Sunset Shimmer's magic adventures, Volume 2: The Villain Gauntlet.

Chapters

Chapter 1: Versus Sombra
Chapter 2: Sunset's Paradise
Chapter 3: Divided
Chapter 4: Dual of the bands
Chapter 5: Rumble at the Resort.
Chapter 6: Sunset's Final Step.
Chapter 8: David vs Goliath
Chapter 9: Phoenix Down.
Chapter 10: Clash of the Titans
Bonus Chapter: The Origins
Chapter 7: Sunset of the Seven Seas: The Sequel, part 1.

Chapter 1: Versus Sombra

Grogar ordered everyone in the castle to wake up and get to the meeting room. Moonlight was the first to arrive, followed by Starlight shortly after. Discord and Cosmos were next to arrive, followed by Stygian, Sombra, Chrysalis, Sonata, Aria and Adagio. Nightmare and Tirek entered the room at the same time and sat down. Finally, a couple minutes later, Sunny arrived at last, completing the team. She looked tired and exhausted.

“Another one of your nocturnal adventures?” asked Moonlight. “You know we can’t leave the castle at night!!”

“I had a nocturnal adventure alright” answered Sunny, smiling. “But not outside the castle”

“Alright” said Moonlight, disgusted. “Let’s change subject”

He noticed that Grogar was in a good mood this morning, which was rare. Moonlight looked at Sunny and made two and two together. Grogar and her had quite a busy night and this thought both disgusted and enraged Moonlight at the highest point. Like the cold-blooded guy he was, he swallowed his rage and moved on.

“Today is the day, everyone” said Grogar. “Each of you had plenty of time to master your magic and it’s time to put it to the test. As for who is going to go fight first...”

Grogar made a pot full of straws appear in the middle of the table.

“...Will be the one picking the shortest straw” he said. “Discord, Cosmos, no magic!”

Everyone picked a straw and it was Sombra who picked the shortest one.

“I better make a good first impression, then” said Sombra, grinning.

“What’s your plan?” asked Moonlight.

“You’ll know soon enough” he answered.

At Canterlot, Sunset and her friends were on their toes. Rainbow Dash was flying above the city, looking for any enemy coming for them. Fluttershy sent all the stray cats, birds, dogs, rats and even bugs around town with the same intention than Rainbow. Twilight had pirated the town’s camera system and was also looking for anything suspicious. Applejack and Rarity were assisting Twilight in her task in keeping an eye on the hundreds of cameras. Pinkie Pie was cleaning her party cannon and finally, Sunset was turning in circles. The enemy could be here at any time, they knew it. Little did they knew that Sombra already started his offensive. Swift like a shadow, he corrupted the town’s water facility with his dark magic. Everyone going to drink the water would become a mindless puppet that Sombra could control.

“Let’s see how those girls will handle an entire city of braindead citizens” said Sombra, laughing. “This shall be entertaining to watch.”

Sombra left the facility and headed right for the girls. It would take a moment before the corrupted water affect the whole city. He raised his hand and used his magic to turn the cloudy sky black. A black rain soon started to fall on Canterlot, corrupting more and more citizens. Sunset and her friends weren’t affected by the rain and immediately headed for Sombra.

“I’m afraid you’re too late, girls” said Sombra, with his charming voice. “I’ve already won...”

Rainbow Dash rushed at Sombra and tried to punch him. This one took the hit and grabbed Rainbow Dash’s arm. In one move, he broke it, making Rainbow Dash yell of pain. With a powerful kick to the guts, he sent her back to her friends. Mad with rage, Applejack ran toward Sombra. Twilight hold the villain in place with her magic, allowing her friend to hit her target. Applejack punched Sombra so hard, his armor was shattered into pieces and was sent flying dozens of meters backward. Sombra got up and coughed some blood. He was smiling at Applejack. This one realized why: Her arm was covered of small shadow crystals. Sunset realized that the situation was not going in their favor. Rarity ran to Applejack and used her magic to break the shadow crystals. At her surprise, it worked and Applejack could now use her arm again.

“Thank you, Rarity!” said Applejack. “It seem your magic beat his!”

Sombra teleported behind Rarity, about to slice her in half with a sword made of black crystal. This one blocked the blade with a magic shield. The blade shattered in pieces, leaving Sombra shocked, this was enough for Pinkie Pie to blast him with a cannonball filled with sprinkles. Sombra took the projectile right in the chest, injuring him badly. Applejack smashed him with a huge metal pipe that broke his left arm. Sombra turned into a cloud of shadow and retreated far away from the girls. There, he regained his physical form and surrounded himself of an unpenetrable barrier of shadow crystal.

“Your team coordination is better than i expected” said Sombra. “You actually hurt me pretty bad...but it was worth it...”

The streets of Canterlot were suddenly filled with hundreds of citizens. They were armed with diverse tools and weapon and a dark aura was emanating from their eyes.

“Before our fight, i corrupted Canterlot’s water supply with my dark magic” said Sombra, grinning. “I also poisoned the rain with the same magic as well. While we were fighting, my Shadow water, as i call it, contaminated every single citizen in town. They’re all puppets under my control, mindless slaves. You girls might be good at fighting villains, but what about an army of law-abiding citizens?”

Sunset looked at the sky and got an idea. Meanwhile, Rarity was creating magic barriers to hold the mind-controled citizens.

“Let’s blast the sky with our magic, girls!” she said to them by telepathy. “Let’s make it rain...Bow!”

The girls combined their magic, ignoring Sunset’s bad pun. Sombra understood what they were trying to do and took multiple citizens hostage before they could blast the sky. The girls stopped immediately and stared at Sombra.

“What?” asked Sombra. “You expect me to play fair? Please, i’m the Shadow King, the Black Scourge, the Prince of Darkness!! I’m not playing by your rules...”

At his castle, Grogar and the rest were watching Sombra attentively.

“He’s doing good” said Chrysalis. “Holding innocents hostage is a good way to dissuade heroes from doing anything stupid.”

“They also messed him quite bad” said Tirek, laughing. “I’m sure Sombra didn’t expect them to hurt him this bad.”

Sombra, meanwhile, was becoming weaker by the minute. His left arm was bleeding intensively and many of his ribs were broken after taking Pinkie’s bomb right to the chest. One of those ribs pierced his right lung, making it hard for him to breathe. Sunset was well aware of his state and tried to stop him from killing himself.

”Stop it, Sombra!” said Sunset by telepathy. “You’re killing yourself...Just give up...”

”Your compassion make me sick” said Sombra, grinning.

He used his dark magic to disperse the clouds in the sky. All the shadow crystals disappeared, but the citizens were still under his control. As he was on death’s doors, he had a thought for Hope, his first and only friend. Sunset perceived his thoughts and felt empathy for him. But as he was ready to accept his fate, he was suddenly overwhelmed with a torrent of magic energy.

“Where does all that power comes from!!” shouted Sunset. “A second ago, he was on the verge of death!!”

Sombra got up and laughed like a maniac. All his injuries had been healed and he was more powerful than ever before. His eyes were glowing red, as if he went berserk.

“Before fighting him, we need to free those citizen!!” said Applejack. “The rain was our only option, but Sombra cleared the sky!!”

Sunset suddenly thought about Eris, she owed her one.

“Eris!” she said mentally. “I need your help!! We need rain, some time and the citizens safe!!”

A magic barrier appeared around the group and black clouds soon covered the sky. Sunset and her friends immediately combined their magic aura and turned it into a laser. The beam reached the clouds and a rainbow-coloured rain started falling on the city. Soon, all the citizens were freed from Sombra’s corruption and transported safely into their house. There was only him and them left in the street.

“Thank you!” said Sunset.

“You’re welcome, sister!” answered Eris.

Sunset and her friends faced Sombra, ready to fight. Pinkie Pie fired an explosive cannonball at Sombra. This one grabbed it with his hands and threw it back at her. The explosion destroyed her cannon and blew the girls away. Only Rarity was fine thanks to her magic barrier.

“I guess it’s just you and me, sweetheart!” said Sombra, with an evil smile. “I’m coming for you!!”

Sombra charged at her, two magic swords in hand. Rarity created two shields on her forearms, acting like defensive gauntlets. She blocked Sombra’s attacks, but this time, his blades didn’t shatter. She continued parrying his attacks like a champion, but would inevitably make a wrong move. Applejack and Rainbow Dash finally got up and executed a combo move they invented. Her arm had been healed by Eris earlier, as a bonus and she could fight again. Rainbow Dash grabbed Applejack by the feet and started spinning on herself, quicker and quicker. Applejack hardened her first with her magic and Rainbow threw her in Sombra’s direction.

“Supersonic Fist of Doom!!” shouted both Rainbow and Applejack.

Rarity got out of the way in time and Applejack hit Sombra directly, and with such force that he was projected hundreds of meters back. In his castle, Grogar was enjoying the fight.

“Those girls are full of surprises...” he said “Let’s see how Sombra took that hit”

Sombra was fine, but the violence of the blow he received made him recover a bit of his sanity. The girls arrived shortly after as he was getting up.

“Even that didn’t hurt him!!” said Applejack. “That power-up he got all of a sudden is terrifying.”

Sunset noticed his eyes weren’t red anymore.

“You’re wrong” answered Sunset. “Your attack seem to have knocked him out of his enraged state.”

Sombra looked at them and with his dark magic, immobilized them.

“Time to face your fears, girls” he said.

The girls were forced to face their worst fears and they fell on their knees.

“The poor animals...” said Fluttershy. “Don’t hurt them...Please...Stop!!!”

“My team was counting on me” said Rainbow Dash. “I failed, i betrayed them!!”

“Please, not Sweet Apple Acres!!” said Applejack. “Don’t do it, Granny!! Don’t sell the farm to this greedy man!!”

Only Sunset was not giving into her fears. With her magic, she shared memories of her and them having fun. One after another, the girls came back to reality and looked at each other with love.

“Of course they would break free” said Sombra for himself.

A portal opened behind him and he smiled.

“I guess we’ll settle this another time” he said, before disappearing through it.

The portal then closed, leaving the girls on their knees.

“We won...” said Twilight.

“Why did he retreated?” asked Rainbow Dash. “He was far from being exhausted.”

“Who care?” said Applejack. “I’m happy he’s gone...”

“Let’s get back home, girls” said Sunset. “We need to take a rest.”

Sombra was back to Grogar’s castle, his hand on his chest. Everyone was looking at him, with different expressions.

“I hope you enjoyed the show...” he said with a bitter attitude. “Now, if you excuse me, i need to take a nap...”

Sombra was heading to his room.

“You did great, Sombra” said Grogar. “Using the populace as a pressuring tool against the girls was smart and cunning. I learned a lot about those girls during your fight. I hope you also learned a valuable lesson too...”

“I learned something alright” said Sombra, laughing. “Taking a beating sucks...I believe you’re next, Discord...”

“Unlike you, i’m not going to expose myself to them...” said Discord. “They can overcome their fears and the pressure, but can they resist to their deepest desires?”

“What’s your plan?” asked Grogar.

“I’m going to put them in a self-contained reality where they will live their ideal life.” answered Discord. “Of course, i’m gonna make sure you can all watch them separately in their own reality.”

“I see...” said Grogar. “Go with it, Discord...”

Chapter 2: Sunset's Paradise

Author's Note

Warning!!! The following chapter contain scenes that could DEFINITIVELY shock some readers!!! I strongly reccommend you to skip it. If you do read this chapter and manage to keep reading the next ones, you're a true mvp.

Chapter 2: Sunset's Paradise

Sunset was woken up by Princess Celestia. She looked around her and saw she was in a sumptuous room.

“Did our sweet little princess of Friendship slept well?” asked Celestia.

“Princess of Friendship?” thought Sunset. “Is she refering to me? Twilight is the princess of Friendship, not me!”

“Today is the day of your coronnation” said Celestia. “Did you forgot, already?”

Sunset got off her bed and shook her head.

“Wait, isn’t Twilight Sparkle supposed to be your successor?” she asked.

“Silly filly...Both of you are going to be our successors” answered Celestia. “Twilight and you did so much to spread the magic of Friendship through your respective worlds. I’m as proud of you as i’m proud of her...”

“If you knew how much those words bring joy to my heart...” Said Sunset.

She followed Celestia to the dinning room and saw Twilight already sat in her chair.

“Good morning, Sunset!!” said Twilight

“Good morning, Twilight” she said back.

The two hugged each other.

“You seem awfully stressed, Twilight” said Sunset. “Is this because of the corronation?”

“Yes!!” answered Twilight. “I’m so nervous...What if i made a foal of myself in front of everyone!!?”

“Then i’ll make a foal out of myself too to even the odds!” said Sunset, smiling.

Twilight looked at Sunset with a smile as well. They finished their breakfast and headed to the bathrooms to clean themselves.

“I’m so glad to have you with me, Sunset” said Twilight with a face full of sincerity. “Ruling Equestria is going to be a stressful job, but with you on my side, i feel more calm, more assured.”

“Twilight...” said Sunset, with teary eyes.

After this touching exchange, the two princesses headed to their rooms to get dressed for the coronnation. Deep down, Sunset knew none of this was real, but her exchange with Twilight hit her right in the heart. Back then, she deliberately refused to become a Princess when Twilight and Celestia offered it to her, pretexting wanting to stay loyal to her friends and not being interested in a title anymore. The truth was she still felt underserving of such honor, despite what she has done in the name of Friendship. It was only now she regretted her choice, because this was a future now out of her reach, even if she woke up.

”I’m such an idiot...” she said to herself. ”That day, i could have chosen both my friends and ruling Equestria with Twilight...I ended up refusing because i didn’t and still don’t think i’m ready for that. What if all this power corrupted me, what if i let my old evil habits get the better of me...”

She looked at herself and the mirror. She was an Alicorn, proof that she was worthy of being a princess. She decided to take some fresh air and took off from the open window. She quickly reached the clouds and landed on one...It was cozy and so, so soft. As she was about to fall asleep, Rainbow Dash joined her on the cloud.

“What’s up, Sunset?” said Rainbow Dash.

“Hi, Rainbow Dash” said Sunset Shimmer, with a monotonous voice. “I just needed some fresh air”

“You don’t look very happy...” noticed Rainbow Dash. “You should be!! Your corronation is today, after all!! Are you still thinking about your friends from the other world?”

“No” answered Sunset. “I can go visit them whenever i want...I’m just...not feeling worthy of this honor...”

“I know how you feel” said Rainbow Dash. “I don’t know if i’ll be able to take Spitfire’s place one day...But you know what? I’m not just doing it for myself...I do it for my friends, my family, all those who believed in me. What i mean is don’t do it for yourself, Sunset, do it for Twilight....You matter a lot for her, you’re like her sister.”

