Sunset needed answers. There was absolutely no doubt in her mind about that. She wandered the meadow aimlessly, hoping to find anything that might resemble a clue as to what had happened. Did she teleport? If so, then where did she teleport to? Why did the sun seem to have so much magic? And most importantly of all, how would she get back?
One thing was clear, the answers weren’t just going to come to her. She had to find something that could give them to her. But where would she even begin? Grass and the occasional flower rubbed against her ankles as she walked. Eventually, her wanderings took her to a stream, a small creek that cut through the meadow with the gentle sound of running water.
Most strangely of all, however, was the creature she saw hovering just above the stream. It looked like a fish, the largest fish she had ever seen, roughly the size of one of Anthropia’s horses. Its body was blue with red markings, with a wide maw and shadows above its eyes that almost looked like eyelashes. Feathered wings pulsing with magic grew from its underside, and the end of its body trailed off into an ethereal cloud of butterflies made from blue light. The creature gently glided over to Sunset, and regarded her curiously.
“You’re a friendly thing, aren’t you?” said Sunset. She reached out and placed a hand on its forehead, which was surprisingly warm to the touch. Her geode glowed, and a nugget of information dropped directly into her mind.
Sunset pulled her hand away. “Lorwyn? I’m on a plane called Lorwyn?”
The fish let out a satisfied chirp. Its eyes twinkled, and another piece of information crawled into Sunset’s thoughts.
“You’re a mulldrifter,” Sunset said gently. “An elemental spirit of knowledge. But I didn’t touch you that time.” She paused for a moment, mulling the thought over. The creature’s name made perfect sense. “Did you just give that knowledge to me?”
The mulldrifter nodded, cheeping softly. It then vanished, its body scattering into a swarm of butterflies that dissipated into the air.
“No, wait! Come back!” But by then, it was already too late. The mulldrifter had given its life to give its knowledge to Sunset, just as it was made to do. Sunset felt a twinge of sorrow, but she couldn’t bring herself to mourn. The elemental had gotten everything it had wanted in life, after all.
But what of the knowledge that she was on another plane? There was only one possible explanation.
Sunset, somehow, was a planeswalker.
It didn’t seem possible. At the very best, it should have been wildly improbable. From what she’d seen of Twilight’s memories, someone receiving a planeswalker spark was an extraordinarily rare occurrence, and having that spark ignite was even more exceedingly uncommon. The odds that both herself and Twilight could possess a spark would have been astronomically low.
Or perhaps she was thinking about it the wrong way. She and Twilight held their share of similarities, after all, and the most sensible explanation came to her easily. Both she and Twilight had been Princess Celestia’s student at some point in their pasts. They had both been chosen, she realized, because they both held the same potential. Sunset had been replaced by the first pony Celestia could find with the spark.
A tension built up within Sunset’s chest, and she couldn’t rightly figure out why. Except she knew exactly why. Except no, she didn’t. No matter what the voice in her head kept trying to tell her.
Sunset sighed. Now wasn’t the time to start dwelling on the past. She scanned the horizon for any landmarks, anything that she could use to help navigate this strange new world. She found it in a small, lonely mountain in the distance, jutting out from the landscape and covered in green foliage. From its peak, she could easily map out the surrounding lands.
Resolve poured itself into her body, and she began her journey to her new destination. Only time would tell what she would find.
————————
The sun was already halfway to the edge of the horizon by the time Sunset had reached the mountain, and already the thought of nightfall made her nervous. The magic of Lorwyn’s sun was especially powerful, and the feeling it left on her skin as the day grew closer to her namesake changed, growing less warm and pleasant the further it grew to evening.
At the very least, she could find a suitable shelter from her vantage point atop the mountain. And what a mountain it was: small by any mountainside’s standards, yet at the same time tall and imposing, covered with so much green that its entire surface was enveloped in moss and grass. It was also strangely lumpy in shape, far from the rocky crag she had expected it to be from a distance. Come to think of it, she couldn’t even see any stone at all.
