Canterlot Hospital

Date: Aug 27th, time: 3:00 pm

*Emi’s perspective*

“Now what?”, Emi asked. She laid in a hospital bed, surrounded by her family and doctor. Her family all had uncomfortable looks on their faces while Dr. Rojas looked sad.

“We’re gonna try to make you as comfortable as we can.”, Dr. Rojas said.

Normally, Emi would be angry and defiant about giving up, but she was just too tired to do that. “Okay”, she said quietly.

“Could I talk to you all outside?”

All the adults left, leaving Sunset, Anura, and Emi alone in the room. Emi stared up at the bland ceiling. The walls had cartoon characters on them, but the ceiling was the same as the rest of the hospital. “I wanted ta learn ta shoot.”

“Y’re gonna get to.”, Sunset said. Emi turned her head to see that her face was a steely mix of determination and trying to hold back her tears.

Emi wasn’t able to hold her own back, and tears began to leak from her eyes. “I don’t wanna die.” She sensed something was off and looked over to where Anura was sitting. She had her arms around her stomach and her knees up to her chest. “Is she okay?”

Sunset got up and walked over to Anura. “Are you okay?”, she asked her quietly.

“I’m fine.”, Anura mumbled.

“Liar”

“It’s jus’ stress.”

“Okay”

Sunset turned back to Emi and went back to her seat. Shortly after, the adults came back in, and Mom clearly had been crying with Aunt Minerva trying to comfort her. Dad had a more neutral look, but Emi could feel the maelstrom of emotions in his heart. Grandpa had put up his emotional walls, scary things that turn him into an emotionless machine.

“Emi, where would you like to have your remains placed?”, Grandpa asked.

This isn’t a question I should be answering yet. But it’s a question that’d need ta be answered eventually anyways. “The farm, I wanna be buried with Nana and everyone else.”

Mom took Emi’s hand in hers, completely engulfing it. She could feel her mother’s heart shatter. “Okay, we’ll do dat.” Emi used what remained of her strength to smile up at her before closing her eyes and nodding off.

Sunset’s room

Date: Aug 28th, time: 12:00 pm

*Sunset’s perspective*

Laid out before Sunset on her coffee table was a roughly drawn map of the castle with all the possible locations Celestia could be keeping the element of magic marked. There were far too many to search them physically. That’s why she was planning on using a spell to locate it. Anything that powerful should be like a freaking lighthouse. Hell, she might even be able to sense it without the spell. She was on more of a time crunch this time, so it’d have to be a smash and grab.

There was a knock at the door. “Come in.”, Sunset said without looking up from her work.

The individual, who was undoubtedly Brigid by the fact there’s only one person on the entire street with steps that loud, walked over to where Sunset was sitting. “Lunch will be ready soon. Wha’s dat?”

“My preparations for storming the castle.”

“Castle?... Sunset, are ya plannin’ on goin’ through da portal ta steal anothe’ relic?”

“Yes”

“No, Ah forbid it.”

For the first time since she came in, Sunset looked up at Brigid. “What?”

“Y’re a wanted criminal. If y’re captured, yer fathe’ n’ Ah won’t be able ta bail ya out again.”

“This might save Emi.”, Sunset said sternly.

“Ya already tried dis n’ it didn’t. Ah ain’t gonna risk losin’ you f’r somethin’ dat won’t even work. Are ya really willin’ ta possibly miss yer siste’s last days on Earth?”, Brigid said, matching Sunset’s tone. Sunset turned her glare back to her work. She couldn’t convince Brigid. There’d be no point to. “Here’s somethin’ y’ll like. Yer fathe’ talked with Daiki, n’ he said Storm has completely ceased operations, as far as he could tell. Ya c’n start walkin’ ta school on yer own again.”

“Okay”, Sunset said without much enthusiasm.

Brigid left the room, and Sunset went to clean up for lunch. Does she plan on doing something to physically keep me from going? Then again, she’s been so exhausted lately that I’d doubt she’d have the energy to actually do anything. Sunset walked out to the kitchen and saw Brigid slumped over her food. She looked like she hadn’t slept much or stopped crying since they put Emi on hospice care. Tomiju was looking around the dining room and scampering up and down the stairs. It was like what a parent does when they hear something weird and are doing a headcount. She knows something’s wrong. Ailbhe was sitting atop her cat tree, looking at Brigid. Cat emotions are hard to read, they’re so dissimilar to human emotions, but Ailbhe seemed worried.

Sunset’s food was in front of her usual spot. Brigid didn’t acknowledge her as she sat down, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. Judging by the expression on her face, they weren’t good thoughts. Sunset shook her shoulder, bringing her back to reality.

“Huh, is everythin’ okay?”

Sunset gave Brigid the ‘you know why’ look.

“Yeah, okay.”

The whole time they ate, Tomiju didn’t stop looking around the house. She even looked out every window she could.

“Tomiju, she’s not here.”, Brigid said. The dog still didn’t calm down, so Brigid called her over. She picked her up and tried to soothe her. Tomiju relaxed but looked heartbroken. Poor girl’s probably got separation anxiety.

Canterlot High

Date: Aug 29th, time: 9:00 am

*Sunset’s perspective*

“And down this way is the cafeteria.”, VP Luna said.

Sunset, Brigid, Meg, and Meg’s dad were a part of a tour group, along with Fluttershy, Rainbow, Jacklyn, Rarity, and Pinkie, led by VP Luna to help them get familiar with and navigate the complicated school layout. Sunset smiled internally seeing that those five annoyances still weren’t talking to each other. She’d honestly forgotten a couple of them existed for a while. Brigid was signing what Luna was saying for Meg. The group was somewhat large, but not everyone from her year was there. It wasn’t mandatory, more of something to save them stress and time tomorrow. Sunset wasn’t worried about tomorrow as her adventures with Flash left her with a decent sense of where everything is, so was lagging behind as she skimmed her book.

