Nightmares

After another exhausted day took it's toll, you decided to finally end it with a peaceful night's rest. Juggling through work and college was a "knockout" to be put to sleep in an instant. Guess next time you shouldn't doubt most people when they say it's relentless; then normally. Although, the sacrifice's to get you and her through life with ease was worth it.

Especially if you'd always remember that it's for her mainly. Yet when you entered through the doorway, you realized that there was an absence from your bed. Looking over at the alarm clock atop the nightstand across the room it read: '11: 55'

Directing your attention back to the vast, empty surface of your bed, sheets lightly sprawled all about, and the left-hand pillow was lying limp on the floor, you knew what's going on. It became a daily routine, most of the time, though you knew why.

You drew out a short sigh, re-directing yourself out to the 'porch' of your apartment. Buying a home was a nice start, but your savings wouldn't cut the crust, so this was your alternative. And she didn't mind it the least. Since there were other matters that clogged her mind. Endlessly taunting her every night when she'd like to get some rest, picking her brain left and right.

It's no trouble that you'd risk your own 8 hours to help her. For, like mentioned earlier, "It's for her"

Walking down the hallway with quiet steps, you came across the opening and saw her back faced towards you. Shoulder/Back muscles slouched, forearms resting on the metal railing, and her head is hung down for the wind to playfully toy with her bangs in it's breeze.

"Again?" You questioned, making her look back to meet your (E/C) orbs with her sky-blue ones. She nodded in response, turning back to the scenery opened to her. "It just..never lets up"

You joined beside her, looking over the view of the city of Canterlot, still impressed for it's standpoint to be so massive and marvelous. Makes you see the world differently then ordinarily.

"You know it's all just dreams, right? Mirages from your brain from your build-up of 'guilt', that causes them to be projected constantly. But you and I know it's simply mind tricks; literally.."

"I know, I know.." She responded, keeping her stand still, "But the feeling of what I've done, and became, really blinded me to the chaos I've could've unleashed" The teen let out a dry chuckle, "And to think I was gonna zombifie everyone under my wing, metaphorically, and use them to rule all of Equestria. Which minus' the fact that they're regular teenage kids, and my magic was the only force against ponies with SUPERIOR powers to match-up, so they wouldn't have a chance from the get-go" She placed a hand on her forehead, letting another small heckle out, "I'm such an idiot..."

You didn't respond to her last statement by rebutting, 'You know that's not true at all', but just kept your view on the outdoors. Although your hand, for the matter, gently rested on her slump shoulders, making her look back at you with a saddened expression; eyes, almost, close to releasing just one tear. For this routine itself is beginning to get to her, always reminding her of the horrible mishaps shes committed. But, she learned from you that letting fear take control just shatters yourself, piece by piece.

"All I can say to that, Sunset, is...you really are an idiot"

Taken back at that statement, the said-red-head furrowed her brows in question, and a bit upsetting when hearing your 'insult'; when all-in-all, you didn't mean it, but needed her to fully understand and cooperate. Despite the hurtful outcomes.

You decided to resume, coming-up with your explanation, as Sunset still stood there, mute of her own response. "AND, what I mean by is that your still conflicted to stay shackled by your past to not break away and accept the hand of forgiveness that "somepony" lend out to you" And, of course, you meant to "Princess" Twilight's offering, still promised to Sunset after her departure back to Equestria. And the five girls didn't evade befriending her over the next months, showing Sunset the REAL 'magic of friendship' then she anticipated when entering this world. "Which you and I know it'l stay with you for now-and-ever, and whatever 'guilt' that 'suffocates' you now, it's nothing but yourself doing the dirty work. Yet, you hesitate from relishing your new start in life then continuously looking back down that road again"

Sunset, a bit intrigued, kept her ears and mind open to the next set's of words you spoke.

"And I understand doubt might weigh you down to make the slightest effort to the new-you, but it's time to have some closure once and for all" Finished, you left her side to re-enter the apartment, later returning in at least 3 minutes carrying a yellow backpack. Sunset looked at it with a raised brow, trying to follow what 'closure' your preparing for her in this situation. And the answer came in the form of the one item that she loathed, and turned her into the "she-demon" she despises.

But the time to forget the past and move on is today. Becoming a victim of fear has to stop at some point.

Unzipping it and digging around, you pulled it out. Twilight's 'Elemental crown' she allowed you to borrow, from her world, in order to cure Sunset of her guilt. After-all, she was the "princess", and her knowledge of 'the power of friendship' can say otherwise.

