I snapped my head up as my annoying alarm clock awakened me. It had startled me pretty badly so my heart felt like it was thumping a little. I groaned in annoyance as I grabbed the clock with my magic and threw it across the room. When I heard the satisfying sound of it hitting the wall and breaking I slammed my face back in my pillow and sighed. I really didn't want to get out of bed, but there was school today unfortunately. Knowing I had not much of a choice I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed and walked over to my dresser. I levitated my hairbrush off it and started brushing my mane as I glanced at myself in the mirror to see how horrifying I looked. My cyan eyes looked duller than they should be which was probably from depravation of sleep and my dark golden blonde mane looked tangled and messy. The light pink highlights I had dyed about a year ago were now just on the tips of my mane so I looked like I had just dipped it in pink paint and left it to dry. I hated it, but my friends insisted that it looked good so I let it be.
Once my mane seemed presentable enough to be seen in public I trotted down the stairs of my house and grabbed my saddle bag from the large piles of books I had been reading earlier. I looked over my living room a bit, lost in thought. My parents were never really home and I mostly had the house to myself which I didn't mind as much now since I'm used to it, but it seems kind of odd for a pony my age to be left alone so much. Oh well. It doesn't matter. I had my friends to keep me company and they were as good as any family. Who knows maybe even better. A huge grandfather clock struck and started chiming snapping me out of my thoughts and bringing me back to reality. Oh crap!! It's already 8:00 a.m?!! I ran out of my house as quickly as possible and ran off to school. Thankfully I only lived about a block away, but I still didn't want to risk being late.
It was barley even 8:23 when I finally made it to The School for Gifted Unicorns got into my classroom and screeched to a stop. I was tired and out of breath, but I had made it and had two minutes to spare! The professed glared at me, obviously annoyed by my entrance. I didn't care though. This was my last year here anyway, might as well get away with what I can. I sat at my desk next to Cookie Dough and took out all my textbooks from my saddle bag. Cookie Dough smiled at me and giggled.
"Did you seriously read all of those?" She asked.
I simply nodded in response to her, not really wanting to talk.
"You know that there's more to life then studying right?" She asked.
I pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill from my bag then glanced at her from the corner of my eye. She knew I wasn't in the mood for her chatter, but she just kept on going.
"Come on Solstice! You need to take a break for once in your life! I mean look at me! I never read more than I have to and I'm not failing at life."
I smirked softly and pulled out a test she had thrown away the other day that I had grabbed just knowing that I would need it for evidence one day.
"You sure about that Cookie?" I asked.
Her dark eyes saw the grade on the paper and she glared at me.
I chuckled and started to scribble down notes as the professor starting droning on about multiple magical theories I had already read about but still wrote anyway just to be respectful and also so I wouldn't drop dead asleep on my desk like I really wanted to. Minutes went by so slowly as he continued his boring lecture. I kept on writing almost every word he said, but soon I lost attention in the lesson and let my mind wander.
It was a cloudy day in Canterlot which added some sort of dullness to my mood. Not that I ever really needed help with stuff like that, I'm normally always a bit irritable. Heck, I'm pretty sure it's a genetic thing. Not that I would honestly know since my so called parents are never home and they try to avoid me as much as possible. I remember when I was a filly and the minute I was of age they sent me here to Celestia's school and abandoned me here only visiting once a year to pay for my boarding and give me a sum of money to use for myself. Princess Celestia had once found me crying in one of my classrooms because I was so confused why my parents hated me so much. It was really embarrassing, but she was very kind to me. She had wiped my tears and told me if I ever needed somepony to talk to she would be there for me. Ever since then we've been close. I wouldn't call us friends though. She's much too regal for that. That's how I came to know Princess Twilight Sparkle, of course she wasn't a Princess yet so we had more in common then we do now. We still talk every once in a while, but with her duties becoming more and more strenuous she and I saw less of each other. I tried to not let it bother me, but when my other unicorn friends would ignore me then it bummed me out to not have a friend who actually cared. Which made me wonder.....why did Princess Celestia care about me when I was a filly? I mean I was just like anyone of her students wasn't I? I didn't have great power like Twilight did nor was I related to her. Hmmmm. I don't know. Maybe I was over thinking it. I tend to do that a lot. Stupid me.
"Solstice Shimmer!" My professor yelled at me.
I withdrew from my thoughts and looked at him.
"Yes, Professor?" I asked.
"The Princess wishes to see you in her office." He said.
Everypony in the classroom stared in my direction and spoke to each other in hushed whispers. I ignored their gossip and looked back at the professor.
"Princess Celestia wishes to speak with me, sir?"
He shook his head. "No. Princess Twlight Sparkle."
Huh. How ironic. I rose from my desk and grabbed my saddle bag. Without another word I walked out of the classroom and headed down the hall towards Princess Celestia's office.
It was a short walk to her office so I got there quite quickly. I wondered what was so important that Twilight would pull me out of class just to talk to me. She probably has heard some wild rumor about me and is seeing whether it's true or not. Who knows. I've gotten in trouble plenty of times so this should be no big deal.
I had reached Celestia's office so I tapped on the door softly.
"Come in." I heard Twilight's voice inside.
I opened the door and walked in, closing it behind me. Twilight smiled as I walked up to her.
"Hello Solstice." She greeted.
"Hey Twilight." I know she's a Princess and all, but she'll always just be Twilight to me. She's doesn't seem to care that I don't address her formally so I see no reason to start.
"It's been a while." She said.
I nodded. "Well your busy being a Princess and all."
"That's no excuse. I should have made time to see you."
I shrugged. Twilight is a good friend and all, but since I'm used to being ignored by ponies it doesn't really affect me anymore.
"So did you pull me out of class just because you felt bad and wanted to talk to me?" I asked in a bit of a cold tone.
Twilight looked away from my eyes for a second, sighing. Then she looked back at me.
"I really wish that were the reason. But....it's not." Her voice sounded a bit shaky.
I gave her a questioning look.
Twilight seemed a bit uneasy as she tried to keep eye contact with me.
"You may want to sit down for this." She said.
"I'm fine thank you." Did she really think I was that weak? I was gonna take whatever news she had for me on all four hooves.
"Well...keep an open mind here. A while back I have traveled to another dimension to help some friends I met there and I started to notice something. One of the girls I know kept reminding me of somepony. I had no idea who, but it kept bothering me until I couldn't take it any longer. I did a bit of research, digged in some old files, and I found some....interesting information. I asked Princess Celestia about it to see whether or not I was right and she just confirmed my suspicion."
When is she gonna get to the point? I wondered.
"Now I would have rather she told you, but she insisted that I tell you."
"Tell me what, Twilight?" I asked getting more impatient by the second.
She hung her head for a second and sighed again.
"First of all, your parents are not really your parents."
To her surprise I smirked.
"That explains so much." I muttered under my breath. Why was she so worried? This is actually a relief for me! Those pathetic excuses for ponies were not my flesh and blood, which is amazing! That means I never have to pretend to like them ever again.
"Solstice. I'm not finished yet." She reminded me.
I snapped my eyes away from whatever I was looking at and back at her.
"Sorry." I said.
She bite her lip then continued.
"Do you know of a pony named Sunset Shimmer?" She asked.
I nodded. "Of course. She was Celestia's student before you. I remember her telling me about it. She betrayed the Princess and ran away when she didn't get the power she thought she deserved."
"What if I told you that I met this pony?" She asked.
I shrugged. "I don't know. What does this have to do with me anyway?"
Twilight hesitated again for the hundredth time.
"It has a lot to do with you."
"Why?" She had better tell me before I loose it!
She looked me straight in the eye as she spoke. "Because Sunset Shimmer is your mother."
Whoa wait. What?! It felt like a speeding train had just hit me straight in after the words left her mouth. I just stood there in complete shock. Twilight looked very concerned for me. She walked closer to me and put her hoof on my shoulder.
"Solstice?" She asked.
I didn't even look at her, I just sunk down to the floor and laid down. (Seems she was right about the whole sitting down thing.) She laid next to me put her wing over me in a gentle caring kind of way. I normally would be disapprove of what she was doing, but in this moment I kinda let go of my pride and let Twilight calm me. How in Equestria could this be true? How could I be the daughter of this traitor? It can't be possible! It just can't! I mean, she was Princess Celestia's prize student before Twilight came along. I'm good with magic and stuff, but I've never really pushed myself to see how far I could go. Could I be as powerful as her? Was that why Celestia always kept an eye on me? To make sure I didn't get out of control and turn out like Sunset Shimmer? How did I not figure this out before Twilight told me?! I mean my name is Solstice Shimmer! Solstice Shimmer!!! It's like a no duh situation here!! I'm so stupid! Twilight stayed quiet as my thoughts rambled in my head. I appreciated that. It's like she knew that I needed to figure this all out in my head before I could speak. I've always been like that though. I always need to somewhat be able to wrap my head around situations or I will loose it. Seconds turned to minutes as we laid there. I finally took a deep breath and looked at Twilight. She smiled a little.
"Feel better?" She asked.
I nodded. "A bit."
Twilight rose to her feet and helped me up.
"Shall we sit?" She asked.
This time I agreed with her. No telling what other things she was gonna tell me.
We went to the corner of Celestia's office and sat on a huge rug that had multiple cushions on it. This must be where she relaxes or something. Anyway besides the point, after we sat down I tried to mentally prepare myself the rest of our conversation.
Twilight seemed hesitant to start speaking again probably worried I would freak out again.
"So....she's my mother?" I asked.
She nodded.
"I suspected it whenever I realized that you looked so much like her. I mean things like that couldn't be a coincidence. So I looked to see if it was true."
"Why didn't Princess Celestia tell me?"
She tapped her hoof a little as she tried to think of an answer.
"I don't know why, Solstice." She seemed honest in her answer.
"Well....I guess it doesn't matter now." I mumbled.
"Solstice. I understand how you may feel right now, but I want to assure you that your mom isn't actually bad anymore. She is so much better now."
I stayed silent.
"Yes she was dare I say 'evil' before, but she's changed. She understands what she did was wrong and now she's fighting for the good of ponies. Um... I mean people."
I gave her a questioning look. What in the hay are people?
She seemed to sense my confusion.
"Oh. She's what they call human in the other dimension she lives in now. They're strange two legged creatures with no fur or hooves."
Hmmmm. Weird.
"Anyway. I went back to the other world and I confronted Sunset Shimmer about it. She wasn't willing to give me much info at first but then after a while she told me everything."
I waited for her to continue the story, but she stopped.
"Well?" I asked.
Twilight stood up and moved closer to me.
"Solstice. I feel that it's not my place to tell you. She should be the one."
I looked up at her, trying to keep an indifferent expression.
"She wants to meet you, Solstice."
Oh so the pony that has not been in my life for years suddenly decides that she wants something to do with me? Why reach out now? Well...maybe she had a reasonable excuse. Part of me doubts it.
"I can take you to her world and you can meet her. You can talk this whole thing out."
"Why should I Twilight?" I asked as I rose to my hooves. "What if I don't want to meet her? I mean I've done fine without her and I've got you. You've honestly been the closest thing to a mother I've had my whole life. Since my "fake" mother didn't give a flying-"
"Hey hey!" Twilight hated it when I cussed so she quickly corrected me before I could say another word.
Her eyes grew more stern as I glared at her.
"Solstice Shimmer. I understand that you may not want to do this given your character, but if what you said is true and you think of me of a motherly figure then you must know that not only does she want to meet you, I want you to meet her."
I bite my lip, really wishing she hadn't said that. If she wants me to do this then of course I'm gonna feel obligated to do it. I have always respected her. Which means.....I'm gonna have to do this. No matter how I feel. Humph! Great. This had better be worth it.
I sighed and sat down, surrendering to Twilight.
"Alright fine. I'll meet her." I said.
Twilight's eyes softened as she used her magic to brush my hair away from my eyes.
"You don't have to worry. I'll be there with you the whole time. She just want to meet you and explain everything to you. She feels awful, Solstice. Please understand that she was a different pony back then."
I nodded. "I'll behave."
She smiled and helped me to my hooves.
"Alright. We'll leave tomorrow. That should be enough time for you to pack and prepare for our journey."
I nodded again. Of course she'd want me to pack. She wants me to have time to myself and also to be prepared if we decide to stay longer in this....other dimension.
Twilight walked with me to the door as she continued. "I'll dismiss you from school for a while and tell them your doing something for me. I know you'll be able to catch up fine no matter how long your out. I assume your a few months ahead in all of your classes?"
I tried to hide a smile. She knew me so well. Twilight laughed softly and opened the door for me, allowing me to leave.
"I'll see you tomorrow." She said.
"See ya." I said and with that walked down the hall to go home and start packing.
The next day I met up with Twilight at the train station. She told me we had to go to her castle in Ponyville to be able to travel to where Sunset Shimmer lives. I had no idea why, but I wasn't going to question her. There was absolutely no one at the station when I arrived and it seemed that the train was quite empty as well. I chuckled softly. Privileges of being friends with a Princess I guess. She smiled at me when she saw me walk onto the train. This train ride was, of course, out of courtesy to me since I couldn't fly to Ponyville like she could. I sat across from her and set my saddle bag down on the ground.
"Good morning."
"Morning." I replied. I wasn't really fully awake but oh well. That's what coffees for right?
"It should be a fairly short ride." She told me.
I shrugged and laid down on the seat.
"Doesn't matter how long it is. I'm gonna go to sleep." I yawned.
Twilight chuckled. "Not a morning pony are you?"
I shook my head.
"You can sleep." She said. "I'll be quiet."
I closed my eyes, taking her offer wholeheartedly. My dreams were simple so I slept peacefully. It was probably about an hour or so later when I felt Twilight gently shake me.
"We're here." She whispered.
I grabbed my saddle bag and groggily followed Twilight towards where her castle was. She spoke to a few ponies as we walked, but I ignored everypony. When we reached her castle we went into a large room where a mirror stood. It seemed to be hooked to some sort of machinery or something like that. It fascinated me. Why would she have a mirror like this? Seems a bit funny. Must be important somehow.
"Would you like a coffee or something before we go?" She asked. "You look like you could use the caffeine."
I nodded, smirking a little.
She walked out of the room to get some coffee so I was left standing there with just my thoughts. Well I wonder how this is going to go? I know Twilight says she's changed, but there's still this uncomfortable feeling I have. I'm honestly not too sure what to think of Sunset Shimmer. The stories Princess Celestia told me were not super informative so I can't rely on that. I guess I'll just have to find out. Twilight returned with two cups of coffee and a small box of doughnuts. She smiled as she set the doughnuts down on the table that was sitting in the middle of the room.
"I assumed you'd be hungry as well." She said.
"You assumed correctly." I took a powered doughnut and took a bite from it.
She giggled as she grabbed a napkin and gave it to me. I took it, wiping away the powder from my mouth. I quickly finished my small breakfast so we could go. I didn't want to hold this off any longer.
"Ready?" She asked.
"Ready." I said.
Twilight walked over to the mirror I was questioning earlier and grabbed me with her magic.
"The other world is through this mirror." She said.
Ummm. Okay. Magical portals in mirrors. That's sounds reasonable enough.
Before I could protest she pulled me into the mirror and off we went. We spun in circles as the magic made us fly through the dimensions. It took me by surprise, but once I got used to the feel of this new magic running though me I calmed down. It was barley five seconds when we fell onto solid ground. I groaned softly. Ugh. My head. I raised my hoof to rub my head but was surprised to not see a hoof at all. It was like dragon claws except with no scales or claws. And when I rubbed my head another thing worried me. Where's my horn?! I felt someone touch me and I flinched. Twilight was standing on two legs and she had what should be her front hoof on my shoulder.
"I know. I know. It's weird, but it's okay. You've just become human that's all."
I breathed slowly then looked over the rest of my body. My tail was gone along with my cutie mark and I was wearing clothes. They weren't super fancy, just dark blue jeans, black boots and a dark pink t-shirt. I ran my, whatever it was through my mane thankful that it hadn't changed. Still blonde with that awful pinkish red dye. It's length seemed to have grown a bit, but that didn't bother me. I looked up at Twilight with an uncertain look. As if she just knew I wanted an explanation she quickly told me all the basic information of being human then helped me to my feet. This new body would take some getting used to, but it wasn't really too bad. I was still me, I just walk on two legs now and I have these things called...um.....hands? I believe that's what Twilight said. It was early morning in this world so not many ponies.....I mean people, were awake. That was a relief. No need for unwanted attention. I examined my surroundings seeing a large building in front of us and a statue behind us. Out of curiosity I stuck my foot into the statue. Sure enough that was where the portal was. Twilight walked towards the building so I followed her.
"Is this where we're staying?" I asked.
She shook her head.
"No we're getting a ride to a friends house."
"Why not got to Sunset Shimmer's?" I asked.
"She doesn't have a house to herself. She lives with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy."
"Oh." Wait a minute did she say-
"I forgot to tell you. Some of the people here are like the ones we know in Equestria. So don't be freaked out."
I nodded. Man. This dimension is strange.
Suddenly a loud roaring sound scared the living crap out of me. I looked up and saw two people riding some sort of machine that was on two wheels, coming towards us.
They both were wearing helmets so we couldn't see their faces. They stopped their motorcycles behind the statue and I assumed they turned them off because the loud roaring stopped. They first one took off her helmet revealing her rainbow colored mane and a smug smile. This has to be Rainbow Dash! She waved at us as she put down her helmet. The second person didn't move or take off her helmet, she just sat there frozen on her motorcycle. Rainbow said something to the girl and then ran towards us.
"Heya Twilight!" She said. "Bout time you showed up!"
Twilight rolled her eyes. "You both were ten minutes late."
Rainbow shrugged. "So? We're here now aren't we?"
Twilight laughed.
Rainbow looked at me, smiling.
"You must be Solstice. I'm Rainbow Dash." She said as she held out her hand.
I had absolutely no idea what to make of that. Why was she doing that?
"Take her hand and shake it." Twilight whispered in my ear.
I did as I was told. Was this the way they greeted each other? Interesting.
Rainbow Dash looked over her shoulder then back at Twilight.
"Maybe you should-" Rainbow gestured towards the other girl.
Twilight nodded then looked at me. "Stay here."
"Alright." I said. What was wrong with the other girl? Was she just shy? Maybe it was Fluttershy. She wasn't really super friendly the first time I met her either. Twilight walked towards her and seemed to be speaking to her. Rainbow stayed quiet as she leaned against a pillar and stuck her hands in her pockets. We waited until Twilight beckoned to us to come to them.
