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Birds. So many bird noises. And squirrels. Some chipmunks. But mostly birds. Ducks quacking. Little hummingbirds darting to and fro. I liked hummingbirds. But Equestrian hummingbirds just weren’t the same. None of the birds were.

Sunset and I raced across the little bridge to Fluttershy’s little cottage, and I rapped a hoof against the round door.

“Oh, just a minute!” came a soft voice. A very familiar soft voice that brought goosebumps to my neck.

That voice was supposed to be heard through my headphones, while I sat in a chair, a long coat to keep me from the cold of the basement. That was the only place I could stream with Andrew without being too loud and disturbing my uncle.

But at least Fluttershy wouldn’t be imposing or put any pressure on me. Pinkie Pie had no concept of personal space. Rarity would probably fuss with my hair and try to get me in a tux. Twilight would probably try to experiment on me. Rainbow Dash probably wouldn’t be too bad, except her attitude, and AJ… AJ was the absolute last pony I wanted to see. But Fluttershy would give me space. Fluttershy would listen and be respectful.

Dang it, Andrew, you’re right again. I will never admit that Fluttershy’s the one of the Mane Six I mind meeting the least.

Muttering. Hushed voices from beyond the door. So Lily did get here first! Good thing—

The door slammed open into my face and I found myself flown into Fluttershy’s fence. Sunset gasped. My back hurt. Ow. The fence was broken. Fluttershy’s door hung limply from one hinge. Where’d Sunset go?

There! What is that?

“Let my friend go!” Fluttershy.

Bat wings.

A dark pony with bat wings was standing over Sunset. Struggling. A burst of cyan magic. Sunset stood triumphantly. The batpony went flying into a tree. Birdhouses shattered. Sunset’s face. A look of success. A look of anger.

“What’s going on?” asked Sunset.

Another batpony shot out of the cottage towards her, but she whacked him with something that looked like a wall of solid magic. The bat slammed into another tree. More broken birdhouses.

“Please, STOPPPPP!” cried Fluttershy. “Don’t hurt my friend!”

“Silence her!” rang another voice.

There was scuffling from inside Fluttershy’s cottage.

“Captain, the portal won’t stay open for long!”

“Get the witness, now!”

Shattering glass. Two more batponies flew out from Flutter’s windows towards Sunset. But both fell to the ground before they could reach her… birds. The birds were attacking the batponies! All four were swinging their hooves around frantically to wave them away. One had fallen by the river, and fish were leaping out to whack her with their tails. Butterflies hovered in front of another’s face, blocking their vision while mice flung bits of cheese and crackers. A few bunnies had teamed up with the chickens and ducks, kicked and pecking at the third. The fourth flew back into the cottage, screeching as they went… buzzing bees followed from behind.

A roar rang out through the clearing. Charging out of the forest came a bear, easily four times my size.

The three remaining batponies fled back into the cottage—right where the bear was charging straight into.

“Captain!” someone screeched. “Nature itself is attacking us!”

“Pathetic.”

The bear (Harry?) rushed past me and into the cottage. I ducked behind the door.

The other animals seemed to form ranks behind Harry and were charging after him. What?! The mice were carrying little flags with Fluttershy’s cutie mark! And squirrels came leaping up, pulling a pile of acorns and what looked like a small catapult.

SNAP. Something from inside the cottage. A flash of red. Clattering. Yells. Something that sounded like a roar, and another flash of red.

Birds flew out of the house and a few mice scattered out of the door. I looked over to Sunset, who’s expression went from confusion to fear. She had a straight line of sight into the cottage.

“Get the Element of Kindness through the portal. I’ll take care of the witness,” said the Captain.

“Yes, Captain!”

They don’t realize I’m here.

Sunset gave me the slightest nod. It was quick, and her entire focus was focused past the doorway into the cottage.

Shouldn’t I get involved, though? It wasn’t right to let a woman face danger all alone. But I’m just an earth pony. I barely know how to use these hooves! And I have a home to return to. A friend to protect…

“Ah… the famous Sunset Shimmer,” said the Captain. A commanding voice. She stepped forward from behind the door and into my line of sight. A unicorn… but she didn’t look like they normally do. Her horn was as though a curved blade, and an odd, silvery grey, despite her coat being a dark green... Her pupils were slits, and her irises maroon. Her rusty orange mane flopped on the right side of her.

Everything about her screamed villain.

“I have to thank you, you know,” said the Captain. “You see, without all the magic you brought back with you from the other world, we wouldn’t have been able to have kick started our own little project.”

