Cobblestones

"Hey, Mom. We're home from school," said two foals as they passed through the wooden entryway into their abode, saddlebags slung over their backs.

From around the corner, a cream-colored mare with a light brown mane trotted over to them and embraced the duo, placing a loving kiss on their cheeks. "Welcome home, you two. Did you have a good day?"

The shorter of the pair, a beaming, butter-yellow unicorn with a light copper mane stepped forward a bit. "Sure did, mom! We learned all about how the Rebellion started and how the Princesses aren't good for Equestria, anymore."

The mare ruffled his mane, giggling. "That's great, Sunny. Learning about the Rebellion will help you all the more to understand why we live here in Baltimare and why your father joined the Cause." She turned to the other colt, a taller earth pony with a dull white coat and cerulean mane. "What about you, Spark? What else did you two learn?"

"Well, I learned that Mr. Equis's math skills are a bit rusty, so I was asked to help him teach the class today," he said proudly, a large grin spread across his muzzle.

"Why do you have to be such a Mr. Smarty-pony?" asked Sunny, giving his younger brother a playful nudge.

"Hey, it's what my cutie mark says I am," Spark replied, turning to the side to show off a hollow light bulb containing a luminescent lightning bolt.

Sunny rolled his eyes playfully. "True. Just like mine says my special talent is 'being happy'," he said, looking back at the smiling sun emblazoned on his flank.

"You're both special in your own ways, dearies," interjected their mother. "Remember: in the Cause - bless it be - we're all equally important and useful." She embraced them again in her forehooves. "Now, since it's Friday, how does a trip to the park sound?"

In what seemed to be no time at all, the brothers darted up the stairs, dumped their saddlebags in their room, and ran down to their mother. "Ready!" they both said.

Upon exiting the house, the magnificence that was their home city of Baltimare came into view. Towering buildings of brick and mortar loomed over them. Rebel banners hug from the rooftops, unfurling to the center of the structures. Anypony unfamiliar with the Rebellion may have thought that these flags on literally every building were aged due to their dulled colors and worn fabric. These attributes, however, were intentional, to show how the Royalists of the Monarchy had worn down the general population of Equestria. In the center of the faded-black fields of the flags lay a dull yellow circle containing barbed wire surrounding a crossed hammer and sickle. The wire represented the resentment of the common pony against those of the higher classes, and the sacrifice they were prepared to make to let their point be known. The crossed hammer and sickle signified the unity of the non-Royalist ponies - the common folk - coming together and combating the tyranny of the Princesses.

Looking to the sky, the brothers could tell that either a storm was brewing, or a battle between the Rebel and Royalist forces was drawing nearer. Though it was three in the afternoon, the usual bright blue of the world above was now replaced with an ominous grey - the same color as the streets, buildings, and most other things in Baltimare. The one place that still held any real color in Baltimare were the ponies themselves and the community park in the central square.

With the park in sight, the two brothers took off, leaving their mother in their dust. Laughing, their mother followed them at a much slower pace.

Those two, she said to herself in a mocking fashion, will be the death of me.

Dashing towards the lush green among the desolate grey, Sunny glanced over to Spark.

"Just give up, Spark! There's no way you can beat me!"

"Watch me, Sun-butt!"

Kicking his natural earth pony strength into full gear, Spark galloped past Sunny, leaving his brother flabbergasted behind him. Not wanting to be shown up by his younger brother, Sunny quickly tried to think of a way he could still win the race. He knew that there was no way in the Cause that he could outrun Spark hoof-to-hoof, but was there some edge he had over Spark? Suddenly, it came to him.

Magic!

While still running, Sunny focused, allowing a soft amber glow to envelop his horn. Concentrating on Spark's tail, Sunny was pleased to see his magical light surrounding his target. However, when he tried to hold his brother back, it was as if his power had no effect. In fact, his horn ceased glowing, as well as Spark's tail, briefly after Sunny's failed attempt to halt his brother. When Sunny next looked up, Spark was already at the park. He had lost to his younger sibling.

"You coming or what, slowpoke?" asked Spark humorously.

Sunny was a bit flustered that Spark always won in the races they shared, but his irritation left him almost immediately as he trotted over to join his brother in the square.

Observing all that had happened, their mother, chuckled softly to herself. There's a reason why his special talent is being happy.

Before Sunny could congratulate Spark, he found himself pinned to the ground under Spark's strong hooves.

Laughing, Sunny struggled against his captor. "Hey, no fair, I wasn't ready!"

Joining in the laughter, Spark released Sunny, backing away. "Sorry, Sun-butt. I couldn't resist." he said, rubbing the back of his neck with a hoof.

His guard is down, Sunny thought, now's my chance.

Regaining his footing, Sunny charged towards Spark and jumped into the air. Now it's my turn, he thought. However, instead of tackling his brother like he had pictured, he instead bounced off Spark's chest after making contact and fell back on the grass. Coming back to his senses and seeing Sunny on the ground, Spark held out his hoof. With a smile, Sunny took it in his and stood back up.

"That's enough horseplay, you two," their mother said, trotting over to them. "The pie will be out of the oven in a half-hour, so run along, now."

Sunny turned and dashed to one of the nearby trees, but Spark stayed behind.

"Mom, when will dad be back? He isn't...dead, is he?" asked Spark, his previous cheery demeanor now one of both curiosity and worry.

His mother held him in a tender embrace. "I would certainly hope not, sweetie. However, if he were, he would have died for the Cause - the greater good."

Confused, Spark looked up to his mother. "But Mom, why is the Cause the greater good? The Royalists think we're just a little rebellion that can be squashed like a bug under the Princess's hooves. Why are we fighting them?"

Taken aback by her foal questioning the justifications of the Cause, she let go of Spark and looked at him as if she had no clue who he was. "Wh-why would you ask such a thing, son? The Cause was started those short two years ago because the Leader saw through the Princess's rouse. He was close enough to them to discover their true intentions and their true motives: to enslave ponykind. They surely would have succeeded if it weren't for the Leader. With his guidance and wisdom, ponykind can finally inhabit Equestria as true equals, no longer burdened by the tyranny of the Princesses." She patted Spark's mane. "That, my son, is why the Cause is for the greater good. Remember: for each according to their special talents, for each according to what they need."

She gave Spark a little nudge, prompting him to catch up to his brother. Though what his mother had said left him with more questions than answers, he felt that it could wait.

"Hey Spark, check this out!" exclaimed Sunny, pointing to the sky .

Looking to the sky, Spark saw that the previously dull grey above them had shifted to an ominous, pitch-black.

Not wanting to show his growing fear to his older brother, Spark tried to keep his composure. "W-what do you think it is? What does it m-mean?"

"Not sure, but it doesn't look good," replied Sunny.