As she reached out to climb the mountain, the reason why became clear. Her geode pulsed, and she felt the familiar sensation of being pulled into another mind. Before she could even get a clear look at the memory, she pulled her hand away, shrieking in surprise as she fell onto her hindquarters.
What she had tried to climb wasn’t a mountain. It was something else. Something alive.
The ground rumbled as the giant landmass shifted and moved, and Sunset was suddenly very glad that she hadn’t had anything to drink in the past several hours. Her body shook and trembled as a giant, grassy visage turned around and faced her.
“Well, hello there, dearie.” The giant’s voice boomed, but it was far softer than Sunset expected for a creature of her size. “There’s no need to be afraid, little one. I promise I won’t hurt you.”
Sunset tried to get a grip on her body’s shaking. There was no chance of running, not against a being with strides undoubtedly larger than a football field. “W-w-what are you?”
“My name is Rosheen Meanderer,” said the giant. “Tell me, would you like to hear a story?”
Sunset nodded silently. She had a feeling her answer wouldn’t really matter regardless. It wasn’t wise to turn down someone who could squish you with a finger.
A smile cracked its way across Rosheen’s face. “Once upon a time,” she started, “the plane of Lorwyn was very different from the plane that you see today. It was a plane where all things had only one nature, where the sunrise and sunset where naught but times of day. But all of that changed when the faerie queen’s ambitions grew bolder.
“Oona, having ruled over the fae of Lorwyn for millennia, sought more. She wished to rule not merely her own subjects, but the very fabric of the world, and even the day and night itself. From her secluded glen, she weaved a web of powerful enchantments that transformed Lorwyn to suit her will, shaping it into her own image. But as the enchantments grew stronger, the world began to fall out of balance. All that is began to split in two, each soul developing two sides that would spend their waking hours fighting each other for supremacy of the body. Rather than lose control of the world she desired, Oona instead split the very plane in two, stabilizing its existence into two parallel worlds. Lorwyn, a world of eternal daylight, and Shadowmoor, a world of eternal night.”
A godlike monarch named Oona, whose powerful ambitions had created a world of eternal night. Something about that sounded familiar, but Sunset couldn’t quite put her finger on what. By then her body had stopped trembling, and she sat up, giving the giant her full attention.
“Every few centuries, a powerful magic called the Great Aurora swept through the land,” Rosheen continued. “It turned one world into the other, along with every one of its inhabitants. Souls that were kind and gentle in Lorwyn became vicious and cruel in Shadowmoor, and vice-versa. And every time the plane transformed, none but a precious few held any memories of the life they had before the Aurora transformed them. But despite Oona’s ambitions, even the Great Aurora began to slip out of her control. In her desperation, she began hurriedly plotting schemes to retain her rule over the nature of the plane. Oona grew reckless, and in her recklessness, she allowed a group of unlikely heroes to defeat her once and for all. Without her, the Aurora vanished, and Lorwyn and Shadowmoor became one once more.”
Sunset stared at Rosheen with wide eyes, utterly enraptured by her story. And yet, there was something else that bothered her. “But what about the sun?”
“The sun?” said Rosheen. “What about it, dearie?”
“The sun. I can feel its magic,” said Sunset. “And I can feel it getting darker the closer it gets to the horizon. Not just physically, but magically. What’s with that?”
Rosheen’s massive eyes swam slightly. “Ah, that. Well, dearie, just because the Aurora is gone doesn’t mean its influence isn’t still felt. A magic that powerful doesn’t simply go away without leaving a lasting mark on the world. Though Lorwyn is no longer transformed by the rising and setting of the sun, every time it dips below the horizon, people begin to change. Negative feelings grow much more powerful after nightfall. Anger, resentment, and hatred are magnified tenfold. You had best learn to accept such feelings, or they’ll end up ruling you.”
Sunset’s body tensed. “Excuse me? And just what is that supposed to mean?”
