Light From The Dark

Chapters

Prologue 1: Lunch
Prologue 2: A Flanking Run
Prologue 3: Demons Hunt
Chapter One: Salads and Scars
Side-chapter 1: Investigation
Chapter Two: Magic!
Chapter 3: Stone And Burners
Side Chapter 2: The Storm Circles
Chapter 4: Sleepovers and Solutions
Chapter Five: Friends and Moms
Chapter Six: Why Being A Part-Time Superhero Sucks
Side-Chapter 3: Worries and Pains
Interlude: A Talk With Royalty
Chapter Seven: Bath Bombs
Chapter Eight: Rest And Recovery

Prologue 1: Lunch

If you were an average human looking at Canterlot High, you wouldn't see anything strange. The fact that the former queen bee was ostracized might raise a single eyebrow, but even looking through its files made it seem mundane and average. This would normally be completely accurate, as the paperwork logged everything in a neat and orderly way. This does not detract from the fact that it would be totally wrong, nor does it change it in any way. In the past six months alone there had been two incidents that should have been toppling and then rebuilding entire methods of science and drawing in men in black suits to the campus in numbers unheard of since Roswell. This was thanks to the efforts of one girl. The very same girl that now sat under a statue in front of the school, book resting lightly under one arm as she cried.

Sunset Shimmer was a girl with more titles than she cared to share; the Dwarf Star, the Demon, Student of Light, and towards the end of her apprenticeship to Celestia, the Mythbringer. While most of those titles were ones she would share, and although with Mythbringer and Demon it would be mostly grudging, there was one, maybe two, she held so close to her chest it could only be seen with either an x-ray or a particularly violent death. It was also the one that was competing for the top spot of gossip beside her own status of Anon-a-miss.

She was currently escaping from the eternal hell of high school drama the way she did when she ruled the school - going to one of the many areas on campus that weren't on the allowed list for lunch, but didn't actually have someone watching. Her supposed solitude made it surprising when she heard a pair of boots clunking out the door towards her. A glance up forced an irritated groan out of her. Trixie. Bucking. Lulamoon.

It wasn't that she disliked Trixie. Honestly, if you could get past the ego, she was a rather sweet girl. It was just that Trixie never acted on anything halfway, so if she thought Sunset was Anon-A-Miss, then it would cause several problems to Sunset's various projects that Trixie was an unknowing part of. She rolled her head back, bumping the back of her skull against the statue and staring at the sky. "If you're gonna glitter bomb me, act fast. I'm fairly certain Schaden has already rigged my locker up with enough confetti to rival a Disney parade."

She was even further shocked when Trixie said nothing, instead sitting beside her and digging into a pocket before pulling out a pack of gum. Trixie withdrew a piece and popped it in her mouth, before proffering the pack to Sunset. Sunset raised an eyebrow and took a piece, expecting an electric shock, or some prank that would start a fusillade of insults that the whole school seemed to think she had earned. Instead, the stick was pulled out easily, and when she popped the gum in her mouth, she was flood by a sweet strawberry taste. She smiled at the simple act of goodwill and let herself relax. "So Trix, you good for my weekly order?"

Trixie hummed beside her before nodding. "Well, Trixie has a few odds and ends in her car that you might be interested in. However, Trixie is sad to say that any future orders come with an added cost."

Sunset didn't bother to disguise her groan. Here it was, the ‘stop posting or I won't sell you smoke bombs anymore’ speech. She let her head lean back again, letting training from Celestia take over before speaking. She had been emotional when she approached her friends, but this meeting was on her terms. The first rule was easy; verify everything. "What is it Trixie, find a cute guy you want to take out to dinner so I need to pay up a bit more?"

Trixie laughed. "Cute, but no. Trixie wants to guess what you use them for. One guess a week, and you have to tell Trixie if she's right!" She felt the girl poke a finger into her ribs, causing a smile to spread across her face.

Sunset giggled a bit before swatting the finger away from her side. However, she still needed to follow rule one a bit more. If Trixie thought she was Anon-a-Miss then she would have to be very careful in her wording. "Sure thing Trix. It's technically a secret, but you seem to trust me enough to think I don’t go around dropping secrets on that stupid MyStable page."

Trixie scoffed. "Like Trixie would fall for that idiot. Unlike the rest of the nimrods here, Trixie remembers how you work. If it was you posting those secrets, we wouldn't be able to track it back to you if it took a hundred years." She paused, possibly for dramatic effect. "Plus, you forgave Trixie for what she did with the Sirens around. Trixie owes you for that."

Sunset smiled and moved her journal into her lap. With her arms free, she pulled Trixie into a quick hug. "Swear on my power Trix, you guess it right, then I'll tell you."

Trixie smirked and tapped Sunset's back, breaking free of their embrace. "Then it's settled; meet Trixie at here and we'll head to grandad's place, Trixie might have something interesting for you she's been working on." Trixie the reached beside her, pulling out a lunchbox. Popping it open she pulled out a sandwich before taking a bite and looking over to Sunset. "Do you have any food Sunset? Trixie has a spare bag of chips if you don't want to head into the cafeteria."

Sunset smiled wider. She still had a friend here. She shook her head. "Nah, just a protein bar. I have work tonight, so I have to eat light or else I'll throw up."

Trixie rolled her eyes. "Yeah right. The way you talk about your job makes Trixie think you moonlight in a fight club."

Sunset elbowed Trixie in the ribs. "Is that your guess Trixie? Cause smoke bombs in a fight club could make for some Batmare-level stunts."

Trixie scoffed at Sunset, taking a bite out of her meal and trying to glare at Sunset while chewing. It didn't work. She swallowed and shook her head. "No, Trixie would have noticed, she enjoys most of the local underground. They pay well for special effects." She smirked with a glint in her eyes. "Trixie's first guess was the hardcore parkour thing that popped up a few years ago."

Sunset coughed awkwardly. She didn't think anybody at school even knew about the sport she accidentally started when she first began patrolling the city. "U-uhm, is that your guess?" Trixie smirked, nodding decisively as she took another bite out of her lunch. Sunset groaned, but all in all, this was the smaller of the two secrets she had been trying to keep from the school. "Yeah. I run in it every week."

Trixie smiled wide, jumping up in joy. "Yes! Trixie knew it!" She struck a pose, holding her half-eaten sandwich to the sky in victory. "Trixie is funding one of the girls who's been evading the cops and tagging the streets in the newest underground sport in Canterlot!"

Sunset jumped up, covering Trixie's mouth and looking around the area in fear. After calming down a bit, she leveled a flat glare at a very annoyed Trixie. "Can we please not scream about my midnight activities in the middle of a freaking school?"

Trixie nodded, leading Sunset to remove her hand. After checking around again, they both sat down, restarting to conversation. "So, who are you then?" Trixie looked at Sunset as if trying to tease out which mask she hid behind once a week purely by her body type. "You're about the right build to be Flanksy or H*Face." She thought about it for a minute before breaking out into a huge smile. "Could you introduce Trixie to Flanksy? Trixie loved her piece on the bank, she’s even saved it as her phone background."

Sunset rolled her eyes. "You know we wear the masks and all that covering for a reason, right? None of us know each other outside of the weekly game, and we all use smoke bombs for the same reason."

Trixie rolled her eyes. "Duh, Trixie also knows you mix them up. Trixie has seen her smoke bombs used by Flanksy, Brainwash, and Stik. She's not stupid."

Sunset flinched. "Sorry, I can't introduce you to anyone, but I can at least tell you our stream info. Let you follow all our cameras while we run tonight. I'll even comp the entry price for you."

Trixie jumped up. "You would? Trixie's always had to hunt it down like a week after it happens."

Sunset leaned back, popping a bubble while nodding. "Yeah, we have to work hard to keep folks from uploading it early. It's why the stream is always hidden. We control who can watch." Sunset reached for her phone before remembering she smashed it, creating a minor setback. Sure, her school phone was technically one of her burners, but that didn’t mean that she should’ve have let her emotions take control of her. "I’ve got it written down at home. Gimme a ride after we go to your grandpa's shop and I'll pass you the link."

Trixie nodded. "Deal. By far the best deal Trixie made all week." She leaned back before searching for a moment for another conversation topic. "So, did you hear about what Andromalius did last night?"

Sunset groaned. "Can we not talk about some vigilante wannabe, please. The lawbreaking teenager would like to remain unjinxed."

Trixie laughed. "Aw, does a fake demon scare poor little Sunset?" She reached up and pinched Sunset's cheek. "She does seem to follow in you and all your compatriots’ footsteps. Tagging her name and sigil every time she works."

Sunset shoved Trixie back lightly. "Look, I don't know how much you talk to us hardened criminal types, but we don't like to invite trouble."

She scoffed in response, partially in dismissal, partially in disbelief. "You're from a literal magic world, I think you could take her."

Sunset looked inside the school and saw people moving around, signaling lunch was about to end. "You’d be surprised. Either way, hurry up. I think it's about time for class again."

Trixie shoved the last of her sandwich in her mouth, before chewing quickly. Forcing herself to swallow, she stood up. "Remember. Meet up here after school and I'll take you to grand-père's."

Author's Note

When as soon as you start you misspell the first word...

[Update] Edited and revised as of 1/21/19 by Kitkataddel

Prologue 2: A Flanking Run

"Who the hell smells like strawberries?!" Four people sat on the roof, waiting for the clock to strike ten. The one who first spoke was a man, wearing the mismatched uniform of their little group. A black hoodie and gloves, with casual jeans and boots. The hood was up, and his mask covering his face. An image of Mojo Jojo plastered over his face, signaling their identity since everyone knew Brainwash always had a dumb cartoon as his choice of mask.

A girl beside him spoke up behind her mask. "Sorry, that's me. Found some gum I really liked earlier today." He looked over at her, noting Flanksy’s own gimmick, as she always wore a mythical beast as her mask. Today she wore a griffon mask, and it was, as always, done in the opposite style of her colorful and far out art, instead going for a more realistic approach. The scar crossing one eye having looked like it healed wrong, with individual hairs and feathers painted with minute detail.

A second man walked up and hooked an arm around Brainwash's neck. "Calm down Mojo, I doubt police have figured out how to track us from strawberry gum." He paused, stroking the simple smiley face mask he wore. "But if they have; we honor your sacrifice Flanksy." He did a fake salute as Flanksy flipped him off.

A girl’s voice spoke up. "Laugh it up Retna, you were the one who tried to get the cops off your back by saying please last week."

Retna visibly deflated. "Really Feint? That kinda worked. The cop paused, didn't he?"

Feint fixed her mask, the masquerade-style skull adorning her face moving to rest easier as she fiddled with the straps behind her. "Yeah, you got me there. Is the stream live?"

Flanksy moved to the milk crate that sat in the middle of them, raising her hood to cover her hair. "Not yet, we'll be live in five. Who's turn is it to take the laptop?"

Retna began looking through his backpack. "Technically it's Mouse's turn, but he can't make it this week. Something about his mom; I didn't pay attention to the email."

Flanksy sighed, setting the stream up and hooking it to her burner phone. "Fine, I'll take it tonight then. But if I get got because I get hacker-man'd, then I'm going to claim you all kidnapped me."

Brainwash let out a quick laugh. "Not cool Flanksy, that's been my plan since day one."

Laughs broke out through the rooftop but were silenced as Flanksy raised a hand. "Voice mods on, we're live in three."

She raised three fingers and dropped them one by one. As soon as the last finger dropped Faint spoke up, her voice distorted and sounding ridiculously cheery compared to her normal deadpan. "Hello, faithful watchers and friends. Tonight we’ve got a special show for all of you, since know there’s at least one new watcher for sure, thanks to one of our loyal runners letting someone else in on their little secret. So, to welcome the first new recruit of our little family, we're running a new route to hit places that lucky watcher knows."

Flanksy stood up, moving the camera strapped to her chest to view the sights from the rooftop they were on, looking over the Canterlot park. "Yep Feint, so as is our norm, each of us will share our route. All our loyal fans can vote on who did the best run. Remember when you vote to account for speed, the art, and possible escape from cops. Winner gets the biggest cut of profits." She squatted down, lifting the camera to look at the buildings beside the park. "I'm going to get the high flying route tonight. I'm running rooftop to rooftop from here all the way over to Canterlot High. That horse statue out front is going to get a nice new piece of topical art since some drama bullshit is going on."

Flanksy began sorting her pockets, getting the bag she had traded Brainwash for earlier. "And here's my donation today." She opened it up to reveal four spools of rope. "Rope for hanging, hauling and maybe even swinging if the need arises."

Brainwash moved up next, grabbing a spool of rope. "Nice, and my routes the wild world of nature today." He pointed his camera squarely at the park. "Out in that park was a big concert a little while ago. The stage that it was on has become a permanent installation, which I plan on giving a dazzling new piece too."

Flanksy snorted as Brainwash pulled out a small package. "And Flanksy can thank me tonight. I have her favorite tool this week. Smoke bombs, for the thrill of escape and evasion, that the normal rush of being a lawbreaker just can't scratch."

Flanksy grabbed one of the bombs before punching Brainwash lightly in the chest. "Asshole."

Retna laughed as he walked up. "Calm down children. Anyways, I took the urban warfare route this time, at a construction site near downtown. I don't know why it's on the list tonight, but I plan on putting up a magical display for anybody lucky enough to work in the strip mall across the street. All that gray is just way too boring." He moved to the milk crate and threw down a few sports bottles. "And my donation is a party trick. That's something one of my buddies cooked up, pour it out and it's an oil slick on the ground, should keep away cops, fans, and serial killers." He paused. "Or make a hilarious Youtube video. Plans for later."

Feint rolled her head to express her displeasure as she angled the camera to the city center. "And tonight I get the fun job. In an attempt to one-up our glorious founder, I'm going to be hitting up a local bank. We're gonna give those penny-pinchers a show when they walk up." She threw down four small bags at the table. "And here's my little gift. In those bags is a hook. Since I knew we were getting ropes tonight I figured a way to grapple would be good."

Flanksy grabbed one and moved back, letting everyone grab their gear and set it up as she did so herself, speaking into her camera. "Set your timers folks. One minute and we're gone. And for our lovely viewers, if one of us falls remember to call an ambulance for us. We'd all prefer to be alive and in jail than dead and free. Other reminders. Any uploads for the next seven days is strictly against the rules, so please don't." She paused, before unhooking the camera to get a view of her mask. "And before we go out, here's my style for the night. I call it Galahad."

Feint sighed, tapping Flanksy on the head. "You're such a show-off Flanksy, they probably saw it while we were doing our pre-run setup."

Flanksy looked to Feint with a tilted head, faking confusion. "Well I am our glorious founder, I have to show-off, that way I keep my brand up."

Brainwash interrupted them. "That's time boys and girls. Time to go to work." With that he ran to the edge of the roof, spinning as he jumped and grabbing onto a pipe, sliding out of sight.

Retna scoffed before getting into a sprinters stance. "Gods, I love my job." He ran forward, jumping from their rooftop to the next, before spinning around while keeping up his speed, giving Faint and Flanksy a cheeky wave as he took off.

Feint giggled a little before looking to Flanksy. "Me next?" Flanksy nodded, causing Feint to turn to City center. "Alright then, the hospital has a crossover so..." She took the rope on her shoulder and hooked it around her like a bandolier. "Wish me luck!" She ran forward, jumping down to a balcony Flanksy already knew was there.

Flanksy stood still for a minute, taking a deep breath. "And for all of you focusing on me, we're going to be going dark tonight, so keep the Changelings outta those alleys for me." She ran to the street side of the building, jumping down with bent knees. The building was only a few stories tall and had a stone overhang. She landed hard, rolling forward off of the overhang before falling the remaining distance to the ground to roll again. She was very glad that the camera only saw in front of her because the slight glow of magic around her feet might have raised questions. "Don't try this at home kiddies, I'm an untrained professional."

She ran hard as soon as she landed, glad of the featherfall spell she forced out on the jump. It would mean no spells in order to be ready for tomorrow, but the spell lasted a few hours, so it was perfect for a late night parkour run. Flanksy ran across the street, ducking into an alley between two buildings. She knew that Canterlot High was only a few blocks away, and that with a rope and hook she could clear the next street with style. And danger, but that just made it more fun in her opinion.

She jumped on top of a dumpster, before using the dumpster to jump higher, grasping onto a fire escape and hauling herself up. "I really need to thank whoever designed these alleys, they're really good for gaining altitude." She rolled over the safety rail and began running up the fire escape. "Okay folks, let me fill you in on what I know about this bullshit going on at state-funded re-education station #42." The street artist spun onto the roof and took a moment to get her bearings. Seeing her jump over point was a few buildings away, she began running, jumping over alleyways without the slightest worry for life and limb.

"Apparently some stupid teenagers are getting there panties in a bunch because of some rumor account. They're blaming this girl who used to rule the place." She jumped another alleyway, before reaching a billboard stationed above the street. It was too high to jump to, but perfect for a hook and swing, so she took the rope off her shoulder and began spinning the hook. "Now, she apparently turned over a new leaf. They think she's relapsing. Let me go on record saying I have no clue what's going on, I'm just some stupid street artist with an adrenaline problem." She released the hook, watching it sail through the air before cleanly landing on the metal scaffold around the billboard.

She pulled the rope slowly, waiting until the hook got a bite before testing it. "Case in point, if we just take a quick look down..." She looked at the street, with cars speeding below her in a stream. "Yep, I'm stupid. Nobody smart would swing over a busy street when there are buses in the world." She took a few steps back, before running forward, holding onto the rope and swinging over the street to the building across the street.

She heard a few honks and screams from below her as people took notice of the young girl doing her best Spider-mare impression on city streets. She reached forward with a foot, lightly landing on her target roof before shaking the hook loose, pulling it up behind her. "Definitely dumb, but this whole scenario has some really simple math." She began running again, going on lower and lower roofs trying to find a safe jump down. "Either that girl betrayed her school, or the school betrayed her."

Flanksy found a one-story building and moved to it, jumping down to street level and peeking out of an alley. She was on the wrong side of the block, but after she went through the alleys behind her the school was only a street behind her. "Add that and the recent 'demon' trying to clean up our streets..." She turned and ran through the alleyway before continuing. "Well, fallen angels are the theme for me tonight. Demons and betrayals fit perfectly, right?"

She turned to a separate alley, before freezing. "Ah, shit." Two people stood in the alley before her. She could clearly see the Wondercolt statue past the opening of the alley, but the neon green spray paint told her who was in the alley tagging. She whispered into the microphone in her mask. "Okaaay, boys, and girls, get your phones on. Call the cops if I get the shit kicked out of me, sound nice?" She moved to take a step before pausing again. "But not before that, if I can get past these two, let's not make me rush my work, right?"

She began walking forward, as the two taggers paused their efforts to look at her. They looked her up and down before the tall one with the spray paint can looked to her. He looked to his partner, who Flanksy was starting to make out as a shorter woman. She nodded to him and he threw the can to the side. "Well looky here. Lost little artist in our alley."

Flanksy stood her ground. "Yep, just passing through. So artist-to-artist here, mind letting me through?"

The tall one laughed a cackle that would have fit better in a hyena pack. "No no no. You're marking our turf. And everybody knows what happens when you mark on Changeling turf."

Flanksy took a step back and debated what to do with the situation. She could do a small spell to get out of this without a fight, but that would show up on camera. The Changelings started to advance, but she ignored them in favour of thinking. She was Celestia's former student. A student who actively hunted beasts of myth to prove her worth. She had to have a plan. She glanced down and saw the soft glow of her featherfall spell, and smiled.

Featherfall was a really simple spell, and it did one very simple thing - it made gravity affect you slightly less. It wouldn't let you jump off a skyscraper without harm, but it made any fall so much less painful. Most mages wouldn't think of it any other way. It was a simple, but reliable safety net. But Flanksy had been forced to be creative with small spells for years. Lighter gravity was normally annoying if you weren't running and jumping. But to win a street fight, she could think of a few ways to use it. She cracked her knuckles, accompanying the pops as she rolled her neck. "Well, if you're really set on doing this the changeling way..."

The thugs paused a moment, trying to figure out what she meant. And in that moment of doubt, she ran forward. They went into a stance, ready for her charge as soon as she did. Which was precisely why her second surprise shocked them more. Her feet pounded on the pavement as she ran at an angle. Only, when she would have run into the wall, she instead ran up it as if she wasn’t human. With the featherfall spell up, she easily was running the wall at head level when she reached the pair of thugs, who watched in awe as she ran by nearly out of reach.

They really didn't expect the jump as Flanksy canceled the spell. Gravity returned as she spun from her jump, catching the tall thug in the crook of her knee. She fell further down and grabbed the woman in a headlock, as everyone suddenly found themselves hitting the ground. The sound of two skulls hitting the ground in chorus flooded Flanksy's ears, but neither struggled as she caught her breath for a moment. She checked their pulses and was satisfied as she found they were snoring away. Checking to make sure the camera was pointed towards tall thug, she reached in the short girl's pockets. Grabbing the wallet she found as well a small envelope in her jacket, she jammed them both in her own jacket.

After another moment to catch her breath, Flanksy stood tall. "Kids, REALLY, don't try that at home. Mostly because that hurt like a bitch." She paused, looking at the sleeping thugs. "Hope no one called the cops for me though, I've got a mural to paint."

She checked the road before running across the street and smiling at the statue in front of her. She pulled out her bag, and grabbed a can of white spray paint, starting work on her mural.

***

Ten minutes. She cursed as she put the finishing touches on her artwork. She should have been done in five. "Damn my perfectionist streak here. Shouldn't have spent so long on the freakin' wings. Story of my life." She sprayed a streak of red to finish up the last detail, smiling she stepped back. "Alright kiddies, no time to appreciate this, so come by tomorrow before they paint it over if you want a picture.

She turned around and ran, knowing she stashed her bike nearby. She ran across the street and looked at the two thugs she dealt with as the groaned and rolled over on the ground. She smiled as she ran past 'em. "Move quick 'shifters, by now the cops will have definitely gotten a call about me!"

She turned the corner to see a blue uniform. A rumbling male voice spoke up. "Well, you got it in one."

Flanksy stared at the officer in front of her, cursing her luck. Luckily, she couldn't see sirens, so he was probably on a walking patrol of this area. Which also meant she had a few seconds before he could do much. "Well, that's awkward." The officer nodded and moved a hand to his taser, going to aim it at Flanksy.

The now active Changelings apparently hadn't heard their exchange though, and turned the corner at a dead sprint. "OH FUCK!" Immediately, they tried to escape by running back the other way, and as the cop focused on them, Flanksy made her move. She didn't sprint away from the officer, favoring the direct approach instead. Reaching into a pocket she grabbed a smoke bomb and tossed it right at his feet. Blue smoke and glitter exploded around him, blinding him. She grabbed the sports bottle she had hooked to her belt loop and popped the cap. She dumped it behind her as she ran through the smoke. She never paused before turning the corner into the street. Her bike was in an alley a few blocks away, but she had to get the law off her back first - it would be dumb to show her bike on stream after all. She took one second to look over her surroundings, before noticing a store about thirty feet away. It had a balcony above the entrance, and she was confident in her ability to jump up to it.

She ran hard, clearing the distance in seconds before leaping up and grabbing onto the balcony with her fingertips. She heard a crash and loud cursing from behind her. She glanced back before attempting the speed record for world's fastest pullup. She scrambled up, climbing the safety rail by will and grit. Rolling over the rail, she stayed laying down, using the small privacy wall to hide her body. She moved the camera to focus on her mask.

"And that, ladies and gents, is how you escape the cops. That's all for my run. I'll be at the post stream in about forty minutes, so stay tuned in for the final vote. Focus on one of my buddies if you need to, knowing how slow Brainwash is I bet money he's still working on his piece."

She flicked the camera's power switch and laid low, and after a few more seconds, she heard a voice coming from the alleyway. "Yeah, dispatch. That tag group was here again. Nah, they're long gone by now. Look, I got hit with a smoke and glitter bomb, so I'm gonna duck into the station house for a minute." She listened for a bit longer, unmoving in her hiding spot. "Yeah, roger. I'll be there in ten."

Flanksy smiled under her mask as she peeked over the privacy wall. Indeed, the cop was walking down the street towards the local station house. She waited until he was far enough away for her landing to be missed before hopping over the rails. She dashed forward until she hit a side alley, and ducked inside. As soon as she knew she was clear of cameras she pulled off her mask and jacket. She shoved the mask in her backpack and tied her jacket around her waist. She glanced at her shirt and grimaced. Of course, she wore her 'I'm not Flanksy' shirt today. Then again, she wasn't Flanksy anymore. Now she was back to being Sunset Shimmer, doormat of Canterlot High. Ignoring that, she reached into her bag and pulled out a cap, throwing it over her hair as she moved out the other side of the alley and towards a parking lot.

With deliberate slowness, she walked to her bike, before grabbing her helmet from the saddlebags and starting it up. With no heat on her tail, she pulled out slowly and made her way to tonight's post-stream location. She smiled as she imagined the look on Trixie's face right now. Celestia knows she'd hear all about it tomorrow.

Author's Note

Edited 1/21.19 by Kitkataddel

Prologue 3: Demons Hunt

Sunset had been right. Trixie ate lunch with her again, and wouldn't shut up about Flanksy's run. She was lucky that the talk of the Flanksy mural was having the desired effect, but it also meant her lunch spot had a few more people soliciting. To keep up appearances she looked it over with Trixie. She was proud of it, and rightfully so too. The angel was captured mid-fall, with the lights of Elysium just out of reach, and under her were the flames and beasts of Tartarus. Her wings were mid-burn, feathers lit revealing scaled skin hiding beneath her once holy symbols, as she slowly turned dark and evil. The angel's face was what Sunset was most proud of. The wincing eyes, the tightening of her mouth, as well as the realisation of her situation. It seemed to straddle the line between confusion and rage, her bared teeth showing defiance in the face of her fall.

Trixie jabbed an elbow into her gut to get her attention. "Seems a bit topical, doesn't it? If Trixie didn't know any better, she'd say you painted it yourself."

Sunset rolled her eyes, patting Trixie on her shoulder. "Yeah, you wish I was this good."

Trixie nodded as Sunset enjoyed not being a target while surrounded by people. She thought of the envelope still sitting unopened on her desk, realizing she had work today. She pulled a lunch bar from her leather jacket, unwrapping it with a smile. Trixie noticed it, and quirked an eyebrow, curiously asking. "Another meal bar? Trixie thinks you should get a real meal every now and again."

Sunset brandished her meal bar like a weapon, waving it threateningly in front of her. "Don't diss the power of a good protein bar. With this, I'll have more than enough energy for the rest of the day. I've gotta do some stuff tonight and I don't want a heavy meal slowing me down."

Trixie rolled her eyes. "Yeah right, now that Trixie knows your job she'd bet you're just going to laze around tonight." Sunset didn't respond, pouting at Trixie while taking another bite of her meal bar. While she chewed her meal bar she briefly entertained the idea of just staying home tonight. Maybe doing some online work for extra money and finally retiring from her actual job. Maybe, in a perfect world, she would. But not here, and not today.

***

Sunset laid low during school and rushed home as fast as she could. The 'lower side' of Canterlot had many attractions one could enjoy, not the least of which was landlords who didn't ask questions about the paperless teenager that rented the basement apartment.

Then again, Sunset returned the favor, never asking why the sub-basement wasn't mentioned in her lease, or why there were several dark stains that couldn't be cleaned off. She did research it, and quickly closed out the tab; she had been happier before reading it, and she would leave it at that. But the sub-basement did serve a purpose. Moving aside a throw rug and ducking through the trap door, she grabbed a red backpack, not bothering to check it before she moved back up the ladder and grabbed the envelope from last nights thugs. Opening it up brought a smile to her face as as scattering of hundred dollar bills fell out, as well as a folded piece of paper. Throwing the bills on top of her desk, she unfolded the paper, silently reading it.

SK,

Assuming Echo’s not as incompetent as her brother, then you are reading this as soon as your operation opens. Speaking to another of such importance, I will not belittle you with pleasantries. We want to offer our services in your turf. The cash included is a hopeful incentive for you to consider our options. While I'm sure you will want to meet in person to work out the details rest assured if anyone in your organization wants to use our services, we will offer a discount.

Out of respect to another ruler of their own little kingdom, I shall end the letter here. My officers will be awaiting a response at our local supplier for the lower Canterlot area for a response and meeting place.

Behind the mask,

Sunset smiled as she lowered the letter. The changelings were a fairly simple gang, mostly doing fake ids and the like for criminal elements. She had even used them for her own driver's license when she first got here, and if she was being honest with herself, she had been going easy on them because of it. Killers or not, it was hard to get the people who helped her get a start here arrested. Still, she couldn't play favorites, and she set an alarm on her phone for three hours, long enough for it to get dark, before laying down on her couch. She closed her eyes and went to sleep, intent on some rest.

