The Worst of All Possible Worlds

by TheTimeSword

World 6: Chapter 8

After returning from her visit to the princesses, Sunset found Rarity trying on some of the ensembles from Charmer's store below the home. With no desire to join in the costume changes, the alicorn sat staring up at the ceiling from the chaffing couch. Like the hair of a shaved head, she wondered how Rainbow had slept on such an uncomfortable thing. Now I get why Charmer doesn’t stay often.

Her eyes traced the room. There was no artwork or hobbyist collections. No potted plants, and certainly no table decorations. It was as barren and unimaginative as she would’ve expected from someone like Maud Pie. Rolling to one side, Sunset felt herself slip into a slumber. It was a short nap, not long enough to dream, though that hadn’t stopped the darkened world before. Yet the bizarre dreamscape stayed away as if Sunset'd become diseased. She didn’t mind, though. Her unconscious thoughts brought images of those she’d met through these terrible worlds.

But something awoke her with a start, shooting her straight up. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were asleep,” Rarity said as she stood above her, an outfit of navy blue wrapped around her chest. However, Sunset hadn’t even heard the fashionable mare. There was a sinister feeling that crept through her mind that couldn’t be disparaged, like a claw made of embers, but it was lost as soon as she awoke.

“It’s fine,” Sunset replied. “What are you doing today?” Her eyes glanced to the blinds covering the windows, the sun already setting. “Well, tonight. How long was I out?”

“I’m not sure. But tonight will be fun! You. Me. Delicious gourmet dining at several different establishments on Restaurant Row. It’ll be a treat!” Rarity teetered with excitement, a sparkle in her blue eyes.

“I can’t go anywhere, Rarity. Ponies recognize me now.”

Like a toddler, Sunset was abruptly and brutally assaulted with clothing, covering her torso and rear with a striped shirt and jeans, a backwards ball cap thrown atop her mane. Her wings fluttered helpless trapped beneath the t-shirt like a bug fearfully jumping within a glass container. “Come now, no one will recognize either of us.” Pulling her by the hoof, Rarity dragged the alicorn to the door.

“Wait!” Sunset pulled back, glancing around the room. When she spotted her backpack, she levitated it to her, tossing it over her shoulders.

“Darling, must you take that thing everywhere?”

“It matches my outfit,” Sunset thoughtless excused, refusing to leave the bag or the draconequus alone.

Though a want for rebuttal fell on her lips, Rarity made no effort to argue. Trudging down and out into the city, Princessland was closing down for the night aside from the eatery venues. Lights shut off within window shops, street lamps were being lit, and the cooing of praises for the moon’s glow were being sent off. Though Sunset found it idealistic, she wondered if her own Equestria shared in the same sort of closing ceremonies. How long had it been since she set hoof in Canterlot?

A shiver went down her spine, though the clothes she wore were quite warming, if not a little tight. On Restaurant Row, Rarity knew all the perfect stops, though Sunset knew them well too. Their names were foreign, but their designs and signs were much the same. Sunset couldn’t help but revel in the unicorn’s conversation as they walked. Her heart warmed with the thought of her Rarity at CHS, along with those she’d met through her journey.

She smiled whenever Rarity spoke, whether the discussion be of her performing, her clothing, or her life. And she smiled more whenever Rarity noticed the grin, a blush blurring itself within her white face. “It seems you’re quite comfortable with your life here in Princessland,” Sunset noted, having to shout over the chatter of the Row’s busy street.

“Quite so! My business was bought out in Ponyville—I used to live there, you know. Picturesque town, tragic in a sort of small, depressing way. The suitors never revealed their intentions for my home and shop, yet they offered quite the spending currency. More than enough, more than the building's worth. With it, I was able to open a shop within Princessland,” she stated with pride, only for it to falter. “Of course, I let the shop eventually close, though I chose to remain in Princessland.”

“Why? What happened?”

