ACT 2 - FONDEST MEMORIES

CHAPTER 4 - THE STARS CALL

Hungry.

Always hungry.

The demon of the temple of the moon. That is what they would call her, someday.

But today, she was lost, enraged, and hungry.

Dark halls spread out in every direction– Her flaming mane was a perpetual source of light; Snuffed out only when seeking prey.

Shadows were alive, here. And yet, they didn’t hurt her– After all, she was one of their own now. A vessel to beings of pure darkness, not a puppet, but a willing host…

…Not as willing anymore.

Welcome home, Sunset Shimmer.

The voices didn’t feel external anymore– Many whispered around her, certainly. But the ones that talked to her came from within. Clawing at her brain, gnawing at her ears.

Welcome to hell.

In the first days, they would talk to her often. They would tease, insult, belittle, egg on, persuade, enrage, pester… But never convince. Not that her resistance mattered. Not anymore.

We’ve been waiting.

There was only one source of natural light in the many chambers of this winding horrific dark maze she now called home.

The archway. The mighty door of this temple… Was open.

Sunset would run at that passage often. Right outside it, she could see Everfree– The temple was elevated, she could see nearly everything, when the light was right.

The skyline of the forest, the many winding trees, she could tell this temple was deep, deep within.

She could even see Canterlot. Distant, fading into the horizon, but ever present, if she squinted, if she was lucky.

Immediately upon crossing the border of the archway, she would feel something worse than electrocution– It would be burning, from deep within. No matter what, she would always scream. A barrier, seemingly invisible, made of runic light, would punish her for even considering escape.

How ironic, isn’t it? That the weakest of us can cross it… The ones with least darkness within… They can escape. They can try to kill her.

She tried, again and again, to run at the door, the archway, the exit, and it would stop her, every time. Hurt her, punish her, and immediately toss her back into the darkness. Reminding her of what she was made of now.

And here you are, the strongest vessel of darkness in Equestria.

The voices were callous, cunning. They delighted themselves in watching her suffer– And yet at times, they were almost sympathetic. After all, she was their weapon.

I have to hand it to Celestia– She picked your place of banishment well. You could have likely escaped Tartarus– But you can’t escape here– Not with our darkness inside you.

Sunset screamed often. Vain roars, shouts that echoed in the chambers of this dark labyrinth. Nobody was around to hear her except beings like her. And she could hurt them as much as they could hurt her– They were like ghosts.

She would claw at them, toss furniture at them, spew flames… And it would only dissipate them for a while, until they reformed.

She knows that a being of pure light cannot purify a being of pure darkness. She knew she would kill you if she tried… So she gave you this hell instead.

She tried fruitlessly to search every hall, every room. Furniture was broken or in splinters, books were all eaten by rats, statues were indiscernible, armors and automatons on the floor were discarded, writings on walls were ineligible. There was nothing she could latch onto, no sense, no distractions.

And she knew the rules of the lock in this temple work both ways. Just as the strongest darkness cannot leave, the strongest light cannot enter. She left you here to rot. She will never, ever save you.

A small animal would occasionally walk inside the temple– In one day, even a fully grown badger. Sunset would pounce on them mercilessly, tear them to shreds with her teeth, gorge herself in their flesh with desperation. No, the shadows would not let her starve, but she would do anything to satiate the hunger.

You know what all of this means, doesn’t it?

She would often watch as other shadows moved about. There weren’t many. They couldn’t manifest from the moon often– And they simply idled, when they were present. Phantoms.

Although on rare occasions, she would see them act. They would wear those armors, enter those automatons– Not so much as using them as they would inhabit them. Their simplest, weakest, and yet, most available vessels. And with that, they would shamble towards the exit.

It means no one is coming for you.

They would more often than not fail. The armors would get cleansed by the barrier, the shadows cast back, or simply fizzle out, sent back to their homes on the moon– or be violently thrown through the rooms of the temple, much like Sunset herself.

It means that you are ours.

…But rarely, they would succeed. They would pass by the barrier, cross it, and be free to shamble in the night of Equestria. And she could see that incredibly frequently, they would go to Canterlot– Shambling pieces of armor to be struck down easily. Like moths to a flame. Drawn to the brightest light in Equestria.

There is no escape. You have no friends to rescue you. Celestia sent you here to rot– Killing would have been mercy. And yet, here you are. Right where you belong.

“...Do you ever SHUT UP!?!?!?!?!” The demon spewed flames all around her, pleading for a respite.

But never fear. When Nightmare Moon takes over Equestria, and night reigns eternal… All beings of shadow will be able to roam free.

…And that includes you.

Maybe you’ll have your payback then.

“...All her fault. All her fault. All her fault…” She would repeat endlessly into the dark as she clawed at the walls and shambled through the halls.

If she found any standing piece of furniture, she would shatter it, be it with magic or with her newfound strength. If she found statues intact, she would break them.

“I was enough. I was good. I was good enough. I deserved it, but no, it was her fault, she made me like this, all her fault…” She would plead the air with vicious snarls.

She found a throne room, one that was further into the temple, and it was one of the darkest parts of all of the labyrinth. She sat on the only throne. It wasn’t comfortable. It was cold, it was empty, and lonely.

But she sat on it anyway.

“I deserved it. I earned it. It was meant to be me. But she denied me. She refused me. She… She didn’t LOVE ME!!” She cried out, spewing flames.

Sitting there, in the darkness.

“She didn’t love me. She didn’t love me. Did she ever love me?” Her tears were pitch black. They were viscous, they gnawed at her fur, sticking to it like oil.

Another cry, another roar. That throne room wasn’t perfect. So she would make it so. She wanted to see the light. Everyday she sat there, she wanted to see that light.

So she began breaking every wall. Digging through the mountain with her magic. A straight line through the stone itself to lead her to that archway. Anything to occupy her time.

“...Why didn’t she love me?”

“Trust me, Snips! This is going to win the contest for sure!” Snails toted the camera around carelessly with his magic– Every time the tripod would hit a tree, they would both flinch, and realize neither of them had the capacity to understand if the damage to the equipment was severe.

“And what did that nice zebra lady say?” His legs were considerably shorter than Snails, but he kept up with sheer stubbornness.

“She warned the mayor and a buncha people in town that there was a super dangerous monster here! A horrible dark energy or something.” He spoke absentmindedly, with that perpetual satisfied grin on his face. “Big, scary, sounds awesome!”

“Hohoho yes!!” He hopped up with glee. “We’re getting the front page for SURE!!”

And there it was. The two of them had it in sight– The darkest corner of Everfree, the temple of the moon, a passage built into the mountain itself. Daylight made it considerably less imposing than it was at night.

They had to trek and climb to reach this far– A feat easily achieved by two idiots with no survival instincts.

“Wow. So cool! What do you think this place is?” Snips eagerly walked to the archway.

“I think it's cool!” Snails responded mindlessly.

They took only a second to acknowledge that it was pitch black inside, and went right in.

A large, empty chamber– Debris in the corners, some remains, some discarded pieces of armor– And a chill cutting straight through their hearts that they choose to ignore.

“Okay! Now if I was a big scary monster where would I be?” The first one walked forward, noting that there were several passages to cross– And all of them dark. The only sources of light were the archway, and Snails’s horn.

“If I was a big scary monster I’d be looking for ponies to eat, I think!” Snails responded while setting up the tripod, pointing at the darkness within.

“Hey! That’s brilliant! We’re ponies! We’re the bait!” Amusing himself, Snips did a little dance.

They remained silent, for a moment, simply smiling at a job well done, one they had not done.

The chill that cut through their heart felt colder.

A noise was heard. Nigh imperceptible, and yet, entirely recognizable, from the darkness before them.

Growling.

“Snails.”

“Yeah buddy?”

“We’re the bait.”

“Hm.”

It took them a few seconds but they realized the error of their ways.

After all, they finally noticed the pair of turquoise eyes looking back at them from the dark, incredibly close.

“Snails.”

“Yeah buddy?”

“Take the picture.”

The flash illuminated the room. The demon stared right back at them, not even flinching, her gaze was fixed on her prey almost with curiosity, growling like a hungry beast, towering over them, enormous, compared to the two kids.

“O-OKAY PICTURE TAKEN TIME TO GO–” Finally, their survival instincts kicked in, and the first one ran, and the second followed, barely dragging the camera behind him.

An ear piercing, structure shaking roar was heard behind them– And they saw the light of flames ignite behind them as they ran through the archway desperately.

Clumsily, desperately, they fell through it and rolled through the hillside, crashing, tumbling, finally reaching the forest, dizzy, fatigued.

“W-w-what the heck was THAT thing?!” Snips looked above to the temple, seeing a column of flame be shot through the archway. “L-let’s get out of here, go go GO!!”

They dragged the camera all the way to Ponyville, not realizing it had broken from the fall.

When they finally managed to extract the one picture taken, they heralded each other as heroes– Certainly sure that they would go down in legend, and win the Ponyville bizarre picture contest.

After all, they had captured the one and only picture there would ever be recorded of the demon of the temple of the moon.

AGE 28

A racoon had been foolish enough to cross the archway of the temple.

Sunset now gorged herself in its insides.

It is amusing, how easy you took to eating meat.

“Shut the fuck up.” She stated simply, while licking the blood off her lips, and gnawing at bones.

We weren’t wrong to presume that this is what you were made for… It suits you.

“If I could fly out of here, I would fly to the moon and kill all of you.” She snarled out, chewing through a paw. “You did this to me.”

That’s amusing. What’s a little genocide for someone like you?

“I am not joking. If I had my chance to tear through your insides, I wouldn’t hesitate.” Her raspy voice echoed in the dark. Her eyes caught a glance of a shade watching her eat. She spewed a ball of flame, dissipating it instantly.

It’s cute that you think we did this to you. After all, you let us in. You wanted power, you desperately wanted a way to beat Celestia… We just listened.

“And you haven’t given me that.” She affirmed, breaking a bone beneath her claws. “All you did was turn me into a monster. Celestia beats monsters.”

It’s cute that you think we corrupted you. Influenced, sure. But you among all of us should know just how much your heart makes for a cozy home for beings of darkness.

“And I’m trapped, like all your other vessels and friends. Congrats. You achieved NOTHING!!”She yelled out, spewing flames into the ceiling.

We took Celestia’s only family from her. We achieved everything. Even now, she replaces you, mourns you, endures the absence of you in her life– The pain that your absence leaves is more than an achievement for us. …Although she should be thanking us, after all, you made for a lousy daughter.

“I AM NOT–” She bucked a wall, sending cracks through it. “SHE WOULD NEVER REPLACE ME!!”

She already has. And oh, how easy it was...

“SHUT UP!! YOU DON’T KNOW SHIT!! CELESTIA ONLY SETTLES FOR THE BEST!! SHE WILL NEVER HAVE A PUPIL BETTER THAN ME!!” She roared out, clawing at the floor viciously, at the walls, at anything.

Says the demon in the dark.

Sunset cried out, roaring in the shadows, and abandoned her leftovers to run through the halls. Towards the same objective as always. The archway.

She ran towards it, full speed, full strength, and it rejected her like it always did. It spat her out viciously, igniting her bones with electricity, burning her with light, sending her tumbling back into the dark.

Here’s a secret. We never believed you could kill Celestia. But we will try anything… And above all, we knew that taking her daughter away would cut deeper than any wound. And look at yourself– It was easy.

“I am NOT her daughter. Celestia only settles for the best...” Sunset curled up into herself, shuddering with both anger and the tears that began spewing off of her. “...And she would NEVER find a daughter worse than me.”

Sunset broke through the final wall after weeks of pounding through sheer stone– digging, clawing, blasting– And she finally saw the light of the archway.

“I was good enough. I should have been good enough.” She muttered into the dark, with vicious growls.

She moved the rubble, clearing the debris. She made way to the throne.

“I hate you for not being good enough for you.” With vicious magic movements, she threw rocks aside, breathing in the same cold dusty air.

Finally, she sat at the throne, and she could see the light from it. The light of the setting sun. She took a moment to breathe, and appreciate it– It was like a single star in the night sky.

“But I was strong. I had it. I was going to get it right.” She stepped away from the throne, heading towards the light. “I promise you I was going to get it right.”

Slowly, she approached the sunlight. It spread itself through the floor of the temple, but only slightly– Barely at a length that she could reach, with the barrier in it.

“I hate myself for not being good enough for you.”

Gently, she laid on the floor, and rested her head on it– The soft, warm feeling of being bathed by the sun, she hadn’t felt it properly in over a year. It didn’t even reach her full body.

She closed her eyes, and the pitch black tears flowed again– It was strange, as a demon, it felt so much easier to cry than as a pony.

“Please give me another chance to get it right. Please.” She pleaded with the air, beholding the distant sun.

But she knew that she was wrong, misguided.

She didn’t deserve another chance. She knew above anyone else that she didn’t deserve it.

She knew she never even deserved a chance in the first place. Celestia had chosen wrong.

And now she was home.

Fire magic had always come easy to her. After all, it was anger incarnate– She had that since she was a kid.

Light magic had always been something she struggled with. After all, it was hope incarnate– And she was rarely faithful.

Shadow magic was something she was newly acquainted with. It was bitterness. It was fear. It was a sensation of wanting to turn the world inside out.

It was as easy as breathing.

With it, she would become amorphic. Like a shadow. Crawling in the walls. In the ceiling. Resting, upside down, like a bat, awaiting for any prey to walk through those archways. Awaiting her next meal.

Two pairs of turquoise eyes, shining in the dark.

Waiting for the next prey.

Nothing else mattered.

Rage dwindled. Anger began dissipating.

The voices teased her, but she lacked the desire to bite back. To defy.

There was nothing to defy. She was home.

She came to a simple realization.

That even if she managed to somehow escape this place…

…There wasn’t a single other place in Equestria that she could call home. Not anymore.

She had no other place to belong. Not one being in this vast world that loved her.

If she ever escaped…

…She would run.

Far, any direction, anywhere, as far away as she could. Run away from her past, run away from herself– Run away from a life that once had meaning, and now had nothing.

Run away to the furthest edges of Equestria. Some frozen wasteland, some other country, some other continent.

But she found herself finding less and less reasons to escape.

After all, she was home.

“All my fault… All my fault… All my fault…” She muttered to herself, walking through the dark, clawing at the walls, making sure the path to the throne room from the light was as clear as possible.

“All my fault. All of it. All my fault. Worthless, nothing, everything, my fault.” She snarled to herself.

Hah. Amusing. Having a change of heart?

She turned her head, seeing a shade watching her. Bigger than the others, resembling an alicorn, tilting its head. “Change of what?”

You’re finally accepting yourself as the culprit of your own downfall. Remember what I said… Butchers don’t make for good Princesses.

The shade affirmed quietly, and Sunset barely glanced at it, facing forward, sniffing the air. With another quick glare at the shadow, she spoke curtly. “Why are you pretending to have wings? You’re not an alicorn. You’re just an imitation.”

Then I suppose I am in good company.

With one vicious movement, she spewed flames at the shade, dissipating it. It mocked her with laughter, but she didn’t care. She simply moved on. There was a rat scuttling nearby, and she was hungry.

Her life was over. Everything that she had before was over.

