• Published 31st Aug 2018
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SAPR - Scipio Smith



Sunset, Jaune, Pyrrha and Ruby are Team SAPR, and together they fight to defeat the malice of Salem, uncover the truth about Ruby's past and fill the emptiness within their souls.

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Press Conference (New)

Press Conference

“What’s that?” Skystar asked as she got out of bed, stretching her arms above her head.

“This?” Sunset asked, looking down at the magical journal resting on her legs. “It’s a journal.”

“And you’re going to write about what happened yesterday?” Skystar asked, looking down at Sunset.

“I don’t…” Sunset trailed off from saying that she didn’t have much choice, because that was a bit of a nonsense; the only person who could make her was herself, after all. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, I’m going to write about what happened last night.”

“Write about yesterday,” Skystar said. “I mean … if it was me, and if I kept a journal — which I don’t, I have to tell you — then I would not want to write about what happened last night.”

“I can understand why,” Sunset admitted. “But, at the same time, I think … I think it’s nights like last night that we have to write about, even if we don’t want to.”

“It’s your journal, I suppose,” Skystar murmured. “How did you sleep last night?”

“Okay,” Sunset said quietly.

“That’s what people say when they don’t want to give a real answer,” Skystar pointed out.

“I don’t know about that, sometimes things are just … okay,” Sunset replied. “But, I will tell you, that if I didn’t sleep well last night, it was nothing to do with the comfort or otherwise of the sleeping arrangements. You did very well, especially considering … this wasn’t something that you’d planned on.” Yes, she’d slept on the floor, but she had also slept on a groundsheet, in a sleeping bag, and Skystar had even given up one of her pillows for Sunset and found a slightly frayed sea-green poncho to serve as a blanket for her. It was more than Sunset could have asked for, in the circumstances; certainly, it was more than she’d had a right to expect. “With everything that happened, I wouldn’t have slept very well in the most comfortable bed in the most luxurious hotel in Vale.”

“I know what you mean; I didn’t sleep too well either,” Skystar admitted.

“I know; I could hear you rolling over and over,” Sunset said.

“My ears got really hot against the pillow,” Skystar said defensively. “I just … I couldn’t stop thinking about stuff. And I’ve got less to think about than you.” She frowned. “Are you sure that this idea of yours is going to work?”

“Honestly? No,” Sunset said. “No, I’m not certain. But I don’t have a better idea and … we don’t have an unlimited amount of time; if we don’t come up with an explanation soon — like, right now — then it’s going to look—”

“Like I was telling the truth the first time,” Skystar murmured.

“If that’s the only explanation on offer, then … yeah, I’m afraid so,” Sunset said. “People will think that, if there’s a good explanation—”

“Why haven’t we brought it up,” Skystar said.

“Exactly,” Sunset sighed. “But, since we haven’t said anything yet, there’s still time to come up with a new idea, an idea that might… might make you seem…” She squirmed where she sat on the blue sleeping bag. “Might make you seem a little less—”

“Deranged?” Skystar asked.

“I was going to suggest ‘petty,’” Sunset said.

“I think your idea goes a teensy little bit beyond pettiness,” Skystar said.

Sunset wobbled her head from side to side a little bit. “Maybe,” she conceded. “As I say, if you have another idea—”

“If I had another idea, I wouldn’t be considering yours, I’ve got to say,” Skystar told her. “But I don’t, and I … I mean, how many reasons are there to falsely accuse your mom of covering up something like this — or of somebody doing it.” She sighed. “I was never going to get out of this without seeming a little … something. It’s my fault—”

“None of this is your fault,” Sunset assured her.

Skystar shrugged. “It doesn’t matter whose fault it is. We just … have to live with it. I’ll survive. I’ll survive better than Mom or Aspen will with people believing that they did … that.” She paused. “Can I ask you something?”

“I think you’ve earned the right to ask me just about anything,” Sunset replied.

“Are you honest, in there, that journal?” Skystar asked. “Are you honest with yourself?”

“I … not always,” Sunset admitted. “But I try to be. And I think that I get better at it as I go through the pages.” That might be the story of my life. I’ve gotten better as I go along, just not quite quick enough. “Why do you ask?”

“Just … curious, I guess,” Skystar admitted. “No real reason, just … curious.”

There was a knock at the door. “Can I come in?” asked Former Councillor Aris from the other side.

“Sure, Mom,” Skystar said.

The door opened, at least enough to admit the head and shoulders of Former Councillor Aris. “Good morning.”

“Morning, Mom,” Skystar said. She smiled. “How’s Aspen?”

“He slept on the couch,” Former Councillor Aris insisted. “How was your night?”

“Thoughtful,” Skystar said. “But not in a good way.”

Former Councillor Aris pursed her lips together. “I see. I’m sorry to hear it.”

“But it would have been weird otherwise,” Skystar said. “Right?”

The Former Councillor didn’t respond to that; she just said, “Are you still going to go through with this?”

“Do we have any other ideas?” Skystar asked.

“No,” Former Councillor Aris conceded, “but—”

“Then we don’t have any other options,” Skystar said. “Do we?”

Former Councillor Aris was quiet for a moment, before she murmured, “I suppose not. Aspen is already arranging the press conference, if you’re both ready.”

“I’m not ready ready,” Skystar said. “But … I’d kind of like to get it over with.”

Former Councillor Aris nodded, before she glanced around the door. “Miss Shimmer?”

“I am … more or less prepared, ma’am,” Sunset said softly. “I am sorry that I couldn’t come up with a better idea—”

“But then, neither could the rest of us, so it’s all a bit of a wash,” said Former Councillor Aris. “It isn’t ideal, but in the absence of anything better, it will have to do. It may even work; at least it doesn’t spring out of nowhere as a story. Are you coming down for breakfast? I was going to make waffles.”

“Oh, you know I’m not going to miss that,” Skystar said.

Former Councillor Aris smiled. “I thought that it was the least you deserved.”

Skystar grinned. “Thanks, Mom. Sunset?”

“Um, no,” Sunset said. “No, thank you, ma’am; I’m sure it will be delicious, but I have some things to take care of up here.”

“I could bring you something up?” Skystar said. “Would you like some juice?”

Sunset looked at her. “In the circumstances, there is something very wrong about the idea of you waiting on me.”

“What else are you going to do for breakfast?” Skystar asked. “Run out to Snow Burger?”

“This seems like too nice a neighbourhood to have a Snow Burger nearby,” Sunset observed.

“It is,” Skystar said. “That’s part of your problem.”

Sunset paused for a moment. “What kind of juice do you have?”

“Apple or grapefruit?”

“Grapefruit, please,” Sunset murmured.

“Coming up,” Skystar said, with more good cheer in her voice than the situation really warranted, as she and her mother both left the bedroom, closing the door behind them.

Sunset was left alone, with her journal.

She opened up the book to the first blank page. The number of blank pages remaining — or the lack thereof — was becoming a little concerning, but at the same time, if there was ever a situation worth writing to Twilight about, then this was surely it.

And besides, it occurred to Sunset that, right now, she was far freer to simply pop back to Canterlot and pick up a new journal — plus, perhaps, a journal for Professor Ozpin as well — than she had been before.

