Iris Rising: Dreamfall (retcon planned)

Shortly after the short battle with Ragingheart’s forces in Canterlot, all the Equestrians moved to the underground shelter situated in the caverns underneath Silver Spoon’s former home. Gilda and Nova made it there first, each carrying the injured Watterson and Lighting Dust respectively. The rest of the Reserves came much later, as they escorted the remaining civilian ponies whom decided to not attempt flee Canterlot after numerous squads of the flying tanks were spotted flying around various locations in Canterlot, most likely to look for more potential hostages.

In her anger, Diamond Tiara slapped Silver Spoon across the cheek. “What were you thinking, Spoony!?”

“I’m…sorry,” that was all Silver Spoon could say, not daring to look directly at her foster sister, nor Lightning Dust whose injuries on her wings and waist have been treated and bandaged by Doc Top earlier.

Despite the apology, Diamond Tiara was still not done with her. “Lightning Dust even told me that instead of fleeing, you rushed back for that stupid box! You could’ve been hurt! What is in that box that’s so valuable you’re willing risk your life for it!?”

Without waiting for Silver Spoon to explain, Diamond Tiara yanked the box away and hastily untied the ribbon. After throwing the cover away, surprise came over her as she had problem in recognizing the content. It is an opulent white formal gown, glittering shards of crystal adorn the pleats. No doubt it was definitely the most elegant dress that the Earth pony had ever made. In fact, it was more than any of the dresses that were displayed in her boutique.

“I…I somehow forgot to pack it along with our other stuffs,” Silver Spoon revealed. “So I have to go back to get it.”

“We could make another one just like it,” Diamond Tiara said.

“But-” Silver Spoon was hesitant but eventually spoke up, “But, we put all our heart into this one.”

Her foolishness dismayed the elder Earth pony. “You stupid brat! What good is this dress, if the unicorn it is intended for isn’t here!?”

“And who put her in that situation in the first place?” Lightning Dust immediately said, still holding Silver Spoon in contempt.

Tears started flowing behind Silver Spoon’s glasses. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean that to happen, okay!?”

She quickly galloped out of the room, crying and doing so, brushed past Trixie who had just came in.

“Spoony?” The surprised Trixie then looked at Lightning Dust and Diamond Tiara, the latter obviously distressed over the way she treated Silver Spoon. “What’s the matter with Spoony?”

Neither of the two answered the unicorn’s question.

“Well, don’t just stand there, Tiara,” Gilda said finally, having decided that she had enough of watching from the sideline. “You know how childish Spoony can be. Go get her before she does something more stupid.”

Diamond Tiara acted as if she had just come to her senses then rushed off after Silver Spoon.

“Nice going there, Lightning,” Gilda said sarcastically, to which Lightning Dust reacted by casting an angry glare at her. “What Spoony did was really stupid. But you didn’t have to make it like it was entirely her fault. Like us, she’s upset too over what happened to Sunset Shimmer.”

Lightning Dust fell silent and looked away from the griffon in irritation. Gilda decided to not press the pegasus further, for she knew very well that Lightning Dust is more stubborn than a mule.

Godslayer Dash went to pick up the gown and examined it with wonder. “It’s…beautiful.”

“Yes,” Gilda agreed. “But Sunset Shimmer doesn’t know. That was intended to be a surprise gift, to be given for her (anticipated) coronation. The dress was meant to show how much we appreciate her as a better friend.”

Too bad Trollestia happened instead, Godslayer Dash thought sadly.

“Why don’t you take this for safekeeping?” Gilda suggested to Trixie.

“Sure.” The unicorn took the gown gently off the Godslayer Dash’s hands then remembered the reason she was there. “Oh, by the way. Doc Top wanted to see you, Miss Dash.”

Godslayer Dash looked down at Godslayer Watterson on the bed, the feline’s face showing hints of agony in his unconsciousness.

“Notice anything different?” Doc Top asked her.

“Where’s the gash?” Godslayer Dash’s response was half question, half statement.

True enough, the gash on the midriff section of the armor was gone. Not a single trace of battle damage could be found.

“I’ve spent hours trying to figure out how to take this thing off him,” Doc Top said. “Based on your description of the wound, he would’ve died by now without surgery. Yet he didn’t.”

“How?” Godslayer Dash asked.

“the blood had already stopped flowing from the moment he arrived here,” Doc Top revealed, “as if the wound has already clotted.”

Godslayer Dash recalled back what Zach had told her earlier, moments before he collapsed.

“Hey, what if the armor has some kinda regenerative capability?” she suggested.

“You mean healing?” Doc Top said. “If that’s true, then that’s quite interesting type of magic.”

“It makes sense now,” Godslayer Dash began to comprehend the situation. “That’s what he meant by telling me not to change back until my leg’s all better.”

“What?” the doctor exclaimed his surprise. “You’re injured too? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“It’s okay,” Godslayer Dash assured the doctor. “It only stings a little now. I think it’s really starting to heal like Zach said.”

“So, is there any way to remove his?” As a professional medical practitioner, Doc Top still wanted to take a look at the feline’s injury.

“I’m guessing no,” Godslayer Dash frankly said. “It only responds to whoever wears it.”

The doctor sighed. “In that case, there’s not much I can do for him other than monitoring his condition from time to time.”

After Godslayer Dash thanked him, the doctor said, “And please don’t hesitate to see me. I’ve never treated a human before, but that’s not going to stop me from performing my duty as a doctor.”

Godslayer Dash rolled her eyes. Riiight. Me getting checked up by a horse? That’s so weird on so many levels.

Afterwards Godslayer Dash was looking at herself closely in the standing mirror she found in the storage room. She had examined her face thoroughly. There was no trace of scars.

In her flashback, Dash saw herself falling from a tremendous height. It troubled her as she is convinced that it was not mere dream, but a fragment of her repressed memory, just like Zach mentioned. She felt she was supposed to die but somehow she did not. After talking to Doc Top, she realized it must have something to do with the armor she is wearing now. But how did she come to possess it? Did the person whose voice she heard in her dream gave it to her? To save her? And what about her fall? Was it an accident? Or worse, a suicide attempt?

As these unanswered questions linger in her mind, Godslayer Dash leaned back against the wall and slid down to the floor in anguish. Wrapping her arms tightly around her legs, she buried her face on her knees.

Someone please tell me, she thought pleadingly. What’s really going on here?

Out in the outskirts south of Canterlot River plain, Nova, disguised as a fruit bat, spied from the nearest tree on the cages where Ragingheart keeps all her captives.

Ragingheart entered one of the cages, under the company of her Fighter-Mithra escorts. Ponies backed away fearfully as the evil ‘Alicorn’ walked past Lionel. She approached the lying Sunset Shimmer, whose forehead was covered with dried blood. She gave Sunset Shimmer a hard kick, groggily waking the poor unicorn.

