Three days later, Sunset woke up right next to a campfire in a dark cave. Right beside her was Grubber along with Tempest, who appeared to be recovering from some sort of battle. The latter struggled to straighten her mind out, so she just laid down until she could pay attention.

“She’s awake, Tempest!” the hedgehog shouted upon seeing Sunset awaken.

“Quiet, Grubber. If you yell any louder, the creatures will find us.” Tempest warned.

“I know. But the ooze everywhere and it learn where we are.” Grubber reasoned.

Ignoring this, Tempest finished cooking the meal for Sunset and had Grubber carry it to her.

“I thought you might be hungry.” Tempest said before moving towards Sunset.

Grubber held the meal out to Sunset and all she could do was cough.

“Oh, be quiet. My cooking isn't that bad.” Tempest lightly teased.

“It’s not the cooking.” Sunset said as she was coughing. “I dunno what’s going on with me, but everytime I try to use my horn, my head starts acting up. I’m sure it’s not news, but this ooze might have something to do with these headaches I’m receiving.”

“Does that also have to do with that gooey stuff leaking out of your horn?” Grubber asked, pointing at Sunset’s cracked horn.

Hearing this, Tempest smacked Grubber upside the head before walking over to have a closer look at Sunset’s horn. Holding up her head by her chin, Tempest glanced at her horn to see what was going on with it. She could see traces of the ooze circumventing across, but it wasn’t major. But as Tempest was checking, Sunset glanced at the walls and noticed the cave paintings from her last trip in trying to retrieve the Element of Laughter.

“Don’t any of these cave paintings look familiar to you?” Sunset asked as she looked at the wall.

"I've seen some of them when me and Grubber were hiding from those creatures, but I can't say that I'm familiar with them. Although there have been many paintings of that goat on there." Tempest said as she looked at the goat on the painting.

Sunset looked at the paintings and she felt something off about them. It was like speaking to someone familiar, but all she could do was speculate over who it was on the walls.

"Where will you be going when we get out?" Sunset asked as she looked at the walls.

"Me and Grubber are heading to the other side of Equestria to get away from this mess. What about you?" Tempest responded while looking at the walls.

"I need to keep searching for the Elements of Harmony. They are the only thing that can help destroy the Corruption." Sunset said, looking at the caved-in entrance.

"Um, are you sure about that? You look like you got tossed into a wrestling ring on accident." Grubber said, feeling worried about Sunset's condition.

"He's right, Sunset. You are in no condition to keep going. Just look at yourself. You could hardly breathe after fighting against that yak." Tempest said, trying to persuade her new friend.

"Even so, I have to keep going." Sunset retorted, trying to get back up.

"Sunset, there are no guarantees that any of the Elements are out there. And even if they are still around, there are chances that they could have been tainted by the ooze." Tempest said.

“Be that as it may, I have to keep looking for them. If nopony finds the Elements of Harmony, who will? I know I look like I’m on my last hooves, but I can’t give up. The future of Equestria hinges on the Elements!” Sunset reasoned.

“And say that you do find them, what then? How long do you think your friends will last? Everypony you know is outclassed and outnumbered. The Corruption is the strongest entity that anypony ever faced and it is the first foe that completely decimated the entire forces of Equestria. Any moment, they could be facing their final doomsday against those creatures that now plague the lands of Equestria. Do you think you can make it on time before your friends are either captured or killed?” Tempest countered, staring down Sunset for an answer.

“I have faith that my friends will survive. And even if that’s true, I have responsibilities to uphold until Equestria is save. Plus, I could be infected at this point. So I have nothing to lose.” Sunset rebutted.

“I used to think that way before I met Twilight…” Tempest reminisced.

Just then, Sunset realized something.

“Oh no…” Sunset mumbled before rushing to her bag.

“What?” Tempest said, following Sunset over to her bag.

“How long has it been since I passed out?” Sunset asked as she looked through her bag.

“Three days, I think…” Grubber answered, feeling unsure how long it’s been.

“Please pick up…” Sunset whimpered as she grabbed the communicator.

Turning it on, Sunset wait for an answer. Just then, the screen came up and it showed Cadance and Luna.

“Oh, thank Celestia…” Sunset whispered, fill with relief.

“Sunset? What’s the matter?” Cadance asked, feeling concerned for the unicorn’s well-being.

“It’s worse than you anticipated! Equestria has been overrun and I’ve been hearing rumors that the Shadow army is planning on making its way to the Crystal Empire with their king leading the charge! I had no idea… how bad this would turn out!” Sunset panicked.

“Calm down, Sunset. Just tell us what happened.” Luna said.

When she was finished taking a few deep breaths, Sunset said,

“After seeing Manehattan fall, I have started to hear rumors that the king was getting stronger. Upon hearing their plans of coming to the Crystal Empire next, I overheard them talking about Princess Celestia’s demise. Is this true?”

This question took both Cadance and Luna aback, but they knew it couldn’t be kept from her. So Luna came forward in an honest manner and said,

“Yes.”

Hearing this rocked Sunset’s entire body. Every emotion she felt in her system was like a volcano ready to erupt. Then she said,

“Oh no… there’s nothing we can do. We’re all dead! When the Anomaly makes it to the Crystal Empire, Equestria will become extinct! We’re fighting against a tidal wave that can be overturned! We’ll never-”

“BE SILENT!!!” Luna shouted in her Royal Canterlot voice.

This knocked Sunset out of her panic attack and she looked at the princesses. Then Cadance said,

“We will not lose. The only thing you can do for us is to keep moving around and see what the creatures are planning further. But for now, I want you to trust us in fighting back the Corruption. Okay?”

Deep within her heart, Sunset knew it was all a lie and it would be inevitable before the Crystal Empire is destroyed and all her friends were killed. But for the sake of everypony else and fighting back the tears, Sunset conceded,

"Okay."

"You have done a wonderful job keeping an eye out for any activities lurking in the darkness and as a princess, I could never be more prouder than I should, but for now, I need you to be brave and keep looking for any information. Can you keep doing that?" Luna asked.

"I will." Sunset said as she sadly nodded.

"Thank you, Sunset Shimmer." Cadance said before the spell ended.

When the conversation was over, Sunset dropped to her knees in shame and defeat after hearing the tragic news of Princess Celestia's death. Having overheard the entire thing, both Tempest and Grubber rushed to Sunset's side.

"I couldn't reach her in time…" Sunset mumbled.

"Sunset…" Tempest said as she and Grubber looked at her.

"She didn't answer. I didn't save her. My teacher. I didn't… I didn't…" Sunset said before she had an emotional meltdown.

"It's okay, Sunset. It's okay…" Tempest said as both her and Grubber hugged her.

"I never even got to make amends…" Sunset blubbered while she continued to sob.

"It wasn't your fault, Sunset. It was that monster's." Tempest comforted.

"Even so, Tempest. Even so…" Sunset said as she continued to sob.

"Shh. It's already happened, Sunset. Just let it out." Tempest whispered as she hugged Sunset as tight as she could.

Sunset continued to cry for one full hour before finally calming down.

Author's Note

Small update, but I have news about Arc 5. I have three chapters written so far, but I still have more ground to cover. This arc will consist of 20+ chapters and it has hardly even begun. I dunno when I will begin work on the other side-stories nor if I will continue or put this story on hiatus, but I will have you know that Arc 5 is progressing smoothly. Publishing the chapters is up to question, but I will update you when it is finished.

This is Ghoul. I'll see you on the other side.