Rosheen chuckled gently. “That, I’m afraid, you will have to figure out for yourself. Would you like to hear another story? I have quite a few more to share.”
Sunset shook her head, and propped herself back onto her feet. “Thank you, miss Meanderer, but I really do have to be going.”
“Any time, little one,” said Rosheen. “You feel free to come visit me again whenever you wish.”
Sunset didn’t count on it. Lorwyn’s sun was already nearly at the horizon by the time Rosheen’s story had finished. And one thing was certain, she didn’t want to be around when nightfall happened. Not if what the giant had said to her was true.
Of course, not being around was easier said than done. Sunset didn’t even know the first thing about Lorwyn, or about planeswalking in general. The moment her spark had ignited, she was overcome with so much anguish, so much inner turmoil, that she had barely even noticed the power that had burned inside of her. She didn’t remember what it felt like to planeswalk, or how she would even begin to call upon that magic.
Panic began to set in as she considered just how lost she truly was. There was so little she understood about Lorwyn, so little she knew about the multiverse. Her breaths quickened, and she broke out into a run, hoping that if she covered enough distance, she might find an answer. Maybe another mulldrifter would give it to her, maybe she would find it somewhere else.
Sunset didn’t know how long she had been running for, and the meadow seemed to stretch on infinitely in all directions. Either way, a sudden chill down her spine, paired with a darkening of the sky, informed her that it was too late. Brilliant red and gold painted the horizon, and sunset turned to see Lorwyn’s sun lowering itself below the edge of the world.
And then, in a flash of light, everything vanished.
————————
...
....
.....
......Strange. I didn’t feel any different. When I opened my eyes, nothing at all had changed. I was standing in the same perfect meadow I had been standing in before, only now there wasn’t any sun hanging over it. That old lady had said something about my anger being intensified during nightfall, but that wasn’t the case at all. I was always angry, but I certainly didn’t feel any more so than before.
But then I noticed something. My thoughts felt different. There was nothing resisting them, nothing pushing them back into the corner of my own mind I had been trapped in for so long. I felt... well, free.
Slowly, I turned my head down. That alone should have confirmed it, but I decided to it take another step further. I commanded my body to raise my hands, and wriggle my own fingers before my eyes. Sure enough, my body obeyed, and I watched as the human digits danced in front of my vision.
A sudden lightness made its way into my chest. I felt absolutely giddy with excitement. Why wouldn’t I be? I was free. For the first time ever since the Fall Formal, I was free. Happiness was an unfamiliar feeling to me, but I felt so happy that I could burst into laughter at any moment.
Of course, like all good things that have ever happened to me, it didn’t last. I heard a voice in my mind, her voice, a voice much like my own. Yet though we sounded exactly alike, she couldn’t have been more different from me.
W-what? What’s going on?
Oh, of course. Of freaking course. She just had to be here, too, didn’t she? It wasn’t enough that she’d stolen everything from me, no. She didn’t even have the decency to leave me alone once I got it all back.
Why are you in my body? Who ARE you?
Be quiet, you. I don’t want to hear your stupid voice. And to answer your question, I’m Sunset Shimmer. The real Sunset Shimmer. You were never anything more than an annoying little goody-two-shoes voice in the back of my head. That is, until the Elements of Harmony gave you an identity of your own, and proceeded to hand you control over every single goddamned aspect of my life.
I-I don’t understand! Somebody help! P-please, I’m so scared!
Shut up. Just shut up. I hate you, and if it weren’t for Twilight and Celestia, I’d hate you more than anyone in the entire multiverse. So keep your mouth shut, because if you distract me from my goals, I won’t hesitate to destroy you, too. It doesn’t even matter that you’re in my own mind, push me far enough and I will find a way.
