Back To Equestria

Chapter 1

Every classroom at Canterlot high was silent. This was a momentous time in the year. No one made a sound, not teacher or student. All eyes rested on the clocks of each classroom. The long hand moved in slow motion making an audible ticking sound. Under normal circumstances the ticking was just background noise to the droll of a teacher’s lecture. However today it was the only sound in the entire building: the ticking of the clock.

Six young girls sat in their respective classes waiting. Everything had led up to this moment. Finals were done; plans had been made in advance and three schools months waited at the end of the next rotation. The second hand fell on the fifty-nine-strike mark, less than a minute to go now. It was a symbolic moment at the school, the waiting. In other schools teachers would have let students go early or sometimes not have class. But here this was tradition, that moment when it all ended.

For Sunset Shimmer and the Rainbooms it had been a spectacular year. Between the destruction of the fall formal, her reformation and the battle of the bands against the Sirens this had been a year to remember. Now on the twilight of the year it all came down to a few single ticks.

Twilight, Sunset thought. Her mind drifted to the pony princess from Equestria. Twilight Sparkle had done so much for her and asked for nothing in return. Sunset considered herself lucky to have a friend like her. Since the battle of the bands she had not seen much of her though. Being a Princess, she was probably busy with royal duties, Sunset considered.

A loud ring shattered the silence and brought Sunset from her thoughts. A second after the ring the school erupted into cheers. It was over, the school year was done and summer vacation had started. Students bolted from their seats out of the classrooms and flooded the locker-lined halls. Lockers flew opened and slammed shut as students emptied them out. Sunset Shimmer weaved through the mass of students rushing to get out and chatting as they went.

She squeezed herself through another crowd and stumbled to her locker. Upon opening it, she was greeted by a picture the group took after the battle of the bands. They were all huddled together smiling, Fluttershy was holding Spike, Pinkie Pie was above everyone somehow defying gravity, Applejack and Rainbow had their hands locked like they were arm wrestling, Rarity was posing fabulously, and Twilight stood next to Sunset waving at the camera with the cheesiest smile on her face. The sight of the picture made Sunset giggle a little.

“Whatcha lookin at?”

Sunset turned her head meeting two light blue pools staring at her. She jumped back in surprised with a gasp. “Pinkie! Where did you come from?”

“Well about eighteen years ago when my mommy and daddy wanted to have another kid they-”

Sunset quickly silenced Pinkie by covering her mouth with her hand. “No, no I meant… nevermind.” She shook her head. “Can I help you with something?”

“Yepperoni! We’re all heading to Sugarcube corner and they wanted me to get you.” Pinkie Pie’s speech was somehow not muffled by Sunset’s hand. She wanted to question it, but for the sake of her sanity decided to leave it for another time. She retracted her hand and smiled.

“Oh, of course, let me just grab-”

There was a vibrating sound at the bottom of her locker. She looked down and saw a brown hardcover book with her Equestrian cutie mark on it emitting a pink glow and vibrating. She picked it up and opened it. On a new page text appeared:

Dear Sunset Shimmer,

Hello, how are you? I’m so sorry I haven’t been back through the portal or written recently. Things have been hectic here recently. Pinkie Pie keeps going on and on about something about Season 5 and ponies with equal sign cutie marks. I don’t quite understand it myself but then again that’s Pinkie Pie. Also we’ve been dealing with a lot of changeling attacks recently but it’s nothing we can’t handle. Anyway I hope you and the girls are doing well and I hope I can find time to see you all again.

Your faithful friend,
Twilight Sparkle.

Sunset smiled at the message from Twilight. She didn’t get to talk to Twilight too much, so any message brought her some sense of joy. Something about talking with a long distance friend seemed more special than getting to see a friend everyday. No offense to her friends at Canterlot High, of course.

“None taken” Pinkie gave a cheery smile.

Sunset stared at her. “What? But how did….” She then remembered never question Pinkie Pie. She put the book in her backpack and emptied out the rest of her locker into her bag.

Sugarcube Corner was busier than ever before now. Students were filling out the front doors each second. The tables were all filled including a corner booth taken by four other girls. Pinkie Pie and Sunset slipped through the crowd and sat down at the table.

“Wow, I didn’t know everyone would be here!” Sunset commented.

Rainbow bounced a soccer ball on her head a couple times then caught it. “Heck yeah! It’s summer vacation! Who wouldn’t be pumped for this!?”

Pinkie Pie popped up next to her to everyone’s surprise. “Yeah! Everyone needs their energy for the kick off party tonight. Hosted by you’re truly.” She gave them a proud smile.

Applejack tipped her hat back. “Ya’ll better not do nothing dumb mkay? I gotta be up bright an’ early for the work season and I don't’ want to be draggin your butts back home cause ya’ll are drunk.”

Rainbow laughed. “You worry too much AJ.”

Rarity looked up from her phone and chimed in. “That reminds me, we haven’t really discussed tomorrow? What’s everyone doing this summer?”

Rainbow shot up first. “Heading the Wonderbolts flight academy! It’s going to be. So. Awesome!” She pumped her fist in the air and bounced the ball off her head and Fluttershy, who was sitting next to her, ducked in fear while Rainbow caught the ball as it came back down.

The pink haired girl raised her head and spoke softly but with a smile. “I’m going to be working full time at the animal shelter. Though I was offered an internship to work at the animal hospital, so I um, might do that too.”

The group looked to Applejack who was leaned back against the chair sipping a coke float. “What? Ya’ll already know the summer is work time for me. We’re planning on getting enough money together for renovating the barn. Plus there’s another Apple family reunion coming up.”

“Oh, oh me pick me!” Pinkie Pie shot her hand up.

Rarity smiled. “Alright darling what are you—”

“I’m to be doing a full time party/catering service! It will be the perfect chance to use my new party cannon!” Pinkie shouted enthusiastically.

The rest of the group shared looks of fear as to what she meant by party cannon. Rarity broke the awkward silence. “Well, I myself will be traveling to Manehattan to work abroad and pierce the heart of the fashion industry as it t’were!” Her comment was met with giggles and two eye rolls from Rainbow and Applejack.

Sunset Shimmer finally spoke up. “I’m sure you’ll do great there Rarity.”

“Thank you darling.” Rarity smiled back at her. “What about you?”

“Huh?”

“What are you doing this summer?”

Sunset’s face went blank. “Oh… I… huh.” She leaned back against the booth “I haven’t really thought about that.”

“What?!” Rainbow’s jaw dropped. “It’s summer vacation, awesomest time of the year next to Christmas, well and Halloween. How could you have not planned ahead?”

“I gotta agree with Rainbow there, sugarcube.” Applejack added. “She procrastinates on everything yet she made advanced plans.”

“Yeah… wait, hey!” Rainbow shot the farm girl a glare.

The others laughed at little, then refocused their attention back on Sunset Shimmer. She looked down at her hands and scrunched up her nose in thought. “I actually thought that all of us could travel and play for people but…” She trailed off.

Rarity put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s a wonderful thought dear, but unfortunately the rest of us have plans.”

Sunset gave her a weak smile. “No, I understand.” She got up and readjusted her bag. “I’ve got to go.”

“We’ll see you at the party right!” Pinkie asked in a singsong voice.

Sunset looked back and gave a light nod as she disappeared into the crowd of students and exited the store.

Sunset Shimmer fell back on her bed and stared up at the ceiling. She lived in a small apartment. It wasn’t very furnished and the landlord, as part of her rent, provided the little furniture she had. Her room was pretty blank as well: a simple crimson red room with a window at the far end. It was a cozy living arrangement, but it never really felt like home to her. It wasn’t hers in the end like so many other things. Her mind drifted to what she once had in her life. She used to be the student of Princess Celestia, destined to be an Alicorn, and all that had been taken away by her own impatience and selfishness.

She came to this world and wanted to conquer it and Equestria. But that was taken away… by her own foolishness and blindness. It was now she realized she never could have conquered her home world with an army of teenage humans. She laughed a little at her own corrupted stupidity. But regardless, she had power and she lost it. Twilight Sparkle, a small part of her brain wanted to hate her for everything. But she couldn’t. It wasn’t Twilight’s fault for this. Twilight only did what she had to in order to protect the people she cared about. In the end she even befriended Sunset. Out of all the girls Twilight was her first real friend and she admitted to herself that she truly missed her.

Sunset sat up and looked around her room. These things weren’t hers; they didn’t hold memories like the ones she had in Equestria. The body she had never felt completely natural, from the fingers to the ability to walk on two legs. She had friends and they were truly her own. But even that took a rainbow blast reformation and a villain stopping musical competition in order to get them. She knew that the girls still cared about her and loved her as one of the group, but they were all leaving for the summer. She would be alone, with no one.

She looked at the clock, the party would be in a few hours. She then looked to her bag and picked it up emptying it onto the bed. She saw the picture again; there in the center was she and Twilight.

“Twilight.” Sunset said aloud. She stared at the picture for a few moments and then grabbed her enchanted book. She flipped to the last entry from earlier and glanced over it. Without thinking about it she picked up a spare pen and started writing.

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I’m doing fine, Twilight. I’m sorry to hear things have been so busy lately. That stuff with Pinkie Pie shouldn’t be surprising. I think the best thing now is to keep the human and pony Pinkie’s from meeting. Neither universe would be ready for that.

Sunset stopped writing briefly to giggle at that thought. Two Pinkies would probably tear a hole in the universes and there would be chaos and bedlam everywhere.

We just started summer vacation here at Canterlot High. Everyone is leaving though, and I don’t really have any plans for the summer. I’m unsure of what to do right now and I could use your advice.

Your friend,
Sunset Shimmer.

Sunset closed the book and fell back on her bed. She wasn’t lying when she said she needed Twilight’s help. She was clueless and didn’t know what to do. Get a summer job? No she didn’t want to do that. Something inside her was nagging at her to do something amazing but she didn’t understand it. A minute later the book vibrated. Sunset bolted up and grabbed it flipping to the new page.

Dear Sunset Shimmer,

You’re probably right, good thing I keep the portal closed knowing how curious our Pinkies can be. Truthfully, I don’t know exactly what to tell you. From my studies of the human world there are various activities, more than I know of, you could engage in over the break. If you like I could write you a compiled list to help?

Your faithful friend,
Twilight Sparkle

Sunset frowned a little, but didn’t know what more to expect. She took up the pen and tapped it against her chin then began to write again.

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

Twilight, I know there are plenty of things to do in the human world but the thing is I don’t think I want to do anything here. I want to be with my friends but they’re all going away or will be busy. I want to enjoy life not just wait for school again. I’m sorry I shouldn’t be bothering with you about this but…

One thing Sunset forgot was that the book transmitted words instantaneously. So in theory, if Twilight was looking at the book waiting for a response she could see exactly what Sunset is writing while she’s writing it. Sunset realized this as words appeared directly under her last written line. There was no introduction or sign off, just seven words:

Why don’t you come back to Equestria?

The words echoed in Sunset’s mind as she read them. She hadn’t considered going back even for a short time. Schoolwork had kept her busy and Twilight had never been able to respond quick enough to set a date to open the portal. However now she was free, nothing tied her down from going back home.

Home, she thought. Equestria was her real home. She had a home in the human world, but her true home was in Equestria. She looked around her room. She wouldn’t need to bring much and people—no wait, ponies—there weren’t big on wearing clothes. She looked back to the message in the book and wrote her response.

Can you open the portal tonight?

Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna had been very generous allowing the summer kickoff party to be held on school grounds. In the back of the school on stage, Vinyl Scratch was throwing down heavy beats as students partied. Sunset, however, was in front of the school with a suitcase in her hand and bag on her back. She had packed what she would need from her home and wrote a note to her landlord.

There was a full moon out with stars surrounding the skies above. It was similar to the moon she saw when she first arrived in the human world. She stepped forward slowly and brushed the face of the marble statue with her finger. The surface rippled a little like a vibration. The portal was open.

“And just where do you think ya’ll are going, sugarcube?”

Sunset turned her head and saw her friends. All of them dressed up in their party clothes with skeptical looks on their faces. She frowned a little. “I’m going home.”

“For how long?” Pinkie asked there was a slight whimper in her voice.

“I don’t know, at the moment, for the summer.”

The girls stared at her all with sad looks, but they understood her reasoning. They would be gone and therefore so would she, not forever, just for the summer.

The group walked forward and pulled Sunset into a group hug. “Say hi to Twilight for us.” Said Rarity holding back a sniff.

Sunset smiled and pulled away. “I will, and good luck to you guys.” She pulled the enchanted book out of her bag and handed to them. “Hold onto this for me. I’ll see you around.” With that she stepped through the portal.

Pinkie Pie pulled a megaphone out of her hair and took a deep breath. “Don’t forget to write!!!!!” The others cupped their ears and cringed at the pink girls amplified voice. Pinkie breathed a little and looked around. “Do you think she heard me?”

An Unexpected Welcome

View Online

Chapter 2

It had been a long time since Sunset had gone through the portal, and she now understood why she had a fear of roller coasters in the human world. She spun through the portal, up and down. There was no direction, only spinning lights and a highway of colors. She felt her body stretch through the particles of light and change. Her muzzle shot outward and her legs caved and snapped in. A point on her head extended and every point in her body changed. All of this happened in a single instance, and the next thing she knew, she was briefly standing on two legs. She then lost balance and her chin made contact with the ground and everything went black.

She opened her eyes and saw two light brilliant amber hooves jutting out in front of her. She felt a little sick and disorientated. But she had made it; she was back in her home. However, instead of a large dark storage room in the Crystal Empire Palace she expected to land in, she found her inside a massive library. Towers of books lined the walls with beautiful crystal windows at the end of the room. Her mind started to cycle through worse case scenarios. What if she came out of the wrong portal? What if she was in another universe! What if she came out in the future or—

Her thoughts were interrupted by something poking the side of her head. “Um, Sunset? Are you okay?” Said a voice that put Sunset’s mind at ease. She looked to the source and saw a lavender alicorn looking at her with sterling purple eyes. She had a concerned look on her face.

Sunset struggled to find her balance but managed to stand up and adjust herself on her hooves. “Just never really got used to that after the first time.” She gave Twilight an awkward smile trying to play it cool. Twilight giggled.

“I know what you mean, after coming back through the portal both times the room wouldn’t stop spinning.” Twilight wrapped a foreleg around Sunset pulling her into a warm embrace. “It’s so good to see you again.”

Sunset smiled and hugged her back. “Wow, you hugged me this time.”

“Hey before I was just hesitant because—”

“I’m just teasing Twilight.” Sunset pulled away from the embrace. Twilight scrunched up her nose, which Sunset found oddly adorable. “It’s really good to see you again.”

Twilight smiled. “Likewise. I had Spike prepare a room for you in the palace.”

“Oh so this is your castle and—” Sunset stopped. “Wait, what?”

“When you said you were coming, I had Spike get a room ready for you to stay in.” Twilight said. She didn’t break her smile.

Sunset’s jaw slackened a little. “You-you mean you’re letting me stay here with you?”

Twilight’s smile faltered and she tilted her head to the side. “Well yeah, it’s what friends do right? Plus,” She levitated a book off one shelf. “I can finally use my new copy of Slumber 101: All You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Slumber Parties but Were Afraid to Ask!” She said with a giddy smile, clopping her front hooves together excitedly.

Sunset smiled and hugged Twilight again. “Thanks Twilight. I’ll make this up to you somehow.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble at all.” Twilight returned the embrace then drew away with a slight nervous chuckle in her voice. “Consider it an early apology.”

Sunset raised an eyebrow. “Apology for what?”

Twilight smiled awkwardly and motioned her to the library’s exit. “Apology for this.” They exited the library and entered a dark room. The door closed behind them and the lights flicked on in an explosion of noise and confetti.

“Surprise!” A pink mare swung down from a crystal chandelier on the ceiling with ribbons streaming behind her. She did a flip and landed on her back hooves in front of Sunset. Sunset stumbled and fell back in shock with her back hitting the door. “Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie, and I’m so happy to meet you! Well, technically you have met me, but not me me, the one you met is a human. What’s she like? Is she exactly like me? You're the pony version of you so what’s it like going from human to pony pony to human?”

Sunset was used to Pinkie’s antics in the human world, but this felt like it was on a completely different level. She flashed Twilight a nervous grin, but all she did was smile apologetically. “What’s all this?” She looked past Pinkie and there were dozens of ponies all around the room. Streamers lined the windows and ceiling with an innumerable amount of balloons scattered through the air.

Pinkie Pie pointed to a banner hanging at the center of the room. “Duh it’s your welcome to Ponyville party! When Twilight said you were coming I had to get this party together because since it's your first time in Ponyville that means you’re new here and if you’re new here then you haven’t met anyone yet and if you haven’t met anyone yet that means you must not have any friends and if you don’t have any friends aside from Twilight then that means you must be lonely and that made me sad to think about so I threw this super duper welcome to Ponyville surprise party just for you so now you can make lots of friends!” Pinkie was lightly bouncing up and down while staring at Sunset.

Yeah… it's probably best human Pinkie and pony Pinkie never… Ever meet. Sunset shuddered at the thought. She stood up slowly and cleared her throat. “Thank you, Pinkie Pie. This is very… well… you.” Sunset brought her hoof to her mouth chuckling lightly.

“Well I would hope so! If you know me in another universe then she must exactly be like me! If she wasn’t like me the there would be a problem with the universes and we would have to call the Doctor!” Pinkie Pie continued bouncing.

Sunset stared at her. “Doctor who?”

“No silly, just the Doctor, he’s a time traveling pony who lives in a blue box and—”

She was cut off by Applejack sticking a cupcake in her mouth. “Settle down there, sugarcube. Ya’ll scaring the poor gal.” Pinkie Pie tried to talk through the cupcake, but gave up and just ate it.

Sunset nodded a thank you to Applejack, who was joined by the rest of the main six behind her. “Hi I’m—“

“Sunset Shimmer, we know. Twilight has told us all about you.” Applejack said.

“Ah. How much has she told you?” Sunset shot Twilight a look, but she looked away innocently, staring off into space.

“‘Bout everythin’ from the she-demon to the band competition. Don’t worry ‘bout nothing, if Twilight trusts you so do we. Right, everypony?” She looked around getting affirming nods. “Right, Dash?”

Rainbow Dash was midair dancing to the beats of the music in the background then snapped out of it. “Huh, what? Oh yeah, if you take so much as one step in the wrong direction or hurt Twilight, I’ll be the first to clobber yah!”

There were a few face hooves from the group. Sunset, however, wasn’t phased and just let out a small giggle. “Same Rainbow as back in the human world, I see.”

“Enough chit chat!” Pinkie interjected. One moment she dropped down out of sight and appeared up on stage with Vinyl Scratch. “Lets party!” Vinyl flipped a track on the mix table and the speakers erupted into a drone of heavy base.

Throughout the night Sunset got to know a few ponies from around the town, including a wall-eyed mare name Derpy Hooves who was close by a brown stallion who she addressed as Doctor. Sunset decided not to think about what Pinkie Pie said in order to keep her sanity at ease. Life was easier that way. She also got to talk to Vinyl when she was in between tracks and her roommate Octavia. It was scary how much these ponies were like the ones at Canterlot High. Not scary that they were the same as their human counterparts, but they were acting the same way she found the ones at Canterlot high before she...

When these thoughts entered her mind, she drew away from the party and walked out onto one of the castle balconies. The moon had risen in the night sky. Unlike the human world there was a certain magical air in the sky as the moon rose. However, right now it didn’t help her. A feeling of guilt filled her gut, a feeling she had not had since she was reformed. Seeing these ponies reminded her of what Canterlot High had been like before she ruled their lives. Even though her friends back there accepted her mistakes, it hurt her now to know their lives would have been much better if she had never been apart of it.

She charged her horn and closed the doors to the balcony to hide away from the party. It felt weird using magic again, but she still managed. Now she wanted to be alone. There were too many conflicting thoughts in her head now. The first of fresh tears flowed from her eyes. The last time she remembered crying was after she had been defeated by Twilight at the fall formal. It was the lowest part of her life and here she was again. Regretting and unable to forget about what she had done.

“Sunset?” A voice called as the balcony doors opened. “Why aren’t you inside at the party?”

She knew it was Twilight. Of course it was Twilight. A lump formed in her throat, and she took a few shallow breaths before speaking. “I just needed some fresh air! Still a little woozy from the trip here.” She didn’t turn or make eye contact. The tears wouldn’t go away. She heard the sound of magic and the balcony door closing. Before she thought she was in the clear, she felt a hoof touch her shoulder.

“If you’re still feel sick, I have a few potions that may help.” Twilight had a touch of concern in her voice.

Sunset strained her head away from Twilight; she didn’t want her to see the tears. She didn’t want sympathy now. “I-it’s fine Twilight, I’ll be alright.”

Twilight, however, did not retract her hoof. “This could be serious though. Here, let me check your temperature.” She moved her hoof around and touched Sunset’s forehead. Her eyes widened slightly. “Sunset, you’re burning up!

Sunset tried to pull away, but Twilight kept insisting. She gritted her teeth holding back a combination of stress and tears. Finally she turned and glared at Twilight with tear filled eyes and stained cheeks. “I’m fine!”

Twilight stared at her, and her ears drooped slightly. “Sunset… why are you crying?”

“I’m not crying.” She looked away.

“Yes, you are… Sunset, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing…”

“No, no, don’t give me that.” Twilight said with a touch of authority in her voice. “If it were nothing, you wouldn’t be crying. What’s gotten you upset?” There was a beat of silence between them. Music could still be heard from inside muffled by the closed doors. The stars came out as the moon reached its peak in the sky. The sun was completely gone from the horizon and a beautiful dark blue filled the sky compliments of Princess Luna.

Sunset mumbled something inaudible to Twilight. Twilight scratched her ear. “Come again?”

“Myself…”

“What?”

“Myself”

“Sunset, please speak up?” Twilight insisted.

Sunset whirled around on Twilight, glaring at her again. “Myself!” She shouted, then drew her head back with more tears flowing.

“What do you mean? You’re crying because of yourself?” Twilight tilted her head. “Please explain.”

“Everyone here is happy! Just like their counterparts in the human world!” She threw her hooves up and rested them on the balcony railing. “They were this happy when I went to the human world, and what did I do? I screwed their lives up and took control!” She rested her head on the railing. “You fixed it… twice… you probably brought sunshine and smiles to this place when you first came here too…”

Twilight pondered for a moment then spoke. “Actually, when I first came to Ponyville, I didn’t want to make friends.” She rested her hooves on the railing next to Sunset’s. “I had no interest, they had an impact on me, the girls, they helped me to become a better pony. When I went to the other world, I only did what they taught me here.”

Sunset looked over with surprise. “Really? I… wow… and here I thought you were Miss Perfect…”

Twilight giggled. “No one is perfect, Sunset. Not me or you.” She moved close and draped a hoof around her. “We’ve all made mistakes, and we all stray from the right path.”

“Yeah… except I strayed farther.”

“You want to hear about the time I almost doomed an entire empire, plus my brother and new sister in law, because I was so determined to save it on my own?” Twilight gave a little chuckle and coughed.

Sunset’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped. “You… wait, what?!”

“Ehehe, that’s a story for another time.” Twilight smiled looking away. “My point is, you don’t need to feel ashamed of your past or grieve over it. You’re a different pony now, and that’s what matters.” She wiped away some of Sunset’s tears with her hoof and gave her best smile. Sunset couldn’t help but smile back.

“Thanks, Twilight.”

“That’s Princess Twilight to you.”

“Hey wait, I thought you—” She noticed Twilight was sticking her tongue out playfully. There was a moment of silence then they both broke out into a fit of laughter. Sunset dried the rest of her tears and the pair went back into the party. She still felt bad about what she had done, but she was happy to have ponies that didn’t hold it against her. She had worried Twilight's friends wouldn’t accept her. Hearing about someone's reformation was different from witnessing it, but they joked and laughed with her throughout the party.

The night closed out with everypony leaving. Pinkie Pie, however, had protested to the party ending, which resulted in Rainbow and Applejack having to chase her around the room until they could lasso the hyperactive party pony. The rest of the main six said their goodbyes to Sunset and Twilight. The room was a complete mess, however. Spike entered with a mop and sighed at the sight. He muttered something about getting paid for this. Twilight giggled and whistled for Owlowiscious to fly over.

“Could you help Spike with the cleaning?” Twilight asked.

“Who.”

“Spike.”

“Who.”

“Spi— oh.” Twilight giggled. “Right, thank you.” Owlowiscious flew off to help the young dragon. Twilight motioned for Sunset Shimmer to follow. They walked down a long hallway and stopped at a door to the side. “My room is up ahead. Here’s yours.” Using her magic she opened the door to a decent sized room with a huge bed on the side, a couple dressers lining the walls as well as two windows with the curtains drawn. The room was simple, but immaculate.

Sunset smiled and felt her cheeks heat up a bit. “You know this isn’t necessary, Twilight.”

Twilight smiled at her. “Well, these will be your living arrangements for the duration of your stay. But for now,” She shut the door and grabbed Sunset’s hoof pulling her into her room at the end of the hall. “Slumber party!”

Sunset was caught of guard and dragged across the floor into the Princess’s chambers. “Erm, really Twilight? It's kind of late.”

Twilight’s look deflated. “Oh…”

Sunset mentally face hooved and caught herself “But it's summer vacation! We can stay up!” The joyous look on Twilight’s face returned and her horn lit up materializing her Slumber 101 book in front of her. “Alright, let's get started!” She shot a spark of magic at the fireplace in her room lighting it and a dresser on the far end opened up with blankets and cozy looking pajamas floating out.

Sunset gulped wondering what in the name of Luna she had just gotten herself into. But the cute look on Twilight’s face as her eyes lit up while reading the book, made her fear dissipate a little bit. She fitted herself into the pair of blue pajamas and sat next to Twilight in front of the fireplace. The pair made s'mores and told ghost stories until they fell asleep in the early hours of the morning.

Conflict on Two Fronts

View Online

Chapter 3

Sunset kneeled at the foot of Celestia’s throne with her bowed in respect for the goddess alicorn.

When Celestia spoke, her voice was commanding, yet soft and gentle. “You have done well, Sunset Shimmer. All you have accomplished has led to this moment. Your travels to the human world, your battle against the Sirens, and your return here has proven to me you are ready.” It was the voice she had always remembered ever since she had been taken as Celestia’s student.

Sunset raised her head to meet Celestia’s eyes. She stepped down from the throne and touched her horn against Sunset’s. There was a spark of magic and Sunset felt her body being flooded with magical energy.

“You have shown grace and power, determination and strength, and now I will bestow to you what I should have long ago.” Celestia smiled at her. Behind Sunset six other ponies stepped forward, Twilight and her friends. They faced her with wide grins and endearing looks. The energy in Sunset filled her entire being and her body lifted into the air. Two small glowing orbs appeared on back close to her upper sides.

It was happening for her, she new what was coming. She was finally going to be an alicorn. She smiled and closed her eyes waiting for her wings to appear. Suddenly there was a thunder strike and a flash of darkness surrounding her. Two claw like wings sprouted from her back and wrapped around her encasing her in their grip. She fell to the ground and struggled. The claws burned her and tore at her coat. She screamed in pain and looked up to see Celestia with the same smile on her face.

Celestia leaned in close and whispered. “Your punishment.” Sunset looked up at her with wide eyes and screamed as the claws squeezed her harder.

Twilight leaned forward, charging her horn. “You stole my crown, hurt those in another universe, tried to take over Equestria and bring harm to my friends.” Her grin turned into a maniacal smile. Her face grew dark and her pupils became little red dots in the center of black pools. “I will never forgive you!” She unleashed a blast of black magic from her horn that assaulted Sunset’s body, making her writhe in agony.

“I’m sorry!” Sunset screamed, trying to hold onto consciousness.

“All of those people in the other world said they were sorry, and you never forgave them.” The rest of the girls said in unison. The elements of harmony appeared around their necks and Twilight’s atop her head. They gave off a dark glow and a black rainbow shaped beam shot out towards Sunset. “Burn in Tartarus!” They all shouted. Sunset’s eyes widened and everything went black around her.

Sunset’s eyes shot open and she bolted up panting. Her vision was blurry and she quickly looked around left to right taking in her surroundings. She was still in Twilight’s room in front of the fireplace. Light was peeking through the windows as the sun began its steady climb over the horizon. It had just been a dream. She thanked Celestia it had just been a dream. She laid her head back down on the soft pillow under her and felt her muzzle brush against something else. She looked to her left and her face went crimson red. Lying next to her on another pillow in her own purple star spotted pajamas was Twilight. Her eyes were closed still sleeping peacefully with her muzzle right beside Sunset’s.

