Sunset Shimmer's Dirt Road of Discovery
And so the journey begins
Being immortal is tough. It’s boring, it’s lonely, and it’s truly devastating. You sit there, day after day, watching the sunrise and the sunset, with no-one left on earth to talk to, to play with, or even to see.
Going back to Equestria was an option, but she felt as though her place was still here, in the human world, even if there was nothing left to do.
Sunset Shimmer sighed. Almost nothing. She lifted herself up to her feet and trekked along the crumbled path, kicking a few stones along the way, dust rising up into the air. She idiotically walked through it; coughing and brushing the dirt away from her eyes.
Doing so almost caused her to bump straight into the once famous Sugarcube corner. Even after all these years, it had still stayed strong, while many other buildings lay crumbled around her. She still felt her heart ache every time she came across one of her best friend’s houses, which she had marked with objects of theirs so she would never forget them.
Sunset would’ve normally turned away from the building; since all it did was remind her of her past, but today, something was different.
Inside, by one of the tables, drinking a milkshake, sat the blue skinned siren from the Battle of the Bands.
Sonata Dusk.
Sunset Shimmer had thought that she would never come across her again, , but they were just like her: immortal. She slowly creaked the door open to get a better view of her from the front. Sonata seemed to be staring off into space; the look on her face that made Sunset feel uneasy. Still, having nothing better to do, she walked forward and sat down on the chair in front of her, which broke Sonata out of her thoughts.
“Oh, hey,” she said simply. Her once happy, cheerful self seemed to be replaced by either sadness or anger- Sunset couldn’t tell. She looked around awkwardly and tried to think of something to say. But what do you say to an arch enemy after decades of not seeing each other?
“How have you been?” Pathetic, Sunset, pathetic.
“Um, fine,” Sonata replied. Sunset frowned. Sonata noticed. Sunset didn’t believe her. Sonata sighed and stood up.
Sunset was truly mortified at the sight in front of her.
For starters, Sonata’s clothes were ripped to pieces, and her stomach plus the patches on her legs were clearly visible. Not to mention they were covered with dried blood, scratches and bruises.
Sunset gasped at the sight. “Sonata, what happened?”
Sonata’s hands curled into fists and she scrunched up her face, tears falling down her cheeks.
“Sunset...I killed them.”
“Killed...killed whom?” Sunset asked, gulping. She already knew the answer.
Sonata let out loud wails and fell to the ground. Sunset didn’t know what to do. She stood up and wrapped her arms around Sonata, rubbing her back as some of her tears dripped down onto her shirt. Sunset felt tears welling up in her eyes as well. In this moment, she could slowly feel- or, well, not feel Sonata’s body below her hand. Sunset gasped and moved back, watching in horror as Sonata began to fade from view.
She could just see the young siren’s smile before she completely disappeared, leaving nothing but the wet patches of her tears on the ground.
Sunset stumbled back, falling onto the ground, shaking. She was dreaming. She had to be dreaming. Sonata was...gone. Just like that. She just faded from view. This certainly didn’t happen in real life; there would at least be a body left behind. But how would Sonata die anyway? She was fine.
Sunset let her own tears fall as she curled up in a ball, wrapping her arms around her knees.
Being immortal is tough. It’s boring, it’s lonely, and it’s truly devastating. You sit there, day after day, watching the sunrise and the sunset, with no-one left on earth to talk to, to play with, or even to see.
Going back to Equestria was an option, but she felt as though her place was still here, in the human world, even if there was nothing left to do.
Sunset Shimmer sighed. Almost nothing. She lifted herself off the ground of the once high standing Sugarcube Corner; which, over the past week or so, had crumbled around her. She continued to walk down the dirt road, once again kicking the pavement and spreading dust into her eyes. She coughed again; much worse than previously. The recurring events confused her, but it was probably just a coincidence.
But, once again, she nearly crashed into a building. Sunset stepped back and examined it; a perfectly fine and stable place that, from what she saw, looked like a club.
Sunset would’ve normally turned away from the building; since all it did was remind her of the future she couldn’t have, but today, something was different.