“This is my office over here. Hopefully, I won’t be seeing any of you in there often.”

The door was open, so Sunset took a look inside. It was dark, which was to be expected of the night princess’ human counterpart, but she could still see everything, including the shape of a six pointed star. Stopping to take a better look, it was undoubtedly the Star of Magic, and it sat upon a crown. It had to be the crown for the Fall Formal, but it was the fact they made it in the shape of the Star of Magic that most intrigued her. The chances of it ending up looking like that on accident was slim. It had to be intentional. Maybe influenced by outside forces. Given everything else the two worlds share, it had to look like that because that’s what the Element of Magic now looks like. A plan formed in Sunset’s head. I guess today’s not gonna be as boring as I’d thought. Still a good thing I brought so many books. It’s gonna be mine in a few days anyway. Might as well take it now.

She put her book back in her backpack and scurried to catch up with Brigid, got her attention, then gave her the sign for ‘toilet’. She nodded, and Sunset went back to where she came. The group was out of sight before she even reached Luna’s door. Hearing no other sounds of footsteps, she slipped inside, grabbed the crown, and put it inside her bag, using her books to hide it. She slowly walked back to the group and snuggled up to Brigid.

The tour ended, and Sunset got out of the school and back home with no one the wiser. She stuffed it in one of her many random assortment boxes. Now, she was ready. She was going to succeed in her mission. There was no other acceptable option.

Sunset’s room

Date: Aug 31st, time: 7:30 am

*Sunset’s perspective*

Sunset slung her backpack on as she headed out to the kitchen. It was filled with her cloak, the fake crown, swords, explosive components, and loaded gun. Hopefully, she wouldn’t need to use the last three items, but she wasn’t taking chances. Nobody was in the kitchen or living room, so she felt confident that Brigid hadn’t planned something. Getting outside and to the high school was uneventful. She now stood in front of the portal statue. The surface rippled beneath her hand. It felt kinda like a filled water balloon, but it still had its smooth stone texture. She pushed her hand through, seeing it turn back into a hoof. After so long, what was her original appendage felt so alien. She pushed the rest of the way through the portal, feeling her body being stretched back into a pony’s and readying a levitation spell as soon as she felt her horn. The moment she popped out the other side, she activated the spell and caught herself before crashing.

She gently lowered herself onto the floor, the crystal floor. Okay, what gibs? No floors in Canterlot Castle are crystal. I’m not in Canterlot Castle. Where am I? Shit! Where’s the crown? Sunset casted the locator spell in the distant hope that the crown was close. It took a second to readjust to having a horn. Levitations spells don’t require the same kind of conscious thought or concentration. It’s like opening and closing your hand versus playing the piano. Much to her surprise, the crown was also in this new place. That’s convenient, too convenient. What are ya planning ya old crone? Not having the time to really think about it, Sunset casted a couple spells to figure out where she was and get a general lay out of the place.

This can’t be right. She was far North of the Crystal Mountains but not as North as Yakyakistan. She was in the middle of the Frozen North. I must be in the Crystal Empire. “Well, I’ll be damned King Smoky Butt bit the dust. Good riddance, he gives umbramancers a bad name.”

Sunset donned her cloak and followed the trail of the powerful magic. Just like Canterlot Castle, this place was light on hoof patrols, relying more on wards. You don’t have to pay wards a wage. The armor suggested Royal Guard, but they were a lot sparklier. Probably a crystal pony thing. She also saw one of Celestia’s guards that she had to meld into the shadows to avoid. She’s definitely here. The locator spell led her to a door, not a vault door, a bedroom door. What better place to hide Equestria’s most powerful artifact than under your pillow? That is where teenage girls keep their top secret diaries after all.

Inside the room laid a sleeping dragon in a pet bed and a purple pony, who Sunset had forgotten the name of but remembered crashing into, in the center of the room. If she had wings, they were tucked under her blanket, but she definitely had a horn. She was about the same as when Sunset first bumped into her, maybe a bit bigger. She left it out on the nightstand, seriously? She has everything that should rightfully be mine, and she’s so careless with it. She’s basically asking for me to steal it.

Sunset levitated it off the nightstand but also knocked the lamp off. She managed to catch it before it hit the ground. Sloppy Sunset, sloppy. She put the lamp back then switched the crown out for the fake. Any good look at it would make it clear it was a fake, but it would fool a guard that poked their head in or a bleary-eyed mare getting up for a bathroom trip. Sunset turned to leave, but as she passed the dragon’s bed, she tripped and landed on her chest with a thud and grunt. Crap! Please be heavy sleepers.

“My crown! She’s got my crown!”, the purple pony shouted.

Welp, so much for that hope. Sunset bolted for the mirror, no point in subtlety now. The purple pony gave chase, and Sunset could hear a spell being powered up and prepped a teleportation spell in case she needed to dodge a blast. No blast came, but instead, the purple mare teleported in front of her. Sunset used her spell to teleport behind her, leaving her cloak behind to act as a distraction. The cloak trick did give her a few valuable seconds, but purple was most definitely an alicorn and was fast enough to catch up with Sunset and even get close enough to attempt snatching her bags. Come on, almost there.

Purple tackled her through the doors that led to the room with the portal, and Sunset heard the crown fly out of her bag and bounce around the room. She smells of farmland. Odd. She lifted her head just in time to see it fly through the portal. Yes!

“Gasp, what did you do with my crown?” Oh, a noblemare. Not even after years under Celestia did Sunset ever sound that posh.