“None of this is real, though” said Sunset for herself. “What if i just chose to fly far, far away, far beyond the limits of Equestria? What if i just wanted to go evil and destroy Canterlot, no, Equestria? What if i took a dump from the balcony? It doesn’t matter, since this is not reality, MY reality”

Sunset put Rainbow Dash to sleep with a spell, before this one could react. She took off once more and flew as far as she could, flew until she reached the ocean. Along the way, she bombarded Kludgetown with a rain of magic projectiles. She continued flying, passing above a big island full of giant lizards. When she finally decided to take a rest, it was far past sunset. She missed the corronation, certainly made Twilight sad, but she didn’t care because it was not real. What she didn’t know is that Grogar and the others were witnessing her dream.

“I didn’t expect things to go that way” said Discord. “If she thinks her actions have no consequences, well, she’s gonna regret not staying in her castle...Cosmos, you’re the best when it comes to ruin people’s life...Take over, would you?”

Cosmos smiled devilishly.

“It’s a pretty nice place she landed on” she said. “But appearences can be...tricky!”

Sunset was exploring the island she landed on. It was a blooming paradise full of unknown, luxurious vegetation. What she didn’t know was the island she landed on was one of the most dangerous place in this world, and she was going to see it for herself very soon. After a few minutes walking in the jungle, the environment around her changed drastically. The bright, beautiful vegetation made place to a deserted, unhospitaliar wasteland. Her immediate reflex was to leave the island, but when she tried to do so, a magic force stopped her. From above, she saw countless monsters, all more ugly, dangerous and deadly than the others. All their eyes were set on her, it was obvious they had one intention: Kill her.

“As long as i’m staying in the air, none of those monsters can eat me.” she said while flipping them the bird. “Maybe if i want to leave this place, i have to kill them all...”

Sunset gathered her magic in a huge ball that she threw at the monsters. Upon hitting the ground, a huge explosion vaporized all the monster within an area of 30 miles. She then sliced half the island with a powerful laser beam, which began sinking in the ocean. Grogar and the rest where watching the show of gore and cruelty Sunset offered them. Discord, The Sirens, Starlight, Chrysalis and Stygian were utterly shocked, while Cosmos, Sombra, Tirek, Sunny, Grogar and Nightmare were in complete awe. Only Moonlight was indifferent...

“Are you sure she’s not a villain?” he said to Grogar. “Cause it look like she’s enjoying giving death to those monsters.”

“You created this self-contained dimension according to what she desired most, right, Discord?” asked Grogar, ignoring Moonlight.

“I did!” said Discord. “She really regretted her decision not to rule alongside Twilight, so i thought giving her a second chance would make her happy. I guess i didn’t take into consideration her darkest desires would also come into play. I basically created one big sandox for her to play in.”

When Sunset was done with the monsters, there was nothing left of the island.

“I might have went a bit overboard...” she said. “But oh well, it was good to let my anger loose for once...I should probably go back to Equestria, now...”

She flew in direction of Equestria, but stopped halfway through. Kludgetown, the city she bombared earlier today, was a commercial ally of the kingdom of Equestria. By attacking it, she probably caused a diplomatic crisis and she was certain many witnesses saw her do it. Chances that she would be considered an outlaw in the eyes of Equestria was high...

”Maybe the only way to get out of this dream is to do all the bad, evil stuff i wanted to” she said to herself. ”I’m going to get rid of all my darkest desires right now. I won’t fully accept myself if i keep the bad part of me alive. It’s time to let it loose!!”

She headed to Equestria, quickly reaching it. Upon entering the land, she made a turn to Mount Aeris and nuked the whole island, leaving no chance to the Hippogryffs. Her next destination was the Dragon Land, which she transformed into a frozen wasteland. She trapped all the dragons as well, in thick, blue ice. Her next target was the Changeling Kingdom. Since the anti-magic throne was no more, she could unleash hell on the land. She turned their kingdom into literal hell...There was lava, fire and destruction everywhere. Chrysalis, back to the real world, was jubilating. She then aimed for the Crystal Empire and found Cadence and all her soldiers waiting for her there.

“Why are you doing this, Sunset?!” asked Cadence, full of rage.

“In order to accept myself, i realized i had to let all the darkness in my heart out” answered Sunset, with an emotionless voice. “Simply put, i need to purify myself from my sins, and unfortunately, this require me doing the unthinkable...”

Back to Cantelot, Twilight was troubled. She just saw Sunset Shimmer, her best friend, someone she considered a sister, commit genocide.

“Why would she do this!?” said Twilight. “This morning, she was perfectly normal. It must be somepony mind-controlling her!!”

Cadence suddenly showed up in the throne room. She was horribly injured...

“Sunset...” she said. “She completely wiped the Crystal Empire...She told me to send you a message...”

She whisped at Twilight’s ear the message. Cadence then draw her last breath shortly after.

“Everyone, be ready” said Twilight. Celestia, Luna, evacuate the school of Friendship and Canterlot.

A pillar of magic appeared in direction of the school of Friendship...It was unfortunately too late. Twilight shed her tear. Celestia and Luna went to grab the most powerful relics they had in their vault and gave them to the Mane 6 and the royal guards. They then casted a dome around Canterlot to let the citizen the time to escape. Sunset arrived from the sky, above the city. She used her magic to break the magic barrier, Luna and Celestia maintained it the best they could, but Sunset overpowered them. Her magic beam destroyed half of the town and a part of the castle. Sunset finally landed in front of the Mane 6.

“Why, Sunset?” asked Twilight.

“None of this is real” answered Sunset. “You, this world, it’s fake...”

Luna and Celestia charged toward Sunset Shimmer. This one, without any remorse, turned them to stone, to shatter in pieces when they hit the ground.

“Another thing out of the way” said Sunset. “I always had hatred left for Celestia, and now that i killed her, that hatred is gone...If you know me, Twilight, you know you’re the one i hate the most deep within my heart. You did a lot for me, but to fully turn the page on my past, on my darkest desires, i have to go all the way through them...”

“I understand” answered Twilight. “If killing me is the last thing you have to do to burn the last trace of hatred and evil in you, then do it. Just promise me one thing, Sunset.”

“What?” she said.

Twilight whispered something in her ear. Sunset shed a tear and hugged Twilight...

“I promise” said Sunset.

She turned Twilight to stone. Suddenly, everything around her disappeared and Discord appeared in front of her.

“So, how did you find that experience, Sunset Shimmer?” he asked to Sunset. “How was it to have the opportunity to experience your deepest desires? There was multiple ways for you to end this...You greatly surprised me by chosing the genocidal maniac one...”

“This was your doing?” answered Sunset. “Thank you...”

“Wait, what?” said Discord. “Why do you thank me?”

“You offered me the chance to let all the hatred, frustation, negativity and darkness that poisoned my soul out, once and for all, without causing real consequences to my real life.” she said. “I acted like a monster and i’m disgusted at myself. But it’s a good thing, all things considered. If this is what being a villain is, i’d rather stick being a good person. But wait, tell me... Are my friends also in the same situation than i was?”

“Yes, but they returned to the real world way sooner than you” Said Discord. “Like you, when they came to the conclusion it was a dream, they went wild. Also, while nobody can hear or see us right now, i have to tell you i’m the one who sent you that message in the sea. I’m on your side, Sunset, but only when the time will come, i’ll join you. You’ll also gain two more allies in this adventure...See you on the other side...!”

He snapped his finger and Sunset woke up in her bed. Her friends were gathered around her, a bit troubled. After she recovered, she told her friends that Discord was responsible for the things they went through today. She also told them what she did in her dream and why.

“Girl, you got issues...” said Applejack, laughing. “I thought i was a monster after setting fire to all the orange farms in the kingdom, turning Flim and Flam and that strawberry-loving bimbo into apple jam. I learned that my actions, good or bad, have consequences on my family. I also fucked my brother...”

“Wait, you too?!” said Twilight. “Uh, i mean...How indecent. As for me, i did horrible, unspeakable experiments that lead to human extinction. I learned that some things were forbidden for a reason and should stay that way”

“I...Cheated, like...A lot” said Rainbow Dash. “But i learned a lesson about true sportmanship...”

“I acted like the meanest bitch toward everyone i knew” said Fluttershy. “I also went full psycho-bitch and murdered and tortured to death countless people that destroyed wildlife and tortured animals. I learned that violence is not the way to go to make yourself heard from the people.”

“I became a terrorist!!” shouted Pinkie Pie. “What? My magic is literally making sprinkles explode!! They called my the Sprinkler, a play on the words Sprinkle and Bomber. I learned that explosions are only cool in movies...”

“I...became a huge whore...” said Rarity, ashamed. “I’ve slept with so many dudes, famous, infamous, hot, ugly, young, old, muscled or fat, i’m pratically disgusted by them. The medias called me Whority!! You imagine?!”

“He he he...Whority, that’s a good one!!” said Applejack, trying not to laugh.

Sunset wanted to tell them what Discord told her, but she decided it could wait. Before going out with her friends to change their minds, she thought about who those 2 unlikely allies could be...

Chapter 3: Divided

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Chapter 4: Dual of the bands

A couple days passed since Chrysalis’ attack and no villain came after Sunset Shimmer and company yet. The girls spent most of the time improving their magic abilities, do activities together and with their families. Sunset went to Equestria to see Twilight and told her the true reason she didn’t accept becoming a princess. Twilight told her once she earn her alicorn wings, she’ll become a princess as well, which was, to her, very close to happening. At Grogar’s castle, Adagio, Aria and Sonata spent those 3 days working on their plan, which required lot of preparation. Once the last details had been taken care off, Adagio and her two friends went to Canterlot. Earlier, she texted Sunset and her friends and told them to meet up in front of the statue. Sure, enough, the main 7 showed up in no time, ready to face the Dazzlings once again.

“See, i knew they would come” said Adagio to Aria and Sonata.

“What brings you here, Adagio?” asked Sunset. “Just kidding i already know the reason...”

“We have a score to settle” said Adagio. “Us, Dazzlings, challenge you, Rainbooms, to a musical duel!!”

“But not just anywhere” continued Aria. “We’re going to do it on National Television...”

“You don’t mean...” said Rainbow Dash. “You want us to participate to THE Clash of Bands?!!”

“What’s the Clash of the Bands?” asked Applejack.

“It’s a big competition where music bands across the country gather!!” answered Rainbow Dash. “It’s the competition that open the door to international fame!! We have to participate, girls!!”

“You have no choice, anyway!!” said Sonata. “Chrysalis, disguised as you, Rainbow Dash, already signed your group up.”

“Why do you want us to battle it at the Clash of the Bands?” asked Rarity.

Adagio showed them her necklace, serted with the magic ruby.

“Of course” said Sunset. “You’re going to do the same thing you did in our school, but on a much, much bigger scale. Think about the number of music bands who will participate to this event compared to the Battle of the Bands.”

“All the energy we will be able to gather....” said Aria. “And with all this negative energy, you girls will be forced to go all out against us.”

“Meaning” said Sonata. “That you’ll have to reveal your magic for the whole world to see!!”

“So, even if we beat them” said Applejack “Even if we win, our secret will be out...the world will know magic exist. All the secret agencies around the globe will come for us. Some will use our families to pressure us into working for them, using us as their secret weapons. Others might try to capture us for researches purpose. They might eventually discover the source of our magic, learn about the existence of Equestria and try to conquer it. They’ll inevitably weaponize magic and a war of apocalyptical proportions will follow...”

“What if we lose?” asked Sunset Shimmer. “What if we choose not to reveal our magic?”

“If you lose to us on purpose” answered Adagio. “We’ll just use the crowd as hunting stock and you’ll be forced to use your powers to save them...”

“I’ve got a better idea!!” proposed Applejack. “Why don’t we just beat the shit out of them?”

She punched Aria in the face right as she was done talking. The girl was sent flying backward, straight into the dirt.

“Aw crap” said Adagio.

Sonata went to see Aria.

“Oh boy” said Sonata. “Her mouth is really messed up! Say something, Aria!!”

“My vaw...It hurt so vucking vad...” answered Aria. “What is vrong vith you?!”

They looked at Applejack, and so did her friends.

“What?” said Applejack. “The 3 of them need to sing in harmony to use their magic. Took one of them out, and they’re not a menace to anyone. Since their voice is their weapon, i just aimed for their mouth. They can still participate in the Clash of the Band, but i doubt they’ll get far without their magic, He he he!”

“Then, i guess we’ll have to beat you another way...” said Adagio. “Our crystals got a massive upgrade since the last time we met. Let me show you...”

Adagio activated her crystal and transformed into her Siren Form. She summoned a magic microphone from thin air and started speaking in it.

“Sit!!” she shouted.

A magic wave forced the girls to sit on the ground. Only Sunset wasn’t affected by the attack.

“Stand up!!” said Adagio.

The girls got up immediately, controlled by a mysterious magic.

“She’s controlling us...with her voice?” asked Rainbow Dash.

Sonata joined the fight and transformed as well. She summoned a magic electric guitar in her hands and started playing. A powerful shockwave knocked back all the girls. Furious, Aria jumped in and like her two sisters, transformed. She summoned a magic set of drums from thin air and started playing a wild solo, causing the earth to shake violently. Adagio ordered them to stop playing.

“Like this?” asked Adagio. “Ever since you broke our crystals, we’ve been working hard to improve our vocal skills the good old way. Even after we repaired our crystals, we continued praticing...Then, as i was taking my breakfast and watching one of your concerts and it came to my mind. You’re all playing different roles in your band. Rainbow Dash is the lead guitarist and co-singer, Sunset Shimmer, the lead singer and co-guitarist, Pinkie Pie is the drummer, Applejack is the basse, while Rarity, Twilight and Fluttershy adds rhythm with their respective instruments. I realized we too had to start developping other musical skills to have a chance against you in case of a rematch...”

“I took intensive and expensive guitar lessons” said Sonata. “So now, i can both sing and play an electric guitar, just like you, Sunset! As for Aria, she took drumming lessons...”

“Before, we were all singers” said Adagio. “One-trick ponies, no pun intended. Now, Aria is my band’s drummer and Sonata, my band’s guitarist. As for myself, i’m the lead Singer, of course, what were you expecting? We’re not like before, Sunset Shimmer, we adapted, evolved, overcame. And that’s before our crystals got an upgrade from our boss...”

“Beside each of us having a different role in the band” said Sonata. “We also have different magic powers!! As you saw earlier. Adagio can manipulate people with her voice, Aria control up to 6 elements with her drums and i create powerful waves of sound of which i can control the intensity...What i blasted you with was a low intensity wave...He he he”

“Except you’re just 3!” said Twilight. “We’re 7, and each of us as different magic powers as well.”

“I’ve got superstrenght” said Applejack. “I can also harden my fists to punch with way more power”

“I’m super, duper fast!” said Rainbow Dash. “So fast i can slow time around me. But i rarely do it because it’s so unfair for my opponent...If i wanted too, i could strip you naked, get my camera, take pictures of you, get you dressed up and publish the photos all over the internet...”

“Mine is magikinesis” said Twilight. “Magic-based telekinesis.”

“I make things explode by touching them!!” shouted Pinkie Pie. “Sprinkles are my go-to ammunitions!!”

