Mani Moon Muses

by Lunaria

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Princess Cadance, Other, Original Character, Profanity, Adventure, Slice of Life, Anthology, Sunset Shimmer
Length: 7791

A collection of snippets written by me that aren't substantial enough for their own story. Also contains archives of joke or non canon chapters from other stories I've written.

This is an anthology that features various pieces of writing that I've penned but which didn't make the cut for a full story.

Sometimes the creative muse just strike and I've got to write something, even if I don't necessarily have the time to dedicate towards another big project. Those few tidbits will find a home here, and maybe if the urge strikes I might finish them and publish them as their own work.

This will also serve as an archive for side or joke chapters to other stories I write, in order to give them a more permanent home if I ever feel like they bloat up a story page.

Tags will be added based on the entire anthology, even if most of the tags and rating won't be relevant to all of them.

Published 2024-06-05 14:10:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-06-09 21:44:16 UTC

Sunset Shimmer & The Temporal Rift - April Fool's 2023

Chapter 5
The Shooting Star

Sunset stretched her legs, a yawn forcing her mouth wide open; there was nothing quite like a nice warm day. Most would perhaps find it weird that she'd taken her studying outside. Her eyes traced over the two tomes and the pile of gems that were resting on the table.

The castle gardens had plenty of space, most of which was left criminally unused. Sure, there were the occasional tours, be it with the public or foreign diplomats, as well as the occasional garden party. But for most days it was there for those who lived or were visiting the castle; a number of ponies which could hardly ever take advantage of all the space.

Still, she'd found a gazebo in a particular secluded spot where she could both enjoy the weather and practice the art of enchanting. In her younger days she'd preferred the comfort of doing her studying indoors, but now? She glanced up towards the imposing castle. Just being inside her childhood home put her on edge; too many bad memories.

It wasn't rational, she knew that, obviously, but that only went so far. Sure, she'd made up with her old mentor, several years too late too be honest, so she figured she'd put that chapter of her life behind her. Celestia had been extremely clear in that she was always welcome back home to the castle if she ever wanted to; that there was always a place in Equestria for her.

Sunset smiled as she recalled the exchange. The offer had been nice, even if she herself had been a bit preoccupied with haywire memory magic at the time. She'd been honest though, Canterlot was her home... the human one that is.

She made her way off the well taken cared of grass onto the inlaid stone that surrounded the small outdoors seating area. She was just about to pick up her etching tool in her grip again when she heard a voice calling out from above.

"You, perfect! I need your help!"

It was a familiar voice, yet one that unnerved Sunset to the very core. Sure enough, as her eyes traced skywards, a familiar yet impossible shape was coming in fast for a landing.

A purple pony with both wings and a horn.

"Princess Twilight?" She asked, the bewilderment clear on her face.

The alicorn who had just come in for a rough landing stared at her with wide eyes, before eventually shaking her head and approaching.

"I'm surprised you remember me, Sunset."

Her growing confusion was slowly making its way towards relief. If Twilight was here, then that meant someone might have a tangible idea what was going on.

"I'll admit, it was a bit shocking to find myself in the past like this. But I'm sure we can figure out whatever magical mess is going on together."

Twilight shook her head as she walked closer, her front hooves wrapping around Sunset in an uncharacteristically hard hug.

"I wish it was that simple..." the princess muttered.

"Hey," Sunset comforted while returning the hug. "It's not our first time doing the impossible!"

Twilight chuckled as she broke the hug and took a few steps back. "You're right, of course," her expression morphing into a warm smile while her eyes were still teary. "If there was anyone that'd make the trip through time, I'm glad it was you of all ponies."

Sunset smirked. "I didn't realise I was that high up your list, princess," she nudged Twilight with a knee.

It was clear that the alicorn was just relieved to meet anyone that remembered her, she felt much the same. Sunset highly doubted she'd make the top five when it came to Twilight's friends, even top ten was a bit debatable.

Then again, outside of Starlight Glimmer, she was probably the most eligible to help Twilight when it came to magical mishaps.

Twilight chuckled awkwardly. "I told you to not call me that..." She trailed off a serious expression taking a hold of her face. "I wish I could stay and catch up, but I need to work fast."

The princess flicked open one of her saddlebags with her magic, and out she lifted one of the thicker tomes Sunset had ever seen.

"Here, take this."

"What is it?" Sunset asked as she took it in her own magic.

"There's no time to explain. I need you to deliver this to my library."

Sunset chuckled. "Hate to break it to you, but you don't have a library in this time."

Twilight took a thoughtful express as she tapped a hoof against her cheek. "That shouldn't matter, the important part is that it will be my library."

