Twilight's Eclipse

“So is there any chance of us getting un… scrambled?”

Twilight sat on the floor of Zecora’s hut, watching the zebra rhythmically move around her home. She would pause every now and again to study certain ingredients, or to flick through one of her books in zebrican. As Twilight asked her question, she hummed in thought. She finished scanning one final page in her book, and shut it with finality.

“I do not wish you to despair, but a cure cannot be achieved within my care.” she said finally. “There are no records of your specific condition, nor anything close to what has come to fruition. It is something that magic may have to fix… I’m sorry, Twilight, but I am out of tricks.”

Twilight let out a big sigh, her ear flicking. This wasn’t the first time she’d been in a situation like this, but it was certainly the strangest. “Thanks for all your help… Ze… cora…” she said as she started to shake. A confused expression crossed her face as she did. Zecora tilted her head slightly. “Twilight, my dear, are you in need of relief? For you appear to be shaking like a leaf.”

Twilight shook when she was upset or stressed. This of course was stressful news to hear, but she had been expecting it, and thus hadn't hit her too hard. But this emotion that was building up inside of her was… anger?

“I… I’m… Fine…” she said forcefully, trying to get to her hooves. “I’m just… feeling… frustrated…?’ she managed to get out as she felt the sudden rage build up inside of her. Her breathing became laboured and she got the sudden desire to break something. A little bit of fear twinged the side of her mind, too. Why was she so mad!?

“If you need to take a moment to process, the trees outside may help you destress.” Zecora said, quickly moving to the door and opening it for her.

“Thank you. Sunset. Get up.” said Twilight, and started to walk towards the door. Sunset opened her eyes at the feeling of tugging on her tail. It was far too instant for her to have actually just woken up.

“Can’t we stay here for a bit longer?” asked Sunset. “This zebra seems to know-”

“NOW!” snapped Twilight, whipping her head round and snarling at Sunset. Sunset’s ears flicked back…

Sunset was suddenly blushing.

…

There was a holy moment between the pair where both were unaware of what they were doing.

And then like a crashing wagon, both were hit with realisation.

Twilight’s expression moved to one of confused shock. She did NOT mean to act like that… she didn’t act like that… all that had happened was a little bad news

Sunset looked the other way as quickly as she could, taking a few deep breaths. She turned back around, face back to normal, and looked agitated.

“Fine. Let's go outside.” she said, standing up and walking right past Twilight. Twilight was still busy being stunned to move along in sync, and so ended up being partially dragged outside. She locked eyes with Zecora temporarily, who only shrugged in similar bewilderment.

Once they were outside, Twilight’s anger took over once more.

She took a few laboured breaths, before she let out an angry shout. She levitated a nearby large rock and threw it into a tree. There was a satisfying crack as it slammed into the trunk, a few splinters flying. She stared at it on the floor, and lifted it up again. Shutting her eyes and clenching her jaw, she picked up the rock once more and began to compress it with her magic. Fissures started to form on its surface. She growled which turned into an outright scream of anger as the rock shattered. She was left standing, breathing heavily in and out. The rage had been quelled for now but she still felt herself on a short fuse.

“Are you done?” Asked Sunset, who had moved to her side.

“Leave me… alone…” was all Twilight was able to get.

“Noowww you get it, don't you? What it's like to be asked loads of questions when you’re-”

“NO! I DON’T get it! Why am I so mad!’ she growled. “I don't get mad like this! Only Trixie or maybe Discord gets me this riled up! A-All that happened was I got a bit of bad news! Why am I suddenly-”

She stopped speaking as the lock of red and yellow hair flipped down in front of her face. She stared at it in her perifial.

Ohhhhh no.

“It looks like more than just our tails have been fused.” said Sunset bitterly.

Twilight nodded slowly, and took a few deep breaths. Eventually, she sat down. “I… need a minute.”

“Just keep on breathing. You'll calm down eventually.” Sunset added, sitting down too.

“Do… you get this angry?” Asked Twilight breathlessly.

“Bitch!? You've SEEN me that angry.” Sunset replied with tenacity. The sharpness of it made Twilight shudder a bit. Looks like she still had that effect on her-

Wait a moment.