Sunset jumped back, the blush only increasing across her face. Something about being that close to Twilight, or anypony for that matter, just made her feel awkward and flushed. Though, she had to admit to herself that Twilight looked peaceful resting there like that. She could still feel her heart pounding from before, the nightmare had been awful and she never had a dream like that before. She felt a deep fear growing inside her now that she was back in Equestria.

Her ears perked up at the sound of a slight whimper followed by a yawn. Twilight stretched and sat up resting on her rump. She rubbed her eyes and yawned again. “Hm. Good morning Sun—” She stopped for a moment and stared. “You’re crying…”

Sunset blinked a couple times. “I’m not crying…” She brought a hoof to her face and wiped a stream of tears away. Unbeknownst to herself, she had been crying. She looked at the tears on her hooves and looked back to Twilight who gave her a look of concern and worry.

“What happened, Sunset?” Twilight scooted closer to her.

“I just…” Sunset wiped more tears away. “Had a bad dream is all… I’ll be fine.” She went to stand up on all fours, but found herself pulled into a hug by Twilight. Her cheeks lit up again by the sudden display of comfort. Twilight rubbed a hoof along her back gently whispering sorry.

Sunset rested her hooves around Twilight to return the embrace and they trailed over her wings slightly. Sunset froze as she touched the appendages. Images of the dream came flooding back and she broke down. She began sobbing against Twilight. Twilight gasped, and hugged her closer. “Hey, what’s wrong? What did you dream about?”

“T-Twilight” Sunset choked up in between sobs “I’m sorry… but please…. Do me a favor…”

Twilight patted her back and smiled behind the hug. “Anything, Sunset.”

“Please don’t tell Celestia I’m here.”

Twilight froze and stopped rubbing Sunset’s back. She pulled away slightly, and looked at the crying amber unicorn. “Why…”

Sunset choked back another sob and shivered a little. “I’m… I’m not ready… to see her.”

Twilight frowned and took Sunset’s hooves in her own. “Are you afraid of her?” Sunset nodded and Twilight pulled her close resting Sunset’s head against her shoulder. “Why?”

There was pause before Sunset began. “I’m… just not ready to face her yet… please, just don’t tell her…”

Twilight bit her lip, hesitating a little. She never hid anything from Celestia, and when she tried to be secretive as a filly, she cracked under the mere presence of her teacher. It didn’t sit right to hide something like this, but given what Celestia had told her about Sunset Shimmer before she fled to the human world, she understood Sunset’s fears. Though, she never knew Celestia to be cruel or unkind to anypony. She sighed softly, and smiled down at Sunset. “Alright, I won’t tell her you’re here until you’re ready to see her.”

“Promise?” Sunset looked up with pleading eyes.

“Cross my heart, and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” She did the motion across her chest and covered her eye with a hoof.

Sunset giggled and rested her head against Twilight's shoulder. “If it’s a Pinkie Pie promise then I know I’m safe.”

Back in the human world, Pinkie Pie shot up from her rested position. Her eyes and ears twitched and her lower lip quivered slightly. She sniffed the air and breathed into her hand, then proceeding to sniff it. “I sense a Pinkie Pie promise has been made.” She then plopped down on the bed, going back to sleep.

“Wow, Twilight. I didn’t know Spike could cook.” Sunset said, devouring the pancakes. She levitated another piece with her fork into her mouth, and elicited a moan of pure sweet syrupy covered joy. Using magic was still a little weird compared to having used hands for so long, but she managed.

Twilight giggled and ate from her stack. “Yep, he has become quite the little chef.” Spike came up to the table with more pancakes and a tray of coffee. Twilight patted his arm and he saluted, then ran back to the kitchen.

“What’s the purpose of an adolescent dragon knowing how to cook pony food?” Sunset asked.

“He wants to use these skills in order to impress Rarity. He has quite the crush on her.” She rolled her eyes.

“Twilight!” Spike groaned from the kitchen. “Don’t tell anypony my secret!” He came out with his pink apron on and a tray of muffins in his claws. It was now Sunset noticed that Spike had grown since she last saw him. The first time she saw him, he was in a little basket and now he was almost a head taller than both her and Twilight.

“Please, Spike. Everyone in Ponyville knows your secret.” Twilight gave him a deadpanned look.

“Yeah, because you keep telling everypony!” He growled and set the tray down on the table for them. For a dragon his size, the growl would have been intimidating, however it was hard to take him seriously with the pink apron and tinted red cheeks.

“Right, that’s why.” Twilight and Sunset both chuckled and Spike cleared their plates. They each took a muffin from the tray. Sunset savored the succulent flavor of the blueberry muffin with each bite. Human food just never seemed to be as good as food made in Equestria.

“So,” Sunset began as she finished her muffin with a swig of coffee. “What’s on the agenda today?”

“Hm?” Twilight tilted her head face stuffed with a muffin with blueberry splotches all over her cheeks. Sunset smiled and levitated a napkin over to Twilight wiping them. Twilight blushed sheepishly and swallowed her mouthful of muffin. “Well, I have a flying session today with Rainbow Dash. Then I needed to go pick up more quills and parchment. Hmm, then I have to look over a report of one the guards in Ponyville.”

“There are guards here? I thought you had said Ponyville was quiet?” Sunset asked.

Twilight frowned a little. “Well, yes, but ever since the rise in changeling attacks, Princess Celestia encouraged that a detachment of guards be sent here.” She tapped her chin and gave little smile. “Though, it was more for my brother’s sake than mine. He kept insisting to come here to look after me.”

Sunset nodded. “So would you mind if I came with you?”

“If you like. Oh!” There was a spark in her eyes. “You could take notes of my flying!”

“Erm, what?” Sunset asked, slightly taken aback.

“I have some flight charts that I need to follow and I need another pair of eyes to look at me from the ground! You could be my ground eyes! Please?” She leaned over the table eagerly. Sunset gave her an awkward smile and shrunk back a little. The behavior was a little off putting, but then again this was Twilight, the seeker of knowledge and lover of education.

“Alright Twilight, I’d be happy to.”

Twilight hopped up in her seat giddily.

From the outside, it was hard to discern if the castle was really the best fit for Ponyville. The previous night, the view from the balcony of the town was breathtaking. But from the outside of the castle in broad daylight, it seemed a little ominous. Sunset pushed these thoughts to the back of her head as she followed Twilight down the street. She noticed that Twilight wasn’t wearing her crown.

“Still not wearing the crown?” Sunset inquired.

Twilight grinned sheepishly and shook her head. “I’m still a little sensitive about wearing it in public.”

Sunset nodded and they continued their walk. They walked in silence, but that was mainly due to the commotion around the town. Ponyville was alive from the markets to the doorsteps. Ponies were bustling from place to place in the town. Ponies would spot the pair and wave. Sunset observed that everyone around the town was very friendly and always willing to offer a hello to them.

Suddenly, Sunset bumped into Twilight who had stopped. They had been passing by a tree. Except it wasn’t there, it was a stump with what looked to be a hollow inside and the framework of a burn and charred door. The grass around it was dead and blackened. Sunset couldn’t make heads or tails at what she was looking at, but then she looked to Twilight. She was staring at the tree remnants, boring through it with her stare. Her lower lip quivered slightly and her legs trembled.

“Twilight?” Sunset spoke. “Twilight, what’s wrong? What is this place?”

Twilight however didn’t answer, she kept staring, and tears began to form at the corners of her eyes.

Sunset quickly wrapped a hoof around her. “Twilight…”

Twilight gulped down a lump in her throat and spoke slowly. “When you first met me… I didn’t have a castle… I lived in a tree library here in Ponyville.” She lowered her head and stared at the ground. Her hoof scrapped at the dirt and blackened grass. “It was my home ever since I first arrive here…”

“What happened to it?” Sunset asked.

A few moments of silenced passed. Twilight struggled to hold the tears back. “A monster named Tirek broke free from Tartarus and tried to steal all Equestrian Magic… in an effort to get mine he destroyed… my home…” Twilight broke down crying.

Sunset hugged Twilight. She couldn’t imagine a loss like that. It made her realize something about Twilight she didn’t know before. Twilight knew loss and she new pain. But yet she got up each day. They stood there for a few moments as Twilight dried her tears.

“C’mon, Rainbow Dash doesn’t like to be kept waiting.” She said giving Sunset a smile.

Sunset frowned a little at how quickly Twilight recovered. She could still see the pain in the alicorn’s eyes. But she nodded and they went on their way.

It was comical how Twilight struggled to fly. If there were two things Twilight couldn’t get the hang of it was dancing and flying. Sunset remembered that Twilight had accidently kicked Flash Sentry in the face while they were dancing at the Fall Formal. She chuckled thinking about that. However with flying she was trying her best not to fall on the ground. Rainbow Dash always made flying look easy and her lack of patience with Twilight was a spectacle Sunset would have to pay to watch at the movies.

Rainbow Dash had set up an obstacle course with spare clouds to get test Twilight’s maneuverability. Each time Twilight would speed up, she would wobble and lose her balance, colliding with a cloud. She was equally successful with taking sharp turns. Her head would turn, but her body wouldn’t, and her face would get wedged into a cloud ahead of her. Rainbow sighed as Twilight bounced off one cloud and collided with another.

“Twilight, this isn’t that difficult.”

Twilight pulled her head out of a cloud and spat out a tuff from her mouth. “Hang on, I got it! Sunset!” She called down.

“What?”

“Can you give me those flight charts on wing positions?” Twilight asked.

Sunset nodded and took one of the sheets Twilight had given her before they began and started levitating it up. Rainbow swooped down and snatched it.

“Rainbow!” Twilight yelled.

“Twilight, looking at charts will do nothing. You have to feel it in your wings. Flying is about using your body, not your head.” She smirked. “If you want this chart, back you have to complete the obstacle in under 10 seconds without hitting any of the clouds.”

“That’s not possible, Rainbow! Nopony could make that time.” Twilight frowned, looking over the course of clouds.

Rainbow gave her a deadpanned look and flew to the start. In the blink of an eye, she was off spinning and flying around the clouds. Each turn was cut sharp with a majestic rainbow trail behind her. She blew past the last cloud and came up and around doing an aerial spin and landing on a cloud off to the side. She looked at Twilight with a smug grin.

Twilight huffed and sighed. “Well… that’s you, Rainbow.”

“If I can do it, so can you” Rainbow smirked and held up the paper. “Want this back, complete the course.”

Twilight flew back to the start. She dipped her head and steadied herself in the air. Flapping her wings swiftly she shot out from her position and raced through the clouds. Her turns were rough, but she managed not to hit any of them. Sunset watched from the ground with a smile on her face. She took note of Twilight’s speed and kept the time in her head. She had five more seconds to clear the course.

Twilight flapped her wings hard and kept her hooves steady in front of her letting instinct take control over thinking. She was almost at the finish line, when a one of the clouds for an instant glowed an eerie dark green. Bolts of lightning then erupted from it. Twilight panicked, and climbed to evade them, but one struck her right wing and sent her into a spiral.

Rainbow Dash took off lunging for her, but another bolt from the cloud knocked her into two clouds off to the side. Twilight was yelling and flailing trying to regain balance with her hooves. It was hard to see from the ground, but one of her wings was charred at the end. She winced in pain when she tried to flap it. Sunset’s eyes widened, and she darted out in Twilight's direction.

“Twilight!” She screamed as she raced across the open field to catch up with the falling princess. Twilight couldn’t regain her balance and kept falling. She wasn’t new to crash landing during flying practice, but the lighting strike had left her in bad shape. She was dizzy, and if she couldn’t regain her balance, the landing would cause severe damage. From Twilight’s perspective, the world was spinning round and round with the ground coming up quickly. She shut her eyes, waiting for impact.

Twilight saw darkness, but felt nothing. She hesitantly opened one eye to see a cyan aura around her. She looked at Sunset Shimmer standing in front of her, her horn a glow and she was upside down. Or in this case, Twilight was upside down.

Sunset panted out of breath and lowered Twilight to the ground. She panted in between breaths. “Are…you…okay?” she asked, panting heavily.

Twilight shook her head as the world came into focus again and nodded. “Y-yeah… Thanks, Sunset.” Twilight rubbed her foreleg. “You saved me.”

Sunset brushed her mane back. “Don’t think much of it, you would have done the same for me.” She smiled.

“Are you okay, Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked, flying down to met them.

“I’m fine Rainbow, thanks to Sunset.” Twilight smiled at Sunset.

Sunset blushed a little and rubbed the back of her head. “It was nothing.”

Rainbow looked to Sunset, then smirked. “Nice job, Sunbutt.”

“Rainbow!” Twilight jabbed at her. “That’s rude.”

Rainbow shrugged. “What? She has a sun on her flank.”

Sunset’s cheeks lit up and she now became very conscious of her sun cutie mark. “Oh…”

Twilight took a step forward to Sunset. “Sunset, I’m sure she didn’t mean-“

“Don’t look at it.” Sunset blushed, backing away.

Rainbow snickered. “I’ve got to tell Pinkie Pie that one.” She stopped chuckling then frowned. “What happened up there?”

Twilight looked up to the clouds. “I’m not sure… small clouds like that don’t shoot lightning on their own unless manipulated by a pegasus.” She put a hoof to her chin. “Or magic… I thought I saw an aura around it briefly.”

“Who would try to hurt you Twilight? If that was a joke, someone has a twisted sense of humor.” Rainbow growled and turned away from them. “Lesson’s over for now, Twi. I’ll go look around to see if I can find anyone who may have caused it.” Without another word, she flew off into the air.

Twilight watched her go, still unsure of what could have caused the cloudburst. She looked back to Sunset, who was trying her best to cover up her Cutie Mark from view.

“It’s almost noon… why to head to pick up the quills and parchment, then I’ll treat you to lunch?” Twilight asked.

Sunset snapped to attention, her cheeks still tinted red. “Oh, yeah, sure!” Twilight giggled and stepped forward giving Sunset a little nuzzle on the cheek before walking past. “Thank you, again.”

Sunset felt her heartbeat speed up. Eh… That was… new? She thought.

“Sunset, you coming?” Twilight called.

“Yep!” She called, snapping out of her momentary daze.

Night Visit

View Online

Chapter 4

Sunset sipped her cup of tea as she and Twilight sat with Rarity outside at the café. After picking up the quills and parchment they met up with Rarity in town and stopped by the café for lunch. Twilight regaled her possible near death experience to Rarity.

“My goodness! Who in Equestria would try to harm you Twilight.” Rarity sat across from her with her mouth agape.

“Well…” Twilight levitated some of her hay fries up as she made a list. “King Sombra, Chrysalis, Tirek, the Sirens, oh and Sunset Shimmer.” Twilight held up five hay fries with each name. She caught her words and looked to Sunset who had a grimace on her face.

Before she spoke Sunset put a hoof up. “I know I know no offense, non taken.” She rolled her eyes and frowned.

“I’m sorry Sunset…” Twilight put her hoof over Sunset’s and brought their gazes to meet. “Really it slipped I didn’t mean to say it…”

Sunset stared into Twilights eyes, and then she blushed. Twilight noticed the blush and looked from Sunset’s face to their hooves. She then squeaked and drew her hoof back blushing the same.

Rarity stared at the pair with a cheeky grin. “My, my, taking a liking to your knight in sunlit armor?” She winked.

Twilight’s blush intensified and her jaw hung slightly. “I wait no… Its not like… I was just… ugh!” She stumbled over her words.

Rarity laughed then took a sip of her tea. “Calm down darling I was only teasing. You never take an interest in any stallion around here I have to have my fun some how.” She winked again. “Well accept for that one guard in the Crystal Empire.”

Twilight shot her a glare. “We’re not discussing that…”

“Discussing what?” Sunset asked.

“Nothing!” Twilight shot out.

“Oh yes I must tell you Sunset.” Rarity set her cup down and leaned over the table. “There is this guard in the Crystal Empire that Twilight has-“ A shadow draped itself across Rarity and she paused to look to her left. Standing before the three was a blue stallion with dark blue mane clad in silver armor. He looked at them with yellow eyes; over his left was a red scar.

The trio looked at him for a few moments then he bowed towards Twilight. “Apologize your highness but I was told to bring this message to you immediately.” He took a scroll out of his belt pouch and hoofed it to Twilight.

Twilight was thankful for the interruption but gave him a skeptical look. “Couldn’t it have sent it through Spike?”

“It’s was not sent from her highness Princess Celestia. This message is directly from the hooves of Princess Luna.” The guard said. “Also since I’m here.” He placed a packet of documents on the table. “The reports from this week's shifts ready for your evaluation.”

“Thank you sir guard.” Twilight nodded.

He saluted. “Is there anything else you require your highness?”

Twilight shook her head. “No that will be all thank you.” She smiled, he nodded to the three and turned around and flew off back into the skies above the town.

Twilight looked over the parchment in her hands and untied the ribbon with her magic and the scroll unraveled.

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

Our dearest friend, we must inform you of a troubling phenomenon we experienced last night. During our travels of the dreamscape we have encountered dreams of all sorts. You are aware of our ability but for once last night we could not enter a dream. When we tried to enter this dream we was blocked out, also we couldn’t recognize the pony having the dream. After careful searching around the dream scape and looking through some of your dreams we discovered the pony in question is Sunset Shimmer.

Twilight as your friend we must advise you to use caution. We’re not sure as to how or why Sunset has returned from the other world but be on the look out. We still don’t trust her and we will be informing Celestia as soon as we raise the moon tonight. For now be careful. If you see her do not make contact, we do not wish to see you harmed.

Your fellow Princess,
Luna

Twilight finished reading the parchment allowed and her mind went blank. It then occurred to her Luna’s ability to enter dreams might have slipped her mind. It also occurred to her that Luna might not have been informed about her second trip to the human world.

“Um… I think we’re in trouble.” Twilight laughed nervously. She looked over to Sunset and swore she could physically see her having a heart attack in her mind. Sunset’s eyes were wide and she just stared. She then threw her hooves up and grabbed Twilight’s shoulders.

“Help me!”

“Eep!” Twilight squeaked.

Rarity raised an eyebrow. “I’m afraid I don’t see the problem.”

Sunset turned to her. “I can’t see Celestia! I j-just, I’m not ready!” She sputtered out. “When I left her it wasn’t on the best of terms and after everything I did in the human world well… um…”

“Ah I see.” Rarity finished for her and rubbed her chin. “Hm perhaps it would be best to let Luna in on this then?”

Twilight gulped. Luna was a very understanding pony but she wasn’t sure on her ability to keep secrets from Celestia. “I will write to her at once… however…”

“What?” Sunset asked.

“I think you should meet her.”

“What?!” Sunset blurted out.

“She mentioned that she couldn’t enter your dream. For an alicorn of her power that shouldn’t be possible. You said it was a terrible nightmare. I think Luna could help with this.” Twilight stated.

Sunset shrunk back and felt sweat forming on her brow. She had never met Luna from this world. Vice Principal Luna in the human world was dark and eerie, for Celestia’s sake her office was always dark. Going in there was like stepping into Dracula’s coffin. Suddenly the Princess of the Night seemed more frightening than the tales of Nightmare Moon she heard as a filly.

Nighttime fell over Ponyville with the rising of Luna’s majestic moon. The sun fell behind the horizon as it did the previous night and watching it was more beautiful than watching the sunset in the human world. Just thinking of how much magical power was needed to control the celestial bodies made Sunset’s head spin. She would have been fascinated to inquire Twilight about it if she was not shaking in her hooves. Off in the distance a group of figures came over the horizon line from Canterlot. They were silhouetted by the darkness.

As they grew closer Sunset could make out two bat ponies pulling a black and blue chariot with a hooded alicorn riding in it. A few guard mixed between bat and pegasus ponies flew in formation on either side. The chariot touched down in front of the crystal palace and hooded figure stepped down.

Unlike Twilight who was grinning ear to ear Sunset was stiff in place and had an uncertain look on her face.

“Princess, I don’t see why you need to wear the hood.” Twilight giggled.

“We thought this was what modern ponies call… dark and mysterious!” Luna put a hoof to the air. “A look that compliments the majestic beauty of our night.”

Twilight smiled and stepped forward briefly embracing Luna. “It’s good to see you again Luna.”

“Tis good to see you as well Twilight Sparkle.” Luna returned the embrace. She raised her head and met Sunset’s gaze and her expression hardened slightly. “Ah, Sunset Shimmer we presume.”

“Y-yes Princess.” Sunset stammered.

“Tis proper for our subjects to bow before us.” Luna said with a commanding tone.

“Sorry!” Sunset dropped quickly bowing her head.

Twilight shook her head. “Please this way Princess.” She led the three inside the palace and they entered the throne room where six thrones, one for each element of harmony, rested in a circular shape. Twilight took her seat and Sunset sat directly next to her. Luna sat across from them and kept her gaze focused on Sunset Shimmer.

Twilight looked between the two and coughed a little clearing her throat. “First I want to welcome you and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule for coming here.”

Luna waved a hoof. “Tis not a problem Twilight Sparkle. Night court is um” She put a hoof to her chin. “How would you say it? Boring?”

Twilight nodded. “Either way thank you. I don’t know how much Celestia told you but this is Sunset Shimmer.”

“Ah yes… the she-demon.”

Sunset shrunk back in her chair looking away.

“Princess Luna!” Twilight spat but then recomposed herself. “Ahem… Nightmare Moon.”

Luna stared at Twilight for a few seconds. “Touché.” She looked back to Sunset Shimmer. “Apologies Miss Shimmer.” She cleared her throat. “First to put your fears to rest we have not informed Celestia of your return.”

Sunset let go of the breath she was holding.

“Twilight told me about you and has already explained what transpired during her second trip to the other world.” She looked away. “We suppose having been responsible for bringing others pain in the past as well it would be a hypocrisy to shame you for your actions. Tis only fair we treat you with the same courtesy we were given.”

Sunset nodded and sat up in her seat. “Thank you Princess Luna.”

“You’re most welcome. However Twilight has asked us here to aid with your dream problem. Upon returning from our imprisonment on the moon we started visiting dreams in order to help our subjects in a new way and make up for our actions. We have not encountered a dream we could not enter. That is until we came across your dream.” She paused before continuing. “When we tried to enter there was a black wall that prevented us from entering your dream. Even looking at it wasn’t impossible. There was just static on the image.”

“Perhaps it’s because Sunset has been away from Equestria for a long time.” Twilight suggested.

“Tis a theory but we have a feeling it may be do to something else. Sunset Shimmer could you please tell us what you saw in your dream?”

Sunset gulped and took a quick breath. She was hesitant but explained what she remembered from the previous night’s dream. The pain, the punishment, and the agony she felt at the hooves of those she thought cared for her. She saw Twilight put her hooves over her mouth in shock. Luna however sat patiently waiting for her to finish.

When she was done Luna waited a few more seconds before continuing. “We see. We now understand why you’re so hesitant to meet Celestia. However we do not share the idea that our sister is a cruel ruler.” She stopped. “Though banishing us to the moon may have been over doing it.” She muttered. “Dreams like that usually spawn from fears. Have Twilight and her friends been cruel to you since you arrived here?”

“No” Sunset answered.

“So this fear is unjust, and we can assure you that Celestia would not exact punishment on you in the way you think.” Luna put a hoof to her chin. “Its possible that they could be from something else.”

“Sunset” Twilight interrupted. “Have you forgiven yourself for what happened?”

Sunset’s ears drooped and she looked away. “I thought I did… after the band competition… but…I guess part of me hasn’t…”

“Then that explains it.” Luna frowned. “Tis hard to accept one’s past transgressions. We found this difficult at first after returning from banishment. We recommend some mental exercises such as clearing your mind before you sleep. Hmm… sleeping with another pony may help as well.”

This made Sunset blush and take a quick glance at Twilight.

Luna didn’t notice and continued. “Also try to do things that you think will make up for your actions. You are in Ponyville and have a chance for a brand new start.” A guard from outside rushed into the throne room.

“Pardon my interruption your highness but I have urgent news from Canterlot.” He gave Luna a scroll and she read it. A frown grew on her face and soon turned into a scowl.

“Forgive our abrupt leave but we must return to Canterlot at once.” Luna stepped off the throne and made her way to the door.

“What’s going on Luna?” Twilight asked.

“Another changeling attack.” Her horn lit up and a set of battle armor covered her body with a silver long sword materializing across her back. “Heed our advice Sunset Shimmer, and take care Twilight.” She closed the doors behind her with magic and left the pair alone. Sunset sat in her chair staring down at her hooves. She contemplated what Luna had said. She thought it was all right and that she had forgiven herself for her past transgressions but it seemed her illegitimate fears were caused by her failure to fully forgive herself.

She felt Twilight place a hoof on her shoulder and she looked over to see her friend smiling. “C’mon it's late we should both be getting some rest.”

“Do you think Luna and Celestia will be alright?” Sunset asked.

“If there’s one thing I know about my teacher it’s that she is one of the most powerful pony I know.” Twilight gave her a reassuring smile. “Actually I remember she and Spike once fought off an army of mutant cockatrices.”

Sunset blinked a couple times. “Mutant cockatrices?”

“Long story involving a magical surge from a passing comet.” Said Twilight. “If you like I can tell you it before bed.”

“Sure.” Sunset smiled. The pair walked to Twilight's room and sat up in front of the fireplace again. Twilight regaled to her the tale including her adventure with her friends to find the queen of the changelings, Chrysalis, to rescue the cutie mark crusaders from her. Sunset sat quietly enjoying the tale; it was like something out of a fantasy book. This was before Sunset had even met Twilight and she found herself bewildered by the possibilities and what she accomplished. Twilight herself went hoof to hoof with Chrysalis and using her magical strength fueled by the love of her friends she defeated the changeling queen. Even at that early stage Twilight had surpassed even the strongest of unicorns across Equestria.

“It’s no wonder you became an alicorn.” Sunset chuckled.

“There was a lot more to it than just magical strength. Anyone can achieve that power as long as they have friendship.” Twilight smiled patting her head with a hoof.

Sunset rolled her eyes and laughed. “I’m sorry Twilight but that was corny!”

Twilight blushed and her nose scrunched up. “But it’s the truth!”

“Still corny!” Sunset rolled onto her back laughing. Soon Twilight found herself laughing and the both of them were in hysterics.

Sunset rolled back onto her stomach. “Hm… do you think if I had that friendship I could be strong?”

“As long as your heart is in the right place then yes.” She poked Sunset’s chest and smiled at her. “Plus you’re already strong.”

“Not really Twilight.” Sunset looked away.

“Don’t doubt yourself.” Twilight pushed. “Without you we couldn’t have defeated the Sirens.”

Sunset looked back to Twilight and a small smile grew on her face. She nodded a silent thank you and stood up. “Thanks for the story Twi. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight Sunset” Twilight said back as she climbed into her bed.

Sunset exited Twilight’s room closing the door behind her with her magic. She walked to her room on the side and entered. She briefly lit her horn up as she walked over to the bed and crawled in it. She lay staring up at the sheet canopy above her. Slowly she closed her eyes thinking about Twilight’s story as she fell into slumber.

Something grabbed her. Sunset’s eyes flew open feeling resisting pressure against her hooves. She struggled to move them but they were pinned by something she couldn’t see. There was darkness all around her and all she could see directly in front of her were two artic blue insect like eyes. The creature hissed and Sunset could see the outline of two large fangs. She charged her horn and the aura unveiled the darkness infront of her. The creature was sickly black green with a curved horn and a muzzle similar to a pony. It snarled at the light and opened its maw.

Sunset brought her hind legs up and bucked it into the center throwing it off. She sat up and was thrown off the bed by a pony sized mass hitting her. She hit the ground and skidded on her hooves. She casted an orb of light in the air and illuminated before her was five pony form insect like creatures. All of them had the same eyes and black coats with protruding fangs and grated hooves. A couple wore dark blue armor plates.

Changelings! Sunset mentally shouted. She had never encountered them before when she first lived in Equestria but she had done enough reading to know what they were like. One of them lunged for her and she jumped out of the way. Another followed its comrade and dove for her. She jumped into the air but was blasted by a stream of green magic from another. She hit the wall and slid to the ground. The room was spinning and she shook her head to rub off the disorientation. They were blocking her path to the door.

She didn’t know why they were here but then one thought ran through her head. “Twilight!” She shouted. She charged her horn and three orbs appeared in front of her. “Get out of my way!” She yelled jumping and launching the three magic balls. Three of the changelings tried to evade but were caught by the blasts. The last two both flew up into the air and dived for her. Sunset teleported above them and fired simultaneous blasts from her horn sending them into the ground.

