Misty was never known for being an optimist. In fact, she had rarely been allowed to form an opinion on whether things were good or bad, instead, how she should act or feel often was decided for her.

Which only led to her being a pessimist when she finally broke away from Opaline and her manipulations– After all, when you are at the bottom of a well, how could you possibly climb back up? Surely, the ground can still cave from under you.

Her new friends certainly tried to help her unlearn this attitude, but that was often a losing battle.

Speaking of losing battles…

Opaline’s cackle resounded across the brighthouse and beyond, as her flames spread through the only safe home Misty had ever known.

Misty did not need anyone to tell her that she should feel bad about this.

And of course, the alicorn of flames wouldn’t do this without gloating. “MWAHAHAHAHAH! You foolish little ponies– Did you really think I would be gone forever? Burning your precious little home is just the beginning!”

Misty felt completely and entirely frozen. Despite the flames around her, she felt cold.

Sunny and Zipp were still fighting– And she couldn’t help, there was nothing she could do.

“J-just give up, Opaline!” The leader called out, flaring her magical wings and horn, protecting her friends as fiercely as she could.

“How adorable. That’s my line.” Maliciously, the alicorn continued to blast her with flames, forcing her on the defensive. “You really think an imitation of an alicorn and a few ragtag failed children could possibly beat me?! I am inevitability itself–”

She was interrupted by a soaring flyby from Zipp, one she narrowly evaded.

“Hey! I am monologuing about your demise here!!” undignified, she snarled. “Show some respect!”

“MISTY! C’MON, WE CAN DO THIS!” Zipp called out courageously, mid-air. “TOGETHER!”

But it wasn’t enough. Misty’s heart beat at a thousand miles per hour, yet she was completely unable to move, her eyes fixed on Opaline.

“Hah! You really think that worthless girl could help you?” The alicorn laughed maliciously. “My, she couldn't find her own horn if she had a mirror” And Swiftly, she blasted the pegasus, making the poor unicorn cringe.

Zipp fell and crashed upon the debris of the Bright house, and Misty didn’t even have the strength to scream for her.

“MISTY’S OUR FRIEND, YOU BIG MEANIE!” Daringly, Izzy yelled out from cover, and was punished by a blast from Opaline, one she nearly avoided, but was blasted away from.

“Y-yeah!! Don’t talk about her like that!” Hitch tried the same, and was reprimanded with the same fierceness.

“Nopony likes you and you suck!! O-oh my glitter–” Pipp had to throw herself out of the way to dodge a fiery blast.

Sunny, recovering, lunged at her opponent once more.

“You won’t win this day!” She called out, locking horns with the alicorn. “I swear you won’t, Opaline! Your evil ends here!”

“Adorable.” No matter how much resistance, Opaline was unfazed. She didn’t even bring herself to respect the mare before her in her pitiful attempts of resistance. “Get yourselves a real alicorn, and maybe we’ll chat.”

Flaring her wings, her magic overcame Sunny, who was blasted into a wall, barely conscious.

Misty was the last one standing, a fact that Opaline reveled on.

Slowly, tilting her head and grinning, she approached, giving Misty a menacing smile matched with a profoundly disappointed frown. “What now, Misty?”

No response, all the unicorn could do is cower and shiver.

“What was your big plan, Misty?! To hide behind your new so-called friends? Were you thinking they’d solve your problems? Get rid of me for you?” She mocked viciously, cornering the unicorn against a wall. “Did you really think that any of you could actually beat me? ANSWER ME!”

“N-no…!” She muttered weakly, fearfully.

“I can’t hear you, Misty. Do not mumble. Did you think you could beat me?”

“N-n-no…!” She closed her eyes, with frail breaths.

“Oh, dear, I still can’t hear you!” She mocked viciously, rolling her eyes.

She had no more strength to speak or to move. There was nothing else she could do– Everything she had ever loved was being destroyed in front of her, and there was nothing she could possibly do to fix this.

She shuddered an inhale, waiting for the end.

And found that the end did not come.

And that all sound around her seemingly vanished.

She dared to open an eye, and inspect her surroundings, and felt incredibly strange.

The color of Opaline’s flames had dimmed, in fact, time felt like it was moving at a snail's pace, the fire around her dancing in slow motion. The alicorn stood before her with a scowl, one that did not react to her little movements.

She had no time to Process what this meant before an angelic voice called out to her gently from the balcony, and a light entered the room.

“Misty… Do not be afraid.”

“B-bwuh? H-huh??” was all she could say, remaining frozen.

The light was bright, yet not blinding. It had a prismatic hue as it took the form of a glowing magnificent white alicorn that towered over all of them. “Hello, little one... We have little time, but I am here to help.”

