Chaotic Dreams

Chapters

Autonomous Avatars
Ludicrous Lights
Irreverent Imposters
Captivated Combatants
Ornery Operas
Rainy Ruins
Nasty Narrations
Alarming Answers
Untimely Usurpers
Listless Leaders
Exhausted Ensembles
Troubled Tricksters
Murderous Masterminds

Autonomous Avatars

Sunset Shimmer floated over the courtyard in front of Canterlot High School, a victorious smirk plastered upon her dark red face. Wings beating lazily to stay aloft, she eyed the gaping hole she had smashed in the school wall, its population milling around in a bluey-green haze. Snips and Snails flitted among them, pushing and prodding in the direction of the portal.

Not this again, Sunset thought as she involuntarily looked over her shoulder, seeing a lone Twilight Sparkle glaring defiantly up at her. She knew Twilight should be a threat, because this had happened before, months ago at the Fall Formal. She also knew Twilight wouldn't be a threat, because every time she dreamed about it- this dream- they fought, and Twilight lost.

It didn't matter, though, because she was merely along for the ride, her demonic body moving with a mind of its own, speaking words that had not been hers for months.

"Oh, please. What, exactly, do you think you're going to do to stop me?"

"This." And Twilight pulled, from behind her back, Sunset's sledgehammer with which she threatened to destroy the portal earlier.

"What?" Demon Sunset's black eyes went wide. Sunset's own thoughts echoed the sentiment. This didn't usually happen- every time the dream reached this part, Twilight's friends would come to her aid, and she would blast the six of them into a smoking crater.

"You heard me, Sunset!" Twilight pointed an arm, eyes furious. "Going back to Equestria means so much to you? Give me my crown, or neither of us will ever see it again!"

Demon Sunset's face contorted in confusion. Hesitating only for a millisecond, her hands flew forward, launching a beam of cyan telekinesis at Twilight. But the princess was too quick, swinging the hammer with all her might.

C-CRUNCH!

The beam made contact, sending Twilight flying. She landed a short distance away in a smoking heap, and Demon Sunset darted down to examine the face of the portal. A deep pockmark had been chipped into it, with luminous cracks webbing out across the entire surface. The fissures fluctuated, glowing briefly, and then went dim. She put her talons on it, rubbing frantically, but it was just inert stone.

"What gives!?" she shrieked, voice cracking. "You can't do that! This isn't part of the plan!"

Clearing the distance to the crumpled form of Twilight in a single leap, Demon Sunset seized the fallen girl in her telekinesis, ragdolling her up to eye level. Twilight was out cold.

"Mrff... rrgh... guaaah!" Demon Sunset fumed and fumed. "This is stupid! Snips! Snails!"

"Yes, mistress!?" The gremlin brothers came charging over, eagerness written on their faces.

"Shut up, I'm thinking." Demon Sunset turned her back on them, slapping them with her tail. Eyes closed, her brow furrowed in thought. I wonder what she's thinking about, Sunset pondered. Suddenly, Demon Sunset clicked her tongue, turning back toward the eager henchmen.

"Get this creature out of my sight! Lock her up, tie her down, put her somewhere where she can't get away! And notify me when she wakes up. She and I have unfinished business..." She rubbed her talons.

"Yes, ma'am!" The underlings hoisted Twilight by her feet and began floating away towards the school. Immediately, Demon Sunset snapped her fingers and grounded them with a burst of telekinesis. "Buh?"

"Don't carry her like that," she reprimanded, waggling a claw. "You have an entire school to be horny with, but she's off limits."

Crestfallen, Snips and Snails righted Twilight and continued their flight.

I lost? Where were Rainbow Dash and Rarity and the rest of my friends? Why did Twilight use my hammer? And did demon me just try to protect Twilight from those goons?

While Sunset puzzled over the reason behind the unusual turn of events, her disfigured body returned to examine the portal once again. It was gone, or at the very least badly damaged. "Well, this does seem to be a turn of events. Won't be fixing this old thing any time soon. No Equestria! No conquest! Alas for me." Her face drooped. "Oh well. At least I've got this cool castle. Might as well make the best of it!"

"Minions," she cried, addressing the shambling crowd, "go repair the entrance to the school! And make a statue of me in the foyer!"

Her zombie slaves began slowly, slowly shuffling off, in seemingly random directions. And just like that, Demon Sunset was out of distractions once again. She turned back to the broken portal.

"Work? Pretty please? Last chance before I forget about you and go do something else!"

As if on invitation, a siren blared in the distance. Swiftly, a fire truck wheeled onto the street in front of Canterlot High, lights discoing. Several suited figures tumbled out, furiously rolling across the lawn with hoses and buckets, striking poses upon standing up. Demon Sunset raised a fiery eyebrow, crouching behind the portal and mostly out of their sight.

The firefighters blinked, looking around at the destruction. From her position, Demon Sunset observed the school herself; the hole in the wall and crater nearby. "Impressive. From here, it looks a little like the school's been bombed! Perhaps I should do something about that..." On foot, she emerged from behind the statue, pacing toward the firefighters, arms spread wide with an inviting grin.

They stopped in their tracks, staring up at her. "What are y-you supposed to be?" one managed.

"I am Sunset Shimmer, and this is now my domain," she proclaimed, hand across her chest. "Formerly, these were my fellow students. Now, they kneel to me as their supreme overlord. Have you, perchance, come to pledge undying allegiance and admiration to me?"

She leaned down to meet their faces. To emphasize her point, Twilight's crown flashed atop her head. Mana pooled in her hands, before blasting upwards in a teal beam, mushrooming out high in the sky. It fluctuated and morphed into a solid bowl, which was smoothly lowered around the school as a shield.

The firefirghters skittered backwards, clinging and grabbing onto their truck, which swiftly raced to the edge of the shield. Smirking, Demon Sunset snapped her fingers, raising it a bit to let them out.

"Spread the word, little humans!" Demon Sunset gloated at their retreating vehicle. "I'll be here, fulfilling my wildest dreams..."

She looked up at the sky. It was late, perhaps half past eleven. The portal would close soon, even if it was operational.

Marching back over to the cracked pedestal, she dug her talons into a wider gap and pried until a chunk of stone the size of a fist popped loose. "Oh well," she muttered, tucking it away. "If this thing doesn't want to work for me, I might as well ensure it won't work for anyone else!" Apparently satisfied that it would be enough, she marched away to find something to do.

Ahhrgh... Sunset thought to herself. This dream... What is it with this dream? Why is it so different? Will it still end normally? Usually, these end whenever I go to sleep. Probably because I sleep until dawn, which is when I wake up in the real world... and she- I?- seems pretty bored, so hopefully that happens soon... I hate not being able to choose who I talk to, or where I go, or even what I look at. It's so... I'm so helpless here. Give me a friend to help or a monster to fight, world! Not some boring, edgy cinematic that stopped being anything but monotonous after the first two times...

Demon Sunset was presently busying herself with finding Snips and Snails. The rest of her former colleagues were tearing up the track out back, likely digging a hole to quarry for materials to rebuild the front wall. She had to hand it to them, they definitely weren't going to let a little thing like infeasibility prevent them from fulfilling her demands. It might even keep them busy until she figured out what to do with them next.

Eventually, she located the buffoons in the girls' locker room, which they had chosen as the school's new dungeon. Twilight was tied to a bench, battered and still unconscious, while Snips and Snails used their new powers to break open lockers, giggling over the clothing and cosmetics found inside.

"What do you think you're doing?" Demon Sunset poked them, and they yelped, dropping their loot and fumbling for excuses.

"Sorry, mistress! We didn't mean to, we was just lookin' for..."

"Yeah! Stuff for Twilight! Err, and for you."

"Yes yes, how quaint. Why don't you two go oversee the construction outside? Come back and let me know if anyone new shows up, and not for any other reason. Savvy?"

"Yes, mistress!"

"Yeah! We won't fail you, lady Sunset!"

Demon Sunset smirked at them, and they took off.

"Easy-peasy. If anyone comes a-knocking, I'll know long before they get back. Now, what were you two playing with..." Already stooping to fit beneath the locker room's low ceiling, she bent even more, kneeling to examine the items Snips and Snails had stolen. Hygiene products... deoderant... her own gym clothes?

Seriously? Mine? Why mine? I kind of hope I get them back, now... Sunset wanted to growl, but had to settle for merely imagining it.

"Simply disgusting," Demon Sunset echoed her thoughts. "I'll have to get those two for this. Oh well! Won't be needing these, anyway!" She snapped her fingers, vaporizing her entire locker in a cloud of teal smoke. "I'll have to add myself to the do-not-touch list."

Internally, Sunset cringed. That was close. She probably doesn't remember about the book I use to contact Princess Twilight... I know I didn't, back then... err, now. It's a good thing that's in another locker. Is it? What would it even do in a dream? Either way, I guess I'd rather she didn't find it...

"Speaking of which..." Demon Sunset turned to Twilight. The lavender girl was still unconscious (though to her credit, it really hadn't been that long). Ropes bound her to the bench at the wrists, ankles, and shoulders. Her blouse and skirt were slightly scorched from the blast and scuffed from landing, her skin smudged with dirt.

"Oh, pretty pony princess, how you've ruined my plans tonight," she crooned, hovering over Twilight's face. "You know, I really didn't think I was asking that much! Taking over a school? Pillaging Equestria? What's wrong with that?"

Her brow furrowed, and after some thought, she admitted, "Actually, yes, I suppose that would offend you, even if I promised not to hurt anyone. Funny how you're so powerful and respected, yet sweet and naive enough to worry about silly little ideals instead of the actual consequences of actions!"

Suddenly, her eyes crossed. "Wait, ew. I just sounded like one of those 'greater good' folks, didn't I? How could I possibly have been so humble? Sunset makes the world go 'round! Seriously though, Twily, powerful yet sweet and innocent is apparently my thing, so since you've cost me an opportunity in Equestria, I'm fully expecting you to pay me back."

You better do nothing of the sort, demon me, Sunset snarled internally. Messing with Twilight isn't funny. If you want to drag around the students outside and use them for sport, fine, but I don't want to watch my friends be demeaned as your toys!

Demon Sunset twirled a lock of Twilight's hair around a talon, and added, "Once you're awake, of course. It wouldn't be much use otherwise, I'm afraid."

Suddenly, a magical buzz went off in her head. Someone had touched her wall. "Guests!" she grinned. "Bye bye, Twily. I've got some fun to have, but don't you worry, I'll be back!" Straightening up, she whacked her hair on the too-low ceiling. Grin morphing to a sour pout, she stalked off toward the source of the disturbance, rubbing her new bruise as she went.

Demon Sunset reached the wall. She was back in front of the school, and a sleek, long red car with golden imagery had pulled up. Several young men in identical suits were standing in front of it. "Aww. Not the police?" she harrumphed under her breath, puffing her cheeks.

One of the men reached down, and smoothly opened the frontmost passenger door of the vehicle. Feminine legs swung out, and he held out a hand to assist their owner.

A young woman, perhaps around Sunset's age, or a bit older- younger? The portal had aged Sunset down, throwing off her idea of human ages- straightened up. She had pale pink skin and a large fluff of deep violet hair with cyan streaks, a neatly parted bang in front. Her head was topped by a low, cream-colored hat with a red ribbon, and her clothing was somewhere between business casual and a school uniform. Inwardly, Sunset groaned.

Gahhh. Did she really have to show up? Demon me, if you get yourself magic-drained and mind-controlled, I think the irony would kill me...

"Hello, Sunset Shimmer." Her voice was curt, authoritative and clearly used to being in charge. "I've been looking forward to this for quite some time. My name is Starlight Glimmer, president and founder of the local chapter of the Young Equalists League."

Okay. It's not her. I really didn't want to deal with that, not without control of my body...

Starlight continued: "I understand your school has recently-" she checked her watch, "-experienced a revolution. Not even an hour ago, in fact."

Demon Sunset narrowed her eyes at the commanding girl. Starlight wasn't fazed in the slightest.

"Perhaps we have, and perhaps we haven't!" Demon Sunset leaned in, eyes large and hands clasped. "What's it to you?"

Starlight's eyes burned into Sunset's skull as the demon did her best to project far too much interest. Starlight spoke, "We here at the Young Equalists League are constant and vocal advocates for societal upheaval and change, in the name of forging a perfect world order where all people are truly equal and can cooperate in toil without fear or pressure of being outshown. On my way here, I observed your followers constructing a mine in a field. They worked together without complaint or the inefficiency brought about by competition."

Starlight's eyes narrowed victoriously as she continued. "This success, combined with your radical means of achieving it, has put you firmly in line with our values as an organization. In short, I propose a mutually beneficial partnership for the benefit of the world."

Demon Sunset gave a wide, toothy grin, holding out her hands. "Aww, do you want to work for me?"

Starlight's eyes sparked. "That is a slightly less equal way of putting it."

Demon Sunset put her hands on her hips and stepped closer, getting in Starlight's personal space. "And what stops me from just putting you all under my spell just like the others, hmm?"

Starlight still didn't flinch, remaining steadfast in the face of Demon Sunset's menacing aura and clear presence of otherworldly magic. She must be made of iron, Sunset thought.

"You could," Starlight said. "Or, at least, you could try. I don't know the extent of your powers. In fact, I'd doubt them altogether if it weren't for your unusual appearance. But, clearly," she sniffed, "you believe they are enough to force me and my men to cooperate with you? Then you have nothing to fear from me. Leaving me be poses no threat to you... if you are confident in your abilities, and believe I would be a threat otherwise. If the former is false, you are clearly not someone worth working with. If the latter is false, you do not deserve the help I can and will provide with my mind intact."

"So," she continued, still maintaining perfect posture, "what will it be? Equals? Or do you not consider yourself up to the challenge?"

Starlight smirked. She's playing me, Sunset realized. There's no way she believes she's everyone else's equal. She just wants to be in charge. I wonder if I'll notice.

Demon Sunset, who was laying on her side midair, merely smiled back. "You're interesting. I think I'll keep you around."

Aaand I'm trying to play her too. Great. Out of the corner of Demon Sunset's eye, Sunset saw the moon, and it was still high in the sky. Go to bed... I want to wake up... Please?

Demon Sunset and Starlight Glimmer exited a doorway at the back of the school, leading to the track where the students were excavating. Several rough-cut blocks of stone had been hauled out by various means, and each had a teenager or two working with chisels to smooth them more. While Sunset was wondering where they found the chisels, Starlight spoke up.

"So... what's the nature of this magic you're using to equalize these students?"

Demon Sunset smirked. "An answer for an answer! First, I'd like to know why you're taking magic, any kind of magic, so in stride!"

Starlight frowned. "I asked first."

Stretching out a talon, Demon Sunset caressed Starlight's chin, at which the pink girl recoiled violently. "Oh, but I want to know much more!"

Starlight scowled, her perfect composure broken. Swiftly, she gathered it again in a single breath. "Magic is merely a concept. Once I heard what had happened here, I came to terms with it. I may not understand or like it, but I believe it. Nothing more is needed. Your turn."

Demon Sunset cackled, then spoke. "Oh... fine. It's a simple form of not-quite-mind-control. All I did was make them want very badly to please me."

Huh, Sunset thought. When I did it, I sort of just wanted everyone to be under my control, and it happened.

Starlight raised an eyebrow. "Badly enough to give them all hangovers and glowing eyes?"

Demon Sunset smirked. "Just playing around with my new, new powers and seeing what they can do. I'm sure it can be toned back, if needed."

"You should do that," Starlight said. "If you're not doing anything to enhance their physical abilities, they'll need to sleep; it's the middle of the night. Have you thought about how you're going to feed them?"

Demon Sunset brought a talon to her chin in thought. Starlight frowned.

She snapped her claws. "Ah, there's a large food stockpile in the cafeteria, I'm sure. We'll just need someone who can cook!"

Starlight frowned again. "No standing out from the crowd. Everyone eats the same thing, and any of us have to be able to make it."

Demon Sunset stuck her lip out. "Good luck with that. You're in charge of food, then. I'll get my own meals."

Starlight would have pouted, but didn't want to break posture. Instead: "Sleep, then."

Demon Sunset pondered. "The cafeteria can hold some, maybe the gym... No, wait! Let's just put everyone in classrooms! They sleep so well there during school, after all!"

"Fine." Starlight glared. "Now change your magic so they can sleep."

Shrugging, Demon Sunset snapped her fingers with a burst of cyan. The lights in the students' eyes went out, and the staggering and slouching stopped. Voices began.

"Dude, where are we?"

"Getting stone to fix the front of the school, doofus!"

"I'm tired, yo."

"You think Sunset's gonna be mad if we take a break?"

"I ain't gonna risk it, man. Back to work for me."

A voice blared to life that projected out across the ruined field, powered by large speakers used for announcing events. "Attention, equals! Curfew starts now, and anyone caught disturbing the rest of others or attempting to get more or less sleep than anyone else will answer to me, Starlight Glimmer! Please proceed to me for your sleeping assignment for tonight..."

Starlight was standing on a crate, holding a red megaphone and posturing, free arm in the air. Demon Sunset watched, and eventually, confident that Starlight wouldn't ruin anything, flew off for herself.

She alighted in front of the hole in the wall of Canterlot High. Nobody had given it any attention yet, the pile of rubble was still sitting off to the side. The portal was still cracked, and the time for its closure had passed long ago. Scowling at it once more, Demon Sunset strode inside.

She made her way to the gym, which was empty. Apparently, Starlight had taken to heart her suggestion to use the classrooms. Demon Sunset was glad, because this would probably be her room tonight, and she didn't want to bother with clearing anyone out first. Twilight should still be here, and she wanted to keep watch herself, especially if Snips and Snails came poking around. She was actually quite pleased that the two had stayed busy and out of her way the entire time; they were now Starlight's problem for the time being. Probably.

As if to spite her, two blurs of blue and orange sped into the gym, babbling.

"Mistress!"

"Lady Sunset!"

With a snap of her fingers, Demon Sunset pinned the gremlin brothers' right wings to their sides with telekinesis, causing them to spiral out of control and crash to the floor. "Hah! That's for raiding my things. Now, what can you do for me?"

"Well, you told us to tell you if anything strange happened!"

"Yeah! And something strange just happened!"

"Hey, that's what I said!"

"Did not!"

Demon Sunset telekinetically summoned a nearby tennis ball, forced Snips' mouth wide open, and stuffed it in, silencing him. She turned to Snails. "Report."

"You see, mistress, we was overseeing the mining peoples like you told us, and-"

"Quarriers!" Snips spat out the ball and blurted. It was promptly replaced.

Snails continued, "Well, there was this girl, and she called herself Sunlight something, and she made everyone stop working!"

Demon Sunset put a hand to her forehead, then smirked a second later. "Oh, didn't I tell you? Starlight Glimmer is my newest second-in-command! That means she outranks you. Badly. And what she's doing is putting everyone to bed, because it's late and they need their sleep! As. Do. You."

She dragged the pair to the gym exit, and placed them on their feet. "In fact, you two get to be her guards tonight! Off you go!"

And with that, she shoved them through the doors and slammed them behind them, folding her arms. "Hahaaa! That's three birds down with one stone. They'll harass Starlight, they won't harass me, and no dirt on my slate!" Demon Sunset chortled, flapping back into the body of the gym.

Ducking down, she entered into the girls' locker room. Nobody had cleaned since earlier. Twilight was still. "Meh. Be you unconscious or asleep, let's... let's save this for next time... Oh yes, I'm liking this more already..." With a flutter of her lids, she was rapidly becoming aware that possessing a magical crown and mighty, demonic body did not make one immune to the need to sleep.

Chuckling lightly, Demon Sunset opened several lockers, dumping their contents until she had a pile of soft items large enough to comfortably lay on. This was a tall order, as she was rather tall, but there was enough. Curling up, she stared at Twilight's battered form, and closed her eyes.

Ludicrous Lights

FLAAAAASH!

Sunset didn't open her eyes. She didn't need to. She couldn't feel any wings, couldn't feel her claws, couldn't feel any increase in her height. It was morning, and she was free.

Not wanting to relinquish sleep so soon after such a restless night, she tried to roll over and re-adjust her covers- only for her bed to slide apart from under her. With a stifled shriek, Sunset sat up, eyes flying open. She was laying in the girls' locker room at CHS, on a pile of sports clothing and undergarments, and Twilight Sparkle was tied up nearby.

Shuddering, she made it to the floor, and stood up. Looking back at the pile, her demonic body was still slumbering there, glowing softly. The clothing where she had lay was fuzzed and distorted, and didn't look like it could properly support her weight.

Hand to her chest, Sunset hyperventilated, looking down to examine herself. She was wearing her old clothes, the clothes she had worn before the Battle of the Bands, with a black studded jacket and orange short skirt. She also had the same glow about her that the demon on the pile did.

Turning to Twilight, she saw that the captive girl lacked the glow. Twilight's chest rose and fell gently with her breath, the only source of movement in the room aside from Sunset herself.

It was then that Sunset realized that she could see, despite there being no obvious source of light in the room. Everything around her had a purple-blue tint, as if lit by the night sky, though the roof over her head remained as solid and light-proof as ever. At least, it looked that way.

Sunset reached out for something to touch, and picked up a bottle of cologne. It moved when she moved it, but left a hazy afterimage where it had been originally, as if it wanted to go back.

"Where... where is this place? What's going on?"

Her voice echoed, as if she were deep underground in a long cave, rather than an enclosed locker room.

Did you enjoy the show, my little pony?

"Wh-who said that!?" Sunset spun around, seeing nothing. Though it was distinctly Demon Sunset's voice, the demon continued its slumber, and Twilight continued hers. Sunset was alone.

The show! Tonight's performance! I put so much effort into these, you know. But you've never stuck around afterward before, not even once!

An orange glow flickered in Sunset's peripheral vision. She turned again, and a small flame was hovering in the air. She found it difficult to look directly at it; even when she was sure she was facing the right direction, it seemed to move with her eyes, always staying just to the side of her field of focus.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about. If this is a dream, I want to wake up now. Wake me up. Please."

How very authoritative of you. Why, I'm very nearly inclined to fulfill your request!

Sunset narrowed her eyes and tapped her foot, still shaking. "Well?"

However, I'm doing nothing to keep you here! You're perfectly free to go about your own merry way!

Sunset turned, and wordlessly marched for the exit to the locker room.

I guess I'll just stay here, all alone and forever trying to re-capture your attention. You used to love me so very much, you know.

Sunset stopped in the entrance to the gym. Moonlight streamed in through high-up windows, bathing the entire room in stark rectangular shadows of black and pearl.

Couldn't you at least tell me whether or not you've missed me, and set my lonely, pondering mind at ease? We haven't gotten to truly talk for so long...

Sunset turned, standing in a square of moonlight. The flame probably danced back in the entrance to the locker room. "Maybe. How do I get out of here?"

Is that not a door right over there?

"Not the school, this dream!" Sunset growled.

You mean you don't know? Like I said, I'm not the reason you're still here. You are. You're always the one to wake up from my lovingly crafted dreamscapes, not me. If I had my way, we'd be together forever again, and have everything we ever wanted.

"I don't want to be here," Sunset stated, gritting her teeth. "I'd wake up if I could, but I can't! And so far, you're the only sentient thing that even knows I'm here, and you're... a floating flame-thing. Why should I believe you don't know how to get me out of here?"

When have I ever lied to you?

"I've never met you before. I don't even know who or what you are!"

Seriously? Denying you even know me! How rude! Sunset, I know you've been ignoring me as of late, but this is just too much!

"If you're so interested in doing things for me, then why did you put me through this nightmare? Why do you keep making me see these? You are making my dreams, right?"

Nightmare? You didn't like it? I don't understand! What did I do wrong? All I did was took every desire you've ever shared with me and put them together! Was it Twilight? Are you upset because we didn't get around to her yet? Was that it? Perhaps you're angry that your regularly scheduled programming has been disrupted? I swear, that wasn't my fault!

"What!? I... I would never want something like this to happen to Twilight, dream or otherwise! How could you possibly think that?"

Oh, is she perhaps not your type? I was so sure I nailed it...

Sunset stomped her foot. "Okay, you want to know what kind of dream would make me happy? All of my friends, along with myself, together. Hanging out. Having fun, being happy, nothing bad happening. No monsters taking over the school. No explosions. No... Nothing violent or inappropriate. Got it?"

What's this? Have I just been ordered to "get" something that isn't even the truth? Oh, I fear I shall perish from confusion! Seriously, Sunset, you don't "hang out." Having fun and being happy I understand, but you have no friends! You don't need friends, only me!

"I hate to break it to you, but I've got friends." Sunset smirked, leaning on one leg. "Six very, very good ones, and I just made a new one last week. They're the best thing that's ever happened to me, so yeah, I hang out."

Sunset, please! the flame pleaded. Why must you be this way? Tell me you at least have them all under your heel, begging to perform your every command?

"Uhh..." Sunset narrowed her eyes. "Why would I make them do a thing like that?"

Why would you- pfah! The flame snorted. Let me get this straight. You don't like my dreams of conquest and control, you do like being around people who are free to do to you as they please, and somehow, you don't even remember who I am?

"Pretty much." Sunset folded her arms. "Now, I really do want to get out of here, and I don't believe you for a second when you say you can't make that happen. What will it take from me for you to do that? And no, I still don't know what you are."

Well, I don't believe you when you say you don't like controlling things! I can't get you out of this, Sunset Shimmer, but what I want is very simple: for you to take me back. It's very simple, so simple I said that twice. All you have to do is say the words, and I am yours.

"You know what? No." Sunset glared at the flame. "Right now, I'm stuck in this weird dream that may or may not be magically induced, and from my perspective, you're nothing but a creepy monster that's obsessed with control and domination, and you want to follow me around or something without even offering me what I want. Sorry, but that's how people get possessed."

So? What's the problem? the flame replied. You like controlling stuff too, don't you?

"Nope. Not anymore." Sunset shrugged. "I mean, I guess I did, back before the Fall Formal, but I've changed. I found a better way and took it, and I've never looked back."

Mmm, the Fall Formal, you say? the flame growled. Incidentally, that happens to be when you kicked me out. Ever wonder why I keep showing you how it should have gone?

"Yes. The Fall Formal." Sunset's gaze hardened. "It's a period of my life I have no interest in going back to, so if that's your goal, you're out of luck. Let me out of here, and I'll be willing to talk about it, but you're going to have a lot of convincing to do."

So I see, the flame grumbled. Sunset, it's plainly obvious to me that you have, truly, changed. Knowing the real you, I can only imagine it was against your will. Fortunately for both of us, being locked in here together means I'll have all the time in the world to remind you who you truly are using any means possible. Do as you think you please for now, Sunset Shimmer. And tomorrow night... I'll be back, and we can pick this up where we left off.

The flame flitted away.

Sunset blinked. Pouting, she stamped her way toward the exit to the gym. Apparently, I'm haunted by something that very much preferred it when I was evil. And I still can't wake up!

She kicked the door open, and strode out onto the school grounds. Like with the bottle of cologne, an afterimage remained in the door's place, appearing to still be closed.

Overhead, the sky was impossibly bright, with massive nebula and bands of stars and gas strewn every which way. The moon appeared at least thrice its normal size, and a misty purple aurora hung over everything. It was breathtaking... and absolutely reeked of magic.

"Not like this whole thing doesn't already," Sunset muttered. I'm obviously under some kind of curse. Ugh, I wish I could have found out what that flame spirit was...

Sunset stared up at the moon, and sat down in thought, continuing to watch it. Eventually, she realized that the moon had moved.

Time is passing... I probably should be investigating. Who knows? There might be something I can find that will at least give me a better idea of what's going on...

After a brief walk, she found herself at Demon Sunset's dome shield. It was securely sealed to the ground, there would be no going under it here. She tapped it. It fuzzed a bit, just like everything else she touched, but had absolutely no give.

Sighing, she began to pace along the perimeter. The dome was see-through, but there was nothing of interest on the other side. No pedestrians, no news crews, a smattering of lights on through windows in houses. Outside of this dome, life appeared to be continuing as normal. But she couldn't get out, so maybe it didn't matter.

Reaching the front of the school, Sunset's eyes fell on the ruins of the portal, and she jogged over to examine it, noting that the running didn't tire her out any. "Makes sense," she said under her breath. I'm probably more of a ghost right now than anything else here. I bet everything I move or interact with tonight- today?- is just going to go right back where I left it in the morning. She made a mental note to move some stuff around in a place she'd be sure to see it once she woke up, in order to test that.

The portal was still just an inert statue, with no magical indicators whatsoever. It had a sizable chunk missing, which Demon Sunset had pried off earlier. Still, it seemed like her best bet at escaping, as it was the only magical object around...

No. No, it wasn't. There was also Twilight's crown- the Element of Magic- and her book, used to communicate with Princess Celestia and later Princess Twilight. With a new target in mind, Sunset broke into a run.

Arriving at an entrance to the school, Sunset stepped inside, senses alert. The entire hall was jammed with desks, including some that overflowed outside. Peeking into open doorways, she saw large crowds of students slumbering in classrooms. Apparently, Starlight hadn't thought to sort them by gender. Sunset grimaced. That's one kind of equality we could do without enforcing...

Pressing onward, Sunset passed by the Principal's office. The door was closed, and Snips and Snails were snoring next to it. I bet that's where Starlight is...

Though it wasn't her present goal, Sunset crept to the door, and tried opening it. It was locked tightly, and she couldn't get through.

Sighing, she continued, and arrived at her locker. A desk cleared from a classroom had been smashed up against it, creating a dent in the cover. With some strain and a bit of leverage, Sunset pried the desk away, sending it crashing to the side. The crash was hollow, and echoed just as her voice had.

Standing in the desk's afterimage, Sunset opened her locker. It looked a bit out-of-date, containing items she hadn't owned for a long time. Logical, seeing as this was the Canterlot High of several months ago.

Reaching in and rummaging around, not caring for the intactness of things she tossed out, she came up with a box, the bottom of which she knew to hold the book. She reached in, pulled it out, and... it was vibrating and glowing.

With a gasp, Sunset opened the book to the most recent entry. In it was a simple message, written in Twilight's horn:

______Sunset, is everything all right?

Sunset stared at the book. Twilight's message shone back up at her.

Is... is this a product of this dream world? The book is magical, and supposed to be tied to me... What if it is real? What if it still works here? What happened in Equestria to make Twilight be worried about me?

Am I in an unwakeable sleep there? Did my friends from Canterlot High go through the portal to ask Twi for help? Why would she try a message through the book? Wouldn't this book still be there in the real world?

Sunset reached back into the box, and picked up her pen. Shaking, she wrote back a message, waiting to see what would happen.

No, I'm not all right. What happened?

Sunset sat down on the desk she had removed, holding the book, waiting. Eventually, it buzzed to life.

______Sunset, listen. I told you about this map that my castle has, right? A map of Equestria? It can detect friendship problems, and summons me and my friends sometimes to fix them. We're not really sure how it works, but it does. Anyway, I was sitting here reading a book when I just got summoned- only me, nopony else- and it's summoning me to my own castle.

Spike's with me, but he's doing just fine. My new student hasn't moved in yet- she's still in Canterlot- so we're the only ones here. But the mirror is here, and Canterlot High isn't on the map, so we thought something must be happening there.

And I guess we were right! So don't worry, Sunset. I'm coming, and I'll be there as quick as I can.

-Twilight

Quickly, Sunset grabbed her pen and wrote back: Twilight, wait! I want to talk with you first!

No response came. Sunset sighed and buried her face in her arm on the desk. "Twilight... I don't know if your map summoned you for me, or something else, but what I need to know is what to do! Unless you find me in a coma, or something, and can magically awaken me..."

Awaken. Sunset walked to a window to check the time. The moon was already nearing the horizon. Have I really spent that much time...?

Then she remembered how late Demon Sunset had been up. The night had been cut short, and it was a reasonable assumption that she'd enter right back into the dream once her demon self woke up. Anything else she needed to do before then needed to be done now.

First things first: where to put the book? It would probably just go back where she left it, but if it was magical, there was a chance it wouldn't. She needed to put it somewhere where Demon Sunset would never look. Where was a place that had no meaning to Sunset before she was reformed? A place Starlight would have no interest in?

The library. Of course! No place to hide a book like among books, she thought as she took off.

Swiftly, she found herself at the entrance to the library balcony and its view of the nebulous heavens. After some quick thought, she picked an obscure archive section deep in a crevice on the second floor, finding a few volumes pushed far enough forward that she could slide her book behind them without leaving them displaced from their afterimages. Satisfied with herself, she turned to go back to the gym.

Walking into the girls' locker room, happily not needing to duck, her eyes fell upon Twilight and Demon Sunset. Now that she was used to the bright, bright sky, it was actually very dark in the room, though still well-lit. She looked down at her lavender friend.

Twilight definitely wasn't looking her best. Her once-silky hair was frayed and tattered, looking more like Sci-Twi's uncombed pile after a lab accident than anything. She was covered in scuffs and minor aesthetic damage, with stains and a few tears on her clothing. But her breathing looked normal and none of her limbs were held awkwardly, and as Sunset held a hand to her forehead, she determined Twilight wasn't fevered either. She'd probably be okay.

Sunset wasn't entirely sure what good that would do, though. There was the possibility that Twilight could help turn her back to normal, which might end the dream- she felt like the flame spirit that owned her waking movements had mentioned not having complete control over it. Either way, dream or otherwise, seeing her friend hurt caused her chest to tighten, bringing back uncomfortable memories of times when... Sighing, Sunset curled up by the bench, resting a hand on Twilight's bound, clenched fist.

With a blink, she remembered her plan to misplace something obvious so she'd know in the morning if she could interact with the world. Twilight herself would do. In the off-chance that it worked, maybe she could get away.

Sunset rummaged around in the clothing pile until she found a nail file. Rubbing it furiously on the cords that held Twilight, she snapped them one by one until the princess was free. Sunset gently shook her.

Twilight remained perfectly asleep, not even groaning, clearly not going to wake up. As respectfully as she could, Sunset picked her up, holding her over her shoulder, one arm around Twilight's back.

Slowly and carefully, she made her way to the gym exit. The night outside remained empty as she walked across the field. No wind whipped around Sunset's hair, probably a result of the dome shield blocking all weather.

Eventually, she made it to the shield, and could go no further. With a sigh, she set Twilight down, then sat down herself, back to the magical wall. Leaning her head back, taking in the swirling heavens above, Sunset gazed at the moon, which was touching the horizon. An idea came to her.

"Princess Luna?" she called, cupping her hands to her mouth. "Luna, can you hear me?"

The night shimmered in response, no alicorns emerging to comfort her. To her side, Twilight continued her slumber.

Sunset sighed. "You probably can't, but just in case... I really need help. This dream isn't normal, and there's nothing I can do to wake up... Luna, someone, please wake me up..."

Still no response, no any indicator that she had been heard by anyone. After all, Luna never visited her other dreams. Perhaps she couldn't, being in a different world. Sunset sighed again, and gazed back down at her friend.

"Twilight..." she said, reaching a hand over the princess, "I know you can't hear me, and I know you're not even real..."

Sunset glanced down, and continued, "This night isn't right. There's something bad going on, and it's... it's not what I want. Demon Sunset isn't me, but I'll be back, Twilight. The me you know, the me that's your friend. Somehow, I'll get out of this, and I won't have changed from who I am... I won't go back to who I was. I'll stay someone you can be proud of..."

Suddenly, Sunset was battered by a wave of exhaustion. She crumpled to the ground, vision fading to black. Her ears rang, and...

FLAAAAASH!

Sunset yawned, and opened her eyes. She was laying on a bed of sportswear, and was once again a demon.

She tried to raise a limb, but nothing happened. Great. Just great. Time for a whooole day of this, she thought.

Acting with a mind of her own, Demon Sunset got to her feet, blearily glancing around. Princess Twilight was tied to a bench nearby. So much for that.

Suddenly, orange flickered in her peripheral vision. In her head, an all-too-familiar voice rang out: Gooood morning, Sunset! Ready to face the day? I know I sure am! A day full of conquest and obedience, dedicated to you! Now, sit back and relax, and I'll do all the work. And remember: if there's anything I can do, any desire you can prove you legitimately have, just say the word, and I'll fulfill it in a snap!

Sunset scowled inwardly. I don't suppose letting me go is on that list?

Demon Sunset walked over to a mirror, and smiled into it. "But I already told you, Sunset! You're not here because of me, it's merely happy circumstance! Like I said last night, when have I ever lied to you?"

I still don't know who you are, Sunset thought.

"I'm the one who got you everything!" Demon Sunset crowed, arms outstretched. "Up until a few months ago, whenever you wanted something, you asked me! And now, you've been silent. Is it because you've gotten everything you ever wanted? Doubtful, highly doubtful. You see, if you had, you'd still keep me around, just to ensure you don't lose it!"

Still drawing a blank. I never asked anyone for help back then. I did everything on my own! And look where it got me.

"No, no, no you didn't. I was there, I did this! I still can't believe you don't remember me!"

Ugh, this is going nowhere. Fine, let's try this a different way: what's your name?

"You never even gave me one."

What? Why would it by my responsibility to give you a name?

"Because I'm so-"

At that moment, Starlight Glimmer strode righteously into the locker room, head held high. "Sunset!"

Let's continue this conversation later, Sunset, the flame went, once again in Sunset's head.

Fine. Not like I get a say in it.

"Dearest Starlight, whatever is it you wanted me for?" Demon Sunset crooned.

"It's day now," Starlight curtly stated, glaring at Demon Sunset's outstretched talon. "We need to ensure the people are properly motivated, cared for, and putting their time to productive use. It would also be beneficial to conduct a threat assessment to search for individuals likely to resist this new utopia. Furthermore, there are several parties beginning to gather outside the shield, whom you should address. And who is this?" she finished, pointing at Twilight Sparkle, who was beginning to come to.

"Oh, her?" Demon Sunset waved a talon over her shoulder. "That's Twilight Sparkle. She used to think she was quite a hotshot. She's mine now, though, and I'm not sharing."

"She sounds like a threat," Starlight said, folding her arms. "We'll keep her here for now, under guard. Nobody is to meet with her unsupervised. A skilled speaker can compromise even the most driven of ideals with the right words. This includes you."

That's a relief, Sunset thought.

Demon Sunset's jaw drooped in a mighty, comical frown. How unfortunate. I'm deeply sorry about this, Sunset. I'll find a way to get her alone later, don't you worry. And I'll get Starlight back, too. She didn't seem to like it last night when I was flirting with her... Yes, yes, I'll have to do more of that! It'll be hilarious! To Starlight, she looked up and said, "What part of 'not sharing' don't you understand?"

Starlight, seeing Demon Sunset's reaction, continued, ignoring her question. "In fact, I take it you spent the night here? With her? Alone? In that case, I'm sorry, but for the good of the people I'm going to have to accompany you everywhere, just in case you've already been morally compromised."

Oh, I'll get you, Starlight Glimmer. "What's that you say? You'd like to be my escort for the day?"

"Yes, that is..." Starlight's eyes crossed. Demon Sunset gave a huge smirk, and Starlight scowled.

"Sunset Shimmer, I am beginning to understand that you are motivated by a desire to bring ruination and suffering to others in order to build yourself up." Her eyes burned into Sunset's, and she thought she saw a flash.