The wind picked up, blowing the manes and tails of the two colts about at its mercy. They both looked to the ebony sky, a feeling of dread growing inside them.

Suddenly, a harsh siren began to sound, drowning out the howling wind. It started soft, but slowly grew in volume until it seemed that the ears of everypony in a mile radius would burst. As soon as it felt it couldn't get any louder, the siren went down in volume to where it had originally been, then back up to the ear-splitting shriek. The next thing the colts knew, their mother was next to them, screaming over the ubiquitous cries of the resounding banshee. She said one word and only one word:

"Run!"

Without a moment's hesitation, they took off. A bolt of lightning struck the ground just on the opposite side of the wall of buildings, followed in toe by a booming clap of thunder, adding another hellish instrument to the symphony of hysteria sweeping over the denizens of Baltimare.

Dodging and weaving their way through masses of panicked and hurrying ponies, they ran through the seemingly endless grey back their house. Panting, their mother swung open a double-door leading into the ground under the foundation of the home.

"Get inside, little ones!" she shouted, still having to compete with the wails of the alarm, the panic of Baltimare, and the exploding thunder.

They obeyed, retreating into the shelter from the outside world, their mother not far behind. Closing the door behind them, their mother flicked on the light hanging from the concrete ceiling, allowing the entirety of the inside of the refuge to come into view. The floor was made of brick with the walls and ceiling made of cement. Though it was not much different than they normally-dingy atmosphere of Baltimare, the colts were at least somewhat pleased that the brick provided some variety, even if it was only some.

"Spark, Sunny, you know I love you both very much, right?" their mother asked, her voiced as calm and collected as her expression. How she was able to appear and act so serene with the world practically ending just outside the door, the brothers would never know.

"What's going on out there, mother? Why are the sirens going off?" Spark asked, trying to hide the fear in his tone.

"It seems as though those damned Royalists want to try and take the city," she said, her voice monotone and emotionless. "You know what I told if something like this happened, right? Stay in here and don't come out until Mommy gets back from fending them off?"

Her two visibly-frightened sons nodded.

"Good."

She placed a tender kiss on each of their foreheads, then headed for the door. "Sunny, you take care of your brother, alright? You're the oldest, so it's your job to make sure that nothing happens to either of you, and if I don't come back, he's your responsibility. Got it?"

"Yes, Mom," acknowledged Sunny, "nothing will happen to either of us."

"Do you swear on the Leader?" she asked, looking back at Sunny.

With a gulp, Sunny nodded. "I swear on the life of the Leader and on the glory of the Cause that nothing will happen to us."

"Good boy," said their mother getting closer to the door. "I love you both. If I survive, I'll be back."

With that, their mother opened the doors into the living Hell that Baltimare had become and closed the doors behind her.

Other than the symphony of destruction just beyond the doors, the shelter was silent. Neither of the colts said a word, only backed to the rear of the small room and huddled in the corner farthest from the the outside, from danger, from Hell itself.

"Do you think she'll be back?" asked Spark.

"Come on, Spark. She'll make it. I know she will..." replied Sunny, trailing off, trying to hide the growing uncertainty in his gut.

Both of their gazes remained on the entrance. The wood rattled and shook with every explosion, every clap of thunder, and every scream of the wounded and dying.

The colts remained there together, eyes closed, and attempted to block out the raging battle outside in with the solace of slumber.

After an uncertain amount of time, Spark awoke and heard something strange. "Wait a minute...Spark, do you hear that?"

"I don't hear anything, Spark," Sunny replied, his voice groggy from sleep

"Exactly. Silence. The fighting must have stopped."

Sunny's ears raised, twitched about, checking to be sure his brother was indeed correct. "You're right. I can't hear anything anymore. I'm going to see if the coast is clear."

"Uh, Sunny, I wouldn't-"

"Hey, Mom put me in charge, and you're my responsibility until she gets back. We can't stay in here forever, so I'm going to see what's going on out there." Without waiting for a response from Spark, Sunny promptly trotted to the doors and flung them open.

Nothing could have prepared Sunny for the horrors that now burned themselves into his mind, forever engraved in traumatic fire. His eyes widened, his breath caught in his throat, and his blood ran cold.

"What is it, Sunny?" Spark asked, coming to join his brother at the top of the steps.

"S...Sp-Spark...you...need to see this..."

Spark climbed the step to look at the world outside.

Once Baltimare was in view, he too, like Sunny, was struck speechless.

Before them lay what had once been there home. Much of the ashen city had gained splatters and splotches of crimson, most of which puddled underneath motionless ponies laying on the cobblestone streets. The faint crackles and pops of growing fires became the new music playing for the colts, it's subtle yet ominous tune sending chills down their spines. Along with the permanently resting ponies lay chunks of what used to be the towering buildings, now reduced to ruins of their former glory. The proud Rebellion flags that once hung from these structures now either lay tattered, torn, and burned on the ground. The sky had morphed from it's previous grey to jet black, no light piercing the heavens to shine down upon the trembling colts.

"S-Sunny, we should go back into the shelter. M-Mom will be back for us soon," said Spark, breaking the eerie silence.

Trying to hide his growing fear, Sunny turned and looked intently at his brother. "We have to find her, Spark. She could be hurt...or in trouble..." he replied, trailing off at the thought of their mother: wounded, bloodied, her voice hoarse from shrieking for help. Perhaps she was dead. Laying there cold, still and lifeless; just another cadaver among the city of death. He shook his head, trying to make the visions retreat to the dark recesses of his mind from whence they came. "Come on."

Taking tentative steps to avoid the bodies strewn about, the brothers made their way from the shelter into the morbidly peaceful streets. The only sounds to be heard were the light rustle of the wind against their fur and the fur of the bodies around them, their own heavy breathing, and the hastened beating of their hearts.

Looking at the crimson-soaked corpses about him, a tear trickled down Sunny's cheek, feeling the weight of all the previous anger and torment that every one of the ponies must have felt before they died, crushing his spirit. He tried not to notice as both he and his brother's hooves stepped in the legion of pools about them. Stepping in the former life of these ponies was inevitable.

Spark whimpered. "Sunny...we should go back to the shelter...wait for mom..."

Wiping the tears from his eyes with his foreleg, being careful not to get the blood on his hoof on his face, Sunny turned to Spark, trying to give his brother a confident smile. "Come on, Spark. She's probably at the barracks wondering where we are right now." Without waiting for a response, he continued forward, Spark following reluctantly behind him.

Nearing an intersection, Sunny heard a faint, yet still audible sound down the lane to his right.

Hoofsteps. Hoofsteps other than their own. Coming closer.

At the crossing point, Sunny looked towards the direction of the growing sounds. His heart stopped. Reaching back and grabbing Spark, he darted into a hole in the office building nearest to them and got behind the front desk. When Spark was about to protest, Sunny put his hoof in front of his mouth. "Shh! Keep it down!" he said in a harsh whisper.

