18. Threads of Friendship
Moondancer’s heels clicked against the floor as she followed after Twilight. Why had she agreed to this tour of guilt? The easy answer was because Twilight had asked her to, and it would look cold-hearted if Moondancer had said no. She had slipped her way out of this visit for over week, but knew she couldn’t avoid it forever.
Twilight opened the room door and led Moondancer in. Sunset’s room was cheerfully decorated, appearing to belong to someone celebrating a birthday party. Yet the guest of honor lay comatose on her bed, head tilted down, eyes glazed over. Moondancer cringed at how familiar it looked.
“Hi, Sunset,” Twilight said, straightening her pillow. “I brought Moondancer along today. I also brought a new book. This one’s about an enchanted library.”
While Twilight pulled two chairs to Sunset’s bedside, Moondancer admired the ever-growing collection of flowers from well-wishers. They covered the table and filled the corner, and now a planter hung from the ceiling. She saw a vase of blue roses brought by her uncle and aunt. It was a colorful and fragrant arrangement that reminded Moondancer of her garden.
If I lost my soul, who would bring me flowers?
“Would you like a seat, Moony?”
“Hm? Oh, yes, of course.” Moondancer sat next to Twilight, watching her pull a thick book from her bag. “This is quite the touching act. And to think that you do this everyday; Sunset is fortunate indeed.”
“I know she’d do the same thing for me.” Twilight opened the book and started reading aloud. She shook a little at the beginning but quickly found her voice. Moondancer tried to pretend that Twilight was reading just to her, but Sunset’s eyes quickly destroyed the fantasy.
Don’t look at me that way. You should be grateful your body wasn’t tossed into a river.
Twilight read through two chapters of her book, every word spoken with love and a desire for Sunset’s return. She paused occasionally to ask if Moondancer needed anything. Moondancer took it as a sign of Twilight’s endearing compassion to make sure she didn’t feel forgotten.
Halfway through the third chapter, Twilight bookmarked her spot and stood up. “I have to use the bathroom. You don’t mind waiting here, do you?”
“Of course not, Twily. I’m sure Sunset and I shall have a great conversation while you’re gone.” The moment she made the remark, Moondancer realized how patronizing it sounded. Twilight either didn’t notice or didn’t mind. She smiled and left, closing the door behind her.
Moondancer watched the monitor track Sunset’s heartbeats, following the sharp uprises that came with every beep. Her head bobbed with every slow, even breath.
“You’re lucky, you know.” Moondancer said quietly. “To have this much love and affection poured onto you, even while you lay, motionless and dead to the world. Even after they all saw the darkest shadow you carried in your soul. A demon. A literal, fire-throwing demon. I sensed darkness within you—I knew you were hiding something. But a demon?”
Moondancer shook her head. “And yet, she still looked for you. She still loves you. It’s frustrating to no end! Part of me wishes I had left you alone to rot!” She heaved a sigh. “But, I can’t stand to see Twilight so upset. The only reason you’re here is because of my good graces.”
Of course, Sunset didn’t acknowledge her. She couldn’t. A soul trapped in the Soul Lock had no connection to their body. Moondancer leaned back in her chair, a twinge of pity mixing with her cold anger.
“I’m not proud of the things I’ve done. But they’ve all been for a greater purpose. You losing your soul?” She dropped her voice to a soft whisper. “I won’t lie, there was a certain level of catharsis to it. A girl like you, handed everything she’s ever wanted on a silver platter—the world bending to your whim when you needed it the most. You get magic, you get to be with my aunt and uncle, you get Twilight.”
Moondancer dug her nails into her palms. “I won’t sit here and bemoan the way the roles have been cast. I suppose every great heroine needs a good rival, and you’ve performed admirably. Now, it’s time for you to step down. You’ll get your soul back when I’ve gotten what I’ve wanted. For now, rest here. With you in slumber, Twilight will devote her time to taking care of you, staying out of harm's way. Sadly, I can’t promise the same for the rest of your friends.”
She took one more deep breath and exhaled the negative energy trying to build in her. Her hand hovered around the Archon Amulet sitting beneath her blouse. More than once, it had tried to overtake her, but Moondancer was smarter than an ancient relic. Granted, she had been a little more lax in the last few days. It was probably best to take it off again soon.
Twilight returned a minute later. “Hey, how is she?”
“A perfect facsimile of Sleeping Beauty,” Moondancer said with an airy wave of her hand.
Twilight sat down and sighed. “I wish that was the case. Then, a kiss would be enough to wake her up.” She gazed longingly at Sunset.
Moondancer felt pity and anger surge through her again and crash near the surface. How could she want to hug Twilight and tell her it would all be okay, and bash Sunset over the head at the same time?
She blinked. How boorish. I’ve been wearing this amulet too long indeed. But she wouldn’t deny the satisfaction at seeing Sunset’s lifeless eyes, even as Twilight read another chapter. Well, if I can’t have her, at least you can’t properly enjoy her either, Sunset. For now, at least. A short-lived stalemate.
*******
It was amazing just how much Apalla resembled Artemis.
She laid in the air, clutching her side while she laughed up a storm, joyous tears running down her face. “A p-pony? Really? A unicorn from another world? Oh my goodness, that’s amazing!”
Sunset sat on the invisible floor, fiddling with her thumbs. She remembered when she had told her origins to Artemis and received a very similar reaction. While she was glad to see Apalla in high spirits, she couldn’t fathom what exactly was so hysterical.
Apalla eventually calmed down and wiped her tears away. “Oh, the world truly is a wondrous place. Of all the people I get to meet, it’s the magical unicorn girl.” She giggled again, then straightened her hat, which had become crooked during her fit.
“So, a magical pony from a dimension away.” Apalla pressed her palms against her cheeks. “Tell me, what are you doing in our world?”
Sunset opened her mouth to answer. But the answer never came. She closed her eyes and tried to think, but it felt like sand slipping through her fingers. Why had she jumped through the mirror? She had an answer—she knew she did. But it eluded her, the memory staying just out of reach.
“I can’t remember anymore,” Sunset said glumly. “I think I had a fight with my teacher. But I can’t remember why or over what.”
Apalla gave a sympathetic smile. “When you can’t remember why you started fighting, that’s the best time to start forgiving instead.”
Sunset bowed her head. “She has nothing to be forgiven for. I’m the one who messed up... I think? At any rate, I don’t know if she’s ready to forgive me yet.”
“Teachers are never really mad at their students. Just disappointed, and a little sad when they’ve lost their way.”
“Mmm.” Sunset was still trying to draw upon her memories. They seemed messier than usual, scattered and disjointed in her head. Some of them popped out at her, clear as day: good times with her friends, quiet evenings with Twilight, fireworks with the Lulamoons. But others seemed blurry and muted. The Battle of the Bands, her departure from Equestria, and large portions of her sophomore and junior year. Maybe it was a side-effect of being in the Soul Lock.
