Flash galloped past trees and over roots and rock until he found Twilight and Spike rest by a tree.

“Did we lose her?” Spike wondered

“Yeah…we did…” Flash panted, setting down on his fours. Also he reported about the grey-golden alicorn that saved them from Shimmer.

“I didn’t get a good look at her but I am certain that it wasn’t Celestia – it didn’t sound like her.” Flash noted.  He also realized that he couldn’t hear Crepusculara nor the alicorn clashing and roaring now, either because they were too far away or the fight between them had ended.

“How is Sunset?” Twilight asked, levitating the sunny-colored pony off of Flash.  In the process the crown Sunset was biting down on fell from her mouth.

“Not good.” Flash stated.

A cut that ran across Sunset’s side was still oozing out warm blood as Sunset’s face body began to pale.

“Oh my….I don’t think I know any spell that handle can injuries as bad as this.”

“There’s not spell for that?” Flash wondered

“There’s not a spell for everything Flash.” Spike shrugged.

Twilight began to trot in circles trying to think of a solution. “Think…Think…Think…”

Flash was also thinking of solution, trying to remember what a guard should do at a time like this.  Meanwhile, Spike studied the crown trying to figure out as to why it was glowing brighter every time he held it close to Sunset’s limp body.

Then he flew up to and started to bite some leaves off it.  He then applied the leaves to Sunset’s wounds, each one being drenched in brown-red color as they stopped the bleeding

“How did you that using leaves would stop the wound?” Twilight asked.

“I didn’t.” Flash replied “I just….though about what ponies would do in survival movies. Most of its untrue, you know?”

“Okay then – We’ll need to get Sunset to a doctor fast.  Spike how far away is Hollow Shades?” Twilight asked. But no response came.

“Spike?” Twilight asked again, looking around.  Spike was gazing into the crown unable to hear Twilight.

“Spike…what are you doing?” Twilight wondered.

Spike shook head and placed the crown atop of Sunset. “Sorry Twilight…Hollow Shades should…be….about a few hours away. We’ll just need to cross some railroad tracks and then proceed into another forest.

“It’s a good thing these places are uninhabited.” Flash bought up.

“Actually Flash, the northern forests are home to some of the most…well, creatures that are only hostile when provoked such as the pyre-flies and the bolder bears….”

As Twilight lectured on about the ecosystems of the northern forests, Sunset resented unconsciously on Flash’s back as he and Spike followed Twilight out of the forest.  

Not one of them noticed the crown had stopped humming or glowing as soon as Spike had set it on Sunset’s head.

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Sunset found herself no longer in pain but in the starry emerald nebula where she had met the human Flash.

Only this time she was as pony, and this time all no one came to speak with her.  So all Sunset could do was to count the infinite number of stars.

She couldn’t remember what made her feel so weary and exhausted. She couldn’t really shout out to the stars or nebula to bring forth someone because she just felt so tired.

“Do you know what’s more fascinating than mirrors?”

Sunset’s shot eyes open, seeing the golden shoes of Princess Celestia.

“Oh Bugger….”

“Sunset Shimmer….I hope I’m not interrupting your rest.” Celestia said.

“You just are” Sunset replied, causing Celestia to frown slightly.  Standing up to full height she said, “Why are you even here?”

“*Here* is a starry realm similar to the one where I made Twilight an alicorn. It’s not the same since Crepusculara Shimmer took the crown from her.”

“And made it mine…and hers” stated Sunset. Celestia took a seat next to her, as if no grudge had even happened between them. Both former mentor and former student gazed into the starry nebula.

“Your Highness….” Shimmer said after a long silence “….I realize now you were right all along.  I wasn’t ready for what I was setting for myself.  I ended up hurting a lot of people and making things worse.  But …”

Celestia eye spun to Sunset.

“Forget it.” Sunset said, not want her gut to melt further in front of her teacher.

Celestia nodded silently, with a pitiful look. “It was part of my fault things like Crepusculara happened. Had I never shown you the portal…or never underestimated what lengths you would go to maybe…things like this wouldn’t have happened.”

Sunset still avoided looking back at her mentor. “One way or another I was going to learn what I was doing was wrong. And…that’s was what kicked me off to learn the magic of friendship.”

“Oh?”

“Yes…I mean, Princess Twilight has probably already told you that in the human world there isn’t any magic at all. But the real kind of magic there…is friendship. Other than smoke and mirrors.”

Celestia looked back her student “You’re now calm….not….boastful or arrogant.”