“It’s time to bring out the night!” Ragingheart ordered.

“She’s injured,” Lionel pointed out.

Ragingheart drew out her Ethereal Hoof-blade and placed it dangerously close to the Earth pony’s neck. “You’ll get more than a gashed head if you don’t remain silent!”

“N-no..” The half-dazed Sunset Shimmer was hauling herself up, after hearing the threat made on Lionel. “Please don’t....”

She shut her eyes and concentrated hard. But it was difficult due to the pulsating throb from her head wound. Some moments later, the unicorn finally succeeded. Daylight turned to dusk. In the horizon, the moon slowly rose into the night sky.

After Nova returned to the underground shelter, he went straight to brief Blueblood and Discord on the hostages’ condition.

When Lightning Dust learned how Sunset Shimmer was being treated by Ragingheart, she interrupted the briefing. “She won’t last a day in that condition! What’re we standing still standing here for!?”

“To go in without a plan is reckless,” Discord sternly reminded her.

“Who the buck needs a plan!?” Lightning Dust said back disrespectfully. “Let’s just wing it and bust her out of there now!”

“Then they’ll all be dead from the resulting chaos!” the captain shouted. “Is that what really you want!?”

“I...” Lightning Dust then conceded that she was wrong. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

“We will get her back along with the other hostages, no doubt about that,” Blueblood affirmed. “But like the captain said, we need to carefully think of a plan to bring them here safely, especially when we don’t have enough ponypower nor we can fulfil Ragingheart’s demand.”

“There’s also the question of how trustful she is.” Just then, Discord found Godslayer Dash standing at the door. “Yes. What is it, Miss Dash?”

“Uh, I hope I’m not interrupting. It’s just that I remembered something a while ago.” She handed over a piece of sketched paper to Discord. “I dunno whether this can help. When Zach-I mean, Lord Watterson, fought Ragingheart, I saw this thing she’s wearing under her collar.”

When the captain took a good look at the sketch, he was confounded. He slid the paper on the table to Blueblood to see. Although the sketched object is incomplete, Blueblood still managed to recognize it.

“It’s the Alicorn Amulet!” he proclaimed. “This must be how Ragingheart controls her army! How in Equestria did she manage to get her hooves on it?”

The thing that was used to banish Princess Luna? Godslayer Dash thought. “But I thought Sunset Shimmer said they were all destroyed.”

“Indeed,” Discord confirmed. “Though this might be a recreated replica since the gemstone looks a very different.”

“Maybe you guys missed one?” Godslayer Dash suggested an alternative explanation.

“It is known fact that only seven amulets have existed,” the captain affirmed.

After piecing together what she heard over the past two days, Lightning Dust decided to finally ask the dreaded question. “This doesn’t happen to have anything to do with Sunset Shimmer in any way?”

Trixie, Blueblood and Discord’s face went pale.

“Lightning Dust, what are you implying?” Trixie asked with a tremble in her voice.

“Hello!” Lightning Dust said. “Princess Celestia, Lyra and now the Alicorn Amulet!?” “Sunset Shimmer is mixed up in this somehow!”

Red came over Trixie’s face. “No, that’s ridiculous! This has got nothing to with her! Stop saying-”

“Sorry, Trixie,” Godslayer Dash spoke to intervene before things broke into a heated argument. “But we all heard Sunset Shimmer said it herself. Right, guys?”

The rest of the Reserves all nodded.

Encouraged by her comrades’ support, Lighting Dust pressed further on her question. “I think we’re owed an explanation. What exactly did Sunset Shimmer meant when she said ‘created’ Trollestia?”

Trixie, Blueblood and Discord looked amongst each other worryingly.

***

“Sunset Shimmer!” Celestia was both appalled and outraged, “This part of the castle is restricted!”

The Royal Sisters had caught Sunset Shimmer browsing through a book on Dark Magic inside the treasure chamber’s Restricted Section. It was named so for a reason. This is where all artefacts linked to Dark Magic are stored. Some were seized from the kingdom’s enemies, unscrupulous traders preying on naive treasure collectors, some were discovered by accident in a dig, but mostly they once belonged to Star Swirl for further research.

“I told you you should’ve put security around the chamber, sister!” Luna chided her elder sister.

Sunset Shimmer knew she was wrong for trespassing. Even the lack of guards outside the chamber hardly justified her action. But after what she had discovered in the chamber, Sunset Shimmer thought it will be worth it.

“I’m terribly sorry, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna. But I found fascinating facts in here! Look.” The unicorn showed the princesses an entry in the book on the Alicorn Amulet. “This amulet! Its power is amazing! Imagine all the possibilities if it is combined with unicorn magic! I could make Trixie a whole unicorn, resurrect Silver Spoon’s parents, make Diamond Tiara’s wish to come true!”

Then she pointed to a dark tinted standing mirror nearby. “And that mirror! It showed me something.”

“What did you see?” Celestia asked with genuine interest.

“A vision!” Sunset Shimmer answered excitedly. “That I will become as powerful as an Alicorn Princess! Me! I can-”

“THAT’S ENOUGH!!!” The younger princess’ sharp voice stunned Sunset Shimmer. “It was an illusion! It showed you the deepest, most desperate desire of your hearts, nothing more! That is reason it’s called the Mirror of Temptation.”

When instructed by her elder sister to take Sunset Shimmer away, Luna said back to her, “With all due respect sister, she is your student. Shouldn’t you be the one to do it?”

“I’ll deal with her later,” Celestia said dismissively. “I need to recheck the inventory to make sure none of the dangerous artifact went missing from the chamber.”

“But I didn’t steal anything!” Sunset Shimmer pleaded her innocence. “Honest!”

Luna regarded Sunset Shimmer, nodded and looked back at her elder sister. “I believe her. If you’re truly worried, we should have it all destroyed like I suggested.”

“Luna!” Celestia said angrily. “I gave you an instruction, not a request!”

Although disappointed with her elder sister’s response, Luna complied anyway. As Sunset Shimmers followed Princess Luna out of the chamber, she glanced back to see Princess Celestia smirking at her own reflection in the magic mirror.

Sunset Shimmer wondered why Princess Luna had brought her to the reading chamber.

“I’m quite disappointed in you, Sunset Shimmer,” said the crossed Princess of the Night. “Breaking one of the castle rules! You’re the last pony I ever expected to trespass into the chamber.”

Sunset Shimmer looked down on the floor notably mortified.

“Don’t stare at the floor!” Luna scolded her. “Look at me when I’m talking!”

Sunset Shimmer looked up, yet still avoided actual eye contact. “My apologies, princess.”