"Right, I can do that."

Twilight smiled. "Thank you Sunset, you're a good friend, you know that, right?"

Her cheeks flushed a bit as she nodded. She knew that, of course, but it was always a bit hard to hear others praise her for it; a testament to how far she'd come.

"I'd love to stay, but I need to go, don't forget to deliver it as soon as possible!"

"Sure thing," she smirked. "Your highness-" She didn't get to finish her crude jab as Twilight disappeared in the telltale flash of a teleport.

Instead she was left standing there in the mid noon breeze holding a book she didn't understand in her grip; with the vain hope that she wasn't alone.

They were staring, all of them. Oh sure, they tried to not appear as if they were, but they most certainly were.

Sunset sighed as the train clattered onwards down the mountain. "You know, you didn't need to come along," she didn't even tun to face the pony sitting next to her.

"And miss a chance to get out of the castle? No way!"

She turned to Cadance with a frown. "You know you can just... go out whenever you want to, right?"

Cadance chuckled awkwardly. "You say that, but my schedule is practically full. If it isn't duties then it's lesson about the duties I will have."

"Pfft, I wouldn't worry so much about it; you'll make a great princess."

Cadance just stared at her, eyes blinking.

"What?"

The alicorn turned her attention towards the window. "You're just saying that..." her words coming out forced.

Sunset grunted, she didn't realise Cadance had self confidence issues. She knew she'd become the ruler of The Crystal Empire eventually, a quite prestigious city state if what she'd heard was correct. Of course, there was no easy way that she could just say that to the Cadance here and now.

Now, granted, she'd never actually talked to Cadance in any of her brief trips back to Equestria. But just based on what she'd heard the alicorn had made quite a life for herself.

"I do mean it though, you didn't need to come. I'm just returning a lost library book, so it's hardly a grand or exciting adventure."

Cadance turned back to face her, if she was feeling the slightest melancholy then she was certainly not showing it on her face. "Speaking of which, how did you end up with it? I could hardly imagine you heading all the way down to Ponyville for a book."

"Ah, well..." She hadn't really though up a story. She'd just said she needed to return an overdue library book in Ponyville while having lunch, and Cadance had immediately demanded to come along. "It's a friends, not mine."

Cadance was now grinning and leaning closer to her. "Must be a pretty special friend if they're reading something thick like this. So?"

"So?" She glanced at Cadance.

"Spill, who is she? Or maybe it's a stallion, hmm?"

Her mouth hung open.

"Ooo, it is, isn't it?"

She rolled her eyes, half truths it was. She couldn't just give Twilights name either. "Starlight Glimmer, and she asked me to return this overdue book she borrowed when she... lived in Ponyville."

Cadance hummed. "Are mares more your thing then?"

She frowned. "We are just friends, and not even all that close."

Cadance smiled. "I'm just teasing you, still, I'm surprised to hear you're friends with someone I've never heard of. Why don't you tell me more about her."

Sunset glanced up towards the ceiling. "She's... well she's extremely talented in magic. She's really good about mixing spells or expanding upon the works of others. And she's done things I thought were impossible."

Cadance chuckled. "Another sorceress, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that the way to your heart is through magic."

Sunset huffed. "Ain't that the truth." Memories of the day where got buried in that crater forged from her own impudence came flowing back. She regretted what she'd done, but if she'd never tried to steal the element of magic then she likely never would have made friends with those wonderful girls.

"So, when can I expect to meet her?"

Sunset cringed. "We uh, mostly talk over... letters?"

Cadanced rolled her eyes. "Even I can tell that's not true."

"Well, okay, sort of. We had a journal where if you write in one, the text shows up in both. So it's a lot faster than waiting for mail to fly across the country. But it is true that we've only ever meet up in person a couple of times."

Cadance hummed. "Still, I'd like to meet her."

"That's... probably going to be a while."

A long while if her current predicament was any indication.

"That's fine, I can wait. But you have to promise to let me know if she's in town, or if you plan on visiting."

Sunset nodded.

"So what's the book about anyway?"

That was the question of the hour, wasn't it? She'd only briefly studied the book, but it's purpose remained a mystery.

"I'm not quite sure..."

The cover was standard binding in purple, and on the front page was a title in old ponish that roughly translated to "Time Disarray" or some such. It certainly felt relevant to whatever Twilight was doing and that she'd gotten dragged into, but who knew?

"I mean, it looks like a spell book to me."

She nodded and opened the book, there was no introductory text, or really, any text at all. Just page after page of drawn spellform, some of it going off of the edge of the pages.

"It is but... to be honest, this is even beyond my level. I don't even have a guess as to what any of this does."