"Guess we're going home." Rainbow said and ran towards her bike. I walked after her, not really sure about what was going on. I stood in front of the girls and leaned my weight on one leg so I could be a bit more comfortable. Twilight stepped away from the bike and stood next to Rainbow. The girl on the bike just stared at me for a second then she removed her helmet. That's when her cyan eyes locked on my own as she moved her crimson and golden blonde hair away from her face. Oh my Celestia..... She rose from her bike and smiled a little as she walked towards me. It was as if time froze for a second. I just stood there with my arms crossed, unsure of what to do.
She stopped in front of me and smiled.
"Solstice." She breathed.
"Hello." I barley managed to whisper a greeting.
Sunset looked over me and chuckled. She noticed that my hair fell, covering my face. She hesitated for a second the gained the courage to brush the hair away from my face gently. I felt like I should be uncomfortable with what she was doing, but for some reason I was completely fine with it.
"My Celestia, your so beautiful." She said as she ran her hand through my hair.
I felt my heart crumble a little as I looked into her eyes. Why was I being so soft? Shouldn't I be infuriated with her? I mean she abandoned me! She left me with those awful excuses for parents! She....she.
Sunset put her hand on my cheek and sniffled.
"Oh Solstice. I'm so sorry." The apology took me by surprise. It was as if she had read my thoughts.
Tears threatened to spill, but I tried to stay strong. Then as if she couldn't take it anymore she pulled me in her arms and held me. Well....this is totally not what I expected. She cried softly as she smoothed my hair. I slowly hugged her back and I felt something wet on my face. Was I crying? There is no way. Sure enough the longer we stood there and the more of what she said sunk in I let myself go. She held me closer when she heard my soft hitched breathing from my pathetic crying.
"You left me." I whispered between sobs.
"No." She grabbed my shoulders and pulled me back so I could look at her. "No. I didn't. I've always wanted you, Solstice. It has broken my heart that we haven't been together. It was just so complicated back then."
"Then?" I asked.
"Yes. I'll tell you everything, Solstice. Absolutely everything. But please...." She put her hand on my cheek again and wiped away the tears from my eyes. "Please know that I never ever would have given you up, Solstice. You have always been the best thing that has ever happened to me."
Great! More tears!!
Sunset pulled me into a hug again.
"Oh Solstice. I'm so sorry, my little sunbeam." She whispered.
"Come on." I lifted my head to see Rainbow Dash put her hand on Sunset's shoulder. "Let's take them home."
The three girls lived in a small house, but it seemed decent enough. Fluttershy wasn't home when we got there, but it was obvious she was there before us. We smelled chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen and we saw that she had left us some sandwiches along with a few other snacks. Rainbow ran to the kitchen and grabbed as much food as she could.
"Rainbow!" Twilight scolded her when she saw what she did.
"You don't live here so you have no say!" Rainbow said, her mouth full.
"But I do." Sunset said as she walked into the house. "So Rainbow, don't stuff your face. Save some for us."
"Ugh fine!" Rainbow said and put down half of the food she grabbed.
I giggled. Sunset looked over her shoulder at me and smiled. Twilight grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the kitchen so we could get some food before Rainbow took it all. My emotions were slightly in better control then they were earlier, but there was still lingering tears that could spill at any second. I mean I had barley been in this new world for about two hours and they have been the best ones of my whole life. We went to their living room as Rainbow went to her room to play video games. I suppose she was leaving us alone to be polite. Before I could sit down on the couch Twilight pulled me aside.
"Do you want me to stay with you two? I can go with Rainbow if you want to be alone."
I honestly wasn't really sure. I mean I didn't really know Sunset very well, but I trusted her. Still.....maybe it would be better if Twilight stayed. She knew everything anyway so it's not like she'd be taken by surprise by anything. But.....I'm pretty sure Sunset would want to be alone with me. I mean this is the first time in years since we've seen each other so it would be a bit weird if Twilight were here.
"I think it be best if we be alone. We need to talk about a lot of things." I said.
Twilight nodded, respecting my decision. She walked out of the room and went to join Rainbow Dash, leaving Sunset and me alone. We sat there for a second, not really knowing what to say.
"I wish this could have happened sooner, Solstice." Sunset whispered.
I looked up from my plate and set it down on the coffee table in the middle of the room.
"Better now then never." I said.
She nodded.
"Well...where to begin?" She asked, chuckling nervously.
"I would say the beginning." I said, trying to not sound sarcastic.
Sunset looked up at me, smiling.
"It was such a long time ago, but it feels like it was just yesterday." She sighed. "Back in Equestria when I was Princess Celestia's student lets just say I was a bit naive and careless. All I wanted was to impress my teacher and prove to her that I was worthy of the power I desired. That was my main goal in life. Nothing else mattered to me. But one day changed my life forever. I was walking home from the library, exhausted from studying all day. It was the middle of the night so I was alone on the streets. I passed by a bar and three drunk ponies stumbled out of it. I tried to avoid them, but one of them noticed me and smiled at me. I avoided eye contact with him and kept walking, but later down the road I realized he was following me. I tried to get away, but he was much faster than I took him credit for. He teleported and entrapped me in his magic. I tried to fight him off, but he somehow drugged me so I quickly passed out after a while. The rest I don't really remember honestly, I just remember waking up in some nasty alley covered in blood and dirt."
"I knew what he did to me and I was scared. I didn't know how Princess Celestia would react to her student being....pregnant. And at my age! To make matters worse, the pony who raped me started to harass me. He kept sending me notes that if he ever found me or my child that he would take you away from me. I told him that if he ever hurt my child that I would tell Princess Celestia what he did to me. But then he said if I ever did tell Princess Celestia then it would guarantee your death. So I hide. I never told anyone and I tried to avoid being in public for the whole time. It was difficult, yes, but I was able to do it. Giving birth to you was not easy. Thankfully I bribed a nurse to come over and help. I was surprised she kept quiet, but I suppose after I explained my situation she was more willing to help. After you were born, I didn't know what to do. I loved you instantly. I thought you were the most beautiful filly I had ever seen. But I worried about what was going to happen to you. I couldn't tell Princess Celestia and I couldn't tell anyone about you. I didn't want to risk him finding out and taking you. So I did the what I felt what the right thing to do. It was the hardest thing I've ever done.." Sunset bite her lip and blinked away tears. "I asked the nurse to put you up for adoption. She tried to talk me out of it, but I knew that I couldn't give you the life you deserved. I didn't want you to live in constant fear of wondering if your father was going to take you from me. So I gave you....to her and that was the last time I saw you."
Sunset was trying not to cry, but it was getting harder for her. Heck it was getting hard for me too.
"After that I buried myself in my studies trying to numb the pain of letting you go. All my regret and anger turned me into such an awful pony. So when Celestia refused to give me what I wanted I ran away. I was so angry, and so tired I just wanted to get away from everything. It got worse when I came into this world. Soon I decided if no one would help me then I would just help myself. Who knew that all my anger at the world and myself would turn me into a power raging demon."
I didn't get what she meant by that, but I let it go.
"Twilight told me that after I left Princess Celestia found out about you. She somehow found your father and got rid of him so he would never hurt you. Then she changed your name and gave you my last name. It was sort of out of respect for me I guess."
Wow....that's why she took such an interest in me. It's because she knew more about me than I knew about myself. That and she....honestly cared about me. I mean she had told off a few bullies when she caught them picking on me and she also insisted that I could stay in the castle and visit her whenever I was lonely at my house.
"After all this I really wish I had gone to her in the first place. I was so stupid for letting you go! I wish that I went back to Equestria to look for you! But I was worried that you had started a new life and I just didn't want to ruin it. But I know now that I should have gone after you! I should have kept you! I-" Sunset was sobbing before she could even finish.
I rose from the couch I was sitting on and sat down next to Sunset. I hugged her and ran my hand through her hair. She pulled me into her arms and hugged me tightly.
"I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry I let you down." She sobbed.
"No. You didn't let me down, Sunset. You did what you thought was right. I understand."
"But I should have been there for you. I've missed so much." She whimpered.
Tears ran down my face as I pulled back and looked into her cyan eyes.
"You're here now. And so am I. We'll figure this out."
We sat there for a second as Sunset looked into my eyes then took a deep breath and sighed.
"Um...I don't mean to interrupt." A soft voice said breaking the silence.
We both looked in the kitchen door and saw Fluttershy standing there awkwardly. She smiled shyly.
Sunset quickly wiped her tears.
"It's okay, Fluttershy. What's up?" She said.
"Well, I just wanted to ask if you still plan on coming with us to go see Rarity."
Sunset groaned
"Oh I completely forgot!"
"It's fine if we don't go. I'm sure she would understand." She said softly.
Sunset looked at me.
"Yeah we should go." I insisted. "I'm okay."
"Ok." Sunset said.
Fluttershy looked at me and smiled.
"You must be Solstice." She said.
I nodded.
"I'm so glad your here. Sunset just couldn't wait for you to come! She loves you so much Solstice. I can tell she does every time she talks about you."
Sunset blushed a little as she looked at me. I smiled. It was nice to know that someone was proud of me and loved me so much that they actually talked about me to other people.
"Hey Sunset! Let's go!" Rainbow said. "You can mother daughter bond at Rarity's place too you know!"
"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy scolded.
"What?" She asked trying to sound innocent.
"This is serious. They haven't been together for years. Let them have their space."
"Alright alright. Geez." Rainbow sighed.
"Well if we're ready to go then let's go." Sunset said.
Twilight emerged from Rainbow's room and looked at me.
"Are you sure you want to go, Solstice?" She asked.
"Yes, Twilight." I said.
"Off we go then!" Rainbow said and she ran out the door. Sunset rolled her eyes as she looked over her shoulder at me.
"Want to ride with me?" She asked.
I nodded eagerly. "Definitely!"
She chuckled as we walked out the door following an impatient Rainbow Dash who had taken Twilight's shoes and Twilight who was running after her barefoot demanding that Rainbow give them back.
It was a miracle that we made it to Rarity's house in one piece. Rainbow Dash kept speeding through traffic and scaring the living crap out of Twilight who made the terrible mistake of riding with her instead of driving with Fluttershy. I thought it was really funny seeing Twilight freak out as Rainbow dodged yet another car and sped ahead of us. Sunset wasn't as crazy like Rainbow, as a driver. She was fast, yes, and she did weave through traffic to keep up with Rainbow, but she was just a bit less of a risk taker as she drove. Was she being more careful because I was riding with her? She looked over her shoulder and smiled at me, almost confirming my suspicion. When we got to Rarity's house Rainbow screeched to a stop and jumped off her bike. Twilight leaped off the bike too, breathing heavily as she kneeled on the ground, obviously thankful for the stabilization.
Rainbow bursted out laughing.
"Ha!! Twi! Your such a crack up!"
Twilight glared at her.
Sunset shook her head as she got off her bike then went over to Twilight.
"You okay?" She asked as she knelt next to her.
"I'm fine now." She replied.
Fluttershy had just driven in and was getting out of her car.
"Oh my goodness. Are you okay Twilight?" She asked.
Twilight rose to her feet and glared at Rainbow again.
"From now on I'm riding with you." She told Fluttershy.
Rainbow and I giggled. Twilight gave me a look and I grinned innocently. What? It was kind of funny. Rainbow quickly ran to Rarity's door and barged right in without knocking. Twilight didn't even bother with chasing her this time, she just gave up and walked alongside Fluttershy. Rarity's house was really nice. It was very fancy and really girly. The only flaw it had was the fact there were fashion magazines thrown carelessly throughout the room.
"Well seems you are on time for once." Rarity said as she greeted us in the living room.
"Whatever." Rainbow rolled her eyes and she headed straight for the kitchen.
She threw her royal purple hair over her shoulder then smiled at me.
"You must be Solstice. I'm Rarity. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you." She said as she shook my hand.
I smiled, glancing at Sunset. Seems like she told practically everyone I was coming. That's so.....sweet. I believe that's the correct term.
"Can we eat your stuff Rare?!" Rainbow yelled from the kitchen.
Rarity rolled her eyes. "If you insist!"
"Woohoo! Can we watch the football game too?" She asked.
"Whatever you wish darling. Applejack will probably want to watch it as well."
"Well, you’re wrong!" Applejack yelled as she picked up a video game controller.
I giggled. Soon everyone was creating such a fuss over so many things I couldn't keep up with them. They were talking about lots of different things so pretty soon I was overwhelmed. I mean, I'm used to being alone so much that with all this going on around me feels different. I try to remind myself that there's only a few people here, but it's still more than what I'm used to. I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms, trying to not let it bother me. But the longer I stood there the worse it gets. Sunset seemed to notice me because she put her hand on my shoulder with a concerned look.
"Do you want to go outside?" She asked.
I nodded. For some reason my breathing was getting a bit uncontrollable.
Sunset quickly took me out through the back door. When we got into the cool air I started hyperventilating even more. What is going on? I've never done this before in my life! It feels as if someone is sucking the air out of me and that they're pressing themselves closer to me, making me feel very uncomfortable. I crumpled to the ground and held my head in my hands, trying to calm down. Why won't I stop? What the hell is happening to me? Sunset knelt down next to me and put her hand on my shoulder.
"Shhh, Solstice. It's okay. Your just having an anxiety attack. It'll be over in a minute. I promise." She smoothed my hair, as she whispered.
I didn't want to move. Breathing was so hard. It was like every breath I took was just not enough. It's still left me wanting more, no. Needing more.
"Shh. It okay. Just breathe." She whispered.
I forced myself to take deeper breaths, hoping it would help. I counted every single breath I took. Seconds passed. I tried to think about the wind that was flowing through my hair, how cold it felt against my skin. Soon it got easier and easier. My tensed muscles relaxed and my breathing finally went back to normal. I lifted my head up from my hands and looked at Sunset.
"I'm sorry. That's never happened to me before." I apologized.
Sunset tucked some of my hair behind my ear and smiled warmly.
"It's okay. I used to have anxiety problems when I first 'reformed' I knew something was wrong when I heard your breathing speed up the way it was."
"Why did it happen?" I asked.
"Something triggered you. It was either all the chaos around you or someone said something that made you uncomfortable."
"Oh. I guess, I'm just not used to being around people."
Sunset raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Don't you ever go out?"
I shook my head. "My parents never were around so I might as well been an orphan. As for my friends, I don't hang around them all the time. Mostly I just stayed in quiet places and studied. Well, sometimes I would go out and party, but..." I didn't really want to continue as I had said way too much already.
Sunset gave me a look. "You drank so much you remember hardly any of them?"
I blushed. It wasn't something I was particularly proud of.
"Please don't tell Twilight."
She shook her head. "Of course I won't."
We sat on the grass of Rarity's backyard for a second. I looked around myself and saw that the sun was starting to set. Weird. It felt like it was morning just a few seconds ago. The sun’s final rays shined down on the grass, warming us with its soft light. I glanced at Sunset as we watched, well..heh, the sunset. The sun was shining it's warm reddish yellow colors over Sunset's crimson and blonde hair. Her cyan eyes sparkled with the sun as she admired it’s setting. I smiled to myself. She looked so beautiful. She seemed to have felt me looking at her, because she looked back at me. I brushed my hair away from my face, smiling. How in the world did Twilight see the resemblance between us? I wrapped my arms around my legs, trying to warm myself as the icy wind started to blow harder around us. Sunset seemed to notice. She took off her leather jacket and handed it to me. I pushed it away.
"No. You need it." I protested.
She shoved it back in my direction. "Just take it."
I sighed as I took her jacket and reluctantly put it on. I'll admit I was warmer after I put it on, but I felt a bit guilty taking it. It smelled good though. Like sweet apples or sugar cookies, maybe a mixture or something like that. I couldn't really figure it out. The stars started to peek out from the dark sky and the moon slowly started to show itself. I smiled. The moon always reminded me of home. I would always try to see the moon when it rose, because it fascinated me. The sun was beautiful of course, but deep down it was dangerous. If you got too close you would be burned by its furious flames. But the moon. It’s beautiful and bright enough to light the sky, yet it's gentle. It wouldn't burn you, but it can still comfort you with its soft light. I never spoke to Princess Luna in Equestria, but I've always wanted to. Her night is the most beautiful thing that I saw everyday. And since I stay up late so many nights I get to see things not many ponies saw. I saw meteor showers, shooting stars, and so many wonders that make me love the night even more.
"Don't you just love this?" I asked. "I mean, the cold breeze taking over the warm sun. It's like I can just sense the changing of the seasons. I know that sounds weird, but it's just so amazing. One season from another, warmth to cold, rain to snow, lush green grass to brown grass. I love it."
Sunset smiled. "It is amazing."
"Girls!!!" A voice yelled, startling is both.
We turned around to see Rarity standing in the doorway.
"It is absolutely freezing out here! Get inside before you freeze to death!"
I smiled as we stood up and went inside.
"Oh darling, you two are frozen! Honestly Sunset, dear, you should have been wearing your jacket." Rarity scolded.
"I'm not cold." Sunset said.
"Your face says otherwise." Rarity said. "Let me get you some hot cocoa."
"Sure."
"Trying to freeze ya'lls tails off girls?" Applejack asked winking as she walked past us.
Sunset smirked at the same time I did.
"We were about to watch a movie." Rarity informed as she handed us the cocoa.
"Seems you brought us in just in time." Sunset said.
We walked in the living room where all the girls were. Rainbow and Applejack were sitting on beanbags in the middle of the floor and the rest of the girls were sitting on one of the two couches that were against the wall. Twilight saw us and smiled. She beckoned to me to sit next to her. I had to leap over Rainbow, but I successfully got to the couch she was sitting on. She gave me a questioning look. Probably wondering what happened earlier.
"It's fine." I whispered.
"You sure?" She asked.
I nodded.
"Does anyone know where Pinkie is?" Applejack asked.
"Nope." Everyone replied in unison.
"Wonder where she is?"
"Who knows." Rainbow yawned, not really caring.
"I wouldn't worry about it, darling. She's probably very busy at Sugar Cube. I heard that they have a very big Christmas order." Rarity said.
"Who for?" Applejack asked.
"Filthy Rich. He's throwing a Christmas party."
"Could we go?" Rainbow asked.
"Absolutely not. It's a company party."
"Aw." Rainbow sighed.
"We could have our own dear. Besides I assume we are all spending Christmas together." Rarity said.
"Darn tootin'." Applejack agreed.
"Will you stay for Christmas Twilight?" Fluttershy asked.
Twilight shrugged. "I honestly should not stay too long. I do have responsibilities in Equestria."
