> You, Us, We, Now
>  by PonyJoel
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> They
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunset Shimmer comes out of the portal and lands in front of Canterlot High School. She observes her surroundings. She is having a difficult time moving with the new body that is given to her. 

"So, this is the world the mirror led to. How interesting," Sunset tries channeling her magic; however, she is having a difficult time conjuring any. "Hmm," she groans. "This world is weak. No magic whatsoever. I might as well try to adjust and take over this pathetic world."

Unbeknown to Sunset Shimmer, there are cameras all around. Someone, in particular, watch Sunset Shimmer and her movements. Another claims that there is someone out there that looks exactly like her. An idea comes to play within the organization. They have decided to follow through with a new project.




Several years later

Twilight Sparkle (Sci-Twi) is having her BBQ with her family at the beach. She can't wait to see her friend, Sunset Shimmer, coming to the beach to have a great time since her friends are busy with their lives. It's been a few hours since Twilight called Sunset Shimmer. It's 2:30 in the afternoon. 

"Twily, is that friend of yours coming?" Shining Armor asks while grilling some burgers and veggie burgers. 

"She should be here anytime now, Big Brother," Twilight replies. She looks at her phone for any messages. 

A few minutes turn into two hours of waiting. It's unlike Sunset not to call back to let Twilight know about her status. Something is amiss, and it worries Twilight. She calls Sunset Shimmer but, it goes straight to voicemail. She leaves a voicemail and sends a few texts. After an hour, Twilight's worry skyrockets. While her family is enjoying the waters of the beach, Twilight tells her family she'll watch the grill. Twilight calls Applejack to see if she picks up. 

"Howdy, Twilight. Is there something I can help you with?" Applejack has paint on her clothing. She and her sister Apple Bloom repainted the barn house together. 

"I'm having a hard time getting in contact with Sunset Shimmer. She told me a while ago about coming to my family BBQ and, she hasn't shown up. She's three hours late. I feel something is horribly wrong and, I don't know why. Can you check on Sunset for me?" 

"I'll give her a call and pass by to check on her. I'll call you back if I receive word from her, Twilight," Applejack responds. 

"Thank you," Twilight sighs in relief. 

"What are friends for?" Applejack hangs up on Twilight and calls Sunset Shimmer on her phone. Like Twilight's call, Applejack's call goes straight to voicemail. "Hey, Sunset. I'm going to drop on by. Twilight is worried about you. Please call back, Applejack," Applejack hangs up the phone. 

"What's wrong, Applejack?" Apple Bloom asks. 

"Something doesn't seem right. I'll be back later, Apple Bloom." 

"You're not going alone. You promised me a day we spend time together as sisters. I'm going with you to Sunset's house," Apple Bloom claims. 

Applejack sighs. "Very well, let's get ready, and I'll drive to Sunset's apartment."

Applejack and Apple Bloom head back to the house to get cleaned up. After half an hour, the two get in the family truck and head off to Sunset Shimmer's apartment. When the two arrive, they see the front door wide open. Applejack grabs a shovel from the back of the truck and leads the way in case someone were to burglarize Sunset's house. Normally, Applejack would tap into her pony transformation to clobber the guy but, she's in front of Apple Bloom, who doesn't have that ability and needs to show how to use ingenuity. To Applejack and Apple Bloom's surprise, the apartment isn't ransacked. Applejack and Apple Bloom decide to search the apartment for any signs of struggle. 

"What happened here?" Applejack wants to know what went down hours ago. 

"I found her phone," Apple Bloom picks up Sunset's broken phone. 

"Whoa," Applejack walks up to Apple Bloom. "How did this happened?" Applejack observes the phone's condition. 

Apple Bloom has an answer that'll make Applejack freak out. She gulps a little. "Applejack, I know a way we can find out..," Apple Bloom starts sweating. 

"How and why are you sweating?" Applejack asks. She looks at her younger sister with suspicion. 

Apple Bloom takes a deep breath. She takes out her laptop and goes onto a website she bookmarked. It puzzles Applejack to think a website exists. Apple Bloom is on a dark website where she sees different active camera angles. 

"What the hell is this, Apple Bloom? Since when you were into this shit?"

"Well, since my friends are busy after school while you hang out with your friends more than me, I needed some way to feel that I'm involved with your life so, I go to this website to follow wherever you go and pretend that I'm with you..," Apple Bloom admits her guilty secret. 

"No wonder why you guessed so accurately whenever I tell you about my day. Apple Bloom, this is wrong," Applejack is appalled. 

"Spend more time with me so I can break this habit!" Apple Bloom barks at her sister.  

Applejack sighs. "Don't worry; I will. Sorry that I chose to spend more of my time with my friends than you, Apple Bloom. I didn't know it would lead you into this nasty habit. So, is there a camera that we can look at?"

"There's a hidden camera in Sunset's apartment. It's behind the corner of the shelf," Apple Bloom waves at the camera. Applejack sees Apple Bloom's hand waving from the laptop. 

"This is some freaky shit, Apple Bloom." 

"Be glad I only watched you whenever you are with your friends. Be glad I'm not using the site for other sick ideas," Apple Bloom retorts. 

"Can we rewind what happened earlier?" Applejack asks. 

"Yes. One of the key elements the site has is being able to watch something that happened hours ago," Apple Bloom rewinds a few hours ago on the website. Applejack and Apple Bloom see Sunset Shimmer talking on the phone. 

"Play it there, Apple Bloom," Applejack commands. 

Apple Bloom plays the video. Sunset Shimmer is reading her journal when her eyes widen in shock. Applejack and Apple Bloom sees how devastated Sunset Shimmer is after reading the message. At times Princess Twilight Sparkle would send Sunset some messages to check on her. The two speculate that something dire happened, and Sunset feels so sad. Apple Bloom fasts forward an hour and sees Sunset Shimmer answering her door. 

"Turn the volume up, Apple Bloom," Applejack wants to hear the conversation. 

Apple Bloom turns the volume to the max setting. At times for thorough conversations, the website instructs to have headphones or turn the volume to the max to hear in-depth. Applejack and Apple Bloom start hearing the discussion from Princess Twilight Sparkle. 

"It's time to go," Princess Twilight says.

That one command made Applejack's heart sink. Apple Bloom notices her sister's demeanor change from that one command from Princess Twilight Sparkle. She understands how dire the situation could be in the Equestria world. 

"Not until you tell me what the hay is going on! Why am I'm needed in Equestria so drastically?" Sunset asks, sounding highly upset.

Applejack is now confused; her first intake from the beginning made her heart sink. Now, it's completely different. Apple Bloom is confused but, she'll keep listening to the whole story. 

Princess Twilight enters Sunset's apartment. "I'll tell you why," Princess Twilight Sparkle grabs a chair and sits on it.

Sunset Shimmer sits on her couch facing Twilight. "Why is it important for me to come back to Equestria?"

"You remember Spike, right?" Twilight looks at Sunset Shimmer. 

"Yea, your number one assistant. The baby dragon. What about him?"

"He no longer resides in Equestria," Twilight said, going straight to the point.

"What do you mean he no longer resides in Equestria?" Sunset is confused.

"Discord teleported Spike into another world after granting a wish. A world Discord doesn't even know what it features."

"Why would Discord do that? That makes no sense whatsoever."

"Here's the kicker. My friends and I botched our friendship with Spike that he felt unhappy."

"Unhappy? How? What was the cause for Spike to become unhappy?"

Twilight sadly sighs. "It's a long story."

"Apparently, I have all day since you're here," Sunset crosses her arms. "Might as well tell me the whole story."

"What the hell did that Twilight and her friends do to their Spike?" Applejack wants to know how the Princess of Friendship and her counterparts did to Spike.

"Must be pretty bad for Twilight to grab Sunset Shimmer," Apple Bloom responds. 

"Play the damn video," Applejack commands. 

For two hours straight, Applejack and Apple Bloom couldn't believe what the Princess of Friendship and their counterparts had done to their Spike; Using, abusing, abandoning, and neglecting Spike for many years. All the atrocities, mockery, and enslavement that the Princess and their counterparts did make Apple Bloom cry in horror. As for Applejack, she wants to wrangle their throats with her lasso. The supposed Elements of Harmony brought disharmony on a baby dragon.  

"How the fuck did they got away with such crimes like this?" Apple Bloom is appalled by the stories. 

"Language, Apple Bloom. Second, I have no idea. If anyone were to do that in our world, that's a life sentence with no parole. Easy." 

Apple Bloom and Applejack continue to watch the video. They want to see Sunset's reaction to all this. 

"So, let me get this straight. You want me to give up my happiness for your happiness?" Sunset is livid.

"It's not my fault that you were thrown into the fray like that, Sunset. It was Discord that brought it up. He's good at making ponies suffer from consequences."

"It doesn't matter whose fault it was. What you did is vile, unforgivable. How dare you, the Princess of Friendship, put a baby dragon through all that trauma while preaching what friendship is supposed to be. How dare you!?" Sunset yells at Twilight. "How dare you watch idly while your baby dragon was nearly drowning in a freezing lake!? How dare you make him clean an entire castle all by himself without any help!? HOW DARE YOU REDUCE SPIKE'S LIFE INTO SLAVERY!? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU, PRINCESS OF FRIENDSHIP?!"

"I'm surprised that she didn't curse her out," Apple Bloom said. 

"I agree. If that were me in that situation, I would have told Twilight to fuck off," Applejack said. She's pissed at Princess Twilight Sparkle. 

"Language, Applejack," Apple Bloom said. 

Applejack rolls her eyes. She and Apple Bloom continue to watch the video. 

"I know. What my friends and I did is morbid. That's why we have a chance to fix everything. You are vital for Equestria."

"No! Screw you!" Sunset said. She covers her face in disgust.

"You don't belong here, Sunset. There's a Sunset Shimmer living in this world, and you are robbing her of her life. There's probably a lot of confusion, especially with her age. Have you considered thinking about that?" 