"What was that about?!" Spark retorted.

Sunny found himself becoming uncharacteristically furious with his brother. He was about to argue back when a voice from in front of the building called out into the empty lobby.

"Any rebels alive in here?"

Silence.

"I say again: are there any rebels in here that are alive? We will not harm you. You will be given a fair trial in Canterlot for your crimes against the Crown, but I assure you, no harm will come to you until then."

Sunny carefully peeked his head over the desk to take a look at the pony.

A uniformed minty-colored unicorn lit the darkness around him with the teal glow from his horn. Looking this way and that, he scanned the burned- out lobby.

Sunny held his breath, fearing that even the slightest exhale would give away his location to the Royalist pony. All time stopped. The only sound came from the magical energy surrounding the stallion's horn.

How long was it before the stallion left, the brothers would never know - perhaps a minute? Several minutes? An hour? Time held no more relevance to them. All that mattered was not being discovered, finding their mother, and staying alive.

Thunder clapped; the bass of the previous symphony brought back from the dead. The sounds of the Royalists faded from the brothers' ears.

The silence was broken when Spark got up from the floor and cantered carefully out of the lobby wall-hole. "I'm going back to the shelter, Sunny. I know Mom will be waiting for us, there."

Sunny followed his brother out into the street. "C'mon, Spark. I know she'll be at the barracks. We have to stay together." His eyes pleaded for his brother to stay by him. Though he wouldn't admit it to Spark, he felt safer with him nearby.

"I'm going back home and that's that."

Sunny approached Spark, irritated by his sudden refusal to follow him. "Mom put me in charge, so what I say goes, and I say we need to go to the barracks. Now come on."

"Yeah, but I'm also the smarter one, the taller one, and her favorite, so if you weren't the oldest, she would've chosen me."

By this point, Sunny and Spark's foreheads pressed against one another, pushing against each other to assert their plan of action.

"Just come with me already, Spark! I'm telling Mom when we find her about you not listening to me!"

"Tell her what? That I was right and you were wrong? Yeah, tell me how that goes, Sun-butt."

That name. That situation. The fear, anxiety, rage, misery, and sense of anguish coursing through his veins. He could take it no longer.

Unbeknownst to Sunny, a hint of the color of his cutie mark faded, leaving the sun at only it's part of it's former brightness.

He pushed Spark back so he stumbled back onto the broken cobblestone road. "Stop calling me that! You don't want to follow me, fine! Go back to the house and be killed by the Roaylists, I don't care anymore." The dams in his eyes broke, torrents of tears streamed down his muzzle, only fueling his ranting. "You think you're so great at everything, but you're not! You're right, you are Mom and Dad's favorite. The only reason they pay attention to me at all is because I'm the oldest. They just love you so much, don't they? You're their pride and joy, but do you know what you are to me right now, Luminous Spark?" He went to his brother and put his face near his. "You're just a dirty, fly-ridden-"

"D-don't you dare say it, Sunny. Don't say it!" Spark practically pleaded, the water in his eyes about to overflow.

"...mudpony." whispered Sunny. More color disappeared from his cutie mark.

"No! Stop it, Sunny! Don't call me that!" Spark regained his footing, crying uncontrollably.

"Oh, did the perfect pony get his feelings hurt? Maybe I'll say it again: mudpony. Mudpony! Muddy-muddy-mudpony! Go back home, mudpony! I didn't need you, anyway." The sun on his flank now less than half of it's former luminescence. He turned and walked solemnly away from his brother, tears still flowing.

Spark watched, crushed, as his older brother left him crying in the street, not looking back. With a few remaining sniffles, he got back up and turned towards home.

Was this really how he felt all this time? Did Mother and Father really favor me that much? Spark didn't know if his brother's sudden outburst was justified. Was the intensity of the situation just too much for his mind to handle?

Sunny continued walking, his head hung low. The color in his cutie mark began to return to it's normal color. What are you doing, Sunny?! Turn around and apologize! You didn't mean all of that.

Even if I didn't, he probably hates me now, so what's the point? he thought, answering his own internal question.

A flash of lightning followed by an overhead explosion broke Sunny from his thoughts. Looking up, his heart jumped into his throat. A section of the office building's roof was hurdling towards him. Frozen in fear, he didn't think, didn't move, didn't even breathe. All he did was stare at the falling brick and mortar, motionless, mouth agape.

Just before his demise was about to crush him, a blur of white out of the corner of his eye barreled into him, launching him a few yards away from where the chunk of building slammed into the ground.

Coming back to reality, Sunny shook his head, looking at the cloud of dust rising from the impact site. Then he remembered the white blur. What was that? he asked himself. Realization hit him like a sucker punch to the gut.

"Spark!"

Sunny scrambled over to the debris pile, his breathing panicked and quick.

"No no no no no, please no. Please don't be..."

He trailed off, trying to think of a plan through his thousand-mile-an-hour mental state.Shaking his head to get rid of the morbid ideas flashing before his eyes, he lit up his horn, using his magic to toss bits of rubble this way and that. It wasn't long before the soot-coated body of a colt came into his view.

Sunny backed away, appalled at the site of his brother: battered, bleeding, and lifeless. He felt the familiar sensation of tears trailing down his muzzle. Grabbing Spark, he pulled with all of his strength until he was freed from the debris.

Laying him on his back, Sunny bent down next to him, his ear next to Spark's chest.

Thump...thump...thump

Stay with me, Spark! Please...stay with me! Don't die on me...please...

Looking over Spark, Sunny couldn't see anything wrong until he noticed the blood. The fresh, scarlet river streaming from his brother's skull pooled in front of Sunny's hooves. Lifting his hooves to look at them, Sunny saw the very life force of his brother coating them. Spark's blood was on his hooves. He was to blame. He was always to blame.

"Oh Spark..."

Sunny rested his head on Spark's dusty, firm chest, sobbing. "I'm so sorry, Spark...I'm so sorry..."

The now-grey sun on his flank went unnoticed as Sunny closed his eyes tight. The sound of pitter-pattering raindrops hitting the road created a relaxing rhythm, lulling him from reality into the only remaining realm of solace: his dreams.

"Check over there for any survivors," said the mint unicorn, cantering down the road, looking this way and that through the slowly strengthening rain. His comrades did as he asked, scattering in all directions. "Just one, Celestia...there has to be...we'll be seen as murderers if there aren't even a few..."

The only light around the Royalist pony came from his glowing horn and the shimmer it made off of his bronze-plated armor, but despite the low visibility through the darkness and rain, he managed to carefully step over body after body, Rebel and Royalist alike.

"Is there anypony alive out there?" he cried desperately into the darkness. The was answered with silence. His breath quickened, heart pounding, as he continued down the cadaver-ridden street.

