The Other Sunset Shimmer

by Jerec the Ascendant

Sprites, A Joint Study

Celestia canceled all her appointments for the day. Though she feared drawing any attention that might reveal the sprite, she decided it was important to learn all she could about it as quickly as possible. Sylri sat shivering on a throw pillow, a vast and plush ocean to her three inch self. Celestia and Sunset sat at her sides, looking down at her.

"All right, let’s go over this once more," Celestia said. At the sound of her voice Sylri let out shriek. Sunset could see the panicked rise and fall of her chest, the fear etched on her face.

Celestia sighed and continued. "So, let's start with your name."

"Sylri. S-Y-L-R-I. In case you need to spell it,” the sprite squeaked, focusing on her tiny fingers.

A yellow glow surrounded a piece of parchment on a table, carrying it across the room. As it flew to Celestia, Sunset caught a glance of it - a picture of Sylri was attached to the top of it. She stood straight against a white background, wings spread out like a butterfly display. Something about it made Sunset uncomfortable.

Celestia wrote presumably Sylri’s name on the parchment. "Sylri, what is it you are doing here in Canterlot?"

Sylri bit her lip, still watching her fingers. "Looking for food and energy.”

"If I remember right, you feed on negative emotions?"

"Well, I feed on solid food and liquids, just like you do,” Sylri said. “But sprites require the energy provided by negative emotions in order to fuel their magic."

The Princess’s quill moved quickly across the parchment. "I see. What drew you to Canterlot?"

“You did, Your Highness,” she whispered. “I arrived shortly after your battle with…” she glanced at Celestia, then quickly looked down again. "Well, you were rather depressed after that.”

Sunset looked at her mentor, too. Her face was stoic, though, offering no clues regarding this battle. Another question for Celestia, Sunset figured.

"Interesting,” the Princess said. “You’ve been here for nearly a millennium, then. Is your kind immortal?”

Sylri nodded. “As long as we are fed properly, we can continue living forever.”

Sunset watched the sprite again. She couldn’t decide how she felt about the creature. She thought about all the ponies that must have suffered because of the sprite’s feeding, and her heart started beating quickly - especially when she considered the pain Sylri caused herself. However, seeing the tiny creature now, cooperating for her life, enduring the immense fear she’s feeling - Sunset couldn’t help but relate to her.

“So, why did you decide to leech onto my student, rather than another pony here?”

"Well, she’s not exactly a pony, now is she?” Sylri let out a nervous laugh. “When I first tasted her negativity, it was such a new taste. Foreign, and so strong; I had to have more. I lost control of myself...as I became more and more powerful from you,” she turned to Sunset, “I just wanted to feed off you more. I’m truly sorry…”

Sunset’s heart jumped, but then doubt filled her mind. Could the sprite be cooperating simply to escape?

“How large is the sprite population in Equestria,” Celestia asked.

Sylri began counting on her fingers. “Including my adoptive parents, I know of six others.”

"You're an orphan?" Sunset asked.

Sylri hesitated before answering. "Technically, I’m not actually a sprite. One day, I was living in an orphanage, and I blacked out…” She stared straight ahead for a silent second. “And then I wound up here as a sprite.”

“You don’t remember anything before that?” Celestia asked, leaning closer.

“There is one thing,” Sylri said. “I woke up in some strange harness. Mechanical arms surrounded me. Needles.” The sprite shivered violently. “I remember someone crying, too. She was saying something over and over. She didn’t want to. Didn’t want to do something. She apologized a lot too. It’s all so hazy now, but I do remember her name. Assilryn.”

Sunset saw Celestia’s ears prick at the name.

“I took my name from hers, since I couldn’t remember my old name.” She looked up at Celestia, whose eyes were watering. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to go into this story. Please, I don’t deserve your sympathy. After all, I’m a monster.”

Celestia gasped, and Sylri was suddenly engulfed in her magic. The sprite struggled, fearing the worst, but Celestia only pulled her close to her, gently holding her against herself with a hoof.

“Don’t say that. Not when you’ve had such monstrous things done to you. Yes, the ones who did this, they are the true monster.” Celestia held Sylri a while longer before returning her to the pillow. “Let us leave this horrid topic for another time.”

Sunset decided to offer her own questions. “What did you mean when you said I would be safe inside of you? I wouldn’t be digested like any other food?”

“When a sprite grows powerful enough, they can devour their prey, keeping an energy source close at all times. Our magic keeps the source safe, and a certain magical liquid in the lining of our stomachs even prevents the source from aging. This is how sprites grow even stronger. In fact, considering how powerful your negative emotions were, swallowing you could have made me incredibly strong - maybe the strongest sprite ever. That’s the difference between your depression and everypony else’s.” Sylri looked up into Sunset’s eyes, then squeaked. “But I’m still really, really sorry that I even tried.”

“Do you have any of my little ponies within you, Sylri?” Celestia asked.

“No, Your Highness. I had one long ago, but I let him out after some time. I felt bad for what I did to him. Not nearly as bad as I did to you, though,” she said, looking at Sunset again, though not in her eyes. “If you still wish to return the favor, you may. My magic will keep me safe...as long as you don’t chew.”

Sunset encircled Sylri in her own aura and pulled her close, hugging her gently as Celestia did.

“Don’t be afraid, Sylri. I forgive you. Can you forgive me?”

Sunset felt the sprite nod, and her tiny hands clutched at her fur.

“Well, this is certainly one of the oddest friendships I’ve ever seen,” Celestia said.

Sylri looked up at Sunset, and the two laughed.

Comments

[Greatazuredragon]

Interesting, not completely sure about these sprites, but liked the rest of the story so will take a wait and see aproach.
Good work, keep it up.

[Soluna Eclipse]

Interesting, would this mean that Nightmare Moon is simply a Sprite possessed Luna? It reminds me a lot about the Nightmares from the comic books and the description of how they feed and how the victim doesn't age seems a little curious.