Every cloud and all that.

Sunset got out her pen, started to write.

Twilight, are you there? Is this a good time?

There was only a slight pause before letters written in Twilight’s elegant handwriting began to appear on the page.

Hey, Sunset. It feels as though I haven’t heard from you in a while.

That’s probably because you haven’t.

Yes, I know, I was being polite.

And I appreciate that, but in the circumstances, I might as well be honest.

Well, you’re writing now, so I know that you aren’t dead. Shall I have Spike send a letter to Princess Celestia?

No. Sunset had to resist the urge to put an exclamation mark at the end of that word. No. Don’t do that. I just want to talk to you right now, if that’s alright.

Of course. What’s up?

How are things with you on this fine morning? Is it a fine morning? What’s the weather like in Equestria? What kind of day do the pegasi have planned for you?

Sunshine with a few clouds, why?

Because I’m curious to know. You know, I don’t think you really appreciate what a boon it is being able to control the weather until you get to a world where it’s all random.

Sunset, are you okay?

Honestly? No. Not really. But I don’t want to talk about it yet. I really, really do want to hear about you. I should tell you this more than I do, but honestly? Your life sounds pretty cool when you tell me about it. So cool that I envy you for it much more than I used to envy you for being a princess, albeit hopefully in a way that the envy doesn’t turn me sour.

There was a pause, nothing written in the book, for a second or two.

Are you sure that you don’t want me to send a message to Princess Celestia?

I’m positive. I have a good reason for it, trust me.

Okay then. If you really want to hear about my life, well There was another pause, and Sunset could sort of imagine Twilight — well, to an extent; she knew Twilight’s colouring, so she could construct a vague mental image of what a lavender alicorn might look like, with more or less the same manestyle as Remnant’s Twilight Sparkle, even though they’d never met — pondering her words.

things have been going pretty well with Starlight Glimmer, my new apprentice, albeit we have had a few teething troubles. I have to admit that I didn’t exactly cover myself in glory recently.

What happened?

I set Starlight the task of making a friend, by herself, without me introducing them or facilitating it in any way, but then, having set that challenge, I didn’t like her choice, and I wasn’t shy about admitting it.

Sunset frowned. Could it be…? Was it Sunburst Flare, Tempest Shadow, or Trixie Lulamoon?

Actually, Sunburst and Starlight are childhood friends, and I’ll tell you about that in a little bit, and neither of us knows a Tempest Shadow, but it was Trixie, yes.

I can’t say I’m surprised. The two of them are tight in our world. But why did you have a problem with it? Trixie’s great.

Trixie in your world might be great, but in my world, she’s vain, boastful

She’s those things in my world too; it’s part of her charm.

I sometimes think that you and I have very different definitions of what a charming characteristic is. Although I doubt even you would find it very charming if Trixie in all her vainglory took over Beacon and exiled you from it.

Well, that would depend on what I did to get myself exiled, wouldn’t it? Sunset: 'Exiled'?

That was a while ago, I have to admit, before I became a princess. And I probably shouldn’t still be hung upon it, and in fact, I’ll tell you that I’m not hung up about it — it’s not like I hold a grudge or anything — I just

What happened?

Trixie — who is the one who actually held a grudge against me, not the other way around — got hold of a dark magical artefact called the Alicorn Amulet and used it to boost her magical powers until she could beat me in a magic duel, and as the price of my defeat, I had to leave Ponyville.

Well, obviously that didn’t take. What did you do?

I tricked her into taking the amulet off.

Very clever, but how did you do that, if it was the source of her power?

I convinced her that I had another, even more powerful amulet that I was willing to give her. A trick, as I said.

And as I said, very clever. So then what happened? What did she do?

She left. I don’t know where she went; I didn’t see her again for quite some time until she showed up with Starlight, the friend that I’d asked her to make. And very smug she was about it as well.

Based on my experience, Trixie is a better person than first impressions, or even second impressions, might suggest.

I did think about that. I thought about what you’d told me about your Trixie, and I considered that maybe I’d been too harsh on my Trixie, and maybe, since your Trixie had it in her to become a hero, someone who helps and protects those in need, that maybe my Trixie also had admirable and sterling qualities hidden — very well hidden — somewhere deep inside.

Then I decided that it didn’t matter what another person who just happens to be called Trixie Lulamoon was like; I knew the Trixie standing in front of me, and she was bad news. And I told Starlight so.

You’ll forgive me for saying so, but that doesn’t sound like your greatest moment.

No, it wasn’t. Starlight didn’t take it very well. And it doesn’t give me any comfort to tell you that I was momentarily correct: Trixie was just trying to make me jealous. Or at least, she was trying to make me jealous — to beat me, in her words — by having Starlight choose her over me.

I have to say, that doesn’t sound at all like the Trixie I know.

Different worlds, different circumstances, is it really any surprise that we’re not exactly the same as our alternate selves? If we were, if there were no differences whatsoever between us, that would essentially say that there was no free will at all, and we were just following pre-ordained paths, playing roles that had been set down for us generations ago by someone who came before us. It would be terrible.

Yes, I suppose you’ve got a point there, but all the same, that’s really not something I could imagine my Trixie ever doing to Starlight.

If it helps, she regretted it almost immediately.

Did that help her? Or Starlight?

Seeing as how they made up, I’d say it did, yes.

And you?

And I what?

Did you make up with Trixie in the end?

Oh, absolutely not, I still can’t stand her.

Sunset snorted. I’m sniggering at you right now, just so you know.

And I might deserve it, but I just can’t get on with her. Something about her manner just rubs me up the wrong way. You might find it charming, but that doesn’t mean I have to be enthralled by someone who refers to themselves in the third person and rolls their r’s far, far more than is necessary.

You don’t like the trrrrrrilling sound of the grrrrreat and

Please don’t.

Alright, I won’t. Still, although you talked about this like a mistake, it sounds like a situation where all’s well that more or less ends well. I’d take that, if I were you.

Oh, I’m not broken-hearted about it, don’t get me wrong. I might mutter under my breath about Trixie every now and then, but the main thing that I take from this is that, even though I’m the teacher and Starlight is the student, that doesn’t mean that I don’t sometimes have things to learn too.

Sunset smiled. You know, I can imagine Princess Celestia saying that.

Really?

Yeah. You can’t?

Princess Celestia doesn’t have anything to learn at her age, as experienced as she is, and as wise.

Absolutely true, but she’s also very humble.

That is also true. So if you meant that she might say it, not that it would necessarily be correct, then, yes, I could agree with that. What about your Professor Ozpin?

Sunset thought about that for a second. Hopefully, it will make sense when I say that I can’t hear it in his voice in my head the way I can with Princess Celestia, but at the same time, Professor Ozpin being quite humble himself, I can imagine that he might say it, but it’s a bit more abstract with him. Do you understand what I’m saying?

I think I do; you’re saying that you still don’t know him as well as you know Princess Celestia.

True. Although, of course, that also leaves me room to have misjudged the man. I think Pyrrha and Jaune would say that I have.

If Jaune were speaking to me, that is. Sunset didn’t want to talk about that just yet.

