Unicorn x Unicorn

by Typewrittensoul

Chapter 5.3 (The Southern Isles pt 3)

Part 3

Sunset let out a frustrated sigh as she rolled onto her stomach, feeling the rocky protrusions of the ground poke at her. As she stood up, she heard Wakea’s voice clear as day despite how the rest of the world around her, such as the roiling lava, was muffled by the natural power of the volcano’s partition. “Trust in your senses, Sunset,” Wakea said.

She huffed, “How can I ‘trust my senses’ when I can’t sense anything in the first place?”

“It’s simple, Ms. Shimmer. You focus.” he replied, full of certainty. He took a deep breath in and out and traced his hoof up and down the center of his body as he continued. “Focus with everything you have. Knowing this, the rest is easy!”

“Hmph. Simple doesn’t mean easy.” she said under her breath.

“No, it certainly does not. Nonetheless, I implore you to try again” Wakea instructed. By this point, Sunset didn’t care whether or not Wakea heard her. The sound dampening effects didn’t seem to prevent him from offering her his ‘pearls of wisdom.’ While short of thinking he could actually read her mind, Sunset just wanted to be done with this game. “Don’t forget to turn around. The hurdle is right behind you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she dismissed. On top of being unable to use her magic, it certainly didn’t help that she was blindfolded, which served to make her heartbeat and breathing seem louder and got in the way of her attempts to pay attention to her surroundings. Sunset went back to the starting point then proceeded forward yet again. Reluctance hung heavy in her mind, but she still took step after measured step, relying on the memory of her past failures more than attempting to search around with her currently limited abilities. “Where are you?” she asked rhetorically, inching closer and closer to the hurdle.

She couldn’t help but feel skeptical about Wakea’s instruction for the last few days. She found it near impossible to use her magic to “see” while inside the Sacred Chamber, which was the source of the island’s energies. Her readings mentioned how volcanoes, especially older kinds such as the one that made the Southern Isles’ main island, were natural outlets of the Earth’s magic. They were connected to major ley lines, veins pulsing with energy throughout the world like the magical circuits in a pony’s body. To try to cast a spell within such a phenomenon was akin to trying to speak at a normal volume while next to a concert loudspeaker set to eleven, blaring the most recent Sapphire Shores single.

Without telegraphing that she was essentially as blind as a bat, Sunset took one step back before starting her approach. She sped up to a canter, keeping her stride steady, and then reached forward and down with her neck to lower her forehead and center of mass. She counted down in her head then suddenly strutted her forelegs in front of her body, effectively braking in place. The moment her hind legs carried under her body and began to push against the ground, Sunset lifted her forelegs up and hoped to successfully leap over the unseen bar propped up in her way.

It went exactly as she feared it would.

“Ow…” She groaned, rolling onto her back. From the way breathing hurt, Sunset expected a bruised rib at the very least. .Frustrated, Sunset pulled off the blindfold and caught Wakea’s tepid expression.

“I feel that we’ve made as much progress as we could today,” Wakea said, patting Sunset’s shoulder to ease her frustration. “Tomorrow, you are to focus on resting. While you are fond of taking runs on your day off, I suggest that you take it easy, instead. We will reconvene here early the following day, and you will try to use your magic to navigate the obstacle, okay?”

Getting back up to her hooves, Sunset politely nodded and made her way outside. She wanted nothing more than to be out of the cavern, anyway. As it had happened plenty of times before, the sudden rush of blinding light made Sunset growl out and squeeze her eyes tight. The headaches she got whenever she left the cave couldn’t possibly be a sign that she was improving, right? Not to mention the stench that stuck to her coat and mane. She could do without smelling like rotten eggs everyday.

The first fresh breath of air in hours was less comfortable than she imagined, but it still brought a smile to her face. Instead of a shower, Sunset figured that tonight she could use a long soak in the bath. It may not have been all that long since she began training with Wakea, but Sunset was exhausted, mentally and physically. Not to mention the fact that every session left her more and more frustrated.

As for what she was going to do on her “day off”, well, there was only one thing she could think of that would relieve her stress...

---

She tapped her hoof. Bubbles snapped its pincer.

