A manic and sadistic chuckle filled the air.

Silver hair appeared in front of Sunset’s vision as she was frozen in shock, at the same time a hand was trying to pull her away, “Sunset! We need to go! I-I can call, Shining!” Twilight’s frantically voiced ushering Sunset out of the dance. Still lost in her daze at seeing the threatening child, she was easily dragged.

A shot of magic hit the top of the archway leading to the exit of the gym, causing the cement and brick to block the way out.

“I don't think so!” The child screamed.

As the little girls jumped down from the stage and ran towards Sunset, who moved to guard the lavender skinned female in her arms, Trixie summoned a magical rope lassoing the child.

The magician fell to the ground with a yelp as the child quickly shot a harmful magic beam. Starlight was quick to catch her, while raising a mint bubble shield.

“You, Sunset Shimmer!,” the girl waved her staff towards the redhead, “You will give me your magic! Your power and magic is strong and it won't be yours for long! Now we can do things the easy way or the hard way.”

“Who are you?” the former unicorn asked, still protecting Twilight with herself.

A larger smirk appeared on her face, “Oh little ol’ me? Well golly, I’m just sweet little Cozy Glow.”

That name, Sunset, was sure she recognized it.

The girl was suddenly pinned to the ground as a giant magical hand pinned her to the ground.

Fuschia Blush had her hand in the position while Lavender quickly ripped the dangerous staff from her hand and defensively pointed it at Cozy, “Sorry kid, but this isn’t the crowd for you!”

A manic chuckle escaped the pinned young girl, “Don’t you worry, that’ll be solved soon,” Cozy Glow then pulled out a dark teal chipped bell from underneath her and pointed it at the twins holding her down. The bell began to glow a bright light before the same aura encased Lavender and Fuschia. The two’s magic glitched away into the air as they fell to the ground in strained screams.

Sunset ripped away from Twilight, a bright red ball of fire extinguished the bells magic. The twins panted from the relief as they hunched over on the ground as if they had just run a thousand mile run.

Teal eyes burned with the fury of an erupting volcano as blistering fire danced from her clenched fists. Her expression turned into a snarl, “Whatever you plan on doing, consider it a fail! You wont get any farther.”

It appeared Sunset’s words did little to none in affecting the young girl as her wicked grin grew, “In a way you're right, Shimmer. I’ll stop attacking your little friends… If you give me what I want.”

The redhead stood taller, “What?” Her voice was firm.

“I’m not sure you realize it, you're a very powerful being. And that power… that magic.. I need it!” The girl pointed the bell at the former unicorn, “You're going to give it to me whether you like it or not!”

A light pink cage manifested around the girl. The source being Trixie pointing her wand towards her, being held up by Starlight, sweat clinging to her forehead.

Cozy Glow used her staff to shoot at the cage only to be forced to duck as the harmful magical beam flew back at her.

“It's anti-magic inside! Any spell you use in there will simply come back at you!” Trixie said.

The young girl snarled, making a growling sound like a feral animal.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack ran up to the amber skinned girl, “What do you want us to do?” the soccer players' raspy voice asked in frantics. Sunset looked at them, momentarily in shock at them looking at her in leadership. She quickly put aside, “Get everyone outside!” Sunset blasted a giant hole in the gym wall, leading to an exit.

“We have doors in the back that lead outside!” Luna shouted from the stage as Celestia's face palmed.

Sunset blushed, “Oh..yeah…”

Cozy Glow gripped the bars, yanking on them, “Go ahead! Let your little worms run! I won't be stopped!!”

The chromatic haired girl and the farmer quickly ushered fellow students and teachers throughout the escape route alongside the two principals. Strawberry Seed and Raspberry Root- who Sunset later learned were the names of the twins boyfriends, held tight grip’s on their exhausted partners, and sent apologetic looks to the redhead.

Sunset felt someone grab her shoulder, seeing it was Twilight, she started to guide her out, “Go, Sparkes! It's too dangerous for you!”

“N-no! I’m not letting you fight this maniac without me! I might not have magic like you but I can help!” Twilight said with anxiety making her voice quiver as tears were built in her eyes. The former unicorn thought to retort before she heard Trixie yell, “I-I can't hold this for much longer!”

Said cage was flickering and the illusionist looked much too pale. The former unicorn knew that was due to the hit Trixie took earlier.

Cost Glow had a wicked smile on her face watching the light azure skinned girl lose the rest of her magical power, one small hand holding the weaponry staff and the other holding the handle of the bell.

