Five Nights at Equestria Girls

Back at the electrical building, Springtrap was standing by the window. He stared out, his eyes getting lost in the wooded landscape. Surprisingly, the area was very relaxing for being an abandoned building in the middle of nowhere. This place was more comforting than that stinky, old fright attraction was. He wasn’t looking to return to it anyway. Despite not being of this world, he had slowly started to grow fond of the nearby scenery. It reminded him of when he was alive and used to visit the local park.

As he stared out the window, his mind was reeling over how the kids were coming back. It seemed impossible that they would return. And for them to be as aware of who they were only made it seem all the more impossible. Yet somehow, by some miracle, the girls were bringing them back, and he was determined to find out how. But how was the problematic part of the question.

“How is it that they are bringing back those brats? It’s like they have magic.” thought Springtrap.

The kids regaining their memories was not part of his plan. That was only more trouble for him to deal with, and he didn’t need it. His anger boiled over, causing him to slam his fist into the side of the building. It rumbled and shook from the impact, sending some debris falling on top of him. Seconds later, a small crack formed from the years of neglect the building had endured, widened above him. The gash continued expanding until a medium-sized chunk of concrete was about ready to fall on him.

Without thinking, he held out his hand to block himself from the falling concrete. Unbeknownst to Springtrap, he had tapped into the magic that powered him. With his hand held up, he felt a surge of power flow through his arm, blasting the concrete to bits and pieces. As the pieces fluttered to the ground, a few sparks of magic hit the earth as well. When they hit the ground, something began to form from the spot where they landed. Springtrap watched with wide eyes as a mirror image of him appeared in front of him.

The copy looked exactly like him, down to the bloodstains and the wires sticking out of him. The doppelganger had his signature aged yellow-green color. As he scanned the copy from head to toe, he saw that it had the same deterioration as he did. It even mirrored his mummified body that was trapped inside. The extreme level of mimicked detail was far beyond what any 3-D printer could do. He stepped near the copy, wanting to see if it was real. He reached out and touched the arm of his doppelganger. To his surprise, it was solid and standing in front of him.

“What the hell? It’s like a carbon copy of me. How the hell did it get here?” thought Springtrap as he looked down at his hand.

When he looked up, he saw that his copy was copying his moves exactly. That prompted him to try something else to see if it would copy him again. Lifting his hand, he saw that the doppelganger do the same. He lifted his foot, watching the copy repeat the same action.

“Amazing! It’s like you mirror whatever I do. Wonder what else you could do?” said Springtrap as he circled his copy.

Just as he went behind the copy, it suddenly moved on its own, startling him in the process. He stepped back only to get pounced as his doppelganger made its move. With the doppelganger on top of him, he fell back onto the concrete floor of the building. He struggled to fight against his doppelganger as it matched him equally in strength. Being that it was an exact copy, it knew what his next move would be. Finally, after a few moments, he managed to free himself from his doppelganger’s grasp.

“Ugh, what the hell? Why the fuck would you attack me?” asked Springtrap, staring at his copy as it got back to its feet.

“I don’t know. I felt like it.” replied the copy, its voice sounding the same as Springtrap’s.

“Wait, you can talk?” Springtrap asked, shocked to see himself speak to...well himself.

“Well, yeah. I am you, after all. Or are you me?” The copy stared at Springtrap, trying to answer the question.

After a bit of thinking, his doppelganger got tired of trying to answer the question. So instead, it just ran and pounced on top of Springtrap again. As their bodies collided together on top of the concrete, a few small cracks formed in it. The whole room shook from the vibrations of their weight dropping on its base. In the process of him falling, a spark flew from Springtrap’s hand, landing in front of the doorway.

Like before, another copy formed from the spark. This one also was an exact doppelganger of the original Springtrap. It looked up at the first copy of Springtrap as well Springtrap himself, surprised to see two of it staring back at it. Taking a step forward, it approached the first copy, touching its face. When it felt that it was solid, it yanked its hand back.

“Are you real?” asked the second doppelganger.

“Yes, I am real, you dimwit," replied the first doppelganger.

That insult was enough to make the second doppelganger jump the first. As it landed on the first, it sent both of the doppelgangers out of the door. The doppelgangers wrestled around on the ground outside, kicking up dirt in the process. The first copy managed to pin the second on the earth beneath it. As the other doppelganger struggled underneath the first, it realized they had become too evenly matched in strength. So, instead of continuing the fight, it just stopped. That confused the first copy, allowing the second one to knock it off it. It took the chance, sending the first copy flying backward into the electrical building and slamming into the wall behind it.

Springtrap sighed, growing annoyed by his doppelganger’s antics. They were powerful, impulsive, and violent. Something that he could use to his advantage. Well, once he could keep them from attacking each other every two minutes, that is. Just as he was making his mental notes, he heard his second copy get up and charge the first one again. He let out an exasperated groan, resting his hand on his forehead.

“You look like me, sound like me, but you idiotic bitches lack the intelligence to tell a door from a window,” mumbled Springtrap as he saw them tumble to the ground again.

“What is a door?” asked the second doppelganger.

“I rest my case,” Springtrap said, turning his attention to himself.

He looked down at his hands, wondering how he had created the sparks. He looked the same. He felt no different, either. Yet, he knew the magic and flashes came from him. But how did he tap into the magic that created the two doppelgangers? That was the question that he wanted answers to. Wanting to test a theory, he pointed his hand at a broken chair that sat in the corner of the room. Nothing happened. He pointed it at the Marionette. Again, nothing happened.

“What the fuck? How the hell did I make you two bitches?” shouted Springtrap in frustration, slamming his fist against the old control panel.

He looked down at the control panel, noticing some sparks that seemed oddly similar to the ones that came from him. He looked around the room, trying to find something to peel back the one panel cover. With a stroke of luck, he managed to find a rusty crowbar in an old toolbox that sat underneath a metal desk. Crowbar in hand, he set to work on pulling off the panel cover. The metal didn’t budge for a while, but eventually, it did give it. When the metal gave way, it made the crowbar touch one of the still-live wires inside the control panel. The contact sent a round of electricity throughout Springtrap and turned the severely rusted crowbar to dust.

“What the fuck just happened?” asked Springtrap, stepping away from the control panel. “I feel like I just got high.”

