The Light of the Night

The three ponies make their way into one of the rooms of the castle, as Starbeam Glitter looked around curiously. Noting the structure of the castle’s interior, all of them formed out of some form of crystal. She had so many questions about this place, but they would have to wait for the time being.

“Alright Starbeam,” Twilight replied. “It’s just in the next room.”

Starbeam nodded, but the concern she displayed on her face was quite clear. Sunset took notice, grabbing her daughter’s hoof softly as her daughter turned to her.

“It’ll be okay,” Sunset assured. “She’s the smartest pony I know. As long as I’m here, nothing bad will happen to you.”

Starbeam smiled, as if her all her fears and worries disappeared in this one moment. As they enter the room, Twilight uncovers a hidden device the like of which no pony has ever seen before.

“It’s not the most accurate device from Sunset’s world,” Twilight spoke. “But from the studies I’ve seen during my visits to the human world, this should do the job.”

Starbeam was surprised to a device resembling those CT Scanners from the hospitals back home. She’d never witness a device in action herself, much less never having been to a hospital in her life. But she had heard of these devices, having seen pictures of it in catalogs in the mail. Sunset Shimmer merely rolled her eyes over the Princess’ ‘studies’ of these devices.

“Only Twilight Sparkle would make something like this and make it sound weird,” Sunset thought, with a small chuckle.

“So… How are we doing this?” Starbeam asked nervously.

“Not to worry, this is very simple,” Twilight answered. “All we need you to do is lie down. The magic powering the machine will scan you and if we’re lucky, we’ll have all we need to figure out where the problem lies. Your mom and I will be monitoring from a safe distance, so this way the scan won’t detect us.”

Sunset Shimmer nodded silently, agreeing with the Princess’ proposition.

“That’s it?” Starbeam asked. “Just lie down?”

“Yep,” Twilight nodded. “Oh… But first, you’ll have to remove your jacket and bracelets. Don’t want to damage the machine.”

Starbeam nodded, as she proceeded to change out of her jacket. As she removes her bracelet, it felt a bit odd for her knowing that these articles of clothing were all she had and nothing else. But all the same, her mother wasn’t exactly wearing much either, so she assumed it was just a pony deal. Once all was removed, she holds the attire out toward Sunset.

“Hey mom, could you hold these for me please?”

“Sure thing, sweetie,” Sunset smiled, grabbing her stuff. “I’ll make sure you have these back when you’re done.”

Sunset looked down at all the stuff Starbeam handed to her, specifically the bracelet from her right hoof. It appeared to be slightly cracked along where the bracelet clicks in place but otherwise it still looked presentable. Yet she hardly ever seen Starbeam wear this except for special occasions.

“Even though it’s almost broken, you still keep it with you,” Sunset thought. “You’re just like her… making even the smallest things valuable.”

Sunset eventually turns over to Princess Twilight, who helps Starbeam up on the platform as they prepare to get ready.

“I just hope everything goes well,” Sunset hoped.

“Now Starbeam, I’ll need you to keep your hooves next to you, okay?” Twilight asked.

Starbeam nodded, even though it wasn’t much of a question but a statement. Nonetheless, she kept her hooves together while her eyes looked up towards the crystal ceiling before the platform would eventually go forth into the machine.

“I’ll still be in the room, but from a safe distance,” Princess Twilight explained. “You’re going to hear some odd sounds, but that’s just the machine doing it’s work. I’ll be talking to you throughout the whole study and to make sure you’re okay.”

Princess Twilight observes the machine before her, as she grabs a book. But before she backs away, she turns her gaze back to Starbeam, who seemed very nervous.

“Is there anything you want to ask before we start?”

“… Will it hurt?” Starbeam asked, with a hint of fear.

“Not from what I’ve tested on other subjects. However, this machine was modified for ‘ponies’ and… No, it’ll be fine.”

Starbeam didn’t exactly feel much better hearing from the princess, she could just tell from the hint of hesitation in the princess’s voice. It was as if the young pony was starting to have seconds thoughts about this idea.

