Twilight tapped her pawns up on the chess board,"All my pieces are out of danger. Did you really think you've won with that?" She asked her cloaked opponent,"Trust me, all you did was make us stronger. My plan has already succeeded, especially once we find the last Heart."
"If your friend lives," the cloaked figure said with a smile.
A bright purple light came from behind them, as Twilight appeared, with one of her eyes having turned permanently magenta,"Over here." she said with a smile.
Rainbow Dash and Will immediately hugged the returned ponies, who returned the giant hug, "How, when-"
Applejack interrupted Dash, "Would you believe that Ah met our parents and helped give birth to myself?"
Trixie arched an eyebrow, "What?"
"Well, certainly no less harrowing than what I did: meeting space ponies," Rarity smiled.
Pinkie, bouncing around, squealed, "I met bounty hunters!!!!”
"Um, I..." with a turn of her head, Fluttershy whisper, "took care of Celestia and Luna as fillies."
Twilight grinned,"I got to go to the past and meet the Queens of Harmony and it was magnificent, except for the part where I got my flank beat by an insane Queen Majesty..." Twilight then frowned,"And then Queen Friendship brought me back to the past."
Trixie smiled, "Well, Trixie helped saved the future with nothing but her wits, skill, and-"
"So did you see if any of the queens knew where the key was or where that gate is. Because, we kind of have to hurry," Rainbow Dash said, interrupting Trixie.
“Actually," Twilight looked at Dash,"I happened to have found out that the key is an ancient crystal held by Wind Whistler herself!" She smiled,"And I believe that the gate is... is..." She looked around, her eyes scanning the windows of the library, and then chuckled,"Right where we're standing."
"What," the group yelled out in unison.
Twilight walked around the library,"I took a good look at the area where Wind Whistler used the key, and it is structured and looks almost exactly like the spot where Ponyville will be built, and the portal was at the center: Here." Twilight said with a grin,"Now it's just a matter of finding the key, which means," She shouted up the stairs,"Spike! We're back, and I need you to take a letter!"
Spike nodded and ran down the stairs, "Right Twilight!" smiling he brought out a quill and paper.
"Dear Princess Celestia," Twilight said after clearing her throat,"In my travels, I have found that keys are needed to access the various Hearts that will lead to the Heart of Worlds. One of these keys was owned by Wind Whistler herself. I humbly ask if you know anything about it's whereabouts. Thank you.
Your faithful friend,
Princess Twilight Sparkle."
After a few moments, Spike wrote it down and then burned the letter. Once he did, a message came back,
"Dear Princess Twilight,
I am afraid... the key will have to wait.
Signed, Celestia"
Twilight gasped,"Something must be wrong!" She said, looking out the window at Canterlot.
Valtor walked through the hospital his claws behind his back, "I swear, you think they didn't want me here." he said, looking at the fallen bodies of the guards, burns and claw marks on their bodies.” A shame, I probably would've shown leniency if they had just gotten out of my way.”
With a smirk he burned down a door at the end of the hallway, revealing Sunset in bed with tubes attached to her body. A sick smile crept across Valtor's face as he place a claw to her head. With a steady push, his magic glowed green, "Look at you, you were so willing to die for you friends that you became the arbiter of my virus, and now you are asleep. Maybe forever. Well, we can't have that...you see I need your soul and this spell-"
“Get your hands off of my daughter!" Celestia said, storming in, Luna by her side.
Valtor turned and bowed, "Welcome, princess.”
Luna brought out a sword at Valtor,"Stay away from her, Heathen!"
"A sword, rude," Valtor said. "I was only paying my respects to the young dear."
"...respects?" Celestia asked, seeing the green glow on Sunset, her body writing. Narrowing her eyes, she growled, "What did you do!?"
"Remember that little spell Mirage pt onto Twilight a month ago? Think of this as the same type, only much more intense. I give her an hour before her heart gives out. Then her soul is mine. Of course, I would-" before he could finish, he was thrown out the window by Celestia’s magic. "Luna, fight him, keep him away from this place.”
Luna nodded,"Good luck, Sister!" She flew out the window, her horn shooting a bolt out at Valtor. Valtor spread out his wings and flew away, barely dodging the bolt. In return, he threw a lightning bolt at Luna. Luna used her sword to take the lightning and twirl it around herself before sending it back at Valtor.