"Well, what about Solstice?"
We all went silent as they looked at me. Oh crap. I hadn't thought about this at all. It's been so cool to meet Sunset that I totally forgot that we live in two different worlds. What would I do? I mean, I don't have much of a life in Equestria, but.....it's still home to me. What would I do? My life had been so planned out. To graduate from Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Then I was hoping to go to Crystal University. Ok it wasn't much of a plan, but it was still better than nothing.
"She doesn't have to decide now." Sunset Shimmer said.
"I agree." Twilight said. "She only just met her mother, so she shouldn't be expected to make a decision like this now."
I sunk back into the couch, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone.
"Tell you what," Twilight put her hand on my knee. "I'll go to Equestria tomorrow and request a little vacation for us. We'll stay until Christmas so we can figure everything out. Ok?"
Hmmm. That's about a week so there should be enough time. I mean I'm pretty sure I can make up my mind by then.
"Sure. Sounds good." I tried to not linger on the subject. All I wanted was to just enjoy my time for a bit.
"Alright then that's that!" Rainbow said as she grabbed the TV remote.
"Something family friendly Rainbow." Rarity warned.
"Alright, party pooper!” Rainbow groaned.
“Rainbow Dash! Don't be so vulgar.” Rarity scolded.
“At least I didn't say-” Rainbow began.
“Ok!!!” Applejack interrupted. “Can we just watch somethin’?”
By the time we got home it was pretty late. We were all very tired so Fluttershy insisted that we ride with her and Applejack would take back Rainbow’s and Sunset’s bikes back in her truck. Being as tired as we were no one really disagreed. There wasn't much room in Fluttershy’s car so Twilight decided to ride with Applejack. I was so tired, the day had just taken it out of me. Rainbow sat in the front while Sunset and I sat in the back. By the time Fluttershy started to drive down the road I leaned my head against Sunset’s shoulder and fell asleep. When we got home, I woke up a little, I noticed that I was in Sunset's arms, who was carrying me inside. I tried to wake up more, but the heaviness of sleep overtook me. It was getting so much harder to stay awake. I was barely able to keep my eyes open as Sunset gently laid me down on a bed.
“Go back to sleep, sweetheart." She whispered.
Her soft voice was strangely soothing to me as I stretched and cuddled up on the bed. She pulled the covers over me and brushed my hair away from my face.
“Sleep tight, Solstice.” She patted my head then left me to sleep.
Darkness. That's all I saw. It felt weird. I stood in the darkness not knowing what to do. I stretched my hands out in front of me trying to see where I was. Soon I felt a stone cold wall. I walked to the side carefully to see how far the wall went. It seemed to go around in a square because every few steps I would encounter a corner. I decided to see how big the room was so I took off my jacket and set it in one corner then I walked around, counting my steps as I was trying to estimate how big the room. Once I came across my jacket again I had estimated the room to be about 10x10. The darkness was making me uncomfortable. I wondered if the room I was in was really empty. I wanted to venture further into the room, but fear kept me from doing so. Suddenly there was a bright light in the room. I blinked as my eyes adjusted. That's when I realized that the room was completely empty. All there was were stone walls and floors. I was so confused. Why was I here?
“Solstice.” A voice whispered.
My ears perked up. Who said that?
“Solstice.” It whispered again.
“Who's there? Who said that?” I asked.
“Your almost ready Solstice.”
“Ready?” What in Equestria was this thing talking about?
“Your time is coming.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Before I could ask anything else I felt a stabbing pain in my chest. The lights around me got brighter as the pain grew stronger. It felt like fire was pulsing through my veins and something was trying to break through my skin on my back. I felt the familiar pulse of magic flow through me, but this magic felt different. It felt really powerful. Even more than my strongest magic. I tried to fight off this magic that was consuming me, but it was no use. It was too strong for me. Suddenly my body turned from human back to a pony and wings sprouted from my back. Then my horn grew in size turning a dark black as my mane also grew and seemed to burst into flames. I was absolutely terrified, but soon the terror turned to something else. Anger. It overtook me, pushing me to ignore the excruciating pain. Soon I felt nothing but power. It felt so good. Knowing I had so much power in me. I could do anything I wanted, be everything I desired. Nothing and no one could stand in my way!
“No! Solstice no!!”
I looked down and saw a familiar pony. I blinked a couple of times trying to see who it was, but my power was blinding me. When I finally saw who it was my heart dropped.
“Please.” Sunset’s eyes were filled with sorrow as she begged for me to stop.
No. I have to stop this.
“She abandoned you. Now it's time to make her pay for what she did." The voice purred.
“No!!” I woke up in a cold sweat, screaming.
Footsteps quickly came running to the room and Sunset came in. When I saw her the fear of the dream came back and I scrambled away from her.
“No! I won't hurt you! I won't.” I shook my head trying to forget that horrible voice.
“Whoa whoa. Solstice, what are you talking about?”
I buried my face in my hands and started hyperventilating as this sickening feeling built in my stomach.
“What's going on?” Twilight asked as I heard her step into the room.
Questions would have to wait though. The same feeling I had earlier that night at Rarity’s was coming back, but this time something else was added to the mix. Thankfully Twilight quickly got a trash can for me when she realized I was about to vomit. She pulled my hair back as I started crying and vomiting even more. I stopped and breathed heavily as I tried to calm down and get that awful nightmare out of my head. Twilight put the trash can down then hugged me. I leaned against her, crying.
“Calm down. It's okay.” Twilight softly tried to comfort me.
I was really mad at myself for acting so weak, but this was different for me. Why was I acting so weird? And why did I have a nightmare like that? Sunset looked like she wanted to come over to me, but she seemed a bit wary since I had not really reacted well the first time. I wanted to say something to her, to apologize for the way I had acted, but I was at a loss for words. Twilight looked at me then at Sunset.
“I'll take care of her. You can go back to bed, tell everyone that it's ok.” She said.
Sunset looked a bit reluctant, but she listened to Twilight and left. Now that we were alone Twilight let me go and wiped away whatever tears were left on my face.
“Now. What's going on?” She asked.
I shrugged.
“That's not an answer.”
I didn't want to tell her at first, but she must know more about this kind of thing than anypony I know. So I told her everything, about the anxiety attack I had, the dream and what had happened. Twilight quietly listened to me, nodding every few minutes. Once I was done she let everything sink in.
“Um, Solstice may I ask you a few questions?”
I nodded.
“How many anxiety attacks have you had?”
“Only one.”
“Do you know what caused it?” She asked.
“No. It came out of the blue. I assume it from being around people or something like that.”
“Back in Equestria did you start to feel different? Like has your magic seemed to be a bit stronger than usual have you seemed a bit more temperamental?” She wondered.
“Um. Well, my magic has improved a lot lately. I haven't really experimented with it too much, but I'm learning much more complicated spells quicker than I normally would.”
Twilight’s eyes showed little to no emotion as she continued.
“Have you been having magical outbursts?” She asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I mean. How do I explain this?” She rubbed her head as she thought. “Oh! Ok. Remember when you first tried to teleport?”
“Of course I do.” That was a day I'll always remember. Partially because a certain somepony wouldn't let it go.
“When you suddenly appeared in Celestia’s private wing, which scared us all, you started to make magic explode through your horn without thinking. Remember?”
“That's because I was trying to get the hell out of there.” I muttered
“That's what I mean by magical outbursts. Magic suddenly bursting out of you without you meaning to do it.”
“No. No magical outbursts.” I said.
“Hmm.” Twilight went off to her own world as she thought.
“What are you getting at Twilight?” I was getting a bit impatient with her.
“This doesn't make sense.” She said. “Your mother didn't start dabbling in dark magic till after you were born. So why would you be showing these signs? I mean if we were in Equestria it would make more sense, but this is just weird.”
“Twi.”
“I'm sorry. This is just so confusing.”
“Twilight. Explain please.”
“You're showing signs of developing dark magic, or being tortured by it. It's as if it's waiting for you to be ready to accept it or something like that. But why?” She then gave me a hard look.
“Absolutely not! I would never.” I said rather defensively.
“Solstice. If you have-”
“Twilight. You know me better than anypony do you really think I would be into dark magic?” I asked.
Twilight stared at me with a stern look for a while, then she sighed.
“I needed to ask. I'm sorry.”
I crossed my arms and leaned against the bed's headboard.
“So if you haven't been messing with magic and Sunset obviously hasn't been using any around you, then what would cause this?”
I shrugged.
“For now just don't tell anyone, alright? It may be no big deal. But if this gets any worse we are going back to Equestria to seek Princess Celestia’s opinion.”
It seemed I had no choice in this so I just nodded.
“Alright.” Twilight leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “Don't worry. I'll figure out what's going on.”
“I'm sure you will.” I knew she would. I mean Twilight is the Element of Magic. I have faith in her.
Twilight then left the room to let me sleep. I had no idea what to think about anything we had just talked about. Dark magic? Why would that be the source of my problem? I know Sunset wasn't all that great, but she never did any of that until after I was born and far out of her reach. Or is it possible that I was cursed? Who knows! There's so many possible theories and I don't have a lick of evidence to help me figure this out! It's simply too much! I slide down the headboard and laid my head on my pillow. That voice though. I felt like I heard it before. Was it someone I had heard a long time ago perhaps? Ugh. I don't know! Maybe I'm just going crazy. Twilight probably is trying to make a big deal out of something simple. All it was was a nightmare and an panic attack. Nothing more. Still…..that voice. It seemed so real. I rolled over on my stomach and pulled the covers over myself. That's enough thinking of that! What if the more important matter! Whether I was going to stay here or go back to Equestria? No. Not enough time yet. I'm way too exhausted to argue with myself like an idiot.
“I'll be waiting.” A soft voice whispered.
I glanced around my room, in confusion. Did I just hear? Huh. Whatever.
Turns out that Christmas in this world came sooner than I expected. The past few days Sunset and I had done nothing, but spend as much time together as we could. She took me to all her favorite places from restaurants to stores even bakeries! One was looked almost exactly like Joe's Donut shop I would go to in Canterlot to get my daily coffee. I enjoyed my time with Sunset, we talked about so many things. She told me all of what magic she's learned in this world, how it works and why it's a bit difficult to keep it hidden sometimes. Rainbow was the most difficult of them all. She would constantly try to use her magic at the music shop she worked at. Everyone couldn't wait until she would finally quit and pursue her dream to be a Wonderbolt in the army. She didn't really speak of her past much, but eventually she told me how she met Twilight. She told me that she wasn't proud of how she came to meet Twilight but she had let it go. It was a thing of the past. Then she told me of the other fights she had with her friends. One was particularly interesting. Twilight turned evil? Ha! That's the best thing I have ever heard! Sunset wasn't as amused as I was, but since I had known her way longer than she had and also since Twilight seems to be a “can do no evil” type she seemed to understand why I found it funny. The other Twilight was busy in the city studying at some University, but Sunset said that maybe one day I could meet her. Ha. One day. No pressure right?
Then I told her everything about me. Everything I remember that is. How when I was a young filly my “parents” enrolled me in Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns the minute I could cast my first spell. It was easy my first few years, so easy in fact that Princess Celestia let me skip a few years ahead to a level that “suited” me. Even then some of the studies were easy for me. I told her of how Twilight would occasionally give me some highly advanced magic books to read to keep my mind occupied. Those were the best times, when I could curl up with a new book and study my little heart out.
Sunset seemed to just swell with pride as she heard my pathetic stories. She would smile and say how interesting it is after all this time I had taken after her without even knowing it. Must be a genetic thing. As it was getting closer and closer to Hearths Warming Eve, I mean Christmas I found myself feeling a bit depressed.
One day as I sat in their living room and watched Rainbow play her video games, yelling at the tv every time she lost, I looked around myself letting everything sink in. Fluttershy was brushing her hair as she talked on the phone. Twilight was sitting at the table with a bunch of paperwork she brought from Equestria that she had to get done. As for Sunset, she was leaning over Twilight’s shoulder, examining her paperwork. I smiled to myself. Just the way Sunset acted around Twilight sometimes, made me wonder. Not that I would mind. It would be nice if they did become a couple. But then we run into the same problem. Which world would we live in? Why? Why does this question have to bother me so much? Couldn't it be easier? Once Christmas morning finally came I decided to just talk it out with Twilight, maybe she would have some advice for me. She seemed to know something was up when I came to her room. She put down all her parchments and beckoned to me to sit next to her. I sat next to her then sighed.
“What am I gonna do?” I sounded so tired and stressed out. Man. I needed to chill.
Twilight rubbed my back in a sympathetic way.
“What do you want to do most?” She asked.
“I don't know. My whole life is in Equestria, Twilight. I have my studies to worry about.”
“You could always study here.” Twilight said.
“Well, my friends-”
“You can make new ones.”
“What about Princess Celestia?”
“She would understand.”
“What about you?” I asked.
Twilight brushed a stand of hair behind my ear then put her hand on my cheek.
“Your happiness matters more.” She said.
“So you'll be unhappy if I stay?”
She shook her head. “I'd be overjoyed that you would be here with your mother.”
“But…..” I began.
She covered my mouth with her hand. “But nothing.”
I moved her hand away from my mouth then leaned against her.
“She's the best mother I could ever dream of. I care about her so much, so why is this still so hard?” I asked.
Twilight ran her hand through my hair, gently. “Because your torn between two halves of yourself.”
I looked up at her. “If I stayed, would you come to visit?”
She nodded. “Of course I would.”
“To see me or to spend time with Sunset?” I threw in the question hoping that she would finally quench my curiosity.
Twilight raised an eyebrow in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“I'm not stupid, Twi. You two always act weird around each other. Especially Sunset.”
Twilight seemed to get a bit more uncomfortable as she blushed and avoided eye contact with me. “Solstice.”
I gasped. All those years of studying body language had paid off. (Plus she was making it super easy for me.) “Oh. My. Gosh.”
“Solstice.”
“Twilight Sparkle! Your do like her!”
Twilight covered my mouth and put her finger to her lips. “Shhhh! Someone will hear.”
I giggled as I pushed her hand away.
“Solstice, I-” She began.
“What's going on in there?” Rainbow asked as she pounded on Twilight’s door.
“Nothing!” Twilight yelled. “Absolutely nothing!”
“Alright. We gonna open presents soon so get on out here!” Rainbow said as she ran off.
“Solstice do not tell your mother.” Twilight ordered almost growling.
I smiled evilly. “Oh I won't. For now. But if you don't come clean, I will.”
“When the time is right I might, but for now keep it between us.”
“Sure. Sure.” I said.
We walked out of Twilight’s room then joined the others who were already gathered around the Christmas tree. Everyone was wearing red sweaters as Rarity had requested, except for Sunset who was wearing a blue sweater that had snowflakes on it. Rarity threw a fit about it at first, but then let it go when I said that I liked that color better on Sunset.
“Time for presents!” Rainbow said as she grabbed hers and ripped it open. “Awesome! The new Tomb Raider! Should be able to finish this in about a week!”
Applejack rolled her eyes as she opened her present. “Nice. A brand new pair of boots. Thanks Rare.”
“My pleasure.” Rarity said then she opened her present. “My oh my. Tickets to the Grand Gala?! Why Applejack!”
“Wadnt me. Was Pinkie.” She said as she pointed at Pinkie Pie, who was grinning ear to ear.
“Yup! I wanted you to have the best weekend of your life! And I also already know what my present is. It's a bigbigbigbigbigbigbigbig BIG stuffed alligator that Fluttershy got me! Thanks best friend!!” She said as she crushed Fluttershy in a hug.
“Your welcome.” Fluttershy smiled. “Um..Pinkie could you please let me go?”
“Oops!!” Pinkie released Fluttershy then jumped off the couch and ran to the kitchen for some reason.
“Here, Solstice.” Sunset said as she handed me a beautifully wrapped present. “From me to you.”
I took the present and slowly unwrapped it. Inside was a beautiful book with a brown cover, gold sides, crisp white pages and it was imprinted with my cutie mark. I ran my hand over it then opened the book seeing nothing but blank pages.
“It's a magic journal like mine.” Sunset explained. “You can write in it and I'll get the message in my book, just like Twilight. So you can...you know...still reach out to me, when you go home.”
When I heard those word come out of her mouth my heart broke.
She thinks that I'm leaving her.
I looked up at her and saw that a single tear was running down her face. I put the book down gently then wrapped my arms around her. She hugged me tightly as she did her best to not cry.
“I love you, sweetheart. No matter what you choose. If you want to go home, I'll understand. It's been your home your whole life and you have your studies to worry about. I don't expect you to just walk away from all your responsibilities and opportunities just for me. And if you choose to stay here, then I'll do my best to make your life here the best one you could ever hope for.”
I bit my lip holding back tears. I had cried so much these past few days I will not do it again!
“Sunset.” I spoke softly.
She pulled back from the hug, wiping a few of her tears.
“I-” Before I could even speak something seemed to shoot me with an earspliting noise. I tried to ignore it, but it grew louder and louder. Sunset noticed something was wrong as I leaned my head against her shoulder and groaned.
“Sostice?” She asked, concerned. She said something else, but I couldn't hear her. Her voice grew softer and more muffled as the noise deafened me. Twilight saw what was happening and she quickly mumbled a spell. I thought it wouldn't work, but sure enough the noise stopped and I could hear again.
I lifted my head from Sunset’s shoulder then looked around at everyone. They were staring at us, wondering what the heck was going on. I quickly tried to laugh it off and say that it was probably no big deal, just my ear popping or something like that. Everyone seemed to relax after that, but the only two that didn't was Twilight and Sunset. They glanced at each other then nodded. They both knew something was wrong. As did I. But for now all that wondering would have to wait. We had a holiday to celebrate! And celebrate it we will! I wanted to do everything I could to take my mind of the big decision I would have to eventually make. I didn't want to worry about that or the weird stuff that been happening to me. All I wanted to do was just enjoy myself for once. And with Pinkie there I was sure to do just that.
Time was going too fast for me. As Christmas came to an end and the next day followed I knew that I had to make up my mind. Twilight was going home and I knew that if I was going with her I would have to go now. It would be ridiculous to hold this off any longer.
I had stayed in my room most of the day just sitting on the bed trying to figure everything out. Deep down I knew what I wanted to do, but there was still a lingering feeling of resistance. I wanted to stay with Sunset of course. She's simply amazing! The best mother anyone could ask for. I finally know where my obsession with magic came from. Of course Twilight was no help with this either, but still. I smiled as I thought of yesterday when I sat on Sunset’s lap as we watched everyone else open the rest of their presents and talk. She softly brushed my hair with her fingers as we sat against the couch. I liked that, a lot. It was so kind and comforting, something I had never felt before with anyone. Sure Twilight was sweet to me, but I was careful when I put down my guard with her. I just always questioned her, especially when she became a Princess. But with Sunset it was completely different. It was as if I knew I didn't have to be guarded with her. She was a very accepting person.