But Princess Celestia would say that I have his measure, or at least a better measure of him than I had before, when I was the one who didn’t trust him. So, anyway, anything else new with you?

Why do I suspect that you’ve got something to say but you’re stalling on saying it?

Sunset: Whatever would make you think that?

The fact that you’re clearly stalling on saying something. Why are you changing the subject?

Because I really want to know about your life! She paused for a second, her chest rising and falling with her breath.

A frown creased her brow. Yes, you’re right, I do have something that I need to talk about. And yes, you’re right, I don’t want to talk about it. But I am curious as to what’s up, and I really do like hearing about Equestria — a land that is at peace, a land that isn’t under threat, a land that is so, so much happier than this one is. So please, Twilight, sweep me away with a tale of Equestria. Keep me distracted just a little while longer.

There was a slight pause on the other end. And this thing you don’t want to talk about is the reason you don’t want me to get Princess Celestia?

Twilight.

Okay, I will give you a little time if that’s what you want. If you are looking for some happy news, I became an aunt not too long ago.

Really? Congratulations! Not that you really did anything to be congratulated for.

Not that I did anything? I will have you know — not that I don't understand what you mean, but — I played a crucial role in little Flurry Heart's Crystalling.

Ah, yes, the Crystalling. That is

She had to stop writing while she wracked her brain to try and remember what in Equestria a Crystalling was. Crystalling evoked Crystal Empire, and Twilight said that the lost Crystal Empire had returned, and Princess Cadance now ruled the Crystal Empire under Princess Celestia, and Cadance was married to Twilight's brother, so of course their child would have a Crystalling.

Whatever that was.

It's fine to admit you don't know.

I know what a Crystalling is, it's where

She had to pause again, for a little more thought to get her over the line.

It's where the filly or colt is presented to the Crystal Heart

They're presented to the ponies of the Empire, and the love felt for the child empowers the Crystal Heart, making it even stronger than before.

And with each successive generation, love compounding upon love, the magic of the Crystal Heart will only grow. No wonder King Sombra wanted it so badly; it must already be the most powerful magical artefact in Equestria.

Powerful, but fragile, as we found out during the preparations for Flurry's Crystalling.

It wasn't all joy and happiness? You weren't attacked by another villain, were you?

No, no, that hasn't been a problem for a while. I think Tirek was the last time someone truly evil troubled Equestria; Starlight was just hurting and misguided, after all. But no, that wasn't the issue; nobody tried to disrupt Flurry Heart's Crystalling except Flurry herself.

Sunset frowned. She's a little filly; she is a filly, right?

Right.

So what's she going to do?

Well, you know how infant unicorns have quite strong, untamed magic before it settles down after a few months, reaching an equilibrium?

Yes, Clover called it a magical incarnation of the vigour of youth, or even of the concept of youthful vigour. Fillies and colts have a lot of energy for magic in the same way they have a lot of energy for crawling around. On the other hand, or hoof, Buttercup believed it was a representation of youthful possibility and promise.

I've never really bought into that. If it were so, wouldn't it last until you got your cutie mark?

That would suggest that cutie mark's imply a loss of potential.

That isn't what I meant, but never mind. The point is that thus is a well-documented fact, for whatever reason.

But, for all that, it's nothing an adult unicorn can't handle.

But imagine what an alicorn filly in such a state of young power would be capable of.

Sunset blinked. Then she blinked again. She thought she must have misread Twilight, but no, there was that word, sitting there on the page as plain as the daylight coming in through the crack in the curtains.

'An alicorn'? Did you say 'alicorn'? Your niece is an alicorn?

I was as surprised as you when she unfurled her wings.

I doubt that somehow. An alicorn? Really? Seriously? I'm sorry, but what in Equestria did she do to earn that at all of newborn old?

Obviously, she didn't earn anything; she was born an alicorn.

That doesn't make it any better, Twilight! You had to complete one of Starswirl the Bearded's unfinished spells to earn — mark that — earn your wings. Cadance had to defeat a witch to earn her horn. I barred myself from my own destiny and ambitions because of the flaws of my nature, but apparently, instead of regretting that or becoming a better person than I was, I should have really regretted that I wasn't born into the right family where I could just pop out with wings and a horn both at once and never need to accomplish a single thing or possess a single virtue in my life!

Don't you call your friend Pyrrha's mother 'Lady Nikos'?

You think you’ve caught me out with that, but you haven’t.

Haven’t I?

No. No, you haven’t. I am no republican, I can accept the virtues of hereditary privilege, I can defend its glories, I can wax rhapsodic about the greatness of storied families like Pyrrha’s, old in honour and rich in glory. But to become an alicorn, to be an alicorn, is something else altogether; it is not a matter of mere birth, it is

Once more, Sunset paused to take stock of her words and to choose the right ones.

To become an alicorn is something transcendental, something numinous. We’re talking about an external force — one might even call it the embodiment of magic itself —

I’m not sure that I’d go that far. Magic isn’t alive; it’s a tool that we use, no different from a pegasi’s ability to fly or manipulate the weather or an earth pony’s strength. It’s nothing to speak so boastfully of.

I’m not boasting.

Unicorn magic should not be placed upon a pedestal. That way leads putting unicorns upon a pedestal, and that way lies Evenfall Gleaming and her madness.

Did you just call me a racist?

No, I advised you not to let your thoughts tend in that direction.

I think you’re wildly misinterpreting what I said if you got any of that from what I wrote. I’m just saying, I’m trying to say, trying to write, that ascension is, or should be, something extraordinary, a reward for extraordinary accomplishment and also a signifier of an extraordinary pony. To have somepony simply be born to alicorn-ness cheapens it, or so it seems to me; it tarnishes something beautiful in the same way that the succession of the Maidens here in Remnant was tarnished by the theft of the magic by the first Red Queen.

You mean the murderer who killed the Maiden to take their magic?

Okay, so it’s not exactly the same, but can you at least see, without judgement or twisting my words or misinterpreting what I’m writing — and to be clear, I mean no malice whatsoever towards your niece, I’m sure she’s lovely — that I’m making some sense?

I do get where you’re coming from. As I mentioned, it was a shock to me as well when her wings popped out. But, while I wasn’t expecting it, and while Cadance and Shining Armor weren’t expecting it either, according to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, it’s far from unheard of. In fact, it seems to be a return to the old way.

'The old way?'

While Princess Celestia was as surprised to see Flurry Heart an alicorn as any of us, she did tell me later that alicorn fillies and colts used to be very common. In fact, born alicorns used to be far more common than ascended ones.

Really? When was this?

Oh, years and years ago, before Princess Celestia and Princess Luna ascended — no pun intended — to the rule of Equestria, when they were little fillies themselves. Did you know that they were both born alicorns?

Sunset bit on her lip just a little. You know, we never really talked about Princess Celestia’s childhood. I mean, we did, but always in the context of the early history of Equestria, when the three tribes were still coming together as one kingdom and Starswirl the Bearded was preparing Celestia for the throne, although I suppose that that was more of her adolescence than her childhood. I mean, it’s not like I thought that she’d always been there and always would be — not consciously, anyway.

I know what you mean.