“Sorry it had to be this way,” Sunset said right before she teleported to in front of the mirror, “Princess.” It wasn’t totally a lie. She’d rather not have had to steal the crown to save Emi. She'd rather not have been in a situation where she needed to save Emi at all. Sunset jumped through the portal and landed on the other side rather unceremoniously. She pushed herself to where she was sitting on her knees and let herself have a breather. She looked around to make sure no one saw her, and it didn’t seem like anyone was around. “Fuck yeah!”, she cheered triumphantly.

Sunset got up and began looking around for the crown. However, to her horror, she couldn’t find it. “No, no no no no no! Where is it?” It should’ve been there on the pavement. It couldn’t have flown all the way into the bushes, but Sunset checked there anyway. “It’s gone.” Someone took it, but who?

Before she could ponder that, the first bell rang. Crap, I’m gonna be late. She bolted inside and to her new locker. She stuffed her bag inside. If she was caught with any of the stuff she had in it, she’d be in huge trouble, like legal trouble. I’ll ask around. Someone had to have seen who took the crown, but class first. Mom won’t be happy if she has to be called in the first week.

Sunset’s locker

Date: same day, time: 3:00 pm

*Sunset’s perspective*

Sunset hurried back to her locker and pulled her bag out, careful not to give any sign as to its contents. Twilight Sparkle shouldn’t be an issue. Sunset had years to learn to act like a human while she only had a few hours. Everyone will think she’s some sorta freak and won’t want to associate with her. The translation spell had clearly been improved given that she could understand and be understood perfectly by everyone, even without them having the spell on them as well. She quickly got off school property and only then relaxed.

Getting back home, Sunset was greeted by silence and Ailbhe looking at her from her tree. They were the only ones there as, without Emi, Minerva had no reason to be there, and Tomiju was with a dog sitter. It was surreal and ominous. She’d only manage to put her bag on the table before falling to her knees, crying. “I’m gonna get that crown if it’s the last thing I do! I’m not gonna let the one good thing this world has going for it die!”

After what felt like hours, but was probably only a few minutes, she managed to compose herself enough to go to her room and unpack her bag. She climbed into bed and curled up into a ball. She stayed like that until she heard her parents return. When they came inside, Sunset jumped out of bed and to the back door. She hugged Brigid, and Anzhong joined in on the hug.

“Sniff, you smell like pony.”, he said. Oh, crap.

Brigid pulled back and looked at her in that way that told her she was in trouble. “Ya went ta Equestria?”

There’s no way I’m squirming my way out of this. “Yes, I went to Equestria to get the Element of Magic.”

The level of pissed Brigid’s face turned was something Sunset had never seen directed towards her before, and she grabbed Sunset by her jacket. “Are ya out a’ yer mind?! Ya could’ve been captured! Ya could’ve been killed! Emi would’ve spent da last days a’ ‘er life wonderin’ where ya went, n’ ya did dat f’r somethin’ dat we know doesn’t work.”, Brigid said, fear and sadness clear in her voice. “Ah would’ve lost both mo babies.”

Tears welled up in Sunset’s eyes. For the first time ever, her mother scared her. She wasn’t scared that Brigid would hurt her, but she was being held up and yelled at by a person nearly three times her size. On top of that, the situation she was in once again hit her. “I know, but I couldn’t go on knowing I didn’t even try something that might work.”

Brigid let go of Sunset and went back to ‘stern mom’ mode. “Ah’m missin’ somethin’. Wha’s different ‘bout dis Element a’ Magic?”

“What makes the Element of Magic different is that it’s pure, raw energy. Emi’s dying because she no longer has the energy to fight. I can take that energy and place into her. She’ll be able to fight on longer and possibly recover.”

Brigid rubbed the bridge of her nose but relaxed. She couldn’t argue with what’s already been done.

“Where is it?”, Anzhong asked.

“I, um, lost it.”

Brigid let go of her nose, and her face fell as she wrapped her arms around herself.

“It did make it to Earth. I just lost hold of it, and it looks like something that belongs to the school, so they have it.”

“Sigh, great. Maybe we c’n try n’ explain dat it’s ours.”

“Unlikely, it doesn’t look like something we should have. I’ll just go there tonight and steal it back.”

“Excuse me.”, Brigid said disbelievingly.

“It’s a high school, not Fort Knox.”, Anzhong said. “Plus, an arsonist shouldn’t be preaching to a burglar.”

Brigid looked like she wanted to protest before his words fully set it. “Touche” Brigid turned to let the dogs in before continuing. “Alright, how do ya plan on gettin’ in?”

“The side door that leads to the field has a defective lock that can be popped with a piece of paper.”

“N’ ya know dis f’r sure?”

“I…” Oh, can’t say that. “I’ve heard rumors.”

“Are dere any cameras?”

“No”

“Sigh, okay, bring a weapon with ya. Ah don’t want ya gettin’ jumped.”

Sunset nodded, and the three of them continued on about their night. After they had dinner, Sunset dressed in dark clothing and filled her bag with everything she’d need. Just like last night, she made it to the high school quickly but, this time, headed to the side of the school. In the past, what, three (four?) years, the school hadn’t fixed the lock. Even without her magic, Sunset moved like a shadow through the hallways, fast and quiet. She thought she’d be the only one in the school, but as she passed the library, she was proven incorrect. Twilight Sparkle, how has no one pegged you as alien? She gave off a distinctly non-human aura. It was like the feeling Anzhong gave off but doubled, and there’s no way Sunset’s the only one that can pick it up. The only reason you’re able to hide is because they don’t know what to look for. Sunset continued to the VP’s office, which she had to pick her way into.