After what felt like five minutes, the soft chimes of her alarm woke her up. Without even thinking, she grabbed her phone and turned off her alarm, silencing it. She tapped her phone a few times before properly opening her eyes and pausing. She had been about to send a message to Pinkie Pie. The phone number was half-typed already, waiting for the message she had sent every week to tell the girls she would be busy for the next while. She groaned and turned off her phone. She had to get back into the present, and ignore her normal social habits. She couldn't waste any time on the fact she was getting blamed for a shitty rumor account, and she definitely couldn't think about the second family that threw her away.

She instead texted Trixie. She barely thought about the fact that she had never texted her without a business deal leading the charge, instead focusing on a friend.

She glanced at her oven clock after she sent the message. Nine in the evening, with the current winter climate night already wrapping Canterlot in its dark embrace. Sunset grabbed a microwaveable meal and warmed it up, humming as she readied herself for tonight. She moved to her bedroom, grabbing a few things most people didn't think she would own. First was her tool of choice, a rapier that was hanging above her mirror. It had the bulb of a fencing foil at the end, but she flicked it off with her thumb. Holding it lightly, she grabbed a small sack with her other hand, opening it up as she peeked at the small selection of sports bottles inside, grabbing one with a blue liquid inside.

She had to admit, the alchemy book she stole was a total accident. She had always thought alchemy was a useless art, but with less magic around, storing spells in bottles was about the most useful thing she could do. Sure, getting the right ingredients here was a massive effort of trial and error, but it was worth it, especially since she had discovered that spells in bottles weren't as limited as she first thought. Originally, only spells that would affect her body could be imbued into a potion, but after a night of tinkering, and a few relatively small fires, she had cracked the code. She had fire in a bottle and was raring to use it, so she walked back out to her living room/kitchen combo just as her phone chimed.

She sat the foil and bottle on the counter before flipping it out, and sure enough Trixie had responded. <Okaaay is there a reason you're going out when you just went out?>

Sunset rolled her eyes before texting out a message. It was a blatant lie, and one that she was less than happy to share, but she didn't want Trixie asking any questions. A safety net in place, she slid her foil into her bag and hooked the bottle to her belt. She already knew a quiet spot to change into full gear, and the local Changelings would be setting up shop in an hour. Assuming Echo had done the normal coward thing and ran, the officers might still be there. And if she started hitting Chrysalis's higher-ups... well, there's a reason that the so-called Queen of Lies promoted the best help. Knocking those out might just be enough to draw her out.

***

The rooftops of Canterlot at night were beautiful, and while Sunset didn’t have the time to actually enjoy it, it wasn’t any less pretty than if she did. Instead of admiring the view, she focused on the red bag in front of her as she threw off her shirt and pants. This roof was far enough away from any business that no cameras could see her, and the cold helped focus her will. She grabbed her outfit, thinking about how she had come a long way in about five years. Her first outfit had simply been a snake mask from a local party cannon store and hoodie. Now she had her own real suit.

She had bought a few second chance vests from surplus stores, ripping out the kevlar to reinforce a black and red long sleeve shirt. There was also the biker pants with even more plates sewn in, but the part she was actually proud of was the mask. She had made it herself, mixing old bushido style armor with some party supplies. It was a half-mask, depicting the upper half of a woman's face, with a snake coiling around her forehead. It then swooped back, covering her full head and hair to keep her signature colors from sight.

She threw all that on before stowing her clothes in a small bag, which she promptly shoved onto the overhang of the roof. She knew it wouldn't be noticed, she had been using this rooftop for a few months now, either to have a set start to her weekly patrols or as a staging point for more serious missions. Today was definitely the latter. She zipped up the tactical vest she wore outside her thin plates and began hooking the essentials to it. Potions in sports bottles tightly pouched to her chest, and her rapier hanging limply on her left side. She clicked her mask into place and grabbed a lone bottle unstrapped to her body. Chugging it down she winced at the acidic taste, but persisted nonetheless.

Slamming the bottle back down she wiped her mouth and spoke, hearing a different voice emerge. Gone was the voice of Sunset Shimmer, and in its place, the deep seductive voice of Andromalius came forth. "Now that's a tough pill to swallow." She smiled and licked her lips, wishing she still had the power to change her voice constantly. Sunset smiled and looked out over the rooftop, the Changeling suppliers were holed up in a small print shop near her rooftop hideout, so it should be an easy in and out, theoretically anyway. There was a max off about five thugs in there, so with some smart moves she could be done in an hour, and with a truth potion have all the info she needed on Chrysalis to finally track her down.

Andromalius ran across the rooftops swiftly, the practice from years as a tagger who focused on high and hard to clean places coming in handy as she barely broke a sweat. She reached a building beside her objective and paused. Sure enough, the lights were on and she could make out a few figures making rushed movements inside the building. She checked the area under the two-story building before wincing - it had a sloped rain guard in between her and the ground. If it was made of tin or awning she wouldn't be scared of busting through it. However, it was not made of any material with flex. No, it was just solid concrete.

This didn't make the fall impossible, or even difficult. In fact, it would be quieter than most other jumps. No, the problem was from the fact it wouldn't give her any grip, so assuming someone was watching the front of the store they would see her slide down the guard and jump to the ground like an action hero instead of a stealthy approach she wanted. Not for the first time, Sunset wished she had her magic. A simple invisibility spell would make this all so much easier. Instead, she looked over the storefront for any guards before shaking her head muttering. "Damn, this isn't a good sign." And with that, she jumped down, hitting the guard hard, sliding down as the ground careened closer. With a woosh of air, she jumped again, forcing the downward energy to lessen as she hit the ground. She bit back the grunt that came from her aching knees protesting their abuse, before standing tall.

The store seemed just as normal now as it had been on the roof, and Sunset crossed the street quickly. Crouching outside a window she could hear voices inside talking. Unable to make them out, she grabbed the first potion from her vest, a black bottle marked with a crude ear. She popped the top and took a solid swig, and after a moment, she felt her body grow slightly more tired as a small portion of her magic was used to start up the spell. She wished she could make the potions fully use their own energy, but this was better than exhausting herself for a simple eavesdropping spell.

"Look, boss, Echo never came back after getting jumped. Either she offended the king, or she ran. You need to head out." Sunset didn't recognize this voice, but that hardly mattered. What did matter was the fact that he said boss.

A much calmer voice spoke up, his calm tone betraying no worry. "I know this, Doppel, but as you know I have a duty to see this night through. Once we get past midnight I will shut us down. Not before."

Andromalius smiled before grabbing another potion from her vest and drinking it. A ventriloquist spell was always useful for any criminal doings, and was often used. She peeked the window, looking inside, and sure enough, about five thugs were inside. Three were on computers, probably cooking up fake ids and other such Changeling activities. But two were sitting in chairs in the corner, nursing cups of coffee. While one was wearing normal street clothes, the other was unique, sporting slicked back hair and a cheap suit. She smirked and focused on the window behind them. "Oh dear, are you waiting on little old me?"

She purred her line out, trying to make it feel like it was whispered right in the more expensively dressed one's ear. The effect was instant, all the Changelings in the small building jumping up to stare at their boss as he calmly took another sip of his cup. "Ah, I see we have a guest. It's rude not to introduce oneself you know."

The vigilante smiled; she loved the calm ones, they were normally so much more fun than the ones that screamed nonstop. "Oh dear, I do apologize." Sunset let herself giggle, the almost seductive tone making a few members of the group twitch. She didn't bother looking at them though, her target was still sitting. "I am Andromalius, the seeker and eater of lies. And it appears I've hit the jackpot."

The target smiled. "Indeed. You have caused us several issues you know." He took another sip of his coffee before setting it down. "I am Duplis, and I must say I'm impressed. I didn't think you could throw your voice so well."

Sunset smirked before smashing the window in while still speaking from the area beside him. "Well you know what they say, never show your full hand."

She jumped through the broken window, staring down five Changelings as they all looked around them. The one beside Duplis reached towards his belt, and Sunset barely paused, tossing an empty sports bottle at him. It conked him square in the head, causing a confused grunt. "Bad boy, keep your hands out. After all, we're just talking." She moved his voice right next to the younger thugs ear. "Unless you want something else, then you have to ask really nicely."

The thug paused, his face going slightly red as Sunset reached for the third of her four bottles on her vest. "Now that cooler heads have prevailed, I believe we can begin negotiations." She pulled it out and gestured to the group around her. "I'm sure you're all familiar with me, and to be honest I only care about the boss man here. So please refrain from wasting my time and speaking out of turn." She took the shot of potion in the bottle and smiled at the almost alcoholic taste. Fire in a bottle indeed.

Duplis nodded. "I agree. What is it that the demon vigilante of Canterlot wants with this small time operation? You normally avoid us non-violent types." He paused, running a finger around in circles. "Unless the streets are clean enough that we're at the top of your proverbial hit-list."

Sunset dropped the bottle on the floor, containing a laugh as the thugs flinched when it hit the ground. "No, I would just be patrolling if I didn't run across an unconscious Changeling last night. She had a VERY interesting note. So, I came by to offer a deal."

Duplis quirked his head. "And I'm assuming since I'm one of C's major officers is here you needed to make it with someone with some clout."

Sunset nodded, breaking into a sweet smile. "Indeed, either you tell me everything you know about this new player in the Canterlot field, or I burn down this whole building. "

Duplis smiled. "Well then, I think we can simply call it here. The second you move to burn down the building we can leave. I believe both of us leaving is much more beneficial."

Sunset's teeth flashed in a predatory smile. "Really, and who would be brave enough to stop me? You know the rumors around me, right? I'm a demon." She arched her back, showing off her not-unattractive body. "Plus do you really want to mess up my host's pretty body?"

Duplis let out a bark of laughter. "Come now, I believe you can drop the facade. There is no reason to hold onto the pitiful superstition of the common rabble among us."

He held an easy smile as Sunset raised a finger to her mouth as if pondering his words, but dropped it after a moment. "Or if you wish to treat this as a game, then I shall oblige." He waved a hand. "Drones, apprehend her."

One of the thugs moved towards Sunset, hands in front of him. "You nabbed Reflection bitch, Boss ain't happy about that." He darted forward, only for Sunset to open her mouth and let forth a cheerful yell. The room froze as fire spilled from her mouth, cracking and blistering the thug's skin. The thug hit the ground and screamed, as one of the others ran to a closet, grabbing an extinguisher to put out his clothing that was slowly roasting him.

Sunset gave a short bow at the awed thugs. "Now then, I believe I've managed to reopen negotiations?" With a flourish she drew her foil, adopting a fencing stance. "So shall we continue our talks, or do we begin my favorite dance?" One of the thugs screamed and began rushing towards her, as the hiss of the extinguisher gave the room a thin white mist. Andromalius took a backstep, readying her blade for a forwards thrust. "La Danse Macabre then." With a dive forward her blade sunk into the charging thug's leg. With a squeak of pain, he fell forward, and the pommel of the blade pulled up, smashing the poor fools chin up, knocking him into a painful sleep.

Duplis and his bodyguard were still frozen, staring at Sunset in horror as she began walking towards them. The thug who had been putting out his buddy looked to her, with her manic grin and blade splattered in blood, before running from the building. The clatter of his feet on the floor seemed to snap Duplis from his haze. "Doppel, protect me!"

The bodyguard reached into his waistband, trying to pull out whatever weapon he had stashed, but a hand stopped him. His face went white as Andromalius smiled. A lazy smile, like a cat who had caught the mouse already, and was just drawing it out for the fun of it. She pulled up, forcing Doppel off balance before shifting her hip. With a twist, she forced him to the floor. As he dropped down she stood tall, looking Duplis in the eyes. "Well then, I believe negotiations have broken down." A groan sounded from under her, and she dropped the heel of her boot onto Doppel’s chest. "And I still want answers." She raised her blade, the tip resting mere inches from Duplis's throat.

She slowly raised the blade, forcing him to look her in the eyes. With her off hand, she reached behind her, grabbing the last sports bottle of the night. "Drink that, or the blade starts slicing things you'd prefer to keep." Duplis grabbed the bottle and took a single sip before flinching. Before he could take another Andromalius cleared her throat. "That's enough. Now tell me. Who is SK?"

Duplis swallowed. "Storm King, he's a big-time gang lord from somewhere in South America. He's looking at getting a piece of Canterlot." He took a moment after he spoke to process what he said, and jumped back. His eyes widened and began shifting from the bottle in his hands, to the blade at his throat.

The demon didn't seem to mind his fear as her head tilted back and forth. "Interesting, and where can I find Chrysalis now? Might as well learn that too."

Duplis swallowed, seeming to force back words for a few moments before he coughed, speech coming from deep breaths. "She's gone to ground. And since we haven't heard anything from the Storm King she'll stay hidden for a while yet."

She cursed, her hold around her blade tightening in irritation. "Pits of Tartarus! I was hoping to nab her as well." Her eyes flashed to Duplis, a glint of anger seeming to peer deep into his very core. "And you can't help." She pulled her arm back, the blade retracting for a strike. Duplis flinched back, closing his eyes at what he assumed was his imminent death. Instead, the pommel of Sunset’s sword crashed into the crown of his head. As he slumped to the floor Sunset let out a sigh of relief. She began patting down Duplis, pulling a wallet out from his pocket. "Goddess, I used way too much magic during that." She grabbed Duplis by the collar of his cheap suit, pulling him outside.

Repeating the process for every thug, she walked back inside and pulled a single computer from the building. She calmly dropped it beside the sleeping thugs before peeking her head in, and blowing out a stream of flames. She held it for ten seconds before the potion faded, the magic infused in the liquid spent. She watched the building start to catch before reaching for a pouch on her hip. She shook the can of spray paint and began marking the ground. After a few seconds, she was done. Tying the thugs together around a light post she smiled at the sight, patting down Doppel and pulling out his phone and wallet. Pocketing the wallet, she tapped 911 on the phone. Tossing it on the ground she left. The only proof she had been there the name written on the sidewalk. Andromalius.

Author's Note

For those of you curious about Andromalius, he's a real demon. Source https://www.deliriumsrealm.com/andromalius/ Yeah, occult shit ftw.

Edited 1/22/19 by the wonderous Kitkataddel

Chapter One: Salads and Scars

Sunset Shimmer knew many things. She knew that her sub-basement was just a slightly cleaned up nightmare hole. She knew how to repair her bike without needing a mechanic. She also knew that as long as she stayed in her bedroom her fellow apartment-dwellers couldn't hear he no matter how loud she screamed.

"DISCORD FUCK ME WITH A 12-FOOT CANDY CANE!" She threw an empty glass across the room, breaking it into pieces across her floor. "OF COURSE SHE GOES INTO HIDING THE SECOND I FINALLY HAVE ONE OF HER OFFICERS!"

She stormed back and forth, pacing while waving her hands in the air. "AND NOW, THERE'S SOME SOUTH AMERICAN CARTEL TRYING TO GET INTO MY FUCKING CITY! WHAT IN THE GREAT FIELDS OF ELYSIUM DO THEY WANT HERE?!" Sunset fell onto her bed, feeling her body sag into the comfort of her mattress. She took a few deep breaths before the ringing of her phone managed to ruin her quiet moment of meditation. She grabbed it and screamed into the microphone before thinking. "WHAT?!"

She heard Trixie's voice seem to squeak in fear from the other side. "Trixie apologizes. S-she thought this was the number of her friend."

Sunset winced, realizing she forgot to cancel her voice alteration spell, since it was one of the handful of spells that consumed energy at the same rate that this crippled world refilled her reserves. As long as she had drunk the potion the spell lasted until she dropped it. She stuttered a bit, feeling her vocal cords wriggle under her throat, before coughing a few times, trying to clear her throat. "Sorry Trixie, hard day at work. Yeah, it's me."

There was silence on the other side of the line for a moment before a slow breath came from the other end. "Okay, Trixie would like it known that you sound... different when you speak like that. Trixie is not sure if she approves… or disapproves."

Sunset groaned, for the first time she regretted making her chosen voice so seductive. Of course, setting up the spell matrix was almost entirely practical, and couldn't be done here. Her only alternate voice matrix was used in Equestria, and for things that she wouldn't share with her mother. "Yeah yeah. Look, lets just say I slip into bad habits when I have bad nights. What are you doing up anyways, its..." She looked to a clock, before wincing. "6 A.M. How long did I spend out and about?"

She heard a soft giggle from the other side of the line. "Trixie would guess far too long. Either way, Trixie was wondering if you had any plans for today?"

Sunset looked at herself in a mirror, her hair in a knotted and frayed from her mask, and bags under her eyes so deep they seemed to be advancing on her mouth. "No, I was gonna pass out for a while." She spared a glance at her journal, which was softly glowing on her vanity. "And send a letter."

"Well then, the Great and Powerful Trixie was wondering if you wanted to come to help her with a show. She has one tonight." Sunset looked to the phone, surprised by the offer, to say the least. She smiled softly, thinking how she always has at least one friend to fall back on, abandoned or not.

She nodded despite the fact Trixie couldn't see her. "Sure, what time?"

"The show starts at five, but if you want to show up early and help the Great and Powerful Trixie set up, she would be most grateful."

Sunset smiled and grabbed her red bag. "Alright, text me the address and I'll be there about four-ish. I'm gonna shower before I take a catnap."

Trixie let out a victorious whoop. "YES, Trixie was hoping you'd help. She'll be waiting for you by the main entrance of the hospital." With that she hung up, leaving a mildly stunned Sunset standing in her room.

A beep a moment later gave her the address - the children's hospital near the middle of the city. She let curiosity get the better of her, and moved to her bedside table. Opening it up, a series of small tablets were inside its drawer. She looked them over, checking the stickers on the back until finding one with a black envelope printed over the company logo.

She turned it on for the first time in a few months, watching the logo as the tablet booted up. The password screen appeared after a moment, causing Sunset to think for a moment, before snapping her fingers. "Wendigo_3, that was it, right?" She typed it in, and smiled as the tablet began signing her in. She dropped onto her bed, opening the single app saved on the tablet.

A list of names appeared, sorted by how important she felt they were at the time. Principal Celestia was first on the list, followed by Luna. She scrolled down the list until reaching the name she was thinking of, Trixie Lulamoon. She tapped the name once, opening the file on her. With that, a collection of files opened up. The first was a basic background, reading that she lived with her grandfather who ran a magic shop. She spoke French, but only a smidgen, picking up bits from her grandfather's rants when he slipped into his native tongue. The other files were the reason for the specialized tablet. Blackmail.

She looked at the titles, Trixie had always been a bit of a narcissist. Until recently Sunset had only associated with her out of necessity, Trixie frequently pulling tricks that would put her in a more popular position, even if they were foalish compared to Sunset's old schemes. She stopped at the bottom file, titled exploits and weaknesses. She tapped it open, trying to find something that may have made Trixie start pulling shows for a children's hospital. She stared at the lone sentence the file contained. ‘Target pride, send video in file #4 of the failed show. She'll drop out within a week.’ She tossed the tablet on the bed, flinching away from how cold she used to be.

She curled up on the bed, staring at the tablet. She wiped at her eyes, feeling tears form on her cheek. That wasn't her, not anymore, but it still had been at one point. She stared at her hands before practically diving to her phone. She flipped it on, sending a hasty text to Trixie. She dropped the phone on the ground.

She stared at it. "Have I really changed at all?" She pawed at the tablet, shutting it off. "As soon as I get curious about something I dive right back into that mess. Fuck treating people with respect, just dive into what should be private because someone wants to improve themselves." She stood up and ignored the response from Trixie. Instead, she marched into her shower. She had to wash this shit off her. Pausing for a moment she sighed. "Shit, evidence."

She ran to her kitchen, grabbing a hip flask from her fridge. She popped the top, flinching at the bitter smell of the last potion she used after a patrol. Technically the spell didn't cost any magical energy, but it was unpleasant. It used the innate link between any part of her body and herself, forcing all of it back to her. It managed to keep any proof of her from staying in a crime scene. The downside being that it returned to her. She slugged the potion back, wincing at the taste of pure pepper as it spilled down her throat. As soon as she finished the whole thing she felt her body get heavier. She looked down and sighed. She was coated in about seven hours worth of dust, sweat, and tears. She sighed and moved back to her shower. That's what she needed, to try and wash off her sins and sleep.

***

Sunset woke up to a song. "You remind me of the babe. What babe?" She didn't let the song go farther, reaching for her phone and swiping to the right. "Shimmer, who has a death wish?"

A soft laugh was heard on the other end of the line. "Really Sunset, that is how you respond to the Great and Powerful Trixie giving you a wakeup call?"

Sunset glanced at the time, 2:30. Granted, it was fifteen minutes before her alarm, but it gave her time to pretty up. "Fine, you live to see another day, but mostly because I'll be more forgiving by the time I see you again."

There was another laugh. "Are you sure about that?" This was compounded with the soft chime of Sunset's doorbell.

Sunset groaned. "Gimme a minute." She hung up the phone, looking over her modest room. She grabbed the red bag filled with proof of her nightly illegal activities and moved to the main room. Being in the basement meant she didn't have to worry about someone peeking into her home as she opened the hidden door to her hideout and putting her bag away. Quickly moving on, Sunset moved a few things around, preparing for future activities. If Trixie left she would start her next batch of potions soon, replacing her used ones and possibly trying out a few new ones.

With that done, she climbed out of the trap door, moving to the front door, and opened it without any warning. Trixie was in full stage gear, a full dress with her logo imprinted on the lower half. It was coated in glitter, in a soft periwinkle color that accented her skin tone nicely. "What's up Trix?"

Trixie was staring at Sunset, a small blush appearing. Sunset glanced down and noticed the reason why. She was wearing very very little clothing. A pair of panties and a tank top that was a few sizes too small, showing off her midriff and sticking to her skin like latex. She rolled her eyes and moved back to her kitchen. "Yeah yeah, I'm nearly naked. Get over it." She opened her fridge, pulling out an energy drink and leaning back on the counter. She raised it to Trixie, who was trying to shake off the confusion of seeing Sunset in an absolutely un-Christian amount of clothing. "So, you gonna stand in the doorway all evening, or you coming in to join me for a quick bite? I have to make myself a quick meal either way."

Trixie nodded. "Uhm, yeah. Trixie wouldn't mind joining you. She was just... surprised." Sunset shrugged and turned her back as she popped the cap on her drink. Taking a sip, she opened a cabinet, looking over her options. "I've got the stuff for mac and cheese or some fresh salad, what do you want?" There wasn't an answer as she shifted around the groceries she had. She took note that she would have to pick up some more groceries tonight. She opened her spice cabinet, finding it mostly empty. She groaned. "Either way it's gonna be bland, just realized all my spices are out."

There still wasn't an answer, and Sunset turned to see Trixie staring at her couch. On it was a red stain, a leftover from one of her earliest patrols. One before she knew someone to treat injuries. She had been forced to stitch herself up with a sewing kit she bought to fix clothes and fishing line she stole from a neighbor. While she had managed to drink her potion later, the stain was still there. Trixie pointed at it with a trembling hand. "I-is that blood?"

Sunset winced. She should have put a cover on the couch, or at least a strategic pair of pants or something. "Y-yeah. Had a really bad run when I first started. Took a real sharp piece of metal to my thigh, had to patch myself up on that couch."

She ran a finger over the thin line that went round the outside of her thigh in a smooth crescent. She didn't mention the metal was a knife, slung by some poor Diamond Dog before she managed to kick his lights out and limp home. Trixie glanced to her, before looking at the scar with alarm. Sunset suddenly realized she really should have put on more clothes. Although most of her scars were small and easily missed if Trixie really started looking... Trixie spoke up, breaking Sunset from her thoughts. "Mon Dieu, that looks awful..."

Sunset flinched, as Trixie wasn't wrong. Sunset had many 'trophies' from her late night hobbies. Thin scars danced up her legs, and her midriff bore a few more, but the worst by far was a jagged gash near her stomach. One that had required an actual nurse that she was lucky enough to know. She tried to hide that one behind her hands. "Yeah, running isn't exactly safe. I've missed a couple days of school before because I was laid out in bed."

Trixie stared, before rushing forward and moving Sunsets hand from her stomach. "AND HOW IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT’S HOLY DID YOU GET THAT?!"

Sunset flinched again, deciding that court training did not prepare her for this. But a semi-truth would probably work. "A knife. I lived kinda rough when I first got here." Sunset slowly pushed Trixie back. "Look, it's fine. I don't like people knowing about all this. Sooo...?"

Trixie nodded. "Fine, Trixie will keep this quiet." Trixie moved in a flash, a finger waving in front of Sunset's face. "But next time you get hurt you better call Trixie! She can at least cover at you for school or something."

Sunset smiled and raised her hands. "Fine, just don't go spreading it around." She looked back at her cabinet, before smiling. "But seriously, salad or pasta, I haven't eaten since that bag of chips we stole from your Gramps."

Trixie rolled her eyes, looking over the room with a new set of eyes. They rested on the foil, false top still planted on it firmly. "Whichever you prefer. You fence?"

Sunset turned her back to Trixie, before pausing. She realized there were two VERY big things that she didn't want Trixie to see. She turned around again and tried to keep her front to Trixie as she backed up to her room. "Yeah, been doing it since I first found my calling." She reached behind her, turning the door to her room with a soft sigh of relief. "One sec, let me shower and get some clothes on. Make yourself at home."

Sunset practically dived into her room, searching her closet for an outfit. Grabbing a simple T-shirt and jeans she ran into her bathroom. Showering quickly, she threw on her clothes and moved back to the open room, where Trixie was looking in Sunset's fridge. "Uhm, Trixie doesn't mean to be a burden, but what are these drinks?" She held up a sports bottle, with glowing red liquid inside it. A small sharpie picture of a cross on it.

Sunset walked up and glanced at it, looking it over before shaking her head. "Some science experiments, that one won't be ready for a day or two." Sunset put it back inside. "I'd suggest avoiding anything with a sharpie on it, they're all tests and experiments."

Trixie stared at the fridge, then to the foil. "Sunset, just what exactly did you do back home?"

Sunset shrugged and decided that a salad was her style, and began assembling the ingredients. "Well that depends, you know where I'm from right?"

Trixie nodded. "Yes, Trixie remembers the princess mentioning you were from the same place as her."

Sunset nodded, moving an open bowl to the counter and putting all the fresh fruits she had beside her cutting board. "Yep, and I was a student of the highest power in the land." She began chopping the fruits with a knife, the chops both quick and precise. "I focused my studies on court politics and monster hunting. I was shooting to be a magus," She paused, realizing Trixie would have absolutely no idea what that meant. "Which is basically a bounty hunter that works directly for the crown. But with all that I needed to know a lot of things. Fencing was my form of close combat, with the foil acting as my focus." She gestured to the fridge with her knife, before flipping it quickly in her hands and dropping it into the sink. "And a short while after that I got into alchemy, I'm currently trying to figure out how to translate that for this world."

Trixie looked at Sunset for a moment, before laughing. "You were a monster hunter, and now you spend your time either playing mad scientist or wandering around pissing off the cops?" She doubled over laughing, causing Sunset to frown as she tossed all the fruit into her big bowl, gabbing at the salad tossers in the small jar beside her.

"Oh, shut it, Trix, I'm the one feeding you, so I'd be nice if I were you." Trixie didn't even try to stop laughing, still bent over in near hysterics as Sunset grabbed a plate from the shelf above the sink and used a tosser to make her plate.

After a moment Trixie finally regained herself. "Trixie apologizes, but she has seen you in two ways, and neither seems to perfectly fit the idea of Sunset Shimmer, bounty hunter."

Sunset grabbed a fork and placed it on her plate with a clink, she gestured towards the plate as she sat down heavily on her couch. "Well, if you believe me or not isn't my problem. But it's what I did. Chimeras, Manticores, Hydras were my normal contracts." She paused, realizing she left her energy drink in her room. With a groan, she stood up as she continued talking. "And there were a few bigger contracts, but with those my mom normally made me wait until she could sneak away from work for a few hours. She was important enough to make it so I couldn't try to track down Jabberwocky’s and the like alone."

She moved from her bedroom to find Trixie sitting in her reading chair with a plate, an unopened soda beside her. Sunset was mildly annoyed she didn't ask, but she also didn't offer it like she meant to. Mutual rudeness was a hallmark of friends, right? She sat back down and laid her drink on the end table. Trixie raised an eyebrow in response to her earlier comment. "Jabberwocky’s?"

Sunset shrugged. "Yeah, you wouldn't believe my night after I read Lewis Carroll for the first time." She speared an apple slice, smiling softly at the memory. "If you're curious he's surprisingly right on most counts. You need a blade forged from vorpal steel, which does make a snicker-snack noise when you swing it."

Trixie giggled, pointing her fruit to Sunset in an accusing manner. "You are messing with Trixie."

Sunset bit into her meal, her lips tugging up at their easy conversation. "No, seriously. Can't even use fire or the like on 'em. They absorb it like some weird solar panel."