Part of me wondered though. What of all these weird things going on with me lately? I've had these anxiety problems, I'm overly emotional sometimes, and I feel so unsure of everything. They didn't start till I came here. What if these things that had been happening to me were a sign? If dark magic was trying to get to me, would I be a possible danger? Or was Sunset the cause of this? I glanced over at the journal Sunset had given me. No. How could I doubt her? She would never do something like that to me.
The flaming heart on the cover reminded me of what I was, what I was expected to be. It showed my power in magic and the passion for it I possessed deep in my heart. Maybe who I thought I was destined to be has never been my destiny, I thought. I don't know. Honestly my thoughts are pretty mixed up right now.
A soft knock on my door snapped me back into the real world. Twilight entered my room seeing me sitting on the bed. I fell back on the bed, acting like I was refusing to leave which is probably the reason she was here. She came to me and put her hand on my leg.
“I have to go.” She sounded even more upset than me.
I sat up, resting on my arms against the bed.
“I suppose I have to make up my mind huh?” I said smirking a little.
She chuckled.
I ran my hand through my hair, moving my bangs out of the way then got off the bed and grabbed my journal. Twilight and I stared at each other for a second. I walked towards her, holding my journal close to my chest. Part of me desperately wanted to go back with her, to return to the world I knew and loved, but deep down I knew that I would never be truly happy there. But I may not be truly happy here either. Who knows. Maybe I'm not meant to be happy. What if I just quickly make up my mind? I mean I can always just go back to Equestria if things go badly here. But still….it's going to hurt to leave Twilight, the one pony who has been there for me along with Princess Celestia.
“I'm gonna miss you Twilight.” I whispered.
A single tear ran down Twilight's cheek. She wiped it away quickly then hugged me tightly.
I closed my eyes as I let the journal fall and hugged her back, inhaling her scent. Ah! I held back tears. She smelled so much like home. It made me start to reconsider. No! I had finally made up my mind. I can't be so fickle. Twilight pulled away from the hug and forced herself to smile.
“Shall I tell Sunset?” She asked.
“No. Wait till later.” I said.
She nodded as she let me go.
“Okay. I'll see you in a bit.” Twilight wiped away her tears then she turned around and walked out the door, closing it behind her.
I stood there unsure of everything I just did. This decision I just made feels so forced. I mean this is what I want right? I picked my journal and put it on the bed. I turned around to walk out of my room, but something stopped me. The oxygen seemed to escape from the room and I was gasping for air. I tried to move, but everything was frozen, I couldn't move a muscle. The light around me turned dark as I stood there trying to breathe. The room felt as if it was closing in on me. The walls came closer and closer. I tried so hard to breathe, but my attempts were useless. Suddenly I was able to gasp for air and the room returned to normal. I fell back on the bed, gasping for air. I pulled my hair back, closing my eyes as I tried to breathe normally again. Once my breathing went back to normal I let my hair go and opened my eyes. But when I opened my eyes I saw that I wasn't alone. A dark shadowy mist was floating in my room, blocking the door. I creased my brow as I stood slowly. This thing didn't feel threatening, but it didn't seem safe either. It didn't move or do anything, it just stayed there as I examined it. Does it speak?
“What are you?” I asked cautiously.
It slowly took form as I spoke. At first it looked like a pony, but then it formed into a person. It had long dark red hair and piercing green eyes. It wore black clothes and its skin was really pale. I didn't know what it was. It seemed female, but maybe it had no gender. It just took the form of one. I had read about many different kind of spirits and shape shifters in Equestria, but this isn't anything like what I've read about. She smiled a little at me as she pulled her jacket's hood down, revealing a thin dark scar on her cheek.
“Your guardian.” Her voice sounded soft and very sweet.
I scoffed. “You? A guardian?”
She nodded.
“You're lying. There's no such thing. You're probably a spirit trying to cause trouble.” I said.
She chuckled softly as she shook her head. “Ah, you are correct. I very well could be, but this is not what I am. I am merely an old soul that saw a poor young filly be mistreated by so many ponies and wished to help her. Look out for her.”
I give her a hard look then laughed. “Ha! Some help you've been then.”
She looked me in the eye as she raised an eyebrow. “Oh really?”
“Yeah.” I tried to sound firm.
She chuckled, her laugh sounded like low ringing bells. “Oh Solstice. If you only knew.”
I took a step back towards her and glared at her. “How do you know my name?”
She smiled a bit smugly. “I know more than just your name, sweetness.” She stepped closer to me as she crossed her arms. “Your mother is Sunset Shimmer. She had you when she was a young teenager, even younger than you and then because she was much too selfish to look out for anypony but herself she got rid of you.”
My eyes hardened on her. “That's a lie. She didn't get rid of me. She loves me.”
“Oh really? Then tell me, if she did love you why did she not just go to Princess Celestia the minute your father threatened to kill you?”
“She was just scared! She didn't want to risk him getting away then hurting me.”
“Seems a bit of a ridiculous excuse. I'm sure Sunset would know that Celestia would never let that happen,” She scoffed.
I tried to come up with a defense, but my mind ran blank. So I quickly tried to change the subject.
“Who the hell are you? How do you know these things?” I asked in a hard tone.
“It does not matter who I am. What matters is the decision you are making.” She said in a cool voice.
“My decision?”
She nodded. “Why do you wish to stay with her?”
“Because, she's my mother.” I said.
“But she hasn't been with you for so many years. Why would she suddenly want to be a part of your life now?”
“She couldn't be with me then. I was in danger.”
“Lies. All she wanted was to be rid of you. She didn't care about you” She said in a cold voice.
“No. That's not true.” I argued.
“Listen to me. I know that you're wary about your decision to stay here. What if it's because deep down you know I'm right?” She asked.
I didn't say a word as she came closer to me, her dark green eyes piercing mine.
“I know you Solstice Shimmer. I have followed you for most of your life. And the Solstice I know would never be so accepting of a pony like Sunset or this world she lives in.” Her sweet voice sounded like a chorus of bells. “Think about it. You have not felt like yourself ever since you've met Sunset have you? You feel scared and unsure of everything you do. And these panic attacks you've been having? Do you believe these all to be just a coincidence?”
I glanced at my journal resting on my bed. Well...I have thought of it. I can't tell her that though.
“What do you care?” I asked.
She pieced me with those dark green eyes as she came even closer to me, barley a foot away now. “Oh I care, dear Solstice. I came across you and Sunset by chance and you sparked my interest so I decided to keep an eye on you. Ever since then I have protected you from the nightmares that dare try to enter your dreams as you slept, I watched over you every day in school and those nights you walked home alone. As Celestia comforted you when you cried over the pain of not having your parents I sought out revenge for you. I would torture them with nightmares and send the worst of all evil to stalk them. Know my dear, they have paid for their abuse they inflicted on you."
"When you would be drunk at those parties you went to I would watch out for you and make sure you were not raped as Sunset was. Those late nights you spent studying. Your long talks with Celestia or Twilight. Every day every night I have been with you.”
I blinked in surprise. Um. This is news. I didn't know whether I should be afraid or thankful to this spirit. She saw the surprise on my face and she half smiled.
“See? I have plenty reason to care.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but suddenly I found myself unable to. Air seemed to be leaving the room again. I started hyperventilating hard as I stumbled backwards onto my bed. No! Not now! Not now! I sat on the bed and tried to gain control of my breathing, but it was getting harder and harder as the attack continued. The spirit came towards me and put her hand on my shoulder. I wanted so desperately to push her away from me, but when she touched me the attack suddenly stopped. I could breathe and the fear left me. I looked up at her in amazement.
“It stopped.” I said.
“Of course it did.” She said in a calm voice.
“But-” I began.
“I'm telling you Solstice. She is linked to everything that has been happening to you. I would have helped you before, but she blocked me. She’s doing all this to you to manipulate you.”
“Why would she want to manipulate me?”
“Because she wants you Solstice. She knows how powerful you are. That's the only reason she has suddenly gained an interest in you. She just wants you to be on her side so she can continue her quest for power. And this supposed attraction to Twilight! If she gains the love of an alicorn think of it?! All that magic and power on her side. She would be unstoppable.”
What? What? No….it can't be true. But it makes so much sense. What if it's true? Sunset could have reached out to me years ago, why now? She says she's changed. She could be lying though. The Twilight thing could be true too. No!! Why am I questioning her? She's…..she can't be….. A tear ran down my face as I slide off my bed and sat on the floor. Is she lying to me? Does she not love me? Does she just want me because I have a knack for magic? I thought about how she looked into my eyes, how she seemed a bit wary around me sometimes. Yes….. All those years...she probably knew about me. I buried my face in my hands as the thought sunk in. No. My mother doesn't love me. If she did she would have sought me out years ago. I felt a hand on my own, pulling them away from my face. I looked up and saw the spirit. Her emerald green eyes were soft as she rubbed my hands.
“Hush sweetness. No use crying over her," She said in a musical voice.
I pulled my hands away from her. “Then what do I do?” I demanded.
She smiled. “You do not allow them win.”
“How the hell do I do that?”
“Don't take everything they say to be the truth. Find out if they're lying. And if they are do everything you can to make them pay for it.”
I looked at my journal that was resting on the floor now. Its cover was gleaming in the small bit of sunlight that was coming in through the curtain. I ground my teeth then looked back at her.
“Everything I can?” I asked.
She nodded. I looked at the journal once more, seeing the meaningless promise. Then I licked my lips and hardened my eyes as I looked back at the spirit.
“Alright.” My voice sounded dead as I agreed.
The spirit smiled as she helped me to my feet.
“I have a question for you though.” I said.
She seemed interested in what I may ask her so she didn't hesitate. “Ask away.”
“What is your name?” I wondered.
She gave a small laugh at my question. She probably thought it was a ridiculous one. I didn't care I was honestly curious.
As we reached the portal I felt myself grow a little more dead to the world than I had earlier.
Twilight and I rode with Fluttershy while the other two girls rode on their motorcycles. I could tell that Twilight knew that something was wrong, but she didn't question me or anything.
I didn't say a word to anyone as we got out of the car and walked towards the statue where the portal was. Sunset and Rainbow drove in and parked their bikes on the sidewalk. Sunset caught my eye and smiled at me.
I just stared at her and looked away.
Twilight noticed the exchange and I could tell she was getting a bit suspicious.
We stood in front of the portal as Twilight said her goodbyes. I just leaned against the statue silently watching Twilight. When she got to me I sighed. She grabbed my shoulders and looked in my eyes. I stared back at her, seeming completely emotionless.
“Are you okay?” She asked.
I nodded.
Twilight gave me a look. She knew that I was lying.
Rainbow and Fluttershy stood at a bit of a distance as Sunset came up to us. I didn't dare look at her. She put her hand on Twilight’s shoulder as Twilight turned to look at her.
“What's going on?” She asked.
“Nothing.” I mumbled.
They both looked at me, doubt filling both of their eyes.
“Solstice, what's wrong? You were fine this morning.” Twilight asked. “Is it because I'm leaving?” She asked with a slight hesitation.
“No.” I mumbled.
“Solstice you don't have to stay here if you don't want to. You can go home.” Sunset said.
I snapped my head up and glared at her.
“Oh, really?” I said. Anger filled my eyes as I awaited her answer.
Sunset raised an eyebrow as she nodded.
“Of course. Solstice what's wrong?”
I shook myself away from Twilight and crossed my arms.
“Oh nothing nothing. Just realizing the truth that's all.” Shrugging my shoulders as if it were nothing.
“The truth? What do you mean?” She asked.
“How long did you know about me Sunset? Back when you ‘reformed’? Huh?” I asked.
She seemed confused as she answered.
“I've always known about you Solstice. It's not like I ever forgot about you.”
“Then why didn't you try to find me?”
“Because I didn't want to just suddenly pop into your life and possibly ruin it. I didn't know what had become of you-”
“So you didn't care.” I said coldly.
She gave me a surprised look.
“Of course I cared. I didn't want to risk interfering in your life.”
“That's an excuse! You could have at least tried to find me, talk to Princess Celestia, found out about me.” I said.
Before Sunset could say anything Twilight pushed her behind her and glared at me.
“Solstice! That is no way to speak to your mother!” She scolded.
I laughed dryly. “Oh so I see. She has gotten you wrapped around her little finger hasn't she Twilight? You're going to defend her no matter what she did to me.”
“Solstice-”
“No!! I won't listen to you! I thought you cared about me Twilight, but I see you just brought me here because Sunset told you to.” I said angrily, genuinely hurt that she would defend her.
Twilight glared at me and stepped closer to me.
“How dare you question my love for you. Have you suddenly forgotten everything I've ever done for you?” She asked.
“All meaningless now.” I said coldly.
“Solstice Shimmer! What is wrong with you?! This is very unlike you.” Twilight said.
I smiled as I let my bangs fall, covering my eye. Normally I disliked my bangs in my face, but at this moment it made me feel empowered, darker. I liked it.
“Nothing's wrong with me.” I insisted.
Sunset looked in my eyes with a bit of an intense look in her own eyes then she licked her lips nervously.
“Um Twilight. Look at her eyes.” She whispered.
“I see them.” Twilight said.
“Solstice. What are you doing?” Sunset asked.
“What do you mean? I'm not doing a damn thing. We're just talking aren't we?”
Sunset and Twilight stood by each other as they looked at me. They seemed as if they were preparing to fight me or something. Really guys? That just makes me want to hurt you! These two girls think they can fight me?! I may not have been a protege of Princess Celestia, but I'm plenty powerful. Ha! So much for love.
“Oh I see. This was plan B, I suppose. Fight me off when I don't bend to your will?” I spat.
Sunset put her hand up, showing that she didn't want to harm me.
“Solstice. I don't know what you have been messing around with, but I'm telling you from experience, it never goes well.”
I growled in frustration.
“Why is your immediate assumption that I have been using dark magic?! I am not stupid like you were Sunset!”
Sunset seemed taken aback by what I said, but she stayed strong. Twilight glared even harder at me as she put her hand on Sunset’s shoulder.
“You're not yourself Solstice. I know you haven't been messing with dark magic. Something is just messing with your head. Please, let us help.” She begged.
I felt something tug on me, pulling me towards Twilight, but then something else bring a strong sense of discomfort. She's trying to manipulate me! Well it's not gonna work!
“No!! No! I finally know the truth about all of you. My head is so clear now! I won't be controlled any longer!” I felt a strong sense of power run through my body as I yelled at them.
Suddenly the wind got stronger around us and I found myself unable to breathe. I tried to gasp for air, but it wouldn't come. I fell on my knees, and put my hands at my throat, struggling for air. Sunset tried to come to me, but something pushed her back roughly. The air returned as I breathed slowly and peered at the two girls through my hair.
They both looked at me in confusion then they gasped softly as they looked past me.
I wondered what they were looking at until I felt a soft hand on my shoulder. Ah. I understand now.
“Easy dear one.” She whispered softly.
Sunset and Twilight glared at Raven as she helped me to my feet.
“Who are you?” Twilight asked.
Raven smiled her deadly smile.
“Nevermore.”
Twilight gave her a look of confusion as did Sunset.
“Solstice. Come towards me please.” Sunset beckoned to me as she kept her eyes on Raven.
Raven gently gripped my shoulder.
“Don't let her draw you away. My help will be useless if you're near her.” She whispered.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“She's trying to keep you from me. I told you. Just stay with me and you'll be fine.”
I nodded in understanding.
“Solstice, what did she tell you? Who is this?” Twilight asked.
I glared at her.
“It doesn't matter who she is. What matters is that you have lied to me.”
“Twilight, it's influencing her. I can tell.” Sunset said.
“I would never do such a thing.” Raven said in a musical voice. “I'm not like you ponies who try to make everyone bend to their will.”
“What do you want with us? More importantly what do you want with her?” Twilight asked using a more authoritive tone.
Raven took a step towards her and stood by my side. Her emerald eyes seemed to be glowing as she spoke.
“Want? I want nothing. Solstice is the one who wants this. All I have offered is to help.”
Twilight kept her eyes hard on Raven’s as Sunset looked over at me, her cyan eyes softening.
“Solstice, I'm soo sorry baby. I know I've done you so much wrong. Please let me make it up to you. I promise I'll do my best to be the mother you richly deserve.” Sunset said in a gentle voice.
I felt something tug inside of me. A soft thump in my heart, softening it. I blinked and saw something bright, something beautiful something hopeful. I saw Sunset’s love for me.
Suddenly Raven gripped my shoulder gently. The light I saw around Sunset disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. I shook my head and glared at her. She’s trying to manipulate me! I can't let her.
Raven leaned forward and whispered softly in my ear.
“Listen to me. What do you wish to do?”
“What do you suggest?” I asked.
“If you wish to run away we can leave, you never have to see them again. But if you wish to have revenge, I can help you.”
Twilight tried to come towards us, but Raven put her hand up, creating a force field between us. Twilight beat on the field, trying to say something to me, but I couldn't hear her.
“I can give you power.” She whispered.
I gave her a confused look.
“How?”
“Very simply, dear. Once it is done you will see things in such a different light. Your magic will be stronger, you will gain a second sight joined with mine and so much more.”
Sunset, Twilight and Rainbow were trying to break the force field to get to me, but their attempts were useless against it.
I glanced over at Raven who standing a bit behind me with her hand still on my shoulder.
“What's the catch?” I wasn't stupid, I knew that all magic came at a cost. Especially if this was a spirit kind of magic.
“All it takes is a piece of your soul.” Her voice rang like a thousand bells as she spoke.
I nodded. Makes sense.
I looked at the girls as they were still trying desperately to get to us. Sunset looked at me, silently pleading. Twilight kept her eyes on Raven, looking more and more dangerous the angrier she got.
I took one more look at them then sighed as I looked over my shoulder seeing Raven with a sinister smile plastered on her face
“Will it hurt?”
She patted my back in a reassuring way.
“Probably.”
I looked back at Sunset feeling nothing but anger towards her. You could have loved me. You could have kept me, but you threw me away like the selfish pony you are.
I looked at Raven then nodded.
“Alright.”