Cadance leaned in to look closer at the contents of the book, only to jerk back in shock. It didn't surprise Sunset, Cadance had barely gotten a hang of the basics, she'd likely never even seen the spell form of an advanced spell, let alone whatever this was.

'Just what are you up to Twilight?' She whispered.

She cleared her throat to get the attention of the brown mare with pink mane.

"Yes?" They didn't even bother to look up.

"I'd like the keys to the library, if you will."

She'd gone there right away, of course, but it was closed and locked. If she'd been on her own she'd just have teleported in and dumped the book, but of course, Cadance had decided to come along with her.

The mare put down her pen and looked up to meet Sunset's eyes. "The library, yes we have the key, but why should we give it to you?"

She sighed. "Like I explained to your secretary earlier, I have an overdue book on a friends account that I was asked to return."

They'd been informed by some of the helpful ponies living in town that the library had been somewhat permanently closed since the previous librarian moved away.

The mare that glanced at the book she had in her hold. "And this is one of ours?"

"That's what I was told. My friend had forgotten to return it quite some time ago, so they asked me to do it for them since I had the time."

They nodded. "I suppose, I don't think there is anyone left in town that know the inventory anyway. Since the book is not damage you can ignore any late fees too."

Sunset gave a nod, she hadn't even thought about that.

"Still, I can't just give the key to the library to any pony that just walks in."

The urge to ram her hoof to her face was quite high, still, she had talked to the secretary prior and had had the same issue.

"What if said pony was a Princess of Equestria?"

The mare rolled her eyes at her. "Which you're not."

Sunset took a step to the side and gestured towards Cadance who was standing near the back of the room. Said alicorn raised her hoof and waved to them both, having realised she'd become the topic of the conversation.

She could see the mare's eyes dilate on the spot as she started to stammer out a reply.

"That was kind of rude you know."

Sunset glanced at the pony beside her. "What do you mean?"

The two of them trotted through town back towards the offending library, key in hoof.

"You clearly surprised her with me."

Sunset snorted. "That's not really my fault."

"No?"

"No."

When Cadance glanced at her questioningly she continued. "You're a princess Cadance, that's just how most ponies will act around you. You're a big deal, and you decided to drop in and do an unannounced visit to the mayor's office in a small town, how did you think that would go?"

"I..." Cadance's ears sagged.

"You need to consider your status more."

Cadance sighed. "That's what Celestia has been saying too."

Sunset chuckled. "Yeah, I can see that. She's right you know?

"...I wish I didn't need to. I was a pony before I was a princess," she muttered.

Sunset smiled and lightly bumped her side against Cadance. "And that's a good thing!"

Cadance glanced at her in bewilderment. "Really?"

"Yeah! I mean, you know how Celestia is. You're way more down to earth than her, and I think that's nice. It makes for way better company, if nothing else."

Cadance scrunched. "I thought you said I needed to think more about my status, not less."

Sunset chuckled as she came to a stop slightly in front of Cadance. "Which you do, they just aren't mutually exclusive. You can be yourself, in all of your openness and imperfections, while still being well aware how others who you're not close with might perceive you."

"...you think I'm flawed?" She glanced down on the dirt road.

What was it with this pony and trying to take the worst of what she had said?

"Cadance, look me in the eyes," something the alicorn hesitantly did. "Do you think I'm perfect?"

Her mouth hung open for a moment. "Well, no..."

"Exactly, everyone has flaws, that's what makes us what we are," she turned and set off again, Cadance soon catching up.

"And besides, if it was a contest?" She glanced towards her companion. "I'd win for most flaws," she winked.

She glanced again at the back of the tome. It was true that the inside had no text to read, the same was not true for the back. It was just a few lines, followed with the spell form for another spell.

She uttered the text again, as she had translated it. "For ye who's burden is done, cast this spell to pass it on."

She was never quite sure why ponies of old were so keen on their rhymes and wordplays when it came to anything related to magic. As far as she figured, she was supposed to cast the spell after getting the tome to where it should be. Twilight hadn't specified her to do so, but Twilight also trusted her judgement. She hardly expected that the alicorn would assume that she'd only do the task literally as she posed it.

Having memorised the spell, she shoved the book into an empty spot in the shelf and cast it. The first effect she noticed was the book morphing in colour, taking on a dull brown shade instead. Likewise the spine had more modern Equestrian characters slowly fade into existence on it.

Clearly, whatever this book was meant to do, first it was to be concealed. She could feel something heavy settling in her stomach with the realisation. Twilight had likely left this book for herself, which meant that it would be years before whatever it was meant to do would come into effect.

"You done yet?"

