The Light of the Night

After Sunset Shimmer tucked her daughter back to bed, folding the sheets around her, Sunset decided to stay for a bit. Having experienced another deadly encounter with Midnight Sparkle, cautiously thinking she might return, Sunset wanted to make absolutely certain that they were safe. Nearly an hour had passed, and with no sign of Midnight in sight, Sunset Shimmer left the room as she eyed Starbeam’s sleeping form.

Closing the door behind her, Sunset Shimmer makes her way down the hall back to her room. She had only just returned to the bedroom when Twilight Sparkle woke up, straining to see without her glasses.

“Everything okay?” Twilight asked, putting her glasses back on.

Sunset sighed, noting the hint of concern in Twilight’s tone. Sunset closed the door behind her so they’d be able to speak privately, regardless if Twilight already knew the answer.

“For the time being,” Sunset spoke quietly.

“Sunset, what’s wrong?”

It took a moment before Sunset was able to explain everything that transpired. By the time she reached the part where she ‘died’, Twilight gasped in shock.

“Don’t worry,” Sunset reassured. “Somehow I’m going to fix all this. I don’t know how, but this time we’re solving this together.”

“I see,” Twilight nodded. “What about Starbeam? Did you tell her the same thing?”

“Yes, we’ll discuss this more in the morning. But for now, let’s try to get some sleep. It’s been a long night for all of us.”

Twilight nodded, satisfied for the time being. Soon they both fell asleep, their arms wrapped in a loving embrace, as sleep shrouded their minds and seeped them into their dreams.

<>

It was early in the morning, the sun had not yet risen from the sky, yet Sunset Shimmer was already wide awake. She sat upon her desk, opening up the book she carried with her from Equestria. With a pen in hand, she began to write a strongly worded letter to an old friend.

“Dear Twilight Sparkle,

“It’s been a while since I’ve written anything. To be fair, I haven’t felt the need to, but… I have something to get off my chest. These past 24 hours haven’t been easy; honestly, it wasn’t a fun experience to be killed… ‘again’. But that wasn’t Starbeam’s fault. She’s had it worse than me, though. These past two weeks, neither of us have had a good night’s rest. How can we? After everything we’ve been through, the nightmares and the possessions.

“All because of that ‘monster’, Midnight Sparkle. Twilight could hardly believe it herself after what I’ve told her. To say she was shocked would be an understatement. She’s been keeping it together and nothing else I’ve said has changed her feelings for our daughter. But that’s unconstitutional love, the most powerful friendship in the multiverse.

“I haven’t yet told my other friends about Midnight Sparkle, at least not everything. None of them heard about the commotion the other night, especially Rainbow Dash. I’d rather her not know about the time travelling either, it be too complicated to explain even I don’t understand it. Since last night, Starbeam’s been very quiet, unsettled. She’s still scared of what can still happen, I know I am. The sad part is whenever we’d ask how she’s doing… she just frowns, even when she smiles and says, ‘I’m fine’. But I know the truth: I realize she’s trying to be strong, just so neither me nor her mom will worry. She’s fooling me… I’ve seen more than enough.

“Starbeam Glitter is the sweetest girl in the world, no question… but she’s still a poor girl terrified that everything we made her to be will fall apart. I get she feels nothing she can do will fix anything; I know how that feels more than anyone. Which leads back to Midnight; I don’t know how she became ‘what’ she is now. Her magic or whatever it is… I’ve never seen anything this unsettling before. It’s as if somehow, in the past eight years, she gained so much power and yet she still targets Starbeam. Why? What is her endgame?

“I don’t know what’s going on nowadays, but I intend to get to the bottom of this. But we may need your help, more than ever. If only so we can see our Starbeam smile… for real. In any case, I’ve been rambling in this letter much longer than I’d prefer. Still, I hope you’re doing well, and you’ll reach out as soon as you can. Maybe then, one day we all can—”

“Sunset?”

A voice startled Sunset Shimmer so much, she nearly fell off her chair. Startled by her own name called out, she turned her head and realized from who the voice came from. Twilight Sparkle, the ‘Sci-Twi’ of this world, leaning forward and seeing what Sunset had written down. The very sight of her wife behind her made Sunset giggle softly.

“Geez, Twilight. Give a girl a warning next time.”

“Sorry, Sunset,” Twilight blushed. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Nah, it’s fine,” Sunset shook her head. “What’s up?”