“I… I’m not sure if I’m ready for this.”

“Don’t worry too much. Should worse come to worse, we’ll stop the procedure right away.”

The child nodded as the Princess makes her way toward Sunset Shimmer.

“I hate to separate you, but we can’t risk anything messing up the scan,” Princess Twilight said. “If you can just stand close to me behind the barrier, we can avoid any interference.”

Though a bit surprised, Sunset Shimmer understood what she meant. After all, Princess Twilight Sparkle is her former mentor… Though whether she’d do the same for her ‘wife’ Twilight, that was another matter.

“Could I just talk to my daughter really quick?” Sunset requested.

“Sure,” Twilight nodded. “Take all the time you need.”

Sunset Shimmer makes her way toward Starbeam, who slowly faces her mother.

“Hey Sweetie,” Sunset greeted, grabbing her hoof. “I’ll be nearby should anything happen. Just call for me and I’ll come, okay?”

“… I’m scared, mom,” Starbeam whispered.

“I know… I know…”

Sunset tenderly massaged her daughter’s hoof, feeling the hint of tension in her nervous state.

“Everything’s going to be okay, I promise you,” Sunset assured. “My friend is going to help fix this problem, your nightmares will be gone, and we’ll go straight home. We’ll do anything you want: I’ll buy you ice cream… Take you to your favorite movie… And if you ‘really’ want to, I’ll enroll you into public school. But I need you to be strong, not just for yourself but for your family.”

Starbeam nodded as she slowly released her mother’s hoof.

“Just think of it like a shot,” Sunset suggested. “Quick and painless.”

“But you’ve never taken me for a shot,” Starbeam pointed out.

“… Details, kiddo. Details.”

Though suffice to say, that wasn’t any further from the truth. In the ten years Starbeam has grown up, neither Twilight nor Sunset had ever taken her for a routine check-up not so much because they couldn’t afford it. But mostly because… their daughter had never been sick. Sunset wouldn’t be surprised if that were one thing Twilight made when creating their daughter, but at least their daughter was a healthy growing child.

It wasn’t long before Sunset was right beside Princess Twilight, who casts a barrier that split the room in two. The two ponies on one side and their daughter positioned on the machine along the other end.

“Alright Starbeam, just lay perfectly still,” Twilight instructs. “We’re going into prep.”

The child nods as she feels the platform she’s lying on vibrate slightly, before rolling forward into the machine itself.

“Going into set-up now… Now Starbeam, this might feel funny… But it’s nothing bad, so don’t worry about a thing.”

All Starbeam could do is nod as she nervously allows the machine to do it’s job, fueled by the magical energy from Twilight’s own aura. The princess herself turns to her former student, there was no denying the hint of worry on Sunset’s face.

“I know you’re concerned for her, Sunset,” Princess Twilight spoke up. “But I assure you—no, I ‘promise’ you—everything will be okay.”

Just as Princess Twilight spoke, a vibration was heard, and movement was found in Starbeam’s jacket. At first, Sunset wasn’t fully aware of what it was. But as soon as she reached into one of the front pockets and pulled out the source of the noise, it all dawned on her. In her hoof was Starbeam’s cellphone, vibrating in her grasp.

“I completely forgot Starbeam brought this. Who could be calling at this ti--?”

Sunset’s sentence came to a halt, her eyes widening as her question was answered. It was during this moment when her eyes saw not only the number… But the picture of a certain someone’s face.

“Shit…! It’s the other Twilight!” Sunset gasped, turning to Princess Twilight. “I was in such a hurry I forgot to tell her!”

The princess looks over at the cellphone curiously, seeing the device vibrate.

“Wow… Even I didn’t think we’d get really good reception here,” Twilight replied, trying to lighten the mood.

“This is SERIOUS Twilight!” Sunset yelled frantically. “The moment she finds out where I’ve taken Starbeam, she’s going to have my head!”

“Well… Let’s just hope she’s in a very understanding mood. Then again, if I were in her place and I found out you walked out of the house without notice, I’d be mad too.”

