The Parasite

“You're not giving up on college, are you?” Twilight asked as Sunset finished loading the last of her stuff from her dorm room into Applejack's truck.

“Nah, not giving up,” Sunset said. “But this last semester was an absolute disaster and I bombed a lot of my finals, my head really hasn't been in a good place since... you know. So I think I just need a nice long vacation and then I'll come back and give it another try in the fall.”

“It's sad that you'll have to make up all those classes,” Twilight said.

“Yeah, but it is what it is. I was doing pretty well up until, you know, the end.” Sunset wiped some sweat from her brow and sighed. “Doing them over should be a breeze.” She looked over at Applejack, who was lounging on the back bumper as she waited for Sunset to finish loading things. “You sure you don't mind holding onto all my stuff for me?”

“I don't mind at all,” Applejack replied. She raised a brow as Apple Bloom skipped past her, waving a set of keys and in a great mood. “Are you sure you don't mind my little sister driving your car while you're gone?”

“I won't need it where I'm going,” Sunset said with a shrug. “Just make sure she's careful.”

“Absolutely. I gave her lots of rules. How well she does with it determines if we get her a new car for herself or if she gets my ol' truck.”

“I'll be good with it, don't worry!” Apple Bloom called.

Sunset giggled. The other was thrilled to be borrowing a sports car. “Well, I think that's all.” She pulled a backpack on. “Everything I need for the trip is in here, so... you can drive us over to Canterlot High now.”

“Sure thing. Apple Bloom, take that car on home,” Applejack said. “And be careful!”

“I will be!” Apple Bloom hopped into the driver's seat and started the car, backing it out and heading off toward the highway. They heard her gun the engine as soon as it was out of view.

“Gah! What did I just tell that girl...” Applejack shook her head as she went to get into the driver's seat of her truck. “She's gonna be gettin' an earful when I get home.”

Sunset took the front passenger seat and Twilight got into the backseat. Once they were buckled up, Applejack headed out.

“Just make sure she doesn't let Scootaloo drive my car,” Sunset said, to laughter from the others.

During the trip, Venom came out from Twilight's shoulder to rest his head up against her, but his gaze was on Sunset. “How have you been doing?” he asked her.

“Oh? Ah, good,” she replied, glancing at him and then away. The way his skin looked and that rasp to his voice reminded her all too much of Carnage and it was difficult looking at him without bad memories coming up.

“Good to hear. You know, Twilight has been thrilled to have you staying with us for the summer.”

“Aw, has she been?” Sunset asked, looking back now to flash Twilight a grin. Twilight blushed and sank back in her seat.

“It really has been a long time since we were able to hang out. You know, on good terms. So I'm glad you decided to come stay with me.”

“Yeah. I just want to get away from here for a while.” Sunset looked outside and sighed. “A lot has happened here. Being in Equestria will let me get away from all of it.”

“Yes, but you know a lot of my friends over there have symbiotes too. Many will likely remind you of Carnage. Will you be okay?”

“Sure. I'll get used to it, in fact I want to get used to seeing them. I know they're not all like him and... I want to meet some good ones. I don't want to be afraid just because of what they look like.”

“Well, if at any point my presence makes you uncomfortable, just say so and I'll gladly hide away for a bit,” Venom said.

“I don't want to make you do that, you deserve to be able to show yourself,” Sunset replied.

“Yes but your comfort is important. It's important to Twilight and it's important to me. Do you think it'll help if you're able to bond with one of us-”

“No!” she said quickly. He stared and she cleared her throat, giving him an apologetic look and looking back outside. “I don't... I don't think I want to feel that again. The bonding. It was so rough when Carnage did it and I still remember that feeling... like claws all over my skin...”

Twilight and Venom exchanged a glance that held a full conversation before looking back at Sunset together.

“Rough?” Twilight asked with a frown. “It isn't supposed to hurt.”

“Yes, bonding is an easy and painless act, why if someone isn't looking I could probably bond to them without them even noticing,” Venom agreed.

“Oh.” Sunset rubbed her arms, shuddering. “Then I guess right from the start Carnage was trying to hurt me.”

Twilight leaned forward and squeezed her shoulder. “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I didn't check up on you sooner. If Venom and I had known he was bonded to you...”

“Twilight...”

“We could have warned you. We could have pulled him right out of you, we knew he was dangerous, and-”

“Hey, come on,” Sunset interrupted. “Don't you keep telling me not to linger on the past? I don't want you to do it either. It's done. No point talking about what ifs.”

“You're right. Sorry. I just get so caught up in thinking about how things could be different. How the smallest of choices can-”

“Twily,” Venom said.

She stopped. “Sorry. There I go again. We'll talk about something else then, um... oh! We're here!”

Sure enough, Applejack was stopping the truck outside Canterlot High. She put it into park and got out as the others did.

“Reckon this is goodbye for now,” Applejack said, tipping her hat.

Sunset pulled her into a hug. “Yeah, for now. Don't have too much fun without me this summer.”

“We'll try not to.” Applejack hugged her back.