“I can create magic diamond-like constructs” said Rarity. “To defend or attack...But mostly defend myself and my friends!”

“I can speak and command to animals” said Fluttershy.

“And i’m basically a psychic” said Sunset. “Mind-reading, mind-control, telepathy, mind-screwing, visions, i do a lot”

Rainbow Dash ran away and came back with the girls’ instruments. Her guitar, Sunset’s microphone, Rarity and Twilight’s musical keyboards, Pinkie’s drum set, Fluttershy’s tambourine and Applejack’s basse. They started playing on the go and ponied-up like they did during the climax of the battle of the bands. Then, activating the magic of their geodes while they were transformed, they caused something amazing to happen: Their instruments changed shape and style to fit those of the holder. Rainbow Dash’s guitar was shaped like her cutie mark, or close. The upper part had the shape of a lightning bolt while the lower part had the shape of a cloud. It’s color was blue sky and the strings were rainbow. Applejack’s basse was now made of apple tree wood and took a form reminding a pear, while matching her own color pattern. Apple-themed decorations were also all over her instrument. Rarity’s keyboard was fully embedded with thousand of shiny, tiny diamonds. The piano touches were white and purple, matching her skin and hairs. Twilight’s one looked very advanced, with the hundreds of buttons and flashing keys as well as the appearance itself. (To note, the difference between Rarity and Twilight’s instruments was the size and shape. Rarity’s one was smaller and closer to a guitar than a piano (You all saw it in the second EG movie) Twilight’s one was larger, bigger and closer to a piano. (You know, those small, electronic pianos you had as a child, with hundreds of buttons to customize the sound coming out of it? It’s basically the same)). Fluttershy’s tambourine was shaped like a butterfly, with her color pattern. The metal pieces were also shaped like butterflies, and pink. Pinkie’s drum had the same colors than the balloons of her Cutie Mark. The right and left ones were blue, and the middle one, yellow. All the rest of it was hot pink and bubble-gum pink. Sunset’s microphone took her color pattern.

“You showed us what you could do!!” said Rainbow Dash. “Now it’s our turn!!”

Rainbow Dash started playing guitar and the weather changed. Above the Dazzlings, storm clouds appeared and an heavy rain started pouring down on the trio. Then lightning bolts came striking down, hitting Aria’s drumset, finally, a whirlwind surrounded the trio, preventing any escape.

“My turn, now!!” said Rarity.

She started pressing a keys and 4 crystal pillars appeared around the 3 Sirens. Then, she played more notes and more crystal beams appeared. Twilight joined Rarity and as soon as she started playing notes, lasers came out of the crystal pillars, forcing the Dazzlings to defend themselves. Applejack smiled and started playing too. Rotten apples started raining down on the trio, making the girls almost puke cause of the smell.

“Me now!!” said Pinkie Pie.

She started beating the shit out of her drums and dozen of cupackes rained down on the Sirens. Those cupcakes exploded one after another, in the girls’ face. Fluttershy shaked her tambourine and birds and critters made of magic started biting and pecking the three villains mercilessly. Sunset Shimmer was smiling at the scene and told her friends to stop playing. Adagio, Aria and Sonata were barely able to stand up and maintain their magic.

“What are you waiting for, Sunset Shimmer?” said Adagio.

Sunset looked at her with a smile full of empathy. She asked Dash to bring her a normal guitar. She executed without question and came back 3 seconds later with one. She started playing a soft, comforting melody, which, combined with her magic, created a sunset colored veil around the trio. Adagio, Aria and Sonata were waiting Moonlight to bail them out.

“He won’t be able to do so, i’m afraid” said Sunset. “Now, i’m going to do what i should have done long ago...”

She breathed deeply and started singing a melody with her soft, mellow voice. Her words, powered by the magic of the Elements, plus her own magic, penetrated deep in the hearts of the Sirens. She was intent of getting rid of all evil in their hearts and fill it with Kindness, Loyalty, Honesty, Laugher, Empathy, Friendship and Generosity. Looking at the scene, Moonlight was about to jump in.

“There is nothing we can do, Moonlight” said Grogar. “They’re trapped inside a veil that no evil can enter or leave. I told Discord, then Cosmos, to teleport them in the castle, but it didn’t work. If even their magic can’t get through this veil, then no magic can.”

“Are you not worried they could spill the beans about us?” asked Moonlight.

“I already took care of this problem” answered Grogar. “Cosmos will wipe out their memories of us once the veil fall down.”

Among the Sirens, only Adagio was still resisting to Sunset’s spell. Aria and Sonata already gave up, letting Sunset’s word and the magic of friendship take over their body. Sunset walked inside the veil, grabbed Adagio and hugged her.

“Let’s be friends, okay?” she said, softly.

Adagio finally stopped resisting and let the magic enter her soul. A few minutes later, the veil disappeared and Sunset walked back. Cosmos immediately erase the 3 girls’ memories of Grogar and them, like he wanted. Adagio, Sonata and Aria’s crystals turned from red to green, blue and purple, respectively. As Twilight did for her before, Sunset offered her hand to Adagio. She grabbed it and hugged Sunset against her, touching her ass.

“We might not be evil anymore” said Adagio with a smile. “But we’re still bad girls...”

“If you ever need our help” said Aria. “Let us know, okay?”

“So, what now?” asked Sonata.

“Didn’t we had a competition to attend to?” answered Rainbow Dash with a smile.

“Oh, yeah, i remember you and me had signed our bands for the Clash of the Bands” said Adagio. “I can’t remember why, though...”

“To prove who’s the best, of course!!” said Sunset Shimmer. “We might be friends now, but we’re also musical rivals!!”

“You girls stand no chance” said Aria. “But don’t worry...We’ll share the prize money with you...”

“We’ll see about that!!” said Applejack. “By the way, sorry for punching you...”

Aria walked toward Applejack with a smile, and punched her in the face.

“We’re even, now” she said, walking away.

The Dazzlings and the Rainbooms walked together to the Rainboom’s van, laughing.

Chapter 5: Rumble at the Resort.

Grogar had convoqued Stygian to the meeting room. This one was, like always, looking depressed and tired.

“Is it my turn already?” said Stygian, joyless. “Yaaay....”

“Cheerful, as always, i see” said Grogar with a grin. “But yes, your time as come. It’s time to unleash all your hatred, sadness and rage on those girls.”

Stygian smiled for the first time since he joined the Villain Gauntlet.

“Go all out and don’t hold back anything” said Grogar. “You can leave whenever you want...Just warn me beforehand.”

“I’ll attack in 3 days, at night” said Stygian.

“Hum, i get you’ll be taking advantage of the night to gain a power boost, but why in 3 days exactly?” asked Grogar.

“The Moon will be at the end of it’s cycle in 3 days” answered Stygian. “That’s why...That night happen to have a New Moon.”

“That’s...Very clever” said Grogar. “Attacking at night is a smart move, but during a New Moon as well, is an even smarter move...You’ll be twice, no, thrice as powerful than you normally are.”

“So, you’re okay with it?” asked Stygian.

“I’m fine with that, yes” answered Grogar. “But you better impress me. I’ll inform the rest of the alliance of your decision”

“Yes” said Stygian. “Can i go back to my room now?”

“Yes, you can” answered Grogar.

Stygian immediately left the room, leaving Grogar alone. This one returned to his room and used his magic crystal globe to see what the girls were up to. At the moment, Sunset, Adagio and their friends were enjoying a day on a luxurious beach, on a tropical island.

“I still can’t believe we didn’t make it to the finale” said Sunset, smiling.

“We still made our way to the Final 4” Said Adagio. “And without relying on our magic, what’s more.”

“Personally” said Rarity, near them. “Two weeks of paid vacations at a high-end resort on a private island is a good prize!!!”

“That’s true” said Adagio. “But the staff being all-male is not very reassuring...You know what i mean.”

“Don’t worry, Darling” said Rarity. “The island and resort’s owner told me that none of those men are attracted to women.”

“Wait, so they’re all...Gay?” asked Adagio.

“I can confirm” answered Sunset. “They don’t feel any lust for us, so relax.”

“Except the owner itself” said Rarity. “He’s bisexual, from what he told me.”

“That mean he’s into men AND women” said Sunset to Adagio. “But Rarity’s right, there is nothing to worry about, you’re not going to lose your virginity on this island.”

“I’m NOT a virgin” said Adagio, irritated. “In fact, i’ve slept with so many dudes i lost count of them.”

“Where are the others anyway?” asked Sunset.

“Fluttershy is swimming with the fishes, Applejack and Rainbow Dash are napping in a hammock somewhere on the beach, Pinkie Pie is stuffing herself at the all-you-can-eat buffet and Twilight is at the resort’s library, living her dream” answered Rarity.

“I think Sonata might be at the all-you-can-eat buffet too” said Adagio. “Probably stuffing her mouth of mexican food. As for Aria, i believe she went on a long walk.”

“Another thing i’m afraid of, darlings” said Rarity. “Is another villain attacking us...I don’t want our hard-earned vacations ruined because of their shenanigans...”

Aria suddenly came back from her walk, holding a bottle in her hands.

“I found this while walking on the beach” she said to the girls. “It’s a glass bottle with a scroll of paper inside”

“How cliché” said Rarity. “What are you waiting for? Open it!”

“I tried” said Aria. “But it won’t open”

“Let me try” said Sunset.

She grabbed the bottle and effortlessly opened it. She pushed the piece of paper out to read what was on it. The message was saying 3D, Danger, New Moon, Shadow. Sunset instinctively knew this was a coded message from Discord warning her about an imminent attack. She tore down the paper immediately after.

“I’m getting hungry” she said. “Not you?”

“I do!” answered Adagio. “Let’s get to the buffet room, then!!”

“I suppose i could eat some of their fancy appetizers” said Rarity. “Should we invite the rest of our friends?”

“I’m on it” said Aria. “I’ll join you later”

The trio headed for the resort, and walked all the way to the buffet room.

“Hey, girls!!” said Pinkie Pie, the mouth full of sweets.

“Their tacos are so fucking good!!” said Sonata, the mouth full of salsa.

Rarity took a plate and picked all kind of appetizers, caviar and sushis. Sunset Shimmer picked a handful of chicken drumsticks, nuggets and fried rice. Adagio filled her plate with all kind of pastas, garlic bread and cheeze. Rainbow Dash arrived in the room 5 minutes later, with Fluttershy and Applejack on her shoulders. Applejack took a large piece of honey and garlic seasoned pork, barbecue ribs, fried chicken and tons of mashed potato. Rainbow Dash picked 3 hamburgers, a big portion of french fries and tater tots, 4 hot-dogs and 2 bottles of apple cider. Fluttershy made to herself a beautiful salad at the salad bar, small plate of fried vegetables and a bowl of vegetable soup. Aria arrived later, at the same time than Twilight Sparkle. Aria picked a plate of clam chowder, smoked salmon, clams, fried octopus and a whole boiled crab. Twilight Sparkle served herself a big portion of egg rolls, fried rice and dumplings. By telepathy, Sunset told them about the message, hoping they would help her understand it.

“Of course!!” said Twilight, sharing her thoughts to the others (by telepathy). “There will be a Full Moon in 3 days...3D...3 days. One of the villain will attack us 3 days from now, at night, on a New Moon. Shadow might be refering to the Pony of Shadows. Putting all those together, The Pony of Shadows will attack us in 3 days, at night, on a New Moon.”

“Amazing!!” said Sunset. “But why would he attack us during a New Moon of all ?”

“The Pony of Shadows will be way more powerful under a New Moon.” answered Twilight.

“I see” said Sunset. “I’ll warn the owner of the resort of the attack, so he can put his employees to safety.”

After their meal, the girls returned to their occupations. They spent the following 3 days exploring the waters around the island, using the magic of their pearls(***) and relaxing. At sunset, the girls told the resort owner they would spent the night on the beach. He gave them blankets and a hammoc they could suspend on metal poles he installed. The girls just had to wait for the Pony of Shadow to come, and speaking of the wolf, this one was waiting in his room for the sun to set down. Sunny was with him, teasing the poor guy with sensual gestures.

“When you come back” she whispered to his ear “I’ll let you do everything you want to me”

Stygian blushed and the bump in his pant got bigger. Sunny touched the tip of the bump with her nails. To tease him even more, she rubbed her ass against it, then her pussy (wearing her panties). Then she stopped, got off the bed and walked out of his room, leaving him hard. Stygian took a couple minutes to calm down and get flaccid. Once the erection passed, he finished reading his book and headed for the meeting room, where Grogar was waiting for him.

“I’m ready” said Stygian. “Send me on that island”

Grogar opened a portal and Stygian took a deep breath. He jumped in the portal and landed on the beach. He walked forward, looking for the girls, but it was them who found him. He was blinded by the lights of 3 projectors and covered his eyes. The Main 7 was surrounding him from every direction.

“Wait” said Rainbow Dash. “Is that him, the Pony of Shadows?

“Yes” answered Sunset Shimmer, troubled. “His soul is reeking of despair, hatred and anger.”

“And i’m about to unleash all of it at once” said Stygian, smiling devilishly.

Under the eyes of the girls, Stygian let the Shadow take over his body. Taking inspiration from his favorite comic supervillain, a man with an alien parasite living inside him, he took the form of a massive humanoid creature with white eyes and a mouth full of sharp white teeth.

“You better give me everything you’ve got!!” said Shadow-Stygian. “Cause i’m never going down!!!”

At this moment, he went completely nuts. 3 shadow spikes came out of his body and destroyed the projectors, then retracted. He did it a second time, with 7, aimed at the girls. They dodged the deadly attack and closed in on the monster. Applejack punched the villain, but her fist got stuck in the black mass. She removed it and jumped back to avoid finishing like a porcupine. Rarity was moving around a crystal sawblade, that the villain quickly shattered with a shadow tentacle. Rainbow Dash was throwing everything she could find at the enemy. Fluttershy was trying to call in critters or birds to help her, but none of them wanted to approach the monster. Pinkie Pie fired a big projectile at the shadow humanoid, that got sent back into the sea by a tentacle.

“Worthless creatures!!” said Stygian, in control of the Shadow. “Your puny powers will never defeat me!!”

He started blasting at random beams of dark magic.

“He’s too much!!” said Twilight, in panic. “None of our attacks are affecting him!!

“We need to use the Rainbow Laser on him” Said Rainbow Dash. “It probably won’t defeat him, but he’ll be weakened for sure!!”

“He’s not gonna give us the time” said Sunset. “We need someone to distract him...”

“Hey, you ugly bitch!!” said Adagio to Stygian, on top of a cliff. “Come and get us!!”

Stygian turned his head to look at the trio. The girls had turned into Sirens, their instruments in hand. Adagio ordered Stygian to stop attacking, but he was so powerful she could barely maintain her magic. Aria came to the rescue and commanded the sand below Stygian to engulf him. Sonata also jumped in and blasted the monster with powerful soundwaves.

“It’s the moment, girls!!” said Aria. “We won’t hold him back forever!!”

