Old Empathy

Sunset's quick footsteps echoed through the deserted streets, her eyes tracing the jagged cracks in the pavement and the broken windows of the crumbling buildings. The shadows stretched out before her, elongated by the colourful sunset that bathed the sky. The quiet was interrupted only by the sound of a distorted melody, impossible to locate. A cold sweat broke out on Sunset's skin as she realised she was trapped in her recurring nightmare once again.

She searched for any building she could enter. Her lungs burned, and her legs were breaking down from exhaustion. She was fit, but here, in this nightmare, her fitness meant nothing.

As she fled, she heard laughter echoing through the empty city. It sounded like her own laughter, but distorted and evil. Adrenaline surged through her as she pushed herself to run further, hoping to find a place to hide.

But it was too late. A hoofed leg appeared in front of her, blocking her path. She turned around to run, but suddenly found herself floating in the air, unable to fight against the creature's power.

A power from another world.

Sunset sobbed, as she helplessly wiggled in the air.

A war against humanity.

Her view was turned to see the creature, but she closed her eyes. She already knew what it was. The standing red and yellow hair, the dark skin, the evil, reptile-like blue eyes, the broken red wings—the view had already been burned into her mind.

It’s breaking in, replacing empathy.

Suddenly, she screamed. The being’s hand had been placed on her forehead, and Sunset felt how it tried to enter her mind.

City. It all comes down to a single one. Portal. A vessel can stop her. A red geode. Hatch, hatch, and stop the infection that spreads to kill all of humanity. Canterlot.

Sunset's eyes snapped open, and she gasped for air, disoriented and drenched in sweat. The train rattled on its tracks, the sound filling her ears. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, and turned to look out the window. The cool air blowing in felt refreshing against her skin, a stark contrast to the nightmare world she had just left behind.

Looking at the time, it revealed that she had slept only for a few hours. The train would still take about five more until she reached her first destination. There was still the problem of how she’d arrive from there to Canterlot City, but that was for the future to solve.

In the meantime, she tried to calm her racing heart and control her breathing. All she hoped for was that, once she would be there, she’d be able to stop her unicorn counterpart.