"Thus far, you have been able to do some good with it. By tearing down and destroying everything that makes other people unique, different, and unable to conform, you have made this present utopia possible. However, you must abandon all thought of doing this for your own benefit. Destruction of that which people hold for themselves is at the very core of your nature. It is the way. If you deny exposing your own self to the key tenet of your nature, you risk everything you have accomplished here. And you'd never let such a thing happen to such a paradise, would you?

"Should that come to pass, and this utopia fall to ashes, it will be on your head, Sunset Shimmer. Destruction... all for nothing. And anything and everything you hope to gain from this will taste of ruin. Your own ruin. It's your choice. Accept your nature, and leave this world a paradise. Or, try to deny it, and it will overcome you and any hope I had of doing something for the greater good. In simple terms: leave Twilight alone."

Starlight Glimmer finished with a slow, mighty huff. Wordlessly, she turned about and began marching out of the locker room. "Come! We have work to do!" she called, not bothering to turn around.

Ohhh ho ho ha haaa! Oh, my sides, Demon Sunset chortled inwardly, pacing after Starlight. She sure is full of it. I've never heard a more ridiculous speech in my life! Recently, that is. Want to 'ruin' her, Sunset? I'd be happy to oblige...

No, Sunset thought. I'm not a monster. Her opinion of me is only based on what she's seen in the last few hours, and I'm not going to live up to it. And you'd better not either. For that matter, she's right: leave Twilight alone.

Oh, pfft, fine. But I know you didn't like what she had to say. You can't have changed that much. Maybe I won't go all out, but wouldn't it please you if I could just tease her a little? She's strung higher than a clothesline in a metropolis!

I... I guess that wouldn't be so bad, Sunset admitted, wary.

Splendid! Oh, it's been so long since I've actually gotten to fulfill a personal request from you, rather than extrapolating what you want! I'll make you so proud, Sunset Shimmer!

I still don't trust you, Sunset reminded the voice.

Then this can be the start of my glorious comeback! Say, do you still play the guitar? Maybe you can compose a song about this moment once we're besties again...

Irreverent Imposters

Starlight led Sunset out to the front of the school, where a gaggle of people with some vans and cameras were pressed against the wall. Demon Sunset chortled. "Well, well. What have we here?"

"I didn't investigate," Starlight responded. "That is your job."

Demon Sunset looked out at the gaggle of onlookers, prompting them with a raised eyebrow. "Well? What do you want?" Shock rippled through the crowd.

"Did you hear that!?"

"It can talk, man!"

"How long do you think it was observing us to learn to do that?"

"They could be everywhere!"

Weirdos, Demon Sunset thought. "I said, what do you want?" she boomed.

The crowd stilled, and began to pull back nervously. A mildly uncomfortable middle-aged man was pushed forward, his peers silently electing him to speak. Gathering his courage: "We're the Committee for Launching Unofficial Examinations into Landings of Extraterrestrial Sentient Species! Due to recent events that have transpired here, we have arrived to study everything! Fear not, for you will be understood, alien!"

Starlight looked up at Demon Sunset, nonplussed. "They're UFO chasers. They think this is an alien invasion," the demon whispered.

Aliens! Oh, that's priceless! Especially when it's technically true. Should I pull their legs a bit, lead them on about pastel ponies?

Knock yourself out, Sunset grumbled.

Demon Sunset's eyes lit up, and she hopped into a theatrical pose. "That's right!" she crowed. "Aliens! Where I come from, we have an advanced civilization, with magic that lets us animate stained-glass windows, and write by holding pens in our mouths! It's spoooooooky!"

"Knock that off!" Starlight ineffectually kicked Demon Sunset, who stuck out her tongue in return.

Starlight turned to the crowd and drew out her red megaphone, blaring. "Formerly, this was Canterlot High School, a place of inequality where students were foolishly instructed to stand out! They competed against each other, attempting to gain social influence to outdo their peers! They separated themselves into cliques, reducing mutual cooperation! They attempted to force others to the bottom of the ladder, in order to gain influence and prestige like the monsters they are! But no more! Thanks to Sunset Shimmer, who stands before you now, all of that senseless posturing has been destroyed!

"Now, we work together in perfect order for the greater good! In time, the greatness of what we can achieve together, as a perfect body devoid of randomness, impurities and outliers, will eclipse all else, and the entire world will bow to this glorious, cooperative way of life made possible by Sunset Shimmer! Now, I will make my offer: kneel! Sacrifice everything that you hold dear, everything that makes you who you are, the deepest parts of yourselves, and become our equals! Then you may join us in building this glorious utopia! Who among you will be first to submit?"

Demon Sunset yawned. "Boooring. I'm going to get some breakfast. Let me know if you want the shield raised to let anyone in..."

Starlight's eye twitched, but when she turned back to the UFO chasers, they had all fled. Fuming, she stalked after Demon Sunset, legs scurrying to keep up with the demon's massive stride.

Why are you doing this? Sunset asked as her demon strode across the school grounds, en route to the cafeteria.

Doing what? Is something out of line? Demon Sunset silently responded.

You know. Being... weird. Last night, you were cackling and ordering people around and moping about the portal and generally being... evil. Now, you're just... being silly, I guess. You joked at the people outside- people you could have easily enslaved- and have spent the entire day teasing Starlight.

Teasing her? Isn't that what you wanted? She wasn't very nice to you, you know.

Well, yes, but... why?

Simple, Demon Sunset explained. Because I want you to remember me, to welcome me back, to love me and use me again and take pride in doing so, and apparently pretending to be you wasn't working. So, I thought I'd be myself, instead! Am I on the right track now?

Eeurgh... Sunset groaned. If I had a head, you'd be making it hurt. You know what I want, and won't give it to me. I don't know yet if I believe you when you say you can't, but you're still the only one here who can hear me and isn't fully a product of this stupid dreamscape! Tormenting my enemies is... well, fine, since they're not real and can't care. But it's not what I want. What I want is my world. My friends. My life. And, outside of this dumb dream, I already have all that!

Demon Sunset sighed, and continued on her path, bursting into the cafeteria. The student workforce was presently standing around doing nothing. No food was anywhere to be seen.

"What is this!?" Demon Sunset pouted, flinging her arms in the air. "Starlight, did I not put you in charge of the food? Did I not do so because you specifically requested that I not do as I please? Where's the food? Why is the food gone?"

Starlight snapped back, "If you didn't require constant oversight, I could have gotten around to it earlier! Now you're going to have to wait like everyone else." She threw a smirk over her shoulder, and knelt down to withdraw a sheet of brittle gray muffins from a nearby oven.

Her smirk was broken when Demon Sunset patted her on both shoulders, leaning in enough to sustain far more bodily contact that Starlight was clearly comfortable with. "Oh, I'd never," Demon Sunset crooned. "Don't worry, I'll just take care of myself, then."

Starlight punched her in the face.

Snips and Snails gasped, hands to their cheeks. Demon Sunset shrugged it off, took flight, and wordlessly blew a kiss in Starlight's direction before floating backwards toward the supply room, cackling.

You sure don't seem to care what she thinks of us, Sunset thought as Demon Sunset melted open the lock on the supply room.

"Oh, please," Demon Sunset responded, not bothering to avoid speaking out loud. "It's not like there's anything she can really do to hurt me. Trying to beat me up just makes her more adorable!"

You think she's adorable? Sunset thought back.

"Well, nothing suitable for a long-term relationship, but very fun to tease!" Demon Sunset rummaged through shelves, throwing objectionable items over her shoulder.

Well, for your information, she's not my type. So this isn't really helping your case.

"Case? What case?" Demon Sunset pulled up a can of pineapple slices, opened it with a sharp claw, and dumped the contents down her throat. Gulping loudly, she continued: "Last I remember, you ordered me to tease her! Is that not right?"

I grudgingly gave you permission to tease her, not that I can do anything about it.

"Hmm. What a pity," Demon Sunset said, quizzically inspecting a potato.

Also, maybe you can't feel it, but when she attacks us, it hurts. I'd very much appreciate it if you could stop trying to get us mauled.

"Meh," Demon Sunset grunted. "Maybe. Say, she's stopped watching us now."

She, uh... has?

"Oh, yes yes yes. She probably thinks this is just a room with one entrance and exit and she doesn't need to keep an eye on us when we're in here, don't you think?"

Where are you going with this?

"Up!" Demon Sunset stretched upwards and knocked a panel off the air duct running along the ceiling, beginning to haul herself inside.

What? We're sneaking through ventilation ducts? But you can just walk right past Starlight, and... and freeze her in place with telekinesis, or something! I don't... Why?

"As I said before, now that I no longer have to pretend I'm you convincingly enough to convince you, I can be me! And little old me thinks it's more fun this way. Besides, you didn't tell me not to." Demon Sunset stuck out her tongue.

Do you really think you'll fit?

Demon Sunset finished squirming into the duct, and replaced the vent with telekinesis. "Apparently, I do!" She began to slither down the pipe. Had she control over her body, Sunset would have facepalmed.

Down below, in the cafeteria, Starlight Glimmer sought to instill order among a crowd of dazed, hungry students who were being useless and incapable of forming a line for food. Amid the low din, she neither heard nor saw any indicator that someone twice her size was sneaking around through the ducts above.

Several hallways away, an air duct burst open in an empty classroom, a long red leg sticking through the hole. Demon Sunset dropped down, chortling. Glancing around, she walked to the door and opened it.

Hey, Sunset thought, this is the hallway with my locker. I wonder if...

"What's that you say?" Demon Sunset piped up.

Nothing!

"Interesting... There's something in your locker you don't want me seeing? Even though I have all of your memories from this point in time, and you can't do anything right now without me? Oh, this I've simply got to see!" Demon Sunset strode toward her locker.

What!? You... have my memories? How?

"I told you! We used to do everything together! You never went anywhere without me! If you don't believe me, quiz me. Go ahead, I'm listening!"

Seriously? Sunset thought. A quiz?

Demon Sunset clasped her hands, grinning. "Of course it's a quiz, that's what I just said! You game, Sunnybun?"

Sunset shrank. I'd rather not...

"Tut, tut! Can't come up with questions? Is that it? Having writer's block already?" Demon Sunset turned to a nearby mirror to admire herself. "Well, why don't I ask the questions instead, and when you answer, I'll tell you how truthful you're being with yourself? Sound like fun?"

Sunset was silent. Demon Sunset took it as a yes, pumping a fist in the air. "Fantastic! Now, for our first question, let's see... Ah! For five hundred points: what do you think of Twilight Sparkle?"

Really? Sunset groaned. That's dumb. I'm not answering that.

"It's a perfectly valid question!" Demon Sunset's face was a picture of comical mortification. "Unless, of course, this means you believe I already know everything about you, and you don't desire proof?"

It means I'm not interested in finding out whether I'm being possessed by a crazy spirit who simply says they've been stalking me my whole life, or actually has been! Sunset deadpanned.

"Oh, but I am!" Demon Sunset crooned. "Tell you what! You can answer the question, or I'll sit here for the next hour admiring your wonderful complexion and telling dad jokes. Deal?"

Sunset just groaned again.

"Hmmph. Fine! So a guy walks into a bar carrying a dead guy on his back-"

Immediately, Sunset cut her off. Twilight brought me back to reality from a very dark and misguided part of my life. Later, when the whole school was against me and my friends were treating me like wallpaper, she was the one who still believed in me. She has my utmost respect, and as a fellow Equestrian and former student of Celestia, she's the only person in the human world aside from me with any real understanding of where I'm from. Happy?

Demon Sunset gagged. "Sunset, what is wrong with you!? Brought you back to reality? Utmost respect? Bleagh. Sentimentality doesn't suit you, Sunset, not at all."

Sunset flinched. Seriously? Did you ask me that question just so you could make fun of my answer?

"Rubbish," Demon Sunset muttered. "I was searching for your own thoughts on the chemistry you two share!"

Wow, Sunset deadpanned. You think me and Twilight have chemistry. You, a big, ugly monster that thinks a good time consists of enslaving people and crawling around in air ducts. Do you even know what that word means?

"Har har." Demon Sunset flicked a finger. "Someone's snarky today. Obviously, it's a measure of how much someone deserves for you to own them."

I... Own? You're disgusting, Sunset spat. And for your information, this isn't how you endear yourself to someone. Creepy, I can deal with, but now you're being weird, annoying and creepy. It's... just knock it off, okay?

"Oops. Silly me!" Demon Sunset tittered, ignoring Sunset's request. "Of course, you're right. I keep forgetting that you're just not yourself these days! Can't blame you for being out of touch with who you are. Here, I'll give you the true answer, and perhaps it'll jog your memory!"

Uhh...

"Twilight Sparkle: you're scared of her, because she has more power than you've ever been entrusted with. You're jealous of her, because you wanted that power for yourself. Personally, I don't understand why, seeing as you had me, but moving on... She also happens to hold all that power and influence, while still being perfectly sweet and naive, which seems to be your thing. Flash Sentry was the same, after all. See? Perfect chemistry! It's like she was made for you!"

As Demon Sunset raised her arms in emphasis, Sunset sighed. I am not scared of Twilight, nor am I jealous of her. And even if I was, fear and jealousy have nothing to do with how love works. Now, I told you what you asked for, and I said no more and no less than the truth. So would you kindly take a hike and get out of my business?

"Love?" Demon Sunset's brows rose. "Who said anything about love? Too much equality. Pleh, sounds like something Starlight would say. But that's not how things work for you, Sunset. You aren't mutual. There's no give and take when I'm involved, merely you getting what you want! Of course you don't want to be in a relationship, those are far too restricting and too much work. Isn't it smashing that you have me here to set you straight?"

Okay, Sunset said. Your goal is to get me what I want? Fine. I want to wake up from this dream.

"Nope!" Demon Sunset waggled a talon at the mirror. "I've told you already, I can't do that. We're not getting sidetracked on this again, Sunset Shimmer. Instead, I think it's time for question number two!"

Sunset wanted to thump her head against a locker.

"Who..." Demon Sunset paused for emphasis. "Did Starlight remind you of when she got out of that car?"

Aria Blaze, Sunset snarked.

Demon Sunset strummed her talons with a lopsided grin. "Oh, the suspense! I don't even know who that is! What if you're telling the truth? Is this Aria someone you've met since we parted ways? A new heartthrob of yours, perchance? Oh, I can't wait to meet her. I hope she's not too good-looking, though. We don't want to run into any troubles getting Starlight to give us permission to have a harem!"

What is your problem? Sunset snarled. You've got an entire school full of innocents to terrorize, and you spend your time annoying me? I don't know you! I've never met you! Leave me alone!

Demon Sunset folded her arms and stuck out a lip. "Fine, then. If you're going to be that way, I'll stop beating around the bush. It's a shame, really; laughter is a personal favorite of mine. The correct answer to that question was Countess Coloratura, by the way."

Countess who?

Ignoring Sunset's cluelessness, she continued. "Final question! What does your Cutie Mark do?"

I... What kind of question is that? Sunset asked in confusion.

"A simple one, I hope." Demon Sunset examined her nails. "Surely you know?"

It's about magic, obviously. Scholarly unicorn mage, very powerful, vague, flashy mark? What else? Sunset tried to shrug.

"More specific than that, dear Sunset," Demon Sunset pressed. "What kind of magic?"

Well... Sunset thought. I got it while I was making a magic amplification charm, which was just a regular assignment from the princess. So it's probably something to do with powering up, which makes sense because I transform all the time here. Happy?

Demon Sunset's expression soured. "I'm neither happy nor surprised, though you are being honest. Convinced I know everything about you, Sunset?"

The only thing I'm convinced of is that you're annoying and like making fun of me. Go away.

"Mrrrgh... Fine. It doesn't matter. Now, let's see about this locker..." Demon Sunset pulled open the door to Sunset's locker, and began rummaging through.

Eventually, she reached the box containing the book- only, it wasn't there. You can stop looking now. It's not here.

"What's not... Oh, you mean that old diary we used to communicate with Princess Celestia? Most interesting. I suppose it is indeed missing. A pity for you, I suppose. Perhaps the wisdom contained on its pages could help you with your little issue. Never mind, then! Onwards to our original destination!" Demon Sunset got up and strode off.

Her destination turned out to be the school gym. Snips and Snails were presently stationed outside the entrance to the girls' locker rom, apparently slacking off. When they saw Demon Sunset, however, they jumped to attention.

"Mistress!"

"Yeah! It's lady Sunset!"

"I have new orders for you!" Demon Sunset barked. "Starlight Glimmer is in the cafeteria. She's sad, lonely and stupid, and needs a pick-me-up, so I want you two to go give her the nicest, biggest, sappiest hugs she's ever had. And she needs a good laugh, so if she asks you any questions, the answer is 'donuts.' Got it?"

"Yes, mistress! We'll do as you say!"

"Mmmm, donuts..."

The two gargoyles flitted off, and Demon Sunset smirked. "Two birds with one stone, yet again. Never has an annoyance been so useful! I have to say, Starlight's not very good at posting guards..."

Uhh... Where are you going with this? Sunset cautioned.

"I made you a promise this morning, didn't I?"

Sunset bristled. And what, exactly, does fulfilling it entail?

"Oh, just a bit of chemistry."

You know, I'd really rather you didn't, Sunset replied.

"I know!" Demon Sunset ineffectually tried to toss her hair. "But you shouldn't. And that's why I'm doing it. To help you remember who you truly are! After all, all I want is for us to be reunited... Is that really so much to ask?"

Apparently so, Sunset growled, because the more I see of you, the less I want anything to do with you. When we met last night, I knew nothing about you. You had a blank slate. You had every opportunity to be helpful to me, yet all you've done is be annoying and invasive. You've gone out of your way to embarrass me, you've gotten me punched and kicked and beaten up, and now you're trying to disrespect images of my friends? I'm done with you. Do what you like; I'm not talking to you anymore. If having my company means so much to you, you're going to have to earn it.

"Sunset, you're not supposed to care about friendship! I listened well, and all the past few hours have convinced me of is that the new you simply has to go. You control things! It's who you were, who you are, who you're meant to be! Now, you want Twilight, and if you won't acknowledge that and take her for yourself, I'm giving her to you, and I won't stop until you remember just how powerful we are!"

And Demon Sunset strode through the doorway, into the girls' locker room.

Twilight Sparkle was very much awake when Demon Sunset appeared on the far side of the room. Still tied down on a bench on her back, she had been wiggling, simultaneously to break free of her bonds and not become horribly cramped from the hard surface.

She looked up, lavender eyes confused and defiant. "Sunset, what's going on?"

"Hmm? Why, to whatever are you referring, my dear?" Demon Sunset cast a sultry glance at Twilight.

"You. Me. The school! Tell me, what happened!?"

"Oh ho ho," Demon Sunset chortled. "Do you really not remember? Or are you just giving me permission to gloat?"

Twilight glared.

"Hmm. Unfortunately for you, I'm not really feeling up to a monologue right now. Suffice to say that I have a goal and you can help me accomplish it," Demon Sunset crooned.

Sunset growled wordlessly.

Was that an expression of impending pleasure, dear Sunset? Demon Sunset raised an eyebrow. Or was it a threat? Threats aren't your style, you know. You're doing nothing save for further convincing me of the importance of my mission. Now get back in character!

Twilight held her gaze, growing more confused as Demon Sunset simply stood there. "...What are you doing?"

"Oopsie. I guess I got a little distracted there. Sorry about that, beloved Twilight. Here, allow me." Demon Sunset snapped her fingers. Teal magic sparked from Twilight's restraints, and they shattered instantly.

Twilight gasped, sitting up, hope blossoming in her purple eyes. "You're... you're freeing... Wait a minute." Her eyes narrowed. "Beloved?"

"Freeing you? Oh, something like that." Demon Sunset shrugged. "Too bad you never specified from what." She leaned in, and jabbed a crackling talon into Twilight's forehead.

Twilight spasmed, crackling with light... and then darkness. A haze pooled at her feet, and in a shimmering line, the color drained from her body, flowing out through her swirling eyes. Even her clothing succumbed to the gray monochrome, hair sparking and flattening until it hung more limply than ever before. She blinked, shaking her head, and her eyes, too, became colorless shadows of their past selves.

"Well, beloved?" Demon Sunset crouched down, meeting Twilight's eye level, smiling sharkishly. "Feeling alright?"

Sunset growled again, but still held her tongue. How about you, then? Demon Sunset asked. Feel anything yet?

Twilight blinked again, wobbling, holding a hand to her forehead. "I... I think so? What... I remember, the map summoned me here, I was helping... helping a friend?"

Helping a... a... WHAT!? Sunset exploded. That's the real Twilight! She must have come through the mirror, and... Let her go, right now!

Oh, really? You mean we don't have to make do with a fake? How wonderful. Thank you for informing me! Demon Sunset turned to Twilight, rubbing her hands. "Nothing of the sort. You were kidnapped and tied up by a couple of insolent troublemakers. I've just finished saving you."

Twilight sighed in relief, a smile growing on her face. "I'm so glad to see youuu..."

Get out of her head! Out! Out! It is not wonderful, it's evil, and you're controlling her!

Demon Sunset held her hands up in front of her face, pursing her lips as she examined her claws. You don't say. Rest assured, Sunset, that I am not making her do anything. I am merely offering suggestion as to what would be pleasant and desirable! In this case: what you want. Very handy, don't you think?

Sunset wasn't in a very thankful mood, but had she been, not needing to breathe would have been at the top of her list. This is not what I want!

What you're supposed to want, Demon Sunset growled. I can take anyone you like, mold them into anything you like, and force all randomness and chaos in the world to assume whatever you deem to be its most pleasing form possible! How could you possibly not want that?

As if! I want my friends safe and free, so they can be who they were meant to be! And clearly, you are not capable of doing that!

Doubting the powers that are yours by right? Tsk tsk. Demon Sunset's grin grew wider. What your "friends" were meant to be is subservient to you! Little Twilight here, all goodie-goodie about the magic of friendship and how it was destined to rule her life? Destined without your say-so? Watch and learn, Sunset, watch and learn.

Twilight had finished clearing her head, and was examining the locker room. "We should probably leave before Snips and Snails and Starlight come back, right?"

Demon Sunset smirked mightily. "I, for one, think that's a fantastic idea. We could have a celebratory night out, perhaps? I could just slip us out and lock everyone else back here, in this school?"

Twilight's breath caught in her throat. "Really? A celebratory... Just you and me?"

Hesitating, Demon Sunset waggled a finger. "Well, that's what I was thinking, but aren't you forgetting a little something important?"

Twilight ignored her, having lunged over to give Sunset a hug. "That sounds so nice..." she purred.

Sunset panted inwardly, cringing from Twilight's contact. This is not the Twilight I know, or the Twilight I want. Give her back!

Not done yet, Demon Sunset replied. Hold your whiny little tongue until I've showed what I want to show! With a hand, she separated Twilight from her chest. "I'm afraid we can't leave just yet, Twilight dear. There's still work to be done before we can call the day ours." Sadly, she blinked down at the princess.

"What? What happened?" Twilight's gray eyes watered back up at her, and Sunset was too frozen to think.

"Well, it's just..." Demon Sunset stroked Twilight's chin. "I haven't seen Rainbow Dash all night. Pinkie Pie or Rarity neither, for that matter. Come to think of it, I can't remember seeing Applejack or even Fluttershy! They're your friends, Twilight. All-important, allow you to do anything? If we left now, we'd be abandoning them to a horrible fate!"

Twilight scoffed, trying to look tough. "Do you see them here, helping to rescue me? I don't. I just see you. What's the point in having friends if you never get anything back? If they're here, they can stay here for all I care."

Friends are useless, Sunset. See? Take it from the Princess of Friendship! Grinning hugely, Demon Sunset wrapped herself around Twilight, placing her head between the princess and the exit. "And what about Flash Sentry? Not worried he'll be jealous if we spend a little time together?"

Giggling nervously, Twilight straightened her blouse. "Flash Sentry? I don't know, he might be mad? It doesn't really matter, I never really liked him liked him. I was just... using him to become more popular, so I could win the Fall Formal, you know?"

Demon Sunset pumped a fist. "Yes!" She spread her arms. "Victory hug? It's just like in the stories, Twilight! Truth and justice prevail again!"

"Hmmmmm..." Twilight leaned in happily, eyes closed.

This isn't the truth! Sunset cried, having regained her composure. What do you mean, truth prevails? You're a horrible fraud, you leave Twilight alone! I don't want this, and I don't want you! Give the real Twilight back!

Now she's not the real Twilight, you say? Props to you for trying to manipulate me to get what you want, Sunset, but nobody can trick me. This Twilight's as real as she's ever been, because truth. Is. Relative. Relative to you and what you want- right now, you want Twilight, and you want her to want you. As a result, that she wants you is now the truth! Isn't getting what you want wonderful? Softly, Demon Sunset ran her talons through Twilight's hair, still torn but too limp to matter.

Shut up, Sunset demanded, you're wrong. Maybe you want this, maybe you think I want this, but I don't! I want my friends to be able to act and think and choose on their own, not dance your dance simply because you're strong enough to make them! I know about this! I forced a whole school under my knee, I... There's no fulfillment there! There's nothing but loneliness and regret, and I do not want to be alone again just because of some stupid flame monster with an ego so big it thinks it can tell me what I'm supposed to do with my life! Now let. Twilight. Go!

A dance? What a wonderful idea! "Hey, Twilight!" Demon Sunset patted Twilight's head. "How about a dance?"

"Um..." Twilight pulled away, biting her lip and looking up. "I'm not very good..."

"How about I teach you?" Demon Sunset smiled sweetly. A slight discoloration appeared in the gray of Twilight's cheeks, and she bunched her skirt in her hands.

Stop it! Sunset screamed, stop it stop it stop it! Whatever you're trying to get me to agree to isn't worth this, especially if you think I'm supposed to be having fun right now!

Nah. I'm having far too much fun myself! It really is tragic that you've forgotten how to indulge yourself, Sunset, but if you refuse even to partake of this as a lesson, I suppose it will just have to be me rewarding myself for my own diligence in attempting to return to you. Demon Sunset blinked. "Twilight, beloved? What are you doing?"

Twilight was looking shyly down, hands clasped in front of her chest. "I, um... I brought you a gift, that I was meaning to give to you..." Hopefully, she looked up.

"A gift?" Demon Sunset clasped her hands in turn. "How cute! Twilight, you're the most adorable friend I could possibly ask for!"

"Sorry!" Twilight cringed, one eyelid twitching. "F-friends... Sore subject? Friends... Here!" Stiffly, she reached out, and in her gray hands was a flat, dusky capsule adorned with a pulsating lavender star.

Sunset inwardly gasped. Twilight is... Quickly, she cut herself off before she could follow that train of thought, instead focusing on the pendant. Hey, that's nice. Bet you've never seen it before, huh?

"What's this?" Demon Sunset took it and eyed it curiously. Twilight rocked back and forth in the background, not withdrawing her hands. "Is it a wedding ring, perchance?"

It's a magic pendant, Sunset answered, and would have smirked had she been able. And I'd say it's probably... oh, five or six times as strong as that crown you're wearing. Unfortunately, you can only wear one at a time, so...

Demon Sunset turned to a mirror and blew a raspberry. Fat chance. I've heard that trick before! You just want to trick me into giving you back control by taking off this crown! This is probably a bomb, anyway. I guess I'll just put it somewhere safe where nobody will ever find it, hmm?

Hahah! Sunset crowed. Gotcha! I didn't really care about the pendant. It's probably not charged up, anyway. I just wanted to trick you into confirming my theory that if you take off the crown, I get to be me again! Now I know your secret weakness!

Demon Sunset's lips curved into a grinchlike smile, still staring at the mirror. I know that trick too, dear Sunset. Letting me know I've been duped, but misleading me about where the deception lies? I already know you're just stalling for time before we get back to Twilight, but I almost think I'm proud enough of your craftiness to indulge in it for a while! What's next, Sunnybun?

Sunset gave a sharp laugh, Twilight safely out of her peripheral vision. Don't look now, but the rest of my friends are standing right behind you with their Elements, ready to turn you into a smoking crater and set me free.

Okay, that one was bad, Demon Sunset deadpanned, you're losing your touch. Obviously, you're just waiting for me to turn around, so you can be all 'just kidding', aren't you?

And I still am. I dare you to turn around.

Demon Sunset's eyes narrowed. I smell a fish. Just what is it you're trying to goad me into not looking at? She spun to the side, facing Twilight.

The gray girl was hugging herself and shivering uncontrollably, face scrunched and eyes closed. Demon Sunset looked at her in alarm. "Twilight? My love? What's going on?" She leaned in, and put a claw on Twilight's shoulder.

Twilight's eyes flew open- deep, piercing, purple eyes. Her face morphed into a snarl. "Get out of my head!"

Eyes widening in shock, Demon Sunset raised a hand to snap her fingers, but Twilight was faster. With an open hand, she slapped it away, before slamming her fist into the demon's face with all her strength. C-CRACK! "Bluuurghhh!"

Demon Sunset staggered backward, hand to her head. She broke free!? How is that possible?

A wavering line of color beginning to creep down the top of her head, Twilight shrieked, lunging at Demon Sunset. "Raaaaaugh!" Grappling onto Demon Sunset's head, she clawed and scrabbled at the lavender crown. "I won't forget my friends! You can't take that from me!"

"GWAARRR!" Where Twilight's hands touched the Element of Magic, bolts of energy lanced out, burning as they came in contact with Demon Sunset's skin. Furiously, she reared to her full height, smashing Twilight against the ceiling over and over.

"Gyaaah!" The princess lost her grip, tumbling to the floor with a crunch. Demon Sunset's abandoned bedding broke her fall, but as she struggled to get up, a red talon closed around her throat.

Demon Sunset slammed her up against a locker, dangling a foot off the ground. Leering into her face, she snapped with her free hand over and over, assaulting Twilight with waves of teal and gray. "You will not dare resist me! Kneel! Kneel! Kneel to Sunset Shimmer!"

"Urkk... Gah!" Twilight futilely kicked and struggled, eyes flashing from violet to teal to gray and back. "No! Leave me alone! And whatever you've done with Sunset, give her back!"

See? Sunset bellowed. Your idea of truth is fake! Your idea of me is fake! You can't change who I am, just like you can't change who Twilight is! Leave, now, and never come back!

I'm not finished yet, Sunset, Demon Sunset growled. You'll see who has the last laugh in the end, and it won't be anyone who opposes you. As if on cue, Twilight stopped struggling and went limp, eyes closing. A light smoke rose from her body. "See? Twilight, who do you love?"

"Y-you..." Twilight whimpered, not moving a muscle.

No...

Oh, yes! Gently, Demon Sunset set Twilight on her feet, patting her shoulders. "Terribly sorry about that, beloved. A bit of residual dark magic I had to clean up. If it brings up any unpleasant memories, I'm sure I can find a memory spell later to fix them."

Twilight was silent, and still.

"...Twilight?" Demon Sunset tilted her head.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Twilight whispered.

Demon Sunset grinned haughtily, and lowered an ear to Twilight's level. "Anything, beloved."

Twilight's eyes flew open once again, and they remained purple. "Surprise!"

Bracing her back against the locker behind her, Twilight lashed out with both feet, impacting Demon Sunset and sending her staggering back with a howl of surprise. "Again!? Celestia's sweet buttery biscuits, how do I keep falling for that? How does she keep doing that!?"

Twilight kicked off the wall and charged at her, slamming her again as she teetered. One of Demon Sunset's high boots became lodged under the bench where Twilight had been tied before she could stem her momentum, and she toppled over, crashing to the concrete floor.

Stop getting beaten up, Sunset yelled as they struck the ground, it hurts! And while you're at it, stop doing things you deserve to get beaten up for!

Demon Sunset didn't respond, instead rolling over and getting up to her hands and knees. Suddenly, a heavy boot smashed into her side, and she collapsed again, wheezing.

Above, Starlight Glimmer rolled her over, Sunset's sledgehammer held in one hand, face thunderous. Demon Sunset made to snap her fingers and summon a wave of telekinesis, but Starlight was too fast, stomping down on the offending hand. With a screech, Demon Sunset arched her back.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Starlight swinging the hammer like a golf club, but before she could so much as lift a finger- SMASH! She dropped to the floor like a log.

FLAAAAASH!

"Are you all right?"

"Umm... I'm a bit shaken..."

"You were distracting her, weren't you? When you saw me come in?"

"Yeah, I think so. Sorry, could you give me a minute?"

"Of course. Take your time."

Footsteps.

Sunset opened her eyes.

She was laying on the floor, head fuzzy. Several feet away lay the unconscious form of Demon Sunset, and she realized that she was back in her proper body, presumably once again due to being unconscious. She called out.

"...Can anyone hear me?"

There was no response. Twilight was sitting on the bench, a grimace on her face, focusing as she banished Demon Sunset's grayness from her body. Starlight Glimmer watched her from nearby, leaning on the sledgehammer she had apparently hit Sunset with. There was no sign of the orange flame.

Sunset got to her feet, and picked up an item from the ground. It left a familiar faint afterimage, indicating that it hadn't really moved. She turned back to Twilight.

The lavender girl's eyes were closed. She was colorful once again, but her hands lay limply in her lap, and she shivered. A tear ran down her face, and she whispered something too low to hear. Sunset leaned in to catch Twilight's words. "...forgiven! Sunset, I... I had no idea... I won't... I can't... I can't do this, I... Snkkt!" She wiped her nose on the frayed sleeve of her blue blouse.

That's odd, Sunset mused. I guess Twilight can postpone meltdowns while under pressure? She decided not to focus on the fact that she would probably have to have a meltdown about this herself, sooner or later.

A pink hand was lain on Twilight's shoulder, and Starlight sat down beside her. "I don't think you're alright. You look like you're going into shock."

Sunset stood and watched. Twilight didn't answer, so Starlight continued: "I don't know everything that monster put you through, but it's clear she was thoughtlessly using you to sate her evil desires. It's a good thing I arrived when I did, because I know she's capable of worse."

Wow, Sunset thought. The disrespect earlier must have ticked Starlight off far more than I suspected.

Twilight hiccupped. Starlight rubbed her shoulder, avoiding looking directly at her. "I'm sorry this is the way you were introduced to my utopia. That... thing," - she pointed at demon Sunset, voice dripping with rage - "has made itself very useful in constructing this paradise, but is clearly destructive to the point where it will sap any happiness and contentment we can gain from any way of life. I regret not being able to make it understand this. If I could, perhaps, despite its nature, it could still be used for the greater good. One can, after all, fight fire with fire."

Sunset growled, clenching her fists. Odds were, once she came to, her demon would continue bothering Starlight until she did something far worse than simply knocking her out- and she now had no illusions that the Element of Magic could protect from that. "What happens if I die here?" she wondered aloud.

Twilight pushed Starlight away. "You're not helping," she sniffled.

"You know my words are true," Starlight said. "Sunset Shimmer is nothing more than a force of malevolence and destruction. In time, you will come to appreciate this. But it is no matter. For now, I will take you somewhere safer, where she won't find you."

Twilight hesitated. Starlight extended a hand. "Do not make me carry you. After how much you've been through, I doubt it would make things any easier for you."

Twilight got up, ignoring Starlight's hand. Suddenly, her eyes fell on something, and with a faint squeak, she darted to the corner of the room, kneeling down to pick something up.

Seeing the quick motion, Sunset moved closer... and saw a flash of dark metal as Twilight fussed with the top of her blouse. "She took back the magic-stealing device!" Sunset gasped.

Unfortunately, there was now no way she could examine it to see whether it was charged, as it was now hidden in Twilight's shirt. Ghost or otherwise, there was no way she was going to go there.

"What are you doing?" Starlight queried, raising an eyebrow.

"Getting something I dropped," Twilight mumbled.

Starlight sighed. "Ready to go?" she asked, picking back up the hammer.

"I think so," Twilight said, visibly calmer, tears still visible in her purple eyes. Starlight nodded and took Twilight's hand, shifting the hammer to the other, and led her out the door. Sunset followed close behind, determination in her step.

Captivated Combatants

Starlight and Twilight didn't talk as they slowly walked the halls of Canterlot High. Sunset followed nearby, trying to process everything that had just happened.

Okay! Okay, Sunset, you've got this. Twilight is real. Twilight is fighting what she thinks is you. Probably. She huffed. And a stupid flame monster acting in your name just tried to brainwash her, or mind-control her, or... or something. You, I... ugh. Twilight, the last thing I want to do is hurt you...

Ugh! She shook her head. Focus! Demon me said if she takes off the crown, I'll turn back to normal. Twilight tried to pull it off, but it's stuck on. There must be some sort of sticky-artifact charm on it, so the only way for it to come off is for demon me to take it off herself... which requires me actually convincing her to do something, and currently, my mind-controlled friend is having better luck fighting her than I am. At least Twilight's trying to get the crown off... I hate being this helpless. I hate it when my friends are getting hurt because I can't protect them, because I'm not strong enough...

I wish I knew exactly what demon me is capable of. Not as much as she thinks, because she kept losing to Twilight, but that's not saying much. What does she think I can do, fundamentally change who people are? Control... take away their wills, or something? That's crazy. I'm a pony, not a goddess. I doubt even Celestia can do that. Celestia... She grimaced. If I had my reservations about whether I'd ever go back to Equestria before, this definitely isn't helping. The moment she finds out that something happened to her prized, special snowflake Twilight because of me...

Suddenly, Celestia's face loomed up into Sunset's vision. She shrieked and threw herself to the side, catching her balance on the floor.

The principal walked past, at the head of a squad of students lugging a large stone brick down a hall to the foyer. She bore a share of the load, eyes trailing with the same faint trace of magic as the rest of the students.

Sunset shuddered. Hah... hah... I guess she's here too... Makes sense. No reason why she shouldn't be. Getting back to her feet, she looked around for Starlight and Twilight. She spotted them rounding a distant corner, and charged off in pursuit. Luna's probably here too, and my- well, Twilight's- friends...

Rounding the corner, she blinked. Wait a second. She looked back at the brick squad. None of them had the glow she had seen about herself during the first time she had been out... yet Twilight and Starlight both did. That's odd, she thought as she jogged to catch up with the duo. I'm fairly sure Twilight didn't do that last night. I never got to see Starlight...

She pondered a bit more. Hmm... The three of us are different, and it changes with time... It probably has to do with whether or not we're under control of my demon form. I bet that's it. Twilight was out last night, but definitely isn't being controlled just now. Starlight clearly never was. This could be useful... I'll have to keep an eye out for anyone else like this. They could be potential allies if I escape.

Sunset resumed her chase. Ahead, however, Starlight turned and steered Twilight into Principal Celestia's office, swiftly unlocking and relocking the door behind her. Sunset charged up to it and fiddled with the handle, but it wouldn't open.

From inside, she heard voices- mostly Starlight's, with a gasp of surprise from Twilight. She's a really bad therapist, Sunset thought. If Twilight is real, I hope she doesn't take any of this stuff too personally... Unbidden, memories of Twilight's whispered lament began pressing her mind, and she hugged herself. Actually, I wonder just how much Starlight saw, and what she thinks happened...

