Could she breathe? ...No. She was breathing, but it wasn't her. Nothing was her, not really, not anymore. The only place she held any control now was the bubble she was trapped in, the bubble in her own mind. Could she-? Yes. Yes, she could see. What was happening - where were they? Outside Canterlot High School, she could see the statue. What were those girls doing? Was that... Twilight Sparkle?

Isn't it beautiful, Sunset Shimmer?

What? What are you doing?

I'm removing the last obstacles between me and Equestria, and you helped me do so.

You tricked me! This isn't what I wante-

Oh yes yes, Sunray Shimmer! It doesn't matter. There's a princess of Equestria here, and she can't stop me. When she's gone, I'll have the full power of the crown- the Element of Magic- and I'll finally be able to take all of you!

Sunset, or at least, the mental construct of Sunset, felt a tear slide down her face. After all, the Nightmare was right. What could she do?

And now, you get to watch me kill the first of the princesses of Equestria!

But she had to do something. Celestia knows she could never forgive herself if she didn't try to save a princess, the princess she helped train. So Sunset pulled together what little traces of strength she had left. Magic was charging- she could feel it- far too powerful for even Shining Armour to block. So she screamed.

Sunset screamed, she pushed, she pulled. She, like the phoenix Celestia used to compare her to, spent all her strength and energy, burning up into what felt like a pile of ashes. She collapsed to the mental floor, felt the tiredness pulling at her eyes, felt the whips of the Nightmares magic finally touching her, feeling her.

Oh, Sunset Shimmer. You would give yourself for your replacement? Who you never even met?

Sunset wasn't able to respond anymore out of sheer tiredness, only felt the tendrils of magic settle across her brain, felt her desires begin to change, to twist, as the Nightmare manipulated her like it had desired to do for years. Sunset knew she had just moments before she became the Nightmares complete puppet in every way, but there was nothing left to do. Her eyes closed.

Celestia, did I do good?

Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship and wielder of the Element of Magic, was shocked. Not by the forcefield that had formed around her, no, the Elements of Harmony tended to have that reactive property, No, she was shocked by the fact they'd survived. She'd felt the magic charging in the air, to a level that no one, not even her brother, could have blocked. But then, at the last moment, it had been disrupted by something. Twilight felt hope flutter in her heart- maybe, just maybe- Princess Celestia was right.

Sunset Shimmer might still be in there.

Her thoughts were disrupted as the demon in front of her froze. In shock, yes, but not at the surviving girls in front of it.

"Oh my."

Twilight swallowed, hoping, praying-

"Oh what, you fucking bully? That we survived?!"

Rainbow Dash, or rather, her human counterpart, was laughing.

"We have magic! And we can kick your ass-"

"No, no I couldn't care less about you."

Applejack and Rarity cast glances at Twilight as she felt a pit open in her stomach, or, what she thought was probably her stomach.

"She finally spent herself. After all these years..."

"What does that mean, ya oversized mosquito?!"

It chuckled.

"Applejack, Please. I am the Nightmare, not a mosquito. And it means...' A sparkle lit in its eyes, sending a chill down Twilight's spine, 'It means Sunset Shimmer finally used the last of her energy, and why, she used it for you, Princess! I guess you must have meant something to her."

No.

"I mean, I made her kill her own Girlfriend, and that didn't break her. No, Sunset Shimmer refused to give up. But you come along, and to save you? She used it all."

No, no no-

"Yes, princess." Cyan eyes edged in over red, and a voice Twilight hadn't heard in years finally spoke again.

"Sunset Shimmer is finally mine."

"Twi- Twi what does it mean?!"

Pinkie Pie was panicking, and honestly, Twilight was too.

"It was never Sunset Shimmer! Everything that's been done to you, it was never her fault!"

"WHAT?!"

Twilight grabbed Fluttershy and Rarity, steadying herself and them.

"Sunset was never in control! Look, if we do this now, we can still save your friends!"

And so Twilight turned once more to face the demon, felt comforted by the presence of her friends. It may be too late for Sunset, but not for Equestria, for Canterlot High.

It was dark.

...

...

Wake up.

..

Sunset, Wake up!

...

A breath.

She's alive! She's actually-

-I thought it said she was gone!

The Elements - they must have been able to reach her!

...

...

We're losing her-!

Sunset, Stay wi-

..

...

Sunset, come on! You can do this! Stay with me!

...

Who was she?

Shimmer?

..

Alright, talk to me. What's your name?

Shimmer.

Good, okay. What's your first name?

...

Sunray?

No, not quite. Twilight? Who's Sunray?

Her sister.

Sister, sister.

Sunray is my sister.

Yes, good, who are you?

Sunset?