“You almost fell to Dark Magic,” Luna continued, her stern voice toned down a little, “blinded by your quest to seek the most miraculous magic that you thought could give your friends whatever they wanted. There’s nothing you can find in there other than those used to cause harm, most of which can never be fully healed. Dark magic requires malicious intent in order to be successful. What’s more, it corrupts the user as a side effect. Do you understand now, Sunset Shimmer?”

Sunset Shimmer nodded meekly, in understanding the danger of delving into Dark magic and also acknowledging her mistake.

“Have you wondered why I brought you here?” Without waiting for an answer, the princess motioned Sunset Shimmer to the standing mirror. “Stare into that mirror and tell me what you see.”

Sunset Shimmer examined her reflection, although honestly she did not know what to look for. “I see…only myself. My normal self...”

“Yes, it’s a normal mirror,” Luna said, having expected such an answer. “It reflects what you are. But like that magic mirror, it cannot reflect whom you truly are.”

Sunset Shimmer turned away from the mirror and regarded quizzically at the princess.

“It isn't just about how you see yourself in the mirror,” Luna started giving her explanation. “There is also implication that how others see you. The world is your true mirror. It reflects your whole self, your evolving self, through your personality and your relationship.”

Seeing that Sunset Shimmer still did not understand, she elaborated, “A ruler, no matter how powerful her magic is, is meaningless without her subjects. Love, loyalty, companionship... The relationship forged between ponies is one of key aspect of maintaining harmony everywhere in the kingdom.”

“I don’t see how this could help me or my friends,” Sunset Shimmer said.

“You have not realized, have you?” Luna smiled, “How much you’ve changed their lives. Take Trixie and Lightning Dust for example. Certainly you did not make them into what they are now, not directly of course. But if you’ve given up on them right away, they might’ve turn up much differently. Friendship, Sunset Shimmer, is more powerful than you think. Stop trying too hard to be something you’re not and let your true self guide you in everything you do. That way, you’ll have a clearer view of your destiny.”

Sunset Shimmer looked at her reflection again, trying to make sense of the princess’ words. Luna approached her from behind.

When Sunset Shimmer turned and gazed up at Princess Luna, to her surprise, the princess’ lower eyelid and neck had bruise marks, hardly visible if not look closely. “Princess Luna, are you hurt?”

Luna tensed up then tried hard to come up with a plausible explanation but that only prompted Sunset Shimmer to eye her with suspicion.

“Actually it’s of no importance,” Luna said dismissively.

“Sunset Shimmer,” she gently wrapped her wings around Sunset Shimmer, cuddling her like a loving mother, “let today be another important lesson for you to remember. You have no idea how worried I was back there. To let a pony fall to the influence of Dark Magic is unforgivable, even to me…”

1 Month Later…

Sunset Shimmer was horrified by what she saw through the tiny gap between the double doors. It was a Dark Magic-empowered Princess Celestia battling Princess Luna. Soon, coming to the aid of the Princess of the Sunlight are the Mane Six, all bearing the Alicorn Amulets, same with the elder princess. Sunset Shimmer is the sole witness to what really happened in the Battle of the Royal Sisters.

***

Sadness came over everyone in the office but Lightning Dust was apparently affected the most.

“So she accidentally planted suggestions on Princess Celestia to use Dark Magic,” Godslayer Dash figured, “ultimately turning her into Trollestia,”

“She thought herself is to blame for what happened to my aunts and to every other pony afterwards,” Blueblood said.

Godslayer Dash sympathized with Sunset Shimmer. Now she understood the reason what the unicorn being so upset about when they were at Lyra’s house the other day.

She decided to question further on the matter. “Sir, after Princess Celestia was locked up, you decided not to tell the truth to the ponies. Why? Was it just really to protect the royal family like you said?”

***

Celestia sagged on her throne, confused as to why she still felt unsatisfied after overthrowing her younger sister.

Twilight Sparkle looked upon her beloved mentor with concern. “Princess, why aren’t you happy? Princes Luna’s gone. You can now rule Equestria without her meddling.”

“Twilight, please leave,” Celestia instructed the unicorn. “I need time to myself.”

“Princess?”

“I SAID, LEAVE!!!”

Twilight Sparkle flinched. She found Princess Celestia’s demeanor troubling. Because this was the first time the princess’ voice had ever been raised at her.

She exited the throne chamber to meet up with the rest of the Mane Six down in the lower hallways.

“Girls, maybe we haven’t thought this thoroughly,” she told them.

“What d’ya mean by ‘we’?” Applejack dissed her. “Don’t ya dare pin dis on us ponies, Twi! Helpin’ Celestia gettin’ rid of de junior princess was ya whole idea!”

“Applejack is right,” Rarity agreed. “Besides, it’s not like we can take back what we’ve done.”

“Girls, let me explain!" Twilight Sparkle said impatiently. “Princess Luna is now out of the picture, yet somehow Princess Celestia remains unhappy.”

Pinkie Pie raised her hoof, jumping up and down with glee. “Ooh, ooh, I know! Let’s throw a party! That always cheers me up!”

Twilight Sparkle considered and liked the sound of the idea. “Right! We should help throw a celebration for Princess Celestia’s victory over Princess Luna. We’ll say Princess Luna tried to seize the throne but Princess Celestia defeated her in a battle. That way, she’ll be seen as a hero.”

“That’s not gonna work!” Rainbow Dash protested. “Everypony in Equestria loves Luna. Who’ll believe that she has suddenly turned evil?”

Twilight Sparkle did not deny that but she had a thought. “Not unless we have a scapegoat. Somepony to bear the blame behind Princess Luna’s downfall. Somepony that can be easily traced back to.”

“Oh, I do believe I know of whom you have in mind, dear,” Rarity said mischievously. “It’s Sunset Shimmer, am I right?”

A malicious smile ran across Twilight Sparkle’s face. “Fraught with ambition and malice, Sunset Shimmer planned to usurp the throne by having Princess Luna as her puppet ruler. She enticed the princess to use Dark Magic, corrupted her so that under her control, the Princess of the Night would turn against the elder sister. But in the end, her plan is foiled while Princess Celestia prevailed through the power of the Elements of Harmony. How does that sound, girls?”

All nodded in agreement. However, they were unaware Trixie was hiding behind one of the pillars nearby. She was visibly shaken after overhearing the Mane Six’s conversation.

Trixie had to act fast before Twilight Sparkle gets to Celestia first. She could ask Blueblood for help, but the chancellor was openly loyal to his aunt. And there was little chance he would believe her.

“Thank you for granting me this audience, Your Royal Highness,” Trixie said as she bowed to Princess Celestia.

“I am not in a good mood, servant. So be quick.”

Trixie spoke with confidence, “Please forgive me when I say I admire your accomplishment. You’ve successfully banished Princess Luna to the moon without so much of a witness and alarm. However, this secret won’t hold for long for Sir Blueblood and Captain Discord will eventually find out.”

