The Light of the Night

It all happened so fast; Sunset Shimmer would not know where to start if anyone asked. But she remembered the past few minutes very well. Sunset was asked to wait outside after sharing a heart-to-heart with her future wife. The door closed behind her as she waited for the two Twilights to finish their talk. All Sunset could think of in those past few seconds was that in a moment or two, they would share a daughter, starting a family together.

And then it happened, before Sunset knew it the ritual had begun. She saw a light glow between the cracks of the door, and she heard a noise… A shout… A scream. It had only just occurred to Sunset what had just happened.

“TWILIGHT!!!” Sunset shouted.

Using her aura, she violently shoved the door open, nearly blinded by the light shrouding the room. Holding a single arm over both her eyes, Sunset slowly walked into the room, as a giant breeze flowed through the room. As the light began to dim, Sunset was able to make out ‘Princess’ Twilight Sparkle, overlooking the procedure from a safe distance and Sci-Twi, Sunset’s Twilight, floating in midair. Her eyes were glowing, her mane flowing like her old mentor Celestia, and her horn glowing like a flare ignited. All of this occurring before Sunset’s very eyes realizing it was too late.

Eventually, as the bright white light faded like the sun in the western horizon, as Twilight Sparkle floated back toward the floor, her mane was steady and the glow in her eyes slowly vanished. As she stood on her four hooves, Twilight gasped for air, wobbling as if the procedure made her dizzy and weak. Sunset saw she was about to fall on her side and leapt over to catch her in her hooves. She laid there upon Sunset’s arms, the red-and-yellow maned unicorn looking down at Twilight, beside the now empty bowl. She turned towards the Princess, who looked down on them speechless, with tears.

“What have you done?!” Sunset asked, her anger boiling. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!”

Not waiting for an answer, Sunset looked down before Sci-Twi, her eyes opening and folding, her glasses casted off to the side. Tears formed in Sunset’s eyes as she looked down upon her love.

“Why did you do it?” Sunset spoke, her voice cracked. “Why did you do it?”

But Twilight’s vision was hazy, Sunset’s voice echoing in her ears. And in an instant… Sci Twi’s world went dark… As she passed out before Sunset’s eyes…

<>

Much time had passed and now Sunset finds herself in Princess Twilight’s room, where Sci Twi was laid to rest. Sci Twi had been unconscious since the procedure took place, it was to Sunset’s relief that her body rose up and down as she steadily breathed in and out. It was a frightening scenario for Sunset, who had never left her side by the bed since. All was quiet for a while as Sunset occasionally brushed her hoof on her lover’s face.

But then, she felt Sci Twi stir as a yawn escapes her lips. Sunset looks on silently as Sci Twi’s eyes struggles to open, adjusting to her new environment. She slowly turns her face toward Sunset Shimmer, who smiles with a tear streaming down one eye.

“Hey Sunset…” Sci Twi spoke, weakly.

“Hey…” Sunset answered, tearfully.

Sci Twi rubbed the sleep off her eyes, moaning as if she was having a migraine. But then, her eyes violently snapped open as if a sudden thought crossed her mind.

“What happened?! Where’s the baby?!”

“Shh, shh, shh, shh…” Sunset shushed, holding Sci Twi steady. “Don’t worry… The ritual went off without a hitch; the baby is fine. She just needs to rest for a while.”

“She…”

“Yes Twilight,” Sunset nodded. “It’s a girl; a baby girl!”

Tears streamed down Sci Twi’s face as she leaned her head against Sunset, sighing as she could feel her warmth. Sunset cuddled her lover’s head, not wanting to let go. The fact that she last saw Sci Twi going through the procedure, surprised she could even walk, and how weak she felt when she carried her into the Princess’s chamber, it was so scary. Sunset could have lost her… Just like she almost did a while back.

“You promised me you wouldn’t do anything rash,” Sunset muttered.

“Sunset…” Twilight sighed.

“You said you’d only give half your magic! Not the whole thing at once; why did you lie to me?!”

“Sunset, I can explain myself…”

“Then you better start explaining!”

Sunset Shimmer breathed heavily; the frustration unleashed like pent up anger after a period of silence. This was not the first time Sunset Shimmer ever snapped this way. It reminded Twilight of that moment during the ‘Friendship Games’, granted this wasn’t as worse as that moment but Sunset’s words still stung.

“I couldn’t risk us both losing our magic,” Twilight explained. “If you lost your magic forever and it’s all because of me, I’d be guilty about it for the rest of my life. I’ve never had as much experience in magic as you anyway, I’d rather lose it to ensure ‘your happiness’ over mind.”

“Twilight, that’s the dumbest reason I’ve ever heard in my life!” Sunset cried out, frustrated. “Do you forget that Midnight Sparkle is still out there?! What if she comes looking for you and you have no means to defend yourself?”

“You think I didn’t consider that? If in the event Midnight Sparkle does return, it’s better if you’re at full strength with your magic than only half. But it wasn’t just you; if the Princess gave up part of her magic, suppose the next biggest threat to Equestria comes and she’s not at full strength. With or without her own friends, the Princess will be overwhelmed, and I couldn’t risk that.”

“I want to understand what you’re saying, maybe, you’re about ninety percent right with your friends. But this goes beyond anything toxic or negative, and you know it. I’ve tried to reach out to you, to prove to you I’m a woman who can trust her own friends. But how can I expect to trust you, when you just give magic away as easily as two bits at a market. As if it didn’t matter how I’d—”

“I’M WEAK!!!”