Everything since her birth was a mistake, she could see that now.

Her life in the orphanage felt so small now. So insignificant. So precious. So empty.

Her life as a pupil of Celestia felt like an illusion. A misremembered dream– Or a faded memory.

After all, why would have Celestia ever taken in an orphan as a pupil? It didn’t seem right. It didn’t seem natural or real. Surely, there must have been a mistake. Fiction.

Maybe this is what she had always been. She had always been a monster in the dark– And her life before was something she dreamed up.

What she felt now was real. The clawing of cold marble. The whispers in the dark. The faint light in the distance. This was the most awake she had ever been. The most hungry she had ever been. The most alive she had ever been.

This was all she had ever been– A monster, a creature, drowning in the dark. She could see that now.

This was where she belonged. Her place in the world. Her place among the stars.

She had never been Sunset Shimmer– Sunset Shimmer had never been. She had always been this. It made more sense. It seemed right.

Sunset Shimmer wasn’t dead. Because she had never lived in the first place.

And just like that, she stopped thinking.

A feral, raging beast was all that remained of what was once Sunset Shimmer.

AGE 29

“O-okay…! Here we go…!” The unicorn gazed upon the archway of the temple of the moon, with rehearsed bravery. She took out the note that had been given to her, and reread it once again, just one more time, to ensure that she understood what she had to do perfectly, to a T.

Do not underestimate her. She will be lethal, and show no mercy.

Talking to her might be pointless. She may be too far gone.

But your task remains the same. Purify her, purge the darkness from inside her, and take her away from this place, return her here. Remember how dangerous she is. You cannot hesitate. You cannot show weakness– This may be the strongest enemy you’ve ever faced.

Good luck, my student. I know you can do this.

“Okay, okay, okay…!” She muttered to herself, as she grabbed the grimoire from her backpack– Opening on pages she had marked for importance. She reread every spell she would use, ensuring they were perfectly memorized.

Behind her, the sun hadn’t yet risen. It was night, but the slow rim of light began to rise from the horizon, a promise of what was to come.

“Alright. I got this. I got this!” She assured herself quietly. And just like that, taking her spell book with her, she ventured into the dark.

As soon as she stepped into those halls, she could feel that chill cross through her heart. She was sweating, yes– She refused to hesitate, but she did feel fear.

There were so many doorways, so many passages. So much destruction, too… She could see holes in walls, massive gashes, meteoric strikes…

And of course, through the darkness, she could not see the throne, far into the distance, empty.

“...H-hello?” She called out, shy, at first, her voice echoing.

No response. She breathed in, and called out again. “Hello? Sunset Shimmer! Are you here?”

She felt before she heard. She felt a stirring, a movement, the powerful feeling of being watched, of being craved as prey.

She turned to look up a split second before the demon came crashing down on her.

And just like that, the monster fell face first into her barrier– One she burst and exploded back at it, sending it tumbling to the floor ravenously.

She winced in fear, nearly shrieking. The creature that looked back at her, that viciously stood and readied for another pounce– it was huge, it was monstrous. Her bat-like wings flared menacingly, and her mane became a fiery blaze.

“S-Sunset Shimmer? Are you in there?!” The question was responded swiftly, by the demon lunging forward viciously, and immediately striking another magical barrier.

The mare watched in horror as this beast kept ferociously biting and clawing at the magical barrier she cast, striking it fruitlessly, no matter how much the magic hurt her.

Game face on. Remember why you’re here.

She exploded her barrier once more, sending the demon flying. This time, she struck back immediately, Casting a flare of light into the air, one which illuminated the entire room, and then she began casting spell after spell, having rehearsed these actions plenty of times.

Runes flew into the air, powerful light runes, they connected into each other like pillars of light, almost like a webbing, bathing the room in even more light.

She spread circles of runes into the floor as well. Ensuring that there were many of them as options, and ready to move them at will.

She followed that with fireworks– Light blasts that exploded into concussive blasts repeatedly, all around the beast, discombobulating it, sending it into a spiral of rage and keeping it off balance.

The demon moved, and she had to move too. A column of flame was spewed at her, and she winced fearfully as she teleported away.

In a split second, the monster leapt at her new location, and she teleported again, watching the creature entangle itself onto the light runes, the pillars of light burning her.

No time to think about the screaming or the roars or snarls. She continued casting spells, as efficiently as she could under the pressure.

An elemental barrage, first. Ice blasts froze the demon’s feet into the ground, a burst of water bubbles stifled the flames she spewed out, and a small tornado engulfed her, blinding her, shaking her mane viciously.

And the mare kept casting, kept moving, like dominos she had organized, she knocked them down. The many light runes entangled the demon like whips, restraining her when the ice couldn’t, burning her, forcing her onto the ground– And the runic circles moved to surround her.

She approached the monster wearily, as it thrashed viciously. “O-okay…! Let’s get you out!” She whispered.

“The creature you are attempting to free is DEAD.” A voice resounded from the monster, as an eerie toothy grin manifested in her face.

“N-not on my watch.” The mare proclaimed, as she began channeling light magic into her horn– The room was bathed in it, like it was day.

The demon resumed thrashing. The runic circles surrounded her, spinning madly, the webs of light that entangled her tightened.

Slowly but surely, the darkness began leaking from her eyes and mouth. The Mare’s eyes glowed fully, as she strained fiercely, as if yanking the insides of the beast.

She forced herself to ignore the very distinctive screams of pain she could hear from the beast, sounding more and more natural by the second, as her body morphed and mutated once more.

It was a loud process, not just due to the screams, but the sheer magnitude of so much light perforating so much darkness.

“G-GO BACK TO THE SHADOWS!!!” The unicorn yelled out fiercely, with one final pull.

The shadows from within the beast were removed, a crawling mass of smoke, shuddering and vibrating with rage in the mare’s magical grasp. With one final blast, she bathed it in light, an explosion that resounded across the temple.

Breathing was all she heard for a moment– her own panicked breathing, as she centered herself poorly.

Then she heard crying; Genuine crying from beside her.

Sunset Shimmer was a pony again. She laid on the floor, starving, unmoving, shuddering, bleeding, and above all, crying genuine, real tears.

And besides her, wilted, rotten, where two demon wings, now detached from her, leaving two bloody bite sized chunks of flesh exposed on her back.

“O-oh g-gosh…!” The mare walked closer, inspecting her. “A-are you okay?! Can you speak?? Please tell me you’re okay…!”

The sobbing continued, even stronger now– Sunset could barely open her eyes. The tears were pitch black before, and now finally they seemed normal. And she could not articulate any words amidst them.

“H-here– we have to get out of here, this place isn’t safe. Can you stand?” The unicorn offered her a hoof, and Sunset could barely take it, struggling to raise a single leg.

Slowly but surely, the mare clumsily hoisted her up, and allowed Sunset to lean on her as they moved towards the light.

Sunset had a misstep– Or maybe she was just too weak, and fell back to the floor, tumbling on her side.

“N-no! I’ve got you!” The Mare leaned forward with worry, attempting to help the crying wounded Sunset with questionable results. They were almost there.

“You overstep.”

An eerie voice like a whisper manifested behind them.

“She belongs to us.”

She could see many figures in the dark approaching like phantoms.

“She will never escape us.”

They were surrounded now, surrounded by what seemed like hundreds of ponies made of pure darkness, all glaring at them.

“Leave her here. She will betray you. She will leave you. She will kill you.”

“I’m not listening to you!!” The unicorn stomped a hoof on the floor, frowning. “Y-you can’t have her!!”

With one magical motion, she took Sunset, and dragged her towards the exit. Her horn shined bright like a star, keeping any of those monsters at bay, ensuring they could do nothing, as they hissed and yelled in anger, with the light burning them.

Sunset nearly choked on her sobs as she saw the archway approaching, as she was dragged through the floor towards it.

“W-wait, Wait…!” She tried pleading, but her voice was weak, raspy, barely audible. “I-I can’t cross it–”

And then they crossed it.

The unicorn dragged her outside. She felt the grass beneath her. She felt fresh air again. And just like that, she didn’t even try getting up, and continued to sob even more.

The archway was behind them, and the unicorn let out a sigh of relief– She cast another magic light blast inside the structure, just to be sure.

“W-we’re safe. We’re safe!” She affirmed several times. “I have food! A-and water. Hang on, I need to stop your bleeding…!”

Sunset didn’t even move. She felt the warmth of the morning that came, she felt the dew in the grass beneath her, she saw an ant carrying a leaf, she felt the gentle touch of the unicorn trying to heal her… And nothing else mattered.

Slowly, she remembered what it was like to be. To live. To truly breathe.

She remembered her name, who she was, who she had been, and who she had desired to be.

And none of it mattered anymore.

Her crying of sorrow turned to joy, as she laughed in between her sobs, smiling fully. The unicorn that had saved her– She was beautiful. She was an angel. She was a good samaritan– A precious being that had risked her life to save a demon that didn’t deserve it.

She muttered carefully as she cast healing magic over Sunset’s body, as she moved her gently, even as she winced at the two enormous gashes on her back that continued to bleed. Goodness for the sake of goodness. Sunset could see it clearly as day– A radiant compassion that was almost blinding.

“I have bandages!! O-oh gosh. I’ll try my best, okay?” She affirmed, and Sunset only smiled, as she watched this mare work. She was beautiful. She was a savior… She was everything.

Sunset’s life recontextualized itself in a mere moment, as her consciousness readjusted itself.

She wanted to run away. Her life in Canterlot was over– Her life in Equestria was over.

She wished desperately for purpose, and she found it, then and there.

This new mare. This beautiful, kind, loving mare that had saved her, that was currently bandaging up her bruised and bloody body, the scars on her back that would never heal-– This would be her new purpose. Protecting her. Keeping her safe. Being by her side, no matter how far they would travel, no matter how distant her life was.

“T-thank you…!” Sunset stuttered out, as she was helped up, now bandaged in several places. She didn’t even mind the pain anymore– The blood stained the rags easily, and she didn’t care. “T-thank you so, so much…!”

Instinctively, she hugged that mare tightly, and continued to cry in her embrace– And to her delight, she didn’t let go, accepted it fully. “It’s okay…! It’s over now. You’re okay.”

In the distance, the sun was rising, bathing Everfree in light– And now Sunset could feel it fully. She shuddered with joy, as tears continued to stream down her cheeks.

The mare only undid from the hug to offer her water. “Here! You need to hydrate yourself. Drink as much as you need, I brought extra!” She affirmed kindly, and Sunset gladly drank from the entire canteen then and there.

“I have some sandwiches too! But we should be good for food, since we–”

“Listen.” Sunset affirmed, still smiling, as the tears began to fade. “What you saved me from, what you just pulled me out from… I was sure I would be there forever– I-I deserved to be there forever. But you saved me.”

“I’m glad I was here!” The unicorn gave her a genuine toothy smile. “I’m glad I could help.”

“N-no, you don’t understand. I’ve never been beaten in a fight before– And I’m so, so glad that you were the first to do it. I have a debt to repay you… I owe you my life– I owe you everything.” Sunset affirmed, while she bowed. “So this is my vow, this is my pledge to you. For as long as I live, I will serve you, protect you, do your bidding, whatever you require of me.” She raised her head slowly, still smiling, still weary. “I owe you everything. And as a Paladin, I will follow you to the ends of the earth if necessary. …If that’s okay…?”

The unicorn before her was understandably confused and flustered, as she nodded firmly. “Um, that’s not necessary, but, okay?” She grinned awkwardly.

“My name is Sunset Shimmer, and if you accept this pledge, you’ll have a Paladin by your side for as long as you desire it.” She bowed again, and kept her head low, waiting for an answer.

A few seconds passed with the unicorn thinking, looking away into the distance, into the lights of the far away city pensively.

The sun rose behind Canterlot. She had a mission to fulfill, and this seemed to be a pretty practical way to fulfill it.

Finally, she nodded, and responded. “...Okay, I accept. Y-you don’t have to bow though. It’s nice to meet you, Sunset Shimmer!”

Raising her head, smiling truly, Sunset came closer, with genuine excitement for the future. “It’s nice to meet you too. So, where are we going first? Anywhere but here, I hope! What’s your name?”

“Hi, um…” She smiled a bit awkwardly, tilting her head. “My name is Twilight Sparkle. Hi…!”

“Twilight Sparkle. Beautiful name.” She nodded, smiling fully. “Where do you live? Where are we off to? I’ll go to the ends of Equestria if you want– From frozen wastes to the dragonlands, I’ll follow you anywhere.” And she would do so with a smile. She would do so with the joy of greeting a new life.

This was her chance to be a new person. A better person. To find out who she could be without Celestia. To find out who she could be by herself.

This was her chance to have a do over. A do over on everything.

And that anticipation remained for a few seconds as Twilight fidgeted.

“I, um, I live in Canterlot.”

Sunset’s eyes widened.

“I, uh, am Queen Celestia’s pupil.”

Sunset’s jaw dropped.

“...Your replacement.”

Sunset’s heart sank.

“I-I– I just–” She shuddered, looking at nothing, vision blurring. “D-did I just– Did I just pledge myself to– Did I–”

“Um… yes. To me. You just pledged yourself, to your, uh, replacement.” Twilight smiled awkwardly, shrugging. “Um… So, you have to follow me to go see Celestia now, huh…?Sorry…?”

Sunset turned to the rising sun, to Canterlot, her breathing unstable, her vision blurred, her dizziness spreading.

She spoke one word, one word that defined her entire mental state, everything that had just been built up to crash down immediately, everything that she had hoped for subsumed, destroyed, the life she had left behind did not leave her, and now she had just attached herself back into it like a fool. So she spoke one word.

“FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!!!!”

“Are you hungry? I brought sandwiches!”

Back in the Canterlot Palace once more. She felt like a zombie. She was wrapped in bandages in many places, her back ached, the two gashes where her wings used to be continued to bleed, even her muzzle was bandaged– She walked low, head down, still regaining her strength, following Twilight, like she had promised.

And she could see it– In the eyes of the workers in the castle, even in the guards– Some that recognized her. Some that knew her. They would recoil. They would flinch, they would back away, they would leave.

Their expressions… Surprise. Fear. Shock. Fear.

The three-legged gardener whimpered and cried upon seeing her, running away as fast as she could, tripping to the floor failingly.

Sunset had no words. Nothing to say. She never wanted to come back here. She knew she didn’t deserve it. She knew she deserved much worse than banishment into a simple temple.

And here she was.

“G-gosh– I was told about your reputation before, but… Wow.” Twilight grimaced, smiling awkwardly. “Um… The throne room is this way.”

“I know.” Was all that came out of Sunset’s mouth– A raspy weak affirmation.

“So… When did you first meet Celestia?” The unicorn approached her with a peppy smile. “The day I first saw her was in a Summer Sun celebration! It was so awe inspiring!! Seeing her bring so much hope and joy through an exercise she had performed for thousands of years– It was beautiful…!! How about you?”

Sunset felt choked up– Not as if she was on the verge of tears, but rather on the verge of screaming, like a caged animal, like she was still the demon. Twilight Sparkle was the living proof of all of her flaws. “...I first saw Celestia when she murdered a titan that was attacking my hometown.” She spoke simply, looking down, voice failing her.