He looked inside the control panel, seeing the wires and tubes that contained the same sparks that came from him. Carefully, he gripped one of the wires, not wanting to be shocked again. He pulled it up and examined it. On the inside, he could see sparks of magic flashing all around it as the magic flowed through it. He let go of the wire just as he heard a rumbling noise heading towards him.

“Oh fuck no…” uttered Springtrap as he held out his one hand as if it would stop the incoming impact.

And it did. Instead of being pummeled by his doppelgangers, Springtrap saw them being blasted backward by a ball of magic. He looked over at his one hand that was still over the control panel. There was a small stream of magic flowing into his arm from it. Once the flow of magic stopped, he removed his hand from the control panel. He turned his attention back to the doppelgangers.

“Interesting…” said Springtrap. “Maybe I can get you two dimwits to do my bidding.”

*** *** *** ***

At Sunset Shimmer’s apartment, the redhead was starting to stir in bed. The first rays of sunlight sifted into the room, waking up Sunset Shimmer from her peaceful sleep. She yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Reaching a hand out lazily, she pressed the snooze button on her alarm...for the fifth time. She sat up in bed, her tired muscles aching in the process, and glanced at the time.

“5:30. Okay, so that’s about...an hour to get to school,” mumbled Sunset, stifling another yawn.

As she looked down, she saw Twilight Sparkle was still asleep on the air mattress she had brought down for her. In the dim morning light, she could see the silhouette of Twilight’s wings moving slightly with every breath she took. Wrapping the blanket around herself, she reached over and rested a hand on Twilight’s wings. For a moment, Twilight Sparkle shifted in her sleep, making Sunset Shimmer freeze. Holding her breath, she waited for any sign that she might be awake. When she didn’t move or show any sign of being awake, Sunset took a few feathers in her fingers, caressing as she had done the day before.

The feathers were soft, like silky cotton. And warm too. Closing her eyes, Sunset Shimmer rested her cheek against the side of Twilight’s wing. Feeling the feathers brush against her cheek, she smiled. Between the warmth and softness, she could’ve stayed there for hours. After a few minutes, she lifted her head off of Twilight’s wings, still fiddling with her feathers.

As she sat there, her fingers caressing the feathers, she admired how the early morning light lit up Twilight’s skin. It made her look like an angel, and having wings only complimented the ethereal image even more. A small smile formed on her face. Staring at the beauty in front of her, she wanted the moment to last forever. In her mind, memories of the night replayed in her head as she busied herself with admiring Twilight Sparkle.

*A Few Hours Earlier*

Twilight Sparkle walked into Sunset’s apartment, the smell of strawberry shampoo wafting towards as she did so. The place always seemed so open and welcoming. Maybe it was because there was little to no clutter around. Or perhaps it was just how neatly everything was stacked and placed. Whatever it was, it always made her feel at home. Setting her bag near Sunset’s desk, she noticed some odd newspaper clippings were sitting on it. One of the titles that caught her attention was Sunset Shimmer: Nice or Evil? Her curiosity piqued, making her step closer to the desk.

“What is this? I have never seen this article before. Why is it about Sunset?” thought Twilight as she moved a few other papers aside, revealing more of the article.

While Sunset Shimmer took off her jacket and rested it on the back of her couch, she looked over at Twilight. She saw her standing over at her desk, examining something. She walked over to where Twilight Sparkle was and saw that she was looking at an article about her demonic rampage on the school. Quickly, before Twilight could see the picture of her she-demon form, she covered it with some of her nearby math notes. The close call made Sunset’s heart race in her chest. It was too soon for Twilight to find out about Demon Shimmer, especially when Twilight had just transformed into her she-demon form.

“Sunset? Was that an article about...you?” asked Twilight, sitting down in Sunset’s chair that was near the desk.

Sunset Shimmer sighed heavily, trying to calm her heart. “Yes...it was.”

“Then, why didn’t you let me see it?” Twilight Sparkle asked, genuinely curious.

That made Sunset Shimmer look away from her, ashamed of her actions. Her eyes darkened as she recalled all her mistakes that had led up to the events of the Fall Formal. Though she had told Twilight Sparkle about what she had done to tear apart the girls’ friendships, she was still reluctant to admit the truth about her demonic transformation. It was a painful experience for her, and to have to admit that to the one person she loved, that was outright terrifying for her. Looking up, she noticed that Twilight Sparkle was staring at her. When she looked down, she saw why. She loosened her grip on her desk and walked into the kitchen.

“I didn’t let you see it...because I didn’t want you to,” said Sunset, leaning against the counter.

Twilight Sparkle crossed her arms, giving the redhead a glare that was one part anger and one part annoyance.

“That is not a valid reason, Sunset. And you know that,” said Twilight.

“I know…” Sunset Shimmer looked at her fridge, wanting to change the subject. “Want a pizza? I have...cheese or vegan Hawaiian.”

Twilight Sparkle could see through the attempted distraction. Twilight wondered why Sunset Shimmer was suddenly deflecting from her questions. It seemed that whatever happened between her and Applejack had affected her. Nonetheless, she decided not to push. If Sunset was ready to tell her, then she would be prepared to listen. She then got up and walked over to the freezer, grabbing the vegan Hawaiian pizza. Worrying about what Sunset was hiding was doing no good for her growing hunger.

“I am in the mood to try something...new,” said Twilight, handing the pizza to Sunset Shimmer. “Besides, I know you love vegan pizzas more than plain old cheese pizzas.”

Sunset Shimmer smiled. She was extremely grateful that Twilight Sparkle didn’t seem to mind her vegan diet. So far, she had managed to avoid any questions about why she was a vegan successfully. She wasn’t ready to admit that she was actually a unicorn from another world to Twilight. Not yet, anyway. But hopefully, when she got her past out of the way, she could tell her. Till then, she would bide her time.

She unboxed the pizza and placed it in the oven. With the timer set, she walked into the living room and sat next to Twilight Sparkle. As she sat down, she noticed that she was fidgeting with her wings. Twilight tried to sit back on the couch with her wings folded, but they instantly unfolded as she leaned back, making Sunset snicker in response. But when she got an angry scowl from her, she stopped snickering.

“This...is not...funny,” said Twilight.

“You’re right. It’s not...funny,” said Sunset, stifling her laughter.