Before long, the unicorn realized that to his left once again stood the office building he had checked only an hour before.

Great, I went around in a huge circle, he thought.

He was about to continue on his way, when a slight movement out of the corner of his eye stopped him dead in his tracks. Turning his head to the left and to street level, his saw two colts, one lying motionless on his back and the other curled up by his side, shivering.

"Dear Celestia!" he exclaimed, rushing over to them. "What in Equestria are you two doing out here?!"

The smaller colt whimpered slightly, his body still shaking violently.

"Hang on, little ones." The armored pony scooped the shivering colt onto his back, then fired a bolt of magic into the air. After reaching the altitude of the top of the office building, the ball of magic exploded, signaling his position to his comrades.

"Don't worry," the unicorn assured the sleeping, shaking colt on his back, "you two are going to be alright. Every..." He paused, looking around the multitudes of still ponies on the ground.

"...everything will be made alright."

"Mom? Mom? Where are you?" Sunny called out.

For some reason, nothing surrounded him. The world was white for as far as he could see in all directions. He started to grow worried, not getting any response other than his own echo.

"Sunny...I'm here, son."

Sunny spun around. Before him stood his mother, her expression as blank and emotionless as her words. A wide smile crossed his face as he ran over to hug her, only to pass right through her form.

"What the heck?" He turned back around to find his mother looking down at him again. "What's going on, Mom?"

"Spark was your responsibility, Sunny, and you allowed him to get hurt. You should be ashamed of yourself. I expected better from my eldest son."

Taken aback at his mother's sudden sternness, Sunny backed away a few paces. "I-I didn't mean to. I'm sorry, Mom. Please forgive me, I-"

"Don't bother. You let Spark get hurt. He was one of the greatest hopes for the Cause and finally being able to overthrow the Royal Whores, and you let him suffer to save yourself."

"I...Mom...I'm sorry..."

"Is that all the Cause is to you: not important?! The Cause is EVERYTHING!" she shrieked, stamping her hoof on the invisible ground. The once pale world now gave way to the broken streets of Baltimare. "Because of your selfishness, the Cause and it's hope for Equestria are doomed!"

The all-too familiar sensation of tears running down his face made itself known to Sunny. Did she really feel this way? Was it really all his fault?

"Mom, please, it was an accide-"

"It's too late to save yourself, now. You failed Spark, everypony you love, and the Cause in all it's glory! For that, I cannot let you go unpunished."

To Sunny's horror, the bodies, the countless bodies of Baltimare rose from the cobblestone, sending glares of malice and death his way.

"Kill him," his mother growled.

Without even taking the time to think, Sunny took off, running a fast as his legs could carry him. Time seemed to go by so slowly, yet the functions of his body continued at a hastened pace. Adrenaline flowed, his heart pounded, his mind raced, and his tears did not cease. He looked over his shoulder for a brief moment only to seen the risen ponies gaining on him. With a yelp of fear, Sunny attempted to gallop faster than he already was, but to no avail. All of a sudden, his hoof caught in the air, sending him flying forward. He closed his eyes, awaiting the impact of the road and the risen ponies catching him. Instead of hitting the road, however, he kept falling.

Opening his eyes, Sunny found himself plummeting into an infinite blackness. Looking behind and above him, he saw his mother standing on the edge of the quickly-furthering street, a malicious smirk on her muzzle. It wasn't long before the vision of Baltimare turned to black along with everything else surrounding Sunny.

Suddenly, Sunny stopped falling. He just hung there, as if he were suspended in thin air by some invisible marionette strings.

From the darkness, Spark emerged, his head hung low so that his face wasn't in Sunny's view. He approached his suspended brother without a sound nor a word.

"Spark! Thank goodness you're here!" Sunny exclaimed, "you gotta help me. Something's wrong with Mom, I can't move, and I don't know where we are."

Silence.

"Um...Spark? Y-you in there?"

Slowly, Spark raised his head. The skin on his face was peeled away, exposing the muscle and tissue underneath. A tsunami of crimson flowed from his skull, coating the invisible floor with his blood.

"Sunny...why would you do this to me...?" asked Spark, his teeth not covered by any lips or his eyes covered by any lids.

Sunny struggled to break free of whatever held him in the air in front of Spark, but it was no use. He tried to look away from the ghastly face of his brother, but found that he was able to do that, too.

"What's the matter...can't face the...consequences of your...actions...?"

More openings in Spark's head opened up, allowing more blood to gush out. The pool now reached hisforelegs and Sunny's hooves.

"Spark, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to...it was an accident! I swear!"

The next thing Sunny felt was his brother's blood-soaked hoof connect with his gut, forcing the air from his lungs. Coughing and sputtering for breath, Looked up at Spark, whose muzzle was directly in front of his.

"You just couldn't...handle me being better than you, huh? Had to...bring me down to...your level...to make yourself look better...for Mom and Dad...well..."

Spark leaned in, his teeth brushing against Sunny's ear. "They still love me more than they ever will you. You've only made yourself look worse in their eyes. They know you're scum, I know your scum..."

By this time, the blood pool was up to Sunny's lower neck and Spark's chin.

"...and you know you're scum." Spark finished before his head disappeared under the rising gore.

Sunny continued to squirm and struggle against the nothingness, but he too was consumed by Spark's pool of blood, finding it strange that he could still breathe while submerged.

When Sunny opened his eyes, he was back in the infinite whiteness he had originally been in. He stood back up, but felt the sudden urge to cough. When he did, he viewed in horror what lay in his hoof: a clot-ball of Spark's blood. Without warning, more and more of scarlet river flowed from his mouth as he stood there, helpless.

Once the dark red liquid ceased coming from his mouth, Sunny stood motionless as he watched it all come together and form a figure. The figure of a pony. As the finer details were shaped, he gaped in amazement. There, standing before him, stood...himself.

"Who...who are you?" Sunny asked, gingerly taking a step forward.

The pony smirked. "Gee, not sure. Who do you think I am?"

Sunny didn't answer.

"Well, since it seems that something's got your tongue, I'll answer for ya. I'm you, er, sort of, anyway. See, I'm basically an embodiment of your negative emotions. Heck, you could call me your other personality."

"B-but, why are you here? Where did you come from?"

The imitator chuckled, shaking his head. "It's amazing what enough trauma can do to somepony. Story goes like this: I've always been here, you just weren't aware of it. However, you're finally able to notice me because your guilt and the trauma of what happened in Baltimare were enough to bring me out. I'm neither a friend nor an enemy, I merely exist inside your mind along with you."

He melted back to blood then reformed behind Sunny. "Think of me as, hmm," he pondered. "Oh! Think of me as the 'other' you. The not-so cheery side of you. The you that you're going to grow more accustomed to knowing."