Hoof tap. Spin around. Rear up.

Pincer snap. Hobble in a circle. The process repeated itself for a few more rounds until Bubbles finally toppled backwards.

“Ha! I win,” Sunset giggled as she righted the crab with a simple use of her magic. She couldn’t help but grin when the crustacean seemed to excitedly snap its claws at her. “A rematch, really? This late in the game?”

Amidst the crashing waves, a voice called out, “Hi, Sunset! How’s your training with Father going?”

Sunset turned around and looked at Snapdragon, who set her longboard onto the ground. She couldn’t help but feel impressed by the skills the islanders had in navigating the waves on what were pretty much planks of wood. Just as impressive was the quality of the boards themselves. At first glance, they looked quite plain, but on closer inspection Sunset could see how finely hewn and manually shaped what was once a large piece of wood had become. She had expected intricate carvings and gaudy baubles all over but was pleased to find how practicality was the focus. “I wouldn’t really call it ‘training’,” was Sunset’s reply.

“Is it that you’re having trouble with reading aura?” Snapdragon asked. “I remember having a hard time with it myself when I first started.” She tilted her head and watched with baited breath for Sunset’s answer.

From the look on the filly’s face, Sunset realized that she must have let a bit of frustration slip into her tone. Sunset blinked. “Reading aura?” she repeated aloud, trying to discern what Snapdragon meant.

Sunset’s confusion dissuaded the filly from pursuing any further. “Oh. I guess that’s not what you and father are doing, then…”

“If that’s what I have to look forward to, I guess I haven’t even gotten that far. We’re still at the ‘make a clown of myself’ portion of training,” she said, batting away a pebble into the nearby lagoon. She recalled the numerous times she fell flat on her face trying to jump the hurdle. “Maybe I should just join a circus or something.” Sunset figured that if she’d never understand Wakea wanted her to learn. The more she thought about it, the more the circus life seemed appealing. With a bit more practice, she could even give Trixie and her magic shows a run for her money.

“I don’t really understand what you mean, but I’m sure you’ll get it, Sunset!” Snapdragon paused to glance at the volcano in the distance and seemed to have been struck by inspiration. “You must remember the fact that father has already recognized so much of you, already! In fact, very few ponies even get the opportunity to train with my father or Madame Pele, much less to do so in the Sacred Chamber. That’s something not even I’ve had the honor of. You see, my sister and father would spend much time together in the Sacred Chamber. She is his successor, after all. Well, not to mention that she’s talented. Which means you’re very talented!”

“Yeah, I guess.”

Sunset was told all her life that she was talented, that she had a responsibility to manage her innate magical strength and potential for the sake of everyone’s safety. But everywhere she turned, Sunset found herself confronted by ponies much stronger than her, all achieving feats that she couldn’t even imagine were possible.

“Have you made any of your own spells, Sunset? I can only imagine what sorts of ideas you have given how good you are with fire. I’ve found that making a few of my own spells helped transitioning to other elements that much easier. There are a few water-based spells that I’m really proud of.”

While Twilight’s voice echoed in Sunset’s thoughts Snapdragon continued, the other pony’s half-hearted reply had gone unnoticed. “My sister had an exceptional affinity to wield mana in so many ways. She was able to help wayward sailors that were lost and stranded, locate ponies that became stranded after terrible storms. There was even a time she was called upon to placate an angry volcano that was going to erupt before it was supposed to!”

Even Trixie succeeded in making that Phoenix Fire spell of hers.

A ball of light, as though a brilliant fire was condensed into an orb, struck against the soldier and adhered to his armor before exploding in a show of light and heat. The stallion was dizzied and frantic from the effects of the flash and subsequent blast of oppressive heat, striking out around him in a haphazard manner in obvious show of blind panic.

“I get it…” Sunset muttered out, gritting her teeth.

“Just like my sister, you can communicate well with animals. She made so many friends around the island. Like otters and seals—oh, even the ones on the other islands, too!”

“Alright, that’s…”

“There are so many different animals that vary from island to island. Would you like to come meet them?”