“Say a word and you will join my sister on the moon!” Celestia threatened the unicorn, greatly distressed that her secret was somehow made known.

“On the contraire,” Trixie said, not unnerved by the threat, “I only wish to serve in your best interest, Your Royal Highness. I’m aware that you require some help in bolstering your name in the hearts of Equestrians. Surely a great and powerful ruler such as you could defeat another Alicorn effortlessly even one that is empowered by Dark Magic. No, it’s too easy for someone as powerful as you. Your Royal Highness truly deserves much better- a foe that is completely in line with your high status.

“What better foe than an old legend coming to life- Nightmare Moon. With the power to cast permanent night all over the world, your use of powerful magic artifacts such as, say- the Elements of Harmony, is justified. Even the rulers of other nations will revere you. Your name will go down in history not as a hero, but a legend.”

However fraught with uncertainty, Celestia eyed Trixie with suspicion. “Your suggestion is…interesting, to say the least. But I must question your motive for this…Trixie.”

Trixie knew she had gotten to the princess after she was addressed by her name instead of the usual ‘servant’.

“You needn’t worry, Your Royal Highness,” she assured Celestia. “You are the sole ruler of Equestria and I am your humble servant. It is now my honor and duty to serve you…my princess.”

To finish off her act, Trixie genuflected on her knees. This act of submission finally convinced the Celestia of Trixie’s ‘loyalty’. It probably played a role in the future whereby the Trollestia-later ego never once attempted to banish Trixie to the moon.

***

Sunset Shimmer was utterly dismayed upon learning of Blueblood’s decision to continue covering up the truth concerning the Battle of the Royal Sisters, even when Princess Celestia had been committed in the asylum. Of course, the chancellor was not happy himself. Previously he only did it on the orders of Princess Celestia.

“Everything that had happened wasn’t your fault,” Blueblood affirmed. “All of us noticed something had changed in Princess Celestia, but we ignored it, for we never thought for a second that she will turn to Dark Magic.”

“Even so,” Sunset Shimmer said, “shouldn’t all of Equestria know the truth regarding Princess Luna?”

Blueblood shook his head. “I can’t... I love both my aunts. To have the story of Princess Celestia delving into Dark Magic made known, the public perception of the royal family will be unfavorable.”

“But-”

Trixie cut her friend off, “Sunset, please! I owe a lot of gratitude to Princess Luna so this isn’t an easy decision for me too. For now, I think it’s best to stick with the Nightmare Moon story.”

“If you want to make amends, then work with me,” Blueblood offered. “Somepony needs to run the kingdom in the Royal Sisters’ absence. And you are free to use the royal library in the hope that you can find a way to undo the consequences of Princess Celestia’s actions.”

Unable to decide yet, Sunset Shimmer took her time to consider everything said to her.

***

“You protected her,” Lighting Dust said, finally understand that Nightmare Moon was a ruse not just to cover up Princess Celestia use of Dark Magic but also Sunset Shimmer’s link to the Battle of the Royal Sisters. “But, why didn’t you tell the rest of us? We’re her best friends too, you know!”

“All these years Sunset never told this herself to any of us,” Trixie said back. “Ask yourself, why?”

Lighting Dust frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“No matter how much she wanted to, she couldn’t do it,” Trixie revealed. “She’s ashamed, like we both have in our past. She’d rather be exposed than telling it herself. I’d never have known the truth myself if it weren’t for chance!”

Silence fell over the entire room. Godslayer Dash recalled how guiltily Sunset Shimmer looked during a conversation right before they went to Lyra’s house.

Trixie did her best to reassure a group of discouraged and anxious ponies after the servants finished attending to their needs. “You’re all safe here. We’ll take care of you until the situation gets better.”

Later, Trixie happened to come across Lightning Dust in the passages and gave her usual small smile whenever she greets someone. “Oh hey, Lightning Dust.”

“Stop it already,” Lighting Dust barked, seemingly tensed.

Trixie’s smile faded away immediately.

“What?” she asked innocently.

“Stop smiling!”

“I was trying to keep everypony motivated,” Trixie tried to explain to the pegasus.

“Well, stop!” Lightning Dust scolded her. “It doesn’t make anything get any better at all!”

“Lightning, why are you so tense?” the unicorn demanded to know.

“Sunset Shimmer’s out there freezing and hurt!” Lightning Dust shouted. “Let’s face it! She along with other ponies will be goners because we’re outnumbered and we can't offer anything in exchange! So I’m asking you, how can you still make a smile under these circumstances!?”

Hurt by Lightning Dust’s words, Trixie said, “I feel bad for Sunset Shimmer. But we have to remain hopeful no matter how dire the situation is.”

“You think there’s still-” A tripping sound emitted from another passageway interrupted the pegasus. “What was that?”

Godslayer Dash helped Featherweight getting back to his hooves.

“I didn’t mean to bump into you,” the colt apologized.

“What’s the hurry?” Godslayer Dash gently asked, after

“I heard them talking,” the distressed Featherweight spoke lowly. “They’re saying the captured ponies are going to be killed. I’m…I’m going to lose my dad…”

“No, no,” Godslayer Dash tried to assure the poor colt. “Whoever said that is pretty dumb pony. Listen to me. I know a certain blue unicorn who once said there’s always hope and everything will be all right in the end. The army’ll figure something out to rescue your dad and the others, you can count on that. So keep your chin up, ‘kay?”

“Okay...” Featherweight said, nodding his head meekly.

“C’mon,” Godslayer Dash said, “let’s get you to Diamond Tiara.”

As she ushered the colt away, Godslayer Dash caught a glimpse of Lightning Dust peeking out from a corner.

“Lightning Dust, where’re you going?” Trixie asked as the pegasus sulkily walked past her.

“I’ll be at the lookout point,” Lightning Dust grumbled. “That’s bucking all I can do with these bucking stupid wings.”

Trixie gasped. “Lightning Dust, watch your language.”

“Slapping you like that,” Diamond Tiara said sadly as she wiped the tears from Silver Spoon’s eyes, “it was almost unforgivable even for me. I'm really sorry for making you feel so bad,” she said regretfully.

“I still feel bad for her,” Silver Spoon sniffled.

Diamond Tiara held the younger Earth pony close to her. “I know. I’m not much of a good friend compared to her, am I?”

***

“All aboard!” the train conductor announced.

“Diamond Tiara!” Sunset Shimmer caught up to Diamond Tiara before she could board the train. “You can’t go to Manehattan today.”

“Sunset!” “You know how much this trip is important to me. This time I’m sure I’ll make a major breakthrough. I know it.”

“Tiara, please! You have to postpone it!” Sunset Shimmer pleaded. “Something really bad had happened to Silver Spoon. Her-”

The sound the of the train horn cut off her voice.

