Equestria Girls - The Tale of Two Sunsets

With the aroma of cheesecake cookies lingering in the air, Sunset and Pinkie decided to share one last laugh together, before hitting the hay and calling it a night. Pinkie was determined to keep Sunset's apartment in tip-top shape, while Sunset felt relieved that she was able to find a housekeeper on such short notice, and that she could finally focus on her vacation back to her home world. Everything had finally been discussed, including details, plans, and a rough estimate on when the trip would be concluded. Soon enough, Sunset handed Pinkie a spare key to her apartment, along with some money for food and other necessities.

"Alright Pinkie, I'm trusting you with the place, be sure not to let me down." Sunset put her faith in Pinkie. "Aside from what I said earlier about not inviting over other people, be sure not to throw any parties, alright? I'd much rather you focus your energy on the graduation's ceremony, anyways."

"Yep, you got it, I'll keep everything nice and tidy!" Pinkie assured. "Oh, and I'll keep your little leopard gecko fed and nurtured, especially since I'm great with animals. Fluttershy's taught me a thing or two over the years, so no worries. Anything else before I head on home and meet you here, tomorrow morning?"

"In general, just please make sure you don't get distracted or sidetracked, like you did at that festival." Sunset reflected. "If some street vendor's selling churros, try not to let those fried pastries keep you from fulfilling your responsibilities. I realize that you might not remember, but your fascination with churros ended with us getting booted from the festival."

"I'll do my best, Sunset!" Pinkie grinned. "But seriously, I still have no idea what festival you're talking about, I'm pretty sure we've never been to any, recently. Either way, as much as I love churros, I won't let those sweets get in the way of keeping my promise to you! No matter how sweet... savory... delectable... coated with sugary cinnamon spice... dipped in vanilla pudding..."

"Pinkie...?" Sunset snapped her fingers, trying to get Pinkie back with reality. "This is exactly what I'm talking about, you must fight the urge to become fixated on churros!"

"Right, right, I must resist for my friends!" Pinkie shook her imagination away. "Out of curiosity though, how did you know I like churros that much? I'm pretty sure I've never told you about that, I've always been more well known for my cupcakes."

"I mean... if you really don't remember that festival at all, my best guess is that the Time Twirler must've ended up erasing your memory." Sunset shrugged. "It's not really important anymore, now that we've got everything arranged and planned out. I guess I'll see you in the morning?"

"That's right, I'll be here, ready to tackle any chores with a smile!" Pinkie cheered. "Alright, well thanks for having me over, and catching me up with everything we'll be doing, up until graduation. I wish you luck on whatever path you plan on pursuing after we leave CHS for good, I hear it's always been a challenge, getting into our society's job market!"

With a warm goodbye and a promise to be an efficient housekeeper, Pinkie left the apartment with a bounce in her step, leaving Sunset to ponder over that wild adventure at the Starswirled Festival. She walked up the stairs to her bed, still admittedly unsure what to make of everything, and how she herself was the only one who seemed to remember anything at all. Sunset knew that Pinkie's memory could be a bit scattered, but the complete absence of recollection just didn't sit well with her. Then again, there was also the oddity of how the Time Twirler's effects had only seemed to affect Sunset, and presumably the Postcrush girls as well, but seemingly nobody else.

Shaking her head, Sunset decided not to let this unusual quirk bother her, as the excitement for her impending trip to Equestria grew. She already packed her bag with various basic necessities, as well as her magical journal, in case she needed to keep in contact with the Rainbooms. Although Sunset's main outfit had been shredded and torn to pieces, it mattered little, as she already had some spare clothes laid out for the journey ahead. Her mind suddenly raced with the potential possibilities back in Canterlot, as she couldn't wait to dive into the treasure trove of memories that awaited her. With one final look around her apartment, Sunset slipped out of her slippers and climbed into bed, knowing that she needed all the energy she could for her big day tomorrow.

"Dearest Twilight, and Princess Celestia..." Sunset spoke to the two main ponies she had always considered family in Equestria. "Witness me as I not only return to the world I truly belong, but even contemplate making one of the toughest decisions in my life. If it means I'll have to leave my human friends behind, then that'll still be a sacrifice I would be willing to make. No matter what happens in the end, may your guidance give me strength..."