You two stayed silent at the moment, Sunset staring at the crown in disbelief, and you at her with concern. The fire-head was the first to break things, a bit of seriousness in her tone. "Why did you bring that back...?"

"I know you don't EVER wanna see this thing again, Shimmer, but it's the only way. This has to end.."

Continuing to stare at the magical item in your hands, the memories re-raced themselves back into the teen's head, making her clutch it in mental agony. Eyes glued shut to make a front-row-seat to the "show". Still holding to her head with one hand, the other clutched the railing, tightly to slowly turn her knuckles white.

"Sunset..please, you need this" You took a step towards her, which she responded with a uncomfortable grunt, and her taking a step back herself. "Stop..."

"I can't. You need to get this disease out of your head"

"(Y/N)..."

"Please"

"(Y/N)"

"Sunset, I can't keep watching you break down from this every single day for the rest of your life. It pains me to see you like this. I want for you to live normally again"

"I..I can't. Please. Don't.." At that point, she couldn't hold the tears in her ducts, one moved down her tangerine-colored cheek, making you heart-struck at seeing it. Regretting your decisions to force this upon her, but something else said to 'go on, otherwise she'l break into pieces and stay sulking in the shadows forever'. So, you put on a determined mask and resumed further.

Sunset took another step back until feeling the cold cement wall touch her back. Letting go of the railing to grip the other side of her head, still seeing the images flash like a broken movie-projector on 'play'. And what she saw made her slowly brake on the spot:

Her home's wall, decorated with "her" yearly crowning of prom queen from middle to high school; yet one stays absent. Which, she admits, isn't really hers, yet her human-counterpart, still gone herself till this day. But, she embraces' the new home to make her first step into becoming the TRUE queen of Equestria.

Next, she's strutting down the halls of Canterlot high, shooting everyone a dirty glare when they even glance at her, causing their heads to immediately turn away in fear. Making her chuckle in adoration to her first impression to the school how she prefers; feared in her, although future, glory. Some things still had to come into place for the grand finale.

Then came her, former, caring shoulder to cry on, her ticket to the "big league"; Flash Sentry. How she used him for her personal bidding of becoming the top of the popularity charts, making him her 'human-carriage'. Yet, during times of her own distraught, he came into the picture to cheer her up and reassure her of the pros then cons of said-situations, making her slowly see the 'useful' part of him after all. Raising the guilt meter in her heart, still realizing that she's using a generous, and caring man such as Flash for nothing but popularity.

Finally, the day of the Fall Formal. When Sunset had everything prepared for her takeover, and said-'Element crown' was finally in her grasp to use. Which she did. Though, letting out some unsettling conclusions and changes. Alike her "princess" (or alicorn-hybrid) form who, when observing from other's point of view, was actually a demonic-being with a horn on it's head.

Everything that's resulted from these changes actually reflected to the fire-head's selfish ambitions. Making her turn into the monster she previously was at the Formal.

Sunset slid herself until she touched the cold floor, still clutching at herself as if her head was about to pop. Which was, though mentally. And said-mental 'explosion' could be seen from her, now continuous, tear streams running down like speeding currents to a waterfall.

You still felt the constriction around your heart tighten itself, but you can't back away now. You do anything to have your Sunset come back as once she REALLY was then she masqueraded herself all these years. So when you made it to her balling-self, crown still clutched in your hands, you bent down and put it atop her head. Straightening yourself and looking at her with, still, determined eyes; although a bit distraught of course.

Feeling the magical item touch her, Sunset angerly took it in her hands herself and tossed it away. Almost hitting yourself square-in-the-face if you haven't taken a quick side-step aside. After discarding it, Sunset got up and faced you again, but with an enraged expression you've never seen her with before. Except the time when she, somewhat, exploded at Trixie for her gloating remark when Sunset prevented the Sirens from absorbing the "Mane-Six's" magic by ruining their performance. And you knew you'd didn't go along with the crowd's displeasing's with Sunset's action, since your hunch on that trio made you suspicious from the start.

"You..You..Idiot!" Sunset shouted, pounding her fist at your chest, repeatedly doing so while her eyes outlet'd more pained tears. "You couldn't listen for once in that thick skull of yours, yet deciding to bring that wretched thing back to taunt me even more then just letting it go, you..you..How dare you!"