Thankfully, that damned parasite calling herself me didn’t bother to respond after that. I guess she knew her place after all. Still, even with her keeping quiet, I faced something of a dilemma. Namely, that I was still trapped on Lorwyn. I knew what I wanted, where I wanted to be, but I had no idea how to get it. It was frustrating. Aggravating. Downright infuriating.
But no, I couldn’t let that get to me. Rage defined me, rage was me, but I couldn’t let my own nature blind me to my ambitions. One way or another, I would to return to Equestria. I would find Celestia, and I would pay her back tenfold for all of the pain I was forced to endure when she turned her back on me. I would find Twilight, and make her pay for stealing the title and wings that were rightfully mine. My entire being became one with a singular goal, filling every crevasse of my body and soul with determination. I would make them suffer for what they did to me.
And then, the way back to Equestria became clear. I don’t know how it happened, the path simply appeared to me in my mind. Maybe my unstoppable will had forced the multiverse to give me what I wanted. Maybe I’d known all along on some unconscious level. Either way, it didn’t matter.
I called upon my newly-understood abilities, and planeswalked away. Soon, all of Equestria would bow before its true master.
————————
Sunset the Exiled 4BR
Legendary Planeswalker — Sunset
+1: Sunset the Exiled deals 2 damage to target player. That player discards a card.
-2: Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gets +2/+0 and gains haste and menace until end of turn.
-7: Create a legendary 7/7 black and red Demon Avatar creature token with flying, first strike, haste, deathtouch, and indestructible named Sunset, She-Demon.
4
Oh. This is going to be fun.
Explanation received. Thanks, Rosheen!
Also, you seem to be writing up a storm lately. The fact that the quality remains as high as it is at the same time is impressive.
8539318
It probably helps that I haven’t started at my job yet.
I know I sound like a broken record, but that card seems just a little broken... maybe having it start with 4 loyalty counters instead of 5 would help? Otherwise, that's a ridiculously short TTU to get that big of a hasty indestructible flier with first strike... I mean, end-of-line ridiculous. That's up there with Death and Taxes on the list of things I wouldn't enjoy playing against...
Well, this old Sunset doesn't seem too happy at the moment. I wonder just how long it'll take for her to come back to her senses.
I have a feeling that Sunset will have Mardu colors by the end of this story.
8539507
True, I was worried that having her at 4 would make her slightly less durable than she should be for 6 mana, but that’s probably less of an issue than I thought at first. I’ve tweaked her just a bit.
Hmm hmm hmm. Now I have to wonder, how long have good!Sunset and evilSunset (or RW!Sunset and BR!Sunset, I suppose) been separate beings? I rather doubt that they were discrete entities before the first EQ movie, so now I wonder if the split was caused by the Elements at the end of the first movie or if it only occurred (at least in full, metaphorical "cracks" might have been around longer) right at the moment of sunset (har har) and evil!Sunset is kidding herself about having been imprisoned in her own mind since the Fall Formal. Her dialogue would hint towards the first, but she could very well be, well, wrong, or she could just be kidding herself to separate herself from her past actions as a halfway decent person.
On another note, I think I will enjoy seeing her eventually brought down. I absolutely cannot stand people with the level of self-centered, whiny egotism she's displaying. God, at least Bolas has some class to go with his god complex! Also doesn't hurt that he can, y'know, actually put his money where his mouth is in that regard.
Huh. Rosheen by day. A lot more coherent, but just as explicitly expository.
As for Sunset, well, it's all there in her solar taijitu cutie mark. Like the sun, she balances between extremes of creative and destructive force. Never truly dark, but her light can still be a terrible thing. And beyond Lorwyn's mentality-altering day-night cycle, it's going to be a lot harder for her gentler half to reassert control.
Of course, that ties into the whole "balance" part of things. The best outcome will be Sunset accepting all of herself. The question is whether she can.
8540074
Heh, I never even intended this particular bit of symbolism to be there. I’m pleasantly surprised by how well it works.
I am, as has come up before, quickly working to catch up on MLP, having only just started watching it this year.
