Cracks in Reality - Book One

“RAINBOW DASH, DON’T TOUCH HER!” Sunset shouted in fear for her friend’s wellbeing.

A pulse of teal magic erupted from Sunset Shimmer’s horn and hit Rainbow in the chest, blasting the pegasus several meters away from the falling alicorn. Sunset hated that she had just attacked one of her best friends, but she couldn’t risk Rainbow getting hurt by any of the defenses users of dark magic often placed on themselves for protection while they were sleeping or unconscious.

“Sunset!” Applejack yelled in confusion as she ran towards her. “What on earth are ya doing attackin’ Rainbow Dash like that?!”

“STAY BACK AJ!” Sunset’s horn glowed and a wall of flames erupted several meters in front of her group of friends. Applejack tried to run around the flames, but Sunset began directing them to form a wide towering circle of flames which effectively isolated her and the alicorn from any outside interference. The wall of flames would also conceal from her friends what she was about to do. And what she was about to do would break a very solemn vow she made to Princess Celestia four years ago before she moved to Ponyville.

Sunset Shimmer knelt down beside the dark alicorn’s body and grimaced when she saw the deadly icicles piercing her chest and abdomen. She worked past her squeamishness and began using her magic to remove the icicles from the mare’s body. Copious amounts of blood began pouring, and sometimes even spurting through the air with each icy blade she pulled from the pony’s chest or abdomen, and she had to use her magic to apply pressure to the wounds in order to stop most of the bleeding. By the time Sunset had finished removing the last icicle from the alicorn’s body, her entire chest and parts of her face covered in warm crimson liquid.

But the worst was still to come, as she still had to remove the alicorn’s armor, and in order to do so she would have to rely on her own knowledge of dark magic. She knew Princess Celestia was never going to forgive her a second time for using dark magic, but if the mare was left to her own devices and powers there was no telling the amount of destruction she could wreak upon Equestria. At least without access to her armor’s power the alicorn would be containable until they knew more about her.

Sunset removed her crown and placed it on the ground beside her. She then closed her eyes and after several moments of concentrating she felt a slow trickle of icy coldness flowing through her body chasing away the warmth and comfort of her pure magic. Soon the slow trickle of dark magic turned to a fast flow, and Sunset had to concentrate even harder to stop the dark magic from completely taking her over. But no matter how hard Sunset concentrated, she couldn’t ignore the constant luring temptation of absolute power that the dark magic offered her, if she simply gave into it. Having given into it once before, it was that much harder for Sunset to resist now. She could once again feel the absolute control and mastery she had over others. She would no longer have to study under Celestia in order to become as powerful as she set out to be. Rules would no longer apply to her, as she could make her own, and at the same time have the power to enforce them. The whole world was at her fingertips if she just gave into the darkness.

Tears stung Sunset’s eyes as she desperately tried to hold onto her sanity. Four years ago she had once given into the darkness and tasted the ultimate power it could give her. But four years ago she didn’t have Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity or Pinkie Pie as friends and now that she did have them, she never wanted to lose them. No matter how much power she had to gain, the cost of losing her friendship wasn’t worth it.

Sunset pressed her hands against the alicorn’s armor covered body and began using every ounce of her dark magic to pull it off. The surface of the armor began rippling like water, and after several more moments it began reluctantly obeying her commands, flowing like oil from the alicorn’s body. When Sunset pulled her hands back the armor formed a spinning ball of shadows that eventually solidified into a large glass like orb.

With a weak moan, Sunset extinguished the circling inferno of flames surrounding her and gratefully laid down on the cool grass beneath her. After all that had happened to her during the last few hours, Sunset felt she deserved a good chunk of sleep, but unfortunately somepony began roughly shaking her, which caused the welcoming darkness of unconsciousness to flee from her mind. “Leave me alone,” Sunset said, tiredly trying to shake away the offending pony, but they were too insistent and kept shaking her.

“Consarn it Sunset, wake up! Rainbow and this other mare are needing your help!”

At the mention of Rainbow’s name, Sunset forced herself to sit up and with AJ’s help she made it to her feet. As Sunset ran towards the fallen pegasus, she hoped and prayed she hadn’t used too much magic when she attacked her friend. Her fears were put to rest when she knelt beside Rainbow and began examining her. She had a few sore ribs and was winded for a while but thankfully there was no lasting damage.

Rainbow stirred awake, and when her gaze focused in on Sunset she scowled. “What the buck was that for? That really hurt!”

“I’m really sorry about attacking you like that, Dash. I just couldn’t risk you getting hurt by whatever magical defenses were protecting the alicorn.” Rainbow gave Sunset a dark look as she was helped to her feet and they made their way back towards the rest of their friends, who were standing around the dark alicorn’s unconscious body. Despite the individual auras of Sunset’s magic surrounding the alicorn’s puncture wounds, blood was still trickling from her injuries, staining the dark clothes she had worn under her armor red. “We need to get her to the hospital. Everypony link hands, so I can teleport us.”

As the group of ponies did as instructed, Sunset placed a hand on the alicorn’s body and they disappeared in a flash of teal light.