She jolted, having not expected the company. Turning towards the door she could see Cadance peaking inside.

"Wow, it's dusty in here."

Sunset sighed and moved to join her companion. "Yeah, I don't think anyone has bothered to keep this place clean for a while."

"What's with the sour expression?"

"It's... complicated," she said as she locked up the building again.

"You know, if you wanted to study the book yourself, I'm sure they wouldn't have minded if you kept it for a few more weeks. It didn't exactly sound like they were going to get a new librarian any time soon."

"No, it's... no."

Cadance shrugged. "Well, if you're sure."

Sunset handed off the key to Cadance. "Here, take this, I need to get some paper and ink."

She could hear Cadance asking what was wrong as she trotted off in the opposite direction, but it wasn't like she could explain. She thought meeting Twilight would have solved all her problems, yet it was almost as if it had just created five more.

What was the book?

Where did Twilight need to go?

Why did she herself remember things when no one else did?

Not to mention that all of this still didn't explain the weird magic that seemed to have decided to live in her room.

And lastly: The spell on the back of the book. If it was just a disguise spell, the book should have been the target. But no, the book was affected by her just casting it... she needed to figure out what it did!

"You know, staring a hole in that paper won't do you anything good."

Sunset turned and looked at her, a fire in her eyes that she hadn't seen before.

"I need to know what this spell does."

Cadance frowned. "It can't be that important Sunset, it's not as if the fate of the world hangs on you figuring out what's on the back of an overdue library book."

Sunset just chuckled awkwardly, something that didn't inspire much confidence. Sure, finding an old lost spell book no doubt mattered to the unicorn, but this much? She wasn't entirely sure she bought Sunset's story about it anyway. Why would a small town like ponyville have a super complex spell book anyway?

She turned and glanced out the window, the evening train up to Canterlot was a lot less crowded. She could see the sun starting to set on the horizon. Hopefully Celestia wouldn't be too upset that she had ran out on an etiquette lesson. She chuckled at the irony of that, but really, those were the worst.

"Fuck," she hear Sunset exclaim next to her.

She turned her attention back to Sunset who seemed to have frozen on the spot, the drawing of the spell still in her lap.

"What?"

Sunset hissed. "It's a memory spell, at least in part."

The unicorn hastily dug up more papers and started writing on them at an unnatural speed.

"Memory spell?"

"This thing," Sunset gestured with a hoof. "Is designed to drain memories. The only reason I know that is because I've studied another thing that did the same."

Cadance tilted her head. "Is that why you're taking notes?"

"Yes!" Hissed Sunset.

"It can't be that bad, I remember all day."

Sunset turned and glared at her. "You're not going to remember what memories you've lost, that's the insidious part," she turned back and continued scribbling.

She jerked back, Sunset was mad, really mad. She'd seen the unicorn angry before, annoyed too, but mad? Never. She shrunk back in her seat and inched her way closer to the window.

And so the train ride went, Sunset scribbling for what her life was worth while she herself glanced out the window. If Sunset was right, they might not remember much of anything of today come tomorrow. That's how it worked, right?

"Sunset..?"

"Yeah?"

"We'll likely not remember today, right?"

The scribbling stopped for a moment. "Yeah," she continued writing.

She licked her lips. If they'd not remember anything anyway... Her eyes turned to the unicorn next to her. Most ponies, if they were given leave to do whatever they wanted consequence free, would probably do something unhinged. Ponies weren't violent, nor could they disregard everything about those around them. But if given leave to do anything? Most would do things they only ever dreamed of.

She leaned over, put her hoof on the back of Sunset's head and guided it in her direction. Sunset's shocked expression was the last thing she saw before she closed her eyes and kissed her right on the lips.

She could hear the paper and quill hit the floor as the two of them sat there, lips locked together.

Eventually, she let go and pulled back. Sunset still looked completely shocked, her eyes wide and a deep blush across her cheeks. As for herself? She turned her gaze away; it hadn't been what she'd imagined.

The lack of any feelings on her own end was disappointing; it all had felt so empty and hollow.

Recently the unicorn had been everything she liked in a friend, but most importantly: She treated her like just another pony. Maybe she'd set her own bar too low, but she was starved for anything at this point. She'd hope that maybe, just maybe they could...

"Cadance?" She could hear Sunset ask, her voice shaky.

Her ears fell as she turned her eyes away. "Sorry."

She knew what she'd done was... wrong.

She could hear a gulp. "Do you...?"

"No," she answered to the unspoken question.

"Then why?"

"I thought I might but..."

The moment hung, before eventually she heard Sunset let out a deep sigh.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"I'm not good material anyway."