Sunset's eyes grew heavy with the weight of her thoughts, alongside the comfort of her soft pillow. The whispers of her past and potential future kept swimming through her mind, almost like a kaleidoscope of everything she had ever experienced. With a deep and contemplative sigh, she closed her eyes, eventually allowing the sudden exhaustion to claim her. Various significant events were about to occur within such a short timeframe, and Sunset knew that although the eventual decision was difficult, she would still figure it out, one way or another. Her last conscious thought was a silent vow to embrace whatever destiny stood before her, as the warmth of the friendships she's made in this strange world, wrapped around her like a cozy blanket.

In her dreams, Sunset envisioned what the graduation at CHS would most likely look like for her, without the worry of any looming threats around the corner. Supposedly, she would receive her diploma on stage, as her friends and classmates cheered her on from the audience. The idea of this still felt like a breath of fresh air, especially compared to how she was once viewed by everyone, when she first came to the school. Sunset's dreams continued with her eventually getting to perform that song with the rest of the Rainbooms, and the graduation going smoothly, just as expected. There was simply no way that after all she had been through together with her friends, that the event would have anything going wrong...

While Sunset transcended into a peaceful slumber, the same couldn't be said for what was about to transpire at the Crystal Empire. Within the main castle, Princess Cadance and Shining Armor were pacing around the throne room, hoping that Twilight would heed their summons in a timely manner. Shortly after, they were soon accompanied by the aforementioned Princess, along with Flash Sentry. The princess of the Crystal Empire breathed a sigh of relief, before trotting over to her sister-in-law, ready to deliver the difficult news.

"Twilight, I'm so glad that you managed to stop by, even at such a late hour." Princess Cadance greeted Twilight.

"I guess we owe it to you, Flash." Shining Armor added, amused. "After all, we all know that Twilight could never stop chasing you. Wherever you go, so does she."

"I'd rather not go there again, thank you." Flash groaned at Shining Armor's teasing. "Besides, since it was a royal summons, I knew I had to act fast. Had I slacked off from delivering this to Twilight herself, I likely would've been stripped of my position in Canterlot without a second thought."

"Plus, with the coronation coming up, I figured it would be fitting that I see my family one last time, before all of Equestria's responsibilities fall into my hooves." Twilight said, confidently. "Speaking of which, where's my favorite niece?"

"Flurry Heart is currently asleep in her room, we just managed to put her to bed." Shining Armor explained. "And as much as we would love for you to partake in a whole family reunion before the big event, that unfortunately was not what we had summoned you for."

"That's correct." Cadance nodded. "As a matter of fact, it's not even a good idea for us to be discussing it, out in the open like this. We must all have this serious talk in a private chamber downstairs. That includes you too, Flash, since you are one of Equestria's most elite soldiers."

"Affirmative." Flash followed behind the princess.

"Understood, please lead the way." Twilight began making her way downstairs. "Whatever this is about, sounds like it'll truly call for drastic measures."

Before long, all four ponies had finally arrived at the chamber, with a large table at the center, and several chairs. Twilight was still rather unsure of what the meeting was going to be about, though she theorized it must've had something to do with her next steps, shortly following her coronation, before taking a seat.

"Cadance, Shining Armor, what's going on, why the sudden meeting?" Twilight wanted nothing more than to end this feeling of dread. "Is there something wrong with the preparations for the coronation, or will this have anything to do with my role in Equestria, once Celestia and Luna give me my official crown?"

"There's... no easy way to put it, and we aren't trying to scare you by bringing this up." Shining Armor tried to deescalate the severity of the situation. "Are you sure you're prepared for this, Twilight?"

"I've prepared my entire life for this, and I trust the both of you." Twilight said with a serious expression. "If there's something that needs to be said, I'm ready to hear it."

"And please don't hesitate or hide anything from us, this sounds like it'll require immediate attention." Flash added.