Vatlor barely had time to make a wing shield as the lighting hit him. With a yelp of pain, he flew past the buildings of Canterlot, throwing out fireballs and ice spears.Flying above Luna, Valtor laughed, "You know what's fun, Luna? Tia is going to be faced with a nightmare of her own sins. In helping her student, she is going to get herself killed. HAHAHAHAH!!!
"You don't know my sister!" Luna shouted, using a shield to block the spells,"She and her daughter are stronger than you know!" She charged at him for a kick.
The kick hit Vator hard, sending him flying into a building, popping out the other side with shard of glass in his wings, "Oh, I have no doubt, but I wonder how long she can last." he askled throwing a two ice spears at Luna before flying through the roof.
Luna dodged one, before a bit of her fur was sliced by the second."She will prevail!" She charged a lightning bolt at him.
Celestia knelt beside Sunset and allowed her horn to glow a bright yellow. Leaning in, she tapped her horn to the unicorns forehead, "I am not as good as my sister in dream walking, but I will go to tartarus for my children."
When she woe up, she would find herself in chains, the voices of various ponies shouting at her.
"You used a pony as a weapon, betrayed a foals trust."
"Weakling,"
"You put too much trust in a mare,"
"Weakling."
Celestia lowered her head, feeling every insult hit her hard. For a moment, she lowered her head, "I know, let my sins be bare."
A younger Celestia turned from her little sister, "Stoop it with this foolishness, you are being a child."
"Sunset, get out, and think about what it means to be my pupil," Celestia frowned at the tear filled Sunset.
"You have a lot to think about....
Celestia sighed as she heard the insults, "You think this is enough to break me? Do you not think these are the nightmares that have haunted me all my life?" struggling, she began to move one foreleg after the other, straining against the chains. "Sunset, Luna, Twilight, I have done so much wrong. They look at me and see the sun, but I know what shadows lie behind me."
"Monster,
"Tyrant
"Weakling!"
"You call me weak? So, I failed to see plants sent by Discord? Heh, I am very powerful but not omniscient," Celestia said, pulling free of a chain. "And if you want to talk about Chrysalis... I held back. I always hold back. If I let loose my power at full all the time...Then there would be a lot more deaths."
"Coward,"
"Betrayer
"User.
"Are you talking to me about how I let Twilight fight my battles? Or how I let others win? Tell me voices, what is to be gained by me fighting your battles for you?" Celestia asked.
....
"I thought so. You want me to hand the wins to you? You want to become complacent? To be given everything?
....
"No answer? Good," Celestia smiled, breaking another chain.
"Sins
"User
"Luna
Celestia winced, stepping back, "I will never forgive myself. She will always be my greatest failure. But, let me ask you this. What could you do differently. Take the population of Equestria and force them to love something they fear?"
"Suns-"
"Do not change the subject, but yes..." Celestia sighed. "I failed her."
"Twilight"
"Weapon-"
Celestia's eyes burned with a bright flame as she broke the final chain. Flying up into the sky she shouted, "DO NOT LET THOSE WORDS BLEED FroM YOUR LIPS EVER AGAIN!!!"
The voice shuddered.
"Not once had I EVER thought of my students as my weapons. I had always thought them of my daughters and I would have sacrificed everything for them." Chains reached for her only to be burned away. "They were always given the chance to be safe, but I never took them over. Anytime they wanted, they could've left my side or said no. I wouldn't care. I did what any mother would, I gave them the tools they needed to succeed their destiny."
The voice screamed in pain as the sun burned away the darkness.
"Sunset and Twilight, they never let me down. I couldn't care if they were chosen or not. I would've helped them no matter what. But, I will never treat them any less than the brightest stars in my life."
"Who... are you?" Sunset's voice asked.
Celestia then turned to the voice, "Sunset?"
"Who are you?" Sunset asked," What am I?"
"I am Celestia solaris..." Celestia smiled, "A friend. You are Sunset Shimmer, a student of mine. You were... meant to help my sister and then, become a hero of the people. But, that was what I wanted, you were always free to become who you chose."
"Why am I here?"
"Because a mad stallion forced you to fight your sister," Celestia said. "Since then, you have kept yourself in a coma. Why is that? Do you fear your past? Or your present?"