But I never really thought about her being a kid, having parents, that sort of thing. Maybe I should have.

I won’t pretend that I thought about it before Princess Celestia brought it up. I suppose an adolescent Celestia, who had a few things to learn but was already on the pathway to her destiny, being mentored by the wisest and most powerful unicorn of her day, is a lot easier to accept than a filly Celestia playing pranks on Luna.

Although, now that you’ve said that, I can see it.

Me too. But, anyway, according to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, the two of them spent their childhoods in a place called Skyros, growing up in a community of alicorns.

A community of alicorns? Now that I’m having trouble imagining. What would that even look like? I suppose I should ask 'what did that look like?'

I’m not entirely sure; Princess Celestia said that she was happy there but was also quite vague about what it was actually like, beyond the fact that they were all alicorns. But I think it must have been a community much like any other, like Ponyville or Canterlot.

Except they were all alicorns.

Exactly. But what was interesting to me was that even alicorns born — although I suppose, going from the examples of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, that it shouldn’t have surprised me — were embodiments of some specific ability or concept. So, not only was Princess Celestia the sun alicorn, and Princess Luna the moon alicorn, but their playmate Opaline was the fire alicorn.

So what happened? Why did Princess Celestia and Princess Luna leave this Skyros and come to Equestria? And so young, too; Princess Celestia told me that she was barely a teenager when Starswirl presented her and her sister at the Great Conclave of the Tribes, when he urged all three races to come together under her rule and promised to guide them on their path to be the rulers that Equestria deserved, and when the rulers of three tribes knelt before them, and the pony tribes acclaimed them, despite the hoof-full of voices raised against them. But then, why did they come to Equestria so young and unaccompanied? Where were their parents, where were the other alicorns?

I don’t know. Princess Celestia didn’t say. She went quiet, and I fear that it must be a sad story.

Sunset closed her eyes. I fear it too, although had you not made that point, I would have told myself that it was just this place has conditioned me to expect sad stories. And yet, if it were so sad, why did she tell you?

So that I’d understand that Flurry Heart isn’t so unusual after all? Or maybe she just wanted to tell me, so that Skyros, her home, wouldn’t be completely forgotten, even if all I know is so vague about it. I’ve been trying to get Princess Celestia to tell me where it is, or was, so that we can go on an expedition there.

'We'?

Me and my friends, of course; and Starlight too. Although Starlight doesn’t seem particularly enthusiastic.

She doesn’t fancy the journey?

I think it’s more that she’s concerned about what we’ll find there. After all, if it is a sad story, then

Then maybe there are things better left unfound, secrets left untold. Things left in the past. Perhaps there is a reason Princess Celestia will not say more.

Perhaps, but still: an ancient community of alicorns? Living outside of what we now call Equestria? How am I supposed to take such crumbs of knowledge and be satisfied?! How am I supposed to not want to know, to find out more, to discover the truth, whatever that truth might be?

The truth can hurt sometimes, and be unsatisfying. Do what you will, but for my sake and for the sake of Princess Celestia, promise that you’ll be careful.

I don’t need to be careful when I have my friends by my side.

Sunset winced as Twilight’s words stabbed her in the heart; they caused her almost physical pain, so much so that she almost dropped the pen in her hand and felt the urge to clutch at her chest.

Twilight, please.

Okay, I promise. Now, where was I?

Flurry Heart’s Crystalling.

Yes, the Crystalling that was almost ruined when Flurry destroyed the Crystal Heart.

She destroyed it?

Not on purpose, obviously.

Even so, she destroyed one of the most powerful magical artefacts in Equestria?

As I said, powerful but very fragile.

So what did you do?

Twilight: Well, we were all very fortunate that Starlight's childhood friend Sunburst had moved to the Crystal Empire. I'd told her that she ought to meet him, catch up, try and rekindle their friendship, which, reluctantly, she did.

'Reluctantly'?

She was ashamed of what she'd done. Understandable, I guess, even if it did underestimate Sunburst's capacity for forgiveness. Anyway, the way Spike told it, Sunburst was pretty ashamed and embarrassed to see Starlight, too.

What did he have to be ashamed of?

The fact that he felt he hadn't lived up to his potential, hadn't become the great mage the whole town thought he would be when he got his cutie mark and they sent him off to magic school. However, luckily for us, luckily for the Crystal Empire, while Sunburst isn't the most powerful unicorn in Equestria, he is very knowledgeable on magical theory. In fact, he turned out to know more than I did.

More than you? Really?

Yes, really, he knew what I didn't, that a traditional repair spell wouldn't work upon a magical artefact like the Crystal Heart, but he also knew the right combination of spells that would repair the Heart and complete Flurry Heart's Crystalling and put a restraint on her powers for the sake of Shining Armor and Cadance!

All that at once?

Pretty amazing, huh?

All at once, yeah, that is impressive. So that's what he brings to the table.

And so, with Sunburst's knowledge and my power, we were able to restore the Crystal Heart and Crystal Flurry Heart as planned. And the whole Crystal Empire sparkled with the light of love. I have to say, while I'm not sure that I'd like to live permanently in my crystalline form, it is very neat when it happens.

Sunset smiled. You sound like you have a very lovely life, and I mean that in both the nicest but also the kind of envious way.

I choose to take that as a compliment, so thank you, if thanks are appropriate. And you're right, I do have a very nice life. The best. It's a life I wouldn't trade for anything, anything at all.

The writing stopped momentarily, before it resumed.

So what's up that you don't want to talk about? What's up that you don't want to tell Princess Celestia about?

Sunset closed her eyes. She supposed, as much as she would have much rather gone on not talking about it, as much as she would have much rather gone on talking about Equestria, about Twilight's life, about the history of alicorns, anything … they had reached the moment. Having been asked the question so directly, she couldn't put it off any longer.

Ruby found out what I did, in the tunnel under Mountain Glenn. Everyone found out what I did.

There was another pause with no reply from Twilight, a pause that seemed longer and more drawn out than previous delays in her answers.

I see. At least, I see why you didn't want to talk to Princess Celestia about this. How did they find out?

It's a little complicated, but basically — okay, so some good news before that; we won our first two matches in the tournament!

Does that still matter?

Not really, no, but all the same, when we won, when Pyrrha and I beat Trixie and Starlight yesterday in the two-on-two round, it felt so amazing, so wonderful, so glorious. Whatever happened after that, and happens next, I hope never to forget the way that felt, that joy, the roar of the crowd echoing in my ears, the sheer thrill, the fun of a battle with no consequence but fun and entertainment. The joy of Team Sapphire's last triumphs.

That's ominous.

After that, we took Amber to the carnival, where who should show up but Cinder?

Cinder? I thought she was wanted; how did she get into Vale?

That wasn't the most important question on our minds. She was there for Amber, except at the same time, I'm not altogether sure that's true. More than that, I think she just wanted a fight.

Sunset grinned.

And we certainly gave her one of those. The four of us, and Penny, fought her, and beat her, and took her prisoner.

I'd offer my congratulations if I didn't know what was coming up. Was it Cinder who told everyone what you did?