“Sunset, did you blush when I shouted at you?”

Sunset let out a low growl. “I was really hoping you hadn't noticed that.”

Twilight was dumbfounded. Sunset did NOT seem like the type to be affected the same way that Twilight was when-

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh…

Twilight looked away bashfully.

“I'm not stupid, Twilight. I'm aware of your weird freakish attraction to me. And it seems that your apparent love of being berated…” she let out a shuddering sigh. …”Has of COURSE somehow passed on to me.”

“I… see……” said Twilight slowly. So many thoughts were zooming around in her head right now. Sunset knew how she felt. And Sunset had at least physically reacted to her. So did that mean Sunset was…

“But, Twilight Sparkle. I want to make one thing so abundantly clear that it gets into your brainwashed little mind effortlessly.” Said Sunset, who grabbed Twilight’s head and spun it so they were looking at each other's eyes.

Twilight blushed.

“Anything I feel towards you right now is ONLY because of us merging. No other reason. Once this whole ordeal is done, I'm going to go back to my side of the portal. Back to where I matter. I do NOT like you, and I do NOT want to be with you, no matter what. Not friends, not anything more. Nothing. Got it?” she said firmly and with purpose.

Twilight's heart dropped. And then dropped further upon realising it had dropped in the first place.

The first thing that had come to her mind was sadness that Sunset didn’t want anything to do with her, especially not romantically.

This was immediately followed with the realization that Sunset’s attention was something she wanted… something she craved.

And if she craved Sunset? Where did that leave Trixie?

She could never leave Trixie, not after all they had been through. And yet, she could feel an almost identical gravitational force towards her moon and this new star.

Despite all of this inner turmoil, Twilight could not help herself from squeaking a little at the firmness of Sunset’s statement. All she could do is a little nod.

Sunset nodded back.

“Ok. Good. Glad we’re on the same page.” she said, and turned around away from her. Twilight could see Sunset tensing.

Twilight’s ears went down as she looked at her own hooves.

She didn’t think they were on the same page at all.

“AND THEN! S-SHE… *SOB* SHE TOOK MY GIRLFRIEND THROUGH THAT FUCKING MIIRRRORRRRRRRRRRR! I-I’M GOING TO HAVE TO WRITE A EUULLOOOGGGYYYYYY!!”

Trixie was sitting at the table with Celestia, Luna and Cadence, surrounded by tissue boxes and ice cream cartons being hastily replaced by Rarity. She wouldn’t tell anypony where they were coming from. Fluttershy was beside Trixie, awkwardly patting her on the back.

“Uhm… there… there…” she said, continuously giving VERY heavy signals that she’d like to be rescued right now. Unfortunately, AppleJack had already left for Ponyville to coordinate a Equestria wide search, Rarity was on breakdown duty and PinkiePie was busy planning a ‘welcome back’ party for Twilight when she was returned back to them.

So the grave duty of the breakdown manager was laid on the pony who had the most breakdowns.

Excellent.

It had been Luna asking most of the questions. Celestia had been very quiet since learning who had returned.

“Trixie Lulamoon.” Luna said calmly. “I would like to remind you that the chances of Twilight being dead are slim. We understand that mirror is a gateway between worlds. The worst case scenario is that she is trapped on the other side with no way back.”

This didn’t seem to comfort the newly ascended alicorn as she only wailed louder. Fluttershy’s pats on the back intensified.

“Best case scenario is that she is somewhere in Equestria. I should be able to visit her dreams tonight if this is the case. So please, try and remain calm.”

“YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND, LUNA! YOU HAVE NO WOMEN!!! I HAVE WOMAN!!!! AND I NEED HER TO BE OK! IF SHE ISN’T OK… I…” her loud sobbing stopped momentarily as she just sank her head further into the table.

“I don’t know what I'd have to keep on going.”

Luna seemed a bit taken aback by the outburst. Fluttershy looked like she wanted to escape more than ever, hiding her head in her wings.

“We will find her, Trixie.” said Celestia. “And we will also find the pony who took her.”

Fluttershy looked over at Celestia, her ears flattening a little. Celestia looked very grave. More than usual in a time of crisis…

“I’m going to kill her… that stupid hot and pretty unicorn…” Trixie mumbled, face still on the table. “I’m going to make her pay for taking my twiggle away from me…”

Celestia looked away from Trixie as she said this, bottom lip twitching.