Sunset landed on her hooves and shook her head. It had been a while since she used offensive magic like that. But she shook off the feeling and bolted out of the door. She turned to Twilight’s room and saw the horror of the doors closing behind a changeling entering it.

The Heroic, The Villainous, and Flash Sentry

View Online

Chapter 5

Sunset felt her stomach lurch up into her throat. She saw a changeling head into Twilight’s room. She only saw one, but she figured there were already more inside. Planting her hooves down, she scraped at the ground then charged the door. Each second she was running, felt like an eternity. It wasn’t clear what the changelings wanted with Twilight, but she wouldn’t let them get ahold of her. She jumped aiming her side as her body slammed into the door. She imagined bursting through and blasting all the changelings, however, in reality a shiver went up through her entire body, and she fell to the ground.

In her brief moment of heroic adrenaline, she didn’t calculate that these doors were thicker than they appeared, and her unicorn body didn’t have the strength of an earth ponies. She rubbed her shoulder and shook her head. Stepping back from the door she refocused her gaze and ripped the doors open with magic then fired an illumination burst into the room. She caught glimpses of a dozen changelings surrounding the room, with a couple already on Twilight’s bed, towering over her.

“Twilight!” Sunset shouted.

Twilight woke with a start. “Sunset wha-AH!” She saw the changelings around her, and sprung up, knocking them back with a blast of magic. A few changelings by the door turned on Sunset, who was already charging, knocking them back with beams of magic. Sunset jumped to tackle one of the changelings still on the bed, but was blasted by another. She hit the window with an audible crack. Dazed momentarily, she sprung up teleporting into the air and fired beams of magic at the changelings.

Twilight was still disoriented by her abrupt waking, and barely ducked under a changeling as it went to tackle her. The other changelings advanced around the bed. Twilight stepped back up against the backboard of the bed, and kept her horn lit. She jumped to the side as another changeling tried to tackle her. She was off of her bed, but more changelings surrounded her.

Sunset bucked a changeling in the face as it attempted to swing. She whirled around firing a beam of magic, sending another into the wall. She saw Twilight fly up into the air, evading the changelings below. Out of the darkness above, changelings jumped down, piling on top of her. They brought her down and more jumped on the pile. They gnashed, pulled and bucked their legs at Twilight while others attacked her with green magic blasts. Sunset felt her anger boil and she head bucked the changeling in front of her and unleashed a tri shot of magic knocking three of the changelings off. Twilight pushed her head out of the pile and surrounded herself in a magical orb throwing the rest off. She had bite marks on her coat and magical burns. She was panting hard and dove forward as more changelings fell from above.

Maneuvering space was getting tight. Twenty changelings filled the room in the air and ground. Sunset burst through another group to meet Twilight. She saw Twilight’s eyes widen momentarily and then rush past pushing her out of the way as a changeling came from behind. It was aiming for Sunset’s exposed neck but instead imbedded its fangs in Twilight's hoof. Twilight screamed as blood spurted from the two puncture wounds. She flung her hoof around, trying to shake the changeling off but it wouldn’t let go. A pair of changelings jumped at Twilight, while their comrade held her in place.

Sunset seized them with magic, including the one biting Twilight’s hoof. “Get the buck away from her!” She yelled. Her eyes were fire and she flung them into the wall. Twilight winced as her wound was now exposed to the air and she gripped her hoof under her. Sunset moved in front of her and threw up a protective bubble around them. The changelings blasted it with green energy and a few physical rammed the bubble. Sunset strained her magic to keep the energy going. Her hooves were sore from the fighting, and she swore she felt she was bleeding from impacting the window earlier.

Looking back, she saw Twilight whimpering as she clutched her hoof. She was scraped and bruised all over. The pair were out of space and out of maneuvering room. Sunset struggled to keep the barrier going, but it began to crack under the constant barrage of attacks.

“No…” She growled under her breath. “I won’t let you touch her…” She forced her hooves into the ground and her horn glowed bright. “I won’t let you hurt my best friend!” She yelled. Her eyes disappeared and were replaced by a blinding light. Her horn surged with magical power. The energy bubble shattered around them. The first of the changelings jumped.

Time slowed down around them as Sunset threw her head back letting the energy flow from every point of her body to the single point of her horn. When she was Princess Celestia’s student, she never had felt this kind of power before. It was like the power of two worlds coming together and joining. Her heart and mind were acting as one. Her desires and mind drove the attack forward as she brought her head down. She wasn’t doing this for herself. This was for Twilight. There was a flash, then a bright beam of light blue energy shot out from her horn, overtaking the changelings. The beam flew across the room, breaking through the adorning wall. When the dust subsided, most of the changelings were gone. A few had dodged the blast, and stared at Sunset with apparent fear in their eyes.

“Run!” Sunset screamed. The changelings jumped back, and flew out the hole in the wall. Seconds later, guards rushed into the room and gave chase to the changelings outside.

The guard they had met earlier in the day stepped forward. “Secure the perimeter! Round up any changelings around the palace! I want everyone scanned and checked!” He pointed a hoof at two guards. “Get to fixing that hole!” Two guards saluted and went to using their magic on the gaping hole in Twilight's bedroom. “Princess, Miss Shimmer, are you alright?”

Sunset was panting and gave a weak nod. “She… needs medical attention…” She pointed to Twilight behind her still clutching her hoof.

The guard nodded. “I will send for Nurse Redheart immediately.” He pointed his hoof to another guard. “I want an urgent message sent to the Princesses right away!”

Sunset turned weakly to Twilight. “Are… you alright…?”

Twilight gripped her wounded hoof. “Y-yeah… Sunset, that was amazing, you-“

She was cut off as Sunset put a hoof up. “Tell me… later.”

Thud.

Everything in the room was blurry as Sunset opened her eyes. She let out a soft groan as she moved her head slightly side to side, then sat up. She immediately regretted doing that, the world was spinning and she felt her stomach roll in a summersault. She held a hoof to her forehead rubbing it slowly. Her mind was swelling with thoughts and energy. The room slowly came into focus as she blinked a few times and at a cursory glance, she was back in her room at the Crystal Palace. Upon a closer glance to her right, she saw the sleeping form of Twilight Sparkle. Her head was resting on her hooves on the edge of the bed. One of them was wrapped up in bandages.

Sunset blinked a couple times and stared at the alicorn. How long has she been sleeping there? She thought. She poked Twilight’s head lightly with a hoof causing the alicorn to stir. She let out a cute yawn before, lifting her head up. “Sunset!” She sprung up wrapping her good hoof around Sunset in a half embrace.

Slightly taken aback, she returned the embrace. “So, how long was I out?”

Twilight let go of her. “Not long, it’s the late afternoon and you’ve been asleep since this morning.”

“Yeah, about that… what happened this morning?”

“You don’t remember?” Twilight raised her brow.

“It's kind of a blur.”

“Well, changelings attacked us… you came in and saved me, you had a magical surge and blasted them in one shot and scared the rest off.” Twilight smiled. “It was amazing! I’ve only seen that kind of magical power from the Princesses.”

Sunset blushed at the praise. “Wow, now I wish I remembered that.” She chuckled softly. “How’s your hoof?”

“It's doing fine, Nurse Redheart patched it up and now I just have to be careful with it.”

“Good…” Sunset looked around. There was silence between the two for a few moments then Sunset’s stomach gurgled. She blushed and shrunk back in the covers. Twilight giggled. “C’mon, let's get you something to eat… oh, and I’m sorry… again.” She smiled sheepishly.

Sunset stared at her. “Sorry for what?” She asked slowly.

Twilight offered her good hoof. “You’ll see.” She helped Sunset out of the bed, and when she exited the room into the dining hall they were by Pinkie Pie with the rest of Twilight’s friends.

“Surprise!” The pink mare shouted.

Sunset facehoofed. “Do I want to know?”

“It's your ‘congrats on saving Twilight and stopping the changelings’ party!” Pinkie hopped up and down and fired off a dozen party cannons. Each let out a burst of confetti and streamers. Cakes flew across the room landing on the tables and banners dropped down from the ceiling. Each of them was decorated with Sunset in a heroic pose dressed in silver knight armor carrying Twilight, dressed as a damsel in regal attire, bridal style.

Both Sunset and Twilight blushed while staring at the banners. Sunset ducked her head. “Girls, though I appreciate this… it's not really necessary.”

Rarity stepped forward before Pinkie could interject. “Please darling, we insist. You did save Twilight, after all.”

“Yes, but she would have done the same for me.” Sunset shrugged. “It's just what friends do?”

“Not exactly.” Applejack responded. “Granted that all of us have gotten into scraps and helped each other before it’s still mighty fine of yah to save Twilight like this. It’s a show of courage and trust.” She gave a smile and tip of her hat.

“Plus,” Rainbow Dash swooped down, “Pinkie Pie rule number 34.”

Sunset tapped her chin thinking back to her dealings with Pinkie Pie in the human world. Then her eyes widened and she facehoofed again. “If it can be celebrated, then there will be a party.”

The rest of the afternoon into the early evening was spent at Pinkie Pie’s party. Though Sunset didn’t think it was necessary, she enjoyed herself nonetheless. During the party the blue pegasus guard entered and stood at attention commanding the room to halt activities.

“Pardon the interruption, but Princess Celestia has just arrived from Canterlot to survey the situation.” Said the guard.

An invisible hoof touched the record player and the music halted with an ear-piercing screech. Silence fell over the room. Twilight was the first to speak. “P-Princess Celestia i-is here!?” She stammered. “But she didn’t write ahead!”

“She just finished cleaning up the changeling attack on Canterlot and made her way over here the second she was done.” He stated.

Sunset felt her hooves lock into place on the ground. She started sweating and a lump formed in her throat, making it hard to swallow. Oh buck she thought. She felt a hoof drape across her back and she looked to Twilight who gave her a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep Celestia in the main throne room.”

Sunset gulped and nodded, wishing that she were dreaming. However, Luna was not there to come to her aid and there was no mistaking the mix of lavender and old paper scent radiating off of Twilight. The gears in her mind stop and backtracked. Shut up brain, you’re not helping.

Twilight walked out with the guard, leaving Sunset and the other girls to clean up the dining room. She walked towards the throne room and was greeted with the sight of her teacher and it brought shock and horror to her eyes. Celestia was adorned in golden battle armor with a lance across her back. The armor itself was scratched and covered in splotches of green goop. She had a burn mark on her cheek and there were large bags under her eyes. However, she was well composed in her posture and the air she radiated.

“Princess…” Twilight stood at the top of the stairs.

Celestia looked up and smiled, almost with tears in her eyes. She seized Twilight in her magic and pulled her down to her and into a tender hug. “Thank Faust you’re alright.”

Twilight smiled and hugged her back. “What about you, I mean…” She drew back out of the hug. “You’re a mess.” Quickly she threw her hooves over her mouth. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean—”

Celestia giggled and put a hoof up. “It’s alright, Twilight Sparkle. I am a mess. I would have cleaned up after the battle but upon hearing of the attack here all I could think about was making sure you were alright.” She smiled down at her.

“I’m alright, Princess Celestia.”

“You’re wounded.” She was staring at Twilight's hoof.

Twilight’s ears drooped and put the hoof behind her other. “It’s nothing Princess, really… though why would the changelings attack both Ponyville and Canterlot?”

Celestia’s expression hardened. Twilight had only seen this expression a couple times in her life and each time she felt herself shrink back in fear. “The attack on Canterlot was a diversion.”

“Canterlot a diversion? I’m afraid I don’t understand.” Twilight sat on her throne and Celestia told her guards to stay at the entrance while she sat down in the throne across from her.

“Could you have Spike make us some tea?” Celestia coughed, her throat sounding dry.

Twilight nodded and called to her dragon assistant. A few minutes later, he came out with a pot of freshly brewed tea. He served them both a cup, then exited. Celestia took a sip and smiled warmly. “Ah, I needed that. Now then.” She refocused her gaze and expression on Twilight. “The attack on Canterlot was disorganized and clumsy, the changelings were merely causing havoc around the city. Their attack patterns didn’t show a clear objective to infiltrate, take prisoners, or conquer major locations.” She sipped more of her tea. “At first, I was quite confused. Queen Chrysalis didn’t come out to join the battle either. Then I heard of attack on Ponyville. It then occurred to me that the changelings intention was to distract Luna and I in order to go after you.”

Twilight looked at the ground and tapped her hoof against the throne in thought. “But why would they go after me?”

“Twilight… do you still not understand your worth?” Celestia asked.

“Well, I know that I have a purpose as the Princess of Friendship, but-”

“That’s not what I meant.” Celestia interrupted. “I mean your worth to me, and your friends.” She paused a moment, seeing if Twilight would respond. The look of confusion on her face told her to continue. “You are loved and cherished by so many in Equestria. If Queen Chrysalis replaced you, she could feed off that love. You saw how powerful she became when she fed off Shining Armor’s love for Cadence. With the love that I and all of your friends give you, she would be unstoppable…”

Twilight stared at her, then nodded slowly. “Oh…” Silence fell over the room again. Twilight sat still, contemplating this information. She felt something in her stomach lurch at the thought of love being used for such evil. It made her sick when she found out Chrysalis had been feeding off her brother’s love. But a worse thought was the love she and her friends had for each other being used for evil.

“Now you understand why I’m worried. With me I have brought a contingent of guards for Ponyville and at the personal request of your brother, you will have your own personal guard.”

Twilight’s ears perked up. “Princess… I appreciate the extra security around Ponyville, for the villagers’ sake. However, I don’t require a personal guard.”

“Oh?” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “And why is that?”

“Well.” Twilight chose her words carefully. She didn’t want to indicate that she had Sunset Shimmer to help keep her safe. “I have my friends.”

“I see.” Celestia began slowly. “However, upon talking with the guard captain here, your friends weren’t present during the attack.” Celestia said, finishing her tea.

Something inside Twilight twisted into a knot. She was stuck; she didn’t know what to say now.

“When the guards came into the room the changelings were fleeing. As capable as I know you are, fending off a surprise attack by all of those changelings with a wounded hoof seems… less believable than I would like it to be.” She commented and then paused. “Tell me, Twilight… how did you do it?” She rested her chin on her front hooves.

Twilight started sweating. Her throat went dry and she downed the rest of her tea coughing a few times. “Um… the magic of friendship?”

Celestia just stared, her face conveyed an expression of: I’m over a thousand years old and have heard every excuse in existence. is that the best you could come up with? She waited a moment and sighed. “Twilight… what are you hiding from me?”

From around the corner out of sight, Sunset was listening in. She had her ear pressed against the wall, and could feel her heart rate skyrocketing with each passing moment. Celestia was on to them and, depending on how Twilight answered, would find out about her. She could see herself hauled off to Canterlot dungeons in chains, never to see the light of day again. At this moment, she just wanted the universe to delete itself.

“Your Highness!” A guard called out and stepped forward. “I’m sorry to intrude, but we’ve just received word from our allies in the Griffon Kingdom. Their scouting parties along the border have fallen under attack by changeling forces, they require immediate assistance.”

Celestia broke her gaze from Twilight and stepped off the throne. “Send a message to General Iron Claw that I will handle the situation and that I would like to meet with him, once it is over.” Though Sunset and Twilight didn’t know about the other, they were both mentally sighing in relief and thanking Faust for this miracle.

The guard saluted, and ran off rallying the other guards to exit as he went. Celestia looked back to Twilight. “We will have to continue this conversation later, Twilight.” She walked back over to the lavender alicorn and hugged her. “I’m still glad you are safe.” With that, she walked to exit the room then paused. “Oh… and you’re still getting a personal guard, they should be here momentarily.” As she exited, a squad of guards entered. They were clad in dark magenta armor and mixed between all three races of ponies. Each wore helmets that hid their features.

The pony at the head of the escort stepped forward and revealed his helmet. “Greetings your highness. It’s good to see you again.”

Sunset peaked around the corner and felt her soul jump off a cliff and plummet to its doom. No… you’ve got to be kidding me…

Twilight stepped down from her throne and was taken aback. A slight blush appeared on her features. “Flash Sentry? What… how... I thought you were part of the Crystal Empire Guard?”

Flash nodded. “I was, but when Captain Shining Armor was organizing your escort, Princess Cadence for some reason said I should lead it.”

Twilight was smiling, but inside she cursed her sister-in-law to Tartarus. Though Flash seemed clueless, she understood why Cadence had sent him. Her thoughts were interrupted by Flash taking hold of her hoof and kissing it in a gentle-colt like manner. “Believe me when I say it’s an honor to serve under you and a pleasure to see you again.”

Twilight felt her cheeks heat up, however, around the corner Sunset gritted her teeth glaring daggers at Flash. With Celestia gone, she stepped out from the hiding spot. “Ahem.”

Flash looked up and Twilight turned to see her. Flash’s expression went flat, and his lip curled into a scowl. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same.” Sunset growled under her breath.

Twilight looked between them multiple times. “Um… did I miss something?”

Cue The Drama

View Online

Chapter 6

If looks could kill, Twilight Sparkle would be having to explain to her friends why they were helping her drag Sunset Shimmer and Flash Sentry’s bodies out of the castle. The two said ponies glared at each other with Twilight looking awkwardly in between them. There was silence among the three of them, but Twilight could feel the pressure building. Flash was the first to speak.

“Well, well, look what Nightmare Moon dragged in.” Flash growled not, taking his eyes of Sunset.

Twilight gasped. “Hey! Don’t talk to her that way!”

Sunset snorted. “What’s wrong Flash, not happy to see the only girl that would look at your horse butt face twice?”

Twilight’s head darted to her. “Sunset!”

“Says the power hungry demon pony, who kissed Celestia’s ass to get whatever she wanted.” Flash bit back.

“Flash!” Twilight gawked.

“You’re one to talk, how did you actually get into the guard? Sucking off your superiors?” Sunset laughed.

Twilight’s cheeks fumed. “That’s my brother!

“Oh, that’s funny.” Flash chuckled darkly. “Says the bitch who couldn’t bring herself to look at a stallions pride!”

“As if I would want to look at your two inch-“

“ENOUGH!” Twilight shouted, with volume comparable to the Canterlot voice, stomping her hoof down on the ground and letting loose a magical charge. The pair went silent and her eyes darted between them a few times. She put a hoof to her chest and exhaled in an outward motion. “I don’t know what’s going on, but neither of you should be talking to one another like that!”

They both looked off the side. Sunset rubbed her front hoof with the other and Flash scratched the back of his head. Twilight sighed. “We are adults here, so, Sunset come down and tell me what happened between you two.”

Sunset’s cheeks lit up in embarrassment, and she trotted down the stairs slowly, not making eye contact with neither Flash nor Twilight. Her mind was swimming in a rage seeing the orange colt here. She had no wish to see him when coming back to Equestria; he was the last person from her past she wanted to see. “We dated…”

Flash scoffed. “If that’s what you want to call it…”

Twilight shot Flash a glare and he shrunk back. She looked to Sunset for her to continue. “It was before I left, he was just in training at the time…” Sunset said hesitantly.

“I gathered that much.” Twilight said. “But why do you two harbor ill feelings like these?”

Flash laughed. “Because she treated me like she treated everypony else! Like a toy! I was nothing but an object to her!”

Sunset’s gaze focused on Flash. “You didn’t help your case by acting like a tool all the time.”

“Like I could help that, when you would go all dominatrix unicorn!”

“So you admit to being a tool?”

“I…” Flash stammered. “Buck you!”

“Stop!” This time Twilight seized them with her magic and forced their mouths shut. “Okay…” She began slowly. “You two dated and you had a bad relationship. That’s in the past.” She let got of them. “Both of you are grown up ponies, so why don’t you forgive and move on?”

Sunset pointed an objective hoof at Flash. “I’m not forgiving him for what he did!”

“What did he do?” Twilight asked.

Sunset growled and her eyes were lit like fire. “He. Cheated.”

“You didn’t really give me a choice, Shimmy.” Flash sighed, rubbing his forehead with a hoof.

“Don’t call me that!” Sunset stepped forward, charging her horn. Twilight stepped between them wrapped a hoof around Sunset, stopping her. Sunset glared at Twilight, her eyes still burning with rage, but Twilight shook her head.

“What did you do Flash?” Twilight asked.

Flash stared up at the ceiling in thought. “I was fed up and frustrated being treated like crap all the time… there was a nice mare at the Canterlot pub, and…”

Twilight nodded. “All right I understand, now I don’t condone that behavior but I also don’t condone poor treatment of other ponies.” She looked back to Sunset and then Flash. “I can’t speak for you Flash, but Sunset has changed as time has passed, so please… can you both put aside the past and find peace with each other?”

Flash and Sunset stared at each other and said nothing. Sunset still felt rage inside her. Seeing Flash flirting with Twilight ignited a long forgotten urge to buck him in the teeth. That rage only increased as Flash stepped forward and took Twilight's left hoof.

“If it pleases you Princess, I will be willing to forgive Sunset for the past.” He said in a suave, cool voice. There was a charming air to the way he said it and Sunset wanted to end him when he kissed Twilight’s hoof again.

Twilight blushed and gave an eye roll. “Okay, now Sunset do you have something to say?”

Sunset gritted her teeth. “I… forgive you… prick.”

“Sunset!” Twilight frowned. However, Sunset pulled away and walked back up the stairs in a huff. She jumped back as she rounded the corner and came nose to nose with Rarity and the others behind her. Sunset stared at them for a few moments and then kept walking away.

Rarity motioned for the others follow. “Twilight!” She happily trotted down the stairs. “How was the Princess’s visit?”

Twilight gave Rarity a deadpanned stare. “You girls were spying, weren’t you?”

Rarity drew back with a shocked expression. “Why, Twilight! I’m astonished you would think we would spy on our dearest friend.”

Twilight merely raised an eyebrow. “Applejack, were you five spying on us?”

The orange mare’s eyes shrunk, and she grinned looking from side to side nervously. “Erm… no?”

Twilight sighed and rubbed her forehead with a hoof.

Typically, the annual picnic meets were one of Twilight’s favorite parts of the week. When she became a Princess, she worried that royal duties would interfere with spending time with her friends. However, due to her impeccable organizational skills, they were all able to find a time in the afternoon to have a picnic in Ponyville park. The sun was shinning, the birds were singing, and the guards standing around the picnic blanket couldn’t have made things more awkward. They stood stock still most of the time, however, when anypony approached the group, one of them would draw their blade and stand at the ready scaring the poor bystander off.

Twilight rubbed her temple, feeling the beginnings of a migraine forming. Ever since they came to the castle, they had been guarding her twenty-four seven. This included meals, studying, errands around Ponyville, sleeping and being around her friends. She had to ward off the guards the past couple nights when Sunset Shimmer came to her room for late night reading. She also had to put her hoof down when the guards tried following her to the bathroom.

The seven ponies sat on the picnic blanket eating their lunches. They made small conversation as they went, but felt uneasy with all the guards around them. Fluttershy wouldn’t say a word and hid behind her main most of the time. Sunset picked at an apple on her plate with a hoof rested against her cheek. From time to time, she would glare at Flash Sentry, who also stood closer to Twilight. Over the past couple days, he kept flirting, giving her compliments, and offering a helping hoof whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Sunset could have happily throttled him. It was bad enough that human Flash Sentry had fallen for her but now it was the pony version of him. She looked on as Flash talked with Twilight going on and on about something about Twilight’s brother from what she could hear. She saw Twilight giggle and blush as Flash did an impression of him.

“Sunset, darling?” Rarity spoke, coughing a little. “Why are you crushing your apple with your magic?”

Sunset snapped out of her glare and looked down. The once bright red apple had been reduced to a pile of crumpled mush surrounded by a cyan glow. She looked to Rarity and blushed in embarrassment. Applejack had a look of horror on her face.

“Um… I like them this way.” Feigning a smile, Sunset quickly devoured the mush in her mouth and gulped, inwardly grimacing at the taste of crushed seeds and the apple core, plus stem.

She levitated a cupcake from plate at the center of the blanket and munched on it slowly. Her gaze was still focused on Twilight and Flash. Something about it made her stomach knot. She considered it was because she dated Flash before. But it was also the way Twilight giggled and listened to his stories. She was a pony of intellect and to Sunset, she didn’t fit as a listener. She was a pony who could tell stories and go on for hours lecturing. The previous night, Sunset sat in front of the fireplace with Twilight, listening to her talk about Star Swirl the Bearded’s creation of the portal to the anti dimension. Sunset found herself enjoying sitting back and listening to Twilight. Of course, she enjoy their intellectual debates they had, but she found something about just listening to Twilight just relaxing. Being filled with new knowledge from a pony instead of a book. Seeing Twilight just sitting and listening to Flash’s jokes and royal guard business infuriated her.

“Aren’t they just so cute?” Rarity whispered to Sunset. She was also staring at the pair but unlike Sunset’s constant glare, her’s was of a lovesick filly.

Sunset gritted her teeth, as she took another bite of the cupcake. “Yeah… freaking adorable.”

Rarity looked to her and blinked. “Is something the matter, darling?”

Sunset swallowed. She looked down at her half eaten cupcake. “Can I ask you something in private?”

Rarity nodded and the pair stood up. “Excuse us, we’ll back in a moment.” She said to the others. Sunset was already walking away past the guards, but Rarity caught the skeptical look on Twilight’s face. She swore to herself that she also saw a look of slight sadness to see Sunset leave suddenly. Rarity stored this information in the back of her mind and followed Sunset. They trotted over to a fountain in the center of the park. Sunset looked down at her reflection in the water. Rarity stood next to her waiting patiently.

Sunset kept her gaze on the water as she began. “Has Twilight… ever had a coltfriend before?”

Rarity pouted. “No, and frankly, I’m not surprised.”

Sunset brought her eyes up from her reflection. “Why do you say that?”

“Twilight is…” Rarity hesitated, apparently searching for the right words. “Unique. Something all of us learned when we became friends, was that studying is her life.”

“So she’s never shown interest in anypony?”

Rarity shook her head and sighed. “None at all, and it’s really a shame.” She huffed. “These girls barely have any good gossip for me!”

Sunset rolled her eyes, stifling a chuckle.

“But it makes sense.” Rarity continued. “She is a mare of knowledge and wisdom and finding a stallion to match that is not as easy as we would like. Especially in Ponyville.”

“Why in Ponyville?” Sunset asked.

“Ponyville was originally settled by Earth ponies. Though all types of ponies live here now, most adapt to the… old fashion and small town type of living. None of the stallions here are really up to the mental state to handle dear Twilight. She has the mannerism of a Ponyville local, yet the knowledge of a Canterlot noble.” Rarity looked down. “I’ve found out myself that both sides are… unappealing at times.”

Sunset nodded. “You know back at Canterlot High we had a word for that?”

“Really, what?”

“Nerd.” Sunset stated. “Someone who is intelligent yet socially inept at times.”

Rarity giggled. “Yes that does sound like Twilight.” They both chuckled at the thought. Rarity stopped and looked to Sunset. “Why do you ask though?”

Sunset stopped laughing. “Well... It’s just…” Sunset began then went quiet.

Rarity gasped and leaned in closer. “You’re jealous of her and Flash Sentry!”

Sunset’s cheeks lit up. “I am not!”

“You so are! Don’t deny it darling, the red in your cheeks is the color of truth.” Rarity poked at her cheek. Sunset drew away, hiding her face.

“I am not jealous, Rarity.” Sunset grumbled.

“Why else would you be asking?” Rarity giggled. “Oh I see, you’re jealous of her because you have a thing for Flash don’t you?”

Sunset froze, her cheeks turned back to their normal color and her blood ran ice cold. She turned her gaze to meet Rarity’s. “Not. Ever. In. His. Bucking. Life.” She grinded her teeth on each word.

Rarity took a step back. “Oh my… I see…” She raised an eyebrow. “Then you… oh.” There was a beat. “Oh!” Rarity gasped and she looked back over to the blanket and then at Sunset with a wide smile. “I see.”

“See what?” Sunset growled.

Rarity giggled. “Oh nothing dear.”

“No. What do you see?!” Sunset was right in Rarity's face with her muzzle scrunched up tightly.

“Temper dear, you know Twilight doesn’t like that.” Rarity waved a hoof. Sunset blushed, and drew back letting go of her scowl.

“My point exactly.” She turned and walked back towards the picnic blanket-leaving Sunset in a state of flustered confusion. She turned and looked back at her own reflection in the pool. Her cheeks were burning red. In a moment of panic, she dunked her head in the fountain and then pulled it out. Her mane was now soaked and covering her eyes. Using her magic, she pulled the water particles from her mane, sending it back to its original shape and then dropped the water into the fountain.