Diamond Tiara said hurriedly, “Sorry, but whatever trouble Spoony is in, I’m sure it’s nothing that you two can’t handle together. Hey I’ll remember bring back some souvenirs, okay?”

“It’s her parents-!” But before Sunset Shimmer could finish her words, Diamond Tiara boarded the train.

The train departed from the station a few seconds later.

Silver Spoon grieved at her parents’ graves under the heavy rain. A week have passed after they were buried but Silver Spoon refused to let them go. Unexpectedly, a pair of large wings extended above her, shielding the Earth pony from the cold rain.

“So this is where you’ve disappeared to,” Gilda said sadly to her. “Spoony, please. Come back to the mansion. Sunset Shimmer’s been looking all over for you.”

Silver Spoon clung to the griffon and started crying. “I miss them! I miss them so much!”

After the death of her parents, the family went bankrupt. Business deals were terminated, partners withdrew and the majority of the family assets had to be sold to erase the debts accumulated from the train experiments. With a heavy heart, Silver Spoon had no choice but to leave her home, and live with Gilda on a temporary basis. Aside from Gilda, Sunset Shimmer, Trixie and Lightning Dust also showed up to help with the suitcases.

When Diamond Tiara had returned to Canterlot, only then she heard the bad news. Immediately she went off to look for Silver Spoon at Gilda’s place. There, she was shocked to find Silver Spoon ill in bed. Tears poured down her face.

“Spoony, I’m sorry. I didn’t know-” Diamond Tiara corrected herself. “No. It was me who won’t listen. I should’ve been there for you, when you needed me the most. Please…forgive me...”

Silver Spoon was looking sadly at Diamond Tiara, but she was too weak to speak.

***

“No,” Silver Spoon said, gazing at Diamond Tiara pleadingly, “don’t say that. You took me in. You took care of me. I can never hate you. I can’t, not after what you did for me. You are and will always be my big sister, no matter what.”

***

Diamond Tiara, no longer crying though her cheeks are still wet, came to the living where Gilda, Sunset Shimmer and Trixie sat and waited.

When she saw Lightning Dust was no longer around, Gilda stated, “She went back to castle.”

“I see.” Diamond Tiara wiped her cheeks. “Sunset Shimmer?”

“Hmmm?”

“I should do something for Spoony, to make it up to her. I want to take her in.”

Sunset Shimmer felt relieved and also proud at Diamond Tiara for making the brave decision. Gilda and Trixie shared the same feeling. Unfortunately, that will not be an easy task for a pony who is experiencing financial trouble at the moment.

“We won’t let you carry all the burden alone,” Sunset Shimmer said firmly to Diamond Tiara. “We’ll help you in any way we can.”

Gilda and Trixie both nodded. They could not call themselves as friends if they do not help.

“Thank you,” Diamond Tiara said appreciatively.

***

Diamond Tiara was touched by Silver Spoon’s words. She wanted to say something but looked up at the door instead when she realized Godslayer Dash and Featherweight were standing there.

The former felt awkward for unintentionally listening to the Earth ponies’ conversation. “Yea... We’ll come back later.”

“No, stay,” Diamond Tiara insisted. “Featherweight, where have you been? A foal like you shouldn’t be wondering around all by yourself. You could’ve been lost in the tunnels.”

“Miss Diamond Tiara, Miss Silver Spoon, I know exactly how you feel,” Featherweight said all of a sudden, his voice sounded firm and confident. “My dad was taken too. But Miss Dash here said we should keep our chins up. To keep on hoping and believe everything’s going to all right in the end.”

“Oh, did she?” Diamond Tiara regarded Godslayer Dash with thoughtful smile. “From where could she learn to say that?”

“She said she heard from a certain blue unicorn,” Featherweight answered earnestly.

Feeling more embarrassed than before, Godslayer Dash patted on the colt’s shoulder. “Hey, kid. There’s such a thing of too much honesty being a bad thing. Y’know what I’m saying, right?”

Godslayer Dash walked out from the waterfall and carefully approached the scarfed figure sitting at the edge. Their breaths are visible due to the chilly night air. She had expected to see Lightning Dust but was surprised to find it was actually Nova who is on watch.

“I don’t know where she is,” Nova said. “Besides it’s my shift.”

Godslayer Dash however took a step too close to the edge. In her panic, she managed to catch herself from stumbling over the ledge and frantically pushed herself away from the edge until her back touches the stone wall.

“Hey, hey!” Nova rushed towards her. “Hey, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m…I’m okay.” The incident left Godslayer Dash winded and shaken, but not as bad as last time. “That was a close call...”

Godslayer Dash climbed out of the attic window. There on the mansion’s rooftop was Lighting Dust gazing at the night sky.

“You shouldn’t be out here,” Lightning Dash said when she saw Godslayer Dash walking up the roof towards her.

“And you?”

“Don’t tell my captain,” Lightning Dust sighed. “Actually don’t tell anypony. I just want to be alone for a while.”

Godslayer Dash sat down beside the pegasus. “And I just wanna talk

“Why would you want to talk to this ‘dumb’ pony?” Lighting Dust grumbled.

“Yea, ‘bout that,” Godslayer Dash said. “What’s your deal?”

“What do you mean?” the Pegasus asked.

“I mean, why were you acting so mean today? To Silver Spoon. To Trixie. Be honest with me.” Godslayer Dash then saw on Lightning Dust the very same guilt-ridden look as Sunset Shimmer had before. “Is it because you're so frustrated on what happened to Sunset Shimmer, you’re taking it all out on them?”

“You want to know why I’m angry!?” Lightning Dust fumed. “I’ll tell you why! I don’t care what Gilda said! Silver Spoon is not a filly anymore! She should’ve thought everything thoroughly before doing anything! Trixie is doing that stupid trademark smile of hers at the most inappropriate times! And, me!”

Melancholy suddenly flooded her voice. “I didn’t do enough to save her... I let her down...”

Lightning Dust had tried the best she possibly could to get Sunset Shimmer to safety, yet Ragingheart still managed to catch up, pounced on her and took away her friend.

“She means a lot to you, doesn’t she?” Godslayer Dash remarked, notably sympathetic.

“It’s a long story,” the despaired pegasus sighed.

“Listen, Lightning Dust,” Godslayer Dash said uncertainly, hoping that the pegasus would not be too offended. “I know all about the accident back in the Wonderbolts.”

“What…” Lightning Dust was distressed over how this stranger from another world could know about her past. “How?”

“Sunset Shimmer told me,” Godslayer Dash revealed to her. “But don’t take her the wrong way. My life hit rock bottom and I went through some hard times. She was just trying to motivate me by telling how you four managed to pull through in your lives.”