Twilight Sparkle tried again to sit back with her wings folded, only for them to unfold...again. This time as her wings unfolded, a few feathers came loose and fluttered onto the couch. She grabbed the feathers, noting their length. They were longer than the average bird’s feather. Color aside, they also seemed to be built in a similar way to a bird’s, which she found very interesting. After a few minutes, she got up and threw the feathers away. It was weird to see them detached from her, but after all the magical mishaps she had witnessed, it wasn’t that weird.

Just as Twilight Sparkle sat down on the couch, the timer for the pizza went off. Sunset Shimmer got up and turned it off on the third ring. Grabbing the oven mitts, she pulled the pizza out and turned off the stove. By now, the kitchen was reasonably warm due to the oven being on. Yet, the smell of the pizza made her stomach grumble, reminding her that she was hungry. She set the pizza down and turned back to Twilight.

“Pizza’s ready,” Sunset Shimmer said, leaning forward on her counter.

“Okay,” said Twilight Sparkle as she walked into the kitchen, joining Sunset by the sink.

Twilight Sparkle grabbed her own plate just as her phone chirped. She set her plate down and grabbed her phone out of her back pocket. Unlocking her phone, she checked to see who had sent her text.

Mom: I am dropping off a change of clothes, okay?

Twi: Mom, I said you didn’t need to.

Mom: You need a change of clothes. I am not letting you wear the same clothes two days in a row.

Twi: Mom, please.

Mom: I will be there in five minutes, okay?

Twi: Okay, see you when you get here.

Twilight Sparkle felt her throat close up. Her hands shook as she struggled to keep from dropping her phone. Her grip on it loosened as her blood ran cold. She had told her mom she was okay without a change of clothes. But she knew her mom wouldn’t listen, despite the small part of her that hoped she would. Now, she had to face the reality that her mom was coming and would soon see her changed appearance. She rested her hands on the counter, her head hanging down.

“Why, mom? Why did you have to come tonight of all nights?” thought Twilight.

Sunset Shimmer grabbed a slice of pizza for herself, unaware of what was happening with her friend. When she noticed that the room had gone quiet, she looked over her shoulder. She saw Twilight Sparkle was standing by the counter, not moving. Setting her plate down, she walked over to her.

“Twilight? What’s wrong?” asked Sunset, resting a hand on Twilight’s shoulder.

Twilight Sparkle sighed, turning off her phone as she set it down on the counter. “It’s my mom. She’s coming over even though I said she doesn’t need to.”

Sunset Shimmer kept her gaze on Twilight, her eyes full of concern. She moved her hand down from Twilight’s shoulder, reaching for her hand. She understood her worries about her mother coming to her house. The whole point of the sleepover was to allow Twilight time to think about how she wanted to tell her mother. Yet, it seemed that the plan had gotten tossed out of the window.

“What are you going to do?” asked Sunset.

“I-I don’t know...Sunset. I am scared of what will happen.” replied Twilight, her voice trembling as she stared at her phone.

Just then, three knocks sounded on Sunset’s front door. Twilight Sparkle jumped in response to them, hitting Sunset Shimmer with one of her wings. She knew it had to be her mother. There was no else that it could be at this time of night.

“Pfft. Watch the fathers, Twi,” said Sunset as she pulled a feather off her lip.

“S-sorry.” Twilight Sparkle pulled her wings close to her body, embarrassed that she had hit Sunset Shimmer with them. “Can I sit on your bed? I don’t want my mom to see me right away.”

Sunset Shimmer could see Twilight’s fear at the idea of facing her mom. Her breathing became more ragged with every second that passed. A look of empathy made its way onto her face as she met Twilight’s eyes. The violet eyes she had come to know were gone, replaced with a mulberry color. Though, her friend’s fear still showed through. She rested her hand on her chin, making sure she couldn’t look away.

“You can. But, you are going to talk to your mom, right?” Sunset’s expression grew serious. “She deserves to know what happened.”

“Just like Twilight deserves to know about the Fall Formal. And the whole you becoming a she-demon thing as well. Oh, you are such a hypocrite, Sunset,” said Sunset’s conscience, reminding her that she was in the same position as Twilight.

As Sunset Shimmer thought about what she had said, she remembered the conversations she had with the girls. She could see their point, which only made her regret her actions more. When she looked at Twilight, she saw herself. She saw her own fear of rejection, of abandonment. That made her hand shake as she struggled to look back at the reflection of her feelings. But if Twilight Sparkle could tell her mother about the Friendship Games, maybe just maybe, she could finally admit what happened at the Fall Formal.

“Yes, I will tell her,” said Twilight Sparkle as she got up from the couch and started making her way over to the bedroom.

Sunset Shimmer gave Twilight a quick smile as she made her way over to the front door. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Twilight cocoon herself in her wings as she sat on her bed. For Twilight’s sake, she hoped her mother would be okay with her new appearance. Slowly, she opened the door and greeted Mrs. Velvet.

“Hey, Mrs. Velvet. Are these Twilight’s clothes?” asked Sunset, taking the t-shirt and jeans from her.

“Yes, they are,” said Mrs. Velvet with a gentle smile. “Speaking of my daughter, where is she?”

Sunset Shimmer turned her head towards Twilight, gauging her friend’s expression. She could see that Twilight Sparkle was shaking slightly. Whether that was from fear, nervousness, or both, she wasn’t sure. But as she turned her attention back to Mrs. Velvet, she was pushed aside from the doorway. Rolling her eyes in annoyance, she quickly followed Mrs. Velvet, trying to stop her before she reached the foot of the stairs.

“Mrs. Velvet, your daughter-she doesn’t look like her usual self right now. She looks a bit...different,” said Sunset, making Mrs. Velvet stop for a moment as she stood in front of the stairs.

“What do you mean she looks different?” asked Mrs. Velvet, the kindness in her voice replaced by urgent concern.

Sunset Shimmer peeked behind her, catching Twilight’s eyes as she looked up for a moment. Looking into her mulberry eyes, she saw there was something that was darkening them. Fear. Fear of rejection, of losing her mom, of being...alone. A few moments later, Twilight looked down at her lap again. Sunset’s heart fell as she looked back at Mrs. Velvet. Her hands shook as she tried to keep her desire to keep Mrs. Velvet away from her daughter. She wanted to protect her friend, to keep her from being hurt. But, reluctantly, she chose not to act on that instinct.

“She is still your daughter, despite what you’re about to see. Just remember that, please,” said Sunset, stepping aside from the stairs.

