Twilight put down the set of candles on the nearby table. Sunset just stood there, speechless. According to her, Twilight was supposed to be dead. She plotted her next actions carefully when Twilight began to talk.

"I've already found the antidote, Sunset," Twilight said. "And I've already given it to Celestia." She took a large sigh and continued. "Sunset. Despite everything that you've done, I am wrought with nothing but grief that I have to place you under custody of the royal guard."

Sunset turned her head away and took a seat as Twilight continued talking. "Sunset, I'm sorry. For everything that's happened."

"Spoken like a true mare." Sunset's eyes began to fill up with tears. "Twilight, I am the one that should be sorry! Please, allow me to be the one to surrender myself!"

This was something Twilight had not expected. She thought that Sunset would burst with rage and attack her. Surrendering herself was not like her at all, especially with the way she acted when she was caught trying to poison Celestia. Had she learned the error of her ways? It seemed way too good to be true. Twilight needed to be cautious, now more than ever.

Meanwhile, Sunset felt nothing but anger inside for Twilight. She was supposed to be dead. But it would seem, nothing has worked out to her plans so far. She was at her wit's end. She decided to keep this facade of her's up for as long as she could. The only thing Sunset could hope for now was for Twilight to ease her guard, so that she could give the killing blow.

"Twilight, I regret everything!" she cried out. "I am deeply sorry for everything I've done for you. I've just now seen the error of my ways. Please, forgive me! I know I've done wrong, and I wish to make up for the dastardly deeds that I have performed these past seven years. So, please! Allow me to turn myself in! It's why I've returned in the first place!"

"Sunset..." Twilight took a step closer, in pity for Sunset.

But then, a voice suddenly called out from the darkness. "That's close enough, Ms. Sparkle!" Sunset turned as she watched a small dragon in a bowler hat stepped forward and was brought forth by the light. "This mare might just be the worst liar I've ever seen."

Sunset's heart skipped a beat. "Wh-Who are you?" she asked.

The dragon chuckled a bit. "Oh, forgive me," he said confidently. "I seem to have forgotten my manners." He then took a bow. "I am the interfering Spikewagon! But, everyone just calls me Spike. I accompanied Ms. Sparkle back from Manticore Street out of concern."

Spike hopped on the table and turned towards Twilight. "Ms. Sparkle! You may be a kindhearted pony, but I think you might be a bit too merciful on this mare!"

"How so, Spike?" Twilight asked.

"I grew up around places like Manticore Street, you see. Thanks to that, I can smell out liars and cheats in an instant," He pointed to Sunset. "And this mare stinks to high heavens! I've never heard such terrible lies in all my life!"

Sunset clenched her teeth together behind her closed mouth. First Twilight shows up out of nowhere claiming that she has evidence of Sunset's attempted crime, now this dragon shows up? It seemed the world was finally out to get her. She was close to using her last resort, but decided to keep waiting for the right moment.

Spike leaped off the table and headed for the curtains. "Tell me, do you remember this pony?" Spike dragged out a stallion with a braided mane, a small hat, and round glasses that laid on the edge of his muzzle. Sunset did in fact remember him. "He tells us that he was the one you bought the poison from!" Spike continued.

Sunset's eyes widened. "U-Uncle Wing! You..."

"Well, my silence can only be bought for a limited time, I'm afraid," he said, chuckling with a smirk.

"I've heard what I needed to hear." Another voice came out from the darkness, this time more familiar than the last. Sunset turned to find Celestia with the guards. A saddened look was upon her face. Sunset began to sweat a bit. "I don't wish to believe it, but I'm afraid I must," Celestia continued. "I've fed and sheltered you as if you were my own for seven years, and I get this in return. I am utterly disappointed in you." She coughed a bit more, albeit not as rough as a few days ago.

"Miss Celestia, the antidote hasn't taken full effect, yet. You should head back to bed," suggested Twilight.

"You're right," responded Celestia. "Take her away, please. I do not wish to see her apprehension."

The guards nodded as one of them escorted her back to her room. The others started walking towards Sunset with hoofcuffs in tow. "Wait," Sunset cried out as she got up. She then turned back towards Twilight. "I want Twilight to be the one to cuff me."

Twilight sighed. "Very well, then." She used her magic to take the cuffs from one of the guards and started walking towards Sunset.

"Be careful, Ms. Sparkle," Spike warned.

"I'd be cautious if I were you," the shopkeeper said. "Those three dots on her ear mean that she has been born with great fortune..." Twilight however disregarded his words as she continued forward.

Sunset then spoke up. "Twilight, can I tell you something? I truly have learned something after these past few years that I've spent with you..."