Her head snapped, locking gaze with the unicorn. "Of course you are."

Sunset chuckled lightly. "The last guy I dated I only did so because of their social standing."

She blinked, that did sound like something Sunset would do. "But... you've got so many good qualities."

"Really? You mean like being a stuck up snivelling student of Celestia that can't manage a social gathering without pissing off someone important?"

She could feel her heart falling, what she said... wasn't wrong. "But..."

She looked the unicorn over. "There's more to you than just that Sunset, I feel like I've gotten to know you much better recently, and beyond that facade is a lovely mare."

Sunset just turned her attention to the floor, chuckling awkwardly. "Facade huh? If only it was that simple."

"You're a wonderful pony and I won't-"

"Tomorrow!" Sunset interrupted. "We're not going to remember this, any of this."

A teal glow grasped a paper and the quill, guiding them to her.

"You should write yourself a note, because having this conversation now is pointless."

She frowned. She wanted to argue the point, that a discussion like this wasn't one to be delayed, and yet... Sunset had a point: If they weren't going to remember it, then it would not matter.

"I still think you're a wonderful pony Sunset, even if we won't remember this."

"I'm not even a pony Cadance."

She tilted her head and looked at the unicorn. "Last I checked, unicorns were ponies."

"I've not been a unicorn for years Cadance, I got so used not being one that this?" She brought her hoof up and wiggled its end. "Feels alien to me."

All she could do was blink, Sunset wasn't really making much sense.

Sunset chuckled. "I guess it feels nice getting that off my chest," she turned her eyes back to Cadance. "For what it's worth Cadance, I didn't lie about anything today; You'll make a great princess, I know that."

The conviction in which Sunset spoke those words almost made her believe them herself.

Golden shoes clattered against the ethereal floor as she walked. She hadn't expected to be back in this place so soon, yet she felt a presence. The starry looking sky around her felt comforting, yet she couldn't help but feel unnerved.

She knew where her target was, in this space you could very easily feel the presence of others. Or at least, that's what she assumed based on past experiences.

The pony she came across was definitively another alicorn, their coat and mane glowing bright purple.

"There you are..." The mysterious alicorn spoke. "I figured that you'd find me if I broadcasted my presence here."

A frown made its way onto Celestia's features. She'd been drawn here then, intentionally so. She went over any useful spells she might need in her mind, should things come to a head.

"You were expecting me then?"

The mysterious alicorn nodded.

There were many ways this could go, but that didn't mean she couldn't hope and try and navigate her way to the best possible outcome. With tried and true practice she forced a smile onto her face.

"I'm Princess Celestia of Equestria, to whom do I have the pleasure of meeting?"

The glowing alicorn frowned. "You're a bit hasty."

"How so?"

"I'm still... waiting for one. You should have a... counterpart."

She frowned, this alicorn knew about Luna's existence? No, that wasn't accurate, they didn't know her name. But they knew there was another alicorn like her, could they sense alicorns? But if so, they'd be waiting for two more ponies, not just one.

"I'm afraid my sister won't be joining us, on account of being incapable."

"Sister...? I suppose I should have expected," the alicorn muttered. "It's a shame that she is incapacitated then."

"Verily, still, shall you not introduce yourself?"

The alicorn nodded. "I should, yes. Though that creates a problem."

"Oh?"

"My name... is taken. It's expected, really, but it would cause problems if you thought she was... me."

So they were concerned about the well being of another? That was a good sign, even if everything else about the alicorn unnerved her. It was as if they were straight up radiating magic.

"Midnight, you may call me Midnight. But know that it's not my true name."

She lightly bowed her head in politeness. "Midnight it is."

The alicorn just sat there, staring at her.

"So tell me Midnight why are you here then?"

Midnight flinched. "I... admit my desire is somewhat personal and selfish."

"We all have desires," she tilted her head. "Which are yours?"

Suddenly Midnight seemed to look at anywhere but at Celestia. "I, uh."

Celestia walked closer and took in the alicorn. On her side rested a pair of light blue saddlebags. Their cutiemark was completely covered in whatever magical effect it was that made the alicorn glow.

"I wanted to see you..." the alicorn eventually stammered out. "Before I fade away."

Her attention snapped back to Midnight. "Fade away?" Was she dying?

Midnight nodded. "I performed a spell, quite a powerful one, but as a result I will fade away from this world," she sighed.

"That's..." she stopped herself. She could question the alicorn and their motives, what they'd done, but no, she wouldn't. What this creature needed in their last moments was comfort, was it not? So instead she walked over and sat down beside the shorter alicorn, draping her wing across them.

Midnight chuckled awkwardly. "I always wondered... what it would be like."