“I became an actress and singer, darling. I have no time to sew and celebrate fashion, not when I wear it for my audience. Though I do often give my designs to somepony else, so that they may make my costumes for the stage life. The girls, Sassy Saddles and Suri Polomare, are quite good at their jobs. I couldn’t have asked for better assistants. Though I must acknowledge my own skill as well.”

“You seem to have done quite well for yourself.” Sunset’s brows furrowed as she abruptly saddened. “While you’ve done well, much like Fluttershy, others have fallen. Rainbow Dash and Applejack, they’ve fallen so hard it’s appalling. Whenever I think of what Flim and Flam has done to them, it makes me so mad. Having been through different worlds, it shouldn’t bring out any anger in me. There was one world where you were stuck in a boring life managing the Castle of the Two Sisters. Applejack, however, was set for life in every way imaginable.”

“Applejack. She was the orange gal, correct? You know, I’d seen here before. To think the six of us are all friends in another world is odd, yet it can’t be so odd if I recognized her. Our paths wouldn’t have crossed in some way if it weren’t fate.”

“Fate.” Sunset couldn’t help but laugh at the thought. “The worlds I’ve been through have made me question such a thing. Especially this one. Discord, stepping through realities, seeing into things, and then reverse engineering his own prison world for me. Truly, if fate exists, it has a chaos to it that only Discord could love.”

Rarity seemed perturbed, yet enthralled by the worlds, her head tilted as she listened. “Dear, that’s destiny, not fate.”

Yet Sunset did not understand the difference.

This time it was Rarity who laughed. “Destiny is the past being read, taking it into account when moving forward on the future. We shape our destinies, and their results shape us. You shaped your destiny, mingling against this Discord, just as he is shaping his own. He foresaw his own future from past events and chose to change the timeline to benefit him. Of course, no matter how much he changed it, things can always go against him. Fate on the other hoof, is what we receive when we do nothing. Becoming stagnant, letting life take us where we go, and wrapping us in the thread where we cannot read the past or future. Our fate changed because of you, and perhaps, in your hooves, we six bearers can take hold of our destinies."

“I’d agree with you, but I’m not so sure you’re right. After all I’ve been through, can I really say I'm in control? Something calls to me, but what? Fate?”

Rarity removed the conversation from their lips, returning to a more pleasant theme. It wasn’t long before they found the first restaurant on Rarity’s list. The Prince’s Mark, a restaurant Sunset had never seen, was one such place Rarity remarked as pleasant. Inside, tourists gathered and marveled at a prince who, prior to the creation of Princessland, would’ve been welcome inside castle grounds. “It must be hard being a prince in Princessland,” Rarity remarked, pointing at Prince Blueblood as they sat down. “Everypony wants to see the princesses, never the prince. I believe that’s why Princess Cadance’s husband stays in the Crystal Empire.”

The blonde stallion was surrounded by females, all wanting pictures, and the stallion was happy to oblige. For a moment, Sunset thought to get a picture as well, but Twilight had already returned Fluttershy’s camera. "Those mares seem more than inclined to see him."

"Yes, but if you were revealed, he'd be tossed aside. Such is his fate," she remarked, not even realizing the sudden return of the previous conversation.

Continuing on after a small meal at The Prince's Mark, they traveled down further into the Row. Though the unicorn tried her best to drag Sunset past it, The Smoked Oat remained in the same spot it always sat. But upon entering, Sunset wasn’t greeted by a chubby stallion with three pretty serving girls. Instead, one greasy stallion appeared with the shrill shriek of an older mare following behind. “Yes, mother,” he returned a reply before greeting Sunset and Rarity.

Though Rarity entered, Sunset couldn’t. Her legs wouldn’t move forward. “It’s you.” She shuddered at the memory, the greasy stallion standing across from her.

“My apologies, madam, we are not usually like this,” he said, beads of sweat running down his forehead as the sounds of slamming pots rang out.

