Umbral Souls

Before the sizable burn mark upon the cobblestoned street over Moonlink’s market square, the next moments were interesting, to say the least. The people of Moonlink, both former prisoners and those who’d remained hiding in their homes throughout the many a ruckus that had taken place outside their doors gathered all around. Hostilities between the very guards previously tasked with keeping the populace in line were forgotten, them too joining their charges to behold what transpired.

For all these uninformed masses knew, before them within the walls of their haven, bodies garbed in of resplendent, magical attire of rainbows of color, stood those who would be their champions during a time of hardship. To expected what came next felt obvious, if a bit uncomfortable:

Cries of utter joy and praise rained upon the seven girls, how the Scions had returned, finally, to deliver them to salvation from the endless night. Some went as far as weeping in bliss, while some went as far as shouting in reverence to the Divines themselves. Those most restrained simply held their heads low in groveling, while a few went as far as getting down on their knees.

The spectacle was all so wrong, thought Sunset: They weren’t their saviors, not really. They were a septet of high school girls from a different world who simply bore the exact likenesses of those saviors, but other than that, she couldn’t guess a thing about what the other Sunset Shimmer might have been.

Getting the crowd to not smother them in turn was surprisingly easy: It took only coaxing from Fluttershy, of all people, to get the people to clear a way towards the Apple Hearth Inn. It was a surreal experience to say the least, as they briskly walked down the path, with the people still continuing to heap praise for them, while those along their stride bowed or knelt in respect. There was a strong inkling the people were going to be huddled around the building for a long time still even as the door was shut.

“Thank the heavens, you’ve returned!” called Apple Bloom from the direction of the bar.

“Aw shucks, sugarcube,” said Applejack with an affirming thump to her chest. “It’s gonna take a lot more than that. Apples forever, right?”

“Is Starlight alright?” asked Sunset in urgence.

“Lady Glimmer is resting. I thought I’d bring her some food. Her eminence looked like a veritable skeleton- uh, I mean…”

Applejack simply waved it off, “Aw come on now, Apple Bloom. Ah’m sure Starlight ain’t the kind for takin’ offence.”

Sunset led the lot up the stairs, to the very room they had left Spike, Starlight and Archivist Neighsay in. Spike’s overjoyed barking portending their arrival to the other two inhabitants.

“Celestials’ mercy, you did it!” exclaimed Neighsay, the man looking positively ecstatic, very different from the more restrained and formal demeanor. A look of further amazement came upon his face as Sunset and the girls entered, still ponied up with their elongated hair, pony ears and transformed outfits, and they all seemed to emanate a faint glow from their forms.

Starlight Glimmer lay with her back upright against the headboard of the same bed Twilight had been resting in. Like Neighsay, she appeared transfixed on Sunset and the girls, so it was safe to say their counterparts did not possess the same.

Amazed as she were, Starlight looked less ecstatic, but comparatively forlorn in the wake of being freed.

“Neighsay told me…” she stated forthright. “I had many questions regarding how you all appear to us so suddenly, just as the world is slowly dying, when all of you went missing not long after the fall of the Divines. Let alone your differences in ability, your odd form in vernacular, Twilight being constantly bespectacled, and none of you possessing your assigned Sigils.” She began to clamber out of bed, only for Neighsay to put a hand to her shoulder, shaking his head insistently.

Sunset sighed in empathy. Now that the threat was over and they were no longer in hostile territory, she willed herself to return to normal, as did the rest of the girls in a flash of light. “I know. We didn’t mean to trick you, Starlight, but we couldn’t just leave you.”

“If anything, we need your help,” said Twilight in affirmation.

Starlight closed her eyes, the blackness and bags around her eyes showing prominently. The high priestess leaned her head against the headboard, looking wearier than ever before. No-one dared to make a sound, almost wondering if Starlight had fallen asleep. This proved not to be the case as she turned her head to face Sunset again, opening her eyes dejectedly.

“Please, explain everything.”

“It’s the least we owe you,” Sunset concurred. “It’s best we start from the very beginning.”

Sunset and the girls reiterated events leading to the present. For the sake of context and ease of understanding, they also included an abridged account of their lives and exploits: From Sunset’s arrival in their home dimension, the Fall Formal that changed their lives, the battle of the bands, the Friendship Games, Camp Everfree, the Memory Stone and Equestria Land. Starlight remained largely silent, listening intently, and without question. Throughout it all she would remain focused on the group, while at times diverting her gaze down to her wand she had refrained for letting go of.

Upon completion, an uncomfortable silence fell over the inn. Sunset, and undoubtedly her friends too, felt the sorrowful gloom as Starlight Glimmer stared intently at her wand, before slowly, deliberately staring out the window; the pale lady, so ominously close than she should have. To imagine the internal turmoil the high priestess must have been going through.

“Everyone,” she uttered shakily, then swallowing, “I ask that you leave for the dusk hours. I have much ruminations to sort through.”

“My lady, you need your rest,” said Neighsay softly. “You’ve just been through a horrific ordeal.”

“I know, Archivist. My body may be withered, but my mind is clear. Please. I’ll be fine.”

It was a unanimous decision to comply to the counterpart of another friend somewhere through the fabric between universes. As everyone walked out in quiet respect, Starlight’s voice called out, “Sunset.”

Sunset turned around, seeing a small, weary smile on Starlight’s lips, “I never thanked you for freeing me.”

Sunset reciprocated, “It’s what friends do. Even if we just met.”

And with that the high priestess was left to her requested solitude. For a time, she remained still and quiet. Then came the tears. Finally, the priestess curled in on her knees, the floodgates of emotion finally giving in, and she wept.

-

Despite the city of Moonlink being liberated, the air and atmosphere inside Apple Hearth Inn was not belated in the least.