Celestia smiled to them. "I'm admittedly curious as to a great deal many things about you, but talk about whatever you wish; I'll be here for you."

Midnight sniffled. "You're perfect."

"Hardly, though a great deal of ponies seem to think so."

"Probably because of what you are?"

Celestia smiled. "You've experienced the same?"

"Verily," Midnight held a serious expression for a few moments before devolving into laughter.

"It does make me even more curious where you're from."

Midnight shook her head. "You wouldn't know the place... or perhaps you would, but it would be different."

Celestia hummed, it seemed like Midnight elected to remain an enigma. She would have heard about it if another alicorn had popped up somewhere.

"Ah!" Midnight exclaimed as she started glowing brighter.

"What's happening?"

Midnight turned her head to look at her better. "My time is coming to an end, it seems Sunset completed her task."

She blinked, surely she didn't mean... "Sunset Shimmer?"

Midnight nodded.

"What did you drag my student into?"

Midnight tilted her head. "Your student? She's more of mine, I'd imagine."

She frowned. "What did you have her do?" She could feel outraged at the implications the alicorn spouted later, she needed information.

"Securing a future, for all of us." She could see Midnight start to fade away, her tail and her hooves were nothing but purple sparkles.

"In what sense?"

"Don't worry," Midnight continued, ignoring her question. "She won't remember a thing, you might not either."

Celestia's eyes widened, as fast as she dared she stood up and backed away from Midnight.

"Don't give me such a sad look, tears were forming in their eyes. I promise it's better this way, now this world will have a future."

"And it didn't before?" She spat out.

Midnight shook her head. "Not in the way you think." There was scarcely anything left of the alicorn at this point, just her upper torso and head.

She frowned as she watched Midnight fade.

"Don't worry Celestia, I think we both want the same thing. From one alicorn to another, please take care of Equestria."

After a brief moment of hesitation she nodded, what else could she do? It wasn't as if she agreed to do something she otherwise wouldn't have.

Midnight smiled. "Thank you..."

Those were the last words the mysterious alicorn spoke before fading away into nothing but a sparkling shine.

Dinner was late, much later than usual, yet she wasn't feeling it. The teal glow of her magic held up a knife and fork, her eyes staring holes into the meal before her.

Celestia cleared her throat, getting the attention of her and Cadance.

"I'll admit, I've felt a bit off myself today, and I needed to retreat to my own chamber despite the duties I had..."

It was odd to see a blush on her former mentors face. Any other day and she might have called attention to it, but she really wasn't feeling it.

"Still, I'd like to know what the two of you were doing. I was told you were found unconscious on the evening train to Canterlot."

She sighed and turned her gaze back towards her food. She'd been asking the same question herself, especially after waking up in a pile of papers that looked like they were penned by herself, yet seemed written in a completely alien language.

"I don't know..." Cadance answered.

"How can you not know?"

Cadance opened her mouth to answer, but no words came.

She sighed again. "Because we don't remember how we ended up there in the first place."

She lifted one of the pages she'd been found with and floated it over to Celestia. "Maybe this says more to you than to me."

Celestia frowned as she stared at the paper. "Well... it looks incomprehensible, but I recognize your horn writing."

"Which is a bit surprising," Sunset mumbled. She was surprised it hadn't changed much despite it having been years since she wrote much of anything with her horn.

With a sigh Celestia returned the page. "And you don't remember writing this?"

"No."

"I..." Cadance started. "I've got one too, I think it's my writing? It was with the other pages."

"...Absolutely baffling," Celestia spoke as she took a look at that too.

Sunset got up and put her hooves on the table, her eyes turning towards Celestia. "To be honest Princess, at this point I'm all but convinced someone is pulling a prank on us."

Author's Note

Original Author's notes:

Happy April's Fools everypony!

Yes, I did indeed write an April fools chapter that is about as long as my regular chapters. How far into it did you get before you realised the fact?

So no, this is not canon, but it was an interesting consideration to write. Just for fun stuff is also good for practice.

If it wasn't obvious, the reason this is an April fools chapter is that it does things the story will not do. No sudden Twilight to the rescue, and no Sundance shipping (which I don't mind, I should clarify, but this is not a romance story). Though I don't think anyone had any wild theories that the story would go in this direction anyway.

I'll be archiving and hiding this chapter with the release of the actual chapter 5 some time in the future. I'll probably make a separate "story" on fimfic to archive stuff like this in the future. Cause despite not being canon, it's still something that I wrote that I think is worth preserving.

