Mirror Mirror

Chapters

1. First Flames
2. Silent Storms
3. Mystagogical Mishaps
4. Shadowed Searching
5. The Second Party
6. Web of Knowledge
7. Back Library Dealings
8. Skulking Between the Shelves
9. Ashen Alliances
10. Convoluted Conversations
11. Signaling Synchronicity
12. Belligerent Battles
13. Dreaming of the Past and Present
14. Emissary Arrivals and Awakenings
15. History preserved in Crystal
17. Counting Cinders
18. Argumentative Allusions
19. Discordant Delights
20. Hollow Hatred
21. Shared Warmth and Discourse
22. Traversing, Taunting, Training
23. Sending Letters Brimming with Hope
24. A Tale Retold at the Tolling of a Bell
Interlude 1
25. Received Respondence
26. Consoling Conferences
27. Wanton Whispers
28. Failures Freedom
29. The First Kiss
30. Beginning of a New Tale
31. Found and Lost in Light
32. Moving Forward Upon Iron Rails
33. Fading Facade
35. Penumbral Paradise
36. Concerted Culminations
37. Hollowness Found in Shades
38. From Beyond Love and Darkness
39. Two Princesses, One Lord, One Demon
40. Monsters Old and New
41. Entombed Entering
42. Retreating Resuscitations
43. Lost Lanquish
16. Old Blood, New Blood, Royal Blood
34. Extraneous Exaltations

1. First Flames

First Flames

Sunset Shimmer

Much like the magic that flowed through me, my temper burned. I of course had learned long ago to not let my emotions show. A lesson learned through disapproving looks and snide remarks cast down from the throne Princess Celestia reigned. Growing up the prized pupil of the goddess of the sun provides many benefits, near limitless access to the royal libraries, a private room with combined study, and most importantly the solar monarch’s private tutelage. I knew that everything that I had came from her. Were she not as kind and caring as she had been, she could have easily deposited me into one of her schools. Moved on to the next disaster that would soon require her attention and caring touch. But no she saw the potential in me when no one else did. For that alone, I will be forever grateful to her. I could temper my anger for now.

I focus on those scenes as I once more attempt to smother the flames that raged in my blood. I know I am not successful as I can quickly feel the temperature rise around me. My horn glows for but a moment as I spin a cooling charm that I had long since mastered. It would be of no use to set ablaze the precisely cultivated gardens once more. I had memorized Princess Celestia’s rather long-winded speech about keeping my flames controlled. It would not do to further antagonize her with my foolishness. Those thoughts do not calm my eyes as I memorize once more the face of the newest addition to the castle. I note her horn, before once more looking at her wings.

I force a smile as I wrench my head away, for I know that if I were to continue to watch that I would soon care not if I was to incinerate the royal gardens once more. I clench my teeth as I put one hoof forward toward my room. My other hooves follow quickly as I calmly and collectedly return to my still untainted haven. Knowing that the intruder has yet, and would never, taint the walls of this room while I still had breath was a calming thought. Much calmer than the ones about how I would sear her wings from her, before claiming them myself. Taking a calming breath I continue my trot to my room.

When I reached my room I unlocked the door, opened it, entered my room, closed the door behind me, and burned. My flames leaped from within and my room was smothered with flames. It was not the first time that this had happened and with the Princesses newest addition most definitely not the last. In the inferno that raged both within my blood and my room, I quickly lost myself in the flames once more. Smiling as I stepped forth into the unbound flames that threatened all but me. Closing my eyes I could almost imagine the warmth of the flames being another pony. The sun's warmth was all welcoming, the hushed voice telling me assurances. The sun herself saved me from my folly.

I can remember it all so clearly. The way that Celestia allowed me to snuggle into her coat. How she would lift her wings and then lay them on top of me once I stopped moving. When I would be burned by my flames, how she would be with me until I was healed. I lost myself in those early memories when everything was perfect. Where we would spend days together as teacher and student, losing ourselves in the studies of magic. How whenever I got a particularly difficult spell down she would smile. That smile was mine alone. Even knowing how those days would quickly end couldn’t bring me from them, back then I meant something to the sun herself. Back then I wasn't the failure.

Opening my eyes to the inferno that I set free, I felt a wetness that quickly evaporated from my muzzle in the heat that felt all too cold. Snarling I brought the flames once more under my will, they obeyed as they were snuffed out with a final thought. I had no time for this foolishness. My time here was coming to an end, the interloper alone confirmed that. I knew that Princess Celestia had gone in a hurry to a backcountry town to deal with a problem. She had canceled our few remaining lessons with but a few words hastily written on a note that a guard pony had given me. Hours after she left, leaving me in the empty practice room as I waited for her.

I had no reason to think that her week's absence from the castle was to end with another Alicorn in return with her. I had expected to greet her alone, with but her guards, as her dutiful student should. I will admit in the sanctity of my mind that my initial introduction to the parasite that had attached itself to Princess Celestia’s flank was less than stellar. I feel my blood begin to boil at the memory until I once more ran the formula for the cooling charm. Putting a bit too much magic into it, I shiver, but it gets the job done as I glance around my room to ensure that I don’t have to replace anything. I have made an effort to fireproof my things ever since I could fireproof myself. Noting that I will have to get another set of quills as I had left them on my desk.

Sighing I collect the charred remains trying not to think about the interloper's wings burned cinders like my quills. After getting rid of them in a safe matter, incinerating the remains to dust, I pulled out my newest gain from the restricted section of the library. “Deliverance of Doom” by Standard Baird. I had yet to fully understand the intricacies of dark magics such as curses and such. To remedy that failing of mine, I sought out the proper reference material. I will admit I was annoyed by the author's practice of alliteration throughout his book. However, the knowledge I had been lacking was contained within his work. It was an annoyance worth suffering.

Standard Baird, like many other so-called “Dark” magic users, had sought to record his life story within his work. Interlacing the research he had performed with his past struggles and triumphs. He had included in his writings a theorem that he was planning to work on “That even when ponies are out of their innate magic. They still have but one source left if they are willing to pay the price. After all, what is more magical than the caster’s life?” Which was an interesting question posed, as Princess Celestia had gone on about the limitless magic of friendship. If one could compare these two hypothetical magics against one another which would be stronger? Now how would you test the effectiveness of both? From my understanding of the so-called magic of friendship, you need multiple ponies for it to be used. To test which would be stronger I would first need to get multiple ponies using their life force as fuel for their mysticism.

Hopefully, Standard Baird had performed thorough testing of his hypothesized life magic. With that thought, I returned to his book and once more lost myself in the study of magic. Mostly skimming the ramblings of the mad pony that attempted to justify his actions. Horrific actions, yet if they could give me the information I was seeking it would be worth the read. I would not be caught off guard by any magic no matter how dark or hidden.

Hours passed in stilled silence, as I closed the book trying to clear my head of Standard’s latest cruel experiments. You would think that mad-pony or not that after the first seven ponies exploded that you would attempt to change the configuration of the spell. Or at the very least not repeatedly going over how annoying it was to clean up the mess of his most recent failed experiment in gritty details. Nonetheless, for all of his preference for torture and inflicting pain, he was a very accomplished researcher. I could only wonder if he had not turned to the darker fields of magic wonders he could have brought to light in other more practiced fields.

It was a pointless line of thought anyways as I glanced out my window to watch the sunset once more. Even with the tensions currently between me and Princess Celestia, this was something that I had cherished from foal-hood. Watching by her side as she raised and lowered the sun. I no longer watched from her side, yet I still watched. I wonder if-. No, it doesn’t matter. Not anymore. I cleared my head and watched the sun set beneath the horizon. The shadows grow in strength and number now that the sun once again slumbers. With the sun no longer crested in the heavens I prepared for bed myself. Setting my reading material back in its hidden compartment, I covered myself in the sheets that lay on my bed. Whispering a silent good night as I quickly fell into the land of nightmares.

I was always told by Princess Celestia that those within Canterlot are protected from nightmares. That she patrolled the sleeping world to act as its guardian, and she also made mention not being its rightful defender, but aside from that point, I could only wonder how she dealt with the constant nightmares. I also wondered about the truth of her statement that if it was truly all those in Canterlot that she cared for, that she acted as their aegis when the horrors of the mind began to prowl. I wonder if she still protects the ponies who have committed horrid acts, still have her shielding their dreams, and I wonder what I had done to lose that shield myself. Which act I had performed to deserve this particular punishment?

Was it for embarrassing Blueblood? Perhaps for failing once more her test to gain friends? I knew not. Whatever it was I had long since given up trying to figure out my failing. What was one more to add to the pile? I had to grit my teeth and show Princess Celestia that I was willing to accept the punishment. That I would not come whimpering back to her as I did as a foal. That I was ready for whatever the test could throw at me. That no matter how many times I failed, I would get back up and try again.

That no matter the field of magic I would master it. Absorb all the value that it has to offer and then expand on it. Even before I had gained my cutie mark I was setting my hooves onto books of advanced spell-casting. I burned through tutors until it was only Celestia who had something left to teach me. A goddess teaching a mortal pony, stories had been told of less. I was living one of those grand tales myself. When I received my cutie mark I easily took my spot underneath Princess Celestia in terms of raw magical power. Since then I have only accelerated my gains in both my knowledge and magical power.

Yet for all my arcane strength, for all my memorization of spell theorems. I was once more a helpless filly in the hands of these cruel dreams. Where no matter what spell I prepared, no matter how many horrors I burned through. That I was once more helpless, praying once more to be saved. Even knowing how this tale ended, fear was all-present. What if this was the reality I was truly residing in? That this was my life. To be lef-.

It was on that particular spiral that I managed to rouse myself, as I threw my eyes open to be greeted by the all too familiar curling of flames.

“You are better than this. What would she think” I intoned once again as I smothered the flames and quickly cleared my watery vision with the help of my sheets. I briefly thought about once more closing my eyes but decided that I had suffered enough for now at least. I made my way to my window once more and began to wait for the sun to rise. It took but an hour as I watched once more the source of Princess Celestia’s power began its journey through the heavens anew. I gave a brief smile before getting prepared for the day ahead.

Grabbing the appropriate books and putting them into my saddlebag, which bore the same mark as my flank, I slipped out of my room. Locking it with but a thought. I made my way to the kitchens to grab my usual meal. Grabbing the salad that the chefs had set out for me, I quickly went to the library to begin my day. Were I to have a lesson with Princess Celestia I would be heading to the practice room to once more wait for her. Thanks to the parasite however I knew that would not be needed for some time. Making the best of the situation I continued on the lessons that Princess Celestia had been working on with me.

It was a rather annoying spell array that had exploded in my face before. I could only thank Ce-. Princess Celestia that I had long ago been fireproofed. It didn’t help with the force of the explosions but it certainly helped with the singeing, and I had long since mastered most shielding spells. Grimacing slightly, I put my muzzle to the grind and began to continue this array. It was only after a few short hours that I heard an unfamiliar cough behind me. Now I knew Princess Celestia’s polite cough, and the librarians hadn't interrupted me since I was a filly. Pausing from my work I turned my head and felt my mane begin to warm.

“Excuse me Sunset, would you want to have tea together?” said the all too cheerful envoy of doom, with a smile plastered across its face. I considered quick teleportation away from the demon wearing the flesh suit of an Alicorn, but unfortunately, she would simply tell Princess Celestia.

“I wouldn't want to intrude on your tea time, as I am sure that you have important matters to deal with,” I said with a shallow smile. I continued in my mind ‘Also if I wasn’t 100% sure that burning you to cinders would sadden Princess Celestia, you would have been dust long ago. “I also have to get this array done, so I was planning to work through the entire day either way.” I let the lie fall from my mouth like water, but she didn’t need to know that. All she needed to do was leave me alone.

“Are you sure? Princess Celestia thought it would be nice for you to join us?” The parasite continued blissfully unaware of the dagger of ice that pierced my heart with those words. If Princess Celestia was there I couldn’t say no. Especially with how I had acted last week. As the events of the second worst day of my life played through my mind once more. The demon continued her prattling “I mean, I would also like to have lunch with you. I haven't seen you around the castle at all.” I silently wondered if Princess Celestia would forgive me for torching the library again as a distraction.

“Is that so?” I say with clenched teeth as I began to collect my things, taking an effort to ensure that I didn’t singe any of the books that I placed into my satchel. “I should be able to put off this for a little bit of time.” More likely until Princess Celestia designed to have a lesson with me once more and with the resident parasite taking up her time I doubted I would have a lesson with her again for some time.

“Is it usually this warm in the library?” The demon continued after giving another of the smiles that were sure to make the citizens squeal in delight. Unfortunately for it, I was no mere-. Wait. Warm? I paused and paled as I realized what my magic was about to do. I quickly cooled myself down with the spell, refusing to meet her eyes as I shrugged. “Well if you don’t mind I will lead the way.” I nodded as I trotted behind her. I wonder if this puts me at number three? After working so hard to claim the silver medal, I was given bronze.

The parasite continued to talk while we were making our way through the castle to wherever this tea party would be taking place. I of course responded appropriately to its incessant buzzing with my focus turned inwards. Instead, using the time to figure out why I would be invited. Princess Celestia wouldn’t invite me to tea for no reason. It had been years since the last one. I could remember the entire meeting. From the annoyance in Princess Celestia’s eyes to the particular set of tea cups that we used. That was shattered in the ensuing fight. They were a silver-plated set with green flowers centered in the center of both the dishes and the cups.

Before I fully lapsed into the memory I decided to ask the question that I had been pondering in the background of my mind while I walked behind the parasite.

“Have you been intentionally going in circles?” I said interrupting the tangent about how the parasite had been exploring the castle. Watching the parasite stall, before twirling around with a flourish of her multi-colored mane.

“Nope,” the parasite said with a half smile before continuing “The castle is so large I haven't been able to make heads or tails of where I am supposed to be half the time. Other than working with Princess Celestia on getting integrated I have been wandering around the castle lost. Often relying on the guards to escort or point me right.” The parasite's smile grew as she concluded her statement. Were I any less aware of the motives, the smile would have seemed genuine. I knew better.

I frowned slightly, before correcting myself. The parasite didn’t notice as it continued undeterred “Princess Celestia made mention that even she gets lost in the castle sometimes. This castle is bigger than the town I grew up in. She offered to assign me an escort, but I turned the offer down. If I can’t make my way through the castle, how can I be a Princess when I can’t find my way to the tea room?” The smile faltered. Dropping into a shallow frown.

“You could have gotten some assistance. No one is expecting you to be perfect.” Everyone was expecting perfection. Waiting for the moment that you could be torn down. The once perfect is now shattered. Forever tainted with failure. With one failure, the pony's life is forever tainted.

“I know that, but I need to stand on my own four hooves.” The plastered confidence would be easily shattered. If only Princess Celestia didn’t care for it so. So easily would a few whispered words, would soon shake the newest addition to the castle. I could see the quick yet explosive spiral she would take. All it would take was a singular spark, to start the fire that would chase her out of my life. Out of Princess Celestia’s life.

I could just cut out the middle pony and take care of the problem right now. The coat of most ponies was unsurprisingly flammable. Alicorn or not, it was unlikely that she could stop my flames. Even if my flames failed any other of my spells could finish the jobs. Initially a pegasus it would be unlikely that the proper mystical counters would be prepared. Likely at best a low-tiered shielding spell that I could pierce through with power alone.

No. I shouldn’t assume that I could overpower an Alicorn, newly ascended or not. That would be a foalish assumption that would lead to my downfall. It would be best to blast her with a torrent of flames, using her recovery time to lay traps in the air. Various elemental traps would allow me to prepare something esoteric. Perhaps I would take her down with something from Standards work. He had proven that-.

“Sunset?” My eyes shot to the parasites, taking a half step back, half of the dozen spells prepared to launch at a moment's notice. The air quickly heated as my magic saturated it, all the easier to set the world ablaze. “Sunset are you alright? You haven't been responding?” The parasite has tilted its head, its colorful mane falling to the side.

“Sorry I was lost in thought. What did I miss?” I quickly responded spinning the cooling charm simultaneously.

“I asked if you wouldn't mind leading the way to the tea room. You then just stood there head in the clouds.” The smile is back in full force.

“Of course,” I said with but a nod as I trotted around the Alicorn and began to lead the way to the tea room, where Princess Celestia was waiting for us. I could only wonder as I escorted my replacement to the tea room. Was this how my tale ended? I could see the poetic justice before my eyes. I wonder if Princess Celestia would allow me to take my research. No, it was funded by the crown. It would stay with the crown.

It was on that rather unpleasant thought that I broke the pleasant silence that the parasite had yet to break. “We are here,” I say while turning around and trotting behind the parasite. It would prove prudent to allow Princess Celestia to see the parasite first. The parasite gave me a look that I couldn’t associate with any emotion I had already seen on the parasite's face. Shrugging, I with but the light touch of my magics might push the door open inwards. Revealing the celestial goddess in all her might, lounging upon one of two seats that accompanied the tea table.

“Ah, Cadance I am glad to see you didn’t get too lost.” I could see Princess Celestia say without even looking up from her papers. I wonder if she knew I was here, she did supposedly want me here. There were only two chairs. One for each of the Alicorns. No place for any pony else. No need for any pony else at the table. I simply made sure that I didn’t let my magic slip, as I watched the parasite move forward greeting the solar monarch.

“Princess Celestia I am so sorry for being late, but I didn’t get lost this time. Sunset helped me get here… if not on time.” The parasite seemingly didn’t understand that I had already been dismissed. That it was pointlessly wasting its breath on me. It would soon realize that, like all the others. However, for some reason, Princess Celestia looked up at us. I could see her eyes sharpen as her eyes traced from the parasite to my own. I met the Princess's gaze and gave nothing away. We had played this game for years and I wasn't about to start losing it so easily.

“Ah, Sunset my apologies I didn’t believe you would accept this little invitation of mine.” The Princess of the sun stated. I felt the all too familiar warmth of her power, as she willed it forward. The sun was born once more for but a moment. Now at the table that once seated two. There was now a third chair sitting at the table. “I am glad that you did decide to join us, however. It has been some time since we last had a tea party.” Princess Celestial said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

‘I didn’t realize that I was supposed to say no to the parasite’s proposal. My sincerest of apologies Princess Celestia’ I snarled in my head while in reality, I responded in a polite and even tone.

“It has been some time indeed.” Princess Celestia nodded once at me before turning to face the parasite.

“Cadance, what I have told you about calling me Princess in private.” Princess Celestia questioned the parasite with a small smile that flickered into existence, only after she was done with me did she smile.

“Right. Auntie.” The parasite would never realize how lucky she was. Perhaps one day her luck would run out, or more likely my temper would slip from under my reign. One did not exclude the other. Just like our initial meeting, the parasites and mine ending would be one for the ages. I almost smiled at the thought.

“That aside, Cadance, Sunset, please sit. I do hope you don’t mind but this particular blend is one of my favorites” Princess Celestia said as she levitated three teacups each with a bag of tea within. I could easily guess that this particular tea based on the monarch's past preferences and the size of the bags was either a rare cactus blend from the San Palomino Desert, or a licorice blend that she would claim to be from a rather old collection that was gifted to her from a visiting griffon nobleman some odd centuries ago.

The teacups were set down in front of us each with not a singular clink. Even now I am impressed with how much I still have to learn. The more power a pony has the harder they have with fine-tuned control and not many ponies can control the sun. Truly I would still be the pupil even when I began to wither away. Always something more I could improve upon. Some things never change.

Watching the parasite’s amazed face, boiling water appeared within each of the cups. I could only compare the parasite for all its manipulativeness, as a newborn filly witnessing its first feet of magic. I knew that this was not the first time that the parasite had witnessed magic. I knew that first hoof that the parasite had experienced much grander mystical might but a week ago. What was the utter fascination from then? Was there something that I was missing? Had I once more failed a veiled test?

“If the two of you wouldn't mind talking while we wait for the water to be infused?” Celestia asked more for the parasite's favor than mine. While I could easily imbibe the water even at its current temperature, it had been some time since I had last had tea. Much less with Princess Celestia. Upon seeing that neither the parasite nor myself had spoken up the monarch continued “I will admit that I have ulterior motives for calling you both here. I would prefer the two ponies closest to me would become close themselves.”

Huh, perhaps I was still asleep. My eyes switched from Princess Celestia towards the parasite. Nope, not a shade of a pony. I was fortunately awake. I wonder why she decided to inform us of her ulterior motives rather than just hiding them in her kind words. Perhaps the parasite couldn’t catch such subtleties? No, the parasite was a manipulator of the great accord. So it was targeted at me.

Alright then. That wasn’t exactly unexpected. Much blunter than what I was expecting. Nonetheless, I had received a task from Princess Celestia. All I had to do was get “close” to the parasite. I could only wish that C-. Princess Celestia willing that she meant in terms of physicality rather than emoi-... She wanted us to become friends. I wanted to smash my head into the pristine cup on the table in front of me. This wasn't a new test. This was another chance for me to fail at an old one.

“I know the two of you didn’t have the greatest of starts. I do believe that two ponies as special as you two are would be able to put that behind them.” Princess Celestia said with a smile that could have replaced the sun. If only that smile was for me. “I had initially thought that perhaps Sunset could help you with your magical abilities. As there is no one I would trust with your mystical development more than myself than the Sunset. There is no sorcerer finer in power nor control than Sunset.”

OK. Not exactly as bad as I was expecting. This was a different test than the dreaded friendship one. Ignoring the slight against my magical ability would be relatively easy. Tutoring the parasite with the boons of Alicornhood grants access to all forms of magic. I would be unable to teach her the innate magic of the two other pony races. No, I wouldn't give up that easily. Tonight I would be raiding the library to find as much knowledge on their innate magic. Depending on when the first lessons would be I could begin first with the magic of Unicorns. The basics alone should take a few months even for an Alicorn. That should allow me to shore up my deficiencies and make a full lesson plan.

“Are you sure you couldn’t teach me auntie?” said the parasite. I felt my stomach churn. I knew that in comparison to Princess Celestia I was but dirt, but truly? Even in my hubris, I suffered through my tutors before I was allowed to personally study under the solar monarch. The parasite was an Alicorn however, that did give her much more sway than any sort of Unicorn, especially against myself. Pushing the increasing temperature internally I looked to the positives. The major one would be that I wouldn't have to deal with the parasite. That thought alone nearly cooled the flame entirely.

“I am sorry my little pony, but between running Equestria and dealing with the noon court, I am pulled more ways than in previous times.” Lied the solar goddess to her fellow immortal. Not that the parasite seemed to notice as it accepted the excuse at face value. I could feel my lips turning as she failed her first test. “I have complete faith in Sunset’s skills to teach you everything you would need to know. In some fields, she is even beyond me.”

What in Tartarus did that even mean? The only comfort that I took from that exchange was the fact that the parasite looked as how I felt. Taking a glance over my teacup and noted that the heat of the water had decreased to a normal ponies consumption level. The gentle taste of licorice did nothing to wash out the metal that had tainted my mouth. Even with it washing the blood from my bit tongue.

Author's Note

Sunset is probably my favorite character. I have always loved the tale of the great fall from grace. After all the greater the glory the farther the fall. The prized pupil of the goddess of the sun turned power-hungry demon? Well, that's a tale that has already been told.
-LittleFaerieFire

2. Silent Storms

Silent Storms

Sunset Shimmer

Luckily enough for me, the tea party didn’t last for much longer than that. The rest of it did contain idle chatters that were infrequently directed at me. I was prepared either way.

“Yes, I have been doing fine. Thank you for your concern, Princess Celestia. While I appreciate your concern I am capable of taking care of myself.” I responded while wondering how once more the supposed fragility of my health came up on the talking list. I had been ensuring my proper health for years at this point. I was no longer the filly that needed Princess Celestia’s constant watch. She knew this so why would the celestial goddess ask? Perhaps the parasite had a frail constitution despite being an Alicorn.

No that would be unlikely, everything that I have so far read that Alicorns receive a rather large boost to their constitution. Then why would she ask the parasite? Princess Celestia does nothing for no reason. Then why would Princess Celestia keep questioning the parasite's health? There had to be something I was missing. Alright. What had I missed?

Princess Celestia had made small talk after the rather blunt beginnings of this tea party. Even reading between the lines there was little of real note. There would be an envoy from the griffons in two weeks. Cadance was expected to sit in on it to gain experience for the future. Perhaps she was being trained to be an envoy? It didn’t matter in the short term and I wouldn't be around in the long term. Even if Cadance truly did have a frail constitution I knew that Celestia and her ponies would be able to cure any sort of ailments for the newest Alicorn.

Ah, it looked like this all too annoying tea party was concluding. Good. I could return to my work on the damnable array. Even if Princess Celestia was too busy at the moment it wouldn't complete itself. And given my progress on it, I estimated another three days of concentrated effort. Afterward, I would be free to continue my studies. I would need to acquire some materials to begin once more with the practical portions of my work. Ah, I can't forget my responsibilities with the parasite as well. Issues for later. I concluded as Princess Celestia straightened and began to speak.

“Thank you both for indulging me in my little tea party. I would hope that we could have another soon.” The celestial monarch exclaimed as the tea cups dissipated into motes of light. Looks like she is going to be checking into the progress the parasite will be making. On one hoof this would be an opportunity to prove that even without being able to make friends I can still work with any pony. I soon lost my train of thought as Princess Celestia continued “Cadance if you wouldn't mind, I do need to speak with Sunset alone. You two can meet later to discuss the finer details of your sessions.”

I could immediately think of 13 different ways to escape this room without causing any potential damage to Princess Celestia. I wouldn't cause any lasting harm to her even at my worst. I would start by teleporting to my room grabbing my prearranged bag and then fleeing the castle. Using any of eight different routes or my magic. Then grabbing the stash of bits I had in Canterlot all the while charming different ponies to look like myself. In the ensuing chaos, I should be able to escape the city before beginning my trek into the wilderness to a hidden cave that had been prepared years ago. From there I could assess what needed to be done. However, if she was determined to imprison me I wouldn't go down without a fight.

Not letting any of my thoughts show to the two Alicorns I ensured that my face remained passive, for all my skills at reading ponies, I knew that Princess Celestia had written the rules of this game. I simply at best was a skilled player. The parasite nodded its head, its multicolored mane bobbing with it before the parasite left. Taking with it all pretenses of civility as Princess Celestia shifted her entire attention towards me.

‘Let the next bout begin Princess Celestia’ I mentally whispered as her gaze caught mine. I then spoke, “What can I do for you, Princess Celestia.” Come now, if you had any proof you wouldn't have invited me in for tea. I would have been long ago dragged in chains to your throne. You have nothing but your suspicions. and we both know that you won't imprison me for those alone. I have played my part as best I could.

Princess Celestia didn’t frown but her ever-present smile dropped an inch. Had I not lived with her for my entire life I would have been unable to see the difference. The first point is mine. I had given the initiative to her, but to do otherwise would have tipped her off that something was different. I may not have made the game, but after living with the master for all these years I had certainly picked up her tricks.

“Sunset I can understand your desire to seem unfettered by what happened, but it isn’t healthy to bottle it up like you are doing. I have given you a week and you are either unable or unwilling to help yourself. Let me help you.” The largest hypocrite in Equestria spoke as if she could still help me. That she was on my side. I almost smiled at the thought. However past experiences had proven that showing anything other than a calm indifference would end in my loss. Seeing that I wasn't planning to respond, the solar goddess sighed before continuing. “If you won’t take my help I would suggest talking to Cadance about it. She may be able to help even more than I could.”

Yes, let the parasite sink her teeth into me. That sounds like a glorious plan, oh dear leader of Equestria. I would sooner go into Tartarus voluntarily. That parasite has nothing to offer to me and I refuse for it to take any more than it already has.

“I will consider what you have said, Princess Celestia.” I calmly respond, watching as her smile once more falters. Princess Celestia doesn’t respond instead. She just stares at me while I pretend not to notice. Instead, while I am ignoring her I re-heat the remnants of tea in my cup before bringing it to my lips.

“Sunset I don’t know why you accepted teaching Cadance so easily. I was prepared for a multitude of outcomes to this question. Most of them didn’t even have you at this tea party. None of them however had you accepting this arrangement without something in return.” Princess Celestia states breaking the silence. “I know we have had our differences in the past, but I would like you to give Cadance a chance. You need-”

“Let me guess a friend? My most sincere apologies Princess Celestia but we have had differing opinions on what I have needed for some time.” I cut her off my tone dropping. The air in the room slowly became heated. This was her point. Tirek damns it. I was so close to winning. “If you will excuse me, Princess Celestia I have an array to get back to,” I say, winding up the cooling charm, before letting it activate as I trot towards the door.

“Sunset,” my teacher whispers in a soft voice that almost convinced me to turn around. I put one hoof in front of the other before opening the door, stepping through, and slamming it behind me. Foalish I realized after the fact, but it was better than burning through the door in my rage. Taking a second to take a breath that I hadn't realized that I was missing. Then with not a second glance towards the door, I teleported away.

Re-appearing in my room once more I contemplated just calling it a day already. There wasn't much more that could go wrong at this point. Might as well get a jump start on tomorrow. Only one thought prevented me from doing so. I would miss the sunset, something I hadn't done in years. Just like its counterpart, it provided me with something that I could still say was perfect. Even through all the misery and failures. Celestia still raised and brought down the sun.

Taking a long look at my bed, I trotted towards my desk putting aside such thoughts, and pulled out my current book once more. Ripping my bookmark out from the book, I dove into eagerly losing myself within its blackened pages. The words rippled across the page as were they, black snakes struggling against their brethren.

I once more was immersed in the inner workings of the madman and his attempt to bring his enemies down with magic most foul. After the failure of his newest creation, he turned his efforts to rework one of his older works. Standard had begun work to amplify his curse of confusion. From what he had recorded the curse was a rather tame one often only disorientating those impacted by its effect. From what I was currently reading, he was attempting to overcharge the current effect in an attempt to instead of confusing, cause madness. Such that those cursed would be forever lost within the terrors of their minds.

As I studied the process of what he had written, I could only compare the process to working on more complicated arrays. Could that be what curses are? A simple application of will, power, and understanding? Focused towards causing harm? That was almost disappointing. I had hoped for more. Something that would prove that they deserved to be burned, and hidden away from the average pony. Instead, I got this.

Sighing I continued reading, hopefully, Standard Baird would have something worth more than what he had so far written about. If this was to be the entirety of his understanding of curses I would need to find some way else to learn about them. The madness curse depending on its applications could be useful if it was a temporary ailment. Were it to be permanent it would remain unused. Sequestered within my head along with it, countless others.

Only when the rays of golden light started to peter out hours later did I return to the world of Equestria once more. Swiftly stashing away “Deliverance of Doom” in its resting place, I made it towards my window. Where I watched the sun, once more be swallowed by the darkness it once held at bay. My nightly ritual complete I turned towards my cot, and the tortures that it would soon provide. I covered myself once more with a quilt and cover as I waited for the nightly ritual once more to commence.

Upon entering the dreaming world once more I awaited the arrival of my tormentors. I could see for one singular moment the sun. Blazing in its ethereal glory keeping the darkness away for but one moment more. How I wished that it would stay its course. Yet as had been done since the beginning, soon the sun flickered out. The shadows grew before swallowing all. When I regained my vision I saw before me a burned cottage. The scorched door closed. Keeping the demons within contained.

Hearing the crunching of snow, I looked down and saw my hooves moving. I knew pleading wouldn't work. Much like in the waking world they fell upon deaf ears. Here however I couldn’t see my tormentor. I held my head high waiting for the door to open. Feeling the chill intensified as white sprites began to dance before me. Instinctively I burned. My flames lashed out, seeking to scour the ones who would once more make me helpless. Yet for all the fuel I provided, my flames quickly sputtered out. Doused by both cold and snow.

I could see the shadows dancing in the snow. Fleeting between the flakes. Whenever I attempted to focus my gaze on one, it would slip away, replaced by another in the corner of my vision. Spinning together various spells that would provide light was attempted time and time again. Each time my magic first faltered, then shattered. I could faintly hear the wind howling as the deluge of snow increased its pace. Daggers of frost stabbed into me from all angles. My shields snapped ineffectively, after being pierced.

It took but a moment for the shades to change to the new tune. Their spectral claws sharpened, as they advanced upon me with cruel intent. Waiting to once more rend my flesh from my form. Before stitching me back together. Blasting the shades with torrents of magic proved useless. As they reformed a moment later.

One of the shades stepped forth from the horde. Its form is made of harsh angles. I saw the gap where a ponies mouth would be split open, revealing a maw filled with angled fangs.

“I see that you have failed once more, my student.” A screaming mockery of Celestia tore through the air. I felt my muzzle wet as my vision was no longer filled with ice, but water. “Was this task too much for you Sunset? Is this one thing you can’t learn?” The screeching mimicry continued as the horde followed in tune. Each takes the voice of another pony. From those, I had only heard once, to those that I conversed with infrequently. All joined this howling chorus. Advancing toward the object of their torment. Me.

I glared at the horde of shadows before me. I would not fall alone. Seeking to take them with me my magic boiled, before flooding out. Flames licking at the horde before me.

“I am sorry Celestia,” I whispered as my final words. Before my vision was crowded once more with emerald flames.

I blinked my eyes rapidly, flushing the tears from them. Taking in the sight before me with manic glee. The sun was rising once more. Quickly smothering the firestorm that was accompanying me. Throwing myself off my bed struggling towards my window. I untangled myself from my prison of silk after feeling the warmth suffuse me. Watching through the window as the sun continued its journey chasing away the shadows.

I smiled, embraced by the sun’s warmth. Letting my hooves slow their twitching, as I took deep breaths. I felt two warm wings wrap around me, protecting me from the horrors both real and imagined. I embraced them. Shattering the illusion as the warmth faded, along with it my smile dissipated.

Immediately I stood up, threw my blanket back onto my bed, and marched out of my room. Ignoring the lingering cold as I stepped into the darkened hallways. Hooves mechanically click against the polished stone floor. Reaching the library I went immediately toward the sections about various magics. Trotting the same trail I had for the last few years of my life I began to search for what I was looking for.

First pulling the “Faithful Battle Tome” , a collection of earth pony techniques and training. I had initially ignored this book as I was a Unicorn. Only skimming over it to ensure that there were no particular tricks that I would have to deal with from an overzealous earth pony. The various authors over a few centuries had added all sorts of ways to further improve an earth ponies' strength and constitution. It also came with a multitude of lessons already made which would hopefully prove useful.

I spent another few hours looking for a similar-styled book on Pegasus. Unfortunately, my memories had served me well as I couldn’t recall ever coming across one such tome in my youth. Princess Celestia knows that I have overlooked important details before so it was still prudent that I checked. It was only after the librarians began to make their way into their domain once more that I fled back to my room. Clutching the one tome that I had managed to acquire to my side. I would need to expand my search to find an appropriate way to further teach the parasite. Perhaps it knew of some knowledge that would point me in the correct direction. Unlikely, but still a possibility that I would dutifully check.

It would not do well to fail a test that I knew I could pass. Teaching a young colt or filly? Easy. Teaching a manipulative parasite that managed to ascend? Harder, but still within the realms of my skills. I had never taught before but I knew that it couldn’t be too difficult. After all, I knew that a third of the material already, was going to learn up on another third, and that final third I would soon figure out a plan to deal with. I would not fail. This was not a test designed for me to fail. It was in those thoughts that I saw my door and the parasite that was laying on the ground in front of it.

Immediately I stilled. How did it know where my room was? No, the more important question is, why was it here? It was in front of my door asleep judging by the soft neighing coming from its still form. This had to be a trap or some form of trick. I would not fall for it, I first needed to figure out what the parasites plan was. Immediately I spun an illusion over myself before I began to run through every single spell that allowed me to collect information. From disillusionment spells to medical spells, I was not leaving anything to chance, and by the end of my rather long list of spells, I came to two conclusions. The first was that the parasite was in good health with what appeared to be nothing hidden on her body. The second was that she was still asleep in front of my door for a reason that still eluded me.

I paused once more at this point contemplating turning around and heading back toward the library. After all, it was unlikely I would have been able to search every book to look for ways to teach a Pegasus their innate magic. I could also get back to work on the arcane array, as I hadn’t made any progress after the disaster of a tea party yesterday. I would have to get into my room to grab my saddle bag, however. Stepping back from the silent form of the… Wait it had stopped neighing in its sleep. Backing up further from the parasite's form I focused on a simple spell to check if the target was asleep or not.

I watched as my spell impacted the parasite's form as it kept still. Yet it couldn’t fool me, my spell had reported as I had feared. The parasite was only pretending to be asleep still. I forced the scowl from my face as I disillusioned myself.

“I know you are awake,” I called out, keeping my voice steady. Watching as the pink form of the parasite flinched. Before it tilted its head towards me, its eyes blinked as it yawned.

“You know I never have had the pleasure to wake up from what can only be considered a rather in-depth medical scan. I mean even the medical ponies Princess Celestia took me to weren’t nearly as invasive as you. I could maybe recognize one out of four spells you used on me.” The parasite said with a bright smile, its mane bobbing all the while. Its pink orbs glittered at me with an unknown emotion. “So what is the verdict doctor? Will I survive?” Continued the parasite with an odd tilt to its voice.

What? Is the parasite dying? Does Celestia know? This has to be confirmation that the newest Alicorn truly has a frail constitution. But all my scans showed nothing. Reviewing everything that I got from my spells I saw nothing that would kill the pony in front of me. She was as hearty as… well as an Alicorn. Was there something that my scans didn’t pick up? They should be able to detect most things even were the ailments clouded by magics. Perhaps she was afflicted by a...

“Sunset?” The parasite said, shattering my train of thought. “That was a joke.” I stared at the foulest of all parasites, as I ran through the last four words the creature had spoken before. Oh, it was just a joke. I laughed and the parasite flinched back.

“A very funny joke indeed,” I replied with obvious steel in my voice. I watched as the parasite winced. Breaking its gaze from mine the parasite continued to get up as it glanced toward me and then to my door. “Not that I don’t enjoy a good joke but is there anything you need?” I asked, keeping an eye on the temperature around me.

“Well, I didn’t see you yesterday after the tea party so I was wondering if you wanted to have breakfast together? You know since you are going to be teaching me magic…” The parasite trailed off. I didn’t blink as I continued to stare at the parasite. Before I responded.

“I have already eaten” I lied as easily as the parasite in front of me did “If you are worried about your future curriculum don't. I assure you that it will be done within the next few days at the latest.” I said with finality in my voice. Willing the parasite to leave me to my designs until I was forced to deal with it.

“Don’t you need to know what I have already learned?” asked the parasite as it tilted its head once more, causing its mane to once more bounce wildly. I could imagine that the parasite had it charmed to do so on command. Stray thoughts aside, the parasite brought up an unfortunate point. It would make my life easier to have a starting point for the parasite. Without one I could go over topics it had already mastered, causing the two of us to spend more time than needed together.

“That would be helpful towards your future lesson plans.” I conceded to the parasite before I struck “Why don’t you grab something to eat then meet me at the training room.” It was unlikely that the parasite knew where it was, and going by the rate of travel from yesterday I would have a few hours alone before it showed up.

“Sure.” the parasite chirped flashing a smile before heading in the wrong direction if it was heading towards the kitchens. Perhaps I wouldn't have to deal with the parasite at all today if its sense of direction was this bad. Shaking my head to rid myself of the parasite’s foolishness. I entered my room. Upon seeing the mess I had left this morning I tidied up before grabbing my satchel bag and leaving for the training room. Ignoring the growing void in my stomach as I trotted. I didn’t eat anything last night or this morning. I would survive until tonight, I had gone longer without food in the past.

Upon reaching my destination I glanced at the doors that once held all manner of memories of a dutiful student and her celestial teacher. Now only holding regrets. I lost myself in the pleasant memories for but a moment. Steeling my resolve and entering the training room. I with but a thought activated the lock on the door. Even if the parasite was to somehow show up it couldn't enter this room uninvited.

Covered with all manner of runes, Princess Celestia herself had a hoof in the protection of this room. Even three years ago I could barely singe the walls. Now I wondered if I would be able to shatter something as powerful as this. Deciding to think about the topic later I pulled my most recent acquisition from the library and proceeded to get lost within its pages. Upon hearing the tearing of metal I glanced toward the entrance.

Then watching in horror as the doors slam open and then fly off their hinges into the walls. My jaw dropped as I saw the parasite holding two bundles in its mouth. Eyes the size of saucers as it gazed at the doors that it had embedded into the walls. Perhaps Standard Baird was onto something when he stated “When one seeks to upset the current balance, the balance seeks to upset.” I initially thought of the words as more of his mad ramblings, but now I was rather unsure.

“Sunset I’m sorry but the door wouldn't open. I thought it was stuck. So I pushed it a little. Please don’t tell the Princess.” the parasite pleaded as the bundles dropped from its mouth. I could only stare at the chaos that it had caused in a matter of seconds.

“I believe you are a Princess?” I questioned as I tried to register what just happened. No correction I knew what happened. I was hoping that the world started to make sense once more.

“I mean technically I haven't had my coronation yet?” The parasite paused its freak out to consider, before resuming “Oh horse apples I dropped the food.” I was now watching the parasite using its wings to lift the two bundles and failing to do so, as it was still staring at the damage it had caused to the castle.

So many things to question the parasite on. So many things didn’t make sense. So I started with one of the easier things to ask about the pony-sized calamity.

“I believe I recommended that you eat before you came here?” I intoned hoping that my voice showed none of my bewilderment. Fake it until you make it Sunset. The parasite grinned at me as it finally caught the smaller bundle and then proceeded to whip it at me. I caught it of course, as my magic slowed its descent until it floated between us. “And that was for?” Hoping for answers that didn’t make my head want to split open.

“Well, I went to the kitchens to get some food and got talking to Ramse about my plans with you, and guess what he mentioned that you hadn't been picking up your meals. That he hadn't seen you since yesterday morning. So being the kind, not quite a Princess pony that I am. I offered to bring you your food.” The parasite recounted with manic energy as a triumphant hoof was stamped forwards.

“I see.” That answered none of the questions I wanted. I wanted to grab the parasite and wring it until it started to spout the answers I wanted. How did it find this room so quickly? How did it break through the lock? How in the darkness of Tartarus did it manage to break the protections on this room that Princess Celestia had made?

Upon seeing that I had no intention to continue the parasite shrugged before sitting down, and proceeding to open its bundle. A set of sandwiches that had been cut in half.

“You know it's common courtesy to say thank you?” Said the parasite with that tilt to its voice once more.

“Thank you?” I said once more trying to piece together the plans that the creature in front of me had. Realizing that I was even more lost than I had initially thought.

“Your welcome Sunset.” The parasite nodded hopefully oblivious to my inner turmoils. Beginning to eat the prepared food it had brought all the while ignoring the devastation it had caused. My stomach growled once more and I contemplated my current situation. Deciding to unwrap my parcel, revealing my usual salad. Glancing at the parasite who seemed to be entirely enthused with decimating its platter of food. I ran a quick diagnostics spell on the salad after the spell reported that it was all clear I began to eat myself. However, unlike the parasite in front of me, I used my magic to support my utensils instead of using a combination of hooves and wings.

I considered staying silent but the opportunity would be wasted otherwise.

“Why don’t you try to levitate the sandwiches while you eat them? This would be a good start to gauge your use of non-innate magics.” It would also allow me to see far the parasite's control had come along. The parasite’s face puckered before relaxing. I then watched the sandwich half that it had picked up with its hooves be put back down. Then the sandwich half started to wobble as it floated off the plate. It took a good half a minute but the parasite managed to levitate it if not shakily to its mouth. The parasite proceeded to shoot me a large grin and took a hefty bite out of the floating food.

“How did I do?” The parasite said in between bites of the sandwich. Acting as if it was a small creature that had successfully performed a trick, and was now waiting for a treat. Unfortunately for the parasite, my natural reaction to small creatures is to set them aflame.

“You will need to work on your finer control but otherwise I am pleased to see we get to skip the step of you learning not to crush everything you levitate,” I say while picking up a piece of wall, moving it between the two of us, and then proceed to pulverize it. The parasite gulped down a piece of its food wrong and began to hack. I watched with feigned interest as it tried and failed to give itself the Heimlich. It was only when the pink started to turn red that I assisted with a good place magical shove to the parasite's chest, did the chunk of food get spat back up.

Watching the parasite begin to cough I summoned some water before offering it to the still-coughing creature. “Eighth day in the castle and this would be the second time you have nearly died?” I muttered under my breath. The parasite finished its sip shooting me, one of its looks I haven't categorized yet.

Author's Note

Poor Sunset those dreams don't sound to pleasant. I do somewhat recall dreams being visions of the future however. Hopefully that isn't true for this little pony. Cadance is adorable as always, even as she bursts through like a wrecking ball. Causing chaos left and right, all the while confusing Sunset.
-LittleFaerieFire

3. Mystagogical Mishaps

Mystagogical Mishaps

Sunset Shimmer

The parasite and I settled into an uneasy silence. With it shooting glances toward me and I pretend not to catch them. Allowing your opponent to believe they are gaining the upper hoof would allow you to in the future buck them down ever further. While pretending that the gazes went unnoticed, I instead focused on the food that it had brought for me. We ate in silence ignoring each other and ignoring the reasons why we should never have ended up in this situation.

After I finished my salad I pulled once more out the tome I had acquired this morning, reviewing some of the points I had wanted to start with. I managed to get the majority of them done before the parasite's patience wore thin enough to break the silence.

“What do you have there?” I slipped my eyes from the ancient tome towards the Alicorn that was in the room. Once more it seems that the parasite accompanied its questions with a tilt of its head. Its mane dropped over and nearly hit the floor. I paused considering my answer.

“While I am a master in almost every field known to Unicorn magic I am far less knowledgeable about the innate magics of the two other pony races. I have seen to correct this short-sightedness. As I made mentioned earlier today this will not impact your lessons.” I said as I closed the tome.

“That didn’t answer my question.” The parasite, if I am recognizing this tone correctly, teasingly stated. Why would the parasite attempt to tease me? There is no pony else in this room. Could this be a show of dominance? In my confusion, I responded without thinking.

“Ah, this, in particular, is the ‘Faithful Battle Tome’. It has had numerous earth ponies of renown that have added their techniques and training. I believed that this would be appropriate to use in conjecture with my knowledge of Unicorn mysticism.” The parasite nodded along with what I said. In agreement? Perhaps it knew of a better way to learn about innate earth pony magics, as this tome so far had made no mention of ‘Strange’ magic. Unlikely an outcome like that would be, however it would be one of the more useful ones.

I continued to watch the pink Alicorn before me, in particular its face, as several expressions ran through it. It would behoove it to keep tighter control over its emotions as it would provide an avenue of easy attack for its enemies within Canterlot to strike at it. Wait. That didn’t make sense. Why was I concerned about the parasite’s future? Especially when it had confirmed the end of my own. It didn’t matter I wouldn’t mess up in the future, I had to teach the parasite magic and that was the extent of our relationship.

While I was dealing with my internal difficulties the parasite managed to deal with whatever was giving it pause. As it opened its mouth and said one of the last things I had expected to hear.

“Thank you Sunset.” the parasite said with a small smile. I felt a warmth ripple through my body in a way that I had not experienced for years as I stared at the being in front of me. I knew not what foul magics it had managed to entrap me with but for a singular moment, I thought that it was genuine. The thanks that it gave me were easy to explain, my teaching it magic would allow it to defend itself in the future. The smile I was less able to explain. Setting the matter aside for now as I had magic to teach. The warmth I would enjoy for as long as I could. No matter where I had received it.

Taking a singular moment more to wrap myself in the warmth that had suffused my being. Before I nodded toward the Alicorn and asked.

“Is there anything else or are we able to get started?” Receiving a negatory shaking of its head. I began my career as a teacher. Parasite or not it was an Alicorn, I could only imagine the stories that would possibly be told of such an occurrence. The Alicorn and the Unicorn that tale had indeed already been told. Now the positions had been reversed. I smiled at the thought.

“All right to begin with, why don’t we start by getting a baseline before we move into the various schools of Unicorn magic,” I say while conjuring various weights, ranging from a singular pound to 100 pounds. “I can already tell that your telekinetic fine control is at an acceptable level, we will have to figure out later if that will prevent you from using your telekinesis to shatter.” upon seeing the confused face of the Alicorn in front of me I continued. “Often Unicorns can't bring themselves to bring harm to any pony so they stop themselves from using their full power. It is something that the guards need to be taught otherwise.”

“Why would I want to shatter any pony?” she questioned with a terrified look in her eyes. “If I do to them what you did to that chunk of rock…” She trailed off not wanting to finish the statement. I shrugged before answering.

“I am not saying that you would want to, or even need to. What I am going to try to figure out is if you are unconsciously holding back to not hurt any pony. If that is the case when you need to harm some pony you would be severely hampered.”

“Why in Celestia’s name would I want to harm any pony?” She cried out, her pink coat paling. I couldn’t help but tilt my head. Did she not know what becoming an Alicorn involved? That for all of Princess Celestia’s toting of peace and friendship, the ruler of Equestria was often on the forefront of whatever dangers threatened her ponies? Of course, as her faithful student, I had accompanied her in those dangerous events. Helping in any way that I could. More than often providing torrent after torrent of flames.

“You being an Alicorn that alone puts you at the top of the totem pole in regards to raw power. Ponies will expect you to use that power to protect them from all the enemies of Equestria. Princess Celestia has been at the forefront of any danger that would threaten her realm. Being the aegis to all her subjects.” I paused, collecting my thoughts before continuing, “In truth, I don’t see why you would need anything other than personal protection if you weren’t planning to defend Equestria.” Nice way to say that Sunset.

Watching both the ears and face of my companion fall as I finished my previous statement. I could have worded that better but it would be something that the common pony would expect from the newest Alicorn. It would be best that she would be defining what her responsibilities were with Cel-. Princess Celestia.

“That sounded worse than I meant, what I meant to say is that since Princess Celestia took her throne nearly a thousand years ago she has always been the stalwart protector of her ponies. If you don’t want to protect anyone but yourself, that is up to you.” I say shrugging. It truly was, as if she wanted to flee the castle to a dark cave to further hone her powers away from the watchful eye of the solar goddess. That was no pony's concern but her own. “Look I don’t know what you have planned for your future but I would recommend talking to Princess Celestia about it. She is not known for forcing ponies to do something they don’t want to.” Unless you were her faithful student, then you would be constantly forced to act only in the ways that the celestial monarch wanted.

The pink Alicorn didn’t completely perk up, but she did look better than before. She shook herself, which caused her mane to bounce freely once more, as she stood up. “Alright talk about the future aside. Why don’t you try to lift these weights.” I said while gesturing with a hoof towards the previously summoned weights. I then proceeded to watch the Alicorn easily the one-pound weight before setting it down and lifting the rest in short order. “Did you feel anything off at the base of your horn while you were lifting the weights?”

The pink Alicorn shrugged before responding.

“Not really should I have?”

“I was expecting you to start feeling something, as most beginners will psychometrically link the weight of the object they are attempting to lift.” Seeing the confounded look on the pony in front of me I used a less scientific response. “Maybe, but it is good that you didn’t as I would have had to break that habit of yours before you attempted to lift anything heavy. Less experienced Unicorns, or Alicorns in your case, often have a bad habit of “feeling” the weight of the object through their magic. Even though they should be physically unable to in most scenarios.” I concluded as I summoned the weights towards me.

That is at least one bad habit I wouldn't have to break the Alicorn out of. “Moving onto more than just using basic telekinesis. Have you managed to do anything else with your magic?” I asked as the weights glowed red and quickly melted. The Alicorn's eyes widened as the pink iris swirled in what I could only describe as fascination. Without acknowledging the watching pony before me I whirled the molten metal together into a singular burning orb, before banishing it with a second thought.

“Not much in truth. I have tried to follow in your and Princess Celestia's hoof steps and tried to light something ablaze.” At this point, the pink Alicorn begins to blush as she doesn’t continue, instead looking away from me.

“And?” This could give me an insight into how she can deal with one of the more basic yet still volatile elements of magic. Fire doesn’t want to be corralled; it wishes to grow and consume all before it. It is the great teacher to many Unicorns that their magic may be great, yet if they strive for too much they will be burned. I however learned my lesson and am now fireproof.

“… Well I nearly burned down my room.” I stared at the newly ascended Alicorn. The Alicorn in question blush had proceeded to cover the entirety of her muzzle. She had yet to look at me during her confession.

“If it makes you feel any better Princess Celestia has plenty of experience with ponies burning down her castle’s rooms.” I offer as a peace offering to the embarrassed newborn goddess. In my time in the castle I burned down many different rooms. Not even considering the number of times that I had torched my room. Much like my temper, my flames raged hotly. “What did playing with flames tell you?” I asked to see if I would need to explain the lesson.

“Always have a fire extinguisher nearby?”

“While a good idea when practicing magics, no. This is a prime example of not giving your magic appropriate respect. You even more so than many ponies are capable of grand and amazing acts with the power you have at your hoof tips. However just like the potential for greatness the further you push the harder the impact of the fall. Burning yourself would simply be the first occurrence of that.”

“Oh like freezing yourself in a block of ice?” The pony in front of me asks as she turns to face me with a questioning tilt of her head. I decided to ignore that question for both its sake and my own. Catching my frown the parasite continues “So if I am understanding you correctly the more powerful the act I am performing the harsher the consequences if I fail.”

“What you just said is far more true than you will ever know.” The creature in front of me with both wings and horn would likely never realize that with those advantages it would soon leave us mortal ponies far behind. That we were forced to dive into forgotten depths to level the playing field. No matter how dark and deep the hole we searched for forbidden knowledge that threatened to destroy its wielder. That it was never enough to stand equal to those few ponies who ascended to an entirely different game entirely.

When put that way the answer is obvious. The answer to many of my problems would be answered with ascension into an Alicorn. From what I had picked up from my initial introductions with the parasite she started as a pegasus. Here in front of me is a prime test subject, it would be all too easy for me to rip the secrets from its flesh.

One could only hope that Princess Celestia would soon decide that the parasite would be more useful as a laboratory subject than as a subject. One could certainly hope yet based on the past infrequency of my hopes coming true it was best to shelve that for an impossibility. That meant instead of tearing the parasite apart piece by piece, I would need to needle the information out of it. I had a few mind-walking spells that wouldn't tear the victim's mind apart. However, based on my knowledge they would certainly give plenty of mental trauma.

Hmm. Would likely be best to leave that until Princess Celestia decided that I was finally too far gone. I would have to make sure I could find the parasite as I retreated from the castle. An added difficulty but not impossible. All I would need to do was tag the parasite with a hybridized marking and tracking spell. I would need to stick the parasite with one at the next available opportunity. No. Princess Celestia would surely notice as I doubted I could slip a spell of that design under her ever-watchful eye.

I would have to do it after the Princess makes up her mind but before she attempts to toss me into Tartarus’s depths. I would add it properly into my plans later tonight. That aside, ascension. I knew in the past many ponies had attempted it but they often failed for several reasons. Just like playing with flames, they were burned, however in this case they were playing with enough power to blast the Badlands into what it is today. That means there had to be more than just plentiful power, otherwise, King Sombra of the Crystal Empire would have become an Alicorn. Yet he faded with his kingdom as a Unicorn.

What could they be missing? A particular ritual? An item that Celestia has kept under her wing? I know that she keeps all matters of relics in her holds, separated from the treasury proper. When I had last questioned her about it she referred to them being too dangerous to simply be kept in the royal vaults. If there was a relic in one of her stashes that could transform a pony into a fellow god, and she was just as smart as I knew her to be. For if I were in her position I wouldn't want any jumped-up orphan to be able to turn themselves as powerful as an Alicorn.

It looks like an exploration around the castle for some of Celestia’s hidden relic stashes would be planned. Depending on the sophistication of the defenses I estimated about two weeks of thorough searching to find the relic holds. Then I would have to test and examine each relic I came across. That would prove to be a little dangerous, however-. My line of thought is knocked from my skull as I feel a soft touch on the tip of my muzzle.

Snapping back into reality my vision is half covered by pink feathers, yet I can still clearly see the tip of a wing wiggling a feather at the tip of my muzzle. I am half tempted to bite the offending appendage and hear the owner of the wing scream. I however am halted by the sly grin of the pink Alicorn before me. She removes the feathered appendage before the grin grows. I watch still as she begins to trot so that she is positioned right before me.

There is now less than an inch between our two muzzles. I can see every fine detail of the Alicorn in front of me, from the curve of her eyelashes to the way her mane cups her face, and the way her eyes sparkle. I can only watch with bated breath, as she begins to speak.

“Ah, finally back, are you Sunset? As a future ruler of Equestria, I should let you know that it is considered rather rude to ignore any pony. Nothing to say if you were to ignore an Alicorn.” She breathed out. I could only stare at her. She at this moment was something more. She, like Celestia, shows that they, no matter what room they are in are the center of it. That every pony revolved around them.

“My apologies” I responded calmly and clearly, not at all a stuttering mess. She once more smiled, and the room lit up with her eyes. Tearing my gaze from her form. I spun a short teleportation spell and as the space around me ripped as I was safely deposited 10 feet away. My tactful retreat left the pink Alicorn laughing.

“I didn’t realize that you were so easily spooked. You know for all the rumors about you, being easily startled was not one of them.” The pink Alicorn mused before allowing her laughter to die down. “So what’s next? Are you going to show me the proper way to cast a flame spell?” Running a quick temporal charm to check how long I had been out I answered.

“In truth, if all you want to do is light a few candles you don’t need a spell for that, just the ability to channel your magic in defined ways. But if you want to learn how to fight with fire I would be happy to help you.” After all, I was immune to fire. It would provide me a substantial hoof up in any ensuing conflict between us if the majority of her magical arsenal was fire based. Seeing the rapid bouncing of the Alicorn's mane, I smothered a smile before responding. “In that case why don’t you show me how you burned down your room.”

I then proceeded to watch a small flickering flame light at the tip of the pink ponies horn. It was a small thing so easily smothered. However, given proper care and time, it could easily have consumed Equestria. I gulped as I watched the Alicorn strain in concentration, her eyes closed and her teeth clenched. Struggling to keep the flame alight. At this moment I was unsure if I truly was in the presence of a manipulator capable of fooling Princess Celestia.

Seeing that she would soon lose control over the flame as it started to gain strength and sought out new fuel. I stepped in, just as Celestia had in the past, and took control of the flame. It flew from a pink horn to amber. The parasite opened its eyes, flickering from my form to the flame that rested above my horn. I didn’t answer the unsaid question, I simply shrugged and smothered the flame.

“Not too terrible. I would have assumed from your earlier telekinetic demonstration that you would be able to control it for longer, but aside from that fact. Why didn’t you smother the flame when you felt it growing outside of your ability to control it?” Even with the boosted constitution from her ascension, I doubted that she would enjoy being burned. Unless she was somehow flame retardant? That was something I needed to figure out. As I waited for the answer the pink Alicorn before I did an impressive show of turning red.

“I summoned a bit more flames than last time.” She finally answered, turning her gaze from mine and hiding her pink eyes under her mane. Well, that explained why she couldn’t smother it if it was a larger flame than what she was used to dealing with. Most pony's reaction to fire is to run away screaming, not to reach their hoof out and smother it. How physical that mental hoof is aside from the point, it still depends on the thoughts of the pony directing it. It seemed that Alicorns, this one at least, proved that uncontrollable flames are a fear to many.

On that dour thought, I couldn’t help but let my mind wander towards the other Alicorn in the castle. Once more looking through my past actions. To see the cause that would see my flame smothered. When Princess Celestia decided that my flame could no longer be controlled, so for the safety of her ponies must be stamped out.

Once more thinking of my-. Princess Celestia sent a shard of ice traveling down my spine, before being planted right at the base of my horn. The strange warm feeling that the creature before me gave, at this point just dying embers. I was of two minds at the moment, one to smother them myself, or to attempt to rekindle them. Before I could decide, the pink pony before me spoke up in a low voice.

“You know I didn’t think you would put more than a token amount of effort into teaching me.” The parasite said, meeting my eyes. “I mean I thought that you would put forward no effort, and force me off to study on my own.” The creature was giving a smile while it strangled what little warmth I had attained from it. I am rather impressed with myself that the creature in front of me continued to remain unburnt and unharmed. The parasite flicked its eyes over towards me, the smile gone. I stood up and ignored the rapidly rising temperature to properly respond.

“You thought that I would spurn Princess Celestia over teaching you?” I calmly stated while watching as the parasite began to scoot backward. Perhaps it forgot it had four hooves and a pair of wings? If it didn’t want the wings that adorned it so I would be all too happy to take them for myself. “I don’t like you, I won't pretend otherwise. But Princess Celestia has tasked me to teach you. In turn, even if I have to tear open your skull and drive the knowledge in, you will be brought up to an appropriate magical level for one of your status.” I started by ripping the doors out of the walls where they rested.

Reducing them to metallic slag and refashioning a new set of doors to replace the ones destroyed. “I don’t care what you thought was going to happen, but you will not drag me down any further.” I hissed out. Pausing a moment for the parasite to feel the heat in the room before dousing both the still glowing doors and myself with the cooling charm. The new suns that adorned the doors glowed for a but a moment longer than the rest of the rapidly heated and then cooled metal. “Do you understand?”

The room rapidly cooled thanks to the charm, but I doubt that was the reason that the parasite shivered. The parasite was nodding at a rapid pace, causing its mane to rapidly fly up and down. I watched as its gaze flicked back and forth between the doors and myself. Was it afraid I would do something to it? The thought brought a smile to my face and considering the circumstances I didn’t smother it. Princess Celestia had always taken a hoofs-on approach for my mystic studies, so who pony else would I copy? Then the greatest of all ponies herself.

“Class is dismissed,” I said, enjoying the way that the parasite before me gulped as I finished. I could see the parasite's mouth beginning to open. Not interested in hearing what it has to say, I spun the equation for a warping spell. Flames erupted around me and my vision was quickly consumed by the flames. The flames quickly began to peter out revealing my room before me.

Throwing my satchel against a wall, and watching it fall with a thud against the floor. I could feel the air quickly becoming superheated. I ripped the heat from the air and compressed it into an orb the size of a ball. The room was lit up as if a new star was born. The flames continued to grow in brightness and heat as I further compressed them.

I felt the flames surge around me as my room heated. It wasn't warmth however that the compressed ball of flame and light gave off. I couldn’t feel anything from it. My blood fueling a far stronger flame. Preventing me from feeling any warmth that it could provide. I continued to feed it my magic allowing it to grow in strength. Before I compressed it more and more.

The corralled flame was altered from red to white. I smiled at my work. Not even the parasite would be able to easily do this. That blight of a creature was unable to replace me yet. I would prove to both Princess Celestia and that parasite that I was the second strongest in Equestria. With manic glee I let my control over the compressed flame falter. Allowing the ever-hungering flame free to consume.

I was quickly slammed into my wall by the force of the resulting explosion. Even as I struggled to get to my hooves, my stomach aching in pain. I laughed spitting up blood all the while, but that didn’t keep me from my joy. It had been so long since I had laughed so. I looked at my now burnt and scarred room and smiled.

I was certain if the parasite was to see this smile of mine it would collapse from fear. The poor thing had no control over its emotions. Making it all the easier to deal with in whatever fashion I so pleased. The only reason it was not a burned shell of a pony was due to Princess Celestia favoring it… Princess Celestia’s name gave me pause, as I once more took in my surroundings. The room was once scorched. Furniture and books were incinerated once again. A foalish Unicorn who has harmed itself reaching for something beyond its level.

Who had once more disappointed the one who took it in, despite the warnings and advice from all around her? I once more was proving those ponies correct. I knew I was a failure and what was worse Princess Celestia knew it too. I had tried every way to improve myself yet I still failed. I knew what the average pony thought of me, the princess's “evil” student. The nobles however more veiled thought little better as I was to them the Princesses pity. The orphan was a danger to every pony around her and herself. Princess Celestia had to step in to correct such a blight upon Equestria.

I had tried ever since I was informed of the peculiarities of my situation and yet at every corner I came up short. From the accursed friendship test to when I was brought to Griffonstone with Princess Celestia. I had managed to insult and degrade the host we were staying with when I pointed out that his plan to reform the griffin empire under his wing would fail. It was a wonder why I hadn't been ejected from the castle before. My time had come however and everyone knew it, except apparently the parasite itself. How it missed the maids and the guard's mutterings on the matter I wouldn't know, as I barely acknowledge them and can still hear them laughing at my demise.

It would eventually learn that not every pony within these walls was to be trusted. Of course from the previous showings I knew that I would be laughing as the parasite was tossed aside just like me. The thought of the parasite bloodied and beaten, tossed aside for the newest of the celestial Princess's fancies brought a smile once more to my face. When that happened I would be sure to greet the parasite properly, as it would no longer be one of Princess Celestia’s favored ponies.

After I finished my fantasizing for a moment longer I turned towards my once more burnt room and quickly began the all too familiar process of cleaning it. Incinerating fully what couldn’t be salvaged and making a list of what I would need to pick up the next time I was out of the castle. However far in the future, that would be as my schedule was to be filled with looking for the blazing monarchs' stash of relics.

Cleaning my room I was mentally going over the places where I knew that Princess Celestia wouldn’t dare to stash any relic worth stealing. It was unlikely to be in one of the public areas of the castle, that alone would cut down my search by about a third of the castle. I would of course need to check over those areas if I were not to find anything in the remaining two-thirds of the castle. Better to be thorough than miss out on a possible avenue. For I would prefer not to miss out on a possible avenue to Alicornhood by overlooking a spelled door.

I would prove to Princess Celestia that I was far more capable than she thought. That I didn’t need the celestial monarch to continue to treat me as a newborn foal. I was the strongest Unicorn in Equestria and I would show her. Once I ascended there would be no reason for me to be kicked out to make room for the parasite. If anything after my ascension the parasite would be the one removed from the castle. With those final warming thoughts, I ran through my teleportation spell once more, aiming towards the castle's depths where the dungeons lay.

Author's Note

Sunset's way of viewing everything really is altered to a frankly horrific level. Also if you guys are getting sick of Sunset POV their is only one more chapter until it switches to the Princess of Love herself.
-LittleFaerieFire

4. Shadowed Searching

Shadowed Searching

Sunset Shimmer

Popping once more into existence in the darkened depths of the dungeons of the castle was a rather interesting experience. Not one that I would want to have to happen again, but an eventful experience nonetheless. I mused to myself as I burned away the rather large spider web I had managed to get tangled in. It appears that since the last time I had come down into the dungeons that a family of spiders had now laid claim to this forgotten domain. Watching the pitiful wilting of the web as the flames traveled farther I could see the denizens attempting to flee.

Yet I knew that my flame grew far faster than they could hope to flee. It was a futile struggle yet I watched as the colony attempted to defy the fate I had set upon them. The largest spider, the matriarch I hypothesized, was taking care to collect its spawn. Instead of fleeing the flames and guaranteeing its survival, it braved the flames to protect its young. It could have easily jumped out of the silken nest and spun a new home, yet for the sake of the youngling it stayed. I tilted my head as the flames crept closer to the family of arachnids.

I smothered the flames and quickly was on my way, deeper into the depths of the Canterlot dungeons. Leaving behind the startled family to swarm over the remains of their home. I kept my gaze steady as I ran through various spells to pierce illusions, find secrets, and of course, see what had been hidden. I spent a fair few hours scouring the darkened depths of the dungeons for any sort of hidden stash of relics. Finding little I ran my temporal spell and froze. It was nearly sunset. I instantly ported back to my room. Sighing in relief as I glanced through my window and saw the sunset. I hadn't missed it. That was good. I would rather not have broken my promise again so early.

Watching my namesake I relaxed into the few rays of light that still came piercing from the celestial body. The sun was as perfect as always, performing its duties as commanded. Not faltering nor failing, as it provided warmth to all of the ponies who embraced its touch. Much like the Princess who guided it, the warmth was given to every pony who wished for it. I put one of my hoofs on the glass pane of the window. I could faintly see the outline of a larger ponies hoof next to mine. Colored white with golden casings.

How simpler those times were when I was able to perform like the sun. Ignoring the phantom hoof I continued to watch as the sun was swallowed by the darkness of the night. The moon in its full entirety, revealing the Mare on the moon. Looking out on the once golden land now covered in stilled shadows, I could see the shades once more beginning to form. Like most nights I had no interest in the tormentors that hid in the dreaming depths, yet tonight I had bountiful reason to flee from their grasps.

Finding a relic or something similar to allow ascension was far more important than receiving a full night of terrors. I would be exhausted but unlike the other denizens of the castle, my reputation was already torn and bloodied. I wouldn't have to deal with the parasite's deceit, nor Princess Celestia’s fake care. My plan was cemented as I yawned out once more, embracing the chill that had grown over the glass.

I looked towards my hoof on the chill glass vainly hoping that the phantom hoof was still there. I only saw my hoof against the glass, no sign of the white hoof that I hoped for. Sighing I removed my hoof and watched as the reflection in the window shimmered. Instead of my amber hoof in the window was instead a charcoal black hoof that came to a pointed end. Frowning I moved my hoof, as I watched the blackened reflection do the same. I must be more tired than I thought. Glancing towards my bed I shuddered. It would be a far easier night to go relic hunting than fitfully resting.

Ignoring the reflection I turned and exited my room. Closing the door behind me I watched as the shadows quickly grew within my domain as the door closed. Leaving my domain in the darkness I contemplated locking my door, as the parasite knew where I rested. It would be prudent to at least deter the creature. However, the parasite was an alicorn, which alone meant that if it wanted to get inside my room it could.

Deciding against locking the door and leaving another promise unbroken for the time being. I made my way down the darkness-filled halls of the castle. Spinning together my invisibility spell to avoid any of the night patrols. Those ponies would undoubtedly report back to Princess Celestia that I was once more skulking about in the night. It would be an unneeded complication in an already complex scenario, so best to avoid the gleaming guards. Not as if they were true of any importance now that there was a second alicorn within the castle walls.

The pointless expenditure of the crown aside I continued my trot, shrouded in both magic and darkness. Coming across a few guards in their polished armor that was easy enough to evade. When I ascended I would have to retrain the guard. It was pitifully easy to avoid them. If they couldn’t even work as an early alarm system what use were they? None of the unicorns had cast any illusion-revealing spells, not that they would work on my version of the common spell. The Pegasus was content to forget they had wings and simply trotted alongside the flightless ponies. The earth ponies at least we're keeping their eyes on a swivel, unfortunately for them, I was invisible.

There truly were several failings throughout the guard but I was not going to alert Princess Celestia how easily her most elite were evaded. Perhaps one day, but that day was long off. Deciding to stop giving numerous failing grades to the ponies that swore to uphold the law and protect the crown, I made my way toward the kitchens. I had skipped dinner after all. I was already going to be tired tomorrow. I would prefer not to suffer from ravenous hunger as well. Arriving at the kitchen, only having to evade two more patrols, I slipped between the doors.

They had been left open; perhaps Ramse had an emergency? I knew that he preferred to have his kitchen spotless before he began to cook. This in turn led him to be the only pony that he trusted to clean the royal kitchens. I could remember when Celestia and I had snuck down for a late-night snack. The next morning breakfast was late and when summoned to explain, the earth pony stared down Celestia and explained that he had to clean the kitchen. I can only chuckle at the face the solar monarch had made at the statement. That had been one of the last good memories between myself and Princess Celestia.

“Who’s there?” a pony whispered out from further in the kitchen. Immediately I went silent and checked my invisibility. Still active. “I know you out there, you may as well come out.” It only took the second statement for my blood to begin to heat as I recognized the parasite's voice. Of course, I would encounter the damnable creature. Why wouldn't I, it's not as if I deserved anything more. The mental tirade would have continued, but the pink creature had trotted into view.

It was holding a candle with the tips of its wings. The tri-colored mane jostled as the creature's head swiveled. Its pink eyes narrowed and searched for its newest prey. I however would not be so easily caught. My beating heart stilling as I stopped moving. I kept my eyes on the parasite. It was unlikely to be able to find me without the use of magics I knew that it didn’t have. Unless it had hidden its talents to have an advantage in the future.

That seemed unlikely but was still a possibility. Silently I watched the parasite slowly trotting forward, its eyes focused on the door behind me. The creature was taking barely half a hoof step at once. The head was on a slight swivel causing its mane to slowly move in turn. I narrowed my eyes as the creature frowned and set down the candle. Why was it putting the only source of its light down?

“If this is a prank this is not a funny one.” The parasite called out with broken steel in its voice. I didn’t need the slight warble of its voice for the creature pathetically shivered as it spoke. Is an Alicorn afraid of the dark? I was half tempted to give the worm in front of me a reason to be afraid. Perhaps I could give a reminder on how to properly wield flames. I smiled at the thought of chasing the parasite before me through the castle with my flames nipping at its tail. It would be an therapeutic and enlightening experience.

I would be able to burn the Tartarus damned parasite, non-lethally of course, showing it to its proper place. I would also be able to figure out plenty of things as the burned and broken alicorn healed that would no doubt set me further ahead on my ascension. Truly what was the reason again why I hadn't charbroiled the parasite? Oh yes, Princess Celestia and the following smiting by the only deity of the sun. Even being flame-proof I knew from watching Princess Celestia defend Equestria from its would-be attackers. I had no interest in being flattened by a mountain thank you.

The parasite had stopped shivering and was now staring behind me. Turning my head around slightly there was nothing behind me. Was the parasite broken? The flickering light from the candle showed it folding its wings back. This made no sense. What if I was an attacker? I know that her earth pony strength would be more than enough for most foes, but she would no doubt have much more experience with her wings. She had been born with them after all. What was going through her head?

She knew nothing of controlling her new magics. Her increased strength was unrefined, but her wings were a tool that she had lived with for her entire existence. Even with the ascension giving a boost to the innate Pegasus within her, she would still have the training that had been given to her. Instead, she sheathed her most valuable defense in front of a possible foe. Did it not care that I could be an assassin seeking to sever her pink eyes from her skull? That I could have easily been a pony that would have meant her harm?

I could only stare at the pink alicorn in front of my own eyes. Watching as a small smile flickered onto her face. Her pink eyes gained the captivating glint once more as she once more broke the silence.

“Sunset?” As she said my name her smile grew. Her face lit up in turn, not from the candle, the flames were barely enough to shroud her form in light. Suns-. I instantly ran through a teleportation spell that deposited me into the royal library. My concentration shattered on the spell that had been my cloak this entire journey as I panted. How had she known who I was? Did I drop my spell? No.

Perhaps she recognized my scent? Unlikely as we had not had that many encounters, but was something to account for in the future. She couldn’t have seen through my shroud of invisibility. She had not performed any spells to reveal my hidden form. Then how had she known? She couldn’t have seen through my spell? That was impossible. Even for an Alicorn…

“Tartarus damn it all into flames.” I couldn’t help but shout. If she saw through my spell that meant Cele- Princess Celestia had been able to see through it all this time. I could feel how the ever-present heat that was pulsing within, quickly turned frigid. All of the times I had used the spell to escape from the Princess's notice, she had let me go. I knew that at times she had cast the counter spell and had prevented me from sneaking off. I had thought those simply had been the times she had noticed me before I had completely hidden. It turns out that those were simply the times she decided not to continue to treat me like I was still a damned foal. That the only reason I could get anything past her was due to her turning her all-seeing gaze.

I would prove that I didn’t need her anymore. I hadn't needed her for years. She had made clear that the feeling was mutual. Yet she still dared to treat me as a foal. What was worse I hadn’t even noticed? So giddy that I had managed to get one over the celestial goddess, that I hadn’t seen this for the trick it was. I had played into her hooves once again. It was only thanks to the parasite who was replacing me that I had finally caught on.

“You messed up Princess!” I snarled out into the darkness of the library. With one shaking hoof I propped myself up. “You didn’t inform your newest toy of your game and now it's been spoiled.” I continued my voice growing louder and louder. I commanded a surge of magic inwards to burn away the ice that had been running through my veins. Searing it away with a fresh gout of molten rage. “I wouldn't want you to blame your shiny new [Alicorn, however. After all, that's her, the upgrade isn't she? So much better than the broken one you had.”

After shouting into the void before me I could only gasp. Catching the fleeting gasps of breath so that I wouldn't pass out. Once more be woken up by the fearful eyes of the library ponies. Who would often flinch away in fear? It mattered not that I hadn't burned the library in years. They still told tales of one of my most public failures. Those ponies who still worked within the royal library repeated the tale, the fear was still spread.

With the other murmurs being spread throughout Canterlot by those who did not see my value. Painting me as a monster, a demon, that Princess Celestia had to take in and rehabilitate. Otherwise, the inferno would consume both it and the ponies around it. When I had first heard of that particular rumor I had put forth far more effort to fireproof myself. Succeeding of course had simply altered the rumors course for the worse.

I would show those fools that I was not to be trifled with. That I was not to be mocked. That I was not to be the plaything of Blueblood or his noble brethren. Not to be replaced by the shiny pink pony that had managed to get a horn. That I was not going to be forgotten by the only pony who mattered in this world.

I would show them all. Blueblood would learn that I was more than a pity piece that Princess Celestia picked up. The newest Alicorn would be forced to understand that it could not easily replace me. I would show her, Princess Celestia herself, that even if I am not good enough for her, I am Sunset Shimmer. That I needed no pony else. Not friends nor family, I had made it this far without either. I would not need them in the future. Only I alone could etch my name into history so that no matter how hard Celestia scrubs it. I will remain.

With that singular thought rampaging through my head. I forced myself up, ignoring the blurred world of books. I smashed a hoof into my face to wipe away the meager liquid from my view. Ignoring the stinging and the taste of iron that seeped into my mouth. I trotted through the library with purpose. Ignoring the many tomes that filled the grand room, taking no notice of the illustrious tapestries that hung. No, I only regained proper clarity when I was standing in front of an obsidian slab-shaped door.

Through this sheer piece of obsidian were the hidden books that Princess Celestia herself had deemed inappropriate for the masses. Books of magic dark and horrid, that if used could spill the blood of countless ponies. I of course had been coming here for a little over four years. Ever since the moment that I truly knew Princess Celestia and I was but a student and teacher. Nothing more.

Shielded by the Alicorn of the sun herself, for the average pony an impossible hurdle to open the treasure trove. However, I was taught since I could first remember by the sun herself. Watching and learning from her every action. Picking up everything that I could, even the things the celestial goddess would have preferred me not to learn. After all, who else but someone that had been stuck to the solar ponies side for her entire foal hood not takes after her, to beat her, to beat her at the game she had started?

This door was but a single example of this as my eyes burned black, the formation of putrid black and green crystals ripped through the obsidian. It made no sound thanks to the silencing charm I had prepared in advance, as I stepped through the now obliterated piece of enchanted obsidian. I could not break her enchantments directly, but that did not stop me from shattering what they were laid upon.

Even an immortal goddess makes mistakes and for the last 15 years, she sure had been making a number of them. I was all too happy to capitalize on her mistakes, as after all, I was her greatest one. Once more my will burned into the reality before me as the shattered shards of obsidian flew together. Reforming the door that I had demolished before it was positioned back in its proper place.

Leaving me in the restricted section of the library. The bastardized version of the night vision spell that had been cast long ago was not sufficient so I ended it completely shrouding myself in darkness. I instead took out a singular faerie light that I had made long ago and forced it awake. It stuttered and initially started dim, but after it had feasted on the food I was continually feeding it, its light grew.

With the growth of the light, I could once more see the restricted section for all its glory. Tomes, scrolls, and tapestries depicting various dark methods were carefully preserved in this hidden vault. Not heretical enough to be burned yet, dangerous enough to be forgotten. Princess Celestia was the only pony supposed to be able to enter this room. All this forbidden knowledge for her perusal. It truly was a waste of progress to have all of this lost to the ages, protected, and kept hidden from those who would wield it.

I couldn’t help but snort as I began my search for a process to ascend to Alicornhood. Picking up a wriggling tome that had no title I flipped it open to the yellowed pages that were contained within. Ignoring the writhing of the cover made of flesh I began my search for a path to ascension. I was no longer the filly that would bow to Princess Celestia’s every will. Those days had long passed to never return.

I spent my night there in the hidden vault, the only light provided by the flickering light of the faerie. Scouring heretical passages, recounts of terror, how to perform ritual sacrifices, and more. Yet the knowledge I sought was nowhere to be found. The closest I had found was being able to bind my soul to an anchor. However, that would prove useless to me if the anchor would be shattered. Truly for all the depravities gleefully performed by these numerous masters of the shadowed arts no one had discovered a path to Alicornhood?

I shook the thought from my head, as once more a yawn threatened to spill from my mouth. It would be unlikely for any pony to ascend to alicornhood and not have the entirety of Equestria hear of such matters. Especially one that would do so despite Princess Celestia. I would be the first to burn my way to ascension. Perhaps I would someday allow my research to fall into the hands of some other speculative young Unicorns. That would incite Princess Celestia’s fury like no other, the vaunted immortality and power she had control over. No longer hers alone to dole out.

A possibility for the far future as I was no closer to my ascension, and as always if anything was to change I would need to do it myself. I dove with zeal back into the awaiting nights of magic before me, unwilling to leave a single page untouched. No matter the horrors that were wrought, the bargains with demons, even if I had to tear my soul asunder I would ascend. I would not be forgotten by Princess Celestia. Not again. Not ever.

My pursuit of the lost knowledge did not stop until my physical hunger could no longer be filled with the metaphysical. It was only then that I restored the room to its initial state. Ignoring the pangs from my stomach I took one more long look throughout the room to ensure that I would not be caught. Everything but a singular tapestry was in its correct position.

I frowned as I didn’t recall touching that particular work of cloth. Trotting towards the linen mastery I once more fed more fuel into the faerie light. Frowning as the shadows that covered the tapestry refused to be smothered by the faint light. Instead, they danced over the delicate work of art. In the faint light that was nearly swallowed by the dark, I took in the tapestry.

It depicted a blackened Alicorn with large bat wings, fangs depicted coming from a cruel smirk upon its face, and fit in elegant form-fitting armor. The Alicorn was a creature of shadows. No, that was wrong. I knew naught how I realized but this Alicorn was a creature of darkness, not shadow. Inspired realizations aside, the Alicorn stood alone and proud in the darkness of the night enshrouding its very form. It needed not the accompaniment of any pony nor the warmth from their love.

This was not all that was depicted in this grand tapestry, what I was looking at was the middle. The tale is only halfway done with no conclusion in sight, I however looked towards the beginning and I could easily guess how this particular Alicorn’s tale will end. My eyes flicked over to the beginning of the tapestry and snorted.

What a waste of space for this old foal tale to be stored within these walls. I hadn’t recognized the Alicorn as Nightmare Moon initially but I could tell from the tapestry that this was another retelling of the Tale of the Two Sisters. I had been reading this story since before I could remember. Of all the fables Princess Celestia had read to me this one couldn’t help but stand out, as I can only recall her ever telling me it once. Even back then I prided myself on being able to understand the solar immortal and after I heard the pain in her voice I no longer asked her about this tale.

My eyes crept back to reality, beginning to look for alterations in the tale. If this version of the fable was within this hidden portion of the library and not outside that must mean something. Adding the fact that the tale impacted Princess Celestia so, proves that this version is dangerous. Within that danger, I may be able to figure out how the two sisters ascended. With that thought in mind, I began to read through the tale once more.

Once, twice, thrice, I had read through it noting no difference. The major story portions were completely the same just with a different art style that was far more realistic. If the tale is the same in this version it wouldn't explain why this particular retelling has been locked away with the other freely told. Princess Celestia would have simply banned the tale and not allowed it to continue being printed, eventually, she would have erased it. After all, she had plenty of time.

Frowning, looking once more at the tapestry, instead of looking at the foreground of the tapestry I instead looked at the background scenery. That was where I found the difference, a single different depiction of a singular scene. That was enough to get this tapestry hidden under lock and key. The elder of the two sisters was seeking the younger to see reason, not on a cloud as the picture books showed but in front of an elegant castle.

My body convulsed slightly as I broke into a smiling mess, I had figured out why this particular tapestry had been hidden. Probably. Either way, it was something to work towards. Finding this particular castle. It would allow me to escape the piercing gaze of the two Alicorns within Canterlot’s castle. Especially with what the newest Alicorn had accidentally given away, it would be prudent to avoid doing anything suspicious within these walls. That unfortunately included searching for Princess Celestia's hidden stash of relics.

Allowing the remnants of my joy to die away as I began to plan for my journey. I would of course need to figure out what castle it possibly could be. Off the top of my head, only a few nobles still held castles that had been in their families for generations at this point. Unfortunately, Blueblood was one of such nobles. It would be rather annoying if the secret to Alicornhood was something that he had been planting his plot upon this entire time. I was getting ahead of myself. I needed to make preparations before I could leave.

Getting a believable excuse that would work even if Princess Celestia decided to look into it. I could perhaps claim to go relic hunting. That would work especially since I knew that I could always loop back into my hideaway and grab a relic or two. My current job as the parasite's mystical teacher would be a little more annoying to prepare for. However, it needed to be done. I would simply have to prepare an extended curriculum for it to go through. It was not as if it were not an Alicorn within the walls of Canterlot Castle, it was plenty safe for the moment.

It seemed that there would be several sleepless nights ahead of me. Oh well. That was an easy payment for potential Alicornhood and one that I would gladly pay many times over. Better get started then I thought as I teleported back to my room. Looking through my still thankfully darkened room I couldn’t help but imagine the power that would soon be mine. The wings however would be a learning experience, but I was willing to learn.

I quickly began my work grabbing various maps together before laying them over my desk. I had a rough outline of Equestria but the finer details outside of the major settlements were unlikely to be 100% accurate. It would have to be enough. It would be enough and if it wasn’t I had crossed out another possible avenue toward my ascension. That would be one less place to look in the future.

Marking down the three castles and where they each were located, ignoring Canterlot Castle, I basked in the warm glow of the dawn for a moment. Before I made my way quickly back to the library, maps and notes were encased in my magic grasp. I knew that I would spend days pouring over the many ancient and new maps that had been stored within its walls. Ignoring the strain I felt throughout my body I pushed forth.

Making it back to the library's doors pushing them open, ignoring the glare of the librarians, and making my way toward where I knew the maps to be. Pulling the various preserved pictures out before comparing them to my current ones was a taxing process, one that took the entirety of the day. Thankfully however my time was well spent as I uncovered two more potential locations for the particular castle I was looking for.

The first appeared to be in the middle of the San Palomino Desert. That would have to be the last location to be checked as I would have to hire guides and spend countless days scouring the desert for the ruins. The second was thankfully in the middle of the Everfree Forest which was much closer. It even had a small town situated next to it. That would make restocking easier for expeditions towards the lost castle ruins.

Alright, then that was five locations. Five chances to find a path to becoming an Alicorn. I felt my blood quicken within my body as I stashed away the maps into their proper places. It wouldn't do any good to tip off the Alicorn of the sun because I was lazy. Hmm, that brought up the next step preparing the lesson plans for the youngest Alicorn. Well, no time like today. I didn’t allow myself to yawn as I forced myself deeper into the library, I had an alicorn to teach.

Author's Note

Sunset has a plan, hopefully it won't go like all her other plans have. After all there is only so much more she can lose. Next chapter is going to be a change of pace and a change of eyes so keep an ‘eye’ out for it.
-LittleFaerieFire

5. The Second Party

The Second Party

Cadance

I watched the zombie of a pony before me illustrating the proper way to condense your magic into a shield. It was an impressive and useful skill but, I will freely admit that I was more concerned with my teacher than the lesson she was giving. In the one week since our last midnight tryst, I had seen Sunset’s decorum sharply decline. She still held a single-minded focus on her tasks with complete disregard for every pony else, but I could tell from the circles under her eyes that something was wrong. The times that she would almost drift off to sleep standing up didn’t help either, but any time I mentioned it to her she would glare at me before informing me to focus on my lesson.

I was half tempted to mention that having a teacher that is dead on their hooves is not much of a teacher, but considering the last time I had questioned her effort she had… well snapped. I may not be the smartest of ponies, but I can learn from my mistakes. The rather terrifying end of our first lesson aside, the rest of it however, was a wonderful experience, as I got to learn from the strongest Unicorn of my time. It was amazing she spared no time figuring out my current level of Unicorn magic control and even gave me a book on how to fully use my newfound Earth Pony strength. If this was the amount of effort she put into teaching some pony she didn’t like I could only wonder how much she gave some pony she did like.

However she didn’t seem to like any pony other than Celestia, and I had seen firsthand that the relationship was rather strained. According to a few of the guards they had a rather explosive falling out about four years ago. Before that, however, Sunset was a bit bullheaded but was inseparable from Celestia, where one went the other followed. According to one of the librarians that I had overhead, Sunset had been caught with a book of dark magics. She hadn't been expelled from the castle so she had likely committed a lesser offense. I doubted Celestia would simply allow Sunset to remain within this castle's walls after learning dark magic.

I wish I could say that I couldn’t see it, but I could see the unicorn in front of me using dark magic. She was scary enough with regular magics, wherever she went she often burned the air. She at times seemed more like a force of nature rather than a pony. Her performance with the training room door was eye-opening. If Celestia hadn’t stepped in when we first met… I didn’t want to think about what would have happened. Thankfully the fiery Unicorn kept her temper checked most of the time.

That didn’t mean she wasn’t a nice pony, just that at the moment she was much scarier than nice. That was no reason to give up, however. I had dealt with ponies that favored magic over others before and came out on top. Celestia wanted the two of us to get along, and if she was willing to put aside her dislike of me I could do the same. That said I could only force myself to smile as I watched Sunset shake herself awake only to repeat the same thought.

“In general the denser you make your shield the fewer projectiles will get through. That does not completely mean you are protected by your shield, however many magics can get through a simple shielding spell and more esoteric magics can pierce even the strongest of shields.” Sunset lectured, pausing every so often to stifle a yawn. She then demonstrated by forming a flickering red shield around a watermelon and then proceeded to blast it to smithereens.

She then asked me to form a shield around another watermelon she had prepared. I nodded and focused on my will, feeling my horn contort the magic to my will. Imagining a bead of force erupting from the watermelon to become its shield. I then proceeded to watch in horror as the watermelon exploded, expecting to get covered in the now pulverized fruit. I quickly closed my eyes and waited for the watermelon's flesh to hit me… Slightly opening an eye to see a red shield dissipate allowing the watermelon guts to fall to the floor in front of me.

I turned to Sunset to thank her but she simply nodded as if she expected this to happen. She proceeded to ignore my terror and simply stated “That is why we started with fruit.” Before she summoned another watermelon and told me to try again. “This time focus on forming the shield around it, not starting from within it.”

Glaring lightly at my tutor I tried again, following her advice, and a faint pink smoke was surrounding the watermelon. I let out a triumphant smile as I turned to Sunset, who had once more had to shake herself awake. She congratulated me in her usual backhanded way. Recommending I spend an hour or so practicing on fruit a day before I felt comfortable enough to move on to living creatures. After a few hours, and more practice Sunset announced that this session was finished. “I have ordered a book for you to learn more defensive ways to use your Pegasus magic. It will be initially up to you on how to best learn, however.” She concluded and then in a burst of flames left.

She knew how to exit. I will give her that. Didn’t make it any less rude, however. Disregarding the foul temperament of my teacher I did have to get going myself. I began the solitary journey through the castle, towards the room that Celestia designated tea room. She wanted to continue to discuss the details of my future. Over the last week, we had been making plans and considering possibilities, Of which included my coronation to an actual princess.

I couldn’t help but be impressed at the thoroughness of Celestia. She was considerate of my every feeling and opinion. Whenever I felt as if something wouldn't be a right fit, she would offer numerous alternatives. Even with my rather foalish desire to finish up my schooling at Canterlot High, she agreed with it. Saying that it would be good to experience even more of Canterlot. It is as everyone says “Princess Celestia always has a plan.” Being able to see the planning process, no being a part of the process was an amazing experience.

Upon making my way to the tea room once again, not getting lost at all this time, I raised my hoof and lightly knocked.

“Enter” Came the warm voice of Celestia. I pushed forward the door and once more saw her lounging in the same chair from last week's tea time. I waved a short greeting with my wing before sitting down in the offered chair. “How have you been Cadance?” Princess Celestia asked as she put down a large purple binder.

“Pretty good Auntie, I didn’t even get lost today.” I had nearly gotten lost in the Crystal Castle again. You would think that after exploring it for years at this point that my sense of direction would be better. But that was in my dreams so Celestia didn't need to know about that. I also didn’t count the fact that I had accidentally gone to the gardens instead of the kitchen this morning. After all I was hungry after a long night of searching and just woke up, it was an honest mistake that wouldn’t happen again. “I also managed to get Ramse to stop calling me Mi Amore Cadenza finally,” I said, pausing to shoot her a heat-less glare. Celestia simply gave me a smile in return and my glare grew smaller.

We both chuckled as she levitated two empty marble white teacups. Then summoning two bags and placing one in her bag and placing one next to my bag. Again? I willed my magic to lightly grab the tea bag. Imagining two spectral hooves gently grabbing it before placing it into the awaiting cup. After a few seconds of concentration, I succeeded. I relaxed my mental hold and smiled at Celestia.

“Impressive, you didn’t even need a second bag today. I am glad to see that you are putting forth the required effort to master your new talents.” Celestia said as she returned my smile. I was glad she hadn't mentioned the first time she had me do this little practice of hers. I was still mortified that I had covered her in tea leaves. “And if I recall correctly you and Sunset had another lesson today. What did you two go over today?”

“We mostly went over the theory of basic shielding spells, but at the end, we practiced. I even got it at the end… Well after I exploded a watermelon.” I admitted after a short pause. Celestia nodded before responding.

“I am glad to hear that you have started with the basics and have been going over the theory behind the magic you cast. All too often those that are gifted in the arcane arts rely on their natural talents to get by. Never questioning why they can do something, only knowing that they can.” Celestia said without a pause. At this moment I could easily see the resemblance between her and Sunset. “Your Unicorn magic aside, have you been having any trouble with your newfound strength? Has there been any difficulties with your Pegasus magic?” Celestia questioned as she adopted a thoughtful look.

“Other than a single incident I have been good on the newfound strength, as Sunset got me a book on various Earth pony techniques and battle strategies.” That’s strange. I could see the spark of surprise in her eyes. “I also haven't had time to just go out and fly lately so I have no idea about my Pegasus magic. But Sunset also has ordered a book on Pegasus techniques; however, that hasn’t arrived yet.” I concluded as I watched Celestia’s face. It shifted from the previous look to a blank wall showing no emotion.

It was not a pleasant face, especially in consideration of the bright and sunny smiles that often adorned Celestia’s face. Her always present smile shadowed, her eyes still as bright, but now there was a sharpness that wasn’t there before. Gone was the ever-present warmth, replaced with a coiling heat that spiraled from the Princess of the Sun. It was unsettling how quickly she changed. What was worse, I had no idea what I had said that had caused the change?

I could see Celestia's eyes piercing into me, it felt as if she wasn’t just seeing me, but my very soul. I stayed still in this heated silence waiting for Celestia to… do something, anything at all. I have no idea what caused this. All I said was that Sunset was teaching me. Celestia was even the one who asked her to do it. I was even against it.

“If you wouldn’t mind me asking, has Sunset done anything strange lately.” Came the warm reply from Celestia. The room quickly returned to its welcoming warmth. A small questioning smile rested upon her lips. I would have believed that everything was fine were it not for the fact that her eyes still held their previous sharpness. I gulped before responding, trying to wet my parched mouth.

“Not really. Other than looking exhausted I have only seen her twice, since our previous meeting.” I coughed out. Looking towards Celestia she motioned her head towards me to continue so I continued. “We by chance met the night after my first lesson at the kitchens. Well, I couldn’t see her but she is the only pony that makes you feel like you are standing in a volcano when she is mad. And when I called her name the heat disappeared immediately.” I finished and grabbed my teacup attempting to drink it only to realize that there was no water. Only the teabag that plopped against my muzzle.

“She is exhausted is she?” I could hear Celestia mutter under her breath. “If that is everything, I believe everything to be alright.” Why would it not be alright? Was something wrong? I mean Sunset has acted strange even hostile ever since we first met, but why would Celestia act like this? Especially when she asked Sunset to be the one who taught me. She was the one who recommended that I put aside the first meeting and be the bigger pony. After I was nearly a pile of ashes.

“Would there be a reason everything wasn’t alright?” I asked as I pushed the tea bag back into the cup. Celestia looked at me, the sharpness from her eyes fading as she sighed. Instead of immediately responding she summoned water into the two teacups. She began to stir her own for a minute before responding.

“I am sure that you have noticed that Sunset and I do not get along?” She questioned in a voice that sounded too small to come from the pony in front of me. Putting aside my introduction to Sunset and the horror show that had been performed. That was an understatement judging from the performance Sunset put on during the previous tea time. Some rumors had even spread to my village. About how the ruler of Equestria and her student no longer saw eye to eye. That the student had fallen into the habit of burning all those who get in her way.

My introduction to the royal castle had confirmed the truth of those particular rumors, while the rest of them seemed more and more likely. Taking a moment to collect myself. I then nodded my head once, barely a tip of my head, but it was enough to confirm what I knew Celestia already had known yet wanted confirmation.

“I am concerned with the possibility that Sunset would harm you in a misguided attempt to re-earn my favor.” Silence reigned once more within the tea room after Celestia spoke. Ah. That… yeah that would be a reasonable concern considering our introduction. We are better now. Much better than attempted murder, but if I thought Sunset would sooner pull me out of a fire or add more fuel. Well, I knew that I would be a charbroiled Alicorn. I had hoped that after what had happened she would calm down and she did. Somewhat by ignoring my entire existence it felt like. Until Celestia asked her to be my teacher.

“If you are so concerned with Sunset hurting me why did you want her to teach me?” I couldn’t help, but break the silence to ask the question that had been rattling around within my head since I first heard Celestia say those words.

“It is as I said initially, so the two of you would be able to move past your beginning and be able to work together in the future. Alone you both will be blazing stars that could bring the best from every pony, but together believe that you both could change Equestria for the better.” Celestia replied with her softened tone. “However, I had been prepared for a multitude of outcomes for my proposal. None of them had Sunset freely helping you. As much as it shatters my heart to say she isn’t a kind pony anymore. I have seen her become twisted over the years and I fear that she has a plan regarding you.”

Silence reigned once more as I digested the words that Celestia had spoken. That painted a rather different picture of the most recent meetings that I had with the amber unicorn in a far darker light. I had no misunderstandings if the two of us were to cross wings she would be the victor. She was a magical prodigy who had spent years under Celestia’s tutelage and I was a pony that managed to get lucky. I would be fortunate to be incinerated instantly.

“I am sorry Mi Amore Cadenza but your safety is not something that I am willing to risk. I truly wish that Sunset wouldn’t dare harm you but on the chance that I have once more misjudged her, I would rather ensure your safety.” Celestia softly stated as she pulled out a small silver brooch from under the crook of her wing. “This is a form of added insurance, as long as the sun is in the sky no matter where you are you can be returned to my side.” She stated before gently pushing it towards me. It slid over the ornate table with not a sound made, before stopping just a hoof away from me.

I gingerly grabbed it feeling the cool metal through my hooves. It was completely made of silver with intricately designed stars surrounding a larger sun. I looked back to Celestia who had fallen silent watching me inspect the brooch. Pausing to collect my thoughts I spoke up finally.

“Wouldn’t Sunset be able to see this? Or detect it? I know she has quite a few diagnosis spells in her arsenal.” If Sunset were to find out that I had something like this… I had no idea how she was going to react other than throwing copious amounts of fire at me. Which would be something I would rather avoid. I had nearly been a flash-fried pony once, I would rather it not happen again.

“I designed it so that once it is put on any pony that it would use its magic to cloak itself. Using their unique magic as a cover for its actual purpose. After it has attached itself to your magic it would appear to simply be a brooch to even the mightiest of spells.” Celestia answered with a calm and collected tone. Her soft eyes met my frantic gaze and I couldn’t help but relax slightly.

I slipped it onto my mane attaching it at the base. After a short moment, I felt a wave of cool rush over my body before dissipating. “To activate it simply use your magic to twist the sun on the brooch.” It took me a moment but my magic grasped at the small silver sun and twisted it. There was a flash of disorienting light and I found myself splayed out next to Celestia, who looked down at me from her chair. An amused smile rested on her lips. “I do believe that it works then?” She questioned failing to hold back an amused chuckle.

“It does” I huffed out as I pushed myself back up and trotted back to my seat. Sitting down with a thump I picked up the tea. After a few quick sips, I once more spoke up. “If Sunset is as bad as every pony says she is… Why is she still here?” My voice ended quieter than it had started, but based on the look on Celestia’s face she had heard me all the same. Her face once more was comparable to a marble statue. Only breaking when she picked up her teacup and took a sip.

“That is a question that I have heard all too often as of late.” She answered her eyes, meeting mine, but not looking at me. “I could say it is for several reasons, to ensure her safety, to rehabilitate her of her new ways, to see what good she can still contribute to Equestria. It is not something so wonderful or great, but in truth, it is because I am selfish.” She concluded only at the very end did her vision return here. No longer caught by whatever she was seeing in my place.

She didn’t answer my question. Based on the way she had reacted, the reason was a deeply personal one. We both took some time to drink our tea. Each adjusted to the words that had been said. After I drained my cup I began to fiddle with the new brooch that adorned my mane. Hoping that I would never need it. However, Celestia had known Sunset for far longer than I had. Things weren’t looking the greatest on that particular front.

“While I may be selfish on this matter, I promise you this Cadance upon all that I still hold dear that if Sunset harms you she will be ejected from this castle to never return.” Celestia stated with finality, her mane flashing. At this moment I could see the pony that had ruled Equestria for countless years. “Let us not discuss such matters anymore. Do you have any other topics you would prefer to discuss?”

“Well, are you still requiring my coronation to be such a grand event? I mean the inviting of foreign dignitaries and a ball? I can’t help but think that it is a bit much.” I questioned my voice starting small but growing louder. This was Celestia, the one pony who everyone could count on. She smiles at me, shaking her head lightly.

“I am sorry but as the future Princess of Love-” I felt my cheeks begin to warm as I once more heard my future title. “-You are expected to perform your new role. In this case, a large coronation to properly introduce you to the entirety of Equestria.” She once more chuckled at the face I realized that I was making.

“Isn't it supposed to be my coronation?” I let slip past my mouth. Celestia’s eyes lost their amusement and softened.

“It is but you will soon find out that no matter the pony we all have our parts to play. From those that work the fields, to the guard-ponies, to even us Princesses we all have expectations set upon us according to our role.” She said as she got up and wrapped one of her wings around me. I burrowed myself into the offered warmth.

“I didn’t want to become a Princess. I didn’t want any of this. I…” I mumbled into Celestia’s side. Embracing the hug that was offered by the larger pony. “I was no pony, not special like you at all. I was a foal sitter and a half decent matchmaker.”

“I have seen countless ponies and believe me when I say this Cadance no pony is more special than one another. We are each special in our unique ways that are incomparable to one another. You say you don’t want to be a Princess? Well, let me tell you a little secret.” Celestia’s voice lowered as she continued. “I didn’t want to be one either.”

She didn’t want to be a Princess? That made no sense. Celestia was the only princess Equestria had. She was there from the beginning. She with a single hoof had pushed back countless horrors and monsters. Tirek, Discord, Grogar, and so many more. She was the shining pillar of light that stood strong as Equestria's foundation.

“If you didn’t want to be a Princess why are you one?” I couldn't help but ask the alicorn in front of me.

“Because I love all my little ponies. They needed a leader, a protector, and some pony to guide them. Just like you wanted to protect your home. Your family.” Celestia said with a bright smile. The hug that I was embraced in, tightened slightly as Celestia continued. “It’s not the crown, nor the title that makes a Princess. It's the pony, and their capacity to care. Cadance, I know how much you care. That alone makes you a perfect Princess.”

At this point, I couldn’t help but begin to wipe the tears that had fallen to my muzzle on Celestia’s wing. She was perfect. She knew exactly what to say to make me feel better. I felt the shadow that had hovered over me since I had gained my horn dissipate. Now replaced with the warmth of the Princess of the Sun and her faith.

“What happens when I mess up?” I couldn’t help but ask. I didn’t have the experience of Celestia. Nor did I have the power of Sunset. What I had was my knowledge of love and the skills of a foal sitter. If I was to help rule Equestria I doubted those skills would be in high use.

“I will be here to help you learn from your mistakes. You don’t need to worry about being perfect. All you need to worry about is doing your best.” Celestia said with a soft smile once more adorning her lips.

The silence was not broken until Celestia had to go meet with the captain of the guards about an hour later. “Cadance you may not see it now but I have seen that you will be a Princess that every pony looks up to,” Celestia said as she left the tea room.

“Thank you, Auntie,” I called back. Still not moving from my spot. Taking a minute to collect myself. Celestia knew best right? She after all had been around and ruling Equestria for nearly a thousand years. She couldn’t possibly make a mistake. I straightened my back as I hopped out of the chair.

I would do my part to ensure that I would be ready to help rule Equestria. To that end, I would first need to finish learning how to properly use my new strengths. Luckily enough I had a rather fancy tome that would teach me how to use them. I began making my way to the library with the Faithful Battle Tome in the hoof.

I hadn’t gotten too far into it and wanted to continue my progress. It was a rather strange book, all things considered, a collection of notes with countless additions and subtractions edited in over the original writings. It provided all sorts of ways to use your strength to your advantage. From turning a pony into a wrecking ball to a nigh unmovable blockade. That is not even considering the numerous diets and exercises that it contained. All to improve one's body to the extreme.

It was a true piece of beauty for within its pages the heart and souls of countless soldiers were preserved. I could feel the love and care they had put into this tome. Each made sure that their additions and changes were of the best that they could provide. So that in the future their knowledge would be in turn cherished.

After I entered the library I found a cozy chair and proceeded to pick up where I had left off. Losing count of the hours that passed while I had my muzzle in the tome. It was only when I heard a polite coughing that my eyes slid from the pages to a brown pony.

“Excuse me Princess Cadance, but I am the last librarian and my shift has just ended.” The brown pony said in what I believed to be a Manehatten accent.

“Ah, my apologies. I will leave immediately.” I quickly slipped the bookmark into its new spot and began to slip the battle tome into my saddlebag. “I sort of got caught up in my readings and lost track of the time.” I received a polite smile in return from the pony as I quickly exited the library.

Feeling the time quickly catching up to me as I felt my stomach begin to complain that I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. The tea with Celestia didn’t count. Especially with the added amount of food that an alicorn needed. I had easily doubled the amount that I had eaten since I had ascended. The thoughts of food and at the urging of my stomach I started to trot to the kitchen.

Thanks to getting lost so much over the last two weeks even in the darkened halls of the castle I knew my way around. Taking a glance at the large swaths of darkness I resolved to ask Sunset how to cast a light spell. Unlike her, I didn’t have any sort of night vision and so I went guided by the moonlight. The torches giving off faint traces of light, but that paled in comparison to the reflected light from the moon.

Upon making it to the entrance of the kitchen I pushed open the doors and grabbed one of the prepackaged meals that Ramse had prepared on my request. Pulling open the bundle I saw a daffodil sandwich that was elegantly prepared. Quickly chowing down on the sandwich, making sure not to make a mess, I grabbed another bundle before repeating the process.

The entire time I was staring at the door lit by candlelight wondering if Sunset would come through once more. If this was going to be the next part of her plan. That this would lead to her and Celestia once more being close. I sighed putting down the second sandwich as I lightly rubbed at my eyes. This was complicated.

Sunset… hates, would probably be the most fitting description, for me. Is currently at odds with Celestia, and is now teaching me upon her request. I was warned by the ruler of Equestria herself that Sunset would potentially harm me. To that extent, I was further warned that I was being used as a pawn by Sunset to regain her place in Celestia’s eyes. With how focused she is on making sure that I fully master the material she has prepared for me.

That all makes sense but like with many things regarding the ponies of the castle not everything fits. Sunset was abrasive and dodged every question that Celestia had asked of her during the tea party. Always sidestepping the questions that were directed at how she was doing or turning them towards me. Otherwise she had been content to stay silent, her eyes staying fixated on Celestia. Rarely straying from the Princess that had raised her. When I looked into her eyes I could see a deluge of emotions so deep that I couldn't tell what she was feeling.

However she didn’t always wear her hatred. There were moments, few as they were, that she seemed just like a normal pony for a moment. At times a smile would flicker upon her face before being smothered. It was at times like that she seemed much less like the demon she was touted as, but as a brilliant Unicorn who was going to change the world. She was a complicated pony who at the moment was disregarding her ill will toward me and still teaching me.

In truth, she was going beyond simply teaching me. She was giving me invaluable advice when I asked for it. Finding a priceless tome that would teach me how to use my newfound strength. I was glad I took Celestia’s advice to be the bigger pony and offer the hoof of reconciliation. Even after nearly getting incinerated.

Hopefully, the two of us would bridge the remaining divide that still existed between us. Ignoring the possibility that she was using me at the moment for the hope of a friend my age. As it was just the two of us until I got to enter Canterlot High.

“The future looks bright all things considered” I couldn’t but yawn as the candle by the kitchen door flickered out. In turn, I once more looked towards the moon that still hung on the horizon. The mare on the moon was unobstructed by the clouds that had begun to cover the sky.

Author's Note

Cadance's perspective is almost completely different from Sunsets. They experienced the same things but to each of them it is entirely different. Plus Cadance appears to have something going on with her dreams just like Sunset. I wonder whats happening in hers?
-LittleFaerieFire

6. Web of Knowledge

Web of Knowledge

Cadance

Once more I was exploring the crystal castle. Tonight I was heading toward the depths of it again. Every section of it glimmered in the light as the crystals refracted light. I could only describe it as beautiful. The light combines to become a myriad rainbow of shimmering colors. It was something that I had yet to experience outside of this place. Even the splendors of the Castle that I lay asleep in could not match.

I had long since spent my nights exploring this realm of crystal. Searching for its many secrets that had laid undisturbed. Of course, even having spent years exploring its depths it still held unknown treasures that I had yet to find. I knew in my heart that I had yet to uncover them all. Each time I visited this realm of crystal I spent my time searching for what I knew was still missing.

I had yet to encounter any ponies that resided within this castle's walls. That did not mean I was alone, however, as I had noticed that I was not the only one within this castle of crystals. There would be times when things would be changed from where I had last put them. A door left open, a pile of dust left disturbed. There was some pony else here. Yet for all my searching I had no idea who.

I could only guess that they traversed this castle while I was away from the waking world. Hopefully, if they were the rightful owner of the castle they wouldn't mind me searching through it. They hadn't exactly asked me to stop or even responded to any of the notes that I had left behind. Seeing that the crystal's light was growing in strength I halted my search and took one last moment to absorb the beauty of this place.

Waking up was a pleasant experience as always with the pillows almost as fluffy as clouds, the difference was almost unnoticeable. Golden rays pierced through the cracks in the curtain lighting my room once more as I pulled my head from its resting place. Glancing at the clock I groaned. It was time to get up. Time to start the day. Yay.

Melodramatics aside, I did have plans for today. So I only lounged in my bed for another half an hour, before attempting to escape its comforting hold. In my attempt at escape, I was nearly strangled by the bundle of blankets that had cocooned around me during the night. Falling out of my bed face-first into the ground with a shriek.

“Tirek damn it” I couldn't help but mutter out in pain as I rubbed at my face. Hopefully, that wouldn't bruise. That would be an excellent way to greet Principal Cinch. Escaping the silken prison that had brought me low. I began to make my way toward the kitchens so that I would at least be able to drown the morning's sorrows in something tasty. Thank Celestia that Ramse was such a miracle worker.

Greeting every pony as I went, I completed the trek and reached the last divide before my prize. Pushing open the doors, ensuring that I was keeping my strength in control this time, I was greeted by a wondrous sight. Stacks of freshly prepared foods, sandwiches, salads, soups, and so much more. I could see Ramse hard at work, his knife flying through a stack of bread. Not even glancing over to see which pony had entered his domain.

“Ah Cadance, what would you like me to prepare for you today? Perhaps a quiche? I just this morning received an excellent shipment of broccoli." Came from the master of this kitchen himself. I couldn't help but smile at the pony in front of me, no matter who you were, any pony that stepped within the kitchen walls while Ramse was working would be fed. I had tried to refuse the first time and had since learned my lesson.

“If you prepared it I would happily eat anything. Unfortunately I won't be able to dine in the castle today. I have to head out to Canterlot High.” I regretfully responded. Over my stay at the castle, I had taken to eating out in the gardens. It was a nice calm place that allowed me to relax under a new tree each day. I had heard from a few of the gardeners that they had to import a large number of trees and shrubbery some time ago a fire had broken out. Causing all manner of rare species to be both lost and damaged.

“A shame, but not unexpected, the life of a future princess-to-be is one of great activity.” He finishes with a nod to the bread in front of him. Before he whirls around stashing his blade in its sheath. Trotting over to one of the many freezers and fridges that litter the walls of the castle's kitchen. He quickly pulls out the required ingredients for his next masterpiece. His knife flashes out from its sheath as it begins to fly across the cutting board.

It only takes five minutes for the chef in front of me to transform the various bits and pieces into a beautiful creation. Delicately placing it into an oven before convincing me to snack on a platter of carrots that he just happened to have had around. It only took another seven minutes before he opened the oven taking out the now golden brown pie. He then quickly wraps it up with a piece of cloth. “Do be sure that you wake up earlier the next time you have an early morning escapade.” He softly chides as he hands it to me.

“Thank you Ramse. You are a lifesaver.” I said before dashing towards the carriages myself, the bundle swinging from my mouth. While I charged forward, I made a mental note to see if I could fly without crashing into everything. It would be far faster than simply relying on my hooves and it wasn't as if I could teleport around. Yet. I was planning to master that particular skill after witnessing how annoying a pony with it can be.

Making it to the royal carriages, not winded at all, thank you ascension, I quickly greeted the two guards' ponies that were assigned to me. “Morning Rebound, Morning Gentle Breeze.” I greeted the two Pegasus, as I deposited my breakfast into the carriage with a toss and a generous helping of telekinesis.

“Morning Princess.” Came from Gentle as she shot a glance at me with amusement clear in her silver eyes. “Running a little behind are we?” I ignored the question as I stepped onto the carriage. I knew from watching Rebound try and fail to win an argument with her, how pointless an attempt at it would be.

“Hey Gentle, ease off our newest member of royalty. You know if she so wanted she could have us tarred and feathered.” Rebound started with a tremble in his voice as he lowered his head refusing to meet my eyes. “You know how royalty gets when the peasantry starts to speak out against them.” He said with obvious amusement in his voice, trying to get a rise out of his partner. He hitched himself to the carriage and began to stretch his wings. Not at all looking at Gentle or myself who share a look of confusion.

“We already have feathers, you dunce.” She then proceeded to illustrate this fact by hitting him with her feathered wing before she too hitched herself to the carriage. I smothered an amused smile as I watched their antics. Celestia had assigned these two to escort me whenever I was to leave the castle.

“Can't go wrong with getting some more feathers. Who knows they may even allow you to finally beat me at the track.” While my two gilded guards began their usual fight. I learned from my previous mistakes and ignored them. Instead, I stepped into the royal carriage and began to eat my breakfast while they bickered. Biting into the prepared meal, I could taste the melted cheese covering all of the minced vegetables. The fine spices evenly spread throughout the dish, which prevented any singular bite from being too overpowered. I am unsure how much Celestia pays that pony but whatever it was it surely wasn't enough.

“Ready for take-off?” Gentle asked as she turned back to check if I had gotten situated. I nodded after I took one more bite from the gooey deliciousness that had been prepared for me. “Alrighty, then princess buckle up, and let's fly.” Gentle spoke in a manner that did not befit her name as the carriage quickly began to lift off into the sky. Rebound letting out a startled cry as he was pulled off of his hooves and pulled into the sky.

“Dammit Gentle, my joke was not that bad” Rebound shouted over the wind as he reoriented himself. His partner who he was now flying parallel to, was chuckling into the wind at his plight. I couldn't help but feel a smile creep onto my face as I once more watched the antics of the two ponies before me. They were an amusing pair and I am glad that they were assigned to me. I could have easily been assigned one of the guards who did their best to show no emotion while they were working.

Embracing the cool breeze rushing of the wind running through my mane. Closing my eyes and lifting my wings as I felt the wind rush through my feathers. It truly had been too long since I had last flown under my own power. As soon as I returned to the castle I would spread my wings once more. It wouldn't be an enjoyable experience to re-learning how to fly, but it would be a necessary one. I would soar through the skies under my wings and have that freedom returned to me once more.

Opening my eyes and turning my attention back toward the remains of my breakfast. Quickly finishing the remaining portion of the quiche I turned my gaze toward the city below. Observing how the sun reflected off the various spires and buildings. Causing the city to be wrapped in a warm glow. I could almost perfectly envision the sun's rays wrapping around every pony and providing them warmth. Princess Celestia was stated to have had a hoof in the design of Canterlot so it wouldn't surprise me if she hadn't had it constructed to achieve the effect.

I spotted numerous ponies who were out and going through the day's tasks. From the peddlers selling their wares to the conductors wearing their uniforms. Every pony had a bright smile on their face. Greeting the warmth provided by the sun with their own. Adding their sunny disposition to every pony they met. Each pony's warmth ensured another in a chain of ever-growing greetings.

Glancing through the shining city, spotting numerous couples hoof in hoof, frolicking through the new day. It was truly something special to see so much love in the air on a normal day such as this. Focusing in on a particular two colts who had just been seated at a table. One a grayish blue and the other a bright electric green both peering at the other each with a blush lighting their face. Cooing at the sight of young love I would have missed our destination coming into view were it not for Rebound.

“Ladies most royal and not as royal, we can now see Canterlot High, the realm of the dreaded Abacus Cinch. May she never set her sights on all of Equestria for not even Princess Celestia could stop her.” He stated in a monotone voice as if he were speaking over a documentary. I waited for Gentle to disagree, but instead to my shock, the silver Pegasus nodded along with her partner's foolishness.

That didn’t make me feel any better. Considering that I was going to meet her myself. While I highly doubted she could go hoof to hoof against Celestia. After all, Celestia was a fully ascended Alicorn. No matter how small all rumors had a sliver of the truth within them. Entering into the realm of royalty had done more than deposit me into a castle after all. Shaking my head and hopefully chasing away those soured thoughts I focused on the school before me.

The main building was built of silver marble standing three stories tall and was topped with a golden spiral. There were a few smaller buildings each of similar design, just on a smaller scale, surrounding the main building. The main school building dwarfed the surrounding buildings; it in turn received the majority of the ponies that were entering the school's doors. We had been spotted as I could see a white unicorn pointing towards us with her hoof.

“Setting us down Princess, I do hope the ride wasn't too bumpy,” Gentle said as she began the descent toward the ground. Unlike when a Pegasus descends, we took a rather gradual decline. The added weight of the carriage prevented the usual sharp declines. The gradual declines also served well at preventing the occupants from being thrown from the carriage. Both Gentle and Rebound fell silent allowing me to hear the excitement of the crowd. Thankfully the students began to part and made way for the royal carriage. I would die from embarrassment if the carriage squashed some pony.

The students herded themselves into groups as they waited for the carriage to touch down. Each pony attempts to guess the reason that royalty would be visiting their school. Hopefully, they would be fine with the future Princess of Love. I took a steadying breath as I schooled my expression. Focusing on the questions of ponies before me. I would after all have to address my future subjects myself. No more relying on Celestia.

“Is that Princess Celestia?” An orange Earth Pony shouted in excitement.

“Why would Princess Celestia come here? She has her school.” The white Unicorn that had initially spotted me asked.

“Did the Princess finally decide to look into the rumors herself?” A black Pegasus shouted.

“Wait what was the newest Princess's name again? Isn't she, our age?” This time it was a purple and green Earth Pony that shouted out.

Upon hearing that final pony exclamation the murmurs grew even louder as the new theories began to be shouted. The wildest that I could pick up was that the school was being given to the newest member of royalty as a present. What would I even do with a school? I mean I had considered becoming a teacher before everything happened but that felt as if it was a lifetime ago.

We finally touched down in front of the herd of ponies. Every pony fell silent as they began staring at me. I smiled and gave a short wave with one of my wings. The chatter was silent for but a single second more before the herd before me had regained their enthusiasm.

“I knew it was the new Princess!” The purple and green Earth Pony once more shouted. A manic grin was etched on her face.

“When is your coronation going to be?” A voice that I couldn't place to a pony due to the crowding asked.

“Is it true that Princess Celestia has adopted you?” The Black Pegasus asked.

“What are you the Princess of?” A purple Earth Pony asked. Her voice was nearly drowned out by the fervent fever of the surrounding ponies.

I was in the process of opening my mouth to answer the few questions that I could pick up from the torrent of them. However, a single voice broke through the animated ponies. Causing them to quiet down and in a few ponies, cases fall completely still as were they turned to stone.

“Students, I do believe that you have class.” Silence reigned once more as the ponies were silenced by the calm voice. A singular pony slowly trotted through the parting sea of ponies that had formed the crowd. I recognized the gray Earth Pony immediately as Principal Abacus Cinch. The students similarly recognized their principal and quickly dispersed back into the school. “My apologies, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza for my students.”

“Ah, it's fine. I mean it's not every day you meet royalty right.” I hastily replied as I met the stalwart principal's eyes. Unflinching pearls of fuchsia stared back meeting my gaze. Many ponies who I had met since my ascension had often refused to meet my gaze. Most preferred to bend their heads to the newest Princess. This pony, a principal, however, met my eyes. It was a comforting sight to realize that not every pony was willing to throw themselves at the mercy of my hooves.

“Be that as it may, they comported themselves abysmally which will have in turn reflected poorly upon this institution.” She paused looking over me and my guards once more before continuing. “The failings of my students aside, I would ask that you follow me to my office.” Upon receiving my nod she turned on her frog and made her way into the school. I quickly followed after the principal. I had no interest in learning how true those rumors were.

“Jeesh, Breeze looks like Cinch still rules with an iron hoof. Glad to see that nothing has changed since when we managed to escape.” I overheard Rebound whisper to Gentle who proceeded to shove her wing over his mouth. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that she shot a fearful glance at the Principal, but Principal Cinch was preoccupied with me.

They were too cute together. Even though they were hiding their relationship for some reason. They had initially tried to hide it from me. That didn't last too long however as the future Princess of Love I could easily tell when some pony was caught in the heat of it. It didn't help that I had nearly walked in on the two of them. Thank you for the improved senses ascension.

The four of us walked in silence through the halls of the school passing by all manner of ponies. Every pony fell silent as soon as Principal Cinch entered the students' vision and while they still stared at me, they all parted and allowed easy passage. It was a rather disconcerting effect. It did, however, allow us to make our way to Principal Cinch’s office in what felt like less than a minute after stepping through the school's doors.

“Princess Mi Amore if you wouldn't mind having your guards waiting outside while we discuss your future within these walls.” Principal Cinch stated as she swung open the door to her office and stalked inside. I looked back toward my two guards. Hopefully one of them would know what to do in this situation. Instead, they both had a look of relief on their faces. Gentle Breeze had at least enough courtesy to wipe the look off her mouth when I shot them a glare. Rebound instead made a noiseless laugh.

“Aren't the two of you supposed to be among the finest ponies of all of Equestria?” I couldn't help but ask. Perhaps I had been assigned two pretenders? Hopefully, my actual guards would be along in just a moment. So that I wouldn't have to enter the principal's lair alone.

“Better you than us Princess. I went in there once.” Rebound shivered from the very tips of his wings to his hooves. “Barely made it out. You really should have accepted Princess Celestia’s offer to go to her school.” Gentle put a wing around her partner's shivering form. Sighing lightly I squared my wings and entered the domain that lay beyond the opened door.

It was a medium-sized room that was mostly taken up by a singular table with two chairs. One of the chairs was already claimed by the master of the school and I had no intention of fighting hoof and wing for it. Seeing that the principal was riffling through a pile of papers I let my eyes wander to the rest of the room. There were various awards and accolades embedded into the walls. A large bookshelf that had various scrolls and books placed upon it. It was only when I had looked to the only form of light provided by the small window behind the principal herself did she speak once more.

“Please close the door behind you.” Principal Cinch commanded once more and once more I complied without a second thought. She really may be able to take Celestia. While that thought was shattering what little confidence I had left she once more broke the oppressive silence. “Thank you. Feel free to take a seat or if you prefer to stay standing you may.” She asked as the papers she was arranging were straightened with a ruler. Looking once more at the chair I sat upon it.

“Thank you” I replied as I slipped onto the seat. It was rather comfortable. In comparison to how rigid it appeared to be before I sat upon it was initially a little confusing, but softening charms did exist. Well according to Sunset they did. There was a singular moment where Principal Cinch just stared at me. Her eyes wide and unblinking we sat in silence for a short moment. I took that time to clear my head and focus on the pony before me. Before I could ask what was wrong she once more spoke.

“As the premier preparatory school in Canterlot, we have a reputation to uphold. Ever since I stepped back from personally teaching and took over as principal 53 years ago I have made it my mission to ensure every pony that enters my school will leave a better pony than they entered.” She pauses as her eyes once more run over my form. However this time I can tell she is searching for something. “Every single pony that wants to enter into this institution must meet with me and be asked a singular question. So let me ask you this future Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Why is it that you wish to enter my school?”

“I want to make friends.” I meekly responded under the unblinking fuchsia gaze from the other side of the table. Perhaps I could still enter Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. After all Celestia did offer to let me into her school.

“A common answer from a not-so-common pony. Acceptable nonetheless, however.” For the first time since I met her, Principal Cinch had her lips quirked up for a short moment. She more than anything at this moment looked like the cat that had caught the canary in its trap. It didn't last long as she continued. “At Canterlot High it matters not the circumstances of your birth for within these walls every pony has a chance to change their future. We will be willing to make accommodations for your royal duties. However, you will still be expected to not only complete your required schoolwork but to excel at it.”

“I completely understand.” I managed to keep my voice even this time. I was a future princess. I had to keep my eye on the prize. The prize at this moment was escaping this office with all my limbs intact. Only Celestia knows if I had once more set the bar too high. Principal Cinch nodded.

A knock at the door broke causing both of our eyes to flick over to it before returning to the others. Principal Cinch simply nodded and then proceeded to continue speaking. “I am glad that you understand the situation that you are in. I have taken the initiative to have a student show you around and allow you to sit in on his classes.” Huh. If she had indeed prepared this all in advance even before speaking to me. Perhaps she was nicer than every pony thought. “You may enter.” She once more states as her eyes finally break from mine. My gaze moves towards the opening door as well. Rebound pushed the door open with the tip of his wing and I could see his eyes frantically darting about as if he was about to be attacked.

“There is a Shining Armor here. He says that he was requested.” It took me a moment to spread out what he had said. He had spoken so quickly that it had nearly sounded like it was a singular long word. However Principal Cinch was able to decipher what my panicking guard had relayed.

“Send him in.” Rebound nodded and fell backward as he broke the line of sight with the principal. In his place was a white Unicorn with a blue mane who looked as nervous as Rebound did. I was unsure he saw me as he shuffled into the room and spoke. His eyes had immediately found the principal and had kept focused on her the entire time.

“Principal Cinch I am ready to show the prospective student around.” He managed to keep his voice even and as I have recently figured out that was something that took no short amount of willpower. He however wilted almost immediately as out of the corner of my vision I could see Principal Cinch frowning at the blue-highlighted unicorn.

“Mister Armor, I would ask you to look around my office once more.” She once more asked a question without it being a question. It was more of a command. Shining Armor’s eyes scoured the room for what he had managed to miss. I simply waved one of my wings at him. He in turn froze his face bright red as he immediately knelt.

“M-my apologies Princess” Shining Armor stuttered out. His horn almost scraped the floor.

“It's all right.” I waved off his concern. Were I in his hooves, I would most definitely focus on the Earth Pony instead of the Alicorn as well. It was clear which of the two were the most dangerous at this moment.

“If that is all Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, I would ask that you query any concerns to Mister Armor. Otherwise, I would ask that you begin your shadowing for the day I have another meeting in the next twenty minutes.” Principal Cinch concluded as her gaze went back once more to the various papers on her desk. Getting off the chair, I made my way quickly toward the door. Opening it and quickly stepping through. “That includes you, Mister Armor.” I heard from behind me as I was nearly clipped by the frantic charging of the white Unicorn.

The door swung shut behind us and I could see Rebound and Gentle looking over me with concern.

“She didn't plant a flower in your head did she?” Rebound stage whispered with a look of concern plastered onto his face. “This would be a perfect chance to begin the corruption of the newest member of the royal family. Oh, I can see it all happening. First Suns-.” It was at this point that Gentle gave up any pretense of trying to hold back as her wings clamped his mouth with an audible click.

“She can probably hear you.” Gentle hissed out as she began to lead us from the den of the Principal. It was only after we made it out of eyesight of the Principal's domicile did Shining Armor stop looking like he was going to pass out from lack of oxygen. As he regained his breath I turned to my two “Faithful” guards.

“Really would have loved a heads up that the two of you were going to abandon me to Principal Cinch’s mercy.” I couldn't help but complain. Yes, I had to meet with the pony, but that did not entail being thrown out of the window. I was supposed to be meeting a principal, not what felt like a pony that could go hoof to hoof with Celestia. Like with Sunset something about Principal Abacus Cinch just felt wrong.

I mentally sighed. At least I wasn't nearly killed this time. You would think that after becoming an Alicorn I would be put in less life-threatening situations. Unfortanetly since my ascension I had been nearly killed once. Then forced to learn from my would be assassin. Upon hearing a small cough I stopped that train of thought before it soured the rest of my day. Turning towards the noise I could see that it was Shining Armor trying to get my attention.

“Would you like to see any part of the school at the moment or would you prefer to follow me to my classes?” He asked with a small smile.

“I am fine with going to your classes after all I did request to see what an average day at this school would be like.” I returned a smile of my own as I answered him. Turning to my two guards who had essentially flown away while they had left me to fend for myself. Hmm, that would be an adequate punishment. “Since the two of you were content to throw me to the Timber Wolves I would say that for the next week you two will have the privilege of assisting me re-learn to fly.”

Seeing the two guards' ponies blanch brought a smile to my lips.

“Fair enough I guess. Could always be worse than helping the baby Alicorn learn how to use your wings.” Rebound chuckled. When I fell to the ground I would be sure to use him as a cushion.

“Oh, so you were originally a Unicorn? Or I guess an Earth Pony?” Shining Armor asked with a thoughtful expression on his face. That did nothing to cease the heat that rushed to my cheeks. I had completely forgotten he was here. “Yeah, I have heard from a few of my friends that learning to fly is difficult at first, but with enough practice, it becomes second nature. Something that they would never be able to forget.” This was mortifying. It may have been more kind if Principal Cinch had killed me.

“Nope Princess over there was born and raised a Pegasus but has forgotten how to fly. So my dearest partner and I have just been conscripted to help her relearn flying 101.” Rebound spoke what he didn't know were potentially going to be his last words. Gentle figured out that the longer her partner continued to speak would be detrimental to him once more shut his mouth. I shot her a thankful look and pointedly ignored the look of indignation that came from Rebound.

“So I keep putting my hooves in my mouth around you huh.” Shining Armor started with a small chuckle. A far cry from the terrified colt that was with me in the principal's office. “If you wouldn't mind me apologizing in advance for any other slights that I may perform in your presence.” He concluded with a shallow bow.

“A princess has the prerogative to change her mind. But for now, I shall forgive you for previous indiscretions.” I returned, lifting my chin slightly so I could look down at him even more than usual. We each held our position for a moment before we both chuckled. “Shining Armor I do believe that this will be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.”

“Call me Shining every pony does.” He says with a shrug.

“Shining then” I responded with a soft smile upon my lips.

Author's Note

Shining armor makes his appearance to the surprise of even the author. Will admit that on the first draft/outline/spit-balled ideas thing that he was nowhere to be found. Yet here he is being cowed by a rather inconspicuous principal. How things change for the better. He has definitely been a fun character to write even if he has come off a little OOC(There are reasons that should hopefully justify that.) That aside the world has continued to open up as we are no longer only looking into the Canterlot Castle.

7. Back Library Dealings

Back Library Dealings

Cadance

After properly introducing my two not-so-gallant guards to Shining we made our way to his first-class 'Introduction to Advanced Spellcraft’ which was held in one of the outer buildings of Canterlot High. We went about halfway into the building before coming across a silvered door with a sun and a moon chasing after each other etched into it.

“Introduction to Advanced Spellcraft taught by Professor Obtuse Parallel,” Shining said as we stood in front of the door. My two guards followed us a few hoof steps behind.

“Gentle, Rebound, why don't the two of you stay out here while I watch the class?” I questioned only half turning my head to glance at my two golden-covered guards. They shot each other a glance as Rebound stepped up.

“I am sorry Princess but we are tasked with keeping you in eyesight the entire time you were outside of the castle’s walls.” He stated ignoring the sigh that came from the now-slumping Pegasus beside him. Oh? That is an interesting task. I wonder why it was that they were only now planning to follow it. “Princess-”

“I do believe that I should be perfectly safe within a classroom of all places, my fearless guards.” I calmly spoke, cutting off Rebound. Imagining instead of myself speaking, Celestia addressing her ponies. Stepping into her hooves I continued “After all, I have already braved far more dangerous tidings.” Rebound attempted to keep his facade up but I could see his wings twitch. Gentle just shrugged and pulled her partner back next to her.

“Why don't we wait outside the door and allow the Princess to spread her wings,” Gentle said with a smirk. Rebound didn't even attempt to cover the snickers that fell from his mouth. Even Shining looked amused at the byplay that was happening before him.

“After you, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza” Shining said with a shallow bow to his head as he pushed the door open to the classroom. I smiled at him. He would regret that. I had told him multiple times on the trot over to call me Cadance. Thanks to his declaration the ponies that were within the classroom were immediately alerted to the presence of royalty in their midst. Only the professor, a sluggish brown Unicorn, didn't seem to care, as every pony else's eyes quickly glued themselves to my form.

A smile appeared as I waved my wing in a short greeting to every pony. I received a few smiles in return but their eyes stayed glued to me until the teacher broke the still silence that had permeated the room since I had stepped in.

“Ah yes class, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza will be joining us today to observe how our school instructs and teaches you.” Professor Parallel’s horn glowed gray as the only empty seat quickly split into two. “Please take a seat Princess and if you have any questions feel free to raise a hoof.” He said with a nod before he returned to his lecture. I glanced towards Shining before I made my way to one of the seats slipping into it while he took the other. That was when I felt the gazes slip from me as the whispers seeped into the air.

“And Shining Armor strikes again. I didn't realize he was going after royalty.” A Unicorn from the back of the room whispered.

“First the top student of Princess Celestia’s academy, now the new princess.”

“Truly no pony is safe from his hooves.”

Quickly glancing around I now found that while the class was paying attention to the teacher's lecture a few of them were shooting looks toward Shining. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be relieved that all the attention was no longer on me or… I'm not even sure what else I am supposed to be feeling. Especially considering what I had just overheard. Thank you ascension and the improved senses. Taking a moment to close my eyes and breathe in and recenter myself. I pictured myself in the throne room of the crystal castle.