I felt a stabbing pain in my heart as she took part of my soul. It burned as it moved through my body and as it gently pushed through my skin levitating in her magic. I bit my lip as I felt the strings of my soul try to cling to it, pull it back to where it belonged. The pain grew more and more intense as she pulled on it harder and harder. Suddenly the pain stopped and the piece was free. Raven sighed as the piece entered her body and clung to her. An eruption of magic flowed through me the minute it touched her. I felt it burn through me giving me a sense of power and strength I had never felt before. It hurt yes, but it was a bearable pain.
I blinked as the magic reached my eyes for a second, blinding me then something strange happened. My sight was not my own. I saw myself floating a little as the magic flowed through my body and my eyes had a dark stream of magic burning in them. I then realized I was seeing out of Raven’s sight. It was like I was her. This felt strange. I was still me, my sight was just somewhere else.
I saw Twilight and Sunset staring at me, terror in both their eyes as they watched me slowly touch the ground again.
Ah! All my clothes changed color to black and from Raven’s eyes I could see my eye color had changed from cyan to a dark green. . I then blinked and my own sight returned.
Twilight and Sunset just stood there in shock as I chuckled softly.
“Are you scared?” I asked.
No one said a word.
“Well, you don't have to be.”
Twilight gave me a look of confusion.
“I don't wish to harm you. Sure it would be nice to just make Sunset pay for what she did to me, but that wouldn't be justice,” I chuckled.
Raven smiled as she crossed her arms and let me speak.
“No. I'm going to do the exact same thing you did to me, mother.” I growled. “I am going to leave you, disappear from your life. And you will never find me, it will be as if I never existed.”
Sunset gasped softly then looked at Twilight who was just staring at me with a sad look on her face.
“I hope this hurts you.” My voice suddenly sounded as soft as wind chimes as I continued. “I hope you cry yourself to sleep just like I did when I thought no one loved me. I hope that you hate yourself every minute of the rest of your life. Just like I hate you.”
Twilight glared at me as Sunset fell to her knees trying to not start crying.
“Solstice.” Twilight warned.
“Hope you enjoy your depressed lover Twilight.” I said, smiling as I unleashed Twilight’s secret for the world to hear and most importantly, for Sunset to hear.
Raven quickly turned into her mist form as I gave them one more look then ran through the portal.
*********]
Once I reached the other side of the portal I gasped for air. I didn't stop to check my surroundings I just quickly tried to move and keep running. Then something strange happened. Instead of running I found myself in the air. I looked down at myself and saw that I was a mist.
Hmmm. Looks like I can shape shift like Raven now. Cool.
I wasted no time, I moved through the castle and out of it as quickly as I could. I flew through Ponyville and went as quickly as I could towards the Everfree forest. That may be the best place for me to hide now. I could figure out a new place to go later.
As I flew through the forest I wondered where Raven was. I had assumed she followed me through the portal, but she didnt seem to be here. Was there a way I can see where she is?
Then an idea came to me. Oh! I'll just use that second sight thing I used earlier. Maybe I should stop somewhere first though, so I don't run into anything.
So I flew towards the direction of a small cave and I squeezed through the opening. Once inside I turned back into my pony form. Ah! I stretched my legs slowly. It feels so good to be on four hooves again. I put my hoof on my head and was relieved to feel my horn. I swished my tail then laid down on the caves floor.
Out of curiosity of how I looked I conjured a quick spell to make a mirror. Once it appeared I gazed at myself to see if I had changed any. Sure enough when I looked in the mirror I saw my eyes still were dark green and my bangs were still covering my eye a little. The rest of my mane seemed a bit messier, not in a bad way though. My horn was different too, it looked a bit sharper than it was before. As for my clothes, those had disappeared, all that was left of them was a strange gold necklace I hadn't noticed before. I examined it and saw that it had a small metal symbol on it. I wasn't sure what it meant, but it looked pretty.
I snapped myself out of my thoughts and switched my sight over to Raven.
I saw that she was still in the other world watching the girls silently. She was invisible to them so they didn't know she was there. Curiosity got the best of me once again and I tried to understand what was going on. I tried a little harder and pushed myself to be able to hear everything Raven was hearing as well. Once I succeeded at that I watched intently what was going on.
Sunset and Twilight were fighting as Rainbow tried to hold Sunset back from getting closer to Twilight. Fluttershy had disappeared from the situation so I assumed she was in her car waiting for everyone to calm down.
“How could you not tell me about her Twilight?!” Sunset yelled.
“I assumed you found out when Solstice acted weird at the Christmas party.”
“Well you were wrong! I assumed it was another panic attack!”
“I'm sorry Sunset. I realize you are upset-” Twilight reached forward to touch her.
Sunset broke free from Rainbow’s grasp as she stood in front of Twilight, fire in her eyes.
“Upset? Upset?! That doesn't begin to define how I feel right now! My daughter has just been turned by some evil spirit and I have no idea where she is or how I can save her!!” She yelled.
“Whoa whoa whoa!” Rainbow stood between the two girls and grabbed Sunset’s shoulders. “Calm down Sunny. No worries. Twi will just go back to Equestria and get her back.”
Twilight gently pushed Rainbow out of the way as she put her own hands on Sunset’s shoulders.
“Sunset. I'm really sorry about what has happened to Solstice, but Rainbow is right. I will go back to Equestria and I will do everything in my power to save her.” Twilight hugged her tightly and was obviously holding back tears. “I promise.”
Sunset took a deep breath as she returned Twilight’s hug.
Twilight pulled away from Sunset then gently kissed her cheek. She smiled as she turned around and headed towards the portal.
With a deep breath she went through the portal and came back into Equestria.
Sunset stood there for a second just staring at the portal. She looked over her shoulder at Rainbow who was standing next to their motorcycles. Rainbow gave her a confused look.
“You coming Sunset?” She asked.
Sunset looked back at the portal then back at Rainbow.
“She's my daughter Rainbow. I can't just stand here and do nothing.”
Rainbow nodded in understanding.
“Go get her buddy!” She encouraged with a smile.
Sunset smiled a little as she stepped towards the portal. She then took a deep breath as she stared into the wall. She slowly put her hand through it getting the feel of the magic absorbing her. She seemed nervous at first, but then she gained the courage to walk through it.
Raven quickly followed after her and they both entered Equestria at about the same time.
Twilight was just finishing packing her saddle bag when Sunset came stumbling out of the mirror.
She gasped in surprise as she saw the unicorn stretch her legs and look over her old body.
Sunset seemed out of practice with walking on four hooves, but she quickly remembered herself and walked normally.
Twilight ran to her and wrapped her hooves around her.
Sunset looked up locking her eyes right where Raven was as if she knew she was there.
“Me too, Twilight.”
Twilight let Sunset go then ran to her saddle bag.
“I sent a letter to Princess Celestia as quickly as I could explaining everything. She should get back to me as soon as she can. As for this spirit I say we should go to find out what kind it is, that should help us find out what it wants.”
Raven growled softly when Twilight said this. I did as well.
“Ok. What else?” Sunset asked.
“Once we do that then it is imperative that we find her as quickly as we can.”
Sunset nodded and grabbed a few books from Twilight’s many bookshelves.
I snapped out of my second sight and returned to the cave I was in. Well that's just great! Now Sunset is in Equestria! What was I going to do? With those two in Equestria how in the world was I going to hide? Somehow I will, I can't let them find me. If they do...no I can't think of that.
I turned into my mist form as quickly as I could and zoomed out of the cave. I flew through the air looking for some place to hide. There were a number of places I could go to in Equestria, but I wanted to stay close here for a bit. Then I could easily gather intel and know when it would be a good time to run.
I flew for some time, searching madly through the forest. Hopefully I could find something, anything. Then I came across a strange castle. It was mostly a ruin, but it seemed a bit cleaner than a ruin would be. As I examined it I realized it was Princess Celestia and Luna’s old castle.
Hmm. I flew into the castle, curious whether it may be a good place to hide or not. I changed into my pony form as I entered the main hall. The hall was rather beautiful for being as old as it was. This was too exposed though, I should find a safer place to stay. I trotted through the castle, looking for a secret room or someplace to hide in.
After some looking I found a secret room that was filled with old books and a large carpet that had some old pillows on it and a blanket. It seemed to be a resting area of a sort. As I tried to settle down I felt a presence enter the room. I looked around madly, charging my magic defensively. A dark mist entered the room and it formed into a pony.
I sighed when I saw it was just Raven. She looked practically the same as a pony, she even was still wearing her black cloak. Her dark green eyes seemed to be gleaming with approval as she walked towards me.
“Well, Solstice. I am rather impressed. You have taken this new power much better than I expected.” Her soft voice purred.
I puffed my chest out a little with pride. “Well of course I did. No magic is too much for me.”
Raven laughed musically. “Do not get too cocky now, sweet girl. There is magic in this world that even you cannot control.”
I scoffed. “I would like to see that!”
Raven tossed her dark blood red mane over her shoulder as she chuckled again. “As would I.”
Raven took some books with her magic and overlooked them briefly. “What do you wish to do?” She asked.
“Run. We need to keep moving. If we stay here too long they will probably find us.” I said.
Raven kept her eyes on the books as she spoke to me. “Where shall we go?”
I shrugged. “We can't go to Canterlot. Princess Celestia knows me too well so she would probably be able to detect my magic. We could just keep exploring the Everfree forest, but I'm pretty sure Twilight could find me. No we need to go farther.”
Raven looked up at me. “Shall I make a suggestion?”
I gave her a hard look. “Fine.”
“Why do we not go to Saddle Arabia for a bit?” She asked.
I shook my head. “Princess Celestia told me some time ago that Princess Luna was there on Royal business. I don't want to risk her possibly finding me.”
Raven shrugged. “Then why not just stay by the border? I know an old house we could hide out in for a time.”
I glared at her. “I am not going to stay in some dirty shack.”
Raven’s eyes seemed to harden on me. She breathed slowly as if she was controlling herself. Then she slowly smiled.
“Maybe you are ready.” Her voice sounded so familiar when she said that, but I couldn't quite put my hoof on it.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
She put down the book then walked slowly around me. “The gifts of a spirit comes at a price like anything in this world, so there are some things you must know. One thing is that there are tasks you must do in order to keep your magic at full power. It is, let us call it the “duty” of being a spirit. One is haunting an area, which not many choose to do, but it can be enjoyable if you do it right. Another is being able to create nightmares, which is my personal favorite.” She chuckled lightly.
Then why the crap did she supposedly “keep nightmares away from me” if she enjoyed giving them so much?
“The last thing that a spirit does and is, unfortunately required to do every once in a while is a bit...oh how shall I put it?” She thought for a second. “A bit disturbing.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Disturbing how?”
She waved her hoof dismissively. “No need to worry about it now. We’ll get you through the first parts of harnessing your spirit magic, then the last task shall be revealed.”
I nodded. “And what shall happen once these tasks are completed?” I asked.
Raven smiled. “You will be sure to keep this power I have given to you. Then you can surely gain revenge on Sunset and possibly even more who have done you wrong.”
“But, I already have done that. I've run away. Isn't that enough?”
Raven laughed her musical laugh. She was confusing me so. “Oh, Solstice. You cannot be so soft. This is surely not all you wish to do? Do you not want more? Do you not wish to actually inflict pain on the one who started it all?”
I shrugged. “Um….Why would I want to do that?”
Raven walked towards me keeping her emerald eyes locked on my own. “Would it not give you so much pleasure to know that the one pony that hurt you more than any other was at your mercy? Wouldn't it be satisfying to know that she would be in soo much more pain than you ever were? That she would finally know how it felt to be hurt as much as you were?”
Hmm. I hadn't thought of this that much. All I had honestly planned for was to keep running my whole life and just avoid anypony. But she did have a point, if I did confront them then I wouldn't have to hide at all. That actually sounds like a better plan honestly.
“Yes. It definitely would be a pleasure to see her in pain. To make her pay for all she's done to me.” I snarled softly.
Raven smiled as she turned to her mist form. “Come. Let us begin, shall we?”
I looked up at her then leaned my head towards the window.
“Um, it's broad daylight outside soo... much better chance of being seen.” I said in a slightly sarcastic tone.
“That is why we go to where it is night.” She said.
I had no idea what she meant, but I just shrugged and turned into my other form as well.
“Where are we headed?” I asked.
“Oh, you'll see.” Raven said then slowly pushed her magic out of her, wrapping it around us both.
She teleported us to a dark alley. It was a bit cold from new fallen snow in this area. I shifted to my pony form and shivered as I examined my surroundings. I stepped out of the alley and saw that we were in a dark little town. The houses were broken down, very dirty and some of their roofs were falling in, but by the sounds of it ponies were living in them.
I looked up and saw that in the distance was a more light part of town. It seemed to be in much better shape than this one. Must be where the rich folk live. As for in the part we were in it was depressed and lonely. All you heard was the sound of crickets, babies crying, and muffled screams in a few of the houses.
Raven tapped my shoulder then beckoned at me to follow her. So I turned to mist again and followed her. She led me to the very edge of the town and entered a window on the top floor of a small house. I followed her then turned into a pony. She put her hoof to her lips and pointed to something.
I looked to where she was pointing and saw that it was a young sleeping filly. Her room was soo small, it was honestly more like a closet than a room, but this filly made do. Her bed took up most of the space, but she had enough floor to keep a little side table. She had a few Wonderbolt posters on her wall and one of Princess Twilight that was over her bed.
I grimced a little when I saw her face on the poster. She looked so noble and majestic, the kindness in her eyes seemed to be peering right at me. I mentally replaced the kindness with anger and I glared at the poster.
“Don't look at me like that. It's your fault.” I thought as if the poster were real and it could hear my thoughts.
Raven put her lips to my ear and whispered softly. “Do you see this filly?”
“Yeah.” Did she think I was stupid or something? Of course I saw the filly.
“I want you to give her a nightmare.”
I froze. Give this little filly a nightmare? I couldn't do that!
“Don't be so weak, Solstice.” Raven softly growled. “I can explain the simple spell. Just know time is of the essense.”
I looked over my shoulder and glared at her. “What if I refuse?”
Her emerald eyes glowed sending a shiver up my spine. “You wouldn't dare.”
I lowered my ears a bit in submission to her then slowly walked towards the filly’s bed.
She was sleeping soundly, her magenta mane sticking in all directions as she cuddled under her quilt. I gazed down at her with a small smile on my face. She was so cute, so innocent…..how could I do something like this to her? I heard a soft warning behind me so I quickly cast the spell that sent me into the dream world.
It was so bright. I shook my mane as I tried to get the feel of this strange new magic off of me. I heard a tiny laugh then I saw the filly running through a field of wild flowers, giggling as she did so. I smiled as I watched her play. She was so happy in this world it made me pity her. She had so much in this dream unlike the real world. If only there was some way this poor filly could have as much in reality than to go to a dream to find happiness.
Her bright eyes looked away from the bunny she was chasing and met mine. She giggled and started to run to me. Oh crap. What was I going to do? I madly tried to get out of the dream, but something was keeping me in here, forcing me to continue what I was meant to do.
I took one last look at the sweet girl then sighed in defeat.
“I'm sorry, little one.” I whispered then summoned a dragon to appear.
The filly saw the animal and fear filled her eyes. She galloped away from it as quickly as she could. The dragon roaring a mighty roar as it flew in air and landed in her path, forcing her to stop. She shrieked in fear and tried to run the other way, but it blocked her with its tail.
The dragon stared at her with it horrible eyes then roared again as it breathed fire around her. She screamed as she tried to avoid the flames, but it was useless. The flames reached her and started burning her. She screamed even louder as the flames ate at her tiny hooves and beautiful mane.
The dragon swished its tail sending the poor filly flying through the air. She smashed into a tree and crumpled to the ground in a helpless little pile. The dragon roared at it flew into the air once again, looking as if it was going to breathe fire on her again.
That's when Raven pulled me out of the dream leaving me sitting on the floor, hyperventilating as I tried to get the horrible events out of my head. I looked at the filly and saw her squirming in her bed, moaning softly. She clutched her stuffed bear harder and harder as the dream got worse.
“Let's go.” Raven said in a dead voice as she changed form and flew out the window.
I got up to follow her, but a feeling of guilt built up in me as I was about to change my form. I looked back at the filly who was now crying in her sleep.
I have to do something. I have to!
I quickly looked out the window seeing if I could see Raven. When I didn't see her I used my second sight to see where she was. Ok. She's headed back to the Everfree forest. She didn't teleport so that'll give me more time! I should have a few minutes. That's all it'll take!
I charged my magic and entered the filly’s dream again as quickly as I could.
She was now on the ground, bleeding and burned from being beat mercilessly. She was crying as she lifted her head a little looking up at the beast. Anger filled in me as I teleported and stood between her and the dragon.
He tried to push me out of the way, but I shot him with a laser beam of magic. He roared in pain as he swiped his claw at the ground, in an attempt to hit me. I just dodged his claw then used a spell to make him disappear as I had made him appear.
I looked over my shoulder at the filly then ran to her side. She lifted her head weakly as she looked at me with those sweet eyes.
“You saved me.” She whispered.
I wrapped her in my magic and healed her wounds. It was all a dream anyway, it wasn't like actual wounds so the spells were easy.
She wrapped her hooves around my neck and gave me an unexpected hug.
“Awe you my big sister?” She asked in a sweet little voice. “Mama say that even though you died you would come back when I needed you.”
My heart broke for her when she asked me this. Poor girl thinks I'm her sister…… All I could do was force a smile and nod.
“Yes, sweetie. I am.”
She ran her hoof through my golden mane and smiled. “You’re weally pwetty sissy. I wish you could come back.”
I held back tears as I bit my lip and nodded again. “Me too. But you need to rest now, okay?”
She grimced at held me tighter. “Wa if the dragon comes back?”
I hesitantly wrapped my hoof around her and held her in a comforting way. “Don't worry. I won't let him come back.”
She looked up at me with those sweet little eyes. “Pwomise?”
I smiled and made the beautiful field return to all its glory, producing a thousand butterflies to comfort her. She smiled brightly as she admired the creatures surrounding us.
“Promise.” I whispered then left her dream.
I quickly teleported back to the old castle and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that Raven wasn't back yet. I knew that she would definitely not aproove of what I just did. But I couldn't just leave her in the state she was in! I may not be a softie, but I'm not cruel either.
What in the world would she say if she found out? No. She won't find out! What am I so worried about? It's not like she's going to kill me for taking away a nightmare she told me to give right? Right? I need to take my mind off this!
Before I could move or do anything Raven appeared. I tried to act cool, but I was too surprised by her sudden apperence so my guilt was still slapped on my face.