She looked to the blanket to see if anyone had noticed. Only one: Twilight. Twilight was looking at her. Sunset smiled awkwardly and trotted back. Before she reached the blanket, two of the guards drew their swords and blocked her path.

Sunset growled and looked over the blades to Flash. “Really?”

“C’mon, Shimmy. You have to admit it’s funny.”

Sunset grumbled but Twilight spoke before her. “Flash, leave her alone.”

“At your command, milady” He bowed his head and motioned for his guards to sheath their blades. Sunset passed and sat back down on the blanket. She looked down and noticed the half eaten cupcake was gone. She looked to her left and saw Pinkie Pie smiling innocently.

“How was it?” Sunset grimaced.

“It was spicy, Sunbutt!” Pinkie Pie bounced in place.

Sunset turned her head to Rainbow and glared. “Rainbow Dash!”

Rainbow whistled innocently. Sunset sighed and lowered her head onto her plate, as the group broke into fits of laughed. When the laughter died down the group went back to making conversation, now that the ice was completely shattered at the expense Sunset’s Cutie Mark. Though the picnic went pleasantly for the rest of its duration, Sunset couldn’t help shake off the feeling that Twilight was watching her the entire time.

Relapse

View Online

Chapter 7

Twilight and Sunset sat across from each other at the center table in the library. There was silence between them, and it wasn’t because of the fact they were in a library. No, the guards standing attention at all possible entry and exit points caused the silence. Flash Sentry patrolled around the room and each time passed Twilight, he gave her a smile with the occasional wink. Twilight did her best to ignore it as she read, and Sunset glared at Flash each time he came into her view. She would then bury her head in her book, trying to focus on her reading.

A knock echoed through the palace. Twilight looked up and got out of her seat. As she made her way to the exit the guards came closer to join her. Twilight frowned and sighed, putting a hoof to her forehead. “I can get the door.”

Flash came around putting a hoof around Twilight. “We are here to protect you, Princess. It could be an assailant!”

“It’s the middle of the morning,” Twilight deadpanned. “I highly doubt an assailant would attack in the broad daylight.”

“We can’t be too careful, Princess.” He smiled at her.

“Ugh,” Sunset grumbled getting up from her seat. “I’ll get it, Twilight.” She trotted past the two of them, glaring daggers at Flash.

Twilight nodded with a light smile. “Thank you.” Sunset walked out of the library and down to the front door. She opened the door and saw Derpy wearing a blue mail pony hat and a green saddlebag with a muffin sewn on it. Her head was locked between the guard’s spears. The two guards were looking at her ready to kill if needed. Derpy, however, wasn’t fazed and looked at Sunset with a bright smile and her eyes in different directions.

“Hi there, Sunset Shimmer!” She said with a cheery gin. “I’ve got a package here for Princess Twilight.”

Sunset smiled at the wall-eyed mare. “I’ll take it for her Derpy. Thank you.”

“Okie-dokie.” Derpy sang, hoofing the package into Sunset’s telekinetic grip. She sniffed the air and her eyes went wide with excitement. “Do I smell muffins?”

“Um…” Sunset sniffed. “Actually, yes…” She looked inside and spotted a tray of muffins on a stand near the door. A note hanging above them read.

In case of mail delivery, give to Derpy.

“Huh…” Sunset levitated one with her magic. “Here you go Derpy.”

Derpy happily took the muffin in her hooves and inhaled the scent. “Mmm, banana nut muffin! Tell Princess Twilight I said thank you.” She walked off, taking a bite into the muffin.

Sunset closed the door and walked back up to the library with the book in tow. “A package arrived, Twilight.”

“Who’s it from?” Twilight asked.

Sunset turned the package around and saw the royal seal of Princess Celestia. She felt her stomach lurch and tie itself in a knot. “Celestia.”

“Oh?” Twilight trotted over and tilted her head. “I wasn’t expecting anything from her.” Before she could take it with her magic, a guard stepped in front of her.

“It could be a trick, princess!” The guard said.

Twilight sighed and telekinetically moved the guard to the side. “You stallions need a vacation.” She unwrapped the package and inside was a dark red book with a note attached to it. She took the note and read.

Dear Twilight,

General Iron Claw was most grateful for our help during the skirmish with the changelings. As a sign of trust and good faith, he has given us one of Star Swirl the Bearded’s books that was lost after the Nightmare Moon incident 1000 years ago. I think you will find this book fascinating and it should also make a fine addition to your library.

Also, I would like you to come to Canterlot in a few days. I understand you are busy, but there is something I wish to discuss with you upon arrival.
See you soon.
Sincerely,
Princess Celestia.

Twilight honed in on five words: Star Swirl the Bearded’s books. Her mind did a backflip. “Oh…. My… yes!” She squealed. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!” She bounced on all hooves in a circle around Sunset.

Sunset fell back on her hooves. “She gave you… one of Star Swirl the Bearded’s lost books?!” She clopped her hooves. “What’s it about?!”

Twilight stopped bouncing and looked at the cover. “Theories on the Portal and Cross Dimensional Travel!” She squeaked.

“So, how he first figured out how to create the portals connecting Equestria to other realms?” Sunset said in excitement.

“Yes!” Twilight flipped through the first few pages and gasped. “It even has his own personal hoof written notes!” She took Sunset’s hooves in her. “You’ve read some of his other works, right?”

Sunset nodded. “Yes, when… erm, when I was Celestia’s student.” She stuttered a little remembering how she had gone behind Celestia’s back to look into Star Swirl’s explanations and theories on the first mirror portal and dark magic. Twilight, however, snapped her out of it, by grabbed her cheeks.

“You. Must. Read. This. With. Me!” Twilight said with wide excited eyes.

“Wait, really? I thought you would lock yourself in your room for the next few days for alone time with that book.” Sunset giggled.

Twilight blushed and coughed. “Well… normally, yes, but you have knowledge on Star Swirl’s works! I never get to do intellectually reading with anypony.”

Sunset patted Twilight’s head. “Calm down Twi, I would love to.”

Flash chuckled. “Aw, it’s like you're being a big sister, Shimmy.”

“Stuff it up your flank!” Sunset hissed.

Twilight frowned, but still giggled. “Maybe I should start calling you that, Shimmy.”

Sunset shot Twilight a glare, and then it turned into a smile. “You know, I wouldn’t mind.” She smiled.

Twilight blushed a little and looked out the crystal window. “It’s a beautiful day out, want to go outside and read?”

Sunset smiled. “Sure, we can stop by Sugarcube corner and get some sweets.”

Twilight nodded beaming. The pair went to exit, however, the guards followed. Twilight grimaced. “Alone?”

“Sorry Princess, it's our mandate to stay beside you at all times.” One of the guards said.

“I personally don’t mind.” Said Flash walking up beside Twilight and winking at her.

Twilight rolled her eyes and sighed. Then an idea struck her, she looked to Sunset and grinned. “So, Sugarcube Corner first, yes?” She gave a wink and charged her horn.

Sunset smirked with a devious grin. “Yep.” Her horn lit and she brought it close to Twilight’s. Teleportation magic across long distances took a lot of magical energy, and could have a side effect of scorch marks from the hyper second flash burn. However, when Sunset and Twilight’s horns touched, there was a single spark and then a bright flash. In an instant, they were standing in the castle library, the next they were standing outside of Sugarcube Corner.

They parted, dusting themselves off, and broke into a fit of laughter. Sunset wiped a tear from her eye. “Oh, if only we could have seen the looks on their faces.”

Twilight giggled and they walked stepping up to the counter. Pinkie Pie was nowhere to be seen.

“Is it safe?”

The two mares jumped back to see Pinkie Pie behind them, hanging upside down from the ceiling. “Pinkie, what are you doing up there?” Asked Twilight.

Pinkie Pie leaned down and spoke in a hushed voice. “Well, duh, you came in here without your entourage, which means you two are obviously hiding from them… is it safe?”

Sunset rubbed her forehead. “Yes, Pinkie, it's safe, you don’t need to whisper.”

“Okie-dokie-lokie!” Pinkie Pie pulled herself right side up and then in another second, she popped up from behind the counter. “What can I get you girls?”

Sunset shook her head looking from the ceiling to Pinkie Pie repeatedly. How does she keep doing that?! She thought. “We’ll have a dozen cupcakes and two hayshakes please.” Twilight went to grab some of bits from her saddlebag but Sunset put a hoof up. “I’m buying.”

“Sunset, you don’t have to, we’re both eating it.” Twilight insisted.

“Still buying.” Sunset smiled, handing Pinkie a hoof full of bits.

Twilight smiled. “Well, thank you, then.”

“OOOooo~” Pinkie sang. “Some ponies out on a date, hm?”

Sunset’s face turned the color of her mane and she threw her hooves up in the air. “Pinkie! No! We’re not on a date!”

“Then what are you doing and why did you get rid of Twilight’s guards?”

Sunset sighed. “We’re going to read a new book out in the field, have some sweets and we wanted to do this alone.”

“Sounds like a date to me!” Pinkie sang again.

“It’s not!”

“Denial isn’t just a river in Saddle Arabia.”

Sunset face planted against the counter’s display case. “Just…. Get us our food Pinkie, please?”

“Okie-dokie-lokie!” She bounced off into the kitchen.

Sunset lifted her head from the case with a red mark on her forehead. She looked to Twilight, whose cheeks were slightly tinted red and her ears were tucked behind her ears. “Um, Twilight... you okay?”

Twilight snapped out of her momentary daze. “Huh? Oh, um, yes! Just… really hungry!” She smiled awkwardly. Pinkie Pie bounced back out with a box and two hay shakes in to go containers.

“Here you are! Go have fun, you crazy little fillies!”

“Pinkie!” Sunset barked. She took the shakes and box. Lifted the lid to inspect the cupcakes she noticed they were formed in a heart formation. Sunset put the lid down, blushed, and glared at Pinkie Pie. “Really?”

“Really what?” Pinkie asked, obviously.

“Oh… nothing.” Sunset grimaced. “C’mon, Twilight.” The pair trotted out of Sugarcube Corner. They broke off behind the store, keeping close to the wall, making sure to keep a watch out for the guards. If they were spotted, they were doomed. The pair made their way through the streets out into the fields near the Apple Farm. There was a tree that had enough trees to provide a nice shade under it. As they sat under it Twilight laid the book down carefully and opened up ever so slowly, savoring the moment, to the first page. Sunset levitated out two cupcakes from the box and gave two to Twilight.

“So if the magical energy crosses the polar axis of the transdimensional plane, then it is theoretically possible for the travel between worlds to exist...” Twilight read aloud.

“However, the magical energy can only be achieved when the celestial moons across both dimensions are similar. Meeting causes a space-time ripple, which thereby allows the magical energy to pass. Without the space time occurrence, the energy is unable to cross.” Sunset continued.

Twilight rubbed her chin with a hoof. “So this is why there was a time limit to the portal being open. The moons from both worlds only reach that exact spot across the plains every 2.5 years.”

Sunset pointed a hoof to another section on the page. “But that doesn’t explain the enchanted books.”

Twilight materialized a small notepad with her magic and flipped through it. “I’ve been wondering about that as well. The two books were designed to transmit messages over a magical wavelength across this dimension. According to Star Swirl’s text, the magical energy shouldn’t be able to reach across another dimension.” She jotted down a few notes.

“Perhaps because your element was brought to the human world, it left a magical resonance, which was strong enough to feed the message I sent back through the transdimensional plan to Equestria.” Sunset offered.

Twilight gasped and jotted down more notes. “That is an excellent theory! Perhaps there’s something in the book we can use to solidify that!” Twilight clopped her hooves together and put the notepad away. She turned the page and began reading. As she began to read, Sunset stopped listening. She just watched Twilight. As Twilight had said, she never had an intellectual equal to study with, and the same went for Sunset. During her times with Celestia, not even the professors at Celestia’s School For Gifted Unicorns could keep up with her. Even though she herself enjoyed the knowledge given to her, it was nicer to have someone else to study with.

But Twilight made it better than just studying. Twilight made it a challenge. With professors Sunset didn’t have to take a moment to think, her counterpoint, retort, and finishing statement were already generated before the Canterlot Professors could begin speaking. With Twilight, however, she had to think, but not instead of trumping and shaming her like she did the professors, she was conversing with someone who considered her an equal. This made her smile and a warm feeling grew in her stomach. The way Twilight was so focused when reading was mesmerizing, but her moments when she would pause and squeal in delight at a new fact were absolutely adorable.

“Sunset?” Twilight waved a hoof in front of her face. “Sunset?”

Sunset shook her head, snapping out of her days. “Huh? What?”

“It’s your turn to read.”

“Oh, right, um…” She looked at the text. “Where did you leave off?”

“Weren’t you listening?” Twilight raised an eyebrow.

Sunset’s face blushed and she looked away. “I got… distracted.”

“By what?”

Sunset hesitated before she spoke. “Back during the band competition we were at Pinkie Pie’s house. After we talked in the kitchen, you wanted to say something to me, but said never mind. What was it?”

Twilight shook her head, then looked away. “O-oh. Nothing important.”

“It looked like it was. C’mon, what was it?” Sunset pressed.

“Nothing. Don’t worry about it!” Twilight tapped her hoof on the ground and kept her gaze elsewhere.

Sunset furrowed her brow and pouted slightly. “Does it have to do with Flash?”

“What about him?” Twilight blushed.

“It’s plainly obvious that you like him.” Sunset muttered.

She gulped. “Well, the human version of him a little, but the pony version of him… I don’t know.”

“He seems to like you.” Sunset growled.

“Why are you bringing this up?” Twilight spoke sternly. Her eyes locked with Sunset’s.

She hesitated for a moment. “I don’t like him…”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed.” Twilight teased poking her side, however, Sunset’s grimace didn’t change. “Are you… jealous?”

Sunset’s head met the ground and she sighed. “No.”

“Well, I can understand holding a grudge against him, but you seem hold a higher level of hostility, especially when he’s around me… which is all the time.” Twilight added.

“Does it matter?”

Twilight frowned. “Yes it does. I don’t like it when my friends fight. When Discord turned all of my friends into their opposite selves, I could only watch in horror as our friendship fell apart.”

Sunset lifted her head slowly. “You actually consider him a friend?!”

“Yes, I do!” Twilight growled.

“Why?!”

“Because I do have a little crush on him!” Twilight shouted.

Sunset stopped, the color flushed from her face and she could feel something inside her breaking. Those words caused her stomach to turn inward and tie into a knot. “So it was about Flash…”

“What?”

“That night at Pinkie Pie’s place… what you didn’t want to say was about Flash.” Sunset mumbled, standing up on all fours.

Twilight shook her head. “What?! No. It wasn’t about Flash at all, it was-“ but Sunset had already lit her horn and teleported herself off at the bottom of the hill and was off in a gallop. Twilight threw the book in her bag and ran off after her. However, Sunset kept continuously teleporting ahead and was soon lost among the buildings. Twilight stopped at the edge of town. She looked left and right, but saw no sign of Sunset. “I need Rarity.” She took off in a gallop to the boutique.

Sunset burst through the castle doors with a scowl on her face. She was sweating slightly from the multiple teleports from the field to the castle. Thoughts of confusion and anger swam through her mind and she didn’t understand it herself.
Twilight’s my friend. Sunset thought. I want her to be happy. So why does the thought of her liking Flash… She shook her head and growled under her breath as she trotted through the center throne room of up the stairs. I’ll admit that I don’t like Flash but… that’s the past right? The questions and thoughts kept her distracted to not see where she was going. This was evident as she bumped into a solid metallic object. Looking up, she felt her stomach jerk back and her muscles tense.

“Sunset!” Flash said startled. “Where in Tartarus did you and Twilight go?!”

Sunset growled and looked away. “We just went out to the field to read…”

“And where is she now?” Flash growled, there was a touch of concern in his voice that made Sunset’s anger swell.

“Don’t know…” Sunset trailed off.

The next thing she knew, there was a short sword resting at the tip of her muzzle in between her vision. “What have you done with her?”

“Me!?” Sunset growled and knocked the sword away.

“Yes, you!” Flash pressed, moving forward, causing Sunset to step back. “I read the reports about what you tried to do to Twilight when you stole her crown. How do I know you didn’t just lure her away to harm her?!”

“Are you that bucking stupid!?” Sunset yelled, stomping her hoof down on the ground. “What would I gain from that?”

“A lot! For one, you would get rid of the mare who has accomplished everything you could not.” Sunset clenched her hooves tightly as she glared at him. Flash continued backing her against the wall. “Also I’m not blind! I saw you glaring at Twilight the other day when I was talking with her! You would also be getting rid of the mare that I like!”

“Don’t. You. Dare.”

“Face it Sunset! You have reason to get rid of her because you’re jealous!” Flash finished.

That was the final nerve. Sunset reeled up, clenching her right hoof tightly, and punched Flash square in the jaw, sending him flying back in a tumble of limbs. She panted hard and her horn glowed with magic energy. “I’m. Not. Jealous!”

Flash got up rubbing his hoof. He spat out blood from his mouth. “Alright… all bets are off now!” He sheathed his sword and charged Sunset. Sunset followed suit with fire burning in her eyes.

A bell rung as Twilight entered Carousel Boutique. She looked frantically around the room and spotted Rarity, Spike, and Fluttershy. Rarity was making adjustments to an elegant floral green dress Fluttershy was wearing and, little to Twilight’s surprise; Spike was serving as a pincushion… again. He was the first to notice her. “Hey Twilight… whoa, you look like a mess.”

“Thank you Spike.” She deadpanned brushing her mane back.

“Is something wrong Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.

Twilight breathed slowly, collecting herself. “Sort of, though I’m not sure how to put it.”

“It’s about Sunset, isn’t it?” Rarity spoke; Twilight swore she caught a hint of… excitement in how Rarity asked the question.

“Yes.”

“Well, come and have a seat dear, and we can talk about it.” She motioned to Spike, magically pulling the pins out of his scales. “Spike, be a dear and get us some tea.”

“Of course, Rarity.” He bowed gracefully to her and walked into the kitchen. Twilight rolled her eyes and sat down Rarity’s couch.

“So…” Rarity began slowly. “What happened?”

Twilight sighed. “I’m not sure how to exactly explain it. But we were just out in the reading alone and—”

“Oh yes!” Rarity said. “Pinkie told us that you two were on a date.”

“It wasn’t a date.” Twilight deadpanned.

“You’re blushing, Twilight.” Fluttershy said softly.

“Anyway!” She continued. “She asked me about something I didn’t tell her back in the human world, and then made accusations that it was about Flash. She then got angry because I consider Flash my friend, and I have a little crush on him. When I asked her if she was jealous, she stormed off. I’m not sure where she went now.” Twilight looked down at the ground.

Rarity and Fluttershy shared looks with each other and then looked back to Twilight. Spike came out with a pot of tea and served them.

“Thank you, Spike.” She levitated a cup and sipped. “Alright, well what don’t we know?”

“Pardon?” Twilight took a cup of tea.

“From what I understand Sunset has some grudge against Flash Sentry, what is it?” Rarity asked.

Twilight bit her lip hesitant. She wanted to leave that information in the past where it belonged. However, thinking about the rage Sunset had gave her the feeling this information could be helping. But it still nagged her that she was betraying a friend’s trust by telling personal information like this. She gulped and spoke softly. “Flash cheated on Sunset when they were dating…”

Silence. Rarity blinked a couple times and Fluttershy let out a small gasp, putting a hoof to her mouth.

“Oh… my” Fluttershy said quietly.

“Quite.” Rarity began, “Well, that certainly explains a lot.” Rarity tapped a hoof to her chin. “In my personal opinion, I would say to stay away from Flash, however, I’ve had my fair share of misjudging ponies. Everypony deserves a second chance.”

“Then what do I do?” Twilight looked to the ground. “This isn’t a friendship problem I have any knowledge in. Sunset is mad at me, and she won’t admit to her jealousy of Flash’s affections.”

“No Twilight, that’s not why—“ Rarity put a hoof over her mouth.

Twilight looked up, raising an eyebrow. “Why what?”

“N-nothing darling!” She grinned nervously.

“Rarity, what is it?” Twilight pressed. Rarity’s eyes darted back and forth. Unfortunately, her wish for gossip was now turning against her and she found herself between a gem and a hard place.

“Her jealousy might not be directed at Flash.” Fluttershy spoke. Twilight looked at her with a confused look. Fluttershy drew back a little all eyes on her now. Rarity had shared with her what she discovered the other day at the picnic and now she wish she hadn’t known. Being in the spotlight was never her strong suit. “But… it’s not for us to say.” She bit her lip.

“So, you’re basically saying I have to solve this on my own?” Twilight sighed.

“No, but perhaps you should talk to a professional about this.” Rarity offered. “You do happen to have a sister-in-law who is highly knowledgeable in this particular field.”

Twilight’s ears perked up and a smile grew on her face. “Celestia does want me to Canterlot in a couple of days. Perhaps Cadence could meet me there.” She clopped her hooves together excitedly. “Oh, this is the perfect opportunity to see her!”

“And to get help on the situation remember, Twilight?” Rarity reminded.

“Oh! Right that too.” Twilight blushed a little and finished her tea, then stepping down from the couch. “Thank you, girls.”

“Anytime, Twilight.” Fluttershy smiled, waving a hoof.

Sunset didn’t bother using her magic. She was too enraged to concentrate. Her hooves flew left and right slamming into Flash’s armor. The metal absorbed most of the blows, but he still was knocked back. Flash countered and shifting his weight as he grabbed Sunset’s hoof dragged her down to the ground and twisted it. Sunset yelped in pain, but flipped her lower half over him, bringing her back hooves down onto his back. Flash buckled slightly but didn’t collapse. He threw himself against the wall. Sunset yelled as her body collided with the hard crystal surface. Gritting her teeth, she wrapped her hooves around his neck and put him in a headlock.

Flash gasped for air, he threw his hoof back into Sunset’s gut, and with the armor plating around it Sunset felt the air leave her lungs. Sunset released her grip, and Flash took hold of her hooves flipping her over his shoulder. She hit the ground and groaned in pain. Flash pounced and pinned her down. Sunset struggled under his grip but stopped as Flash drew his sword putting it to Sunset’s neck.

“This… is over…” He panted, breathing hard. Sunset’s eyes thinned and she shoved him off, except this time with magic. She seized him in a light blue aura and slammed him against the wall taking his sword and putting it to his neck.

“You were saying…” She gritted her teeth, still slightly winded from the gut shot.

Flash cringed as he struggled in her grip. “See, you haven’t changed… not one bit.”

Sunset growled. “Shut up!” She seized his neck and started squeezing. Flash gasped for air and brought his hooves up gripping his neck. Sunset gaze burned with hatred and anger as she tightened her grip. She could forgive the Flash from the human world; he had simply broken up with her. But this one had done worse, breaking her heart, and now trying to take away her best friend. This felt too familiar, the power over one's life. She had to admit she found pleasure in this, the control she had once again.

But then she heard a gasp, not from Flash, or a guard returning from searching. “Sunset…” Twilight spoke. Sunset’s head turned, and she saw the horror on Twilight’s face, the fear in her eyes, her lower lip quivering and her hooves dancing with a slight tremble. Immediately, Sunset let go of Flash, who fell to the ground gasping for breath.

“T-Twilight, I…” Sunset started.

“Get out…”

Sunset’s blood ran cold. Those two words rang through her head slowly. “W-what?”

“I said get out!” Twilight yelled. She ran over to Flash and helped him up.

“Twilight, I know this looks bad, but I didn’t mean-“

Twilight whirled around on her and screamed, “I thought you had changed. Now get the buck out!”

Sunset had never heard Twilight scream or curse like that, and she felt something inside chest break. She had done what never wanted to do again; she let her anger get the better of her, and almost committed another Fall Formal. She turned and ran down the hallway as fast as she could. Sprinting for the library, she took a hard turn down the corridor and bolted through the large doors. She levitated the enchanted book from its pedestal and into its slot above the portal. A glowing aura shined in the mirror and she charged through it.

It was nighttime in the human world when she came out. She was on her hands and knees with her hair covering her face. There was silence all around as her tears fell onto the sidewalk.

onto the sidewalk.

Chaotic Therapy

View Online

Chapter 8

Failure. That’s what Sunset felt. She hadn’t felt this way since the Fall Formal incident. During that time, she not only failed at destroying Twilight and taking control of Equestria, she also failed herself. She had become a monster and tried to take another pony’s life. That power and control she desired had corrupted her mind and driven her to the point of committing homicide. Worst of all, it had been to a pony like Twilight. At the time, she was a merely a thorn in Sunset’s side, but she had been more than that in the grand scheme of things. She was everything Sunset could never be and at the time she hated her for it. However, Twilight offered her forgiveness, and most importantly: friendship.

That night, Sunset swore she wouldn’t fall to those desires again, that she would never lash out or try to hurt others. But now, she sat against the stone statue outside Canterlot High, curled up with her knees tucked in, sobbing. She had relapsed and attempted to hurt another pony. Granted, that pony was Flash Sentry, but she knew what he said didn’t justify death. Twilight had seen it though, she saw Sunset trying to collapse Flash’s windpipe with her magic. Twilight had yelled at her to get out.

Failing once is normal for humans and ponies. The feeling of it passes in time and they move on. But the worst feeling is re-experiencing that failure. Sunset mentally kicked herself over and over as her mind replayed Twilight yelling at her. She had just upset, disturbed, and most likely lost her best friend. The wind swept across her face and made her shiver. She had her jacket back but it was still cold in the dead of night. Now she just wanted to step back through the portal and cuddle up next to Twilight by the fireplace.

Sunset looked up to the starry sky and wiped her tears. Why, she thought. Why did I lash out so badly? She didn’t regret punching Flash in the face he deserved that much. But there was more to it than that because she didn’t stop there, she kept going.

She shivered as the wind continued to blow. Dark clouds were rolling in over the sky covering up the night. Wiping the rest of her tears back she stood up pulling her jacket in closer around her body. She started in the direction for her apartment and began walking. The first drops of rain began to fall from the sky. Sunset frowned quickening her pace. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a grey umbrella lying on the grass next to the sidewalk. Looking around and seeing no one else near by she picked it up and opened it thankful she wouldn’t be drenched when she got home.

Twilight sat in her study with her hooves resting against the sides of her head. Her eyes were closed and she was leaning over a sheet of parchment. On it was the beginnings of a letter to Princess Cadence. Derpy had already agreed to take the trip up North to deliver it, though when Twilight had inquired how she just said something about a magic blue box. Though vaguely fascinated and confused that thought was in the back of Twilight’s mind as she rubbed her temples.

Her mind was on a loop of the events from earlier. Sunset tried to kill Flash Sentry. Twilight personally couldn’t fathom that and she thought Sunset had changed. After inquiring Flash about what happened he claimed that Sunset lashed out do to her jealousy. Twilight found that highly plausible, but it still was no excuse to go to that degree to kill a pony. However, a tiny voice at the back of her head reminded her that she could not understand what Sunset felt in the moment because she had never been through that same experience to any degree.

Sunset’s actions were still inexcusable. The guilt Twilight felt for yelling was overshadowed by that fact. She still wanted to talk to Cadence about this and gain clarity to the situation. She sipped from a large cup of coffee on her desk and levitated the quill down onto the paper and began writing:

Dear Cadence,

I’m sorry to bother you right now, but I will be in Canterlot two days from now and I need to speak with you about a difficult situation that has me out of my depth here. It has to do with two of my friends and there are elements to the situation that only you are familiar with. I hope to see you there Cadence. I really need help now, and I don’t want to loose my friends over this. Also, don’t let Celestia know you’re coming, the situation is… delicate and I would rather not trouble her.

Love,
your sister-in-law,
Twilight Sparkle

Twilight put the quill down and read over her work. It was doable for the moment. She wrapped it up into a scroll and stamped it with her royal seal. Giving a slight sigh, she got up from her seat and walked out of the study. The windows that lined the hall gave a perfect view of the sun setting off behind the mountains. Celestia was at work painting the sky with her magic while bringing the sun down and Luna was dotting the falling dark sky with sparkling stars.

It was the late evening and Twilight hadn’t had the stomach to eat earlier. She stopped by the library and looked at the portal still aglow with magic. When she had told Sunset to get out, she meant leave the castle. She didn’t expect her to return to the human world. Twilight considered going after her, but the guards would have followed her.

“Hello princess.” Flash Sentry said, walking up next to her.

Speaking of which. Twilight mentally sighed. “Hello, Flash. How are you doing?”