Yes, Sunset, Yes! Good.

How old are y-

...

..

.

..

...

Are you sure it wasn't her?

Positive - Sunset Shimmer is a good pony- I mean, person. She was corrupted by a magical entity known as the Nightmare when she began to try and learn revival magic.

Why?

Her sister, Sunray Shimmer, died in a Blizzard trying to get help for Sunset.

...

She saved us, Applejack.

No way! We had magic forcefields! We were totally fine-

No, Rainbow. That blast should've shattered any shield, but it was disrupted, stopped from fully charging.

That was Sunset.

...

She blamed herself.

...

It was not Sunset, Flash, Principal Celestia, It never was.

...

..

Sunset, can you hear me? It's Twilight, Twilight-

Sparkle.

Yes! Yes Sunset!

Okay, okay, uhh-

...

She's slipping again!

Sunset, listen to my voice! Stay with me. Okay, uhm, Magic! Magic, Sunset, Magic goes-

-goes boom.

Yes!

...

...

..

Air pushed around her.

A groan.

Listen, You are Sunset Shimmer, Student of Princess Celestia and Heiress and Regent to the-

the Guardianship and Throne of the Sun.

Yes-

Kicked out. I was kicked out.

No, Sunset! You were never removed. Princess Celestia loves you, Sunset. She wants to know you're okay!

Failed her.

It wasn't your fault,"Sunset! They know it wasn't" your fault!

...

What about Hope? Radiant Hope! she needs to know you're okay, Sunset!

I killed. I killed Hope. I betrayed her!

Tears.

A sob.

I killed Hope.

No, Sunset! It wasn't you. It was the Nightmare.

Nightmare did it.

Hope's still in Equestria. She needs you still, Sunset.

...

What are we doin here, Sugarcube?

I have to guide her out. The Nightmare was still integrating her, if I can guide her, draw her out, she'll be fine-

...

..

...

.

..

Twilight Sparkle.

"Yes, Sunset?"

"I- I stole your crown."

I'm sorry, so sorry.

It's fine, Sunset. It wasn't you.

I should've stopped it.

"I should've been better-"
"No, Sunset, you did everything right. You're still here" because of what you did, and that's better. So much better than not stealing a crown.

...

Was that... Sky?

She hadn't seen the sky in...

In...

It was Beautiful. Why had she never seen it like this before?

"She's waking up!"

"Sunset? Sunset, can you hear me?"

"Sparkle?"

A face, blocking the sky. She wanted to see the sky, see the stars, but instead, Purple eyes. Purple hair. Purple skin.

Sparkle.

"You- You replaced me?"

A guilty look on the face. She didn't want that.

"No, no. Good thing. You deserve it. Always... always..."

always were smart. And talented.

"And... and Celestia. Always needed..."

somepony else. I'm sorry I couldn't help.

"I know, Sunset, and I forgive you. But you need to wake up. You can do this."

Sunset felt herself stir, her eyes open fully.

She sighed, and felt her chest lighten.

She ached, hurt everywhere. Something warm and wet was dripping down her arm- she was bleeding, bleeding a lot. It hurt.

Sunset chuckled.

"Hey! What's so funny?!"

"I... I hurt."

"What?"

Twilight looked up, away from Sunset's face.

"It's likely that once the Nightmare took control, she was locked away in her own mind and couldn't truly feel anything."

Sunset raised a weak finger.

"Bingo. Smart kid."

Twilight smiled back at Sunset.

"Good teacher."

Sunset sighed.

"I want to sleep. I want to go home."

A new voice - the school nurse?

"You can't yet, I'm sorry, Sunset. But soon, I promise."
"Okay."

Whispers. Good whispers? Bad whispers.

"She really is acting differently."

"Do you think it's true?"

Good Whispers?

Too tired.

"Nurse Red Heart - I have to go back to Equestria now and Sunset is in no state to travel. Make sure she gets home safely, and keep this near her."

Sunset felt a shift in magic as sone form of healing spell was lowered next to her.

"She can sleep as long as this stays near her."

"Sparkle, stay?"

"I'm sorry Sunset. But I promise, I'll find a way back. It won't take so long for you to be able to return."

"...okay."

And Sunset slept, peacefully, undisturbed, for the first time in years.

Author's Note

[Note Copied From Archive]

oh man this idea has been kicking around for a while. Also, look at me, getting distracted from actually writing DR or ICMIAA again! i should start like a swear jar for this istg...
anyway, im tired so this description will probably be added on or developed later, but
thank you as always for reading, I hope you have a great rest of your day or night and
I LOVE YOU ALL GOODNIGHT <3
dont forget to go to sleep

(afterthought - this might be bad. Wrote at night in about an hour lmao)