She cast around for anything that could be used to batter down the door and gain entry, but it was a solid door and the best implement for the job- her sledgehammer- was currently in the office with Starlight. Sunset grumbled, waited a minute to see if they would come out, then left, jogging off toward the library. It's probably for the best that I don't get distracted here, she thought. I need to learn something I can use to convince demon me to take off the crown. The more ideas, the better. I wonder if I could reach anyone with the book, again...

Sunset reached the library. The dull pain in her head was beginning to clear, so she guessed she didn't have much time left. She hurried to the upper floor and the shelf where she had stashed her book, and pulled to get it out. It was still there, and it was vibrating. That's convenient. She opened it to the most recent page.

______Hi, Sunset. This is Spike. Twilight left already, but you can talk to me if you want.

Spike would have to do. Sunset grabbed a pen, and wrote back: Spike, are you still there?

It took less than a minute for the dragon to respond. Sunset almost wondered if he'd been camping the book while Twilight was gone.

______Yeah, I'm here. What's up? Did Twilight find you, and help you with your problem?

I don't know, Spike. I don't suppose there's any chance she's back in Equestria now? Sunset responded, hoping to somehow be proven wrong.

______If she is, I haven't seen her. Last I saw was her heading through the portal. I've been sitting here in my room with the book ever since, waiting for you to respond!

That's what I was afraid of. Here's the thing, Spike. Sunset paused and rubbed her quill, thinking how to phrase the next bit. I think Twilight may have... gotten herself in a bit over her head, coming over here without knowing what to expect. I'm pretty sure she's here, and if so, she's in pretty bad trouble.

______Uh-oh. Do you think I should go get help? I can send a message to Princess Celestia, if you want.

Let me explain what's going on first, Sunset wrote. Basically, it feels like I'm in a dream. The entire world is like it was during the Fall Formal, when I turned into a big demon. Actually, I'm still a demon, and I have no control over my actions. I can only move freely when she's unconscious or asleep, but then I'm some sort of ghost. I can't interact with anything except this book, which is what I'm doing right now.

______Yikes. That does sound bad. Yeah, Twilight thought it was just some sort of friendship issue, but this sounds more like dark magic. Whiiich I don't know very much about. Pity Twilight and Starlight are gone, because they'd probably know what to do.

Sunset looked at the book in surprise. Wait, Starlight? Starlight Glimmer?

______Yeah, she's Twilight's new apprentice. She used to be really mean, but Twilight had a big fight with her a week ago, and she's reformed now. Now she's Twilight's student, or something. She's really strong and knows a ton about obscure magic; I bet she could help you.

I knew I recognized Starlight's name from somewhere, Sunset replied. There's a Starlight here too. She's constantly going on about how everyone needs to be equal and nobody is allowed to be better.

______That sure sounds like how she used to be. I guess Twilight didn't tell you? She had this village out in the middle of nowhere, and used this weird magic to remove everypony's Cutie Marks and replace them with equals signs.

That's her all right, Sunset responded. Spike, do you know anything about the magic-stealing device that Sci-Twi had during the Friendship Games?

______I heard about it, yeah. I've never seen it, though, and don't know much about it. Why?

Is there any reason Twilight could presently have it with her? Any at all?

______Not that I know of. She didn't take anything with her when she went through the portal.

Hmm, Sunset responded. Spike, listen. The Twilight here- she has it. But she shouldn't, because it shouldn't exist yet.

She paused, rubbing her pen. Spike? Can I ask you a massive favor?

______Sure, Sunset.

I want you to come through the portal. Tell Twilight's friends first, because if anything goes wrong, they might be able to help. Actually, tell Luna too, because I think there's some sort of dream magic going on- maybe she can help. Anyway, I suspect you'll find yourself as the Spike in this world. I don't know where you are, but I need you to find Twilight and tell her what's happened to me.

I don't know how much she knows right now, and I can't talk to her to find out. I'm pretty sure she's figured out that demon me isn't really me, but... Tell her that I'm in there, and can regain control if demon me is convinced to take off the Element of Magic. That needs to be the goal, for all of us.

You might be able to beat me with the Element like last time, if it comes to it- if you can get everyone together, I'll try to convince demon me to fight you. Then the three of us can focus on getting out of here. I think doing that will have something to do with fixing the portal, which is currently broken. With the book I have here, I think it might be possible, since that's how we opened it before, but I'm definitely going to need Twilight's help because she can use the crown and I can't. Basically, I need you to find Twilight and tell her what's going on. Can you do this, Spike?

Sunset thought for a moment, then added, The sooner the better. Demon me is getting Starlight really riled up, and I've found out the hard way that I'm not invincible. I'm trying to reign her in, but am not having much luck. She's really annoying, and is hurting Twilight.

______Gotcha! Can do. Are you sure I shouldn't tell Celestia as well? I can send mail right to her, you know.

I'd kind of rather you didn't. Sunset cringed at the possibility of refusing help, then elaborated. There's some bad blood between me and her, I think. I'm not sure she'd even want to help me, and she'd definitely make me take the blame if anything were to happen to Twilight. I'm sure I'll have to face the music eventually, but it would be great if that could wait until after me and Twilight are actually safe.

______Uh... Okay. I'm not sure why you're worried; Celestia's really nice. I'm sure she's forgiven you for whatever happened. But I can keep quiet, if you want. Do you want me to look for Starlight instead, then? I'm not really sure how to track her down since she hasn't moved in yet. I think she's got a place in Canterlot I could look for?

Thank you, Spike. If you can find her, that's great, but do hurry. One more thing: Twilight is currently located in Principal Celestia's office. It's locked. I'm not sure if she'll stay there, but once you're here, I won't have any way to contact you, so it's the best lead you'll have. Thank you for doing this, Spike. I believe in you.

Sunset put down the pen with a flourish, and gazed at the book. A final reply from Spike flashed across the pages confirming his assistance. I just hope this book isn't a product of my imagination, and he really can help... She shook her head. No. Twilight's here because of it. This is real... as much as I wish it wasn't.

With a sigh, she closed the book, and placed it back in its hiding place. She hadn't learned anything useful about her situation; if anything, things were even more complicated. Where did Twilight get that magic-stealer? Some manner of help, at least, was on the way. She had a plan, though it was contingent on a lot of assumptions, and almost entirely relied on others to do the work. She didn't even know if Spike had been inside the shield when it was created.

On second thought, that wouldn't be too much of a problem. It would be easy to convince Demon Sunset to raise the shield to let someone through if it would bug Starlight, and Spike could slip through then if he was outside.

Sunset mentally ran through her checklist of things to do- and things not to think about- one last time, as her eyelids began to grow heavy. Suddenly, she collapsed, and-

FLAAAAASH!

"Bluuurgh... Ow. My head." Demon Sunset came to, head pounding from a welt on the side.

Serves you right, Sunset replied. Starlight just owned you with your own sledgehammer. I told you not to bug her, or we were going to get hurt!

"I must admit, I... wasn't expecting that to happen..."

It also serves you right for what you did to Twilight, Sunset huffed. In fact, I've half a mind to do the same to you myself if we ever wind up in separate bodies. You didn't see her after Starlight knocked you out, she was absolutely traumatized. I don't know that my friend will ever be able to look at me again without thinking of this, and you're to thank for it!

Demon Sunset ignored her, and took stock of her surroundings. Presently, she was tied to the same bench Twilight had been- it was a little small for her. With heavy chains. Really? She switched to thought, in case guards were posted. We're tied up? With this? Do you mind filling me in on precisely what happened while I was out?

Sunset hesitated. Then: Starlight hit you with a hammer. Then she came in, and talked with Twilight, and they left. I don't know where Twilight is now, or why you're tied up. Maybe Snips and Snails did it. I just wandered around a bit until you woke up. Technically, it was the truth: she had last seen Twilight be taken into Principal Celestia's office, but there was no guarantee she was still there. Either way, Demon Sunset didn't need to know.

Sunset, I'm... A flicker of orange. I'm sorry.

Wait, what? Sunset thought, taken aback. You're actually sorry? You know, I'm having a hard time believing that. You were a cackling monster back there, hurting my friend for your own amusement. It's going to take more than that for me to even consider forgiving you.

I've made an enemy of the most influential person here, with nothing to show for it. The whole school could be kneeling to you, showering you with adoration and praise, yet all they've done so far is work to fix a hole I made in your new castle. You didn't like my impression of you, and you don't even find my jokes amusing! I botched a romantic encounter between you and the girl of your dreams! I forced you to wander the halls of this building alone, without the company of my charming, melodious-

Okay, Sunset thought, that last one is not a bad thing. Even though you might be serious. But a "romantic encounter?" You... you were actually going to go through with that, weren't you? Locked Starlight in here, taken Twilight outside the shield?

Only if you deserved it, Demon Sunset responded. You see, Sunset, Twilight is your type, not mine. You don't deserve rewards for fighting me and telling me I've got you wrong, you deserve them for accepting and loving me! No, had Starlight not interrupted and had you continued to be obstinate, I would likely have just locked her out alone, and stayed in here.

What? Explain, Sunset demanded.

Simple, Demon Sunset answered. If you weren't going to cooperate, I simply intended to deny her the gift of your presence. Last I checked, you were bothered by the prospect of me hurting your friends? I want you to be happy, Sunset, I truly do. Yet, this determination of yours to deny yourself is impossibly vexing, and I'm afraid I'm running out of answers. Push me any further, and I think you'll find I am willing to offend this fake you in the name of your greater well-being.

Sunset was silent for a minute. Wow. Your understanding of me is horrible.

You don't say, Demon Sunset growled. You've become something alien, something I can't understand, Sunset! Why do you think I'm trying to bring you back? I want to help you, but I can't if I can't understand how you work! All I've ever done here is try to return you to the Sunset I know, and somehow, that's a crime around these parts!

I've told you how I work, Sunset replied. My friends. They're what matter to me. Think about it! I'm far from home, Equestria even isn't my home anymore! Every time I try to understand this world and make it my home instead, I break something, or nearly get hurt and stay safe through pure luck! Most of the school didn't like me until I saved them from evil magic over and over, and now I'm just a hero, not someone they know. I have nothing holding me anywhere... nothing making me who I am except for my friends. Don't you get it?

Hold the phone, back up, Demon Sunset said. That bit about staying safe "through pure luck?" That was actually me. And Sunset, I do understand! If friendship is so central to your life, then I can't be! You're supposed to revolve around taking control! Taking the chaos of the world, forcing it to do your bidding! Not playing nice with it and hoping some silly lasers come bail you out when you're stuck!

So far, those silly lasers have a three out of three track record for "bailing me out," Sunset sighed. The school would have been toast, like, thrice without them. Actually, forget that, the world would have been. You think I could have saved the world if I was still a self-centered jerk bent on being popular and getting revenge?

If it comes down to power, Sunset, then this is really a no-brainer. Have I not made it clear yet? Accept me, and all my power is yours! The entire world, not forced but wanting to do your will? Friendship is peanuts compared to that!"

Oh yeah? Sunset snarked. It sure did a good job of whupping you back there. You're so pathetic, you can't even keep one person under your control without getting beaten up! And don't forget the Fall Formal...

Demon Sunset hissed. I totally had that! I just needed a little more time! Nothing can resist me, it's not possible! I was just... I must have been rusty! If you were working with me instead of against me, it would have been a shoe-in!

You know what I think happened? Sunset tried to smirk. I think you gave it your best, went toe-to-toe with the magic of friendship, and got trounced. You tried to take Twilight's friends away from her and make them not matter, and you failed, just like the countless other villains that have tried this same, exact thing dozens of times before. It's not going to end any differently if you try doing the same to me. I may not be a princess of friendship like Twilight, but I've used its magic. Try all you like, but you'll never make me forget who I am.

You like your friends, yadda yadda yadda, how wonderful, Demon Sunset deadpanned. You do realize these aren't mutually exclusive, right? Bend the world to your whims, and you can have as many friends as you want! All you need is to put me first, and you can make everyone want to be your friend! All the benefits, and none of the downsides. You'll never have to worry about someone not wanting to be your friend, you'll never have to worry about your friends hurting you! You'll never have to worry about being framed by someone you trust...

Shut up! Sunset hissed. I wasn't framed! I never even found out what happened!

That's the point, Demon Sunset droned. You don't know. It hurts, doesn't it? Having to doubt your friends? Never truly knowing if they're your friends or not? I, for one, can't imagine how annoying it would be to have to choose between thinking well and ill of someone without knowing what they're actually like. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could simply ensure that everyone was what you wanted them to be at all times?

No, Sunset pouted, it wouldn't. I don't want friends so they can do things for me, or be servants or slaves, or so I can watch them work, or something. I want friends so I won't be lonely! And there's no companionship to be had from someone who can't choose whether or not they want to be your friend.

I'm glad you agree, Demon Sunset replied. There is nothing friends can do for you, which is why I can't understand why you're so stuck on this!

I just told you! Having friends isn't about getting favors, or making your life easier! It's hard work, not something you do for a payoff! The point is so I won't be alone! And when your friends can't choose whether or not to be your friends, they're not friends.

But when they can choose, they're chaotic! Random, unpredictable! Do you like chaos, Sunset Shimmer? Because I don't! Demon Sunset shifted beneath her restraints. Unpredictability ruins your plans! It surprises you, it foils you, it makes it possible for you to lose, and you hate losing! The only time the world is perfect is when there's nothing it can do to hurt you.

You're wrong, Sunset countered, I do like surprises. I like waking up each day and not knowing what will happen. Sure, bad things happen, but good things happen too, things I'd never have thought to make happen if the world did only what I want! If I already knew what the rest of my life would look like, what would be the point of living it?

Eeyechh, Demon Sunset sighed. This is going on and on in circles. At this rate, you're going to break me through sheer boredom. Up for a compromise, Sunny? Just to break the stalemate and get the game rolling again?

A compromise? Sunset asked cautiously. You offering a compromise sounds like a compromise in and of itself. Just what are you planning?

Oh, you know me too well. Offering is my end of the deal! On your end, you start ordering me around. I know, I know, telling me what to do violates your precious new morals, but it's a win for both of us! You get to make us get out of here, and I get to do your bidding. You game, Sunset?

That... Uh, really? Okay. Sunset cleared her head. I order you to take off that crown and give my body back.

Meh. Maybe later, Demon Sunset replied. Ask me something else.

What? No. You said you'd do what I asked. Do it, Sunset demanded.

I did not say I would do what you told me to, I said I would be willing to compromise in the first place! Following your orders is purely up to my discretion. Demon Sunset stuck out her lip. And while doing that may be on the table at some point in the future, right now it would be a horribly bad idea. Trust me on this, Sunset. Ask me something else.

Fine, Sunset growled. I'm bored. Go to the barrier and find someone to entertain me.

As you wish, Demon Sunset answered. She snapped her fingers, and the chains binding her snapped with sparks of teal magic. She sat up, stretched, rubbed her still-sore head, and shuffled out of the locker room.

Demon Sunset walked out of the girls' locker room, which was flanked by a napping Snips and Snails. They're the worst guards ever, she observed. What do you want me to do with them?

Nothing, Sunset replied. I told you, go to the barrier.

Boooring, thought Demon Sunset. I thought we were doing this because you were bored?

We are, Sunset answered, but you're going to have to get it through your head that I'm not going to abuse people for fun. Just because I'm playing your game with you doesn't mean I'll treat others your way.

Demon Sunset humphed, and strode to the gym exit. Swinging it open, she looked around. "Now, let's find someone to- well, hello!" Eyes growing large, she raised her arms with a wicked grin, looking at a great many heavy trucks encircling the perimeter.

They were pale blue and white, flatbed rigs with heavy wheels and tarps covering cargo. Some boasted turrets, and armored men were milling around, slinging weaponry everywhere it could fit. The word "ARMY" was emblazoned on the side of each vehicle, and the back of each soldier.

This is bad, Sunset thought. They can't pierce this shield, can they?

"I doubt it," Demon Sunset replied, standing a safe distance away nevertheless. "Then again, depending on how long they've been here, they may not have tried yet."

Okay, okay. Sunset was relieved that having no control of her body meant that she couldn't hyperventilate; it made critical thinking so much easier. New orders. Go find Starlight, and make sure she's not making these guys mad. I do not want these guys mad at us.

"As you wish!" Demon Sunset took wing, flying to the roof of the school to get a good vantage point across the grounds.

The quarry appeared empty; all student activity was centered around the front entrance, where teenagers formed towers and scaffolding and smeared grout and mortar, lifting and fitting huge blocks of stone. Starlight was...

There! Demon Sunset swooped down to the front of the school grounds, where Starlight was smugly lecturing what must have been a commanding officer, arms folded and eyes closed with a major smirk on her face. She didn't have any battering weapons, only her signature megaphone.

Silently, Demon Sunset glided in, Starlight not noticing her approach. With long arms, she grabbed Starlight from behind, pulling her into an enthusiastic hug. Starlight shrieked and flailed, trying desperately to keep her hat from falling off. The military officials standing outside raised their eyebrows in shock.

Slipping free from Demon Sunset's embrace, Starlight twirled midair on her way down, flipped upside-down, planting both hands on the ground and giving the demon a vicious rising kick to the face. Demon Sunset went sprawling backwards, jaw exploding in pain.

Ow, what did you do that for!? Sunset demanded. Also, wow, she's really agile. But what was that? Do you want to get beaten up? I ordered you not to make the massive army standing right outside angry!

And I didn't, Demon Sunset retorted. I was just paying her back for what she did to us earlier.

She did me a favor, Sunset deadpanned, by stopping you from hurting my best friend. And what, are you going to need revenge for that kick, too?

That was a favor? Then I merely returned it! Starlight never would have built up the courage to do that herself, Demon Sunset giggled. Anyhow, I've very much had my fill. If I do anything else, it'll be to her hat. She seemed remarkably concerned with it there. I bet it's expensive, and she has no way of replacing it!

As for Starlight, she had regained her composure and was now speaking with the military once again. "This, as you can see, is an abhorrent monstrosity who dwells with us in our new utopia. Though her very existence runs counter to the ideals of peace and equality we promote here, even evil can be harnessed for good. It is thanks to her that we have been able to achieve true harmony here!"

The lead general responded, eyes narrowed: "Look, lady, I don't see a utopia here. I see some sort of demon, underage slave labor, and you, a sweet-talking cultist who's likely behind this whole thing. Currently, you're surrounded by some of the best firepower in the nation. I strongly suggest that you surrender and be taken into custody immediately."

Demon Sunset's eyes perked up, and she picked herself up from the ground. "Oh? And what about me, good general?"

The general eyed her. "Depends on your disposition, though I'm not getting a favorable first impression. Best case scenario for you, we let you go back wherever you came from and pretend this never happened. Resist, and we'll have to subdue you, and perhaps use you for science. It would be a shame if we had to use any more force than that."

"Sounds like you just want a peaceful surrender, then." Sunset, look at this loon! What should I do with him?

He mentioned letting me go back. Ask if he knows anything about how to do that. That's an order, Sunset responded.

Demon Sunset opened her mouth to speak, but the general cut her off. "I say, do you hear something?"

Sunset turned her ears. There was, indeed, something in the background- the sound of singing. Three particular girls singing. And they were coming closer.

Oh, great, Sunset groaned. Not them. Not more chaos. This is going to be just faaantastic.

"What's this?" Demon Sunset said as three girls with red necklaces and massive hairdos swished and swayed into view, mouths open in song. You know these girls?

They're the Sirens I've been mentioning, Sunset answered. The one with the poofy hair is Adagio, the one with the skirt is Sonata, and the one with the twin tails is Aria. They're pretty nasty; they go around making people fight and feeding off their magic.

Aria? Demon Sunset perked up. Aria Blaze? Most fascinating. Yes, I do believe I can see the resemblance! Fear not, I'll have her in here in a jiffy!

Sunset cringed. No, please don't do that! Aria's gross. Don't mess with her.

Killjoy, Demon Sunset thought. Fine, fine, I won't pick on them. Although, now that I think about it... wouldn't it be hilarious if they somehow accidentally got in here and made Starlight's goon squad stop getting along? She cracked her knuckles in delight.

The general stared wide-eyed at the trio, focusing on Sonata's legs, before shuddering and looking away. Adagio invaded his personal space anyway, putting a finger to the bottom of his chin, staring into his face with a predatory grin. "Why, hello there, little man," she broke song to croon, despite being two heads shorter than him. "We take it there's been some sort of mishap here? A... magical mishap, perhaps?"

He opened his mouth and began forming words to respond, but that plan was dashed when Sonata, having noticed the attention earlier, rubbed up against his back like a seductive cat. Still singing, she turned back and forth against him, and his mouth constricted into a wide horizontal line, eyes rolling upwards.

"What do you think, Adagio?" Aria quickly asked between measures, examining a firearm borrowed from a not-unwilling nearby soldier. "You didn't drag us out here for nothing, did you?"

"Ah ha ha ha! Sorry," Adagio responded. "Perhaps it wasn't quite fair to ask that of him. Not when he's clearly got better things on his mind."

Head leaned back, the general stared down the bridge of his nose at Sonata, who was purring into his chest, still singing.

Starlight looked on in bafflement. Demon Sunset, standing near her (but safely out of arms' reach) smirked in her direction. She didn't notice.

Well, Sunset? Demon Sunset asked. Do they fit the bill? Will these three provide sufficient amusement if I bring them inside?

Mmrmph. Sunset wouldn't trust them with a bale of yak wool, though they probably would keep Starlight occupied. And she did need that barrier raised, just in case. Yes, they're good. Let them in.

As you wish! Demon Sunset snapped her fingers, and Adagio, Aria and Sonata (sans the general and firearm) were teleported inside the dome.

Well, so much for that, Sunset thought.

Demon Sunset acted as if she didn't notice, instead giving a cheeky wave to the three Sirens before swooping off to an out-of-the-way observation point.

Starlight stared again at the new arrivals, eyes narrowed. "Okay, new equals. Who do you think you are?"

Ornery Operas

Adagio twirled on one foot, before striking a pose. "We are," she proclaimed.

"The three!" Aria smugly added, hands on her considerable hips.

"Shadow beauties!" Sonata bounced.

"Ughh!" Aria slapped a palm to her forehead, glaring daggers at Sonata. "It's 'Sirens', you ditz!"

Sonata stuck out her tongue. "Well, my way sounds better!"

Adagio stepped forward, blocking both of them with her posture and opening her mouth to intervene, but all three were interrupted by Starlight. "That's nice. Now, as initiates joining our society of equals, you're going to have to forget that. All of it. From now on, you are no longer a trio. You are one of us, and you will be no more beautiful, no more musical, and no more shadowy than anyone else here, except the monster because it can't understand a word I say. Is this clear?"

Adagio clutched her cheeks in mock horror. "Oh no! But our song is very important to us. It's what makes us shine above the rest!" She grabbed Starlight's shoulders, and Starlight shoved her off.

Demon Sunset smirked at the display. Sunset chimed in, Their song is how they get people to fight. It didn't affect me last time, though. We're probably still immune to it now. Nodding, Demon Sunset began to prowl closer.

Starlight stared levelly at Adagio. "That's precisely the point. In this utopia, everyone is equal, and this can only be achieved if nobody excels. Thoughts counter to this viewpoint are poisonous to our society and you must absolve yourselves of them at once." Her expression grew darker. "Or, I'll have you thrown in the dungeon as obvious misfits who cannot comprehend our idyllic way of life."

"A dungeon? Sounds kinky," Aria said, tossing her hair at Starlight.

Adagio silenced her sister with a wave. "Is that really your reason, miss... Sorry, what was your name, again?"

Demon Sunset stepped into view. "Her name is Starlight Glimmer, and you'll have to forgive her rudeness. She so happens to be horribly incompetent in every aspect of her life, including music, and in fact is just doing this to spite you." She leaned in to Adagio's ear. "I definitely wouldn't try to rub it in, if I were you. She could be horribly mortified if anyone were to even attempt to outdo her!"

Adagio raised an eyebrow at Sunset and swayed her hips. "Well well! It seems someone's in tune with our thoughts tonight! Hear that, girls? Starlight's afraid she can't stack up!"

Should we really be getting involved with this? Sunset asked.

Trust me. I still need to redeem myself from earlier, I'm not going to try anything funny.

Aria chimed in huskily. "Look at all those slaves over there," she pointed. "I wonder if any of them have any aspirations we could encourage?"

Starlight seethed. Demon Sunset patted her shoulder, earning another kick. "Ow!"

Knock that off, Sunset commanded.

Fine. "Meh, I'm not quite sure I'm bored of this revolution yet. No need for that yet." Demon Sunset pondered, twirling a talon. "Say, you're songstresses. Care to hold a concert this evening in my glorious honor? You have no idea how quiet and boring this place can get at times. What do you say, Shadow Beauties?"

Sonata half-smirked, though she was paying more attention to the general, who was now scrabbling frantically at the shield, trying to get to her, thoroughly bewitched. Aria scowled at her, and Adagio in turn gave Aria a pay attention jab. "Of course we'll put on a show!" Adagio crowed. "That sounds like an excellent opportunity for all of us to learn more about ourselves and our wants! You will be allowing your slaves to attend, I presume?"

Demon Sunset smugly grinned at Starlight, before answering: "I wouldn't dream of anything else. After all, we're all equals here, aren't we? There's no reason anyone should be denied the privilege of hearing your lovely music! Now, if you need any assistance with preparations, I'm sure any of our equals would be delighted to help share the burden! Isn't that right, Starlight?"

Nostrils flaring, Starlight turned and stomped off without a word. Aria smirked. Adagio looked up at Sunset, smiling viciously. "Oh, we'll make this a night to remember. What was your name, again?"

Demon Sunset smirked back. "Sunset. Sunset Shimmer."

"All right, then, Sunset Shimmer," Adagio crooned. "You just enjoy yourself until sundown. We'll take care of everything."

With a final smile, Demon Sunset soared to the roof of the school. "Well?" she asked. "Think they'll destroy eachother?"

You gave the Sirens too big of an advantage. Starlight's just mean, she doesn't have any magical powers to fend them off with. Once she's under their spell, it'll be funny, but completely one-sided. I hope this small of a distraction will be worth it.

"Ah, so this is a distraction now? Sounds like you've got a plan brewing to me, Sunset." Demon Sunset's grin grew a little wider.

I might, Sunset admitted. But I'm not telling you what it is. I still don't trust you.

"Oh, please," Demon Sunset pouted. "Is this about the crown again? I shouldn't need to tell you twice that I have every reason to want it on that you have to want it off! It's not a simple concession, Sunset, it's all or nothing! Surely you understand?"

I understand that if you don't trust me with full control of my body, you don't deserve me to trust you with it, Sunset jabbed.

"Hmmph. Fine. See if I care. Now, where to next?"

Follow the Sirens. We don't need to be unseen, but don't make it obvious. That's an order.

"As you wish!" With that, Demon Sunset soared away.

On the field below, three Sirens walked through a door, giggling to eachother about their good fortune.

"We sure wrapped that up," Aria said offhandedly. "All we need is a place to sing, and the school will be ours in minutes."

"More importantly," Adagio added, "There's Equestrian magic here. Once we get at that, we'll be unstoppable!"

"We'd better be," Aria quipped. "Because there's a massive army surrounding this place, and a magic shield locking us in. I don't want to be stuck here for the rest of my life."

"Aww, relaaax!" Sonata tossed her hair. "Those guys are totally under my control. We'll have them fighting for us, not against us!"

The last of the Sirens stepped through the door, and it slammed shut behind them with a resounding crash. In the distance, a green-eyed general lost sight of his musical admirer, and something clicked.

"Sergeant," he said in a low tone, not moving or looking away. "Start operations to break through this dome. I need to see that girl again."

The officer in question threw a sharp salute, then marched off toward a portable mortar, barking out instructions as slabs of explosive ordinance were prepared.

Starlight Glimmer stood on the roof of the school, having exited through a door in the library dome, taking in the work being done below. The main entrance was abandoned, though more or less complete. Some carvings were probably blocky. She doubted Sunset's foyer statue existed yet.

Behind her was the quarry from which the new entrance had been constructed. It was the present center of activity once again, having been selected as the concert's site due to the increased potential for acoustics. Starlight didn't really believe that, but the Sirens said it would work, and it was their show. Better for her if it was a flop. They were wild cards, and the sooner they stopped messing with her plans, the better. Not that she had much of a plan, anymore.

It was while she pondered how to get rid of them behind Demon Sunset's back that a distant rumble echoed across the grounds, sounding far off and yet all-encompassing at the same time. In fact, it was so omnipresent she couldn't even tell which direction it came from. But she would find out.

"Snips! Snails!" she snapped, summoning the gremlins from where they had been lounging inside the dome.

"Yes, mistress?"

"How can we make your life more brave and glorious, lady Starlight?"

Stifling a scoff, Starlight demanded, "You heard that just now! Go find out what it was, and report back to me!"

Nodding furiously, the two flitted off. Starlight didn't trust them to report accurately, and intended to investigate herself. Before she could fully descend from her vantage point, however, another blast echoed across the school grounds.

She looked about, eventually glancing straight up. Wisps of dark black smoke lingered outside the shield, which was marred by a cracked impact. As Starlight watched, the shield gleamed, and the cracks melted away, leaving it good as new. Great. That stupid army is getting involved. Sunset, you better not drop this shield as another childish prank.

Setting course for Principal Celestia's old office, Starlight quickened her pace. Before she was even halfway there, another bomb rocked the shield, causing her to snarl. At least this will give the Sirens a headache too. Nnngh... Less than a day, and the only way things could fall through more completely is if she tries to throw me out. This was supposed to be perfect! Stupid ideals... I should have brought more contingencies. I shouldn't have assumed everything would work out merely because I'm in the right! And now this failed mission is going to blow up any second, and take me with it. Maybe I should just leave now, and forget about all this. I'd have two days before they could come after me, at best. I think I could get through the shields, if I tried...

She stomped a foot. "It's so unfair!" she whined under her breath, a tear leaking from the corner of an eye. "I shouldn't have let myself get caught up in this! I should have just... just buried my head in the sand, and been happy with what I had! Instead I had to try to help others, and now I'm about to lose everything..."

Reaching the door to the office, she snapped her fingers and produced the key. Before she could unlock it, however, Snips and Snails came charging up to her. "Hey, we found what was makin' all the booms, mistress!"

Starlight glared daggers at the duo, years of practiced control allowing her to recompose her steely expression in an instant. "Fools. I already know what it is. We're under fire from a huge army."

"Um, no, I'm pretty sure it's actually thunder." Snails looked at her with an expression that might have been serious, or perhaps simply unaware.

Starlight raised an eyebrow at them. "Thunder? They're explosions. Bombs. You can see them hit the shield."

Snails just pointed down the hall, in the direction of the entrance. Sighing, Starlight abandoned the office and its contents, and marched after him.

"All right, what is- oh." In the distance, a wall of black clouds roiled, flashing with lightning, casting a dark rain shadow on the lands below. As if for emphasis, another bomb exploded against the shield, and its damage was subsequently repaired.

Starlight shuddered. She looked out at the meteorological juggernaut bearing down upon the school. She thought of the monster that was currently having its way with the brainwashed students. She thought of what was hidden away in the principal's office... and she turned around, facing back into the building with an iron frown on her face. I have to try again. I have to. Whatever happens to me as a result... maybe I can still leave the world a better place.

"Snips! Snails!" Starlight took a step, gaze firmly focused far ahead.

"Yes, mistress?" Two gremlins scrambled to assemble themselves.

"Go pick through the lockers. Find me a pair of earmuffs- good ones. As soon as possible." Starlight broke into a walk, steps large and determined.

"You can count on us!" Two salutes were thrown, and two pairs of wings flitted off into the hallways.

Turning down a corridor leading back to the principal's office, Starlight began to walk faster and faster, an urgent spring added to her step.

Demon Sunset's chosen location to stalk the Sirens turned out to be sitting in plain sight. She reclined on the lawn near the quarry, several students waving textbooks like fans to cool her off. Not that she was hot, or anything. It just looked cool.

Sunset was less impressed. Do they really need to do that? It looks pointless.

Only unless you order me to make them stop, Demon Sunset replied. Is that an order?

No, Sunset thought. I would appreciate it if you would make this barrier a little more soundproof, though, she grumbled as another blast went off.

Nope, Demon Sunset responded, shan't. You didn't make that one an order.

The only reason we are even still speaking right now is because you're... well, I have to. Once I'm back in control, you are never getting to do anything again.

And that was a threat. Didn't I tell you that's not the way to go about things? It's good that you're wanting to be back in control, though. You just might be getting warmer!

Sunset fumed, but didn't have time to think up a reply as Sonata Dusk had wandered over, clearly longing to talk. "Hellooooo!" She grinned, hands clasped at her waist.

Demon Sunset raised an eyebrow. "Well well well, if it isn't the star of the hour. What can I do for you, gorgeous?"

Sonata giggled and blushed, basking in the flattery. "Oh, I was just wondering if you could be super nice and make this place a little quieter? All those explosions and things are totally being mean to our earsies." She pointed to her ears for emphasis.

"Why... of course!" Demon Sunset snapped her fingers, and the barrier flashed. When the next projectile struck several seconds later, its reverberations were considerably less distracting (though Sunset made up for it with her own grumbling). "Did you need anything else? A cuddle, perhaps?"

Sonata swished her hand, palm open. "Aww, maybe later. Right now, I've got a concert to do! You can tell me how much you love me then. Bye bye!"

Well? Demon Sunset asked. She's clearly powerful, yet remains sweet and innocent in spite of it. Did I nail your type again, or what? Even though Twilight didn't work out, it's never too late to try again!

What? No! Sunset responded. She's doing that on purpose.

Yes! Demon Sunset crowed. You're taking issue with whether or not she is sweet and innocent, and not that that's your type? I knew it! I got your type right! You do like Twilight after all! And here I was thinking that went sour because I picked the wrong girl.

Sunset growled. I'm ordering you not to bring up Twilight anymore.

Demon Sunset cut her off with a sigh. Believe me, if we can't sort through this misunderstanding and convince you of what you're doing wrong, the next time I get you someone it will end just as poorly. The error is in your court, Sunset, not mine. All I'm doing is what's best for your self-rediscovery, and I'll do it again and again until you come to terms with what you truly want.

You. Will. Not, Sunset ground out.

Demon Sunset ignored her, yawning and getting to her feet. Fine. You're still in denial. But we both know how this will end. You and me, back together, unopposable and completely fulfilled. Now let's go check out this quarry-theater business, shall we?

She arrived at the edge of the shallow pit. Its bottom had been lined with desk chairs dragged from the school, facing a covered area nestled in the tightest corner of the quarry. Some audio equipment was strewn around near the impromptu stage, being assembled by several former techies and... Starlight Glimmer?

Demon Sunset flapped over to her, landing out of arms' reach. "Starlight Starlight Starlight, I see you've decided to join the festivities!"

Starlight looked up, a pair of fluffy teal earmuffs adorning her head, expression souring. "Of course not. I'm ensuring I have as many avenues I need to keep this brazen show of inequality from getting more out of hand than it already has. Are you ready to put your nature to use, and help instead of hinder me?"

"Take your wildest guess!" Demon Sunset crowed, arms wide.

Starlight scowled. "Why did I even bother?"

Demon Sunset cackled, but was cut off by shouts of alarm as the area was suddenly bathed in shadow. Looking up, Sunset and Starlight saw that the clouds from earlier had now blocked out the sun, and were rapidly overtaking the entire building. The shield stood firm despite atmospheric pressure and continued shelling, but a steady thrum began to permeate the area as sheets of rain beat down against its translucent cyan surface.

The army camped outside wasn't so fortunate, soldiers running for cover as commanders barked out orders, attempting to keep firing. Demon Sunset doubled over laughing, pointing here and there at various hapless troops.

Starlight also managed a grin, careful not to let Sunset see it. Behind them, Adagio sashayed up, swaying in time with the gusts of wind outside. "Hello, ladies," she began. "Due to the dramatic shift in weather, it seems we no longer have to wait for nightfall to have sufficient darkness for our concert! As a result, we can begin the moment preparations are ready. I'm really looking forward to it."

She blew them both a kiss, and turned and swayed away. Sunset thought she saw Starlight staring at her in thought, though a second look revealed only hostility.

"Well, then?" Demon Sunset asked. "Minions! How much longer until my glorious concert can begin?"

Neon spotlights strobed from the stage, refracting against the curvature of Sunset's shield in a corona of color. Three Sirens, clad in revealing new dresses, stepped from behind a stage prop, and an unseen guitar began its deep, deathly strumming. The performers' voices were wordless, staccato wails, washing over an audience transfixed by the crimson light of their pendants.

From Sunset's vantage point in a high tower, constructed just for her, Starlight Glimmer could be seen lurking in the shadows of the background, a scarf wrapped around her head, hat and earmuffs still in place. Odds were, she would try to sabotage the performance, but for now, the Sirens were in their element. Bobbing and swaying across the stage, arms flowing like tendrils of seaweed, they basked in a sea of pinprick stares, offering no incentive to turn away.

Demon Sunset yawned. "Doesn't seem so magical to me. You used to listen to stuff better than this!"

Thinking you can do better is one of the things their song makes you do, Sunset responded.

"By that argument, all bad music is bad! What would you like me to do, say it's the best thing I've ever heard?"

The other thing it makes you do is adore them, Sunset deadpanned.

"Oh. Pfft. What a dandy little paradox that is. Sounds to me they're less of magical seductresses and more of smooth-talking lawyers! ...Very pretty lawyers. Since you're so obviously not content with my choices of romantic partners for you, maybe I should just start picking for myself instead, and show you what a real good time is. Hmm, do you think they'd all join my harem at once, or would I have to get each one individually? ...In the spirit of compromise, we could go for Aria first!"

No! Sunset snapped. I don't care about the Sirens, but I'm ordering you to understand that mind-controlling people is a vile and heinous crime and makes you completely deserve of all the stuff Starlight's said about us!

"Order accepted! I'm now vile and heinous." Demon Sunset smirked. "So, when do we go after the Sirens?"

I can't believe you, Sunset sobbed. What did I do to deserve to be haunted by you? What did Twilight do to deserve you? You're just going to keep this up and never stop, and somehow, one by one all of my friends will think I'm you, and I'll be alone again, and I hate being alone!

"That's precisely the point," Demon Sunset droned. "Perhaps if you can't rely on your friends to do everything for you, you'll try to become more self-sufficient, and realize how perfect it is that you can make others do what you want!"

No, Sunset thought, I've been alone before. I know what it's like. It's horrible, and I was blinded to the fact that there was anything better out there for me. I know what kind of fulfillment is offered by being alone, at the top. And it's empty. I hate it, hate it, hate it and I never want to go back. Why can't you respect that? You say you want to carry out my will, but what I want is my friends! And not by your definition of having! I want them to trust me! And I want to trust them, rather than needing to trust only in myself, because I'm fallible! I've done horrible things before, I used to be a monster! And the only reason I'm not one right now is because I had my friends to bring me back! All the power in the world to carry out my will is useless when I can't be trusted to do what's right!

In the crater below, the Sirens were singing in earnest, pulsing with light, intoning desire and lust to the crowd before them. Already, students were looking at eachother with mistrust in their eyes. Starlight Glimmer had slipped away, undoubtedly with something up her sleeve. Above the protective shield surrounding the school, lights flashed as lightning swirled and shells exploded, failing to breach their target.