No, Cinder was very chivalrous about the whole thing really; she took her defeat on the chin and even told us a lot of information about Salem’s operations in Vale and beyond. Not all of it was true, there were at least a couple of lies in there because I suppose she just can't help herself, but she warned us about a Siren in Vale

A Siren? You mean the creatures vanished from Equestria by Starswirl the Bearded?

The same. I would have rather that Starswirl's wisdom would have extended to finding somewhere else to send monsters and villains.

Princess Celestia told me that she's apologised on behalf of Equestria to Professor Ozpin. So what are you going to do about the Siren?

I'm not sure. Everything happened after that before we could make plans. You see, Cinder also warned us that there were other agents of Salem still in hiding at Beacon, and they must have leaked the information about what I did in the tunnel.

And you couldn't deny it? Was there proof?

No proof that I couldn't have denied, no proof that Councillor Emerald didn't deny, but although I could deny it to the wider world, I just couldn't deny it to my friends anymore, not to their faces, not in private. So when Ruby straight up demanded to know if it was true or not, I confessed to them.

I see. Well, I’m sure that Applejack would say that you did the right thing.

And you?

I should probably say that you did the right thing too, but, even leaving aside the judgement of what you did, simply assuming that it was a fault, having compounded the fault by keeping the secret from everyone for so long, why now? Why choose to confess?

Because Ruby knew it was true. She knew what I’d done; I could see it in her eyes. And, although this may sound stupid, keeping a secret was different from lying to her face when she asked.

No, that isn’t stupid at all; it makes perfect sense. To me, anyway. So, if you don’t mind me asking, how much trouble are you in?

If we were talking, this is the moment where I would laugh bitterly. Because in a sense, I’m not in any trouble at all. It’s as you say, having compounded the fault by keeping it a secret, the public can’t be allowed to believe that it’s true, what I’ve been accused of, what I did, because if it were known to be true, then Councillor Emerald — who was accused of knowing what I did, along with Former Councillor Aris — would be destroyed by it politically; and maybe personally too, depending on how vengeful the people were feeling. Since that wouldn’t be in the best interests of Vale or its people, he’s got my back, and even Ruby has agreed that it mustn’t come out, or bring down the First Councillor. Stability in Vale has to come first, the prevention of panic has to be our top priority, and so, I have, in a sense, gotten away with it.

Except you haven’t, have you? The fact that you said ‘even Ruby,’ the fact that you wanted to talk about it, tells me that much. How did she take it? How did they all take it? Who is ‘all,’ actually? You said it’s being kept a secret, but who knows the truth?

All of my friends: Ruby, Pyrrha, Jaune, Penny, Amber, Blake, Twilight — the other Twilight — Ciel, and Dove. Rainbow knew already, but unlike the fact that Councillor Emerald and Professor Ozpin knew, that hasn’t come out. As for how they took it, none of them took it well, but Ruby took it hardest. She has a right to not take it well, I’ve been too bad of a friend to her to bank upon any kind of loyalty or generosity from her. If I wanted to sit upon that branch, I shouldn’t have sawn it off with such vigour. She cast me out.

I’m sorry, what?

Just like you were banished from Ponyville by Trixie, I’ve been banished from Beacon by Ruby.

Trixie was being driven mad by a dark magical artefact.

And Ruby is possessed by a righteous intensity. She blazes with a light more powerful than any that springs from her magical eyes, and it will not abide the presence of a darkness.

You’re not a darkness.

Ruby would say otherwise.

You were trying to save everyone.

What are you telling me for, I was there?

Right, I know, I’m sorry; it just seems harsh, that’s all.

Perhaps being a huntress is harsh. Or perhaps it should be. Perhaps it was always too harsh for me, and Ruby is just helping me realise what I should have realised a long time ago, that I’m not cut out for this. I don’t begrudge her.

I don’t believe you’re not upset.

Not upset? Of course I’m upset! Come on, Twilight, these are my best friends, this was my home, this was my everything! Yes, I’m upset, obviously, wouldn’t you be upset if you had to leave your friends behind? I’m upset. I’m just not angry at Ruby, is all.

And everyone else? Pyrrha, Jaune, didn’t they get a say in this? Or did they agree with Ruby?

Jaune probably would have agreed; he wasn’t very pleased with me either. Pyrrha gave me a very kind and courteous send-off, fitting of her gentle nature and her royal race. But I don’t know whether that gentleness would have stretched to supporting my continued presence in the team if it had come to something as sordid as a vote. Not that I fought for my place; Ruby had made it clear that she could not abide my presence a second longer, and I wasn’t going to tear the team apart purely upon my own behalf. I

Sunset screwed up her face.

I deserve this. I don’t like it at all, but I deserve it. Certainly, I wasn’t going to, I mean, if I’d tried to fight my corner, how would I even have gone about it? And it could be worse; I mean, I could be headed to prison or something.

I suppose. Even so, I’m sorry. You realise I’ll have to tell Princess Celestia about this.

If I wanted Princess Celestia to know, then I would have asked you to send for her!

I can’t just keep the fact that you’ve been thrown out of Beacon — or left Beacon, since I doubt that Ruby has the power to expel you — to myself! You can’t keep it from Princess Celestia either! What are you going to tell her next time you write and she asks about your friends?

I will

Please don’t say you’re going to lie to her.

No, I’ll tell her that Professor Ozpin asked me to leave school so that I could do some work for him.

You mean lie to her.

When you put it like that, it sounds bad.

Funny, that.

How am I supposed to tell her what I did? How am I supposed to tell her why I had to leave, why Ruby was so incensed with me? I can’t tell her. I don’t want to tell her.

Understandable, but at this point, I’m not sure that you have a lot of choice.

You might be right. You are right. I hate it, but you’re right. But that doesn’t mean I have to tell her now, does it?

So long as you tell her the next time you speak, that should be alright. So, what are you going to do now? Do you know? Do you have any idea? Dare I ask if you’ve considered coming home?

I’ve considered it, yes.

And?

And I can’t.

No? You know, you could have a lovely life yourself. It would be here, waiting for you, if you wanted.

Oh, I want it, believe you me. To have the life that you have, a life that might not be entirely free from fear, but nevertheless more free from it than otherwise, a life without the risk of death, a life of fun and frolics and easy companionship, I want that very much. But just because I want it doesn’t mean that I get to have it, and I don’t want it just for myself, to selfishly possess all on my own.

Equestria isn’t my home anymore, Twilight; it will always have a claim upon my heart, and so will Princess Celestia, but Remnant is my home. It’s where my friends are and where my friends are engaged in a great and deadly struggle. I can’t just abandon them and swan off to live a lovely life in Equestria while they’re still fighting.

It doesn’t sound as though they want your help.

Well, tough on them, they’ve got it anyway. Somehow. In some fashion. I haven’t worked out the details yet; I’m hoping that Professor Ozpin will find some use for me, even outside of Beacon. Maybe I can roam around Remnant like Ruby’s uncle. Actually, no, I don’t think I really want to be him; he dresses like a tramp, and he reeks of alcohol. Ugh. I would prefer Professor Ozpin to find me something a little more fitting for someone who has a little of their self-respect remaining. Maybe I can go to Mistral and serve Lady Nikos, as Pyrrha suggested.