Sunny backed away, growing more concerned by this strange pony's presence. Something about him just felt...off - so incredibly off.

"You can't be me," retorted Sunny. "I'm me. You're just p-part of my imagination."

Sunny's copy frowned. "You don't sound so sure of yourself, there. Am I as much of a part of your imagination as the rest of what's happened to you here?"

Silence.

A sadistic grin formed on the copy's face upon seeing Sunny's self-doubting, disheartened expression. "That's what I thought. I'm not the bad guy here. If anything, you are."

Once again, the reflected image of Sunny dissolved to blood and reformed behind him. "I'm more of a neutral ally: somepony who'll help you out in a pinch, or even somepony to talk to if you're brother stays smart and gets rid of you after what you did to him."

When Sunny blinked, his copy had disappeared. Looking around, he stopped when he looked up to see him hovering above him, stretched out on some sort of invisible furniture.

"Heck, if we didn't share a mind, I'd bolt out of here, too. Unfortunately, that isn't the case," he said in a melodramatic tone. He floated back down to Sunny's level. "Looks like we're stuck with each other, so get used to it."

Before Sunny could answer, the other Sunny put a hoof to his mouth. "My name is Reus, thanks for asking. Believe me, I'm not going away any time soon and, who knows, you may need me down the road."

He stepped back. "Anyway, I think it's about time the pleasantries were concluded. It's time for you to get back to real life."

With a tap of his hoof on the ground, Reus disappeared, the whiteness turned to black, and Sunny opened his eyes to find the mint unicorn looking at him with concern.

"You okay there, little fella?" he asked.

Sunny surveyed his surroundings. He wasn't in Baltimare anymore. The crystal clear sky above him, and the walls of a wagon around him. "Where...am I?" he asked, his voice hoarse and raspy.

"On your way to Fillydelphia. You and your little friend are very lucky to be alive."

"Spark?! He's alive?!" Sunny exclaimed, shooting up from the wagon bed.

The stallion gestured to the seat next to him. Laying there, sleeping, was Spark. "Yep. Took a nasty blow to the head, but he's alive. Not sure what his injury will mean, but the best-case scenario is he suffered a mild concision."

If only he knew that you caused all of this. said the voice of Reus in Sunny's head.

You're still here?

I already told you: I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me, Sunny.

Shaking the mental conversation from his thoughts, Sunny got up and sat next to Spark, giving occasional, nervous glances to the minty stallion.

"W-why didn't you kill us? Is that what you Royalists do? Kill everypony against the Whores?"

"What? Goodness, no, though I'd rather you didn't refer to the princesses as such a foul term." The pony turned in his seat to face Sunny and Spark fully. "Is that what they taught you all there? That we're monsters with no sense of morality? By Celestia, I'm glad we rescued you from those sort of lies." He extended a hoof to Sunny. "I'm Arcane, second in command of the Royalist military operations in Fillydelphia." When Sunny didn't accept, he retracted his hoof. "I'm sure you think that we're the bad guys here, but we aren't. All we're trying to do is keep the peace in Equestria - nothing more."

Turning to the side, he pointed to the Royalist symbol emblazoned on the shoulder of his armor: a maroon colored circle containing a golden Fleur de Lis surrounded by golden olive branches. "See this? This is what we work, fight, live, and die for: peace. The maroon represents the blood that we as Royalists are willing to shed for our Princesses and for the greater good of Equestria. The golden Fleur de Lis and olive branches show that with that sacrifice comes an era of peace under the sovereignty of Celestia, Luna, and our other princesses." He extended his hoof again. "Please, son. Don't be afraid."

Glancing to the hoof held in front of him, then to Arcane, then back to the hoof, Sunny slowly raised his own and shook. "My name is Sunny, by the way. Thank you for saving us."

"Nice to meet you, Sunny." Arcane glanced back at the colt's cutie mark: a grey, smiling sun. "That's an odd cutie mark you have there. What's it for?"

Sunny looked to his flank expecting to see the familiar bright, beaming sun he'd been seeing his entire life, only to find a dull-grey counterpart in it's place.

What's up with my cutie mark? Why's it grey?

Let's just say it has a little something to do with me. No need to be afraid, Sunny. You're not going to die a horrific, agonizing death or anything, even if that would be rather nice.

What do you mean it has something to do with you? Tell me what's going on!

"You okay, son?"

Snapping back to reality, Sunny realized that Arcane was attempting to get his attention. "Oh, uh, sorry. I was just thinking for a minute. I'm..." He looked back at the lackluster celestial being. "I'm not sure what it means, anymore."

Arcane pondered this for a moment. "That's strange, but I'm sure you'll figure it out one day. All ponies do at one point or another."

"I hope so. The sooner I figure it out, the better." Then, Sunny's train of though came to a stop at his mother. "Mister, do you know if my mother is one of the ponies you rescued from Baltimare?"

"There were a few ponies we rescued in Baltimare other than you two. Your mother could be among them, but we won't know for sure until we get to Fillydelphia and unload."

Sunny looked down, disheartened. His brother was seriously injured, he didn't know where his mother was, and he had most likely betrayed the Cause by the shaking the hoof of a Royalist.

Arcane placed a hoof on Sunny's shoulder. "Don't worry, little guy. We'll find your mom for you. It's a long way to Fillydelphia, though, and you've been through a lot from the looks of it. Try to get some rest."

"Yeah, maybe you're right," agreed Sunny, lying down next to Spark. Glancing over at his unconscious brother, he couldn't help but remember the events of the day before: the bodies, the blood, the pain, the anguish, the fear, the sorrow, and the guilt. Closing his eyes, he knew that even sleep wouldn't allow him to escape reality, but at least then he could somewhat relax.

"Here we are."

Sunny groggily opened his eyes to see a tall-but-not-towering brick building. Not much could be said about the dull structure: it had the look of a three story box made of brick and mortar, a single window in every one of the multiple, identically spaced rooms, and an aged double door at the front.

"Sunnyside Orphanage," Arcane stated. "It isn't much, but it will be a good temporary home for the both of you until we find your parents."

Looking back to his brother, then back to Arcane, Sunny looked unsure.

"Don't worry, son," Arcane assured. "You both will do fine here. Besides, you can count on me checking in on you two from time to time, give you any news about your parents if I find any information about their whereabouts. We'll drop you off here while we take your brother to the hospital for examinations. Hopefully, he'll be here with you by the end of the day." When Sunny looked downward, disheartened, he placed a hoof on his the colt's head and ruffled his mane. "Hey, there's no need for the long face, kiddo. Sometimes, it may seem that life has all the odds stacked against you, like the only option you have is to lay down your cards and fold, but no matter what you do, never give up and never lay those cards down; the only option you really have is to make your next bet and keep playing, to show life that it can't beat you."