Sunset, Twilight and Spike sat and lay, on the large bed of the room given to them by Sweetie Belle. It was evidently one of the higher end ones for wealthier patrons, but with this being the veritable apocalypse, wealth was far from an issue. Sunset sat hugging her knees, the gaggle of emotions swirling in her mind.

Barring the oddly prophetic nightmare; the day may have otherwise been as any regular: Arriving at CHS, sitting down for Cranky’s math lecture, listening to Rainbow Dash and Trixie’s exasperated groaning, then through Harswhinny’s history lectures… Today had been vaccination day as well, so perhaps the slightest hint of a silver lining, as far as the trypanophobic Pinkie was concerned.

No, trying to joke about it was inappropriate and foolish. With still no word from Princess Twilight, thus the notion of the journal possibly being cut off from its recipient came up, but no… no she had to hold onto hope. That was the best they had to hold onto now; they still didn’t what happened to CHS, or Canterlot. Was everyone alright? Sweet Leaves was almost crushed if not for Rainbow Dash’s intervention.

“Sunset…” she looked over her shoulder at Twilight, who was laying on her side, her back to Sunset, cradling Spike in her arm. It was easy pick up something was wrong; she had removed her glasses, tentatively grasped in her hand before her face, her eyes focusing on them vacantly.

Sunset was on her like a mother hen, turning around and bringing a gentle hand to the genius’ shoulder, “Twilight? What’s wrong?” Stupid. What isn’t wrong?

“Sunset, I’m… I’m scared…” Twilight’s lips quivered.

“I know, Twi, I know. I’m scared too,” Sunset nodded weakly. “When… you know, I thought I’d lost you… Do you feel weird in any way?”

Twilight’s eyes darted between Spike and her glasses, “I… I don’t think so. Just…” she swallowed.

Sunset leaned in and put and arm around her, feeling how she was quivering under her touch, “Try not to think about it…” she shushed. She wanted to say the correct thing, anything, to help her, but like a fool, nothing came to mind. Just empty comforts.

The door to the room suddenly opened, but Sunset did not budge. She either did not care, maybe she froze.

“Hey, uh…” Rainbow Dash uttered from the door, “… you okay? We can go back if-”

Sunset peeked over her shoulder, finding everyone; Rainbow, Applejack, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Rarity huddled around the door.

“No, no, it’s okay. Come on in,” Sunset beckoned.

The lot of them gathered at the center in a ring: Rarity and Applejack sat side-by-side on top of the trunk at the foot of the bed, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie were content sitting cross-legged on the floor, Fluttershy on a stool, and while Sunset insisted Twilight have the more comfortable proper chair in the corner, the latter insisted being fine joining her on the floor as well, Spike remaining cozy on Twilight’s lap.

The forlorn silence resumed as everyone found their places, save for some shifting and an abrupt sneeze from Rainbow. The six looked among each other, no-one able to start off with whatever they had weighing on their minds.

“This was the worst day ever,” muttered Pinkie, first to break the silence. Her characteristic mirth and optimism felt gone, the only sign of positivity being her heir remaining puffed.

“Yea, it really was,” Sunset agreed, a comforting arm remaining around Twilight, who snuggled up to her. “If only I’d realized that nightmare was more than just that.”

“C’mon now Sunset, don’t you go pinnin’ this on yerself, ya hear?” Applejack insisted. She wasn’t wrong, not really. How could they have had even an inkling that Sunset’s dream was tied to Equis?

“I… Yea, you’re right, AJ,” sighed Sunset hugging Twilight tighter. “But it’s just bothering me how oddly specific it was. How could I dream about Equis?”

“Maybe it’s just Equestrian magic again,” called Rainbow, spreading her legs out.

“Yea, kinda obvious with all of these things,” Pinkie added, thankfully not losing all of her pep just yet.

“Is there any word from Princess Twilight?” Rainbow asked, to which Sunset could only shake her head.

“Sunset, you don’t…” Fluttershy looked close to shivering as she held onto Angel, “you don’t think that… That maybe-”

“No!” blurted Sunset, albeit perhaps a bit too forcefully. “No, there’s nothing to suggest that: The journal could transmit through dimensions already; it’s in no way different whether it was our world or this one.” At least I hope so.

Rainbow looked uncharacteristically fidgety as she curled her legs back in, “You sure about that?”

“Everyone; Princess Twilight is just that, a princess,” said Rarity offering her own dissuasion. “I’m sure she’s got plenty to deal with as is. But I’m certain she’ll get back to us.”

“Yea. She’d never leave us hanging,” Applejack nodded firmly.

“You’re right, she wouldn’t,” murmured Sunset. “Makes me wonder if Equestria was affected somehow too since it was the portal that brought us here.”

“Maybe that’s why she’s preoccupied?” offered Fluttershy more hopeful.

“Then I’m confident she’ll help us,” said Rainbow with the best smile she could manage.

The general mood did uplift if just a bit. Still, this was nothing like all their previous hurtles: They were in completely unknown territory, not fighting wild Equestrian magic, and Sunset was at a complete loss how they could get home.

“We…” Twilight, started, clearing her throat and wiping her tears away with her hand, “we’re all scared.” Everyone gave their own silent affirmations. “But at least we’re all together.”

“That’s right,” said Sunset, never having loosened her hold on Twilight. “We just gotta keep it that way. We’ll think of something.” We will make it out of this. We have to…

Their convictions were solidified when everyone huddled around Sunset, Twilight and Spike the lot of them pulling together into a life-affirming group hug. The moment made the world of eternal night feel that much brighter and warmer. Even when teetering on the end of a world, the Magic of Friendship hadn’t abandoned them.