“That pony is still in me….I’m just tired. Do you know what happened while I was out? I couldn’t think clearly after shining some light into Shimmer’s face”

“No…I was at my Castle….I directed the flight teams to go recover you before Shimmer did. It turn out my worst fears were realized; She got there first.”

“Yeah…she almost got the crown and…” Sunset paused and then looked to her side.  It was huge cut, covered in leaves.

“I…nearly…died….” Sunset stated.

“Same here…I don’t understand why Crepusculara didn’t want to kill me. Or Anyone else” Celestia stated. “She tried countless times…but she couldn’t.”

Looking to her mentor Sunset replied “It’s probably luck that saves everypony from her claws. But Shimmer is definitely out to hurt ponies.”

“Yes…she’s just out to make us her slaves.  She does not belong here.” Celestia stated, looking at her mentor.

“That doesn’t meant she doesn’t she deserves to be back in the human world.”

“True...but there she is much less of a threat-”

“Why not just kill her off? She almost killed you.” Sunset bought up

“And you almost killed Twilight less than a year ago. Would make you any different?” Celestia inquired

“Crepusculara’s corrupted! I’m not!” Sunset shot back. “We’ll just use the Elements on Crepusculara-”

“The elements don’t redeem a pony upon impact – they show who we are or punish us or do something we can never understand.  Twilight had faith in brining you back.  In my heart I do not wish to see a monster again.”

“And you won’t! In fact if you don’t think I’m redeemed, then what can show you that I am?”

Celestia paused and then uttered “Do…not…kill...Shimmer….”

“Oh maybe you want to replace me with her?”

“Maybe…or I don’t want you see yourself as evil as her.”

“Evil as her my hoof. It’s easier if I kill her and then…and then…”

“Ponies will come to fear you…they will hide in their homes as you walk the streets. You will be glorified across Equestria  as the ruthless killer…everypony will be afraid even to offer you a place to stay or a job…and then you will be angered at the ponies you saved… and you know where that anger will lead to. Back to the bully you once were. And what of your friends in the human world? Will you see that you have saved them to though killing Shimmer and demand that they provide service to you? Will you have forgotten friendship?”

Sunset paused, sinking in Celestia’s prediction. Before she could object, Celestia turned around and started to trot away.

“You don’t know that!” Sunset shot back as Celestia left her. “I have an Element of Harmony! I can…I can….”  Sunset couldn’t bring up another argument.

“Wait!” Sunset called out “After this is over…can we talk?”

“We are already talking…anyway…sleep well….” Celestia replied not even looking back

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“I sent Mercury Squad out to retrieve the ponies, but we could find was the mirror, a few drops of blood in the grass and a huge crater.” Shining reported to Celestia as royal guards pushed and pulled the mirror into the room.

“Crepusculara wasn’t there?” Celestia asked.

“The unicorn in Mercury Squad identified huge trances of dark magic across the area…notably in the crater.” Shining responded. “There is no evidence that Twilight or the rest didn’t make it out safe.”

Celestia sighed. “Dismissed.”

Shining left and Celestia sat on her throne wondering what would happen if Crepusculara Shimmer had defeated Twilight and Sunset and had the crown in her clutches.

Or if Sunset got out of control, just as they had discussed in the starry realm.

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Sunset open her eyes.

A soft morning light and a strong smell of the forest woke her up. As she was sitting upright a jolt of pain to her side caused her to fall off the bed.

Looking at her side, she could a bandage where the massive cut had been.

“Good mornin’ ma’am. Slept well?” A pony – presumably a doctor -  said.  His accent was mix between a ponyville and a canterlot one.

“Yeah…” grunted Sunset as she got on her fours. “I…had an awesome dream….”

“An Awesome dream?” The doctor wondered. Sunset seemed puzzled.

“Oh, I’m actually a psychologist, specifically on dreams. But ponies here in Hollow Shades call me *Doctor Horizon Line* anyway because I know so much. So do tell me about the dream.”

Wanting to get it over with Sunset said “I was just talking with Princess Celestia.”

“Talking, eh? What did she say?” The Horizon asked, being very curious.

“I don’t…Remember….” Sunset replied, annoyed that Horizon was taking up her time.

“What about the setting of the dream? And Celestia’s mood” The doctor asked.

“How should I know? I just had it at the last minute!” Sunset shouted, upset with this interrogation. Why should the business of the starry realm be of any significance to the doctor?

“Well…how long did-”

“Thank you, Horizon Line…I’ll take it from here.” Twilight said, coming up from behind Horizon Line.

“As you wish Princess,” Horizon Line uttered, and walked away without another word. Twilight came up to Sunset and gently brushed her hair.