“So, Sunset,” Apalla said gingerly, “I am curious. Do you know Moondancer?”
Sunset took in a slow breath. “Yes, I know Moondancer. We don’t get along very well, to be honest. She seems to think I stole her girlfriend. In general, she’s… not a good match with me.” Sunset said delicately. She couldn’t meet Apalla’s eye.
“Oh… well, I’m sorry for any trouble she may have caused you,” Apalla said, crestfallen. “I don’t know how her upbringing has been in my absence, but if Tempest is around, I’m sure it isn’t pleasant. I can’t make excuses for her, but please, try to understand.”
Sunset merely nodded. She could have told Apalla all of the trouble Moondancer had caused; every attempt to get under Sunset’s skin or undermine her relationship with Twilight. But, Sunset simply didn’t feel like it.
Something told her she should be angrier at Moondancer than she currently was. Saying they didn’t get along was like saying dogs and cats didn’t play well together. Still, like with Tempest and Lamia, Sunset could only draw up a dull apathy for Moondancer.
“She’s a good girl, truly,” Apalla continued, a note of plea in her voice. “My deepest regret in choosing to stay here is not seeing her grow up. She was only eight when I was taken away.”
“She’s grown up very well,” Sunset said, still unable to meet Apalla’s eyes. “She’s very beautiful.”
“As long as she’s healthy. I suppose that’s all a mother can ask for in the end.” Apalla clapped her hands, jolting Sunset upright to look at her. “Okay, Sunset. It’s time to get you home! Or to heaven. Whichever comes first. Hopefully the former.”
Sunset had rarely contemplated death before, at least, in the sense of what came after one died. Now that she was faced with the possibility, her whole body began to shake.
“I’m not so sure about this. It feels pretty risky.”
Apalla shrugged. “The alternative is to stay here until the end of time, helping me free the souls Tirek sucks up and outrunning him whenever he gets close. I mean, I could use the company.”
As bad as Sunset felt leaving Apalla all alone again, she yearned to see her friends again. They were probably worried sick.
Apalla smiled, though Sunset saw the gloss that coated her eyes. “I understand. I would leave too if I were in your position.”
Sunset got to her feet. “We could leave together. You could go look for the Rainbow of Light.”
“Alas…” Apalla took a strand of her long hair and coiled it around her finger. “I believe my fate has been decided for me. If I’ve been in here long enough that my little girl is not so little anymore, than I most likely don’t even have a body to go home too. No, my place is here. Tirek will come again someday. And when he does, I will be here, doing my best to weaken him.”
Her words were filled with conviction, but Sunset saw the longing in her eyes. But, Apalla was right: the Lulamoons had already declared her deceased and buried her.
“Thank you,” Sunset said, “for everything you’re doing.”
Apalla waved her hand. “Nothing short of my family’s duty. Now, no more stalling!” She gestured emphatically up to the swirling sky. “Sunset Shimmer, it is time you returned to waking world!”
At first, Sunset thought that was the command that would send her home. But no portal opened, no wave of light washed over her, nothing came to pull her away. She blinked.
“Umm… how exactly do I get back?”
Apalla put her hand down and twirled her hair again. “Mind you, this is all just theoretical speculation. But I’ve had a lot of time to think about souls and their connections, both before and after my own was taken. Ha! The soul researcher lost her own soul. Irony.”
She cleared her throat. “Anyway, it’s a bit of a two-step dance, if I’m correct. You see, I believe souls are connected. Tied together by invisible threads forged by the bonds we have with our friends and families. First, Sunset, you’re going to have to want, with all your will—all your soul—to leave this place and return to where you belong. And second, if your friends care and love and miss you enough, I believe it will bridge that gap the Soul Lock has created between us and the outside world. After all, friendship and love transcend time and space.”
Apalla paused. “Again, this is all just theory. I haven’t had a chance to test it yet since the rest of you won’t cooperate!” she shouted at a light speck passing by.
“But there aren’t any physical dangers, right?” Sunset asked, her straight posture hunching slightly.
“Of course there are no physical dangers. You don’t have a physical body anymore. Now, spiritual dangers…” Apalla waved a hand up and down. “Probably not?”
“I changed my mind, I think I want to stay in here.”
Apalla pat her on the back. “Don’t be silly. I’m almost one-hundred percent positive you can do this. Now close your eyes.”
Doubt clouded Sunset’s mind, but she forced it down into her stomach and closed her eyes. Her trembling had not resolved itself.
“Picture your friends, Sunset. Think of all the good times you had with them. Think of how much you want to go back and see them. Will yourself to leave this place. Let your spirit be free!”
Sunset squeezed her eyelids as she saw her friends in her mind’s eye. They smiled and called to her, asking her to come home. Sunset saw the sleepovers they had shared, the trips to the mall, their victory at the Battle of the Bands. She saw the soccer games and baking sessions and violin practices. A light fluttering filled her stomach.
“That’s it, Sunset. Hold onto that feeling. Let it guide you home.”
Sunset latched onto it. It hurt in some ways, knowing she had been absent from their lives. Had it been days or months since she encountered Lamia? Did her friends miss her? Had they moved on? What if they had never stopped to mourn in the first place? What if they didn’t care that she had disappeared or was a lifeless shell?
An ache spread through her, dissolving her strength. What if this didn’t work, or she didn’t have a body to go back to? Had she turned her life around enough to avoid going to Tartarus or the human world equivalent?
“No, no, Sunset! You’re losing focus! Push out the negativity, pull in the positivity!”
Sunset heard, but her heart hesitated. She tried to grab ahold of her happy memories again, and while she could see them clear as day, the joy they brought her felt… duller. The fluttering in her stomach never evolved into anything more. She could remember the euphoria of ponying up with her friends against the Sirens, but couldn’t draw up the emotion itself now. The harder she tried, the more tired she felt. Soon, the fluttering went away, and Sunset opened her eyes with a gasp.
“Hmm.” Apalla held a hand to her chin. “You were doing well at the start. Perhaps we need a different approach. Sunset, choose one person as an anchor.”
“An anchor?” Sunset asked after a few deep breaths.
“Yes. You can’t really rank friends or family, but we all have that one person who means just a little bit more to us. Who changed our lives so drastically, we can’t imagine them not being there. Someone we think about everyday. When they’re gone, the world seems a little grayer.”
“Twilight,” Sunset whispered.
“Who?”
“She’s my girlfriend.”
Apalla threw her hands against her cheeks. “How adorable! Picture her, then. Focus on her and the rest should follow. Go on.”
Sunset closed her eyes again, envisioning Twilight. She came into focus, a book clutched against her chest, her large glasses sliding down her button nose. She smiled and waved at Sunset.