"It began months ago, and ever since the experience, the very fate behind Equestria's future has always seemed uncertain." Cadance began explaining everything. "Twilight, do you recall when Celestia and Luna had a vision of Lord Tirek's escape from Tartarus, which served as a major warning of an impending calamity?"

"Yes, I remember it well." Twilight replied. "It was shortly after I had become a princess for the first time, and Tirek himself was the main reason I lost the Golden Oak Library, but also gained the Castle of Friendship. Why do you bring this up, exactly? Because as far as I'm aware, he, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow are now resting in an eternal stone prison, somewhere in Taratarus."

"Princess alicorns, like Celestia, Luna, and even you and I, are blessed with a special gift." Cadance continued. "They have the ability to receive visions of the future within their dreams, serving as prophetic glimpses that can't be ignored, as they alert us of impending dangers that may come to pass. As the rulers of Equestria, we use this gift to prepare accordingly, and plan out the next strategic move to prevent disaster from striking."

"However, the visions are not always clear, they're more like puzzles, showing us the shadows of events, rather than the full picture." Shining Armor explained. "We can only interpret them, prepare for the worst, and hope for the best."

"The vision we received was not about Lord Tirek, or the others you mentioned." Cadance reflected. "In fact, this vision ironically came to me, shortly after we put that trio of troublemakers in their place. Instead, it was of a new threat, something that I couldn't even interpret. The best way I could describe this mysterious threat, it was as if the very essence of darkness itself had been scattered all across Equestria, seeking to obliterate and reshape everything we hold dear."

"That's... that's certainly worrisome, especially if we don't even know what the threat in question is." Twilight gulped. "How are we to prepare for something so abstract, yet so powerful? Do you have any theories or ideas on what the vision might possibly mean?"

"We've had our scholars working tirelessly to interpret it, but we all came to the conclusion that it embodies an omnipotent source of power, while also being embraced in eternal darkness." Shining Armor reported. "However, the one thing that's been consistent in their findings, is that the darkness is not something we've encountered before. After a ton of research and analysis, the very essence is unlike anything that Equestria has ever faced. We also consulted with the Pillars of Equestria, and even they were able to give us a confirmation that this darkness has no actual connection to the infamous Grogar."

"If even the Pillars have no idea on what this unknown threat is connected to, we might be out of luck." Flash listened on. "Without a clear indication of what we're up against, I fear that we may all be goners before we even knew what hit us."

"What I'm wondering is, are you sure that this vision is even accurate?" Twilight pondered. "I mean, what if it was simply a bad dream, and has absolutely nothing to do with the future of Equestria?"

"While I wish with all my heart that it was merely a figment of our imagination, the visions that we receive are not to be taken lightly." Cadance shook her head. "I say visions, because the incidents had been recurring for months, but had become more consistent than ever, this past week. I fear that the darkness I've seen is very much real, and it may already be starting to manifest somewhere in Equestria. There have even been reports of strange occurrences in the outskirts of the empire, things that can't be easily explained by natural phenomena."

"With the research strung together through our most efficient magic researchers, I was able to assess the validity, myself." Shining Armor sighed. "Due to the fact that she's been consistently receiving such visions within the past few days, we must presume it's a sign that this impenetrable threat is approaching even quicker than expected. In other words, a massive calamity could occur very soon, and saying we should all be worried, is merely an understatement."

"If Celestia and Luna's visions on Lord Tirek are anything to go by, then that experience already put things into perspective, regarding how much ruin is truly entailed." Flash folded his hooves. "He genuinely almost succeeded, had it not been for Princess Twilight and her friends."

"This is why after much research on the arts in ancient Equestrian magic, we've been discretely devising a backup plan for a while now." Cadance began revealing the new discovery. "While this technique lacks a known name, we've chosen to dub it as 'Unity Magic'. In other words, a supernatural force that is very heavily reliant on certain conditions, but in turn, amplifies the natural magic of ponies, practically tenfold. Remember when you went off to face Lord Tirek by yourself, after Celestia, Luna, and I gave you our magic, as a means of helping you stand a chance against his sheer strength? Think of it as something similar, but without the need for absorbing our magic."