“I was wondering if perhaps you’d care to join me. I thought we’d check up on Starbeam, maybe offer something sweet for her for breakfast. That is… if you’re not too busy.”

“Not at all,” Sunset replied, closing the book. “I was just about finished anyway. Let’s go see her.”

Together, the two women approach Starbeam’s room. At the foot of the door, Twilight knocks the door on one hand while a tray of pancakes rests on the other arm.

“Starbeam, sweetie!” Twilight called out. “Sunset and I brought breakfast for you. May we come in?”

But answer there came none. Shaking her head, it was Sunset’s turn to knock on the door.

“Come on, Star, you don’t want this going to waste,” Sunset said jokingly. “You’ll be skin and bones if you don’t eat. You didn’t sign up for modeling behind our backs, I hope.”

Silence still followed, and by now Twilight grew worried.

“Starbeam, are you in there?”

Twilight tried to open the door, but the doorknob wouldn’t turn.

“That’s weird, the knob’s stuck,” Twilight turned to Sunset. “I can’t open the door.”

Twilight Sparkle wrestled with the doorknob and suddenly she started to have a panic attack. Sweat began to pour from her brow, her breath became sporadic, and try as she might, she couldn’t jiggle the door open. Sunset quickly used her magic to unlock the door, the locks turning with a click. As the door opens, Twilight took a moment to breathe, silently thanking Sunset as she followed close behind her.

“Thank goodness!” Twilight gasped. “Starbeam, why did you lock the—”

Suddenly, upon entering the room, Twilight Sparkle gasped. The tray slipped from her arm and the plate shattered all over the floor. Sunset Shimmer was also shocked at the sight before her eyes: Beside an open window, a letter pinned to the wall read:

“I’m sorry. I’m going to stop this.”

“Damn it, Starbeam!” Sunset shouted, slapping her hands. “Why?!”

“I’ll check outside!” Twilight yelled, in panic. “She has to be around somewhere!”

As Twilight rushed out of the house, Sunset Shimmer took out her phone and dialed Starbeam’s number. Several rings went by, but no answer came.

“C’mon, c’mon Starbeam! Pick up the phone!”

“Your call has been forwarded to an automatic voice message system—”

“GODDAMN IT!!!” Sunset yelled, hurling the phone on the pillows. “Starbeam, why didn’t you say anything?! You promised you wouldn’t do this alone! You PROMISED me!!!”

Twilight Sparkle quickly came back inside the room.

“She’s not outside! Where could she have gone? Why would she leave like this?! Sunset… what if something happened to her? What if she gets hurt?!”

Twilight clapped her hands over her head, covering her ears. The anxiety and panic grew worse as terrible thoughts raced in her head.

“How could I have been so careless?! I knew she’s been having a hard time, and I did ‘nothing’ to help her! Now she’s gone! Starbeam, my baby… I’m so sorry I didn’t see this sooner!”

Sunset approached her sobbing wife, turning her face toward her own.

“This isn’t your fault, Twilight. I’m to blame; I’m scared too!”

“But Sunset, what if we can’t find her?”

“We will. I don’t know where she’s gone, but she couldn’t have gotten far. Call the girls, tell them to get here right away! We can find her faster if there’s more of us.”

Twilight looked up towards Sunset’s reassuring smile. While it didn’t stop her from crying, it did more than enough to lift her spirits. So much so that she nodded her head in thanks.

“Now c’mon, let’s go find our kid!” Sunset declared.

As Twilight Sparkle took her phone out, calling all their friends, Sunset Shimmer looked through the open window as her hands began to glow.

“Starbeam… wherever you are… please be okay. You’ve got people who really care about you. We’re coming.”

<>

Starbeam Glitter looked down at her phone, noting the missed call. A deep breath escaped her lips, as she reluctantly put the phone back in her pocket.

“I’m sorry, mom… I have to do this,” Starbeam said to herself.

Indeed, there was a reason behind her actions as her memory raced back to her last encounter with Midnight Sparkle.

<>

“Listen closely, little star, for what I’m about to tell you is for you alone. From the day you left Equestria… the first time you came here… I knew there’s only ‘one’ way to settle this for good. If you have the courage to face me, to destroy me as you said… return with me to your real home. Face me in Equestria, that’s where I’ll be waiting for you. Go there… and the truth will finally set you free.”

