Author's Note

What Would You Do Without Me?

XX - This Is The Hour: P2

Huh... death feels... weird. Like I'm... like I'm in some sort of... lucid dream... wait... Adagio?! You there!? W-Wait... why can't I speak? W-Why can't I... nigga what is this? I... w-wait... I feel... I feel hot, like... like something's on top of me... no... I feel hot like... like... really hot... I... ow! The hell? I-I felt that! W-What the? It feels like... like... like...

"Hello?"

Noah groggily opened his eyes and found himself in one piece upon the school's roof. He could feel his legs, his arms, his eyesight was crystal clear! He couldn't feel any bruises, any scars, or even the blood upon his skin. He couldn't believe it.

He was alive.

"Noah?!" A voice called, and Noah's jaw dropped, flabbergasted.

It was Sunset.

"W-What?! What the hell happened?! I'm alive?! I fell out of the fuckin' sky! W-Where's Midnight?! Where're the girls?! Where're the boys?! What happened to the students?! I... what the fuck happened to you?!"

Noah was right. Sunset had transformed dramatically! Her hair had seemingly flushed upwards and resembled a fire similar to Midnight's only luminous and elegant. Also similar to Midnight's was a long golden unicorn horn, only without the holes.

Around her neck was a collar with her special symbol hanging at the end of its chain. Upon her chest was a pink and golden corset with a slightly pointy belt covered in spikes around her waist. Below was a pink dress that cut out towards the front, and underneath was a bright sky-blue skirt with a pure-white skirt underneath.

Slipped onto her feet were golden encrusted high heels fitted for a queen. They featured two small golden wings to the side. As for wings, Sunset had two blindingly bright golden wings that looked more like strange paper cuts instead of wings. They were almost see-through in the center as well. And on her hands were bright sky-blue fingerless gloves.

She was a daydream.

Sunset’s face fell flat, "Oh, I’m the strangest thing you’ve seen all day?”

”Yes, negro!”

”Whatever, are you hurt?"

Noah raised his left arm that had broken earlier, "Apparently not. What the hell happened? Midnight, er, Twilight put me through hell and dropped me out of the sky. I should be dead. How am I alive?"

"I-It's a long story, I'll make it brisk."

"This better be one hell of an idea! It sounds like Twilight just threw him through a wall from here! I don't feel like having my dick chopped off by a demon nerd, and this truck is packed to the brim!" Manex ranted as he pulled out of the movie theater's driveway.

The truck indeed was packed as the only ones willing to sit in the trunk at a time like this, and at such speed, was Fall. Meaning the seats were overly crowded, and passive-aggressiveness was in the air like smoke from a wildfire in the middle of July.

"Look, Pinkie didn't bring her party minivan thing so we have to use this!" Sunset replied, her hand gripping the passenger seat's roof handle.

"Why do we need everyone?"

"Because... I... oh... uh... I may have been speaking without thinking a little bit..." Manex rounded a corner and everyone inside the truck groaned irritably. Even Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.

Applejack pushed CJ back a bit, "What do ya mean ya weren't thinkin'?! It couldn't have been that hard!"

"Applejack, the galaxy is about to, in the words of Noah, fucking die. The amount of time we have is so important and we have very little of it! Once Twilight gets the magic from Noah, there's no telling what she'll do to Equis! What she'll do to Earth!"

"Easy for you to say! You get to sit in the shotgun seat while I have to sit in front of someone's friggin’ crotch!" Rainbow Dash replied, and she wasn't lying either. Because of how cramped the truck was, she had to sit on the floor in front of Jain. Not that he minded, of course.

"Look, just sit tight and stop complaining until we get there! I know things are weird and cramped right now, but there are more important things to worry about! Like, is Noah gonna be in half when we get there!"

"You're like a girly version of Noah."

"Cool, now listen. Here's the plan. When Fall came back outside to comfort me because I thought we were all gonna die, the words, "together, as one," caught my attention.

"It was a little stupid of me to forget such a thing, then again, it's been a while since I've been to Equestria, but magic is not just an energy, it's a life source. Our skin and our bodies can't function without it.

"So if Twilight was draining magic from you guys, you should all be dead. Of course, that would be because of me coming here, but you'll learn to live with it. You have so far."

Rarity laid a hand flat, "Well, what does that mean for us, darling? What does this mean at all?"