“I’ve been worse.” He coughed a little. His throat sounded sore from the damage he sustained earlier. “But I’m better knowing you’re safe and okay.”

Twilight rolled her eyes, but still blushed. “Right…” Her gaze rested on the portal again.

“Also seeing Shimmy leave made my day a whole lot better.” Flash chuckled, nudging Twilight.

Twilight scowled. “That’s not funny, Flash.”

Flash shrugged. “What, it was a joke. You’re the one who told her to get out.”

“That’s not the point…” Twilight turned back to the portal.

“Well, with her gone, that means you’re less distracted,” Flash moved in front of her, blocking her view from the portal. “It’s early in the night, how about we go to dinner?” He gave a confident smirk and a wink.

Twilight’s ears perked up and her blush increased. “I…” She started but then shook her head clearing her throat. “No thank you, Flash, I’m not hungry.”

Flash looked taken aback for a moment but quickly regained his confidence. “Well, we don’t have to go to dinner, we could fly up to the clouds and watch Luna paint the night sky?” He moved closer to her.

Twilight bit her lip, hesitating a moment, but then shook her head. “I’m… really tired Flash, and I have more work to do, so maybe some other time.” She turned around and darted for her room. Slamming the door behind her, she latched it closed with magic.

“That was weird…” She breathed slowly trotting over to the fireplace and sitting down. She pulled Starswirl's book from the shelf and put it down in front of her. As she began to read, there was a cold feeling in her side. Twilight readjusted herself in front of the fireplace, but the cold feeling remained. Sunset wasn’t there. Twilight shook off the feeling and tried to focus on her reading. She was still mad at Sunset but the cold from her absence did not go away.

Sunset hit her head against the door to her apartment. Locked. She had given her keys to the landlord, but it was Friday and he was out for the whole night. Even with the umbrella, she still managed to get unfavorably soaked. He boots squished when she walked and her shirt was almost see through. The umbrella had only helped so much, but was still pretty useless. During her walk home, she noticed it had holes in it and was made of flimsy material.

Sunset shivered as she slumped against the door and slid down. Dropping the umbrella at her side, she breathed into her hands to trying to warm them up. Sleeping outside until morning in soaked clothes was not pleasing. She needed to get out of the clothes soon, but she cringed at the thought of taking them out while in the open. Sighing, she leaning back against the door.

Suddenly, it opened and she fell in hitting her head. Sunset sat up slowly rubbing the back of her head slightly confused. She took the umbrella up and treaded into the apartment slowly. Her boots still squished under her, so it wasn’t the sneakiest approach. There was no one around the small living room and kitchen area. She closed the door behind her and quietly slipped out of her boots leaving them by the door. Lifting the umbrella over her head, she crept into the narrow hallway that led to her room. The door was closed as she had left it, charging forward she brought her leg up into a sidekick blowing the door back.

The room was void of any life and only housed the inanimate objects that it always did. Sunset lowered the umbrella with a confused look.

“You know, being around those ponies I thought you would have learned how to say thank you.” A voice called out.

Sunset whirled around raising the umbrella again but saw no one. “Show yourself.”

“Show? You’re holding my handle, very rude you know.” Sunset looked up under the umbrella and saw two yellow eyes with red pupils staring at her. Sunset screamed and threw the umbrella but it stopped in the center of the room. “Oh, now that’s just mean.”

“What in Tartarus are you?!” Sunset backed up through the door frame.

“Oh calm down, I’m not here to hurt you.” The umbrella spoke. It twisted around and grew taking a larger shape. At first it looked like a snake body but then a two mismatching arms and legs sprouted out. The eyes shifted to the head and a mischievous smile appeared on the creature's face. With a final flash the being took full form and towered over Sunset. “Hello, Sunset Shimmer.”

Sunset gawked and stared up in shock. “W-wait… I know you, you’re Discord!”

“Correct!” Snapping his fingers various treasure chests filled with gems and gold materialized behind him. “Come on down and claim your prize.”

Sunset frowned not amused. “Why are you here…. Actually no, how are you here?! Shouldn’t you be a human… or something along those lines?”

“Ah, well, yes.” With a chalk board appeared with graphs and charts on it and Discord was wearing a lab coat, bow tie, and a pair of glasses. “You see, normally when one of you ponies passes through the portal, you enter this universe as an unknown entity therefore the universe changes your form to fix that.”

“That doesn’t explain why you’re still a draconequus.”

There was a flash and the board was gone, a flashing neon sign appeared over Discord. “I’m the Lord of Chaos!” He laughed.

“That still doesn’t make sense.” Sunset frowned.

“Exactly!” Discord smiled. “Now then let's get you cleaned up.” He snapped his fingers and Sunset was rid of her clothes and just in her underwear.

She screamed. “Discord!” She tried to cover herself. “Give me my clothes back!”

“Oh calm down, I was getting to that.” He snapped his fingers again and a fresh set of Sunset’s apparel appeared on her.

Sunset sighed and patted the new clothes down. “Never. Do that. Again.” She shivered in disgust. “That just feels weird.”

“Well, you’re no fun!” Discord stuck his tongue out.

“Regardless, why are you here?”

Discord’s smile turned to a frown and he looked down solemnly. “Ah yes, that… I’m sorry Sunset but…” He appeared by her shoulder blowing into a handkerchief. “Sherlock has been cancelled.”

“What!?” Sunset gasped in horror.

Discord broke into laughter. “Ah, you should see the look on your face! Priceless!” He cackled.

“You’re just here to tease me about my favorite show?” Sunset glared at him. Discord composed himself and coughed.

“No, but you have to admit, that was funny!” A row of copies appeared behind him and emitted a laugh track. “In all seriousness, though.” He snapped his fingers and they were in her living room, Sunset was lying on the couch and Discord was sitting in a floating armchair. “I’m here to help you!”

Sunset glared. “Help with what?”

“Why, your fanfic!”

“My what?”

Discord flipped through a clipboard in his hands. “Oops, wrong patient! Ah, here we go.” He cleared his throat. “I’m here to help you with your romantic feelings and anger management issues.”

Sunset bolted up. “I don’t have anger management issues!”

“Oh contraire my condiment colored friend. According to this, your anger is off the charts, also you didn’t deny having any romantic feelings.” Discord smiled slyly.

Sunset blushed. “I don’t and give me that!” She grabbed the clipboard; on it was a drawing of Discord.

The drawing stood off the page and spoke. “Denial isn’t just a ocean in Manehattan.”

“Saddle Arabia!” Sunset growled.

“Ha!” Drawing Discord laughed. “Not when I ruled Equestria.” The drawing went flat and the clipboard appeared back in Discord’s hands.

“How do you know about all this, anyway?” Sunset asked.

“A certain yellow Pegasus may have let me know.”

She frowned. “That’s a betrayal of trust.”

Discord looked shocked. “But is it really? Is using information told in confidence to help a potential friend really a betrayal of trust?”

“Yes.”

“Oh well, you’ll thank me anyway.” With a flick of his wrist, the television facing the couch flicked on. The image was a replay of Sunset choking Flash. A knot formed in Sunset’s stomach. She grabbed the remote and flicked the power, but the television remained on looping the scene.

“How… do you know?” Sunset glared at him.

“Magic.” Discord smiled innocently a halo appearing over his head. Sunset’s glare didn’t let up. “Okay, fine, I may or may not have been Flash Sentry’s sword.”

Sunset froze. “Wait… if you were there, why didn’t you stop me?”

“Well for one, it was the best seat in the house!” Discord laughed. “Wow, girl where did you learn how to fight? Yowza! Plus, I don’t really like that Flash Sentry guy.”

“That makes two of us.” Sunset leaned back on the couch, resting her hand against her cheek.

“So tell me where it all began.” Discord leaned in his chair and took up his clipboard.

“Where what began?”

“Your romantic feelings.”

“If I hear one more comment about romantic feelings for Flash, there’s going to be one less Lord of Chaos in two universes!” She jumped up grabbing Discord’s beard and yanking him to meet her eye level.

Discord blinked a couple times. “First, this is what I mean by anger management.” His reeled back and his beard popped off. Sunset jumped back and threw it however it stuck to her hand and crawled up wrapping around her wrist turning into over sized meter displaying Sunset’s anger was in the yellow, approaching the red. “Wow, that’s pretty super… just saying.” A Discord copy played a drum and cymbal behind him.

Sunset glared and tried to pry the device off her arm, but it didn’t budge. “Get this thing off me!”

“Nope, not until that meter is in the green.” Discord rubbed his bare chin. “Second, I wasn’t talking about romantic feelings for Flash, I was talking about a certain purple princess.”

Sunset looked up at him. “Twilight?”

“No, Lumpy Space Princess, of course I mean Twilight!” A cane with a disturbing wide eye Twilight head appeared in his hand. “Miss Element of Magic, Princess of Friendship, and book obsessed pony.”

“What about her?”

Discord slapped his forehead. “Ugh, you ponies can be so dense! I’m talking about your romantic feelings for Twilight.”

Sunset’s cheeks lit up. “Um…”

“Oh, don’t give me that dumbfounded look.” He waved a magnifying glass over her chest and it showed an arrow stuck through her heart. “It’s as obvious as Celestia’s flank.”

Sunset flailed knocking the magnifying glass away. “Cut that out! I don’t have romantic feelings for Twilight!”

Discord raised an eyebrow. “Really…. Twilight wearing socks.” Sunset’s face flushed deep red. “Point exactly.”

“That’s just basic attraction!” Sunset shot back. “Besides socks are cute on anypony.”

“Fair point. Fine, you and Twilight curled up with a book by the fireplace.” He held up an echo recorder and it picked up the increased beating of Sunset’s heart. Sunset drew back and glared at Discord. “That proves nothing.”

“Alright, I’m done having fun.” Discord leaned back and blew into a pipe blowing out bubbles. “But look at your wrist.”

Sunset looked down and the gauge had shrunk into the yellow bordering the green. She looked up glaring at Discord again. “Proves. Nothing.” She sighed and leaned back against the couch. “I don’t have feelings for Twilight. She’s just my friend.”

“That she is, my little pony, but have you found yourself taking extra long looks at her?” Discord asked.

Sunset hesitated and blushed. “Yes…”

“Do you find your heart rate increasing when you think about her?”

“Yes…” She grew quieter.

“At night, do you enjoy cuddling up with her by the fire place with a good book?”

“Ye—wait how did you know about that?” Sunset raised an eyebrow.

Discord chuckled. “Well, I do enjoy warming up by a fire, listening to a good story.”

“What were you?”

“A log.”

Sunset smacked her forehead and sighed. “Of course you were.” She yawned and laid down against the sofa. “What’s your point though?”

Discord flipped through a few pages on the clipboard. “Well, based on what I’ve observed, you have all the symptoms: Long stares, excited in the others presence, honey glow, and jealousy.”

“I’m not jealous.” Sunset grumbled.

“Ah, but you are, you’re not jealous that Flash is putting the moves on somepony else. You’re jealous that somepony is putting the moves on Twilight. The fact that it’s Flash makes no difference.” Discord snapped and the living room changed into a hospital room with Sunset on a medical bed. Discord was dressed as a doctor and had a glum expression. “I’m so sorry, Miss Shimmer… the condition is far worse than we imagined. There is nothing we can do for you. You’re in love.” In another flash the living room was back to normal.

Sunset frowned. “I don’t know if I’m in love with Twilight…”

“But you can at least admit you like her, yes?” Discord pressed.

She hesitated for a moment. “Well… I mean, she’s fun to be around… I can have intelligent conversations with her… she’s been kind to me and… aw, buck!” She threw her head back covering her face with her hands. “She’s always kind to me! She knows me completely! We get each other’s humor! She is freaking adorable as a pony and cute as a human! When I’m around her, I never want that time to end! Buck, she even lied to Celestia for me! Twilight Sparkle lied to Celestia! For me!”

Discord was staring at her with a sly grin. “Now we’re getting somewhere.” He nodded to Sunset’s wrist. The meter was no longer in the yellow or green, a secondary meter popped up displaying a giant glowing heart. Sunset blushed. The meter popped off her wrist and turned into Discord’s beard reattaching to his face.

“Why do you care about this, anyway?” Sunset raised an eyebrow.

“Isn’t playing matchmaker what a good friend does?” Discord asked with false bafflement. Sunset just stared at him. “Oh, fine.” He sighed. “Look I’ve been alive for well over one thousand years and frankly, I’ve seen this situation enough times to write novels about it. I’ve seen so many mares and stallions in this situation, I can’t stand it anymore. Before, I was encased in stone so I couldn’t really do much about it.”

Sunset nodded and looked down. “So what should I do?”

“Do I have to spell this out for you?” Discord deadpanned. He traced his lion finger through the air making words appear.

Tell her how you feel.

“But what if—” Sunset was cut off by Discord shoving the text in her face. “Alright, I get it!”

“Good, now let's get you back to Equestria.” He snapped his fingers and they were outside Canterlot High. It was still raining, but Discord covered them in an invisible field that sent the rain back up as it fell.

Sunset stared at the rain then glared at him. “Couldn’t you have done that the first time?”

“I gave you an umbrella, what more do you want?” Discord shrugged. Sunset rolled her eyes and faced the portal.

“Okay…” She took a deep breath. “Twilight… you gave me everything I have… now let me give something back.” Stepping forward her forehead connected with the marble surface of the statue with the rest of her body following. She was stunned for a moment but fell back on her butt. “Huh?”

“Oh dear…” Discord tapped the statues surface but it stayed solid. “Hm… well that’s anti-climactic...”

Revelations and Disastor

View Online

Chapter 9

“Oh no… oh no, no, no, no, no!” Sunset yelled, pressing her hands against the statue’s marble face. “Why is the portal closed?”

Discord stroked his beard. “Somepony must have closed it after you came through.”

Sunset whirled around to face him. “You’re the Lord of Chaos, can’t you tear a hole through the dimensions?”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“No!”

“Well, you're out of luck.” A small violin materialized and started playing itself. “I’m afraid we’re stuck here, with no way back home! Oh, woe is us!” He snickered. “But in the meantime, I can have some fun here.”

Sunset rubbed her temples and sighed. “You’re not helping, there has to be a way back.”

Discord raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you have your magical journal to write to Twilight?”

“Yes, but I gave it the girls incase they wanted to write me.” She slumped down against the statue. “It could be with any of them now.”

“I believe I can help you. I can sense sources of great magical power.” He shifted into a compass and spun around pointed down the street. “From what I can tell, it's close by.”

Sunset perked up and she jumped to her feet. “Lead the way!”

The trip was surprisingly a quick walk down the street. The pair found themselves in front of a dull gray house. There were no lights on do the hour of night. “This is Pinkie Pie’s house…” Sunset mumbled

“Really now?” Discord scratched his chin. “I was expecting something more… pink.”

“Pinkie Pie lives with her family in this universe.” Sunset knocked on the door then her eyes darted at Discord. “Quick, change into something!”

Discord sighed. “Oh, fine.” In a flash of light he was on all fours as a grey cat with brown pawls and white stripes on his head. “That better?”

Sunset looked down at cat Discord and a smile crept onto her lips. “You look… adorable.”

Discord hissed and scratched at her boot. There was a click and the door opened. A gray skinned girl with monotone purple hair in baggy clothes stared blankly at the two.

Sunset smiled awkwardly and waved her hand. “Hi Maud, sorry it's late but could we talk to Pinkie Pie?”

Maud stared at the pair a few more moments then stepped back motioning for them to enter. When she closed the door Sunset and Discord went to the living room, a few seconds later Pinkie Pie slid down the stairs bounding into the living room.

“Hi there, Sunbutt! What brings you back here?” Even at the late hour she was still bright and hyperactive as usual. “Aw, where did you find this cute little guy?” She knelt down and petted Discord’s head who purred and gave a sly look.

Sunset rubbed her forehead. “Well… I came back through the portal and it was closed by somepony on the other side. I need the journal to write them to tell them I’m stuck here.”

Pinkie stopped petting Discord and looked up. “What happened between you and Twilight?” Discord looked between Pinkie and Sunset and gave her a devious grin.

“What do you mean, Pinkie?” Sunset looked away nervously.

Pinkie picked Discord up in her arms and petted his head as she began to pace back and forth. “Well, you said you were going there for the summer and you would only come back here if there something bad happened, and since you’re here that means something bad happened, and since you were seeing Twilight that means the bad thing that happened was probably with her!”

Sunset stared at her. “Pinkie, that’s… actually pretty logical.”

“I have my moments.” Pinkie raised her chin proudly. “Now what happened between you and Twilight?”

Sunset blushed and looked away. “Well … it's sort of a long story, but…”

“You had a relapse of your behavior and went all she-demon mode on that world’s version of Flash Sentry because he keeps trying to be lovey dovey with Twilight, and that makes you angry because secretly you want to be lovey dovey with Twilight and she saw you going all she demon and got mad and you ran back through the portal in shame and were followed by a shape shifting creature who’s now the cat in my arms and now you finally realized you love Twilight and you want to go back to the world but you can’t because the portal was closed and you need the book.” Pinkie finished, pointing an accusatory finger at Sunset.

Sunset’s jaw hung as she stared at the pink skinned girl. “H-how did you know…”

“Just a hunch.” Pinkie smiled brightly, then she pulled out the journal from her hair. “Also, these messages from Twilight gave me a hint.”

“What?” Sunset jumped up and grabbed the journal flipping through the pages to four new entries from Twilight. As she read them over her eyes widened. “Um… how much time has passed in Equestria since we’ve been here?

“Hm.” Discord meowed. He disappeared from her arms and appeared in his normal form beside Pinkie. “Well, considering the two worlds run on separate planes of time and space, probably a day or two.

Sunset looked back up at him, then back at the book. “…. Get me a pen, we’re going back right now!”

Two days had passed since the incident and Twilight couldn’t shake off this empty feeling in her stomach. It was the same feeling she had when Rainbow Dash had left for the Wonderbolt academy. Loneliness. But it this case, it was more. The past two nights, she had trouble getting to sleep worrying about Sunset. The guards were keeping watch over the portal and had closed it. To this end she kept her book by her bedside waiting for it to glow bright pink and vibrate, but there was nothing. She took the book everywhere she went and had even written in it multiple times reaching out for Sunset, but still there was nothing.

She was on a train heading towards Canterlot. Her personal guards were stationed at the train car’s exits with additional guards in adjourning cars. Twilight didn’t take pleasure in the security, but she understood it. She personally requested that Flash Sentry take point in the first car to keep a look out, but truthfully, she just didn’t want to deal with his flirting today. In her lap read over her entries she wrote to Sunset.

Dear Sunset Shimmer,

I understand there have been certain complications to your situation with Flash. Though I am disappointed in what has transpired, I do wish to speak with you. We will sit down and talk about this development as adult ponies. I would appreciate if you would write me back so I may open the portal again for you to come back.
Sincerely,
Twilight Sparkle

Hours had passed since she wrote that message and her worries got the better of her.

Dear Sunset,

Are you doing all right? Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell Celestia what’s happened. I understand I may have acted rashly when I walked in on the situation, but I do wish to talk to you still.
Sincerely,
Twilight

After a day with no response Twilight began theorizing why Sunset might not be writing her back and her fears took hold of her writing.

Sunset,

Please respond soon. I’m heading to Canterlot tomorrow and I need to speak with you before then.
Twilight

Then came the break down.

Sunset, I’m sorry for yelling at you! I don’t know what happened, but I shouldn’t have snapped at you! Please write back! I miss you and I feel horrible for snapping at you! Please respond!

Still nothing. Twilight had to admit, she was worried about Sunset and there wasn’t any denying it. She felt awful for yelling at Sunset and telling her to get out. Her only hope was that Cadence would help her once she arrived in Canterlot. She just had to keep herself composed during her meeting with Celestia and then she could as gracefully as possible break down in front of her sister-in-law.

The train whistled, signaling the end of the journey. The beautiful city of Canterlot came into view outside the windows. The sleek towers rose over the walls and the city was bustling with activity and noble ponies. Canterlot palace stood above the rest as the tallest building in the capital. This was Twilight’s first home, but even now, there was something about it that felt slightly intimidating.

The meeting with Celestia was interesting at best. The meeting took place in Celestia’s chambers instead of the throne room and she inquired about most of the details in traveling to the human world. Twilight had brought up some of her findings from Starswirl's book including some of the theories Sunset made but didn’t mention that Sunset had made them. However, Sunset was brought up during the meeting. Celestia pressed on, asking questions about Twilight’s second visit and how Sunset was doing now that she was reformed, even asking how she was recently. Twilight did her best to feign ignorance to the questions, claiming she had not seen Sunset since her second trip to the human world.

Each time Sunset’s name was mentioned, Twilight felt her stomach twist and she had to mentally restrain from confessing the truth to Celestia. It was not easy, even under normal calm pretenses Celestia’s gaze commanded absolute authority. At one point she had considered telling Celestia, but after her relapse, she feared Celestia would have wanted Sunset to be restrained. The thought of Sunset locked up in chains being hauled away never to be seen again or possible be sent to the moon made Twilight’s body shake and her blood run cold. Thankfully, the meeting ended with nothing of the sort being revealed.

Twilight made her leave out of the palace and walked down to the Café De la Trot in upper Canterlot with her escort. She took a seat outside and rested her head on the table groaning. She was far away enough from Celestia to let her defenses down.

A wing draped across Twilight’s shoulder and her muscles tensed. She slowly lifted her head. “Flash, I swear to Celestia, I’m not in the-“ Turning her head, she saw it was not Flash, but Cadence with a mischievous grin on her face.

“My, my, Twilight, I can see why you asked me here.” Said Cadence.

Twilight’s anger dissipated and she embraced her sister in law. “Sorry, thank you so much for coming, Cadence.”

Cadence returned the embrace. “Well, when I read your letter, I couldn’t just sit by and do nothing.” She sat down across from her. “Besides, if I didn’t, your brother would have come.”

Twilight gulped. “Yeah, that might have not been the best thing.” A waiter came over and took their orders. Once he left, Twilight looked to the guards standing close by. “Could we have a little privacy?”

Flash Sentry shook his head. “Sorry Princess, it's our mandate to guard you.”

Before Twilight could respond Cadence raised a hoof. “Flash Sentry, Twilight asked for privacy. You wouldn’t disobey a direct order from your Captain’s sister, would you?”

Flash’s orange fur went pale and he saluted. “N-no, your highness!” He stuttered. “Allow us to leave at once!” He turned and motioned for the other guards to move away with him.

Twilight looked at Cadence with astonishment. “I wish I had known that would have worked.” She giggled.

“It’s all about knowing the right thing to say. Though, do you not like Flash’s company? I sent him here specifically because I thought you liked him.” Cadence said.

Twilight sighed and blushed. “I do like Flash, just… he’s not like the one I met in the human world.”

“Well, from what you told me, I would doubt it. They may have the same personality but their lifestyles are completely different, which sets up how they are as ponies... or people.” Cadence tapped her chin. “But that’s not what you wanted to talk to me about, is it?”

Twilight shook her head. Their drinks and small cakes arrived and she explained the past days events to Cadence. She sat and listened with the utmost attention, sometimes giving different facial gestures to what Twilight said but never interrupting. When Twilight finished, she took a sip of her tea before beginning. “Okay, well now I understand what you meant by ‘out of my depth’” She quoted Twilight's letter. “But let's take a hoof step back a moment.” Cadence gaze focused on Twilight and she rested her chin on her hooves. “Answer honestly, do you like Sunset?”

Twilight cheeks flared up and she stared at Cadence. Her throat went dry and her body tensed up. “W-well, of course I like her.”

Cadence shook her head. “No, you know exactly what I’m talking about, Twilight.”

“Not really!” Twilight defended.

“Twily, I’ve known you since you were a filly and I’ve seen this scenario a lot.” She said.

“B-but… she’s my friend.” Twilight stuttered trying to find a better counter.

“And?”

“And I…” Twilight stopped and looked at her reflection in her tea.

Cadence leaned back with a confident grin. “And you’re unsure of how you feel.” She finished.

“Yes,” Twilight mumbled.

“What makes you unsure?” Cadence asked.

Twilight thought for a moment hesitant to answer but then responded. “I guess I’ve never been really interested in anyone, even human Flash Sentry. I came to realize that my attraction to him was because I was under the influence of human female biology and my attraction to the pony Flash was because I liked the human one. So I’ve never really liked anypony…”

Cadence giggled. “Well, I can understand that. But I also noticed you didn’t say anything about what happened a few days ago.”

This made Twilight raise her head and ears perk up. “Wait… what?”

“You’re unsureness is based on inexperience with genuine attraction. Isn’t it curious you didn’t say it was based on Sunset’s relapse?” She said with a sly smile.

Twilight stared at her for a few moments. “Oh….” She muttered and her eyes went wide. “Oh!”

“Based on what you told me, I don’t think Sunset lashed out at Flash because she’s jealous.” Cadence rested a hoof against her cheek. “I think it’s because she doesn’t want to share you.” She gave Twilight a wink. Twilight’s blush intensified and she went silent. Cadence got up from her seat and walked over giving Twilight a pat on the head. “I think you should head back to Ponyville to talk to her. Also, I can have Flash recalled and have a new sergeant sent to the squad if you like?”

Twilight looked up smiling and quickly embarrassed Cadence. “Thank you, Cadence… and please.”

Cadence hugged her back. “Anytime, Twilight. Should I tell your brother when the wedding is?”

“C-Cadence!” Twilight cheeks flared and she pushed the giggling pink alicorn away. The pair said their goodbyes and Twilight was rejoined with her escort. On her way back to the train station she had a little spring in her step. She was unsure of how she would do it but when she got back to Ponyville she didn’t care if she had to go through the portal herself to do it. She would go and apologize to Sunset and tell her how she felt.

The train exited the station and Twilight sat in her train car thoughts swimming through her head. As the train pulled out of Canterlot Twilight looked up at the clouds. They had darkened since she entered and the rain started to patter against the windows. She felt unsure about Sunset still but one thing in her mind was clear: She liked Sunset. She didn’t understand how it happened, when it happened, or even why. But under the influence Cadence’s words she felt a sense of assurance when she said to herself that she liked Sunset.

Twilight now understood why Sunset attacked Flash, she didn’t agree with it but the reasoning behind it told her that Sunset did possibly feel something for her. This made Twilight’s heart flutter. With Flash transferred out, she considered that she wouldn’t have any difficulties with Sunset, no relapses, and no interruptions. A whole summer was ahead of them and Twilight had a feeling it would be the best one yet.

There was a buzzing sound in Twilight’s bag. Her ears perked up and she grabbed it pulling out her book that was vibrating and emitting a pink glow. Sunset had responded to the message. Twilight slowly set her hooves down on the cover to lift it. The book was then thrown from her hooves as the train rocked and rumbled at the peak of a deafening explosion. Twilight fell from her seat hitting her head. She got up quickly and lifted her window peering out, the train engine was a plume of smoke and the car behind it was in shambles. Twilight’s eyes widened. Flash!

She bolted out, teleporting passed the guards who followed her. She ran down the next two cars ahead of her. Pegasus guards were exiting, taking up ariel defense positions around the train. They had been stopped on the bridge between the mountain tunnels and the drop below was at least a mile. Twilight pushed passed the two guards in front of the damaged car and stormed through it.

“Flash!” She called out. “Flash!”

There was a groan and Twilight spotted under part of the collapsed roof a orange hoof sticking out. She ripped it away with her magic and saw Flash lying on the ground. His armor was scraped and battered and he was bleeding from the head. He looked up and smirked. “Isn’t this supposed to be the other way around.”

“Shut up, you’re hurt!” She helped him up putting. “What happened?”

Flash put a hoof to his head applying pleasure to his wound. “I don’t know… one second I was heading for the engine car the next there was a bright light and you calling my name.”

Guards entered the car and took up Flash. “Your highness, it’s not safe here. Please go back to your car while we handle the situation.”

Twilight shook her head. “No, there still might be others in the wreckage! I’m not leaving with that possibility.”

Flash raised a weak hoof at the burning wreckage ahead of them. “Hey, I see something…”

The outlines of two figures walked; when they came out of the smoke they were two guards. They made their way over to the group and saluted. However Twilight noticed that they were unharmed and their armor was unscathed.

Flash coughed. “Where’s the engineer?”

“I’m here! I’m alright!” A voice shouted from the wreckage and a tall red earth pony wearing an engineer's cap and tattered suspenders trotted into view. Again, Twilight noticed there was a scratch on him. She looked to the explosion. The engine car was completely engulfed in flames and smoke and the half of the front car was collapsed.