And for a brief second, Sunset felt something spike in her heart. It had been a drastic shift compared to everything she had felt since waking up, like someone throwing hot water on her instead of just lukewarm. She squeezed her eyes in concentration. She wanted that feeling again—to know what it was that got her heart pumping. Like some of her memories, it hovered just out of reach.
“You’re doing good, Sunset,” Apalla said softly. “Hold onto it.”
Hold onto what? She didn’t have it yet. But she was close. She kept the image of Twilight clear in her head. Rarity appeared too, tossing her perfectly maintained hair with a flourish. Then there was Rainbow, mouthing something to Sunset and grinning. Fluttershy came next, looking at Sunset with her large, doe eyes. Applejack tipped her hat and winked. Pinkie jumped in the air and waved a pair of pom-poms around.
The feeling spiked through her again, something so sharp that, when it faded, everything else felt dull. Please don’t go. Please, let me see my friends again. Let me see Twilight again.
“... handed out packets for our finals…”
“Twilight?” Sunset asked. It sounded like an echo from the end of a long hall, but she knew that voice anywhere.
“... wish you were here. I really miss studying with you. I miss doing anything with you.”
I miss you too, Twilight. Sunset felt very lightheaded. In fact, her whole body felt weightless. She didn’t dare open her eyes though, scared it would break the connection she had forged. She allowed whatever was happening to run its course. She felt herself floating upwards, only to be yanked back by a strong cord.
No… I want to go home… The cord began dragging her back.
“We really miss you, Sunset…” Another voice apart from Twilight. Rarity’s.
“Come on, Sunset. You’ve been asleep long enough.” Rainbow’s.
Sunset could hear all their voices, cycling through her ears one at a time. Six more cords, stronger than the one pulling her down, took hold of her and lifted her up. Her mind grew hazy, her thoughts fading away until she could only hear her friends’ voices.
“If you see Moondancer,” a distant voice behind her said, “tell her, her mother loves her eternally.”
*******
Rainbow came to the back turn of the track, keeping a steady pace. The evening wind felt refreshing against the sweat coating every inch her. She pushed herself down the stretch, taking long breaths and driving her arms until she crossed the finish line. Her sprint eased down to a bouncy jog, then to a walk. She put her hands over her head as she recovered her missing air.
Fluttershy clapped from her spot in the stands, giving a quiet, “Yaaay!” that, had the stadium not already been empty, Rainbow wouldn’t have heard. The rest of the track team had already gone home, but Rainbow wasn’t ready to call it a day.
She walked over to Fluttershy, accepting the towel she had been offered. “Thanks for staying with me, ‘Shy. You know you didn’t have to though.”
“I know. But I wanted to keep you company. Plus, this is a nice spot to do homework.” She held up her math notes. “I’m almost done for the day.”
Rainbow groaned into her towel. She still had homework to finish when she was done running. Maybe she should have called it a day an hour ago. No, if she had gone home, she merely would have spent the last hour thinking about Sunset and whether or not she would ever wake up. Rainbow sighed, pulling the towel from her face. She could run from a lot of things, but not her thoughts.
Fluttershy abruptly stood, dropping her book to the ground. She stared out to the horizon, an astonished look on her face.
“Fluttershy, what is it?” Rainbow tried to see what she was looking at, but only saw the houses across the street. Then, a burst of soothing warmth flooded her body. All her fears and worries melted away completely for a second leaving only one word in her head.
Sunset.
The calming aura vanished as soon as it appeared, but Sunset stayed firmly in the forefront of Rainbow’s mind. She could feel her friend.
“She’s going to wake up,” Fluttershy said softly.
Rainbow punched the air. “Hell yeah! Come on, ‘Shy, we gotta be there when she does!”
Fluttershy put on a giant smile, then quickly pinched her nose. “Um, Rainbow… maybe you should take a shower first.”
She looked down at her sweat stained shirt and shorts. “Oh yeah. Probably a good idea.”
*******
“Here you are, Twinkleshine,” Rarity said, handing the carefully wrapped dress over the counter.
Twinkleshine beamed. “Thank you so much, Rarity. I’m really going to miss getting all my dresses from you.”
Rarity looked out the window with a dreamy expression. “That means a lot. But if all goes well, you’ll see my designs in stores around the world.”
“Looking forward to it.” Twinkleshine gave a wave as she left the boutique.
The moment she did, Rarity’s customer service smile fell to the wayside, and she heaved a loud sigh. Her feet carried her to the back room, now a constant mess all hours of the day as she grappled with order after order for prom. Dress designing under deadlines was always stressful, and was something Rarity had learned to live with. Designing under pressure while your best friend was in the hospital was something new.
She did her best to clean up some of the things she knew she wouldn’t need for her next dress, then sat down at her work station. Hanging on the wall were seven dresses she had designed for her friends for prom. Rarity had never considered the fact that she might only be making six.
No, don’t think like that. She could still wake up any day now. Rarity lifted her pencil and tapped the tip against the paper. She at least hoped Sunset would get to walk at graduation with everyone else. Her pencil continued to tap the page. There she went again, more distracted than usual. She sighed, letting the pencil fall from her hand. Double-Fudgy Delight was in order to lift her spirits again.
A warm wind brushed through her hair, and she twisted toward the door. “Sunset?”
An empty store answered her, but Rarity swore she heard Sunset’s voice. She stood from her chair, placing a hand over her heart. She didn’t know how she knew, but she knew. Today was the day. She ran to the front, flipped the ‘open’ sign to ‘closed,’ grabbed her keys, and ran to her car.
She clapped her hands and squeed as her engine warmed up. “Hold on, Sunset, we’re on our way!”
*******
Applejack took her time wandering through the south orchard, passing by trees that were older than her. Taking walks between the trees and inhaling their springtime aroma helped clear her head from the mind-numbing math problems she had endured.
She wasn’t quite sure where she was wandering to, choosing to allow her feet to take her wherever. She stepped over a tall root that had tripped her and Apple Bloom on more than one occasion, and circled around a younger tree that her cousin Braeburn had carved his name into.
Maybe it meant to be, or maybe she had come here subconsciously, but Applejack ended up in the most sacred spot of Sweet Apple Acres. A pear tree and an apple tree grew spiraling around each other, their very roots intertwined. Their boughs were indistinguishable from one another.
Applejack removed her hat and stepped up to the trees. She took a moment to swallow the lump in her throat. “Hey, Pa. Hey, Ma. Third time this week Ah’ve been here, huh? Y’all are probably sick of hearin’ me talk. It’s always nice to see you though.”
She sighed. “Ah’ve been dancin’ around the issue for awhile now, Ah know. It’s just… hard to talk about. You know Ah don’t handle situations like this well.” She twirled her hat in her hands. “It’s about mah friend Sunset. Ah told you about her, right? Used to be bad but she’s a real good sort now. Helps keep R.D in her place.” Applejack made a short chuckle.