“Just listen when…”

“I’m sure you’ll get along just like my sister d-”

“Well that’s great and all, but I’m not your sister! I’m never going to be your sister, so just stop it with your obsession over her!”

Snapdragon stopped, her eyes wide.

“Listen.” Sunset sighed, catching herself before she said anything else she’d regret. “I...appreciate what you’re trying to do, but that’s enough.”

“I’m...just trying to help,” she whispered guiltily. Her ears pinned low against her head. She couldn’t bring herself to look up from the ground. “I—I’ll leave you alone now...” Snapdragon meekly said before galloping off.

Sunset hadn’t even spent that much time with the filly in the first place. Yet, there was an ever-familiar feeling wrenching her insides. She sighed in an effort to relieve the uncomfortable sensation. “What did Twilight’s books say about stuff like this?” Sunset asked herself.

--

Overlooking the water, Sunset sat on the edge of the lagoon. She felt an unnatural chill, one that made Sunset’s hairs stand on end despite the temperate weather. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, and her attention immediately went toward the volcano where a thick chimney of ash had already begun to darken the skies.

“Sunset, we must depart,” she heard Wakea call out to her. She turned around to see the stallion approach. “It is much too dangerous to stay.”

“Is there something going on with the volcano?” she asked.

He nodded grimly “Indeed. The portents are both grave and unclear. Whatever the cause. It is...not natural,” he said. “Madame Pele has thus issued a warning for everyone to leave the island.”

“Right. Makes sense,” Sunset said as she stood up.

He looked around. “Where is my daughter?” Just as he asked that, a sudden screech of birds in the distance was followed by a low rumble which made the both of them brace themselves. When nothing followed, the two shared glances. Before Wakea could say anything further, however, Sunset suddenly ran off in the direction of the volcano. “Where are you going?”

“To get Snapdragon!” She screamed, not looking back. The trees zoomed past in a blur as her focus was entirely on what was ahead. All around her the shrieks and calls of birds and other wildlife grew louder and louder, all indicating that they were going opposite of the danger she was deliberately running toward. Something was telling her that the young filly she had scared away was at the volcano, in the Sacred Chamber. Sunset galloped up the trail, heading to the cavern.

There was a violent shudder all around her, causing Sunset to tumble back and slip on the loose gravel under her hooves. She yelped but fought to regain her footing. Clenching her jaw tightly, Sunset pressed forward into the volcano.

“Help! Someone! Anyone!” A faint call echoed through the cavern, and Sunset galloped ahead toward it and through the antechamber until she reached the main entrance to the volcano shrine.

Sunset was stunned to discover that the volcanic lava was much higher than before, roiling and bubbling loudly, threatening to erupt at any minute. Her stomach churned from the way the air swirled around the cavern, making her feel as if she was riding a flying carriage through turbulence. “Snapdragon!”

“Sunset!”

Through the wavy haze, Sunset managed to spot the filly trapped on what was once a bridge, now a precarious island in the middle of the lava lake. “I’m going to get you out of here, I promise!”

“Sunset, no!” She shook her head and pleaded. “My dad will know what to do!” The moment Snapdragon said that, the platform toppled and tilted onto its long edge, making the filly screech in terror.

"No!" Sunset screamed, leaping toward one of the few rocks protruding above the magma flow to use as as a step. She desperately looked around until she finally spotted another boulder and jumped to it then once more to reach where Snapdragon was. As quickly as she could, Sunset placed the filly onto her back and actively produced a shield for her, concentrating to retain its form as best she could. The fluctuating strength of the partition was unpredictable but she had plenty of other worries to deal with at the moment. The simmering pot of lava began to stir more violently as Sunset retreated back towards the entrance, cautiously skipping from stone to stone. Lava swallowed up the path behind her, and she began to panic. Her eyes could barely sift through the billowing black smog enveloping the rocks around her.

Finding it harder to breathe, Sunset gulped and peered as best she could through the heat-induced haze. But just as she regained her vision, she saw that there were no more stepping stones she could use to get across without grave injury. She cursed under her breath. There was simply no other way to get to the mouth of the cavern.