“Hah! Yeah, right!” Seeing how her sarcastic response had puzzled Godslayer Dash, Lightning Dust told the truth about herself. “After I was kicked out of the academy, my reputation quickly spread. I was shunned everywhere. During all this, Sunset Shimmer was there for me...”

***

Sunset Shimmer felt both disappointed and angry after she found out Lightning Dust had quit her job recently. “Lightning Dust, that’s the third job you quit in two months. Do you know how hard it was for me to convince the post master to hire you?”

“I know!” the pegasus acknowledged. “But everywhere I go, everypony kept talking behind my back! I can't take it anymore!”

Fraught with regret, she broke down. Sunset Shimmer comforted her friend by holding the pegasus closely to her.

“You tried to warn me,” Lighting Dust sobbed, “but I didn’t listen… I wish I could take it all back… I can't live on like this...What am I to do...? Please…tell me…what to do…”

Sunset Shimmer held Lightning Dust even tighter and she felt so much sympathy for her friend that she too started to cry. “I-I don't know...”

***

“She once said that I was becoming too full of myself, reckless even,” the pegasus recalled. “It’s like she knew something bad is going to happen. I wished…I had listened to her…”

“Yea, sure it was your fault but it was still an accident,” Godslayer Dash tried to ease the pegasus’ guilt.

“That’s not how Rainbow Dash puts it,” Lightning Dust said bitterly.

“What, that traitor was in the Wonderbolts too?” Godslayer Dash regarded in disdain at the sudden mention of her supposed pony counterpart.

“Yeah,” Lightning Dust confirmed. “She made everything go from bad to worse. It wasn’t long before all of Ponyville and Canterlot knew what I did, that I almost killed my own teammates...like I did it on purpose.”

Godslayer Dash was saddened to hear that. Looks like there’s more to her story than what Sunset Shimmer’ve told me… “But I didn’t see Gilda holding any grudge against you. In fact, she was always looking for you. That’s gotta count as something.”

Lightning Dust said, “Ironic, isn’t it? The one I hurt the most, was the only one willing to forgive me. I don’t even know why she still wants to hang out with me after that accident.”

“What happened next?” Godslayer Dash wanted to know.

“When everypony kept on staring at you, talking behind your back like you're bad news all the time, it's hard to keep a job for long. After I quit my last job, I decided to join the royal guards to get away from it all.”

The revelation appalled Godslayer Dash whom had thought the pegasus’ motive for joining the royal guards was a meaningful one. “That’s it!?”

“I managed to persuade Captain Discord to let me join by making up an hour long speech,” Lightning Dust said wryly. “He sure got fooled.”

“Oh, geez,” Godslayer Dash said with a grimace. “That’s...That’s totally unbelievable.”

“Yup,” the pegasus agreed. “So it’s not what it really looks like.”

“No, I can’t believe that,” Godslayer Dash insisted. “Lightning Dust, when you stood up to Lord Watterson, everything you said to him, did you mean it!?”

It took a moment before Lightning Dust decided on her answer. “Yes, every word of it. After getting in, my life still felt empty. Until I found out Trixie works at the castle. Then I met Nova, Tirek, Flim and Flam. Things were starting to look up for me. So I made pact with them, that we will stick together no matter what.”

“That’s good to hear,” Godslayer Dash said in relief. “So, what are you going to do about Trixie and Silver Spoon?”

Lighting Dust looked uncertain. “They’re still my friends... I guess...I should go find them and fix it...somehow.”

“Hey, look,” Godslayer Dash was referring to Gilda, Trixie, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon emerging from the other side of the roof, all wearing scarves and coats. “Don’t bother.”

“We’ve heard everything,” Gilda said to Lightning Dust.

“I thought you’d be here,” Trixie said as she and Diamond Tiara helped put the coat and scarf respectively on Lightning Dust. “When you said you’re going on ‘lookout duty’, didn't you care to remember bringing a scarf and coat with you?”

“Trixie, I made a mistake,” Lightning Dust confessed. “After all these years, I've forgotten. It wasn’t just Sunset Shimmer. Every time you passed by me, it was your reassuring smile that also kept me going. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”

After the scarf is secured around Lightning Dust’s neck, Trixie gently embraced the pegasus and said, “You should already know the answer to that.”

“R-really…? That easily?” Lightning Dust wanted to be sure.

“Yes,” the unicorn said with a nod. “I learned it from a certain wise unicorn.”

When Lightning Dust looked at Silver Spoon, she stammered as she could not find the proper words to say to the Earth pony.

When Gilda saw this, she said to the pegasus, “Better not say anything because you’ll just ruin the moment.”

She and Diamond Tiara and soon followed by Silver Spoon joined to embrace Lightning Dust to show the pegasus that she is forgiven and how much they still care about her.

“Do you know why I always put on a smile?” Trixie said. “I owe it to Sunset Shimmer.”

“Actually,” Gilda wanted to point out, “we all owe something to Sunset Shimmer.”

***

High enthusiasm filled Lightning Dust when she delivered the good news to Gilda at the griffon’s home. “They said yes!”

“Isn’t that great?” Sunset Shimmer was just as happy though she was better at controlling her emotions than the pegasus. “Honestly, I almost didn't think they're willing to break tradition. Finally they’re letting a non-pegasi participate in the tryouts.”

However, Gilda, having lacked in both confidence and ambition, was reluctant to agree.

She sagged into her couch and said, “I don’t know. I just...I just don’t see myself as a Wonderbolt material.”

“What’re you talking about?” Put off by Gilda’s attitude, Lighting Dust tried to persuade her friend to go to the tryouts. “You do have potential! All the times we raced together?”

“We did that for fun,” Gilda pointed out.

“The Equestrian Games,” Lightning Dust persisted, “what about that?”

“I did that for fun too,” Gilda said. “And I didn’t win any of the events.”

“The Wonderbolts isn’t a race,” Lightning Dust pointed out. “It’s about teamwork and perseverance, to push a pony’s abilities to the limits. That’s why their motto is ‘Higher, Faster, Further’.”

Sunset Shimmer decided to intervene. “You know what your problem is, Gilda? You lack confidence. Just give it a try. Pretend that you’re having fun training. Who knows, then?”

“Yeah, it’ll be fun!” Lightning Dust said with full enthusiasm. “Imagine you and me as partners in the Wonderbolts! Together, we’ll wow the crowd with our awesome air display!”

Gilda seemed interested in the idea of potentially partnering with Lightning Dust, yet she was still unable to make up her mind.

“Don’t worry,” Sunset Shimmer assured her. “If you get accepted, you’ll have Lightning Dust to back you up.”

Lightning Dust looked pleadingly at the griffon. “Come on, do it for me?”

“Lightning, let me handle this.” Sunset Shimmer gestured a puppy dog face at Gilda. “Pretty pleeeaaase?”

