Phoenix

“What happened to your cast?” Twilight Sparkle was doing everything in her power not to poke and prod at the maze of markings on Fireside’s arm, her eye’s drifting up to look the the teen.

“It, uh… it got removed.” Fireside gave a sheepish grin. “I kinda tore it off…”

Twilight stumbled back into her chair, her glasses askew. “W-why did you do that!? Why aren’t you at the hospital getting it replaced!”

“Well she obviously doesn't need it anymore.” Aria said, leaning on the top of Fireside’s chair.

“Especially after yesterday!” Indigo shouted from farther in the room, earning a glare from the entering Dean Cadance.

“Quiet down now, students.” the teacher called out, quieting the room and returning the odd errant student to their desk.

“Is the arm cast related to why you aren’t on your crutches anymore either?” whispered Twilight, doing her best to keep facing forward.

“Mhm.” Fireside nodded, paying more attention to Cadance as she welcomed the students in the room to their second day of classes.

You know, I have yet to receive my thanks for helping you…

Fireside groaned internally as Dean Cadance was replaced by herself.

“The name’s Sunset, dear, and just because you no longer use doesn’t mean I won’t.” her reflection smiled at her before continuing, her arms motioning to stand. “Feel free to get up and move around, we are alone here after all.”

Fireside gave a puzzled expression before starting to look around, jumping to her feet when she realized the room was empty.

“What!? Where is everyone!?” she spun around to look at “Sunset”, her gaze questioning and concerned.

“We’re in our mind, silly. Just you, and me.” the figure’s smile widened. “What’s with the look? Worried?”

“Shouldn’t I be?” Fireside asked slowly, her eyes narrowing as her hand reached over to her other arm, giving it a small pinch.

“Seriously?” “Sunset’s” face dropped, a tinge of annoyance flashing as she rolled her eyes tiredly. “This isn’t a dream, girl. This is all in your head!”

Fireside looked around, slowly studying the room for clues. It looked like her Homeroom classroom. The right number of desks and chairs, the windows allowing a view of the outdoors. Yet it was just the two of them.

“What is this about?” Fireside asked, coming to sit on her desk. “And what’s happening to me?”

“Well first, don’t worry about your body right now, I got you covered.” the voice gave a smirk as reality flashed before Fireside’s eyes. She was still sitting in the classroom, idly sitting there while Dean Cadance talked.

“Second,” the figure raised a pair of fingers as she grinned. “You are slowly regaining our birthright thanks to your supposed sisters and that book from your Mom.”

“Mom…?” Fireside gave an extremely befuddled look, her clone ignoring it as she continued on.

“Really should thank her for that. Anyways! As you come into contact with more magic, that allows me to come back, which is why you have been healing so well!” “Sunset” gave a cold smile as she looked at Fireside, the look slowly vanishing when Fireside failed to react. “That’s your cue to say “Thank you, Sunset!”, dear.”

Fireside just narrowed her eyes in response.

“Fine, whatever.” the other girl flew her arms up in the air as she spun around on her heel, her long mane of red and yellow hair splaying around behind her as she spun around to face Fireside again.

“You do owe me though, for saving our lives that night. We would have died if it weren’t for me, so don’t think that I never do anything for us.”

Fireside stood up from her desk, slowly starting to pace around as “Sunset” watched her intently, cocky smirk on her face.

“Why was I attacked that night? Who was I to deserve that? Why can’t I remember anything?” Fireside’s soft questioning slowly escalated to a fury filled below directed at the stationary figure. Fireside took a step back when she noticed the look on the other girls face. A frown, her own aquamarine orbs downturned.

“Heh… You broke our most sacred rule... You trusted others again, tried to make friends.” the figure’s face started to morph into a furious glare, the white’s of her eyes starting to swirl with blackness as her skin started to turn a fiery red.

“You got weak, relied on others, and look what happened again!” she grew, one foot, a second, great batlike wings grew from her back. “We were betrayed! AGAIN!”

“Fireside?”

Fireside felt the entire room shake, tables and desks getting flung against the wall as Twilight’s voice echoed in the room.

“We were abandoned! You got us attacked and thrown away!” “Sunset” lept at Fireside, her mass of razor sharp teeth barred as her clawed hands grabbed Fireside by the neck, tightening with inhuman strength as she was pinned to the floor.

“Oi, Gaia to Glow!”