“Of course, she is my daughter. What is going on-”

Mrs. Velvet stopped speaking as she made her way up the stairs and saw a winged figure that was sitting on the bed. For a split second, she wanted to scream out in terror. Luckily, she managed to cover her mouth before anything could come out. What she saw wasn’t someone she thought could be her daughter. They had two enormous wings, and their skin was a darker shade of purple than her own daughter’s was. She saw someone who looked...terrifying. Yet, as she looked at the figure, she noticed something familiar. In the figure’s hair was a very familiar-looking star-shaped hairband. The same one her daughter always wore. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized that she was staring at her...daughter.

“S-sweetheart?” Mrs. Velvet’s voice was no longer strong or steady. Instead, it shook as she stared in fear at the unfamiliar sight of her daughter.

Twilight, still cocooned in her wings, took a shaky breath. Try as she might, she couldn’t stop herself from shaking. It was nerve-wracking to know that her mother was staring at her demonic form. The very same features she had at the Friendship Games, the one she had wanted to keep from her family. Now it was out in the open, and she had to make sure that her mother knew that she was still her daughter. Her thundering heartbeat pounded away in her ears, making it impossible to hear anything else above it.

“Come on, she is your mom.” thought Twilight. “Just slowly reveal yourself, and she’ll be fine.”

She forced herself to lower wings, allowing her face and body to get seen. Her wings slowly unfolded and rested at her side so that it wouldn’t freak out her mother. With her wings resting at her side, she hesitantly looked up. She was afraid to see if her mother would hate her now that she saw her demon form. As she met her mother’s gaze, she saw a shell of what her mother used to be staring back at her.

“Hi, m-mom.” Twilight’s voice quivered as she fought an urge to hide away from her mother.

Mrs. Velvet continued to look at her daughter. The shock of seeing what her daughter now looked like made her stay frozen in the spot where she stood. She blinked after a few seconds. As she saw her daughter look at her, she noticed that her eyes had changed from their usual violet color to a mulberry color. That feature was considerably less...disturbing than the two large wings that jutted out from her shoulder blades. Unconsciously, she staggered back from her, frightened by the sudden reveal.

“Mom…? Are you...okay?” asked Twilight, finding some courage to push herself into a standing position.

As Mrs. Velvet watched her daughter stand up, she noticed the pony-like tail which swung behind her. Her hands started to shake as she struggled to comprehend what she saw in front of her. This was all too much for her. Seeing her daughter transformed, she started to walk back down the stairs, away from her daughter. Her attention was drawn to Sunset Shimmer when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“Mrs. Velvet, that is still Twilight. That...is still your daughter,” whispered Sunset as she saw Twilight look away nervously.

“How is that my daughter? It looks nothing like her.” hissed Mrs. Velvet under her breath. “It’s a vile monster that has replaced her.”

“Mrs. Velvet, I know her appearance is scary, but that is Twilight. Trust me. I made the same mistake you are making now.” Sunset Shimmer looked at Twilight for a moment. “But I promise you if you run away now, you’ll only make her feel like she is no longer your daughter.”

“But-” began Mrs. Velvet.

“Just look. See that despite the outward changes, Twilight has not changed at all,” said Sunset, turning her attention to Twilight’s mother.

Twilight’s mother glanced briefly at her daughter. She spotted two sharp fangs when she saw her daughter flash her a quick smile. That made her throat go dry. It was like she was looking at an archangel that was a vampire as well. She couldn’t see the person in front of her as her daughter. But when she saw a tear stream down her cheek, she realized that it was. That the person she thought was a monster was indeed her daughter. And that her actions in treating her like a monster had inadvertently hurt her. Turning to Sunset, she leaned toward her.

“Thank you for helping me see that she is my daughter,” whispered Mrs. Velvet.

Twilight Sparkle gripped her forearm as she heard footsteps approach her. She looked out the corner of her eye, too afraid to see her mother face to face. When she saw that it was her mother who was approaching her, she cautiously looked up. There was a small feeling of hope welling up inside her as she felt her mother grab her hand. The contact sent a chill running through her whole body, making her wings unfurl as a result.

“Can we talk, sweetie?” asked Mrs. Velvet, trying to keep her voice steady.

“Yeah, mom,” Twilight Sparkle said as she let her mother pull her down the stairs.

As she passed Sunset Shimmer, she mouthed a silent “thank you” to her. She saw Sunset give her a small smile before she made her way back into the kitchen, presumably to eat her pizza. With her mom, she sat down on the couch. When she sat down, she was careful not to sit back as she wanted to keep her wings folded. A few feet sat between her and her mother. She wanted that space in case her mother felt… uncomfortable being around her wings and new appearance. Glancing at her mother, she saw that her hands were trembling.

“Mom...you’re not scared, are you?” asked Twilight, her shaky voice giving away her hurt. “It’s still me. I am still your sweetheart.”

Mrs. Velvet looked up from her trembling hands, meeting her daughter’s gaze. She could see the pain and tears that clouded her eyes. Though, she could see there was a hopeful spark behind the pain and tears. That broke her heart and caused a few tears of her own to fall down her cheeks. Seeing that hope made her heart crack into a thousand pieces as she noticed that her daughter just wanted to know she was still loved despite what had occurred to her. It killed her emotionally to see her daughter in pain because she...wrongly feared her. Pushing past her tears and fear, she inched closer to her.

“I am not scared, honey. Shocked, maybe.” Mrs. Velvet grabbed Twilight’s hand in her own, giving it a firm squeeze. “But I am never going to be scared of you. You are my daughter, and that’ll never change. Not even if you have grown wings and fangs.”

Hearing those words meant more to Twilight Sparkle than anything in the world. She had been so worried that her mother would hate her. She was elated to hear her mother still loved her despite the fact she now looked like a she-demon. As she looked at her mother, she let a few tears fall from her eyes. She moved closer to her mom, resting her hand on her shoulder.

“C-can I give you a hug, mom?” asked Twilight, her wings unfolding slightly from behind her.

“Of course, you can sweetie,” said Mrs. Velvet as she pulled her daughter into a warm embrace.