The cage finally dusted away as Trixie lost her consciousness, Starlight quickly threw up a sparkly mint barrier around the girl, only for that to disappear as the lilac skinned girl screamed from her magic being drained from her. Despite this she threw herself over Trixie attempting to stop any further harm being done to her as light pink and mint were drained from the two.

“Stop!” Sunset yelled, aiming a fireball at the bell holding girl, ready to unleash it before the girl pointed the staff at the two girls on the ground, “Don’t even think about it! I don't plan on taking any lives but I will if I have to!”

“It’s my magic you want, take it! You don't need theirs!” Sunset argued in an attempt to reason with the ringlet haired girl.

A malicious giggle emitted from the girl, “More the merrier!”

“Sunset!” Twilight called out as the redhead ripped from her grasp throwing herself in the path of the bells magic. Starlight gasped for air as the pain stopped, her life line no longer feeling as if it were being extracted from her very soul. Purple eyes looked frantically at the silver haired girl beside her, who held a pained look on her face, her teeth grit and eyes held shut, her magical aura of pink dusted over her, slowly sinking back below her skin.

Pain, all of the pain she’s ever felt before consumed Sunset. Her stomach churning screams echoing the school gym. The pain of her years in isolation during her foulhood, the pain of fighting with Princess Celetsia, trying to get the goddess to understand her. The pain of being alone in the world for years. The heart splitting torture of her first attempt at friendship ending with betaral and abandonment. The self inflicted pain, the torture and beatings and coldness when locked away by the hands of her kidnapper. All of it flowed through her veins, brought to the surface, bringing forth her anger, sadness, despair and fury.

“Sunset!” It was so faint but she could hear her girlfriend calling out to her, fear evident in her voice, “P-please this isn’t you! I k-know it’s not!”

“What?”

A far away maniacal chuckle erupted, vibrating her soul. It sounded like her own voice but…warped, deep, wrapped in evil. Sunset couldn’t see anything, only hear. Screams, students scream’s.

“Yes! That's right, a demon of great power!”

Sunset felt her whole body shake and writhe as a screeching let out from the demon, soon everything felt dark, like she was floating through an endless void of shadows.

For a moment, the redhead couldn't help but feel at peace. Her soul felt steady, her body felt light, her mind felt quiet. Was this death? Is that why it felt so nice? Like a warm hug only a loving person, mother, girlfriend could give?

***

Twilight breathed heavy, trying to call herself, she had just watched her multidimensional, magically infused girlfriend be stripped of said magic, screaming in a way Twilight had never heard before. The screaming turned into evil laughter as fiery red hair danced in the wind, her body grew several inches, her beautiful amber skin turned an angry red as large black bat-like wings swung out of her back, along with a devil tail. Large fiery boots, black leather pants and a fiery top that had flames flickering up to her clavicle and the same flames lining up her arms, acting as detached sleeves, adorned the creature of fire.

Whatever this evil little girl had just turned her girlfriend into, it was her Sunset. No matter what the past had been, this wasn't the kind, empathic, passionate young woman Twilight fell in love with, “Sunset!” The demon flickered its black scleras, teal iris’s towards her. The indigo haired girl found it hard to admit her fear, but she knew it was there, making her blood run cold, “P-please this isnt you! I k-know it isn’t!”

A quick look of confusion crossed the demon's face, it quickly went away as the demon laughed, opening her mouth to say something before Cozy Glow, who now looked like a senior student, interrupted, “Yes! That's right, a great demon of power!”

The demon screamed loudly and flailed around as the bell’s line of fire began again, blazing fire leaving her. Sunset’s now human again body appeared and started to fall a great height to the ground, Twilight instinctively threw her arms out, hoping somehow to catch the red head, only for her to freeze mid fall, a magenta aura encasing the former unicorn. Twilight saw the same aura around her hands, looking back up at her unconscious girlfriend, she brought her slowly into her arms.

Violet eyes overflowed with tears, Sunset face, pale and having no sign of life to it, “S-s-sunny, p-please, be oka-ay.” She said through tear filled hiccups. Twilight put her ear to Sunsets chest only hearing the faintest heart beat.

Manic laughter filled the air as magic swarmed around the air, bare footsteps were heard behind Twilight as she clutched her girlfriend close to her chest, Luna placed a hand on the sobbing girls back, before bringing a finger under Sunsets nostrils, “She’s breathing, slowly, but she i-” The woman was cut off by a giant stomp bouncing them almost off the ground.