The room shook harder as stars and spots started to pop into Fireside’s vision, the girl beating helplessly at her assailants arms.

“L-let… me… go…!” Fireside croaked out, her voice cracked and pitiful.

“Umm… Fireside…?”

“NEVER!!!”

The world spun as Fireside’s head flew to the side, the girl gasping for air as her hands shot to her blazing cheek.

“Adagio!? What was that for!?” Fireside heard Twilight shout aloud.

“What? You three weren’t getting through to her.” Adagio commented matter factly, the trio of her interweaving with one another as Fireside’s vision slowly came to.

“But did you have to slap her so hard!?” Sonata asked? The voices were starting to become intermingled for some reason…

***

“Now, Fireside, are you sure you are okay?” Dean Cadance looked carefully at the girl.

“I’m fine, seriously.” the girl gave a tired laugh as she looked up at the woman. “Can I get to class now?”

“I guess so. Just make sure to take it easy, Fireside.” the woman stood up as she dismissed the girl, Fireside smirking as she shrugged, before grabbing her bag and exiting the room. What class was first again? Advanced Math?

“I said, where is my homework, foureyes.”

Fireside paused, looking to her side. A long row of lockers sat along both walls of the hallway, the lights above dim and flickering. Down at the end stood two figures, both recognizable.

“I-I-I already told you! I-I-I’m n-not doing your homework anymore!” stuttered Twilight Sparkle, the girl shaking underneath the arm that pinned her against the wall.

The boy shook his head, his look undeterminable from the distance that Fireside stood at, though his tone carried an air of annoyance.

“That wasn’t the promise we made, Spark. I would make sure that you weren’t bullied, as long as you kept your stupid little mouth shut and did my homework.”

“Hey, short kid!” Fireside called out, causing both figures to look down at here. “What’s goin’ on there?”

“Nothin’. Ain’t that right, Twilight?” the boy sneered, his head shift down towards the girl he still had pinned to the lockers.

“Uh, no, this doesn’t look like nothin, shorty.” Fireside said, shocking both students at her sudden appearance by their sides.

“Oi, buzz off, bitch.” the boy let go of Twilight, the girl letting out a grunt as she slid to the floor.

“Wrong answer.” was all the boy heard before he was flung away from the two girls, his world darkening as his body left an impact in the wall at the end of the hall.

“F-Fireside? W-what did you just-”

“Forget about it, okay?” Fireside raised her eyebrows, but her her eyes still seemed narrowed, her tone dominating the shorter girl’s thought.

“R-right, okay, Fireside.” Twilight responded, looking down the hall at the motionless student. “I-is he gonna be al- never mind!”

Fireside stopped glaring once Twilight stopped talking, effortlessly hoisting the girl to her feet and pushing her down the hallway.

“Come on, time for Math.”

***

“Please tell me you aren’t being serious?” Aria asked, watching Sonata stow the lockpick away into her skirt, the door to the room opening silently.

“Would we be here if I weren’t?” Aria shrugged sheepishly at Adagio’s comment, following the girl in and letting Sonata bring up the rear.

“So I’m guessing this has to do with this morning?” she asked, plopping herself lazily onto the couch, Adagio and Sonata taking the other chairs around the table.

“To say the least…” Sonata muttered, the girl appearing incredibly shaken. “I thought that look I received yesterday was weird…”

“Look?” Aria started to sit up from the sofa, staring intently at Sonata.

“Y-yeah… Her eyes were- they white was replaced by a swirling-”

“-blackness, a knowing smirk on her face?” Aria finished, earning a nod from Sonata. “I thought I was the only one…”

“So first this black aura, now looks?” Adagio sighed heavily. “Did anyone else see her look?”

“Not that I could tell…”

“She didn’t even seem to notice herself…”

“And then this morning, during home room-” Adagio started, only for Sonata to cut her off.

“It was pouring off of her! Thenthenthen! Then it… vanished.” the girl’s magenta eye’s were pinpricks as she shook Aria, wildly trying to explain what she had seen. “Ananand yesterday! Yesterday I heard something!”

“Heard something? What are you talking about?” Aria pushed Sonata off of her and back into her chair.

“When I tried to get her temperature, you know how I put my forehead against hers?” the other two Sirens nodded. “Well I thought I heard something! Like she was talking to herself, but it sounded off. Like… like it was… dark.”