It wouldn't do me any good to freak out, especially in the middle of a classroom. I was glad that I was no longer being gawked at by the masses. The things I overheard were rather interesting. According to his classmates, Shining was a play pony. Glancing back toward the subject of my current thoughts. Shining was intently staring at the board and the professor as he was explaining the proper way to set up a ritual.

Seeing his quill flying over the parchment in front of him taking notes, if not transcribing what the professor was saying, word for word. I couldn't see it. That however didn't mean that it wasn't true.

“You understand everything Princess Cadance?” Shining asked after catching my gaze lingering on him. Professor Parallel was doing an adequate job of explaining the ways to ensure that a ritual isn't contaminated by outside sources. I nodded and saw him flash me a bright smile before turning his head back to the front of the classroom.

I spent the next two hours watching the lesson and learning the various ways that ponies could fail to make a ritual. The majority of them were having to do with inscribing something wrong or as Professor Parallel had kept repeating.

“If a pony has any doubt in their heart the ritual will pick up on this, so before any of you all go and start to make your own. Ensure that you can believe in your skill and effort otherwise, you may be spending an extended stay within the hospital.” I mimed out as everyone but Shining and myself left the classroom. Turning to the white Unicorn next to me with an exaggerated sigh “Does he always sound like Sunset when she has gotten no sleep for the last two weeks? They both keep repeating portions of their lessons as if they had forgotten they had already spoken it.”

Shining paused putting the rolled-up scroll he had been furiously writing upon the entire class into his saddlebag. Turning to me with his mouth open but with no noise coming out of it. Frowning, I waited for whatever he was going to say.

“You live in the Canterlot Castle with Princess Celestia right?” He asked after a pause. His gaze not completely meeting mine. I couldn't help but tilt my head in confusion. He knew I was a Princess so where else would I live?

“Yes?” I couldn't help the confusion in my voice. “Is there something wrong with that?”

“There is nothing wrong with that, I just put something together, don't mind it,” Shining spoke as he plastered a smile onto his face. He was not a good liar.

“If you don't want to tell me you don't have to, but I am going to be with you the rest of the day and it may be a little awkward,” I said stretching my wings as I made to leave the room. Pausing at the door and glancing back. Upon seeing the plastered smile still upon Shining's lips I exited the classroom leaving him alone.

“See Gentle, I told you our dearest Princess hadn't been captured.” Rebound said with a wicked grin as he quickly gathered the playing cards that were between the two of them. On a table. Pausing, I once more took a look over Gentle and Rebound. Nope wasn't going crazy. Some pony had brought out a small table and two chairs for my guards.

“I am not even going to ask.” I started moving forwards to stand against the opposite wall while I waited for Shining to exit the classroom. After all, I was the one shadowing him.

“Learn anything interesting?” Gentle asked as she finished folding the chairs and tables.

“Learned about how to properly prepare a ritual and about the many, many ways it could fail,” I responded with a shrug. “While it was certainly informative I wouldn't classify it as interesting.” She nodded as she pushed the table at Rebound while she grabbed the two now folded chairs.

“And where is the illustrious protector, Shining Armor after all we entrusted your safety into his capable hooves.” Rebound said while swooning against the table. It was actions like this that made me question how he and Gentle were together. I then glanced over to Gentle and saw the hidden amusement gleaming in her eyes and remembered.

“He should be along in just a moment,” I responded by taking a glance towards the doorway and seeing the subject of our discussion stepping through. Shining no longer had the false smile upon his face instead adopting a bemused grin as he spotted Rebound.

“Should I report to any pony in particular that a royal guard is taking a break instead of looking after his charge?” Shining says as Rebound sputters something about being betrayed by his brother. Shaking my head I turned towards Shining.

“So what is next on your agenda for today?”

“Well, I have a break in classes for the next two hours. Usually, I would spend this time going to the library to study. However, if there is any place, in particular, you would like to visit I would happily guide you.” The smile that forms on his lips is not as large as some that I have seen, but it is a far cry better than the brittleness of the fake smile he had previously on his face.

“I would be happy to visit the library with you.” Rebound proceeded to mutter something to Gentle in such a low voice that I could not pick up what was said. However, whatever was whispered caused Gentle to slap her wing aside his head. Both Shining and I spared glances to the two guards who now with both of our gazes upon them proceeded to act as if nothing had just happened.

Shining then shrugged before leading the way toward the Canterlot High library. All the while reading off a speech that expounded upon the history of the school. Rude or not I had little interest in the history of the school so I spent most of the walk to the library pony-watching the other students. Seeing how they reacted to a member of pony royalty within their midst. I still had ponies staring at me until I left their vision and ponies refusing to impede my path.

In comparison to how I had been swarmed this morning, it was a vastly improved response. Hopefully, by the time I was able to come to this school regularly, I would be able to walk without causing the other students so much stress. At least as Principal Cinch had stated that the teachers were going to treat me as any other pony that was going to this school. Based on the performance of Professor Parallel that seemed to indeed be true. I would have said before the end of the class that I would at least have one pony that didn't either cower or bow down before me.

Tuning my attention to the silver and blue Unicorn that was still dutifully leading the way to the library. I couldn't help but wonder what was so wrong about living in Canterlot Castle. The grounds were beautiful, the library had all manner of books and scrolls, and there of course was the Princess herself. Err. Princesses at this point I guess. Yeah, that was still a tad strange.

Shaking my head to clear the tangent of thoughts that could lead me astray. Just put it in as simple terms as you can Cadance. If there was something wrong either Shining would bring it up or he wouldn't. Either way, he seems willing to be cordial and even friendly. You can at least return the favor.

“Ladies and gentle ponies, I welcome you to the library.” Shining proceeded to stage whisper as he gestured towards the ornate wooden doors that stood ajar before us. Several ponies already were inside checking out books or even reading at one of the many tables that were positioned around the bookshelves. “If it is alright with the Princess shall we enter the abode of books and precious knowledge?” He said, turning his gaze to mine a smile once more cresting upon his face.

“The Princess deigns to allow such a…” I started all haughtily but quickly trailed off. Luckily Gentle came to my rescue.

“Proposition”

“Yes, proposition,” I said with as much regality as I could muster. I was shameless in taking Gentle's idea for my own. The royal guard existed to protect the Princesses and in this situation she allowed me to continue on this verbal match with Shining. Shining just chuckled at being bested before in his normal voice.

“Fair enough, I submit to the might of Equestrian royalty. In all seriousness is there anything, in particular, you would want to look for in the library?”

“Well, you wouldn't happen to have anything on hidden kingdoms? Or anything to do with crystal castles?” I asked after a moment of consideration. I had been meaning to look into both since I had been brought to Canterlot by Celestia. Unfortunately, my days were quite filled with other events. Even when I managed to get some time to myself there were more pressing difficulties to deal with. Especially in the first week when I had a bit more free time I was busy making sure that I didn't bump into Sunset accidentally.

Shining just shot me a look that didn't exactly bring me joy. Did I ask another stupid question? Great first whatever Shining won't tell me about with the castle and now this. I was on a roll. Turning towards my two guards to see if they had anything to add, as the silence of Shining just staring at me was getting to me. Gentle was standing at attention trying her best to look threatening, of course, the effect was severely diminished by the folding chairs that she had leaning against her. Rebound I could tell was off mind wandering in the clouds.

“I don't suppose you mean the Crystal Empire?” Shining asked slowly as if he was talking to a foal. My cheeks warmed as I turned away from him.

“Potentially,” I muttered. Taking a breath and pushing a smile to my face as I turned back to Shining. “So is this ‘Crystal Empire’ both a hidden kingdom, while also having something to do with… Never mind. What do you know about it?”

Shining let out an amused chuckle but motioned for me to follow him. He led me into the library past where every pony was. It was only when we came across a locked door did he stop and turned back towards me. His horn lit up pink as we were both encased in a semi-transparent silver sphere of incandescent light. I could feel a slight shift in the air around me as it felt as if a thin layer of fog was now blanketing me.

“I know you're new to everything relating to royalty but I do have a deal if you're interested. Knowledge of the Crystal Empire has been purposely spread thin. It is one of the worst stains on Equestrias's record. So most ponies, even if they know something about it, won't speak of it. I however can get you information on it in exchange for some other information.”

I frowned glancing back toward where I saw both Rebound and Gentle calmly talking without a care in the world. “Illusion spell. I'm not the best at it so if you wouldn't mind answering quickly.” Shining quickly said as my eyes turned back to him.

“What sort of information do you want in return?” I said my voice holding as much steel as I could gather. Shining gulped and took a half step back.

“Nothing bad, just some healing magic.” He quickly stated. Catching my incredulous look he continued. “I have a friend and she has been hurt for a long time. I know that there is something that can be done to fix her condition.” He pauses then continues “Thanks to Sunset Shimmer I know that the answer is somewhere inside the Canterlot Castle.”

This was an awful lot of trouble to go through just to heal a friend. Threatening some pony an Alicorn Princess nonetheless. I sighed, shaking my head. I could at least hear him out.

“Drop the spell, I'll have my guards give us some space to make a deal.” Shining’s face lit up like a Hearth's Warming tree. He wasn't the type to do this. He dropped the spell a second later. “Rebound, Gentle wait here for a moment.” They both nodded and immediately set up the table and chairs. I couldn't stifle the sigh that slipped from my muzzle. I was still mortal for the moment and I got assigned these two?

Looking away from my two protectors who immediately set up their poker game towards Shining. “Lead on Shining.” Shining nodded and a small crystal green key encased in a feint pink glow. It slid into the keyhole and with a click the door groaned open revealing a room with a single table and half a dozen more bookshelves.

“Keep the door open I don't want to be the one to explain to the Princess wh-” Rebound was thankfully quieted by Gentle as she once more proved her namesake wrong. Ignoring the blush I stepped into the room followed by a red-tinged Shining. He refused to meet my eyes which I was thankful for as he closed the door leaving about four inches open.

“Alright, give me a moment to remember the equations for the silencing spell,” Shining said as he closed his eyes.

“So you are planning to do something that will make a lot of noise? I wonder whatever may that might be?” Shining at this point has his mouth open, his eyes wide as saucers as he is staring at me. I went for the kill “Does it involve me somehow?” I say with my voice taking a sultry tone. My eyes never left him as I stepped forwards closing the distance between the two of us.

That was what broke the Unicorn before me. Red as a tomato his horn flashed pink and a shield bubbled into existence around the now beet-red Unicorn. I burst out laughing at the expression of terror that is splayed across his face. “So I will take this as confirmation that you aren't a play pony trying his luck with the newest Princess then.” The terror on Shining’s face is replaced with annoyance.

“Just because your best friend is the mare at the top of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns doesn't mean that you're a play pony. How did you even hear about that? I have been with you all day.” Shining sputtered out as his shield fell. I simply shrugged my wings and sat in one of the chairs. It wasn't made with Pegasus in mind as the carvings kept poking into my wings.

“Should I take this ‘mare-friend’ of yours as the same one that you are trying to heal?” I asked, stressing the mare-friend portion. My matchmaker instincts were blazing as I sought to uncover the truth of the matter.

“We are just friends and yes,” Shining said his cheeks still holding their warmth.

“You want to be more?”

“Of course, I want to be” Shining cut himself off looking adorably embarrassed. I couldn't hold back the squee that erupted from my throat. This was the perfect love story. The setup was perfect all Shining needed to do was present his soon-to-be mare-friend with the spell. After she is healed he will reveal how he feels and of course, the feelings would be reciprocated.

“Why didn't you start with that? Future Princess of Love here.” I gushed as I leaped from my chair and pushed Shining into one. “If you had told me you were going this far for your sweetheart I couldn't have said no. I have read stories just like this, your quest to cure your lover's ailment. I still want the information on the Crystal Kingdom, however.”

Shining just dazedly nodded as I triumphantly grinned as I moved back towards my chair. “So how did you meet? Please tell me you were defending her from some schoolyard fillies?”

“It was more of her defending me from them.” Shining states before meeting my gaze. “Wait, you're the Princess of Love, how does that work? Do you control love like Princess Celestia controls the sun?” That question gives me pause for a moment as it was something that I was unclear about.

“Not sure yet really. Celestia said that as I grew older I would come into my power more.” I said with a shrug. “Wait, no talking about me. We are here to discuss your mare-friend.” Once more I stressed mare-friend and once more Shining blushed. However, unlike previously he stood his ground.

“Does it matter how we met? I thought we were here to discuss our deal regarding an exchange of information.” He rushed out.

“Fine I don't need to know that, but I do want to know if you plan on confessing your feelings after you give her the cure?” Shining me down and I easily met his gaze. I had faced down far scarier Unicorns and survived.

“I was more concerned with getting her the spell and making sure she was alright,” Shining spoke with a bland tone. “You know something, I think I will take this as confirmation that every pony in that castle is touched in the head.” Well, that was rude.

“Including Princess Celestia?” I couldn't help but snidely ask.

“There isn't much but according to some old texts she murdered her sister to claim the throne,” Shining spoke as if he didn't casually talk about regicide by the ruler of Equestria. “Plus she has to deal with the nobles and as the scion, to a low-tiered house I can tell you that they all suck.”

“How about we move onto the deal itself and maybe forget about this last portion of the conversation?” I didn't plead with Shining but he understood that this turn in the conversation was an unwanted one. “To get the basics out of the way you want the spell that can help heal your friend and in return, I will get the information you have on the Crystal Kingdom.”

“Crystal Empire.” Shining proved once more how helpful he was going to be as he corrected me. “But yes all I want is that spell and in turn, I will happily help you research it and give you the information my family has on the matter,” Shining concluded with his mouth set into a thin line. Did he truly think I would turn this down?

“Deal,” I said shrugging. “A quick warning however the Castle library is enormous so it may take me some time to find the spell even with the help of the librarians.” I then considered my two guards outside “Well and the help of Gentle and Rebound. Oh, what is the spell I am even looking for?” That could have been annoying if I had forgotten to figure out what spell he was looking for.

“I don't know its name but it can heal a broken Unicorn's horn,” Shining spoke in a soft tone but I couldn't help the wince. That was one of the worst injuries any Unicorn could receive and I even knew that there was no cure. From what the medic-ponies Celestia had examined me had said that the pony would consume itself as it couldn't properly regulate its magic. Often only being able to make explosions of concentrated magic.

“Wait. You said that your mare-friend is at the top of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. With a broken horn?” I asked incredulously. Shining just grinned and nodded. “How much control does she have over her magic to not explode every time she casts a spell? Wait, don't answer that's rude. Sorry I am still learning the does and don'ts of Unicorns.”

“It's all good just don't ask her about it she gets enough of it as is. But that aside, couldn't you just ask Sunset Shimmer to point you toward the book?” Shining asked and upon seeing my reaction which I apparently didn't cover as well as I had hoped backtracked “Great she’s a demon to you as well.” He just fell silent, shaking his head in disgust.

“She is tutoring me” I offered as an offering of hope. “Even without her, I am sure that I can find the book after all. The book should be in the medical section of the library and that alone reduced the amount I have to search.” I say forcing a smile on my face.

“If you're being taught by Sunset Shimmer, why are you here?” Shining asked with an odd tilt to his voice. “You are being taught by the strongest Unicorn in what is thought to be ever and you are coming to Canterlot High? I mean I can understand why you didn't want to go to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. That place has numerous problems. But most Unicorns would fight horn and hoof to be taught by her.”

I couldn't help but shrug, my wings strutting outwards a little as I let the excitement get to me for a moment. Taking a deep breath and folded them back to my side. I answered Shinings questions.

“To make friends, and in case you haven't noticed she may be strong but she is also dangerous. I can tell you firsthand how hot she can make her flames. And as you said she is a little demon at times. I swear I wanted to apologize to her for a mistake and what did she do? She teleported away from me.” I said, attempting to keep my voice level. I was not successful.

“You really aren't from around here, are you? Don't bother answering that, it's obvious. Well if you can't ask Sunset to give you the information couldn't you trick her into helping you? Or you're a princess couldn't you technically order her to tell you where the spell is?”

“Going by that reasoning couldn't I order you to tell me all you know about the Crystal Empire without getting you your spell?” Seeing Shining blanch I could only sigh. “I'll start by looking for your spell but if I can't find it I'll ask for Sunset’s help.” Shining nodded in agreement.

“I'll start by gathering what my family has on the Crystal Empire and King Sombra. You know the post-pony system?” Shining asked as were I truly a foal and not simply raised in a small village. I ignored the slight and nodded my head. Rearranging my mane as sometime during this conversation it got slightly frazzled. “Good, we can communicate through that.”

“If that was all, would you mind if we exited this room? I can only imagine how my guards are going to attempt to embarrass me.” I said while gesturing with one of my wings toward the door. Upon receiving Shining's nod I exited it leaving him alone. Hopefully, I could spend the rest of this break within Shining's schedule to get some research of my own done.

Upon seeing my form Gentle simply waved with her wing and proceeded to, if I remember the rules correctly, get a flush. Causing Rebound to begin to complain that she is cheating.

“I see that the two of you are putting Equestrian taxes to good use,” I commented.

“You know it, Princess. Not a single bit is wasted. After all, both Gentle and I are among the royal guards who are entrusted with defending the Princesses.” Rebound shot back with a grin. “And where is the oh-so-dashing Shining Armor?” He says, throwing a look over my form towards the room I had just exited from.

“If you must know he is busy cleaning up,” I respond with a droll tone. It takes a few seconds for Rebound to put what I said together. I can see the moment when he finally does as his eyes light up and he bursts out laughing.

“I know I have said it before but I will say it again you are my favorite Princess, Princess.” He says with a smile that stretches across his entire face. Gentle at this point shakes her head and begins to once more pack up the deck of cards that they had been using. “What's next on the agenda? Are we off to some other classroom or are you and Shining Armor going to find a room that is clean to dirty?” I am both shocked and horrified by how much innuendo he can put into a single sentence.

“Unfortunately I am actually planning to use the library for its intended purpose.” Taking a second to look Rebound up and down before adopting as much regality as I could into my voice “Not that you would know what that is?”

Rebound opened his mouth to object but it was at this point Shining exited the backroom and joined us. Rebound seeing a fresh target turned his attention towards the Unicorn. Sensing the opportunity to make my escape I grabbed Gentle's attention with my wing and began to trot away from the two stallions. “Just to be clear he does know how to use the library right?” I asked Gentle once we were at the next row of books.

“We didn't spend too much time at the library, but he does know how to use the library. While he may not look like it he is rather intelligent. Rebound has always been the pony who checked over my schoolwork and even now checks over my paperwork.” Gentle admitted. Well, that means I would at least have some competent hooves assisting me while I looked for that spell.

Once I found it Shining would give me everything he has on the Crystal Empire and this King Sombra pony. I swear I had heard that name before but I couldn't place it.

“Crystals” A voice groaned into my ear. I jumped back instantly, a faint pink shield flickering into existence around me.

“Princess, what's wrong?” Gentle asked her spear at the ready and her wings unfolded. Taking a moment to look around my surroundings I saw no other pony around. Taking a deep breath I imagined myself once more on the crystal throne.

“Nothing, I thought some pony just whispered into my ear,” I remarked as I opened my eyes once more.

Author's Note

Ah, world-building how I love you. So much to include but the struggle to not just info-dump. Hopefully, I struck a good balance. But otherwise, even if Shining has his eyes on another mare he still gets along with Cadance no matter the world. Hopefully, everything will go all right with the young love. After all, it is not as if there are plenty of examples of tragedy that accompany it. Otherwise I am excited to post the next few chapters as stuff is really starting to pick up but that will be in a few weeks for you guys.
-LittleFaerieFire

8. Skulking Between the Shelves

Skulking Between the Shelves

Cadance

The rest of the day that I spent with Shining shadowing him as he went through his school day was an enjoyable experience. We thankfully didn't have another session of deal-making. I had already suffered through two such occurrences, were another to happen I was not liable for what I would do. Taking a moment to breathe out as I let the stress of the day bleed out into the air. Glancing back towards Canterlot High School I could see the students leaving, focusing in on one student, in particular, was an easy task. Especially when Shining had walked with me to the carriage. I knew he couldn't see me but I still waved one of my wings at him one more time.

It would be a long wait until I was properly crowned Princess, but afterward, I would be able to spend my time around ponies my age. Relaxing into the cushioned seat I fell into a conjured fantasy of my future in the school. Even with being a Princess most of the students would quickly get over their gawking and reverence, and I would spend my time together with a tight-knit group of friends. Of course, as the Princess of Love, I would happily give out relationship advice whenever they requested it.

That would be a nice change of pace. Instead of skulking through a castle filled with guards, staff, and Sunset. Celestia had done her best to make the transition a pleasant one but she stood firm on a few of her rulings. Such as my gilded guards, Rebound, and Gentle who were tasked to be my shield whenever I was outside of the castle's walls. Another far more annoying ruling was that I was unable to enter any place of learning until my coronation. Falling into an agitated state I lightly shook my head allowing my mane to freely catch upon the air.

Opening my eyes and seeing the beautiful sight of the Canterlot Castle in the distance. While It was indeed beautiful I could only hope that during my stay that it would not quickly lose its luster. Perhaps I could convince Celestia that I was able to enter the school as a student before my coronation earlier? It would be a matter to think upon. I had more pressing concerns such as finding the healing magic that Shining had requested and once more learning to fly.

Glancing towards the sun moving towards the horizon I made my decision as we touched down. “I will spare you both tonight but tomorrow I would prefer that you both were available to help me relearn to fly. I have gone too long without the ability to fly on my wings.” I said once more in a regal tone.

“Of course your Princessessness.” Rebound said dropping into as much of a bow as he could while still attached to the chariot. “We shall be ready to assist this fledgling flier to learn how to properly soar upon the winds.” He exclaimed with a fervor that was unmatched by Gentle. She simply nodded and separated herself from the carriage.

“What time would you want us both to assist you?” Gentle asked, turning around and meeting my eyes.

“Shall we start just after noon?” I offered to the two guards who both froze. “How about two?” I said my tone showing a sliver of apology. I didn't realize that they had a date planned for tomorrow. After watching them both glance at each other for half a minute Gentle finally nodded her head. I couldn't help but wonder if it would be preferred if I pushed it off a day. Before I could open my mouth Gentle spoke up.

“Two works for the both of us. I will make sure that we have space to practice.” She says with a short wave of her wing as she trotted off into the castle proper. Turning my eyes to Rebound who had managed to get himself stuck in the harness. I could see the colt before me begin to tremble something fierce, as his eyes began to flow with tears.

“You know I could leave you here.” I started enjoying how the crocodile tears quickly faded away, replaced by an amused glint that I quickly squashed “Gentle wouldn't even blame me. After all, which one of you was the one who spent the entire day making veiled references to both Shining and myself about several barely veiled carnal acts?” It is at this point that the colt pretending to be a stallion begins to swallow his pride.

I however shoot him a bright smile as I help him escape his confines. “It was amusing to see Shining blush. However, he does have a mare that he already has his eyes on so in the future I would ask that you stop when I ask you to or I will look into transferring you to Canterlot High as Principal Cinch’s aid. Did I make myself clear?” I said, not letting the cheer drop from my voice. Rebound shuddered slightly but nodded.

“Crystal” He says in a warbly-sounding voice before he rushes off in the way that Gentle went. Shaking my head at the sight of the retreating Pegasus. I wonder if he was going to tell on me to his partner? Probably not I however would likely be in store for something mildly degrading or embarrassing in return.

Shaking my head in amusement I spent a moment longer looking over the city. It truly was a masterpiece of work. A shining light that had cleansed the darkness of a once shadow-filled world. In the distance, I could faintly see the moon beginning its journey to replace the sun. Turning my back on the lunar figure I began to make my way toward the castle. Celestia would want to check up on how today went.

Moving through the castle towards the royal auditorium where Celestia held her court from dawn to dusk. I could see after a short trot the assembly that had gathered each waiting for their turns with the ruler of Equestria. It would be far easier to report to her later so I changed my destination to the library. After all, there were numerous books that I would have to search through.

Perhaps I shouldn't have allowed Rebound to escape relatively unpunished. Well, it was unlikely to matter in either the short or long term. I could always enlist the library ponies to help with my search. With my head held high, I entered the royal library and began my search for the medical magic section and a librarian.

I found the second easily enough it was the brown Unicorn that had kicked… Politely asked me to leave the library. He had his nose buried in, tilting my head slightly to read the title, “Noble Bloodlines”, a rather large book that had his entire attention. Even as I trotted over to him he made no sign that he knew that he was now in the presence of royalty. I managed to get within horns distance of him before his eyes flickered up from the pages and met my form. Instantly the once sedentary pony was a wave of motion as he turned to fully face me.

“Ah, Princess!” He squeaked out as the silver magic that held up the book shattered as its caster lost concentration. It would have impacted the ground as the pony was so busy bowing instead of saving his reading material. I prevented any potential damage to the book as I caught it with my magic before it could fall to the library's floor.

“As a librarian, shouldn't you focus on preserving knowledge and books? Not letting them slam into the floor?” I asked as he once more straightened himself before me his wide eyes still resting upon my own, but he did no longer seem as if he were about to explode.

“Ah my apologies Princess, I didn't expect any pony to patronize the library at this time.” He said before pausing and opening his mouth once more. “I never introduced myself, a thousand apologies to the future fearless ruler of the realms. I am, Storyteller.” He introduced himself with a shallow bow.

“Pleasure to meet you, Storyteller. None of the bowing is needed however as I was the one who startled you.” I said waving off his concern with my wing. I smiled before I continued “Are you busy?” I asked while gesturing to the large book that was still floating in my grasp.

“Ah, my apologies Princess.” He said as his magic enveloped mine. Huh for such an excitable pony his magic was controlled and not at all frantic. He must have spent a long time honing his control. Letting go of the book as I watched it float to his side. “And no, I was simply studying some research on Prince Blueblood’s lineage, as he is visiting this vaunted castle in a few short days. I have no interest in simply slighting him or his entourage so I hypothesized how it would be a smart move to do some serious studying.” I couldn't help but frown at what Storyteller had just said.

“Prince?” I questioned. As there were no Princes in Equestria and even if there were I would likely have been told of their existence when I had become an Alicorn. After all, I was going to become a Princess in a short while. Storyteller adopted a thoughtful look before he answers my question.

“Well not a prime Prince of royal regality, but he does hold a position of high nobility. His family claims that they can trace their lengthy lineage back to King Cobalt. His family has been claiming the titles of Prince and Princess for countless centuries. Princess Celestia has never raised an issue with the fact, so most forthright ponies don't either.” Seeing the confusion that was written across my face he sighed before proffering the book over to me. “They should arrive a day after the Griffon's ambassador.”

I accepted the book and slipped it into my saddlebag even while I winced as I thought of even more being piled onto what I needed to do. It had to be done, however. Who would have thought that to become a Princess you needed to do so much homework? Castle work technically I guess? That aside I voiced my question to Storyteller.

“Visiting nobility aside, would you be willing to point me towards the section of the library on healing magics?” I could push off the Prince that wasn't a Prince and deal with it later. Now that I thought of it the name Blueblood was vaguely familiar. Either way, I would bring it up to Celestia tomorrow. If there was a particular way I should act it would be prudent to know before he arrived.

“Of course Princess. If you wouldn't mind making your way after me?“ He asked as he began a trot deeper into the library. “I am impressed by your inquisitive nature towards the art of healing Princess. Perhaps if more ponies performed such highly patronized practices, further ponies would be protected and more potions produced.” He rambled off with a smile as he led me further into the depths of the royal library. Not once did Storyteller double back before he stopped in front of a particular section of the library. “The healing section my majesty.” He states with a grand display before continuing in his normal tone “Do you require any more assistance?”

“Thank you for your help, but unless you know which book holds a spell to fix a broken Unicorn horn, no thank you,” I responded dryly as I was looking at what appeared to be three entire bookcases that stretched on and on. This would indeed take some time. Storyteller looked pensive for a moment before speaking.

“Princess I am unsure if you know having just gotten your horn, but for most Unicorns, if we are to break our horn it is almost impossible to be fixed.” He catches the look on my face as he continues “It is the most complex tool that ponies, well most specifically Unicorns, have. I unfortunately must damn your hopes.” He once more paused before speaking the final words that crashed over me. “There is no way to heal a broken Unicorn horn.”

That… was unfortunate to the highest degree of annoyance. That does bring up why if there wasn't a spell to fix a broken horn it wasn't shared far and wide. If that were the case, Shining's soon-to-be mare friend would have had her horn restored long ago. Without this spell which didn't exist, I wouldn't be able to get easy access to the information that Shining Armors family has on the Crystal Empire.

Why would Sunset claim that there was a book that could have fixed her horn then? To taunt her opponent? To simply degrade her even further? Because she could? Was this another example of her burning another pony for amusement? Giving them hope only to let them fruitlessly strive for a false panacea.

“Princess, please, the books! Please be careful!” Storyteller exclaimed with a panicked hurry as I snapped back to reality and I could see a familiar pink hue covering the shelf that we were in front of. I couldn't help but glare at the shelf that was covered in my magic. Tilting my head to get a better look at my unconscious work, I had covered an entire bookcase and every book.

It would be all too easy to flick that mental command and will my frustrations upon the books that did not hold hope, but I took a calming breath and envisioned myself upon the crystal throne. All the while corralling my magic back from the books. It would be a pointless endeavor to destroy these books. I imagined myself within the crystalline palace and took a deep breath.

“My apologies.” I breathed out. “I was under the impression that I could find a book that had a spell that could fix a broken horn,” I said, ensuring I kept my emotions in control. It would have been disastrous if I had destroyed all of those books. So much would have been lost if I had let my temper get the best of me.

“No worries at all Princess, it looks as if there was no damage.” Storyteller said with a grimace as he checked over the books. Before he turns to me his eyes burn with excitement “Perhaps your impression is not incorrect. I do not doubt that within these books there are secrets left forgotten. After all, that is the reason why I partook in this position.” He says as books from the first bookcase begin to float over to one of the tables.

I couldn't help myself as I watched Storyteller begin to hum an off-tune. After a shelf of books had been situated at the table he nodded before making his way over. Sitting at the table and flipping open a book.

“Storyteller?” I called out in confusion. His eyes flicked up from the book towards me.

“Oh yes. What do you need, Princess, I can of course provide much more help.” He answered as if I needed more of his help.

“Why are you helping me this much?” My question must catch him off guard as the tune he is humming stops.

“I do indeed believe that this is my job?” Storyteller tilts his head in confusion. “I mean if you were to go through all these tomes by yourself Princess it would perhaps take many moons.” He continued before turning back to the book in front of him. I felt a smile stretch over my face as I trotted over towards the table. Taking a seat I copied Storyteller’s actions after I gave him my thanks.

There we sat for hours only taking a break to get some food. Storyteller waved off my concern stating that as long as I didn't use the books as plates, he would happily take the heat for eating in the library. We went through about a dozen books. From ‘The Trinity of Healing’ by Debaker and ‘Lengthening Lifespans’ by an unnamed author. When I began to read through that book, Storyteller couldn't help but chuckle. When I had asked him what was amusing about this particular book he had of course answered.

“The pony that wrote that book has quite an interesting view on the preciousness of a pony's life.” He said as if that explained why he thought that was amusing. Only upon reading the book myself did I find out why he found it amusing. The author had an amusing proclivity for alliteration I do believe. Even more so than Storyteller.

Eventually, the sun ended its journey across the sky and night began properly. I would inform Celestia about my experience in Canterlot High tomorrow. I may or may not have forgotten about informing her. She would understand, after all, I was doing this to help some pony. However when it was eventually just myself and Storyteller once more in the library. I was prepared to be once more asked to leave. Storyteller instead proceeded to once more surprise me.

“Alright, Princess I am not as much of a night pony as I used to be.” He yawned shaking his head. “Graciously give me a merry moment,” he said as he trotted out of view. Returning a minute later with a golden key floating beside him. “Just promise that you will refrain from burning down the books within the library?” he asked as the key floated over to me, setting itself down next to the book I was currently skimming through.

“Thank you, Storyteller. I promise that none of the books shall be harmed under my care.” I responded after a moment. Struck by how much he was willing to do for me. After a pause, I decided to check if he was certain about allowing me to stay later. “Are you sure that this is alright? I wouldn't want you to get into trouble with your boss.” Storyteller just made a small smile.

“I highly doubt Princess Celestia would care about me letting the newly ascended Alicorn search for a potential way to heal a pony.” He said once more, yawning. “In truth were I a younger stallion I would happily help you search through the night, but alas.” He ends off with a shrug. “Oh just be sure to lock up after your dutiful searching is done.” He said as he trotted away.

“Thank you” I called out to the hastily retreating pony. Storytellers' kindness would allow me to push forth and check through many more books tonight. While I doubted even if I stayed up all night looking through the books I would be able to get through even one-third of the first bookshelf. It was still more progress than I would have had. With the night awaiting me, I began once more my search with renewed vigor. It was only after two more food runs and getting through another dozen books that a new font of light brightened the library.

Instead of the enchanted candle that I was using it was a fountain of flames. No, it was more a torrent, a very familiar one. The flames quickly fade away as an amber Unicorn stepped through them. Sunset had somehow managed to look even worse than how she had during our lesson two days ago. Her mane was somehow even more frazzled, but what was most concerning was her eyes. Easily illuminated by a floating ball of light that hovered over her side.

The twin orbs of emerald were filled with hate. Instead of the softness that is so often found in the eyes of ponies, Sunset's eyes were shards of obsidian that scanned the room. I quickly threw myself under the table. Hiding from her sight. Princess Celestia’s brooch or not you don't go poking an angry dragon. A moment later the air quickly heated. Taking a moment to still the pounding of both my heart and ears I continued to watch as Sunset’s gaze searched for any pony unfortunate enough to still be in the library.

After a tense minute, Sunsets' eyes stopped their search and I watched her eyes soften slightly as she continued deeper into the library. Moving past my impromptu hiding spot did I once more allow myself to take a breath that I didn't realize I had been holding? Taking a moment to just relax as I had just potentially escaped an early end. However, my relaxation was soon cut short as I could hear the ramblings of my teacher.

“Just a few more days of suffering then I will return to your oh-so-loving embrace.” I could hear Sunset snarl out into the air. “Just wait until I finish up my work then you can sink your claws into my flesh.” She calls out into the darkness, her tone was no longer harsh but exhausted.

“Well, then Cadance time to prove to yourself that Celestia didn't make a mistake,” I muttered to myself as I prepared to do one of the most foolish things I had ever attempted. I took a long glance at the way toward the exit to the library before wrenching my gaze away and working myself out from underneath the library table. Taking one more deep breath as I made my way toward where I heard Sunset.

While I will admit to not usually being a pony that sticks to the shadows and skulks toward an unsuspecting pony. I was happy to make an exception in this case. Following the wild speech that Sunset continued to say, almost as if she was talking to some pony else. Ranging from talks of dancing shades, lost castles, and something regarding the Tale of Two Sisters foal-hood tale.

However, as I peered around the corner of the bookshelf I could see Sunset alone amidst a pile of books. Angling my head to spy the subjects of what she was researching so late at night. The books were all about teaching a Pegasus how to use its tribal magic in various ways. From controlling the weather to even a book that I recognized on how to relearn flying after a wing injury.

I watched in bewilderment as she had multiple books open in front of her all the while a feathered quill danced over a scroll. Every so often Sunset would replace one of the floating books with a new one from the shelf next to her. Placing the previous book back onto the shelf with precise care. I then continued to watch her for some time until once more the library was bathed in light. However, in comparison to Sunset's fiery arrival, this light was more comparable to the birth of the sun.

Celestia now stood tall in front of Sunset. Her incandescent mane somehow waved despite there being no wind. I couldn't see her face but I could tell by her tone that she was displeased with her student. Sunset’s face shifted back to the one that she had held during the tea party. A mask of calm indifference. But once more her eyes adopted a manic glee that threatened to escape her emerald orbs.

“I find myself uncertain if I should chastise you for staying up so late into the night or morning,” Celestia said with an edge to her voice. “I believe that we have talked about you getting the required amounts of sleep a growing Unicorn needs?” Celestia questioned Sunset, her voice no longer holding the edge. Now only holding concern. However, Sunset's demeanor didn't change.

Sunset simply levitated the books back onto their shelves, rolled up the scroll, and responded to Celestia in an even tone.

“My apologies Princess Celestia. Do you require my assistance for anything?” Sunset asked as she stared back toward Celestia, who had slumped slightly at Sunset’s response.

“Sunset this isn't healthy. You can't continue to substitute sleep with magic. You are going to irrevocably harm yourself at this rate. What could be so important that you haven't gotten any sleep in over a week?” Celestia asked as she stepped forwards towards Sunset.

“I am prioritizing my time to succeed at one of the tasks that you have assigned me.” Sunset calmly states as the rolled-up scroll floats over to Celestia. Unrolling before her. Celestia takes a moment to read it as I attempt to read it over her mane. Unfortunately for me, Celestia is taller than most ponies.

“You have been going without sleep so you could finish your lesson plans for Cadance?” Celestia said in exasperation. Wait. What? Why would Sunset do that? That makes no sense at all. How would she even finish the lesson plans? We have only gone through two lessons? Celestia thankfully was as confused as I was. “There is no need to prepare months ahead of your current learning material Sunset. I appreciate your efforts and I know Cadance does as well. But like myself, I know she would prefer you to get some sleep. Why would you do something so foolish like getting no sleep so you could finish up your lesson plans?” I could hear the sunny smile that had been placed upon Celestia’s lips.

Celestia’s magic encases the scroll of lesson plans as she shakes her head slightly. “Why don't you head back to your room and get some sleep? Then how about you and I spend the entire day tomorrow together? I would be happy to-.”

“I wanted to ensure that even after I leave the castle she can continue her lessons uninterrupted.” Sunset interrupts Celestia, her words laced with ice. “After all, you are too busy with your duties as Princess.” I can see Celestia recoil back as were she physically struck.

“Sunset? What do you mean to leave the castle?” Celestia asks Sunset as she steps closer to her student. Sunset simply shrugs as her gaze I can only assume continues to match Celestia’s.

“I have put together plans for a small trip that would allow me to search for lost relics.” Sunset says and then continues with a tilt of her head “My apologies if you had wanted me to strike out on my own. I would of course be able to change-”

“Sweet heavens Sunset,” Celestia shouts, taking a deep breath before continuing. “Why would you say something like that?” She says as she closes the gap between the two of them. Sunset simply tilts her head in I would say confusion but for the first time, I can see the emotion in her eyes. I took a step back in bewildered horror as I can see the depths of hate in her emerald eyes for a singular second. All focused on the pony showing only concern for her.

“I didn't want you to worry about me pushing off any of my responsibilities. So I have proceeded to ensure that even after my departure she will be able to continue to master her new talents.” Sunset calmly says however I can feel the air becoming heated and If I can feel it I know that Celestia can.

“Sunset Shimmer what are you going on about? If this is about your actions when you first met I can assure you that-” Celestia stops whatever she was about to say as her head twists towards the ceiling. Quickly turning her head back towards Sunset “I am needed elsewhere. This conversation is not over. I know you have promised but that is not an excuse to work yourself to an early grave.” Celestia says before once more a blinding light permeates the library. When it fades only the amber Unicorn remains.

It is only now that I realize that I had listened in on something that I should not have. Instead of listening in on a conversation between master and apprentice, it felt much more personal. Which lead to me connecting a few other odd pieces of information that I would need to sort out later. I began to make my way out of the library but am propelled into a bookcase by the torrent of burning heat that originates from behind me.

“My apologies for once more getting in your way Princess. I am trying to get out of your way so you can be happy with your new perfect Princess.” I can hear Sunset snarl out as the heat increases in temperature. Without thinking I turn on my frog and rush back to Sunset. Even as I step in front of the bookcase to try to get her attention she doesn't seem to see me. I can see her however as she is trembling from horn to hoof. Her eyes were wide and frantically moving around.

“Sunset Calm down!” I shout out at her as I charge toward her. The heat this close to her is oppressive and I swear I can see books starting to smolder. Even as I can feel the familiar feeling of my coat beginning to singe I continue towards her. Even as the temperature skyrockets Sunset begins to convulse more profusely.

“I am sorry that I am not able to be perfect for you. I have tried everything. What else do you want me to do?” She starts off screaming but her voice falls to a whimper. “I'm sorry Celestia that I am such a failure.” were her final words before her eyes turn pitch black as she collapses. Ignoring the burning of my wings I managed to catch her with my wings before she planted her face into the floor.

“Sunset are you alright?” I asked in desperation as I cradled her still twitching form. She didn't respond, however. The oppressive warmth that had permeated the air was quickly fading as the one who had fueled its existence was no longer conscious. “Damn it Sunset,” I couldn't help but grumble. The unconscious form of Sunset didn't respond leaving me with little choice in what I had to do.

Author's Note

Concluding the final of the first four Cadance POV chapters with both a bang and a whimper. I am happy with how this chapter turned out even after all the trouble I remember it giving me. A bunch more setup but also some callbacks + some foreshadowing. All in all, Cadance has had a long day. Don't worry Sunset is about to have an even longer one.
-LittleFaerieFire

9. Ashen Alliances

Ashen Alliances

Sunset

I could faintly hear my name being repeatedly called. Celestia's voice sounded strange however I snuggled into her warmth. Enjoying the feeling of being wrapped in her wings. Hopefully whatever I had done this time wasn't able to cause her any annoyance. My name kept being repeated even after I informed Celestia that I needed another five minutes. It wasn’t as if I ever took a late morning. I had a horrible feeling at the base of my horn along with a killer headache. Not that I told her, as if I did she would no doubt have me ferried away towards the infirmary.

“Sunset Shimmer if you don't open your eyes right now I will go grab Celestia and-.” A voice pierced the warmth of the darkness as I cracked open my eyes and saw instead of white, pink. I instantly spun a teleportation spell to free myself from this prison of flesh and feathers. All I received was a brutal headache as I began to clutch my head. “Sunset!” the parasite exclaimed as it positioned its wings to prevent my escape. Grimacing and ignoring the throbbing in my head I began to plan my escape.

Alicorn newly ascended or not I wouldn't be able to brute force my way out of its grapple. I would have to either somehow spin enough magic together to escape or let my captor give me enough distance to run. Narrowing my eyes and looking through the feathers that covered most of my vision I could see an all too familiar ceiling. It was the library. I couldn't help the groan that slipped past my lips as the events before my capture filtered back to the front of my conscience. Well, there went the small chance that Princess Celestia would save me. I scoffed at the thought, swallowing the bile that threatened to make its way from my stomach. I would face my death with dignity.

“Get on with it.” I sharply interrupted whatever drivel the parasite had been spouting. The parasite adopted a face that was strange upon its muzzle. It even tilted its head and I could see the cogs being spun behind its eyes as it processed what to do. Did it not have the plan to kill me already in place? Perhaps I would be able to get one over the parasite and escape? That would certainly knock it down a few pegs as it failed to kill a Unicorn that did not have access to her magic.

“Get on with what?” The parasite questioned her voice littered with confusion. DId it truly expect me to beg? Never. Not to it of all ponies. If it wanted to step into my hooves it could only do so after my corpse had begun to cool. I did not respond, only shooting a glare at it. We both knew what was going to happen. Taking the time that the parasite had foolishly offered to turn inwards I felt the rumbling from my stomach escalate as I figured out how much mana I could access before I had run dry. “Sunset are you alright you took a nasty fall after turning the library into a desert?” It asked with false concern dripping from its tongue.

“I am perfectly f-.” I started.

“Sunset you are not fine you collapsed and have been convulsing on the floor for the last few hours! The only reason that you aren't in the infirmary is that I couldn't remove you from my side without you harming yourself further!” She all but shouted into my ear. Her voice was tainted with anger as her wings shifted slightly allowing me to see the singed patches of a blackened pink coat.

Oh. I instantly stopped my planning and allowed myself to go limp. My life was already over. It would probably be kinder for her to kill me than allow Celesia to get ahold of me. I could feel the cold of tears begin to form before I forced a hoof to remove them. “Sunset?” The parasite whispered my name as her wings fell back to their previous place surrounding me.

“I know I don't have any goodwill to spend, but I would ask that you do it swiftly and not let Celestia see the remains,” I said in the best even tone that I could force. I met the eyes of my executioner and then waited. If the parasite was to simply constrict its wings and strangle me I could replace her visage with Celestia's. A smile filtered over my lips as I imagined it. The pony that saved me, being the pony who killed me. It was poetic.

“Ok I know I am not the best at understanding you, sweet Celestia I don't think anyone can, but could you please explain what you just said.” The parasite said as she angled my head to meet hers. Her mane, which fell to the side of her head cupping her face, was covered in soot that didn't spoil the beautiful trio of colors if anything it-. “Sunset please answer me.” I shrugged the best I could, wincing as blades dug into my joints.

“Please kill me quickly and don't let Celestia see my corpse.” I slowly spoke for the parasite's sake. I guess that I would be forced to beg for my death. I wonder how long this would be dragged out before I was put out of my misery. It wasn't as if I could complain either way. I had no room to speak. I had certainly envisioned this happening to the Alicorn before me countless times. Ah, it looks like the parasite has finished its plan.

“Sunset.” The parasite started with some difficulty before taking a deep breath and continuing “Why am I supposedly killing you?” The Alicorn before me asked in a stilted fashion as her eyes flashed purple. I could feel my heart pounding into my ribcage as my mouth opened.

“Because I attacked you again,” I said with a shrug. It was that simple. After all, Celestia had explained in thorough detail what happens when some pony dared to attempt harm on an Alicorn Princess. Even while I recovered in the infirmary after our initial meeting I had feared that Celestia would change her ruling even after I had promised. Turns out I had once more broken a promise to the only pony who mattered. Upon seeing the disbelieving eyes that continued to pierce into my own I continued “Equestria has a death penalty in place for those that attempt to harm an Alicorn Princess. The only reason that I wasn't already dead was that Celestia decided to spare me.”

I enjoyed the look of sheer terror that spread through the Alicorn's face. Even knowing that it was fake I could at least immerse myself into the facade before my end. Celestia wasn't here to witness it. That was both a blessing and a curse. Smiling, I continued, “I don't think that I'll be spared this time.“

With that, the Alicorn fell silent. I took the time to take a breath and ignore the slight wetness that went down my throat with the fresh gasp of air. Turning my gaze slightly from the only other pony that was in the library towards the books surrounding us. They didn't even look singed. One less thing for the librarians to complain about after I am executed. I could imagine the small tight frown that would adorn the face of my sunlit executioner. Celestia had only ever frowned around me. Looking back on my replacement I could only hope that the upgrade would cause her to frown less.

“Sunset, I don't want to kill you. I may not like you, but even after everything you have done I don't want you to be harmed.” The pink Alicorn spoke softly and calmly as if she was trying to get a rather belligerent foal to listen to her. “And this was an accident you didn't even know that I was in the library. I know Celestia will be willing to wave it off.” She says with a smile that was a clear imitation of Celestia’s. I couldn't help but tilt my head slightly, ignoring the ringing in my ears, and frown at her.

“After nearly killing you the first time we met. You're not planning to sentence me to death? You do realize how much better your life would be without me in it?” I asked unsure at this point if I was playing into my death or if the pony in front of me was truly that senile. She was letting the perfect opportunity to get rid of future competition and danger live. Why? It made no sense. She could remove me from the board entirely and with my death, she would cement herself as the best. After all, she was already Princess Celestia's dear niece.

“Sunset I am not sure how to make this clear-” the Alicorn paused as her eyes once more flashed purple and pulled my head closer. “- I am not planning on killing you!” She concluded with a huff. “If anything I am more concerned with what was causing you to suffer in your sleep. You were crying and whimpering for Celestia to save you.” Her eyes softened as she loosened her wings grasp around me.

I simply plastered a smile on my face and answered the question. Ignoring the shaking fit that was cascading down my body. I could feel a phantom hoof caressing my face and I knew that if I was not held by the pink Alicorn before me I would have attacked the phantom feeling.

“My apologies-.” I started but barely got a word in before the pony that had captured me interrupted.

“I don't care for the sidestepping that you do with Celestia.” The Alicorn said with an odd look on her face. “Does Celestia even know about your night terrors?” She asked in a low voice that I would have struggled to hear were I not barely a horn length away from her muzzle.

“Of course, Princess Celestia knows about them. Who do you think gave me them as punishment?” I bit out and watched with glee as the parasite flinched backward giving me enough space to wriggle free. Struggling to gain my balance I continued to keep the parasite off its own. “Did you truly think that I would have suffered through them for years for no reason?” Not that I knew what specifically I was being punished for. Not that I would let the parasite know that. “Did you truly believe that Princess Celestia secretes rainbows and is a perfect paragon of the vaunted light?” I cooed at the startled parasite. How pathetic. For all the parasite's ability at manipulation, it was filled with an unnatural amount of naivety.

“That makes no sense even with how much you love Celestia and how much Celestia lo-.” The parasite spread its wings wide before it froze as the pitiful remains of my magic saturated the air around it. Superheating it immediately. I watched as the parasite gulped, its purple eyes strained with the raging fear that consumed it. I continued moving a single hoof forwards one in front of another until I was standing in front of the parasite that was soon to be a pile of ash.

“You may have a horn and crown but I swear upon what little I hold dear, that if you continue that sentence, the Sun herself will not be able to save you.” I hiss out as the parasite's pink coat visibly pales. It takes no time before the parasite nods swiftly and silently. I turned on my frog as I trotted a few steps away muttering under my breath “I have suffered hearing that singular lie for far longer than you have been within Canterlot.”

“What lie?” The parasite foolishly asked as the meager amount of magic I had saturated the air with had dissipated. Allowing the once-heated air to cool. Perhaps without the constant reminder of the threat that I can provide to the still mortal creature, that its natural disposition is to taunt death. I scowled back as I turned to meet the parasite's gaze. Enjoying how I can see it struggling to match mine.

“That Princess Celestia thinks of me as anything more than her student.” Giving her the largest grin I could before I continued “I have had it personally confirmed by her royal majesty herself that she barely thinks of me as her pupil much less anything more.” The twisted expression that the parasite makes is one that I do believe I will remember for the rest of my life. Even with the blood that I can feel trickling down the back of my throat the way that the pink Alicorn’s mouth twisted was delicious enough to be worth the cold trickle of my life force.

The parasite needed some time to deal with the information that it had somehow been lacking. I can only hope that once I ascend that I am not rendered as intelligent as the creature before me. It would be a horrendous loss of my talents. That aside, if I were to make it out of this conversation of whole body and mind it would prove an interesting change of pace. I was unsure if the parasite was going to keep good on its statement to let me live. Either way I had recovered enough magic to at least give myself a fighting chance and as Princess Celestia certainly knows whatever I am given I will gladly run with it.

It is only after a tense few moments between the two of us still shrouded shadows of the royal library before the parasite breaks the agitated ceasefire that I had been taking advantage of. I had already planned a potential way to escape from the parasite before me, were it to turn hostile.

“Sunset, I have a request for you.” The parasite spoke as it straightened its head, meeting my gaze straight on without flinching. Oh? Does the little Alicorn Princess want to make a deal with the big scary Unicorn? This will be amusing. “You are the strongest Unicorn in Equestria, the personal student of Celestia, and have been rumored to be proficient in some of the most dangerous magics in existence.” Well then laying on the flattery a little thick there.

“Flattery will get you nowhere. Speak clearly.” If it wanted to attack me at this point it would likely fail and even if it were to succeed, I had no interest in letting my final moments be filled with more of the empty platitudes of the parasite.

“I propose an alliance between the two of us.” The parasite proudly exclaimed to my daunting horror. This was the skilled machinations of the pony that had Princess Celestia wrapped around her hoof. How? This was ridiculous.

“I would like to remind you that I recently tried to kill you and that you can have me killed by simply informing Princess Celestia about what just happened.” I couldn't help but remind the foolish creature before me. It didn't make any sense. This was some form of trap. How or in what way was beyond me at the moment, but that was the only thing that made sense.

“Just because we started on the wrong hoof doesn't mean that we have to stay as enemies. You may not like me-” I was tempted to correct the parasite that it was hatred that I felt towards it. “- and I have my reservations towards you, but together we can help each other reach our goals.” The parasite concludes with a bright smile that somehow pierces the faint darkness that we are in.

I stared at the creature before me for a second before bursting out with wicked laughter. This… I couldn't even begin to describe how stupid this was. It was only when my chest began to ache did I fall silent, locking eyes with the parasite. I could see clear annoyance swimming through the orbs of purple.

“And pray tell Princess, would you still offer that deal where my goal was to kill the sun herself?” I asked as I once more let the air around me heat. I could see that my question had gotten to the parasite as its form stiffened and its breathing pattern changed.

“You wouldn't, after all, you admitted it earlier, no matter what Celestia feels towards you and no matter the amount of hatred in your heart, you love her.” The Princess replied as her eyes once more flashed. She then moved a hoof forwards as she began to clear the distance between the two of us. I couldn't move no matter how much I strained my muscles. Nothing, I was forced to watch as the pink Alicorn closed in on me. “And as the Princess of Love, I know that in your own way, you love Celestia.” She finished only a hoof step away, her eyes still locked onto mine.

Daring me to deny what I feel towards the only pony in this world that matters? I shoot her back the best glare I could manage while I flood my blood with heat to burn away whatever she just did to me. Only when the molten feeling had fully chased away the strange heat did I respond.

“Fair enough.” I spat. “And tell me what is your goal that you would need me to help with?” I questioned standing my ground against the pink Alicorn before me. “After all you are a vaunted Princess with a relation to Princess Celestia. Yet you go to me, the one who attempted to reduce you to ash.”

“I want your assistance in regards to finding out information that Celestia has yet to give me along with assistance regarding a matter of healing magic.” The pink Princess declares evenly as she states what she expects out of the arrangement. I simply rolled my eyes at her.

“I already told you to speak clearly.” Truly and I was considered obtuse. At least my statement got the Alicorn in front of me to blush.

“I want your assistance in looking for information on a castle of crystal and the Crystal Empire.” The Princess before me stated.

“Why is it that you want information about one of the darkest blemishes upon Equestria's history?” This was ridiculous, how in the darkest pits of Tartarus did the pony before me even know about it? I doubted Celestia would say anything even to the newest Princess. After all, it was one of her worst failures. An entire kingdom of ponies extinguished in front of her very hooves. What was even worse she couldn't even claim the life of the one pony who had caused so much death. Sombra had skulked away into the shadows. Escaping the sun's divine wrath.

“I have dreamed about a crystal castle ever since I can remember. When I asked Celestia about it she told me that all would be revealed in time and to not worry about it.” The Princess before me stated her tone taking on some heat as she finished. That is interesting. No. This has all the makings to be a boon that has fallen into my saddle.

“You have enough blackmail on me to attempt at coercing me to help you so why to make the offer?” I asked, lowering my voice as if I were afraid of the pony in front of me. It wouldn't work. I had dealt with ponies a little less skilled than her and their attempts. What he had lacked in skill he had more than made up for it using his family's connections. Unfortunately for him, I was still on relatively peaceful terms with Princess Celestia at the time. The Alicorn before me simply shoots me a disbelieving look.

“I doubt that whatever I managed to get from that arrangement wouldn't be worth having been incinerated by a flaming Unicorn.” She drily stated. I was still working on the last pony but I had certainly prepared for the next time that I saw him.

“Well, then princess you have the resident demon of Canterlot Castle interested. I humbly accept this proposed alliance of yours.” I say with barely contained glee as I bowed to the Alicorn Princess before me. I often disliked that particular moniker that I had long since been saddled with. In this circumstance, I was willing to use it to my advantage, however. The pink Alicorn frowns as her face twitches down to once more meet my vision. Her tri-colored mane follows it with a bounce in its trajectory.

“Now of all times, you decide to act like I am royalty?” I could easily tell that for some reason that had gotten under her skin. Judging by a deep breath that she was now taking she is going to ignore it. “What is it that you're working towards? Forbidden magic? Personal Power?”

“Ascension” I calmly stated as I lifted my head. The Alicorn Princess matched my movement. Even with her height, we looked at the other pony as equals at this moment. I could see the confusion ripping its way through her head as she forced her mouth to stay closed. Her cheeks were tense with obvious force. Eventually, the pink pony before me lost its control and opened its mouth.

“That's it?” the pony exclaimed with obvious disappointment. “I spent hours trying to figure out what you would want in return for your assistance. From a kingdom of your own to being allowed to kill me.” She just shakes her head at this point as if she were trying to remove a foul-tasting object from her mouth. “I am almost disappointed.” She declares with a huff.

I force the magic that had slipped out back within my body, preventing the air from warming and alerting the Princess of her mistake. Of course, it would seem ridiculous to some pony who is in the process of becoming immortal, but to a filly who had learned that one day she would die and the only pony important to her would be left alone, it was the only thing she could strive for. It was one of the few things that the filly kept from those days of happiness other than memories. I simply shrug. Even if we were to ally, I wouldn't need her approval, only her assistance.

“Well, then I can already tell you that whatever relationship you have with the Crystal Empire will take some time to study.” I would need to do my research on the topic again before I would share anything with the pink Alicorn before me. Sombra was looking into ways to ascend himself. Perhaps I had missed something. I doubted it, however, it was still prudent to check. “What sort of healing magic are you looking for?”

“Some way to heal a broken Unicorn horn.” The pink Princess said with a small amount of forced cheer. “The librarian I had helping me look for it said that such a thing doesn't exist.” Her eyes narrowed as the purple irises flared. I simply smiled. This would be an excellent test to see if my so-called “alliance” member was willing to do anything for my help.

“I do know of a spell that can mend a broken Unicorn horn.” I started as the Alicorn before my eyes lit up with joy. “However the spell is considered to be dark magic.” I continued and watched as the pony in front of me deflated and its head fell. Then the Princess's head whipped back towards mine causing her mane to bounce rapidly.

“Why in Celestia's name would you come out and admit that?” She exclaimed. I simply shrugged as I enjoyed the sight of the pink Alicorn having her feathers metaphorically ruffled.

“You could have left me alone or you could have simply gone to inform Princess Celestia about what I did to you. You saved my life. Or at the least did not attempt to damn me to death.” Now then what was your next play Princess? Would you attempt to retract your offer? Perhaps now is the time that you attempt to remove my head? I felt the molten warmth surge throughout my body as I readied for the pink Alicorn's next move.

“Should I assume that you are a master at those types of magics as well?” The pony before me shivers slightly. I waited for it to either flee or charge me… and yet nothing. Well then either this is a part of your plan or you are willing to buck Princess Celestia herself to find out about the Crystal Empire.

“Do you even know what dark magic is? No, don't bother with answering that question. The only difference between magic and what is classified as dark magic is that one requires sacrifice. It can range from a small amount of the caster's blood to the soul of the victim. Dark magic is an often misused term to gather together magics that have a cost that is not only or not just of mana.” I explained to the Alicorn Princess before me. If we were to work together in the future it would do well for her to get the correct picture of the so-called foulest of magics.

I can see the pink pony gulp as her gaze breaks from mine. She takes a few breaths, her mane rising and falling with her movements. She once more opens her mouth.

“What is the cost for the horn healing spell?” She asks softly.

“The one casting the spell to heal the horn of a Unicorn who has broken, will in turn lose their ability to do magic. Damning them to the fate of the one that they had saved.” It was a spell that had stuck with me. It required the Unicorn casting it willing to cripple themselves for the rest of their life. To save another who had been crippled in that manner. Most Unicorns choose not to live with the loss of their horn. Choosing not to suffer without their magic by killing themselves. Even the rare ones that didn't kill themselves would often lose themselves being consumed in an attempt to do magic.

From the way that the Alicorn before me had reacted and the paling of her pink coat. She knew the cost of the spell and what that would force a Unicorn through. “I can write down the spell matrix if you want it.” I quietly offered the pale pink Alicorn. She didn't respond other than the shaking that was coming from her. Frowning I continued

“No thank you Sunset.” She says while giving me a small smile that is tainted by her shaking.

“That is the spell I know. I can potentially find another.” I for some reason told the shaking Alicorn. Why? Why did I do that? The chances of that are likely almost impossible.

“Thank you.” It was just two words that the Alicorn Princess spoke but the smile that accompanied them could only be described as beautiful. She then spent the next few moments shining just like Celestia. Once more I was in the presence of divinity. The attention of the divine was once more focused on me.

Shaking my head and refocusing on the Princess in front of me. I managed to catch what she was saying. “What other kinds of dark magic do you know?” She asked. I couldn't help but tilt my head.

“Are you asking what dark magic I have used or the ones that I know how to use? As with the former, very few spells at all, only ones that require a sacrifice from the caster. For the latter, I have spent the last four years going through some of the vilest of magics that pony kind has ever created.” It was strange. I felt a dagger of frost jamming itself into me as I watched the pink pony across from me flinch back from me.

“Sunset please promise that you haven't used any of those vile magics.” The Alicorn said knocking my current train of thought off track.

“Why?” What? Where did that come from? This was confusing. I had completely lost track of what was going on in this conversation. Was I about to be attacked if I refused?

“You keep your promises. When I overheard you in the library right before Celestia left she had mentioned not harming yourself over keeping the promise.” She hurriedly exclaimed. I couldn't help the twitch that ran through my body. The parasite knew. It knew a way to force me to bend to its will. If Princess Celestia is manipulated into coercing me. I would either be forced to break a promise to the only pony who ever saw something worth in me or be forced to bow down to the parasite itself.

“That may stand true with Princess Celestia, but how does that apply to you?” I shot back at the parasite watching with barely contained glee as it deflated. Oh, was something wrong? Did this not go to plan? Oh no! Some pony must alert Princess Celestia that the newest parasite that has attached itself to her royal flank has failed at manipulating the parasite that has been there for years.

“I may not be crowned but I am still an Alicorn.” The parasite offers as if that was enough for me to throw myself at its hooves. The look that I give the parasite is enough to get across how foolish that statement is. “Fine, have you used any of those magics, and are you planning on using them in the future?” the parasite asked as if it was the one that decided when I was to breathe. This parasite needed to be taught that I wouldn't bow down to it simply because it thought itself better than me.

“Are you referring to the types of spells that would rend a pony's mind asunder? Leaving me to control them as easily as I could move a doll of flesh? The ones that were designed in mind to kill an Alicorn?” I spat out enjoying the fear that ran through the parasite's eyes as it backed away from me. Oh, perhaps it did know how to trot. I was left unsure after the last time it had been reduced to ambling away from me.

“Yes, those spells.” The parasite responded, venom dripping from its tongue. Oh well, then the parasite had some bite left in it. I wonder how long that would last.

“If you would bother to believe me I have not used any of them on another pony.” That wouldn't stop me however I had spent long enough ensuring that I would be able to cast them. All I would have to do would be to target the appropriate victim. The parasite before me would be an acceptable first death.

The parasite of course simply nodded its head causing its mane to bounce. “You have no way to trust my word and yet you're willing to accept that?” Even if it was the truth there was no way on Princess Celestia’s sunny day that the parasite would be able to trust me. Yet it for some reason did. Shaking my head in disgust at the failure of a pony before me. “That trusting naivety of yours is going to get you killed someday.”

“Perhaps with your lessons I might survive until I am immortal?” The Alicorn Princess shoots back. Her gaze once more meets mine as a smile slips onto her face. All I could do is sigh at this turn of events. Perhaps I would be the one to betray her. Perhaps I would be the one to be betrayed by the pink pony before me. All I could do at this moment is look at my so-called alliance mate and smile at her.

“See no matter what every pony says you are a good pony. Perhaps not a nice one, but you are a good pony.” The pink Alicorn says as she trots towards me, the smile still lighting her face. Princess Celestia would certainly disagree with that statement. “And with you by my side, I have a feeling that I'll make it until I am fully immortal.” True, having a Unicorn that could teleport you to safety would certainly extend her mortal lifespan to the point where she truly ascends.

“Two more things,” the pink Princess says, breaking the somehow pleasant silence that we had fallen into. “First why did you keep trying to inform me that the smart thing to do would be to kill you?”

“What you were doing and proposing made no sense.” I pointed out. Even right now the smartest thing that she could do was strangle me or at the very least inform Princess Celestia of my actions so that she would take care of me. Keeping me alive had little benefit for the newest Alicorn and yet she for some reason insisted on keeping me alive.

“Even if you don't have a plan you shouldn't try to get some pony to kill you.” She then levels a heatless glare at me. “Especially a pony that had just spent hours by your unconscious form even after you had singed her coat and mane.” Pausing to shake her head in disapproval at me. It did not have the effect I believe that she had intended as I kept watch of her eyes which shone with amusement. “The second thing is that I don't believe that I have ever heard you say my name.”

Really? I shot her a frown and yet she stood firm somehow illuminated in the shadows of the library. Locking eyes with her purple orbs I spoke.

“First of all I have a plan that involves ascending against the will of the two most powerful creatures in Equestria.” I pointed out. The second most powerful pony simply chuckled.

“And my name?” A teasing smile fit over her muzzle as she waited. Fine, she wanted to play a foals game? I would return the favor. A smirk flickered onto my face as I began to bow.

“Mi Amore Cadenza” I whispered.

Author's Note

Author note is going up about 3 hours after the posting because I forgot but who cares. This chapter brings us back to the view point of Sunset and the intricacies of her thought process. She is always a pleasure to write as I have to figure out how she is going to interpret the actions around her. Otherwise we begin the team up(Sort of) of our two main characters. Hopefully it lasts.
-LittleFaerieFire

10. Convoluted Conversations

Convoluted Conversations

Sunset Shimmer

The pink Princess was not amused by my actions and she was doing her best to ensure that I knew that. From the frown that adorned her visage and the way her eyes had tightened, losing the amused spark that they had held. It could also be the way that she is trying to get me to call her by her preferred name instead.

“Really Sunset? I know you are doing this on purpose. I saw your smirk, you annoying pony.” She huffed out finally losing what little steam she had left after spending far too long in my opinion trying to get me to change what I had called her. “Also if it wouldn't be too troublesome the next time we have an alliance meeting please have it somewhere other than a library. I have been doing far too many things that Celestia would frown upon in them.” She spoke with a slow gait.

I wonder what else she has been doing to have Princess Celestia frown upon my replacement's actions? She knew from my example that the celestial ruler was only willing to allow so much before her will began to strangle the one who offended her. Perhaps she has been plotting against the Alicorn of the Sun? Narrowing my eyes at the thought I brought up my concern.

“What exactly have you been doing?” I asked the Alicorn before me who was failing to stifle a yawn. If she was doing that could harm Princess Celestia I would ensure that she was taken care of. No matter what Princess Celestia would do to me afterward.

“Making a deal with a noble scion to get some information on the Crystal Kingdom.” The pink pony yawned out, apparently having given up trying to cover her yawn as she lifted a wing in front of her mouth.

“Take this advice with as much displeasure as you would give it, but you shouldn't trust any of the nobility. They will do anything to climb higher.” I warned the Alicorn Princess before frowning. “It's the Crystal Empire.” I corrected her again. She would need to learn how to survive on little sleep. There are plenty of events and occasions that would prevent a pony as close to Princess Celestia as she from getting a full night's rest.

“Shining doesn't seem that bad.” The pink Alicorn yawned. If she was correct and he was one of the few nobles that were not concerned with only increasing their standing and power perhaps she would have found an ally that could support her. If not I would be here to help pick up the pieces. The thought brings a frown to my face. It wasn't my job to protect the pink pony before me. Or was it? I haven't been in an alliance before.

“Question if you don't mind, but what is to be expected of both sides of this alliance? Other than the assistance towards the goals we have already shared.” I asked the pony before me. She in turn even when yawning just frowned, shaking her head at me. I was not a foal for her to dismiss and I was planning on reminding her majesty of the fact. She however responded before I could decide the best way to reignite her short memory.

“Protection. You can protect me with your magic until I have fully ascended. In return, I will protect you the best way I can until I can return the favor in a physical or magical sense.” She started stifling the yawns that caused her mane to droop. In what ways would I need her protection? I hadn't needed protection from any pony for years. Even against the guiding hoof of the solar monarch, I had continued unabated. I had let my feelings show as the Princess before me rolled her eyes “You aren't exactly on good terms with any pony. I am, so instead of protecting you I am more thinking of protecting your interests.” That made more sense than the Alicorn before me throwing itself into harm's way before it was a true immortal.

“And what exactly are my interests that you are planning to protect?” I questioned the pony across from me. After all, if I was simply going to be used it would be better to realize that at the beginning. The more time to plot my vengeance on the pony.

“Really Sunset? We are supposed to be partners.” She scoffed, shaking her head. I could tell that it wasn't in the same way that she had done earlier. Instead of being dismissive it was far more… annoyed? Seeing that I had no plans to interrupt her she simply raised a hoof to her face and rubbed her darkened eyes. “While I would prefer not to have my partner go off treasure hunting, that is a good example. Your trip if it is that important to you I can express to Celestia my support in its favor.”

While the pink pony spoke of my planned excursion to see if the tapestry would hold anything of value for my ascension. Left behind by the two Alicorn sisters in their castle. If this version of the story was important enough to be locked away perhaps there was more truth than fiction to the old mares tale. If the two pony sisters that would be etched into legend were depicted to have been at that unnamed castle. They would have left something behind. I knew that it was a long shot, but it was all I had.

I had been set aside by the Sun. My replacement was already an Alicorn and soon-to-be-crowned Princess. Princess of Love yes but that was still better than any title that had been given to me. She was everything that I wasn't. She was near perfect and soon enough when I had trained her to Princess Celestia’s standards I would no longer be needed. After all, why would Princess Celestia bother to keep around a broken Unicorn when she had an Alicorn?

Even with this so-called alliance that I was now a part of I knew it wouldn't last. When I outlived my usefulness to the pink Alicorn I would be discarded. It wasn't the first time such a fate had befallen me. I almost let a somber smile flicker across my face. It would be a foolish endeavor to inform Alicorn before me that I knew its game. After it had gained the fullness of its ascension and had become immortal I would be removed in a permanent fashion. It was a devious ploy that the manipulative pony in front of me had concocted.

Turning me into its aegis against all those that would attempt it harm. The parasite would be able to survive the dangers that would certainly threaten it. All the while offering empty gestures and false promises. Allowing me only the scraps of what it could provide to fuel my dying search. When the parasite either found a new way to shield itself it would do as any would do. Replace the defective piece with a newer version. The parasite truly was taking after Princess Celestia all too well.

“Perhaps it would have been better for Princess Celestia to have brought in the parasite instead, all those years ago? It would have allowed both of them to be happy uninterrupted by a failure of a pony. No matter what she attempted, it was still just the newest blight on the radiance of the Princess's light. They would have been happy together. The perfect pair. The daughter and-.”

“Sunset.” A whispered voice bludgeoned the spiral I had found myself in as I saw the parasite grimacing at me. Oh? Does the little parasite wish to deal with me now? A bit too late for me to be such easy prey. It should have attacked earlier. Now I would be able to match it. No, I would beat it. Rip the information on ascension from its mind and then enjoy myself with the suit of flesh that would be left. Only after I had sated myself on its brain-dead body would I allow myself the pleasure to incinerate it.

Focusing back on the parasite my blood ceased burning and was frozen in my veins. The look on her face was somber. “If you don't want to work together you can say so. I swear to Celestia herself that I won't manipulate you into allying with me.” She slowly spoke out each word. Her purple eyes not meeting my gaze instead focusing beyond me. Was she afraid that I was going to attack her? Checking the temperature of the room I didn't notice any large differences.

“Didn't I already agree to work together with you?” I do believe that we had moved on from that portion of the topic and were now working on what this alliance would be providing each party. The pink Alicorn deeply frowned before she responded.

“Sunset you didn't exactly stay silent.” She simply said. What? What does she… There was no way I was that exhausted. It had only been a little over a week since I had stopped sleeping. “I don't hate you but you have some trouble with me. If this is too much for you, say so.” She smiled at the end of her sentence. It was the most horrific smile I had ever seen on another pony. I was only used to seeing it in my reflection.

Were we that alike? Here she was offering me a clean-cut way to get out of this deal. Promising not even to rat me out to Princess Celestia for some reason. No. She was still innocent. She still had the naive belief that Princess Celestia would ensure that nothing ever harmed her. It was a similar tale to my own, only a few steps behind.

“My apologies.” I could see the spark of pain in the pink pony's purple eyes… She did truly want to be on the same side as me for some reason. Mentally sighing I spoke, “But I do believe that I said I was agreeable to allying with you.” The pain that had been stuck in the orbs of purple dissipated and was replaced with joy as the Alicorn Princess rushed over to my side.

“Thank you Sunset Shimmer!” She mumbled into my mane as she wrapped her wings around me. I attempted to return the gesture after a moment's confusion. However I found myself unable to reciprocate the… Does this count as a hug? I hadn't been hugged in some time. It had been over four years since the last time that Celestia had hugged me. Ignoring the pointless drivel that I had running through my head I instead attempted to reciprocate the motion as best I can.

“You don't have to call me by my full name. That would with most certainty alert Celestia to the fact that we have changed our relationship.” I offered the pink Alicorn before me after she had separated from me. The Princess paused and just peered at me. “What?” Did I have something on my face?

“You are absolutely precious.” She said with a smirk as she waved off my question. “However now that I have heard some of your thought processes I do have to deduct some points.” She continued as if she was continuing to talk to a pony that understood what she was talking about. If there was a pony that did, it certainly was not me. She frowned, her smirk fading replaced by a stern look before she once more spoke. “While I am completely exhausted and have quite the day ahead of re-learning how to fly. I do believe that I should ask what I can do to prove to you that I am not here to steal Celestia away from you.”

As soon as those final words left her lips I reflexively cast the cooling charm as my magic attempted to incinerate the air around me. The parasite before me had flinched back. It… she had escaped being burned. Taking a moment to douse myself in another cooling charm before I trusted myself to speak.

“Sorry.” I snarled out as I winced. That didn't work. Once more running through the all-familiar theorem again, this time I increased the amount of fuel I was providing the spell. Forcing myself not to shiver as I felt ice begin to coat my form. “Sorry.” I gritted out my teeth chattering due to the new addition of ice that had surrounded me.

The pony before me had a strange expression on her face. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was set in a firm line. The rest of her body was positioned carefully as she had her wings outstretched towards me. A few of the feathers even had frost on them. Wincing, I apologized again. “Sorry… Again.”

“About what?” She spoke out her face still passive but there was an undercurrent edge to those two words that flitted through the air and threatened to stab me.

“Your feathers,” I said moving one of my hooves, a cracking of ice that reverberated through the library, as I continued to gesture to her wingtips and the layer of frost that coated them.

“Sunset don't take this the wrong way but sweet Celestia-.” the parasite-pony before me started. Her eyes narrowed as she continued “Wait a moment isn't this the same thing that happened to you when we met.”

“Yes?” I answered the Princess who was quickly growing angry. Well, then it looks like I won't have to deal with cleaning up the library after all. She shot me a heated glare that froze me more than the ice that still coated my form. Perhaps that was the wrong answer? Actually, how was that the wrong answer? She was there. I had just tried to kill her.

“Sunset as a member of this alliance I propose a trade.” She said after taking a deep breath of air and exhaling. “You don’t freeze yourself in a Tartarus damn ice cube again and in exchange, if I get accidentally burned by you I won't go running off to have you executed.” That was a rather lopsided deal in my favor.

Before I could think about the ‘deal’ any further she had trotted back into my face and began to speak “I can see that you are about to go on another internal tirade. So let me make this simple for you. Say yes.” She continued as if I was simply expected to bow down to her every whim and fancy. She may be an Alicorn but I had been personally taught by the Princess of the Sun for years.

Narrowing my eyes at her and enjoying the feeling of a molten stream that quickly began to flow through my body chasing away the chill that had been present. I opened my mouth only to have her wings push it closed with a click. “Yes it is too good of a deal and you want to know the catch?” I couldn't nod but she got whatever she wanted out of my eyes. “The catch is THAT I DON'T HATE YOU!” She screamed out. Her eyes were screaming the opposite as they were filled to the brim with anger.

I can understand why many ponies were completely enthralled by her. I couldn't help but think as I was about to be struck down by divine judgment. I couldn't contain the laugh this time. The Alicorn Princess turned murderous. Her eyes were focused on me as the pools of purple that were floating within, turned dark. “Sunset I am going to let you explain why you just laughed and if you do not have a good reason I am going to kill you.” She hissed out all the while removing her wings from my mouth.

“I'm sorry but all this time I have been so careful to avoid being incinerated by Celestia all to end up obliterated by the Alicorn of Love?” I couldn't help it as I started to laugh in the face of my would-be executioner. I couldn't even begin to guess that this would be how my tale ended.

“And what is so amusing about being smitten by the Princess of Love?” The Alicorn all but snarled out. Anger dripped from her tongue as if it were drenched in poison.

“Love isn't exactly as impressive as the Sun itself.-” I started and upon seeing the pony before me, shuddering in what I can only assume to be anger, I continued “- even with all that a pony is willing to do for love it isn't that important.” The Alicorn before me glared but thankfully did nothing else.

“Sunset I realize that you may not be the most well versed in the matters of the heart -” That's untrue I have a theoretical understanding of the subject. “- so I will let it pass this once. In the future, I would request that you think about the fact that I feel about Love in a similar fashion to how Celestia feels about her Sun.”

That… Was a fair comparison. I had certainly exploded on several ponies that had dared make light of the Princess's source of power. They were both Alicorns even if the one in front of me was far less impressive. I had indeed seen the signs that there was something grand hidden within this pony. Something equal in standing to the Sun herself. A poisonous thought seeped into my thoughts before I could silence it. Perhaps something greater.

“Since I am the Alicorn in the room I will both metaphorically and literally be the bigger pony and allow the conversation to move on.” The pink Princess stated once more, her voice tinted with regality. Straightening her form and rising to her full height. “Were you to ascend right now, what would you be the Princess of?” She queried as she looked down at me. I frowned but answered all the same.

“Either Magic or Fire.” I confidently declared, matching the gaze of the Alicorn before me. Narrowing my eyes as I hadn't considered that you could be an Alicorn of an emotion. “Perhaps Hatred,” I added. Once more the library was cloaked in silence as the Unicorn and the Alicorn stared down at each other. Studying her face she did not reveal much. What was there was a slight softening of her eyes.

“You could do with less Hatred in your heart and more Love.” The pink Alicorn breathed out. Splintering the silence that we had found ourselves in. In my experience Hatred burned and Love was easily extinguished. I, however, ensured that my tongue did not once more betray me as I matched her gaze silently. She removed her gaze from mine and began to trot away. “If there is anything else it will wait until I have gotten some sleep.” Before she pauses and turns slightly to look at me. “Sunset will you be alright with your nightmares?”

I nodded. I had been dealing with them long before the creature before me had been forced into my life. I would be fine. I was always fine. The creature sighed and shook her head as she trotted out of sight into the darkness of the library. Leaving me alone with my only companions being the knowledge contained within these shelves and the shadows that began to once more dance.

It wasn't the first time that this had happened. I knew in my heart that it would happen again. No matter how I wished it wouldn't. In the end no matter what any pony said you could only rely on yourself. Alone in the shadows. With only the magic that burned through my veins as a comfort.

“Love may bring you warmth but not all are as blessed as you,” I whispered to the shade of a pony that flickered into existence where the parasite had retreated from. I watched with ill-contained malice as the shade began to rip into itself with a misaligned glee. First, it tore from its flank two near perpendicular gashes. Where it had ripped into itself two wings had begun to sprout.

Matted with darkness it took the shade some effort to rip them from its side and reposition them properly along its side. I only watched in vain amusement while I wondered if the parasite would be able to stomach the self-inflicted torment, as well as its shade, did. It would most certainly bring a cacophony of delicious screams, unlike the shadow before me. Which was silent even as it mutilated itself.

It next began with its horn. A clawed hoof met a bowed head as it ripped shadowed flesh and began to sculpt it. It almost looked as if it were but a foal playing with mud. Almost was not enough however as it continued its macabre work upon itself. I could only wait with anticipation for my turn. After all, I was the one to be punished. I wondered if I would see Princess Celestia again. After all, they did so enjoy watching her burn me alive last time.

Eventually, the shade stood in the form of the parasite. Still in the mocking bow that it had adopted to sculpt its horn. I couldn't help but focus on its face. Whereupon the parasite rested twin orbs of twinkling amethyst. The shades were simply two pits of uncaring darkness. I waited for the shade to summon its brethren and bring me to those accursed snowfields. Sighing as I averted my gaze from the still bowing shade, in truth those flurried winds filled with frozen daggers were preferable to the cottage that rested beyond.

I hadn't been carted in as of late. Separated from my hooves and horn. Brought beyond the scorched door. I could almost consider myself lucky that it had been so long since I had been brought into that place of torture however my luck never held. I could only hope that I would be able to be out of the castle by the time this punishment decided I deserved to enter that place.

Turning back towards the shade I waited. All I could do was wait. Covered in shadows. Waiting for the one before me to begin the ritual. Waiting for the sun to be swallowed by darkness. Waiting to be lost in the furious storms of ice and snow. Waiting for the nightly torment to start. Waiting for my prayers to Celestia to be once more unanswered.

I stayed there waiting. Watching the shade before me. Bowing. In the darkened remains of the library. When it made its move I would counter. I would try and I would fail. I prevented the smile from taking root on my face. For all, I knew Ce- Princess Celestia herself was watching at this moment. I would not once more fail.

So there I stood enveloped in darkness. With only the shade of the parasite for company. I knew not, how long I was still. I only knew that it was an all too familiar sigh that broke me from my stupor. Stealing my gaze from the shade. Forcing a smile upon my muzzle and dropping into a bow before even seeing her sunlit form.

“Princess Celestia, is there anything that I can assist you with?” I asked the celestial Princess as I rested my weary eyes upon her brilliant form. She as always was as close to perfection as any pony could achieve. The only mar upon her form was the tight frown that had managed to slip past her mask of perfection. In my delirious state, I was unsure if I was proud to have marred the perfection of the sun or if I should be horrified that my actions has caused Princess Celestia to lose her perfect splendor.

“Sunset I had hoped that you would take my recommendation last night to heart and get some sleep.” The Alicorn of the Sun frowned at me. I met her eyes and shrugged.

“My apologies, it seems that I got caught up in my thoughts and let the night get away from me,” I responded before turning the conversation back to the white Alicorn. “What is it you require from me Princess Celestia -” Seeing her frown deepen I explained my reasoning. “- as normally you would task one of the servants to bring me to your side.” Or if I was including more recently sicking the parasite on me.

Princess Celestia’s frown at this point would become visible to even a pony that had not spent her life with the goddess. She didn't immediately respond, instead electing to silently observe me. I in turn kept as still as possible I knew not what afflictions she was searching for but whatever it was it would be better to conceal them.

“Sunset I…” The celestial monarch began before shaking her head slightly before continuing. “Sunset, how far into the newest array have you completed?” She asked, her voice oddly stilted for some reason. Ignoring the slight oddity of the solar Princess I responded in turn.

“I have completed it if you would wish for me to retrieve it for you. My apologies for not keeping it on my form.” I said while bowing my head, after all, I didn't expect to run into Princess Celestia at least for another few weeks with how busy she has been with the parasite. It was amusing however that the one time that we met up without the looming presence of the parasite it was to discuss the final task she had given to me before she found her newest fascination.

Speaking of looming forms I chanced a glance at where I had last seen the shade and felt my heart freeze. There it still stood watching with unblinking pools of darkness that threatened to smother the light. Ignoring the looming threat I turned my attention back to the current largest threat. All the while keeping as much attention as I could feasibly spare on the shade that was somehow still here. I knew I wasn't asleep. I haven't been able to see Princess Celestia in my dreams without being tormented by her for years.

My blood freezes at that thought. Was this the next step of my punishment? Was I to be forever lost between the waking and sleeping realms? My tormentors from both performing their craft. I couldn't help the plea that I entreated Celestia with. “Please tell me that I am still asleep,” I begged the Alicorn who had been there for my entire life. Praying to her that for once in my life some form of her would answer my prayers.

“Why would you ask such a thing? Sunset you're awake.” The Goddess said with a smile unaware once more as she damned what little hope I had for salvation. The smile was ripped off of her face as her eyes sharpened. “Sunset, what's wrong?” She questioned her voice, taking on a warmth that I would kill for to once more target me. Instead, all I received was the harsh chill of reality. I once more looked at the caring gaze of the only pony who had once cared about me and despaired.

“My most sincere apologies for the delay Princess, I will be right back with the array,” I answered, smothering the terror that was pouring through my body. I couldn't burn it away with her right in front of me. All that would do would prove that I couldn't accept my punishment. That I still needed her to take care of me for every single small thing.

Taking a deep breath and praying to the deity before me that she wouldn't catch the difference between the normal fuel that ran rampant through me. Instead of being fueled by anger, my spell was cast with terror that still ran rampant throughout me. The last thing I saw before my vision was replaced by my room was Princess Celestia’s horn lighting up. Taking a deep breath I couldn't help but collapse to the ground.

That was close. Too damned close. I was nearly willing to once more throw myself at the hooves of the princess that saved me. I almost proved every single pony correct. Again. That without the grace of the shining savior I was nothing. Sucking in more air I forced the terror out. Replaced by soothing rage. All was perfect until some damnable pony knocked on my door.

I had half a mind to simply teleport away and leave the pony at my door to either wait or leave with empty hoofs. Thankfully the anger that now coursed through my veins provided enough clarity to force myself to my hoofs and begin to make my way toward the door. Having no desire to interact with any pony today I threw open the door and felt the harsh words die in my throat.

“Are you feeling better?” Asked the one pony who I most wished was not outside my door. Princess Celestia’s tone was calm but her eyes still held their gleam from earlier. Gulping down the strangled words I nodded. Princess Celestia damn her… She was still suspicious after my freakout. A singular plan ran through my head. Stall.

“I will go grab the array.” I calmly said as I twisted around and began my retreat from the Princess of the Sun. My eyes scoured my room for anything that could damn me to Tartarus. Thankfully I found nothing. I even in my half-delirious state still kept prudent about hiding things that the celestial deity would frown at. Snorting at the thought, she would most certainly do more than frown at me. After all, my current punishment was proof that no matter what any noble pony says that Princess Celestia was not soft.

Finding it stored on my desk I quickly grabbed it and turned back around towards Princess Celestia who for some reason was inspecting a chair. Adopting a small frown myself I questioned the Princess on her fascination with the furniture. “Is everything alright Princess?” Princess Celestia matched my expression as her gaze met mine.

“I don't recall this particular series of chairs being used in the castle.” She said her eyes were gaining more steel as they attempted to pierce my own. What does she mean? I bought the same thing that I burned. I even went… Damn it all to Tarturuas deepest pits. I will flash fry that sorry excuse for a pony. Her parents will regret ever conceiving her after I am through with her. Did she dare set me up? I would show her what happened when any pony dared get in my way. My mental tirade was interrupted by Princess Celestia as she once more spoke up. “You didn't burn your room again did you?”

I fell into silence. This was another test to see whether I would lie to the face of the Princess of the Sun. If I said yes she would have confirmation that I still couldn't control my flames. If I said no I would be showing that she was right not to trust me. After all, I was the pony that kept rejecting her guiding hoof. That left only one path left forward. I forced a grin to my face and answered.

“It was an unfortunate casualty of an attempt to further my progress in the field of combining spatial manipulation and my innate gift for pyromancy. In comparison to other rooms of the castle that were not in use, I decided to perform the act in my room to reduce any potential damage. I used the fund that you requested I use on such occasions, however, I am happy to pay for the damages that I unfortunately caused.” I said hopefully redirecting the conversation toward an old battle that I would happily fight instead of the current one.

“Sunset, you have access to that fund for a reason.” Princess Celestia sighed out unaware that she took the bait. “I have also informed you multiple times that you can use that account for whatever purpose you wish.” She continued not even realizing that she was no longer focused on the reason why I had been working on such volatile magics. “They are your bits, not mine. Had you informed me I would have happily replaced everything that was lost to the fire.” She offered her eyes, finally losing most of the sharpness that was held within them.

That was the exact reason that I didn't want you to find out. I mentally snarled at her. Taking a moment to ensure that the temperature hasn't increased thanks to the turn of my thoughts. I decided to let her win the argument this time as I simply levitated the array over to her. She grasped it in her magic and began to scour the page looking for any mistakes. Unfortunately for her, I had ensured that I had checked my work in triplicate. After all, I had plenty of time to work on it.

Very impressive Sunset. I can almost hear her whisper as I watch the phantom Celestia’s smile brighten up my room. Reality is often a disappointing mess however as the Princess before me, simply nods and rolls it up, before turning towards me her eyes once more regaining the flame that I had hoped to smother. “Now then about your planned trip?”

Author's Note

Last chapter of the year. See everyone in the next. But enough of realiity we are here for the ponies that live in our minds eye. Sunset continues to make a mess of herself as she continues to struggle with Cadance. Of course staying up for a week straight probably hasn't helped her in any case. Then Celestia comes along and does her own thing. Hopefully she can get through this day of hers. After all it is just the morning.
-LittleFaerieFire

11. Signaling Synchronicity

Signaling Synchronicity

Sunset

The Alicorn and the Unicorn. The Princess and the peasant. The teacher and the student. This tale had been told countless times before. Even after my tale had been told I knew that the tale would be once more told ad infinitum. These thoughts did little to get me out of the current predicament that I had found myself in. I had been ushered from the supposed safety of my room to the jaw of the beast itself.

Staring down the Princess that had run Equestria for the last millennia, at the seat of her power. She had decided to change the venue for our conversation and had asked me to follow her to the throne room. There I went once more following the
shadow of the Solar Monarch as any dutiful student would. To do otherwise would prove to so many that my position was more of a mistake than it already was. It would also tip the deity of the Sun that had walked before me that the game was finally ending. That there was no need for her to continue to use me as a tool for her amusement.

“Sunset, why is it exactly that you wish to leave Canterlot on this expedition of yours to as you say find lost relics?” The Princess questioned from her throne. Looking down at me as she had all this time. Nothing ever changed, does it, Princess? I knew the only reason I didn't snarl at her was thanks to biting down my tongue. The familiar taste of iron flooded my mouth as I swallowed my blood.

“I have nothing of importance here at the castle for the foreseeable future and this expedition would prove as a fruitful testing ground for any of my future exploits regarding traveling through Equestria and beyond.” I calmly said taking the first point. I couldn't help the feeling of elation that filled me as Princess Celestia certainly knew that she was losing this game as well. I had said nothing at all. All that was exchanged were meaningless prattle.

Princess Celestia still holding onto her ever-present smile for the moment couldn't prevent the crack that my words had caused. Her eyes had narrowed just the barest amount when I mentioned going beyond Equestria’s borders. Afraid that I wouldn't return? That I would find some pony that cared about me? That I would be the one who abandons you, Princess?

She quickly schooled her features but we both knew that I was ahead by two points of her nothing. It had been four years since I had started this well in one of my bouts with her. I could only smother the shudder that threatened to run through my flesh as I remembered the ending of that bout. The blood that had been spilled and the words that could no longer be taken back. Something fractured forever finally forsaken.

“Sunset, I would ask your purpose for this trip.” She demanded from high above where she reigned. Only the greatest of ponies would be able to reach that point and only then they would be able to understand the infinite gulch between her and them. Should I consider myself thankful to the Alicorn before me or curse her name for giving me that understanding? I knew not and the moment for that deliberation would continue to be pushed back.

“To search for several lost relics. I can provide a list of particular artifacts and my reasonings for searching in specific locations if you would prefer Princess?” I answered my tongue dripping venom as I laid my trap. Unfortunately for me, Princess Celestia was the pony that had been around since the beginning and had written the rules that I played with.

“Sunset Shimmer I care not for what relics you plan to find nor your reasonings of where they are located. I asked for your purpose on this trip.” Princess Celestia the Bringer of the Dawn spoke with crystal clarity. Her voice was touched by a flame that was all too familiar to me. Even if the throne room was as crowded as it had been for numerous functions I knew that every pony would be deathly silent as she delivered her words.

Feeling the bubbling heat at the base of my horn as I knew I had lost whatever paltry lead I had managed to gain as she changed the game so that I could no longer keep it to my advantage. She truly was the epitome of what was rotten within Canterlot. Losing? Change the game. No matter if anyone else was willing. After all, you were the one with power over every pony else. It was only against Ponies that were equal to you in a form that you were forced to play the game. No pony was on equal standing with the solar monarch that had ruled over all from her vaunted sunlit throne.

“To ensure that in the future I can survive without the assistance of the crown.” I spat out at her hooves. Living with a goddess has taught me how to lie. To taint the lie with a lesser truth. Dangle an answer that they wanted but one that was not the truth. It saved my tail countless times. Let us see how she would prefer this game.

The smile finally faded from her muzzle as the warmth that had slowly been strangled from the room had come rushing back meeting my heat. It was one of the Princesses' smarter ideas to send out every pony to have this discussion. If there were any pony else here they would certainly get caught in the crossfire. “Will this be a repeat of the last time, Princess?” I snarled at the now frowning form that still lounged on her throne.

“Sunset I thought that you had moved past this.” She said as if she still knew me. Perhaps once upon a time that had been true, but now? That was no longer the case. “I will make myself clear once more. I am happy for you to continue on your path with the assistance of the Crown.” I knew from the visage that she had adopted, that my face had reflected some of the more unpleasant thoughts that tore through my mind. I forced my mouth into a neutral position as I waited for her to continue. After all, as all little fillies and colts were taught to never interrupt a Princess.

“Sunset what is this about? You ha-” Her eyes widen and then sharpen immediately “- this better not be an attempt to get rid of Cadance.” Did she truly think that the parasite was that much of a bother to me? I would have happily ignored it for the rest of my stay within the castle walls. I was the one who was forced into tutoring the pathetic sack of meat that happened to have a horn jammed into its brain.

“Please, you made it crystal clear what would happen the next time I attempted to remove her from my life,” I growled back at the pony that taught me everything I knew. “You bring up a good point however Princess, why don't you send me off on this trip, and only when she fully ascends allow me back.” I then dropped the volume of my voice “If you want me back that is.”

The flash of hurt that struck Princess Celestia was delectable; not many ponies in recent times can claim to have struck a true blow against the solar immortal. She looked as if someone had hit her right in the horn. I felt a pit in my stomach but I ignored it. Instead feeding the flame that was surging right beneath my skin. If this turned sour I would need my magic at its full force. Pushing more of it out of my body into the air as my heat sought to replace Princess Celestia’s own.

“That would be the best for every pony right? The newest Princess gets to become immortal in a nice and safe castle. The only pony that isn't infatuated with her off in the Everfree forest. You get to sleep easy that your pupil won't do any more to tarnish your reputation and that the most threatening pony to your newest Princess is no longer within horns reach. And I get to leave this Castle.” I didn't start off shouting at the Solar Princess but by the end I was. As soon as I realized that I sucked as much of the molten air towards me to form a shield. However, like always Princess Celestia can't lose.

“SUNSET SHIMMER” She bellowed right back. I felt her words wash over me shattering what control I had over my magic. Even attempting to dredge the portions that had remained within my flesh didn't bring any boons. I was magicless against an Alicorn. So be it. My story wouldn't end here. I refused to wrench my eyes from the twin suns that had replaced the eyes of the pony that had ruled for so long. I would need to see the blow coming to have any chance of dodging it.

It was only once she continued to speak did I realize how far I had pushed her. “Do you realize what you are saying, My Student?” She nearly hissed the final two words. Even as the sun was beginning to be born once more within the throne room I couldn't rip my gaze from the divine form that was before me. She launched herself from her throne and I felt her wings at my throat in an instant.

My vision was covered with white as I heard a faint voice. “Sunset are you alright?” Celestia asked as I shook my head clearing the snow from my vision and saw her about to embrace me, a worried frown upon her face. I was still in front of her throne but the air wasn't being incinerated by the birth of a new star. I felt for my magic and felt it ready to burst forth and burn whatever was in my path. I retreated away from the white Alicorn. The frown on her face deepened but she said nothing.

“What did I just say?” Realizing how that sounded I corrected myself before I could be called out on it. “My apologies but if you wouldn't mind reminding me Princess, what was the last thing I said to you?”

“Sunset I know that you said you didn't need to get some rest but if you're going to fall asleep in the middle of a conversation perhaps you should retire to your quarters and get some rest.” Princess Celestia said her tone, taking a strange affliction near the end. Seeing that I wasn't planning to take her advice she sighed but answered my question. “You were informing me about a list you had made about some artifacts and offered to show it to me.”

“That's all I said?” Princess Celestia's frown grew larger but still nodded. Relief flooded through me and I swore for a second I was going to faint. Preventing myself from buckling to the ground was annoying but necessary. “I'm sorry but I missed whatever else you said. Would you mind repeating it, Princess?” Princess Celestia nods before repeating what I had missed thanks to what was, Princess Celestia, willing a delusion.

“I had offered to let you view an artifact of my own. One that is kept separate from the rest stored within the royal vaults.” Instantly I was on guard. This sounded too good to be true. Was this another test? What was the correct answer? “It is something that I have as of late been debating showing you.” Buck it if she already knew my plans I was dead.

“I will gladly see this artifact, Princess,” I said, not even bothering to hide the interest that crept into my voice. It was something that she wanted me to see. No pony would refuse that if Princess Celestia was to come to them and say those words. Princess Celestia nodded and then proceeded to teleport us both into a dimly lit room.

“My apologies Sunset I was overzealous in our arrival.” Princess Celestia said while conjuring a gleaming golden light. I shrugged. While I was only her student I certainly wouldn't complain. Even if it was rude to teleport with some pony that isn't considered your family or at the very least close friends. I didn't know where we were and it was Princess Celestia. You don't say no to her teleporting you. If I remember correctly I did that once when I was younger and if my memories could still be trusted she began to pout like a little filly.

Princess Celestia began to make her way further into this room and I once more followed in her hoof steps. Covered by golden light and drenched in darkness all at once. If she was going to show me a blade made of pure crystal I was going to get revenge. Princess or not I was not to be pranked. Especially if it was based on an old foals tale that she had told me ages ago.

“This relic is a rather special one as in comparison to most others it has two functions that I have been able to use. The mage who created it told me that there were three functions but I have never been able to activate the third.” My teacher began pausing before a blank portion of the castle wall and the light that had covered her horn flew into the wall. Dispersing with a bright flash of light when my eyes were once more able to properly see I could no longer see the wall before us. Now only a dimly lit passage that led further on.

“If you wouldn't mind me asking Princess Celestia, but who was this magus?” After all, if they were able to make an artifact that had two uses let alone three they would be etched into history. My teacher paused her movement as she considered her response. While she was busy I took advantage of the opportunity to do as discreetly as possible cast some detection charms. When she began to speak I took a risk that would either pay off or have me tossed into Tartarus.

“His name has been stripped from history by his hooves and his magic. Was I to tell you it would mean nothing.” She started before tilting her head. Taking the chance I cast a beacon toward the corner behind us. Hidden under enough cloaking magic to last a year. “That is if you were able to even remember his name. However for you my student I do believe that won't be a problem.” She said as she turned around a small smile written on her face.

I hid the panic hopefully behind the confusion that her statement had caused. What did you mean if I was able to remember his name? How would that even work? Did he-.

“Did he manage to charm his name so that only specific ponies that he allows remember it? No the way you said it refers to specific individuals remembering it. Could it be based on lineage? No magical strength?” I asked my teacher. Whose smile grew ever larger.

“Close he did initially attempt to cast the spell so that only a pony with enough magical strength could remember his name but even for him it was too much. In the end, he cast the spell so only ponies with enough will could remember his name.” My teacher explained as casually talked about this reality-warping magic. If I could get my hands on this spell it would… Be against everything that I have worked towards. Tirek damns it. “Come along Sunset we are nearly there.” My teacher spoke as she once more began to lead the way into darkness.

Following my teacher once more as I followed her into the darkness that soon gave way to a room that was empty with all but a cloth-covered centerpiece. My teacher continued her trot towards the linen-draped artifact and her horn glowed faintly as the cloth was levitated off what I can now see as a mirror. “This is one of the most useful artifacts that I have in my collection. If you wouldn't mind Sunset.” My teacher said as she stepped away from the mirror. Allowing me to get a clear look at it.

I trotted forward and began my usual song and dance casting various spells to identify the purpose and functions of the mirror before me as I had done in the past whenever my teacher would give me an artifact and ask me to figure out what it was. The only thing that I managed to get back was that there was chronomantic energy running through the mirror. Unfortunately, that was all my spells managed to get before they ended. I had little idea in what manner they were being used.

Taking a step back from the mirror I ran through what was happening to my spells. My spells almost fizzled out when they touched any portion of the mirror. No. They were absorbed? Testing my hypothesis I spun a quick light into existence and continually force-fed it magic even as it was pushed against the mirror. It didn't extinguish immediately but as soon as I cut the flow of magic it dissipated.

Magic resistance is based on the ability to either disperse or consume magic. There had to be a limit on the artifact. Perhaps if I were to overwhelm it with countless spells or simply overpower it. Both could potentially work. However, it would be wasteful to resort to such brutish methods already. I had just started after all. That would come later when I was ready to pick apart the very existence of the mirror before me.

Resting a hoof against the cool glass of the mirror I could see my face furrowed in concentration. Frowning in the mirror did nothing other than share my annoyance. Perhaps it needed enough magic to activate? That could be why it's absorbing any spells that impact it. Before I could put my theory into practice the crystalline mirror began to shift as my reflection was quickly lost in the distortions.

“Well done Sunset you managed to activate it on your own.” I heard my teacher call out from behind me but I was too absorbed in the cascading colors that rippled from within the mirror. Eventually, they settled leaving but a singular pony. An Alicorn that was colored crimson red facing away from the mirror instead of looking toward some pony that I couldn't make out. Her horn elongated and came to a sharpened tip. Tattered and bloodied bat-like wings. Her mane was made of flames that incinerated the snow beneath her hooves.

A flash of red covered the Alicorn but instead of an attack, it was a tail that was comparable to a Dragons without scales. Instead of scales, this Alicorn's tail was covered in the same flames as her mane. The flames roared from Alicorn's side threatening to incinerate any pony that dared threaten her. A blast of the rainbow came from where she was focusing on and to defend herself the Alicorn returned in favor, a torrent of near-pitch-black flames.

It was as the Alicorn began to reposition herself against whatever foe was senile enough to attack a fully ascended Alicorn that I saw it. The mark that gives a pony its destiny. It was all too familiar to me. After all, it was the same one that rested on my side. A Sun that threatened to consume itself. Half red and half yellow. Caught in an endless struggle. The only difference between the two marks was that the one upon the Alicorn's flank had a black void where my sun fought within itself.

A torrent of crystals ripped through the air from behind the Alic-. No from myself. I wanted to warn myself but all I could do was watch as the cascading crystals impacted with the fury of falling stars. When the crystals finally stopped flying and detonating against me, I could see that I had turned to the mirror, thankfully undamaged. My eyes bleeding black with only my pupils staying their original color, they were filled with an emotion that was my only comfort. Pure unaltered rage. Whoever that pony that just attacked me was going to wish that it had never been born.

That was where the scene ended however as the crystalline mirror once more distorted and cleared. Leaving me only with my reflection for comfort. Taking a deep breath I attempted to cool the molten fury that poured from within. I had succeeded and yet there were still Ponies that dared attack me? A fully ascended Alicorn. I snorted. I hope that my other self gave those ponies that attempted to harm it a fitting death.

“Sunset, what do you think one of the mirrors' purposes is?” I could barely hear my teacher call out from the other side of the room. Turning my gaze to her and I could see that once more her eyes had adopted an all too familiar sharpness that was residing in those eyes, reserved only for me. Taking a breath before I answered to get my thoughts in order. This wasn't the friendship test. I had a chance to not fail.

“My assumption based on what I saw was that the mirror shows the pony that gazes into what their future holds,” I answered in a calm and collected voice. I would happily give a leg or two for my teacher to tell me that my hypothesis was correct. I couldn't contain the smile that appeared on my face as my teacher nodded.

“Well done Sunset that is indeed one of the uses of this mirror.” My teacher said with a smile that I hadn't seen in years. I knew I was grinning as if I were a common loon but I didn't care. It was almost as if I had never grown up. That I was still the filly that clung to Celestia’s side. “If you wouldn't mind me asking Sunset what is it that you saw?” The elation seeped from my skin as I was once more reminded that those days were long over. The Princess before me required an answer no matter how much I would rather not provide it.

“I was an Alicorn.” I got out without any stuttering. While I spoke I kept my focus on Princess Celestia to best gauge how she would react to this. If she were to attack I would be at disadvantage in these close quarters. I would have to get to somewhere I could maneuver around her attacks, well before I could retreat. I held no delusions so grand that I could take the Princess of the Sun in single combat. I would be flattened into a pony pancake in an instant. Even if I could bloody her, she would be fine. Such was the divide between the mortals and the deities that ruled with their divine hooves.

“Sunset while I know that you have desired to one day ascend, I would remind you that in dealing with any manner of Chronomantic magics they are never certain. You cannot treat it as a certainty merely as a possibility.” My teacher once more continued her lesson to my rapturous ears. Her smile had faded back an almost imperceptible amount but I still knew that she was displeased with something. More than likely I had once more failed her test. She continued after I nodded my head in agreement with her statement. “I can tell you that the path to ascending is not free without strife and sacrifice. If you are set in your desires to attempt your ascension I cannot stop you. I would, however, ask that you wait.” Princess Celestia concluded as she once more deigned to choose how my life would proceed to her every hoof and fancy.

“Why would I wait? I could ascend! The mirror itself proves it! I could be immortal! I-” My true thoughts burst forwards through the leaking dam that was my mouth. I could only thank Princess Celestia that I didn't say the final portion of my thoughts. After all, I knew Princess Celestia’s thoughts on that matter. The Alicorn Princess before me simply raised an eyebrow causing me to blush as I retreated from her form.

“I would have you wait so that Cadance can safely and fully ascend. You know as well as I how vulnerable she is at the moment. -” We both knew that all too well after I had nearly incinerated the fledgling immortal myself. “- And Sunset ascending and becoming immortal is not the be all of everything if you were to spend eternity alone.” I was initially planning to argue the point, but the grimace that Princess Celestia had adopted silenced the words far better than any spell I had at my disposal.

“Celestia, are you alright?” I hesitantly asked as I put a hoof forwards toward the oddly vulnerable pony. She didn't immediately respond to my words but when my hoof tapped against one of her ornamental leg guards she snapped out of her melancholic episode.

“My apologies Sunset, it seems that I did not get enough rest last night.” Princess Celestia said with a smile as she lied to my face. Retrieving my hoof from the gilded gauntlet that felt as if it were attached to a frigid pole, I placed it down on the ground. “This is why I am insistent on you having a proper sleep schedule, as you can see that without one it can impact even a Princess herself.” The smile this time is much more real however that did little to quell the liquid rage that was begging to be released.

“Why is it that you decided to show me this mirror now?” I asked the Princess of the Sun all the while bludgeoning the heat down for the moment. After all, she was the one who had for some reason decided to show me this mirror only when I wanted to leave. Princess Celestia tilted her head and thought a moment before responding to my inquiry.

“In truth, I wanted to show you that there is something to always work towards.” She then gestured with a wing towards the mirror before continuing. “I have used that mirror for nearly a thousand years to remind myself what I am constantly striving for. Why I strive for more improvement in both myself and my Ponies. I thought it was something that you finally deserved to see.” P-. Celestia said as she turned towards me with a small smile resting on her lips. I knew it wasn't for me but for whatever was on the other end of that mirror, but all the same, I knew that this was one of the few smiles I had received in the last years from the pony I considered to be the most important.

With that, I watched as she trotted away towards the mirror with the cloth hanging from an invisible force. She paused to look into the mirror. Perhaps she was planning to activate it herself? She had been using it for nearly a thousand years and she knew its second use.

She had been looking into the future for far longer than I had ever been alive. Searching into the future using this artifact to act as her map. Attempting alternative approaches and using the aforementioned mirror to check the success or failure. Checking over a pony that could have once been a success and watching it become your greatest failure. Choosing the opportune time to get rid of that failure before it could ruin any more of your plans. I took a calming breath as I spun the cooling charm. Much lighter than usual but it still shocked me back into clarity for the moment. The clarity that I would surely need.

“Is there anything else I can do to prove my case concerning my planned expedition Princess?” I asked as she covered the mirror in the cloth that had originally hung over it. Oddly enough, instead of the delicate hoof that I often associate with Princess Celestia’s magic, the cloth was simply dropped on it as if she had touched something hot. Turning back towards me I could see that there was no longer any semblance of a real smile upon her muzzle. Only the one that rested upon her face when dealing with some pony that she rather disliked.

“Sunset I would ask that you give me until the emissaries from the Griffons arrive to answer one way or another.” Princess Celestia spoke out in an almost considered tone. She would say no of course. After all, what was different this time? A poisonous thought from somewhere deep in my head whispered a singular ponies name, Cadance, after all, we were supposedly in an alliance. She was also a Princess and to have your opinion ever considered within the walls of this castle, was a requirement. One that I never had been able to meet.

I would need to do some research into the Crystal Empire before I could turn up to her and ask for any assistance, however. I also had to recover the research I had already done on the topic to see what in the dankest portions of Tarturas had I missed. She had been in the castle for less than a month and knew about it while I had only learned about it after 12 years of living in this palace.

Perhaps I could find an alternative to the horn healing spell? That would be a useful bribe to have sitting in my hooves. It would have to be after Princess Celestia is done with me, however. After all, I was only her student. Nothing more and potentially much less.

“Sunset, why don't we head to the training room so I can see your progress on the spell that you used to burn your room.” She said with a wince before hurriedly continuing. “Not that I am implying that you did it on purpose.” She must have something important to do if she was trying to use this old trick to get rid of me. I had learned over the years and yet somehow she didn't? Perhaps she still taught me the foal that hung off her every word?

I would have assumed that she would have eventually realized that I would no longer spend hours waiting with bated breath for her to show up. Only to wander the castle covered in darkness back to my room after she once more failed to. She more than likely had to go protect the parasite. No, after all, she was far too busy running Equestria for that. It didn't matter, I was her dutiful student. I knew how to take the polite dismissal for what it was. It was useful in this scenario however that she would tire of me so easily.

“There is no need for that Princess. I had planned to get some private work done today. You don't need to spend any more time with me.” I hoped whatever Princess Celestia was doing was at least important to Equestria. I would have used to think more important than me, but I had long since learned where I stood in her list of importance.

I could see the light from her mane dim a fraction. She must have been dreading going to this next appointment of hers if she was trying to use me as an excuse to delay it any further. She opened her mouth but closed it before any words came out. She once more wrapped us both in a teleportation spell and we were in front of my room. She nodded to me as she turned on her frog. Giving her farewells as she began to trot away. Or she would have had I not spoken up.

“Princess-” Princess Celestia’s head didn't exactly twist but she was no longer looking away from me. Instead, she had somehow managed to turn fully around without me being able to see the action. Her fake smile for some peculiar reason seemed to grow in strength. “- if it is possible could I please have my lesson plans back?” I will admit I had not thought out the consequences of this request as the fake smile on her face was replaced by a deep frown. Thankfully she levitated the lesson plans I had spent so long on from underneath her wing.

I grasped the lesson plans with my magic and without a second thought spun my warping spell. To escape from the displeased deity. The last I could see of Princess Celestia was her mouth opening slightly before my vision was smothered by flames.

Author's Note

First chapter of the new year and we finally see the eponymous mirror that this stories title refers to. Sunset shows that for as smart as she can be she can all to easily become lost in fantasies both real and imagined. How much her eyes can truly see reality is up for debate. One chapter left in one of the worst day's that Sunset has had so far and its already been a pretty bad day.
-LittleFaerieFire

12. Belligerent Battles

Belligerent Battles

Sunset

After my hasty retreat from the displeased deity that ruled this castle, I had spent hours ripping through my notes on the Crystal Empire. Unfortunately, even with my access to the restricted section, they were rather light reading. What was worse was that I had found nothing that would be of worth to me in reviewing my work. Perhaps the parasite would be willing to exchange her help for these notes?

Unlikely as that was, I once more found myself teleporting into the library ignoring the creeping shivers that were crawling throughout my spine. I would sleep when I was dead. Actually, at the rate I was going that may be a distinct possibility. I would more than likely have to proffer myself to the shades that clung to my dreams. Hopefully, that would pull the specters that managed to escape to the waking world back within. Dismissing my thoughts on that rather disquieting subject I turned toward the medical section of the library and began my search.

I could claim to be a master of many fields that an average unicorn would have little chance of learning. I however was not gifted in this field and it held little interest for me to spend my time studying it. I could heal a shallow cut and cauterize a deeper wound; anything beyond that was not accessible to me. If the parasite wishes to have a spell that could rip a pony in two before stitching it back together not allowing it the mercy of death. I could have easily provided however it for some reason seemed to be against the use of such magic. It still had the blind naivety that most of our species manage to hold.

It would learn in time that there are worse things than physical pains. She was still a filly that had entered a realm of monsters wearing the flesh of ponies. Puppeteering those around them to their every advantage. She at least managed to get a powerful actor on her side immediately thanks to her ascension. Princess Celestia was a near-perfect aegis however she was kept in check thanks to the crown that rested upon her head. Without an agent that would gladly discard the rules that Pony society thrived on… I suddenly am unsure if I hate the parasitic pink pony more or less.

Deciding that it would be prudent to bribe the perhaps not nearly as naive as I had initially thought pony before I decided to sort out the peculiarities of the feelings that were felt against it at a later time. Turning back to the reason that I had even dared to brave the library once more I dove into the books with a gusto that was unmatched by any pony alive. Searching for anything at all that could be possibly used to heal the damaged horn of a Unicorn. Words began to bleed black as I lost myself in the study of arcane mysteries.

During my time analyzing my previously acquired knowledge, I could hear many a pony come over and catch sight of my work only to predictably retreat. The librarians still held the torch of fear from my previous daytime visits. They couldn't be reliably taught it seemed. I should remind them. Perhaps an illusionary trap that would have them believe that they were falling to their dooms? A tad bit simple but it would do the trick. After all, they were still disturbing my work.

There was a reason that I had spent most of my time within the royal libraries after dark when every pony was no longer within its knowledge-filled walls. Even then last night had proven that was no longer a sanctuary first Princess Celestia had intruded upon my work and then the Parasite. Frowning at the thought of the parasite once more flickering through my mind. I pushed the stray thoughts away and continued my work.

Maladies and panaceas were plentifully found within these old tomes. Yet nothing I had looked through had anything to cure a broken Unicorn horn. It seems that I would have to search in the section that Princess had long since forbidden, to find this piece of leverage. It would be a foolish endeavor to go so soon after drawing the gaze of the deity of the Sun. That would have to wait. With that blocked for the moment, I could neither continue my search for knowledge on the Crystal Empire nor the newest Princess’s connection to it.

Willing the books back into their proper places on the shelves. I began to make my way out of the library after all I had little time to waste. I needed to meet a particular pony that thought she was able to trap me. I was not able to be outmaneuvered by Princess Celestia herself and yet this pony thought herself above me? I would have to remind her of the correct order of things.

Making my way through the castle towards one of the servant's quarters. A silver wrench embedded into the stone door was the only marker against the otherwise plain door. I raised my hoof and slammed it into the door. I could hear a thud and then plenty of cursing emanating from behind the door.

“What in the deepest pits of Tartarus do you want?” I heard Silver Swirl grumble out as she made her way toward the door. I simply took a hoof-step back and waited for her to open the door so I could properly introduce myself. I didn't have to wait long as the door was flung open to reveal the silver pony. Her eyes tightened as she looked for the pony that dared wake her during the day. They widen as her eyes find my form.

“Silver Swirl, would you mind if we entered your room?” My voice was a sickly sweet thing that had the older pony flinching back. Her eyes were flickering down the hallway perhaps to see if she could escape past me. I added a smile at the thought which did wonders for the Pony in front of me.

Was she afraid of me? Why under Princess Celestia’s Sun would any Pony be afraid of me? Especially this Pony who was trying her best not to cower before me? It wasn't as if she had informed me of the wrong furniture to acquire. That failure allowed Princess Celestia to once more learn of another of my failures. Oh, wait perhaps this pony did indeed have something to fear.

“We can speak here.” Silver Swirl said after she found what remained of her spine as she stepped out from behind her door into the hallway. She even managed to meet my eyes. I would say it was impressive, but the mare was obviously-. “What are you thinking waking me up so damn early, Shimmer?” She grounded out not sounding afraid at all. Mostly just tired. Did she not fear me? Was I not still the terror of this castle? The feared demon, caged by the Sun herself. “If you don't answer what under the blazing Sun you want, I am going back to sleep.”

“Fine, tell me why you had me acquire the wrong chairs?” I asked the silver pony before me. She simply stared back at me before sighing.

“Did you wake me up before the sunset so you could talk to me about chairs? I swear Shimmer.” Silver Swirl said as she dodged the question ineffectively. Upon seeing the annoyance that I let flow from my face she began to rub at her face. “Fine whatever, let's talk about chairs. Just don't complain when I wake you up in the middle of the night to talk about… Yeah, that somewhat fell flat, especially with your recent sleeping habits. Come in.” Silver Swirl said as she swung open her door.

I followed her into the room that had once been a bedroom. It was now a mess of pipes and mechanical contraptions. There was scrap metal and design plans littered throughout the floor, blocking any view of the stones beneath. She made her way with perfected ease through the death trap waiting to happen. I followed in her hoof steps and made use of my magic to make sure that nothing fell on me. It was only once we made it to a bed and a desk that was pushed aside from each other did she once more speak.

“SO then Shimmer what is it about the chairs that were so important.” Silver Swirl asked with exaggerated emphasis as she sat at the desk. “They didn't get roasted already? As they are supposed to be fire retardant.” I doubt the enchantments placed on any mass-produced product would last very long or be strong enough to hold against any of my flames.

“No, they haven't been turned to ash. It is when I came here last to figure out what sort of chairs I needed to replace the ones that had been reduced to dust. I had asked for the exact replacements. Not anything enchanted.” I slowly explained to the Earth Pony before me who had adopted a face of constipation. How did the enchantments escape my attention I would have certainly noticed them when I layered my own.

“Unicorns are always thinking with magic. -” Silver Swirl snorts out. “- They were the exact replacement chairs except for one thing: the wood was treated with some different coats that have been proven to be more resistant to stray flames. Some Dragons use the same sort of things in their paints that were in the finish.” She concluded making no sense other than the fact that she had purposely given me faulty information.

“And why did you suggest these chairs that were not the same ones that I had previously had?” I demanded dropping any pretense of civility. If she was going to waste even more of my time she did not deserve the false kindness that I had originally adopted.

“Don't raise your tone with me, filly.” Silver Swirl snorts as she turns away from me and begins to rummage through one of the desk drawers. I at this moment contemplated the intelligence of the Pony before me as she turned her head away from a Magus that she had just derided. “Ah, here it is. By the order of her grand highness, the lady Sunbutt herself.” She says as she finds a scroll before tossing it at me. I of course catch it telekinetically and unroll it.

“Damn her,” I couldn't help but mutter out as I read the contents of the order. The next time I was to request any sort of furniture it was to be of this new fire-retardant variety. She had put this order in nearly half a year ago. I had been outmaneuvered by her as if I were a simple toy in her hooves. I hadn't even considered that she would implement something like this.

“See orders are orders.” Silver Swirl says with a shrug as I remove the scroll from my face. “I had my hooves tied.” She had received direct orders from Princess Celestia herself. I wanted to blame her but she did the same thing I would have done in her hooves. That didn't mean the anger dissipated but I pushed it down for now. Letting it coagulate within my blood.

“Has she left you any other similar orders? Or any pony else that you know of?” If she was ordaining secretive arrangements that were targeting me I would have to take countermeasures of my own.

“What if I had gotten the command to not tell you about the other orders?” Silver Swirl said with a cruel smirk plastered on her lips. She… She would do exactly that. Leaving me with no way out other than brute force. I would have to plan my next moves carefully if she was already mobilizing the workers against me. Wait if she was already doing this, did she have proof? I felt ice begin to sluice down my back. Two fantom white wings enveloped my form entrapping me within her trap.

I needed to grab my things. I had to get out while I still could. This explains the mirror. She just wanted to taunt me into staying. Showing what I wanted most and using it as a carrot to bait the trap that she is about to spring. I was running through the formula for my teleportation spell when I felt a small screw bounce off my horn shattering my spell and concentration. Silver Swirl had a frown on her face and a bucket of various small screws next to her.

“First I know the Princess taught you to listen to other ponies when they are talking to you. Especially if it is one of the few ponies that have seen you grow up from an explosive stick of dynamite always ready to blow to an even bigger charge with a much larger fuse. So stop with your fancy magic and calm down. You look as if someone just tried to attack the Princess.” Silver Swirl said as she threateningly picked up another screw.

I glared at the silver Pony and heeded her words even as I began to bleed heat into the room at a reduced rate. I would need every advantage I could get if I was to encounter Princess Celestia. “Alright, good. Now I would ask what got your tail in a twist but I know it's something that only makes sense in your head. So is there anything else I can do for you, Shimmer? Seeing how you went and woke me up for a conversation about chairs! Chairs!” Silver Swirl sighed after she finished announcing to the entire castle that I was still in her room.

“Are you under any other orders from the Princess?” Depending on how she answered I should be able to figure out if she was or not. Silver Swirl was one of the few ponies that I had known for almost as long as Princess Celestia. She didn't bother lying. The way she said it was something about them growing big enough to swallow a foal. I still don't fully understand her but she ensures that the castle doesn't collapse. She had also in the past supported a few of my more hair-brained schemes.

“I would normally tell you that if I was under orders not to tell you that I couldn't but I would rather you not start throwing fire around in my room. There are plenty of explosive materials around here and I wouldn't want to go explaining to the Princess that I helped you explode yourself again.” Silver Swirl began to ramble before she coughed waving a hoof and continued. “Nah I ain’t under any more of those fancy orders.” She calmly said as she met my eyes.

I was half tempted to draw up an array that would force her to tell the truth but that would take some time and one of her hoofs was still in the bucket of nails. “Oh Shimmer before you go charging out of here like Nightmare Moon herself is nipping at your hooves. How are you getting on with the newest Princess? I heard that there was some hubbub during your initial greetings.” I didn't keep the frown from my lips.

“It was a bumpy start but we have yet to kill each other.” We had most definitely tried and I was planning to win that inevitable final confrontation. The Parasite would be burned to ash before she could even open her wings. From what I remember of our meeting in the kitchen she doesn't believe that I was a threat.

Wait. That was before I had announced that I am proficient in the use of what most ponies would consider Dark magic. Why did I do that again? Oh yes, the sleep deprivation. That was a foolish decision in hindsight. It would have to be corrected. Alliance or not she would not be able to hold such information over me. It was at that thought that I felt a pair of hooves begin to push me.

“If you're just going to fall asleep in my room let me get some shut-eye as I wasn't the one who chose to be woken up when the Sun was still out.” Silver Swirl complained as she pushed me out of her room. Slamming the door in my face. I was still trying to piece together what happened when the door was slammed back open. Revealing an Irate Silver Swirl “Also I know that the Princess has her process regarding you, but you need a good kick to your plot. So this is an order to get some sleep, you look like death.” Before she slammed the door once more.

There I was alone in the hallway. It took me a moment to decide to glare at the door before I teleported away to my room. I still had to figure out some form of leverage to use against the Parasite. All I had was her-. The Parasites word that it wouldn't rat me out to Princess Celestia. I needed something to hold it over a pit of flames and take it down with me, worse comes to worst. Well, I could always threaten it with copious amounts of fire. That did seem to cowe it for a little amount of time at the least.

However, its response to my threats was to find me in the library unconscious and offer an alliance. I was not sure I wanted to risk any more escalations in the Parasite's faulty thought process. If I didn't understand the Parasite I couldn't plan against it. I would have to study it. It had made mention of relearning how to fly.

Glancing towards the Sun that stood proud in the sky, never a failure as it obeyed the Princess that it bowed to, I could see faint shapes flying through the air. No slight correction one of them appears to be plummeting to the ground. I couldn't see the particular pony that had just been brought low by the forces of gravity, but I could certainly assume which. If not it would strike down a potential location for the Parasite to be practicing her skills at flight… The Parasite's flight skills.

I truly was caught in some trap of the Parasite's design. I hadn't found anything when I had checked myself over. That simply meant it was likely esoteric in origin. I would have to find another spell to add to my ever-growing repertoire of identification spells. Adding another thing to my quickly growing list of objectives that must be completed before I leave this castle. Spinning a teleportation spell I disappeared from my room and reappeared in the courtyard.

Spotting the parasite who was still lounging in a crater of its own making with two guards looking down at it. Throwing a quick illusion over myself as I made my way towards the parasite and two foal sitters that were tasked with ensuring that it didn't kill itself. The parasite was complaining about not being able to fall onto the male guard while the female defender was chuckling. Narrowing my eyes as I watched the three take flight. Leaving me behind on the ground. I could have easily followed however I had no interest in being a potential invisible object for collision.

Turning my gaze around spotting a tree and spinning together another teleportation spell I quickly found myself in a lightly shaded portion of the courtyard. Trotting towards the base of the tree I was about to relax my body as I watched the parasite continue to fail at its meager attempts at flight. I however spotted a shade hidden under the shade of the tree. One that I couldn't recall being a ringleader of its kind.

Strange of the shades that had so far been able to crossover from my mind into reality they had been ponies that had been causes of torment. I didn't remember this one at all. It was taking the form of a Unicorn but other than that it was muted. Not only covered in an inky black shadow that acted as its flesh but almost as if its colors were blended. My curiosity of course grew as instead of seeing through my illusion the shade was keeping its head towards the sky. Watching the parasite struggle to right herself in the air.

Taking the opportunity to cast a few diagnostic spells toward the shade before I began to lose control of myself. Even if this shade caused me to collapse, any information I could get on them would be invaluable. Perhaps I could even complete the punishment that had been collared around my neck. Perhaps if I could even kill this shade Princess Celestia would apologize for the punishment. Perhaps after all these black-filled nights, I would finally be allowed to know the reason for my torment.

My spells flew towards the shade and unlike the ones that rested within my mind that had taken my magic and simply reformed. The shade before me was protected by an off-white barrier of impossible intersecting angles that shimmered into existence to protect it from my spell. The shade made no inclination that it had noticed its barrier fading back into nonexistence as it kept its gaze towards the parasite. Was I not good enough to be noticed by one of my tormentors? Were even the shadows that had tormented me more interested in the newest fancy that had even caught the attention of the celestial goddess? I would show it to ignore me.

Bleeding heat into the surrounding air to prepare for an assault on the shade that refused to acknowledge me. It was only once I was going to begin my incineration of the shade did it speak.

“Were I to take it that you are the Princess's student?” The shadow asks slowly as it keeps its eyes on the parasite in the sky. Ignoring the shimmering of the air thanks to the heat that my magic had suffused into it. Strange in comparison to when the other shades spoke this one only sounded as if it were a singular Pony speaking. Not the screaming cacophony of ponies assaulting my ears. Frowning I retracted the heat towards me. I would always be able to incinerate it after it finishes its drivel.

“I am,” I answered, awaiting the shade before me to respond to my confirmation. Awaiting for the moment that it attempts to take my life. Awaiting for the moment that it sheds its form and revealing the monster that lies beneath the thin veneer of civility. Awaiting for it to no longer disregard my entire existence.

“I am appalled that the Princess truly grabbed an orphan of the streets to teach the grand mysteries of the arcane, all because she was bored.” The shade spoke still not looking toward me. Its shadow-covered eyes still looking toward the sky. Where the parasite continued its flight. I responded with a torrent of fire that tore through the air thanks to it already having been heated. I watched as the shade was consumed by my flames with a cruel smile plastered on my lips. “I had heard that you are regarded as the greatest Unicorn of this Era. I do not see the truth in that statement.” The shade whispered from behind me.

I incinerated the air around me as a pillar of flames billowed into existence to protect me from the shade. Glancing over my shoulder I could see that the shade no longer had its eyes on the sky but instead was focused on me. “Is this all you can do? Throw a small number of flames around? If this is what 15 years of being under the Princesses wing allows a Unicorn to do I am sorely disappointed in.” That was as far as the shade got before the molten river I forced into existence flooded over him.

The liquid flames clung even to the shield that covered the shade. I proceeded to fold the river of fire in on itself, catching the shade in the center of the now convulsing sea of molten fury. Twitching as I caught sight of the shield that still protected the shade that dared to look down at me. I forced even more heat into the flames as they burned white hot. Until I could no longer see the shadowed form of the shade.

“Perhaps you are but a mere barbarian bludgeoning those ponies who stand against you with your flames.” A sickly voice cooed from the liquid flames that still surged. Before a pool of inky darkness formed in front of me as the shade stepped through. Not. Even. Singed. I would have continued my onslaught but from the shades, above its horn formed a sickly green orb that tore towards me. I simply glared as I teleported behind it. Dodging the spell that exploded when It impacted the now molten ground.
The shade did not let up as spears made of darkness began to form around it. Sent hurtling through the air towards me. I lost myself in the battle. Teleport. Attack. Dodge. Mitigate. Burn. We danced in Fire and Shadow. Even as I reshaped the lava to barricade the spears of darkness and sent my molten fury. However, the shade gave me no respite as more spears of darkness began to litter the air around it. All the while its shield protected it from any of my spells that I could slip through. Even as a spear pierced my shield the shades continued to shimmer. Destroy the shield.

Disregarding the blood I spat out for a moment as I stepped onto the sea of lava. Blasting a deceptively innocent spell at the shade. It was a piece of magic that I had long since mastered. A spell that could not harm any pony. Not that it made it any less dangerous. Guards Bane was a spell designed to shatter any shield that it impacted. Allowing for the pony that had relied on it to be easily torn asunder. It was a dual-edged blade however as the cost was that I could not cast any shields of my own. The shade so sure in its shimmering shield of impossible intersecting angles did not even stray from my spell's path. The shade faltered as the stalwart shield shattered.

Taking advantage I called forth more of the heat that had suffused into the area around the two of us and forced it to converge into the shade. Folding in on itself. Smothering the darkness. Desecrating the light. I forced ever more heat into the now defenseless shade. Fueled by anger and flame I brought into existence my own Sun. All to destroy this shade of a pony.

In a singular moment, there were two Suns that each burned. One was fueled by her love of her ponies. Mine was borne of the singular desire to cremate the shade to naught but ash and dust. They both Burned all the same. I could hear the screams brought into existence with the birth of my own Sun. Taking delight in the terror I threw myself into the fledgling star. Seeking out the remains of the shade. I would need to see the charred remains of the shade. Only then I would quell the pounding flame that still sought more to burn. Only then I would lick my wounds. Only when I had the desecrated form of the shade at my hooves.

Orienting myself from the teleportation only took a moment but that moment was all it took to be caught in a pool of pitched darkness. “Perhaps you are not a truly pathetic pawn of the Sun.” The shade hissed as it surged through the void of darkness that had survived in the epicenter of my star. The shade had grown in size and now sported two wings of darkness that oozed from its form that sharpened into razor points at the end. It stalked forth through the void that I had been suspended in. Biting my tongue to prevent the involuntary gasp of pain as the pool sharpened.

Cold. I ran through my spells each fizzling out as they had in my nightmares. Too cold. I began to cast any spell that could free me. Far too cold. From teleportation spells to even benign lockpicking charms, they all faltered in the vast shadow. I felt the flame within flicker. I would not die in this shade. I was to ascend. I would not be lost in its darkness. I glared definitely at the Alicorn-esque shade as I pooled together my magic that sought to burn the world. Cascading through my veins replacing my blood and bone with heat. It would perish. I was once more lost alone in the cold.

“It seems that being brought up by the Sun has not hampered your willingness to achieve victory. No matter the ponies that get caught in the crossfire.” The shade cooed out its mouth adopting a simulacrum of a smile. I could barely hear it over the raging inferno that I was fueling beneath my skin. “You may not yet be discarded, as have so many before you.” The words that the shade whispered sapped strength from the warmth that wished to burst from within.

“What are you talking about, shade?” I snarled out my words tainted with my red ichor. What did it know to be discarded? It was merely a facsimile of a pony that had escaped my mind. I would incinerate it until nothing remained and then I would do the same to the rest of its kind. The shade simply attempted to smile once more.

“You are not the first to be forgotten by Celestia. You are nothing special to her. She picked you up because you were a convenient tool she could use until the spark she was looking for was found.” The shadowed pony continued to whisper into my ear as it stalked around me. “You have already shown great promise. Not many ponies of this Era could hope to stand against me. Much less use magic now thought to be so vile.” The shade continued on its rant. Not noticing nor perhaps caring that the bindings that it had caught me with were loosening.

“What of it? I will force her to remember me even as I etch my name into history with my magic and flames.” I snarled at the all too smug shade. Finally, a spark flitted through my form as I ignited once more. Everything incinerated as I became the flame that I had brought from deep within. The shadows that once held me were lost to the light that blossomed around me. “I am no ponies pawn.”

The shade slunk back into the shadows surrounding us even as it continued to whisper oiled words.

“She disparaged the one pony that was her blood. Struck her sister from the annals of time. You think you're an important foal?” The shadows around me boiled and began to burst as I suffused the heat and magic around me. “No, you are caught between two endless tides. One has already replaced you.” As the shade roared these words a pocket in the oily shadows opened revealing an all too familiar pink Alicorn. “You may choose your destiny as you will Foal, but realize that the only pony that will ever care about you, is you alone.”

The shade began to once more step out of the shadows as I condensed the remnants of all I had left into a singular blast that rocketed towards it in a cascading green flame. Even as the shadows burned and the screams once more started the shade only laughed as it began to be turned to ash. “You will never be able to forget no matter how much light your flames provide, only darkness remains inside.” The shade boomed out as it along with its shadows faded. Leaving me alone in the scarred remains of the courtyard. Torn asunder by flames and still flooded with lava.

Glancing around I could see that the royal guards had formed a barricade of ponies and magic to attempt to conserve the damage to the already destroyed areas. I could see a group of flying ponies circling overhead. Frowning as I could not see the newest princess being escorted. Hopefully, when the fighting had started she had used what little brains she had to escape to Princess Celestia’s side.

“Speak of the Princess” I couldn't help but mutter out as a pony blurred into existence in front of me. Her eyes were wide as they absorbed the scene in front of her. Not even narrowing at the amount of damage that I had once more caused. Before she could begin her lecture I decided to make less work for the ponies that she would force to clean up this mess. I willed the flames to me and forced the lava once more under my hoof. Ripping some free from the cascading mountain of molten rock to cover my wounds. Stilling the desire for the flame and lava to grow as I smothered the still flickering desire for both to consume evermore.

“Sunset what happened? Are you alright?” She questioned in an almost concerned tone. Why was she concerned? She tilted her head to the side as her mane drooped and cupped her face. Two guards that were far more foolish than brave caught up to the princess that they had sworn to protect. Positioning themselves between her and me. I couldn't help the laughter that bubbled forth as I watched in ill-contained amusement as the two guards retreated as I put a singular hoof forward towards their charge.

“My apologies Princess but it looks like I burned a portion of your castle once again,” I said as my body began to shake in anticipation of what was certainly going to happen. I would be banished. I would be removed. I would be forgotten. Replaced. Abandoned. Once more by my Sun.