Pyrrha suggested that? It sounds as though she’s on your side still.

She suggested that I go to Mistral; that doesn’t mean that she wants me around.

She wants you around her house and her mother.

Her mother who she doesn’t get on with.

That is a fair point. Have you spoken to her? Pyrrha’s mother, I mean.

No, although I should at some point, whether or not I ask her for a place and a position. It would only be courteous, especially since she cannot remain ignorant of these accusations for long. I suppose what I’m saying is that I have options. Even if I don’t go to Equestria, which I won’t, I am not without choices just because I am without Beacon. There are ways I hope that I may be of service to Professor Ozpin and my friends. I’m just saying that I’m not yet at the door of destitution; there are a few steps left before I’m at the crust of humility.

And even if I was there, I still wouldn’t turn bandit, thank you, Raven.

Can I just say that you’re taking this very well?

Well, thank you, first of all, although I’m not sure how much I really deserve the thanks. In part, it’s just the fact that I’m writing to you in the morning, rather than last night. I have wept out my tears, at least for now. But more than that, it’s simply the fact that I have no one to blame for this but myself. And so, that being the case, it makes it very hard to get overly emotional about it. Especially when the Aris family has been so good to me; I’m writing this in Skystar’s bedroom. They know what I’ve done, and still, they offer me hospitality. Pyrrha found out what I’d done, and still, she bade me take Soteria, the sword of her family, with her. Her mother may hold out a hand to offer me a place of honour in her household. Though I have left Beacon, and though that wounds me, nevertheless, I am reminded that I have a great deal to be thankful for, and that cuts against the hurt.

When you put it like that, it seems to me that you, too, have a very lovely life.

Sunset laughed, despite the vast distance of worlds between them. I hadn’t thought of it like that, but you know, you might have a point. And you are a part of that, with your constant ear. Thank you, for listening, but also for sharing those stories with me; it was a relief to hear them. If you do make it to Skyros, you’ll tell me what you find, won’t you? My curiosity is somewhat piqued.

I’ll tell you everything that I find out, if I manage to make it there. Take care, Sunset, and don’t wait too long to tell Princess Celestia.

I won’t, I promise. Thanks again, Twilight, and take care yourself, especially if you go to Skyros. But now, I’m afraid I have to go; I have to prepare for a press conference.

Good luck with that, and with everything else. We’ll speak again soon.

I hope so.

She shut the book, her hand resting upon the leather cover, upon the symbol of her cutie mark, the red-gold sun.

Sunset tilted her head back, letting her flaming hair fall down behind her, feeling a little bit of water prick at the corners of her eyes.

Yes. Yes, I am very fortunate for all my faults. I am blessed.

A lovely life.

If not quite so lovely now as once it was, not so very long ago.

Still, like I said to Twilight, I have only myself to blame on that front; nothing to do but make the best of it.

The door opened; Skystar stood in the doorway. “Are you coming?”

“Yes, sorry,” Sunset said, “I just … got caught up in the writing, I suppose?”

Skystar frowned. “Are you worried that someone will find that, read it, and discover the truth about what you did?”

“No,” Sunset said, as she put the journal aside and got to her feet.

“'No'?” Skystar repeated.

“No,” Sunset said again. “Trust me, I’m not going to just leave this lying around people that I don’t … trust.”

Skystar smiled a little. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“And besides,” Sunset went on, “what do I have to hide from you?”

“Also a good point,” Skystar murmured.

Sunset took a couple of steps across the bedroom floor — with her boots off, her feet made almost no sound at all — when her scroll went off.

“Sorry about this,” she said, “but it might be important.”

“Just don’t answer it if it’s the press calling you for a statement,” Skystar said.

“If it’s not a number I know, I won’t bother answering,” Sunset said, as she got out her scroll and opened it up. It was … Penny?

Huh.

Sunset debated not answering; she didn’t know what Penny wanted, and she wasn’t looking forward to trying to explain herself to Penny, if Penny wanted an explanation. But it would be kind of mean to just straight up not answer; courtesy demanded that she at least find out what Penny wanted.

If the conversation strayed into uncomfortable territory, she could also explain that she didn’t want to talk.

Failing that, she could always hang up. She didn’t want to, but … it wasn’t as though she and Penny were going to be spending a lot of time together in future, were they?

“I’m sorry, but I should take this,” Sunset murmured. “I will be down as soon as I’m done.”

Skystar stepped closer. “Take your time.”

Sunset looked up from her scroll. “You don’t have to stick around.”

“Does it bother you if I do?”

“I … no, I suppose not,” Sunset replied. So long as Penny doesn’t mention Salem, we should be fine. “I just hope you’re not bored.”

She pushed the green button to answer the call.

Penny’s face appeared on the screen, looking up at Sunset; she smiled up with a glee that seemed, in the circumstances, to verge upon the inappropriate.

“Sunset!” she cried. Her face fell a little, and she looked away somewhere off-screen, as though she was afraid that she was going to get into trouble for sounding too eager. “I mean, um … it’s good to see you again.”

“Is it?” Sunset asked.

Okay, so maybe I’m a little upset.

“Of course!” Penny declared. “Just because of what happened doesn’t mean that we’re not friends. Does it?”

“That … isn’t really for me to say is it?” asked Sunset. “I mean, I’m the one who … do you still want to be my friend, even after … you know?”

Penny nodded. “Even though what you did was wrong, I still like you. I wish you didn’t have to go away.”

Sunset bowed her head for a second, her hair falling down all around her face; she brushed it out of the way, lest it form a curtain of concealment between her and Penny. “I wish that too, Penny, even though I think … it’s probably for the best. Maybe it … thank you, Penny; it’s very nice to hear that.”

Penny shifted her head leftwards and rightwards, as though she were trying to peer out of the corners of the screen. “Where are you? That looks like a house?”

“I’m in Former Councillor Aris’ house, in Skystar Aris’ bedroom,” Sunset said. “Skystar is here with me.”

Skystar shuffled forwards, leaning in so that her head was just a little bit below Sunset’s, somewhat visible in the screen. “Hello. It’s Penny Polendina from Atlas’ Team Rosepetal, isn’t it?”

“I am Penny Polendina, yes,” Penny replied. “You remember me?”

“I remember all the Vytal Tournament contestants,” Skystar replied. “Names, teams, schools. It all comes with the role. Not that I’ll have that for much longer.”

“Well, the truth is, maybe you shouldn't tell anyone about this, but the truth is, I’m not part of Team Rosepetal anymore.”

Sunset frowned. “You’re not?” she asked, stepping away from Skystar so that the latter didn’t obstruct her view of Penny. “Why not, what happened?”

Penny cannot have been exiled too, what in Remnant for?

What would move Rainbow Dash to treat Penny as Ruby has treated me?

Penny hesitated for a second. “I … don’t be mad, Sunset, but … Professor Ozpin asked me to lead Team Sapphire, at least for now.”

“You?” Sunset repeated, before realising how that sounded. “You,” she said again, in a hopefully less surprised tone of voice. “You, you are the new leader of the team, wow, that…” She found herself trailing off.