"Oh please, not this again. What you want is for your friends to trust you, and to be able to trust them in turn? Sunset, how could you possibly trust anyone more than someone you personally guarantee is forced to be loyal to you, not through coercion but by dominating their very wants? People can betray you. You know this. You've been betrayed before. That is the pain that comes with having no guarantees, a pain destined to be felt by everyone but you, because you. Are. Special."

A sharp smack pierced the cacophony of crashes from above and the sweet beseeching of the Sirens: someone had punched someone else. Yells rang out, and Sunset could see a green magical mist beginning to rise from the students below. Outside the shield, many soldiers were ignoring the rain, pressed up as close as they could get to the Sirens' adulterous voices. Starlight was still nowhere to be seen.

Whatever you think is special about me, it doesn't make me perfect, Sunset snarled. I know about making mistakes! And I know that controlling people is the last thing that will get them to stand up to me when I need to be stood up to! If you win here? If you somehow make me lose sight of what matters to me most? I have faith that my friends will defeat you in my place. I don't want followers. I want people with whom I can share my joy, my love, and my trials and hardships as well! Beat me down as far as you want. Whisper in my ear until the end of my days! But I don't need you, I don't need your help, I don't need your power, and I don't need you trying to control my life!

The Sirens' mics suddenly cut out. In their place, a monotone voice screeched to life over the sound system, shattering any reverie the brawling students may have had. "Dissent breeds strife. To excel is to fail. Equality brings happiness. Reject your differences. Talents are vanities. Embrace your similarities. To surpass one is to harm all. Conformity frees us from our differences. Opinions create sadness. You are no better than those around you."

Looks of rage flashed across the Sirens' faces as they clutched their microphones to their chests, before discarding the articles and singing anew, attempting to cast their voices naturally above the interfering speakers.

A line began to form among the student melee, dividing it into a side within range of the Sirens' aggressive voices, and one without. Green mist flowed freely, and the soldiers standing in the rain were eyeing each other furiously.

Gazing down upon the chaos, Demon Sunset laughed. "Really? Look at everything that's going on down there! What power do you think the magic of friendship has over that war? Right now, I could snap my fingers and bend all that chaos to your will. Is this your idea of good? Because if not, you could stop it! You could stop it all, and all you have to do is accept me. Return me to you, let me regain my rightful place as a part of you, instead of this friendship nonsense you've become so obsessed with... you've replaced me with! What will you do, Sunset Shimmer? Care to make another compromise? New ideals, old methods? You're not going to hear me make this offer again. Or is part of you still true enough to your real self that you can't? You can't stand for anything not going one hundred percent your way? You can't stand to lose?"

Sunset took in the crowd, the battle, the chaos, the storm. She gathered her will, and she responded: No. I will not. This world is not real, and it will pass. Perhaps you're right; I do hate losing. But the biggest loss I could possibly sustain right now is to lose who I am... who I've become: the person I want to be. I don't need you. I'll never need you. My friends are all I need, and they will never let me down any more than I will fail them. And tonight? I will not fail.

"Hmmph. Fine. Have it your way. When you want me back, you'll know what to do. But don't say I didn't warn you!" With a final, victorious smirk, Demon Sunset raised her hands to her head, and lifted off the Element of Magic.

A teal shockwave ran through Sunset's body. She convulsed, shrinking in height as energy mushroomed off her, wings erupting into clouds of ash and colored smoke. Her fangs receded into her jawline; her tail writhed, turning grey and brittle as it detached from her backside. Her claws turned dull, flaking away to reveal soft, human fingers. Streaks of teal energy arced across her skin, restoring it piece by piece to its original golden-yellow. Her hair flattened out, sagging into its original messy cascade affected by the weight of gravity. At long last, color returned to her eyes, and she sat up, blinking.

"I'm... myself again."

You are, said the lavender crown in her hands with Demon Sunset's voice. And if you're feeling up to some friendly advice, I'd advise you get a move on, right now. You might want to see about getting some new clothes, as well.

Sunset looked down at herself. She was still wearing Demon Sunset's strapless dress, which was about twice her size and about as useful as a barrel. Blushing, she set her eyes on the nearest school entry, which happened to be the gym's. I guess I'll just have to raid the locker room once again, she thought. Then she added out loud: "Too bad someone destroyed all my stuff."

Oh, please, the crown said. You didn't want Snips and Snails entertaining their fantasies with your underwear, did you? Even if I had left your stuff intact, would you really want to risk wearing it?

"That's disgusting. Let's go," Sunset said, beginning to examine the tower for a way down- she had flown up.

Oops! Too late! the crown crowed.

"Wait, what?" Before the words even left Sunset's lips, the last flicker of teal transformation magic trailed away, evaporating into thin air. Immediately, the shield above them strobed, flickered, and vanished. The wind, rain and bombshells swept in like ravenous hawks, their flight now unimpeded.

Rainy Ruins

The army outside recovered swiftly from surprise. Wasting no time, the general's squad barged forward, aiming straight for the mosh pit in front of the Sirens' stage. The student brawl continued unimpeded, zealots on both sides ignoring the weather and remaining furious in their fight. Sunset's mind control had vanished, but between the influence of the Sirens and Starlight's grating monotone, there was plenty of vitriol left to embody.

The Sirens themselves had climbed out of the pit via a ladder left at the back and turned their voices toward the waterlogged warriors charging towards them. Not at all minding what the rain was doing to their thin, thin clothing, they sang and swayed, causing the army to form up into a semicircle, pressing to be nearer to the center of attention. The general punched a cadet out of his way as another bombshell flew overhead, impacting a wall in a shower of rubble, the portable mortar embankments having been given no command to stop.

Sunset looked on in horror, shivering from the rain and other things. "You gave me back control at the worst possible moment on purpose, didn't you?"

Well, of course I did! the crown in her hands quipped gleefully in her head. The point is to convince you you need me, dear Sunset. Go on, now. Be headstrong. And the moment you realize you can't make it alone, you can order me to come back! It'll be a win-win for both of us!

Sunset glared over the edge at the muddying school grounds far below, not bothering with a response. "We need to get out of here."

Be my guest! the crown chirped. Oh, but wait, you're stuck up here because you can't fly. Silly me! Need my help yet?

Fat chance, Sunset thought as she climbed out of the tube dress. To her relief, her underclothing wasn't so big as to be unusable, and everyone below probably had better things to look at in the first place.

What are you doing? the crown asked as Sunset shivered harder, a wall of icy water needling into her exposed skin.

"Getting down," she said, eventually adding, "and trying not to die."

Grabbing both ends of the dress, she held it like a hang glider, and wasted no time in jumping from the tower. The dress billowed out above her, marginally breaking her fall, lowering her to a safe velocity, until...

Thud! "Ow!"

Something small and hard slipped from the dress, impacting Sunset's head and causing her to lose her grip. She plummeted the remaining two meters, landing hard on one leg. The crown and object landed beside her, the dress coasting into a growing mud pit nearby.

Well well well, the crown said, it seems to be that piece of the portal I so thoughtfully removed! I think it's trying to tell you something. What's that it says? "You're screwed, put the crown back on?" Admitting you need me has never been so easy!

Sunset ignored it, gasping and holding her leg, tears welling up in her eyes.

Oh dear. Broken bones already? That's not good. You'll hardly be able to go anywhere at this rate! Have I mentioned that demonic transformations come with a free, full-body heal? You could be like new again with just the tap of a crown! All you have to do is acknowledge that I am what you want...

"N-No!" Sunset snarled, biting back pain. "It's... it's not broken. I can walk. You'll see. Grraaugh!"

Grabbing the crown and portal chunk, Sunset propped herself up against the tower's scaffolding. Her leg wouldn't take any weight, but it was intact. More pressingly, she had to get inside and find clothing and a towel before she froze to death. Limping, wrapping the dress's muddy cloth around her torso to protect from the rain, hugging herself to conserve body heat, she slowly made her way to the gym door. She fell once, catching herself with her hands before her leg could take more damage, but sustaining more mud in the process.

"Nnngh..." Straining, Sunset tried to get back to her feet, but her legs wouldn't listen. An explosion rumbled through the black sky above as she put one hand forward and then the other, crawling, dragging herself, doing anything she could to come closer to the door and safety. A flash of lightning illuminated her target before her eyes, inset into the brick wall and still far out of reach.

The thunder that followed joined the crown's assault on her ears, but Sunset couldn't make either out already. Her knee hit a rock in the ground, or possibly a dropped tool. She couldn't feel if it was cut.

Her hair, matted by streams of water, dragged alongside her in the mud like a once-orange raft. Her fists were clenched, containing the items she'd dropped, though she only knew it because she hadn't told them to open. Icy water drained into her eyes, and she couldn't afford to wipe them. It wouldn't have helped; she could feel mud up to her elbows. At least she could feel something.

Limply, agonizingly, she crossed the field, shivering violently and streaked with dirt and rainwater, at last reaching out and touching the door. Any sensation she had had of infinite stamina while being a ghost was clearly gone now; her body felt very much real, and it burned with pain. Or cold, she wasn't sure which. She was also apparently very hungry, even though it hadn't been long at all since Demon Sunset raided the school pantry. Or had it? She couldn't even think straight.

The door handle gave under her press, and she swung it open, hauling herself inside and collapsing on the hard floor in a puddle of water and dirt. The lights had gone off- a power failure, most likely. In fact, she was surprised the power had stayed on period while the shield was up. Maybe her magic had sustained it.

The door slammed shut behind her, bathing the room in darkness except for several patches of dim light cast by the windows, one of which she sat in. The crown and portal chunk lay in the water beside her, and she rubbed herself as hard as she could, trying to regain feeling in her extremities. Can't stop... have to get out... get Twilight, and get out... Warming herself with the fire of her own determination, Sunset began to realize that she was still alive.

A voice echoed out from the darkness. "Hello, former mistress."

Sunset gasped and looked up, clutching the tattered dress to her chest. She knew exactly who it was.

Snips and Snails stepped into a square of stormlight, back to their human forms. They wore slightly mis-fitting clothes, indicating that they, too, had had to change. "We've been expecting you," Snips said, trying his best to sound menacing.

"Yeah!" Snails added. "Why'd you go and take away our cool powers, huh?"

"Yeah!" Snips backed him up, redundantly.

"I've been possessed by a demon," Sunset wheezed. "I'm back to normal now, though. Please, you have to help me!"

"Pffft!"

"Keeheehee!"

The two former henchmen snickered and guffawed, then looked back at Sunset.

"You can't be serious!" Sunset cried. "You're laughing? Help me!"

"A demon, huh?" Snails leered at her. "You wanna know what I see, Sunset? I see that you just got owned! I bet it was Starlight..."

"Yeah! And you deserved it!" Snips added. "We're tired of getting bossed around, former mistress. Well, now the tables are turned, and it's our turn to be in charge! What do you think we're gonna do now, huh? Got any ideas?"

"Hmmm... Ohh, I might have an idea!" Snails replied, perking up in realization.

Sunset shrank back against the door, eyes wide with fright. "N-No! Don't! I need to survive, not... not be..."

The crown cut in. I'm always here if you need me, Sunset dear. But you shouldn't need my help for this. They're two horny freshmen! The power of friendship will surely save you if you just believe hard enough.

Snips and Snails advanced on her, arms outstretched like cheesy zombies. Though they clearly had no idea what they were doing, Sunset wasn't reassured. "W-what do you want from me?" she stammered.

"Take a guess!" they answered, not quite in unison.

Sunset was frozen, unable to think. She was finally herself again, and her reward was this. This. She was at the mercy of two unbalanced, gross freshmen, just like Twilight had been to her- no, the demon- earlier, before Starlight intervened. Without mind control, but that could ironically make things worse... Ironically, Starlight was once again the one person she wouldn't mind seeing burst through the doors with a sledgehammer right now.

Seriously? the crown said. Two useless, incompetent little villains and you completely lose your critical thinking ability? Perhaps you no longer wish to inspire wants, but you should at least still remember how to use them! You have what these two want! You are what they want! You're the one in power here! If you won't use me, at least listen to me! Come on, this is embarrassing! Your friendy-friend Twilight wouldn't freak out like this! She didn't! She kept her cool and even attacked you! You can do better, because you've got me, and you're up against them! Don't throw your body and dignity away due to a little pain and cold water!

Sunset's eyes focused. You're right... I think. Why do you have my back now?

Sunset, don't be ridiculous. I've always had your back!

...Never mind. I can do this. "Snips! Snails!" she barked, weakly. "You think you're going to enjoy yourselves? Do you even know what you want to do to me?"

Snips nodded. "In case you haven't noticed, former mistress, this school is toast! There's an army firing at us, and you blew everything up! You think things are gonna just go back to normal after all this?"

"Nope!" Snails cut in.

"Well, they're not!" Snips continued, swinging a fist. "If we're lucky, we'll all get carted off to labs for magic testing or something! More likely, we're gonna die here, tonight! How do you feel about that, former mistress?"

"We're gonna die!" Snails stomped.

"You've been living your dreams for the last four years!" Snips folded his arms. "And all we've ever done is laughed with you and done your dumb dirty work! Well, now that it's all over, which of us is more deserving of getting their last wish?"

Snails nodded, eyes lidded. "Yeah. We've got some daydreams you could fulfill for us..."

That's your cue, Sunset, the crown warned. Time to decide if you're willing to protect your dignity against this most childish of threats. Needless to say, I'm more than willing to do it for you...

Sunset looked down at herself, then back up at Snips and Snails. Steeling herself, she gulped and forced a frown, tossing the muddy dress aside. "You two are idiots, you know that?"

"No, you're an idiot!" Snips countered. "Hah! I've always wanted to say that!"

Sunset interrupted him, eyes sparking. "You are. You have no idea how big you've scored right now, because all you've ever done is looked at pretty pictures and dreamed pathetic dreams that aren't real life. You have no idea what to really do with the object of your desires once you've got it, and believe me, you won't get this chance twice. Because the moment I can, I'll have you two back under my feet, and I'll grind you into the ground. So enjoy this while it lasts, kiddies... if you can figure out how." Discreetly, she put her hands on the floor, which was still covered in icy water.

This afforded Snips a second thought. "All right, then, former mistress," he said slyly, "what kind of final wish do you have?"

"Watch." Summoning her strength, Sunset slowly got to her feet, staggering from numbness and her hurt leg. Good. They're not trying to stop me yet.

"It doesn't work when it's one-sided," she said. "Real passion needs to be mutual. For it to work, you need to have nothing in the way!" And Sunset lunged for Snails, grasping his face in her hands.

As she had hoped, he yelled and pulled violently away. "Yeeeeowwch! Cold cold coooold!" He rubbed and rubbed at the spots on his cheeks where Sunset's icy hands had grabbed him.

With the burst of forward momentum afforded by his retreat, Sunset toppled back to the ground. On her way down, she grabbed the nearby Snips and dragged him down with her, obtaining a panicked yelp. She spun in midair so she was above him, uninjured side to the ground, and landed on him with a sharp elbow driving into his gut. He wheezed mightily from where he lay, cold water soaking into his clothing.

Sunset reached over from atop him, squirming to grab the portal chunk. She threw it at Snails, hitting him in the back before he could finish recovering from the cold shock.

He flailed briefly, and Sunset lunged toward him along the ground, grabbing his feet and tugging. The floor was still slick where he stood, and he toppled away from her. Sunset dragged herself nearer, pinning him to the ground with her good knee. Grabbing him by the shoulders, she slammed him face-first against the floor, eliciting another muffled groan. Rolling him over, he was out cold.

Sunset crawled out of the puddle, disgusted and proud of herself simultaneously. She had gotten away unscathed, true, but what she had to do to do it... She shuddered.

Behind her, Snips swore. Sunset looked back, and cringed: he was getting up.

"Ow, what was that for?" he complained. Ignoring the shock and cold, Sunset got to her feet again as quickly as she could, readying to tackle him again when he came after her.

...Except he didn't. "What was that for!?" Snips repeated. "Screw you, Sunset!"

Sunset narrowed her eyes at him, leaning over and holding her leg. "What do you think it was for?"

"What did you think it was for!? We just wanted to pretend we weren't at the bottom of the social ladder of this dumb school where we have to lick everyone's boots all the time! All we were gonna do was make you bow a bunch and tell us how awesome we were, and you beat us up for that! You... you big tyrant! We're outta here!"

Madly, he picked up the portal chunk and threw it at Sunset. It missed by a wide margin and bounced off into the shadows, cracking as it hit the floor. Snips picked up his brother and walked away.

Sunset felt sick. "But... Daydreams! Fantasies! You mean you weren't..." she trailed off, calling after his retreating figure.

"Social fantasies!" he shot back bitterly over his shoulder. "Girls are look, don't touch! Every idiot knows that one, idiot! Go back to your cave!"

"I was... you were not!" Rage and defiance lit Sunset's muddy face. "You had me at your feet, I couldn't move! I was barely wearing anything! What did you think you were doing? Don't you guilt me, Snips! Don't you... That was your fault! Get back here! Get back... Snips! Sniiiiips!"

No answer came. Snips was gone, his brother with him, and Sunset's temper soon left her as well. She buried her face in her dirt-stained hands, balance wobbling. "They could have helped me, and I only hurt them... What have I done...?"

I'd say it was a solid B-plus, the crown chimed.

"Shut up," Sunset choked. "You tricked me! You made me think they wanted to... wanted to..."

It was a perfectly reasonable assumption, the crown said. Besides, it's not like you didn't try the very same thing on Twilight earlier. It was on the table!

"That was you..." Sunset trailed off, her words tasting too foul to pronounce. She collapsed back to the floor, no longer able to stand. A shell flew in through a smashed window above and exploded near her, making a small crater and showering her with ashes and dust.

It was, yes. But I speak for you! I'm also simply overflowing with wise words of wisdom! Want some?

Sunset closed her eyes and didn't respond, the cold of the floor slithering into her prone form.

Then put the crown back on, for crying out loud! You're going to freeze to death like this, and then I won't have any purpose! So either buck up and stop wallowing in your recent successes, or let me do it for you!

Sunset's anger returned like a flaring cobra, and she opened her eyes. "You'll never have a purpose. I'd do nothing a thousand times before letting you have your way!"

Then prove it, the crown said, by staying alive. Wouldn't want to leave little Twilight eligible for someone unworthy, would we?

"Rrrraaaugh!" Sunset planted her arms under her, and pushed up into a sit. "Leave." She braced a leg against the ground. "My friends." Pushing, she wobbled upright, crown in hand. "Alone!"

Good! the crown chimed. Use your anger! Let it empower you. But first, go get dried off, or hypothermia's going to set in.

Shortly, Sunset hobbled into the locker room, having recovered the portal chunk. Limping, she turned to the showerhead. "Wonder if they still have any hot water?"

She turned the knob, and was quickly greeted by a spray of blissful mist. An army is currently attacking the building you're in, the crown lectured, and you're enjoying a warm shower. If I didn't know the context, I'd find this delightfully ironic!

I'm taking your advice again, so soon after you tricked me. Be happy. Sunset soaped and lathered the mudstains away, neck aching from the weight of her waterlogged hair. Her leg was beginning to burn more as it warmed up, but she decided that was a price she was willing to pay to restore the rest of her body.

Quicker than she would have liked, the hot water ran out. Figures, she thought. The power's still out. Honestly, she was surprised she could see at all; the only light came from a small hole in the roof inevitably caused by an explosion. Fortunately, it was draining stormwater away from the pile of clothing she would now be needing for herself.

Casting around, Sunset found what was probably a clean towel, and was eventually the driest she'd been in far too long. Wrapping it around her hair, she then examined the clothes pile, searching for something warm that wouldn't irritate her leg.

Miraculously, there was a wetsuit in a nearby locker she hadn't previously raided. Beaming, Sunset held it up: she wasn't sure what something like this was doing in the locker room of a high school gym, but wasn't about to ask questions when it was her size and absolutely what she needed. She also located a thick sweater and a skirt with fairly large pockets to wear over it.

Looking around for useful items one more time, Sunset found a plastic stick that looked as if it had been snapped off a mallet or something. Though it wouldn't be seeing sporting use any time soon, it could still have utility as a walking stick- she sure knew she needed one. It could double as a weapon in a pinch, but hopefully everyone else had bigger things to worry about.

Mentally, she checked the threats around her. The Sirens: out in the field. Starlight: fighting the Sirens. The students: fighting eachother. The army: still attacking the school. They're probably the biggest obstacle. Snips and Snails? Probably ran for the hills. Demon me? Still annoying, still evil, no longer in control.

Wow, such flattery, the crown quipped. Now, do you have a plan? Because those minions of yours were right earlier, this place is coming down, and we need to go. As if to emphasize its point, a shell impacted nearby.

"From what I've learned," Sunset said, "the portal is my best bet for getting out of here. I have to get to it, and fix it. I've got this chunk. I've got the Element of Magic. I can still get my book, which is connected to Equestria. I can also get Twilight, and Spike should be here somewhere too. I'll just have to pray that's enough to make it work..."

Pray? You? To what? You're the strongest thing around, the crown said. Or, at least, you would be, if you'd only accept me!

Sunset ignored it once again, and limped out of the girls' locker room.

She stepped into the gym. A curtain of rain wound through the air from the window that had been smashed earlier. The water pooled on the floor was much wider now, and it continued to seep forward before Sunset's eyes. Carefully, she made her way to the entrance to the rest of the school, skirting the crater caused by the bombshell where much of the water was draining into a pool.

Limping into the hallways, she saw no obvious blast or water damage. Unfortunately, that was because she couldn't see much of anything- there were no windows, the roof was intact, and the power remained off. She hadn't managed to find a flashlight earlier, either.

Trying to search fallen lockers proved fruitless, but pressing on would be difficult with so much chaos on the ground. The hallway was crammed to bursting with ejected desks and all manner of flotsam, and with a hurt leg, roughing it was not the way to go. Thoughtfully, Sunset stepped back into the light from the gym, pulled out her two belongings and examined them.

Hesitantly, she raised a hand to touch the purple gem embedded in Twilight's crown, and it sparked a little. What are you doing? the crown asked.

Sunset's face lit up ever so slightly, and she began rubbing it. "Trying to make this thing useful without getting possessed."

The gem began to shine, and soon a soft lavender glow emanated outward in a beam, illuminating shattered ceiling lamps, cracked wall seams, and buckling floor tiles. Water dripped from above, and there was a heavy rush in the distance. All the clocks had stopped, and everywhere Sunset looked shone of twisted metal and smashed imitation plywood.

"Well," she said, beginning to pick out a safe route in the direction of the library, "this'll work."

Holding the Element of Magic in front of her like a ward, Sunset limped through the hallways, occasionally stopping to polish it when it needed a recharge. She skirted puddles, broken glass, and hanging wires, navigating turns and passages as if she'd lived in the place her whole life. ...Which she more or less had, even if it presently looked and felt like anything but home. Every time a shell impacted above, she cringed and took cover, ready for more debris to fall from the haggard ceiling.

Eventually, Sunset arrived at the broad double-doors of the school library. With a slight grin, she shoved the handle of one.

Nothing happened.

Frowning, Sunset tried the other, which was also stuck. Looking around, she found a mostly empty locker that wasn't too beat up, and with much effort and care, propped it up atop a sturdy desk. A nearby explosion nearly caused her to drop it at one point, but some timely reflexes and a bad cramp later, and it was stabilized.

Flexing her fingers, Sunset shoved the locker as hard as she could, plowing into the library doors like a battering ram. The locker hit the floor and disintegrated; the doors gave a little. Pulling one closed and pressing the other open, Sunset peeked an eye through the crack, trying to identify the blockage.

She groaned. The entire balcony section that ran above the entrance had collapsed, and two tons of splintered planks, torn carpeting and miscellaneous rubble now stood between her and her goal. A trickle of water wound its way through the doors and around her feet, the library dome having been thoroughly demolished and replaced by vicious sheets of incoming rain.

We're okay, she thought, I'm okay. There are entrances on the second story. I'll be fine.

Keep telling yourself that, the crown said. Or, I could just blast it open with a snap of your fingers!

Sunset didn't respond, already having turned to seek out the nearest staircase.

Sunset stared up the stairs, steeling her nerves for whatever lay ahead, the crown returned to her pocket. The staircase itself was thankfully intact, though the sheet of waterfalls cascading down it and the flood of light illuminating the landing bore ill for conditions above. Sunset wrapped her sweater tighter, hugged herself again, and began the ascent.

She wasn't barefoot. She had found a pair of track sneakers that roughly fit her, though they were designed to ventilate, not keep moisture out. Within two steps, Sunset found herself missing her high boots and all their functional beauty.

Another explosion rocked the school. It must have been nearby, because a step buckled under her, and Sunset barely caught herself. The flow down the stairs intensified briefly, as if a dam somewhere had burst and released a bulge of extra water and debris. A textbook floating down the stream toppled past her, and Sunset was grateful it didn't hit her good foot.

Reaching the top of the stairs, she saw the source of the deluge: over half the ceiling had collapsed, and the parts that remained buckled dangerously. Steeling herself, Sunset climbed through, trying to stick within cover as much as possible. She had little success, and her purple sweater soaked up rain like a sponge.

Shivering, Sunset pushed aside a toppled desk and climbed over a twisted locker. Lightning flashed across the sky, and a shell landed in the hallway behind her, causing debris to fall across the entrance to the staircase. Won't be going back that way, Sunset thought.

Gasping, she reached a door. It swung open to reveal the upper balcony of the library. The smashed roof dome taunted her, leaving at least an inch of standing water pooled on the bottom floor. Sunset looked across to the area she had stored her book, and the roof there was fortunately intact. More importantly, as was the bridge across.

She started along the side balcony she had emerged upon, feet squishing on the wet carpet. Suddenly, a shell flew in from the hole at a violent angle, slamming into a waterlogged support column it rested upon. The pillar shattered, causing the floor to groan and tilt in a dangerous slide downward. Scrambling, Sunset crawled along the incline, digging her fingers into a fracture at the top and hauling herself further up.

Suddenly, it gave without warning, and Sunset rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding smashing her forehead against the severed edge as she dropped. The balcony floor hit the water with a wet slap, sending a spray of water away from where Sunset lay. She looked up at the shattered walkway with despair, and groaned. "Unngh... How am I supposed to get back up there now?"

Oh, please. As if you really need me to tell you again.

Snapping at the crown to quiet down, Sunset gazed around. "There's got to be another way up... there!" On the far side of the room was a semi-intact staircase. One of its supports had shattered along with half the railing, and it buckled dangerously. However, it was technically a way up.

As quickly as she dared, Sunset picked her way through the forest of broken dome glass lining the floor beneath the frothing waterline. Damage to her shoes, she didn't care about. Cutting her feet... She didn't want to even think about that right now. Especially not her good one.

Leaning against the computer desk in the middle to support her weight as she progressed, Sunset suddenly felt her foot get snagged on something. She toppled forward, narrowly planting her free one in time to stem her momentum... and being graced by a sharp crick!

Grimacing, she pulled herself free, then sat up on the desk, rain thundering down around her. The bottom of her shoe had been sliced horizontally, nearly in half, but there was thankfully no red. Wiping her brow in relief, Sunset tugged free a shard that had become lodged in the sole, strapped the shoe back on, and continued her slog. One more of those, and I'm done for... Gotta be more careful! Get the book. Get Twilight. Get the book. Get Twilight...

Finding the book trolley laying in her path, Sunset knelt down and righted it, realizing that she could use it to test the way much more efficiently than her feet or walking stick. Leaning heavily on the trolley, she tilted and shoved it to push away anything on the floor, stepping lightly to avoid the shattered glass below.

The wind tore at Sunset's hair as she progressed, making her almost glad it was wet and sticking together. Due to the circular shape of the library and the way in which the dome had cracked, the entire room was a howling vortex of self-reinforcing turbulence, spinning and spinning without end.

The one blessing of this, she realized as she reached the staircase, was that it would be putting pressure against the bottom of the stairs... possibly easing her odds of a safe ascent. Maybe. She found herself regretting her lack of knowledge on wind physics and how big a difference such a force would actually make, but wasn't above taking comfort from the idea. Sunset wasn't sure she was above anything at this point.

Testing the stairs with a hand, they wobbled visibly under the pressure, and she groaned. Well... here goes nothing.

The first step held. Laying low to the stairs, climbing with her hands and knees, Sunset fought to distribute her weight as much as possible, reducing pressure on the cracked and sagging boards and increasing her odds of hanging on during a local failure. Forcing her mind away from the list of things she'd like to do to whoever designed such a thin, easy-to-destroy staircase, Sunset took another step, and another, clawing her way upwards and counting how many steps remained. Eight. She reached out a hand. Seven. She dragged up a knee, hissing as she banged it against a rim. Six. She-

Crrrackk! Sunset reeled, fighting for purchase as a tile in front of her collapsed. Doubled over, the previous step digging into her stomach, her arms flailed for purchase, grasping and dragging herself back onto the topmost surviving step. Her walking stick tumbled away, lost to the chaos below. The detached stairs swayed more freely in the gale as another bomb flew in, detonating the computer desk where she had taken refuge not five minutes ago.

Sunset shivered, looking around. In front of her, the next stair up fell away, and the remnants sagged dangerously. It couldn't end here, she needed that book. It couldn't...

She looked up. The balcony was within reach if she stood up fully, and the railing had been blown away some time ago. An intact support column stood directly next to her, indicating that it could take at least some punishment. It would have to do.

Feeling around for the solidest part of her stair, Sunset uncurled and began to stand. The balcony wasn't as far above as it looked, and she clawed at the wet carpet for purchase with her fingers, then her arms. Leaning against the solid platform, using it to support as much of her weight as she could, Sunset tensed, then jumped for the remnants of the staircase.

It shattered beneath her, but she clung to the balcony, legs flailing for something against which to push herself up. Part of the broken support found her, and with several heaves she was able to drag first her torso, then her legs up into safety.

Sunset lay there, panting. A shell flew by overhead, though it didn't fall into the library. Slowly feeling her strength return amid the hammering rain and her aching, freezing limbs, she got to her knees and then her feet, making a beeline for the area where she had hidden the book.

As she limped, another shell exploded somewhere to her side. A shelf of books blew apart, slamming and pelting into her. "Ahrrrrgh!"

They struck Sunset's good side, spraying across the floor, but she still toppled, crying out in pain as she hit the floor. Heaving, she dragged herself out of the pile and continued to her destination.

She rounded a final corner, and saw the shelf: sitting in a dark alcove, undisturbed. Throwing books off the shelves, she reached for her book, and withdrew it.

It was glowing.

"A new message?" Sunset gasped. "Who could have sent this? Spike should have gone through the portal..."

Open it and find out! the crown chimed.

Shivering, Sunset dried her hands and opened the book, careful not to touch it to her wet clothing.

______Heya, Sunset. AJ here.

"What?" Sunset's eyes narrowed in confusion.

______Spike just came and found me. He had Princess Twi's book with him, said something was wrong. From what he's said, it sounds like there's some weird communication stuff going on, so let me tell you what's going on over here.

First up, you didn't come to school this morning. I hate to say this, but we didn't actually notice until Twi showed up and started asking about you. Basically, the whole school's in a bit of an uproar right now on account of some drama involving Principal Celestia and a car crash, so I guess you could say we had bigger things to worry about.

Anyway, like I said, Twi- the Princess- showed up bright and early, saying something about a magical map and you being in trouble. We tried calling and texting you and got nothing back, so the seven of us got together- classes got cancelled- and went over to your place to look for you.

Nothing. Not a trace, and we searched the whole apartment from top to bottom. Hope you're OK with that, by the way. We were worried about you. Anyway, we were all still pretty spooked by what happened last night, and Pinkie and Rainbow started wondering if the two events were related- you disappearing, and the big crash and all. I figured we were just getting paranoid and skittish, so we sort of just left to go calm our nerves.

Oh, Twi (still the Princess) was getting all jumpy too. She kept saying something about how she had cut you off, and eventually left for Equestria to go try to write to you again. Well, I guess we know how that turned out.

Spike and Twi's book are with me now. We all went home after that, but I'm going to go round everyone up once again and see if we can put our brains together to help you. Hope to have you back soon. And remember, Sunset, we're your friends and will always stick with you. AJ out.

Sunset turned the page to keep reading; there was apparently more to the message. Impatiently, the crown's voice buzzed in her head: Oh, are you just gonna sit around here all day reading that thing one line at a time? We're in the middle of a battle in a storm in a collapsing building! Just skim the pages, and I'll remember everything and tell it to you as you go!

Dubiously, Sunset nodded, and briefly flipped through the remainder of the messages. She didn't read them fully, but it looked like each of her friends had written something. "Got it?" she finished.

Yes, now hurry up, it's raining!

Peering out into the storm, Sunset shivered again, and looked for a safe place to carry the book. Her sweater was soaked through, and her skirt wasn't much better. With a sigh, she opened the wetsuit and dropped it in- it was a tight fit, and she was already hoping she wouldn't have to fight anything, but it worked, and the book needed to stay dry. Sighing, and shivering again from the breeze, she turned to pick up the crown.

The moment she touched it, she knew something was wrong; it was lighter than usual, and bent slightly from her touch. Holding it up to the light, it didn't glint; it had a dull coat of yellow paint instead of polished metal. The lavender star wasn't a gemstone, in this light, it looked more like a giant sticker. The crown was a fake.

"What!? When..." Sunset looked around frantically for the real Element of Magic. "Where are you?"

I'm right here, the familiar voice answered, in you. Where I've always been. As for the crown which presently allows you to use me, I have no idea. The only perceptive senses I have access to are your own, exactly the way you felt when I was in control.

"Then what's this? Who took Twilight's crown!?" Sunset scrambled, searching the floor in a panic, hobbled by her hurt leg and the bulky book bound to her chest. "Who else here can use Equestrian magic? Twilight? Adagio? Someone who can't use it, but just wanted to hurt me like Starlight, or Snips and Snails?"

Whoever it is, I'm sure they wouldn't have stuck around, Demon Sunset said. This hideout of yours is getting less safe by the minute. Now go, go!

"No. It's got to be here. It must. I'll need it, I- gahhhhaugh!" A shell rolled into the alcove and exploded. Sunset was partially shielded by a stack of discarded books and her proximity to the ground, but the blast smashed a hole in a nearby wall, causing the ceiling to tilt and collapse around her.

Sunset rolled, avoiding a large chunk of falling mortar. It's not here! Get out of here! Run! Demon Sunset urged. Needing no further bidding, Sunset struggled to her feet and lurched to the edge of the balcony, into the storm.

Down below, the water level had risen considerably. It now looked high enough to conceal all manner of dangerous objects below- craters in the floor, angled shards of glass from the dome, anything that could potentially do a number on her shoes and her feet. If she was worried about cuts the first time around... The balcony creaked under her weight, swaying dangerously, and she gripped the one intact portion of the railing to stay upright. The stairs she had used and the bridge to the second-story entrance were both completely impassable, having fully collapsed into the maelstrom below.

Casting about for other routes of escape, the ground floor exit appeared to be her only option. The broad double doors remained jammed with debris, but if she could get to them... Fighting the cold, Sunset staggered to the collapsed edge of the staircase.

On this side, the balcony actually ran somewhat completely all the way to the cave-in blocking the doors. The collapsed rubble there was where she needed to go, and it might be her safest shot at a way down, as well...

Making up her mind quickly, Sunset broke into as fast of a walk as she could. Behind her, another support pillar gave out after a bombshell went off near it, and she felt the ground sway beneath her. Get Twilight. Got the book. Get Twilight. Got the book...

Eventually, she reached the blockage in safety. Sizing it up at a glance, Sunset found one particular large chunk of balcony flooring that appeared relatively intact, leaning at an angle to the doors. Hmm... I bet there's an empty pocket under that thing. It's where I'll start, then.

Sunset slid down to the ground floor, relishing the traction that even wet carpet provided at such an angle. Gripping a beam haphazardly so as to avoid splinters ruining her suit, Sunset began clearing the way around the fallen platform. Eventually, it was open enough for her to see that it was, indeed, empty below.

Ignoring her better instincts, Sunset wiggled under and braced her back against the slab. Pushing against the door with both hands, she heaved, adding her good leg against the wall. Suddenly, the platform creaked, groaning away from the door and into a firmly upright position. Panting, Sunset reached out and gave the door handle a tug, prompting it to rustily swing ajar.

With a smirk, Sunset darted forward, flattening herself as much as she could with the book to her chest and slipping through the crack in the doors. As she vanished, the balcony segment teetered, and fell against the door with a resounding crash, firmly locking the entrance closed behind her.

Nasty Narrations

The hallway was a mess, though still considerably safer than the library she had just vacated- provided the ceiling didn't collapse. It dripped with water, fed by the downpour thundering above. Patches of exposed wiring where the walls had been burned away sparked, casting deep shadows along the hall and reminding Sunset just how much darker it was without the hole in the ceiling. Again, she found herself wishing she still had the crown.

Suddenly, she did a double-take, and looked at the sparking wires again. They were lavender sparks. Sunset was fairly sure electricity didn't do that, but she knew something that did.

As she watched, the intercom system choked to life. It sounded hollow, as if animated from beyond the grave, yet the ashen voice that hissed from empty speaker grills was as bubbly and familiar as ever.

Pinkie Pie's voice echoed across the hallway: "Hey hey hey heyyy, how ya doing? No need to interrupt, or stop what you're doing, because this message probably isn't for you! Aww, who am I kidding, you're the only one still here! Silly. Ahem! Sunset Shimmer, please report to the Principal's office for execution!" Click.

The light fizzled and died. Sunset's hair stood on end, and it wasn't because of the cold. "Pinkie? I hadn't even thought about the rest of my friends being here..."

Demon Sunset's voice perked up. Now, now, not to defend the values of the "magic of friendship" or anything, but do remember all this Pinkie Pie's ever seen of you is you being anything but her friend. In fact, I distinctly recall you playing dirty and trying to sabotage her own friendships. She's not on your side, Sunset Shimmer. And neither will be any of the others. The magic of friendship can't help you here; only I can, and that ship seems to have sailed.

"Read me the next part of the message from my friends," Sunset ordered as she began to slowly pick her way through the chaos of the watery hallway, heading in the direction of Principal Celestia's old office.

Very well, Demon Sunset said. Ahem. Here's what Pinkie Pie had to say.

______Hi, Sunset! It's me! Spike says you're having a really bad day, so I read your conversation with him and wow your party got pooped. I mean, being stuck as a big evil witch demon? That's even worse than my handwriting! It's also pretty silly, when you think about it. Yeah, we fight evil magic all the time, but we always win, and then we can laugh about it afterword! It's just, this time you have to fight all alone, and it makes me feel like I wanna cry... But I won't, because if anyone deserves a good cry right now, it's you. Actually, maybe I will cry, so then you don't have to and can focus on beating up meanie pantses! Giggle at the ghosties, am I right? So even though I'm not there, pretend like I am! Pretend I've got your back! And it'll be just like I do, because if this isn't real, you can do anything! Right? Yeah, I think so. Wouldn't hurt to try. We're waiting for you, Sunset! And we're always your friends, so make sure that when you win, you're not too sad in the sad sack to laugh again! Then I'd cry for realsies!