Sunset Shimmer, Twilight, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rarity took each other’s hands and gathered their magic into a Rainbow Laser that they aimed at the monster. When the laser disappeared a couple seconds later, Stygian was still standing.

“It worked!!” said Twilight.

Stygian smiled at the girls and transformed into a shadow monster.

“No way!!” shouted Rainbow Dash. “Not only did he survived our ultimate attack, his magic is still working!! Why?”

“He’s not evil, that’s why” said Sunset. “He’s just lost in his madness...And i’ll help him get out of it!!”

Sunset jumped inside the shadow mass, at her friends absolute horror. She opened up her eyes and saw she was surrounded by darkness. She immediately tried to find Stygian inside the monster. It was not long before she found the poor guy.

“Get out!!!” shouted Stygian.

“No” answered Sunset. “I know you’re not evil, just very confused.”

Outside, her friends were trying to find a way to rescue Sunset. It was Twilight who came up with one.

“Remember Sunset’s magic transformation during the Friendship Games?” she asked. “The one that allowed her to defeat me?”

“Yes, we do!” answered Rarity. “What’s your idea?”

“We need to have her turn into that form again” said Twilight. “She’s trying to save him like she did for me and she’ll need that form to do so!”

“I just hope our magic can reach her” said Applejack. “Okay, girls, let’s share our magic with Sunset!!”

They all hold hands and a magic aura emanated from them. They shaped their aura into a long needle that pierced the shadow substance and reached Sunset. This one was trying to resist Stygian rejecting her from his body and couldn’t resist much longer. Once she was hit by the magic of her friends, an intense light engulfed her and a few seconds later, she turned into her Daydream form. From the outside, a dome of light had covered the shadow monster. Sunset and Stygian were floating in a white, bright space.

“Where are we?” asked Stygian.

“That have no importance” answered Sunset. “What’s important is discussing of your case...You were Starswirl’s apprentice, gathered the Pillars of Harmony to fight the Sirens. But you never got the recognition you deserved, not even from the Pillars. As a result, you stole their relics to take their power for yourself...”

“I’m stopping you there, lady!” said Stygian. “I borrowed their relics only so i could duplicate them. I would have gave them back to the Pillars afterward. But they got the wrong idea, thought i wanted all the power for myself. They got mad at me and didn’t want to listen my version. Full of rage, i ran away, far far way and i one day found the Pit of Shadows, prison of a powerful evil entity created by Grogar a long time ago. This entity didn’t have to do much to convince me to become his new vessel. With my new powers, i came back to take my revenge on the Pillars. They had no choice but to banish me in the Limbos. When i got out if this place, i was told that one thousand years had passed since my banishment. I realized what that meant...realized the mistake i made...”

He paused, with tears in his eyes.

“I felt bad about myself” he said. “Bad thinking about how heartbroken they must have felt when they had to banish me. Bad knowing they died with the last thought of me being a monster, a traitor. Bad realizing we’d never have the opportunity to become friends again...”

“I see now...It’s all clear to me” said Sunset. “You hate yourself for the things you’ve done. “You’re mad at yourself for betraying your only friends. You regret not being a better friend. You feel shame for giving into the hate so easily. But you want to know something, Stygian? It’s never too late to make new friends, turn over a new leaf.”

She offered her hand for him to grab and he hesitated to take it. That is until Sunset showed him the legacy the Pillars had left to the future generations of Equestria: The Elements of Harmony.

“The Pillars knew they couldn’t protect Equestria forever” said Sunset. “So, they infused their very essence into a magic tree, they called the Tree of Harmony. That tree grew up and eventually blossomed. The fruits of this tree created the Elements of Harmony, physical and magical embodiments of the 6 Pillars values. Those Element were created with the purpose to protect Equestria from evil. That’s what i thought, until Princess Twilight gave me Starswirl’s journal.”

She made the journal appear in her hands and passed it to Stygian.

“Read the last page” she said.

Stygian opened the book and got to the last page and read it in his mind.

“My last thoughts are for Stygian, my best friends. If you ever read this, my dear pupil, know that i regret not being able to save you. I saw the note you left in your room and i realized we falsely accused you of being a traitor, when all you wanted was our recognition. I know one day, you’ll get out of the Limbos and i know that the Elements of Harmony i’ve created will finish what i couldn’t do: Save you. Lastly, don’t feel bad for us, and what you’ve done. We are to blame for the way you turned and i hope you can forgive an old bag of bones like me.”

He was in tears after reading this. All at once, his anger, hatred, shame and sadness disappeared from his heart. With no negative emotions to feed on, the magic of Shadows detached from his body. Sunset captured the mass of black goo before he could escape, holding it in her hands.

“Don’t hurt him” said Stygian to Sunset. “He’s just doing what he was created for...It’s not his fault.”

Sunset felt a presence inside the shadow goo.

“This thing is sentient and have a consciousness.” said Sunset. “I should be able to change it’s heart...”

She infused her magic to the shadow entity and entered in contact with it. She also connected Stygian to it as well.

“You seem to have suffered as well” she said. “You deserve better than being a parasite feeding on negative emotions...”

“It’s not like it’s my fault” said the entity. “I just needed a friend that could understand me and Stygian was the first one to do so. But the only way for me to keep him, or anyone else as a friend was for him to stay mad, angry and hateful toward himself. I can’t survive in him if he doesn’t hate himself anymore...”

“I think i can help you with that!” said Sunset. “You just have to trust me”

“I’ll do anything to stay with Stygian!” said the Shadow goo.

Sunset casted a redemption spell on the black goo. Boosted by her Daydream powers, the spell worked perfectly. The shadow entity changed colors and was now white, a white shiny pile of goo with golden eyes and a golden mouth.

“It worked!!” said Sunset.

“What did you do?” asked the goo.

“I used a spell to redeem you! And it worked!!” she answered. “You’re not a Shadow anymore, but a Gleam!! A magic entity that draws it’s power from hapiness!!”

“You mean, i’m not dependant on negative emotions anymore?” asked the Gleam.

“That’s right!!” answered Sunset. “But the only thing you need to survive now is a host, Since Gleams can’t survive on their own. You who wanted to have a friend and keep it, well, you got your wish!!”

The Gleam jumped on Stygian and merged with him.

“From now on, Stygian” said the Gleam. “We’re best friends forever! Don’t worry, i’ll let you in control...Most of the time...”

“As long as you cover my back, you’re welcome in my heart” said Stygian. “For some reason, i can’t remember how i ended up here”

“You were sent to attack us” said Sunset. “You really don’t remember anything before that?”

“No, not at all” said Stygian. “Though i do remember the Sirens, but only because me and the Pillars fought them in the past. I’m glad to know they are good now too...”

Sunset and Stygian reappeared on the beach. Her friends jumped on her, glad she was alive. She presented Stygian to her friends, then the Sirens, Saying him and his friend the Gleam were good now.

“Welcome to the team!!” said Pinkie Pie.

“Well, i’m glad he’s on our side and still have his powers” said Applejack. “He’s definitively going to be a powerful ally”

“And a friend!!” said Rarity.

When she presented him to Adagio and the others, they immediately jumped on him.

“He’s so cute!!” said Sonata.

“And he’s packing quite a big gun!” said Aria, looking down.

“We’ll give this cutie a welcoming gift he won’t forget” said Adagio, winking at Sunset.

This one knew what she meant and winked back.

“Let’s get back inside” said Sunset. “I’m hungry and we need to tell the owner everything is fine!”

The girls followed with joy. Back to Grogar’s castle, Grogar had assisted to Stygian’s redemption and was surprisingly not mad. Sunny, however, was pissed that the Sirens were going to have sex with him.

“We lost yet another member” said Moonlight. “Why didn’t you try to save him.”

“I couldn’t see a damn thing because of all that light!” said Grogar. “Fortunately, i was able to erase his and that traitor of shadow parasite’s memories of us.”

“I’ll make up for it, Lord Grogar” said Starlight, who assisted to the discussion. “With the Alicorn Amulet you gave me, it’s going to be a piece of cake. He he he he”

Author's Note

(***): I'll probably make a bonus chapter about that marine expedition, probably.

Chapter 6: Sunset's Final Step.

The next day following the heroes’ battle against Stygian, things were calm. This one was wondering where he should go next, since he couldn’t stay in the island. Hovewer, the owner was a generous man and accepted to pay Stygian a trip to Las Pegasus on board of The Paradise, a luxurious cruise ship. This one thanked the man a thousand time and left in the morning, promising the girls he would come if they ever need him. A couple hours had passed since his departure, and the girls were chilling on the beach.

“I’m still sad Stygian couldn’t stay with us on the island” said Adagio.

“But you have to admit the owner was very generous to pay him a trip on a luxury cruise” said Sunset. “Maybe he had a soft spot for Stygian too...”

“Who’s going to attack us next?” asked Rarity. “And when?”

“Without counting the villains we already fought” answered Twilight. “There is 4 left: Starlight, Cosmos, Tirek and Nightmare. I’m certain our next enemy will either be Starlight Glimmer or Nightmare.”

“Nightmare will be a tricky one” said Sunset. “But thanks to Luna and her notes, we know what to expect from him and prepare in consequences. As for Starlight Glimmer, she’s as skilled as Twilight Sparkle with magic as well as being smart.”

Back to Grogar’s castle, Starlight was getting impatient. She was turning nervously around her bed. Yesterday, Grogar told her she’d have to wait before attacking the heroes. Two weeks, to be exact...Two long weeks. He didn’t told her the reason, only that she had to stay at the castle.

“Damn this old man!” she said. “Well, fuck it, i’m not obeying him!! This is HIS business, not mine...I have my own business to take care off.”

Starlight took her personal effects and, wearing the Alicorn Amulet, left her room. She turned invisible using a spell and headed discretly to the hall. Luckily for her, Grogar was asleep and the others were minding their own business. She reached the castle’s doors and using another spell, turned herself into a mouse to pass under the massive doors. Once outside the castle, she teleported away. It was evening when her absence was noticed, by Moonlight, who reported it to Grogar. They came to the conclusion that Starlight had her own plan in mind and quickly passed to other things. Only Discord knew what she was up to. A few days ago, he told her about a powerful time travel spell created by Starwirl the Bearded. That spell, when successfully casted, would allow Starlight to change the course of Equestria’s history at will. He revealed her that she would need to use the Tree of Harmony as a magic anchor for her to come back to the present period. When she asked why the Tree of Harmony exactly, Discord told her that this tree was also created by Starswirl and the Pillars. Almost all of his most powerful spell could only be casted using the Tree’s magic, including the one she was about to use on the Mane 6. Grogar, him, had to change his plan and sent Nightmare and Cosmos torment the girls...This one was busy pampering Moonlight in the castle’s common room. Sombra, Chrysalis, Tirek, Discord and Sunny were also present.

“What’s your plan exactly?” asked Moonlight to her. “Are you going to imitate Discord or...?”

“I’ll make the last day of their vacations a living hell” she answered, smiling devilishly. “Discord was too soft with them, i won’t...I will break their spirits, drive them to insanity, if Nightmare doesn’t do it before i jump in. Grogar tasked him for the next two weeks to weaken mentally the girls with his illusions and nightmares.”

“Too soft? Please bitch” said Discord. “I’m just not a sadistic monster like you are.”

“You really think you can break those girls?” asked Sombra, with a snarky smile. “They have the power of Friendship on their side...Sure, you might bring them to their limits, but they will find a way to return the situation...”

“Do you think i don’t know that?” answered Cosmos. “I would do things differently, but this old bastard just want us to test them.”

“Why are you and Discord obeying him, anyway?” asked Chrysalis. “You are litteral gods!!”

“His Bewitching Bell” answered Cosmos. “That fucking thing can steal the magic of any creature, even those of Draconequus, like me and Discord.”

“And before you ask why don’t you just use your magic to steal it” said Discord. It’s because we can’t...Grogar casted a spell on it to prevent me and her to steal it with our magic. Since he keep that thing with him at all time, taking it without magic is suicide.”

“Don’t you think he could hear us right now?” said Tirek.

“We would he?” said Cosmos. “He clearly doesn’t see us as a threat to him”

“You’re not wrong” said Moonlight. “But also, he can’t use the magic of his Spy Crystal to spy people inside the castle. That’s why he’s mostly relaying on me to report anything abnormal or suspicious happening.”

“Are you going to report our discussion to him?” asked Sombra.

“Why would i?” answered Moonlight with a smile. “You’re just saying bad things about him and he couldn’t care less. But if you were to talk about a rebellion or a betrayal, i would have no choice but to report it to him. But i trust your good sense of judgement to not try doing that.”

Sunny was sleeping on a beanbag, curved in a ball, like a dragon.

“She’s so precious when she sleep” said Moonlight. “I could almost forgot that she’s a monster when she’s awake.”

Sunny suddenly woke up and stretched.

“I heard that” she said. “I’m just a wild girl, that’s all”

“You’re sleeping an awful lot those days” said Moonlight. “More than you usually do...Are you going out at night?”

“You try to sleep with Tirek as your room neighbor” said Sunny.

“Well, my snoring didn’t caused me or others any problem when i was sleeping in the wild” said Tirek. “In fact, it was keeping predators away. And it’s not my fault if Grogar want me to sleep in a small-ass room.”

So, almost two weeks passed and it was eventually the last day of vacations for Sunset and her friends. Nightmare’s mind-sapping strategy had been successful, so much that none of the girls had the energy or mood to have fun. 2 weeks of constant nightmares had made them grumpy and irritated. It was now Cosmos’ turn to jump in and give those girls the worst scare of their life. She was going to make their nightmares a reality with her magic and she couldn’t wait much longer. So when Grogar gave her green light, she immediately left the castle.

“Nightmare really did a number on us...” said Sunset, laying in a hamoc. “Look at us...We’re completely exhausted mentally and physically because of the lack of sleep. If Tirek had to attack us while we’re in this state, i doubt we could fight back”

“I admit this would have been a fantastic idea to send that brute instead of me” said Cosmos, standing above her. “But he picked the longest straw and me, the second longest. So, you have to fight me instead!!”

With her magic, she immediately restaured the girls’ stamina. Sunset felt in perfect shape and full of energy.

“I was supposed to take advantage of your weakened state” said Cosmos. “But i prefer having you at your best, because you’ll need all your concentration if you want to survive me!”

Sunset got up and faced Cosmos. Her friends soon joined her, except the Dazzlings.

“Oh yeah, i’m afraid those 3 traitors won’t be of any help to you” she said.

“What’s your plan, Cosmos?” asked Sunset.

“I’m going to make this day the worst of your life!” she answered. “A living NIGHTMARE...Ha ha ha ha ha!!”

She snapped her fingers and Sunset found herself in complete darkness. A creepy laugh, who could only belong to Cosmos, resonated around her.

“Welcome to the Limbos, darling” said Cosmos, hidden in the shadows. “A prison where your nightmares become reality”

“If Stygian could spent a thousand years in there and keep his sanity, i’m pretty sure i can too” said Sunset.