You didn't stop her from continuing since you didn't feel too much of the physical pain to care, and you wanted her to let out all that she's been keeping for so long. Finally letting her able to collect herself.

After countless minutes of Sunset's pent-up anger released, which you admitted stung quite a bit on your chest cavity, she finally calmed down, leaning on you to relax herself. And when doing so, she began to ball her eyes out once again, burying her face in your chest as her hands gripped your shirt tightly. You only decided to pat her head reassuringly, as to not bother her in this time of need and relieve her that it's all gonna be alright. And that she's finally gonna begin a whole new start with this finally distinguished from their lives.

Soon the crying died down to small sniffles and hiccuping. Sunset then looked up at you, eyes softened back to their regular calm state. You gently caressed her phoenix-colored hair through your hand and fingertips, trying the least to sooth her from that emotional-roller coaster.

"Now you see, this is what you really needed. From your beginning into this world, till the Fall Formal, you've kept all the envious struggling, loss of control loose within yourself without handling it, causing yourself to change and become that demonic beast. But now, it's all aside you"

Sunset tilted her head quizzically at your statement, about to ask before you continued to save her the trouble. "When putting on the crown again, minus the force-placement, the first action you've done was toss it aside like it was an actual infection of some sorts, trying to dispose of it quickly before it spreads. As a sign of true control, throwing the dark displacement of your life away, not wanting to re-live the horrors and live with a clean-slate. Which you've been CONSTANTLY evading after the Formal. Though now, your finally in charge of yourself again" You sighed deeply when finished, "Yeesh, what a mouth-full..."

Looking back at the thrown crown to you, the fire-head slowly grasped your words to which she was blinded to, but now finally filled that empty void with the comforting feeling she had lost from her all along. Which the other "Manes" of Twilight's group tried effortlessly themselves for her to understand.

The teen grew a soft smile before leaning up, shortly on her tippy-toes, for the size difference was a bit off-charted, and planted a small peck to your cheek. Your face flushed immediately at the contact, making your muscles twitch at the moment. Sunset softly giggled before leaning in again, though touching her forehead against yours.

"Thank you, (Y/N)..Thank you"

At a loss for words, you only responded by wrapping your arms around the teen and embracing her closely. Relieved yourself that this is all done with. You then reached into your pockets in search for your phone, turning it on briefly to check the time; now reading: '12: 38'.

"Oh, jeez" You muttered, catching Sunset's attention shortly, "It's almost half-till one. We better hit the hay before we oversleep again for tomorrow"

"Which you ALWAYS do every night. That's why Rainbow and the others get ticked off at you for taking a late-hitch for work" Sunset joked lightly with a chuckle, earning her a eye-roll from you.

"Blah, blah, blah. Lets' go"

You two then walk back to your shared room, hand in hand, making it to the doorway before you let go. Sunset looked over at you questionably, "You coming or what?"

"N'aw, I don't think so. After..all that, it's best to give you the space you need to relax from all that, without me trying to screw it up again" You shrugged, "Besides, I'l crash on the couch for the night, no big deal"

But as you were about to make it to the living room, you felt a pair of arms tangle around yours, which, obviously, belonged to Sunset. "Oh no you don't"

"Why? I made you all broken-up back there, I thought it'l be respectful to just give you the serenity of the night to relax"

"I would, but I need the one thing that'l help me get to sleep better"

"Hopefully it isn't that creepy stuffed rabbit you still have"

"Hey" Sunset protested, a bit amused herself, "Bonnie is a nice stress reliever when I was little. Don't judge him"

You snorted at that, "Tell that to the internet.."

The fire-head sighed, "Whatever. Anyways, It's you, stupid"

You raised both brows in surprise, a blush making it's way to your features, "M-me? Really?"

Sunset yawned before responding, "Yes, you. Now hurry up and get in. I'm getting tired"

Deciding to not argue back, you complied nonetheless. You were the first to lay back-first on the bed before Sunset joined, immediately snuggling up beside you. Wrapping her arms around your torso, and her head on your chest once again. Holding her close, you grew a warm smile yourself this time, leaning down to peck her softly on the head. Whispering to her before dozing off together.

"Good night, Sunset..."

She yawned once again, nuzzling closer, "Good night, (Y/N)..."

Bliss of the 'dreamland' was about to take you two away before the fire-head added one more thing to her last statement.

"I love you.."

This made your eyes open wide in shock, "Wait, what now?!"