“She’s… well, she’s out cold and hasn’t moved in almost two weeks. Just seein’ her like that breaks mah heart. That’s why Ah’ve only been to see her one time. Ah can’t take…” She swallowed another lump. “Ah can’t handle losin’ another family member. Ah want to believe she’s gonna be okay, but…. So, Ah don’t know how these comatose things work, but if you happen to see her up there, can you tell her we all really miss her? Especially Twilight. You should see the way Twi looks at her. It reminds me of you guys.”
The trees rustled in a gentle wind that swept through Applejack. It warmed her very soul, bringing a smile to her face. She tossed her hat on, feeling more invigorated than she had in days.
“‘Bout time.” She broke into a jog, then quickly stopped and looked over her shoulder.
“Thanks, Ma. Thanks, Pa.”
*******
“Pinkie, wait! Where are you going?” Mr. Cake called as Pinkie sprinted out the door.
“Sunset’s gonna wake up!” She yelled back, bouncing high into the air. She just knew it with every fiber of her pink being. She rushed down the street, pulling her phone from her pocket and calling Rainbow.
“Hello?” Fluttershy answered.
“Fluttershy?”
“Oh, hi, Pinkie!”
“Why do you have Rainbow’s phone?”
“She’s taking a shower. We’re about to go to the hospital; we think Sunset’s about to wake up!”
Pinkie ducked and weaved past pedestrians. “No way, I had the exact same feeling! I’m on my way too!”
“Umm, how are you getting there?”
“Running!” If she kept this pace up, she’d be there in half an hour.
“You know we could pick you up if you wanted.”
“No thanks,” Pinkie said, starting to pant. “I already started. Betcha I get there before you do! I call first dibs on hugging Sunset! You know, after Twilight. See ya!” She shoved her phone back into her pocket. If Fluttershy and Rainbow had the same feeling, then Rarity and Applejack probably felt it too. They were all going to be together again!
Pinkie gave herself another bounce, letting out a loud, “Wheee!” She smiled at everyone she ran by, feeling more close to her old self than she had in days. Sure, she had kept her hopes up and tried her best to keep smiling, but she could only keep a party going so long.
Now, she didn’t have to pretend anymore! She was going to see Sunset again and throw a real celebration!
By the time she got to the hospital, however, her enthusiastic run had been reduced to a slow and desperate jog. She kept pushing though, her smile widening when she saw her friends waiting for her at the front entrance.
Rainbow looked at her with a mix of impression and exasperation. “I can’t believe you ran all the way here.”
Pinkie slumped over her and took a dramatic gasp of air. “Anything for a friend!”
“Pinkie, get off! I just took a shower!”
“Come on, y’all,” Applejack said, “let’s not keep Sunset waitin’.”
*******
Twilight’s head drooped toward the book for a third time. She finally gave in and placed a bookmark against the page, then set it aside and rested her head on Sunset’s bed. She slipped a hand into Sunset’s and looked into her eyes.
Still nothing.
“Please come back,” Twilight whispered, her eyes falling shut.
“Only because you asked so nicely.”
Twilight’s head shot up. She looked into Sunset’s eyes again, but they remained vacant. She must have been drowsier than she realized, for Twilight could have sworn she heard Sunset’s voice. Either way, the sleepiness had passed.
The clock on the wall told her it was a quarter to seven. Her mother’s shift would be over soon, meaning it was time to wrap up and say goodbye.
“Well, there’s always tomorrow,” Twilight said. She gave Sunset’s hand a light squeeze…
...And just as she slipped her fingers out, Sunset gave a squeeze back.
Every part of Twilight froze. She held her breath, trying to watch every part of Sunset for any additional movement.
A warm breeze passed through Twilight, making her hammering heart swell. She could suddenly smell strawberries, and hear a familiar laugh.
“Sunset,” Twilight said in the smallest, trembling voice her throat would allow. She had felt something just now, similar to the night Sunset had disappeared. Yet it wasn’t foreboding. It was almost comforting. Did she hope? Did she dare to hope?
A minute passed, Twilight’s spirits sinking with every tick of the clock. Then, Sunset blinked.
With a loud gasp, she sat up in her bed, her hand desperately holding onto Twilight’s. The heart monitor went wild, loud beeps ringing through the room as Twilight tried to calm Sunset down.
“It’s okay!” she said, fighting to keep her voice level, even as tears poured from her eyes. “It’s okay! I’m here! You’re fine, Sunset! You’re safe!”
Sunset looked about the room in a wild fashion, like she couldn’t recognize anything within it. She found Twilight, and her breathing slowed a little, though her eyes remained wider than dinner plates. They gleamed with life once more.
“T-Twi—” She dissolved into loud, ragged coughs.
“Hold on, I have a water bottle!” Twilight reached down into her backpack and pulled it out, unscrewing the cap with only her free hand, and holding it up to Sunset’s lips.
Sunset took slow sips at first, squeezing her eyes as the water trickled down her throat. Then she urged Twilight to tip the bottle forward more, and she took deeper gulps.
Twilight pulled back to give Sunset a chance to breathe. She saw Sunset’s arm fidget upwards, raising a few inches off the bed, though it took considerable effort. Twilight caught on though, found a napkin in her bag, and wiped Sunset’s mouth.
“Thank you,” Sunset croaked.
Twilight nodded her head. She placed her other hand on top of Sunset’s, then gingerly moved it up to hold it against her cheek.
“I’m not dreaming,” Twilight said in an equally hoarse voice. “You’re really awake.”
Sunset gave a weak nod and an even weaker smile. “Yeah. I’m awake.”
Twilight let out a sob and wrapped her arms around Sunset, being as gentle as possible. Sunset leaned into her and closed her eyes in contentment.
It’s real. It’s really real. Twilight’s heart wanted to burst. Her whole body wracked with the force of her sobs and sniffles. She thought she had cried out everything when she had spoke with Cadence, but now, everything that had happened in the past month forced its way to the surface. The wild roller coaster that Twilight had been strapped into finally came to a stop.
Sunset was home. She was awake. And Twilight had been here to see it.
“I missed you,” Twilight said in between her crying, “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too,” Sunset said, her voice frail. “I’m sorry if I made you worry.”
Twilight wanted to hug her harder, but instead channeled her feelings into another wave of tears. “I looked for you. I looked everywhere I could for you! I never stopped looking for you!”
“Twilight—”
The door burst open, startling them apart. “Sunset!”
Their five friends rushed in and swarmed Sunset's bedside. Pinkie took Twilight’s place and gave Sunset a strong hug, unaware of her discomfort.
After the initial babble of everyone gushing over Sunset and hugging her, Fluttershy asked, “How are you feeling?”
“Tired.” Sunset opened her mouth to say more, but hesitated. Whatever she was going to say, she changed it to, “I think I just need some rest.”
“We completely understand,” Rarity said. “You’ve been through a lot.”
“And we’re totally stoked to see you,” Rainbow said, “but, like, what happened to you? You just disappeared.”