“Stygian had already lost his sanity when he was sent here...You, you’re still sane” said Cosmos. “Like in all prisons, you’ll have to break out of the Limbos and the only way to do so is to face your worst nightmares until you see the light. How fast you can escape depends on how you choose to confront them.”

The presence of Cosmos disappeared.

“I’m not that worried about myself, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie” thought Sunset. “We have more than enough courage and willpower to make our way out of this place. It’s more for Rarity, Twilight and Fluttershy i’m worrying about...Rarity abandon too easily, Fluttershy doesn’t have any courage on her own and Twilight is quite fragile psychologically. Anyway, i have to get out of this place...”

Sunset tried to illuminate the place with the magic of her geode, At her surprise, it worked and she saw she was in a room with a single mirror in front of her. She walked to it and saw in the mirror’s reflection the demonic monster she became at the Fall formal. She broke the mirror with anger and disgust.

“I’m not that monster anymore” she said.

The shards of the mirror she broke turned into more mirrors. All around her, the image of her demonic, evil self were looking at her with a devious smile.

“What the heck?” said Sunset.

The reflections in the mirrors suddenly became sentient.

“We’re a part of you...Sister” said the reflection in front of her.

“Part of you!!” said another reflection.

“Join us!!” said a third reflection.

“JOIN US!!” shouted all the reflections at once. “Don’t resist...”

“This is indeed a nightmare come true” said Sunset to herself. “Hum...Cosmos told me earlier that how quickly i would find the exit depended on how i chose to confront my nightmares. There is 3 ways i know of one can confront them: Reject them, accept them or ignore them. I’ve tried rejecting that one and it doesn’t seem to work. What if i try to ignore them?”

Sunset sat on the floor and closed her eyes, ignoring the reflections talking to her.

“Is she ignoring us?” asked a reflection to another reflection.

“How rude!!” said another one.

After a while and still hearing them talk, Sunset came to the conclusion ignoring them was vain.

“I guess that only leave me one option” she said.

She got up and walked right to her reflection.

“You are a part of me” She said to her demon reflection. “You are the part of me that i hate, that i hated. Now, i accept you. I’ve changed for the best, but i must never forget the evil things i’ve done. I have to be in harmony with both part of myself...I’m an Angel that forgive and guide those who want to change their ways, but i’m also a Devil that must punish those who persist in their evil ways...”

Her reflection changed: One side of it was her Daydream form, the other, her Devil Form.

“I’m the Yin and the Yang” she said. “I’m the Day and the Night, the Sun and the Moon...that’s who i am...That who i AM!!!”

At this moment, Sunset changed into her devil form. After she did, the environment changed as well, revealing the place to be one big, creepy-looking prison. It didn’t took long for Sunset Shimmer to realize and understand that they key was accepting the truth, her truth. She realized she could never have become the good-natured person she was today if she hadn’t been a mean-spirited person, a monster, in the first place.

“I’m still the good person that i am, even in this form” she said to herself, smiling. “I also remember that in this form, my psychic magic drastically gained in power...Let’s see if it still the case now...”

She used her magic to locate her friends. The first magic presence she felt was Applejack’s and followed it. Her friend was locked inside a cell, completely cut from reality. She used her psychic powers to bring her back to reality. When Applejack saw Sunset, she freaked out, but calmed down once she knew what happened. She ripped the prison door from the walls and threw it behind her.

“Let’s get the others” said Applejack.

Sunset felt Fluttershy’s presence next and levitated toward her location, followed by Applejack. She did the same thing than with A.J and woke her up.

“Applejack!! Sunset!!” said Fluttershy. “I’m so glad to see you!!”

Like she did with hers earlier, Applejack ripped out Fluttershy’s cell door. The next person they located was Pinkie Pie and rescued her, then Rarity and Rainbow Dash. The last one left to save was Twilight Sparkle, but they didn’t even have to do it. It’s her who came to them, in her Midnight Form. Sunset and her hugged for a moment.

“I like your new look!!” said Sunset to her.

“I like your new look too!!” said Twilight.

“Mirror?” asked Sunset.

“Mirror.” answered Twilight.

“Great...” said Rainbow. “So, if i understand, you two got a new power-up while we didn’t get anything...”

“It’s probably because i broke you out myself” said Sunset. “Anyaway, none of you were evil at some point, so i don’t think you would have gained something by finding the exit by yourself.”

“Let’s get out of this place” said Twilight. “Sunset, i think if we combine the powers of my Midnight form to those of your Daydream form, we can force an exit to our world...”

“Alright, girls” said Devil-Sunset. “You know what to do...Blast me!!”

The girls executed and lend their magic to Sunset, who transformed into Daydream Sunset. Her and Midnight Sparkle then grab each other’s hand, and with the remaining one, opened a rift to their world. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy grabbed Applejack and Pinkie Pie, while Rarity created a platform that she used like a surfboard. The girls passed through the rift, a smile on their faces. Meanwhile, Cosmos and the others, who assisted to the whole thing, were silent. Grogar, on the other hand, was happy with what he saw.

“You see why i want those girls on our side, now?” asked Grogar. “The more powerful they become, the easier for us it will be to take over Equestria, once i turn them to the dark side...”

“I see what you mean” said Sombra. “But you don’t want them to be too powerful so none of us can’t beat them”

“I’d say they pratically unlocked their full potential now” said Discord. “Sunset and Twilight, at least...the others still have to awaken the true might of their Element. Once they do, however, Rainbow Dash and Applejack speed and strenght will have pratically no limits. The latter could travel through time by running, while the former could move a mountain effortlessly. Rarity will be able to make magic constructs with any type of gemstones, each one with their unique effect. Pinkie Pie will be able to change any object or substance she touches into sugar. Like a building, for example, imagine the power of the explosion...Fluttershy, her, on top of talking to animals and control them, will be able to gain the physical abilities of any animal she touches. If she touches a magical creature, like a Changeling, a Dragon, a Kirin, a Deer, A phoenix, a Griffon or a Minotaur, to name a few, she’ll gain their primary magical abilities.”

“You mean, if she touched me” said Chrysalis. “She could shapeshift?”

“That’s right” said Discord.

“How are WE going to beat them, then?” asked Tirek.

“With powerful relics i made for each of you” answered Grogar. “They will allow you to reach all the untapped potential in you. Tirek, you’ll be as powerful, if not more, than if you absorbed all the magic of Equestria.”

“Awesome!” said Tirek, excited.

“Chrysalis.” continued Grogar. “You’ll be able to feed not only on love, but also on sadness, anger and hatred. Absorbing someone’s sadness will turn you into an Aqualing and give you the power of water, absorbing anger will turn you into a Fireling and give you the power of fire, and absorbing Hatred will turn you into a Darkling, and give you the power of dark magic.”

“Really?” said Chrysalis.

“Sombra” said Grogar. “You’ll gain a power far superior to the Crystal Heart. You’ll be powerful enough to cover continents with your corruption, hold millions of people under your control.”

“Excellent...” said Sombra.

“As for Discord and Cosmos, there magic have already no limits” said Grogar.

“What about me...And Moonlight?” asked Sunny.

“You two are different” answered Grogar. “I’ll tell you everything about the nature of your magic...and how to reach your full potential...In good and due time...Meeting is over...Goodnight”

Chapter 8: David vs Goliath

After a peaceful flight back to Canterlot, our heroes were happy to be home. The next days following their return had been quite calm and the girls made sure to enjoy them, while being on their guards. Their next enemy, Tirek, would not be easy to defeat and Twilight came up with a strategy to fight him. They knew Tirek could steal magic and would try stealing theirs, especially Sunset and Twilight’s. At the moment, they were still arguing about the best plan of attack.

“I could probably match his brute strenght” said Applejack.

“And i could certainly handle his magic beams with my barriers” said Rarity.

“I think you’re downplaying Tirek” said Sunset. “I’ve heard that at max power, Tirek’s magic blasts could blow up the Moon. At his peak strenght, he could lift an island the size of Manehattan. And even on a bad day, he can easily body the most powerful monsters in Equestria. I doubt you can lift an island, Applejack, even less move one. And you Rarity, i doubt your barriers can deflect, even less block, a Moon-busting beam. Unless you can somehow break your current limits and go beyond, you have no chance against Tirek. You better let me and Twilight handle him, while you protect the citizens.”

“It’s you who’s downplaying Tirek, now” said Rainbow. “He can absorb magic, remember? Even if you can both literally bend reality and space in your super forms, all Tirek need to do is take a citizen, or one of us, hostage and force you to lend him your magic. And with reality warping magic at his disposal, you can bet none of us stand a chance against him.”

“We might be worrying too much” said Twilight. “Just like the other before him, his goal is to test our power. He’ll be strong enough to give us a run for our money, but not enough so we can’t defeat him...”

“What will happen after that?” asked Rarity. “Are all those villains going to attack us at once?”

“Quite likely” answered Applejack. “They’ll also likely be more powerful than before and will not hold back.”"

“There is also those two mysterious individual that sent those big monsters after us” said Sunset. “We might have to fight them soon enough, probably after we defeat Tirek...”

Meanwhile, at Grogar’s castle, Tirek was doing some exercises before going into battle. Sunny was watching him train with a lusty stare. Ever since Stygian left the castle, she did her best to find another submissive guy to toy with. Unfortunately, Sombra and Tirek were far from the submissive type and both had ton of assurance, which was getting on her nerves. As for Nightmare and Discord, she felt only disgust toward them due to their personalities. Nightmare was creepy, rude and cold while Discord was creepy, weird and childish. She was also not into older men like Discord and Grogar and felt no desire to have sex with them. Finally, she did tried herself on Moonlight a couple of times, but each time, he would remind her they were siblings and that would be disgusting. It didn’t help that Grogar forbid her to have sex with anyone in the castle or from the outside, at the risk of being punished severely. Moonlight and Cosmos was watching her at all times to made sure she didn’t disobeyed his orders, so she couldn’t even flee the castle. She was getting more and more irritated after each day passing, as well as hornier. Moonlight was watching her from afar at the moment.

“999...1000!!” Said Tirek, “I’m done!! It’s time for me to fight those girls now!!”

Tirek got up and left the training room, leaving Sunny alone. Moonlight entered the room and walked in her direction. When Sunny saw him, she grabbed a dumbell and threw it at him. He caught it with ease, but couldn’t dodge a punch in the face in time. The lusty stare Sunny had earlier made place to a mad stare as soon as she saw Moonlight. This one got up before she bashed his face with another dumbell.

“Aw shit” said Moonlight. “She snapped”

Sunny turned partially into a dragon and started destroying the room. If she couldn’t satiate her lust with sex, then she would satiate it with blood and violence. She spitted upward from her mouth a magic beam that was visible from miles around the castle. Tirek, Sombra and Chrysalis jumped right in to calm her down, but were quickly forced to step back due to their injuries. Cosmos and Discord appeared and used their magic to immobilize her. They also tried to calm her down, but she had lost her mind. Grogar finally had to step in and walked toward Sunny. As soon as she saw him, her rage decupled and she broke out of the spell immobilizing her by sheer willpower. She fully turned into a dragon and flew through the hole she made in the roof and fled the castle.

“I’m going after her” said Moonlight.

This one made shadow wings pop on his back and went after Sunny. Discord repaired the damages and healed everyone. Tirek asked Grogar to open him a portal to Canterlot, through which he disappeared. Grogar then turned to the others and told them to move on and continue whatever they were doing. Once arrived at Canterlot City, Tirek started terrorizing the citizens in the area. Sunset and her friends quickly capted his presence and arrived in the minute to intercept him.

“Now that i got your attention” said Tirek. “Mind if we take this somewhere else?”

Sunset and the other agreed and Eris teleported them in the middle of a semi-desertic region.

“Much better” said Tirek. “I’m not quite in my Element in a big city...I prefer wilderness. Plus, you don’t have to worry about cititzens getting killed or buildings being destroyed. It’s a win for both of us.”

Tirek punched the ground and created a shockwave that made the girls fell on the ground. Applejack was the first to get up and smiled at Tirek.

“My turn” she said.

She punched the ground and splitted it up. The fissure reached Tirek and got bigger, enough to make him have to jump in the air to avoid falling to his death. He landed behind the group, who all got up on their feet. Tirek had visibly been shook by Applejack’s demonstration of strenght.

”She’s not only strong” thought Tirek. ”She’s also super precise when using her strenght.”

His heart was beating faster all of a sudden. From fear? Excitation? Or infatuation? He didn’t know exactly why. But it was due to Applejack’s presence.

”All three of them, actually” said Sunset to him by telepathy. “Like a predator, you see in Applejack another fierce predator that could kill you, and that get you scared. But you are also excited at the perspective of fighting that opponent, since you rarely get to fight someone as strong as you. But since that opponent is a female, you also feel a natural attraction toward her.”

“Nice figure of speech you used there” said Tirek. ”Comparing me to a predator is not far from the truth. But considering HER like a predator is wrong. To me, you are all PREYS!!”

Tirek fired a beam from his mouth at the group, who dispersed. Twilight started throwing chunks of earth at him, while Pinkie Pie was bombarding him with 2 party cannons. Applejack rushed toward Tirek and punched him in the chest, sending the titan a dozen meters back against a big rock.

“Let me handle him” said Applejack.

“He’s all yours” said Sunset. “But we’ll stay ready to jump in if you need us.”

Tirek looked the girls getting away from Applejack. This one was looking at him with a smug smile and with her hand, told him to come at her. Grogar, looking at their fight, was getting amused. Chrysalis was also amused,

“That’s cute” said Chrysalis. “The big, strong Lord Tirek is actually being intimidated by someone smaller than him”

“So, this is the strategy you girls came up with” said Grogar to himself.

Tirek and Applejack were duking it out. Applejack was dodging Tirek’s attacks with ease while her punches never missed their target. Tirek was clearly at a disadvantage against a smaller, but still as strong, opponent like Applejack. This was her who came with this idea when she remembered playing a 3D boxing game with Rainbow Dash. This one chose a big, tall fighter while Applejack took a smaller one. Rainbow’s fighter could barely manage to punch his opponent, while Applejack’s fighter was hitting his opponent every time. She was applying this strategy right now, against Tirek, who couldn’t do anything but getting a beating.

“What do you mean by that?” asked Chrysalis.

“You’d think Tirek’s bigger size would give him the edge in this fight” answered Grogar. “And you would be right, if their strenght was not on par with each other. You see, Applejack might be smaller, but she hit as hard as Tirek and she’s more precise in her attacks.”

“You forget the most important factor here” said Sombra. “The source of their strenght...”

“Elaborate, please” said Chrysalis.

“It’s Tirek’s physical strenght vs Applejack’s magical strenght.” said Discord, who heard everything “Tirek’s physical strenght reside in his muscle mass. To get physically stronger, he need bigger muscles and the only way to do that is grow in size. And that’s what put him at a disadvantage against Applejack. Her strenght is magical, since it come from her magic geode, Aka the Element of Honesty. To get stronger, she doesn’t have to grow in size or gain muscles like Tirek, but only to tap into her values. Applejack values family, Pinkie Pie values happiness, Fluttershy values wildlife, Twilight values intelligence, Rainbow Dash values sports, Rarity values beauty and Sunset Shimmer values friendship. That’s what power their magic...”