"That's it?" Sunset asked after a subsequent period of silence.

It is, Demon Sunset replied, and for your information, her handwriting really is that bad. I did you a remarkable favor by translating it all for you, and you should be proud.

"Maybe," Sunset said. "First, I still need to get out of here. Wow, this place is trashed."

As Sunset climbed over more fallen lockers and navigated a hanging section of ceiling tile, Demon Sunset piped up again. So you're really going to the Principal's office? Not going to trust in your wonderful, do-it-without-me plan?

"My plan calls for rescuing Twilight," Sunset growled, banging her knee in an attempt to avoid putting weight on her hurt leg. "Even if she wasn't real, I'd still need her. But as-is, for all I know, if either of us die here, we're gone for good, and there is no way I'm leaving without my friend."

You didn't seem to want her when I got her for you earlier, Demon Sunset suggested.

"Shut up," Sunset snarled. "We are not talking about that again, because you're clearly incapable of understanding how what you did was wrong."

All you have to do to make something right is want it to be, Sunset, Demon Sunset singsonged. The only reason it's wrong is because you've forgotten how to see yourself any other way. When will you simply learn to choose what makes you happy?

Any counterpoint Sunset may or may not have made would have to wait, because the intercom hissed to life again, projecting a new voice out across the corridor. "Um, don't you think we should give it some more time before bragging, again? What? This is on already? Ohh, why did I have to go next... Um... Sunset? Sunset Shimmer? Please don't hate me for this, but-" slap! "-ow! I'm trying!- even though you probably already do, because you're a 'monster' and can't do anything else, um... I'm sorry, Twilight, I'm doing my best! Please give that back! Please don't-" click.

Sunset froze, blood running cold once again. "...Fluttershy?" she pleaded with thin air. The she sighed. "Well. This complicates things."

Not that I'm complaining, but you sure changed your tune fast, Demon Sunset chided. Whatever happened to friendship being magic? No longer believe in your friends?

"No, not that." Sunset clicked her tongue. "That... that definitely wasn't real. Fluttershy might turn on me, but not Twilight. And did you notice how Twilight never actually said anything? I don't think she's there at all. I think this is a fake."

Why, Sunset, how coldly rational you get when you go into shock! Demon Sunset chortled. Please do snap out of it, though. You're not as fun to tease like this, and we both know it's an act.

Sunset growled. "It's not shock! I'm trying to figure out what's going on, not provide amusement, and nothing about this adds up!"

What a pity, Demon Sunset whined. Maybe I'll take a turn being all obstinately goody-goody, 'my friends are loyal to me, this is a hoax,' and you can pretend to be me, instead?

"No."

Excuse you, Demon Sunset pouted, did you even read my script? You're supposed to berate me about how much I hate being alone, how I'd rather have friends I can count on rather than ones who betray me the moment they learn what I deserve, like little Twilight. And remember Celestia, so long ago?

Sunset cringed. "Stop it. I don't even have the crown; you've got nothing to gain from being annoying."

On the contrary, I'm trying to cheer you up! Demon Sunset giggled. I enjoy being me very much. It helps take the sting out of things when the world decides to throw poo at your life. 'Giggle at the ghosties,' as your friend put it. Don't forget, I know all about being left for dead by those I thought cared about me...

"Well, it's not helping. Tell me what the book said, instead. And be honest!" Sunset snapped, gingerly climbing over a pile of mortar where an explosion had pushed a wall inwards.

Honest? I can't say Honesty's ever been an element I've been a firm believer in. Far too easy to manipulate, if you ask me. However, I'd never dare defy a direct command from you, so telling me to be honest is but a needless complication! Ahem. Let's see what Fluttershy has to say, shall we?

______Hello, Sunset. This is Fluttershy. Spike said it's all right for me to leave a message in Princess Twilight's own book, so this must be pretty important, huh?

I know you're going through a lot of pain today. It must be really, really awful... But Sunset, you've been through more than any of us already! Remember at the Battle of the Bands, when the whole school thought you were a monster, and even though we said we were your friends, we left you on the sidelines and told mean jokes and fought with each other and really, really didn't act like it? You got through that! You became the school's hero, and you saved us all in the Friendship Games! You're strong, Sunset. Stronger than someone like me could ever be...

Back then, when the Sirens were around, we said we were there, but you didn't really have us. Now, we're actually not there. Or maybe we are, and don't even like you yet! But Sunset, we are your friends now. I know that if you're still the same Sunset Shimmer who could take on the world and become stronger for it, you can do it here, too!

I know this message is long, but I have a favor I do want to ask. Applejack and Rainbow Dash think you've been kidnapped by a monster, and that someone is doing these awful things to you... Someone who must hate you very much. If you find them, after you win, please go easy on them, OK? Remember, that's how we became your friends, and now it's how we're becoming Sci-Twi's friends. But if you can't... we'll forgive you. Just come back. Please?

There you go! Fluttershy's message, as written! Demon Sunset chimed.

Sunset stared in thought. "Sci-Twi? Wait, the magic-stealer... what if she's the Twilight here, and not the princess? No, that doesn't make sense, in the locker room she-"

I hate to interrupt your fascinating fountain of friend-doubting, but it's not her, Demon Sunset interrupted.

"Oh?"

Applejack wasn't clear about whether or not she was there, but she did leave a message for you here like the others.

"Read it," Sunset commanded.

Hmm. Are you sure? Wouldn't it be infinitely more poetic if I read it after she takes her turn on the intercom? I wouldn't want to use up all this goodwill before you really need it...

Sunset's brow furrowed. "You promised to tell me what was in that book. Going back on your word right now would be an excellent way to make me trust you even less than I currently do."

Oh? Is that an implication that you trust me, dear Sunset?

"Trust can be negative," Sunset returned. "Where you are now... I'd rather meet Discord than say another word to you."

Oh, that old kook? You know how I feel about chaos, Sunset, Demon Sunset chuckled. Listen, as much as I'd love to see the look on your face when you realize what Twilight has to say, you're not currently near any mirrors, and actually have things to do. Keep going, keep trying not to think about how screwed you are and how much your friends have failed you, and I'll tell you when it would be funnier!

Sunset silenced her curmudgeonly companion with exasperation. "Gah. You know what? Forget it. I don't care what Twilight wrote. Come on, we need to get to that office."

Hey, that's what I said! Demon Sunset complained as Sunset trudged further into the shadowy hallway.

Sunset Shimmer navigated a cluster of discarded desks in relative silence. The rain thundered down above, and myriad drips echoed throughout the long hallway, but somehow all the noises caused by falling, running water served only to make the silence more oppressive.

Sheets of water ran down the walling in places, already causing it to warp and distend, rupturing from the poorly distributed weight of the wreckage above. Sources of light were few and far between, often coming in through mere cracks in the ceiling- cracks that also brought more water. The good news was that, free of the windchill, it wasn't actually that cold- extremely unpleasant, but Sunset could still feel her extremities.

Have you noticed that the bombing's stopped? Demon Sunset asked.

Sunset had, but hadn't registered it as important. Yeah. Why? she thought, to conserve breath.

Something must have happened out there. Maybe that army got what it wanted! Or maybe they realized there's no sense in tearing down a building that's already trashed worse than your current hairdo?

Or the Sirens won, Sunset responded. Or even Starlight. Probably not, though. There was so much fighting going on, I'd actually count on the army losing.

Oh, since when are you such an optimist? Aside from, you know, realizing that your friendship with Twilight is a farce?

Sunset didn't reply. She was looking around the next corner, at the last hallway leading to the Principal's office. It had completely collapsed, and was probably impassable. She'd have to find a way around. Before she could start checking other doors, however, the intercom began to spark once again.

"Hello, is Sunset Shimmer here?" Rarity's voice cooed. "Oh, silly me, of course she's here. She'd never abandon this school after spending so much effort to conquer it. It's funny, because the place really is a wreck right now. Nopony would want such a thing! Ever heard of 'cutting your losses,' Sunset Shimmer?

"Believe me, Sunset, I know a thing or two about hoarding every last little acquisition. It's practically second nature! But what I can't understand is why you would throw away the one good thing you got out of all this mess! You do know who I'm talking about, right? Twilight Sparkle? She really loved you, you know. And you had her! You could have given her everything she ever wanted! But instead you took, and you used her for your own, selfish pleasures! You traded a lifetime of happiness for a few minutes of lust! Are you satisfied, Sunset Shimmer? You'd better be, because you're never going to get a chance like that again!

"Would you like to know what she said about you, Sunset Shimmer? Would you? Well, I'm not telling, because you don't deserve to know after what you did! But if you want to find out... come to the Principal's office. We're all awaiting you, Sunset Shimmer." Click.

Sunset grimaced. "Well, that's definitely where they are. Either Twilight really did rally all of them against me just to get me back, or someone's trying very hard to frame her. I wanted to think I knew her better than this, but... what could possibly be the point if it's a setup? Who else here can even use Equestrian magic? The Sirens? They love a fight, but should be too busy outside to bother with this..."

It's the first one, Demon Sunset said. Trust me on this, I know about revenge.

"Yeah, I don't think so." Sunset ducked around a hanging roof tile as she went to investigate a nearby door. "Twilight's forgiven me for way worse than this before. I stole her crown, tried to take over her world, and even tried to kill her! ...Which was probably you, in hindsight, because I don't kill people or ponies. For that matter, she doesn't even care about my record in Equestria without even knowing what it is! And if she's using magic, which means she has the crown, wouldn't she know I'm back to normal?"

Sunset instinctively tried to pace, but thought better of it when her leg complained. "Additionally, everything that's happened to her so far has been inside this world. There's no reason Twilight would have to make this dream-world! And she was trying to get me out, earlier! Even if she's somehow against me now, she can't be the only one behind this. There must be some piece I'm missing... this just doesn't make sense!"

Oh, what fun is there in making sense? Demon Sunset cooed. Look at it the other way! Who would possibly have the means and motives to go after you? Oh, I bet Twilight has a lot of enemies, but she made them all after you left Equestria!

"What if... what if Twilight's actually the one this world is intended for?" Sunset wondered, eyes widening. "What if the only reason I'm stuck here is as bait? What if she really did like me, and one of her Equestrian enemies found out about it? Maybe this whole thing is a trap by some magical monster meant to hurt her, and I'm just a random casualty? What if she really is in that office, and the reason she's acting so... wrong is that she's had someone hammering away at her psyche this whole time, too? I know I wouldn't have tackled Snips and Snails like that at the start of this mess..."

An interesting theory, Demon Sunset remarked. Too bad you don't have the power to make everyone around you simply not want to do things like this, hmm?

Sunset sighed, peering through another door. This one, however, had a hole smashed in the wall at the far side of the classroom. It looked somewhat unstable, but she had dealt with far worse over the night's course, and it would lead to another hallway to the Principal's office. She stepped through the door.

A curtain of mist sprinkled her; she hadn't realized the extent of the hole in the room's ceiling when looking in from the hallway. Wanting very much to avoid another dousing, Sunset began navigating the far edges of the room, sticking to walls that looked slightly safer and taking the long way around. Just because the shelling had stopped didn't mean she wanted to take any chances.

"Tell me what Rarity wrote," she commanded as she stepped, leaning on the walls to take weight off her hurt leg.

As you wish. Ahem.

______Sunset, guess who? It's Rarity! Everyone else has said what I'd like to say very well already, we really are all right behind you, dear. Listen, if you're fortunate enough to get in a battle with the forces of evil, and it should take place in front of an audience, even if that audience consists of teenage zombies, you have my full permission to go through my workroom at the school and borrow some of my dresses for the occasion.

Oh, Applejack is saying I should take this more seriously, tell you something "useful," but really, isn't this exactly what I would say if I were there with you? Think of it as a reminder of who we are, darling! And of who everyone in this fake dream-world isn't. You're our Sunset, not theirs. Nothing you do or have done to you there matters! We want you back, Sunset. And if Twilight's there with you, bring her back safe and sound. We're all behind you!

There you have it! Demon Sunset crowed. Any insightful new wisdom gleaned, Sunnybun? Did it contain any hidden clues as to the true perpetrator at play?

Sunset merely growled.

Before Demon Sunset could respond, the intercom came on again. Sunset groaned.

"Hey Sunset, you hearing this?" Rainbow Dash's voice cracked and hissed. "You better be, but to be honest? I really can't tell! Because anyone who really wanted to come to the Principal's office could have made it here ages ago. I'm not talking about me and my awesome speed, I'm talking about nerds who can't lift their legs to save their lives. Err, no offense, Twilight.

"Nah, I'm gonna guess you took Pinkie Pie a little too seriously earlier and bailed. Execution? Please. After what you did, that's far too good for you. No, the six of us and this Element of Magic here are gonna whup your butt with the biggest rainbow laser you've ever seen, and when you're sitting here, powerless, in front of us? When you crawl out of the ground, begging us for forgiveness, for a second chance? We're gonna laugh in your face. And then we'll leave, and you'll get to stay here, helpless and alone, the queen of a trashed building and nothing else!

"Twilight says she knows a way to take us so far away, you'll never be able to find us. Ever. And you know why she's right? Because she's perfect! Far more perfect than you could ever be, Sunset Shimmer. So stop hiding and show your dumb face, so we can get out of this dump. We'll treat Twilight far better than you could ever imagine. Wanna know how? By not being monsters." Click.

Sunset grimaced. "That sounded way too rehearsed. What did the real Rainbow Dash say?"

Nothing! Demon Sunset chimed. The real Rainbow Dash is a carefree pegasus in Equestria, who's only briefly seen you when you stole Twilight's crown. To my knowledge, at least. As for what the Rainbow you call your friend wrote, however, here you are!

______Hey, Sunset! Your friendly, local Rainbow Dash here! Listen, you know we're rooting for you already, but here's what's up.

Me and the girls- that's AJ, Flutters, Pinkie, Rarity and Sci-Twi- all met up at school after AJ texted us to tell us what Spike said. We've given it some thought, and the six of us going back through the portal to Equestria. We're going to find out how Twilight got from there to wherever you are now. And then? We're going to follow her!

Yeah, we'll probably spend some time getting disoriented due to turning into magical talking ponies. But if Twilight's in there with you, and Spike didn't even see her between when she came out of the portal and got to your world, how hard can it be?

So once we get in, we'll track you down and do that rainbow-laser thing again. Since you've got the crown and it's just like last time and all, we should totally be able to take you down and get it off! Once you're back to normal, we'll find Twilight, give her the crown, and just fight our way through whatever jerk monster is keeping you there.

Until we find you, Sunset, remember: there is no way this isn't shady business. Whoever or whatever's got you in there is definitely serious! And they'll totally try to play dirty and get under your skin, too.

Once we get there, we can totally own anything with pure awesomeness, but before that, don't listen to anything, don't trust anything, don't do anything. For all you know, anyone and everyone is trying to confuse you and nobody is who they say they are. Don't do anything that could hurt any Twilights you see, just in case, but I'm sure she'll forgive you if it's something minor. Got it? Don't listen to anyone, especially folks you care for.

When we find you, you'll know it's us and not imposters with this password: "chimicherrychanga." That was Pinkie's idea, by the way. Stay sane, Sunset. We'll see you as soon as we can. Try to hold out.

-Dashie

Sunset's eye twitched. "That's. Just. Great. Girls, I'm already back to normal, I don't have the crown, and Twilight's probably been turned against me! You six are just going to be more people I have to protect, and I'm doing so well keeping myself safe already!" She glared down at her injured leg.

Well, I'll be! Demon Sunset crowed. Your friends are coming for you after all! I hope they like what they see when they get here. If they do at all. You don't suppose these are them, talking over the intercom, trying to confuse you?

"That's ridiculous," Sunset said, limping closer to the hole to the next corridor. "They can't do that. Even if you believe they would- and I don't- there's nothing that could have caused that fast of a change of heart. Even if Twilight somehow did betray me, and tried her best to turn them against me, they're too suspicious. They'd never trust what she said! Though apparently, the same can't be said for the them of this world..."

Oh, but look on the bright side, Sunset! We're in agreement, for once! Those six you call friends certainly have abandoned you this time, haven't they?

"Time to find out." Steeling herself, Sunset stepped through the hole, and found herself staring straight at the door to Principal Celestia's office, at the end of the hall.

Wincing heavily, she did her best to march forward. Rubble and uneven footing impeded her, and the light coming from her entrance was at a poor angle to illuminate the contours of the shifting, broken floor beneath her. It was, at least, moderately dry here- the standing water wasn't deeper than the soles of her waterlogged shoes.

Ahead, the office door was bisected by a triangle of light shining through the cave-in which had blocked her path earlier. The storm still raged outside, its massive stormwall having passed but in no way dissipated. To the right, Sunset hoped, was a hallway intact enough to take her straight to the foyer, once she had what she'd come for. And she would get Twilight, no matter what had happened to her, even if the intercom had been telling the truth.

She paused, five meters from the door. "All right, girls," she proclaimed, "I'm here. I'm coming in, and I'm going to take back everything that doesn't belong in this world! Any last words?"

My, my, such bravado. Why, if they didn't have magical powers, they might not even already know that you're bluffing! Seriously, forget Twilight, get that crown. All you have to do is get me back, and I can fix this whole thing!

"Fat chance," Sunset muttered.

As requested, the intercom sparked once again and sputtered to life.

"Howdy, Sunset. I see you've made it. AJ here, and I'll be your final host for tonight's show.

"Since you've somehow put up with everything we've had to say to you, I can only presume you're determined and stubborn enough not to turn back, no matter what. Seems to me like you think you can rule the world all by yourself, and the magic of friendship has no place in your life, huh? You certainly did a mighty fine job of rejecting it earlier, I'll tell you that. Do you have any idea how hard it was to console Twilight after the things you did to her? Heh- not that you'd care, or anything. You're probably even enjoying yourself right now.

"Aww, shucks, listen to me, I'm rambling. Let me get to the point. Sunset Shimmer, when I got up the other day, I was still never planning on talking to Rainbow Dash ever again, and you were to blame for it. Thanks to Twilight, we made up, and we even got together and won an election and fixed up the gym with our friendship! You see what friendship can do? Even when you're only focused on destroying stuff, there's stuff you just can't get done! Stuff that's done together.

"Yes, when the whole school comes together, it's a wondrous sight, Sunset Shimmer. One you may never have the privilege of being able to appreciate, because you unite people the wrong way- through fear, intimidation, and straight-up mind control. Yes, Sunset, you're pretty much rotten to the core.

"However, friendship isn't just about sticking to your own kind, and since I got a second chance with Rainbow, I'm willing to give you one too. Yes, we're willing to make a deal with you, Sunset Shimmer. Now listen up! You can turn around, right now, and walk away. Outside, in front of the wondercolt statue, is a van driven by one of my friends. It'll take you far away, somewhere where you can start a new life, one that you can learn from. And if we ever meet again, after that? We just might be inclined to forgive you, on two conditions. One! You never, ever try to use your freaky mind control again. Two! You don't speak to Twilight any more than is absolutely necessary. Follow me so far?

"Here's your other option. You can open this door, right here, right now, and come in to this office where the six of us are waiting, and we'll give you what's called a trial by fire. That means we blast you with a big, rainbow laser beam. And if anything in you is somehow pure enough to survive, we'll consider doing business with you... on our terms alone. Here's a hint: you probably won't like them one bit. And that's our offer, and it's final.

"We eagerly await your decision." Click.

The intercom went silent for the final time. Sunset stared at the office door.

Well? What are you waiting for? Demon Sunset prodded.

"I don't want to make any rash moves," Sunset replied, sizing up the door. "I need to get Twilight. I'd never be able to live with myself if I got out of here and she didn't. But if I go in there and they really do have some sort of weapon- the Element of Magic- I'll just be in an even worse place than I am now!"

Meh, Demon Sunset said, I doubt it. That isn't them, it's just a hoax. Twilight definitely wouldn't turn her back on you like this, it simply doesn't make sense!

"Oh, you can just go sit on the biggest cactus, and..." Sunset stomped, immediately cringing as a jolt of pain shot up her leg. "Stop constantly agreeing with me like that! Or... disagreeing, or agreeing with whatever I just changed my mind about! It's really annoying!"

Actually, I was being serious! Demon Sunset shrugged. Since when is Applejack a good liar? Never, that's when! It's how you used to keep a leg up on her! Now, she's almost as natural as you are. It's like she's reading from a script!

Sunset raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what? She was lying? How?"

She said she and her friends rebuilt the gym, Demon Sunset answered smugly.

"But they did!" Sunset protested. "I was there, I saw it! You probably did too! What do you mean, they didn't?"

Oh, they very much did in your world. But in this world, this time around? I did it.

"Wait..." Sunset said, thinking. "I started this dream after the wall was broken, right before I attacked Twilight and she broke the portal. You mean to say you were here before that?"

Oh, yes. Would you like to hear about my glorious accomplishments?

"Yes, I would. Tell me everything," Sunset commanded.

As you wish, Demon Sunset said.

It must have started... oh, I think it was yesterday morning, yes yes yes. Anyway, I went about our business, conducting myself exactly as you had- we were still together then, you see, so I know this stuff. And nothing funny happened until after that lunch episode, where your "friends" sang and danced and handed out pony ears. You see, I ordered Snips and Snails to trash the gym, and they did exactly as I asked! With exactly the same amount of overkill as when it really happened.

Well, that was fine, because I knew Twilight and her friends would come clean it up in time for the big dance to continue on schedule. So I hid in a closet to spy on them, and watch them work! Friendship is so amusing, sometimes.

But then, as I watched, they didn't appear! They were late! Something must have happened. But I knew the show must go on, in order to give you the crown in time to raid Equestria as usual! So, I simply coerced some passing students into cleaning the place up for me. They did a very poor job, I admit, but it was enough for me to win the crown, transform, and bring events back on track! Aren't you proud of me?

"Wait, you won the crown?" Sunset asked, eyes narrowed. "But in the real world, Twilight won, and I stole it from her."

Oh yes, that! Apparently, what had happened was that Twilight got herself disbarred from competing for trashing the gym! Beats me how she never did in our world, for that matter.

"You never found out?" Sunset asked. "I inquired about it after I was reformed. It turned out Flash Sentry found the cutouts I used to forge those photos in a trash can, and took them to vice Principal Luna. Wait a minute... where is Flash, anyway? I haven't seen him this entire time..."

Interesting. Now that you mention it, neither have I! You don't suppose he's behind all this, do you? Because it looks like his intervention alone- or lack of it- is responsible for things going so off-track. I wasn't tracking Twilight and her friends, but I suppose this could have caused them to have a falling-out such that they didn't even show up to fight you, and Twilight was desperate enough to use the hammer, instead?

"So... what you're saying is that this entire world could match up with... with what would happen if a single person did one thing differently?" Sunset's eyes widened as she took in the implications.

Beats me. Do remember, Sunset Shimmer, that you and I parted ways during your "reformation." I possess none of your memories from that point forward, and thus have no way of knowing if anything else in this world is out of place that couldn't be Flash's fault. Of course, I do recall him and Twilight having a little thing for eachother that day before she did you in... Say, you don't suppose he found out that she likes you, instead? What if this entire shindig is an elaborate plot for revenge, fueled by a love triangle and designed to ruin any chance you and Twilight have of forming a 'real' relationship? Much as I find your idea of romance ridiculous, this does have that dramatic touch...

Sunset groaned, and held her head. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but that actually makes sense. More sense than you know. You didn't see him after that, but he was really into her, and... Yeah, he'd have reason to try something like this. I never bothered to get to know him well enough to see whether or not he would, but..." She sighed. "The only question left is, how?"

Oh, pfft, that's easy, Demon Sunset scoffed. All he would have had to do is find someone who can use Equestrian Magic and has a grudge against you! And find a spell that could do something like this, of course. I don't see why you're so concerned about this, though. It doesn't matter who, how or what put you here! All you need is me!

"The Sirens, maybe?" Sunset pondered, hand to her chin. "We destroyed their song magic, but they're still Equestrian, so with the right artifact... Come to think of it, they were pretty friendly to us earlier. I hadn't thought about it then, but what if they were trying to avoid a confrontation until they could pull something off?"

Even more reason for you to get the crown back, Demon Sunset chimed. Wouldn't want to go up against two armies without some way of swaying them to your will, would you?

"And the spell used..." Sunset's eyes widened. "Flash has the best excuse out of anyone from the human world to visit Equestria, and would do so by appearing in a huge library full of arcane magic!"

Congratulations, Demon Sunset deadpanned, you've cracked the riddle. Solved the conundrum! Pierced the illusion! Turns out, friends aren't trustworthy when you don't control them! In other words, you learned nothing useful you didn't already know. Now can you get a move on and put the philanderer in his place so we can get back to talking about me? The door is right there!

With a breath, Sunset nodded, flung open the door to the office and stepped inside.

The office wasn't dark as Sunset Shimmer stepped inside, but no human sat at Principal Celestia's desk. Instead of six friends waiting to blast her, a contraption lay there, flickering with lavender flame. It sported an antenna and wires running to the intercom mic, which bore signs of amateur physical modification.

"A wireless transmitter?" Sunset held her breath. "That's what this looks like... Nobody was ever here in the first place, were they?"

Oh, someone was here all right. Why don't you relax a bit, and take in the decorations?

Sunset looked around again, walking further into the room, and gasped. She was surrounded by six mannequins. Five of them bore her friends' full outfits, and the one straight across from her was bare. Eyes darting back and forth, Sunset reached out to one as the walls danced with lavender shadows.

Pinkie's clothes hadn't been pressed. Likely, they hadn't even been washed since they were last worn. Same with Applejack's, and again and again as she continued along the circle. Sunset didn't know if her friends kept spare copies of their regular outfits on campus, but stopped herself before she could think too much about it. The mannequin that must have been Twilight's, after all, was bare.

Demon Sunset helpfully continued the train of thought Sunset wouldn't. Ooh, it seems someone's eloped! Or, rather, some six. What was it Rainbow Dash said, on the intercom? 'We'll treat Twilight far better than you could ever imagine?' It seems she was being serious! Who knew?

"Not right now," Sunset calmly admonished. "They're clearly fake. Help me look for clues. There's some kind of sinister message in here, waiting to taunt me..."

Like that rolled-up piece of parchment stuck between the Twilight mannequin's you-know-whats?

Sunset looked, facepalmed, and took the scroll, unwinding it and spreading it across Principal Celestia's desk, reading by the lavender light of the transmitter.

______Hello, Sunset Shimmer. If you're reading this, you chose poorly. Me and my friends are waiting in the van out in front of the school. We were testing you, to see if you were willing to make the sacrifice required to gain their trust- and regain mine. All you had to do was try, Sunset Shimmer. But you couldn't face exile a second time, could you?

You will never change, Sunset Shimmer. You're out of second chances. I really believed you were getting better for a while, that you could defy your evil, true nature and live in peace in a community without magic where you could do no harm. But you proved me wrong, and I hate being proven wrong. I hate giving up on people, on ponies, and today you've made me do both of those. I hate you, Sunset Shimmer.

We're leaving, now. Leaving this world, leaving you to rot, and never looking back. I've already prepared an excuse for your disappearance in your world; nobody will miss you or know to look for you. Good bye, Sunset Shimmer. I wish we could have been friends.

-Her Royal Highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle

Sunset put the note down with a slam. "This is Twilight's hornwriting."

Yeah, so?

"That's very different from her handwriting. We saw it when she signed up for the Fall Formal, remember? It's gotten better, but she still very rarely writes in the human world. This script, though... it's exactly how she writes to me in the book." Sunset tapped the note, rereading what had been written.

Another mystery, big deal, Demon Sunset pouted. Why bother with all of this when you could be getting me back instead? I'm serious, I'm very helpful! You'd never meet a problem you couldn't solve with persuasion and brute force ever again!

"Because rushing in unprepared is how I'd fail to save my friend," Sunset answered, eyes hard. "This doesn't add up. Flash doesn't know what Twilight's hornwriting looks like. Neither do the Sirens. There must be a third party in play who could have forged this! One that wouldn't know her hands aren't the same..."

You're overthinking this, Demon Sunset chided. Obviously, Twilight used the crown to give herself telekinesis, and wrote that way because she was more comfortable doing so. Would you please stop goofing around already and go get the crown?

"I don't see why I should stop annoying you when you're so dead-set on bothering me." Sunset folded her arms, and took a step back. "And no, that's not the answer. Even if she did that, Twilight doesn't sign her name that way. But... fine. I do have a princess to save, and five friends to track down, so here goes nothing."

Sunset stepped toward the door, when a voice called out behind her. "Hello? My little pony? Is someone here?"

"Wha-" Sunset whirled. "Is that... Vice-Principal Luna?"

"Princess," responded the shimmering voice. "Who are you? Are you the inhabitant of this twisted dreamscape?"

Sunset's eyes widened. "D-Dream? So this really is..."

"A nightmare, yes," Luna's voice responded. "And it is unlike any I have ever seen. Pray tell, are you not located in Equestria? I have never felt your presence before in this realm, pony."

"I... I'm not, no."

"Listen well, my little pony. My connection to you is unstable. Dreams like these can only be born of the guiltiest of souls. Before, I have only felt them in those who sit on pasts filled with monstrous crimes... heinous blemishes on their souls."

Sunset blinked.

"The dream is your conscience's way of crying out to you when it has otherwise been silenced. It demands reparation... acceptance, apology, and forgiveness. And they will continue to come, stronger and more painful, until you realize what it is you must do to end them... to atone for your crimes, and ensure they never happen again."

Sunset shook her head furiously. "Sorry, your Majesty, but no. This isn't just a nightmare, I have friends trapped in here. I have a book, it lets me write to the outside world. Princess Twilight is here, Luna. This isn't a dream, it's real."

"And how do you know they are real, Sunset Shimmer?"

"I-"

Demon Sunset cut her off. Hey, Moonbutt, is that your sexy voice I hear? Had any good escapades lately? Gotten that official heir counter up into the triple digits yet?

Sunset's eyes bulged. "What are you doing!?"

"My little pony?" Luna's voice asked quizzically. "I'm afraid I do not understand. I'm trying to help you end this cycle of nightmares."

Hah ha! Demon Sunset barked with glee. In your face, fraud! I win, you lose!

"Hello? Sunset, are you there?"

Demon! Sunset hissed internally. What do you think you're doing? Luna can help me! She can end this dream!

Obviously, that's not Luna, Demon Sunset drawled. First off, she knew your name when you hadn't said it, despite obviously trying to sound like she hadn't heard of you earlier. Obvious amateur slip-up, I know. Second, she insists there's no outside forces acting on this dream, which implies she thinks I'm a product of your imagination, which means she should be able to hear me! Since she can't, she must not really be Luna!

"I..." Sunset gulped. "Sorry, Princess, but real quick... how do I know you're not just a product of my imagination, too?"

"Perhaps I am," Luna's voice replied. "But in that case, would I not be a pony you trust to help you? This is a psychological trap of your own creation, Sunset. Thus, you must possess the ability to create answers as well. Perhaps I am the avatar for those answers. Here my words, Sunset Shimmer. Let the dream play out. I can sense that you are nearing the ending... Go where the dream takes you, and it will show you the answer. Trust that it will show you what you must do to set your soul at rest..."

Luna's voice faded, fizzled out, and was silent. Sunset blinked.

Well? Demon Sunset asked. I fully think this is a trap. So who do you believe, Sunset? Me or her?

Sunset bit her lip. "I was banished long before Luna returned. For all I know, her return was the catalyst for... for what happened to me. If I'm making this up, I wouldn't have subconsciously picked her to tell me what to do."

I'm glad you finally see that I'm working in your best interest, dear Sunset.

"That doesn't mean I trust you, either," Sunset replied, fixing her gaze on the half-open door. "If this is a trap, though..."

Then whoever set it obviously wants you to let it play out.

Sunset nodded. "They must. And I still don't know if it's for me or Twilight... It might even be a trap for us both. Either way, I'm not going to stop believing in her, and I'll hope that whatever she's going through... she won't stop believing in me."

And?

"We're going to let this play out." Sunset got up, and stepped toward the half-open door. "We're going to go where the dream takes us. We're going to see who's behind this, whether it's Flash, the Sirens, maybe even Starlight... or something else entirely. And whatever we find, I won't give up. I won't stop believing. I will protect my friends."

A six-pointed lavender star gleamed in Sunset's eyes as she swung the door open and stepped into the hall with a vengeance.

Sunset limped down the final hallway, approaching the foyer as fast as she could. The large amount of light ahead indicated that the roof had collapsed, and the storm beyond was still in full swing. The massive, sturdy entrance the students had just finished constructing stood tall and unblemished against cracked, crumbling and straight-up missing walls to the sides and top.

Sunset leaned against the exit to her hallway, catching her breath before venturing again into the elements. "Demon? Is there anything you know that could conceivably help me, up ahead? Things you haven't said, because 'I haven't asked?' If so, tell me now."

Hmm... nah, I think I've told you all about me already. There is the other Twilight's part of the message, however.

"Oh, wow, I don't know if I'm ready for it," Sunset snarked. "Hurry up and tell me!"

Here goes! This one is from before Rainbow's, by the way. Ahem.

______Sunset? This is Twilight. No, Sci-Twi! Sorry! I'm still not used to having two names.

Anyway, remember when we fought at the Friendship Games, and you used the magic of friendship to transform into that beautiful creature? Well, I might have kept the device that did that. I mean, it was just laying around, and I thought I might be able to improve it, you know?

I left it open while your friends were doing band practice, and it charged itself up again. I didn't do anything with the portal though, honest! So I don't think it'll break reality, but still, I was scared to use it. Don't worry, I'm going somewhere with this!

Well, this morning, when I found out that you were missing, Princess Twilight was here and said she was going to help you, so I gave it to her. I don't know if you can bring stuff like that into magical dream-world-things, but it might help, right? I mean, if she gives it to you, you might be able to transform again, so you can fight any magical villains even if we can't help you ourselves! It won't hurt, right?

Oh no, maybe it will! I transformed when I used that, too, and I was a horrible... horrible monster! So make sure you use it on yourself, and keep it away from anyone who might be really lonely or angry or sad. See you soon!

There you have it. That's the end of the message. Nothing more was written! Oh, and what an encouraging final message it was, too! She didn't even say she believed in you like the rest!

Sunset was staring straight ahead. "So that's where Twilight got the magic-stealer... She's definitely real, then. Everything is real. I just hope she doesn't really believe everything that's come over the intercom... I hope it's false, that that isn't her at all. If she's been made to feel that way... then I've got a long, long road ahead to get her back."

Last-chance friendly reminder: if you ever want to change the way someone feels about something, I'm your best card!

Sunset ignored her companion. Gathering her courage, she stepped out into the rain and crossed the sea of rubble from the collapsed ceiling. Arriving at the massive, stony double-doors to the school, flanked by what might have been gargoyles and polished by sheets of water, she extended both hands, pushed, and stepped outside.

Alarming Answers

Rain beat down upon the black tarmac, green turf and brown earth that formed the front courtyard of Canterlot High. Pockmarks and craters studded the landscape from hours of shelling and Sunset's earlier rampage, causing it to resemble more a colorful moonscape than the building Sunset called home.

Not that much color was left to be had, in the gray light filtering through the storm. Black and heavy, it looked to be gaining a second wind, the inbound horizon notably shadowed. Rivulets of water streamed from piles of rubble where the school had been blown outwards, and outcroppings dangled, dripping moisture from their chaotic construction.

The horizon was free of military personnel. Noises pierced the storm's din from behind, accompanied by titanic flashes of red light, and Sunset presumed the Sirens were winning. Not a single vehicle was to be seen; if Twilight had left, there would be no chance to catch up. Sunset ran forward anyway, crying out as her hurt leg took more weight than it was ready to bear.

The Wondercolt statue stood dead ahead. It was more or less as intact as she had seen it last, base cracked and gouged but otherwise still standing. In front of it stood a tall black tent, and in front of that stood a girl with soggy purple-and-blue hair, back to Sunset, speaking vehemently into a microphone.

"Competition brings corruption and loss! What some cannot have, none deserve! It is not too late to turn your back on selfishness! Choose the truth, and yearn not for what is not yours! Know your place, so that others may know theirs, and you will not be risen above! Leave the sacred pillars of our society undefiled by your hands, so that they may endure forever!"

Sunset grimaced. Her, huh?

Her, indeed! Demon Sunset chirped. What about her?

She's the first one we run into after "Luna's" warning, Sunset answered. If whoever set this up wants me to listen to whatever she's about to tell me... I'd give her about a ninety percent chance of being the culprit, or at least in on whatever's happening. I... wish I could say I was more surprised.

Meh. She should be a joke, then. Remind me why she's not just some random nobody?

Sunset raised an eyebrow. Have you not been paying attention? She's Twilight's brand-new, reformed villain of a student! The pony one, at least. Which would pretty much have to be who this is.

Is that a true story? And you think she's the villain? Sunset, do you have any idea how many fun and annoying angles I could spin on that?

Please don't. She might not have noticed me yet, and I need to have as much of a plan as possible...

Demon Sunset predictably ignored Sunset's request. Just going to assume she's the bad guy, Sunny? Don't believe she could change, like you want me to think you have? What a fancy bit of hypocrisy that is!

Sunset felt her temper flare. I want to give her the benefit of the doubt! It just doesn't look good! ...Kind of like how you make me not look good. So you know what? I'll do it, I'm serious. Starlight wants to talk? Well, here I come.

Sunset! Wait! I was just trying to lighten the mood! Don't go making dumb tactical decisions on my behalf, I have just as much of an interest in you not getting turned into meatcake as you do!

It was too late. As Sunset drew near, Starlight held her microphone out to the side at arms' reach. She flicked a switch, dropped it, and laid her arm at rest. Then she swung around to look at Sunset, face a picture of exuberance turned to confusion.

"Sunset, I- Sunset? Is that you? What happened? Are you all right?" Starlight stared at her, but didn't move from in front of the tent.

"Nngh..." Sunset wheezed, dripping with rain, trying her best to act as if she hadn't just been plotting behind Starlight's back. "I haven't been. Starlight, I've been possessed. I'm free now, but I'm hurt. What do you want?"

"Sunset, I'm sorry," Starlight said, voice shaking. "When the barrier disappeared, I thought... I thought you'd left us. That you'd left this project, this world we were building. Everything I said to you earlier, and did, I thought you took it to heart..."

Sunset raised an eyebrow, but let her continue.

"That wasn't what I intended! It wasn't ever. You were horrible, Sunset. A monster. But I believed in you, and thought I could put that evil to use for good... but I had to reach you first! I had to reach you, and nothing I tried got through, and so I resorted to using your own language! But I guess I took it too far..."

Sunset stared at Starlight, processing what she was saying. Starlight continued, "I... I need you back, Sunset. We could do so much good together, make such a perfect world... and on your own, you'll bring nothing but more pain and sadness! So, I... I got you a gift, to apologize. Here."

Starlight stepped back, and yanked hard on the tent canvas. With a flourish and a flap of wind, it blew off, revealing a thick, lone stake stuck in the ground. High up, tied to the stake, was Twilight Sparkle. Bound at the arms and legs, she wore a thick gag, frantically struggling against her bonds at the sight of Sunset.