“O-oh gosh! I hope that everypony was alright!” Twilight came closer, concerned.

She worried about the bystanders. She had no interest in the combat or the battle that ensued, and that was another tally that marked her superiority to Sunset. “...Yeah. They were. Because of her.”

But the tally was already scored. After all, this goofy, ditzy nerdy unicorn had already proven her supremacy against Sunset by beating her, and sparing her. As if the Paladin would ever do the same.

The living proof of her inadequacy. The living proof of her failings. And the Paladin had pledged herself to her.

“She didn’t tell me much about you, except that you were super strong! And wow, I think she undersold that part.” Twilight giggled to herself, taking note of how Sunset was taller and bigger. “But she did seem to care a lot about you! I’ve never seen her get so worried about preparing me for a test before, heh!”

“T…Test?” She asked, ears twitching, grimacing.

“Yeah, you were my latest test! To see if I could purify a deep hold of shadow magic on somepony, WHILE surviving a fight with them. I was pretty nervous, but it’s nothing that plenty of study and preparation doesn’t help with!”

“Study and… Preparation…?” She was in disbelief, she had no response, there was nothing she could say. She had sunk so low that she was a mere test to her replacement, one she passed with flying colors. They finally reached the throne room doors.

“So… Are you ready for this?”

Once again, no response. She never thought she’d have to do this, much less be able to. So why would she have ever prepared herself to do this? What could possibly be done to make this right?

“Okay! Let’s go!” She opened the doors, and the guards before her flinched and backed up in surprise, seeing the newcomer.

Celestia was sitting at her throne, like she always had. Raven was near her, making annotations, like she always had. Everything changed, and nothing at all. The world moved on without Sunset, and yet she was still here.

She didn’t bother looking at their nervous, mournful expressions as she followed Twilight closer to the Queen. She simply closed her eyes, or stared at the floor.

Celestia’s pupil was the first to speak. “Soooo, Queen Celestia! You’ll never guess who I managed to bring back…! A-actually maybe you can guess, cause she’s right here. But, um…”

No one else said anything, Sunset didn’t dare look up, even as Twilight whispered to her.. “...Am I helping? Was that an ice breaker?”

Slowly, Celestia moved down from her throne, addressing her pupil first. “Thank you, my most faithful student. Not only did you manage to cleanse the darkness that took hold of her, but you even brought her back here. You performed impeccably as usual, my pupil. You passed this test wonderfully.” There was no smile, but there was genuine pride in her words. Sunset’s eyes twitched.

“Thank you very much, Queen Celestia!” Twilight fidgeted gleefully, nearly hopping up and down. “U-um, and well, I think Sunset is pretty thankful, right? Right Sunset?”

No response from the Paladin, who refused to raise her head.

“Sunset Shimmer…” Celestia spoke gently, carefully, as she eyed Sunset’s back– The massive gashes, still bleeding onto her bandages thoroughly.. “...Are you alright?”

Seconds passed while the Paladin gathered the strength for speaking and making eye contact. When she did, she removed all emotion from her voice.

“...Before Twilight Sparkle revealed her identity to me, after she saved me… I pledged myself to her. I was thankful for a respite, for a good samaritan to be kind enough to bring me back from hell. It was a genuine Paladin pledge… That she accepted. …Then I found out who she was.”

Celestia’s eyes widened slightly, as she quietly watched the two.

“...But you’re the Queen of the Sun. And if you don’t want me walking these halls again, then the pledge is nullified, and I’ll be on my way. We’ll never have to see each other again– I promise you I will never cause any more trouble, here or anywhere.” Her eyes were nearly pleading for the Queen to let her out.

Silent seconds passed. Celestia had more than enough time to know exactly what she wanted. She did not dare smile, but she spoke with professionalism and pleasure. “...A Paladin pledge is serious business, Sunset Shimmer. I will not go against Twilight’s wishes, if she chooses to accept it. Your servitude will be to her, not to me. Isn’t that right, my pupil?”

Twilight could feel the amount of expectation, as the Queen glared at her not with anger, with a glance that forced her to play along. “Y-yes! Yes, that’s right! Um. I’m okay with this whole pledge thing! It’s fine!” She spoke earnestly, a bit flustered.

“See, Sunset?” Now Celestia smiled. Not smugly, but happily. “Twilight Sparkle wishes for you to stay here with us; And I certainly agree that she could use a protector. And it is your duty as a pledged Paladin to follow her every command, isn’t it?”

“...It is.” The unicorn snarled quietly, breathing unsteadily.

“Then it is settled!” The Queen almost happily spread her wings wide. “Shall I arrange your quarters?”

“No.” She responded immediately. “I’ll find quarters elsewhere in Canterlot. Where’s my armor?”

Silence. The Queen suppressed a sigh of disappointment, and the feeling of the arrow crossing through her heart. “All of your things are in storage, here in the palace. Do you remember the way?”

“Yes. I’ll go get them now.” She responded curtly, turning around.

Twilight, who had been watching the entire conversation, shily waved. “A-and I’ll go make sure she’s alright!! U-um, we’ll talk later, Queen Celestia! Thank you!”

“Yes, we will.” She affirmed quietly, watching Sunset walk away without hesitation.

Quiet seconds passed, as she returned to her throne, watching her old pupil leave the room with no more words exchanged.

As soon as she was out of sight, the Queen let out a prolonged, weary sigh of sorrow. “...She did not even try to apologize…”

“And neither did you.” Raven, from beside her, noted without even looking at her, continuing to make annotations. “You’re on the same page, then. No apology will ever fix this.”

Sunset watched with silent disbelief. All of her previous life was collected into a few small boxes in a Canterlot Palace storeroom.

Dusty, abandoned, clearly having been safekept, yet forgotten.

She rummaged through it, trying to see what was worth keeping, and what she could discard. So many things that seemed to hold more and yet less value all at once. Library cards. Concert tickets. Texts on spells she had studied when she was young.

And Twilight was near her, helping unpack, as she kept running into more and more items of importance.

A few of her old jackets. Some with spikes, others with some stamps or pins on them. They seemed so small now. Relics of her younger years… maybe some of them would still fit her. But what would be the point? Like crawling inside old skin.

“Wow, are all those yours?” The unicorn curiously eyed from the sidelines. “I didn’t think– Y’know what, the punk look does suit you…”

“They’re from when I was younger.” She absentmindedly folded them, unsure of how many she’d keep, how many she’d leave here. “They don’t matter.”

She found several magical study books– Ancient Paladin tomes of history and combat, and even one of the Valkyries. She thought this new title would liberate her. It didn’t. And she would never, ever be a Valkyrie.

“W-woah, those books look OLD! Is this how you learned to be a Paladin?!” Twilight’s eyes gleamed as she analyzed the covers.

“Partially. Celestia did most of the combat training.” She placed the books in a pile, one she’d have to return to the restricted section sometime.

“So cool…” Twilight analyzed the old pages carefully. “Where did you get ancient tomes this old?!”

“At the–” She remembered an old promise. “It’s a long story. You wouldn't believe me if I told you.”

She saw a few pictures. Some of her and Celestia, young and naive, starry eyed– Most were taken by Raven. She immediately discarded them, shuddering as she did it, leaving them in a box she would not take with her.

“Oh, these are kinda cute! How old were you in these?” With a snicker, the pupil shuffled towards the box to get a glance.

“Around twelve.” She responded absentmindedly. “Please don’t look at those.”

“T-TWELVE?!” In disbelief, Twilight had to sit down. “I-I mean, I knew Celestia had had a pupil long before me, but I didn’t know she had taken one in so young…!”

“...She took me in when I was nine.”

“Wow! No wonder you’re so strong!” Twilight snickered, shuffling around. “Lots of time to train, huh?”

“...And you have been her pupil for two years, right?”

“Yep!” And somehow, she already was stronger.

Her old journal. The one she used to communicate with Celestia when they were apart. One of the few things that kept her sane during her school years. She dreaded opening its pages now– Seeing such innocent correspondence, such pointless words.

“What’s this book for?”

“It’s nothing.”

She found her old guitar. No, not hers. A gift from her caretaker Peony– Old, worn, decorated with faded stickers and dents, having rested unplayed for years; The last memory she had of her orphan origin. A gift she neglected and shunned. Could she play now without trembling? Would she even remember how?

“Wow, you play guitar? That’s pretty cool! Nopony on my family plays instruments at all.” She made a face of both annoyance and disdain, after all, Sparkles didn’t have time for arts.

“...No, I don't play it.”

Her Paladin armor, not displayed on a stand, but taken apart, rested in a cardboard box. Black obsidian with golden accents, it used to be imposing– But it seemed so weak now. A symbol of all her strength, and how she had nothing else but strength.

“So this is your armor…! Wow, you have attention to detail…!” Twilight inspected it thoroughly, holding it with curiosity. “I bet you’ve been on some fights with this– It’s got pretty impressive wear!”

“Yeah. Some.” Sunset grimaced, holding her helmet– She had murdered while wearing this. Did she feel sorry? She couldn’t tell.

She shuddered, finding the last bit of memorabilia at the bottom of the box.

Two coupons for ‘Triple Treat Threat’s Ice Cream Parlor’, for a yearly Mother’s day discount. There was a distinctive design for each, that made one coupon smaller than the other, with a drawing of a smaller filly accompanied by the larger coupon, that housed the drawing of the larger mare.

Two coupons that had laid unused in the bottom of Sunset’s closet for nearly a decade. And now, they were here, in this box– A promise she and Celestia had made that now meant nothing. One of many.

“...I can’t do this, Twilight.” She exhaled weakly, closing her eyes.

“Can’t do what? What’s going on?”

“This. All this. I can’t be here. I can’t be in this goddamn castle. I can’t pretend that I could live like this again.” She affirmed coldly, beholding the two coupons. “My life before all this is dead, I can’t go back to it and pretend… I can’t pretend it’s okay. I destroyed it. I destroyed everything.”

“You don’t have to pretend…?” Twilight came closer, with a sympathetic pout. “This isn’t the same as it was before, it’s new! What you’ll be doing here… Working with me, it’ll be different, won’t it?”

“You can dissolve my pledge. You can let me go. Please let me go.” Sunset begged, looking directly at her. “I fuck up everything I do, Twilight. I’m life threatening. You need to steer clear of me. Every decent goddamn person in this castle hates me or fears me, and they’re right to. You shouldn’t want me to be here, no one should. H-hell– I should be dead for what I did.”

“Celestia doesn’t hate you!” She affirmed proudly, smiling. “And I don’t either!”

“I nearly killed your brother. Did you know that?” She felt a bit exasperated, as she came closer. “I turned into a horrifying demon beast and nearly burned this castle down– I almost killed every worker and guard here– I nearly bit your brother's head off.”

“But you didn’t!” She responded with a shrug and an awkward smile. “He and Celestia told me about it, don’t worry! Everything turned out okay!”

“And???! Why don’t you hate me?! I nearly killed someone in your family! I nearly killed YOU! I nearly–”

“--But you didn’t.” She shrugged again, smiling warmly. “S-sorry. Sparkles don’t hold grudges– My brother doesn’t, either. I wasn’t here when all that happened, so… You seem fine to me now?”

“A-are you kidding me?!” She groaned, rolling her eyes. “You’ve got to be joking, of COURSE you’re my replacement, you’re perfectly forgiving!! How are you THIS perfect?!”

“Oh, I’m not perfect. You’ll see, when I start reading a good book, I just zone out and–”

“And you’re humble, too! God fucking damnit.” She sighed out, shuddering, shaking her head.

“...Do you hate me for replacing you?” Twilight’s ears flattened, as she winced. “Is… Is that what this is about? Please don’t hate me…!”

“How could I hate you?! You saved my fucking life!!” Sunset hung her head low in shame and frustration with an exhale. “A-and you proved without a shadow of doubt that you’re better than me already. I can’t hate you. I can’t.”

“Oh, phew, haha! That’s a relief!” Twilight smiled genuinely. “So, I was thinking–”

“Twilight, look at me. I’m a fucking mess. I’m no good for anything. You can break my pledge. You can let me go. Please, please let me go.” She pleaded once more.

Silence, as the pupil thought to herself thoroughly.

“...Where would you go?”

“I don’t know. Anywhere but here.” She winced, looking away.

There was nowhere to go.

So that meant she could go anywhere, right?

“And… Why did you pledge yourself to me, in the first place…?” She looked down, pouting.

“I didn’t know who you were. I thought you were just… I don’t know. A kind soul saving me from hell. I thought I’d…” She let out an exhale, shaking her head. “I thought you were my chance for a do over. For me to try living again as someone else. Start fresh. Go anywhere… But here.”

“I-I see… Sorry.” She muttered, looking away in embarrassment. “I really did want to help, y’know? Sure, Celestia is the one that directed me, but I thought… I thought it’d be good to save her last pupil… See what she was like, y’know?”

“Sorry to disappoint.” She stated simply, not make eye contact.

“N-no, I’m the one who’s sorry.” Twilight said simply. “Because I’m not letting you go.” She affirmed, tilting her head, trying to smile warmly. “Celestia thinks you still can do good… I think you can still do good. I think you can do better, so… I want you here.”

Sunset shuddered, letting out a weary exhale. “...As your Paladin, I have to comply.”

“L-look…!” Fidgeting with her mane, Twilight almost whispered, ashamed of holding Sunset like this. “Celestia believes in you. So I do too, y’know? I think everypony deserves a second chance, and you’re no exception. So… Maybe you can take this as a chance to turn your life around…?”

“T-turn my life around– Wow.” Sunset let out an ironic chuckle. “God damnit.”

Twilight Spoke as gently as she could. “Look… Sometimes, you hurt people… And then you just have to keep living. You have to keep trying.”

Sunset listened quietly as the pupil kept giving her more wisdom. “Yes, you made mistakes… But you’re still here, right…? You want to make amends? All that’s stopping you is you, right…?” She had a warm smile and a friendly shrug.

“...Spoken as the perfect star pupil of the Queen of the Sun.” Sunset breathed out, looking down. “And by the way; Celestia believed in me and then I became a demon. She’s not always right.”

“I dunno, she seems pretty wise! In all the time I studied with her–”

“She isn’t. After all, she took me in.”

Twilight adhered to a strict routine– Strict enough that ‘stay in bed for five more minutes’ was a part of her schedule. And she did so with just as much efficiency as everything else.

Her room in the Canterlot Palace was incredibly homey. For anyone else, it would be a complete mess. For her? It was comfort incarnate. Books, papers, all sorts of texts and magical artifacts laid about everywhere.

Her alarm rang, she stretched, yawned, and slowly made her way out of her room.

And was surprised by what she saw outside.

Sunset Shimmer, in full Paladin getup, wearing the obsidian armor that fit her muscular frame perfectly– And beneath, the many bandages that Twilight had applied still rested tightly on her. She looked like she had lost sleep– But her demeanor had entirely changed from the weeping mare she rescued.

She was stoic, cold, and professional. “Is this the time you usually wake up?”

“Um… Yes? Good morning!” She smiled, while nodding, still confused. After all, Sunset seemed utterly aloof.