She gave me a hard look as she shook her head.
“Solstice. You will never succeed if you keep acting soft.” She said in a cool voice.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Raven glared at me even harder, making me cringe in fear.
“Sweet girl, don't play stupid with me. As I said before, I know you all to well.”
I glared back at her. “So what? You gonna take your magic back now and tell me to get the hell out of here?”
“If you rather be Sunset’s pathetic toy then yes.” She cooed.
“I would never!!” I yelled.
“If you give up then you will.”
“I won't!!”
Raven stood a bit taller as she continued to speak. “Then we shall try this again. But next time I will keep better watch of you. You shall not leave my sight. Understood?”
“Fine whatever!” I kicked at the wall out of frustration then stormed off.
All my anger and frustration came out as I ran down the hallways trying to blow off some steam.
I would not let Sunset dare control me or Twilight!! That's probably why I got soft back there! It was because of that stupid poster! It reminded me of that stupid little wrench! Well, that's not going to happen again. Oh no. I will bring the most horrible nightmares I can then I shall gain the full power of this magic and I will have revenge.
Raven kept a close eye on me as I flew around the houses in the new village she showed me. She didn't interfere with my search or say anything, she just watched me. I wished she would leave, but I knew that she didn't want to risk me getting soft again. Well I didn't want to get soft either, so let her watch me! I'll show her I can do this.
I found a rather large house that seemed to have a big family in it. As I searched the house I found a foal's room where he was sleeping soundly. I smiled as I entered his dream and summoned packs of Timberwolves to chase and scar him. I quickly got out of the dream and went to the other two rooms and gave the other children nightmares. They were quick and painless for me, because I never saw my victims. I just gave them the nightmare then left. Simple as that.
It made it easier for me doing it this way for some reason. I had no idea why. But whatever worked I guess.
By the time the night was over I had successfully given about two dozen little ponies nightmares. Raven said that she was impressive how quickly I adapted to giving nightmares after my little failure. I was proud to have improved in the magic. It was easy once I stopped thinking about the other ponies, then it actually got a bit fun. Seeing them cringe in fear as the monsters of my creation tortured them.
I loved it.
After a few weeks of doing this in many different places, Raven soon let me venture to do it on my own. She said that I was finally allowing myself to harden.Ha! Not so much a softie now, huh ? I boasted to no one in particular.
One night as I flew back to the castle I began to get a bit uneasy. I mean I did say that we should leave, but with me moving around so much, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to stay here a bit longer. Twilight still hadn't found us so she may never know we’re here. Suits me just fine!
As I flew into the old room and settled down in the blankets, I sighed. Raven was out somewhere so I knew I would be left alone for some time. Thank goodness, I needed to catch up on some sleep!
Raven had explained to me that spirits do not technically ‘sleep’. What they do is rest, and their minds are not capable of dreaming, but travel around wherever you please and can observe things or follow ponies, whatever you wish. This seemed a bit weird, but after I did it the first time, I got used to it.
The only downside to this was that I felt like I never truly rested. I felt as if I was always up and that I could never just let myself go and forget about everything. It was stressful, but I had to make do. Things could be worse, I supposed.
As I drifted off to sleep my mind started to wander. Normally I would just move around aimlessly, but tonight I wanted to do something a bit more meaningful. I went to Princess Twilight’s castle to see what she was up to. It had been a while and I was curious to see how her research was going.
As I entered the old place it felt weird. Last time I was in this place it was for a whole different purpose than the one I had now. Hmm. How times change.
It took some time, but after a bit I found her sitting in her bedroom. Sunset was with her sitting beside Twilight’s bed. They were both reading books, trying to find something I suppose. I tried to not laugh, here they were wondering where I was when I was literally only a few miles away from where they were! Hilarious.
It was a miracle they hadn't detected my magic like I assumed they would. It may have been to do with the fact I was using spirit magic. It was foreign to them, so I remained undetectable. Sweet.
Twilight and Sunset seemed exhausted as if they hadn't slept for days. Huh, knowing them they probably hadn't. Sunset abruptly huffed in frustration as she shoved the pile of books over that was next to her. Twilight looked up from her work and gave her a sympathetic look.
“Sunset-” she began.
“It's been almost a month Twilight. We should have found her by now. Who knows what’s happened to her.” Sunset’s voice sounded as dead as she looked.
Twilight rose from where she was sitting and sat next to Sunset, putting a hoof around her.
“I'm sure she's fine. Princess Celestia herself said that this spirit probably doesn't want to hurt her. Besides Solstice is a strong mare. She can handle herself.”
For once, you're right, Twilight. I can take care of myself.
“But how much has this thing influenced her? What if she's gotten such a grip on her that Solstice’s hatred of me has now consumed her entire being? I remember when I stayed away from Princess Celestia and let bitterness grow in me. It's like a poison, eating away at your soul, making you forget everything you are.” She stared off into the distance, her tired eyes saddening.
Twilight held her tighter. “She won't let it get that bad, I'm sure she’s kept some of her stubbornness to stay in control.”
I am not that stubborn Twilight!
Sunset didn't laugh at Twilight’s attempt to be funny, she just stared at her with a blank look on her face.
“But what if it has gotten that bad?” She asked.
Twilight didn't know what to say as Sunset hung her head down, her eyes locked on the ground.
“This is all my fault, Twilight. If only I had come to her sooner, then this wouldn't have happened.”
Twilight put her hoof gently under Sunset’s chin and raised her head, persuading her to look her in the eye.
“Sunset, this isn't your fault.”
Sunset pulled her head away from her. “But it is. It's my own selfishness that made me give her away in the first place.”
“You were just trying to protect her, sweetie.” Twilight said.
“No. Instead of looking after her myself I threw the responsibility on someone else. I've hated myself for doing it every day of my life, especially when I turned into that awful demon. That day all I could think was how in the world could a pony like me give up something so amazing? I thought power would replace the pain of losing her, but nothing helped. It still hurt. Now I'm finally paying for my mistake.” Sunset pulled away from Twilight and stood up, walking towards her mirror, gazing at her reflection.
Twilight stood as well and trotted up next to Sunset again. “I know how you feel, but-”
Sunset looked at Twilight with bits of fire in her eyes. “How could you possibly compare your pain to mine?” she asked, getting more furious by the second as she continued.
“How could you know how it felt like to listen to a child cry and think it was your own crying for you? Begging you to come back to her? To feel a knife plunge itself into your heart every time you see a mother and daughter together laughing and smiling, in their own perfect little world? To think every night whether somepony cared enough to tuck my child in? If they sung to her like I used to? If she was loved as much I loved her?” Sunset was screaming at her with a few tears rolling down her face.
Twilight was crying too. She tried to get closer to Sunset, but she pushed her back with her magic.
“And when I finally got the chance to try and fix things with her. Try to show her how much I love her… then… she lets this thing tell her otherwise and now she says she hates me.” Sunset glared at Twilight with so much pain and fire in her eyes. “No Twilight. You have no idea how this feels.”
Twilight then pressed her lips together, holding back sobs as she spoke.
“You’re right Sunset. I don't know how that feels…” She said. “But I do know how it feels to be there for this little pony for most of her life, then suddenly be thrust into the responsibility of being a Princess which means I see less and less of the girl I cared for. I know the guilt of not talking to her for months then seeing the look of happiness on her face when I finally do see her. Then one day to see indifference instead of happiness. It broke my heart.”
Sunset’s eyes softened as Twilight started to cry.
“I never knew I meant so much to her until she said that she thought of me as her mother. I-I felt so unworthy to be called such a meaningful pony in her life. I abandoned her just like her adoptive parents did…”
Sunset walked up to Twilight and wiped away her tears. Twilight looked into her cyan eyes and began to sob.
“If this is anyone's fault Sunset, it's mine! Every bit of it is mine.” She cried.
Sunset pulled her close hugging her tightly. She seemed so loving and protective of Twilight, it made my heart feel a bit warm. Wait, where did that thought came from!? She rubbed Twilight’s back, comforting her as tears rolled down her own cheeks.
“Shh, Twilight. It's not your fault. Okay?” Sunset whispered as she gently ran her hoof against Twilight’s cheek.
Twilight wrapped her hooves around Sunset’s neck, burying her face in Sunset’s mane.
“I understand.” Twilight mumbled.
Sunset pulled back from the hug and looked into Twilight’s eyes. There was a awkward moment of staring as Twilight smiled, embarrassed.
“I know this is a bad time, but I've been meaning to ask you something,” she said.
Sunset raised an eyebrow.
“Remember what Solstice said? About you know….saying you’re my lover?” She asked, blushing.
Sunset nodded.
“Well, I was just wondering...um...after she said that and all did it make you a bit uncomfortable?” She asked, stuttering a bit in embarrassment.
Sunset smiled and shook her head. “Of course not.”
Twilight sighed in relief.
“Oh! Good, I mean, great! I mean, you know this was silly of me to assume you would take it to be romantic and all.” Twilight laughed nervously. “Who's being romantic? I'm certainly not! Um about Solstice! Yeah-”
Sunset covered the mare's mouth with her hoof before she could say another word. Thank Celestia! I was about to lose my mind.
“Twilight, you're so cute when you’re uncomfortable you know that right?” Sunset said with a smile.
Twilight blushed and lowered her ears as Sunset uncovered her mouth.
They sat there in each other's hooves, trying to comfort one another. Sunset held Twilight tightly, brushing her mane gently. Twilight breathed softly as she pulled away from Sunset and wiped her eyes.
“Well, ahem. I suppose we should get back to work.” Twilight said.
Sunset nodded. “Agreed.”
She trotted over to her desk and pulled up a stack of papers with her magic.
“As I have done continuous research on spirits of Equestria, I have found a few things that may be helpful in our search.” Twilight said as she showed Sunset the papers.
“First I have found that this spirit could not possibly be a soul of a pony that has passed on. When I compared the magic I witnessed back at the portal I reached the conclusion that it is simply too strong to be one of those.” The way she spoke reminded me of when she gave me lectures on complicated spells when I was younger.
I smiled to myself as I saw the familiar glint in her eye she gained whenever she was studying. I used to love watching Twilight study….
I quickly shook my head to get these thoughts out. Honestly Solstice! Keep it together!
“So what kind of spirit is it?” Sunset asked.
“According to my study of ‘Strange Spirits of Equestria’ I have finally found a description of a spirit that almost exactly matches this one that is hanging around Solstice.” Twilight said as she opened the book and put the notes down next to it in front of Sunset.
“She is a Blandishment. It's a rare kind, which is thankfully a blessing.”
“Why is it a blessing?” Sunset wondered.
“Because they are quite gifted in being ascendant. As we have seen with Solstice.”
“But it couldn't have planted all that hate in her. She had to had some already.” Sunset said.
“Another bit of information I unfortunately did not share with you.” Twilight lowered her eyes in a bit of shame. “She was a bit hostile to the idea of meeting you at first. I suppose she was so desperate for love and attention she ignored her anger for a time, until this ‘Nevermore’ - I guess that's it's name - persuaded her to let her anger come back into light.”
Sunset looked down at the papers, deep in thought. “But hostility is one thing, hatred is much stronger.”
Sunset pulled up the books she had been reading and compared it to Twilight’s papers.
“If this is a Blandishment then it must have a higher purpose than to just rock a boat. It wants something. Legend says that one will live for hundreds of years searching for a soul to bind to. Then once it finds one it will manipulate it to achieve its higher purpose.”
Twilight’s eyes seemed to grow more serious as she examined some of Sunset’s paperwork.
“Do you think it's already bonded to Solstice’s soul?” Twilight asked.
Sunset nodded. “It had to have had. If not then Solstice wouldn't have gained some of her magic or have her eye color change for that matter.”
Sunset put down all her papers and looked into Twilight’s eyes.
“Have you figured out what it wants?”
Twilight sighed.“Not really. Every spirit has its own wants and desires just like ponies. But I think I might have a solution to getting her back.”
Sunset leaped to her hooves, excitement in her eyes. “What!?” “If we can get her to come here to us, even for a few minutes I could try to use a cleansing spell on her. It won't be easy, especially now that she's been with Nevermore this long, but I'm sure I can do it.” She seemed confident in her ability.
“How will we get her here?” Sunset asked. “She's been brainwashed so much it would take a miracle to make her even step within a yard of this castle.”
Twilight smiled in a mischievous way. “Oh I know someone who is just as capable of brainwashing. Maybe even better.”
“Solstice! Solstice!” Raven was shaking me violently trying to wake me.
I shook my mane and glared at her. Damn it you! I was about to find out some quite vital information you dumb little soul sucker!
She saw the anger in my eyes and she stepped forward, standing over me in a dominating way.
“What were you doing?” She asked.
I stood up and kept my eyes locked on her.
“Sleeping, until you near shook my brain out.” I snapped.
“Don't play that way with me, child.” She growled. “What were you watching?”
“Two ponies having at it!” I yelled and stormed out of the room slamming the door behind me. There! Maybe that'll teach her to ask me so many questions!
If only Raven hadn't woken me. Then I would know who Twilight was talking about. I wonder who this certain somepony is? It wouldn't be anyone I know I assume. Maybe a distant friend of hers?
Well, anyone she sends let her send them! I won't be manipulated. I haven't let Raven do so like they think I have. This is all I want. She has only offered her help.
Anyway, not important. What is important is that I stay hidden and not let anypony try to make me reveal myself. I cannot expose myself until I am ready.
Until then I’d better keep a close eye on those two. Don't want to get caught off guard hmm?
The next day was a bit uneventful. Disappointing. I was wishing to see if Twilight had sent her “friend” to stop me. Or to at least make me see her.
I shan't be persuaded by such things though. I will make her friend seem like a fool compared to me. He or she shall see what it is to try and mess with me!
I hadn't told Raven of what I saw or the possible “threat” that may come. I didn't need to tell her anyway. Maybe I could make this my final task she was speaking of. I would outsmart him or her then prove to Raven I was capable of keeping my magic.
Raven had left me alone in the castle, saying she was going to settle some business. She warned me to keep out of trouble then left.
I didn't know what to do in the castle at first, so I just wandered around, examining the beautiful artifacts. Some of the statues around the castle were old and cracked, but it still showed the majestic forms of the two Princesses. Other things that caught my attention were the banners and the pictures on the walls. All were created with such care that I had to marvel at the detail in all them.
The room I found the most interesting was the one I had been staying in. It was a bit of a secret room in a way, but it was obvious that it was the Princess’ study. A place they could get away from everypony and keep to themselves. I'm pretty sure Twilight will get one of these one day.
I shook my head madly when I thought of her. Solstice! Stop it. You know what she has done to you.
I really wished I could find something to do. Raven had been barely gone for an hour and I was bored out of my mind. Well, I could go and give some ponies nightmares or something, but that gets old quickly. I examined the books on the shelves of the room and pulled one down.
“Daring Do and The Griffon's Goblet.” I mumbled.
I remember reading these as a filly. They were my favorite stories. Who had first read them to me? Oh it was-
I forced myself to stop my thought before I could complete it and tossed the book back on the shelf.
“Really Twilight?” I growled. “It's as if you just can't get out of my head.”
I gazed out the window and watched the sun as it got lower and lower in the sky. The skies turned from orange to a soft amber as Princess Celestia lowered the sun even slower. I smiled a bit as I regrettably thought back on a moment that this beautiful sunset reminded me of. Another sunset, in another world, with the one I had almost made the mistake of forgiving.
I stepped closer to the window and propped myself up against it. Resting on the sill on my hooves, gazing in a transfixed way as Princess Luna raised the moon.
Why did I have to meet her? If only I had said no, then maybe none of this would have happened…
I sighed softly as I rested my head on my hooves. A single star peeked out of the sky, daring to remind me of the other pony that was probably thinking about me. My dark green eyes gazed at the star. It's beauty was almost as brilliant as the sunset. But nothing could compare with the full moon that shined down on us tonight.
“Beautiful isn't it?” A deep voice suddenly asked.
I swear I have never turned around so fast in my life!
“Who's there?” I asked as I charged my magic, my eyes darting around madly, trying to find the source of it.
“Oh no one. Simply a voice in your head.” It sounded as if it was behind me so I quickly looked over my shoulder, but nothing was there.
“Show yourself!” I demanded.
“Why would I do that? That would take the fun out of everything.” The voice complained.
“By Celestia you better come out!”
The voice laughed a deep mischievous laugh. “Oh! Naughty naughty! You dare use Celestia’s name in vain? Ha!”
I tried to shoot my magic in the direction I believed this thing was in, but all I succeeded in was nearly destroying a wall.
“Besides you’re not asking nicely.” The voice whispered in my ear. I whipped my head around, but still nothing was there.
“Will you kindly show yourself then?” I snarled.
“Well, I very well could, but a part of me wants to have a bit of fun with you first. Guess who I am then I shall reveal myself. If this seems like much well let us say I quite enjoy seeing you chomp at the bit if you pardon the expression.”
I huffed impatiently. “What are you?” I asked.
“A spirit in a way.” It said.
I bit my lip trying to control myself. “You’re a spirit?”
“Yes, but not entirely. I resemble something.”
“What do you resemble?” I asked.
“Something I cannot say.” It laughed.
I groaned.
Suddenly it's laugh rang so loudly it reminded me of somepony. I had never met him personally, but I knew of him. Oh dear sweet Celestia. Please no.
“Discord.” My voice sounded annoyed and dead at the same time.
His draconequus self appeared before me with a smug grin on his face.
“Solstice Shimmer.” He bowed making a top hat appear in his claw as he did so.
“What do you want?” I snapped.
He made the hat disappear then he floated in the air hovering above me.
“I was just curious of what you were doing that is all.” He said innocently.
“Whatever.”
He snapped his fingers producing a stack of papers.
“What? Did you think I was here to stop you because you are following some pathetic excuse of a spirit and are about to turn into some evil villain?” He chuckled as he threw the papers over his shoulder. I glanced at them as they burned into flames. “Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I do have better things to do.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Do you?”
He smiled. “Yes. But I must quench this thirst of curiosity first,” he said and used his magic to shrivel himself up as if he were deprived of water.
I rolled my eyes. “What is it, Discord?”
“Well,” I was surprised to see he had suddenly appeared over my shoulder. “I was wondering why a pony supposedly as smart as you was following this spirit?” He asked.
“She offered to help me.” I said.
“Help you what? Gain revenge on your mother?” He asked as he slithered in front of me.
“How did-” I began.
“Why would something you just met help you do something as personal as that?”
“She's been around my whole life.”
“Oh! Now a stalker I see,” He laughed. “And you call yourself a smart pony.”