Twilight Sparkle wrapped her arms tightly around her mother, resting her head in the crook of her neck. For a moment, she felt her mother hesitate before returning the hug. She closed her eyes as she felt her mother’s strong arms wrap around her tightly. It was like getting a hug from a very protective mama bear. With her body being closer to her mother’s, she felt her hands brush against the base of her wings. She shuddered in response to that. It was becoming quite clear just how annoyingly sensitive her wings were to any sort of touch.

“I love you,” whispered Mrs. Velvet as she pulled herself away from the hug momentarily to look at her daughter.

Twilight Sparkle smiled widely as she heard her mother say that.

“I love you too, mom,” Twilight said, giving in to her tears, which her tears of relief and happiness.

Without thinking, Twilight Sparkle pulled her mother back into the hug. This time, she instinctively wrapped her wings around her as well. Just as soon as she did that, she froze. In the heat of the moment, she hadn’t realized what she was doing. She waited for a minute, wanting to see what her mother’s reaction would be to her wrapping her wings around her. Deep down, she hoped that she hadn’t frightened her mother...again. Her response was in the form of her mother, hugging her back even tighter than before. Almost too tight. In turn, she pulled her wings even tighter around her and her mother. She sighed happily at being able to still have her mother’s support, before finally, pulling away and allowing her mother a moment to breathe. As her wings folded themselves up and rested behind her, she looked at her mother.

“So, how did you get those...wings of yours anyway?” asked Mrs. Velvet as she leaned back casually on the couch.

Twilight Sparkle adjusted her glasses as they slid down the bridge of her nose. She knew her mother was probably going to ask questions about how she had gotten her new form. Though, she wasn’t too sure how her mother would take to the reveal. But she did have high hopes that it would go okay. Clearing her throat, she prepared herself to recount the story of the Friendship Games to her mother.

“You remember the Friendship Games?” asked Twilight.

“Yeah, I remember. You had the games at CHS. What about them?” asked Mrs. Velvet.

“Well, I built a device capable of measuring strange anomalies. I followed the strange readings to CHS as it was the source of them.” began Twilight.

“Wait. What? When were you doing this?” Mrs. Velvet asked an accusing tone in her voice.

Twilight Sparkle chuckled nervously. “While I was at Crystal Prep.”

“And what about your studies?” Mrs. Velvet raised an eyebrow, surprised to see her daughter was doing something other than study.

“I was still studying, mom. But I was using the Friendship Games as a chance to see what the strange anomaly was. Not that I was expecting to be transformed by it.” replied Twilight, laughing at the blind naivety she had at the time.

Mrs. Velvet narrowed her eyes as she grew more and more curious about the strange 'anomaly' her daughter was talking about. “What is the strange anomaly that you found at CHS?”

“Magic,” replied Twilight matter-of-factly.

“Oh, magic. That explains...this,” said Mrs. Velvet as she gestured to Twilight’s wings.

“Hehe, yeah,” Twilight said, looking at her wings.

Meanwhile, standing by the kitchen sink, Sunset Shimmer watched as Twilight and her mother talked. Seeing the scene play in front of her, she couldn’t help but smile. Something about her nerdy friend rambling on was...kind of cute. She rested her chin on her palm, her mind starting to drift to thoughts about her and Twilight. Not realizing that she was staring, she dropped her pizza into the sink. The sound caused Twilight, who had started to become unnerved by the redhead’s absent-minded staring, and her mother to look up at her.

“Uh, Sunset?” asked Twilight, her voice calm.

Twilight’s voice broke Sunset Shimmer free from a thought where she wondered what it would be like to kiss Twilight Sparkle as she slowly undressed her. Mentally, she had just taken off Twilight’s shirt and was starting to work on undoing her pleated skirt. Her hands were running down the middle of Twilight’s abdomen, making the shy girl squeal in response. The softness of her skin made the redhead continue to run her hands along the outer side of her thighs. The mental image stayed for a moment before she focused her attention on her friend.

“Wha-? Oh…” Sunset Shimmer looked away as she realized she had been staring for the last few minutes. “Sorry. I was, uh, lost in thought,” said Sunset, not wanting to admit that she had just been mentally undressing Twilight in front of her mother.

Blinking, she moved her hand to her mouth, finding that she had dried drool on the edges of it. Noticing that she was missing her pizza, she looked down in the kitchen sink. There, sitting in the bottom of it, was her half-eaten slice of pizza. She picked it up and tossed it into the trash can. Wanting to give Twilight Sparkle and her mother some space, she made her way to her bedroom and sat down on her bed.

Mrs. Velvet looked down at her watch, seeing that it was soon time for her husband to come home. She got up off the couch and looked at her daughter. The sight of seeing her daughter the way she looked during the Friendship Games was still jarring, but she was getting used to it. Albeit very slowly.

“Um, I have your hoodie. Do you want it? I think it could be useful to hide your, erm, wings.” asked Mrs. Velvet, still shocked by the fact her own daughter now had wings.

Twilight Sparkle could see that her mother was still uncomfortable around her, even if she tried to hide it. Wrapping her soft wings around herself, she nodded. She didn’t feel like talking anymore. Not after she had just finished explaining that it was rogue magic that gave her the form she now had. And that when it initially happened, she was hell-bent on destroying this world to learn about the realm the magic came from. Though, much to her surprise, her mother seemed to handle it pretty well. That said, she could have easily just been freaking out on the inside.

While Mrs. Velvet walked out to her car, Sunset Shimmer came down from her bedroom. She heard the chirp of the car alarm. Looking out her window, she saw that Twilight’s mother was looking for something in her car. Turning her attention back to Twilight, she realized that Mrs. Velvet was bringing something in. She approached her friend and rested a hand on her shoulder

“So, was that as bad as you thought it was going to be?” asked Sunset.

Twilight Sparkle rubbed her arms, feeling a chill sweep over them as her mother opened the front door. Goosebumps formed beneath her hands, despite them being warm. That caused her to pull her wings closer to her body in an attempt to keep the chill away. With her wings over her, she felt a bit warmer.

“No, it wasn’t. My mom took it...fairly well,” replied Twilight, looking at Sunset.

Just then, they heard a car door slam shut. Seconds later, Mrs.Velvet came in with Twilight’s hoodie slung over her one arm.

“Here’s your hoodie.” Mrs. Velvet handed the jacket over to her daughter. “Now, I have to go. Your dad will be home soon. And I need to give Spike his food soon too.”

“Okay, mom. See you tomorrow, then?” asked Twilight, giving her mom a quick but tight hug.

