//------------------------------// // Home // Story: The Ashes of a Phoenix // by Xehanort107 //------------------------------// The night was like any other: dull. Walking through the empty street on her way home, Sunset took notice of the flora. The leaves had turned a light shade of brown, some hanging on for dear life on the desolate branches of the trees, but most had scattered themselves aimlessly around the asphalt. Summer had ended only a few weeks ago, but it  had gone far too soon. Something about the color, and the leaves’ removal from their parent tree irked Sunset deeply. It’s a sad thing to see death, no matter the size. Occasionally, a car or two traveled down the road, the quiet, yet clear sound of their engines roaring to the wary ear that hears its call. All of the people must’ve been eating dinner, or preparing for the cold night, for none of the kids were out playing sports or walking with their friends. The sun wasn’t to set for another half-hour, and yet the kids had all hurried inside their houses, warm and cozy. The night was cold, admittedly, but the questions still bother her. No longer than a few weeks ago, Sunset had joined Fluttershy volunteering at the Animal Shelter. Fluttershy loved to be with the animals, and it was nice to have someone else keep her company that didn’t walk on all fours. Sunset was in charge of feeding them every meal and cleaning the hamster cages at the end of the day. Fluttershy replaced the bedding in all of the cages, taking valuable time and precious care to clean all of the material by hand after they’ve been washed. She loved them that much. When the night ended, she asked Sunset to do her one last favor, and that was to walk her home. By that time, the sun had set, and they both walked down the same street. The sun had taken its warmth with it under the horizon, The cold didn’t bother Sunset, however, but Fluttershy was shivering. Her arms crossed over each other, and her hands gripped her opposite arms. Her back hunched over to hold off the quivering winds. Sunset looked at herself. Neither had expected the winter chill to come so early in August, but the sun has begun losing hours of presence in the past weeks. The nights are becoming progressively longer, and making the inhabitants of it suffer. It took Sunset a while to notice the cold was getting to her. Once she did, she took off her leather jacket and put it around Fluttershy’s shoulders. As they walked, Sunset could see windows aglow on the second floors of the houses. In some, the living room was visible, and a man sits in his recliner, asleep while watching what looks like CSI. It was very late at night, and most kids and even adults are getting ready for bed. Fluttershy’s house, unlike the others, didn’t have any lights on. Her parents must’ve already sent themselves to bed. They got as far as the stone path leading to her porch before Fluttershy returned Sunset’s jacket. She didn’t let her any further, but Sunset was content to know she was home. When she spoke, it felt like an angel was playing her harp with skill and grace. The melodious whisper of her timid words put Sunset at ease, like a mother caressing her young, or the animals in the shelter. She felt safe. When Sunset put her jacket back on, a faint smell of lily flowers approached her nose. Fluttershy’s perfume had rubbed off on her jacket. It was light, and made her feel like she was lying on a bed of white-washed lilies, watching the deep blue sky shift the colorless masses into vast arrays of shapes and sizes; bunny rabbits, dragons, and even the gods were seen through their bulbous shapes. The field of light felt like it could go on forever and she could walk in it endlessly, wavering her hands carelessly around and do whatever she wanted. She was free. That scent has long since faded from her jacket, but the memory is eternal. The silent night overtook her street as she entered her household. Though small, it was the closest thing she could call home. It wasn’t the nicest, but it was the best she could muster from being exiled. The kitchen was the first room before the entrance. On one side, a long countertop stretched the length of the wall and stopped before a change from the linoleum tiles of the kitchen to the soft carpet of her living room. The other side of the kitchen held a solitary door leading to twin white machines. The only alteration is the lid placement. One is on the top, and another has it in the front. In front of her, a television set laid upon a four-cabinet hole in where the TV sat between the cabinets above and below it. She clicked the top button of the remote and the TV was alive. The servant to Sunset waited for her command to change its appearance. Another button was clicked and the screen flipped to an old movies channel. The clock above the heat of the television alerted Sunset that it was already eight o’clock. The TV turned off and she made her way from the living room to her bathroom. When inside, she stared into the mirror, observing the amenities of her face: her bright, cyan eyes, her clear, soft complexion, and her perky smile. Even in the dark of the night, she has always found something to be happy with at day’s end. The fact that she was able to see her friends at school made her happy. Applejack and Pinkie seemed like Sunset was the first young face they’d seen all day. She brushed her teeth and changed into comfortable pajamas. She sent her clothes into the washroom, and took her leave for the night. Something struck her as odd, though, and when she opened her eyes, she was in a small, but compact, image of her