“If you’ll excuse me.” she said, rising from the table and gliding away in her usual way of movement.

Cadence frowned as she looked to Trixie. She got closer to her, and placed a hoof on her back. “You really do miss her…” she muttered.

Fluttershy sighed in relief. Finally! She could go and hide in her room and cry!

“... Fluttershy, could you please go and check on Celestia for me?” Cadence asked the pegasus softly.

SHOOT.

“Why!?” she responded with dismay. “I-I mean.. Uhm… I mean, why me?” She quickly followed up. Cadence gave a little laugh.

“You have the incredible ability to comfort other ponies in ways that even I don’t understand. Plus, I think that I or Luna speaking to her now may bring up… certain memories she doesn’t want to consider.”

Luna closed her eyes solemnly.

Fluttershy felt like she had just walked into season 2 of a sitcom and didn’t know the backstory of any of the characters.

“O-Okay…” she said, and nervously clip-clopped to the side door that Celestia had gone out of.

The alicorns left in the room remained silent for a few moments, before Trixie looked up at Cadence.

“H… Have you ever had a woman, Cadence?” Trixie sniffled.

“I-” Cadence blinked. “Yes, I’m the princess of love.”

“Do you…” she sniffled. “Have one now?”

“N… No, I’m married to Twilight’s brother.”

“HA!” Trixie laughed suddenly and loudly. “And thus! I am the greatest Alicorn…” she said, laying her entire weight into Cadence as she started to cry again. Cadence held her supportively (something she had practised over a long time).

“Trixie Lulamoon, I do not see-” Luna had started speaking but was silenced by Cadence shaking her head.

“She needs this.” Cadence stated simply, and looked down at Trixie.

“Yes Trixie. You are the greatest Alicorn.”

Having thankfully escaped that conversation, Fluttershy had gingerly gone through the door after Celestia. The princess sat against the window, gazing out at the setting sun. Luna would have to go on her duties again soon. Silently, tears rolled down her royal cheeks.

Fluttershy considered just turning back around.. But she just couldn't.

‘P-Princess Celestia?” she said quietly. “Is it ok if I come in?”

“Of course, Fluttershy.” Celestia replied, not moving her gaze from the window.

Fluttershy gently shuffled in, sitting down next to Celestia, and she gently spread her wing as far as it could go to cover her back.. It was a lot easier to comfort somepony when they weren’t screaming about how a harlot stole their girlfriend.

“I… assume that… you know this, Sunset Shimmer?”

“I do, Fluttershy. She was… my first student. Before Twilight. She is my greatest shame.”

“Oh…” said Fluttershy quietly. “Did… she do something bad?”

Celestia laughed a little, shaking her head. Her wise old eyes turned to fluttershy and she smiled sadly. Fluttershy shuddered; despite having, of course, met Celestia countless times, this was their first one on one moment, and having royalty gaze upon you would never not be intimidating.

“No… she did nothing wrong at all. It was me who wronged her. Sunset Shimmer never failed me. I’m the one that failed her. I could never truly reach her… when she left I felt… relief that I wouldn’t have to face my failure. But it seems that with her… explosive return, I’m going to have to face her once more. She’s probably here to kill me.”

Fluttershy’s heart rate quickened. “W-Why would she want to kill you?” she squeaked.

“Because I told her that she would never be an Alicorn.”

Trixie tilted her head a little. “Isn’t that… true?” she asked timidly.

“I was not always an Alicorn, my dear. Nopony was born an Alicorn… and I believed that Sunset truly had the potential. But she had no patience. She wanted it as soon as she could and would do anything to get it. I can only imagine she was here to either kill me, or steal something to help her gain power. And…” Celestia chuckled. “I don’t suppose seeing our dear friend Trixie becoming an Alicorn would have made her too pleased, would it?”

“No, I don’t suppose it would…” Fluttershy replied sadly.

The two sat in silence for a few minutes, watching the busy streets of the crystal empire twinkle in the light from the setting sun.

“... do you want to see her again?” asked Fluttershy, finally.