"Hmm, so we'd essentially combine our powers in a way that's never been done before, to fight a new and potentially unbeatable enemy." Twilight's eyes widened at this revelation. "But what are the conditions, and how would we ensure that this Unity Magic won't fail us, like it almost did against Tirek?"

"Unfortunately, although we've still been doing nonstop research on the matter, we're still hitting a dead end, more often than not." Shining Armor spoke up. "For now, it feels like we have a ton of pressure on our hooves, since the most pressing matter isn't necessarily just figuring out how to utilize this Unity Magic and its conditions, but rather, how much time we have left before it's too late."

"With the coronation approaching, we must ensure that this newfound power is not only mastered, but ready to be used at a moment's notice." Flash said, rather determined. "Time is of the essence, and we can't afford any missteps, especially if Equestria is truly at stake. Perhaps we could help you figure out what this mysterious darkness truly is, and what it might mean, should we end up finding its true source. Princess Twilight, do you recall anything within your experiences, which may be able to point us towards what we're up against? Even the vaguest hint could give us a lead, and turn the tide in battle."

Whilst heavily reflecting on her past, Twilight suddenly remembered something crucial, back when she was chasing Starlight Glimmer through that never-ending time travel spell. After a while of witnessing various ruined futures, each worse than the last, she eventually encountered a future where everything and everyone in Equestria was seemingly completely decimated. Although Starlight herself wasn't directly responsible for causing that specific timeline, it was always still left a mystery, as to who or what was responsible for this particular occurrence.

"The only thing that comes to mind... is from my time traveling days with Starlight." Twilight reported. "We saw a future where Equestria had become nothing more than barren ashlands, completely devoid of any sign of life, and it was... utterly devastating. However, Starlight was only indirectly responsible for causing that particular timeline, after we learned it was tied to my friends and I. As such, we never found out who or what had truly caused it, leaving the culprit as nothing more than a shrouded mystery. Could this possibly be connected in any way?"

Cadance and Shining Armor looked to each other in horror, realizing that although they weren't certain, this description could very well be exactly what the visions had been telling them.

"Even then, I have a feeling that it may have nothing to do with this new threat." Twilight tried her best to stay positive. "After all, Starlight's now turned over a new leaf, and we're already in the same timeline where my friends and I are together, all thanks to Rainbow Dash performing her first Sonic Rainboom."

"As much as I would want to share your optimism, Twilight, we wouldn't be so sure, after hearing what you've just described to us." Shining Armor gulped. "It seems to completely line up with what the vision was trying to tell us, where formerly habitable lands will become dry and inhospitable at an incredibly alarming rate. The sun may no longer rise, leaving unspeakable devastation in its wake, especially to our crops and food supply."

"Every creature, not just ponies like us, will eventually succumb to this eternal drought and harsh climate, with very limited options on survival." Cadance added. "More than likely, I would estimate that within the first seven days of the darkness completely consuming the lands, nearly all life in Equestria will be completely wiped out of existence."

"It's a grim thought, but we can't ignore the possibility, especially with such a vivid depiction of what's to come." Flash gave his take on the situation. "And exactly how long would we all have, before the first of those seven days is suddenly upon us?"

"Based on what these recurring visions have been telling me..." Cadance hesitated, but knew she had to spill the beans. "As little... as two weeks from now."

"What...!?" Flash's eyes widened with horror, as he saw Twilight dropping her jaw at the jarring news. "You mean to tell me that Equestria won't even live to see another month, before this impending calamity strikes!?"

"We're still unsure of the exact timeframe, but the visions have been growing stronger with each passing day, leading us to believe that the event could happen, sooner than later." Cadance tried her best to explain.

"At the moment, our research on the Unity Magic is still very limited, but we've uncovered some crucial information from ancient texts." Shining Armor brought up. "Although this ancient art is able to amplify the user's natural magic, it can't do the same for everyone in Equestria. Unity Magic can only be at its most efficient state, when its power is divided evenly among a group, hence the name we've given it. But at the same time, the more users there are absorbing this magic, the less of a chance you have to truly utilize its full potential."