"And what's that?" Twilight asked.

"You see, the thing is, Twilight, the abilities of an equine can be rather limited. The greater a scheme is, the more chances of an unforeseen element can be brought forth to thwart it," Sunset went on. "That's why I want to become more than just an equine..."

"Sunset, just what exactly are you trying to say?"

"I REJECT MY EQUINITY! TWILIGHT!"

All of a sudden, Sunset pulled out the amulet from the inside of her coat and a knife along with it. "I shall cease to be equine, Twilight! With your blood!" She then lunged the knife at her, laughing maniacally. The shopkeeper simply stepped back into a corner, smirking.

Fear shivered down Spike's spine. "No way!"

The knife penetrated flesh causing blood to spew out. However, it wasn't Twilight's flesh. It was Celestia's.

"CELESTIA!" Twilight cried out as she saw her teacher's body in front of her, the knife sticking out from her side. She had jumped in front of the knife in the nick of time. Sunset took her hoof and got some blood from the wound. She then wiped it on the amulet, causing a light to shine brightly as spikes became attached to her neck.

"Stallions! Open fire!" One of the guards shout out. Sunset was shot by both magic and arrows, causing her to stagger back and fall out of the window behind her. The amulet was detached from her neck as she laid there, motionless.

Meanwhile, Twilight held Celestia in her hooves, trying hard to keep her from lying on the ground. "T-Twilight..." Celestia uttered, putting a hoof up to her face. "M-My f-f-finest st-student..."

"Miss Celestia..." Twilight closed her eyes as she ended up being on the verge of tears.

"Man, curse that Sunset mare!" Spike shouted. "That knife of her's looked like it hit a vital organ!"

Tears fell from Twilight's eyes as Celestia breath grew raspy. "Twilight," her teacher said. "Don't hold a grudge against Sunset. It's my fault..."

"Wh-what do you mean?" Twilight asked.

"Ever since she arrived, I was more...lenient on her," She continued, her speech's pace grew slower and slower. "But, I think that since more of my attention was...drawn towards you, she may have felt it a bit...unfair." She turned towards Sunset's corpse. "Twilight, bury her...with her father. Please..."

Twilight put her hoof upon Celestia's as her lifelong teacher brutally coughed. "Twilight...I am...at ease. You were...the best daughter...I could ever...have..." Celestia's hoof then slipped past Twilight's as she closed her eyes, finishing living her final moment.

Everyone just stood there as Celestia's breathing could no longer be heard. Even Spike's eyes were watering from how touching the moment was. He watched as tears ran down Twilight's face.

A guard's voice spoke up. Like the others, his voice cracked under the sadness. "Our princess...is gone. We've lost our greatest ruler!"

"Maybe not!" Spike said. "Look!" He pointed towards Twilight, still holding Celestia in her hooves. "The very soul of Princess Celestia now lies within her pupil, Twilight Sparkle! Ms. Sparkle now embodies the will, soul, and posterity of a great alicorn!" He wiped tears from his eyes as he finished up his rousing speech. "I may not shed tears for the likes of Sunset Shimmer, but I do shed them for Twilight Sparkle."

Spike closed his eyes with a content smile, then looked out the window behind him. Most of the glass was gone due to Sunset's body flying out of it. It was at that moment where he noticed two things. One: It had started to rain hard with thunder growing louder and louder; And two: Sunset's body was gone.

Spike's crying ceased as he saw only the amulet laying on the ground where Sunset used to be. "N-No way!" he shouted. Fear found it's way back into Spike.

"Guards! Sunset! Gone!" were the three words Spikewagon managed to blurt out from his panicked state. A guard ran up to the window to confirm Spike's discovery. Sure enough, it was nowhere to be found. There was no sight of the blood from her wounds, either. The amulet was the only one that laid on the ground. Spike started running towards Twilight and hid behind her. She put down Celestia's body as she got back on her hooves, cautious about what would happen next.

"Hey! Get away from the window!" Spike yelled at one of the guards who was still looking for Sunset. As soon as he turned around and faced Spike, half of his face was sent flying several inches before landing in the middle of the room. The small dragon screamed as Twilight backed up a bit more. As soon as the room fell silent, they heard a chilling noise coming from outside.

Wrrryyyyyy...

Spike's knees buckled as he shook uncontrollably, hiding his entire body behind Twilight. Suddenly, Sunset flew in through the window. "Sh-She decapitated the guard! How?! How is she still alive?!"

"What are you waiting for, then?" Another guard shouted. "Shoot her! Shoot her!" But everyone just stood still, shocked to how Sunset could still be breathing after all those wounds they put into her. She walked forwards slowly towards Twilight. Twilight began to charge her horn and aimed at Sunset.