A short choked sniffle came from Celestia.

“More than anything.”

“Good luck, my unicorns, with your journey. Let us hope the next is a little less… burney.” Zecora said as she bowed respectfully to Twilight and Sunset. The pair of unicorns had barely spoken a word to each other since their last conversation.

“Do you plan out your rhymes before you start speaking?” Sunset asked. Twilight growled a little. Sunset’s ear flattened back.

“I cannot say that I do, I admit, but the words always appear to fit.” said Zecora with a smirk.

“But how-”

“Juuuuust leave it, Sunset.” Twilight said. “She will run rings around you.”

Zecora smiled in thanks.

“Okay. Well…” Sunset looked at the floor. “Thank you for your hospitality. I appreciate it. Really.”

“Any time, my sunkissed friend. Now, I believe you have a reunion you must attend.” she said, and before Sunset could respond, she had shut the door.

The pair stood in an awkward silence for a few moments, before Twilight piped up: “Do you mind if I take the lead? I know my way back to ponyville pretty well from here.”

“Fine.” said Sunset shortly, avoiding any eye contact. Twilight let out a little sigh and started moving. Sunset followed suit, but seemed to be trying to look anywhere that wasn’t Twilight.

Twilight was deep in thought for the entire journey back through the woods, a hundred trains of thoughts running through her mind like the main station at canterlot.

Sunset had said that she didn’t want anything to do with her, and that all of this was just a result of their merging. She could understand why she would think that. But she couldn’t wipe their first ever interaction from her mind. Sunset’s response to seeing Twilight blush was a look of consideration. No matter how minor of a moment it had been, it was there. So surely she couldn’t be telling the truth.

But at the same time, did she want it to be true? She had Trixie. Trixie was more than enough. But now whatever happened, she would always have the ‘what if’ of Sunset Shimmer in the back of her mind. She bit her lip. She was in a very tough spot with no clear way out. She was also in the incredibly unlucky situation of being unable to really ask anypony for help; Sunset shimmer would only ever be a tail away from overhearing Twilight asking for help, and Twilight was sure that she’d find a way to butt on in and shut her down once more. So who could she turn to?

She gave a sigh as the pair finally left the woods to the outskirts of Ponyville. The sun was just setting on the horizon.

“Thank goodness…” Twilight said. “We can head to the post office and send a letter to Celestia from there. Usually I’d just get Spike, but he’s busy dealing with a messy div-”

“No.” Sunset said sharply. “We are not doing that.”

Twilight looked at her. She was looking angry at the mere suggestion.

“But-”

“Twilight.” she said, putting a hoof down and stopping their shared movement. “The moment I see her again, she’s going to imprison me. And if she imprisons me, she’ll have to imprison you, too. Can’t I just have one more night of relative freedom? It’s not like I can exactly run off now that we’re joined at the tail.” She tried to flick her tail but all that it did was make Twilight's tail be pulled. Twilight squeaked a little and shuffled in flusteredness.

“That…” she considered it. “Is a good point…” she looked over at the town. Her old home, the golden oaks library, had of course been destroyed when the alicorn amulet had taken over her body and she had her, as Trixie put it, ‘little episode’. The pair had taken up residence in a small house near the outskirts, not too far from Sweet Apple Acres, with plans to rebuild a new library for them to live in. But the little house did them for now. It was far enough so nobody could overhear them arguing (and then making out).

Twilight looked back to Sunset who was looking at her expectantly. It was a similar way that Twilight would look at Trixie when she was waiting for an answer.

A twisted, cruel idea danced from her subconscious of her mind and into the forefront, which made Twilight involuntarily smirk. She shouldn’t… but oh how she wanted to…

As Sunset said, it was her last day of relative freedom. It was also Twilight’s last day of being sure she’d be able to stick around her.

“Sure, Sunset. We can do that…” Twilight said, the smirk creeping onto her face. “If you say please”.

Sunset let out a sigh of confusion.

“What!?”

“You heard me.” Twilight said, her smirk growing (as did her blush). “Say please, Sunset.”

“O-Or what?” Sunset said carefully, before realising what was happening. She growled, looking away angrily as her orange cheeks started to turn red. “Oh, FUCK you.”