“Okay. I'll set my alarm accordingly.” She spoke without even making eye contact. “Here’s how this is going to work. By all intents and purposes, I’ll be your bodyguard from now on. I’ll shadow you from close or far if need be, I’ll get a feel for your routine so I can adjust mine, and if you want me to back off at any time, you can just say so– And in days where you’re here only, I’ll likely do other things, since this castle is one of the safest places in Equestria.”

“R-right! Wow, you’re professional!” She giggled to herself in surprise. “I wasn’t expecting that!”

“Well, you did have a lousy first impression of me.” She exhaled, looking down. “That was unprofessional back there. You won’t have to worry about it again.”

“O-okay? It’s okay to cry, if that’s what you mean…?”

“It wasn’t.” She shook her head absentmindedly. “If all I have is this job then I’ll do it right. That’s all.”

“I can respect that! So where are you staying?”

“Canterlot. I’m getting an apartment.”

“Oh, not in the castle? Celestia offered a room, didn’t she?”

“She did.” She didn't bother elaborating, just went silent.

"...And are your wounds okay? Last time I saw your back, well...!" The pupil grimaced in concern.

"They're fine. I can still walk." Sunset barely shrugged, ignoring the pain she felt when walking or even standing, or doing anything at all. “And remember, if you think you don’t need my services, you can just dissolve the pledge, and we won’t have to see each other again.”

“That’s funny. You’re not getting away that easily.” Twilight smirked, resulting in Sunset rolling her eyes.

“What’s the first item on your agenda?”

“Breakfast.” Twilight smiled mischievously. “Let’s go!”

She had expected some grandiose training routine– And was instead reminded that she herself had skipped breakfast.

“There’s a library in the castle– Why would you even come here?!” Sunset was in silent disbelief, walking through the halls of the Canterlot library, something she had not done in years. “Most of the books here, if not all, are already in Celestia’s collection in the castle.”

“I’ve always come here!” Twilight announced peppily, as she walked over to the counter. “Since I was a foal. Ask my parents, or anypony really, they’ll usually say I practically lived here. The books here just feel special, y’know? They have that special Canterlot Library smell…!”

“...Smell?” Involuntarily, she had to suppress laughter, and that wound up as a silly grin on her face.

“Well look at that. I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you smile since I rescued you!” Twilight tilted her head in delight, teasing, grinning.

“I-I’m not smiling, I’m just–” She nearly burst into a chuckling fit. “Book smell. Are you kidding me?”

“Twilight Sparkle, what a pleasure!” The old mare by the counter greeted them with a weary smile. “Here for borrowing or returning?”

“Returning!” She smiled fully, while putting back the old books. “Oh yeah, Dusty Pages, this is Sunset, my new bodyguard!”

“Sunset? Sunset Shimmer?” with a sly smile, the old lady leaned forward. “Why, it IS you…! What a surprise, where have you been all these years, you little rascal? Look at you, all grown up!”

“Hi, Dusty. I’ve been, uh… Around.” She feigned a smile.

“When I heard Twilight became Celestia’s new pupil, I thought it was because you graduated! Never heard anything from you again, though, so I was just left wondering. Bodyguard, though? That’s—”

“--You two know each other?!” Twilight’s jaw was dropped, in disbelief.

“Um, yeah. I used to live here, remember?” Sunset tilted her head. “I visited this library a lot of times. I still have a card and everything. I always preferred the castle one, though.”

“You don’t have to keep saying that, my heart’s already broken, Shimmy!” The old mare feigned despair, and immediately broke into giggles. “Still though. Bodyguard, huh? Look at that getup! It’s like you’re the knights of old!”

“Wait a fucking minute.” Sunset’s eyes widened, as she moved slightly, gazing at a painting behind Dusty Pages. “The Best Book Borrower… That’s YOU?!” She turned to Twilight in disbelief.

A picture of her hung on the wall with a proud smile holding a book and starry eyes– A picture Sunset had always been puzzled by, thinking the mare in it must have been some sort of lunatic.

“That’s right! It’s my most proud accomplishment…!” Twilight pridefully and joyfully crossed her arms and nodded.

“You’re literally the pupil of Queen Celestia!” Sunset barked out in disbelief.

“O-oh, right!” Twilight chuckled, facepalming. “I forgot!”

The Paladin watched in disbelief, the humility of this unicorn was blinding and exasperating.

“And… You gave her a boutique here in Canterlot?”

“Not gave, I really can’t give things like that.” Twilight pouted, shaking her head. “But hey, she seemed really talented, and I thought why not pull some strings and give her a chance to prove herself here? I am a pupil of the Queen, so I guess I have some influence. Makes me want to help my friends, y’know?”

“A seamstress from Ponyville. Huh. If you say so.” Sunset shrugged. “And you’re sure she wasn’t just using you?”

“Rarity is really nice! Trust me, you’re gonna love her.” Giggling, she then had to give a disclaimer. “...But fair warning, she’ll try to dress you up. She does that a lot.”

“For the record, you’re not getting me to wear anything else other than this.” She tapped her armor.

“Oh, I don’t knoooow…” Twilight tilted her head, grinning mischievously. “Couldn’t I just order you to accept wearing a dress that Rarity makes?”

“...No…?”

“Oh my gosh I could, couldn’t I?” She nearly burst out in giggles. “Don’t worry. I won’t abuse this power.”

All that the Paladin could do was exhale, knowing well that she was in a dreadful predicament.

“But c’mon, we’re almost there! You’re gonna love her. She’s not the only one that I managed to get a job here, you know? I met the current royal jester in Ponyville too!”

“Royal jester… Wasn’t it that crazy pink Earth Pony I saw in the throne room?”

“Yep! Pinkie! She is a bit odd, but really nice when you get to know her.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

“Finally!! The planetarium is looking so GOOD!!!” Twilight giddily trotted forward, leading the way. “Remember that giant plant monster you slayed the other week? They finally managed to repair the damage!!”

“Canterlot planetarium… Huh.” Sunset spent a moment, thinking. Was this building new, or did she come here as a foal? The memories felt so distant, so untouchable. Maybe Celestia had taken her inside once.

A gorgeous dome-like structure, filled with constellation-style decorations, a collection of knowledge of astronomers from all over Equestria, from centuries ago to the present.

Sunset followed her in, of course. Twilight gushed endlessly about the beauty of the stars, about all that was discovered by studying them, about each constellation and their meaning, and about celestial magic.

History, science, and magic– She knew them all well, and loved them dearly.

Sunset’s job was to look after Twilight. So even though they were under a dome that displayed the cosmos, she still observed the mare carefully, watching her every giggle as she gushed about everything.

Sunset stepped into the club. A front, she was sure. She sniffed the air, and went to the receptionist without hesitation.

The music boomed through the walls, echoing across the building.

“Where’s Twilight Sparkle.” She asked curtly, narrowing her eyes.

“Hah, what are you, here for a costume party?” The receptionist took her lightly. His mistake.

Sunset grabbed his head, smashed it against the counter, and brought him closer. “I won’t repeat myself.” She stated with a snarl.

“G-guys, get the fuck in here!!!” He cried out in fear.

A crowd of eight brawlers barged through a door, carrying bats and chains, immediately eyeing her as an opponent. She didn’t even blink. They shouted aggressively for her to leave or else.

Breaking legs, knocking out opponents in a single punch, using their own weapons against them, breaking the environment with her enemy’s bodies, a violent dance that she knew all too well and missed dearly.

A chain entangled in one of her legs. She flipped into the air, pulling the user with it, and stomping on them when she went down.

Her helmet blocked a bat blow. She immediately grabbed the weapon and broke it on the head of her opponent.

A glare was all that was required for the last enemies to either fold or run.

She walked past the unconscious, bloody and bruised crowd, meeting the receptionist who cowered in the corner.

“Do I need to repeat myself?” She stomped a hoof on the floor.

“T-top floor!! She’s with the boss!! Y-you can’t miss his office, it’s the biggest one!! Please don’t hurt me!!”

She ignored him, and dashed forward. Any enemy that dared stand in her way met the same fate as the others.

She bucked the door of the office clean off its hinges, running inside with worry. “I’m here!! What’s– wait, what?”

Twilight Sparkle and the crime boss sat politely at opposite ends of the same table, having a casual conversation– The mare was not restrained or even afraid– There were no guards in the room at all.

“Hey, what’s the big idea? That door was hoof carved!” The boss huffed, narrowing his eyes.

“Hi, Sunset! What happened to you?”

“What happened to me?! What happened to YOU!” The Paladin was in disbelief. “I thought these bandits kidnapped you?!”

“Oh, they did! I was just talking to their boss about their business practice and how they’d get more out of it if they went official!” She giggled to herself, shrugging. “It’s just an inefficient work practice to want to expand endlessly. Not to mention unethical.”

“The lil’ lady here convinced me thoroughly.” The crime boss sat back on his chair, sighing. “She’s right. Tryin’ to expand my business and take over other crime families is pointless, when I already got all the resources I need to go into retirement if I wanted to.”

“Indeed! You’d be better off just helping Equestria be a better place with your influence!” Twilight smiled warmly fully. “I’m sure your men would also enjoy the benefits of unionizing, too. It helps everypony!”

“You…” Sunset grimaced in confusion. “You just talked to them?”

“What else would I have done?” She tilted her head in amused confusion. “By the way, how did you get up here, weren’t there guards?”

“Nope, no guards. We should go, now.” Sunset shook her head, coming closer. “Thanks for the hospitality, crime boss guy, but Sparkle here has a routine she needs to follow. Let’s go, now.”

“Hah, see? I told you she was hasty!” Twilight and the crime boss shared giggles, as Sunset led her out of the room in a hurry.

“Your mom was… Nice. And your dad makes a mean casserole.” Sunset laid back on the bench, watching the Canterlot skyline.

“Right?? They’re the best. I’m glad you got to meet them!” She beamed, organizing a few papers. “I still gotta introduce you to Shinning Armor and his wife, Cadance, though.”

“I already know both of them– Wait, wife? Cadance? Princess Cadance?!” Her ears twitched in confusion.

“Yep! They got married on the crystal empire last year, the ceremony was really beautiful.”

“...Huh. So that’s why the royal guard has no captain now.” She mulled over an annoying lapse in security that she had noticed in the past weeks bitterly.

“...The ceremony was beautiful, but also Chrysalis. Was there. Ugh.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me.” Sunset rolled her eyes. “Well, I should have known that she would have caused trouble after she broke out…”

“Yeah, it was definitely tough, but me and Cadance beat her!” Twilight giggled. “Plus, after that, a few changelings started coming forward. This really sweet guy named Thorax lives with them now!”

“Sorry, ‘coming forward?’ coming forward with what?”

“Oh right, you weren't here for that… Changelings can live without draining love! He came forward with a small group of them that wanted to try to form their own coalition to inspire more of their kind to join them! It was so sweet– I’m still in contact with them, helping them get rights and stuff.”

“There can be good changelings?” Sunset grimaced, remembering not only the battle she had with Chrysalis, but the changelings she murdered when they freed their Queen. “And, uh… I imagine you just talked to them to discover that…?”

“Of course!” She giddily shrugged. “It wasn’t that hard! We’re hoping that we can bring more changelings out of Chrysalis’s hive and convince them to live in peace with everypony. Celestia was super proud– She said that if the Queen of Vermin doesn’t have lackeys, she’ll be basically powerless.”

“And you just… Did that, easily.” Sunset tried not feeling incompetent in comparison– But once more, there was plain proof of how much better of a pupil Twilight made. “You just… Used diplomacy?”

“Are you feeling okay? You seem really confused by all this.” The pupil tilted her head.

“I-I’m fine. It’s fine.” She shrugged, shaking her head. “Your parent’s were nice, at least. They must be proud of their son for marrying a princess.”

“They really are!” She nodded gleefully. “What are your parents like?”

“...Twilight, I don’t–”

“O-oh my gosh, I’m so sorry, I forgot!!” She buried her face in her hooves in shame. “I’m so, SO sorry.”

“It’s okay, don’t worry.” She chuckled, shrugging. “...It doesn’t bother me.”

“...Sunset…?” Flash’s eyes widened as he flew by, seeing the familiar obsidian armor walking by the gardens.. “So it’s true, you are back. Gosh, are you okay…? What happened?!”

“O-oh. Hi Flash.” She recoiled, grimacing. “It’s… A long story. But yeah, I'm back. And I’m serving the new star pupil.”

“Sunset, seriously… Are you okay?” He persisted, landing near her with concern.

“Flash, look…” She sighed, shaking her head. “We shouldn’t talk anymore. You can do better than me, just… Pretend you don’t know me.”

“That’s not really my style, Sun.” He grinned, coming closer. “I was super worried, you know… I thought you were dead.”

“I might as well be.” She breathed, looking down. “B-but I mean it. You should steer clear of me. For your own good.”

“H-hey, c’mon, we can still be friends, right?” He grimaced sadly. “Like, you don’t have to act all tough, we can just–”

“Sorry. But I can’t pretend–” She stopped herself, closing her eyes, and turning around. “Just… Goodbye, Flash.”

Sunset had dealt with mind control before, or, in this case, mind coercion.

This was at least more calming. Soothing, almost. The siren songs were felt in her entire body, echoing in her head, bouncing around her bones, but it didn’t bother her.

She didn’t hear birds singing, or the rivers that the beasts rested near drip by, she didn’t feel anything else, except for the music, and she let herself go with it.

She rocked gently back and forth with a smile, humming to herself, singing her own tune. “Southern nights… Have you ever felt a Southern night? Free as a breeze, not to mention the trees…”

“Um, Adagio, she is absolutely not singing to our tune. What’s up with this Paladin?” One of the sirens asked with concern, as she eyed the muttering unicorn.

“Keep singing, you idiots!” The leader barked out. “We’ve got her right where we want her! Don’t we, you bag of muscles?” She dragged a hoof across Sunset’s cheek, who continued to rock side to side with a delighted grin. “The strongest Paladin in Equestria, doing our bidding. This is how we move up in the world, girls!”

“Its precious beauty lies, just beyond the eye, it goes running through your soul, like the stories told of old…” Sunset continued to mutter out, her rhythm picking up.

“Yeah she’s absolutely singing her own song– Way too chipper, too. I think something’s up.” The other siren called out in confusion.

“Did I tell either of you to stop singing?!” Adagio gritted her teeth. “Go on, all together now–”

“HEY! LET HER GO!!” Twilight arrived, taking a hesitant battle stance from afar. “You overstep, sirens! Go back to the sea and let my Paladin go free!”

The two other sirens grinned, but kept humming and singing– The leader was the only one that rolled her eyes, blowing raspberries. “Really, you little runt? Cotton in your ears? Such an old, uncreative trick…!”

“I have no idea what you’re saying, but let my friend go, right now!!” Twilight commanded frightfully, stomping a hoof on the grass; Unable to hear what the sirens were saying, or even hearing their singing, which was paramount.

The three sirens sung and hummed in unison, ignoring the demands of the unicorn, who continued to shake to the rhythm faster and faster.

“Okay, little Paladin.” Adagio grinned madly. “Do your siren mistresses a favor and take care of that little runt.”

Sunset, hopping up and down quietly, humming in rhythm, spoke simply, joyfully. “La la la– Twilight Sparkle is not a threat, and there’s no reason to hurt her… La la la…”

The three sirens nearly stopped singing in sheer shock and confusion.