Inside, on one of the bar stools, drinking a bottle of wine, sat the purple skinned siren from the Battle of the Bands.
Aria Blaze.
Sunset frowned lightly, and, curious as to what she was doing in there, walked inside. What creeped her out most was that Aria was supposed to be...dead. Something clicked in Sunset’s mind, but disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared. She shook it off, and walked up to the bar. Just like Sonata, Aria was staring off into space, her clothes strangely primped, sparkling, and, well, perfect.
Sunset pulled up a seat and sat next to her.
“Yo,” Aria said, holding out the bottle. “Want some?”
Sunset shook her head. “No thanks, I’m good. So...what are you doing here?” she asked.
Aria shrugged. “Dunno. Living a life I never had. Wanna play a game of pool?”
Sunset shook her head again.
“Eh, suit yourself.” Aria finished the bottle and placed it on the counter. Five seconds later, she picked it up and drank again; the bottle was full.
Sunset was starting to get confused. She knew magic existed, but she didn’t think it did stuff like that.
She thought for a bit on what to say.
“So...how have you been?”
“Terrible. So much better now, though,” Aria said, and continued drinking. Sunset had a hunch that was the wrong question to ask. She thought back to Sonata; tattered and torn Sonata, living in a building Sunset had visited many times in her past.
The past…
When Sunset had asked Sonata how she had been, she was focusing on the past. So then, judging by what was around her, she needed to ask Aria a question about the future.
Once she thought about it, it didn’t really take her long to think of one.
“What are you planning to do later in life?”
Aria froze and placed down the bottle. She shook slightly and turned to Sunset. “I...I don’t know. I thought this was what I wanted, but it doesn’t seem like that now. I’ve just been here...moping around, doing nothing. Adagio and Sonata probably wouldn’t think great of me now, would they? I probably should move on.”
“No- wait.” Sunset called, grabbing Aria’s hand. But it was too late. No sooner had she spoke; then Aria disappeared, leaving nothing but a few drops of red wine which dripped from her lips.
Sunset froze again, the welling up of tears getting worse as she sniffed, banging her head on the wooden bench, crying yet again.
Being immortal is tough. It’s boring, it’s lonely, and it’s truly devastating. You sit there, day after day, watching the sunrise and the sunset, with no-one left on earth to talk to, to play with, or even to see.
Going back to Equestria was an option, but she felt as though her place was still here, in the human world, even if there was nothing left to do.
Sunset Shimmer sighed. Almost nothing. She slid herself off the stool and exited the still standing club, walking down the dirt path yet again. Subconsciously, she kicked the dust up, breaking into a coughing fit unlike any other. And she knew who was going to be standing in front of her once the dust cleared.
This time, however, there was no building in front of her. Sunset found herself standing on the school roof of Canterlot High. And, as she expected, Adagio stood ahead, staring out over the edge of the roof at the sunset ahead of her.
Sunset Shimmer knew exactly what time period she was experiencing. Adagio was representing the present.
And she wasn’t sure what to do about that.
There wouldn’t be much to talk about. Since Adagio was still wearing her Battle of the Bands costume, she figured it mustn’t have been a far away event.
Sunset sighed and walked up to her, leaning on the stone wall that separated the roof from the ground.
“I’m sorry,” she said, the words leaving her mouth before she could think about them. Was she sorry? She didn’t know.
Adagio scoffed. “Sunset Shimmer, why are you here?”
Sunset thought about it. Suddenly, the memory from before clicked into her mind again.
Sadly, this time, it stayed. Sunset gripped the edges of the wall, her eyes wide. Adagio placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Sunset!” Fluttershy screamed, running across the golden sand towards her.
“Oh my god.” Applejack turned to the others behind her. “Quick, someone call an ambulance!”
Rarity pulled her phone out of her pocket and quickly complied. “...Yes, a friend of ours...:”
“Is she going to be okay?” Rainbow asked demandingly.