Arcane hugged the expressionless colt. "Until we meet again, stay strong, little trooper."

With that, he got back into the cart with Spark, and left Sunny sitting on the front steps of his new home: Sunnyside Orphanage.

The next day

"Sunny."

"Hello, Arcane. Is Spark with you today?"

"He is, but, um..." Arcane leaned in to Sunny's ear. "The injuries he suffered seem to have wiped his memory of the incident in Baltimare, everything that had occurred, and whatever he may have seen. It apparently has also left him with a bit of a speech impediment, and his mental abilities are currently below average for his age." He wrapped Sunny in a caring hug. "I'm sorry, son."

Sunny did not return the embrace. Instead, he just stood there, neither his eyes nor expression showing any emotion. Though all may have looked calm on the exterior, Sunny's mind was in an uproar from the taunting revelry of his mental counterpart.

Yep! You really did it, Sunny. Now you're brother is practically handica - no, wait, he IS mentally handicapped! The best part about this whole thing is that YOU'RE the one who caused all of this. Just couldn't handle him being better than you, huh?

Leave me alone...please...

What? I'm only stating the truth, my friend. The truth hurts, but you need to hear it. How have you lived with yourself since then, eh? That's right, you can't! Freaking monster is what you are!

"Sunny? You okay?"

Arcane's words snapped Sunny from his mental struggle. "Huh? Oh, yeah. It's fine, Mr. Arcane. I can take care of him. Don't worry."

"Good. He's going to be your responsibility from now on." He ruffled the colt's mane. "I know you can handle it." Turning to walk away, Arcane looked back at Sunny. "I have to go for now, but you should go show your brother to your room. He's waiting at the front door."

Without giving another second of thought, Sunny dashed to where his brother was standing and hugged him tight, sobbing all the while.

"Whoa, h-hey there, S-sun-butt. Do you know where we are, e-exactly? W-will Mom be picking us u-up soon?"

Sunny continued to sob on Spark's shoulder, drenching his brother in his own grief and sorrow. "I'm so sorry, Spark! I'm so sorry...please forgive me."

"Uh, okay...w-what am I forg-giving you for?"

Everything. You being born, you causing everything that's happened to him, and you existing!

"Nothing..." Sunny replied, finally able to form cohesive words.

"D-did you say where Mom and Dad were or when th-they'll be coming to g-get us? I forget if you d-did or not."

Not wanting to make an even bigger fool of himself than he already had, Sunny swallowed his pain. "They're...not going to be here for a while. For now, though, we'll be here." He hugged Spark as tight as he dared. "And I'm going to protect you. As long as I'm still kicking...I'll never let you get hurt again."

With the ringing of the noon bell came the rush of unfamiliar faces to a single destination: the cafeteria.

Looking around, Sunny gazed upon the diversity of the other young ponies among him and his brother: some looking much better off, some looking worse; those who obviously ate well, and those who looked like if they were to miss one more meal, death would surely take them.

"Next!" the raspy voice of an elderly mare called.

Holding out his tray, Sunny was glad that after what seemed to be an eternity, he would be served a decent, hot meal. However, when a scoop of hay-paste dropped onto his tray, whatever hopes he had were thoroughly extinguished.

"Next!"

Thinking that Spark would be able to get his food without trouble, Sunny levitated his tray in front of him and cantered to a nearby empty table.

"Hey, kid, what's your deal bumping into me? Think you can just get away with that?"

"I-I'm s-s-sorry...I-I didn't m-mean to, I'm j-just t-t-"

The familiar voice caused Sunny's ears to turn towards the source, his heart sinking as he realized that the stuttering did indeed come from his brother. Looking over, he saw a burly pegasus staring Spark down. From a single glance, it was plain to see that he wasn't pleased at all with Spark.

"A-a-am I'm going to have to h-h-help you form an actual sentence, stupid?"

His rage building, Sunny ran up to the pegasus colt harassing Spark. "Leave him alone! Now!"

"Oooo, or what? You gonna poke me to death with that puny horn of yours? Get lost!"

The next thing Sunny knew, the colt's hind hooves impacted with his chest, knocking the air from his lungs and sending him flying across the cafeteria. He tried to get back up, but the pain in his ribs was too excruciating.

Son of a...ow! Are they...broken or something?

Not broken, little pansy, but he got you good. Reus said with a chuckle.

Now isn't the time - gahh - for you being sarcastic...if you have some advice, now would be the time.

Reus sighed. Well, seeing as we inhabit the same mind, I think I'll just take care of this, but you'll owe me - even more than you already do.

What do you me-

Before Sunny could finish his thought, the world turned to complete and utter darkness. No consciousness remained, no sense of existence, no feeling at all. When he opened his eyes, he was looking down at the pegasus, curled up on the cafeteria floor, blood gushing from his mouth and nose.

"What the...?" asked Sunny to himself.

Exactly what I said I'd do: take care of it. Since I don't want any harm to come to Spark, same as you, I guess I'll have to step in for you some of the time. It's a drag, but I don't have a choice.

Wait, why do you not want to see Spark hurt? What does it matter to you?

I may not like living in this mind, but while I am, I might as well assist your sorry ass whenever your brother needs your help and you're too much of a pansy to help him.

But why do you care about him?

Because I'm not a monster like you.

Sunny didn't answer. He walked over to Spark and led him out of the lunch room, clutching his bruised ribs and not looking back at the bawling, bloody pony on the floor.

8 years later

"Good evening, Sunny."

"Hey there, Arcane," Sunny said, trying to muster a smile at the sight of his friend. With his life in the orphanage of having to teach, protect, and care for Spark as a parent would, and having to deal with the savage banter from Reun, Arcane was one of the only reasons he had left to smile.

The armored unicorn embraced Sunny, then looked him over. "My my my, look at you. It seems like just yesterday we rescued you and your brother off the streets. Now you're just a few days away from joining the Royal Legion. I'm proud of you, kid."

The smile from Sunny's muzzle faded. Joining the Legion with the rest of the colts once they turn eighteen was the last thing he wanted, but considering his position, he wasn't one to be making choices.

"Thanks, Arcane," he replied weakly.

Noticing Sunny didn't sound so excited about his future position, Arcane grew confused. "Is there something wrong, Sunny?"

You're damn right there's something wrong! What's going to happen to Spark when I have to leave for the Legion? Why do I have to sign up for a war I never wanted any part of? Why have you still not found our parents? Why do I have to do everything for Spark while getting only his thanks in return? Why can't I say any of this to you?!

Oh, Sunny. Still a whiny, narcissistic filly, I see.

Putting on a fake smile, Sunny shook his head. "Nope, nothing wrong, here."

Seeing through the younger pony's act, Arcane gave him a playful nudge. "Hey, it's okay. I know how you feel, kid."

"Y-you do?"

