Death. Every living thing had experienced or at least seen it in some form or another and this was no less true of those gathered there today at CHS. Some had seen it's portrayal through entertainment, whether watching a fictional being expire through film or by pulling the trigger themselves by way of a console controller. For others it had hit more close to home, the death of a beloved pet or a family member passing. But this was different. There was no disconnect through a screen, they didn't show up in the aftermath, and it wasn't peaceful, it wasn't natural. It was violent, it was bloody, and a young life had been cruelly snuffed out.
For those from Crystal Prep Academy this was traumatic, for those that were from Canterlot High School it was so far beyond that. This was the girl whom they had bullied three months ago, who they had maliciously driven out of the city for an act that had been perpetrated by three other individuals. The girl who had done her damnest to make up for years of bullying and for her actions at the Fall Formal, who had saved them from the Sirens at the Battle of the Bands. The girl who they should have trusted more and apologized to when they had the chance. Now dead, trying once more to save them all...
As for those who had been closest to her, former friends and current friends, most were devastated. Sandy and Rarity wore horrified expressions, hands over their mouths as tears streamed down their cheeks. Bobby too was in tears, Poppy and Applejack could only stare at Sunset Shimmer's lifeless body, but the most heartbreaking were Tino, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were bawling, with Pinkie Pie in Tino's arms for comfort while Rainbow Dash was on her knees sobbing. The only one not crying was instead screaming, her anger slicing through the sorrow like a hot knife as she continued lashing out at the one responsible for all the misery and despair.
"YOU BITCH! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU!!!"
Despite her vision blurry from un-shed tears, it was the pure rage and hurt that pumped adrenaline into Jackie's system, making the winged guitarist lash out with wild punches. The target of her pain simply smirked, Chrysalis dodging or blocking the strikes as she seemed to savor the younger woman's anguish.
"Does it hurt, Vibrato? Do you feel a familiar sense of failure? Did you care that much about her?"
Each word seemed to spike Jackie's anger further, her movements becoming increasingly sloppy until Chrysalis simply grabbed one of her wrists and twisted it behind her back. There was enough force that Jackie cried out, feeling as if her shoulder would be twisted out of it's socket. Then with her other hand, Chrysalis sent a blast of magic to Jackie's back, not enough to kill... oh no, this woman had infuriated her too many times in the past, she would draw this out. The green haired woman's smirk was almost manic as she let go of Jackie, watching her drop twenty feet to the ground with a big, scorch mark on her back as the smell of burnt skin started to fill the air.
Choking down a sob, Jackie shakily started to push herself back up onto her feet as Chrysalis floated back to the ground.
"Jackie stop it! You can't beat her!"
"I. DON'T. CARE!!! AHHHHHHH!"
Ignoring Poppy's protests, Jackie once more charged in swinging, failing to land even a glancing blow while taking many herself, whether it be a punch strengthened through magic or another burning, magical blast that sent her back to the ground. After the last blast threw her down, Jackie didn't even have the strength to get up onto her hands and knees. Her right eye was swelling from a punch, her nose was bleeding, and now her stomach, left arm and left thigh were burned. Her wings were in no better shape, bloodied, chunks of feathers missing, and the right broken, twisted in a weird angle as it hung limply from her side.
"Mm, how does that poem go? Rage, rage against the dying light? You always were a stubborn fool..."
Clicking her tongue as she saw Jackie still attempting to get back on her feet, the feeling she was experiencing could not have been more delicious unless it had been Celestia crying on the ground. However before she could get much closer, a shot ran out and a bullet struck where she had almost stepped. With a raised brow, she looked over to Applejack, a grim look of determination on the blonde's face as she pointed her six shooters at Chrysalis.
"Ah'm gonna put ya' down mahself ya' cold, manipulative cunt!"
"Really now, Miss Applejack? While I applaud you for breaking out of my control, I think you are forgetting something..."
Raising her hand above her head, dark energy was forcefully ripped out of Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash, all five girls letting out gasps of pain, and those that were not already on their knees fell to them, their appearances returning to normal.
"I giveth, and I taketh away. Without my power, you stand absolutely no chance against me. And all of you will either be wise to kneel and watch me put an end to Vibrato's miserable life. Unless you would like to try and stop me? In which case I would be more than happy to send you along after your little friend?"
After a pause in which no one moved, aside from Bobby who had his hands clenched and was shaking, Chrysalis smirked and turned back to Jackie, raising a hand as she charged a much more fatal magical blast. Just before she could release it though, a fist collided with her right cheek, making her actually take a step to keep balance before she turned her head slightly to see it was Bobby. The man was still shaking but the determination was clear in his eyes as he ducked the fatal blast of magic before throwing another punch. This spurred the other three into action as well, Poppy and Tino flying in to dive bomb with a kick and a punch respectively while Sandy tried to throw up shields and provide defense.