A cursory search didn’t reveal the crown. She began picking and searching every drawer in the place. It wasn’t there. Shit, where can it be? Sunset locked everything back up as she pondered every possible option. It being in Celestia’s office was a possibility but unlikely. That left her with two options, and she really hoped it was the former.

She snuck into the library and followed the alien aura. It led her deep into the stacks. Twilight was sleeping on a pile of books shaped into a bed with only an old banner as a blanket and her dog sleeping next to her. Neither of them stirred as Sunset inched closer. Twilight was defenseless. She had no magic and was a scrawny human. All she had for defense was Spike, and he’s tiny. All she’d have to do is jam her knife into her throat. Why shouldn’t she? Twilight took everything from her, Celestia’s love, the admiration of the rest of thestral kind for bringing back their princess, her princesshood. It was all meant to be hers.

Sunset reached back to pull out her knife but stopped. Twilight was just a victim of circumstance, another one of Celestia’s pawns. She likely had no idea who Sunset was before yesterday. Something needs to be done about her but not death, at least not yet. She’s just a child. Maybe she could make Twilight her ally, tell her the truth about everything, every one of Celestia’s lies and omissions. She does need to be told she’s not truly a god, for her own sake.

Sunset turned and slunk out of the library. Twilight didn’t have the crown, so that meant it had to be the last possibility. VP Luna had it hidden somewhere else, likely at her home. Breaking into someone else’s home is a whole other, much bigger can of worms and far more dangerous. I’ll just have to win the crown tomorrow. Easy enough.

Hallways of CHS

Date: Sep 1st, time: 2:00 pm

*Sunset’s perspective*

“Do you have it?”, Sunset asked. She’d mucked up her ankle while trashing the decoration, so was leaning against the lockers. It wasn’t anything bad, just sore.

“Sure do, Sunset.”, Snips answered as he handed her a manila folder.

Sunset took it from him and examined the contents and then lost all hope for whatever remaining brain cells those two possibly had. “These are glued together. Why didn’t you use a photo editor?”

“We don’t know how.”, Snails said.

Sunset felt herself die inside. Seven years in command positions, and these two were the dumbest creatures she’d ever been given charge of. “Do you not know how to use a search engine? Oh forget it, I’ll make this work. You at least got rid of the evidence, right?”

“Yes, ma’am, we got rid of the evidence.”, Snips said.

“Why do I doubt that?”

“Uh”

“That was a rhetorical question.” Look confident, Sunset. Enough confidence will get you to the moon. Sunset straightened out and began her walk to the VP’s office. Yes, destroying the decorations did mean the Fall Formal might not happen, but she couldn’t let Twilight get the crown back under any circumstances, and she had an advantage over Twilight, her time constraint was much longer than hers.

Canterville Boutique

Date: 30th day of the 8th month of the 1120th year, time: 3:30pm

*Twilight’s perspective*

The girls helped Twilight with finding clothes for her new body. Getting these things on and off was a strange process. Most of the clothes she wore as a pony were just slip-ons. Even military uniforms with buttons were just decorative and were adopted because some general way back when liked the look of the buttons on minotaur uniforms. She couldn’t say which one specifically, but she had a book on military uniform history she could look at again when she got home. This new creature she became also had hands, so getting their clothes on was more complicated. What are they even called? Twilight looked at the time, and they did have a couple hours. “Hey girls, would you mind answering some of my questions about your world?”

“Shoot, but for every question we answer, ya need ta answer one a’ ours’.”, AJ said.

I’m going to just assume that means ‘go’. “Alright, what does your species call yourselves?”

“We’re called humans. We’re the last living members of the homo genus.”, Fluttershy answered.

“Homo genus?”, Twilight asked, confused.

“She means we’re the last species of human. All the others either went extinct or bred with our ancestors to make us. Now for our question, how in the world did Sunset even learn about your world and your crown?”, RD asked.

“Well, to make a long story short, Sunset’s from my world. She was actually the one that was supposed to wield the Element of Magic before she betrayed my Celestia.”

“Wait, your Celestia? What do you mean by that?”, Pinkie asked.

“Let me ask my question first, then I’ll answer yours. Why are you all still in school? My research says that your schooling only lasts until you're eighteen.”

“Because most of us are only fourteen, and by that I mean Fluttershy’s fifteen.”, Rarity answered, a bit confused.

“Fourteen!?”

“Yeah, what’s so confusing ‘bout that?”, AJ asked.

“This actually relates to Pinkie’s question. You all have counterparts in my world, and they are all around eighteen.”

“By counterparts, do you mean that there are ponies that have the same names as us?”, RD asked.

“Same name, personality, hair, and symbol.”

“Wow”, RD said.

“My question now, why don’t you have any fur or scales or chitin? You don’t seem well protected.”

“You’re right. We’re not, but in exchange for not having as much protection, we are the best long distance runners on the planet.”, Rainbow said. “We have sweat glands all over our bodies that allow us to run for as long as we have fuel by evaporating our sweat and letting it take our body heat with it.”

Twilight looked at Rainbow like she grew a second head. What she said was utterly ridiculous. Why would any creature need to do that and why sacrifice protection for it. “I’m sorry Rainbow, but that’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. There’s no way that would be a viable survival strategy.”

“Not only is it viable, but it made us tha top dog on tha planet. We’ve managed to hunt several species inta extinction by runnin’ ‘em ta exhaustion or death, and very few creatures would dare challenge a human. Wolves, coyotes, and even bears stay away from us. No animal on the planet actively hunts humans, and we have populations on every continent on this planet.”, AJ said indignantly.