It was fair to say that Penny would not have been Sunset’s choice, if Professor Ozpin had bothered to consult her. She had, some time ago, made the decision that if anything were to happen to her, then her voice in the succession would go to Pyrrha, and if she had been consulted, she would have stood by that decision. But Professor Ozpin had not consulted with her, and given the circumstances, he wasn’t really obliged to; instead … instead he had chosen Penny.

Not someone that Sunset would have considered, if only because she went to the wrong school, but Sunset supposed, considering it now, that she could see the advantages in it. Penny was, after all, transferring to Beacon, and the topic of where she would fit in, what team would she be a part of, whether she would make any new friends, they had all been things that everyone had been considering, and for which there were no easy answers. But Sunset by removing herself — by being removed — from the equation, had provided just such an easy answer. Sunset slotted out, Penny slotted in, and Team SAPR — or whatever its new name ended up being — had four members again, as Sunset had always wished that it should.

She had said to Pyrrha that she didn’t want there to be a permanent empty slot on the team serving as her memorial in death, and she didn’t need for it to be a permanent reminder of her defenestration now, either. And Penny, skilled, brave, loving Penny, was perhaps the best choice of a replacement that Sunset could have hoped for in the circumstances.

As for being the leader … Sunset supposed that she could see what Professor Ozpin had been thinking: Penny was popular; she cared about the other members of the team; she was curious, which hopefully also meant that she was keen to learn; she was both a newcomer but at the same time also known to the others.

There were worse building blocks to start off with, even if there were also easier and more propitious starts to being a team leader.

“Congratulations, Penny,” she said, “that is—”

“You don’t have to lie to me,” Penny said. “I know I’m not who you would have chosen.”

Sunset was silent for a moment. “That … that’s neither a slight nor a judgement on you, Penny,” she said. “It … events have proven that my judgement is far from infallible.”

“I’m not upset,” Penny said. “I get it, I … I’m a little nervous about it myself, but I want you to know — I want you to know, especially — that I … this opportunity means more than anything to me, and I … I promise you that I’ll do everything that I can to keep everyone safe. Ruby said that I shouldn’t say that.”

“I can see why,” Sunset murmured. “But I’ll take that in the spirit in which it was intended. For what it’s worth, I do believe that they will be safer with you than without you, and safer with you than with pretty much anyone else I can think of who might take my place.”

“I don’t know if I can be as good a leader as you,” Penny said. “But I’m going to try.”

“You can’t be as good a leader as me, Penny,” Sunset said, “but I’m sure that if you try hard enough, you can be better.”

Penny blinked. “You … you think so?”

It wouldn’t be that difficult. “I do.”

“Sunset,” Penny whispered. “That means a lot. I … I’m so glad. Can I tell you a secret?” She leaned forwards. “A big part of the reason I told everyone that I’d call you is because I was hoping that you’d approve. It … it wouldn’t feel right, taking over if you didn’t want me to.”

“You don’t need my blessing,” Sunset told her, “but if it helps, you have it. I’m glad to know the team is in good hands. So, now that there are two Ps but no S, what are you going to call the team now?”

“Since nobody can know that you’re not on the team anymore, in case they suspect that … you know,” Penny said.

“That I did the things they’re saying that I did,” Sunset said.

“Yes,” said Penny, “that. Because of that, we’re staying as Team Sapphire for now, and people aren’t supposed to really know that I’m the team leader. Luckily, I hang out with you guys all the time, so nobody should suspect anything … except the fact that you’re not here. That’s why I got this chance to call you, Pyrrha was telling us about last night, and, well, we realised that we need to make sure that if people ask why you’re not at Beacon, then we’re all giving the same answer. Otherwise, it’ll look really suspicious.”

“True, but I’ve had a thought about that,” Sunset said. “Councillor Emerald is going to say that he’s sending me off on a mission—”

“Snap!” Penny cried. “We were going to say that you were on a mission, too!”

“Great minds, Penny,” Sunset said. “To give you the details: I’ll soon be leaving for Mount Aris, to take care of some grimm there. And I will actually be leaving, by the way; this is a real mission, given to me by Former Councillor Aris, because she has confidence in me beyond my deserving. But the current Councillor Emerald is going to take the credit for it, prove that he has confidence in me as well, and explain why I’m not around.”

“Until your mission is over,” Penny said. “But missions end.”

“Here we go,” Skystar muttered.

“It’s a great idea,” Sunset insisted.

“What is?” asked Penny.

“I’m going to fake my own death,” Sunset declared.

“That doesn’t sound like a great idea,” Penny replied. “We were thinking that we’d just tell everyone that you decided to drop out of school.”

“Very sensible,” Skystar commented.

“But that makes it seem like I was … weak,” Sunset said. “Or that I couldn’t cut it.”

“Awww, that sounds awful,” Skystar said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Sunset narrowed her eyes. “Yeah, okay, but there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be remembered fondly, whether I strictly speaking deserve it or not. And besides, as I’ve explained, it also draws a sharp line under everything. Nobody’s going to ask awkward questions about me if I’m dead. If I’m dead, nobody will care anymore. All of this will be forgotten, and the public will move on to something else.”

“But you’re not actually going to die, right?” Penny said.

“No,” Sunset said. “I’m not actually going to die; I’m just going to disguise myself as someone else. Stop rolling your eyes, Skystar.”

Skystar rolled her eyes more. “Penny, help me out and tell Sunset how ridiculous this is.”

“I don’t know,” Penny said. “Is it really that ridiculous?”

“No,” said Sunset.

“Yes!” Skystar cried. “How can you not see that?”

“It does sound hard, having to go around for the rest of your life pretending to be somebody you’re not,” Penny admitted. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Not really,” Sunset conceded. “But I’d rather that than have people continue looking into me, trying to work out if I did it or not, not to mention questioning Councillor Emerald — or thinking that I ran away from Beacon, for that matter.”

“It sounds difficult, but not that bad a plan,” Penny replied. “But if Skystar thinks that it’s that bad, then maybe Pyrrha or Jaune or Ruby would agree with her. I should probably talk to them about it.”

“You certainly wouldn’t want them to think Sunset was actually dead,” Skystar informed her. “That kind of thing can spiral out of control in the worst ways imaginable.”

Sunset huffed. “Well, look, no firm decisions have to be made right now, so just … I still have time to think about this, okay? Maybe … maybe I’ll talk to Lady Nikos and see what she thinks, since Pyrrha seems to think that she’d be willing to speak to me. I think that I’m right, but I am willing to be counselled otherwise. But, for now, you can tell anyone who asks that I’m going on a mission and that I went to speak to Skystar about this … email that she wrote.”

“What are you going to say about that?” asked Penny.

“Watch our press conference and find out,” Skystar instructed.

“Will do!” Penny declared. “When is it?”

“In about an hour’s time,” Skystar said. “So we should probably eat something and get ready if we don’t want to be facing the press on an empty stomach and in our PJs.” She chuckled. “That would have the merit of being original, although I’d still rather eat something.”

“Does that mean you need to go?” asked Penny.

“Before we do,” Sunset said quickly, “did Pyrrha tell you—?”

“Everything,” Penny said. “Pyrrha told us everything, but when we talked to Professor Ozpin, he told us that the most important thing that Pyrrha or Yang could do today was fight in the tournament.”