They separated and Twilight went to hug Applejack too. “It was great seeing you again,” Twilight said.

“You too. You're always welcome here.”

Sunset reached into her backpack and took out her magical journal. “I won't need this while I'm in Equestria, so I want you to hold onto it. I'll use the one Twilight has to write to you when I'm ready to come back.”

“Sounds good.” Applejack accepted it from her. “I'll write to you too if anything interesting happens while you're gone.”

Sunset checked her pockets for anything that wouldn't benefit her on the other side. She had decided to just keep her wallet in her backpack while in Equestria so she would immediately have it when she got back, but she took her phone out and gave it to Applejack too. “Here, and this. Not much in the way of cell service over there.”

“I'll take good care of it,” Applejack promised, pocketing it.

“Thank you.” Sunset took a reassuring breath and turned to face the statue. Her hand went to the two geodes that hung from her necklace. She had meticulously crafted both of them onto one band and wore them wherever she went. As she closed her hand around them, she felt warmth and comfort flow through her. She looked to Twilight. “Whenever I've gone into Equestria wearing my geode before, it would disappear until I return. I theorized that it's because the pure Equestrian magic within it would be infused in my body on that side, and then extracted back into the geode over here so I can continue using it. But... what happens when I step through with both of these on? Will... will I have both my magic and hers?”

Twilight considered as she looked at the geodes. “I can't say for certain. We'll just have to step through and find out. But you already have her magic within you now. Something tells me it will still be with you over there.”

“Guess there's no point standing here wondering then. Let's go.” Sunset gave Applejack a final nod, thanking her for everything she's done to help her in the past couple months and asking her to pass the thanks along to all their friends. Then she approached the portal, holding out her hands so they went through first, always worried that the surface would suddenly be solid. But the portal was active and she passed through easily.

She closed her eyes against the rush of motion associated with the travel between dimensions and stepped out onto a cool, crystal floor. Immediately her back protested and she went down onto all fours, giving her hooves a few taps against the floor and sighing. It was always interesting going back to being a pony for a while. She had grown up like this but she had also gotten so used to moving about as a human did.

She reflexively lifted a front hoof to her neck and found that the geodes had disappeared as she expected. But it was okay. She could feel the magic flowing through her and knew that when she went back to Earth, the geodes would be right back where she left them, along with all her clothes.

...It was also weird not having clothes on. It really was interesting how culturally different humans were from ponies.

Twilight hopped through the portal and landed next to her, giving herself a little shake and checking on Venom, who gave her a nod to indicate he was fine. “Ah, here we are. Home sweet home...” She trailed off, staring at Sunset's back. “Uh. Could you... take off your backpack?”

“Hm? Sure, why...” Sunset looked over her shoulder while lighting up her horn to pull the bag off but what she saw froze her in her tracks. She blinked, tilting her head a few times, and then she said, “Is that what I think it is.”

“I... think so.” Twilight used her magic to just teleport the backpack right off and set it onto the floor next to them, and Sunset flexed the new muscles that she felt in her back.

And opened a pair of wings with wide, fluffy orange feathers that were tinged purple at their tips.

“Oh my goodness,” Twilight whispered, opening one of her wings and comparing it to Sunset's. The shapes were the same.

Sunset's eyes filled with tears. “Twilight... is this... is this her magic?”

Twilight thought for a while. Then she said, “Years ago, you brought magic into the world on the other side of the mirror portal when you took the Element of Magic there. When I came to retrieve it, the magic of all the Elements of Harmony flowed into the world and bonded with our friends there. And when you and the others found those geodes, they served as a physical conduit for that magic, allowing greater control of your abilities, much like the Elements here have the necklaces and crown that my friends and I have used several times. Twi's magic specifically was that of the Element of Magic. My element.” She took Sunset's hooves. “I believe that her magic has joined yours. You have also become a bearer of the Element of Magic, the other side of the bridge that links the magic of Equestria to the new magic of Earth. So yes, these wings are because of her magic, but it is just as much your magic now. You have become a Princess in your own right.”

“Oh my gosh.” Sunset gave her new wings some flaps. “They're gorgeous. Oh wow.” She sank onto her haunches and tried not to cry.

Twilight sat next to her and patted her hoof. “It's alright. Take your time. This is a lot.”

“I'm okay, just... I'm so happy that, despite everything... part of her lives on through me. I'm not sure I deserve this. Her death was the direct result of my actions, but... but I am truly remorseful for it, and maybe... maybe this is her way of saying she forgives me?”

“I think so. I'm not sure where she is now, nopony truly knows what happens after death, but I think she knows how sorry you are and she wants you to be happy. These wings represent change and freedom. Use your new power for good. And every time you do, think about how you're doing it for her.”

“Right. Of course.” Sunset stood, lifting her backpack with magic. She could see that the usual green color had swirls of magenta going through it now. She smiled and held the backpack next to her as Twilight led her through the castle.

Venom leaned over to check out Sunset's new look and said, “Are you going to tell Celestia about this?”

“I probably should,” Twilight said.