"It means that we can still defeat Twilight. All you need to do is unleash your inner magic. Not every drop, but a lot. Once you've all given it, we'll use Twilight's compass to combine it. Giving us magic similar to hers."

"What of Noah then?"

"Noah will use his Super Element magic to combat the magic Twilight gained from the portal, and we'll use your magic to combat the magic Twilight took from us. Well, you, I mean."

Fluttershy laid a hand flat, "So, how will we defeat her though? It sounds like we'll just be evening out the odds.”

"We'll leave that part to Noah. He came up with a plan to end our original plan last time, I doubt that he can't do the same when our galaxy hangs in the balance. Okay, does everyone understand?"

Manex made a final turn left and the school was in sight. CJ pushed back at Applejack, "What about us? This sounds like something all of you can do without us perfectly."

"I mean, you can go back to the movie theater and tell everyone it's gonna be okay."

"Bet."

Manex pulled finally into the school's driveway and gaped, "Holy crap, she tore shit up." Sunset and the others stepped out of the truck as Manex parked and wandered to the center of the school's driveway. It was decimated.

The school's entrance had another hole through it, several dozen windows were shattered, and the bleachers were crumpled and covered in glass, paper, and dried blood. A shining symbol for the future.

Jain stammered, "I-I, y-you, w-what... did she just fuckin' blow everything away with a wave of this magic shit? It almost looks like World War Two just rolled on by and left an absolute mess."

Rarity crossed her arms, "When Twilight changed, she seemed to break reality itself. Colors changed randomly, sent out shockwaves that pushed us back and broke objects all around us, and even distorted matter itself."

"Well, that totally sounds normal," Jain replied.

Sunset looked over a couple of feet from her and found it. Twilight's magic compass. She promptly stepped over to it and picked it up, poking at its lights. It was as stagnant as a corpse, especially the ones that surrounded.

Applejack brought her hands to her hips, "Ya got it, Sunset?"

"Yeah, I've got it. All we need now is-"

*Crash!*

Sunset and the Rainbooms' quickly turned their attention to what sounded like glass breaking, startled and shocked. They immediately spotted Twilight, or whatever she was now, flying high into the sky while holding Noah by his left arm. They couldn't get a good look, but Noah might as well have been dead from his condition. Sunset instantly panicked.

"Oh crap," Rainbow Dash spoke up, "Was that Noah?"

"He looked hurt!" Pinkie Pie added, "Is he... h-he's not-"

"Okay!" Sunset interrupted, "Let's go! Magic, now! We don't have much time!"

The Rainbooms closed their eyes and followed Sunset's instructions. They dug deep inside themselves, for something, anything. A feeling, a buzz, a simple fragment of magic. But failed ultimately.

Fluttershy opened her eyes, "Uh, Sunset, exactly how are we supposed to bring out the magic?"

Sunset ran a hand through her hair, anxious. "Uh... I... try... try thinking thoughts that only you can feel. Applejack, your honesty. Rarity, your generosity. Rainbow Dash, your loyalty. Pinkie Pie, your amusement. And Fluttershy, your kindness.

"Please! I-I know it's a long shot, but back in Equestria, we normally think of when and how to use our magic! I-It's kinda like telekinesis, or however you pronounce that, but you get my point!"

Sunset's eyes constricted out of fear when she heard what sounded like Twilight increasing her speed like a jet. How high was she going? The edge of the atmosphere? He'd die before he’d hit the ground!

"Come on guys we have to-"

Sunset was struck silent when she found the remaining members of the black five backing up slowly as they watched the Rainbooms. And her eyes dilated as she looked herself.

The Rainbooms were glowing their signature colors. Like an aura of it simply shrouded them. Similarly to Noah's back during the Battle of the Bands, and when they ponied-up in school.

Sunset raised a finger and pointed nonchalantly, "That was quick. And profoundly unexpected... but I guess we can work with it. Do you feel any different? Because you guys don't have the little ears, tail, and hair extensions."

Rainbow Dash shrugged, "I actually feel weaker. That took a lot outta me. Like I just ran a marathon."

Fluttershy nodded, "Yeah, I feel exhausted. A-Are you sure this is what we have to do Sunset?"

Sunset opened the compass, "It seems that way."

It began to pull out of Sunset's hands, and she had to grip it tight to keep it from going wild. Even then, the magic from the Rainbooms began to drain out like a black hole. Much faster than earlier.

"Jain, CJ, Fall, Manex, grab them! We don't need them busting their heads open at all right now!"