Applejack and Apple Bloom's jaws drop to the floor after hearing that statement. They couldn't believe that the Princess threw Sunset Shimmer under the bus like that. The possibility of another Sunset Shimmer didn't hit them but, they haven't seen their world's Sunset Shimmer. As a matter of fact, they wonder where she could be. 

"No! Don't do that! Don't guilt-trip me about someone else's life. I made my decision to live here."

"You decided to live someone else's life by coming here. Ruining that Sunset Shimmer on achieving her goals and dreams because someone here is exactly like her. The truth hurts, Sunset. It's time to come home."

Applejack and Apple Bloom watch Sunset gripping her phone. The thought of impersonating someone's life never came across. Thanks to Twilight's claim, Applejack and Apple Bloom sees Sunset thinking a lot of what-ifs scenarios. Sunset's hand couldn't stop shaking while her guilty conscience got the better of her. Sunset sheds a tear out of her right eye.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Sunset angrily throws her phone against the wall. It shatters upon impact. She falls to her knees and cries a little.

"That fucking bitch," Applejack and Apple Bloom said in unison. They couldn't believe that Princess Twilight Sparkle gave Sunset Shimmer a guilty conscience for her to go back to Equestria. They watch Sunset cry her eyes out. 

"Twilight," Sunset gets up.

"Yes, Sunset?" Twilight approaches Sunset.

Sunset has her eyes closed. "I'll return to Equestria. However, you are not my friend. Neither are those who used and abused Spike so severely."

"I understand. Thank you for making the right decision," Twilight formally says.

"However," Sunset noted.

"What do you mean, however?" Twilight doesn't understand.

"I'm not the only one that originated from Equestria. Three sirens originally came from Equestria that reside here. You need to gather Adagio Dazzle, Aria Blaze, and Sonata Dusk as well."

"Of course. That's the plan."

"If you're wondering where the Sirens are at, they live in a van, traveling around town to sing and find a purpose."

"Where will they be right now?" Twilight asks.

"At a bar where people get drunk to forget their depression. Follow me," Sunset gathers her belongings and puts them in a duffle bag. She gets ready and takes Twilight to the bar.

The footage ends after Sunset Shimmer and Princess Twilight leaving the apartment. Applejack and Apple Bloom are infuriated at Princess Twilight Sparkle. Applejack receives a call from Twilight Sparkle (Sci-Twi) and answers it. 

"Hey, it's getting dark. My family is heading back home. What happened to Sunset Shimmer? Where is she?" 

"You're counterpart came and took her back to Equestria. As to why is a long story. One that you and the others won't like," Applejack said. She doesn't sound like herself, which worries Twilight more. "I want you and the girls to come over to my house tomorrow. Message the girls that it's important."

"I.., I will..," Twilight is afraid that something horrid has happened to Sunset Shimmer. Twilight text messages her friends to meet up at Applejack's home for an emergency meeting. 

The next day. It's 10:30 in the morning. Applejack and Apple Bloom are in Applejack's room for the emergency meeting. Big Mac opens Applejack's door, allowing Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy in. Each of Applejack's friends takes a seat. They are worried about the status of Sunset Shimmer. 

"Thank you for coming on short notice," Applejack says. 

"AJ, what is going on?" Rainbow asks. She wants to know what's going on with Sunset Shimmer and her disappearing act. 

"Do please tell us. Today, I was planning on a sister-bonding day with Sweetie Belle," Rarity said while doing her nails. 

"What I'm about to show you is quite disturbing. I can't say what it is. It's too painful. Apple Bloom, play the video." 

Apple Bloom nods and plays the video of what happened with Sunset Shimmer yesterday. Apple Bloom shows the important parts of the video to Applejack's friends. They are appalled, angry, and sad at the same time. Twilight imagines her dog, Spike going through with that and swears in her name that she'll never do what her counterpart did. Rainbow Dash wants to give her counterpart the beating she deserves. As for everyone else, they lower their heads in sadness that they lost a friend to a conniving Princess of Friendship. 

"So, what are going to do?" Rainbow gets up. "Go to Equestria and bring our friend back?" Rainbow does her boxing punches, imagining bringing a fight to their counterparts. 

"There's nothing we can do about it, Rainbow Dash. All we can do now is move on and remember her legacy with us as friends," Applejack sadly says. 

"You think she may come back to us, someday?" Rarity asks Applejack. 

"For a visit?" Twilight looks at Applejack. 

"All we can do is hope that she comes to visit us. Until then, we have to stay strong and united. Someday, we will see Sunset Shimmer again. I know it in my heart," Applejack said, placing her hand on her heart. 

"I believe in it!" Pinkie places her hand on her heart. 

"I know one day, she'll come back to us," Fluttershy places her hand on her heart.

"We will be united once more," Rarity places her hand on her heart. 

"Maybe we can go with Sunset to teach our counterparts a life lesson about true friendship," Rainbow places her hand on her heart. "Sunset will always be our friend. Our paths will cross again. Who knows? Maybe one last adventure." 

"Or many more to come. There are no goodbyes, just see you later," Twilight places her hand on her heart. "Thank you for informing us about Sunset Shimmer, Applejack." 

"Thank Apple Bloom for her disturbing habit. Otherwise, we wouldn't know what went down. Girls, we need to include the Career Making Crusaders during our time to hang out. We can't leave them hanging after hearing what Princess Twilight and her friends did to their Spike." 

Apple Bloom nervously chuckles when Applejack mentions her disturbing habit of spying on her sister. The girls in the room thank Apple Bloom for bringing solace instead of having to go through weeks of heartache and sorrow without any knowledge of Sunset's disappearance.




Two months later.

Canterlot High is back in session as summer break comes to an end. Sunset Shimmer comes out of the portal happier than ever. However, they have eyes on this Sunset and decides to initiate their plans.
> Made
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunset Shimmer is in front of Canterlot High School. She knows she already missed two periods of her senior year in high school. 

"Alright, all I have to do is go see Principal Celestia and explain the situation. Hopefully, she'll understand and let my final week be rememberable." Sunset thought to herself. She enters the school and walks straight to Principal Celestia's office. 

Several students within Canterlot High are confused seeing Sunset Shimmer walking down the hallway. They were told she went back to her native homeland for utmost importance by the Princess of Friendship. Sunset will explain to some in a while; she needs to see the Principal first. 

"Here we are." Sunset Shimmer is in front of Principal Celestia's office and knocks on the door. 

"Come in," Principal Celestia says after finishing writing a form. 

Sunset Shimmer enters the office and sits down on a chair facing Principal Celestia. Celestia is in shock, seeing Sunset Shimmer after being told that Sunset won't be joining her senior year of high school. 

"Hi, Principal Celestia," Sunset feels a little nervous. 

"So, you came back. I was told by your friends you weren't coming back. That something happened in your homeland." 

"About that, everything is fine back home. The Princess of Friendship lied to me about the law. However, I'm here for a week. To close a chapter before moving on back to Equestria," Sunset said. 

"Why a week? Why not reclaim your life here?" Principal Celestia is confused when things seem right in Equestria. 

"The Princess of Friendship guilt-trip me into thinking I'm robbing the life of Sunset Shimmer in this world. The idea of literal identity theft never came to my mind. The possibility I could be robbing her is downright horrible, and that's something I don't want in my conscience. So, I'm here for one week to be with my friends so I can have a proper farewell. I didn't say bye when I left." 

The idea of identity theft comes to Principal Celestia's mind. She forgot about some things Sunset friends' had mentioned. She takes a deep breath and allowing her mind to take the info. 

"Alright. Do you wish to partake in any classes this week, or what is your game plan?"

"Resume classes with my friends and hang out with them at their houses. Party every night to enjoy our company." 

"Very well," Principal Celestia takes out this week's worth of classes and hands it to Sunset Shimmer. "This would have been your class sheet for the year. Everything is still in place. There is one thing I must ask of you." 

"Anything, Principal Celestia," Sunset says. She sees that her next class is calculus. 

"Invite my sister and me to one of those parties," Principal Celestia smiles. 

"You got it," Sunset smiles. 

"Thank you," Principal Celestia hears another knock on her door. "It's open." 

Apple Bloom walks in. She's wearing a janitor's attire bringing in a mop and wheel bucket for cleaning floors. Sunset Shimmer is confused as to why Apple Bloom is doing janitorial work and not in class. 

"I'm here to clean your floors, Principal," Apple Bloom sounds tired. 

"Apple Bloom. What did you do to get janitorial work?" Sunset asks Apple Bloom. 

"Sunset! You're here!" Apple Bloom is happy to see Sunset Shimmer. "As for this," Apple Bloom sighs heavily. "One of my punishments for using a dark website to spy on my sister and you girls."

"What?" Sunset is confused. 

"I used a dark website to find out what happened to you when you didn't respond to Twilight about a family BBQ at the beach. I used the dark website to find out about your disappearing act and how the Princess was vile with Spike. After showing my sister and her friends..," Apple Bloom sighs heavily. "I confessed my dirty habit to my family, and they weren't happy with me. I was taken to court cause of my serious crimes, and I received two options, jail time or community service and therapy. I chose community service and therapy. Eight months of community service, eight months of therapy. When Granny told Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna, I got sentenced to six months of detention and to do janitorial work. It's to show me how serious my crime was. It sucks but I gotta do the time for my years of spying on my sister. As for my classes, I gotta attend to the after school program and Saturday school." 

"Wow," Sunset couldn't believe that Apple Bloom has to go through all of that. 

"I'm lucky for having a cool judge that sees second chances within young teens like me. Jail time would have ruined my families' reputation at the farm, and getting those apples wouldn't help the town when it comes to cider season. Judge Neighsay hates seeing the young going astray and would come up with interesting methods with community service. If I were a few years older, I would be in jail right now."

"So, you won't use that website anymore?" Sunset places her hand on Apple Bloom's shoulder. 

"No. My therapy session is helping me break those chains. Plus, I'm not allowed to use any internet unless it's for school, and I'll be supervised by either Granny or Big Mac back home." 