Trixie opened her mouth. "Seriously? What Trixie wouldn't give to see your world." She paused, taking a thoughtful bite of her salad. "And the magic? Can you do it here?"

Sunset smiled. She knew on some base level showing off her spells was stupid. She knew that if Trixie ever saw her in full gear she was almost certainly smart enough to quite possibly piece everything together. But, she also knew the odds of that were slim to none. She smiled wide, before snapping her fingers, a small globe of light in the form of candlelight appearing in her hand. It was a small spell, so small it let her regain some energy even while actively using it. But the look of wonder on Trixie’s face made it all worth it. "What do you think Trix? I may be crippled in terms of spells here, but I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve." She pushed the small light, sending it through the air to Trixie.

Trixie's fork fell to the plate as she watched in wonder. The small orb reached her, and she outstretched a hand. The light rested in her palm before Sunset sent a small effort of will towards it. The light warped, making Trixie flinch away as it began forming a small glowing sentence. There, in the air was a simple sentence. 'Hello world!'. With a swipe of her hand, Sunset canceled the spell. Trixie began looking between the air where the letters rested just moments before and Sunset’s smirking face as she chewed another bite of salad. Trixie's smile morphed into a full jesters grin. "How long?"

Sunset leaned back. "As soon as I got here. Took about a year before I could work even a simple spell. Then another year before I was good enough to use them without making myself bedridden from exhaustion. Now, as long as I keep track of myself I can sling simple spells like a master. Again."

Trixie was visibly restraining herself as she moved her plate to a small table beside her. Sunset silently thanked her for not resting it on the dog-eared book on the corner. As soon as the plate was resting easily Trixie flew across the room. "Take me, take me, take me! I need to see this magic world, please?!"

Sunset winced.

“Any power you may have held here or in Equestria is void. You will remain here, and learn from your mistakes.”

Sunset shook her head, trying to ignore the words of the princess who had effectively banished her from Equestria. After already being betrayed by one, the second one still stung a surprising amount. "Sorry Trix, I'm not really allowed back in Equestria right now. I mean me and Twi are friends and all, but I think I have to wait for her to invite me over if I want to head back."

Trixie winced. "So you really can't go home? At all? Ouch." She paused awkwardly for a moment before looking back to Sunset. "Er, Trixie is sorry. That wasn't a very... uh... polite way to deal with that."

Sunset couldn't smile at the awkward way Trixie apologized. She knew she could probably try and get to her mother, maybe get her to allow her back. But she wasn't about to try and cross that bridge, she wasn’t ready in any way. She might not have burned it like a few others she did before she left, but it was almost certainly singed, maybe a little scorched. And where her mother was concerned, even an ember could start a wildfire. "It's fine. If I get to visit again I'll gladly take you. I just." Sunset had to pause, she could feel the maelstrom of emotions from thinking about going back to her mother swirling in her chest. She beat them down, silencing the whispers of regret and betrayal that haunted every thought. "I just have to cope, and I'm good at that."

She finished off the last of her salad and stood up, making her way to the kitchen nook. "Anyways I've gotta suit up for the ride to the hospital for set-up. What's the deal with that anyway?"

Trixie nodded, moving back to her plate. "It's something one of the charities came up with. A free performance for the kids too sick to go home for the holidays. Something to make their holidays a little better."

Sunset nodded. "Cool, I can dig that." She moved to a coat rack beside the door, grabbing her leather jacket and putting it on. "So it's only about a ten-minute drive, and it's only about three. How are we gonna kill fifty minutes?"

She grabbed her black bag and moved to the fridge, grabbing her go-to mix of potions for going out and about. She had a grab bag of important gear in her bag, but it had to be small. She didn't want a curious police officer asking about why she had a full mask in her bag after all, so a bandanna and hat was her only disguise, and a good-sized knife her only weapon. She filled her bag as Trixie finished her meal. Sunset heard Trixie get up and put her plate up. "Well, Trixie was wondering if you wanted to give her a ride." Sunset paused, looking behind her as Trixie shuffled back and forth. Before she could ask about it, Trixie spoke up again. "Trixie's never ridden a motorcycle, and she's... curious."

Sunset sighed. "Yeah, I have a spare helmet that should fit you. I had it in case..." Sunset paused. She had bought it in case any of the girls wanted to ride with her. It still stung that none of them had asked. They never seemed to ask about anything Sunset did. She pushed the thought out of her head. "I have a spare helmet. Head to my room. It's in the chest at the foot of my bed." As Trixie walked off Sunset called after her. "But don't go foraging in my stuff. I have some sensitive stuff stashed in there."

Sunset frowned as she finished filling her bag. She thought this might be a bad idea. Trixie could be faking her friendship, and intellectually she knew getting a new friend so fast was only a quick path to heartbreak, but living life alone for three years was already a hefty price. She couldn't handle being alone again. Her friends turning her back on her was already a big hit to her already fragile social life, and another full cutoff might lead her to a relapse. She shook her head. Never again. No more cutting ties by day, and patrolling the city by night. She could juggle it. She was Sunset freaking Shimmer, and she could, and would, do it all. She heard a voice call from her bedroom. "Hey Sunset, is this book supposed to be glowing?"

Sunset smacked her face. She could do introspection after the concert. First things first, Twilight needed something. She dropped her bag into her bikes saddlebags and began moving to her bedroom. "Yeah, forgot to do something earlier. Be there in a sec."

Author's Note

Hullo, nothing of note to share besides the fact Dead By daylight is a great game and is horribly distracting.

Edited by Kitkataddel and posted 1/22/19

Side-chapter 1: Investigation

Fluttershy looked at Mystable as she walked from her home. Anon-a-miss had posted again, some failed trick of Trixie’s causing a few light bulbs to pop. She flinched at the small explosions as the string of lights blew and Trixie fell off her stage. Fluttershy paused as she looked at the post. She was a wallflower, and rarely anything else. And while sometimes her friends made fun of her for it, she did get to fade into the background if she was minding her own business. So she was privy to a few things most people weren't. Like the fact that Sunset bought some things from Trixie every week, as an example.

Fluttershy had never thought much of it. Sunset, despite her athletic hobbies, was still a student at heart, she just loved the practical application. She could remember Sunset's help in chemistry - whenever she looked over Sunset's notes it was filled with small sidenotes. Mentioning alternate uses for everything they covered. So the fact she might get supplies from someone who was well known for being able to get common stage tools wasn't all that strange. But she also remembered when Sunset was a bully, as for all the things that Sunset threw at her, there was always some lesson Sunset would toss in afterward.

Granted, it was normally suggestions that Fluttershy couldn't act on. Getting mad, throwing punches, all things the shy girl could never see herself doing. But she vividly remembered the only time Sunset used one of Fluttershy's actions against her. She had been cornered on her way from the lunchroom, Sunset leaning against a pair of lockers in the hallway, with her usual cruel smirk on her face. "Heya Fluttercry. I gotta say, you've impressed me." Fluttershy flinched at that, anything she could have done to impress Sunset Shimmer was obviously bad. She looked in horror as Sunset pulled out a small pack of photos. She passed one to Fluttershy, who was nearly trembling as she picked it up. There, in full HD, was her, looking fearfully around as she used a computer at the animal shelter, one with her former boss’s name clearly labeled on the desk.

Sunset whistled as she passed the next one of Fluttershy passing a small thumb drive to an officer as her former boss was escorted from the shelter in cuffs. "Honestly Fluttercry, this has shown me you do have a spine somewhere in that mass of jelly you call a back." Sunset put the remaining pictures back in her pocket, leaning back on the lockers fully. "It was pretty good work for an amateur. Got the boss to think you had no clue what was going on before getting all that extortion info off her own computer. Not a bad sting there."

Fluttershy managed to rally all her courage. It wasn't much, but it was there. "W-What do you want?"

Sunset laughed, causing Fluttershy to flinch. Sunset waved her hand as if dismissing the pink-haired girl. "Nothing, just telling you I know." Sunset paused for a moment before snapping her fingers. "Actually, a bit of advice for if you want to try this again. Don't go eating the hay you sleep in. If you need to do something against someone giving you something, use a patsy. After all, it means sometimes you can get what you want even while they're ranting at you about whoever stuck the knife in their back." Sunset moved from the lockers, waving a hand behind her. "Just some food for thought, don't try it against me. I'd hate to have to mess up two people because one person got brave."

Fluttershy kept thinking about that. Sunset was normally so smart, even about subjects where she should be behind everybody by literal worlds she did well. History was literally completely foreign to her, and yet she still worked hard enough to get high grades. And if she needed something from Trixie she wouldn't bad-talk her in such a public setting. Even back when she was a full on bitch, Trixie was someone she only messed with if Trixie began acting out of line. It just didn't fit.

Fluttershy sighed and began looking through older posts, trying to find some thread that would answer why Sunset was doing this. She paused over a picture of Gilda helping fix some old mans car. For most students that would be a good thing, but Glida thrived with her bad-girl persona. Her good samaritan act was currently a running joke around the school. Fluttershy's eyes widened as it clicked. Sunset had mentioned in passing during one of the girls barely disguised interrogations. Gilda was firmly on her do-not-mess-with list. Gilda could get Sunset in trouble with all sorts of people she preferred to avoid. Fluttershy stared at the picture of Gilda with wide eyes. Her voice was barely a whisper. "It's not Sunset."

Fluttershy glanced at the time. She had planned on going for a long walk before meeting up with the rest of the Rainbooms at Sugarcube corner, but she had time for a detour. She began to jog down the street, getting to the nearest bus stop as she sent out a quick text message. Getting confirmation that her target was at home she checked the schedule. The next bus to the neighborhood she had in mind was in five minutes. She had a few hours before meeting up with the girls, so she could sit and wait.

The bus ride was fairly quick, and Fluttershy had spent the whole ride on Mystable. The more she looked at it the more sense it made. Sunset would never post things about such a random selection of people, it should’ve been more focused if she wanted anything but trouble. Some had multiple posts about them, while a few only had one or two. And as far as Fluttershy could tell, some of the people that had dirt spilled on them had barely interacted with Sunset. Some were even people Sunset liked, which was a rare thing indeed. Like Twist. Sunset could gush about Twist's progress in math after a tutoring session for hours, and consequently, she would never say anything to make Twist feel bad.

The bus reached a stop, and Fluttershy calmly exited, moving down the street with purpose. She reached a blue house she was familiar with and rang the doorbell. After a moment a blue-haired young man opened the door, and he nodded to her, speaking in a curt, yet polite tone of voice. "Flutters, what do you need?"

She paused, the sight of the goofy Flash Sentry looking at her without his normal grin making her realize just how strained the school really was. "I-I had a question, can you spare a minute?"

Flash nodded, and Fluttershy winced as he stepped out of the house. She had been in his house before. Back when she had been helping the cops with the animal shelter she would talk with his mom in their comfy living room. She could remember Flash smiling and encouraging her. In hindsight, it was obvious Sunset had figured out her actions through Flash. Of course, it was equally obvious that Flash was mad at Fluttershy since he didn't invite her in, despite the chilled air. "Uhm, do you think Sunset is Anon-A-Miss?"

This was it. Flash was the only student to really know how Sunset worked. He would tell people if they asked about it, but was adamant she had changed. Saying it was obvious if you knew her, so if this was actually Sunset, then he would know for sure. He let out a short breath before rolling his eyes. "Fluttershy. Only an idiot would think this was Sunset's work." Fluttershy flinched at the fact he insulted her to her face. Flash was many things, but to get him to actually talk bad about someone meant there wasn't just a fire under his ass. A fully fledged gate to Hell had appeared somewhere in the approximate area of his colon.

Flash leaned back into the wall, fishing around in his pocket. After a moment he pulled out a pack of cigarettes. After fumbling with a lighter he started smoking. "Sunset does her work well. If it was her work even I wouldn't be one-hundred percent sure. She likes to leave fingerprints. Never more than that, just enough that someone can think it's her, but never enough for anyone to be sure. Not enough to be, convicted, I suppose is the right word."

He tapped his pocket before taking a long drag. "And that profile isn't a fingerprint. It's a full-on neon sign. Plus all the intel is wrong. Sunset uses stuff that could get people in trouble. And even then she tried not to broadcast when people were doing the wrong things for the right reasons." Flash looked at Fluttershy for a solid thirty seconds, staring the wallflower down until she wilted. "Like you know. Sunset was in tears after she showed you those pictures a year ago. She wanted to make sure you knew to be wary if you tried doing things her way. She respected you."

Fluttershy blinked. "She... respected me?"

Flash nodded, taking another long drag. "Sunset's really bad with her emotions. She can bottle them all up, or let them all out. I mean, the whole school knows she has a temper, but she'll have some nights where she can't stop crying, or that she goes for a walk and doesn't show back up until school the next morning without any sleep. And whenever I asked about it she'd just say she went for a walk."

Flash finished off his smoke. Three hits. Fluttershy didn't pretend to know how smoking worked, but that seemed like far too short a time for a single smoke. Flash didn't even pause as he fished out another one. He grimaced as he pulled it out. "Sorry, it's a bad habit, but I need to be calm if I'm talking about this." Fluttershy didn't talk as he lit up another one, this time taking a much shorter hit. "Either way she always respected how open you were with your emotions. Even if you don't say what you were thinking, you wear it on your face. Sunset can't really do that, and you do it naturally, getting people to open up just by being yourself."

Fluttershy nodded, moving her gaze to the street. "So you don't think it's her either then?"

She heard his hair ruffle as Flash shook his head. "No way. I would talk to her about it, but she's avoiding me like the black plague."

Fluttershy snapped back to Flash. While she didn't participate in the local gossip mill, Rarity did. Frequent trips to a local spa had ensured Fluttershy stayed up to date. What Flash had just said was the opposite of what the school thought, and her questioning look was all Flash needed. "Yeah, I know. But honestly, after the Battle of the Bands, I wanted to talk to her. Our break up wasn't exactly easy. We both messed up a lot, and Sunset's been through the wringer. I'm not sure how much you know about her, but she was apparently an orphan. Lived with an aunt and uncle who only cared about their kid until something happened. Then the person she calls mom showed up. She was really cagey about it, but I got a few details. Details that aren't my place to share, mind you. Just know it’s bad."

Flash took another quick hit on his smoke, looking at it with a frown. "Either way she learned how to manipulate people there, and with her upbringing, even with a mother figure she idolizes she got the wrong idea about people. She saw every relationship as a series of debt and debtor. You either owed someone, or they owed you. I don't know why, but it's part of why she was so ruthless. I was just starting to see how good she could be when we broke up, which was probably about as much my fault as Sunset's."

Fluttershy looked at Flash in confusion. She didn't know any of this, and she couldn't understand it. She had talked to Sunset about family before, but it was never really explained, or mentioned if she thought about it. Flash saw Fluttershy's look and smirked, his first show of emotion to Fluttershy during his talk. "She never told you huh? Yeah, unless you ask specifically she tends not to talk about it." He shrugged, blowing a small smoke ring before poking it with a finger. "She doesn't mind so much if she needs to talk. Then there's the fact that she talks in her sleep. That gave me a few facts that only made sense once I found out she was from a whole universe away. But the point is Sunset only shares like what she thinks she should. And this whole Anon-A-Miss thing is so obviously a frame job, that’s it’s gotten to the point where I'm only showing up at school to try and talk to her."

Fluttershy paused. Thinking back she couldn't remember a time any of the girls asked Sunset about her life before Canterlot High. A thought crashed into her head, and she gasped slightly. "Flash, where does Sunset live?"

Flash grimaced. "You never asked her?" He looked at Fluttershy with a raised eyebrow, and his expression darkened when she shook her head. He took a long drag from his smoke, expelling it through his nose. "Great, don't ask the interdimensional refugee whether she has a roof over her head or not." He shook his head. "She has an apartment where the landlord doesn't ask questions. But its rough. She has a fair few scars from her time before I met her, and she gained a few while we were dating. But she's not likely to freeze or starve." He paused, looking towards the factories in the distance. "At least I hope not. I still have no clue how she makes money."

Fluttershy winced but had a final question. One that might shed some more light on just how little she knew about Sunset. "You never really said why Sunset was avoiding you."

Flash furrowed his brow, causing the skin above his nose to crinkle. "Yeah." He finished off his cigarette, tossing the butts of both into the flowerpot beside him. "Sunset can't deal with stuff when it goes totally against her plan. She was prepared for me breaking up with her. She wasn't prepared for it to be a text while she was getting ready for a date. It was a dick move, I know. I didn't really have a good reason, just got tired of the looks that people gave me whenever we walked together. I don't know for sure, but I think that she thinks she messed up. Big time. And after that, I couldn't get ahold of her. My calls and texts wouldn't get delivered, and she would disappear whenever I approached her." Flash reached behind him, opening the door. "Look, I hope you got what you needed, but me and the guys are playing at that charity thing tonight, so I gotta get ready."

Fluttershy nodded. "Okay, we are too so I should probably go too..." As Flash turned Fluttershy reached out, grabbing Flash's sleeve. He paused, looking at her while she looked in his eyes. He noticed how wet her eyes seemed. "Flash... do you think Sunset can ever forgive us if the rest of the girls figure out it's not her?" Flash looked to Fluttershy for a moment, chewing his lip. Eventually, he simply shrugged. And with that he pulled away, closing the door behind him.

Author's Note

Edited by Kitkataddel posted 1/22/19

Chapter Two: Magic!

Sunset was leaning against her motorcycle, staring at the journal as it glowed in her hands. She knew she should have responded days ago, probably before she went for her run as Flanksy. But what would Twilight say? More bullshit advice about finding her family, or maybe an 'I'll be there in spirit' speech? Something useless that wouldn't help anything. Sunset didn't blame her, she was a princess, and there was definitely work to be done in Equestria that was much more important than a pen-pal going through a fight with her friends. Friends that that princess had put in charge of her no less. But... she needed Twilight to help with her research. Sunset groaned, opening the book and looking over the messages.

Sunset, did it work? I hope so, either way, I'm going to keep the journal on me until you respond, so write me when you get the chance.

Sunset it's Twilight, are you okay? It's been a full day so I know you could have read my message. You're okay, right? Please tell me the girls figured it out and you just went to a slumber party or something. I really hope you did. If I don't get something by tomorrow I'm heading over. Heck, if you respond I might. I'm getting worried.

Sunset, I'm heading over tonight at nine. Even responding won't stop me so try to send someone to grab me. We obviously need to talk, and I'm really hoping we'll get the chance. I'm closing the castle for the day, so respond as soon as you read this. Please?

Sunset sighed. Of course Twilight would worry, it was who she was, and now she was stopping whatever duties she had to come to check on her. Perfect. Sunset reached into one of her pockets, pulling out a pen. She tapped the journal a few times before finally setting the tip against the paper.

Dear Princess Sparkle,

No, it didn't work. Sorry about the delay, I just threw myself into my work when they decided to cut ties. I do have a few requests if you're coming over no matter what though. Can you grab me a more advanced alchemy book, my old bank account in Canterlot should have the bits, and I think I already gave you the info. That and my normal pack of alchemy equipment. A golden mortar and pestle costs so much here it's not even funny.

Sunset stared at the journal for a moment before words began forming over the page.

Be at the portal at nine. We're going to talk.

Sunset blew out a quick burst of air before snapping the journal shut. She turned to Trixie, who had been marveling at Sunset's bike the whole while. "You know, Trixie has never seen your bike at school."

Sunset shrugged and tossed her helmet over her head. "No reason to invite people to mess with my stuff. Plus it kept people from finding out where I live." Sunset tossed the journal in her saddlebags, before straddling her bike. "I don't like people I don't trust knowing where my house is. Now get on, we've got places to be, right?"

Trixie paused. "Well, we still have some time, where are we going?"

Sunset smiled, placing the key in the ignition. Giving it a solid turn the bike roared to life, the small, Neighponese engine letting forth a banshee's shriek. Sunset's grin turned feral. "You wanted a ride? I can give you a ride to curl your toes, hop on." She felt Trixie get on behind her, and the bike shifted as Trixie grabbed the sissy bar behind her. Sunset grunted. "You'll want to hold on to me Trix, you might get sucked off the bike if you sit up straight."

As soon as Trixie leaned forward and tentatively wrapped her arms around Sunset's body the bike surged forward. Some people listened to music while they rode, and those people also had a tendency to follow traffic laws. Sunset did neither, gunning it out of the parking lot as fast as she could. With a small yelp, Trixie leaned into Sunset as the tires on the bike screamed across the pavement.

A thirty-minute ride for Sunset meant she had time to take the long way to the hospital. Which was basically driving to the town outskirts, where cops were a lot less frequent. It also meant curving roads with which to lean and speed to her heart's content. After fifteen minutes Trixie calmed down enough to stop her attempted murder of Sunset by strangulation and was instead enjoying the ride, as adrenaline pumping as it was. They didn't talk, instead, Sunset enjoyed her speed and movement, letting her own form of therapy do its work.

At four Sunset pulled into the hospital parking lot, killing the bike with a small grin on her face. Trixie took a moment to get off, shaky legs slowly calming down as she took a few steps side to side. Sunset took off her helmet, flicking her hair free as she moved to her saddlebags. "So Trix, you enjoy the ride?"

Trixie took off her own helmet, shaking her head back and forth like a dog. Her face was wary, fitting with the fact she had never been on the same bike as a daredevil. "Trixie will get back to you on that." She held her helmet out to Sunset. "Though Trixie will admit, it was fun. Just a bit more intense than she was expecting."

Sunset laughed, pulling out her bag and throwing it over shoulders while stowing the helmets. Locking the bike, she turned to Trixie with a neutral smirk. "Fair enough, I'll take it easy after the show, no need for the theatrics if it makes you too uncomfortable." Sunset turned to face the hospital. "Well, lead the way Trix, we got work to do, right?"

***

Setting up Trixie's illusions didn't take the full hour. In fact, it only really took about thirty minutes, and while getting done early was all well and good for the show, it meant Sunset was bored. Trixie was now in the back, getting the schedule right and working out the details of tonight, leaving Sunset alone to sit in the corner. She watched as acts began to funnel through the door, carrying equipment needed for their sets. She saw Vinyl walk by with a laptop under the crook of her arm, head bouncing to a beat her headphones were probably deafening her with.

She watched with interest as Vinyl walked up to the stage and sat in a simple chair, waiting for someone to notice her. Sunset enjoyed looking at the calm mute girl, it was always a pleasure to see how she worked with her disability. Maybe having her magic crippled left her with a sense of kinship, one broken girl to another. All Sunset knew for sure was she made sure Vinyl never suffered under her rule. Although Octavia did, even if she wasn’t too harsh on her, compared to everyone else. Sunset flinched at the memory, reminding herself that it still happened, and returned to looking at the door.

The next person to go through the door was someone who made Sunset try to hide in her seat. Flash Sentry and his band were all coming in, instantly making Sunset consider reaching into her bag. While she didn't have a full invisibility potion with her, she did have a background potion shoved in the main pocket. She managed to stay her hand however, and instead tried to look as nonchalant as possible. That was lesson two in politics; if you look like you belong, ponies never questioned the who or the why. Sunset winced, correcting herself that people never questioned the who or the why. Seven years and she still fell into bad habits.

Regardless of her vocabulary, she was proven correct, as no one looked twice at the girl sitting calmly in the back of the room. Sunset took a small measure of satisfaction from that. She watched as Flash looked at the speakers and nodded, gesturing to his bandmates before talking to them. She could tell from his body language he was fine-tuning the set they would use as she had seen him do it before, with her own guitar practice with him coming to mind. As soon as she thought that she buried it, reassuring herself that her past wasn't today, for better or worse.

She turned her attention back to the door. The safe, non-memory inducing door. And then a flash of Rainbow colored hair completely ruined any illusion of the door's safety. Sunset didn't even take the time to confirm who the hair belonged to, diving into her bag and pulling out her background potion. She popped the top off and slammed it down, trying her best to look normal while still chugging the drink like a frat boy.

She felt the spell snap into place around her, burning through her reserves at the exact same amount they naturally refilled. She enjoyed the feeling of utter anonymity for a moment before relaxing. Unless one of them started to look specifically for her she was safe, and she could take comfort in that at the least. She grabbed her phone and shot a message to Trixie, telling her not to mention that she was here to anyone, before settling back in her chair. She looked at the door and flinched. It was all of the Rainbooms, not just one of them. She saw Rainbow Dash wearing a tired grin, scanning the crowd, causing sweat to bead on Sunset's forehead, but after a moment Rainbow was distracted by something going on outside and ran through the door.

Sunset let out a breath she didn't realize was held and looked as Trixie began to scan the crowd. It took her a few passes before she noticed Sunset, who shot her a cocky grin that was only slightly weakened by her strained expression. Trixie nodded and smiled, before walking over to the stage's edge and messing about with her large show-bag. Sunset took the remaining free time to get some work done, pulling out a well-used burner phone and thumbing the contacts open. After a few key taps she opened her texting app, sending a few messages as she tapped into her information network. She smiled at the names on the list, some were people she considered something close to friends. Soarin who ran with her, and Thorax who helped her get an ID. Some were less well-defined, such as Discord, who despite being the school's janitor, was incredibly smart. He figured out she was doing something illegal and assumed she was helping Andromalius. Luckily, the seemingly insane janitor thought that the notion of the demon queen of Canterlot High helping the demon vigilante was hilarious, and used his unassuming job to feed her info with surprising regularity.

She glanced at the little tidbits she had gotten. The Changelings were apparently still open, but now requiring several more verifications before the location of a business was revealed to a customer. The shattered remnants of the Diamond Dog gang had just had yet another power struggle, meaning they were still a non-issue. Again, Sunset noted. All the other crumbs were basically useless, but she still saved them, since you never knew when a single bit of info was the difference between a successful ambush and limping up a fire-escape to get patched up by a grumpy nurse. She paused when she thought that. The nurse had been an exceptionally good ally, and it was Christmas. She pulled out her current main phone and made a note to look into what to get her for the holidays.

When she finished all that, she saw the stage lights turn on, as a veritable horde of children began to funnel in. Sunset blinked, unaware of how much time had passed, but noticing the curtains were drawn and all the acts hidden away somewhere out of sight. Sunset leaned back and checked the spell that was keeping her invisible to anyone not in the know. Sure enough, it was still burning in her gut. If it was still there after a few hours it might cause some problems, but for the moment it was fine. She watched the curtain open to an empty stage, causing there to be a few hushed whispers before a small flash of light forced everyone to look away. As soon as Sunset was able to look back at the stage, Trixie was there. Seated on a chair that hadn't been there before, her flashy outfit reflecting the lights like the night sky. "Greetings to the wondrous children who have decided to be graced by the presence of the Great and Powerful Trixie. I hope none of you minded her entrance. Trixie was having a wonderful tea in England, and simply lost track of time.” As she spoke her hand seemed to shimmer in place before a teacup appeared on in her grip to a few gasps.

Trixie calmly took it and had a sip, letting out a content sigh. "But now that Trixie is here she believes it is time to begin her fabulous show." Trixie stood, reaching into her cloak and pulling out a small red ball. "Now then, for most of Trixie's tricks she requires an assistant. So is there someone here brave enough to join Trixie on stage?"

Sunset smiled as children raised their hands, and Trixie scanned the crowd before she frowned, though it was clear to Sunset that she was also fighting down a smile. "No, this won't do. Trixie could never select one of you over another." She raised a hand to her chin, thinking, before smiling. "Ah, Trixie knows how to fix this. She'll let the magic decide." She reached her left hand into her cloak and pulled out a large purple cloth. She flicked her wrist twice, each time making the cloth ruffle in the air. Then she gave a confident smirk, and with the third flick of her wrist the cloth jumped from her hands and seemed to sail through the air into the crowd, before dropping squarely on a small girl in the crowd. Trixie bowed at the gasps, before gesturing to the girl. "Well then, magic spoke. Trixie requests you join her on stage child."

The little girl walked forward, moving with an obvious limp, while Trixie smiled warmly as the girl made her way up. "Welcome to Trixie's favorite place in the world. The stage." She threw her hands in the air, causing glitter to fly from her cape. Trixie leaned down, looking the girl in the eyes. "So little one, Trixie can't have a nameless assistant, what's your name?"

The little girl stared at the airborne glitter for a moment, before shaking off the glamor. "I'm Milk and Honey."

Trixie frowned. "Nope, That is not a suitable stage name. Never fear, however, Trixie can fix this easily." Trixie flicked her hand, and a small cue card seemed to materialize in her grip. "Read this."

Honey looked at the card before a smile plastered itself on her face. "I am the magnificent and humble Honey!"

Trixie nodded. "Excellent. Now Trixie can truly start the show." She grabbed the ball in her hand and bounced it on the floor. She caught it, and when she showed her hand to the crowd it held two balls. "Now Trixie can get the simple tricks out of the way first." She grabbed the second ball with her other hand, before passing it to Honey. "Now, Trixie's magnificent assistant will hold this ball tightly in her hand." Honey did so, closing her small hand around the ball. Trixie bounced the ball she held a few times, before throwing it as hard as she could to the ground. It never hit, seeming to disappear as it would have hit the ground.