“Did you say hu-hunt? Y-you’re active hunters?” Twilight suddenly felt a bit scared. She was in a room, surrounded by five, self-proclaimed, top predators, and not just predators but active hunters.

“Yes, we very much are.”, Rarity said.

“You’re-you’re not going to eat me, right?”, Twilight asked nervously.

The rest of the girls picked up on Twilight’s fear, and each one quickly tried assuring her. Variations of “Oh, no no no, we wouldn't.” came from each of the girls.

“We wouldn’t eat ya. Horses are sacred ta most humans.”, AJ said.

Twilight let out a sigh of relief, then felt silly about being scared. These are her friends, if alternate versions of them. They would never hurt her, at least not on purpose. Her old instincts still seemed to be present, even in this body. “Wait, you have horses on this world?”

“And ponies too.”, Pinkie said with a bounce. “We actually created ponies and used them to pull mine carts.”

“Wha-? Okay, please explain.”

“We’ve used horses as our main mode of transportation for thousands of years, and we breed the shortest horses ta create ponies. They proved useful in mines, on small farms, and in harsh climates.”, AJ explained.

That’s nonsense. “I don’t believe you.”, Twilight said flatly.

“I thought you might not.” Rarity handed Twilight her phone with some text on the screen.

Twilight recognized the name in the top most part of the screen as the name of the free encyclopedia, Omnipedia. The translation spell worked quickly to translate the rest of the text on the screen. The lack of a living being presenting this information meant the translation was going to be less accurate, but it would suffice. The word right under ‘Omnipedia’ was clearly ‘pony’. The more Twilight read, the more her jaw dropped. She didn’t understand everything but got most of it. “This is… disturbing.”

“Well, it’s not like they’re sentient, and we do take care of them. Horses and ponies live much longer in captivity than in the wild.”, Fluttershy said.

“Yeah, ma family has a few, and they love us as we love them.”, AJ said.

Twilight wanted to ask more questions but also feared where that may lead. “I need some time to process this. I think I’ve learned enough about your world, for now.”

“Ground, our planet’s called Ground.”, Pinkie added.

“Ground, straight forward name for a planet.”

The rest of the girls looked around at each other confusedly. “Our plant’s name isn’t ground. It’s Ground.”, AJ said.

“I don’t think what you’re saying is being translated correctly.”

“Translated?”, Rarity asked.

“Yeah, let me explain.”

Black void

Date: same day, time: ?

*Sunset’s perspective*

Sunset opened her eyes to complete nothingness. Everywhere she looked, there was nothing, only darkness. Despite the lack of light, she could see herself clearly. The last thing she remembered was putting on the crown then immense, burning pain. “Am I dead?”, Sunset tried to think, but it came out loud. “Hello?! Is anybody out there?!” Sunset tried to look around, but in every direction was complete nothingness. She wasn’t even sure if she was moving. “Mom! Dad!”, Sunset cried out. “Mom! Mom! Mom!” Sunset’s heart sank. She consciously knew that there was no way for Brigid to be here, but a part of her mind still expected her to somehow hear her and come and save her. Fear was the closest thing she could call the feeling, but it was unlike any fear she’d felt before.

Suddenly, she could remember looking down at her hand, her red hand. She could remember looking at her tail, still being in the real world. More and more memories came to her. All of these memories were made just then, but she was in this place. “Unless, oh, this is my head.” Memories of her saying she wanted to conquer Equestria came in next. They were her words, but she didn’t mean them, not really. That thing out there was voicing her darkest fantasies and desires. She no longer wanted any of that. “Somebody! Anybody! Help me!”, Sunset shouted into the void but got no answer. That thing, those words, why was this happening? That wasn’t her, yet it was.

The next thing Sunset knew, the black void became filled with rainbow lights. It was blinking. She tried to shield her eyes and herself from the light, but it penetrated her hands and eyelids. More images began to play in Sunset’s mind, but they weren’t her memories. They were memories of her but from a second person’s point of view, memories of her threatening, laughing, attacking, all sorts of cruel actions. She could feel the emotions of the people who’s memories she was experiencing, fear, anger, all of them. She didn't even remember her own memories of most of them. She experienced all of it as if it was happening right then and there. The pain became so much Sunset just curled into a ball and waited for it all to stop.

“Stauomah, Stauomah”

That was her name, Sunset’s Ponish name, but who, other than that Twilight, would be calling her that on this side of the portal? Sunset snapped her eyes open and jumped to her feet, as much as she could with no floor. The pain had stopped, but it was still very bright. The rainbow colors were now replaced by a solid white light. She tried looking around for the source but had to shield her eyes. “Who’s there?! Show yourself!”, Sunset angrily said in Ponish.

The white light cleared, but instead of the black void, Sunset was in the Canterlot Castle throne room. Standing just a few feet away from her was Princess Celestia, or more likely, something pretending to be her. Celestia is many things, but dumb enough to chase after her hours before the portal closes was not one of them. As she expected, her human form is eye level with the princess. Sunset snarled at the figure. No matter what it was, she was going to kill it. “Whoever or whatever you are, release me this instant!” She charged at it, ready to strike, but before she connected, it telekinetically threw her into the doors. Sunset fell to the ground, groaning from the impact. She wabbled up to her hands and knees. She was in pain, but her rage kept her going. “How the hell did you do that?! Where are we?!”, she angrily asked, head shooting up to face the entity.

“You have a vivid imagination. You can imagine stimuli so realistically that it almost is, that includes pain.”, the doppelganger said in Celestia’s ‘stern teacher’ tone.

“So, we’re in my head. That means I have home field advantage.” Sunset launched herself up into a fighting stance, clapped her hands together, and summoned a large, red nine-tailed kitsune avatar.