She racked at her brain for a solution. The lava continued to rise, and she didn’t know how much time she had left. Even if she could have extended the shield to include herself, Sunset knew that it would strain the overall strength of the spell. The lava surrounding them was imbued with mana from the leyline that crossed under the volcano. She could feel interruptions to her shield every time lava from the rising tide of molten rock splashed against it.

Looking at the exit in the distance, Sunset wished she could just fly them over there. “No.” Even if she knew a self levitation spell, much less one to grow wings, Sunset didn’t think she had enough magic to keep up two active spells at the same time. Worse, still, was the unpredictable frequency of the chamber’s effects on her magic. “Wait!” She recalled the idea of cloud walking. Griffons and pegasi did it naturally, interacting with the environment without needing to cast any spells.. Thinking about it, lava was much denser than a cloud. It was also hundreds to a couple thousands of degrees hotter. ‘Still, given the alternative…’ She shook away the thought and instead set her mind toward concentrating mana in her hooves.

“You can do it, Sunset,” she said to herself. “It’s just going to hurt. Really, really bad. That’s all it is. Simple. Oh boy.” She extended her leg, trying her best to imagine herself simply dipping her hoof into a lake. Of lava. Sunset winced and clutched her foreleg against her barrel. “C’mon, c’mon, she’s counting on you!” she hissed out.

The cavern shook violently once again, causing parts of the ceiling to crash into the lava and splash molten rock all around them. Snapdragon cried out in terror, and she felt the blasts of heat, and luckily nothing else so far, penetrate the barrier.

Hearing the filly’s shriek, Sunset immediately ignored every instinct screaming at her in her mind not to move forward. She couldn’t afford to think even for a moment at the risk of hesitating. She extended her leg once more and took her first step.

Though it was awkward at first, Sunset managed to find purchase on the constantly shifting surface, enough to take a few more steps until she was fully off the isolated patch of rock.

On the way to the exit, the first thing she noticed was the nauseating stench of burning skin and searing hairs. Once it registered, the pain shot up her leg like lightning. The shock to her nerves was instantaneous. Sunset howled throughout the caverns, her roars competing against the erupting volcano for dominance. Realizing that she was screaming, she did her best to restrain it, turning it into a stifled growl.

“Sunset!” the filly’s voice echoed from within the protective barrier.

“Th-this is nothing,” Sunset just barely managed to stammer out. “You’re...you’re going to be alright, Snapdragon. I promise.” She trudged forward and clenched her jaw tightly as the searing heat made each step worse and worse. She focused on getting Snapdragon to the exit. When the sharp, jagged pains in her legs made that goal seem harder and harder, she focused instead on making it toward a set of rocks just barely jutting out of the lava, just a little over a few feet away.

From there on, she could see the cavern entrance up ahead within a short gallop’s reach. She managed to reach the makeshift platform but immediately collapsed from the exhaustion and sheer agony of the mind numbing pain. Just a few more steps and Snapdragon would be safe enough to escape the volcano on her own. She clenched her eyes, panting and wheezing and just needing a short break. She wanted to just sleep, to just hope for rescue. But even without looking, she could sense the magma continue to rise. “Need to...keep going…” Sunset managed to say, pushing herself up to get Snapdragon to safety. “No different...than my beach runs…” She smiled to herself.. ‘Maybe if each grain of sand was a piece of glass, sure’

Her concentration slipped for a short moment when she laughed at the thought, letting her left hoof touch the magma directly without a layer of mana to protect it. Sunset howled and nearly fell face first. She heard Snapdragon screaming and willed out more mana in order to envelop her leg before slamming her left knee onto the lava’s surface. She fought with all her might not to completely buckle, but she was unable to recover.

‘Get up!’

Sunset struggled to stand. Her legs were trembling, and she gasped for breath in the intense heat of the cavern. Her concentration was split between maintaining the barrier at its maximum strength while also keeping enough mana in her hooves to stay above the surface, but she was sinking more and more as the seconds passed..

‘I said to get up, already!’

‘I’m...trying…’ Sunset hissed through gritted teeth. ‘I’m…’ She forcibly swallowed her desire to whine as her tears evaporated the moment they touched her cheek.