Sunset released a sigh, shaking her head as the phone kept vibrating as if it were urging for Sunset to answer.

“I’m just going to take the call in the other room,” Sunset sighed. “Just um… make sure everything goes well while I’m out, alright?”

Twilight nods as Sunset Shimmer leaves the room, shutting the door behind her with her aura. She looks back down on the phone, seeing the picture of Sci-Twi smiling yet Sunset knew she probably wasn’t happy. Releasing yet another sigh, knowing full well what was about to happen, she slowly moved her hoof to the call button.

“Here goes nothing…” Sunset thought, answering the phone. “Hey—”

“SUNSET SHIMMER!!!”

The angry cry, like an erupting volcano, drew Sunset’s ear away from the phone. As she massaged her ear, she looked at the phone and realized it was set to ‘facetime’ as the camera showed one intense glare from a certain wife of hers.

“Where on Earth are you?!” Twilight yelled, pausing. “One moment…”

Seemingly realizing that she was too close to the camera, Twilight Sparkle adjusted the phone so that the camera has a full view of her face. Not that it made much a difference, Sunset could see how upset she looked if her frazzled appearance wasn’t enough to imply. But the moment Twilight saw that she was talking to Sunset, in her pony form, the anxiety increased.

“Unbelievable… You just took our daughter to Equestria without CONSULTING ME?!?!”

“Twilight, I know you’re mad and you have every right to be,” Sunset assured calmly. “But if you could just calm down and let me explain~”

“Do NOT tell me to calm down, Sunset Shimmer!” Twilight yelled, cutting Sunset off. “I come into Starbeam’s room and not only do I find it torn to shreds, but you two were nowhere to be found! You realize you had me worried sick?! What if you got hurt… Or worse? What if Starbeam got hurt?!”

“I know, I know… I’m really sorry,” Sunset apologized. “I know my reasons aren’t going to cut it, but if you’d just give me a second… I’ll tell you what’s going on.”

“At least tell me where you two are! I don’t know how you even got a signal over there, but I’m in no mood to get off topic right now!”

Sunset took a deep breath, turning back to make sure it was just the two of them talking and neither the Princess nor Starlight Glimmer were listening. Sunset then turns her face toward the screen, as Twilight waited to hear an answer.

“We’re with the other Twilight Sparkle, at the Castle of Friendship,” Sunset explained. “Starbeam’s had another nightmare and I brought her here hoping she could help. I never meant to leave without a warning, and I did not mean to scare you. I just acted on what I thought was best and got lost in the moment.”

The conversation between the two wives was silent for a moment. Sunset could see on Sci-Twi’s face that she was processing everything Sunset mentioned. Even after Sunset brought up the nightmare topic once a look of anger now shifted into concern as the worry could be seen in Twilight’s eyes.

“Sunset… I know you mean well, you always do,” Twilight spoke softly. “But… Why didn’t you tell me sooner?! I was so scared… If something happened to either you… If ‘she’ did anything to either you, I-I… I won’t know what to do!”

Unable to hold it in, Twilight Sparkle started to cry. So badly she had to remove her glasses, put them to the side, and use her free hand trying to dry her face. It hurt Sunset Shimmer to see the Twilight she loved under such distress. It made her feel dreadful, regretful even, for her own hasty decision.

RING! RING!

Suddenly, another call came up between their conversation as Rainbow Dash’s picture and number appeared in the chat. Taking a moment to calm down, Twilight Sparkle pushed the call button and invited Rainbow into the chat. It didn’t take long for Rainbow’s face to come up, as she appeared to be sitting in her car (Though whether she was driving or in park neither could tell).

“Sorry I missed your text, Twi,” Rainbow replied distractedly. “I got caught up in traffic on my way to the Sanctuary, so I was jamming to some ‘Post Crush’ and… What did I miss?!”

“Mmm… Sorry Dash,” Twilight sniffed. “I was just having a moment and things got heated.”