“Who are they? What do they want? Hey! Answer me when I’m talking to you!” the mare screamed, much like a siren wailing in the night.

“I’m finding out, mother dearest,” he replied, his voice cracking under the pressure.

Sunset hurt for the stallion. This was his life in a world without pure chaos. That quiet mare, she was a nice old lady. She called me pretty. And he was her son, the rude lawyer. “I-I’m sorry.” She back pedaled onto the street, forcing Rarity to also retreat. “This wasn’t the place I was looking for.”

Bursting off, Sunset felt her stomach slosh her meal from side to side, eventually causing her to stop and huff. Calm and panting, Rarity caught up easily without need of vigor and haste. “Are you alright, Sunset? What was that about?”

“Have you ever mistreated someone, Rarity?”

The question came out of nowhere to the unicorn, her face of surprised concern. She stood in the street with the lamp lights flickering off her blue eyes, studying Sunset. “I don’t know,” she said, having no real answer. “I’ve never thought about it. I’ve gotten upset at others before, who hasn’t? Mistreated? I don’t… I don’t know.”

“I have. So many times.” Why is he hitting me harder than the others? That rude stallion deserved it in Discord’s world. But it doesn’t feel right to think that. She then remembered, the stallion reminded her of another that she once wronged for fame and popularity. “I may be a princess, Rarity, but I still make mistakes.” Out of nowhere, the word ‘forgiveness’ popped into her mind. “Come on. Take me back to the hideout. I don’t feel like being out anymore.”

Though it was clear Rarity didn’t understand, she did as told, taking Sunset by the foreleg and leading her to Charmer’s home. Upon their arrival, Sunset set her backpack on the table, stripping off the disguise and leaving them on the floor. She didn’t even acknowledge Rarity’s worried expression as she passed her, climbing onto the couch and laying with her muzzle tucked to the back.

“Ar-are you certain you would not prefer the bed, Sunset?”

“No. I’d like to be alone right now.”

The unicorn nodded, unsure if solitude was the right thing to give the otherworldly alicorn. But Rarity once again followed instructions, trotting off to one of the bedrooms. Sunset didn’t sleep for the longest time. Instead, sitting in silence, she gleamed a thoughtful contemplation. The night grew long, the moon passing over gently. And still sleep did not come.

Ruminating over her unfortunate past filled her heart with sudden courageousness. She leapt from the couch, dragging her backpack with her magic, and quietly opened and closed the front door. Trotting down the steps, when she reached the street she took flight. Her thoughts guided her. Sadness, overwhelming grief, filled her heart. An anxious shiver rocked her body as though every muscle told her not to. Not to go. Anywhere but there.

Reaching the stage, she set down. Teleporting through the gift shop with ease, nopony was around to stop her. Not that they would. Her eyes examined the levers. Though the biggest she’d seen, which controlled something magical, she now found the doors as well. Flipping the exit and the first door past it, she went inside.

Upon entering the brightened replica room of the Crystal Castle’s throne, Sunset did not say a word to Sombra who was awake with a surprising start. He bemoaned the intrusion, yet clambered to his hooves, following her all the way to the door, stopping just short. “You’re not here about the Elements of Harmony?” he asked, though she did not respond.

“Tirek,” she shouted, instead calling for the centaur.

Rolling out of his plethora of pillows that made up his bed, the centaur lifted the sleep mask from his eyes, and glared down his nose at the alicorn. Pushing himself to a standing position, he smoothed the wrinkles from his pajamas, which were covered in small yellow ducks, and held a pink teddy bear in his other arm. Adjusting his night cap, he trotted slowly, frowning all the while. “You have disturbed my slumber, in the dead of night, with no witnesses and no friends by your side. Why? Your fear from before—have you come for revenge? Come to grab hold of me, electrifying my body till this zoo lacks one less frightening monster?”

She shook her head, her mind held no thoughts of revenge. “I’ve come to forgive you.”