"I am... afraid." Sunset whimpered,"Past, present, future. Why am I afraid? Who is my sister?"
"Twilight Sparkle.”
"Why should I go back? I don't want to leave..."
"Don't you have something important to come back to?" Celestia asked. "Is it truly better to be stuck here?"
"Something... important?" Sunset asked.
"Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, Trixie, and Twilight Sparkle. Can you tell me that those are not important to you?" Celestia asked.
"But... how can I go back to them? After all I've done?" Sunset asked.
"You idiot!" Twilight's voice shouted,"We've stopped caring a long time ago! Come on, we need you!"
"T-Twilight... how can I come back?" Sunset asked.
A purple hoof appeared out from the shadows,"Both of you, take my hoof."
Valtor held the lighting bolt in his claw, growling in pain. In his other he lifted up a boulder and sent it flying at Luna .Luna caught the boulder in her magic,"You won't win, Valtor!" She threw it back him, bursting it to flames.
Valtor flew out of the way, screaming in pain when the boulder hit his thigh. Enraged he flew down to Luna and slashed at her before breathing fire. Luna blocked the claws, before feeling her body searing in pain. Suddenly a shadow appeared behind Valtor, stabbing him. Valtor slashed at Luna and kicked at her stomach. Luna fell to the ground, before teleporting to Valtor's right, and then hit him in the jaw.
Valtor grunted and slammed his fist into Luna's jaw Luna grabbed the fist and flew him down to the ground, ready to slam him down. As Valtor flew down to the ground, he slashed and clawed at Luna, only to stop when his back hit the ground. A small crater from beneath him as she slowly got up. Luna ran up and punched him in the face.Valtor reeled back from the hit and then uppercutted Luna in the chin, cutting her. Then he took off, breathing fire and shooting lighting.
Luna leaned back and then her eyes glowed as she flew after him, countering his magic with her own aan sending bolt after bolt at him,"You will not win!”
With a cracking zap, Valtor fired a stream of lighting at Princess Luna.
The lightning was blocked by a speeding cyan pony. The rainbow maned pegasus took the lightning and rode it to punch Valtor.
Valtor landed with a crash, and slowly got up, "No...” He said as Rainbow landed ahead of him
Applejack stood with Luna and tipped her hat, "Well, howdy Valtor."
"A pleasure," Rarity bowed.
"Um... hi?" Flutters squeaked.
"Miss us?" Pinkie said.
Trixie went to Luna's side, "Are you alright?
Luna nodded,"I am fine, thank you everypony."
"NO NO NO! This is Bullshit, This Bullshit, NO!" shouted Valtor, "How did any of your come back?"
A purple blast came at Valtor as Twilight flew down,"Simple, you underestimated the Queens of Harmony, and us!" She said, glaring at him. She looked back at Luna,"Don't worry, Sunset's going to be fine."
Valtor took a step back, "Oh, this might actually be unpleasant."
"Big time," Will said, lighting coursing along her limbs.
"Well, then, let-"
"Master, let us leave for now, we have failed," an old mare said, producing a portal.
"Wait, who are-" before Applejack could ask. the two vanished in a blast of light.
Twilight frowned,"That mare..." She looked back at everyone,"Alright, let's go check on Sunset!"
‘
Sunset opened her eyes slowly,"Mom, Twilight?"
"Sunset," Celestia said with a smile, tears in her eyes. "Welcome home, my little sun."
Sunset's eyes filled with tears as she hugged Celestia's neck,"I missed you!"
"Not as much as I missed you," Celestia said with tears in her eyes as she hugged her student. "I-I thought I would never hear your voice again.
Applejack looked to Twilight, "Should we interrupt them?"
Twilight shook her head,"Let's leave them be for now." she wiped a tear from her eye.
“Right," Fluttershy nodded and turned away.
Trixie looked to Luna, "Um, Luna... think you could find and send a message to Checker Monarch? Tell her Trixie said... she forgives her."
Luna nodded,"Very well." She said, and then she walked out,"I must take my leave, the ponies at Night Court always get antsy."
Trixie arched an eyebrow, "Why did Trixie shudder at the name Night Court?"
Rainbow Dash smiled as the two ponies continued to cry and then looked at Wil, "It'll be ok. We got this."
"Thank you," Will nodded.
Celestia broke the embrace and turned to the outside, "Ok, you can come in now."