Leaning down in anger, the leader barked out. “I didn’t ask for your opinion, puppet!! Eliminate Twilight Sparkle, now!”

“H-hey! I don’t know what you’re saying to her, but you better stop!” The mare in question yelled out in confusion. “I’m warning you! I know some silencing spells and I’m not afraid to use them!”

Sunset turned to the sirens, with a delighted smile. “...Have you ever noticed Southern skies? Its precious beauty lies, just beyond the eye it goes running through your soul, like the stories told of old…”

“--Why is she not listening to us?!” Aria gritted her teeth in confusion.

“A-Adagio, I’m scared.” Sonata affirmed fearfully.

“KEEP SINGING!!” The leader yelled out, and with it, she turned to the dazed Paladin. “Listen here, Shimmer. Kill Twilight Sparkle, now.”

“Twilight Sparkle is not dangerous, and I will never hurt her! Lalalaa…” Sunset bobbed her head back and forth with a smile.

The three of the siren’s eyes widened fearfully and in complete confusion.

Sunset began dancing, shaking her body and misstepping with her hooves. “Feels so good, feels so good, it's frightening, wish I could, stop this world from fighting, la la la laaala lala la la laaa–”

“Sweet merciful Hydra, what’s wrong with her?!” Sonata was the first to flee– Diving back into the river and swimming downstream.

“COME BACK HERE, YOU IDIOT!!” Adagio cried out, but it fell on deaf ears.

“She’s got a point, there’s something seriously wrong with this Paladin and I don’t want to know what.” Aria stated simply, and immediately dove into the river, swimming after her sister.

Adagio was prideful, yes, but she wasn’t stupid, her survival instinct kicked in. “T-this is NOT over!! You will all serve us yet!!” She bellowed, and jumped into the river hastingly.

Silence befell the riverside, as Twilight watched the sirens swim away in suspicion, until they were out of sight.

As soon as it felt safe, she turned to the Paladin, removing the cotton from her own ears, and was surprised to see her dancing and singing. “Um, Sunset? Are you okay?”

“La la laa la laa laa la la laaaAARGH!!”She yelled out, shaking her head vigorously. “I HATE mind control. MotherFUCKERS!!”

“I did warn you not to try to fight sirens directly!” Twilight snickered. “We got lucky though, they totally ran away…! Do you know why? What did you say to them?”

Huffing, exhaling, Sunset shrugged. “I have NO idea.”

Lanterns floated into the night sky, illuminating the darkness, as if the number of stars were doubled. They traveled in random directions slowly, peacefully.

The entirety of Ponyville was bathed in the orange hue, and bustling with life and joy– And yet quiet, as most citizens were in awe of their own displays.

It was the first time Sunset Shimmer had ever seen the Lantern Festival from up close.

“It's so nice, right?!” Twilight nudged her quietly. “Ponyville is so wonderful… I’m glad Celestia got me to travel here often...”

“Yeah, it's… It's beautiful.” Sunset Shimmer affirmed breathlessly, looking up, thinking of a distant memory.

Speaking respectfully yet joyfully, the mayor approached Twilight with a smile. “Look at that, you finally got Miss Shimmer to enjoy one of our festivals, eh? Never thought I’d see the day!”

Twilight blinked in surprise several times, eyeing the two of them, and Sunset looked away in embarrassment. “What? Huh? Sunset, have you come here before?!”

Gleefully, Mayor Mare snickered. “Oh, the Paladin crossed this town several times in the past– I still remember when she slayed that giant centipede. Her methods were always a bit bloody, but– She kept us safe.”

“Giant Centipede??!” Twilight eyed her bodyguard with confusion. “What were you up to before I met you?!”

“Oh, that’s nothing.” With a giggle, the mayor nudged the Paladin. “You should tell her about the giant beheaded dragon corpse you left in my town’s outskirts, Miss Shimmer.”

Grimacing awkwardly, Sunset averted eye contact. “It’s uh, it’s not still there, I hope…?”

“Celestia took care of it.” The Mayor rolled her eyes in delight. “You should watch yourself around this one, Miss Sparkle. She’s too tough for her own good– But it’s nice to see you’re mellowing her out.”

Twilight narrowed her eyes at her bodyguard, as the mayor bid her farewells and joined the festivities. “...Giant beheaded dragon…?”

“If you’re asking about that, you’ll want to sit down.” Sunset chuckled ironically. “But seriously. Let’s talk about this later, I want to enjoy the show.”

She turned her gaze to the lanterns above them, and the pupil didn’t blame her, simply shrugging, and enjoying the lights.

This kind of conversation would be better had some other day.

Right now, all that mattered were the stars.

Galas were frustrating, certainly– But at least this wasn’t the Grand Galloping Gala.

If there was one respite, it was that Twilight looked cute. Her dress was incredibly simple– Her friend Rarity had pleaded with her to wear something more intricate, but the pupil had refused, a silent act of protest to having to be present here for her friend– Supportive, but still wanting to showcase her individualism.

She heard her do a tiny groan of annoyance while having a drink, and Sunset raised an eyebrow instantly. “...Ten more minutes and we leave?”

“...Please.” Twilight huffed, pouting.

A small smile appeared in the Paladin’s lips. “I’m presuming you don’t attend the Grand Galloping Gala either?”

“I haven’t had the chance to yet– I imagine it would be much better than this…? I at least hope so. I’ve been kind of avoiding it.”

“It’s the inevitable side effect of being a pupil of Celestia, I get it.” She took a swig of her own drink. “I didn’t like these kinds of things either.”

Snickering quietly, she almost whispered. “I can’t match the pompousness of these royals. I don’t know how they do it.”

“They have to have been born with it, right?” Sunset joined her with a mischievous snicker. “My orphan-ass could never understand how somepony talks like that–”

“Ah, if it isn’t Celestia’s star pupil and her bodyguard! What a strange duo you two make!” A posh, royal mare approached, carrying wine with her. “One is dressed with her shower drapes, and the other is dressed for war.”

Sunset didn’t even respond, she just continued to quietly perform her guarding duty, narrowing her eyes at the newcomer.

Smiling awkwardly, Twilight offered a hoof to shake, one that wasn’t met. “H-hello. It’s nice to see you again, Miss… Um, was it–”

“Jade! Jade Opulence, I cannot believe you forgot!” The royal mare huffed angrily and with hyperbole. “We have met in dozens of galas and you still carry yourself out so unprofessionally!”

Stuttering, the Pupil recoiled. “S-sorry, I’ve got a lot on my mind–”

“Celestia really picks her pupils poorly, doesn’t she.” The royal rolled her eyes. “A tiny little fool that doesn’t know the slightest bit of decorum…” She did not whisper, she spoke just loud enough so that Twilight could hear.

And the pupil did not respond, giving the stuffy royal more of a chance to keep biting. “I should have a word with your teacher, ask her why she chose so strangely.”

Rolling her eyes, The Paladin huffed. It was always like this, always some stuffy royal trying to bring you down with pointless words and shallow threats. It was always empty and always cowardly. She turned to the pupil, intent on offering her to leave the party…

…And saw that Twilight’s eyes were watering.

Finally, immediately, she could notice one thing that she was capable of that Twilight was not. The simplest form of endurance when scrutinized or insulted, the simplest form of thick skin.

And now Twilight Sparkle was crying.

Sunset acted immediately, turning to the royal and stomping on the floor. “The gauntlet is THROWN. Twilight Sparkle challenges you to a duel for honor, and chooses ME as her champion.”

The royal's eyes widened in confusion and fear. “U-um. What?”

“A duel, right here, right now. Do you have a champion to choose from, or will you challenge me yourself?” Sunset towered over her, glaring plainly and thoroughly.

“U-um, I don’t have a champion, I’m just uh–”

“What is your preference, physical combat or magical?” She snarled, stepping even closer.

“O-okay, there must be some mistake–”

“Physical or magical?!” She demanded fiercely, towering over the royal who shriveled into herself.

“U-um, so, hypothetically, if I did not want to participate in a duel…?”

“You would apologize.” Sunset snarled plainly.

“I’m sorry!”

“TO HER!” Sunset pointed at Twilight. “And you better make it real.”

The royal folded instantly, shily and wearily smiling towards the pupil. “U-um, Miss Sparkle, I am very sorry for speaking out of line. So, very, very sorry.”

Pouting, frowning, Twilight reveled in the few seconds she forced the royal to squirm before replying. “I accept your apology.” She stated simply.

“E-excellent. I will see you at the next party!” That was enough, the royal nearly ran out of there.

“Bah.” Sunset scoffed, narrowing her eyes. “Fucking vultures. Every gala is the same, they’re always–”

She was interrupted swiftly by a hug from Twilight, who sniffled in her embrace. “Thank you…!” She muttered softly.

Involuntarily, Sunset chuckled, not finding the courage to hug back.. “Y-yeah, I’ve done these sorts of things before. I’ve got you.”

“Is this going to be a recurring thing?” Sunset whispered with a grin.

Twilight Sparkle was fast asleep in the castle library, with her muzzle buried in a book, occasionally muttering to herself. Night had come, and she had not returned to her room.

Rolling her eyes, Sunset couldn’t help but smile. The pupil loved learning and studying even more than she did, even at the cost of her own comfort.

Slowly, gently, the Paladin carried her back to her room, and found herself smiling the entire way.

AGE 30

Downing another beer, she groaned, looking away. This bar usually had good entertainment, but tonight’s player was a downgrade– Maybe this was the result of being away from Canterlot for two years. You never know when the service will get worse.

“Another.” She muttered to the bartender, while fidgeting with the helmet that she left at the counter.

“Same one?”

“Yep.” She side eyed the guitar player in the corner with annoyance. “Who’s that idiot?”

“Traveling player. Don’t know her personally.” The bartender shrugged.

Sunset grinned, while looking away. “She sucks.”

“Tell her that yourself then, knight. Heh.”

“HEY! YOU SUCK!” Sunset yelled out, smiling. “SHODDY GUITAR’SMANSHIP!!” She blurred out, not drunkenly, but gleefully.

“Okay asshat!” The player paused her performance instantly, slinging the guitar over her own back, and walking over to Sunset. “You have something to say to me?”

“Yeah. You suck.” Sunset grinned, looking down on this old mare. Earth Pony, gray hairs, one eye covered by her bangs and a ponytail that went over the shoulder– She did not impress. “They let you out of the old folks home to come play here?”

“Oh, that’s funny, coming from a mare playing dress up.” The old mare bit back. “Nightmare Night’s already over, jackass.”

“My clothes were in the shop. Had to wear what fit.” Sunset joked, tapping her chestplate. “Seriously though, It’s my birthday, you could at least play better, asshole.”

“Your birthday?” The mare mocked, sitting besides her. “Where’s your party?”

“You’re looking at it.” Gleefully, if not a bit dazed, Sunset spread her arms, waving at the quiet bar. “I’m turning thirty years old today, how about that?”

“Happy birthday, asshat.” The old mare sat next to her, huffing. “I’ll try to give you better entertainment, after I get another beer.” She nodded towards the bartender, tapping on the counter.

“I’d appreciate that. Even I could play guitar better than you, and I suck.” She mocked, taking another drink.

“You’re not touching my guitar, if that’s what you’re insinuating.” The old mare frowned, looking through her, finally getting her beer.

“I sure as hell wasn’t, hah. I don’t intend on picking that back up.” She snickered, looking at her now drinking buddy with a grin. “I’m Sunset Shimmer, by the way. You?”

“I’m Flare Sh-SHIT.”She sputtered, coughing up her beer, nearly choking, caught completely off guard.“SHIT– Shit! What!?”

“Flare Shit? Your parents must have hated you.” Sunset chuckled to herself.

“Flare. Just Flare.” She breathed in and out haggardly, eyeing the Paladin with shock, then taking a long drink.

“Oh yeah? What brings you to Canterlot, Flare Shit?”

“I-I’m…” Her demeanor changed, becoming more reserved, almost shy, looking down. “Just passing through. I play in bars all over Equestria. I’m a free bird, you know? Can’t stay in one place.”

“I fucking wish–” Sunset breathed in and out, and took another drink. “--Whatever.”

“...What about you? I wasn’t expecting to be a drinking buddy of… The star pupil of Queen Celestia herself…” She muttered, side-eyeing the Paladin.

“You must be out of the loop.” With an ironic chuckle, Sunset drank again. “Haven’t been her pupil for years. She’s got a better one now.”

Carefully, frowning, Flare glared at her with concern. “...And you’re just a drinker now?”

“Sure. Let’s go with that.” She rolled her eyes, finishing another bottle, slamming it in the counter, and picking up her helmet. “Good luck with your playing, Flare Shit. I was on a break, but time to get going. Happy birthday to me.”

She made her way to the door absentmindedly, and left without a word.

Flare eyed her own drink pensively and quietly, while grimacing. “...Happy birthday, kiddo.”

“Sunset Shimmer. I must speak with you.” Celestia called out sternly, entering the hall that she currently resided with Twilight, who was working on study with several books.

“O-oh! Queen Celestia, let me just finish this paragraph…!” The pupil narrowed her eyes, studying the page, while the Paladin made no motions to move.

“No. I must speak with Sunset alone.” The Queen declared. “Follow me, please.”

Sunset’s hooves stayed planted firmly on the ground, as she looked at Twilight, then back to the Queen. “How important is this? Why can’t Twilight come?”

“It is critical, but I need only you.” She affirmed sternly. “Let us not discuss this further.”

“Fine.” She moved, glancing back at the pupil. “I’ll be back asap.”

“Okay… Good luck…!” Twilight looked back in concern.

Sunset and Celestia hadn’t been alone in a room since her return, a fact that all three of them knew well, and tried their hardest to ignore.

The walk through the halls of the palace was quiet.

“Where are we going?” The Paladin asked simply, following the Alicorn.

“To the restricted section.” Celestia muttered back quietly.

“...You never told Twilight about it, huh?”

“You’ve seen how she adores books. I fear I wouldn’t be able to pry her off of that place if I did.” The faintest smile appeared on her lips. “That is why I trust you with this… And I appreciate that you maintained the secret.”

“Sure.”

More quiet. Sunset didn’t even give her a glance, as they walked and talked.

“...Have you been eating well?”

A meaningful meaningless question, one that Sunset just muttered an affirmation to.

After deliberating for another moment, Celestia spoke up. “...You seem to be getting along well with Twilight.”

“What can I say? You picked a good replacement.” She muttered out instantly. “A real charmer. A people person. A bookworm. Very obedient. And she doesn’t have any violent tendencies to boot. Total package.”

“Sunset…”

“--She’s better than I ever was, and I’m not prideful enough to not admit it.” The Paladin gritted her teeth. “That’s all. Congrats on your most faithful student.”

There wasn’t an inch of sarcasm in her voice, just pain. And Celestia could feel all of it.

“Well…” She took a moment to think her words carefully. “I am at least pleased that you seem to be committing yourself to your new role as her guardian.”

“You sound pretty happy that I know my place.” She gritted her teeth.