Rarity shook her head. “Rainbow she just woke up. Give her a little while before she has to relive her trauma.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine,” Sunset said, trying to wave her hand. Twilight saw she had trouble lifting it higher than her chest. “It’s kinda a long story though, and I have something really important to tell all of you and the Lulamoons.”
She then doubled over and started coughing and wheezing. Twilight pushed past Pinkie and laid a hand on Sunset’s shoulder, easing her back against the bed before returning the water bottle to her lips.
“It can wait until later,” Twilight said firmly. “You need to recover. Your body hasn’t been properly active in at least two weeks.”
Sunset’s eyes dimmed. “Two weeks? I… I’ve been gone that long?”
Rarity tapped her fingers together. “Well… you’ve been here that long. There was a whole week before that where we… weren’t one-hundred percent sure where you were.”
Twilight gave Rarity a warning glance, but the door opening again spared her from having to say anything. Velvet stepped in, gasping in delight upon seeing Sunset.
“You’re awake! Goodness, this is great! I’m so happy to see you again, sweetie! How do you feel?”
“Tired,” Sunset rasped. “Sore. And I think a little hungry?” She winced and moved an arm over her stomach. “Nevermind.”
“That’s all natural, dear. Your body needs time to adjust. Just hold on a moment, Sunset, I’ll go get the doctor.” She hurried back out the room, closing the door behind her.
When she left, Pinkie broke into a joyful sob and flung her arms around Sunset again. “We missed you so much, Sunny! We were so worried about you!”
Sunset squirmed but said, “I missed you girls, too. I’m so sorry for putting you through all this. I can’t imagine what you went through.”
“Forget what we went through,” Applejack said, “you’re the one who vanished. Pinkie, let go of the poor girl, she needs to take it easy.”
Pinkie released Sunset and stepped back, looking abashed, but still wearing a bright smile. “Sorry. I’m just so happy! We’re all together again!” She made a small jump, and confetti burst from her hair. “Once you get out of the hospital, I’m going to throw you the best party ever!”
Sunset smiled. “That sounds nice.” She looked around at all of them. “I hope you guys didn’t spend the whole time I was gone moping over me. You still went out and did stuff, right?”
There was a collective silence. Twilight looked away, feeling especially guilty.
“Oh no, girls, you didn’t,” Sunset said with a note of distress. “Please tell me you went out and had some kind of fun. What about grad night? I know how much you were looking forward to that, Rainbow. Wasn’t that supposed to happen around now?”
“Yeah. Last week,” Rainbow said, looking at the floor. “It felt wrong to go though. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.”
Sunset slid lower in her bed. “Oh. You should have…” She sighed deeply. “I’m sorry.”
Rarity patted her hand. “Don’t apologize, it isn’t your fault. Besides, we still have time to make plenty of other memories together.”
The door opened, and Velvet returned with Doctor Stables. “Sunset Shimmer!” he said briskly. “Good to see you awake! Your friends and family were worried sick.” He looked at the rest of the girls. “I’m sure you all want to catch up and celebrate, but I have to make sure Sunset is healthy and can acclimate properly. You can all come back tomorrow to see her.”
Twilight watched her friends gravitate closer to Sunset first, giving her pats on the shoulder or light hugs again. Pinkie asked, “What flavor cake do you want for your party?”
“After everything I’ve put you girls through, you don’t have to…” Sunset faltered under the fierce glare she received from Pinkie. “Strawberry would be nice.”
Pinkie smiled again. “One triple layered strawberry cake coming up!”
“We’ll come over right after school,” Fluttershy promised, leading her friends out. “We’re so happy to see you again, Sunset!”
Velvet gestured for Twilight to follow, seeing her linger by Sunset’s side. “That means you too, sweetie.”
“Right, yeah. That’s fair.” The last thing Twilight wanted was to be separated from Sunset again. What if she was asleep again come tomorrow? Or what if someone took her away again?
Sunset smiled weakly at her. “I’ll be here when you get back, Twilight.”
Mouth dry, Twilight nodded and said, “Okay.” She stooped down to give Sunset another hug and a kiss on the cheek. Then, steeling her nerves before they had a chance to falter, Twilight uttered three words desperate to be spoken.
“I love you.”
Maybe her emotions hadn't completely settled. But if the worst came to pass, and Sunset was gone again come tomorrow, Twilight wanted Sunset to know how she really felt.
She didn’t wait for Sunset’s response, her nerves reaching their limits. She hurried out the door behind her mother, looking back briefly to see Sunset’s eyes.
They were wide and awake. And very shocked.
*******
Twilight’s three words played in Sunset’s head all throughout the doctor’s tests. He slowly worked all of Sunset’s limbs, restoring their feeling and loosening the stiffness. He tested her general knowledge, then asked her some personal questions about what she could remember. Sunset ran into some trouble here. As within the Soul Lock, some of Sunset memories remained horribly fuzzy or completely missing.
“I love you.”
Those words did nothing to help Sunset’s concentration. She kept picturing Twilight’s face as she spoke them. They had caught Sunset completely off guard. Twilight loves me?
Something stirred in her soul. It left as soon as it came, leaving a sort of empty space where Sunset felt something should have been. Twilight loved her. This should have been cause for euphoria, Sunset thought. Yet, all she could muster was a feeling of gratitude, a dull warmth where something hotter should have stoked.
“Miss Shimmer, did you hear what I said?”
Sunset blinked and turned her head toward Doctor Stables. “I’m sorry. I must have spaced out a little.”
The doctor wrote a note on his clipboard. “I thought as much. Well, Miss Shimmer, you’re generally healthy, though I have some concerns about your mental abilities. This struggle to recall certain memories could prove problematic. We’ll keep monitoring you in between your physical therapy sessions.”
“Okay,” Sunset said politely. Her thoughts quickly turned back to Twilight. She loved Twilight back, didn’t she? Yes, of course she did. She loved all her friends, Twilight most of all. Yet there was something missing every time the word ran through her head. Sunset expected to feel something. She used to feel something, didn’t she?
Perhaps she was still just tired. Having your soul ripped out then placed back in your body couldn’t have been a healthy experience. She just needed time to recover.
Doctor Stables left her room. Sunset felt guilty, having only heard half of his prognosis. She stared at the ceiling, trying not to look directly into the fluorescent lights.
She had made it back. She was safe, for now at least. There was so much she had to tell everyone. Sunset cringed at the thought of being the bearer of such cryptic news. Her friends were all breathing a sigh of relief now. Come tomorrow, they’d be worrying about how to stop Tirek from coming back.
Sunset looked around at the abundance of flowers and balloons decorating her room. The floral aroma masked the sterile smell Sunset had come to expect in a hospital. Piled on her bedside table were cards from well-wishers. Several of them were from Pinkie alone. Sunset’s heart gave a little tremor at the sight of them. Once again, she felt like she should be experiencing something more. She was happy, wasn’t she?