“Sunset your bleeding!” The Princess glowed in her ethereal radiance before me exclaimed. I wasn't perfect. I knew that. I have known that for some time your highness. My apologies for not being able to be better. I would promise to do better in the future but this would be the last straw that I knew it to be. The Alicorn pushed past her guards and lifted her wings. I forced the flames down as they began to wrap around me. If she was going to kill me it would be better for her to do the deed, than the Princess who had replaced me. “Sunset everything will be ok. Celestia is almost here.” She whispered.

That was strange. I thought that she only talked in the third person whenever she was telling one of her tales for an audience. Perhaps I had interrupted one of the tours? That wouldn't have been the first time I had done so. Another thing I can get lectured on. I smiled even as the daggers coated with ice began to slide back in. A bright light descended from the heavens as Celestia brought me closer to herself almost as if she was once again protecting me.

It was that warm thought that chased the creeping cold that had filled me. It damned me even as it saved me. I felt my muzzle wet with what I hoped to be tears. I embraced Celestia even knowing that this would be the last time. “Sunset?” She questioned shifting her wings slightly so her pink eyes would meet mine. This was a worthy last memory I thought before I ran through my teleportation spell. Disappearing from her warmth.

Author's Note

With that we come to the close of the four Sunset POV chapters with a large bang to end the long day that the dear student of Celestia has gone through. Will admit I am not entirely happy with how this chapter turned out especially the fight scene may go back in the future to improve it. That aside the story is getting close to the end of the introduction. With the world to widen outside of just Canterlot. Not to provide any spoilers but I can certainly promise that Cadance will not just be coasting by unscathed.
-LittleFaerieFire

13. Dreaming of the Past and Present

Dreaming of the Past and Present

Cadance

It had been a strained week ever since Sunset had burned down the courtyard. She had teleported away to only Celestia knows where. Thankfully Celestia had arrived just as she teleported away checking over every pony and had ensured that the now extinguished flames would do no more harm. Celestia, after I informed her that Sunset had teleported away while bleeding from various wounds across her body, quickly teleported away after her beaten and bruised student.

Leaving the guard ponies to look towards the only other Princess in the castle, me for the decision on what to do with the new battlefield that had replaced the ornately cared for landscape. I had hopefully managed to get them working in some form or manner after I informed them to ensure that any pony that needed medical treatment was taken to the infirmary before those still able, should begin to remove the no longer molten rock. They obeyed my orders without complaint and thankfully there were no more injuries as the cleanup proceeded. I count that as a complete win. What happened when Celestia teleported back a few hours later threatened the sanctity of that success.

Her ever-present smile rested in smaller form upon her face. It was as reduced as it was shadowed. She sent the guards and the other workers that had arrived to fix the disarray that had befallen the once green courtyard, away. It was eventually just the two of us. Two Princesses standing amidst the cooled chaos. Two Alicorns, one immortal, one mortal. Standing in stilled silence that I dared not break. That was only broken when Celestia apologized.

“I am sorry Mi Amore Cadenza for once more failing to keep you safe.” She whispered into the wind as she stared at the now-setting Sun. Even looking back on that conversation those words bring a chill running down my spine. When I pressed for further details the elder Princess refused to explain in what regards. She met my gaze before dissipating into a burst of sunlight to Celestia knows where. From what I had gathered thanks to Rebound and Gentle Breeze, she had found Sunset half dead in her room. Bringing her student to the infirmary before going on a crusade to figure out what had happened.

The guards had been put on high alert to find out how this occurred and to prevent it from happening in the future. There was no more talk of me leaving the castle. However thanks to my two guards who now even shadowed me inside the castle’s walls I knew that there had been talks of not receiving the diplomatic envoys from the Griffons and Bluebloods ilk. The everpresent warm tone that had seeped through the castle had been replaced by a thick tension. That had ponies startled at the opening of doors and jumping at the shadows.

Every pony knew that something had happened to Sunset, yet no pony was sure of the specifics. Theories ranged from her going mad attacking monsters of her mind, to her finding an intruder that planned to threaten Celestia’s life. However, these rumors quieted whenever either I or Celestia was sighted. However, if I could hear them; I knew that Celestia did as well.

These conspiracies were not helpful as they were spread by ponies that did not see the amount of pain that Sunset was in. Even as she covered her wounds before teleporting away from me. I knew that it would be a rough beginning to our alliance but considering that she was bleeding out I would have preferred her to ask for my assistance or even allowed me to help. Instead, she retreated to her room where she nearly died and would have died had Celestia not found her.

The next day Gentle Breeze, Rebound, and I were called into an empty throne room where Celestia swore us to secrecy about Sunset's injuries and proceeded to spend the next few hours picking apart the time that I had spent re-learning how to fly. Oddly she was calm and collected not a hair out of place upon her form. A poisonous thought cruelly was whispered from within my thoughts. No matter how I tried to push it down to the deepest recesses of my mind, it kept oozing its way back to the forefront.

“Perhaps Sunset Shimmer was right. Princess Celestia doesn't seem too concerned about what had happened to her. Even though she had two hoofs in the grave.”

Ignoring that sickening thought I began to retell what had happened to the Princess who reigned from her throne above me. From when we started where I had faithfully retold the failings of my earliest attempts to when we had stopped the exercises when I had spotted the flames that had begun billowing from the ground below. Rebound and Gentle spoke when they were specifically questioned but otherwise adopted the standard of the silent guard. Eventually, Celestia sent away my two guards. Leaving only us two Alicorns in the room alone.

“I know that you have not needed to use the brooch I had created for you but I would ask that in the future should you ever think that you may be unsafe I would ask that you use it,” Celestia said as she looked down towards me from the glistening throne that she resided upon.

On that ominous warning, I had asked her what had happened to Sunset and if she would be alright. What happened to Sunset must have shocked Celestia. Even if she did not act in that manner. She cared for Sunset. Just as Sunset cared for her in turn. However much of their relationship was strained and strangled.

Celestia looked over at me before answering. Her smile once more gained the warmth that I had associated with the Princess of the Sun. Instead of the empty smile that was forced to stay upon her muzzle.

“Most ponies would not be concerned with one that has previously attempted to harm them. It warms my heart that you still think of Sunset kindly. Even if she does not share the same feelings.” Celestia spoke as she relaxed upon her throne. She then paused, considering her next words, before speaking once more. “She was attacked by some pony I thought long gone. However, the wounds that had torn her body asunder had been imbued with a darkness that I have not seen for a millennium.” As she spoke the warmth from the room turned oppressive. I should have known better than to ask the question I next did. I however asked nonetheless.

“You know the pony that did this to Sunset?” I couldn't help but exclaim even as the Alicorn that referred to itself as my Aunt’s eyes flashed. Miniutaire supernovas were born in her eyes as I realized that asking that question may have been a slight overreaching on my part. The throne room began to heat before Celestia once more regained control over herself.

Clarity struck as she shifted slightly in her throne. She must have been forcing herself to act in this calm and collected manner. Even after the attack on Sunset she still had to run the entirety of Equestria. If she was shaken, ponies that needed her assistance could fall through the cracks. It was admirable even if a tad slightly sickening. Would I one day have to do the same? Continue disregarding the ponies that I cared for so that I could help the many.

“She cares more about ponies that she will never meet than the one that she had raised.” The thought once more crawled into my thoughts. Imagining myself on the crystal throne once more to clear my head of the dark thoughts that continued to form. After Sunset had been attacked my thoughts had certainly taken a downward spiral.

Celestia noticed my pause but I waved her concern off. I would be fine, she needed to focus on what happened to Sunset. Preferably explaining it to me. However, the ruler of Equestria seemingly had no desire to share with the pony who was soon to be royalty. She had excused herself from the room stating that she had needed to check in on Sunset personally. Before she left she asked that I do the same. I of course agreed to do so. If I was allowed into the infirmary yesterday I would have already seen her.

Celestia after receiving my nod burst into a flurry of lights. Leaving me in an all too large throne room for it to be empty. Looking at the now uninhabited throne I could only wonder what was going through Celestia’s head. She was concerned about what had happened and even knew about the pony that had caused this. Yet she refused to tell me. Only giving a vague warning. Exiting the now abandoned throne room I was once more reunited with my two personal guards.

I visited the infirmary immediately after my interrogation with Celestia. There were few ponies in the infirmary. The guards that had been burned had already managed to leave. It was good that they had managed to be healed quickly. However, upon seeing the one pony I had personally come here for I couldn't help but slow my pace.

Sunset had covered her wounds after the fight. I had known that she was injured but I had not known the extent. Seeing the usually invulnerable pony that threatened to go against Celestia herself, bound in bandages. Bruised. Bloodied. Beaten. I could see through the layers of bandages that had covered her entire form the black marks that peppered her. They ranged in size from a bit to a small ball. A pit opened in my stomach as I quickly lost count of them.

From every one of them, I could see that the bandages were blackened as they absorbed the seeping pustulating contents of the wounds. The portions of her that I could barely view that were not covered in these wounds and bandages were a pale yellow. In comparison to the hale amber that her coat normally was.

She was deathly still upon the bed. It was somehow more unsettling than seeing her thrashing against the demons that clung to her dreams. She almost looked innocent, as battered as she was. I knew at first hoof that she was not. Delving into Dark magics, attempting to kill me. Those were the two that I had personally confirmed.

Rumors of far worse deeds clung to Sunset as much as her ever-present anger did. Shaking my head and forcing those thoughts away. This was not the time for that. She was nearly killed. Celestia was once more refusing to inform me of the reason why. It seems that it was my turn to start on my side of the dues that I had already accrued. I whispered my farewells to the unconscious pony that had allied herself to me.

I spent the next few days in the library pouring over tomes that were associated with dreams and nightmares. Thankfully with the help of my guards and the ever-helpful Storyteller, we managed to search through the appropriate manuscripts. The four of us spent nearly every available moment in the libraries and we still found nothing. Storyteller had made mentioned that nearly all forms of dream magic were considered to be dark magic and even before that was decided over a thousand years ago there were almost no practitioners.

I was losing hope and we were running out of books that were even associated with dreams. However, Storyteller still managed to come through in the end. Pulling off a miracle and finding a small book titled “Deepest Dreamings” He slipped it to me without either of my guards noticing.

“Consider it compensation for my incapability in regards to the previously accepted assistance.” He said as the small purple book slipped into my satchel. When I asked where he had found he simply asked me to not get caught with it. I would have pushed him on the matter but what I was looking for was illegal and he had come through and helped me either way. If I could turn a blind eye to what Sunset had done I could easily ignore this transgression against the law.

I informed Gentle and Rebound that we would be stopping the search and that I was going to be spending the next few days in my room doing some studying on the incoming parties. I purposely did not inform either of them that I was planning to also pour through the book of obviously dark magics. It luckily had not come up in conversation.

Things were looking up and then were dashed in a most unexceptional fashion. The book that Storyteller had managed to slip me was but a dream journal of a mare from long ago. The dreams often varied spectacularly. However easily the most common was a sunlit meadow that in the center was a small blanket with countless confectionaries, most particularly cakes. The mare that had written this journal seemed to be poking at the eating habits of this particular dream.

She spoke of these dreams as if they were not her own, as if she was entering them herself. This was confirmed later in the journal when the mare abandoned the journal's original purpose and began to write about her dreams. Even then she provided a hastily scrawled letter to her sister as the last entry in the journal.

“Our dreams have long turned dark Sister. Filled with shadows that have long since danced. The Sun that once brought gentle light now burns. Tell us, dear sister, how long will thou still pretend that thou care? When along with our subjects even thou has long forgotten us. Always in thou’s shadow. For the inhabitants have only needed the warmth that thou has provided. Shying from our shade.

Would thou have spent less time looking in the Mirror? Would thou have not forgotten even us? Sister when thou find this know that even if thou ponies were to forget our Moon, we still have our dreams. In our dreams, we rule eternally. Our Moon is no longer forsaken in favor of thou’s Sun. Our ponies still love us. We were not forgotten in favor of the Sun.

Our rage will last. Our hate fuels us. We long to meet at our original place of both of our rules. Sister, as you have long told us, ‘Our feelings feed our dreams.’ We have not forgotten that. We await Sister with horn and wings ready.”

I was for the moment choosing to ignore the connotations that Shining Armor was potentially correct about the rumor that he had chosen to share with me. That Celestia had long ago removed her sister from the royal family. The only piece of usable information was the very last portion regarding how the unnamed Alicorn’s emotions fed her dreams.

While useful, the information proved that I was on the correct track it was nothing that I could use to help Sunset. I couldn't rely on Storyteller to pull another thing like this from his plot, but I had nothing else I could do to help her. I prayed to Celestia that I was the only one who saw her right before she had teleported away. She, even half dead, had for but a second as pain bled to bliss. That she didn't care that she was about to leave every pony behind.

She wasn't grinning or smiling but the way her eyes lit up as they met mine. The only times I had seen such life in them was when she attempted to kill me. Otherwise, the entire time that I had known her, she had been guarded, stilted, as if she was acting. But right after she had come down from the battle that left her but a scant hoofs away from the reaper she was elated.

The only time when she felt such emotions that pierced her facade was when she was on death's doorstep or about to place me there. She wasn't alright and somehow I was the only pony that had noticed. Most ponies in the castle didn't like her for good reason. At best she was a rather rash pony that didn't care for any other feelings other than Celestia’s. Ramse, who ensured that she would always have food, didn't care enough to ensure that she ate it. Allowing her to go days without eating.

Yes, she was no longer a foal but I couldn't help but feel… I am not even sure what I felt. It was only after I had calmed myself down from the deluge of emotions that I had towards this entire situation did I once more surrender myself to the realm of dreams and the Crystal Castle that it contained.

After spending a moment to orient to my new surroundings as I found my location to be back in the throne room. The crystal throne glistened in the light that permeated throughout the entire castle. Another mystery. Another problem. One that I had long since sought answers to. Now with two potential leads within my grasp, I am a little further than I was so long ago.

One would require me to give Shining Armor the spell to cure his mare-friend. However, it wasn't a panacea. All it would do is transfer the problem to some pony else. It was barely even a cure. Much more of a stop-gap if that. It wouldn't help their situation and I was not willing to give the spell to Shining Armor even if he was willing to give me his family's knowledge. I knew love and the lengths that ponies would go for it.

This brings me to the second pony that had offered me answers and the pony that I had just spent the entire last week worrying over. Sunset Shimmer the prized pupil of Princess Celestia. We were technically in an alliance but I knew how shallow it was. She didn't trust anypony other than herself. I doubted with the condition her feelings towards Celestia were in; that even Celestia was always trusted.

I couldn't help but let out an amused smile. Here I was thinking about a mare and a stallion even as I was an Alicorn lounging on a throne made of crystals. Here I thought that ever since I had ascended I wouldn't be able to continue my hobby of matchmaking. It would only be better if I was planning to have Sunset and Shining get-together. Letting out a snort at that thought, as she would eat him alive only spitting him out when she was done amusing herself with him.

I was shaken from that rather amusing thought by the sound of a door creaking open. Instantly I was back to reality. It sounded as if it had come from one of the floors above. Perhaps it was the little creature finally deciding to allow me to see it? That aside I had little better to do than think of my co-conspirators.

My thoughts straightened. I leaped from my throne and began to fly through my castle. Seeking out the would-be intruder who had refused to show itself for since I could ever remember. I could once more fly; the last thought that went through my head as I smashed through a pair of doors with a cacophonous crash. Wincing I refused to slow down or turn back as I continued towards the last place I heard the sound.

“Really?” I couldn't help but mutter as it appeared that the sound had come from a library. I just needed to blatantly avoid them at this point. Touching down before the slightly ajar door which I knew I had closed. Sighing I pushed it open as I entered the maze of crystals and books. “You can just reveal yourself,” I shouted towards the no longer empty library. Knowing that I was once more wasting my effort in a vain attempt at communication.

I will admit that I was startled when I received some form of reply. After all, ever since I first figured out that there was some other pony that had access to my castle I had been trying to contact them and figure out who they were. So when I heard a deep chuckle my head snapped towards the back of the library, my eyes narrowing in on where I saw a pony's shadow poking out from behind a bookshelf.

Throwing myself forward half charging and half flying towards where I saw the shadow retreating further into the library. They wouldn't escape. That pony would be captured. I would catch them. Then this ever-elusive pony would answer my questions. If they once more refused I would wring them out of them.

Digging my hooves into the crystal flooring as I forced my body to turn down the walkway. Seeing naught a pony but a singular book that looked as if it had been dropped in a hurry. Letting my fury be known to the entire castle and hopefully the interloper that had decided to flee. After a few moments, I calmed myself and stopped screaming.

Sighing as I levitated the rather large book towards me looking over the title as I righted it with my magic. ‘Phantom Dream, Legacies of those Lost in Sleep’ Here it was. The answer to my search. Flipping open the book to confirm my growing hopes. The pure elation that flooded through my body was enough that I knew that had I been awake ponies would have fainted around me.

I had a tome about dream magic. An entire book on the subject. Not a potentially murdered Princesses diary about her experiences using it. An entire work on the study of it. I muttered my thanks to the still-yet-unknown pony as I sat my plot down and began to read. “Chapter One, Understanding the Dreamscape”

There I was alone in the crystalline library deep within the most hidden recesses of my mind. Absorbing forbidden knowledge that was long since lost or outlawed. I held back the snort as I wondered if this is what Sunset felt like whenever she managed to study Dark Magic underneath the muzzle of Celestia herself. Shaking my head at my thoughts of her. I needed to learn this magic. Then I could help her.

I continued my research only managing to get through the first chapter before the palace began to glow. The ethereal light surged throughout the crystals as my physical form began to wake. Not yet. I needed to finish this. Yet even as I attempted to will myself to stay dreaming. I could feel the gleam grow warmer as I was being suffused with conscience light.

“Not yet. Celestia, damn it.” I growled out as I held onto the book even as I began to dissolve into motes of light. I wouldn't accept defeat even if I was certain I would lose. Eventually, my hooves lost their form. I could only watch as the book fell to the still-illuminated crystal ground.

Huffing in annoyance I turned my head upwards so that I would not have to watch my way forward be so close and yet so far away. Even after I helped Sunset with her night terrors I would have been able to use dream magic to help me with my dreams. Right before I lost my vision to the overpowering light I could faintly see a pony walking down the aisle toward me.

“You have your magic, my Descendant!” The pony all but whispered and yet as it spoke the entire palace shook. Crystals flaked off from the ceiling and rained down around me catching the light at a myriad of angles further obscuring its form. Flicking my still disintegrating vision back towards the book, almost completely absorbed by the light, I heeded the words of the unknown pony and grasped at it with my magic. Encasing it entirely with a pink glow. Even when my vision was completely covered by the light I held it in my grasp.

Waking up with a startle I quickly whipped my head around and received what felt as if a block of cement falling onto my head in return. Groaning in pain as I used my wings to push it off me. Opening my eyes once more to see what in the hay had just decided to fall on my head. My blood froze as a layer of ice reverberated throughout me. ‘Phantom Dream, Legacies of those Lost in Sleep’ lay on my pillows.

“ok.” I whimpered out, prepared to barrel through a wall to escape if need be. This was bad. I had a book of highly illegal magic on my bed. That I had pulled out of my dream. OK. Calm down. Panicking won't help you. You're a Princess it's not as if Celestia can execute you… She did however happen to murder her sister… Allegedly.

A knock at my door caused me to shriek in fear! The only reason I didn't manage to alert the pony at my door was that my voice caught. I screamed silently until I realized that I was making no noise at all. Taking a deep breath of air. I threw the book underneath my pillows and made my way to the door. Ignoring the way that I was shaking all the way to my hooves.

Cracking it open I nearly collapsed in relief after I saw the off-green coat of Rebound. Glancing back to ensure that I had hidden the proof of my crimes. I opened the door.

“Everything alright princess?” He asked without even a joke as his eyes scouted out my room. Looking for anything that could cause me harm.

“Everything is fine.” I lied through my teeth to one of the ponies that were willing to risk his life for me. A weight formed in my stomach as I continued on my tale of deceit “Fell out of my bed again.” This brought a smile back to Rebound’s face as he tried and failed to cover the snort that escaped his lips.

“One of these days we are going to lose you to those sheets. When that day comes I can only hope that it is Gentle’s turn to grab you.” He says, slowly mockingly shaking his head. Always the brave knight, the pony in front of me. “That aside Princess Celestia has not made any requests of you at the moment.” He dutifully reported.

“Thank you, then I think I will spend the beginning of the day lounging in my room,” I said hoping that my lies did not seep from my coat and alert him to the truth of my plans. Thankfully he didn’t fight against my decree. More than likely going to somehow pull out a set of chairs and a table and continue his game of cards with Gentle. He nodded and stepped back allowing my door to swing shut once more.

Leaving me alone in my sunlit room. With a singular book that would allow me to grasp the answers I sought. All I would have to do is learn a forbidden sort of magic. Betray the goodwill of Celestia… What in the deepest pits of Tartarus was I thinking? Why in Celestia’s name was I even considering this?

Looking towards my still-ruffled pillows and the potential doom that lay hidden underneath. Just because I had taken it from my dreams doesn't mean I had to use them. I could figure out a way to help Sunset without resorting to the same methods she had. I could see a faint outline of the book taunting me through my pillows. Beckoning me to open its pages and absorb the forbidden knowledge that was held between its pages.

The desire to search for answers no matter the cost fought against the fear of danger. Were I to be caught I was sure to be at least treated as Sunset. More than likely worse as I had not been at Celestia’s side since my birth. I could have my horn chopped off. My wings clipped.

Taking a moment to gulp down the air that I had been missing thanks to falling into the mental pit I had dug myself. After ensuring that I wouldn't pass out I grabbed my pillows and moved them off the book. There it sat taunting me. No matter what I chose to do with it I would be at risk.

If I read it and gained the knowledge I would have to hide it. If I didn't read it, Sunset would continue to be tormented by her dreams… No. That was untruthful. I wanted to read the book and learn more about where I came from. Why I had a palace made of Crystal that resided within my dreams. I wanted to know what my connection was to the Crystal Empire. I wanted to know why that pony lived in my dreams.

Looking at the book once more as I ran through everything that I could do with it. All I had to do was to open its pages and learn. Sighing as I looked at it for the final time before slamming my pillows down at it with a mental flick. When it was covered I could feel my heart slow as my blood began to still. Forcing my gaze from the concealed treasure that rested beneath the fluffed pillows.

I made my way to my satchel, slipped it on, and moved quickly to the door. Throwing it open I spotted Gentle and Rebound playing cards once more. They paused as they both turned their gazes toward me. Rebounds passive face splitting into a wide grin as he quickly speaks.

“Already done with your lounging Princess? Well, then where are we off to? Sorry my dearest Gentle but it appears that we must get back to our jobs.” He said as he quickly began to clear the table and pushed the cards back into their sleeve. Gentle shot me a light glare, perhaps she had been close to winning, but otherwise quickly packed up her portion of the game.

“We are heading to the grounds. I need to clear my head.” I kept looking straight ahead. Preventing it from snapping back to my door where I knew the book lay beyond. They both nodded their assent so there we went off. Arriving at the grounds which had been completely restored from their previously scorched appearance. We had even stopped to grab some food with Ramse threatening to stuff us like pigs as usual.

As I made my way under a tree that had been replanted I sat in the shadow it provided and opened my satchel. Pulling out another book that Storyteller had helped me get. ‘Noble Bloodlines’ was a boring read but with the Griffon’s ambassador arriving tomorrow and the envoy that contained Blueblood would be arriving after them. It would be a good idea to gain some knowledge about him and his family.

Author's Note

Huh been some time since I last updated this. Life got intresting with school starting back up and the such. But enough of reality as we leap back into Cadance's hooves and see the impact of the last chapter. Delving deeper into her own dreams and mysterious past all the while worrying about those closest to her. Heres hoping that the next chapter won't take a month for me to submit to this site.
-LittleFaerieFire

14. Emissary Arrivals and Awakenings

Emissary Arrivals and Awakenings

Cadance

“Announcing Ambassador Featherweight of Griffonstone representing King Eos grand ruler of the Griffon Empire!” A guard announced as the throne room doors were opened revealing four griffons. The one in front I could easily recognize as Featherweight from the description that Celestia had given me. The three others behind him were his guards each wearing bits and pieces of armor. Yet none of them wore a helm. They did however have a chest between them.

“Princess Celestia, it is good to see you again. It has been far too long since I have last been in your radiant presence.” Featherweight said as he entered the throne room accompanied by three other griffons. He was a rather lithe Griffon, especially in consideration of the others that had stepped in turn behind him. He had a few scars that peppered his form but otherwise was well groomed and well presented as he had obviously put a great deal of effort into his appearance.

“It is my pleasure to have you once more return to Equestria,” Celestia said from next to me as she sat upon her throne. Even though I was keeping my eyes on the Griffon delegation I could hear the smile on her muzzle as she greeted the ambassador. I would have risked glancing toward her to see if it was fake, but she had told me to keep my eyes on Ambassador Featherweight. “I would like to introduce you to the future Princess of Love herself, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.” Celestia introduced me as I took a step forward.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Ambassador,” I spoke clearly as I met the Ambassador's eyes. Oily pools of brown met my gaze. I could see within those twin orbs no softness. He smiled at my greeting before responding in turn.

“It is a rare occasion indeed to meet a fledgling Alicorn and future Princess. The pleasure of this greeting is all mine.” He says beckoning the three Griffons forward with a wave of his wing. They stepped forwards placing the chest before the throne. “I have brought gifts for both of the Princesses of Equestria.” He continues as the chest is opened revealing its contents. Instead of gems and gold, this instead held books and letters. “I have personally raided the King's private library upon hearing of the new Princess for everything that he has had on the subject of Love.” Ambassador Featherweight declares as he preens in the attention of both myself and Celestia.

“Our thanks for the kind gifts,” Celestia says as guards move forwards and take the chest to another room. “We have prepared a few gifts in turn for you and your King.” When Celestia finishes speaking more guards come from a side room carrying various items ranging from ornate weaponry and even what appeared to be a broken telescope. Even when the Ambassador's guards turned towards the treasure that had been gifted his head remained still keeping his gaze on both Celestia and myself.

“Our many thanks.” Ambassador Featherweight says with a nod of his head. “If it is not against your plans Princesses, it has been a trip from Griffonstone and I am sure my retinue would be glad to rest their talons and wings.” He asked as his guards began to make their way toward the small mound of treasures. I can only assume Celestia nodded her assent as he nodded in turn.

“Why don't we dispense with the formalities and catch up over some tea?” Celestia asked as the three griffons began to arrange the gift into differing piles. The Ambassador simply smiled. I had not seen many Griffon’s smiles, but I could feel that this one was particularly predatory. I prevented the frown from forming on my face. If he thought that I was prey he was going to be in for a rude awakening when I set him on fire.

I really was beginning to take after Sunset. First the near descent into studying dark magics. Now the pyromania. Next thing I know I will be plotting against Celestia. Perhaps it would be wise to stop thinking these thoughts when I was right next to her. After all, I technically have already begun to do that with the alliance that I had proposed. At the very least I already was an Alicorn.

Ambassador Featherweight gave his assent to the plan for tea and we were escorted to a private room, not the same one that I had taken to having tea with Celestia, but it still had everything prepared for us to have something to drink while we chatted. Or while Celestia and the Ambassador chatted, I couldn't help but think as the three of us sat down. The guards waiting outside the door.

It was unlikely that they would be needed after all Celestia was right here.

“That hasn't stopped Sunset Shimmer from being attacked now, has it?” A thought insidiously whispered from the recesses of my mind. Pushing the conflicted feelings that the truth of that statement brought forwards. I instead watched as both Celestia and Ambassador Featherweight idly chatted about inconsequential matters. From the weather to how the most recent crop blight was being treated in both Kingdoms.

“I do believe that we have let the tea steep for long enough, Princess. I however must ask if you truly believe it wise for the newest Princess to be sitting in on such matters.” Ambassador Featherweight says his eyes never move from Celestia’s as he attempts to oust me from the room. While I didn't disagree with him completely on the fact that I would unlikely be able to contribute anything major to the conversation, that didn't mean that my pride was nonexistent. Thankfully Celestia decided to speak on my behalf.

“She will be a pivotal point in the future of Equestria. I believe it would be prudent for her to begin learning as soon as possible. Princess Cadance has my utter faith and trust.” Celestia says as she smiles at the Ambassador, almost daring him to attempt to refute what she had stated. Unknown to her however I had recently been searching for ways to buck her will and planning to learn dark magic.

The pit that had formed was not abated with the tea I attempted to drown it with. The sweet taste of honey tasted rotten as it found its way down my throat. Even as I fought back the urge to cough I kept my face still and serene. Showing no weakness in front of the Ambassador, just as Celestia had told me.

“If that is your decision I shall not fight you on it.” The Ambassador says as he pulls out an envelope that had been hidden under his wing. Placing it on the pristine white table with a singular tink. It almost sounded as if there was a stone inside the envelope. “King Eos requested that you send a response back.” He said as he slid it over towards Celestia who finally broke eye contact with the Griffon Ambassador as she had the letter fly out of the envelope.

The room that held two Alicorns and a Griffon then almost fell to complete silence as Celestia read through the letter. The only sound was Ambassador Featherweight drinking his tea. Eventually, he finished his cup as Celestia had finished absorbing the contents of the letter.

“I will prepare my response immediately.” She slowly spoke as the letter folded itself back into the envelope they both were quickly hidden under her wing. “Onto other more pressing matters, have the Changeling’s been hoofing the line?” She questioned the Griffon that had poured himself another cup and began to drink. The question caused him to cough up the beverage as he pounded his chest with one of his talons. After clearing the blockage he responded.

“I see that the rumors about your student are true then. I had been wondering why she hadn’t threatened to deep fry me yet.” He chuckled out, perhaps with some form of morbid respect. Who would have guessed that Sunset would get along better with Griffons than her own species? Ambassador Featherweight’s chuckling stopped and my eyes widened as I felt the room warm slightly. Both of our gazes found Celestia whose smile was still plastered upon her face. However, her eyes held a sharpness that I wished to never have directed at me. It seems that the Ambassador thought the same “Perhaps my joke was in poor taste.”

The room returned to its normal temperature as we returned to our drinks. None of speaking and shattering the tense air that had surrounded us. Until Celestia reminded me why she had managed to rule Equestria for a thousand years.

“My apologies for my reaction, it is still a rather fresh event.” Celestia calmly says and for the first time since I have known her, I do believe that she was lying to some pony. Not that I could blame her but… Still. This was Celestia. The Princess of the Sun. She was supposed to be perfect. I… Thankfully Ambassador Featherweight spoke up.

“My poor sense of humor aside, regarding the Changelings they have been popping up much more frequently but otherwise have been sticking to the agreed-upon terms.” He said waving his wing as if he could dismiss the prior topic of conversation with it. “I am assuming that since you were the one to bring it up that it is the same on your end?” He questioned Celestia and received a nod in return. “That is good. Those damn bugs aside, we finally have confirmation that the Storm King has resurfaced.”

That was a name that even I recognized, country-raised or not. The Storm King had in a few short decades, conquered a near half of the world below the Equestrian borders. However, what was more important than his conquests was his downfall.

He was rumored to have been killed in a ritual that he had set up. Ponies speculated that it was purposeful sabotage but there was never any proof. All that any pony knew was that one day this fearsome conquer was continuing to add more to his ever-growing territory and the next the lands that had long been annexed fell into anarchy with the monarch's death. Those that had recently been conquered had the easiest time re-adjusting to no longer being under the Storm King’s iron hoof. However, those territories that had long since been under his banner had been split between his commanders, as a war of succession was progressing fueled by the blood of the innocents caught in the struggle.

If the Storm King was still alive he could reignite his forces under his banner and extinguish the in-fighting. Ending the halt of the acquisitions and deaths that were paying his way. I will admit to breathing a sigh of relief when I read about his supposed death in the papers but if he had somehow managed to survive things did not bode well. Not every pony had a Princess like Celestia to watch over them.

Most countries could not begin to compare with the might of Equestria... Recalling one of my first non-confrontational conversations with Sunset and my position regarding that might. I was technically one portion of it as an Alicorn, immortal or not. I really should have brought that up with Celestia some time ago. The question won’t get any easier to ask. If anything it was the opposite, but I didn't even know if I was willing to step back and let any pony potentially be harmed thanks to my inaction.

Pulling myself back to the conversation that was happening before me and resolving to ask Celestia about my place in her future plans.

“-By the time the team made it to where he had been spotted all that was left were his hoof marks. He had some sort of way to either escape Commander Gruff’s men or hide from them performing a sweep of the area.” Ambassador Featherweight growled out as he slammed his talon into the table causing the tea set to clatter. “We were so close to getting him and now what? He is once more lost to the winds.”

Celestia simply nodded her head before responding to the irate Ambassador.

“We now know that he was spotted within the Griffonstone territories and that he is back even if not at the height of his power. With this knowledge in hoof, we can move forwards and prepare for his return.” She explains before draining the last remnants of the tea from her cup. “I am certain that King Eos has his own plans regarding this confirmation.” Ambassador Featherweight tilts his head slightly in what I can only assume to be a nod. “Then unless there is anything else upon the docket that you would wish to discuss. -“ Upon seeing that the Ambassador wasn’t planning to speak up Celestia continued unabated “I do believe that both myself and Princess Cadance will be going to see my charge.”

The Griffon simply blinks once before realizing he had been excused. He chuckles while shaking his head slightly as he exits the room taking with him the guards that had been waiting outside. Upon having the door once more closed leaving just the two of us within the room Celestia lets out an incomprehensibly small sigh before turning to me. “I would thank you for your patience and your understanding Cadance. Ambassador Featherweight prefers to get to the heart of the matter as soon as possible.” I simply shrugged my wings, it wasn't as if I had anything else planned today. Well other than staring a hole into my bed. Pretending as if a rather dangerous book wasn't hidden underneath it.

“One thing Auntie, as the Ambassador asked, why was I included in this meeting?” After all, Alicorn or not, I had been in the castle for less than a month.

“Because you are to soon be crowned a Princess and were you not to attend the good Ambassador could have felt as if he was slighted,” Celestia explained… Attempted to explain the confusion I felt must have shown as she changed her approach. “The good Ambassador is always looking for the next enemy he must tear down. Searching for any opportunity to sink his claws into his next foe. I had you hear as a precautionary measure that he does not believe you to be easy prey.” That makes a bit more sense.

Celestia then stood from her seat and vanished the tea set back to where it had been before. I stood up with her in turn and followed her out of the room. The royal guards parted before us and fell into step behind us as we made our way to the infirmary. Walking side by side in silence we quickly arrived at our destination. Celestia made a single motion with her wing and immediately the guards that had accompanied us fell into position outside of the door. Where we proceeded to wait a few moments.

Turning to Celestia to see why she had stopped, all I could see breathing out before she opened the door. Revealing a room that was filled with ill no matter the bright colors that adorned its walls.

“Back again I see, Princess.” Crimson White says as he looked up from the textbook he was reading. “Oh, my apologies Princesses appear to be more appropriate.” He corrects as I step out from behind Celestia. I flash the resident nurse of Canterlot Castle a smile as he returns it. “There has been no change for better and worse since you were last here.” He says as he sets down his book and begins to lead the way once more to the particular bed that holds Sunset.

Celestia and I follow behind the peppermint-colored pony as he once more leads the way to a curtained-off section of the infirmary. “Shout if you need anything I will be here all night.” He says with a short bow towards the two of us, before he trotted back to his desk. Leaving us two Alicorns before a curtain that separated us from an injured Unicorn. This time I was the one leading the two of us as I gently pushed aside the curtains and stepped into the small bubble of space that had been set aside for Sunset Shimmer to recover in.

She no longer was almost as black as she was amber. The magic that had seeped throughout her was pushed out and the remnants that had clung to her were cleansed. She had an almost serene look on her face that went against everything that I knew about Sunset. She looked almost peaceful. That she had no worries at all. That everything under the Sun was going her way.

She had no ever-present sneer that rested upon her lips. The absence of heat clung to her every movement. During her kinder moments, there were still her eyes that still held her rage that could never be fully quenched. Even during her sleep, she was never at peace as she was tormented by her nightmares.

Yet she is lying as still as the dead. Her lips relaxed, almost forming a smile. Enshrouded by a cool cloak of air, No signs of anger bleeding from her eyes. If I hadn't known better I would have thought that she had been replaced by an imposter. One that had understood what Sunset had looked like. Yet got everything else wrong.

I could feel Celestia behind me as she peered at her student. She didn't move any further into the portion that had been set aside for Sunset’s recovery. She stayed her distance, keeping my body in between herself and the pony that she had long since cared for. Turning around I could see the evidence as clear as the Sun.

Her eyes didn't even recognize me. Only holding attention to the pony that she had spent so long teaching. Even as I stepped aside allowing her an unfettered view I could hear her breath slightly hitch. Even as I left to give her some semblance of privacy I couldn't help myself but keep my attention on what was happening beyond the curtain. That held the Alicorn Sun and her student.

I heard nothing but the starts of apologies slip past Celestia’s lips only to stop before they could ever potentially begin. Eventually, Celestia came back out for once looking her supposed age. Her haggard purple eyes quickly found mine, as she whispered her thanks. Promising to see me tomorrow morning before she walked out the door without looking back even once.

I took a deep breath and exhaled through my nose as I allowed the flash of rage to dissipate. I had no way of knowing what had happened in the past. The thought didn’t help but the deep breath that I took did. Stepping through the separator once more and entering the cordoned domain of the patient that rested within. I sighed as I shook my head. I swear to Celestia herself that when becoming a future immortal and royal, this of all things did not occur to me as a side effect.

“Celestia?” A weak voice questioned from the bed before me as I was quickly brought back to reality. Sunset had slightly opened her eyes as she struggled to push herself upright. Oblivious to the fact that I was not the Alicorn that she had wanted to be here.

“Sunset your awake!” I couldn't help but exclaim in joyous shock. I went to embrace the foolish Unicorn that had nearly gotten herself killed but I was quickly stilled by the warming of the air… Sunset still disliked me it seemed. “Do you want me to ge-.” That was all I got before she opened her eyes and glared at me causing the remaining words to die at the back of my throat.

“How long have I been unconscious?” She questioned, as her tone was harsh but her voice was still strangled, kept to near silence.

“A little over a week.” She didn't respond, but she did forcefully prop herself up. She couldn't even hide the discomfort such an action caused her. The air heated before dissipating back into the normally cooled air of the infirmary. We spent the time staring at each other. I wanted to question the Pony before me on what had happened to her, but I doubted that she would tell me. Eventually, Sunset broke the silence that we had once more found ourselves in.

“Has Blueblood already arrived?” She questioned completely ignoring the fact that she was in the infirmary other than asking for how long she had been asleep. Not even questioning if there was any lasting damage thanks to the injuries that she had sustained. Nothing, just the next event on her schedule. Uncaring if any Pony was concerned that she was harmed.

“No, he will be arriving tomorrow night.” I would have asked her how she was feeling but the grimace on her face contorted into a foul mockery of a smile. Gulping I continued “Ignoring whatever that is-” I said while using my wing to point at her face which had quickly adopted its normal features “-Sunset what happened?” I questioned the Pony I had nearly seen bleed out from her wounds.

She cocked her head letting out a faint whimper as she quickly straightened it. “This once more does not fall under the not wanting to execute you for everything and more of you almost died and I am concerned that it may happen again.” I quickly decided to interject, before her thought process, before she could somehow twist what was happening. She stares at me before shaking her head in clear disgust.

“You won't survive to become immortal with that attitude of yours. Always caring about other ponies' problems.” Sunset all but scoffed out.

“That is what I have you for.” I quickly fired back at the annoying little Pony that refused to believe that I wouldn't kill her. I wasn't a monster. All Sunset responded with was a dry laugh that quickly turned into hacking. I would have called for the Nurse but Sunset had held up a hoof as she got herself back under control.

“You are truly one of the most unique Ponies that I have ever met.” She says as a half smile half grimace flashes across her muzzle before she notices it and it quickly fades. “I take it that the Griffons have arrived then?”

“They arrived a few hours earlier, but that didn't answer my question, Sunset. What happened to you?” I have had foals dodge questions better than Sunset’s attempt. They hadn’t just woken up from a coma, however. Sunset just glares at me but I don’t notice any change in the temperature that surrounds us. “You can either talk to me or I can go get Celestia.” Since the carrot wasn’t working the stick would have to do.

My words had an immediate effect as the Pony that had been almost lounging, tensed and the air began to superheat. A heated haze permeates the air between us as Sunset’s form distorts. For a moment I could see her eyes blacken and with only her pupils staying their original color. Sunset's mane caught aflame as her horn lengthened to a point. I involuntarily gulped as I traced the sharpened end of her horn. It was wrong to see any Ponies horn like that.

“It is true then.” A voice whispered from somewhere beyond my back, as I quickly glanced behind me seeing no pony there. Turning back to my partner who was looking ever more demonic with every passing moment. Fine. No more Ms. Nice Alicorn. Willing my galloping heart to slow. I gathered my will as I opened my mouth once more.

“Are you done?” I asked perhaps foolishly hoping that the Pony that had agreed to the alliance would perhaps stop throwing heat into the air before Nurse White noticed. Truly would it be so bad if Celestia was here? I would have figured that Sunset would have preferred her to be the first pony by her side when she awoke. Especially since she had thought that I was Celestia for a moment. “Look Sunset we are partners in hopefully not too much crime. I want to help you, but I can’t do that without knowing what is going on.”

The hazing faded along with the heat as a faint chill arose from Sunset’s no longer demonic form. Her eyes were still harsh but no longer did she appear as if she was readying to attack some pony; more than likely myself. After she took a breath of air she slumped down.

“You really are a perfect fit.” I could hear through gritted teeth. Before she started in earnest. “Fine, you want to know what happened? I was attacked by an imaginary shade of a Pony that I have never seen before.” Sunset all but growled out as she closed her eyes. Awaiting my judgment of what had happened.

Well, not exactly what I was expecting. Not that I was expecting much. Wait… That doesn't make sense. When I asked Celestia about what happened she seemed to recognize the pony that had done this to Sunset.

“You were nearly killed by an imaginary pony?” I asked Sunset, ensuring that I kept any hints of skepticism out of my voice. The Pony before me refused to open her eyes. Instead, she simply nodded her head. Considering the best way to word this I decided to take the risk, lowering my voice I spoke “... Sunset, Celestia recognized your injuries and the pony that did this to you.”

Cyan eyes flicked open meeting my gaze. There was the expected rage that pooled from the iris and threatened to leak from the pony before me. However, it was erratic glee that quickly eroded the rage. Sunset once more surprised me with her actions as she smiled. Her lips stretched across her face in rapturous form.

“That makes things easier.” Sunset laughed out in a demented fashion. Refusing to stop until she begins to hack up blood.

“Nurse White!” I shout ignoring the hoof that Sunset once more raised in a vain effort to stop me. Waiting for the Nurse while Sunset got her blood-filled coughing under control.

“You are lucky that the first thing I did was set up a basic privacy spell. We wouldn't want to alert any pony that I have awoken.” Sunset calmly explains as a shiver runs down my wings. I didn't even notice her casting any magic. I thought that a Unicorn's horn had to glow to do any form of magic.

“Why do you not want any-” Right this was Sunset, how could I forget. “-Celestia to know that you are awake?” If anything, wouldn't this be a perfect opportunity for Sunset to get some uninterrupted time with her? Sunset instead finally dropped the smile that had remained embedded upon her face. Taking a deep breath before she responded.

“Preparations must be made and quickly I thought that I would have plenty of time to spy on you and then set up for Blueblood’s arrival.” She says in an off-hoof manner as if she didn't confess to doing something that most Ponies would balk at. Waiting a few moments and she still had apparently still not noticed her slip-up. Alright then.

“And those need to be done without letting Celestia know that after a week-long coma, you have woken up?” Every Pony wanted to be a Princess. I used to be the same, but upon seeing the Unicorn before me sharply nod I could only regret those past almost prophetic desires. “I am not even going to ask how that makes sense, but ok. Is there anything I can do to help?” Hopefully, I can at least use this opportunity to prove to my alliance member that she could rely on me.

Sunset considers my offer for a moment before nodding.

“Grab me an extra pillow. It would be obvious if one of these went missing.” She commanded not even pretending to change her tone into one less demanding. Why had I suggested an alliance again? Oh yes, magical Unicorn that would be happy to turn me into a pile of ashes. Deciding to follow her orders and bring up the topic of politeness another day. I slipped from the curtained portion and shot a glance toward where Nurse White was still reading his book.

It would be all too easy to just shout for him that Sunset was awake or even just walk out those doors and inform Gentle or Rebound of the news. Perhaps even just inform Celestia herself. Repressing a sigh I instead grabbed one of the pillows of an adjacent bed and levitated to myself before stepping back through the cordon.

Sunset simply nodded as she pushed herself out of the bed, wincing all the while. Choosing not to comment on this, instead, I offered the claimed object to her. She immediately snatched control from me as I felt my grasp on the floating pillow be disassembled as the faint pink outline that had embraced the pillow was replaced by a deep red one. Sunset's horn lit as it flew towards where Sunset had previously been morphing on the way. Convulsing and rearranging itself into a feathered mass that only coalesced when it had impacted the bed.

Now in the form of Sunset. The Sunset no longer laying on the bed took to rearranging her duplicate on the bed before covering herself with a blanket. Turning to me after double-checking her work.

“My spell should be able to trick every pony except Princess Celestia. However, I doubt that the Princess would bother to check on my condition. Especially since the Griffons are here and Blueblood is arriving tomorrow.” She said without even meeting my eyes before she was no longer there. Only the pillow-turned-Sunset duplicate still appeared to be asleep. Lying where Sunset once did.

Once more I was left alone by a Pony deciding to teleport away.

“One day I will prevent you from just teleporting away from me whenever you feel like it,” I vowed to myself as I glared at the duplicate. Making my way out of the cordoned-off area. Towards Nurse White. He looked up as he saw me approaching.

“Ah, Princess Cadance, any changes with her condition?” He asked as he once more repeated the question that he queried every time I had previously visited Sunset.

“Even in her sleep she still somehow manages to get under your skin,” I answered, receiving a snort from the stallion before me as he turned back to his work.

“Well, I am sure that even if she doesn't appreciate you visiting her, I know Princess Celestia does. After all, you have visited her the most after the Princess herself.” He offered as he began to immerse himself in the rather large textbook he had propped on his desk. Nodding as I made my way to the entrance and quickly slipped through to find a familiar sight before me.

“Gather up your cards. I think I am done for the day.” I ordered my two guards who both chuckled as they obeyed. When they were done collecting their gambling equipment we made our way toward my room. Upon making it to my door I without any hesitation pushed it open and jumped into my bed. It had been a far too long day.

Closing my eyes to get the ray of sunlight out of them as I quickly turned and covered myself with a silken blanket. Even as I felt the hours slip past I could not escape to the Crystal Palace. Lost in that daze I could hear a Pony speak.

“An impressive performance my descendant.” Those were the last words I heard before I opened my eyes to a realm of crystal.

Author's Note

Not too bad of a turnaround for this chapter hopefully I can keep it up. Otherwise, Cadance meets the Griffon ambassador and they immediately get along. Somewhat. Celestia however continues to show that there is a reason that she is the pony in charge. Sunset wakes up and proceeds to be a nuisance as normal. Plus throughout the last few chapters, the voice in Cadance's head is awfully chatty. Hopefully, that has no major consequences next chapter.
-LittleFaerieFire

15. History preserved in Crystal

History preserved in Crystal

Cadance

Quickly taking a moment to blink out the glare of refracted light that had assaulted my vision. Gaining sight that was not only the cascading of colors. I was back in the library. Where I had found ‘Phantom Dream, Legacies of those Lost in Sleep’ in fact I could still see where it had been plucked from the shelves. The hole in the shelf held a far deeper weight than the space that it had held.

I had been exploring this Crystal Palace ever since I could remember. It was only once I had become a princess that I had nearly caught the pony that had long since evaded me. I had managed to bring a piece of this realm into reality. Even with my limited knowledge of arcane laws and limitations, I realized that It should not have been that easy to rip a book from my dreams into reality.

Those concerns could however wait as I had a pony to hunt down. Making my way through my castle. My hooves follow the path that I have followed all too often. Not a single detour or dalliance as I made my way toward the throne room. Where I knew that pony was waiting. I knew that the pony was there. Why I knew that mattered little for I knew that they were awaiting me.

Pausing before the crystalline doors that separated me from the throne room where I had spent my childhood nights in. Taking a deep breath I pushed forwards. Opening the doors revealed the grandiose room centered by my Crystal Throne that stood in the center of the room.

“My descendant, I do hope you realize that horn is far more useful than acting as an ornament adorning your skull.” A cool voice whispered out from the room. Even with my ascension-gifted senses, I could not pinpoint where it had originated from. Frowning, I responded to the voice that didn't seem to have an origin.

“If we were to converse I would ask that you show yourself. After all, it is only polite to see who one is speaking with.” I offered my words to the empty room as I began my journey to the throne. If the Pony wished me to jump at the shadows waiting for them to reveal themselves. They would be disappointed. I only made it halfway to the Crystal Throne before the voice once more spoke.

“That is true for equals to converse they must be able to see eye to eye is it not my descendant?” There it was again. That word ‘descendant’ the still unnamed Pony kept using it. It had said the same when I had brought ‘Phantom Dream, Legacies of those Lost in Sleep’ into reality. On its advice even. Narrowing my eyes I decided to go on the offensive.

“You speak as if we are equal, however, you skulk hidden from view refusing to show yourself much less even declare your name. I am an Alicorn, the Princess of Love. I have but one true equal in all of Equestria.” I intoned keeping my voice level as I proclaimed my challenge to the still yet unseen Pony. Even if I was their ‘descendant’ or not they could have introduced themselves ages ago when I had first stumbled into this Crystal Palace.

They could have long since explained where I had come from. What had happened to my birth parents? Why did I have an entire palace made of sparkling gems contained in my dreams? Yet they didn’t. Only now once I was a Princess did they announce themselves. Even if it were an ancestor of mine that did not grant them a reprieve from their past inactions. Even a few whispered words would have meant the world to me.

The obscured Ponies' laughter permeated the throne room as the ever-present light that filtered with the crystals faltered. For but a singular moment the gleaming splendor was replaced with malignant shadows. However, the now blackened room did little to hide the two blazing scarlet eyes that appeared.

“My most amusing of descendants you shall indeed escape the bindings that have long since held you.” The voice continued in an almost amused tone. Before I could respond in any manner of ways the darkness receded allowing for the Crystal Palace to once more be enshrined in the incandescence of the fragmented light. Revealing a black Unicorn kneeling halfway between me and the throne behind him. The only thing that stood out more than the twin orbs of scarlet was the sharpened end of his horn. This time I caught myself before I could panic.

“Why is your horn just like Sunset's?” I wasn’t sure what had caused me to speak, but whatever it was I willed it to bury itself alive. Realizing I had already dug myself into a hole that I would at least make the most of it. “When she layered an illusion over herself.” The black Unicorn before me raised an eyebrow.

“That is the first thing you ask my descendant? Truly I have long since known the boundless failures of Ponies but I had hoped that those of my lineage would have been spared its ravages.” The Unicorn said as it shook its head slightly. “Do you not have anything you would desire to know more of, my dearest of descendants?” The still unnamed Unicorn’s tone had adopted a mocking manner. He was testing me, wasn't he?

“It is something that I have enquired about towards you,” I answered as I met his gaze refusing to back down. “I am unsure what you know about Royalty but most Ponies would endeavor to answer whatever is asked of them.” Pausing to allow my words to sink in before I went for the proverbial kill. “Unless you can’t answer this question of mine.” I finished with a dazzling smile daring the Unicorn before me to refuse my request.

He instead merely chuckled. Breaking our gaze as he turned slightly towards the throne that was constructed out of a priceless gem. He did not immediately answer, instead choosing to look upon it for a moment before returning his gaze to me. Not once more meeting my gaze again.

“If a member of royalty, an Alicorn Princess nonetheless demands an answer, who would I be to refute her? My horn is something that is no illusion my royal descendant but something that I was born with.” He paused at this declaration, meeting my eyes once more before continuing. “Or was what you were asking, why did she sharpen her horn when your alliance mate spelled her appearance to take upon a demonic visage? Or perhaps why when you gazed upon it you felt fear strike your heart.”

I didn't respond to the obvious taunting from the Unicorn before me. If we were related I did not see any resemblance between the two of us. One more point against the entity that had long since hidden itself within my dreams. Upon seeing that I wouldn't take the proffered bait it had oh so obviously poisoned the Unicorn flashed a broken smile.

“I can answer you that question my descendant in any number of ways and yet I know none will satisfy you. So this is the answer to your I shall speak. A sharpened Unicorn horn represents an understanding of magic that most would consider impossible. Why your current ally chose to use it as a part of her illusion I can only speculate.” It was only at the end of the little pause the Unicorn added at the end did it conclude “Does this answer satisfy her royal majesty?”

That doesn't exactly explain what I felt at that moment. That however means that the pony in front of me had mastered magic in a way. If he was telling the truth that was.

“It will do for now.” I neutrally answered as I began to trot towards the Unicorn who once more raised an eyebrow in confusion as I approached him. That confusion turned to surprise as I trotted past him and continued onto my Crystal Throne. Taking a moment to seat myself properly before I continued “You can however continue to answer more of my questions.” I declared to the Unicorn who had risen from his kneeling position to track my ascent upon the throne.

I considered his smile broken. It was the smile of some pony that had once been able to smile and yet could no longer. So they moved the correct muscles. Contorted their faces in the correct ways. Yet it was still lacking in the elements that made a smile. Yet the laughter that bellowed from his mouth was saturated with love.

“My most audacious descendant I am glad to see that my blood does indeed still run thick in your veins. Why if I didn't know any better I would swear that I was looking into a mirror.” Cocking his head before he continued “Well one in which I was bleached pink.” He concluded with an amused shrug. Waiting for a pause to see if the still-yet unnamed Pony would continue, I started with a question that I should have started with.

“You can introduce yourself and what your relation is to me. After all, I, a member of royalty, have already given you my name and you have referred to me as your descendant more than once.” I demanded from the Unicorn, which would hopefully shortly name itself. The Unicorn in question smiled once more yet this one was not broken. Instead, it was a wretched failure of what most ponies would consider a smile. Yet all the same I could feel the Love that emanated from it.

“My most lovely lady of a descendant you may call me Umbrum. My exact relation to you would be that you were my granddaughter.” The now-named Umbrum explained this revelation of my past with joy-tainted love dripping from his form. My grandfather has been here this entire time. Yet he now only revealed himself to me.

“Why did you not show yourself to me after I spent so long searching for you.” I hissed out my regality shattered with the anger that sept throughout my words. “Yet now that I am royalty. You show yourself to me!“ The words ripped out from my mouth tearing through the dream towards Umbrum who didn't even have the grace to be incinerated by my gaze.

“If I could have revealed myself to you, my dear descendant I would have long since done so,” Umbrum says in a placating tone that I can recognize as I have used it myself on numerous occasions. It was the tone that a pony uses when they are talking to a rowdy colt or filly that refuses to calm down. It stung but provided me the clarity to reign in my anger.

“If the next words out of your mouth do not contain an adequate reason I promise that you will regret it,” I informed my supposed grandfather. Who nodded while still holding my gaze.

“My dear other than your crown you gained something much more recently.” He says while he slowly moves a hoof to his horn. I nearly froze on the throne. Bringing the tip of my shaking wing to touch my own horn. A singular feather from my wing brushed against my horn as Umbrum continued. “My descendant, it was not a conscious choice of mine to allow you to go through your life without my assistance.”

I… He… How? My thoughts scrambled together as I tried to absorb the information I had been given. It wasn't on purpose then. He hadn't been avoiding me on purpose. I needed- No how does that even make sense?

“How would that even work? I need a horn to meet you. If I had never ascended I would have gone through life constantly only knowing that there was a pony in my dreams and yet never knowing that you were my grandfather?” Umbrum for all of his grace and regal demeanor shrugged before responding to my outburst.

“Unfortunately my dear descendant I can only work with magics that I can use. Had you not acquired a horn you and I would be fated to never meet.” His tone had taken on a somber tone as he answered my questions. We both fell into silence. That was only broken by Umbrum “My descendant I can understand your confusion, but reality will not allow for you to wallow in self-misery. You have questions that I can answer. All you need is to ask.” He concluded with a shallow bow before my throne.

“You speak as if you-. It's been your voice that I have been hearing.” In the library with Gentle, when I was talking with Celestia when Sunset had awoken. “That's how you knew what Sunset had done. Even without me explaining it.” Pieces continued to fall into place as I continued. “You can see through my eyes, can't you.” It made sense I had only begun to hear that voice after I had ascended. Why no pony else could hear it?

“An excellent hypothesis my descendant. With only a few of my mutterings, you have been able to piece together such a well-thought-out explanation.” Umbrum says with a nod. “Ever since you gained your horn I have been trying to contact you with less than stellar results. In the end, however, destiny could not separate our family any longer.” He declared once more with that broken smile that held but a false warmth.

“Why have you been trapped in my dreams? In this Crystal Palace?” I asked Umbrum as I slumped back into the Crystalline Throne. This conversation took a physical and mental toll on me. Umbrum either didn't care about the poor show of decorum or didn't notice it as he continued to answer my questions as he said he would.

“My descendant I am not alive anymore at best I would call myself a shadow of my former self. I imposed this exile on myself so that I could one day in the future assist those that would come after me.” Umbrum spoke in a soft-spoken tone, his scarlet eyes never leaving my own.

The Crystal Kingdom had disappeared nearly a thousand years ago. If he had been in this Crystal Palace since the end of the empire… No, that still didn't make sense. I wasn't nearly that old. If I was his granddaughter there couldn't be more than a hundred years between us. Well, that was considering if he could still age while in my dreams.

“You say that I am your granddaughter, how would that work with you being trapped inside my dreams?” I asked Umbrum if he would be able to explain the inconsistency.

“My dear descendant, you are finally asking the questions that you have long since wondered about.” He said once more with a smile that was no longer broken. “I was not always entrapped in your dreams. I once traversed the lands with flesh and blood.” Umbrum then pauses giving me a look over before continuing. “To ensure that some part of me would survive I would do what I had done every time. For my blood fills your veins, and look at you not even two decades old and you have already ascended. You alone have proved that you are far beyond your species.”

Umbrum then fell to silence which I allowed, for I had to think through the words that he had just spoken. I have indeed noticed that he has always referred to Pony kind as if he was not a part of it. That was however not the most pressing issue. He once was outside my dreams as a creature of flesh and blood. Before he did something to ensure that his lineage would survive. In me. His granddaughter, or as he continues to say, descendant.

“You have said that I am your granddaughter yet you continue to refer to me as your descendant. Why?” I asked the gray and black creature before me that called itself Umbrum. Umbrum for his response simply shook his head slightly in what I can only assume to be amusement before he responded.

“The steps between us may only be a generation my descendant but from the time that I still tread upon the same land as you nearly a millennium.” He spoke, his voice stilling almost as if he was talking about a particularly interesting piece of shrubbery. Not the grand revelation that I was staring at a creature that was there for the start of Celestia’s reign. One that has been trapped in my dreams for nearly a-.

“Wait, I am not nearly old enough for that to be true. You said it yourself that I am less than two decades old. How could you have been trapped in my dreams since then?” I hurriedly asked Umbrum. My words slipped together as I forced my question out. It didn't make any sense. Umbrum the annoying Pony-esque creature simply nodded his head.

“You would be right my descendant, however, you have forgotten to take into account the greatest gift that many Equus denizens can tap into.” His horn then formed a crystal above its tip. There was no comparing the crystals that the Crystal Palace was made from and the one that formed from Umbrum’s will. The crystals of the palace were at times transparent and always allowed light to slip through them, transforming that light into an array of beautiful angles and rainbows. While Umbrum’s Crystal was a putrid black and green razored shard that swallowed any light that attempted to touch it.

A maligned grin flickered over his muzzle as he then proceeded to shatter the crystal into even smaller fragments that continued to float. Still caught in his magic which was a horrid black that oozed around the shards of blasted crystal. They flew once more together, manipulated by their conjurer's will, reforming into a blackened crown. Which flew through the air hovering before me.

There it waited, hovering in the air. The obsidian crown coated with black magic paused its journey before me. “A crown for the royal Princess, my descendant?” His point was made, and I shook my head in the negative. The blackened magic suffused into the crown which quickly crumbled away to naught even ash.

“You didn't answer my question.” I pointed out. Refusing the idea that he was presenting. It was impossible. No pony could do such a thing, not even Celestia herself. What the creature before me was proposing was far beyond the veils of what magic could accomplish.

“With the use of magic far grander than what most beings believe possible I saved you. Protected you from the destruction that sought to sever your life.” Once more a black crystal formed yet this time it was in the form of a sphere. The sphere turned translucent and I could not prevent the breath that left me, as I saw a pink Pegasus swaddled within.

Ignoring the desert that had formed in my mouth I swallowed my initial words. That was me. I left the throne made of crystals as I trotted toward the form of my younger self. Ignoring the current that was striking through my body. Ignoring the twitching of my wings, the knots in my hooves, and the emptiness in my horn. I made it to the side of my younger self. Swaddled in black crystals.

Reaching out hesitantly with my wing seeking to touch my younger form. The image tore. The last thing I saw before it was reduced back to the ball of black crystal was my filly self opening her eyes. Eyes that I saw every time I looked into my reflection. Turning my attention fully to Umbrum I blinked the tears away from my eyes. Looking towards my g-. Gran-. Grandfather.

“What happened to my birth parents?” I asked Umbrum. Hating how all it took to reduce me to near tears was a single illusion. I was an Alicorn for Celestia’s sake. We were the best of Pony-kind.

“I know, not what happened to them. I had to save you and there was not enough of myself left to search for them. I am sorry my dearest descendant, but they were likely lost to the ravages of time.” Umbrum stated as he stamped his hoof down on hope that I still didn't know that I was kindling.

“What were their names?” Even if I would never meet them. I would remember their names for eternity. Along with the two who had raised me as was I, their born foal. Of course, nothing would ever come that easily. Umbrum looked away from my gaze.

“I am sorry my descendant but I lost much of myself. So much that I did not know who I was for years after you had been brought back to Equus. Even now I am but a shadow of my former self.” He answered his tone, having taken a somber tone. “It will be a hollow comfort but they did love you. That much I can clearly remember. Even if I can not see their faces.” He was right it was hollow words that were spoken.

Taking a deep breath and allowing the shudder that ran throughout my body to cease. I refocused on the current conversation. I would mourn the loss of another set of parents later. My birth parents' names, I however never knew. Biting back the hate-filled words that I wished to drive into Umbrum. Taking a breath as I made my way back to my throne.

“Thank you for telling me as much as you have,” I said to Umbrum with steel in my voice. He nodded in turn. “Is there anything else you are planning to tell me that will shatter the foundation of my being?” Ah, that was a tad much. Perhaps this was what Sunset constantly felt like.

“My descendant I can remember little else other than my magic. However, in regards to what I have seen from your eyes, I am beyond what most Unicorns that you are surrounded by. I would be happy to teach you.” Umbrum offered one of his hoofs brought forwards toward me. Holding nothing within its grasp but the promise of power and arcane knowledge.

“You won't be trying to teach me any more dark magic will you?” I tensed as I asked Umbrum, preparing to react if he responded poorly. I was not however prepared for him to look confused. “The book of dream magic that you helped me find was filled with it.” I offered the visibly confused Umbrum.

“My apologies, my descendant but I will admit to not understanding fully what this dark magic you refer to encompasses in its entirety.” He started awkwardly withdrawing the extended hoof back to his side. “If you do not wish to learn dream magic that is fine but I would insist that even if you were to refuse my tutelage continue to take books from the library to study on your own.” He concluded as he once more rested on all four of his hooves.

That was fair. Even if he was looking through my eyes there was plenty I didn't know about dark magic. Let alone the standards were nearly a thousand years ago. It was unlikely that the same standards had been kept throughout the entirety of that time.

“I didn't say that I wouldn't learn from you. I just… Well, with the first book you helped me bring out of my-. Wait, how come I was able to do that?” I asked Umbrum as the thought occurred to me. If I could bring pieces of my dream into reality could I bring him?

“I am sorry my descendant but I do not know how you were able to perform such an act. All I know is that you can do so.” He offered his limited understanding to me. Of course, that was something that he had forgotten.

“Is there a limit to what I can bring out into the real world?”

“I know you can take out most things from this palace but otherwise I do believe that until you get stronger the majority of the larger items would be beyond your ability.” Umbrum smiled once more, his false smile pausing before he continued. “Perhaps if you are willing to learn the foundations of dream magics, you would be able to manipulate this realm to suit your needs.”

Frowning at the creature that referred to itself as my grandfather. That was obvious. Umbrum took the frown for what it meant and shook his head lightly as he once more spoke. “My descendant for being of my blood the very fates have set their gaze upon you. If you do not take advantage of every possibility you may be lost to the realm of dreams just like I have been.” He warned but otherwise said nothing more.

We waited in silence, the two of us gazing upon each other. One is an Alicorn resting upon a throne made of crystal. The other was a non-Pony with a black sharpened horn before her. I felt something almost tickling the base of my horn but before I could make any comment on this feeling I could see the lights becoming stronger.

I was once more beginning to wake. Celestia damn it. Had I truly spent so long just conversing with Umbrum? There was so much more to ask. I still had too many questions. Umbrum I assume upon noticing the panic that had overtaken me simply dropped to a bow once more.

“This conversation isn't over. When I get back we will continue.” He simply nodded an amused chuckle slipping from his muzzle. I could feel less as the lights continued to grow. Enveloping me in their splendorous warmth.

“My descendant, I will await your return. What will another day be in comparison to the eternity that I have waited for?” I would have responded but my mouth had already faded away. Was some pony waking me up? The last thing I could see was Umbrum lifting his head to meet my eyes.

“Ah Princess you're finally awake,” Rebound said with a smile splayed across his muzzle. “I noticed that you were awfully entrapped in your dreams almost as if you didn't wish to leave.” The smile on his face grew larger as I felt a pit begin to form in my stomach. “Perhaps you were thinking of a particular Unicorn who has caught your attention?” He teased out as the pit quickly stopped forming.

He didn't know what I was dreaming about. No pony else knew about Umbrum. My secret was safe. I then paused the rapid assurances that I was going through. What Unicron would I be dreaming about? Sunset? Why would I be dreaming about her? It wasn't as if I knew that she was no longer resting in the infirmary and instead skulking through the castle plotting something.

“Why would I be dreaming about Sunset?” I asked in a not at all panicked tone, however as soon as I asked my question the mirth that bled from Rebound was cut off. The smile was replaced by a tight frown. I just stared at the Pony beside my bed in confusion until he finally responded.

“Not exactly the Unicorn that I was referring to. However, I am sure that the splendid Sir Shining Armor would be glad to know that there is less competition on that field.” I could feel the tension slip from my hooves as Rebound clarified what he meant. The grin that had faltered quickly re-adorned his muzzle. This one was forced but I would take the false cheer for the moment.

He was just poking fun at me once more. Then why would he have woken me to talk about my love life? Not that I had one at the moment. That was somewhat sad. Princess of Love and yet was too preoccupied with other matters than the force that fueled me. Life was far too chaotic with everything that was going on at the moment. Perhaps when I fully ascended I could partake in my namesake.

“Perhaps the most beautiful and generous of Princesses would deign to inform this pathetic peon of the reason that the first Unicorn upon her mind was Sunset Shimmer?” Rebound asked with a false cheer that would have easily been missed by most ponies. Raising an eyebrow towards my guard who was acting far stranger than usual. Perhaps he lost a bet to Gentle?

“She was just nearly killed.” I offered to my guardian as I finally slipped from my bed. “That matter aside as I doubt you awakened me to discuss the Princess of Love not having a special Pony by her side.” I failed to keep the annoyance from my tone and Rebound certainly caught it if the wince was any indication.

“Ah yes-” Rebound then adopts an almost official tone before continuing “- her most royal majesty is requesting your appearance in the throne room.” He concludes with his wing saluting me. Gentle must have patience beyond even a Princess as he was too much at times for even me. Yawning I beckoned the Pegasus to follow with a wave of my wing as I made for my door.

Opening it I could see Gentle snoring against the wall. Turning back to Rebound with a hushed tone.

“Late night?” I questioned and upon receiving a nod I instinctively summoned a pillow from my bed. Freezing at the sight of the treasure that was no longer hidden. Pushing the pillow towards the sleeping guard as Rebound whispered his thanks. I grabbed the book and shoved it under another pillow that adorned my bed. When I found Sunset again I would have her help me hide the damned book. Until I could get back to where it belonged in my dreams.

Turning back to Rebound who had just finished manipulating his sleeping partner’s head onto the pillow, we continued towards the waiting call of Celestia.

Author's Note

Amazing turn around time as I managed to complete this chapter and 16(which slight spoiler is my favorite one so far) over the last fourish days. That aside we finally have a name for the pony inside Cadance's head. Livng in a Crystal Palace. Yeah the foreshadowing was there but Umbrum is here to stay. Hope you guys enjoy him as much as I have been. Then we have Rebound ending this chapter out in the only way he can. Awkwardly. That aside im hoping to get chap 17 done sooner than later so I can actually post 16. Oh yeah also changed the story rating to T may change it back but I was rereading the site rules and I think it fits. If any Mods have a problem I will be happy to change it back.
-LittleFaerieFire

17. Counting Cinders

Counting Cinders

Sunset

We made it. I wasn't certain I could teleport so far with another pony, even with the pre-prepared array and beacon. I let out a breath that I had been holding. Canterlot Castle fell. To whom I was unsure but they would regret it. Celestia would return to her castle. To save the Ponies that she so cared for. To avenge her fallen soldiers. To protect the Ponies she still loved. To rescue the Princess that she had left behind. The Princess I had all but foal napped.

Speaking of foal-napped Princesses. I looked at the pink Alicorn that was still draped around me. Her eyes were closed and after a quick spell, she did appear to be unconscious. Gulping down the panic and setting it ablaze. I immediately untangled myself from the Princess throwing my sack and saddlebag into the stone wall of the cave. I turned my full attention to the pony that came with me.

Grasping her in my magic and slowly moved her to the bed I had prepared years ago. I doubted my past self would have expected any other Pony to use it let alone be in this cave. Shaking my head to clear those thoughts, I refocused on the infant goddess. More specifically her wounded wing.

Four jagged tears ran through it, as she continued to bleed from the jagged gaps in her flesh and feathers. Running through every cleaning spell I knew that all that remained was the mangled flesh and feathers. I summoned a bundle of cloth and held it to the wounds while I magicked it stuck. Celestia would have my head for daring to use a sticking spell like this.

She would have my head for a number of reasons. Here I was in the wilderness of Canterlot after absconding with her newest Princess. Leaving behind burned corpses and ashes in the castle that she calls home. I wonder what her reaction was going to be when she returned and found the altar I had constructed out of her enemies.

Would she look upon it and realize that I had once more failed? That I was but one more pony in her immortal life that refused to listen to the words that she spoke? That I had left the remnants of her guards to be butchered by the various groups that had attacked the castle, all in an effort to steal away the Alicorn of Love.

I could taste the blood from the most recent Griffon as it ran down my muzzle and into my grinning mouth. That pathetic creature deserved the fate I had delivered upon it for daring to attack an Alicorn. One that was named the niece of the goddess of the Sun herself. Watching it be incinerated in my mind's eye once more was almost therapeutic.

Turning towards the still-suspended Alicorn I had in my clutches. Defenseless and without any protection. I would be able to reave her wings from her form. Rip into her mind and claim the right to ascension for myself. Celestia would never know. She would have easily just thought that the newest Alicorn had perished in the attack. After all, she was the one that had so hurriedly left. Leaving her oh-so-precious ponies alone while she went chasing after some element.

Like she always said I should take advantage of what others give me. She herself had just given me the perfect opportunity to ascend. I could survive here for weeks if not months, all without any other pony knowing where I was. The newest Princess will provide the knowledge and the resources I need from her mind and flesh. I would take care to preserve her sanity until the final steps in my ascension so that she for once in her life contributes something to me instead of once more stealing my destiny.

I would become an Alicorn. Celestia’s equal. One that she would never be able to once more abandon. I would be with her for countless eternities. The two of us are together forever more. Just as we always should have been. Just as we always will. My eyes focus on the sleeping being more specifically the pained grimace that rested upon her muzzle. The patches of blood that still clung to her mane. Staining the bright rainbow, dark red.

“Ponies have always thought the worst of you, right? Use this to prove them wrong. To show them that you are more than the demon that they think you are.” Her unconscious form whispered in a vain attempt to save itself. Did it not understand that I was by destiny's own decree, fated to become an Alicorn? That for every moment I did not ascend I would potentially lose Celestia once more?

That I would be lost to the ravages of time, leaving Celestia to forget me. To have her replace me. To be once more nothing in the face of the Alicorn of the Sun. To have no pony care for me. Much less the only pony that gave me a chance. The one pony that saved me from the ice and cold? The one that shared her warmth with me?

No. Immediately my magic lept to my desire as she was spread out in the air. I would take what was my right. There was no pony in Equus or beyond that would stop me from claiming my wings. From ascending and becoming Celestia’s equal. From becoming the true daughter of the Sun.

“Please Sunset.” She once more whispered right before I would have severed her wings from her form. She dared? SHE DARED TO DENY ME? I was Sunset Shimmer and I would take what I was owed. It is what she took from me. I was the one that had been stolen from. My fate. My destiny. Celestia’s love. She had taken them all from me. I could have them all back. I just needed to continue.

I waited for the next plea of the soon-to-be meat puppet, but only silence came from the unconscious pony.

“Not going to attempt to save yourself anymore Princess? Have you realized that the only thing you can do to make up for what you have taken from me is to return it tenfold?” I questioned the strung-up pony. She still didn't wake. WHY? “AREN'T YOU GOING TO DEFEND YOURSELF YOU PATHETIC EXCUSE OF AN ALICORN!” I bellowed at the Pony that still clung in my grasp.

Flames began to sprout across the room as my magic lept to defend me from the pony that refused to defend itself. Refused to give me a reason to spare it. Refused to apologize for its transgressions. The Alicorn of Love, still silently detained in my magic. In my hideaway, because I had saved her.

Things would have been so much easier if I had ignored her back at Canterlot Castle. I could have continued to defend the few guards I had saved. I could have always retreated here whenever the tide of battle was to turn. But no. When she reappeared I went to her. Found her being attacked by a creature that didn't realize how stupid its actions were.

I quickly taught it the error of its ways. When I took it apart limb by limb. Erasing a portion of its body at a time with my flames. Bringing it back to consciousness to once more experience the pain it had earned. Only finally extinguishing its life when it went so mad it started to ramble about the ‘nightmare’ saving it. I proved that for all the terrors found in dreams, I was the reality it had wrought.

I then brought her into my room. My sanctuary. Which I swore she would never enter. Then furthering the foolishness of my actions I brought her with me. WHY? She should have died at the castle. The only reason she still lived is that I saved her. I glared at the Alicorn that should have perished and continued my foolishness that would lead to my death.

Carefully lowering her onto the bed, ensuring that her wing was not underneath any portion of her body. I calmed myself and quickly killed the flames and heat that had surged with my rage. Ignoring the chill that the charm had once more provided me as I looked at the recovering Alicorn.

She should live, as long as she awoke from this slumber. If her wing got infected I would have to find some pony to save it. Taking one final glance at the defenseless creature that deserved the torture that awaited it.

“Thank you for trusting me.” She once more whispered. Taunting me. All but throwing the decision I had made back into my face.

“I hate you,” I growled back to the still-unconscious pink pony. Turning from the Alicorn before I would once more change my mind about my current actions I instead began to look throughout the hideaway I had long ago prepared. It had been some time since I was last here. What was it about three years ago I set this getaway up? Close enough. With that taken care of I continued on my task to check over the stored supplies.

Rummaging through the various barrels that I had appropriate from the Cel- Princess Celestia’s castle and the guard rations that I had purloined. There would have been plenty of food if it was just me. However, with my newest… guest, and her Alicorn-sized appetite I would have to go foraging or find a local village. I should have found one when I was previously setting up this bolt-hole of mine. Hindsight was cast in perfect clarity, however.

I would make do with what I had, regardless. Making my way to the entrance of the cave and checking over the array of spells. Over the time I had not been here about half of them had degraded to almost unusable levels. Shows what happens when I rush things. Sighing I began to rework the spell matrix restoring it and improving it with the new tricks and knowledge I had since picked up.

Anti-scrying defenses were a must, especially if Princess Celestia was to come looking for her newest fancy. What was this-. Oh yes, I remember this charm. I was a deviously evil filly. Chuckling at my own designs I restored the little charm that would make creatures experience hallucinations the closer they got to the cave. After all, most of the stupid animals around here would be chased off by their own shadows, ponies included.

After a rather enjoyable hour of refreshing the wards, I once more looked back at the Princess that I had brought with me. Still unconscious on the bed. Wings, ripe for the taking. Knowledge of ascension sitting uselessly in her skull. Just waiting for me to crack it open. All I had to do was-.

Ripping my head back from her form I put one hoof in front of the other as I made my way into the forest that surrounded this cave.

Entering into the silent night the Mare on the Moon is on display high above. Watching from her prison. Eventually, a cloud covered the Moon and I continued on with my task. It would prove prudent to ensure that the river I remembered was still here. Ignoring the broiling of shades that slipped from behind the trees as they traced my movements. I would take my blessings where I could.

Making it to where my memories claimed a river once ran I felt a burning desire to go back in time and strangle myself. Glaring upon an empty riverbed. Fine. I could summon water myself. It would provide plenty of practice with that spell. Huffing and kicking a rock into the now riverless riverbed, I continued on. I could at least check to see if any manticores or any other creature I could incinerate were around.

Hours passed as I traipsed through the forest. Finding little but trees and flowers. Not a single opportunity to incinerate a creature that could attempt to harm me. It wasn't as if I could just start a forest fire. Well, I could, but the last time I had done so Princess Celestia had been rather displeased with me. She however wasn't here. I could do whatever it was that I wanted. I was no longer beholden to her will.

Forced to play to her rules. Bowing my head to her every whim and fancy. Allowing myself to be strung along by the Princess that had forsaken me. I was free for the moment. Free to light Canterlot ablaze with my flames. All I had to do was let go. Let the flames out to feast and embrace the warmth. A single spark. A single cinder. Properly placed and the surrounding plant life would bloom into a beautiful flame.

I would provide a beacon to all that wished to harm me. Where they could find their prey. Where I would meet them upon a sea of flame and ash. A battle fought in flames and blood. Where I would perish within a torrent of flames. Bringing them with me into the endless tundra. To suffer evermore. A proper ending for a demon. Forever lost to the cold. With the warmth forever forsaken.

I could taste the flames upon my tongue. My blood blazing in desire for desolation. All it would take is a singular thought and I could end the tale of the Alicorn and Unicorn. It would be an ending that I chose. Not Princess Celestia. Not the Parasite. Not even the shades that I had long suffered under. I would be the one to end the tale.

NO. I reflexively spun the cooling charm. Smothering the flames that leaped forth. The frost once more smothered my flame, ice once more binding me. Embraced no longer by the warmth, but by the uncaring chill. I watched in creeping horror as a singular spark fueled by my hate rushed to escape the uncaring end that I had brought it. Reaching for another source of fuel.

Even in my muddled state, I brought it back. Flames were mine to command. I was the one that brought it into this world and I would be the one to extinguish its light. It fruitlessly fought against my will.

Was this what I looked like to Princess Celestia? Searching for a way to escape the cold that once provided warmth? Unknown to the little flame how utterly pointless it was in the grand scheme. Its only purpose is accomplished. Now set to be smothered. Forgotten. Forsaken.

Snarling I brought the flame a quick death. Ignoring the taste of iron as I spat it upon the ground. I would ascend. Show her the error of her ways. That I would not be extinguished. Glaring at the fragments of light that began to sprout from the Dawn. My promise was kept. I teleported back to the cave.

Watching. Observing. An unconscious, and utterly defenseless Alicorn. Waiting for any sign of degradation of the parasite's condition. If it was to perish I would take what it owed. Wings. Knowledge. Warmth.

I heard an all too familiar tearing of flesh from behind me. I however ignored the show. I had seen the forming of the parasite’s shade and I would see it evermore. The shades had found another that they used as much as the Sun herself. Finally, the rending of flesh stopped and the sound of hooves upon stone began. A single haltingly slow step at a time.

I could feel it staring me down. I would not fall for the bait that it provided. I would not miss the perishing of my foe. Of the insect that dared to steal Princess Celestia from me. The-. My thoughts died a horrid death as a warm wing placed itself on my back. My head twisted.

There the shade of the parasite was. A singular shadowed wing was placed on me. I glared at the shade waiting for the inevitable torture. Waiting for the wa-. Why was the parasite’s shade warm? Even Princess Celestia’s shade was a creature that extinguished all warmth. Yet this one, the shade of the parasite, was now warm?

Wrenching my gaze from the wing that almost covered me. I focused on the black pools of empty thoughts. Nothing more than just a shade. No spark of intelligence. Only focused on the one that it was set to torture. Then why was it warm? Where were its brethren? Ever since I awoke from my injuries the only one I had seen coalesce into a pony was the parasites. Has my punishment changed? Did Princess Celestia think that a singular shade of the parasite would finally break me?

I had lasted for far longer against the hordes of shifting shades. I had survived Princess Celestia’s own shade butchering me. I would survive the warmth of a singular shade. Even if it was the parasites. I would not be felled before I could ascend.

The shade almost as if hearing my thoughts began to smile. A smile that I swore could have been placed upon the parasite’s own mouth. The shade’s empty eyes met mine as it stepped forth. Encircling me with its wings. Upon setting the shade ablaze and teleporting out of its grasp I watched as it slowly turned once more to face me.

Its mouth opened promising unwhisperable delights. It moved. Blurring into the shadows and darkness that survived despite my flames. Reappearing above the parasite itself. “Oh? What is this?” Did the shade truly believe I cared for its originator? I sent a spear of flame hurtling into its side. Even after I obliterated its form, I knew that it would simply reform. However with the words that were next spoken I felt far more pain than any shade’s claws against my flesh. The parasite’s purple eyes flickered open. Confusion and fear were written across them. Then it saw me. Its eyes DARED to soften, as the fear fled.

“Sunset? Where am I?” The parasite asked. Uncaring that I had saved it even against my better judgment. Unknowing how close it was to never awakening to the world now covered in sunlight. That it was only by the grace of Princess Celestia’s Sun that I had not butchered it. Instead, it asked these pointless questions. Did it not remember how I had slain its attacker that nearly snuffed the parasite's own light?

“What is the last thing you remember?” I asked the parasite after running the cooling charm. Had she suffered brain damage? Did it still remember the process to become an Alicorn? Did it dare forget that Princess Celestia named it her own niece? The parasite before me attempted to lift both of its wings and bawled out a cry of pain. It remembered my name. What else did it remember?

The parasite now with tears clouding its eyes once more as its eyes traced the sloppy patchwork I had provided it. It cleared its eyes with its still usable wing. I could see as it allowed the fear, pain, and confusion to bleed from it. So that it could focus on the matter at hand. Preventing it from being caught in a spiral that would lead to its demise. It took the parasite a few tries to once more speak and even then it was a pale comparison to its usual mannerisms.

“Where are we?” It meekly asked. Its voice barely whispers. Where did the strength that so fueled it go? Where was its vaunted Love? Was it left without its warmth? “Sunset?” It whimpered as it tried to right itself only to fail.

“We are outside of Canterlot, about a half a day's journey by hoof. In-.” My words were silenced by the shade that had been kept at bay by my flames reformed. It was layered over the parasite. A mix of shadowed ink and pink coat and feathers. Why? What was this punishment? What was the purpose of this torment? Glaring at the shade I continued “-a bolt hole that I had prepared for when Princess Celestia finally got rid of me.”

The parasite frowned but otherwise remained silent as she digested my words. Yet, the shade that clung to her form did not. It opened its mouth in an attempt to speak its honeyed words. I did not give it the chance. Throwing forwards a spear of flames that ripped it from the Pony that it had originated from. Ignoring the cry of pain I tore and shredded the shade. Illuminating the cave as I birthed a new star to chase the darkness away.

It was gone for the moment. I had once more removed the parasite from the game. Now all I had to do was sever its wings. Stitch them to my own flesh and begin my ascension. Then I would properly greet Princess Celestia. Our reunion would be a pleasurable experience. My Sun blazed with the thoughts that swam through my blood. Perhaps the goddess of the Sun would enjoy experiencing the birth of another?

Mine would dwarf hers. Enveloping it. Embracing the warmth that was given to all. All except one. Once more embracing the love that had been denied. Swallowing the pitch that had formed in my mouth. I felt something plink off my shield. Refocusing on the realm that I still hoped was the one where ponies walked awake, I saw the parasite burn, her eyes frozen in fear.

This brings me back to our first meeting. Oh yes, I could remember the fear in her eyes. How she nearly crumbled before my might. I could remember the screams of the guards. The shouts of pain and torment. The blazing death that sought out the one that Celestia dared call her “Niece”.

The emptiness in Celestia’s eyes as she brought down the shield that separated the Ponies that she cared for and me. An impossible shield of brilliant light that saved the one that I had sought to reduce to soot. Then after she had ensured that her Ponies were safe did she turn to the demon that dared strike them in her presence. Was it any wonder I nearly killed myself at that moment?

Once more entrapped in the chill of a frozen prison. This one is of my own designs. The last sight I saw was Princess Celestia’s face contorted into a foul mockery of concern for the ponies she still cared for. It would have been better for every pony involved had she left me to expire. Instead, she brought me back, even after I had so nearly killed the one that she claimed as her own family.

I was after all a jumped-up orphan that managed to get saved by the Princess that cared for all of her ponies. Not the daughter of the only pony that ever cared for me. Taking in love that I had never deserved. That I had spat upon. That was no longer mine to take. There was no love spared to the one that would have struck Princess Celestia’s family.

There was no need for me anymore.

There was no need for me at all.

There was never a need for me.

My flames extinguished as my anger fell. Turning my attention back to the par-... Alicorn before me. Looking over the various burns that peppered her form. Fresh blisters and wounds seared into her being. How lucky. The one type of wound I could somewhat heal. “I can heal your burns,” I spoke, unsure myself if it was an offer or a command.

The Princess of Love however much she flinched back from my words did give a shallow nod. Giving her assent to be healed by the one that had spent the little time knowing her, plotting a fate worse than death for her. I stepped forwards, one hoof after another. Taking care not to inflict any more pain than necessary upon the pony that I had tormented. I began to work spells that I had once in my life been a constant companion to me. Now but distant memories.

It was a thick silence that neither one of us broke. The Alicorn of Love kept her breathing steady and attempted to not cry out at the pain. Refusing to show weakness to the one that harmed her once more. Was this what she was expecting out of the alliance? Was this another of my failures?

Finally, I had finished my work upon her flesh. Now all that was left was to allow her to heal the physical wounds. However much like the tears in her wing, I doubted it would be that easy for the scars that would no doubt remain. Turning my gaze from her form I instead looked at the now burned remnants of a place that could have hidden me from the Sun. Now but embers and ashes.

Finding that my satchel and sack didn't appear to be incinerated, I almost let out a relieved sigh. Perhaps my idiocy wouldn't be my complete downfall just yet. Pulling out from my sack a map and a compass, setting them on the ground behind me as I turned away from the wounded Alicorn. I began to restore what little could still be salvaged within the cave. Removing most of what could not and turning it into fine dust.

Making my way to the mouth of the cave I turned back to the Alicorn of Love. “You should be fine to walk. I would however recommend against using that wing again until it has had some more time to heal. I am going to go get food. If you stay within the cave nothing should be able to find you.” I informed the pink pony who was no longer actively staring at me instead focusing on one of the many new wounds that adorned her beautiful features. I took one more step before I spoke the words that had been freezing me from the inside. “I won't be back for an hour or so if you want to leave this would be the time. I promise I will not hunt you down in any way if you leave.” Promise spoken, I stepped out of the cave.

Readjusting my saddlebag to allow my sack too much more easily be held atop it. Even with telekinesis, some things didn't feel comfortable when you were holding them on your back. Brushing away a tear that dared spill from my eye, I began my hunt for any foodstuffs that I would need.

Finding a few berry bushes and even other plants that were edible was low and far between. I would have killed a few ponies to find a plot of wild hay. The hour passed in record time. Not even a shade phased into existence to further taunt me. There was no need. I could whisper those accursed words to myself. After all, there is no need for a tormenter when the guilty is willing to inflict such harm upon herself.

Taking a moment to reorientate myself. I began the long trek back to the cave. It would be an easy way out to teleport myself there. I would survive knowing that I would once more be alone. I would walk back into that cave to find that I was the only pony left. The Princess that had escaped the demon that had tortured her.

I know how this story went. But for the life of me, I could not squash the hope that dared flicker. That she would once more impossibly look past what I had done. That I was not going to be alone. That some pony actually stayed. I smiled at the Sun at the thought. “Has this all been worth it Princess?” Hearing no response from the celestial body I continued “You should have saved us both the heartache and left me to freeze.” I whispered to the ever-uncaring Sun that continued its journey dutifully across the heavens far above.

Pausing in my journey back towards the cave where I would once more find myself alone. Once more thanks to my own actions. I had once more ended up alone. Perhaps I truly was a demon. After all, ponies needed one another and yet here I was all alone. Should I just get ahead of the curve at this point? After all, eventually after experiencing the same tale over and over I should know how it ends.

Much like how in the stories of old the Princess was rescued after the foul demon was slain. Returned to her family's warm embrace and showered with Love. The kingdoms celebrated the return of the Princess, why wouldn't they, the Princess was adored far and wide by every pony. While the demon was once more cast into flames. Alone in the dark and cold once again. Left to wonder if it would ever crawl out of the ruined remnants of a burned-down home.

Standing in front of the entrance to the cave I froze. I could leave. Head anywhere. Princess Celestia wouldn't bother to find me and if she did it would be to execute me. The Princess that was no longer here, would come across a town or a traveling pony. Being rescued and brought back into Princess Celestia’s waiting wings. They would reunite and be happy that they were once more together. With no pony who dared separate them.

It would be so easy. All I had to do was not step inside. I wouldn't be disappointed by the fact that I had once more been left alone. I could still pretend that I was never abandoned by Celestia. I was never forsaken because I was never good enough for the goddess that was my only light.

Stepping forwards into the cave once more. With my namesake beating down upon my back. Urging me forward to step into the darkness and away from the light. The shadeless shadows beckoned me forth. The encroaching darkness demanded that I step forwards. With one final look to the final act of the Sun as it set upon the horizon. I entered a realm of darkness.

Skewing my gaze in a methodical fashion I checked every nook and cranny. Praying to the goddess that had abandoned me, in a futile fashion to ask her to let her chosen favorite be hidden where I had not yet checked. Once more forsaken I couldn't help the laughter that spilled out as I found the map and compass missing. With them, the Alicorn of Love.

Author's Note

Sunset continues to have fun dealing with the shades and shadows that cling to her. She managed to save the parasite/Cadance and yet once more was left alone. Thanks to her own actions nonetheless. Cadance on her end was once more nearly flash-fried thanks to her so-called ally after said ally saved her from an attacker. Glad to be back in Sunset's POV it is enjoyable to write her twisted perception of hers. Can't wait to post the next few chapters that I have been working on as they kick things back into a higher gear.
-LittleFaerieFire

18. Argumentative Allusions

Argumentative Allusions

Sunset

My laughter petered out. Leaving me in silence. I wanted to continue to laugh. After all, this is what happens when I get my hopes up. When I dare ask for something more than I deserve. This was just the perfect reminder. The perfect continuation of my tale.

“The demon upon returning to its darkened domicile finds that the Princess it had captured had escaped,” I whispered out into the darkness that surrounded me. “All that is left for the demon to be felled for the story to end on its happy ending.” My words grew louder as I felt my blood begin to catch aflame. “But this is MY STORY.” I once more caught ablaze.

The darkness was once more removed from my view. I was once more alone. So what? I had survived it once, I would survive this. I had to ascend to Alicornhood and then I would have eternity to convince Princess Celestia that I was her rightful daughter. I let the smile fall from my face. There was no one to see it.

I manipulated my sack and satchel off my back and laid them to rest against the wall. Looking towards the bed that I had last seen in use with an Alicorn upon it. I had indeed promised that I would not hunt her down. It down! I had promised that I would not hunt it down. I would allow the parasite to find Princess Celestia, then and only then would I recapture it. Moving towards the bed my front left hoof impacted what I initially thought was a rock.

Glancing down I instead saw it was a brilliant pink crystal. Oddly symmetrical and it almost shimmered in the light of my flames. Where in Princess Celestia’s name did it come from? This cave was far too close to the surface to have been naturally formed. I couldn't remember any gem deposits when I had initially scouted out this cave. However, because there was a river close to here not but a few years ago I could be wrong.

But that still didn't explain what it was doing laying on the floor. I couldn't recall it being here when I had incinerated the cave or when I had cleaned up the remains. I could have missed it sure, but the shade of pink was fam-. The parasite! This must have been what impacted my shield. I glared down at the crystal that didn't even have the grace to lose its luster.

Rearing my hoof back I let out a paltry amount of frustration upon it as I kicked it. Watching as it glittered through the air, hoping that it would irreparably shatter before it smacked against the ground. It sounded wrong, however. Instead of the sound of scraping rock, it was much closer to the screech of metal.

Glaring at the crystal as I summoned it over to me. Running numerous diagnostic spells over it, after all, why would the parasite create a crystal that makes the wrong noise? After discovering nothing about the crystal that could have produced such a noise I instead turned towards where the crystal had impacted the ground of the cave.

Moving so that I was standing before the impact site of the crystal I once more dropped it against the ground. Once more I was provided with the scratching of metal. Frowning I grabbed the crystal and the earth that it had impacted, and with a mental tug, they were wrenched from the ground. However other than pink crystal and the rock I had ripped out what appeared to be a metallic cabinet… Wait. I remember this. Instantly my heart began to pound as I lowered the cabinet down to the ground gingerly. Cleaning off the rock that had surrounded it I moved to open it. Frowning as the lock didn't even twist. Fine, I was a Unicorn, I had the greatest of all tools available to me, magic.

With one more mental command, the lock was separated from the no longer locking cabinet. Pulling it open I praised Princess Celestia that I was not entirely forsaken. Perhaps my luck was turning around, after all, I had in my infinite wisdom sequestered away what appeared to be eight large bottles of Sweet Apple Acres hard cider.

I could clearly remember what Princess Celestia had always said whenever I had asked about the drinks that the Ponies drank that made them act like a large foals. She had explained it as a beverage that returned a Pony to a foal's mind in large enough doses. That explanation was sufficient to keep my filly self far from it. However eventually much like everything Princess Celestia said it was far from the truth.

I now know it as a drink that Ponies drank to enjoy the night more, or in my case turned to when they were beaten down too hard by the world. While I would normally scoff at consuming such a beverage, the circumstances to try seem appropriate. It was unlikely that Princess Celestia or any on her payroll would encounter me even in a much more inebriated state. Twisting open one of the bottles and immediately coughing as the air was quickly filled with the smell of a pungent lemon.

Grimacing at the bottle, I quickly cleaned the air. Scoffing, here I was hesitating. Still showing concern over a Pony that once cared for me. The only Pony that ever shared her warmth. Either drink it or not Sunset. Glaring at the bottle once more I levitated it over before I tasted it.

If Ponies chose to drink this to enjoy themselves they were far stupider than I expected. When I finally finished cleaning my tongue of the vile liquid that I had sequestered away, I once more took a sip from it. Being much more prepared for the “taste” this time I managed to not want to claw my head apart. Swallowing the liquid that did not taste much like cider, I realized that the drink however vile brought a warming sensation.

Frowning, I checked over the bottle to see if it was poisoned. Nothing showed up on my spells. Well, I wasn't a Pony that would deny the warmth. No matter where it came from. Once more I took a sip, enjoying the way that the cool liquid burned as it went down. It almost reminded me of how I tried to impress Princess Celestia by brewing liquid flames. She had been impressed and then horrified that I had consumed some of the potions.

“Cheers” I muttered to myself as I finally bit the bullet, taking a large swig of the vile liquid. My only solace was the warmth that the bottle provided. There I was in a dark cave, drowning my sorrows with the bottle. What would Princess Celestia think? The thought gave a prime reason to once more take a hefty drink.

I'm not sure how long I spent, but before I realized it the bottle was empty. Frowning as I shook the bottle that had just been full. Fine, I had plenty more. I turned back towards the cabinet and frowned. I didn't recall locking it. I could faintly remember ripping the lock off. Strange, had I perhaps reattached it?

I sent all manner of spells to open the lock, but none of them worked. I heard the faint sound of hooves against the cobbled floor of the castle. “Please give me a moment. I am trying to figure out this lock.” I told the Princess of the Sun without even looking up from my most recent challenge. Perhaps I would be able to teleport the cider out from the cabinet without having to open it? That could work. The theory proposed, plan laid out, I prepared to enact it but a voice interrupted my attempt.

“Sunset?” Celestia asked her tone, taking a concerned tilt. Wait, Celestia isn't here. Ice sluiced down my back, as I remembered that I was alone. This was a hallucination caused by the drink… So be it. Turning around I could see the one Pony that cared for me standing at the mouth of the cave.

I forced myself to continue to stand instead of falling into a bow for two reasons. The first was that this was a hallucinatory creation of Celestia that I was projecting onto reality. The second reason was much simpler. I was unsure if I could get back up.

“Yes, Princess?” I guess even the hallucinations of Celestia wanted something of me. Much like the real version. Celestia paused as she stared at me for a moment her eyes flickered around before narrowing when they found the empty cider bottle.

“Sunset Shimmer, did you truly get yourself drunk?” The white Alicorn before me sounded dumbfounded. Too bad this wasn't the real Celestia. I would have loved to see her like this. Well, this was close enough. I just shrugged at the Pony that raised me. My mother opened and closed her mouth, but no words came out.

“I don't want to hear anything from you.” My words slurred together strangely. Taking a few tries to get my point across. This wasn't the real Celestia. This was a figment of my imagination. Turning back to my task I once more tried to get rid of that somehow infallible lock. Wait, I had thought about using teleportation. Taking a moment to clear the haze that was clouding my mind, failing, but attempting nonetheless. I ran through the formula and fed it magic.

Odd. The cabinet was still there. The lock was still there. The cider was still in there. Why didn't my spell do anything?

“Sunset please don't use magic while you are drunk,” Celestia demanded finally breaking from the stupor that she had found herself in. Turning around to see that Celestia once more had a frown written upon her muzzle. Even my hallucinations of Celestia didn't love me. Now all I needed was her shade and I would have a royal flush. “Sunset, why don't you go lay down? You look like you have gotten no sleep again.” She gestured with a wing towards the cot I had long ago prepared. Tearing my gaze from it, I glared at the hallucination. I was not that easily tricked.

“No.” I denied the Solar goddess to her face. I was waiting for the admonishment that was soon coming however for some reason Celestia instead just huffed and shook her head. “Aren't you going to demand I listen to you?” I couldn't help but ask, even as my words once more slurred.

“It's not like you ever listen to me.” Celestia snaps annoyance crystal clear in her pink eyes. “Fine if you don't want to sleep, perhaps you can tell me what the plan is.” She once more demanded as she trotted forwards a few more hoof steps.

What was my plan again? Oh yes, ascension. The tapestry of the two sisters. The castle.

“Planning to head around Equestria, maybe beyond trying to find where the Alicorn sisters fought.” I smiled at the Pony that was my mother. I didn't slur my words that time. I was the greatest and deserved ascension. Celestia seemed to agree by the way that she froze, her mouth open. Eventually, she got herself under control.

“That’s why you wanted to go treasure hunting. It all makes sense now.” She exclaimed as if she didn't already know. Perhaps this Celestia didn't know because the real Celestia didn't know and I knew that. I think. “Wait the Alicorn sis-...” Celestia trailed off. Perhaps she was remembering the two of them? She was the only Alicorn around back then.

“Yep, I found the tapestry in the restricted section. There was a reason that it was hidden and I figured out why.” I nodded my head as I explained not liking the way that my horn started to get cold. Conjuring a small flame to warm myself I once more frowned as the size of the flame was off.

“Damnit Sunset! What did I say about magic?” Celestia once reminded me that I was not listening to her demands. I didn't have to follow her orders. She wasn't even Celestia. Well, she was, but not the real one. “Thank you,” Celestia said for some reason. “Alright so the plan is to go around looking for a way for you to ascend, are we ever going to head back to Canterlot?” Celestia of course reminded me that I had fled. That I had once more broken what little trust was left in her.

“I wasn't planning to head back until I had ascended and you reclaimed it.” I narrowed my eyes at the hallucination that stopped nodding. “Why did you say we? You're not real.” It was at this point that Celestia gave up any pretense of royalty and cradled her head in the same wing that she had used earlier.

“Remind me why I am not real again Sunset?” Celestia asked, her words spoken in a droll tone. Could a hallucination gain sentience? Something to test at a later date.

“Because as you keep reminding me I am inebriated.” I don't think I said that last word correctly, but Celestia understood. She always understood me. Even when I was unable to talk. “You are a drunken hallucination.” Celestia sighed but removed her head from the crook of her wing.

“Well then if I am a drunken illusion and this is all in your head why don't we keep talking until you fall asleep.” Celestia damns it. This hallucination of Celestia is just as cunning as the real deal. “Come on Sunset wipe that frown from your face, after all, you wouldn't be seeing me if you didn't like me.” Celestia’s voice was warm but at the same time distant.

I frowned more at her words, but all I received in return was a chuckle.

“Fine, you are in my mind, what do I want to talk to myself about?” This conversation was beginning to hurt my head. Could be the cider. Or more likely a combination of both of them acting in tandem. Celestia frowned, pausing a moment before once more speaking.

“What happened back at Canterlot Castle?” Of course, she would start with that. Rip off the bandaid why don't you mother? My second most recent failure. Groaning slightly I began.

“Well you went off to Celestia knows where-.” That was a mistake. I knew that she didn't like Ponies using her name like that. “- the guards were out searching for the parasite who disappeared right after you left. Then there was a panic. A portal had been ripped open in the middle of your throne room. From there came a horde of intruders and ruffians. I attempted to close it but nothing I threw at it did anything.” Taking a breath, I continued, “When the parasite reappeared I, for some reason, that only you know saved it.” I managed to say all of that without slurring my words. She must be proud of me.

However, Celestia was passive the entire time but she kept her attention on me. I was the only one in her eyes at the moment. For a moment I could once more pretend that we were the only two Ponies on Equus. However, Celestia as she always does shatters the illusion of perfection that I had found myself in.

“Sunset, quick question but who am I?” Why was Celestia asking that? Was she alright?

“Your Cel-. Princess Celestia.” I caught myself. I knew that we weren't that close anymore. If we were ever that close, to begin with. Only the amused watchings of an immortal allowed a filly to have some semblance of normalcy. Celestia frowned but didn't say anything immediately “Princess is everything alright?”

“Sunset…” She started but didn't finish instead her voice listless dropped off. Ah. I knew how this went. I had once more failed. So be it. I wasn't perfect like her. I tried and tried. Nothing ever changed. I was still a failure in her eyes.

“Before you begin I did save the parasite and she should have already been found by your guards.” I quickly got out in a vain attempt to mitigate the disappointment that she would soon be showing. Wait. Wait. I did burn her. It! I burned it!

I burned it.

I burned the newest Alicorn Princess.

I once more harmed the Niece of the celestial goddess herself.

Celestia was in front of me.

Oh.

So this was how my story ended.

…

I could no longer feel the warmth of the cider pooling in my stomach. All I could feel is the cold chilling wind beginning to pierce through my coat. Looking forwards and meeting her gaze. I slowly spoke, not allowing the drink to impede my last words. “For what little it is worth I have always loved you.” My last words were spoken I closed my eyes and waited for oblivion to take me.

Perhaps I would be forever trapped in the snowfields that I had long been lost to in my dreams? Hopefully, that damn cottage where I had been found was not a part of my afterlife. I never wished to dream of it again. I was far more than the near-dead thing that I had been found as. I was Sunset Shimmer, daughter in all but name of the Sun herself.

“Sunset, I'm not Celestia.” She spoke in a slow, almost methodical way as if she was afraid of me. Why would Celestia ever claim to not be herself? Why would Celestia ever be afraid of me? “Sunset it's me Cadance.”

“The parasite left. She did the smart-. It did the smartest thing that she could ever do. Left before I killed it.” I snarled out. “Don't worry Princess, I promised her that I wouldn't chase her down. She-. It should already be safe and sound.” I didn't want to color my final moments with thoughts of the parasite.

I heard a grunt of pain but I didn't dare open my eyes. What if something had harmed Celestia? She could be in danger. Ripping my eyes open once more I could see Celestia holding a single wing out again. Not the one she had used earlier. It was held there between the two of us. However, I could see cloth stuck upon it.

With that, the snow from my eyes finally melted away. There in the place of Celestia was the parasite herself. Her pink coat was scuffed and marred from the burns I had given it. Her purple eyes shone even in this cave.

This was my life. I hated it. Why did she come back? I wasn't asleep was I? I didn't recall the darkness swallowing the Sun. Eventually, the parasite decided that she had enough of me adjusting to this new reality.

“In future reference Sunset the next time you tell some pony that you will be back in an hour, actually be back in an hour. Otherwise, they may go out looking for you in case you have managed to hurt yourself.” She said, her words sickly saccharine. Looking once more at the sadly empty bottle in a vain hope that there were other droplets of the warm ichor within.

“Why didn't you leave?” I all but croaked out refusing to look at the pony before me.

“Sunset, you saved my life.” She answers and I can once more hear the smile that rests upon her lips. “I'm not sure what that counts for in your little head, but that counts for a lot in mine.” The soft neigh of pain drags my eyes from the bottle to the Alicorn who had just retracted her wounded wing. “Plus I don't believe that I was the one who bandaged myself up.”

“In case you somehow missed it Princess but I did nearly once more incinerate you. You shouldn't have come back.” I spoke, forcing my blood to once more heat even as the words tasted like ash in my mouth. She should have stayed gone. I didn't need her. I didn't want her. I would have been perfectly fine if she had left and not returned. It would have been better for the two of us to be once more cleaved apart. “It would have been better for the both of us.”

Cadance sighed lightly, shaking her head, her still burned mane clung to it as ash did the recently burned. She was both. Once more thanks to me.

“I know you're drunk, but that is a rather stupid thing that you just said even for you Sunset. In case you haven't noticed I am rather wounded-.” I would have spoken up but she held up her good wing to silence me. “- I'm not finished. I even with your map would have to trek through unfamiliar territory with a wounded wing. Did it even occur to you that I may not be able to use the map and compass?”

She didn't know how to use a compass and map. She was an Alicorn for Celestia’s sake. I could have sworn we were around the same age. How had she survived to ascend? How had Cel-Princess Celestia not taught her? “I do know how to use them, but the fact remains that after you save some pony a Princess nonetheless you are responsible for their future safety.” She concludes merrily chirping that statement that I knew was more fiction than fact.

“You still have your strength.” I pointed out to the irritating pony that refused to realize the situation that she had returned to. “Why did you come back? I-. You should have already made it to the next town.” Ignoring the throbbing coming from my skull, I once more flooded my veins with liquid flame. Did I have to personally deliver her to Princess Celestia myself?

“Sunset, do you want me to leave?” She asked in a much calmer voice. The cheer went away in a flash. Replaced with a somber edge that made me want to tear my horn off. Why would I want to be once more abandoned? Why would I want her to stay? No. This was never about what I wanted. This is about what should happen.

“That doesn't matter, what is important is that you shouldn't be around me. I nearly…” Just whisper those last few words. Yet when I tried even the molten fury froze in my veins. Become the demon you were always meant to be. Embrace your destiny as fate has decreed.

Cadance’s mouth formed a small smile. Pausing to collect her thoughts.

“You didn't. Sunset, did you burn me on purpose?” She then asked. No, I was attacking her shade. “Did you harm me while I was asleep?” No, but I was so close to severing the strings of her life. Didn't she realize that every moment she is around me is a chance for me to finally claim what was rightfully mine? “Did you instead choose to save me from certain death?”

“You shouldn't even be here. You should be stuck to Princess Celestia’s flank. Embraced by the entirety of Canterlot… Just think about it. We aren't friends. Our alliance means almost nothing. I just foal-napped and then proceeded to nearly flash-fry you.” She was going to speak up but I rushed out my final words. “When you were asleep do you know why you woke up with your wings attached to you? Because I don't.”

She clicked her mouth shut. Her eyes hardened becoming more infrequent pools and more crystals formed under the pressures of the conversation. “For once in your life make the smart decision and leave me.” I all but whimpered out. She wouldn't get that lucky again. I was passing up the opportunity to become an Alicorn. I was losing the chance to become some pony who mattered to Princess Celestia.

Yet for some reason that continues to elude me, I have refused to take it. Is it because I have been enthralled by the pony before me? Is it because deep down I am clinging to the remnants of the pony that stood in Princess Celestia’s shadow? I don't know and I hate that I won't take the only correct action. To take fate into my own hands before I could once more become forsaken. “Just leave while you still can.” Before I finally come to my senses and rip those wings off your sides.

“Fine!” Flames flickered alive once more. My blood burned the blockading ice that rested in my veins. Thank Celestia she was doing the smart thing. Then instead of immediately fleeing she continued to press her luck and once more spoke. “Tell me that you want me to leave.” Her eyes held a familiar sharpness that I have often seen hidden in Princess Celestia’s eyes. However strong those purple crystals that were hanging in the Alicorn's eyes before me, I could see the brittleness. The falsified strength. The fear of rejection.

One word. One measly word and I could set my life back on track. I could work from the shadows collecting power and artifacts. Preparing for my inevitable ascension. All I had to do was whisper one pathetic word and abandon the pony that came back to me. Celestia would be rapturous with glee.

“I hate you.” The words were a strangled mess that didn't carry the hatred that I normally emitted through them. Yet the pony before me once more ignored those words. She instead smiled for some reason that I am certain Celestia didn't even know.

“You don't mean that.” She beamed at me before continuing. “I think after Celestia that I am your favorite pony.” I stared at her for a moment, reconsidering my life.

“You…” I just sighed. Turning from the pony that continued to astound me with her decisions. “What are you doing to me?” I whispered. Thankfully the Alicorn before me chose to ignore that question. “Make yourself at home again,” I said as I turned around. Oh, so I pulled the drawer that held the cider out of the cabinet which made more sense. Before I could continue to look at the remaining bottles of cider they were quickly covered in a faint cyan as they flew back to the Alicorn that continued to remain here.

“No more drinking, do you have any idea what I thought when I came back and smelled that.” I could hear the frown in her voice. “After all you said you would be back in an hour and then never showed back up. I was worried that you were injured or dead.” Not many things under Princess Celestia’s Sun could injure much less kill me. “When I made my way back to the cave I could smell the drink. Along with the pony that had all but abandoned me.”

“I did not abandon you!” I all but snarled out as I whirled around to once more face the parasite. “I allowed you to leave before I cut you into pieces. Tore apart your mind searching for insights into your ascension. Ripped your wings from your flesh. Brought you to the brink of death before ending you.” My blood boiled at the accusation. How dare it accuses me of abandoning it. I was not Princess Celestia.

The parasite smartly backed up. Her eyes once more found my own. Focusing in on the purple void of her eyes I let the flames bleed back into myself. Casting the cooling charm to accelerate the process.

“Touchy subject?” The Alicorn foolishly asked, I humored it with a nod, however. “Noted.” She said with a nod. She then coughed slightly “Moving on from… well that. So other than going around and looking for the castle of the Alicorn sisters. Is there anything else we are going to do?”

“If you are going to be moving with me -” that was a strange set of words that I just spoke. “- we should probably wait until your wing heals. We have no idea how bad the assault on Canterlot Castle was. Much less if any other places were attacked. It would be better for you to be in top shape to trek through the wilds.” It would be prudent to figure out how far the chaos had spread and to avoid it where we could.

Cadance frowned, I could see the contention well from within her eyes. What? I had offered the time for her wing to heal. It would be time that I could use to teach her some sort of battle magic. “I could use the time to show you how to defend yourself with your magic.”

“Would it be so bad if we checked in with a few towns and helped out where we could?” She hesitatingly asked. Oh yes. She still cared about the ponies that cared only for what she could do for them. She would hopefully grow out of it sooner than later. Looking at the filly that had managed to ascend. I hope that I didn't act like this with Princess Celestia.

Turning from the pink Alicorn I sighed as I nodded. Ignoring the thanks from the infant goddess that was proving to be far more infantile than divine.

“Get some rest. You’ll heal faster while you sleep.” I ordered the pony that was still thanking me. I continued on my way until I made it over to a wall of the cave. I could hear my accomplice pause and turn towards me. “Just get in the bed.” She was the one who was injured. Out of the two of us she needed it more and I had l slept in worse places before.

I kept my eyes closed, preventing my gaze from finding the soon-to-be defenseless Alicorn. I could hear the faint pounding of my heart as I was but steps away from the Alicorn who held the promise of my future. All I had to do was seize it with my magic.

…

What in Celestia’s name was I doing?

Author's Note

The first time I can remember actually writing about someone being drunk much less a pony so hopefully, it wasn't too horrid to read. That aside Sunset continues to fail at recognizing reality. Her inner emotions and feelings continue to fracture with the return of Cadance. Cadance continues to stick with Sunset even when she should leave. All the while fragments of backstory continue to be interspersed throughout the thoughts and words. This chapter is going up a week late due to my inability to find time to edit it. Hopefully chap 19 comes out in a week.
-LittleFaerieFire

19. Discordant Delights

Discordant Delights

Sunset

Princess Celestia had always said that taking care of Equestria and all of the ponies within was a delicate balancing act. One that the immortal ruler had long since perfected. Where every pony was in harmony with one another. Where only one pony was above them. However, as I gazed upon the second pony that would soon reside above us all. I couldn't help but hear whispers claiming that she was the only true equal to Princess Celestia.

Would I ever be able to bridge that gap myself? To claw myself up from mortality to the realm of immortals. Where even if I did ascend I would have to content myself with another being equal to Princess Celestia. No. Preferred over me. For the pony that still slumbered before I was named “Niece” of the celestial goddess herself.

Such a thing infuriated me. Here was this no-pony that crawled out of the boonies with both horn and wing. Was given the crown and royal title. Most importantly she was acknowledged as Princess Celestia’s family. Something that I had longed for since I had learned the truth. She is the Princess of Love herself. She was everything that Princess Celestia’s family should be.

Kind. Caring. Thoughtful. Loving. None of those things I am. She even when wounded still thought of the potential ponies that could be suffering. Seeking to help them in any way that she could. Refusing to only concern herself with matters that only impact her. Instead she, like Princess Celestia, gave herself to whichever pony needed her. Perhaps a farmer being assaulted and shaken down for his bits? Perhaps an orphan that had burned down its world. Leaving it to the ice and cold.

She was a better pony by most standards that Princess Celestia would count by. No doubt that she would have succeeded in the accursed friendship test on the first try. Having the so-called ponies that were her friends eating out of her hooves and contorting to her every whim. After all, that was what I was doing. Even after swearing that I would not fall prey to her designs. Here I was watching her rest.

Instead of searing her wings from her sides and stitching them to my own. Here I was doing naught but watching the way she slept. What was worse I had saved her from the assailant that attempted to take her life. I could have watched from the shadows allowing her light to be snuffed with none of the fallout associated with me. I could have been alone with Princess Celestia for eternity.

Even if I had stepped into the assault upon the newest member of Equestrian royalty it could have been as a further assailant. I would have easily dispatched the infantile goddess. From there I would have reduced its assailant to ash. Then I would have been alone with an Alicorn corpse. Without Princess Celestia’s oh-so-watchful gaze, I would have quickly ascended.

Then she would have accepted me as an Alicorn and named me her rightful daughter. It could have been perfect. Instead, I once more had to ruin everything that I desired. I had saved the damnable parasite. Why? I wish I knew. If I could figure out why I would gladly burn that portion of myself away.

Instead, however, here I watched the parasite continue to dream. A dream that left her defenseless against the might and magic that I could bring against her. That I should bring against her. Yet here I was hesitating. Unable to seize the destiny that I had long since desired.

I could only sigh once more as the Alicorn before I began to once more wake. She regained consciousness as I once more let the opportunity slip through my hooves. Giving her a moment to properly regain her bearings. Her yawn turned to a yelp of pain as she attempted to stretch both of her wings. How she had managed to get tangled within the one sheet that had adorned the bed was beyond me.

“Morning Princess” I greeted the Alicorn who was struggling with her silken confines. She gave me a quick glare before returning to her escape attempt. Narrowing my eyes at her lack of progress I once more spoke. “Would you prefer some assistance before you agitate your wing any further?”

“If you wouldn't mind Sunset.” She said after a moment's consideration. Did she think that I would have not done anything while she slept only to assault her when she awoke? I was far smarter than that and she knew it. Allowing my magic to untangle the blanket from around her, taking special care not to pull against her wounded wing.

While she once more adjusted to life outside of her confines I turned my attention towards the meager rations that I had managed to scrounge together. Throwing a glance over my shoulder to the pony who was quietly using her magic to fold the blanket atop the bed. Once more checking everything for poisons and anything else unpleasant. Finding nothing had changed since the last time that I had checked the various plants.

Summoning a small rock I quickly transformed it into an appropriate-sized plate before adding the entirety of the rations to it. It wouldn't do well for my so-called “partner” to be felled by her hunger. The more she consumed hopefully the faster she would be able to naturally heal. The plate made its way over to her. “Thank you Sunset!” She exclaimed as she shot me a brilliant smile as she began to use hoof, horn, and her good wing to eat as quickly as she could.

Perhaps I should have skipped the plate. I couldn't help but wonder in the dark of the cave. It wasn't as if she was using it. Shaking my head to rid myself of the pointless thought. Turning my attention from the ravenous creature that would certainly make getting proper rations for it difficult. I would have to re-prioritize plans to ensure that there was enough food for her.

“When you are done eating I should show you how to properly defend yourself.” From what I had seen before I intervened it was mostly her just waiting for her assailant to attack her. “You kept your eyes on your attacker which is something that could be claimed to be good, but otherwise you let them orchestrate the flow of the fight.” Hearing some coughing coming from the Alicorn behind me I saw her spitting out a chunk of wild garlic. “Those are all I have for you. So unless you want to assist me in gathering more food I would rather you eat it than spit it out.” I spoke, not bothering to hide my annoyance.

“I was running away, it wasn't like I was expecting to be attacked.” She said after gathering what little dignity she could salvage. I simply stared at her. Not expecting to be attacked? Was she not an Alicorn Princess? Did she not realize that while she was still mortal numerous foes would attempt to prevent her from ascending to true immortality? That I was still one of those foes.

“Then take this as a lesson that you should always be prepared for some pony to attempt to remove your head from your neck.” I punctuated the lesson by summoning a blade of flames that flickered before her. At her nod I allowed the blade to once more dissipate back into the heat I had called it from. She would either learn or she would perish. “While we are waiting for your wing to heal I will spend time showing you how to properly protect yourself with your magic. You will have to learn how to use the rest of your new gifts yourself.”

She nodded and turned back to finish the rest of the food that I had gathered. This would be a long while, wouldn't it? When she finished she turned back towards me with a spark in her purple eyes.

“Well, then what's first on the docket?” She asked as if she was a dutiful student hoping to gain an understanding of the wider world around her. Removing that thought from my head as I summoned a small ball of flames.

“Shield yourself.” I gave her a warning before I attacked. She of course instead of forming a shield around herself instead decided to yelp and lunge to the side. “Stay still and form a shield. Especially with your wing being torn you are going to have to protect yourself in other ways than evading.” I growled out as I summoned forth torrents of flame. She seemed to finally get the memo when I allowed my flames to begin to singe her. A flickering shield of cyan burst into existence protecting its summoner against the one who would do her harm. A frail thing, so easily broken, yet with proper tempering, it could be grand much like its conjurer.

There we continued for a time until she could no longer bring her shield into existence and was near death on her hooves. I could see the mental exhaustion clear in her eyes. She still couldn't bring her magic to shield her in an instant and any attack that she couldn't see would often go unblocked. The newest member of Equestrian Royalty was peppered with burns and she thanked me for the training with a small tired smile.

After healing the various burns and promising that I would be back within the hour. I left her to recover and lick her wounds. While she once more rested I went back out into the forest. Searching for new avenues of food. Unfortunately, the pickings were rather slim. Only a few of the grasses were edible. Other various herbs and flowers were far and few between.

Comparing the lunch I had seen her eat to the amount that she had eaten earlier and because I knew she didn't eat last night, she was likely starving. Yet for some reason, this was the weakness that she decided to attempt to conceal. This was something that she thought she could hide from me. Every pony knows that Alicorns eat more than every other type of pony. It was common knowledge.

Glaring at the Sun that continued unabated far above. I began to teleport around searching for anything potentially edible. Yet I found little more. Here I was the greatest Unicorn in all of Equestria. Bested by my inability to feed another pony. Princess Celestia would keel over laughing if she ever found out.

“Another test that I have failed.” Another mark against me. Another stain amongst the countless others that bloated my past. Far more black than white. Turning towards the cave and reappearing at the mouth of it within a burst of flames. “Before you say anything I have been gone for exactly 59 minutes and 30 seconds.” Thank you Chronomancy. I was far more amused than my fellow pony.

“If that was your attempt at a joke you have given me a newfound appreciation for Rebound.” She snarked back at me. I simply gave her a heatless glare in response as I summoned the plate from earlier and plated it with the foraged rations. Wait. With my will changed, the food flew off the plate once more hovering in the air. Immediately she was on guard “Don't tell me I am going to have to shield the food to eat it?” Her voice was tinted with exasperation and a trace amount of despair.

“No, I want you to load the plate with the food that you will eat.” Seeing her confusion I explained further. “Whatever is on the plate after you grab it with your magic you can eat. Otherwise, the rest will be saved for later.” Once more she glared at me. She however instead pushed herself off the bed defiantly and immediately I felt her magic attempting to subsume my own.

It was small and weak. Each time our magic pushed against the others I could feel just how weak the Alicorn before me truly was. Bruised and battered. Yet as I looked at her smiling face even as she failed to claim a single morsel from me. She still smiled at me. She had been smiling at me for some time…

I let her win about half the food that I had gathered. Setting aside the rest and placing a quick stasis spell that should keep them fresh for a few hours. The Alicorn before me once more mentally taxed ate with her good wing and her hooves.

“Thanks, Sunset,” She said as she chowed down on the food she had won. She paused with a bit of grass falling from her mouth back onto the plate “Are you not going to eat with me?”

“I already ate.” I hadn't but I wasn't the one who needed to heal a wound. I had also gone far longer without any food. I would be fine. She however didn't look away from me. Instead, she kept her gaze connected to mine. Her purple eyes met my emerald ones. Whatever it was she was looking for she found.

“Liar.” She succinctly announced as she looked at the pile I had set aside for her to consume later. “I know that you don't usually eat consistently but if you end up dropping dead from hunger. I don't think I would be able to bring you back.” Her eyes once more found my own. Crystals of hardened purple caught my gaze as she continued “Is there a reason you're not eating?” Her voice softened with that question as the crystals in her eyes shattered.

“I am not hungry -” Upon seeing that she was going to interrupt me I quickly continued “- it's true. I am not. I am used to going without eating.” I usually had better things to do with my time than to stuff my face. “Look before you get on your little pedestal and try to convince me that I should eat, I am not the one who is injured. You are also an Alicorn and I know that-” Gesturing at the food she has stopped eating for the moment “- is not nearly enough for you.”

She frowned but didn't say anything for a moment. I motioned for her to continue to eat and thank Princess Celestia she did. It would have been annoying to force-feed her… What is my life like now? Seeing how I had gotten lost in the pitfalls of my life once more I stopped staring at her and attempted to provide some levity to the situation. “Had I known you were going along with me I wouldn't have incinerated the Griffon.” Once more the Alicorn before me stopped eating. Fear and disgust were written across the face of the fledgling immortal.

Perhaps that was a tad too soon to joke about her mortality. She had been fine with talking to me and even inviting me to Princess Celestia’s tea party a week after I had nearly killed her. I should have waited another few days. Cadance still paralyzed from my previous statement did not react at all when I apologized for the attempt at a joke. Instead, she only snapped out of it when I made to leave.

“Sunset I am willing to put up with a lot of what you have done, but never joke about that in my presence ever again.” She demanded. Once more I was reminded of why so many ponies bowed down before her. My mouth clenched shut and I nodded immediately. Apparently, I was also going to put a hoof in my mouth around her. Things were so much easier when I just blindly hated her.

Blatantly refusing to allow myself to think of that subject I once more went out foraging. Refusing her offers of assistance. It was unlike she would be able to keep up with me as I teleported around. Especially with her wing still wounded.

The hours blended into days with the two of us co-existing in peace for the moment. She would spend her days resting and practicing magic, while I would scour for food and teach the fledgling immortal of magic that would allow her to keep her life. For the first few days, she would continuously offer to help me scavenge for food. However, she stopped offering and instead spent more time resting. Until a truth that neither one of us wished to admit was clear as the dawn. Her wing was still yet to heal.

We both knew of the wound that she had suffered and yet neither one of us dared broach the subject. Well until now that is. I couldn't help but think as I returned to the cave with another collection of meager gains that I all but refused to look at. She was waiting for me, her eyes hardened and face set in stone. I seem to have this effect on Alicorns.

“I know you said that you couldn't heal my wing when you first offered to bring me with you but are you certain of that?” She finally asked. Did the pain finally get too much? Was it no longer worth her pride to ask? Unfortunately for her, I was truthful. Seeing that I wasn't immediately responding “You have been getting into fights and duels surely you have had to heal yourself.” She continued. Her train of logic was flawed, however.

“That field of magic and myself have never meshed. I have never needed it beyond shallow cuts and burns. Even then eventually I became good enough that no pony other than Princess Celestia can get to me with hoof or spell.”

“What about the pony that nearly killed you?” She exclaimed in exasperation. She would have continued but I silenced her with a low growl.

“That was far from the average pony.” I would not falter to that creature again. I could only fall to Princess Celestia. I refused to fail that creature. I would perforate its still living form with my flames before cooking it from the inside. It would fall before me the next time I met it. “Is it getting worse?” I asked after giving myself a moment to cool down. “Your wing that is. I know you have been sleeping well enough but…” I trailed off, unsure of where I was even attempting to ask.

Perhaps we would have continued this inevitable discussion however we both froze as the world irrevocably shifted. I could feel the world being contorted as if some pony sliced at the fabric of reality itself. The Alicorn before me could also sense what was happening if the look of horror was any indicator.

“Sunset I thought that only Alicorns could become immortal?” She asked, her voice oddly distant for a pony right before me. Perhaps I would have responded but I was far too concerned with ensuring that I didn't incinerate myself and Cadance as I watched as the Sun was plucked out of the heavens. Who would dare do such a thing while Celestia reigned? Who would I have to incinerate? Who would be foolish enough to steal the Sun from Celestia herself? I would find them and I would prove every single rumor about me true in a bloody fashion.

Ice formed around me as I forced myself to think rationally. Ok, whatever was powerful enough to wrench the Sun from Princess Celestia’s grasp was far more likely to be attempting to deal with the Princess of the Sun herself. She would certainly deal with whatever miscreant dared impugn upon her domain. Turning my attention back towards the Alicorn by my side I could only once more shift my attention as she had her good wing extended towards the sky. Following it I could see the sky was pink filled with globules of cotton candy. Discord. This was bad.

“Get into the cave!” I all but shouted as I attempted to move one of my hoofs forward only to feel as if I was stepping through jello. Perhaps I could hide Cadance from him. However, a raucous voice echoed out from the cave damning that plan to the depths of Tartarus.

“Hmm, how odd?” The words rippled through the air. “Ah, I know.” A snap was heard and then before the both of us, stood the Draconequus. The spirit of disharmony and Chaos looked just as his depiction of his statue in Celestia’s garden did. A mismatched collection of body parts made him look more like a macabre work of a flesh sculptor that desired to wound those that gazed upon their creation. However, Discord was no mere sculpture. He was Chaos incarnate.

He was however wearing an oversized trench coat, a frayed top hat that looked like some pony had taken a bite out of it, a monocle dangling from his left eye, and was for some reason that escaped the definitions of sanity a large magnifying glass. “Aha, I have indeed found the two missing pieces that will crack this cold case wide open.” He said as he twisted into the air allowing the trenchcoat to billow.

Retreat. Finding myself once more I tore through reality, reappearing at Cadance’s side, tackling her, and then teleporting the two of us away from the Draconequus. I would apologize later. This was not a creature I could deal with at the moment. Not while ensuring that the newest Princess survived with her sanity intact.

We reappeared deeper into the forest. Immediately glancing around for any sign that we were being followed, thankfully it didn't seem that Discord was following us. I would have relaxed if not for a loud screeching in the distance. Not taking the chance I once more latched onto Cadance and brought us ever farther away from the mad Draconequus. Reappearing only to once more dissipate as my spells rearranged our positions on Equus. Until finally I had to stop. Teleporting wasn't exactly a foal's trick, much less doing so with another pony tagging along. I wasn't an Alicorn just yet. I still had mortal limits.

Taking a breath of air praying to Celestia herself that we had escaped. Unfortunately, she once again refused to hear my plea as the damn creature reappeared from behind a tree. Before he could even open his mouth I once more tore the two of us across Equus.

I could feel something rip. Ignore it for now. Check over Cadance. Dazed but fine. Glancing over our new surroundings I felt a spear of fear and ice pierce me. We were back at the cave. HOW? I had been teleporting away from here. Was he readjusting my calculations after I had spun the spell into existence? Spitting out a mouthful of blood I readied myself for when he reappeared.

“Ah, I see the culprits have returned to the scene of the crime.” He chortled out as he puffed on a pipe. Once more walking out of the cave. Positioning myself between him and Cadance I threw most of what magic I had left into the air. Preparing to charbroil the Draconequus before us. I doubted it would work but I needed time to come up with a way to escape and when everything else failed my flames had always come through to me.

Discord however frowned at the two of us. Twisting his head off as it rolled from shoulder to shoulder before re-settling upon his elongated neck. “Odd. I will admit that thanks to my little stone nap I am out of the loop -” As he spoke a hula hoop appeared around his waist and began to spin “- but I do believe that something here is wrong.” The hula hoop popped away as he pulled that magnifying glass out of his ear and held it to his eye which grew to fill the glass. I pushed Cadance behind me as much as I could. I liked my odds better if that decided to transmogrify me into an ant

Cadance the foolish pony that didn't understand what was happening for some reason under Celestia’s Sun spoke up.

“How did you get out of your prison?” She questioned the mad god before us. Instantly he disappeared. Reappearing behind Cadance and was now aiming the magnifying glass at Cadance’s head. Instinctively I threw myself at him, getting between him and the pony that didn't realize he shouldn't be taunted. Unfortunately, he snapped his fingers and I was immediately trapped in a bubble no matter what I spell I shot at it, but it refused to pop. Leaving the Princess of Love and Chaos Incarnate to face one another down.

“I got released on early parole for good behavior.” He sniffled out, wiping a tear from the magnifying glass. “But what is this, do I spy with my oversized eye?” He says with almost cruel delight. “Aha, would you look at that my good ponies, detective Discord has indeed solved the case!” He says with a grin as removes the magnifying glass and proceeds to cough out a black shard. Cadance instantly goes still and her pink coat pales to an almost egg white.

He then pauses, frowns, and begins to pace back and forth in front of Cadance. All the while muttering to himself. “No no it almost fits but it's not a complete match.” His mismatched eyes flick to my prison. This time his left eye simply enlarges and he pulls out a cup of steaming tea that he loudly sips as he stares at me. I simply glare back at him until he finally responds. “Aha, perhaps that could be the twist that I had initially missed. Do give an old Draconequus a moment to check on something he had overlooked.” With that stated his beard immediately grows as long as he is tall before wrapping around him and flying off to only Celestia knows where.

Immediately I began to yell at the Alicorn that still hadn't taken advantage of the situation and retreated from the mad god.

“Run Celestia damn it Cadance.” She of course either didn't hear me or instead decided to ignore me as she continued to stare at the black shard that Discord had earlier coughed up. It was just a crystal. Once again sending a cascading force of spells against my prison in an attempt to breach it. They all faltered against the near-transparent force. Escape.

Fine, I couldn't pop the bubble. I couldn't teleport around it. I would simply have to improvise. Spinning together a bastardized amalgamation of my teleportation and warping spells, I fueled it with my inner flame. I felt warmth for a moment before I heard a peal of cruel laughter. Before I could do anything else I found myself looking up at Cadance. Who was looking at me in amazement? Why was she wasting her time? She should have already left me behind. “Let's get moving before he comes back.” I could feel the ever-boiling current inside me gradually cool. Ignore.

“How in Celestia’s name did you get out of that?” She asked, astounded by my escape. I ignored the question, forcing myself to my hooves. “U-.” She was cut off by booming laughter emanating from the cave. Flee. Once more I launched myself at Cadance however when I reached her instead of us both being ripped through space, I instead slammed into her side. We fell into a mess of limbs as we both tried to extricate ourselves from each other.

I could see Discord walking out of the cave holding onto an all too familiar cabinet that the pony who just hoofed me in the face had hidden. Not that I looked for it, as mistaking any pony for Princess Celestia once was mortifying. Discord however peered over the tangle that the two of us had formed together. He opened one of the bottles with a snap of his fingers as he spoke.

“Now then miss Shimmer, how did you get out of my little bubble?” He asked as he sniffed the now-opened cider. Not even extricated from Cadance I began to flood my magic into the air. The spirit before me simply frowned slightly as he snapped his fingers once more and instantly I could no longer touch the strands of reality that I had been so accustomed to feeling. Hovering over his shoulder was a horn that I was intimately familiar with. “Naughty naughty Miss Shimmer. Here I was thinking that I was the only one causing such chaos. Now if you wouldn't mind allowing an old Draconequus to ask some questions?” He asks as he summons a cane to rest upon.

He, of course, ignored the way he would have been lit ablaze had he not stolen away my horn. It was only the other pony that was holding me back that prevented me from charging him. That however did not stop me from spitting my blood at him. It didn't hit him but all the same, he tracked it through the air with a frown that had replaced the ever-present cruel smile that had adorned his lips. “Odd.” He commented as he bent down and traced a talon from his eagle appendage through my spat blood. Before I could speak my opinion of his proposal Cadance got to her hooves and once more gave the mad god what he wished.

“What do you wish to know, Discord?” She asked in an almost formal tone. However, her eyes never left the spirit that was still playing with my blood. My blood! That was it! Even if I was cut away from external sources I was still filled with magic. After all, it wouldn't be the first time that I had used my blood to jumpstart my magic. Thank you Standard for your thoroughness in your work. Discord looked up from his paw and looked at Cadance with a frown. Once more I moved between the two of them. Only for Cadance to push me back with her wing. She had no idea who she was dealing with but I allowed it all the same for the moment. Giving me more time for my blood to boil.