“How do you think she'll respond?”

“Shock and a lot of questions, most likely.”

“You know, long ago I had begged that Celestia fulfill my potential and make me an alicorn like her,” Sunset said. “I was a very different person back then. I was furious when she said I wasn't ready to be a Princess like her. I thought it was what I deserved. But I understand now why she said I wasn't ready. All I wanted was power. I didn't want to actually help anyone. But now I've learned what it means to be a good friend. I've learned about compassion. I've learned humility. I've learned power isn't in what you can do for yourself, it's what you can do for others. And I think, if I told her all that I've learned...” Sunset moved one of her wings around in front of her to give one of the primary feathers a stroke. “She'll agree that I've earned these.”

“I believe you've earned them too,” Twilight said. “I always knew you had greatness in you. You're going to do great things both here and back on Earth.”

“Thank you.”

They headed up a couple floors and Twilight took her to one of the guest rooms. “Alright, my room is just right down the hall from here, and across from you is Starlight. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask for either of us.”

“Oh, Starlight! It'll be great seeing her again.”

“I'm sure she'll love to see you too. She's here right now if you wanna say hi.”

“Yeah, one moment.” Sunset opened the door to her room and tossed the backpack inside, landing it perfectly on the bed. She grinned and gave a little hop before turning to go over to Starlight's room, knocking on the door.

“Yeah?” Starlight called.

“Guess who?” Sunset replied.

There was the distinct sound of hooves galloping across the floor and then Starlight swung the door open, actually prancing in place as she saw her. “Sunset Shimmer! Oh my gosh, it's been so long!” She flung herself forward to wrap both forelegs around her in a hug. “It's- wait.” She paused as she felt something on Sunset's back and Sunset casually adjusted her new wings. Starlight jerked back as if she had been shot. “Are those wings?!”

Sunset unfurled them. “Yep.”

“When did you get wings?!”

“Since I stepped through the portal. Just now. But as for how I got them, well... it's a long story.” Sunset glanced at Twilight. “Did you tell her about...?”

Twilight nodded. “I told her what happened with Carnage, yeah.”

“That... makes it a little easier then.” Sunset sighed and turned back to Starlight, explaining what had happened with Twi's magic and how she was now Earth's counterpart to Equestria's Element of Magic. Starlight listened with a politely interested look the entire time, and once Sunset was done, the other clapped her hooves together and hummed, a serious contemplative look on her face.

Then she said, “Every time I think I've learned everything there is to know about magic, it comes and throws me another curve ball.”

“The Elements of Harmony are quite good at that,” Twilight laughed.

“You've been through so much,” Starlight said sympathetically to Sunset. “I'm so sorry. Do you want to talk about anything?”

“I've mostly come to terms with things,” Sunset replied. “But I might still need someone to talk to sometimes.”

“I'm here if you need me.”

“Thank you. But honestly, at this point...” Sunset rubbed a foreleg. “I think I mainly just need to get used to being around Twilight's alien boyfriend, there.”

“Oh believe me, I've known Venom and the other symbiotes for a while and they still creep me out,” Starlight chuckled.

Venom flipped her off. She just looked confused but both Twilight and Sunset burst into laughter. After a few moments, Starlight nervously laughed along.

“It's a human expression,” Sunset explained. “It means... hm, how do I say it politely...”

“It means fuck off,” Twilight said.

Starlight was used to her using stronger language ever since bonding with Venom, but Sunset let out a whistle. “Damn, never thought I'd hear you drop the F bomb,” she commented.

“I've picked up some bad habits from my partner,” Twilight said, blushing.

“And I've picked up good habits from her so it evens out,” Venom replied.

“So Sunset, you don't have a problem swearing?” Starlight asked. Sunset shook her head and Starlight triumphantly stomped a hoof down. “Fuck yeah, I don't have to censor myself!”

They all laughed harder, Sunset surprising herself at how easily she was laughing. She hadn't thought she would ever feel this cheerful again. This vacation really was going to be good for her.

“Alright, well, what do you say I invite a bunch of our friends over and we have dinner to welcome Sunset?” Twilight asked.

“Dinner sounds great!” Venom declared.

“Of course you would say so.”

“That sounds nice,” Starlight agreed. “It'll be nice having everypony together.”

“Then I'll get to planning it. You two should hang out and catch up, I'll let you know what time dinner will be.” Twilight trotted off and Starlight invited Sunset into her room.

As Sunset sat down and began chatting with the other, she let herself smile and be happy. This was good for her. It's been a long, difficult journey to here, and there was so much about it she would change if she could. But she couldn't, so she was going to follow the advice of her friends and keep looking ahead. She was going to seek whatever aid she needed to get her mind back in a better place, and then she was going to do as much good as she could with the life she had ahead of her. There were so many people both here in Equestria and back in the human world that she could help. And help them she shall.

The most harrowing chapter of her life so far was over, but there were many more chapters to come. Now, as she turned to the next, she had hope that she would be penning a better one. A chapter she could be proud of. And that one day, when her story concluded... it would be a happy ending.