Trixie smiled, before looking to Honey. "Now then, open your hand Honey." Honey did so, and two balls fell from her open palm, prompting Trixie gave a half-bow. "And thus, Trixie and her assistant do the impossible. But do not worry. Trixie would never leave you with such a simple trick. She has one more before letting the others take the stage." She moved to the back of the stage and reached one hand behind the curtain. With a single pull a small cage with black plastic wrap placed beside it came out. "Trixie will enter this cage, and Honey will wrap it fully in the plastic. Then, she will stomp her foot twice."

Trixie moved simply, getting into the cage, which only allowed her to sit. As soon as she shut the door Honey grabbed the wrap. As Honey covered the cage in plastic, Trixie simply smirked. With the cage fully covered, Honey stepped back and stomped twice, and as soon as her foot hit the ground a spark shot from the cage, before the plastic became engulfed in fire. Everyone stared with bated breath as the plastic melted, before gasps flew from the crowd as the cage was revealed to be empty. Suddenly Trixie's voice called out from the crowd. "TRULY, TRIXIE IS THE WORLD’S GREATEST MAGICIAN!" The crowd shifted as Trixie walked up to stage, and gave a final bow. The audience began to applaud, but Trixie held out a hand. "Now now, Trixie can't take all the credit. Honey?"

Honey walked up, as Trixie whispered something in her ear. After a moment they both took a large bow, and the crowd clapped in earnest. Sunset looked on, and never even realized the smile on her face.

Author's Note

Edited by Kitkataddel posted 1/26/19

Chapter 3: Stone And Burners

As the next act began to take stage Sunset stood up. She didn't want to risk the Rainboom's seeing her, and decided to take the easy way out. This was a children's hospital, so it would be easy enough to bug out and shoot Trixie a text saying to drop a line when she was done. Sunset walked to her bike pausing at a small note stuck to the hood. She grabbed it, unfolding it while she unlocked her bags.

Sunset,
I know you probably don't want to hear from me right now, but I think I've made a terrible mistake. After thinking about it for a while, I think you aren't Anon-A-Miss. I know I said some awful things a few days ago, but I want to apologize. I'm not gonna say something silly, like I'm still your friend. I'm pretty sure that's your choice. But I put my number at the bottom of this paper, if you want to text me, I'll meet you somewhere to talk.

Sunset looked at the number, before grunting. The number at the bottom was familiar. It was almost insulting that Fluttershy didn't bother to sign her name. Sunset glared at the note for a minute, before scoffing and shoving it into her pocket. She pulled out her helmet and straddled her bike, before drawing her phone. She thumbed in Fluttershy's number and sent a short message. Whether or not she listened to it didn't really matter, just that a hand was extended back. The bike growled as she began revving the engine. She pulled out of the parking lot and drove towards a nearby gas station.

Pulling up to an empty pump, Sunset parked her bike. The gas station was one of the nicer sort. An indoor cafe allowing one to relax if there was a lack of costumes. Luckily the gas prices at this one were known to be higher here, and was mostly dead. Sunset walked inside, ordering a drink and taking a seat by the window. She sipped at her drink waiting for time to run by.

After about half an hour of waiting, she got a text from Trixie. Apparently, her grandfather was going to pick up both her and her equipment, meaning Sunset was now free of obligation. She looked at this as a double-edged sword. On one hand, she could make her way back home and check on her experiments. On the other, it meant facing her evening rendezvous alone. She shrugged. moving out of her seat and tossing the half-full cup into the trash. She could deal with doing alchemy on her own.

***

Sunset looked over her basement lab. While she didn't have time to set up any of her more useful potions right now, she did have time to play with some ideas she got. She watched the multi-colored liquid of her latest test as it simmered on its bunsen burner. As she watched it a new idea formed in her head. Grabbing her journal she penned a quick message to Twilight. Hey Twi, another thing on my list. A vial of liquid Rainbow. I have a totally useless but potentially cool idea.

She didn't bother waiting for a response before topping off the magic needed for the potion, feeling her reserves drop back down to useless levels. But as the liquid stabilized into a calm blue color, Sunset grinned. She pulled the vial from its stand and shut off the burner. With deliberate care, she poured the potion into a plastic bottle. She winced at the time she used one of those bag bottles. The potion melted right through it. She refocused, pouring the last of the potion into its new home.

She paused, letting it settle before moving it again. The magical quality of alchemy meant that both heat and cold dispersed quickly, so after a simple count of five the bottle was slightly swollen, effectively making the bottle a sealed environment until she popped the top herself. She grabbed a sharpie before sketching a black T on the bottle, followed by a picture of an arrow passing through a stick person. Semi-incorporeal powers at the cost of a little magic, how quaint. She bobbed her head in quiet celebration before heading up the ladder to her home proper. She placed the bottle in the fridge and moved to the counter, where her experiment log sat. She wrote down the details, including when the chill would give the potion the desired effect, before closing the log and glancing at her phone. 8:15. She grimaced and looked to the door. THis was the moment. Either she would go to meet with Fluttershy, or throw it aside. She stood there for a moment, debating the merits of staying home before she groaned. "Damnit, she'd probably wait until nine anyways. I went and played myself." She grabbed her helmet and journal before heading to her bike. "Why does all this drama happen at the same time?"

The road to Canterlot high was clear with the start of break, and the school lot was mostly barren. The only exception as Sunset pulled up was the soft colored car sitting in the lot. Sunset sighed and parked near it, putting down the kickstand with altogether too much force. She kept her helmet on, moving to the statue without a moment of hesitation. She did speak under her breath as she did, another bad habit from long ago. "Rule three, never let them see you sweat. If you act like you know everything, pon-er people will talk much more freely, trying to seem smarter than they are."

She walked to the statue and saw Fluttershy standing beside it, shuffling from foot to foot. Sunset took a few deep breaths, and walked forward. "Fluttershy, design your notes. Playing mysterious puppeteer doesn't suit you. I thought I told you about that."

Fluttershy winced at that. "I... I know. I just wanted a chance to apologize, but I thought if my name was on it you would notice. And I guessed you changed numbers, so I was hoping you wouldn't instantly recognize my number."

Sunset rolled her eyes, but didn't make her displeasure known. "I was queen bitch for a reason, I recognized your number. Anyways now that you've figured it out then apology accepted or whatever. I'm in the middle of some work right now, but if I go crazy and start a revenge plot I will graciously allow you your freedom in my new world order."

Fluttershy had a weak smile, but it quickly fell. "A-are you sure?" Fluttershy flinched again. "I-I know I really messed up saying all those things, and I want to at least try to make it up to you."

Sunset shrugged. "Honestly I'm only here right now until I can go home. I'll serve my time for what I did wrong, but I've done the only thing I came here to do." Sunset paused. "But, you meant something to me, so maybe once I calm down I'll want to talk. Of course, I also have no idea how to do this whole friend thing."

Fluttershy flinched at that, which got a raised eyebrow from Sunset. After a moment made it clear she wouldn't actually ask about it Fluttershy spoke. "I'm sorry about that too. Twilight told us we weren't being great friends, but after a few months we should have at least told you the basics."

Sunset shrugged. "Doesn't matter much, I have a friend on speed dial now, so she's been filling me in when we aren't researching stuff together."

Fluttershy tilted her head. "Oh, I-I hope they're nice."

Sunset rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever. She's pissed at you guys though. So unless you want to get yelled at I'd suggest heading out." Sunset glanced at the statue seeing it shimmer once as the mirror activated. "Like now, she's just about here."

Fluttershy looked behind her and saw the statue. She paused. "U-um, how long until she gets here?"

Sunset raised an eyebrow, looking as if Fluttershy asked a truly stupid question. "When she walks through the portal. Duh. With Twilight, she could be early or late, she has Princess stuff to do after all."

Fluttershy looked back at the statue. "Oh. W-well, is it alright if I wait here?"

Sunset rolled her eyes. "Whatever, you do you, but once she hands me my stuff I'm going to try and leave before she convinces me to help 'fix' this whole mess."

Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. "Do you not want to fix it?"

Sunset shrugged. "Fix the fact that none of you trust me? After saving the school from the sirens I thought that would have fixed it, and inviting armageddon to prove myself again sounds really stupid. Buck it, I say they can figure it out if they need me." Sunset threw her hands into the air, turning to her bike. "Like, I was getting close to fully trust you. I wanted you guys to visit my shitty home, go on a bike trip with me, all that stupid friend shit that I missed out on for my entire freaking life."

She stared at her bike. "Before I met you guys I had two things I enjoyed. One was dangerous, painful, and got me more scars than happy memories. The other was dangerous, exhilarating, and involved precisely zero other people. I did my work, and never thought of what would happen to others." Technically all true, she never cared what happened to the people that went to prison by her midnight activities, even if she cared about the high schoolers she tortured. She paused, controlling her breathing. "Honestly, I don't know if it can be fixed. I hadn't trusted anything in such a long time. My whole life since I came here, I've trusted me, myself, and I. The first time I open myself up to people to trust them, they all turn on me the second they can. Even if I deserve some suspicion, I don't think everyone thinking I'm guilty without a single scrap of evidence is worth throwing me aside like baggage."

Sunset turned around, and found Fluttershy was no longer alone. Instead, Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Equestria stood beside her. Sunset winced at her own mistake. Stupid, getting caught up in her own wake again. She gave Twilight a sheepish grin. "Hello princess."

Author's Note

Edited by Kitkataddel posted 1/26/19

Side Chapter 2: The Storm Circles

The door to Flash Sentry's bedroom locked with a click as he shut it behind him, caring not for the resulting slam. She had been there. Sunset Shimmer had been at the charity concert, and he hadn't even noticed her. He cursed under his breath, tossing his guitar onto his bed, before swearing again. He wouldn't have even known she was there if he didn't glance at Trixie's phone after her performance, as it had had a text from Sunset saying she was leaving, or something of the sort, Flash didn't exactly have all the time in the world to read it since Trixie had responded almost immediately. He looked over his room, trying to find something to motivate him, or just distract his attention. He was on winter break now, and he couldn't just stew on not talking to Sunset for the whole break, especially not after that. He paused at his notebook of newspaper clippings, the latest additions reporting that Andromalius had busted a changeling hive, complete with the computers besides them that clearly marked them as both criminals, and profitable ones.

Flash paused before his eyes moved to his mantle, focusing on a pair of old revolvers sat that there, worn from use over almost a hundred years. Heirlooms from his own family's history, consisting of a line of police officers that originated in the wild west, where they started as marshals. Both those pistols had been used to bring justice to outlaws for a century, and now were sitting in retirement, gathering metaphorical dust. His eyes went from them to the notebook, convincing himself again that he needed something to do regardless of recent events, plus it would help the community. He moved to his closet, opening it and moving his normal clothes aside. In the back, in a lone box was a collection of odd clothes he had received as gifts, or simply acquired for cheap to free from yard sales and the like. He opened it up and began sorting out the best ones.

***

The villa overlooking the nice side of Canterlot was a wonderful place, being fully staffed and recently made, and to top it all off, private. Chrysalis, ruler of the Changelings, liked the latter the most. From here, she could plan more easily, and keep a digital eye on her entire operation, which also happened the reason she was so angry right now.

She glared at the door, silently counting before it crashed open, a disheveled young man bursting into the room. He wore a suit which had not been made for the obvious run he had just taken, with the white dress shirt untucked. He gasped a few times to catch his breath before speaking. "Ma'am, I came as soon as I could."

She nodded, confident that at least one of her aides was both confident, and more importantly, loyal. "Thorax, I am sure you did. Have you seen the latest report from our smallest branch in Canterlot?"

Thorax started to straighten up, fixing his suit as he moved to the smaller seat beside his boss. "No ma'am, I've been dealing with the fallout from that botched police raid a few days ago."

Chrysalis's eye twitched. If only that damned demon hadn't ruined her plans for the good captain, then police raids would be a non-issue. "Of course, and I thank you for that. However, a serious issue occurred that I would like your opinion of."

Thorax's forehead instantly began to sheen with sweat. "Of course ma'am, what situation is that?"

Chrysalis rotated her computer monitor so Thorax could easily see the camera footage, before pressing play. Andromalius' whole raid on the place was displayed, the tinny speaker playing the audio. Thorax raised his eyebrows when the fight started, and softly cursed as Duplis was held at sword point. "That's not good."

Chrysalis pointed. "Watch." Thorax refocused on the screen, just in time to see the demon pour some unknown drink down Duplis' throat. He listened intently, before leaning back, cursing again. He watched as Duplis spilled everything he was asked, his face growing more fearful and confused at every word. Thorax stared as the demon seemed ready to cut him down, before bludgeoning over the head, grabbing his wallet, before dragging him outside.

Chrysalis turned off the video. "So, you see the problem I assume?"

Thorax nodded, staring at the young girl who was dragging another one of his co-workers out of a building like a sack of potatoes. "Yeah, and it's a doozy." He leaned in, trying to tease secrets from the grainy footage. "Honestly ma'am, Duplis was better at the more violent aspects of the job. I've long been our damage control."

Chrysalis let out a snort of laughter, causing Thorax to flinch away from the seductive purr she let out. "Ah, yes. You run our little PR division. If you hadn't proven it so useful I would have tossed it aside long ago. But enough on that, you knew Duplis well. What would he suggest?"

Thorax winced, trying desperately not to upset his boss while still barely thinking about long hours locked in a small building with Duplis as he worked over a 'project'. He began thinking through all of Duplis' planning sessions he had listened to over the years, pausing as one name came to mind. "Tirek. Duplis would say our own enforcers can't handle this many unknowns and request hiring Tirek to take care of the issue."

Chrysalis paused, before letting out a sigh. Thorax looked to his boss, but as quickly as the emotion surfaced it was gone. "Yes, sadly I came to the same conclusion. I shall begin the process in a few hours." There was another pause as Thorax tried to figure out if he was dismissed before Chrysalis turned to him. "Thorax, I have a new job for you." Without waiting for a response Chrysalis moved to her small hobby corner, filled with papers and paintbrushes. She pulled out a painting and looked at it, presenting it to Thorax. "Take this to the last safe house, and begin working directly under the supervisor there."

Thorax very nearly froze in place. The final safehouse was perhaps the most secure location in all of their various properties, with a hundred stories passed around about it, and none who could sort out fact from fiction. He swallowed deeply, hoping the horror stories were the ones that were wrong. "Of course, where is it?'

Chrysalis looked to him for a moment as he walked up to take the painting. "It is a penthouse on the northside. The complex is Second Life Housing, make haste and get there tonight. You may claim a room in it. At a later date, you can move any personal belongings you need or want to your new situation."

Thorax nodded so deeply it was almost a bow. "Of course ma'am. I'll leave right now."

As he reached the door there was a slight cough. He paused, looking back to his boss; the lady who had ordered death and torture without blinking an eye. She was... shuffling, as if unsure of what to say. Finally, she looked him in the eyes. "While your normal responsibilities will be done, I expect you to guard the person in the penthouse with you with your very life. She is far more important than even me." She took another breath. "And be careful Thorax, things are going to get chaotic soon, and you're one of perhaps two people I don't want to be swept up in the backblast."

Thorax managed to contain his surprise. This was when Chrysalis was at her scariest. When she was doing her work she was predictable, but now. Now she looked uncomfortable. And if Thorax had learned one thing from history, it's that an uncomfortable queen leads to an uncomfortable body count. "Of course, we shall be safe." Without another word between them, he left, into the fading light of day.

Author's Note

Edited by Kitkataddel posted 1/26/19

Chapter 4: Sleepovers and Solutions

Sunset was caught in a far more uncomfortable situation than she would have ever liked to admit. Princess Twilight was looking at her with pity, while Fluttershy was glancing between them like a canary caught between two cats. Sunset's lackluster greeting also didn't appear to win any points with the young royal. "So... h-how are you doing Twi?"

Princess Twilight Sparkle, so young in her rulership that Sunset did not even know of her various titles, simply walked up, and enveloped the young woman in a hug. "I am so, so, sorry Sunset. I had no clue it was this bad."

Sunset was prepared for many things. If Twilight had begun yelling at her for messing up, she could have taken it. If Twilight had gone royal nerd and started planning, she could have taken it. Only now did she realize she had forgotten a key option; Twilight was sad, reduced to crying. Crying for what Sunset had been through. Sunset's arms were open wide, as she awkwardly closed them around her friend. "I-its alright Twi. Come on now. D-don't c-cry." Tears were threatening to escape from her own eyes now, despite her best efforts. "If you keep crying, then I'm gonna start crying. Then we've gone full shitty movie, j-just two d-dweebs crying in front o-of..." Her sentence died off as tears started to gather, and a soft sob made her jump in place.

That was all it took, and Sunset began actually crying, sobbing softly as tears poured straight into Twilight’s hair. Sunset, just for a moment, fell apart. These were not the sappy movie tears people think of when they think of an attractive young woman crying, but instead an ugly thing, powered by more than just lost love. Her sobs slowly got louder, as mucus and phlegm began mixing with the tears. "I-I just d-don't know why!"

Twilight patted her back, making soothing noises as Sunset cried. "Didn't I d-do everything alright? D-did I i-ignore them or s-something?"

Twilight smoothed Sunset's hair, trying to calm the girl. "It's okay. Sometimes friends mess up, and they stop being friends. It happens, you didn't do anything wrong."

Sunset let out a very tired sob, as the tears seemed to slow. "I-I just wanted friends, I'd never had that before."

Twilight nodded, keeping her calming tone. "And you still have at least one. Come on, let's get you home." Sunset looked ready to protest, but Twilight held a finger to her opening mouth. "My schedule is clear for a few days, and besides, I need to make sure you're living okay."

Sunset nodded. "Okay, there's a spare helmet in my saddlebags." Twilight noted how morose Sunset sounded, like all the energy from her earlier rant was gone, the sad reality crashing down on her. Sunset barely noticed the single footstep behind her, but Twilight did, shooting a glare at Fluttershy as Sunset led her towards her bike. Before Twilight looked away, she mouthed the word 'later', leading Fluttershy to solemnly nod, as the two walked to Sunset's bike.

Sunset didn't speak as she opened up her saddlebags, pulling out a simple black helmet, and handing it to Twilight, though she did spend a few minutes fussing over the fit of the helmet, adjusting it while unable to see Twilight's slight, yet still sad, smile. Sunset once again wordlessly moved, straddling her bike while grabbing her own helmet. Twilight looked it over. It was bright and colorful, like the girl herself. Red and gold whipped together over the smooth material, making it seem as if her very head was on fire. The only dark spot was the visor, which was black as night. After a moment, Sunset's voice came through. "Get on Princess, and grab onto my waist. I'm gonna be going kind of fast."

Twilight didn't respond, not out of rudeness, but instead at the sudden burst of noise that came from the vehicle they were on. She contained her questions, instead focusing on getting into the same stance Sunset had readied herself in, correctly assuming it was important. She did so just in time, the bike jumping forward with a high-pitched whine, followed by a small screech as Sunset leaned into a turn, causing the rear wheel to slide cleanly to the side. Twilight nearly screamed when the bike fully centered, and Sunset gunned it.

The conscious part of Twilight's mind suddenly became very small, fear and excitement assuming direct control. However, the ever-present scholarly side of her mind was taking notes. She noted it was almost like going into a divebomb, with the wind whipping past her body and the subtle lean to change direction. However, unlike a divebomb, she had no control, since that was fully ceded to Sunset. In between thoughts of fear and joy, several other notes were made; the fact that if Sunset hadn't changed this would be a perfect power-trip, the princess at her total mercy, the ideas of having a similar creation in Equestria. Then the instant refusal of that idea with the mere ghost of the phrase Cutie Mark Crusaders echoing in her mind.

Twilight had no clue how long they were on the machine, but when Sunset finally reached a full stop and sat up, they were in a less than high-end neighborhood. Twilight took the fact that she could tell the subpar living conditions despite her less than bountiful experience in this world’s living conditions was a decidedly negative thing. Sunset removed her helmet, before glancing down. She stared, and Twilight took a moment to try and think of what she was staring at, before realizing she still held the older girl in a firm hug. She sheepishly removed her arms, before getting off the bike. "Sorry about that. That was... an experience."

Sunset nodded, a ghost of a smile on her lips. "Yeah, I love riding this thing. She's old, back when most people would take these cruisers and slice 'em up, make them ride lower and sound louder, but I prefer to tune it. Make my little baby keep up with those little Neighsan bikes they use in races."

Twilight had absolutely no idea what most of those words meant, but she smiled as she took off her helmet anyways. "Well, it was certainly fast! Is this where you live?"

Sunset nodded, pulling her saddlebags off her bike and draping them over her shoulders. "Yep, did you bring that golden mortar and pestle? Mine was bought here, and the gold is flaking off."

Twilight nodded, reaching to check to make sure that her bag was still firmly in place. "Yes, and a few other things as well. I even managed to get that liquid rainbow you wanted." She paused. "What was that for anyway?"

Sunset hummed as she walked towards a small stairwell leading down in front of the building. "Might help with some work I've been doing, not sure yet. It'll be the first true blue experiment I've gotten to do in a while."

Twilight's eyes shined as she heard what was one of the many words that always got her excited. "Oh, really? What are you thinking."

Sunset let out a small chuckle as she calmly put a key in a small lock in a dented metal door. "Well, I was hoping I could shove it in a spray can so it would make a paint. That way I could have paint that would be in a shifting rainbow, like the way a raw rainbow pool will always shift its colors even if it's standing still."

Twilight began running equations in her head. "But, how? This world's magical field is so weak we can't really do much."

Sunset smiled as she moved into the apartment. "Well, I can still cast minor spells, so the planet’s ambient field should do a pretty good job of keeping the rainbow energized. Assuming it made it through the portal."

Twilight shrugged. "I don't know, it very easily could have been changed into something else, though if the ambient field is strong enough I can't think of any reason it would change." Twilight made her way into the apartment, her eyes casually noting details, and was immediately horrified. The couch had a rather large bloodstain on it, and the recliner had the telltale burns from a minor alchemical explosion. On the table in plain sight was a sewing set, but the way the needle had permanent stains betrayed that it had been used on flesh over clothes. Twilight cringed as she realized it may have been both. Her eyes paused at the kitchen, trying to find any more evidence of the horrors her friend might have gone through, but found it mercifully clean, whether due to deeper cleaning or a lack of wounds, Twilight couldn't be sure.

Sunset didn't seem to notice, moving slowly to the kitchen. "Well, I figure you wanna wash all my disgusting gunk out of your hair. The shower is across the hall from my bedroom. Head down the only hall, the door on your right."

Twilight nodded slowly, dropping her bag on the floor. "Okaaay, I'll go do that." Twilight was more than happy to leave as she moved quickly to the bathroom. She shut the door behind her and glanced the room over, looking over the clean porcelain on the shower and toilet. The sink was ripe with disinfectant, and a small closet sat beside the door she just shut. Upon opening it she found a healthy collection of towels, most of which were white, only few splashes of color betraying some either decorated or designed, even if they were hidden under the fabric mountain. After another second of intensive investigation, Twilight found what she was looking for; a medical kit.

She tried to quietly pull it out silently and managed to mostly succeed, nodding to herself in self reassurance. As she slowly rested it on the sink, Sunset's voice came through the door, causing her to jump. "Sorry, totally blanked for a second. Towels are in the closet, and some fancier soap and stuff are in the medicine box behind the mirror. Feel free to use it, I only really use it for fancy stuff or when I decide to get off my lazy flank and go to work."

Twilight grimaced, but managed to hide it from her voice. "Thanks, I was just looking at all the different stuff in here! Light bulbs never cease to amaze me!"

It was a weak lie, but also a mostly honest one; light bulbs without magic really did fascinate her. Her few experiments in it on the Equestrian side of the portal ended in quite a few cases of exploded glass and one case of a very concerned Spike. She heard an amused scoff from outside. "Ha, the royal nerd in the house." There was something else muttered after that, but Twilight had a mission, and nothing would distract her. She slowly opened the medical kit, and slowly became much more worried. Even in an accident-prone pony’s house, a medical kit was never full. A few odds and ends would be missing, with only the most vital components kept in full stock. This one had each container fully loaded. The only exception was a single roll of bandages, which had a sticky note marking it as used less than a week ago.

Twilight looked to it for a moment before zipping it back up, her mind racing as she placed it back into its tiny corner. She had a lot of evidence in front of her. Sunset had been hurt, and judging by the near-obsessive detail paid to her medical kit, as well as a spare sewing kit that had apparently been used to seal up some sort of wound, it was a recurring thing. Twilight began stripping her clothes, chewing her lip. It could just be Sunset's job. She had hinted it was dangerous whenever Twilight asked, but she also said she only went to work about once a week or so. Weekly injuries that were mildly expected wouldn't hazard sewing one’s self up in their home.

Twilight opened the small glass screen and stepped into the shower, barely noting its intricacies as she turned it to full heat. She grabbed the scentless soap and small bath sponge before washing herself mechanically. Her thoughts whirred about in her head, processing the plan she so desperately wanted to use. Sunset had been hurt, physically and mentally, and now Twilight wanted to drag her back to Equestria and let her heal. But there was a problem with that - she was fairly certain Princess Celestia had technically banished her. While the wording in the nearly decade-old note of Equestrian law was vague, it clearly stated that Sunset Shimmer was forbidden from Celestia's land. That was technically all of Equestria, right?

Twilight rinsed off the soap, grabbing the shampoo from its spot without thinking. She began rubbing it into her scalp, before running it through her long strands of hair, all the while formulating other plans. So she couldn't take Sunset back to Equestria yet, but, she could be freaking out over nothing. While there was plenty of evidence to support her claims, it was all circumstantial, and not much more. And the last thing Sunset needed was a confrontation right now. So what could she do?

She smiled as a single thought hit her, and she momentarily stopped what she was doing. Technically Ponyville was her land, and not Celestia’s. Therefore, even if Sunset was banned from Equestria, she could stay with Twilight for a while. Celestia may not like it, but as Princess of Friendship, it was her job to offer all her friends a helping hoof. She paused as she flexed her fingers. "Hand, a helping hand here. Right?"

She giggled as the plan fully formulated; she could invite Sunset back to her castle for a while, at least until she felt better about her situation, which Twilight already had some doubts about. She had seen Sunset's bank account, and honestly had a few questions about it. She knew it was all legally gained, but the how escaped her. How could a pony who was banished when they were barely eighteen get that many bits? Leaving her questions for later, she happily dried off before hanging the towel on one of the hooks beside the door, and when she exited the room, she was nearly jumping for joy. "SUNSET, I JUST HAD A GREAT IDEA!"

Sunset's head peeked around the corner with a small smirk, which quickly faded into a look of horror and her face going a deep red. Sunset fell forward, a solid thump signaling her impact with the floor as she covered her eyes. "BY THE HOLY LIGHT TWILIGHT! WHY ARE YOU NAKED?!" Twilight froze, before looking down at herself. Oh. Right. She didn't have any fur here. Her own face flushed, realizing she had just fully flashed one of her friends, but Sunset was one step ahead. "Clothes are in my room. Go!" Twilight hastily dove into the room opposite, hiding her face with her hands until the door closed behind her. Sunset's voice called out from the other side of the door. "Okay, my turn in the shower, just... grab some stuff from my closet, or something. And pardon the mess."

Twilight tried to respond, maybe apologise, but only an embarrassed squeak seemed to come out. She began moving towards the closet while investigating the bedroom on the way. The bed was unmade, with the blankets kicked to the end, only just clinging to the sheets. Twilight paused while looking at the wall opposite - instead of a TV, or a bookshelf sitting there, a painted mural was painted on the wall. Twilight couldn't tell the type of paint used, as it was something she hadn't seen in Equestria, but the art itself was beautiful. Two small flames, held in the hands of two beautiful women, each wearing the style of dress popular in the heights of Equestrian nobility, simply tailored and adapted for a human.

The one on the left was clothed in silk of the purest white, and the yellow flame was a bright and holy thing, appearing to bring the colors of the wall into a vibrant life. However, the one on the right was dressed in pitch black cloth, with her flames being a dark, demonic red, which seemed to overpower everything nearby. The flame itself standing tall, but everything touching it seemed lesser for the effort. Twilight raised a hand to it, resting her fingers against the red flame. "Sunset..."

Twilight shook her head, turning around to check the rest of the room. She paused at Sunset's fencing foil, a short spark of memory coming from it. She leaned over the bed, and let out a gasp, realising that this wasn't something from this side of the mirror. She could tell from the way the metal sheened, that this was Cloudsdale steel, and not the cheap mass-produced variety either. This was forged by a single smith, hoof crafted in the midst of a storm while the wind itself cooled the heated metal. Twilight desperately wanted to run a finger over it, if only to feel the almost peaceful way the metal seemed to wrap in on itself at the smallest level, strengthening it far more than a conventional forge ever could, but she resisted. Instead, she broke away, moving to the closet. Opening it, she found a small collection of clothing, and in the corner a small pile of pajamas. She grabbed the top pair and threw them on quickly, now caught in different thoughts.