"Sunset!" she screamed. "Don't!" Sunset stopped as her muzzle was just inches from Twilight's.

"Shoot her, Twilight!" Spike yelled. But Twilight's magic weakened as she trembled. Fear finally grabbed hold of her. Spike ran out of the side and grabbed one of the guard's arrows. He returned to Twilight's side, quickly aimed towards Sunset's head, and threw as hard as he could, albeit clumsily.

Sunset's head tilted back from the arrow that just struck her forehead. She slowly took it out and threw it to the side. Blood dripped from the small, round wound in Sunset's head, but she just kept walking forward as if nothing had happened. Blood then trickled down her face, reaching her mouth. Sunset licked her upper lip with satisfaction, a hellish smile upon her face.

Wrrryyyyy....

Twilight and Spike were both shaking. "I-I don't get it! I got her! In the head!" Spike screamed. He then turned towards his ally. "What's going on, Twilight?!"

"I don't even know!" Twilight was indeed at a loss for words. She watched as Sunset leaped up to the air and smashed her hooves through the ceiling and stood there like a spider.

"Twilight, behold!" Sunset had finally spoke. "This is the power I've achieved with the amulet and your teacher's blood!" She took a hoof and grafted it on to one of the guard's head. Both of their veins became exposed as she sucked him bone dry until there was nothing left but skin and bone, rendering him lifeless. As she finished her little feast, the now bloodless guard's body became stone hard. She threw it at the guards, causing their limbs to go flying everywhere. A head managed to hit Spike in the arm, causing him to fall to the ground and curl up, writhing in pain.

Twilight looked over to an armored statue that carried a spear. After all, Celestia was known for collecting artifacts. She ran over and took the spear, getting ready for Sunset's next action.

"Twilight, what are you doing?!" Spike yelled. "If you fight her, she'll tear you to shreds!"

"I know," responded Twilight. "But, I can't allow whatever Sunset has become to leave this house!" She remembered from her findings that the amulet was able to unlock the brain's full potential through attaching itself to the neck. She figured that if that was the case, then the brain must have been Sunset's weak point.

Meanwhile, the body Sunset had thrown began to twitch and move. Spike noticed this and looked over. "Oh, thank goodness!" he said. "You're alive!" But, much to Spike's chagrin, the dead guard turned his head towards him, revealing his pupil-less eyes and rotten fangs.

The body moaned and began to limp over to Spike. The dragon screamed a bloodcurdling scream as he tried to get away. "Blood! Blood, I need blood!" The dead pony begged. "Just a lick, please! Give it to me!" He put his hoof on Spike's face, laughing maniacally.

The dead guard's face was soon met with Twilight's spear. The unicorn had swung it hard enough for the dead guard's head to detach from his body and hit the back of the wall. Spike was left there frozen after his encounter while Twilight tried to get herself together. Even if it was just a soulless zombie, Twilight wasn't one for killing. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, attempting to gather up her strength.

"Twilight! Look out!" Spike yelled. Twilight saw as Sunset began to drop down from the ceiling.

"Sunset!" Twilight shouted. "I won't let you kill any more innocent ponies!" She thrusted the spear forward as went penetrated Sunset's forehoof and stuck out the shoulder. All Sunset did was smirk. What Twilight and Spike saw had left them speechless.

"N-No way..." Spike commented. "It's as if she didn't even feel it. And the wound in her head! It's gone!"

It was true. The wound Spike gave to Sunset's head seemed to have disappeared, as if she regenerated. Sunset then bent her arm and successfully managed to break the spear apart. The tip had broken off and just happened to stick into Twilight's shoulder. She let out a scream as the pain surged through her. She fell to the ground as Sunset stuck a perfect landing.

"Twilight, Twilight, Twilight," Sunset repeated, laughing quietly to herself. "Don't tell me you're done already. We've just gotten started. Be a dear and just stay alive long enough for me to kill you myself!" She turned around and noticed that Twilight and her little dragon friend suddenly disappeared. She looked around the room to find nopony in sight.

"Honestly now, Twilight, you've resorted to hiding?" she taunted. "I must say, I'm becoming quite disappointed for my new self's first fight. I wanna find out more about my new abilities." She sniffed the air. The smell of blood had reached her nostrils. She looked over to the source of the smell and saw blood coming out from underneath the curtains. She smiled as she trotted over. "Twilight! You can never hide from me! I've told you before, the greater a scheme is, the more chances of an unforeseen element brought forth to thwart it!"