“That. That is my first question.” He says while pointing his claw that was covered in my blood at us. He then with his other paw pulls a book out of the aether and flips it open. I could feel the weight that it held from here even without my horn. It must have been far worse for the Alicorn and her improved senses as I could feel her shudder. His eyes somehow gained a pair of glasses as he scanned the oddly heavy book “Shouldn't the two of you hate each other?” He pauses looking from his book to finally meet my eyes. “Or at least one of you hates the other.” Did he want to see hate? I would gladly show him. I glared back as I continued to force the blood that pumped through my veins to boil ever hotter. I would have answered but once more Cadance took the lead.

“And why would a spirit of Disharmony wish to know why two ponies are getting along?” She asked after a pause. That answer was obvious, to cause more strife for his amusement. Discord however just glared at her.

“Well, then I see that old acquaintance doesn't know when they should keep their traps shut. Perhaps I should shut it for you.” He dared to threaten her. I pushed past Cadance’s wing, tearing at my tongue with my teeth. He found my blood odd. Well, I would happily give him enough to choke on.

Pain. Iron flooded my mouth as the spirit watched on with thinly veiled amusement. “Really Sunset? I know you're hard-headed but you can't touch me. Especially without your horn.” He said as the heavy book faded away, replaced with a target that he held in front of his midsection “Give it your best shot.”

I smiled. Letting the blood pour from my mouth. Coating me and the surrounding ground. I could hear Cadance behind me yell. Hopefully, she would use this time to get back to Celestia where she belonged. Heat surged from my blood as it burned away the physical world. Laughing as I spat more blood watching as it further brought further flames into the world. Allowing the bloodied flames to coat me as I once more felt reality right as I tugged on the magic that the spirit before me sought to steal.

He frowned. I attacked. A blast of molten blood erupted at him. Searing through the center of his target. Smashing him back into the cave. I didn't even spare Cadance another glance as I spoke.

“Leave!” I demanded before I brought my burning blood forth to cover the cave. Filling it with the enmity I had towards that spirit. It would choke upon my blood. Become burned by the fascination that it had held.

Eventually, I could no longer force myself to stay on my hooves. Feeling my legs buckle before me I didn't stop commanding my flames to assault the bringer of chaos. Cold. It was so strange how even in flames I once more was cold. Once more opening my mouth I allowed what little blood I had left to spill out. Turning to flaming spears that shot towards the target that was half submerged in bloodied lava.

Even as I heard another snap I smiled at the spirit that frowned before me. He burned. They all burned all the same. Look at that mother I burned Discord himself. Are you proud of me? I did it to save the one you love. To save your family.

“Well, then I can see why she was soo infuriated with me when I took her Sun from her.” He sighed as he pulled from behind his back a familiar sack. Sticking his paw in it he pulled out my saddlebag before throwing it before me. Then pulling out a small orb of light that he threw into the sky. I got back your Sun. “I finally figured it out. And I must say Sunset Shimmer you would be glad to know that it is all your FAULT.” As he spoke that word my head rang, wrought with cold and pain. Tossing the sack next to my saddlebag he turned his head slightly. Almost looking behind me. “It's not my style to allow ponies to die before me… Well, sane that is. But I would happily make an exception for you.” He spoke to the air no longer even looking at me.

He paused as he continued to look behind me. Even what continued to trickle from my mouth was cold. I could only watch as he smiled. Touched with his ever-present cruelty and insanity. “However, that isn't my choice to make. I give you that to you as the gift of choice my dear Princess. I can let her expire. Preventing her from continuing to perform her cruel actions. Cutting down the rabid beast that has long bitten the hoof that fed it.” He once more paused as his smile grew ever wider. “Or I can save her. Heal her. Return the tongue that she bit off. But in doing so you would damn the world and beyond to her actions. Tell me Princess of Love, Mi Amore Cadenza, what would you take as your gift?”

After all of that, she still did not flee? If I had the strength I would have laughed. Celestia was right to worry about her. She refused to save herself. The chaos-causer before me continued unabated with his words as he began to float. A cascading tear formed behind him as beckoned for an answer.

“What will your choice be? Both forms of love. One the love of protecting your future citizens from the monster before you.” He pauses, chuckling softly before amending his words “Well not me of course I think I am going to take a little vacation before it is my time to take center stage once more. The other is protecting a single pony that will cause so much chaos that I won't even be needed.” With his words, a flowered dress appears on him as he begins to sway before a door of pure chaos. I will admit this was the strangest sight I had ever seen. Sadly it was going to be one of my last. “This is my gift to you, Cadance the gift of loving the many or the few!” He declared with unrestrained fervor.

I couldn't see her. I couldn't hear her. I could barely see the spirit before me fading with my vision. But all the same, I spoke with what would be my last breath. Yet I couldn't even hear the words myself.

Even Discord himself decried me as such a threat. A force of unequivocal chaos that has torn apart the fabric of reality in the past thought me somehow worse. She had to eventually stop making the wrong decisions and begin to make the correct ones. At least I finally figured out what I had done to deserve such torments from Celestia. It was the same reason that she had saved me. Pulled me from the ice and snow so long ago. Saving me from a fate that I had long since expected I had deserved.

It was not what I had done. It was what I had yet to do. What I would do in the future that set the only pony to ever give me her love against me. It would have been interesting to see how far I would have gotten. How deep I would have dived into depravities to become equal to the Sun herself.

Discord nodded his head to words I couldn't hear. Yet as I felt my flesh begin to knit and my tongue begins to reform, I even felt a familiar weight being returned to my head. I knew that once more Cadance had chosen the wrong choice. She had once more saved me.

Discord turned on his heel about to enter the portal before he paused looking towards the Sun he had restored to its proper place. “Since I am in such a giving mood I do believe that I will give my dearest friend Celestia a gift as well. Now tell me who has ever given her the present?” He says with a smirk as he lifts his lion claw as a large ever changing light shoots into the sky. Where it begins to pulse. No doubt attracting every set of eyes in the entirety of Equestria. “Ta-ta”

Author's Note

Sunset continues Cadance's training arc as they both continue to adjust to living with the other's constant presence. Then an unfamiliar face strangely graces this story. Ironically I am posting this on April 1st as it does fit with the arrival of Discord. Who proceeds to play detective. Making some interesting accusations and being an absolute delight to write. Can't wait for him to pop back up in the story. Looks like I have also passed 100k words with this chapter which is an awesome accomplishment in my own opinion.
-LittleFaerieFire

20. Hollow Hatred

Hollow Hatred

Sunset

Looking up I could see the magical flare continuing to pulse. No doubt attracting the gaze of the Princess of the Sun herself. Frowning at the sight I pulled my sack and satchel from where they rested to my side. They slowly flew through the air. It seems that even after the spirit of Disharmony had “healed” me I was still suffering from teleporting far too much in a short period.

Looking at the Alicorn who had saved me from the mad god himself as she stared up at the flare. I would have spoken but whatever words were upon my tongue shriveled as I once more saw her wing. It seems that throughout the entire ordeal with Discord, the makeshift bandage had fallen off and I could see four vicious tears running through her wing. Turning the surrounding pink feathers blood red.

“Cadance…” I finally spoke. My voice was bereft of its normal strength. The pink Alicorn turned from her gaze on the sky to meet my eyes. Twin pools of purple shone. Gulping down the desire to teleport away, I continued “...Thank you.” There was so much more I wanted to say and yet that was all I managed to get out. Thankfully she understood my words and responded with a smile.

Now all that was left to do was convince her that she should return to the cave only exiting when she saw Princess Celestia. So that the two of them could be reunited. Her wing could be healed. The tale once more set straight. However, before I could even attempt to bring that plan into action she began to speak.

“So I take it we should start to flee?” She asked. Upon seeing my confusion she continued gesturing with her good wing to the flare. “Ponies are going to notice that and since you're not exactly an Alicorn yet.” She finishes with a shrug. Completely misinterpreting my reaction to her words. A flicker formed bringing warmth that even after everything she still wanted to stay by my side.

“Yes, we should,” I said with a nod. Enjoying that sentence I spoke far too much. I was a truly pathetic pony. Before I could go down that rabbit hole I once more spoke up as I situated the sack and saddle atop me. “Let's get going, I am guessing we don't have much time.” Cadance nodded as she trotted over towards me before we started to traverse the forest. Well, the burned section of one.

“Couldn't you teleport us?” She asked and upon seeing my wince “If you can't that's alright it's just that earlier you -.” Before she could continue I interrupted her.

“Teleportation takes a great deal out of a Unicorn. Most can’t even do it and those that can often only bring themselves across the divides in space that they create.” I gave some context as we trotted finally entering a portion of the forest that I had managed to not burn. “Even for me teleporting so much and so frequently has its drawbacks. Until I become an Alicorn I have to teleport sparingly.” Cadance nodded in understanding to my side.

Apologize. “Speaking of earlier, my apologies for not asking if I could teleport you.” Seeing the confusion written across her face at my apology I continued. “It's considered the height of rudeness to teleport any pony without their permission. Only ponies that are extremely close or family you should teleport without their prior consent.” I continued my impromptu lecture on Unicorn etiquette to the Alicorn next to me. Who was keenly listening with interest plainly shown on her face.

“Sunset don't take this the wrong way but I doubt your definition of close is considered to be at all correct.” She responded after ducking under a half-collapsed tree. That was rude. More than likely true but still rude. She simply laughed before continuing. “Sunset you saved my life and I sure believe that means that we are close.” Was that how this worked? Does that mean all I had to do to pass that damned test was to find a pony facing certain death and then save them? Lost in my thoughts I didn't see the tree that I ran into. Glaring at the flora that impeded my path. Shifting my glare to the pink pony that continued to laugh at my predicament.

“See if I save you the next time.” I lightly growled at her. Standing up after taking a moment to regain my bearings. We continued our trek through the forest. Only stopping when we came across a small road. Beckoning my… Friend? She did save my life. If going by what she had previously said that does equate to closeness. That still didn't make sense if that was the answer I would have long since passed that damned test. “Hold up a moment. I need to prepare a disguise.”

She slowed down next to me. Not even appearing winded. Damn Alicorn ascension. Regardless I pulled out a cloak from my satchel and began to weave magic into it. Illusions and misdirections all in an effort to confound any that would seek to remember any specific details of the wearer. Ignoring the splitting headache that the heavy use of my magic was causing I split my attention further. “Unicorn or Pegasus?” I bluntly asked.

“Excuse me?” She responded somehow confused as she slightly tilted her head. Causing her mane to follow in turn. Gritting my teeth slightly as I reworked the mistake I made. Before I expanded on my earlier question.

“There are two Alicorns in all of Equus. You will stick out like the Sun in the dead of Night. -” She choked at my words “- so would you rather your disguise be a Unicorn or a Pegasus? I would offer Earth Pony but I don't have enough in me to hide both your wings and your horn.” Once I clarified what I had meant she got herself under control and contemplated my answer. Her eyes sparkled as they glanced over the cloak.

“Do you have a preference, Sunset? Unicorn, Pegasus, or Earth Pony?” She asked with that strange tilt to her voice as a sly grin formed on her face. I frowned as she didn't answer the question. Seemingly able to read me as if I were an open book she continued “Answer my question and I’ll tell you.” Whatever, it wasn't as if I was making this cloak for her sake.

“Alicorn.” They were the best of pony-kind. It was Princess Celestia’s race. To ascend to Alicorn Hood was one of the paths to true immortality. There was no question at all about which of the pony races was the best.

Cadance just smiles as her face reddens. Frowning I paused my work and quickly checked her over with a quick diagnosis spell. Finding little wrong other than malnutrition and her wounded wing I turned my attention to the amused Alicorn, who was once more shaking her head slightly at me. Once more I am reminded how strange she was at times. “And the answer to my question, Unicorn or Pegasus?” I once more asked when I realized that she wasn't going to answer. We were still fleeing from the glowing and pulsing sign that Discord had strung high above.

“Sunset, one day you are going to look back at this moment and I am going to mercilessly tease you.” Her eyes sharpened with her declaration. “I choose Unicorn. Please make me appear to be a Unicorn, after all, what better way to see how you view the world than pretending to be the same race as you.” She said the sharpness in her eyes only increased as she spoke. Crystals once more formed in the pools of purple. All I could do was nod as I continued my work.

Finishing up my work, I could only thank Princess Celestia for keeping so many artifacts around for my perusal. I gave her the cloak helping drape it around her wounded wing. “Run your magic through it.” She immediately did and I watched as the prepared spells activated as the magic began to obscure her. Now instead of a Princess all there was but a Unicorn in her place. The first thing that came to my mind was that it changed her mane. From the trifecta of colors to a simple mix of purple and pink. It would no longer cup her face when she moved her head.

“As long as you don't use your wings the charms should prevent any pony from remembering too much about you.” She nodded and my earlier hypothesis was true as her new mane didn't-. Enough! “Are you feeling anything wrong with it?” I quickly asked. She took a moment before she responded to my inquiry.

“Nope, nothing wrong with the disguise. Shall we continue?” She asked and I nodded. Spinning myself a quick disguise that altered my coloration and cutie mark. I was now redder than amber and instead of my own Sun it was now void. Much like the one in the center of my future self. Steeling myself as I moved forwards stepping onto the road from the brush where we had hidden.

Only to turn back in confusion as Cadance didn't move with me. Instead, she appeared to be muttering under her breath. I would have interrupted her discussion with herself but decided against it when her eyes flashed with rage. Turning from my… Turning from Cadance giving her a moment to cool down I pulled out the map and compass.

I only had one map. I had offered to let her leave with the map that I had marked with the potential locations of the castle from the Pony Sisters legend. I am amazed at my own stupidity at times but even for me, that was rather impressive. Had she taken up the offer all she would have had to do was to show it to Princess Celestia.

The Princess of the Sun would have easily stationed guards at those locations to prevent me from ascending. Once more blocking my way. Once more attempting to smother me. Too bad for her, however, her newest Princess was my partner. She and I were going against her wishes.

I would ascend. I would claim what was rightfully mine. I would become an Alicorn worthy of Celestia’s love. I would show her the true cost of her folly. Of all but her abandonment of me. I would show her when I tore her kingdom apart. When I proved to her that I was worthy of being her daughter.

The par-...

My eyes flicked towards the disguised Alicorn that was still arguing against herself. No, not the parasite. Cadance. I felt a smile creep onto my lips as I once more proved to be entrapped in the webs of her making. Princess Celestia would be so proud that I had become just as enthralled with her as the rest of Equestria.

I would have continued with that train of thought but upon hearing a branch snap my eyes were wrenched from the topic of my thoughts to further down the road. Where a vivid green mare was trotting closer toward us. She had a cart attached to her and was dutifully tugging it along. Turning back towards Cadance I quickly alerted her to the situation.

“We have another pony coming up the road,” I said as I ignored once more the piercing pain that shot through the base of my horn as I pulled an illusion over the two of us. Frowning as the illusion failed to permeate reality. Gritting my teeth as I forced the magic to form around us. It was pathetic. I had done better in my sleep. It would shatter if I lost control over it for a moment. Another poor performance.

“Sunset, it's alright.” She spoke as the warmth of her undamaged wing covered me as she continued “You can take a moment to recuperate.” Did she think that I couldn't do this? That this was too much for me? That I was unable to complete the task? That I would once more fail?

I would have glared at her, but as I found myself once more looking at her I could see that there was concern swimming in her purple eyes. Entirely focused on me as she once more began after the pause. “You don't have to take care of everything yourself. We are partners.” She concluded with a smile that gave off more warmth than the wing that covered my form.

The illusion around us shattered. She retracted her wing beneath the cloak that I had provided. Her smile faded as she turned from me. Looking towards the traveler. She began to trot toward them, I shadowed her. “Hello. I’m Umbra and this is Dawn. I don't suppose you would be willing to share your name with two fellow travelers?” She asked the green Earth Pony who at this point had stopped and was staring. The three of us fell into an awkward silence caused by Cad-. Wait, did she call me Dawn? Umbra? Really Cadance?

“You can call me Mistletoe.” The green pony introduced herself as she shattered the silence. “It's nice to meet you Umbra, Dawn.” She says with a nod. Her eyes never left Cadance’s cloaked form.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Mistletoe!” Cadance chirps out as she gets closer to the now-identified Mistletoe. “You wouldn't happen to know if there are any towns around these parts as we have managed to get ourselves a little turned around?” She excitedly asks the pony before her. It was impressive to watch her work. She turned up her natural charms to the max to get the information that we needed. Yes, using the map and compass we would have gotten where we needed to be, but if this pony could point us in the correct direction much faster it would make our travels easier.

“I'm on my way to Wingston,” Mistletoe answered. I couldn't help the frown that formed on my face. That wasn't a name that I recognized. I knew that my knowledge of this area in general was considerably poorer than I initially thought but I didn't recall that town being on any of the maps either.

Taking a moment to look at the cart that Mistletoe was bringing with her. Seeing various metallic odd ends, tools, and oddly even an assortment of herbs. Recognizing a few of the herbs my hackles raised. Those were often used in potions and poisons. There was more than what initially appeared with this pony. We should avoid her. It would be far safer especially as I was currently without my magic. I turned my attention back to Cadance only to hear the tail end of the conversation I had tuned out of.

“- of course, the two of you can tag along with me. It would be enjoyable to have some company. Plus it's always safer to travel as a group.” Mistletoe laughed out which in turn had Cadance chuckle with a nod of her own.

“I completely agree after all that's why I only set out with Dawn. You must be rather confident in your skills to traverse the wilds by yourself.” That was a leading statement that would have had Princess Celestia proud of her. Mistletoe only nodded in agreement.

“Yep, I've been making this trip for about three years now. Ruffians and beasts alike fear my wrath.” Mistletoe said as she stretched out one of her legs before miming a kick. “Well, then Umbra, Dawn. Shall we get back on the path?” Cadance nodded and before I could voice my objection Mistletoe once more pulled her cart and started trotting forth.

“Come on Dawn,” Cadance says with a smirk. I frown but let her lead me behind the cart as I stay in step with her. There I watched as both Cadance and Mistletoe proceeded to talk about nearly everything under Celestia’s Sun. From the various books that they both had read to what their favorite fruits were. It was a maddening conversation that I was unable to fully close out. Had I been able to use my magic, Mistletoe would have found herself as her namesake.

Thankfully a few hours later we stopped for lunch. Mistletoe stopped for lunch. Cadance had managed to get her wrapped around her hooves so far that she was willing to share some for the two of us.

“Thank you,” I said to the green pony as I took the offered portion. Pulling out a bag of bits that I had earned from performing a few paltry tricks. I attempted to pay for our meal but she refused.

“Think of it as a gift to new friends.” She said with a smile. It was a familiar one that I had used myself before. When I was dealing with an annoyance yet couldn't get rid of them due to Princess Celestia’s involvement. Being forced to pretend to enjoy the circumstances that were beyond my control. Once more I didn't hide the frown that formed.

She didn't even comment before turning back to her cart to collect her own meal. Turning back towards Cadance as she was using her horn to eat the salad that she had been given. I made my way over to her, giving her my portion of food. Before she could contest my decision I was already sitting down next to her.

“Umbra really?” I whispered to her. Wishing that I could actually spin together a privacy ward. Unfortunately, I had to deal with the reality that I could not. She shrugged as she attempted to push the food back to me. I shattered her attempt as the dregs of my magic easily subsumed hers. Not allowing the pain or hunger to show I gave her another glare. “Just eat it. You need it more than me.”

“Thanks, Dawn. I really do appreciate all that you have been doing for me.” She says with a smile that still bled warmth, even in her altered form. “And it fits.” She said as she gestured to my side. “That is an eclipse, isn't it.” Yes, the inner portion of the cutie mark of my future self did appear to be an eclipse. A lunar eclipse specifically. Yet that didn't seem right. Choosing not to share that with the pony beside me. I instead spoke up.

“You do realize that I was hoping to not have to deal with any other ponies. Is there a reason why you decided to go along with Mistletoe's offer?” I asked in a hushed voice, as the subject of my questioning finally pulled herself from her cart and was now eating while looking at us. Cadance actually pauses with a bit of green stopping in the air halfway between the bowl and her mouth.

“First I was the one who asked to travel with her. Second, after the last couple of days, we could use any help we could get. Third, you are going to collapse sooner than later. You can't expect to do everything yourself, Su-. Dawn. Dawn.” She hastily corrected the name that she had bestowed upon me. “Mistletoe was willing to help so I took her offered hoof.”

“I don't trust her.” I huffed out, while my partner rolled her eyes at me. The purple orbs held a mix of annoyance and amusement.

“Dawn, you don't trust any pony.” She chided. “We are going to have to discuss what happened earlier.” She said after a lengthy pause, her voice becoming sharper as the amusement in her eyes faded being replaced with something I couldn't place. I matched her gaze. I had done my best with what I had. It wasn't my fault that she didn't leave me after I had been neutered.

Fine. Let us get my most recent failure out of the way Princess. Ignoring the growing splinter of agony that formed as I dredged my magic together and forced it to hold form. Running through the equation for the privacy that the Princess desired. Forcing the spell to spin into existence. Allowing the pain to provide clarity as I faced down the Alicorn that was on my side.

“What was so wrong with what happened earlier? Are you regretting your decision to save me? Have you finally realized that it was the wrong choice? Because if you think I am just going to roll over and let you correct it you are going to be in for a rude awakening.” I spat as my blood quickened. The air did not yet heat just yet, but it did get warmer.

Cadance put the fork back into the bowl. She took a moment as she stared me down in turn. Her eyes once more filled with the crystalline structures made of the once liquid purple that swam in her eyes. Now bladed shards of purpose.

“Sunset I will never regret saving any pony and that includes you.” She all but snarled out. Did she think just because I didn't have magic that I would fall to my knees and beg for forgiveness from the divine being before me? “There was no choice at all, Sunset. That there ever was a choice is the problem. You bit off your tongue and used your own blood and lifeforce as fuel just to attempt to harm Discord.” The parasite didn't shout but it was a close thing. I never stood down before the Sun herself. Why would I back down from this thing that was far less?

“My sincerest apologies, your Alicorness but I am still mortal.” I hissed out. The pit that had initially formed from the hunger of not eating for nearly a week churned. “I don't have the enlarged pools of mana that you do. I was forced to work with what I had available.” I pulled forth a blade of grass and sharpened it before it jammed into my side. Pain. I caught the blood that spurted out and levitated it between us. “All I had left was my knowledge and my life. I used both properly.” I said as I enjoyed the terror that flickered into existence as I forced my blood to once more burn.

“Sunset you are killing yourself and for what?” The parasite stands up, knocking the bowl away from it as it continues its tirade, all the while continuing to shout. “What could be worth burning away against a foe that you know you couldn't beat?” Before I could even respond the parasite’s horn lights up. I could feel its fragile magic attempting to break mine. To extinguish my blood. To quell the flames. To once more smother me.

All I could do was laugh. The pitiful creature couldn't even do this. Yet Princess Celestia thought that it was greater than me?

Flee.

The world shifted. Now centered around the pink Alicorn before me. Cadance straightened as her magic surged. Quenching the flaming blood I had been taunting her with. Her disguise flickered for a moment, and in that eternal moment, I could see her mane become translucent. I could see the immortal goddess that she was becoming. That was ready to strike me down. I allowed a smile as I stared at Cadance who had quickly reapplied her disguise.

“You realize that Princess Celestia would happily throw me into the depths of Tartarus or even slit my throat herself so that you can fully ascend?” I started after healing the still leaking wound I had given myself. “If anything I was doing exactly what she would do. You refused to flee when Discord left. You refused to use the distraction that I provided.” My smile grew larger. “I was burning away my life to protect you. After all, isn't that one of the stipulations of our alliance?”

The pony that was the center of the universe froze. Cadance, Mi Amore Cadenza, Princess and Alicorn of Love. She was all of those and yet she still was shaken. The niece of Princess Celestia herself was brought low by a few whispered words. Truths that burned her. Did she still not understand how this world worked?

“I will admit that I have fallen into your trap. Even knowing that I can’t bring myself to bring myself to do the only thing I should have done.” I smiled at her. Even without seeing my reflection, I knew how pitiful I was. “You should have left me for dead. Leaving me alone. You should be back with Celestia. Where you belong. Not with me.” The Alicorn who was the center of the world stilled. Still frozen while she absorbed my words.

Still silent, she didn't yet respond. So I continued what would likely be the last lesson I taught her. “Discord himself said, that I will cause untold catastrophe in the future. That it was all my fault. That I was the one that forced Celestia to punish me.” Taking a breath and pulling the heat that was leaking from my form back inside. “All of those things are true. Cadance…” The embers of anger were fading. Cooled as I matched my gaze with the liquid pools of purple that were her eyes. The strange twisting of the crystal threatened to captivate me even further. Tearing my gaze from hers.

Forcing my inner flame to grow hotter as I continued. “All I can think about is how easy it would be to take you apart and use you as a living reagent. That night that I had saved you I was so close to tearing you into your components and stitching your wings to myself. The only reason I didn't was that I…” I couldn't admit why I hadn't. This conversation was horrid enough. “I am trying to keep my word. It is one of the few things I have left, but when I am with you I can't stop thinking about what I should be doing.”

When I finally lapsed into silence did the Alicorn who stood at the center of all move. Her eyes tightened and then softened at the same moment. I avoided her gaze as she sought mine out. I couldn't deal with the sight of emotions that flitted through her gaze. Turning instead to the freshest wound that adorned my side I sighed as I patched it up. Ignoring the blood that still covered it. Eventually, the Alicorn before me spoke.

“Sunset the fact that you are concerned and don’t want to hurt me is a good thing. That shows that you care about me-.” She started before I cut her off.

“I can't care about you. I only care about a singular pony and she replaced me with you.” I snarled out at the pony before me that still didn't understand. “I am Sunset Shimmer, the only pony I can care for is the one who saved me. The one who gave me her warmth. C-Princess Celestia herself.” I have long since known what I was. Just as Princess Celestia knew the same. I was a failure of a pony. A demon wearing a flesh suit of one.

“Sunset it's alright to be afraid. You have cared about Celestia for a long time.” The Alicorn pauses and then continues after a breath. “I know that this may be hard for you to believe but Celestia in her own way does truly care about you in turn. Even if she can't show it in ways that you can see.” She moves forwards. The world shifted with her as she closed the distance between the two of us.

“You say you can't care about another pony? Have you not saved me? Have you not given me every morsel of food that you have found? Letting yourself go hungry so that I can eat a bit more.” The food that I had brought over earlier is now brought forth encased in cyan magic that floats the food between us.

“I have also tried on numerous occasions to butcher you and eventually I am going to succeed. Just leave before I inevitably once more hurt you.” I answered the Alicorn before me. Sidestepping her argument as those actions were pointless. “This is a game where there can only be one winner. The longer you stay around me the closer you get to losing. Leave for both of our sakes.” Please just leave.

She sets down the floating food behind her as she continues to make her way forwards. Princess Celestia knows why I risked glancing into her eyes, but I saw the realms of purple wavering. Impossible crystalline structures weakened. The naked concern is evident in them. Impossibly focusing on only one pony before her.

“Sunset if you didn't care about me you wouldn't be this concerned about if you would hurt me.” She softly whispered into my ear as she once more was by my side. “I care about you. I know that it isn't what you want but you need more love than just from Celestia. You saved my life, yes you have made attempts at it in the past but now you are afraid that you will do it again.” She takes a hoof and puts it against my back. Forcing me down. I didn't have it in me to fight at this point. The pitiful wastes of my magic were still feeding the privacy spell.

“You threw yourself in between Discord and me so that you could protect me. Sunset I don't think you hate me any more than you hate Celestia.” She continues as she sits next to me. Leaning against me somewhat as she continues “You're not a demon. I have seen demons before and I can tell you they don't concern themselves with the safety of any pony.”

She-. Forcing my blood to quicken was a failure as I was met once more with my limitations. Exhaustion, hunger, and pain all swam in my blood. I couldn't bring forth my anger, my hate. I couldn't disprove the pony that laid against me wrong.

“I hate you.” Was somehow the only thing that managed to get through my mouth. The pony that was still against me slightly shifted but otherwise remained silent. Eventually, the spell I had cast began to flicker out. Taking most of the time that I had left I spoke once more. “I hate you so much. My life before you showed up was pathetic but I didn't have to deal with you. All I had to do was contend myself against Celestia.”

Taking a breath and ignoring the damp weakness that ran down my cheeks. “You have completely thrown my life into disrepair. I can't bring myself to leave you. I can't get you to leave me. I am used to being alone. I have been the only pony on my side for so long now and yet here you are. Even after everything I have done to you. You are still by my side.” How long would you stay with me? How long before I inevitably chase you away? How long do I once more have some pony caring about me?

“How could I not hate you?” I asked the Alicorn of Love as my spell shattered. Leaving only her manipulations as the world still rotated around her. Lowering my voice “You are better than me in every way. She replaced me with you. What I have wanted ever since I realized that she wasn't my mother, she gave to you. She called you her family.”

The pit that I had descended into grew and yet I had yet to fall. Kept afloat by a singular thread that I desperately clung to. To claw myself out of the abyss that I had long since found myself in. My lifeline was held by the pony that re-summoned the bowl of food. As she placed it before me I felt the rope thicken under my hooves. Glancing up I could see her pulling me from the abyss that had long since beckoned.

Author's Note

Sunset takes some time to finally reflect on some of the recent feelings that she had been ignoring. Admitting to herself and Cadance that some things are beyond her. Cadance continues to be the best pony in the story as she deals with Sunset in ways that Celestia herself would be jealous of. Next chapter we will continue in Cadance's POV which will be a fun jump to see how the Princess of Love herself has been dealing with the recent challenges.
-LittleFaerieFire

21. Shared Warmth and Discourse

Shared Warmth and Discourse

Cadance

Glancing back I could see Sunset still trotting behind both myself and Mistletoe. Her eyes opened but considering that I kept having to readjust her course she was currently lost to the world. Mistletoe seemed amused by the entire ordeal, how every so often I would break our conversation to go ensure Sunset, or her disguised form Dawn, would not stray from the path and head straight into the surrounding forest.

It was hard to see the demon that threatened Discord in her at the moment. Almost lost to the world as she was. Umbrum was wrong, Sunset herself was wrong, they had to be wrong. She couldn't threaten the entirety of Equus. She was barely following in my hoof steps.

She loved Celestia. Even with all her rage from her foal-hood she still showed deference to the Alicorn that raised her. She however did not care for many other ponies other than my adopted Aunt.

She cared about me. Even if she didn't want to care about me she admitted that she did. Even before she dared admit it to herself she had grown to like me. She had waited to save me from the griffon that had torn my wing. Refusing to eat the food she scrounged, ensuring that I ate it in her stead. She had thrown herself between me and the embodiment of Chaos.

Here we were but barely a month of knowing of one another's existence and yet she was throwing her life onto the chopping block for me. She at this point saved my life far more than she had threatened it. I knew that she would disagree with that statement, however. She always thinks the worst of herself. Refusing to believe that she could be more than what she is.

What was worse she believed that I would still abandon her. No, she believed that it was the right thing to do. For the Sun to continue in the sky she must be left in the dark forgotten by everyone. Celestia herself had shown her inability to help Sunset so I in her stead would help her.

Even when I had performed my first true feat of Alicorn magic. When I became the center of everything for that short moment. She still all but begged me to leave her, all the while looking like she was carving her horn off. Something was wrong with her. If I didn't know any better I would even claim that she wasn't even a pony.

“Any helpful ideas Umbrum?” I silently asked my ancestor who had been rather chatty. Now silent once more. Ever since his last helpful piece of advice had been to flee north after gaining the cloak that Sunset had made me. Leaving her behind to rot. “I thought so.” That was another creature that I would have to have a heart-to-heart with when I could. Unlike Sunset I could however talk to Umbrum when I went to bed.

Eventually, it seemed that Mistletoe was unwilling to hold her tongue any longer. She had been staring at us ever since both Sunset’s and my magic wore off. It was a good thing that I had chosen to be a Unicorn otherwise Sunset would have likely scarred the innocent Earth Pony in her attempt to remove the memory.

“What sort of magic did you even cast when I couldn't see you? My gaze was being pulled towards the two of you. Even when I could see you I couldn't tear my gaze from you.” She asked. It was a fair question, a reasonable one. However, not one that I could answer.

“I'm not sure what kind of magic I even use at times. That’s why Dawn is teaching me. If you would want to know the specifics I would recommend asking her.” Hopefully, Sunset would be able to come up with a more believable lie. She had plenty of experience in this field while I didn't.

“So how did the two of you meet?” She cheekily asked. “I mean after your little tiff, you haven't been able to keep your eyes off of her.” I turned to face the pony that had a teasing smirk on her lips. Ignoring that for the moment I answered her question.

“My aunt requested her assistance in teaching me magic,” I answered her question not exactly lying but most definitely bending the truth. After all, the truth was far stranger than what I had even expected. However, I couldn't help but wonder how she would react if I informed her that our first meeting was one where she attempted to execute me with extreme prejudice. “I’m not the best at it and Dawn is a little bit of a prodigy.” Mistletoe nods along with the story I was painting.

“Dawn must be rather talented, especially if she is teaching a pony that's older than herself.” I couldn't help the frown that formed. I didn't think that I was older than her. I mean I hadn't bothered to ask Celestia what the difference between the two of our ages was, but we were around the same age.

“You're cute, she is the one teaching you yet you're the one keeping her on the road..” She said as she stopped her trotting, the cart rolling to a stop behind her. I stopped in turn with her as she glanced back at Dawn who narrowly missed going off the trail again. “However if you're the lesser in the magical sense I would rather not like to see what Dawn could do. Especially if she is the one who is teaching you how to control whatever it is you did.” After a pause, she continued. “Why don't you go wrangle her back to some form of sanity while I find a place to set up camp for the night.”

“Are you sure you don't want me to help?.” I asked even as Mistletoe began to detach herself from the cart. “We have already imposed a great deal on you. I-.” She cut me off with a wave of a hoof.

“It's fine Umbra. The two of you looked like you had been chased through the woods by something nasty. You two can get some rest.” She said as she began to look for an appropriate clearing to lay down camp. Turning from the quickly retreating form of the green Earth Pony to the now much more red Unicorn as I made my way towards her.

“Are you feeling any better?” I hesitatingly asked as her eyes met my own. Still, the ever-piercing shade of emerald that I had always associated with her eyes… Why did that feel wrong? Why were her eyes emerald?

“I am fine. My magic has not fully returned to me but I should be able to protect you.” She immediately answers. Even though we both know that she is lying. Is it a learned reflex of hers or was she born like this? Eventually, my gaze gets through to her. She sighs before once more speaking, this time in a more defiant tone. “I have been worse. I should be fine after I get some rest.” Not exactly what I was hoping for but it was something.

“Is there anything I can do to help you recover?” It was only fair after all. She had done her best to care for me. Even if my wing still wasn't too usable it had stopped bleeding for the most part. Sunset just continued to unblinkingly stare at me. I was about to ask if she had once more fallen asleep but she did eventually respond.

“Unless you can somehow prevent me from getting trapped by my nightmares again tonight. No.” She said emotionlessly however after a moment in a much less monotone way she continued. “Thank you for trying but I'll be fine.”

I grimaced at the mention of her night terrors. The past couple of days had proven that what I had seen at the library was not a one-off occurrence. I wish I could have done more but more often she would stay awake longer than I could. The few nights I managed to stay awake later I would fall into the crystal realm accompanied by the whimpers of my long-tortured companion.

I had made plans to… Oh no.

“The book. I left it on my bed. Celestia is going to kill me.” Sunset’s gaze hardens at the name of Princess that she had long expected to smite her. I would more than likely be on that executioner's block right next to her.

“What book?” Sunset questions as her gaze further sharpens. It perhaps should have been threatening however this time it was not.

“I may or may not have gotten a book on dream magic to help you with your night terrors and I have left it underneath my pillow Celestia is going to find it and then she is going to kill me,” I informed my partner in a single breath. Please have some way to get me out of this.

“You left a book of dark magic underneath your pillow?” She asks dumbfounded. I could feel the blood rush to my face as she restated what I said. “You managed to acquire a book of forbidden magic underneath Princess Celestia’s watchful gaze and you left it hidden underneath your pillow?”

“Yes.” I hissed out, my cheeks ablaze. “Now please do the thing where you have a plan for everything under the Sun and help me,” I begged the pony before me. If Celestia saw that book would she understand that I was planning to help Sunset with it? Would she care that I was trying to do good with it? Would she strip me of my horn?

Sweet Celestia, could she do that? She was the one who had taken me through the process of Ascending. She had been there in that strange realm when I had awoken. She had chased away that awful thing that had stalked me.

She adopted me as her niece. She had supported me through the aftermath of that horror. She had taken me in after Prismia… After she had-.

“Cadance?” My name shattered my thoughts into fragments of crystals. I could feel a warm hoof on my good side. Snapping back to reality as Sunset shook me slightly. “Are you alright?” She asked with concern evident in her eyes. Hah, would you look at that? See Umbrum she isn't a danger to me. I forced a smile as I responded.

“You know usually I’m the one shaking you out of your thoughts.” She frowned at my words but did not refute them. “Thank you.” Her lips pursed but she nodded all the same. I enjoyed the warmth of her hoof for another moment before I decided to face reality again. I would have enjoyed it for longer had Sunset not retracted her hoof and decided to speak.

“Did you truly hide it underneath your pillow?” She once more asked as the blood that had left my cheeks returned with a vengeance. I glared at her and she thankfully moved on. “I have a plan. You'll be fine.” Thank Celestia, Sunset continued to work her miracles. Ignoring the pain from my wing as I gave her the biggest hug I could.

“You are the best,” I exclaimed into her side. I could feel her stiffening once more underneath my hoofs. She had done the same last time. The exhilaration drained from me as I let go of Sunset who once again looked as if she had been caught with her hoof in the cookie jar.

“Why were you even looking into dream magic?” She asked after a momentary respite. “Where did you even find a book on the subject? I haven't even been able to find anything on it.” Her eyes lit up as the conversation went to a much more comfortable topic for her. Dark magic that Celestia had banned across Equestria. I couldn't stop the chuckle.

“To help you with your nightmares. I felt horrible after your near-death experience and wanted to help you out.” Not that I had managed to learn much from the book I had chickened out learning from Umbrum that field of magic. Not that I was planning to continue to learn from him again tonight. He had some explaining to do. For some pony that claimed to remember so little aside from his magic, he seemed awfully insistent on me either killing or escaping from Sunset.

Sunset had a frown on her face. She had her mouth open somewhat but she didn't speak for a moment. Instead closing her mouth with a click. Opening it once more she was about to speak, but Mistletoe's shout silenced her before she began.

“Found a decent stomping ground to last the night.” Came from a short distance away. Turning my head I could see the green Earth Pony making her way back toward us. I heard Sunset mutter something so quiet under her breath that I couldn't even pick it up. I would have asked her to repeat what she had said but she was already moving forwards. Following Dawn, trailing in her footsteps I could see Mistletoe shooting a smile toward the both of us.

She quickly hitched herself to her cart once more before beginning to pull it to the campsite that she had found. I chose to instead of trotting next to her, moving in stride with Dawn. We followed after the cart as Mistletoe began to hum a small tune in the growing dusk. No longer content to listlessly follow, Dawn kept her head on a swivel.

Staring into the growing shadows. Searching for something. Some pony perhaps or more likely the shades that she had so often mentioned. She had referred to seeing my shade far more frequently. I was unsure how to take that information. She had on one hoof attempted to obliterate it before it could sink into me. Whatever that meant. On the other hoof, she had burned me when I was caught in the crossfire.

It took a little bit before Mistletoe announced we were at the proper place for the camp. It was a small clearing a little off the road. “Either of the two of you know if that smaller Sun in the sky is going to keep on burning throughout the night?” Mistletoe asked after she got her cart situated. Sunset, who was in the process of pulling out a blanket, stopped moving. Her head twisted to face Mistletoe. I stepped in between the two of them before the inevitable happened.

“I think it's a flare and more than likely. It's giving off a lot of magic.” I answered Mistletoe in a far more polite and non-confrontational way than what Sunset would have. I met Sunset's gaze and silently pleaded with her to let it go. This wasn't a fight she needed right now. This wasn't a fight that any of us needed. She glared at me but tossed me the blanket before settling down herself.

I would have thought she was attempting to go to sleep but I knew her better than that. There was no way she would allow herself to fall asleep near some pony that she didn't trust. Especially without having access to her magic. I thought back to her and Umbrum’s lessons in spellcraft. How intent could substitute with enough power could replace ancient equations that had been etched in Equus.

I gathered my will, my power, and my desire, and had them converge in my horn. Sunset’s eyes flashed open as my spell completed. It was a simple thing so much less than what she could have brought into existence. I was proud of myself, however. This was a spell that had no name. No theorem. Only the Love I had used to fuel it.

“A shielding spell that you have layered upon itself twice. Set to alert the caster when it falters.” She notes Turning my accomplishment into an emotionless equation of arcane formula. “Impressive work.” She concluded to my growing joy. “I have a question about it, however.” I nodded my assent to whatever question she could dream of asking. I was once more in the clouds. “When did you learn to layer your spells together, as I have not yet taught you to do so?”

I was quickly struck down from the high heavens as I crashed into the salted earth. Sunset’s eyes glowed in the darkening world around us. Her question stayed frozen in the air. Sucking the remains of my elation from me. Gulping I spoke almost without thinking.

“I found out how to do so from inside my castle.” I thankfully didn't disclose Umbrum. Taking a breath I continued in a less panicked state “That's where I got the -” lowering my voice even further “- dream book.” Sunset's gaze immediately took a calculative sheen.

“You have a-. If it was from your dream how-. That goes against at least three laws of magic I can think of off the top of my head.” It was impressive how quickly she pieced together what had happened. “How many more books of the same nature do you have in your castle?” Her attention refocused on arcane knowledge as she sat up. I couldn't help but shake my head in amusement. Only when her lips pursued did I respond.

“My library is about the same size as Celestia’s.” I didn't brag at all but I did enjoy the way that her eyes widened as she shuddered in anticipation of arcane secrets. “And it is not as curated as hers.” That was the final straw as Sunset pushed herself up and was in front of me in an instant. Her eyes sparkled like green embers in the dark.

“Do you have any books on-.” She forced herself to pause as her head twisted to where Mistletoe in her cart was dozing a few dozen feet away from us. “What do you want in exchange for you bringing out a few specific tomes from your library?” She asked as if she was in a candy shop. I couldn't help but coo at the sight as the normally rough pony was acting more her age.

“You don't have to exchange me for anything. We are partners, remember?” I reminded her with a smile. “Perhaps in the future, I can even learn to bring you with me into my castle instead of having you enter your nightmares” I offered. Enraptured by my offer, Sunset looked at me for one moment as she did Celestia when she thought no pony was looking.

“I would gladly take you up on that offer.” She said as she forced herself to calm down. Her words came out in a gentle tone and manner. That did little to hide the enthusiasm that bled from the pony before me. She was almost vibrating with the thought that I had given her. “You can get some rest, I will keep vigil.”

“You do need to sleep. You can't just stay up all night whenever you choose to do so. You're going to hurt yourself if you do.” Seeing that my argument for her well-being wasn't working I changed my approach. “If you get as sleep deprived as you did last time you may end up speaking your inner thoughts without realizing it again.” That did it. Sunset flinched back at the spoken words.

“Look, you can trust in my magic to keep us safe. Even if Mistletoe wakes up and tries to do anything I will wake up when my shield shatters.” I continued ensuring my victory over the now red Unicorn. Who looked like she swallowed a sour grape. She however couldn't refute the magic that I had conjured. “Let's just go to sleep, Sunset we have a long day ahead of us.” I offered her half the blanket which she nearly glared at. “You are going to be warmer than a blanket. You wouldn't want me to freeze to death would you?” I teased. She channeled her glare from the blanket to me but relented all the same.

We settled down against the sack that she had been dragging with her. It was surprisingly soft and made for a decent enough pillow. We fell into silence as we both settled down underneath the blanket. She was far warmer than the blanket. Must be all the fire that she throws around. I snuggled into her side as the cool winds began to blow. The last thing I saw before I closed my eyes for the last time was the clouds separating and revealing the Mare on the Moon in all her splendor.

Opening my eyes to the splendor of the crystalline realm that constituted my dreamscape. I immediately leaped from my throne and began to hunt down my prey. Allowing my wings to catch air as I flew through my castle. Feeling the feathers on my wounded wing stretch and flex, catching up on the current was a bliss that I could not yet experience in reality.

Soaring through the crystal hallways I made my way to what Umbrum had named the training hall. Coming across the grand doors of darkened crystal propped open, I knew that he was within. “We have to talk.” I declared as I entered the hall. Sparing no time for the ornately carved warriors and ponies that decorated the walls. My gaze sought out a blackened figure who I needed answers from.

Spying Umbrum in the center waiting in his ever-present bow. With one final flap of my wings, I was before him touching down. “Explain!” I demanded of my ancestor. He simply brought his twin orbs of crimson to meet my eyes.

“My descendant you must -.” That was all he managed to get out before I cut him off.

“I am not interested in your games. You have claimed on numerous occasions that you could not remember more than your magic.” I reminded him of his words. Breaking off the tirade before it could even begin to form. “Knowing Discord I could understand. However, agreeing to his words and recommending I allow Sunset to expire does not. You will explain. Now.” Umbrum simply nodded to my reasonable demand.

“My descendant, my words are the truth. Your partner is suffused with magics that do not belong in Equestria much less Equus. It took me until now to confirm my suspicions.” Seeing that I wasn't backing down from his words. He hastily continued “No pony, not even Celestia should have been able to escape from the confines of Discord. Not without something aiding them.”

“So? Could she not have constructed a spell to get around his magic?” This was Sunset after all. In her own words, ever since she was a filly she had been going against Celestia herself. Getting out from a bubble formed from the spirit of Chaos seemed reasonable compared to that. “Just because you believed that she couldn't escape doesn't mean that it was impossible,” I concluded. However, Umbrum did not appear to agree.

“It may not have been impossible my descendant, but the fact that a Unicorn alone was able to do so implies that there is far more to Sunset Shimmer than you choose to believe. She has warned you of that fact.” He said as he rose from his bow. “Discord himself has confirmed such a thing. You-.”

“You want me to believe in Discord’s words?” I interjected before he could continue. “The being you described as the antithesis of harmony. A being that you were coaching me on what to say to not draw his ire. Your plan didn't work.” I reminded my grandfather. “If anything it annoyed him to the point where if Sunset hadn't stepped he would have certainly done something to me.” I didn't start off shouting, but I certainly finished with my voice raised.

Umbrum would have spoken if not for me raising a wing to silence him. “You have thought that something was wrong with Sunset ever since she layered that illusion over herself.” I hadn't known that those whispered words were Umbrum’s back then but now I know. They had yet to be brought up, but with his actions today, they could no longer continue unspoken.

Silence permeated the air in the training hall where I had been spending my time learning magic. Under the tutelage of my final blood-related family member, who was now staring unblinkingly at me. Unmoving without any signs of life other than the calculative gleam that rests within his gaze. A cruel smirk forms upon Umbrum’s lips before he tore through the silence and tension alike.

“My descendant, I am glad to see that even growing up in this era of peace has not extinguished your intelligence. Yes, I did indeed observe something wrong with your partner the first time I spied her through your eyes. It was likely the same thing that Celestia spotted when she had initially taken her in.” His words tore through the air, leaving uneasiness in their wake. Sunset should never find this out. She would go completely off the edge.

Umbrum of course decided that after that revelation that this was the time to continue to ‘help’. “Tell me my descendant out of every Unicorn that you have met who can hold a candle to the pony you slumber against? Who amongst them could defy her strength? Her spells? Her very existence?” Umbrum’s horn glowed pitch black as a crystal form of Shining Armor formed from the ground. “Could this colt contest in any form or manner? He may not be the greatest no, but she is no Alicorn. A mere mortal Unicorn. He should have a chance to come out on top, yes? Perhaps when she is exhausted from her magic?”

Shining Armor’s statue of dark crystal exploded with a cacophonous boom as Umbrum blasted a black flame at it. “Wrong. You have seen what Sunset Shimmer can do without her magic. She will rip her life force out of herself and use it until she can forcibly reconnect to the magic of Equus. You felt it yourself my descendant even if you have chosen to ignore it. That what she did when she defended you was wrong.”

I wanted to defy his words but I couldn't. Just like when Discord had pulled out that book of his when Sunset had grown a horn made of her blood and flame, I could feel it tearing reality asunder. Unlike the book that was far more weighted against existence itself. Her actions were a blight on all of existence, that promised nothing but the corruption of all. That moment when she had reforged her broken connection I could feel the incorrectness of the action as if she went against the entirety of Equus herself.

Umbrum took my silence as assent to continue his tirade. “Were she a normal Unicorn she would have quickly extinguished her life. Long before she could have assaulted Discord. She however continued her attack against the spirit himself. Even harming him. Another impossibility was performed by her hoof. I am unsure what Sunset Shimmer truly is but I tell you, my descendant, that she is no closer to being a pony than I am.”

I stared at my grandfather. Thoughts rampaging against each other as I attempted to grasp his words. “Whatever she is, we would be better off with her a withered husk that no spark of life could reignite. It sounds cruel my descendant but Celestia herself has recognized such a fact. Why else would she have given you a pendant that would bring you safely to her side?” Finding a reproach against the unrelenting tide I leaped upon it.

“Her brooch didn't work. When I was fleeing from the griffon I twisted the Sun and I wasn't teleported away. Sunset saved me. She saved me then and again with Discord.” I defended my partner against my grandfather's words. He of course sighs as he shakes his head.

“The brooch works just fine my descendant. Just because she has saved you now does not mean she will not end you later.” His eyes flashed as his voice grew in volume. The shattered remains of his black crystals began to grow around him in a perilous vine that promised pain and death. ”Did she not nearly kill you when you first met? I can remember the fear you felt back then. How Celestia after dealing with her wayward student comforted you and whispered soothing words. How you were terrified of her. You were terrified of meeting her again without Celestia to be your shield. You may choose to believe the best of that demon but I will not have my blood extinguished by your misplaced goodwill and your choosing to forget her actions.”

Umbrum finally realized that he had been shouting as looked at the crystal vine and shattered it with a smack of his hoof. “Smother the flame you hold for her, it will only blind you further. My descendant, I ask that you not force me to watch you die.” With that, his black form faded into an inky black smoke that quickly fled from my sight. Leaving me alone with the pounding of my heart and the thoughts I could not silence.

I hadn't forgotten our start. I-. No, we are better now. Sunset was protecting me and in turn, I was protecting her. Just because I was currently infatuated with her thanks to her saving my life doesn't mean that I thought she was perfect. I was the Alicorn of Love, I would not be led around by my emotions.

Just like when I had saved Blueblood from Sunset. It was a simple case of being saved and having a deal of temporary affection for the savior. Such a thing would quickly wilt with time and space. Not that I had exactly had either for the moment. I knew that Sunset was a cruel and spiteful pony. That she could care less if some pony died before her.

A part of me didn't allow me to forget that I was one of the two ponies that she admitted to caring about. That was even against her wishes that she cared about me. That I was the only pony besides Celestia whom her heart held space for. That she was willing to cause great harm to herself for my benefit. Standing between me, an Alicorn, and the spirit of Chaos. That she was happy to starve herself so that I could eat a few more bites.

There I stayed in the training hall battling with my own emotions. Refusing to consider that Umbrum’s words were right. That I should have allowed Sunset to expire. That I should have slit her throat myself. That I should abscond away to the frozen north, far from her. It was only when the crystals began to fill with light and my vision began to fade did I finally admit to myself. Perhaps it would be better for this crush I had on my emerald-eyed savior to quickly fade. Such a thought went against what I represented, yet it didn't stop me from thinking about it nonetheless.

Author's Note

Cadance continues to be the best pony. Looking out for her partner through thick and thin keeps her on the road of life. Even doing her best to have me put in the Romance tag within the story. Sunset acts her age for the first time in the story. Umbrum continues to reveal the plot-relevant information to Cadance who keeps calling him out on his act. All the while both Sunset and Cadance continue fleeing from Celestia's searching gaze.
-LittleFaerieFire

22. Traversing, Taunting, Training

Traversing, Taunting, Training

Cadance

I could feel the gentle warmth around me as I blinked away the impossible lights from my eyes. I began the normal process of escaping from the confines of the sheet that I had slept in. Only to have one of my hoofs connect with a pony that was beneath the sheet with me. Wrenching my eyes open I could see that I did not feel wrong as Sunset stared at me. Entrapped within the same sheet as I was. Her eyes were a muddled cyan and emerald, filled with uncertainty, that peacefully observed me.

“Morning Dawn.” I happily greeted her as I internally screamed. What had I been thinking last night? Oh right, I was trying to prove my grandfather, the spirit of Chaos, and Celestia wrong. Sunset of course having the perception of a rock continued to stare at me. Thankfully her silence allowed me to still the beating of my heart. “I don’t suppose you would be able to help us get out of this predicament?” The question finally snapped Sunset from just staring at me as her eyes refocused on mine.

“You can't naturally sleep like this, can you?” She asked as she pulled against the blanket slightly. The tension caused the blanket to pull against my still-wounded wing. I let slip a slight hiss of pain and she instantly froze. She was as unmoving as a statue in Celestia’s garden, all except for her emerald eyes that darted around my covered form before focusing on where my wing was hidden. She dissipated in a flash of flames. Reappearing a few feet away from me.

Leaving me alone in the blanket only holding onto the faint remnants of her warmth. It took me a long moment to connect how she had escaped the confines that had bound the two of us. When I finally put it together that she teleported away I glared at her. Did she want to play like that? Fine. I would show her that I was not a pony to be trifled with.

“Did you just teleport away from me? After we spent the night together?” I could see the moment where she made the connection in her head as she spasmed and her red coat began to pale. I didn't let up on the annoying pony that was my partner. “You didn't even leave a note. I see how much you value me.” Sunset’s eyes were filled with panic as her mouth opened but no words came out. She remained like that until Mistletoe’s laughter broke the silence I had summoned.

“Dawn she is messing with you.” She laughed out from atop her cart. Sunset's eyes didn't move from mine; however, she did finally close her mouth. It took her another few moments for the panic to completely filter from her eyes replaced by indignation. All I could do was smile at her and watch as she huffed.

“So should I take that as a no for you helping me out of this trap?” I slyly asked the pony who was still deciding how to deal with me. My words once more knocked her off balance and she immediately manipulated the blanket off me. Her magic takes great care to not agitate my wing any more than necessary. Sunset could be sweet at times. “A treatment fit for a Princess. Wouldn't you agree, Mistletoe?” I asked the still amused pony who was in the process of hitching herself to her cart.

“Hmm. I would have to agree.” She comments after a pause. Her gaze flickered from myself and Sunset. “However I would have to take some points from Dawn’s impression of a fish as they aren't known to teleport.” I couldn't help the chuckle that formed even as Sunset began to glower at me.

“I hate you.” She growled out as she shoved the blanket into the sack. Refusing to catch my gaze.

“No, you don’t.” I beamed back with a bright smile. Sunset didn't respond and I marked this entire exchange as my victory. After I stretched and made sure I was all together I turned to my two traveling companions before speaking. “Well, then shall we continue our trek?” Sunset merely nodded while Mistletoe chimed in her agreement.

With that, we were off once more. Traversing through the well-traveled trail with but few stops. From Mistletoe's cart getting stuck and requiring Sunset to levitate it out of the mud it had gotten stuck in. To even a cockatrice that had stumbled out of the forest. Before I could even think of doing anything Sunset covered my eyes with her hoof and blasted the creature with a torrent of flames. Sending it fleeing back into the forest.

“I can help you know. I'm not helpless.” I muttered to my partner when we broke for a quick meal under the noon Sun. I was once more proving that I was a creature of indomitable unbending will as I leaned against her while I ate the offered salad that Mistletoe graciously gave us. Basking in the warmth that flowed from her, as if she was a campfire in the chill of winter.

“You are not helpless,” Sunset admitted after a moment. I could feel a familiar spell being enforced onto reality. The world shimmered and shifted as we were encased in a private bubble of our reality once more. “You are however less experienced than I am.” She pushed half of her salad over to me.

“I am catching onto your tricks, you can't just have me distracted by shoving food at me.” I didn't even look at the food. It was hers. Not mine. She needed to eat. Even if she was offering it to me. It was hers. I continued that mental chant until she reclaimed the remains of her meal. “How am I supposed to gain the experience you have if you don't allow me to face any problems on my own?” Sunset frowned at my words but I could see my words worming their way into her thoughts.

She may not always respect a pony but she does respect their magic. Or more accurately to say she respects magic more than any pony. I had used the same trick on her to get her to sleep. It now occurs to me that this was slightly manipulative even if it was to her advantage. Deciding to worry about the morality of what I was doing later I went for the kill. “What happens if the next time I am attacked that you aren't around? Should I act as I did with the griffon? Wouldn't it be better to learn how to protect myself under your aegis? It would be the same as our normal lessons with you ready to step in and help if needed.”

If there was one thing that I had learned from Umbrum other than magic it was his way of manipulating a pony. I felt Sunset nod after a moment's deliberation. “Thank you,” I whispered as I further snuggled into her side. Embracing the heat that she provided.

...

Wait. “Sunset?” I hesitatingly questioned, as what I was continuing to do caught up with me.

“Yes?” She seemed far more exasperated than angry which was a plus. However, confusing it was. She let me sleep next to her last night and was now continuing to allow me to embrace her. Taking a moment to debate with myself if I was willing to let sleeping constellations lie. Before deciding that it would be better to talk through it than simply assume.

“Is there a reason you are allowing me to cuddle up to you?” I contorted my head slightly to face Sunset as I asked. “Not that I want to stop. It just doesn't seem like something that you would like and if you don't like it and are letting me do it despite that. I would…” I trailed off not sure what would be the best way to proceed. Sunset however frowned as she responded.

“You would have been cold and you wanted to be warm.” She spoke before continuing in a much lower tone that I knew without my improved senses I would have never caught. “I know that feeling all too well.” That was heartbreaking. Horribly appropriate however for the pony that I was with.

“Thank you Sunset for sharing your warmth,” I whispered my thanks back to the pony whose eyes once more refused to meet mine. We proceeded to just enjoy the silence for a while longer. An Alicorn and a Unicorn laying against one another. Basking in the light of the Sun.

Eventually, we had to separate and get back on the road. Mistletoe wouldn't stop glancing at the two of us trotting side by side from where she was pulling her cart. I had offered to take either the saddlebag or the sack that Sunset continued to drag but she refused.

“You are dealing with the next difficulty that appears. Whether it is bandits or if it is an Ursa Major. You should save your strength for what is ahead.” She informed me. My words had worked wonders. Perhaps too well.

“If there is an Ursa Major you will step in when I fail right?” I couldn't help but ask my partner. Who in response just shrugged. Not looking at me at all. “Or is it that you can't deal with one and are hoping that one does not appear? Attempting to look cool?” I taunted her. She of course did not respond at all. “You know that you are supposed to banter back otherwise this loses all meaning,” I informed her.

“Why would I banter with you again?” She asks, still keeping her head towards the forest. I glanced over her saddlebag but I could see nothing.

“Because silly I am your friend.” My words had an instantaneous effect on the pony before me. Whose head twisted with a frightening snap so that her piercing emerald eyes could meet my gaze.

“Who said we were friends?” She questioned her words and eyes both brutish. I simply rolled my own back at the foolish pony that I had a crush on.

“I did,” I answered her levelly, my gaze narrowing as I dared her to dispute my claim to her friendship. If she knew what was good for her she would agree that we were friends before I had to beat it into her thick skull. Eventually, the emerald orbs softened and she responded.

“So you are my first friend.” She almost listlessly speaks as she turns her attention to the sun that continues to make its journey across the sky. We fell into an easy silence as we continued on the trail. Sunset kept her gaze high tracking the Sun as if it held the answers to the questions that she had. Looking for the moment like the filly that she once was, chasing after the setting Sun.

“I take back every single thing I thought about you. You are far too cute.” Sunset's eyes flickered back to mine and I grinned as we held the others' gaze. The indignation in her eyes bled to the same mirth that I knew filled mine.

“First I am not cute. Second I am morbidly curious about what you have thought about me if you wouldn't mind sharing?” She teased me. It was a rather poor attempt at banter but it still set the butterflies in my heart aflutter. Sunset may not have been the best but she was willing to attempt it for me.

“Dawn, you are certainly cute,” I replied, keeping my gaze connected to her as I stalked closer to her. “And are you sure you want the answer to that question of yours?” After seeing her eyes widen I went for the throat. “After all, once I whisper my answer, you will be unable to forget it. I won't let you.” My declaration made all I could do was watch with anticipation for how she would react to it.

It took a few moments for Sunset to work through my words. I could feel the butterflies begin to wither as the mirth burned from her eyes and was replaced with the beginnings of her rage. Right this was Sunset Shimmer, the one pony in Equestria who will almost always misinterpret actions and words into their worst outcomes. Even as I could feel her begin to bleed heat into the air I put a hoof on her side.

She froze immediately as the heat stopped being suffused into the air. Her eyes were no longer filled with molten hate, but with clear confusion at my actions which no doubt contradicted whatever was going on in her head. “I didn't mean it like that.” I offered in an attempt to dissuade the inner machinations of her mind of my intentions.

“What do you mean?” She responded with her tone guarded. I couldn't help but smother the sigh as I took a breath before responding in turn.

“You took what I said the wrong way. I was only trying to continue the banter.” After a pause, I continued my voice in a lower volume "It wasn't about how we began.” I quickly cast my gaze towards Mistletoe who was continuing on the trail leaving us behind with a glance. Turning my focus back to Sunset who seemed to have dropped her guard.

“How do you know what I was thinking?” She questioned with a frown.

“Sunset I would like to think I know a little about how you work at this point. Just like how you know me. We didn't start the best with one another but we are better.” I smiled at her as I hugged her again. “That took effort from both of us.” I waited for her to inevitably stiffen.

Seconds passed and I could feel the pony that I was embracing shifting slightly within my grasp. She however made no move to buck me off or flee with her spells. Eventually, I let go of her. Watching her cyan eyes swirl with confusion and mirth that ever so clearly showed the reflection of the pony before me. For all she denied it she was rather adorable, even cute.

“Wait if you weren't referring to our mutual beginning, what are you referring to?” Sunset asked as she sought the answer to the newest question that she had found. I just smiled at her as I turned on my frog and began to follow after Mistletoe.

“That is for you to find out,” I called out over my shoulder as I left her behind for the moment. Only for the sounds of her frantic trotting to widen the smile I had plastered on my muzzle as she caught up to me. We spent the next few hours in warm silence as we continued down the trail. The only times the silence was broken was when Sunset attempted to pester me for the answer to the riddle I had posed her or when Mistletoe would comment on her amusement about the two of us.

Like all good things, it must come to an end. Sunset’s head twisted towards the forest on the right side of the trail.

“Umbra, it's time for you to show what you can do.” She slowly spoke as her eyes met mine. All signs of the pleasant version of herself had been burned away the instant that she had detected whatever it was out in the forest. I nodded and called out for Mistletoe to halt. She listened immediately and eventually, it turned into a waiting game.

Turning my attention fully to where Sunset had looked I listened. Hearing the faint pounding of not hooves but something softer, paws perhaps. Low grumblings grew louder as I stepped forwards. Focusing my gaze I could spy what appeared to be three bipedal creatures of varying sizes and shapes, hidden in the brush of the forest. Each however wore a studded color that was rusted and worn. Diamond dogs I believe from the descriptions and illustrations Celestia had shown me.

“Hello, I am Umbra and you three are?” I asked as I caught the gaze of one of the dogs. Whose eyes immediately widened in shock at being called out and spotted so easily. I would assume they had never hidden from an Alicorn before. I ignored the huff that came from Sunset behind me as I kept my attention on the three dogs. Who turned to each other and huddled up grunting and barking incomprehensibly.

Only after a minute of that did they break their huddle and make their way toward us. Stepping onto the trail a little distance from where I was.

“We are diamond dogs.” The second tallest of the three announced as the other two on either side of him nodded. I nodded in acknowledgment as I took note of the tattered vests that they wore along with the claws they had on the end of their paws.

“Do ponies have gems?” The smallest of the three asked as his eyes went beyond me to what I can assume was Sunset and Mistletoe. If this was an attempt at a robbery this was certainly one of the strangest ones performed.

“I am afraid none of us have any gems,” I answered in the negative as I doubted the dogs before me would believe that I had an entire castle made of crystals hidden within my dreams. The three of them looked disappointed as they glanced at one another.

“What do we do now? Ponies have no gems?” The final and largest of the three diamond dogs asks the other two as the other two are scratching their heads. Taking the moment of their confusion I glance back to Sunset and Mistletoe who were just watching what could only be described as negotiations before them. Mistletoe at least looked amused while Sunset had a mask of indifference plastered upon her face. However, that did not stop me from spotting the confusion in her eyes.

Turning back to the dogs with a smile on my face I once more began to speak.

“Do you have any other questions for us, as we are in a tad bit of a hurry,” I interjected into their planning session. They turned towards me once more and I could see them attempting to form a cohesive plan but being incapable of doing so. After a few more moments of silence, the first diamond dog once more spoke up.

“How can we be sure you aren't lying about having gems?” He said with a proud grin on his face. That he came up with that question. I turned back towards Sunset and Mistletoe.

“Do either of you two have any gems?” At my question, both of them answered negatively. Turning my full attention to the trio of dogs before me I continued “See none of us have any gems. If I was lying one of them would have said that we did indeed have gems.”

“The pony has a point.” The smallest dog spoke in its high-pitched whine. “Ponies aren't clever, not like us dogs.” The largest dog shook his head violently in agreement with that point. If this was what Mistletoe had encountered during her trips I could understand her confidence.

“Are you ponies sure that you have no gems?” The middle dog asked one final time and it took more willpower than it should have to not summon a crystal and launch it at his leering face. Thankfully I just nodded and the dog took our admission with a frown and a sigh. “Fine ponies can leave but only if they promise if they find any gems that they will give them to the diamond dogs.” He said as an afterthought.

I just nodded and the three dogs grinned at each other before they began to dig into the trail quickly becoming submerged by the displaced earth. Leaving us three ponies alone once more. I turned back to my partner and Mistletoe, both of whom were still glancing at the freshly dug holes.

“You do realize that you weren't supposed to solve that diplomatically.” Sunset started in a flat tone. Mistletoe took a step back from her, but I doubted Sunset noticed, her attention focused on me. “The entire reason that you were dealing with this encounter was to gain combat experience.” Feeling my cheeks warm I broke our gaze before responding.

“Isn't it better that I could have de-escalated the situation without violence?” I offered the annoyed Unicorn. I didn't dare point out that Celestia would have been glad the conflict had been solved without a single spell cast.

“The entire point of this was so that you could learn how to use violence.” She growled out. “Those three were perfect for you to bludgeon to death.” I narrowed my eyes at her words.

“Why under Celestia’s Sun would I have killed them?” I hissed out. I could faintly see Mistletoe backing away from the two of us after unhitching herself from her cart. “They were of no threat to any pony, much less me.”

“That was the point of the training. So that if in a real battle, you won't freeze up. That you can sever a sentient creature's throat and then continue with your life. So that no pony will be able to take advantage of your mercy.” She spat out as the air around the two of us began to heat.

How could I have forgotten that this was Sunset Shimmer? Even through the rose-tinted way I had recently been viewing her, she was capable of horrific acts. She would have had me butchered those three dogs simply so that in the future I could not be impacted by it. So that I would not be at risk of faltering before an attacker once more. I could see the logic in her words. That did not stop me from detesting them all the same.

“That was not what I wanted. I wished to learn how to deal with problems myself without you stepping in a misguided attempt to coddle me. Not to learn how to kill something.” I hissed out. Refusing to remove my gaze from her emerald pits that swam with hate. “Now that I have made myself clear, do we still have an issue?” I breathed out as I prepared for her reaction.

I watched as Sunset stood still for a moment longer, clearly contemplating to continue this argument, but with the chill that swallowed the heat and the frost upon her form. She had decided against it.

“You won't always be able to rely on me,” Sunset muttered as she twisted her gaze from me with a cracking of ice. Taking a breath of the frigid air myself I closed the small distance between the two of us. Placing a hoof on the frosted pony I responded.

“That may be true but until that point we are partners,” I whispered into her ear as I brushed away some of the frosted ice that clung from her coat. “Even if we disagree with one another,” I said as she turned her head gaze to my own.

“You won't always have the choice in the future. You eventually will be forced to decide on whether it is you or some pony else.” Sunset muttered as she stretched, shattering the rest of the frosted ice. “You won't always have me to prevent your hooves from dirtying.” She said as I watched her emerald eyes flash with an emotion I had not seen before.

“I am not forcing you to do anything that you don't want Sunset and I certainly won't ask you to kill any pony on my behalf,” I responded with a frown.

“No, you wouldn't need to ask.” She mutters as her gaze once more breaks from mine. I don't know how to respond to that… All I could do was hug the pony before me and let her take as much of my warmth as she needed to escape the cold that she had brought against herself.

“Sunset, who taught you this spell?” I asked the pony who still had yet to push me away. “You said earlier that you were used to being cold. Yet you use this spell to punish yourself?” Whenever she needed a moment of clarity or whenever her temper was beginning to get away from her she would cast this spell. Other than her telekinesis it was the most common form of magic I had seen her perform.

She didn't respond but she did look up towards the ever-watching Sun that hung from the heavens far above. Of course, who else would teach Sunset a spell that she would religiously use as a way to regulate herself? Swallowing back the heat that formed in my stomach I once more spoke this time in a softer tone. “Sunset, why is it you continue to use this spell?” I hesitantly asked my partner.

“It makes it better for every pony -” She spoke out in a forced monotone “- I don't go around burning every random pony that annoys me, making less work for Celestia, and it provides clarity when I can't think straight.” She lets out a facsimile of a laugh that would easily be described as a mockery before she continued. “Did you know that she taught it to me as a better way to ensure that my flames didn't grow out of control?”

I didn't but that makes sense. I knew Sunset was fireproof but I doubted she had been born like that. When Celestia began to teach her it would have probably been one of the first things taught. How to smother a flame. That still didn't -. Sunset spoke up once more breaking my line of thought “I repurposed it later on. The first time that she caught me freezing myself I would have sworn she was a hoof step away from locking me in Tartarus and tossing away the key she was so mad.” She let out a much more pony-like snort as she recalled those words.

It was good that Celestia hadn't taught that spell to Sunset so that she would use it upon herself. I would have had words to say the next time I met the Princess of the Sun. From what Sunset was now saying, Celestia was even against her using the spell like that. “She tried all of her tricks to get me to promise to never use it like that again, but by then I had already begun my rebellion against her.” I could feel her tense before the next words were spoken, “She was pathetic trying to do everything in her power to get me to stop using it. Yet she couldn't get me to promise. That was my first true victory against the Sun herself.”

She pushed herself out of my embrace, I was still caught up in her words that I could do nothing but watch her free herself. She turned on her frog a few steps from me and I could feel the frost from earlier begin to seep into my heart. Even with the red coloring of her coat, I could perfectly see the amber Unicorn beneath the spell smiling. A horrific smile that nearly split her mouth. Her emerald eyes were filled with loathing and hatred toward the pony that she loved most.

“I realized something that day. Not even Alicorns are perfect. They have weaknesses that you can exploit. You should get rid of yours before some pony like me takes advantage of them.” The world split around her as it righted once again. When had we been in her privacy spell? I should have sensed it! That was impossible. All I could do was watch as Sunset began to trot down the trail before us. Leaving me and the shards of fear and horror that coiled inside my gut.

Eventually, I was shaken from my stupor by Mistletoe coming out from the forest behind her cart.

“Is everything ok? No ponies about to murder one another?” She asked as she craned her neck to see Sunset walking away from the two of us. Walking away from me.

“Everything is fine.” I lied with ease as I spoke up to banish that previous thought from my mind. “Just a difference of opinions.” I turned to Mistletoe with a smile. “I would like to apologize on both my own and Dawn’s behalf. That was not something that you should have been here to witness.” I spoke once more, adopting the shield of regality.

Mistletoe just turned her gaze from Sunset's form to meet my own.

“You two are wrong. You switch from being all lovey-dovey to utter hatred and loathing on the drop of a bit,” Mistletoe muttered. I could feel the pit in my stomach grow larger with her words. It seemed that each time we were in a better place, that we had taken a step forwards, that something would send us spiraling back.

“We all have our off days,” I said as I forced a smile. “Shall we catch up with her?” I asked Mistletoe. Upon receiving her nod, after she had once more hitched herself to her cart, I began to trot after my partner. We continued in near silence the only sounds were from our hooves hitting the trail and the rolling of Mistletoe’s cart.

Until the Sun began to once more set beyond the horizon as the darkness grew from its absence. Mistletoe broke the silence once more.

“Wingston should only be a few more hours if you don’t mind continuing our trek through the night.” She offered. It would be nice to finally be in some semblance of civilization once more. Especially after how strenuous the last few days had been. Glancing forwards towards the Unicorn who had yet to complain about the journey. Even though she had been carrying the sack and her saddlebag.

“Let me see if Dawn can make the final stretch without stopping,” I responded and upon Mistletoe’s nod I went after Sunset. “Dawn, wait up a moment.” I could see her slow as she turned her head to glance back at me. Reaching her after a few more moments of trotting I smiled at her once more.

“What?” She of course frowned at me as she responded. Damn it Sunset. Ok, she was still annoyed with me from earlier I could deal with that. Taking a breath before I spoke once more.

“Do you think you can continue for a few more hours, as Mistletoe says we are getting close to Wingston?” I informed my partner whose eyes flashed with indignation at my words.

“I am perfectly able to continue. I will not slow you or Mistletoe down.” She informed me with an obvious edge to her words. I was about to respond but she cut me off before I even had a chance. “I will be sure to not drag you down.” She all but snarled at me before she teleported forwards in a flash of emerald flames.

Leaving me to watch as she continued forwards without me. When Mistletoe caught up she thankfully didn't mention what just happened. We once more continued with the tension as thick as the silence that surrounded us.

We traversed through the now moonlit world watched over from high above by the Mare in the Moon. Shadows moved through the dimly lit darkness as we continued our trek. Until eventually I could see that Sunset had stopped and was waiting for us. I refrained from smiling at the sight. Beyond her, I could see a few small huts and houses surrounding a larger building off the side of the trail.

“Welcome to Wingston.” Mistletoe declared.

Author's Note

I am rather pleased with how this chapter has turned out. It expands heavily on how Sunset interacts with and views the reality around her. Cadance continues to refuse to back down from Sunset. Both in terms of messing with her and with refusing to harm a creature when it was unneeded. Oh, it will be a few weeks from now but I have decided to put in an interlude before chapter 25. So for the first time in the story, we will not be looking through either Sunset's or Cadance's eyes. One set of eyes will be familiar, the other not as much.
-LittleFaerieFire

23. Sending Letters Brimming with Hope

Sending Letters Brimming with Hope

Cadance

“Alright, why don't the two of you just wait out here for the moment while I convince my brother to prepare his guest room for the two of you.” Mistletoe offered after she led us to one of the buildings. It was a small two-story shop that had a wooden sign decorated with a boiling cauldron. “If you hear any loud crashes don’t worry, he is just a heavy sleeper.” She concluded with a grin before she pulled a key from her cart. Unlocked the door and slipped inside.

Leaving me with Sunset, the two of us alone in the dark. Taking the chance, I spoke up to clear the air between the two of us.

“What's the plan? Spend some time here to recuperate before moving on?” I asked, shattering the silence that had enveloped us. Sunset looked towards me but refused to meet my gaze. “It's a fair question.” I could not help but grumble. After a moment of consideration, she answered my question.

“That works. Hopefully, we will not spend more time here than necessary.” She said as her gaze glanced through the darkened town. “I will take care of acquiring rations.” Oddly, those words of hers were tinged with anger. I do not even know what I had done this time considering that we had been in near silence for the last three hours. Before I could think of responding the door we were standing before, was slung open revealing a grinning Mistletoe.

“Guestroom is all made up for the two of you. Welcome to Casa Starfish, what my brother has is yours.” She declared in a jovial tone only for a blue Unicorn to appear behind her still rubbing his eyes.

“Would it kill you to be quiet?” He hissed at her before turning to Sunset and myself “Feel free to make yourself at home. All I ask is that you leave my cauldrons alone.” He concluded with a yawn that shook his entire body.

“Thank you for your generosity, Starfish,” I said with a slight bowing of my head as I heard Sunset choke. Looking at her through the corner of my eyes I could see her own eyes wide as she was once more focused on me.

“It's not much of my own-.” Was all he got out before Mistletoe clamped a hoof over his mouth and pulled her brother back into the house.

“Seems like my brother needs to get back to his beauty sleep. Your guy’s room is the second door on the left. Night!” Mistletoe hurriedly explained as she pulled the blue Unicorn that was her brother up the stairs. Leaving me with Sunset whose eyes were still as wide as a fish.

“Shall we first settle in before whatever that is?” I lazily gestured towards her with the point of a hoof. Immediately she is back to acting as if everything was normal. Breathing out a sigh of relief as I entered the building. The majority of the first floor was set up as an alchemical shop of sorts.

Making sure to avoid the various simmering cauldrons I led the way towards the second door on the left just as directed. Opening it to reveal a dusty guest room that had obviously not been in use recently. It seemed nice enough, but it had one glaring problem. The one bed that was within it. While I knew that Sunset was able to sleep on the stone of a cave, I had perhaps vainly hoped that we would both enjoy the creature comforts of civilization.

Before my partner could see the room, I was already making my way over to the side of the room that didn't have a bed. Hopefully, this showing of goodwill would do something to ease the current tensions between the two of us. Sunset entered behind me and without even a singular comment the door shut with an audible click. I sighed and made myself as comfortable as I could be on the wooden flooring.

“What in Princess Celestia’s name are you doing on the floor?” I could hear the frown written upon her face even with my eyes closed. Cracking them open so that I could see Sunset standing in the middle of the room staring at me. I just met her eyes, not bothering to explain my thought process to her. She turned towards the bed and her horn quickly flashed a few times. “It isn't laced with poison or cursed with any spell that I could detect if that was what you were worrying about.” She dutifully reported entirely missing the point in favor of an explanation that made sense to her.

“You haven't been sleeping on a bed this entire time. With my win-. With my side feeling better -” That was a bad slip-up. Unicorns don't have wings. “- you should be the one to sleep on the bed. It is only fair, after all.” Sunset frowned at my logic and a familiar sensation of the world shifting coated me.

“You are an Alicorn, you shouldn't sleep on the floor. Just like you shouldn’t bow your head to any pony.” Was that why she acted weird earlier? Really? I just wanted to shut my eyes and go to my Crystal Palace.

“I bowed my head to him in thanks as we are imposing on both Mistletoe and Starfish.” She did realize that they didn't have to put us up for the night. I could see how my words just washed over Sunset as she disregarded them.

“You are an Alicorn even if they do not know it. You are the pinnacle of pony kind. To be bowing down before a pathetic Unicorn…” She trailed off, realizing the words that she was speaking. I attempted to swallow the rage that those words had brought to the surface. I was unsuccessful as I found my mouth opening.

“What exactly about Starfish is pathetic? Is it the fact that he is willing to put up two strange ponies in his home because his sister asked him to? Or is it because he isn't you that he is pathetic? That because you are the strongest Unicorn, all the others deserve no recognition?” I kept the volume of my words low. However, that did not change the fact that I had just challenged Sunset.

I could see the inner workings of her mind begin to process my words. I prepared for the inevitable fight that was sure to follow again. There was one upside to the constant altercations that we had. It made it far easier to weaken the infatuation I had with her.

Sunset however after a pause chuckled. I couldn't believe my senses. Even when she nearly fell over with gut-wrenching laughter, I still didn't believe it. A pit began to form in my stomach. I was expecting anger, not laughter. This was out of the ordinary for the pony before me.

“You still don't get it, you are an Alicorn.” She said between gasps of breath and continued laughs. “You are worth so much more than every single Unicorn in Equestria put together.” She paused for a moment as she smiled. She smiled as if she had just told the funniest joke she had ever heard. “Including myself in that list.”

That was not what I was expecting. Not that I was expecting a satisfactory answer from her, but I didn't exactly expect that. For her to go into once more, how precious my very existence was due to me being an Alicorn.

“Does that mean if I wasn't an Alicorn you would have never saved me?” I whispered a question that I didn't want to be answered. I knew what the answer to that particular question was, but as long as it had stayed hypothetical it could be ignored.

“If you were never an Alicorn I doubt I would have met you.” Her words were blades that pierced me far easier than the griffon's claws. The pit grew as I felt her words take root deep inside. Her next words allowed that root to begin to flower. “If you were a normal pony, I would have had no reason to save you.”

I could only watch her slowly tilt her head as she solved an equation in her mind. “Going by that line of thinking, if you were still a Pegasus you wouldn't have needed me to be saved.” I could feel the growing dread as the final words were spoken. She really was on her way to becoming a monster with that way of thinking.

“Get out.” I didn't raise my voice. I didn't ask. I simply demanded Sunset leave immediately. She looked over me for a moment longer, a small frown upon her face, before nodding. She was quickly swallowed by flames leaving me alone.

Staring at the spot she had vanished from for a few moments longer before I tore my gaze from it. Taking a quick glance towards the bed that was now without a pony to rest upon it. Wrenching my gaze from it as I made myself comfortable on the floor once more. Doing all I could to avoid thinking about the pony that was my partner before, I was surrounded by the crystals of my castle.

“Umbrum.” I declared my grandfather's name as a way of summoning him. It took a few moments, but a familiar shadow crept into the throne room. “Please tell me you have training or a spell that will help clear my mind.” The shadowy smoke quickly formed into my grandfather with an amused tilt to the fake grin that he wore.

“Long day, my descendant?” He asked with an underlying taunt in his question as if he hadn't been watching from my very own eyes. He found the answer in my gaze as he continued with a nod “Ah yes once again your so-called partner continues to prove my words correct.” This time I glared at him. I didn't even want to think about her for the moment.

“Not tonight, please,” I asked. My grandfather immediately nodded.

“Of course my descendant, why don't we spar once more? Perhaps this time you can last longer than a few moments.” He thankfully taunted. “Mayhap you will even be able to actually harm me?” Ah purposefully riling me up to distract me. I allowed a smile.

“Oh please I got you the last time we spared you are just a sore loser,” I responded with a grin as I leapt from my throne and began to trot next to my grandfather as we made our way to the training hall. My grandfather only chuckled, opening the door to the training hall with a flick of his horn.

“Perhaps you shall be able to prove those words of yours, my descendant.” He intoned as he situated himself at the far end of the training room. Taking a relaxed stance between two spear-bearing crystalline statues of ponies. “On your start my descendant.” Well if he was going to be that nice about it, who was I to pass up such an offer?

Closing my eyes. Breathing in and envisioning myself upon my crystalline throne. A warmth crystallized within my heart. Taking form in the same likeness of my cutie mark. Love seeped forth. Bringing with it the power to protect those that needed it.

Opening my eyes once more I could see my grandfather's red ones flash green in preparation. I felt the corners of my lips curl. Spreading my wings I pushed myself forwards, accelerating towards my ancestor. Reappearing behind him as my magic came together forming into a focused beam that shot towards his back.

Black pillars of crystal erupted to shield him from my attack even as with a beat of my wings I repositioned above him and attacked once more. Only for the crystals to once more stop my beam of arcane energy. Diving towards the crystals that shielded Umbrum I outstretched my front hooves as I made contact. A thunderous tear cascaded through the room as I ripped through the crystalline protection.

Finding my grandfather in the center of the pillars he had summoned to protect him I once more summoned my Love together. Forming this time instead of a beam a crystal. A singular shard no bigger than my hoof, that was sent careening towards my grandfather's head. The shard shifted in the light throughout the colors of the rainbow as my Love pierced the summoned shields of my grandfather's design.

Victoriously watching as my grandfather was forced to finally move. Bending his head at an impossible speed to avoid the attack that would be lethal for any other pony. However, I knew from experience that Umbrum would simply reform from the darkness he often transformed from.

“I see that you have learned a way to use your innate magic efficiently to attack.” He idly commented as the remains of the black pillars shattered before the countless shards shot towards me. They impacted my shield that flickered forth obliterating them all to dust.

“I would prefer to avoid harming any pony. My magic is the same.” Taking a pause from my response as I called forth far more crystals from the ground. Surrounding Umbrum with crystals that were far more colorful than my ancestor. “That does not mean that I cannot improvise.” Feeding my magic into the conjured crystals, they enlarged and fused together. Entrapping my ancestor within the rainbow crystal.

“My descendant you are far too kind for one born of my bloodline.” He mutters out while shaking his head. “Let me show you once more the folly of Kindness.” His crimson eyes flashed emerald green as the crystal that had entrapped him crumbled. Pieces of it faded to blackened dust before his very hoofs.

Watching as he stepped away from the crumbling crystalline prison that had held him for but a scant few seconds before I blasted him once more with a beam of cyan. He summoned forth a block of blackened crystals that splintered my beam. Retaliation was swift as he spelled the large crystal towards me with a frightening pace.

Launching myself skywards once more I looked down to continue my assault on my non-pony of an ancestor before me. However, upon hearing the wind change my shield returned to the corporeal reality to shield me. Just in time as the black crystal that I had evaded splintered against it.

“That was a cheap shot,” I grumbled as I tore my gaze from the falling splinters of blackened crystals that began their descent toward the ground. I could feel my body lighten as I once more became something far grander than what I currently was. “Love is MY passion that consumes all.” I intoned as I could feel my heart beat faster. My words working in tandem with my will tore reality asunder. A singular cyan spark erupted from the tearing.

It floated towards Umbrum, whose eyes were glowing emerald as he attempted to defend himself. Countless barricades of crystals erupted before my grandfather all in a vain attempt to shield him from my magic. I watched in a near-euphoric delight as my spark grew into a wildfire that subsisted on the defenses that fed it.

Growing ever larger as the flames of love spread ever further. Seeking out their target with wild abandon. There was now a frown upon the muzzle of my grandfather’s face, even as he continued to summon forth crystals. A vain effort made by him. He quickly realized the same as he abandoned his position, fading into his form composed of smoke.

I smiled as I summoned forth a torrential flood of crystals that sought him out even in the shadows. A dance of crystal, flame, and smoke was performed. Would continue to be performed until the end of the fight. I had gained the upper wing, all I needed to do was press the advantage.

Watching him weave through the ever-growing and dancing flames that would consume the added crystals that I had continued to bring forth, was almost beautiful. Eventually, I felt a familiar spell cleave reality asunder. Before he even reappeared I summoned a chain of crystals around his destination.

Umbrum reappeared the next moment in the air behind me. With countless sharpened crystals surrounding him, waiting for my command to go forth with impunity. My will was enforced as they went, spearing into the annoying being before me that had just teleported. Twisting myself around to see him even as I conjured a beam formed of my Love. Before Umbrum had a chance to react it impacted him.

Blasting him back into the wall that he would have impacted before turning into his blackened smoke. My flames surged forth as their target returned to where they had claimed dominion. Watching with interest as a bead of black erupted from the shadowed smoke and entered into my Love filled flames.

An acrid taste formed in my mouth as I watched my cyan flames brimming with my Love, tainted. Tortured.Twisted into something horrific. Cyan bled to blackened green as I could feel the grandness I had become recede. My divinity fled with the Love I had brought into reality.

Umbrum stood reformed, at the helm of the now emerald flames that surged behind him. I forced everything I had left into my shield as the flames surged forwards. Eventually, they petered out. Allowing me to see that Umbrum had summoned two chairs made of his black crystals.

“I would not recommend my descendant, using your flame spell against your supposed partner.” He announced as he lounged in one. “Come down, I do believe that you are in a far better mood now that your blood has properly cycled through your body.” He said gesturing with a lazy wave of a hoof towards the empty chair before him. He didn't think I was that stupid.

“I am not falling for that trick again. You have yet to call the spar.” Upon spying the smirk that appeared, quickly dissipated, as he nodded in his assent. “I did get you first,” I said with as much dignity as I could muster as I touched down before him and took a seat in the offered chair. “And no I wasn't planning to summon more fire for use against Sunset. I have seen how effortlessly she commands fire. I am also not planning to fight her no matter how many times you will suggest it.”

Taking a pause as I allowed the fight to wash over me once more, I continued with a question that became apparent. “How in Celestia’s name did you subvert my magic so easily?” I had for that moment transcended into something closer to becoming an Alicorn than not. Shouldn't it have been impossible for him to corrupt? After all, he was far more efficient in the use of an advanced form of crystallokinesis.

“My dear descendant, I have experienced enough flames to know how to subvert them.” He then forms a smile that was far more hostile than I felt appropriate before he continued. “You would not be the first to attempt to use my crystals as fuel for a flame.” Well, that was one of his more ominous-sounding declarations. ”Would you prefer me to go through your failings listed in alphabetical order or which would likely be more costly to perform in a real battle?” Back to being my lovable ancestor, I see.

There we spent the rest of my time “asleep” going over my actions and reasonings behind them. Thankfully Umbrum seemed to be less argumentative and even praised my ability to tap into my new source of power. We bid each other farewell when the lights started to swirl. We parted with a confirmation to return to lessons the next night.

Once more I woke to the waking world. Blinking the remains of the crystals light from my gaze as I reorientated myself to the darkness of the guest room. I knew that I would find myself alone but that didn't stop the disappointment that crept into my heart when I saw that the bed remained empty. Thankfully, I didn't have time to brood on my decision as I heard Mistletoe scream.

“You have to tell me when I leave my cart outside your house! How come you didn't remind me that I forgot?” She bellowed as she all but rocketed down the stairs with her hooves comparable to claps of thunder upon the steps. I could hear the mutterings of annoyance coming from Starfish targeting the antics of his sister.

Embracing the smile that formed upon my lips and allowing the love between the siblings to stir me from the remains of slumber. Pushing myself to stand as I lightly stretched out what I could, deciding to not tempt fate by stretching my wings out. For all I knew the moment I would proceed to do so, Mistletoe or Starfish would enter my room. Not a risk worth taking at the moment. Especially as I had no idea where Sunset was or what she was doing.

“What have I repeatedly told you about being quiet?” I could hear Starfish grumble as he descended the stairs after his sister. Taking a moment to straighten myself before the door. Pushing it open and seeing Starfish crest the landing he met my gaze with an apologetic nod as he continued after his sister.

Deciding to follow the show that was being performed before me as I made my way outside and saw that Mistletoe was in the process of hitching herself up to her cart once more. Only pausing to wave a hoof at me in greeting.

“Morning Umbra! I hope you slept alright. If you are feeling sleepy you can have Starfish give you a potion.” She offered uncaring of the face her brother was making. “Has Dawn already gotten up?” I didn't allow my mood to sour at the mention of Sunset’s alias. I did however note the way that Starfish faltered at Dawn's name.

“Yes, she is an early riser. She has already left and has begun to acquire a few things for our future use.” Turning to Starfish I continued “We would both like to thank you once more for your hospitality.” Starfish nods at my thanks while I could see that Mistletoe is biting her tongue at my words.

“Well, then that's enough of that. I appreciate your thanks, but you both are my guests.” Starfish commented. “If there is anything that I can do to help you both just let me know.” He offered his smoky gray eyes oddly still as he made the offer. I gave my acceptance with a nod before taking him up on the expressed offer.

“I don't suppose you would be able to point me towards the post-pony system?” I asked and before I could get any other words out Mistletoe happily responded.

“Yeah I can show you the way, just give me a moment to park my cart.” Her eyes flicked over to her brother as she continued to gripe about how she was lucky that no pony had touched anything in her cart. Starfish gave me a glance over before saying a quick farewell and stepping back into his home. Leaving me to follow Mistletoe as she dragged her cart behind his house. “Alrighty then let's get you to the local post pony and then perhaps we can get something to eat.”

I gave my assent to her plan with a nod as I fell into step with her as she began to point out various shops and even ponies that made up the community of Wingston. From the ponies that made the best strudel to the ponies that she claimed would eventually revolutionize the airship industry. I could feel the Love coagulate around her as she spoke about each and every pony.

It was a nice feeling to bask in once more. Yes, it wasn't the same as the everpresent warmth of Canterlot, but it was a pleasant feeling nonetheless. Eventually, we made our way to the post-pony station. “Well, then we are here. A bit of advice however since we are so far out from any train station your letter may take some time to make to your desired ponies hooves.” That made sense.

“Thank you for the heads up.” In truth, it was probably for the best that this letter I was planning to pen would take some time to reach its desired denizen. After all, once Celestia received it there was little doubt in my mind that she would tear across Equestria in search of Sunset and myself.

“Alright, why don't you take care of sending your letter while I go grab us a table at the Smoldering Mushroom.” She said as she gestured to a building with various fungi that were painted upon it. I gave a nod as she went off with a laugh. Taking a deep breath I entered the post-pony office.

“Welcome traveler, I am Postmaster Paisley.” A bright orange Pegasus greeted me as I entered through the curtain that served as the entrance to the office. “The standard rate for letters to any pony in Equestria is five bits. Outside of Equestria has a scale of cost depending on where and whom you wish to write.” She droned on the usual spiel.

“Do you happen to have a spare quill and parchment? I unfortunately have traveled rather lightly. Oh my apologies, I'm Umbra.” I hastily greeted her in an effort to not be rude. Paisley nodded as she fished out a piece of parchment and a quill with a half-filled cup of ink. “My thanks.” I summoned the offered writing tools and went over to an empty table and hastily wrote a letter to Celestia.

“Dear Princess Celestia,

I am well and safe. I wish to apologize for my rather abrupt disappearance but with everything that was happening at the castle, we thought it would be best to retreat. You would be glad to know that she is keeping me safe even if we are often at each other's throats. We have even become friends. Sort of.

I know that you likely found where we had hidden. While I wish that we could have stayed, only one of us would have remained. I am staying with her and doing my best to protect her in turn. We will return hopefully sooner than later. I know the plan and while I do not agree with it fully I will see it through its completion.

I would like to reiterate that I was not kidnapped or coerced into leaving with her. I went of my own free will and volition. Hopefully, we will be back before the newest princess's coronation.

Sincerely a pony filled with Love and protected by flames.“

Even if my thoughts were scrambled I got all of the important pieces down. Well, the ones that I was willing to share with Celestia at least. She didn't need to know about Umbrum or how far my feelings towards Sunset had changed. Or the fact that Discord and Umbrum didn't believe that she was a pony, but an inevitable disaster.

Upon seeing that I had completed my letter I was offered an envelope from Paisley. I folded the letter that would hopefully absolve Celestia of some of her worry and placed it into the protective shell.

“Alright, then who is this letter going to and where are they located?” Paisley asked as she took out a pad of parchment herself.

“Princess Celestia of Canterlot.” I was expecting some form of reaction to my request. Paisley however just shrugged her wings as she scribbled something down.

“Sure your letter will eventually get to her but it may take months for her to get through the piles of letters that are sent to her by every pony across Equestria,” Paisley said after a momentary pause. “That will be 5 bits.” I wanted her to receive the letter after Sunset and I had left Wingston not after we had potentially returned.

“Actually would it be possible to change the recipient to Rebound a royal guard also in Canterlot.” Paisley nodded as she presumably scratched out Celestia’s name and replaced it with Rebound’s. Now all I had to do was pay. I reached for my bag only to find nothing but air… Sunset had all the supplies on her. Including all of her bits. Letting out a sigh as I cradled my head with a hoof. “Would it be possible for me to return here later today with a payment? My partner has our coin purse.”

Paisley just shrugs in acceptance. Offering a hoof to take the envelope that contained my message to Celestia. I handed it over with my thanks and promised to return as quickly as I could. Exiting through the curtain I proceeded to make my way over to the eatery that Mistletoe had earlier pointed out.

“Umbra there you are. I was beginning to wonder if you had managed to get lost.” I heard Mistletoe call out as soon as I entered the establishment. Spotting the green Earth Pony in one of the corner tables I made my way over to her. “You had me worried for a moment there, as Dawn would have had my head. I have taken the liberty of ordering for you. I hope you don't mind another salad?” Choosing to ignore that first sentence of hers as I haven't eaten yet today and a nice salad sounded divine about now.

“I left my bits with Dawn. So I will have to pay you back when we get back.” Mistletoe just waved off my concerns with a hoof and a laugh.

“It's all good I was the one who invited you out. However, speaking of her I am surprised that the two of you are stuck to the other's flank.” She said in an easy tone, adopting a curious tone as she met my gaze. All I could do was shrug in response. I had no idea where Sunset was. I had no idea if she was even still in Wingston. That thought sent my stomach churning.

Ignoring that feeling I focused once more on the pony before me. “What's the deal with the two of you? Half the time I think that you two are about to rip each other's throat out with your teeth and then the other half you are sweet as breezies.” I couldn't help the sigh that slips through my teeth as I place my head on the table. That was a good question that I had no idea how to answer.

“We are partners. No, not like that.” I said as I picked my head up and saw the look in Mistletoe's eyes. I knew what it was, I have had that same gleam within my own.

“But you want to be?” She asks as her lips curl upwards. I wonder if she had experience in matchmaking as I could remember being in her position. I just shrugged. It would be nice, yes, but I doubted it would last long. Sunset was far too volatile for any sort of relationship.

Then there was the problem of the power disparity. She had proven once more that she puts far more emphasis on my own ascension than even I do. That aside there was the slight issue of her being Celestia’s daughter in all but name, and I was named her niece. No blood relation at all but still. It was just another mark against the two of us.

While I was thinking the server pony arrived with two salads. Placing one in front of each of us before scurrying away. “Well if you do I would be happy to help see if she feels the same as you.” That caught my attention as my fork stopped halfway to my mouth.

“Go on,” I spoke as I lowered the fork with a decent collection of salad back to my plate with a thought. Mistletoe leaned across the table with what could only be described as a devilish grin.

“We make her jealous.” She whispered as her eyes flashed.

Author's Note

Cadance pushes back against Sunset being her normal charming self. Beats up an elderly non-unicorn that has experience subsuming flames. Then proceeds to send an "I'm alive try not to worry too much. Oh also your not-daughter didn't kidnap me, I left with her of my own free will" letter. The chapter then ends with what could be the start of either a very bad romance movie or a very cheesy one. This chapter was all over the place but things needed to be set up for the next one. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter as much as I had while writing it.
-LittleFaerieFire

24. A Tale Retold at the Tolling of a Bell

A Tale Retold at the Tolling of a Bell

Cadance

This was a bad idea. This was going to end with gouts of flame and magma erupting from the ground. I knew that Umbrum was watching from behind my eyes and was cursing his bloodline. I knew that if Celestia had been here she would have teleported me to her dungeons. Sunset, however, would just laugh as she incinerated my still-beating heart after plucking it from my chest.

That said it was a good plan. One that I was happy to have helped create. Future Princess of Love or not, matchmaking was a form of art that took experience to master. Careful consideration must be taken to ensure that neither of those that were being matched would be harmed. Even if things were to end in heartbreak it was a learning experience that they would carry with them into their future relationships. It was those words that I whispered as comfort to myself.

The plan, however, had one potential fault that could cause the entire thing to come undone. That was my inability to have Sunset come to dinner tonight. I had no idea where she was or even if she was still within Wingston. So, I bid farewell to Mistletoe and began my search for my missing partner.

Looking through the town achieved nothing but offers of assistance in finding where I was going and after a half hour of that I decided that it would be far easier to have Sunset come to me instead of searching for her myself. Turning my attention towards the outskirts of town where few ponies were, most choosing to stay near the rest of the herd. While I was making my way to said outskirts, my attention turned inwards.

Envisioning myself upon my throne as my breathing slowed. Focusing on the foreign magics that surrounded me. I would often blot them out to not be overwhelmed but now I needed to find a singular spell. I knew that Sunset wouldn’t leave me without any form of assurance, and I was right. I found a piece of magic that was almost volatile to my ‘sight’, it wasn't hidden at all, but I could tell just by looking at it that if anything were to touch it, it would collapse more than likely alerting its caster. Which suited my purpose exactly.

Forming a mental hoof, I struck against the green flame that had attached itself to me on the metaphysical level. The flame let out a whimper as it was smothered. I could faintly feel the pulse of magic that it had let out. There Sunset should be making her way -.

“Is everything alright?” Sunset asked, breaking my train of reasoning as she stepped forwards from the air before. Her emerald eyes filled with unobstructed hostility searching for any pony that would do me harm. It was an oddly comforting sight to see such unrestrained malice as my first sight. “Cadance?” she questioned as I felt reality contorting to her will once again. Taking a breath to center myself before I began to speak.

“Everything is alright Sunset.” I started with a smile that felt far less forced than I thought it would. “I just wanted to talk with you.” My smile faltered as I felt the air around us begin to heat, yet before I could continue with my apologies the heat was replaced by a piercing chill.

“Before you begin I…” She trailed off almost lost, taking a moment to find herself she began in earnest once more. “Even if you were not an Alicorn you are still one of the strangest ponies I have ever met. You are no normal pony. I doubt even when you were a Pegasus you were a normal pony.” Her words were accented by the present cold as she rushed them out. Her eyes which had been piercing the surrounding area searching for any potential threats were now hidden from my gaze.

“Did you just apologize to me?” The bewilderment I felt was evident in my words. I was expecting plenty of outcomes for this encounter. Sunset taking the initiative to apologize was not even on the list. “Are you ok?” Sunset just sighed as she ignored my questions continuing with her apologies.

“My earlier words caused you pain. They were not intended to do so.” She at this point took a deep breath as the chill began to be burned away by a heat that began to coil around her. “You are not special because you managed to ascend. Your ascension proves that you are far beyond the average pony.” She struggled out the oddly heartfelt statement.

There we stood in silence for a moment. My eyes sought out her emerald orbs which were once more filled with emotions beyond hatred. Our gazes caught the others and both of us refused to break the connection. Both of us sought something from the other. Yet neither of us was willing to break the uneasy declaration of peace that had been formed. I smiled as I took a singular hoof step forward towards my partner.

“Can I hug you? As I would like to hug you.” Upon receiving the stiff nodding of her head, I went forwards and embraced my partner. She was as warm as ever. It was a pleasant feeling, especially in consideration of the chill that she had previously summoned. “You are all too precious.” I all but cooed into her ear. She thankfully didn't buck me off for my words even if she stiffened slightly.

Removing myself from my partner with a megawatt smile on my face. Catching her gaze once more, I knew that she had enjoyed the hug even despite the frown on her face. Her eyes were filled with the same adoration that could be found whenever she was gazing upon Celestia herself.

“Alright, I also must apologize. I shouldn't have kicked you out. While I may not have appreciated your words, that was still foolish of me. You have my word that I will not do so again.” Sunset nodded at my apology and declaration of intent. Taking a breath, I continued “Is there anything I should do in preparation for our departure?” I questioned my partner who was standing still before me. Her gaze, having once more found mine, never left.

“I have already acquired enough rations to last a month. Even when taking into account your Alicorn-enhanced appetite.” She looked oddly proud of herself with that statement. “Otherwise, unless there is anything specific you would wish for me to acquire for you all you need to do is inform me of it and I shall acquire it.” I rolled my eyes at her declaration.

“While I appreciate the effort you are willing to put forth, this is a partnership where we each help each other. I can acquire a few things of my own… Well, if you wouldn't mind giving me a few bits as I didn't bring any of my own.”

Sunset shrugs and instantly her saddlebag opens as a small bag packed full of bits floats over to me. It took me a moment of just staring at the somehow not overflowing bag of bits before my brain rebooted. “Wait, is this all the bits that you have on you?” I received a nod in response. “What if you need to purchase anything else that we will need?” I all but stuttered out.

“I already purchased everything that we should need.” Sunset states with a frown. “If you wish to purchase supplies on your end, just take them.” I… Fine. This was not worth the argument that would happen.

“Thank you, Sunset,” I said as my magic enveloped the bag and floated it over to my side. “One final thing, would you mind having dinner with myself, Mistletoe, and Starfish tonight?” Her face immediately freezes. Her eyes begin to bear down upon me. Backpedaling immediately “It's fine if you don't want to. I just figured that it would be something that would allow us to relax before we get back on track.” That does bring up a good point. Wouldn't it be easier to travel via the rails?

I watched as Sunset's face broke its impassiveness as she quickly nodded once more. However, her eyes still held that gleam within them, that promised that some pony would end up burned.

“If you want me at this dinner I will be there.” She states in a monotone voice. It was an easy decision to just take the minor victory where I could instead of letting this devolve into another argument.

“Thank you, Sunset.” I punctuated my words with a smile. I would bring up riding the trains later. She nodded in return, and I felt the privacy spell fall as she teleported away. “You even stayed until the conversation was over.” I smiled out at no pony as I shook my head in amusement. It seems that she can indeed learn. Perhaps tonight I would be able to confirm my hopeful suspicions in the positive.

Pulling out five bits from the bag before stashing it under my cloak. It would be a poor idea to draw more attention to myself by having the bulging bag of bits hanging by my side. Making my way quickly back to the local postmaster. Paisley accepted the five bits and made mentioned that the letter would likely reach Canterlot within the next week. That should give Sunset and me enough time to get on the road once more. Thanking Paisley, I began the short trek back to Starfish’s house.

I could see that it truly was a business in the daylight. The door was open with an older Pegasus carefully balancing half a dozen pink potions in her wings. I gave her a quick smile as I carefully sidestepped her. Giving her free reign to exit the store unobstructed. I watched as she returned the smile before making her way out of the door. She was halfway through when things went horribly wrong.

I could hear a dreadfully loud snap as I watched her front right leg collapse. I could see the bone tearing through the flesh. What was far worse than the sight was the sound of bone tearing through her flesh. It sounded all too familiar to the sound of a pony being eaten. The crunching of bones, the ripping of flesh, and the scent of paralyzing fear. Instinctively I reached out with my magic supporting the pony that would have certainly hurt herself further.

I had in the past been unable to help. I was able to help now. I would no longer lose any pony that was under my aegis. While I may not know this pony. I was able to help her. That was more than enough for me to act.

She screamed out in pain as her wings reflexively flapped in an attempt to catch herself. However, all that did was send the potions that she had been carrying careening into the sky. I didn't take my gaze off the pony before me, even as the potions rained down around me with cacophonous shattering as they impacted the ground.

“Are you alright?” I slowly and calmly asked the pony that was still in my grasp. It took her a few moments to stop her thrashing after realizing that she was suspended in the air. During those few moments, a crowd had begun to gather around the two of us. “Is anyone a healer?” I calmly called out to the crowd, still refusing to remove my eyes from the Pegasus who was beginning to calm down.

“You're in his store.” A voice called out from the crowd. I was unsure if I was supposed to take that as a point of ridicule or if some pony was simply trying to help. Before I could decide one way, or another pair of hooves joined me as Starfish began to pull out a potion.

“Open your mouth please.” He calmly ordered the Pegasus who I still held aloft. She after a moment's hesitation followed Starfish’s instruction. The moment the potion that was in his hooves was uncorked a sickly-sweet smell permeated the air. He immediately then moved the now-opened potion to the pony’s mouth and allowed her to imbibe it.

It was only after the still-unnamed Pegasus finished the potion did, she relax. Her eyes began to droop as she quickly lost consciousness. “Umbra, if I could trouble you further, please bring my patient inside.” Upon receiving my nod of acceptance, he turned back into his shop.

I followed after taking great care to ensure that the injured pony within my grasp was not injured further. She had already suffered enough, if I could prevent any further harm I would. Following in Starfish's hoof steps as he led me to the room beyond the one, I had rested in last night. Opening the door and following Starfish’s instructions to rest her upon the empty bed that lay within the center of the room.

“What happened?” I asked as Starfish continued to check over the poor pony that lay unconscious on the bed before me. Spells stopped flashing from his horn as he turned to meet my gaze.

“Ms. Herring has been afflicted by a degenerative bone condition that has only grown worse with her age.” He softly intones as he informs me of the grave news. That… Was unfortunate. Turning from the Unicorn and once more focused my attention on the Pegasus who thankfully was no longer in pain. Instead, was caught within the dreaming realms of her design. “You have my thanks for your quick actions had she impacted the ground or worse, actually used her wings, she would likely have not gotten away with relatively benign injuries.”

“There is nothing to do to help with her condition?” I asked even as I allowed myself to claim my crystalline throne once more. Allowing my gaze to view the ever-widening horizons of reality that were now available to me. I could see the magic that clung to the now-identified Ms. Herring. I however could not see any mystical cause for this incident.

“Not at the moment. That has not prevented me from moving forwards with a few of my hypotheses. All with the thanks of Ms. Herring before you. My work may not save her, but I hope that one day it will save those like her.” His voice doesn't swell with pride nor is tinted with defeat. All the same, I can feel the determination and effort he has put behind that declaration of his.

Turning my gaze to Starfish I couldn't help the small gasp of terror that slipped from my muzzle. Starfish was no longer there, instead a pitch-black chitinous body that seemed to be far closer to an insect than any pony. Its horn was sharpened yet at the same time almost blunt. I could only compare it to my grandfathers and Sunsets. It was somehow much less in a way that I couldn't describe. Yet intrinsically knew. I could feel a chill take hold of me as I spotted the translucent blue wings that adorned its back.

Was I in the presence of another Alicorn? One that was able to disguise itself as a mortal pony. No. No Alicorn would allow themselves to look like this. Whatever this creature was with both wings and horn, was no Alicorn. I was not even sure if it was a pony. Its legs were damaged with holes that I could see through. Perhaps if I was more mentally aware at the moment, I would have been able to wonder how it had acquired those wounds, but at the moment I was concerned with the voice that beckoned me.

“Umbra are you alright? You look as if you have seen a ghost.” Starfish’s voice spoke at the same time the bug-like creature that was hiding beneath his very skin moved its mouth. Its eyes layered under his, a piercing pale blue much like the creature's wings, were attempting to dig into my own. “Do you need to sit down?”

“I am fine, just give me a moment please,” I said with forced cheer. Praying to Celestia that the creature that had hidden within Starfish wouldn't be able to tell. Praying that Sunset was close by. That she would be able to whisk me away before whatever creature had burrowed itself deep inside of Starfish could do the same to me. The bug-esque creature nodded as it turned its gaze upon the defenseless Pegasus that was laying on the bed.

Could I truly abandon this pony to the creature's clutches? Even if it had saved her, there was little chance that she would be able to fend it off even if she were to wake. Instead, I once more grasped the flame that Sunset had tagged to me, and once again smothered it with extreme prejudice. Sunset appeared before me in a pillar of billowing flames. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the room. The mounting horror once more swelled as her eyes passed straight over the insectile pretender.

“Umbra?” She questioned. I could see from the confusion that was swimming within her emerald orbs that she was unsure of my reasons. I could see that she was about to continue to speak but caught the terror that had filled my very being. Her eyes Burned. The room was filled with sweltering heat that would not have been misplaced within the deepest recesses of an active volcano.

The insectile creature that was in the process of turning towards me fell to the ground twitching as Sunset blasted it with a sickly pale blue orb. “Can I teleport you?” Sunset asked after she confirmed there were no more potential threats. I nodded and immediately she embraced me as we were both swallowed by her flames.

Reappearing near the outskirts of Wingston, where I had initially summoned her. “What happened? How injured are you?” she demanded as she began to run through the list of medical spells that she knew.

“I am fine Sunset you got to me before anything could happen.” My words had an instantaneous effect on the Unicorn before me. The manic rage, while still there, had abated with my confirmation of the information she had likely already received from her spells. Taking a breath, I continued with what had happened. “Starfish was replaced by some bug-like monster… We left Ms. Herring with it! Sunset, we need to go back to the Pegasus, Ms. Herring is unconscious and injured. Please-.” I stopped my plea upon the tilting of Sunset's head in clear confusion.

“I… Wow. Sweet Celestia, Cadance.” Sunset muttered as she continued to stare at me. Her cyan eyes filled for some forsaken reason with mirth.

“What?” I all but snarled at my partner who for some reason wasn't taking this nearly as seriously as I was.

“He is a changeling.” Sunset offered if that made any difference to know what the monster was officially called.

“And? It still has access to a defenseless pony. Oh, sweet Celestia, how are we supposed to tell Mistletoe? That her brother has been replaced by an evil insect.” That was the final straw for Sunset as she all but buckled with laughter. “Sunset? Sunset Shimmer! Why are you laughing?” I exclaimed at her strange response. Shaking her from her amusement at a horrible situation.

“Cadance, I tell you this fully understanding that you will not believe me but you just reacted the same way I did all those years ago.” She said with a chuckle after she caught her breath from the raucous laughter. I wasn't even bothering to pretend I wasn't glaring at the pony that was my partner at this point. “Ok. Jeez Cadance. He is a changeling. Who cares? I didn't realize that you would have any issues with that. Especially considering how well you got along with Mistletoe.” She then pauses a frown forming on her face as her eyes sharpen. “Did one of them do something to you?” The amusement was now gone from her voice replaced by a coiling hatred that threatened to burn any that heard it.

“No… Is there a reason you find this entire scenario so amusing?” I asked my partner who thankfully was no longer looking like she was about to murder some pony. She instead just sighed.

“Cadance… What do you even know about changelings? I mean Princess Celestia would have had to tell you about them. You know, considering that they feed on love.” With those final words, I felt my heart drop further than before into a new darkness that was all-enveloping.

“THEY EAT LOVE?” I all but deafened the pony before me, who backed away as she held her two front hooves up in surrender. Why was she not teleporting me away from a creature that feasted on my very essence? A better question: why had she allowed me to get anywhere near such a creature? Another even better question: why had Celestia not told me of a monster that ate what I was the very embodiment of?

I would have continued my internal rant but Sunset teleported away in a flash of flames and reappeared right before me. Placing her hoof on my good wing, I could feel her warmth even through the enchanted cloak.

“Take a deep breath.” She intoned in an oddly calming voice. Following her command for the moment I did as she ordered. Eventually, after I was no longer caught in that internal spiral she continued. “Changelings eat love, yes but only in the most rare cases do they harm any pony. They mostly feed on the ambient love given off by ponies and other creatures.” Upon seeing that I was still waiting for the part of her words that would convince me to not once more freak out, she continued with haste. “Celestia and their king made a deal a little over two decades ago for peace between the two species. They can live within pony society and feed as long as they do not harm any pony.”

Was I supposed to take that since Celestia had allowed it that everything was sunshine and rainbows? If that was her argument she had misjudged how much I was continuing to believe that Celestia was incapable of making any mistakes. Her greatest was after all before me. All but rebelling against the crown and her mother. Not that those two were different.

“They feed on Love Sunset! How am I supposed to trust them? It must look like I was a full seven-course meal to them.” I shuddered at the thought. I could feel her grow warmer from the hoof that was still on my side. Her ever-present heat grows from a comforting blaze to a snarling inferno.

“You don't need to trust any pony. All you need to do is trust that I will keep my side of our bargain.” She growled out as her emerald eyes flashed with barely contained malice. “I would kill any being that dares to attempt to harm you. That I promise.” She declared with a finality that offered no room for misunderstandings or complaints. Her words promising bloodshed and untold pain were oddly comforting.

A warmth permeates throughout my form as her promise spreads through my physical form. She had promised. You could say a lot about the pony named Sunset Shimmer, but she did her best to keep her word after she had made a promise. The declaration that she made stoked a familiar flame that I had been carrying for her. Allowing it to grow even grander, crystalizing into something far more than just an ember of affection. Taking a moment to relish in that feeling. Even if it was not yet a reciprocated love, even if it was never reciprocated. I could embrace this feeling of my first Love. Etching the warmth into my very being, I nodded.

“Thank you,” I whispered out to the pony that still refused to break the connection between us. “Why did you not tell me that we were staying with a changeling?” I asked, my voice still wet.

“I didn't think that you were bothered by it. After all, we had been traveling with Mistletoe for a little while. While I didn't know what exactly was with her, I knew something was off. So after you demanded that I leave, I went and interrogated the two. Who quickly revealed that they were changelings.” She explained. “You were never in any danger. Between my beacon and being within teleportation distance, nothing would have harmed you.” She concluded.

“So to confirm Mistletoe is a…” I trailed off as Sunset swiftly nodded. Was the only reason she cared about mine and Sunset's relationship, was to snack off of it? I thought we were friends. How dare she! Taking a deep breath as I turned and embraced Sunset. Submerging myself in her warmth as I allowed the anger to bleed from me.

“Anything else I should be aware of before I go save Starfish before my curse eats away all of his flesh?” She asks into my ear. Immediately I pushed myself off her. What? Please be joking. Why would she have used such a spell even against a monster? Was that a spell she used so commonly that it was not even a concern to her about using it? Did she use it because of me?

“Sunset! Please tell me you are joking.” I demanded my gaze, piercing the emerald eyes that refused to meet my own. “You better save him.” I snarled at my partner. I was scared, yes but there was no need to kill the creature.

“Before this gets any worse, I will be right back.” She retorts with a dismissive tone as flames swallow her whole. Leaving me alone on the outskirts of Wingston. I swore to Celestia herself that the next time Sunset attempted to teleport away from me I would tag along. Glaring into the town I began my trek back to Starfishes house.

“Ah, Umbra!” an excitable voice chirped. Mistletoe of course. She waved a hoof at me before rushing over to join my stride. “I heard about what you did, Ms. Herring sure was lucky to have you there to save her.” She continued taking my silence as assent to continue to speak. That I still didn't know what was beneath her coat and flesh. Laid the chitinous carapace of a-. No. I was better than that. I would not be afraid.

“I'm just glad she wasn't any more hurt,” I responded after taking a deep breath and allowing my emotions to balance. The entire time Mistletoe was eyeing me with concern. How much of it was real was up to any pony’s guess… Wow. I was beginning to think like Sunset, wasn't I? Always thinking that every pony was out to get me.

“Did you and Dawn get into another fight? You seem off.” She queried as we got closer to the house which in my absence had lost the crowd of ponies watching the accident.

“No. Not this time.” I responded as I stopped in my tracks. I could hear a pained gasping and muffled whimpering. Damnit Sunset, weren't you the one trying to convince me that he wasn't a monster? Immediately I launched myself forward leaving Mistletoe standing in shock behind me. Throwing the door open and bounding inside towards the room where I had last seen Starfish convulsing.

The door had been left open and froze. There was a green liquid pooling on the floor, coagulating along the edges of the room. What caught my attention afterward was a jarring sight. I could see what could generously be described as the remains of what was once Starfish. The chitin that had once kept his vital organs inside his monstrous form was half dissolved. Allowing various internal organs to leak out upon the floor.

I could only stand in horror as I watched Starfish continue to twitch, his remaining wing attempting to bring him airborne but only proceeded to rotate his corpse more. The movement provided momentum for even more of the green liquid which I quickly realized was the Starfish's equivalent of blood and what appeared to be a slightly misshapen lung to fall out of his still-eroding corpse.

I wish I could say that he was dead, but I knew from the pain in his eyes that was a falsehood. I could see that even with everything that was happening to him, the agony that he must be in. His face was half gone and I could see an off-green organ that resembled a brain. I felt my legs begin to buckle but I somehow prevented myself from collapsing. He was still somehow alive. I believed it had something to do with the Unicorn who was barely colored red. She was far too drenched with the green blood, she smiled as she turned to me.

“Ah Umbra, sorry for not getting you but I was having a bit of trouble putting him back together. My spell unfortunately was far more effective on a changeling than it was on a pony.” I could see the perverse glee of the pain her actions had caused flashing in her emerald eyes. “I wonder if it has to do with their innate ability to shapeshift? Perhaps it has to do with their base makeup? No matter, it is something that I can test at a later date.” She finished with a small smile pausing before she cocked her head in a questioning look.

All the while she was not even looking at Starfish, her magic kept collecting the coagulating blood and organs. Stuffing them back inside the creature that could not yet die. I could hear the final traces of air coming from the hole that was once Starfish’s mouth, in pained half-whimpers.

“Sunset what did you do?” I all but whimpered out. Looking at what could only be described as a torture scene before me. Praying to Celestia that I was hallucinating or that I had been caught in an illusion. Sunset frowned but answered all the same.

“Like I said earlier, the flesh-eating curse.” She said with a half-hearted shrug as I watched as her blood-red magic once more encased Starfish and proceeded to imbue him with something. She frowns as she glances over to the desecrated creature that she had tortured. “Is there something you wanted from me as I am trying to save him?” She asked, ignoring the way that she went against everything that was good and harmonious.

I could hear another set of hooves approaching yet I couldn't bring myself to look away from the macabre act before me. Sunset took my silence as consent to turn back and focus on her ‘patient’ as she continued, slotting in organs that had escaped from his chitin. Then whenever it seemed like he was finally going to escape the pain he was in. She would bring him back. Not allowing Starfish the sweet release of death. He was stuck somewhere far worse, and it was all my fault.

“STINGER!” Mistletoe exclaimed with unregulated terror in her voice as she finally caught up with me, viewing the scene of utter torment I had accidentally caused. “What have you done?” This wasn't going to end well. She growls out as she molts. The green pony before me has her skin slough off of her as she steps out of her old skin like she was taking off a coat. Her now blue eyes glared at Sunset as she stomped her hoof a blue light formed at the tip of her horn.

I saw the glint of malice in Sunset’s eyes as she twisted her head towards Mistletoe.

“Sunset don’t!” I all but shouted as I threw myself in front of the soon-to-be charbroiled changeling. Sunset’s eyes met mine and I could see them soften. That was until Mistletoe's spell was cast. The room was filled with a blistering tempest of heat. Sunset twisted through the flames reappearing behind me as I twisted my head to watch her shield the spell that Mistletoe had cast.

“Sunset?” Mistletoe questions her eyes flicking over to my form. I would have rathered her to keep her gaze on the Unicorn that was about to butcher her. Especially since I could feel the oppressive heat grow in strength as she looked at me. Sunset most definitely noticed where her attention was focused. “Wouldn't that make you the new Princess?” Mistletoe may not have known it at that moment but I knew that she had just signed her death certificate with those words.

“Sunset please don't kill her! Please. There is no need for any more violence. We can just leave. We will be long gone before Celestia or her guards arrive.” I attempted to beg for Mistletoe's life. Perhaps I was even making progress as Sunset’s gaze was no longer focused on the remaining changeling that was still standing. That was until Mistletoe continued to speak.

“What did my brother do to you? He cared for everything and every pony that he met.” She growled as her gaze thankfully found Sunset’s form again. “Was that enough for you? No. I heard the rumors, you know. The idea even went across my mind, but I thought it was foolish. I doubted that I would have run into the devil herself.” She spat at Sunset.

She closed her eyes before continuing. “There was no way that the two of you would be the stolen princess and the demon. That the two of you were simply a minor noble’s daughter that had decided to run away with her tutor. A love story that I would help you both form. Yet this is how you repaid me.” Her eyes opened and within the furious blue orbs that were filled to the brim with loathing, were cracks. Physical tears began to form on her face, spreading down her body.

“Please don't Mistletoe we can still save your brother then we can all move on with our lives,” I begged the changeling before me. I wanted to get closer to her and Sunset but a cage of flames formed from the heat. “Damn it Sunset. She’s grieving. She isn't a threat, Not to you. Please don’t harm her anymore.” Switching my efforts to the other end of the equation, but I knew how unlikely it was for Sunset to listen to me. At my words, her broken eyes met my own, through the flaming bars of my prison.

“You know what's funny Princess, I really did think we were friends.” She snarled out shaking her head in clear disgust. “You don't have to worry however I doubt I could do anything to you, after all even being near you was enough for me to feast upon even without you noticing.” She then smiles, it was a broken and pathetic smile that was filled with loss. “That doesn't mean I can’t hurt you. You took away the one I loved above all others. I shall return the favor.” The cracks that were running across her body began to fill with an almost blue incandescent light that seeped from her self-inflicted wounds.

She twisted her cracking body towards Sunset who had been silently observing this entire ordeal. Strangely not even she was not even attacking Mistletoe while she was talking. Celestia damn it. She was actually listening to me, Mistletoe.

“You are going to throw your life away. For what? Revenge? Would your brother have really wanted you to do that? Sunset is standing down. Please don't do whatever you are planning.” I cried out hoping that I could stop the actions that would soon take place. She glared at me and took a half-hoof step towards me only for Sunset to impede her path.

“I was the one that killed your brother.” She accented her words with a blade of sweltering flames that severed Starfish's head from the remains of his body. “I am the one you want.” I threw myself at the cage of flames that Sunset dared entrap me in. A false sense of responsibility in a stupid attempt to make me safer. The flames burned but I barely noticed. Enraptured by the altercation before me.

Sunset, having removed her disguise, stood drenched in green blood. Beyond her an all but fractured Mistletoe now in her true form. No more lies, or pretenses. One attempts to find salvation through retribution, the other a protector of the one who caused all of this in the first place.

Sunset pulled forth the heat and flames so that they encircled her, all the while her horn lengthened to a wicked point and blood-red tattered wings began to sprout from her sides. Mistletoe not waiting any longer to sate her vengeance forced the growing light into her cracked horn as the energy coalesced. I could feel a void of emotions, a begging desire for love.

I watched as Mistletoe gave one final look at the burning remains of her brother before she put what remained into her attack. Even as she began to break down, her limbs dissolving into that light that was sucked upwards towards her horn, she spoke what were her final words.

“Let us see how long you can last without Love.” She gleefully intoned as instead of a beam of energy that attacked Sunset in an attempt to obliterate her, I felt that void that she formed pull. Sunset didn't even move from within her cyclone of flames. All I could do was watch from behind the bars of flames as her tears too began to fade as she fully withered away.

Only when Mistletoe fully withers away did Sunset allow her flames to extinguish. Both the ones that had coiled around her protectively and the ones that had caged me. I couldn't move my gaze from where Mistletoe once was even as Sunset began to make her way over to me.

“Are you alright?” She questioned as if my being burned was the problem here. That she didn't just murder two innocents on my behalf. That this wasn't all my fault. If I hadn’t been a bit calmer, Mistletoe and Starfish would still be alive. If I was a better Princess, no a better pony, none of this would have ever happened. “Cadance we should get going before any pony comes to investigate.” She calmly explains as she lifts a hoof to touch me.

I couldn't help my response but flinch back from her touch. She had just murdered two po- changelings. She had snuffed out their lives like they were candles. Now she was acting as if there was nothing wrong with the actions, she had just partaken in. The way that she had enjoyed the pain and suffering that she had conducted.

“Sunset, why did you do… this?” I stuttered out, my voice anything but consistent as I looked upon the still green-covered Unicorn. Who tilted her head in confusion.

“Didn't I already explain? Any being that dares threaten you I will end.” She reminded me. That just because she had-. That was as far as my thoughts went before, they were shattered by a beacon of arcane energies that erupted from outside Starfish’s shop. Sunset immediately threw herself at me and summoned a wall of flames between the two of us and whatever being was outside. “Do I have your permission to teleport you?” She questioned as she pushed herself against my side, the coiling flames around us growing ever hotter.

I nodded, and I waited to be torn through the aether. Only for Sunset to grip her horn in pain. “I can’t teleport.” She snarled out as if she were a wounded boar enraged by such actions against her. “Stay right next to me please Cadance I need time to break through the ward that has been set up. When I break through it we need to leave immediately.”

“Can’t you perform the same trick that you used to get out of Discord’s bubble?” A voice questioned through the wall before a singular chiming of a bell echoed. With it the wall of flames was quenched, the walls of Starfish’s house crumbled, and before us stood a pony. Yet beyond knowing that there was a pony before me I could tell little else about them. Their voice is effeminate and masculine, old yet young.

Sunset stiffened against me even as she pushed me behind her as I felt the air begin to incinerate at her command. “Oh or is it that you don’t remember how you were able to perform such a feat? Good that makes this easier.” The pony intoned with a nod of its head before a brilliant spear of kaleidoscopic colors erupted through Sunset’s head.

“SUNSET!” I cried out as I caught my partner's headless corpse which had collapsed before she could impact the ground. Blood erupted from her wounded neck in great erupting swaths of almost boiling red lifeforce. I barely noticed the scalding heat as I began to pour everything into the meager healing spells that I knew. It was a vain effort but I had to try. I was an Alicorn Princess. I was beyond the mortal restrictions.

“It won't work my dear Princess. There is no escaping her fate.” The pony that had done this to my partner chided. It began to step forwards closing the difference between where it had stood and where I was still cradling my partner who was still warm. “We all must bow down before our fates in the end, those that refuse to follow their decreed plan must be severed from the rest.” The pony continued, uncaring what he had just done.

“Monster! She didn't deserve this. What had she done?” I hissed at the pony before me who seemed to pause at my words. Shaking its head slightly before it answered.

“It is she that is the monster. She deserves in truth so much worse than what I have just done to her, however ensuring that reality is righted is far more important than performing vindictive justice.” It turned its head to the sky and I leaped at it, my magic screaming with my will. Sharpened shards of crystals permeated the air as they launched themselves at the pony before me. Who only sighed and then not a moment later once more that accursed bell tolled. Sending me plummeting to the ground, my crystals and magic all but shattered. “I hope the next time we meet it is under far more pleasant circumstances.” The pony commented idly as I glared at its form.

The bell began to ring once more, however, in comparison to how it had been rung before this time it was a chaotic mess of harsh clashes and clangs that rent reality with it. All I could do was grasp at the dregs of my magic, of my Love and fashion it into some form of shield that would save me. I had to move. I had to escape. I had to live. Yet for all my supposed grandeur as an Alicorn, all I could do was drag myself over to the corpse that had been my partner.

I could barely extend my wing to touch her still-warm corpse but even that was enough to give me hope. She had done the impossible before. All she needed was some help. I would protect her even now at the end. I dug deep into my very essence finding the crystallized love I had for her and burned it to fuel the pyre that was my heart. Feeding the raw Love I had for her into her corpse all the while praying to Celestia to allow for a miracle. The last thing I saw before existence itself was lost before me was the movement of Sunset’s blood that had yet to cool. The last trace of reality was her warm blood that coated me.

Before the bell tolled for one final time.

…

…
…

…

Before I could turn my gaze to Starfish I could faintly hear a bell ring. A singular cacophonous ringing spread out through the aether. It was far too loud. It sounded wrong. My very existence was filled with pain at the sound. It was just like when Sunset reforged her connection to the magic of Equus. It was far beyond wrong.

The very reality before me began to falter. I could see fragments beginning to erode. The vibrant colors faded to nothing but drab grays that soon began to fade from existence themselves. Leaving me in a quickly eroding reality. Starfish began to fall to dust before my very eyes. Starting from his hooves before this accursed gray began to eat away at the rest of his form. It was horrifying to watch as he was unable to even experience the disintegration of himself.

I had to move. I had to escape. I had to live. I would be turned into nothing just like Starfish if I didn't move. Yet for all my strength gifted by my ascension, I could not move. I would be lost. Turned into something less than nothing. I would be forgotten. Left behind. My very existence was snuffed, my life nothing, my effort meaningless.

In a fit of defiance against my would-be fate I turned inwards. I could see the very fragments of magic that clung to me faltering. The flame that Sunset had once more tagged me with beginning to be snuffed out. I hastened its death. Hopefully, she would get here before I much like the surroundings returned to the nothingness of the void.

I felt a heat begin to form around me and as it grew I felt my heart begin to beat faster in anticipation. Once more it seemed that Sunset would defy the chains of reality. I couldn't see her appear as I could not even move my head, but I could feel the waves of heat that were pulsating from her. She had once more arrived to save me. I felt a familiar hoof upon my side and then once more we were torn through the collapsing space.

Reappearing I couldn't help the gasp of air that I inhaled. Letting out a fit of coughs that had my partner who had just saved me offer a comforting hoof.

“My apologies for once more not asking to teleport you.” She couldn't be serious, could she? Oh, who was I kidding of course she was serious. Forcing my still-shaking body to grasp Sunset as I whispered my thanks once more.

“Thank you, Sunset. Thank you so much.” Even as I thanked her, I twisted my head to see where Starfish’s house had been now, only a void that stood against the reality surrounding it. “First what in the ever-loving Tartarus is that? Second, what in Celestia’s sweet name happened? Third, you have blanket permission to teleport me in the future.” I spoke out thankfully without much of a stutter. Sunset didn't notice or seem to care, more than likely the latter, she did however answer my questions.

“In order, I believe is an unrestrained tear in reality that is in the process of being stabilized. The temporal magics in the air promote the idea that some pony either was in the process of rewinding time or did rewind time causing said tear. You shouldn't give any pony you don't trust permission to teleport you.” It was that last sentence of hers that had me look from the shrinking void that had nearly swallowed me to my partner.

“Sunset, you just saved me from obliteration if that doesn't give you some trust nothing will… Don't you dare take that the wrong way.” I hastily corrected my partner before she could misinterpret my words.

“You wouldn't have been obliterated.” She paused, tilting her head which nearly had her horn hit my head as it got buried in my shortened mane. “Well technically you would have but you would have immediately been recreated in the same instance.” That wasn't comforting Sunset! Thankfully she had prevented any form of obliteration from happening to me thanks to her teleporting in. Allowing myself a moment to embrace the sanctity and safety of her warmth before my brain caught something from her explanation.

“Wait some pony is manipulating time? I thought only Celestia could do that?” I tilted my head in confusion which did have our horns tink together. Sunset began to squirm underneath my hooves with that action. I cursed myself as I let her escape my embrace, taking her warmth with her as she left.

“Technically I can rewind time as well” Ah I had wounded her pride. “- but that claim is nominally correct. After all, only the greatest Unicorns have a chance of meddling with the forces of time.” She answered as she turned her gaze that had been focusing on me the entire time, which wasn't important, but she did focus on saving me rather than studying a powerful and rare spell, to turn to the void that was shrinking at a minute rate.

“So, Starfish and Herring will be alright?” I asked as they had been caught in the epicenter such as I, but they didn't have a partner like Sunset to save them.

“Like I said, in effect nothing will happen with them. One second will have passed and it is unlikely that they will notice anything different.” That didn't make any sense. We had just been talking for a little over a minute. Seeing the confusion that was evident on my face she continued. “Look around Cadance, we are no longer moving forwards in time. How do you think I saved you?”

At her words, I glanced around and saw ponies not running away from the sphere of obliteration but were instead frozen in various poses and acts. It looked as if every pony was posing for a hyper realistic photo. From the pony’s hooves caught in the air to the apple that was caught at the height of its descent from a throw.

“Wait, you can pause time!” I all but screamed at the pony who didn't realize how awesome that was. “And you never told me? Why didn't you tell me?” A weight settled in my gut, after all, I had kept referring to how much I had trusted her. Did she not trust me? I couldn't help the raw anger that formed at that thought.

“Yes, I can pause time. I have never told you because not even Celestia knows.” Wait so I knew about this before Celestia? Her words filled the pit that had initially formed with a pleasant warmth. Wait… Wouldn't she have shown this to her adoptive mother at the first opportunity to gain approval from her?

“Sunset, is there a reason you don't stop time?” My tone sharpened much like my eyes as my partner turned away from my gaze. “Sunset if you didn't show this to Celestia that means… Oh sweet Celestia, what have you done to yourself? What did you sacrifice?” This was a piece of dark magic. That's why she didn't show it off to Celestia. Perhaps I wouldn't have heard her had I not ascended, however, thanks to my vastly improved senses I heard the words she spoke that nearly froze my heart whole.