"Sure. I was nervous about joining the Legion when I was your age, too. I wasn't certain if I was even near capable to serve. But take it from me, kid, you'll make a fine addition to the ranks. Who knows? Maybe we could get Spark signed up with you."

Trying to but on a more convincing facade, Sunny chuckled. "Yeah...maybe."

Arcane ruffled Sunny's mane. "I'm glad you were able to see reason in this." With that, he turned and left.

Though a fictitious smile remained on his face, Sunny's mind was in an uproar, cursing the Royalists, the Cause, the princesses, Arcane, his brother, but most of all, himself. It was because of him that he and Spark were stuck in an orphanage and not in the warm embrace of their mother; it was because of him that his brother had lost a good portion of his mental capabilities, and it was because of him that they were no longer home and would most likely never see either of their parents again.

Great job, idiot. Now you got him signing Spark up along with you. Why would you do that?

Shut up, Reus! I don't want to hear it.

Touchy today, aren't we? For good reason, I'll admit, but hey, it was your screw-up.

Sunny tried as best he could to block out the malicious, degrading voice in his head as he descended the stairs to the small room he and his brother shared, sure to spend the rest of the evening trying in vain to escape from his inner demon.

"Sunny? H-hey Sunny," Spark whispered, sitting up in his bed across the room from his brother's.

Stirring awake, Sunny opened his eyes to a nearly pitch black room, the only light coming from the nightlight next to the door. There was enough glow provided by the light to expose the bare, white concrete walls of their room, pale and devoid of any life. Looking over, he saw Spark's eyes darting around the room, his darkened form shaking under his blanket. With a sigh, he lit up his horn, painting the room in a much more prominent amber glow. He got out of his own bed and groggily cantered over to his brother's bed and sat down.

"What do you need, Spark? Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"I c-c-couldn't get to sleep. I'm s-sorry, Sunny."

"Well what can I do to get you to sleep?" asked Sunny, trying to hide his irritation at being awake at what he could only assume was the very late evening or the very early morning.

"Could...could you tell me a story? A happy one?"

Happy? Does that word exist in that sadistic vocabulary of yours? Reus asked.

"Uh, sure. I can think of a story for ya."

Spark smiled, resting his head back on his pillow and getting comfy, waiting for his brother's story.

Contrary to what Sunny had originally though, the words didn't come right away. In fact, he had no idea what to say. Why wasn't a story just coming to him? Isn't that how they worked for others?

It's okay, Sunny, you can just wing it. It can't be that hard, right? he thought to himself.

"Uh...once upon a time..."

Really? That's the best you've got? That's terrible.

Reus, now is NOT the time!

Clearing his throat, Sunny gave it a second try. "Once upon a time, there were...two brothers, yeah, uh, two brothers."

"W-what were their names?"

"Their names were, uh...Shiny and, um, Flash."

Huh. I think I can get the hang of this.

No you can't. Your story sucks so far.

Shut up! It hasn't even started yet.

"So, Shiny and Flash were separated from their parents, and the older brother, Shiny, had to be the parent of Flash."

Spark gasped. "Those p-p-poor ponies. W-what happened to them?"

With a yawn, Sunny continued. "So Shiny and Spark decided to go out into the world and find their parents. It wouldn't be easy for them, though. They'd be met with friends, enemies, danger, disaster, terror, grief, and hardship, but they both knew that."

Wow, how am I doing this?

"D-d-did they find their parents, Sunny? D-did they?" asked Spark anxiously, yawning towards the end.

As much as he didn't think he could while telling his brother a bedtime story in the early morning hours, Sunny smiled. He reached out and ruffled Spark's dark blue mane. "They sure did, little brother. They sure did."

"Wh-what happened after that?"

Looking to the ceiling, still smiling, Sunny thought of how to end his story, not noticing his cutie mark flickering its former, brighter colors. "Well, not much else, I guess. They all lived happily ever after." Looking back to Spark, he saw that his brother's eyes were now closed. "The end," he whispered.

Getting up from Spark's bed as silently as possible, Sunny crept over to his bed and laid down, curling up and levitating his blanket over him.

I thought he'd never fall asleep, thought Sunny to himself.

It hadn't occurred to him that Reus had been silent throughout his story. Being none the wiser, Sunny's smile faded as his previous words sunk in.

Happily ever after, huh? If only that were true.

Glad to see you're thinking realistically, Sunny.

Before Sunny could respond, the gentle grip of sleep took hold as his mind began to shut down for the night. One last thought went through his mind before everything went to black:

There are no happy endings.

The next day

Looking out across the distant world below Canterlot castle, Celestia waited. Suddenly, the doors to the throne room burst open as princesses Luna and Twilight Sparkle galloped in.

"We came as soon as we were able, sister," said Luna, rushing to Celestia's side, Twilight not far behind.

"Is something wrong? Your request for our presence here sounded urgent," Twilight added.

At first, there was no response from the sun princess. Her dazzling mane and tail continued to waft in constant waves, constant ripples.

"Luna, Twilight. I appreciate you taking my notice with heed," she said solemnly. "I'm afraid there is a matter of...grave importance we must discuss."

Celestia's horn lit up, the gentle yellow aura forming a map of Equestria in its entirety. When the map was finished, she pointed to a large city in the southwestern corner.

"As you are both aware," she began, "it has been nearly two decades since the rebellion started. No matter what we do, they garner more support every day. As you are also both aware, the capital of the Rebel-occupied region, Applewood, is believed to be their main base of operations for military, espionage, and propaganda."

The other two princesses looked to each other in concern, then back to Celestia.

"What are you getting at, sister?" inquired Luna.

"I'm saying that there has already been enough bloodshed on both sides, and to save our little ponies from any more unneeded violence, it is up to us to quell this uprising once and for all."

"Us? Alone? Stopping the entire rebel army?But that's impossible!" Twilight exclaimed, stepping closer to her mentor.

"Unless..." Celestia replied, trailing off.

At that moment, Luna's eyes widened. She grabbed her sister by the shoulders and spun her around to face her fully. "No! We cannot possibly resort to that! It would never work!"

"What would never work?" asked Twilight nervously.

Celestia lit up her horn once again. From underneath the cushion on her throne, a book floated over to the royal trio. From the layers upon layers of dust, the worn leather binding, and the cracking, yellowed pages, it was apparent that this was the first time the book had been exposed to the light in ages. She blew off the dust, exposing the title: "The Secret Findings of Starswirl the Bearded." Opening the book, she flipped to the very back, revealing a page much worse off than the others - so much so that the words, a well as its depictions, were barely comprehensible.

"You are serious..." Luna said under her breath.

Celestia did not respond. Instead, with a sudden flick of her horn and a sudden flux of magic, the ceiling of the throne room split into four sections. As the sections grew farther and farther apart, the afternoon sky became more visible, her sun at its highest peak, beaming down on the three royals.