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Twilight.” The words didn’t sound genuine. Sunset knew they were true, but they felt hollow. “I love you,” she said again.
They still sounded paper thin. Sunset couldn’t put emotion into them. Whatever passion was meant to be instilled felt locked up, unable to be expressed.
Sunset pulled the blankets higher and curled against her pillow. She was just tired, that was all. She was just shocked and dazed. She had been through a lot. Tomorrow would be better. She would get to see all her friends again. Her emotions would be in check, and she could tell Twilight how she felt.
Sunset remembered the butterflies that danced in her stomach whenever she thought about Twilight. She couldn’t feel them anymore.
*******
Moondancer stared at her phone, trembling in her hand.
‘Sunset’s awake!’
Twilight’s text bore into Moondancer’s mind. Everything around her went hazy. There was a ringing in her ears. One-by-one, thoughts drifted out of the haze. Emotions tumbled after, turning the idle questions into demands for answers.
How? Why?
The phone dropped from Moondancer’s hand and hit the carpet of her bedroom. This was wrong. This was all wrong. The Archon Amulet burned against her skin beneath her blouse, and the haze turned red.
How? she screamed in her mind. How did she get out? Escape is impossible without outside help! It has to be! Then how did Sunset Shimmer get free? Why did it have to be her? Why, why, why? Why didn’t Mother escape!
Moondancer opened her mouth to scream these questions aloud, but held a hand over herself. If she screamed, someone might hear her. They would think something was wrong. No one could know anything was wrong. Especially Tempest.
The inferno of loathing froze over, replaced by a blizzard of fear. Moondancer’s heart stopped. If Tempest found out…
But how could she? Tempest hadn’t been down to check on the lab in days. She didn’t know Sunset was no longer there. Moondancer had time. She had time to fix this mistake.
A stutterd laugh escaped from her. “Yes, I can fix this.” Heat poured through her again, fueling her burning desire to see Sunset vanish. How could she do it though? Sunset was in the hospital still, protected by doctors and security.
“I’ll send Scarlet!” Moondancer said, steepling her fingers together. “Yes, that’ll do, haha! Burn it all down!”
Some of the red haze cleared. No, no she couldn't do that. She wouldn’t stoop to claiming innocent lives. But how could she get Sunset alone and in the open? Her annoying friends would be circling her like over-protective hawks.
Moondancer paced the length of her room, muttering and gesticulating with her hands. A small voice in the back of her head told her to take off the amulet. The burning was starting to become irritating, and Moondancer was about to oblige, when a new thought struck her.
Sunset knows.
Moondancer didn’t know how much Sunset knew, but if she had been into the Soul Lock and back, she knew about Tirek, potentially about Tempest, and maybe even about Moondancer herself. She went cold again.
“Oh no,” she breathed, “Oh no, oh no, oh no!” If Sunset knew and she was awake, there was a high chance everybody knew now. Moondancer couldn’t know how much they knew, but they knew.
Wait… Moondancer stopped pacing. They knew. Her aunt and uncle knew about Tirek, or would know very soon, and Moondancer hadn’t said a word. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise. Yes, Tempest would have her hands full now. They could provide a great distraction!
Moondancer resumed her pacing. She still had to deal with Sunset. It would break Twilight’s heart no doubt. A necessary sacrifice. Twilight was young, she would recover eventually. Maybe. Moondancer could help her heal. But she needed a plan for right now! Tempest would find out soon!
The door crashed open, and before Moondancer had time to yell, a cold hand gripped her by the throat, pulled her out the room, and flung her across the hall. Moondancer landed with an almighty crash, her shoulder aching from the impact. Dazed, she couldn’t defend herself as the hand grabbed her throat again and reeled her in to face a wide-eyed Tempest, seething rage swirling behind her pressed lips.
“So apparently,” she hissed, her mouth barely moving, “when I say one thing, your stupid brain translates it into something else.”
Moondancer’s windpipe was being crushed, but Tempest didn’t care. When Moondancer grabbed the shadowy arm holding her up, Tempest just squeezed tighter.
“I went down to the lab yesterday, and guess what I didn’t find?” Tempest eased her grip just enough for Moondancer to choke out a few words.
“Thought… didn’t need… anymore… no use… gave back so… they would stop looking… wouldn’t find anything… just in case.” Every word hurt and brought tears to her eyes.
“You know, I’d almost be inclined to agree with that train of thought, Moondancer. But, do you want to know what happened today?”
Moondancer whimpered.
“Tempest, that’s enough!”
Night Shade hurried down the hall. His face remained stoic, but his quivering eyes kept flickering to Moondancer.
Tempest dropped her to the floor with an irritable growl. Moondancer’s hand jumped to her throat as she took in large gulps of air, coughing and spluttering every few breaths.
Night stopped and looked between them. “What’s going on?”
“Your spoiled wretch of a daughter has made a grievous error that could cost us dearly,” Tempest said, flexing her shadowy fingers. “Sunset Shimmer has escaped from the Soul Lock.”
“But, her body is—”
“At the hospital,” Tempest growled. “Someone thought it generous to return her body to her friends. Otherwise, we could have corrected this with little issue.”
Night looked sharply at Moondancer. “What possessed you to—”
“Her misplaced affections for that useless girl.” Tempest’s shadow arm disappeared into wisps of black smoke. “I knew it was a bad idea to let her go out to school.”
She reached into her shirt and pulled out the Soul Lock, the runes lighting up. “Frankly, I’ve grown tired of pretending she’s useful to us.”
Moondancer backed up against the wall, her eyes wide. “W-wait!”
Night cleared his throat, his stoicism starting to crack. “Tempest, don’t you think that might be a bit much?”
Tempest ignored him, stepping closer to Moondancer. “We have to end this rebellious streak somehow.”
“I can fix it!” Moondancer shouted, ignoring the pain in her throat. “I’ll fix it! I’ll get Sunset’s soul back! I’ll… I’ll get all six of their souls! All the magic ones!”
Tempest regarded her, opal eyes searching for any deceit. She slipped the Soul Lock away. “Seven. I want all seven of them. Yes, Moondancer!” she said harshly as Moondancer opened her mouth to speak up. “I want Twilight Sparkle’s soul too! Bring all of them to me, or I take yours! Are we clear?”
Moondancer closed her eyes and gave a tiny nod of her head.
“No. I want to hear you say it. What are you going to do, Moondancer?”
“I’m… going to bring you seven souls. Including Twilight’s.”
“Good girl. I know you can get work done. You just need the proper motivation.” Tempest stalked off, her boots loud, even against the carpet.
Moondancer opened her eyes. Her father was still there, looking at her with pity. Before he could say anything, Moondancer got up and stormed back to her room, slamming the door behind her.
The amulet blazed against her chest again. The universe just loves to shine providence on you, doesn’t it, Sunset? Well, not for long!