“How are y-”

“Good….I’m good.” Sunset replied.

“What was all that about a dream?” Twilight asked.

“Nothing…just something I made up.” Sunset lied as her stomach rumbled.

“Looks like you’re hungry.” Twilight giggled. “C’mon, Flash and Spike are eating breakfast at the locale inn. I hear they have great muffins.”

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Bad Dream Ditzy was chained to a wall within the Crystal Tower dungeons.

Crepusculara didn’t know how a horse was tortured in Equestria so she had Ditzy – who was powerful enough to evade being hypnotized, chained to a wall with red-hot chains around her hooves and neck.

A hypnotized pony had whipped Ditzy ten times on her grey chest. Crepusculara signaled him to crease.

“Alright Ditzy…I want two things from you.” Crepusculara hissed, pinching Ditzy’s snout

“In what order? Alphabetically? Or numerically?” Ditzy scoffed.

Crepusculara “First off…Stop following me!”

“NEVER!” Bellowed Ditzy “SHIMMER must pay!”

Crepusculara grabbed a stump of bone within Ditzy’s mane that was all that remained of her horn.

“Felt this? I’m gonna fry your wings off too if you don’t give me at least the second thing!”

“Which is muffins?” Ditzy beamed.

“No…” Crepusculara hissed “...I want you to tell me everything about Twilight and her friends. Where do they live? And where are the elements of harmony?”

“Not telling you….Anything” Ditzy hissed

“Oh really? Because I make great muffins….” Crepusculara hissed.  It was about time she discovered the former mailmare at extreme obsession with muffin.

“MUFFINS!?” Ditzy shouted in the Canterlot voice “It’s a deal!”

“Ah-ah-ah!” Crepusculara waved her claw. “First you need to tell me-”

“Ponyville – everythingisinponyville. WHERE ARE THOSE MUFFINS?!” Ditzy asked.

“Did you say ponyville? That small hayseed village with all the weird horses?” Crepusculara asked.

“Yup – MUFFINS!” Ditzy begged.

Crepusculara casted a tray of muffins a few meters away from Ditzy, instead of bringing it in front of her.

“Hey!” Ditzy whined.

“I promised you muffins, but I didn’t promise you a meal.  Thank you for your service, blonde.” Chuckled Crepusculara as she left Ditzy chained in her cell.

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“Next stop, anywhere but here.” Flash chanted as Twilight, Sunset, Spike boarded the chariot.  Originally it was a rent, but Twilight was given it for free due to her princess rank.  

Sunset was disgusted that Twilight offered free stuff, while she herself – during her ‘reign’ at Canterlot High – had to go through the trouble of demanding free stuff.

When they left Hollow Shades and took to the skies, Sunset didn’t brother to say anything or even think about anything.

She opened up her pack and glanced at the crown, which was placed in a new backpack.

“How does it feel to have your own element of harmony?” Twilight asked.

“Not much different from not having one.” Sunset replied, not wanting to tell Twilight about the mysterious realm the element had placed her in before.

“You know, Celestia will happy to see you when we reach Canterlot.” Twilight chimed “I told her I could guarantee you would in safe hands.”

“Yup” Sunset replied looking down at the clouds ` below.

Her eyes then saw large shadow on the clouds trailing not too far behind them. Looking up Sunset cloud see Crepusculara trailing behind them, her face twisting in disappointment (the kind that Sunset knew she would make at Snip’s and Snail’s mistakes)

“So much for stealth!” Crepusculara hissed.

Twilight, upon seeing Crepusculara Shimmer, threw up a force field around the chariot, expecting Crepusculara to attack back.

Instead Crepuculara swooped underneath the Chariot and glided straight ahead of it, increasing the distance away from it.

Disabling her force field, Twilight said “It’s definitely a trap! Flash stay on course Canterlot.”

“What? No! We need to find out where she is going.  If she is looking for a fight she can get one!” Sunset argued.

“She already wounded you, Sunset.  I will not allow it again.” Twilight replied.

“Well every time she’s alive she’s hurting somepony else!” Sunset barked back. “I came here to get rid of Shimmer – let me do my job, Princess!”

“As Princess of Equestria I declare that we stay on course for Canterlot.”

“And as bearer of your crown currently, I say that we follow Crepusculara!” Sunset shimmer barked back.

“Guys?” Spike asked.

“What?!” Both unicorns shouted.

Spike pointed a claw to a clearing within the clouds.   It was Ponyville.

And Crepusculara was also flying towards, Ponyville at high speeds.

“Oh…no…” Twilight Gasped “The other Elements of Harmony!”