“Or we’re going straight to the post office, where Muffins will send a lovely letter to princess Celestia! Wouldn’t that be a shame~” she did, doing her best to emulate Trixie’s temp of speaking.

Sunset looked like she was about to bite twilight, her eye twitching. She snarled in defeat, looking at the floor. Slowly, her gaze went up and made eye contact.

“... Please.”

Twilight shuddered in victory. “Of course, Sunsun-”

“FUCK OFF.” Roared Sunset, and without warning tackled Twilight to the floor, landing on top of Twilight. Her hair was suddenly ablaze, and any semblance of submission had been singed away like ethanol to an open flame. Something about that nickname had really set her off. “You do NOT call me that, got it!?” she snarled down at Twilight, who’s hooves had fallen to her front. Twilight was bewildered, and felt herself shrink back into the floor. As terrifying as it was, she could feel herself get incredibly flustered. Sunset’s chest was heaving as she glared down at the purple pony, her eyes darting around Twilight’s face.

Twilight saw it again.

Consideration.

Slowly, Sunset’s growl turned into a shout.

“You are a fucking NIGHTMARE to be around, you know!?”

Ouch.

That hurt. Alot. Twilight felt herself shudder… but it wasn’t out of sadness.

She wanted to shrink back down into the dirt and pray for this to end, but she felt the strange twinge in the back of her head that she only got when she was angry. Before she knew what she was doing, she pushed Sunset off and rolled them so she was the one standing over her.

“I’M a nightmare?” she asked angrily. “YOU’RE the one who appears out of nowhere and tries to kill my girlfriend and almost sets fire to an entire forest!” she argued. “My life was PERFECTLY… well not perfectly- BUT IT WAS FINE! Everything was going to be ok! I had a BEAUTIFUL girlfriend who drives me up the WALL BUT I LOVE HER! And now YOU and your stupid face and hair just had to waltz on in with some half baked revenge mission against my teacher because you got a bad grade!”

“Oh, OH OH you did NOT just say that…” Growled Sunset, and pushed her up. The pair were left both sitting opposite each other, as close to face to face as they could possibly be given their predicament.

“My plan was PERFECT! I was going to become an Alicorn and PROVE her WRONG!” Yelled Sunset right into Twilight’s face.

“Well maybe she was RIGHT that you’d never become an Alicorn! Trixie is FOUR TIMES the alicorn you could ever be!”

“TRIXIE CAN’T EVEN SPELL HER OWN FUCKING NAME!”

“YEAH, WELL…” Twilight screamed, but found herself lost for words as she glared into Sunset's eyes.

Sunset glared back into hers, the angry flush on her face clear for the whole world to see.

Both were at the boiling point.

The tension was too high.

Something had to break the tension.

Something had to happen.

Sunset growled.

“... Fuck you.” she said, and leaned in.

Twilight had a split second to make a decision.

A split second wasn’t long enough. Their muzzled made contact.

However… the pair would be interruped. Just as their lips touched, they were both jolted by a voice.

“Twilight? How in EQUESTRIA did you- WHAT IN TARNATION!?”

Both mares immediately moved back from each other in a panic, both of their heads shooting around in a panic. Who was there?

Twilight’s hot blood was suddenly a subzero blizzard as she saw who it was.

AppleJack.

“UHM” was all Twilight was able to get out. “I-IT’S… UHM… NOT WHAT… IT LOOKS LIKE…” she stammered out. Sunset’s fight or flight had kicked in, but had (unfortunately for her) chosen the secret third option: freeze.

“Really?” said Applejack, who was approaching with agitated purpose. “Last thing we know of you is that you got into a tussle with some fire unicorn and ended up blinkin’ outta existence, I offer to start a search of the whole of Equestria, and I just so happen find you about to mack it on with the same fire unicorn? If this ain't what it looks like, then I must be blind.”

Twilight was trying to say words but all that was coming out was gutteral panic noises.

“I… c-can, I… I can… explain-”

“Go on then.” Said AppleJack, raising an expectant eyebrow.

“Uhm.. well.. You see we… We’re… kind of…”

Twilight stood up, and pointed at their combined tail. AppleJack’s expression didn’t change. Sunset’s head was bouncing between AppleJack and Twilight, seemingly panicking for a way out of this.