Sunset looked up, eyes wide and shoulders limp. Aaand there's the trap. Of course this is all about getting revenge on Twilight. Of course she'd lie her way out of a tight spot, then turn on her the moment she found something she could use against her... and that something is me. I wonder what she's been telling her, and what she's going to ask me to do...

Starlight paced forward, talking. "When you tried to take her for yourself, I... There's nothing in my ideals that says you can do that. Absolutely nothing. But compromise... That's what building bridges is about, isn't it? I can't have my way by myself. I'm not strong enough. But if you'll help me, even if I have to sacrifice some of my ideals and make exceptions for you, it'll be worth it.

"Earlier, when I found this girl after you had... had your way with her, we talked for a bit. I left her in the Principal's office, which I thought would be the safest place for her. But when I was setting up to try to stop the Sirens' show, I found her escaping, and... her heart had hardened. Clearly, she didn't take what you did to her well.

"I tried to calm her down, but it became apparent that not only was she upset, she was far more skilled with words than me. I became afraid that she would exploit my dislike for what you were doing, stoke my anger, and cause me to forget about everything I was doing here to fight you instead. She nearly did. I couldn't take that risk, so I had to subdue her.

"That's why she's gagged. And I must request, for all of our safety, that you do not remove it. With her tongue, she could steal your mind, and to go above mere mind control... to change what a person wants, to leave them with merely the illusion of free will is the most heinous crime imaginable. It will hurt you. It has hurt me before. And nothing good can come of a society built on it.

"So, Sunset Shimmer, here she is. I got her for you. But with the amount of hatred within her, I'm not even sure if it's wise to have anything to do with that girl. It's your decision." Starlight reached into her boot, and withdrew a slim sword from a concealed sheath. Holding it by the flat of the blade, she offered its handle to Sunset.

Sunset stared at the blade. Starlight explained, "This girl is in your hands now. It's your choice. You may keep her, and all of her anger, and in doing so fulfill your every desire. None will be able to turn away. You'll be able to get everything you've ever wanted... at the price of the instability of hatred. You'll never know peace, never be free from risk, never be able to truly partake in the gift of friendship.

"Or, you can turn away from her forever, and close this chapter in your life. By sacrificing your desires, your wants, in the name of the greater good, you will no longer be inhibited by yourself. You'll have won over your worse nature. You will be free, and I will stand proudly at your side.

"This is your choice. I won't try to change your answer, because only you deserve to change your fate. Show me what you're made of, Sunset Shimmer."

Starlight, having finished, handed the sword to Sunset and walked around the statue to bring over a stepladder. Sunset looked at the sword in her hand, and stammered. "Y-you want me to kill her?"

"Nothing so drastic will be necessary," Starlight said, returning and placing the ladder. "Though you're correct about my preferred option. All you need to do to reject her- to reject yourself, and become a better you- is make her feel pain she will never forget. A permanent memory, a reminder, nothing more. She represents your wants. In rejecting her, you reject them, and this shall serve forever as a reminder of that."

Sunset looked at Starlight, then at Twilight again. Starlight was holding an impossibly well-honed poker face. Twilight was looking on in desperation.

Okay, this makes no sense, Sunset thought, almost hoping her demon would weigh in. She obviously wants me to hurt Twilight... to betray her. Probably some demonstration of the futility of friendship, or something. But why is she giving me a choice? To make Twilight think I didn't have to do this, but wanted to anyway? If I cut Twilight free, what's the catch? This has to be a trap, it has to...

Gripping the sword, Sunset climbed the ladder. Soon she stood face to face with Twilight Sparkle, bound and gagged. Twilight met Sunset's gaze. "Twilight," Sunset whispered. "I'm going to get us out of this. I'm going to help you."

Twilight's bonds held her head steady. She glanced very deliberately downward, allowed her gaze to drift, and poked back down, indicating below with her eyes.

Sunset followed her gaze, eyes coming to rest on a small lump in Twilight's shirt. "The pendant..." she breathed.

Twilight winked.

A tear rose to the corner of Sunset's eye. "You're still on my side..."

"Well?" Starlight asked from below, watching Sunset's sword hand. "Have you made your choice?"

Quickly, Twilight glanced at Starlight, then furrowed her brow at Sunset, eyes hard and shadowed with worry. She repeated the gesture several times.

"Don't trust her?" Sunset whispered. Twilight winked again.

Sunset nodded. Swiftly, she moved so that her body blocked Starlight's vision. Sliding a finger under Twilight's collar, she found a metal chain around her neck, and pulled. A small dusky capsule with a glowing lavender star rose up. Reaching up, Sunset slid in the sword to slice at the chain.

"NO!" Starlight slammed into her side, sending Sunset toppling off the ladder. The sword flew free from her grasp as she crashed painfully to the ground, impacting her hurt leg and crying out in pain.

Starlight loomed above her, fury written on her face. "No necks! I said you shouldn't kill her, Sunset Shimmer!" She slammed a booted foot into Sunset's prone form, and Sunset screamed, rolling over. Twilight's eyes widened, and she thrashed at her bonds.

"You've thrown away your last chance," Starlight roared, winding up to strike Sunset again. Gasping, Sunset rolled out of the way at the last second, getting her hands underneath her. "Over and over I've tried, and you've rejected my every attempt at harmony!"

"Really, now?" said a new voice from behind them. Starlight whirled. "Is that what passes for harmony in Equestria these days?"

Adagio Dazzle stood on the school steps, radiating a crackling red aura that beat back the rain around her. Translucent wings glowed from her back, and she sported a pair of sharp yellow ears. "Evening, ladies," she greeted with a wave, swaying forwards.

Starlight turned on Adagio, glaring at the Siren leader. "What do you want? I'm busy!"

"Oh, I can see that," Adagio sang. "And I'm just here to offer a little thanks. While I'd never say no to a battle as lovely as the one you just gave us, Equestrian magic is really where it's at!" She flashed her wings, pacing toward Sunset, hips swaying seductively.

"...Wha? How did you-" Sunset stammered as Adagio reached down to stroke her chin. She pulled back, wincing from her leg. "I wasn't even paying attention to your song! I don't even have anyone here to fight with! How did you get my magic?"

"Oh, it wasn't your magic we fed on," Adagio crooned, grabbing Sunset's sword from the ground where it landed and flipping it in the air, catching it deftly. "You see... there was another Equestrian, a very angry one, who was foolish enough to spread their vitriol around through a convenient sound system! And that, well, we had no trouble devouring." She turned to Twilight. Sunset and Starlight tensed.

"...Just kidding!" Adagio spun and flicked off Starlight's hat with the tip of her stolen sword.

Starlight snarled. Atop her head, under where her hat had been, sat the Element of Magic, between a pair of pink pony ears. A large bundle of held-up hair fell loose, forming a tail.

With a yell of frustration, she withdrew another sword from her other boot and lunged at Adagio. Adagio parried effortlessly, catching Starlight's in such a way that it was twisted from her grasp and flung away. Sunset dove for it. "Really, now?" Adagio laughed. "Those things have been the weapon of choice for most of this world's history, and I've been through a lot of wars. Are you sure you want to dance this dance, sweetheart?"

In answer, Starlight snapped her fingers. The Element of Magic on her head strobed, a beam flew forward, and suddenly Adagio found herself encased in a solid chunk of lavender mana, unable to move. Starlight spun back to Sunset, who was climbing the ladder to Twilight once again, sword in hand.

"Freeze!" Starlight bellowed, grabbing Sunset in a field of telekinesis and dragging her into the air. Sunset flailed and grasped at the ladder, managing to nick Twilight's bonds with the sword on her way up before dropping it.

"I knew it!" Sunset panted. "You're Equestria's Starlight! You're responsible for this whole world, aren't you!?"

"I am," Starlight said, frowning. "And you're Equestria's Sunset. And I'm here to stop you."

"Me?" Sunset thrashed, struggling in vain against Starlight's powerful telekinesis. "But... but Twilight! You're her enemy, not mine! I don't even know you!"

"Don't you dare question my loyalty to Twilight!" Starlight snarled, jerking Sunset sideways and causing her to cry out. "I was happy! I had found someone for whom friendship wasn't a breath in the wind, something that could be extinguished by the slightest twist of fate! I had finally found acceptance again, lasting friendship, and then you had to show up and threaten to take it all away! You think I was just going to stand by and let you trample my life again?"

"What in Equestria are you talking about?" Sunset thrashed at her telekinetic bonds. "Threaten to take what away? I've been Twilight's friend for way longer than you have! She saved me, Starlight, more than once! I used to be horrible!"

"Well, I'll say you were," Starlight deadpanned, "if you're so used to getting what you want that you don't even remember the ponies you took it from!"

"No, I don't!" Sunset gasped, fighting for breath as telekinesis pressed the book sharply into her chest. "And if you were someone I hurt, Starlight, I'm sorry! I regret what I've done, I regret my past, but I'm a different person now! Give me a chance, Starlight! I've changed! I want to make it up to you!"

"You're not, you haven't, and you don't!" Starlight stomped, the blinding rain doing nothing to cool her anger. "When I found out you were a part of her life, I wanted to believe you'd changed too! If Twilight could save me, I had hope for you as well! But it was too big of a risk, so I tested you, and you failed, failed, failed! I took you back to the moment in your life I was surest you would renounce, but you loved it! You kept that crown and that disgusting body, you tried to steal Twilight and hoard her away for yourself, you had the audacity to hit on me!"

"I was possessed!" Sunset screamed, fighting to retain focus as brutal winds whipped around her. "I wasn't in control, I couldn't do what I wanted! That wasn't me!"

"A likely story," Starlight scoffed. "Why did you take off this crown, then? Felt remorse for what you had done? I was hoping you had. I kept trying, Sunset. Even after I had passed the point of no return and allowed you to irreparably harm Twilight, I kept searching for good in you... trying to bring out something worth saving, or at the very least convince you to protect Twilight from yourself on your own! But each and every time, you wouldn't- gaahaaaughh!"

A shower of sparks burst from the crown on Starlight's head, and the gem set into it flickered darkly. Starlight clutched her head and teetered, hissing in pain.

Sunset's eyes went wide as the telekinetic field holding her in the air wobbled. "Starlight, take that crown off!" she cried, panic seeping into her voice. "You can't use it! It turned me into a monster, and it could do the same to you!"

"Nngh... c-chaos..." Starlight moaned. Her eyes flew open with a flash. "I won't! The moment I take this off, you'll be free, and can do whatever you want! I-I can fight it... I can..."

"Starlight!" Sunset resumed thrashing, struggling frantically to free herself. "I promise I won't go anywhere! Take it off, and we can talk this out! I'm sorry I hurt you, but this is a big misunderstanding! When I wore that crown, I never even had a choice, and you won't either!"

"N-Nonsense," Starlight rasped, voice tinged with pain. Steam rose from her head where rain touched her sodden hair, and her pupils were the size of marbles. "I've held on... held on through chaos before. Do you see me growing... wings, Sunset Shimmer? Turning into a demon?"

"Take it off!" Sunset roared. The pressure from yelling, the wind and the telekinesis caused a tear to form in her suit around a corner of the book, and water slid in like an icy knife. "Starlight, you have to listen to me!"

"No I don't, Sunset Ssshimmer," Starlight hissed, a bolt of darkness lancing across her face. "I've been like this before, I know how it goes! I may not be as sane as sane can be, but I'm in control of my actions and have no intention of losing it! But this h-hurts so badly, so if you really want to get it over with..." She spun in a slow circle. Upon coming around, her face had been transformed from a mask of pain to twisted glee. "Then let's get you over with."

With a snap of her fingers, the telekinetic field around Sunset doubled in force, squeezing the breath from her lungs.

"Starlight, no!" Having freed a hand, Twilight had managed to tear off her gag. Nearby, Sunset gasped like a fish, completely unable to inhale any air. "Sunset's right, you need to take that crown off! It'll-"

Starlight's head turned mechanically. "Sorry, Twilight, but I can't take any risks. This is for your own good." And she fired a beam of lavender energy at Twilight, whose eyes widened at the incoming projectile.

The beam struck, encasing Twilight in a manacrystal just like Adagio. In the instant before it hit, Twilight threw her pendant with all her might at Sunset, who was choking in Starlight's grasp. It bounced to a rest on the ground beneath her.

While Starlight's attention was on Twilight, Sunset reached into her pockets and pulled out the small, hard chunk of portal. Fighting the telekinesis, she lobbed it as hard as she could at Starlight. It struck the side of the pink girl's head, causing her to briefly lose concentration in a fit of sparks and coughing and drop Sunset.

Sunset hit the ground with a crack, crying out in pain. Casting around for the pendant, she finally felt and grabbed it just as Starlight prepared to fire another beam of magic at her. Snapping it out in front, Sunset opened the pendant.

Concentric rings of harmonic energy radiated out, swirling around eachother like gimbals before constricting on Sunset. A five-color rainbow of energy enveloped her, blocking Starlight's attack, washing over her cold and sodden limbs, mending the damages in her leg and the chills she had endured. Her clothing melted away, the book falling to the ground, and was replaced by a gleaming white-and-yellow dress with a short skirt and long train. The color around Sunset's eyes darkened, and a horn and wings of pure light flashed into existence. She landed on the ground, the rain repelled by her aura.

"You've misunderstood me, Starlight Glimmer. I was telling the truth earlier, I had been possessed. But if you really want to see me use the magic of friendship... Take off that crown, or you will leave me no choice." Sunset pointed to her blazing glory, and she began conjuring a great fireball in her hand.

Starlight's eyes narrowed, and the crown on her head regained its glow. "So we're going to do this the long way, Sunset? Not as altruistic as you make yourself out to be, are you! Well, transformations won't help you here... But if that's the best you can do?" Lavender energy crackled and pooled in her hands. "It'll at least make for a fitting burial gown." She flung a mass of telekinesis forward, aiming for Sunset's head.

Sunset juked, flipping out of the way, and returned fire with a beam of her own. Starlight reached out with her telekinesis and grabbed Twilight's pendant, holding it in front of her as a ward. The pendant absorbed every bit of Sunset's blast, leaving Starlight unscathed. Sunset growled.

"Does it hurt?" Starlight laughed, a mad gleam in her eye, jaw hung crooked with glee. "I bet it does. It hurts because friendship and its magic won't work for a pathetic villain like you!"

With an explosion of light accelerating her, Sunset rocketed into Starlight like a cannonblast, grabbing her and kicking off the ground. The two flew forward and upward, crashing through an unbroken window and tumbling back into the collapsing school.

Untimely Usurpers

An electric wave of pain shivered down Sunset's body, her horn shattering into a corona of five colors that swirled about her head, intermingling with teal, lavender and black from the star inset in Twilight's Element. She would have curled up, but had suddenly lost control of her body.

I'm back! Did you miss me? I thought you might appreciate it if I left you alone for your big battle, but it looks like you really are helpless without me! Anyhow, the crown is on, and it's time for me to take over for a spell. Watch and learn, Sunset!

Involuntarily, Sunset shivered, fighting to form words, unable even to let herself scream. No! Get out of here, give me my body back!

Twilight rushed to Sunset's side, grabbing her and cradling her head as she spasmed, waves of energy colliding on her darkening skin. Twilight grasped at the crown, but it was fused to Sunset's head and wouldn't come off. "Sunset! Sunset!" she sobbed, "You have to take that thing off! Please, Sunset, take it off, give it to me, you can't use it!"

Give it back? Seriously? Demon Sunset scoffed. You're practically dead! You don't honestly believe you can keep going it alone, do you? You need me, Sunset Shimmer. I can do so much better!

Yeah, Sunset countered, you did a great job of protecting me and keeping me safe when you got knocked out by a sledgehammer. And you deserved it, too! Twilight can use it, she can protect me! Now leave!

"What did you do?" Twilight looked up in a panic, eyes hardening toward Starlight.

"Simple," Starlight replied, taking a softer tone with her potentially-ex mentor, speech gradually reforming. "Ever since I lost hope that Sunset had been reformed, I've been trying to- nnngh... to protect you from her! Convincing her of her nature, convincing her to keep away from you on her own f-failed... so I gave her her power back! If I can't convince her that she's dangerous, maybe she can convince you!"

"How does that accomplish anything? She's not herself with this on, all you've done is turned her into a monster!" Twilight cried, still rocking Sunset as she fought with waves of dark energy.

"That's because she is a monster! Sunset here seems to think she's been- hkkkt! redeemed as I have, despite irrefutable evidence to the contrary," Starlight lectured, leaning to take weight off her battered body, eyes twitching. "Well, now I'm completely out of... out of her way, and she's got everything she ever had- and something she very much wants, ripe for the taking. What do you think she'll do?"

Twilight fumed and pouted. "I think she'll send you to a cell in Tartarus. And if you want me to come get you out, here's a hint! Don't. Hurt. My. Friends!"

"Fat chance of that happening," Starlight scoffed. "She'll take it! Take y-you! It's... it's all she is! If there is any har... harmony in her, let it manifest here!" Then she withdrew a magically glowing scroll, and held it above her head. "But it won't, because she has none to bear! Fear... fear not, Twilight. With this, I can return us to Equestria and leave this manipulative monster here long enough to c-come up with a better solution. Think the magic of friendship can save her? Prove it. It's not me you have to talk- hkkkt! talk down this time, Twilight Sparkle."

Beside the kneeling Twilight, Sunset howled, skin reddening, fingers elongating and becoming sharp as the magic her demon self drew from the crown clashed with the powers she had absorbed from the pendant. All right! Fine! Say I let you have control! What would you do with it?

Hmm, Demon Sunset thought. Well, first, I'd do something about Starlight; she's been quite a pest. Then... I don't know, maybe we'll use that spiffy scroll of hers to check out the real world! There has to be something fun to control there! I do still want you to love me, you know.

Control this and control that, Sunset ranted. Is that all you can talk about? Besides how much of a screw-up I am without you? Why are you so fixated on controlling things? And don't say it's because I want you to, because I don't!

It's not control, it's called doing your will! Demon Sunset patronized. She would have made a face if she had been in control, and speaking to a mirror. And I do so because it's your destiny! A destiny you've been running from for months! You do believe in destiny, don't you, Sunset Shimmer?

You apparently don't, because you keep talking about me robbing others of their free will, Sunset growled, sulking as much as she could afford.

Pish-tosh! One can be free to choose from a chosen set of paths, can they not? Are you really saying there are no constraints that govern ponies' lives? That say what they can and cannot do?

Well, there are Cutie Marks, Sunset conceded. But those are earned, not given! Ponies can get them in whatever they want!

Cutie Marks, you say. Funny you should mention that...

The familiar orange glow Sunset had come to associate with the voice- when it was just a voice- flickered in front of her vision again. She focused as hard as she could, and gradually, it allowed its detail to become visible. Sunset did a mental spit-take at what she saw, still writhing on the ground.

That's impossible! Ridiculous! Cutie Marks can't talk! What's going on here? Sunset panicked in disbelief.

Hmmph. Maybe I'm special. Still doubt your purpose, Sunset? Or are you going to tell me you don't believe in magic, too?

I'd be more inclined to believe in you if you weren't being a hostile parasite! Whoever heard of someone possessed by their own Cutie Mark? How are you even doing this?

Meh, the mark answered, it probably has something to do with that "Fall Formal" business I mention occasionally. Get the point? You kicked me out! Got rid of me! Discarded me, stopped wearing me, cast me aside and went your own way! Whoever heard of someone removing their own Cutie Mark, huh?

Wait, I... I did that? Sunset stammered.

Yes. Yes you did. And I'm not going to stop until you see how wrong you were, and how much you need me. Now, I believe it's time to take you for a little joy ride!

Hissing, Demon Sunset straightened up, her transformation nearly complete. Bands of energy still crackled across her, but she was capable of motion. And not the motion Sunset desired.

Twilight flinched away as a freshly-healed talon patted her head. "Sunset, no! This isn't you! You can fight this!"

"She can't," Starlight stated, "because she doesn't even want to. All she cares about are fulfilling- snkkt! Her own desires and wishes, and those are about to get ugly. Let's go, Twilight."

Starlight tossed the scroll up, and it flashed, conjuring a whirring mess of translucent gears and spirals of energy in the air above her. It exerted a pull, and Starlight's feet began to leave the ground. She beckoned to Twilight, extending a hand.

"Nnnope!" Demon Sunset laughed, snapping her fingers. The scroll hovering above Starlight's head burst into flames and floated away as cinders, causing the portal to shatter and fade. Starlight hit the ground hard, crying out in pain and terror.

"Feeling fine and foolproof in your plans, Starlight Starlight Starlight?" Demon Sunset mocked, setting Twilight aside and stepping toward the fallen time-traveler. "Poor you, all bruised and tired and without magic from our little battle. Do I really hold all the cards? Really? Or do you have something more up your sleeve? Because I didn't even get a turn earlier, and I'd hate to miss out on all the fun!"

Starlight's eyes widened in fright, and she scuttled backwards. "G-Get away! I'm warning you, don't come any closer!"

Demon Sunset came closer. "Awww, Starlight, did I win?"

With a snarl, Starlight pulled out the magic-stealer and thrust it open. A burst of solar energy rocketed out, stored up from Sunset's own attacks, sending Demon Sunset hurtling into the mighty school entrance like a cannonball. She impacted hard, striking her head against a corner. "Unnngh!" Dazed, she slumped against the wall, scorched and smoking.

FLAAAAASH!

Sunset rolled to a stop, in ghost form once again. Her Cutie Mark's flicker was nowhere to be seen. On the ground below, Starlight had walked to the portal and was hefting Sunset's sledgehammer, which had apparently been moved there since she last saw it. Sunset knew what was coming.

Twilight apparently did too, and as Starlight stalked forward, she moved to block her off. "Starlight, this has gone too far! Give me that hammer!"

"Shan't," Starlight said, swinging the hammer as she walked, forcing back Twilight's advances. "There are only two ways to do this, Twilight, and one of them has a very high chance of ending you. And no matter how much I've done, there are still standards I hold myself to. Now step aside and let me dispatch my foe!"

"No," Twilight said, taking a firm stance between Starlight and the fallen Sunset.

"Twilight, you can't stop her like that! She's crazy!" Sunset screamed, unheard.

With a swish and a jab, Starlight thrust the hammer forward. Twilight tried to catch it, but Starlight altered her trajectory and rammed the head into Twilight's stomach. Thud! She landed on the steps, clutching herself and gasping.

"Sorry about that," Starlight said with a remorseful glance. "I'm serious, it's for your own good. Now let me finish this."

Sunset looked up. Starlight was beginning her ascent of the stairs to her fallen body. She was experiencing none of the signs of coming to, and knew that Starlight could kill her if she wanted. And her intent wasn't really something Sunset doubted anymore.

"Wake up, wake up, wake up! Dumb mark, as long as you're in control of my body, and you're knocked out, I can't do anything! We can't do anything! Give it back! Give me back! I'll... I'll..."

Friendly reminder: transformations come with a free heal!

Demon Sunset's words flashed through her head, though it was more a memory than reality. Sunset's breath caught in her throat.

What was it you wanted, again? To no longer be separate from me? To do my will, and be an instrument of my control?

Starlight was halfway up the flight of stairs, eyes murderous.

You never did give me any problems before the Fall Formal, I think. I was still bad, but I didn't know the magic of friendship yet. I never got possessed. I never lost control of who I was. I never tried to use magic to control anyone.

Twilight lay on the ground in a sodden heap, struggling to get up.

Harmony magic turns me into something amazing. I've seen it more than once. The crown is harmony magic, so you're the only reason I turn into a demon, right? Because I can't control you, can't make you stop? If I take you back, will I get out of this body and wake up?

In the distant sky, Aria and Sonata soared away, carrying Adagio between them, neither looking nor caring at the scene below. Starlight swung her hammer in a circle as she climbed, hair burnt and shredded. Twilight was crawling, panic on her face. Lightning flashed, though Sunset felt no wetness from the rain ghosting around her skin.

Maybe doing my will doesn't need to involve manipulating all of my friends.

Maybe I can still live a happy life, with you around. Maybe having you is worth it, to stay alive.

I'm never talking to you again, after this.

Starlight reached the final step. She swung back her hammer, preparing for a blow. Twilight had gotten to her feet, wheezing, and was running toward her, but was far too far away.

Sunset stretched her arms out. CUTIE MARK. I AM SUNSET SHIMMER, AND I CONTROL YOU. I COMMAND YOU TO RETURN TO ME. NOW!

Starlight swung the hammer down. "Hresssha!"

FLAAAAASH!

Sunset's eyes flew open. Instinctively rolling to the side, she slid out of Demon Sunset's body like a snake shedding its skin, dressed in the clothes the portal had given her, the Element of Magic still affixed to her head.

Starlight's hammer smashed to the ground where she had been laying less than a second before. Sunset rolled further, struggling to get up. She certainly didn't feel healed- her leg burned with splitting pain, and she was wracked with shivers as if she had been standing in the rain for hours, but it was enough.

"Starlight," Sunset hissed, scrambling upright, "I'm not a monster! Stop fighting me!"

Suddenly, Twilight tackled Starlight, sobbing and snarling. "Leave my friends alone!"

They both toppled to the ground. Starlight's hammer rolled away as Twilight punched her over and over again. "You almost killed her! You tried to kill Sunset! Sunset!"

Sunset's eyes widened in horror, watching Starlight desperately try to shield her face from Twilight's rage. Smack! "Aaaugh!" Crack!

The rain drummed down around her as Twilight continued to pummel her defeated student, Sunset simply looking on with wide eyes. You're not... forgiving her...

Twilight punched and punched. Sunset became aware of a weight on her head. Reaching up, she felt the Element of Magic sitting there, dormant and cool. This was supposed to be an instrument of harmony... but it turned me into a monster, Starlight into a monster, and now Twilight is... What went wrong?

Gaze hardening, she looked again at the one-sided brawl in front of her. "Twilight, I command you to stop!"

Twilight pulled back obediently, shuddering. Starlight lay facedown on the concrete.

Starlight shook. Starlight steamed. Sunset stood and watched.

Around them, the hiss of rain continued, a momentary lull in the wind making it otherwise deafening. Twilight's shoulders were slumped and her head down, sitting on her knees beside Starlight.

"It's over..." Sunset breathed. "It's finally over." She dared a small laugh, before looking at Twilight. "Now... how do we get home?"

Thunder rolled in the distance. Sunset stepped forward.

Starlight's head shot up with a hiss, staring at Sunset with red-on-yellow eyes.

"What the-!?" Sunset yelped, jumping backwards, staggering from her hurt leg. Blinding patches of light began appearing on Starlight's body, a dark mist seeping out around her. Starlight snarled, and one leathery wing flashed into existence on her back.

Twilight scrambled back in shock. Sunset whipped the Element of Magic from her head, frantically examining it while keeping Starlight in her peripheral vision. "What's going on!? She took the crown off! Isn't that what it takes? Why does she still have dark magic? Why is this happening now!?"

The crown remained dormant in her hands as Starlight spasmed, graying. A feathered pegasus wing shot out from her other side with a crackle of dark energy.

Suddenly, Sunset's eyes went wide with realization. I didn't just take it off, I had it used back against me... "Twilight! Over here, now!"

Immediately, Twilight started running over, giving Starlight a wide berth. Suddenly, Starlight slithered across the ground like lightning, grabbing Twilight and pinning her arms. Eyes widening, Twilight began to struggle, but couldn't stop Starlight from lifting off, flapping her mismatching wings awkwardly.

"Sssscrew thisss!" Starlight snarled down at Sunset, rising further out of reach. "I ssshould have done thisss a long time ago! I'm going home, and I'm leaving, and you'll never sssee me again, Sssunssset! I quit! Have your way with Twilight, I don't care anymore! It'sss not worth thisss..."

"Then give her back!" Sunset shouted. "You need help, you're not okay! The crown can fix you, and make you feel better, but only Twilight can use it!"

"Fat chanccce," Starlight hissed. "You'll only ussse it to kill me! Even if you're above that, ssshe isssn't! I'm taking her home, and I'm leaving her there, and when you essscape, you'll be her problem, not mine!"

"I'll make her not! Starlight!"

"I told you, I don't care anymore! It never ssshould have been my job to protect Twilight from you! Might asss well leave that to Cccelessstia, if you ever come back..." Starlight made as if to turn around and soar away, but held back, almost as if waiting for Sunset's response.

Sunset glared up at her. "I command you not to leave. Get down here and give me Twilight so I can help you."

"Hrrraah hah hah hressshh..." Starlight looked down with her yellow eyes and laughed. "Won't work... too much chaosss for more to do anything... Good riddanccce..."

Starlight turned around and began to float off, steadily gaining speed.

"No!" Sunset ran after her as best she was able, but was outpaced immediately. "Starlight, come back! This isn't what I want! Starlight! Starlight!"

Starlight was far out of earshot, thanks to the hammering rain. The wind picked up again, and Sunset looked after her in despair.

Venomously, she looked down at the crown in her hands. Why can't I use you, too? Why does Twilight have to be chosen, and not me? I can use the magic of friendship, so why not you? Why do you have to turn me into a demon?

A demon that can fly, she bitterly added, watching as Starlight gradually became a speck on the horizon. Suddenly, a thought sprang to her mind. Now that my Cutie Mark isn't bothering me, maybe I can control my demon form... maybe I won't get possessed! She turned the crown over in her hands. "Maybe I can use this..."

Sunset touched the gem inset into the crown. "All right, crown. I've used the magic of friendship before, and now I have a friend that needs saving. Give me magic, give me flight, give me something I can use." She narrowed her eyes, and slammed the crown down upon her head. I WILL PROTECT MY FRIENDS.

The temperature of the air around Sunset instantly dropped by thirty degrees. An explosion of prismatic energy surged out, the crown igniting as Sunset's hair grew and her ears enlarged, shifting to the top of her head. A familiar sensation of immense power rushed through her as the five energies from the pendant reawakened beneath her skin.

Sunset was pulled into the air by telekinetic forces, five bands of polychromatic light pinwheeling from the star on the crown on her head. They swirled, wrapping themselves around her, before fanning out behind, tracing glowing lavender runes in a curtain of frost that radiated across the concrete. Sunset stared at her hands, feeling her wings reform out of the sun's glow, burning radiance contrasting sharply with the ice forming about her.

Energy from the Element of Magic surged through her, mixing with everything she already had, and Sunset's wings erupted in lavender flame. Sunset shivered, feeling energy materialize into matter, her wings morphing from ethereal light into solid limbs of golden flesh. Her heart felt as if wind was rushing through her veins, battering and begging to escape, to be unleashed. If she focused, she could feel the Magic, the Loyalty, the Kindness and Honesty and Laughter and Generosity all there empowering her, and she realized she didn't need to breathe.

With an explosion of golden light, Sunset took off, soaring after Starlight's retreating figure. She traveled fast, even faster than she had been able to when empowered with only the magic from her friends, and caught up in a matter of seconds, whipping past Starlight and hovering to a stop in front of her.

Starlight's yellow eyes widened. "What!? Sssunssset?"

Sunset's face was caught between a grin and a frown. "Me. And it looks like I can use this properly, after all!" Pooling the magic of friendship in her hands, she sent a blast of prismatic energy streaking toward Starlight.

As it connected, a neon lavender star radiated out in a shockwave, five multicolor flames orbiting the target. Starlight spasmed, shreds of black energy sparking and flying away as the laser flooded into her chest. "HRESSSSSSHHAAAAAUURGHHHHKKKT!"

Sunset darted down, catching Twilight with a grunt as she continued to focus the rainbow beam on Starlight. The air around them chilled again, and Sunset strained to keep her balance.

Seconds passed, and a cloud of teal and indigo burst around Starlight. Sunset's beam narrowed and faded, Starlight floating downward in its aftermath. Her clothing was scorched and shredded, her hair frizzed and torn despite the hammering rain, but there was no sign of extra limbs, no grayness, and no yellow in her dazed, half-open eyes.

Sunset swooped in and caught her as well, adjusting her grip to carry both girls... and gasped. In the beam's wake were hairline cracks in the fabric of space, leaking violet stardust with the promise of magic beyond.

Experimentally, she pooled more power and punched at the cracks, causing space to shatter into a glowing hole. I thought Sci-Twi didn't use any portal magic in this! Looking beyond, Sunset saw the massive nebulae and constellations she saw every time she had fallen unconscious here. That's not Equestria, it's...

"All right, girls. Time to get out of here... for good." Closing her eyes and focusing once again, Sunset emitted a wave of energy that blasted out, shredding space around them. The world itself began to collapse, and the three Equestrians were drawn hurtling into the starry expanse.

Listless Leaders

Sunset's entire body ached. She didn't open her eyes; she could feel that she had succeeded. She was a pony again.

She was laying on an impossibly flat, smooth, hard surface that possessed no temperature whatsoever. Everywhere Starlight had struck her stung, and the floor did nothing to assuage that. Briefly, Sunset considered casting around for a pain-dulling spell, but her horn hurt, too.

Everything was silent, save for her own breathing and the beating of her heart. She perceived a rush in the distance, but it was almost felt more with her body than her ears, as if the world itself were in motion around her. That might even be true, considering where she thought she was. Hesitantly checking, Sunset opened her eyes.

The sky in which she swam- the floor below her was purely invisible- was simultaneously the brightest thing she had ever seen... and yet darkly comforting in the same way as the night. Despite the rest of her aches and pains, she was pretty sure she could stare into the hearts of galaxies for as long as she pleased, and not suffer from eye strain.

Rather than test, Sunset instead focused on herself. Her coat was remarkably smooth, and she hoped that wasn't an indication that her injuries were internal. Her leg still hurt, at least. Looking down her side, she saw her Cutie Mark, the same one she had had on the day she left Equestria, emblazoned on her flank. It shone back up at her with a metallic sheen, and she heard no voices in her head.

She did, however, hear something behind her. A hoofstep, light as a feather and yet thunderously loud, prompted her to swing her head around, not bothering to heave herself to her hooves.

Starlight Glimmer lay in a patched heap, clearly far worse-off than she. But the noise had been made by Twilight Sparkle, who was standing up, pacing towards her, a foalish grin on her face. "...Twilight?" Sunset asked.

"You used magic!" Twilight giggled, eyes closed and muzzle curved upwards in a smile. Her wings were outstretched, and there was a bounce to her step as she pranced closer.

"Yeah, I... Twilight, are you all right?" Sunset's ears folded back, and she gazed at the incoming alicorn with concern.

Briefly, Twilight's eyes opened, and focused. "It's a coping mechanism. Let me have this." Her oblivious expression returned.

"Twilight, you're not all right," Sunset said, getting to her hooves. "How long were you in there with me? It was before... before... while you were still tied up in the locker room, wasn't it?"

Twilight ignored her. "Alicorn magic!"

"What?"

"Your horn! That spell! The ice! This place! It all makes so much sense!" Twilight bounced in a happy little circle around Sunset, apparently not the least bit stiff like she was.

"Ice? Wait a sec." Sunset's eyes narrowed. "You were a mile away in a storm. How did you see that?"

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "You kinda froze the whole school. It was pretty obvious. But, but!" She returned to her fanciful demeanor, pupils huge and cheeks grasped in her hooves. "Alicorn magic!"

"Twilight, I... You know what? Fine. If you need the time to think, I'll play along for now." Sunset forced herself to give a soft smile, though she felt anything but happy. "But you're not getting out of this. Take it from me, burying your pains in studying is not a good way to cope."

"Of course it's not!" Twilight giggled, doing a little pony-hop.

Sunset cringed. "O-Okay. Now, what's this about me and alicorn magic?"

"Youuu used it!" Twilight stuck her grin in Sunset's face, staring at her horn.

"Twilight, hello?" Sunset waved a forelimb. "I'm still a unicorn! Just because I had wings there doesn't mean I do as a pony!"

Twilight stuck out her lip. "So?"

"Twilight, you're not making sense! I'm worried about you!" Sunset's ears drooped, and she felt her gaze waver with fear.

"Oh, it makes perfect sense," Twilight rambled happily. "Unicorn magic is powered by mana stored in a horn, which is recharged through ambient heat in the air! By using our innate harmonic magic, we can control the random bouncing of particles- heat- to reverse entropy, gathering heat in our horns to be converted to mana! How fast a horn can do that is one of the biological statistics that give different unicorns different levels of magical capability, but in general, unicorns are all pretty bad at it, while alicorn horns are orders of magnitude faster and more efficient! In fact, aside from innate species magic like their lifespans, and personal magic like their Cutie Marks, it's the main difference between alicorn magic and unicorn magic!"

Sunset's eyes crossed. "I have no idea what you just said."

"Huh," Twilight said, confusion entering her gaze. "Really? I thought it was pretty concise."

"It's also totally irrelevant to what just happened to us over the past twenty-four hours!" Sunset stressed.

"Oh, it's totally relevant," Twilight proclaimed, snapping back to happy oblivion. "Because that's what you did! I mean, all that ice? You weren't trying to make that. It just happened! Obviously, you're an alicorn!"

"No wings, Twilight. I'm just a regular unicorn." Sunset turned, broadly indicating her bare sides.

"Hmm. Odd." Twilight rubbed her chin with a hoof. Lighting her horn, she knelt down and began poking at Sunset's sides.

Sunset raised an eyebrow and almost said something, but held her tongue, simultaneously hoping and fearing that the alicorn's curiosity would run its course. Gahhh. As much as she didn't like seeing Twilight burying her pain- and the princess obviously wasn't being rational right now- a big part of her dreaded the conversation she wanted to push Twilight towards.

It wasn't that she was afraid Twilight wouldn't forgive her for what her Cutie Mark had done in the locker room- that was all but a foregone conclusion. Neither was it that she'd been suddenly given a very large reason not to return to Equestria- that was a dilemma that almost seemed silly in light of what she had just been through, but if there were ponies there who carried grudges against her that she knew nothing of, returning would invite nothing but trouble.

No, there was something else, a thought that chewed on the back of her mind and refused to die. A thought about how... easily Twilight had listened when she told her to stop attacking Starlight. Almost without thinking, Sunset let her gaze slide over to Twilight, who still appeared to be studying her lack of wings. Without even forming the words in her head, Sunset imagined Twilight switching and checking her other side.

It wasn't even thought coherently, let alone commandingly. Yet, as Sunset watched, Twilight flicked an ear and leaned across her, poking at her other side with magic and curiosity.

Blood chilling, Sunset kept Twilight in the corner of her eye, and tried again, this time prodding Twilight to examine her own wings.

Twilight did.

Suddenly unable to breathe, Sunset became aware of every hair on her body. Oh no.

Ohh no no no no no. Please no. Please don't let her be subconsciously doing everything I want. Following orders, I can live with, I can just not give orders. But if this works when I'm not even trying? When I'm not even aware I want something to happen? If it's on all the time...

Pointedly ignoring the hideous thing on her flank, she summoned her thoughts once again. Twilight shall... shall want to s-sniff my mane, for no reason at all, even though it has nothing to do with what she's doing...

Her eyes were scrunched closed, but a light tickling on the back of her neck told her everything she needed to know. She didn't even register collapsing against the ground.