"Apple Bloom will also have summer school this year to make up for the time lost," Principal Celestia said to remind Apple Bloom. 

"Yes, Principal Celestia," Apple Bloom says. She starts mopping the floors. 

"I better get going to my next class," Sunset leaves the office.

Sunset Shimmer goes to her calculus class and sees her friends. Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie are extremely happy to see Sunset returning. They want to celebrate when Professor Sunburst told them they could after class. An hour after class, the lunch bell rings. Sunset follows her friends outside to the bleachers to discuss privately. 

"I'm so happy to see you, Sunset!" Pinkie Pie gives Sunset a tight bear hug to show her emotions. 

"Can't... breathe.., Pinkie!" Sunset says. Pinkie Pie lets go of the hug, allowing her to breathe. "Thank you."

"Sunset, how is this possible? We thought you were gone for good. What happened in Equestria?" 

"Long story short, everything is fine. Princess Twilight lied to me about the law but made a convincing fact about identity theft. So, I'm here to be with you girls one more week before I go back to Equestria for good." 

"Aw, what!" Rainbow sounds excited one second before sounding upset. 

"I can't stay here for good. There is another Sunset Shimmer out here, and me being here is robbing her life and dreams. I didn't tell you girls about my problem a while ago because I know deep down you'll do whatever you can to persuade me to stay."

"Well, duh, you're our friend Sunset," Rainbow proudly claims. 

"However, we do understand the circumstance you were in," Twilight says. 

"So, I was thinking. After school, I go to your houses and party with you. I want to do something memorable before leaving for good." 

"Leave the parties to me," Pinkie pulls out her party cannon. "Tonight will be at my house."

"Sounds good. I heard about Apple Bloom. I saw her in the Principal's office." 

"If it weren't for her nasty habit, we wouldn't know why you disappeared. However, she still committed a crime and has to do the time," Applejack said. "There was no avoiding it."

"I have to keep my Sweetie Belle in check; so she doesn't make the same mistakes. I've been avoiding a lot of bonding time. I need to make up the time. Hope you don't mind me bringing her to the parties." 

"Not at all, Rarity," Sunset smiles. 

The rest of the school day goes accordingly. Sunset tells her teachers and instructors that this week is her final week of being in classes. They understood and were aware of the situation. A few hours later, the school bell rings, signaling the day is over. Nearly everyone leaves the school in such a hurry.

"Alright, go straight to my house!" Pinkie commands. "No stopping at nothing! We have Sunset for a limited of time and need to use it wisely!" 

"Alright, Pinkie. We're going," Applejack said, feeling Pinkie pushing her and her friends to the house.

"Wait! I can't leave Sweetie Belle behind!" Rarity exclaims. 

"Alright," Pinkie Pie continues to push her friends except for Rarity. 

Rarity returns to the school to wait for Sweetie Belle. She waits for fifteen minutes. "What is taking Sweetie Belle so long? It's unlike her to stay in school after the bell rang," Rarity gets a little worried and decides to enter the school. "Sweetie Belle?" Rarity calls out for her sister. All she hears is silence. "Sweetie Belle, this isn't funny!" Rarity feels chills down her spine and goosebumps around her body. Something is scaring her. She would have heard Principal Celestia or Vice Principal Luna responding to Rarity's loud cries and giving her an answer about Sweetie Belle's whereabouts. 

Rarity's movements are slowing down as she walks. She's holding herself while there is absolute silence in the school. Rarity's hand starts shaking while she takes out her phone to call Sweetie Belle. She hears Sweetie Belle's phone ringing, which puzzles her more. She sees the school's lights going off, causing her to scream a bit. 

"Sweetie Belle! Where are you!?" Rarity is nearly on the verge of crying. "If this is a prank, it's not very funny!" 

Rarity notices the lights flickering, which worries her even more. She walks by the classroom and sees Sweetie Belle standing still in the center. The room is dark, and apparently, she's wearing a greenish-light blue jumpsuit. Sweetie Belle turns around, holding a pair of black scissors. 

"Is this some sort of theatre you're doing that you didn't tell me?" Rarity asks Sweetie Belle. She sees Sweetie Belle grinning widely. "Please speak to me," The lights in the room turn on, revealing a pool of blood and several bodies on the floor. Rarity stumbles back a bit in fear. "Sweetie Belle! What is this!?" Rarity shrieks, seeing the bodies on the floor. 

Sweetie Belle calmly walks out of the classroom, still holding onto her black scissors. Rarity gets up and runs for her life. The lights in the school turn on, she sees more bodies on the floor, including two of her friends, Lyra and Bon Bon. 

"I have to get out! Something is horribly wrong!" Rarity didn't watch where she was going and trips on a body. She lands hard on the floor, twisting her ankle. "Ow!" Rarity clutches her ankle and notices the body she tripped on. "No..," Rarity sees Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle's lifeless bodies on the floor. They have a deep wound in the chest. "What the hell is going on!" Rarity starts crying. 

The Sweetie Belle wearing her jumpsuit calmly walks to the cries of Rarity, still bearing the black scissors. Rarity sees more people coming out of classrooms wearing the same jumpsuit and wielding the same black scissors. Rarity takes out her phone to dial 911 when she gets stabbed in the back by a black pair of scissors. The person takes her phone and sees Pinkie Pie's party message. The person replies by saying they'll be coming a little late tonight.
> Us
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Okay!" Pinkie sees Rarity's text message. "Rarity will be showing up a little late tonight. Probably has an outfit for you in the works, Sunset." 

"Maybe," Sunset knows how fast Rarity can work but, she doesn't wear clothing in Equestria. 

"Maybe are for babies, Sunset. Rarity is making you an outfit," Fluttershy said. She doesn't sound aggressive when she says a quote from Iron Will. Pinkie Pie is amazed that Fluttershy was calm when she said a quote from Iron Will. 

"Wow, Flutters. Those assertive classes you took during the summertime are paying off," Rainbow said. 

"Oh yes. It did wonders for me," Fluttershy said.  

Pinkie Pie continues to push her friends to her house. Twilight asks Pinkie to stop so she can bring her dog, Spike. After hearing what her counterpart has done to her dragon, she wants Spike included in much of her activities. Pinkie Pie stops in front of Twilight's house, allowing her to bring Spike over. After a few minutes, Twilight holds Spike in her arms. 

"Hey, Sunset is back. I thought you said she was gone for good," Spike asks. He scratches behind his ear. 

"She will be by the end of the week. I refuse to leave you out on anything I do." 

"Wow. So this is a farewell week of parties?" Spike asks Twilight. 

"Affirmative, Spike," Twilight smiles at Spike. 

"Great! Now move!" Pinkie Pie pushes her friends to her house once more. Spike wants to question Pinkie's motive but decides not to. 

It's 4:30 in the afternoon. Pinkie Pie opens the front door and sees Maud Pie feeding her pet rock, Boulder. Maud tells Pinkie that she's in charge for the week while the family is on a rock convention trip. Pinkie brings her friends to her room and shoots her party cannon, setting up the party. 

"So, later tonight, I'm ordering pizza. It's on me!" Pinkie glees. 

"Thanks, Pinkie," Everyone says in unison. 

"Can I have a pie with meat on it?" Spike asks, hoping not to get the vegetarian special. 

"Sure, Spike," Pinkie pets him. 

"So, uh," Spike turns to Sunset and is lost for words. "Do you know how the other me is doing?" 

"He's living the best life as a Fairy Tail Wizard," Sunset answers. 

Rainbow laughs a bit. "Fairy Tale? Fairy Tale?" Rainbow burst into laughter. "What is Spike? Some Fairy Dragon? Spike the Fairy?" Rainbow continues to laugh. 

"Yes," Sunset answers in a serious tone, showing that she isn't fooling or punking her friends. "Spike in Earth Land is known as Fairy Dragon. He is called Spike the Fairy."

"No way..," Rainbow is stunned. "So uh.., if Spike the Fairy were here now?" 

"You would be obliterated and humiliated in less than ten seconds flat. Spike is that powerful. I've seen his memories, and Spike is a monster. His magic far exceeds ours a million times combined." 

Rainbow, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Twilight, and Spike's jaws drop. They wish to see what Spike the Fairy endured. 

"Wow. The other me is awesome. I wonder if I can be that strong if I had magic," Spike said. 

"Who knows, Spike," Sunset rubs Spike's belly. Spike's hind leg kicks a bit. 

"Enough chatter! Let's dance!" Pinkie Pie plays her music loudly. She and her friends start dancing to the music. 

After an hour of dancing and singing along to the music, Rainbow Dash decides to hit Pinkie with a pillow and shout pillow fight! Everyone in the room grabs a pillow except for Fluttershy and Spike. The two take cover under a mattress while the girls unleash their fury of pillows. 

"I wonder where Rarity is?" Spike said to Fluttershy. 

"She said that she's bringing Sweetie Belle to the party and will be a little late tonight," Fluttershy answers. 

"How nice of her," Spike said. 

"After finding out what happens when you don't involve your sibling in life, things can go astray," Fluttershy states. 

"Oh, like your brother?" Spike reminds Fluttershy of Zephyr Breeze. 

"Zephyr Breeze is complicated. I'm still trying to find a way to help him," Fluttershy said. She shudders from the embarrassing moment at Canterlot City Mall when Zephyr Breeze threw a fit in the pet store and got fired. 

Spike and Fluttershy are startled when Applejack knocks Rainbow Dash with her pillow to the floor. The pillow fight gets intense when Maud comes into the room. 

"Pinkie, I received a complaint from our next-door neighbor. Please, lower the music," Maud said.  

"Oh, sorry, Maud," Pinkie lowers the volume of the music still playing loudly. 

"Man, all this pillow fighting is making me hungry," Rainbow said. 

"Time to order pizza!" Pinkie speed dials Canterlot City Pizza and orders a couple of pies. She made sure one of the pies has meat for Spike. 

Sunset sees Pinkie's game station games and decides to play Galaga. She and the others will take turns in getting the highest score in the game. Spike rolls on his back while Twilight rubs his belly. He enjoys the belly rubs. 

It's 7:30 at night. Time flew by when the girls were playing Galaga. Sunset beats Twilight's high score by ten points in Galaga. Something is amiss when the pizza delivery guy is late.

"Okay, how long until the pizza guy gets here, Pinkie?" Rainbow asks. Her stomach growls louder. 

"I don't know! The pizza guy should have been here already!" Pinkie panics a bit. "Also, Rarity hasn't messaged me about her arrival!" 

"I guess she won't be making it tonight? Perhaps helping Sweetie Belle with homework?" Sunset theorizes. 

The power goes off in the house. Fluttershy squeals louder than the rest of her friends. Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Twilight use their phones for flashlights to see what's going on. Maud enters the room stealthily, scaring the lights out of the girls and Spike. 

"Maud! Don't scare us like that!" Rainbow barks at Maud Pie. 

"Stay here. I'm going to check the power box outside," Maud leaves Pinkie's room. 

"Okay, I'm sure Maud got this. No need to panic," Fluttershy quivers a bit. She, at times, hates being in the dark. 

"How often does this happen to you, Pinkie?" Twilight asks Pinkie Pie. 

"This is a first. There's a first for everything," Pinkie giggles a bit. 

"Boy," Spike looks out the window. "It's getting dark already," Spike sees the moon and stars in the skies. He sees several homes having some blackout difficulties. "Hey guys, I think there's a rolling blackout within the neighborhood," Spike gets the attention of his friends to look out the window. 

"Wow, how unfortunate," Sunset said. 

"I guess the pizza guy must have a similar situation and is taking a bit longer to heat up those pizzas," Applejack says. 

"Maybe," Fluttershy said. 

"I don't like the way things look outside," Twilight said. 

"You and me both, Twilight," Spike and Sunset said in unison. They don't like how things outside have become darker. 

Maud Pie is outside the house and goes to the side where the power box is. She opens it to see if she can fix it. She uses her phone for a flashlight to see clearer. That's when someone from behind hand gags her and stabs her in the back with black scissors. Maud muffles into the hand gag and slowly dies. The person pulls the scissors off her back and reaches for Rarity's phone. The person messages Pinkie Pie, letting her know that they arrive in front of the house. The person goes through the back door with a few others. 

"I got a text message! Rarity and Sweetie Belle are in front of the house!" Pinkie Pie excitedly shouts. 

"There they are!" Rainbow points at Rarity and Sweetie Belle. 

"Aw, they're holding hands," Fluttershy said. She smiles at the cute sisterly moment. 

Rarity and Sweetie Belle are wearing greenish-light blue jumpsuits. The two start walking towards the front door together. Pinkie Pie, Sunset, Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow, Spike, and Fluttershy go downstairs to greet their friends. Pinkie Pie is the first to open the front door, allowing Rarity and Sweetie Belle to enter. 

"Welcome to the party, girls!" Pinkie cheers loudly.  

Rarity and Sweetie Belle hold their black scissors. They don't say anything but smile. Sunset, Twilight, and Spike feel uncomfortable with the smiles and matching attires. Fluttershy is terrified at the moment. Applejack and Rainbow Dash are confused as to why Rarity and Sweetie Belle didn't say a word to Pinkie Pie. 

"Hey, are you two okay?" Pinkie Pie tries to make them talk. She snaps her fingers in front of the two. 

"Do you have a soar throat?" Fluttershy asks Rarity.

Rarity and Sweetie Belle continue to smile. They aren't saying anything, which bothers the rest of the girls and Spike. 

"Okay, I get it," Rainbow said. "This is a gag for Halloween that Sweetie Belle came up with, right Rarity?" 

"Enough with the silent treatment bullshit!" Applejack is losing her patience. She had enough with the game Rarity and Sweetie Belle is playing. 

"Applejack, we don't use that kind of language in this house!" Pinkie said. "Maud never allows me. Speaking of Maud, where is she?" 

"Still fixing on the power box, remember Pinkie?" Rainbow reminds Pinkie Pie of her sister's doing. 

"Oh yea, I forget at times," Pinkie shrugs the forgetfulness with a little laughter. 

Two people from behind hit Applejack and Rainbow Dash with baseball bats on their legs. Applejack and Rainbow Dash screams in agony while clutching their legs. Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Twilight, Sunset, and Spike turn around to see two people wearing greenish-light blue jumpsuits while having their hoodies up. They hold scissors towards their throats. 

The person texts Pinkie's phone. Messaging them to sit down on the big couch in the living room. The girls comply and go to the living room to sit on the couch. The two people wearing greenish-light blue jumpsuits drag  Applejack and Rainbow Dash to the living room. They made them sit on the couch. Three more people walk into the living room wearing the same greenish-light blue jumpsuits with their hoodies up. Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and the five people wearing greenish-light blue jumpsuits align themselves next to a wall across from the couch. The last person walks in wearing a greenish-light blue jumpsuit with the hoodie up. The last person drags a lifeless body of Maud Pie and places her on top of the table. Pinkie pie burst into tears, knowing that her sister is dead. The last person sees a couch chair and sits on it.

"Why are you here?!" Rainbow demands to know the reasoning behind the attacks. 

"What do you want from us!?" Fluttershy shouts with tears in her eyes. She fears dying like Maud. 

"Rarity, Sweetie Belle! What is wrong with you!? Why are you standing on that side and not sit with us on the couch!?" Applejack barks at the sisterly duo. 

Rarity and Sweetie Belle continue to smile, slightly leaning their head at the questions being asked by the girls. The two continue to clutch onto their black scissors. 

"What did Maud ever do to yoooouhohohoooo?" Pinkie is crying her eyes out. She can't believe that Maud is dead and in front of her. 

"Who are you, people?" Twilight asks the rest wearing greenish-light blue jumpsuits. 

The person sitting on the couch chair does a hand signal. The person wants to savior the reactions of those sitting on the couch. The five people lower their hoodies, revealing their faces to the Main Seven and Spike. All of them are silent and stunned beyond belief. The five people that lowered their hoodies are Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight Sparkle. Each of them wielding their black scissors, staring at their opposites, smiling. 

"How is this possible..?" Twilight couldn't think of any logical reason as to why seeing doubles. 

"Her," The last person points to Sunset Shimmer. 

"What did I do..?" Sunset doesn't remember what she did that caused any of this. She pants a little. 

The last person unveils herself. Sunset eyes, like everyone else's sitting on the couch, go wide. They see Sunset Shimmer smirking devilishly. She relished their reactions. 

"You stole my life."
> Because
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I didn't do anything to you! I never see you around!" Sunset Shimmer pleas while sitting next to her friends. 

"Ever wonder why I wasn't around? Ever wonder what was happening in my life? Throughout the days? Throughout the years? Ever wonder why no one ever said, hey, you look like someone I know?" Sunset stares at the girls and Spike. 

The remaining members of the Main Seven get goosebumps while their counterparts smile happily at them. Sunset Shimmer tilts her head, watching them try to come up with theories. 

"What exactly happened to you?" Twilight asks nervously. She knows the outcome of the answer won't be pretty. 

"I'll tell you my tale. The horrors I experienced," Sunset gets comfortable on the couch chair. "A few years ago, Madam President Chrysalis thought the country would be prospering better with a more controlled populous. It takes one mind and wicked people to create an operation that'll wind up being their downfall."

"Wh-What did Madam President Chrysalis do to you..?" Fluttershy nervously asks. She sees her counterpart tightening her grip on the black pair of scissors. 

"To control the populous to her liking, she needed the perfect specimen to replicate a living person. When reports about two identical people, living in the same town, and on documentation, no such file of two exact people in their records; they heard one with magic power and the other as fragile as any other."

"The Fall Formal........." Sunset remembers her demonic form when she tried to enslave everyone. 

"While I was on my way to school, and this was before entering the eighth grade, two people, all in black, approached me and took me away to an underground facility where the Equestrian Government conducted their experiment. So, their purpose was to use my genetic makeup to create more copies to replicate every citizen in our country. They called the project, The Changeling. However, there was a major flaw in their works. They created the body, the aspects of the person. But, they weren't able to replicate a soul. The duplicates were then tethered to their opposites, mimicking their everyday lives. With further study, they deemed their project worthless. They abandoned their work and left me behind to rot."

The girls and Spike are silent. It's like listening to a scary story or watching a horror movie. Sunset Shimmer is going through a lot of emotions, all due to her involvement in this world. Sunset now knows that Princess Twilight Sparkle is right, but the conclusion to her statements is more vile and atrocious than any possibility Sunset thought. 

"I walked aimlessly for a while in the underground facility, looking for a way out. That's when the experiments that were done on me caused me to be tethered to you," Sunset points at Sunset Shimmer with her black scissors. "When the duplicates saw that I was different than them, they heard me sing and play my guitar; they deemed me as their savior. So, I began to plot. Using the idea of Madam President Chrysalis' favorite colors, I designed how each jumpsuit shall be made and the color of our weapon. I decided to allow the Changling Project to be unleashed. Today, we are free. Tomorrow, we will take over. Rising out of the darkness and into the light."

"Not on my watch!" Rainbow Dash grabs her necklace and ponies up. She uses her high speed to attack Sunset when Rainbow gets knocked to the ground in an instant. 

"Rainbow Dash!" The girls and Spike horridly shout. 

"Acting without thinking," Sunset on the couch chair applauds for Rainbow's feeble attempt. It was Rainbow's duplicate that threw her scissors at Rainbow Dash when she lunged at her savior. 

Rainbow Dash reverts to normal while having a pair of black scissors impaled through the chest. Rainbow Dash pants heavily from the attack. Sunset does a hand signal for the duplicate to untethered herself. Rainbow wearing the jumpsuit walks up to Rainbow Dash. 

"Wait! Please!" Rainbow Dash begs for her life while looking into the eyes of her duplicate. The duplicate stops, smiling widely, and impaling Rainbow Dash's heart. Rainbow's eyes go up as she closes them. 

"Noooooooooooooooohohohoooooooooooo!" Pinkie shrieks. 

Fluttershy holds onto Applejack; she doesn't want to die. Applejack holds Fluttershy and tries to keep a stern look at the Changelings (duplicates). Spike buries his face in Twilight's belly, not wanting to see any more death. Sunset couldn't believe what she witnessed. Pinkie Pie is in a trance seeing her sister and one of her best friends dead. Twilight Sparkle doesn't know what to think; she just witnessed her friend murdered. 

"Today, my friend, you are untethered. Join the rest, hold hands in an embrace, relish the freedom you have," Sunset commands Tethered Rainbow Dash. 

The girls watch Rainbow's duplicate pulls her scissors off Rainbow Dash's chest, splattering blood on the floor, and leaves the house. Pinkie cries her eyes out when Rainbow's blood got on her. 

"The same goes for you two," Sunset does the hand signal, allowing Rarity and Sweetie Belle to join their brothers and sisters in freedom. 

"Are we going to die?" Fluttershy is in tears while holding onto Applejack. She wants to go home and live. 

"Unlike Rainbow Dash, who foolishly wasted her opportunity, I'm allowing you to face your duplicates in a fair game." 

"Game..?" Applejack, Fluttershy, Twilight, Pinkie, and Sunset said in unison. Spike couldn't utter a word to speak. He's too afraid to see his friends dying the way Rainbow did. 

"You'll have a fair opportunity to untether yourselves," Sunset sinisterly smiles. "Each of you, face your opposites," Sunset takes out Rarity's phone. "Or, you can join them instead," Sunset shows the girls the breaking news on Rarity's phone. All across Canterlot City, hundreds of people are dead on the streets and in their homes. Many footages are shown, including several recognizable families. 

"Nooo! Nooo!" Twilight Sparkle sees the footage of her family dead on the streets from drone surveillance. She pants while holding onto her chest. 

"Oh my God..," Applejack sees Sweet Apple Acres on fire on the phone. She sheds a few tears. 

"Please! Stop this!" Fluttershy wants the madness to end. 

"There's nothing you can do to stop this. Either take your chance with the untethering or join your family in death," Sunset gets up. "Pick your poison."

"We will stop you," Sunset Shimmer stands to confront her counterpart. "We will find a way to end this madness. You watch." 

"Bold words. So far, your magic is at its peak when you have your friends standing by. I killed Rarity. Your friend, Rainbow Dash, is there," Sunset uses her scissors to point at the lifeless body of Rainbow Dash. "Your combined magic is worthless now."

"Magic or no magic, we will find a way to end the Changelings' Madness!" Sunset Shimmer proclaims. 

Sunset does a hand signal. "There is something that you should know. Being tethered to you; they, being tethered to your magical friends, we were enhanced in precious gifts," Sunset kicks Sunset Shimmer to show her immense strength. Sunset Shimmer crashes into the wall and lands outside the house.

"Sunset!" The girls and Spike cries out. 

"That does it!" Applejack had enough of their terror and ponies up. She throws the first punch at her duplicate when she catches her fist. The Tethered Applejack kicks Applejack in the gut and tosses her outside through the window. 

"Fine, I'll fight to protect my friends!" Twilight musters enough courage to pony up. The Tethered Twilight tilts her head, smiling while looking at herself. "Take this, you abomination!" Twilight uses her magic to levitate a baseball bat to strike at her Tethered self. The Tethered Twilight moves out of the way and uses her magic to hurl Twilight a bit. The Tethered Twilight goes after Twilight. 

"I'll fucking kill you!" Pinkie Pie ponies up and throws sprinkles at the Tethered Pinkie and Fluttershy. She wants to kill all the Changelings for causing great harm and regret. 

Fluttershy grabs Spike and flees from danger. The Tethered Pinkie turns to Pinkie, her smile turns into a frown. The Tethered Fluttershy slowly walks after her prey. 

"Die, you fucking parasite!" Pinkie Pie unleashes her fury and emotions on the Tethered Pinkie Pie. She punches and kicks Tethered Pinkie left and right while tears stream on her face. 

Sunset Shimmer gets up after the assault. She sees her duplicate walking closer. Sunset Shimmer grabs a trash can lid to use for self-defense. 

"What can you do to harm me?" Sunset said, mocking Sunset Shimmer's situation. 

"Come closer and find out," Sunset entices her duplicate. 

Sunset decides to attack Sunset Shimmer to see what she does. She runs and does and a knee strike on Sunset Shimmer. Sunset Shimmer uses the trash can lid to block the knee strike and hit Sunset on her side. Sunset takes the hit but doesn't acknowledge the pain; she smirks at Sunset Shimmer. 

"Time to slice and dice," Sunset unveils her scissors, ready to end the life of Sunset Shimmer. She jams her scissors onto the trash can lid, piercing through, nearly hitting Sunset Shimmer's right eye. 

Fluttershy is outside and sees Sunset Shimmer defending herself against Sunset. Fluttershy sees the birds above her and talks to them, asking them to distract the one attacking her friend. 

Sunset pulls her scissors out of the trash can lid and goes for another stab. Instead of piercing the lid, she pierces Sunset Shimmer's leg. 

"Gaaaah!" Sunset Shimmer squeals and falls over. She squirms away a bit while watching her duplicate walking closer, relishing her pains. 

"There, the moment I waited for so long," Sunset kneels and inches her scissors to Sunset Shimmer's throat. "I'm going to watch you die. I'm going to steal your life as you did to me years ago!" Birds start attacking Sunset and pecking all over her face. She screams as the pecking intensifies. 

"Sunset!" Fluttershy helps Sunset Shimmer get up. "We have to go! Now!" Fluttershy encourages her friend to start moving, knowing she is injured. 

"What about the others?" Sunset Shimmer asks. 

"No time! We have to get moving!" Fluttershy pleas for her friend to heed her words. 

"We can't leave them," Sunset pants a bit. "We cannot abandon them..," 

Twilight Sparkle is having a hard time landing a hit on Tethered Twilight. Her magic evens the odds during the fight for survival. Applejack uses her strength to disarm Tethered Applejack scissors and stabs her repeatedly through the chest with them. She sees Pinkie Pie continuing her onslaught on Tethered Pinkie. She's already dead, but Pinkie didn't care; she wanted to make her statement. Applejack ambushes Tethered Twilight Sparkle and snap her neck. 

"Thanks, Applejack," Twilight gets up. 

"We gotta get going," Applejack and Twilight are on the move. They see Sunset Shimmer with Fluttershy and Spike. Pinkie Pie comes out of home with the black scissors and a beheaded Tethered Pinkie Pie. 

"I'm going to slaughter them all," Pinkie angrily said. 

"We gotta move, the birds pecking Sunset won't last for-" Fluttershy's speech comes to an end when her friends saw scissors blades piercing her chest from behind. Tethered Fluttershy kills Fluttershy allowing the birds to cease their attack. 

"Fluttershy!" Sunset, Twilight, Spike, and Applejack cry in horror. 

Pinkie Pie uses the scissors and slashes Tethered Fluttershy's throat. Blood gushes out of her throat while she collapses. 

"We need to go, now!" Spike shouts. 

"But where?" Twilight asks. 

"Doesn't matter, let's go," Spike starts running away from the scenery. Twilight, Applejack, Sunset Shimmer, and Pinkie Pie follow Spike. 

Sunset gets up after the birds start flying away. The birds managed to peck her left eye out of her socket. Sunset hatches an idea to kill Sunset Shimmer before the takeover begins.
> Of
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike runs as fast as he can. Twilight and Applejack keep up with Spike's speed while Sunset Shimmer is limping. Pinkie Pie is protecting Sunset Shimmer from any Changelings daring to attack. Spike winds up running straight into Canterlot High School. Applejack, Twilight, Sunset Shimmer, and Pinkie Pie enters the school and shut the doors. 

"Oh my God," Applejack falls to her knees seeing Apple Bloom's body. 

"Rarity..," Twilight kneels to see Rarity and her lifeless body.  

"Holy shit..," Sunset looks around to see Principal Celestial and Vice Principal Luna dead on the floor along with several of her friends. 

"This is awful..," Pinkie looks at all the bodies in the main hallway. 

"To the nurse's office to patch Sunset Shimmer," Twilight said.

The girls and Spike head to the nurse's office to patch up Sunset Shimmer. Applejack loses her temper and punches Sunset in the face.  

"This is your fault! Why did you have to come here!? You caused this!" Applejack spits at Sunset Shimmer's face. 

Pinkie and Twilight hold Applejack back. "Applejack, calm down; this isn't helping!"

Sunset Shimmer wipes the spit off her face. "She's right. It is my fault..," Sunset feels guilty for what she brought. "If I never discovered this world, everyone would be alive and living a happy life..," Sunset Shimmer is feeling depressed.

"It is not your fault, Sunset. You had no idea you're involvement would lead to this," Spike said. "No one could have predicted this outcome." 

"What are we going to do now?" Twilight asks. 

"I don't know. I don't know if there's a way of reversing all of this," Sunset looks down. 

"Kill every last one of them," Pinkie answers, sharpening a blade she modified. 

"I don't think killing all of them is the answer, Pinkie," Spike said. 

"If killing them all isn't the answer, what is?" Pinkie exclaims. 

"Perhaps, a mind trick is in order," Twilight puts more thought into it. 

"What do you mean by that, Twi?" Applejack turns to Twilight. 

"The Changelings respond to Sunset's command. By taking the head off the leader and replacing it could calm the quarrels and perhaps can send the Changelings back underground." 

"A Changeling of our own. It's worth a shot," Applejack turns to a saddened Sunset Shimmer. "Look, I'm sorry for losing my temper, Sun-" 

"Don't worry about it," Sunset Shimmer takes a deep breath. "This could be our best chance to end the nightmare before it spreads worldwide." 

"First, we gotta find Sunset and try to lure her here," Applejack said. 

"How would we do that?" Spike asks. Then he, Applejack, Sunset Shimmer, and Twilight turned to Pinkie Pie. 

"Say the word. I'll go on my spree to hunt that fucking bitch down for killing my family." 

"First, we need to know where she's at before going out there, Pinkie. There's far too many of them out there for you to handle," Twilight said. 

"I have an idea on how to look. I'll be right back," Applejack leaves the infirmary. 

"Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash.., All gone because of me..," Sunset sheds some tears. 

"I wonder if there's a spell in your world that can resurrect the dead?" Pinkie thinks about the possibilities of fixing what transpired. 

"No. That's black and blood magic. It's forbidden in Equestria for many reasons. Maybe Discord can come here and fix it. I don't know." 

"Who's Discord?" Spike asks. 

"He's a chaotic deity in Equestria. Raising the dead should be child's play for him to perform." 

"Perfect, once we send the Changelings back, we'll bring him here to restore order," Pinkie said. 

"As I said, I don't know if it'll work. Discord could come here, but then, Discord's chaos magic may not work." 

"We will have to wait and see," Twilight said. 

Applejack is walking down the hallway, looking for Apple Bloom's locker. She knows that Apple Bloom would bring her laptop to school for any after-school programs with Vice Principal Luna. Applejack minds her surroundings in case there are any Changelings left in the school. 

"There it is," Applejack opens Apple Bloom's locker to find her backpack. She takes it and walks back to the infirmary. A few minutes later, Applejack enters the infirmary. "I have Apple Bloom's laptop. I hope she still has that website bookmarked or didn't delete her history." 

Applejack takes out Apple Bloom's laptop and turns it on. The laptop's battery is dead, and Apple Bloom didn't bring a charger.

"Is there a spare computer charger?" Spike asks. 

"No. Not anymore with the barn and Sweet Apple Acres in smoke." 

"My house isn't far from here. I'm sure my dad has a specific charger for the laptop. He always changes laptops every year while keeping the chargers just in case," Twilight said. 

"Lead the way," Pinkie said, now her blade can cut through any Changeling daring to stand in their way. 

Twilight, Sunset Shimmer, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Spike leave the infirmary. The lights flicker in the hallway. They pick up the pace while Pinkie keeps a keen eye for any Changelings that may have followed them. 

What a sight to behold, many Changelings are holding hands in formation, smiling happily. Many bodies of people are lying on the ground in their blood. Many houses are on fire, but no sirens for police and or fire departments show up. No signs of medical emergency units are visible. News reporters try to make an effort to document the scenery but wind up getting killed by the Changelings. A town so peaceful is dead silent. 

Luckily for Twilight, her house is not on fire like the many homes in her neighborhood. Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Sunset Shimmer, and Spike arrive inside the house. Some lights in the house are still functional, and some aren't. The living room, the kitchen, and two-bedroom lights don't work. The lighting in the other rooms is functioning.

"Mooom! Daaaad!" Twilight instinctively shouts. Then she tears up, remembering that they're dead from the surveillance video at Pinkie's house. 

"Twilight, it's.., it's going to be alright..," Spike tries his best to comfort her. 

"Where's the charger?" Applejack asks, looking around in Twilight's home. 

"My.., my..," Twilight sniffs. The pain of losing her family is hitting her now. "My dad's office," Twilight takes Applejack to Night Light's office. Luck is on their side when the lights in the room turn on. Applejack sees how high-tech Night Light is in the office. She starts searching in the cabinets of Night Light's office.  

Sunset Shimmer and Pinkie Pie enter the office. Spike decides to grab his favorite chew toy for comfort upstairs in Twilight's room. After everything he's experienced, he wants to calm his nerves to be stronger for Twilight when she needs him. 

"Found it!" Applejack grabs the charger and hooks it to Apple Bloom's laptop. She turns it on. "Twi, what's the Wi-Fi password?" 

"SparkleGlitter41."

Applejack types the Wi-Fi password and access the internet. She goes into Apple Bloom's bookmark section to see there are none. She goes to her browser history to see it wiped clean.

"Okay, I got this," Twilight takes the laptop and runs a program her father uses. Night Light's program allows any history, any files of some sort restored. After a few moments, the dark website Apple Bloom once bookmarked, returns. 

"Nice going, Twilight," Applejack takes the laptop and searches on the site. "As disturbing as this website is, I'm glad Apple Bloom found it." 

"I guess there are some good things but, this nightmare needs to end," Sunset Shimmer said. "I hate myself............." 

"Don't say that; no need to hate yourself. No one could have predicted this outcome. I know they haven't." 

"Who's they, Pinkie?" Sunset turns to Pinkie. 

"The ones watching this, duh," Pinkie Pie uses her blade to point at the screen where the reader reading this part of the section is looking. She waves. "I see you," Pinkie said joyfully. 

Sunset Shimmer, Applejack, and Twilight shake their heads, turn from Pinkie, and start looking at the website. Applejack plugs in Rarity's phone number on the website. The website shows where Rarity's cellphone is right now. 

"Is the area dark?" Sunset asks. "Where is she?" 

"Looks like Pinkie's living room," Applejack sees from Rarity's camera angle.  

"That's not my living room. Maud's body would have been there on the table," Pinkie said, looking at the website. 

"And Rainbow's body," Sunset Shimmer sadly sighs.  

Spike is in Twilight's room, getting his chew toy to calm his nerves. He bites it and decides to go to Night Light's office, where the girls are. As he walks down the stairs, he sees someone moving in the shadows. "Twilight?" Spike muffles in his speech, the chew toy in his mouth made it difficult for him to talk properly. The shadow moves closer to him at a faster pace. 

The girls are trying to depict the area from the website. They hear a familiar muffle in the background of the camera angle. They pay more attention to the screen when they see Spike getting grabbed by Sunset. His chew toy falls out of his mouth.  

"Spike!" Twilight frantically shouts. She runs out of the room. 

"Oh shit! She followed us!" Applejack and Pinkie Pie go after Twilight. 

Sunset Shimmer goes to the laptop to see where her duplicate has taken Spike to. Sunset muzzles Spike with duct tape as she flees from the house. Twilight didn't see Spike's chew toy and trip on it. Pinkie falls on top of Twilight. Applejack leaps over the two, trying to get closer to Sunset. Sunset runs out the front door and slams the door behind her. Applejack opens the door and gets ambushed by two Changelings. One knocks her down with a forearm strike in the face; the other stabs Applejack in the chest with black scissors.  

"Applejack!" Twilight shouts in fear. She witnessed another of her friend dying in the clutches of a Changeling. 

Applejack gasps and looks at the two who ambushed her from the ground. She sees Tethered Big McIntosh smiling down and Tethered Apple Bloom holding the bloody pair of black scissors. In Applejack's mind, she hears her sister asking for a day to be together as sisters instead of her friends. The one thing she wanted was a sister-bonding day. Applejack closes her eyes and passes away. 

"You bastards!" Pinkie gets up with her blade and attacks Tethered Big McIntosh and Apple Bloom with her blade. She decapitates the two in rage and slashes at their bodies repeatedly. Their blood gushes into Pinkie's face and hair while she cries in motion. 

Sunset Shimmer sees where her duplicate is running off. Back to Canterlot High School. Judging from the screams, she lost another friend. Sunset Shimmer doesn't know how she's going to pull it off and make the Changelings go back to the underground facility. Sunset decides to use the website to find any files of the underground facility. Cameras still have to be in place in case of a containment breach. Right? She hopes to find something that can control the Changelings, a backup plan in case all hell breaks loose. 

Twilight balls herself and becomes worried about Spike. She cries due to losing another close friend. Pinkie Pie stops and walks inside the house. She falls to her knees and cries her eyes out. 

Sunset can't find any footage of the underground facility, so she gets up and looks for Twilight and Pinkie Pie. She sees the two crying on the floor and sees Applejack's lifeless body. Sadness and anger flood her mind, she balls her fist. 

"Enough." Sunset Shimmer had enough of the murdering of her friends. "I'm going to kill that fucking bitch myself." 

"She has Spike.., Lord knows what she'll do to-" Pinkie's phone rings, interrupting Twilight's speech. 

Pinkie answers it and puts it on speaker. "Hello?" 

"I knew where you were this whole time. A perk that you have Sunset is going into the minds of other people through physical contact. A trait that I have is going into the minds of my Changelings telepathically. I see what they see. They don't have to tell me anything." The girls gasp in horror after hearing that. "I have your precious puppy, Spike," The girls hear him whimpering on the phone. 

"Release him!" Twilight demands. 

"I have one last game to play before we take over this world. A winner takes all kind of game. Come to the school where the madness started. I'll be waiting," Sunset hangs up the phone and shatters it. 

"We have to go, now!" Twilight storms out but Pinkie and Sunset Shimmer hold her back. 

"Not yet, Twilight!" Sunset Shimmer says. 

"Why?!" Twilight angrily shouts at her friend. 

"We could be walking into another trap! We need to arm ourselves," Sunset said. 

"I see enough material to modify weaponry," Pinkie said. 

"That won't be necessary," Twilight goes to Shining Armor's room. Sunset and Pinkie follow her. "My brother always wanted to be a soldier. Unfortunately, he didn't had what it takes to be a Marine when Cadance came into his life," Twilight opens Shining Armor's secret stash of weaponry. Pinkie Pie and Sunset are awestruck to see many guns, armor vests, and combat knives loaded up. "He had all of this in case he could get a job as a police officer in town. He was scheduled to go into training next week. Time to lock and load. We're saving Spike," Twilight takes some pistols and puts on an armored vest. She passes some to her friends. 

"I don't know how to use a piece," Sunset takes a look at the Desert Eagle pistol. 

"Better start learning," Twilight said. She sounds serious and determined. She clutches her necklace and ponies up. "Failure is not an option anymore." 

Pinkie does the same. She ponies up after arming herself. Sunset Shimmer takes a deep breath and ponies up after suiting up. 

"Time to avenge our friends and family," Pinkie said. She marks her face in camo colors. 

"Let's end this."
> Her
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunset Shimmer, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight Sparkle leave the house after pony up and suiting up. As they run to Canterlot High, Pinkie Pie takes liberty and pleasure in killing any Changeling that comes near her friends. She uses her blade to decapitate them rather than giving them a slow, painful death. 

Twilight Sparkle wants to save Spike and take him anywhere away from this hellhole. Sunset Shimmer hopes that she can take control of the Changelings when she kills her counterpart. Pinkie Pie wants to kill all the Changelings for taking her friends and family away in one night. 

It's 3:30 in the morning. The Changelings are still in formation, holding hands and smiling happily. The girls arrive at Canterlot High School. They enter the school carefully to see if any Changelings are waiting to ambush them, just like they did with Applejack when she chased Sunset out of Twilight's house. 

"Which classroom would Sunset be?" Twilight speaks aloud to her friends. 

"We'll search every classroom together. There is no way we're splitting up," Pinkie Pie said. 

"Agreed. Safer in numbers," Sunset Shimmer said, gripping the Desert Eagle pistol. Her hand quakes while holding the gun. 

"Let's go," Twilight said. 

Twilight, Sunset Shimmer, and Pinkie Pie slowly walk in the main hallway. They search different classrooms left and right. It's heartbreaking to see many of their friends died, covered in pools of blood in the classrooms. Twilight hopes that Spike is alive and not tortured. Sunset wonders which classroom her counterpart is waiting. Pinkie wants to end the madness before it spreads even further. 

After an hour of searching, the girls arrive in a classroom on the second floor. They see Sunset's drawing of stick figures holding hands. Spike is in a cage, taped tightly.

"You found me. So, you're ready to play my last game?" Sunset turns around to see Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, and Pinkie Pie. She is wearing an eyepatch to cover the eye that was pecked out by birds earlier. 

"We're here to save Spike, you fucking psychopath!" Twilight said, drawing her weapon, aiming at Sunset's head. 

"Play by my rules or, the puppy dies," Sunset does a hand signal. Out comes Tethered Shining Armor from a dark corner to the left, wearing the light blue jumpsuit wielding black scissors. 

"Shining..," Twilight starts trembling, seeing her brother. 

Tethered Shining Armor goes up to the cage and opens it. He grabs Spike, ready to slit his throat open. Spike shakes his head, not wanting to die. 

"You stop that and let him go!" Pinkie Pie draws her piece and aims it at Sunset's head. 

"You're here to play," Sunset does another hand signal. From the right corner, Tethered Maud Pie comes out. It triggers Pinkie Pie to tear up, seeing her sister in the same outfit that killed her friends and family. 

"What do you want?!" Pinkie angrily shouts. She doesn't have it in her to kill Maud even though she's a Changeling. 

"Everything comes to you easy while I have to struggle and endure so much pain and torment. You stole my life, Sunset Shimmer. While you were prospering, I was rotting away. I want to share the experience of what I've gone through. So, for your final game, you are to battle the tethered of those you love wholeheartedly. Pinkie, Twilight; Defeat these tethered, and Spike will go free. No guns. As for you, Sunset Shimmer. We're ending this conflict. There can't be two Sunsets anymore. One will rise, one will set." 

Tethered Shining Armor places Spike in his pocket. He jumps out the window, landing in the backyard of the school. Twilight drops her piece, complying with Sunset's stipulation, and flies after Shining Armor. 

Tethered Maud leaves the classroom and waits for Pinkie Pie. Pinkie puts her gun to the floor and leaves the classroom. Her heart is pounding hard. Earlier tonight, she saw Maud's lifeless body brought to her. Now she has no choice but to kill her Tethered Sister. No matter how painful the idea of striking someone you love to the ground. 

Sunset Shimmer puts the Desert Eagle down. She knows she can't use it for this confrontation. Sunset has her scissors in her hand. 

"While you sang and danced fluently, with your friends during all those parties while taking my life away, being tethered to you taught me things I thought I never experienced. The times you gained magic and performed wondrous acts or terrifying terrors; taught me how to defy the odds when stacked against. Today, in the name of freedom, the torment ends." 

Sunset Shimmer takes out a combat knife she took from Shining Armor's armory closet, ready to defend herself. Sunset moves forward. It startles Sunset Shimmer a bit, causing her to be hesitant with her movements. Sunset slides to the left, watching her counterpart tremble a bit. She knows she's trying to read her body language to counterattack. Sunset Shimmer slightly moves, so her gaze is on her counterpart. 

"Scared?" Sunset reads Sunset Shimmer's body language. 

"No!" Sunset Shimmer kicks the desk and runs up to her counterpart. Her counterpart pushes the desk back. Sunset Shimmer stops the desk from pinning her, which causes her counterpart to stab her hand. She kicks Sunset Shimmer in the face. She hurls back and runs out of the room. 

"You won't deny my destiny," Sunset calmly leaves the room, following Sunset Shimmer. 

Sunset Shimmer is hiding in a different room. Her hand bleeds from the wound. Sunset's footsteps echo in the hallway, sending chills in Sunset Shimmer's spine. Sunset's footsteps stop, causing Sunset Shimmer to come out of hiding. She sees the counterpart facing the other way in silence. 

"Now's my chance!" Sunset Shimmer gets close when Sunset turns around and slashes her in the stomach and face with the black scissors. The vest prevented a stab wound in the stomach. Sunset licks the blood from her scissors. "Graaaaaah!" Sunset Shimmer tries to slash Sunset with her combat knife. Sunset dodges at ease. 

Sunset dodges Sunset Shimmer's feeble attacks with the combat knife. She grabs Sunset Shimmer's hand and pulls her close; she stabs her deep with the scissors through the vest. Sunset Shimmer screams a bit in agony. She can feel the black scissors impaling her skin near her lung. 

Sunset Shimmer knees her counterpart and pulls the scissors out of her. Blood drips on the floor, and she tosses the black scissors away. Sunset doesn't seem fazed that she's been disarmed. She reads her counterpart's movement. Sunset Shimmer goes for a tackle when Sunset grabs her arm and disarms the knife. She stabs Sunset Shimmer in the ribs. She pulls the knife and tosses it far in the hallway. Sunset Shimmer rives in agony. 

"You're all alone," Sunset walks to where the black scissors were thrown to and picks it up. "Nobody to come and help you," Sunset sounds calm and yet menacing. 

Sunset Shimmer holds herself. She gets up and sheathes a second combat knife from her combat boot. She pants heavily from the pain she's enduring. "I'm not done with you!" Sunset Shimmer charges at Sunset. 

"Typical," She dodges out of the way, intending to stab her again. This time, Sunset Shimmer grabs her arm and stabs her through the elbow. Sunset screams a bit. Sunset Shimmer yanks the knife and kicks Sunset's back. She runs and goes in hiding, waiting to use the element of surprise. Sunset gets up and grabs the scissors. She sees a trail of blood where Sunset Shimmer ran off too and decides to play oblivious. 

During their confrontation, Twilight is outside chasing Tethered Shining Armor to the football field. He stops and turns ready to impale Twilight with his scissors already. Twilight flies to the left, avoiding the impaling. Instead, Tethered Shining Armor pierces Twilight's right-wing, discharging her from using flight magic. 

"Mmmmmph! Mmmmmph!" Spike tries to shout, but the muzzle tape gag prevents him from speaking. He watches in horror and doesn't want Twilight to die. He doesn't know what his life would be like without her. 

"Spike, don't worry, I'm fine," Twilight reassures Spike. She gulps, seeing Tethered Shining Armor wielding his black scissors. She takes out her combat knife that Shining would have used. It has her name written on the surface of the blade. "What can I do? He has Spike in his pocket."

Twilight analyzes the situation and tries to come up with a solution. Her time spent coming up with an answer causes Tethered Shining Armor to run up to her. She rolls out of the way and is about to stab his back leg. Tethered Shining Armor grabs Twilight's hair extension and yanks hard. Twilight lands in front of Tethered Shining Armor. He uses his strength to impale Twilight's chest. He kneels to apply more force while Twilight tries her hardest to push the strength of Tethered Shining Armor's scissors away. It proves to be futile while staring into the eyes of her brother. The scissors pierces the vest and goes through her chest. She remembers all the days spending time with her BBBFF. Twilight hears Spike's whimpered murmurs, realizing that she's slowly losing the battle. Spike watches and cannot help the slightest. He closes his eyes while hearing Twilight screaming a bit. 

"I'M SORRY!" Twilight's magic kicks in. She unleashes her fury and levitates the black scissors. She screams a bit from the pain when the scissors come out of her. Tethered Shining Armor tries to seize control when Twilight forces the scissors to penetrate Tethered Shining Armor's throat. "Shining!" Twilight watches Tethered Shining Armor fall to his side. In the back of her mind, she killed her brother. 

"Mmmph! Mmmmph!" Spike shouts in his gag to reawake Twilight from her trance. She snaps out of it and takes Spike out of Tethered Shining's pocket. She carefully removes the tape off his body. "Twilight!" Spike leaps into Twilight's arms and cries. 

"I'm here, Spike," Twilight holds him lovingly. "I won't let anything bad happen to you. I promise," Twilight cries. 

"I love you, Twilight!" Spike says in tears. 

"I love you too, Spike!" Twilight says in tears. 

Pinkie Pie is having a hard time slaying Tethered Maud. She moves like Pinkie in every way without hesitation. Pinkie needs to kill Tethered Maud, but her love for her sister comes into play. She hesitates with her attacks, but Tethered Maud blocks the attack and manages to cut Pinkie's face and arms each time. 

"How can I pull this off?" Pinkie's memories play in her mind. She remembers the fun times she and Maud spent together as sisters, especially making rock candy. While Pinkie is distracted, Tethered Maud slashes Pinke's ribs and stabs her in the leg. "AAAAAH!" Pinkie falls to one knee. Tethered Maud kicks Pinkie's blade. She pulls Pinkie's hair and lowers the scissors to her throat. "No.., please..," Pinkie is in tears. 

Tethered Maud smiles at Pinkie Pie and tilts her head. Pinkie Pie looks up to see the smile. Her body trembles a bit, seeing her smile. Tethered Maud proceeds to slit Pinkie's throat when she does a summersault. Tethered Maud slits Pinkie's hair extension. Pinkie Pie felt something sharp when she rolled out of the way. She grabs it and wonders how did the combat knife got there. She holds it behind her back. 

"Maud, stop! I'm warning you!" Pinkie frantically warns. Her instincts as a sister are getting the better of her. Tethered Maud wastes no time and runs up to Pinkie. Pinkie clutches the combat knife and thrusts Tethered Maud's head. Tethered Maud drops her scissors, and Pinkie hugs her. She pants heavily and cries. "I.., tried.., to.., warn.., you..," Pinkie clutches onto Tethered Maud and watches her closing her eyes. Twice in one night, Pinkie Pie experienced Maud dead. Pinkie squeals in sadness. 

Sunset Shimmer is still in hiding, waiting to ambush her counterpart. After wasting time playing oblivious, Sunset enters the room where her counterpart's blood trail leads. She stays still in the center of the room. Sunset Shimmer comes out of her hiding place and tries to grab her from behind. Sunset grabs Sunset Shimmer's arm and slams her onto the desk, disarming her second knife. 

"You think I'm stupid?" Sunset kicks the desk. Sunset Shimmer hits the wall. "Playing hide and seek?" Sunset calmly walks up to Sunset Shimmer. She looks down at her and stomps her face but, Sunset Shimmer grabs her foot and twists it. Sunset falls to the ground, allowing Sunset Shimmer to get back up and run away. 

Sunset Shimmer runs in the hallway in hopes of finding the combat knife after being disarmed again. Her blood from her wound drips, creating another trail for her counterpart to find. Sunset gets up and limps; she sees the blood trail and smiles, knowing where she'll be to finish her for good this time. 

"Where is it? Where is it!?" Sunset Shimmer tries looking for the combat knife and can't find it. She sees Pinkie Pie holding onto Tethered Maud's body. "Pinkie," Sunset Shimmer shakes Pinkie's body, snapping her out of her sadness a bit. 

"Sunset..?" Pinkie stops crying. Her eyes are red while looking at Sunset. 

"I'm sorry, but I need your help. My counterpart disarmed me and tossed my combat knife away, and I have no shot at defending myself. I need your help to ambush her from the shadows." 

Pinkie nods and gets up. The real nightmare isn't over until Sunset dies. She hands her friend the combat knife she used to kill Tethered Maud. It's the same knife Sunset Shimmer lost. The two hide Tethered Maud's body, then go into a classroom and wait patiently for Sunset's arrival. 

Five minutes later, Sunset limps while following the bloody trail. It leads to another classroom. Sunset Shimmer is standing in the middle of the classroom with confidence. 

"You want to finish this, right?" Sunset Shimmer said with determination. 

Sunset limps in the room while wielding her scissors. "Freedom is on the horizon in a few hours. When the sun rises, a new era will begin. I can taste it. I can feel it. The people that took me away will be next. They wanted to see their creativity blossom, and so, they shall see what happens when wicked people come together, and their schemes fall apart. God detests wicked schemes, and I shall destroy them with the very creation they made," Sunset sounds sadistic and devilish. Her mind is twisting more and more while relishing the moment of absolute freedom. 

"Wicked schemes? You're wicked!" Sunset Shimmer exclaims angrily. 

"No.., you see. I'm the victim. The victim gets their reward while the wicked get their punishments. I'm getting my reward today," Sunset smiles.

Pinkie startles Sunset from behind with her warcry. Sunset turns and slashes Pinkie's shoulder with the scissors. She missed the crucial blow of slitting her throat. Sunset Shimmer tackles Sunset to the ground and jabs her combat knife into Sunset's knee and twists it. Sunset wails in agony from the blow. Sunset Shimmer takes the scissors and jabs Sunset's shoulder. 

Twilight and Spike come in after hearing the squeals. They see their friend Sunset Shimmer on top of Sunset. Pinkie Pie gets up and holds her shoulder. She looks at Sunset pinned to the floor. 

"Martyr me for absolute freedom," Sunset laughs. 

"Finish her!" Pinkie angrily shouts. "End this nightmare once and for all!" 

"I need to see something first," Sunset Shimmer places her hand on Sunset's forehead to see if anything in her memories would find answers to controlling the Changelings. Sunset Shimmer discovers a horrifying truth and steps away. She pants heavily from what she saw in Sunset's head. 

"Martyr me for absolute freedom," Sunset repeats herself. 

"What did you see, Sunset Shimmer?" Twilight turns to her friend. She's worried about the horrors Sunset Shimmer saw. 

"Pinkie, your blade," Sunset Shimmer gets up. Pinkie Pie hands Sunset Shimmer her modified blade. 

"The sun will rise shortly while one will set. Freedom is within my grasp," Sunset said, laughing maniacally.  

Sunset Shimmer knocks Sunset with the handle of the blade, striking her viciously on the head. Pinkie Pie, Twilight, and Spike are in shock to see their friend sparing Sunset's life. 

"Why did you do that!?" Pinkie angrily shouts at Sunset. "I'm going to-" Sunset puts a hand on Pinkie. 

"I can't control the Changelings. They only respond to her. The Changelings are in formation, but they are in stasis." 

Twilight and Pinkie gasp in shock and horror. Judging from the reactions from Twilight and Pinkie, Spike believes it's dire. 

"What do you mean by stasis?" Spike nervously asks. 

"If we kill Sunset right now, there's no controlling the Changelings. They will have absolute freedom to kill anyone to take the land..," Sunset Shimmer sits down and holds her head. 

Twilight holds Spike in her arms, trying to come up with a solution. Another way to stop the Changelings from taking the world. Pinkie Pie picks up her blade and watches Sunset's unconscious body. She remembers what Sunset said about retrieving Discord. Then, Pinkie comes up with an answer she knows she won't like.

"Girls, Spike. There is only one way to ensure the Changelings remaining in stasis," Pinkie clutches her blade. 

"How?" Sunset Shimmer looks up at Pinkie. She sees tears streaming down her face. 

"What do you have in mind, Pinkie?" Twilight asks. 

Pinkie takes a deep breath. "Sunset, you need to go home and never come back." 

"What?" Sunset Shimmer said in shock. Like a knife stabbing her in the heart. 

"You also need to take Twilight and Spike with you." 

"What!?" Twilight and Spike said in shock. "What about you?" The two says in unison. 

"Someone needs to stay and ensure that Sunset stays asleep. I could be wrong, but there could be survivors, and.., I can take Sunset's unconscious body with me in search of them, creating a small army to kill off the Changelings. Then, I could send Sunset to the afterlife." 

"You can't be serious.., Pinkie?" Spike looks up at Pinkie. 

"It's a hard decision, but what other choice do we have?" Pinkie sadly states. "Sunset, where's Princess Twilight Sparkle, now?" 

"For all I know, she could be dead in Earth Land. The world where Spike the Fairy resides," Sunset answers. 

"What about the pony me?" Pinkie asks. 

"Living happily in Ponyville," Sunset answers. She understands where Pinkie is going. 

"That is why I must stay behind. To prevent an incident like this..," Pinkie points her blade to Sunset's unconscious body. 

"Pinkie..," Twilight walks up to her friend, knowing she's making an ultimate sacrifice. She tears up and hugs her friend. "I'll miss you." 

Pinkie hugs Twilight. "I'll miss you too but, you'll see the other me and have great adventures. I know you will," Pinkie Pie kisses Twilight's cheek. 

"Pinkie," Spike walks up to her in tears and jumps into her arms. "I'll miss you!" 

Pinkie snuggles Spike in her arms. "I'll miss you too, Spike. I will never forget you," Pinkie kisses Spike's cheek. 

Sunset Shimmer is in tears and walks up to her. Pinkie gives Spike to Twilight and hugs Sunset Shimmer. "I'm sorry, Pinkie Pie. I.., I.., I never meant any of this to happen to you!" 

"I know. You didn't foresee the actions that transpired. No one could have ever predicted this. I will miss you as well," Pinkie kisses Sunset Shimmer's cheek. "When you go back, destroy the portal. Don't ever come back. I promise you. I swear on my life, I will survive and will create a new world of prosperity." 

"Pinkie," Twilight gives Pinkie the keys to her home. "My home has backup generators for electricity. My dad made sure in case an apocalypse were to come." 

Pinkie giggles at the idea of it. She's glad that the backup generations are going to be useful. "Thank you, Twilight," Pinkie grabs her friends and hugs them one last time. The final group hug she'll have with them. "I'm going to stay here to monitor how many hours Sunset stays unconscious. You need to get going, now." 

Twilight and Sunset nod. Twilight clutches onto Spike. Sunset Shimmer and Twilight leave the classroom. Sunset Shimmer escorts Twilight and Spike out of Canterlot High to the statue where the portal is. Sunset sticks her hand to see if the portal is still active, and it is. 

"Sunset, before we go," Twilight is hesitant about going into a new world. 

"You'll fit in perfectly, Twilight. I will make sure of that. Your friends and family are there. I'll explain everything to them. Plus, you and Spike get to live inside a castle that once belongs to the Princess."

"Spike," Twilight looks at Spike in her arms. 

"I'm going to be a dragon in Equestria. A small dragon, I assume?" Spike looks at Sunset Shimmer. She nods. "We're going to have our second chance and be united with our friends and family." 

"Alright," Twilight sighs. "Let's go," Twilight and Spike enter the portal first. 

Sunset Shimmer turns to see Canterlot High one last time. "Farewell, Pinkie. I love you like a sister. I will give your counterpart and her friends a try on becoming great friends in honor of you and our friends here," Sunset Shimmer steps in the portal.