There was absolutely no way Sunset could have stolen an authentic cloudsteel weapon before she left. They were weapons made to be used, and if somepony commissioned one it was for a purpose other than decorating their estate. Her brother's sword when he was assigned to lead the outlands division was cloudsteel and it was meant for slaying the various monsters that lived in the wild Wastes south of Equestria. She knew that the top Wonderbolts had cloudsteel spikes ringing their armor, allowing even minor blows against an enemy force could be crippling. Cloudsteel was a warrior’s choice, hardly being a thing of beauty. The wind and lightning made the metal look dinged and almost cracked, but it made the hardest steel that ponies could forge. Add in a few enchantments, and you suddenly have something that could reliably be brought to bear against the greatest of threats in Equestria.

This meant that every cloudsteel weapon was both well-maintained, and well accounted for. Stealing one would still make the news circuits in Equestria even now. Twilight checked herself over, confirming that she looked okay. With a nod she moved to the door, going back into the little living room and sitting on the chair, deciding explosive residue was better than old blood. Of course, she noticed Sunset had moved a small couch cover over the whole thing now, probably trying to avoid Twilight worrying about her. Using the period of peace, she began running theories through her head. Sunset had cloudsteel, and since it couldn’t have been stolen, it was rightfully hers. Which then meant Sunset had, while living in Equestria, had both the need and the bits to afford true cloudsteel, and then forge a weapon out of it. But all Princess Celestia had said was that Sunset had been a personal student. No hints whatsoever of being some acclaimed guard and Sunset had said outright she was mostly a pyromancer. That meant it wasn't for stopping dangerous summons, which was something Twilight had seen in action thanks to a young magus trying to summon up a familiar.

She was roused from her thoughts as Sunset exited the bathroom, still slightly damp. Twilight looked at the young girl as she walked calmly across the hall, before Sunset paused, looking to Twilight. "Aw, dammit. you grabbed my favorites. One sec."

Twilight looked down at her Pj's. She wasn't sure why these would be Sunset's favorite pair. They were a simple white, a small sun embossed on the chest. The material was rough as if made out of spare materials over actual clothing cloth. Twilight decided to shelve that thought, since there were already too many mysteries without enough answers. After another minute, Sunset came out, long-sleeved pajamas covering her arms, though they were about a size too small. Twilight wondered if Sunset liked tight fitting clothes. While the pajama's she wore now weren't particularly tight, if she had a bit more muscle, as well as a larger bust, it very well might be. Sunset sighed. "Okay, I put forward a motion, since you're bumming at my house we aren't talking about the big mess that is my life right now. Instead, we're going to talk alchemy, play games, and have an altogether unhealthy amount of sweet foods."

Twilight thought on that for a moment, before giggling. "Okay, we can do that." She was interrupted by a growl from her stomach. "But could we start with actual food? I may have skipped dinner to hunt down a bottle of rainbow." She gave a sheepish smile as Sunset freely laughed.

***

Twilight awoke to a song. She couldn't place it easily, but it was nice for the short amount of time it played, and after a moment Sunset's voice groggily spoke up, interrupting the tune. "Home of struggling artists, I make it, you steal it." Twilight rolled over, promptly falling off the couch she had fallen asleep on, landing right beside Sunset, who had apparently moved to the floor at some point between them falling asleep and now.

Twilight blinked a few times and saw Sunset on a phone, who she was talking to remained a mystery though. Sunset gave her a nod and raised a single finger to her mouth, signalling for Twilight to stay silent while she spoke. "What do you mean they want to do another run tonight?!" Sunset growled at the phone, her body tensing up in irritation. "Okay, so you got found out, and Mouse needs a payday, is it really that instant of a need? I don't have new routes planned, plus the heat might still be keeping an eye out."

Twilight raised an eyebrow as Sunset's expression fell. "Oh, that's why he couldn't make it. And it was your damn boss? Alright, call up Feint and she might have some routes planned. I'll draft the surprise email for our loyal watchers and try to get some gear together for us. I need a message of how many runners ASAP, and I swear by the Holy Light, if I get nabbed tonight I'm dropping your name faster than an obese man drops a health shake!" Sunset tapped the screen of her phone, crossing her arms with a huff.

Twilight raised an eyebrow at the exchange. "What was all that about?'

Sunset grunted, fully standing up and moving to the kitchen area. "Work. We normally only do one job a week, but some of the guys need to do a little extra. We're gonna go out tonight and see what we can dredge up. Doesn't help that Retna was the one who called me. Dude hates working alone so much I thought he just wanted to do it with some people. Again."

Twilight nodded. "So what is it you do anyway? You've only ever really hinted at it when we messaged each other."

Sunset opened the fridge, which conveniently hid her annoyed grimace. She had very intentionally never mentioned specifically what she did, mostly so she could complain about either of her nighttime activities without letting on too much. But, with Twilight right here, lying about the direct question was quite obviously not an option. She grabbed at the drawer which held her ever-present collection of energy drinks and frowned when she only felt one. Right, she still needed groceries. She sighed as she popped the tab on it. "Buck it, not like you can call the cops on me or anything. Under the TV, besides where the game console is there's a laptop. Open it up and press the power button. I'm gonna make us some cereal."

Twilight nodded and moved over to the TV cabinet, carefully opening it. Sunset smiled, grabbing a pair of bowls as she watched Twilight pick up several things first, before finally realizing the laptop was the thin blue rectangle. She opened it up and froze at the massive amount of buttons. Sunset spoke over the sound of off-brand Frosted Flakes being poured into a bowl. "Power button’s the grey one at the top left side."

Sunset watched as Twilight’s confidence returned, confidently pressing the power button and being amazed as the screen began to glow. While the computer did its startup, Sunset grabbed spoons, moving carefully so she didn’t spill her breakfast bounty and sat on the couch. She gestured for Twilight to sit beside her and raised an eyebrow as Twilight inspected the couch for a moment before nodding. She sat down heavily, making Sunset juggle the bowls to keep either from spilling.

With the meals stable, she passed one to Twilight while taking the laptop, beginning to type one handed. "So, as you may have guessed I don't have a ton of job prospects here, what with being an alien in both meanings of the word," Sunset smirked at her own joke, all traces of last nights uncomfortable meeting buried. "But I happened to find out that there are plenty of people willing to pay for a good show, and that I really hate the laws on graffiti here." She moved the mouse over to a file and clicked it a few times. "So I founded a wonderful little group that ran around making art pieces, and people pay to watch."

Sunset clicked play and set the laptop on the end table. Twilight began munching her food mechanically, while Sunset simply took the time to watch, thinking of her only two real friends. Both Twilight and Trixie showed up to prove they were loyal friends, and that was more than she could have hoped for. She checked the video, noting it was the one she did just the other night, and her eyes widened as she saw herself approaching the changelings.

She glanced between Twilight and the screen, before sighing. Lesson three under Celestia; when something has left your hooves, let it fall. It may be easier to fix than it would be to catch. She watched as Twilight's brow furrowed at the mention of their gang, and then flinched as her brows shot up when Sunset charged them. Looking over her takedown she had to admit, she impressed herself. Using her leg as a second arm to bring down one of the thugs wasn't something she had been taught. Her instincts had been doing their job and giving her an admittedly bombastic way to dispatch the two thugs in one fell swoop.

Twilight looked between Sunset and the screen, and the ex-unicorn suddenly remembered her friend who was raised in the palace was watching her running through back streets and winning street fights. She tried to give her a cocky grin, but instead, all that came out was a grimace. Twilight went back to the screen, and the disapproval quickly melted from her face as Sunset began her actual work on screen. Her bag filled with different pieces of cardboard, all cut into specific shapes. Some taggers used a specific mold for each piece, some could free-hand. Flanksy did neither. Flanksy used an insane amount of small molds, held up by hand and sprayed in a specific order to make her pieces, with free handing only being used for fine details and finalization.

Sunset could see Twilight taking mental notes of every sweep of her hands. Trying to memorize the shapes used and spot them after three other shapes had partly covered it, making the original shape seem useless except for the blend colors. Sunset decided not to let Twilight watch the last of the video, seeing her friend run from the cops might hit a sour note with a literal ruling body from another world. She reached over as soon as the piece was done, pausing the video, looking to Twilight as she finished off her cereal. "So, what do you think?"

Twilight sighed. "Well, it seems a bit... dangerous." Sunset winced at that, but Twilight seemed to think of something. "But I can tell you love it, and the finished piece was beautiful."

Sunset sighed. "Yeah, and I have to come up with another by tonight. I have a few I'd been thinking of, so I guess I'll have to use them."

Twilight began chewing her lip, and Sunset noticed she was wringing her hands together. After a moment Twilight spoke. "Yeah, well I'm sure you remembered I said I had an idea last night, right?" Sunset nodded, quickly making a neutral mask. She didn't think Twilight would talk about Anon-A-Miss in her home, but it was always better to be prepared. Twilight cleared her throat. "Well, I was thinking, maybe when you're done, you could come to visit me in Equestria for a bit."

Sunset's world froze. Visit Equestria? Get to see all of her old favorite places, maybe visit her doofy cousin wherever he was now? It was all she could have hoped for. And as soon as she got it, it came crumbling down. Twilight winced as she spoke her next line, clearly hesitant to say it. "I'm not sure how far Celestia's banishment went, but as long as you stayed in Ponyville... well, she couldn't touch you there."

Sunset suddenly experienced a horrifying mix of emotions. The first was confusion. She had never been fully banished, just kicked out of the castle. Which was honestly what she wanted anyway. Not quite the way she wanted it, but still. Then there was anger. Celestia would retroactively banish her? After all they had gone through? Then finally, hiding in the corner, was a sliver of happiness - her friend was willing to go up against Celestia for her.

These feelings didn't bust through her mask, however, and instead, she focused on what she felt was the most relevant questions. "Really? Did Celestia say I was banished?"

Twilight winced, obviously not on anything close to familiar ground right now. "W-well she hinted at it. And when I was trying to figure out if I should have said you had to stay here I found an old scribes note about it barring you from Celestia's land."

Sunset paused, trying to think. She frequently annoyed scribes, so it was probably one of them trying to get her banished with semantics. It sadly wouldn't have been the first time. But this did raise a greater question. "Twilight, before I say anything, I need to know one thing. How much did Celestia tell you about me?"

Twilight froze, confusion seemingly growing across her face as she thought about it. "Um, she said you were a former student, and you got really desperate for power. It kind of went unchecked, and you demanded to be made an alicorn."

Sunset froze. That’s what Celestia said? She felt her right eye twitch. "So she didn't see fit to tell you anything at all." Sunset exploded off the couch, slamming a foot on the ground. "DAMN IT! SHE ALWAYS DOES THIS!" Sunset stomped in a circle in her living room, and audible thud coming from each step. "IF I HAD BEEN HALF AS FAR GONE AS I ACTED YOU WOULD HAVE DIED! AND CELESTIA DIDN"T EVEN THINK TO WARN YOU I WAS A FREAKING RESPECTED MAGUS! IF I HAD FOLLOWED YOU ONE DAY AND DONE MY OLD JOB I WOULD HAVE KEPT THAT DAMN CROWN! DID SHE-" Realising she was just shouting at half of her friends, Sunset cut herself off, turning to Twilight. "Did she really just say I was her student?!"

Twilight froze. Sunset had been a magus? If so, then she was right. Without warning and without the ability to use magic, Twilight would have barely been a roadblock to Sunset if she had truly been trying to keep the crown. Which raised a million questions, but they were all unimportant; what really seemed to be important was this question. Twilight weakly nodded. "Y-yes, that's all she said."

Sunset froze, and like a fire after being hit with a wet blanket, deflated. "Fine. Then I'm gonna need to take you home. Today you're my messenger." Sunset slumped down on the couch, waving a hand. "Tell Princess Celestia that she either lied to me or you, and unless she gets off her cake-filled flank and comes to my house to say so, I'm gonna assume she lied to me."

Sunset paused, looking over her room. "And I won't step a single hoof - or any other appendage if she’s gonna look for loopholes - back in until then. And say this next part verbatim. In fact..." Sunset got up, and moved to a small desk in the corner, grabbing a notebook and writing in it. "Give this to her." Sunset signed it, before folding it and grabbing an envelope and holding her finger to it. After a moment there was a bright flash, and the letter sealed.

Twilight slowly reached out to grab it, taking it softly in her hands. Twilight looked between Sunset and the letter, with a million questions circling her head. Finally one broke past the others. Very softly, almost too softly to be heard, she spoke. "Am I allowed to come here?"

Sunset froze as if Twilight said something that was completely out of left field. Before Twilight could worry about what she just asked, Sunset ran towards her, wrapping her in a tight hug. "Twilight Sparkle, you helped me find myself in my darkest hour. I may have been doing what I thought was right, but the ends did not justify the means. The mare who saved me from myself is always - and let me say that again - Twilight Sparkle is always welcome in my home." Twilight nodded as Sunset squeezed her tight. "But unless Celestia herself comes here and tells me she lied to YOU, then I'm not coming back. And if she lied to me..." Sunset shrugged, before continuing. "I dunno. But I need to get you home. I have work to do."

With that Sunset let go of the young princess, and began grabbing the various tools she needed. After a moment she sighed and put it all on the kitchen countertop. Twilight couldn't be sure from her angle, but she thought Sunset was crying again.

Author's Note

Edited by Kitkataddel and posted 2/3/19. Bow before the post-editor in all their glory.

Chapter Five: Friends and Moms

Sunset Shimmer had a list. After an awkwardly silent ride home for Twilight, with an even more awkward goodbye, she had carefully typed in a full checklist of what she had to do today. It was full of things that normally took several hours, such as pick a new piece for tonight’s run. Or maybe going through her mask box and seeing if she had one she wouldn't mind reusing. Of course, she obviously had to call Trixie to see if she could get another set of smoke bombs. She still had quite a few, but it was better to keep a surplus in case she needed them for her patrols. And then there was trying to get Feint to see if she needed help getting the run planned. But instead of doing any of those, she was focusing on the last item on her list: getting herself back under control.

In pursuit of that one objective, Sunset had gone for a ride. And now, as the sun began to crest, she was out in the hilly woods outside Canterlot, going at the motoring equivalent of a stroll. She wasn't sure if she could call herself fully under control yet, but her stomach was demanding its pound of food, and who was she to say no. After looking around for a mile or so she found her holy grail; tucked away in the woods was a small gas station, with a local restaurant right beside it. She pulled her bike up, noting the line of other bikes in front of the building.

Sunset smiled as she lowered the kickstand, cutting the engine with a flick of her wrist. A biker’s retreat for daytime rides was normally a pretty relaxed place, so she could probably do some work while she ate. Knocking out some of her objectives while having lunch would make the whole ordeal much simpler. She walked in and found the area only sparsely populated. It appeared it was simply a gathering of individuals over a club meeting or something similar, with one or two people sitting together without the sort of hub a large group unconsciously forms. She moved to an area by the bar and sat, picking up a loose menu.

The food was southern style. Lots of gravy and biscuits, with an option to deep-fry anything put on earth as a side. Sunset decided on the catfish, with some hush puppies on the side. Both were deep-fried, but at the moment Sunset didn't care if she threw up tonight. While waiting for her meal, she brought out her phone and began flipping through her notes. On the ones she had designated burners the notes section was full of notes on criminals, recent gang news, and police schedules, but this one seemed much more teenager-y. Various pieces of art were saved, with notes beside them, detailing future plans or materials needed. Most were little more than rough drafts, ideas that weren't yet fit to see the light of day, or were meant for private use sprayed on the side of a building.

She paused at one that had only recently gone slightly above the 'just a sketch' phase. It was the view from her old room in Canterlot tower at night, the lights of the Equestrian capital shining in the glass. Sunset looked at it, studying her own work. It didn't have any deep meaning, nothing to decode or think about, but it was beautiful. She set it as her background as her food arrived, and began thinking of what colors to use as she took her first bite of catfish. It was surprisingly good, flaky and soft like a well-made catfish should be. And considering she spent more on a quick bite from burger princess she suddenly realized why this place was so popular.

Her meal passed quickly, and the mental image of her painting for tonight was fully formed when she walked out of the front of the store. She barely took note of her surroundings reached into her saddlebags, pulling out a small skull cap with speakers built in. She began fiddling with it for a moment before a small blue glow came from a small scrap of fabric that covered her ear. As she pulled out her phone to sync to it, a voice called out behind her. "Hey, she-demon!"

Sunset sighed, suddenly glad she had spent all that time to get a handle on her emotions. Behind her, climbing out of a blue sports car, came Rainbow Dash. Sighing again, Sunset sat her cap and phone down on her bike seat, before turning to face her. "Yes, Rainbow, what do you want?"

Rainbow stomped up to her, her fists clenched as she swung her arms. "What I want is you to stop posting secrets!"

Sunset rolled her eyes, turning back around to set up her skull cap and phone. "I told you it wasn't me Dash. If you don't believe me, I can't help." She heard the footsteps approaching behind her, and ducked as Rainbows arm swept out to grab her. Sunset pivoted on her heel, turning to face Rainbow Dash as she smoothly finished her spin. "Please don't touch me."

Rainbow glared at her, trying to intimidate by getting in Sunset's face. "That profile looks just like you, and the first secrets were things only you could have known."

Sighing in disappointment, Sunset rolled her eyes again. "Or anyone in our group of friends, not like I actually locked that phone or anything. Anyone who knew Applejack’s nickname and could have grabbed my phone is a suspect." Sunset shrugged, as if to dismiss her previous words. "But you already decided it was me, didn't you?"

Rainbow glared at Sunset. "Of course, no one else has any reason too."

"Of course they don't, and neither do I. So, you can go and find someone else to blame because I'm done crying over you!" Sunset began her own advance, putting her forehead within an inch of the shorter girls face. "And I'm not gonna sit here and take your bullshit while you let someone else ruin peoples lives." Sunset jabbed a finger into Rainbows chest, a spark of anger beginning to smolder inside her. "I don't care about Anon-A-Miss. I care about actually important things. Like my job, or paying my fucking rent." Sunset twirled on her foot, turning back to her bike. "So take your egocentric attitude and find someone to blame for all your problems that actually cares, because newsflash, I've gotten a whole lot of practice in not caring about what people think."

Sunset pulled the skull cap over her head, pulling a thin wire from it towards her mouth. She didn't expect the fist that came careening to her skull. As soon as it began to connect, her instincts took over, her body beginning to roll with the punch. It was still disorienting, but she managed to get herself a few feet away from the angry teenager, raising her fists. She raised an eyebrow at Rainbow Dash, who had a truly furious expression on her face. Sunset raised an eyebrow. "Really? You have no clue if I know how to fight, and you try to sucker punch me? That's just stupid."

Rainbow Dash shuffled back from her failed sucker punch to a martial arts stance. "Like I care! You stabbed us in the back! Even after we tried to be your friend! Even after we tried to forget all the nasty shit you did to us!"

Sunset bit back the hurt from that, instead leveling her eyes, and she let her body take full command of itself. "Rule two Rainbow Dash, if you want a fight I won't stop you."

Rainbow closed the gap, appearing to forego conversation to start a brawl in the parking lot of a gas station. Sunset wished she could say this was a low point, brawling a former friend in a middle of nowhere convenience store. But the fact she was still here at all kinda disproved that. So she let her body run itself, doubting Rainbow was going to be any more difficult than a street tough who'd spent their whole life fighting. And Sunset was, in all honesty, a street tough who managed to win a really good education.

Rainbow threw the first punch, which Sunset easily slipped past, not bothering to pay attention as the next few punches came, instead watching Rainbow's face. "You know Rainbow, I've been in quite a few street fights, do you want some tips?"

Rainbow grimaced, clearly fighting down a snarl. "Just shut up she-demon."

And at that moment, that one phrase caused the smallest wrinkle in Sunset's recently contained control. But from the outside, it was almost invisible. The only warning Rainbow Dash got before she let out a kick was a single crease in Sunset's forehead. As the kick was delivered though, Rainbow quite clearly felt how badly she had messed up.

As the leg began to extend towards Sunset, she was already closing in, and as soon as the foot was at chest level her arms were already moving. With minor movements, she forced the kick to miss, and with a single pull, both Sunset and Rainbow were in the dirt. Rainbow’s leg was trapped, with her ankle tight within Sunset’s hands, but a second before she pulled to break it, she paused. It was for less than a second, but it was long enough to alter her plan.

Instead of pulling against the grain, breaking the ankle, she pulled only lightly, smacking it with the side of her hand. Rainbow let out a short cry as Sunset squirmed away, getting some space to stand up. The injured girl tried to rise too, but as soon as she put weight on her right foot she crumpled back onto the ground. Sunset watched for a moment before turning away, talking over her shoulder. "Your ankle is sprained, Rainbow, so you'll need to take it easy for a while." She rested a hand on her handlebars as Rainbow Dash cursed on the ground, and after a moment, she let out a curse of her own, stamping her foot. "Dammit!"

She opened the small storage container under the seat, pulling out an old plastic bag. She dug around in it for a minute before grabbing something from it. That done, she turned back to Rainbow, who was staring between her current place on the ground and her car. Sunset walked up and offered her an outstretched hand. "Look, you think I'm Anon-A-Miss, cool. But now you know that picking a fight with me is stupid, and I have absolutely no desire to see you walking around hurt. So come on, I’ll help you into your car."

Rainbow opened her mouth as if to debate the point, but shut it after a moment. She took the hand without comment, and Sunset hauled it over her shoulder, taking all of Rainbow’s weight off of her right foot. She didn't talk as they moved the small distance, but Sunset filled the silence herself. "If you stay off that ankle for the next couple days, then it should be back to normal by then." She slowly lowered Rainbow into her seat, before handing over the item she grabbed from her bike. "Here's an ankle brace, should make it healthy to walk around a bit."

Rainbow didn't talk, opting to take the brace silently, staring at the dashboard without showing any emotion. Sunset faltered, not to seeing Rainbow Dash this distant, but she was hardly in the right mindscape to used play therapist, especially since she wasn’t that far off of needing one herself. She looked to the gas station momentarily, and saw that Rainbow's gas gauge was resting on empty. She glanced back at Rainbow Dash, grunting at her expression. "Look, you can pout all you want, but pull up to pump three at the gas station, I'll pump for you."

Rainbow nodded numbly, closing her car door and tossing the gears into reverse. Sunset walked into the gas station, her own mind blank. She had never fought someone she considered a friend. Family, sure. But even that was verbal back then, not physical. So without anything in her head, she tossed a twenty on the counter, gesturing to pump three. The cashier nodded and grabbed the bill.

Wandering back out of the station and to the pump, Sunset pulled free the nozzle and unscrewed the cap to the coup. She hit mid-quality, remembering what Rainbow ran in her car without a thought. As it refueled, the driver's window rolled down, and Rainbow's voice came out in quiet, subdued tones. "Hey Sunset, did you do it?"

The girl in question sighed, resisting the urge to run her hand down her face. "Rainbow, let me quote my mom at you: people have heads like mousetraps. Sometimes an idea gets caught in them with barely any effort and can't get loose. But hearts. Hearts can sense truth a lot easier. Hearts don't care about a person’s past, or their race, or even their reasoning. Hearts care about what people do. The world would be a much brighter place if more people thought with their hearts first, and their heads second."

Rainbow scoffed dismissively. "Yeah, but did you do it?"

The pump clicked, and Sunset pulled it free. "I've already told you, and I'm not wasting my breath to repeat myself over and over. Go see Fluttershy and get that ankle looked at, and find a way to get me that brace back when you're better. I may need it yet." Sunset closed the cap and shut the small flap that protected the cap from the elements before slamming her fist on the trunk of the car. "Maybe my advice will help the next stupid fool to befriend you, maybe not. But I said my piece. Pick a fight with me again and I'll probably break your knee." Sunset paused beside Rainbow's window and looked at the girl. Rainbow looked awful. Her eyes were clenched shut, with her mouth closed tightly in a twisted grimace. Sunset knew that a sprained ankle didn't hurt that bad, but maybe Rainbow wasn't as tough as she acted. She leaned in through the window. "But please Rainbow Dash. If our friendship ever meant a single thing to you, don't do it again. I really hate hurting people, especially people I used to think of as my friends." Sunset moved back to her bike without looking behind her. She still had a lot to do today.

***

Sunset went straight home from the restaurant, pushing the incident with rainbow Dash into the back of her mind. She was currently digging a big steamer trunk out from under her alchemy table while tapping on her phone. After a few key taps, she threw the phone on speaker and opened the trunk, revealing it was filled with masks. From her first running mask, which was a simple white face covering, to each of her Flanksy masks. She began rooting through it until the caller answered. "What do you need Flanksy?"

Sunset smirked, the pure bluntness of Feint always improving her mood. "I feel the love, Feint. I wanted to know if you needed any help planning the route tonight?"

There was a disgruntled scoff. "What, can mama Flanksy not let any of her kids out of the cage?"

Sunset let out a chuckle. "Nah, just never ran a route I didn't plan myself. If your good then I'll let you go."

There was a moment of silence before Feint spoke again. "I've got a few routes for five people planned out, you mind running through the North Side tonight?"

Sunset bobbed her head, pulling out a mask. "Cops are pretty tough there, but I'm always up for a challenge. Send my part via email and I'll be ready tonight, normal time?"

There was an affirmative grunt and Feint hung up. Sunset let out a small laugh, flipping the mask in her hand. "Bitch." She hoisted the mask up, inspecting it. It was a reptilian face, that seemed to inspire thoughts of a pinched old man. She smiled at it. "I've never worn, you have I?"

She grabbed her phone again, dialing a number and setting it back down on speaker. She covered her face with the mask, checking her field of view. She smiled wide as she saw almost as well with the mask as without it. There was a click, and Trixie's voice seemed to boom throughout her small sub-basement. "Hello Sunset, what can the great and powerful Trixie do for you?"

Smiling, Sunset pulled the mask off, examining it as she spoke. "Oh, y'know. We're having a surprise run tonight. Do you have some spare smoke bombs we could pick up?"

Trixie paused,and her voice grew quieter. "Oh, well, Trixie has a few spares she could let you have. You like a different mixture the Trixie uses herself, but she can alter some spares easily enough."

Sunset’s smile grew, thankful for the aid. "Thanks, Trix, you're a lifesaver. Also, killer show the other day, I have no clue how you did most of that."

Even over the line, she could practically feel Trixie begin to swell with pride. "Of course, Trixie is a world-class magician, anything less than utter perfection is beneath her."

Sunset rolled her eyes, but a happy expression still decorated her face as she put the mask down beside her. "Watch out Trixie, your ego might hit critical mass soon. Anyways I'll run by your Pa's place about five, will you be there?"

There was a hum that seemed to agree before a loud thunk came through the speaker. "Oh zut, that was our display. Gotta go Sunset, see you at five!"

Sunset clicked off the phone, staring at the mask in front of her. "You need a name." She held it up, and began running through names in her head. "Galahad was the old castle swordsman, but whose name could I give to a Jabberwock?" She ran her fingers over the ridges, trying to think of a fitting name. She ran a finger over the eyes, and for a brief moment, her hand covered the entire eye. She smiled, reaching up to the table to grab her blade and grabbed a few paintbrushes. She calmly ran the knife down the porcelain mask, leaving a rough trench over the eye. "Old One Eye, the Jabberwock that collapsed a hidden valley and heralded the start of the unification. Perfect." She glanced to the clock; an hour before meeting Trixie, so if she finished the final touch-ups on the mask, set that rainbow paint to brew and ran to get the bombs, then hopefully everything would be ready when she got back. That left her just enough time to scrounge dinner, dig her contacts, and head straight to their meet-up point. Her phone beeped with an email, and she glanced down.

She groaned, their meet-up point was on the roof of one of the nicer homes in Canterlot. Which also meant it was on the opposite side of town. "Okay, so I'll have time to scrounge contacts, skip dinner, and hope to the holy light I can make it on time. Swap some things around, no big deal...”

***

The house's rooftop was mostly clear, as Retna scanned the area from his smiley faced mask. He let out a whistle as he glanced back at his companions. "How much does a place like this run, d'ya think?"

Feint scoffed. "More than any of us will probably make in a lifetime, which is precisely why I picked it." Feint was running the laptop tonight, setting up the stream. Normally Flanksy did the setup, but she was running late, if her text was to be believed.

A man was resting on a lounge chair, half-asleep before he jerked awake. "Shit, did I give mom her meds?" The speed of his jerk almost knocked off his cartoon mouse mask, but Brainwash leaned over and fixed it, his own mutant turtle mask providing as much comfort as possible.