Finally, Misty gained the strength to speak.“W-who are you?? Can you beat O-Opaline?? P-please, we need help, she’s unstoppable–”

“Breathe, little one.” Her mane revealed itself, multicolored and flowing with no wind. “I am here to help, yes… But I cannot interfere directly.”

“P-please, I-I can’t do anything, I can’t move, I can’t fight her–” Misty sniffled, shaking her head fearfully, “I-I don’t know what to do, I can’t do anything right, I can’t–”

“Little one…” Incredibly gently, the alicorn moved a hoof to Misty’s cheek, with a comforting smile. “You are capable of more than you know… And you can win this. Believe me.”

“B-but how?? How could I possibly beat her, I-I can barely m-move–”

“Breathe in, and breathe out.” Slowly, the alicorn motioned with her wings. “I will tell you how to beat her… But to do so is up to you. Are you ready?”

“B-but I can’t do it! I can’t–”

“Misty… What more do you have to lose?” she tilted her head patiently, kindly. “When all else has failed… You can still try again. Better late than never, little one.”

She took a single moment to breathe– The alicorn was right. There was no time for doubt– It was this or laying down and dying. There were no other options. She had to move, and she had to fight, to the bitter, whimpering end.

“...H-how do I beat her…?”

“Punch her in the face.”

“W-what?!?”

“Wind up your hoof back, put your shoulder into it, and punch her in the face. In the muzzle, to be precise.” The alicorn began walking away, back into the balcony, with a delighted sigh. “You can do this, Misty. I believe so.”

“P-punch– Whuh??”

“Goodbye– If all else goes right, we will see each other again soon– If only one more time.”

The light faded almost instantly, and Misty was left breathless, as the room moved at a regular pace.

“Well then, Misty? What is it you were mumbling pathetically?” Opaline left herself completely unguarded, looking down on the unicorn smugly.

No more thoughts ran through her head. She took one single breath, and flailed her front leg clumsily.

In reality, she had picked up both speed and momentum, wound up a jab, and delivered this strike directly on the muzzle of the alicorn that once pretended to be her mother.

The hoof was clumsily and not much strength guided it– But it hit its target square and true. She felt the squishing and snapping of Opaline’s muzzle against her hoof, even considered that she heard a crack, and wasn’t sure if it was her own hoof or her opponent’s muzzle coming undone.

She fell on all fours, breathing heavily, heart pumped with adrenaline, and watched Opaline stumble back, now bleeding.

“D-did y-you–” The alicorn clutched her muzzle with the tips of the feathers of a wing– shuddering in surprise and hesitation. “H-how in– Did you seriously–”

Misty was ready for another. This time, she launched herself forward with her back legs, and wound up her left foreleg, keeping her eyes open and her aim more precise.

The second punch landed to the side of her face, sending her stupefied a few steps back– A few drops of blood flying away as the alicorn’s legs shook.

Finally, Misty had the strength to speak. “F-FUCK YOU, OPALINE!!”

It was as if the entire room went quiet, and all of her friends gasped in shock and surprise.

“...YEAH, MISTY, WOOO!!!!” Izzy ran up to the two of them with renewed vigor, and wound up her own punch, even getting a full leap’s worth of momentum before colliding with the back of Opaline’s head and rolling away. “SCREW YOU, OPALINE!!”

The alicorn was completely dumbfounded, clutching her bleeding muzzle and regarding her ex-aprentice fearfully. “Y-you little NOTHING!! I-I MADE YOU! HOW DARE YOU LAY A HOOF On–”

Zipp arrived, as fast as a bullet, delivering her own punch to Opaline’s skull, and landing right beside Misty, with a proud smile. “Way to go, Mist!! Fantastic idea!! We can just beat her up!!”

“EVERYPONY, TOGETHER NOW!!” Sunny raised her wings, and leapt into action, winding up her own punch. “SPECIAL FRIENDSHIP MOVE: BEAT THE SNOT OUT OF HER!!”

Misty didn’t need any more suggestions, she leapt forward and began flailing her front hooves recklessly, Izzy joined in, kicking Opaline while she was down, giggling as she did it, while Zipp did just as much while also slapping her with her wings– Sunny lead the charge by even biting the alicorn a little– And finally, Hitch leapt into action to join on the kicking-fest– A celebration Sparky joined enthusiastically, punching the alicorn as fiercely as his baby arms allowed.

Pipp whipped out her phone and began livestreaming the ordeal. “How's It going pipsqueaks, Pipp here, back with a wonderful stream, as usual, only the best content for all of you! Now I know it seems like everything is on fire, and yeah, it kind of is– But I’ve got wonderful news– We’re beating up Opaline! Look at the weird sounds she’s making! I think she’s–”

“E-ENOUGH!!” Teleporting away from their grasp and into the balcony, a battered and bruised Opaline cowered. “Y-you all have not seen the last of m-me!! How dare you disrespect me!! I am the queen of flames, I am–”

Misty wound up another punch.