CJ raised a finger to argue but was shut down shortly by Fall patting his shoulder and nodding no. Rolling his eyes, he and the rest of the remaining Black Five stood behind a member of the Rainbooms as they got weaker and weaker. Fall behind Rarity. CJ behind Applejack. Manex behind Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. And Jain behind Rainbow Dash.

Sunset grinned slightly as the magic from all five finally rested inside the compass, shut itself closed, and the five of them collapsed. Thankfully, into the arms of the boys. Sunset turned the compass on herself and stared. She mentally asked herself one question.

Am I worthy? ...Time to find out...

Sunset carefully opened the compass and instantly felt the glare attack her eyes. She held them shut and continued to release the magic. She felt her hair begin to blow in the wind it blew, and the heat of an unknown sun began to beat down upon her like a mallet.

Unlike Twilight, the magic began to enter Sunset through every pore, but it didn't create a giant sphere of it slowly enveloping her. Sunset felt the magic inside her. It moved up, down, and all around. Seemingly transforming her from the inside out.

CJ turned to Manex, "We should probably get out of here. Like, I don't know. Now, maybe? I can only hold some southern girl who smells and eats apples twenty-four-seven for so long before I collapse."

Manex rolled his eyes, "I heard, dipshit. S-Sun... ugh, this is so weird. Sunset, you want us to head back and you help Noah defeat that crazy purple nerdy bastard?"

Sunset began to float above as the magic made her glow. It coursed through her veins like a brand new bloodstream, and wings of pure golden light started to sprout from her back. Her eyes glowed a glorious white.

"I'm gonna take your slowly moving upwards and away-like movements as a yes and get the hell out of here." Manex held Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie tightly as he shuffled to the car. CJ brought Applejack's arm over his shoulder and dragged her while Fall carried Rarity bridal style.

Rainbow Dash shook her head as Jain tried to do the same. "W-Wait, I-I wanna stay and help. W-We may never know if they might need it either, so... Y-You guys just head on back. I-I'll stay."

Jain responded, "Dashie, you can barely stand. It'll take some time to get back in fighting shape. Hell, even moving at all."

"Some time is all the time I need. And if you care so very much, then you can stay. Like you said, I can barely stand." Jain blushed, conceivably for the first actual time in his entire orphan life.

"I uh... I... hey, you said it. I could drag you to that truck if I wanted to."

"But you won't."

"Only because you asked."

CJ rolled his eyes as he laid Applejack down in the back seat. "Are you getting in or not? we're not coming back for you, by the way, so make the smart choice! You know, the one that doesn't put your life at risk?"

Jain pulled Rainbow Dash back into his grasp as she lost her balance. He shrugged, "Guess I'm staying. If I die, don't shit on my funeral!"

"Eh, not like there'll be a funeral anyway nigga."

Sunset began to finally finish her transformation as CJ, Fall, and Manex strapped the girls in while Jain took Rainbow Dash to a safer place besides being out in the open.

As Fall opened his door, he gazed upon Sunset one last time as she opened her eyes and felt the magic course through her. An aura similar to Noah's surrounding her. She was friendship. Fall called out.

"Hey, Sunset," she laid her eyes upon him and he narrowed his eyebrows.

"Kick her ass."

With that, Sunset beamed an exultant and gracious smile and made two fists. She then narrowed her own eyebrows and nodded. "Got it."

Faster than any of them could conceive, Sunset shot up into the clouds like a rocket. Even leaving a trail of wind behind her that nearly blew the truck away as it bounced with a thud. Thankfully for Rainbow Dash and Jain, they were behind cover.

Finished up, Fall sat in the passenger seat and Manex quickly exited the school's driveway. Leaving Jain and Rainbow Dash together, alone. They took a seat against the school's walls next to the near-destroyed bleachers and sighed. Realizing something, Rainbow Dash perked up.

"Did you call me, "Dashie?"

"Uh..."

...

Sunset continued to tear the clouds apart and through the atmosphere. She narrowed her vision as much as she could to find something, anything resembling a person. It was only when she noticed him did her heart stop.

*Woosh!*

Next to Sunset fell a ravaged and heavily injured body. Her eyes constricted as she noticed who had fallen. It was Noah, and he was in sheer pain. Probably not even conscious.

Feeling a glimmer of hope, Sunset rushed towards the body. Shooting downwards like a bullet for Noah. He was just partially too fast for her, unfortunately, and she growled.