“In exchange for stopping time, I sacrifice my own.” She mumbled.

“How much,” I spoke before realizing that no matter the answer was far too much. She turned around her cyan eyes finally finding mine.

“A year of my life burns away for each minute I pause time.” she said with a shrug as if she hadn't just confessed to limiting her lifespan. I was suddenly very aware of the seconds continuing to pass by. Sapping my partner of her very lifeforce. With each one that passed I swore I could see the specter of death getting closer to the pony that was my partner.

“Why would you do such a thing? Didn't you say that even if I had been obliterated, I would have been fine? That I would have returned to normal? With no memory of what had happened.” I hastily spoke, not willing to waste any time. “Sunset, Celestia damn it, end the spell already I am safe. Please end it.” She however did not end the spell that was killing her. She for some reason didn't end the spell that was sapping her life away. “Sunset, end your spell!” I all but growled out as I pushed myself into her face. My eyes locked with her emerald orbs that held for some reason unknown to me, anger.

“I had to save you. I am burning away my life for you. Yes, you would have been fine, but that didn't stop me from spinning the spell together the very instant that I felt chronomatic energies beginning to form around you.” She spat in anger that felt far too hollow for her normal rage. It was strange but I couldn't even feel any heat coming from her at that very moment. Instead, all I could feel was a chill of cold wafting off her.

“Sunset how long?” I once more asked, this time however softly asking as I raised a singular hoof towards her. I tried not to take it to heart when she jerked away from my hoof, but it still stung.

“I estimated that at the very worst it would take me five minutes to get you to safety.” Her somberly spoken words acted as a spear that pushed through my flesh and bone. Piercing into my heart with unrelenting force. Winding me with the weight of its force. “I would end it if I could but that's not how the spell works.” She ended off growling, yet I realized that it was not true anger that was behind them, but masked fear. She had… oh sweet Celestia, Sunset.

I slowly made my way over to her and embraced the pony that was utterly terrified of what she had just done. She didn't even bother pretending to resist as I held her, instead all but collapsing into my hooves. “I don't even know why I did it. One second everything was fine and the next you were in danger, and I severed five years of my life.” I could feel her muzzle wet as she pushed herself into my side.

There we were embracing one another in a world frozen in time, embracing each other. Sunset in a rare show of weakness held onto me as if I was the only lifeline she had. Considering what she had just done I feared that my thoughts were true. I would ensure that she ascended long before those five years would impact her. She would ascend with me, and we would be timeless together.

A warmth embraces the both of us as my thoughts become more than something ethereal. A familiar flame was stoked, igniting embers into a blazing fire that grew ever grander, eventually crystallizing into something far more than the fragments of affection that I had held for her. Taking a moment to relish in that feeling even as Sunset embraced me to stave off the fear that her actions had wrought. Even if it was not yet a reciprocated love, even if it was never reciprocated. I could embrace this feeling of my first Love.

Yet as the tear finally receded, I couldn't help but note how familiar a feeling of what had been crystallized deep inside my soul. I could hear screams of utter agony and pain coming from all around. Until I noticed that I too had joined the cacophony of suffering. The last thing I could see was a singular cyan thread that connected me to Sunset. Then the sweet embrace of nothingness held dominion.

Author's Note

What a way to end a chapter. I will admit that this chapter got away from me but I couldn't find a good place to end it so it is rather large. Sorry to those of you who were hoping to see a jealous Sunset that is coming, just later. Trust me when I say it will be worth the wait.

Otherwise, in this chapter we saw a great deal further into Cadance's mind and how she thinks along with some of her backstory. How she is willing to protect any pony that she can. Also that she somehow knows how something sounds, while most ponies would not.

Perhaps if Celestia had more time to teach her about the realm and its denizens Cadance wouldn't have freaked out, but unfortunately, that didn't happen. Celestia had to leave and then the castle was attacked.

Sunset proves that she is better than almost every pony and then immediately gets one shot by the strange pony that had a bell (Brownie points to anyone that figures out who they are). She even pulls out some time magic of her own even if hers comes with quite a hefty cost.

Then the tale is retold at the tolling of a bell just like the title of the chapter states. This a clear example of time travel, which I hopefully wrote well. Finally, we have the ending of this chapter which ends with comfort turned suffering.

I am very happy with this chapter, I feel as if I had accomplished everything I set out to do + I added foreshadowing and background knowledge for the future.

-LittleFaerieFire

Interlude 1

Rebound

It had been a long week. Thankfully most of the time being a Royal Guard was a rather boring job that provided plenty of time to enjoy the bits that you were being paid. This week was one that ensured that every pony that Princess Celestia had on her payroll was working their tails off. It had truly been a string of occurrences that history would paint as either horrendously coincidental or, as many of us feared, planned.

Especially after the incursion to the castle. We had done our best but that was not nearly enough. Just as the fighting had begun, it ended with little to no rhyme or reason. The portal closed just as swiftly as it had opened. Leaving the rest of the attacking force for us to mop up. Only leaving the bloodied remains of the fallen and wounded.

There was thankfully far more of the latter than the former on our side. Mostly thanks to the efforts of Sunset Shimmer. When she descended upon the battlefield, she remembered that she was personally taught by Princess Celestia herself and that she had long since earned her title as the strongest Unicorn in Equestria. She brought death and destruction to all those that attempted to do us harm.

It was a humbling experience watching a single Unicorn cut through the swathes of opponents that were beating us. However, as equally humbling as it was horrifying how she didn’t seek to subdue, instead she sought to eliminate. There was not a single pony more horrified with her actions than the Princess who had taken care of her for so long, however. Especially when she found the desecrated altar made in her honor, from the reaved flesh of the enemies.

Princess Celestia looked her age when we reported what her student had done. That the ruined corpses of the attackers were not the doing of her guards but of her ward. That the one to string the corpses together with ribbons of flame all the while gleefully laughing at the pain and torment she was causing. Was the pony that she had raised all these years.

Unfortunately for the Princess, the news did not get better. For we were still unable to find any sign of Princess Cadance ever since she had put a hoof inside the gardens with Princess Celestia, hours before the incursion had even happened. However, after the fighting had stopped, we did, however, find blood that matched that of an Alicorn. However, there was no sign of the Princess of Love. Or of the one that would attack her.

Neither Princess Cadance nor Sunset Shimmer was seen after the fighting had concluded. They were unable to be found within the surrounding areas of Canterlot, and when we searched their rooms, we found a horrifying discovery. Sunset Shimmer's room had obviously been ransacked. Along with a piece of damning evidence, Alicorn's blood had been found in her room.

There were of course those in the guard who whispered rumors about how Sunset Shimmer was the mastermind behind the attack and how it was her attempt to get rid of the competition. Those rumors were bolstered by the fact that her room which was usually a fortress of spell works was breached. There were of course those that pointed out that she had been one of the most valuable defenders and had single-handedly saved most of the guards, but those rumors persisted, nonetheless.

It was at this point that Princess Celestia had returned thanks to being alerted to the dangerous situation from an artifact she had left behind. Once she had returned, order once more reigned. She scoured the castle with her magic and found all that had been hidden. Dealing with them personally.

Upon learning of what condition, we had found her ward's room in along with the blood that we had found within its walls she had sequestered herself. Only returning from her charges room an hour later. Her bright eyes darkened and her ever-present smile had been wiped from her face. Instead of the Princess of the Sun that returned from her wards room. She instead looked far more like the warrior Princess of her recorded youth.

Canterlot and the surrounding cities from Manehatten to Cloudsdale were set on high alert for the week after the attack. Every pony was waiting to see if this was simply the spearhead of an assaulting force. But no more attacks followed. There were those that rejoiced at the news, however, those that were with Princess Celestia when she gave the order to return to normalcy knew that something was wrong. She especially after the attack upon her ward was tense. Always waiting for the next card to fall.

While most of the citizenry returned to their lives after the tense week that they had had. The guard across Equestria was tasked with keeping watch for both Princess Cadance and Sunset Shimmer. Considering what we had found in Sunset Shimmers room it was likely if we could find one, we would find the other. Even if it was only the remains. It was only then that once Princess Celestia began to delegate to us, her guards did the final card fall. Showing that it was a joker of the highest proportions.

Discord had somehow escaped from his confinement. He had proceeded to turn the surrounding area into one large deathtrap that had caught those unlucky enough within. Gentle included. She, however, was lucky enough to escape relatively unharmed, the damage her legs had taken however had left her mostly bedridden. There were those that were never seen again and those that had been found. Such as that poor librarian who had been turned inside out. I pity that poor pony that had done nothing to deserve that. He seemed like a decent enough bloke when we were working together under the command of Princess Cadance. Yet the Spirit of Chaos had all but targeted him.

Princess Celestia had thankfully chased away the spirit, however at a great loss, he had plucked the Sun from the high heavens it had been resting within. Before disappearing off to where even Princess Celestia knows not. It was only an hour after that cataclysmic event when we were all still attempting to lick our wounds did the Sun returned. Along with a flare that drew the attention of every Unicorn that I spoke to and Princess Celestia herself.

We were told to be ready to leave within the hour. We were and even those that were slightly injured were brought along. We gathered in the courtyard and waited for our Princess to arrive. She stepped forth from the air and then after gaining the contingent of guard’s consent to teleport us all. She reminded us once more that she was the strongest entity in Equestria as she tore reality asunder.

Spiriting us all with her to a portion of the burned forest before a cave opening. Where we proceeded to scour and search for the two missing ponies. Thankfully finding even more evidence of Princess Cadance's survival. Along with the fact that she and Sunset Shimmer were near each other, if not working together.

According to the stories told by my superior Major Birch, Princess Celestia’s eyes flashed, with the fury of her Sun, when the Princess of the Sun had been informed of the news. If that was truly how the Princess of the Sun had reacted, I was glad to have kept my insights into Princess Cadance’s relationship with her ward to myself.

We then proceeded to tear apart the remains of their camp. Ensuring that there was no stone untouched. There had been those who were amused when they found the bottles of hard cider. I was not among them. The thought of the two missing ponies having consumed them and following a path that I had long ago traveled with Gentle under the influence of a drink. It sent shivers down my spine. I could barely look at Princess Celestia the next time I saw her. Which then of course prompted the Princess to question if I was well. I had made an excuse about some sort of stomach bug, as I couldn’t exactly tell her what her ward and her niece had likely been doing before, they had been interrupted by Discord.

Shaking my head to escape the thoughts that had long refused to be dispelled. Unfortunately, they refused to leave my mind. Seeking to escape them I hurried through the rest of my patrol throughout the portions of the forest that were not burned. Once more, thanking the Princess that there was no wildlife. It was certainly strange, even suspicious but I was still thankful that I didn’t have to deal with any nasties while I was searching through the forest.

Completing my rotation and without even a glance back at the section I had recently trawled I quickly flew towards the outpost that I knew that Major Birch would be residing within.

“Nothing to report in my assigned section of the woods,” I reported with a salute to my disgruntled superior who didn't even meet my gaze as he was too busy flipping through another report. All the while the next squad of searchers was preparing themselves behind him. Moments later he set down the paperwork and met my gaze.

“Go on, get out of here, and go check on your mare.” He said with a quick salute of his hoof before he turned around and started to direct the next group of guards. I still gave a salute to his back before I launched myself into the air, he wasn't the worst pony I had ever had to work under. Tearing through the air currents until I was above the clearing that had been forged by flames. Tucking into a dive I fell from the sky to the earth below.

Catching myself at the last second with my wings flowing open and allowing me to catch myself with a single flap. Taking a short breath as I folded my wings before the tent that I had landed before. Trotting to the entrance of the portable medical bay, I swallowed my fears and entered, there was little more I could have done. Princess Celestia had assured me that she would be alright. My eyes flicked over the various wounded in here. Some I knew some that I had only seen in their full uniforms, however, my eyes did not stop for any of them. I was looking for a pony that was far more important. Eventually finding her bed empty I shook my head in amusement.

Seems that she wasn't able to keep her promise. That was my victory then. She was going to regret it. I chuckled as I imagined the punishment that I would have her suffer through. She thought it was funny to dress me up as a chicken. Well, let’s see how she enjoys dressing up as Princess Celestia herself. I knew I could probably even get the Princess to see her in the costume. Gentle would be mortified. She, however, would deserve it. She had once more escaped the confines of her bed, while she was supposed to be resting. It was a small injury but like all others, it could get worse if not properly treated.

However, my revenge would have to wait until she was better. Finding Sawbones as he informed a guard that I didn't know, that if he continued to put strain on his back left hoof, he may break it. After the rather graphic description of what would happen in the surgery to fix said broken hoof, which I did my best to ignore, he turned to me.

“Ah Rebound I take it that you once more have stumbled away with no injuries?” he dutifully asked even as he began to trot to his next patient. At my nod, he continued, “Your better half is in one of the private rooms, but she has requested that you find her as soon as possible. Room C I believe.” He informed me as he stopped before a Unicorn who looked like he was fresh meat, and then proceeded to go into a very explicit description of what happens to a Unicorn that breaks its horn. The old doctor never changed for better or worse.

Muttering my thanks to the good doctor, I made my way to the private rooms. Stopping before the one with the painted-on red C. I loudly cleared my throat.

“Oh, you're finally off patrol? I was wondering if I would have had to break out of here and go save you again.” I heard Gentle teasing. Damn her it happened once. Yet she won’t allow me to live it down. Rolling my eyes as I stepped through the privacy curtain only to freeze at the sight of another pony within the room. No, not another pony, the Princess herself.

“Princess Celestia, my apologies. I didn't realize that you were here.” I offered with a quick bowing of my head to the pony that had the entirety of Equestria relying on her. She smiled and waved her wing disregarding my apology.

“It is fine, Rebound. I didn't announce myself or anything of the sort.” She offered as she shared a smile with Gentle, who was looking far too smug for this to be any sort of coincidence. “I take it there has been no news from any in your squadron?” Princess Celestia queried.

“Not at all. The best we can tell is that they made it to one of the trails, but from there, we lost them. Even our best trackers haven't been able to pick up a trail of any sort of magical use.” Seeing the smile lessen upon the Princess’s face I continued. “That doesn't mean that we won't find them, it just means that we simply require a little bit more time. We have managed to confirm that Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, even if injured, is alive. Which is more than what we had before we-.” I would have continued but I was interrupted.

“Rebound, you have a delivery.” What sounded like Dark Meadow called out with clear amusement in his voice. “Did you order food or something?” There was a small wave of laughter at his words. Ah, I see it was gang up on my day. My vengeance would be swift and terrible. All the same, I laughed and with a quick promise to quickly return to Gentle’s side I stepped out from the private room.

“I'm not sharing any of the mushrooms I had imported from Yakistan just so you know,” I responded and couldn't prevent the smile that formed on my muzzle at the crestfallen face my companion had adopted. Shaking my head, I made my way to the entrance of the tent before stepping out. Seeing a bright orange Pegasus that looked out of place wearing a Post Pony uniform.

“Are you Rebound?” the orange mare asked. I simply nodded. “Postmaster Paisley.” She introduced herself as she pulled a letter from her side pouch. “You got a letter.” I couldn't help but look at the pony before me in unveiled confusion.

“How did you even find me out here?” Last I checked Princess Celestia didn't announce to the entirety of Equestria about what was going on. Well, the stuff that she could conceal was. Paisley just shrugged her wings.

“Got a tip on where you would specifically be, and an extra-large fee paid to deliver this letter to you as soon as possible.” She responded with a shrug. I just sighed as I grabbed the letter from her hoof.

“Who even sent me a letter from… Wingston? I didn't even know that there was a Wingston within Equestria’s borders.” I asked as I looked at the uniform a bit closer as I idly opened the letter that was directed at me. “Give me a moment to read the letter then I have to figure out the procedure for this.” Technically I think that this was a military operation at this point. Thankfully Paisley didn't seem to mind waiting.

“She didn't give her name, however before planning to address the letter to you she had initially planned to send it to Princess Celestia herself.” Postmaster Paisley offered. I finished tearing open the letter and began to read through its contents, feeling a cascade of emotions both pleasant and horrid.

“Describe the pony that sent this letter!” No longer could I afford to play around. My voice was no longer carefree, and I straightened my form as my wings prepared to launch me into the air at a moment's notice. Paisley, however, shrugged once more.

“If I could tell you I would. I could tell that it was a mare that gave me the letter but other than that I can’t remember much… Oh, she was a Unicorn if that helps.” That actually did but I still needed more information.

“The pony that gave you the information on where to find me and the bits to perform the ASAP delivery, what did they look like? Did they provide any names or titles?” I asked as I was making mental notes and even flagged down a few fellow guards to come over here.

“Strangely enough I can’t remember anything about this pony at all. I better not be losing my marbles.” She muttered the last portion under her breath, but I heard her all the same. I nodded before continuing as three more guards came over to my position.

“Well Paisley, why don’t you take a quick breather and get some rest? It couldn't have been a quick flight from Wingston. These fine Stallions will lead you to a place for you to take a quick rest. We may have some questions for you later so try to get some sleep.” She finally caught on to what was happening.

“I didn't just deliver something illegal, did I?” she asked as she warily glanced at the guards who now stood a few paces from her. She relaxed considerably when I shook my head in the negative.

“Not at all, I am sure that my superiors will want to speak with you themselves, however.” She nodded and followed after the three guards. I took a deep breath and proceeded to reread the letter, again and again, to ensure that I was properly understanding the written words. Upon deciding that I was not hallucinating I threw myself into action as I frantically made my back into the medical tent in an attempt to get to Princess Celestia as soon as possible. Thankfully I didn't run into any pony in my hurried rush.

“Princess, I have a letter for you.” I rushed out as I entered the private room where she and Gentle remained. Before all but thrusting the letter into her hooves. Rude yes, especially directed towards the Princess that ruled the realm, however, I believe it was worthwhile considering her recent condition. I saw Gentle all but gaping at the decorum that I was most certainly breaching but considering what was written there was no time to waste. Princess Celestia unfolded the letter and I watched with mounting dread as the letter burst into flames within her hooves. Her eyes were ablaze with miniature Suns.

“Thank you Rebound.” Princess Celestia said after a momentary pause that felt far too long for the few seconds I knew had passed. The Sun that had ignited within her pupils had died down, leaving a softly flickering flame instead of an all-consuming inferno. “I am glad to see that the two of them are getting along better.” She says with a small smile that didn't fit the writhing heat that still emanated from the Princess of the Sun.

⌧⌧⌧⌧⌧⌧

I couldn't help but contemplate the ever-static scene before me. Unchanging. Unbending. Unyielding. In the face of time itself. This still landscape was forever unmoving while the rest of reality continued. Such an unchanging atrophy was almost impressive.

A lesser being would have long since been lost to wander within its own conscience. I, however, have stood firm against such downfalls. I would bow to none; I was already trapped. I would not suffer a prison of my own making.

I would wait an eternity for my escape. I would wait for all to perish. So that I may once more begin my conquest of the void and the creatures that had once been more. My guiding hoof, reforging reality into its proper form.

However, if I needed not to wait, who was I to turn down such an opportunity? I could feel the magic that I had long since become accustomed to beginning to contort. Shifting as my prison was once more connected to Equus once again. Only a mere decade this time? My self-imposed warden was getting soft. Perhaps his most recent failures had been too much for him to bear.

Raising my field of vision to look at the pony that had returned to my prison. Watching as he masterfully split space and time and effortlessly reworked the defenses behind him. All in an effort to ensure that I wouldn't escape. I hadn't bothered to attempt to escape in a while. Perhaps he was worried that I had concocted another plan. I should make another attempt soon just to alleviate his temperament. After all, as one of my few guests, I should be a good host to him.

“Ah Starswirl, tell me how your trip was?” I asked in a pleasant tone, knowing that it would infuriate him far more than any other attempt to get under his coat. Based on the grimace that has formed upon the wizened Unicorns face my words achieved their purpose.

“It was acceptable. I have managed to ensure that you and your little alliance’s plans shall continue to falter.” He responds oh so foolishly believing that he still holds the upper hoof. For a pony as old as him, he is still far too foolish. Perhaps I should teach him once more and see if my lesson will stick. Alliance truly? I was a being that needed nothing beyond myself.

“It is far less of an alliance and much more of a non-aggression pact made between a few select individuals that have put their efforts together. -” There was far too much backstabbing for it to be considered an alliance of any sort of manner. Not that it would matter in the end. “- Oh yes I did see that you managed to close the portal before Canterlot Castle could be conquered by a few found fools.” I would have clapped for him, but I was still far more incorporeal than corporeal at the moment.

“It prevented your hedge mage from achieving whatever his task was and when Discord did escape his bindings he did not join with your group.” Starswirl defiantly stated, only further proving my point. That was not my doing, I would not have dared to plant such a volatile fool right under my enemy's nose. The one who instructed such an act proved arrogance that was shown by such an act that far more relied on the shortsightedness of her sister and pure luck to succeed. Rather than cunning or even a base form of intelligent strategy.

“Yes, I will have to concede the point on Discord. As much as he would have undoubtedly brought to the fold, we shall continue just fine without him. He however was a longshot that we were willing to expend a few nonconsequential resources upon.” Especially as I was not one of the ones that had lost anything from this attempt. I would have shrugged if I could, to further prove my point, but judging by the way that the final pillar of Equestria glared at me, he fully understood that I was mocking him. “Yes, and tell me when you tracked down the wayward spirit was it everything that you feared?” Had I a mouth I would not have been able to keep from grinning as were I a common loon, at the face my guest pulled.

“He was acting as an imaginary friend to a Pegasus filly.” He snarled out, more than likely tearing his mind apart for the connection. “He puts a stop to his rampage of chaos and misery to play make-believe with a filly that still is afraid of her own shadow.” Starswirl seethed.

Discord was a being that was a contradiction upon himself. Desiring chaos and the ever-changing current of change. Yet at the same time was unable to change himself. Forever stuck in his ways. It made him predictable. He would be useful in the future. Already he had degraded the cages of Tartarus. Making good upon his side of the bargain that had been struck. He could play with the filly for now. I wonder how much he had seen to remember her. Not that it mattered.

Ah for all your grand magics and unveiling of mysteries old and new Starswirl, you still do not have the greater connection to beyond Equus. It leaves you far too blind, and questioning things that should be obvious to one such as yourself. Perhaps if you had continued to work on your mirror and continued your travels you would be able to see beyond, but no. Now you shall suffer for your inability to see beyond the veil of reality. Yet you still believe that you are the great and infallible thing that you have always thought of yourself.

“Yes, I was most disappointed that he returned the Sun to your erstwhile student. After all, you truly only have her left. Even if you have not interacted in a millennium. You did flee from her recently if I recall.” My words cut into the pony before me. He, however, continued to stand strong. Had I lips I would be sneering at him. “What was the reason that you could no longer face her? Was it perhaps the blood upon your hooves? Or was it perhaps that she has managed what you have not?” My words broke the thin facade that my warden wore to shield himself from me.

I had no need for my physical form or my magic. With only my mind and my words, I would tear Equus apart. Bringing it back under my banner. I had done so once, and I would do so again. The Unicorn before me was but another piece to be maneuvered so that my inevitable victory is hastened.

He glared at me the best he could before he wrapped himself in his magic preparing to leave once more. “You may be free to walk the greater world of Equus, but you are equally as bound as I.” I reminded my current guest as he teleported away. He left unknowing of the seeds that had been planted. Only waiting for the proper conditions to grow.

Leaving me to my domain. Chuckling in amusement as I sent the previously greatest conjurer Equus had seen fleeing. He still believed himself the grandest, that only he could best the horrors that were soon to be released. Perhaps I should have reminded him about his countless failures in returning to the past to ‘fix’ the mistakes. It had been some time since I had struck that particular branch of his arrogance.

After all, he believed that he was the only being capable of correcting all the wrongs that had occurred. That only his guiding hoof could once more correct the course of destiny itself. He was unable to recognize the fact that even as he saved the pitiful remains of love, he had all but hastened my plans.

Yes, things may progress slower in the near future but in the long run, those two being bound together like this would prove to be a well worthwhile boon that he had provided me. What was even more amusing was that he still didn't realize that the spell he had used was not designed to be used on Alicorns, even an infantile one such as the Princess of Love. It may take time but eventually, she would unveil the tale that once had been forcibly rewound. It will be an enjoyable sight to watch as he is forced ever deeper into the collapsing pit of compromises, he has dug for himself.

Allowing the mirth to fade I shifted my gaze towards the top of my domain. I once dominated Equestria before it had been called such a name. Yet here I was contained to the peak of an ever-unchanging mountain, as a but a spirit. How the mighty have fallen indeed. Perhaps I had been too arrogant myself when I had ruled over my lands.

Now my mighty name was whispered as myth and legend. No longer did the lowly denizens of Equus fear that I would notice their insignificance and crush them under my hoof. No. Now I was as much a myth as Discord and Nightmare Moon. The former had already reminded Equestria and Equus as a whole that he was far more than the telling of tales. The latter would soon be free by her own hoof.

Should she fail to escape her prison, I would have to step in. I could not have her continued incompetence interfering with my plans. Proving to the realm of Equus that legends of old hold far more reign over reality than any creature may wish. Even names as old as mine had yet to fade, even after my defeat.

After all, I had fallen to the hooves of that accursed filly. Even if I did manage to ensure that only her legend survived, even that was subsumed by the Alicorn of the Sun. I wonder how much history she seeks to rewrite. First her sister after her descent into darkness and depravities. Next claiming that I fell to her hooves. Perhaps if she is to once more win against the coming tide of darkness, she would also claim to be a champion that had once more conquered. Continuing to extend her tales of accomplishments and exploits.

That she was the one to have slain the Demon. Demon Slayer would be such an amusing title to be bestowed upon her. I could almost taste the irony of such a statement. Had I a mouth, it would be salivating.

But enough of the Demon. I was not nearly as foolish as the rest of the congregation. For all the blustering and focus the rest of the Equus has on little Sunset Shimmer they are missing the Alicorn that was beside her. Only Sombra and I see any potential within her, for even Celestia herself is far too focused on the Demon to see what Love's potential has to become.

I have tasted the fire-forged blade of Love when it was wielded by the one that bested me. How it pierces even the strongest of armors. Love can be forged in the heat of battle. It can be quenched in the pits of passion. All above however it can be molded. Maneuvered. Manipulated. I would use Sunset Shimmer to temper love so that I would be able to properly use it.

It would be forged into a weapon that I would wield. A blade that would be incomparable to all others before it. A blade to sever the very connections that existed between the denizens of Equus. Returning them to their original states. Severing their trust and harmony with Love.

For all of the harmonies that ponies had propagated, they were built upon the trust of one another. The magic of friendship that they all had bought into. Hah. They could only continue to believe that fallacy only thanks to the ones that tirelessly protected the many. Most would spend their lives unknowing how close to the brink of collapse their society was.

A singular push was all that was needed to reshape the greater world of so-called peace and restructure it to one of war. Returning to a much more real state of being where the primality that they each ignored was embraced. Where the pathetic and worthless were left behind to rot. The strong and crafty feasted upon all they could.

We each have found our own spark that could burn down the false order that propagated the continuation of the weak. Sombra, whether it was through happenstance or of him seeing far beyond his station has chosen the same as mine. Bound to rest within her dreams until he can escape. Well, what was left of him that was.

Perhaps I should soon offer a guiding hoof of assistance to the newborn immortal. After all, it would be an intelligent thing to do. She only had the Demon and Sombra actively helping her thanks to leaving Canterlot in such haste.

That thought stuck with me. Had I been able to, I would have frowned. She wasn't supposed to have still been with the Demon at this point. It would put her at even more potential risks that would potentially be fatal. I did not need her to perish at this point. It would be counterproductive.

Could it be one of the others that had planned for her to stay with the Demon this long? Unlikely but not impossible. I would have to ensure that she returned to the relative safety of Celestia’s shadow. Perhaps I would task our newest member with it. It would be a good testing ground nonetheless to see how well Tirek could perform.

It was something that I would implement later, as an all too familiar flame oozed into my realm. It did not open the locks, nor did it connect via Equus. It came from beyond Equus, even if it had once claimed such a location as its place of birth. Such a way of describing it could no longer be true. For in its early death did it become reforged into something grander? I gave it my full attention.

“Tell me, child, what would you be willing to do to return to your life that had been stolen so early?” I whispered my question to the foal that stared unblinkingly at me. Another of my seeds that was waiting to bloom and strangle this so-called era of peace.

Author's Note

Not bad for my first interlude chapter. The first portion was mostly to give another perspective on the previous events along with showing an update on what has been happening back with Celestia. I will happily admit to having fun seeing how much foreshadowing I could put into the second portion of the interlude. Especially since I dropped namedropped a few familiar faces. Otherwise, next chapter we will return to the normally scheduled Sunset POV.
-LittleFaerieFire

25. Received Respondence

Received Respondence

Sunset

I found myself once more staring, enraptured by the Sun as if I had never beheld its majesty. No, it was a sight that I had memorized long ago and yet I continued to trace its climb through the high heavens. Forever illuminating the path for the ponies that trailed after it. Forever chasing the Sun, yet no matter how far they went they could never grasp its warmth within their hooves. Much like me and the Princess of the Sun herself. No matter how far I trailed in her hoofprints, how long I was hidden within her shadow. I could never grasp her warmth for myself.

I was unable to claim what I had sought after for so long. Forever forced to remain as but simply her ward. The one that she had saved. The one that she allowed to remain, even after I had long since fallen from her good graces. That was all I was. All I ever would be to her. While she was everything to me.

I could only hope to find a way that set me apart from all those that chased after the Sun. A way to achieve the impossible, to grasp the Sun’s warmth within my hooves. I had become well-versed in numerous arcane fields searching for a way to have her love me. Yet with each spell I performed nothing changed. I was left forgotten, only when I stepped out of line would I be remembered. Even then it was admonishment and expressed disappointment from the one who was everything. It was better than being completely forgotten.

How I was wasn’t being the best pony I could be. How if I attempted once more, I would make friends. How if I had better kept my temper in check, I would be happier. If I were a better pony perhaps, she would love me! That if I wasn't a mistake, she couldn't bother to get rid of me, I would be worth her claiming me as her own! Yet no matter what I did nothing was ever enough.

Then we began to fight. It started small like my flames yet given the proper fuel it turned into an inferno that could not be quenched. Only given time to burn itself out, so that it could be safely smothered. She realized how much of a failure I was. I realized that unless I did something beyond even the greatest of ponies, she would finally care for me.

So, I once more turned to the fields of the arcane that I had long since claimed as my dominion. I mastered spells long since disregarded as impossible, I performed feats of mysticism that would shake the castle. Yet nothing! She only made note that I was continuing my tutelage without her. Not that she had bothered to teach me ever since it became clear that I would never pass her friendship test.

I had to delve deeper into the long-forbidden arts. The ones that she had banned long ago. Perhaps with these under my control, she would realize that I was worth something. That I could be her daughter. That I would be worth her attention and time. Yet it was worse than before. I had crossed a line that I had never known existed. She never found out but she surely suspected and she hated me for it.

She never needed proof of my actions. After all, she was Princess Celestia, and she could do no wrong. It was only I who would do wrong. Only I could fail her tests. I was the one that had decided to study dark magic so that I would inevitably conquer the world.

I never cared for the world. She was my world. She was my everything. She was the only pony that ever mattered to me. Yet I never mattered to her. At best I was a passing amusement. I could only watch as the shadows surged forth and swallowed the Sun. Once more stealing the vain scrap of imagined warmth from me.

I once more found myself in the frozen wastelands of my dreams. The snow blanketed everything that I could once have seen, yet even without my sight, I knew what lay beyond these accursed snowfields. A burned cottage that within its ruined exterior held promises beyond ordinary pain. The wind began to howl as the flurries of snow and ice began to notice that I had returned to their embrace.

Peppered with the blades of frost and ice as my hooves moved without thought. Struggling against the elements, as I made my way back to where I had long ago been found. Where I had been saved. Where I had been tortured. Where my tormentors performed their greatest acts. I had yet to be pulled within its now smoldering walls in some time. Perhaps this nightmare would be the one to change that. However, that would be something to deal with at a later time, for now, I must deal with the faceless hordes of shades that had been hunting me through the snowstorm. With my mind set on the current challenge, all I had to do was wait for my tormentors to answer it.

I could hear the howls of the shadows as I trudged my way through the flurries of ice. Ignoring the daggers of frost that slammed into me I kept my gaze honed for the first of my tormentors to step through their shield of snow. Taking a moment to gather my will as a still shadowed formless shade stepped through the flurries. I greeted it with a gout of molten fury, but unfortunately, as I have long since learned it simply reformed. Greeting me with a leering smile of sharpened teeth, colored by shadow in the white realm.

Seeing the shade of a pony reform I could only frown. Why was this shade not taking the form of Cadance? I had been greeted by her shade in every dream for some time, why not in this one? What has changed? The still formless shadow froze, and I heard the still hidden shades howl in a cacophony of spiteful anger. What in Celestia’s name was happening? I could only watch as the flurries of snow quickened, entrapping me and the still formless shade within a field of somehow gentle snow.

Instead of piercing frost and cold, there was but an underlying chill that permeated the air. It was far less immediately dangerous, yet I could only prepare for the worst as I felt my hooves no longer move. This, in all my years of this ritualistic torment, was new. I had never stopped in the snowfields; I had never been in this almost gentle realm. All I could do was prepare for the inevitable return to the nightmare. I began to breathe heat into the area, all the while keeping my gaze centered on the still formless shade of a pony before me.

It stood there still for a few moments longer before it began to morph. Its change was far unlike the usual transformations of the shades, instead of clawing and tearing. This one's change was an almost beautiful metamorphosis. It formed an almost cocoon of crystalline shadows around itself. Leaving me alone in the somehow calm realm. I reached out with my magic and audibly gasped as my magic connected with the cocoon. Instead of doing nothing but failing, my spell went through. This was a spell based within the field of crystallokinesis. How was I now able to touch upon the magic that the shades had used? Did this mean I could now fight back against the hordes of shadows that clung to my mind? I savored that thought as I imagined a sea of shadowed corpses being burned by will. I prepared my warmth, my magic, and my will to flash-fry the coffin of the shade.

It began to crumble, not dissimilar to how a gem disintegrates. I would have forced the shade into the very depths of oblivion, but I faltered once more. For the shade had found a pony to imitate. One that I struggled to harm. How I wished it was Celestia, even the shade of her would have been a blessing to see, even as a pale imitation of the real thing. Yet the shade before me now resembles the pony I had burned my time for.

Cadance stood in the still disintegrating shell of her cocoon. Shadows covered her very being as they ever shifted in the still winds of this new realm. Her shade watched me, as its normally void-filled eyes were filled with a perceivable interest. I felt my inner flame flicker and falter even further as my blood began to cool at her very sight. I was pathetic. All I could do was watch the shade before me, begin to make its way towards me, as I offered no resistance.

It made its way right before me until our muzzles were but centimeters apart. I could feel a weight formed in anticipation and fear for what would happen next. All I could do was await my fate in her hooves. I couldn't even defend myself from her. I was all but lost.

“Cadance?” I questioned; my voice weak with the sparks of hope that had refused to be killed. She had made mention of saving me from my nightmares. Had she saved me just as I had saved her earlier? I slowly reached for her with my hoof only to freeze as her eyes shifted from the black of the void to a piercing emerald.

“Is that truly all you have left? Is this the might that you are so proud of? I expected more from the student of the Sun. I never would have thought you were so weak!” The shade that took the form of Cadance screeched as the world shattered. I was banished back to the snowfields. Smashing my muzzle into the mounds of ice was a painful occurrence thanks to losing my balance. Incinerating the frozen liquids around me as I brought my flames forth once more. This brief moment allowed me to see the shade without it being covered in the shaded snow.

“What are you?” I growled out as I saw its red irises that floated within the eyes of a normally completely shadowed pony that I knew was not my partner. How dare another witness my failings. How dare this creature see me at my worst. I would show it what I had learned through my blood and tears. I had spent my life preparing to be the best. Second to only Celestia herself. I let my magic burn. Enjoying the searing pain that ran through me. I felt my blood boil within my veins as I fueled my flame.

Fear was replaced with heat and hate. My body burned as the shade of the parasitic entity smiled on my partner’s face once more. I felt an indescribable bubble of rage at the sight. I returned the smile and watched with an almost immeasurable pleasure at the face that the shade made before it was swallowed by the emerald flames that had barreled into it without any warning. “Who is weak now?” I cackled as I brought myself upwards ignoring the screaming from across my body. I forced myself forward toward where the strange shade once was. “I was expecting more from a shade of a pony, but it looks like both of us were disappointed.” I snarled out as I made it to ground zero of my attack.

There was nothing underneath the snow, only a black void that was quickly being covered by freshly flurried snowfall. The only remains of the strange shade were a singular mote of black smoke that buried itself into the darkness of the void. Dissipating as the snow fell over its escape. Only when the smoke was gone did I allow myself to collapse in pain. The smile that had been splayed across my lips turned into a grimace as the interloper was removed from my torment.

Regarding my torment, I could hear the howling return in full force from the other shades who had been silent. The no longer silent cries tore out, and the ferocity of it quickly increased in strength and volume. I couldn't help but call out to my tormentors “What annoyed that some pony else dared touch your prisoner?” I smiled as the howling turned feral as the shades that had for some reason held back surged forth with rapturous glee. They were barely pretending to be ponies anymore as they swarmed forth covering the white fields with shadow. The last thing I could see of color was a cottage door that had begun to crack open.

When the first shades reached me, I did not attempt to fight the losing battle. I simply slumped forth into their loving embrace. They started with my hooves as usual. I could only scream in pain as I felt their claws digging into my flesh and tearing. I could feel the chill upon my bones as they peeled back my flesh with fervent glee. I felt a pair of sharpened hooves grasp my eyelids, ripping them open to reveal four all too familiar hooves that were dangling from a set of shades.

My head was forced downwards to the mangled remains of my legs as they continued to carve portions from me. Dragging their sharpened instruments of suffering. with horrific ease through me. I could only scream and even when my voice let out and I could no longer scream they continued their task. I once more fell into the pain of their touch. I fell ever deeper into oblivion with them as my ever-faithful guides.

…

I awoke to an unfamiliar ceiling. A silent scream upon my lips as I gasped for air. Taking a long moment to adjust to the freedom I had acquired. Before burning away the agony that still clung to me, I forced myself to search my surroundings for any sign of trouble. Finding little else other than what appeared to be a resting room, I was almost tempted to retreat away from reality and allow the pangs of pain that still echoed to clear. I, however, could not afford to do so. I had to find my partner. Ensure that she is still safe. It was with that thought in mind that I attempted to extricate myself from the bed that I had awoken in only to feel something clinging to my side, preventing me from leaving.

I looked and froze at the sight, Cadance completely uncloaked, wrapped around me. Her two front hooves entrapped me within her embrace as she held onto me. Even her wings had wrapped themselves around me. I could only describe it as how I used to hold onto Celestia in fear that if I let go, I would be left behind. Pains were forgotten; I could only watch her cling to me. I could almost let myself go. Return the embrace that she had given me and embrace her in turn. That, however, was an impossibility. Some pony had removed her cloak, and I needed to know who I needed to silence.

I found an empty vial and transmogrified it into a lifeless version of myself. I then carefully altered my warping spell to replace me with where my lifeless duplicate lay on the floor. I allowed myself another minute of indulgent weakness as I embraced the warmth that she was giving me, even if unintentionally and unknowingly. Before I spun my spell, I was quickly replaced.

I gazed upon my partner who was now embracing a copy of myself and I for some reason that I doubt even Princess Celestia knew, felt a sparking rage at the sight. Running the cooling charm to displace the rage, I spun together every single protection I could to ensure that my partner would not be molested by any intending her harm. I did not fall back into weakness as I cloaked myself in my magic and left without looking back at my slumbering partner.

Instead, I pushed open the door and found myself back in the abode of Stinger and Cipher, or as they had introduced themselves, Starfish and Mistletoe. I had thought I had made myself clear that they were to leave my partner alone and never remove her cloak. It seemed however that they believed my words were not enough. I would have to show them the folly of their ways.

I made my way through the house hearing the sounds of ponies in the kitchen area. I skulked through the house until I could find my prey. Finding the two changelings in their pony guises I faltered in my steps as a mounting terror grasped me. They were not alone; there was a third pony that was with them. A pony that I knew far too well for her designs. After all, she had been the one who had raised me. The one that had saved me. The one that had all but abandoned me.

I could see her. She was just as close to perfection as she was the last time I laid eyes on her divine form. Even when just sitting at a table, she was far above her ponies, directing and commanding them to create her vision upon Equus. Forever observing from far above, waiting to save any that would harm themselves.

Watching for any that would dare contest her rule. For in the divine light of her Sun, she knew best and illuminated the ponies that she had long since cared for. Guiding them down the paths that would be best for them and the greater Equestrian whole. I could feel the heat wafting from the room.

I wonder who is now going to be tossed away. Stripped of the warmth and care that she gave all of her ponies for daring to go against her plan. Or would she allow whichever pathetic excuse for a pony that had gone against her plan to continue with their life? Protected by the ever-warm Sun that followed the Princess's commands oh so perfectly. Would it just be me who was left abandoned by the only pony that had ever cared for me? The one that had saved me. The one that had given me everything but what I wanted most.

Then I watched with mounting rage as a pony broke from the script that they should have followed. Cipher, who had grasped a teacup in one of her hooves, had dropped it, leaving it to fall to the floor if not for divine intervention. Princess Celestia caught the teacup and the tea that had escaped its vessel.

“Thank you for the tea.” Princess Celestia thanked the changeling that glanced over to where I was hidden with horror written upon her face. Her brother grabbed her and without any further statement fled his house. Leaving the Princess that ruled over Equestria alone without her hosts that were supposed to obey her every command. Instead, she was left alone, with only me silently hidden and fuming behind her back. She finished the sip of tea that she had taken before her magic enveloped the chair opposite her, pulling it out. It was only then that I realized my mistake. However, she spoke before I could flee. “Sunset, why don’t you join me for some tea? Starfish has a wonderful blend of cactus-based tea.” She invited me without even looking.

Gulping down the torrent of emotions that threatened to break me, as I allowed my cloaking spell to fade. I forced one hoof in front of the other, as I made my way to the chair that she had ordered me to sit in. I refused to meet her gaze before I sat, and once I did, I was thankful. For the moment that I met her usually calm and caring eyes, I was instead trapped in the full gravity of her Sun that poured through her gaze.

Her eyes were portals for the Sun that blazed in a kaleidoscopic brilliant corona of light. Her coat was a peerless white that stood before all elements of the world. Her mane, an ever-shifting flow of the rainbow.

“Sunset.” She beckoned with the statement of my name as she towered before me. Showing once more the divide between the two of us. The ever-present gulch that separated the mortals from the divine. That showed the futility of ever trying to cross that gap. That while the mortals faltered and fell the divine continued on undaunted by their loss.

“Princess Celestia.” I slowly answered in turn with a slight bow of my head. My blood began to burn as I pushed my magic into the air. Preparing the battlefield to as much of my advantage as I could. For I stood against Princess Celestia the Alicorn of the Sun. The one who had once taught me everything.

I, however, had learned far more than just what she had deigned to teach me. Finding fragments of forgotten lore. Searching for ancient spells to fuel my ever-growing desires and plans.

Staining myself with the darkest magics as I delved ever deeper into the darkest pits I could find. All in an effort so that one day in the far future she and I would be together. Forever. For eternity.

We would be the only constants in the ever-changing and shifting world. However much the wrathful tides of history struck, we would be together. Even if she didn't call me her daughter in the beginning, I would have an endless eternity before me to have her change her mind. Then we would be eternally bound together.

“I am glad that you seem well.” She starts her voice once more pulling me back into the realm of Equus itself. Forcing me from my delusions that would never come true. That would taunt me with such thoughts of perfection only to cut them away. I just glared at her. My skin began to bulge underneath my coat as my blood boiled evermore in anticipation.

“Perfectly fine Princess. May I ask what task you have of me?” She wanted to pretend that we were still in her pristine castle. Fine. I would play that game and use the time that she provided to plot my escape. I would not falter. I was not an Alicorn yet. All I had to do was ascend and everything would fall into place.

“I have no task for you but a few questions if you wouldn't mind answering them my student?” she calmly asked. Hah. She still spoke as if I was still her pupil. That I hadn't been discarded by her at the first opportunity. That she still cared about me even when she repeatedly proved that she didn't. Forcefully ripping my jaw open before I lost a tooth, I spoke to the goddess that desired something from me.

“Ask your questions, Princess Celestia.” I snarled out at the Celestial Deity that only came to me when she needed me for one of her uses. How it was only when I could provide her with something that she could not get elsewhere. Otherwise, I was kept forgotten. Forsaken by the one who had once brought me up by her hoof. Now was looking at me as if I was a stranger wearing the flesh of a pony she once knew.

“Sunset…” She started with my name, as she placed the teacup on the table that separated us. Once more a hesitant raising of her wing to cross the small divide between us. I didn't hesitate to teleport away from the appendage that would seek to sever my mortal coil. I watched with glee as she faltered before me. I once more had surpassed the great Alicorn that had commanded the entirety of Equestria from high above, atop her gleaming throne. “Sunset what did you do?” She finally questioned.

Hmm, what could she be referring to this time that I have managed to disappoint her so? Perhaps it was the fact that I abducted her newest fascination that she had replaced me with? Could it be the fact that I had taken the liberty to leave her grasp before she could have properly thrown me away herself?

“My apologies Princess Celestia but you have to be a bit more specific. After all, have I not done numerous things that have disappointed you lately?” I taunted the Princess that still was seated before me. I had somehow forgotten where I stood regarding the two Alicorns. I should have never forgotten such a fact. That I was only worthwhile to them when they needed something from me and as soon as I stepped out of line or did something that they didn't want, I was thrown back into the cold.

“Sunset, you butchered nearly a hundred misguided souls.” Ah, the assault on the castle. I wonder if she enjoyed the altar that I made in her image. “You have forever stained your hooves with their blood.” She solemnly declared. That was it? I could kill on her orders, but when I did it on her behalf to protect her ponies that was the step too far? “I never wanted such a thing to happen to you.” What was she even going on about? I had apparently sullied my hooves long ago. Under her supervision or was it that it came down once more to her controlling me. Anything that she did not permit me to do was an act of sullying her world.

“Does it matter? It wasn't the first time, and it won't be the last.” I said with a shrug as I dropped any remains of formality from my tone. This conversation would end in fire and brimstone. We both knew that it would, why bother to pretend otherwise? “I am rather good at it.” I continued as my mind flashed back to the assault upon the castle and the blood that had freely flowed. The life force that had been lost to the world at my command. The cacophonous screams coalesced into a haunting symphony that followed my every move.

Celestia, however, didn't seem to take my words kindly as she dropped any pretense of the false smile upon her face. Oh, was I supposed to continue to contort myself to your will even now? Was I to burn away leaving nothing of myself in the endless embrace of eternity? I would not be forgotten by you. I will etch my name into your very soul. You will never forget me. Not again. Never again.

“Sunset I am sorry.” She says as she bows her head to me. WHY? Why would she do such a thing? What is going through her brain? What trap is she spinning in with her actions and her words? I won't fall for it. “I am thankful that you have kept Cadance safe -” Of course she is. I am protecting the damnable parasite and that is all that matters to her. “- and that you two even seem to be on friendlier terms.” Her smile isn't fully back and yet the embers of her power are still alight in her eyes, pulsating with her divine power.

“Ah yes, Celestia, you would be pleased to note that I have finally passed your test.” I hissed out at the Alicorn before me. Who proceeded to smile at the venomous words I had spouted. It wasn't one of the fake ones that she wore when she was dealing with me. No, it was a true smile that I hadn't seen in years. She finally smiled at me. Celestia smiled at me. A warmth embraced me entirely within its grasp. I… She… Why? Why did she now only smile at me?

“Oh? Did you take my suggestion to heart and open up to Cadance?” she asked with a brilliant smile written across her face. It was beautiful, and yet I couldn't help the ever-growing desire to rend it from her face. It felt far too wrong. Celestia does not smile at me. She has not smiled at me in years. Not a real smile that is. I…

“ENOUGH!” I yelled thankfully removing the smile from the Alicorn's face. “Just ask your questions and then get on with it.” I would not be used for her amusement any longer. I would not be played with by her of all ponies ever again. I would not allow her to further tarnish my memories of her. Celestia now had her lips pursed as she stared at me before she thankfully continued.

“Of course, Sunset.” She said with a nod as she took the teacup, she had sat down earlier and took another sip from it. I could hear my bones cracking as I violently shuddered under the weight of my anger at her actions. “What is your plan that you have managed to rope Cadance into?” She questioned as she put down her now empty cup.

“Ascendence.” I spat at the pony that I had long wished to be my mother. She didn't even have the grace to pretend to be shocked. She instead just nodded her head as if it was expected. Then why would she have asked the question? Was this merely another test of hers that I am in the process of failing? That this will be another mark against me that will forever tar my history?

“I see. Is there a reason you are attempting to ascend with Cadance’s help?” She continued as if we were talking about something as inconsequential as the weather. Instead of the birth of a new Alicorn. That I was going against her wishes and decree to wait until Cadance had fully ascended before I tried my own ascension. That I had once more bucked her guiding hoof.

“I didn't ask for her help. If anything, I have done everything short of forcing her back to your side where she belongs.” I seethed out at Celestia. She flinched at my words as if I had struck her. What had I done? I replayed my words over and over in my mind and yet I could find nothing. Then why did Celestia react like that?

“I see.” She flatly stated. Once more, proving that no matter how close I got to understanding the most important pony in my life, I would never be able to comprehend her. “You saved her.” She didn’t ask. She didn’t even speculate. She knew that I had saved the pony that she had replaced me with.

“Yes, I did, and I did it again when Discord sought to harm her,” I informed the one who had raised me, my words colored with heat. I could see the way that her lips began to curl, and how her eyes widened almost imperceptibly. So, I continued, “After all that is what you would have wanted me to do.” The final portion of my words struck the forming smile with enough force to wipe them from her mouth. Point to me.

Perhaps we would have continued to exchange verbal jousts but with the scream of terror that tore through the tense air, my priorities had shifted. Immediately I disregarded Celestia and tore through Equus. Sending myself hurtling through a tear, in reality, to find myself at Cadance’s side. Who was holding my duplicate and was for some reason embracing it? What? Closing and opening my eyes to see if I was somehow seeing things. No, I was indeed somehow seeing reality correctly. I confirmed as much when I ran through a spell to detect illusions. What?

Celestia teleported in a moment later to the same sight that had dumbfounded me.

“Cadance?” Celestia questioned as the smaller Alicorn turned her gaze to the elder one. That one word she spoke, Cadence’s name, held all the confusion that I held myself. I could only continue to watch the impossible sight before me.

“Celestia, I killed her, she saved me and now she’s dead.” Cadance wailed as she removed herself from my duplicate’s form. Her eyes were overflowing with tears as she gestured at the duplicate I had made. “I’m sorry. I’m a failure of a pony, of an Alicorn. I can’t do anything. Every pony around me keeps dying.” Was all she managed to get out before her words became indecipherable. Seeing that Celestia wasn’t taking the initiative I took a step forward and placed a hoof on her side. She froze, her eyes opened, and her purple eyes filled with insurmountable loss met my gaze. “Sunset?” She questioned hesitatingly as if I was but an illusion.

“Are you alright?” I questioned her before she finally let go of my duplicate and threw herself onto me. All the while blubbering inconsolably. “Cadance?” I questioned the pony that had latched onto me. Except she gave me no response other than her attempt to further embrace me.

Through her embrace, I looked toward Celestia to see if she had any idea what to do in this scenario. She was Celestia and she had a plan for every situation, I knew that to be a fact as no matter what I had attempted she would be able to beat me at the game we had long since played. Celestia, however, just sighed as she put her head into the crook of her wing. Celestia damn it Cadance. I could only think as the Alicorn of Love held onto me and refused to let go, that this was new.

Author's Note

Back to Sunset's POV in this chapter as she is forced to greet two rather unwelcomed ponies. One within her dreams and one within reality. Only one however she immediately greeted with flames. Otherwise, that interloper within Sunset's dreams implies some interesting things. However no more interesting than the fact that Celestia herself is back in the flesh for the first time in about 10 chapters. Bringing with her a steady decline in Sunset's stability. Wonder how long the two will last this time before one of them(Sunset more than likely) goes too far.
-LittleFaerieFire

26. Consoling Conferences

Consoling Conferences

Sunset

Eventually, Cadance pulled herself off me after a few minutes of both me and Princess Celestia consoling her. I like to think that we had called a temporary truce while we were helping the newborn Alicorn. I, however, realized fully that we were simply putting a pause on our current hostilities. There would be time for spilled fire and blood later after Cadance had been consoled.

“What happened?” I asked the Alicorn that had refused to let go of my hoof and had me under her wing. Was this meant to be some form of protection? Who was she supposed to protect me from? Princess Celestia? The thought nearly made me choke. Which in turn had Cadance tighten her grip on me. Eventually after proving to Cadance that I wasn’t about to perish with her and Princess Celestia here, she finally began to speak.

“I saw Starfish, or well I saw how he really looks. I panicked so I broke your tracker. You came in and…” She trailed off from her slowly spoken words as she stared at Princess Celestia. I could see the mental strain that she was under as she contemplated her next words. I could only frown at the sight. Did she not know that we had been traveling with a changeling? I had only suspected myself that Mistletoe was something more than what she claimed to be. Had she somehow missed the signs?

Did she somehow get to this point of being both a Princess and an Alicorn without knowing about changelings? My gaze twisted from my partner to Princess Celestia’s immaculate form. She was just silently observing Cadance as she continued to be unable to speak her next words.

Which was strange as I had simply teleported her away from the onset of oblivion. Had I done something more? Bringing those memories to the forefront of my mind as I replayed them once more, I could find nothing from my actions that I had taken to save her, that she would even be against. Perhaps, teleporting her without her permission but afterward, when I apologized, she had permitted me to do so in the future.

Cadance found the words that she wished to speak as she continued, however now she was no longer looking towards the Immortal ruler of Equestria. Her gaze was now focused entirely upon me. “Sunset, is that Celestia?” She whispered somehow disregarding the fact that she had spoken to the Princess earlier. I nodded, and at my confirmation, she once more froze.

I turned to Princess Celestia who once more had a smile placed upon her lips, it was a fragile thing. I could see the confusion that lurked deep within her eyes, as she watched her fellow Princess wallow. Thankfully this time Cadance found her words much quicker “Sunset do you think we should take a walk?”

I thought that she knew how to lie. If this was her idea of getting a message past Princess Celestia I am not impressed. I looked at Princess Celestia and saw the amused look of the ruler that had watched another pony fail to sneak something past her.

“Cadance, I promise you that nothing shall happen until the end of this conversation. I am here to check up on not only yourself but Sunset as well.” Princess Celestia brazenly lies as she calls out Cadance’s failure of obfuscation. I would teach her how to properly get around the Princess of the Sun’s ever-watchful gaze. Cadance, however, buried her now reddened face into my side in a futile effort to hide from the elder Alicorn.

Celestia continues undaunted by the strange showing of my partner. “I do believe that I shall allow the two of you to get your story straight while I apologize to Stinger and Cipher.” She says as she trots over to the entrance of the room before pausing and looking back. “I would appreciate it if the two of you were to remain here until I return.” She warns us before exiting the room. The door softly closed behind her. Leaving now only a singular Alicorn with me.

“Cadance?” I questioned my partner who is still attempting to smother herself to death in my coat. “Don’t feel too bad about Princess Celestia catching you, it took me years before I could get around her.” I offered my words of comfort only for the pink Alicorn to groan into my side. Strange. “I can teach you how to lie to her face.” I offered my partner as it was a valuable skill to have when dealing with Princess Celestia. Even though technically it was more a form of misdirection, yet before I could amend my previous statement Cadance pulled her head from my side.

“What is even happening? Why is Celestia here? How are you even alive? How am I even alive?” she exclaimed, her volume increasing with each word that came rocketing from her mouth. I just waited until she was done and was now panting from an exertion that I believed to be far more mental than physical. After allowing her to take a few deep breaths I answered her questions.

“I believe that we both blacked out after my spell concluded. Why you blacked out I am unsure, however, I must have overloaded myself with the amount of magic I performed.” I started, however, I could see a strange sight in my partner's purple eyes. She looked fearful of me once more. Why? What had I done? I had saved her? Had I not? Running the cooling charm at a fraction of the strength I usually do, I steeled my resolve and continued. I would deal with her fear of me later. “I am unsure how she found us. I can hypothesize however that she noticed my temporal magic. I am unsure how to answer your final two questions.”

Cadence took in my words as if they were the final drops of water found in the middle of the San Palomino Desert. Oddly she flinched back from me when I spoke of Princess Celestia finding us, yet she did not let go of my hoof nor did her wing uncover me. Did she and the Princess have a falling out? Was there tension between the two members of Equestrian royalty?

I felt a flame flicker into coexistence deep within my being at those roiling thoughts. A divide between the two Princesses would be a useful thing indeed. After all, if they were contesting against each other, I would be able to take countless advantages from such struggles. With the closeness and trust I had recently acquired from my partner, I would be able to direct her to wound Celestia in a far more effective way than any pony that was alive in Equus.

I would be able to use the turmoil to ascend uncontested by the Princess of the Sun herself. For she would be far too busy dealing with the Princess of Love. It was unlikely that Princess Celestia would kill the newborn Alicorn, especially after putting so much effort into ensuring that she finishes her ascension. This would allow my partner to survive against the Sun. She would be burned and battered, all to gain me even more time to ascend.

Why did such a thought encase me into an imagined imprisonment of ice? Why did it feel wrong? Why did such thoughts bring me far less amusement than they had when I had first planned Cadance’s demise?

The spark of heat that had formed into a quickly raging flame was just as quickly extinguished by those final thoughts… I was truly a pathetic pony, I couldn't help but think to myself as I brought my gaze back to reality and to the pony that had entrapped me within a web of her design. Cadance was still staring at me, her purple eyes were widened with fear yet she made no effort to escape.

Did she say something? Had I once more let something slip to her? “Did I say something again?” I sighed as I allowed the last of the burgeoning flame, to extinguish. Thankfully Cadance shook her head in the negative. Her mane now no longer concealed by my spell work cupped her face as it moved with her head.

“Sunset is there a reason why we aren't fleeing from Celestia?” she hesitatingly asked. Her voice was quiet, yet I knew that it was not enough to escape the Celestial Monarch’s senses. I wonder how she would take her equal siding with me, her failure, over herself. A flame burst into existence, and I allowed myself to embrace it as I answered Cadance.

“She will be able to catch up. I can’t teleport nearly as far as she can without a proper array that I have previously arranged. I had one set up at the cave, and the only other one I have prepared at this moment would only put us further into her clutches.” After all, it would be counterproductive at best to retreat to her seat of power when attempting to escape from the Princess that had long ruled over Equestria. Cadance thankfully understood my limitations on this matter.

If I was able to allow the two of us to escape, I would. It, however, was for the moment something far closer to an impossibility than practical. Perhaps when I and Princess Celestia once more cross horns I would be able to think of a way to escape, but for now I was trapped within her gaze once more. I would adopt my previous role and play to her expectations, she had won after all. “To the winner go the spoils,” I muttered under my breath as I cast the cooling charm reflexively. Cadance looked alarmed but before she could say anything I continued. “Speak the truth there is little chance that Princess Celestia isn't listening in on this conversation.”

“Can’t you use your… magic wall.” She was referring to my privacy ward I believe. It didn't matter. Princess Celestia could get around any spell of mine that she noticed. Especially with her attention no doubt still focused on me to ensure that I wouldn't snuff the life of the newest Equestrian Princess.

I just shook my head in the negative as Cadance winced. She fell into a deep silence that she only emerged from after a few silent minutes had gone by. I had spent my time watching her, seeing how the emotions that converged forth brought a bevy of changes to the pony before me.

Her hope provided her with the foundation for her to stand taller. Only for the realization of fear to cut her down. Followed by indignation that forced her to stand back, yet not as tall as she had achieved before. Even as I was watching the pink Alicorn before me, I watched countless emotions swim through her eyes that I had no hope of recognizing.

She eventually settled on fear, which filled her form. It was far clearer in her eyes that had hardened in a false attempt at protection. Yet it was clear to me that the crystals were easily shattered. “Sunset, do you remember dying?” she hauntingly asked. Her words were followed by a silence that I could not even dispel.

I do not remember dying. I did not even recall being close to death ever since the pony that had attacked me back at Canterlot Castle. I perhaps had underestimated my wounds from that fight considering I had been asleep for a week. I shook my head in the negative and watched as Cadance silently pondered my words.

We were wrapped in silence. Cadance contemplating deep within her mind even as she still clung to me. Her wing almost protectively wrapped over my form, holding me close to the Alicorn of Love. She was warm. She didn't even notice the heat that I was stealing due to her grasping me, so lost in her thoughts. Taking the time, I turned my attention to the duplicate of myself and dispelled my magic allowing my once duplicate to wither away back to the vial that it had once been.

Cadance had not been as deep within her mind as I had presumed as at my action, she pulled me even closer to herself. Tightening her grasp on me, she let out a mix between a whine and a breathless scream. It took a moment for her to calm down even as I attempted to soothe her to the best of my ability. Yes, I could have teleported away from her but… Considering how she reacted to my duplicate dissipating. I did not look at the other reason such as that she was warm and was freely giving me her warmth.

It took for there to be knocking on the door for both of us to be startled out of the embrace that we had been lost in. Cadance loosened her grip on me even if her wing still covered me. “Come in.” She said after a pause in which her cheeks were far pinker than red. Princess Celestia opened the door as she once more caught my gaze.

“I take it that the two of you have gotten your stories straight?” she asked as if she hadn't been listening in on everything that we had been discussing. I nodded as I felt Cadance stiffen at Princess Celestia’s veiled question. “Good. Then I have a few questions for you both.” She stated as the door closed behind her with an audible click, as the world around us faded. Now we were within a grassy field upon a checkered blanket. Her Sun blazing high above in all its splendor.

Oddly Cadance stiffened somehow further at the display of Celestia’s magic. It had the same basic principles as my privacy ward. Just far more advanced. “Please make yourselves comfortable.” Princess Celestia intoned as rays of sunlight brought forth three seats. I stayed still, continuing to stand. Cadance kept her wing over me and her hoof holding mine. Princess Celestia watched us for a moment to see if one of us would break from the other and sit. Once it was clear that neither of us would, the three chairs dissipated back into the sunlight that they were summoned from.

“How exactly did you find us?” Cadance stuttered out as she shuddered around me. Was she this terrified of Princess Celestia? Has Princess Celestia done something to her? I heard a snap, as flames began to pool in my blood. Preparing to converge upon the target of my hate. My eyes found the target and I froze… Was I just considering attacking Celestia on Cadance’s behalf? I couldn't prevent the convulsion that ran through my form.

It took incinerating the thought forcefully to get myself back under some semblance of control. I was before Celestia I would not fail. I couldn't once more prove that I was the failure she knew I was. I had to be perfect for her. I had to be perfect for her. I was nothing without her.

Celestia thankfully didn't make any mention of how strange I just acted instead she seemed almost entirely focused on Cadance. Her pink eyes once more ignored me entirely as they only held room for the Alicorn that was named her equal. That she herself had named her family. The one that had usurped me. The one that had stolen my place at Celestia’s side. I would show the parasite the cost that its actions had accrued.

Before I could act on my molten thoughts, I teleported from the parasite's grip and flash-froze myself. The cold and ice encased me before I could attack the Alicorn Princess. The cold sunk into my very being as I allowed my warmth to be stolen from me. Being replaced by a cold clarity. I could see Cadance’s horn light as she summoned forth a crystalline shard that was sent hurtling at me. Before I could defend myself from the attack the crystal was shattered with a towering blast of fire.

Princess Celestia frowned at me. I could see the disappointment in her eyes as clear as her Sun in the middle of the night. How I was once more a failure. How I once more was nothing but an abandoned project that would be soon forgotten. That I deserved to once more be abandoned into the ice and cold. Left by the one that had once loved me. Her eyes softened as she turned to Cadance. Turning away from me.

NEVER ME! I shuddered even through the ice that encased me. I felt the frozen water begin to boil around me. The ice that once encased me within its frozen bindings, shattered. Free of my self-imposed bindings I looked towards the two Alicorns that were staring at me.

“My apologies for my actions. Where were we?” I forcibly ensured my voice was calm, as I asked even as I seethed. Celestia simply looked over me once more before nodding. Cadance, however, quickly found her way to my side once more.

“Sunset are you alright?” The Alicorn of Love asks as she reaches out with her hoof. I nodded at the pony that was my partner. It was a lie, and I knew that every single pony in this room knew it. However, I could deal with my failures later. Celestia was still here. She had to be dealt with.

“Please ask your questions, Princess Celestia,” I asked, turning from my partner’s purple eyes to Princess Celestia’s pink. From an inferno of caring concern to a cold calculating set of eyes.

“Why exactly did you flee as far as you did from the castle after rescuing Cadance? You both could have gone into Canterlot City. Instead, you went to a cave far beyond the borders of Canterlot, deep within the wilderness. To a cave that was prepared with magics focused to avoid detection.” The Celestial Princess questioned us as she stood before us. A Unicorn and a newborn Alicorn stood for the moment against a fully ascended Alicorn. I could only imagine the tales that could be told of such an encounter.

“I could not be certain that there would not be any attackers within the greater entirety of Canterlot. That cave was a haven I had prepared years ago for my inevitable departure from your castle.” My words honed by years of her tutelage slipped through the field of traps that littered Princess Celestia’s questions. Her eyes narrowed as my words seep into her.

“Cadance, Sunset has mentioned that she has offered you on multiple occasions the chance and ability to leave from her side if you wish,” she asked after a moment of considering her words.

“That is true,” Cadance confirms with a swift nod from beside me. Even as she says it she continues to hold onto my hoof and I can feel the familiar heat of her wing slowly covering me. Was she afraid that I would leave her alone? That I would Abandon her?

“I see, Cadance, why is it you were so distraught?” Princess Celestia asks as her gaze focuses on the Alicorn that is next to me. I take a deep breath as I stifle the flame that sprouted. I had already failed once in this conversation. I would not prove myself to be any more of a failure. I can feel Cadance still, and a glance at her face shows that she is in deep concentration.

“Well… I am not sure how to say it other than…” Cadance hurriedly speaks only to pause and take a deep breath before she continues with steel in her voice. “I think that there was time travel involved. I have two sets of memories. Both events couldn't have happened at the same time. Especially with what Sunset said about sensing chronomantic magic.” She concludes by leaving only silence in her wake.

That e-.

“I perished.” It was an oddly cold thought. One that sent waves of ice throughout my very existence. It made sense with how clingy she is, how she was asking after if I remembered perishing. Interesting, I wonder what managed to kill me? “What finally extinguished my flame?” I asked Cadance as I turned to face her fully.

“You really don’t remember?” she asked, her voice tainted with a strange inflection that I couldn't place. I shook my head in the negative which caused her to let out a soft neigh as she continued “You promised to protect me, and you did exactly that…” She trailed off as her voice continued to get smaller and softer. However, that did not change the chaos that those words of hers had inspired.

I promised to protect her? I… She… Why had I promised to do that? What in Celestia’s name had happened? Why had I promised? What had I promised? What had I been extinguished for?

“Cadance, what were my exact words in that promise?” I urged the Alicorn before me. I had to know. What had I promised her? Why I had promised her. How had I forgotten a promise that I had made? I… Did it even count as me making the promise? I didn't know but… I needed to know what I, or another version of myself, had promised her. “Cadance please,” I begged the Alicorn that was my partner. She knew how much I valued my word, to make a promise and then-. “Did I at least keep that promise until I perished?” Please Celestia at least let me have done that.

Cadance throughout my beckoning was silent, her purple eyes a converging sea of crystals that formed and shattered with each thought. She met my gaze, and I could see the fragmented crystals coalesce into a grand creation of her design. A sharpened blade of crystalline might was brought to bear against me.

“The last time you promised me you died in a vain effort to accomplish it. Why in Celestia’s name would I tell you about that promise?” She questioned her words a blade that attempted to strike true. She forgot who she was contesting, I was second only to Celestia herself… and she is still here.

Twisting my gaze from my partner that refused to answer my question instead to the celestial monarch that had allowed herself to slip from my attention. She was content to only watch as the two of us revealed far too many secrets. I could see the sparks of intrigue within her eyes as she no doubt was using the information she had just gleaned to her advantage. I turned my attention back to the pits of purple crystalline blades.

I could see that Cadance was about to continue this argument. Before any more information could be gleaned from her words, I silenced her

“Princess Celestia is still here.” I hissed uncaring that the Princess of the Sun was able to hear this warning. Cadence froze and her eyes flicked over her fellow Princess. Her face flushed in embarrassment as she took a half-hoof step away from me but otherwise still held me.

“Indeed.” Princess Celestia announced, cleaving through the silence. “Moving past this hiccup, Cadance I believe that what you have experienced. What you no doubt believe to be from some pony rewinding the clock, in a manner of speaking. Was instead likely a vision of a potential future. One that thanks to your actions was averted.” She serenely spoke in a softened tone. Her entire being exuded trust and yet her eyes which I had always been captivated by held something beyond speculation.

I could, however, see for just one singular moment that in her eyes, the gentleness was not found. That one moment where instead of a kind and gentle radiance that filled her eyes was instead replaced with a seething hatred. One that I would have easily been misplaced within my own eyes.

“A vision? It felt so real.” Cadance muttered lost in the idea that what she had experienced was but a vision. I looked towards her and saw her nearly sag in relief at the thought of being able to erase all of that pain that she had endured. That she could escape the suffering that she had survived. Perhaps on another day, I would have pulled back the wool from my partner's eyes, but as she clung to me, I decided to confront Princess Celestia about her newest lie, at a later moment. When Cadance was willing to move forwards, I would help her to the best of my ability.

“I have one final question for the two of you then. Depending on your answer I will have a proposition that I believe will interest you.” Princess Celestia smiled as she spoke. One that was filled with a false calculative warmth that promised everything yet gave nothing. After seeing that neither of us was going to challenge her she continued. “My final question for the both of you is would you like to return to Canterlot with me?” Princess Celestia strangely asks.

Was she demanding it of the two of us? Cadance I could understand, she was a fellow Princess, but I was included in that statement. Or was this a situation in which I was supposed to say no and for Cadance to agree to Princess Celestia’s question? It wouldn't be the first time she has had me do such a task. However, the wording for this ‘question’ was different from her previous orders.

Was she truly asking if I would like to return to her castle then? Where she would proceed to ignore my very existence. That was until she needed me to complete a task for her. Or if I had once more stepped a hoof out of line and ruined her ideal creation. NO! I wouldn't go back. I would not be summoned back to her castle just to be forgotten.

I would return when I was an Alicorn. When I was ready to confront her. When I was ready to slit her throat and bathe all of Canterlot in my mother’s blood. Drowning all those that had long since looked down at me. Decrying that I would never get the love that I had long since desired.

Only I would return to her place of power when I was ready. Until then I would continue to flee from her perfect vision, no matter what it costs me. No matter what I must sacrifice. I would not give in to the false promises. I would not be abandoned by Celestia again!

“I’m sorry Celestia but I believe that neither of us is interested in returning to Canterlot at the moment,” Cadance answered Celestia’s question before I could even think of voicing my objections. It took me a moment, but I nodded in agreement with Cadance’s words. Celestia tilted her head, in agreement with our decision, even if it was clear that she would have preferred Cadance to return to Canterlot with her.

“In that case, I would prefer the two of you to have some ponies travel with you while you are traveling.” I could feel the frown on my face form even as I attempted to not react to the words that she was spouting. “I understand and am thankful that the two of you have survived far more than what could ever be expected of you both. However, you are both still young, and have yet to understand some lessons that only come with experience.” She continued as if she wasn't attempting to have us travel with her would-be spies. No spies were concealed, hidden, this was far more-.

“You want us to have a foal sitter?” I couldn't help the question that spilled from my lips. I had been taking care of myself with no oversight for years now, but since I was no longer within her castle Princess Celestia apparently could no longer trust me to not incinerate myself. “I am the strongest Unicorn in Equestrian history, and you want me to have a foal sitter?” I repeated the question almost dumbfounded by even the idea. Princess Celestia simply nodded.

“It is the same principle, yes. You hire a pony you can trust and then have them watch over the ponies that you care for. You have that pony ensure that they are taken care of and ensure that they are kept safe.” She pauses as she smiles, her Sun high above shone with her. “As Cadance no doubt knows there's far more to being a foal sitter than what is initially assumed.” Cadance slowly nodded, apparently as mystified by her fellow Princess's behavior as I was.

“Technically I’m still a fully licensed foal sitter, -” Cadance began “- I know how to take care of any foal. Which I would like to point out that I am not.” I waited for her to continue, and when it was clear that she wasn’t going to I pushed against the underside of her wing, which jolted her into action. “Sunset I can get, but me? Really?” I tasted the ashes of betrayal once more. It seems that Princess Celestia seemed amused by Cadance’s statement if the way her eyes lit up was any inclination.

“Oh, you believe yourself ready to travel through Equestria with only Sunset by your side?” I could feel the moment Cadance froze at Princess Celestia’s words. “You may have dealt with numerous colts and fillies, but traversing throughout Equestria is a different task entirely.” Princess Celestia paused her grandstanding for a moment to let her words sink in. I could only wait, rapturously enthralled by the being before me.

“However instead of hiring a pony from the surrounding area, instead I have tasked two of my guards with protecting you both. I may not agree with your choice to continue to travel, however, you are both old enough to make your own decision in this regard. However, as the pony that is entrusted with taking care of both of you, I ask that you let me do this.” As she concludes her proposition the reality around us reshapes itself to the room that Cadance and I had recovered within.

Princess Celestia made her way towards the door that opened on her command before she turned back to the both of us. “Please think over my offer. You have both proven that I cannot keep you chained within Canterlot.” She pauses with a sigh before her smile fades from her face. Revealing the visage of a mare that has seen eons pass her by, and has seen the countless births and deaths of generations past. She steps through the door letting it softly close behind her.

Leaving only myself and Cadance enshrouded by the silence that permeated existence itself. Threatening any that would dare to break its hold over reality… That was until the door was pushed open once more by the Celestial Monarch herself. “Oh, Cadance I was meant to pass along a message from Cipher. She wanted to ask if you would prefer to push the dinner until tomorrow. Perhaps have it as breakfast?”

Author's Note

Mostly just character interaction this chapter between Cadance, Celestia, and Sunset. Had some fun figuring out how the tangled mess of priorities would interact with one another. Sunset continues to have troubles with Celestia being here especially with how far her relationship with Cadance has improved. It is putting a large strain on her as she attempts to act as nothing is wrong. That she is still perfect.
-LittleFaerieFire

27. Wanton Whispers

Wanton Whispers

Sunset

It was only as the door once more clicked shut did, I turn to my partner who still had her wing around my form. She had become a mess of a different sort when Princess Celestia had asked that last question. Thankfully when Celestia left so did the affliction that my partner had suffered under. She, however, did not choose to share why she had acted so strangely even after Princess Celestia had left the room.

“A quick question if you wouldn't mind answering it,” I muttered to the pink Alicorn that was once more lost to her thoughts. Thankfully she responded with a swift nod, good I would rather not have to wait for her to return to reality. “Are you planning on letting me go?” For almost every moment that she had been awake, I had been held by her. Kept under her protecting wing. Sheltered from harm. In truth, I doubted she would be able to protect me, but the thoughts did bring a warmth that permeated throughout my entire being.

“I’m not hurting you, am I?” Cadance quickly questions as she steps to the side and loosens her grip on me.

“You're not, but you realize that I inevitably am going to have to leave your side?” I ask as I watch my partner keenly awaiting her reaction to my question. A frown flickered on my face as I considered how I was acting. Why was I being this gentle? Yes, she had witnessed my apparent demise but why was she acting so odd? Further, why did I even care?

Thankfully Cadance fell silent at my question instead of immediately answering. Giving me more time to work out this problem. It should be simple. I was just ensuring that her mental stability was unaffected by whatever it was that she had experienced. Hence the reason that I have allowed her to cling to me so. It also provided me with a bevy of time to in turn suffuse myself in her warmth.

That made sense. I was acting correctly. Narrowing my eyes as I focused on my partner, who was still silently staring at me. She must be the cause of this fault in our partnership. Why would she care if I had perished? She would simply have to find a replacement. It wasn’t as if it would be hard to find a pony that was far more useful to her than I ever could be. After all Princess Celestia did come to ensure that she was alright. Cadance would always be able to ask the Princess of the Sun for a new tutor.

I pointedly ignored the way that my blood churned at the thoughts. Instead, I beckoned my partner out of her own. “What is the deal with the dinner anyways?” At my question, I could see how fast Cadance snapped back into reality, for a moment I thought I had heated the air with my magic. But no, she was for some reason, that I knew only Princess Celestia could know, was blushing. I managed to catch her gaze momentarily before she let go of me to avoid my gaze.

Ok. That proves it. Something is wrong with Cadance, and I have no idea what it is. Shrugging at my partner's newest oddity, I made my way to the door and pushed it open, before stepping through. Letting it swing close behind me.

I didn't make it more than a few steps before I heard a panicked charge of hoofs against the floor and the splintering of wood. I reflexively threw a shield around myself, and I twisted around to see my would-be attacker. Only to lower my shield immediately and begin to treat the burns that now peppered Cadance’s form. “Are you insane?” I hissed at the Alicorn that had charged into my shield and had been burned by it. “Why in Princess Celestia’s name would you do something so stupid?” I continued as I wrapped her in my magic, checking over her with my magic. Ensuring that no harm would last upon my partner’s form.

“I may have overreacted but…” She trailed off as I carefully set her on the ground. “The moment you left I could feel your blood on me.” She meekly states, as she reaches out with her wing in an attempt to touch me. I raised my hoof meeting the tip of her wing. Feeling our warmth bridge together, in a brief union.

“So, you were alright as long as you could see me?” She slowly nodded, her usually vibrant mane listlessly followed. “Then I just have to stay within your sight.” I said with a shrug. It was a compromise that would be far safer for both of us. “That work?” I queried the pony that was my partner. Her purple eyes were wide and filled with the remnants of crystallized structures that reformed themselves into a star. Which brightened her entire being with its light, and a dazzling smile formed upon her lips.

“Thank you, Sunset!” Cadance thanked me as she chased away the shadow that had clung to her for the moment. I smiled in return at the pony that always smiled at me, even when I knew I didn’t deserve any compassion. I nodded and enjoyed the warmth that surged as she once more embraced me. After a few moments longer, I was released by my tactile partner.

“Don't go breaking any more of Stinger’s house, however. Especially since Princess Celestia is here.” I softly chided as I reconstructed the door that had stood between my partner and myself. “She very much can drag us back to Canterlot in chains. Even if she is for the moment choosing not to do so.” Cadance nodded at my words, but from the grin that she still wore I doubted she even heard me.

I sighed but otherwise once more resumed my trek to where I could hear three ponies softly conversing. If I could hear them no doubt that Cadance was able to pick apart every single one of their words. It would be a useful boon to have, when I ascended, I would be sure to cherish it. Continuing, with Cadance following in my hoof steps I made it once more to the kitchen, I could see Stinger and Cipher pause. Their words halting in their mouths, but I spared them only a passing glance as I sought out the Sun that illuminated my very world.

My gaze caught the way that her eyes lit up with warmth as she chuckled at a Cipher and Stinger’s reaction to Cadance. How they tightened with concealed annoyance as they both surged forwards to check up on her, only to stop short. Both Stinger and Cipher halted when they realized I stood between them and Cadance. Princess Celestia keenly watched over my latest test. Silently observing how quickly I would fail this impromptu exam.

I sighed as I teleported behind them. Allowing them free access to the pony that they cared for. Leaving Princess Celestia’s gaze only focused on me. I could faintly hear my partner grumbling, but that was replaced by the incessant buzzing of chatter. I allowed my partner to be checked upon by the two changelings, while I stared down the Celestial Monarch that had yet to break my gaze.

We matched gazes, quickly lost between our silent battle of wills. I once more was pitted against the Alicorn that had raised me. That had pitied me. That had abandoned me. I would not lose this contest. I would prove to her that I was worthy of her time. That I was worth something. That I was worth being named her kin.

Princess Celestia sighed as she averted her gaze, once more falling on me. I had once more bested her. I had once more proven that I could and would best the greatest pony. That I could bridge that divide between the two of us. That I-. My thoughts were silenced as another whispered within my mind.

“Sunset, would you please walk with me for a moment.” Princess Celestia beckoned. Her mouth stilled, yet with the touch of her magic, I could hear her hallowed voice clearly. I stared at the Princess before me. A coiling hatred threatened to engulf all that dared exist. I clenched my teeth as I forced the cooling charm to suppress the heat that I had summoned forth.

“I am sorry Princess, but I would rather not leave Cadance’s sight.” I succinctly denied the only pony that had ever cared for me. Her facsimile of a real smile faltered as her gaze once more left me and focused on the only other Alicorn in the room. “After all I did offer to not leave her gaze,” I answered the unasked question that the Princess before me already knew. Yet she still wanted me to bow down to her and show the world how far I had fallen. How deeply I had been entrapped within my replacement’s plan.

“In that case, please step closer to me so that I can-.” Was all Princess Celestia got out before I had already cast a variation of my own personal privacy ward. This time however altered to allow the gaze of my partner to still watch from beyond the spell's boundaries. It would still perform its primary purpose of silencing my admonishment, however. Hiding my most recent punishment from my partner who had somehow yet to realize how worthless I truly was.

“Is this acceptable, Princess?” I asked the now silent ruler of Equestria, who was keenly observing my conjured spell.

“It is indeed. I am glad to see that you have nearly mastered this spell of yours.” Celestia finally responded, after spending a few moments continuing to inspect my spell. Once more reminding me that in comparison to her, I was so far below her. All I could do was continue to worship in her shadows. “This ward of yours will no doubt be helpful, as even I would have trouble circumventing it. If this is a continuation of the spell that you had shown me years ago, you have made wonderful progress Sunset.” She continued with a smile, silencing my inner tirade.

All I could do was stare at Celestia. Waiting for her to pull the other hoof. She never compliments me. Not without any reason. I did my best to smother that accursed flame that grew deep inside of me, with her words continuing to add fuel to it. “I am pleased to see that you continue to explore a large variety of magical fields.” She continues even as she pulls forth the cloak I had enchanted for Cadance from under her wing. “After all this cloak is a masterpiece of magical enchantments. With a few more years of honing your craft, you could turn this cloak into an artifact that even I would wish to have as my own.”

I allowed the empty compliments to fall from her lips, fully knowing that she meant none of what she was saying. I was no longer the filly that fell over my hooves every time Princess Celestia addressed me. I now know better. I would not be that foolish again. I knew now the game that was being played. I was now a player at the table, instead of one of Princess Celestia’s pieces.

Princess Celestia takes my silence for consent to continue with her honeyed words. “When you and Cadance resume your journey, I will sleep better knowing that she has a form of anonymity.” She states as she levitates the cloak over to me. I grasped it with my magic, doing my best to shatter her magic that supported the cloak, yet once more I was left floundering against the pinnacle of pony kind. “This does bring me to the reason that I wished to speak with you in private, however…” Princess Celestia trails off, leaving the two of us in silence.

“If you are worried about me further squandering your name, you need not. I have taken the prerogative to apply an illusion over myself.” I forced myself to calmly state, swallowing the indignation and rage that those words stoked deep within me. I applied my glamor spell to prove to the Princess that was looking down at me, that I was not even further tarnishing her reputation.

An oozing flame roared inside my blood as I watched the pony that I had long since longed for take a quick step back, her normally warm eyes shadowed. Was she afraid of me? Did I make another mistake with my spell? Checking over my spell work and equation I found nothing of concern. I had only colored myself red and emulated my future self’s cutie mark… oh. “I see so it is true.” My strangled voice barely whispers out as the weight of realization begins to engulf me.

Celestia quickly realizes her mistake as she takes a step forward, but I continue. “How much more time before I finally go too far?” My whispered words silenced the still-forming words that had never left her mouth. My inner warmth quickly becomes lost to the weight that is becoming all-encompassing. It was true. Everything I had feared. I now had confirmation of why I had been brought in by Celestia all those years ago.

“Sunset I am unsure of what -” Celestia immediately attempts to redirect the conversation with another of her lies. I did not allow her to do so.

“The calamity that I am supposed to bring forth? The entire reason that you saved me from the remains of my birth parent's burned cottage? Where you pulled me from the snow and ice that nearly killed me. The reason that you have dealt with me for all these years. In a vain attempt to somehow prevent the damage that I would cause.” A familiar and welcoming heat pooled within me as I continued to stand against Celestia. “Does none of that sound familiar to you Celestia?” I hissed out her name, filled with as much vitriol as I could store within it.

Celestia even now is still pretending to be concerned with me. That I wouldn’t soon be sacrificed by her very own hooves.

“Sunset Shimmer! You are making a very wild and dangerous accusation right now.” Celestia exclaims in a clear attempt to have me back down. To once more follow her lead. To once more allow myself to be manipulated by her. Her words were lies. She was startled. She had adopted a defensive stance. Her wings were slightly extended instead of relaxing by her side.

“It is true, however,” I growl at the pony that I had long wished to be my mother. Even if she only saw me as something that was to be led to slaughter. I couldn't help the weakness that slid past my shield of rage. A wet laugh resounded from my lips. I still wished for her to call me her daughter, I was truly PATHETIC! My blood resounded with my rage, as I felt my bones shudder in anticipation for the long-since prophesied battle between the two of us. The Alicorn and the Unicorn. The teacher and the student.

We would have our final confirmation where there was but only one correct outcome. The Alicorn who must put down her failure, and the failure that had delved into the darkest pits of magic. “It is true, otherwise you wouldn't be reacting like I was a threat. You would otherwise still be acting as if I was throwing a tantrum because I was still not good enough!” As my words resounded reality reconstructed itself at my desire.

Remodeling itself into the tea room where my mother and I had fought. Where we had been irrevocably severed. I realized that I would never be her daughter no matter how much I thought of her as my mother. Celestia realized how far I had fallen. “You would still be acting as you had back then.” My spite-filled words acted as the start for the scene to once more replay the memory that I had reexperienced countless times.

Two ponies took center stage, one an Alicorn who stood at the top of Equestria. The other was a small filly that dared contest the one that had once favored it. I spoke at the same time as my younger self. For I knew these words by heart. “Princess Celestia!” My younger self's words were filled with adoration and care that I knew my current words lacked.

“Sunset there is no need to-!” That was all my mother managed to get out before I silenced her. It was a spell that was based on the works of a sorceress older than Celestia herself. Mage Meadowbrook had a large variety of brilliant spells. This was one that I had retooled to suit my purpose.

“Sunset, thank you for coming so quickly.” The false Celestia stated without even looking at my younger self. Instead enthralled with a letter that was before her. So caught up with the scrawled words that she missed the frown that quickly dissipated from my former self’s mouth. “Please take a seat, I have prepared some tea.” She said never expecting anything but complete obedience from me. I followed her orders immediately and with no hesitation.

“Do you want to see my progress on my newest spell? I have nearly gotten the issue with -.” That was all I managed to get out before Celestia looked up at me. Her eyes clouded with annoyance that silenced me far quicker than any spell. My younger self’s attempt to alleviate the punishment that I knew awaited me, failed.

“We both know how this goes. I’ll skip forward to the part that I am referring to.” I announced to my mother who had yet to even test the strength of my spell. Reality hastened as the illusory memory sped forth. Skipping past my failures in attempting to get Celestia to give me more than I deserved.

“Sunset, I know that you are excited to show me your newest spells, but I called you here to talk to you about your accident with Pr-.”

“He isn't a prince.” My younger self interrupted Celestia, before immediately realizing her actions and began to wilt before the Alicorn Princess before her. I could only seethe at the foolish actions of my younger self that had so easily thrown away the potential victory, I, however, learned in time. Celestia observed my younger self for a moment longer before continuing with her admonishment.

“-Blueblood, then. I have already conversed with him before summoning you here.” Celestia paused now, giving my younger self her undivided attention. “Sunset, why don’t you join me, instead of standing by yourself.” At her words, a tea set that was emblazoned with crescent moons appeared on the table. A gentle steam wafted from the pot that Celestia levitated.

My younger self looked hesitant, but Celestia just nodded her head. My younger self nodded in turn and followed her demand. “Thank you, Sunset.” Celestia’s words were accompanied by a beaming smile that I had etched into my memory. That, however, did not stop me from basking in the false warmth that it provided even now. Yet once more even this facsimile of warmth could never last.

“Sunset, there is no need for this to continue. We both said words that day that I know each of us wish we could take back.” Celestia softly whispered, my eyes flicked from her false form to her true one. She wasn't even looking at me. No, she was looking at my past self. “I… I wish I had reacted better, I am truly sorry Sunset.” Her eyes still stuck to my past form, not even bothering to look at the failure I had become.

I stared at my mother, allowing the memory to continue. I, however, could not hear it, even knowing exactly what would happen. My attention instead was split between the molten rage that burned within my blood, and my mother who still wasn't looking at me. A strange echo of pressure emanated throughout my form.

I faintly heard a shout and the shattering of a priceless tea set. It didn't matter. It never mattered. I never mattered. I could feel two familiar burning weights settle upon my sides. My horn was encapsulated with a predatory heat that whispered untold promises of harm. Muffled shouting continued yet went unanswered.

Finally, she looks at me once more. Her pink eyes were wide, filled with an emotion that had my mouth salivating. Her mouth opened revealing her pristine teeth almost chattering, and yet she did not speak. No, instead she silently mimed for a moment, before I felt the arcane will, she had summoned to oppose my spell. I smiled as Celestia brought her might to bear against me once more.

My spell shattered at the same time my younger self’s resolve did. Blackened flames surged forth with the intent to carbonize the only pony I had ever loved. Yet all I could do now was watch as Celestia summoned a shield. I felt my magic and flames begin to lick upon reality and the memories of the past itself, hearing the beckons within my blood to be released. To be freed from its molten confines to forever feast on the fuel that surrounds me.

Hate. My magic surged. A brilliant corona of light erupted. Magic shattered. Attack. Throwing myself forward my molten wings constructed of blood and flame found their way towards Celestia, yet before I could impact her, she shimmered. Her very form was filled with a brilliant, blinding light that my attack seeped through. Retreat. A cacophonous tearing rippled across the memory.

Flapping my flaming wings to give myself space from my mother I could only frown at the sight before me. There was no sign of either the memory that I had imposed upon my ward or even the sight of the changeling's home. Perhaps-. No! It didn't matter! I wouldn't give up here! I was far too close to stop now. If I was to falter here it all would have been for nothing.

Enraptured by my mother’s return to reality I ignored the screeching of my name that came from beyond the fields of snow. How fitting my final clash against Celestia would be within the very snowfields that she had saved me from. The very ones that she had long since tormented me within. Pain. Summoning a blade that rocketed through the snowfields, seeking out Celestia’s throat. In an effort to color the white world with the blood of an immortal.

I would beat her. Attack. I would win. I would usurp the ending, no, the very fate that had decreed that I would never win. Continue. I would show Mother that I was worth being remembered. That she made a mistake when she abandoned me. I would not be lost beyond the fragmented realms of Equus once more. HATE. I had clawed my way back to her. I would be by her side forever. She would be forced to LOVE me as her daughter.

Mother once more did not disappoint. She proved to be the only being greater than I as she evaded, destroyed, and brutally retaliated against me. Bleed. Flames flickered between us, as we sought to reduce the other to nothing more than ashes. She sought to put me down as the feral beast that I was. The one that she had once more failed.

All I could do was laugh as I saw her resolve finally harden within her pink eyes. Yes. Finally, she would fight to kill. To butcher. To end the life of her greatest failure. To finally end the threat that she had saved long ago. Forever.

“HATE ME, LOVE ME, IT MATTERS LITTLE I AM YOURS AND YOU ARE MINE CELESTIA.” My words burned across the snowfields setting the frozen waters ablaze. I was hers when she found me. I was always hers. No matter what it took she would be mine. No matter how much I must reduce to ash, no matter how much I must burn and then reshape the fabric of reality. She would be mine.

I would not again be replaced by another student. I would not be left in a realm that was not my own. I had reforged the very essence of Equus with my claws, just so that I would be with you again Mother. Aren't you proud of me, Mother? Your gaze only has room for my visage. You are entirely focused on me. No room for any that would dare get between us. I had ensured it. My alterations had taken effect since the beginning.

Shadows danced in the boiling steam that once was snow. Celestia stood tall, her wings at the ready, and her horn filled with a swirling rainbow. Mother, you know that won’t work. It never has. I laughed as my flames crept up to my own horn, Magic burned. Screams echoed. Before I could once more shatter my Mother, the parasite flew between us. Its purple eyes were filled with crystals that clung far beyond its eyes.

EVEN NOW IT STOLE MOTHER FROM ME. I would show it once more how worthless its Love was. It had been far too long since I had stained my hoofs in her blood. Her shadow writhed as I stared down the pathetic duo that stood between Celestia and me.

Cadance promised that she wouldn’t steal Celestia from me. She promised. She cared for me. She helped me. She-.

IT LIES SHE ALWAYS LIES. THEY ALL STEAL HER FROM ME.

“Sunset?” The… no she was not a parasite. Why did she prevent me from gaining Celestia’s Love? I was so close to ascending. I just needed a pair of wings… I couldn't help the smile that formed on my face. Obliterate.

No! What was I thinking? That was Cadance! My stomach dropped. Yet it didn't matter. My flames surged forth. Seeking to end the Alicorn that interjected itself in between Celestia and myself. I could see Celestia surging forth her magic wrapping around her as she tore through reality.

Ice crept through my veins. My flames fragmented as they froze. Shattering in a cacophony of prevented pain. Cadance once more smiled at me. “Thank you, Sunset.” She spoke even as Celestia reformed between the two of us, a cascading shield of intersecting angles forming around her.

I could see that she was once more smiling at me. I was sick of this. It was the same song and dance. Yet no matter what I did, when the music began to play, I began to prance. I opened my mouth to say something, anything at all, yet nothing. All I could do was watch as the burned snowfields faded away, revealing the room that Cadance and I had recovered within. With my anger, and hatred waning, my wings flickered out of existence, my horn regained its original form. Leaving me defenseless before the two Alicorn Princesses.

“Are you feeling better Sunset?” Celestia asked, her voice oddly gentle. Was she afraid that I would once again attempt to assault her? I could do nothing to the elder Alicorn before me. That had once more been proven. Taking a breath and running through the cooling charm once more before I answered. The constant throbbing chill thankfully provides enough of a shock to eliminate the final dregs of my anger.

“Yes. My apologies Pr-.” That was as far as I got before Princess Celestia silenced me with her wing.

“There is no need to apologize, Sunset. While I would have preferred a differing method, I am glad to see that you are feeling better.” Princess Celestia spoke softly as she flew from Cadance’s side to where I stood. Landing before me with not even a sound she continued “Perhaps next time we can talk through your emotions instead of having an impromptu sparring match?” She questioned calmly almost as if we had not just nearly fought to my death.

“I hate you.” I breathed out. I didn’t snarl or spit out those words, no they were released with a deep exhale. I didn't mean to say them, yet they slipped out unintentionally, nonetheless. Yet those true words were spoken all the same. Gauging from the gasp my partner let out, she wasn’t expecting them either. Before I could even attempt to retract my words, to do anything, Celestia spoke.

“I know.” She said, her voice soft, as she lowered her head to be level with my own. Her gaze found mine as once more I was lost within her pink orbs. The fragments of shattered warmth that I had once found within them, have vanished. Much like the pony that once allowed me to pretend that she loved me. Now I could only see the stalled timeless gaze of one that had no doubt seen this before, and one that would see it again. “I am sorry that you do Sunset Shimmer. I am truly sorry that I have given you enough reason to hate me.” She says as she finally bows her head, breaking the connection our gazes shared.

My blood once burning with righteous anger, then frozen, was now no longer even churning within my veins. A desolation of both chill and warmth. Leaving but an empty pit that quickly engulfed me. All I could do was let the void continue to spread throughout.

We stayed still, the three of us enshrouded in silence. The actions and words no doubt replayed in my partner’s mind as they were being replayed within mine. Celestia, however, continued to move forwards even as she shattered the fragile peace. She rose from her bow and turned to Cadance, perhaps she whispered those words to Cadance, but I heard them as strangled shouts. “Cadance please take care of Sunset on my behalf. I fear that I will cause even more harm if I make another attempt.”

“Of course, Auntie” Cadance immediately nods without a moment's hesitation. Her gaze breaks off from Celestia’s as she meets mine. When our eyes connect her purple ones are filled with a fragile warmth. A smile flickers into existence upon her face once more. The warmth spreads from my partner to me.

The void that had previously engulfed me entirely now no longer did so. An ember of warmth now existed. A spark of hope that could grow into something grander than even I could believe. Celestia nods to the younger Alicorn before she continues to speak.

“I will alert Cipher and Stinger that the two of you will be retiring for the moment,” Celestia says as she spares me one final glance. Before she fades away in a ray of almost dull sunshine. Leaving only myself and Cadance. With her absence, I could feel proof of my failure running down my muzzle.

“I’m sorry.” I eventually got out. Unsure specifically why I was apologizing but at least I realized that I should. Cadance, however, frowns at my apology. Fair. I was lucky that she hadn't attacked me in the back.

“Sunset, if you are having trouble, you can ask for my help. Just like when I ask you for yours. Even if you are having trouble with Celestia.” Cadance whispers as she slowly moves closer. A wing outstretched, however instead of continuing further she stopped. I blinked away at the liquid failure and looked at her in a vain attempt to figure out her intentions. I could see her mane frazzled, from interjecting herself in mine and Celestia’s battle. Her smile was ever present on her lips, her eyes were once more filled with warmth.

Hesitatingly I lifted my hoof and met the tip of her wing. Her smile blossomed with a brilliant display of radiance. Her eyes blazed with molten crystals that coalesced into intricate shifting designs. Her warmth seeped through her wing tip and transfused throughout me entirely.

Author's Note

The first of the major events that I sought to write about with this story, is now complete. Sunset finally tells Celestia that she hates her. Celestia had an odd reaction to her ward's words. One of an almost sad acceptance. We once more get to have an in-depth look at how far Sunset's thoughts go. Along with a few strangely worded thoughts that have been whispered. Thankfully Cadance once more prevents Sunset from going too far, this time at least, however. One can only wonder how much longer such an act would continue to work.
-LittleFaerieFire

28. Failures Freedom

Failures Freedom

Sunset

I would consider myself a proud pony. One that knew what they wanted. One that was willing to burn the world to achieve it. No matter how dirty I would have to make my hooves, I was willing to bloody them. I even found pleasure and joy in the act, however at the moment I knew without hesitation that without the pony that was my partner, I likely would be a mess.

First, I burn five years of my life away, then Celestia shows up, I apparently died, and now I just told Celestia that I hated her. Without the connection of my hoof and her wing, which was allowing me to subsume her warmth. I had no doubt that I would have frozen myself whole.

“Thank you, Cadance.” I couldn’t begin to form the words that describe how thankful I was that she was here. She alone pushed back the inevitable confrontation between me and Celestia. I had been so lost in my rage that I just didn’t care that I was willing to throw away our potential eternity. “I owe you f-.” That was all I got out before she pushed her other wing to my mouth to silence me.

“You owe me nothing. We are partners. I will beat this into you if needed, Sunset. We help each other. Not to owe one another but because it’s us against the rest of Equus.” Cadance says the smile that has been present upon her face nearly turns feral with her words. I couldn't help the smile that pushed itself onto my lips. I could feel the dried weakness as I smiled, but for the moment I chose to ignore it. She had already seen it after all.

She had seen me at nothing but my worst. Yet even now I had yet to give her the information that I had on the Crystal Empire. She had saved me, no she had done far more than just that. She deserved far more than what I had been giving her.

“I… I haven't been fulfilling my portion of our agreement. I have had some information on the Crystal Empire for a while and I have yet to give it to you.” I got out on my second attempt. I could feel the cold shame embracing me from behind, as I waited for the smile on my partner's face to fade. For her eyes to lose their warmth, for her to no longer permit a connection that currently bridged the two of us.

Instead of anything I had feared, Cadance just nodded at my words. Patiently waiting for me to continue with the knowledge I should have long since shared with her. She truly was perfect. “The Crystal Empire was ruled over by a cruel and spiteful King. King Sombra, a Unicorn who was said to have mastered the darkest of blackened magics. He ruled over the kingdom with a hoof made of crystal and shadow.”

I took a breath and gathered my thoughts, ensuring that I dredged every memory I had that related to the Crystal Empire to the front of my mind. “From his crowning where he had brutally entombed the previous rulers. Encasing them in crystal and shattering them before the entirety of the citizenry to when he would force his new citizens to mine deep below the castle forever searching for something.” Seeing the frown form on my partner’s mouth I hastily continued “This was all from a thousand years ago, not much has survived to the present day, even what I have managed to find out could potentially be incorrect.”

Cadance nodded and gestured with the wing that was not meeting my hoof to continue. “From there he continued his search beneath the castle for a few short years. His rule during this time was brutal, any pony that dared to get in his way or even inconvenience him was shattered or changed. Eventually, word managed to get out of the conquered Kingdom that the original King and Queen had been disposed of in a brutal fashion. Princess Celestia was then informed of this regicide of a neighboring country and sought to free the ponies that were caught within the grasp of the tyrant”

Taking a breath and taking hold of a few of Cadance’s feathers in an attempt to soften the rest of the tale. “Princess Celestia and King Sombra fought and for seven days the King stood against the Princess. However, he was in the end mortal, and was doomed to the same fate that all mortals share when they dare stand against the divine.” Ignoring the flame that sparked deep within myself I continued the tale. “When it was clear that he was unable to bridge that gap, he instead sought to turn a one-sided victory into a mutual defeat. He spited the Princess of the Sun in horrendous fashion.”

Taking a breath and forcing the pounding of my heart to slow I continued “He snuffed the life of the ponies that he conquered and with their deaths fueled a spell that removed his empire from Equus itself. Perhaps in an attempt to rule over his now empty empire. Whatever the case was, he much like his empire faded from Equus. The sands of time eventually left both forgotten, the Crystal Empire and the tyrant that had killed all within. It is said that the frozen wastes to the north of Equestria were once the land of the Crystal Empire.”

My story told silence once more held dominion over the two of us. Throughout my retelling of the information, I had managed to piece together throughout my delving in the restricted section, Cadance had been still. Her crystalline eyes never strayed from my gaze, only the great works of crystals ever shifting with the tale of the past.

“What was he searching for? This King Sombra?” Cadance finally asked. Her voice has gained a sharpened edge. I could only shrug as I responded to my partner’s inquiry.

“What else could he have been but attempting ascension?” My proposed words had an instant impact on the oddly still Alicorn before me.

“That doesn’t make sense there is nothing underneath my castle! I have checked!” She all but snarled out, her normally calming features now adopted a ferocity that I found almost unsettling. Her purple eyes flashed as the crystals within reformed into vicious spikes that threatened all that she caught in her gaze. Her tri-colored mane faintly turned translucent, as once more I was standing before an Alicorn. One who was far closer to ascending into the divine realm than I would ever achieve.

Gulping down the fear of the Alicorn that was still sharing her warmth with me, I hesitatingly spoke up once more.

“I’m sorry but that is all I have. If in the future I gain access to any further relevant information I will immediately share it with you.” My offer thankfully calmed the fuming Alicorn before me. Giving her enough reason to take a breath and allow her anger to bleed away. Her mane faded back to its normal coloration.

I could do more. I owed her far more than what I had currently given her. It didn’t matter how I felt. Forcing my blood to heat as I once more spoke, severing the silence that had enveloped the two of us. “We can explore the Frozen North and perhaps see if we can find anything that has been left behind.” I offered to the Alicorn who was still sharing her warmth with me. She had supported me, cared for me, had been my partner, even if she should have abandoned me to the cold long ago. I would brave the snow and ice for her if she wished. No matter how I would wish not to.

Cadance stared at me, her eyes sharpened as they broke my gaze and traced my form. Her mouth adopted a shallow frown. Ah, had I finally pushed my partner too far? Had I once more made a mess of everything? Had I once more failed?

“Sunset, why are you shaking?” Cadance’s voice was oddly soft as she questioned me. I couldn’t help the frown that formed on my face. I didn’t shiver, did I? I looked at where the two of us were connected. Where my hoof met her wing and couldn't help the rage that bubbled forth when I noticed that I was in fact showing this weakness.

The bubble burst, flooding a soothing keening rage throughout my body. That spark provided me with enough heat to burn away my weakness. My blood turned magma, burning throughout my body as I forcefully stilled myself.

“Sorry.” I offered the Alicorn who had spotted my failure. She was now staring at me, purple eyes wide. “Did I do something else wrong?” What else did I fail? Where else did I show weakness? Why did she still look at me like that? Cadance at my words faltered, her eyes filled with pity. Was I truly that worthless?

How dare she look at me like that. How dare she look at me like I was worthless. How dare she- it look at me just as Princess Celestia did. Tearing my hoof away from its wing before it could take advantage of me. “What?” I snarled at the parasite who backed away from me.

The parasite, however, didn’t speak. Heat spilled from me, saturating the air with my rage. Did it truly believe that I wouldn’t harm it? Did it-.

“Sunset, you're crying.” The parasite’s voice sliced through my heart just as it silenced my thoughts. Immediately I checked to see if its words had any grain of truth and felt the quickly drying weakness. Snarling I increased the temperature, I would not show any more weakness than I already had. Not to Princess Celestia, not to the damnable Parasite. I was Sunset Shimmer, and I needed no pony else. I forced a smile to my lips as I once more burned away my failure.

The parasite proved how intelligent it truly was as it stepped closer to me. Had I not personally been ensuring that it had survived, no doubt its life would have been quickly severed had I not foolishly protected it. It for some reason did not retreat from me, instead, it continued headless of the sweltering heat that surrounded me. “Sunset, it’s alright.” The parasite said as it smiled at me.

I glowered at it in return. Did it truly think that I would falter? That I would roll over like a common beast at h- at its words?

“Nothing is alright as you would put it.” My words came out with far less force than I had intended, I could feel the heat in the air chilling, even as I pushed forth my magic into it. I couldn’t even heat a room. “Everything I have done has failed. Princess Celestia-.” My voice caught another sign of my weakness. “I can’t even think about going into the cold without proving how much of a failure I am.”

My voice was bereft of the flames of anger that had finally fled. The scraps of hatred that I had been using to center myself were exhausted. I was left once more bereft of my closest companion, who had been with me when I was alone. Once more even my anger, my rage, my flames, abandoned me. Just like how Celestia did.

Even now the para-. No, I wasn’t that pathetic, Cadance. The last of the heat fled from the room with my acceptance. “No matter how much I try I can never be perfect. I can never be good enough. Not for Celestia, not for myself, I am never enough.” Cadance finished her stride as she once more made her way so that she was in front of me.

“Sunset, you don’t have to be perfect. I don’t want you to be perfect. I only want you.” Her wing outstretched, held out before her. A perfect representation of how everything had been going lately. No matter how much I failed, she kept offering me her wing, her smile. She was always there for me.

“How much longer?” My voice was tainted with the horrific weakness that I could no longer hide beneath my hate. My eyes freely filled with a liquid weakness, that I no longer attempted to halt. “How much longer will you stay by my side? Before you leave me alone? Before I no longer am worth your time? Before you forget me?” Before I was once more left alone in the cold.

Cadance’s eyes flashed, not in anger, but in some emotion that I had seen flash through her eyes yet never managed to categorize. The crystals within her purple eyes formed into an array of impossible angles. I faintly saw something cyan fluttering at the edge of my vision, but I paid no mind. Completely enthralled by the pony that was my partner.

“I promise you Sunset, I will never abandon you,” Cadance whispered out. Her voice adopted an odd affection. Her words resounded within me, bringing with them a calming warmth. “I will stay with you as long as you will have me, after all, we are partners. The two of us against Equus.” She said with a smile.

The warmth that her words brought was enough to blot out the harshness of reality. I had no other choice at this point. Not really. Not anymore. All I could do was embrace this fleeting warmth of affection and love. Praying once more to an uncaring goddess that it would somehow last. A smile somehow found its way to my lips.

“I promise Mi Amore Cadenza that I will never abandon you. The two of us together against Equus.” Promise spoken. My words etched themselves into existence itself. Branding them into my very worth. So that I would never forget them. I grabbed the offered wing with my hoof and embraced the warmth that once more bridged between the two of us.

“Really? Now of all the times, you use my name? We were having a moment.” Cadance says with a smile that threatens to split her face. I knew that there was an identical one upon my own face.

“My apologies Princess.” I retorted with a shallow bow. My partner just laughed in response. “A mere Unicorn should not be expected to comport herself to the standards of an Alicorn Princess?” The smile on her face faltered. “Fair probably not something I should joke about right now.” She quickly nodded her assent to my statement, her tri-colored mane following.

Allowing the smile to fade from my face, I continued. “I am going to crash. This has been a long day for me, and I would just like to get my nightmare over with.” My voice finally filled with the exhaustion that the joy and exhilaration of our previous declarations could no longer prevent. One more thing after another. No rest for the wicked took on a much more literal sense for me.

“Alright then let’s get some rest.” She chirped out as if the words out of her mouth made any manner of sense. She was apparently able to see my confusion clearly as she continued. “Do you really think I am going to leave you alone right now? Even if I wasn’t freaking out whenever I can’t see you, you need someone to be by your side right now.” She slyly smiled at this point, “What better pony to stay by your side than your partner?”

What could I even say to that? I had no idea, and I doubted that even Celestia would know. That was how strange Cadance was. I, however, was thankful for such a fact. I doubted that without her strangeness she would never have been so captivating. All I could do was nod. I then turned to the singular bed that was within the room.

I turned towards my partner who had a gloating smile spread over her face. All but daring me to contest the obvious solution. I had never backed down from an Alicorn before, I was not planning to start now.

“Alright you can take the bed, I am fine with the floor.” I offered it to my partner, who had the most amusing expression on her face. It was a cross between exasperation and an almost kindling offense. I couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped from my lips.

“You know I would ask what you have wrong with me, especially considering that we have already shared a bed, but considering the fact that I know you are messing with me, and I am more than happy with the fact that you are bantering with me.” By the end of her exclamation, she was all but pulling me toward the bed. Perhaps I would have resisted but I was far too enthralled by the entire proceedings. She laughed as she pushed me onto the bed with some assistance from her magic.

I only rolled my eyes at my partner’s antics. It was strange how quickly things changed. I started off attempting to kill the newest royal and here she was throwing me onto a bed before joining me herself… That sentence did not need to be thought of further. I was quickly pulled from the inner recesses of my mind by my partner joining me on the bed. Of course, she only realized afterward that she had deposited the both of us atop the blanket that she always had gotten entangled within.

“Would you like some assistance?” I finally asked my partner who was struggling with how to get us both underneath the covers. She turned to meet my gaze, her horn once more tapping mine. She visibly contemplated my offer, but eventually, she nodded. Running through my warping spell and adding a few minor alterations before letting it run. Instantly the sheet reappeared above us before draping over the two of us. Encasing us within its silken confines.

I felt my partner wrap herself around me, all but cocooning me in a protective shell. Her entire embrace was suffusing me with her warmth. An almost limitless feast of warmth that was being freely shared with me. All from a pony that had defended me from Celestia herself. One that had promised to stay with me. One that I had promised to stay with in turn.

We kept our eyes locked together while we were awaiting the call of dreams. The last thing I saw before the calls became something I could no longer ignore, was the crimson twinkle in my partner’s normally purple eyes. Before I was once more entrapped within my dreams.

Once more I was staring at the uncaring Sun that traversed the heavens by its lonesome. Forever heedless of the trappings that have forever followed in its hoof steps. Only focused on blazing a path into the future. Uncaring about the present. Uncaring about who would be left behind.

I was left awaiting the inevitable swallowing of the Sun. So that my nightly ritual would once more be performed. Perhaps the shades would be willing to spare me after the day that I have had. Unlikely but considering how erratic they had been, it was no longer an impossible thought.

The cycle that I had long since suffered under was changing. No, it was breaking. Portions of it were shattering. From being able to see the shades when I was awake, to Princess Celestia being replaced with Cadance. These were irrevocable changes that do not fit the normalcy that I had suffered under. Only when I had met my partner did my nightly torments begin to change, could she, even back then, attempt to help me?

No, that makes even less sense. I had all but terrified her by attacking her mortality. I am unsure why she once more sought out my companionship but there was no way under Princess Celestia’s Sun that she had helped me before then. When the skies around the Sun began to darken my last thoughts were of the fact that I was still unsure why she had even bothered to extend one of her hoofs. Before I was once more swallowed by the encroaching darkness.

Finding myself in a familiar realm of falling snow, I couldn’t prevent the anger that slipped forth. Truly? After the day that I have just survived? “You can’t possibly make today any worse!” I challenged the shadows that had begun to dance between the flurries of snow that quickly entrapped the darkened lands. A mix of shadow and snow once more was entrapping me even as I felt my inner flame surging in preparation.

Awaiting the first shade that would separate from the horde, the one that had been corrupted by that interloper. The one that I had banished from my torment. Should it once more return I would happily show it the loving gifts that the shades had imparted upon me. After all, what better way to practice than on a pony that was sticking its nose somewhere that it did not belong?

However even as the furious snow continued to howl, the shades refused to join. I was only assaulted by the cold as chilled blades sought to sever my concentration as they pierced my skin. Slipping through my vain attempts at defense. The shades refused to be taunted into once more joining in on my torment, “Don’t tell me you have finally given up on breaking me!” I howled against the wind. Had I even been abandoned by my tormentors? Had they even decided that I was no longer worth their loving embrace? That I was no longer worth their time?

A chilling grip that was far colder than any frost grasped my heart, did Celestia no longer even care to punish me? Were my actions the final straw that broke our frayed relationship? Thankfully a shade finally appeared to save me from the spiral that my thoughts had taken.

A singular shade stepped out of the curtains of falling snow, unaccompanied by its compatriots. Faceless in its nature. Now I could only wait for it to adopt its face. What pony would it adopt as its mask? Cadance? Celestia? Or would the interloper once more dive into my torment and be chased out by my flames? That final thought warmed me for a few moments against the all-encompassing cold.

I watched the shade begin to tear at itself, waiting for the moment when I could see which pony’s visage it had adopted. Which pony it would attempt to torture me with? Which pony it would use to lead me forever deeper into the darkened depths of my torment? I needn’t wait for long as the shade completed its macabre act of flesh sculpting.

Once more I stood before my partner, covered in shade and shadow. Her normally vibrant purple eyes were instead filled with an oppressive shadow. “Is the interloper once more going to make an appearance?” I questioned my partner’s shade. Not really expecting a response. Which made it all the more shocking when it nodded its head in the negative. The blackened mane follows its head as it answers my question.

I nodded at the shade as I continued my trek through the still-flowing snow. It seems that my tormentors would at least keep the interloper out of my torment for the moment. “Shall we then co-.” Was all I got before the shade launched itself at me, wings outstretched. My flames blazed into existence in an effort to incinerate the shade, yet I forced them down. I would not attack my partner. Even this foul mimicry of her.

Cadance’s shade quickly closed the distance between us, yet instead of a screeching cacophony of truths that I had done my best to ignore, it cupped my face with its wing. Forcing me to look into its shadowed eyes. Twin pools of darkness that held no sparkling crystals forever shifting in their construction. No, there was only the beckoning void held within these orbs.

“I will never abandon you!” The shade shrieked as its feathers sharpened, digging into my flesh. “I will stay with you as long as you will have me, after all, we are partners.” Its maw opened to reveal countless shadowed spikes that served as teeth, as it smiled at me. How dare this shade smile at me. That smile was hers and hers alone. Not for it to sully with its actions. Immediately a torrent of black flames descended from the heavens of my torment as I engulfed myself and my partner’s shade.

The howls of its fellow shades were but whispers as I assaulted the singular shade that I had targeted. Flames leaped from my very existence, creating a sea of flames that the snow and cold could not extinguish fast enough. I held the shade in the quickly depleting flames. Hoisting it the best I could as I sent my magic towards it in torrents of dark spells, which sought to sever its very existence.

It lasted only 30 seconds. That was all I had. That was all I could do. That was what my best performance could be. No wonder Celestia had gotten rid of me. I was just pathetic. My flames flickered out of existence as the cold once more held dominion over my dreams. My magic extinguished and yet my foe reconstructed itself before my very eyes. Once more nothing I did mattered. No matter what I tried I was still stuck dancing to the strings of another.

Snarling at the shade that finally reformed in Cadance’s guise, “Get it over with already! I have had enough. From you, from Celestia, from every pony.” The shade only smiled once more making a mockery out of my attempt to prevent from besmirching my partner's visage once more. Roaring I charged it, yet even as I threw myself futilely at it I once more accomplished nothing.

“I don’t want you to be perfect! I only want you!” Cadance’s shade screamed into my ear as she engulfed me with her wings. Dragging me forward through the ever-falling snow. Even as I bit, kicked, and did everything that I could damage the foul mimicry of my partner, I could not slow it. Eventually, however, it slowed itself, releasing me from its sharpened hooves.

Reorientating myself through my own power I glared at it before freezing. Oh, sweet Celestia no. Before it stood the remains of a burned-down home. Flames had once torn apart this domicile that once perhaps held a happy family. Now only fragmented memories clung to this place. No longer did it once hold any warmth, no, instead of even the embers from the flames, all it held were promises and forgotten memories.

Pain. I felt my hooves once more begin to move, bringing me closer to that accursed place. My breath caught and faltered as I shattered my bones, and blasted my limbs, yet I continued to drag myself towards the burned ruins that I had once been found in. Terror. “Please don’t. Please do anything else. Please, I beg you. I don’t want to go back. I will do anything.” I begged my tormentor who stood silently smiling as I dragged myself ever closer to the cabin. My panicked pleas washed over its form just as my magic did.

Pain. My bones regrew, and my hooves reformed. I continued to bring myself to this accursed place. “Celestia, please don’t make me go back. I promise I will be a good pony. I will be a better pony. I will do anything you want. CELESTIA PLEASE!” I screamed for the one who had given me this punishment, not caring that I was once more proving that I needed her. Weakness. Uncaring that, I was showing how weak I still was. Worthless. Uncaring of the thought of how pathetic I truly was. All that mattered was that I did not return to this place once more. Dread.

Unnoticed, went my prayers to the Celestial Goddess that never answered any of my pleas. The blasted door, covered in burns and soot, slowly cracked open. Revealing behind it the entrance to the Void. Once more beckoning, I return to its embrace. “Please Celestia, I will cut off my horn! I will leave you alone! I will be happy with what I have!” What else could I offer to the Goddess that I wished to be my mother? “I will never try to become your daughter! Please don’t force me back in there!” I sobbed out, my voice cracking as I pleaded with the one that had once saved me. Begging that she would not force me to return to this part of my torture. Offering anything to put off returning to that burned place. Promise.

However, my hooves brought me ever closer to the burned remains. The shades began to howl as I neared the entrance. They awaited the inevitable conclusion. Even if I knew that for all my struggles and my bargaining, I would once more enter that accursed place. Even futile I would still attempt to do so. Any torture of the shades would be a blessing that I could receive in comparison.

The door was now fully opened, awaiting my arrival. The shades howling became deafening as they sang their farewells. My screams of a failed defiance joined as even now but a scant few hoofs from the door I once more failed to free myself from my punishment. Phantom limbs encased me for an eternal moment and then nothing.

…

“Sunset? Sunset? Sunset are you alright?” I opened my eyes as I heard Cadance shouting and saw fear filling her normally gentle eyes. “Thank Celestia! You’re alright!” she exclaimed as she once more embraced me. I was held within a field of pink.

What? What happened? I forced myself to take a deep breath as I let the phantom shudders run through my body. I had been in the snowfields, Cadance’s shade was back to normal, then… oh. She had once more saved me. I felt weakness spill from my eyes as I hugged my partner. “Sunset? SUNSET! Celestia! Celestia!” She immediately started to yell for Celestia.

I pulled myself as close as I could to my partner, losing myself to the warmth that she gave off.

“Thank you, Cadance. You saved me.” I whimpered out into my partner, who proceeded to stiffen and crane her neck to look at me once more.

“Sunset are you alright? You’re not still… You know from yesterday?” Cadance hesitatingly asked. I smiled at her, what else could I do? She returned the smile, a beautiful sight that was reserved only for me. I could feel her wings shift around me as she continued. “You could actually respond to me, you know?” It reminded me of my earlier days when I was still unable to see the reality of my situation. When Celestia was still willing to pretend to be something that she would never truly be for me. Times when we both pretended and got lost in the illusion.

Of course, nothing this close to perfection could ever last long. I felt the familiar thrum of heat in the air and schooled my features immediately. Cadance unlike myself did not react as well to the arrival of Princess Celestia. She all but launched herself out of the bed, she didn’t get far as the sheet had fully entrapped her somehow. Landing a few hoof steps off the bed in a groaning mess. I bit down the grimace I made at having lost my partner's warmth.

“Is everything alright Cadance?” Princess Celestia asked as her pink eyes held visual confusion with a slight tint of concern. She obviously thought that I was attacking her fellow Princess, not that I would. Not while she still wanted me by her side. Until she saw fit to throw me away, I would stick by her side. I owed her that much for everything that she has done for me.

“Everything is just fine Auntie,” Cadance exclaimed as she pushed herself up, wincing as she tore the blanket. Sighing at the foolishness of my partner I levitated the sheet of my partner mending it at the same time. I had the attention of both Alicorns now, good. Hoping off the bed and allowing the sheet to fold itself behind me before laying it on the bed I met Princess Celestia’s questioning gaze.

“I had a nightmare, Cadance thought that it was something more than what it was. She just wanted to make sure that I was alright and overreacted.” Give her something to focus on, something that I had failed at, and distract her from what I wanted to be hidden. “My sincerest apologies Princess Celestia for interrupting whatever it was you were doing.” I could clearly see the moment when Princess Celestia’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Were you surprised that I am in such good spirits? Are you surprised that even after you ignored my prayers that I am not a broken mewling mess, clawing at your hoofs? You have your newest Princess to thank for such an act. She saved me from the punishment you ordained me to. “I am perfectly fine, thank you for your concern, Cadance,” I said as I broke from the battle of our gazes to face my partner who was just staring at the two of us.

“Sunset, are you sure you’re, alright?” Cadance asked as she shot a furtive glance towards Princess Celestia who most definitely noticed them. “You were -.” There was no need to highlight how pathetic I was to Princess Celestia, she no doubt already knew.

“Perfectly fine,” I said as I took a step putting myself between the two Alicorns. Layering a quick illusion over my face to tell her to let it go. I could feel Princess Celestia’s eyes digging into my back as she no doubt felt me activate a spell, but I knew that she was not omniscient. Thankfully Cadance quickly nodded even if she did shoot me a quick heatless glare. Allowing my spell to fade, I turned back to face Princess Celestia waiting for her to call me out. Waiting for the inevitable admonishment. Only to gawk at the small smile on the Celestial Monarchs' face.

“If you have any problems, I am glad that you have Cadance to help you through them.” Princess Celestia said as she moved closer to the two of us. If I was not struggling to digest the words that I had just heard, I would have teleported away from the Princess of the Sun. However, my mind was not in the best state. I couldn’t do anything as I saw her wing extending, a flash of white covered my vision.

Instantly I brought my blood to a boil as I prepared for the pain that accompanied her strike. Yet nothing. No pain. Growling I teleported away from the entrapment. Reappearing a few feet away I once more was left gawking at the sight before me. Princess Celestia was hugging Cadance who looked slightly bewildered at the elder Princess's actions.

Wait. I was next to Cadance… My vision was covered by Princess Celestia’s feathers… Does-. No. That is impossible. I tore that half-formed thought from my mind and set it ablaze. It was at this point that Princess Celestia looked over at me frowning as she let go of Cadance. “My apologies Cadance, Sunset. I am just glad that the two of you are getting along so well.” At Princess Celestia’s words, Cadance started to act weird.

She took a half step away from the Princess of the Sun. She was not looking at either myself or Princess Celestia instead she appeared to be focusing on the ceiling for some reason. Frowning as I glanced at the ceiling and yet I could find nothing with my gaze. I checked with a few precautionary spells and once more found nothing.

Turning my gaze back to Cadance, I could see Princess Celestia turning her head from the ceiling and mimicking my movements. This apparently proved too much for Cadance as her coat began to turn redder than her normal pink.

“Cadance are you alright?” I questioned my partner who just glared at me as she continued to turn red.

“Just fine.” Her clipped tone indicated anything of the sort however, she had followed my lead earlier and I would do the same. I nodded and she let out a sigh of relief for some reason. Two Alicorns and a Unicorn stood in stilled silence once more. That was until as per usual Princess Celestia decides to shatter the peace.

“Well then. I do come bearing gifts.” Princess Celestia then pauses once more before speaking. “Well somewhat, but I do believe that this is yours.” At her words once more the cloak that she had attempted to return to me yesterday floated towards me, encased in her magic. I let my magic converge against hers yet before our wills could battle, I felt her magic dissipate. Letting Cadance’s cloak fall into my grasp. Immediately I returned it to the Alicorn who had been wearing it. Cadance took it with a small smile putting it around her yet leaving the hood down.

“What? It’s not like with Auntie here Cipher and Stinger don’t know who we are.” She for some reason directed at me. I could see out of the corner of my eye Princess Celestia noting our exchange.

“On that note, Mistletoe has insisted, that if the two of you are able and willing to join everyone for breakfast.” Princess Celestia said no doubt, making a mental note of something we had no doubt given away. “She was quite insistent on it apparently it had something to do with the two of you going on a date?” Her gaze fell on Cadance as she spoke those words. Silence descended upon the three of us. Two Alicorns and a Unicorn were once more beholden to the strangling silence.

Date? When did the two of them go out on a date? Was Cadance planning on dating some pony? Technically a changeling… It seems I should have indeed used a few more of my more extreme spells when I had been interrogating the stinkbug and its brother. Ignoring the way that my blood involuntarily boiled I turned to my partner who was wearing an expression of terror. Frowning I turned to Celestia who was also staring wide-eyed at me.

“What?” I for some reason snarled out. Strange, why did that happen? Celestia just slowly pointed with her wing at me. Frowning, I looked down and let out a sigh of exasperation. It had been years since I had last involuntarily lit myself on fire. This was embarrassing. No, this was beyond embarrassing. I just lit myself on fire accidentally in front of Celestia.

Taking a breath of air that I now noticed was heated as I forced my flames down. Smothering them in a futile attempt to reclaim any of my lost dignity. Not that I had any left before the two ponies before me. Running the cooling formula over myself and ensuring that I was level headed before I continued. “My apologies for the lapse in control; it won’t happen again.” I attempted to turn on my hoof and frowned as I found my hoof stuck in the no longer molten stone I had once been standing on. It was going to be one of those days, wasn’t it?

Author's Note

Sunset continues to fall down the hole that is her emotions and inner thoughts. Sunset's nightmare shows another portion of its torment, one that is far worse than the shades and their claws. With Cadance still being the best pony as she catches her partner's pieces, even Celestia herself takes note of such. A duo of promises has been made in this chapter, one from an Alicorn and a Unicorn. A Princess and Demon against the world. The next chapter will deal with the fallout and Cadance's thoughts on the recent happenings.
-LittleFaerieFire

29. The First Kiss

The First Kiss

Cadance

Alright, Cadance time for you to step up before some pony gets murdered. After all, it's your fault. Hindsight being what it was, provided me with a bevy of reasons one would not want to make Sunset Shimmer jealous. On one hoof yes, she was jealous over the fact that Cipher and I had apparently gone on a date. I will celebrate that fact later. On the other hoof, it seemed like she was a half-step away from having a meltdown.

Thankfully Celestia was here to help, as she had already taken point on ensuring that Sunset didn’t burn down the house. From ensuring that Sunset was constantly talking to her, to very liberally changing topics that seemed to be a hair too close to the trigger. I swear in the short walk down to the dining room Celestia had questioned Sunset on half a dozen schools of magic. Sunset was aware something was up as she answered the questions, her gaze was alternating between staring at me from the corner of her eye and just barely not glaring at Celestia.

It was strange, if a bit disconcerting how confused she seemed about the entire thing. How she realized that she was angry, but she didn't know the cause behind this anger. If I didn’t know any better, I would have assumed she was a foal a fourth her age, but no Sunset was around my age even if I did not know the exact difference between our years. Still, the way that she is acting is startling, reminiscent of the way a still-growing foal realizes the differing ways that they can express themselves. Especially the way that she used the ponies that she trusted as a measuring stick, always glancing toward both Celestia and me to ensure that she had not once more slipped.

How she was rationalizing it was a mystery, but the outward actualization was clear. The temperature would skyrocket around her at random intervals that she seemed almost incapable of noticing. When she was alerted to such an event she would profusely apologize before proceeding to douse herself in a bone-chilling cold that would smother the heat, she had inadvertently summoned. I did notice even if Sunset did not, that Celestia would wince every single time that Sunset used her cooling charm. Yet she did nothing other than watch as the pony that she had cared for suffocated herself in the cold.

I was unfortunately no better. While I wished for Sunset to not use her charm, even going so far as to make that deal with her back in the library, I was not the only pony at risk of getting burned. I bit my tongue as well, watching silently as she continued to use that charm that no doubt terrified her. Hopefully, she will find a better solution in the future, perhaps I could ask Umbrum for some help on these matters.

Even worse at times a heated haze would form around her horn and her sides. A fiery set of wings blooming into existence. The lengthening and sharpening of her horn. Neither of which implied anything good, especially considering what she usually did when she somehow had those attached to her. I had no desire to once more throw myself in between Celestia and Sunset again. Even if my actions were the only reason that the two had not continued their fight.

It was a terrifying sight, that I had interceded upon. A near-endless field of snow that was buffeted by the ice and cold. However, that was not what caught my attention nor was the fact that Sunset was flying on those flaming wings of hers. My attention instead caught on to the fact that Sunset was blasting Celestia with flames blacker than the night sky. Forcing the Princess of the Sun on the defensive as she continued her assault. Thankfully it seemed that Celestia was not attacking my partner but instead attempting to let her tire herself out.

Her statement as well about how Celestia was hers and that Sunset was Celestia’s was concerning. Their relationship was at best messy but that was a step beyond. That statement sounded far less than the shrill cries of a daughter. Instead, it sounded far more possessive, almost obsessive. Especially with some of her previous statements regarding the Princess that had raised her. This led me to make assumptions that I would shelve for the moment. Hopefully not ever return to considering. Hopefully, my sense of what sort of Love I was feeling was wrong. That when I had gotten caught up in all the chaos of the fighting I had been mistaken. Not all Love was gentle nor was it kind.

Which was something that when I got some time once more in private with my partner we would have to discuss. We actually had a few things to discuss, her nightmare earlier being a key one of them. Why was she being tortured in her dreams on Celestia’s behalf? That had been something I had initially planned on bringing up with the Princess of the Sun herself but Sunset… Well, Sunset happened, and that discussion had to be pushed back.

We continued our trek towards the aforementioned breakfast, with Sunset and Celestia walking side by side before me. It took a few attempts with Sunset attempting to walk behind both Celestia and me before I told Sunset that it was fine. It took Celestia reinforcing that it was alright for her to walk beside her.

Thankfully we made it to the dining room without too many incidents, there had been a few close calls, but they were contained. Sunset had offered to reimburse the cauldron she had turned to slag when she brushed up against it. When I finally stepped into the room my gaze found two ponies I hadn’t seen in some time. “Rebound? Gentle Breeze? What are you both doing… Oh, sweet Celestia please don’t tell me you two are our foal sitters?” The joy I felt at seeing the two guards I was closest to was quickly curdled. The feeling only grew worse as I saw Rebound sigh as he fished out a few bits before offering them to Gentle Breeze.

“See what I get when I bet against you figuring it out.” Rebound whines as he waves a quick greeting at me. “I knew you were smart but didn’t think you were that quick on the uptake.” He exclaimed with a nod. “I should take you to the Three Cats they have a-.” That was all he got out before he was thankfully silenced by Gentle Breeze who proceeded to throw one of his own bits at him.

“Please do not talk about bringing the Princess to a casino, for one she is our charge, second she is not of age, third Princess Celestia is right there.” Gentle Breeze bluntly stated as she gestured to the Princess who was still standing next to Sunset before me. Judging from the way that Rebound proceeded to blanch he quickly realized the folly of his actions.

“My apologies Princess…es. It shall not happen again.” He dutifully chimed out. “That aside it’s good to see the two of you doing good. You gave us guards a bit of a scare when we couldn’t find you.” Perhaps I should have informed some pony that I was actually going somewhere with Sunset. I mean I did write the letter, which Celestia had received if the current station was any indication. Gentle Breeze nodded solemnly beside her partner.

“Sorry for troubling you both.” I apologized to the two as I slipped past Celestia and Sunset to properly greet my two personal guards. “If it makes you feel any better Sunset has taken to guarding me on your behalf.” A white lie never hurts any pony. It was even somewhat true. She was defending me, just not on their behalf.

“Well, I am glad that you haven't been forced to fend for yourself. I have seen what Sunset Shimmer can do with her spells and if she is defending you, I doubt not much could get close to you.” Rebound whistles out in appreciation. He would be surprised at how close a few had gotten close to me. Discord and that pony that I could barely remember certainly got close. They had bested Sunset, they had then all but ignored attempting me harm, for one reason or another.

“Indeed.” I lied with a brilliant smile. Thankfully it seemed my agreement convinced Gentle Breeze and Rebound both.

“We should get going then we wouldn't want to intrude any further upon Mistletoe’s and Starfish’s hospitality. We will be standing guard outside.” Gentle Breeze informed me. Perhaps she was actually informing Celestia as I saw her nod out of the corner of my eye. Gentle began to trot forward but Rebound lagged behind.

“Glad to see that our Princess of Love has found some pony for herself.” He whispered before he quickly retreated from my glare. “Some pony will have to break the news to the good Sir Shining Armor, however. Hopefully, his heart will not shatter for the love that never was.” Rebound foolishly declared. Unknowing what he had just done. “I shall stay-.” Was all he got before an inferno of flames appeared, bathing the room in horrendous heat. The flames were in the next moments smothered by Celestia all but caging Sunset in a shimmering field so that she didn’t burn down the house or harm any pony.

It took a few moments for Sunset to quench the inferno she had beckoned, a tense few seconds before the flames around her died. Sunset, as soon as she was once more released from Celestia’s spell, apologized.

“I would once more like to apologize for having a limited amount of success when it comes to currently corralling my magic.” I am certain that even if you were not blessed with an Alicorn's enhanced senses you could hear the way her teeth ground together during her apology. Turning from my partner to the foolish guard that was now almost snow-white in complexion. Good he at least realized how much he had messed up with that joke of his.

