out from her in a wave slamming the entranced warriors and her sisters combined. They were flung out and pushed against the walls as the scream shattered windows and rattled the walls. Those that had been controlled clutched their ears tightly as they winced in pain and eventually passed out. The, with a final wave from Sonata, her sisters were thrown through the windows and landed in the yard.
Sonata scream died away and she wobbled slightly before tipping to the side and collapsing.
Star Swirl ignored the splitting pain in his face and got to his hooves and knees and scrambled over to Sonata. She looked pale and as she lay there her back hooves faded away and were replaced by a long, scaly tail. He gently cradled her head and looked down at her vacant eyes.
“Sonata,” he whispered.
“T-they’re free,” she whispered. “They’re no longer un-under our control. But there are others, there’s almost no-nowhere to take us where our song hasn’t been heard.”
Star Swirl nodded. “Why?” he asked.
She smiled. “You keep asking t-that, are you ever satisfied with the answer?”
Star Swirl swallowed and then slowly shook his head. He thought about where he could take Sirens now. She was right, no prison would hold them for long, and a prison was poor place to keep beings that fed on misery. Tartarus was an option, but he doubted they would be contained for very long there either. If not Equestria, and not Tartarus, though, then where?
Well, he could think of one place. He reached back and brushed the handle of the crystal mirror in his saddlebag.
“Do you still believe it, Star Swirl?” breathed Sonata. “Is knowledge worth any strife? Or are there t-things now, in our time, which you wished you never knew?”
Star Swirl swallowed. “It’s not the knowledge, Sonata. It’s the choice you make with that knowledge.”
Sonata coughed and then smiled. “I choose to forget. It’s time for that young girl I was to leave. Can’t resist change forever.” She swallowed and nodded. “Whatever you do, just make sure I’m with my sisters.” She then closed her eyes and was asleep.
Star Swirl felt his tears roll down his muzzle and fall. He had not done enough for Sonata. Not nearly enough.
It hardly mattered now.
He picked her up with his magic and slowly made his way into the back of the house where Adagio and Aria were stirring. He gently placed Sonata among them and then pulled out the mirror.
Adagio saw her sister first. “What did you do to her?” she demanded.
Star Swirl opened his mouth to explain, to criticize, to say the hundreds of things he could say to tell her how awful of a sister she had been. He could add the terrible things he had done, and the stupid offers from Discord, and even the prejudice of the tribes and maybe, after all of that, he might scratch the surface of how much this world had betrayed Sonata.
Instead he closed his mouth and cast a spell. The mirror’s surface rippled once and then exploded into light that consumed the three sisters in an instant, sucking up even parts of the turf and the fencing beyond before finally calming and finally fading entirely away.
Star Swirl put the mirror back in his saddlebag and walked back into the manor to deal with a hundred and forty lost souls.
*** ( MLP ) ***
“Here to sing our song out loud,
Get you dancing with the crowd.
As the music of our friendship,
Survives, survives, suriiiiiiiiives!”
Sunset breathed deeply as the song ended and she and the Rainbooms watched as the Dazzlings picked them selves up off the stage and looked in shock as the three gems around their necks cracked and shattered to pieces.
The students and guests in the audience that had cheered for the Rainbooms turned and jeered the Dazzlings. Some even threw fruit and vegetables at the stage as the Sirens ran, disgraced. They fled to the fields surrounding the concert and out of sight. They ran together, in unison, angry and perhaps a little afraid. The students, to their credit, did nothing but applaud when they were gone.
Twilight Sparkle put her hand on Sunset’s shoulder smiled at her. “We did it!” she said and the girls behind her cheered.
Sunset nodded, she tried to smile at least a little, and then looked off in the direction the Dazzlings went. After what she had seen from Star Swirl, she couldn’t feel happy about this victory anymore. That hunger he showed her in the Sirens, she’d felt that way too. She was a step away from it now. She would always be. One move in the wrong direction, and she’d be no different from Adagio.
Or Sonata.
Sunset looked over her shoulder at the long tail extending from her normal head of luxuriously wavy hair. She quickly reached up and touched her head, feeling the two extra ears peeking out from behind her bangs. She smiled.
Okay, she was a little happy.
The girls all walked down into the crowd and towards the stage. The applause continued as they walked up onto the stage where the Dazzlings were standing before. Sunset bent down and picked up the fragments of the three gems and gathered them in her hands. She could feel the ruined magic within them, tingling on her skin where they touched her palms.
“Without these, they aren’t going to be causing much trouble,” said Sunset.
“You mean we really beat them?” asked Rainbow Dash. Sunset nodded. “Awesome!”
“Yes,” said Celestia as she walked up on stage. “It’s clear who the victors of our little Musical Showcase are. The Rainbooms!”
The crowd applauded again and the girls took a bow.
“Fortunately, the show isn’t over,” announced Celestia. “Next we have the highlights of our competition starting with, Flash Drive!”
Flash Sentry ran on stage cheering for the Rainbooms and managed to run straight into Twilight. The two caught each other before they could fall to the stage and then blushed as they noticed how closely they were clutching each other.
Sunset sighed and turned away. She found Fluttershy standing by the stairs off the stage. She was simply standing there and waiting.
She’d been waiting a while.
Sunset walked up to her until they were inches apart. Fluttershy was smiling in her serene way she faced all of life. Strong, silent, but not unfeeling.
Sunset looked down at her with a smirk. Then she motioned over her shoulder without taking her eyes off of Fluttershy. “You know, she could do better than that.”
Fluttershy raised her eyebrows. Then she reached out and gently took Sunset’s hands. “I certainly hope not.”
Sunset’s smile faded slightly. “You could do better, too.”
Fluttershy shrugged. “I think that’s up to me to decide.”
Sunset nodded. “So, uh, are you thinking?”