“HA Ha Ha! I’ve done it!” A giant adult looking Cozy Glow laughed, making her way outside, “NOW, YOU ALL WILL KNEEL BEFORE MY MIGHT!”

As students tried to escape, a blistering red glowed from the monster's hands, “I dont think so!” She used a laser beam to cut out the earth, making tall walls.

Twilight clenched her hair, “W-what do we do!? Sunset is h-hurt! I dont know how badly! Trixie, Starlight and the twins are all out of commission and now a giant crazy lady is running around!” A stressed, crazy laugh escaped the panicked girl.

“Twilight, I know this is traumatic, but breathe and calm down.” Luna soothed her, “There's a way to fix this, I know there has to be!”

Fuschia appeared before them, looking ready to pass out again, “Ta-take this,” She said in a weak voice, “Cozy didn't notice your magic, luckily, use this to enter Sunsets cousiness, pull her out of the void.”

The object in question was a teal rusted key, “It's a magic relic, just use it, if anyone can't get Sunset back, it’s you.”

Luna raised a brow, “You just have that on you?”

Fuschia shook her head before her boyfriend caught her falling, “I.. tel-eported… home t-to get.. It.” She said slowly and breathlessly, clearly much too exhausted to handle even standing up.

Twilight looked at the key before turning back to her girlfriend still clutched in her arm. The indigo haired girl nodded, making her decision, she placed the key lightly to Sunsets core and lightly gasped as a bright light shone before blinding her.

When Twilight opened her eyes again she was brought to a large room that looked like it belonged to a palace, turning around, that’s when she saw the large long room with a wedding arch covered in orange and purple roses and a beautifully radiant golden young woman with a mane and tail that flickered like fire. A long slightly curved horn coming from her head and fluffy equine ears. She wore a pure white gown with pink ancients and her cutie mark emblem on her wrists.

“Hey, Sparkes.” Her soothing warm voice greeted, with her signature crooked smile.

“Sunny? What’s going on?” Twilight asked, now confused on how they ended up here and why her girlfriend was dressed like this. Not that she didn’t look beautiful, because she does, goddess tier is where the lavender skinned girl would place this radiant beauty that somehow ended up hers.

Sunset rubbed at the back of her neck sheepishly, “I know we aren't supposed to see each other before the wedding on our wedding day but..” teal eyes flickered down and back up Twilight’s person, “I couldn’t help myself.”

If twilight's cheeks were pink before they were definitely crimson now, “Ma-married?”

Sunset chuckled, “Yes Sparkes, remember?”

“L- last I remember we were at the spring fling… you were attacked by Cozy Glow.” The scientist said.

A slight red shein glistened momentarily over teal eyes. Twilight would have missed it if she weren’t looking in Sunset's eyes.

The red head giggled, “I don’t know what you're talking about babe.”

Twilight's breath hitched, this must have something to do with magic, a hallucination? Illusion?

“You're not my Sunset, are you?” Twilight asked.

A hurt look crossed the foax Sunsets face, “What do you mean?” She sounded pained as she took a step forward.

The indigo haired girl backed away, “None of this is real, where is the real Sunset?”

Suddenly the room broke into a million pieces leaving only a black windy void and the Sunset that had once been before her disintegrated away.

Twilight looked around, searching for anything as she shielded her eyes from her wild flowing hair, “Sunset!” She yelled, her own voice now sounding faint.

“Sunnybun!” She tried again, her voice coming back in an echo, suddenly she heard a fire erupt. Looking back at the source she saw the hot orange and yellow fire, pushing herself through the void, Twilight started to hear whimpering.

A little golden filly sitting slumped on the ground and crying as a little bouts of fire danced. Twilight could see a tall white alicorn glaring down at the filly with disappointment before walking off.

“I-I didn’t mean too, Princess! I t-tried to make friends but th-ey always e-end up being me-mean to me!” The golden filly with fiery hair cried.

The white alicorn turned back to her, “Are you sure it’s them Sunset Shimmer, or are you doing something wrong? This shouldn’t happen every time. I think you need some time to rethink about yourself.” An invisible door shut behind her.

Twilight walked up to the crying filly, thinking of a way to comfort her, only for the transparency of the memory to make itself known.

Violet eyes shifted, taking in the other painful memories. Fights with the white alicorn, running away, finding her way through Twilight's home world. Her old friends' declaration of abandonment, the days of the fiery haired girl just in her bed… and more, and more. The lavender skinned girl could actually feel the pain physically and mentally and emotionally - some of which were familiar.