chemistry class. The walls were pure masonry of cobblestone on all sides, except for a small wooden door that lead would lead her to the village. On the other side was a coat of arms with a magic wand on it. The entire room was arrayed with flasks and test tubes in holders. The content was unknown, but their usage felt like second nature. Purely by smell, Sunset could tell if it was volatile or not, or if it was safe to mix with another chemical. A grey, old stallion approached her. His beard trailed down the length of his body till faintly touching the floorboards. “Well,” he said solemnly, “let’s begin, shall we?” Sunset nodded her head. It felt like she wanted to hear what he had to say, what his infinite knowledge could bestow upon her. “We’ve already discussed about the windigos, so our next lesson will be memory spells.” at this point, he drivels on and expects Sunset to adhere to his explanations. “They say when you forget something, it’s never gone, but instead locked away in a place you cannot reach —rather, not consciously, anyway. This spell can unlock the memory from its safe, but—” Sunset had blanked completely. Nothing from his explanation was retained, regardless of her efforts. Was she really that absent minded? “Master?” Sunset’s voice called involuntarily. “Save the monologuing for the royals. I’ll be safe with the spell, I promise.” An efforted smile forced its way onto Sunset’s face. But the old stallion was unamused. “Regardless of your management skills,” the stallion retorted, “The spells I teach you are inherently volatile. Only advanced Unicorns can cast it without drawbacks. My educating you is to prepare you for when you’re ready.” Sunset was displeased. A feeling of nostalgia was around her, but everything was so foreign, despite her apparent knowledge. Not even the stallion, whom she called Master, left her in awe. “I don’t care. I want to learn as many spells as it takes to be like Princess Platinum or Commander Hurricane. I want to be remembered, not remembering the backstory to every spell you teach me.” “I teach it that way, so you can learn why we cast the spell, not so you can use it whenever you wish. Are we clear, Clover?” “Yes” She said lowly. As they continued, a young colt strolled in to see the mare. “Diamond Dust? What are you doing here? I told you not to bother me at work.” “Sorry,” Diamond Dust replied, “ Dad was getting stuff at the guy next door and I saw you through the window. What are you doing? What is all this stuff? Can I touch it?” “No, Diamond, some of these vials can really hurt you. Go back to your dad, he is probably wondering where you are.” “Ok, Bye” “Goodbye, Dusty” “Such an aspiring young colt. He takes after his parents” “Yes, he does. Where were we?”  A strike of lightning had caused Sunset to bolt upright in the bed. Her heart was racing incredulously, and her rapid breathing refused to cease. When her eyes fixed on the bedroom clock, she could make out one o’clock on the blur of their wavering hands. She had only been asleep for a few hours. Her eyes were weary, but they refused to let her sleep. All in vain, she was alerted to her feet by a sudden knocking at the door. Who on Earth would be awake at one in the morning? When she opened the door, utter bewilderment befell her. Her heartbeat increased and her blood ran hot as she stared into the eyes of her hatred, molded together from under her skin and forged to create this tall, slender body with violet eyes staring deep into Sunset’s soul. Aria stood before her under the protection of her awning. There wasn’t any anger, however. Just soft, simple eyes. “Aria?” Sunset questioned the reality of the apparition. “Let me guess, you’re here to taunt me or manipulate me again. Cause if you are—” Her hands held tightly to the edge of the door. Her eyes grew large, and fearing in the presence of Aria. “Oh please,” she said snobbishly. “Adagio and Sonata aren’t around, so I don’t have a reason to. Besides, you broke my amulet. What could I possibly do? Strangle you? Nah.” “So… what are you doing here?” Sunset asked, “Why aren’t you asleep? It’s one o’clock in the morning.” “I can say the same to you, Sunny.” She smirked, letting herself into the house. Sunset loosened her grip and faced her, still unable to stop her. “Still the same old girl I remember: young, naive, traitor.” “Traitor? I wasn’t a part of your band. And my friends forgave me for what I did.” “Did they?” Aria questioned skeptically. “Maybe your new friends have, but I sure haven’t. Adagio hasn’t; not even Sonata had forgiven you for what you did to us. You ruined us, and all you can do is hide in the corner. And to top it off, you never apologized. You just ran away like the cowardice scum of Equestria, You abandoned everything, even left your own—” “Shut up!” She screamed, boiled by what she was about to say. “Just shut up!” she couldn’t control herself. You have no idea what it is like to accept that. How would you feel if…” Aria chuckled at her response. “You get it? You caused this to me, and I will make you pay. You deserve to become the same monster everyone saw us as, and you will never be able to change that.” “Is there a reason you came here, or did you just come to mock me like the sick creature you are.” Sunset’s words seemed to strike deep into Aria. She bowed her head in defeat. “Just like everyone else,” she muttered as she took her fleeting steps to the door,. “Have you always felt that way? Did you always think we were monsters?” “Aria?” Aria vanished. A wave of slumber returned to Sunset, but the moment was still aching in her. What had she done so wrong?