“I can see that hold on…” Rainbow paused, leaning close to the screen. “Sunset? Is that you?!”

“… Surprise!” Sunset replied sheepishly. “It’s me. I’m currently in Equestria and Starbeam is with me in the other room.”

“Well that makes sense. Soon as I had time to read the text and I heard you two disappeared, I had to pull up and make sure you two are fine. You girls ‘are’ okay, are you?”

“Yeah Dash. I’m sorry for worrying you both… But I promise Starbeam and I are fine. Princess Twilight in Equestria is working on a means to help us out. She’s currently checking up on her to see if there’s a remedy for her nightmares.”

“I understand,” Rainbow nodded. “So, has she found anything?”

“No, nothing so far,” Sunset shook her head. “We only just started when I got the call; I can’t provide an answer at this time.”

“I guess that’s fair. But when you two get back, whether you find something or not, you’ve got a lot of explaining to do, Sunny.”

“You know I will, Dash.”

“Anyways, I can’t stay on the call for long. Fluttershy’s still waiting at the sanctuary and we know how scared she gets when she’s out at night by herself. I’ll call you girls back. Later!”

“Later Dash,” They both said.

As soon as Rainbow Dash dropped out of the call, that left Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle to themselves while the call was still on. They were at least calmer now since Rainbow Dash arrived, both taking deep breathes to steady the nerves.

“I’m really sorry, Twilight,” Sunset sighed regretfully.

“… I know, Sunset,” Twilight nodded. “I'm sorry too. I get why you are doing this; you always look out for others. But still, to leave me in the dark like this and having me to assume the worst… The least you could’ve done was include me in your plans.”

“Just like when I tried to help ‘you’ out, but you wouldn’t tell me Midnight Sparkle was harming you?”

“… Fair enough. I don’t want to be mad at you, you mean everything to me. But you’re the one who told me whatever Midnight Sparkle is planning, we’d confront it together. We ‘are’ a team, aren’t we?”

“Of course we are, you’re the love of my life. And you’re right, I should have brought you. There’s a reason before why I didn’t, but…”

Sunset paused, looking back as the door opened and the Princess’s head peered through the crack.

“Listen Twi, I really have to go,” Sunset spoke again. “I’ll inform you Starbeam’s results once I get more information.”

“All right, I’ll be waiting in the meantime,” Twilight sighed. “Just please make sure nothing bad happens to Starbeam; it’s the least you can do for me.”

“I promise. We’ll be home soon; I love you, Twilight.”

“I love you too.”

It wasn’t long before Sunset Shimmer hung up the phone, placing it back into Starbeam’s jacket. Sunset sighed, knowing she had goofed in more ways than one and she knew her wife had more to say to her when they get back. But that problem Sunset would have to worry about later. She then turns toward Princess Twilight, fully acknowledging her presence.

“Sorry to intrude,” Princess Twilight spoke. “But I thought you’d like to hear the news.”

“What is it?” Sunset asked.

“The scanning’s complete and we’ll have the results displayed shortly.”

As teacher and student shared this conversation together, Twilight’s other student, Starlight Glimmer, appeared beside the Princess. Floating through her magic aura there was a tray containing a few mugs. One of which had orange juice, without the pulp. The other had a single cup of hot coffee, by the looks of it appearing to already have sugar and crème added.

“Sounds like some pony had quite an ear full,” Starlight noted.

“That’s the understatement of the century,” Sunset sighed. “I suppose it could’ve gone a lot worse.”

“Well, I hate to intrude on whatever issues you have. But I do hope everything is okay.”

“Thanks,” Sunset smiled, looking at the one mug. “I take it that drink’s for Starbeam?”

“Yep. Did you want one too? I can make some more.”

“Nah, I’m good,” Sunset brushed off. “Besides, I literally make Vitamin C.”

Starbeam furrowed her eyebrows at Sunset’s lame attempt at making a joke.

“Really, Sunset?”

“Come on, it wasn’t that bad. ‘Orange’ you glad I didn’t say a ‘banana’ joke?”