Silence filled the room after Sonata was done talking, all three Equestrians trying to figure out what was going on, or what to do.

“Do you think this might have something to do with her incident at CHS before we arrived?” Aria asked, hunched over and craning her neck to look at both sisters. “The students did say something about magic and her turning into a daemon…”

“The Princess will know.” Adagio said simply. “We need to reach her, and figure out what is-”

“-going on in here?” came Fireside’s voice, the girl entering and shutting the door behind her. “Is this some kind of party or something?”

“F-F-Fireside!” Sonata shot to her feet, stammering in surprise at seeing the girl. “What are- What are you doing here?”

“Mrs. Melon was wondering where you were.” the girl answered, smiling as she walked towards the trio. “She says you’re never late for class.”

Fireside finally stopped in front of her sisters, giving a warm smile as she looked at the three of them. But as Adagio looked closer, she noticed something, a blackness starting to overtake-

“Well? Are we all gonna play hooky?” giggled Fireside, her eyes closing briefly.

“N-no! I was just coming!” Sonata tried to fake a smile as she reached down and grab her bag. “I lost track of time, and you can’t hear the bell when you’re in here!”

“And what about you two? Off to class as well I hope?” Fireside half looked over her shoulder as she headed towards the door.

“Er, yeah, Fireside.” Aria said, her eyes shooting over to look at Adagio quickly. “Right behind ya!”

Adagio bit the bottom of her lip, an uneasy feeling rising from her gut.

***

The rest of the day proceed without any other incidents, the Sirens keeping careful watch of Fireside, doing their best to not appear suspicious. Thankfully the girl seemed to not notice their surveillance, continuing to act as she had that morning, extremely self confident and assertive.

Extremely unlike how she had been previously.

“Maaaan! It is so nice to be back at school!” Fireside groaned happily as she stretched, her sisters entering the house behind her.

“Ya, I bet.” Aria said, reaching out and patting the girl on the back. “Looks like you should be back to form by the end of the week if I were to hazard a guess.”

“I was thinking more like tomorrow.” the girl responded, shrugging the purple hand off. “I think I’m going to go drop my stuff off in my room, I’ll be back.”

“Don’t take too long!” Sonata called out to the retreating girl. “Supper is gonna be started soon!”

“I think I’m gonna go get changed, don’t wait.” Aria waved a hand above her head as she started towards the stairwell, following the route that her sister had just taken.

“So, Sonata.” Adagio asked, not removing her eyes from Aria’s back. “What’s for supper?”

“Well, as much as I love tacos, I was thinking something… Pasta-y?” Sonata responded, her eyes also on Aria, watching as the girl turned the corner, her hand waving as she went.

“I’ll go get the book.” Adagio whispered, Sonata nodding as she headed towards the kitchen.

“You get started, Sonata, I’m going to go get changed as well.”

Adagio took steady, measured steps, not too fast, not too slow. Just because “Fireside” wasn’t making it obvious, Adagio knew that she had been watching them. Studying them. And for once, Adagio didn’t know what to do. This darkness seemed to have consumed Fireside, and was desperate to both keep it hidden, yet let the Sirens know.

Adagio pulled the keychain out of her skirt, picking through the keys and selecting a none too special looking brass number and inserted it into the lock, turning it until the lock clicked and admitted the girl into her lair. She made her way through the pitch darkness in total confidence, walking a path well worn into her memory, before stopping and reaching out, pulling the delicate chain that was in her grasp. A small light flared to life, illuminating the nightstand and the well worn journal resting on it, the dual toned sun glinting in the slight light.

Princess? We have a… situation.

Adagio set down the pen, loosening her bowtie and unbuttoning her blazer. Hopefully the Princess was nearby her journal, seeing as time was of the essence. Adagio did not have to wait long, the book giving a slight purple glow as it vibrated, letters starting to appear under Adagio’s writing.

Adagio? What’s wrong? Is is Sunset! How is she!

Adagio’s face met her palm as she groaned, her eyes rolling as she sat back up. How in the two worlds was she going to explain this situation to the Princess and not risk the destruction of probably everything?

Yes, it involves Sunset, but it’s not her, it’s something… darker inside of her? I don’t know how to explain it.

…

Princess?

I think we are going to need help if what I suspect is true.