“Well, tell Pyrrha good luck for me, won’t you?”

“You could also tell her yourself,” Penny said.

“No, we’ve said our goodbyes,” Sunset said. “But I’ll be watching, you can count on that.” She paused. “I … I hope that we will meet again, whether or not I’m wearing a disguise at the time. I haven’t spoken to Professor Ozpin yet, but when I do, I hope he will continue to accept my service.”

“Oh, yes, he will!” Penny cried. “Last night, he told Professor Goodwitch to meet you.”

“He did?” Sunset replied. “Meet me where?”

“At Pyrrha’s mother’s,” Penny said. “Professor Ozpin thought you’d probably go see her.”

“Professor Ozpin is a wise man,” Sunset murmured. “At least I am not to be completely cast out. Nevertheless, I… I won’t speak to Pyrrha again, just yet. If nothing else it would undermine the notion of saying goodbye at Beacon, and make it all seem… a bit melodramatic. If…” she paused for a moment. “If we do not meet again-”

“Then I’m really glad that I got to meet you,” Penny said.

A sigh escaped from Sunset’s lips; she could hold it in no longer. “I’m glad I got to meet you too,” she said. “Even if this is only for now, as I hope it is, goodbye, Penny.”

Penny’s face fell as she nodded. “Goodbye, Sunset.”

Sunset hung up, staring down at her scroll as the screen went blank, no voice, no sound.

Nothing.

Nothing left at all.

Sunset sighed again. She couldn’t seem to help herself. She glanced up at Skystar. “Do you think that any of this is going to work?”

“I … I don’t know,” Skystar admitted. “I’ve got no idea. But I do know that we’ve got no choice but to try and make it work, right?”

“Right,” Sunset murmured. She nodded, she forced herself to nod, just as she forced her voice to sound stronger. “You’re absolutely right. We’ve got no choice, so we’ve just got to do it.”


It was a little under an hour later that they stood outside of Former Councillor Aris’ house, facing the press as though they were facing a firing squad.

With the number of flashes going off in their faces, the comparison was not an inapt one.

There were four of them outside, all four of them being photographed, being filmed, all of them having the flashes erupt into their eyes, trying not to flinch away from the bright lights. Skystar and Sunset stood in the centre, with Former Councillor Aris on her daughter’s left, and First Councillor Emerald upon Sunset’s right.

Their expressions were all grave; that was appropriate for the circumstances, but also fit their moods.

At least, that was how it seemed to Sunset.

She really, really wished that it didn’t have to be this way. She really wished that she could have come up with something better for Skystar to say to excuse why she had written that email, because it wasn’t great, but … she hadn’t been able to think of anything better, and neither had anybody else, so they were stuck with this, and so was Skystar.

Hopefully, it would die down and be forgotten.

“My name,” Skystar said, her voice trembling. Sunset would have taken her hand if she had thought it would have been welcome. She was not certain that it would be, and anyway, it would have looked odd for the cameras. “My name is Skystar Aris, and this fuss was started because of an email that I wrote. I wrote it, but I never sent it, I never seriously intended to send it, and this whole thing has been blown up by some hacker who got a hold of a piece of rubbish, as though they stole a scrawled up note from my wastepaper basket.”

“So you’re denying everything written in the email?” came a question from out of the press pack.

“Yes,” Skystar said. “Yes, it isn’t true. Councillor Emerald, my mom, they would never cover something like that up.”

“Then why did you write it?”

“Because…” Skystar hesitated for a second. “Because Sunset … because Sunset is the person who leaked that recording of Cardin Winchester, the one where he was saying those awful things about the faunus to Blake Belladonna. You might remember, or you might not; it’s been a while, and a lot’s happened since then. I don’t blame you if you’ve forgotten, I guess it wasn’t really that big of a deal, it died down pretty fast, but … but Cardin was my boyfriend, and I … it hurt, finding that stuff out in that way. And so, when I found out, when Sunset told me that she’d done it … I was upset with her, and I wanted to get her back, and so I thought that maybe I would leak something about her, see how she liked it. Only … only I’d have to make something up because Sunset hadn’t done anything wrong. It was stupid and petty and mean, and I knew all of that; that’s why I didn’t send the email. I knew that it would be wrong to lie about Sunset that way.”

“What about Councillor Emerald? What about your mother?”

“I knew, I thought, that they would be able to clear everything up, after Sunset had been made to sweat for a little bit,” Skystar said. “I knew, I thought, that nobody would seriously believe that they would do something like this.” She bowed her head. “I am so sorry for any distress that I’ve caused to those who lost friends or relatives in the Breach, my message was inappropriate, but—”

“But not intended to be sent,” Former Councillor Aris added. “My daughter is here apologising out of maturity and a sense of responsibility, but this is not her fault. She did not contact the news with this information; she thought better of her actions before they led anywhere. The fault, the sole fault, lies with those who illegally accessed her data and used it for malicious purposes.”

“Quite frankly,” said Councillor Emerald, “the fact that this single message, with no supporting evidence, was blurted out all over the news, reported on by all of you with no due diligence whatsoever, nor even an attempt to contact Miss Aris, Miss Shimmer, myself, or Novo Aris beforehand for our side of the story is utterly disgraceful and a mockery of even the most basic standards of journalism. At least look out the window before you tell me it’s raining!”

“Sunset Shimmer, do you deny all this too?”

“It has been categorically denied,” said Councillor Emerald. “How many times?”

“Sunset Shimmer, do you deny it?”

“Yes!” Sunset snapped. “Yes, I deny it. I…” She took a deep breath. “My team captured Cinder Fall last night. My teammate, Pyrrha Nikos, is competing in the one-on-one round of the Vytal Tournament today. That should be what you’re reporting on, not harassing Skystar for having put something in her deleted items folder!” She took a step forward. “You can come at me, if you want to, you can lie about me, I can handle it; but leave Skystar out of it, leave her mother out of it, and for that matter, leave Councillor Emerald out of it too; he is … he is a good man trying to do his best for Vale in some pretty rough circumstances, and I think he’s doing a pretty good job.”

Sunset forced herself to look straight ahead, in spite of the flashes going off in her face.

“So will you be watching Pyrrha Nikos in the tournament?”

“Unfortunately not,” Sunset said. “I’d love to, but duty calls: Councillor Emerald has asked me to go to Mount Aris to assist in dealing with some grimm there; I’ll be setting out as soon as possible.”

“Is that true, Councillor?”

“She would hardly have said it if it weren’t,” Councillor Emerald observed “Yes, it is true. Miss Shimmer has proved herself both capable and reliable, and these false accusations do not dent my confidence in her. I am certain that she will serve Vale as well in Mount Aris as she has served Vale so well so many times already.”

Author's Note:

The details in here about alicorns derives from my interpretation of what details MLP G5 had offered, up until the end of Chapter 5 of Make Your Mark; it was just my luck that before this chapter got published Chapter 6 of Make Your Mark came out and possibly invalidated some of this, nevertheless I've decided to keep it unchanged because I felt like some of the (possible) Chapter 6 reveals took away some of the interesting possibilities suggested earlier.

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