<>

And now, Starbeam Glitter stood before the one place she always wanted to go. The very grounds of Canterlot High, the statue of the school’s mascot stood majestically on the podium. Reaching out and touching the statue, she stared silently as her hands fell through the surface before falling completely inside. She fell through the void for what felt like ages until at last she arrived, assuming her pony form.

Except where she ended up, she had not been transported to Twilight’s Castle nor any place in Equestria her mother had told her about. But instead, something corrupted the portal and sent her into an unknown location: A dark cave. She had no idea where the portal landed her, but she felt as if she was in her nightmare once again. As she walked forward, the cave slowly lit as the torches on the walls erupt with purple flames.

“It feels so unsettling here …” Starbeam mumbled to herself. “It’s just as I dreamt; yet it’s not at the same time.”

All at once, a dark mist appears swirling beneath her feet before steadily rising up to her eye level.

“You’ve made it…” A familiar voice echoed. “I half-expected you to bring ‘her’ with you, and against my request to come alone.”

“I always keep my word,” Starbeam frowned. “Nobody else is getting involved for me.”

“You did the right thing, little star. Poetic really… And what fitting place for our final fight, than to have it in the very place that’s haunted your dreams…”

The mist itself transformed before her very eyes, assuming it’s true from. A form so familiar, yet startling for Starbeam all the same.

“Greetings… Starbeam,” Midnight spoke. “It’s good to finally meet ‘face-to-face’.”

Up till now, Starbeam Glitter had seen Midnight Sparkle in a near human form though some features said otherwise. But now, she stood in shock as Midnight’s pony form stood before her. In a way, she looked to be the size of an Alicorn, approximately the height of Sunset’s former teacher. Only she had the same shading as Twilight’s dark form, with gleaming armor as brightly purple as the stripes of her mane. And yet, she seemed much ‘darker’ than how Starbeam had seen her. She stood in silence as Midnight drew herself close to the little unicorn.

“What’s the matter? Don’t you just adore my new look? I picked it out myself.”

“W-What… w-what are you?”

“Well, since you kept your word to come alone, it’s only fair I tell you the truth. But I warn you: It’s not a pleasant story. But seeing your ignorance to your upbringing, it’s time you knew what really happened to me… ten years ago…”

Starbeam Glitter had no words to say as Midnight Sparkle began to talk, circling around the cautious unicorn as a tale was told.

“After your ‘family’ kept me at bay, I was locked away in Limbo, courtesy of ‘Daydream Shimmer’. With my powers drained, I knew there’d be no way for me to escape my predicament. But Daydream knew to keep me in bay would cost a great price: In exchange for me ‘leaving Twilight alone’, she’d have to sacrifice her powers and go back to being the pathetic human she was before she discovered magic. I’ve been locked away ever since, unable to cross between amongst the humans or the ponies.

“And then… you were born. The moment they transferred what little magic Twilight had, I managed to grasp the power and aligned myself with you. But without all my magic, I was forced to remove bits of what remained of me into the wretched world of man. While I, the ‘true’ Midnight Sparkle, remained on the outskirts of Equestria, undetected… even under the watch of Princess Twilight Sparkle and her equally ignorant ‘friends’.

“While my weaker side tormented you, I spent my days finding ponies to control with ease. Ponies so innocent… so naïve… so stupid. Those with no friends, no family to speak up, and those easy to ‘guide’, to gain their trust, and when the moment was right… taking their bodies and their magic to sustain myself.

“However, the most ponies I’ve found were too young, their bodies weak, and their magic no better. So long as I remained in this state, I couldn’t cast a simple spell to even shift the weather. My options have been limited these past ten years… So I’ve had to improvise. To reside in their bodies no more than three years, seeking noteworthy results that didn’t last. But once I did have enough magic to seize control, I’ve travelled beyond Equestria seeking new means to enhance my magic.

“I found myself back in limbo, through one of the portals no pony has yet discovered. It was there, travelling the multiverse, I uncovered a being similar to me. Even I didn’t know how to approach it and neither did I know it’s capabilities. However, to become stronger, I knew it was a risk worth taking. On contact, my magic improved but not enough for my grand reveal. You wondered still how I was able to take control of you, but it wasn’t just because of our bond to Twilight.

“The source of the darkness, the power greater than my own, was a being Equestria thought to be only a myth or legend. I can’t even begin to tell you how powerful it was, only that it’s own madness was so strong even I lost myself to how ‘delicious’ the power was.”