His eyes flickered from me to Sunset a few times before finding Celestia. He somehow managed to pale even further before he all but ran out of the house, past his stunned partner who trailed after him… “Are you entrusting our ‘safety’ to those two?” Sunset questioned Celestia with the confusion in her tone as evident as her previous rage. Perhaps I would have spoken up on my guards’ worth but thankfully Celestia beat me to it.

“Despite Rebound’s rather poor showing” Ouch from Celestia of all ponies. “- he is normally a highly adept pony at ensuring his charges' safety. It is why I have charged him and Gentle Breeze with being Cadance’s personal guards.” Celestia answered Sunset’s question. “I had asked the two of them to be your guards while you are both traversing Equestria and beyond. In addition to already being familiar with Cadance together, they should have any skills or knowledge that the two of you may need.” It was a well-thought-out argument that would have no doubt answered the worries of any pony that heard it. Yet somehow Celestia impossibly missed the way that Sunset glared at her, no doubt feeling slighted.

No on closer inspection it seemed as if Celestia was all but ignoring the glare that Sunset was shooting at her. Was she noticing and simply choosing to turn the other cheek? Was this in an attempt at keeping the fragile peace? I didn’t know. I wasn't sure which was better. Which of these outcomes was worse?

For better or for worse I did not have much time to contemplate such a fact as I heard a familiar duo of voices enter the house. A set of siblings complaining about each other. My eyes met Celestia’s which were hardened pink pearls of determination. We shared a nod as we both understood the grand undertaking that we would be going through. I would have to apologize to Celestia, to Cipher, to Stinger, and even to Sunset when this was over.

“Sunset, would you mind joining me at the table?” Celestia asked with an almost practiced ease that had Sunset following her words with no hesitation. “Thank you, Sunset. Cadance, if you are feeling up to the task, would you mind greeting our gracious hosts?” Celestia slowly asked me, yet her gaze remained on Sunset. Who stiffened in her seat. Before my partner could once more contest the words of the pony that had raised her, I nodded.

“Of course, Auntie.” Sunset now twisted her head towards me with a sickening crack. Her emerald eyes were wide and unblinking. Concern was evident in her eyes as was the desire to leap from her seat and join me on the short journey. Yet I could see the conviction to follow Celestia’s request, holding firm. Suspending Sunset between the two desires. Which would she follow? I knew not as I made the decision for her. “It’s alright Sunset I’ll be right back.”

I could see the disbelief in her eyes that intermixed with the concern, creating a blend that all but proved she cared for me beyond my race. I gave her a smile which finally allowed her to stop fidgeting in her seat. Well even if I was reading far too into this it was quite obvious that Sunset cared about me. She was willing to go against the most important pony in her life to ensure that I was safe. In comparison to that I would be fine with the memories of her blood on my coat.

I could not rely on her for everything. I was an Alicorn. I was a Princess of Equestria. I was Love itself. I was no longer a pony that would allow others to fall before her. I would save those ponies myself. Steeling myself and taking a deep breath I turned from Sunset.

A clotting warmth quickly embraced me. Unlike the normal warmth of my partner, this was a scalding heat that covered me from horn to hoof. The phantom traces of her blood clung to me as I further took steps away from my partner. Making my way with forced composure. Not allowing myself to falter.

One hoof after another. In an effort to escape from the quickly enveloping phantom flames, I kept my attention instead on my partner. Even as I moved away from her, I kept my ears honed for her movements, her words. Paying special attention to a throbbing noise that I somehow knew was her heart.

“Cadance?” I heard the familiar voice of Cipher call out as she stepped into my vision. Instantly she dropped the bag that she had been holding in her mouth before she quickly made her way over to me. “Are you feeling any better? If you are still feeling out of it like you were yesterday, we can call off this-.”

I stretched out my wing, flicking the blazing blood off of it, and in the same motion silenced her.

“I am happy to report that she is jealous, hopefully, that means she feels the same way as I do.” Instantly Cipher squeals as her eyes light up. “While that isn’t the problem, she is jealous. If she was to get any more jealous, well, she already turned one of your brother's cauldrons into slag. Sunset has offered to pay for it.” I turned to Stinger who had levitated the bag his sister had dropped off the floor.

The changeling in his Unicorn guise just shrugged.

“Princess Celestia has in her own words reimbursed us for any potential difficulties that we may have had… I think she gave us a lump sum of bits to not spread your identities.” Stinger says with a nod before realizing how that last sentence sounded. ”Not that we would. I would like to think that even with how terrifying your partner is we have gotten on well enough.” He quickly continued.

A pleasant warmth formed within my chest. Even against the cloying flames that continued to spread just above my coat, this one instead of a broiling heat was a pleasant one that suffused through me.

“I know I offered this yesterday but if you two need anything just feel free to ask. I may not be a crowned Princess at the moment but that will change sooner or later.” I once more reminded the two changelings. I owed them both a great deal, even if the clock had been rewound, I was still the cause for Stinger’s painful demise and Cipher's subsequent death.

“Yes, we have an Alicorn Princess in our debt, onto the more important bits have you confessed?” Cipher says with a squeal of delight. “Has she confessed?” I knew at this moment that it was not the phantom flames of the boiling blood that was burning across my cheeks but instead, the embarrassment that I felt from my fellow conspirators’ enthusiasm. Stinger just sighed and brushed past me making mention of continuing with the breakfast preparations.

“Nothing of that sort has happened and she is struggling with keeping herself together at the moment. I know we had made a plan but considering Celestia is here I don’t think that it is a good idea to continue to provoke her… Especially after yesterday.” My words dampened Cipher’s mood considerably especially when I reminded her of yesterday's incident.

We had seen how the space that had been sectioned off from the rest of Equus had been transformed into what initially appeared to be Canterlot Castle. With Celestia and a younger Sunset fighting. Before it had been replaced by an encroaching field of snow. I had thrown myself into it after warning Cipher and Stinger both to stay back. The burning blood on my hooves provides a bevy of reasons to find my partner. The look of utter loathing and barely contained rage that was focused on Celestia was another reason I had not hesitated to end the conversation I had been having with the siblings and throw myself into that ever-growing realm of darkness and snow.

Shaking those thoughts from my head I refocused on them now. “I am sorry to have your effort go to waste but…” I trailed off considering how to best word such a thing. Thankfully it seemed that Cipher understood my intent.

“It’s fine, Cadance. Just don’t force me to call you Princess when you officially get the title.” She said with a mocking bow. Her wings even folded to accompany the bow. I smile at the amusing changeling before me. “Alright I’m going to go help Stinger, he is almost useless in the kitchen. Why don’t you head on back to your partner.” She stressed out that final word with a laugh as she left me alone.

Without any pony to focus on. Without anything preventing me from feeling the blood that still coats my mane, feathers, hooves, and coat. That began to once more boil as it was forcibly brought to the front of my mind.

Wincing at the phantom pain I retreated back to where I had left Sunset. The moment my vision crested her amber figure the sensation of invisible burning blood abated.

“See Cadance has returned safe and sound,” Celestia announced as I stepped into the room. Her words were certainly unnecessary but that did not stop Sunset from beginning to check me over with her usual spells. I was unsure if I was supposed to be flattered or insulted by the act. On one hoof I was an Alicorn, the peak of pony kind, and on the other Sunset showed that she indeed cared for me in her own way.

“Sunset, I am fine.” She thankfully stopped her cycle of spells and once more met my eyes. Her cyan met my purple as we shared a smile. “It sounds like breakfast is going to be finished soon. So, what have you been discussing while I have been gone?” I asked my partner and felt a gentle warmth ripple through me as her smile somehow grew larger.

“Princess Celestia was simply enquiring about where we would be traversing next.” That was a good question. Not one that I even had an answer to. Upon seeing my desire to know the answer to that particular question as well Sunset continued with the answer to that question.
“Hollow Shades is the next location I was planning to head towards.” My partner answered without even glancing at Celestia. I wasn’t sure there was a castle in that neck of the woods but considering the fact that Celestia was right there I wasn’t about to bring it up.

I coughed lightly when it was clear that my partner wasn’t going to change her words. “-that we were planning to go towards.” Sunset said as her amber cheeks reddened as she turned away from me. She was adorable. It was almost impressive how she could change from a raging demon to this easily embarrassed Unicorn.

Hearing the sounds of moving hooves, I hoped that she would stay the easily embarrassed unicorn for the next little while. At least until she could completely keep her magic under control. Wow, I should never let Sunset know that particular train of thought or she would claim that I was exactly like Celestia. Silencing those rampaging thoughts for the moment as I guided my partner into a seat before taking the one directly to her right.

Grabbing her hoof with my own in an attempt to keep her from diving into a spiral of her mind's thoughts if she could have something physical to focus on. Sunset just looked confused as she glanced at the connection that I had forged between the two of us. Before she met my gaze the previous confusion was still evident in her eyes.

“Do you want me to let go of you?” I asked my partner who immediately shook her head in the negative. The small smile that flickered to existence on my muzzle was quickly replicated by my partner. However, hers faltered as Celestia took the seat next to hers. I could see the exact moment when indignation and rage colored my partner’s mind. I attempted to reassure my partner the best I could, giving her hoof a light squeeze to remind her that I was still there for her.

Perhaps it may have worked given enough time. However, it was at this moment that both Cipher and Stinger entered, with the prepared feast. I could feel the way that she warmed as her gaze broke from mine and found the two changelings that entered. I could feel through our connection the way that her entire body shuddered and quickly rose in temperature. Before, however, she could do anything to herself or any other pony I whispered into her ear. “Please Sunset.”

At my words, she froze. The skyrocketing temperatures fell back to normal, her body stopped trembling. She took a large breath of air as she squeezed my hoof in turn, but otherwise, she was still in control. Seeing that Sunset wasn't about to turn the room into a desolate hellscape, the two changelings shot me a thankful smile before they placed the plates of food on the table.

“Thank you Cipher, Stinger. Now that we are all seated, why don’t we begin?” Celestia offered her thanks to the two that prepared the breakfast, before inviting every pony at the table to begin to eat. Upon finishing her question Celestia immediately partook of the miniature feast that had been prepared. She sliced a piece of cake for herself and immediately put it on her plate.

It seems that her eating habits haven’t changed since she removed her sister from the realm of royalty. Taking a deep breath, I gave Sunset’s hoof a squeeze as I forced my mind from that rabbit hole of thinking and turned my attention back to the table before me.

There was plenty of food prepared by the two siblings, ranging from the cake that Celestia was serving herself another piece to various pancakes and waffles. Deciding to grab a small amount of everything to start off with I hummed to myself as my magic encapsulated a knife and fork and began to serve myself.

Wait. I glanced at Sunset who was silently eating from a stack of syrup-less waffles and not even throwing a fuss that I was serving myself. Wouldn’t this be one of the things that were below my position as both an Alicorn and Princess? Why had she not brought it up? I could understand her not bringing it up when it was just the two of us, but we were technically in a much more formal dining situation.

Could it be that she was basing how I should be treated on how Celestia has been treated? Since Celestia often served herself, this was not something that Sunset cared about. What were the limitations? If I served food to someone else, would she see that as normal? I couldn’t help but contemplate the intricacies of my partner's mental process.

“Do I have something on my face?” Sunset asked as she shattered my current thought process. Her gaze pierced mine as she half frowned.

“No sorry was lost in thought.” I quickly mumbled out a quick apology to my partner who nodded and turned back to her syrup-less waffles. I worried for a moment that I had once more messed up, but those thoughts relaxed as I felt her once more squeeze my hoof. Smiling, I glanced over the other ponies at the table.

Celestia was content observing every pony as she placed another piece of cake on her plate. Stinger was absentmindedly eating while at the same time scratching down notes on a scroll that was floating in the air beside him. Cipher, however, was grinning like a loon as she smiled at me and Sunset.

I didn't need her to vocalize the thoughts that were no doubt running rampant within her mind. That she was the better matchmaker, that she was the one that had set this entire thing up. That she was the one who the Princess of Love had turned to in an effort to get a special pony of her own. She however didn’t realize that the Princess of Love had performed equal feats in the past after all she had… I should stop thinking of myself in the third person. It wasn't a good sign of mental stability.

The breakfast which I had been worried would turn into a battlefield continued on for another half an hour. Mostly in a peaceful silence that was only broken to exchange minor pleasantries and questions. The closest that the peace came to shattering was when Cipher had asked me to pass the syrup.

Sunset had no doubt attempted to incinerate the poor changeling with her gaze. Thankfully, however, that was all she did. Before I could even admonish my partner, Sunset levitated the syrup over to Cipher herself. All the while glaring at her. She thankfully let up when I squeezed her hoof.

Cipher, when she finally looked like she wasn’t about to die, shot me a victorious smile that I could only lightly glare at her in turn. I had plenty of proof that Sunset was jealous at this point. There was no need under Celestia’s Sun for her to do something that stupid. Did she somehow not realize that there was a real possibility of Sunset getting around both Celestia and myself to burn her to ashes?

Thankfully the presence of myself and Celestia was enough to stay Sunset's flames. The breakfast concluded shortly after that nearly disastrous affair. The changeling siblings had thankfully offered to take care of the cleanup. That prevented an argument that I knew would have likely struck a flame that lit the rest of the fuel that lay buried under the calm facade Sunset was projecting. Celestia made mention about getting the cake recipe from the siblings which left only the two of us alone.

“Do you want to get some fresh air?” I asked my partner who had been alternating staring at where Celestia had gone and myself. At her nod, I pulled her from her chair and led the way out of the house. Making sure to give any cauldron that littered the floor plenty of space. Thankfully the two of us managed to escape the house without any more metallic casualties. We exited into a realm of fresh light.

The Sun hung high above, bathing us in its splendorous rays. I could see my partner all but sprout as if she was a plant the moment the rays of light impacted her. Her gaze immediately focused on the celestial body that Celestia had long since controlled.

Once more I was enraptured by the Unicorn before me. For one that had found her calling in the darkness, she was blessed by the Sun. She shone beautifully in the light that clung to her. If you did not know of her past deeds and had only spotted Sunset as she was right now it would have been impossible for you to see the ever-present cloying shadow that clung to her. The very light of the Sun seemed to highlight her already pristine features.

Her mane sparkling in the morning Sun was as natural as the gentle warmth that wafted from her form. She was a beautiful contradiction. One that had ensnared me entirely. Initially, I wanted nothing to do with the pony that had tried to kill me. Back then I had no idea how important she would become to me in such a short amount of time.

She wasn't perfect. No pony was. She, however, was trying. Each and every day she strove to do better than the previous day. She didn't always succeed but she was trying to do better not only for herself but for my sake as well.

We had created a fragile bond of our partnership and even now it was being tested. Yet instead of growing brittle and shattering it grew stronger. The bond between the two of us partners grew in strength as we grew closer to one another.

It wasn't a perfect foundation for a potential Love to blossom between two ponies, yet it held that tender possibility all the same. With proper nurturing, it could bloom into something greater than the sum of its parts. Two ponies intertwined with one another. Two fates merging into one. Two hearts find solace in the other.

Gathering my courage, I spoke up. “Sunset Shimmer, what is it you want most out of our partnership?” I gingerly asked my partner who turned her gaze from the Sun itself to meet my eyes. Eyes composed of muddled cyan, and emerald met my own. They, much like their owner, sparkled in the light of the Sun.

“I don’t even know anymore." She softly intoned. "I still plan to ascend but... but as long as you want me by your side, I will stand by you. I promised as much Cadance.” Sunset whispered as she reminded me of the promise she had made. This promise was far better than the one the Sunset that had perished in my defense had given me. One was a promise of eternal companionship, one was of eternal protection. Both were proclaimed by the same pony.

There was only one choice I had at this point. I could feel my very existence being pulled forth to act in the nature of Love. I moved my hoof forwards ever further into my partner’s space as my wings embraced her. “Cadance?” My partner questioned as she tilted her head in confusion at my actions. I smiled as our lips met.

Author's Note

Will freely admit that in my initial plans, this kiss wasn't going to happen for a little while longer. However, it fit so well in my opinion that I moved it to this chapter. That aside we are seeing just how vividly different Cadance's and Sunset's perceptions differ. Both can be observant yet in entirely differing ways. This leads the two of them to alternate outcomes that are not mutually exclusive with the other's interpretations. Next chapter going to be focusing on the birth of the relationship and going a bit further into Cadance's past.
-LittleFaerieFire

30. Beginning of a New Tale

Beginning of a New Tale

Cadance

My partner's lips tasted like ash, yet I found that I didn’t hate the taste. I rather enjoyed the almost bitter, yet smoky flavor that my partner's lips tasted of. I pulled away just as quickly as I had claimed her lips. Sunset stared at me in shock, her cyan eyes widened with surprise.

“Nothing has to change with our partnership,” I said smiling as I pulled away slightly from my awestruck partner. She slowly lifted a trembling hoof and brought it against her muzzle. Where but mere moments I had been. “However, if you would like, everything can change with our relationship... I wanted to let you know where I stood on that matter.” I clearly announced my intentions to my partner who had yet to respond in one way or another.

“You kissed me?” Sunset questioned as if she didn’t understand what had just happened. I just nodded at my partner’s observation.

“I did indeed kiss you, would you like me to kiss you again?” I couldn't help but add that question to the end of my agreement. I could see the exact moment when Sunset registered my words as the once amber unicorn was now beet red. Her mouth opened and slowly moved but no noise could be described as words being formed. Only a low-pitched whine, spoke of my partner's hesitancy to answer one way or another.

I would not begrudge her choice were she to reject my advances. While I would certainly prefer the reciprocation of my feelings I knew that I could not, would not, coerce the pony before me that was my partner into returning what I felt. That would indeed be a form of Love but one that was a twisted mockery of what Love could truly blossom into. Sunset and I were partners, even if we did not always get along, we treated each other as equals.

“Why did you kiss me?” Sunset seemed to be getting out of the stupor that my actions had left her in. Perhaps I could have made our first kiss a tad more romantic but considering the circumstances the two of us alone, bathed in the Sun’s rays was a beautiful start to our potential relationship. I would endeavor for improvements to our next event in our relationship. Well if we had one that involved romantic inclinations, that was still up to Sunset. I still had to explain my reasoning to my partner who managed to miss my intention.

“I would like to enter into a romantic relationship with you. I believed that kissing you would be the best way to illustrate my feelings towards you.” My partner fell silent once more, her hoof falling from her muzzle back to the ground. The Sun high above continued to shower us with its light as Sunset continued to work through her thoughts on the matter. I continued to watch as my partner was deathly still, perhaps she thought as long as she did not move I would not be able to see her.

Taking a breath and allowing the churning emotions that the confession had brought forth within me. “Sunset, I will respect your wishes on this matter. The choice is in your hoofs.” Even if this spark of love would fail to turn into a proper blaze, I was glad that I had taken the chance on it. It would not be fair to myself or Sunset. I smiled at my partner even as the silence dragged on, awaiting what would most likely be her condemnation or her preferably her blessing.

“I-” Was all Sunset managed to get a small squeak out before I felt a flash of cold emanates from my partner. Frowning, I hesitantly stepped forwards waiting for the approval from my partner to embrace her so that she wouldn’t have to deal with the cold alone. Her cyan eyes met mine as she nodded, I once more embraced my partner allowing her to escape from the chill that she summoned upon herself. “What would entering into a relationship with you entail?” As Sunset spoke those few words threw her now chattering teeth, the spark that had been held deep within my heart grew into a mighty conflagration.

“What would you like from a relationship Sunset? It could be with me or any pony.” I calmly asked not letting my feelings on the latter part of my words show to my partner who was in a vulnerable state. She needed to make what her desires were from me clear so that there would be no room for any misunderstanding. I would not allow such a thing to happen to mar our potential relationship or our partnership.

“I have no idea… I have never thought about this. I have read about it but that was always about other ponies. Never…” Myself. I mentally supplied as my partner fell to silence within my embrace. I smiled at her hesitant words. That was alright. Not every pony was as invested in this form of Love as I was. “I had only focussed on…” Sunset trailed off but we both knew the pony’s name that she was about to speak. We both knew the weight of her name. Especially within this context.

Taking a breath and allowing my partner to do the same. “What do you want from a relationship?” Sunset finally asked. That meant she was at least considering my proposal. I couldn’t help but allow hope to flourish within my being.

“I would like it to mean that we grow closer to one another. That we would be each other's closest confidant. That even when we disagree we are willing to work towards a solution that makes both of us happy.” I softly whispered out my answers, intently observing my partner's reaction to what I was asking of her. I could see confusion but I could also see that her cyan eyes sparkled with interest in what I was proposing. “Above all, we would freely give our Love and receive in turn.”

Sunset began to burn at my final words. The previous chill that clung to her was incinerated. Her coat quickly grew hot to the touch, for a moment I thought she was going to combust. However, I didn’t let go of my partner. I had already given her my word that it was alright if I got burnt. I was not going to allow her to freeze herself once again.

Thankfully after a few moments, the heat that was being given off by my partner stopped increasing. Instead, it plateaued, and then even slowly started to drop. “Would you like that as well Sunset?” I gingerly asked my partner even as her emerald eyes pierced into mine. Gulping down the fear of rejection.

Sunset just stared at me. Still, as a statue, no statues were often created with the depiction of emotion. Sunset was blank. I could not see any of her normally ever-present rage. I could no longer see the confusion that had entrapped her. I couldn't even see the Love that I had hoped to see mirrored in her eyes.

The freshly born hope began to wither deep within my heart. Fragments fell and shattered from the once grand display of a possible new beginning. I forced myself to continue to smile. A non-answer was an answer all of its own. I began to brace myself for the imminent rejection. I knew I should have waited. I knew that I should have-.

“I think, I would like that as well.” My mental tirade shattered as I faintly heard Sunset whisper those words. I took a deep breath before I allowed her words to run on a loop through my mind a few times trying to understand what she meant. I think? What sort of answer was that?

“Sunset, would you like to date me, yes or no?” I let my temper get the better of me at my partner's weak answer as I growled out my question. She could reject me. That was not the preferred outcome but fine. She, however, was not allowed to play with my heart. Sunset of course took my words as a challenge.

“Yes! I am sorry but unlike you, I have no experience in this matter. Infitesmely less in comparison to the Alicorn of Love herself.” She growled back in response, her cyan eyes flashing with an almost emerald haze. Our muzzles once more were almost touching as our eyes battled for dominance. I would-. WAIT! Pulling back from my partner’s face I could see the small victory light up my partner’s eyes with glee at having once more won against me.

“You said yes?” I questioned my hopefully more than partner who proceeded to once more light up as if she was a tomato, as she looked away. I could see her muddled eyes glancing at me before she swiftly nodded, still refusing to meet my gaze. The once fracturing hope was quickly reformed by my partner’s words.

“Yes, I would like to enter into a romantic relationship with you.” Sunset clarified embarrassed indignation clung to her words, even as she was still refusing to once more meet my gaze. I felt something slot into my very being as she spoke those words. The world slowed as I reappeared at my partners, in more ways than one, side. Sunset had a look of sheer bewilderment on her face as I loomed before her. “How in Celestia’s name did you tele- mmph!” Before I once more claimed her lips for my own. Savoring her smoky ash taste.

“Sorry,” I said as I pulled myself back from my partner’s lips. Once more she was colored crimson from horn to hoof by my actions. This time instead of averting her cyan eyes from my vision she met my gaze, and a small smile flitted onto her face.

“You realize you just teleported yes?” My partner asked after she took a few deep breaths to calm herself. The smile that proved what she had given me faded as she once more focused on the magic I had somehow performed.

“You realize that you are ruining the moment of the beginning of our relationship?” I teased back to my partner who once more blushed. Sunset of course being her lovable self instead of backing down pushed forwards through her embarrassment.

“You teleported using an equation that should have shredded you into ribbons Cadance.” She grimly stated… Yeah, I couldn’t recover the moment from that. Especially when Sunset began to cast her usual bevy of spells to ensure that I was unharmed. She frowned but otherwise did not report that I was injured in any way that I couldn’t feel.

“I feel, fine Sunset,” I informed my partner. Even as I wiggled my entire body I felt nothing wrong. I mean I had teleported under my own power which was awesome and I had just once more kissed my mare friend which was even better. That brought up a good point. I should inform Sunset that this makes me her mare friend and her mine. I was going to bring it up immediately but I saw Sunset’s eyes tighten in concentration, I would inform her after she finished whatever it was that she was doing.

Watching as a rock levitated before the two of us it flashed green before it disappeared. Reappearing a scant few hoof steps away, shredded. There was no rock chunk larger than half of one of my feathers. I couldn’t help the involuntary gulp. “That was supposed to happen to me?” I questioned my partner who was now manipulating the diced rock pieces.

“Yes. Running through the formula you used to teleport yourself you should be nothing more than minced meat right now, Alicorn or not.” Sunset frowned as she continued with whatever tests she was performing. Not noticing the impact that her words had had on me.

I couldn’t help but stare at the minced rock before me. I was supposed to be that. I was supposed to be little more than as Sunset so eloquently put it ‘minced meat’. I could faintly hear Sunset’s voice, as she was likely explaining the gruesome end that I somehow avoided. The world started to and I felt a warmth encase me.

…

Blinking my eyes slowly as I once more found myself in my Crystal Castle. Did I just faint? Sweet Celestia, that's embarrassing. I could hear a deep laughter emanate from my grandfather who was rolling across the floor of my throne room. I felt my cheeks burst into flames as I stood atop my throne.

“WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING I NEARLY DIED!” I demanded from my grandfather who was still rolling around like a common loon. Eventually, he got himself under his control, with some help from my telekinesis, standing before my throne still damnably chuckling.

“My descendant in the short amount of time that you have been in the waking world you have managed so much. You have permitted the Demon to court you, and then you have proceeded to scare yourself unconscious by teleporting using your newfound higher magics.” Umbrum said, his amusement evident in the shining of his crimson eyes even if his chuckling was halted.

“Couldn't you go back to calling Sunset my partner? Also, I am unsure how much you saw but I was the one to begin courting her since you missed that.” I huffed out at my grandfather who didn't even bother with pretending to call her anything else. “Wait, are you not referring to Unicorn magic but Alicorn magic?” My grandfather nodded at my words.

“You are a member of royalty my descendant you do not court any. They shall strive to match up to your unparalleled majesty.” He started completely missing the point that it was no longer the same age that he had once lived in. The rules of pony society had long since changed. “I indeed am referring to your first proper use of Alicorn-based arcane manipulations beyond the realms of your dreams. It was an acceptable start for your first time properly casting a spell in Equus.”

I didn’t know how to teleport, I didn’t even cast any form of spell. I had simply desired to be before Sunset again and I was there.

“I don’t know how to teleport, why are you saying that I cast a spell? I know Sunset has promised to teach me how to teleport but that is some ways off.” Considering the first time that I had asked her to teach me how to teleport she went on an hour-long rant about the many dangers of teleportation.

“My descendant much like the time you layered your spells over one another your will and power acted as a substitute for any sort of lacking foundation of a formula. You and the Demon keep forgetting that you are no mere Unicorn but an Alicorn.” Umbrum says, shaking his head slightly. I don’t bother to correct my grandfather on the point that Sunset has forgotten that I was an Alicorn. I didn’t think that was possible.

“You were the one that taught me how to layer my spells over one another?” I questioned my grandfather who continued to speak in riddles and half-truths and unlike when he was intending it I doubt he even realized that he was currently doing so.

“I did but unlike the Demon I can see you from your spellwork as you form it, you did not retain my lessons in their entirety. Only your innate connection to Magic itself allowed your spell to succeed. A simple spell like that of which you had previously cast had many different ways to perform. Teleportation on the other hoof is a far more complex theorem. It can be dissected to get a definite answer each time, and to one that is experienced in rending through the very space of Equus itself, those holes in your spellwork would be a glaring sign.” Umbrum concluded his impromptu lesson.

“How exactly am I supposed to tell Sunset any of this? She will no doubt ask how I learned any of this! Especially since she is likely panicking over my unconscious body now!” I glared at Umbrum who simply shrugged at my plight. “You aren't exactly being helpful. What do you suggest, I tell her about you?” Actually, that was an idea. How had I not thought of that before?

“It is your decision on who you share my existence with. All I would ask is that you use caution. I will not even bother attempting to argue that you do not share my existence with the Demon as you seem keen on ignoring my advice regarding it.” Umbrum flatly retorted as he matched my glare with one of his own. Perhaps I would have once more defended Sunset to my grandfather but as a familiar light began to filter through the crystal walls of my castle I knew that I would be returning to her side soon enough.

Umbrum nodded as I left the realm that was his home and prison. “I shall prepare a lesson to explain the differences and similarities between Alicorn and Unicorn mage craft.” He announced even as my form began to disintegrate before him. The last thing I could see of my Castle was an almost red wave of cascading cracks.

…

“Sunset?” I groaned out as I rubbed my face with my wing.

“Are you feeling alright Cadance?” I heard my partner hesitantly ask. Pulling my wing from my eyes to see my partner’s piercing emerald eyes watching me. They were keenly focused on my form, unflinchingly refusing to allow there to be a moment where she was not observing me.

At my nod, Sunset relaxed. “Good. My spells reported nothing wrong with you so I held off getting Princess Celestia. I can go grab her however if you would like a second opinion on the matter.” Sunset concluded her offer, her muzzle tucked into a firm frown. Perhaps she didn’t realize how much she was projecting her current feelings toward the pony that had raised her.

“I think I will be fine with you nursing me back to health.” Shooting Sunset a smile that she quickly reciprocated. “Sorry about my little fainting spell of mine.” I apologized to my partner as I pushed myself up to stand equal with her, even if I was taller than my counterpart. She frowned and stepped closer to me.

“You shouldn’t apologize. I should have realized how poorly you could have taken my description of such events.” I waited to see if she realized how condescending her words sounded…

“Thank you Sunset,” I said as I decided against that particular argument. “Would you mind forming up your privacy ward so we can continue-? Sunset?” I cut myself off at the sight of my partner's content face filling with horror.

“I didn’t have the spell up earlier Celestia knows!” Sunset ground out as her magic surged with her emotions encasing us within it. The ward that once gently severed us both from the rest of Equus now cleaved our connection from Equus. A screaming tear echoed as the ward settled into place. “I would like to see her easily get through this.” Sunset spat those words as she looked to where the Sun once was, as we now resided within an empty void of nothingness.

“Sunset…” I trailed off as my partner's eyes looked at me expectantly. “Is it that bad that Celestia knows we are together?” I carefully selected my words and watched as Sunset immediately nodded. There was no time for her to consider any possibilities. She seemed certain that if Celestia knew that we were together it would be a major travesty.

Why? Why was my partner so certain of this? Sunset had admitted that this was her first relationship, the first time she had ever thought about such matters of the heart. How did she know? “Why?” I voiced my confusion to my partner.

“Celestia would dig into it. She always knows whenever I do anything at all. If she knew about our relationship she would find out about our alliance. Our partnership.” I wasn't sure how to take that. On one hoof I was almost positive Celestia knew about our little alliance already, on the other why did it matter? I couldn’t see the connection but if it was a concern for Sunset I would hide it on my end. Taking a moment to gather my thoughts into a response before I spoke.

“Wouldn't it be the perfect guise for our alliance? After all, ponies that are together spend time together, it would also provide us both with excuses to escape Celestia.” I mentally apologized to the pony that had taken me in but I was having my partner’s back. “We could use the excuse of each other to get around her… That doesn’t mean that we won’t be going on dates or other romantic events.” I clarified at the end to make sure Sunset realized that I was not willing to let our relationship become a sham. Just the thought of it churned my stomach. I was the Princess of Love after all. I had some standards for what was considered acceptable in a relationship.

“That could work. It wouldn’t be the first time I have tricked her into missing something larger that I had done. It’s just like when you bury a body you bury an animal atop it so even if some pony checks they find the animal corpse and are satisfied that they caught you. While in reality they only found what you wanted them to find.” Sunset broke off on a disturbing tangent but it seemed that she got the idea. Even if she applied a horrifying twist to it.

“Sunset if we ever have foals you are going to have to watch what you say around them.” She would end up scaring the poor things… Looking at my partner who was quickly paling, I realized that my words perhaps had been horrifying to her. “Sorry Sunset, that’s a conversation that we can put off until later.” I quickly apologized to my partner who had seemingly short-circuited at my words. It was an important conversation to have between any two ponies in a relationship, but one that did not need to be had between the two of us right now. Especially since our relationship was still in its infancy, there were far more important things to focus upon.

Taking a breath as I waited for Sunset to fully recover from whatever mental prison she had formed around herself. Upon having her muddled eyes once more find my own I continued. “Sunset…” I couldn't help but trail off after I whispered my partner's name. I had no idea what the best way to go about this was. “I propose another bargain. A question for a question. A truth for a truth.” I offered my partner who frowned at my proposition.

“If you want to ask me something you can Cadance.” Sunset softly offered, not realizing the sort of questions I would ask her. “I may not give the answer that you want but I won’t lie to you. You are my partner in two ways now.” She said, giving a small smile as her horn lit with a faint green glow that quickly encased her. It felt different than her usual arsenal of spells. Far more restrained and sterile than the usual corralled rampaging of her magic.

“Sunset what spell did you just cast on yourself?” I asked as I couldn't recall this spell being in her normal repertoire of spells. I couldn't recall her ever casting this spell before me.

“A spell to force me to tell the truth.” Sunset somehow carelessly admitted as she shrugged. I could feel the utter revulsion begin to pool in my stomach at my partner’s actions. “You seem angry, did I do something wrong again?” She questioned in an almost serene monotone.

“Sunset please cancel that spell of yours. I want to have a conversation with the pony that is my partner, my mare friend, not a pony that has to dope herself up with magic!” I managed to keep my tone calm until the last portion of my words which came out far more forcefully than was needed. Sunset at times was entirely something else. Watching as my partner once more shrugged as she ran another spell. Before she could attempt to apologize I continued. “You don’t need to apologize, this is a new experience for both of us. We both are going to make mistakes.”

“...Then how are you going to know if I am telling the truth? I could be lying to you. I have been able to lie to Princess Celestia for years at this point.” Sunset asks, her voice thankfully no longer monotone. Now there was an almost helpless edge to her words. That no matter what she said, I would believe that she was lying.

“Sunset, would you lie to me?” I questioned my partner who immediately stiffened but shook her head in the negative. “Then I have nothing to fear.” I offered with a smile. “Alright, then Sunset if you don’t want to answer a question of mine you don’t have to. However, that goes the same for me.” My partner nodded as she registered my words. “Feel free to ask me a question about anything.”

“How did you Ascend?” My partner immediately asked. While I wish she would have asked anything else. I knew the pony before me better than that. Taking a deep breath to calm myself and gather my thoughts. I had never enjoyed thinking about that entire incident. I however was expecting Sunset to open up to me about her past. I should be willing to do the same.

“I defeated an evil enchantress, one who had stained her hooves in the darkest of magics that she could find. She was some pony who was all alone and she wished to spread her misery. Turning the love other ponies had for one another into hatred.” I quickly spoke without a singular breath. I faintly see the cruel rainbow-filled eyes of Prismia that leered at me appear upon my partner's eyes. Closing my eyes I continued. “The enchantress Prismia was using their suffering to perform a ritual, using the same amulet that allowed her to corrupt our love, however, she did not manage to succeed in the end.” I paused to take a shaky breath.

Opening my eyes once more, I no longer could I see the rainbow-filled coronas that had replaced my partner's eyes, instead I only saw a naked concern filling my partner's cyan eyes. “I couldn't let her succeed. She was harming every pony in Blissville with her magic. I stood against her. I thought I had managed to get her to understand what she was doing was wrong, but then she changed. The amulet or perhaps her ritual transformed her into a misshapen monster that was no closer to a pony than Discord was.” I could feel a familiar pain in my heart. One that would never fade.

A feeling that I would never allow to fade. Otherwise, I would be besmirching their sacrifice. “The newly transformed Prismia sought to consume more than a ponies’ love. It sought to consume them whole. It struck me down, breaking one of my wings, yet before it could feast upon me Rocky Road and Ruby Love once more saved me… At the cost of their own lives.” I couldn’t see my partner through the onset of tears, but I could feel the way that she attempted to make me feel better by embracing me with her hoofs.

I had long ago realized the similarity between the two ponies. Sunset Shimmer and Prismia were both ponies that had found their callings in the darkness. They were both capable of cruelties that were far beyond the average pony. They both used magic to do their horrid acts, Prismia from her amulet, and Sunset her inborn Unicorn magic. Yet there were the key differences between the two ponies. Sunset had accepted my offered hoof of help while Prismia had only pretended to do so. I wrapped my partner in my wings and returned the embrace that she had wrapped me within.

Taking a choked breath I concluded my story. “I failed to prevent it from consuming two ponies that had raised me as if I were their foal. I watched the monster that once was Prismia gorge itself on my parents. I managed to perform the impossible and steal away its amulet, somehow shattering it along with the monster. From there I found myself in a realm with Celestia herself, who protected me from another monster that sought to harm me. She protected me, offered me a way forward under her protective wing, and explained the change that I had undergone.” I smiled into my partner's side as I finished my tale.

I would move forwards, never forgetting the past and what had happened, but forging a better future for every pony. “I'm sorry Sunset but there is little chance you can replicate what I had done to ascend.” I offered my words to my partner who had silently listened to my personal story.

“I am sorry that I asked. I didn't realize that every time I spoke of Ascendendance… ” She trailed off as she apologized in turn.

“I know what ascendance means to you Sunset. What it represents. I hope that when you inevitably ascend you don’t lose as much as I did.” I offered my words as a way of moving forwards, she wouldn't apologize for her desires, I didn't expect her to. “Just let me stay in my mare friend's hoofs for a little bit,” I whispered into my partner’s embrace, I felt her nod against my side. We stayed there for a few minutes basking in each other’s warmth and embrace. Such things could not last forever no matter how enjoyable they were. Eventually, I pulled myself away from Sunset’s hooves.

“I believe it is your turn to ask me a question.” Sunset offered her voice far gentler than normal, her cyan eyes however were filled with an unbending resolution.

“Why are you being tortured in your dreams, Sunset?” I hesitantly asked my partner who thankfully neither froze herself nor set herself ablaze. Instead, she kept her eyes on mine defeat flitted through them yet that resolve was not impacted.

“They are punishment from Celestia herself.” That much I had already known “I assumed initially for daring to attack her, but now I know they are some form of twisted reformation.” Her eyes began to bleed tears as emerald replaced cyan. “So that in the future I will not perform whatever act she has foreseen, the only reason why she even saved me in the first place.” Once more hate held dominion over my partner.

Her eyes were blazing infernos of wrath. Her very form shuddered in the thralls of her anger. Yet she didn't move. I couldn't even feel the temperature rise around my partner. “If you would require more information then I would recommend asking the Celestial Monarch herself.” She spat out at me, before recoiling. Instantly I could see her normal motions, she was about to freeze herself once more. My wings snaked out as they caught my partner before she could once more douse herself in the cold.

Her emerald eyes found my gaze once more even as she frowned but she did not cast her magic. She instead took a breath, before nodding at me. She was about to once more apologize but instead continued with this little game I had proposed. Her eyes began to be muddled with cyan as she asked her question. “Why is it that you… like me?” her last two words were near silent whispers. Her eyes still were meeting my own but her cheeks warmed with an emotion that I knew was not anger.

“You have saved me from an assassin, a spirit of chaos, and even obliteration. I know in the stories of old that the heroes must rescue the princess from the danger that they have been in. Even those tales hold a candle of truth when it comes to the feelings that can be forged from those events. Sunset even when you hated me, you were still willing to become my partner. You may not be a good pony but I know you are not a bad pony.” My declaration rang through the void that we were in. I knew Sunset heard every single word that I had spoken as now she was blushing like a pony her age should be. “Plus you are rather hot.” I couldn't help but add on at the end. Laughing at the glare that was shot my way.

“CADANCE!” Sunset's almost pained exasperation was an amusing sight. Fully compounded by the embarrassment that filled my partner. I allowed her incensed ranting to begin in earnest as I allowed the conversation to shift in a much more pleasant direction. One that I would shatter if I was to ask, if she thought of Celestia as something more than a mother.

Author's Note

This is going up on Friday as I doubt I will have time to post this chapter tomorrow. Cadance fully reveals her backstory to Sunset. She teleports, nearly kills herself, and faints(Not in that order). This chapter is the culmination of the two leads' thoughts and actions culminating in the birth of this new relationship. Otherwise, Sunset continues to act on her own perceptions of the world, especially when it comes to Celestia. Which Cadance does catch.
-LittleFaerieFire

31. Found and Lost in Light

Found and Lost in Light

Cadance

Eventually, after our playful bickering ended and a few more exchanged kisses, Sunset allowed her ward to fall. Returning us to the realm of Equus once more. The Sun in the sky had continued its journey even as we had left its light. Now that the two of us had returned we were once more welcomed with its basking rays of warmth.

“I am glad to see that the two of you are well. I was slightly concerned with how long you had spent within the warded space.” The familiar tinkling of Celestia’s voice splintered the gentle warmth that Sunset and I had recently been caught in. I could feel my partner stiffen at my side, I should have attempted to comfort her, but I was too concerned with fighting down the blush that I knew was all too readily apparent on my face.

I had been all but caught by Celestia when I had just finished making out with her daughter. Wow and here I thought my life as a Princess would prevent me from living through some of the normal occurrences of a tale of romance. No, instead now I had to deal with Celestia herself.

“Why would the two of us not be alright Princess?” Sunset questioned thankfully keeping her tone civil. “Were you expecting something to happen?” Damnit Sunset, I couldn’t help but frown as I was swept away by my partner’s quick upheaval as she separated herself from my side. Making her way to where Celestia stood with a strained smile on her face. “After all, something did happen.” Sunset’s words quickly were turning feral.

“Alright, Sunset that’s enough.” I interrupted my partner’s tirade before she could go too far. Sunset twisted around to face me, her emerald eyes glistening as if they were priceless jewels, yet she listened, nonetheless. “Thank you, Sunset.” I softly spoke as I once more captured my partner under my wings embrace. Taking a deep breath before I once more found Celestia’s gaze. “Auntie…” I couldn't help but trail off as I saw her eyes that were filled with a writhing sea of flames, a far cry from the gentle warmth and kindness that was usually contained within her pink eyes.

“Cadance and I are dating.” Sunset brusquely announced at the time that I had lost my voice.

“SUNSET! Why would you announce it like that?” I admonished my partner as I whirled around to see my partner looking far too smug at my reaction. My all too foalish partner just shrugged as she responded.

“It wasn’t as if Princess Celestia didn’t already know.” Sunset’s words oozed out in response. “Or am I once more wrong Princess?” Sunset asked the pony that had raised her, once more her tone holding a taunting edge. Celestia sighed at my partner but did not contest her words. My gaze flicked back to Celestia who seemed far more amused at Sunset’s attempt at confrontation than anything else.

“My congratulations on the union that the two of you now share,” Celestia says, her voice holding an almost sacred warmth. I could feel my partner stiffening beside me at her words. Thankfully Sunset seemed to calm as I covered her with my wing. “I hope that this relationship of yours is long-lasting.” Celestia continued.

“Why aren’t you mad?” Sunset questioned, her voice filled with clear confusion at the turn of events. I felt the subtle tilt of her head as her horn brushed against my side. Once more she was exhibiting an almost foal-like curiosity. Attempting to figure out why the parents were acting the way that they were.

Celestia, however, just gave off a radiant smile in response to Sunset’s question. Her eyes shone with the full brilliance of her Sun.

“Sunset, why would I be mad? You have found yourself a partner” Sunset tensed at that word but thankfully Celestia didn’t either notice or comment. “- one that you can rely upon. I will once more remind you. One pony can grow a plant, cast a spell, control a cloud, it is only together that we can change the reality around us. I have seen what happens to a pony that has sought to do it all by their lonesome. They become lost, to both others and themselves.” Celestia, breaking off from her speech now focuses her glimmering eyes on me as she bows. “Thank you for allowing Sunset to open her heart to you and having reciprocated in turn.” She thanked me.

I wasn’t sure what was happening anymore. While I wasn’t nearly as bad as Sunset was, wondering why Celestia seemed to be if anything pleased instead of raging. I had no idea how to respond to her thanks.

“I was the one who confessed,” I responded in an effort to do something, anything to get Celestia to stop bowing. Sunset had all but turned to stone under my wing, I had no idea what was currently rampaging through her mind, but I doubted it was anything good. Celestia, either unaware of or uncaring of how Sunset was acting, once more, smiled at me as she ended her bow.

“Truly? Then I must thank you for baring your heart to Sunset. I know that she can be…” That was as far Celestia got before Sunset began to once more let off a billowing heat. One that was far different than her previous ones. This heat was far less oppressive than the usual flames that clung to her. Instead, this one was strangely comforting. Celestia, no longer speaking, was staring at Sunset, nearly dumbfounded.

Craning my eyes to my partner to see what had astounded Celestia so. I couldn’t prevent the gasp that slipped from my mouth. Sunset was all but radiating Love. Her eyes were a bright cyan that were radiating a mixture of positivity. Her mouth was nearly split into two by the brilliant smile that was splayed out from her lips. I didn’t think that she looked nearly this excited when I confessed to her.

Yet here she was. Sunset Shimmer having stepped from her ever-enshrouding darkness to show the light that she held within her very being. She was indescribably beautiful at this moment. I had heard numerous ponies complimenting me for my own charms, but I knew now that they had never seen true beauty,

“Thank you, Celestia.” Sunset was the one who finally broke the spell that she had woven over both Celestia and me. I could faintly see in the corner of my vision Celestia dumbly nodding at Sunset’s thanks.

“Of course, Sunset.” Celestia finally responded after a long pause. She must have been as enraptured by Sunset as I have been. Sunset just seemed to somehow preen even further, as both the warmth and light that she was giving off seemed to grow grander. Not needing any sort of spell or arcane formula to perform this feat of magic.

The beautiful scene was compounded as Sunset snuggled further into my side. Her grin adopted an almost ethereal shyness now that she realized that both Celestia and I were intently watching her. I could see the faint confusion flicker through her mind before she decided against questioning why we were so intently watching her.

She truly could not see what she was at the moment. Had I not known better I would have assumed that Sunset was Celestia’s bloodborne daughter. They both irradiated light and warmth to the ponies that were around them. Yet I somehow knew that this entire scene would somehow slip past my partner.

I then, much like Celestia herself was certainly doing, would entrench this memory into my mind. In an attempt to remember this enchanting scene for the one who impossibly paid no mind. When I was able to bring Sunset into my own dreams, I would show her this scene. Prove to her that Celestia did care for her. That she was loved by the pony that had long since raised her. However, such a time was in the future.

“Why are you both staring at me?” Sunset finally questions as the warmth and light that she emanated fragmented into nothing. I couldn’t help the faint whimper of disappointment that I let out as the scene ended.

“No reason,” I quickly murmured. Sunset just shot me a disbelieving look. She thankfully didn’t call out my obvious lie. Instead, she shook her head slightly before turning to Celestia.

“Is there a reason that you were waiting for us? Did you expect me to do something to Cadance?” She all but returned to taunting the pony that raised her. I frowned at my partner's immediate desire to start another altercation with Celestia. Gone was the light that had been emanating from my partner. Now she was once more enshrined in darkness.

“I was waiting to inform the two of you that I would be shortly returning to Canterlot. I wished to say my farewells as I do not believe that I will be seeing either of you two for some time Sunset.” At Celestia’s words, Sunset shrunk. All but collapsing in on herself.

“My apologies Princess Celestia I spoke out of line,” Sunset spoke as she bowed her head once more to Celestia. She raised her head after a short moment her emerald eyes ablaze with a smothered rage that had been somehow stoked within her mind.

“It is alright, Sunset. All I ask is that you would not jump to such conclusions so quickly in the future.” Celestia softly spoke. Sunset’s obvious rage didn’t dispel, nor did it grow as she nodded at the words. “Moving on from that I would like to remind the two of you that the castle will always be available for you should you find yourselves nearby or even in need of a warm meal.” She started with a small smile. “Sunset, Cadance, I would ask that you return in time for the coronation of the Princess of Love. It would be rather difficult to have a coronation without a Princess?” The smile on Celestia’s lips grew bigger, almost amused at the scenario her words were depicting.

Glancing back to my partner to see if she had any complaints with the proposal. Sunset was just intently staring at Celestia, somehow missing as I stuck my head between her vision. It took lightly tapping her with my wing that was still surrounding her, to get her to jolt back to reality.

“As long as Cadance has no issues with that, it is fine with me Princess.” Sunset grinds out as if she had swallowed rocks. Sighing, I turned from my partner to give my own agreement to the time frame that she had given.

“That is more than reasonable, thank you, Auntie,” I said with a smile of my own. Celestia nodded at our acceptance before she gave her final farewell and faded away in a burst of sunlight. “Sunset, you got your teleportation etiquette from Celestia, right?” I asked my partner who relaxed the very instant that Celestia left.

“Who else would have taught that to me?” She asked, which was a fair question. Who else would have Sunset allowed to teach her?

“I just thought that you both like to teleport away right as the conversation ends.” I idly commented on my observation of my partner to her. “You do it all the time to me as well.” At my words, she once more stiffened under my wing. “You don’t have to stop, it’s just something that I noticed.” I wasn’t about to ask her to throw one of the things that Celestia had personally taught her away.

Sunset relaxed once more at my words but otherwise stayed silent as she remained under my wing. We both once more were able to enjoy the silence we were in and the others shared warmth as the Sun continued its journey high above. That was for a few moments before Sunset once more followed in her mother’s footsteps and shattered the silence.

“I won’t be returning with you.” Sunset softly spoke into my side. Frowning at my partner’s odd words. What did she mean by that?

“To where?” I asked not-. “Do you mean for my coronation? As I would like for you to be there as both my partner and as my mare friend.” I hastily continued after I made the connection. Was there a reason she didn’t want to see my coronation? Pulling away from Sunset slightly so that I could face her, my wing kept only a few feathers upon her back as I turned.

“To Canterlot…” Sunset's face was covered in shadow as she took a breath before continuing. “I will return as an Alicorn myself or I won’t return at all.” She morosely spoke, her very words hanging in the air at her declaration.

“Why?” I couldn’t help but as I knew of her desire to ascend. To prove that she was worthy of being Celestia’s daughter. So that she could be with Celestia eternally. This seemed something more, Celestia had just announced that she would have a place for the both of us at the castle, no matter what. Sunset just shrugged, perhaps in a vain effort to conceal the very naked seeping sadness that she had been afflicted with.

“She doesn’t want me there. She never has. Until I am finally worth something, why would she want me back?” Sunset’s spoken thoughts once more were a horrific thing to hear. I was now confident at this moment that even if Celestia had done her best, she had categorically failed to raise Sunset.

“Sunset, Celestia extended that offer to both of us.” That was all I got out before my partner's eyes flashed with a near-endless emerald flame filled with hate.

“She all but told me that I wouldn’t be wanted. Why would I contest her decision on this point? It works in my favor! I would continue to have time to forge my own path to ascension and she won’t have to see me as the failure I am!” Sunset growled out before she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Taking her time as she got her rage under control before she finally continued. “I am sorry for snapping at you. She always relays her orders to me through a form of doublespeak. This isn't the first time she has had me do something like this” Sunset attempted to explain as she opened her eyes to reveal the absence of the emerald flames.

Where did I even begin with that? I had no idea. That, however, didn’t excuse me from trying.

“Sunset I will freely admit that there are things that I don’t understand about Celestia that you do, however, please believe me when I say that offer was meant for the both of us. Not just me.” I vainly hoped that my words would somehow be enough to convince my partner of Celestia’s intent. I, however, was not surprised when Sunset scoffed at me. Disappointed yes, surprised no.

Sighing at my marefriends actions. Alright, I was looking at the problem wrong. I think… Whatever. “Sunset, are you willing to at least enter Canterlot? Not going into the castle?” Sunset frowned at my questions.

“Why would I not go to the castle, which is where Princess Celestia is?” Sunset questioned instead of answering either of my own. A mask of confusion was splayed across her face. No doubt she was attempting to figure out where I was going with this. I wished her luck as I was making this up as I went.

“If somehow Celestia doesn't want you in her castle, would you still be willing to enter Canterlot?” I once more asked Sunset, this time providing more relevant information. Sunset silently pondered my question. I could feel the fluctuations of the temperature running through my partner’s body through the faint connection that we still shared through my few remaining feathers.

“Why?” Sunset eventually asked, her eyes narrowing. I raised a hoof and ran it down my face at how obstinate my partner was.

“Even if we don't stay in the castle, I would like you to come to my coronation. Are you willing to do so, Sunset?” My intention laid bare for Sunset. I once more awaited her answer. I was all but resigned to the answer I knew I would get at this point. Sunset took a moment to come to her answer but eventually, she nodded just as I expected… Wait. “Wait, really?” I exclaimed in a mess of confusion and hope.

“Princess Celestia ordered me not to enter her castle, she said nothing about entering Canterlot,” Sunset said with a sly grin. It took me a few moments before I began to laugh. Perhaps my laughter was from my partner’s actions, perhaps the elation of having my mare friend with me when I have officially been crowned Princess or even something else. All I knew at this moment was that I couldn't stop laughing.

“Sunset, you are adorable.” I couldn’t help but reiterate to my partner who once more scowled at my words. I chuckled some more at the face she made before I once more kissed her. “See, this is proof.” I smiled at the embarrassment my partner was wallowing in at this point.

“You are unfair.” Sunset grumbles out even as she continues to blush. Sadly, the flush of embarrassment upon her cheeks quickly fades. “I am unsure how much longer you would like to stay here but I would prefer to move on to our next destination as soon as possible,” Sunset spoke after her cheeks were once more fully amber.

“I would like to say farewell to both Cipher and Stinger, but other than that I am happy to be moving towards our next destination. However, instead of keeping to the roads now that we have Celestia’s permission, why don’t we go via train?” I asked my partner who considered my words and after a few moments of shared silence agreed with them. “Good. Let’s get going.” I chirped out as I pulled my partner along with me.

Sunset didn't even bother to pretend that she didn't enjoyed the feeling of me by her side as we trotted back into Stinger’s house. I could faintly hear Stinger conversing with both Rebound and Gentle Breeze. However, that conversation quickly ended when I pushed open the door to the common room where every pony was. Their eyes quickly found themselves focused on the connection that Sunset and I shared through our connected hoofs.

“Congratulations!” Cipher immediately exclaimed as she quickly moved forwards, her wings raised only to falter as a ring of flames appeared around her. Before I could even admonish my partner I, Cipher had beaten me to it. “Yes, I know hooves off the Princess, I would, however, like to point out that I for one was not interested in the dear Princess of Love. I instead helped her see if you felt the same as she did. So, if anything you should be thanking me, instead of worrying that I am going to steal her away from you.” Cipher resounded with a roll of her eyes.

I could tell my partner had a frown on her face even without seeing it. She had already decided on what happened, now she was receiving information that conflicted with the worldview that she had already carefully constructed. Instead of lashing out, she instead turned to me, a questioning glint echoed in her emerald eyes. I simply nodded. It was the truth after all.

“Thank you…” Sunset’s words were colored with her confusion. She really was adorable if not emotionally stunted in matters where anger and hatred could not apply. The ring of flames that had surrounded Cipher was smothered allowing the changeling still in her Pegasus guise to continue to move forwards.

“You're welcome, Sunset Shimmer,” Cipher said as she stopped before us. “I will take my payment in the return of-.” Thankfully Stinger put an end to his sister’s escapades before the current calm would have been broken.

“You said you were going to congratulate them and nothing more.” At her brother's words, Cipher paused, frowned, and then sighed.

“Fine. Congratulations on finding each other. Take it from an emotivore your feelings towards the other are delicious. There is so much that they are nearly overflowing.” That was a statement that I was unsure how to take. Thankfully Sunset didn't seem to know how to respond to Cipher’s words either.

“Thank you? I think?” I finally responded after a few moments of awkward silence. “That aside, both Sunset and I would like to thank you for your hospitality,” I said with a slight bow of my head. I didn't care if Sunset thought that I was too good to give my thanks to these two. I was going to properly thank them. Even if she would rather I not.

Thankfully Sunset made no mention of my actions instead she muttered her thanks as well. Pointedly saying Stinger’s louder than Ciphers. Cipher didn’t seem to care if anything she seemed almost amused how even now Sunset didn’t like her. How Sunset was still wary of any sort of trick that she may pull. Sunset may have been one of the furthest ponies from being called gallant, but she was currently putting her hoof in the ring.

“We are planning to leave in short order.” Sunset informs the two guards who had been watching the entire proceedings. Gentle Breeze and Rebound nodded at her words.

“We are ready to leave as soon as the both of you are ready.” Gentle Breeze simply spoke.

“I don’t suppose we can go somewhere with a beach?” Rebound immediately followed up with a grin splayed across his muzzle. “I have been meaning to spend some time working on my tan.” Only for his grin to falter with the ensuing silence that greeted his statement. “Everyone’s a critic.” He mutters out, acting almost ashamed of his actions. Considering the way that the two disguised changelings were simply watching him with clear amusement, I doubted it was genuine.

Sunset just rolls her eyes at his antics before silently looking toward me once more. She once more awaited my next action. Contently beckoning to move forth at my own leisure.

“Unfortunately, I don’t believe that Hollow Shades has many beaches.” I hesitantly offered to the guard pony who tilted his head at the name of our next destination.

“A shame that I shall have to wait to once more conquer the oceans and rightfully claim them for Equestria!” Rebound jested with a small smile. “Should you require either my or Gentle’s assistance in preparing for the next leg of your trip, you need only ask.” With that offer expressed, Rebound fell silent once more.

Sunset just levitated her saddlebag and the bag from the room that we had slept in. Otherwise, she was silently waiting. Her gaze flickered from the siblings to the guards and me. Yet even with her desire to start moving towards Hollow Shades as quickly as possible, she wasn't attempting to hurry this along.

Was there something that I was missing still? Or perhaps she was simply refusing to accelerate our departure due to the fact that I had yet to properly say farewell to both Stinger and Cipher. It didn't matter either way in truth. Giving Sunset’s hoof a light squeeze, I stepped forwards.

“Rebound, Gentle Breeze, if you wouldn't mind waiting outside, we will be along in a few moments.” At my words, both of the guards that Celestia had ordered to watch over myself and Sunset gave a quick salute before making their way outside. Turning to the two changelings still in their pony guises, “I just wanted to say thank you for everything that you have done for not only myself but Sunset as well.”

Cipher and Stinger both nodded at my words, an easy grin quickly setting upon both of their muzzles. “Until the next time we meet, I wish you all the best in your endeavors,” I say with a matching smile on my lips.

“Just be sure to write to me all the juicy details between you and your shining knight.” Cipher chuckled while Stinger rolled his eyes at his sister's antics. I gave her my word that I would inform her of some details, but it was after all a Princess's prerogative to retain the juiciest secrets of her relationship. Otherwise, I gave Cipher a quick hug before making my way back to Sunset’s side.

“Shall we?” She questioned her gaze kept on the Sun high above. I simply nodded as we fell into step with one another. We were quickly joined by Rebound and Gentle Breeze as they fell into step behind us. Once more Sunset was fine with walking beside an Alicorn without complaint. Was it due to the fact that it was me that she was next to? Or was it something else entirely else? It would be something to further consider.

“So have you given any thought to getting to Hollow Shades via the train?” I asked as we cleared the edge of Wingston.

“There isn’t a stop from Canterlot to Hollow Shades so if we were to catch the train, we would need to board it while it is moving…” Sunset pauses as she looks at the two royal guards who were still right behind us, having heard Sunset’s less-than-legal plan. “Which is why we should not do such a thing.” Sunset continued despite every pony here knowing what she had intended.

“Look I know you don’t exactly want either of us to be here, but we aren’t exactly going to let you take the newest Princess all around Equestria without any adult supervision.” Gentle Breeze gently reminded Sunset, who thankfully didn’t glare back at the elder Mare.

“Exactly we are here to bail the two of you out of whatever stupidity the two of you get yourselves into.” Rebound continued all but contradicting Gentle Breeze’s earlier words. She glared at the pony that was her partner, but he continued on unhindered. “After all it's not like we are spying on you-.” Wrong word choice, really wrong word choice. Immediately my reflexive thoughts were proven true as Sunset interrupted Rebound.

“You are here to spy on us.” Her emerald eyes all but flashed with the rage that she let freely flow, heating the air around her. Even as I placed my wing on her side she didn’t stop. “You keep saying you’re here for the both of us but that isn't the truth of the matter. No, in truth you’re not here to spy on Cadance, you are here to ensure that I don’t do anything to her on Celestia’s behalf.” Her words dripped in malice as her voice began to grow in volume.

Damnit Sunset. Everything was going so smoothly. Rebound just shrugged at my partner’s accusation. What do I even do to de-escalate the situation here?

“That could be true indeed.” Immediately Gentle slapped Rebound with her wing. “That said it is not.” He swiftly continued under both mine and Gentle’s glares. “I personally don’t think that the Princess who is next to you and is the one who has you on a leash has anything to worry about from you.” There was once more silence after Rebound made his statement. I could only stare at him.

Was he suicidal? Did he realize that Sunset was able to go horn to horn against Celestia herself? I knew he could be stupid, but this was something completely else. Sunset was going to murder him and depending on the heat of her flames, I was going to have to help bury his charred remains. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of waiting, I could feel Sunset slightly move under the crook of my wing.

She wasn't erratically jolting forwards, and I didn’t even feel the heat grow in temperature. Instead, all I felt was the small movement of her head and horn lightly scraping into my feathers. It was almost as if she was soundlessly laughing. Which did not bode well for any pony.

“You hear that, Cadance?” Sunset slowly chuckled out, her words flashed like honed daggers, as she slipped out from under my wing, her eyes ablaze with emerald flames. The flames all but dripped from her eyes as they fell to the grasses below her. Incinerating the greenery, the moment the liquid flames found purchase upon their blades. “You have me leashed.” She hisses out, the words that slip from her mouth barely sound like words. Instead, they sound much more like curses.

I couldn't move a single feather. I was all but frozen in place as if I was petrified by a spell, but I knew it wasn’t any spell that did this. It was the raw anger of the Unicorn before me, all but reshaping reality through her rage.

“My descendant be wary of the Demon.” Yes Umbrum, I knew that Sunset was in the process of blowing a fuse she was after all right beside me. Why would Umbrum say that? He usually only spoke with me outside of my dreams to warn me if I was in danger. Not to tell me that Sunset was acting strange. Was I currently in danger? From Sunset of all ponies once more?

The spell that I had been caught within was swiftly broken. Once more I looked at my partner. Enshrouded with anger, yes, but I couldn't feel the temperature matching the intensity of her flames. It was hot, but not to the normal degree of heat when she normally raged. Was she pretending? No Sunset wouldn't do that. She only attempted to make herself angry when she was terrified.

“Sunset are you alright?” I hesitantly asked my partner who was silently still crying tears of emerald flames. Sunset just glared at me, as the temperature began to rise at my question.

“He is right. You have chained me.” She growled gesturing a hoof at Rebound who was attempting to do his best to blend into the surrounding air. “Princess Celestia couldn’t do it.

P̶̤̋́̽̆̑͆̌̄̐̇̕ͅr̴̬̭̘̼̅̕i̸̛̭̙̠̥͙̪̜̫̭̯͔̭͇̓̽́̎̾͆͋̍͂̌͜ņ̶͖͍͚͚͖̯͇̩̱̥̈́͆̋̆̐̇̇̚͠c̷̤͚͆͛͊̀͋̚e̷̜͔̗̯̝͔̖̝̍̋͗͑͜s̷̡̛̱͕̺̠̮͇̥̥̻̫͖̖͊͒̏͒̏́̓̐̍̓̚s̷͓̝̍͂ ̸͙͎̪̖̲̬̖͕͐Ţ̶͕̺̺̰̮̞̬͙͆̍̈́̉̅̑̅̇͐̂̿̌͜ͅw̶̙͖̞̟͎̹̞̺͔͎̭̲͌͒̂̓̆͑̐͝ì̵̢̢̧̤̪͖̺̬̟͙͚̬̘͚͇ļ̷̡͚̘̟͙̺̙͉̅͘i̵̧̧̗̘̥̘̩͐̅ͅģ̸̜͔̗͈̻̥͐̅̒h̵̨̗͍͍̜͉̣̝̙͇̬̀̈́̈̎̑͋̒̀͗͝͠t̷̡̘̠̓̽̈́́̈́̈́̽̈́̾̊̽̚ ̶̲̘͕̦̜͒̽̈́̎̐̓͋̏̅̌̂̓̕͠͝S̶̨̡̮̫̫̲͙̳͓̅̅̇̉̓̓͜p̸̡̨̝̘̌̉̃̑̄̈́̈́̄͝͝ą̶̡̬̄́̋̊̊͘r̴̢̟͖͚̜̤̰̤̺̪͎̬̎͗̇̏͋́̿ķ̵̡̱͔̞͇̬̭͎̠̻͕̅͋̓̈́̅͛̊̀͗̋̚l̴̦̖͈̜̠̥͙͕̝͈̲̜̭̲̅̇̄̏̌̄̉͛͑͗̆̾̋̕͝é̷̪͖̳͔̖̳̻͎͂̈́́̂̈́̃̎̒̽́̕̕͝ ̵̳̮͉̰̫͇͛̓͋̊̅̉͌̀̔̃͋̈́́͘͜c̴̨̨̡̪̘͈̙̜͇̹͋̄̀͊͆̅̑̇͝o̶̧̯͓̮̼̠͇͈̗̹̊̍̑͒̈́̒͆̋̿̇̆͑͑̋͘ͅų̴̣͇̪̱͔̼̝̳̣̖̱̆͛͌̄͗́̓l̶̯̒̉͛̔͗̍̈́̂̇̋̇̕̚̚̚d̸̠̼̆̆̾̉̒̑̓͆̐̎̄́̿͝n̶͓̈́͛͂̌̈́̽̋̇̌͑́̕͝'̵̧̢̨̛̯̯͖̦̳̣͇̱̩̆̈͑͂̅͋́͒̄̿̕͘ť̶̡͚̤̹̫̦͖͉̰̤̙̥̳͒̓ ̴̭̭̞͇̪̺̳̰͒͋̑̈͛̂́͘c̵̫̭͆̏̈́̕a̵̢̤̱̲͉͚̺͐̏̍̆g̴̨̣̼̪͕͖̜͉̃̊͋͜e̸̛̫͙̥̟͔͇͈͈͚̿͗́̽͌̓̅̍̕̕͝ ̴̢̱͙̱̪̖͂͆̋͂͑̈̕͝ͅm̸̧̜̪̯͙̯͚̻̼͋́̾̉͜͝͠è̷͙̖̱̹͚̣̱̺̙͎̬͛̂.

Yet you somehow could.” Her very words distorted the very fabric of Equus around her. I couldn't help but flinch at the taste of iron that quickly began to flow through my mouth. I couldn’t even feel the pain other than in an oddly abstract way. I realized that I was injured in some way, yet I was unable to identify how.

This was bad. If I was impacted to this extent how harshly would a normal pony be harmed? Glancing towards both Rebound and Gentle Breeze, only to see the two of them writhing in agony on the ground. I made my way quickly over to them casting what healing magic I could to help ease their suffering.

“Sunset stop!” I demanded from my partner who was living up to both Umbrum’s and Discord’s depiction of a demon. After all, she had simply muttered a few words that I couldn't even comprehend, and this is what happened. “I haven’t put a leash on you, I haven’t chained you! We are partners! Us against the very world itself! That’s our deal!” I declared with a finality that managed to get through to Sunset.

Sunset paused, her still-flaming eyes found mine. Perhaps it was the bloodied tears that were filling my vision, or even the panic that coursed through my entire body, but she thankfully stopped. A bone-chilling flood of icy air, billowed from her as the flames that clung to her eyes were extinguished. A shell of ice attempted to form around her, but it was quickly reduced to steam dissipating in the air.

“What did I do?” I could hear Sunset whimper as she stared at me. Her eyes were a pale sickly cyan that had traces of emerald running through them. They were quickly filling and flowing with now liquid tears. She hesitantly held a hoof out. We were but a scant few hoof steps away from one another, but I could feel the distance swiftly growing. The newly formed gulch between us slowly severed the connection we had forged. Something was horrifically wrong with Sunset and Celestia was no longer here to fix it. If she could at this point.

Less than an hour ago we were embraced in each other’s hooves, passionately kissing. Yet now it appeared that Sunset was farther than she ever was from me. Across this divide between the two of us, I could see her resolve harden. Fear flashed through me as she retracted her hoof. Oh, sweet Celestia no!

“What are you thinking of doing?” I couldn’t help but yell out. Hoping that she wouldn’t do it was whatever she was planning. I could see her mouth widen into a wretched failure of a smile. One that promised no warmth, no care, no love. Instead, one that forewarned devastation. I felt the flickering of our newborn relationship within my heart.

A cyan string fluttered ethereally in the air, tethered between us.

“I’m sorry, Cadance. It’s for your own good.” She whispered out on the opposite side of the illusionary gorge, which only grew larger as she took a step back. Sunset please don’t. Yet my un-whispered wishes fell upon deaf ears as Sunset Shimmer was enwreathed by flames. That quickly dissipated, leaving nothing but ashes where she once was.

Author's Note

Once again forgot to post the author's notes with the chapter these are going up about two hours late. Cadance and Sunset meet the "Mother" somewhat. However, Celestia doesn't act as Sunset predicts and is even supportive of the newfound relationship. The first of the quotes has been spoken. Cadance finds Celestia's parenting lacking as she watches how Sunset is reacting. Farewells are spoken as Sunset flees from Cadance. The next chapter should be fun.
-LittleFaerieFire

32. Moving Forward Upon Iron Rails

Moving Forward Upon Iron Rails

Cadance

I stood there watching the ashes dance in the wind, bereft of the partner that had promised to be by my side. I wonder if this was how Sunset always felt. No matter how hard you tried, nothing you did ever mattered. It was an oddly calm series of thoughts that proceeded through my mind. I could faintly hear Umbrum’s panicked voice resounding in my ears, but I easily ignored his weightless words.

Continuing to draw my magic towards the remnants that Sunset had teleported away with. Scraps remained within the air and even though I did not know how to track her teleportation. I KNEW all the same at this moment. An errant thought allowed my magic to collect both Rebound and Gentle Breeze, another granted them a momentary abatement from their wounds. My mane flickered as I stepped forwards.

“My Love once found is never lost.” I slowly and dutifully intoned the chant I had never spoken before as if this was the thousandth time, I had performed it. My words went against the fabric of reality itself. One had existed for time immemorial and held an immeasurable weight of power behind it, the other was my Love.

Reality reshaped itself to fit my desire as my Love surged forth. An endless fountain of promises that were never spoken, that would forever remain unbroken. I needed not move, for Equus moved for me. One moment I had been left behind by my partner, the next I was before her once more. She didn’t even realize that I was before her. So lost within the shadow-filled depths of her thoughts.

I stood before her at the zenith of my final apotheosis, watching as she mewled and croaked.

Why wasn’t I helping her?

Begging that Celestia would save her.

Could I not save her myself?

For the one that had won in the end, it was a pathetic display unmatched by all others.

What had she won?

The Demon, shattered and fragmented, pulled by desires that it could not hope to comprehend.

Was I the one thinking these thoughts?

It would have been all too easy for me to slay the Demon before me.

Don’t!

Yet that was not what I wished for.

At that moment I gasped as if I had just pulled my once-submerged head from a bath of ice. Those thoughts that were at the same time mine but were not my own passed as if they were but a forgotten recording of a dream. Leaving me as I once more felt the higher divinity, I had called upon fleeing my existence. A great weight fell from my shoulders as I pushed those errant thoughts aside as I made it to my partner’s side.

“I’m sorry Celestia.” She croaked out, still lost to reality. I encircled her with my wings and cradled her until she could no longer even claim to hold onto her consciousness.

“You and I are going to have a long conversation when you wake up. It is not going to be a pleasant one for you I promise.” I muttered to Sunset’s sleeping form as she held onto me the best she could as she began to struggle in her dreams. Once more tortured within her place of rest.

I could hear the faint groans of pain coming from the two Pegasus that I had dragged with me. Glancing over I could see that Gentle Breeze was clutching her head but otherwise was slowly beginning to stand. Rebound however was still out like a light. “Are you alright?” I quickly asked as I knew I had done something to help her, but I didn't know how effective it would be.

“What happened?” She questioned as she slowly glanced around our surroundings, which were just in the middle of a forest. Not a single sign of Wingston at all. “Where are we?” Gentle Breeze continued as she began to softly shake her partner with her hoof.

“Sunset did something which knocked you both out.” I took a sharp breath before swiftly continuing. “It wasn’t intentional, it was as if she wasn’t herself. After she realized what she had done she fled. I, however, followed her here with you both.” I was leaving out much of what had happened, but Gentle Breeze nodded all the same. No doubt already working out a plan.

“I take it that you have no idea where we are then?” At my nod, she sighs before rearing back her leg and walloping Rebound who awoke with a scream. I could only watch as he began to attempt to fly only to push himself against the dirt.

“Celestia’s ass! Gentle, why did you do that?” He got out, continuing to yell. Perhaps I would have offered to remove the pain from the kick, but considering that he was the one that had instigated this entire ordeal… I wasn’t feeling too merciful.

“Thank you Gentle, had I done that I would have likely kicked through him.” At my words, the Pegasus paled. “Rebound I know that I have yet to be officially crowned but if you provoke Sunset like that again I will be removing you from your post with extreme prejudice.” It was impressive how quickly he was nodding after I had finished speaking. Good. I wouldn’t want to go through with my words, but I would.

The first time I could accept it as an accident, the second coincidence, but the third time would be a pattern. Sunset didn’t need any more difficulties stacked against her. Not when ones such as this could have easily been avoided. “That said, are you alright, Rebound?” It takes a moment for Rebound to nod at my words, but he does all the same.

Good. Hopefully whatever Sunset had done wouldn’t have any long-term consequences. “If the two of you are able enough to do so, would you mind attempting to pinpoint where we are?” Rebound and Gentle Breeze shot each other a glance at my words. I sighed but otherwise let the two of them figure out what the plan was for the moment as I turned my attention back to my unconscious partner that was still in my embrace.

Struggling against phantoms that she could only see. Even when I attempted to rouse her it failed. Whether it was due to what she had done earlier or something far more benign than exhaustion, she was awakened by my attempts as the minutes continued to pass by.

“Found some tracks about a mile and a half north of here. No sign of the train but we could always follow them if need be.” Rebound reported as he touched back down. “The Foal Mountain to the south some distance off but, if need be, we can more than likely make our way back to Canterlot from here.” he offered as he glanced over the two of us.

He looked tense. Far more so than earlier. “I would like to say I am sorry. I know what it's like to have some ponies make life more difficult for the special pony in your life.” He apologized as he looked up to the sky where Gentle Breeze was flying.

“Thank you. I know that Sunset needs to apologize to you both as well but…” I smiled at him as I trailed off. Rebound simply chuckled as he shook his head.

“I knew that the two of you would be nothing but trouble when you got together.” He said to my confusion. Had he known that Sunset liked me? Wait, when had she begun to like me to the same degree that I favored her?

“When did you figure this out?” I asked, confusion present in my tone, as I attempted to figure out when he had concluded that we would get together. Because I certainly hadn’t liked her before she saved me from that griffon.

“The day before the assault on the castle, when I woke you up from your dream.” Oh, sweet Celestia, no. “You had after all been seeing her within your dreams.” There was an amused grin that was stretched across his face. One that I knew was not mirrored on mine. The feeling of mortification was evidence enough that there was no smile on my face, instead a grimace was formed upon my lips. I knew that if I wasn’t cradling Sunset, I would have buried my face under my wings in an attempt to escape from Rebound’s words.

“Just for some clarification, I wasn’t dreaming about Sunset-. No not like that either.” I quickly attempted to extinguish the knowing nod that accompanied my words. “I am half certain she was still figuring out how to not hate me then.” At my words, Rebound winced. Sweet Celestia, my relationship with Sunset started horribly, even before we had gotten together.

“Speaking of that I feel that I should confirm that Sunset isn’t forcing you into this relationship.” I was wrong earlier when I thought this conversation couldn’t get any worse. I was horrifically wrong. At Least Celestia wasn't the one who had asked this question. That would have been far more mortifying.

“I was the one who initiated the relationship! Yes, she tried to kill me when we first met! Yes, I realize how bad that is! She has her reasons, and she is doing better now!” My cheeks were ablaze as my blood, fueled by embarrassment pumped into them. “Yes, it wasn't the best potential start to a relationship, but we will make it work!” I concluded all but daring Rebound to deny my declaration on the matter as I glared at him.

“Look, I was just checking. I know Princess Celestia does her best, but she has blind spots when it comes to Sunset.” Rebound said as he put a hoof up in a clear attempt to calm the conversation. What does he mean by blind spots? Perhaps I would have asked but Gentle Breeze chose this moment to touch down next to her partner.

“Spotted the Friendship Express making its way towards us in the distance. It's your call Princess but if you want to catch a ride it would be best to start moving Sunset Shimmer now.” She quickly relayed. Leaving the decision in my hooves. Isn't she supposed to be the adult or was this another case of ponies just leaving all the important decisions and matters to the pony that had both horn and wings?

Quickly shaking Sunset once more in a vain hope that she would wake on her own. Unfortunately, she was still out cold. The only response I got from her was faint murmurs about Celestia. Glad to see that my partner never truly changed.

“Alright, let's intercept it. I am going to support her with my magic and hold her as we fly. Rebound if you wouldn't mind taking Sunset’s other side.” Immediately Rebound snapped out a quick salute before positioning himself on the left side of Sunset while I took her right. Wrapping my magic around her in a protective shell as I lifted off the ground only a few feet. It wouldn't be right to risk dropping her from the sky.

Taking a breath, I counted down with Rebound as we both began to fly with Gentle Breeze directing us. Even as I supported the majority of my partner's weight, Rebound and I were not able to keep a constant pace with one another. We nearly made it to the rails when disaster struck. I could feel Sunset shift in my magic, so I turned to look at her just in time to see her emerald eyes open.

“Sunset please don’t do anything stupid.” I all but begged my partner who was still suspended five feet off the ground. Her eyes looked to me and then to Rebound before once more settling on me. That was the only warning I received before, I could no longer feel her weight in my magic and hooves. That absolute horse! I couldn't help but mentally snarl. Always teleporting away from me. She better not have-. My burgeoning mental tirade was cut off when I heard Sunset call out.

“How did you even follow me?” Sunset questioned from the base of a hill about 30 hoof steps away. Thank Celestia, she was still here. I stopped my movement and instead just stayed flapping in the air.

“Magic. Now please don’t run away from me. There is a train coming and it could be going to Hollow Shades.” I quickly continued. Sunset frowned at me but otherwise didn’t once more teleport away. Letting out a breath that I hadn’t even realized that I had been holding in. “We can talk on the train. Please Sunset.” I asked as I touched down so that I wouldn't be above her.

She looked at me and then at Rebound and Gentle Breeze who were awkwardly staying in the air. Awkwardly she turned back to me at this point. I could all but see the choices flickering through her gaze. “You promised that you wouldn’t abandon me, and I want you to stay with me.” My words had an instantaneous effect on Sunset. No longer was her gaze wide as she attempted to evaluate any possible avenue of attempts.

Now her eyes focused solely on me. I knew at the moment she no longer could even comprehend the rest of Equus much less see it. I moved forwards towards her, extending my right wing out. Leaving about four hoofs of distance between where she was stuck and the very tip of my wing. A much smaller divide than the one that had previously formed between the two of us.

Her eyes moved from mine to the tip of my extended wing. Unmoving and nearly as still as a statue other than her intermittent breaths that she took. Until eventually she crossed the final few steps and placed her hoof against my wing. “Alright, why don’t we worry about getting on the train before we do anything else? Is that okay with you Sunset?” At my offered propositions she nodded her gaze still affixed to the bridged connection of my wing and her hoof.

At this point, I motioned for Rebound and Gentle Breeze to come down. They once more joined us on the ground. “If you are up to it, do you think you could teleport us into the train?” As I gestured out, in the distance I could see the vibrantly colored train chugging along towards us without a care in the world.

Sunset’s eyes finally broke from the connection we shared as she gazed at the train which was quickly growing in size upon the horizon. She then looks back at me with a slight frown on her lips.

“I don’t suppose you grabbed my sack when you had teleported after me?” Sunset asked. Her words left an annoying feeling in my stomach as I regretfully shook my head in the negative. That was what she was worried about. Her things? “I will be right back then.” She said but then awkwardly paused. Her gaze was still locked to mine instead of dissipating in a burst of flames.

“I trust you,” I answered my partner’s unasked question and with my permission, she teleported away. The moment she dissipated I felt a sharp tug at my heart, but I ignored it. I did trust her to come back. Taking a breath as I turned around to both Rebound and Gentle Breeze. “Not a word.” I preemptively got out before either of them could comment.

Thankfully they both followed my order as we stood in silence. The train grew ever larger as it closed the distance between us. With each second that passed, the tension in my heart continued to grow. Just as that inward tension grew, I could feel a damp heat beginning to once more ethereally form. She was going to return, she had promised after all, and Sunset didn't break her promises. Not yet.

Thankfully it only took a few more tense seconds for Sunset to reappear her sack held by her mouth. Spitting the cloth out she gave me a smile, which was far too strained to be natural, before looking at the train that was shortly about to start going by us.

“My apologies for the delay,” Sunset said before she glanced at the quickly approaching train. “Get next to me and give me a moment.” She then half closes her eyes before pausing. Her normal coloration was quickly replaced with her disguise. “Cadance you may want to put your hood up.” She said with one final half-lidded glance before fully closing her eyes.

I shrugged as I put the hood up. I mean we were no longer hiding from Celestia but better safe than sorry. I moved next to Sunset and stood directly next to her, Rebound and Gentle followed but stayed a little bit farther away. I could feel a familiar arcane formula being written into reality by the pony next to me. This time there were alterations that I could feel shifting the entire purpose of the spell.

I guess my own earlier teleportation had given me a bit of help in understanding how spatial manipulation was enforced through arcane formulas. The train reached us as Sunset’s magic surged forth. Entrapping us all within a corporeal field of warmth that spirited us through reality. Reappearing at the destination that Sunset had plotted. I could hear the faintly muffled panic yelping of a pony, but I was too busy scoping out the train car we had arrived in.

It was odd, as all that was in this particular car was an off-white door that was blocking most of the rest of the car. I could faintly feel the magic that it was giving off in slow pulses that were reminiscent of Celestia herself. Glancing to my side I could see that Sunset was going through her satchel before pulling out her coin pouch. “I will go pay for our passage. The room before you is yours.” She swiftly spoke before pausing, her emerald gaze faltering as her eyes fled from mine. She once more wished to leave me.

Once more silence had consumed us, this time it was a tense silence that threatened to collapse into something far more damning. Sunset’s emerald eyes furrowed as she lowered the bag of bits to the ground. “Fair enough.” She huffed out as if she was the one that was being punished. That she wasn't the one who had all but fled from me.

“Gentle Breeze, Rebound, please pay for four tickets and enquire where our next destination is,” I commanded the two guards without breaking Sunset’s gaze. I levitated the bits over to Rebound as the two guards saluted before grabbing the bits and scampering off. Leaving only Sunset and myself in this train car.

Taking a moment to ensure that they had fully left before my will and eyes hardened, Sunset reflexively took a step back as she gulped. Yet before I could even begin to tear into the pony before me, she opened her mouth.

“Do you want me to apologize?” She quickly questioned. I could only brace myself for whatever madness that Sunset was about to spout. “I am sorry that I once more lost control. I am sorry that I can’t even control myself. I am sorry that I harmed your friends. I am sorry that I am such a failure!” Her apologies quickly gained a heated edge as the very air began to warm around her. I could work with her anger. However, Sunset wasn’t done. “I am sorry that I once again hurt you!” Sunset broke our connected gazes, as she instead twisted her head to look down at her hooves. Her mane now fully obscures her face. Yet it did little to hide the way that her entire body was being wracked with shivers.

“Sunset, thank you for your apologies, but that isn't why I am mad at you,” I said after I took a deep breath. “We are partners, and we support each other. I am furious that instead of attempting to work things with me after you lost control, you fled from me. That is one of the key things that being in a relationship, no, a partnership is about. Being able to work through issues and problems with another pony.” I reminded my partner about what a relationship between us entailed.

Nothing? I could barely even hear Sunset breathing, the only sign that she was listening to my words was the way that her breath hitched throughout my impromptu speech. “Sunset, you have to respond. I can’t read your mind.” I paused considering my words before quickly continuing. “And I don’t want to read your mind, I would like you to actively participate in this conversation, however.” Thankfully Sunset finally lifted her head once more, her mane falling back into its normal place as she caught my gaze.

“I am sorry that I abandoned you.” She morosely got out, her voice wet with unshed tears. “I-I didn't want to harm you, I swear upon Celestia herself that I didn’t, but I did.” Her eyes were once more a muddled mess, of emerald and cyan that fought for dominance in my partner's eyes. “If I did it once I would do it again… I don’t have the best track record when it comes to involuntarily hurting you… and voluntarily hurting you.” She finished, her voice no more than a whisper as she once more spoke the shameful truth.

“Sunset,” I sighed out my partner's name as I stepped forwards embracing her within my wings embrace. “I know it was an accident. I know you, Sunset. You care for me.” She did if she was willing to bend one of Celestia’s rulings against her just to be with me. Sunset just stared at my words. I waited for her to respond, however, I heard the familiar clicking of hoofs coming our way. “We can continue this later but please remember Sunset the two of us are together against Equus.”

Sunset thankfully nodded, even if it was a slow stiff nod, at my words but otherwise stayed silent as the door to the train car opened. Revealing two familiar Pegasus. Gentle Breeze tossed the bag of bits back to Sunset who grabbed them out of the air with her telekinesis.

“We are indeed heading towards Hollow Shades. The conductor, however, seemed rather interested in how we managed to get onto his moving train but otherwise the four tickets have been paid for. Even if we only needed two tickets.” Rebound reported he received an odd look from Sunset as she looked at him with clear confusion in her eyes.

“Why would we only need two tickets?” I asked even already knowing that there wasn’t going to be a good reason for any of this. I was expecting my question to be answered by either Gentle Breeze or Rebound. I did not expect Sunset to answer it.

“Alicorn Princesses have their private cars on the Friendship Express. Princess Celestia would never be expected to pay for her ticket or be seated with all the normal ponies. Since your ascension, you were likely added to the short list of ponies that can enter this private room.” Sunset spoke without realizing… Or perhaps her words were spoken already realizing the hypocrisy of her statements.

Gentle Breeze and Rebound glanced at each other as they both side-eyed Sunset. Alright, so more than likely Sunset’s words were close to the truth but not fully.

“Technically it is a list that can be updated to include any pony that a Princess would wish to allow within its walls.” Gentle Breeze softly corrected. Only for Sunset to scowl at her words.

“Princesses can also remove ponies who were once on it, especially if they should have never been granted such a boon.” She snarled out at Gentle only to freeze as her emerald eyes flicked over to me. Alright so Sunset was once on the list and then she was removed by Celestia. No, from the way that Rebound spoke, it seemed to imply that the two of us could get into the private car. Was Sunset never removed? Or was she added back onto the list?

“How would one check the allowed occupants for this car and where is it?” I asked only to watch as all three of the ponies before me, blanched at my questions, even Sunset who was still frozen. Gentle Breeze just pointed using her wing to the off-white door behind me. I just sighed as I rubbed my face with my hoof. Great. “Fair enough,” I muttered as I glanced at my partner who was still refusing to move.

Taking a moment as I made my way toward the door before the thought occurred to me. “Sunset since you have been in this room before, would you mind assisting me with getting settled within its walls?” I calmly asked my partner, ignoring the glances that my two guards were shooting each other. Sunset finally moved as she tilted her head in a clear display of the confusion she felt at my words. Thankfully after a few seconds, she nodded. “Thank you,” I whispered into my partner's ear as I snuggled into her side. Not at all enjoying the way that she had tensed the moment I had begun to affectionately touch her.

Turning to Rebound, and Gentle Breeze, I saw them nodding even before I expressed my orders. Fair, it was likely the only pony within this car that didn’t understand my intentions was Sunset herself. I nodded back at the two who then turned on their frogs and marched out of the cabin. Once more leaving an Alicorn and a Unicorn by their lonesome.

“You should just need to place your hoof against the door to unlock it,” Sunset spoke after a few moments of silence where I was enjoying the feeling of my partner who had nearly abandoned me. I met her emerald eyes, and she rightly went rigid. Allowing me another few moments to enjoy her warmth. Before I slipped from her side and followed her instructions.

I was not expecting it to instantly open, so I was rather surprised when the moment my hoof brushed against the door it would all but fade away. Even as I jumped back, my wings at the ready to defend myself, a spell on my lips, I couldn’t help but hear the amused chuckles of my partner from behind me. No doubt laughing at my reaction. “You acted just like I did…” She paused as I looked back at her before she continued with an almost wistful smile on her face. “Well, I lit Celestia on fire in my panic but close enough.” Her eyes flashed cyan once more as she concluded her words.

I did take note that she was once more saying Celestia instead of Princess Celestia, however considering the smile on her face. I could only assume this was something far more positive than negative. Hopefully. I couldn’t tell what set Sunset off on the best of days, but I would like to think that behind Celestia herself that I was the pony that most understood my partner.

“You lit Celestia on fire?” I questioned as I pulled away from the door that was no longer fully there. Instead, I let my hacks fall as I made my back to Sunset, she nodded at my words. Her eyes no longer focused on me as they were no doubt once more clouded by her memories of far kinder times. “Would that even work? You know with her being the Alicorn of the Sun and all?” I questioned as I grabbed my partner's hoof and slowly began to manipulate her through the translucent door.

“Well, I at least managed to set her regalia on fire at the time. She seemed almost proud of me for that accomplishment.” Sunset slowly revisited the tale as she spoke, her smile almost impossibly growing even larger upon her muzzle. All the while all but oblivious to the fact that I had already brought us within the royal carriage. “She said that it was the first time in nearly three hundred years that any pony had managed to get such a clean hit on her.” Sunset at this point snorted in amusement at her own words. Which was completely fair, the scene that she was describing sounded adorable.

Glancing around I found what appeared to be a general seating area as I manipulated Sunset so that she was sitting next to me. Still completely caught in the retelling that she had been regaling me with. “Her words didn’t exactly calm me down as I took them as that I had nearly killed the pony that had…” Her smile fractured as her words trailed off. Her eyes lost their cyan color as it was replaced by a piercing emerald that refocused upon Equus. Her eyes widened in shock that only grew as they left my form and swept across the room where she now found herself within. “How?” She somehow managed to both whimper and hiss out that singular word.

“I guess that you were put back on that list.” My words caused Sunset’s head to snap back to directly stare at me. Taking a quick breath as I continued, “You walked straight in, I didn’t invite you in, as I don’t know how to do so.” Sunset’s horn lit up as I felt her magic ooze over the entire car, searching for something. When she found it, hidden invisibly suspended in the air, a shimmer of sparks began to flare, as what appeared to be an ornate scroll now hovered there. Sunset quickly unfurled the scroll, and all snarled once more as she saw something that displeased her.

Taking the opportunity to circle and see what had incensed my partner so. I could see four names on the list. The first was Celestia’s, the second was all but fully hidden beneath layers of scratches, and the third however was Sunset’s. I quickly noted my name beneath hers but otherwise instead turned my attention back to my partner who had finally calmed down from her indecipherable snarling and was now listlessly staring at the paper. “Sunset?” I softly whispered her name.

“She didn’t remove me from the list. Why didn’t she remove me? Out of everything she had done to me, why allow me to stay here?” She questioned herself, or more accurately the Alicorn who was not here to answer any of Sunset’s questions. I just silently watched as Sunset continued to work her way through the complex emotions that were formed from this knowledge.

It took a few minutes of Sunset staring at the scroll as I watched over her once more. Finally, with one final deep breath, she rolled the scroll back up before banishing it back to wherever it had come from. “It doesn’t matter.” she softly intoned to herself as she once more focused on me. Slowly crossing the distance between us, I would have sworn she was about to embrace me, but instead, she stopped dead a hoof step away. Her emerald eyes intently observe my gaze. She was searching for something.

Rolling my eyes at my partner I stepped forwards and embraced her within my wings as she quickly responded before snuggling into my embrace. Our two warmth’s once more intermingling with the others. Two ponies, having managed to stay connected as I could see past my partner's mane a cyan string fluttering against an invisible wind.

Author's Note

Cadance once more proves that she is an Alicorn by telling reality who is in charge as he chases after Sunset. Then having a minor existential crisis, which was long overdue at this point. Sunset has been the one with the majority of them so far. Otherwise, Cadance and Sunset along with the two babysitters make their way onto the Friendship Express where they quickly split up. At the very least the train is indeed heading towards Hollow Shades where nothing ever goes wrong.
-LittleFaerieFire

33. Fading Facade

Fading Facade

Sunset

Cadance’s wings finally unwrapped themselves from around me, as the brittle gentleness in her eyes faded. Now the crystalline kindness was replaced by an unbending blade that pierced into me. I could only do my best to not falter as I gazed back into the pony that was once my marefriend’s eyes…

That was still a thought that sent strange feelings throughout my body. I knew what getting a marefriend, or even in general what entering into a relationship entailed, but it still was strange. It was something that I knew I could never touch with my own hooves. Something that I could never grasp with my mastery over magic. It was something that was entirely separate from the pony I was supposed to be. It was a fragment of impossibility that formed against all odds, before being shattered by my own hooves.

Sunset Shimmer needed no pony but herself. She would chase after the impossibility of Ascension and the Sun herself. Bathing in tragedy and horrors black enough to scar the depths of reality. I cared for none other than the pony that had both raised and discarded me. That was who I was. I needed no pony's help. With my own horn, I would defy destiny itself and rewrite the end of my tale into one where I had claimed a happy ending.

Yet I was not the one who had blurred the tale, no that was Cadance. The Princess of Love herself. She had managed to do the impossible. My heart, which I knew was as pitch black as coal, had impossibly managed to begin to beat for her. The impossibility that could have easily been quantified with nonexistence itself, occurred against all thought.

I had incinerated Love on the pyre I had forged in my soul. Any form of care had been discarded as a pointless endeavor. I had done my best to discard any and all emotions that dared bring me weakness. I was striving to accomplish a task that I knew deep within my soul was impossible. I didn’t need such feelings to bring me even more difficulties. Pointless weights that would sink me in my endless pursuit of destiny.

In my quest, nothing was sacred for as long as I was Celestia’s and she was mine, I would sacrifice Equus itself. I had already sacrificed so much of myself. All in an effort to be her daughter and her my mother. There was no price too large for me to pay so that wish of mine would come true. Yet here I was, having bound myself to one that had impeded my path. One that had stolen what was rightfully mine.

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza had been claimed as Celestia’s family. Of her blood. The two of them held a deeper connection than every other pony that walked upon Equus. She had replaced me. She was better than me in every way that mattered. Yet I had promised to stay with her.

I had bound myself to her. She was not Celestia, yet I still had bound myself to her. I had forged a promise with her, that was stronger than the pact we had made. I would be by her side until she, just like Celestia, would discard me.

I knew exactly how this would end as she offered me the poison, yet what else could I have done but partaken of her? I would be discarded once more. I would be left forgotten as both she and Equus moved on. Left to rot in the dark and cold, as I burned away ever more of my soul just to survive. Becoming a shade that could do little but exist in the shadows of Equus, hiding from the brilliant Sun that burned it so.

I had survived such an ordeal once from being abandoned by Celestia, I would survive it from Cadance. I drowned in her warmth, her love, her very existence for as long as I could. I would etch these memories of what should be beyond my very existence into my mind. The eldritch insights into something so beyond me, inscribed into my conscience.

The feeling of our lips meeting. The tinkling laughter she would only share with me, The way her eyes would light up whenever she saw me. The way that her tri-colored mane would shimmer as it clung to her. The smiles that she formed. The very Love that she represented and that she gave to me. Freely and expecting naught but my own in return. Something that I didn’t even realize I could give to a pony that wasn’t Celestia. Yet here I was infatuated by the one that I had failed to kill. The Love that I would no longer be able to claim as my own.

Yet in that same vein, she was the one to whom I had almost broken my promise. The very same thing that I had etched into my existence itself and yet I had nearly shattered it. I had once more all but blacked out, but that didn't excuse my actions. My failures. The moment I had regained control over my body and had realized my actions I had fled. I had done to her what Celestia had done to me.

It was a somber realization that Celestia was right to toss me away. There was nothing of value left here. Nothing more than a failure of a pony that refused to be extinguished. Burning any that got too close because it couldn’t imagine the pain of getting tossed away again. Yet still clung to any proffered warmth that was sent her way in a misguided attempt of pity.

That same pity that I raged against. That I swore to burn from the souls of those who viewed me with it in their eyes. The same eyes that had sung cruelties throughout my entire existence. That swam in deceits far more dreadful than any of my lies. Far more damning than any of my promises.

One of the last few things that I still held close to were my promises. Yet I had discarded that the moment I had once more harmed Cadance. I had fled with my tail tucked between my legs. Unable to let her be the one to throw me away. Yet in exchange I had discarded her, and as I saw the sharpened steel form beneath the crystalline spears that were rallying in my p-. In Cadance’s eyes, she remembered that fact as well as I.

A molten fury burned in my veins, forcibly extinguishing the frozen shards of fear that had formed. I had survived this once. I would survive it again. I knew that this was how it would end, if anything I should be glad something like this could last as long as it did. It should prove as a testament that even the damned receive some divine favor. That even I, after all I had done, was blessed with the faintest rays of Princess Celestia’s divine light.

Baring my teeth at her as she retreated back away from me, yet her eyes still held no fear within her purple orbs of steel covered in crystal. She should fear me. They all will fear me. No, instead her eyes dared soften as they looked upon the one that had done so much harm to her that she still dared have pity for me. I was so pathetic that she still held pity for me in her heart.

A heart that I had managed to find solace within.

Was that the reason that she had allowed me to continue to leech off her warmth? Even after what I had once more done to her? After I had once more caused blemishes to appear on one that was far closer to perfection than I? One who would always be closer to achieving perfection than myself. One who was one step away from becoming equal to the Sun that I had chased after for so long?

I had forged my existence in a promise that I had shattered. I had once more proved myself to be the demon that I knew I was. That I was no pony at all, just the seedling of an apocalypse waiting to sprout. I had so little left. I couldn’t even keep something as sacred as a promise. I can’t keep anything sacred. There was no faint light that bloomed from the darkness of my soul.

I can’t keep anything in my blackened heart other than my hatred, my rage, my endless flames. I could never keep another pony's warmth. I could only steal the very heat that they gave off. I was no better than a common thief. That’s all I have ever been. A Parasite.

Stealing attention from one who should have been focussed upon those that mattered. Not me. Imagining a loving care that had never been mine. Never mine. Would never be mine. Ripping power from artifacts no matter the cost. Seeking to imbue myself with their strengths in a doomed effort to remake myself with my failures. Losing even more of the warmth that had once bloomed in my veins.

Ever since I was born I have been stealing warmth that was never mine to grasp. I stole Princess Celestia’s warmth, care, and attention away from the ponies that actually needed it. I formed my very existence around those stolen actions. Even after I had been discarded, that was who I was. Who I could only be.

Then the Alicorn before me appeared. Ruining my monumental plans to reclaim Celestia for myself. Offering her warmth for me to consume. To gorge myself upon. All in exchange for me to share my warmth with her.

She had professed that she loved me, even after everything I had done to her. She was attractive, yes, even when I utterly despised her I could see that. Yet that wasn’t why I had accepted her proposal of her love. She was offering to share her warmth with me. How could I have said no? How could I have pushed away a pony who was offering me their warmth freely?

…

Why didn’t she hate me as I hated her? Why didn't she loathe me as I loathed her? Why didn’t she love me as-! No!

I couldn’t think like that. That wasn’t who I was. That wasn’t who I was supposed to be! I didn’t need her! I never had wanted her. All I had ever needed was Celestia herself!

Celestia had ABANDONED me! She had banished me! Even when I had returned I had been replaced by another at her side. My mother had moved on, having forgotten me.

I could never forget her. She was my everything. She was my light. My Love. My very reason for continuing to exist in this world didn’t wish me to even be a part of it. My very existence was an afterthought. Only with her did I ever matter, even if she had left me behind. Yet that didn’t stop me! My magic allowed me to claim my rightful place! I would not rest until I was given what was rightfully mine! Mother would love me as I loved her!

I would do anything it took to perform that miracle, even once more killing the so-called Princess of Love. Who still somehow held pity for me. I would show her that I did not need her pity, her care, her existence, her Love. All I needed was the wings upon its side, the warmth its corpse would secrete, and secrets that I would sap from its ruptured mind.

I snarled at the Parasite that still dared reach out to me with its wings, which would soon be mine. Did it truly think that I still would care for it? That I would still allow myself to be led around with my head within the noose it had gifted me? No! I was the master of my destiny!

I WOULD NEVER BE CHAINED BY ANOTHER. NOT THEN AND NOT NOW! I WAS SUNSET SHIMMER DAUGHTER OF THE SUN! I WAS THE ONE THAT HAD BROUGHT RUIN TO EQUUS AND BEYOND!

A destiny that it was preventing me from accomplishing. I allowed my hate to spread, and my rage blossomed. My once liquid life force turned to molten flames that spurred my heat to grow ever higher in temperature. Feeding the infernal machine that I had created of myself in pursuit of the Sun and its Love.

My flames had never been extinguished! Even after everything that I had gone through, my flames were the only partner I had ever had. The only partner I ever needed. I gave one more look at the Parasite. I could feel my lips begin to move into a smile as I saw the fear flashing in her eyes. Good. She would know what I felt my entire existence. She would scream as she had in the past. A cacophony of pains that brought me ever closer to my destiny.

My flames leaped at the Parasite, faster than most ponies could even comprehend. Yet I could only watch as they were extinguished before they could even burn her! The Parasite’s eyes dared soften at my faltering rage.

“WHY?” I spat as I once more attempted to incinerate the Parasite that had stolen so much from me! SHE HAD STOLEN CELESTIA FROM ME TWICE OVER! Yet even as I brought every drop of rage to bear against her. I COULD NOT BURN HER! “Why can’t I burn you?” I snarled out at the Parasite that had yet to even move as I reduced reality to ash around it.

Even in the realm of nonexistence the Parasite didn’t even deign to answer me instead it looked at me with ever more pity in its eyes as it shook its head in disappointment. She opened her mouth but I couldn’t even hear the taunts that it no doubt shouted. No, instead my gaze locked upon the pony that I somehow loved. Hated.

My vision was covered with snow as my hatred grew. Burning the snow from my eyes so that I could once more look at the Sun herself. She coiled around the Parasite as my very existence nearly faltered at the sight. How dare she. HOW DARE SHE!

I could feel Equus tremble as reality once more was molded within my claws. The Parasite’s eyes once more showed the fear it had the last time. Good. I may not be able to burn it but I would ensure that it suffered under my rage regardless. It would rejoin its mate and spawn in the hell that I forged for them.

Screams echoed around me as countless souls who had their lives ended too early clawed at my consciousness. However, I was Sunset Shimmer. I needed only my rage, my hate, my flames. I had burned all else. The shades cried as I resumed the role of tormenter.

How could I have ever forgotten? I was not the prisoner, that was to be punished. I was never a prisoner of theirs. No. I instead was the warden and these shades, the remains that were mine to torture. They were mine to reconstruct in my image. They were my playthings that danced to the song of hatred that I so dutifully spread.

My flames spread through the hastily constructed prison that had attempted to chain me. Burning through the forgotten souls. Incinerating them for now as I reminded them of their deaths at my flames. The snowfields were replaced with endless pits of darkened lava, as only my place of birth remained. Along with the void that it held. Now the only trace of light that I didn’t create myself was the faint trickle of moonlight that had once been hidden.

Now illuminated, I observed it attempting to hide in this new realm of flames. Quaking in fear as my magic seeped ever closer to it. “I have never needed to fear nightmares, for I have never dreamed.” At my words, the Moon herself trembled in anger. Did you take offense to my words? Or perhaps you remembered your shattering. Your imprisonment within the lunar body that you had once controlled.

We had both been thrown aside by the Sun herself, yet she had been brought back into the illustrious light and warmth. Something that I had never been blessed with. I could hear the faint ragings of a pony that thought she was unique. That she was the only one left in the past, as Equus, no, as Mother moved on. She was wrong. I had been left forgotten in the dark and cold, while she had been redeemed.

I stepped forward towards both the trickling moonlight and the Sun herself. My flames provided me with all the warmth I would ever need. I did not require the connection to the greater herd of ponies. I never had their compassion, nor did I heed their love. I only needed them to act as fuel for my flames. I only needed them to burn at my command!

I could feel the Moon tremble as I began to burn that connection it had managed to form within my dreams. Mother once more stared at me in horror, as she backed away not even attempting to slay me once more. “Tell me, Mother, am I now good enough for you? Am I now perfect enough to be your daughter?” I asked my mother once more as I stalked forward toward the pony whose shadow I had escaped from.

I could see my Mother quaking in fear. Tears in her eyes. Was this all that she was? Was this all that the only pony that I had ever loved amounted to? Was this the conclusion that I wished for? Was this the result of my actions?

Ice sluiced down my spine at that final thought. A singular snowflake fluttered from the burnt heavens above as it danced mockingly before me. I was once more trapped in a dream! Snarling I tore at my face, my sharpened hooves piercing into my flesh as I shoveled the snow from my eyes.

The pain bleeds ever further into my failure. Even through my hooves, I could see Mother no longer looking at me with fear coalesced within her pink eyes. Now they only held the ever-present disappointment that formed within her orbs whenever she saw me. Blood ran from my orifices as I removed the final layer of snow that I had been entrapped within.

I was once more enshrouded within a pair of pink wings of the Parasite. I couldn’t help the frown that formed as I quickly checked the surrounding temperature finding that it hadn’t been forcibly altered. I opened my mouth to demand the Parasite to release me from its grasp only for my words to falter as I glanced down upon my hooves.

I was shackled. Wrought iron chains were around me yet they faded just as quickly as I noticed them. I glared at where they were before I attempted to once more summon them back into existence so that I could turn them into molten slag. Yet even at my silent command, they refused to reform into reality so that I could shatter them.

All I was left with was the still silent form of the Parasite that still had its wings wrapped around me. Entrapping me within its slumbering form. Even in the darkness that surrounded us, I could see through the shadow. The one that slumbered within. One who hadn’t before. The Parasite would wait for its demise.

Cocking my head as I peered down at the one who was acting as the Parasite's shadow. This was not one of my manipulations. My eyes narrowed as I stared down the shadow that froze, like all the others that soon burned under my gaze. It seems that I wasn’t the only being to make alterations, mine were not so nearly as crude as this, however. Did it truly believe that I couldn’t see it?

Even as a smile formed upon my lips and tinkling laughter spilled out, my partner’s shadow lunged at me. Faltering at the flames that seeped from my existence. Naughty little thing. Perhaps I had been too hasty to declare the Parasite, that declaration fit this one far better…

My jubilation was replaced with confusion, and my laughter silenced. Why wasn’t Cadance the Parasite? Why did I care for her? How did I care for her? Why did I refer to her as the Parasite once more? Didn’t I care for her? Didn’t she care for me?

Even as she slumbered, she still held me within her caring embrace. Her whispers resounded once more. Memories that had been burned away resurfaced, and with them a warmth that subsumed me.

“Sunset, are you alright?” I heard the Parasite ask, as its wings shifted allowing me to once more see its head. Her mouth remained unmoving, as its nostrils flared with a deep gulping of air. Her eyes even while closed, I could still see two purple orbs of ever-shifting crystals that impossibly still held concern. Her eyes somehow softened further as they met my own. A boulder of ice formed in my stomach. Chasing away the final remnants of my hate.

Pain. A pain that I hadn’t felt in ages erupted within my mind, heart, and soul. Each screamed out that something was wrong. That something had irrevocably been damaged. That I once more had been lost to the snowfields. Yet in that same moment, I could still feel Cadance’s warmth that she even now still shared.

Grimacing through the pain, mouthing the words I had responded with.

“What happened?” I questioned Cadance, before pausing. I lowered my head as I whispered out the important question. “Did I do anything?” Did I once more harm you? The boulder of ice turned to water as she softly shook her head in the negative. Thank Princess Celestia I hadn’t once more harmed her.

I hadn’t. I didn’t. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.

Forcing the scene to replay. Chasing away the screaming laughter that beckoned me back into its embrace.

“Sunset, are you alright? You just froze and weren’t responding to me.” Even after I had done so much to her she was still worrying about me. Even now I couldn’t help but wonder if… It doesn’t matter.

“Yes, it does.” I knew it did. I just didn’t know why. Even as I straightened and forced a smile on my lips. Just as I was about to lie I could see the way that her eyes tightened. The trace amounts of disapproval and disgust began to form in eyes that were becoming less purple and more pink.

Her eyes weren’t pink. Just as mine weren’t-. I couldn’t help but wrench my eyes shut but the sight of her pink eyes once more filled with disapproval for my existence was etched into the back of my eyelids. Even now I wasn’t enough. Even now I am no closer to perfection. I was no better than I was at the beginning. Mewling for some pony to save me.

To chase away the dark and cold. To bring me into the light that every other pony had found. That embraced every soul but mine.

Yes, I am, I shouted. My words were tainted with righteous fury. “No, I am not,” I whispered through clenched teeth. I was not normally this pathetic. Wishing that she wasn’t here so that I could freeze myself in a chunk of ice until I once more felt normal. Not this ever-churning mess that I had recently been. When I was alone I knew how to survive but with Cadance by my side, I was struggling to even exist.

I felt her wings leave their position around me as Cadance retracted them back to her side. I felt a void form in my gut at the loss of the connection between the two of us. Logically I knew that we would no longer be as close physically or mentally but it still hurt. Forcefully I straightened myself and cracked open my eyes to see that Cadance was but a scant few hoof steps away from me. Silently her pin-. Purple. Her eyes are purple. They always have been purple! They have ever-shifting crystals in her purple eyes. Her eyes are not pink!

Reaching out even now as she twisted around me, impossibly entangling herself in the blanket that covered us. The spell I had earlier weaved to prevent such an occurrence shattered. Proving how feeble my magic was against the might of my sleeping partner. Even as the scene continued in my mind's eye, the hoof I held against her coat gave me enough warmth to chase away that pit that had formed.

My mental tirade must have leaked as Cadance all but flinches back, even now her sleeping form moves away from me. Attempting to escape the hoof that I placed upon her. The movement exasperated the quickly growing void that I knew no amount of stolen warmth would fill. I looked upon my partner’s, and nothing more, form. I can do nothing else but lower my head and turn away from the pony who was nearly perfect if not for the wounds I had repeatedly etched into her existence.

I whispered her next words in concert with her. As I lost myself fully in the phantom of the past. The darkness lost its luster as my partner withered away. Replaced with the splendorous light of the Sun as it performed its dance through the heavens above.

“Sunset,” Cadance spoke my name and I could feel my heart pulse with excitement as my blood swam with renewed heat. “- what color are your eyes?” As she finished her question my hopes were dashed. The shadow of excitement at the possibilities of something more was once more squandered. I forced my eyes shut as I burned away the liquid weakness that threatened to reveal how truly pathetic I was.

“My eyes are the same shade as an emerald’s,” I answered, ensuring that I kept my voice level and did not allow any of the disappointment I felt through it. I was the one who made the mistake, I was the one who hurt her, and I was the one at fault. I wasn’t allowed to feel disappointed. I was the monster. I was the demon. I was the failure. I felt the liquid weakness escaping the clutches of my molten rage once more.

I couldn’t bear to open my eyes and see her reaction to my pitiful display. “If it’s all the same to you Princess I think I should leave.” I could hear the liquid failure tainting my words. I wouldn’t stand for her pity and I was not willing to risk seeing her scorn.

“Sunset, are you sure you want to be alone right now?” She asked her tone soft as she was talking to something fragile that she was afraid would shatter. I was not that weak! I have stood against Princess Celestia herself. I have contested the might of the Alicorn of the Sun. I have bested the Celestial Goddess even. I have torn reality asunder, remaking it in my will.

“I am not planning on fleeing once more.” I succinctly answered her real fear that she would lose a powerful pawn. She wouldn’t lose me as her piece, I had promised her after all. I would not break my promise. Not again. She sighs at my answer, and in my mind’s eye, I can imagine her mane flowing with her head as she shakes in annoyance.

“Sunset I don’t think you should be alone right now and as your marefriend I would like to stay with you.” She continued on speaking as if I was… Wait… I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion. Were we still together? I thought I had ruined our relationship. Did I not reduce it to cinders?

Something shattered beyond my sight.

Taking a breath as I bludgeoned the fledgling spark of hope down with the reality of the situation. Even then I couldn't fully smother that fledgling spark that I knew was just a phantom mockery that only brought an unfeasible desire. I must have been truly pathetic as I opened my eyes in an effort to see Cadance’s form once more only to see a realm blurred. Twisted by the failure that still clung to my eyes.

Clawing at my eyes as I removed the failure. Allowing my vision to once more readjust to the reality I had found myself within. I could see Cadance stiffly standing but a scant few steps away, yet still too far for me to bask in her warmth. Her eyes were wide and filled with concern that caused the crystalline aberrations to quiver with uncertainty.

Mentally striking a spark into existence so that I would have any form of flame to confront me as I prepared myself for the humiliation and discord I would purposefully cause myself.

“Cadance, are we still together?” I barely even whispered but from the way that my-. The way that Cadance froze, I knew that she had still heard me all the same. The enhancements that she had received from her ascension were a boon indeed. It only took her a few seconds for Cadance to return to reality as she frowned at me. The crystals in her purple eyes are fragmented.

I see. Yet before I could do anything else Cadance quickly spoke up.

“Celestia’s supple ass, Sunset, yes we are still together.” She then huffs as I am still repeating her words in my mind. Her next words however utterly fragment the quickly growing warmth that had been pooling in me. “Do you no longer want to be together?” At her words the entire car that we were within darkened. A faint coiling heat formed in the currents of air that moved throughout the room.

Something reforms. Weakened yet growing in strength. Beating with renewed vigor at the opportunity it had been gifted.

“No! Of course, I still want to…” I trail off as Cadance’s smile brightens the room, extinguishing the darkness that had formed. The once-prepared permeated heat dissipated into a gentle warmth that flooded the cabin.

A whimper of pain that was not whispered from my lips screams out as it is once more silenced.

“Then we are still together.” She chirps as her smile impossibly grows larger, the very foundations of the crystals in her purple eyes flashing. “Sunset, you don’t have to worry about me ending our relationship without you knowing. I am not that sort of pony.” She concludes as once more she lifts up her wing and extends the tip towards me. Her pink feathers are nearly ethereal in the light.

I could only stare at her once more, offering a connection between the two of us as I slowly moved my hoof to grasp the offered comfort. “Would you like me to stay with you Sunset? You don’t have to explain anything but I would still like to be by your side to make sure that you are alright.” She then gave me a shallow smile horrifically scarred by a morose sadness that I had caused. “I can leave if you need to work through this on your own. But I would like to stay with you.”

I could only stare at the pony that was my partner, her words resounding throughout my mind. Shattering my thoughts into an incoherent babble of incomprehensible nonsense that I couldn’t comprehend. The desire to ask her to stay with me was insurmountable, but I knew that I shouldn’t, couldn’t, ask that of her. I was Sunset Shimmer.

The vestiges of the past recede from my sight as even now staring at my ally, my partner, my marefriend. The words I had whispered a scant few hours ago, unsaid upon my lips. I needed not to give them once again, for I had accepted the hoof that she had offered. I had clung to her wing that she extended.

I had stepped beyond my name. I had stepped beyond my role. I had stepped beyond the steeped hate that I existed within. I stepped beyond the demon that existence itself demanded I be. I put my hoof beyond Sunset Shimmer herself.

I closed my eyes once more and embraced a Love that should have been beyond me.

Author's Note

Well its been a few months since I last posted a chapter of Mirror Mirror... oops. I am attempting to move back into my normal once a week posting for Mirror Mirror and posting updates to my other stories whenever I feel like it. But enough about that we are here for Cadance and Sunset.

Sunset Shimmer, Daughter of the Sun, Demon. A pony that has gone by so many titles that had been ascribed by others and even herself. Seeking to accomplish a goal that she knows is impossible, yet she can't ever stop in her futile pursuit. Yet despite all the shadows that cling to her she has stepped beyond what she should be, can be. All thanks to one Alicorn Princess of Love.

Her journey forwards has just begun, tribulations loom in darkened horizons.

Not much of Cadance this chapter(or in the next but aside the point), but I feel that this chapter was required for Sunset to come to terms with both herself and her actions. Accepting the consequences for what they are. + I managed to give some more insight into the world and some of the more important characters within it.

-LittleFaerieFire

35. Penumbral Paradise

Penumbral Paradise

Sunset

“You aren’t going around burning random ponies are you?” Cadance quietly asked me, her tone holding an inquisitive edge as she muttered the question into my coat. I could hear the underlying taint of fear, not for herself but for the ponies that I had supposedly set my flames upon. It was a far cry from the gentle truce that we had fallen into as I could feel the daggers of crystal looming in her eyes once more. However this time they were not forming in preparation for a playful assault as they did earlier.

No, this time she was worried about her ponies. Worried about the ones that needed her might. They needed her existence for their protection. The ones that I threatened with my very being. The ones that I threatened were her herd. Those thoughts sought to sap my warmth, but another quickly silenced them with its uncontested might. I was still her mare friend.

She chose me.

“I don’t go around burning burning ponies. I think you know that.” It was even the truth, I couldn’t burn every pony that dared slight me. If I could there would be a drastic decrease in the nobility and that could never be allowed. “Why do you ask?” I questioned back in turn to my partner.

“I heard the panicked fleeing of three ponies and I could smell…” She trailed off but those words that she held no desire to speak were clear. She was a contradiction that I still couldn’t understand at times. She held enough strength and will to remake the world in her image but she still hesitated and couldn’t deal with the harsh realities that existed within even this world bathed in light.

That was why she had me by her side. I would delve ever further into the darkened depths I had called my domain, so that she may prosper in the light. It was only natural after all. She was perfect. While I was tainted. Ruined.

“Well, I did burn those three.” Wincing at the way Cadance stiffened and pulled herself away from me. “I had a very good reason to do so. They were planning to steal a treasure map.” My placating words were rushed out in a jumbled mess, but thankfully Cadance managed to piece together my meaning. However instead of once more encasing me within her grasp she remained a hoof-step away.

Her purple eyes were a flurry of motion as I could see those crystalline constructs that form within repeatedly shatter and reconstruct. I could only muffle a sigh at the sight as I felt a familiar hoof place itself upon my back. Seeking to guide me on the path that she foresaw for me. “They held another pony at knifepoint.” There now she can’t be annoyed that I dared touch a few ponies that were hers. At my words, the ever-shifting construction within her eyes stopped and the muddled mess of emotions calmed into one that I could identify. Gratitude.

“Then thank you Sunset.” Her words were nice but they held no comparison to the feeling of her feathers once more wrapping around me. “Sorry for assuming… well… you know.” I shrugged. It was a fair assumption. One that was far more correct than not. My track record even when I was trying to not burn a pony wasn’t great. “I am sure the pony you saved is rather grateful as well.”

Her words gave me a brief reprieve from her gentle warmth. She likely wouldn’t appreciate what I had done to the conductor… What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. Even if we were partners, allies, and even mare-friends. That didn’t mean we were forced to reveal each and every secret that we had accrued. I would simply ensure that she never found out about the alterations I had placed upon the pony. Even in my annoyance, I had ensured that he would keep his mental faculties. Limited as they were.

“I am sure that he wishes to forget the entire ordeal, just like every pony involved.” I couldn’t help but snicker out to the confusion of my partner who tilted her head in confusion. Her tri-colored mane freely flowing. A few stray strands of it tickled my muzzle. “But I got an enchanted knife out of the incident! I don’t even recognize the enchantment!” I couldn't help but exclaim as I pulled the knife out from where I had hidden it against my coat. After all, it wasn't every day I came across a piece of magic I didn’t immediately know.

I didn’t often use enchanted objects to fight, my magic and flames are better, but that wasn’t the case for all ponies. My partner for example even with my teachings and being a prodigy who was comparable to myself, was one that still struggled when it came to the brutality of combat. How it was her will that would wound another. For all of the dangers that she has survived, she has yet to be corrupted by the darkness that seeks to seep in.

However, if she was to move a blade to attack any fool that dared attempt to harm her before I could incinerate them for their folly. After all, they dared stand against an Alicorn Princess. One which… Where was I going with that thought? Oh yes, cognitive dissonance would allow her to survive in the heat of the moment, as it wouldn’t technically be her will that was snuffing the life of another. Another avenue for her to survive. To live. To exist for a moment longer. So that one day she could bridge that final divide that divides mortals and the ones who are divine.

“Sunset Shimmer, did you mug the thieves?” My partner made a vain attempt to muffle the laughter that leaked out aside her words. All I could do was smile as I nodded in turn. This was the final straw as my partner all but fell atop of me, laughing as were she but a common loon. She was not common at all. Taking care to ensure that she didn’t prick herself on the enchanted knife, I covered it with a few shields before I joined in the jubilation. Warm.

An Alicorn Princess and a Unicorn laughing together. There were no exchanged threats, no attempts at matricide. No, there was only the warmth of joy shared between us. I would have done anything for this moment to continue. Sacrificed countless souls. Burned worlds. However, I could do little more than embrace such an event that I had so rarely experienced since my mutual disillusionment with Princess Celestia.

I hadn’t been only replaced once.

The thought was a vicious thing that I couldn’t burn before it escaped from where I had chained it. Escaping from its imprisonment in the darkest recesses of my mind, it brought with it the conclusion of the joy that I felt. I couldn’t help the rage that flooded me.

Like mother, like daughter! Why couldn’t I be allowed to enjoy myself? Why can’t I take a moment and forget? I didn’t ask for any of this! All I ever wanted was my mother’s love!

I would-. Breathe. Sucking in the air that was swiftly heating, saturated with my magic to prepare for a conflagration to be summoned forth from my hate. Breathe. I couldn’t change the past. I could only change the future. Breathe.

The shared warmth was lost. Forcefully ripping myself from the pit of my mind I returned to reality where the laughter had been extinguished. Replaced by a stilled but somehow comforting silence, as my partner was still draped over me. I could feel every breath that she took. I could feel the way that her heartbeat echoed through her flowing life force. Her weight that slightly pressed down upon me gave me something real. Something to cling to.

“Thank you,” I muttered into her wing as I buried my muzzle in her feathers. While the temperature of the royal car hadn’t drastically been altered, it was rather noticeable that it was far warmer than it had been a few moments ago. My partner allowed me a few more moments to allow the molten rage to cease its near-endless flow throughout my body. Before finally she pulled her cloudlike wings aside and I could see the question on her face.

The naked concern is evident in her twin pools of crystals. The slight tilt of her lips. The way that she kept a connection between the two of us. Perhaps I should have been angered at the pity that was evidently displayed but in truth, I couldn’t bring myself to reignite the fleeting hate. Not after I had extinguished it myself. There was no need to further worry her. Pulling a smile to my face she hesitated for a single moment longer before a soft smile joined mine.

“Should we go explore the train or should I allow you to test out your new knife?” It was impressive my partner could alternate from a peerless paragon of innocence to one almost as devious as I. I would have joined in with the banter, or was it only considered flirting at this point? That aside I couldn’t stand the final portion of her question. I still held some scraps of my pride.

“Allow me?” I leered at her, pushing my head through her feathers so that my horn was hovering right before hers. “Since when do I need your permission to do anything?” I couldn’t help but question reality at my partner’s words. I had only needed one pony's permission and now I needed no ponies. I was Sunset-.

A warmth one that irrevocably shattered my quickly darkening thoughts, both brought me out into reality once more and deposited me into the void in a single action. Did she… Did she just nuzzle me? Even though I was a being of flames, that fact did not prevent my blood from heating. This time not from my will or magic, but by the actions of another pony. The only saving grace about this entire situation was that Cadance’s face appeared to be equally as flushed from the action that she had just performed as mine.

I attempted to open my mouth to do something, in truth I was unsure that I could do little more than incoherently babble at the events that had occurred. Once more however it was proven that no matter my magical might, an Alicorn could easily beat me if she put her mind to it. Cadance took advantage of my confusion and once more claimed my mouth as her own.

If I was a grander pony I would have contested the assault. Were I an Alicorn of equal standing I would have not only defied her but usurped her attack. If I was truly a demon I would have caught her tongue within my teeth and feasted upon more than her offered lips.

However, I was none of those things.

I was all of those things.

I was a Unicorn being given Love freely by one that I cared for.

One that cared for me in exchange.

I could do little more than lose myself even further into the existence of the one that was my partner. That was the Princess of Love. The one that was an Alicorn but still cherished me. I could do nothing less. For a pony as perfect as her to look past the horrors that I had so dutifully performed…

Being bound by her wasn’t such a frightening thing.

Something shattered, a scream whispered out from a blackened void of endless despair. A chord of cyan danced throughout reality invisible to my eyes, but I could faintly sense it with my magic. Something that should never have existed. A blight upon existence itself.

Just as I was.

Eventually, I could no longer sustain myself against my partner's ministrations, as unlike her I was not a single step from claiming true immortality. No, as a mere mortal, I still needed to breathe. Even as I strained the remaining breaths that had been stored within my flames, she realized that I was unable to keep up with her and temporarily released me from her hold. The smile that was stretched upon her lips was something that I could barely comprehend much less describe. All I knew was that it sent an all-encompassing shiver coursing through my body.

“Your argument is rather persuasive but I believe that we should revisit it at a later date.” I forced my words to come out in a steady gait as I gorged myself on the air. My heart could easily have been mistaken for a growing explosion. My mind and blood sang in delight.

Cadance just allowed her smile to become far more gentle, and the light of the car grew with her splendorous beacon of loving light. Her mane flickering from a tricolored flood of light that held what I swore were artistic renderings of hearts, to her normal tricolored mane that existed upon the physical plane.

Even now a hoof-step below Celestia, she outshone her. How bright would she be when she fully ascended? How warm would she be when she finally crossed the divide? How grand would her Love become?

“Fair enough Sunset.” My partner beamed out. “Shall we go find Gentle Breeze and Rebound?“ Even at the mention of both of the Watching Eyes, the warmth that had flooded me didn’t dissipate. She was asking me. She was giving me a say. She wasn’t expecting me to obey her every whim no matter what it cost. No matter what I burned away.

“If it’s all the same with you I would rather put off dealing with the two of them.” See Celestia I could be mature. I was putting off my problems for future Sunset to deal with. I didn’t always have to move forward. I could take a moment’s pause. “How about we have an impromptu lesson? After all, we do have an unidentified, likely cursed knife before us.” My words were punctuated by the knife that I had kept far from the two of us during our time when we had done our best to become one… mostly. I could only burn the embarrassment that flooded me and disintegrate the thoughts of further actions.

Choking slightly, I pulled the knife before us where it remained stagnant in the air. The magic that had been woven into the metal was unknown to my discerning gaze. But in comparison to the pony that was still woven around me, I was blind. My partner held a connection to Equus, no existence itself that I could only one day strive to hold myself.

“Sunset…” Her whisper of my name sent me into throes of panic but her next words doused such vapid fears that had impossibly once more ignited. “You know what, sure. It sounds fun.” Her words weren’t bringing me much confidence that she wished to begin the lesson. Usually, even if she complained she held an unmatched determination to comprehend any problem that I set before her.

Now, however, it was different in a way that I didn’t understand. Something had changed. Something had been altered. Something had-! No! Not again! Never again!

Biting down the mess that flooded in my veins and burning it away with a liberal application of boiling hatred. Ensuring that I had corrected the newest fault within myself I smiled. Failure. It was nothing but a pale shadow of the smile that my partner had given me, but it was mine.

“Show me what you can do,” I whispered my challenge as the knife fell. A surge of magic that dwarfed my own rushed forth and caught the blade before it could make it to the floor of the car. It was enclosed within the pale cyan glow of her magic, preventing it from continuing to follow the designs of gravity. She stood against the world's laws and won.

It was on such a minuscule scale, yes, but I knew that she would stand before even grander laws and shatter them. She maneuvered the knife slowly and carefully every so often, taking care for it to not slip from her grasp. Sending a few of the spells that I had taught her towards it. Attempting to identify its purpose. What incantations and rituals had been performed upon the blade?

What was its purpose? Was it to create a wound that couldn’t be healed? Was it to blind any that it pierced? Or maybe it would sentence the one that it had entered to a fate of endless torture and suffering as it replaced their blood with poison?

That actually was an interesting thought. I could do the same with my flames, charbroiling a pony from the inside out but could I replace their liquid lifeforce with something far less immediately deadly? No, most ponies couldn’t survive having their blood being replaced with most things much less the flames I had packed into their veins. Something to test later… preferably without Cadance realizing what I was doing. I should have never let the three would-be thieves escape, they would have served as suitable test subjects.

I shook my head lightly as I focused my gaze upon Equus, spying that my partner had divested herself from me and was standing a few hoof steps away from the enchanted knife. Which was no longer supported by her magic no, instead it was suspended in a cocoon of crystals that were spinning in the air. She truly held a knack for crystallokinesis that far surpassed my understanding within the field. Perhaps it had something to do with the Crystal Empire? It did reside within her dreams.

It was where also a veritable domain of books and scrolls resided. Which held knowledge that was not found within Princess Celestia’s restricted section. No for those magics that she no doubt thought far too dangerous, damaging, anything that she wished for her ponies to never see. She would simply incinerate them. Reducing the manuscripts into another pile of ash that degraded with the ever-constant marching of time.

She had offered to bring me within her dreaming domicile. Share with me the forbidden fruits that I had been unable to partake of. That offer alone was worth its weight in blood and gold, what she has since done since making it was worth far more than any paltry magic. Unless within that grand Castle of hers, was a way for me to ascend. The entirety of the Crystal Empire paled in value when compared to my partner herself.

“First guess, it has something to do with shadows. I can see portions of the spellwork that has been inscribed upon it that have to do with dimming light.” Cadance pauses as she turns back to me, her eyes still focused into a narrowed glare at the dagger. “I want to say that it can harm a pony's shadow and in turn harm the pony, but something is saying that's wrong.” Pushing aside her mane as she continued her hypothesis, “In truth, the entire knife feels wrong, but beyond that, I can’t say anymore. So what’s my grade?” Her final words were accompanied by the batting of her eyes and an amused smile.

“Grade?” At her inquisitive nod, I rolled my eyes. “Give me a moment to check your work and assign you a proper grade,” I swear some ponies, Alicorn Princesses or not, could be rather strange at times. Looking past my partner who seemed rather amused by my reaction, or rather lack of one, to the knife that was still contained within the crystals.

A single thought turned the crystals into little more than a molten slag that further combusted into an inferno that contained the knife. Transforming them into a molten chandelier that still screamed with heat. That's how you show off Cadance. Turning my attention back to the task at hoof, I began to go through a series of spells. Ranging from the ones that I knew wouldn’t give me any usable information about the knife and its enchantments.

It was apparently far older than both Cadance and I. No, it was in comparable age to Celestia herself. Where did they get this knife? Who did they take it from? Did they steal it from Celesia herself? I would have to hunt those three down and rip the answers from their screaming corpses.

I was willing to let them go earlier, yes as they had done nothing truly untowards. This, however, daring to steal from Celestia, was far more than I would ever permit. She was the Princess that allowed Equestria, no Equus to function. These three would never understand the magnitude of such a task. However, I would certainly attempt to teach them. Ensuring before their mortal coil had been cut that they understood the weight of their transgressions and what their worth was in comparison to a pony that was perfect.

Turning my attention back to the weapon that they had brandished against one of her precious ponies. One of the ones that she cared for. One of the ones that she loved. One of the ones that she protected. One of the ones that she gave her warmth.

I was tempted by the blood that boiled through my veins to reduce the knife and its enchantments to nothing more than a molten slag before feeding it to those who would dare stand against the Princess of the Sun. Dare contest Celestia herself. I reigned in my endless fount of hatred that burned at the indignity that she had suffered, she may not have even known that another had stolen from her. Another had taken advantage of the vaunted light that she gave off to illuminate the world. Other than I, that was.

I wouldn’t perform such an act. The blade was promised to another. One far more deserving of it than these thieves that dared touch upon something they should have never touched. The Princess of Love, I had initially planned for her to wield the blade yes, but now she would work to hold it until Celestia could reclaim it. After all, it wasn’t as if she would dare tarnish another of the Alicorn of the Sun’s vaunted relics…

A familiar charm spins into existence, the incantation having been performed before I had even realized that I had silently intoned it. The chill the spell brought provided me with a clarity that I had been missing… Apologies were upon my lips the moment I realized what I had once more nearly done. I didn’t dare lock eyes with Cadance. Not willing to risk the sight of her purple eyes filled with something that I couldn’t comprehend, or worse understand.

Pushing through the faint frost that sullied my coat I returned to my inspection of the knife. I had already failed, I wouldn’t again. She gave me another chance. I couldn’t allow it to spoil. Pulling at the fragments of magic that I had already found, following them deeper into the spiraling spellwork that was not only imbued upon the knife but was the knife itself. It was a spell given physical form.

It was a masterpiece that outclassed my own works. I could create artifacts, yes, but this knife was no artifact. No, it was something far more than that. I could only begin to hypothesize about how it worked. But that was something for a later time. Closing my eyes I turned towards my partner once more. Disdain.

“Full marks.” I breathed out, not at all having tensed myself for the admonishment that I knew was waiting for me. That I shouldn’t have used the spell. That I shouldn’t have fallen into the throes of my anger. I should have turned to her to help me. “It can harm any creature’s shadow, and transfer the damage that the shadow took to the pony themselves.” Technically it was anything that was alive and could cast a shadow, but that was something I knew the pony in front of me didn’t care for the specifics. Breathe. I continued after a moment's pause, “What you sensed that was wrong, and what likely tripped you up was that it isn't a knife at all but a spell that has been given physical form.”

Cracking open my eyes, I could see my partner with a small smile on her lips. A familiar sight of pride flashed within her eyes as the crystals that danced within formed stars. It was enough to chase away the cold that had clung to me. Freeing the knife from the cage of liquid flames, I held it aloft before Cadance. “It’s yours. I can’t teach you how to wield it without your magic but I am sure one of the Watchers can instruct you in that regard.”

Judging from the confusion that flashed through the eyes of the pony before me… I had no idea. Other than the implicit offer that I could show her how to use the weapon with her magic my words were rather straight forwards. I was unsure where this confusion of hers was coming from even as I replayed my words again in my mind. “Cadance?” I questioned. My partner’s eyes once more snapped back into focus as they found my own.

“Isn’t it your knife? Through a right of conquest or something?” That makes sense she was a good pony, she would want to ensure that I wasn’t forcing myself to give it to her out of some misguided obligation. It wasn’t misguided after all it was simply that she would get the most use out of it.