“We can’t tell. Miss Shimmer is in a coma. We’ll keep her on the life machine for now, but only time can tell if she wakes up or not,” the Doctor explained.
“A-And if she doesn’t?” Rainbow stuttered.
“Then I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do. Sunset Shimmer...will die.”
“Sunset, I’m so worried. Please wake up.” Loud sobs could be heard from Fluttershy.
“Why’d this have to happen now?”
“She’s so young.”
“Oh god, what do we tell Twilight? If she doesn’t make it…”
“Sunset, please, please wake up.”
“Rainbow! Sunset WILL make it, I know she will!”
“Please Sunset...please…”
“I know, I know, but…”
“Sunset….”
“Enough, girls.” The excessive amounts of crying and slight amounts of arguing were cut off by the sound of Adagio’s voice. All of her friends faded away and left only her, Aria and Sonata.
“Wow. She really took a beating,” Sonata commented.
“I could live with this,” Aria said.
“Girls. You know that’s not why we're here.” Adagio handed Sonata the knife. “Do it.”
Aria scoffed. “Why does she get the honour of doing this? I should be-”
“Because Sonata cares the most. It’s only fitting that she dies last.”
Sonata gulped, tears falling down her cheeks. She held the knife above her shoulder and plunged it into Adagio’s chest.
Sunset whacked Adagio’s hand away from her. “S-So that’s it...I’m dead…”
“Almost. The moment the sun sets, the doctors are taking off your life machine. Then, you’ll fade, just like Aria and Sonata. We all died for you. And if you die before all of us move on, well, I’ll be stuck here forever.” Adagio explained.
“So...I have to live for you?” Sunset asked.
“Live for me? No. Give me something in return? Yes.” Adagio said, turning towards her. She cupped Sunset’s face in her hand.
“Do you want to live?”
Sunset shook. She honestly didn’t know. She thought about all of her friends; probably desperately standing around, hoping that in less than five minutes she would open her eyes…
But then, part of her thought about the Dazzlings. They had taken their lives for her, and she didn’t want to live after what they had done. They had helped her move forward, and now Adagio was giving her the chance to take that all back.
Sunset shook her head.
Adagio smiled and turned her head towards the sun for a bit, which was just lowering beyond the horizon. She turned back to Sunset, and kissed her, taking advantage of the last few moments with her. Soon, their bodies started fading from the bottom up, and Sunset held a smile on her face before she disappeared entirely from view.
Sunset Shimmer’s heart finally stopped beating.
Almost immediately, Fluttershy burst into a wailing cry, and ended up heading out with Applejack because she was being too loud. Everyone was depressed. Even Pinkie, whose hair had flattened because of it.
Sunset Shimmer was dead. The phrase alone was too much for the group to grasp. But it was true.
“Is that her, is that her?” Sonata bounced excitedly as she made her way down the hall, one hand holding onto her father’s and another being grasped by her little sister, Aria.
Her father nodded, smiling, and Sonata gasped, running inside the hospital bedroom. Aria, by the sudden loss of her sister's presence, fell to the ground and cried. Her father picked her up and carried her in.
“Mommy!” Sonata cheered and crawled up onto the bed.
“Now, Sonata-” Her father started, but her mother smiled.
“It’s fine,” She said, hugging her daughter. “Hello, Sonata. Are you ready to see your new baby sisters?”
Sonata nodded happily, then gasped. “Wait, sisters? Mommy, you had twins?”
Her mother nodded. “Sure did.”
“Yay! When will I get to see them?” Sonata asked, smiling.
“I’m sure your dad will take you now if you’ll be very quiet,” Her mother said.
“Okay.” Sonata crawled off the bed and towards her dad, waving to her mom. The smile remained on her face as she followed her father into the hospital’s nursery. Keeping quiet, she ran in and looked around at all the newborn babies. Her father walked up behind her and knelt down beside her, pointing. Aria used this as an opportunity to pull his hair.
Sonata looked in the direction her father’s hand and grinned happily as she pressed her face up against the glass, staring down at her two newborn siblings.
Adagio Dazzle…and Sunset Shimmer.