“Forgive me?” Tirek stood in awe. Even Sombra let out a short, surprised gasp.

“I thought that, after defeating the sirens, I was redeemed. I became a hero, just like my friends are. I joined them, feeling truly part of whatever made them so special. I was happy with myself.” Her eyes met his beady stare. “But you showed me something. I still grieved for the terrible things I did, the betrayals I committed, the breakups I caused. And I thought that anger was deep inside me, pushing my actions and my faults. Until I met you.”

“So you are from another world,” he said, no longer skeptical.

“I met you and I felt it. I felt your anger. At the time, I thought it was my own. Why would you be angry? You had control over everything. You were above even the princesses. You claimed I was filled with anger, and that you knew how to help me. You were right. I was filled with anger. Your anger. I empathized with you. Too much empathy, I now understand. You tried to help me, when you only helped yourself. You convinced me what I felt was anger, when it really was grief.”

“Grief. Anger. What’s the difference? Both fuel a vengeful desire.”

“You taught me to study others, to see what really hid beneath their façade of an appearance. Their underlying emotions and intentions. Yet not once did I dare use that sort of knowledge on you. The one person who regretted their actions the most. You expressed that on the day Sombra betrayed us both.”

Sombra let out a cry from the door. “Me!? Preposterous!”

“You said to me you shouldn’t have trusted ponies. I thought that it meant you were truly evil. That you hated me, and all other ponies. That you were just pretending to be my friend all along.” Tears pooled around the edges of her eyes, blurring her vision. “But that wasn’t it. You truly did trust ponies, you cared for them. You knew what you were doing was wrong, but couldn’t find a way to break the cycle of hatred. You wanted power, to rule. But you wanted friendship too. That’s the one thing you couldn’t get. A stronger magic than anything you could ever take. It’s why you always came around with a basket of bread and a couple cups of coffee after stealing magic.

“You wanted ponies to like you. Over a thousand years ago, you wanted something similar. You wanted ponies to fear you. To steal their magic and rule over Equestria. And a thousand years later, you got your wish, and you felt regret. It’s why I empathized with you. I have much to regret. It’s why I let you tell me I was wrong, when instead, you were wrong. About everything. About so much that it hurts me to think about.”

The centaur stood like a statue. His face held a blank slate of emotion, yet his body betrayed him, shaking beneath the ducky pajamas. “And you’ve come to tell me this, why?” he asked, his voice remained strong.

“I should have tried harder to sway you from the path you were on. I could have done more. I’ve been trying to do more ever since dealing with the changelings. I always come up short. But I also realized long ago that everyone matters. Everyone! Even you. Even Sombra. Maybe I can’t help those who don’t want to be helped, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try first. That’s why I forgive you, for everything you did, no matter how terrible. You deserve it, because if it was me in your position, I’d want forgiveness too. And I do.”

Sunset bowed her head to the floor. “I ask your forgiveness, Lord Tirek. I was your student. I was your helper. I was the angry little mare who threatened to end your peaceful reign. But most of all, I was the one pony who could have been a true friend, your only real friend, and I failed.”

Having listened to her words, Tirek let loose a long winded sigh. “Pony words are always so dramatic. I cannot be forgiven any more than I can forgive you. I may be Lord Tirek, but I am not the Lord Tirek you wish to say those words to. Those actions are not my own, nor are your reactions to mine.” He raised a hand and pointed to the door. “Now, if there is nothing more, please leave.” Returning to the pillows, the centaur searched for his sleep mask.

Sunset’s head hung low as she walked to the door, passing through to Sombra’s chamber. She said nothing to him as she headed for the exit.

“Aren’t you going to ask me to forgive you?” the dark stallion asked, stopping her in her tracks.

“You forgive me?” she almost growled the words, turning back to face him.

“Tirek’s right.” He came close to the alicorn. “We’re not the ones who did those things. We’re… I’m not the one who betrayed you.”