Frustrated, she nearly huffed out, but breathed. “Sunset, I am just saying that I believe you are doing a wonderful job in protecting Twilight Sparkle. She is non confrontational, and I did not give her extensive combat training, so your help these past few months has been invaluable. Thank you. Do you hear me?”

“Eh. Bandits here, monsters there– Nothing that’s really challenging. She doesn’t need me.” She rolled her eyes, averting eye contact. “And hey, good for you not needing to teach her to really fight properly– She still knew exactly how to beat me. You must have helped, I imagine.”

“...I wanted you back safely. That is all.”

“And I get not teaching her how to fight like me.” Sunset shrugged. “Know your history, and all that.”

“I am also pleased to see that you have not killed while serving her.” Celestia stated plainly. “Outside of beasts, of course.”

“Give it time. I’m a ticking time bomb, aren’t I?” Sunset snarled quietly.

All Celestia could do is sigh, as they finally approached the entrance to the restricted section.

Rehearsed motions. Opening the secret passage, walking down the dusty dark stairs, lighting the way with their horns.

“Why am I here?” Sunset muttered quietly, as they entered the dark chambers, and Celestia immediately selected books she had thought of for a millenia, browsing the bookcases.

“A prophecy, Sunset.” She muttered pensively, while moving about. “You remember Nightmare Moon, I’m sure?”

“Yep. Your sister.” She came closer to the table in expectation.

“There is a prophecy that the stars will aid in her return. A thousand years has led up to this… This year.” Slowly, she placed two books on the table.

“Predictions and Prophecies?” Sunset grinned, almost snickering. “I’m guessing this isn’t just one of the sham books we see in dollar stores.”

“No, Sunset. This is the real deal, made by some very wise old friends of mine.” She spoke quietly, mournfully. “In here, Twilight Sparkle will find every information she needs to know of Nightmare Moon. Not everything… Just enough.”

“Why don’t you tell her yourself?” The Paladin scoffed, taking the book and flipping through its pages absentmindedly.

“It is not wise to tamper with prophecies directly, Sunset.” She spoke in a grave tone, shaking her head. “I have given Twilight all the tools she needs to set this right. I’ve even given her practice with saving you. But I will not hold her hoof through the process.”

“Great. What’s this other book?”

“Ancient history. Stories of me and my sister and our accomplishments– How we banished darkness and many foes in the first place. In here, Twilight will find the answer on how to save her.”

“Elements of Harmony…” Sunset murmured absentmindedly. “And a prophecy. That you want Twilight to carry through…”

Seconds passed with the dominos moving in her head– taking each other down one by one, until it all clicked, and she felt her heart sink, as her eyes widened. “Y-you… You thought it was going to be me, didn’t you…?”

“I hoped.” Celestia muttered mournfully. “I hoped and wished with all my heart that it would be you.”

“G-god fucking damnit. It’s Twilight. Of course it’s her.” breathing unsteadily, Sunset closed her eyes. “Fucking… Destiny child. Of course it isn’t me. Of course.”

“Sunset, after your banishing… I knew I needed to find a new pupil to fulfill the prophecy. I presumed that the Umbrum had tampered so thoroughly with fate, that we were all doomed– That you were the chosen one, and that they had taken you from me…” She had a sympathetic grimace, and an exhale. “But Twilight demonstrated plainly and thoroughly that she is the mare that the prophecy speaks of. Of that, I am now certain. She is the pupil that is destined to bring back the moon to us… Do you understand? I need you to help her–”

“--My help isn’t worth shit.” She snarled plainly. “You just had me down here because you wanted alone time with me. What, is delivering two books hard for you now?”

Exasperated, filled with sorrow, the Queen became direct. “Sunset, you must understand. I believed in what you were capable of– And I am so, so sorry for having banished you–”

“You’re sorry?! Are you fucking serious?!” Nearly yelled out, biting her tongue, gritting her teeth. “I became a raging demon that tried to kill you, and burn this palace down and you are trying to apologize to ME?!”

There were no words that the Queen could say to refute that. So Sunset kept going. “I see what this is about now. You wanted me down here so you could relieve yourself of guilt.”

“Sunset, that is not at all what this is at about–”

“No no. It’s fine. Let me do you a favor, here and now, Queen Celestia: I don’t blame you for doing what you did. Because I deserved worse; In fact, If there’s one reason for me to resent you, it's that you should have finished the job and killed me. Instead you forced me to live and watch you replace me with a much better–”

“--SUNSET SHIMMER.” Her voice resounded through the ancient chambers as she raised her wings, and the Paladin did not flinch, but they were both face to face now, and she spoke both earnestly, and sternly. “If I had the chance to go back and change my decision of what to do with you– I would always, always choose to spare you. No matter what.”

“Great. And you want me to say thank you?”

Bitter silence passed, as they both stared at each other full of resentment.

Sunset finally moved, grabbing the books and turning around. “Good chat. I’ll get these books to Twilight. Let’s hope Nightmare Moon can do what you couldn’t.”

Celestia didn’t bother following her out of that place, sitting down and simply shuddering with both frustration and sorrow.

After all, for once, she couldn’t even feel happy or anxious about the possibility of the return of her sister.

For once, there was another member of her family that caused her even more grief.

One other member of her family she wanted back, too.

“NO!! YOU CANNOT BEAT US!! OUR NIGHT SHALL REIGN ETERNAL!!” Nightmare Moon bellowed out, as her body was engulfed in light, as she struggled to spread her darkness, stifled like a flame on the wind.

“No, Umbrum. Our Harmony will reign above all.” Twilight Sparkle stated simply, as her eyes glowed, and prismatic light spread to every direction from her.

She adorned every element of harmony. Four anklets, a necklace and her crown. The jewels glowed intently, as did her eyes, she was magic incarnate. And above all, she now had wings.

“Y-you cannot win–” The Alicorn of the Night gritted her teeth, trying so fiercely to fight back the light. “We will return. We will find more vessels. We will try, again and again, until your world is bathed in darkness. That is our promise.”

“And here’s mine.” The newly ascended alicorn spoke with a blank face, but determination. “We will always be here to stop you.”

Light engulfed everything, as if it was day, for a moment. The ruins of the castle of the two sisters were bathed in the power of Harmony, overwhelming nightmare moon.

“GO BACK TO THE SHADOWS!” Twilight bellowed, as the darkness was pried out of the eyes and mouth of the mare on the moon.

The ensuing light show could be seen halfway across Equestria.

And when all was quiet, the sobbing of Luna could be heard, fallen on a crater.

“Harmony returns.” Twilight stated simply, looking at the sky above. “Sun and moon, together once more… Be free, Celestia…!”

And just like that, the sun was rising, and with it, the Queen of its namesake flew down, freed of the shackles Nightmare Moon had placed on her.

“Twilight Sparkle, you’ve done it…!” Her smile was warm and wide, full of joy. “You have done what I could not, a thousand years ago… You have truly earned your wings.”

Her eyes still glowed, as did the elements attached to her– She spread her wings, blinking in confusion. “W-we have wings now?! We have wings now!!”She cried out in surprise.

“And sister…!” Celestia bowed down, beholding the weeping alicorn of the night with both love and sorrow. “Welcome home…!”

Crying, Luna leapt onto her sister's arms, desperate for a hug, one which Celestia was glad to deliver, wholeheartedly. “I am so ashamed, so, so ashamed…!” She muttered tearfully, unable to even open her eyes. “I-I am so sorry, sister, I lost my way–”

“And here you are.” They shared those tears, with sorrow and joy. “Here you are, sister. We’re together again… All is as it should be.”

“A-a thousand years, and you are just–” She sniffled, inhaling. “Y-you are forgiving me?! H-how?”

“Don’t be so surprised… Have you forgotten my nature…?” She smiled warmly, as they nuzzled each other tearfully. “We were meant to rule together, little sister. I am so sorry that fate robbed you of that…!”

“I-I’m so, so sorry, I wish, I wish so desperately that I could have returned here sooner…!” The Queen of the Night sobbed in her embrace.

“Better late than never, little sister.” She affirmed with a warm smile– An affirmation her sister remembered well.

The tears of sorrow became tears of joy, as Luna dried her tears on her sister’s chest. “You’ve grown so tall– I’ll have to catch up…!” She murmured with faint giggles.

“And you will. Now…” She turned to the bearer of the Elements, who watched the scene analytically, devoid of emotion, overwhelmed with power. “Thank you. Twilight. For reuniting me with my family… I knew the moment I met you, that you would be capable of doing this. Equestria is changed forever, because of you. And it is my sincere joy to welcome you to alicornhood, my most faithful student…!”

With a bow and a warm smile, Twilight spread her new wings. “It is our pleasure to aid in the unveiling of a new age, Queen Celestia. Thank you.”

Nodding sagely, the Queen of the Sun took a second to drink in the joy that these moments brought. “You may want to remove the Elements, my student. Overusage–” Until a feeling crept up on her. “...Was… Sunset not with you?”

The newly ascended alicorn’s hide shivered, as she looked around frantically, and her horn dazzled, scanning the environment fearfully.

“O-oh no. Oh no…!” Luna muttered in shock. “I-I think Nightmare Moon might have–”

“There.” Twilight proclaimed, teleporting forward with a mighty clap of thunder onto a destroyed part of the ruins, one which she had to quickly lift apart debris, tossing it aside without a second thought with her overwhelming magic.

“Oh no, no no no no not again!!”Celestia leapt into action, joining her pupil.

Sunset Shimmer had been buried in rubble, and her armor was bent and bloody, as she laid unconscious showing no signs of life.

“S-she fought Nightmare Moon!” Luna declared hesitantly. “S-she was buying time for Twilight to gather the elements, wasn’t she…?”

“S-she’s not breathing!!” Celestia cried out, immediately turning to her pupil. “TWILIGHT! THE ELEMENTS! STABILIZE HER, NOW! PLEASE!”

For only the briefest of moments, the newly ascended alicorn beheld the fallen Paladin, as a single tear streamed down her cheek. “It is not your time to cross death’s door, Sunset Shimmer. Stay with me…”

Overwhelming prismatic healing magic began bathing the fallen Paladin, and two of the alicorns demonstrated immense concern.

Luna eyed the scene with surprise, as much as curiosity. “Sister… Who is she to you…?”

Canterlot burning to the ground.

The castle razed to rubble.

And the demon, the perpetrator, the mistress of flames and shadows, Sunset Shimmer, sat above it all, observing her handiwork.

She did not revel or scowl. This was business. This was another day, another night. Her claws grabbed the rooftop below her, tighter and tiger, as she heard more screams below.

“Interesting… It is as I feared.” Queen Luna approached her from behind, with morbid curiosity. “The Umbrum… They still target your dreams, don’t they?”

“Am I dead? Did you kill me?” The demon asked immediately, without even turning around.

“Twilight Sparkle saved us both. You are alive, simply… Recovering from your fight with me.”

“With Nightmare Moon, you mean.”

“You and I know better than anyone how the lines blur.” Luna breathed out, taking a seat next to the demon. “You don’t seem surprised that I am here.”

“I wasn’t until you told me I’m alive. This dream is normal for me.” The demon laid down, and looked at the sky. “...Recurring.”

“And I hope you are aware who is at fault for these nightmares.”

“Yeah. The same motherfuckers that made me into this in the first place.” She spread her demonic wings, and beheld her demonic claws. “They’re never going to let me go, are they…?”

“They wouldn’t.” Luna affirmed simply, as her horn glowed, and her wings spread, as she began stretching muscles she hadn’t in centuries. “But now, I am here.” A slight grin manifested in her lips.

The entire layout of the dream changed. The city was rebuilt, reformed, and it shined brighter than ever. Sunset, no longer a demon, watched in awe and sorrow.

“Y-you– Holy crap–”

“I am a dreamwalker. The original one.” Luna nodded sagely. “It is why the Umbrum targeted me in the first place.”

“Never again.” Sunset muttered through gritted teeth.

“Indeed, Sunset Shimmer.” She walked past the boundaries of the rooftop, and began walking on air. “I have not done this in a long, long time… I must continue to practice elsewhere. There is another dream I wish to visit tonight.”

“Good luck… You’re more needed in Equestria than you know…!” Sunset affirmed, not being capable of bringing herself to smile.

“Look in the mirror, Sunset Shimmer. And repeat those words.” Luna grinned, as she disappeared into the night.

“Q-queen Celestia!! Sunset is not in her room!!--” Raven Inkwell yelled out, and immediately silenced herself, shamefully coming to an obvious realization.

Sunset Shimmer was in fact perfectly safe, embraced by Celestia’s wing, and they were both sleeping soundly– Until the secretary yelled out in a panic, of course.

“...Good morning, Raven.” Celestia chuckled lightly, as she raised her head, and stretched her wings. “Or should I say good night? I have not yet raised the sun, after all.”

“M-my sincerest apologies, Queen Celestia!” Raven chuckled out, shaking her head. “I see that the little one is safe. Enjoy your rest!”

She left quickly, closing the door behind her– And as the alicorn looked down, she was pleasantly surprised to see that Sunset was awake, and smiling. “I-it wasn’t a dream…! I really am here!! Yes!”Instinctively, she hugged the Queen, who replied with a nuzzle and a laugh.

“Indeed you are, little one. Would you like to see your first sunrise?” Her voice was pleasantly melodic– They were both going to remember this day for a long, long time.

“Whadayamean? I’ve seen the sunrise before–” But her jaw dropped, as she connected the dots. “Y-yes!! Yes yes yes, show me!!”

The two made their way to Celestia’s balcony, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, with Sunset literally running in circles and wagging her tail furiously out of excitement.

Quiet, now– But joyful quiet. Celestia made rehearsed motions, and Sunset imitated them– Which nearly led the Queen to stop for a chuckle, but she held steadfast.

And just like that, the sun rose behind the mountains, accentuated with the gasps of the little foal. “T-this is so cool…! Y-yes!!” Words failed her.

“The first sunrise of many, little one.” Celestia affirmed lovingly, leaning down to nuzzle her pupil. “Shall we have breakfast?”

“So this is who Sunset Shimmer is to you…” Luna muttered pensively, watching them from above.

“S-SISTER!!” Celestia nearly had a heart attack. “O-oh my goodness. I see you have managed to dreamwalk again…! Is Sunset, is she–”

“She is okay.” Luna stated with a smile, as she walked over to the balcony, joining the two of them. “The Umbrum were trying to infiltrate her mind again– That is why she was restless, and why she couldn’t wake up. I imagine she may be awake in time for festivities.”

“You’re dang right, I will!” Little Sunset puffed her little chest with pride. “I’m gonna be super strong and cool, just like Queen Celestia!”

“A-as you can see…!” The Queen of the Sun let out a weary chuckle, pointing at the little foal. “...Much has happened, in your absence.”

“I can see that…!” Luna leaned down, and the little Sunset poked her nose. “Tell me, in detail, who Sunset Shimmer is to you– And what has come to pass.”

Sunset Shimmer was drunk.

And just like that, life didn’t feel so bad.

Festivities? No, there was only one thing worth celebrating now. Not the ascension of a new Princess to alicornhood, not the return of the Queen of the moon– The one thing worth celebrating on this day was nothing more and nothing less than the bender she was currently on– And her newfound friendship with Pinkie Pie.