***

The night came and went, as well as the next few days, with each day having some minor incident or rumour about “Fireside” started, yet the girl kept denying the allegations laid against her, and things remained as just rumours for the time being, thankfully. But the plan had been set, the favours called. The time to act was tonight.

“Wow…” Sonata gasped as the three cloaked figures entered Adagio’s car, Princess Twilight helping the two taller figures enter the rear seats. “You two are waaaaaay taller than your counterparts here.”

“I assume that is a compliment?” asked Princess Celestia, the woman removing the hood of her cloak, her pale features seeming to glow with an ephemeral light.

“We would assume so.” added Princess Luna, seeming to blend into the darkness of the night bleeding in from the rear window.

“Thank you for picking us up, Sonata.” Princess Twilight said, showing the women how to buckle their seatbelts before she entered. “I don’t want to risk having them try to blindly teleport.”

“Oh! That would be neat!” Sonata looked back, smile beaming from her face. “What all do you think you two can do here?”

“I only pray that we can do enough.” Celestia said, resting an ornate looking box on her lap as Twilight entered the car.

“We believe that it should be enough.” added Luna softly, her gaze shifting out to the starry night sky. “Do they speak to you as well, sister?”

“Yes.” the pale hand of Celestia came to rest on her sister’s lap. “Though they aren’t used to this it seems.”

“Playful, is how We would describe them.”

“Okay, Sonata.” Twilight interrupted the two sisters moment. “We need to get going. There’s no telling what will happen should she wake up.”

“R-right! Hang on tight, Princesses!” Sonata shouted, her foot slamming on the pedal.

***

“She’s right there…” “Fireside” groaned as her eyes started to flutter open. Her head was killing her, more than usual. She tried to look around, but the darkness of the room kept all the figures hidden from her blurry sight.

“Where am I…?” she muttered as she tried to lower her arms from above her head, only to notice them chained up. “What the…? Why am I chained up? What’s going on!?”

“It’s for Fireside’s safety.” came Adagio’s voice, the room blaring to life as the Equestrian flipped the light switch, revealing the three sisters as well as Twilight Sparkle.

“Twilight?” “Fireside” looked the girl over, her gaze confused as she took in just how different the girl appeared. “Where’s your glasses? And why is your hair down?”

“I know it’s you.” said the lavender coloured girl, her eyes unflinching in their steely glare, watching as the girl chained up in front of her struggled to free herself.

“Yeah, it’s me, Fireside.” responded the amber skinned girl, the girl obviously tired of what was going on. “And as much fun as you all are having with me right now, I would appreciate it if someone would let me free now.”

“I’m afraid we can’t do that.” Twilight said softly.

“Why not?” “Fireside” looked at the girl, worry starting to cross her face.

“Sunset Shimmer.”

The figure in the chains paused, confusion on her face as she looked around at the four girls in front of her, pausing on the two much taller cloaked figures in the back, her eyes narrowing before a cold bark of humourless laughter escaped from her.

“Really? You brought the Princess?” "Sunset" responded, a cold smile crossing her face. “And that feels like the Element of Magic in that box of hers, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Yes, it is.” Twilight looked back at the box, then back at the amber skinned girl.

“And how is that going to help, exactly? It’s what spawned me, in case you forgot.” sneered "Sunset", the haughty look out of place on her face after so long.

“Princess’, if you would step forward.” Twilight asked, stepping to the side as the two cloaked figures started to walk forward.

“Princess’?” "Sunset" said, slightly confused. “Did you bring Cadance as well?”

“No. She brought me.” Luna said, flipping her hood down in time with her sister.

“And who the hell are you? You don’t look familiar.” "Sunset" tilted her head as she studied the woman. She was tall, almost as much so as Celestia, but her skin was as dark as a twilight night, her hair seeming to sparkle with the stars themselves.

“Oh? We are not known to the former personal protege of my sister?”

“Sister?”

Luna removed the cloak, letting it drape around her feet as it revealed a dress sewn with strands of liquid dusk, the dark hues swirling around as constellations formed, and vanished. She strode forward, purposefully, before pausing in front of "Sunset".

“We, are Luna, the Princess of the Night. Though thou wouldst be more familiar with our other, past, self. Nightmare Moon.” the woman finished before her appearance seemed to melt away, replaced with a warrior princess clad in night hued armour, a great blade resting across her back as the fury of the cosmos dark bled from her eyes, only to vanish a moment later.