"I suppose that in order for us to have any chance at fighting this new threat off, we'll need to form a select group of powerful individuals, then." Twilight pondered. "Anything to prevent allowing all of these innocent lives in Equestria to succumb to this awful fate. Shining Armor... I've heard enough by now. Although I'm not officially the princess of all of Equestria just yet, I feel like I have no other choice but to decree something now, lest our time ends up being cut even shorter than anticipated. While I'm expected to fulfill my own royal duties, following the coronation, you are to assume direct control over this Unity Magic research, effective immediately!"

"We'll do our best to understand and harness it." Cadance nodded. "I'll have the royal guards keep an extra eye on the outskirts, while Shining Armor will communicate with the other regions of Equestria, to gather any further sources, crucial to helping us further understand this mysterious art. Flash, I'm going to need you to stay close to Twilight, especially once she becomes the princess of all of Equestria. As one of our most trusted soldiers, your protection and guidance will be invaluable."

"You can count on me, your highness." Flash agreed. "Though it's true that I've often been mocked and ridiculed for following Princess Twilight around, my dignity is still only a small price to pay, as long as we have a fighting chance to save Equestria from whatever darkness lies ahead. Even should it come to pass that I must protect the princess and her friends, at the expense of my own life, it would still be a sacrifice I'd be willing to make. Especially... after what happened to my father..."

"Flash, your dedication is truly commendable, and I can't express how much your loyalty to Equestria means to me." Twilight put a hoof on her royal guard. "But remember, we're all in this together, and I don't want anyone thinking that your life is any less valuable than mine. Your dedication and bravery have always been truly inspiring, and I'm honored to have you by my side."

"If I can prevent any harm from coming to you, I'll have paid my debt to my father, a hundredfold." Flash insisted. "I'll do everything in my power to ensure that we stand together against this looming darkness. As for the royal guards in Canterlot, you just leave them to me, I'll get everypony caught up on this new threat."

"Actually, that reminds me." Cadance spoke up. "We would ask that you keep this information private, so we can at least maintain peace for a while, as we build up our preparations. Remember, causing mass panic all over Equestria would likely deter us from our goals, rather than strengthen our lands, hence why we chose to host this meeting in a private chamber. Twilight, Flash, you are not to share of this impending calamity to anyone else, not even your closest friends. We will decide when the time is right, and depending on how our research in Unity Magic will go, we'll let you know when we're ready."

"Understood, I won't say a single word until we're ready to announce it." Twilight nodded. "We need to keep calm and work swiftly, especially after the coronation's main ceremony. When the time comes, and the research is finalized at last, I'd imagine I'll need to discuss this with my friends. They've been a crucial part of any challenge we've faced thus far, and I can't picture fighting this upcoming battle without them."

"Eventually, I would surmise that the source of this eternal darkness could even account for us mastering the art of Unity Magic, and whoever this source is, would stand to be a worthy foe." Flash brainstormed. "It stands to reason then, in such an event, we would need every bit of help we could get, even if it's from our closest companions."

"Once we reach that point, our mission would be in peril." Cadance added. "According to the research we've already done, absorbing Unity Magic for its full potency will come with a catch. The ones who end up utilizing it are unable to give it up, until after they fulfill their charge. Meaning, whoever ends up manifesting themselves with this ancient art will be our only hope at saving Equestria from this supposed doom, we must trust them to the very last."

"Then it becomes all the more imperative that we find the most capable and trustworthy allies for this task." Twilight's eyes lit up with determination. "I trust you two on your judgement, though we must be wise in our choices, as the fate of Equestria rests in our hooves. In the end, we would need to think strategically, and find a balance between those who can harness magic effectively, as well as lead a solid defense on the ground."

"For the sake of finalizing this research, there isn't even a guarantee that I will be able to accomplish even that." Shining Armor warned. "I've already put in a ton of energy into this, working day and night to string together any bits of information, on how to even activate this Unity Magic. After hitting countless dead ends, I just don't know if I'm up to the task."