Who she had gotten carnally acquainted with, in the past week.

They both giggled mindlessly, not at a bar anymore, but resting outside it, in a garden at night. The bard, Pinkie, fiddled with a harp goofily, while Sunset just leaned lazily back on the bench and finished her last bottle.

“Heh. Heheehehihihi. Your scars are really awesome…!” Pinkie slurred out, and immediately broke into a little giggle. “I’m gonna write a song about them. And about you. Can I write a son–”

“Shush Pinkie shush.” Sunset placed a hoof over her lips, with an idiotic grin. “You can do whatever you want with songs about me, in one incredibly dire condition.”

“And that is…?”

“Make me sound cool.” She affirmed with the widest grin, taking another swig, then chuckling.

“You say that like it’s a challenge, Sunsun.” The Bard nuzzled her affectionately, and goofily. “You’re cooler than cucumber cool, hihihi.”

“Don’t I goddamn know it.” She nuzzled back, grinning idiotically. “See, this is what my life should have been about. I get it now. This is it, man.” She looked to the stars, took another swig, and spoke poorly. “Who gives a rat’s ass about growing wings, ascending into godhood or meaning something to the world at all? Fuck the world. All that matters is having a snack nearby, kissing some cute chicks and being butt-fuck drunk.”

“Am I a cute chick???” Pinkie pointed at herself with a dumb smile.

Sunset kissed her so hard she fell off the bench.

“Does that answer your question, Pink?”

She groaned, grunted in frustration, and placed her guitar down. “G-godamnit. This is shit. It’s stupid and I can’t get these chords right–”

“Stop, Sunsun, stop and talk to me.” Pinkie placed a gentle hoof over her friend’s guitar, smiling kindly.

Looking down, exhaling, she murmured in anger. “I can’t get these chords right, my playing is shit, and this is a waste of time. I should just go check on Twilight, I don’t know why I even–”

“Okay, your playing is bad. Then do it stupid!”

“...What?”

“Who said you had to do it perfectly on the first try?” Pinkie fiddled with her own guitar with a giggle. “Do it stupid until you can do it smart!”

She paused, for a moment, regarding Peony’s guitar, with tired eyes.

She sighed, grinned lightly, and picked it back up.

"Be the true, true true originaaaal..." Pinkie murmured mid conversation, peppily whipping her tail.

“You said Marble wasn’t ‘chatty’, heh.” Sunset grinned, leading the way. “But she talks plenty, once you know how to listen.”

“Heh, believe me, as her sister, I know!” Pinkie followed along the Paladin gleefully, almost hopping.

They had just done something in the bender that Sunset hadn’t done since she was with Flash– gone to a concert, and watched musicians play, just to enjoy herself. And of course, get a little bit drunk, like they were now.

The concert was held in the palace gardens, extremely convenient for her. Despite the newly ascended Princess’s new busy routine, the Paladin had made time to relieve stress elsewhere.

They passed by a hedge maze, one that Sunset knew well, but Pinkie delighted herself to be lost in. The plants around and above them were decorated with lights of multiple colors for the concert, bathing this strange dark night in a beautiful pattern; And at least in a place like this, they found privacy, away from the many people returning home after the end of the concert.

As gleeful as ever, Pinkie had to prod. “So, between my sisters, which one did you like dating more?”

“You, duh.” Sunset chuckled, stopping to look up at the lights.

“H-hey! I meant my sisters, not me!” She flustered and pouted.

“Hey, can you blame me?” She turned, and laid on the grass, watching the lights above her– The most comfortable position for a drunk to be in at the moment. “It’s not every mare I hook up with that I can call an actual friend after. Seriously.”

Pinkie joined her, laying down as well, giggling. “Okay, good point. Answer the question, though.” She pointed accusingly.

Silence, as she mulled over it. “...Maybe Maud? She’s got a lot more layers once you learn to dig through them.” She chuckled, closing her eyes. “And also she was the only one of your sisters that didn’t accept a job offer to work here in the castle, heh. So there’s that. She’s got will. Thouuuugh Limestone is doing pretty well as a squire too.”

“Maud is the best, isn’t she?” Pinkie giggled, wiggling in the grass like a dog. “Ah… Tonight was really nice.”

“It was. I’m glad we did this.” Sunset muttered quietly.

“...Don’t you gotta go back to Twilight soon?” The bard murmured in response.

“Not tonight.” Sunset closed her eyes, hearing every sound around her. The hustle and bustle of a show being wrapped up nearby, the familiar comfort of an old leather jacket around her chest, the noises of the nightlife in the city, crickets… “Tonight I’m just this.”

Moments of quiet passed, as the bard fidgeted pensively, and slowly began blushing more and more.

Some things were better left said, and she refused to leave them unsaid. “H-hey. Can we kiss?”

Sunset opened one eye, turning only slightly to the bard. “...Why?”

She continued to fidget and fluster as she spoke every word. “I-I was just, I dunno, I… I realized that the last time we kissed, it might have been the last time, and then I realized I wasn’t ready for it to be the last time… Y’know?”

With the lightest of chuckles, Sunset closed her eyes again. “You make for a lousy one-night stand, Pinkie Pie. Though I suppose your sisters have the same affliction.”

“We had fun, didn’t we…?” She murmured with a smile.

“We’re still having it, Pink.” The Paladin smiled all the same.

“I just…” She stopped smiling, and began pouting. “I just started thinking about like… How a mother might carry her daughter for the last time, and not know it. How an old man might go to sleep for the last time, and not know it… How two lovers might kiss for the last time, and not know it… And I got kind of sad, y’know…?” Her eyes began watering.

Sunset turned to her side, eyeing the bard fully– Speaking casually, but looking with genuine emotion. “...Since when are you the sentimental type?”

“Have you heard my songs?” She giggled, turning to face her, both laying down in the grass. “...I’m always the sentimental type.”

There was nothing else that needed to be said. Sunset smiled, leaned forward, and kissed her gently, softly, suppressing a chuckle.

When she pulled away, she spoke honestly. “Pink… In some other world… you and I left all this shit behind, and never looked back, okay…?”

A quiet, genuine chuckle left the bard, as she turned back to the stars, with a warm smile. “...I’m gonna write a song about that.”

“...Make me sound cool.”

Sunset shimmer was drunk.

This time, more than she had ever been.

And to make matters worse, she was accompanied by two of her Princess’s old enemies– Starlight Glimmer and Trixie Lulamoon.

The three mares had enjoyed a wild night of mad drinking and partying, bar hopping and reckless driving of the magician’s chariot.

And now, they were on the outskirts of Canterlot– Having been kicked out of the final bar of the night, and the Paladin found, on her drunken stupor, that she wasn’t ready for it to end.

“Fuck it. Another.” She muttered, while grabbing a bottle, one she didn’t even know contained, and began drinking. “Best night of my lifeeeeeeeeeee…!” She grinned madly.

“Don’t I know it, hot stuff.” Trixie raised her own bottle, smiling dumbly. “Here’s to Nightmare Night! Oh, how it is a night of dreams…!”

“Ah, you’re wonderful. Both of you…” Starlight affirmed, resting her eyes. “I’m glad we did this…”

“There is no ‘did’, Glimmer!” Sunset proclaimed to the night air. “We’re still doing it!!”

“Oh, we are going to be doing it, hot stuff.” Trixie proclaimed, almost growling. “C’mhere.”

They got a bit frisky, a bit kissy, and Sunset wrapped it up by pinning her in the grass; The magician stuck her tongue out and made a squeaky noise. “Trixie Lulamoon.” The Paladin stated with a grave, slurred tone. “I’m going to find whatever tartarian hellspawn cursed me by making you hot. Then I am going to kill them. And then I’m coming back here and kissing you some more.”

“I'll be waiting, hot stuff.” She laid on the grass in a decidedly unsexy pose. “While you’re at it, gimme some snacks from the cooler. Trixie is feeling snacky.”

Sunset did no such thing, instead deciding to roll over and lay in the grass, and her helmet tumbled away, resting in the dirt– All she could do is giggle. “Yeah… This feels right to me. Paladin should have never been my thing... Drunken grifter– Now that sounds like Sunset Shimmer.”

“Why wait, hottie?” The magician sprawled herself out, like a stretching cat, and laid uncomfortably in the grass. “Join our show! Me and Starlight are gonna take you for a riiiiide, I’ll tell you.” She broke out into giggles before finishing the sentence properly.

“Can’t.” Sunset eyed her empty bottle and sent it rolling on the grass. “I pledged myself to Twilight Sparkle. I owe her. I have to stay by her side.”

“Pff you don’t haaaave to do anything.” Trixie yawned, raising a defiant eyebrow. “You said it yourself, Paladin should have never been your thing. And you don’t see a lot of other dummies proclaiming to be legendary warriors walking around, do ya?”

“...What are you implying?”

“I’m saaaaying, that this Paladin stuff is cool, sure, but that you made it up! You’re bound by rules that nopony else is following, and you’re pretending that there’s a shackle around your neck.” She made kissy faces, while laying in that grass lazily. “Nopony’s forcing you to serve Twilight Sparkle. Not even Twilight Sparkle! So you can leave whenever you want.”

“Shut the fuck up.” Sunset affirmed, standing up. “I’m not pretending that this isn't who I am.” She tapped her chestplate daringly.

“Girl, you’re all about pretending.”

“IF I GIVE UP ON THIS, THERE’S NOTHING LEFT!” Sunset cried out, almost in a panic. “LOOK AT ME! Am I the star pupil of the Queen of the Sun?! NO! Am I Canterlot’s prodigy?! NO!! Am I the demon of the temple of the moon?! NO! Am I an alicorn?! FUCKING NO!!!! IF I GIVE UP ON BEING A PALADIN, THERE’S NOTHING LEFT OF ME!!!!!”

The other two mares were silent, watching her with concern and worry.

Sunset, dizzy from standing up too fast, took two steps and laid back down on the grass. “How many parts of me can fizzle out before I disappear like a flame blown out…?”

“I’ll blow you, if it makes you feel better.” Trixie said with a stupid grin.

“Shut the fuck up, Trixie. I love you.” Sunset muttered out both in anger and with giggles.

“I love you too, hottie.” The magician mumbled out dumbly.

Silence once more, as Sunset turned to the stars, closing her eyes. “There’s nothing left. Fucking… Orphan from nowhere…!”

Trixie, almost singing, almost performing, began spewing out words in between giggles. "Poor little Sunset wanted to control everything, past present and future, her whole life, the whole kingdom… One little day she gained real control and showed her true colors-- And after baring her teeth and spewing flames and sprouting wings, she's afraid of what real control does to her. So she can't trust herself with it, hooray…! Now if someone were to grab her by the hair and tell her what the right thing to do is…?"

“I’ll grab your hair in a minute, asshole.” Sunset tried standing up clumsily.

“Promise?” Trixie pouted.

“Shush. Both of you.” Starlight stepped forward, bringing Sunset into a gentle embrace, laying in the grass with her. “It’s okay, Sunset. I know how you feel… It’s hard, it’s really hard, to find it worth it. But you’re just drunk… By tomorrow, life’s going to feel worth living again.”

“N-no, no, no…” Sunset murmured. “Don’t you get it…? Life is worth living NOW! But tomorrow…?” She laid down, closing her eyes, feeling the grass with a weary exhale.

Gently, Starlight placed a kiss on her cheek, and nuzzled her. “The world is still going to be here when you change your mind– Just like how it was for me.”

“Sunset.” Twilight called out quietly, after the long, long day. “I’m, uh…” Clumsily, she fidgeted with her hooves. “I don’t think I want to be alone right now…! Could you stay with me?”

The Paladin’s eyes widened as she analyzed the invitation, and how it was given. Twilight’s room looked incredibly inviting. A long day of having rescued the Princess from cultists, and now she wanted alone time with Sunset.

Her mind wandered to parts she didn’t want to wander, and she quickly shot it down.

“I’m covered in blood.”

“I have a shower!”

“I’m hungover as shit, I’m exhausted!”

“I have snacks, water, and a king-sized bed!”

“I have an arrow on my ass!!”

“And I’m really good at healing magic!!”

The back and forth stopped.

Turquoise eyes were fixed on magenta eyes.

Her mind wandered to her recent experiences, in the past months, with other mares. It wandered, unwillingly, to the incredibly unchaste things she could do to the Princess, this perfect, adorable, loving, cherishing Princess that she had vowed to protect, all the things she could do if she spent a full day alone in the same room like this.

If she entered that room, she would do something she might regret.

She had to force herself to move. “I, um, s-sorry!” She stated poorly, weakly, and nearly galloped out of there, running away from Twilight Sparkle.

And she kept running through the halls, without a certain direction, her mind foggy, her head pounding, until…

“--Sunset Shimmer, have you rescued Twilight Sparkle?” Celestia asked, as Sunset nearly ran into her– A more rhetorical question, because she knew how efficient the Paladin was. “...And I presume you have taken lives today?”

“I, uh, bwuh, um–” She was dizzy, a bit frantic. “Sorry, what, can you repeat that?”

Tilting her head in confusion, the Queen studied her. “Is Twilight okay? I presume she is, since you are here– And are you okay? There appears to be an… Arrow in your backside.”

“Yeah! Um, yeah! Okay!” Sunset affirmed, stupefied. “Twilight’s perfect! I mean she’s great– GOOD– SAFE!”

“O-oh dear. You appear to be in shock– Was the battle with Tirek’s cultists that intense…? Come, let me take you to the infirmary, little On— Sunset.” She muttered out worryingly, leading the way.

“Y-yeah, yeah, okay.” She affirmed, shaking her head, trying to get rid of the dizziness. Did she imagine what had happened this afternoon?

Did Twilight really offer a position to her as the captain of the royal guard…?

“Seriously, man!” Flash laughed at himself, accompanying her through the halls of the palace. “Get your head out of your ass and just say yes! What do you have to lose?”

“I thought we established that already!” Sunset huffed. “Everything!”

“Duuuude.” He shook his head disapprovingly, but couldn’t help but smile. “The Grand Galloping Gala is coming up– And what, if she asked you to chaperone, or asked you to dance, would you say no too?”

“Probably.” Sunset frowned.

“The royal guard needs a captain!” He affirmed gleefully. “I challenge you to find someone more competent than you for the job!”

“You didn’t forget anything under my bed or something, right?” Sunset blurted out wearily, with a yawn and a stretch. “No offense, but I don’t want to see you two for a while.”

“We get that a lot.” Trixie raised a defiant eyebrow, with a grin, as she left the apartment.

“Don’t worry, we get it.” Starlight chuckled, taking a bag with her, leading the way. “It was a pleasure, though, wasn’t it?”

“In more ways than one, if that’s what you’re implying.” Sunset chuckled to herself, leaning on a window. “Thanks for fixing my tub while I was out.”

“Thanks for letting us stay while we fixed the carriage...” She replied with a warm smile.

“Thanks for crashing our carriage when you were drunk!” Trixie called out from outside.

They both sighed in unison, rolling their eyes, and after a bit of pensive silence, Sunset spoke up. “Hey Glimmer. Why do you even take orders from her?”

All she got as a response was a confused head tilt.