The moment Twilight Sparkle snapped at Sunset, the moment she saw her eyes brimming with fresh tears, Sunset Shimmer stopped. For a brief moment, she started to notice her face after minutes of pacing, throwing her arms about, and shouting out to the world as if the biggest mistake were ever made. She noticed how freaked out Twilight Sparkle was, even as she laid upon that bed, she found the strength to dig deep. But those two words, especially coming from Twilight, made Sunset feel more than shocked.

“I am nothing like your teacher; I never will be! I am not a magical flying talking unicorn or alicorn or… Whatever pony she wants to be! I am a woman of science, who believes in logic and reason. But I too make mistakes… I’ve made lots of them in my lifetime. I just wanted this to be the ‘one’ mistake that still leads to everything working out!”

The more Twilight Sparkle spoke, the more her body shook. The tension in Sunset died down seeing how truly fragile Twilight Sparkle is. True, she’s had her own troubles standing up for herself given her days at Crystal Prep, the times being used and abused even in her sleep. But still…

“I know you want to fix ‘everything’ I do… That you feel obligated to help me. But there are some things you ‘can’t’ fix! I can never go back to the girl I was even before going to Crystal Prep, just as I knew I wouldn’t get the magic back… Once I went through it. The same as I knew that you could never go back to being the pony you used to be if you gave up your magic just like me. Judge me all you want, criticize my decisions forever if you must… But I am proud that I was able to use magic to bring life, not destroy it.”

There was no doubt that Twilight Sparkle was serious with her intentions, regardless of what anyone or any pony would think. True, Sunset Shimmer can judge Twilight for her final decision, criticize her mistakes as she says… But deep down, Sunset knew she was no better. She’s made mistakes too; she took advantage of people’s trust… And there are some mistakes she herself knew she couldn’t fix no matter how hard she tried. A sigh escapes Sunset’s lips before she turns back to Twilight.

“I am ‘mad’… But it’s not at ‘you’, not entirely. What pains me is that you told the Princess these last minute plans… And she went through with it. If this went wrong… If I were to lose you, just for a child—”

“I know… I know… I’m sorry. I never wanted to scare you. I know we could’ve done this differently, there were other ways we could have a child. I know I can be rash, reckless, and get carried away. Even if I’m a lightning rod for pain… I love and care for others who are in a worse place than me. I just wanted this child… To be your reward for all your help.”

Sunset then turned toward the window, seeing life in Equestria moving on despite all recent events. Twilight gazed toward Sunset, wondering how she would respond or if she would still be angry. After a moment, the silence was eventually broken.

“You know… There is one philosophy that Princess Celestia taught me, when I was a filly. ‘It’s extremely easy to become a villain, but extremely hard to stay the hero’. I don’t know if your sacrifice is heroic or brave… And I’ll never agree with your decision, not from you or the Princess. But… I know why you did it.”

Suddenly, the doors open causing the two girls to turn. The Princess of Friendship herself, the Twilight Sparkle of Equestria, appears before them. As she enters the room, she carries a bundle with one arm as she continues to walk on three. The contents of the bundle move as a murmur is heard, trying to wriggle free.

“I hope we’re not interrupting,” Princess Twilight spoke, quietly. “I’d thought you’d like to meet your new baby.”

Sunset Shimmer didn’t say a word, but she did approach the princess and carefully took the bundle from the princess’s hold. Caring the bundle, she slowly makes her way back towards the Twilight Sparkle lying in bed. Sunset hands her over to Twilight, as she feebly reaches out and carefully grips the tiny figure in her arms. She peeks the part of the blanket over, as a cry escaped… The cry of a tiny figure. The moment they hear it, that sign of life, Twilight Sparkle couldn’t help but cry.

“S-S-She’s so tiny…” Twilight Sparkle whispered, tearfully.

Sunset peeks over from the side, seeing the little infant’s face. Once she saw the little filly squirm, cooing and giggling at the sight of the two ponies, a smile slowly formed on her face. It almost made her forget that the amount of magic used to create this bundle of joy almost cost her a wife.

“She’s got your eyes…” Sunset noted. “They seem to glitter, like a beam of stars flying in the night.”

“… Starbeam… Starbeam Glitter…” Twilight spoke, nodding. “I love that name.”

“Yeah… I do too.”

As Sunset looked over toward the baby, reaching out and gripping a tiny purple hoof sticking out from the blanket, Sunset was surprised at how strong she was for her size. Then Sunset began to wave it side to side, making playful gunshot noises, while Sci Twi giggled a bit seeing Sunset already warming up to their baby, and the baby in turn. From the doorway, Princess Twilight Sparkle looked on, nodding approvingly, then she silently showed herself out leaving the two alone.

“Hi little Starbeam,” Sunset whispered, introducing her to Twilight. “This is your mom… Both of us. You are such a small little wonder… But I can see you’re going to be a big, strong, healthy girl. And I promise you, to both of you, I will do everything in my power to make you the happiest girls in the world. Anywhere… Everywhere…”

As Sunset looked down upon the baby, tucking the piece of fabric over the little pony’s face, she feels a hoof grip Sunset’s. She slowly turns as Sci Twi faces Sunset with a warm smile.

“I love you, Sunset…” Twilight spoke.

“I love you… Twilight,” Sunset answered, softly.

Then the two young lovers plant a warm kiss upon their lips, knowing that at long last the moment they both strived for was finally accomplished. They had no idea what the future of this child would hold, what great changes she will experienced. But whatever comes, Sunset and Twilight would be their for their daughter, to be her guide to keep her on the right path and be at the ready when she needs help. As one part of life is lost, for better or worse, another assumed its place. They only had to be brave… For the true power of magic to come.