Lightning Dust copied Sunset Shimmer. “Pleeeaaase?”

Both ponies took turns in saying “Pleeeaaase?” repeatedly until Gilda finally gave in.

Years after years of intense training, Lightning Dust belief in Gilda had paid off. Not only Lightning Dust but Gilda too was awarded the Lead Pony badge by Spitfire.

***

After coming to visit Trixie at her house-caravan, Sunset Shimmer could not believe what she was hearing from her friend.

“You’re planning on leaving!?”

Trixie had just finished pouring the juice into the glasses.

“What’s the point of staying?” She was clearly despondent after being expelled from magic school. “How could I show my face in this city after ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie’ is obviously not going to happen?”

“Move to where?” Sunset Shimmer pressed her.

“I don’t know yet,” Trixie replied, annoyed. “Anywhere but here.”

“And what happens next, huh? It’s not in the end of the world, Trixie. There must something else you’re really good at. Let’s work something out.” Sunset Simmer pondered for a minute. “How about I ask the princesses to hire you at the castle…”

A burst anger shot up though Trixie. “What!?”

“Hear me out first,” Sunset Shimmer tried to calm the other unicorn. “I’m thinking that it'll be so much easier for us to work out your other talents if we’re always together. Then we both could show it to Princess Celestia, let her know how-”

“Are you trying to humiliate me?” Trixie cut her off.

“No, Trixie,” Sunset Shimmer said. “I’m trying to help you.”

“You want me to work under the princess who had scorned me, would not stop in comparing me to her ‘star student’ and left me out in the cold even I shamelessly begged at her hooves? That’s…. THAT’S THE LAST THING I WANT TO HAPPEN!!!” Trixie shoved Sunset Shimmer off the chair, much to the latter’s shock. “Trixie Lulamoon, a lowly maidservant!? Is that what you think I’m good for!? How could you!? I thought you were my friend, Sunset Shimmer! My friend! You’re supposed to understand me!”

Trixie picked up the glass from the table, poured the juices on Sunset Shimmer's mane and then tossed the glass at right in the unicorn’s face.

“How does that feel!?” she yelled, glaring angrily at the stunned Sunset Shimmer. “You walk home with that look, maybe then you’ll understand my feelings!”

Sunset Shimmer was speechless, her mane dripping wet.

She raised her head, gazing sadly at her friend. “Trixie, I was-”

But the ireful Trixie turned away in shunning Sunset Shimmer. “Get out! I do not wish to see you again!”

Trixie looked on suspiciously at Princess Luna. The Princess of the Night’s visit only came a few days after Trixie unilaterally declared her friendship with Sunset Shimmer as over. At the same time, she was also surprised at the princess’ appearance. This is the first time she saw Princess Luna without makeup and sporting a different hairstyle.

“It’s Sunset Shimmer, isn’t it?”

Luna nodded. “She only told me you needed help, that’s all. But truly I am curious to see how you're holding up after the last time we met. And from the look of the surroundings, I dare say you’re not doing very well.”

She looked at the props all over the ground and regarded the beautiful arts on the props with interest and wonder. “Did you make all these by yourself?”

“Yes,” Trixie reluctantly answered, “I did.”

“I see that you’re skilled in arts,” the princess gave her sincere remark. “They’re lovely,”

“Th-thank you, Your Royal Highness…”

“That, I assure you, is not a mere gesture of sympathy. If you’re still bent on leaving Canterlot, I won’t stop you. But I’d like to let you know the interior castle needs sprucing up and the Canterlot Day celebration is coming up in several month times. If you’re interested in discussing your role at the castle, you're truly welcome to find me. It’s your decision, Trixie.”

With that, the princess left and Trixie stood there for a while to ponder to herself.

All this while, I neglected another aspect of myself, the unicorn realized.

Trixie went inside her caravan and hastily removed all the books from inside her chest. There was a book titled The Art of Theatrics in Performance which she put away immediately. What she really wanted are the rest, which are of various subjects ranging from arts, interior decorations to event management. All the covers are clearly marked with Property of Silver Spoon.

A huge crowd flocked the city square to witness the Canterlot Day Parade. On the stage, Trixie, Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle and Captain Discord marveled at the vibrant, colorful fireworks display above the on-going parade. Although Princess Celestia is just as impressed, she did not show it openly.

“Ah, it reminds of candy popcorn,” Discord said aloud with wonder.

“Trixie, you have outdone yourself!” Luna proclaimed to Trixie.

Seeing that Princess Luna was very pleased, Trixie was more than happy to accept the praise.

With a prideful smile, she bowed graciously to the princess. “Thank you, Your Royal Highness.”

In the parade, Lady Rara and the Hot Ponies dancers entertained the madly excited crowd of onlookers and fans with their rave performance. Everypony are enjoying it so much some even sin and dance around to the music.

Luna became ecstatic at this sight. “Faust Almighty! Is that Lady Rara? I must go and meet her!”

“Luna, behave yourself!”

Princess Luna however ignored her elder sister and proceeded to step off the stage to take closer view of Lady Rara.

“Princess Luna, it’s chaotic out there in the crowds!” Discord protested.

The captain’s lack of action earned an ireful scolding from Celestia. “What are you waiting for, captain!? Go and retrieve my sister, NOW!”

“Right away, Your Royal Highness!” the captain complied and off he went into the crowds to search for Princess Luna.

“I can’t believe this!” Celestia complained to herself. “Are all of the current generations this incompetent!?”.

A short while later, Sunset Shimmer appeared and walked up to the stage. As she passed Trixie, they looked at each other awkwardly.

As soon as Celestia saw Sunset Shimmer, she scolded her. “Sunset Shimmer, you’re late! Why can’t you be more punctual, just like Twilight Sparkle here?”

Upon hearing this, Twilight Sparkle could not help but gave a smug look at her rival. Sunset Shimmer said her apologies while bowing her head to Princess Celestia.

“As you should!” Celestia dissed the unicorn.

Sunset Shimmer briefly regarded Twilight Sparkle with distaste before glancing around in search of Princess Luna. When she asked Princess Celestia, the unicorn was greeted with scorn, that the matter was of no concern to her. Seeing how sad Sunset Shimmer is, only then Trixie decided to make things right between them. She stood close next to the Sunset Shimmer.

The remorseful Trixie whispered to her, “Sunset Shimmer, I’m…sorry...and thank you,”

Trixie was about to leave but Sunset Shimmer stopped her.

“Keep smiling, Trixie,” Sunset Shimmer said softly. “That sad face doesn’t suit you at all,”.

Though she did not say it out directly, Trixie interpreted the words as her friend’s way of saying ‘I forgive you’. And so, Trixie let out a small but sincere smile for Sunset Shimmer.