“Yep. Assuming you don’t decide to pull another surprise sleepover here,” replied Mrs. Velvet. “And Twilight?”

“Yeah, mom?” asked Twilight.

“The next time you get wings, a tail, and fangs, please tell me." Mrs. Velvet locked eyes with her daughter. “I don’t feel like having to crash a sleepover again to get that kind of news.”

“Hopefully, there won’t be another next time, mom,” said Twilight, finally feeling like she can breathe again.

Placing a hand on Twilight’s cheek, Mrs. Velvet said, “I am your mother. There is nothing in this world that you can’t tell me. And there is nothing that will ever keep me from you.”

All Twilight Sparkle could do was silently nod at her mother, afraid of bursting into tears if she said anything. After that, her mother kissed her forehead and waved goodbye to both her and Sunset Shimmer. She watched as her mother walked out of the front door and headed to her car. Hearing her mother’s car leaving, she covered her mouth as a yawn escaped.

“Well, that was eventful,” said Twilight.

“I’ll say,” said Sunset. “I didn’t even get to finish my pizza.”

Twilight Sparkle chuckled. “Yeah, so I noticed.”

A whirlwind of memories played throughout Twilight’s head. The events of what happened since her transformation ran wildly in her head. Between hearing Sunset Shimmer confess what had happened in her past to having her mother see what had occurred to her during the Friendship Games, it had been a rush. But now one thought seeped into her mind – what was she going to do about her appearance and school? Of that, she wasn’t sure. One thing she did know was that it was going to be hell.

For now, though, that was an afterthought. At this moment, Twilight had Sunset Shimmer, and her heart was elated that she had come clean with her mother and that she still loved her. Thinking about her mother and her acceptance made pure warmth spread throughout her body. She couldn’t believe how lucky she had been to have such a wonderful mother. It was indeed a gift. Looking at Sunset, she knew that she was fortunate to have such an incredible friend as well.

Warm but emotionally worn out, Twilight Sparkle made her way back towards Sunset’s bed. She didn't have the mental nor the physical energy to do anything else for the night. She sat on the edge of the bed, her wings stretching out as she did so. Below her, she could hear the redhead locking the front door. A few seconds later, she spotted her friend coming up the stairs, her hand covering a yawn.

“Hey, Sunset?” Twilight Sparkle noticed that her voice seemed timider than before.

“What’s wrong, Sparky?” asked Sunset, looking directly at her friend.

Running her hand along her tail, Twilight asked, “Do you think I will stay like this...permanently? Because I don’t think I want to stay this way for long…”

Sunset Shimmer sat down next to Twilight Sparkle, wrapping her arms around her shoulder. Though, she was mindful of her friend’s wings. She pulled her close until Twilight’s head rested on her shoulder. Gently, she ran her hand up and down Twilight’s arm. She glanced at Twilight and met her worry-filled gaze.

“Honestly, Twilight, I am not sure. My best guess is that you using your geode is what caused it to malfunction. And as a result, you were transformed into...” Sunset Shimmer couldn’t say Midnight Sparkle, nor did she want to out of respect.

“Midnight Sparkle. I transformed into Midnight Sparkle, Sunset,” said Twilight, her tone sounding harsher than she intended it to.

“Yeah. You transformed physically into Midnight Sparkle. You’re still you, Twilight.” Sunset Shimmer let go of Twilight as she shifted away from her. “Well, I am going to get that air mattress for you.”

Just as Sunset Shimmer got up from her bed, Twilight Sparkle grabbed her wrist. “I am sorry.”

Feeling Twilight Sparkle gripping her wrist, Sunset looked back at her.

“I didn’t mean to sound so angry. I just-” Twilight Sparkle sighed. “I just hate that I look like a she-demon...again.”

Sunset Shimmer gave Twilight Sparkle a sympathetic smile. “It’s okay, Twi. I understand your anger. You have every right to be angry.” She pulled her wrist free and grabbed Twilight’s hand. “And if you ever need to vent, I am happy to be there.”

Looking into Sunset’s cyan eyes, Twilight Sparkle had to know if the reason she was so secretive was because of her being Midnight Sparkle. So with every bit of courage she had, she forced the question she had in her mind, out.

“Sunset, did you not tell me about your past because I was...Midnight Sparkle?” asked Twilight.

Sunset Shimmer kneeled, her face leveled with Twilight’s. She could hear the pain in her voice. That made her squeeze Twilight’s hand tightly in response.

“No, it was not because of that, Twi. It was because...I was afraid.” Sunset’s eyes darkened as she spoke.

‘Afraid of what, Sunset?” asked Twilight.

“Afraid of you seeing me differently because of my past,” replied Sunset Shimmer as she looked down.

Twilight Sparkle lifted Sunset’s eyes to meet her again. “Sunset, I am never going to stop seeing you as my friend. Even with what happened in your past.”

A weak smile crept onto Sunset’s face. “Thank you, Sparky.”

Twilight Sparkle smiled back briefly before a yawn replaced the smile. “Well, I think it is about time that we got some sleep, don’t you?’

“Yeah,” replied Sunset, chuckling at the cuteness of Twilight yawning.

*Present Day*

Twilight Sparkle groaned as she slowly woke up, blinking the sleep out of her eyes. As she became more alert, she felt a rubbing sensation on one of her wings. That prompted her to look up, wanting to see who was causing it. Not that she had to guess. Unsurprisingly, it was Sunset Shimmer who was rubbing the edge of her wing.

Gazing at her friend, she noticed there was a distant look in her eyes. Deciding to let Sunset continue thinking, she rested her head back on the pillow. It was interesting how soothing it was to have her wings gently stroked the way that Sunset Shimmer was doing now. Closing her eyes, she thought about what she had said last night.

“You transformed physically into Midnight Sparkle. You’re still you, Twilight.”

Nothing was comforting about this part of her. Her features were dangerous. Her magic was also deadly. Nothing about her new form said she was safe. Yet, here her friend was, touching her wings like she would pet a dog. She appreciated the gentleness of the touch. It made her feel like she was just Twilight. Not Midnight Sparkle, the she-demon that nearly destroyed the world.

As Sunset Shimmer started to return to the present, she looked down at Twilight Sparkle. She saw Twilight blink, which made her jump back and stop rubbing the feathers. Looking away, she tried to hide her growing embarrassment. She wasn’t sure if Twilight was going to find it creepy that she liked to ‘pet’ her wings. If she did, well, Sunset wasn’t sure what she was going to do.