She tore down the curtains with her magic only for her face to be met with fire. "I scheme with nothing but courage, Sunset!" Twilight retorted. She carried Spike on her back, who laid there tending to his arm. Sunset was covered by the curtains as the flames reached outward into the main hall. Twilight limped on despite her injury towards the door. Sunset screamed as she threw the curtains off of her. Twilight turned back and watched as Sunset's skin was burning and regenerating at the same time.

"Twilight, come on!" urged Spike. "We gotta go!" But, Twilight paid no heed. She instead used her magic to toss Spike across the room carefully. "Twilight, what are you doing?!" he asked.

"Go, Spike! Get out of here!" Twilight yelled. "This is between me and her!"

"Wha-?! Twilight! No-" Spike was interrupted as he was shot out of the castle by an explosion in the middle of the room. He ended up hitting the fountain next to the entrance.

Meanwhile, Twilight teleported up to the second floor where the flames hadn't touched yet. She looked down at Sunset. "Come on, Sunset! Face me!"

Sunset smirked once more at Twilight. "Twilight, you would risk your life for some foolish draconian criminal you've just met? You're more stupid than I thought." She headed towards the wall and slammed her hoof in. She did so with every other hoof as she walked upwards toward the second floor. "Realize that I'm more stronger than you, Twilight! You, a simple pony, would die from this height while I, Sunset, would simply cave in the entire floor and walk away unscathed! I'm invincible, Twilight!"

Twilight looked over and saw Celestia's body as it laid on the floor. She watched as she went up in flames, her spirit ascending into heaven. She then ran up the stairs and burst through the window as she ended up on the roof of the castle. The rain showed no signs of stopping as it poured harder and harder. She could hear Spike yelling out her name in the distance. She looked behind her for any sign of Sunset, but received none. Just then, Sunset jumped out from behind her and gave her a kick, sending her back a couple of inches.

At that instant, Twilight's youth flashed before her eyes. She had remembered every waking moment since Sunset had arrived. Celestia, Owliscious, the arrival of Sunset, Flash, the amulet, everything. She realized that the youth she had spent had been a youth with Sunset. She got back up on her hooves as Sunset approached her. Twilight then began to charge towards her and bursted through the wall.

"You fool!" Sunset shouted. "You really think I'll burn in these flames?" But Twilight just kept clinging on to Sunset with the help of her magic. She had vowed to end the feud that they had started seven years ago.

"I don't care about my death, Sunset! But, I've got nothing left to lose!" Twilight yelled out. "If I die, then I'm taking you down with me!"

Sunset simply laughed. "Very well, then. But, know that your own death will be in vain, Twilight Sparkle. I can simply escape this predicament!" She pulled out the knife she had been carrying by her side in an attempt to stab Twilight.

'Celestia,' Twilight thought. 'Please. Help me end Sunset!' But was it the spirit of Celestia answering Twilight's plea, or was it Twilight's instinct that helped her perform her next action? Twilight took the knife from Sunset's possession and stabbed her side with it, causing Sunset to scream out in pain. Twilight got on top of Sunset, then kicked against the wall moving both their trajectory just a little bit forward. Sunset looked down as she saw a statue below them. She then grew in disbelief. Was she finally losing?

Before Sunset could act, she became impaled by the statue while Twilight rolled over and landed on her back against the floor. Sunset tried pulling herself out, but the flames had finally overpowered her. "WRRRYYYYYYYYYY!" she screamed out. There was just one thing that Sunset had forgotten. She had forgotten about the duel they had as fillies. The true strength and determination of Twilight Sparkle!

"TWILIGHT! I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONE TO BEAT YOU!" Sunset then burned along with the entire castle.

Meanwhile, Spike simply watched as the whole castle went up in flames. Even though the rain was pouring as hard as it could, it wasn't able to put out the immense fire. Suddenly, Twilight's unconcious body hit the ground hard and landed right beside him. Spike ran over to her to make sure she was okay. "Miss Sparkle!"

Spike had heard her mutter something. He wasn't able to make it out, but it didn't matter. She was alive and that was all he needed to know.

***

The next morning, the fires had ceased as the castle had been reduced to nothing but rubble. Uncle Wing managed to get inside as he searched through the wreckage. He pulled up a piece of the castle and found the amulet that had been used by Sunset. Luckily for him, it was still in good condition, which meant it would still fetch a high price. As he reached out, a burnt hoof suddenly grabbed hold of him and attached itself on to his skin, sucking all of his blood. Underneath all of that debris, he saw one thing.

A cyan eye.

Wrryyyy...

Author's Note

Looking back at it now, Spikewagon just sounds like a really stupid name...