Smashing her hooves into her eyes, Sunset curled as tightly as she could, teeth sparking and lips taut as she pathetically tried to defend her thoughts from a flood of pain, loneliness and loathing. Every emotion and thought she had thrown up in defiance of her Cutie Mark and Starlight's assertions swirled venomously through her defenses like ironclad punches. They were right...

T-Twilight's turned into... into an extension of me, when I'm around... Everyone, doing exactly what I want, telling me exactly what I want to hear... I'll never wake up again, not knowing what's going to happen... I-I'll never be able to have a conversation again, a conversation that's any different from talking to a mirror... When I'm wrong, everyone will still tell me I'm right... I'm alone... once again, so, so alone...

Sunset wailed.

Her voice was unarticulate, but the same three words burned themselves into her mind over and over again, making up in intensity for what she lacked in coherence. Starlight was right. I am a monster. Starlight was right. How did she know? Starlight was right...

Starlight's ragged ears flapped once, and then were still. Twilight drew back sharply, confusion and concern battling the curiosity that presently held sway over her gaze. Sunset beheld the pony she would never get to know again through a treacherous, tear-stained eyelid that refused to close all the way. She hiccuped.

"Uhh..." Twilight's ears folded back. "Sunset?"

"Hey, Twi." Sunset stretched out a hoof along the ground. She put on the fakest smile she had ever worn in her life, brought her train of thought crashing to a halt with an ear-splitting internal scream, and pinned her focus on anything but the rock in her heart. "Wanna... do some science? I've got this spiffy new alicorn magic..."

"Cast a spell!"

Sunset paused and cocked her head, smile just as plastic as Twilight's. "Like what?"

"Oh, basic telekinesis is fine," Twilight said, spinning in a circle. "You can just lift me!"

Eagerly, Sunset obliged, lifting Twilight a meter off the ground. The princess rotated for a bit, then teleported out of Sunset's field, reached out, and touched her horn.

"Feel it!" Twilight chirped. "It's a little colder than usual! Usually, unicorn magic makes your horn heat up due to inefficiencies in mana conversion, but you can do it fast enough that that's never an issue!"

"Huh," Sunset said, crossing her eyes to look upward at her horn. "That's cool."

"Yep!" Twilight grinned again, giggling at the pun. "Science is fascinating! I just wish I knew why! Hey, let's do an experiment!"

Sunset turned to keep Twilight in her field of view. "Uh... Sure! What kind of 'experiment' are we talking about?"

"You try everything you can to bring out more magic! Maybe it'll make wings appear! Oh, that would be so exciting..." She hugged herself, taking wing and slowly orbiting Sunset's head. "I'll watch and take notes."

"Isn't that what we're already doing?" Sunset asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe," Twilight said, still orbiting. "Now try stuff!"

With a last glance at Twilight, Sunset sighed and lit up her horn. Struggling to keep her breathing straight, she started casting various spells on herself, from illusion-breaking to cloud-walking. It doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt. I'm alone, so what? This is fun, I'm happy... No wings surfaced.

"I know!" Twilight piped up, swooping into Sunset's face and eliciting a squeak of surprise. "Let's walk through the steps I took to become an alicorn! Maybe there's something there we're forgetting!"

Sunset made a big show of rolling her eyes. "Suit yourself. B-But..." She's still hurting, too... Maybe I could...

"Hmm?" Twilight hummed eagerly, slightly invading Sunset's personal space.

"Y-You... Never mind," Sunset stammered, inwardly kicking herself. "You were saying? About becoming an alicorn?" She could feel her smile slipping, but shored it up as best she could.

"Of course!" Twilight giggled, and began rambling again. "Let's see... First, I got this old enchanted journal that had belonged to Star Swirl the Bearded! It had some pretty complex spells inside, and I tried casting one, but it was unfinished. It messed up my friends' Cutie Marks, so I fixed them by putting on the Elements of Harmony! Then they all used their Elements on me while I wore mine. There might have been some friendship involved! And then I wound up in a place that looked exactly like this, and Princess Celestia was there and walked me through my life, before giving me my wings!"

Sunset stared, distracting herself with numbers once again. "Star Swirl spells... Pretty sure Starlight took care of that one. Messed up Cutie Marks? Double-check. Elements of Harmony? Well, I did wear Magic for a while and have the essences of the others used on me, though I doubt they were the real things. Stuck here with a princess... Twilight, shouldn't that mean this is your job?"

Twilight froze, landing and halting her circling. "You're right! What if this is an ascension? What if I'm supposed to be guiding you to the next phase of your life? I've never done something like this before! I don't even know how it works! What am I supposed to do? Sunset, help!"

Sunset stuck out a limb with a shaky breath, steadying the panicking princess. Somehow, the act made her feel ever so slightly better, even though she knew Twilight might as well be a figment of her imagination for how she was able to respond. "N-Never mind, Twilight. This isn't an ascension. Relax, it'll... it'll be okay. You said I already have alicorn magic, and I doubt you know enough about my past to walk through even a fraction of it. Besides, she's here too." Sunset indicated Starlight with a pointed limb.

Twilight bit her lip, and looked up at Sunset in confusion. "Then what do I do?"

Sunset stared. Somewhere within her, a tiny part of her mind cried out. You help me!

But she can't! Sunset answered herself.

But I need it! And she can do it! She's the Princess of Friendship, she can do anything when it's to help her friends!

Twilight's expression didn't change. She met Sunset's eyes, her own large, curious and confused. Her ears were back, her tail was limp, and she simply stood, waiting for an answer... or maybe waiting for Sunset to want her to do something else. She certainly didn't look like she was capable of anything.

But she can't, Sunset repeated to herself. If whatever happened to her in the school wasn't enough, I've certainly seen to the rest. She can't help me. She'll never be able to. I'm alone.

Breath sticky against her throat, eyes dry as bones, Sunset examined her friend, hoping beyond hope to find a sign that would prove her wrong. Beyond Twilight's scientific curiosity, beyond the fear and confusion that might have been superficial, or might have been cracks in that mask... the same cry for help sparkled in Twilight's eyes.

She wants me to help her, too.

Sunset gritted her teeth, stealing a glance at her flank. I wish I could. It's what I want to do, who I want to be... Who I wish I was. I wish I could be something other than this...

What if I can?

Grasping onto the thought like the last handhold on the edge of a cliff, Sunset steeled her gaze, opening her mouth before she had a chance to come to her senses. "Well," she choked, "we could try talking about what we went through. We're going to need to do this eventually, Twilight."

Twilight whimpered, lowering her head.

"You're not... not getting out of this, Twilight. S-Stop hiding, and... talk with me." Even if she can't truly respond... Even if I'm hiding right now myself... She hung her own head, before snapping back up with a growl. No. No it isn't. Right now I'm helping Twilight, not hiding. I can still do what's right, even if I can't be right myself. She'll remember this, even after I leave and take my influence with me. I can still help my friends. I will still help my friends.

"I-I guess..." Sunset started, voice much less determined than the volcanic emotions pounding against her chest, clamoring for comfort from the pony she looked up to above all else. "Twilight, you know what you saw. What I did. And that really happened. The thing that did those... things... aagh, I still can't even bring myself to talk about this! Listen to me and my generic language, and... Twilight, I'm so sorry."

The words tasted foul in Sunset's mouth. She knew she was fumbling, and she fought to keep talking. "That was me. A part of me that I apparently parted ways with during the Fall Formal. Something that made me who I was... my Cutie Mark."

Twilight looked up quizzically, ears flicking forward. "You lost your Cutie Mark?"

Sunset sighed. "Yeah, I did. And it's been giving me nightmares ever since, nightmares where I won, and you lost, and I guess that's what it thought this world was, or something, and it took over again!

"Listen, Twilight. From the moment you and your friends saved me, months ago... nothing has mattered more to me than ensuring that you, my friends, are safe and happy. I... I got my Cutie Mark back. I had to, to stop Starlight. But it's not what I want, and it's not who I am. My old Cutie Mark, the mark of a monster... it lets me control things. It makes me control things, even you, and even when I don't want to. It makes me a monster, and I hate it. The person- pony I want to be isn't defined by what she can make others do for her, but by what she can do for them."

Sunset's eyes hardened, and she stared into Twilight's, fully serious. "WHAT MATTERS MOST TO ME IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE MY FRIENDS."

There was a gleam of lavender light, and Twilight gasped. Sunset turned to look, and her view was obstructed by a pair of large, golden wings.

"You have..." Twilight's breaths were short, eyes wide and eager. "This is absolutely unprecedented! I've never seen anything like this before! Sunset, this is the scientific discovery of the millennia!"

"Uhh..." Sunset flexed her new wings, unsure of what to do with them. Her Cutie Mark momentarily forgotten, she looked over her shoulder at the golden plumage. "Twilight, didn't you just become an alicorn yourself? Not that this is common or anything, but it's hardly unprecedented!"

"Not your wings," Twilight said, pushing Sunset's right wing aside and pointing further down on her flank. Sunset turned her head to look.

There, where her red and yellow sun of a Cutie Mark should have shone, boldly taunting her for all her past misdeeds, was a six-pointed lavender star.

"Huh," Sunset said, looking at the copy of Twilight's Cutie Mark inexplicably affixed to her own flank. "That's strange."

Twilight herself had returned to sciency oblivion, happily poking at Sunset's new mark with her horn, summoning tiny discharges of magic. "Oh, it's more than strange. Have you ever even heard of a pony with two Cutie Marks? How did you get it? Is it the same as mine? Where'd your other one go? Can we replicate this in an experiment? Ohh, I have so many questions!" She held her cheeks, staring into Sunset's face with stars in her eyes.

"Wait, Twi. Let me think about this for a sec." Sunset grounded the hovering princess with her horn and ran over what she had just been doing, suddenly able to think. Perhaps it was the curiosity, or perhaps it was something else, but it didn't hurt as much, and she wasn't about to question it.

"Let's see... I haven't seen myself as a pony since I stole your crown before the Fall Formal... And after that you and your friends blasted me, and pretty much completely changed who I was. And now I just got my old Cutie Mark back, but it switched to this one when... when I focused on what mattered to me most! My friends!"

Twilight sat watching, tail thumping against the invisible floor.

"I wonder..." Sunset concentrated, and forced a line of thought through her head she couldn't have imagined several minutes ago. I WANT TO CONTROL PEOPLE AND PONIES, AND BEND THEIR WILLS TO MY WHIMS.

There was an orange flash, and when she looked, her wings were gone. Her old Cutie Mark was back, sitting on her flank like an ugly, venomous bee, and no trace of Twilight's remained. The alicorn in question pouted, ears drooping. "Aww. Mmrgh!" She scuffed at the ground.

Sunset concentrated again, much more easily this time. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE THE MAGIC OF FRIENDSHIP, AND DRAW UPON ITS POWER TO PROTECT THOSE I CARE FOR.

Flash! Wings. Happy Twilight.

"Well, I guess there's that mystery settled," Sunset said, folding her new wings. "I guess I somehow got this when you got rid of my old Cutie Mark. Maybe the Element of Magic didn't want me to be blank?"

Twilight nodded, grinning widely, looking as if she wished she had parchment and a quill. "Go on!"

Sunset was already lost in thought. I... I have two Cutie Marks. But a Cutie Mark is a sign... the power to be who you were meant to be. If I have two... does that mean I get to choose?

Twilight continued to grin eagerly, clearly hoping she would continue. Sunset eyed her, opened her mouth, and... something clicked.

I can help you...

She focused her eyes, quickly reaching a decision. "...No. Sorry, Twilight, but you need help, and we've put this off long enough. Besides, growing wings and getting two Cutie Marks is hardly the weirdest thing that's happened today. We'll study it later, I promise."

"Please no?" Twilight looked up with a puppy face, chin on the ground.

"Sorry, Twi." Hating herself for what she was about to do, Sunset reached inside herself for her old Cutie Mark. If I have to have this, I might as well make it useful... Twilight shall be willing to discuss this past night. I got you out of that world, and I'm going to get you out of whatever you're stuck in now, Twi. I promise.

There was a gleam, and when Sunset looked back, her old Cutie Mark had reappeared. She stared at it perhaps a bit too long, and had her attention refocused by a sniffle from Twilight. A tear traced its way down the alicorn's cheek as her eyes wobbled, large and pleading.

Sunset hesitantly reached out a hoof, then drew back. "Twilight, let me help you. How long... how long were you in there?"

"I was just sitting in my castle, minding my own business," Twilight sniffled, "and it was the middle of the night. I was reading a book! I don't even remember what. Spike was asleep. And my Cutie Mark started glowing, like the- hic! Like the map was summoning me."

She rubbed a hoof across her eyes, and continued, ears flat. "And I got your message, in the book, and I just came and thought I could help and that I'd know what the problem was all by myself because I was the only one who was summoned! But then I got there and couldn't find you or what had happened to you and I realized I had been too... sniff! Too fast and didn't know what to do, so I went back to Equestria to get the book and try to talk to you again, but before that I tried to check the map again to see if it could tell me something and Starlight's portal appeared before I could do anything!"

Twilight was wailing now. "Then I was tied to a bench, and you came in, but I couldn't tell if it was you, so I didn't say anything because I didn't want to let anyone know what I knew until I knew who not to trust, and I was tied up so I couldn't even use the magic pendant on myself!

"Then Starlight came in and I thought it was her because I've never seen a counterpart for her at or near Canterlot High, so I went with her to try to ask what was going on, but somehow she knew who I was and tied me up and gagged me in Celestia's office so I couldn't talk or stop her and still couldn't use the magic and she kept me there forever until she came and brought me out front and I was still tied up and there was nothing I could do to stop you from killing eachother!"

She scooched forward, wrapping her forelegs around Sunset's, eyes pleading up at her. "I'm sorry! I'm so, so, sorry!" she choked. "If I hadn't overestimated my ability to help... if I had waited longer, and let you explain what was going on, I would have known, I could have done something! I could have found a spell first that would get you out, I could have told you what was going on when we were in the locker room, I wouldn't have trusted Starlight, I... I... Snrrrkt!" She pressed her face into Sunset's coat, drying her eyes. "You had to live out your worst nightmare, you almost died because of meeeee!"

"Me? I- Twilight, what about you?" Sunset was taken aback. "I'm fine... well, still alive. Yeah, I almost died, but I didn't. All I have to worry about now is not hurting my friends." And still having that concept exist for me... "Maybe I'll stop having nightmares, and actually be better off for the experience. You, though..."

"Oh, yes, me," Twilight said bitterly. "The self-proclaimed Princess of Friendship who got her friend locked in an awful, torturous nightmare world and almost killed because she didn't even listen to them when they were in trouble! I can't even stop one h-half-dead person with a hammer from... from... Aaaaaaaahnnnghh... hic..."

Sunset straightened up, standing at her full height, summoning and extending her wings for emphasis. With a hoof, she lifted Twilight's chin so the princess was looking at her once again. Sad eyes brimming with determination, she looked down and met Twilight's gaze.

"Twilight, look at me. And then look at yourself. Which one of us looks more 'all right' to you?"

Sunset took a step nearer, pushing down the fact that she was very much not alright, still holding her friend's chin. "Here's a hint: it's not you. Twilight, I haven't told you much about my past, aside from the fact that I used to be Princess Celestia's student." She moved her hoof to Twilight's shoulder, keeping the princess steady. "There's a reason for that. It's because my past is very, very... uncertain. There's a lot of stuff there I'm not proud of, and even more I still don't know how to feel about. But that... no longer defines me. It never has, not since the day you changed my life, Twilight." Yeah, now I'm just unstoppable and alone...

Twilight sniffled, ears perking towards Sunset. Sunset continued, "I'm never who I used to be. And now, everything that just happened- all the fighting, scrambling, hatred and mistrust, the pain and the control and the effort to survive... It's all there with everything else in my past. A burden I've been carrying, and will always need to carry, but not one that defines me. I'm all right, Twilight. You haven't hurt me. Wherever I go from here, I promise I'll be doing everything I can to be a me that you can be proud of."

"Wherever you're going?" Twilight choked. "You're... you're not going back to Canterlot High?"

Sunset drew back, dreading what she knew to be coming. Here it comes... You don't deserve to be mindless, Twi. And that means not being around me. What's more... you'll forgive me, for everything that happened... and everything I still could do. Of course you will, because it's what you do... and because it's what I want. And I can't live with that. Even if you would already, I can't live with asking you to... making you forgive me when I condemn myself for what I am. I can't live with the knowledge I had a hand in it, so... I'm sorry about this, Twilight...

Steeling herself, she took a breath and forced the thought into her words. "I didn't say that, but... It's not up to me, Twilight. You're a princess. One of the four most powerful figures in Equestria, now. And I... Regardless of intent, I captured you, and held you against your will. I used mind control on you, Twilight. I might even have stolen your alicorn magic. I..."

She broke contact with the princess. "I've committed so many crimes and violations against you, Twilight... It doesn't matter whether or not I wanted to, because I did. Maybe it was a me from another time, a past I never want to return to, but I did it! If I return to Equestria... I won't be welcomed. Forgiveness isn't really on the table, this time. I can't be forgiven." Send me away, Twilight. I won't hate you for it. It'll be easier for both of us, I promise...

"What?" Twilight said, clearing her face and puffing out her cheeks. "Forgive you? Why wouldn't I do that?"

"Because you can't!" Sunset's eyes widened as if she had been punched. "Twilight, I don't know if you fully understand what I did to you- even if it was a past version of me, it was still me- but you don't exactly have the option of just wiping my slate clean. I have a history in Equestria, and if I go back, things are going to get dug up. Don't you get it?" Stop fighting this, Twilight! Don't make me abandon you myself...

Twilight frowned, drawing herself up into an equally imposing figure in front of Sunset. "It doesn't matter! You weren't acting of your own free will, but even if you were, it still wouldn't matter! Maybe it's you who doesn't get it, because that's what redemption's about. But you weren't yourself! You're right that I can't forgive you, because that requires having done something in need of forgiving!"

Sunset knew she was reaching, but grabbed Twilight's shoulders, leaning in until their faces were inches apart, and neither flinched. "Yes. I. Have! And you can't do it! You can't erase that! No matter what you say, I'll still be the pony who stole a princess!" I'm dangerous, Twilight! she added in her mind, though she couldn't bring herself to say it out loud. I can force anyone to do anything, and without friends who can bring me back, I can make wrong judgements! You can't keep me around, so stop trying!

"Stop it," Twilight growled, eyes steely, tears still pooling at the sides. "Stop it! Stop conflating what I think of you and what Equestria thinks of you! I'm not Equestria, and they don't speak for me! If they did, Canterlot would have fallen to Changelings a year ago! Forget the laws, I don't care about laws! Following the rules isn't how I became a princess, Sunset."

Valiantly, Twilight wiped her face with the tip of her wing, neither breaking eye contact nor letting go of Sunset. "I'm not worried about what will happen to you when we go back. I'm a princess, I'll be in your corner. Celestia will be in your corner, I'll talk to her. What I'm worried about is the fact that my friend has apparently had her faith shaken so much that she pretends I'm just clockwork... rules and laws and unfeeling so it'll hurt less when I pass judgement on her... whether it's because she doesn't believe I'll forgive her, or knows I will and doesn't believe she deserves it."

Sunset felt her eyes widen. Twilight, no! Please don't make this harder than it needs to be! Please don't...

"Don't you understand, Sunset?" Twilight sniffed, still maintaining her gaze. "Don't you know who I am? I'm a pony, just like you, who knows a lot... a lot about what you've been through in life. Who values you as a friend. Who values nothing more than her friends. You're so important, Sunset... To me, to... to everything! And now, because of a mistake I made, I feel like I've lost you... like I've hurt you so much, like you're that afraid of what someone with a will of their own could do to you that you can't even see me as a pony anymore..."

Because you're not! Sunset wanted to scream. You don't have a will of your own! I can take that away from you! I've already done it just by existing! I command you to stop! Stop! Twilight...!

Twilight coughed, her composure finally breaking. She drew away as Sunset stared, speechless, and huddled to the ground, looking away. "At first, I was worried that you'd be mad, that I didn't save you when I could have so easily," she whispered. "Then, as things got worse, I... I thought you might die, Sunset. That you'd be gone for good. It was almost too much to bear..."

She looked up, ears straightening, and met Sunset's eyes once again. "But this? Hearing you talk to me about friendship like you don't believe it can apply to you, about forgiveness like you're not worthy of answering to someone with a soul?" She opened her mouth, shivered, and her tears began flowing freely once again. "It hurts more than I could possibly imagine..."

N-No... That's not... Sunset stared, eyes unfocused. Not worthy? Twilight, that's... that's the one thing I do want...

Choking, Twilight dragged herself back to her feet. "I forgive you, Sunset! I forgive you for the pain, for what I'm feeling now, I forgive you for anything that happened at the school! Whatever or whoever you think it was, I forgive you and them and everything for anything you think has happened to me and more! Just... please..." She took a step forward, tail between her legs. "Tell me I still exist to you..."

Sunset's reverie shattered. Mane sagging, she gasped for breath as Twilight's words sunk in. "How?" she rasped. "I tried... I pushed you away! I didn't want... I wanted you not to... to interfere, in my... judgement..." She blinked furiously, and focused on Twilight's pleading eyes. "I said I didn't want you to let me back! Can you really... not... care?"

"No," Twilight replied, summing the strength of a thousand minotaurs in her voice. "I care more than you could possibly know. And I'll never let one of my friends take the fall for something I did. So please don't fall, Sunset. I want to help you. I need you to help me! Sunset, please!"

Sunset sniffed, fighting to remain coherent. "T-Twilight, I can't! My Cutie Mark, it... it forces what I want to happen! I can't turn it off, I can't not use it! I want to help you, but just by being around someone, I make them not a person... pony anymore! My judgement isn't perfect, Twilight! I need my friends to keep me on the right course, and if they do everything I want, I... The risk is too great, I can't... I'm too dangerous, Twilight! I don't want you to lose yourself by being around me! I don't want you to accept what I am!"

"Well, I'll say your judgement isn't perfect," Twilight suddenly thundered, looming up over Sunset. "You want your friends to correct you when you're wrong!?" Her face softened, and she extended a hoof. "Then here's the place to start. Help me, Sunset. And let me help you."

"Y-You..." Tears began flowing openly across Sunset's face. "Twilight..."

"You really think you don't deserve to be forgiven? Accepted?" Twilight looked down, and her gaze was stern. "You think you can make me do what's bad for you, just because of some Cutie Mark? Then do it. I dare you. Make me move this hoof away, just one inch."

Sunset looked. Sunset trembled. Move it.

Twilight's hoof remained still.

Sunset's eyes narrowed. Twilight, I command you to move that hoof. T-Take it away. Right now.

Twilight's hoof trembled, though it might have been from her ragged breathing. Her eyes didn't move.

"Grrrrrr..." Sunset crouched back, ears folded. "Move your hoof, Twilight! Move it! Move it!"

Twilight spread her wings, and her hoof remained still. "No."

Sunset collapsed, and felt a shudder roll through her body. "I can't..."

"That's what I thought." Sighing, Twilight stood normally once again. "I... would be lying if I said I wasn't upset about what happened to me. A part of me- a big part of me I didn't even know existed is telling me to run, to leave you here and send you away, to make you pay for what happened." She hung her head.

Every fiber of Sunset's body was still.

"But I won't," Twilight continued, looking up with a spark in her eyes. "Because I've been here before. I've had reasons to doubt my friends. This isn't the first time I've wanted to send someone away, and the stakes were even higher before. Before, I've been betrayed for real. I'm not even sure why I feel conflicted right now, Sunset, because I should have every reason to let you back. To want you back. As a friend."

She narrowed her eyes. "Is this your 'taking away my choice,' Sunset? What you think you'll do to me by being around? This... irrational want? Because if so, living with it is a price I'm willing to pay to keep you as a friend. You can make me doubt you, Sunset, but you can't take away my choice. And even then, that doubt I can fight. Can you forgive me for feeling it at all?" She held out a hoof again, and waited.

Sunset stared at the offered limb, utterly speechless. "You felt it... you felt it and you fought it... it can be fought, and you really, truly... want me back..."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Well, it's not the first time tonight you've... err, something has failed to make me betray my friends."

Sunset broke down into a fit of uncontrollable giggles. "We must look like the biggest fools in Equestria right now, Twi. Here's me, freaking out about some power that doesn't even work, and you, blaming yourself for hurting me when I'm just fine! I'm fine! So, so... hah! Hahahah... I'm still... myself... This doesn't mean I'll be alone, after all..."

"So... you don't care either?" Twilight asked, tentatively. "Honestly and truly? That I failed to get you out myself, even when it would have been so easy? That I didn't see this coming and stop Starlight before it even started? That this is all my fault?"

Sunset shook her head, smiling through her tears and extending a hoof of her own. "Water under the bridge."

Face cracking into the first genuine smile she had produced since waking up in the starry expanse, Twilight lunged forward, catching Sunset with her wings. "I'm so glad... So, so glad... I've failed before, but never so badly that it lost me a friend as true as you..."

They hit the ground rolling. Sunset almost had a flashback to her fight with Starlight and tensed, until she realized there was a fuzzy pony muzzle embedded in her neck. "Guhh! Twilight!"

"Hmmmmm?"

"I just had an evil mind-control monster try to make you do exactly that," Sunset whimpered. "Really?"

"Eep!" Twilight raised her head, blushing furiously. "Sorry! I didn't mean it like that! I was just-"

Sunset cut her off. "Just lonely. Lonely, and glad to have me back, as a friend. And I'm glad too."

Twilight met her eyes, silent and apologetic.

"And if a platonic cuddle is how you want to celebrate that?" Sunset smiled tenderly, reaching a hoof out and pulling Twilight's head back in. "Well... okay."

Slowly, Twilight's tension evaporated as Sunset returned her embrace, and she hummed happily.

Sunset let herself relax too, laying her chin on top of Twilight's mane with a purr. "You do realize what letting me stick around is going to cost, right?"

Twilight's voice was muffled by fur, but Sunset could still make it out. "No. And I don't care."

"Politically, I mean? Has Celestia ever even told you why I was 'banished?'"

"No." Twilight untucked her head, leaning to try to meet Sunset's eyes. "But when I returned, that very first time after saving you? She didn't ask me about the crown. She didn't ask about the other world, or even about me. She asked if you were all right." With a contented sigh, she readjusted her wings and continued. "I'm sure she'll stick up for you, too."

Sunset giggled, a loose strand of Twilight's mane causing her nose to twitch. "Has she ever asked you to invite me back?"

Twilight shook her head. She was too covered in Sunset for the motion to have much of an effect, but the message got through.

"Well, be sure to tell me what she says when you ask her." Sunset smiled a little, feeling the strands of Twilight's mane slipping across her hooves. "I'm feeling... optimistic right now, Twi. Maybe it's been long enough that they've forgotten, and I can come back..."

"You're going to have to do something about Starlight, too, you know," Sunset mumbled when Twilight didn't reply. "She's your friend too, or at least used to be. If you let her go, I'll be prosecuted."

"I'll take the blame," Twilight answered, shifting about in Sunset's embrace and giving a small hoofy-kick. "All of it. I told you, I could have stopped this. This was my fault. And if you're banished, even if it's for something as silly as trying to mind-control me... then wherever Equestria decides to send you, I'll go too."

Sunset sighed with happiness. "...Thanks, Twi. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with you just abandoning your life and your friends if I had to go somewhere, but... it means a lot to me."

"Well, I..." Twilight squirmed. "I really don't think it will come to that. You've got a lot on your side, Sunset, and I can get more. And besides, there's nothing you've even done, unless Starlight makes something up. You'll be all right..." She was still for a minute. "I do mean it, though. As close as that just was... friendship doesn't lose."

"But what if the prosecutor brings more friends than we do?" Sunset teased.

"I doubt it. We've got two princesses of friendship now! That means we'll be four times as unstoppable!" Twilight giggled sleepily, trying and failing to pump a hoof.

Sunset smiled, less because of the joke than the wiggling alicorn in her grasp. Then she sniffed. "Not to change the subject, but we've just been through a whole night of chaos and smoke and storms and you've been trapped in a sweaty locker room. Why does your mane still smell good?"

"It's this place," Twilight murmured. "I really do think this is where ascensions happen. If the harmonic energies here are strong enough to grow you a pair of wings, they're strong enough to heal wounds, too. I guess dirty hair is on that list..." There was a chuckle, and then they were still.

Things were silent for a while as the alicorns snuggled. Overhead and underneath, in all directions and all-encompassing, the heavens spun, nebulae turning like purple gears on a great machine. The distant rush of exploding matter and colliding gas soothed three pairs of equine ears, two locked together, the other some distance away, frayed and unmoving. Then: "Sunny?"

"Yeah, you can."

"Huh?"

"Call me that."

"Oh. Well, then you can call me Twily. But that's not what I wanted to say."

"Mmmrff?"

"Just between you and me, Sunset, I... know how you feel."

"How so?"

"With the whole... The making-people-do-what-you-want thing."

"Wait, what?"

"Mhmm... And you were there. At the Battle of the Bands. I didn't have any weird magic, but everyone... well, our friends believed in me so much that they couldn't even recognize when I failed. They couldn't help me... they didn't know. I was alone, and their blind trust only made things worse... both for me, and everyone else."

"Twilight..."

"Yep. I've never heard of magic like yours before, but having nobody to stand up to you... or even recognize that you aren't perfect isn't unique. I've been there. I know what it's like... You're not alone."

"T-Thanks, Twi."

"Mmmhm. And don't forget... even though you went along with it for a while, you were also the one to fix it. As much power as everyone gave me, I was powerless and trapped, and you were the first to notice. I'm just... I'm just glad to be able to return the favor."

"Hmmm... I'm not alone..."

"And I'm not either..."

Exhausted Ensembles

Sunset was awakened by a slight poking in her ribs. Cracking an eye, she saw Twilight still snuggled up against her. The lavender alicorn was doing the poking, and she wasn't smiling. Sunset instantly knew something was wrong.

"We forgot about Starlight..." Twilight mouthed, eyes glistening. She looked to the side, indicating to Sunset to follow her gaze. Sunset looked, and there lay Starlight, awake but not moving, eyes fixed on the cuddling alicorns, face a picture of pain and despair.

Sunset sat up, and looked at her fully. Starlight looked back, focusing not on her but on the still-laying form of Twilight. "I failed..." Starlight's small voice grated, lungs heaving with the effort of talking. "Again."

Spreading her wings, Sunset slowly paced over. Starlight cringed, radiating fear and hopelessness.

Instead of talking, Sunset lit her horn, an aura of teal magic settling over Starlight's ruined body. Slowly, she combed over her, logging every sort of injury that could be expected from a fistfight in a storm in a burning building. Frost forming on her horn, she gently began sealing lacerations and soothing scarred skin.

"What a-are you doing?" Starlight coughed, forming a halfhearted frown, unable even to raise her muzzle off the ground.

"Helping you," Sunset replied, not looking her in the eyes. "I meant what I said, above the storm. Whatever wrongs I've committed in the past no longer represent who I am, and Twilight believes that more than anyone. I don't know how I can convince you of that. I want to understand you, Starlight Glimmer, but until I do, the only thing I can do to show you I mean well is this."

Starlight merely groaned. "Suit yourself."

Twilight arrived at her side, kneeling down. "Are you all right, Starlight?"

"No."

Standing back up, Twilight looked Sunset in the eye. "We should take her to a hospital."

Sunset merely raised an eyebrow.

Twilight fell back, ears folding. "Yes, I... know what she did. And what I almost did to her. B-But..." She looked away, then back at Starlight out of the corners of her eyes. "Starlight, do you even want another chance?"

"I want to survive..." Starlight silently rasped.

"If I help you..." Twilight hesitated. "Will you tell me why you hate Sunset so much?"

"Fine. Nngh... Help..." Starlight's voice trailed off, her eyes glossing over, chest rising and falling fitfully.

"Sunset?" Twilight turned, visibly shaking. "Can we help her?"

"If you're asking my permission, Twi..." Sunset sighed. "Yes. But please keep an eye on her until we've had a chance to talk things over and hear her side of the story, okay? I'm all for taking magical monsters and villains and finding the real people and ponies behind them, but... her track record isn't being the best right now."

"Good. We should hurry, I..." Twilight grimaced. "We left her alone for way too long already while we worked out our own problems. I don't need another thing to blame myself for tonight."

"Twilight? Before we go, I..." Sunset bit her lip. "Could you, maybe... promise not to tell the others? About what my Cutie Mark does? I know so little about how it works, and really want to find out before... you know..."

"I can do that." Twilight smiled softly. "You, um, might want to hide these too, just in case." She gestured toward Sunset's wings.

Sunset blushed. "Right. That's probably a good idea."

"And..." Twilight continued, hesitant. "Can we also not talk about what we just talked about here? Everything? With the others? I still... I need to think about things, sort them out in my head. I'll be all right, Sunset. But I do need time to think."

Sunset smiled back. "Sure thing, Twi. I guess I'll..." Moving to pick up Starlight in her telekinesis, she looked properly at the defeated unicorn for the first time, and trailed off. She blinked. Hard.

"Uhh, Twilight?" Sunset stared, and her tail flicked. "Has she always...?"

Curiously, Twilight gave her former student a look as well. "What are you talking ab- oh my." She held a hoof to her mouth, eyes widening.

Starlight was blank.

Sunset and Twilight raised their eyebrows at eachother. After all the night's surprises, Sunset didn't have it in her to be phased anymore, and suspected Twilight didn't either. Still, she had to ask. "Twilight? Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Twilight bit her lip. "She definitely had it a week ago. And the last time I saw her, which was the day before... this. What happened?"

Sunset stared at Starlight's ruined body. "If I had to guess? The same thing that cost me mine. She put on a crown... and used it to spread disharmony. When it was turned on her, well..."

Twilight glanced at her own flank. "Then, do you think she has one of these?"

Sunset bit her lip. "Honestly? I don't know. It doesn't look like it. If she does, where is it? But she's also been pretty much unconscious since our battle..."

"This... could be a problem when we take her to the hospital," Twilight said. "Grown ponies in Equestria don't just lack Cutie Marks. Ponies are going to ask questions, questions I don't know how to answer."

"Rrrnngh..." Starlight growled fitfully, seeming to flicker in and out of lucidity. Her horn sparked slightly, and with a pop, a gray equals sign appeared on her flank. "There..."

Twilight's eyes widened. "Uhhh..."

Sunset nudged her. "She'll also be unconscious for a whole lot longer if we don't get out of here. Act now. Questions later. How do we get out of here?"

Twilight put a hoof to her chin. "Hmmm... Well, this is a place for alicorns. And since we are alicorns... maybe it's as simple as just wanting to leave?"

"Try it!" Sunset waved with a hoof, checking to ensure her wings weren't present just in case.

Twilight hummed. Suddenly, a bright sphere of white light emanated from her horn, expanding and enveloping all three equines before any had a chance to react. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, it shrank to a dot and vanished, leaving the swirling cosmos empty and devoid of life once again.

In the throne room of Twilight's castle, eleven equines lay, fervently pouring through thick magical tomes and shaking their heads in confusion. Occasional whispers of encouragement flitted through the air, not that they were needed: none of them had any intention of breaking from their work even for a millisecond. A baby dragon scurried back and forth, fetching new stacks of books in hope that something of use could be found within.

"Meh," a Rainbow Dash sighed, pushing aside a scroll. "I'm fairly sure nothing in a book about plants and medicine is gonna help Sunset and Twilight. Unless this place has plants that can teleport you between dimensions?"

"Honestly? That would be pretty sweet," said the other Rainbow, floating past upside-down, an open book resting on her blue belly. "But I'm pretty sure we don't. Keep looking!"

Suddenly, the magical map in the center of the room flickered, and a pillar of blinding light shot toward the ceiling. Slowly, it constricted, eventually vanishing and expelling Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer.

Everyone in the room froze. Someone blinked. Starlight collapsed back to her side with a pained grunt, unable to stand. Sunset giggled nervously, taking in who was in the room.

"Chimicherrychangaaaaaaa!" blurted a Pinkie Pie. The tension in the room shattered, and both worlds' parties of friends surged toward them.

"Twilight, darling!"

"Well, I'll be! You made it back!"

"Did you get to fight any totally evil monsters?"

"Was Nightmare Moon there? Oh! Oh! Or Queen Chrysalis? Duaaah! It must have been Discord! Hee!"

"Um. Hi..."

Sunset lifted her head above the sea of fuzzy pony hugs to see six stragglers faceplanted on the throne room floor, clearly unaccustomed to having four legs. Disentangling herself, she lifted them back on their feet with magic and took turns nuzzling them. "You all came for me..."

"Duh! We're your friends!" Rainbow grinned, spreading her wings for emphasis.

Applejack punched Rainbow's shoulder, and the pegasus tipped over with a panicked yelp. "Well, it's not like we could just go and do nothing! If you're in trouble, and Princess Twilight's in trouble, it's our job to help you!"

"Yes," Rarity added, looking to the side, "except that all we did was trash Twilight's library and spend several hours flailing around in a strange world with these adorable pony bodies. I must admit, I wasn't expecting it to seem this natural, walking around without clothes."

"Strange!?" Pinkie butted in. "Are you crazy? This place is amazing! Look, look, watch this!" She picked up a book, and held it out in front of her. "I can hold stuff... without hands! It's like magic!"

"Actually, it is," said Twilight, carefully stepping closer one hoof at a time. "Apparently, that's how hooves work here! They have limited-range telekinetic fields that can-"

"Girls," Sunset interrupted, patting a cuddling Fluttershy's head. "You totally helped me. I'm serious. Each and every one of your messages to me in my book were... they were exactly what I needed to keep going, and not give up." She spread her forelegs wide, and tried her hardest to wrap everyone into a group hug. "Thank you..."

"Um, Sunset?" Fluttershy asked, pulling back slightly. "What happened to it? Your book, I mean."

Sunset grimaced. "I'm... pretty sure I lost it. I tucked it under my clothes to try to keep it safe for a while, but I lost those when I transformed, and... I didn't really have time to worry about it after that."

Twilight grinned curiously. "Wait, you transformed? Does that mean you got my pendant? And it worked?"

"Yup!" Sunset nodded, ears straight forward. "I probably would have died a lot faster without it, so thanks, by the way."

"You... died?" Applejack asked, tilting her head.

"I say, that sounds rather morbid." Rarity frowned. "Last we heard, you were merely not in control of your body!"

"Duh! Obviously, since Sunset was writing to us as a ghost, and you only become a ghost when you die, she was dead, right?" Pinkie looked up hopefully.

"Um... Maybe we should talk about this another time?" Sunset glanced over to Princess Twilight, who was picking her way out from her own mob. Starlight lay nearby, unconscious and alone. "I haven't really slept since I went to bed two nights ago... one? Three? I don't know. Actually, what time is it?"

"It's pretty much the middle of the afternoon," Rainbow replied. "And we've actually been up all night too, trying to find a way to help you. I guess we could stand to sleep on it, first..."

Pinkie nodded, eyes wide, then immediately flipped onto her back. "Shnorrr!"

"You can spend the night here, if you want," Princess Twilight interrupted, walking up from behind with Starlight cradled in her telekinesis. "I've got plenty of rooms to spare."

Rainbow winked. "Thanks, Twi!"