"You got her stuff man, rest easy a bit. You got our route in your head?" Brainwash tilted his head as Mouse nodded, before looking over the skyline. "Good, I'd hate to get arrested because you were distracted. Where the hell is Flanksy?"

A voice called up from the ledge in front of him. "Like most things you miss, I'm right under your nose. Now gimme a hand up before a late night walker catches a glimpse of my sexy ass."

Both Feint and Retna looked over as Brainwash leaned down, pulling Flanksy over the lip of the roof. Flanksy dusted herself off and fixed the strap of her backpack. "Thanks, Brainy. Gang all here?"

Brainwash nodded, while Feint spoke up. "You’re late Flanksy, grab a camera and get ready, we're rolling in a few."

Flanksy nodded understandingly, pulling something out of her bag. "Well, I brought two gifts for everyone." She smirked as she looked to Feint. "Since Feint over there called me mama Flanksy, I figured I should spoil all my wonderful children."

The gang froze, staring at Feint. To her credit, she didn't even look fazed, just nodding. "Well, she does tend to worry about us, and she founded our little group. So she's obviously group mom."

Retna paused. "Since I was the first one that joined, does that make me group dad?"

Brainwash scoffed, moving beside Flanksy to try and peek in her bag. "No, if anything you're her rambunctious youngest. I'm probably the annoying older brother." He paused, before pointing a thumb at Mouse. "He's the forgotten middle child."

Mouse clicked his teeth. "Dude, ouch."

Flanksy raised a hand. "Quiet children. Now catch." She slowly tossed each person a single aerosol can. As they all accepted the unmarked cans, Flanksy grabbed her own and shook it. "Now I'm sure you all know I'm a chemist at heart; well here's my latest creation." She pressed down on the nozzle while aiming at the floor, and with a swipe of her hand, a multi-colored rainbow was left in her wake. The gang watched, as slow, astonished gasps escaped them at what they saw; the colors shifted, changing slowly and constantly as time went on. Flanksy smirked under her mask. "Now obviously this is a test build, in the final product I want it to change quicker, but for a first time brewing I'd say it's good."

Feint was the first to speak up. "Interesting, you've managed to make something new. I'll add it into my piece tonight."

Flanksy gave a bow. "Guys, I don't need compliments. Feint calling something interesting is the greatest compliment I've ever received."

There were a few chuckles as each person threw the can into their own bag. Retna tapped Flanksy on the side. "Hey Flanks, you get the memo change about the run tonight?"

Flanksy shook her head, grabbing a camera from the box and hooking it to her chest. "Nah, I didn't even have time to grab dinner; I was trying to force that paint through and lost track of time."

Retna smirked. "Well, Feint was listening on police band and some of the gangs have been getting unruly, so she wants us to run in pairs. She'll go solo and take the short run. Me and you will run to your point, then to mine. Same set up for Brainwash and Mouse."

Flanksy paused. "Is Feint sure she wants to run solo? I can stash the laptop at the rendezvous and run support."

Feint cut in herself. "I'll be fine, I ran here before I was with you guys. Also, you're proving my point mom." Sunset flipped her off, but Feint cut her off. "Modulators on, we're live in five."

Everyone raised a hand to their mask, as Feint dropped her fingers. When the last one dropped the faux-cheery voice blared out. "Hey there everybody. I am the lucky MC tonight since Mama Flanksy's letting me escape from her shadow for a bit." Flanksy angled her camera to her gloved hand, flipping off Feint once more where the whole stream could see.

Feint simply nodded. "And we're doing a charity stream right now, so if anyone feeling super helpful one of our members has a family member who got real sick. If you can open up your heart a bit to donate we're hoping they can get back on their feet and not be crippled with lifelong debt that will grind their souls to dust."

Mouse scoffed. "You really have a way of making everyone get that warm, optimistic feeling don't you Feint?"

Feint simply waved her hand at him. "So let's get this underway. Everyone but me is running in pairs today because some of the local flavors has been feeling all punchy. So Flanksy and Retna are gonna be a pair, and Brainwash and Mouse are another."

Brainwash stepped forward. "And I swear, the first shitty fanfic I find with Mouse railing me I'm gonna go ape. Remember fangirls, I rail HIM."

Mouse blanched. "Dude, that's just wrong."

The rooftop exploded into laughter, but Brainwash just casually walked to the edge. "Well, me and the runt are gonna be heading south. We're going to loop around the park, jump up the small buildings to the east, then I'm gonna spray a local billboard above a strip mall. Then we're gonna jump down, dip to the other side of the park, and hit the museum with Mouse's newest piece."

Flanksy pulled Retna up to the side of the building and pointed towards the skyline. "Well, Retna and I are descending into the heart of darkness. We're going to run down to the city square, slowly making our way up buildings. I'm up first hitting one of those gaudy new TV screens they posted on the city center. But I have no idea where Retna's going because I was late."

Retna laughed, tapping Flanksy on the shoulder. "No worries mom, I'll give you a hand with your Alzheimer’s attack."

Flanksy pushed Retna in the side. "Bet money I'm younger than you asshole."

Retna rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah, like I'll ever see that pretty face under your mask. Anyways, here's my deal folks. Straight from our high-risk spray to a nice little secluded spot. I'm gonna hit up a high day traffic alley and get a good sized mural going. Flanksy here inspired me, so I'm gonna do my own fallen angel piece. Though I think mine will be a bit prettier."

Flanksy elbowed him. "You're just gonna give it giant tits and ramp up the sex appeal. Ass."

Retna smiled. "Guilty, so can we get to the fun part?"

Feint nodded, pulling a milk crate out from under a stray plank of wood. "Yep, here's my gift for the day. Since mama Flanksy is letting my collar loose, we're gonna be removing all sorts of shadows." Feint presented a string of metal tubes with pins shoved in them.

There was a moment of silence before Flanksy yelled. "ARE THOSE THRICE-ACCURSED FLASH BANGS?!"

Brainwash sprinted over, grabbing one and holding it up. Feint simply smiled. "The payloads are dialed down. As long as no one touches it when it goes off they're harmless, but yes. They are indeed flashbangs."

Flanksy grabbed one, pulling a small vest from her bag and putting it on over her hoodie. She hooked the flashbang to it before sighing. "Fine, I brought smoke bombs if you want a less explosive option."

She tossed them onto the crate, where more hands reached out to grab them. Brainwash shrugged. "Me and Mouse are kinda stuck without gifts. This was so last minute we couldn't grab much. Sorry about that."

Everyone shrugged as Flanksy tapped Retna's shoulder. "No worries man, I was late, you guys were busy. Life happens." She got to the edge of the roof before looking to Retna. "What about you big man?"

Retna smiled. "I did manage a little gift, but it's something all of you need to keep. I heard about how dangerous things were getting, so at each group first point, I stashed a flare gun under a cardboard box with a smiley face on it. Keep 'em and shoot 'em up if you get in a bad situation. I know we normally use the stream to keep an eye on us, but a backup plan is always nice."

Flanksy rolled her eyes. "Fine, then me and Retna are out. Stay safe kiddies!" Flanksy grabbed a drainage pipe, sliding down the side of the building. She heard someone get on the rail behind her, and as she hit the ground she moved to nearby bushes. "So, all my loyal friends, it appears I got promoted to team mom, so keep an eye on everyone else if I'm your fav, gotta keep my new babies safe."

She heard footsteps behind her, and Retna spoke up. "You enjoying talking to the loyal viewers, or are you finally snapping?"

Flanksy began moving through the bushes, keeping low until they were off private property. "Mostly the first one, though if you have a pocket shrink I would love a free session."

Retna giggled, beginning to climb the gate as Sunset kept watch. "Sadly I'm the family disappointment, so a doctorate is kinda outta my reach."

As he cleared the gate, he nodded, prompting Flanksy to begin her climb. With a grunt, she spoke as she climbed. "Well, if it makes you feel better, in a past life I was well on my way there before I got kicked out anyway."

"Eh, that sounds a fair bit familiar, you know much about the others?"

Flanksy nodded, a little reluctantly. "Being honest, I know more about all of you then you'd probably like. I might have trust issues."

Retna paused. "So how much is that?"

Flanksy looked over the area, pointing to a low dumpster. "There's our way up, we need to start running soon." Retna didn't respond, keeping an eye on Flanksy while they jumped up the dumpster, beginning to climb up the side of a gothic style building. As they reached the halfway point Flanksy paused, answering his question. "How much? I know where you work, I know your names, and I know what each of you are running for. You didn't think the mysterious Flanksy just invites artists right?" Flanksy jumped upwards, grabbing the lip of the roof and rolling over it. She offered a hand to Retna, pulling him up. "I research every artist I stick a hand out to, I want good artists that aren't just trying to get a payday, that way when something like this happens, I actually want to help, instead of questioning people’s motives."

Retna paused as they crested the building, looking over to the city square. "Okay, but shouldn't we get the same-" Retna was interrupted by gunshots. Both Retna and Flanksy hit the deck, with Retna cursing. "Damn, the hell is that?!"

Flanksy peeked her head up, tracking the sound to the roof of a low building nearby. She checked where it was before cursing herself. "Shit, not good." She turned to Retna. "As group mom, you get new orders, go to your point and start your piece, I'm gonna scout that out and keep it from coming your way."

Retna stared at her, his thoughts hidden by a mask. "The hell? No way, we're scrapping this."

He began to turn before Flanksy grabbed his shoulder, looking straight at him. "Look, one of ours needs help, and we're gonna help. If I'm the mom, then we're family, so you get your happy ass to your spot, and use my fancy new paint. Then, when you get to the post-run stream, tell them I'm on my way. I'll try to make it to my point after making sure it's safe."

Retna looked between her and the rooftop she was staring at before biting his lip. "Fine, but if you end up getting shot you damn well better crawl to our point. I'm not gonna be able to sleep right knowing Flanksy died doing some stupid checkup."

Flanksy laughed. "Alright, I'm gonna turn off my cam and get in close, stay safe man." With that she ran off the roof and began crossing the block. Another pair of gunshots echoed out, and she ducked into an alley beside the building. She opened her bag, and started her work. She ripped off her mask, grabbing a blank white one from her bag and throwing it on. She then took off her hoodie, flipping it inside out to show a red hoodie instead. That done she pulled out a small sports bottle. She chugged it down and grimaced as her throat began shifting under the skin. After a moment she spoke again, and the voice of Andromalius was all that was heard. "Well then, let's check this out."

Author's Note

By the power of Red Dead Redemption and Spiderman, I write. Enjoy this absolute unit because I decided to split this chapter so Andromalius would stand on her own for her bit. Next chapter probably won't be as long but will mark the halfway point of the story.

Edited by kitkataddel and posted 2/16/19

Chapter Six: Why Being A Part-Time Superhero Sucks

Despite the royal places she had lived in, Sunset Shimmer was actually happiest in danger. Some might call it a suicidal tendency, while others might call her an adrenaline junkie; Sunset had named it her calling. The knife edge of life and death was always a place she excelled, ever since having to act fast and think faster had become her whole life. When her parents had died, her aunt and uncle had taken her in, but by the time she was four, they basically ignored her. All she had was an empty room and the occasional meal when they decided to share that they were eating. So she started living off the bounty of the streets, enjoying it almost instantly, and now, even after education to rival the scholars of old and at one point being rich enough to buy a villa, she still found herself neck-deep in the muck of the street. She smiled as she peeked over the roof. This was where she belonged.

The rooftop was mostly clear, except for four people standing in the open air. Instinctively, Andromalius reached into her pocket, pulling a simple flip knife from its home. The first figure was quite obviously the shooter, wearing a large leather duster that went down to a pair of tan combat boots, accompanied by a simple leather hat in the same vein as Applejack’s. The bright blue hair made Andromalius pause, but the large revolver held in each hand refocused her instantly. They were pointed at two of the three other people, specifically at two familiar figures: Aria Blaze and Adagio Dazzle. Andromalius stared as she looked them over, reminding herself that they were technically a non-threat to Equestria now. However, in the same breath, she basically had come here to kill them. She watched as her thoughts whirled around her head, checking her situation. She didn't have anything close to a full combat load: pocket knife, an emergency invisibility potion and a crippling lack of magical power to use might not be enough. She could only grimace at the possibility that this might be her only chance.

As she slowly snuck up the roof, she heard Aria talking. "Son of a bitch, those things hurt!" She was clutching her shoulder, Andromalius noting the lack of blood and the pained expression on the siren’s face.

The cowboy spoke, Sunset's eyes widening in recognition behind the mask. "You three caused a hell of a lot of trouble, why don't you turn yourselves in and make it easy?" She knew that voice - that was Flash Sentry. He was using the stupid voice he used when they watched movies together, she couldn't forget it if she tried. Unfortunately.

Adagio seemed to purr as she walked up. "And what would we turn ourselves in for, hmm?" She started to grovel mockingly, bending over with clasped hands. "Oh yes, Mr. Policeman? We enslaved a school with our magical powers and then got blasted by the rainbow of friendship. Please punish us!" She laughed as she straightened up. "Yes, we could totally do that and our karma would even out."

Sunset put all her baggage in a mental chest and locked it up tight - there was enough time for a mental breakdown later. Instead, Andromalius began walking up, clapping slowly with each step. Flash turned to her, keeping one pistol on Aria while leveling the second at the experience vigilante. She nearly laughed at the stupid bandana he was wearing - it was the one she gave him as a joke when he tried to dress up for Halloween as a prisoner and had a serial number hand stitched on the back end. He looked between her and the sirens. "And what's this? More tally marks for my barrel?"

Aria cut in before anyone else could. "Like hell we're tally marks! Rubber bullets don't kill, asshole." She paused, reconsidering. "Well, they can. But I'm not dead yet."

Andromalius rolled her eyes but kept her advance steady as she began circling, stopping in between Flash and the Sirens. "Well well well. I decide to go out for a peaceful little walk on my night off, and what do I manage to find but three little monsters and a wannabe hero?" She made a show of looking over them. "So is it my lucky day? Or are you four just the most obvious punks in the area?"

Flash kept his pistol aimed at Andromalius, proclaiming, "I am the Tallier, keeping track of the evil done here. State your name and prepare for justice!"

She didn't even try to stop the laugh in response, putting her free hand to where her mouth would be if not for the mask. "Oh my, you seem to think you’re the real deal little human." She spun the knife between her fingers, letting it dance between her digits like a ballerina. "But since you have given me some courtesy, I must respond. I am Andromalius, Eater of Lies." Her blade leveled at the Sirens. "And those three are the entire reason I'm in this accursed world. So run back home little wannabe. I will ensure there won't be a mess for the police in the morning, so don't worry about that."

Flash froze, before spinning both pistols onto her. "I've heard of you, but I can't let you kill these three girls in cold blood. That's not justice, just murder."

The devilish vigilante’s laugh boomed out across the rooftop, her deep voice only adding a menacing tone. "Oh dear, I needed that." She pretended to wipe a tear from her eye, fighting down more chuckles. "You humans are always so good for laughs. If you think those three little immortals are human, then you’re dumber than your entire school."

Andromalius watched as Flash's hand tightened on his pistol. "What did you say?"

She smiled, pretending to hide her mouth. "Oh, are you in hiding? So sorry, I’ll make sure to remember that from now." She scratched her chin, waving the knife dismissively. "But you might want to run off now, I could forget in a flash."

Flash lowered the hammer on his pistol, jabbing it at her. "How do you know all this? I literally started tonight!"

Andromalius glanced to Adagio, who was looking at her with squinted eyes, as if teasing out her secrets. Aria had grabbed a baton from somewhere, but Sonata. Sonata was just crying, making her pause, before she sighed. "I'm tired, so you'll forgive my lack of playfulness. But I simply must get this finished sooner rather than later." She knew the pistols he was using. He kept them in his rooms. He didn't know she had looked them over herself and found the small assembly of levers that keep the gun at half-cock were slightly out of shape. And while Sunset didn't know how guns worked, she knew the hammer had to fall for those to fire. Burning her dwindling reserve of magic she clenched her fist. There was utter silence for a moment before Adagio gasped.

Both vigilantes turned to look at her, and saw she was sprawled on the floor, squirming away. "H-how did you do that? You can't do that here!"

"Well, she seems to have figured it out." She gestured to Flash, grinning under her mask. "So then, 'Tallier', I just broke your guns. It's the little things by the hammers, so you can fix it later. But for now, buh-bye."

Flash leveled the barrels at her before pulling the triggers. Both guns gave quiet clicks, and Flash stared at them, Andromalius acknowledging it by pointing the knife at him. "Now if I can do that without moving, guess what I could do to you."

Flash cursed before bolting, climbing down the building in a hurry. The remaining crimefighter rolled her head to look at the Sirens. "Now that the lone human is gone, we shall talk. I have so many questions." Andromalius walked up to Adagio, wasting no time by picking her up by the collar of her frayed shirt. "Like how does it feel to kill children?" There was a clamor of footsteps and Andromalius threw Adagio to the side, ducking a haymaker from Aria. She grabbed her arm and pulled, making sure her knife hand stayed on target, slipping it cleanly between Aria's ribs. She barely slowed down as Aria screamed, continuing her questioning.

"How does it feel to destroy entire cities with a single verse of your accursed song?" She left Aria on the floor and moved back towards Adagio, who was frantically crawling away. "And finally, how does it feel, to finally fear death after millennia of life?" She grabbed Adagio's leg, pulling her back and slamming the blade into the base of her skull. There was a loud crack, as the yellow color of Adagio's flesh started to turn a disgusting mix of red and gray.

Andromalius flicked her blade clean, looking to the crying Sonata. "And you, little Sonata, how does it feel? Hmm?" She stalked towards the last siren, keeping her emotions locked away. Even stripped of their powers, they could make a new Heartstone, much like a manticore after it eats its first pony; they had to be put down. The fact that they could speak had no bearing; a Windigo could speak, but that didn't mean it shouldn’t to be put down. She could mourn them later, give them a private funeral between a killer and her victim. Like she used to do with every monster her and Celestia used to do. Dirty, but necessary.

Or so she thought until Sonata let out two soft words in between sobs. "I'm sorry." She continued crying, but the vigilante stopped. She had never known a monster to apologize.

She leaned down, lifting Sonata's chin with her clean hand. "Are you really?" Sonata nodded, and Andromalius stared at her for a long moment. Sonata didn’t even beg for her life. She simply closed her eyes, waiting for the blade to find her throat. Instead, Sunset sat down beside her, slowly wrapping her arm around her. When she spoke, her voice was softer, drifting away from the deep tones of Andromalius. "Sonata, I want you to be honest. Do you want to be better, not have to cause strife and death wherever you go?" There was a collection of quiet sobs, before a slow nod came. Sunset gave her a solid hug in an attempt to comfort her. "Then I cannot kill you. Do you know who I am?"

Sonata sniffled, tears still spilling freely. "Mhm. Y-you're Andromalius. You wander around the city and stop bad people from hurting other people. Adagio said you were dumb, and that humans fight so much that even if you killed everybody but two of them, one would kill the other within a week."

Sunset laughed, nodding at the statement. "That may be true, but just because you face long odds, doesn't mean you shouldn't do the right thing. But you're wrong, I'm not just Andromalius." She stood up, making a split-second decision. "If you come with me, I'll keep you safe. You'll be fed, have a roof over your head, and the possibility to return to our home one day. This I swear."

Sonata paused. "What do I have to do?"

Smiling behind her mask, Sunset offered her a hand. "Be better. Every day will be hard, you'll feel how easy it would be to do the wrong thing to get what you want. But if you can just do better, I'll do everything in my power to get Celestia herself to let you back into Equestria, and I'll get the two greatest scholars working on a way for you to eat without all the negative side effects."

Sonata slowly raised her hand, before pausing. "You're not trying to trick me? You're not going to take my hand and then hurt me, are you?"

Sunset winced. That was way too close to exactly what she would have done a scant few months ago. "No Sonata. I cannot promise anything about how changing yourself will feel, but I will not hurt you. I know better than most how much changing yourself can hurt." Sonata grabbed the hand, and Sunset pulled her up, wrapping her in a hug while steering her to the edge of the building. "Don't look behind you, your past isn't today, and I can promise you we'll make you better." Sunset looked over the night time city. She saw a glint from the distance and looked to it. And then her shoulder exploded into pain. She felt herself hit the floor, as her shoulder seemed to try and burn itself apart with pain. "SHIT!"

Sonata gasped as Sunset rolled off the roof, grabbing the ledge and laying herself flat to ready for the short fall. As she fell, she screamed, "SONATA, GET DOWN HERE!"

Andromalius hit the cement with a thump, and all the air was knocked out of her, and she gasped on the floor. A lighter footfall sounded beside her. "Uh, Ms. Demon, your bleeding."

She winced in pain, clutching at the wound. "I noticed. Help me up." Sonata grabbed the good arm, hauling her up, and Andromalius looked over the area. "I have some friends that will be nearby, should only be a ten-minute walk." She looked to Sonata, who was looking at her shoulder in horror. "I can't look at it without going into shock, how bad is it?"

Sonata's mouth opened and closed a few times. "Y-you were shot."

"Great, do you know where the fine grind coffee shop is?"

Sonata nodded, trying to avoid looking at the wound. "Yeah, since we've been low on money I've been begging there for a while."

Keeping that information for late, the wounded girl decided to focus on the here and now. "We need to get to the roof. It's a three-story building and I can't climb." Andromalius began walking in its direction with Sonata supporting her. "So I need to find a way to get up there without ruining my shoulder forever. And get a phone call to Feint to make sure she stashed a medkit."

Sonata perked up, sending a slight movement over the Andromalius’ shoulder blades. She winced as a fresh surge of pain racked her body, stumbling. Sonata helped her stay steady, shifting so she could support more weight. "I have a key, the owner left it one night. Since Adagio kicks me out every few nights I'd sleep there if it was cold."

Giving a bitter smile, the vigilante gave a nod of approval. "Yeah, that works." She reached into her pocket, only to feel half a burner phone in her pocket. "Shit, looks like we're going to be going in blind. My phone broke in the fall."

"Okay, I know they keep one in the store if that helps at all."

Shaking her head in response, the wounded girl peeked around a corner. "Nope, I pack the group kits for my little gang of delinquents, so it has what I need."

Sonata nodded as the turned the corner, and stopped asking questions. They walked in silence, with Andromalius’ eyes slowly faltering as they continued moving. Once they finally arrived, Sonata proved true to her word, taking a small key out of her pocket and opening the door. The injured girl immediately collapsed in a nearby seat, and looked to Sonata. She paused before speaking, as she felt the potion that created the voice of Andromalius wear off, her vocal cords rearranging. "Okay, lesson one in being better; try and help your friends. Think you can pass the practical?" Sonata nodded, and Sunset grimaced, but still thankful that she didn’t recognize her voice. "I need to get into my backpack; can you give me a hand?"

Sonata carefully removed the strap from Sunset's good shoulder, and then stood back up. After a few seconds of confused and slightly awkward silence, Sunset spoke up. "What about the other strap?"

"Um, it was where you were hit. There isn't really a second strap anymore."

"Oh." She reached behind her, trying to haul it over her body, only managing to do it once Sonata gave her a hand. Once it was in her lap, Sunset looked to the siren, calmly speaking. "Now, I'm going to take my mask off. You'll probably recognize me, so try to keep it down, okay?"

She nodded, and Sunset took off her white mask, exposing her face to the outside world. There was a sharp inhale from in front of her, but Sunset paused, ignoring it as she looked at her mask. It had a red splatter over its face, and only now that she had taken it off did she realize it was clouding her vision quite badly. After a moment, Sonata talked, with a clear shocked tone to her voice. "You're that girl! The one who stopped us at the Battle of the Bands!" Sonata froze, both her voice and expression becoming very disappointed. "So you were lying..."

Sunset cocked her head to the side, trying to blank out the pain. While she had practice and experience, this was way more pain than she was used to. "How do you figure?"

Sonata seemed to deflate, sighing. "You’re just some high school girl. Even if you know that princess, they would never take a human’s word that I was doing better."

In response, Sunset raised her good hand, lifting Sonata's chin so she was looking her in the eyes. "Sonata, we've never introduced ourselves." Sighing, the part time vigilante decided to go all in with honesty. "I am Sunset Shimmer. The former student of Princess Celestia. Magus of the sixth order, and First Disciple of the Holy Fire." After a moment, Sunset tapped Sonata's shoulder, wincing. "And also currently deeply in pain, so take heart. I did not lie, and I desperately need that medkit. So we’ll go and head upstairs to hunt down the guys, right?"

Sonata nodded as Sunset pulled her mask from the backpack, putting the bloody one back inside. As she was helped up, the remasked girl spoke up, her voice undistorted. "Also, they don't know me as Andromalius, so call me Flanksy when we get up there, ‘kay?" She flinched as she felt the mask over, finding the bottom half was cracked and broken off, and the paint had chipped off. She left it on nonetheless, having no time as Sonata opened the door to the stairwell. Flanksy flinched, but began the slow climb up.

When they reached the top floor they heard voices from the other side. Before Sunset could talk Sonata opened the door. "Well everybody, if Flanksy doesn't get here in the next few minutes we'll-"

Feint was talking, but Retna was the one who saw them first. "Everybody, cameras down! We got an issue!" Suddenly, there was a lot of scraping as Sonata hauled Flanksy to a loose chair that seemed to be set up for rooftop reading. Brainwash was on her in an instant. "Flanksy, what happened?!"

"Did you know that snipers are a thing?" She coughed, using the time to try and get her story straight. "Andromalius was busting a small gang fight, I think I caught a bullet for her."

Before Brainwash could talk, Feint had bodily pushed him out of the way, pulling a medkit out from under the chair. "This kit isn't set up for wounds this big. I'll call a hospital as soon as your stable."

Flanksy shook her head, her mask wobbling a little. "No can do, I'm not allowed to be here, that would be signing my death warrant. Is that one of the kits I packed?" Feint nodded, already grabbing a bandage. "Pull the small string under the pressure bandage." Feint did so, and let out a small choked noise as she looked, but wasn’t given time to process it. "Grab one of the syrettes on the left-hand side, and pass it to me."

Feint did so, and Sunset instantly bit the cap off, not caring that her mask was barely hiding her identity anymore. She looked at the needlepoint, slightly squeezing the container until a single drop fell from it. She then slammed the needle into the top of her shoulder and let out a scream. The rooftop froze as they all looked at her before she took another deep breath. "Okay, I'm better now. Now there should be a metal bottle with a red cross on it, pass it to me."

Feint raised an eyebrow but passed it to her regardless. With a wince Sunset felt her reserves flare from their low threshold. "Shit, actually, I'm gonna have to do this the painful way. Pass me the bottle with the black skull that says for emergencies only." Feint looked to the bottle with suspicion, and passed it to her. Sunset almost physically flinched from it, resisting the urge to recoil away. She looked up, and saw her whole group was watching her. She also noticed Mouse had forgotten to take off his camera. "Mouse, call out on stream. Tell them if Trix is watching to head to my apartment. There's a key hidden in a small hole in the top left corner of the door. Go in and go to my room, there's a small flip phone in the end-table beside my couch. Tell her to call the nurse and that I need a house call. Money is no object."

Mouse nodded, running to the computer, while Sunset just sighed. "Alright guys, get me a piece of wood or something to bite down on." Retna reached into his pocket and pulled out a tin stick of wood.

Sunset raised an eyebrow, and Retna gave a shrug. "It's got a set of lockpicks hidden in it. Can never be to careful, right?"

Sunset smirked, before taking it and popping the top on the black potion. She took a mouthful of it and tilted her head back. She swallowed and instantly jammed the wood between her teeth. Her body became an inferno as soon as the potion dropped into her gut. Her blood seeming to boil as she could feel her skin bubble. She wasn't sure if she was screaming, but she couldn't even look at her friends to check. She felt like her eyelids had fused together, her whole body feeling like it was in the midst of a magma bath.

After what felt like years it stopped. She spit out the wood and looked around. Each member of her group was staring, with Sonata staring in what looked like fear and awe. Sunset let out a gasp as her shoulder pulsed, but her magic reserves were healthy again. Not full, but enough to limp through a half-assed healing potion. She grabbed the potion, slamming a sip down. She couldn't handle more than that. She felt her numbed body knit slightly, the blood that was seeming to ooze from her shoulder seemed to slow.

Retna stepped forward. "Flanksy, the hell was that?!"

Sunset leaned back, feeling herself droop and almost pass out. She felt her stomach lurch, and she threw of her mask. She threw up over the side of the chair. After a moment she slumped back in her chair. "That, was an incredibly old art from my home. Also an incredibly sucky one." She paused, before shouting. "MOUSE, UNTIL YOU TAKE THAT CAMERA OFF STAY FAR THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!" There was a clatter behind the group, but Sunset just leaned back. "But I need a lift home. Anybody got wheels?"

Feint stepped forward. "You got hurt on my run, I've got you, boss."