“Good.” Flash weakly smiled. “Then there weren’t any casualties.” He sighed with relief.

“Wait…” Twilight pointed at the engineer and guards. “You were right in the explosion… why weren’t you hurt?”

The three exchanged glances and the one of the guards tapped his horn. “I threw up a shield for us at the last moment.”

Twilight’s gaze didn’t let up. “But not Flash Sentry? Your commanding officer?”

Again, the three exchanged glances but the unicorn guard shrugged. “I didn’t see him.” He went silent as did the rest and Twilight continued to glare. The situation didn’t sit right with her at all.

A sharp yell broke the silence. The ponies looked and saw a figure coming out of the fire and smoke. He was bloodied and charred. His clothes were a tatter but the sight that made Twilight’s eyes go wide was he was a red earth pony with a burned engineer hat and torn suspenders. He pointed an accusatory hoof at the trio. “Th-that’s not m-me.” He coughed.

There was a flash of light, the unharmed red earth pony’s center forehead glowed green and shot a beam of magic hitting the damaged one square in the chest. The bloodied earth pony toppled to the ground. Twilight and the others trotted back slowly minus the unharmed guards beside the red earth pony.

“Well, so much for the element of surprise.” The red earth pony’s voice was now feminine and he turned to glare at Twilight with bright green eyes.

“N-no.” Twilight eyes widened.

The red earth pony surrounded itself in magic and morphed into a tall demonic looking alicorn with bug like wings, a misshapen horn, black skin, and a swampy green mane draping down its neck. The two guards beside the creature morphed into changeling guards. The center creature laughed. “Hello, Princess~”

“Chrysalis!” Twilight growled. The guards beside Flash Sentry drew their swords.

“Have you missed me, Twilight?~” She cooed with mock enthusiasm.

“Hardly!” Twilight charged her horn.

Chrysalis drew back putting a hoof to her chest feigning shock. “But Twilight! It has been so long, you’ve become an alicorn and a princess no less since I’ve seen you.”

“Yes, which means I’ve gotten a lot stronger since our last encounter.” Twilight retorted. “You have one chance to turn around, or—”

“Or you’ll what?” Chrysalis interrupted. More changelings came out of the smoke. Yells could be heard outside as guards engaged changeling forces. They were crawling out from under the bridge. “Alicorn or not, you’re out of your league here and you’re friends aren’t here to help you.”

“That doesn’t—”

“Doesn’t matter? What good is a princess of friendship without her friends? You’re powerless.” Chrysalis laughed.

Twilight gritted her teeth and charged the changeling queen. She unleashed a blast of magic, sending Chrysalis back. She shook her head and growled, rearing up on her hooves and firing a blast of magic back at Twilight. Twilight threw up a magic bubble and the blast ricocheted off it. She unfolded her wings and tucked to the side, avoiding another blast and lunged for Chrysalis. She turned around and bucked Chrysalis in the jaw, sending her out of the train car. The queen flew up to the top of the car and Twilight flew out, following her. The guards and changelings were in aerial dogfights with each other except, the changelings had the advantage with their magic.

“Hm, you have improved,” Chrysalis dusted herself off. “But you still can’t win.” Twilight took a step back then and lit her horn, firing another beam of magic. Chrysalis countered with her own, and the beams caused an explosion on impact. Twilight flew up and through the smoke with her horn aglow. But she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the curled up form of Sunset Shimmer.

“S-sunset!” Twilight heart twisted and landed running over to her friend. “What are you doing here? How are you—”

Sunset opened an eye and flashed a dark grin before reeling back a hoof and punching Twilight square in the jaw. Twilight stumbled and was blown back as Sunset head butted her. Her vision went blurry for a few moments and she flew off her hooves as Sunset hit her with a blast of magic.

Twilight got up and shook her head focusing her vision. “S-stop!”

“This is delicious~” The figure of Sunset morphed into Chrysalis, then back to Sunset. “I haven’t felt this power since I fed off Shining Armor’s love for Cadence.” She licked her lips and shivered with a sickening moan. “So many ponies to choose from and this one elicited the best feast.”

Twilight panted and adjusted her balance. “How… dare you…”

Sunset Chrysalis backed Twilight up to the edge of the car. “But Twilight, would you really hurt me?” She placed a hoof on Twilight’s cheek. Twilight’s heartbeat sped up a little. Even though it was fake, the touch felt to realistic to ignore.

“I-I—…” Twilight stuttered, her magical aura of her horn fading. Sunset Chrysalis smiled deviously and her horn lit up, spraying green goo covering Twilight’s horn and mouth. Twilight’s eyes went wide and she struggled but Chrysalis turned back to her normal form and seized Twilight in her magic.

“All too easy~” She laughed and took off with her changelings following her. “Destroy up the bridge!” She shouted. The changelings not involved in combat lit their horns and stormed the bridge supports. They crashed into them, decimating the rock structures, causing the bridge to fall out from under the train with gravity doing the rest. The train still fell down into the abyss below. The remaining guards in the air raced after it. Twilight tried to call for them but the green goo muffled her voice.

Chrysalis cackled as her guards grabbed hold of Twilight binding her hooves and wings. Twilight struggled in their grasp and whimpered. She couldn’t believe this was happened and she couldn’t believe she fell for Chrysalis’s impression of Sunset.
Somepony… anypony! Sunset! Please help me! She mentally cried out as she was carried away.

Into the Fire

View Online

Chapter 10

The smoke could be seen rising from the mountains. The heavens had opened up and it began to pour rain. This didn’t stop Celestia’s pace. She tore through the skies, flying as quickly as possible towards the smoke. Luna kept up next to her and gave her sister a worried look.

“Tia, slow down,” said Luna. “The soldiers are having difficulty keep up.”

Celestia kept her pace then it. “Twilight was on that train! I have to find her!” Less than an hour ago, a guard stormed into the palace. His armor was cracked and his face blackened by soot. He told them about the attack on the train and said they couldn’t find Princess Twilight anywhere. Celestia hadn’t taken a second moment to think. She raced out of the palace leaving Luna to gather a platoon of guards and follow. “She has to be alright!”

Luna pushed against the gusts of wind that ripped through the sky. “Sister, we are worried about Twilight as well. But remember, she has been in more tight spots than this. She will be alright.”

Celestia looked to Luna, who was giving her a reassuring smile, but that didn’t lessen her worries. The twin sisters flew around the mountain peak and smoke and tracks came into full view. The bridge was collapsed and the smoke was drifting up out of the darkness below. Without a second to pause, Celestia went into a nosedive down into the abyss. Luna followed behind her and they lit the way for the guards struggling to keep up. It wasn’t long before they reached the bottom. The whole train was in shambles. There were a few fires still going. Huddled near them were guards in conditions ranging from bruised to bloody.

“Where. Is. Twilight?” Celestia demanded marching towards the guards.

“Tia!” Luna put herself between her and them. She gave her sister and stern look, then turned to the platoon of guards. “We need medics and healing unicorns over here now!” The guards made their way to the groups of survivors and began treating their wounds. Celestia looked over the wreckage and didn’t see any sign of Twilight. She marched forward, surveying the small groups. None approached her out of fear and shame. Near the head of the train, she saw two guards aiding a wounded Flash Sentry.

She approached them quickly and Flash looked up his eyes widening. “U-uh, your highness!” He saluted and cringed. From the looks of it, his arm was twisted.

“Sergeant, what happened here?” She said in as calm a tone as she could muster.

“We were ambushed by the changelings, they were led by Queen Chrysalis, they blew up the engine and destroyed the bridge.” He coughed, and laid back. One of the medics hurried over and surrounded his body with healing magic.

“Where is Twilight?”

Flash gulped and looked away. “They took her…”

There was silence. For all who could see, Celestia’s face was in sheer horror and shock. The last time anyone had seen her like this was during the Canterlot wedding fiasco. She gritted her teeth and stomped her hoof into the ground causing it to shake slightly. One guard jumped back with a high-pitched eek! Luna walked up to Celestia, putting a hoof on her front leg. “We’ll get her back, sister.”

Celestia stared at the ground with pinprick eyes, then breathed slowly. “Yes… we will…” She shook her head slowly. “Have the wounded taken care of and clean up here, I’ll be heading to Ponyville. Twilight’s friends need to be informed on what’s happened.”

Luna nodded and went to attend to other guards. Celestia sighed and fought back the anger growing inside her. She wanted to scream for what Chrysalis did. First Cadence, now Twilight, she thought.

She turned to leave and out of the corner of her eye she saw a small light. It was faint and it wasn’t coming from the dying fires. Slowly, she walked over to it. The light came from under a few pieces of wood and rumble, every few seconds it would shine on and off. Using her magic she moved the wreckage aside and lifted up a glowing notebook that continued to vibrate. Her eyes widened and hesitantly, she brought it forward and opened it.

Sunset touched the surface of the statues stone face and it rippled like a drop of water against a pool. The portal was open again. She breathed slowly, trying to lower her heart rate. She had it all worked out in her head.

Walk through the portal.

Embrace Twilight.

Apologize (Apologize to Flash if he’s there).

Tell her that you like her.
It was the ideal plan and she wasn’t going to let anything stop her. Not even the Lord of Chaos who was standing behind her tapping his claw foot impatiently.

“Well? What are you waiting for?” He yawned.

Sunset shot him a look. “Just readying myself. Give me a moment.”

Discord smiled slyly. “Oh, thinking about how you’re going to sweep Twilight off her hooves?” His hands turned into sock puppets and he made them do kissy faces.

“Cut that out.” Sunset blushed and frowned. She stepped forward and entered the portal. Even though it was the third time she was stepping through it still felt like a roller coaster ride. But the second she was there was over in an instant and she came out landing on her belly again. She heard the portal shimmer again as Discord came through behind her.

“Ah, it's good to be ba— oh…bye!” Discord disappeared in a flash of light. This made Sunset nervous. She lifted her head from the ground and saw light pink hooves in front of her, clad with gold.

Oh… Sunset gulped, she knew who was standing in front of her. She knew so very well but she thought if she didn’t raise her head that this would all just go away. But fate was not so kind to her as the pony in front of her spoke.

“Sunset Shimmer.” Celestia spoke. Her tone was a mix of endearment and sternness. One she had not heard in a long time.

Buck. Slowly Sunset raised her head. She saw Celestia’s plain expression and she was terrified. This was not what she expected and now all she wanted was for Twilight to come save her from this nightmare. She got to her hooves and quickly turned around lunging for the portal entrance, however her face hit the solid glace surface. She rubbed her forehead and turned to see Celestia holding the enchanted book with her magic. Having nowhere to run now, she turned to Celestia and bowed her head. “…P-Princess… Celestia…”

“It has been a long time since I’ve seen you,” Celestia started in a matter of fact voice. “I’m am very troubled that Twilight didn’t tell me you had come back to Equestria.”

“P-Princess I can explain, I—” Sunset started looking up, but Celestia cut her off raising her hoof.

“But at this moment, there are more pressing matters at hand.” She motioned to the rest of Twilight’s friends behind her. Their expressions were a mix of fright, anger, and worry. Celestia was clenching her teeth before she spoke again. “Twilight has been captured by the changelings.”

Sunset Shimmer went pale. Something inside her chest plummeted into the depths of darkness while the gears in her mind stopped turning. Everything stopped for her, each motion and thought. “W-what…” she said softly.

Celestia nodded. “On her way back from Canterlot, her train was attacked by Queen Chrysalis. They’ve taken her to their stronghold in the dark lands of Equestria.”

Sunset sat there for a few moments in utter disbelief. Finally, a switch clicked on in her head. “I’m going to get her back.”

“Sunset, I—”

“Don’t tell me no, Celestia! I won’t abandon Twilight!” She stomped her hoof down in place. The group stopped walking and looked at her. Whatever fear she had at the first sight of her former teacher was gone. All that remained was a look of absolute determination.

Celestia looked down at her former student with a curious look. “Hm, it seems she’s had a positive effect on you.”

Sunset nodded with her cheeks lighting up a bit. “Yes, she has.”

Celestia smiled, “Well, I was going to say I’m not letting you go alone.” She motioned them to follow and they exited the library, entering the main circular throne room of Twilight’s palace. There was Luna and a few guard ponies clad in decorated armor standing over a table with maps. “There will be a battle, and we will be fighting in it.”

She guided them over to the table that showed a map of changeling stronghold with various troop positions and battlements in place. One of the decorated guards spoke. “As you can see, the stronghold is heavily fortified. The changelings are spread out all over the area in strong numbers. Their battlements are located between all strategic aerial and ground points.”

Another guard drew his hoof over the palace. “Our scouts have also identified a network of tunnels under the stronghold that give the changelings immediate access across the battlefield, meaning at any point they could flank our troops.”

“Oh, it's like wackamole!” Pinkie Pie piped up. Everypony looked at her. “What? They pop out of the holes and you try to bash em!”

Celestia smiled a little. “It’s not that simple Pinkie Pie. Though, the tunnels will be key in this battle.” She placed her hoof on the edge of the map. “Our forces must enter here, led by myself and Luna. We will set up defensive positions at these three points to draw the changelings in away from the palace.”

“Where do we come in, your highness?” Asked Applejack.

“Yeah!” Rainbow Dash. “Are you going to have us lead the charge and storm the palace to save Twilight?!”

She shook her head. “Not exactly. While Luna and I distract the changelings, you will be using the tunnels to access the palace from below. Your mission will be to free Twilight and get out as quickly as possible.”

Fluttershy shrunk back a little. “T-that sounds dangerous.”

“C’mon ’Shy, it’s only a palace crawling with blood thirsty changelings! We’ve dealt with them before!” Rainbow gave a cocky grin and the yellow pegasus hid her face behind her mane.

Sunset looked over the map and her expression hardened. “What if we run into Chrysalis?”

Celestia shook her head “Don’t seek her out, only engage her if she is in between you and Twilight.” The girls nodded to her. “Good, we haven’t time to lose.”

Though, typically none of them wore clothes, Celestia had insisted on fitting each pony with armor plating. Having fought the changelings before with nothing but bare hooves, each pony was grateful to have more protection now. Sunset sat at the back of Celestia’s chariot, looking down at the world below her. The clouds passed by, behind her were dozens of chariots surrounded by pegasi escorts. Their battle chariot was large enough to hold all of them and would drop them off near the closest tunnel entrance. Once inside, they would have to feel their way through to the tunnels to the palace.

Sunset however, though determined to get Twilight back, couldn’t help but think that each second they were in the air, was another second Twilight was in the clutches of Chrysalis. Her mind raced with all the thoughts of what Chrysalis could be doing to her: Torturing her with magic, draining her own magic, or worse, draining all the love from Twilight reducing her to a crippled shell of a pony.

“I know you’re worried.” A hoof touched her shoulder and she looked back to see Celestia. “We all are.”

Sunset frowned and looked back to the clouds. “I don’t see how you’re so detached.”

She chuckled, “I already let my worries get the better of me earlier and now I’m focusing on the task at hand. It’s something you pick up after a couple hundred years.”

Sunset raised a gold plated hoof and stared at her reflection in it. She gulped and started slowly “But what if something has already happened to Twilight?”

Celestia went silent. Sunset looked back and saw the light pink alicorn with her gaze off to the side and her head lowered. After a few moments she spoke, “Whatever Chrysalis’s plans are, we will stop her and bring Twilight home.”

Sunset could tell see she was hiding her worry and fear. She was sure it was a thought on everyone’s minds at the moment, what if they were too late? Sunset cringed at the thought of something bad happening to Twilight and gripped the edge of the chariot. But Celestia’s words had some sense of comfort. They would save Twilight and Sunset would never let her go again. Another thought came into her mind.

“So what happens after this?”

“Pardon?” Celestia asked.

“To me. What are you going to do to me after we rescue Twilight?” She trailed off at the end.

There was a moment of silence then she draped a wing over Sunsets back. Sunset tensed up and looked to Celestia in confusion. “Ask me that again when we’re done here.”

“But-“

Celestia put a hoof up. “Steel yourself for now and focus on our objective. Worrying about what may come won’t aid you in battle.”

“Not knowing is worse,” Sunset frowned.

Celestia smiled, stifling giggles. For Sunset, it had been a very long time since Celestia had giggled at something she said. “Well, I can tell you one thing.”

“What’s that?” said Sunset.

“You and Twilight have much in common.”

Sunset blushed and looked back to the sky below her. Past the clouds, the terrain was rocky with any amount of vegetation growing smaller and smaller. The mountains crossing over to Equestria shrunk in the distance, the sun was high in the sky, but the clouds became thicker as they went. Sunset took note that it would most likely be darker on the battlefield. The chariots and pegasi behind them tightened up their formation and chariot buckled slightly as it started making its descent.

There was a gust of wind and water as they dropped through the thick clouds. Sunset wiped the moisture out of her mane and looked on ahead at the front of the chariot where the other girls were. Celestia stepped forward, taking point and lit her horn. Sunset was right, it was much darker under the cloud line. Visibility was lessened but she could still make out most of the objects in front of her, specifically the changeling fortress ahead of them. Celestia’s horn glowed brightly and a magical field enveloped them. The chariots around theirs disappeared.

“What in tarnation?” Applejack exclaimed.

Sunset looked around then at Celestia. “It’s illusion magic, the Princess is shrouding the other chariots to make them invisible.”

Luna nodded in conformation. “Precisely. The best tactic in battle is the element of surprise.”

The chariots continued their descent until they touched down on the wide cliffs overlooking the fortress. Celestia kept her horn lit and it shined brighter. As it did, the other chariots revealed themselves. She was extending the illusion spell over the entire attack force. Two divisions fanned out to other parts of the cliff face to set up the defensive positions. The other guards unloaded armaments from the chariots.

“Oh my,” Rarity spoke, “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen those before.”

“I would think not,” said Luna. “These are special magical arms from the times when King Sombra ruled the Crystal Empire.”

The earth pony guards heaved the armaments to the edges of the cliff face. Each stood on four legs with a large orb structure between them. It shined bright blue and on the end of it was a barrel that stretched out facing the stronghold. In the back, unicorns lined up in groups of three at each one. These arms lined the cliff face in all three locations as they were set up.

Luna stepped forward, conjuring a magical blade in front of her. “When Celestia drops the field, all arms focus your fire on their ground structures.” She turned to Sunset and the rest. “You will take the chariot down and find the tunnels. Celestia will redirect her magic to cover you.”

“You can count on us!” said Rainbow saluting. The others nodded including Sunset.

“All right.” She looked to Celestia and nodded. “Tia, on your signal.”

Celesta strained keeping up the illusion spell up and gave a quick nodded. “Three.” The girls readied themselves on the chariot. “Two.” Guards drew their blades and unicorns fed magic into the armaments. “One.” Sunset took a quick breath and readied herself for their inevitably bumpy trip.

“Attack!” Celestia yelled.

The illusion spell dropped over the three positions and fell over the girls chariot. The arms on the cliffs fired bright beams of blue energy at the changelings ground armaments. Explosions ripped through the changeling battlements and ground forces caught off guard by the sudden attack. Smoke rose as concentrated blasts of energy destroyed a line of changeling battlements. The changelings below responded by firing back up at the cliff face. Luna conjured a shield, deflecting them. Sunset gripped the chariot as Celestia levitated it and sent it flying down the cliff face. There was a mix of screams with a wahoo! from Pinkie Pie as the carriage descended and made a sharp incline before impacting with the ground. The magic around it dissipated, and the chariot rode the propulsion of gravity as it skidded across the ground.

The girls jumped off and ducked behind a nearby boulder. Applejack peared over and saw the changeling forces advancing towards the cliff face, which in turn, meant them as well.

“Ya’ll remember where that tunnel was?” She asked.

Pinkie Pie pulled a map out of her hair and unfolded it. “Here!”

“Those changelings will see us before we get there.” Rainbow frowned.

“Hold on.” Sunset interjected. “Everypony get behind me and stay close, Spike cover us.” She charged her horn with a cyan light and a magical aura descended upon the group. Sunset gritted her teeth and strained her neck as she stepped forward. “C’mon, I’m not sure how long this will hold.”

The group followed close to Sunset as they stepped out from behind the rock. The advancing changelings didn’t show any reaction of surprise or take notice towards them. They were completely invisible as they moved towards the point on the map. Sunset kept her breathing steady and her thoughts on the goal ahead of them. Illusion magic was normally not very difficult, but using it on a wider area of space put a strain on her, not to mention the artillery fire above didn’t create the best environment to concentrate. Ahead of them, they saw a couple changelings crawling out from large rock. As they exited, they pushed the rock over the hole and flew up towards the equestrian forces.

Once they were behind the rock, Sunset let out a hard breath, dropping the illusion spell. “Never… again.”

“Thank you, Sunset.” Said Fluttershy, gently rubbing her back. Sunset smiled through her panting and wiped sweat from her forehead.

Rainbow Dash tapped the rock. “How do we get it open?”

“Leave that to us,” said Applejack proudly. “Spike can ya lend a claw?” The dragon nodded and walked over to the bounder with her. They pressed their weight against it and with a heave, shoved it to the side revealing the tunnel network entrance. A changeling, having noticed the light entering the tunnel, popped its head out and hissed at the ponies and drake. Spike stomped his foot down on its skull sending it back down into the hole.

After a second there was a thud. “Hm,” Spike was then the first to jump down, landing with a thud. “All clear, it’s a short drop.”

The other ponies followed him down. The only light came from the eerie dark green walls and visibility was low. Sunset and Rarity shined lights with their horns down the tunnel. Ahead of them, it branched off into have a dozen paths with no clear indication as to where it may lead. Her ears dropped, they could spend hours down there looking but may take too long to find Twilight.

“We should split up!” Rainbow Dash said. “Meet you at the palace!” Before she could dash off, Applejack grabbed her tail.

“Ya remember what happened the last time we split up in changeling country?”

Rainbow Dash frowned. “Fine, then how do we figure out which way to go?”

“We don’t have time to wander around either.” Sunset rubbed her chin with a hoof. She noticed the changeling from before getting up rubbing its head. Immediately she seized it with her magic and pinned it to the wall.

The changeling hissed and glared at Sunset, trying to wiggle free from her telekinetic grip. “Grah! Let me go!”

“Not until you tell us which way the palace is!” Sunset growled.

The changeling kept squirming and laughed. “Ha! Even if I told you it wouldn’t help, only a changeling can find its way through these tunnels.”

“Then you will show us the way.” Sunset tightened her grip.

“Or else what?” The changeling smirked as Sunset’s expression darkened. “You’ll hurt me? No, you see…” It green glow covered its body and it took the image of Twilight. “I don’t think you will.”

Sunset growled and threw the changeling against the wall the adjourning wall. “I would, and for copying Twilight, I really would!” She fired a beam of magic, knocking it back to its normal form.

Applejack put a hoof on Sunset’s. “Settle down there, sugarcube. Leave em, we’ll find Twilight ourselves.”

She continued to glare at the now very frightened changeling and then dropped it to the ground. Applejack nodded to her and turned around bucking the changeling in the head with her back hooves, knocking it out. Sunset turned back to the paths ahead of them. “He said only a changeling can navigate through here, what do you think he meant?”

“Oh, um, I know.” Fluttershy spoke softly, the rest turned to her and she was hiding behind Spike. “Well, you see, changelings are like insects, they are all connected by a hive mind and can tell each other where to go based on the collective thoughts.”

Sunset rubbed her chin with a hoof. “Hive mind…”

“Maybe you can hive mind with Twilight, you're both unicorns after all.” Rainbow chuckled.

Rarity rubbed her forehead. “Unicorns don’t work like that, darling.”

“How do you know they don’t?” Rainbow countered.

“Wait… you might be onto something.” Sunset interrupted, causing everyone to turn and look at her. “Maybe if…” She closed her eyes and opened up her senses. She reached with her magic down the tunnel feeling her way through the ether of magic.

The changeling stronghold did not have the best accommodations for guests and most travelers would rate it as a one star on trot-advisor. For Twilight, her room was made up of a hard wooden bed, a couple dressers, and three tubs. Also, each unicorn guest was also given a clamp around their horn that prevented magical surges during rest at night. However, the wooden bed was upright and her hooves were bound against it. The dressers were filled with various tools for torture acts and the three tubs were each filled with bubbling liquids. The clamp around her horn prevented her from doing any magic.

Chrysalis had made sure Twilight was given the best accommodations she had to offer and ensured a constant high quality entertainment system. Well, entertaining for Chrysalis, not Twilight. Since Twilight was brought here, Chrysalis had used magic to shock her, boiling liquids to scorch her fur, and given her bruises by her own hooves. Twilight was able to endure most of the pain and pushed through the next bout of punishment. She couldn’t break in front of Chrysalis. Her ears had perked up when the attack started on the palace and she looked at Chrysalis with a confident grin.

“Give up now, Chrysalis.” Twilight smirked.

The changeling queen circled her, flicking her tail across Twilight’s chin. “Oh, but we’re having so much fun,” She came around and centered on Twilight’s gaze. “And they are fools to come face me.”

“My friends aren’t fools.” Twilight glared at her.

“Really now?” Chrysalis licked her lips and drew closer sniffing Twilight.

“Cut that out!”

“Mm~ All that love inside you, it smells delicious. How I could just eat you up!” She opened her maw flashing her large fangs. Twilight’s eyes widened and she turned her head looking away. Chrysalis closed her mouth and laughed. “They are fools if they actually believe they can save you.”

Twilight looked away staring at the wall. She had faith in her friends and the princesses but the odds were stacked against them in this case.

Twilight. There was a voice. Twilight turned her head from side to side. She recognized the voice. “Sunset?”

“What? That little mare you seem so fond of? Hm, she was actually fun to turn into. Maybe it was the bad girl vibe, or the look on your face when you fell for my ploy.” Chrysalis laughed.

Twilight I’m here! The voice said again and Twilight realized it was in her head. She didn’t know how she was hearing it but that voice still made her heart speed up. Where are you? Sunset’s voice asked.

“Oh Twilight~”

Twilight looked and saw Sunset standing next to her. Except it wasn’t Sunset, it was Chrysalis. Her eyes thinned and she closed them concentrating. Sunset, I’m here!

Sunset Chrysalis trotted close gently sniffing Twilight’s neck. Twilight craned her neck away, then snapped at her. She trotted around to the other side brushed her tail against Twilight’s side. Twilight cringed, biting her lip but kept her eyes shut.

We’re coming for you! Hang on!

But not too tight! A higher pitched voice said.

Wha?! Pinkie! How are you… oh nevermind. I’ll be there soon Twi.

Twilight opened her eyes and smiled and looked at Chrysalis triumphantly. “My friends are coming and will save me.” Sunset, Sunset is coming to save me.

Sunset opened her eyes and looked back. “I know how to get there. Let's go!” She raced off down the right path with the others in hot pursuit. Twilight is alive and that’s all that mattered to her.

It Can't End Like This

View Online

Chapter 11

The rescue team raced down the tunnels guided by Sunset’s magic. She was at the head of the group with her horn aglow. She didn’t know the path they were on but her magic guided her to their destination: Twilight.

“Look out!” Spike shouted. He leapt forward drawing his blade and shield. A changeling charged out of the darkness above diving for Sunset. Spike intercepted it and bashed its face with the shield sending it into a wall. Another changeling came out from the side and Spike spun around slashing it across the chest. He landed on the ground in front of the group and sniffed the air. “I smell more of them.”

Rarity stepped to his side and fired off a small magical light pulse ahead of them. The light gave a brief glimpse of the area ahead. The ceiling had risen from its once shallow depth before and tunnel walls had widened. The light pulse flashed over dozens of shadowed bodies and when it faded blue eyes looked down at them through the darkness.

Sunset gritted her teeth. “Well Rainbow, you get your fun now.”

“Aw, yeah!” Rainbow flapped her wings and readied herself. “Come and get it!”

The changelings answered her call and swarmed from the ceiling and a group came at them head on. Rarity fired off a couple light orbs to keep the place illuminated. A changeling launched for her but Spike bashed it into the ground. He reeled his head back inhaling then sprayed the area ahead them with a massive green flame. The less fortunate changelings in front were consumed by the flames while the ones in backs screeched and scattered.

Sunset stepped back to the center of the group. “I can’t use magic without breaking my concentration on Twilight’s location.”

Applejack bucked a changeling in the face as it came forward. “Then we’ll clear a path! Everypony charge! Yehaw!”

The group dashed forward into the fray. Spike was on point slashing and bashing any changeling that came their way. Rainbow Dash was in the air, zipping around the changeling forces confusing them and then finishing each off with a hoof to the face. Pinkie Pie covered the back with Applejack, firing off her party cannon at changelings that tried to flank them. Fluttershy, who preferred to stay out of the fight, stayed close to Sunset, keeping a protective wing over her. The group was a powerful wall charging through the changelings as they came in droves. Having an older Spike in the battle really made a difference this time around as he blew the changelings back.

