But the Sun Refused to Set

Despite the fact that the Sun had just set, Ponyville was only starting to wake up. Candles and lanterns lit up every inch of Ponyville, from the town square to the forest’s edge, as if the carnival had come to town. Ponies of all ages flooded the streets, eating street foods from hastily constructed stands and the few rolling food carts that Ponyville had on hoof for just such occasions. Many of the games from Nightmare Night made an appearance, and children and adults alike enjoyed launching plastic spiders and bobbing for apples.

Twilight, not quite asleep but not quite awake, stared vacantly out her bedroom window. On the nightstand sat a plate containing a cucumber sandwich, french fries, and a small piece of cake, all untouched. In her hooves, she clutched a book in much the same way that one holds a stress ball, and decidedly not like one holds a book that they actually intend to read.

“What’s wrong, Twilight?” said Spike.

Drawn from her stupor, Twilight turned to face Spike. “What did you say?”

“I said, what’s wrong?”

Twilight looked away. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m fine.”

Spike rolled his eyes. “I’m not dumb, Twilight. You’ve been on edge for hours. You haven’t eaten dinner, you’ve barely read a page all day, and you keep looking out the window towards the Everfree Forest. You couldn’t be less fine if you tried.”

“Ok, so I’m a little worried about the first Blood Sun in over a millennium. Is that so unreasonable?”

Spike frowned. “That’s another thing. You’ve been unusually snarky the past few days. It’s not like you.”

Twilight sighed. “I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s just… complicated.”

“I get the feeling that Sunset tends to complicate things.”

Twilight’s right eye twitched. “You’ve been hanging around Rarity too much. It’s not what you think.”

“Is it not? Then let’s sum up the evidence. I come upstairs and find Sunset Shimmer in your bed. You teleport to Pinkie’s and have a panic attack the likes of which I’ve never seen. Trying to help, I pour my heart out to you, and you don’t even react, but when Sunset enters the room you’re suddenly back to normal.” Twilight’s face contorted in horror. “Then when she leaves to go to the Everfree you suddenly lose all appetite for books, food, and your friends… What am I supposed to think?”

“Oh, Spike–”

Spike’s frown softened. “You don’t have to tell me what’s going on. I wish you felt that you could, but I understand that our relationship can be… complicated. You do, however, need to tell someone. I’m sure the girls would support you, whatever it is.”

Twilight looked down. “It isn’t that I don’t trust you, I just didn’t want to worry you. I see now that not telling you what was going on was only worrying you more. I should have seen that sooner. I’m sorry, Spike.”

Spike sighed as he lifted Twilight’s face up to look at him. “I know you worry about me a lot, but whatever is going on, I can handle it. I want to help you with it. But I can’t help if you won’t talk to me about it.”

And so, reluctantly, Twilight explained all about the nightmares she had been having over the past week, her chance meeting with Sunset the night before, the nature of her suspicions regarding the Elements of Harmony, and her discussion with Discord.

“Alright. Let’s just imagine that you’re right. Let’s put aside the absurdity of imagining that the Elements of Harmony are evil. Let’s assume that they actually are and that you and the girls unwittingly helped them replace or mind control the real Sunset and Luna. What would we do about it?”

Twilight didn’t hesitate. “Figure out how to reverse it. We freed Discord from stone, so it must be possible to undo the effects of the Elements.

“Even if we could free them, what then? Sunset was trying to take over Equestria, and Nightmare Moon was about to bring about eternal night before you used the Elements on them.”

“We’d imprison them if we had to.”

Spike raised an eyebrow. “Then why even bother?”

Twilight frowned. “If it’s universe shifting, the original universes deserve to have their own Sunset and Luna back, even assuming that we didn’t send them our own Sunset and Luna, which would obviously be its own issue. And as for mind control…” Twilight shuddered. “You weren’t affected by Discord, so trust me when I tell you that mind magic is truly the darkest magic that anypony can be subjected to. To be imprisoned not only in body but also within the mind is a hell I wouldn’t wish on anypony.”

“So you’re saying that on the off chance that maybe criminals are being treated a little too unfairly, you’re ready to go against the power of the Elements of Harmony themselves.”

“Yes.”

Spike laughed. “Twilight, you’re an idiot. Count me in.”

Twilight smiled. “You’re the best kid a mom could ask for.”

Spike sniffled. “And don’t you forget it.”