Sunset held out a hand. "Sonata, you’re with me, I promised you a roof, and you'll get one." Sunset stumbled, before leaning into Feint. She spoke slowly, forcing the words out. "I live in the Canter Blues building, basement room." As Feint helped her up she stumbled again, and her shoulder exploded into pain again. She had a moment to realize she was blacking out before she heard herself hit the floor.

Author's Note

And we've reached the halfway point. Step into my parlor and enjoy sweating it out.

Edited by kitkataddel, posted on 2/16/19

Side-Chapter 3: Worries and Pains

Trixie was worried. She was watching Sunset's stream, and just saw Flanksy run off to check out a literal gunfight. She knew that Sunset might not be Flanksy herself, but just the thought of Sunset running off to watch a gunfight worried her. She wasn't exactly popular, and she knew why. Not many people could deal with her ego, and Sunset was one in a million. So she watched Retna as he ran to his point. He was minorly complaining about Flanksy knowing so much about them, but more often he was looking towards where the gunshots came from.

He painted quickly, and Flanksy was proven spot on. A sexy angel, her wings burning as she held a blank ball in her hands. Retna shuffled, and Trixie heard him speak. "Well, since Flanksy can't introduce her new little toy, I will. She was apparently playing breaking bad and made us some new paint. Tell us what you think in the post-show, aight?" And Trixie let out a breath as the paint hit. A rainbow. Not just a static thing, but a moving, breathing sphere of color that seemed to shift and change according to the whims of fate. Trixie was spellbound as Retna cut the feed. She sat in silence for five minutes, rewinding the stream just to watch the colors shift, over and over again.

She would have sat there for hours, simply watching paint change colors on its own, but the stream was cut. With a spiel of laughter, the scene abruptly shifted to what looked like a closed rooftop cafe. She heard Mouse. "Man, Flanksy's new paint kicks ass, really added some pop to my work."

She heard Feint's cheery voice pop up. "Yeah yeah, if Flanksy doesn't show up soon then we'll-"

Suddenly a door was heard, and Retna jumped up. "Everybody, camera's down, we've got an issue!"

Most of the runners threw their camera's face down into the middle of the group, but Mouse instead stared in horror as Brainwash ran off screen. Trixie switched the feed as quickly as she could, and flinched. Flanksy was shot. Torn flesh and seeping blood coating her left shoulder, her mask cracked in half revealing a grimacing face. She was leaned back in a chair, which was slowly getting coated in her blood. She was telling Feint something and was handed a small syringe. After staring at it for a moment she jammed it into her shoulder. The scream pierced her speakers, and Trixie's blood froze. That was Sunset. She might not have ever heard Sunset scream, but she recognized the voice. Sunset looked to Mouse, and then stared into the camera. She said something else, but it was said so quickly and quietly Trixie couldn't make it out. Mouse turned around and ran to the main area, stopping at the laptop on a table. "Okay, so uh... Trix, if you’re watching comment on our feed." Trixie quickly posted a quick message, saying she was here, and Mouse physically relaxed. "Good, look, Flanksy needs you. Head to her place. There's a key hidden in a hole at the top left-hand side of her door. She said the couches end table had an old flip phone inside it. Grab it and call the nurse. She said to say money is no object." Trixie nodded, heading out of her room. "Grand-père, I need a lift! NOW!"

***

Rainbow Dash limped up to Fluttershy's small house, trying to keep her thoughts in order. She had known Sunset was guilty. But, she had also known Sunset was a wimpy nerd like Twilight, trained by some princess to be a career nerd. Rainbow stumbled on the gravel path. She also knew a bookworm doesn't know how to counter a kick into a picture perfect ankle break. Rainbow Dash wasn't stupid, in fact when it came to any of her favorite subjects she was quite smart. In a fight, to do a counter like that took more than most people's natural ability. That was the result of both practice and use. Someone who had fought before, and on a much more serious level than sparring. The only time she slowed down was when the hold was locked, and that was after Rainbow started to feel the tension that would break her ankle and ruin her chances of a scholarship. As she reached the door she spoke. "Sunset had to stop herself from hurting me. She was so used to beating people to a pulp that she had to physically stop herself."

Rainbow chewed her lip as she knocked, waiting for Fluttershy. It only took a moment before the butter skinned girl answered. She seemed to glare at Rainbow a moment before her expression softened. "What the matter Rainbow? Weren't you going to meet that guy you were asking out today?"

Rainbow grimaced. "Nah, he had to cancel, one of his friends got in a spot of trouble. I was going for a run in the woods and ran into a spot of trouble." She gestured to her ankle. "Think you can check it out doc? I think it's sprained."

Fluttershy nodded. "Yes, sit down out here and let me get my first aid kit."

Rainbow smiled and sat down in the wicker chair, leaning back. Her head was still full of questions. Sunset could fight. This was now a fact. Rainbow didn't run from cold hard facts. Sunset also said to trust her heart, but what could her heart say? There was evidence Sunset was Anon-A-Miss. No one else had that picture, and Applejack’s dumb nickname didn't get out until Sunset knew. Sure, Applejack’s whole family knew, but they would never rat her out. Rainbow winced as she tapped her foot. She hated her nervous habits. She grumped in her seat, a sour expression on her face. All of their friends knew that nickname, but they were pretty much family. Rainbow suddenly sat up straight, just as Fluttershy came out and softly placed a hand on Rainbow’s shoulder. She pushed her back into her seat and pulled a small stool up to sit on. "Okay, Dash put your foot on my knee."

Rainbow Dash did so, and Fluttershy blanched. "RAINBOW, THERE’S BLOOD ON THIS BRACE!"

"What?"

She carefully peeled the brace off and gave a quick sigh of relief. She lifted the leg, examining it. "Well, you're not bleeding, so that's good. Where'd you get this anyways? I know you don't keep one in your car."

Rainbow rubbed the back of her head. "Sunset gave it to me."

Fluttershy quirked her head, "Really, I thought you threw out everything Sunset gave you when Rarity did."

"Er, she gave it to me today." Fluttershy silently lifted Rainbow’s ankle, looking it over with gentle movements before placing it on the floor. Then she leveled an extremely judging glare right at Rainbow, knowing that she was very adept at decoding the sometimes tricky silent looks Fluttershy could give. "Yeah, I was looking for her..." Fluttershy crossed her arms, and Rainbow nodded. "And I may have thrown a punch..."

Fluttershy moved from a judgemental glare to an angry one. "Rainbow Dash, she's been through a lot, even if you think that-"

Her sentence was cut off when Dash leaned in. "I think Sunset's innocent."

Fluttershy stared for a moment. Rainbow felt awkward during it, with Fluttershy not showing any of her normal nonverbal cues. After the moment dragged on for just a bit too long, Fluttershy spoke. "Why?"

Rainbow sighed. "She can fight Flutters. And not like me, she can fight and brutalize somebody without a second thought." She ran a finger through her hair, trying to marshal her thoughts. "And I never knew that. Hell, I would have bet she didn't have a clue how to fight."

Rainbow hauled her leg back into her lap, grabbing the brace from the floor. "And if I didn't know she could fight, I didn't know anything. But despite all that, I agreed with Applejack when she called her family." Rainbow Dash's fist clenched. "I thought she was family and threw her aside without listening to her side of the story at all."

Fluttershy wrapped Rainbow up in a small hug. "I know Rainbow, I did the same thing." Rainbow froze. If Fluttershy said that, she thought Sunset was innocent too. Rainbow returned the hug. Everything else could wait for a moment. For now, she just wanted some comfort, and Fluttershy was good at that.

Author's Note

Edited by kitkataddel, posted 2/16/19

Interlude: A Talk With Royalty

Twilight Sparkle wondered many things while she walked the halls of Canterlot Castle. She had let the talk with Sunset Shimmer rest overnight, and kept the envelope Sunset had given her safely tucked away under one of her wings. She had found a sigil burned over the flap, more than likely the result of the flash of magic Sunset had used yesterday; and despite her knowledge of many noble houses and ancient markings, she was still unfamiliar with the marking on the envelope. She quickly moved past the castle's checkpoints after teleporting inside, since she was allowed throughout most of the castle without question excluding the most secure areas. Outside her old classroom, she hesitated. She had arranged this meeting earlier in the morning, but she couldn’t ignore the slight shuffling of her wings that accompanied any serious meeting with the Princess. She knocked a few times before the door opened and the serene voice of Princess Celestia seemed to waft through the room. "Come in Twilight."

Twilight Sparkle moved into the tea room. A shrill cry rang throughout the room as a rush of red feathers clouded her vision and a pair of talons landed softly on her mane. Celestia let out a soft chuckle. "I see you've visited Sunset recently."

Twilight nodded, raising a hoof to rub at Philomena's head. "Yes, in fact, she told me a whole lot of things I didn't know." Celestia didn't flinch, simply pouring a second cup of tea. Twilight stepped forward, sitting across from the small table. "And I have some very important questions for you."

Celestia paused, grabbing her teacup with the soft golden glow of magic. "Really? Well ask away then. I will be as honest as possible."

Twilight nodded, this was going smoother than she hoped. First things first though, context is everything. "Well, Sunset ran into a bit of trouble." Celestia raised a single eyebrow, and Twilight dove in, taking it as a sign to continue. "Somepony framed her, and she kinda got left on her own. And since she was left there on her own, she feels lonely and isolated right now."

There were no sudden eye twitches or curling of lips on Celestia's face, instead, she simply stirred her tea; a levitated spoon, counterclockwise. But Twilight's eyes were drawn to the tea itself. It was boiling. Celestia cleared her throat softly. "So her friends abandoned her?"

Twilight spoke quickly, trying to ignore the boiling tea. "Yes, though one had shown up to apologize when I arrived. But, that's just context. The important thing is what she said when I was leaving." Celestia looked impassive, while Twilight could feel beads of sweat beginning to form under her fur. Even through the increasing nerves, she didn’t falter, this was for Sunset, and if her hunch was right, she needed to get Sunset home. And if that meant staring down Celestia, then so be it. "She said you had lied."

Celestia's regal mask cracked. Her eyes widened a sliver, and Twilight was suddenly much more fidgety with her wings and hooves. Celestia had lied. The mare she had spent her whole life emulating had lied, to her, and if Celestia could lie to her, could she lie to her nation just as easily? Celestia's voice remained steady, her only crack vanishing in an instant. "Well, that's interesting. What did she say I lied about?"

Twilight studied the room as if an assassin was waiting, ready for when she spoke next. "She was," she paused and swallowed the saliva that had quickly built along the inside of her mouth. "She was a bit cagey about it. She said that she was a magus, and a respected one at that. And that either you lied to her, or me." Twilight licked her lips and studied Celestia's expression, or the lack thereof. "Then she said for me to tell you, and I'm quoting here, 'that you either lied to her or me, and unless you get off your cake-filled flank and come to my house and say otherwise, she's gonna assume you lied to her. And that until you do go there and tell her that you lied to me, that she will not come back.'

Celestia dropped her regal mask and bit her lip in a frown. "Oh." The two sat in silence until Twilight decided to break it by pulling out the envelope and placed it on the table. Celestia grabbed it, her horn glowing as the sigil burned over the fold of the envelope glowed softly. Celestia hesitated before tearing the letter open. Twilight studied the Solar Princes as she began to read. The further Celestia read, the more she winced and cringed at the letter's contents.

By the time Celestia had finished the letter, pain and regret were etched all over her face. Tears threatened to escape her eyes as she set the letter down on the table. Then her hair sparked. Twilight flinched as her mentor's face morphed from sorrow to rage in a blink of an eye. She thought she heard a snarl, but when Celestia spoke, her voice was eerily calm, as though it was laced with an edge she had never heard from her beloved mentor before. "Princess Twilight Sparkle. What is the name of the scribe who wrote the order you found?"

"C-Clear Writ." The words escaped her lips before she had even realized what she had said.

Celestia's mane smoldered. The rope she tugged on with her magic had begun to burn, smoke gathering in the area. A moment later, the door behind her opened. "KIBITZ, FIND ME CLEAR WRIT! BRING HIM TO MY OFFICE ON THE TOP FLOOR TO BE DEALT WITH AT MY CHOOSING!" Before Kibitz had a chance to leave, Twilight rubbed her flattened ears and watched as Celestia's mane faltered. “Wait,” her voice stumbled as she shook her head, "As soon as my sister awakens, please send her to me. I will also need to leave for a while, and she will need to take my place."

There was an affirmative harumph from behind Twilight, and the door shut. A deafening silence filled the room once more. Then a faint sniffle from the Princess of the Sun, as she broke the stone facade she so often wore. Twilight stared at Celestia who had slowly began to look back up at her. There was a thin trail of wet fur under underneath her moist eyes that betrayed her attempts at maintaining her normal stoic expression. "I-” She shook her head using a hoof to wipe the residue off her face. “Twilight, Sunset Shimmer was right. A lie by omission is as much of a lie as any." Celestia stood up, and glanced at Twilight before she slowly trudged to the bookshelf on the nearby wall. "It is well known that I occasionally adopt a foal. Once every few generations, a foal will captivate me, and become as much of a child to me as if I had given birth to them myself."

Celestia fixated on a single book, raising a hoof to gently stroke its spine. "Sunset Shimmer; she had such a hard life before she came to my care. Her parents had already died and the ponies who were charged with raising her had ignored all her needs to focus solely on their birthed son. She scraped what she could off the streets, earning just enough bits stealing and selling what she could, just to afford the test to get into my school.” Celestia sighed, and turned to face Twilight. "And she amazed me, Twilight. Oh she amazed me. The single most powerful unicorn I had ever seen. I was stunned. I couldn’t help but make her my student right then and there."

Twilight watched as something clicked in the back of her mind. Her eyes widened as she realized the true meaning of what she was asked to do, and why she was here. Celestia, ignorant of Twilight, kept talking. "But I made a mistake, an oh-so-stupid mistake. I introduced her to court when she was young. So early. Too early. And yet, she took to it like a moth to a flame. She learned how to speak to others; pandering to nobles and working backroom deals." Celestia moved to a small display that contained a cracked shield. "Before I had even noticed, she was stuck in the same patterns that I was in over a thousand years ago. "

Celestia lightly touched the glass. "I thought she might realize her problems the same way I was forced to; hunt monsters and save ponies. And I had hoped she would discover that court is just an equally important method for saving others." Celestia sighed. "But it didn't work. Sunset- she loved the work. The sole reason why she never became a fully fledged magus was because of me, and my own fear for her. I’d constantly stonewall her, hoping my little filly would just take the safer path..."

Celestia stood tall. "But now I can fix this. And I need to fix this. Twilight, please, find every law book you can and study. Starting tomorrow, you will join my sister in taking my place. I will remain here for a few days to make sure you are sufficiently prepared, before crossing the mirror myself." Celestia moved back to the bookshelf, grabbing the book and stuffing it under her wing. "It has been far to long since I hugged my daughter, and her stumbles were caused from my own failures. It's time to for me to take responsibility." Celestia stormed off, leaving Twilight alone.

Twilight took a moment to process what she had heard. Sunset had been- no, is Celestia's daughter. She left the room, making her way to the library while creating a mental checklist with each relevant law book she knew. The sooner she started, the sooner Celestia could see Sunset. But when she arrived at the library doors, she paused. But, why? Why did she lie about Sunset’s past? It just... She frowned, but quickly shook the thoughts away. She had a job to do, and she wasn’t going to let her friend down. Opening the door, she gazed up at the sun and moon that decorated the ceiling, watching over the library. And once Celestia is gone, I’ll ask Luna myself.

Author's Note

Many thanks to Blue Horizon, who edited and reworded much of this chapter and took it upon himself to be my editor. So everyone give them a quick round of applause.

Edited by kitkataddel, posted 2/16./19

Chapter Seven: Bath Bombs

Sunset's first hint that she wasn't dead was the pain. A deep searing pain, like her body was burning into ash. After she had a moment to adjust to her new and painful form of life, she heard her second proof of life. Voices, pounding through her through her skull and sending tremors of pain through her brain like drills. She groaned, trying to force a voice, any voice, to escape her parched throat. Her second attempt managed a few indecipherable words that sounded more like mumblings from a dying walrus that had washed ashore hours ago.

But she had met her objective with her third attempt; a simple harsh bark. The voices stopped and Sunset weakly flinched at the freezing touch of a gentle hand. The voice that spoke was soft, and gentle, and managed to cut through the void of darkness Sunset found herself trapped in. "I don't know what to really say. We already dressed the wounds, and we know they aren’t infected. But she is burning up and I can’t really do anything help with that here." Sunset thought on that. She shouldn't be burning up. After taking a mana refresher potion, and as long as you remember to take the counter potion, it should only hurt while it burns itself up.

A moment later and Sunset gasped, forcing herself up. More freezing hands closed on her chest, keeping her down as she tried to stand. She coughed, trying to speak. "Blech- Ble- BLUE! Fridge!"

There were several loud noises; heavy footsteps, clanging of glass, the obnoxious slamming of the fridge door, each one causing strained groans from Sunset. Then she felt someone grab her hand and placing a small cold plastic bottle in between her brittle fingers that weakly clutched around it. Her hands wobbled as she shakily brought the bottle towards her mouth, grimacing when she realized she needed someone’s, anyone’s, helpful hands to untwist the small plastic cap. Once the cap was off, she took a few small sips. The pain that until moments ago had been burning her to dust, quickly faded to a dull ache that, while forcing her to remain still, wasn't making her actively wish for death. Just passively.

With another groan to voice her displeasure at her continued existence, Sunset decided to experiment. She cracked her eyes open, facing the world as best she could. The light didn’t burn her sight like she had feared, instead, she found herself able to glance around her environment. She was right, this was in her humble home. She fought to move her damaged arm, but found it tied up and bandaged at her side. A stern voice spoke up. "Don't move your arm. I'm not sure how you managed to get shot, but you aren't moving that arm until you get to a hospital."

Sunset turned to face the speaker with a grunt. She looked over to find white skin of Nurse Redheart in a pair of khaki pants, with a bulging backpack over her plain black polo shirt., who held a hand over her arm while looking down at her with a stern look of disapproval. Sunset tried to force a witty one-liner about not expecting her here, or fake a mangled shocked gasp at the fact she was exposed without her mask. Instead, she struggled to shake her head and motion for water. Nurse Redheart sighed and nudged her head to the right, where Sunset found a disheveled and teary-eyed Trixie holding a glass of water and a cheap plastic straw. Trixie raised the cup and moved the straw in between Sunset’s lips, who then took a few hearty slurps of the cool water that soothed her ashy throat. "No hospitals,” she wheezed out, “they'll probably kill me."

Redheart rolled her eyes and forced a lighthearted chuckle. "A couple of teens have told me they’re scared of hospitals before, but hospitals purposely killing you? Come on Sunset, that’s ridiculous."

Sunset coughed, gesturing for a hand to sit up, which Redheart reluctantly gave. Once Sunset was sitting up she spoke again. "I’m not afraid of them, it’s just… I'm an alien with inhuman abilities. If the government ever saw an official report, it’d be a lengthy interrogation for dinner and a cold vivisection for dessert."

There was a scoff from behind her followed by some hushed muttering. Ignoring whoever was behind her, Sunset instead focused on Nurse Redheart and Trixie. "Thank you, both of you,” Sunset said with a much less raspy voice. “I know this has been really difficult for you guys, but, I need help with one more thing than you,” she pointed a feeble finger at Redheart, “can name your price and I’ll get some sleep. I need help to take a shower but before I do so, and this is very important, in the fridge is a yellow bottle with a white ‘x’ written on its orange cap. I need it.”

Redheart looked at Sunset's shoulder that was currently mummified in blood coated bandages. "That’s fine,” Redheart said with a sigh, “I’ll need to wash and wipe down the blood anyway, but we’ll need to get it covered before you shower.”

Sunset shook her head. "No, the wound will need to be cleaned after I drink the bottle, it’s going to be..” Sunset gazed off into the corner of the room, then winced as she thought about the previous night. “Rough.”

Redheart leveled a glare, but helped her regardless, carefully escorting the limping and exhausted Sunset towards the shower before letting her lean against the formerly spotless sink while Trixie left to find the potion. Sunset glumly turned to face the mirror and cringed when she saw her reflection. Gone was her light amber skin, instead, it was clammy and gray that made her look like a raccoon when she noticed the large dark bags underneath her eyes. Large portions of hair were matted down with dried sweat and grimy blood while other portions made normal bedhead look pristine. Gripping the side of the countertop, she bit her lip sending a small shockwave of pain across her body as she struggled to stand still. C’mon Sunset, this ain’t the first time Death came to your Gaia, and you know it won’t be the last.

Sunset glanced at the reflection at Redheart, who was watching her with a frown as she leaned against the doorframe. She opened her mouth for a moment, then closed it when Trixie called out from behind the duo. “Trixie apologizes for the delay, your fridge is improperly sorted for haste.” She handed the bottle to Redheart who quickly shooed her out of the bathroom.

"Fair warning Nurse,” Sunset turned and grabbed the uncorked bottle from Redheart, “you know how you’re constantly denying magic?” Redheart nodded as Sunset held the lid against her lips. “Well, now you’re about to get a front row seat.” With a smirk, she tilted the back and slugged down her post-run potion.

Sunset’s stomach dropped as the potion began to take effect; at the beginning, it was only damp spots that started appearing across her clothes that started to sag lower and lower down her body as dust, bile, and whatever else she rolled in the previous night began mixing with the blood and sweat. She instinctively gagged at the rancid mixture of blood, sweat, and vomit had permeated across bathroom as it filled her nostrils and mouth. As if I could any more gross, right? She clenched her eyes shut taking a deep breath in then exhaling it through her nose. “I’m allowed to shower now, right?”

Nurse Redheart cringed at the nauseating sight of her patient. “Well,” she hesitated, pinching her nose and shaking her head, “normally I’d have you wait until I covered your bandage, but my normal patients don’t make dumpster divers seem clean. You need my help with this or are you good?” Sunset shrugged. “Alright, I’ll be back in a few moments, I need to get some things first then we can begin.” Redheart opened the door and left.

With her one good arm, Sunset rolled the bottom of her t-shirt? Sunset blinked. What happened to my hoodie? Sliding the strapless t-shirt up her body, she grimaced as she slowly maneuvered around her bad shoulder before slipping out of it and dropping it into her sink. She slid her fingers between the loose elastic waistband of the pajamas she only just realized she was wearing when someone knocked on the bathroom door, a few seconds later Redheart stepped in holding a bucket filled with warm water and a large soft sponge. “Figured you wouldn’t want me to just randomly open the door with Trixie still here.” Sunset nodded and pulled the pajamas and underwear down to her ankles. "I promise, I hate this even more than you do.”

Redheart carefully led Sunset into her shower and helped her sit on her knees underneath the nozzle. Redheart un-tied the grimy bandages and set them to the side. Sunset glanced to it, seeing her own wound for the first time. It was stitched shut, but a line of blue string about an inch long was sitting softly in her shoulder, betraying the severity of the wound by the simple use of heavy duty stitches. Redheart spoke up when she noticed Sunset's stare. "All things considered, you were fairly lucky.” Redheart wrung the sponge and gently pressed down on the top of Sunset’s shoulder. Sunset briefly glanced down to the entry wound of where she had been shot. “The bullet managed to slide in the narrow gap between your the clavicle and scapula while also avoiding the main arteries and muscles surrounding them before completely exited your body. It wasn’t a clean exit, so you did manage to lose a lot of blood, and I also had to pick out a few splinters that where etched inside, but when it comes down to it, just bed rest and plenty of water is all you need at this point. And since Trixie is here, I’m going to assume they came from your run, Flanksy."

Sunset watched with morbid fascination as Redheart would routinely load the sponge up with water, then gently apply pressure along the wound as streams of pink water slid down her body and pooled around her knees before draining the sponge behind her and dipping it back into the bucket. "Yeah,” she winced as the sponge was applied directly on of the wound. “I may have had a few more hobbies than I led you to believe."

"More than a few, it seems." The two sat in silence in the bathroom; Sunset would occasionally wince and groan when the sponge touched her skin where the bullet left while Redheart would dunk, wipe, rinse, wring, and repeat, occasionally pausing to fully examine the wound before making her way down to her lower back. Eventually, she stopped and leaned back, letting Sunset know she needed to turn around. “When I discovered a vigilante patching herself up in my apartment, I can’t say I expected it to be one of my students. And no offense, let alone one I truly hated at the time.”

Sunset cringed. "Yeah, I had to deal with the fact I was an awful person somehow."

Redheart’s and Sunset’s eyes momentarily met as the sponge gently started cleaning the front. "I only accepted you that evening because you were still helping out the students even if you were torturing them during throughout each day.” Her voice never rose, or changed pitch, she didn’t talk faster or slower, she was just calm. Steady. Detached. "Care to explain?"

Sunset sighed. "The truth is, when I came across the portal it wasn’t because I couldn’t be a princess, or because I wasn’t given a pair of wings. It was a job. Though, I may have implied differently when I left. My mo-” Sunset paused, feeling the sponge slowly scoop up a drop of some unknown substance on her back. “The Princess was getting protective and blocking my path. I said some things I regret, and left. But the point is, I was hunting something from my side of the portal that fed of anger and flourished in spite-filled environments. I couldn’t leave the portal alone so I figured that I had to find away to stay nearby, and lure them here.” Sunset winced as some water dropped through her stitches. Each drop it made down her wound was liquid fire, until Redheart tapped it with the sponge. Sunset let out a deep breath. "I spent my first three years living on the streets learning everything I could about anything and everything. Eventually, I got lucky. I secured this place and enrolled in Canterlot High.”

Redheart motioned for Sunset to stand and began to wipe down her legs. "But, that doesn't answer my question."

Sunset sighed. "I- Like I said, I couldn’t leave the portal alone so I had to draw them to Canterlot. Once I could ID them, I’d simply take them out and start trying to figure out how to sneak home. But the only thing I knew that I could use as bait was the school, and even with the underground contacts I had built up over the years, the only things I had to use as a lure was pain and heartache. It just so happens Canterlot High was perfect for it."

Redheart moved from Sunset's upper-legs to her around her ankles and feet. The nurse had managed to avoid any private areas for which Sunset was very grateful and glad she could keep some measure of dignity. "Based off what you’re saying, I’d assume you were hunting the sirens, you know, like the girl currently asleep on the couch in your living room."

Sunset nodded. "You're not wrong, but Sonata... When it came down to it, she was remorseful, she wanted to change. Be better than what she was born to become." Sunset managed a tired smile. "And if I didn't help her, it would mean I never truly changed."

Redheart nodded, handing the sponge to Sunset who quickly snatched it up and began scrubbing her face, before turning around and cleaned her chest and other areas with as much dignity as possible. “That’s fair,” Redheart said as she began going through the medicine cabinet. “But, what would you have done if you had found the sirens earlier? Would one still be sleeping soundly on your couch?”

Sunset froze, scrambling to think up any plausible lie. She opened her mouth to speak then closed it. The blood on her chest stared up at Sunset, mocking her. Be better, she thought to herself remembering all the times Nurse Redheart had patched her up or saved her life- the only person Sunset could truly trust on this side of the portal. “I… I probably would have taken care of them the same way that I’ve done all my other jobs with monsters who’ve fed on so many lives. You don’t play games with magical creatures, Redheart, you put them down as hard as you can and as fast you can.."

Redheart scoffed behind her. "And how much blood did those three really get to feed from? The only thing they could do was make a high school turn on itself. That’s not exactly mythic levels of magic and skill."

Sunset finished by scrubbing the dried blood and gunk out of her hair, which took longer than any other portion she had been able to do. "In the one year they wreaked havoc in Equestria, the sirens redesigned an entire coastal front, snuffing out eight cities of various sizes leaving only ash and dust that blew away in a simple breeze. It took a team of the greatest warriors of their time to hold them down while the greatest spellcaster barely managed to transport them away.” Once Sunset was satisfied with her hair, she turned to face Redheart, who held a pill bottle in one of her hands. "At that time, populations for towns and cities weren’t well tracked so numbers vary like they always do in history. But it was somewhere between twenty and thirty thousand."

Nurse Redheart froze. "That many?" Sunset nodded, dumping the water left inside the bucket along the bottom of the shower. Redheart forced a cough into the back of her hand. "Yes, well, now I have more reason to question your sanity for letting her stay here." She watched Sunset in silence as she went and grabbed a towel from her closet. “Here,” she said while taking the towel and wrapping it around her patient, “But I do think you’re doing the right thing. A year ago, I’d have been terrified if I had discovered you were taking someone under your wing, but now? Now I think you may just be able to help her out. And you should be proud of that.”

Sunset nodded, "Yeah, well, lets see if it sticks." She paused for a minute, letting her thoughts materialize before speaking. "And could I ask for one more favor?" Nurse Redheart nodded, making Sunset smile. "Could you call Celestia and ask her for a quick favor?"