“Technically I am nearly certain that the knife is the stolen property of Princess Celestia but since she isn’t here it belongs to you.” I wouldn’t think of what would happen if she was here. If she demanded the knife back after I had already given it to Cadance. The thoughts were burned the moment that they formed. I was smart enough to realize that there was no positive outcome in that situation and judging by my partner’s wincing she realized that no doubt as well.

Forcing a small smile to form on my face I continued. “I would like to study it further at a later date but between the two of us, it would be better served protecting you.” It would be the blade that severed a ponies throat, not Cadance. That single degree of separation could allow her to live. To prevent a chance of her death was enough for me to throw myself at Discord without my magic, giving up an enchanted knife was nothing in comparison.

It took my partner a few more moments of silent contemplation for her to finally nod. Her magic intermingled with mine around the knife. An endless sea of cyan subsumed my paltry red, yet I could only smile at the act. How far she had come in the short time. Was this why ponies taught others? To see them grow? To see them mature as they honed their skills and in turn, were honed themselves? Seeing them strive to do ever more and become far mightier than their teacher?

Was this what Celestia felt when she was teaching me?

The question went unanswered as it flooded my mind, demanding my attention. Rage began to ignite, flames sprung forth from my blood, and my soul lit with infernal flames once more. Yet even with all of this peerless rage and hate that flooded through me, I was still smiling.

What was it that my partner had said so long ago? ‘That I could do with less hatred and more love in my heart?’ It was something that I didn’t understand back then. Something that I couldn’t comprehend. It was something that I think I was starting to understand now. In the few weeks that I had done more than hate her, that had changed.

If this was what being bound was-, the inferno that was inside me surged almost as if it knew my thoughts, it didn’t seem nearly as bad as I had initially thought. The conflagration swelled forth, attempting to bleed through my flesh and enter into reality. I didn’t allow it to do as it pleased. I was Sunset Shimmer and these flames were bound to my will alone. The flames were bound within my blood, I could have used the charm once more but… Instead, I allowed the heat to waft off in a gentle display of control.

All this went undetected by Cadance as she was puppeting the knife wildly about as it danced upon a strand of her magic. It took a few moments for her to realize that I was simply watching her play with a weapon of war with a smile written on my face.

“I would have to ask as a Princess who has yet to be even crowned, that the next gift you give me isn’t stolen property.” She laughed as the dancing blade that was under her control came to a stop beside her.

“So confident that I am going to give you another gift, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza?” I laughed as the blade lunged forwards toward me, not even bothering to pretend to flinch as it stopped nearly two whole hoof steps away from me. She was adorable, did she think that even with that knife she could harm me? She pouted as the knife was slowly pulled back to her side. I would need to make her a sheathe so she didn’t accidentally hurt herself.

“Of course I am.” Her smile gained familiar near feral properties. I could feel the anticipation begin to pool in my soul. “After all you like me, p-a-r-t-n-e-r.” I shivered as she slowly intoned that final word. The beautiful moment however was shattered by her next words that thundered out with the might of an Alicorn. “And stop calling me by my full name! Your future Princess demands of you!” She haughtily ordered. Acting as if she was but one of the countless nobles that put any worth into that pointless system of theirs.

My grin grew larger. Laughter fell from my lips as Cadance swiftly joined in. We laughed at each other, at the situation, at ourselves. We shared this amusement that was evenly spread between the two of us. The Alicorn and the Unicorn once more laughed together.

“I make no promises about the stolen property, but I will attempt to steal only from ponies that deserve it.” I then pretended I wasn’t going to continue with the topic of her name until Cadance looked as if she was about to charge me. “Fine… I will no longer call you Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Mi Amore Cadenza.” I softly whispered expecting a faint rage to fill my partner. After all, she didn’t want any pony calling her by her full name.

However, she stopped dead in her tracks, her face flushed not with rage, but with… was that embarrassment in her eyes? Why? Her eyes flashed with constructed crystalline hearts, as her mane became translucent. My heart resounded throughout my body, beating at such a breakneck pace that she no doubt could clearly hear it through my flesh. One moment she was before me, the next she had once more intertwined herself around me. Entrapping me within her larger form.

“Sunset Shimmer.” She breathed out into my ear, her words filled with an inflection of emotion that I couldn’t immediately place. Confusion. However, once I did I knew with certainty that I was no longer amber but even more red than my disguise. Desire. The full body flush that I was experiencing did little to stop my partner who had become this predator that had entrapped me with its existence itself. If anything she brought herself further into my physical existence.

Love.

Author's Note

This chapter is both a step back from the darkness from the last two chapters and a step forward into something more. Something that was once beyond what should have been possible for the pony named Sunset Shimmer. A change that was only possible thanks to Cadance and her actions.

Moving on from the grand and into the grittier, Love in its various forms is something that is integral to this tale of mine. Not that it should come as a surprise with the main cast of characters.

The love of a daughter who seeks her mother's approval.

The endless love of one to protect all of those that she views as hers.

The caring mother who silently watches over her daughter and subjects.

Then there are more disturbed versions of Love that have already been touched upon. Those that even when seen are purposefully ignored by all those who have glimpsed them. Holding no less value than the vaunted loves freely shared, locked away within the hearts of those that hold them.

Another trapping of love is romantic inclinations that occur. Especially between two that have entrusted their lives to one another often blossoms far too soon... To bear fruit or whither away is yet to be decided.

-LittleFaerieFire

36. Concerted Culminations

Concerted Culminations

Sunset

I could only wheeze in disappointment as my partner pulled herself from me. Don’t leave. Finally separating the two of us into two distinct ponies. Why?. Even with magic acting as a buffer to the laws of Equus, reality didn’t enjoy having two existences share a singular place. However, Cadance once again proved that those laws that I was subjected to were mere suggestions for an Alicorn. Even as an Alicorn, I was impressed at how she managed to stride effortlessly away from me. Lucky. It must have been the Earth Pony portion of her.

I was unable to follow after her, no matter my countless wishes to do so. I was left behind. I watched as another Alicorn continued to move forwards without me by her side. Only allowing her shadow to encase me, before that even too would fade. Hatred.

Utter loathing once more encompassed me, as once more I watched as I was left forgotten once more. Left in the shadows of the past to rot and be replaced. Once more set to suffer while Equus moved on without me.

Flooding my body with a virulent hate that silenced the pleasurable echoes of pain and fatigue. Forcing my limbs to obey my demands, I entwined them with flaming ribbons. One leg after another I stepped forth, off the bed that she had summoned us both to. The same one that we had earlier shared in sleep. Now once more shared.

What we did together would be etched forever into my soul. I sullied her and in turn, I was further sullied myself. Not in blood but in a lustful passion of all things. CHANGE. The reminder of what we had done usurped the hatred that I had been using to puppet my flesh with love which nearly sent me to the ground.

We had joined together… Not fully! I couldn’t. Not to Cadance. Not to my partner. I would never harm her. Never again. Even when I no longer drew breath. Even after I had once more failed. She had freely gifted me wonders beyond my dreams, it was the least I could do. Even as we had approached that precipice, when I had stumbled back she had caught me and led me safely down from its vaunted heights.

Even then I had nearly deflowered an Alicorn Princess.

That thought had me clenching my eyes shut in an attempt to escape the images of what we had done together. Yet even as I returned to a place of darkness and flames those actions we had shared followed. Bringing forth a light that I was unable to smother into the darkest recesses of my mind. I could only imagine what the response would be from the ponies of Equestria. I had not only stolen away their newest princess but nearly devoured her as well.

Shock and terror were the usual ways those ponies reacted to me and my actions. This was different, this was entirely something else. This was something that I didn’t burn, this was something that I shared with my partner. This was something more than the usual torments I assailed those common ponies with. How they would react was obvious.

I knew my partner would… She chose me before. She chose me instead of her ponies when Discord himself had given her that choice. SHE CHOSE ME! She would choose me again. She would choose me, I was her partner. Her ally. Her mare friend.

‘She shouldn’t be forced to choose.’ The thought that formed from the mess of love reacted with the final remnants of my hate that had been nearly entirely purged. It was a thought that I could not dare to burn away.

It was true.

Cadance deserved better. SHE CHOSE ME! She was forced into playing an impossible game with the spirit of Chaos. When I was about to die and told to either leave me to perish or potentially in the future her ponies would die by my hoof. It was a situation where the choice was obvious to the average pony. Even if it wasn’t the correct one.

For my partner who was a kind pony. Far kinder than I could ever be there was only one way that she could have answered. There was only one way that would have allowed her to save a pony that was in the grasp of death itself. That choice was to choose that pony who was in immediate peril. SHE CHOSE ME! SHE-.

SHE SHOULDN’T HAVE CHOSEN ME BUT SHE DID!

The keen screams that echoed in a mockery of my own thoughts were silenced by my own vicious snarls. I could feel something begin to pool in my heart, something far more liquid than the flames that had resided within. I could only feel as if it was incinerated, for only one pony could reside within there.

No. That was no longer the truth, was it? There now was a second pony that my kindled flame allowed entry to the ever-unbeating device that resided within my chest.

I couldn’t force her to choose between me and the ponies that she cared for in the future. It wasn’t fair to her. She wasn’t strong in the same way that I was. She cared for the ponies that she would never see. It would hurt her to watch ponies that could have been saved fall.
She was just like Celestia in regard to her ponies…

There her name was the one pony that I was most fearful of learning what I had done to her niece. The one that she had claimed as her own. The one that she had claimed as her family. The one that she had claimed as her own blood.

Celestia was the one who had raised me despite my future that she had long since foreseen. I had repaid such a grand kindness by nearly besmirching her actual family? Defiling the one that she cared for above all her other ponies? I wasn’t sure what emotion obliterated the love that filled my veins, but it tasted reminiscent of the void that slumbered within the cottage.

Clotting within my veins. Silencing my screams. Smothering my thoughts as that void began to desire forever more of myself that it could potentially steal.

Something else. Anything else. DON’T REMEMBER.

Perhaps it was a boon for Celestia to have never claimed me as her daughter. My heart constricted painfully at the thought as my tongue once more tasted iron. A familiar rage found its way back into my veins, and a soothing calm claimed dominion within my blood. Even if it was a horrific thing that had allowed me to escape that void, it was true.

The best thing that had ever happened to me since Celestia took me in was Cadance claiming me as her own. This carnal act was merely an extension of that. One further continuation of truth.

Why then was it such a mistake?

“Sunset? Why in Equestria are you on the floor?” Before I could contemplate that series of thoughts any further, once more my partner saved me from my own darkened flames. Focusing my eyes upon the reality that had been lost to me, I could see that Cadance’s face was split in twain. Half with shadowed amusement at where she found me, half with worry that swelled within her eyes. I gulped as our eyes met and an underlying edge of sharpened crystals flashed into existence.

In both purple eyes was the enthralling dance of crystalline fragments moving to unsung orders from my partner. Strong enough to pierce the veil of reality itself. Weak enough to be shattered by the flailing of a foal’s hoof. She was a peerless contradiction.

“Would you believe that I fell out of the bed?” I knew it was a stupid worthless excuse the moment that it left my lips, yet what else could I say? What else could I do? What else was my option but to once more deny the divine before me the truth?

Cadance narrowed her eyes at me, yet she still offered me a hoof. Hoisting me back up, I could only once more barely retain my balance upon shaking hoofs.

“Sunset?” Once more my name was a ghost upon her lips. The question asked and yet still unspoken. Leaving the choice in my hooves. Freely giving control of the amount that I would answer, or even if I would. How could I have ever hated her? She was perfect.

“I didn’t want” to be left behind “- you to leave me.” I couldn’t help the flood of embarrassment that was caused by my words. I had meant for them to be spoken in my normal tone, yet instead, they were almost fearfully whispered. Even if I had changed what was my answer to her question, I still couldn’t control my tone and the fear that clung to my shaking words.

I once more had revealed a failure of mine. Even if this form of weakness was not liquid. This want of mine was unjustified, I had left her alone in the beddings that we had shared. This was the exact same, and judging from the way that her eyes narrowed she knew as well. I couldn’t complain, after all, had I not let her awake alone this morning? Slinking from her side with my magic. Leaving her to wake alone.

“Sunset next time just say so,” Cadance spoke, her voice washed over me in a melodious display of understanding. “I didn’t know what to think when I saw you on the floor.” The edge in her eyes didn’t fade, if anything it grew sharper. What had I done wrong? “I swear Sunset when I saw you like that I feared the worst.” The cheer that was inflicted upon her words was barely a foul mockery of her normal radiance.

What was the cause? What had spurned the divine? What had I done to dare offend her?

Was it because I had refuted the rapturous finale that she offered? A ravenous void opened and consumed all matters of heat that had once been mine. When I had spurned that conclusion had I spurned her in turn? My heart halted, its original task long forgotten. Instead, now it truly was a wasted organ upon one such as I who could never use it.

No that couldn’t be it! She understood that I couldn’t. Even if she hadn’t understood why, she had still brought me safely back down. Even as I faltered, she had adapted to my limitations. Even as I had contemplated tearing my eyes from my skull so that I could never see that sight again, she had held my weakened form. Then she brought me back.

Was what I could offer not enough? She was the Alicorn of Love. A being that was one step from eternal divinity and life. I was just a Unicorn that had already been thrown away by the Sun. It was an impossibility that I had caught her attention for as long as I had.

Should I have… no. no. no. no. NO!!! Thoughts that weren’t even formed were torn asunder by the gaping maw of the forming void of flames. I could not allow myself to remember.

I was not doing that to her again! So be it if she would leave me behind! I already knew that she would. That was no excuse. I would be better! I had to be better this time. PERFECT! The void was filled with flames. Continue. My eyes flickered back to Cadance who all but flinched at the meager motion of my gaze once more finding hers. Why?

What did I do now? I was trying to be better. No matter what I did I was only doing worse. I truly wasn’t worth-.

“Sunset I’m sorry if I pushed you too far.” Cadance’s apology cut off my return to my internal tirade. Confusion. Why was she apologizing? I was the one who had forced her to stop. Her eyes and mane drooped alongside her head. “I… I know that you have…” Her words were unable to fully form as her head lowered even further. Was she-. STOP.

“Don’t you dare apologize!” Not about what we had just done. Perhaps I could have worded it in a far kinder way, but the words ripped out of my mouth in an attempt to halt her current actions. Thankfully she didn’t continue that bowing of her head. I wasn’t sure what I would have done if she had continued. I knew however from the blazing of my blood nothing good.

Alicorns don’t bow their heads to Unicorns. Unicorns bow their heads to Alicorns, begging for forgiveness for once more failing. Alicorns don’t apologize to Unicorns. Unicorns apologize to Alicorns for being unable to live up to their ideals. Apologizing for their very existence.

Yet even as she brought her head back up, I could see the concern flashing within the purple gems that were her eyes. “Is that not why your eyes are once more emerald?” It took me a moment to realize that the question had not been rhetorical and had been indeed directed towards me. I could only shake my head in the negative as I was forced to once more ponder what her fascination with my eye color was. After all, in comparison to her evershifting crystals that found home within her eyes, mine were all too ordinary. At my response, Cadance’s eyes furrowed, and said crystals lost a portion of their edge as they once more began to swim through her irises.

Wait, did she think that she pushed me too far? I couldn’t stop the morbid amusement that the realization brought me. Here I was fearing that I had snubbed her and here she was thinking that she had pushed me too far. We were an amusing match no doubt, made in the deepest recesses of eternity. The slivers of the void that still existed within my flames began to once more disperse back to where it had long since hidden away. Once more, forgotten for a moment longer.

“Mi Amore Cadenza, everything that you have done for me is the pinnacle of my life.” I truthfully told the Pony that had utterly upset my life. Oh no doubt I had thought that she had ruined it at first, but looking back what kind of life was I living? Wasting away as but a shade within that vaunted castle of light? She had usurped the story that I had been carefully weaving with my magics, utterly ruining it beyond any form of recognition.

I could watch as the flush that grew on my partner's face, shattered the remaining sharpness upon her crystalline creations. “That includes what we had just done.” The embarrassment continued to swell upon her face at my continued declaration, just as I knew it was upon mine. Yet it paled in comparison to the Love that was shared. “In fact, I do believe that was the highlight of-.” She didn’t even let me finish my teasing. Her face split between embarrassment and something far more shadowed. Yet before I could begin to understand that darkness that flickered, it dissipated before my eyes.

“THANK YOU SUNSET! I understand what you mean! There is no need for any further words!” The Princess before me all but squeaked out as her feathers attempted to no doubt strangle me. Instead, they just covered my form. Allowing me to once more be encased within her. She was the one who complained that I didn’t share any form of banter with her.

In response, I simply returned her embrace. I enjoyed the way that she tensed in anticipation of my next attack. My partner was easily embarrassed after what we had done, I would have assumed that she as its initiator would be more stalwart. She could deal it out, but couldn’t take it, at least not in the near aftermath of her namesake. She was a beautiful contradiction like that. I allowed the warmth that bled off my partner to seep into my coat and deep into my very being.

“Alright. I’m done teasing you.” I finally broke the pleasant silence that surrounded the two of us. Cadance pulled back some of her feathers so that she could clearly allow her light, almost disbelieving, glare to be seen. “For the moment at least.” I swiftly continued without missing a beat.

“Go clean yourself.” Was the only response I received other than an annoyed trill that whistled from my partner's nose as she pulled herself away from me. Did she once more forget that she was an Alicorn? Gifted with the abilities of Unicorn magic? Allowing her to take another step away from me before I was once more bathed in cleansing flames.

“Done.” My partner was acting as if she couldn’t hear the smugness that was dripping from my singular spoken word. Refusing to even turn back and even acknowledge my actions. Hah. Once more I had achieved victory over the divine. Once more I had bucked the natural order of Equus. Yet I was a mere Unicorn who stood against the might of an Alicorn.

“Well, then should we head out and properly start the day?” My jubilation at having once more bested divinity faltered within my blood. Was it too late to crawl back under the sheets? Perhaps dragging my partner with me? We must certainly be getting close to Hollow Shades at this point, especially with my alteration on the conductor’s mind.

Cadance just twisted her head to look at me once more, a fake innocence glittered in her eyes. I gave her another point and just stiffly nodded before once more beginning to follow in her hoof steps. Only to be swiftly stopped as my partner’s shadow stilled with her halted movements.

I tilted my head in confusion as I attempted to spot why my partner had faltered in her trek. Yet my eyes could grasp no reason. Did she perhaps instead realize something? Something that I have yet to comprehend? My idle hypotheses were put on pause as once more my partner began to speak. This time however she didn’t even grace me with a turn of her head, instead she remained stalwartly facing forwards.

“Do you really think after what we just did I am going to allow you to walk anywhere but by my side?” I could only gulp down the mess of panic that blossomed within my soul, as once more I was reminded for all of my vaunted strength. I was but a foal playing with embers of power I couldn’t comprehend. There were those far above me, that I could barely perceive their vaunted might.

Within those words that were declared by the pony that was my partner, I could feel the lurking danger expressed within. That if I didn’t heed the warnings that I had been given I would be reminded which of us was a single step from achieving divinity. Further reminding me of my failures.

Reaching for the ever-endless pool of vitriol, of burning hate, of unending anger to steel myself against the divine once more. However, I could find little but the paltry remnants of my closest confidante. Instead within the now desecrated recesses of my soul, was something new. Something that as soon as I laid my eyes upon it, bared itself to me.

It wasn’t my rage, but to allow me to stand equal against an Alicorn it would work. It would allow me to contest the ones who dared ordain how my tale would end. It would allow me to claim what had been long since promised to me.

Bathing in this new flame, as I spread it through my veins. Allowing it to connect to me on a level that most ponies couldn't conceptualize much less comprehend. Once more I was flooded with a flame, this one however was one that was not my own. No, it was a flame that I could never have birthed. For it required more than my own will to grow.

Narrowing my eyes at my partner's back. I stepped forth. One hoof after another. Escaping the shadow that trailed behind her physical form. Stepping beyond the darkness that she cast with her very being, so loved by the light. So that I could stand beside her. Not as a follower but as her equal.

Something that I knew was a fallacy. Yet thanks to this flame that flooded within, I couldn’t bring myself to care. She wished for me to be by her side, I would be by her side. It didn’t matter the decorum that I was breaching, the unsaid rules that I was shattering. The ones that I had oh-so faithfully followed for my entire life.

For the one who beckoned me to stand by her side was an A-. No. She was an Alicorn, yes, but before that, she was my partner. That alone should be reason enough to once more step beyond the role I have played. Not that she couldn’t change the rules as she saw fit just as her counterpart has so frequently done.

Finally, I stood by her side. No longer was I covered in shadow. We may not have been equals, but we were partners. Purple eyes glanced over me once more, filled with an emotion that I couldn’t place. It wasn’t any form of vapid fear that I had once inspired within her eyes. Nor was it the endless swaths of devoted love that I had recently uncovered within her eyes.

It was something speculative. Calculating. Hiding within it was a spark of light that I had seen within only one other pony's wizened eyes. Purple began to fade to pink.

Not again.

That spark forewarned any pony that met their gaze, that this pony had foreseen eternity. That this pony had seen how this tale would come undone. That there were no surprises left to be encountered. For this pony stood stalwart against the unrelenting tide of time. Seeing beyond the veil that had been draped across the eyes of all Equus’s inhabitants.

She knew what I had done.

What I have yet to do.

The joint flame that had been conjured began to falter, yet just as quickly as purple faded to pink. It returned with a vengeance, displacing the phantoms of pink once more. A white coat and feathers bled pink once more. The still unnamed flame returned with a vengeance. That accursed spark of insight faded and was replaced with the gentle rolling of crystalline surprise. Almost as if she had seen something that she hadn’t expected.

She didn’t know.

Not yet.

“Thank you Sunset.” Familiar words snapped me out of the light delusion I had fallen into. Grateful purple eyes danced with crystals that formed into an impossible array of structures that both converged and shattered in the same moment. Those simple words turned the deluge of flames within me into an unmatched flood. Seeing the gratitude held within my partner’s eyes was almost too much as the bloody conflagration swelled even further.

Untrusting of my voice I nodded in turn. I moved in turn with my partner as we stepped through the divider of royalty and the common ponies. My flames singing with each of our steps, awaiting something? No, that wasn’t it. The temperature that surrounded us hadn’t risen. I was unsure what these strange flames that I had run throughout my body were awaiting, but the flames were of such density that I doubted their target would leave any remains.

Two targets flashed in my mind. The Spirit of Disharmony and that shadowed pony, both had bested me in the past. These flames that filled me would allow me to once more correct the story that had gone awry. Both would be reminded of the roles that they were set to play in this grand tapestry. Just as I would play mine as the ever-reigning victor.

“Awfully late start to the morning for royalty, isn’t it?” The Loud Observer spoke as we entered the train car where both it and its counterpart were lounging. I could hear the faint traces of amusement in the creature's tone, however, it was nearly drowned in the palpable fear that it was failing to obscure. Its futile facade shattered as I matched eyes with it.

Smiling as it fractured, its next jests no doubt shriveled upon its tongue. My blooming enjoyment curdled as the flames within flickered. Why? My leer fell into a scowl as I turned my attention inward. Pushing the liquid flame to ever more extreme heights in order to burn out that fragment of weakness that had harmed it. Yet even as the flames once more surged I couldn’t find the fault within the still unnamed flames.

Tearing my gaze back to reality I found my partner continuing with greeting both the Watching Eyes. I could have interjected, but I had little interest in those two spies. They were here to report all that I did to the one that Princess Celestia cared about after all. Nothing more and nothing less. That didn’t mean however that I entirely tuned out their conversation while I remained still by my partner’s side.

“I have already checked in with the engineer, and he estimates a little less than three hours to reach Hollow Shades.” At the second Spies’ words, I frowned. Were we already that close to Hollow Shades? That was convenient. Perhaps my earlier mental meddling was unneeded. Well, I doubt that Cadance will complain as I did save one of her ponies.

Banishing the worthless worry that had formed I instead decided to be far more practical with my time and pulled away from my partner. She glanced over to me but after I gestured to the tables of food that had been prepared she nodded in acquiescence and returned to the two so-called ponies.

While I had since learned that the meager rations that I had initially packed for myself to subsist on, were not nearly enough to feed a growing Alicorn. I had however learned from that experience. That was why I had beelined my way to a shop once we had split ways our first night in Wingston. Well, that and… if I was being honest that I wanted to make up for the words that I had spoken towards Cadance.

I was now confident that even with Cadance’s enhanced appetite, the two of us would be able to subsist on what I had purchased for some time. I had nearly cleaned out three entire shops of all non-perishable foods. That safety net was more than worth the strange glances that turned into astonishment that yes I could pay for everything that I requested and then turned into shock when I shoved the various foodstuffs into my sack. However, when there was fresh food prepared, I could save our rations for another day.

Casting out a wide net of telekinesis and grabbing an assorted mess of lunch foods. Ignoring the glares that I received from every pony that was currently in line at the buffet. Cadance had slipped on her cloak, yes, but she had the hood down. If any of them were halfway observant they would be able to tell that a member of Equestrian royalty was within the same train car as them. Instead, they were far more concerned with fighting over the various sandwiches and salads. Fools and failures, the lot of them.

Layering most of my claimed goods onto one larger serving plate that I had snagged with the half of pizza atop it. A second plate was filled with a small salad. I cast a few quick spells over the food I had purloined, ensuring that nothing harmful would get to my partner. Finding nothing out of the ordinary I turned back with the two plates hovering beside me.

Odd. While I had been intentionally blocking out the meaningless prattle of the ponies around me I didn’t realize that it had gotten so silent. Glancing at my partner I could see that she had pulled the hood of her cloak up. Yet as the one who had enchanted it I knew the faults within the magic, even without applying the appropriate spell to my eyes I could clearly see for some unknown reason a foreign embarrassment on her face.

I tilted my head in an attempt to ask her what had happened as she was staring at me, but instead of answering she just winced. The crystals in her eyes weeping shards as they spun around in a bizarre panic. Strange. Expanding my gaze to the rest of the car’s inhabitants, their numerous eyes locked upon me. Malcontent from the masses was something I was used to through my years as being the Princess of the Sun’s ward. They would have to far more than leer at me.

Upon seeing that I wasn’t going to be attacked, I did however run through a rudimentary shielding charm to erupt around my partner on the chance that I was wrong, I continued back towards her side. The two Watching Eyes parted for me just as they had parted for Princess Celestia. The annoying one was covering its mouth with its wings, but in its eyes, I could see an amusement pool. The silent ones’ deadened eyes were still calm, but I could spy the near smirk upon its muzzle as I repositioned myself next to my partner.

“I got you some food,” I informed my partner who proceeded to once more break out into a full-faced flush as my words broke the silence that had encased the room. Waiting for her to grab the plate that was now hovering before her. Upon seeing that she wasn’t going to take the plate that I made for her I shrugged and began to eat from my own plate.

“Excuse me once more, but you realize that the food was meant for every pony?” An almost scratchy voice nasally attempted to interrupt my meal as a bright red Unicorn stomped in front of me. Her horn was not even lit with a spell. I didn’t bother dignifying her with a response as I continued to eat after glancing over to Cadance to check if she was planning to eat any time soon. Her eyes glistened full of crystals with mortification bound within. Yet I could see the way they tightened upon the pony that was before the two of us. “Or are you so uncouth that such acts of decency are beyond you?” The raspberry-colored Unicorn continued on its ineffectual crusade against me. I didn't even bother to grace its attempts with even a blink.

Seeing that attempting to interact with me was a lost cause she instead turned to my partner. The two spies at least had the presence of mind to step between Cadance and the irate Unicorn. Even if their actions were unneeded as I was right beside her. “Since I am unable to inspire any conversation with your bullheaded compatriot, I would ask that you return the food that she stole.” The scratchy voice continued.

My eyes narrowed as I stopped eating at its words. “I will permit you to keep a portion of the food, as the food here is meant for every pony no matter how uncouth.” The large leech declared with a clearly practiced drawl. I could feel Cadance shifting beside me slightly at the leech's words. “After all one must show her lessers how to properly act.” My remaining patience for this paltry creature snapped.

It wasn’t a spell that encased the corpse-feeder's mind, no it was something far simpler. Altering a creature's mind was an arduous process that only increased in difficulty the greater the creature's intelligence. Luckily for me, the process was instantaneous as I pulled its mind into my grasp.

First, it dared attempt to steal Cadance’s food. Then it dared claim that she needed her permission to keep any of the food I had gotten for her. Finally, it dared claim that Cadance was lesser than this creature that feasted upon the remains left for it. I would force it to understand the gravity of its mistake as I molded it so that every moment it believed itself to be encased in flames.

Burn.

Shockingly, the carrion feeder seemed to actually know a lick of magic as it summoned a faint sprinkling of water atop itself, yet when that did nothing it floundered on the floor screaming for help. Only when Cadance stepped in and soothed it into a slumber did its screams stop.

“I can’t take you anywhere, can I Dawn?” Cadance questioned with an annoyed huff as she glanced down at the half-drowned corpse eater. Whose unconscious form was already being removed by the two Watchers.

“Technically I invited you to come with me.” I reminded my partner as I resumed eating.

Author's Note

This chapter is one that was planned out from the beginning of Mirror Mirror. One where a step towards an unrivaled height is taken. One where an Alicorn and a Unicorn jointly move forwards, and must deal with the consequences of such actions. Dealing with the fallout of touching something that should have been well left forgotten.

Sunset's actions and internal deliberations have shifted rather considerably since the first chapter. She puts it herself in a single paragraph from this chapter I would like to highlight

“Mi Amore Cadenza, everything that you have done for me is the pinnacle of my life.” I truthfully told the Pony that had utterly upset my life. Oh no doubt I had thought that she had ruined it at first, but looking back what kind of life was I living? Wasting away as but a shade within that vaunted castle of light? She had usurped the story that I had been carefully weaving with my magics, utterly ruining it beyond any form of recognition.

The question now must be asked however is she changing for the better?

The next chapter will be the long-awaited arrival into Hollow Shades, as well as shifting the perspective back to Cadance. Who Sunset can see is acting stranger than usual. In addition to some other fun things that have been set into motion, both from ages past and even due to recent events.

*I think that this chapter still counts as suitable for the rating of T but if any mods have a complaint, I will move the stories rating back to mature.

-LittleFaerieFire

37. Hollowness Found in Shades

Hollowness Found in Shades

Cadance

Even as I glanced back at the pony that was Sunset Shimmer I couldn’t help but be drawn to her eyes. Twin pools of forceful emeralds that swam with barely concealed hate, yet not even a few hours ago I had seen something more than that hate. Where the everpresent anger that clung to my partner’s eyes, faded in turn for something kinder. Something that I innately knew to be Love.

This absence of hatred, anger, and spite. Brought forth a brilliant cyan coloration to her eyes. Where my partner resumed the role of a pony, where she could once more see beyond the great veils that clung to her eyes. Corrupting her view of the world around her, she still gazed upon me with such rapturous fervor.

The Love that had gained purchase within my partner was far less than most ponies. Hers was weak, struggling to exist amongst the great enmity that fueled Sunset. Yet this Love had still blossomed for me. It stood against the flames that fueled her crusade both for and against Celestia herself. It flowered nonetheless. That the fact was true was something that astounded me even now as it rang through my mind once more.

Even as I stood beside her, watching the ever the same Sun that had illuminated the world through a window of the Friendship Express, while the Sun had not changed. The two of us had. Borne of hatred and fear, both Sunset and I had stepped beyond such blackened beginnings. Moving towards something better. Something far grander. Towards something that I knew would irrevocably alter the course of Equus.

Stretching my wing slightly as Sunset shifted ever closer to me. No matter what she said there was nothing that she could do to prove that she wasn’t adorable. She pressed herself ever tighter against the crook of my wing, where she had claimed purchase ever since we had escaped the dining car. Sunset had even fixed whatever she had done to that rather rude pony after I asked her to.

While I certainly appreciated her efforts to protect me, I couldn’t help but believe that some of her actions were far more overzealous than what was needed. Of course, when I mentioned such a fact to her, she reminded me of the many times that I had nearly perished. Both by her hoof and otherwise.

I certainly hadn’t forgotten such events, yet I couldn't help but wonder if she was truly reminding me of my mortality or herself of such a fact. I was unsure yet I knew it wasn’t the reminder that I needed. What I had needed was for a different reminder to have come before I had nearly irrevocably shattered my partner. Such a reminder had not been brought forth until I had nearly gone too far.

I had ushered her forth with such haste that in searching for an ever greater representation of the Love that suffused within me. Something that I had to share with the pony that had brought forth such great feelings from within. I was in Love. I was Love. In all of its horrific splendor.

Greedily devouring all that my heart could claim. Encompassing any that I found within my gaze, that was what I was. Just as Celestia was her Sun, I was my Love. A truth that I couldn’t understand back when I first ascended. When I first had placed my new hoofs on the path toward my future, it had been as if I was blind. Stumbling forward into the unknown.

Now, however, my eyes have been opened to a new world of possibilities. Of understanding that had once been incomprehensible to my mind. No longer was that the truth. I, Cadance, Mi Amore Cadenza, was Love. I did not represent nor was I a meager mascot, I was Love in all of its darkened glory.

The cloying jealousy that spurned jilted lovers forth, in an effort to reclaim what was theirs. That unquenching lust for ever more perverse pleasures to be partaken, no matter what taboos were broken. The unspoken desire to taste a forbidden fruit that would be endlessly devoured, despite the consequences. That was all Love. That was all me.

I had once warned Sunset that Love was not kind or gentle. What I had failed to mention was that it was obsessive, often possessive. Love brought forth the worst in ponies. Countless travesties and horrors that could not be counted, these tragedies were born of Love.

I was Love in its entirety.

Perhaps I truly hadn’t understood what that meant myself until I had nearly gone too far in my passions. Pushing my partner towards the desired climax, unheeding her silent woes, her reservations, of her very will. I sought only to further bind the two of us together in the endless Love that still poured through me. It was only once I had placed my hoof beyond the cliff that we had climbed together, had I realized what truly lies beyond that horizon.

Only when she began to beg for my forgiveness once more did I realize how far I had gone. Her eyes were no longer cyan nor were they emerald. Instead, they were pitch black. Any designs that I held for continuing forth were utterly abandoned at that moment. Even as I did my best to correct my many mistakes, she… Sunset’s eyes held no hatred as the blackened void vacated her eyes. No, instead they were once more filled with Love as black voids bled into cyan pearls.

Did she not understand what had happened? She had even admitted that she had never thought of this form of Love. Or if she had it was muddled in with that all-encompassing desire for Celestia’s maternal Love. Congratulations Cadance you may have just managed to one-up Celestia in screwing Sunset.

Even as she snuggled into me it did little to remove the film of disgust that I brought upon myself. All but fleeing from her as I retreated to the shower. Attempting to scrub off what I had done, yet it refused to be cleaned from my coat. It had seeped in like a stain. The boiling blood that had been forced upon me, was now reinforced with what I had done.

Even when I returned and saw her splayed out on the floor… She… I…

I truly am sorry Sunset Shimmer.

What was worse was that it was almost as if she didn’t understand what I had nearly done to her. Her anger was finally forthcoming as I was prepared to face the fiery consequences of my actions. Instead, she prevented my apologies, with such utter vitriol and hatred that… I don’t even know.

She claimed that it was the highlight of her life. Did she not understand what those words meant? What that thoughtless thanks of hers represent? That what I had nearly forced upon her was…

Of course, she didn’t! This was her first true foray into Love and I had taken advantage of that just as easily as I had taken advantage of her. Not even officially dating for more than a day and already going at it like rutting beasts. No, I was the one who had ushered her forth. Unaware of the dangers that I brought with my lusts.

What would my parents think? After they had performed the greatest sacrifice that they could have done for me. What would Celestia think? After she had brought me through that strange world, protecting and guiding me through my ascension. Taking me into her home and adopting me as her niece.

How had I repaid such kindness? By usurping the will of the one who had so fervently protected me. It was almost amusing, Sunset believed that Celestia had sent along both Gentle Breeze and Rebound to ensure that I was kept safe from her. Yet it may have proven far more prudent to have them protecting her from me.

She had hurt me, she had attempted to do far worse than burn me. That was the irrevocable truth of the matter. Yet since that horrid beginning, she has placed herself between me and whatever dangers had threatened me. First, the griffon, then Discord, potential obliteration, and then that pony I could barely remember.

Brutally she disposed of the griffon. Next, she had nearly died putting herself between Discord and me. Then burning away five years of her life so that she could save me from an oblivion I wouldn’t have been able to remember. She had finally died when that pony had removed her head in a single moment. I had returned the favor by… How was it that she wasn't even considered a pony while I was an Alicorn?

I had sworn to protect all those that I could. That I would no longer need to be saved by the sacrifices of those around me. Here I was however an Alicorn on the path to true immortality, and still being saved. Not even by Celestia, no from her daughter in all but name. The very same pony that…

I could almost laugh at the unjustness of the situation. Even now she was clinging to me as if I could do no wrong. Had done no wrong, least of all to her. That I was as perfect as I once thought Celestia herself to be.

I knew now that the Princess of the Sun was the closest any pony could be to achieving perfection. She had her faults all the same. One of her greatest failures that she herself had no doubt contributed to was under the shadow of my wing. Silently watching the Sun that her mother in all but name controlled.

Screaming metal resounded through the air as if it was being brought into its well-deserved punishment. Gears shifted as mechanisms whirred, slowing the train down so that it could meet the station ahead. Even without changing our position both Sunset and I knew that this was our stop.

Hollow Shades, is a potential location for the location of an old foal’s tale. Where Sunset could find her own avenue to join me in ascension. I could feel her tensing under my wing as clouds finally covered the Sun that had been a constant companion to the two of us in the last leg of this journey. Now once more shadowed by something less than divine.

“Shall we?” Sunset asked as if I could potentially say no. That at my refusal she would obey my will and skip this potential avenue for her to take a step into Alicornhood. I knew not what color her eyes would become were I to say no. I however would never find out.

“Of course.” I agreed with an almost practiced ease, acting as if I hadn’t been replaying what had almost happened within my mind. Sunset however gave no inclination that my performance held any flaws as she slipped out from under my wing. Taking a moment longer to envision myself upon my crystalline throne, before I turned towards my partner.

She was silently still as she waited by the ethereal door. Unwavering as I moved to join her. “Could you cast your wall spell while we walk?” She looked amused at my request yet even as I placed my hoof on the door, turning it once more ethereal, her spell was cast.

“Privacy, not wall.” She chided with clear amusement coloring her voice, yet her eyes were still emerald. They still held the unending hatred that I had always seen in my partner’s eyes. That same hatred I had at times been able to chase away from fully encompassing her soul.

“That point aside.” How many spells did she know? And what was the fraction of those spells that she had taught me? Not even bringing into consideration how she could alter her spells at a moment’s notice. “Do you have any idea where to start your search for this castle?” At my question, Sunset frowned and her eyes narrowed.

“Considering what I know of Hollow Shades there isn’t exactly a castle in the open, which means that it has either been obscured in some way or it is not on the surface.” I waited for her to realize that I still couldn’t, nor did I want to, read her mind. “I am going to go around at random hoping that I can detect something.” I brushed her side with a few of my feathers and she swiftly changed her words. “We will.”

Helping her find this potential castle of the two sisters was truly the least I could do for all that she had done for me, and what I had almost done to her. All I could do now was return the smile that she sent me. Ignoring the way that my heart ached with both desire and regret.

Seeing that I wasn’t intending to continue, Sunset allowed her spell to fade. Not a moment too soon we found our way to an intended way off the train where both Gentle and Rebound were waiting. Sunset didn’t even look at them even as she slowed down.

Once more far more concerned with my actions than her own desires. The aching in my heart swelled. Meeting both of my guard's eyes for a moment before I pulled Sunset forward with me, leaving the two of them to fall into step behind us. While my actions were certainly rude, I couldn’t bring myself to care. Not right now. Not after what I had nearly done.

Stepping out from the metal behemoth of a train, into the world covered by an ever-present shade. There were a number of ponies that were getting off at this stop, yet even more were entering onto the train. Of those that were exiting the train three specific ponies caught my attention.

For as they stumbled out together, their movements were stilted. Minimalized almost as if they were attempting to not exasperate a recently received wound. Wounds that had been inflicted upon them because they had threatened a pony of mine, and they had received a swift punishment for their actions.

Turning my attention from those three I instead looked towards Hollow Shades itself. Perhaps hoping for something to stand out to me. So that I could cut through any time being wasted before we found the remnants of the castle… if it was indeed here that was.

Shaking my head to clear that thought, I mirrored Sunset’s movements as she pushed through the numerous ponies. When we broke through the near deluge of ponies at the station and made it into Hollow Shades where there were still many ponies about, they were not attempting to cram themselves together as they had been.

Silently the four of us continued our trek through Hollow Shades, listlessly wandering through the various streets. Receiving a number of odd looks from all manner of ponies, yet none of them dared impede our travelings. Was it because of the two royal guards that traveled behind both Sunset and me? Or perhaps it was Sunset herself and her general hostile attitude that was keeping the average pony at bay?

Not that it mattered in truth, as hours later while the Sun still enshrouded by clouds began to set in preparation for the night. My partner’s mood had taken a noticeable decline. No longer was she adamantly striding forth, parting through any that dared get in the path of her ascension. Now she was aimlessly meandering forward, unknowing where the correct path forward was. All the same, she refused to stop moving onward.

One hoof in front of another, we continued in near silence. Initially said silenced searchings had been a welcome reprieve from my actions, yet now it was simply another avenue for my most recent blunder to hold my attention. Even as I strained my senses, searching for something, anything, that would potentially lead to what we were searching for and distract me from my thoughts. Nothing was found.

Nothing was out of place within this town. Hollow Shades in truth reminded me of where I had grown up. Where ponies experienced their entire lives within their town's boundaries, never needing anything more than the ponies that were around them. Not that there weren’t those who desired to leave Blissville, but they were the minority…

Now, however, they were likely the majority, even with Celestia’s actions. No doubt what Prismia had done still weighed heavily upon everyone. Even after it was revealed that Prismia was the instigator of such strife… such ghosts refused to be easily dispelled, Alicorn Princess or not.

Would one day I return to the place that had been my only home and be greeted by an empty domain? Where just like the Crystal Empire that resided bereft of any ponies within my dreams, now Blissville would be left forgotten by its once inhabitants. If I was to return would I become like Umbrum? Losing so much of myself in an effort to preserve the life I once had there?

My internal, rather morose, deliberations were put on pause as Sunset’s momentum halted. Even as I glanced at her attempting to discover what she had. She may have been herself, but I was still an Alicorn. Still, I could find nothing. No new insights were brought forth as I demanded them to do so.

“We should retire for the night.” Sunset declared with the embers of annoyance clinging to her words, yet they held barely any weight in comparison to the finality of her statement. Her gaze met mine, emerald eyes softened as the flickerings of cyan began to form within.

My stomach twisted at the sight displayed within Sunset’s eyes. She truly held no hate for what I had done… Forcing a smile to my lips I was going to ask if we were going to spend the night underneath the clouded skies, only for my words to die upon my tongue. For Sunset’s eyes re-lit with an all too familiar hatred, the minute traces of cyan that had been birthed upon meeting my gaze, now smothered underneath the infernal emerald inferno.

My mouth once more tasted of ash, it was as harsh as it was brutal. This time it was not the pleasant taste of my partner as we shared the deepest portions of ourselves, no this was something far from the grandstanding declaration of Love. While this was something that was not under my purview. This was something that I had tasted before.

When I first stepped into Canterlot. Whereupon I had been once more introduced to my inevitable demise. When my partner had nearly slain me with her flames, would have successfully done so if not for the intervention of Celestia herself.

The ash that clung to my mouth was a mockery of Sunset’s true taste. It was a mockery of everything that she had gone through. How she had chosen to go down the path to become a better pony than she once was. Even if she was thought of as a demon, she still believed that she could do better than that title that had been ascribed to her.

Unlike I, who had taken the first step enshrouded by darkness. Uncaring of what would happen to the pony that trusted me. In the throes of passion and pleasures, I sought only to bind her ever more to myself. While she once more sought out the light due to my influence, I had begun my journey into the darkness that had been her home.

“Are we going to head into the inn or are we just going to stand before it?” Gentle Breeze’s voice knocked me from my thoughts. Refocusing on my partner who similarly had been shaken from hers, as no longer did the emerald inferno swell with her rage. Instead, she glanced back at the two royal guard ponies with a clear distaste.

“I am not paying for the two of you. You two will have to make do with braving the elements.” Sunset snidely commented to Rebounds' exaggerated shock as he held his wings to his ribcage.

“We brought our own bits.” Gentle simply responded with a nod.

“Does that mean that you will be paying for our dear favorite P-ony?” Rebound swiftly course corrected muttering a swift apology under his breath as both Gentle and Sunset glared at him. I for some reason believed that the pony that somehow hadn’t matured since he was a colt was far more concerned about the former than the latter.

“Yes.” Sunset simply announced as she lightly grabbed the hem of my cloak and pulled me from where we had been standing in the center of the street, towards a heavily scarred building. Above the door was a half-broken shield that had been painted upon with fading and flaking red paint ‘Shattershield’. I had certainly seen better establishments in my day, we had certainly passed one that had not nearly been as visibly downbeaten.

“Did you choose this place just to mess with them?” I whispered into my partner's ear as she opened the door for me, revealing what was a den of debauchery shrouded within shadows. I could see coins being exchanged between cloaked individuals, cards were once more dealt, and even ponies flinging spells at one another in the far corner. I hadn’t been to many places like this… I hadn’t been in any places like this but I could tell what it was. A place for ponies to gather in the darkness cast by the light that embraced all of Equestria.

Sunset just gave me her best attempt at an almost innocent smile, which was all the answer I needed from her. I turned my gaze from my marefriend who was far too amused with this entire situation that she had concocted. It seems that she could multitask if she had scoped out something like this while also searching for the remnants of a potential castle.

It was almost amusing how easily Sunset fit into this place, yet even such amusements quickly faded into unease. Even if she had not had the glamor that changed her appearance, the demon that she was known as would have easily fit among such ponies. She was doing better, yes, but she was still a creature that thrived within the darkness. After all, she had said it herself, even if not stated in such words, the Alicorn of the Sun had abandoned her. Leaving her to find solace in the darkness that existed beyond the touch of Celestia’s light.

She pulled the door shut behind her with a loud thud that attracted a few gazes from various patrons. Separating the two of us from Gentle Breeze and Rebound, whether or not they would truly enter into a place like this was still yet to be decided. After all this scene was not exactly one that they could easily enter into with their armor glistening in the light of the Sun.

That said officially coronated or not I was still an Alicorn Princess who had entered into this lair of… “Dawn, does this place count as an evil lair?” I asked my partner as she pulled me through the various tables and denizens who had no doubt been enjoying themselves for some time. My question actually brought Sunset to a short pause as she just looked at me.

Confusion clearly was displayed within my partner's eyes as she no doubt contemplated the intricacies of my question. Wait… Would that cavernous hideaway that she had spirited me away to be her lair? Not that it was an evil lair of course but when one thought of a…

Try as I might I was unable to come up with any other ways to describe such a place that my partner had prepared. Especially since she had boasted that within its protections the two of us would be even beyond Celestia’s gaze. It was as equally impressive that she had the ability to create such a thing as it was terrifying that she felt that she needed such a thing. What exactly she had been planning to do while concealed from Celestia was something that I wouldn’t speculate upon. Not when I knew what had likely been my initial fate in such plans.

She had changed her mind. Even if she believed that she couldn’t have. She-. My train of thought was pierced by a shrill scream. Even with my improved senses, I could only see the blur of one pony that had been by me, as he accelerated and then impacted into a wall with a sickening crunch. Before I could even react, spears of flames burned into existence as they appeared around his now-prone form.

Silence reigned as every pair of eyes was split between looking at the soon-to-be skewered pony and my partner whose eyes were curling with emerald flames. Taking a moment to make sure that I properly understood the situation, I didn’t but I had to at least make the attempt. I was an Alicorn after all. “Dawn,” As I spoke her disguised name my partner’s flame-wreathed eyes found my own.

The flames bled from her eyes, leaving a familiar set of emeralds. “I do believe that he learned his lesson.” What lesson that it was that he had deserved to be smashed into a wall and then nearly stuck upon flaming spears I knew not. However, considering that he was a patron of such a place and that he was still alive… Well, Celestia’s plan is often strange.

The flaming spears took a second longer to dissipate, leaving the entire establishment with its temperature noticeably raised by Sunset’s previous actions. Mentally, sighing before I motioned Sunset forward. It would be nice to get some sleep, perhaps Umbrum wouldn’t even be his normal self. He had to heal himself, after all. A pony could certainly hope.

Sunset thankfully continued forward, stalking forth as if were she a predator amidst a sea of prey. The silence that she had conjured through her actions was broken as we moved forth, the other denizens seeing that we weren’t going to continue our assault upon them. They still did part and allowed the two of us ease of access to the pony running the bar.

“How much for a room?” Sunset asked the gray mule that had paused his serving of drinks to watch as we made our way towards him. I could nearly see in his brown eyes the greed warring with the desire to not deal with Sunset’s particular brand of insanity.

“65 bits for the night.” The mule offered after a moment of deliberation, it looked like in the end, common sense had held his tongue. Sunset simply nodded before the specified number of coins flew out from her sack. Depositing themselves on the counter only for a moment before the mule quickly grabbed them and offered a rusted key. “Rooms are beyond to the left, you two are in room 13.” He got out as he was running one of his hoofs over the bits.

A familiar flickering red magic wrapped around the key and Sunset was once more leading me towards our room for the night. Perhaps I should have… No that would have… It wouldn’t have been good no matter the outcome. Biting my tongue to ensure that I wouldn’t leak any of my thoughts to Sunset.

“It doesn’t.” Sunset of course chose this moment to speak up, rambling about some matter that I held no context of. What exactly doesn’t I was unsure of, perhaps once more this was something that only Sunset could properly comprehend through her view of the world. Sensing perhaps my confusion at her words she paused before the door that had a rough carving of the number 13. I wouldn’t have been surprised if some pony had used a knife to scrape it into the wood and call it a day.

Her eyes once more met mine as her magic inserted the key into the look and opened the door with a click. “This isn’t an evil lair.” Oh. That’s what she was referring to. I had nearly forgotten about that idle curiosity of mine dealing with Sunset being herself… That was unfair to her, she likely held some reason to blast the pony into the wall and then continue her assault with more than enough prejudice.

“If this isn’t an evil lair…” I trailed off attempting to think of the kindest way to put these words together in an attempt to stave off another confrontation between the two of us. “What sort of evil lairs have you been in before then?” That was a good question actually. With Sunset supposedly being a demon encased within the flesh of a pony, it would make some sense if she had seen an evil lair or two. Sunset frowned at my words, her mouth opened to refute or answer my question, but no words came out. Leaving the two of us in an awkward silence that was cut with an underlying feeling of… something dangerous that flickered beyond my ability to perceive it.

“This isn’t an evil lair.” Sunset repeated, her words touched with a strange mix of conviction and confusion, but when had that ever stopped her from continuing on? “It’s still filled with ponies that haven’t been reshaped by the will of another.” That was ominous. Thankfully my partner continued with why this place wasn’t an evil lair. “There also aren't nearly enough traps.” Sunset just smiled at me, this smile wasn’t the one of false innocence from earlier, no it was one that clearly showed her amusement at my line of questions.

“I take it you plan to rectify that last point of failure?” I asked following along with Sunset’s clearly displayed line of thought. She swiftly nodded as she stepped to the side and bent into a small bow beside the entrance to our rented room.

“Princesses first.” She teased out. Rolling my eyes at Sunset and what seemed to amuse her at times I stepped forth, ignoring my partner, into the small room that held within it a singular bed. I wouldn’t repeat my mistakes, not again. Turning back to where I could see Sunset’s emerald eyes softening further as she in turn stepped in after me. Closing the door behind her as her magic seeped into the air forming all matter of spells and equations.

Most of which I couldn’t understand, yet I understood their intent clearly enough. After all these actions of hers were something that she was doing in the name of Love. To protect one that she cared for to the best of her ability.

Something that I myself had sworn to do as I had been reborn into an Alicorn.

Author's Note

Welcome back to Mirror Mirror as we have entered 2024, I decided to take an impromptu writing break throughout December other than the gift exchange. That aside however I am glad that everyone survived the perilous holiday season.

Onto the chapter there is something that has finally been expressed by Cadance, that is the coloration of Sunset's eyes. If you were to go through each line in this tale of mine you would be able to color each of Sunset's words and actions into a particular color. Whether that coloration is Cyan, Emerald, or Black is up to your own interpretation. What said beforementioned colors mean/represent is also something that you can decide on your own.

That aside however it is Cadance's turn for the spotlight. Sunset has held the center stage for the last little bit and I must be sure to share the 'love' between the two protagonists. She hasn't gotten away unscathed by the recent events as illustrated by her mental monologing this chapter. Some eagle-eyed readers will have caught some things that will be of vital importance in the next chapter. That aside next chapter is one that I have been waiting to post. One which will answer a few asked but unanswered questions.

-LittleFaerieFire

38. From Beyond Love and Darkness

From Beyond Love and Darkness

Cadance

Opening my eyes once more to the realm of crystals that had long since existed within my dreams. Unlike the empty halls that I had once wandered, wondering what it meant. Why was it that I held such a thing within my mind? What did it mean? What did it imply?

Now, however, unlike the foal that had stumbled through the grand halls, with wonder and fear in equal measure, determination had replaced both. With a singular flap of my wings, I was sent flying through the air as I once more was in search of my ancestor. He usually resided within the training hall where we shared most of my nights within my dreams, him acting as another teacher to my magical skills.

While Sunset’s tutelage was often far more practical, many of her lessons started with her going into gory detail in the many ways that I could have easily perished. Umbrum’s lessons were far more varied. Dancing from topic to topic, touching upon anything and everything that I had questions about. One night we would be discussing the intricacies of the difference between Alicorns and any other Ponies and on the next we would be creating crystals in a myriad of forms and functions.

As I neared the training chamber a familiar sickening scent of burned flesh was suspended in the stagnant air. Grimacing as I forced myself not to gag as I continued forth, it seemed that Umbrum had not been able to heal his wound. Landing and thanking Celestia that Sunset had the foresight to teach me a spell to purify the air of any poisons. While not its intended intent it did well enough to cleanse the smell of my grandfather's burnt flesh.

Pushing open the doors, I couldn’t help but once again wince at the sight before me. Umbrum’s coat was no more than the remnants of slagged flesh and crystals that he had cocooned himself within. He was so lost in his thoughts that I nearly managed to get within a few hoof steps of him before he realized I was once more here. His blood-red eyes focused on me with the acknowledgment that I had once more returned to my dreams.

The minute twitching of my grandfather's muzzle was enough for me to once more offer my services to him. “Are you sure that I can’t do anything at all to help you?” Wincing as he slowly shook his head, causing black crystal to splinter into shards, at the small movements. I had picked up some knowledge regarding healing. Even if he wasn’t a pony, I was still an Alicorn. We were still within my dreams.

“My descendant, while my physical form has long since been lost to time, this is little more than an inconvenience for one such as I. You can no more heal me any faster than I can heal myself. Your time would be far better invested in ensuring that you will survive beyond your dreams in Equestria.” Umbrum’s voice was now a gravelly mess that raised the feather of my wings. He was at times an obstinate old non-pony who refused to realize that Equus had indeed continued after he had entered my dreams. He was, however, no fool.

Sighing, I nodded and allowed his newest lesson to wash over me. My mind however reviewed the moments that I had all but forgotten with what I had nearly done this morning. Where we had been previously practicing magic, only for Umbrum to falter and become enwreathed within pitched flames that had refused to be smothered. No matter how I had attempted to extinguish them. Water, crystal, and even trying to banish them from my dreams did nothing to protect my grandfather from those inferna; flames. It was a horrifying thing to watch as Umbrum was burned alive, even if he didn’t exhale in pain, much less scream. He must have felt something.

He had to have felt something. No matter what he was, pony or not. The flames that had sought to reduce my ancestor to nothing more than smoke reminded me of Sunset’s flavor of flames. If anything they looked far more feral than the ones that my partner had once wielded against me. I knew exactly how hot my partners' flames burned and the blackened flames that had engulfed Umbrum had no doubt been of similar, if not greater, strength.

Yet he had claimed otherwise, offering to continue the lessons that had been interrupted. Even as his flesh began to boil, he acted as if he truly couldn’t be harmed by such a thing. It was maddening. I had hoped, perhaps foolishly, that he would have already healed himself by the time I had returned to my dreaming domain.

“-you even listening?” Umbrum’s voice pierced my mind as I once more focused on my ancestor, no doubt with guilt clearly shown on my face. “Don’t tell me that you are still concerned with your earlier performance with the Demon? Take no heed of such failures, there will be chances in the future that you shall be able to use.” I had initially opened my mouth to apologize for zoning out but now I could only let it limply hang open at the words that I would have never expected to come out of my grandfather's mouth.

Was he offering something positive regarding my relationship with Sunset? I mean I knew he didn’t like her after the many attempts on my life, but he was still refusing to use her name. Instead, he opted to call her a demon, which was rather rude, that was a battle that I was waiting to fight. Yet here Umbrum was offering solace of all things after my actions?

“Thank you?” I all but stuttered out to my grandfather who had potentially taken the first step into approving Sunset as my marefriend. Umbrum simply scoffed, the action finally causing the black crystals around his neck to shatter. Revealing the pustulating waste of ruined flesh beyond. That was until Umbrum re-summoned his crystals around his wound. Hiding from me the true severity of his wounds.

“There is no need to thank me, my descendant. You have foolishly chosen the Demon as your current bedmate, against my advice and all common sense.” Okay, that was uncalled for. I would have interjected to defend our relationship, but his next words caused my rebuttals to die wretchedly upon my tongue. “The sooner that you succeed in binding it to your will the better the outcome will be for the both of us.” Umbrum frowns after he concludes his words.

What? I must be mishearing something. Umbrum certainly didn’t just say what I thought he did.

“What did you just say?” I questioned my grandfather, taking a step forward so that I could better illustrate the difference between the two of us. “Did you just imply that I was planning to sleep with Sunset so that I could bind her to my will?” My question was a simple one. One which I was expecting a swift and succinct answer to.

I wasn’t sure who was more surprised by Umbrum’s swift nod. His eyes flashed emerald as they began to bleed magic, and his red pupils became filled with unmistakable shock. Immediately he was scanning the room, his horn lit with a putrid black smoke that smelled of decay.

Such actions didn’t give me any reprieve from the putrid tar that had coated me at the truth of his words. Did he think so little of me? No, he knew who I was. He had silently watched through my very own eyes as I grew up.

This was something that he had once more let slip. Something that he should have not remembered after entering my dreams. Something that he hadn’t intended to share with me. After all, he was trapped within my dreams, how would the outcome of my sleeping with Sunset help him?

Umbrum finally looked back at me, his eyes still aglow with magic. The shock that had previously been held, had been replaced with something far more primal. Something far more banal. Something that I saw each time that I stared into Sunset’s eyes. “Cadance you need to!” He started before I silenced him with my intent alone. My magic that he had taught me, now was used to silence him.

He struggled for a moment before accepting that I was going to speak. We were going to have a discussion that had been long since overdue. Umbrum knew far more than he should, especially with what he had long since claimed.

“How exactly would we both benefit from me screwing Sunset?” I asked my words touched with magic as I felt a familiar grasp of something more flooding into me. I knew not what Umbrum truly was, however I was an Alicorn on the cusp of my final ascension. He would answer my questions.

I had seen Sunset manipulate the mind of that annoying pony earlier today and as both she and Umbrum claimed, I was a quick learner. One who was getting annoyed by the secrets that were just outside my wingspan. I couldn’t exactly do this to Celestia, no matter how at times I wished I could wring the truth from her. Umbrum on the other hand was always within my grasp.

“It is still weakened, still half slumbering and barely conscious. After your lusts had been sated by the Demon acting as your concubine, I would have taken that moment where it had been even further bound to fully bind it to you. Ensuring that you wouldn’t -!” Umbrum cut himself off in a rather literal fashion as a flash of glinting black crystal erupted and sliced his tongue in two. Truly? I had learned beyond the basics of healing magic. A tongue was nothing beyond my skills.

Re-knitting it with merely a thought. My grandfather sought to use the moment where I had split my attention to slip into his smokey form. I didn’t allow him to escape so easily, the muted blackness of his summoned crystals was replaced with the splendor of my own rainbowed ones. His eyes held undisguised fear as I magically handled him with apparent ease. He had spent an eon within my dreams and had faltered against my will.

I had been taught during the hours when the Sun was still shining by Sunset Shimmer and during the night by Umbrum himself. Was it really that much of a surprise that I was able to best him? A being that was within my castle? My dreams? My mind? Where, my will and magic was ever present? Where my Love held dominion over all?

I may not have studied the specifics of dream magic, but I had spent half my life within my dreams. I held no proper learned knowledge, but my practical understanding of my dream was second to none. That included Umbrum who was an outsider who had entered in on his own accord. I may have not been taught that field of dark magic by him, but I had read the journal of that old Alicorn who had recorded her testing of a great many dreams herself.

“Explain how fucking Sunset would have weakened her? Then explain to me in clear detail what it was that you had cut your tongue off to prevent me from learning! Then explain every single detail that you have purposefully not been telling me.” Perhaps I could have wielded more finesse with both my magical manipulations and commands, but I decided to take a page from Sunset’s book for the moment.

I could see the way he strained against my will. Great swathes of black crystal statues are arranged in battalions. Numerous Earth ponies are accompanied by smaller detachments of Unicorns and Pegasus. Deer, Gryphons, and creatures I didn’t even recognize; were constructed by Umbrums blackened crystals. Arrayed upon this desolate plane that could only be my ancestors' mind.

Yet even as my magic wrapped around each of these statues, I could feel a faint heart begin to beat within this graveyard of crystal statues. It was a slow thrum, yet it pulsed throughout this mental landscape. Focusing on where I felt the tremors form I found a shattered statue. It was no larger than any of the ponies that stood in my grandfather's mind.

It, however, was the only one that was shattered. The only one that was letting loose was something that I could only describe as utterly repulsing. I pushed forth endeavoring to touch the shattered statue, attempting to see what it meant within Umbrum’s mind. His resistance had only increased the more I focused on this particular statue after all. It must have held some great deal of importance.

“Don’t!” Umbrum half wheezed, half shouted. Yet I took that as confirmation that I should indeed further investigate this shattered statue. A tendril of my magic grasped at one of the larger fragments. If Um-brum wouldn’t answer my q-uestions I would take the answers from h-im di-r-ec-t-ly. I w-ou-l-d- l-ea-r–n w–h-a-t h-e h–ad ke-p-t h-i—d–den fr-om- -m-e-.

Screams echoed from around me, my soldiers had been reduced to only those of my vanguard. I couldn’t help but scoff as the screams grew louder as it approached. Giving the command to impede it for as long as they could before I scowled and allowed myself to be pulled apart. Moving through the ground towards where I would make my final defense against this assault. My plans for if I should fail had already long been completed.

Scoffing as I turned corporeal once more, here I was anticipating defeat. Not against the Sisters of the M̶̧̘̘̘̝̐͋̏̿̀̎͛͒̓͝ȍ̸̢͚͙͕̱̖̣͕̤̺̊̐̀̓͊̎͑̇ö̶̻̳̱͇͈̙́̃̍̃͑̍̌̚͠n̷̹̰͐̈͋̓ and Sun. Nor was it against that insufferable Princess of Love or that infuriating P̸̧̢̣̲͇̦͓̤̹̰̥̽̓̈́͋͒͌̀͊͋͝ͅr̴̡͓̝̣̖̰̞͊͐͌͋̾͊͗͠ị̴̢̤͙̼̲̖̲̲̯̘̲͇̂̔͂͘ņ̴̘̟͉̼̱̰͖̲̂͘͠ͅç̵̘̳̣͍̮̮̟̹͔͐̃́̎́̓͐̓̓̀͊͒̍͒͜e̶̡̡̝͙̖̻̳̦͊́̓́s̶̡̧̖̩͚̥̩̲͙̳̗͇̔̈̎̐͠͝s̶̪̳̰̪̠͉̲̣͎͍͑͂́̽́̈́̾́̏̒̅̕͠ͅ ̴̘̳̗̲̌̓͌̐̒̀͑̾̆ő̶̬̟͂͐̃̑͒͗̃͝f̴͇͑͋͒̊̽ ̶̡̲̹̫̞̺͓͍̈́̒͊̎̃͐̃̓̃̈̽́̚F̶̢͎͈̼̞͚̗͕̋̊͊̒̈́̓̔̅̚̕r̴͓̫̩̺̎̋̅̉̒̄̿̃̋̊͜i̵̢̡̮̗̘̜̲̲͈̺͚̹͈̻͉̒̉̊̋͠e̶̢͉̫͓͎̮̙͇̣͕͐̀͗̈́͑̒̓͂͐͘͘͝n̶̡̫̭̟̦̟̮͇̊̿ḑ̶̧̜̠̰͇̥͔͓̓̔̊̋̓̀͗̂̈́̕s̵̜̪̥̤͍̲̝̈͂̂̋̚h̷̢̢̨̖̀́͛͛͋̀̿̎̇͘͝i̶̧̩̺͍̟̦̣̹̺̯̘̰̲̠̐̈p̷̼͈̳͓̦͐͐. No, instead it was a Demon that had brought me to my lowest. One of which had come from nowhere. Appearing in the center of Canterlot one unsuspecting day and turning it into nothing more than a molten graveyard.

Initially I, like my contemporaries, had rejoiced at the blow that had been struck against the ones that had bested us at one time or another. That quickly faded as it was clear that this new player who had joined so late was not merely attempting to conquer. No, it was seeking only destruction. Attempting to cleanse all of Equus with its rampaging flames.

I could feel the magic I had woven so carefully into this haven, incinerated at the behest of one who sought nothing but unceasing destruction. I flooded the cavern with crystals that would sap the magic from the Demon, not even Celestia herself could have easily melted these crystals. I could feel a grin stretch across my face as the destruction slowed before eventually stalling.

Demon or not, she would rue the day that she dared attack me! I would thank her for taking care of my competition with a swift death. I was a just ruler, after all, only a tad bit of torture as I wring the rest of its secrets from its crazed mind. The few that I had managed to acquire had already allowed me to contest her might while the rest of Equus fell to her flames. The secrets that she had managed to steal were enough to reclaim my empire and no doubt the rest of Equus.

My smirk fell from my muzzle as I smelled something beyond the earthiness of the cave and the rampant scent of death. It smelled almost of smoke, of flames and fury. Releasing my hold on reality allowed me to escape the shockwave that decimated the cavern I had fallen back to. I could no longer retreat ever further into the depths of Equus. I could feel its molten core scream out, in service to the Demon itself.

Snarling I flew upwards dodging the sea of flames that attempted to engulf me. Partially reforming before my final foe. The only one left that stood before me and my eternal domination over all! I-! I felt warm! Far too warm!

I could feel the flames that bloomed from within, yet even as I grew crystals within my flesh I could do little but slow the quickness of my death. So be it! I would fall and be reborn. I had come back from oblivion once, I would do so again! Even though my existence burned, I charged the Demon that was silently watching my final moments. I would give it something to remember before I reclaimed all that it had stolen.

An endless empty void awaited me at the end of those accursed flames. No light to guide the way, only the all-encompassing darkness that not a single other soul resided within. A noiseless expanse that subsumed even the fearful echoes of my heart as it tried in vain to remind me that I still lived. Yet within such a realm could it count as anything beyond existing? Beyond merely holding the flame of conscience?

Even that conclusion was circumspect. I could remember my end within the flames of the Demon. Even after I had lasted the longest against that creature, I had still fallen to its flames. What had Celestia released?

A pair of wings embraced me. Guiding me safely through the void that I had been brought into, to never leave. Dragging me from nothingness, through the darkness, into my Crystal Castle. Frowning as I looked around, I had never decorated it even when I had begun to train with ~~Umbrum~~. Who? No, that wasn’t his name. That wasn’t my name!

“Don’t think of him. Not yet when you have just escaped his clutches.” A soft voice beckoned me from the flames I had been burned in. “Good job, I know it's hard but I need you to open your eyes.” The voice reminded me of my mother-. The mad grasping of darkened smoke erupted from the darkness beyond the void, lashing out in an attempt to claim me as its own.

“She’s dead and it’s all your fault!” A cruel whisper echoed from the darkness I had been pulled through. “How is it fair that she should perish for you? One who wasn’t even her blood?” It hissed out as the darkness pulsed beyond the void. “Just like the pony that had called himself your father!”

“Don’t listen to him! Just listen to me. Cadance, I need you to open your eyes.” The words were accompanied by a gentle warmth, one which promised salvation. “Relax and open your eyes. I have you.” Following the directions that were being given, I did my best to release the tension that had formed throughout me. From my hooves to my horn, to my wings…

When did I have wings? I had never managed to ascend even with the amulet at my-. ”Those aren’t your memories, Cadance. Shut him out and open your eyes.” The warm voice pleaded once more. Hearing the desperation now tingling in that voice that was filled with such care for her ponies I allowed myself to relax. Allowing her wings to protect me as the darkness rushed forth attempting to subsume me within itself once more.

I opened my eyes and the darkness faded. Instead of that assault, I was greeted by the sight of only one pony who could have saved me from whatever had just happened… I wasn’t over my entire worship of Celestia as I had thought.

“Thank you, Auntie!” I thanked Celestia immediately only to be greeted by her chuckling… Was I missing something? Taking a risk to blink my eyes, I was no longer able to see the darkness much less the void beyond it, all I could see before me was that the Alicorn was fully ascended. Her mane was ethereal, yet instead of a full rainbow, it held three primary colors while fanciful representations of hearts flowed through it. Instead of the near alabaster white of Celestia, her coat was on a second glance far more pink. It was a familiar shade…

No… That's impossible… I…

The figure before me chuckled once more at the way that I was now floundering with my words. Its amusement is displayed within its purple eyes. A familiar shade of purple that I saw whenever I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. Her wings shifted allowing me to see the final damning piece of evidence that I was standing before an imposter of the highest degree.

Taking a momentary pause as I found myself upon my crystal throne. “You're not Celestia are you?” Ensuring that my voice didn’t waver while I asked my question, which brought forth an amused smile as my duplicate shook her head in the negative. Was it a changeling that stood before me? Or perhaps this was the cruel jests of Discord? Seeing that I wasn’t going to make any guesses as to its true identity, the Alicorn before I decided to once more speak.

“Is it that strange to see another you?” My imposter asked as it dropped its wings, once more revealing the cutie mark that was identical to my own. I must have not withheld my true thoughts from my face as my duplicate continued. “I am Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Alicorn of Love.” It announced with practiced regality that wouldn’t have been misplaced within Celestia. “You can call me Cadance.” It concludes with a shrug, the soft smile never leaving its muzzle.

“I am Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Alicorn of Love.” My declaration fell short of the one that my duplicate had offered, but I wasn't done. “Yet you already knew that didn’t you?” It had said my name when it was helping me from that… mess I had fallen into. I would deal with whatever this was and then sort out ~~Umbrum’s~~ thoughts and words at a later moment. Deal with the most threatening first and work your way towards the least threatening as Sunset had kept reminding me.

My duplicate nodded its smile falling from its lips. “Who are you?” It wasn’t a question, far more of a demand. I was within a crystal castle so close to my own yet there were differences that I could easily spot. Different decorations clung to the walls, the castle itself held a warmth to it that my own lacked. I wasn’t sure what exactly was before me, but it wasn’t me.

“I truly am you.” My duplicate continued with the lie that it had spun. “We could have been the same, with not a single difference to be found between the two of us. Yet here I am, and here you are. Two ponies each ourselves, each the Alicorn of Love.” It didn’t answer my question if anything it was further attempting to confuse me. I was sick of this, first, the one who had called me his descendant, and now this?

“Stop speaking in riddles and explain yourself!” I all but screamed my frustrations out at my duplicate who had spent far too long dealing with Celestia and ~~Umbrum~~ if it was emulating every aspect of them down to this annoying portion. The castle that I was within shook, and the alterations faded back to their original forms or even were lost entirely. Now I was within my crystal castle once more. The intruder's version that had been superimposed within my realm was lost as I once more regained control of my dreams.

“Another difference, I had never bothered to learn any form of dream magic. I never needed to learn about such a field. There was already a vanguard of the slumbering world.” My duplicate prattled on as it looked at the fixes that I had brought forth. “It was as I said earlier, Cadance I am you. Or I am what you could have become.” Now upon the muzzle of the thing that claimed it was me, was a tight frown. One that no doubt would have grown if not for the pony that kept it in check.

“Do you realize how insane you sound?” I couldn’t help but ask, dumbfounded that the imposter before me was even attempting such a grand lie. Ever since I had bested Prismia and the monster that she had transformed herself into my life had been one great upheaval after another. Ascension, Celestia, death, Discord, time travel, and Sunset Shimmer. Yet all of those had managed to make some manner of sense.

What this duplicate of me was claiming was an impossibility beyond what I had already seen. Something that couldn’t be. I was Cadance. She couldn’t be me. If it had been attempting to deceive me it should have chosen a much simpler tale. Perhaps claiming to be my birth mother. Or it could have…

My thoughts were halted as a familiar beating began to resound from the clone before me. One of which I was innately familiar with. A beating that was set loose from my heart. From my very Love that echoed in turn with the one that my counterpart was giving off.

“Why don’t you check? See for yourself if I am lying.” My duplicate offered an impossible task. Something that I couldn’t accomplish. Something impossible. Something that couldn’t be done. “Oh yes, how could I forget you have just recently ascended, haven't you?” My duplicate regained the smile it had previously held. “You seem much older than I was at your age. You have experienced more than you should have at your age and your eyes carry the weight of what you have seen.” The regained smile it held fell at its words as its eyes softened.

I wasn’t sure what exactly any of that implied but I didn’t enjoy the implications nonetheless. Yet before I could voice my reasonable complaints to the one that had stolen my very physical form it had once more done the impossible. Love swelled before me in a vortex that created a familiar heart. One made of crystal. One that I had as a part of my cutie mark.

It wasn’t made of any spell or equation, no it was formed fully of Love itself. The physical manifestation of the Love my duplicate held. Without even touching it with my magic I could hear laughter spilling from it, joy blossoming from its depths. Desire to see an always better outcome, and the determination to see such a desire through.

What was more, when I finally allowed my Love to touch upon the crystal heart I saw countless ponies flash before my eyes, many of whom I had never met. Of the few Celestia was at the forefront of those I recognized, yet as the deluge of the ones that my duplicate loved began to slow I was able to see another's face that I could recognize.

Shining Armor if a little older and a small foal with both horn and wings were equally held as the final ponies that my duplicate loved. It took me a moment to understand what that meant. What having Shining Armor and that unnamed foal at the forefront of her heart meant.

I had a foal? I had a foal with Shining Armor! How had that happened? Didn’t he already have a special pony in his heart? I had a foal with a pony that loved another!

Calm down. Breath. It was my duplicate who had done such a thing. Not me. “Another difference between the two of us.” My duplicate was almost somber as it spoke. “Your heart has become far more guarded than mine ever had to become and holds far fewer within.” Had it seen my heart when I touched its own? I hadn’t offered to bare my heart to it like it had offered to bare its own to me. Yet it appears to have touched upon my own nonetheless.

“You were the one that said that there were differences between the two of us.” I couldn’t help but snap out at my duplicate, who was looking more and more like it was me. Even if such a fact should have been impossible. I truly was getting used to the rampant insanity that my life had descended into. What should have been no more than specters of the past and theoretical impossibilities were no longer so.

Requiring a moment to once more center myself atop my crystal throne before I once more opened my eyes. My duplicate had reclaimed the manifestation of its Love and was simply waiting for me to take the next move, giving me initiative in how to proceed forward. While I would have preferred to know the ‘how’ such a thing could wait until the ‘why’ had been learned.

Centering myself the best I could I asked the question that no doubt my duplicate had been waiting for. “Why?” If she was truly me, she would understand and if she didn’t I would know that all of this had been one further great lie. One more to add to the rapidly growing pile.

“My tale ended in tragedy.” My duplicate answered the small smile on her face, not even wavering. I could however hear the underlying pain that had been hidden within those stalwart words. “I will not let what happened to me happen again.” Her words held a burning conviction that would not have been misplaced within Celestia’s mouth. I had certainly taken after Celestia in all manner of ways, hadn’t I?

A pit formed in my stomach at her ominous words. She had fully ascended and yet here she was.

“Your dead aren’t you.” It wasn’t a question. The Cadance before me was no longer alive. She had said it herself that her tale had ended in tragedy nonetheless. An Alicorn once they had fully ascended was a true immortal, that was an irrevocable fact, yet here she was speaking of her death.

The horror I felt only spiked as she nodded in confirmation of my guess. “How?” I knew I shouldn’t ask yet I had to ask. I had fully ascended and still perished. I had to know if Sunset's efforts to protect me would have been in vain. If once I finished my own ascension I could still fall to the chains of mortality that I should have escaped from.

“I sacrificed myself to give my family a better chance at escaping.” Once more my elder self intoned words that would have broken me had I dared utter them. I didn’t know how to even respond to what she had said. What she had implied. What her sacrifice had failed to do. “Yet I have not saved you from S̶̘̮̖̣͕̞̖̳̩̞̖̙̘̗͎̆̅̍o̵̢̮͕̞̥͐̋͒͛͒̊̎͗͊́̽̈́͗͝m̷̨͖̱͉̺̬̯͑̉̄̔̎̏̈́̄͠b̶̧̜̩̳̟̜̹̼̞̦̀̽ͅŕ̷͕̅́͆͋̊̽͆̈́̊̕̕̚͝à̸̢̢̻̗̦̳̭̜̠̳̈̚͜͜͠ͅ to discuss my failings. We…” She trailed off as her eyes narrowed upon my own. “Even touching upon his mind isn’t enough to break the veil? She truly has won, hasn’t she!” For the first time that I had met my other self, I had seen the emotions that she had kept buried within her gentle facade and burst free from the mask of indifference that she wore.

A sea of frustration boiled forth, anger and annoyance now freely exposed upon the eyes of the living dead before me. An unfamiliar taste of iron found its way upon my tongue as I involuntarily gulped at the sight of a fully ascended Alicorn raging against the fate that had found her. Were we not within my dreams or were she not dead I knew that I would have not been able to continue to stand before her. Such was the difference between one who had finished their ascension and one who had yet to take that final step from a pony to an Alicorn.

Embracing my inner Sunset as much as I could I opened my mouth once more and further antagonized the Alicorn who had yet to grieve over all she had lost. Perhaps Sunset was right to keep reminding me of the countless times that I had been in mortal danger, I had a knack for finding myself in rather perilous spots. I had also not forgotten every moment that some pony had raged against Sunset for something that she hadn’t done.

“It was Sunset who killed you.” She had wanted to kill Sunset when I had teleported after her. No doubt she had been in my mind for at least that long. “You, ~~Umbrum~~, Discord, even that strange pony have implied that something is wrong with her. That it is her fault, that she is the root cause for some great evil.” It was hard to begin but once I managed to get those first words out the rest followed. I couldn’t have talked to any pony about what I had managed to piece together about the pony that was my partner.

My elder self’s rage crystallized, as great swathes of brilliantly shining crystals formed at her beckoning. Yet her heart still sang with an unfinished song. I was close to the answer that had been scarred into her Love. It didn’t fully fit, but with what every pony had been claiming…

Sunset was harsh, even cruel. She however was not a complete monster. Not to the degree of what I have seen and what every pony has been referring to. No matter her magical strength she can’t kill a fully ascended Alicorn. No matter what allusions my partner had made to killing the pony that she thought of as her mother, we both knew that such talk was shallow. You couldn’t kill an Alicorn that had finished their ascension.

Yet my duplicate who had somehow perished after finishing her ascension proved that there was some way to defy that truth of Equus. That there was some form or fashion to irrevocably slay an Alicorn who had achieved true immortality. For there was a fully ascended Alicorn before me who had perished.

One who had perished at the hoofs of Sunset Shimmer.

One who shared my name.

Author's Note

For those of you who have already not guessed such a fact, there is confirmation from Cadenza (New Cadance) that Umbrum is indeed affiliated with Sombra in some form or fashion. That aside, this chapter touches upon the hidden reality of the world. The changes that had occurred before Mirror Mirror truly began. You didn't see the introduction between our two leads, yet what is being referenced is what happened far before that. In media res is something that I had begun the story with, yet it was far farther along than I had initially presented it and what was easily assumed.

An entire act had been told and ended in tragedy. One that is still influencing the world that both Cadance and Sunset are attempting to move through. Past actions and events color Equus beyond what they both can know, much less understand. Yet some hold memories and insights for what once had happened upon a now burned stage.

The first of these entities would be Umbrum, whose lips were loose this chapter and Cadance finally decided to figure out what his deal was exactly. Unfortunately for her, that was something far riskier than she initially realized. For within Umbrum's mind is a darkened graveyard of statues. One of which is shattered for some reason or another.

The next of those such entities who were focused on this chapter would be Cadenza who was properly introduced in this chapter, yet her movements throughout this story have already been felt. Especially as she comes bearing insights and knowledge that Cadance would rather her not share. Otherwise, she may be forced to realize that the truth she had been fighting against may have been correct.

Brownie points to the first person/pony who can identify the first time that Cadenza showed up in the story.

-LittleFaerieFire

39. Two Princesses, One Lord, One Demon

Two Princesses, One Lord, One Demon

Cadance

Here I was within my crystal castle that had resided within my dreams for as long as I could remember. Yet this time within its crystalline halls was not one pony named Mi Amore Cadenza. No, there were now two ponies who shared my name. One who had previously perished and one who still survived all the attempts on my still mortal life. Two ponies who could have potentially been the same. Now however the differences were all too clear.

My duplicate had chosen to love the many. While I had chosen to love the few. I hoped that her decision hadn’t been as forced as mine had been at the claws of Discord, but from what I had seen in her Love she had enough to share. The countless ponies that she held within her heart flowed after one another, a near-endless tide that I doubted my own could contain. Yet even beyond the deluge of those that she held dear, two were highlighted as the ones she held most dear.

Her child and husband. An unnamed foal that had managed to ascend in its infancy and impossibly enough a pony that I had met if only shortly. In another life those two ponies had been mine, they had been the ones that my Love had been centered upon. Even now as I stared down my elder self such thoughts refused to dissipate.

“Another difference, you are taking this far better than I would have even years later.” Cadenza began, not bothering to confirm the truth of the accusation that I had made. She didn’t need to, she was me after all. For all the wretched differences between the two of us, we were the same.

I had seen into her heart and amongst the great many ponies that were held within its endless bounds, one pony in particular had not been found within. One who she had earlier declared as a demon, one who she had nearly used me to kill. One who had barely stayed her wing at my mental pleadings. To save the one that I called my partner, and who she no doubt referred to as her murderer. The one who she was now no doubt going to warn me against.

“I’m sure you had your own difficulties that you had to deal with.” I neutrally responded. She held all the initiative yet she refused to use it to dictate the terms of this… whatever this was. She had saved me from the void and then Umbrum’s mind when I had nearly drowned within its darkened depths. Yet despite her declaration of preventing what had happened to her, what had likely happened to her family, she didn’t continue.

No, instead she was still watching over me as were I but a filly not yet out of a danger that only she could see. She had saved me for a purpose, one which likely had to do with the pony that had saved me numerous times over the short span I had known her. Even if she had threatened my life at times. Yet now she could not save me, nor could she have saved me earlier. Not from the void, darkness, or even myself. I would have to take the step forth and not require a savior once more.

“Indeed I did. Now however I can’t help but think that had some of those difficulties been harsher, things would have changed in the end.” Cadenza, her words wistful and holding far more within them than I could hope to understand. She took a breath and I could see the way that her eyes hardened. “It is pointless to ponder what could have been, we must instead focus on what happened and what we can learn from past mistakes.” Her purple eyes flashed with a clear mix of power and intent. “So that they are not repeated in the future.”

Finally, it seemed that we were getting to the true purpose of her having saved me. “Well then Cadance I shall dispense with any further pleasantries.” Pleasantries? Has the conversation so far been pleasant in comparison to what she had intended to speak of? Sweet Celestia, what could that even entail? What horrors had Cadenza seen before her death? A glittering light began to spread throughout my crystalline castle as she paused and no doubt collected her fragmented thoughts.

Unbeholden to the current disposition of my thoughts, Cadenza continued forth undaunted. “The Demon who won was not satisfied by the victory it had achieved, within all that it had burned was but the remnants of blasted and blackened ash. No doubt it had found in the end that within the realms it had reduced, it couldn’t achieve its goal. So it was left with but one choice to-. You can’t possibly be waking up!” My elder self declared with such a forced calm, that Cadenza’s words lingered with a honed edge of annoyance that would have cut through reality if they were released beyond my dreams. Yet it was as she claimed, the lights within my castle were growing in intensity and splendor. Signifying that my time within my dreams was quickly coming to an end.

No matter what I nor my fully ascended self could do, at best it could only be delayed before I was brought back into the realm of Equus. I had likely been trapped within Umbrum’s mind for far longer than I had realized. I couldn’t even pull open my mouth to ask one of the countless questions that was rampaging through my mind. There was so much more I needed to know. A near-infinite amount of curiosities remained unasked. Of an altered era that Cadenza had lived through, of how she still existed before me as something less than whole, and of what this meant for me.

Forcefully tugging at the very foundations of my dreams in a desperate attempt to slow my awakening, I could only despair as I felt that my realm of dreams refused to be molded in my desperation. Not even as I strived to touch upon what lay beyond my hooves once more. The power that was promised to me should I complete my ascension. This time I could find no purchase upon that power that existed just beyond my current existence. So close was it to my very touch, yet too far beyond as it danced just a hair before my hoof.

No matter my strengths, in this dreaming empire of mine I did not hold dominion over this realm. I was its ruler and it was my domain, but until I took that final step through the final threshold my will was second to the will of my very dreams. Thankfully even as I turned to but mere motes of phantasmal light Cadenza continued forth with her words. Even as the crystal castle around her disintegrated as I once more woke. “There is no Sunset Shimmer, there is only the Demon that remains.” Those ominous final words were my parting gift before the blinding light was replaced with faded dark purple. The confirmation that had been before my eyes since the beginning. That Sunset Shimmer, my partner, my mare friend, my friend, was nothing more than a demon that was wearing the skin of a pony.

Mechanically blinking my eyes, wringing the final remnants of my sleep from them. All the while attempting to slow the rapid palpitations of my heart, the attempt was futile as my heart continued to beat ever faster. Momentarily struggling against the bindings that I had been caught within before I ripped through them. Finally, I was able to save myself from something that had managed to entrap me. Finally, I was enough to save myself.

Prismia’s taunts turned into pained moans as she transformed before my eyes. Turning from a mere misguided pony who had chosen the wrong path to travel, to an unrepentant monster that had eaten my parents whole. One moment she had accepted my offered hoof for a new beginning, and the next she had shattered my wing and had monstrously ascended herself. Its new form was bulbous and bloated beyond what the flesh my parents could have given to it after being consumed within its unhinged maw that voraciously sought out ever further sustenance.

The creature that existed within the realm that Celestia had found me within after my initial ascension. A swirling storm of ever-shifting energies that took the form of a pony. One that sought nothing more to capture me within its formless flesh. No doubt to sap my newfound divinity from my form, uncaring what the consequences were upon me. Chased away with the dawning of a new Sun within that secretive realm where I had been found by Celestia. The monster that faded into the now-lit horizon.

An amber Unicorn who held two sets of eyes that were trapped forever in conflict between cyan and emerald. Shielded by an endless inferno of flames and hatred from both the darkness and light that entreated her. Entrapped within her dreams, she could never truly rest from the monsters that lay within. A fearsome enemy first, next an indispensable ally against the world, and currently against all odds my mare friend. How long would she last before she shattered from the confliction of the one she wished to call her mother, my encompassing desires, and the infernal madness that blazed within her blood?

A Griffon whose claws were coated in a viscous metal that sparked through the endless darkened halls. Maddened cackling permeated from the crazed creature as it sought to snuff my life within its talons. My same wing rendered useless flesh and feathers once more as it tore into me. A zeal that it sought to share before it plucked my still-beating heart from my bloodied body. Even as I was now ascended I could not stand against a creature that lived and breathed war.

A crazed god equal to a fully ascended Alicorn. One that was lost to the delight and discord of chaos. Seeking to share with all the turmoil it saw yet unshed, altering this era of peace to better fit one such as it. One who saw fit to force me into an impossible decision. To allow a preventable death to happen before me, due to the actions that had been taken to protect me once more. One who had protected me against herself and those that sought my head, or to protect my ponies in the future from the calamity that my savior would become. Gifting presents and tragedies as if they were the same. Promising to return anew and sow ever more of its boundless joy.

A saint who had performed countless miracles. A sinner who had slaughtered entire bloodlines. A newborn foal barely able to stumble beyond its crib. An elderly waste that shambled forth uncontrollably. A pony that I could barely even comprehend at the moment, much less remember afterward. One which had decried prophecies with such unbending convictions. Where there was but one way forward and all others that dare seek another shall be cut down with prejudice. Just as this pony had cut down my partner as she attempted to protect me once again, at the cost of her life. Bearing a tolling bell and the powers to rend time asunder.

A shadow of my ancestor who resided within my dreams. One who had offered tutelage and a guiding hoof down a path that he had no doubt carefully constructed. One who held knowledge far beyond what he should have known from within his confines within my mind. One who had revealed that he was indeed using me to his ends despite the shared blood that flowed between us and having saved me from an early death himself. Holding an ever-blacker shadow within the deepest recesses of his existence.

The demon that had been prophesied, with wings of tattered blood and flame, a wicked horn crowning its head. One which had performed such horrific actions upon existence itself that it had irrevocably altered reality beyond recognition. Casting a blinding veil upon all of Equus, that almost none could pierce. A being which had been promised to appear in the future, and yet had already made its manipulations in the past. A being bearing pitch black eyes that I had nearly awakened from its slumber within my partner… or if there even was a difference between the demon and my partner.

While my mind whirled, Sunset didn’t stay still within my grasp. Even having been awakened from her ritualistic torments, she now was once more seeking to ensure that I was fine. So easily could she forget her plights in favor of focussing upon my own. Her spells sought out the facts of my health, no doubt missing the fracturing of my mind.

How could she have known who I had just met? What I had just learned? How could her spells inform her of such things? Eventually, the magic petered out, and considering the fact that we were not protectively sealed by her flames, I had passed the cursory inspection that she had performed. It seems that she would not touch upon my mind and see the truth that lies stored within.

“I swear you must be cursed, as this is the second time you have managed to break through my charms.” Sunset paused at this point as a fragment of humor slipped into her tone. “Well, and the bed sheet this time.” How could she be making jests after having just woken up from her torture? How could she be focusing on me? How could she still be…

My internal tirade finally ran its course and I felt Sunset shift under my feathers. “Cadance?” She questioned giving me the choice to reveal what I had gone through in my dreams. What Cadenza had revealed. What Sunset had done. What she had become. What she had always been.

Who was I even kidding anymore? Myself? It was only willful ignorance that I hadn’t thought of Sunset Shimmer as a demon. Even our first real time talking to one another she had referred to herself as a demon. Adopting the cruel moniker that countless ponies branded her with, as her shield against the world that had scorned her.

To become the monster that they decried her as, so they wouldn’t take notice of the pony who was suffering beneath. That beneath the flames was a pony who could impossibly still care. A chance encounter led to me realizing that there was more to the pony Sunset Shimmer than what had initially attempted to kill me. There was more than the demon that she was considered, there was a pony beyond the shielding flames. A shield that protected the remnants of a pony from the world that had seen her unfit to coexist within.

There was more than the demon, there had to be more than the demon. Sunset Shimmer, despite all that she had done, was a pony. She couldn’t kill a fully ascended Alicorn, such an idea was little more than an impossibility. She held a warmth within her heart that was beyond the inferno of scorching flames, a warmth within her heart that had once only held the pony she called her mother in a way far removed from the concept of daughterly. “Cadance?” She questioned once more, the proof that she was more than the demon is evident in the concern she held for me.

She was mine, she had to be mine. She was a pony that I had sworn to protect, I had saved her. She was my partner whose interests I would support until I could fully ascend and become a true guardian of hers. She was my first marefriend and if I had my way, my only. She was mine for as long as I was hers. She would be mine, just as I was hers.

Pony or not.

Demon or not.

Otherwise, what was my Love worth?

What was I worth?

“I’m fine Sunset, just some trouble in my dreams.” I once more lied as easily as I breathed, finally parting my wings to allow me to see the vivid concern dancing within Sunset’s cyan eyes. It didn’t fade even as I formed a small smile upon my muzzle, if anything the depth of the concern deepened. It was tempting to allow myself to be pulled within the gaze of my partner. To wash away the woes that had been recently afflicted.

Yet much like her very blood that still burned upon me, I could not wash myself of my sins that easily. Having a repeat of yesterday, no matter how pleasurable, would be unwise for both of us. Especially after what Umbrum had implied should happen once that final threshold had been crossed, a pleasurable ecstasy I had sought to bind us in. Had I succeeded, I would have bound her far more deeply than I could have ever hoped to realize. “I don’t suppose we should get going then?” We had after all not yet found the castle of the Alicorn Sisters, she was still mortal. She had yet to even begin her ascension. Even after she had cut away at her life and was still set to perish, just as she previously had.

Sunset didn’t immediately respond, her now emerald eyes were unmoving specters that bore into my soul. Second after second passed in near silence, the only noise that existed within this now-warded room was the beating of our two hearts in a conjoined rhythm. Whatever Sunset had been debating had been decided as she opened her mouth, the brief peace of silence once more shattered.

“You're going to be the one who repairs that blanket.” Sunset chirped out with impish amusement overpowering the concern that had previously been held. Ensuring I didn’t let out the breath I had been holding at the fact I had managed to deceive Sunset, I simply rolled my eyes and allowed her to escape from my hold. I had expected her to fall from the once cold bed, now warmed, that we had shared, but no. Sunset Shimmer once more proved that she could not be anticipated, as she surged forth and claimed my lips with her own.

The flavor of ash upon her lips was far more bitter than they had previously tasted, yet the smoke that clung to them was unmistakably my partner’s taste. What had inspired my partner to perform such an action? What sort of fresh madness were her impossible insights revealing to her? This time I wasn’t complaining. Of course, I wouldn’t. Who in their right mind would complain that their mare friend was kissing them? Especially with the fervor that Sunset had adopted as she did her best to claim me as her own. As long as it currently stayed at kissing I had no complaints, I could have no complaints.

I allowed the current thoughts that had been troubling me to melt away at my partner's touch, falling ever further into her. Allowing her warmth to encapsulate me in its protective embrace. Were my wings not pinned beneath my body, as she rolled me over without any assistance from her magic, I would have returned the favor and once more claimed hold of my mare friend. Yet it was not to be, for as soon as it began it just as swiftly ended.

I could only dumbly stare at my partner who pulled away and swiftly retreated from me. “I didn’t even need to use magic this time.” Sunset teased out as she watched from a safe distance just beyond my wingspan, had she been any closer I would have attempted to do something. Whether that would be to pull her back so that we could continue or something far more unkind to my partner who teased me so I didn't know, yet such an action wouldn’t be performed as she was beyond my reach.

I could only glare at my partner as her eyes lit once more with the perceived victory over an Alicorn. Over me, who had taken the first steps into a fully ascended Alicorn. Over her mare friend.

What was I worrying about again? So what if she was a demon? Celestia, for all her many failures and refusal to claim her as her own, had raised Sunset Shimmer as her very own daughter. It was Celestia who had sought the two of us together in the beginning after our introduction of flame and ice. Even if she was a demon as Cadenza claimed she had been raised as a pony.

It was as Sunset had once decried, Celestia wouldn’t risk a new alicorn with something claimed to be a demon. Ignoring the silver brooch that still was hidden within my mane. It hadn’t worked no matter what my ancestor had once claimed, so that meant that its potential protections were unneeded in Celestia’s ancient eyes. Perhaps I could once more fool myself with such thoughts.

Unpinning my wings as I rolled off the bed, a simple spell already upon my lips to mend the tear within the bedsheet I had created within my waking moments where I had allowed fear to reign over me. With the blanket reknit I turned my attention back to Sunset who had remained silent as I mended my most recent mistake, if only all the others had been so easily fixed. Turning back to Sunset, I enquired about the plan for the day.

“Where to first?” My words all but shook her from her thoughts with such force that the emerald coloration of her eyes bled cyan for a single moment before the hate reclaimed its place within her eyes.

“Are you certain that you are alright Cadance?” Once more she asked if I was fine. If I was the one who was hurt. If I was the one that once more needed to be saved. Her blood upon my flesh and feathers burned anew at her words. My heart was pierced with the reminder of what I had nearly done to her. “We can take the day slow if you need to-.” That was all I allowed her to say before I cut off my partner who thought I was still so weak that I needed to recover while she pushed forth on her lonesome.

“I am perfectly fine Sunset. Now where will we be searching first?” My words held no room for argument as I stepped forward, my gaze never leaving Sunset’s. Making clear to her that I wouldn’t back down. Not when I had a chance to make up for what she had sacrificed. When I had a chance to save her.

Demon or not, the pony that was Sunset Shimmer was silenced by my words. Her emerald eyes narrowed but she didn’t argue with my reasonable demands. Instead, she slowly nodded in agreement with my words. Not choosing to fight that she would lose in the end.

“Shall we then?” Sunset asked her words, holding none of the defeat that I would have expected them to have held. No, instead they were controlled things that gave off nothing of what she was truly thinking. For a pony such as Sunset Shimmer who was all but ruled by her emotions, it was wrong.

It took me a moment as I moved by her side, throughout the hallway that led to the den of villainy that we had rested within, to realize what pony she was reminding me of. She once more was taking after the pony that was her mother in every way that mattered. Even as I caught her emerald eyes at times, they held none of their ever-present hatred.

No, instead they were absent of any form of foreseeable anger that clung to my partner as if it was a second coat. The absence of such hatred and anger within her eyes would have once inspired joy… Yet the lack of what made Sunset, Sunset was chilling. No, there was instead a void of apathy that was far too unsettling upon her normally vibrant eyes.

We exited into the general area of the inn as the denizens of Shattershield parted as if we were Celestia herself. No doubt recalling all too well what Sunset had done to the pony that had gotten too close last night. Making our way towards the mule that was already peddling drinks from behind the bar. “We will be renting the room for the next four days,” Sunset announces cutting off an earth pony who had been ordering herself a drink at this early hour. She almost responded to Sunset’s rudeness but she fell silent as she recognized Sunset’s disguise.

“We sell rooms by the night.” The mule responded as he finished filling a flagon with a sweet swill that was quickly slid over towards the largest figure within the entire establishment. One who was cloaked just as a great many of the ponies, yet even so I could swear that the cloaked figure was watching both Sunset and I. “It will cost you a premium to rent the same room for several days in a row.” It seems that greed has finally won over self-preservation.

“And that cost would be?” Sunset questioned, her tone flat as she stared down the mule.

“350 bits would be…” The mule began only to swiftly fall silent as Sunset pulled out a large swathe of coins from her sack and deposited them in three stacks upon the bar. Many eyes that had been watching the two of us had no doubt lost their fear and gained greed just as the bartenders had. The bartender allowed the shock to hold him for but a single moment before his hoofs lunged forward and scooped at the coins that Sunset had deposited.

“Anything else?” I asked as the bartender was still counting the coins while doing his best to have them hidden under his body. Considering that a number of the denizens had meandered their way over towards the bar at the sight of the coins it was likely a prudent action to protect his loot. Seeing that he wasn’t going to respond I considered warning away from coming towards the room that Sunset had warded… I only considered it, these ponies were here in this place for a reason.

They knew the risks and they still chose to exist within this darkness. Had they any desire to escape from it they wouldn’t be in a place like this. They hadn’t however, that meant that their desires or decisions had these ponies hiding from the light that Celestia gave off.

Seeing that the bartender wasn’t planning to respond, far too busy with ensuring that none of his coins would escape from where he had managed to wrangle them all. I all but sighed at the sight but it should have been expected. I began to turn so that we could make our way out of the inn and back into Hollow Shades. Yet before I could fully turn away from the display of pure avarice the cloaked pony that had been watching both Sunset and myself brought the drink to its lips and noisily gulped down the drink.

“I don’t suppose the two of you would mind having a chat?” The cloaked figure croaked out, his offer punctuated as he slammed down his now empty drink upon the counter. Causing the bits that the barkeep had been so dutifully protecting to spill, allowing the ponies that had been leering at them a chance to snatch at the tumbling coins.

Sunset tilts her head to gaze straight at the cloaked figure, her emerald eyes narrowed in anticipation for violence to erupt. No doubt prepared to incinerate the pony should he try anything. “No? Mmmh. Mayhaps another time then. I can remain a little longer.” The cloaked pony continued as though my partner's clear refusal was nothing he didn’t expect. No, if anything he was anticipating it.

Something was wrong here, not that I knew what it was. Glancing at Sunset who was still staring at the cloaked pony, unmoving as her eyes pierced into the darkness under the cloak. The temperature around us began to increase as the very air dried and was filled with magic. Every Pony within the building turned towards Sunset and then retreated. Even as my partner began to put off an oppressive heat once again, I knew I had nothing to fear.

Whoever this cloaked pony was however was a different story, he had managed to infuriate my partner, and considering that he had been watching us I would assume there to be a good reason. “Oh?” The cracking voice filled with something I could only assume to be amusement. “Again? With so many ponies around?” No anticipation would be a better term. The cloaked figure grew further in size as it chuckled out.

“Dawn, do you think that you are going to introduce me to your friend here?” I all but interjected into the one-sided conversation. My horn lighting with a flaming spark of my own, I may not have been nearly as proficient as Sunset had been in any matter of pyromancy but I could still throw a flame around. She had ensured that my skills amounted to at least that in her preferred field of magic.

“Ah yes, do introduce me, Dawn... It wouldn’t be fair for your friend there to be left out of this proposition.” The cloaked pony continued, his voice somehow cracking even more frequently and now these final words were but wheezed out. Sunset looked towards me, her emerald eyes flashing cyan as they held an unfamiliar tension within them. I wasn’t sure what answer she was looking for in my eyes, but she found it nonetheless.

A familiar spell was enforced into reality, one in which we had spent so much time, yet this time there was another within this private realm that Sunset had conjured. A pony still cloaked, and yet he was almost comparable in size to Celestia herself. The inferno Sunset had summoned forth into the air had joined us in this realm, awaiting her command to ignite the newest pony that had earned my partner's ire. She placed a hoof forwards as she finally introduced this pony to me, and after hearing the name that she uttered I would have rathered she did not.

“Tirek.” What? What in Celestia’s sweet summer Sun was Sunset going on about? This had to be a prank. An utterly inappropriate one that my partner and her acquaintance were performing. Yet with the vitriol that clung to my partner's words that held enough heat to have smoke curl off her lips, I doubted that this was a mere prank. The faint possibility that it was indeed a mere jest was eliminated as the cloak was slowly removed by the now-named Tirek.

“It is Lord Tirek but considering I no doubt stand before a fellow member of royalty I do believe that I can afford to have my title forgotten for the moment.” The gaunt creature that I could have almost believed was a pony if I was to only look at his bottom half. Yet the moment my eyes found the upper portion of his body it was confirmed that he was indeed Tirek.

A centaur older than Celestia herself, who had been imprisoned within Tartarus itself for so long that he was suspected to be the first inmate. He was here before me, in the flesh… what little flesh that remained upon his gaunt form. I could see his very ribs through his skin, and I could easily trace the veins in his arms. For an entity that was described as a monstrous hulk of muscles, the truth was disappointing.

Yet as my gaze continued to move upwards towards his head my breath caught in my throat and my stomach all but flipped. There was a glowing brand in the shape of a crescent burned across his face. It had been burned upon his flesh directly over his right eye, which was no longer there. No doubt removed after it had been caught within the branding that he had received. The eye socket was filled with a green puss that was slowly flowing from it, yet it was his remaining eye that managed to regain my attention.

His yellow pupil was filled with such utter loathing if it weren’t for the coloration I would have expected it to belong to Sunset. “I have come to request your… help.” Wounded, branded, defeated, and yet still alive, Tirek croaked out his words expressing his desperation yet still filled with hatred for the one who had done this to him.

Author's Note

The chapter is going up 24 hours late as I couldn't find the time to edit it yesterday. That aside you will all realize that there is now a new main character added to the fic's description, what implications that could mean are up to you all.

That aside Cadance manages to wake from a fitful night of dreams that even Sunset would rather avoid. So many changes have rapidly occurred to the Princess of Love. From her ancestor's betrayal and her dead duplicate's arrival with dark premonitions and declarations. Then she spent some time while her mind was reeling from what had happened going over the past enemies that she had managed to survive. All had been referenced yet if I am correct this is the first time one of these enemies is actually being described in detail.

Then she has to deal with Sunset doing her best to ensure that she is fine. Such efforts made by her partner only reminded her of her own weakness. Even if she is an Alicorn she still has required another to save her. That is something that Cadance no doubt will attempt to change. How that will work out for her in the short term... Well, she is already joining in with Sunset threatening a cloaked 'pony' with flames so probably not too well.

Then the cloaked 'pony' was alluded to all the way back in the interlude chapter. Tirek... Lord Tirek has entered the story, battered, bruised, and very much abused. Asking our two main characters for help. Bearing a branding of a particular shape upon his face. Ill tidings await within Hollow Shades and not every pony will make it out.

-LittleFaerieFire

40. Monsters Old and New

Monsters Old and New

Cadance

Tirek, an old monster that had been defeated by Celestia eons ago. One that had been bound and chained within the greatest prison that any pony could have constructed. Yet here this monster, that subsisted off the theft of life and magic, was free of its ancient bindings. His escape from Tartarus had no doubt left him weakened, so weakened that he would seek out two ponies for help.

This wounded creature was so deprived of sustenance that it wavered as it stood before us. Bruises were generously littered on his flesh. I could faintly recall Tirek being described as a red beast, now he appeared far more purple than any shade of red. A withered and emaciated husk, so frail that even the faintest of winds would be able to topple the monster over.

Yet despite that frailness that was clearly displayed by the Centaur before us, there was an undercurrent of danger that was evident. The raw hatred that spilled from the faint shakes that wracked the ancient enemy of Equestria, was almost comparable to the very same torrent that my partner gave off at times. Hers was a near-endless tide of boiling hatred that threatened to overwhelm any that dared get in her way.

Tirek’s hate was far colder, honed into a fine edge that the centaur wielded with deliberate precision. I could see it within his remaining eye, that even now was filled with such hatred for us two ponies. Yet here he was before the two of us having asked us for help. Whatever sort of alternative choice that had been before Tirek must have been one of incomprehensible torture for him to be swallowing his pride.

“Why should we help you? Why should I not test the limits to your immortality? See if you truly can’t die of natural causes and merely require a helping hoof to finally relinquish your life?” Sunset asked as the temperature around us continued to increase. “It would be good practice for Cadance to snuff your life,-” What? Wait one moment Sunset. “- she wouldn’t even have to feel any guilt about it. After all, you are just a monster, one that should have been left forgotten in the past.” Sunset finished as a shadow crossed her face, her emerald eyes sparking with ill-contained magic that all but asked to be released upon the foe before her.

She was still going on about me killing some pony. Snuffing their life. Ending the unique existence that they represented. I know she had no qualms with… I could even now only describe it as murder. Even if at times it was justified and she performed such actions on behalf of ponies who couldn’t defend themselves. I knew the blood that stained my partner's hoofs was in such quantities that I would never be able to comprehend it.

She had never confirmed when she first took her first life, only that it had been some time since she had first entered the battlefield at the behest of Celestia. Where she followed the pony who had raised her in the defense of Equestria and had slain another creature at her mother in all but name request. Now years later she was using that experience as justification for my own hooves to become touched by blood.

So that I would lose the innocence that she perceived as weakness. That I, even now with an ancient foe of Equestria weakened and struggling before me, believed to be a strength. She thought that I would require her assistance to avoid any of the brutalities of reality. That she would need to step in and attract any filth that could be stained upon my soul. By performing such deeds herself, I had clearly seen such a fact when she had slaughtered Stinger and redirected Cipher’s loathing away from me and towards herself.

She couldn’t know that the blood of three ponies clung to me. Coating my feathers, staining my coat, and seeping through my flesh into my soul. I hadn’t claimed the death of any ponies upon my own hooves, but their blood still clung to me. I could still see how my mother was bitten in half, as she fought to save the one she called her child. How not even hesitating after seeing his partner killed, how my father charged the monster and was swiftly swallowed whole. How my own partner was beheaded in an instant and her boiling blood rained down upon me.

I was lucky it wasn’t even more than that. I was lucky that when I fell asleep, instead of dreaming I entered the Crystal Kingdom. I didn’t have to deal with any specters of what had happened in reality clinging to my dreams.

I may not have killed any pony but I still had their blood upon me, Ruby Love, Rocky Road, Stinger, Cipher, and even Sunset Shimmer. I couldn’t save my parents when I had been a Pegasus. I couldn’t even save any pony even after I had ascended. I had my doubts that even after I completed my ascension and was a true Alicorn I wouldn’t be able to save any pony. It was the actions of others who had saved me. Never my own.

Tirek’s response to Sunset’s threats was one of amused acceptance, for he only manipulated his lips into a smile. One that held no warmth, no only the barely restrained ferality of a being that had long since known that it was a monster and had accepted such a fact… No, not only accept such a fact, but they relished in that truth.

“Oh, if only all ponies were like you demon. Equus would be in a much more interesting state of affairs.” He wheezed out, hacking up blood as he called Sunset a demon. “Yet the rest of your kind refuses to accept the truth of the world.” His remaining eye flashed with unrestrained malice, as he attempted to take another step forwards.

Only to be encaged within blistering chains of flame, that restrained him. Pulling him into the air as they quickly began to burn through his flesh, what little flesh that remained, that was. Tirek didn’t even scream out in pain, no if anything the unrestrained malice grew as Sunset brought him closer and closer to death.

No doubt she would have continued with her ‘restraints’ until he could barely be counted as alive before giving me the chance to butcher the vulnerable monster. Yet the feeding frenzy of the burning chains was halted as I interjected.

“Sunset let him speak.” My voice held nothing more than the command that was spoken. Tirek was a monster, not a feral beast. He wouldn’t have thrown himself before our… Sunset’s mercy without any form of plan or insurance. Sunset didn’t hesitate as the flames were snuffed, leaving Tirek suspended before us upon blood-red chains. Where the once burning chains touched his flesh, were horrific charred black.

“Hah!” Tirek spat out, far less of a laugh and far more a hacking mockery that he had survived. “My thanks little Princess of Love, for a moment I almost thought that you would have allowed your mate to test the truth of her statement.” Even as the monster hacked and coughed his eyes still held that frozen malice that was content to observe the changing tides of the conversation. “I know of your quest o’ demon born of ponies, and I can hasten your path towards ascension.” Were he to have both of his eyes no doubt they both would have flashed with the crazed insanity that formed in the one who was even older than Celestia. Yet the pit where his eye had been plucked from only pooled ever more pustulating ooze that flowed with his fervorous declaration.

A silence was formed from the words that Tirek dared to utter. I couldn’t even hear the beating of my own heart, much less the pounding of my partner’s. Sunset even while being by my side had frozen. Not in conjured ice but no doubt in shock of what had been offered, what had been freely revealed. I couldn’t help the glare that formed as I continued to watch the ancient Centaur that was far too well-informed.

Tirek, taking the opportunity his words had provided to gouge himself on the air as the branding over his right eye flashed a pale silver. The monster before us buckled in the chains he was caught within, only managing to slightly shake within its bounds. “You seek, ascension demon, I seek to be unbound by the cult that has bound me!” Tirek declared as the branding’s light grew in intensity and I could all but taste the foulness of the magic that rolled off of it.

Tirek began to convulse within Sunset’s chains but even then he kept his one eye open. No doubt watching our reactions, Sunset was still paralyzed. I… I didn’t even know how to react to what was happening at the moment, much less what was currently displayed on my face. “As for you Princess of Love, should you assist me in my freedom, I shall freely leave Equestria and its inhabitants alone!”. Even as the silver light continued to grow from the branding, even as Tirek was forced under the curse's will, even as pain no doubt racked through his body, Tirek’s eye didn’t change.

Was this what Prismia’s own ascension would have resulted in? Was this similar to the demon that Sunset was supposed to become? Those two questions raced through my mind even as the curse continued to punish Tirek. He was an utter monster as even though the torture he had wrought ravaged his already brittle form, his remaining eye remained forever stalwart.

I didn’t even need to see the way that my partner slowly moved her head towards me, to know the current avenue of her thoughts. After all, if this monster was speaking a fraction of the truth, Sunset could begin her own ascension. She could bridge the gap between herself and me… She could bridge the gap between herself and Celestia.

Even if her eyes were still emeralds, they held no hatred, no loathing, no everpresent anger. Instead, a brittle weakness filled my partner’s eyes. One that was no doubt restraining the normal cocktail of emotions that fueled my partner.

Here she was another avenue towards ascension offered before her, and she wasn’t snapping to accept. That the monster before us was Tirek, a creature that had consumed the magic of countless ponies, I doubted mattered to Sunset. Even if it was Nightmare Moon herself who stepped from the pages of the stories she resided within, I knew my partner would happily do whatever that fictitious Alicorn requested of her. Yet here she was silently waiting for any hint of my disapproval

To see if this was a line I wouldn’t allow her to cross, that I found working with this weakened monster too much. That I would instead force this opportunity to slip through her hooves, requiring Tirek to be bound and returned to Tartarus. Any information of ascension to be damned to the prison that he was sent to. Another avenue of possibilities lost to Sunset, even after she had lost five years for me.

I truly had bound her. I had chained her. Even if Umbrum’s plan had not succeeded, nor would it, she was still shackled by me. A cyan string fluttered briefly into existence between myself and Sunset, connecting us in a way far beyond what I could understand.

How could I claim to be a Princess if I consorted with this monster? This was a creature that had in the past caused so much suffering, death, and destruction at its hooves and hands. Celestia for all her faults had decreed this monster unsalvageable, that she could not redeem this monster. It was fit to be locked up and forgotten in the deepest darkest pit that was available, the key lost if not purposefully disposed of. If she thought that about this monster what would that say of me for being willing to work with it?

Sunset was different, she wasn’t that bad. She wouldn’t ever get that bad. She was choosing to do better. She had no reason to become the demon that she was thought of as… Even if she was the demon Cadenza thought, she was still a pony. She was one of my ponies. She was my pony.

Finally, I turned to view my partner who had fallen into a near catatonic silence. Awaiting my decree upon the matter. Twin orbs of emeralds keenly observing me for any inclination of my choice.

I… What was the correct choice here? What should I do? Celestia wasn’t here to guide me at the moment… Even if she was, I knew the choice that she would make. I knew exactly what she would do. She would refuse the shadowed offer, and chase Tirek back into the cage he had escaped from. Uncaring of what that would mean to Sunset. Uncaring of what such actions would represent to the pony that thought the world inferior to her.

Taking a moment to allow a deep breath, closed my eyes, and envisioned myself on my crystal throne. Once more I had a decision before me, this time however it was not something forced by a mad spirit nor the soon demise of Sunset Shimmer. Opening my eyes and matching my partner’s waiting gaze I smiled. Uncaring of the monster that was still strung up before us. Of the way that Umbrum no doubt still watched from my own eyes. The way that Cadenza was likely screaming out at my actions. I smiled through it all at my partner who was awaiting my decision regarding her potential fate to ascend.

“Sunset, it’s your decision.” Letting my partner once more take charge of her own fate that she should have never entrusted to the hooves of an Alicorn. She should have never given the final say in such a decision to me, if she wanted my input on such an offer I would have offered it, but for her to step back entirely on something like this… I knew that she had been shaken by recent events, far more than I had impossibly enough.

She was still her own pony, an individual of the herd that didn’t need to bend to this Alicorn. She was my equal in every way that mattered to me. Every way but the one that she thought changed the most. We were in a partnership, an alliance, a relationship.

“Are you sure?” Her words were carefully spoken, almost as if she was afraid that were she to show her true thoughts on the matter I would change my mind at the last moment. Stealing from her the chance that had appeared before her, held by a monster that should have remained caged.

“I don’t trust him. He will attempt to betray us at the first opportunity, and no doubt he has other intentions than merely escaping the ones that bound him” I bluntly declared as I lifted a wing to gesture at the centaur who had fallen silent and was watching the byplay between the two of us. “But I can’t make this decision for you Sunset, if he is speaking the truth…” If he was speaking the truth this entire trip of Sunset’s would be cut if not in half, by a substantial amount.

“So untrustworthy for a pony.” The object of our discussion rasped out, his early fervorous words no doubt not assisting with the damage that he had already taken. If anything it had exasperated the wounds within his throat, the monster deserved it. No matter Sunset’s final decision I wouldn’t like Tirek. This was another creature that subsisted off of eating ponies.

I had gotten over my initial… distaste was a polite way to put it for Changelings when the entire process had been explained to me by Cipher. Even so, I still found the act grating on me, even if it was far better than any other alternative. What they did however was to survive, what the monster still held by vicious red chains did was to grow in personal power and strength.

“My apologies for believing you at your words, but over the last two months my trust in any pony has been severely reduced.” I sweetly responded to the monster whose fate was in my partner's hooves. “Especially ones that have been proven to be a monster!” My inner feelings on the matter leaked as I snarled out those words at the monster not even pretending that it wasn’t.

Sunset all but flinched away from me at my drastic shift in demeanor, so startled she was that the bindings that she had summoned to capture the old centaur flickered. Thankfully whatever Tirek had done, Sunset managed to correct. The spell only dropped for half a second before her spell regained its hold in this private plane that she had constructed. “Sunset?” I couldn’t help but question my partner’s recent faltering. Was Tirek able to eat her magic from simply being bound in the chains she summoned?

Ripping my gaze from my partner I turned back to the monster who had been swiftly recaptured before he could make any attempts at escape. “I don’t know what you did but, I swear to Celestia herself that if you do it again I will encase you within a crystal and shatter you.” I could feel a familiar weight draping over me as I softly intoned my threat.

My words fluctuated as my power flowed through them, the blood-red chains that had once faltered were now supported by a rainbow of crystals that grew from the discolored interlocking metal. Each of their jagged ends grew towards the newest monster that entered my life. That sought to harm one of my ponies. That dared touch one that was considered mine.

Another monster that dared threaten the pony that I was closest to. The one that was my Love. The one that was my LOVE! The crystals cascaded ever closer to the ancient centaur, growing around his hooves and his strange hands. Encasing them and clearly showing that my promise was not devoid of truth.

This was a monster that had run out of second chances. That had spurned the offered hoof of reconciliation and change countless times in the past. This monster held no desire for change or to do better. It only held concern for itself and its future aspirations.

Said monster didn’t even react to my Love growing upon its form. No, if anything it's one eye focused on me with the faintest traces of amusement that lingered within the putrid yellow pit.

“Oh Princess of Love it wasn’t I who did something, but you.” Tirek hacked out, his words holding as much strength as his physical form. Once more exposing lies to ponies, attempting to entrap us within his machinations. I had done nothing to Sunset, not after I had nearly ushered her beyond her limits.

I continued my efforts as the crystals continued to grow upon the ancient monster. I had done nothing to Sunset. Even with my Love growing upon him and preparing to encase the weakened monster, he defiantly continued to hold my gaze. “Aren't demons monsters?”

I faltered, the progress I had taken further into my divinity was abandoned, and the great power that had clung to me like a second coat was shredded. My crystals shattered, as I wrenched my gaze from the monster to the one who had no doubt considered my words meant for her. My divinity was fully lost as I turned to face my partner who was almost impassive. I would have attempted to explain myself but the wretched smile upon her muzzle silenced me far faster than any form of spell.

“Sunset, I’m sorry, I didn’t-.” I finally managed to get out only for her to interject before I could explain that she wasn’t one of the monsters.

“It’s fine, Cadance you don’t need to apologize for the truth.” Her words tinged not with the familiar flame of fury, but instead with an almost morose acceptance. That she was comparable to the monster that she had strung up.

“Even the Demon accepts such a fact, my Descendant.” An imagined voice echoed in my mind, reminding me far too much of Umbrum. No, while it indeed sounded like that monster, it wasn’t. I could recognize the sound of my own mind whispering thoughts I shouldn’t have considered.

“We accept your offer, Tirek.” Sunset lost any emotion that couldn’t have been considered an offshoot of her normally ever-present hatred. She turned from me, towards the monster that she saw as her equivalent. The bloodied chains began to fade as the monster was dropped upon the ground in a heap of its own limp limbs. “What is this path you speak of?” Her words dripped with heat as the very reality she had constructed began to fill with a heated haze.

This was no longer Sunset Shimmer working in an effort to be a better pony. Nor was it Sunset Shimmer acting as my mare friend. No this was Sunset Shimmer burning her way through ascension, no matter what lies before her. The hatred, blood, darkness, and even the beckoning void. This was the first side of my partner that I had seen. The one that had nearly killed me before Celestia herself.

“I am glad little demon that you have-.” That was as far as Tirek managed to get in his monologue before Sunset interrupted it the only way she knew how. Prodigious amounts of flames flooded forth, encircling the already downtrodden centaur. Licking at his still prone body, with ill-contained anticipation, waiting for their mistress to allow them to feast upon the newest source of fuel.

“What is this path you speak of?” Sunset repeated. Each intoned word brought the coiling flames ever tighter around the centaur who could no longer stand if he wanted to avoid being burnt. The flames begin to alter in color from dark reds and pale oranges to flickering with sparks of black. She was serious about testing the limits of Tirek's immortality? Why was I surprised? Of course, she was serious.

He wasn’t a fully ascended Alicorn, he wasn’t even a pony. Tirek was certainly not Discord. He held no true immortality, my best guess would be some form of agelessness. That wouldn’t save him from Sunset. Not with how she was already beginning to pull from the magic she had used to stand wing to wing against Celestia herself.

Between an Alicorn and a Unicorn, whether the Alicorn had fully ascended or not it was expected for the Alicorn to best the Unicorn. Sunset Shimmer, demon or not, was my rebuttal to that argument. Even now having been training in my new gifts and powers I knew that if we were to truly clash she would incinerate me upon a pyre of her magic. When I had seen her battling Celestia, she had the Alicorn of the Sun on the run for the portion of the battle I had seen after I intruded into the spat between a mother and her daughter.

Tirek was quickly realizing that he may have been a monster that had terrorized Equestria a millennium ago, but this was no longer that time. He managed to pull his head from where it had been trapped under his legs and proceeded to freeze at the sight that awaited him. Sunset had once more adorned her demonic guise, in all of its gory splendor. I gleefully watched as the once great monster brought so low was cowed by a Unicorn, a shameful feeling pooled slightly due to the cause of the glee, but I paid it no mind. This was a monster, after all, one that had fed on ponies.

“The Alicorn Amulet.” Tirek managed to get out through his trembling lips, his one remaining eye finally showing something other than malice. For within his remaining pupil shone the unmistakable sight of fear. “What are you?” The monster asked the pony as the flames receded back to their summoner after they had successfully cowed the monster. Sunset didn’t answer the question and I certainly wasn’t going to do so.

“The Alicorn Amulet was first and last seen back during the reign of King Sombra, who had either forged it himself or had found it after it had been lost to history.” Sunset rattled off, her illusion fading as she found herself once more wrapped up in the discussion of magical artifacts. I would not have been surprised if Celestia had truly thought that Sunset’s initial request to go artifact hunting had been genuine with how my partner got to be at times when she was discussing her own or studying others.

Wait… Didn’t Sunset mention that King Sombra took over the Crystal Empire… Ugh, don’t tell me that I have the amulet in my head. “It was hypothesized to be lost with the Empire after Sombra banished it. You are claiming to know where the amulet is?” She continued on her emerald eyes sparking with anticipatory flames that convulsed internally. Awaiting the confirmation from the centaur that was struggling to his hooves.

“Indeed I can claim knowledge of the location of the amulet.” Tirek hissed out, any regality he had once adopted in his tone had been snuffed out by Sunset's flames. “As you can see however I am currently unable to lead you to where it is located.” Tirek continued as his hands gestured over his now even more wounded form. “A showing of good faith on my part, I shall offer the location of the amulet in exchange for a fraction of your magic.” And the killing intent was back.

Flaming spears blazed their way into existence as they filled the private realm that had been formed. Each of them a command away from seeking to impale the centaur with extreme prejudice. The heat around my partner bloomed once more as the heated haze clung to her form. Yet she did not adopt her guise as a demon once more. She instead allowed Tirek to continue his line of reasoning. “The Cult of the New Moon no doubt realizes that I have little interest in serving them or their lunatic of a leader. I shall need sustenance to brave the Well of Shade that lies beneath our very hooves.” Tirek continued, his voice heavy with exhaustion but showing no concern for the flaming projectiles that languished in the air before him.

Well, I think this is a new record Cadance, not even two days in Hollow Shades and you have met an old monster, entered into a temporary deal with the monster, discovered the existence of a cult that had bound the monster, heard of an amulet that could make a pony an Alicorn, and learned of something called the Well of Shade which sounded far too ominous to be a good thing. Here I thought my introduction into Canterlot had been bad, Hollow Shades has taken the cake about thrice over. Every pony wishes to be a Princess. They should be glad that they didn’t have to deal with becoming one.

Tirek took in Sunset’s response and lack of any verbal communication with a shallow nod before he continued. “I would be more than happy to taste the magic of an Alicorn o-!” Tirek’s words had burned from his mouth. I didn’t enjoy what he had implied and had been about to speak up once more, but just like Tirek, my own words turned to ash upon my tongue.

The flaming spears that had alternated between a sickly green and blood red now were colored pitch black. The same color as my partner's eyes as she stared down the monster as if he was her newest prey. Her horn elongated, the pair of bloody flaming wings adorning her sides as she stalked towards the monster now turned prey. Each step cracked the realm we were within, and each faint movement of her wings sent the temperature hurtling to further extremes.

“Y̵͍̣̼͌̎̋̿̏̈́̍̈́͆̾͊͆̕̚͘͝͠o̶̢̢̥͓͍̘̱̳͙̖̠̝͔̦̗̦̻̻̜̘̠͎̻̥̹̙̿̇̐͊̀̿̆̽̓͛̀̽͆̍̍͐͑͊́̊͗́͗͆͂̎̐͑́̚͘͜͜͝ͅͅù̶̢̨̡̼̲͉̪͉̼̱̖̮̫͍͔̞̘̩̣̰̦̦̠̤̮̜̱̮͙̖̻͔̟̱͚̳̝̗͚̞̆̓̔͛͗̿́͊̀̒̽̈́̿͋͘̚ͅͅ ̷̡̢̠̻̗̘͍̩̰̯̳͇̟͉͇̀́̐̍̋͑w̷̢̨̨̡̧̪̩͙̩̻̣̣̹̝̲̦̟̼̮̮͖͚͎͈̮̯͍̝̔͊̊͂̾̒̈́̐̉̅̽̈̀̌͆͂͋̔̋̒͘̚͘͜͝ḯ̷̧̛͉̘̬͎̳̭͉̬͖̼͔̥̜̰̺͓̲̼͙̹̻͑͛̆͂̒̅̈́͛͊͋́́̉͋͒̈̌̃͒̐͗̈́̐̊̉́̆́́͑̏͝͝͝͝ļ̶̢̨̧̫̫̣͎̞̟̦̥̯͍̺͇̺̟̬̘̰̳̻̮͓͎͙̠́̂̍̓̒͂̓̂̄̇̏̍͊̒̈́͗͛͆̒͐̿̀̍̈́̌̀̽̆͊͑̓̾̚͘̕͜͠͝͝ͅl̵̢̨̧̪̱͖̹̫̹̲͉̱̻͔͎͇͎͔̰̯̪̩͍̣̞̪̮͇͓̜͕̘̲̻̪͋̒̀̅͑̌̈̋̐̈́̂̉̔̊̂̀̊̿̉͌̉̌̔̐͘̚͜͜͠ͅ ̴̧̡̡̢̧̠͉̳͎̲̦̘̬͇̦̻͔͕̪̥̟͋̎̿n̸̨̨̢̡̻͔̪͓̠̖̭̳̙̠̪̲̠̼͙͕̘̖̗͎̞͚̖͛͊̏͊͋͊̆͐̈́̉̋̄̃͌͗̌̍͆͂̒̈́̂̎̓̉̓̓͐̆̿̌̽̅̅͛͆͘̕͜͝͝e̷̛̘̲͔͚̠͚͚͒͑́̾͌͋̓̐̎̔̂͂͒̀̃́̄͝͝͝͠͠͝͝ͅv̵̢̻͖̻̯͖̣̮͂͊̃͘ę̵̺͍̳͓̇͐̉͂̈̆̂̉̓͊̇̽͋̀̾͗̃͋͘r̸̟͈͍̖̝͈͉͚̝̞̝̰͕͌ ̸̛̗͚̲̎̃̃̀̀̈̌͋͐̒̉͆̍́̽̀̎͋̊̊̎͒͛̚͘͠f̶̢̧̨̧̡̨̛̫̗͚̘͍͉͖̟͙̰̙͔͈̦̫͔͍̥̘̰͎̱̻͇̖̟̬̤̦̬̹̯̰͇̀̏̍́̌́̒̔͗̓̄͊̇͆̀͌́̉̾̈́̂̚̕͜ȩ̵̨̧̨̨̡̨̨̛̬̙̳̞͔͇͔̣̙̩̘͇̝̩͍̮̤͍̼̬̫̱͓̖̬͖͙̫̦̬̭̙͉̘̘̱̳̻̪̱̂̉̎̏̈͗͒̌̄͐̃̉̿̊̄͆̑̾̌̆̒͗̊̏̄́̍͌̋̐̕͘͜͠͠͠͝͠͝ę̴̡̡̛̛̙͓̰̯͎̼͎̠͓͖̻͉̖̠̻̠̦͎͕͔͍̝̲̦̖̼̯̎̌̽̀̎͂̂̿͊͂͆̈̊̇̓̎̽̌̿̈́̾͒͊͌̇̎̀̽̇͒͗͐̓́̄̕͜͜͜͠͝ͅď̴̛̛̝̟̦̬̏̀̋͋͛̓͊̀̓͑̈̓̉̐̉͌͐͗̂͐̐̈̔̄̏͌̇̿̂́̍̆͌̓́͐̌̀̚͘̚̕͝͝͝ ̸̨̡̢̢̨̧̺̭͔̺̜̭̯̼̠̘͇̹̜̖͕͍͎̤̜̯̟̖̫̹̣̱͇͎͖̭̬̥̪͙̻͔̰̗̲͎̦͒̈́͜ͅf̸̧̧̙̯̞̖̖͓̠̟̞̟̖͖͕̺̪̦͈̘̼͈̤̜̥̙̅̀̈́̄̑̄̿̚̚͠͠͝r̵̡̧̡͙̺͉͍̥̪̲̹̍̉̚ǫ̴̢̢̧̖̼͍͕̱͔̝̗̳̗̹̝̠̣͈̝̬̘̘̳̪̦̲͗͂̆̋͗̍̇̇͗͋̕͜m̶̛͓̼̳̙͓͔̬̰̯̖̙̱̜͖̯̟̗͐̃̋̄̍̇̊̑̀͂̎̑̎̚͜͠ͅ ̵̡̨̛̤͇̐́͑̈́̉̇͂̈́͘C̸̢̡̢̬͈͕͔̤̳̖̝̳͖͔͙͓̟͎͙̠͇͉̯̼̘̱̰̖͕͈̯̥̼̙̳̬̉̒̏͌̆̆͗̾̈́͑͘͠͠ͅa̸̢̧̨̛̩̳̪̗̫͚̹̙̤̠͉̔̏̍̓͆̃́͒̊̈́͌̆̑̆̉͆̆́̒̊̋̇͗̈́̂̈́̿̑̑̋͐̆̌̋͛͑̐̀͆̒̚͘̚͘͝͝ͅd̸̝̦̄̑̈́͐̍̀̈́͗̈́̈̋̏́̄̏̎̎̈́̃̕ạ̷̡͕̘̝͓͚͇͕͔͚̫̮̞͉̗̦̹̙̮̝̦̄̌̌̃͋͑̔͌͋̃́͒̍͆̒̏̓̑́̽͘͜͠͝n̵̝̑̑̔̓̾͛̉̓́̽̓͐̒̍̽̏̑̉̈c̴̡̡̛͓͉̠̺̳̼̙͍͕̹̭͚̻̮̓̊̿́̍̋͗̈́̌͑̎͒͊̈́̑̚̚͜e̶̝̦͌̃̄̓̊́̏̍́͊͘̚͠͠ͅ ̶̧̡̛̲̼̖͇̺̠̣̩̞̞̤̼̖̝̥̯̱͓̟͉̋̒̇̿͗̌͗̅̾͑̒̄̆̄̋̈́̓̕͝͝a̵̙̗͉͖̟̻̫̦̰̹̤̠̫̫͒̀̐͒̋̑͊͑̔͋̐̒̄̇̎͂̓̊̍͋͊͗̀̍͂̒̃͗́͐̂͐́̉̽̀̈̍̕̚͘̕̕̕͘̕͠͠͝ͅg̸̨̛̣̦̻͙̠̭͕̯̣̫̪̒̇̓̌̐͒̈́̎̅͐͐̆̈́̋̊͂̓̕͘͝͝͝ạ̶̧͓͍͈̠̩̦̟̦̞̲̤̖̗̖̭̭̾̽͠ͅͅi̷̡̢̧̧̼̳̰̗͉̙͍͚͇̯͕̗͈̱͕̰͔̰̘͓̲̪̺̹̗̱̪̤̞͔͕̦̘̺̳̪̪͓͉͍̤̙͖̾͆̆̋̂̍̽̒͑̈́̓́̄̈́̇͑̇́̎̈́̓̏̇̓̓̐̈́͋͘͘͘̕ͅͅn̵̮̘͕̬̠̝̬̯̝̝̤̰̳̭̳̤͍̲̖̩̫͈̗͓̦̮̭̪̲͖̰͚̪̲̬͕̮͐̓͘ͅͅͅ!̵̡̛͖̪̣̠̪̱̗̠̝̪̹͙͉̖̇͐̓͊́̒̉͑̂̒̄͆͒̀͒͋̂͒̉̒̈̋̚̚͘͠͠͠ͅͅ” She incomprehensibly snarled out as reality began to fragment around her. Iron pooled in my mouth as that spectral pain embraced me once again. Tirek appeared to have fared even worse than both Gentle and Rebound had, as the centaur was wilting away in the heat. Portions of him flaking away and turning to dust, before the walking conflagration that was Sunset Shimmer.

Swallowing my blood I coughed out her name. My blood halted in my veins as her neck all but snapped to allow her to once more see me. Even as her black eyes began to fill with both cyan and emerald the blackness remained.

“Don’t you need him alive?” I forced out, each word taking more and more of my remaining breath. Sunset Shimmer smiled at me, and I added one more tally to why Hollow Shades just generally sucked. It was a smile that was filled to the brim with such blind adoring love that was only equal to the utter loathing and hatred contained within. Those contradictory emotions burned at me in the feral smile that the creature that was once my partner gave me.