“I mean… You’re incredibly magically capable. You could be a powerful wizard if you wanted– Hell, you fought Twilight before. And instead you choose to play second fiddle to a two-bit magician and travel around Equestria as her assistant.” Sunset affirmed, puzzled. “...Why?”

After a light chuckle, Starlight shook her head. “Let me answer your question with another one; Why do you take orders from Twilight?”

“...She’s a princess, she’s my Princess. I owe her. ” Sunset affirmed without hesitation, a bit confused. “I have a pledge, I don’t think this applies–”

“Look in the mirror, Sunset.” The Unicorn grinned, tapping the Paladin’s chestplate. “A mighty warrior, a bag of muscles, you don’t need to take orders from anypony.” She affirmed, closer, smiling. “You could go anywhere, be anything– And yet you follow her orders without hesitation. Do you think Twilight would lead you astray?”

“...No? …No. Not ever.”

“And there you have it.” Starlight chuckled to herself. “Trixie might seem eccentric, but I trust her with my life– And I trust her to decide what to do with it, too. It’s… Better than having to decide it for ourselves, y’know…?”

“...Yeah. I know.” She looked down pensively. “...After everything we’ve done..”

Trixie walked into the room frantically. “Are you two having a moment?? Without me?! I refuse to not be part of a moment!!”

“Suck my dick, Trixie.” Sunset blurted out immediately.

“Whip it out, bitch, I’ll make you wanna marry me–”

Starlight zapped her girlfriend, teleporting her out of the room.

“Did you just–”

“She’s in the carriage, don’t worry.” Starlight affirmed, chuckling to herself. “Seriously, though. You know why I haven’t offered you to come with us, right?”

“...Yeah.”

“If you know what you want, go take it, Sunset.” She affirmed with a smile. “Don’t let life hold you back– Don’t bother considering what you deserve or don’t deserve because of what you’ve done. Trust me.”

A genuine, warm smile manifested into the Paladin’s lips. “...You’re a good person, Starlight Glimmer.”

“Takes one to know one.”

The sun was rising as Sunset and Moondancer stepped out of the former's apartment.

“This is goodbye, then?” She adjusted her glasses, smiling faintly. “Or are we seeing each other later…?”

“Sorry… But you’re right. I know what I want.” Sunset smiled warmly, tilting her head. “I’ll take you home before I go to her, okay…?”

“Do me a favor, will you?” Moondancer giggled, and let out a sigh. “...Treat Twi as well as you treated me.”

Sunset stood outside of Twilight’s room– For the first time ever, actually wanting to go inside.

“Hey, can we talk? It’s important.”

After all, she knew what she wanted now. She knew that she could just have it, if she wanted it– She could just take it.

She needed to be honest, and she needed to be open. Too much time had been spent with self sabotage.

“U-um, in a minute!” Twilight’s voice resounded from inside, shrill and weary, with her clearly having just woken up.

Sunset could hear loud and clear how the Princess was moving everything inside, likely cleaning her room desperately. “Twi, I can hear you tidying up in there, that’s not necessary, just open the door, heh!”

Finally, the Princess opened the door with embarrassment, and papers still flew around behind her, gliding to the floor.

She greeted her paladin with a weary, but happy smile. “S-Sunset! Hi! You’re not usually this punctual! Um, what’s this about?”

“We need to talk. Can I come in?” She breathed a bit uneasy, after having run there.

Twilight stepped back, motioning for her to come inside, with an awkward smile. “Sorry for the mess, I uh, don’t usually get visitors. It isn’t like this everyday. This is, um, a one-time-thing.” She lied clumsily.

Sunset removed her helmet, letting it idle on a desk, and adjusted her mane nervously, steadying her breathing. “Look, Twilight, it's–” She inhaled, then exhaled. “This is important. This is everything.”

Twilight looked at her intently– It did seem serious. She quickly removed her sleeping mask off her forehead, tossing it to her bed, and gave her Paladin an awkward smile. “Go ahead! Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it!”

“You see, the thing is…” She couldn’t make eye contact at first, as she psyched herself to speak.

There was a moment of quiet, where she arranged the words in her head, thinking over exactly what she needed to share.

“Sunset? Is everything okay?” She approached, with genuine concern.

“When we first met.” Sunset began, making eye contact, straightening her back. “When we first met, I was a demon, trapped in a dark place I couldn’t escape. I tried to kill you– And you beat me, and spared me.”

The Princess nodded, paying attention.

“The thing is– You could have killed me. Hell– You probably should have. I would have...” She exhaled, tilting her head. “But you didn’t. You could have killed me, but you didn’t. Then you saved me…!”

“Of course I did! Why wouldn’t I–” Twilight began speaking, but Sunset silenced her with a gentle hoof to the lips, and a smile.

“And after that, when you dragged me, bleeding and wounded, out of that place, I pledged myself to you. I promised I’d do anything for you.” She exhaled, reminiscing. “...You could have refused. But you didn’t.”

Twilight, remaining quiet, simply smiled, incredibly happy to see Sunset smile.

“And then I found out that you were Celestia’s current pupil, my replacement… And I offered you an out. I told you that if you wanted me to leave, I’d gladly leave, as long as you let me. Because… I didn’t want to face my old, failed, ruined life. Well… The life that I ruined. I hoped you would let me go...” Eye contact, full of affection and pride. “...But you didn’t.”

They were closer now.

“You could have replaced me with any guard… But you didn’t. You could have let me die fighting Nightmare Moon… But you didn’t. You could have even let me go after that– Say my pledge is fulfilled! …But you didn’t.” She chuckled, letting out a weary, happy exhale. “And I’m so fucking happy you didn’t, every step of the way.”

Twilight shared that chuckle, uncertain on where this conversation was headed, but happy to see Sunset happy.

“Look– I talked with Moondancer, I talked with Starlight, and they opened my eyes. They… They made me ask myself about what I wanted– And not just ask, but actually think about taking it– Something I never considered before.” She affirmed, with a determined nod. “Because why would I ever try to get what I want? I don’t deserve it– Hell, I’d be satisfied just doing what I'm doing until my body gives out– I've been complacent! I’ve been just– Hopping from bender to bender, without purpose!”

“Aw, Sunset, look–” But she was silenced again, with that same affectionate hoof, pressing on her lips.

“I want to tell you what I want– And you’re probably the only one that’s going to hear this, so listen up, because if I don’t say this now, I’m never saying it.” She muttered, with a tired smile.

With great anticipation, Twilight sat, eyes widened, waiting, looking at every movement Sunset made.

“I want…!” She exhaled, with an almost teary smile, a wide, gentle grin. “I want to be as close to you as I could possibly be. I want to make sure you’re safe, even if I’m asleep–” She shook her head, suppressing laughter. “I want to move out of my shitty apartment! I want to live in this castle again– I want to be close to Celestia again–”

Twilight smiled even more, but remained quiet, even as Sunset approached her. “I want to be your Captain.” She affirmed, with a determined whisper. “I want to whip all of those lazy guards into shape so bad– I want them all to be as devoted to protecting Equestria, to protecting YOU as I am. I want to make sure this castle is a bastion of safety, so that when you’re here, I know that nothing could ever hurt you. I want to know you’ll be okay– No matter how far I am.”

She grinned widely, and couldn’t contain a tiny squeal of excitement. “Yes! Yes yes yes!!” she hopped up and down with glee.

“There’s one more thing I want.” She spoke, not sternly, but just enough to call attention, so Twilight would settle down.

“The thing is…” Sunset sighed nervously, looking at the ground, then just shook her head.

“Fuck it.” She muttered, and just like that, she leaned forward, pulling Twilight into a kiss.

It wasn’t long, just enough for the Princess to go from surprise and shock to acceptance and enjoyment of it– No matter how much she was stupefied.

Sunset pulled away, not smiling, but determined, as she spoke the most important words she would ever speak.

“I want to be whatever you want me to be.” She affirmed with a nod. “I’m fully committed to you– Whatever you want me to be, I’m yours. I want to be by your side until I die, Twilight Sparkle.”

The Princess was dumbfounded, still reeling on the dizziness of her first kiss, lips still awkwardly puckered out, face as red as ever.

Sunset saw that pause, and smiled nervously. “S-sorry if that’s too much. I didn’t want anything unsaid– But if you think it’s out of order, I’ll go gladly take it back–”

She was silenced with a quick, affectionate hoof to her lips.

It was Twilight’s turn to talk.

“Okay, um…!” Her face was incredibly red. “I think everything you said is… Really really good.” She tilted her head, looking away, giggling to herself. “But there is one thing that’s wrong.”

Sunset’s ears twitched in confusion, as she watched the Princess intently.

They were muzzle to muzzle, eye to eye, as Twilight Sparkle smiled with incredible affection. “You said you want to be by my side until you die. And I think that’s beautiful. I want that– But guess what, Sunset? I don’t want you to die. Ever.”

Sunset’s eyes widened.

“So my first decree as your Princess, to you as my Captain– Sunset Shimmer, you will keep yourself alive, so you can be with me.” She spoke almost rehearsed, with a hoof to her Captain’s cheek. “Is that clear?”

Sunset nodded confidently, grinning, they could feel each other’s breaths. “By your decree, I will never lose a fight as long as I serve you, Princess Twilight Sparkle. I promise.”

“Good.” She affirmed, with a devious smile, then leaned forward to kiss her captain.

It was a clumsy kiss– She was inexperienced, after all, but she was desperate to demonstrate her affection, and Sunset didn’t mind it in any way.

“And now, for my second decree…!” Twilight blushed fiercely, leaning a hoof on her Captain’s chestplate. “Whatever you were doing with mares these past months– I want you to do to me. Right now.”

“U-um. Yes! Your wish is my command!” Sunset gave a nervous, enthusiastic, flustered salute.

“...How do we get this armor off?” Twilight began fidgeting with her Captain’s chestplate, a bit desperate, even.

“It’s, um, a bit tricky!” Sunset chuckled, seeing her Princesses efforts.

“Teach me.”

Sunset Shimmer was right where she wanted to be. And she was wanted.

Embracing her Princess, with the alicorn’s wing over her, feeling the sun rise beneath the curtains, smiling truly and enjoying every second of it.

The world moved on without Sunset, and yet she was still here. And now, she had a place in it.

Finally, Twilight stirred– A little stretch, an adorable yawn. “...Good morning, Captain.”

“Good morning, Princess.” She grinned warmly, proudly, happily. “What shall we do today?”

“Everything.”

Author's Note

This is literally the entirety of this fic. I'm putting Sunset through it. Giving her some respite. Then putting her through it again. (I hope the image is showin, goddamnb)

WHY AM I MAKING THESE CHAPTERS SO LONG FOR THE LOVE OF GOD THIS IS ALMOST AS LONG AS MY LONGEST CHAPTER EVER "BETTER TO HAVE LOVED AND LOST" JESUS WHYYYYY Forgive me. But hopefully the next ones will be SIGNIFICANTLY shorter.

I'm glad I got to focus a while on Sunset's time as a demon. I don't usually get to write a lot of prose, and that was a perfect time for it.

I kind of realized something funny about my writing style, as I wrote this whole fic-- I feel like I write as if I'm describing a scene in a movie or a show, meaning I keep focus on the dialogue and in the subtle expressions and movements of the characters as much as possible, and I rarely tell the reader exactly what they're thinking.

I noticed that I purposefully always try my best to avoid describing exactly what a character is thinking-- I feel like when a movie is well acted or directed, you'll know merely by what the actors do and how they emote in the moment, and ESPECIALLY what they're saying, and what they're not saying. I kind of try my absolute best to dictate things by action, and save prose to the most important moments.

Maybe it's a crutch, frankly, but I fucking love dialogue. I think my favorite thing is when I'm capable of dictating not only exactly what the character is feeling but what they want, all of the above and more. Speeecially with subtle ironies. But I digress.

Basically, i realized I hate having to do the thinking FOR the audience. I'd rather respect that you can suss things out by yourself. Like, example, in the scene where she meets Flare at the bar-- Do you honestly need me to tell you what this meeting means? Who Flare really is, and what she means, what she's thinking? Hell no, if you are smart, you'll easily suss that out by yourself. (Plus it helps that I also wrote her on the Shimmerverse heh)

Also, warning, I TOLD YOU, don't come at me saying you're confused as to why we're skipping around so much, Sunset's bender is completely explained on this other fic, I warned you, if you think that her and Twilight getting together is rushed, go read that fic!! (Also god fuck 20k+ words was already plenty for this chapter.)

I usually focus a lot more on the romance, but since I had already done that on the bender fic, I decided to focus on Sunset's avoidance on this one. I didn't even give a lot of Celestia scenes on this chapter, they're all coming later! The mom reconciliation... It will be legendary

Anyways, running some moments of the fic by again, I will say that Sunset's pledge to Twilight? Woulda been an ideal escape for her. Oh, how she craved for it.

The shadows will return, and when they do, the primary Umbrum that talked to her will get a name, I promis.

Enjoy it while you can that was the only time I'll ever write snips and snails. Also I at least got to mention Zecora. Thank god. Zecora mentioned

Can you believe that I actually deleted some scenes out of this? I actually wanted to write a sequence where Shinning and Cadance visits and Sunset is taken along on a double date lmao. From there I could have written Chrysalis to attack Canterlot, they'd fight together, etc etc. And I'd setup the good changeling stuff a bit more naturally! (cause I love changelings and will write more about them on this fic still)

Also I got to reference the Dazzlings, and I'm just happy about that. Even just a scene with the siren sisters was satisfying, I love those three gals. Will they return? Unlikely lmao. Sunset Shimmer displays complete iron will and refuses to obey mind control. Ah, reminds me of the shimmerverse. (Plus Sunset got to sing a Glen Campbell song <3)

Ah I'm so glad Luna's back I want to put her on this fic more so badddd but all in due time. Thank goodness she was already all over the bender fic heheh. This auntie needs to help her sis and her niece so bad.

The sequences I wrote of Sunset's bender where ones I originally deleted it off of that fic, but ones I figured would fit perfectly here, like finaly getting to honor some sunpie, heh.

And that fated scene was inspired by this gorgeous ass visual in case it wasn't obvious heh <3

And of course, show more of the Starlight x Sunset bond, of two characters that can relate to each other pretty damn well-- Starlight just managed to be more well adjusted. They got even more time on the bender fic, but still-- It was important they had a bit of a special touch on this one too =v=

And if you're confused as to how Sunset and Flash made up off screen? Read the bender fic lmao. 20k+ words was enoughhhhh.

Also one of the funniest subtler jokes I put on this chapter is Celestia thinking Sunset is going into shock because of wounds and killing but Sunset is actually going into shock because she almost had sex with Twilight Sparkle LMAO.

If you want a reference on how I designed Sunset's Paladin armor, here you go, from the shimmverse heh.

LAST THING. Here's smth funny. you may have wondered why Celestia didn't banish Sunset to Tartarus; And it's cause cince Cerberus knew her, Sunset would be more than capable of escape, given time. A few belly scratchies and boom.

Anyways, it was probably strange at first for you that this ACT is called "fondest memories" This is why, heh. Starting now, Sunset is going to have... A GOOD TIME?!?!?!?!? And a girlfriend, how about that.

...Twilight is gonna have an even better time, if y'know what I mean.