Twilight Sparkle looked up when she felt the rubbing had stopped. She was enjoying the sensation, the feeling of relaxation she was getting from it. Twilight pushed herself into a sitting position to see Sunset Shimmer looking away from her. Seeing the redhead turned away from her, it hurt. That made her wonder what was wrong. Had she scared Sunset away? Or was their conversation last night too much for her to handle? When she saw a small hint of blush on the redhead’s cheeks, she realized exactly what had happened.

“I-I’m sorry, I-”

Sensing Sunset’s uneasiness, Twilight said, “Sunset, look at me.”

Sunset Shimmer did as Twilight Sparkle asked, despite her desire to hide her flushed cheeks. It was embarrassing enough to know that Twilight had caught her ‘petting’ her wings. But it was another thing to have her acknowledge that she’d saw her looking away because of it. Right now, she felt like a crab without a shell, exposed.

Twilight Sparkle couldn’t help but smile as she saw the full extent of Sunset’s reddened cheeks. “It’s okay.” Looking down at her own hands, she continued. “ Your touch, it was gentle and kind. Which...I kind of...enjoyed.”

A half-smile appeared on Sunset Shimmer’s face as she heard what Twilight Sparkle admitted. Something, like a series of knots in her stomach, made her heart race. She hadn’t expected Twilight to like her touch. If anything, she expected her to hate it. But, to say she was grateful was an understatement. She was beyond elated by the news.

“G-glad you enjoyed it. I was worried for a second that you would hate it,” said Sunset trying to ease the growing tension.

Looking at the alarm clock behind her, Twilight Sparkle said, “Yeah, me too. Now, let's get dressed. And skip breakfast if we want to make it to school on time.”

Sunset Shimmer nodded and tossed the blankets off of her. As she watched Twilight get up from the mattress, she reached down and grabbed the bottom edge of her nightshirt. Just as she was about to pull up her shirt, she stopped. She remembered that she had scars on her shoulders. Scars that Twilight Sparkle knew nothing about. And though it was tempting to show her, she wasn’t ready to. She couldn’t get herself to reveal the scars, which reminded her that she was once a monster too.

“Uh, Twilight? Could I please have some privacy?” asked Sunset.

Twilight Sparkle frowned her eyebrows in confusion. That was a bit of an odd request. Usually, at the gym, she always seemed bothered by people being around her whenever she changed, but that she could understand. She didn’t like people looking at her body either. Especially with her scars from the Friendship Games. But why is it a problem at home? It was just the two of them, and Sunset Shimmer couldn’t be any more embarrassed about her looks than Twilight was about her own.

A little part of her wanted to question Sunset Shimmer, but she thought better of it. She didn’t want to ruin the comfort of the morning that they had created. Instead, she would add it to the list of things Sunset was secretive about. These days, it seemed that the list was getting longer.

“Ye-yeah, I can,” said Twilight, dismay in her voice.

Sunset Shimmer breathed a sigh of relief as she saw Twilight Sparkle head down to the living room. Quickly, not wanting to chance Twilight seeing her scars, she pulled off her nightshirt. Running over to her closet, she pulled out a light blue shirt with pale yellow lace at the bottom. She slipped it over her head, not caring that her hair was a mess.

In the living room, Twilight Sparkle pulled off her blouse, which she found was relatively easy. She discovered that if she folded up her wings, they would slip under the fabric. That allowed her to remove her shirt without causing any further tears quickly. It was shocking just how slim her wings were. They were compact enough to let her wings sit beneath her shirt, something she hadn’t noticed until now. Grabbing the t-shirt her mother brought last night, she slipped it on. Just as she fixed the collar, she heard her wings rip through the sides of her shirt.

“Well, getting my shirt off and on is easy. Now, if only I could stop my wings from ruining it,” mumbled Twilight.

Sunset Shimmer slipped on a pair of her jeans. These were very worn from the years of use. She’d had these jeans for a long time, since the Fall Formal. One of the knees was close to ripping because the fabric was so thin there. When she had finished buttoning the last button on her jeans, she saw Twilight Sparkle coming up the stairs.

“Oh, sorry, Sunset. I was going to grab my phone and shoes,” said Twilight, looking away in embarrassment.

“It’s cool. Grab your shoes and phone, and I will join you in the living room, Sparky,” said Sunset Shimmer as she walked over to her.

Twilight Sparkle grabbed her belongings. For a moment, she glanced at Sunset Shimmer as she brushed the knots from her hair. Her friend’s shirt slipped down her shoulder as she leaned forward. She saw something for a split second before Sunset’s shirt covered it again. It appeared to be a...scar, similar to the ones she had. But why would she have those kinds of scars? Sunset hadn’t gone through any demonic transformations, not like she had, right? But again, she passed on asking any questions. Though, the fact she had seen something annoyed her. And not asking questions didn’t exactly make her curiosity back down.

Sunset Shimmer started to slip on her boots as Twilight Sparkle made her way back down to the living room. Her boots were made of leather, the same as her jacket. They had orange chevron stripes on the tops of them, matching her one jacket. Though she didn’t wear that jacket often, she preferred the one she had worn during the Fall Formal, even though it bore scars from the event. Once she finished buckling the last strap, she ran downstairs and saw Twilight finished getting dressed.

Twilight Sparkle watched as Sunset Shimmer grabbed her jacket. She noticed that on the right sleeve, there was a tear that had gotten roughly fixed up. She recalled asking her about the rip, but as always, she got some excuse about it being from a tree branch. Yet, she didn’t think a tear that size could come from a tree. Shifting her focus from Sunset, she looked down at her hoodie.

It was a thicker fabric than her shirt, not that it eased her worries. Her wings were still quite powerful. Flipping it over, she saw there was a noticeable bulge on the backside of it. She examined the tee backside, seeing some new stitches on the back. Running her hand along the tops of the stitches, she could tell they were similar to what Rarity did. But they weren’t as neat as the fashionista’s. They seemed to be roughly made rather than delicately.

“Do you think that my wings will rip through this?” asked Twilight, hesitant to put on the hoodie.

“No, it’s thicker than your shirt. You should be fine.” Sunset Shimmer pointed to her handy work. “Besides, I reinforced it for that reason specifically.”