Nurse Redheart nodded. "Of course, but we have one very important thing to talk about first." Sunset raised an eyebrow until Redheart raised four prescription medicine bottles in her hand. "Why do you have hospital-grade antibiotics in your medicine cabinet?"

Author's Note

Thanks to Blue Horizon for editing, and all of you loyal readers who wander in and comment, you're all beautiful in your own way. And remember this, you too will die, so stay humble, and spit in the face of God and become immortal.

Edited by kitkataddel posted 2/16/19

Chapter Eight: Rest And Recovery

Sunset walked out of the bathroom in a huff, only a towel to retain her dignity. "Redheart, I trust you, please don't ask questions you don't want the answer to."

Trixie and Sonata perked up their heads as Sunset raised a hand, with Redheart walking up behind her. "Well none of these are the right ones for you, but the fact you have them raises some frankly disturbing questions I would be a fool not to ask."

Sunset rolled her eyes in annoyance, moving to the fridge and feeling out her thoughts for a check on her reserves. They were healthy, which meant she had been out for far longer than she thought. It also meant she could hopefully confuse Redheart into forgetting about the medicine she had stolen from various gangs across the city. She opened the journal beside the fridge. "Look, I won't need any of them if my last batch is done, so just don't worry about it."

There was a cough from behind her, which Sunset waved her good arm at without worries. "Whoever that is can wait, I'm gonna try to fix myself up a bit more permanently before I deal with anything else." She paused at the portion of the journal that kept track of her known working potions. She ran her good finger down it, trying to take notes on which ones she had used before pausing at a regeneration potion at the bottom of the page. It would exhaust her, making the next day or so turn into a lazy day, but it would patch her up fully. She flinched as a jolt of pain reminded her of the pure pain that was her shoulder right now. She mentally changed her estimate. It would fully heal besides the obvious scar. She pulled out the potion and adjusted her towel, making sure it would stay despite the movements she would soon make. She grabbed the potion with a trio of red crosses written on it.

She tapped the potion against the counter, trying to prepare herself for the thrill ride of pain she would go through. She had healed herself only once with stitches in, and it was not a pleasant experience. She gulped once. "Hey girls, I might need a hand."

Three sets of footsteps began moving behind her, but she didn't turn to face them. Instead, she gestured to the bottle with her head. "I need one of you to raise that to my mouth so I can drink, and the other two to hold my arms and catch me if I fall."

There was a pause before Feint's voice spoke up. "Ok..." Sunset noted the inflection. As opposed to the normal distant and calm facade she put up, this was a much more emotive. Sunset could hear the concern and worry peeking through her single word. A black gloved hand grabbed the bottle, as two sets of hands began resting on Sunset's arms. The bottle was raised, and Sunset began sipping the potion.

Healing potions were designed in Equestria to be sweet-tasting and pleasant in both form and function. Sunset did not have that luxury. Instead, her meager skills meant her potion tasted like ash mixed with chlorine. Luckily, it was normally painless. The key word there is normally. When she dumped most of her reserves into the potion the magic started as a soothing feeling in the depths of her shoulder. She felt muscles reconnect and bones reform under her skin with the grace of a skilled masseuse. And then it hit her skin, and the pain started. The stitches were buried in still living skin repeatedly, and in the back of her mind, Sunset felt blood begin to spill. After a few seconds, the spell noticed the foreign item, and went on changed its path, building the skin from the bottom, forcing the stitches to the surface.

A loud pop echoed in Sunset's apartment, and despite her clinched eyes she could envision the flash of blue as it flew off. That also heralded the worst of her pain, prompting her body to writhe and squirm in the grip of the others. The forced her to the ground slowly, and she felt one of them apply pressure with her knee as the struggles worsened. Another pop echoed and soon became a slow rhythm. Pops and groans filling the area as her own skin were used as a battering ram to rip the stitches out.

She grimaced as she felt her shoulder stop healing, and with a shudder tried to beat back the pain. It took time, but once the struggles stopped she was released, allowing her to focus on the pain. She controlled her breathing, going through the step by step process she had mastered before even being human. With that done, she began concentrating on her body, feeling out where the pain was. She was hardly surprised to find it in her recently healed shoulder and began focusing on it. With her focus firmly placed, she began reminding herself it was healed, and that her brain could stop telling her it had been hurt, forcing her mind to come to terms with her bodies state.

After a few minutes of deep focus her pain receded, and she risked opening her eyes. There was no flash of pain, and she raised a hand to touch her shoulder. There was still a small indent, but the shoulder itself was working. WIth a few rotations, she confirmed it worked and sprawled her hands over the floor. "That really really sucks."

She was caught off guard by a decidedly masculine voice whispering behind her. "Holy shit."

Sunset wanted to make a shocked noise, or perhaps an annoyed one at an unknown house guest. Unfortunately, all she could really do was yawn. "Yeah yeah, magical girl. Who in Tartarus just talked?"

There was an awkward cough that Sunset knew was a call to look behind her, but that amount of effort was beyond her will. The only movement she had planned was eventually getting into bed. Then she realized Sonata was still here, so there would have to be a slight detour to a closet for some spare sheets to operate the fold-out bed in her couch.

An unfamiliar face entered her view. Two-tone hair, pink skin, she knew who it was. After a moment she spoke up. "Hey Feint, what are you still doing here?" There was a moment of confusion before Sunset's mind caught up to her words. "Er, I mean... Who are you?"

There was a grumble from Feint, and her business voice came back in full force. "So Retna was right, you've known who we were this whole time?"

Sunset shrugged. "Well, you know how it goes. Gotta have a healthy level of paranoia when you live life on the edge."

Feint looked to her right, and Sunset saw her shoulder move. Sunset realized it was because of a hand movement, but since a punch didn't follow she decided not to care. She almost laughed as soon as she realized the thought. As if any Cadence could punch somebody. Sunset was interrupted as a different new face entered her vision. She instantly recognized it from her files. Sergeant Shining Armor, golden boy of the CPD. Specializing in operations centered on civilians, with a penchant for anti-gang operations. Sunset raised her eyebrow at his appearance. "Feint, why is there a cop in my little slice of heaven?"

There was a frustrated groan from her side. "You were shot, I assumed calling a police officer was the first step!"

Sunset grunted, rallying herself enough to sit up. "For anyone else, probably." Sunset rolled her shoulder, trying to flex out the phantom pain of her wound while deciding whether or not to stand up. "But as long as I don't die before getting some patch work done bad wounds aren't a huge deal." She nodded to herself, keeping an arm on her towel and stood slowly, stumbling at the feeling of light-headedness that accompanied her rise. A large pair of hands steadied her. "Thanks." With deliberate slowness she moved to the small closet in her living area. "But yeah, it's not the first time I;ve taken a bad hit and gotten patched up in my apartment." She gestured to Nurse Redheart. "Though it is the first time I didn't have to do it myself while I'm here."

Shining Armor spoke up. "So, is anyone going to ask about the fact we just saw her shoulder heal in front of our eyes and the stitches flew out fast enough to leave an indent in the wall?"

Sunset glanced to Sonata, who shrugged. "It was just a homemade healing potion. I mean, she got it to work here, which is cool, but I've seen it before."

Trixie cut in after that. "And Trixie has seen her magic first hand, so this is hardly enough to ruffle her great and powerful feathers."

Nurse Redheart grunted. "I'm questioning everything I ever learned, but that's all internal, so I can ask later."

Shining sighed, looking down at the floor as Sunset pulled a set of blankets and sheets from her closet. "Don't worry about it. If your loving wife ever asks you to come by again you might just get to see the actually cool stuff when I'm testing it." Sunset placed the sheets on her chair, moving to the couch next.

Feint let out an eep. "Wait, you know we're married?"

Sunset nodded. "I'm really good at what I do, and information is most of that. You tried to keep it under wraps because Shining was moving against the Changelings, and they still tried to crash it. Nobody really knows what happened, but a cop found a large group of them beaten and tied up after the wedding with their plans on the phones." Sunset began removing pillows from the couch, and Sonata joined in shortly afterward. Sunset continued on easily. "If it makes you feel better, I actually had to look. Most people all I need is five minutes on a phone and a hint. Before I reached out to you I had to spend a week figuring stuff out. So most people probably couldn't find it out unless you told them."

With trhe couch clear she pulled at the small handle on the couch, only for a flash of phantom pain to make her lose balance, sending her into a sprawl that ended with her on her butt. Shining Armor moved up while Trixie helped her up. With one arm he hoisted the bed out from the couch. With a nod, Sunset smiled. "Thanks, big guy." She turned to Sonata. "There's your bed, sheets and the like are on the chair. Tell me later and I'll hunt down some you like."

Shining Armor sat on the couch with crossed arms. "Well, I think you and I have to share a little talk before you can do much."

Sunset groaned. "Aw c'mon! I just got shot, can't you just give me a day or two to recover?"

Shining flinched. "I wish we could, but we have blood from where you were shot, the owner reported it this morning. That and the blood from a double murder puts you in a pretty sketchy situation."

Sunset couldn't stop the cocky grin that decorated her face. "Well then, sorry to say it's all gone now. As long as I haven't been out of commission for like a week and didn't know." Shining raised an eyebrow, and Sunset gestured to his pocket. "Go ahead, call and ask. I'm in no rush."

Shining stood up, bringing out a phone and walking outside. The rest of the room all looked at Sunset in confusion, and she wiggled her fingers. "Magic, isn't it wonderful?"

After a minute Sunset heard the sweet sound she was waiting for. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN ITS ALL GONE!" Shining stormed back in, the door slamming shut behind him. "HOW?!"

Sunset collapsed onto the bed. "I'm magic, and you guys technically had a bunch of pieces of me. I just called them back home." Sunset cringed at the memory of vomit covering her front. "It's disgusting."

Shining glared at her. "That's illegal."

Sunset let out a short laugh. "Mope, unless someone made anti-magical laws here. I didn't steal anything, nor did I break in anywhere. Just cleaned up some blood. The fact that it teleported onto me first has no bearing on the legality."

Shining let out a growl, before a glare from Cadence calmed him. "Okay, so the magical tagger my wife runs with just legally took all evidence of her existence from my station. I can cope, but I still need to know why you got shot at the scene of a double homicide."

Sonata spoke up at that. "Uhm, I know why." The whole room shifted to look at the bubbly siren. Sunset worried for a moment that Sonata would sell her out, but stopping her now would only look suspicious. Sonata coughed into her hands. "Well, me and my sisters were kinda mean." Trixie scoffed at that, but a quick kick from Sunset shut her up. SOnata flinched at the scoff but kept talking. "We had been cornered by some guy trying to get us to do some stuff. Then some random person showed up and made him leave." Sonata rubbed her head, and Sunset could see she was holding back tears. She sat up, wrapping the girl in a gentle hug. "They stabbed Adagio and Aria, but stopped at me. They said I had to do better then they left. That's when Sunset showed up over the side of the building. She talked to me about finding a place to stay for a bit before she got shot."

Sonata looked at Sunset, before diving slightly forward and wrapping her in her own hug. Sunset tapped her back, trying to figure out what just happened. Obviously, there were some VERY strong emotions tied to her sisters, but Sonata had just lied to cover her. Either there was a whole story waiting to be told, or Sonata was more scared of her than anything else. Feint interrupted. "Well, that's enough excitement for today. Shining, honey, can you go start the car for me?"

Shining looked between the two girls, before nodding. "Yeah, one sec." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small business card. "Hey kid, if you need something give me a call. I'm sorry I was so rough on you, but I really do want to help."

Sunset took the card awkwardly with her free hand. "WIll do boss." She paused. "And the names Sunset, I'm not sure if you know my street name, but I'm Sunset Shimmer."

Shining Armor and Cadence both froze for a moment, before slowly nodding. Cadence spoke up. "Well, even if you already know it I am Mi Amore Cadenza, or Cadence to my friends."

Sunset smiled softly as she rubbed Sonata's back. "Do I fit the mold?"

Cadence smiled. "After having to ruin my car to drive you home, you'd either be a friend or a servant. And I don't care for servants."

Sunset smiled. "Well don't worry about the upholstery, as long as it isn't deformed all my messes are self-cleaning."

Trixie stepped forward. "Well, if you are a friend of Sunset then you're a friend of Trixie." Trixie snapped her fingers, and a sparkle of light seemed to shoot from her sleeve. "I am the great and powerful Trixie, and you have Trixie's gratitude for helping her friend."

Redheart began pulling at her shirt. "Yeah yeah, I'm Redheart, and thanks for getting her to me. Dumb kid probably would have bled out on the sidewalk without you guys."

Cadence joined the small hug taking place on the bed. "Sunset said it herself, we're family. And family watches out for each other."

Sunset flinched away. "Yeah, sure. Either way I have to sleep off all of this bullshit, think you guys can keep from telling men in black suits where I live?"

Shining laughed. "Yes, we'll keep the Men in Black of your back kid, just keep yourself safe, alright?"

Sunset nodded. "Don't worry old man, I'll avoid getting shot again if at all possible."

Cadence backed off. "Alright, then we'll get out of your hair, but expect me to come back and check on you soon." She said the final bit with a waggled finger, before slipping out the front door. Shining watched his wife back away with a waggling finger before sighing, pulling out his keys and leaving behind him as he left behind her.

Sunset sighed, before looking to Nurse Redheart. "Hey Nurse, in my entertainment center there's a bag, it's yours."Sunset waved a hand through the air while she moved to her room. "And Trix, you working tomorrow?"

Trixie shook her head, opening thee fridge and pulling out a soda. "No, Trixie thought she would be playing nursemaid so she requested off."

Sunset smiled. "Groovy, I need to get Sonata used to regular life, and Christmas is right around the corner. Shopping tomorrow?"

Trixie shrugged. "Fine, Trixie wanted to go to the mall either way, whats the plan?"

Sunset looked towards Sonata, who had apparently passed out on the bed without the aid of pillows or blankets. "Well, my bike can't fit three, so how about me and SOnata head over to your shop and meet you about ten, take the bus over to the Ponyville mall."

Trixie popped open the tab to her soda. "Well, that would mean Trixie would need to wake up to go to work, could we meet at Trixie's home?"

Sunset paused. "Oh, yeah. People have homes and the like. Yeah, shoot me the address and make sure your old man doesn't mind me parking my bike at his place."

Trixie nodded. "it should be fine, though if you don't mind Trixie wouldn't mind a ride home." Trixie looked at the fading light outside. "It's not that Trixie is scared to go outside, but she would like someone with her while she made her way back." Trixie looked abashed for a moment before speaking quickly. "For conversation, obviously!"

Sunset smiled. "Normally I'd give you a ride easy, but I've got Sonata here right now." Trixie seemed to falter, but Sunset kept it from progressing into Trixie leaving. "Just crash here tonight, I've got a bed and you can just hand until you decide to pass out."

Trixie froze. "You have another spare bed?"

Sunset shook her head. "Nah, but I wasn't going to sleep there anyway." Sunset moved to her desk penning a quick letter. "I've gotta watch over Sonata tonight, and have at least a semi-private conversation with her, so I'm probably gonna be in here all night.

Trixie shuffled closer, taking a slow seat on the couch bed Sonata snoozed on. "So what, you just won't sleep? Because that's not healthy, like at all."

Sunset smiled finishing the letter and slowly placing it under Sonata's hand. "No, I'm gonna pass out in that chair until Sonata wakes up, make her bed, then crash either on the couch bed or on the chair again."

Trixie stared. "Trixie can't take your only be when you've been shot."

Sunset smirked. "Then take the floor, cause this chair is mine." Sunset leaned back, and closed her eyes. Trixie watched as Sunset's breathing evened out.

Trixie grumbled as she grabbed the blanket and draped it over Sunset. A towel would hardly keep her warm for more than a moment. She stared as Sunset turned over, and the towel slipped down from her back. Sitting primly on her shoulder blades were two long scars. The were burns, with the bubbled skin marred and warped in two lines. Trixie quickly covered her friend and began thinking. She may not have known much, but that wasn't a natrual burn, and she wanted answers. She brought out her phone and sent a quick text. Maybe answers would come in the morning, but she would figure this out.

Sunset nearly screamed when an unfamiliar hand shook her awake. She grabbed the foreign wrist before thinking and had already begun to cock back her fist before a scared squeal snapped her into reality. Her eyes opened in a flash, showing Sonata flinching away. Sunset's eye twitched, the only tell of her anger at her own lack of self-control. She let go of Sonata's wrist quickly, trying to squeeze farther back into her chair. "Sorry, sorry, sorry. I might have issues with being woken up." Sonata scurried back, nodding in a frenzied manner while shivering on the bed. Sunset sighed, removing the blanket that she knew she didn't place on herself. "Next time just chuck a pillow at me or something, k?"

Sunset stood up, stopping when she noticed her towel begin to fall. She quickly grabbed it, trying to retain her dignity while Sonata fought off a panic attack. Sunset tried not to let the fact she could cause a panic attack faze her, though it would be a lie to say it didn't hurt. Deserved though. Sunset moved to her laundry basket, grabbing a simple T-shirt and yoga pants from the basket. She moved quickly to the kitchen, allowing herself to be half covered by the small island before donning the pants. "Glad you woke me though, we'll have to make your bed and figure out if you want new sheets and the like." Sunset turned around, throwing off the towel and tossing the shirt over her body. With her penchant for sleeping in tight clothing though it was more like peeling it over herself.

Sonata stammered her response, stumbling as her thoughts became words. "Y-you mean I'll actually get new stuff?"

Sunset smiled as she smoothed out her shirt. "Yep, and I've gotta get by one of my old contacts and drop off the rest of the bits I got the other day, so we need to go out and take care of all my errands." Sunset crept across her home to look in her room. Through a cracked door, she noticed Trixie passed out on her bed. She smiled as she closed the door with a quiet click, turning to Sonata on the heels of her feet. "Okay, I've got an incredibly old tradition to do, and since you're here you're more than invited." Sunset paused, rubbing the back of her head and glancing at the floor. "I'd totally understand if you just want me to help you make your bed and pass out though, I'm not sure if you'll like being in a small room alone with me..."

Sonata shook her head quickly, displaying her deep feelings for something that Sunset couldn't pick up as Sonata raced up to her. "Nu-uh, let's just get whatever you need to do done. Then we can make my bed, and when I wake up I can get bed stuff!"

Sunset smiled. "Alright Sonata, then follow me." Sunset moved to a small carpet in the small hall that separated her kitchen and dining room. She kicked it aside, revealing a small lever that Sunset reached down and pulled. With a nearly silent squeak, an entire trapdoor lifted up. The rug draped off of the door, slumping onto the floor like an old balloon.

As Sunset descends Sonata leans through the trap door, peeking into the sub-basement. She couldn't resist taking a moment to stare in pure joy. Equestrian magic mixed with the strange earthly science in ways Sonata had never dreamed. She could see Equestrian alchemy tables with the periodic table posted beside it, sticky notes and red string connecting the two. A bookshelf sat in the corner, filled with books titled in languages Sonata had worried she'd forgotten long ago. Finally, there was a full alchemy set on a work table against the far wall, with all the beakers, boxes, and tools one would associate with science, magic, and light machine work scattered across the surface.

Sonata raised a finger at the table, pointing to the one thing that had managed to catch her attention the longest. "Is that a hack saw?"

Sunset looked up, following Sonata's finger to a small hacksaw on the table, which she smiled at. "Yeah, it's a hacksaw." She walked over to it, picking it up and cleaning the foam and wood off of the old blade. "It's helped make all the furniture down here, didn't want an easy trail of purchases that weren't in my apartment."

Sunset sighed as she heard moving books behind her. Sonata had apparently ignored Sunset, instead moving to the bookshelf. "Oh, Necromancy for Bull-heads! I read this as a little filly!" She put the book back, and Sunset raised an eyebrow as Sonata's eyes went from title to title. "Ohhh, The secrets of Blood Magic and how they can help you! I wanted a copy of this, but it was discontinued like, the second it came out."

Sunset paused. "Wait, that was actually printed? Like, by a company with a full press and all that?" Sunset knew what the copy she stole was bound by hoof, and used actual leather as it's cover.

Sonata nodded, tearing herself away from the books and to looking over all the alchemy equipment. "Yeah, it was only printed in some small town me and my sisters took over. Aria said we should let 'em go, something about them being boring, but I got to play with all sorts of books and toys before Adagio sunk it into the sea." Sonata paused at the current notes, glancing over the open book.

Sunset smiled at Sonata's excitable nature, beginning to move a small stack of boxes in the corner. "Sounds like a nice place, did you try to save anyone?"

Sonata froze, her finger moving from the note to her side, where it hung limply. "N-no... I'm sorry."

Sunset shrugged. "Look, don't let your past drag you down. I enslaved a school, almost killed every teenager in said school, and ruined a fair few lives." Sunset moved the final box, revealing what a small black rectangle. At its center, was a small fire, burning softly in the sparsely lit room. Sunset began opening the boxes, digging out odds and ends while she spoke. "Your past is not today, would you kill an entire village right now?"

Sonata shook her head. "No, that was Adagio's thing. I just wanted to play with all their cool stuff."

Sunset stared. She had thought of a lot of reasons Sonata might have gone bad. Dark rituals, evil deals, greed, she even thought Sonata might have been corrupted by the heartstone she wore around her neck. She had never thought Sonata just saw the whole world as a cheap arcade. She put it aside, instead grabbing a small rectangle with an image of a fireball emblazoned in its steel body. Placing it gently behind the flame, she sat down. "Well, enough on that. I was just going to start a wake for them." She reached into the smallest box, pulling out a glass bottle with the labels ripped off.

Sonata moved beside her, sitting down awkwardly. "So... what's a wake?"

Sunset coughed slightly, trying to hold in her surprise. "O-oh... I assumed you would know." Sunset rifled around the small container, pulling a collection of shot glasses out. She picked four glasses out, putting the others aside. "We each have a drink, me, you, Aria, and Adagio."

Sonata looked at the glasses. "So, you'll summon their spirits or something? Isn't that kinda dark for ponies?"

Sunset shook her head. "No, we leave the drinks for them alone, I don't actually know the history of why, but I like to think it's a reminder." Sunset slowly poured four drinks, making sure the two for Aria and Adagio were filled to the brim, before slowly moving them to rest on the box of fire. "It's to remind someone that when you kill something, you take something away that you can't give back. Like the drink you pour for them, something is now gone you can never put back."

Sonata looked at the drinks, then to Sunset. "So you do this every time you kill something?"

Sunset shook her head, moving Sonata's glass beside her. "No, it's specifically for things that can talk back. If I had to do a wake for every manticore or cockatrice I put down I would have been drunk while I was still a little filly." Sunset looked to the fire, and the lone untouched glass that had been filled long ago. "And, sometimes I don't do it for actually killing someone."

Sonata looked at the glasses. "I'm gonna have to buy a whole lotta drinks, huh?"

Sunset let a sad smile cross her face. "No, you don't need to have a wake. I just got it beat through my skull by an old mare, and it stuck." Sunset raised her glass letting the liquid inside slosh back and forth. "But enough of that. To Aria and Adagio, may their transgression be burnt away and their goals be reached in the flames of the Eternal Light."

Sonata looked at Sunset as the fire-haired girl slung back the shot with gusto. Sunset didn't wince as the heat from the drink slinked down her throat. Sunset let the drink settle and she looked to Sonata, who had managed to get half of her drink down before scrunching up her face and trying to force herself to swallow. Sunset's sad smile held a bit more joy as she reached over and patted Sonata's back. "Next time, don't let it sit in your mouth, swallow as soon as it goes into your mouth."

Sonata managed to force herself to swallow, shuddering as her own drink wormed out of her mouth. A moment after her shudders ceased, she let out a few deep breaths. "That drink... feels... weird."

Sunset laughed. "Yeah, well you don't have to finish it. But now comes the part you can help with. In a normal wake you remember the best parts of whoever passed, normally I just spend the time silently thinking about what I did." Sunset grabbed the bottle again, refilling her glass. "With you here, we can actually do that, if you want too that is."

Sonata looked to the flame, watching it's gentle dance as her ears wiggled back and forth. Sunset stared at the alien, almost hypnotizing motion. "Well, Aria kept other people from beating me up, so I guess that was nice. Oh, and Adagio normally made sure we had a place to stay, or at least her and Aria. I got to stay as long as I didn't annoy her that much." Sonata sniffled a few times. "A-and they brought me places where I could eat when we still had our heartstones, and tried to make sure our homes had things for me to play with..." Sonata began quietly sobbing, her shoulders going up and down with no set rhythm.

Sunset lowered her drink to the ground, wrapping an arm around Sonata. "It's okay" Sunset winced as Sonata shuddered under her grip. "I don't really know what it's like to have your sister's killed, but I do know what it's like to suddenly be alone." Sunset turned to the flames, trying to find her center in the light that had been her only link home for so long. "I don't have any family left either. My mom and dad died when I was young... probably." Sunset grabbed the drink on the floor and slammed it down. "I managed to get someone who I thought was a mom later... but I was wrong."

Sonata's sobs slowed down, and Sunset pulled her close again. "Which is why I'm not going to leave you hanging. I'm gonna stick by you like white on rice, and you're going to get better." Sunset looked to Sonata, and her face fell as she looked at the crying girl, her tears running freely down her face. "And I wish I had offered the same deal to your sisters."

The reaction to Sunset's statement. Sonata's sobs stopped, and her body became deathly still. Sunset stared as Sonata simply breathed until her voice came through at barely a whisper. "You really don't."

Sunset perked up, looking at Sonata with a raised eyebrow. "Why not?"

Sonata grabbed her own drink. forcing down the last half. Her face scrunched up again, but no coughs followed. "Aria would have tried to beat you up before you could even talk, and if Adagio heard you she would have killed you the first time you fell asleep."

Sunset stared. "So I shouldn't have because it would be hard? Because I could take both of them easy."

Sonata shook her head. "No, it would be impossible. About a hundred years ago they changed, and... well... they didn't want to help each other anymore. We all had to look out for ourselves, only sharing when it would help the siren who found it. They got... mean."

Sunset began bouncing her view from the flame to Sonata. "Well then, I'll believe I was wrong for both of us. No one deserves to lose their second chance."

Sonata looked at Sunset through her tears, and let out a giggle. Sonata leaned in. "You woulda made a good siren. You do that thing the old queen did." Sunset looked down as Sonata stared into the flames. "She used to challenge anyone who tried to fight her laws to a duel, then when she won she would have them state their reasons for what they did in public. If they made sense she'd let them try and get rid of her law the right way."

Sunset didn't bother asking what happened if they didn't make sense, she could guess what happened to the pair of sirens on the roof was a pretty close analog. Sunset shook her head, clearing the thoughts from her head, instead grabbing both glasses from the box, leaving the old one alone. "C'mon Sonata, let's get this all packed up. We'll make your bed and hopefully get a full nights sleep."

Sonata nodded, following Sunset up the short ladder that separated her sub-basement from the house. Sonata watched with simple interest as Sunset balanced both shot glasses in a single palm, climbing up the ladder with her feet more than her hands. As Sunset moved to the kitchen to pour out the drinks she heard a thunk, and smiled.

After the wake was cleaned up it only took a few minutes to set the bed, despite Sonata's minor protests. "But they're so drab! They're just blue, blue, blue, and guess what? More blue!"

Sunset rolled her eyes. "Look, when we go out tomorrow we'll pick up some pretty sheets for you, ok? But for tonight your royal fishy butt gets basic blue sheets." A flash from Sunset's phone got her attention, moving to the desk it was waiting on to check it. She saw a few text notifications, from Retna and the rest of her crew to a few from Fluttershy. She stopped at the most recent one, holding her thumb over the notification. "Damnit Thorax."

A curious grunt sounded from behind her, but Sunset ignored it. With a few quick taps the text was opened.

Sunset groaned, moving to the chair to flop down on it with her phone. "Damn Thorax to the void, if I didn't still owe him..." Sunset began tapping away at her phone, sending a response.

Sonata looked at Sunset as the began throwing the blanket over herself, her head quirked as Sunset's phone chimed again. She glanced down, speed-reading the message.

Sunset nodded, sending an affirmative text. "Phew, okay." With her short conversation done, she turned to Sonata. "Hey, remind me. We're gonna get you some paperwork tomorrow, and I'll need to drop Trixie off somewhere first."

Sonata nodded, rolling over."Okee-day. Though I hope Chrissy doesn't mind you being angry at Thorax."

Sunset froze as soon as what Sonata said hit her. "Wait, you know Chrysalis?"

Sonata's head perked up slightly. "Yeah, she lives in some fancy house on the north-side. It's got some silly name, Bugbite ranch or something."

As Sonata began fading off to sleep Sunset grabbed her computer. She had a lead, and better yet, an ear in the local PD now. She began running every building placed in the Northside as she copied Shining Armors number from the business card he gave her. She glanced at the clock and let out a sigh. "Whatever, I can burn an hour." Then the house went silent, the only sound being the gentle clicks of a keyboard, and after a moment, the ringing of a phone.