I'm not sure how long it took for the blackness to fully fade from her eyes as she continued to silently stare me down, but eventually, the third color from Sunset’s eyes faded. Leaving only a muddled swirl of cyan and emerald that nodded at me before turning back to Tirek who had not so surprisingly managed to get even worse. She brought the flames that had been released. "You will never think of attempting what you just offered.” Sunset hisses out flames licking out at each of the words that left her tongue.

Tirek could only barely tilt his head, nodding in a swift agreement. “Now feed.” She hissed out as she grabbed Tirek's jaw with her hooves and wrenched it open. Before I could even open my mouth and do anything, a black aura formed around my partner's horn and was being sucked into Tirek’s maw.

Author's Note

This chapter is coming out on Saturday even if somewhat late. That aside this chapter mostly focuses on the interaction between the two main characters and the newest 'threat' to the story. Said threat has come bearing information aplenty on the other end of the equation, offering a new path forward. All the while being hounded by a New Moon colored by Silver.

The two main characters have illustrated a subtle or not-so-subtle change in their personalities due to their close interaction with each other. Cadance is showing much more of a forceful personality being absolutely done with Hollow Shades already. Sunset is showing absolute protectiveness and not blindly throwing herself towards a possibility of ascension(at least not initially).

Continued setup for the Hollow Shades Act + revisited some previous points that had been brought up. That aside next week's chapter will return to Sunset's POV. Hopefully, Tirek doesn't get too bad indigestion from his first meal in a millennium.

-LittleFaerieFire

41. Entombed Entering

Entombed Entering

Sunset

I wasn’t the wisest pony, I had never claimed such a title. I had never made any such allusions to my ability to hold my tongue, temper my flame, quench my anger, halt my hatred. No, I wasn't the wisest in the land. I wasn’t even in the hypothetical running. Princess Celestia certainly knows that to be the truth.

Yet as poor decisions I had made, this one was potentially in second or third place. It wasn’t my worst mistake, not even close. But it definitely was a strong contender for a silver or bronze trophy. Even as my skull all but ferally scratched at my brain, I knew that I would live through this. I had survived through far worse. I had suffered far worse. I was still here. I would remain until I achieved my destiny, or Princess Celestia put me down like the rabid beast she knew I was.

However, force-feeding a centaur that acts as a magical leech wasn’t one of my brightest ideas. While it had worked, and I was only slightly worse for wear, such a fact did little to ease the ringing in my ears and the cruel weakness that dared blossom within my blood. Even if I had cut off the connection before Tirek decided that I had been brought low enough for him to best. He wouldn’t have won, oh no he wouldn’t have won. He would not win. After I had threatened him to an appropriate inch of his long-lived life he was almost cordial.

Just like with Cadance, I knew that it wouldn’t last. I hoped that my partnership with Cadance would last far longer than our workings with the once lord. He was attempting to fool the wrong pony, I had been raised by Princess Celestia. I knew all the tricks that a long-lived pony could use to pull the wool over the bright-eyed younglings, I knew the ways to bend your words back around, to poison your tone, and lay traps within offers of so-called kindness. As soon as Cadance and I’s worth was less than what he could receive for sinking a dagger into our back, we would be attacked.

We wouldn’t be forced back into Princess Celestia’s shadow. Mewling for her protection and grace, so that she would save me from being once more burned by my decisions. I had escaped her shadow once and I would never return to its embrace. I would not be broken by this paltry lord when I had stood strong against the Princess of the Sun for so long. He would not prevent me from claiming what was rightfully mine. What had been long since promised to be mine. What had been stolen from me by the one pony that had only mattered.

Tirek would try to betray us and he would once more burn, there was no doubt in my mind it would happen. It had after all dared to speak of sating its hunger on Cadance of all ponies! It knew exactly who she was. What she was. What she was to Celestia herself. She had been claimed as her blood. HER CLAIMED FAMILY! It would suffer for that long past its appropriate death for such words that it dared to utter in my presence.

That alone earned it an excruciatingly slow end in my flames. Its screams will contort in symphonic suffering until its voice can no longer utter out in pain. Not until its remaining skin had been flayed from its soon-to-be corpse. Only to further be pulled apart into its basic components as I studied how its sorceries allow it to consume magic from any living being, it would survive until I had scraped what little worth it still held. Only then would I allow it to be finally cremated within my flames. It deserved nothing less for its words.

That feasting upon another's magic, was a skill that I would retrieve from its corpse when our time working together was over. It sought to betray us. Hah! I will happily greet such a betrayal with my own. It was merely a monster, and I was a demon wearing the skinned remains of a pony. I would rend it of its curse and replace it with one of my own designs. All that would remain of the once timeless creature would be memories that would fade into the sands of time.

Oh, no doubt his story was genuine, or the portions about being bound by whatever so-called cult that had entrapped him. He was cursed by something that I couldn’t even fully understand even after having been right in his face… mouth more accurately but it was something that I knew was an impressive piece of work that had been etched into its very existence.

There were two beings in all of Equestria that I knew that could potentially assist him with this curse. While there may have been others who could potentially comprehend it, they held barely a spark in comparison to Princess Celestia and I. Cadance for all of her swift learnings and deep insights, was still an apprentice in such arcane matters. Even if I knew she held within her enough strength to counteract and cleanse the curse that afflicted the paltry lord, she held not the knowledge to do so. Move.

Thinking of the Alicorn seemed to be enough to summon her from wherever she had escaped. Adopting a forced calm that would prevent any of my current weaknesses from showing, I greeted her swiftly with a question. “I take it that the Watching Eyes feasted upon whatever lie you fed them?” Not that they would be able to tell that my partner was lying to them, she wasn’t able to fool Princess Celestia but almost no pony could. She would learn, in time.

“You are something else Sunset.” Cadance all but sighs out as she trots over to where I was recovering. “I’m not sure what it is, but it is something else.” My partner continued as I was forced to lock my legs as she all but fell on me. Did she forget that she was an Alicorn? Was whatever was ailing her draining her of her strength to this extent? My own ailments were forgotten as I once more focused my attention on the health of the pony who was my mare friend.

My spells found little more than they previously had, she was physically as fit as well… as an Alicorn. I could feel the way that Cadance rolled her eyes into my coat as she felt my magic wash over her. The origins of what had befallen my companion were not something physical or it was so esoteric that I was unable to discover it with my light probings. “So what's the verdict? Will I live?” Cadance repeated that joke I had so long ago initially taken to be a verification of her frailty. She wasn’t a fragile gem that needed to be sequestered away in a vault, no she needed to be polished and honed.

“I still don’t think that your joking about your health is funny.” She was still mortal. She could still be shattered with the appropriate force. Yet here she was, with me. Continue.

“You didn’t even then did you?” The forced teasing was back in my partner's voice as she spoke into my side. She finally understood the need for constant unending perfection, how a single misstep would forever mar your future in the bleeding black. No matter how little magic you have left, how your very bones feel hollow, your very heart fills with tar, you must get back up and prove to the Princess of the Sun that you aren’t a mistake.

No matter what you accomplish it is never enough. Never enough for one whose one requirement is an ever-present perfection. Never accepting that I couldn’t be the pony she wished I was! No matter how much I burned away in my effort to conform to her ideals! No matter the effort I put into the impossible test that I had repeatedly failed! I-!

White feathers danced across my muzzle, brushing away my thoughts with practiced ease. Taking a breath of my partner's almost honeyed scent I forced the white feathers to recede from my eyes. She wasn’t her, I repeated as I wiped the snow off with her pink feathers. Allowing myself one more moment of weakness before the calling that blistered within my blood became too much to ignore. Ascend.

“Cadance, are you certain that you are up for this?” I muttered in response to the false levity that my partner held within her. For all her manipulations, which most common ponies held no chance of comprehending, I could see through her with crystalline clarity at times. This was my destiny. My fate. One of which I had been ordained to achieve. Only one pony could stop it and she refused to cut me down even knowing what was at stake. She had allowed me to steal this opportunity to ascend and I would ensure that I took full advantage of this most recent mistake of hers. “If you're not fully topped up, you can stay-.” My half-rambling words were stopped mid-sentence as my partner shut my mouth for me once more with her wings.

“Sunset Shimmer, I hope that you aren’t about to suggest that I let you brave an ancient crypt filled with all manner of ancient traps with only Tirek by your side?” The falsified levity had been burned away by a mesmerizing flame of indignation and almost righteous rage that ran through Cadance as she tensed around me. “Especially after having fed him your magic. Celestia knows you can do the impossible in regards to magic, but even you don’t have an infinite amount of magic within you.” Her words were accompanied by her head maneuvering its way so that her piercing purple eyes could lay bare the great spires of twisting crystal that were contained within them.

I could only gulp in anticipation for whatever it was she was planning as she closed the slight distance before us. Only to stop and continue with her accusations, “Can you even teleport right now Sunset?” She asks as the crystals in her eyes sharpen to deadly fixed points, those now honed blades prepared to cut through me should it be required. A reflexive smile forms upon my lips. A lie bathed in false truths begins to coagulate upon my tongue. Deceive. Once more I found myself on trial before the divine and once more I would escape such observations with nothing more than my mind.

“Even now if the paltry lord attempts to devour me, all he would receive is more indigestion.” It was true I was confident in my abilities to deal with the once lord. He would burn. He was to be strung upon the pyre of my hate and be utterly consumed within my hate for the transgressions he had performed. I allowed my true thoughts to color my smile, showing that even if I couldn’t teleport at the moment I was still able to deal with a threat that even Princess Celestia once struggled with. After all, I was the greatest Unicron that had ever walked upon Equus. The greatest Unicorn that would ever walk upon Equus. My name would be forever carved into the echoes of time, so that I would not be forgotten!

“I thought so.” Cadance tonelessly replied, not even giving me a moment to enjoy my false victory over her. It seemed that the Princess of Love was superior to the Sun in matters of divining the truth from my words. “I decided to go along with your plan, so I will see it through to the end, Sunset.” Her words were laced with the finality that only one other pony had dared speak to me within her words. Once more an Alicorn Princess was supposedly correcting my course through life… That wasn’t a fair thought to my partner, but one that held a fragment of a burned truth that danced upon the embers of my echoing mind.

“Listen to me down there, and if I tell you to retreat, do so immediately. We have no idea what's down in that pit other than what vague traps Tirek alluded towards.” I demanded of the Alicorn who had finally pulled herself from where she had been lounging on me. “I know you’re an Alicorn but this is my area of expertise. Please Cadance I don’t want you to get hurt.” She wasn’t yet fully ascended, she could perish.

“Aww, you do like me!” Cadance squeed, out as her wings flashed out and once more entwined themselves around me. Before I could speak up and form any matter of rebuttal or even attempt to rationalize her statement, she continued her assault upon both my physical form and my mind. “That’s fair, this is something that fits with your entire personality delving into ancient tombs in search of powerful treasure. In exchange, Alicorn or not, you have to listen to me for an entire day.” The whiplash of her words from exaggerated joy to utter seriousness, exasperated the scratching of my brain. I… Befuddled I just shook my head in agreement.

“I hate you.” I should. I didn’t. I couldn’t. But I uttered those cruel words nonetheless, yet that wasn’t enough to remove the true joy that had inflated my partner's spirit. It was far better to see her truly filled with those emotions that were beyond me than the falsified emotions that she thought I couldn’t see through. She deserved them. She deserved so much more than what I could currently give her. She stayed all the same. Leave.

“No, you don’t.” She all but sang out as she nuzzled me, and finally allowed me to escape her embrace. I stepped through the door that she had opened sometime during that entire ordeal as I saw our newest… associate was an appropriate term whole was far more hearty and hale than he previously had been. The centaur that had been waiting for us just stared at me. His singular eye focused upon my flushed face.

“What?” I wasn’t going to give him another lick of my magic, I would sooner send him into the grave than freely part with what was mine once more. The only reason I had dared do that folly-filled action was that ascension was on the line. The only ponies that were within that hidden realm were Cadance and myself. Cadance would have never permitted me to steal away one of her precious ponies for him to feast upon, she would have sooner offered herself as the meal for the creature. It would never touch her with its sorceries while I had a mote of heat that flickered in my blood. It would never drain her of her will. It will never devour her magic and strengths, I didn’t care what I had to do to ensure that remained true. Those rampant thoughts brought the rest of my body temperature up to equal heat written on my face.

“I had hoped one such as you would debase yourself with such matters. I was wrong to believe better of you. Once more I am reminded why you ponies disgust me so.” The once lordling intoned while shaking its head in abject disappointment. Did it think that I cared for its opinion? Did it truly think that its thoughts mattered in comparison to the ones that had saved me? The ones embraced wholeheartedly by the divine? Cadance coughed at the words, and taking a moment to glance at my mare friend showed that she held a dusting of red upon her pink cheeks as she refused to meet my gaze.

“Your disgust doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you keep good on your word and lead us to the Alicorn Amulet.” I growled as I stalked towards the centaur who even further towered over me now having had time to fully digest my magic. I was used to being the smallest pony in the room, it had never stopped me from defying destiny itself as I continuously clawed my way to ever grander heights. This paltry creature would be but another that I need to use before discarding. “Now lead on or I will start to experiment with that curse that has been branded into your soul.” I illustrated my threat by forcing it to activate once more.

Even if I couldn’t fully understand yet, I understood more than enough to cause the one it had been branded by to suffer. Suffer the creature did, no matter how much it attempted to remain stalwart I could see the curse becoming ever further entrenched within its being. Worming its way ever deeper into its existence.

No doubt if Princess Celestia was to see it, she would have decried it amongst the worst black magics that she had seen. It was horrifically beautiful in its cruel design. The creature that had constructed it had my respect for burrowing deeper into the darkness than I currently had. How much further has it gone? What further insights had it discovered? What secrets could I steal from its work? How could I use it to further my own strengths?

“As you wish.” The paltry lord finally spat out as Cadance brushed her wing against my side, giving me a reason to let up from the torment it was enduring. We stalked after the creature as both it and Cadance donned their hoods. Once more I was proven correct that most ponies were utterly worthless and couldn’t survive without Princess Celestia to wipe their plots. Not even one odd glance was thrown our way as we moved through the town, two Unicorns following after a large cloaked individual.

When I ascended there would be changes, major changes that would ensure that even in peacetimes such as this, they were not so blinded by their own fragile securities. They would all understand what Princess Celestia has to do to ensure that they keep their bellies full, their families hale, and their hooves clean. They would learn even if I had to personally show each and every one of this blind herd of fools the cost that was accrued each day in this peaceful prosperity.

Eventually, the elderly creature that led both Cadance and I came to a stop in the middle of the center of the town. The urge to remind the creature that I could tug upon the chains it bore was nearly blinding, but I managed to bite down on that font of hatred for the moment. If it continued to dally, I would have it suffer. “The Well of Shade is below us.” It intoned as gestured with a covered hoof.

I had already checked this area but I hadn’t exactly gone through and did a thorough investigation of any area below Hollow Shades. It was seeming more and more certain that this was not the location where the two Alicorn sisters had long ago fought. Thanks to the insights of this former lord there was a different avenue before me.

“Stand back.” Those two words and the illusion that I threw up, were all the warnings that the centaur received before I began to channel my flame forth into reality. I wouldn’t be bringing forth the birth of a new Sun but for something as simple as cutting through the earth? That required far less control, far less fuel, and far less finesse.

I paid only a cursory amount of attention to the still-cloaked centaur who was keenly observing the quick progress I was making, while Cadance moved back to my side after she had retreated away initially when I had begun to heat the air. “Yes?” I questioned my silent partner. I hadn’t found the crypt yet, and while the former lord hadn’t given any indication how deep it was I was already closing in on a hundred feet and still not found any sign of it.

“I just wanted to be next to my mare friend.” Cadance finally decided to say after a further few seconds of the only noise being the consumption of the earth within my slavering inferno. I turned back to my partner and showed exactly what I thought of those words with a roll of my eyes. That seemed to get my point across as she swiftly continued. “We are technically grave robbing right now, I mean I know we are who we are and I know we can get away with murder, Celestia knows that you have but still is…” Cadance was adorable as she both floundered and attempted to still continue the facade of the peerless Princess that Princess Celestia no doubt wished her to be.

“It’s technically archeology at this point.” Seeing the look upon my mare friend's muzzle I continued myself. “It’s easily been over 50 years, so archeology, not gravedigging.” I continued my explanation and allowed my partner's mind to sidestep her morality. “Also I have never been charged with murder as the only creatures that I have killed have been in defense of Equestrian citizens, and the Equestrian Royalty.” I poked her cloak on the side where her wing had been injured not so long ago.

She just stared at me as she processed my well-thought-out arguments. Seconds passed as the crystals within her sapphire eyes began to dull and fragment. I all but paused my efforts to review my words and ensure that I had spoken no form of folly. Yet I found nothing that should have inspired such a response. It was only when I had once more pushed against her side did the crystals within her eyes reformed and clarity was regained within her gaze.

“Must you subject me to this form of suffering as well?” Our observer who had fallen silent ever since I had begun my work. I gave him a quick glare before I stole a kiss from my partner, enjoying the way that the centaur stifled a gag. That led to a speech that I was nearly certain had been planned by Cadance about not using our relationship as a weapon, that she had such a speech prepared implied something that I didn’t fully know. Something that I would have to study at a later moment. Though it was rather amusing at times how she broke character when it came up that she was the one defending Tirek from our ‘weaponized’ relationship.

It took another few hundred feet, and nearly half an hour after Cadance had concluded her argument to reach something that didn’t immediately burn under my released magic. Corralling my flames back towards me as I glanced down the deep pit I had burned through the earth. Frowning as I saw nothing but darkness even with the dark vision spell that I had running. Turning back to my partner whose amusement could not be quantified with words as the crystals within her eyes exploded at my current difficulties.

I shook my head at what amused my partner and fell into a shallow bow.

“Oh, Princess of Love, if this humble servant of yours may ask of your assistance in furthering this one's endeavor towards its own ascension?” Cadance just muttered something about a maid uniform before she avoided my gaze and glanced down the hole at my behest.

“Whatever is down there isn’t natural.” She states as she turns to look at the still silent centaur who had attempted his best to remain impassive while I performed my work. The elderly lord stepped forth and glanced down as well, nodding that this would indeed be a way into the Well of Shade. I contemplated shoving the former lord down the hole, but I held off for now. Later I could sate my anger upon his seared flesh.

Taking a moment to slow my descent through a basic feather-fall charm before I turned towards the centaur and waited to see if it could make its own way down. The centaur met my gaze with its own glare that paled in comparison to what I had seen in the mirror, before beginning to hoist itself down the hole I had burned. While it was making its way down I turned my attention fully towards Cadance, pulling the spelled knife from where I had placed it within my saddlebag for safekeeping.

“Cadance…” I couldn’t help but trail off unsure of how to best convince my partner that we were all but entering into hostile territory where I couldn’t be sure that I would be able to protect her. That even burning away myself for her safety would likely not be enough. That she would likely be required to dirty her own hooves in order to survive should the worst outcome happen. I would have given her another chance to back out, to return to the so-called safety of her two Watching Eyes. But I didn’t, no instead I “Please be careful, I don’t want to lose you.” The words lacked the weight that I wished to impart upon them. Thankfully Cadance gave me a brief smile as she nodded at my words.

“Together?” She asked as she grabbed the knife from my hoof. Nodding as she stepped next to me and we stepped into the hole together. Cadance had to wrap one of her wings around me as the hole I had made wasn’t large enough for her to spread her wings. The one wing she had remaining in combination with my charm was enough to slow our descent. That didn’t prevent me from kicking the forgotten lord when we descended upon his head.

The growl he let out was music to my ears as I could all but hear the way his anger was straining against the plan he had so carefully constructed. When would its wrath escape its confines and be free to contest against my own? When would I be free to let my flames freely rage against one of Princess Celestia’s old enemies? When would I ascend and turn it into fuel for my flames?

Turning my attention from the pleasurable thoughts that were beckoned forth from my blood I instead focused upon the task of cutting through the ceiling of the tomb. While in the past I would never have had to have spared any attention to ensure that my flames didn’t burn my surroundings while I pierced through the protections. Now I had a pony who I wished not to harm by my side.

It was an awkward few moments while I worked my way through the archaic wards that had been inscribed upon the blackish-blue stone, the ancient lord didn’t dare to complain as I completed my work. Thankfully whoever had prepared the wards eons ago hadn’t bothered to update them or I would have had some difficulty as I breached the ancient tomb. As it was, I completed my work and turned the stone to molten slag after momentarily lifting the centaur so that he wouldn’t yet receive my flame-touched embrace.

After depositing the centaur down, Cadance brought us both down beside the ancient creature. We were in a great room with a number of stone pillars that supported the ceiling, yet that wasn’t what caught my attention. No, it was the figure carved intricately into the stone before us that completely held my attention. Revenge.

My blood erupted in infernal flames, iron coated my teeth as my tongue was sliced upon the now-sharpened fangs that littered my mouth. I recognized that pony! I KNEW that shade! Hate. I knew that wretched shadow that dared best me! It seems that my time to repay the kindness it had gifted me was at hoof.

The rusted iron was swiftly replaced by liquid flames as I stalked forth, soundless cries were whispered before me as I crossed the once-dark room. Now forcefully illuminated by my rage as I stood before the depiction of my once foe, now nothing more than long-awaited prey. A single emerald flame flickered into existence upon the sharpened horn that was chiseled from the stone. Suffer.

It would burn as its stone depiction did falling apart within my flames. Becoming little more than fuel to fuel my flames. It would fuel my ascension as I drank from the strange magics that it wielded. I recognized its shielding spell that Celestia used when we had nearly brought forth an early conclusion! It would explain how it dared to steal from Mother! Then it would be left at the mercy of my inferno! Then I would cremate it while it suffered through the final moments of its life!

One moment it would be in an eternal dream of pain, the next it would forever suffer under my tormenting touch as my hatred scorched it even beyond its death! It would never reform within any form of darkness! The shadows it wielded would falter and be cleansed within my flames that would scour any that dared form!

I would watch as its flesh dripped from its bones, feasting upon the reduced fats that remained! I didn't need its reminder that I was little more than a demon! That I was little more than a monster! That I would never be Mother's daughter! That no matter what I achieved I would never achieve my goals!

I smiled at the altar that was now nothing more than a great gaping hole that had bled through the floor and continued to burn ever deeper into the crust of Equus. A brilliant heat blossomed from the core that was a soothing reminder of what was soon to be mine. What had long been promised to me. What had always been decreed as mine! What I would rightfully take from any who dared stand in my way!

The snapping of bone accompanied the twisting of my head as I turned back to the magical leech that feasted upon all that was weaker than it.

“Where is the amulet?” I growled out demanding the information it still dared withhold from me. Grasping its curse that had been created by a mere mortal and twisting it within my mental grasp. Contorting the meager magics within my own as I shredded the flesh of the so-called monster.

It didn’t even cry out in pain at my tender touch as I rendered its flesh in ways that it wasn’t meant to exist much less support any semblance of life. “Answer me!” I demanded as I burned my own will into the curse, replacing its original intent with my own. That was the final barrier that was needed as the former lord was forced to capitulate within my embrace.

“The Pony of Shadows holds it!” The answer finally spilled from its wretched mouth. Good. I now knew my prey's name. My will changed, I restored the failure before me to some semblance of health as I turned towards it… her. I was unable to even conceptualize it's her true face so bound by its… her farce.

The one who bound me. I grinned at her and she didn’t even flinch. Audacious little Princess bearing wings that were barely earned. Only concerned with stealing the Love of the one pony that was MINE! I would show it the folly of her ways!

“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.” I mockingly greeted the original thief that had stolen Mother from me, with a deep bow. The audacious little creature didn’t even have the grace to waver in fear, perhaps she had forgotten that she was still mortal. After all, she was a Princess one that held dominion over all lesser creatures. Of which I was not and from the way that she gulped that fact was known.

“Sunset Shimmer?” The parasitic Princess asked, her words as brittle as the faltering crystals within her soul. I salivated further flames at the faint trickling fear that whispered across her form. I simply smiled and then cruelly laughed as I watched as it shuddered back. Oh, even now you were still such a wretched weakling whose only use was to be led to the slaughter.

“Can you not even remember the name of the one you had nearly tainted with your touch?” I taunted as I pushed into her face. Each time she shuddered in clear revulsion at my actions, bringing my flames to even further heights. She wasn’t Mother, they weren’t even comparable but I couldn’t dare harm the only one who saved me, but she was almost as delicious! I wouldn’t touch her for now, not with the freedom I had been granted.

I would have enjoyed playing with her without any interruptions thanks to the earlier actions, but I would have to wait to once more drink her blood as I relaxed in the Princess's screams. For the final creature stepped forth from where it had remained hidden within its shadows. Turning my gaze to its blacked eyes which narrowed as it traced my half-formed flesh.

I still recognized the gaze of the weakling within its new eyes from so long ago. Where it had attempted to ‘correct’ what changes I had brought. Back then it had fought beside six others, it being the seventh. Now aside from it, only one remained lost to time and magic. The rest had long since fallen to my hooves.

“You are the Demon from back then.” It howled as it too recognized me. It thought it held a candle to my own flame, through the changes it had survived? I was the infernal conflagration that had scorched worlds beyond recognition? BURN! My single intonation brought forth fragments of flames. That sought nothing more than to reduce shadow to nothingness.

They all would burn before me! They would all be reduced to nothing more than ash! They would all be lost within the void! They would all be forgotten as the only pony that they could have ever cared for moved on!

Even as my flames began to once more reduce Equus to little more than a pool of burned rock, A glinting from around my prey's neck caught my attention. I blazed through the air as I was upon the living shadow. My fangs found its neck as I drank from its blackened blood. Yet I couldn’t steal the amulet from within its shadowed flesh.

It screeched as if it had never suffered before, as if it was but a newborn foal being burned alive for the first time! Even as I tore its throat open, I knew it lived as the shadows coagulated to prevent it from leaking even more of its life force, a weakness that it shouldn’t have yet remained in its new form. I laughed as I heard the wretching of the so-called Princess behind me.

“So what if I am?” I hissed as I gulped down its now burned blood. “You are all alone! Your allies lie dead! Entombed within these very walls!” I howled out in turn, each of my words igniting the world around me. Shadows and darkness burned alike. Reduced to nothing.

Even as the bell began to toll I laughed. I laughed as I took the opportunity to cremate every creature save one that remained within these halls. I laughed as two ancient monsters once more fell to my flames. I laughed as I turned to the weakened mess that was once crowned a Princess! I laughed as I stalked towards her! I laughed even as the self-proclaimed savior stepped forth to once more save a pony from the DEMON!

Impossible spears of energy ripped through realities beyond recognition, each determined to slow my assault. Each was a wretched failure equal to their summoner who couldn’t even save itself, but thought it could save everything! Even as the bell continued to ring and render reality nothing more than a suggestion, I worked my flames into the spell that it thought would once more save it from me! It wouldn’t be nearly as effective as it last was. It realized that even as it attempted to console the paltry Princess of Love.

IT WOULD BURN! THEY WOULD ALL BURN! THEY WILL ALL BURN!

The inferno that I forced into reality encased the two final ponies, one of them burned, and one of them remained untouched within my flames. The Princess once more found a fragment of its faltering strength and locked its gaze with me. Within its eyes were furious crystalline spears that promised retribution as my flames refused to find purchase upon her flesh. Hah, I would eagerly await its death once more!

The bell tolled for its final time.

Author's Note

Had some fun with this chapter. Two ponies return, one last being seen in Canterlot and the other just having been seen in Wingston.

Heads up the next interlude chapter will be between chapter 48/49 Already have 1/2 of the two POVs chosen for it so will have to think of the second one.

*Realized that I messed up with some of the editing, I think I have fixed it so the final portions should be easier/better to read*

-LittleFaerieFire

42. Retreating Resuscitations

Retreating Resuscitations

Sunset

Before I could continue my assault having reduced the ornate altar to nothing more than sluggish lava, a compounding chorus of echoing bells erupted in a discordant fervor that culminated into an almost soothing chime. My blood froze into jagged chips within my veins as I swiftly glanced back to ensure that Cadance was still safe after I had ruined the pathetic sculpture. She was not, for there once more were the beginnings of obliteration forming around my partner. There wasn’t time to contemplate my next actions as I ripped at the meager remnants of my life and forced the world to halt its forward momentum.

Ignoring the frigid coating of winter I forced myself to cut through the deteriorating reality as I reappeared by Cadance’s side. She was frozen stiff and if not for the rapid palpitations of her heart as it strained within her chest I would have thought her dead. The thought did little more than increase the chill that now formed a great pane of ice within my chest. That pane of ice shattered into sharpened shards as I forced the two of us through the Aether, not caring for where exactly we were deposited, only that we would be safe from the obliterating entropy that had been summoned forth into reality. The rays of Celestia’s frozen Sun once more wrapped me in their phantom warmth as I began to fall through a drab sky of grays.

I confirmed that even as worthless as I was, I had at least managed to temporarily save my partner. If this was the same form of temporal rift then I knew we should likely have been far enough away due to the primary angle of the spell. Scoffing as the faint sensation of flight that I had never fully achieved was lost and replaced with the ever-familiar descent into an awaiting doom that beckoned from far below.

Doing my best with the few precious moments before impact, I attempted to contort Cadance’s body in such a way that she wouldn’t impact the ground first, bemoaning the lack of any purely physical strength that I held. I managed to somewhat complete my task, it would have to be enough with her constitution and whatever pitiful dregs of magic I could scrape from my now-frozen blood. The descent wasn’t even halted by my feather-falling charm, not with the added weight from my partner, at best it was fractionally slowed. I would take such a meager advantage even now, for Cadance was still yet mortal.

Turning from my partner for what would likely be the last time, Cadance for all of her talents wasn’t able to prevent some pony from dancing with the reaper. I faced the encroaching ground that promised a far swifter end than what I likely deserved. Ignoring the echoes of screeching laughter that sang promises of salvation just beyond my ears, I instead prepared what would be my final spell. A humble cushioning charm.

For once Celestia would likely be proud of me… hopefully she could still be proud of me. Perhaps in this single action, I would manage to redeem myself in her eyes. For in what would be my last moments I wasn’t cursing whoever had managed to slay me, no I was instead focussed on saving another. Saving the one that she Loved as her own family. The one that she had adopted. The one that she had claimed as her own.

Even if I wasn’t there to bear witness to it, would she forget my multitude of failures and blackened stains? Choosing to allow the fights that had broken our once beautiful relationship to be forgiven? Perhaps after I was gone she would even think of me as something more than a pony that she had saved. More than the monster I was born to be. More than the demon that we both knew I was.

Amid those somber thoughts, the cushioning spell prepared for that final moment before impact, my efforts were thankfully wasted as I felt Cadance finally stirring atop me. It took her far longer than I would have hoped to register that I was about to become one of the strangest forms of a cushion for her sake. But eventually, thanks to my screams and curses I would no doubt assume, she caught me in her hooves and flew us away from the ground that had been closing in on us.

“Thank Celestia that you were born a Pegasus.” I couldn’t help but exclaim as I was set down upon the still gray ground. Shakily I threw my legs around my partner and gave her the biggest hug I could. “I swear to Celestia that I will never attempt to fly without wings of my own.” I continued rambling the first thing that came to mind no matter how stupid it was. Even if I had burned away another year of my life, I was alive, that alone gave me some reason to let myself ramble into the mane of my mare friend who had just saved me once more.

Cadance awkwardly just returned the hug after a moment’s pause, her wings entrapping me within them as the world around us faded back from the gray coloration I had forced upon it. With the fading of the gray, I was reminded about the cost of the spell I had reflexively cast, another year of my life had just been burned away. In the comfort of my mare friends' embrace, I couldn’t bring myself to care, whether or not it was due to just pure emotional exhaustion or some other more benign reason I knew not. I didn't care. Not when I was within my mare friends' warm embrace.

“Sunset?” Cadance managed to speak my name after a few stuttering attempts, I simply nodded into the crook of her neck as I confirmed that we were both still alive. I wasn’t sure who was attempting to kill the both of us with the aftershock of temporal magic but I was getting sick of it. Especially since it meant that I had likely died again.

Did Tirek manage to get one over us? Did whatever lay within the crypt prove to be more than I could handle? Did I at least manage to protect Cadance? Did I ensure that she once more survived? “Sunset, are you attempting to strangle me?” Immediately I relaxed my grip around her as my stomach dropped at her question, the remnants of ice continued to shatter even further as they were pulled through my still-chilled veins.

Pushing myself backward, I found myself still caught within her wings so just awkwardly existed while Cadance continued to sort out her thoughts of what had no doubt just happened. “Sunset… what are you?” My partner’s voice was lost even as the words parted from her lips she sounded as if she didn’t know what it was she was asking.

“I am Sunset Shimmer, your partner, the greatest Unicorn ever born, and future Alicorn,” I responded after spending a short moment ensuring that my answer was satisfactory. Then realizing that she still may have been suffering under some manner of duress thanks to the reversed moments I attempted my usual checkup of her. Only to swallow a sharp hiss as coils of sharpened ice rattled within my chest. “Cadance I would usually never rush you through whatever you just experienced but you may want to recall your two guards as right now I can’t protect you.” I could currently throw myself at Tirek to distract him and that was about it and that was so far less than satisfactory that I didn’t know how to accurately describe it.

“Just give me a moment,” Cadance said, her voice still slow but it was in a single take this time so I counted that as progress. Perhaps I should have spent some time ensuring that I could help some pony with their problems instead of how to manipulate them… I couldn’t help the morose chuckle that formed at the back of my throat at the thought. I was utterly chained by her and even if the key was within my hooves I wouldn’t choose to escape. Why would I want to? What would I gain from escaping back into the hell I had done no more than survive within?

While Cadance was still adjusting to her memories of whatever had happened I kept watching the best I could through her soft feathers… I did the best I could, but I wasn’t exactly the larger pony in our relationship. Even if I wasn’t entirely certain I had stopped growing I knew that unless I ascended that I would remain the smaller pony. Even if… when, when I ascended I would still prefer to be the smaller pony as I wouldn’t want to give up the current arrangement that we had for anything. Liar. This intermingling of limbs and feathers was ours alone and I wouldn’t dare alter it.

After taking another few minutes to allow her heart to stop the fit it had fallen into and catch her breath, Cadance once more spoke. “Alright, where are we?” She asked as she finally set me free from her wings. She dodged my attempts to catch her gaze as she stared at the sky, at the Sun that dutifully continued above. Bathing all who but one with its caring warmth.

“We should be about 5,000 trots to the east of Hollow Shades” I answered seeing that I had no doubt done something once more to upset my partner, this time I didn’t even have the chance to puzzle out what it was that I had done to her. Ignoring the way that I was once more ignored by an Alicorn for the moment as I attempted to spy Hollow Shades through the treeline but saw nothing but greenery. “Cadance I know that-” That was the wrong thing to say as Cadance finally met my gaze, her purple eyes filled with an endless array of razor-edged crystals. None of the gentle kindness that I had often found within my partner's eyes was to be seen.

“Sunset you right now both know far less than I would like and no doubt far more than what you have shared with me.” Cadance all but hissed out as she brusquely interrupted me, her eyes alight with the intent that I would have described as murderous within the gaze of any other creature. In her eyes, it was almost eldritch. Within her eyes right now, however, I couldn’t even begin to sort out the eldritch emotions that rampaged between the prepared blades of crystal. “I… I just need a bit longer to clear my head… Let's just get back to Hollow Shades.” She finished far calmer than she had begun, no longer was it a righteous anger that clung to her words, no it was exhausted. A wave of blistering anger that knew it should be burning bright against the unfairness that had been suffered but could no longer find the sustenance to fuel it.

I could only remain silent as she grabbed me both within her hooves and her magic as we took to the skies. An Alicorn and a Unicorn were silently flying towards their next destination, with the former displeased with the latter. This was a story that I was far too intimately familiar with. One that I had experienced more than once. Forcing a smile to my lips to replace the scowl I knew was written upon them, on the off chance that Cadance looked down at me I wouldn’t want to further incense her. Not that she even glanced at where I was carefully suspended within her hoofs, even as she carefully put me down in an empty alley next to the Shattershield Inn she still refused to look at me.

I glared at any pony that seemed far too interested in the spectacle that had been performed as we exited the once-empty alley. Even without my flames, I was still able to have the masses before me cowed with only my glare. A small thanks was muttered by my partner who was searching through the thronging mess of ponies that were making their way through the streets until she paused in her search and began to move with purpose through the ponies. I contemplated moving with her to where she had spotted her two Watching Eyes but decided against it before I moved more than a single hoof after her. It was as she said, she needed a little longer.

I would give as much time as she needed. Against all odds she had stayed with me for this long, the chances that she would finally correct that mistake were… It didn’t matter. It would be fine. It had to be fine.

I couldn’t have screwed it up so horrifically that… No, it didn’t matter even if I did. I promised. I would keep my word. If anything more remained that was to be decided by her.

Even if nothing remained I knew where the Alicorn Amulet resided. I knew exactly what I had to do to retrieve even more information. I knew exactly where the former lord still was all by his lonesome, no doubt lost within a crypt fleeing from the defenses and protectors that resided within. It would be amusing to come across his corpse when I returned to claim the prize that awaited me.

One that had managed to escape my clutches so long ago. One that I had sworn forgotten. One that had been reforged into but a shadow of its proposed power that had been inferior in all accounts. Now it's original wielded by that…

My train of thought was interrupted as Cadance returned, escorted by the two Watching Eyes who both looked as if they had just been informed of their imminent death… She didn’t… She absolutely did.

“You told them that they were obliterated, didn't you?” I couldn’t help the chuckle that was let out with my words. The way that my mare friend flushed the same shade of red that I was currently colored was nearly too much as I nearly fell to the ground wracked with the laughter the confirmation had brought. “Sweet Princess Celestia, thank you, Umbra. I needed that.” Wiping away the liquid weakness that had formed in my laughter I returned my eyes to my mare friend and awaited for the sign of what was to come.

“I hate you, Dawn.” She huffed out as she moved past me towards the door to the Shattershield Inn, wrenching it open and gesturing with a single movement of her head for the three of us to enter. The two Watching Eyes hesitated, I didn’t. I strided to her side all but bleeding the great relief that I felt.

The two Watching Eyes didn’t stay behind their target for long, not with me next to her. They followed us inside and received the majority of the shadowed looks that were tossed our way. Those shadowed gazes did nothing more than dare look however as they looked at the two so-called ‘Royal’ guards and then at me. Which one they backed down after seeing was obvious, so obvious that the annoying one pointed it out to the hushed one.

The bartender was going to speak up but I silenced the mule with a hoof full of bits which I all but threw at him with mediocre accuracy. Even with my poor aim, he managed to acquire the bits before a single one of his patrons could snag them. With our so-called due paid for bringing Princess Celestia’s light into this place enshrouded in darkness, we continued forth towards mine and Cadance’s currently rented room.

I tapped Cadance with a hoof to get her to pause as we neared our door. Taking a moment to allow myself a moment to sink into my already spun magic I allowed the two Watching Eyes entry without grievous injury and likely death. “They can safely enter,” I announced as I fished the key from my saddlebag and opened the door. The Princess and her two spies silently entered and I followed, having locked the door behind us. The silence was immediately broken by the annoying one immediately speaking up.

“So I knew the two of you are close but I have to ask if it was a cost-saving thing?” The annoying one prodded into our relationship. “Or is it more of you don’t want to be apart from your special pony.”

“Both I have a limited amount of bits currently with me and it is nice to sleep with Cadance.” My answer began as a simple blunt declaration but by the end of it, I was for some reason all but forcing myself to continue explaining my line of reasoning. I would have expanded on my thought processes if not for my partner speaking up.

“Sunset, that was a joke.” Cadance clarified for my sake while she uncovered her hood, once more a dusting of red upon her normally pink cheeks. “Alright so… Where to begin…” She attempted to begin this… meeting would be a good description but was struggling to find where to start. Eventually, she found a good starting place as she began once more in earnest. “The Pony of Shadows has the Alicorn Amulet and is currently in the Well of Shade. I am almost certain that it was your imaginary pony that attacked you after we made up, back in Celestia’s Castle. Oh, also Tirek is currently still in the crypt.” Cadance was currently two for two, for having the Watching Eyes struck down in both horror and amazement. I had to intentionally work on a pony to have them react in this manner, yet she could involuntarily cause such distress. It was impressive.

Wait… It was here? That shade was here? The one that wasn’t truly a shade? The one that dared best me! The one that dared beat me! That shadowed pony was beneath my very hooves! That wretched thing held the Amulet that would allow me to Ascend!

My blood barely warmed at the revelation of such a fact, so little remained unfrozen within my veins after all. I would have to prepare my revenge for that pony that wasn’t a shade. It would learn why I was the greatest Unicorn to have ever lived! It would suffer under the great tribulations of my flames! It would suffer as I pulled it apart piece by piece and learned what made it tick!

It may have bested me once but it wouldn’t be able to do so again! I would be ready for its shadowed assault! I would be ready for the shield that it stole from Celestia! I would be waiting enwreathed within flames that would destroy that darkness that it called home! It would be reduced to nothing more than ashes that would be forever lost upon the winds! Never to be remembered! Never to be reformed! Never to be restored in any condition!

Forcing myself from my pleasurable delusions I interrupted my partner’s discussion with her two Watching Eyes. “Which was it? The former lord or the non-shade? Which one killed me? Which one dared attack you?” Even as I asked my question I knew it didn’t matter. I would be all too happy to carbonize them both. They both deserved such a kind fate, and I would happily assist them in achieving it. Even with my veins currently filled with one large creature of ice I would be happy to use their flesh to thaw the frozen waste of blood. They would bring me warmth as they burned before my hooves.

“What do you mean in regards to killing you?” The non-annoying of the two Watching Eyes questioned and was ignored by every pony within the room as my partner spoke.

“No, pony killed you Sunset.” There was something I was missing from her words. With the way the daggers of crystals shifted within her eyes that were colored with exhaustion, I had to be missing something. “Neither of those two monsters had the chance to attack me.” She continued as her gaze continued to search for something in my eyes.

I wasn’t sure what it was she was looking for within my soul but I hoped that she found whatever it was. That I wasn’t lacking something vital that she required to see within me. She continued with her previous conversation that I had interrupted after turning away from me. Even as I attempted to bring myself back from my mind to listen to the words she was speaking I could do little but let the waft past my ears.

Eventually, it seemed the focus had turned from informing the two Watching Eyes that they would be staying with us two for the remainder of our stay in Hollow Shades, not that they could do much, towards Cadance relaying actual vital information she had managed to gleam before she had been shunted backward in time. “The Alicorn Amulet is being worn by the Pony of Shadows, who is not a figment from an old mare’s tale…” Cadance trailed off as her eyes keenly observed me. Waiting for some manner of reaction, taking a shallow breath I gave my partner a nod and waited for whatever else she had acquired. Her crystalline that threatened to shatter should I once more disappoint her.

Thankfully she continued describing what little she had managed to see of the crypt, beyond the reception room that I had burned our way into. It seemed that it would not be a straight shot toward my now-named foe that had previously bested me. It would fall to my flames and I would claim the amulet that would allow me to transcend my current form and be reborn as an Alicorn. Ascension would be mine at last, I would bridge the divine divide that had taunted me since I had been able to comprehend it!

The discussion turned from an almost useful thing, however much informing the two spies of our plans could be, into an amusingly awkward affair for my partner as she had revealed what else was within the crypt. Or more specifically who else, the annoying Watching Eye didn’t even attempt to make a poor jest of the situation, no it had fallen as silent as its partner. When the two Watching Eyes had finally decided to question my partner’s plans I stayed silent and allowed her to explain her reasonings. They balked at using a curse to corral the ancient centaur but fell silent when I confirmed that it had been done.

“I will be right back, don’t…” The female spy trailed off as she alternated staring between its charge and the threat that had been sleeping with her. Eventually after glancing over at Cadance and me one final time she silently left the room. Leaving a silence that didn’t even last as the annoying one once more spoke up.

“Have to say, Princess, not the smartest move.” Its voice held conviction that made it seem like there was some manner of warrior beyond the jester guise that it wore. “Gentle and I would have appreciated any form of heads up, considering that Lord Tirek has managed to escape from Tartarus and Princess Celestia is still unaware of the fact.”

“She already suspects such a fact, if not outright knows. Do not pretend that Princess Celestia is so blind to turn away from a potential threat to her ponies.” She would do whatever it took to protect the ponies that she cared for. Any that existed beyond that distinction would be left to wither in the cold. But for those precious fools that she embraced within her protection, she would act as the stalwart defender she had always been.

The annoying spy met my gaze and didn’t even have the grace to falter when it locked eyes with the demon. No, instead I watched as it attempted to read me. Understand my words and extrapolate my true intentions. Did it not realize that I spoke the truth? Princess Celestia's insights were beholden to no limit beyond the ones that she set. With the mirror held within the depths of her stronghold, she could divine the future with but a glance alone.

Seeing that whatever steel that had been hidden behind mockeries and japes had yet to crack I continued. “With me by Cadance’s side, you and your partner were not needed.”

“Yet we are now.” His voice finally matched in tone with his supposed age and not one of equal years to mine. “Because you can’t currently protect her, you can no longer stand against the world and come out the victor.” That was categorically false Princess Celestia would put me down without a second thought if it was between me and all of Equus. I knew how that altercation would end.

I knew how our end would finally conclude, it had long ago been written. The Alicorn and the Unicorn. The Princess and the Student. The Sun and the demon. The victor and the defeated.

“I only asked for your assistance because I was unwilling to gamble with your Princess's life!” I spat into the face of the idiotic fool before me. Anger lit my blood into a comforting inferno that spread throughout my entire being, cleansing the ice that had formed in our earlier retreat. “Your charge who refuses to realize how much danger she is in as she continues to bumble through the darkness! The darkness that Princess Celestia should have illuminated or at least taught her to navigate.” The very darkness that I had found my calling in.

My horn dug into the throat of the so-called gilded guard as I ripped what little heat I had managed to generate to the tip of it. “So I have taken up the task to protect her because I…” My tongue caught on the words that were half-formed before I choked on them. I could all but feel the piercing gaze of my mare friend from behind me attempting to burn through my mane and into my thought process. To glean from my mind what it was that I was about to say.

“Yet you can’t fully protect her, Sunset you can’t even protect yourself.” I had been protecting myself for nearly five years at this point! “Alicorn or strongest Unicorn in a few generations you both are just two ponies that shouldn’t be in this situation. That is why Princess Celestia has tasked both Gentle and I with protecting the both of you.” The fool took advantage of my involuntary stop to continue his argument, uncaring that my horn was poised to blow his head clean from his body. “We could have requested some form of assistance, backup, or even a place for you both to stay.”

Managing to get my tongue untied from the knot that it had been caught within I prepared my rebuttal only to fall silent as Cadance interjected.

“Why shouldn’t we be in this situation?” I could have kissed her for the amount of venom that was concealed within that question. You know what? I will kiss her the first opportunity I get for that masterfully trapped question that would have put Princess Celestia in her place.

“Because you both should be learning who you are in some sort of school, sneaking out booze from Princess Celestia’s cupboard and enjoying your youth together. Not making deals with ancient sorcerers for an evil artifact that alters its wearer's mind.” I swallowed a pearl of flames that formed on my tongue, his words as annoying as they were, were spoken truthfully. He truly believed that both Cadance and I were too young for this. Was he not a part of the Royal Guard when I had bathed in the blood of Equestria's foes? When I had been tossed aside by Celestia? When I had been abandoned by the one pony that had been my Mother in all but name?

“If you truly think that then you are even more blind than Cadance.” I spat as I pulled away from the foolish stallion that had refused to be cowed. Returning to my partner’s side she gave me a light shove with her hoof for my most recent barb but otherwise let me under the crook of her wing as we both stared down the guard. Only for all of our eyes to turn towards the opening of the door and the spy took one look at the current hostilities that it had interrupted. It then proceeded to offer up the tray carrying four glasses and a great pitcher filled with a dark liquid.

The guard that Cadance and I had been staring down broke immediately at the sight of his partner.

“You can never again claim to be more mature than me if your response to all of that is to get the Princess and her mare friend drunk!” He half shouted, utterly astounded by the sight that was the silent spy closing the door behind it and placing down the glass cups before each of the three of us. “Seriously, what in Tartarus are you thinking, Gentle? They're not exactly old enough to be drinking it legally.” He questioned his partner’s sanity the same as I did.

“Tensions were rising. Princess Celestia isn’t here and at least one of them, if not both, have already wet their whistle. Princess Cadance is an Alicorn, I don’t think she can get drunk off of this and if Sunset Shimmer were to get drunk I don’t believe there would be any negatives, only positives.” She blandly orated to the room that was silenced by her actions all the while she poured out a full glass for both herself and her partner before motioning for Cadance’s and mine glasses.

“Gentle, I don’t think that any of us should be well… risk becoming inebriated.” Cadance was the only pony in this room that had any semblance of intelligence. Gentle just stared down the Princess whose wing was wrapped around me until she continued. “Can you at least explain the method of your madness?” Cadance’s voice reminded me of when she asked for clarification of my plans.

“Too overly simplify you two, don't trust us and we don’t trust you.” I would have brought up the fact that I was the only pony that they didn’t trust but my tongue was held by the morbid curiosity that she was leading towards. “This is a peace offering, we need to have some manner of trust built. Ponies are stronger together when we can unite as one force. I do not like our chances against Lord Tirek, let alone against this Pony of Shadows.” I was not expecting a friendship speech of all things to come from her mouth. I mean I knew it should have been a possibility but still…

“You’re as insane as Sunset,” Cadance muttered under her breath as she shifted her hold on me. I was nothing more than a cold body currently. Towards the single question on her face, I could do nothing but pause and slightly nod my head. With my acceptance of this peace offering Cadance pushed our glasses forward as the female guard… Gentle filled ours only halfway before pushing them back with her wing. Cadance let go of me as she reached for her cup.

Gingerly I grabbed my own with my hoofs, I wasn’t willing to waste any magic on proper decorum now of all times, and sniffed at it. It didn’t make me immediately retch like the hard cider that I had stolen, that was likely a good sign if I correctly remembered that alcohol was a type of poison. Seeing the two guards across from us take a sip from their cups I tried some myself.

I didn't get any on Cadance and that was the best way I could put what had happened after I had taken a sip.

“With you fully drinking that bottle of hard cider I would have assumed that you could hold your liquor better.” Cadance chortled at me while she spun a quick cleaning spell. I glared at her as she snorted into her glass.

I would show her, and with that stupid thought fueling my actions I once more took a swig of the still-unnamed drink that tasted of blueberries. I triumphantly grinned at my partner as I managed to keep down the liquid that gave off a minuscule amount of heat. It was almost incomparable to the amount that my partner freely gave, yet the drink still afforded me another shred of warmth.

“How come you aren’t…” I coughed out gesturing at Cadance as my coughing grew too much for my words. Alicorn or not, she was taking it far too well.

“When I turned 15 my parents let me get into some of their drinks as a birthday present.” Cadance’s smile was not for me, no it was one for the ponies that had raised her. The two that had sacrificed themselves for her. “It is nice to be more skillful than you for one more thing.” This sly smile that teased across her face was most certainly for me.

I shot her a warm glare in response to her words before I continued sipping at my own. I wasn’t in any hurry to put on a repeat performance that had happened previously. It appeared that every pony agreed in that regard, savoring the sweet drink but ensuring that they kept their mental facilities.

Cadance finally got up as she polished off her glass before I had even gotten halfway through mine, and moved over towards Gentle to both talk in a hushed manner and get a refill. I would have attempted to eavesdrop but Rebound made his way over towards me, no doubt seeing the opportunity without his charge by my side.

“I can see the darkness for what it is but I still believe that you two should not be doing this.” The stallion muttered out as he sat next to me, his drink not even a quarter full. “Princess Celestia sees some benefit in having the two of you traipsing around Equestria, I don’t, but it isn’t my decision in the end.”

“No, it isn’t. You have neither a horn cresting upon your head nor a crown adorning you.” I cooly replied half attempting to mentally shove him away without touching upon my precious dregs of magic that had returned to me. “Neither of us is an Alicorn so we must follow their lead, their orders, and their eternal decrees.” For they were blessed beyond us wretched failures that wallowed in the light of their very existence.

“Celestia’s Supple ass-” The glare that targeted the wasted flesh and sentience had it swallowing its words as it choked on its spit. “I was trying to apologize.” If it was attempting to apologize then it was doing a poorer job than I usually did. “Look I meant what I said, we aren’t here to spy on you, we are here to ensure that the two of you are safe that's it. Gentle and I could have, probably should have, immediately ran off and alerted some of the guards in town of who exactly was in town but we didn’t. Give us a chance to do our jobs and you might be surprised.” With that, he sauntered back to his partner as Cadance came back to me.

Once more I was caught within her grasp as she snuggled beside me. It was pleasant not immediately worrying about the next task that must be accomplished. It reminded me of when it was just the two of us in my hideout. No, it was far better we were partners in so many ways now.

The Sun above continued its journey while the four of us spent the rest of the day within the room, only sending out Rebound to acquire some food before the Sun began its descent and began to plunge Hollow Shades into darkness. The drinks and food cleared, and the room was somewhat clean thanks to Cadance. As I watched the Sun be lost behind the horizon, we began to get settled in for the night.

“I can feel the disrespect of our juniors. Forcing us to the cold hard ground while the two of you younglings enjoy the delight that is a bed.” Rebound whined out while he held onto his partner for ‘support’. Said partner was making herself comfortable upon the blanket that Cadance had given. Her reasoning was something that even now warmed my bones, that we wouldn’t need it, as I gave off more than enough warmth.

I gave off warmth even when entombed in ice? When my veins lie frozen? Where my very heart was nothing more than a cooled reactor?

“I do believe that I am a Princess?” Cadance asked to the room and as I nodded an unneeded confirmation into her wing she continued. “You should be glad that I have deigned to give you the blanket.” She had also enchanted it to soften the so-called harshness of the floor.

“Damn. Bringing out the royalty card. Can't argue against that. Gentle, help me out here… Fine.” Rebound asked for assistance and instead of helping her partner, she was content to close her eyes and rest her head upon him. “Do remember that the two of us will be in the room in case the two of you want to-” That was as far as he got before Cadance silenced him, I didn’t need to see my partner's face to know that it held the same reddened complexion as mine.

With nothing more to keep me distracted, I fell into Cadance. Embraced by my mare friend, my ally, my partner. Further falling until I once more was standing before the Sun that lit the path forth. Allowing all those that it claimed as its own to travel in the blazing trail it had set.

Even now as I waited for my nightly ritual to begin anew I could still feel her softness, her care, her very warmth that she shared with me. I focused on those phantom feelings as the sky darkened, and the Sun was threatened upon all sides by the encroaching darkness. Until eventually it could struggle no more and was utterly consumed by the promised darkness.

Opening my eyes once more I met the most beautiful purple eyes I had ever seen, whose crystalline constructs glistened in the morning Sun. Whose shimmering tri-colored mane cupped her face which held a smile that was reserved for me. She melted away the final fragments of cold that had remained hidden as I leaned forward and caught her lips in mine.

The sweet soothing taste of honey was the beginning of this day.

Author's Note

I have yet to break my New Year's resolution in regards to the weekly updates and I will continue to strive to not(Still technically counts as Sunday for me so it works). That aside this chapter is meant to be the final fragment of peace before the return to the storm of darkness that has been prepared for both Sunset and Cadance.

That said, Sunset burned off another candle on her birthday cake, Cadance is dealing with insights into the 'future' that she would rather not, and they both escaped a great fall that would make Sir Humpty jealous. Rebound attempts to act like the older pony, whether he succeeded or not is up for interpretation. Gentle Breeze on the other hoof has decided to say screw it and get everyone 'drunk' as a peace offering. Not what I had initially planned but I rather enjoyed how it worked out.

Sunset's internal dialogue was far looser in some regards to some specific things in this chapter, things that may or may not be of vital importance sooner than later. She also almost spoke some words that Cadance had been waiting to hear + Something was missing from Sunset's nightly ritual.

-LittleFaerieFire

43. Lost Lanquish

Lost Languish

Sunset

After separating from my mare friend I could only turn my gaze inwards, no longer did I have but the barest dregs of magic at my disposal. No, now I once more held within my grasp even more liquid magic than I had after the former lord had feasted upon me, leaving me with the barest of scraps that had remained secreted away within my blood. It wasn’t worth comparing to the excess of mystical energies that commonly thrived within my liquid flame that coursed through my body, but I had been planning to brave the crypt with far less at my disposal. Now in addition to the magic I had recovered, there were the two Royal guards that would be accompanying us into the darkened depths.

They would prove their worth one way or another, I would ensure that they did. Whether that was proving what Princess Celestia saw within them, that she believed them enough to protect the newest Princess from my clutches, or they would be used by me to ensure Cadance’s safety within the crypt beneath our hooves. The former would be a pleasant change in pace in regards to the normal worth of the gilded guards who thought themselves the unparalleled defenders of the divine. The latter would be far more likely, I knew many failures of the guard. I had taken advantage of them for some time now after all. If they could give Cadance an extra moment to change a shadowed fate that approached her then their worth would be cashed in excess.

That one moment where they burned with value far beyond their base worth. That singular moment where they were comparable to a being that was utterly beyond them in every single way. They were equal in a manner to an Alicorn Princess for that singular instance where they burned away in defense of the only pony that still cared for them. That sill thought they held some semblance of worth after the Sun had decided that they held nothing of value. That for every step forward you attempted, you would be forever lost without her guidance. That it wasn’t worth her time or effort to guide you now!

Calm. I am calm. I can’t afford to lose myself. Not now. Not when I am so close to finally succeeding. Not again can I afford to fail.

Forcing myself to run through the cooling charm, I didn’t cast it, but it was a close thing. Running through the theorem I had long since memorized since I had first been able to pull my flames into reality. Where I had taken my first steps in my mastery of the arcane. Where I had no doubt declared my inevitable downfall to the one pony who had saved me… She wasn’t the only pony who had saved me.

Another glance at the pony that had utterly entrapped me with her designs. No, I had all but dove head-first into the trap that she represented. How could I have not drank from her poison? She was Love. The Love that Celestia had ordained her gilded guards be protected from the demon that I was.

Speaking of which it appears that the two gilded guards had already awoken and were content to watch Cadance and me as we lazed against one another. Our two warmth’s intermixing within our interwoven limbs, where one of us began and the other ended was a question that would go unasked. Spying an expressed emotion that was almost familiar, that I wasn’t going to waste any effort in analyzing, as it was shared upon both of their faces. It was only when Cadance began to shake me gently with her feathers did I began to extricate myself from the blissful prison of flesh and feathers I had been willingly swaddled within.

My escape attempts were made far easier with the assistance of my partner lifting her wings. Rolling my eyes at the smile that had formed on her face as I shifted off the bed. “What, you aren’t going to kiss me again?” The Princess of Love taunted me, assured of her inevitable victory. On another day I would have contested such words, such blind faith that because of her steps towards her final ascension, she was my better. Yet today was not one of those days, instead, I allowed her to claim victory, as I refused to fall for her lascivious words as I continued my retreat.

I was once more bested by the divine. Once again I was beaten by an Alicorn. This time even if I had been bested, it didn’t feel as if I had lost. The blackened claw of ice didn’t begin to strangle my throat at this defeat, no its familiar touch was replaced by a gentle absence of change. I ignored the muffled laughter coming from the two guards who were contently playing some manner of card game and completed my tactical withdrawal. Catching myself and ensuring that I didn’t stumble off the bed like my partner often did.

“Let’s get going then.” The Alicorn Amulet would be mine. “The paltry lord and the shadowed one have likely concluded their initial fighting, if we are lucky we will be able to deal with the weakened remnants with ease.” I doubted it. I knew deep within my blazing blood that there would be some manner of tribulations within the shadow-encrusted crypt that had long since held my prize. It mattered not, I would finally claim what had been kept from my claws for far too long!

Even without turning, I could easily imagine the face that my partner was making at my words. I didn’t bother to respond to the unseen provocations, instead, I focused on the two guards who were swiftly packing up their game. I managed to meet each of their gazes while they were performing this menial task and pass along a simple reminder of their task. Even as I drew back my mental touch from the deepest recesses of their minds, I knew that they would heed the command. So soft was my touch that I knew that my partner wouldn’t be able to sense it. She was a prodigy that would one day be beyond even my meager means, however, she had yet to achieve such dominance.

Turning back I was greeted by a sight that I had once thought beyond the fantastical delusions of a pony who had yet to ascend, one that would preciously be hoarded within my mind until I perished. Cadance’s splendor was once more highlighted by the gentle rays of the Sun that danced across her form as she slowly stretched upon the bed. Her Sun blessed beauty should have been forever forbidden from me. Yet I had been able to claim her as my own.

So enthralled was I by her divine form that even as she completed her waking routine and sauntered towards me, I could do nothing more than act as one of the most pathetic of peons before the nascent goddess before them. Still paralyzed by the priceless gem that now was but half of her wing away from crossing the divide that separates us, I had taken the time to commit my partner's measurements to mind some time ago, as the once wounded appendage was extended forth. Offering a pathway forth. A bridge for me to connect to on my own.

Even without the splendor of the Sun to light such a path, Love herself beckoned me to follow in her wake. Promises broken now were once more offered by one who understood what they meant. One who shared what I felt. One who saw me as something worth remembering. Even if I couldn’t prove myself her equal in ascension I would still be allowed to follow after her. No, I would walk by her side. Blazing forwards in tandem with one another. In pursuit of our joined goals. Her past is encrusted within crystal and dreams. My future, emblazoned within scarred flames. Our presents entwined, what were once separate strings of destiny now blurred together against the wishes of all who could see them dancing against the backdrop of the void.

As if beguiled by a schoolyard spell, I knew what had shackled my mind was far greater than any magic that I currently held at my disposal, I met her extended wing with my hoof. I could have asked a great many things but instead of any of those questions that grew from the embers within my mind, I asked something far more simple. Something far more real than the flames that had burgeoned forth at my mental command. Something that gave off more warmth than the infernos that resided within my flesh. “Together?”

“Together,” Cadance’s agreement brought forth another deluge of warmth that strangled the paltry remnants of frost that had been hidden within my form. I would have burned Equus to keep this moment going if even a few moments longer, defiled countless souls, sacrificed them in a grand act of defiance against time, and many more acts that would have proven me the demon that I knew I was. All in a vain effort to keep this singular piece of paradise that I had managed to find.

Yet even as the paradise that had been brought forth was shattered by Cadance as she removed her wing and moved past me to her two guards I didn’t despair. I couldn’t despair even as the whispers resounded and beckoned me to understand their burned insights. No, I knew that for as long as we were bound in both pact and… and… Say it!

We had all but slept together and I couldn’t say that word. I had claimed such a fact before… I had to have done so. I should have done so. Even if I hadn’t expressed that truth before her. She had to know. She…

Pathetic.

She was perfect and once more I proved to be nothing more than a failure of a pony that Princess Celestia was right to forget. One that deserved nothing more than to be returned to where I had been found! One that deserved the soul-crushing depths of the cold that had claimed me! One who deserved her divinely ordained punishments by the Sun! The one who had been replaced! The one who had been forgotten as the only pony I had ever Loved moved on.

I could have brought forth another star with the realization that blazed forth at the use of that word. I could claim I loved the pony that saw me as nothing more than cattle to be led to the slaughter in her perfect future. For I was nothing more than a demon. The demon that would do anything to ascend. The demon was no longer even a pony. Much less anything more than an enemy to her perfect rule bathed in the light of her Sun!

I had failed to prove my worth to the Celestial Monarch that had raised me! I had allowed my failures to overshadow my limited worth! I had been caught with my hoof within tomes that the Sun herself had forbidden me from reviewing! I had burned her guards as I escaped through the final relic that she had shared!

I had been replaced by another who had gained the Sun’s approval! Even when I had returned to claim what was originally mine before it had been stolen twice over I had been bested! I had lost, sentenced to death! Reduced to nothing more than an ember as clung on through the chains that had been affixed! I had been sentenced to never return to what had once been my home!

Not the one that I had burned and claimed my first two souls, the one that I had been brought to after being saved by the Sun. One that housed countless ponies, but which I had shared with only one other. One that I had returned to eventually. One that I had reclaimed along with its now missing inhabitant. One who had been content to forget me as but another of her failures!

I had shown her that I was perfect! I had become PERFECT! That in comparison to the parasite that I had long ago threatened- No! I can’t! She wasn’t a parasite! She was Cadance! She wasn’t the parasite! She was Cadance! I couldn’t-.

The screams that had penetrated forth from the domain that held naught but false promises were forcibly silenced as I tore them from my mind. Burned away the nonexistent tendrils that had sought to infect me. That wasn’t me. No matter the similarities, that wasn’t me.

I was Sunset Shimmer. Daughter of the Sun. Partner of Cadance. Paramour of Love. Greatest Unicorn to have ever graced Equus. The demon of Canterlot Castle.

Even if I wasn’t perfect, Cadance cared for me and I cared for her in turn. So be it if I was nothing more than a wretched demon wearing the stolen skin of a pony. So be it if I was to be alone amongst the herd. I needed no pony but myself! I was Sunset Shimmer!

I had found a pony that had saved me. Who saw me for more than the blackened stains of my coat. Who had bound herself to me. Who I had in turn bound myself in phantasmal chains of silk. We were allies, mare friends, partners. The two of us are against the world. The two of us against the finale that had long ago been written in flame and blood.

Continue.

Alighting the mixed thoughts that clashed within my mind in a melee of chaos that only the Spirit of disharmony could have hoped to comprehend much less understand, cleansing them with flames that had rended reality asunder, I brought forth Cadance’s spelled blade once more from the depths of my sack where I had stashed it before our festivities last night. Considering what creatures lay beneath, such a tool would serve her well. Complementing her crystallokinesis and allowing her that precious potential avenue of silencing her conscience when it mattered most. She would not perish. She couldn’t.

With the two living shields by her side, she would be fine. She had to be fine. Even if she was still yet mortal she was far closer to the divine than I was. She had begun her ascension in earnest and had received her deserved blessings. She was grander than I. She had to be fine.

The chilled gale of concern combusted as what possible fates awaited the pony that was my partner were conjured from the depths of my mind and was assisted in their escape by the maddening laughter that whispered red reminders. What I would have so gleefully done to her. What abuses I would have afflicted upon her soul. The molestation of her mind, body, and soul in my pursuit of the knowledge of ascension locked within. The scourge of remedies that I would have prescribed in preparation to take her wings as my own, each seeking to bring her further towards an ever more impossible appreciation of torment that I would afflict.

I had to ascend. I must ascend. I was born to ascend. I was fated to ascend. If I didn’t bridge the divide between the mortal and the divine I would be forgotten in the cold once more. What was my worth if I couldn’t pass the hurdle that had forever taunted me? What was my worth if, in a few meager eons, I had been forgotten?

Left behind by the only pony to have ever cared for me… From my blood bloomed flames at the indignation of such a thought forming once more. I was not that pathetic. I had remade myself in her image.

I held the care of two ponies. One of whom still cared for me. One of whom was willing to risk her eternity for a chance at my own. So be it if the first, no longer thought me fit to be within her Sun. In the shadow her light had cast I had found another. One who was mine.

Once more the jealous companion that had clung to me since birth was forgotten as the newcomer brought forth the grand conflagration that subsumed the previous blistering within my blood. The strange flame that I could never hope to birth myself was once more flooding through my veins. The very same flame that was birthed not by any emotion that I could touch. One that was beyond my comprehension. One that had been brought forth by an unsung prayer that had fallen from my lips.

It blazed within me. It burned brighter than any flame of mine that I had supported. Its thronging heat reminded me of Celestia. Back in simpler and kinder times, where she allowed me to pretend to be something more than what I was. Something that I now was once more embracing as the favored priestess of Love herself.

Following at my partner's side only gave the still yet unnamed flame that had taken root so deeply within my being to grow ever stronger. The fervor of the warmth that was created was something I knew my partner had to notice, after all with just one glance at the denizens that attempted to cut off the two guards behind us had ended their shadowed efforts before they could even begin. Cadance didn’t even mention the minute turning of my head, but the crystalline shards of possibilities collapsed within. Forming new constructs of her desires, ones oh so familiar to the ones that she had shared with me in the throes of passion that had nearly had us become one. Bound beyond the machinations of all within the tale that had once been told.

When we arrived at the entrance I had formed, no longer was my illusion superimposed over it. No, now it was blocked off by a half-catatonic pony that was easily the combined age of the four of us. Even being ‘escorted’ by two royal guards was not enough for the decrepit pony to ignore our presence before him. No, instead he marched forwards with only the barest traces of formality and I granted the un-whispered desire, allowing my partner to step before me.

“Halt in the name of Princess Celestia. This area has been cordoned off due to some pony deciding to dig a hole deep in the earth. It isn’t safe for any pony. Royal escort or not.” The not-so-gilded guard ponies' disdain for the two gilded guards that had been assigned to my partner outweighed the grogginess. The bastardized theorem that my partner spun together was a laughable attempt to obscure the four of us and the irate failure of a guard pony. I would have to revisit some of the principles I had glossed over in the name of making sure that she was combat ready… able to survive. As much as I cared for her she wasn’t combat ready.

She was still unable to realize the primal truth. Princess Celestia had not the chance to teach her and even traveling with me was not enough to shatter that innocence that blinded her. She still believed that there were alternatives in the heated throes of battle. She would learn in time, I would ensure that she didn’t break when the act had been performed. Until it was inevitable I would perform such actions on my own, the additional blood wouldn’t be noticed upon my hooves.

Princess Celestia for all of her illustrious light was a known killer. Yet it was she who was adored by all of her ponies. They would never dare to insinuate that she was a craven killer. But for one who had just entered into the spotlight with her ascension and soon-to-be coronation, Cadance held none of the advantages that the elder Alicorn Princess held. If she was to be caught with another's blood coating her form she could be treated the same as me. She cared for those nameless ponies and she would be crushed by their disdain. I would do what little I could to prevent her fall into the same shadows that enshrouded me.

The spell took hold of reality and the earth pony before us dared narrow its hazed visual organs at my partner as her horn flashed under her cloak. Unobsecurered suspicion was held within the creature's eyes that bled into the determined resolution of a pony preparing for its final moments. The flame that filled me begged to be released upon the creature that sought to provoke the one that was my partner. Licking at the fringes of reality as it sought to protect the one that had saved me.

“In my name, you seek to stop me?” Celestia’s voice was the mixing of both suggestion and commanding was something that no mere pony could have bound within those words. My flames faltered at the same time the so-called guard before us did. Cel- Cadance. She was Cadance. Cadance didn’t let up on the guard as she extended her wings and allowed a few white-pink feathers to poke out the bottom of her cloak. “I take it that there are no more issues?” Celestia drawled as she dared the pitiful wretch of a creature before her to defy her heavenly edict.

There was no longer any shadow of exhaustion that clung to the pony that had halted her way. Only obedience remained as the pony swiftly saluted Celestia and stepped aside. Thanking the goddess that was in its presence for her eternal mercy. Counting its blessings as it was allowed to clean the blemish it had etched into its soul. Did it realize how loved it was by the Celestial Monarch? Did it realize how much I would have sacrificed so that I would be able to cleanse myself of my sins? My failures that were embedded in my past?

Celestia pushed forth, carving a way forth for all those who would follow in her path. Ensuring that those behind her would be safe within her Sun’s warmth. Move. Her Sun was once more obscured as I slipped into the Princess of the Sun’s shadow. Follow. Just as I had so faithfully done for so long, my every moment mirrored the perfect one. Who held no blackened blemishes upon her lengthy past. If I could only be better. If I could only be more like her. If only I could be perfect she would acknowledge how I felt about her.

It wasn’t to be as I was ignored by her Sun’s light that embraced all others freely. Only when we made it to the pit that I had so carelessly burned through her lands did she halt her course. “Sunset…” My name was once more whispered upon her tongue as she turned to gaze upon the failure I had become. Even with her guiding hoof, I was nothing more than a demon. One that she would be forced to put down for the good of her ponies. So that she would once more be perfect as she discarded her greatest failure.

Just as she had saved me, she would damn me. My beginning and end were found within her, my very existence was hers to alter in her image. She was my everything and for once it seemed that I was hers. For within her Suntouched eyes was an endless concern illuminated by the rays of her Sun. Rays that had once burned were now warm reminders of gentle care.

“Yes, Princess?” I chirped eagerly awaiting the next task that she would offer to me. Another chance to prove my worth. Another avenue of success. One more way to prove that I was worth her time. The Princess of the Sun before me didn’t immediately respond to my words, instead, she stared at me. Concern dripped from the pink gemstones that were her eyes.

“...Shall we continue?” Her words were twisted malignant echoes of her hidden intentions, ones that she kept obscured from me. On another day I could have prodded the eternal leader of Equestria to remove the obscurity behind her words. Today would not be that day, for she was already gifting me with the second-greatest gift that she could.

She was assisting me ascend. Celestia herself believed that I was worthy to be eternal by her side. The flame that had once been bursting within my soul was subsumed by the love I held towards the pony that was my mother.

“Of course.” I smiled as I threw myself into the darkness, laughing as I could hear Celestia’s startled gasp. So concerned with my safety that she all but chased after me seeking to protect me from the monsters that she had long ago fought. I couldn’t help the utter jubilation that flooded through my form as she caught me within her wings before I impacted the ground. For once it seemed that the Alicorn was chasing after the Unicorn. The teacher now trailed after the student.

I wouldn’t have been harmed, if I had the feather fall charm half performed. But Celestia’s actions proved that she needed to protect me from any danger. How could I not love her? She was perfect. “Thank you, Princess!” I didn’t care how old I was, I would always be far younger than her. It had been what felt like a millennium since I had last snuggled into the pony that had raised me.

“Sunset Shimmer, what were you thinking?” Celestia asked, her tone taking a familiar edge to when she had found me sneaking out in the dead of night to be by her side for even a moment longer. When I had refused the words of wisdom given by the one pony who had seen it all before. The one who had watched as history repeated before her very eyes.

“I knew you would catch me,” I answered simply expecting a final admonishment for my actions instead I saw a sight that I thought was impossible. For upon the white cheeks of the pony that I had long since wished to be my mother was the dustings of red. It wasn’t anger, not any anger that I had been acquainted with. No, instead the pits of peerless purpose were averted from me as I attempted to puzzle out this strange change in my savior.

It was at this moment when Celestia was still cradling me as were I but a foal, that her two guards descended. Once again too late to save any pony, for their mistress of the Sun had already saved me once more. Why she pretended that they were anything more than an early alarm system I still didn’t understand. Celestia in the past had evaded that line of inquiry only mentioning that she couldn’t be everywhere herself. Ignoring the points that I had made in their entirety. But that was then and this was now.

Smiling at Celestia who had turned her head back to me after glancing at her two guards I pushed against her wings. She didn’t hesitate to part her white feathers and allow me passage from her protective shell and into the derelict crypt that held the promise of my ascension. Before I could begin my effort to reduce the crypt to nothing more than a blasted hell filled with flames that would grant both Celestia and me the advantage, grasping claws of darkness formed from the dim crypt we had entered.

Each of the numerous claws under the absence of light half blended with the darkened reality before us as they slinked forth with ill intent. I met their malice with my own, my flames erupted and caught the dark hands in a flash of blinding light that momentarily dispelled them. Failure. Yet it wasn’t enough, before Princes Celestia I once more proved what an abject failure I was. They returned the moment that the bursting light had fully faded.

I had once more proved to her that I wasn’t worth her time! I had once more proven that I was not worth her attention! Calm. I couldn’t allow myself to be lost once more before her. I was calm. I was collected. I would prove to every pony that I was more than the failure that I was. I began my trials upon these claws that emerged from the darkness and began their slow assault on us.

They weren’t obstructed, much less halted by the heat that I enshrined them within. No, it was only when I returned to crafting flashes of light did they falter. It was obvious in hindsight but considering the so far unlimited number of these hands that I had destroyed and the ones that continuously reformed there was no end in sight. It was likely that this was some manner of ritual that fed from an enlarged battery of magical energy that had been collected over years if not decades.

No arcane formula that I had come across was bereft of inefficiencies. No perfect conversion existed, that was true when it came to the sciences and magic alike. Not that there wasn’t a superior between the two but this wasn’t the time. I was second to only Celestia herself when it came to reducing the lost energy and when it came to my flames I was almost equivalent to the Goddess of the Sun herself. Unsatisfactory.

Two ways would lead to appropriate successes in dealing with this defense, the first was to locate the origin of the matrix and destroy it. However, even observing the spectral hands form within the surrounding blackness gave no insight into where it was located. This led me to the second solution, I simply had to make my light strong enough to reduce the hands back into nonexistence that they had been formed from while at the same time not burning through the flood of magic that sang through my veins.

In total, it took me a minute to destroy the hands before I was satisfied with the final formula. I knew that Celestia had already figured out the most optimal way to deal with this issue but she hadn’t interjected with her answer. No, she had allowed me to prove that I could stand on my own for hooves. I couldn’t rely on Celestia for everything, not anymore. If I did I would prove no better than every pony that relied on her to wipe their plot. I had to prove that I was perfect. This was the perfect opportunity to prove that I was worthy.

Spinning together four orbs of the light I allowed myself a momentary pause before I turned around and saw my mother watching over me with concern weighing upon her narrowed eyes as she prepared to step in should I have faltered. She cared. She cared! Willing an orb over to the pony that had raised me, I finally broke my silence. “As long as we stay within the light, the claws should be unable to attack us.” Even if the darkness was altered by the shadowed one, I could alter the formula far faster than this ritual could be manipulated. Waiting for my grade, waiting to see what she thought of the newest test I had completed. I was disappointed as instead of offering her insight on the manner she instead continued her searching through the darkness that still existed beyond the light I had called forth.

Resume.

I could lay myself low at the altar I had constructed for my mother at a later moment. I would have all of eternity to ensure that my devotion to her was shown. For she was everything. She was my Sun. She was my life. “Give me a moment to level the field.” Fully intending to reduce the crypt to nothing more than a blasted hell filled with flames that would grant both Celestia and me the advantage. Every moment that I waited was another moment that Celestia could change her mind. But against two enemies that Celestia herself had fought in ages past I would need every advantage I could gain. I couldn’t rely on Celestia for everything, not anymore. If I did I would prove no better than every pony that relied on her to wipe their plot. I had to prove that I was perfect.

Celestia didn’t contradict my statement regarding pausing the resumption of our plundering… Technically with the Solar Monarch by my side it would be considered reclamation as anything with Celestia’s domain was hers to claim should she wish. But the technicalities aside, I focused on bringing forth that kindled warmth that had flooded through my veins. Invigorating each crevice of my form with its warm splendor as I forced my heart to beat ever faster. Plucking a mote of that divine flame that she had shared with me I forced it into the rapidly heating reality.

I didn’t bother to look towards Celestia, she was perfect and at least one of the guards was likely intelligent enough to stand within my mother's shield. With the spark brought forth into reality, I began to funnel even more of my inner flames into it. Even as the shadows began to writhe and attempt to snuff my flame I was folding in upon itself. Did it not realize that with Celestia by my side it could not hope to touch me? Even as the conflagration birthed from my blood continued to swell and be shunted into the newborn star I could spy the arrival of my prey in one of the final remaining shadows.

Celestia’s magic erupted into existence as beautiful spears of crystals impaled the shadows that attempted to end me. She was a peerless master of all magics but it was not enough to snuff the shadowed assault that persisted despite my newborn star. Said assault no doubt shattered ineffectively against the Celestial Monarch's shield.

That’s what I easily presumed knowing the impossible strength of the sole Ruler of Equestria. However, the screams continued, increasing in volume as the shadowed pony opened its maw and contorted it much like a doll. Splitting my attention even further I froze as I turned back towards the perfect pony. Mine.

My star ignited with a singular half-formed thought as I ripped through reality and severed the shadowed tendrils that dared to have touched my Mother. Protect. A new burst of flames reduced the impact from my destabilized star and my shield withstood the rest of the explosion behind me. Reduce. It was nearly entirely forgotten as I stood before the pony that moments ago was my mother. Now her wings weren’t white, her mane no longer the ethereal rainbow that had clung to her. Imposter.

In that eternal moment assaulted by flames and shadow it dawned on me as I brought my hoof to her quivering wing that had wrapped around her ponies that this wasn’t my mother. Why? Where did she go? Why had she once more left me? Attack. The screaming song of battle resumed as I threw myself at the pony that had continued its assault during my explosion that had reduced a portion of this crypt to nothing more than molten rock.

“Show me student of the Sun that your flame has grown since I had so easily snuffed it!” The writhing shadows screeched out, as I matched each of its shadowed spears with one constructed of flames. Attack. I could puzzle out Celestia’s imposter at a later moment, for now even as I desired nothing more than to tear from that imposter's mind where my mother was, I would deal with this threat. Scream.

This threat that had dared best me before. Kill. That had dared defy the destiny that had been ordained before me. END! Collecting the slagged remnants forward into a great wave of magma. DESTROY! The tidal wave consumed the spears of darkness that were brought forth from the shadowed prey. How had I faltered against this so-called foe before? How had I failed against its paltry might?

Stepping forward onto the field of molten stone, I stalked toward the shadowed creature that had been unable to move under my assault. Stop. Ripping through reality the moment I could see the trap that had been lain, no a moment too soon as I was reborn by the imposter's side did the former lord step forth from the singular remaining shadow that had persisted through the harsh light that I had summoned. “Did you think that would work?” I had never been caught! I had never been caged! They would not be the ones to trap me! It was the feral shadow that responded to my question with a slow snarl in its voice.

“No, but it would have made the second part easier.” The growling resounded as within the mass of dancing shade a beautiful red glow emanated. I was so close. What was one more soul to burn? What was one more to add to the pyre I had spent eons constructing? I moved to step forward over the alabaster imposter only to feel the gentle brushing of her wings dancing across my side.

“Sunset?” My name was dripping with such concern from the lips of my mother as she cracked open her eyes, eyes which were not pink. No, instead they were replaced with the darkness of the void that had long since beckoned. “Do you plan to leave me so soon my daughter?” She-! I-! Daughter!?? HOW? Why now? What changed?

Reality melted away before my eyes as there was but only one existence before me, only one pony within the still void of entombed souls. The only one that ever mattered. She slowly stood from where she had been knocked prone until she towered before me. My heart was doing its best to escape its confines as she slowly erased the divide between the two of us.

“What are you doing?” My words were a jumbled mess that fell from my tongue. She called me her daughter. Celestia had claimed me as her blood. As her own family. Celestia didn’t provide me with any answer before she blurred.

A familiar taste of iron was upon my tongue yet it didn’t hold the same flavor as my liquid life force. Wrong! This was wrong! This was-! Pushing Celestia away from me as I gasped for the breath that had been plucked from my lungs. A single string of blood lazily danced in the void between us as Celestia smiled. It took more than I thought was within me to push beyond that smile that promised so much more than what she had already given me. “You're not Celestia!” I hissed as I stoked the flame into an even greater fervor.

“I could be, and I could be so much more.” The facsimile of my mother laughed. My flames splashed ineffectively against the impersonation of my mother. “Oh well, not this time perhaps.” I glared at the pony that dared act as my m- Princess Celestia. The duplicate didn’t have even the barest grace to falter under my gaze. No, instead it opened its mouth once more. A singular order spoken as my blood began to slow, my heart faltered, my magic ended, and the heat that rested within me froze. “Stop.”

Author's Note

So I will be switching to every two weeks for updating this story. I have unfortunately been hit with a bit of writer block, so yeah. If I manage to get through the block will go back to updating once a week. That aside not entirely happy with the way that this chapter turned out as I have had to change some of my immediate plans, but whatever at this point. I have dealt with more annoying changes in the past.

-LittleFaerieFire

16. Old Blood, New Blood, Royal Blood

Old Blood, New Blood, Royal Blood

Cadance

“My apologies for the early morning summons Cadance but I do not believe that this could have been held off until later.” Celestia greeted me with a minuscule smile as I entered the throne room. Stifling a yawn, I returned her smile. This is strange. Why were there no guards in the room? Rebound even was waiting outside the doors.

“It is fine Auntie.” I waved off her concern. Forcing a smile onto my face. It wasn't as if she could have known that I was meeting with my grandfather who had only just been able to contact me. I unclenched my teeth and took a breath. If Celestia noticed she hopefully attributed it to me still being tired. “Did something happen?”

“Sunset is no longer resting within the infirmary,” Celestia answered her gaze piercing my own. Unaware of the clawing fear that began to creep down my wings she continued “When I checked on her she had been replaced by an illusionary duplicate.” Did she know? Celestia damn it Sunset.

“And?” I stuttered out before regaining proper control over my voice. “Isn't that a good thing that she is no longer in the infirmary? She doesn't seem like the kind of Pony to stay still and heal. So if she was able to get out of the infirmary herself isn't that a good thing?” I rushed out praying to the deity before me that she wouldn't see through my lies.

Celestia in turn smiled slightly, shaking her head as if she were looking at a particularly cute filly. I felt my cheeks burn in response to that gaze. I was an Alicorn. A fledgling immortal. I was-.

“I am glad that you think so but I called you here for your good. You have seen Sunset act in desperation before and if her mind is still muddled by the attack she may attempt to harm you.” I didn't know how to respond to that so I simply nodded my head. “I had hoped to have us spend some time together before Prince Blueblood and the rest of his entourage were to arrive tonight, but Sunset’s awakening hastened my plans.” Celestia finished with a faint smile.

I in turn shrugged. I had no plans for today. Well, I would have liked to head to the library to see how many of Umbrum’s words were true, but that could always wait. Especially if Celestia was that concerned about what Sunset would do to me. Not that I thought I was in too much danger from Sunset anymore. Hopefully.

Celestia still thought that the filly that she had raised was still planning on hurting me, however. She thought that Sunset, even after being nearly killed, would in turn attempt once more to harm me. She didn't know that Sunset and I had formed a pact. That we were allying together against the Princess of the Sun herself.

She had no idea that I had a book of banned magics hidden under a pillow that she had given me. In a room that was in her Castle. That she had taken me under her wing after the death of my parents. That she trusted me enough to allow her to call her Auntie. That I was-!

My mental tirade was shattered by the slamming open of the grand door. I could see in the corner of my vision Celestia frowning slightly, as I twisted my vision to see who had opened the door. Rebound stood at attention, apologies upon his muzzle.

“Yes, my little pony?” Celestia asked Rebound as he paused to take a breath.

“Apologies Princess. Err Princesses for interrupting but Prince Blueblood and his companions have arrived!” Rebound rushed out. Ok and wh-. Sunset. Oh no. This could be bad. I immediately turned back towards Celestia. Thankfully her attention was still on my guard's form, however. “They are waiting in the gardens.” The words whizzed out of his mouth.

“Well, then my apologies Cadance but it seems as if we must push our little bonding session as our guest has arrived earlier than anticipated,” Celestia spoke as she began to rise from her throne. “Shall we greet our guests Princess Mi Amore Cadenza?” She asked with a sly smile splayed across her muzzle. I narrowed my eyes, but my smile gave away my true feelings on the matter. Turning on my frog I fell into step beside Celesta.

We quickly made our way to the Gardens which had been fully restored from the war-torn and ruined remains that Sunset's battle had left. I could see ahead a dozen guards, yet unlike the gilded golden splendor of the guards that Celestia employed, these ponies were encrusted in silver. Beyond them were several Ponies that only one word could describe ‘Nobility’ from the various gowns and hats that they had adorning them. To the very way that they were keeping their heads to the sky as they softly conversed even without looking at any approaching Pony.

I glanced towards the Pony that was by my side to see if she was going to introduce herself or indicate that I would be the one to introduce myself first. Instead of responding in any matter, Celestia simply smiled as Rebound caught up to the two of us. I hadn't realized that we had left him behind. He was about to open his mouth but Celestia’s wing raised, silencing the words before they ever left his mouth.

There we stood. Two Princesses and a guard. A half-dozen mix of noble stallions and mares with a dozen of their guards. The nobility tittering all the while seemingly oblivious to our presence. However, I could see the shrouded glances thrown our way. The Sun continued to shine as its warmth suffused us.

Even as I listened in on those five ponies that were conversing. It was pleasant enough as they were complementing the royal gardens. Yet the body language of those ponies was all wrong. Stilted and forced. Their smiles never reached their eyes. It was much less of a conversation and more of a performance being acted out.

Eventually, the final Pony spoke up. A white stallion with an amber mane that gleamed in the light. So this was “Prince” Blueblood.

“My companions I do believe that we are the presence of not one but both Princesses of our realm.” His honeyed words silenced the tittering chatters of his compatriots. He turned to face both Celestia and me before continuing. “Princess Celestia, it is an honor to once more be in your presence.” He says with a shallow bow before he turns his gaze toward me. His eyes which were filled with arctic waters met my own, “Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, it is my utmost pleasure to make your acquaintance. I knew that once I had heard of your ascension that I must meet the newest Princess of Equestria herself. After all without Love, what would Ponykind have?”

“I have yet to have my coronation.” I once more mumbled out of frustration than in any attempt to get the title removed. “It is a pleasure to meet you as well. I am glad to find another Pony who understands the importance of Love.” I say with a nod to the noble pony who has once more bowed. This time to me instead of Celestia. Sweet Celestia I was going to have to get used to this someday, hopefully soon.

Thankfully none of the awkwardness I felt was seen by any pony as Blueblood smiled.

“I see that the rumors are true, the only thing matched by your beauty is your compassion.” He says as an alabaster smile shoots my way. He then glances around to his companions and lets out a soft sigh “My fellow guests upon the Princesses domicile should you not show them the significance of the blood that runs through your veins and properly greet the two Ponies that will lead Equestria into a brighter future?” He was not at all what I expected. Ignoring the warmth I watched as immediately the other nobles that had traveled with him began to bow and praise both myself and Celestia. However, in comparison to their leaders, they all fell short.

The heat that had surrounded us had increased at his words. I glanced toward Celestia but she gave me little notice other than a smile that was ever present on her face. She did however glance slightly to the noble groups left. Eventually, after they all had finished Celestia finally spoke once more.

“My greetings, my little ponies. I am glad to see that you have all arrived at my Castle safely, if a bit faster than you had estimated.” Blueblood once more spoke up answering the question that had been asked.

“We had happened upon a mage that was coming to the capital themselves.” He said with a smirk as he continued “I managed to convince him to take us the rest of the way. Even though I am now a few bits lighter. It allowed us to properly greet the newest Princess of Equestria herself.” He paused as a short smile was once more given before he continued “Bits may come and go, but first impressions last forever.”

“I am glad that the conclusion of your trip was on easier terms than the rest of it. I would be glad to have my guards escort you and yours to your prepared rooms.” Celestia said with a smile as more of the Royal guards began to trot into sight. How had she summoned them? I had bee-. Magic. Right.

“We-.” An almost burgundy mare, Tasting she had introduced as her name, started. Her tone was much like her gaze, harsh. I expect that she would have made a fool of herself and her so-called ‘lineage’ were she to continue. I was not the only one as Blueblood quickly cut her off.

“My Princess, my companions, and I will graciously accept your kind proposal and retire for the moment to recover from our journey.” Tasting would have opened her mouth to continue if not for the movement of the silver guards. She huffed and began to trot towards the castle quickly accompanied by the rest of the nobles excluding Blueblood himself, and 11 of the silver guards.

The final guard remained still looking towards Celestia and I. Unmoving and unblinking. Blueblood sighed as shook his head slightly and patted the guard on the shoulder. “I do believe I will survive a meeting with two Alicorns to save me if the worst is to occur, my friend.” The guard stays still until Blueblood continues “I see, well in this case my apologies but I will have to order you to help the rest of them settle in safely.” With that the passive gaze is focused on the only remaining noble as a swift nod is given before the guard-pony makes their way to the castle.

Leaving only three beings in the royal garden. Two Alicorns and a single Unicorn. Blueblood does not seem to mind the discrepancy in power as his gaze wandered the recently restored flora. “My thanks for the warm welcome even in consideration of my companions and their…” He trailed off but Celestia nodded all the same. “If it pleases your Majesties I would prefer to walk the gardens for a moment.”

I once more looked to Celestia for guidance but her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at the ‘Prince’ who was alone and without guards.

“Are you certain about this my little pony?” Celestia asked, her voice soft. Far softer than the last time. Blueblood in turn nodded before responding.

“It has been some time since I was last in these gardens. I do believe that the last time I saw them they had been reduced to ash.” Blueblood says with a chuckle. Celestia nodded at his decision as she turned on her frog and beckoned me with her. We began to walk back towards the castle.

We were walking in silence unbroken. The only thing between the two of us Princesses was the quickly receding heat of the Sun. It was just as if I was walking aw-.

“Wait!” I exclaimed, halting Celestia midstep beside me. “Doesn't Sunset hate Blueblood?” Hoping that I had once more misunderstood the Pony that I had allied myself. Celestia did not immediately respond. “She is going to do something to him and you're just going to walk away?” I couldn't even. She-. This was the pony that ran Equestria? “She may kill him!” If she hated him nearly as much as she did me he stood no chance. I was an Alicorn while he was just a Unicorn.

Celestia didn't look at me, instead turned her head to the sky as she looked at the Moon beginning to hide behind the horizon. She didn't care that the closest thing she had to a daughter was about to murder some pony. She didn't care that she was leaving Sunset behind as she walked away with the pony that had as Sunset put it “the better version” of herself”. “Are you going to do anything?” I asked the Pony that I somehow thought was perfect.

“Cadance I can’t force any Pony to against their nature. If I were to have remained, Sunset would have simply waited for a different opportunity to get Prince Blueblood by himself.” Celestia finally spoke as she turned to face me. “Sunset is not going to slay Blueblood and he is fully aware of what is awaiting him. I know that you wish to see every Pony happy and safe but at times even we Ponies must deal with more than just the Love that we can share. It would be better for the two of them to finally get past their past.” Celestia turns her gaze to the moon before teleporting away in a flash of sunlight.

“Like mother, like daughter.” I spat at the air where Celestia once stood. That utter horse. She was a failure of a mother. It doesn't matter if a Pony you care for is about to make a mistake you should support them in any way you can. Even if you can't stop them you have to help them get better. Not just abandoning them to their decisions. Sunset especially.

Time to prove that I wasn't just using Sunset toward my ends. Turning on my frog and launching myself into the air as I made my way quickly back to the garden. I didn't hear any screams and couldn't see any smoke. It took me a few moments to locate Blueblood who appeared to be looking at a small cropping of sunflowers. I couldn't see Sunset and I was too far for her little heating trick. If she was going to go too far I would step in and save her even if she didn't want me to.

“Princess Celestia isn't going to interrupt us Sunset.” He announced, as his magic formed a blue hue over a singular flower almost as if he was about to pluck it before it was shattered as almost blood-red magic subsumed it. Sunset stepped forwards from the air. “Well, then I am glad to see you are well. I take it that you have fully recovered from the last time.”

“In case it has missed your ears Prince but I no longer have to fear my flames.” As she summoned a flame atop her horn which quickly spread over her form. “Unlike you.” She all but growled out as the flame replaced her mane and tail. Growing and encasing her body as flames formed wings. Blueblood didn't look impressed until Sunset's transformation continued with her horn lengthening and sharpening. Even if I was prepared for the unsettling sight he was certainly not. Blueblood fell back almost into the field of sunflowers and would have likely had if Sunset didn't wrap him in her magic.

Red chains bound around him, suspending him in the air. “Did you think you could just walk into Princess Celestia’s castle again?” She growled out as she began to walk forwards to the now terrified noble Pony. “Acting as if you were better than every Pony else? That you deserve to waited upon, hoof and horn?” The chains visibly tightened around Blueblood. I forced myself to remain in the air. She could turn this around. She hasn't done anything irreversible.

“Look at you attempting to perform your same pathetic plan on the newest fancy of Celestia. An actual Alicorn Princess this time. I bet your mouth salivated once you heard the news.” She had reached the Unicorn who had begun to struggle against the chains. He brought his magic into existence multiple times but Sunset shattered every attempt. “After all, your last attempt was such a failure.” She continued as Blueblood was pulled in front of her. “I wonder what you will do when you fail this time?” With that question the chains shattered, dropping the shaking pony to the ground in front of her.

“Was that necessary?” Blueblood stuttered getting to his feet and retreating away from the demented pony that wished him harm. Why hasn't she done anything? She had just terrified him and was now just staring at him. Now she had let him out of the chains. That was a good sign. Perhaps I wouldn't be needed. “I wanted to apologize. I shouldn't have said that the only reason Celestia still dealt with you was that she didn't want to throw away such a pitiful creature.” Even before he finished his final words I was hurtling toward the ground. Slamming in between the soon-to-be corpse and murderer.

“Sunset calm down.” I all but shouted as I faced the pony I had allied myself with, in her still demonic form. Wincing as I locked gaze with blackened eyes, the only sense of color being the emerald pupils that emanated utter hatred and loathing. “He isn't worth it.” Holding a wing out towards her in a placating manner. “Celestia believes that you won't kill him. Please don't prove her wrong.”

There I was. The Princess of Love shields the defenseless Pony against a flame-wreathed demon. How this would look to an outside observer was obvious. I was protecting Blueblood true, but here I was protecting the demon that was once a Pony from herself. I would have laughed at the irony if the situation was any more uncertain. Seeing that Sunset still not backing down I continued “Ponies have always thought the worst of you, right? Use this to prove them wrong. To show them that you are more than the demon that they think you are.” In a lower volume, I whispered “Please Sunset.”

The black in her eyes was replaced with white as her pupils grew to a far more normal size. The flames that enshrouded Sunset faltered and flickered out. Leaving her alone. I took a step forward, folding my wing back to my side. Her gaze was never leaving mine as I made my way in front of her. Lowering my voice once more “Thank you for trusting me.” I smiled at her. She grimaced but otherwise teleported away in a flash of emerald flames.

Turning to the no longer cowering Blueblood I saw that his cheeks were aflame and an obvious infatuation in his eyes. “Are you alright?” I asked to hopefully sidestep that for the moment. Blueblood hastily nodded.

“I do believe that you just proved a magnitude of old tales wrong with your actions. I, for one, am grateful however for the rescue.” He said as his horn lit up and quickly cleaned himself off. Only a singular slight cut on his front leg. “I don't suppose that aside from being a savior of ponies you can heal as well?”

In my search for the horn healing spell, I looked through many healing spells. Glancing over the slight gash that didn't appear to be too deep. This would make the unwanted crush worse but he didn't deserve to remain hurt. My horn lit up as I concentrated on the spell. “You truly are the second coming of Princess Celestia.” He spoke with clear awe in his voice as the wound healed. “No, she can't even get Sunset to back down like you just did.” There was the crush being solidified, and I internally grimaced.

“I take it that there is a history between the two of you?” I asked preferring to change the topic of conversation while I was healing his leg.

“Yes, I had hoped to clear any further misunderstandings and hopefully get Sunset's forgiveness for a foolish colt’s past mistakes.” He grimaced before continuing “A thousand thanks for your assistance. I do believe the next time that I attempt to apologize I should have you by my side.” He laughed out, but it was tainted by sadness. I shrugged. It was a good idea. Blueblood would be safer with me being there. Sunset would hopefully be reigned in by my presence.

“Sure.” It would do Sunset good to have one less Pony against her. Even if he wasn't really against her and was trying to apologize. This was hurting my head. Tirek damn it Sunset. “Alright your leg should be good to go, but I would recommend that you get it checked over to ensure that I didn't miss anything.” Blueblood did not respond, instead was just staring at me dumbly.

“Thank you, Princess.” He stuttered out bowing once more. “I will make a new plan and ask for your assistance.” He gave me a grateful smile before going back to the castle. It did appear that he was avoiding putting too much weight on his recently healed leg. Good, hopefully, he would get it checked out. Leaving me alone before the crop of sunflowers.

They were not aligned to perfection nor did there be any reason for their placement. It almost was as if some foal had just decided to plant the seeds wherever they had wanted.

“Don't suppose you have any ideas on how to deal with Sunset, Umbrum?” I asked the creature that was entrapped in my dreams. Upon receiving no response I sighed. “I need a break.” Considering that I was a princess and that it had been a long day that had been barely an hour. I decided that I would spend the rest of it looking through the restored gardens.

From statues of an amalgamation of a pony and various other creatures to old knights and even mages. Searching for evermore statues throughout the fields of flora. I, unfortunately, could not find one that was as strange as the one titled “Discord”. It was only once I could no longer ignore the pangs of hunger did I retreat from the royal gardens. Judging from the Sun beginning its descent I had certainly missed lunch. So I once more began the trot to the Kitchens.

Entering through a side entrance I quickly noticed that several torches were lit and that the sunlight was not fully coming from the numerous windows. Strange, I wonder if there was an event going on? I would enquire about it to either Sunset or Celestia later. After I got some food. My thoughts focused on continuing my journey and making it to my prize. I increased my pace towards the kitchen.

In the darkened hallways of the castle, I could see a Griffon meandering its way through the walkway. I would have waved a wing in greeting to the fellow traveler, yet my wing paused, as a stray ray of light bounced off an outstretched talon. Coated in an almost viscous metal that had each talon ending in a wicked edge. Strange I couldn't recall any of the Griffons that came with the ambassador having any of their claws like that.

“Retreat my descendant.” I heard the voice which I now know as Umbrum hiss from behind me. What? Before I could even begin to comprehend what Umbrum had said the Griffon lunged forth. I instinctively for better or worse summoned a small orb of fire between the two of us. Only to feel my heart nearly dropped out of my stomach as the Griffon sliced through the flame.

Finally getting my act together I finished spreading my wings as I launched myself backward. I winced as I felt the stone of the castle shatter upon my back, Celestia had plenty of bits to repair it. I was keeping my eyes on that-. Where did it go? It had just been charging after me. Wings spread as the Griffon sliced through the air. Each of its metallic talons outstretched towards me.

Taking a breath as I readied my wings. My horn lit up as I brought a pink light into existence. Narrowing my eyes and looking through this unfamiliar room. It almost looked like some sort of storage. I let my eyes glaze over the coated forms of various boxes as I sought out the griffon.

“FLEE” Umbrum bellowed. I jolted forwards in a panic. I felt a sharp wind pass right behind me as a tearing of stone reverberated throughout the air. Glancing behind me to see the Griffon ripping its talons out of the wall in a shower of sparks. A wicked smile flickered across its now visible face. Filled with more scars than skin. Twin orbs of malice focused upon me, once more.

“Princess” the Griffon all but screeched out as spittle flew from its lips. I would have perhaps responded in some form or fashion, but instantly the Griffon was upon me. Throwing a wing in front of my face. I screamed. Pain. Searing agonizing pain. Lit through my wing as I threw myself back once more. Trying not to whimper as I looked toward my torn wing. I doubted I would be able to fly with it.

Immediately my magic found hold on the pendant that Celestia had provided me. The Griffon lunged forth once more, metallic talons outstretched. Immediately twisting the Sun I felt ice pierce my chest as it didn't work. Panicking I threw myself through another wall as I once more was outside the castle walls. But unlike being coated in sunlight they were darkened as the Mare on the Moon was on full display. This made no sense. The Sun was just out.

The Griffon soon found me meeting my gaze, as it smiled. I kept my eyes open. I just had to find a guard. I just needed to find Sunset or Celestia. I would be fine. I just had to keep escaping this Griffon.

“Close your eyes.” I heard a familiar voice hiss out. I am not sure why I listened to her but I immediately followed her advice. I felt a wave of heat surround me and heard what sounded to be explosions, but they sounded as if they were from miles away. Just as quickly as the heat had enshrouded me it was smothered. “Don't open your eyes. Just follow the sound of my voice. We need to get you to safety.” Sunset continued.

“The Griff-.” I started.

“Taken care of.” She cut me off. I opened my eyes to properly glare at her and froze. Sunset was no longer amber but red. Coated in what I prayed to Celestia was paint. My nose dashed those prayers as the smell of iron and burned flesh quickly picked up. “I told you not to open your eyes.” She sighed as she held forth a hoof drenched in blood. “You're in shock, come on.”

Oh. She had… She… Sunset. She pushed her hoof against my side taking care to not touch my damaged wing. Her hoof was warm. She was usually warm. Her hoof normally wasn't coated with the blood of a recently living being, however. “Cadance it isn't safe here. We have to keep moving.” She spoke slowly.

“You said my name.” I chuckled as if that was relevant at the moment. She just rolled her eyes as traces of mirth flittered through them. Her eyes were strange. Stranger than Umbrum and Celestia combined. Why were they the color of emeralds? Shouldn't they be cyan?

“Fine. Do I have your permission to teleport you?” She asked. I nodded. She took a deep breath as she stepped into me. I could feel her warmth. I could feel the blood that clung to her. I could feel the warmth of a Pony that had just killed a sentient creature. She did it to save me. Celestia’s pendant didn't work. I felt the world compress as she leaned further into me. When I could see properly we were now in a pristine room that was filled with all manner of scrolls and tomes.

Sunset immediately left my side and I felt the warmth leave me. It was all of a sudden so cold. “Alright I have no idea where you have been but I am willing to take you with me.” She said out of the blue as she began to rifle through various drawers, she even took the cover off a book to reveal a hidden compartment with another book in it. Before throwing it and other various things into a sack or her saddlebag.

“Is this your room?” I couldn't help but ask. Perhaps the pain from my wing was making me delirious? She stopped her rummaging to shoot me a glare. Strangely, I would have thought her room would have been bigger.

“Yes and that is not the issue here. Celestia left on some sort of urgent business. No Pony could find you. Then everything blew up. So once again are you coming with me or not?” She rounded out her words with a glare but it was strange. There wasn't as much anger there as there should have been.

Wait, Celestia left? Was that why her pendant did not work?

“I was in the gardens. Where did Celestia go?” I asked as it wasn't as if I was playing hide and seek. I wonder if Celestia and Sunset used to play it as I did with my parents. Sunset, done throwing things into her sack trotted right up into my face.

“The useless guards couldn't find you. I couldn't even find you. Even after I put a beacon on you. Celestia left after she received a letter in a burst of Dragonfire. Something bad happened so she had to go. But enough of that are you coming with me or not? I can’t heal your wing but it isn't safe here. The guard has been decimated. I think I saw Blueblood's companions bleeding out, but couldn't find his corpse. But that aside, are you coming with me or am I leaving you here? I'm not even sure why I am offering this to you. I hate you. You stole Celestia from me.”

It took until that last sentence for it to click. Sunset wasn't saying Princess Celestia, she was saying Celestia. Something was wrong. “Are you coming with me or not, as the only reason I hadn't already left was for some stupid reason I wanted to find your corpse before I left.” Huh, I guess she does like me. I nodded my head as Sunset stilled for a moment.

“Wait really? You're not going to rally the guards and push back the intruders? You're going to come with me?” She was so confused. It would have almost been adorable if it wasn't so sad.

“We are partners. We help each other. We stick together.” I said, giving her the biggest smile I could. I stepped forwards and even through the pain of moving both my wings encircled her form. I was going to be covered in my own and some Griffons blood. It would take ages to clean from my coat and feathers.

“Do I have your permission to teleport you?” She meekly asked. I nodded, clicking my horn against hers. Then there was only darkness and an infinity of shattered crystals.

Author's Note

Ah how things continue to change. For better and worse. Blueblood arrives and is immediatly left behind to rot. Celestia manages to once more miss the party. Sunset shows that she is competent in a fight. Cadance survives another near death experience. Who knew that becoming royalty was so dangerous? That aside the status quo has been shattered. Who knows if it will ever recover. With both the Princess and the Student no longer in the Canterlot Castle. Don't worry the story will return here sooner or later. I hope you all enjoy this chapter as much as I did writing it. We will be returning next time to the view from our favorite pyromancer so that will be fun.
-LittleFaerieFire

34. Extraneous Exaltations

Extraneous Exaltations

Sunset

Even before I opened my eyes once more I knew something was wrong. No pony had intruded within the royal train car, that was easy enough to check as the wards hadn’t been breached and whether I was asleep or not would have been alerted at the attempt. It wasn’t the fact that one of my experiments had gone awry, I hadn’t brought any of them with me after all. What was it then? What was the cause of this faint dread that enveloped my very existence?

After further contemplation about what it was that I was missing and being unable to come to a fitting conclusion, I opened my eyes to a sight that strangled my breath before it could escape my lips. Even to one as craven as I, the vision that was before me was a peerless delight. Beautiful. Cadance even tangled in the sheet as she was, once more an incomparable sight. The first rays of the waking sun filter through her mane to create an incandescent array of dancing lights. Every breath she took caused her coat to shimmer as the filtered rays of the Sun caused her to glow with an ethereal luminescence. One that only one other pony could compare to.

My earlier worries were disregarded as I observed the transcendent goddess that had deigned to allow me even an infinitesimal fraction of its attention. Enraptured by the one that had shared my bed… I burned away the chaotic mess that resulted from that errant thought. Thanking Princess Celestia that Cadance was still asleep, while I ensured that my purging flame was internal. Thankfully I had managed to keep that flame resting within my mortal flesh.

Taking a moment more to bask in the warmth of the pony that was my partner twice over, even now that thought alone was enough to bring forth another deluge of warmth. I took a deep breath and allowed it to fade as I took one more gander at my still-slumbering partner. This time taking a shallow breath as I took care to maneuver my way out of her grasp slowly but surely, doing my best to ensure that my movements wouldn’t wake Cadance. Yet no matter what I tried, I found no avenue of escape from this prison of flesh and feathers.

Almost as if we were to be stitched together, our flesh wound into one singular existence. No. I can’t do that. Not again. The thought alone brought forth ideas colored by flame and shadow. Depravities that gleamed in the darkness, clamoring for attention once more. Ones that should be left abandoned in the past, left forgotten in the deepest recesses of my mind. That was no longer a path forward. She was more than the sum of what I could glean from her flesh, reave from her mind, scrape from her soul. I knew not when such a thing became fact, but that didn’t change the undeniable truth that it was.

Once more, I fell back upon my magic, weaving together alterations with my teleportation spell to escape these almost blessed confines that I had found myself chained within. Muffling the snort of amusement that almost slipped past my lips, I let my magic take effect. I was consumed entirely and deposited not even a hoof step away from my partner who hadn’t noticed I had escaped from her bindings of flesh and blood.

As I stood silently before my partner I was afflicted by a strange keening need. For what exactly I was uncertain, but I felt that unknown desire flower. Ignoring it for the moment, I pulled together a surprise for any that dared attempt Cadance harm. My protection burned into existence; I turned on my frog and the yearning that had been smothered, returned with a vengeance. Stopping me before I could attempt to move further.

Frowning I turned around once more and the unknown seedling of impulse that had blossomed now lessened its hold over my mind. Strange. Why did it lessen? What was the cause? I fell back into a process I had initially been taught and then mastered by my initiative. Dissecting magic, enchantments, flames, flesh, life, and reality itself into its base parts to gain mastery over it.

My magic freely flowed over myself ensuring that whatever this affliction that had managed to infect me would be found. Yet as I ran through these spells seeking out this source of malcontent that I had felt within my blood, I found little. Nothing. Odd, was it something far more rare or esoteric? Changing my retinue of spells from the more commonplace ones that most Unicorns that stood atop the rest knew to versions of my design. Ones that I had only shared with one other. The one who had taught me herself.

Yet once more I found nothing. Not a single spell touched upon me that I had not designed myself. Wait… What? No. That wasn’t entirely correct. Shunting myself away from Cadance, if I was to explode I would rather her not get touched by my volatile flesh. A precautionary measure was taken, and my eyes opened once more to the strange spell that had found itself affixed to me.

It was innately familiar to me. Yet impossibly I held no memory of fashioning this spell matrix. It was fascinating I could see the familiar print of magic that no matter how muddled, every spell I conjurered held. It was my unique marker that my flame enforced upon reality. It was impossible. It was the truth written upon this harsh reality that held no warmth. A chilled gust brought with it a familiar cloying cold that pierced my coat and sunk into my flesh. Seeking to sap my warmth until there was nothing more that remained other than a frozen husk of worthless existence.

This spell couldn’t exist. I hadn’t carefully constructed any of the theorems that this spell ran upon. Or perhaps I hadn’t yet? I held no desire to once more bring chronokinesis to the forefront of my mind. Not after what I had done. Not after I had hastened my inevitable demise. Silently roaring in defiance at the weakness of those thoughts that I dared think. Biting at my tongue to release a familiar taste of warm iron, I began a vain attempt to work through the mess of fruitless understanding that encompassed me. This was why no pony liked working with the complexities of time. Not even having Princess Celestia being my teacher, had allowed me to enjoy those specific lessons. Well beyond her once more allowing me to be within her physical presence once again that was.

It was interesting and worthwhile, yes, but on the same hoof, it was a pointless mess of worthless understanding. The one true spell that Princess Celestia herself had described, or at least the one she trusted me to know of its existence, was a closed loop. There was no start or stop to it. Instead it all but enforced itself into reality as if it had always happened. As it had indeed always happened.

However, there were half-completed theorems. Ramblings of mad ponies that had lost themselves within the understanding of the arcane. Replacing their sanity with an understanding of laws that most ponies could barely comprehend. Even then, having peered beyond the veil of truth, they still could not be compared to me. I had fashioned my spell out of their madness, and with it, I could claim partial dominance over time immemorial.

I was the greatest Unicorn that had ever stepped upon Equestria, no Equus. I was not ruled by fear of great magic that would rend the user’s sanity. My flame immolated all upon its pyre forged through my aspiration and comprehension. Magic bent before my will. Burning away reality as I spilled blood upon my path, that no pony had ever before forged. Nor could any follow.

Change. That avenue of thought won’t work. Instead of attempting to understand how the spell was constructed I instead turned my focus upon the effect that it held. It at its most simple was an amplification spell. Yet unlike most of its brethren that focused on amplifying a pony's physical or rarely mental attributes, this one amplified its… Prodding at the spell I once more attempted to change the results of my swift but thorough testing, yet I could only glare into the air at the result that refused to change.

Existence. That was what this spell, that held my workings, amplified. Even though I knew I was acting like a foal, the thoughts didn’t prevent me from wishing for any form of enemy to appear before me. So that I could reduce them to a little more than kindling. Yet even as I taunted reality so, none dared answer my beckons. Instead, I was left alone with my magic. Fine.

I had worked wonders in the past. This was nothing new. I needed no other but myself. This was but another question for me to answer. Another task to be completed. Another test to perfect. Another quest to clear. I was…

Who was I?

In that eternal moment where I searched for any semblance of self to be found, I found nothing more than burned ruins. A faintly familiar landscape reduced to little more than ashes and rubble. Among which innumerable dancing shades moved to a song I couldn’t comprehend. Screaming out in song at their suffering, begging for a conclusion to their tale. Even if it had once more ended in grand tragedy they wished for it to end. Even then watching this facade of moving shadows traipsing through the ruins of reality, it wasn’t enough. I had lost my way. Had I ever found one?

Their prancing forms brought me no understanding. No comprehension. No further flashings of insight. NOTHING. They were worthless. They pranced upon strings of flame that flickered at the movement of my gaze. Consuming them for a time once more. Yet I still held no answer for a question that should have never been asked. Why now did I ask it?

It was only then was my question answered, as the curtains of darkness receded bringing forth a bloodied cage of summoned iron, wreathed in blackened flames that held a singular burning star high above the other torched remains. Her majesty illuminated a world left forgotten in darkness. Her warmth spilled beyond the fashioned prison of my making. Her very existence is a soothing balm to my fractured soul. I had yet to finish.

How could I have dared forgotten?

Ḃ̶̭͙̜͈̫̤͎́͋́͜E̴̺̦͇͍͎̩̟̺͈̺̎͒C̷̛̝͇̱͇̩͉͎̀̉̑̉̄͑̉A̸̡͚͌̏̏̈́͋̆̂̊U̵͚̽Š̴̢̅͌̉͗̒͝͝͝È̴͇̙͍͉͖͖̜͇̊̓̊̾͌̆̕ ̸̛̲̩̫̫̗̟̘̼̝̂̀̈́̊̉̽͋̚ͅI̵̧̅̾̎̄̌ ̸̹̲̤̻̱͙̟̖͋͒̄̈͝C̵̺͉͉̼̪̯̆̈̾̅͋͗̈͑̾Ỡ̶͔͐U̴̧̬̩̞͕̗̮̦̺̬͋̋̉̍̉̓̑͆Ļ̴̮̫̹̙̍̋̋̑̂͗̈̕̚Ḑ̷̪̺̭̗͓̿̒̚ͅN̷̟͓̹̩̍̂͑̑͑͗̑̔̐͝ͅ’̵̺̏̈̒́͝T̷͓̬̠͇͎̘̎̓̌͋͜ͅͅ ̷̘͇̜͔̅̒̉͒D̴̛̤̩̬͈̆̽̑͛̔͋̔̽͗ͅͅẢ̵͔͈̔̒̿̓͊̐́͝͠Ṙ̵̼͕̘̝͍̬̣̟̟̓͗͜Ĕ̶̡̞͚̝͒̊̒ͅ ̵̤̼̻̲̦̮̖̓́̿̄̂̒̂͛̕ͅŖ̶̰̫͈͚̱̻̓Ḛ̷̦̬͔̻͓͖̋̈̓̆̇̆͂͜M̴̱͕͐̋̄̔͛̏̚͜͝ͅĘ̸̝̠͍̣̘̟̩̞͌̈́̊̄͒̓̾̔͝͠M̷̱͖̠͇̤̬̭̾̓̑̈̈̽͘̚ͅͅB̵̻̺̻̰̤͉̙̿̆̈́̌̈́ͅͅĚ̴̬̪̣̲̪̱̙̒̈͊̎̔͊͑͘R̴̨̛̠̻̺̬̙͚̖̮̈

I was Sunset Shimmer.

I̸̞̩͇̟͚̗͍̿͂̅͒͆̎̐͝ ̷̧̼̦̌͆̽Ẃ̸̛͙̗̫̘̰̟͉̬̓̀͋̚͝A̵͚̙̙̫̠̞͊̈̔͑̽͆̌̕S̸̠̩̦̖̳͉̮̐͌̀̀̋͊͗͐͘͝ͅ ̸̧̠̻̮̫̌̎M̶̼͌̄̔̀͘͝O̶̡̗̞̣̘̾̽̎͗̇̋̂̽͊Ŗ̶̠͓̜̗̼̪͐̈̇͋̊̋͐̓̎͝Ḛ̵̩̪͖̥̜̬̳͒̀͛ ̶̧̯̲̟̩͈̥̙́̀́̀̇͐̀T̵̛͓͈̾͂̏͌̓́͂͒H̷̨̨͙̳͈̥͎̃̊̽A̶͙̗͋͑̔͋̍̋̈́N̴̡̹̺̟̐̏͝ ̶̗͈̞̰̤̪͈̯͗̿̽̄͑͛̍T̸̨̖̥̋̌̌H̶̡̰̣̣͇̖̺̤͙͍̅͆̓̑̐͘Ä̶̻̉̒̇̊̅͂̈́͘͝T̸̛̪̗͎̺̏̉͌̔̇͜͝ͅ ̷̢͎̹͎̰͖̅͊͆̽̎ͅW̴̧̳̤̹͕̊͂̆͗R̶̞̳̩̦̙͛̊̀̍͛̋̈́͜͝E̶̯͉̻̱̰͓͉̙̦̓͆͗̆̎̃̔̍̔͗Ţ̷̻̭̠̰̼̮͍͛̌Ç̶̳̻̜̫̱̎̏Ḩ̸̡̝̝̝̮̤̬̒̓͒̆ͅE̷̖̮̒̿̊͒̿͑͝Ď̸̮̜̦͉͚̮̬̝͕̥̀͗̄͛́̚ ̶̨͔̮̙̤͔̏̂̉F̷̻͙͚̔Ả̸̡̢̡̤̜̤̪̞͜I̶̠̫̙̣̪̠̖͖̔̂̐Ḻ̷̼̱̗́͛̇͒̕Ṷ̵̠̂̓̈́̏R̴̨͍̻̰̯̬͒̄̌͜͠E̴͔̟͎̒̂̂̒̎̚͝

Daughter of the Sun.

D̷̬̭̱̘̮̓͌̇̈́͐̿̕̚Ȇ̶̘̲̝̯̣̤ͅM̷̢̖̉̍O̷̤͕͖̞̓̅͋̂͆͝N̴̼͕͖̮̱͎̰̠̗̔͜

Continue. Frowning at the cascading fault that had interrupted my thoughts, I burned away the waste that clung to my mind. Thinking clearly once more I gazed upon the spell that dared infuriate me. Existence itself was a rather simple concept that even the youngest of foals intrinsically understand even if they know not the word that describes that innate knowledge.

All this spell did was amplify the weight of one's existence. It was a gross simplification of a, even to me, horrendous piece of magic. Oh, it was a masterpiece that no doubt countless Unicorns would end bloodlines over, but it was also little more than nothing. It was a gleaming, glittering sword, that edge was honed to such a point where reality itself was cut in twain. It was a mere showpiece, bedazzled with pointless ornaments, unable to be swung.

It was a contradiction. One in which I was lost. There was often beauty to be found in the flames of chaos. But this? Nothing beyond the artificial ascribement that was enforced upon its matrix was pleasing. Even as I attempted to spin the spell into fruition to see what this so-called amplification of existence would do, I could only fail.

“What?” I was far too confused to fall into my everpresent anger at the failure. The spell had begun, my magic fueling its likely mediocrity, and yet it failed. Failed once more. Just as its caster had so commonly. Attempting to cast it again I was greeted with a hollow pain that resounded within my blood. “How in Celestia’s name?” I was drained… of any magic that I could call upon to incinerate the world.

There wasn’t even a lick of magical might within my flesh. My blood, which was often molten, began to cool in my veins. Perhaps I would have found such a thing odd, my blood beginning to coagulate properly once again, but the rage that finally found me blinded any form of scientific curiosity that I may have held.

I wasn’t some paltry foal who had just performed their first spell! I was not a hoof step away from embracing the shadow of death! I was the greatest Unicorn to have ever existed! This spell couldn’t have been one of my creations. After all, I couldn’t cast it myself. No. I could.
I just needed an external source of power. My eyes flickered over toward my still-slumbering bedmate. NO! There were others that I could use. I needed to collect them. Those who were blinded by their mediocrity. Those who shied away from the Sun that offered them warmth and light.

They would become my fuel. They would burn away to suit my purpose. Then I would cast this spell that dared claim me as its creator. Then I would tear it apart and stitch it back together. Reconstructed to be perfect. Just as I had done to myself.

Snarling I shunted the information of the spell from the front of my mind and marched my way out of the royal train car. The door that separated those that were important from the masses, didn’t even have the good grace to allow me to turn it into slag. Instead, it turned ethereal before I could begin my assault upon it.

Stepping out back into where I belonged, I could once more feel the rumble of the train under the hoof. Good, we were still making progress to Hollow Shades. The sooner I ascended the better my ending would be. I would not suffer being abandoned once more. Forgotten. Left behind as an afterthought. This was my tale. My ending.

One hoof in front of the others as I blazed my way towards the front of the train. It was a short march, only two cars separated the royal car from the front of the locomotive. A worm of anger sprouted at the change, however with it brought a trickling of warmth. Magic. It wasn’t much but for my purposes, it was enough to set alight Canterlot, much less for my intentions towards the engineer.

Spells snarled out as I threw open the final set of doors that separated me from my target. Only to pause, it seemed another had beaten me to it. For another pony appeared to have been threatening the engineer, now he turned towards me. He was accompanied by two other ponies that one could easily describe in a single word. Ruffians. The only reason that I didn’t spear them with flames was the rusted knife that bled magic, still licking the throat of the pony that ran this train.

“What is this? I thought you swore that you had taken care of the alarms?” The gruff pony spat out towards one of his accomplices. The pony in question just looked back at the machinery and shrugged back. Incompetence truly was the affliction of many. “Well now that the breezy has sprung the barn, let’s make one thing clear here, miss. You don’t want to get hurt, you listen to us, we complete our heist and we all go home happy.” He was professional about this. That didn’t stop me from nearly guffawing at his words, but I held in my amusement.

He must have taken my silence as consent that I wouldn’t cause any trouble. That I like nearly all of my race would be far too frightened by the prospect of violence. That I would bend over like a good hostage and allow myself to be bound by the fool who had a fraying rope in his mouth.

“Before I am…” what could I even describe such a scenario? Taking a moment to think of the choices that bloomed from the flames until one finally fit the situation. “-captured. Could you at least inform me what it is you wretched criminals are after?” I softly asked, ensuring my anticipation didn’t color my words. Batting my eyes in a way I had seen others do, all to further sell the performance I was putting on. They seemed to all buy it other than the conductor who was slightly looking frightened but rather confused. How did he… Oh yes, the two foal sitters had likely informed him of myself and Cadance.

One of the most certainly hired help was about to open his mouth but the boss of the operation silenced him with but a glare.

“No gloating until after the job is done. How many times do I have to remind you?” That was a shame. But it wasn’t anything that I couldn’t rip from his mind after I reduced him to a mess of burned meat. “I'm sorry but unfortunately that is for us to know and for you to likely find out in the papers.” Oh? Was he planning to let me live? That was thoughtful of him. Perhaps I could let this farce of his heist continue for a tad longer?

I allowed the pony holding the rope to wrap it around me, not even bothering to pretend to be annoyed as he tied it too tight. All the while the pony with the knife had returned to threatening the conductor asking about a particular crate that was being shipped.

“Don’t even think about it.” I hissed at the walking corpse that had pulled out a piece of iron that held the familiar taint of anti-magic. He froze as a sweltering cascade of heat wafted off from my anger. “I let you place your bindings upon me. Do not dare push your luck any further.” My hissed words promised pain beyond death and from the way that the stopper dropped from the shaking hoofs of the frozen yet-to-be-immolated corpse understood that as well.

“We have a problem over there?” The calm collected voice of the pony in charge asked. His attempt at hiding his confusion was pathetic. My patience for this act over, the blade that the orchestrator held at the throat of the conductor was reasonably far enough. I could likely ensure he lived. I burned.

The ropes around me immolated as I reappeared next to the pony in charge of this rather poorly planned heist. Ribbons of flame flickered into existence, binding around the three so-called criminals. They were pathetic. Even now at my young age, I had performed greater heists than they could imagine.

Even as they screamed in pain and shock my magic grasped the blade that had been haphazardly thrown into the air. Pulling it to my side to study later, I turned towards the conductor who held his hoofs over his face as he was huddled upon the floor. Was every pony worthless?

Even as the question whispered in my mind, two exceptions flickered forth. Even in the throes of heat and flames, I could feel my cheeks catch aflame with another form of warmth. I banished the thought and allowed myself the pittance of a single breath before I continued.

“Get up. You are alive.” Seeing that the pony that I had saved was still wavering in the throes of fear I couldn’t help but sigh. Why couldn’t he be more like Cadance? I understood that she was an Alicorn and that both he and I held no way to truly compare to her majesty, but this was ridiculous. Even if she had been frightened she at least hadn’t been reduced to a sniveling mess crying out for Princess Celestia to save him. I hadn’t even killed his would-be attackers.

Patience already frayed I asked once more. “Get up or I will finish what they started!” My words finally got the waste of flesh and sentience to stand upright. His eyes were still clenched shut, yet that didn’t prevent the tears from cascading out from them. My physical form twitched. Cursing my life I sent the wastrel to sleep before I turned to the would-be thieves.

They were writhing with pain upon the floor but they were still conscience. They were actively looking to escape the bindings of flame that I had enforced upon them. Pulling them into my privacy ward I dispelled the ribbons that had seared into their flesh and burned their coats. “Rejoice you are less annoying than the conductor.” I couldn’t help but draw out as I allowed them to catch their breaths from screaming.

Rolling my eyes at the way that the two hired help clung to each other. At least the leader was able to shakily pull himself up to stand on his own… and he just collapsed. How Equestria would survive without Princess Celestia I knew not. Turning my attention towards the now slumbering conductor, I began to delve into his mind. Searching for whatever it was these fools that had infuriated me less than the one I had been searching for.

A map? One that was recently recovered and was being transferred to some pony in Hollow Shades to be translated. Oh my, it seems I had found myself at the beginning of one of those Daring Whatever books. Perhaps if it was on the way Cadance and I could perhaps find whatever it was this map led to? I wasn’t the most well versed in the matters of the heart but nothing immediately jumped out at me for it being a bad idea. From my understanding, a great many romances involved finding treasurers.

“I am unsure if I should thank Princess Celestia that you stopped burning us or pray to her for whatever it is you are about to do to us next.” The leader gravelly intoned after he managed to get to his hooves and stay standing. Well, it was nice to see that some pony understood how the world worked.

“I am not planning on burning you alive just yet.” The muffled gasps from the hench ponies were a delight upon my ears. “So why don’t you explain this little plan of yours.” I was morbidly curious at how they had constructed the plan in the first place. They could also provide a clue for what lay at the end of this map.

“Well then miss…” After seeing that I wasn’t going to introduce myself he continued. “My compatriots and I are simply ponies that have fallen on harsh times and with the recent turmoil that is spreading through Equestria, no Equus itself. We decided to ensure that our families were kept well-fed and watered throughout these trying times. Even if we must go against the might of Princess Celestia herself we would ensure that those ponies that relied on us were safe. Is that so wrong?” I was impressed. It was a beautiful lie that no doubt would have tugged at the heartstrings of any pony that held such an organ. Unfortunately for him, I was better than those ponies.

“Truly?” At his frantic nodding he was swiftly joined in by his two henchlings. I smiled. They flinched. “Then why is it you were enquiring about an untranslated map instead of the pile of bits that this train is also carrying?” I couldn’t prevent the joy I felt at their clear fear, bubbling into a mocking laugh that bled out. “Oh? Were you not planning to use whatever treasures you found to allow your families to survive?” They should know better than this, they were criminals who bucked the system that Princess Celestia enforced. Even if it irritated me that they dared stand against the Princess herself. Malcontent was inevitable with a large enough population.

These were simply the opportunists who realized the truth. That some pony is always better than you. Some pony is always scarier than you. Some pony is willing to do far worse than you. I was all three. “Please what was your plan if a Princess was riding on the train?” My question carried a sharpened heat that cauterized their still weeping wounds. They bit at their tongues as they screamed out.

“I have an acquaintance in the guard who keeps me informed of the Princess's movements. He made mention of her rallying all of her troops and going after a threat.” Was I a mere threat? Seeing that he wasn’t about to continue I beckoned him forth with a burst of searing heat that accompanied my words.

“What about the newest Princess?” What about Cadance? What about my partner? What about the one that still slumbered on this train? What about the one that was still mortal? I heard something snap but I didn’t dare move my eyes from where they were burrowing into this fool's soul. Awaiting for his answer.

“What about her? She’s still kidnapped by the demon!” The pony yelped out no longer even attempting to put on the gentle pony disguise he had earlier adopted. She was still kidnapped, was she? By me no less? The thought brought me warmth. I had indeed kidnapped her, but she stayed by my side.

“What would you have done if she was here? If she was the one to interrupt you?” My voice held a strange affliction of both tone and heat. Ones that I couldn’t recall, yet they proved more than enough to frighten the pony before me ever further into submission.

“We were going to flee! We don’t need the sort of heat that you get for harming a Princess! I swear on my antique collection of letters!” He yelped out, fear ever present in both his wavering form and warbling words. I didn’t doubt he was lying. I doubted he even had the presence of mind to even contemplate anything other than the truth.

What was it that Princess Celestia had once told me? ‘The truth shall set you free?’ Even now I could envision her peerless form whispering those to a filly whose entire world revolved around her. I had done my best to follow after those words. Yet like everything when it comes to Princess Celestia… it never lasts.

Sighing I allowed the heat to bleed from my flesh, dissipating into the air before cleansing it with the cooling charm. Pointedly ignoring the way I instinctively looked for my partner, so that I could cling to her and chase away the cold within her embrace. I was enshrined within a prison of my own making. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to escape.

“You’re free to go.” I finally intoned as I dropped the privacy ward. I was expecting the three ponies that were still conscience before me to immediately scamper away at the first opportunity but instead, they glanced at each other, then to the door, before finally back to me. “Or you can continue to test my patience like this fool.” I punctuated my point with a wave of the still unconscious conductor who I dragged through the air without a second thought.

“Not that we don’t appreciate your generous offer,” then why aren’t you fleeing like the vermin that you are? “ -but shouldn’t you be turning us into the guards?” Was this how I looked at times to Cadance? I groaned as I slammed my hoof into my head at the realization. “Not that we want you to turn us in, that is.” The pony quickly hurried, perhaps realizing what his words implied.

“No, I have no plans to turn you into the guards. I have no plan to escort you fools to Princess Celestia herself. In truth, I couldn't care less about what you do at the moment. You were in my way so I dealt with you.” Now you weren’t my problem, don’t change that. Went unsaid but the pony before me seemed to be somewhat intelligent. More so than the conductor at least.

“Well then miss we will be going our separate way then. I thank you for your kind generosity and for not turning us into a pile of coals.” He offered with a shaky bow and a wince as he pulled at the burned skin that covered his form. Should I heal them? Yet before I could even contemplate the question the three would-be criminals hastily retreated away from me.

Turning my gaze back to the pony of my intentions I began to weave my magic into his will, enforcing my desire upon his psyche. Even if it killed him he would ensure that this train made it to Hollow Shades as fast as possible. Then for good measure, I wiped the entire ordeal with the would-be heisters from his mind. Replacing it with the memory of him collapsing after walking into a door.

Ponies said that I couldn’t be kind. I believe that the multiple acts of kindness that I had just performed would have Princess Celestia even smiling upon me. I could feel my lips curl into a snarl at the thought. Allowing the kindling flame to blossom and burn itself out, I made my way back to the royal car.

Slipping back through the ethereal door I could only pause as I spotted my partner waiting for me with a small smile on her face. Alarm bells began to resound in my head, I wasn’t sure why but I felt as if I was in danger. Wait, why did her smile seem so fake?

“Sunset, what have I said about leaving me to wake up alone in a bed in which we spent the night together?” My heart caught in my throat at her words and it took me nearly hacking it out to regain control of my thoughts. It seems I had once more offended the divine. Judging by the way that she took an almost… there was, no almost about the perverse way that she just smiled at the way that I shivered at her words. All I could do was gulp as I put a hoof forward, an excuse already leaving my lips.

“I couldn’t bring myself to wake you.” Yet I had never backed down just because the enemy before me was among the divine. “It would have been as if I had ruined a work of priceless art.” I nearly chortled at the way that she flushed at my retort. Didn’t think that I wouldn’t flirt back did you Princess? It would have been my overwhelming victory but I knew that she could hear the rapid palpations of my heart that only sped up as her eyes narrowed and met mine.

The battle between the Alicorn and the Unicorn had only just begun anew it seemed.

Author's Note

This chapter is coming a day late as I may or may not have forgotten yesterday was saturday... Oops. That aside this chapter was rather fun to write out. It flowed much easier than the previous chapter. Plenty of setup prepared for both conflict and future prospects. Until next week hopefuly on time.
-LittleFaerieFire