While Chrysalis was distracted, Applejack and Rarity moved in to carefully carry the wounded Jackie off the battle field and closer to Sunset Shimmer. The only way she could lie down was on her un-burned right side, but she turned enough so that she could look at Sunset Shimmer, the girl's lifeless body still having not moved... and finally broke down. She hid her face against the ground, ignoring the pain as her body shook and she shed more tears.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
It wasn't rational. She didn't know what she could have done, people would tell her there was nothing she could have done... but she still felt that she could have done something! As she finally let her emotions go, it had all reached a fever pitch... and there was a spark. It started with a faint glow from Jackie, but as it grew more softer light came, from her friends, from Sunset's ex-friends, from the students of CHS and even those from Crystal Prep Academy.
The dancing lights floated into the air before gently drifting down over Sunset Shimmer, infusing her body with life as she began to lift into the air.
The pure white light suddenly became warmer, changing into living fire as Sunset's body became upright in the air and once the light dispersed, she was alive and changed. Her outfit had changed, the top a white and warm red bodice with gold trim, red leggings, white knee high boots with gold trim with her cutie mark on the ankles. She also wore fingerless gloves that were the same color as the boots but with her cutie mark on the backs of her hands, there was a streak of red across her face over the eyes, and along with the horn of pure light out of her head there was also a pair of angelic-like wings made of golden light.
Daydream Shimmer was born.
Everyone was stunned at the girl's sudden revival, but as she opened her eyes and gazed at them, there was a feeling of ease, that everything would be okay, and undoubtedly relieved happiness that Sunset Shimmer was alive.
"Sunset..."
As the red head's gaze turned to Jackie, sadness and concern filled her as she quickly moved down to the blue haired woman's side. Just going on a hunch, her hand hovered over Jackie's body and a gold aura covered Jackie's wounds. The burns and bruises healed without even the trace of a scar, Jackie was too shocked and surprised to do anything other than watch Daydream Shimmer turn to face Chrysalis, her gaze hardening as she began to slowly walk over to the woman, Chrysalis's look of shock morphing into a scowl as she glared back at the other.
"Do you think this changes anything? Your power is still nothing compared to mine!"
With that she began to throw orbs of magic energy, her shock coming back when Daydream Shimmer didn't even have to raise a hand to summon a shield, the orbs deflecting safely off of her aura alone. Frustration and anger began to rise in Chrysalis as she began charging up more powerful blasts, causing Daydream to have to put up an actual shield now which didn't even shudder as Chrysalis's magic exploded against it. The red head didn't even pause in her walk as she came closer to Chrysalis, the woman letting out a snarl as she flew up high into the air. Daydream stopped and watched, her gaze still one of anger but otherwise calm as Chrysalis raised both hands over her head and created a ball of green destructive magic that was bigger than a mini-van.
"How about this Shimmer!? Still nothing to say?! No clever quips?! THEN YOU BETTER STOP THIS UNLESS YOU WANT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE TO DIE!"
Throwing her hands down, Chrysalis launched her attack, a triumphant smirk on her face, thinking that she had won! But then the ball of magic stopped! Confusion warped into surprise as the magic suddenly burst! The energy harmlessly dispersing as through the light she saw a blur fly up and Chrysalis found herself face to face with Dayream, the girls' arms crossed and an un-amused look on her face. The green haired woman attempted to strike the girl's face but her hand was caught, the burning green aura overpowered by the oddly warm, golden one. But the gentleness was soon gone as Daydream Shimmer's hand tightened, causing bone to grind against each other and ligaments to be pushed to their limits as Chrysalis cried out and tried to pull her hand away.
"How dare you..."
While there was no malice, the anger in Daydream Shimmer's voice was potent enough to make Chrysalis cower slightly.
"How dare you treat my friends so shamefully!"
An increase in pressure had Chrysalis on her knees in the air, crying out and starting to consider the option of cutting off her own limb to escape. But still she managed to glare up at Daydream Shimmer.
"W-What will you do? Kill me?! You don't have the nerve!"
"It's not a matter of nerve, Chrysalis. I refuse to stoop to your level... but you won't just walk away from this. I don't know what happened in your life to make you this way, but I think it's time for a fresh start."