Twilight nodded. "Ask Spike when you're tired. He'll find something for you." She turned to Sunset, and bit her lip. "Sunset, I... have to go now. I don't want to keep Starlight waiting any longer. It's already been far too much, and..." Downcast, she turned away.

Sunset rested a hoof on her shoulder. "I understand. I'll see you again soon, Twi."

With a final hug, Twilight spread her wings and soared out of the throne room.

Sunset turned to her friends and grinned. "Well, that's that. I'm sure Principal Celestia will let us off lightly if we miss any school as a result."

Instantly, the atmosphere among the circle of friends ground to a halt. Sunset blinked, tilting her head as her friends stared at her. "What?"

"School's already cancelled," Rainbow said unentheusiastically.

Applejack nodded. "Remember that stuff I said in the book about a car crash?"

Sunset felt her blood run cold. "Uh... maybe?"

"Well, I didn't tell you then because I didn't want to distract you, or nothing, but..." Applejack took off her hat and hung it in front of her chest. "Celestia was in a crash the other night... morning, maybe. She wasn't alone, though, Luna was with her. So was Dean Cadence from Crystal Prep, for that matter. All were hurt. With nobody around to call the shots, the faculty kind of got together and agreed to just hold off on classes until someone was well enough to take over again."

"Well enough?" Sunset breathed a sigh of relief. "Then they're not...?"

"Not dead, no." Rarity shook her head. "When we left, at least. I think we're all just realizing now how long we've been here, and how much could have happened since then..."

"The last we heard, Celestia and Cadence had it pretty bad," Rainbow said, instinctively flapping her wings once. "Luna, not so much. Maybe she's back at school already."

"Great." Sunset blinked at the ground. "I-I guess coming back from that insanity to a bit of peace and normalcy would be too much to ask for, huh?"

Her friends looked awkwardly at her, mouths torn between frowns and sad smiles.

"Sorry, darling..." Rarity's voice spoke up, and they all looked to see Twilight's Ponyville friends walking over. Hesitantly, Rarity stepped forward, continuing. "I well know the feeling. But some days, insanity is all life has in store for you."

"So, you're Sunset Shimmer, huh?" Rainbow Dash sized her up, looking down from the air where she hovered.

"I must say, you look considerably... friendlier than you did the last time we met." Applejack half-grinned apologetically.

"It's nice to really meet you," Fluttershy said, boldly pacing forward. "Twilight speaks very highly of you, you know."

"Yeah! Sometimes, she tells us these stories about how you helped ruin those nasty Dazzlings! Like the time she was up late working on a spell, and you knew exactly what she was thinking!" Pinkie bounced and bounced, but was brought to a standstill when Applejack put a hoof in her mouth with a smirk.

Everyone was silent for a moment, before a Rainbow Dash piped up. "So... what was that all about?"

Sunset grimaced. "Do you want the long version, or the really long version?"

Pony Pinkie grinned. "I'd like the super deluxe triple-stuffed version served well-browned on a homemade platter and not to-go!"

The other eyed her counterpart slyly, chiming in at the end: "...With cheese!" They hoofbumped.

Sunset rolled her eyes. "Suit yourselves. But if you fall asleep during it, I'm not waking you up. And if you can't get to sleep after it, well..."

An Applejack chuckled and wiped her brow. "Hoboy..."

Sunset talked. She talked about Demon Sunset, making sure to save the reveal about her Cutie Mark for the end. She talked about the Sirens, and how they had picked a fight with Starlight. She talked about Starlight, and how she had fought Sunset to the death... as well as how she had served the school burnt muffins, and how she didn't know what UFO chasers were. She talked about the Element of Magic and transformations, describing her experiences with the pendant at length for Twilight. She talked about the collapsing school, her struggles to reach the book in the library, and the messages Starlight left on the intercom.

The only things she strategically omitted were her encounter with Snips and Snails in the gym, her wings, her talk with Twilight after the battle, and her fears about the full extent of her Cutie Mark. The former still pained her to think about, and she didn't want to burden anyone with her own fears before she even knew fully how the mark worked. Twilight had beaten it, and that was enough for now.

Eventually, Sunset reached the end of her fight with Starlight, sitting back with a sigh. "...And that's pretty much what happened. I'm alive, if shaken. So is Twilight. Starlight... We'll see."

The others blinked. Pony Rainbow Dash was the one to break the silence yet again. "Okay, seriously?" She raised an eyebrow. "First me, now you? What is it with Starlight targeting Twilight's friends with these dumb time loops?"

Sunset sighed. "I wish I knew. But right now? That's a job for Twilight to figure out. All I want is... for it to stop for a bit. I need a break. A vacation. I need to think stuff over, maybe talk stuff over, and deal with my problems before life throws something new at me. I mean, the Friendship Games were less than a week ago, and... who knows what could happen next, you know?"

A Rarity nodded. "I think that sounds like an excellent idea."

"All right, then..." Sunset looked around, taking stock of the room they were in. "You girls can stay here, or do whatever. I'm going back to the mirror world for a bit just to check up on how things are doing there, and make sure my book and the pendant didn't spontaneously appear somewhere they didn't belong, or something."

She began to leave, then looked back over her shoulder, smiling. "Don't be too hard on Starlight if you see her again. And I'd really appreciate it if you didn't tell others about the stuff I just told you... especially what my Cutie Mark does. I'm trying my best to leave it alone and let others keep being whoever they want to be, and I'd like the same done for me. This isn't who I am, and nobody needs a reason to doubt that."

A murmur of acceptance rose all around as Sunset stepped out of the throne room, away from the groups of friends.

In a high wing of the Royal Canterlot Hospital, Twilight Sparkle shuffled from hoof to hoof, nervously leaning against the frame to a door. Inside, Starlight Glimmer lay unconscious on a bed, under the effect of anesthesia. Several white-coated unicorns hovered over her, horns aglow.

Twilight whined, softly and constantly, unable to tell what was going on. It was only due to her princess privilege that she had been allowed to go this far, and she didn't want to push her luck.

Fortunately, a doctor eventually shuffled up to her, holding a clipboard in his aura. "Well!?" Twilight blurted.

"Miss Sparkle, I have to ask..." the doctor began. "Would you happen to know the last time this mare has been to a clinic?"

Twilight shook her head. "Not recently, though I don't know much about her youth."

"Hmmph!" The doctor smiled. "You're the first visitor I've seen all day who hasn't responded to the first thing I say with some form of 'will they be okay?' Kudos to you, Princess. And yes, since you're clearly thinking it, she will be okay."

Twilight stared intently at him. "Buuut...?"

"As I implied, her medical records are... very sparse. To the extent that we have nothing on her from less than twenty years ago. We did a search for any other official records she may have, only to find the same." He rubbed the top of his muzzle. "It's almost as if she doesn't exist, as far as the government is concerned. Princess, it's not my place to inquire as to your decisions in who you choose to train. Equestria need not be privy to your every thought. However, I wished to bring this to your attention, in case you it is something you desire to investigate further." In his hoof, he offered a very thin, thin folder.

"Will do. Thank you, doctor." Twilight smiled and took the file in her telekinesis, suddenly wanting to be on her own to think. That Starlight would be off the beaten path wasn't particularly unsurprising, but did she really have nothing? Mentally, she also began drafting a letter to Celestia requesting a meeting; they'd have to explain about Sunset's new wings soon.

The doctor nudged her, shuffling. "Princess, you can go in, if you want."

Twilight nodded, and thanked him. Quietly pacing in, she took a seat on the windowsill next to Starlight's softly slumbering form, sliding open the folder and examining its contents. A birth certificate from twenty-four years ago- interesting. I'd have pegged her as much older than that. Aaand an undated certificate of adoption- also interesting. Would that have been before or after Sunburst? The rest of the folder was bare.

She sighed, putting the items aside. Tucking her legs beneath her and fluffing her coat for warmth, Twilight closed her eyes, losing herself in thought.

Troubled Tricksters

Starlight Glimmer rubbed her eyes, staring into a cavernous expanse of nothingness.

There were no walls, no sky, and nothing to see for thousands of miles before the horizon gave way to clouds of inky smoke and impossible shapes... or perhaps it was just a few hooflengths in front of her muzzle. The floor was there, and it could have born any number of patterns. She wasn't sure if it was flat or the steepest cliff, and it didn't desire to tell her.

Several colorful flames materialized in front of her face. Unlike the rest of the things that were- or perhaps weren't- in this place, she knew instantly what these were. She stretched a hoof out, a tear falling from the corner of her eye. "No... You're leaving me?"

With an iron frown, she looked at the gray equals sign on her flank. Try as she might, it wouldn't budge. She couldn't even light her horn in this place.

The flames danced and swayed before her muzzle, and she couldn't tell if they were moving or merely changing in size.

Fear not, my little pony. They are not leaving you.

Starlight spun, face lifting. There, to her side, was another flame... or, at least, the shadow of one. It danced and sparked with a color unlike any in the world, simultaneously everything and nothing. It was not gray, it was not monochrome, yet she couldn't even identify one of the different components which made it up. Even trying to look at it made her feel as if she had lost all semblance of depth perception, as if it was less a thing than a hole in space, leading to realms unknown. Now that she thought about it, she wasn't sure she was looking at it at all, as if her eyes strayed over it and magically snapped to the far side.

"I haven't seen you in forever! Why are you here now, and not when I needed help earlier?"

Do you not need help now?

"Well... yes." She bowed her head.

Fear not, Starlight Glimmer, the flame said. I cannot detect any of Sunset Shimmer's influence in your mind, aside from a bit of pain-dulling.

She sighed, and looked to her flank. "How do I get it back?"

The same way you got it in the first place.

Hanging her head, Starlight closed her eyes. "Then it's no use. That place probably doesn't even exist anymore..."

I would not be so certain. Things such as these tend to be extremely difficult for the well-intentioned to get rid of, and even harder for the wicked to hide. It may take some doing, but I am certain you could find it once again.

"How do I even start? I'm almost dead, I have nothing! Do you have any idea how ruined I am right now?"

Shhhh. The flame cut her off. I cannot protect you in the waking world, but here, I can at least assure you that you remain yourself. Your situation is not admirable, but you have not lost yet. And for what it is worth, I believe Sunset when she says she has no intent to hurt you. You have time. And should you become lost, I will be here in your dreams to remind you of who you are.

"Lost?" Starlight growled. "I gave up! I gave up and I meant it! I'm tired of trying to be something more than a pawn in a machine and getting my plot kicked over and over for it! I'm tired of being nothing but an instrument of revenge, fighting things that are in the past and can't be changed! I never wanted to be a martyr, I'm so far past caring about your dumb idealistic crusade you don't even know, and for all I know, Sunset was telling the truth! She did spare me, after all. Maybe she really was possessed by her Cutie Mark. Maybe she really doesn't want to be who she is. All I want is to get my friends and live out the rest of my life..."

Do you count Twilight among your friends?

Starlight hung her head. "I gave up on her, and she gave up on me. I had to be saved from her by Sunset."

Ask her to help you. She was emotional. She will still forgive you. Perhaps her knowledge of magic can help you find what you seek. As a professional hero, perhaps their paths have already crossed.

Starlight frowned. "But I'd have to mislead her, and then I'd be no better than Sunset!"

Would you? You could simply tell her the truth. If it is compelling enough for you, then why not her, too?

Starlight scoffed bitterly. "As if she'd ever believe a story like mine. I wouldn't! I only know it because I lived it..."

Then let her live it too, the flame answered. Do you not possess the tools to do so?

Breath catching in her throat, Starlight's eyes grew wide. "I... I do! The time spell..."

Indeed, said the flame. You spent a lot of effort constructing that spell, and there is much more it has yet to do for you. Tell Twilight the truth. Show Twilight why you are who you are. And for now, do not concern yourself with Sunset Shimmer. There is nothing you can do, nor perhaps anything that needs being done.

"It's... not a nice story," Starlight muttered. "Would she even want to see it?"

Twilight Sparkle is resilient. You have nothing to show that she will not understand. Have you not put her through countless trials yourself, including this past day?

"I... Yes..." Starlight said, cowed. She folded her ears.

Then I will return tomorrow night. Is there anything else you wished to ask me?

Starlight nodded. "What will happen to..." She pointed at the normal, colorful flames dancing near her.

They are still with you, the dark flame said. You cannot feel them or reach them now, but one day, you will have them back. I promise.

"Thank you..." Starlight closed her eyes. "Could you, maybe... give me a good dream, before I wake up? I'm lonely..."

Of course I can. Good night, my little pony.

Hairline cracks began appearing in the world around her, streaming with light. As they widened, Starlight thought she saw swirling, pulsing galaxies and cosmos, and then a verdant skyline opened up before her, blooming into existence like a picnic sheet stretched across a field.

Starlight stood atop a familiar mountain. She breathed, and knew what she'd find when she turned around, a soft smile spreading on her face.

Thank you, she thought. But you're wrong about one thing.

With a hoof, she traced a familiar design in the grass beneath her, then another, and another. Her ears registered a distant magical humming, and in the valley below, streaks of prismatic light arced up from the ground, flashing along the contours of what Starlight knew to be the edge of Equestria. She stared into the sky, and the clouds were wild, towering a mile across and just as high, making the bite-sized puffs of home look like simple toys with which pegasi could play. Home... She could feel her eyes adjusting to the higher contrast provided by the blues and greens and whites and grays and sheer detail of this place already. Familiar voices echoed behind her, and she cupped her ears back, ready to lose herself to a night of pretending.

I'm going to concern myself with Sunset Shimmer.

Murderous Masterminds

The two rolled to a stop inside an empty classroom, punching and grabbing and struggling for the upper hand. "Take it off! Off!" Sunset grappled for the Element of Magic, but Starlight's writhing head eluded her grasp.

As she struggled, Starlight pinned her train to the ground with a knee, forcing her down. Spitting, Starlight snarled and summoned a field of telekinesis, gathering shards of glass from the floor and aiming them at Sunset before firing.

With a gasp, Sunset braced her wings against the floor and pushed. "Httt!" Starlight was thrown off, and Sunset shot upwards, kicking off the ceiling and narrowly dodging the storm. Orienting herself, she sailed back down toward Starlight's head, legs extended in a ferocious dropkick. Starlight reached out, grabbed her and slid to the side, sending Sunset crashing to the floor and rolling, her momentum carrying her to the far wall.

As Sunset struggled to get up, Starlight's crown strobed purple. With a yell, she fired a wide beam of telekinesis across the floor. Everything caught in the field surged upward, and Sunset smashed a hole in the dilapidated roof as she involuntarily ascended to the next floor.

With a groan, the ceiling cracked from the strain, webs of fissures trailing out from the hole Sunset had made. Starlight blasted the door to the classroom with a frown, and began dragging in fallen lockers and firing them upwards through the roof, hoping to hit her golden adversary.

Above, Sunset flapped her wings, accelerating free of Starlight's field with a cry. Inverting her momentum, she dropped to the roof like a fiery comet. "Hrrraaugh!"

Sunset slammed down on the roof, pummeling the floor, causing cracks to intensify. The ground exploded beside her, chunks of twisted metal hurtling past. Feeling it begin to give way, Sunset soared up for another strike, bringing the ceiling crashing down to the level below.

Starlight jumped free of the collapse, taking shelter in the freshly exposed hallway. Lunging, she jumped at the falling Sunset, catching her off guard with a punch to the jaw. Sunset fell back, catching herself on a chunk of ceiling and lashing out with both feet in a counterattack.

"Unnngh!" Starlight took the buck hard, flying back into the hallway. Sunset pounced, grabbing a desk chair mid-flight and swinging it toward Starlight's prone form. Another wall of lavender telekinesis slammed into her as Starlight summoned a shield, and she bounced back, throwing the chair as she did so in hopes Starlight would drop the shield.

She didn't get a chance to see, as the roof cave-in intensified, closing off the hole Starlight had escaped through. With a snarl, Sunset fired a beam of blazing energy, causing the wall of debris to explode in a shower of flames. Sunset soared through, perching hawklike at the entrance to watch for her enemy.

With a cacophonous roar, Starlight came rocketing down the tunnel, riding a wave of debris that had been energized by magic. She slammed into Sunset Shimmer, causing them to crash to the floor, residual rainwater splashing upward in a violent display. Starlight raised a pink fist to strike again, but Sunset caught it, pulling forward and throwing the pink girl under her. With a backflip, Sunset pulled away and withdrew a flaming plank from the wreckage behind her, holding it out in front like a ward.

"Stop this, Starlight!" Sunset shouted, footing unsteady on the shifting pile of mortar and snapped planks. "Twilight is here! I don't know if you're somehow willfully ignorant of that, or... or what! But you put so much behind you to study with her, and live a better life! Don't jeopardize all that by attacking me! I've changed, and you've only your own underhanded methods to thank for not noticing! By hunting me like this, all you're proving is that you're the one who hasn't changed!"

Starlight spat, eyes glaring out of the flame-lit darkness like spikes of obsidian. "I gave you chances, and you threw them away! Perhaps you're right, and I haven't changed in my methods. But where you and I will always be different is that I take my worse nature and use it for good! Twilight gave me a better life. She gave me something to believe in other than myself! And you want to take that away!"

"I don't! I've changed! And you can change, too!" Sunset wobbled, spreading her wings for balance. "Don't you realize what you're throwing away by hurting us? She forgave you! She'd do it again, and I would too, if you could only trust in your friends and not do things like this!"

"I forfeited my right to be Twilight's friend the moment I allowed her to be hurt by you!" Starlight shrieked, the glow about her crown intensifying. "The most I can possibly do now is protect her, whether she thinks she wants it or not... protect her from you!"

Before Sunset could respond, Starlight fired three blasts of forceful telekinesis at her. Eyes widening, Sunset nimbly backflipped out of the way, landing atop a desk and jumping down in front of Starlight. With a growl, Starlight swung a plank for her head, but Sunset parried it with her own, single-handedly, and punched Starlight with the other.

Her concentration broken, Starlight fumbled, and Sunset grabbed her and kicked her upwards. Starlight tried to ready a blast, but Sunset flew at her face, kicking off her once again and sending her rocketing to the ground.

Starlight broke her fall with a bubble of telekinesis, but before she could right herself, Sunset shoulder-bombed her in a blazing streak, winding her and reaching for the Element of Magic on her head.

Flailing, Starlight grabbed at the ceiling with telekinesis, shattering it and bringing down towards the golden angel. Sunset instantly rolled them over so her adversary would take the brunt of the blow. Taking advantage of the reprieve, Starlight paused the mortar storm and kicked away, before entombing Sunset in rubble.

"Hrrrraaaugh!" The pile burned bright, wisps of light erupting from its cracks before exploding, sending fiery shrapnel and ashes streaking across the corridor. Sunset floated where it had been, grimacing in pain and anger. "Twilight is here, Starlight! The real Twilight! And so far, you've done nothing here but hurt her! You care about her so much? Then stop attacking her friends!"

With a bubble of magic, Starlight caught the flaming debris, sucking in more and more from the surrounding chaos. "In time, she will see that my purpose is righteousss!" With a flash and a yell, she shoved the wall toward Sunset, sandwiching her between the projectile and the advancing flames behind.

Calculating, Sunset unleashed a bolt of flame at the ceiling that remained, careful to aim away from Starlight lest her magic be drawn in. The resulting fiery explosion gave her enough leeway to jump over Starlight's projectile, and she rocketed down with a bicycle kick.

Starlight was too slow to intercept her, and was struck twice in the face. Reeling, she formed a telekinetic shield around herself with a snarl. Sunset twirled, grabbing a beam from the crashed wall, and shoved it like a lance at Starlight. The shield took the blow, but Starlight cried out in pain as the crown on her head strobed black from the effort. "Aaaaaaahh-haaugh!"

Sensing an opportunity, Sunset stabbed again, and the shield shattered, sending Starlight sprawling across the floor. A bolt of black energy lanced across her face as she propped herself up, hissing murderously at Sunset. "Hressssh!"

Rather than allowing the shattered shield to dissipate, Starlight grabbed the hardened shards in her telekinesis, swinging them like knives at Sunset as she got to her feet. Panting, Sunset swiftly rotated her plank as a fiery shield, knocking the shards away.

Several embedded in the beam like nails, and Sunset swung again. Starlight's crown flashed, and the shards vanished in a glow of light, allowing her to intercept the swing with her hands. Immediately, she raised a knee in a jump kick, slamming her leg into Sunset's stomach.

Sunset doubled over, gasping, and Starlight wrenched the plank from her, smashing it down towards Sunset's exposed head. Before she could make contact, Sunset's wings flared out, blasting her forward and catching Starlight with a vicious headbutt. The two flew backward, crashing through a brittle wall in a cloud of ash.

This time, Sunset got the upper hand when they landed. She grasped for the crown, feeling it singe her hands with infernal temperatures.

"Grrrrgh... aaghh..." Sunset tugged and tugged, but it was fused in place, held down by a sticky artifact charm. Switching tactics before Starlight could recover, she grabbed Starlight's face in the crook of her arm and soared upward, raking the pink girl along the wall beside them, grinding the crown against plaster, mortar and wood. An explosion of lavender magic surged outward, and the wall imploded, catching them both in an infernal backdraft from the lit corridor beyond.

Sunset dropped her and flipped away, roaring back in for another blow. Shaking her head to clear it, Starlight summoned another cloud of telekinesis between the two. Sunset wasn't fast enough to dodge, and flew straight into it. Combining with her momentum, Starlight flung the cloud back, throwing Sunset into the growing inferno.

Against that much open flame, Sunset felt her magical heat resistance beginning to wane. Panting, she rocketed upwards, soaring into the storm above, and raised a hand to conjure a burning meteor. Taking aim, she launched it where she recalled the door to the classroom having been.

In tandem with her projectile, Sunset dropped like a lightning bolt, plowing again through the roof in a cascade of sparks and ash. Starlight stood several meters away, clothing torn and scraped, looking at her with flame reflected in her eyes. A crash of thunder masked Starlight's scream as she fired her telekinesis upwards, this time trying to bring down the roof on Sunset as the room exploded behind her.

Sunset bravely charged forward, catching Starlight in a hug as the fiery debris soared toward her. Starlight was forced to put up a shield to defend herself, and Sunset took advantage of the change in focus to suplex her, slamming Starlight against the floor. Sunset jumped up, spinning around and preparing to shoulder-bomb the prone Starlight. "Hrrraaugh!"

Starlight reacted with a gleam, catching Sunset again in her magic, darkness leaking from her crown. "Hsst... Sunset, I offered you forgiveness! I gave you my hand, and you took Twilight and kept her! Whyyy didn't you join me?"

"I didn't!" Sunset shouted, struggling and flapping her wings. "I didn't do anything to her! I was possessed, and demon me tried to, but couldn't! You were in time, Starlight! Nothing happened to her! Now take off that crown!"

"Grkk... No!" Starlight shoved her away, and Sunset braced for impact with the intact wall, throwing out her arms. But Starlight viciously yanked her back mid-flight, boomeranging the lavender field and throwing a heavy punch at Sunset as she passed.

Her aim was off, and Sunset took the brunt of the force on her bare shoulder, spinning to deflect the blow. Starlight pulsed with magic again and swung her back in for another go, summoning a plank for her next assault. Stretching her wings, Sunset kicked the cloud of telekinesis and exploded out of it, soaring toward Starlight with flames pouring from her wings.

She reached Starlight far faster than expected, catching the mage off-guard. Instead of a return punch, Sunset spun around, hooking an arm across Starlight's torso and slamming her to the ground. Starlight picked up a concrete boulder in her grasp and flung it at Sunset from behind, but Sunset laid flat, keeping Starlight in her grip and holding her up as a shield.

The rock struck Starlight, sending both of them flying. Sunset hit the wall first, cushioning Starlight's impact with a crunch. Starlight recovered first and grabbed Sunset's head, slamming it against the wall again and again. "Hkkkt! Hresssh! Snkkt- take... that!" Briefly, Starlight's eyes pulsed red-on-yellow as the Element of Magic crackled atop her head with dark flame.

In response, Sunset's ethereal horn strobed with a brilliant flash. Starlight's magic pendant swiftly absorbed the energy, but not before the blast could achieve its intended effect. "Aaaaaaaaaa-haaaaaughhh!" Starlight screamed, falling back and furiously rubbing her eyes.

Sunset took the time to recover, focusing her swimming vision and soaring up to the now-completely-exposed second story. Panting, she rubbed the back of her head, ruing more than ever that she was not invincible while transformed. Nnngh... She's been a human for only a few days! How does she know how to fight like this? For that matter, why couldn't any of the monsters we fight normally be vulnerable to being beaten up?

Demon Sunset perked up. Friendly reminder: transformations come with a free heal! Get that crown, and you'll be right as rain! Of course, good luck with that, as it's affixed with a clinging spell- it'll only come off if she takes it off or dies! Oh well, at least you'll get a full heal after the battle. Just don't forget to win!

Sunset groaned, fighting to keep her bearings as the world swam around her. I liked it better when you were quiet...

Just popping in for the break, dear Sunset! I'll leave you to your fighting now, and good luck!

"Nghh..." Sunset panted, hands on her knees. If Starlight turns into a monster now, I'll probably be done for... I have to... gotta get back to Twilight...

Suddenly, the ceiling collapsed behind her, dragged down by lavender magic. Starlight Glimmer climbed the newly formed slope, silhouetted against the murky flame and smoke rising behind her. "Keep coming, monster. Snkkt- There is... there is no card you hold I don't have an answer to. Or would you prefer to talk, again? Try to end this peacefully?" She panted, stumbling once, covered in soot and mud.

"You started this!" Sunset cried in return. "I never wanted to fight! I've never even met you before! Of course I want to end this peacefully, I never wanted it to start in the first place!"

"Liar!" Starlight shrieked, and flung pulse after pulse of telekinesis at Sunset, crown glowing like a miniature sun.

Sunset took flight, flipping and weaving among the blasts, using the distortions they formed in the falling raindrops to expertly gauge their location. Then a burst of lightning flared across the sky, temporarily blinding her in the ensuing orange darkness.

"Hnnnaugh!" Starlight fired a particularly large blast slightly below Sunset, taking advantage of her confusion. Immediately, she aimed high, above Sunset's head, and fired a second blast.

Sunset's head cleared in time to see the first blast, and she instinctively darted upwards. Comprehending the second one milliseconds before it hit, she swooped back down... into a sea of wooden shrapnel Starlight was levitating in wait, having anticipated her course of flight perfectly.

Sunset's back arched instinctively as hundreds of matchstick-sized splinters slammed into her bare legs. "Gyaaaughhhh!" she howled into the rain and the dark, summoning a fiery aura that incinerated the remainder of the projectiles, littering the rooftop with cinders. The aura was quickly consumed by Starlight Glimmer, who stalked toward her, rasping.

"Predictable," Starlight spat, and smashed Sunset to the ground with a hammer of telekinesis. As Sunset writhed, a gust of wind changed direction, causing Starlight's tattered coat to billow, and a flash of lightning illuminated her graying face. With a swing of her hand, she picked Sunset's limp form up in her telekinesis and slammed her against a portion of wall that still stood. Swinging it again, she smashed Sunset back to the floor, causing the light of her wings to dim. A final slash, and Sunset was hurled up, up out of sight and into the chaos of the storm. Starlight fired several telekinetic blasts after her, then stood to watch, a tortured grin etched on her face as the Element of Magic sparked with darkness.

Outside the school, on the courtyard below, Adagio and Twilight stood, encased in blocks of mana, neither possessing the telekinetic magic required to free themselves. Out of the shadows, Aria and Sonata stepped, both in possession of wings and ears of their own, bickering heatedly with themselves.

"Aren't we gonna make Adagio mad, sneaking off to find her? She told us to feed on that army!"

"Pfft, please. Even when we're full? I don't want to ruin my first good meal in ages!"

"Oh yeah? Then why are we looking for even more trouble, huh?"

"Don't question me! I'm the leader when Adagio's gone, and you know it!"

"Huh, that's funny. I always thought she said she was the leader!"

"Shut up, Sonata. I'm full, now I want some after-dinner entertainment."

Both Sirens stopped abruptly, staring at the blazing wing of the building and two figures encased in manacrystals.

"Adagio!?"

"Hey, I wonder who this one is. Feels like they have Equestrian magic too! Who wants dessert?"

Crack! Smash! Both crystals shattered from Aria and Sonata's pounding. Twilight, mouth and hands free but still tied to the pole, gasped for breath. Adagio looked around, steamed with malice, and composed her expression into a shark-like smirk, strumming her fingers.

Starlight Glimmer scanned the skies, and saw a dim golden light falling several rooms away. Using a telekinetic broom to clear her path, she paced through a ruined second-story corridor, intent on the site of Sunset's apparent landing. Turning through the empty frame of a door which had somehow survived the destruction of its accompanying wall, Starlight found herself standing in yet another classroom. This one hadn't been emptied of its educational equipment, and a maze of desks stood in her path.

"Ironic, isn't it," Starlight monotoned, charging another burst of telekinesis in her crown, "that it's here, in a... Snkkkt! A place of learning..." She catapulted a desk upwards. "That you get to learn when you've been stepped on!"

The space under the desk was empty. Starlight frowned, and threw up another desk. The first one crashed in the distance as it landed, sending up a plume of ash that was quickly deadened by the rain. Still nothing.

"If you think you're cute, hiding like thisss," Starlight hissed, throwing another desk, "then knock it... it off! Your last emotion doesn't deserve to be pride, not after... after all you've done!" Fighting back the fire in her head, she forced her magic back out, continuing to comb the ruined furniture for life.

"Hmm. Odd," said a voice from behind her. Starlight swirled, but saw nobody. "Most ordinary people would consider pride to be a vice! Unless, of course, you were... nobly complementing your adversary?"

The space in front of Starlight was empty, save for a chalkboard and a desk. Frowning, Starlight summoned another surge of lavender light and telekinetically brought a student desk from behind smashing down on the one in front of her, reducing it to splinters. No screams of pain emanated, only a low giggle.

"Of course, as cute as you two would be together..." Starlight glared, looking for the voice. "A part of me really hopes you meant that for me, instead! After all..."

A squeak, barely perceptible between crashes of thunder. Then the chalkboard rotated, revealing Adagio clinging to the back of the frame, Starlight's forgotten twin swords in her grasp. "You're so adorable when you're angry." Adagio's wings pushed off against the chalkboard, and she lunged.

"Raaaugh!" Unable to continue her pursuit of Sunset Shimmer, Starlight telekinetically snapped off a few chair legs, holding them at length and swirling to combat Adagio's dual-bladed push. The Siren effortlessly batted them aside, stabbing straight for Starlight.

Her aim was to nick, to enrage, and she succeeded. Starlight staggered, clutching her side, and fired a wall of telekinesis that threw Adagio back. Unaccustomed to dodging magical projectiles, the Siren crashed through the chalkboard in a daze.

Sonata and Aria appeared, alighting atop the highest nearby wall that was still standing. With a hearty moan, they began to sing to the battlers, neither needing nor expecting food, but thoroughly enjoying making a contribution to their own entertainment.

Adagio got up, tossing the chalkboard in the air and swirling her swords, slicing it into several pieces. Deftly, she grabbed them like shuriken and spun them at Starlight, who laughed and caught them all in a field of telekinesis. Squeezing, she crushed them and threw them aside, advancing on Adagio. "You think that'll... that'll stop... me?" Starlight panted, burning with lavender flame, eyes lit with madness.

Performing a show of agility with glee, Adagio spun and danced her blades, standing in wait as Starlight advanced, battered and rasping. Starlight raised a hand, beginning to summon magic.

Adagio scoffed, preparing to dodge an incoming projectile or escape a telekinetic grab. What she wasn't prepared for was Starlight to levitate a collection of metal legs together, swirling them about the room as they coalesced into a shaft above Adagio. With a grunt, the Siren flipped away, and milliseconds later the metal channeled a lightning strike, causing the floor below to explode. Starlight's pole melted and fused into slag, but she held it together, shifting it and pointing it at the Siren again and again, discharging colossal weather-powered blasts. "Hresssh! Hkkgt- hressssha!"

The floor groaned from the abuse, and abruptly collapsed. Starlight shrieked and plummeted a floor, Adagio flitting above her with glee. She held her lightning rod together, however, above the Siren's sight. Adagio laughed triumphantly, and raised her sword to dive at the pink girl.

With a snarl, Starlight moved the pole down, until it touched the tip of Adagio's sword. The sky strobed, and Adagio exploded, falling to the ground in a curtain of flames. Gasping, the other two Sirens stopped singing, flitting down from their perch to cradle their injured sister.

Oozing emerald mist, Adagio hacked and rasped. "Snkkt... this... isn't over... I'll be... back... uuurgh-gah!" She keeled over backwards, losing her transformation as her powers slowly, agonizingly worked to knit her body back together.

A pillar of flame erupted somewhere above, as the fire spread to another room. Starlight sucked in a hissing breath, gripping her soggy fists as she re-focused on her original target, the Sirens apparently neutralized.

"Sunset... Hresssshset Shimmer, little monster... where aaare you?" Starlight crooned menacingly, stepping out into the hallway adjacent to the room where she had fallen. No response came.

Starlight doubled over as a wave of nausea flooded down from her head, the crown flickering even though she wasn't using an attack. Leaning against a dilapidated wall, she held herself and waited for it to pass, hunched down with rain strumming on her back. "Snkkt... Sunssset... whatever you do to me, it will be worth it to rid you of the world!" She straightened up, unfocused eyes on the corridor ahead.

"I gave your my ch-chances!" Starlight rasped, as loud as she was able, speech fragmenting. "I... Hresssh! I was a good little friendship student, wasn't I? I gave you the- snkkt- chance to walk out before you even did the deed, to prove all my mistrust of you was for mistrust... nothing! I let other savor... unsavory villains roam these castle grounds, to see you if could... see if you... at least could manage to be a hypocrrritical hero! I extended my o-own hand to you in peace and harmony and friendship and peace, and you had to do was all was turn your backkk on her you are, like I... haugh... like I did! And I threw that in my face! I haven't much more merciful... more... to give you, Sunset S-Shimmer. But if you surrender now, I will at least let you face death with digni... dignity! DignitHRESSSH!"

Suddenly unable to stand, Starlight toppled forward, hissing. Clawing at her head, she tore the crown off, watching it clank to the floor before her, steam rising around it.

Slowly, the pain that clouded her head began to fade, though it almost made her more aware of the other injuries she had sustained. She felt her bile rise as her thoughts and sensations slowly returned to normal, and forced it back down.

"Unnngh... Sunset..." She stared at the crown, slumped against the wall behind her. "I can't... can't take this. It's too much...

"I'm in here..." a small voice whispered, coming from the open entrance to a nearby bathroom.

Starlight eyed the doorway, blinking. She looked down at the crown in front of her, and then at herself. Her clothing was seared and torn, her hair was ragged, and she was laced with scrapes and bruises... but nothing major seemed to be broken. She felt her legs, and could still stand. She looked back to the door.

Reaching forward, she grabbed the still-scalding crown and held it back over her head. "Just a little bit more, I... I've come this far..."

The pain returned much more quickly than it had when she first used the crown, but Starlight struggled to her feet nonetheless, face a distorted, battered image of a smile, tears turning to steam before they could even leave her eyes. She turned and stepped into the bathroom. A vicious hole had been torn in the ceiling, and embers and ashes coated the floor beneath it. But Sunset Shimmer was nowhere to be seen.

"We are not game... that again!" Starlight shrieked, and summoned a surge of discolored magic, ripping the sinks from the walls, and the thin walls out that protected the toilet stalls. "Hresssssh!" With a heave, she flung them out the hole in the roof, leaving the room bare.

Sunset hovered where a stall had once stood, legs dangling uselessly below her. She looked sadly at Starlight's broken form. "You're not yourself, Starlight. That crown is hurting you. It isn't yours. What will it take for you to take it off?" Sunset asked, floating calmly.

"You don't get to ask that," Starlight snarled, stalking forward and readying a final telekinetic blast. Sunset had only one way to run- up. All Starlight had to do was cover her bases, and it would be over.

As she discharged the bolt, Sunset, defying all expectations, flew toward Starlight, hooking her arms around her before the lavender blast could leave the crown. But leave it did, and the mutual recoil prevented either of the two from flying much. Sunset shrieked in pain, but her grip held solid.

Rather than returning with a blow of her own, Sunset intensified her grip on Starlight and soared up, out the hole in the roof, into the cacophonous storm above, Starlight in tow. Upward they flew, Starlight squirming and kicking ineffectually, building more and more height, dodging and flickering around thunderbolts and miscellaneous rubble caught in the gale.

Suddenly, the dark mist dissipated, and Sunset and Starlight hovered above the roiling clouds of the storm. Framing them was the colossal setting sun, its rays glaring upon Starlight's crown, making Sunset not realize it was glowing.

"Starlight Glimmer!" Sunset held her out at arms' length. "You think I'm irredeemable? Tonight, you've tried to kill me a hundred times over. More than anyone I've ever met, I have every reason to be rid of you, and right now, you're at my mercy. And I've been here before, Starlight."

The red band around Sunset's eyes darkened, and she continued. "If I drop you, you die. If I carry you to the ground, you live. Tell me, if I do the latter, what possible motivation will you still have for believing me to be evil?"

Starlight's face stretched in a demented smirk, eyes flickering. "Snkkt... We'll never give you the pleasure of finding out." And she kicked Sunset hard, backflipping off her and out of her grasp.

Suddenly, a cloud of rubble shot out of the storm, having been dragged along by Starlight's telekinesis. She released it, landing on a platform that was still rising from its momentum. Grabbing the stunned Sunset in her magic, she dragged her forward, slamming her against the platform. The crown flashed, and she summoned a wooden stake to her hand, raising it high above and slamming it into Sunset's flesh. "Hacgktt-HRESSSH!"

Blackness enveloped them both as the platform sunk below the storm horizon. Stretching with her magic, head steaming, Starlight gathered up the things she had brought and congealed them together above her, holding a makeshift parachute in relative position to her head. Grabbing Sunset in her arms, she descended rapidly, the orange blaze of Canterlot High swiftly coming into view.

As the ground rushed up, Starlight took her rubble and fired it viciously downward, the recoil providing momentum to further break her fall. She slammed hard into the ground, but straightened up, unhurt, and laid the wounded Sunset on the steps to the grand entrance.

"Twilight Shimmer!" Starlight called, a harsh edge to her voice born of smoke inhalation and madness. "Twilight, I've you- freed- snkkt- how you've freed yourself! Where aaare she is?" She staggered, clutching at her head. Can't think... nngh... almost...

Sunset, breathing labored, tears streaming from her eyes, gathered the strength to lift her head and look. Twilight was running forward from the Wondercolt statue, where she had been trying to get a vantage.

"Starlight Glimmer," Twilight snarled, face thunderous. "What do you think you're-"

Starlight cut her off with a finger, black lightning streaking across her body in wicked arcs. "Watchhhh!" And with a swing of her hand, she plucked the Element of Magic from her head. As wisps of lavender and black energy exploded away from her skin, she turned to the fallen Sunset. "Time to see, one last, what she's made offfhresssshaaa!" And she slammed the crown down on Sunset's head.