New Notes:

This was originally written for April Fool's 2023. It was originally released-- and fits in between --chapter 4 and 5. I really like this chapter, it's a funny alternative step and a different direction the story might have taken if it focused more on Sunset and Cadance and attempted to get a relationship between the two of them going.

It wasn't really what I had envisioned for the story though, so instead we have this, something I wrote in a short amount of time in some fever dream haze or something.

Antipode - Chapter 1

Antipode
Chapter 1
"Kära Dagbok"

I've never really seen myself writing a diary of all things before, still, my companion insists. You've got no idea how hard it is to clench a pen between two hooves, let alone write something readable with it.

I guess it is a testament to how far I've come that this is even remotely legible though.

Anyway, """Dear Diary""", god I feel stupid just writing that phrase. I guess I should just get it on with. My helpful companion stopped me from ripping this page out saying that it might be worth saving even if I don't feel like it now. Personally though I'm convinced this "Sapphire" lady is completely crazy after having lived with her. But let's try again then-

Dear Diary, the world fucking ended a month ago. I was never one for faith, neither in Christianity nor in any of the other big name religions. I guess I should feel smug that this feels closer to ragnarok than the rapture, right? No I suppose I'm not really Norse so I can't make such a claim.

Regardless, I woke up as some sort of small animal thing when the world ended. There's no one else around, or, well, at least there wasn't when I first woke up. My life was finally starting to look up after having been put on hold for years, so waking up practically the very next day as some weird alien wasn't great.

Naturally I was confused, but honestly? In some ways it was relieving. I never really gelled well with other people... though I suppose a bigger truth is that other people never really gelled well with me. Those first few days though? I was scared shitless, I can admit that much.

Scavenging for supplies sucked. Sure, like every dumb kid I pick-pocketed candy from a store when I was like, what, six? But breaking into the local convenience store? That sucked, I felt like a criminal. I don't know what it says about me that-- after not even a single day of everyone being gone --I resorted to something like that. But I didn't exactly stock up my fridge for the apocalypse so what choice did I have?

Speaking of my apartment; it only took a single trek back up to the third floor for me to realize that I sure as fuck don't plan on doing that for the rest of my doubtlessly short existence. I packed up a backpack with the limited stuff I actually cared about and set off the very next day.

I would have packed my laptop but that thing got ruined after I failed to operate it without fingers. In my naivete my phone went along with other more important shit. I ended up being glad for that down the road, but at this juncture it was basically useless.

Thankfully I had a convenient coatrack on my forehead to hang the backpack on.

The world had ended, but maybe that didn't mean I had to. With those thoughts I set off into the future.

The Sane Survivor

Dear Diary, I need to figure out a better way to write in you. I also need to punch Sapphire in the face. She thought it might be a good idea to jot down some descriptions of us. So yeah, this is same day as the previous entry. I couldn't tell you what day it is, just that it's been like a month or something.

So yeah, bleh, me and Sapphire are two horned freaks that walk on four legs. The main difference is that hers actually works while mine is broken. We both got oversized eyes that makes me think we were ripped from some Chinese cartoon or something.

To be quite frank: I've got no idea how we're still alive and walking.

Anyway, Sapphire got almost white skin with her hair and tail being some light purple-ish shade. I just asked her and she says the technical colour name would be periwinkle... honestly she's probably just shitting me to see what I'll believe.

Stuck on her forehead is a spiraling horn which honestly looks like a traditional unicorn one... assuming it was like, half the length and blunt. So I guess she's some sort of miniature unicorn then?

Oh god, she better not be sticking around with me because I'm a virgin.

-Whatever, future me will have to solve that one. As for me? I'm similar in size to her, though my skin is like... dark gray-ish? My hair is a lighter gray, though Sapphire insists that there is a smidge of purple mixed into both. Maybe unicorns got better colour vision?

My coatrack, unlike hers, just looks like someone stuck a giant branch into my forehead. Another difference is that part of my skin is replaced with purple scales, the same shade as my eyes. Frankly we both look like tiny freaks.

Whatever, I'll be the unibranch to her unicorn.

Oh and I guess my tail is different from hers. Hers seem to be like a bunch of long pieces of hair that attaches right over her butt, where as mine is more like a whip of skin with hair growing on the underside or something; not exactly the height of modesty or anything.

~~God I miss having clothes~~

Branch Horse

Author's Note

I started penning this after binging the Ponies After People series. (The first entry can be found here).

This one I actually want to finish, but knowing myself I've got no idea if I will. I don't like getting people's hopes up for a story only to not deliver, so... here we are, publishing it in a place where it can be forgotten.