Fluttershy held Sunset’s hands tightly and gathered them close to her chest. “I don’t want any better.”
Sunset felt her cheeks flush and she coughed slightly to cover her face and pull her hand from Fluttershy’s tight grip. She looked back at the girl and noticed how radiant her smile was. Was it always that way?
“O-okay, then,” said Sunset. She used her free hand to pull Fluttershy closer and into a hug. “I guess we’ll start with that.” She felt Fluttershy move in her grip and she slowly let go. “Come on, Flash Drive needs to play.”
They walked off the stage. As Fluttershy’s wings faded away into mana Sunset put her arm around girl’s shoulders.
*** ( MLP ) ***
Twilight and Sunset walked across the courtyard at night after the concert was fully wrapped. The tech crew were packing away the sound equipment behind the school, and the girls were waiting for the two former proteges of Celestia at the once again active portal. Sunset found it hard to believe so much had happened in merely a weekend.
“It’s a whirlwind of activity, being an Element of Harmony,” said Twilight in response to Sunset’s surprise.
“I’m not an Element,” said Sunset. “At least, I don’t think I am. Nobody has given me a name or anything. Although I can feel some sort of magic around me all the time now. Maybe I’m being given a trial period.”
Twilight let out a breath. “It’s so incredible. You got to meet Star Swirl. I mean, you had him in your head for months!” She paused and pointed at Sunset. “By the way, that’s the sort of information you should lead with next time we meet. I’m fairly certain that trumps details about concerts.”
Sunset laughed. “I’ll have to remember for next time.”
Twilight nodded. “So, that’s that then? You’re not coming back?”
With a sigh, Sunset shook her head. “It’s not my home anymore. I belong here, now, with these friends. I’m not sure I wouldn’t trip over my own hooves if I went back through that portal.”
“You did alright six months ago,” said Twilight skeptically.
“Ah, right, I did do that,” said Sunset with a chuckle. “Seems like a lifetime ago now.”
“It was,” said Twilight. She stopped walking and turned to face Sunset. “Look, I don’t know what’s in store for you, but, well, thank you. For helping! For trying so hard to be a friend to my friends. I don’t know what sort of trial period exists for being an Element of Harmony, but in my opinion, well.” She shrugged and smiled. “You’ve convinced me.”
“That means a lot,” said Sunset. The two girls hugged.
“So,” said Twilight as they started walking again. “What will you do next?”
Sunset looked up at the moon. “Someone needs to look out for the Dazzlings.”
“The Dazzlings?” said Twilight. “Why?”
Sunset folded her arms behind her back. “Star Swirl showed me something that made me realize they’re not really all that different from me. In the end, anyway. They just need a chance to change.”
“Really?” said Twilight. “He—he showed you this while you were inside the Element of Magic?”
“Yeah,” nodded Sunset.
“Hrmm,” mused Twilight.
“What are you thinking?”
Twilight lifted an eyebrow at Sunset. “I think I’m a little jealous the Elements never talked to me.” They laughed together.
“I wouldn’t worry, Princess,” said Sunset. “You have enough on your plate.”
“That is true,” said Twilight. She laughed again as they reached the other girls by the portal.
“Sure wish you could stay longer,” said Applejack, leaning over to give Twilight a hug.
“Me too,” said Twilight. She turned after releasing Applejack and hugged Rarity. “But I have responsibilities in Equestria that I have to get back to. Its citizens need me.” She hugged Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy in turn. Then she gestured towards the portal. “But now I can go through the portal whenever I need to. This isn’t goodbye, it’s just goodbye ‘til next time!”
The girls nodded. Sunset picked up the book lying beside the portal and held showed it to Twilight. “Just for safety’s sake,” said Sunset. “You’d better leave it closed unless I send you a message. You never know when someone might randomly stick... their... neck...” she trailed off as she watched Pinkie Pie stick her head in the portal and the pull it out again. “Well, then.”
Twilight smiled and nodded. She turned to Spike. “Ready?”
Spike gave her a thumbs up. “Ready!”
With a wave and a leap, Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, Element of Magic, was gone.
Sunset turned away from the portal and took Fluttershy’s hand as they all disbursed to head back to their homes.
There was no time for doubt anymore. Sunset had too much to protect now. She would live up to her words, she would be, at the very least, a guardian to her friends and her home. She owed Twilight – she owed the Elements –
No.
She owed herself that much.
*** ( MLP ) ***
One Week Later
Trixie kicked the stones on the sidewalk on her walk home from school. She had finally dumped the rest of her backup players from the concert. Clearly they were at fault somehow for her miserable failure. How else could a competition between Trixie and the Dazzlings end up with the Rainbooms winning? It was pure insanity. Nobody was better the Great and Powerful Trixie!
Though, recently, she’d been a little light on actual displays of power. It clearly had to do with Sunset Shimmer. That girl got everything she wanted and never had to suffer the indignities that Trixie had. It was infuriating! And now she was some sort of stupid celebrity for her role in getting the Dazzlings kicked out of the concert. Not only were people not shunning her like they should, they were actually inviting her to do things. Things they should be inviting Trixie to!
Eventually she made her way back home, possibly in the worst mood of her life. She walked up the path to her front door and then paused. Sitting on the porch was a small package wrapped in brown paper and addressed simply ‘Trixie, The Great And Powerful.’ It said ‘From A Friend’ in the corner. It was a pleasing package.
Trixie sat down on the porch, slipped off her back pack, and then moved the package onto her lap. Her hands gently found the seams in the wrapping and tore back the brown paper revealing a slightly large and weathered leather tome. A black sun was embossed in the corner of the largely blank cover. She gently turned the cover. The first page contained only a title:
The Mystic Arts Of Tirek & Scorpan
Trixie smiled.