Sunset focused on keeping her momentum as Spike charged forward. Not one changeling broke through and any that tried were knocked back by the pony’s defense. Sunset knew these were the saviors of Equestria but it surprised her how they fought without fear and plunged into the dark depths of the cavern without hesitation. She knew why she did it; fool hearted reasons concerning love, but these ponies didn’t have those same feelings. It then dawned on her that this was another way friendship could be so powerful, these ponies and dragon were charging to save their friend because they loved her. Even Fluttershy by her side had a serious expression and didn’t falter when the changelings got close.

Another light pulse fired by Rarity illuminated another group of tunnels ahead. Spike bashed another changeling and looked back. “Which way?”

Sunset closed her eyes then pointed to the center one, “There.” The tunnel she pointed to had changelings filing out of it and charging forward.

“Plan B, dear?” Rarity frowned.

“I’ve got this guys!” Rainbow shouted. She flew up to the ceiling doing two loops, then shot down to the opposite end behind them. “Gang way!” She dived and skimmed the ground. The group jumped back as she stormed by, the mac cone formed around her and the moment she met the changelings ahead she shot forward into a sonic rainboom. The shockwave blew the changelings away and Rainbow slammed into the ones still in the way. The group braced against the torrents of wind then raced forward following the rainbow trail left by the pegasus.

The tunnel ahead of them narrowed and the screams of changelings ahead could be heard. After a few seconds, the screams faded, as did the rainbow trail. They saw Rainbow at the end of the corridor looking down and when they met up with her, they were standing on the edge of a large ravine. Below them, the entire area glowed green with hundreds of changelings moving about across various walkways.

Sunset looked up at the high ceiling and saw stairways descending downwards to the walkways, “I think we’ve found the hive.”

“I reckon then Twilight must be right above us?” Applejack tipped her hat back and gulped.

“I hope she’s alright,” Fluttershy stepped away from the edge. “How are we going to get up there?”

Rainbow Dash sighed and extended her wings. “You have wings, Flutters.”

“Oh… right.” She gulped.

“What about the rest of us?” Sunset asked.

Spike rubbed his chin. “I could throw you guys?”

“Ooh, that sounds like fun,” Pinkie Pie bounced.

“No offense Spike, but I prefer my hooves being on the ground.” Applejack frowned.

Sunset looked down at the ground again. “I don’t think we have many other options. It’s quicker than Rainbow and Fluttershy flying us all across.” She looked up to Spike and nodded.

Spike grinned. “Alright, Earth ponies first!” He picked up Applejack in his arms.

“Why me?” Applejack squirmed.

“Need to test my aim.” Spike chuckled.

“That ain’t funny!”

“Don’t worry, if I miss Rainbow and Fluttershy will catch you.” He heaved her over his shoulders and launched her like a javelin into the air. Applejack sucked in her breath and kept her gaze on the ledge. However, she overshot it by a little.

“Whoa nelly!” Applejack yelled. She fell from the ledge a few feet when Rainbow and Fluttershy caught her by her front hooves.

“Settle down AJ,” Rainbow laughed, “Afraid of heights?”

“Yes!” Applejack growled.

The pair set the farm pony on the staircase and gave Spike and all clear. Spike picked up Pinkie Pie. “Ready?”

“Yep!” She giggled and stuck her hoof out, ready for take off. Spike launched her through the air. “Geronimo!” She screamed. Unlike before, she was able to land on the ledge without pegasi rescue.

Sunset gulped, “I’m doing this for Twilight, I’m doing this for Twilight.” She repeated over and over to herself. Spike picked her up and spun around, throwing her into the air. Now she realized why unicorns weren’t meant to fly, and why Twilight had such trouble flying. It was terrifying. She hit the side of the staircase and grasped it with her hoofs. Rainbow Dash flew under her and pushed her up onto solid ground.

Sunset hugged the ground. “That was… never again.” She looked over and saw Spike picking up Rarity in his arms. He stepped back and took a running start, jumping high into the air off the ledge and landing gracefully on the staircase. He let Rarity out of his arms and she leaned up giving him a peck on the cheek. “Thank you, Spike.”

Spike blushed and chuckled. “Anything for you, milady.”

Sunset rolled her eyes and focused on the stairs above them. Thankfully, the changelings below had not taken notice of the ponies above. Not wanting to change that, the group ran up the stairs. Most of the hallways were void of guards, who were presumably out defending the palace. Sunset guided the group down a few corridors until they heard what sounded like magical blasts. They followed the sound as it echoed down the hallways. When they rounded the corner, Sunset’s heart leapt into her throat.

Changelings were lying on the ground defeated and at the center of them was Twilight, dusting herself off.

“Twilight!” Sunset yelled and she sprinted ahead of the others and embraced the lavender alicorn. “How did you escape? Are you alright? What did Chrysalis do to you?”

Twilight smiled and nuzzled Sunset’s neck. Sunset tensed and her heartbeat sped up. “I’m alright, when I heard you were coming, I couldn’t let you do all the work. I tricked the guards into taking off a magical clamp they had on my horn, then I freed myself.”

“Resourceful as ever, Twi.” Sunset giggled and hugged her. The other mares came over and joined the embrace expressing their thankfulness that Twilight was alright. However, Spike stood at a distance with a skeptical look. He walked over to a fallen changeling and looked over its body. The body was relatively unharmed with no magical marks or signs of a physical scuffle. He brought his gaze and looked at Twilight whom also looked relatively free of any marks her burns. He walked closer to the group of mares and sniffed again.

His eyes thinned and he drew his sword stepping back. “Step away from her right now.”

“Spike!” Rarity chided. “What in Equestria are you doing?”

“I said step away from her now that’s not Twilight!” He growled.

“What do ya mean it's not Twi? Look at all the changelings she took out.” Applejack defended.

“All the changelings that have no damage on them whatsoever.”

The group now looked closer at the changeling bodies that didn’t show any signs of damage. Spike stepped closer keeping his blade trained on Twilight. “Also her smell… it's not Twilight.”

Sunset raised an eyebrow and stepped in close to Twilight who now drew back slightly. She sniffed the air around her, from what she could remember Twilight constantly smelled like lavender soap with a mix of old parchment. “I smell spice and honey glaze.”

“I smell cake!” Pinkie bounced.

“I smell apples.” Applejack backed away.

Rarity pulled Pinkie and Fluttershy back. “I smell the finest imported aromas from Prance.”

Spike growled. “Changelings emit a pheromone that turns into any scent a pony wishes. It increases the intoxication of one’s affection.”

Now it clicked it Sunset’s mind. She charged her horn with magic and growled. “Where. Is. Twilight?”

The fake Twilight backed up and laughed. Her eyes went from purple to bright green, and a light green aura radiated off her body. “Well, that was a good meal while it lasted.” Her voice turned murky and dropped but still kept its feminine pitch. “Congratulations young drake, you’re more resourceful than our first encounter.”

The image of Twilight disappeared and was replaced by Chrysalis. She stood taller than the ponies and drake and laughed. The fallen changelings around them stood up. Changeling’s forces charged from the end of the hall cutting off their escape. “You ponies are so easy to fool!”

The group huddled together, facing the changelings approaching them on all sides. Sunset stood forward still her eyes locked on Chrysalis. “How dare you…”

“Interesting, Twilight said the same thing when fooled her by turning into you.” Chrysalis drew her hair back. “Personally, I pulled off the look quite well if I do say so myself.”

“You…” Sunset’s eyes thinned. “You bitch!” Her horn surged and she fired a large blast of magic catching Chrysalis off guard and sending her into the door behind her. She grunted and rubbed her chin.

“Seize them!” The changelings circled the group and charged forward simultaneously. Sunset surrounded them in a bubble of magic cutting off the initial attack. When the shield dropped Spike took up his shield beating back any changelings that tried to get through. Rainbow flew up from the group and encircled them, beating back changelings as them came from above. Applejack continuously bucked them in the face. Rarity and Fluttershy stood on the defensive behind the rest.

Sunset charged forward leaping up and clashed horns with Chrysalis. “Give Twilight back!”

Chrysalis pushed back and chuckled darkly. “There’s nothing you can do. Already that little bit of love I fed off from you is incredible! This feast has only just begun!” Her twisted horn glowed and she seized Sunset in her telekinetic grip. Sunset struggled against it and Chrysalis threw her against the wall.

“Your pony’s love for her gives me more power than I’ve ever felt!” She cackled and threw Sunset across the hall to the adjourning wall. Sunset shifted herself in Chrysalis’s grip and landed on her hooves against the wall.

“I won’t,” She gritted her teeth and pushed back as Chrysalis tried to flatten her. “Let my love for Twilight.” Her horn glowed brightly. “Be used by the likes of you!” Sunset jumped, breaking free of the magical grip. Her eyes glowed brightly and she head bucked the changeling queen. Their horns clashed and the magical energy sparked and blew back the ground around them.

Chrysalis reared up on her back hooves and threw a hoof at Sunset. However, Sunset flipped her body over the incoming punch and landed her hind legs in the back of Chrysalis’s head. Chrysalis staggered forward and rubbed her head, then whirled around to see Sunset bringing her back right hoof into her neck. The wind left Chrysalis’s lungs as Sunset threw three successful kicks to her neck, then brought her other back hoof up, nailing Chrysalis under the chin.

Sunset landed back on the ground and scraped the ground with a hoof. “You’re outclassed here, Chrysalis! Give up!”

Chrysalis rubbed her chin and spat out a glop of green blood. “I wouldn’t get ahead of yourself now, little pony.”

She stepped back and smiled as changelings filled the gap between her and Sunset. Sunset charged her horn, but toppled as a group of Changelings jumped her from behind. She struggled to throw them off with magic, but one sprayed her horn with a green goop cutting off the magical circulation to it. Sunset tried to kick them off, but there were too many and she collapsed under their combined weight. She caught a glimpse of the other ponies and drake falling under dozens of changelings atop them. Changelings sprayed Spike’s mouth with the green goop keeping him from using fire, while the others bonded the others horns and wings.

Chrysalis walked over to Sunset and petted her head. “Don’t worry, you tried your best.” She said with a mocking grin. “You’ll make fine siphons for my army.” The opened the door behind them and the changelings dragged the group one by one into a large room. The room was filled with green cocoon cages as well as upright torture tables. One of them of them was Twilight who had apparently been listening the entire time. She had a concerned look on her face as she looked upon Sunset and the others.

Sunset wanted to look away in shame, but couldn’t avert her gaze from Twilight. She struggled against her changeling escorts as she was thrown into one of the empty cocoons with the rest of the ponies. Spike had his arms and legs chained to the wall.

“Good, good,” Chrysalis started. “We have an audience for this momentous occasion!”

“Let us out of here!” Dash yelled in her cocoon.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” She smiled. “I don’t want you to miss the show.”

“W-what show?” Fluttershy curled up in her cocoon.

“Don’t you dare do a thing to them, Chrysalis.” Twilight interjected.

Chrysalis turned and walked towards Twilight. “Oh no my dear, it’s not about them, they are here to watch what I have in store for you.”

She circled Twilight turning into Pinkie Pie. “I’ve given it some thought and I have discovered what a glorious opportunity I have here!”

Her form shifted from Pinkie Pie to Applejack. “I had originally intended on replacing you for a while and feeding that way. But then I thought of something else.”

Applejack became Rainbow Dash. “Lure the Princesses here. I knew if I captured you they would come for you. They may be holding their own against me, but my armies in the hive below are ready to overwhelm them at my command!”

She laughed and became Rarity. “But I want the honor and pleasure of killing them myself!”

The white unicorn turned into a cream colored pegasus. “So I’ll drain you of your magic and love.”

Finally she turned into Sunset Shimmer. “And your friends will watch as I do so.” She cooed and nuzzled Twilight's neck. From inside Sunset’s cocoon she was boiling with rage. Her fur stood on end and she clenched her hooves tightly.

Twilight cringed and drew away from Chrysalis Sunset. “I told you once that achieving my ability of magic isn’t just about raw power alone! It comes from years of practice and study.”

“Oh yes, that boring lecture again.” Sunset Chrysalis leaned up close to pressing her muzzle against Twilight’s. “And I once gave you an offer to become my pupil in order to save your friends. I won’t give you that option now! Your raw power alone is enough to push my abilities to heights never achieved.” She drew back, licking her lips and turned back to her original form. Her horn glowed bright green and she rested it against Twilights and opened her maw.

“No! Stop!” Sunset yelled. “Take me instead! Take my magic! Take my love!”

Everyone looked to her in shock; Chrysalis had closed her mouth and now looked upon her with intrigue. “Oh? What do we have here?”

Sunset rested her head against the see through surface of the cocoon. She gritted her teeth and clenched her hooves. “Take my magic! I’m a former student of Celestia! I have magic reserves and knowledge of dark magic! Please spare Twilight, and take my magic instead!”

“Why would I want the power of a second rate unicorn like yourself?” Chrysalis approached the cocoon.

Sunset gulped. “I may not be an Alicorn, but I know magic Twilight doesn’t! I’ve traveled to and gained power from other worlds! I’ve connected with the Elements of Harmony and I have more love inside me than Twilight could ever have!”

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow and rubbed her chin. “Hm, if that is the case, then why would you willingly give yourself up in Twilight’s case?”

“Because I love her!” Sunset looked up with tear streaked eyes and her face was flushed red. “Take all my love for her, it’s stronger than anything you can imagine! Just don’t…” Her voice grew soft. “Don’t hurt her…. Please.”

Twilight and the others looked at her with expressions mixed between astonishment and slight shock. She blushed and spoke softly, “Sunset...”

Chrysalis circled the cocoon looking over Sunset. “Hm, touching. You make a good case…” she rested a hoof on the see through part of the cocoon.

“S-so you’ll take my magic and love?” Sunset looked up hopefully.

Chrysalis gave her a look that could've mistaken for tenderness. “Of course...” Her tender look turned into a maniacal grin. “After I’m finished with Twilight and the Princesses!” She laughed and turned back to Twilight.

Sunset beat her hooves against the cocoon. “No!”

The other mares followed suite and Spike struggled to break free from his chains. Chrysalis walked over to Twilight and placed her twisted horn against hers, and she opened her maw.

“Get away from her! Stop it! Stop!” Sunset screamed, she threw her body against the cocoon wall.

Twilight jerked her head back, trying to pull away from Chrysalis, but she was restrained firmly in place. Her body glowed green and she screamed in pain as the essence of her love and magic began pulling away from her. Chrysalis salivated as the energy entered her mouth and she savored the taste. Her body began glowing with the same light as Twilights. Sunset and the others looked on in horror as Chrysalis drained Twilight of her power.

Unlike Tirek’s ability to drain power and magic, Chrysalis’s ability had a harsher physical effect. Twilight’s perfect shape began to deteriorate and become rigid. Her coat and mane lost their vibrant and healthy colors and grayed out. Her healthy muzzle and face grew wrinkles and sunk inward. Her muscle definition shrank and her hooves looked similar to Granny Smith’s. Her beautiful wings shriveled and faded away, with the feathers falling to the ground. Twilight screams faded and grew softer as her body underwent these changes.

Chrysalis threw her head back as she sucked up the last of Twilight’s power. She trembled and drew her head down grinning wide and licking her lips. “Such power! It’s divine! It’s perfection!” Her body was shrouded in a dark green and purple flame. From what everyone could see, from the outside, Chrysalis’s body was changing. When the flames died she emerged. Her back was covered in spikes and her mane was now a black spine like appendage, also covered with spikes. Her hooves were now decorated with claws that glowed with dark purple energy and her bug like wings were now demonic long wings, similar to dragons.

She laughed; her voice had a soulful echo to it that sent chills up the others spines. “Finally!” She turned to the changelings. “Dispose of Twilight. I’ll be back for the rest of others soon! For now,” Her horn glowed with dark purple magic. “I have two princess to dethrone!” There was a flash and she was gone from the room with the echo of her laughter fading.

The changelings approached Twilight’s crippled form. She was barely breathing and each time she did it came out as a ghastly wheeze. They lit their curved horns and grew closer. Everyone banged on their cocoons and screamed for them to stop.

Sunset kept throwing herself at the cocoon. “Get away from her!” Her eyes were filled with tears. “Get away! Get away! Get away!” Her eyes glowed and the goop binding her horn dissipated. She blasted the cocoon apart and charged out, seizing the changelings in her telekinetic grip. The other changelings leapt at her, but she threw the ones she held at them. She placed herself in front of Twilight and yelled. Her eyes were pinpricks and she reared up on her hooves slamming them into the ground sending out a magical shockwave that blew the changelings back. “Run!” She screamed.

They did, the changelings ran in fear like they had before. Sunset panted hard and fired a beam of magic cutting the cocoons open and slicing through Spike’s chains. They rushed over to Twilight as Sunset unlatched her restraints and set her down on the ground. They circled her with grim looks and tear filled eyes.

“C-c’mon Twi,” Applejack stuttered. “W-wake up.” She nudged her side.

Sunset kneeled and gripped Twilight’s rigid hoof. “P-please Twilight…”

Twilight was still wheezing as she breathed slowly. Her eyes opened slightly and she turned her head to the group. She was barely able to crack a small smile. “I’m sorry.” She spoke softly.

“Don’t apologize, darling.” Rarity choked up. “This was Chrysalis’s doing. Not yours.”

Twilight shook her head slightly. “No, I’m sorry for failing all of you…” She coughed a couple times and wheezed again. “Your love for me and mine for you is now being used for evil… I’m sorry I let that happen.”

“You have nothing to apologize for Twilight.” Spike kneeled down and wiped the tears from his eyes. “Would you rather us not love you?” He cracked a half smile.

Twilight looked up at him. She weakly raised a hoof and Spike took it. “Of course not… thank you all for everything you’ve given me.”

“H-hey, don't say stuff like that, Twilight!” Rainbow growled through her forming tears. “Makes it sound like you’re saying…” She trailed off at the end.

“Goodbye?... I’m sorry, but… taking a ponies magic and love is more than just taking what makes them a pony… unlike Tirek… Chrysalis has my life essence…” She rested her head against the ground and let her hoof from Spike held fall.

“N-no,” Sunset cringed and fought back tears. “It’s not supposed to be like this. It’s not fair! Don’t you dare die, Twilight! You’ve faced worse than this! You’ve told me about all those adventures!” She gripped Twilight’s hoof and drew closer to her. “Backed into a corner with the odds against you, dragons, hydras, manticores, moon spirits, changelings, and even me! You’ve always come out okay… please…”

Twilight gently stroked Sunset’s cheek and smiled up at her. “Well… I guess this just wasn’t one of those adventures… Sunset… go and be the best you can be in life… I just wish… we could have had a few more adventures this summer…” Her hoof fell to the ground and her body went limp. Her eyes closed and the wheezing breath ceased.

There was silence in the room. The mares and drake sat there with Twilight’s body in the middle of them. Pinkie Pie was the first to break down verbally crying with Fluttershy following. Rarity huddled against Spike who was failing at keeping it together. Applejack had her hat tucked against her chest as she sobbed and Rainbow wrapped her wings around herself as she cried. Sunset didn’t make a sound as the tears fell. She kept staring at Twilight’s body, wanting her to wake up, hoping that if she willed it enough, Twilight would open her eyes. But there was nothing. Twilight was gone.

Sunset lowered her head with her mane covering her face from view. She stood up and walked to the center of the room lighting her horn. Rarity looked up from Spike’s embrace. “Darling? Where are you going?”

She didn’t turn around to respond. A glowing red sword materialized in front of her and she gripped it with her magic. She turned her head only slightly that her right eye would be visible. It glowed bright blue under her dark expression. “I’m going to kill Chrysalis.”

Sunset Rises

View Online

Chapter 12

Celestia and Luna could feel it, a great disturbance in magical energy was transpiring inside the palace. However, the disturbance gave them a cold feeling inside. The battle was faring well, too well. The changeling forces were unable to make any ground against the Equestrian forces and were scattered. Their firing positions were sloppy, the attack squads were disorganized, and they made no attempt to turn into Equestrian guards to flank them. Causalities for the Equestrian forces were as minimal as a sprained hoof or a magic headache from one of the cannon operators.

The most the princesses had to do was whip up shield bursts from incoming changeling fire. Celestia hadn’t taken her lance off her back and this made her uneasy. The battle hadn’t been going on for very long but it felt like they had been there for hours.

“They aren’t making any attempt to overrun us.” Celestia said to Luna.

Luna rubbed her chin. “Tis been a long time since we fought Sombra. Perhaps in the thousand years we were gone proper military tactics have become obsolete?”

“I would like to believe that, but this is their stronghold and we haven’t even seen Chrysalis.”

“Isn’t that a good thing, sister?”

Celestia frowned and looked to the broken changeling defenses below. “Yes, but…” She trailed off and the uneasy feeling increased. She calculated that Sunset and the others were inside the palace already. If they had been captured, Chrysalis would have been making demands and if they had rescued Twilight they would have been out of there by now. This combined with the magical disturbance made a pit form in her stomach. “What was that power we felt?”

“I’m not sure sister, but we best remain on guard until we hear from—” Luna went silent, then she charged forward to the head of the cliff. “Get back!” She threw up a massive shield, right as a beam of dark purple energy collided with it. The shield stopped the blast, but it still shattered with the shockwave, knocking Luna back.

“Luna!” Celestia ran to her side, helping her up.

“I’m alright, Tia.” Luna shook her head. “What was… what in Tartarus is that?”

Celestia looked up. “Chrysalis!”

Chrysalis was flying towards them at rapid speeds. Celestia fired multiple beams of magic at her, but she dodged them. Her movements were so fast each time she dodged it looked like she was blinking out of reality. Celestia grabbed Luna and jumped back as Chrysalis hit the ground full force. As Celestia landed on her hooves, Chrysalis’s face appeared in front of her and the next thing she saw was the ground. Celestia growled and pulled her head up from the dirt spitting some out. Luna dusted herself off and the two alicorns glared at Chrysalis.

“What is this, Alien Isolation?” Luna frowned.

“What?” Celestia raised an eyebrow.

“Videogame.”

“Ah.” She turned back to Chrysalis looking her over. “I’m giving you one chance Chrysalis, give back Twilight and I won’t send you to Tartarus!

The changeling queen looked at them with dark purple eyes. She laughed letting out a demonic screech. “Oh Celestia, can’t you feel it? This power?”

Celestia growled and took the lance off her back twirling it around with magic. “I can and I’ll tell you now, I’m not afraid of you.”

“So naïve.” In the blink of an eye, Chrysalis was at her throat upper cutting her, then spinning around, slamming her tail into Celestia’s side. She tumbled across the ground, then sprung up unfolding her wings and charging forward, aiming her lance for the queen’s chest. Chrysalis disappeared and appeared to the side tripping Celestia.

Celestia’s face met the ground again. “Eargh!”

“Tia!” Luna shouted, summoning a dozen swords around it. It was a spell she had not used much since she had fought Sombra, but it was no less deadly. The swords flew at Chrysalis, however she weaved in and out of them, advancing on Luna. She summoned a large battle-axe and brought it down on Luna. Luna raised her sword and blocked. She jumped back and unleashed a flurry of sword strikes. Chrysalis blocked and parried them with lightning fast telekinetic reflexes. Luna summoned another sword and launched herself in a frenzy striking everywhere, looking for an opening but Chrysalis continued to parry without missing a beat in between.

“Is that the best you’ve got?” Chrysalis smiled deviously.

Luna scowled and she summoned more blades, attacking her on all sides. Chrysalis unfurled her wings and jumped up. She dodged the blades, reared her head back, and fired a large dark purple blast. Luna dashed to the side avoiding the blast, but Chrysalis was there to meet her. Her eyes widened as time slowed. How can she— The wind was knocked out of her as Chrysalis blasted her to the side.

The two sisters got up slowly, facing the changeling queen. Celestia spat out another mouthful of dirt. “Where did you get that power?”

“You still haven’t figured it out?” Chrysalis grinned darkly. “Teacher~”

Celestia’s eyes widened and her jaw slackened. “W-what…”

“So resourceful, yet so blind. Allow me to teach you something, Celestia.” She grinned widely flashing her fangs. “Twilight Sparkle is no more!”

“N-no.” Celestia’s lower lip quivered. She could feel the power inside Chrysalis and it was Twilight’s. The disturbance in magical energy she felt was Chrysalis taking Twilight’s power away.

Chrysalis turned to palace and smiled down at the changelings below. “I took all her love and magic, now she is nothing more than an empty husk. Once I’m through with you, I’ll be able to finally bring Equestria to its knees!” She cackled.

“No!” Celestia screamed. She charged at Chrysalis, her eyes brimming with tears and her teeth clenched in anger. Their weapons collided and they dueled with their telekinetic grips. Luna charged into the fray, swinging her blade and the two sisters went on the offensive.

Chrysalis hopped off the cliff, flying up into the sky. The two sisters followed suit, unleashing magical beams of yellow and blue. Chrysalis dodged them with ease and fired back. Each blast was larger and more devastating than the sisters. They evaded and blocked with their weapons. When the energy faded they didn’t see Chrysalis in sight anymore. Celestia looked frantically left and right.

“Up here!” Chrysalis yelled. She had a massive ball of energy above her horn the size of a two-story building. The second the pair looked up, she launched it towards them. Celestia and Luna looked to each other and nodded. Celestia braced herself and fired at the ball with her own magic. Luna dove under it and came up around the other side, climbing the air towards Chrysalis. Before Luna reached her, Chrysalis disappeared. Luna quickly looked around, but couldn’t see her. She heard a scream from below the ball of energy.

Chrysalis had appeared behind Celestia and drove a hoof into her back breaking her defense and propelling the unsuspecting alicorn into the ball of dark energy. The energy exploded and from the smoke, Luna saw Celestia fall to the ground. Luna rushed for her, but Chrysalis flew out of the smoke in an instant and drove a hoof into her stomach, then another into her back. Luna felt the wind leave her and she coughed hard. Chrysalis then seized her with magic and threw her down onto the unforgiving ground.

The two sisters struggled to stand. Celestia front was marked with magical burns and she cringed as she stood. Luna wheezed and spat a little blood. Chrysalis landed in front of them with her horn aglow.

“As much as I would enjoy this, you two aren’t making this any fun.” She grinned.

Celestia coughed and glared at her. “You… monster…”

Chrysalis raised her muzzle and smirked. “Why, thank you.

“Thou… is heartless…” Luna bit back.

“Now that’s just hurtful,” Chrysalis giggled.

“You have hurt others… you… killed Twilight… don’t you dare talk about being hurt.” Celestia rose her head charging her horn. “You’ll pay for this…”

Chrysalis shook her head and laughed again. “I doubt that, well I guess I’ve drawn this out long enough.” Her horn glowed bright and she aimed it directly at the two alicorns. “Burn in Tartarus!”

“Chrysalis!” There was a flash of light and Sunset came out of the nowhere, slamming her hoof into Chrysalis’s jaw. The force blew the changeling queen back, sending her into a tumble across the ground. Sunset landed on her hooves and charged forward. Her body was glowing bright red like fire and the sword she wielded burned with a crimson flame. As Chrysalis stood, Sunset upper-cutted her under the jaw then flipped her body around roundhouse kicking her in the cheek. Chrysalis growled in pain but countered, unleashing an outward blast of magic. Sunset jumped back landing ten feet away.

Chrysalis rubbed her cheek. “You’re becoming a real nuisance,” She growled. “I was just going to take your magic and love, but now I think you’ll suffer like the princess!”

Sunset’s expression darkened and her irises glowed bright blue. “No, you’re going to suffer, Chrysalis. I’ll make you regret the day you were born!” Never in her life had there been such anguish and fire like this. At one point, anger was second nature to her, but it could never compare to this. Her body burned with the fires of rage and hate. She wanted to see Chrysalis suffer, she wanted to make her pay for what she did to Twilight. There was no fear now, the future or the past no longer mattered to her. There was only this moment.

She blinked out of reality, appearing behind Chrysalis. Chrysalis whirled around, bringing her axe across aiming for Sunset’s head, but Sunset blocked. The force of the block blew back the wind and ground around them. The magical energy around them sent sparks and tore up the ground. Chrysalis growled and reeled back, bringing her axe down. Sunset rolled to the right and came up, nailing Chrysalis in the face with her hoof. Chrysalis stumbled back, but came around firing a massive wave of magical energy. Sunset planted her hooves on the ground and shrouded herself in a shield. The blast made contact with the shield and exploded. When the dust cleared Sunset was gone. Chrysalis grinned manically at her handy work, until she noticed a glow out of her peripherals. She turned and saw Sunset massing energy at the tip of her horn.