Chrysalis's struggles increased as a glowing light grew brighter, engulfing the both of them before there was a flash! All in the area were blinded and had to shield their eyes until it was over. When they glanced back to the sky, there appeared to only be Daydream Shimmer still left, but as she descended some noticed something in her arms. Jackie would quickly approach, wanting to give Daydream possibly the biggest hug of her life but stopped when she noticed what the girl was carrying.
"... is that?"
"Yes."
In Daydream Shimmer's arms was Chrysalis, the woman who had terrified, blackmailed and tormented many throughout her life, now a ten year old child! Jackie would have sworn her jaw hit the floor as she looked at the sleeping child, unsure if this was what she was really seeing or if this all turned out to be some dream after passing out from her wounds.
"Wha-? Buh?... WHAT???"
"My magic reverted her back to an age before she turned into what she was as an adult. I guess my hope was that this time she'd grow up to be someone nicer."
"Uhhh, nice sentiment, Sunshine, but whose going to take care of her?"
"IIIIII may have a solution!"
Both turned to see Discord sauntering up, appearing to have been unaffected at all by the events that just transpired aside from the red, bloodshot eyes.
"I have a sister who lives with her husband in a town not too far from here, two girls. One a little creepy and doesn't speak much, obsessed with making little red statues she called 'markers', but the younger is a sweet little fluffy puffly thing. If Chrysalis doesn't have any immediate family members to take care of her, I'm sure my sister wouldn't mind adopting little Chryssi here!"
Daydream Shimmer looked to Jackie, who shrugged helplessly in turn, so the red head gave a nod to Discord who took Chrysalis from her arms, saying that it would be best to take her somewhere that the woman turned child could sleep peacefully. A moment after that Daydream was engulfed in light, the energy spreading out to heal any left who were hurt and closing any portals to Equestria that Midnight Sparkle had ripped open. Now Sunset Shimmer once more, she smiled to Jackie before turning to look at her ex-friends before spotting the human Twilight Sparkle who was trying to slink away.
"Twilight!"
The girl froze before slowly turning to face Sunset, eyes wide with fear and guilt as her fidgeting and twitching became worse as the red head came closer. Which was why the gentle touch to her shoulder and the kind smile was surprising.
"We need to talk. And I need to talk to all of you as well."
Her ex-friends flinched slightly, surprised that Sunset wanted to talk to them and was smiling to them as well.
"Um, what about us, Sunshine?"
"Jackie, I need to do this, it's time I talked to them. Could you please wait for me?"
"... sure."
Jackie watched as Sunset lead the six girls into the school for some privacy, the door having been propped open by Discord on his way inside. The guitarist frowned softly but smiled to Poppy when the other walked up and spoke to her.
"Are you going to be okay?"
"Well yeah, when Sunset went all super form she healed me up real good!"
"Not that. I mean are you going to be okay"
Unable to keep eye contact, Jackie stuffed her hands into her pockets and stared at the ground between them.
"... I don't know."
"... seems like they might be talking awhile, want to see if they'll deliver here?"
".... yeah."
With a bit of searching on his phone, Tino found a pizza place that would deliver a couple pizzas and bottles of soda to them while Sandy made a beer run, knowing they would all need it. There would be students who left but many lingered, wanting to talk to Sunset but also wanting to talk to Jackie and the others. Many questions were sent their way, asking about how Sunset had been, where she lived now and the like. Bobby was happy to be on speaking terms with Principal Cinch and it looked as if the woman had really warmed up to the college student. Tino was chatting up a group of girls, one with dark hair and who wore a pink bow time, one with spiky blue hair and headphones, one with mint green hair and a flower behind her ear, and another with blue and pink hair. Despite his best efforts, Tino had a feeling that he was speaking to two couples instead of four single ladies...
Jackie even got to meet Flash Sentry! Sunset Shimmer's ex! Who also had blue hair and played guitar!... this seemed more awkward than what it should have been.
It was about an hour later that Sunset Shimmer and the others came out of the school, looking like there had been some crying going on, still some uneasiness, but smiles as Sunset Shimmer gave each of them a hug before walking over to Jackie and the others.
"How'd it go, Sunshine?"
"... good, I guess. A lot of talking, some crying... making up."
"Soooo, you've forgiven them."
"Kind of? It's hard to say, I'm not mad at them anymore but there's still this distance..."
"Well, that's kind of expected you know? After how things ended and you're physically living away from them. If you want to get close again it's gonna have to be like, through e-mail or something unless you plan visits."
"... yeah. By the by, CHS and Crystal Prep's spring breaks are coming up in a couple weeks."
"... okay?"
"So I suggested they come over and now they're planning on spending Spring Break in Los Pegasus."
".... WHAT?"