“Applejack doesn’t have to sacrifice agility and flexibility to get stronger.” said Sombra. “That’s what i wanted to bring up, but Discord explained it better than i could ever do.”

“Speaking of” asked Discord. “What do you value, you and everyone else”

“I value Nobility above all else” answered Sombra.

“I value Self-Preservation above all else” answered Chrysalis.

“Tirek values Physique above all else” said Grogar. “I value Knowledge, Moonlight values Perfection, The Sirens values Music. Stygian values Peace, Nightmare values Negativity, Sunny values Pleasure, Starlight values Independance and Cosmos and Discord both values Chaos.”

“But it goes even further” said Discord. “Luna values Self-Respect, Celestia values Harmony, Cadence values Love, Princess Twilight values Magic, Cozy Glow valued Power...Everyone values something. That’s what make us who we are at our core.”

The fight between Tirek and Applejack was coming to it’s conclusion. A solid uppercut from Applejack finished off Tirek, who fell loudly on the ground. Discord appeared out of nowhere to take him back to the base. Applejack’s friends jumped on her and cheered her for her victory. Back to the castle, Cosmos woke him up with a bucket of icy water. Tirek got up and went to his room, without saying anything. Once inside his room, Tirek sat on the mat serving as his bed and started breathing deeply to calm down. Meanwhile, Moonlight was on Sunny’s back, trying desperately to stop her rampage. This one already burned down thousands of acres of forest and destroyed dozen of villages earlier. As he was getting desperate, an idea come to his mind...

”If i can’t calm her down, then maybe they can” he said to himself.

Moonlight opened a magic portal to Canterlot, that Sunny went right through. The next moment, they were flying above a city. Moonlight jumped off her back and went to hide somewhere, waiting for the girls to handle her.

”Grogar will probably kill me if Sunny end up killing one of them” said Moonlight. ”However, i’m pretty confident those girls can tame her.”

Chapter 9: Phoenix Down.

The girls were barely back to Canterlot when they got news of a flying beast ravaging the city. An cameraman filming the monster on board of an helicopter was diffusing the events live. Sunset immediately recognized the creature they saw in that underwater cave a while ago.

“No way, that can’t be...her...” said Sunset, shocked. “This is the dragon girl we met in the treasure cave a while back!!”

“Why is she burning down our city?” asked Applejack. “What have we ever done to her?”

Dissimulating his identity behind a robe and a mask, Moonlight appeared in front of the girls.

“You took away her favorite plaything” he answered.

“Plaything?” Asked Sunset.

“Stygian, aka the Pony of Shadows” answered Moonlight. “You see, my sister was quite attached to him and ever since you took him away from her, she started losing her mind. And today, she officially lost it...”

“Wait, she’s your sister?!” asked Sunset.

“I can’t bring myself to hurt her” said Moonlight.”This is why i’m counting on you to calm her down”

On those words, he vanished. Rainbow Dash wasted no time and took off. She drew Sunny’s attention and forced her to follow her outside the city. Sunset and the others followed their friend as fast as they could. When Rainbow Dash brought Sunny at a good distance from Canterlot, she landed on the ground and waited for her friends to arrive. Sunset and the others arrived just in time and they a surrounded Sunny from each side. At their surprise, she transformed into a dragon/phoenix humanoid hybrid. Only her face was fully human and was trying hard to contain herself.

“I really don’t want to kill you...” said Sunny. “This is the Dazzlings i’m after...Those fucking bitches dared to play with my precious little Stygian. When i get my hands on them, i’m going to feed them their own hearts.”

“We can’t let you do that” said Sunset.

“Then you’re gonna DIE!!!” shouted Sunny.

She rushed at Sunset Shimmer, claws outs. Rarity created a shield in front of her friend to protect her. That left time for Sunset to get away as Sunny smashed the barrier with a single blow. Pinkie Pie bombarded Sunny with dozen of explosive projectiles, while Twilight was immobilizing her with her magic.

“That tickled...” said Sunny, laughing. “You’re going to have to do better than those puny bombs to put me down!!”

She broke out of Twilight’s grasp and fired a beam of fire in the sky. The beam exploded and flaming meteorites started falling from the sky. While the girls were avoiding or blocking the burning projectiles, Sunny used the distraction to strike. She was aiming for Applejack first, but Rainbow Dash saved her in extremis. Applejack thanked her friend and told Sunny to come at her. An intense hand to hand combat took place between the two powerhouses and they seemed equally matched in strenght.

“I K.O’d Tirek earlier today” said Applejack to Sunny. “If i can handle his power, i can handle your no problem”

“Well, guess that make two of us” said Sunny. “But you made a mistake letting me touch you...”

Sunny got away from Applejack and activated the explosive scales she stuck on her opponent.

“Tic Tac Boom!” said Sunny.

The scales exploded all over Applejack’s body. It didn’t kill her, but she was so badly injured she lost consciousness and fell brutally on the ground.

“Oh, she’s still alive?” said Sunny. “She’s tougher than i gave her credit for. But she won’t get back up anytime soon...”

“If she touches us, we’re toasted” said Twilight. “We’re not as tough as Applejack...”

“We’re gonna need backup!” said Sunset.

“They’re already on their way” said Twilight. “We just have to hold on until they arrive...”

Sunset took her demon form and stared at Sunny. This one breathed out a torrent of flame that Sunset deflected with her magic. She then fired a magic beam at Sunny, who took the full power of the attack to her right arm, who got shattered to pieces.

“Want me to break your other arm?” asked Sunset. “Or you got enough?”

Sunny laughed maniacally and rushed toward her opponent. Sunset fired another beam that Sunny blocked with her remaining arm, losing it as well. She reached Sunset and headbutted her violently, then kicked her in the chest. Before Sunny could strike a third time, she was immobilized by Twilight’s magic, while Rarity threw in her direction a sharp diamond disk. Once Sunset was safe, Twilight released Sunny from her magic grasp, letting her enough time to dodge the attack. But Sunny didn’t bother moving away and even ran toward the deadly projectile. Under the horrified look of the girls, Sunny was cut straight in half.

“Did she just...deliberately commited suicide?” asked Sunset, shocked by Sunny’s action.

“Well, i guess we won!” said Rainbow Dash. “I’m sorry for her brother, though.”

The two parts of Sunny turned to ashes and as the girls were about to leave, the ashes gathered into a pile. The ashes started glowing and a few seconds later, Sunny reappeared, completely fine, at the total surprise of the girls.

“What?!” said Twilight. “Impossible!!”

“She’s part Phoenix” said Sunset. “Phoenixes have the particularity to magically ressurect after they die...”

“Exactly” said Sunny. “As you just witnessed, i revive each time i get killed.”

“This is why you were acting so recklessly” said Sunset. “You don’t care about dying because you’ll just come back to live after...”

“And i’ll just keep dying and reviving, until all of you fall” said Sunny.

Without warning, she started attacking the girls again. Sunset fired a powerful magic beam at Sunny, who dodged it. She ignored Sunset and headed for Rarity. This one casted multiple crystal barriers in front of Sunny, hoping to slow her down.

“Useless!! Useless!! Useless!!” shouted Sunny, smashing the barriers like they were made of glass.

As Sunny destroyed the last barrier, Rainbow Dash hit her full speed with a metal baseball bat. The blow killed Sunny right away, turning her to ashes. Sunset tried getting rid of them, but the ashes proved to be indestructible. Sunny came back from the ashes and, fast as lightning, smashed one of Rainbow Dash’s legs and broke it. She fell on the ground in pain and Twilight pulled her away. Sunny grabbed the bat and turned it into a puddle of molten metal. She was struck by a huge projectile fired from Pinkie’s cannon. The projectile turned into a thick sticky goo that immobilized Sunny.

“Let’s see you get out of that!” said Pinkie Pie.

Sunny increased her body temperature drastically and blew all of her scales up, getting rid of the goo that immobilized her. That move killed Sunny, but she revived a few seconds later, good as new. She blew up Pinkie’s cannon with a fireball and then Pinkie herself with another fireball, setting fire to her clothes. Rarity got desperate and threw everything she got a Sunny, trapping her in a cube of crystal.

“You’re trapped inside an hermetically sealed prison, Darling” said Rarity. “No oxygen mean no fire, and no fire mean you can’t blow yourself up or melt the crystal!! You’ll die of suffocation and turn to ashes!!”

“But you know the best part? Said Sunset. “I noticed that before you revive from your ashes, they glow brightly from intense heat. Without oxygen, your ashes can’t heat up and that mean you won’t be able to revive.”

“You’re right about me needing oxygen to revive from my ashes” said Sunny. “Indeed, if i die now, and that my ashes don’t burn after one minute, i’m dead for good. It seem i have no choice but to accept my fate...”

Sunny smiled, then laughed.

“...Is what i would say, if your plan didn’t had one fatal flaw!!” she said.

“And what is it?” asked Rarity, too sure of herself.

“You made that prison out of crystal” answered Sunny. “I’m part dragon, and you know what dragons love to eat more than anything? Precious gemstones and magic crystal”

Sunny took a bite from the cube, then another, until she made an opening for oxygen to pass in. From this opening, she shot Rarity with a beam that pierced her shoulder. The intense pain made her faint and the prison disappeared. Fluttershy decided to jump in and used her magic to control Sunny.

“Are you trying to control me?” asked Sunny, with a grin. “Well, have you noticed that i left my head human? I know your magic only affects animal minds, Fluttershy. Why do you think i didn’t fought you as a fully transformed dragon? Because i knew you would have been able to control me.”

Sunny appeared behind Fluttershy and knocked her unconscious. Pinkie Pie, meanwhile, had finally been able to extinguish the flames on her clothes.

“There is only 2 of you left now” said Sunny.

“3” Said Twilight. “Pinkie Pie’s back!!”

This one showed up between the girls.

“Good news, girls!!” said Pinkie Pie. “I’m fine!! Bad news, the fire melted all my ammunitions!! So i’m pretty much useless now!!”

“As i said there’s only 2 of you left” said Sunny.

She turned into a dragon and laughed like a maniac. Sunset fired a full power magic laser at Sunny, that she took in the face without problem. Sunny riposted by knocking her away with a swing of her tail. The violence of the blow reverted Sunset to her normal form.

“You leave us no choice” said Twilight.

Sunset nodded and grabbed Twilight’s hand. Using their power, they borrowed the magic contained in the girls’ geodes and transformed. Twilight turned into her Midnight form and Sunset, into her Daydream form. The sheer magic power the two were emanating was paralyzing Sunny from fear. She reverted to an humanoid form, making Sunset and Twilight let their guard down.

”Fuck it” said Sunny to herself ”Cosmos...now!”

A shiny red gem appeared in Sunny’s hand, that she swallowed. Immediately, Sunny’s power spiked drastically.

“The thing i just swallowed was a Philosopher’s stone” said Sunny, grinning. “It have the property to drastically increase a person’s magic power by 1000% at the cost of the user’s life energy!! But i’m not worried...Last thing, when i’ll die, the stone will be destroyed at the same time, meaning i won’t have a second chance to take you down!!!”

Sunny transformed into her Chimera form, taking on the physical traits of a dragon and a phoenix, while keeping a humanoid shape. Her face had a bird beak and her hairs were feathers, while the rest of it was human. Her whole body was covered of dragon scales, except her wings and feet, who were bird-like and her hands, who were human-like. She fired a powerful fire beam a Sunset, who countered it with her own magic beam. Twilight fired one toward Sunny, who grabbed it between her hands and redirected it in the sky. A hand to hand combat between her and Midnight followed. The impact of their blows was so powerful it started tearing reality appart. With her magic, Sunset was able to repair the damages and they kept going at it for a good moment, until Sunny started feeling an intense pain in her chest.

“I don’t have much time left” thought Sunny. “Screw it, i’m putting everything in my next attack!!”

Sunny created an immense projectile infused with all the magic she had left. The projectile was looking like a miniature Sun, with how much heat and light it emmited. Twilight and Sunset held hands and combined both of their power into a powerful beam that stopped Sunny’s ball of doom. Using all of their power, the two were able to push it far into space were the ball exploded. They reverted back to their normal forms after this last attack, as well as Sunny. Before this one hit the ground, she was caught by the individual they saw earlier. With his magic, he removed the philosopher stone from her chest. Sunny was about to faint at any time, but safe.

“What you did was very reckless, even for you!” said Moonlight to her.

“I had no choice” said Sunny. “You know how i am...”

“We’ll talk about this later” said Moonlight. “Discord!!”

Discord appeared.

“Take Sunny and the stone back home” said Moonlight to him. “But before, can you heal them?”

Discord obeyed and healed the party, as well as restoring Sunset’s and Twilight’s energy, then disappeared with Sunny in his arms. Moonlight looked at the girls, then removed his mask and his robe, revealing himself to the group. Sunset noticed he was wearing something around his neck. From Celestia’s notes, she recognized the Alicorn Amulet and had a bad feeling.

“I first want to thank you for calming down my sister” said Moonlight. “That’s why i had Discord heal you. However, you caused Sunny a lot of harm, even forcing her to use a suicidal move.”

“She mentionned the stone killing it’s user after a while” asked Sunset. “But can’t she come back to life after dying? What’s the big deal?”

“Because if Sunny died while having the stone inside her body...” answered Moonlight. “...She would have stayed dead... Permanently. She knew it, and still used the damn thing...But how did she get her hands on it?”

“I think i know...” answered Sunset. “I was reading Sunny’s mind before the stone appeared in her hand and i she mentioned the name Cosmos”

“I knew it...” said Moonlight. “That bitch...I swear she’s going to pay for that.”

He stared at the girls furiously.

“But before i make that monster pay” said Moonlight “You will pay first for the harm you did to her!!”

The girls took a battle stance.

“One last thing before we start” said Moonlight “Don’t expect help from your friends...Cosmos is keeping them busy at the moment we speak...”

“I was wondering why they were taking so long” said Twilight. “Now, i know why...”

“Time to die!!” shouted Moonlight.

Chapter 10: Clash of the Titans

Moonlight was standing in front of the girls, menacingly. Earlier, like Grogar and the other villains, he kept a close eye on the fight between Sunny and the heroes. When the fight began, Tirek and Sombra were excited while Chrysalis was jubilating. Tirek couldn’t hold his joy when Applejack got taken down, remembering too well his humiliating fight. Her fight against Rarity had Sombra on his nerves, but smiled when Sunny turned the tide on her favor. When he saw Sunset and Twilight power-up into their most powerful form, Moonlight got a bad feeling.

“This is over for her” said Moonlight. “There’s no way Sunny can defeat both of them...Let me jump in!!”

But after he said those words, he saw Sunny swallow a red shiny gem. Grogar and him recognized the Philosopher’s stone.