Twilight's eyes shifted up, full of tears. There, she saw the back of her levitating partner, just drifting in place, looking free of any stress and pain. Using the power she discovered earlier, Twilight attempted to lift herself up, at first the magic flickered with hesitation before fully coming to life and lifting her.

Sunset looked… peaceful, Twilight had to admit. Reaching her arms out, the telekinetic user embraced the other girl.

“Sunset Shimmer, please, please, wake up…” Twilight whispered, placing her head in the other's chest and tightly hugging her.

“Hey… Sparkes.” A weak voice said.

Twilight raised her head, looking at a slightly pale Sunset Shimmer, who had a gentle smile on her face, “Is it really you?” She found herself asking before her brain could register.

Sunset chuckled, looking down at her hand and opening and closing it, “I think so.”

Teal eyes shifted back to violet, “What happened?”

“Oh, you know, just a power crazed manic blasting dangerous and destructive magic everywhere.” Twilight tried to joke before her deep frown took over, “The girls are hurt and you… I was scared that- that you…” she cut herself off, unable to say it out loud.

“Don’t worry, Sparkes, we’ll set things right.” Twilight nodded in agreement. A new glow of determination encased them, leading to a blinding light.

Opening her eyes behind framed glasses, she saw Sunset standing on wobbly legs but a new type of fury exuded from her and showed on the amber skinned face.

Twilight stood by her side placing and hand on her shoulder, “I discovered I have telekinesis, let me know what I need to do.”

Sunset smirked, “Perfect timing.”

Crazed laughter could be heard along with students' fear, “I will soon rule this world! Bow down simple humans!”

The redhead cringed, “Ugh, can’t believe I used to sound like that..” she mumbled under breath.

“Sunset! You're okay!” Luna hugged the girl, wiping a tear away.

“Okay enough, for now, let’s get this over with.” Sunset said, taking a wobbly step forward.

“Mind if we help?” A thick southern accent asked.

Looking back, Applejack stood with a rope already tied into a lasso, and the other girls were ready for any instruction.

“Right, Pinkie distract her any way you can, Rainbow get that fast car you have and use that for Applejack to rope in Cozy Glow, Fluttershy, Mrs.Luna gather any one hurt, anyone else help Applejack or Pinkie!” Sunset commanded. It might have gone unnoticed by the others but Twilights could hear the redhead getting weaker but the minute.

“You guys make sure to destabilize her, Twilight, we’re getting that magic stealing bell.” The lavender skinned girl nodded.

Rainbow started her dash out to her sports car as Pinkie pulled out her confetti cannons, from where? Only pinkie knows. Applejack handed Rarity another lasso. Fluttershy and Luna assisted in getting Trixie, Starlight and the twins to the nurses- who luckily had come to the dance this time.

“Hey crazy lady! Betcha can’t catch me!” Pinkie sang while cartwheeling. Cozy Glow looked at her with frustration, not paying attention to the cannons powering up to blast her with a football yard of confetti. As Rainbow Dash spun around the corner, the two lassoing girls jumped in hanging out the window, swinging the ropes to catch the giant's arms.

“Twilight lift me, I’m gonna try to catch the bell! Try to get the staff!” Sunset positioned herself as Twilight lit up her magenta aura and used most of her strength to levitate the girl up and Cozy Glow was losing her grip due trying to get her arms free from the restraints.

As soon as the bell dropped lose from Cozy’s hands Sunset gripped it from the air while seeing the staff be ripped from Cozy’s other hand by a magenta hold.

Cozy growled as Sunset landed back on the ground, “This ends now, Cozy Glow!”

The redhead threw the bell to the ground, breaking it into pieces, pinks, purple, mint, and bright yellow swormed out, returning to their owners.

Bright yellow started to consume Sunset. Relief and power flowed through her, for just a moment she felt afraid of what would become of her before deciding for herself it would be something good that would help her and her friends.

Her hair flowed around her and white and yellow flew around Sunset. She could feel the light and hope in her veins, in her soul, as her magic returned to her happily and rightfully.

Opening her teal eyes, Sunset found herself in the air, a pair of bright golden flamed wings holding her up and a similar horn swimming with power and magic in the center of her forehead.

Sunset's eyes found her girlfriends and Twilight beamed brightly and proudly at her.

Cozy Glow growled with anger, still in her large form, eyes and faux horn glowing a bright angry red, “How dare you?! You think you actually have a chance against me, you little pony?! You're nothing! I deserve this power!”