Opaline winced and took off flying fearfully and clearly struggling, hitting a tree on her way out.

“WOO!!!” Izzy flailed her hooves, still pumped. “WE’RE ON FIRE!! IN YOUR FACE, DUMB-A-LINE!!”

“The Brighthouse is on fire!!” In a frightful hurry, Sunny ran around and began putting out the flames that surrounded them with her magic, even if moving with a limp.

“Way to go Mist!! I’m SO proud of you!!” Zipp flew to her and nuzzled her affectionately. “You even said a swear word, man!! Way to go!!”

Still in shock, shuddering and breathing incredibly quickly, all Misty could do was nod with a little smile.

“Okay Pipsqueaks, I know the room is still on fire, but let's give our bestie Misty thumbs up, yeah?”

“The hell’s a thumb?” Hitch grimaced.

“Okay, hug it is!” Pipp leapt forward and embraced her friend, still holding her phone in a selfie manner with her free leg.

“YEAH, MISTY!! MVP!!” Izzy leapt into the hug, and Sparky quickly followed.

“We’ll have to sleep elsewhere tonight– My office, maybe.” Hitch muttered while assisting Sunny in putting out the fires. “...Girls, now might not be the best time for a hug.”

“Shut up and join, Hitch!!” Izzy commanded, and he obeyed with a delighted sigh.

“Everypony, I stopped the fire, but the building’s foundations are still unstable–” Sunny stopped, and couldn’t help but smile, seeing all her friends valuing their savior. “...Alright, bring it in. You saved our flanks, Misty.”

All of her friends enveloped her, and Misty cried tears of joy and relief, having saved the day through strength she didn’t even know she had– And being safe once more.

Until the roof collapsed.

Sleep wasn’t as restless as she expected– It helped that her friends were all sleeping as close as they could to her on the floor of the sheriff’s office, and were all perfectly bundled up.

And once again she felt that feeling, of time slowing down, and a singular light coming to visit her in this strange hour.

“...Who are you?” She asked hesitantly, at the bright alicorn made of pure light that only she could see manifested.

“...Hm, have history books not kept up to date…? I know Opaline certainly lied about the world and your own life to you, but…” She shuddered, shaking her head. “...So much time and love was taken from you, little one…”

Misty’s mind went elsewhere– To ancient books she had studied on candlelight, at times she shouldn’t.

“...A-are you… P-Princess Celestia…?!” She gasped, eyes widening.

“That is indeed what I was called, long ago. I have not been in Equestria for a long, long time… But I felt like given the circumstances, I could not simply sit idly by and allow an old foe to cause harm to you.”

Nodding slowly, Misty observed the few features the prismatic alicorn had– The rainbow mane, the golden regalia, and the kind, proud smile… “...How did you know that p-punching her would work…?”

A brief, mischievous smirk manifested on the lips of the alicorn, one she chuckled away. “...Opaline always relied too much on her magic– And she absolutely could never take a punch. Her pride may not seem like it, but it is immensely fragile. She will lick her wounds for months, I promise you.”

“Y-yeah! I think I even saw her cry a little!! And I even got to call her a swear word!!” Misty smiled as confidently as she could, which evidently wasn’t that confident.

“That, you did, little one. Oh, how your parents would be proud…!” She smiled incredibly warmly. “I must go now. But it pleases me to know you found your way.”

“T-thank you! Thank you so much for the help!!” Misty's tail wagged as she watched the light fade into a window. “I-I’ll find your pupil, I promise!! I’ll find Twilight Sparkle!!”

“Of course you will. After all, she’s waiting for you.” Celestia’s smile was the last thing she saw of her. “...Goodnight, granddaughter.”

“Y-yeah!! …Yeah…” Misty watched the light fade, and shuffled back into her sleeping bag, letting out an immense sigh of relief and weariness.

Until she yelled so loud all her friends nearly jumped.

“W-WAIT, GRANDDAUGHTER?!”

Author's Note

Some indeterminate time ago:

I hope you enjoyed the one and only fic I'll write for gen 5 lol, I just wanted to have Opaline get punched. That's all

And of course, make it about my sunlight agenda. Screw whatever canon thing Alphabittle has got going on nah I'm giving Misty godly parentage

Though disclaimer, if Sunset n Twi WERE Misty's parents, Opaline wouldn't have stood a fucking chance, and I stand by this. This fic was just me having fun. If I were to have any Sunlight related gen 5 things I would have Sunset n Twilight kicking the shit out of Opaline easily.

And don't bother posting a comment asking why or how they had a baby, trans people exist and Sunset put a baby in that Friendship herald, that is all, don't @ me