Between Shades of Gold

Fluttershy flew about humming softly and feeding her animal friends. It was a beautiful day, but she sensed something off. Whether it be the odd flight of the birds or awkward swimming of the fish. She shook it off and decided to visit Twilight. She trotted into town feeling like she was being watched. She shook her head pink mane flowing around her head like silk. She suddenly recalled the dream from last night. She wondered who the unicorn was. She looked familiar but couldn’t put a hoof on the orange and red maned unicorn, and her eyes… they looked so familiar it sent chills up Fluttershy’s spine.  A leaf fluttered onto her back and she yelped. Although what would you expect the poor girl was orphaned into Cloudstale with no one to teach her to fly properly. She always felt content on the ground anyway. Rainbowdash flashed by and suddenly came flying back. “You okay Flutters?” Rainbow asked. “OH huh!?” Fluttershy yelped. “Oh yes I’m fine just going to visit Twilight.” She stuttered. Rainbowdash nodded. “I’ll come I need to return this Daring Doo book anyway.” She said as the two flew to the crystalline palace resting in a crystal tree. Fluttershy knocked and moments later Twilight appeared with a smile. “Hey you two what’s up?” she asked. “We just wanted to say hi.” Fluttershy mumbled to nervous to ask about the dream. Applejack came up with a cart full of apples when the wheel snapped off. “What in tarnation?” Applejack mumbled. “I swore Big Mac fixed this good for nothing cart this morning!” she said at the odd looks of the other three. She stopped and started to repair the cart when Rarity came by. “Oh hello you four I was wondering if any of you would like to try on my new line?” she said flipping her purple mane. “I would!” Spike said bounding out the door and making goggley eyes at Rarity. Fluttershy smiled, but she swore when the cart snapped a aqua glow has surrounded it. It was very odd. Pinkie Pie bounded up to the five smiling. “I think something is going to happen my Pinkie sense is buzzing!” she chirped. Twilight rolled her eyes then blinked. “Has any pony noticed how quiet Ponyville is?” she asked. Fluttershy looked around realizing that Twilight was right. “That’s because they were too weak to resist my new favorite spell!” said a voice making the six turn. Fluttershy gasped, it was the unicorn in her dream. “Sunset Shimmer.” Twilight seethed. “Twilight Sparkle” Sunset said back nonchalantly. “What are you doing here the portal has closed you won’t get back to your friends!” Twilight said and Fluttershy recalled how Twilight had said this mare had been reformed.  Sunset snorted “You fell for that hard huh Twilight?”  Sunset said with a smirk. “I didn’t want friends and do you know why?” she asked. Twilight cringed as an aqua beam pinned her in place. “Friends would get in the way just like my sister did!” she spat. “What’s going on?” asked a voice and Fluttershy turned to see Discord. Her heart pounded. Would he betray them again like he did during Terek’s reign? “Discord…Terek sends his regards.” Sunset dismissed. Discord shook his head. “Terek is in Tartarus.” He said snapping his talons and a picture of an unhappy Terek appeared. “Of course he is!” Sunset snapped. “I went to see him and he taught me a magic stealing spell!” she laughed evilly. “Of course I struck a deal to let him free, but he would cast me aside so I left him.” She finalized.  Fluttershy blinked her heart pumping. She shrunk back, which of course caught Sunset’s attention. “Ah Fluttershy I was hoping you’d be here.” She chuckled walking up to the trembling mare. “Wh..what do you want?”Fluttershy squeaked her heat threating to beat from her chest. “Leave her alone!” Discord said snapping his talons and causing a cage to form around Sunset. The other five ran to Fluttershy only to be stopped dead by an aqua aura. Sunset’s eyes began to glow green and wispy black smoke came from them. He horn glowed and auras trickled from the five. “NO!” shrieked Fluttershy running to her friends. Discord stopped her as the unicorn finished her spell and her friends collapsed. “Relax I only took some of their magic!” Sunset said looking at the weeping Fluttershy. “This time I’ll take it all though!” she laughed her horn pointing at Discord. “Run!” Fluttershy screamed. “Stay put or You’ll never see your friends again including Fluttershy.” Sunset snapped. Discord looked torn, but Sunset took the moment to suck the purple colored magic from Discord. He collapsed weakly. “Well now that no one can stop me…” Sunset said as she melted the cage with her new powers. “Fluttershy you look   so much like your mother.” Sunset said. “How..how do you know my mother?!” Fluttershy gasped. Sunset laughed. “We were close as foals. I knew it was my destiny  to be a student of Celesta as my mark was a sun a bit like hers, but soon I saw what my cutie mark really meant…I was to become immortal like the sun!”  she cackled cornering Fluttershy. She shrank back as Discord struggled up. Sunset kept advancing. Well I knew of a group who were trying to break the gates to Equestria and I joined them hoping to find the key to the two sister’s most prized treasure the Alicorn vault.” She said her voice growing soft. “I soon found where it was only for my sister Sunshine to come to me. This was perfect since she was part of a prophecy cleverly disguised as a school filly rhyme which I’m sure Twilight knows!”  she said. “How does this relate to my mother?” Fluttershy asked. Sunset blinked her  aqua eyes. “Why my dear... your mother is my sister!”