Moondancer gnashed her teeth together and raised her hand. A blood red aura sheathed it. “I’m going to put you in your place, once and for all.”
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I see the words Enchanded Library in any Twi-shipping story and I get excited. The sequel to my Tied-for-First favorite story on FiMfiction making a (potential) reference to the other Tied-for-First? It's a good night.
Minor distraction by two words aside. Yay, Sunset's awake! Curious about the hollow feeling she's having. I wonder if her passion is tied to her demon half.
A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.
Though that hollow feeling sounds really bad.
Anyone else get really excited just at the sight of a new chapter?
Wow, that was worth the wait. So much happened and it was spectacular. And yeesh, as much as Moondancer thought thought the amulet wasn't affecting her, it was. It was still affecting her darkest feelings in subtle ways and now it's built up to a complete takeover. Her entitlement and delusions about being the hero are setting her up for ruin, thinking Sunset is the true villain despite the fact Moondancer is willing to sacrifice so many innocents despite her claims of being a hero.
And yay! Sunset is back! However, it seems maybe she doesn't have her full soul. Her core essence is back, but her darker tendencies and her lighter ones seem to be gone or dulled. Hopefully she'll be able to reclaim them soon. Especially with Moondancer mad with power and ready to strike with vengeance. I can't wait for the next chapter!
Glad to see Sunset back, but she's clearly not all there. The Soul Lock's still holding onto a good chunk of her. Moondancer...I have nothing more to say about Moondancer. She wants to get her mother back at all costs. You think Sunset will be put in her place? She's exactly where she should be: surrounded by her friends and girlfriend. You, on the other hand...
It seems that Sunset is missing her passion. Her rage, her love, her fury, her desire.
In other words, she's still missing one "Scarlet Inferno". This is going to turn out very interesting...
I have my theories about why Sunset's memory is fuzzy, but I'll save them this time.
But damn, Tempest went HAM on Moondancer. (I am told that is something you kids say these days.)
Hmm, upon thinking about it, you all know what the ultimate punishment would be for Moondancer that might also drive her over the edge? She hates that Sunset has been "given" everything Moondancer feels she deserves. Wouldn't it be funny if she did take the Spectacular Seven's souls, but in doing so, they all managed to come together and manage to free everyone in the Soul Lock. In doing do, it might have the unfortunate consequence of freeing a weakened Tirek, but it would free everyone else in there as well. Including Apalla. In that event, Sunset would be the one to save Apalla, not Moondancer. Saving her mother is the only thing the mad Moondancer feels she has left, and for her "villain" Sunset to save her would be the best punishment.
Ooh, even when Sunset seems to win, things still heat up against her. I can't wait for the Lulamoons and the rest of the Seven to learn all about what happened to Sunset and maybe, just maybe, they'll be able to escape Moondancer's wrath before it's too late...
Though Moondancer's throwaway remark does make me wonder what kind of carnage Scarlet's been up to since we last saw her...
By the middle of the chapter: YAY!
By the end of the chapter: Yuh-oh.
Also, I always love your alternate chapter titles, since they're a ton of fun, but I actually have a little fun fact about this one.
Midwest Bronyfest actually made the same pun when that movie came out, so it brought back a lot of good memories about that con and my time panelling there.
img00.deviantart.net/ac3f/i/2015/352/5/8/mwbf_the_horse_awakens_by_ardail-d9kk217.png
...man, I miss MWBF. I still have the collectible glass and everything. But nevertheless, love the pun!
EDITED FOR MORE KANSAS CITY FACTS: I briefly remembered that you had "Gone Girl" for an alternate title, and while I've never read that specific book (and still really need to), the author is actually from KC. We take a lot of pride in it, constantly tell people that Gillian Flynn is from KC (along with Janelle Monae, we brag about her too), let her flip the switch on the town Christmas lights sometimes...basically, I aspire to her level of fame in my hometown.
I mainly just want to be famous enough to do the Christmas lights.You know, even knowing part of why she's doing things, and even taking the amulet into account...I still find Moondancer to be a little shit. She goes on and on to herself about how she regrets what she's done and whatnot...but at this point I can't take her or her father being helpless victims in this seriously. For starters, if she'd had half the brains she claims to have, she'd have found a way to contact Artemis behind Tempest's back ages ago. Second, all her talk about 'not hurting innocents' goes out the door when A: said innocents happen to be anyone in the way of her plans, and B: when you remember that she's helping a psychopath whose endgame is to bring back a soul-sucking sorcerer to take over the world. I hate villains that try to justify all their evil shit when it's blatantly obvious to anyone that all their plans are just gonna end with a ton of bad shit going down, and I can't wait for her to finally get hers.
8989893
I like this idea and hope something similar happens.
And now Moondancer has gone full blown villain. Tsk tsk tsk. Any hope you had of getting your dorky waifu is dead now. However I have a sneaking feeling the dazzlings are gonna play some part in this OR Moondancer is gonna go she demon and the girls will have to rainbow blast her and she will change sides so to speak
Was Twi reading a fanfic inside a fanfic? ficception
8990132
Yeah pretty sure that was a reference to The Enchanted Library by Monochromatic. Make sure You go read that one as well if you have not already.
Moondancer's perspective is so utterly twisted, it's both horrifying and fascinating.
I'm sure you'd love to though.
Is that a reference to what I think it is?
You have a soul?
The only reason she's THERE is because you're a FUCKING YANDERE.
You have no idea what she's been through.
So you claim.
Wow. You are just a terrible person.
Considering she forgave Luna, I'm sure she'll forgive you.
Pity.
Physically yes, mentally, GOD no.
Twilight.
You're a good person.
I like your style.
Half AN hour.
Yeah, your throat is probably rather dry.
SunsET.
Oh WOW.
He has a point.
Say it. SAY IT. SAY IT!
Yes, you stupid horse!
Moondancer's doing no doubt.
WOW, you are psycho.
You made a deal with the devil. She's gonna claim your soul eventually.
So how long before Moondancer tries to backstab her and gets her shit kicked in?
That's not good.
8990308
Bitch, I'm adorable.
8989835
technically, it's her lighter side that's gone missing. (her Yang)
All Sunset's emotions are trapped in "Scarlet", it would seem. Typical of this kind of thing--the soul is ripped in twain, must be made whole even if it means accepting the worst part of yourself. Or, to put it another way...
Hey Moony? There's a friend of mine I'd like you to meet. No no, I know he's a bit scary looking, but he's cool. I mean, apart from his skull being on fire and all. Just...calm down and look into his eyes...
Ya know, I was holding out on Moondancer, but now? Fuck her, she needs to be brought down lower than low and discarded. Seriously, you can't even say that it's the amulet's influence since she was thinking and thinking the same things before it was even present.
Escaping the Soul Lock really seems as "easy" as I thought, but I suppose that Sunset was stuck in it long enough...