Noah had been plummeting for quite some time, meaning he surely could've beat Sunset if she wasn't fast enough. She began to pant as she recognized clouds she'd recently torn through.

She reached a hand out to him and began to feel tears well up in her eyes. Sunset began to grasp for him. His shirt, his hair, his arm, anything. He kept plunging, faster and faster, but Sunset only increased her speed.

The roof entered the picture, and Sunset began to panic. She closed her eyes and nearly screamed. She struggled to slow down and felt her body heat up slightly as she passed all of the clouds. This was it. Sunset had to grab him and stop. She had no other choice. Sunset yelled, until...

She caught him.

Sunset pulled Noah into a close embrace as she slowed her descent as fast as she could. Her feet began to heat up just a bit, but it was nothing for her. She eventually slowed down entirely and reached the roof of the school. Sunset laid him down carefully as her feet connected.

He looked atrocious. Sunset's tears finally fell as she gazed upon his injuries. He had several scars, cuts and bruises as well. His left arm looked broken due to it appearing that it'd been crushed and shattered. His legs were covered in slash and stab wounds, and a rather large one bled out of his left shoulder. His right eye was covered in blood, and Sunset wondered if it was even there at all. And he was missing multiple teeth.

"No... no, no, no, no, no... I-I can... I-I-I have... I have... there... there must be something... a-anything I can do... please... please..."

Sunset rested her head on Noah's chest and sobbed quietly. Even if he was patched up ever again, Sunset wondered what had happened internally. He could be an entirely different person when he returned. So Sunset merely cried. Cried every tear she had for the boy she never got to love. Cry for the boy so different than all the others, yet perfect. Cried for what they could've become together. Cried for everything.

Until he began to glow.

"You... you healed me," Noah replied. He was left dumbstruck at Sunset's story and was astonished she managed to tell it so hastily.

Noah sat up and moved his left arm around. It worked like a charm, maybe even better. He felt his back and his pain had seemingly disappeared. As for his eye, he saw crystal clear.

Sunset shrugged, "Yeah, I... I guess that's something you can do when infused with multiple Elements, so..."

Noah instantly felt the return of the conflict from earlier and looked off to the side. Sunset did the same while poking and fidgeting with her fingers. Almost like she didn't know him.

It was a shame, truly. The last few days of a friendship ruined forever because of an argument that quickly got out of hand. Maybe if Sunset had thought about him, or if Noah thought about her. Things wouldn't be like this. But, Noah didn't want it to be like this. Especially right now.

"Sunset, I... I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking about you. I wasn't thinking about all the time we spent. I was so self-centered because I wanted to return home, I'd forgotten what we'd done together. I was a fool... ugh, no, I was a motherfuckin' dumbass.

"I should've thought about you. Your past and how happy you felt. It was truly fucked up. I feel like such a dipshit. Like a dumbass nigga that just... that just ruined his life thinking he could be on top of everyone.

"I just-"

"Noah, please, it's okay. It's my fault for acting the way I did because I was self-centered. America, screw it, Earth, is your home. And I tried to keep you away from it to deal with my problems. I should've understood how happy you were knowing you could go back home without having to worry about planes crashing into skyscrapers anymore.

"I just... I loved looking out my window and seeing you just waiting there in your car. Your phone in your hand, a straw in your mouth, and just... just everything. I felt cared for. Like someone besides my own family gave a shit about me. So, so much. It just... it made me so happy.

"But I understand now. I'm not gonna hold you back from going home and being with your people. Maybe... maybe I need to go back to my people someday. Maybe even tomorrow like you."

Sunset held a hand out, "Can we... Can we maybe become friends again? Just for less than two days more? Please?"

Noah stared at the hand and then stared at Sunset. But, it didn't take long for him to smack the hand away and pull Sunset into a tight embrace. Sunset felt her tears dry instantaneously and hugged back.

"Without a doubt, kid. Without a doubt."

Ruining the moment, Midnight rushed down to the bottom of the school. Passing Noah and Sunset without even noticing it. Sunset's eyes' narrowed and she pulled back.

"Noah, I don't know why you couldn't change, but I need you to stay here."

"W-Wait, I-"

"No! I'm not risking losing you again! Safely and stealthily get off the roof, away from this school, and to the theater. You'll find everyone else there, and you'll be safe for the time being."

Noah laid out his hands in disagreement, "But Sunset-"

"Stay. Here. No Ifs, Ands, or Buts. Got it?"