With that in mind, I am approaching the end of season 6 but am not sure if I will get to watch the Legend of Camp Everfree or the other Equestria girls shorts/episodes after that this weekend. Can anyone tell me if I am at risk of spoilers for those episodes or no?
8541426
Not currently, but future parts of the series most likely will.
8541441
Thank you very much. I understand the impossibility of keeping it spoiler free forever, but as I am very close to seeing that movie and episodes, I figured I should find out if I can start your story straight away or wait till after the weekend.
Sunset's planeswalker cards remind me of the one I made for Spike, except reversed in a way. Yours is much more flavorful, though.
I wish to congratulate you.
It would have been EASY, with how this plot is going, to do the same story with Sci-Twi/Midnight Sparkle. Ignoring the initial step from Anthropia, the lore supports this duel personalities more with those two. We have clear examples of Midnight Sparkle still being in Sci-twi to the point that in Legend of Everfree she clearly was on the verge of changing into Midnight on at least 2 occasions (the obvious glow of a horn that never appeared in her final form)
However it was the better choice from a Narrative point of view to take this path. Midnight Sparkle isn't exactly a great villain in and of herself, compared to what she means for Sci-Twi. Her motivation is simply, "I will destroy/consume everything." Evil Sunset has a much more developed personality AND motivation, and while the TV show does not demonstrate any such split in either Legend of the Everfree OR Rainbow Rocks, it is quite easy to establish a hidden and suppressed darkness, that the Elements of Harmony are not a cure all, that the resentment of loosing contact with her first friend and her way home could cause not only her planewalker spark to bloom, but give her darker half more power and influence.
And you did this quite well.
My only curiosity is this. If we accept that it was the power of Shadowmoor's fading magic that flipped her personality, and up till this moment, there was no risk of her turning evil, without the power of the fading Aurora, what stops Sunset the Redeemed from re-establishing control when they land on Equestria?
I mean a case could be made that her recent resentment has cause them to be more equal in power then they have been since being hit by the Elements of Harmony....or that all Shadowmoor did was undo the magic of the Elements...that Sunset the Redeemed was merely just her conscience in control....But still, away from Shadowmoor, it should be a harder struggle.
Also....its going to be interesting seeing how Sunset the Exile plans to avoid being hit by the orbital friendship cannon again, given she is charging headlong into the place where Celestia and Twilight are most powerful, and this time without the Element of Magic.
Eager to see how this goes.
8542592
Inspiration struck me. Look at this.
Sunset the Redeemed 1RW
Legendary Planeswalker — Sunset
+1: You get an emblem with "prevent the next point of damage that would be dealt to a Sunset planeswalker you control"
-1: Target creature gets +2/+2 and gains vigilance and haste until end of turn.
-6: Sunset the Redeemed becomes a 6/6 red and white Angel Avatar creature with flying, vigilance and lifelink, named Daydream Shimmer. It's still a Planeswalker.
Sunset, the Shimmer 2BWR
+2: Target player gain 3 life and sacrifice a creature.
0: Deal 1 damage to target creature or player and gain 1 life.
-5: Put a token of a target creature from any graveyard.
-13: Gain an emblm that says "Prevent all damage from non-token sources. At the beginning of each battle phase put a 4/4 white Elemental creature token with death touch, life steal, haste and 'at the end of the battle phase banish this creature unless all damage from it was prevented'".
Oh man. Oh man.
Is this about to be the excellent Sunset Demon story I've been looking for? Oh man.
8543814
I think you do Midnight Sparkle a disservice there. Like Twilight Sparkle, she's a blue-aligned character in MtG terms. Her aim is not to destroy or consume, but to understand everything, all the magic in all the worlds. (She only has five lines in Friendship Games, but one of them is "There's more magic there, and I want to understand it all!")
It is really interesting to see Demon Sunset freed by the united sun of Lorwyn/Shadowmoor. That's an awesome setup.
Oh, and this bit was obviously hilarious: