Lead Us Not

Sunny crawled up the mountain to Zephyr Heights, thankful for the spring chill that hadn’t yet been chased away by the coming summer heat. It was early morning, almost six, and though she would need to wait a while to meet with Queen Haven once she arrived, Sunny had decided not to waste any more time fighting for an ounce of fitful rest after waking up yet again after only a couple hours of sleep.

It had taken two more nights to reach the mountain from Bridlewood, her pace slowed by her ragged fatigue. Despite Izzy’s insistence that Sunny stay behind and recover, she knew that the sooner she organized the celebration and got home, the better it would be. One of the unicorns at the Crystal Tea Room had suggested to Sunny that she was suffering from some extreme form of homesickness, brought on by the travelling and loss of her family home. Once back in Maretime Bay, she would leave the planning to her friends and get some rest, probably with as many of the salvaged comforts of the lighthouse she could find. Until then, though, she had a festival to arrange.

Even though the sun had just barely begun to cut away the clouds about the city, Sunny could already see shadows and figures dancing about in the mist. There was a quiet echo from the morning news on the massive television, seasoned with the subdued laughter of children playing and flying together. She took a deep breath, letting the icy air invigorate her from the inside out, and then stepped forward into the city proper.

Almost nopony used the walkways any more, and she couldn’t blame them. Sunny contemplated calling forth her magic and just flying to the castle, but the thought of focusing on both sustaining the power and managing her wings felt even more exhausting than just walking there herself. It wasn’t far, anyways, and the elevator ride gave just as beautiful a view of the city as she could get from anywhere else in the air.

“Halt! State your name and business!” Thunder ordered as she approached through the fog.

“Sunny Starscout, on a Friendship mission,” she replied, stifling a yawn.

“Ah! Good to see you again, your uh… Eminence? Exalted one?” He turned to Zoom, who was already rolling her eyes. “What honorific do we use for an ambassador, again?”

“Your Excellency,” Zoom said, tilting her head in a bow. “You are here at an early hour. The Queen will not be available for quite some time.” She squinted, eyeing Sunny’s appearance warily. “Perhaps for the best. Rough journey?”

“It’s been something,” Sunny said, noticing the guards’ hesitant glances to each other. “Is it that obvious?”

Thunder stepped aside, indicating the polished gleam of the elevator door for Sunny to inspect herself in. After two steps forward Sunny froze, mouth agape.

Her coat was matted in spots, stained in others. Her mane, while still tied up, was greasier than she had ever seen it, the ends split and frayed. What shocked her most were her bloodshot eyes, so constricted and red it was as if she had kept them open for a week straight.

Something about seeing the state of her body shook her. Her legs began to tremble while her eyes stung, the sudden realization bringing a wash of overdue pain. When she started to hyperventilate, Zoom and Thunder raced forward and caught her, then carried her slowly towards the elevator.

“Hey, hey, take it easy kid, we got you,” Thunder spoke soothingly, patting her back.

“You’re alright now, Sunny. You’re in Zephyr Heights. I don’t know what sort of disaster you ran into out there, but you’re at the height of the height of luxury now.”

“Heh, ‘height of the height’, cause we’re on a mountain, right?”

Zoom rolled her eyes and smacked Thunder with a wing while leading Sunny to the back of the elevator. “Don’t mind him. Listen, Sunny, you with me?”

“I’m sorry,” she panted, unable to lift her gaze from the floor. The world seemed to be rolling, the effect made worse by the sudden acceleration of the elevator. “I’ve never been so tired before. I’m sorry.”

“Hey, don’t be sorry kid! Heck, every one of us pushed ourselves too hard back in training.” Thunder chuckled at a memory, shaking his head lightly. “It happens. You get too gung ho about your cause, or want to be the best there ever was, or get the spooks that you can’t let your loved ones down, and just go over the top. Happens to each and every one of us.”

Zoom sat down with Sunny, rubbing her back. “I get it. This whole reunification thing, the constant travelling back and forth, wanting to do what’s right by each of us. It’s a noble cause, but you gotta take care of yourself, okay?”

Sunny nodded, a weak smile coming to her muzzle. “Thanks. You know, that’s the whole point of why I’m putting in the effort.”

“Which one? Caring about the cause? Being the best?”

“Making friends like you.”

The elevator door dinged and Zoom stood up, lifting Sunny to her hooves. “It’s far too early for a meal that sweet, kid. Head down to the guest quarters, let the patrol there know I told you to check in immediately.” She patted Sunny’s flank consolingly as she led her out of the elevator. “And uh, make sure to get a shower before you see the Queen. Noble cause or not, we can’t have you in the throne room looking like that.”

“Miss Starscout?”

Sunny snorted awake, lifting her head from the armrest of the chaise lounge she had apparently been napping on, and found a guard staring at her.

“Huhwhat. Uh? Oh!” Sunny mumbled, blinking sleep from her eyes. “Sorry, was I making a scene?”

The guard blinked slowly and tilted their head. “...No? You were sleeping. Rather soundly, in fact, not a noise or movement at all.” They shrugged, turning away from Sunny. “However, the Queen is now holding court. You may enter.”

“Wait!”

They paused.

“How long was I out?”

“About two hours, your Excellency.”

“Huh,” Sunny muttered while standing up and stretching. “It’s better than nothing, I guess.”

She wasted no time in double checking her saddle bag had not been tampered with, and quickly checked herself over for any obvious patches of grease she had missed with her shower. Satisfied, she nodded to herself and strode forward through the great golden gates.

Within, Queen Haven and Zipp were sitting regally on their thrones, looking all the world to Sunny as if they were practicing being statues. The posturing did not last long however as Zipp cracked open an eye when the gates swung shut, her face lighting up like a candle when she recognized her friend.

“Sunny!” she shouted, springing up into the air involuntarily. She did a quick loop-de-loop above the throne and dove towards her friend while Queen Haven chuckled softly at the display.

“Zipp!” Sunny said, catching the Pegasus in her hooves and swinging around with her momentum. They held the hug for a moment longer before Sunny let go, and Zipp backed up, already speaking.

“I was just thinking I should head down to Maretime Bay and say he… llo.” She leaned in a bit closer to Sunny, her jaw dropping. “Whoah, are you alright?”

Queen Haven stepped down from her throne and walked up to the two, concern already evident on her face as well. “Harmony, Sunny, you look like an—er,” she hesitated, biting her lower lip as Zipp looked sharply to her. “You look awful. No offense, of course, and I’m not speaking as a head of state or anything, but…” she trailed off again, waving her hooves ambivalently in Sunny’s direction.

“Is it really that obvious?” Sunny asked, sitting down defeatedly. “I thought that shower would clean me up well enough.”

“Sunny, I’ll be honest with you. Your eyes are practically bleeding and everything is sagging. It’s like you’ve aged ten years,” Zipp said, sitting down next to her. “Talk to me, girl, what’s happened? Who’s done this to you?”

Sunny sighed, shaking her head while leaning into Zipp. “Myself, I think. I can’t sleep. I haven’t for a week now. Maybe an hour or two a night at most, and a couple more I just got here.”

“Too much tea?” Queen Haven suggested, patting Sunny’s other shoulder awkwardly.

“I don’t think so. Nightmares—I think. I wake up screaming and scared, but I can’t remember why.”

“Oh, your sister used to get dreadful nightmares before her performances, remember, Zipp? I wonder if it’s something similar.”

“Too much work?” Sunny suggested, managing a weak grin. “I know. I know. I’ve pushed myself too hard for too long and didn’t listen when my friends suggested I should take a break. I’ve carried too much weight on my back about doing everything right.” She let out a long and exasperated breath that seemed to drag on forever. “But I’m here now, and I’ll need to go back. Nothing that can be done about it.”

“What on Equus has you so determined to make it here in the first place?” Queen Haven asked.

At this, Sunny brightened up, feeling a small rush of energy as she remembered her purpose. “The Summer Sun Celebration!”

“Is this another Earth Pony thing? I thought we had already exchanged the list of major holidays between us,” the Queen replied.

“I don’t think so, mom,” Zipp said, smiling at Sunny’s excitement. “Tell us all about it, Sunny. It looks like that will help.”

“Right! Okay, so, the Summer Sun Celebration is an event held on the summer solstice. The origins of the holiday have been completely lost to time, save for some fragments about a fairy tale of a pony who could raise the sun and her sister who tried to stop her.”

“I think I’ve heard that one before,” Zipp said, leaning into Sunny.

“Really? You’ll need to tell me what you know about it once I’m done.”

“Sure thing. Go on.”

“Ultimately the sisters supposedly reunited and worked out their differences. The festival marks reunification and triumph over evil. Maretime Bay would like to host the first one—first new one, that is—and all the tribes are invited.”

“A party? Heck yes! I am all for it. What do you say? Please mom?”

Queen Haven rolled her eyes, then flew back towards and landed on her throne.

“The Pegasi graciously accept your invitation. That’s about three weeks away. What do you need from us?”

“Cultural demonstrations, like, events or shows that are unique to your species, and any sort of festival games Pegasi enjoy or consider traditional that can be played by the other races as well. Oh, and the crystal.”

Crystal.

“What?” Sunny added, looking around.

“I’m sorry? What about what?” Queen Haven stared at Sunny, her head tilted.

“I—I’m sorry, there must have been an echo, or, I felt like… Like somepony just whispered in my ear.”

Zipp and Queen Haven both looked at each other, and then back to Sunny.

“The works, I think,” Queen Haven said, scrutinizing Sunny over her sunglasses. “Nothing left out.”

“And the comfiest room for the night,” Zipp added.

“Um, sorry, what are you two talking about?”

“You,” Zipp said, patting Sunny’s back and lifting her to her hooves, “are not going anywhere tonight, festival to plan or not.”

“Really, it’s fine, I was going to start heading home as soon as I was finished here so I could rest.”

“But you aren’t now. We shall have you pampered beyond belief,” the Queen announced, beaming at Sunny. “You are getting a full spa experience this afternoon, and we are going to get you a good night’s sleep. Everything will work out, trust us.” She started to dictate a message to a guard before pausing and looking back at Sunny. “Er, what was it you said about the crystal?”

Sunny smiled at the two of them, her thoughts drifting to the various luxuries she had seen about the city.

If their dungeons are like spas, I wonder what their spas contain?

“Right. The Pegasus crystal. CanterLogic is building a display for them, and when the sun rises on the solstice we’re going to bring them together in an act of symbolism.”

“Well, as a royal, I cannot deny the power of symbolism. We shall bring it as well. Let us prepare our desired events to add to your list, and then we shall come to Maretime Bay about a week before the solstice to set up. Is that acceptable?”

“Sounds good to me,” Sunny said, already excited about the plan coming together.

“But first,” Zipp said, laying a wing over Sunny’s back and beginning to lead her from the room, “you need to get some relaxation in.”

‘Relaxation’ is not nearly strong enough a word, Sunny thought to herself. The Pegasi had not yet perfected their skills with cloud crafting—having only had their abilities for a couple months—but all the same, Sunny felt as if she were laying on a cloud. The room was slightly cool, just enough so that the silken blankets and their heat were a welcome comfort, and she nestled down under the covers with a warm smile in her cheeks.

She had received another shower with even more expensive shampoos, had her mane and tail brushed, even had her coat brushed down as well. They had set her in a jacuzzi until the second before she would have become uncomfortably hot, and then laid her down on a table and given her a full ninety minute massage, the expert masseuses unlocking every single knot in every muscle of her body.

Feeling a touch sore after that, she had been brought to a second spa room and given a hooficure, a mud facial, and one final brush and rub down to remove all the oils and soreness from her coat, before finally being lead to a large dining hall where she had eaten like a queen along with Zipp and Pipp, laughing and joking and talking until Sunny completely forgot how bad she had felt.

No, Sunny decided, ‘relaxation’ was not even close to being right. She was far, far beyond being well and truly relaxed, and with the week of sleeplessness and work piled upon the completely soothing treatment, Sunny didn’t even have the energy to fear falling asleep. Her eyes slammed shut and the sights and sounds of the world flitted away, transporting her quickly to the lightless dreamscape.

Yet again there were two glowing eyes hovering nearby, glaring down at her, but somehow even here in this void realm Sunny felt her loose limbs and calm mind brought along with her, and she ignored them.

The glowing grin appeared next, and Sunny lay down instead, turning away from the face. She went to close her eyelids and found that they were already shut, and whatever visions she had seen were appearing within them. She grunted, doing her best to pretend there was nothing there.

The body of the monster then emerged, the purple mangy thing coming into view as pink magic flowed slowly from the curved horn. It was not as skeletal now as it had appeared before, with stringy muscle apparent beneath the gaunt coat. As Sunny watched begrudgingly, two great wings spread out from behind the monster, expanding slowly and twitchy as if cramped and exhausted.

And then Sunny was awake, not screaming, not crying, but not in her bed, not laying down. She was still in the guest quarters that had been provided to her, directly in the middle of the room, light and warmth around her. Sunny blinked once, confused. Had she dreamt? She hadn’t woken up in terror, but she had woken up.

Perhaps the treatment worked too well, she thought to herself. I got up out of bed before I even woke up. She chuckled and then glanced out the large frame windows, sneaking a peek through the gap in the curtains, and noticed then that it was pitch black outside.

A sharp glance to the clock in the room informed her that it was midnight, and then a second snap of her head to the doorway informed her that the light switch was off. Despite all this, the room was bright.

A final glance towards a tall mirror answered her question and filled her with a dozen more. She was wrapped in Alicorn magic, her horn pulsating slowly while her wings spread out wide. And while she had been standing, she had been holding something, completely unaware of its weight in her hoof.

Sunny looked down to confirm what was in her grasp, staring at the Pegasus crystal as it shimmered and glowed dimly compared to her own light. The magical radiance seemed off, though if it was or wasn’t she couldn’t tell. She had only seen it up close long enough after restoring its magic to hand it back to Queen Haven when her friends first left Maretime Bay and promised to meet up again soon. Still tired, still confused, Sunny brought the crystal closer to inspect it, and gasped.