“But she-”
Discord snapped his fingers producing a file cabinet. He ran his claw through it then pulled on out and read it quickly then looked up at me.
“If she told you to not be so trusting of everypony so quickly why trust her wholeheartedly without question?”
“I-”
“Solstice, this is simply too much!” He started laughing. “Here you are thinking you have a whole upper hand over this spirit when she so obviously had a upper hand over you.”
“She does not!” I yelled at him and shot a small spell at him in my spurt of anger.
He snapped his fingers, suddenly holding a tennis racket. He then hit my spell, backfiring it into a statue shattering the stone to pieces.
“Oh dear, she does. Here you are thinking you want revenge. But what you don't realize is that you are turning on the only ponies that may ever care about you.”
“Well-”
He zipped my mouth closed with a zipper he conjured.
“Think hard Solstice.” He said in a much deeper voice.
“One may have made a mistake. But surely it's not all they make. A reformed heart is pure as light. To darken it, would be a fight.”
I unzipped my mouth then stared at him. I honestly didn't know what to say as he continued.
“An angry heart is a curse to you. Especially if it is left to brew. Let yourself forgive and forget. Then maybe there shall be hope for you yet.”
Discord then snapped his fingers and teleported us.
I blinked after the bright light left us. I looked around to see where he took us and was greatly surprised to see a large castle in front of me. That little devil brought me to Twilight’s castle!
I looked up at him seeing the mischievousness in his eyes.
“You were the friend.” I realized.
He laughed. “And you think you're so smart!” He said and disappeared.
I looked around madly, not sure what to do. She surely knew I was here now. Discord probably told her.
How could I have been so stupid? Now I can't possible get away! I'm sure Twilight has rigged this place with a bunch of spells preventing me getting away. I can feel the magic around here.
I tried to figure out what to do, but before I could the door opened. I glared into her eyes as she stepped out of the castle.
Twilight held her head high as she charged her magic and grabbed me.
I struggled and fought against her. I tried to get away from her grasp, but she was too strong for me. Twilight pulled me into the castle then shut the door, setting me down in the hall. She still had her hold on me so I couldn't move, but at least I had my hooves on the ground.
She came closer to me and gave me a stern look.
I glared at her and huffed through my nose.
“Solstice-” she began.
“Don't you try anything with me Twilight.” I growled.
She kept her eyes on me, not daring to look away. “Solstice Shimmer. Listen to me, please.”
I didn't want to listen to her. Little manipulative snob.
“I'm sorry, sweetie.” She whispered.
Wait what? I looked up at her and saw her eyes soften.
“I'm sorry I wasn't around when I should have been. I should have taken more time to be around you, but all I did was abandon you just like so many others had. I hope you can forgive me for being a terrible friend.”
Um. What? I was taken a bit off guard by this. What I expected was a long lecture or something, not an apology.
“Solstice?” A familiar voice asked.
I looked over Twilight’s shoulder to see Sunset standing behind her.
I tried to fight away from Twilight’s magic. No! No! I won't let her! I won't!
Sunset tried to step closer to me, but I glared at her fiercely.
"No! Stay away from me!" I screamed and build up my magic to such an extent I was able to burst out of Twilight's magic.
I charged my magic and shot at Sunset, aiming for her heart.
Sunset countered the attack with a shield and blocked the spell from hitting her.
Twilight was about to interfere, but I stared her in the eyes making my magic flow into her. She stumbled to the ground as I forced her to enter the dream world. She fought against me, but I pushed myself harder than I had ever had. She was too strong for me though and I knew that I would not be able to hold on much longer. So when I felt I was going to lose my hold on her I smashed her against the wall knocking her into unconsciousness.
I blasted my magic back at Sunset which she dodged and it hit a table instead, cracking it down the middle.
I snarled in frustration as I shot at her again. She leaped out of the way letting it hit the wall then she shielded herself from the speaks of debris that flew off the wall.
“Solstice. I don't want to fight you.” She said.
I laughed. “Oh! But I do!”
I grabbed the books I saw on the bookshelf that hung on the wall and threw it at her. Her eyes widened as the object came closer, but she easily caught the books with her magic then threw them aside.
But the bookshelf I threw she missed and it hit the side of her face. She winced in pain.
I took advantage of her and shot at her again but this time she countered the attack with her own laser. I fought hard against her magic, trying to chip away at it, hoping it would shatter at any second.
Sunset pushed hard against my magic making me strain a little as it came closer and closer to me. I groaned as I felt myself slide against the floor, fighting against Sunset. The magic burned into my horn sending a spark of fire through my body.
I felt her magic burn into me, ripping through my body as if it were trying to rid me of something. Her goodness just killed me.
A bead of sweat rolled down my brow as I tried to push it away from me. I knew what would happen if her magic touched me. I would fall to her nasty will then lose this wonderful magic I gained.
No! This won't happen.
I gritted my teeth as I pushed against her harder. She seemed to be struggling a bit as she felt the magic eat away at hers. I felt myself grow stronger as I continued taking more and more magic away from her.
“Yes! Yes!” I laughed a hearty laugh as I felt her fall to her knees, fighting with all her might to not be defeated by me.
“You’re weak.” I snarled and almost overtook her.
That's when I felt a stab of magic hit me and stop my own cold. I screamed in confusion and fear as I felt myself being held once again in a powerful magic.
That's when I saw Twilight, who had risen from the ground and was using her magic to stop me from hurting Sunset.
Every ounce of magic I could conjure was nothing compared to Twilight’s, which makes perfect sense since she’s an alicorn, but I did everything I could to try and break away from her grasp.
Sunset slowly rose from the ground and tried to walk towards me.
Twilight seemed hesitant with letting Sunset closer as she grabbed Sunset with a bit of magic. She put her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder then whispered something in her ear.
She gently pushed Twilight out of the way so she could stand in front of me. Her eyes were filled with sorrow and regret. I tried to pull away from her, but Twilight kept me in a firm hold.
Sunset looked deep into my eyes, then sighed.
“There are not enough apologies in the world that I could give you Solstice,” She whispered. “I don't deserve your forgiveness nor do I deserve you. I abandoned you as a filly and I never came back for you when I should have. I should have tried to mend things better than I had. So please, if it means anything to you, know deep in your heart that I love you. You’re my absolute pride and joy.”
I felt a thump in my heart as she stepped closer to me. No. Don't let her! Don't let her! I kept fighting with every ounce of strength I had, but nothing worked. Twilight still had her firm hold on me.
She then kissed my forehead gently and put something at my feet. I glanced down to see what it was. My journal. Her…..promise.
“Come back, Solstice. I beg of you.”
No. No! She's she… she… She loves me. She is sorry for everything she's done. I… don't feel angry anymore. And I… I… love her.
I felt a burst of magic in me as something was finally allowed to enter my body. It flowed through my body with ease giving me a soothing feeling. Unlike the burning fire of the spirit magic this felt nice and cool as it ran through my veins. I felt my hooves leave the ground as I allowed the magic to finish its process.
Once it was done I was laid gently on the ground and I opened my eyes. The golden necklace that used to be on my neck fell off and it disappeared.
Sunset ran to me and wrapped her hooves around me. Crying with tears of joy. “It worked! I can't believe it worked!”
I glanced over at my reflection in the crystal walls, curiously. My eyes had changed back to cyan and my mane was significantly better groomed. My cloak had disappeared as well. Thank you magic!
“Oh Solstice! Thank Celestia.” Sunset held me tighter as Twilight came over to us.
“Solstice, are you okay?” She asked.
“I ugh… think so.” I said.
“How do you feel?” Twilight asked as Sunset let me go.
“Dizzy. And a bit hungry.”
Twilight smiled as she wrapped a hoof around me hugging me tightly.
“Hungry at a time like this? Oh Solstice.” She chuckled.
I looked up at her, a bit ashamed of myself.
She ran her hoof through my mane in a soothing manner. “You should have told me what was going on Solstice.” She said.
I nodded. “I know.”
“If you’d told us then we could have helped you. I could have told you what was going on, then none of this would have happened to you.” Sunset gently scolded.
I lowered my eyes.
“Never hide something like this from me ever again. Do you understand?” Sunset asked with a stern voice.
I nodded. “Yes ma'am.”
Twilight gave Sunset a look from the corner of her eye.
“What Twilight? She must be disciplined. You of all ponies should know this.”
“I know. She must be disciplined, but please don't be so hard on her. She's been through a lot these past few weeks.”
“I understand that, but it's no excuse for the actions she had done. She did chose to attack us both without Nevermore being here. So I believe that proves well enough that some of the things she did she chose at her own free will.”
Twilight nodded, then looked down at me, holding me closer.
Sunset hugged Twilight and I, holding us together. I felt so safe and warm in their hooves. Why did I ever dare say I hate them? They loved me. More than anypony.
“I’m soo sorry.” I whispered as I buried my face in Twilight’s mane. It smelt a bit burnt which made me cringe.
They both seemed to sigh in relief in unison.
If only this sweet moment could last forever. Me with the two ponies that are the best mothers I could ever ask for. Twilight in her grace. Sunset in her strength. Me, sandwiched in the middle. The warmth of the love radiating off of them seemed to be almost tangible in the room.
But the moment was short lived.
“Well, Solstice. How the mighty have fallen.” A bell like voice rang through the air.
A cold shiver ran down my spine as I saw a dark pony suddenly stand in front of us.
Raven smiled as she used her magic to lower her hood.
Sunset glared at her with such fire in her eyes as she let me go then gently pushed me behind her. Twilight stayed by my side, as she kept her wing around me, her eyes dead locked on Raven’s.
Raven took a step towards us then sighed.
“Tsk tsk tsk.” She clicked her tongue in disapproval as she shook her head. “Such a disappointment. I expected you to hold out longer than you did.”
I looked around Sunset, locking my eyes on the pony.
“What do you mean, hold out?”
“Why my dear, what I mean is that I assumed you were finally free from the manipulative clutches of Sunset. But now I see that you are still weak.”
Anger burned in me as I tried to step away from Twilight to advance towards Raven.
“I. Am. Not. Weak.” I snarled.
Raven smiled her beautiful smile, entrapping me in those dark green eyes.
“Are you sure of that, sweetness?” She asked.
“Yes.”
I pushed away from Twilight and gave Raven a hard look.
“Stay where you are.” Sunset ordered Raven.
Raven ignored Sunset and stepped closer towards us.
“Solstice, darling. You had improved so much. The magic was almost effortless to you and the softness I saw that once made you weak was finally leaving you.”
I smirked. “So you admit I'm capable?”
“No. I admit I am proud. I have always been proud of you.” She eyed Sunset and Twilight. “But I am disappointed that it is not enough for you. You simply refuse to understand that you will never mean anything to any other pony. You act as if you are worthless.”
I growled in anger and frustration. “I am not worthless.”
“Then prove it,” she said in a silky voice.
“I don't have to prove anything to you.”
“Ah, but we had a deal, darling,” she purred.
“I never made a deal with you!”
Raven stepped forward and gently grabbed me with her magic pulling me away from Sunset and Twilight. Sunset grabbed me as quickly as she could and tried to pull me out of her grip, but something stopped her. A jolt of energy sparked through Sunset’s magic, shocking her fiercely.
I was suddenly in front of Raven and Sunset was on the ground, her hair smoking a little from the burn of the magic.
Twilight ran to Sunset’s side and helped her up as I glared at Raven.
“What in Celestia’s name was that for? Let me go!” I yelled and tried to pull away from her.
Raven smiled. “If you recall, sweet one, when I offered to give you some of my magic you asked if there was a catch, did you not?”
I nodded.
“Did I not tell you the catch was I needed a piece of your soul?” She asked.
Again I nodded.
“When you accepted that, love, I owned you. Now and forever as long as a piece of yourself lives in me, you shall be mine.”
Oh shit. How the crap did I not think about that?
“So you see? You are bound to me.”
I scrambled around in my mind trying to find a way out of this deal. But what about what Twilight had done earlier? Didn't that remove the bond?
“But I removed the piece with my cleansing spell,” Twilight said. “I saw her necklace fall off.”
Raven tore her eyes away from me and looked at Twilight. “You misunderstand. Her necklace resembled the piece of my soul that was in her.” She moved her cloak away revealing a golden necklace like my own, except it had a metal heart dangling from it. “Now this. This resembles the piece of her in me.”
Well, that's just fantastic! Did you think of that Twilight? I think not!
“I can prove to you that I can survive without you! I don't need you! You've done nothing but influence me into fighting with Sunset and Twilight!”
Raven let her cloak fall then came closer to me. “But it was a fight you needed. If you never saw the truth then you would have lived the rest of your life in a lie.”
“But it's not true!”
“Is it not?” she asked, her eyes pierced into my own.
“Raven!” I yelled.
“Does my love for you not matter anymore?” she asked.
“You don’t love me,” I snarled.
“You do not know what love even is. You have been deprived of it so much you would not know what it was if it slapped you in the face.”
“How dare you,” Twilight growled.
“Complete your final task Solstice,” Raven said with a smile.
“What?”
“I said, complete your final task. This was the whole reason I allowed you to come here. I knew what they had been planning all along.”
How?
“You are not the only one who can wander in dreams, Solstice.” She said with a smug look on her face. “I wanted to see if you could have completed it yourself, but now I see that I may have to assist you.”
I wanted to yell back at her to refuse to have any part in this, but something in me stirred not allowing me to speak. I struggled against it. Hoping to force the words out of my mouth, but nothing came.
Raven used her magic to make me stand beside her as she kept that irritating smug look on her face.
“You see my dear? You cannot fight this. You have an urge to obey me. You now must do this,” she whispered in my ear.
I tried to turn my head to glare at her, but something forced me to keep my head straight.
“Now. Listen to me,” she purred softly.
I fought against her harder as I saw Sunset slowly get up.
“Listen to me.” Her voice sounded as sweet as honey as she spoke.
I tried to fight, but my hooves grew heavy as her voice sunk in. It was just so beautiful, so perfect. I stopped fighting and stood there, transfixed by her voice.
“Good girl.” She purred, sending shivers down my spine.
Twilight looked as if she wanted to do something, but Sunset grabbed her with her magic and shook her head.
“Here is what you need to do,” Raven whispered.
I tilted my head, waiting for her order. I couldn't fight the urge to listen to her voice. It was just so lovely.
Raven stared right at Sunset in that moment and smiled. “Kill her.”
Twilight and Sunset’s eyes widened in horror as I locked my eyes on her. Magic built up in me as I slowly walked towards her.
Twilight stood in front of Sunset defensively, but Sunset pushed her away and stared me dead in the eye.
I stepped closer to her and stood right in front of her, my magic ready to fire at her. But she didn't move. She wasn't prepared to defend herself either, she just stood there with her eyes locked on my own.
“It's okay, baby,” She whispered.
“Kill her,” Raven ordered.
“I trust you.”
“Kill her!”
“Solstice.”
I felt myself slowly get pulled out of this foggy magic I was in, but Raven’s voice still lingered.
“Now!”
“I love you,” Sunset whispered and closed her eyes.
I fought with every ounce of strength I had to break out of the trance I was in and turned to face Raven. My magic flew in the air hitting Raven sending her flying across the room.
She landed on her hooves against the wall and she jumped off landing on the ground perfectly.
Twilight ran to my aid and helped me shoot a beam at Raven.
Raven produced a shield and blocked both of our lasers and stared into my eyes again.
“Solstice. Enough,” she said.
Twilight put a protective spell around me and shot at Raven again, this time with a shield damaging spell.
Raven’s shield shattered to pieces leaving her vulnerable. Sunset took advantage of the situation and shot at her.
Raven used her magic to produce fire from her horn creating a long whip of flames from it. She whipped it around in a circle once then she threw it at Sunset. She blocked the first few balls of flames, but one she missed and it hit her on her leg.
She grunted in pain, but quickly recovered as Twilight sent a freezing spell at Raven. Raven blocked the magic and charged at Twilight, hitting her with a laser, cutting into her on the leg. She stumbled and fell on the ground dazed and hurt by the spell.
I ran in front of Twilight and blocked Raven’s laser from hitting Twilight again. She smirked and grabbed me with her magic, smashing me against the wall.
I groaned softly as I tried to get up, but Raven pushed me down and put her hoof on my leg.
“I'll teach you for disobeying me.” Her voice rang like a thousand bells as she slowly used her magic to bend my leg.
I had no idea what she was about to do until I felt something that I knew a pony should never feel as she slowly used her magic to bend back my leg unnaturally backwards at the knee. Suddenly a sharp snap and a rather loud crunch made me scream in absolute shock as the pain overwhelmed my senses. I hesitantly looked down and saw that she had broken my leg to the point the tip of bone was sticking out of my skin visible for all to see.
She smiled as she pressed her hoof slowly against my broken leg. I screamed as the bone shifted in me making crackling noises as it moved.
“Let her go!” Sunset screamed and ran towards us.
Raven looked over her shoulder and shot a bolt of lightning at Sunset.
“No!” I yelled as she fell to the floor, convulsing from the electricity.
Raven grabbed a knife she had hidden in her cloak and pressed it against my neck. I breathed hard as I glared at her. If only looks could freaking kill!
“You could have been the one, Solstice. If only you had just listened to me.” Her voice still sounded sweet as she spoke. It sickened me.
She pressed the knife harder against my neck, slowly cutting it. I whimpered softly as I tried to move my leg. It was almost unbearable as I tried to make my leg bend a little. The pain shot through me and even though my brain wanted my leg to move it refused to which made me feel very uncomfortable.
Raven looked down at my leg and put her hoof in the ever growing pool of blood that was forming around me. She examined the blood then slowly wiped it on her face, leaving a crimson mark across her muzzle .
“Sweet little Solstice,” she hummed. “There is something I feel I should mention.”
She lowered her face so close to mine I could smell her sweet breath.
“If you were to die right now I would absorb every single bit of your soul,” she hissed softly.
I screamed as she used her magic to dig into my leg, slowly pulling the separated bones together.
“It's tempting to take it. All your magic, your spiritedness.” Raven’s eyes gleamed with a sense of greed it seemed. I kept my eyes locked on hers, determined to not back down without a fight.
Raven snapped my bone back together, mending it with her magic. I screamed bloody murder as I felt the bone become one again. The muscle shifted allowing the bone to sit where it was intended and the splinters of bone glued themselves back where they belonged.
I bit my lip until it bled. It hurt like absolute hell as she finished healing my leg. Sweat rolled down my face as the pain became more intense. Raven looked at me, seeing the amount of pain I was in. But instead of sympathy I saw amusement plastered on her face.