“What?!” asked Moonlight. “How did she get it?!!”

“That gem was under your watch, Moonlight!” said Grogar, trying not to get angry.

“I don’t understand...” said Moonlight. “It was with me at all time, how could it got into her hands?”

“It doesn’t matter” said Grogar. “There is a spell that can remove the gem from her body, but you have to do it before she dies...”

“Me?” asked Moonlight. “I’m not sure if i can!”

“You can” answered Grogar. “I think it’s time i reveal the truth about your abilities and powers. You were born with the unique ability to use any type of magic and cast any spell you want. I made you believe you had Umbrum and Windigo blood, but that’s not true. You just naturally learned to use their magic.”

“Any magic, you said?” asked Moonlight. “Like, i could use even the all-powerful Chaos magic?”

“Yes” answered Grogar. “But you need to acquire it from a Draconequus first.”

“However” said Discord. “I must warn you about the side effect of our magic on non-draconequus creatures.”

“Tell me” said Moonlight.

“Very well” said Discord. “First, if you’re compatible with it, there is no danger for you to wield Chaos magic. This is as long as you don’t use it. However, when you do use it, be warned: You’re gonna, quite literally, become braindead if you use it faster than your body and mind can recover from it. "

“How much is too much?” asked Moonlight.

“It depend on the level of reality warping you’re using” answered Discord. “If you use it on a minor scale and only occasionally, it should take many decades to destroy yourself.”

“In this logic” said Moonlight “If i use it to warp reality on an Universal/Dimensional, or on Multiversal level at most, how long would it take to destroy me?”

“On an dimensional/universal level? You only have for a few minutes” answered Discord. “Multiversal? You only have for a few seconds before you get erased from existence...”

“Good to know” said Moonlight. “Anyway, Grogar, what’s the spell to remove the stone?”

Grogar gave him a magic book.

“Page 56” he said. “You can keep the book”

He also gave him the Alicorn Amulet.

“Why?” asked Moonlight.

“You’ll need it for your fight against those girls” answered Grogar. “The Alicorn Amulet will greatly boost the power of all your spells. Combined with your ability to wield any type of magic and thus, cast any spell, you’ll be almost unstoppable. You should go now, the gem will soon kill Sunny...”

Moonlight opened a portal and disappeared through it and reappeared not far from the girls’ location. There, he waited until Sunny fell toward the ground and grabbed her middair, leading to this exact moment. He was about to teach them a lesson they would not forget.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about him” said Sunset.

Moonlight started the fight by using his ice magic, mixed with Windigo magic and amplified tenfold by the Alicorn Amulet, to turn the area into a frozen wasteland.

“You’ll understand very soon” said Moonlight. “Twin Ice Dragons!!”

Two serpentine dragons made of white ice appeared from the icy ground. They were each almost 30 meters long and turning around Moonlight. This one sent both attacking the girl at the same time. Rarity diced one with her cutting disks and Applejack shattered the other into pieces with one punch.

“Not even impressed” said Applejack.

Moonlight smiled, and Rarity understood why when the ice dragons reassembled themselves.

“How?” asked Fluttershy.

“Living Ice Magic” Answered Moonlight.

“I’ve heard of it” said Sunset. “This is a forbidden magic...Because it require the users to infuse their own vital energy to give life to their ice creations.”

“I see you’ve done research” said Moonlight. “But my form of Living Ice magic has no flaw. Why? Because i’m the one who perfected it.”

“How?” asked Twilight.

“By mixing it with Windigo magic, of course!!” answered Moonlight. “And it just so happen that i can use Windigo magic as well!!”

“No way” said Sunset. “That magic is unique and proper to the Windigos”

“True, but there is a reason” answered Moonlight. “I was born with the unique ability to wield and use any and every type of magic!!”

Sunset looked at her geode

“Yes, even that magic” said Moonlight. “But i would need to wield the Elements of Harmony to use their magic.”

“It doesn’t explain why you can use Windigo magic!” said Sunset. “A form of magic proper to the Windigos themselves!!”

“You’re right” said Moonlight. “To use a form of magic proper to a race of creature, like the Windigos, for example, i have to steal it from said race of creature. It’s as simple as that!!”

“So, you stole the magic of a Windigo?” asked Sunset.

“And made it my own” answered Moonlight.

“So...if you stole the magic of a Draconequus...” said Sunset. “You should theorically be able to use...Chaos magic...”

“That’s right, darling” said Moonlight. “But there is a downside to use a magic unique to one species. Using Windigo magic too much or for too long slowly freeze my body.”

“What would be the side effects of using Chaos magic?” asked Fluttershy, curious.

“Well, i would literally lose my mind, sweetheart” answered Moonlight, with a grin. “However, wearing the Alicorn Amulet protect me from any downsides. Up to a certain point, since the Amulet corrupt the judgement of the wearer over time. I will be honest with you, i never go on the offensive, never, but i’m making an exception this time...”

Moonlight added a dozen of ice golem to the battlefield. Although they were easy to destroy, the ice creations would always rebuild themselves.

“Attacking us non-stop, that’s your plan?” asked Sunset, who was getting tired of smashing the ice creations again and again.

“Like i said earlier” said Moonlight. “I don’t usually fight like that, but i want you to suffer for what you did to my sister!!”

“You’re the one who begged us to stop her rampage!!” said Twilight.

“True, but what kind of brother would i be if i just let what you did to her unpunished?!!!” said Moonlight.

Rainbow Dash had been able to get pass the ice monsters and punched Moonlight in the face at high speed, repetively. Moonlight instinctively went to grab her necklace, but ended up grabbing her right boob by accident. Moonlight looked at Rainbow Dash, who was confused and blushing and realized he was touching her breast. An awkward silence that lasted many seconds took place.

“No doubt, you’re clearly the athletic type...” he said. “My favorite type of girls, by the way...I like them fla...”

Applejack got mad and punched Moonlight so hard he flew hundred of meters back. Rainbow Dash was still confused by what Moonlight just said to her.

“Are you alright?” asked Applejack to her friend.

She came back to her senses and looked at Applejack.

“Of course” she said. “Wait, were’s my necklace!!”

“Aw crap...” said Applejack.

Moonlight suddenly grabbed her by the leg and dragged her in the snow at superspeed, going back and forth. She didn’t let herself be at his mercy for long, though. She slammed the icy ground with her fist, causing a small earthquake that made Moonlight lose balance. She got up and grabbed him. Holding him firmly, she took the necklace back from him and threw it to Rainbow Dash. Moonlight turned into a shadow mist and got free from Applejack’s grip.

“What the?” she asked.

Pissed off, Moonlight took his physical form back and sucker punched her in the stomach. As she was going to it him again, he once again turned into a shadow mist.

“That magic!!” said Rarity. “It’s the same magic that Sombra used!!”

“So, he also got his hand of the magic of an Umbrum!!” said Sunset.

“Playtime is over!!” shouted Moonlight.

The ice started turning black, like Sombra’s shadow crystals. Moonlight called back his ice creatures and took his physical form back.

“I present you another version of my ice magic!!” he said, smiling like a madman. “I call it Black Ice!! It combine Umbrum magic and ice magic!! And...There’s more!!”

Moonlight created magic copies of the girls. They were made of a black-colored ice similar in texture to Sombra’s shadow crystals.

“You combined Living Ice to your Black Ice?” asked Sunset.

“That’s right!!” he answered. “Living Black Ice magic!!”

“Be careful, girls!!” said Twilight. “His Black Ice must have the same properties than Sombra’s magic!!”

Moonlight sent his ice soldiers attack the girls. Applejack went to punch her ice clone, who blocked it with it’s arms. The clone was knocked back but hold still. Applejack looked at her fist and saw it was covered of black crystals. She didn’t mind though, since she was wearing gloves, having learned from her fight against Sombra.

“And we know how to defend against it!!” said Applejack, throwing her corrupted glove away.

Everyone were fighting their clones. Sunset told her friends to lend her their magic so she could transform. They gathered close to Rarity, who made a dome to keep the clones at bay. Without wasting time, they shared their magic with Sunset, who powered up into her Daydream form. Sunset then vaporized the clones one after another and all the corruption in a large area. Moonlight knew he needed to step up his game and open a fancy looking magic grimoire.

“Chrono Stasis!!!” shouted Moonlight.

Immediately, time stopped for everyone on the planet and in the Universe, Except Moonlight, who casted the spell and Discord, Cosmos and Sunset Shimmer, who were not affected. He was rather disappointed to see her not affected.

“Let me guess” said Sunset. “You stopped time so you could steal our necklaces and use their magic against us. Luckily for us, i was not affected by your spell.”

“It was my plan, indeed” said Moonlight. “But it would have been too easy if it worked.”

He unfroze time and looked in the book for another spell. He found an interesting one and casted it. A dozen of clones of himself appeared to his side and using another spell, casted a barrier around himself. Sunset made quick work of them with a couple magic beams.

“Just give up” said Sunset. “You can’t match me, even with the Alicorn Amulet.”

She blasted the barrier with a beam, but her attack got absorbed.

“You were saying?” asked Moonlight. “Don’t underestimate me!!!”

He created a magic Black Hole between him and the girls. Protected by his barrier, Moonlight wasn’t being pulled in, but the heroes were. Quick-witted, Sunset used her magic to shut down the Black Hole. Moonlight made another one, much bigger, that Sunset shutted down as well, albeit with more difficulty.

“You’ll eventually get out of energy” said Moonlight. “I won’t as long as i have this on my neck.”

”He’s right” thought Sunset. ”Countering his spells is draining my magic fast”

Twilight joined her after turning into Midnight Sparkle. Sunset felt her magic being replenished.

“We won’t let you run out of magic!!” said Rainbow Dash.

Sunset thanked them. Moonlight knew his chances of winning were thin against the two of them.

”I should retreat” he thought. ”But i have to avenge Sunny...There must be a spell that would power me up!!”

Moonlight looked in the spellbook for a transformation spell but found none that would help him. Then, he looked for a summoning spell. One of them would summon the Grim Reaper, who would make a deal with the one who summoned him. In exchange for unlimited stamina, immortality and very powerful soul/necromantic powers, Moonlight would have to do work for her, over the course of a thousand years, during which he would be bound to her by a contract. The last thing about that deal was that once the contract would be completed, Death would reap his soul personally. As he was going to summon Death, he had a moment of hesitation. He wanted to make the girls pay for what they did to his sister, but he remembered he was mostly to blame for it. Also, he realized he was about to do exactly what his sister did earlier, which made him think further about doing it. Then he decided it was better to just give up, so Moonlight closed his grimoire, and removed the Alicorn Amulet from his neck to put it in it’s box. He let out a loud sigh and undid the barrier protecting him.

“I’m smart enough to know when i should quit” he said to the girls. “I’m the one who put her through this, all because i didn’t have the will to subdue her myself.”

Sunset went back to her normal form, followed by Twilight. Moonlight opened a portal with a portal key and waved his hand at Rainbow Dash.

“See yah!” he said.

Then he left, leaving the girls alone. He was welcomed by a disappointed Grogar at his arrival.

“I know, i disobeyed...” said Moonlight. “I was just furious about those girls for forcing Sunny do use such a radical method. But then, Sunset revealed me something that made me mad at Cosmos: She’s the one who gave Sunny the Philosopher’s stone, when she asked for it mentally. Sunset was able to hear her say that. Upon learning that, i got even more angry, but this time, at myself for allowing this to happen in the first place. All that anger was too much and i needed to vent it on someone, and the Alicorn Amulet didn’t really helped at all. I was even about to make a deal with Death at some point, to take them down...But...then i remembered i caused that to happen by bringing her to Canterlot in the first place. I also realized that Cosmos would have never got her paws on the Philosopher’s stone if i had done my job perfectly. I just realized i was about to do something stupid for something i was the only responsible of and reason took over my anger”

Grogar was about to leave.

“Sunny is at the infirmary” he said.

Then he left. Moonlight headed for the infirmary immediately. When he entered, he instinctively moved to the left, to avoid being hit by a projectile. But Sunny was too depressed to even get mad at anyone.

“Why are you still at the infirmary?” asked Moonlight. “Couldn’t Discord just heal you with a finger snap?”

“Grogar ordered him and everyone else not to” she answered. “I could kill myself and ressurect 5 seconds later, good as new, but...”

“But what?” asked Moonlight.

“I can’t anymore” Answered Sunny. “I think it’s time i told you what Grogar revealed about myself.”

Bonus Chapter: The Origins

Moonlight was confortably installed in a chair, ready to hear Sunny’s revelations.

“First of, the source of my immortality was due to my Phoenix DNA” said Sunny. “And apparently, all the Phoenix DNA in my body had been burned by the magic energy of the Philosopher’s Stone. But this isn’t everything the stone did on me...It also cleansed the dragon DNA inside my body. I’m nothing more than a simple human, for now...”

“That’s all my fault...” said Moonlight. “If only i hadn’t been so careless, Cosmos wouldn’t have stolen the stone from me...Yes, i know it’s her who gave it to you, and i also know you asked for it beforehand. But ultimately, i’m to blame for you using it in the first place...I brought you to the girls so they could subdue you, because i was too coward to do the job myself...”

“Well, I did tried to kill you” said Sunny. “So we’re even...Hi hi hi...”

“But wait, what do you mean, for now?” asked Moonlight.

“I was born with the unique ability to assimilate the caracteristics of any magical creature” answered Sunny. “In order to do so, i need to eat their heart, source of their magic. That ability is a magical and named Chimera Magic”

“So, why just limit yourself to only Dragon and Phoenix characteristics?” asked Moonlight, again.

“The reason for that is simple” answered Sunny. “I didn’t awaken the full potential of my Chimera Ability, and i can only use the caracteristic of two magical creatures at most. Because i was so fiery, Grogar chose to imbue me with the abilities of the only two Fire-themed creatures he knew of: Dragons and Phoenixes.”

“I see” said Moonlight.

“The good side is” said Sunny. “I’m free to chose which magical creatures i want the ability from. And i can assimilate the abilities of 8 different creature at once. The Philosopher stone might have done more good than bad to me...”

“What could you do if you unlocked the true power of your ability?” asked Moonlight. “And how can you transform your body?”

“Discord told me that once my Chimera ability is awakened” answered Sunny. “There would be no limit to the number of different magical creatures i assimilate the abilities of. To answer your second question, you know what a Chimera is, right?”

“I do” said Moonlight. “A monster possessing the physical characteristic of 3 different animals, a 3-way hybrid creature.”

“Well, the reason i’m able to transform my body is because i’m a magical creature myself: a Unicorn” said Sunny. “My own magical energy merged with my Chimera ability. I call it Chimera Magic, and it allows me to transform into any magical creatures i assimilated, partially or completely. I can select the physical and magical abilites of up to 3 creatures at a time when i transform, and truly call myself a Chimera. And that’s all of it...”

“I guess it’s my turn to tell you about my ability.” said Moonlight. “My unique ability is similar to yours, but different at the same time...It’s hard to explain.”