“True, but,” the doppelganger lit its horn, and Sunset’s creation disappeared, “I have, as you would say, hijacked it.”

Sunset growled at the doppelganger and formed a new avatar, this time, one of Cernunnos. Again, the doppelganger lit its horn, and the avatar vanished. Realizing that this was getting her nowhere, Sunset turned to a more direct approach and imagined the doppelganger disintegrating, and it began to do so, but same song and dance and the doppelganger reformed itself.

Sunset was even more enraged now. This thing dared to invade her mind and take control over part of it. She was going to kill it, but doing it like this wasn’t going to get her anywhere. She stood up straight and crossed her arms. “Well, if you’re going to be hanging out in my head, you might as well tell me what you are because you’re definitely not Celestia.”

“It is true that I am not Celestia. I am the spirit of harmony.”

“And you thought you could take the form of someone I respect in order to manipulate me better. Nice try, but I lost all respect for Celestia long ago.”

“That is not my intention in taking this form. However, despite what you claim, you still respect her and, thus, need to hear this from her. Please, have a seat.” The throne room morphed into Celestia’s study with a gentle fire lit. Harmony sat on Celestia’s cushion and gestured to the other cushion. Sunset looked it over. It was less than half the size of her beanbag. She tried to sit on it, but the way it was designed made it impossible for a human to sit in it without falling over. She ended up just punting the damned thing and sitting cross-legged on the floor. “You could’ve adjusted it to suit you better. This is still your mind.”, Harmony commented. Sunset just glared at her and dropped an anvil on her head, which did nothing and disappeared after making contact. “Did that make you feel better?”

“Yes actually, it did.”

“That’s good.”, Harmony said, switching to Celestia’s ‘calm teacher’ tone. “Sunset, you saw and experienced the pain you’ve caused. You’ve had times you needed to defend yourself, but those were not those times. You physically hurt and psychologically damaged innocent children, children just like you.”

“They are nothing like me. They deserved all I gave them.”, Sunset scoffed, then the images came back. The emotions became stronger and new ones joined the existing ones. She clutched her head and fell to her side. “Do you intend on torturing me until I beg you to make it stop?”, Sunset said through the pain.

“No, I merely intend on making you understand the effects of your actions. Your need to feel in control led you to harm those around you, but that’s not all.”

More images entered Sunset’s mind, this time, when she broke into Canterlot Castle. She could remember the final moments of the guards she killed and the memories of the other guards who witnessed it. It was a painfully familiar feeling, and Sunset began to cry. “I did it to try and save my sister.”

“I understand that, but do you really think that a mare that raised two mares in the hope they would be able to save her sister wouldn’t? You had three days. That was plenty of time to explain that there was a life on the line. Do you really think she wouldn’t have given you whatever you needed?”

Sunset wanted to retort that Celestia would’ve arrested her, but even that wouldn’t have stopped her from learning about Emi. Sunset merely closed her eyes and became a bit smaller.

“Even now, if you had approached Princess Twilight, do you think she wouldn’t have found a way to help you? She was also raised by Celestia and instilled with the same values. Instead, you refused to even attempt to ask.”

Sunset just curled into as tight of a ball as possible. The pain of those she hurt mixed with the fact she risked her sister’s life because of her own failings all crashed down on her all at once. “I’m a monster.”, Sunset squeaked out.

“No Sunset, you’re not a monster. You’re just sick. There are true monsters in both worlds, but you’re not one of them.”, Harmony said as she placed her leg around Sunset’s shoulders. She consciously knew it wasn’t Celestia, but it felt so much like her. “I know you want to feel safe, but how you are doing it now is not the way.”

“How then? How am I supposed to keep people from hurting me?”, Sunset said with a mix of sadness and anger.

“Friendship. Both humans and ponies have this phrase, “There is strength in numbers”. I suggest you heed it. Now, get up. There is still time.”, Harmony gently said.

Celestia’s study faded away, and the black void returned, and Sunset fell through it. The next thing she knew, she was face down in the dirt and surrounded by smoke. When she moved, jolts of pain cascaded from her back.

“You will never rule in Equestria. Any power you may have had in this world is gone. Tonight, you’ve shone everyone who you really are. You’ve shown them what is in your heart.”, that Twilight girl said.

Pain, anger, fear, but mostly sadness swelled inside Sunset. This was not how any of this was supposed to go. Sunset managed to push herself up through the pain, tears streaming down her face. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know there was another way.” I failed. Emi’s going to die, and it’s because of me.

“The magic of friendship doesn’t just exist in Equestria. It’s everywhere.”

Sunset covered her eyes from the stairs the other kids were giving her. So embarrassing, this is so embarrassing. Sunset stumbled to her feet and began the painful walk and climb out of the crater.

“You can seek it out, or you can forever be alone. The choice is yours.”

It was only her mountain climbing training that let her get out. The walls were so steep, anyone else would’ve needed a ladder. But that didn’t mean it was easy. More pain shot out every time she moved her arms. She managed to get to the edge and hang herself there to give her arms a break, but Twilight’s words echoed through her head. “But all I’ve ever done since being here is drive everyone apart. I don’t know the first thing about friendship.” Sunset closed her eyes, the stinging of her tears not helping with the situation. She was surprised when she felt someone grab her hand and even more surprised to see it was Twilight. Twilight helped pull her out and looked at Sunset with… kindness? Why? I just tried to kill her and her girls. I would’ve killed me if I were in her place.

“Maybe they can help.” Rainbow and her four friends. Out of everyone there, she’d hurt them the most. Why would they help her?