A soft laugh escaped from Starlight’s mouth, as she tried hard not to chuckle.

“Stop it!” Starlight sighed. “Anyways, I should check in on Starbeam.”

Starlight Glimmer then turned her attention back to Princess Twilight.

“I made your favorite cup of coffee for you, Twilight,” Starlight said, handing the cup. “Sorry for the long delay.

“No need to apologize, Starlight,” Twilight replied, taking the cup. “Thank you.”

Starlight bows her head as she makes her way into the room, to bring Starbeam her drink.

“Um Twilight, didn’t you say something about being finished?” Sunset asked.

“Oh right, I did… I just got the results right now.”

“And?”

“Well, from what I’ve studied, I have to admit… I’m stumped!” Twilight shrugged. “I’ve gone over the results multiple times, but nothing appears abnormal. At least, more so than usual anyways.”

To say that Sunset Shimmer was confused was a major understatement. Twilight was saying she couldn’t find anything unusual, yet still she implied a possible note all the same.

“What are you saying exactly?” Sunset asked.

“The only apparent difference I noticed is her heart rate,” Twilight explained. “At first I assumed Starbeam was simply under some stress, which I can understand. Otherwise, I couldn’t find a trace of any magical influence nor any negative energy within her brain waves. I tried to have a word with your daughter, but she fell asleep.”

“That wouldn’t surprise me. After the night she’s endured, Starbeam would fall asleep even if she didn’t want to.”

It was during which time, Starlight had just come back with an empty tray when she had overheard them talk about Starbeam.

“Then why the long face, Sunset?” Starlight asked, noting her expression. “Isn’t it good that we didn’t find anything wrong with Starbeam?”

“No, it’s not that I’m not happy,” Sunset assured. “Quite the opposite actually. It’s just… I can’t shake this feeling ‘something’ is still there, and neither me nor Twilight will be satisfied until we are completely sure Starbeam is okay. Until we know what’s causing her nightmares, whether it’s Midnight Sparkle or something us, neither one of us will be safe until we know the truth.”

By the time Sunset Shimmer had completely finished her statement, an idea popped within Princess Twilight’s head.

“If memory serves correctly,” The Princess advised. “You mentioned everything occurred while Starbeam was fast asleep?”

“I did, but… What are you suggesting?” Sunset asked.

“I mean what if we were to scan your daughter… While she’s asleep?”

“Hmm… I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Sunset objected. “Honestly, I can’t promise this will be safe for any of us. We barely survived last time.”

“Sunset Shimmer, you’ve got me, yourself, and the princess of friendship,” Starlight spoke up. “If Twilight and I could lead Equestria to take down a trio of Equestria’s worst monsters, we can handle Midnight Sparkle.”

“I know you girls are strong, but…”

“Do you have a better idea? We want to know what’s going on as much as you do, as much as anypony. The least you can do is let Twilight try.”

Sunset Shimmer closed her eyes and released a sigh. She knew Starlight was right, she should trust her teacher the same as she should trust her wife. After all, they were both one and the same despite their difference in race. They are as much involved in Sunset’s life, more than just friends but as family. But still… That didn’t stop Sunset from worrying.

“Sunset, I won’t try again if you don’t want me to?” Twilight asked. “But if you won’t agree for yourself, at least do it for Starbeam. What would she do if it were you in her place? Or even the Twilight in the human world?”

“I don’t want to put her in any more risk, but…” Sunset sighed, speaking reluctantly. “Alright… do it.”

Princess Twilight nodded, as all three ponies entered the room. Standing behind the barrier besides Starlight Glimmer, she watched as the Princess made the final preparations while staring toward Starbeam Glitter. The sleeping pony looked so peaceful, yet so defenseless while Sunset can only watch from the side. She can only hope that the sooner they do find the cause of Starbeam’s nightmares, the sooner they could find the means to set her free.

“Whatever she throws your way Starbeam, don’t give up…” Sunset hoped. “Please… Please don’t let her win.”