“I’m not stupid, i’ll understand” said Sunny.

“I can use and cast any type of magic” said Moonlight.

“Any type?” asked Sunny.

“Elemental magic, Dark magic, Time magic, Spatial magic, forbidden magic, ancient magic, Curse magic...you name it” answered Moonlight.

He showed Sunny his grimoire.

“I can cast every spell written in this grimoire” he said. “Also, i can use the magic of any magical artifacts or relics i get my hands on. For example, the Elements of Harmony...When i fought those girls earlier, i got my hand on a geode and was able to use it’s power.”

“I believe there is more” said Sunny. “How you can use Umbrum and Windigo magic, then, if you’re neither of them?”

“I told you i could use any type of magic earlier” said Moonlight. “That also include magic specific to a race of creatures, and in that case, i have to steal it from them. I presume Grogar must have used his Bewitching Bell to steal the magic of an Umbrum and a Windigo, then gave that magic to me when i was young. Discord told me i could even use Chaos Magic if i was able to steal it from a Draconequus.”

“Would you do it?” asked Sunny.

“I don’t know” asked Moonlight. “Because using magic unique to one race come at a risk. Exemple, If i overuse Umbrum magic, Corruption will gradually take over my body and block my magic. As for overusing Windigo magic, my body will gradually turn into ice. Discord told me using Chaos magic, if i ever end up possessing it, would gradually make my lose my mind, and that if i overuse it, i could even be erased from reality.”

“Hence why you always use a defensive fighting style” said Sunny.

“Would you believe me if i told you i used a more offensive style of combat when i fought those girls?”

“You? Going on the offensive?” said Sunny. “That’s funny, because i have been fighting on the defensive against them. Tell me, how did it went?”

“What do you think?” said Moonlight. “I got my ass handled...without going into details. At the end, i prefered to retreat...”

“Not surprised...” said Sunny, smiling. “Out of everyone in this castle, you’re probably the smartest fighter.”

Moonlight bit his tongue. He didn’t want to tell Sunny he almost made a deal with Death just to get the upper hand, which would have been inconsiderate and extremely stupid.

“Grogar might have a beastiary in his library...” said Moonlight. “What do you say about going on a monster hunt in Equestria, just the two of us? "

“I don’t know” answered Sunny, suddenly depressed. “Now that i lost my immortality and my dragon and phoenix characteristics, i realize i have the opportunity to start over a new life.”

“We both know Grogar won’t give you, nor anyone else, that luxury” said Moonlight. “You said earlier that your ability had grown in power and no doubt Grogar will force you to get new powers once you fully recover. I think personally that i will study this grimoire and memorize as much spells as i can in the meantime.”

“Can i tell you a secret?” asked Sunny.

“That i don’t already know?” answered Moonlight. “Well, you can tell me...”

“It’s about that red and yellow haired girl...Sunset Shimmer...” said Sunny. “I actually met her and her friends totally by chance sometimes ago. They somehow found the entrance of one of my secret lairs where i was sleeping.”

“What happened?” asked Moonlight.

“We talked a little, then they left” answered Sunny. “But during that short interaction, i felt something weird in this Sunset Shimmer. She had a scent familiar to mine...as if she was related to me in some way.”

“That’s impossible she could be related to you” said Moonlight. “Grogar made sure you could never get pregnant with a spell...”

“No spell is flawless” said Sunny. “But i don’t remember ever giving birth before...”

“That will be a mystery to solve later on” said Moonlight. “I’ll go ask for the beastiary and give it to you...”

“Okay, see you soon” said Sunny.

Moonlight left the infirmary and walked for a moment, then he contacted Grogar with a magic device.

“What do you want?” asked Grogar.

“Two things” answered Moonlight. “First, can you lend my your beastiary?”

The book appeared on the floor in front of him.

“Second thing, can you allow me and Sunny to go on an expedition in Equestria?” asked Moonlight.

“It couldn’t be a better time to do so!!” answered Grogar. “I’m going on a month-long vacation and so will you, Sunny and everyone in this castle. I’m leaving in a couple days and i want you out in the meantime.”

“Cool” said Moonlight, ending the call.

He shut the magic device and brought the beastiary to Sunny, then told her what Grogar said. Sunny was excited hearing it and Moonlight returned to his room. Meanwhile, in Canterlot City, our heroes were taking it easy, knowing things would be calm for a while. Sunset told the Sirens and Stygian how went their battles against Tirek, Sunny and Moonlight, in details. Adagio told the girls the hell Cosmos made them go through and how if it wasn’t from Stygian, they would never had survived. At the moment, everyone were doing things they couldn’t enjoy for a while. Applejack was working on her family’s farm, Rarity was making dresses, Pinkie Pie was babysitting, Fluttershy was taking care of her pets at the Animal Shelter, Rainbow Dash was napping at the park, Twilight was crafting a new robot and playing with Spike and Sunset was playing video games. The Dazzlings were writting new songs while Stygian was writting a new book.

Chapter 7: Sunset of the Seven Seas: The Sequel, part 1.

Sunset Shimmer and her friends, for the second day of their vacations, decided to explore the vast ocean around the island. Transformed into mermaids, they immediately began swimming away from the shore. After a couple minutes, they reached a popular spot for the sea creatures.

“Look at this fish!!” said Rarity, amazed by it’s shiny white scales “He look just like me!!”

She saw another fish with orange scales.

“Oh!! Look, A.J, this one look just like you!!” she said.

“I see a school of Clown Fish!!” said Pinkie Pie. “I heard they are called like that because they’re funny!! Let’s see if that’s true!!”

It was not long before the girls drew the marine creatures’ attention. The white and purple fish Rarity was fawning over earlier and the orange and beige fish she compared Applejack to were the first to come to the group.

“Well, hello there!” said the orange fish, with an exaggerated male Southern accent. “I’ve never seen anyone lookin’ quite like you before...Where y’all comin’ from?”

“Not only does he look like you” said Rainbow Dash to Applejack. “He also talk like you!”

“I don’t speak like that!!” said Applejack. “Well, most of the time...”

“Please forgive my husband” said the white fish with an exaggerated noble accent. “Though i always tell him to use a more distinguished accent when going in public, he never seem to listen...”

“Well, this one definitively look and sound like you, Rarity” said Applejack. “But the fact they’re a couple is quite the surprise.”

“You know what they say” said Twilight. “Opposites Attracts. The forbidden love between a Noble and Commoner is quite a popular trope in love stories. You’d make quite a cute couple, you two...Rarity with her noble manners and Applejack with her less-than-noble ones.”

Applejack and Rarity looked at each other, then away, with embarrassed faces. The thought of them getting married was making them feel uncomfortable.

“What’s your name, Darling?” asked Rarity to the female fish, to change subject. “I’m Rarity...Because i’m quite the RARE gemstone in a world full of pebbles. Call me Rare, Darling”

“Oh please...” said Applejack.

“Water Lily” answered the fish. “Due to the impeccable white color of my scales and my purple fins. But just call me Lily.”

“Call me Rusty” said the orange fish. “It’s the nickname my parents and siblings gave me”

“Call me A.J, short for Applejack.” said Applejack.

While Rarity, Water Lily, Applejack and Rusty were bonding and Pinkie Pie was busy telling jokes to a Clown Fish, Sunset tried to search for Chuck, her whale friend. Rainbow Dash, her, was showing off her swimming skills to a large public, while Fluttershy was playing with baby fishes. Twilight was trying to explain in a scientific manner what her and her friends were. In short, everyone was having a blast. An hour later, the group parted ways with their fish friends, heading further into the ocean, on Sunset’s request. After a moment, she stopped and told her friends to stop moving too.

“He’s coming” said Sunset.

“Who’s coming?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Chuck!!” answered Sunset. “He’s a Blue Whale! I met him on my first sea excursion!”

The Blue Whale showed up from the depths of the sea and stopped in front of Sunset.

“I couldn’t believe my luck when you contacted me!!” said Chuck. “I was just passing in the area!! What are you doing in this part of the ocean, friend?”

“What happened to your australian accent?” asked Sunset.

“Oh, ya mean that accent?” answered Chuck with his Aussie accent. “I was just trying to sound cool...This is how i normally speak...”

“Oh, those are my friends, Chuck” said Sunset. “From right to left: Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle.”

“Nice to meet you all” said Chuck. “My name is Chuck!”

“Fluttershy’s the animal specialist” said Sunset. “She can understand them, and command them. It’s thank to her we can communicate so easily with you and other aquatic species.”

“You’re so huge!” said Fluttershy. “Can i call you Chucky? Please!?”

“Of course!!” said Chuck. “We’re friends, so it’s normal to call ourselves by nicknames!! What’s your?”

“I don’t have one” answered Fluttershy. “It’s just Fluttershy...But Rainbow Dash’ little nickname is Dashie.”

“For him, Dash will do just fine” said Rainbow Dash.

“Call me Rare, Dear” said Rarity.

“And me, A.J” said Applejack.

“Call me Twily” said Twilight.

“Call me Pinkie!!” said Pinkie Pie.

“And call me Shimmy” said Sunset Shimmer. “Last time we saw each other, you offered to give me a ride! Is that offer still available? "

“Of course!!” answered Chuck. “Get on my back!!”

Fluttershy got of his back first, then the others followed.

“Bermuda Triangle...Here we come!!” said Chuck.

“There is so much myths going on about this place” said Twilight. “I have to verify if they’re true!!”

“I hope we can fight a huge sea monster!!” said Rainbow Dash. “Like Cthullu!!”

“I just hope he’s nice...” said Fluttershy. “Legends don’t make him look so good”

A couple hours later, Chuck had arrived at destination.

“I won’t go further than this point, friends” he said. “There is barely a mile for you to make t’ill your there. I’ll be waiting for you to come back.”

The girls got off his back and swam toward the famous spot. As they were getting closer, a mysterious veil impaired their views, like a fog.

“I see why he didn’t want to go further” said Fluttershy. “We can barely see anything, what if there was monsters hiding behind that fog?”

“It will take more than that to scare me!!” said Rainbow Dash. “Only cowards hide in the mist. Is the mythical Chtullu too scared of humans?”

The girls continued swimming for a moment, then, all of a sudden, the magic fog disappeared.

“We made it, i think!” said Twilight. “We’re in the central zone of the Bermuda Triangle!!”

“Are you sure?” asked Rarity.

“Yes” answered Twilight. “There can be no fog underwater...Which mean that fog was of magical nature.”

“A defense system” said Sunset. “I think that fog just sent us back to our starting point.”

“It’s true!” said Fluttershy. “I can see Chuck over there!”

The girls also saw Chuck in the distance, confirming Sunset’s claim.

“We have to get rid of this fog” said Applejack. “Any idea?”

“We could use our magic in a way that would dissipate this fog.” proposed Twilight. “I know!! Your Daydream form might be powerful enough to get us through it, Sunset!!!”

“You know what to do, then” said Sunset. “Blast me, girls!!”

The girls concentrated their magic into a powerful beam that they aimed at Sunset. Once transformed into her Daydream form, she concentrated and used her magic to eliminate the fog. Since nothing particular seemed to show up, Sunset fired a blast of magic that revealed a wall made of metal.

“An illusion barrier!!” said Sunset. “Then, i guess the fog was what brought us back to our starting point.”

“Let’s go inside before it close!!” said Rainbow Dash.

The girls swam quickly to reach the rift. Using her magic once more, Sunset removed a part of the metallic surface. They girls were sucked inside the empty space. Sunset immediately repaired the hole and the water stopping flooding in. The girls took back their normal appearances and got up. It was quite dark, but Pinkie Pie took out a lamp from nowhere and lighted up the surroundings. Realized they were standing on a set of large stairs. After a more careful inspection, Twilight came to the conclusion they were inside some sort of metallic tower. Rainbow Dash looked at the stairs, going up and down, like a spiral.

“Where should we go?” asked Rainbow Dash. “Up or down?”

“Both...” answered Twilight. “Let’s split in two groups. Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and me will go up.”

“Then that mean me, Fluttershy and Applejack are going down” said Sunset.

“Careful, darling” said Rarity to her. “The stairs are wet”

And so, the two group went in opposite directions. After half an hour walking down the tower, Sunset started shivering as the air was getting colder. Applejack touched the metal wall and removed her hand immediately, since it was really cold. After 30 more minutes of descent, the cold became almost unbearable. Fortunately for them, though, they were almost at the bottom of the tower. 10 more minutes and they reached the last floor.A dozen of lights suddenly illuminated the place and the girls could see clearly. Right in the middle of the room was a mysterious runic circle. The room itself was full of book and by reading one, Fluttershy realized it had been written ages ago. She examinated more book that had also been written long ago.

“Those books were redacted centuries ago!” said Fluttershy. “This one has been written by a certain Stygian!!!”

Applejack walked around and saw a book glowing faintly in a shelf. She took it and looked up the name of the author, who was a certain Rockhoof. She realized after opening it she was holding his journal. She searched around the room and found another journal, who belonged to a certain Mistmane. A third one had been written by a certain Flash Magnus. The next journal she found was Meadowbrook’s, and the one after it, Somnambula’s. Then, she finally found one more, written by Starswirl. Upon realizing what Applejack had found, Sunset was more than excited. She ordered Fluttershy and Applejack to bring her their journals. Fluttershy did it without question, but Applejack was less willing to do so, knowing their monetary value.

“Princess Twilight would totally freak out if she was with us right now” said Sunset.

Applejack examinated the magic circle in the middle of the room. In it, there was circles with a symbol, similar to those on the journals. There were 7 of them and there were 7 journals in total. She shared her discovery with Sunset and Fluttershy.

“Great find, Applejack!” said Sunset.

The girls put each of the books in their corresponding slot. When the last journal was placed, nothing happened.

“I thought for sure something would happen!!” said Applejack.

Sunset looked at her geode and she suddenly had a realization.

“There are seven journals, each one written by each one of the Pillars” said Sunset, thinking out loud “There were 7 geodes...7 Elements of Harmony, and we were chosen by them. We’re 7, just like the Pillars!! Twilight is Starswirl, Rarity is Mistmane, Applejack is Rockhoof, Fluttershy is Meadowbrook, Rainbow Dash is Flash Magnus, Pinkie Pie is Somnambula and i’m...Stygian?”

Sunset contacted the rest of the group by telepathy, telling them they found something. Twilight got the message and told Sunset that they were on their way down, since they found nothing at the top. A few minutes later, Rainbow Dash arrived with Rarity, then Twilight and finally, Pinkie Pie. Sunset explained them their discovery and obviously, Twilight was at the peak of happiness and excitation. Sunset handed to each of them a journal, following her intuition from earlier. She placed herself in the center of the magic circle and told the girls to place themselves on the slots corresponding to each of the journals. All of a sudden, the 7 geodes on the girls neck started glowing and the magic circle was activated. The girls’ geodes fired a beam of magic at Sunset, who was overwhelmed by an intense light. Then, the magic circle, the geodes and the light faded and Sunset was gone.

Author's Note

To be continued in the next Volume