"Oh, you hypo-"

"Got it?"

Noah rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, "Fine! Goddamn it..."

With that, Sunset stood up and patted him on the shoulder. She then turned her back and rushed off the roof. He heard her land from above and the conflict for the galaxy continued.

Noah pulled out his necklace, furious. "We got our asses kicked back there, and now Sunset told us to stay! Do you know how wrong that is? But more importantly, why the hell didn't you show!?"

The pendant began to glow and Noah's eyes' widened, only for the radiance to disappear. Like it was telling him no, and that's what he thought himself. He only grew even more irritated.

"No?! We're facing the end of the fuckin' galaxy, our home, and you're telling me no?! Are you shittin' me? Please tell me you're shittin' me!"

The pendant stayed dark, and Noah's eyes narrowed. He got ready to throw it, but he thought back to the Battle of the Bands. However, it was against his will. The thought popped up haphazardly. Like his pendant was trying to tell him something, and Noah figured it out immediately.

The memory was full of him beating the Sirens to bits. Shoving Aria's own arm down her throat, ripping Sonata's toes and then shoving them through her chest, and stabbing Adagio with an electric guitar. As Noah watched, he felt unusual. From a different perspective, Noah looked like a monster. Tearing at innocent girls. They weren't in any way, but the feeling was bizarre.

"But I... they took everything from us! I-I... am I not allowed to make those who made others suffer, suffer themselves? How is that fair, I..." Noah watched another memory flash of him holding Sonata over the railing. Her screams and pleads echoed in his ears.

"I-I..."

Another scene flashed, it was Siren Hell. After Aria got angry at him and he sent her flying, she landed in a pile of indistinguishable gore. Everything that could've gone wrong with her, went wrong. And Noah felt his heart stop when he remembered she was like that for three days. Tears welled up in his eyes. Aria had become a much better person since then, and he ruined her. Like a monster. Like a devil. Like the devil.

"Okay! O... Okay... I get it. I've used my power to do horrible things. I-I'm... I'm the Super Element. The pinnacle of being good. Being righteous... righteous... I like that. I'm gonna use that in the future.

"I understand now. I've been a monster with my power in the past, and I swear on my life, I will never commit such fucked up cruelties ever again unless absolutely necessary. You have my word.

"But my word isn't gonna matter without you. I need you, we all need you. Sunset can't handle Midnight. You and I both know this. But together, as one, we can take down Midnight and bring peace to the Milky Way.

"I may not be perfect. You may even be better off with Sunset, perhaps. But I'm only a hero with you, and you're only important with me. We need each other. There's a reason I have you, and we both know this. So please, put aside your irritation. Open your heart, and let's save the fuckin' world. Again."
...

Sunset blocked the punches of Midnight as she staggered back. She knew Midnight would put up a fight, but this was ridiculous. She had fought with no style, no understanding. She was just madly throwing punches and kicks and blasts, yet it somehow worked.

Midnight jabbed Sunset to her side and she cried in slight pain. Seeing an opening, Midnight tackled her to the ground, straddled her, and began crushing her windpipe. Strangling her with all the force she had.

Sunset gripped Midnight's arms and attempted to pull as hard as she could. Yet despite her best efforts, Sunset began to feel her ears deafen and her eyes slowly turn white and bright. She began kicking, jolting and jerking in any direction she could to throw Midnight off, but it wasn't working.

Midnight smiled as Sunset's eyelids began to fall. Her grip on Midnight's hands slowly loosened, and the kicking of her legs became tired and weak. Midnight's crooked smile found its rightful place on her face. For a while, at least.

*Clank!*

"Ow! What the fuck!?"

Midnight let go of Sunset's throat. She took a large deep breath, and speedily scooted away before standing. She saw Midnight rubbing her head while a pipe laid next to her. She looked up to the rooftop of the school, and all the hope she ever had came flooding back with a passion.

Noah had returned. And his Super Element along with him.

Midnight looked up to the rooftop and growled as her eyes contracted. "You! I killed you! I dropped you from the fucking mesosphere!"

Noah chuckled, "That sounds like a you problem. Now allow me to reintroduce myself."

Noah jumped down from the rooftop and instantly appeared next to Sunset as he reached the floor. He stood his ground, "My name is Noah Rictorshine, The Super Element of Righteousness. And this is Sunset Shimmer, The Super Element of Harmony."

"We're gonna kick your ass."