“… What are you talking about?”

“I mean the terror that once plagued Equestria for years: Darkness, the very same black magic that made the ‘Mare in the Moon’ a famous bedtime story. The moment we spirits met face-to-face, we made a proposal: In exchange for more power, I’d agree to allow the spirit to enter my body, combine ourselves into one, and so the Shadow can be free. Together, we’ve infused ourselves into a superior being… fused together in body and spirit. You can’t even imagine how that felt. Raw anger and hatred fused into it’s own being, more powerful than any known creature in existence. It was an agonizing union for us both, but a necessity all the same.

“We could feel what we’ve felt all those years ago: Thousands of years of pain, of the light that defeated us, the fear of loss… regrets. We’ve faced the cusp of death so many times, yet here we were determined to exact our revenge. Our fusions stabilized, our body able to function, as you can see it wasn’t ‘perfect’. My face… And parts of my body… were lost to the shadows. It felt amazing to be alive, yet still agonizing beyond words.

“But, what’s done is done… and we knew there’d be no going back. With these powers and our hatred fueling our greatest desire, we became… the stuff of nightmares. I finally had the power to return to the human world, slowly reshaping myself in your body. It was a slow, nearly endless process, but I knew it would be worth it.”

“Everything you’ve done,” Starbeam confirmed. “The dreams… the hallucinations… because of that monster?”

“Yes…” Midnight hissed.

“But why go that far? Not just to mess with my head, but to yourself! Why me?”

“You’ve learned nothing from our time together? We’re all selfish, using our own gifts to satisfy our own desires. I’m merely the living embodiment of that.”

“You still didn’t answer my question!”

“Oh little star, did you really think you could just take my body, my powers, and try to live a normal life? No… It doesn’t work that way. Your parents needed a reminder as to what happens when they play god, trying to use magic beyond their own understanding. All because of what they blamed me for.”

“So, that’s it? You just wanted to torment my family? Harassing one mother and killing another!”

“Initially yes… But now, things have changed. Now… I have a proposition for you.”

“I know…” Starbeam nodded. “You’ve been after me for ten years; but why?”

“TO GET MY BODY BACK!!!” Midnight shouted, her mane flaring. “I deserved to live more than anything else! And seeing you, living so happily with your ‘loving family’, casting me out as a freak accident… You took ‘Twilight Sparkle’ away from me! You and her meddling wife!”

“Midnight… What if we don’t have to fight?” Starbeam asked. “I did come initially to end you for good… but now? Maybe if could perhaps reason—”

“DON’T!!!”

All at once, Midnight Sparkle teleported directly in front of Starbeam Glitter, grabbing her by the neck with her aura. The unicorn gasped, trying to wriggle out of that tight hold as Midnight lifted her off the ground.

“Don’t you dare try to shower me with pity. You say I’m the selfish one, when you are worse than me! You claim to care about your family, but deep down you only care about yourself! You don’t really care about me and why would you ever want to? You don’t want to sympathize with me, to understand me… You just want to take everything I said and use that against me!”

Eventually, Midnight Sparkle was able to calm herself and released her hold on Starbeam Glitter. The unicorn coughed her lungs out, clutching her throat as she felt a redness upon her neck.

“Our time together can only end in one of two ways,” Midnight Sparkle declared. “Either you surrender your body to me, together forever as one… OR… I take your body by force! Either way, I get exactly what I want. A new life, your ‘family’s’ destruction, and everything precious to you… gone. No matter what you choose, you cannot hope to win.”

Midnight Sparkle extended her hand out, waiting for a response. Starbeam was hesitant over what more to say and couldn’t decide what choice to make. On one hand, she knew all of Midnight Sparkle’s actions were terrible and the way she treated her moms, especially Twilight Sparkle, were irredeemable. But on the other hand, all Midnight Sparkle merely wanted was a body, yet here she was… A spirit forced into the world by her mother’s darkest emotions and yet still wanted to be seen as an equal. Starbeam Glitter was about to make her decision until…

“You really are foolish, aren’t you?”

“Wha—Mom?” Starbeam asked, turning around.

Suddenly, a pillar of fire appears before Starbeam Glitter and Midnight Sparkle. An unknown individual soon appears through the center, an annoyed expression on her face. In a way it looked like Sunset Shimmer, but it was neither her human form… nor her pony form… not even her ‘Daydream Shimmer’ appearance.