‘I never said anything about trying, did I? No. I didn’t. I told you to get up. Her life depends on it. Focus with everything you have. Now get. Up!"

“I…” Sunset panted out. “I...”

“Sunset…” Snapdragon whimpered. “Your hooves! You…”

“Don’t look!” Sunset shouted, making the filly shriek and quickly bury her face against the mare’s nape as though trying to hide. Through her gritted teeth she proclaimed, “I said...I’m getting you...out of here…” With a pained growl Sunset fought to move forward and planted her front left hoof onto the magma once more. “Just keep your eyes closed, kid! We’re almost there!” She felt Snapdragon nod in harried acceptance.

Sunset thought only of moving forward. Of reaching the exit. Of getting Snapdragon to safety. Even though the heat was incredible. Even if she knew she’d never see her friends and family again. Especially because Sunset felt that her mother would do the exact same thing in her place.

The moment she felt solid ground beneath her feet, Sunset collapsed. She sensed Snapdragon hop to safety and heard her scream and sob. What she was saying was anyone’s guess.

Just as the world around her cut to black, she heard a serene voice whisper, ‘Heh. You did it. Your efforts finally paid off! Don’t worry. I’ll take it from here…’

---

A calm ocean breeze caressed Sunset in kind warmth. Her eyes opened and she looked around. “Huh? Where...am I?” Sunset groaned.

“We are in your hut,” Wakea answered. From the corner of her eye, she spotted him sitting hunched over a basket while carving an apple. With some effort, she lifted and turned her head to confirm it was him before lying back down.

“No, that can’t be...” she slowly said with some hesitation. Sunset looked up at the straw hut’s ceiling for a moment, sensing that something was off. It wasn't a matter of simply looking around for anything that was amiss. It was something more basic. Somehow she knew that the very flow of magical energies around her was acting in a completely different way. She hadn’t even realized it until that moment. “We’re on a different island.”

He grunted in approval of her observation. “It’s not uncommon, and I hope it remains a part of this island’s life for many years to come. Like our ancestors of my great grandfather’s generation, we’ve taken refuge on the surrounding islands until the lava flows have cooled down to return.”

“That’s awful,” she exclaimed. “What about your homes?”

He gave a slow chuckle. “No concern is needed. The size of the island will expand, not to mention the soil will be all the more fertile. It will all work out.” When he tried to offer an apple slice she nudged it away.

“Where is Snapdragon? Is she okay?” Sunset asked. She waited with baited breath, but her anxiety was quickly dissipating from watching his calm demeanor.

Wakea ate the slice for himself then carved another. “She is fine—tired, after helping with the evacuation and spending hours in worry over you, but fine nonetheless.” He nodded toward the sleeping filly at the foot of the bed. Relief washed over Sunset, and she exhaled the tension out of her body.

Standing sentry on the covers nearby, Bubbles snapped its claws.

“Heh. Glad to see you made it too,” Sunset greeted the crab warmly. Bubbles excitedly snapped its claws in response.

“What happened to your fiery attitude, hmm?” Wakea asked, offering her a slice again.

A self derisive chuckle escaped her lips and she took the offering with her magic. “I’ve...had enough fire for a while…”

“Indeed, you must rest. For in a month's time, you will return to Canterlot.”

She blinked and sat up. “A month? It only took half a day to get here in the first place.”

A wide smile stretched his mouth from ear to ear. “That is true. But surely, since you’ve taken the time to learn some of our language and even a bit of our history, your readings have informed you that the celebration of passing our sacred rite takes one whole month to do?”

Sunset’s ears flattened. “You’re kidding me.”

“I do not kid, tamahine o te puia,” he said with a gravelly chuckle. “I hope you have a large appetite. Tonight, the feast begins!”

She looked over her hooves and saw that now there wasn’t so much as a burn. “Tamahine o te puia...Daughter of the Volcano? Hmph.” Her expression pensive, Sunset took a bite of the apple slice.

Comments

[Emperor]

Looks like Sunset just got herself a new title after doing a badass rescue scene. Maybe she can use that as her title in court when she returns to Canterlot