Antipode - Chapter 2

Antipode
Chapter 2
Bryggan vid ödets slut

She exhaled through her nose, the glass pane in front of her dimming. Modern art stunk, or wait, was this even art? Maybe it was more considered modern architecture? She'd figured climbing up the big bridge that crossed the freeway would have given her a good vantage point-- and it had --but well up here the window panes looked even more garish than they had from a distance.

Seriously, who stuck a bunch of random pieces of coloured glass in a grid where most of the panes were otherwise clear?

She got her front legs down from the top of the bench's backrest and sighed. It'd been what, nine days now? Maybe more? Still no sight of any humans... or weird alien creatures for that matter. In all of Gothenburg she seemed to be the only one around.

Maybe it was time to consider the other option? The bridge was certainly far enough up, which had also been a reason why she'd decided to get up here in the first place. Hell, if she angled it just right she could have the branch face first on the way down.

Another sigh escaped her lips as she stared up at the late spring sky. There were still a few birds flying about as well as the occasional cloud in the distance; if she pretend hard enough then everything was just like normal. But the silence all around her told the obvious story.

She wasn't starving or hurting, not yet anyway, but it was hard to keep up hope for a better tomorrow when all that remained was a ghost city. All those trash near future novels about being the last person on earth felt woefully lacking when faced with the reality of it all.

But then again, those lucky bastards tended to at least remain human. Everything was too large for her now. A problem she never expected herself to have what being so god forsaken tall that-

Wait, her ears were doing that funny swivel thing again. She could barely make out some distant sound, more birds? Her eyes widened as the slowly growing louder sound registered for what it actually was: A car engine.

She just sat there on the bench frozen in shock for a few moments. It wasn't until the sound blasted past below her that she scrambled to her hooves and got up on the back of the bench again. Blasting past up the freeway was a white car, the sun catching and reflecting off of the roof.

It only took her a moment to make the decision, scrambling off the bench she rushed to get off the bridge and give chase; all while her mind clouded with doubt that she'd ever catch up.

Another expressive swear rang out as she rolled down the road. She knew that an electric skateboard had no chance in hell with catching up to a car going at ninety. Still, she had to try; there really was no other alternative.

That didn't mean that the sweltering sun glaring down on her helped.

Letting go of the joystick that handled propulsion she slowly came to a halt. With a quick flick she removed her final water bottle from her backpack and emptied it in one go. She hadn't really planned on coming back so she'd neglected to scavenge.

Wasn't there a big grocery store nearby? She never traveled south in the city particularly often, but the few times she had she could have sworn she'd seen a really big grocery store as she went by in the tram. Putting the empty bottle back in her bag she got back into position and nested her tail through the top loop on the backpack. Once she was in position again she got her board moving with new heading in mind.

It felt surreal to "drive" down the highway on her own. Sure it was empty, and sure, she wasn't even driving a car, but still! It felt different then riding along in someone else's car. As the wind slammed into her face from going at top speed she could feel something that she'd been sorely missing for a long time: hope.

There was someone else out there! Yeah, she'd basically lost their trail entirely at this point, but if there was one maybe there were others? Plus it was likely the car was heading straight for the city central; maybe they were also looking for survivors and wanted to hedge their bets?

With a light turn she slowly made her way off the highway and uphill. All the traffic lights were off, as they had been for a few days now; not that there was any traffic to stop for in the first place. The thought of where all the cars had gone crossed her mind again.

It'd been early morning when whatever end of the world thing had decided to take place. The highway should have been packed of cars, it would have been rush hours. And yet... no wreckages, no cars clogging up the roads. Everything was just empty.

Slowly she rolled closer to the brick building she knew to be a grocery store, though the bright red sign made that fact quite clear on its own. Usually the really big ones were located outside the city, in one of the smaller surrounding towns along the highways or other major roads. Yet here this one was located pretty smack dab in the city.

Though maybe that had more to do with the city ever growing southwards, she mused. Where she was now would have previously been close to the border between two different cities entirely.

As she was rolling up the small bridge crossing the river that separated the road from the store's parking area she had to stop. In the middle of the parking lot she spotted two moving white figures, behind them a white car. Her skateboard's momentum carried her almost all the way over to them, all while tears welled up in her eyes. The smaller one was clearly focusing their attention on a grocery cart filled with goods that stood beside them, the other one seemed to merely follow along.

The larger one noticed her first, a giant-- to her anyway --fluffy white dog. With a bark it started running up to her; something which caused the unicorn to turn their head and meet her eyes.

She wasn't alone anymore.

Author's Note

If I were to give this chapter an English title it would be: "The Bridge at the Edge of Fate"

This story is, unless it wasn't clear, meant to be told in an achronological order.

Oh and, expect numbers in metric, what with the characters local.