“So you’re stuck together. That's nice. Why were you about to cheat on your girlfriend?” asked AppleJack firmly.

Twilight’s bottom lip began to wobble. She had fucked everything up so badly. AppleJack couldn’t lie. Trixie was going to find out about ALL of this… she was going to leave. And it was all her… no… NO! It was SUNSET’S FAULT! She felt the rage build inside of her once-

“It wasn’t her fault.,” said Sunset quickly.

Twilight had been about to bite Sunset but had the wind knocked out of her by Sunset’s sudden statement.

AppleJack’s gaze moved to Sunset.

“It was all me.” Sunset said, standing up. “I… misread signs. Twilight never told me that her and Trixie were together and I…” she gulped. “I mistook her anger as playful flirting. It’s different where I come from.”

AppleJack’s other eyebrow raised, as she glanced over at Twilight. Twilight wasn’t breathing, but she nodded in agreement.

After a tense couple of seconds, AppleJack let out a deep sigh.

“Okay. Fine. I believe you.”

Both Twilight and Sunset let out a sigh of relief.

“But DON’T expect me not to be tellin’ Trixie about this” she said to Twilight. Twilight nodded solemnly. Now come on back to the farm; we got a double bed you can rest atop.” she said to sunset. As Twilight stood up, AppleJack approached her.

“And Twilight?” she said, towering over her.

“Yes?” Twilight asked nervously.

AppleJack’s serious demeanour shifted into one of tired joy, and she gave Twilight a tight hug.

“I’m so, so glad that you’re okay.” she said, voice full of relief. Twilight couldn’t help but smile. “I-It's good to see you too… It’s been…”

Over AppleJack’s shoulder, Twilight glanced at Sunset. Sunset was blushing, and looked away at the eye contact.
Sunset had done that to save her.
“I-It’s been one of the most bizarre days of my life…”

Soon.

Sunburst looked up at sky nervously from the roof of his house, his eyes studying every inch. His eyes squinted a tiny bit as he looked towards the nearly set sun. He of course had an enchantment on his spectacles that allowed safe viewing.

Because of course he would. Why wouldn't he?

His eyes flicked down the the pages in front of him. If his calculations were correct, it would be any day now. That is, of course, if the ancient legends were true.

Sunburst did a little shimmy with his tail. Only a few years ago, he wouldn't have believed that any of the old legends were true. But with the return of Discord, the changeling attack and now the ascension of a new Alicorn? Anything was possible.

“Just as the sun dips below the horizon…” he mumbled to himself, rapidly glancing between the book and the horizon.

He saw what he was looking for.

Just as the sun dipped below the horizon, there was a small burst of light shooting from the star, flying off into the night sky above them like a comet. Sunburst let out a little squeal of excitement.

“YES! HAHA! I WAS RIGHT! TAKE THAT, SISTER!” he bellowed in triumph.

“Sunburst! My kids are trying to sleep!” A crystal pony shouted up at him.

“HAHAHAHAH yes sorry Quartz i’ll be quiet now sorry.” The wizard said quietly, and started to hobble down from the roof.

Once back in his study, he continued his excited little dance.

“They were RIGHT! A thousand years after the fall of the moon the twin tailed eclipse will appear! JUST like they predicted! And of course, with a few adjustments with time dilation…!” He said, looking back down at the book. “It was tonight! HA!”

Looking at the book some more, he tilted his head. In all his excitement that the event may happen today, he never actually turned the page to see what it meant.

Smiling to himself, he turned the page.

His face slowly dropped the more he read.

“Oh… oh no… OH SWEET BEELZEBUB!?”

He sat down in horrored shock. “WHY COULD YOU HAVE NOT JUST TURNED THE PAGE YOU IMBECILE! UGH!! I NEED TO WARN EVERYPONY!” he said anxiously, but blinked a few times. “But- who do I tell!? Nopony would listen to me…”

He paced rapidly around until an idea sprung into his head. It wasn't a great one…

But he had to assume his familial connection would at least give him some leverage! He was sure he could get a meeting with Celestia that way!

Only thing was…

His sister probably wasn't the best topic to bring up to the princess of the sun.