Cozy Glow shot a red beam of magic at the redhead, only for her to block and dispel it with her own bright yellow magic, “Anyone who is willing to hurt others, deserves no power. What you deserve, is a hard lesson!”

Two beams filled with magic collided together. The two fought to over power the other before Sunset lunged more power towards her once she gained the upper hand.

“No!!” The former child yelled before being blinded to pure white.

Sunset dropped gently to the ground after the purifying white magic smoked away. Her own magic shimmered away leaving an exhausted Sunset to fall to her knees on the ground, being caught half way by Twilight, “Are you okay?” She asked with worry in her voice.

Sunset slowly nodded, “Just tried.” She answered breathlessly.

Sniffling and a child voice entered as she stood on wobbly, weak legs, “T-this isn’t t-the end!”

Cozy Glow pointed at Sunset, “I-I’m not done!”

Suddenly recognition entered the redhead, ‘The mental health facility, that’s where I saw her before!’

Sunset stood, walking over the little girl, who fell back to the ground, “It is over Cozy Glow. That’s a tough lesson I’ve learned. Evil and self centered power will never prevail. You're young, think this over.”

The child got up and started hitting at Sunset, “You don’t know anything!”

Sunset simply moved out of the way of her hits feeling nothing but disappointment and sympathy, at one point in her life she had felt the same, it hurt to know that others thought they needed to go to the same lengths.

“Trixie had it all under control!!” A nasally voice called out by the front doors of the school, standing proud. Starlight, Lavender Lace, Fuchsia Blush and their partners by their side, stood with Trixie, all amused and proud smiles on their faces.

“And how’s that?” A student with green locks asked her.

“Why Trixie knew the whole time Sunset Shimmer would prevail!” She threw, waving her pointer finger around.

The redhead slumped her shoulders, “Well glad she’s feeling better…”

Celestia picked up a few of the spare bricks of the destroyed gym, “..My poor school…”

Students could be heard giggling as others ran up to Sunset offering thanks and pride in her.

“What do we do about the kid?” Rainbow Dash asked, pointing at her, Applejack holding the wiggling girl back.

“She needs to be taken to a place where she can get help.” Sunset answered.

Celestia walked forward, “Where would that be?”

“I first met her from the hospital. We..were in the same mental wing.” The redhead informed the woman.

The principal nodded, Applejack picked up the fighting girl, following the woman to her car.

“Well, we’ve still got an hour of the dance left…” Twilight smiled sheepishly.

“Where do you suppose we do that, darling?” Rarity asked.

Luna nodded in agreement, “Yes, our gym is a bit… devastated at the moment.”

Pinkie spawned in between and placed an arm on their shoulders, “Ladies please! Anywhere can be a party!”

The party planner pulled out a whole new set of cannons, decorating the front courtyard in a spring fling theme.

Students laughed and smiled happily as music could be heard playing on the PA system of the school. Sunset looked at the vice principal for permission, only to get a shrug that turned into a smile.

As students danced and laughed together at a new victory, the dance’s queen and king were announced by Luna. That being Trixie giddily claiming the spot of a triumphant queen, leaving Rarity pouting and Applejack playfully making her feel better and the king being, Twilight. Even though she's technically not a student, apparently enough students thought it would be funny and ironic.

Sunset agreed as she laughed and watched her girlfriend stiffly claim the crown and dance in the center with an equally stiff Trixie.

Close to the end, Luna called the former unicorn to the stage, “As this inspiring young woman stands here in representation of change, hope, and empathy, after saving our tails tonight. I believe it’s only fair to hear one hear one of her beautiful works of music.”

Sunset looked at her surprised as she handed her a guitar and a mic stand.

Twilight smiled at her fondly. A song that meant hope and understanding that she had written in the late hours of her room…

Taking a breath in, “It’s all right, yeah.”

“I’m walking right beside you, I feel the way,

feel the way that you do too”

Oh, I can't lie, sometimes”

Everything feels like it's just too much”

But you gotta let it in, even if it's tough”

Know it gets better, know it gets better”

Push through the weather, weather”

Let it ra-a-a-ain”

Let it ra-a-a-ain”

“Woo! Go Sunset!” Your girlfriend's voice called from the crowd.

Students followed after her, cheering and singing along with the chorus.

Sunset beamed on the stage with happiness flowing through her being.

Author's Note

This one was super fun to write :P

I hope you all in joined, next chapter will be a treat for sure