***

The dejected Silver Spoon tossed her pearl necklace into the lake. Unexpectedly, the necklace hovered short of hitting the water surface. Sunset Shimmer, whom is accompanied by Lighting Dust, lifted the necklace up to her.

“Silver Spoon, what do you think you’re doing?” Sunset Shimmer asked, holding on to the necklace.

“It’s worthless,” Silver Spoon said indifferently.

The reply puzzled Sunset Shimmer. “These are genuine rare sea pearls, aren’t they?”

“That’s not what I meant,” the Earth pony uttered.

Not quite grasping her meaning, Sunset Shimmer asked Silver Spoon to explain.

“We just came back from Manehattan,” the latter said. “I tried bribing them to accept Tiara. But they didn’t take my offer.”

“Oh, Silver Spoon,” Sunset Shimmer was clearly dismayed, “does Tiara know about this?”

Silver Spoon shook her. “No.”

Relieved, Sunset Shimmer said, “Silver Spoon, Tiara is an honorable pony. She would never have condoned your action. Can you imagine how angry she’ll be if she finds out?”

“You’re not going to tell her, are you?” the distressed Silver Spoon immediately asked.

Her foster sister is nice and helpful and all, Silver Spoon admitted but Diamond Tiara can become a scary pony when she is overly upset or angry. At best, she could be described as a diamond in the rough.

“Nope, you should tell her yourself,” Lightning Dust said firmly. “Sooner or later, you have to do it.”

“Lightning, let me do the talking,” Sunset Shimmer chided before speaking to Silver Spoon again. “Silver Spoon, as much as Tiara is disappointed on repeatedly failing to make it to the Fashion Week, she’d be more disappointed if she finds out that she didn’t make it through fair and square.”

“I was trying to help,” Silver Spoon insisted.

“There’re many ways you can help,” Sunset Shimmer said. “The proper way. You can learn to sew for instance.”

The Earth pony gave Sunset Shimmer’s suggestion some consideration.

Diamond Tiara gasped in disbelief as soon as Silver Spoon showed her the building premise, still under renovation by the Boy Builders. Soon it will be their new home and boutique, all in one, Silver Spoon said to her. Nothing too fancy, but it is certainly more comfortable and spacious than Diamond Tiara’s shabby house.

“I don’t understand,” Diamond Tiara said. “How could you afford all of these by yourself?”

But Silver Spoon remained silent, prompting Diamond Tiara to examine the young Earth pony carefully.

Then it finally hit her. “Spoony, your necklace… You sold it!?”

Silver Spoon nodded meekly. “I also took sewing course.”

Lost for words, without thinking, the touched Diamond Tiara embraced Silver Spoon.

***

Godslayer Dash watched with sentimentality the five friends embrace tenderly each other in forgiveness.

***

Five Years Earlier (Earth's Timeline)

Dash had changed a lot in the past year. In high school, she was a gawky and mousy-looking girl no more. Long after her father’s passing, she had grown into a more confident and energetic person. The transformation is reflected by her current athletic build, new hair style and sporty sense of fashion, which gave her a tomboyish look. She was now more proactive in participating in extracurricular activities.

However, Dash was not the only one who had changed. The heavily scarred Sunny was sitting on the bench all by herself. She became rather gloomy ever since she was released from hospital after being involved in an accident that almost took her life.

No longer the bully she was, Sunny was more inclined to be alone. Of course in spite of this, most of the school students still disliked her. But surprisingly AJ had been treating Sunny nicely since then, being protective of her even. This was highly surprising, considering that AJ was also once the victim of Sunny’s harassment and coupled with her temper and hard-headed nature, she was last the person Dash had expected to forgive Sunny.

Dash saw AJ discussing something to Twilight. It must be related to Sunny as Twilight kept glancing past AJ at the redhead. Then Twilight did what Dash really did not expect. As a gesture of goodwill, Twilight reached out her hand to the former bully. Sunny was initially hesitant. But encouraged by AJ’s insistence and Twilight’s friendly demeanor, Sunny finally accepted it.

Dash understood this is not just an act of forgiveness. Twilight and AJ are willing to accept Sunny as their friend, to give her a chance for her to begin anew. Yet Dash turned away. She still holds a deep grudge against Sunny. There was no way she can accept Sunny as a friend nor can she forgive Sunny for what she had done to her during junior high. To Dash, the world is all black and white. It is as simple as that. No matter what or how much Sunny will do to make amends, she will still remain as a bad person in Dash’s heart.

***

Godslayer Dash’s expression gradually darkened. After learning about Princess Celestia and Sunset Shimmer’s past, she began to question her own past actions against Sunny.

It is past midnight. Gilda, Diamond Tiara and with Silver Spoon slept peacefully together, of which the latter two were snugged cozily under the griffon’s wings. Gilda’s thick fur/feathers render her not needing a blanket like the other ponies.

Suddenly, Diamond Tiara opened her eyes, having been awakened by the sounds of Featherweight’s shivering. She carefully slipped out from under Gilda’s wing and went over to take another sheet of blanket, silently so as not to awaken the other ponies. She gently placed the extra blanket over Featherweight up to his neck and the colt finally stopped shivering in his sleep. Diamond Tiara looked up at the ventilation shafts, wondering why the draft coming out of it is so close to freezing temperature.

Trixie was fast asleep on the office couch when she is approached by Godslayer Dash.

“Trixie,” the latter whispered to the unicorn’s ears. “Hey, Trixie. Wake up.”

Trixie woke up groggily and frowned as soon as she saw Dash’s face.

“Miss Dash, what time is it now?” she moaned.

Pulling away the blanket, she sat up. She rubbed her hooves for warmth, as the air around the office had turned chilly. Too chilly in fact.

“Sorry to bother you,” Godslayer Dash said “but something came up,”

Blueblood, Discord and Trixie, all three were stunned when they found out that the underground river in the caverns had been completely frozen into ice. The cavern’s entrance was now completely blocked by thick solid wall of ice, which used to be the waterfall. The Flim Flam brothers and Nova used their magic to melt the ice, creating crevice through the ice wall as a result.

In the meantime, Godslayer Dash and Lightning Dust were up in the mansion. Once the door opened, freezing wind howled into their faces. The Pegasus shuddered to her bones despite wearing winter coats and scarves. Only Godslayer Dash remained unaffected due to her Fleet SHADE acting as environmental suit.

“B-but it’s f-f-freezing c-cold out there,” Lightning Dust shivered, in response of the latter’s offer of steeping out to have a better understanding of the conditions outside.

“Honestly,” Godslayer Dash said with a shrug, “I can’t feel anything under this armor.”

She stepped outside into the front yard. Snow was falling lightly from the sky. The ground was blanketed with snow. Icicles formed on the tree branches. Winter has come to Canterlot earlier than expected...