"Although it may be difficult, we'll all be here to support you in this endeavor." Flash assured. "As for the selection of individuals to wield this newfound power, we must consider not only their magical prowess, but their hearts as well. After all, Princess Twilight has proven time and time again, that love and friendship can still end up becoming more powerful than any darkness we face."

"Now is not the time to lose confidence in yourself, Shining Armor." Twilight gave her older brother a pep talk. "We must surely make use of what little time remains to us, before the inevitable strikes. Even if we'll be unable to save everyone in Equestria, we should at least endeavor to save as many innocent lives as we possibly can. Now that I'll be stepping up to the same role that Celestia and Luna have held for over 1,000 years, it's critical for me to envision what they would most likely do, if they were in my position."

"You're right, Twilight." Shining Armor continued to find the motivation for himself. "I'll push through and keep researching until we crack this mystery, and ensure that the research on Unity Magic will give us all a chance to save Equestria. If that same chance potentially means giving Flurry Heart a future to rule and prosper, then I'm all for it."

"I believe in you, you'll make a breakthrough on this research, not just for the sake of Equestria, but also our daughter." Cadance encouraged. "Twilight, once we've done our part in understanding Unity Magic, we'll send you another summons. After which, you'll need to gather your most trusted friends, and we can finally reveal this information to them. But keep in mind that it doesn't necessarily have to be your first five friends, it could be anyone close to you, whom you're able to entrust this ancient art with."

"I understand, this is only an introduction to the many royal responsibilities I'll soon have on my plate." Twilight replied. "I know that I certainly can't do this alone, and that I'll have to consider anyone who's stood by my side in the past. Just like Flash mentioned, friendship and trust have always been our strongest assets. For now, I need to prepare myself for the coronation tomorrow, especially after all the effort that's went into the planning. Although it's been overwhelming, hearing what's at stake for the road ahead, I'll keep everything in mind when we finally reach that point. Oh, and Shining Armor, please get some rest, we can't have you burning out before we even get a chance to fight back against this looming calamity."

"Tell me about it, I really should set aside these countless coffees, they've done more damage to my overall health, as of lately." Shining Armor sighed in exhaustion. "I'm even more exhausted than I was when Flurry was first born, and that's saying something."

"Oh, one last thing before Flash and I take our leave." Twilight wanted to get one final idea to put things into perspective. "Do you have even the vaguest clue as to who or what could be causing this eventual darkness? Perhaps a foe that Celestia and Luna have faced long ago, or someone who recently escaped from Tartarus?"

"Although we've already considered that being a possibility, nothing concrete has come up." Cadance replied. "The visions are still too vague to pinpoint a specific culprit, it's as if the darkness isn't just a single entity, but a force that'll be awakened or released soon, due to some recent events. The only thing that's been consistent, is the sense of malicious intent behind it, but nothing else specific. We're hoping that with more information on Unity Magic, and any signs that may appear before the darkness descends, we'll have a better understanding of the exact threat we're facing. But for now, we must proceed with caution and an open mind."

"Hang on, that might not be completely true." Shining Armor reminded. "Didn't you mention hearing an ominous whisper through the darkness, notably in your most recent vision?"

"Ah yes, thank you for reminding me." Cadance began opening up. "The voice was faint, but it seemingly spoke of a power beyond our understanding, something... not of our world, I most likely suspect. There was only one phrase within the darkness that I could faintly make out, it supposedly said, 'When the sun sets, there shall not be a shimmer of hope left for any in Equestria.', before it faded away."

Twilight's eyes widened as she processed the ominous words from the vision. Her mind raced, trying to piece together any possible connection to Sunset Shimmer, her friend from the Human World, who was also about to attend her coronation. The princess knew that Sunset had been through a dark phase in her past, but she had changed so much since then. Could this impending calamity be related to her in any form, or was it merely a coincidence? Twilight decided to keep this idea to herself for now, not wanting to alarm the others without solid evidence, especially after how much she and Sunset had been through together.

"Then we must be prepared for the worst, but I trust that we can find a way to prevent this darkness from claiming Equestria, sooner than we think." Twilight finally announced.