Sunset slunk away out of the circle that had formed. Most of the students were looking at Twilight, but some were glaring at her. It was almost physically painful. She slunk around the building and tried to lean against the wall, but more pain shot up her back the moment it made contact. Painfully, Sunset reached back to try and figure out what was causing it only for her hand to come back bloody. She began to hyperventilate at the sight of her own blood. Not now Shimmer. Can’t have a panic attack now. Can’t faint. She put her hands together and began performing the Kuji to calm herself. “Rin… Pyou… Tou… Sha… Kai… Chin… Retsu… Zai… Zen…” With a couple extra breaths, she no longer felt like she was going to panic. She twitched her back muscles and realized the pain was coming from where her wings and tail once were, like they’d been ripped off. And I deserve it.

The rest of the kids had filtered back into the school and, most likely, back to the gym, so it seemed safe to go in and to the nurse’s office. The nurse wasn’t on staff then, but a quick pick got her in. She pulled her jacket off and examined the damage. There was a lot of red, and it was seeping through her clothes. She had to do the Kuji again due to the sight. Because of the location of her injuries, she could only effectively clean and gauze the one at the base of her spine. The other two would just have to wait. Brigid won’t be coming to pick her up until later.

Sunset put her jacket back on and drudged back out to the entrance where she saw Twilight being embraced by her friends. They looked over at her, and she tried to hide behind the destroyed wall.

“Ms. Shimmer,” Vice Principal Luna said, “my sister and I have been talking, and it has been agreed that you and your two sidekicks will help repair the entrance.” With that, VP Luna handed her one of those tools bricklayers use to spread mortar.

She wanted to growl and say no, but… “I suppose this is appropriate.” But those two idiots will definitely find a way to mess this up for me.

VP Luna gave her a look then sniffed her. “Are you bleeding?”

“Minor injuries from the fall. They’re superficial.”, Sunset lied. She had no idea how deep her injuries went. She went to go sit down where she could sulk in peace until her mother picked her up. “Happy fucking birthday to me.”, she grumbled. She looked down at her bloody hands. Luckily, it’s too dark for anyone else to see them. She failed her mission. She failed to get the crown to Emi. She’s gonna die. Sunset tried to focus any magic she might’ve still had within her. Maybe she could still save her sister. Her eyes went wide when a ball of rainbow light formed in her hands. There’s still hope.

“Wha’ happened ‘ere?!”, Brigid shouted in surprise. Sunset wobbled to her feet and ran out to Brigid. The wounds on her lower back stung, but she really needed her mother. She practically tackled her, and Brigid returned the hug. “Sunset, wha’ happened?”

“We need to get to the hospital.”, Sunset said quickly.

“Are ya hurt?”

“Yes, but not for me. I have the magic.”

Brigid scooped Sunset up, loaded her up into the car, and drove them to the hospital. They hurried inside and to the reception desk. “Please call down Dr. Jiraiya Katon. We need ta talk ta him.”

“One second.” The reception nurse, one Sunset didn’t recognize, contacted Jiraiya’s pager and called him down.

Jiraiya came into the intake room at a speed walk. The only reason he wasn’t running was because a hospital is a bad place to get your cardio in. “Brigid, what’s wrong?”

“We need ta go see Emi.”

“Sorry, but visiting hours are over.”, the reception nurse said. “Our patients need sleep.”

“The kid’s in hospice. A couple hours aren’t going to make a difference. I’ll take them up.”, Jiraiya said. The nurse nodded, and the two of them followed him up to the hospice ward.

Sunset moved as quickly as she could to Emi’s room and quietly walked in. The only light in the room was the moonlight coming through the window and the lights from the monitors. According to said monitors, Emi was still breathing, but her breaths were so shallow, Sunset could barely see them. She focused the magic to her hands then pressed them to Emi’s chest. She felt the magic exit her body and flow into Emi’s. Emi woke up and looked at Sunset quizzically then smiled at her. Sunset smiled down at her then felt something flow up her arms. It felt like magic, but it wasn’t the magic from the element of harmony. This is Emi’s magic. Emi’s magic flowed up Sunset’s arms and into her body. It felt weird but wasn’t alarming.

Once the magic flow stopped, Sunset pulled her hands back and turned to see Brigid and Jiraiya had joined them. “What did you do?”, Jiraiya asked.

“Hopefully, I gave her the energy she needs to continue fighting.”

“If that’s the case, we should let her rest.”

Brigid ushered Sunset out and down the hallway. “Sunset’s injured.”, she told Jiraiya.

“Okay, I’ll look at her.” Jiraiya took them back down to the ER and got Sunset onto a bed. “Okay, let’s have a look.” Jiraiya pulled off her jacket, and the resulting silence told her just how bad it was.

“There’s one by the base of my spine too.”, Sunset said ashamedly.

“How did this even happen?”, Jiraiya asked as he began cleaning her back.

“I…” Sunset looked up at her mother. She was worried about her, but how would that change when she told her the truth? “I stole a powerful magical artifact from Equestria, and its rightful owner chased after me to get it back. During the struggle for it, I decided to use it to get the upper hand, but it backfired. I have a lot of internal demons that I’m losing to, and the artifact gave them the power to take control and turn me into a physical representation of them. That included wings and a tail. These wounds are what’s left after I was forcefully transformed back.”

“Sunset”, Brigid said. She hugged Sunset, avoiding her back. Sunset grabbed onto her tight. She never wanted to let go. “We’ll talk more ‘bout dis when we get home.” And that’s what she’s afraid of. She’s going to hate me.

Brigid shifted to stroking Sunset’s hair as she hissed as Jiraiya cleaned the wounds. Her hissing was the only sound in the quiet ER. From his stories, she expected it to be chaos. Granted, the non-chaotic times wouldn’t make good stories, but this felt off. “It’s qu… wait, no. I’m not supposed to say that. What should I say? Hiss”, Sunset asked.