Twilight looked at the fading page, squinting her eyes to make out the heading. "Eclipse Beam? What's that?"

"The ultimate weapon," answered Luna.

Gazing up to the sun, Celestia searched the recesses of her mind for the words to say.

"When Luna and I were young, we were told of a book - the book you see here. It was said that it contained all of the secrets of the world that Starswirl discovered during his life. The last entry, however, is what led him to not share these specific teachings."

"The Eclipse Beam?" asked her protege.

"Yes, the Eclipse Beam. When the alicorns of the sun, moon, and stars are together, they can unleash a celestial power so great, that even if  used correctly and to minimum capacity, it could eliminate an entire section of Equestria."

"And if not used correctly?"

"I'm not sure. it has never been attempted before, so nopony knows. What I am sure of, though, is that it wouldn't be good."

"But why even consider it, sister? Surely there is another w-" Luna managed to say before her older sister cut her off.

"It's the only option we have!"

Both Luna and Twilight were taken aback by Celestia's outburst.

Celestia sighed. "I apologize, but we have no other choice. The rebels gain more ground and support with every passing day. We've lost so many already...we cannot continue this losing battle any longer." She paused, then turned to face her fellow alicorns, her face reflecting the pain and dread weighing heavily on her heart. "Desperate times call for desperate measures, after all."

Nodding solemnly, Luna trotted over to her sister and stood at her side. "It is rather risky, but you are correct; it is only a matter of time before the Rebellion would defeat us, at this rate. This is the only hope we have for restoring peace. We'll be saving many more lives in the long run than we'll have to cut short by doing this."

"I'm not sure, Celestia," said Twilight, stepping back a few paces, "I mean, think of what could happen if something goes wrong. What will happen to Equestria? What if-"

Celestia held up a hoof, signaling for Twilight to cease voicing her concerns. Approaching her former student, she placed a hoof under her chin and lifted so that their eyes met. "Twilight. I know that the chance that this may fail isn't the only reason your hesitant. Your brother and Cadence are reasons, too, are they not?"

Looking away, tears in her eyes, Twilight couldn't help but mourn those she lost to the Rebellion.

"I know they meant a lot to you, but please. We need you. This is for the greater good of all ponies. Equestria cannot know peace and harmony again until this uprising is put to a stop, and this is the only way to bring that about."

Twilight hesitated. By doing this, she would be ending the lives of thousands if not tens of thousands of ponies in one fatal swoop, but she would be saving even more in the long run, not to mention that there was no certainty the ritual would go off without a hitch.

For the greater good...end thousands, save multitudes more, she thought. She looked into her former mentor's eyes once more. The serenity and solace she had always seen in them still remained, though joined by concern and pain. With a deep breath to console her jittered nerves, she nodded.

"Okay, princess. I'll do it."

Celestia embraced her former student. "I'm glad you were able to see reason in this."

Under the blazing sun, the princesses stood, their eyes closed in concentration and their horns aglow. None of them said a word; the only sounds between them being their intensifying magic. From the horizon, the moon rose to meet its celestial counterpart. The moon entered the line of view from the open throne room, and soon cast a shadow over the alicorns as Luna's part of the ritual moved in front of Celestia's. The once sunny sky now turned to a dull grey, the warmth of the sun being partially blocked by the moon. Finally, the stars, the multitudes of stars, shifted in the heavens to form a six-pointed star in front of the moon - Twilight's six-pointed star. A beam of brilliant luminescence from each of the sparkling dots making up the larger model met in the epicenter, the brightest beams coming from the stars at the very tip of the six points.

A grimace crept across Celestia's muzzle. "Alright. The easy part is over, now comes the challenge."

From each of the princess's horns, a burst of arcane power rocketed into the sky, the yellow, dark blue, and lavender energies coming together and twisting in unison. When the orb met the bigger star's median point, it was as if the very spectrum of color exploded from the heavens and brought forth a massive sonic-boom, briefly transforming the entirety of the Equestrian sky into a rainbow.

Twilight flinched. "Celestia, it's getting harder to control this...this power...I don't know much longer I can keep this up."

The aura around the sun princess's horn intensified, a clear sign of her own growing struggle. "Just a little longer, Twilight. We almost have it."

A sliver of light, barely the thickness of a pony's hair, slowly crept it's way down from the ritual's center point.

Come on, come on, Celestia thought. We've come so far, don't let us fail now.

None of them were certain exactly how long the strand of light took to reach to opening in the throne room ceiling, thought they were sure it couldn't have been less than a figurative eternity. Sweat trickled down the alicorn's faces and horns in steady streams, all of them nearing their limits.

Suddenly, with a groan of exhaustion, Twilight collapsed to the floor, her purple magic quickly fizzling out.

Celestia's eyes darted open at the sudden increase in her burden. Looking over to Twilight, her heart nearly stopped. She then turned her gaze to Luna, who seemed to be in the same physical and mental state.

"Luna!" Celestia cried as the heavenly string started to descend into the throne room at an increased rate. "Try to revive Twilight! I will hold back the beam!"

Without a moment of hesitation, Luna darted to Twilight's side, leaving the full fight of containing the Eclipse Beam's power to her sister.

Crying out in utter agony at the sheer force she had to hold back, Celestia had to summon all of her strength to even stay standing. Tears cascaded from her eyes, insurmountable suffering rocked her body, mind, and soul to its very core.

No! No! NO! It cannot end like this! I won't allow it!

Luna desperately shook Twilight, trying to wake her up. "Rise, Twilight! Please wake up. Rise!"

It was no use. The star princess remained motionless on the cold palace floor, a small flow of blood coming from her mouth. Even in her unconscious state, her expression was not one of peace, but one of anguish, pain, and sorrow.

The beam drew nearer and nearer, despite Celestia attempting to hold it back with every ounce of her will and vigor. The closer the beam came, the bigger and brighter it became.

"I won't...allow it...to end...this way!" screamed Celestia, the hairs on her coat beginning to singe and catch flame, only adding to her roars of defiance.

Seeing no more use in trying to bring Twilight back to reality and feeling the need to help her sister, Luna got up only to be forced back to the ground by the beam now only a foot away from Celestia's horn. A tear ran down her cheek. "Starswirl preserve us..."

The Eclipse Beam was now only inches away from Celestia, and with her body on fire, her horn cracking and bleeding, and without hope of her fellow alicorns coming to her aid, she started to realize the true severity of her situation. First, her legs broke, bringing her blazing body crashing down. Second, her horn broke and disintegrated, leaving a bleeding stump on the once proud ruler's head. Finally, she watched in horror as the beam of flaming energy enveloped her, destroying her very being.

Before she faded away to dust, one last thought went through Celestia's mind: My little ponies. Please forgive me.

BOOM!