Broken Promises

Sunset pulled her head out of Celestia's wing, and her mentor smiled comfortingly at her. Sunset sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hoof, took a deep breath and slowly looked back at the grave, letting her eyes trace the detals on the coffin. Carved into it were leaves, intricate patterns and other details Sunset had given, many referring to things Sunray had held precious to her.

Some part of her knew it didn't matter, but another part of her hoped her sister appreciated it. If she did, that was more than enough for Sunset. While she never had a belief in any sort of higher power herself, she knew Sunray did, and for some reason found herself hoping that such a thing was true, if it meant she got to see Sunray again. Sunset's eyes reached the top of the coffin, where the glass faceplate formed a diamond shape, allowing Sunset to see in.

Sunray looked so peaceful where she lay, golden and crimson mane streaming out around her. She looked so peaceful, blossoms resting on her face with a content smile on her face, her features smooth and the freckles that dotted her face were easily visible in the light.

Sunset was just glad that whatever her last thoughts were, they were happy ones.

It was a simple enough task; their convoy was to go a few days ahead of Princess Celestia's in order to help set up a welcoming committee for her arrival in YakYakistan. Naturally, as her Student, Sunset was in charge, but that didn't mean she didn't enjoy the company sat next to her.

"Nonono, you don't get to dodge the question that easily Sunny! Who is he?!"

Sunset giggled.

"She is a well respected pony who doesn't need to be bothered by my little sister."

Sunray sighed dramatically and flopped onto Sunset.

"Oh dear sister, why do you tell me so little about yourself? One would think you're locked behind a mirror to another world."

The pair looked at each other for a moment, then started snickering.

"So," Sunset began through snickers, "enough about my love life. What about yours?"

Sunray shot up in her seat and a slight blush appeared.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Sunset gasped and thrust her muzzle closer to Sunray's face

"You do! You totally do! Ohhhhhh, I can't wait to meet him!"

"Sunny, stawp!"

Sunset giggled more and pushed at Sunray's armour.

"Bet he always gets excited when these come off-"

"Sunset!"

More laughter, and a glowing blush appeared on Sunray's face.

"You are, like, actually the worst."

"You started it."

"Hmph."

Sunray stuck out her bottom lip in mock annoyance, and the duo soon began laughing again.

"So how much further is it to YakYakistan anyway? I hate not being able to fly out here!"

Sunset smiled.

"Even if you if it was warm enough for you to fly, you'd cause an avalanche if you flew at your speed."

Sunray rolled her eyes.

"But we passed Snowybury a while back. Should be about 1 and a half days."

Sunray smiled.

"And then I can fly!"

"For like, 5 minutes before you have to get your wings warmed."

Sunray nodded and grumbled absent-mindedly.

"Will somepony invent wing-warmers already?"

Sunset leaned back in her seat and looked out the window of the cart she shared with Sunray, awarding herself with an idyllic view of a large valley, like something you'd see in the travel magazines her parents used to have. The mountain path they were taking wasn't exactly the safest, but Celestia had suggested that they take it in order to have more preparation time, and to allow Sunset to do some studying with Yak scholars. She snorted.

If they have an-

Her thought was cut off by a loud crack and a rumble. She and Sunray sat up in their seats, exchanging a look before quickly diving out of the cart. Her worst fears were confirmed as she saw a large wall of white barreling down at them. For a moment Sunset could have sworn she saw a yak-sized figure at the top of the mountain, but then she was too busy spell casting to check again.

While her immediate thought was flame, Sunset knew it would only result in water pushing them off instead. Without another proficient flame-caster, she had no way to produce enough flame at the two different heats required for most efficient conversion, and while she could do it on her own, she couldn't with as much faced her now. Instead she opted for a shield matrix Shining Armour had taught her, creating a barrier before slamming it into the mountainside at an angle.
She watched in relieved satisfaction as the avalanche rode up the matrix, falling off of it over the other side of the path, completely missing the caravan. Sunset let out a sigh of relief and turned her full attention to holding the spell as a few of the other unicorns began reinforcing it with their own magic.

Sunset would never find out who fired the shot, or why. She only knew that somepony did, presumably in self defense from the figure at the mountaintop. But it was enough to break Sunset's concentration, just for one moment. In that moment, part of the matrix faltered, then failed. Before Sunset could react, she felt herself being swept of her hooves and carried off the edge of the path.

"Sunray!"

"Sunset- hold on!"

Sunray, who had been stood in one of the protected sections, leaped after Sunset as she was swept off the mountainside, reaching deperately for her sister through the snow. Sunset wasn't sure how long she fell for, but she felt her hoof brush against Sunray's, and then plummeted into the trees and snow.