“I know, and it’s a full moon. Never in all my years of working in hospitals, in two countries, have I experienced a shift during a full moon that wasn’t crazy. This has been a strange night.”

“What do ya mean?”

“I felt this odd shockwave about an hour ago that only a couple other nurses felt. Nobody else felt it.”

“That was me.”

“Oh” Jiraiya finished fixing up Sunset in silence then sent them on their way.

Brigid got them into the car and drove them home. “Change out a’ yer bloody clothes, n’ Ah’ll see if Ah c’n save ‘em.”

Sunset went into her room and changed into her pajamas then handed off her clothes to Brigid. She climbed into bed, having to lie on her stomach, and waited for Brigid. Brigid soon climbed up Sunset’s stairs and sat on her bed. Sunset sat up and faced her.

“Tell me wha’s been happenin’.”

Sunset grabbed her mother’s hand, trying to reassure herself that she wasn’t going to abandon her. She couldn’t even look her in the eye as they spoke. “I’m a bully. It started after the Goldhoof Stone failed to cure Emi. I felt so helpless and needed something to take my anger out on. I decided to kill two birds with one stone and use fear and intimidation tactics and sometimes even force to scare the student body into submission.”

“Sunset” The disappointment in Brigid’s voice destroyed Sunset inside, and it took everything in her not to cry.

“The process to free me from my demon form involved me being forced to experience every wrong I’ve done from the perspectives of my victims. I’m a monster.”

“Why didn’t Ah know ‘bout any a’ dis?”

“I purposely hid it from you and the faculty. I knew how disappointed you’d be.”

“Ya knew it was wrong n’ still did it.” Sunset clutched Brigid’s hand tighter as she braced for the worse but was surprised when Brigid placed her other hand on hers. “Sunset, ya need help. Ah’d much prefer it if ya come willingly, but Ah’m takin’ ya ta see someone before ya have ta end up emitted.”

Sunset nodded solemnly. “I know. I’ll go. I don’t wanna hurt anymore.” Sunset hugged Brigid as she began to cry, and Brigid hugged her back, being careful to not touch her injuries. “Please don’t tell Emi what I did. I don’t want her to see me as a monster.”

“Ah won’t. Ah promise.”

Sunset’s room

Date: Sep 1st, time: 11:00 pm

*Brigid’s perspective*

Brigid cradled Sunset until she fell asleep then tucked her into bed. She got up and went to her room. Anzhong was already in bed. Though, she doubted he was asleep. She went into the bathroom and splashed some water on her face. How did Ah fuck up dis badly? Have Ah not been payin’ enough attention ta ‘er? I guess bein’ a forme’ high rankin’ soldie’ means she’d be bette’ at hidin’ ‘er activities. Ah need a second voice. Brigid got ready for bed then sat down and got Anzhong’s attention.

“Hm, is something wrong? You were out quite late.”, he said, not sounding tired at all.

“Sunset had a mishap when gettin’ da crown dat resulted in ‘er gettin’ injured, so Jiraiya had ta fix ‘er up when we went ta da hospital.”

“Does that mean Sunset was able to get the crown and help Emi?”

“Not da crown, but she was able ta get da magic needed.”

“Does that mean she’s better?”

“We’ll know in due time, but Ah also have some bad news. Sunset admitted ta me dat she’d been bullyin’ da other students at ‘er school.”

Anzhong sat up, and Brigid could see his muscles tensing. He was mad. “She’s been bullying other kids? How have we not known about this?”, he said with restrained anger.

“She’d been purposely hidin’ it from us n’, Ah’m guessin’, scarin’ da othe’ kids inta silence. Da mishap involved da crown turnin’ ‘er inta a physical manifestation a’ ‘er demons, n’ da way she was turned back involved ‘er bein’ forced ta experience wha’ she did ta ‘er victims from deir perspectives. At least, dat’s mo understandin’ a’ da situation.”

“And that’s what got her to finally admit it.”

“Yes, n’ she’s willin’ ta start therapy. Wha’ Ah need ta know is how we could let dis happen. Have we not been spendin’ enough time with ‘er? Is dere somethin’ we should’ve done differently?”

“Sunset is old enough to make her own decisions. We can’t police her twenty-four seven. We can’t blame ourselves for her actions.”

“We’re her parents. Her actions are our responsibility. Are ya sure ya ain’t jus’ projectin’ on ta ‘er?”

Anzhong said nothing and laid back down.

“Da two a’ ya are remarkably similar.” The only response Brigid got was a grunt. “Ya know, it might help Sunset feel more comfortable goin’ ta therapy if ‘er fathe’ went as well.”

“You’re just trying to manipulate me into going to therapy.”

“Nooo, Ah’m jus’ sayin’ dat we should set a good example for Sunset, n’ Ah already worked through mo trauma.”, Brigid lied.

“Fine”, Anzhong said through gritted teeth.

Brigid smiled to herself as she went to sleep.

Canterlot Hospital

Date: Sep 2nd, time: 1:00 am

*Emi’s perspective*

Emi woke up to an empty and mostly dark room. Mom, Grandpa, and Sunset all left. Emi herself felt different. She felt stronger. She still felt like crap, but there was also a growing warmth inside her. For the first time, she became consciously aware of her magic. She’s known she has it for a while now, the same way she knows she has a beating heart, but now, it’s like when her heart’s beating out of her chest. She can feel it pulsing through her veins along with her and Sunset’s blood.

“Ain’t tha docs gonna be surprised tamorrow when I’m gettin’ bette’.”, Emi said with a foxlike smile.

Author's Note

To be continued in "Recovery and Rebirth".