But instead, this figure was far more monstrous than all the other Sunset Shimmers. With flame-like hair, tattered bat-like wings, four clawed fingers, pointed ears, sharp teeth with elongated fangs, and a forked tongue slithering out. She was a creature of great size, her skin a reddish color, the sclera of her eyes black, her nose short, her mouth stretched out, and a flame-like tail stuck from behind. Her main apparel of choice is a flame-patterned frock and matching boots.

“Seems she never told you about me,” The Demon spoke. “Technically, you are correct… But I’m not her. I’m the part of her past in the flesh.”

“So… You finally show up!” Midnight Sparkle sneered. “I see dying the first time hasn’t taught you a lesson.”

“You’re one to talk, Midnight Sparkle.”

“I am so confused right now,” Starbeam Glitter shook her head, turning to the fiery demon. “WHO are you? What are you even doing here?!”

“My name is of no importance,” The Demon answered. “I’m here to stop you, Starbeam Glitter, from making the stupidest mistake of your life!”

“ME?! What was I even going to do?”

“And your parents call you ‘smart’. You know as well as I that this demon before us is trying to justify her violence towards your family. All that talk of ‘selfishness’, true I’ll admit she’s right about you in some degree. But she is no better. Assuming you were foolish enough to give her a body, what’s stopping her from finishing what she started? I learned the price of my mistakes and moved on. Don’t get me started on her other half, her goody-goody two-shoes ‘perfect’ twin.”

“You mean… ‘Daydream Shimmer’?”

“GAH!!!” The Demon shrieked, hissing. “It’s bad enough she actually gets a name while I’m mostly called… Demon.

“Besides, I’ve seen how your kind acts from the sidelines. You mortals, both humans and ponies alike, are not as terrible as Midnight’s made you all out to be. You are flawed creatures, or else those like me and her wouldn’t even exist… But you all deserve to be happy, whether alone or with your family. You give yourself up to her demands, you destroy everything but the one thing that makes you… well, you.”

To say that Starbeam Glitter was confused was an understatement. Her mother told her of her dark past moments before, and how her inner darkness created this terrifying creature before her. Only now, rather than teaming with Midnight Sparkle, she was standing up against her.

“Why are you helping me?” Starbeam Glitter asked.

“Don’t try to understand me, kid,” The Demon spat. “There can only be ONE demon of darkness and I’m not about to let a ‘copycat’ take that position from me. Besides, you’ve got a family waiting for you and I grow bored with the sob stories. Even as this means taking more... drastic measures.”

It was then that the Demon all at once took a different form, as Starbeam Glitter looked on in awe. Before the very eyes of the girl and Midnight Sparkle, the creature took shape into a cross between a pony and a human. It’s mane and tale were a blend of pale, light grayish orchid with light brilliant opal stripes, it’s coat was a brilliant amber with pale, light grayish mulberry spots along the frame, she wore a moderate cyan chest plate with a helmet, a Cutie Mark which was a cross between a sun-and-star was on her flank, and her violet eyes loomed down toward the young unicorn. As her mighty amber wings spread out and her spiral horn gleamed in the light, there was no doubt she was taller and far more majestic than even the Princess of Friendship herself.

“Now… For all our sakes… Stop with the self-doubting, all right?” The alicorn asked.

“… Thank you,” Starbeam whispered, in awe.

“Don’t get used to this. I have a job, no time for a long backstory, and no intent to see her walk out of here alive. What will yours be?”

Starbeam Glitter looked up towards the mysterious being, before turning toward Midnight Sparkle as the flames around them faded away.

“I’m sorry Midnight,” Starbeam spoke determined. “But I’m afraid I must reject your offer.”

But Midnight Sparkle was neither disappointed nor angry, not even a fraction of hatred emanated from her inner being. But rather, she just smiled upon the two figures before her. Specifically, she was smiling towards Starbeam Glitter.

“… So, that’s your decision? How disappointing. So, we want to do this the hard way, don’t we?”

“You’ve been playing the talking game for far too long,” The alicorn spoke, poised to strike. “It’s time you finally fight your way for a change.”

“Well then, since you’re both determined to die… How’s about we making this a little more… fun?”

With a snap of her fingers, all three figures found themselves in an empty void of darkness. Not a speck of detail or trace of either world was inside. Just endless darkness for miles in every direction.

“Now we fight without any outside influence. Get ready you two… we’re going all the way… without protection.”