“I-I know,” she replied.

Sombra then breathed in, preparing himself. With an exhale, he said, “No princess has ever walked these halls. None. Not Celestia, Luna, nor the one who took over my kingdom. You are the first, even if you aren’t regal, or even from this world. At the very least, that means you’re better than them.”

“What’s your point?” Sunset didn’t understand.

“I could lie and say I don’t want to leave. That I don’t want to seize the Crystal Empire for myself and all of Equestria. You’d see right through it. There’s no changing who I am. Not in this world, at least. Those brothers have brought a pining for revenge that may never go away. Yet you, the one princess to ever visit this glorified menagerie, are the only one to have seen us in our most powerful states. You want to befriend everyone. To make the world right. To be forgiven for failing the thing you hold dear: friendship.”

“Why should I ask for forgiveness?” she asked, repeating her question.

“Because you’re wrong. Lord Tirek did obtain friendship. Not in your worlds, but this one.”

Her eyes turned back to the centaur who stood at the door. A nod motioned his head ever so slightly. “Who? Who is he friends with?” she asked, turning back to Sombra.

“Me,” the dark stallion replied.

She wanted to feel the coldness of his words, to see deep into his being and know that the word was false. A lie. A deceit to bring her from the righteous path. However, she felt no such thing. Only regret, much as she had once seen within a different Tirek. They’re friends? In that world, Community, they were secret enemies. Tirek believed Sombra would betray them all, and he did. They were pleasant on the surface. Here, in this zoo, it’s the opposite. They show no breaks in their want for destruction, and through that, they found friendship. She shook her head, almost crying.

The stallion who lied to her, the stallion who betrayed her. She wanted him to be nothing more than a terror to be brought down by friendship. How was it imaginable that even horrible Sombra could make a friend? Only in the most awful of worlds possible could it have happened. A world ruled by a secret dictator and his two pets. A world meant to be an ironic prison for the mare from another time. A world twisted by Discord. These two villains who had done the most harm to Sunset were now true friends, just like she wanted those worlds ago.

Snagging Sombra by the shoulder, she embraced him, holding him tight in a hug.

“When you said you were the adventurous type, I’m glad you meant it. I rarely leave my house most days, I won’t pass this little voyage up just because of a risky bridge,” she remembered, and the way he smiled as they crossed the downed tree.

“I betrayed someone close to me once. I was hungry for power and threw him to the side,” Sunset said, still holding the hug. “Just like you did.”

“I did that? How did I do it?” he asked.

Sunset released him, backing away. “Better that you don’t know. Wouldn’t want a repeat demonstration.”

Sombra flexed a smile. “Clever.” He moved aside, letting her head for the door. “Were we good friends?” he asked before she could exit.

She turned back, eyeing the dark stallion. It was hard to see past the circlet, the robed cape, and the evil eyes, but it was there. A pony Sunset chased, a friend in the darkness. The purple outline reflected itself in her imagination, the wings overlapping the cape. A six-pointed star implanted itself in a crown, covering the silver circlet. “The best,” she replied.

With a flick of the levers, the doors shut. Sunset was alone in the darkness, a little bit of starlight reflecting through the glass of the gift shop and the souvenirs inside. Before she teleported through to the outside, she stared at her reflection, watching the stains that creased below her eyes.

Discord ruffled the backpack. “Still missing your friends from the world beyond the mirror?”

“More than ever. They forgave me when no one else would.”

Comments

[Shalifi]

I'm a bit of a fan of the few Rarity/Sunset stories out there. So that's good to see. Even if it will stay just flirting on Rarity's part. Interesting chapter. Good developments.

[Admiral Q Ponyform]

Still think Sunset is wrong about that Tirek.

[Ocean Waves]

9639456
Agreed.

[Csquared08]

That was a good scene in the museum. Arc 4 may have been hard to read on its own, but it's led to some pretty solid character development since.