Celestia paused outside the examination room of the Ponyville hospital and took a deep calming breath. The only communication she had with her sister so far was when Luna kept apologizing over and over again for her actions as Nightmare Moon. Celestia didn’t blame her sister though, she blamed Darklight. She regretted every single moment she kept that bastard alive, yet despite her hatred for Darklight, she knew Equestria and its citizens both past and present owed him a dept that could never be repaid. Celestia shook her head to clear it of thoughts from ancient history and let herself into the examination room.

Luna was standing at the window gazing at the sunrise she had created. She was dressed in a green hospital robe with holes cut out in the back to accommodate her wings. “Greetings sister.” Luna’s voice was low and soft, and her mane and tail were completely free from their usual etherial winds. “I see your talent for creating beautiful sunrises has only improved overtime.” Luna finally turned around and faced her. “Whatever punishment you deem fit to bestow upon me, I have already accepted it.”

Celestia couldn’t take it anymore. She rushed forward and enveloped her younger, and much smaller sister in a soft, but sincere hug. Her wings wrapped around Luna in a protective cacoon of warmth and comfort, she nuzzled her sister’s neck, and finally let her tears run free. “Oh Luna, my precious sister.” Celestia’s voice cracked with raw emotion and she held Luna tighter. “You have paid for your crimes more than enough. It is me who should be begging for your forgiveness. My hatred for dark magic clouded my love for you, and for that you paid a terrible price you should not have had to suffer for in the first place. If anyone should be blamed for what had happened, it is him!” Celestia spat the last word out as though it was the foulest thing she had ever tasted.

Luna pulled away from her sister’s embrace. “Do not say that sister! If it weren’t for Darklight’s actions and his sacrifice that night, Equestria would be now be razed to ashes along with everypony in this realm. I am quite astounded you have erased all knowledge of those days from history. He deserved to be remembered for the hero he was!”

Celestia sighed and hung her head. “Please let us not fight, Luna. I have just gotten my little sister back, this day should be an occasion of joy and celebration.”

This time it was Luna who embraced her sister. “You are indeed right. T’is should be a time for joy. Even though I am sure it will be quite sometime before the citizens of Equestria ever forgive me.”

Celestia gave her sister a comforting hush, and stroked her fingers softly through Luna’s feathers. The princess of the night gave a contented hum and snuggled further into Celestia’s warm embrace. For Celestia it was just like the old times in their ancient castle, where she spent so many nights comforting and protecting her little sister. “Do not worry Luna, you will be reinstated to your royal position as soon as possible, and I will help you adjust to this new lifestyle. You will never again go through your future trials unaided. I promise to always be there for you like I should have been a thousand years ago.”

“Thankyou my dear sister, it gladdens my heart to hear you say that.”

The door to the examination room opened once more, and a fearful looking Nurse Redheart walked in carrying a clipboard filled with papers and forms. The two sisters broke apart and Luna smiled kindly at Nurse Redheart, who gave a fearful squeak and began speaking so fast she would have given Pinkie Pie a run for her money. “Everything is completely fine with Luna, she just needs a few days rest and shouldn’t exert herself during her rest period.” With her diagnostic delivered, Nurse Redheart left the clipboard on a nearby filling draw and all but ran from the night princess.

Luna gave a dejected sigh as she watched the mare flee from her presence. “I will never get used to that in this form. As Nightmare Moon, I...”

Celestia placed a firm finger over Luna’s lips. “Hush now little sister, we need not to speak of that time of history ever again. Now let us prepare you for your departure to Canterlot Castle. I personally made your new room look like your old one, so you have something you recognize from olden times.”

“Before we leave, I would like some time alone to think.”

Celestia gave Luna a warm smile and tucked a strand of her mane back behind her ears. “Take as much time as you need. I will go and get some food for you to eat. You have a lot of culinary experiences to catch up on.”

As soon as Celestia left, Luna’s smile dropped and she closed her door before sitting on the bed. She started crying into her pillow to muffle her sobs. Celestia spoke of Nightmare Moon as though she was a thing of the past. Luna supposed that was true for her sister, but to her, it was like it had happened only yesterday. Even now she could feel the icy cold chill of her darker self tingling along her spine. She could hear a faint echo of Nightmare Moon laughing deep within her subconscious. It scared her. And even though Luna wrapped herself up in her wings and several blankets, there was no escaping the icy chill tingling along her spine. Luna’s horn glowed, and with the magic she had, she created something to remind her of the pain and suffering she had caused as Nightmare Moon. Luna gazed cooly at the blob of magic floating in front of her. “Do your worst, Tantabus.”

When Celestia walked into the reception area of Ponyville’s hospital, she found a very pale looking Nurse Redheart standing in one of the corners away from everypony else. Celestia sighed and was about to walk up and comfort the distraught mare, when a flash of teal magic blinded her, and when her vision cleared she saw Sunset Shimmer and the rest of her friends standing in front of her. Rainbow Dash was clutching her ribs, and Celstia’s heart skipped several beats when she noticed her student was covered in blood, but then she noticed the alicorn on the floor between them and for the first time in many years her mind was struck completely useless.

Even though the alicorn’s body was covered with blood soaked dark clothes, and even though the last time she had seen her former student was when she was only just a foal, there was no mistaking her dark violet fur, or the slightly exposed cutie mark adorning her flank. Twilight Sparkle had found her way back back home.