“My turn.” She fired. Chrysalis threw up a shield to stop the blast, but was met with a force greater than she anticipated. The energy broke through the blast and she roared in anger as the energy tore and burned her flesh. She tumbled across the ground in a heap of limbs. Her body smoked and crackled with electricity. She stood up slowly, baring her teeth at Sunset.

“That shouldn’t be possible…” She sneered. “You should be cowering in my sight! You should fear me! I bested the princesses and you’re just standing there unphased!”

Sunset kept her gaze focused. “You took the one pony I have ever truly cared about away from me,” She stepped forward twirling her sword. “I have nothing to fear anymore!”

Chrysalis growled, but then a devious smile grew on her face. “So you don’t fear punishment ?”

Sunset raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“I’ve been watching you and Twilight ever since you arrived here. I’ve learned a great deal about you. Aren’t you afraid of being punished by Celestia still?” Chrysalis flashed her a dark smile. “Don’t you worry that your transgressions will never be paid back? That the power you have is a reminder of your wrong doings?”

Sunset’s expression didn’t falter. “Maybe before, but even when this is over, I don’t care if Celestia punishes me. I don’t care that what I’ve done in the past may haunt me for the rest of my life. Twilight forgave me, that’s all that mattered. Through her, I forgave myself. I’m a better pony because of her.” Her horn lit with magic and her eyes glowed white. “I could never fear anything now that you took her away!”

“My, my,” Chrysalis scoffed and licked her lips. “That love you have sounds divine. Once I’m through with you, I will savor its consumption.”

“That’s your mistake!” Sunset screamed and fired a beam of energy at Chrysalis, who countered with her own. The blasts collided, and the pair were locked in a power struggle. Chrysalis growled, pushing against the energy but Sunset stood her ground, eyes locked on the foe before her.

“You’ll never take away my feelings for Twilight!”

“I took hers! What’s to say I can’t take yours?!” Chrysalis snapped back.

Sunset dug her hooves into the ground as her magic surged and her magical beam broke through Chrysalis’s. The blast sent her flying back into a nearby rock face smashing through it. She groaned, getting up and looked to see Sunset standing over the rubble above her. “I won’t let you.”

“Twilight is gone! Accept it!” Chrysalis locked horns with her.

“Wrong! She’s still there!” Sunset’s eyes glowed and her horn surged with magical energy. Chrysalis’s body glowed bright blue.

“W-what are you doing?!” She struggled to break away but found herself bound to Sunset’s magic.

“A little trick I picked up from Twilight!” Sunset smirked as the energy flowed around them. Her body glowed brightly and Chrysalis’s form began to recede. “You may have taken Twilight’s power, but you don’t have the knowledge to wield it!”

Chrysalis roared and curled up writhing in pain. “How! How can you, then?”

Sunset smiled. “Because Twilight isn’t gone! She will always be in my heart! She’s still alive and giving me her power to stop you!” The energy drained completely from Chrysalis and she regressed to her original form. A ball of light surrounded Sunset and engulfed her.

Chrysalis struggled to stand on all fours. “This… no… this is impossible… my power! Give it back!”

“This ends here, Chrysalis.” Sunset stepped out of the orb of light. Energy sparked off her body and she was sporting a pair of unfurled amber wings.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Chrysalis yelled.

Celestia and Luna looked on from afar with slight shock. “Well, we didn’t see that coming.” Said Luna.

“Sunset…” Celestia said softly. “I never thought I would see something like this…”

Sunset raised a hoof, waving for Chrysalis to come at her. “C’mon, I’ll show you how outclassed you really are.”

Chrysalis growled. “Alicorn or not, when I’m through with, you there won’t be anything left but an empty husk!” She summoned her battle axe and flew up firing multiple magical beams at Sunset.

Sunset ducked and rolled dodging them then flapped her wings gaining altitude. Using her magic, she propelled herself forward like an arrow. Chrysalis readied herself and swung her axe at Sunset. But she teleported behind Chrysalis while summoning her magic into a ball above her. Sunset brought the magic down on top of Chrysalis, sending her into the ground. Sunset went into a dive, firing another blast of magic into Chrysalis, embedding her deeper into the ground. Propelling herself forward, she drop kicked Chrysalis in the stomach.

Chrysalis yelled in pain and coughed up green blood. Sunset jumped off and kicked her to the side, sending her flying across the ground. Chrysalis struggled to get up and as she did, Sunset grabbed her hoof with her magic and swung her around throwing her against another rock face. Chrysalis fell to the ground and looked up her eyes widening in horror.

Sunset had a ball of magic charging at the tip of her horn. Her eyes were glowing with ethereal light and torrents of fire had whipped up around her. “This is for Twilight!”

“Wait, Sunset! Don’t hurt me!” Chrysalis took on Twilight’s form and looked at her with pleading eyes. “You wouldn’t hurt me! I thought you loved me.”

Sunset’s eyes thinned. “I do.” She took a step forward and aimed the ball of energy at her. “I do love Twilight, and you can burn in Tartarus for taking her form!” She unleashed the blast at Chrysalis. The energy ball exploded on impact and covered the area in cyan light. Celestia and Luna covered their eyes at the sight of the blast. When the dust cleared and the light faded, there was a massive crater where Chrysalis was. She was at the bottom of it in a tangle of limbs wounds and burns marking her entire body. Sunset stood at the top of the crater and summoned another ball of energy.

Chrysalis looked up and raised a week hoof. “Pl-please, m-mercy.”

“Mercy…” Sunset mumbled. “You expect mercy for what you’ve done?” She yelled.

“P-please. Yo-you wouldn’t kill me… Twilight wouldn’t like that.” Chrysalis looked up hopefully.

Sunset paused for a moment. Celestia and Luna had walked over along with numerous guards. They stood on either side of Sunset waiting. Sunset turned around and walked away from the crater. “Celestia… deal with her.”

Celestia nodded solemnly. “Prepare an escort. I will see Chrysalis to the gates of Tartarus.”

Luna nudged her. “We will handle that sister, you have something else to attend to.” She pointed a hoof to Sunset.

Celestia looked between Luna and Sunset, then nodded. She walked up to amber uni—Alicorn who was trudging towards the cliff face. She stopped at the edge and looked down at the smoking and ruined battlefield. The cannon fire had ceased and the changelings were retreating to the palace.

Celestia coughed and began slowly, “Thank you, Sunset Shimmer. Without you, Luna and I would have been done for.”

Sunset kept her gaze down on the battlefield. “Are you worried about the power I have?”

Celestia was taken aback and looked away. “Well, no… I’m proud that you’ve come this far, really I am, it’s just… what it took for you to get here.”

“You think I wanted this?” Sunset now turned to meet Celestia’s face and she glared.

“What? No, I would never assume, but you seem very attuned to this power…”

“Well, I don’t intend on keeping it.” Sunset looked back to the field below.

“What? Sunset, I’m afraid I don’t have the ability to take that power away. Transferring magic is one thing, but taking just the power away I’m afraid is not as simple as you think.” Celestia stated.

Sunset frowned. “No, that’s not what I mean.” Celestia raised an eyebrow in confusion but then noticed Sunset’s gaze. She followed it and saw a group of ponies and dragon coming towards them across the field. Sunset unfurled her wings and glided down towards them. Celestia followed behind.

The group of ponies were carrying Twilight’s decrepit form across their backs. Sunset was met with fake smiles as she landed on the ground in front of them.

“Is it over?” Asked Applejack.

Sunset nodded. “Yes.”

“You took Twilight’s magic from Chrysalis?” Rarity tilted her head towards the wings.

“Yes… now lay Twilight down.” Sunset instructed.

“Sugarcube, I get that we’re in a battlefield but…. This doesn’t feel like the proper place to… bury her.” Applejack went silent by the end.

Sunset shook her head. “No… just watch.” The mares laid Twilight’s body on the ground. She looked peaceful in her unconscious state. Sunset breathed slowly and lowered her head until their horns were touching. She giggled a little. “It’s funny… there was a time where I wanted this power and was ready to do anything necessary to get it. Now I have it… and the price could never be worth it.”

She and Twilight's bodies glowed brightly with ethereal light. The energy from Sunset’s horn sparked and flowed into Twilight. Slowly, her body lifted from the ground and purple streaks of magic flowed around her. The ridges on her body faded and her form filled back in. Her coat and mane shifted to its original brilliant purple hews. The wings on Sunset’s back dissolved into particles of light and two wings sprouted from Twilight’s back and the feathers glistened in the light. Twilight’s body, fully restored, floated back down to the ground.

Celestia and the others gawked in shock at the transformation. Twilight’s eyes were still closed.

“T-Twilight?” Pinkie Pie moved close nudging her with a hoof.

There was no response.

“Twilight!” Pinkie Pie nudged her head again.

Still no response. The others were growing concerned and even Sunset’s smile was slowly flipping around.

Pinkie Pie pulled out a megaphone. “Twilight!”

Twilight’s eyes snapped open and she yelled gripping her ears. “Ah! Pinkie!”

“Twilight!” Pinkie Pie pulled Twilight into a spine-crushing hug. The others quickly joined, practically glomping onto the poor Alicorn.

“Twilight, you're alive!” Rainbow Dash yelled, ruffling her mane.

“We were so worried, sugarcube!” Applejack said, tearing up.

Twilight’s voice was muffled by them. “Girls… Can’t… Breathe!”

Sunset giggled at the pony pile and sat on her haunches, wiping beads of sweat from her forehead. It worked. She saved Twilight. If she had to be honest with herself, she was only half certain restoring Twilight’s love and magic would work.

Celestia draped a wing across Sunset’s shoulder and smiled. “Words can’t describe… thank you, Sunset.”

Sunset smiled back and nodded. She felt that even if she were still punished after this, it wouldn’t be as severe. The girls let Twilight have some breathing room. Spike embraced her literally picking her up. Even the grown drake cried tears of joy. Celestia smiled and walked over as he set her down. She lowered herself to embrace Twilight, who happily hugged her back.

Finally over. Sunset smiled at the thought. Twilight was safe, and the changelings wouldn’t be bothering them anymore. She tilted her head to the sky, just content to sit there now. Part of her wanted to run over to Twilight and embrace her, but the massive power spikes had drained her. Talks and feelings could wait till later for her.

“Sunset.” Twilight’s voice snapped her out of thought. Sunset looked to her and smiled.

“Hey, Twilight.” Sunset waved her hoof. “How are you feeling?”

Twilight blushed and smiled sheepishly. “I kind of have a headache, though I’m not sure if that’s from dying and coming back or Pinkie Pie’s megaphone.”

They both giggled. “Probably both.” Sunset said.

Twilight walked closer to her. “Sunset, thank you, I-“ Sunset cut her off putting a hoof to her lips.

“Tell me later.”

Thud.

Sunlight

View Online

Chapter 13

Light flowed through the windows as the sun rose over the mountain peak. The curtains were drawn ever so slightly, casting a ray of light onto the sleeping form of Sunset Shimmer. The light made its way from the floor, up to Sunset’s face and washed over her closed eyes. She yawned softly and sat up stretching her muscles. She felt sore in some places and her horn ached a little. She made a mental note to file it later.

She rubbed her head and touched her forehead, noticing there were bandages wrapped around it. There were also bandages covering her hooves, she looked at them curiously, then thought back to the events earlier. A smile crept on her face as she remembered seeing Twilight’s smiling face before she lost consciousness. Most of the fight was now a blur and felt like a dream. She had fought Chrysalis, retrieved Twilight's power, became an alicorn, and saved Twilight’s life by giving that power to her. Still, it felt like a dream.

Sunset sat up and took in her surroundings. Based on the crystal architecture of the room she was in Twilight’s palace. Though, she wasn’t in her own room. The sheets were lined with constellations, and ahead of the bed was the remnant of a dying fire in the fireplace. She was in Twilight’s room. Her head darted left and right but there was no sign of the lavender alicorn. Taking a cautionary step out she slid out of bed. Using the bed frame she trotted towards the door, the world was wobbly and her headache spiked slightly. She walked over to the doors and pushed them open not wanting to use magic. There weren’t any guards outside the room or along the hallway
If I walk out there and Pinkie Pie threw a party, I swear… She grumbled in her head, praying to the royal sisters that for once, they would bless her with peace. She trotted down to the double doors that opened up to the throne room. With the greatest amount of hesitation, she pushed through them, peering her head in. To her surprise, there were only three ponies sitting in the room: Celestia, Luna, and Twilight.

They didn’t notice her until she opened the door fully, making a creaking sound. The three snapped to attention and looked in her direction; she noted that Twilight’s wings flared up in the process. Sunset gave a small smile as she walked forward.

“It’s good to see you awake, Sunset Shimmer. How are you feeling?” Celestia gave her a warm smile.

Sunset cleared her dry throat. “Sore… but fine for the most part.”

“Come sit.” Celestia motioned to the seat beside Twilight, “Have some tea.”

She nodded and sat in the throne next to Twilight as Celestia poured a cup and levitated it to her. Sunset looked at Twilight giving her a smile, in response she smiled with a light blush on her cheeks.

Sunset sipped her tea and smiled as the hot liquid soothed her dry throat. “Thank you, Princess.”

“My pleasure, now then I suppose it's time to finally answer your question.”

“Hm?” Sunset looked up from her tea with a raised eyebrow.

“You asked me what happens after Twilight was saved.” Celestia stated her tone turning serious.

Sunset gulped a little. “I… I don’t care what you may do to me, Celestia… I’ll accept whatever punishment you have.” Out of the corner of her eye she saw Twilight’s ears fold back.

Celestia looked at Sunset and blinked a couple times. “Punishment?”

“Yes.” Sunset frowned. “For what I did to you in the past… how I betrayed you, what I did in the human world.”

“But you were reformed.” Celestia raised an eyebrow.

“By the elements, not by my own will.”

“But you then chose to follow the path of friendship.”

Sunset shook her head. “However, I still slandered your teachings.” Even though Sunset had followed friendships path and made amends towards the girls she tortured the most back in Canterlot High, she had still never made amends for her wrong doings back in Equestria. She had wanted power from Celestia, she demanded Alicornhood, but was denied. She discovered the magic mirror and when she saw her reflection it showed her that she could become an Alicorn. That passion and will drove her to betray Celestia. Delving into the Canterlot archives of forbidden magic was her first betrayal and then insulting Celestia’s teachings was her second.

“You think I have not done the same to my teacher?” Celestia sipped her tea and gave Sunset a playful wink.

“Wait, what?” Sunset asked.

Celestia leaned back in her chair. “When Starswirl the Bearded first created the portals, I followed him through to an alternate universe where the destinies and personalities of all ponies were switched. There I met King Sombra, except this one was good, and relations formed between us.”

Luna coughed. “Yes, relations.” She made air quotes with her hooves.

Celestia scowled at Luna, then continued. “Starswirl forbade me from continuing to see him, but of course being a young ruler, I sought out my own desires.”

“Yes, desires.” Luna rested a hoof on her cheek. “More like you felt bad for banishing us to the moon and you needed an outlet.”

“Luna!” Celestia chided.

“Tis only the truth, dear sister.” Luna chuckled.

“Regardless!” Celestia sighed, “No one is perfect Sunset, even I’ve made mistakes. Though I had hundreds of years to make up for them, you in less time have made up for yours during in the human world.”

Sunset looked at her with a dumbfounded expression. “I…”

“Have you forgiven yourself, Sunset?” Celestia asked.

“Well…” she hesitated at first, but then nodded. “I suppose I have.”

Celestia smiled. “You know when I said you and Twilight have much in common, I wasn’t exaggerating. You both take the simplest of things and blow them out of proportion.” She giggled.

Sunset and Twilight both blushed and looked in all directions except at each other. Sunset coughed, “I guess I just expect it because most of villains you’ve banished have tried to take over Equestria.”

Celestia paused for a moment. “Hm….” She sat in thought for a few moments. Then, a sly smile formed on her lips. “Very well, if you believe you should receive the same treatment, I will be a fair ruler.” She got up from her throne and motioned for Sunset to kneel before her. Sunset scrambled to her feet and got off the chair lowering her body in front of Celestia.“Sunset Shimmer, for your actions, I decree your punishment is whatever Princess Twilight Sparkle says it should be.”

Sunset stared at Celestia’s hooves, she could have sworn she misheard that; she looked up to see Princess Celestia looking down at her with a devious grin.

“W-what?”

“My decree is final Sunset, Twilight Sparkle will decide your fate.” Celestia leaned down and patted her head. “I hope she is more merciful than I.”

Sunset stood up slowly and turned around to see Twilight had the same dumbfound expression on her face. Her fate was in Twilight’s hooves now.

Twilight tapped her chin with a hoof for a moment, then smiled. “Alright.” She got down from her throne and walked up to Sunset. “Stay.”

“Huh?” Sunset’s mind went blank. “What do you mean, stay?”

“Stay here,” Twilight smiled, with a blush forming on her cheeks. “With me.”

“You mean… for more than just the summer?”

Twilight nodded. “You told me everyone is starting their own lives back in the other world and you didn’t have much of an idea what to do.” She tapped her hoof at the ground nervously. “So I decree… that you stay here with me.”

Sunset blushed. “Um…” Her jaw hung slack. She understood that Twilight hadn’t intended to do anything bad to her, but she certainly didn’t expect this. The gears in her mind turned slowly as she tried to process this demand. She looked to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, but neither made an objection.

“What would I do here?”

Twilight’s rubbed her chin in thought. “Well… I am a princess, and I could use an advisor.” The blush on her cheeks intensified. “I do also enjoy getting to study and sit by the fire together.”

“Twilight, I…”

“I-it’s my word Sunset!” Twilight tried her best to be strict, but she was utterly failing with the blush on her face that Sunset found adorable.

“Then,” Sunset spoke softly then smiled. “I guess I don’t have a choice.”

“Really?! Great! I mean—” Twilight cleared her throat. “As you should Miss Shimmer.”

Celestia put a hoof around Sunset and pulled her to her side. “Then let me be the first to say it’s wonderful to have you back Sunset.”

Sunset nodded. “It’s good to be back, Princess Celestia. I hope the girls won’t be too disappointed, though.”

“I’m sure they will understand,” said Twilight.

“Come now, Pinkie Pie has a celebration waiting outside.” Luna motioned towards the door.

Sunset groaned. “Again?”

Twilight giggled, putting a hoof around her. “You know Pinkie Pie. Better get used to it now.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that mare,” Sunset chuckled.

“I still don’t think I have,” Twilight smiled. “Princesses, tell Pinkie Pie we’ll be out soon. I would like a word with Sunset.”

Celestia and Luna nodded and exited, closing the door to the throne room, leaving the two mares alone. Sunset raised an eyebrow looking to Twilight. “What’s up?”

Twilight blushed again. “I want you to say it again.”

“Say what again?”

“What you said to Chrysalis. Your reason for protecting me.”

Sunset’s cheeks lit up and her eyes widened. “U-uh…” She gulped and backed up a little. “I-I’m afraid I don’t know w-what you’re talking about, Twilight.”

Twilight stepped forward. “Oh, I think you do know.”

“Y-you can’t prove I said anything.” Sunset backed up to one of the thrones.

“I have four other mares and a very trustworthy dragon assistant that can do so.” She said with a sly grin.

“C-c’mon Twilight, it was the heat of the moment! I was desperate and running on adrenaline.” Sunset looked from side to side nervously

“Oh…” Twilight looked away her mood deflating. “So you don’t…

Sunset’s attention snapped back to Twilight, and she stopped backing up. “N-no! That’s not what I meant…” She grabbed Twilight’s hoof.

“Then what did you mean?” Twilight asked giving a little sniff. Sunset could see this was an act, but Twilight was making it very believable. Her ears were folded down, her cheeks were flushed, and the slight forming of tears complimented the crack in her voice perfectly.

Sunset had played right into Twilight’s grasp, and she had no choice but to continue going. Sunset breathed for a moment and looked back to Twilight. She gulped down the lump in her throat and spoke. “Twilight, I—”

“Sunset, I think I like you!” Twilight blurted out quickly.

Sunset was taken aback. Her cheeks flared up and her heart pounded in her chest. “You do?”

Twilight nodded. “Well, I think so… I’m still sort of new to this whole thing… but you said in the changeling stronghold that you loved me.” She trailed off at the end.

“Well… it’s just…” Sunset gulped.

“Heat of the moment?” Twilight asked, crestfallen.

“Yeah…” Sunset saw the deflated look on Twilight’s face, and felt a small pit form in her stomach. She moved closer and pulled her into a warm hug. “But I really do like you… I’m still new to these feelings as well.”

Twilight embraced her back and gently nuzzled her neck. “So then, where do we go from here? I don’t think I have a book on how to do this.” She chuckled half joking.

Sunset joined her and pulled away. “It’s a little anticlimactic, but I think we can start off with something small…” She leaned in close to Twilight, pursing her lips slightly. Twilight’s eyes widened and she followed her lead.

“What’s taking you two mares so long?” Pinkie Pie poked her head through the doors. “We’re ready to start the party out here!”

“Pinkie!” The two mares simultaneously shouted, glaring at the pink mare.

“What?” she asked obviously.

Sunset growled, then sighed, rubbing her temple. “Nothing Pinkie, were coming.”

“Yay!” She bounced out of the room.

Twilight pouted, due to the ruined moment. Sunset lightly pecked Twilight’s cheek, then trotted past brushing her tail under her neck. “We can always finish later. C’mon, let’s go.”

“U-uh.” Twilight touched her cheek, then shook her head. “Right!”

Needless to say, the party was one of the ages, a true Pinkie Pie extravaganza. In the center of town, everypony in Ponyville danced the night away. Even the Princesses got in on the fun. Many ponies were horrified by Twilight’s still awkward dance skills, however, Sunset found them adorable. To her dismay, there wasn’t a slow dance. She personally would have loved to sweep Twilight off her hooves. Regardless, everypony enjoyed themselves. Vinyl Scratch was at the mix tables again, throwing down the beats to Pony Rock Anthem.

Sunset sat off to the side, enjoying a refreshing drink. She watched on as Twilight danced with her friends. She couldn’t keep a hoof down on the beat of her music, but she still looked like she was enjoying herself. Even if it was a hazard to her friends when a stray hoof came their way.

“Well hello, Sunset, fancy seeing you here.” Discord appeared next to her with a lampshade on his head.

Sunset jumped back and glared. “Where the hell have you been?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Discord snapped his claw, summoning a glass of chocolate milk.

“Try me.”

Discord downed the milk and it automatically refilled. “Well, the Doctor required my assistance and needed me to help balance out a galaxy on the brink of utter collapse. Turns out perfect universes can’t exist without chaos.”

Sunset stared at him.

“What? I said you wouldn’t believe me.”

“Sorry I asked.” She sighed, “Still, we could have used your help in that battle!”

Discord waved a lion paw, tipping his lampshade back. “I knew you could handle it, and see, everything turned out alright.”

“Still, it might not have,” Sunset growled.

“But yet, here we are.” Discord patted her head, materializing a gold medal in the shape of Twilight around her neck. “Why the angry eyes? You should be happy, you got exactly what you wanted.”

“Coming from you, that’s not really comforting.” Sunset looked away huffing.

“Ouch. Is someone a little huffy because she didn’t a hero’s kiss?”

Sunset’s cheeks went red. “Seriously, stop spying on us!”

“If I did, I wouldn’t be able to help you. And where would you be without me?” Discord grinned deviously.

Sunset sighed and rubbed her forehead. “Alright, fine…” She finished her drink and began walking towards Vinyl as the song finished. “Thanks… by the way.”

“Always a pleasure, Miss Shimmer.” Discord bowed and flashed out of sight. Sunset walked up to Vinyl’s DJ stand and saw Octavia there, she slipped Octavia a couple bits and whispered in her ear. Octavia’s face lit up with a smile and she jumped up next to Vinyl whispering Sunset’s. The DJ shook her head in protest, but Octavia nuzzled her cheek and batted her eyes. Vinyl groaned and ducked under the table and came up with a new record. She put it on the track and took the mic.

“Alright everypony as a special request from people who want to be bored to death—OW! Octy, that hurt!” Vinyl whined.

“Ahem,” Octavia took the mic. “As a special request from a certain pony, the next song of the evening will be a slow dance. So please grab a partner and enjoy, while I teach your esteemed DJ a lesson in public decency!”

“Abuse!” Vinyl shouted over the mic. Ponies laughed all around and the music began to play. The light melody of the piano streamed through the speakers. Sunset nodded a thank you to Octavia and walked into the crowd of ponies, towards Twilight. Couples were taking the dance floor as some less fortunate ponies made their way to the tables. Sunset saw Twilight in the center of her friends. Spike was nervously dancing with Rarity, and Discord, now sporting a tux, bow tie, and top hat, was escorting Fluttershy in a dance. Applejack, Rainbow and Pinkie had left, with little desire for a slow dance.

Twilight saw Sunset approaching and had a look of slight anticipation. “Um, Twilight?” A hoof tapped her on the shoulder from behind. She turned and saw Flash Sentry. He was wearing his armor again, but some bandages could still be seen under it. “Would like to dance?” He asked.

Sunset's eyes flashed with anger. She glared straight at Flash and a dark part of her mind wished the changelings had captured him. She was only five feet away from Twilight and she wished she were faster.

“Sorry, Flash.” Twilight interrupted her thoughts. “I owe someone else a dance.” She smiled looking to Sunset.

“Really?” Flash followed her gaze to Sunset and he shrunk back. “Oh… um.” His gaze darted between them a couple times. “You know, I think I’ll just sit this one out.” He smiled awkwardly and stepped back.

Sunset smirked and walked forward, taking Twilight’s hoof and bowing her head. “May I have this dance, your highness?”

“You most certainly may.” Twilight giggled, moving close to her as they began moving to the beat of the music. Celestia had begun setting the sun as Luna raised the moon. The setting sun overshadowed the town and the two mares became lost in the music. Granted, Twilight still stumbled over her hooves. Sunset kept them in line and prevented any casualties with other couples.

To the couple’s dismay, the song eventually ended and to Pinkie Pie’s greater horror, the party came to a close. Everypony went their separate ways, and after Twilight said goodnight to her friends, she walked side by side with Sunset to the castle. The moon had risen and it was the perfect setting for their new favorite nightly activity. Once inside Twilight’s room, she lit the fire and pulled a book off the shelf. The pair sat down on pillows by the fireplace and Sunset snuggled close to her.

Before Twilight could open the book, Sunset placed her hoof on it keeping it shut. Twilight looked at her with a confused expression. “Sunset, what are—”

She didn’t get to finish her sentence because a pair of soft amber lips were pressing against her own. Twilight’s eyes bulged and her wings shot straight up. The gears in her mind spun rapidly as they processed this sensation. Sunset had leaned in and kissed her. The kiss lasted a few seconds, then Sunset pulled away with an adorable shy smile on her face.

Twilight touched a hoof to her lips blushing madly. “I…um…wow.” She looked to Sunset with a shy expression. “Could you, uh… do that again?” Sunset happily complied and kissed Twilight. This time, Twilight reciprocated the kiss. Sunset was in complete bliss. Everything had finally come full circle for her. After the Battle of the Bands, she felt a longing to fill a hole inside her. She had her friends, success, respect, and had made amends for her mistakes. Now she had what she truly wanted. Twilight. No longer did she have to fear Celestia or her past. This part of her would never break now.

Sunset pulled away from the kiss and nuzzled Twilight’s neck laying soft kisses against it. Twilight squeaked and let a soft moan. “Oh? Sensitive Princess?~”

“Sh-shut up.” She pouted, holding back another moan.

Sunset snickered and gently nipped at her neck. “Never.” She rolled Twilight onto her back and straddled her waist. “Make me.”

Twilight’s face flushed as she stared up at Sunset. “F-fine.” She telekinetically seized a pillow and whapped Sunset across the back of the head with it.

Sunset fell off Twilight and grabbed her pillow. “Oh, it’s on.” Pillows collided sending feathers everywhere. Best Summer Ever, Sunset thought.

The End

Summer Sunset

by RobRoyale

Back To Equestria

An Unexpected Welcome

Conflict on Two Fronts

Night Visit

The Heroic, The Villainous, and Flash Sentry

Cue The Drama

Relapse

Chaotic Therapy

Revelations and Disastor

Into the Fire

It Can't End Like This

Sunset Rises

Sunlight