“At what point did you do that?” asked Twilight, surprised. She didn’t remember Sunset doing that at any point during the night.

“Right after you fell asleep,” Sunset Shimmer answered with a sly smile that made Twilight’s stomach do a somersault.

Smiling, Twilight Sparkle slipped her hoodie over her head. She was thankful that she had waited to put her hair in its signature ponytail. Once she had adjusted her hoodie, she tested out the new padded areas. To her delight, the hoodie held out against her wings stretching against it. She was extremely grateful that she had accepted the hoodie. The idea of having to walk around the school with her massive wings visible for everyone to see; it wasn’t something she wanted to do.

Wanting to see how the hoodie looked on her, she ran up to where Sunset’s full body mirror was. She slung her backpack over her wings, testing to see what it would like. To her utter amazement, the hoodie hid her wings exceptionally well. The extra padding managed to soften the shape of her wings beneath it. With the fabric of both the hoodie and her shirt pushing against them, her wings appeared much smaller. To Twilight Sparkle, that was an enormous relief.

“You ready, Twi?” asked Sunset, her motorcycle keys in hand.

Twilight Sparkle grabbed her hairband and put her hair into her signature ponytail. Once her hair was secured, she ran downstairs and joined Sunset by the door.

“I guess I am,” replied Twilight, sounding unsure of herself.

Sunset Shimmer rested a hand on Twilight’s shoulder, saying, “You’re going to be fine, Sparky. The girls and I will be right there.”

With that, Sunset and Twilight walked out of the apartment. After Sunset Shimmer locked her door, Twilight Sparkle made her way to the redhead’s bike. She had ridden the bike numerous times, but that did very little in easing her nerves every time. The impressive motorcycle was painted black with a few streaks of red, orange, and yellow on the sides. It was somewhat intimidating to her, especially when it was running. The sound of the engine alone startled Twilight every time. As Sunset approached the bike, she grabbed her helmet.

The helmet was a plum color with few streaks of magenta swirled all around. In the center, there was a white star that covered a majority of it. Circled around it were five small white stars. The design was mimicking her special symbol. The same one that she always associated with every one of her outfits. She had gotten this helmet as a gift from Sunset Shimmer on her birthday. And she loved it. At one point, she had wanted to know how the redhead had made it. But she decided it wasn’t necessary. Without hesitation, she put the helmet on.

Sunset Shimmer swung her leg over the bike and sat down. She held out her hand for Twilight, helping her to do the same. The bike moved as Twilight Sparkle sat behind her, which resulted in her friend giving out a small squeal of surprise. Once Twilight was safely seated behind her, she put the keys into the ignition, revving the engine. As soon as she revved the engine, she felt her friend grip her waist tightly. She let a half-smile appear as she reveled in Twilight’s touch. She kicked up the kickstand, putting her bike into reverse as she lifted her feet. Behind her, a blue pickup truck drove past before she pulled out.

Twilight Sparkle was glad that she had tucked her wings safely under the hoodie. The wind caused by the bike moving forward could’ve easily made her fly off if her wings were out. That thought made her move closer to Sunset, wanting to feel more secure.

Sunset Shimmer felt Twilight’s breasts press against her back. It took everything she had to fight the jolt of electricity that bolted through her veins. Her body began to heat up as a result of her arousal creeping over her body. When she felt Twilight’s thighs squeeze against her own, she just about lost it. Unable to keep her arousal in control, a small moan slipped from her lips. She could only hope that the wind and roar of the engine were enough to cover it. If Twilight Sparkle had heard it, she hoped that she wouldn’t say anything.

After a few minutes of uneasy riding, Sunset and Twilight finally arrived at the school. As Sunset pulled into her parking spot, she saw Applejack and Pinkie Pie approaching them. Behind them were Rarity and Fluttershy. While Sunset Shimmer removed her helmet, she saw a rainbow-colored blur rush right past her. The wind that followed after blew her hair into her face.

“Hello, Rainbow Dash,” said Sunset, fixing her hair.

“Hey, Sunset. Hey, Twi.” Rainbow Dash said as Twilight pulled off her own helmet.

Rainbow Dash had to do a double-take when she saw Twilight Sparkle. Without her wings and tail being visible, she looked almost normal. Though, when she glanced at Twilight’s eyes, she could see they still looked...a bit off. But from a distance, it was tough to see. It was amazing how just hiding one feature could really change how someone looked. Shaking her head, she told herself to focus on the task at hand.

“How come you didn’t fly here, Twi?” asked Pinkie Pie, eating her tenth cupcake for that morning.

Twilight Sparkle nervously chuckled as Rarity wiped some frosting off Pinkie Pie’s cheeks. The idea had popped into her head the night before. It was undoubtedly an entertaining idea, especially because she enjoyed flying. Her new wings allowed her to fly higher than her normal wings when she ponied-up. Not to mention the bird’s-eye view she got from the different height. But she had pushed it aside, deeming it too risky to attempt.

“I didn’t fly here because I figured it would freak everyone out.” Twilight Sparkle watched as Lyra and Bon Bon walked past them. “And...I didn’t want to scare them, not after what I did at the Friendship Games.”

“That’s understandable, dear,” said Rarity, giving her purple-haired friend a sympathetic smile.

“Oh...yeah. Kind of forgot about that.” Pinkie Pie rubbed her neck nervously, looking away.

Rainbow Dash crossed her arms. “Well, if the school wasn’t going to hate you, that would’ve been cool to see. I am seriously jealous that you get to fly to school.”

Sunset Shimmer rolled her eyes. Rainbow Dash was a good and loyal friend. But sometimes, she could be ignorant and a little annoying though she did make up for it when she supported her friends. Pulling herself off her bike, she returned her attention to Twilight.

“Are you ready, Twilight?” asked Sunset, grabbing Twilight’s hand.

Twilight Sparkle gulped as she looked at the large group of students gathering at the front of the school. The chatter between each student made her heart race. Sure, she knew they weren’t talking about her. That didn’t stop her from thinking it was. Even with her wings hidden, she couldn’t help but think they could see them. Those thoughts spread like wildfire in her mind. It was nerve-wracking. But she supposed, with the support of her friends and a certain redhead, she could get through it.

Squeezing the redhead’s hand tightly, she said, “Ready as I will ever be, I guess.”