The look of anger, shock, shame, and most of all, fear, was plain on Sunset’s face.

“Don’t dare talk about that,” she shot back.

“Oh, don’t worry. We have no desire to go to that world. We’re quite happy with having hooves and… magic,” said the villain. “But you… you will make a fine addition to our collection.”

“I won’t let you turn me into a monster again!” Sunset screamed.

A blast of cyan magic went spiraling to the villain. But she only grinned. A red ball-like shield appeared around her. The blast collided with it—and I was sent flying backwards. The fence snapped completely. Splash! Wet. Cold. I scrambled to my feet, hooves squishing into mud.

The villain stood above me, uninjured. “Why resist?” She asked. “After all, you did such a good job of being a monster before.”

“That wasn’t me!” screamed Sunset. “That was Discord!”

“Please,” sneered the villain, taking a few steps towards Sunset. “That pathetic excuse for a chimera could never do that. Not alone. No, all he did was give you the power. You—you were already a monster inside.” She was dangerously close to Sunset now, and hushed her voice to a whisper I could barely hear. “You belong with us!” she hissed.

BANG. My eyes were blinded with Cyan light. A breeze hit my face. A moment later, vision returned. Sunset was standing there, her eyes white, and around her a cyan aura. Pure rage was on her face.

The Captain. Where is the Captain?

“Starlight Glimmer has taught you well!” came the captain’s voice from atop of the cottage. “And even if she hadn’t, raw, unrefined magic used in anger like yours… can be very powerful even without focus. The problem is, it’s so easy to go out of control… Go out of control… and hurt someone.

Sunset gritted her teeth.

“We can give you that control, Sunset Shimmer! Mother Night will take away your pain! She’ll take away your guilt! She’ll teach you what Princess Twilight and her friends can never teach you: how to use your power to its full potential!”

Sunset looked uncertain. She closed her eyes. The cyan aura faded, and when she opened her eyes again, they had turned to normal.

The sound of teleporting. A red flash and the Captain was in front of Sunset.

“Excellent,” said the Captain. “Come.”

A pause.

“No.”

More silence.

“I know I can’t beat you,” continued Sunset. “And I do have problems controlling my anger. And the guilt, it does eat me up. All the time. But I will deal with my problems the right way. By facing them, and growing slowly. Not hiding or running away from them. Come with me.” Sunset offered up a hoof. “Whoever you are, whoever you were, things can get better. You can have friends, you can learn, you can grow. Just like I have.”

Again, there was silence. Was the captain shaking?

“I…I…” the Captain began. “My name… I was a…an accountant. I lived in Fillydephia. My… f-f-friends…”

“It’s okay,” said Sunset. “Take my hand.”

“M-my name… my name was… R-R-Red V-vel… MY NAME IS CRIMSON NIGHT!”

A red aura surrounded the Captain. Sunset covered her eyes with her hoof.

“No,” Sunset coughed out. “You don’t need to—”

“Behold the power of a reemicorn!” roared Captain Crimson.

There was a flash of red. And then Sunset Shimmer was on the ground.

“You two!” barked Crimson, “Take her to the portal. Let’s get out of here. Today has been a good day for the end of all days.”

I cowered behind the little grassy mound. There was no hope for chivalry now. There was nothing I could do. Be safe, or be captured. She sacrificed herself for me.

Nothing felt so real as that moment and that realization.

Holy Mother Mary, please take Sunset Shimmer under your mantle. Keep her safe, and remember the sacrifice she’s made this day. Because I know you pity us, and desire that all may know your Most Holy Son. Mother… I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t belong here. I just want to find Lily and go home. Let Sunset’s sacrifice not be in vain, please. Hail Mary, full of grace…

I continued praying like that as two batponies carried Sunset back into the cottage. Captain Crimson stayed behind for a few moments. Inspecting. Looking. I prayed more intensely. Finally, I heard her also return to the cottage. There was an odd sound then. Something like the splash of water, but different, almost plasma sounding.

And then all was silent.

I waded out of the river and loafed at the shore. My breathing… when did I start breathing so heavily? Focus. God is with you. Blessed are you among women… I kept praying like that for several minutes, until I had finished a full five decades.

“I’m going to see Fluttershy! I’m going to see Fluttershy!”

Author's Note

A rather short chapter, but a longer one is in the works!

Special thanks to my fabulous editors: Rainy Skies, Ashel, PandoraFox, and joining the ranks, Lunasee!

Check out Lunasee's ongoing fic, The New Six!