In a flash a dozen scenes ran through her mind, each image present only a fraction of a second yet burned onto her retina still. Visions of Pegasi being cut down by a ray of magic. The grotesque and mangled faces of Pegasi, bloodied by a dozen hoofprints. And finally, piles and piles of charred wings, their feathers long turned to ash by raging magical fires.

Sunny shouted, flinging the crystal onto her bed and falling backwards as she scrambled to the door, desperate to get as far away from it as she could. How had she gotten it? Why had it shown her that? She shivered, staring in the direction of the accursed thing, her mind racing. Every time she tried to push the images away they came back to her, stuck in her brain like worms in an apple, and she started to sob.

Several minutes later she caught her breath, breathing as deeply and as slowly as she could, her legs tucked into her chest and her tail wrapped around her, curling up as small as she could be and wishing she could be smaller.

“A-at least I remembered something,” she muttered to herself, following it with another sob. “I gotta… I gotta go get Zipp. Something’s wrong with me. Something’s wrong.” She stood up feebly, steadied her shaking hoof with another few deep breaths, and then reached towards the doorknob.

NO!

The voice froze her hoof. It was immediately apparent that it was not hers, and Sunny already knew there was nopony else in her room. She didn’t recognize the voice, though it was painfully familiar, as if she had just recently heard it. Whatever it was, it didn’t want her to go find Zipp.

Which means that’s exactly what I’m going to do, Sunny thought, bursting through the doorway with a newfound determination.

She raced along the hallways, replacing the memories of the visions with a muttered mantra of “Find Zipp, find Zipp, find Zipp,” until she rounded a corner and approached a large golden door protected by two guards.

“Halt,” one hissed, stepping forward. “The Princess is sleeping, be quiet!”

“I need to speak to Zipp,” Sunny gasped, sliding to a stop. “Right now. I need to. She’ll understand. It’s an emergency. Please, please!”

The second guard turned immediately into Zipp’s room, and Sunny let out a blast of air in relief. While she waited, the first guard stared at her suspiciously, but said nothing.

“Sunny? Your magic—what’s going on?”

At the sight of Zipp, Sunny's eyes went wide in gratitude, and the meager amount of composure she had built up before leaving her room immediately drained away.

“Zipp! I’m—something’s wrong with me, I don’t know what’s going on, I, I think I was sleepwalking? There were these eyes, and, I woke up, and my magic was around me and I wasn’t even thinking about it, and I looked down and I was holding the crystal—”

“Whoah, okay, hold on—”

“—and then I looked down and the crystal flashed and I saw—oh stars, Zipp, I saw, I saw, there was so much death, the blood—the fire! I couldn’t get away from it, I threw it onto my bed, the images, Zipp, I, I don’t know what’s going on!”

Zipp raced forward, hugging Sunny while she babbled. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re awake. I’m here now. It’s okay. You’re okay.”

“I’m okay,” Sunny repeated, focusing on how her hooves felt around Zipp’s body. She was here, holding her, being held by her. She was not asleep, not dreaming. As Zipp gave her one last squeeze, Sunny exhaled shakily, feeling the tension start to fade.

I’m awake. Zipp’s here. I’m safe.

“You had the crystal?”

“Mhm,” Sunny nodded, her eyes welling up. “I don’t know how I got it, if I did anything… I know your mom keeps it with her, still.”

“Shh, shh, it’s alright.” Zipp turned to one of the guards who had been watching the affair, and they saluted at the attention. “Go to my mom’s room. Make sure she’s okay. Then check Sunny’s room for the crystal, and bring it back here.” She looked back at Sunny as the guard trotted off. “Okay. You’re gonna spend the rest of the night in my room, okay?”

“Okay.”

“And I’m going to hold the crystal when we go back to Maretime Bay together, okay?”

“Oka—together?”

“I’m gonna go with you tomorrow. We’re gonna get you home and safe, okay Sunny?”

Home, Sunny thought, visions of the lighthouse popping into her mind, and she dashed them away with a frown. “Okay. I’d like that. Thank you Zipp.”

They sat together on the floor in silence, Zipp holding Sunny gently while she sniffed and wiped the slow flow of tears from her eyes. Eventually, the guard came back, crystal in hoof and a smile on his face.

“Her Excellency can rest easy,” he said, handing the crystal to Zipp. “The Queen sleeps soundly. In fact, her guards state nopony has even walked by her room this evening.” He eyed the turquoise stone in Zipp’s hooves suspiciously. “I suggest you spend some time training with the Unicorns, Miss Starscout. Accidentally using magic in your sleep is clearly dangerous.”

“I think you can tell her that when she wakes up,” Zipp said, indicating Sunny’s lolling head on her shoulder.