“Luna, save your strength.” Celestia said delicately, softly stepping forward and resting a hand on her sister’s shoulder. “We will need everything we can muster for this.”

“Princess Luna… So I was right. You were the Mare in the Moon, weren’t you!” "Sunset" shouted, a smile coming to her face. “Wow! The chance to actually meet the Royal Pony Sisters in the flesh! Well, kinda, at least. Now why don’t you explain why I’m not free from these shackles.”

“You aren’t getting free of those shackles, fiend.” Celestia spat, rounding on the girl from behind her sister. “We are ridding "Sunset" of you once and for all!”

“Ha! And how do you plan to do that, Celery? There’s so little magic in this world!” the girl spat, laughing maniacally at the woman. “And what can you do to me that won’t happen to your dear precious “Fireside”? Are you forgetting that this is her body? I’m only borrowing it until I’m strong enough to- Guh!”

The girl doubled over, cough and spitting as she struggled to find her breath, the uppercut delivered to her stomach from Sonata forcing the girl to try and double over, failing to thanks to her restraints.

“Give me back my sister, you bitch!” Sonata cried, tears streaming down her face as she continued to deliver well practiced blows across the body of her sister.

“Do you… really think… that beating the shit out of me will help?” "Sunset" croaked out, looking to the side and spitting out a glob of something. “Don’t forget… She’s going to have to deal with this…”

“She’ll understand!” the pale blue girl screamed, her hand stinging from the wide arced slap she delivered to the being possessing her sister. “I know she will!”

“Why should she!? She’s going to remember this! Her sisters tying her up and attacking her! And why do you keep calling her sister in the first place? Monsters like you three don’t have family!”

“Shut up!” Sonata slid to her knees, Aria rushing over and grabbing the girl close, whispering softly to her before she broke free, running up and grabbing "Sunset" by her nightgown. “She is family! She’s our sister!”

“Ha! You sicken me, Siren! After what the three of you did to Equestria in the past you only deserve to rot away in Tartarus…” "Sunset’s” voice slowly grew quieter and softer as she continued to taunt Sonata, the girl being dragged away by Aria.

“Aww, don’t take her away!” she called out, smiling the whole time. “We were having fun!”

“Enough. It is time to begin.” Celestia spoke and everyone, even "Sunset", grew quiet at the command of the Solar Diarch. She unsealed the clasps all around the box, an unearthly glow radiating from inside.

“Such… raw magic…” “Sunset” commented, licking her lips as her eyes dilated. “Such power…”

Slowly the box opened, lifted not by the Princess’ hand, but by the six stones that floated out from the box. A magenta star, along with a blue balloon and a pink butterfly, flying out and starting to rotate around the two Princesses in a steady pattern, followed by a red lightning bolt, an orange apple, and a purple diamond, each of the gems radiating a raw sense of harmony as light glinted off of their many facets.

“The Elements of Harmony… all in one place…” saliva started to fall from “Sunset’s” mouth in great strands, the girl struggling against her bonds. “My… my birthright!”

“No. They would never listen to you, just like before.” Celestia said, her eyes starting to glow a radiant white as she stared at the figure struggling to break free.

“Before?” “Sunset’s” voice took on a dual tone, an echo of malice and anger. “I conquered the Element of Magic before! What difference is five more!?”

The figure gathered before the group of Equestrians started to grow, her skin taking on a filthy red sheen as the shackles started to whine at trying to contain their growing charge.

“You owe me, Celestia!” the figure shouted, great, bat like wings erupting from her back in a spray of blood and magical energy. “After what you did to me!”

Celestia paused, her sister looking over in worry. “I did fail you, Sunset… That much is true… But not in the way you think.”

Luna let out a gasp as she collapsed to the floor, the Elements abandoning her to join Celestia as the woman walked forward, delicate steps taking her towards the figure starting to break free. Her cloak fell from her, revealing a gown of gossamer sunlight, heat radiating from the fabric.

“YOU DID THIS TO ME!” roared the figure as it broke its arms loose, its legs following suite. “YOU MADE ME WHAT I AM!!!”

“No…” Celestia said softly, shaking her head as the figure approached, a single, impossibly delicate hand reached out towards the daemons face. “You chose your own destiny…”

Light exploded from the room as Celestia’s hand made contact with the cheek of the figure, it’s hands coming down around the woman’s delicate neck, flinging everyone against the walls in a torrent of pure magical energy.