Twilight entered the door and immediately hugged Sunset,"I'm so glad you're okay!"
Sunset winced,"Ow, I'm still in a bit of pain..."
Trixie hugged Sunset lightly, "Oh, Trixie is so... uh, what Trixie means is, is that she is glad that you are all right."
Sunset chuckled,"Thank you, so," She looked at them all,"What have you all been doing?"
"Oh, we've been traveling through time, fighting giant monsters, and oh I met some bad future ponies!" Pinkie said.
"Stuck here while they have had all the fun," Rainbow Dash said with a roll of the eyes.
Sunset chuckled,"And I've been stuck here, unable to help you." She sighed,"I wish I could've been there."
"You were!" Pinkie said. "We all met you again! I mean, I saw a mare who looked just like you lead me to some of the weapons on the ship!"
"I saw you back on the ship." Rarity said.
"A little fox version of you," Fluttershy said.
Trixie smiled, "You were a clone for me."
"And I..." Applejack smiled. "Well, let’s put it this way, you are the most adorable little filly.”
"Well," Sunset chuckled, putting a hoof to her chin,"Remind me to go back to Starswirl's archive later, when I get better."
"Yes, rest. I want my student to be bright and well again," Celestia said with a smile. "And as for you, Twilight. I am proud that you broke through the dream spell that Valtor had made."
"Thanks Celestia,"Twilight chuckled,"I guess all those times dealing with Mirage allowed me some sort of immunity to those kinds of spells." She then put a hoof to her chest,"Which make me even more awesome!"
"What was that Twilight?" Celestia asked, looking at her and noticing the mismatched eyes.
Trixie grumbled, "Just one more thing for Trixie to beat.”
"That makes me more awesome, do I have to make myself clear?" Twilight said, a cocky tone being added to her voice.
"Hey, Twilight, are you alright? You're acting kind of like-” Rarity asked with a raised eyebrow.
Rainbow Dash nodded, "Her attitude just shows that she has started to get a little more confidence in herself." One of her eyes had turned purple.
"And maybe she is trying to show a new side of herself." Leaning in Celestia whispered (whatever it is you are planning, I hope you have it under control.) Then, looking at the others, she asked. "Now, what were you calling me for?"
Twilight whispered,"Oh, trust me, everything's going according to plan." She looked up at Celestia,"We believe that the last key to the gate over here in Equestria-"
Sunset blinked,"The last gate's over here!?" She facehoofed,"You've got to be kidding me..."
"You're telling Trixie!!" Trixie frowned.
"Anyway, the last key was a crystal held by Wind Whistler. Do you have any information on that?" Twilight asked
Celestia looked to Twilight, "Wind Whistler's gem, I seem to remember her being buried with it. In the Canterlot crypts for legends below the Gardens. As a matter of fact, she told Mom to be buried with her possessions, for the Magic wielder to come."
Twilight gulped,"Well, we have to dig up a grave, great." She shuddered.
"Actually, the tombs are usually above ground," Celestia said. "Don't worry, no grave robbing."
"Oh, thank heavens," Rairy said.
"Whew," Twilight said,"Okay, let's head there, and grab the key!"
"Oh, and Fluttershy... Thank you," Celestia winked
-------------------
Within minutes, the group reached the tomb. It was surrounded by four other tombs, with each one with a symbol. One of a flame, one of a water drop, one of a breeze, one of a rock, and another by a tree. On Wind Whistlers tomb it read, "In Twilight's arms, I thank you. To find the gem, remember what keeps the world in balance, not war or strife, but something far more precious
"Something far more precious..." Twilight muttered,"Friendship? Am I looking for the Tree of Harmony?"
Trixie grumbled, "Oh, great, more riddles! Why not just say what you frakking mean? Why not just say something like "place your hoof onto the opposite element of your test or something to represent harmony!"
Applejack tapped her hoof onto her chin, "Wait..." she walked to the wind stone, she placed her hoof onto it and watched it glow.
"Excuse Trixie, she needs to scream," Trixie said as she walked off."
Twilight smiled,"That's it! Everypony, find the opposite element to your test and place your hooves on it!"
Pinkie hopped over to the rock stone and placed her hoof onto the earth stone, followed by Rarity touching fire, and Rainbow Dash looking to Flutters, "Well?"