“But I must resist this temptation. I love you far too much to just let you die like this,” she cooed in the awful sweet voice as she ran her bloody hoof through my mane.
Suddenly a blast of combined magic hit Raven, pinning her against the wall. Twilight was still on the ground, but had mustered the strength to lift her head and part of her upper body to fight Raven. Sunset had a decent gash on her chest and her forehead was dripping blood on the side of her face, but she stood strong next to Twilight.
Raven saw the two ponies and laughed. “Ha! You think you can rid her of me? It doesn't matter even if you can take her soul out of me. I will always be around. I will always be there for my Solstice.” Her mane covered half of her face showing only the streak of my blood dripping down her face and her glowing emerald eye.
Sunset walked towards me then stood over me protectively and glared at Raven, fire in her eyes.
“Solstice is mine.” She growled and blasted her with a laser.
Raven slide down the wall, but quickly recovered and shot at me.
Sunset shielded us both from her magic as Raven floated into the air.
“No! I have fought for you for too long Solstice! I am not going to let you throw away all those years I have been there for you instead of Sunset! As far as I'm concerned I. Am. Your. Mother!”
Sunset and I heard Twilight gasp. We looked over our shoulders at her and saw that she was standing up now, leaning against a pillar to help stabilize herself.
Her eyes were full of understanding and horror as she met our gaze.
“It all makes sense now.” Twilight breathed. “Legends told of blandishments that did this. She must have taken a mother’s soul. A mother that may have lost a child or wasn't able to have any. When she took that soul she then gained that pony’s desire. Now her ultimate goal is to gain the perfect child.”
Raven chuckled. “There is no such thing as perfection, Princess. But there is such thing as power.”
She used her mist form to convert one of her legs into the mist. She then lowered herself and put a bit of her magic under my chin, lifting my head up to look at her.
“I'll be honest with you, Solstice. My original desire was to simply gain dominance over all spirits and live for eternity, but then I met that mare whose soul I consumed as she died. Her anger, her sorrow made me feel different. I wished to have the one thing a spirit can never have. A child.”
Sunset pushed Raven away from me with her magic. Raven simply kept her eyes on me as she continued.
“You were everything I desired in a daughter, but this annoying Princess had to get in the way.” She glared at Twilight. “I pushed her away quickly before she got too close to you. Piled problem after problem on her royal plate until she was so overwhelmed she did not have time for you.”
Then Raven looked at Sunset. “When I was so sure I had you for myself this wretch had to interfere.” She spat.
I tried to get up, but my leg still hurt a lot even though Raven had healed it. I couldn't let her insult Sunset like this! Sunset saw what I was trying to do and she quickly helped me to my hooves. I gave Raven a hard look as I slowly stepped towards her.
“Raven” I growled.
Raven’s eyes softened as I came closer to her, my leg was throbbing and I felt the cut on my throat dripping more blood on the floor. I ignored them though as I held my head high.
“Raven. I'm sorry that you can't have children. I really am. But please don't take me from Sunset.”
Raven seemed surprised. “Solstice.”
“Please Raven,” I begged. “Don't do this.”
She closed her eyes realizing that I wouldn't listen to her, no matter what she told me. Then she opened them, a new darkness in her eyes I have never seen before.
“You don't understand, darling. I must do this.” She grabbed me in her magic and pulled me closer to her.
“Raven,” I whimpered in fear.
“Shhh. Hush, sweetness.” Bells rang in the air as she spoke. “This won't hurt a bit. I promise.”
I looked into those dark green eyes one last time as I grabbed something in my magic.
“But this will.” I said and ripped the necklace off her neck. “Now Twilight!”
Twilight shot Raven with the cleansing spell then opened a portal that led to a place I could not recognize and threw Raven into it. She screamed as she fell into the portal and felt the piece of my soul being ripped out of her. I felt the piece return to me as her emerald eyes met mine.
“One day, my love. One day.” Her voice rang in my head as she disappeared into the portal which Twilight quickly sealed shut.
I breathed a heavy sigh as the moment of adrenaline left me. The pain that sang thought my body grew overwhelming as I hobbled over and almost fell to the floor. Thankfully Sunset caught my in her magic and held me close to her. I gazed into her cyan eyes and smiled a bit. Then pain took over and sent me into unconsciousness.
The darkness overwhelmed me, sucking away every bit of light that was around me. I tried to run away from it, but it followed me everywhere I went. I looked up and saw that a dark blue mist was coming towards me.
I ran from it, fueled with adrenaline as I tried to escape the horrible darkness. It chased me through the emptiness that surrounded me. I could almost feel it breathing down my neck, which just made me run even faster.
Suddenly something tripped me causing me to fall over on the ground hitting my head on something that cut it deeply. Blood ran down my face as I looked up trying to see what was around me. What I saw next I wished I hadn't seen.
Those horribly beautiful glowing emerald eyes locked on me as she smiled that bewitching smile.
“Hello, my love.” she whispered in a honey sweet voice. The mist disappeared around her and I saw a faint sparkling of magic surrounding her as the darkness then ate away the last bit of light that shined down on us. All that was left was the faint glow of her magic.
I scrambled away from her and tried to scream but she pinned me down to the floor with her hooves against either of my legs and sealed my mouth shut with her magic.
“Shhh. It's okay.” she stroked my mane with her hoof as if to calm me.
I fought against her trying to get away from her grip. She simply sighed in annoyance and pressed down on my kneecap harder with her hoof, threatening to break it. I was forced to be still as I watched her light her horn until flames burst from the tip of it, lighting the room. She then levitated the flame above us then left it there, so we wouldn't be left in the darkness.
”Solstice. Don't be scared.” she comforted me as she levitated a bloody serrated knife into view with her magic.
I felt her hypnotic eyes lock on me, forcing me to stay laying on the ground before her. She then slowly let me go simply holding me down with her mind compulsion. Everything in me screamed at me to run, but I couldn't. Her magic made it practically impossible to resist her.
Raven chuckled her musical laugh as she raised the knife over my chest. The flames that burned above us became fiercer as if something was feeding it. Sparks flew into the air, threatening to burn the ground around us.
“This won't hurt a bit, my love.” Her eyes glowed with undeniable beauty as she whispered softly then gently brought the knife down to meet my chest.
My blood curdling screams were muffled by her magic as she drove the knife into me. It slowly pushed through my fur then broke through my epidermis.
“I suppose I lied.” Raven chuckled heartlessly as she moved the knife, torturing me further.
I faintly heard the muscle squish as she slowly twisted the knife. She released my mouth allowing me to finally scream.
“Stop! Please stop!” I begged as tears ran down my face, staining my cheeks along with the dripping blood.
She smiled as she shook her head, the flames had finally set the ground on fire, now it was slowly moving closer to us. “I love you far too much to do that.”
She pushed the knife deeper into me making me clutch at the knife’s handle, screaming as I tried to pull it out.
“I'm simply disciplining you, my love.” Her voice seemed to simply be dripping with sweetness.
As the knife drove deeper it cut and destroyed everything that dared cross its path sending a burning sensation through my body acting like a poison. I felt the serrated edges brush against my muscles, skin and bone as it slowly cut through them leaving a horribly painful sensation in me.
Then she suddenly pulled it out of me taking a stream of blood dripping along with it and causing me to scream in shock as the pain of the sudden removal overwhelmed me. I heard drops of my blood sizzle as it landed in the flames that were now extremely close.
“Let us begin with your pretty little face shall we? I'm sure you'll look beautiful with some scars.” Raven smiled as she brought the knife close to my cheek then sliced it open.
I was about to yell at her but she sealed my mouth shut with her magic before I could make a sound. Then, she pressed the very tip of the knife against my eye, slowly examining my expression.
“Maybe I'll give you a slightly more elaborate design while i'm at it.” Raven cut down my cheek leaving the shape of a bloody cross on my face.
I fought harder against her, hoping to break out of her spell, but she was too strong for me. Her magic had taken a hold of my mind and now I had no choice but to obey her.
She traced the knife across my cheek, adding more designs to my face. It stung every time she cut, but the burning pain that remained is what hurt most. I could taste the salty rustiness of my own blood dripping into my mouth as it slid down from the cuts.
Suddenly something distracted me. I saw a pony appear a short distance away from us. The pony didn't seem bothered by the fire, which surprised me. Raven noticed my eyes wandering then looked over her shoulder seeing the pony. When she realized who it was she smirked.
“Seems even in dreams she wishes to disturb me. Or your Princess Luna is at work.” she sighed. “Ah, you know I once admired the Princess when she was like a Nightmare herself. She assisted us spirits, encouraged our work. We were allowed so many liberties when we followed her. But then she had to fall back to her weaknesses, falling submissively to her elder sister. Now she fights us every night as she did before, driving us away from ponies dreams. It's such a shame.”
Raven looked down at me then leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Do you not see that you do the same as she?” She asked. “Falling submissive to your mother and Twilight every time you are in their presence?”
The pony that was a distance away was now close to us. I couldn't quite tell who it was, but it seemed to be pulling the flames away from us. Strange, Raven sure was pissed by it.
“Just let me help you, Solstice. You know I can. You have witnessed it with your own eyes!”
I glared at her and shook my head. “I would rather go to Tartarus than let you ‘help’ me again.” I spat the words with venom in my voice.
Raven smiled as she wiped her hoof across my cheek a sense of supposed kindness in her emerald eyes. “Oh love, so stubborn. I shall come to save you from her.” she hissed then she threw the knife into her heart of the pony.
I looked to see who she had just killed and when I finally recognized the pony my heart dropped.
“Sunset?” I whispered.
”No! No!” I screamed as I woke up in a cold sweat, clinging onto my bedsheets with my hooves as if my life depended on it. Oh thank Celestia, it was just a dream. I thought for a second then I quickly looked around the room, terrified.
Was, ugh I can't even bear to even think of her name. Was….she here? Had she given me that dream? I wouldn't put it past her since I knew she loved giving nightmares. But how could she? She's been banished and will not come back right? Right?
Suddenly I heard the sound of trotting footsteps coming towards my room. Oh great, now I've caused a ruckus and Twilight is probably freaking out. What in Equestria am I going to tell her? I looked to the door as it opened expecting to see the Princess until I saw that Twilight hadn't come to my aid this time. It was Sunset.
She lit her horn to a soft glow as she walked towards my bed.
“Solstice? Are you okay?” she asked, concerned.
I wiped the sweat off my face thankful that she was alive and that the moisture on my face was sweat not blood. “I'm fine.”
Sunset shook her head as she put her hoof on my forehead. “Don't lie to me.”
A flashback of her emerald eyes glowed in the back of my mind and I cringed. My breathing sped up slowly. I clutched my sides trying to control it, but the harder I tried the worse it became.
The images of the nightmare flashed in my mind again making the attack even worse. I was now hyperventilating really hard as I put my face in my hooves, trying my best to make it stop. Fear overtook me and anger seemed to be right on the edge as well. I couldn't see past any of these emotions. All I saw was darkness and hatred. And it scared me.
Nothing could drive me out of this until I felt a hoof rest on my shoulder and pull me close. I glanced up to see what was happening and I saw Sunset had climbed on my bed and was pulling me into a comforting hug, leaning back on the beds padded headboard for support as she did so.
“Shhh. It's okay.” Sunset whispered in a soft voice.
I shivered at the sound of her voice. I was so used to her musically sweet voice that when I heard Sunset’s strong yet wonderfully passionate voice, I felt different. Almost peaceful. But still, her words reminded me of...ugh her.
A glow of those emerald eyes reappeared in my mind and I buried my face in Sunset’s mane breathing in her scent, trying to comfort myself. Instead of the sweet apples or sugar cookies or whatever her scent was back in the other world I had encountered when I took her jacket, she smelled a bit different in this world. I guess her natural scent here would, of course, be different since this is her naturally her home.
I couldn't quite put my hoof on it till I thought for a second, then I realized what it was. She smelled like jasmine. It was a smell I had only encountered once at school, when we were examining flowers for a science experiment. Since then I had always loved the smell of jasmine. Fascinating that Sunset smelled like it.
Sunset stroked my mane in a soothing manner as she held me. I flinched away from her and gasped. No. She also did that. In my dream.
She noticed my strange reaction to her touch and was taken aback by it as she allowed me to jerk away.
I breathed heavily as the momentary adrenaline coursed through my body. I knew it wasn't her, but that simple touch made my mind subconsciously believe that it was. I don't know why, but it just did.
Sunset seemed to realize that she did something wrong so she decided to do something different. She cautiously put her hoof on my cheek then gently brushed my golden mane away from my face.
I looked at her as she closed her eyes then used her magic to extend around us then wrap us both in some sort of cover. I looked at it, confused. What was she doing?
She opened one of her eyes and smiled warmly as she put out her glowing horn then conjured a flickering flame from the tip of her horn then she levitated it to a candle that was sitting next to my bed. She closed her eye again, concentrating deeply on her spell. The magic expanded away from us, spreading to the edge of my bed. The glow grew brighter as it became stronger, building layer after layer until I noticed that she was making a magical shield of some kind. But why would she do that?
Sunset opened her eyes, satisfied with her work and smiled. “Do you see this barrier?” she asked.
I nodded, still confused.
“I learned this some time ago when I learned of these spirits. Thought it may come in handy.” She smiled crookedly. “The shield will keep her away from your dreams.”
How did she know that….she was in my dreams?
“Twilight and I did extensive research on this, so don't worry. We are very well informed on this matter.”
I shivered at the thought of what she meant. If she took the time for that did that mean she believed that possibly…
“Solstice?” Sunset asked putting a hoof on my shoulder. “Talk to me.”
I glanced up at her moving my messy mane away from my face. “What if she comes back? I couldn't… I mean what if-”
Sunset gently covered my mouth with her hoof then pulled me into a hug. I just sat there not returning her hug, unsure of what to do. She kissed my temple then rested her head on top of my own.
“Don’t worry.” she whispered softly. “I'll protect you, as long as I live.”
“But Sunset-” I began as I pulled back to look at her.
She gave me a look that shut me up. “Solstice. I'm here now, you don't have to worry anymore.” Sunset hugged me tighter as she rubbed my back with her hoof. “And as long as I'm here, you don't have to be scared. If Raven dares comes back for you I will do everything in my power to end her. She will never take my sweet little dewdrop from me again.”
I didn't expect the nickname she called me so I chuckled. “Dewdrop?”
She laughed a little as well. “Yes. When you were born I normally just called you my snowflake. Since spring is almost here I found that one to be a bit inappropriate.”
“Well, I suppose a changing nickname fits. But please. No dewdrop.”
Sunset smiled and ran her hoof through my golden mane. “I've never noticed your ear piercings before.” She commented as she examined my face closer seeing one more tiny diamond. “Not even your muzzle piercing. How did you get away with so many in school?”
I shrugged.“When you’re friends with Princess Twilight and Princess Celestia, I think that adds some, ahem, privileges.”
Sunset laughed and tickled my belly. I laughed and squirmed trying to get away from her, but she was relentless. She pinned me down and continued ticking, sending me into a laughing fit.
“Oh! You spoiled little filly you!” Sunset chuckled as she tickled me.
I laughed, squirming around the bed, desperately trying to get away from her. The tickles were simply too much!
“I'm not a filly.” I laughed.
She raised an eyebrow mischievously as she tickled me even more drowning any word I wanted to say.
“You will always be a filly to me, snowflake.” She giggled.
“Ha! Ha ha! Ha ha ha! St-st-stop it Sunset!” I managed to choke out between laughs.
“Never!” Sunset said.
I continued laughing, trying to speak, but it was hard as I was running out of breath.
“We're going to wake Twilight!” I laughed.
Sunset saw my point and stopped tickling me allowing me to breathe. I gasped for air and laid on my bed looking up at Sunset. She smiled and laid down next to me. She wrapped her hooves around me and pulled me close to her, then she rested her tail over my own, curling it around my body protectively. I swished my tail as I looked into her cyan eyes.
Sunset rested her head on my pillow and smiled. “Go to sleep, snowflake.” she whispered.
I shook my head, completely prepare to protest. “The nightmares.”
“I'm here.” Sunset reassured. “I’ll be here until you fall asleep and I'll be here when you wake.”
I wanted to keep arguing, but sleepiness was starting to overtake me. No! Can't let myself sleep. I must stay awake.
Sunset seemed to just know I was fighting the urge to sleep because she used her magic to do something that was quite amazing. She put out the candle on my bed stand and conjured a spark from her horn. The spark twinkled then shot onto the ceiling from her horn causing a magical explosion to quietly happen.
I blinked then was amazed to see thousands of glowing stars sparkling on the ceiling. But how? This has to be extremely complicated magic, yet she just did this with little to no effort!
“When I was young, Princess Celestia would do this to help me sleep.” Sunset sighed as she recalled the memory. “She would tell me that whenever she did this spell she would alway be reminded of when Princess Luna taught it to her. She said that one day she hoped I would meet her. I still have yet to do so.”
I chuckled. “Me too.”
Sunset looked down at me. “Night owl?”
“Totally.”
She chuckled. “You never fail to amaze me with our similarities.”
“Well, I am your daughter.” I smirked.
I felt the shadow of drowsiness start to overtake me even more. I wanted to fight it, but it was getting harder.
Sunset saw that my eyes were drooping and she smiled.
“Come on.” She encouraged as she stroked my mane gently. “Close those beautiful eyes.”
I fought so hard to keep them open, but the more I tried the harder it became.
I must stay awake. Can't let it happen. The flames, her eyes, being under her control. I can't I just can't. I can't bear to see her again. As I thought madly for reasons to stay awake I found myself feeling a bit dizzy from forcing myself to stay awake.
Sunset then took advantage of my state and did something I did not expect. She began to sing. Her voice sounded so...beautiful. It rang with a sense of majesty. I loved it.
Her soft lullaby and the twinkling stars soon put me under their own type of spell and I yawned. I laid my head deeper into my pillow, snuggling closer to Sunset.
The sense of drowsiness became stronger than ever so I finally surrendered to it. I allowed my body to grow heavy, all the stress and tension melting away. I let the terrible images of the dream fade into the darkness, only concentrating on Sunset’s warmth and the stars that shined down on us.
The last thing I can almost barely remember was Sunset gently placing a kiss on my forehead then whispering in my ear.
“Goodnight, my Solstice.”
I smiled a little as I was almost about to fall into a pretty hard sleep. I finally allowed my eyes to fully close then sighed.
“Goodnight…mama…I love you...” I whispered softly and fell asleep.