But who cares if it was easy or difficult. I am just happy that she is back in her Body!
Imagining how all her friends rushed to the Hospital really warmed my heart and brought a tear to my eye
But...everything beautiful has to come to an end.
Although Moondancer got rid of that fixed idea that Twilight is under a spell, she now ignores how obviously the Archon Amulet is corrupting her.
Damn it, woman! What does it take for you to realize that you are going to far?!
8990308
It's lines like this that make me look forward to your weekly comments almost as much as the chapter updates.
8990759
My pleasure.
It seems Scarlet still has part of her soul. She'll need that back soon. I anticipate many misunderstandings until it's returned.
Moondancer better get a beat down from Sunset, what a bitch!
8990613
As much as I want to agree with you, and I really want to, two of the major components of both this fanfic, and the show and movies it's derived from, are the concept of forgiveness and empathy. Without these, well, it wouldn't be what it is. After all, if we're supposed to forgive Wallflower for erasing memories because she's a sperg and Starlight for trying to undo time because muh boyfriend left me, then I think it's possible to, if not forgive, at least understand why Moondancer went crazy because she watched her mother get her friggin' soul get ripped out when she was what 8? Still though, Moony is a cunyay.
8990177
Read it. Loved it.
Sunset seems to be missing a majority of her positivity. Well gee golly willickers, I wonder where it is...
Selling your soul never turns out good for you, Moondancer.
Oh dear.
This could get interesting.
MOONDANCER WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
Sunset is Back!
But she's still missing half of her soul! 
Oh, and Moondancer is going to try and sacrifice all of the Seven (including Twilight) to save her own worthless hide! 
8990815
I want to agree with you that Moondancer needs forgiveness or understanding because that is the core moral of the story and the series ... but I just can't. She' sacrificing other people's souls to help someone who wants to cause the apocalypse, for Faust's sake! Yes, I can acknowledge that some horrible shite has happened to Moonie, but that doesn't excuse her actions, and she actively deserves ever horror that Hell (or Tartarus) can inflict on her.
As for Wallflower and Starlight ... I didn't see the memory erase episode so I can't really comment on Wallflower, as for Starlight ... the fact that the biggest mass murderer/genocidal buckjob in history gets a pass has never sat well with me.
I hope Sunset gets that missing part of her soul back!
And i'm really starting to feel sorry for Moondancer.
8992304
I can understand where you're coming from, but one of the things FiM used to get right, is the concept of forgiveness and atonement for those who are willing to seek it (Luna in season 1 for forgiveness and Sunset in Rainbow Rocks for atonement). If Moondancer fights back against this order, I can see her getting to atone for the horrible things she's now actively taking part in. But if she doesn't fight back, if she keeps following orders like a good little Party Member, then forgiveness and atonement would feel out of place and would drive the character even further from being the relatable villain she started as.
Honestly, I feel like Glimmer got off easy because someone amongst the show staff has a soft spot for the little commie.
I'm going to guess that the reason Sunset doesn't have all of her memories is because she doesn't have all of her soul. Scarlet being the other part.
Oh shit... How long exactly has Moondancer had the Alicorn Amulet? Cuz that thing plus her obsession for Twilight & her pure hated for Tempest and Sunset has pushed her beyond help.... God help the girls...
Well, Moondancer seems to have lost all remaining shreds of her sanity.
8989893
Even better: her loving mother looking at her with tremendous disappointment over "joining the dark side," would be a knife through her heart.
I think one of the reasons why I and many others keep going back to your stories is because you do a great job of paying off the reader for the investment they put into the story. It got a little tiring reading the Mane 6 look for Sunset when you know they won't find her, but reading the scene where she wakes up and everyone realizes that at the same time was pretty powerful stuff thanks to the earlier scenes. Great stuff! If I were to have one criticism of this chapter in particular, is that it threw me off a bit that Sunset would abstain from telling everyone crucial information just because they've been through a lot the past week or two. To me, things seem a bit too crazy for Sunset to realistically make that judgement call. Other than that, very entertaining and heart wrenching stuff, looking forward to the next chapter as always!
This chapter brought a tear to my eye and I got my book as well tis a grand day
8990407
From the sea of thy soul, I come...
I join the general consensus in saying Moondancer can go straight to hell. Even if she should pull a last-second heroic sacrifice, she (and her good-for-nothing, spineless father) deserves nothing less for agreeing to sacrifice anyone else's soul. It's especially bad she agreed to turn over Twilight's soul. The only one I'd feel bad for in that deal would be Apalla, because she's a genuinely good person.
Sunset may be physically and mentally present, but she's not emotionally there. All her feelings still belong to the demon, and a reckoning must happen with her.
Yet another knock-it-out-of-the-park chapter.
That's an Iroh quote!
What next? "If you look for the Light you will often find it, but if you look for Darkness that is all you will ever see"?
8997818
Somewhat agreed. Now, Moonie's father, we don't know enough about. Maybe Tempest has something more on him, maybe Tirek, maybe something else is extenuating.
But this bit- Moondancer agreeing to steal Twilight's soul... That proves that she DOESN'T love Twilight, clearly. Of course, that MIGHT be the Alicorn- er, Archon Amulet turning her thoughts to darkness and evil, but then again... It seems like she ought to be more willing to have her own soul taken. Er... that sounds kinda dark. But you know what I mean.
If Moondancer WAS a hero, or a protagonist, this would be the point where she'd accept to trade her own soul for Sunset's, despite disliking Ms. Ketchup-and-Mustard- kicking off her father's eventual betrayal of Tempest, reuniting with her mother, learning the truth, etc. etc. and soforth. Then she'd get back out by focusing on her love of Twilight, like Sunset did, somehow purify the Amulet and use it in righteous fury, yadda yadda yadda.
Then what's the hard answer?
Twi is reading RariTwi to Sunset? I think that counts as a harem point.
I don't think you can hold up your end of the conversation, Moony.
Oh Moony, you are so, so ignorant. Kinda hoping that Moony ends up under the same curse that Sunny started out with.
Oh that is so far from the truth.
I've seen enough YouTube to know that there's plenty of cats and dogs that get along great together.
Apalla sounds like I feel at work.
What, you don't think Sunny wants her all sweaty?
So, second dibs?
Fleeing as soon as you say it is not terribly reassuring.
I really hope she gets invited to Sunny's debriefing when she talks about where Apalla's soul is.
I'm not crying. You're crying.
First, YESYESYESYESYESYES
That was so good. The way the girls felt Sunset escape was so fucking amazing. The joy I felt was incredible.
And now, fuck you Moondancer. If the animosity i feel for you could be a power source I could power the entire damn world. Burn in hell.
8990308
I like youse
Your my new friend
Sounds like someone is jealous
That must be the artifact that lamia got for her. But what does it do is the question.
She's back x3
What an asshole she is compared to her pony counterpart.