"But, I wasn't with one of the elements," Fluttershy said.
"Then, i guess that leaves me," Dash said, placing her hoof onto the stone of water.
At once, the four stone glowed gentle, before the table in the center opened and revealed a crystal in the center, "And there we are." Pinkie said with a smile.
Twilight took the crystal,"Good, now let's head to back to the library!"
The girls all nodded, turning to walk out of the garden.
---------------------------------------------------------
Valtor slammed his fist against the wall, "We were so close! I had Luna on the ropes, the soul of Magic in my hands, and the key ready. Then that miserable Twilight and her friends had to come back!"
"Perhaps it was fortunate, sire," Servant said.
"Fortunate? How?" Valtor asked.
Servant smiled, "Because, now we have eight virtues instead of 6 that are ready to make the journey into the heart of worlds, and the friendship they share will allow them to survive the next trials."
"At the same time, we will be one step behind and they can get to the heart before us!" Vatlor growled.
"The legend says that once the four doors are open, the gate to the heart of worlds will appear and be accessible," Servant said.
"Yes, but without a guardian at my side-"
Servant interrupted him, "I know of a former guardian who can help you. Once the final gate is opened, we can enter it and will be protected. While the bearers will have to deal with our... surprise."
"Speaking of the guardians, how are they?" Valrot asked.
Narisa lowered her head, closing her eyes. For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, when she opened them again, she smiled, "The bounty huntress, Samus Aran, has picked up the other three bearers and is en route to the water bearer, Irma."
"Too soon, we don't have the gate open yet," Valtor shook his head.
"Do not fear, sire. My barrier around this world will keep us safe from Samus's ship and hidden from that technical wizard of theirs."
"Perfect"
====================================
Sunset watched from the balcony of Canterlot Castle, watching the light in the distance go off as the septet entered another world. Placing a hoof to her chest, she let out a long sigh, “You wish to be with them?” Celestia said, joining with her former student, placing a hoof on the unicorn's shoulder.
Sunset looked down and shook her head, “I know they’ll need me soon, I can feel it. And... I need to be there, I have to.”
“So,” a warm smile crossed her lips as Celestia sat with her student, looking down at her, “ My little Sunset has grown up and changed so much.”
“I have,” Sunset said, turning up toe smile warmly at Celestia. “At first, I just wanted power. I craved to be the best and make sure that so many ponies knew it, to make them bow and kiss my hooves. But I see I was wrong. The elements were trying to show me that. That’s why they inflicted that punishment on me, guess they love their irony huh?”
“Such as the way of a lot of the world. The princess who wants love for her night now has night eternal, a being of chaos is stuck in perpetual order, and the mare who encourages friendship, keeps winding up alone.” Celestia sighed.
Sunset snuggled closely to her mother figure, “You didn’t lose me... I just got mislead. When I met my mother, back in Saddle Arabia, I was just so angry with her that I wanted to end her. But, in a way, I am glad to have met her. When I saw her... I thought about you.”
“Me?” Celestia said.
“Yeah,” Sunset said, running a hoof behind her head. “I thought about how much like a real mom you can be, to both me and Twilight. You care for us, teach us stuff, but you also trust us to make our own decisions. You know that we can handle it on our own. Because you trust us.”
“Yes, I do,” Celestia said, smiling. “I never give you something that I do not believe that you were never capable of.”
“Um, Celestia?” Sunset asked, looking down, “What if I never left, and you found out I wasn’t able to become an element of magic. Would you still have believed in me, that I could become something great?”
Celestia smiled softly, “I think you would've become something greater than the world could’ve imagine, and I still do. However, if you had stayed behind, and helped Twilight...”
“Yes?” Sunset asked, looking up at her mentor.
“I could see you becoming just as powerful as a princess as she is. Or rather, her protector,” Celestia said.
“She doesn’t need-”
Celestia smiled, “Why are big sisters born first? To protect their little siblings. And that is what you are. What you will always be. You never needed wings or a crown to be special. Just my little sunset.”
“Thanks,” Sunset nuzzled Celestia before walking away, “Now I need to-”
“Rest, my little girl!”
“But, but,” Sunset opposed, before being dragged away.
“I said, sleep!” Celestia said with a smile.
“Yes...” Sunset said, defeated, “Mom.”