Author's Notes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdRzphj_-cE

Twilight wakes to the sound of tossing and turning beside her. She glances over her shoulder to see Sunset on her side with her back facing her. Glancing at the clock beside the bed she sighed.

2:34 a.m.

Usually she'd be up and at it at this time doing some royal chore in Equestria, but right now...Dead as a doorknob. She had stayed up all night with Sunset telling each other how much they missed one another and talked about a future together. It was a lovely chat, full of warmth and happy thoughts. Sunset turned again in her sleep. Her companion sighed again and buried her face in the sheets. It was too early to wake her up.

But Sunset kept tossing and turning.

This went on for some time before Twilight got a bit irritated. Sunset was a heavy sleeper. She was a raging lion if you woke her up before she wanted to be awake. Glancing at her, Twilight decided to risk it and wake her up. She probably was having a bad dream or something. Shaking her, Twilight called out her name.

"Hey, Sunset. Wake up."

The girl groaned and kept her face smashed in the pillow. She was still asleep and moved slightly. Twilight continued to shake her.

"Sunset."

The girl made a noise and it wasn't a sleeping noise. It sounded as if she was in pain. In instinctive worry, Twilight turned her over and went wide eyed at what she saw. Sunset was hot red in the face and sweating. Her eyes were shut tight and her breathing was heavy. Sunset was ill and very much so.

Twilight shook her violently and called for Celestia. The woman shot upstairs. She had fallen asleep downstairs. Once she came into the room and saw Sunset, a ghostly look came across her face. Horrified, she stepped back into the hall still staring.

"Princess Celestia! I need you to get a rag and soak it in cool water!" Twilight said to her.

She was in a panic. Spike had gotten like this before with high fevers, but seeing Sunset this way...Chills ran down her spin. Something was horribly off by the way Sunset's face flushed. It was too straining. Her eyes clamped shut in reluctance to open, as if something was forcing them to stay that way. Her breathing was fast and husky; she seemed to not be breathing yet she was.

All this made Twilight deathly scared. She heard Celestia's footsteps storm back into the room and she held out a wet rag. Snatching it, she placed it on Sunset's forehead. The Sunset immediately opened her eyes and startled Twilight. Sunset jolted to an upright position and flung herself out of bed. Speeding past Celestia, she shot downstairs. Twilight was so stunned she couldn't move.

Those eyes.

Those eyes weren't Sunset's. They weren't the warm, mischievous eyes she knew. They were cold and alien. Instead of the gorgeous green eyes Twilight had come to love, they were...alien. The green in them seemed to have gone just as dull as the blind eye. The pupils were sharp and cutting, ready to steal your soul. As crazed as a wild stallion, they zipped around in search of what was not there.

Something was definitely wrong.

A loud bang came from downstairs and Twilight knew Sunset had went outside of the house. She jumped off of the bed and ran downstairs to chase her. Celestia followed, lost and spooked by the whole thing. As soon as she ran out, the cold night air hit her skin and she shivered. Twilight could see Sunset running down toward the park.

She followed, unsure of what cased this sudden burst of energy. She was very scared. As the grass crunched beneath her feet and her heart raced, Twilight had to wonder what it was that caused this. Before her she could see Sunset running ahead, hair flapping behind her...not looking back as Twilight's voice called to her in this dark hour. All that lit their way was the moonlight of the full moon.

A mysterious time of darkness it is. How the full moon lights the black sky, casting shadows on everything below. A time of deep suspense that leaves you wondering what could be lurking in the dark right beside you or before you or even behind...Twilight turned to see Celestia following not to far away. Her footsteps were inaudible to the human ear. Her glowing hair swayed softly behind her, her face as pale as chalk.

Nothing was certain.

Twilight felt her eyes tear up. She was very much afraid for Sunset. She wasn't sure what it was that caused her to do this strange thing. And her eyes...Twilight was afraid that she was gone. Gone to the jewel that possessed her. They were heading away from the park and now Twilight could see where Sunset was heading.

The Equine River.

She truly was lost. The fragment had seized her. Sunset was no longer human at this point. She was a Siren, the magic and power of the enchanting jewel taking her soul onto a ride of wild dreams. Having lost sight of everything before her, she runs to the river in quick strides. Eyes only on the cold waters she will soon be enveloped by. Twilight was crying now. She wouldn't lose Sunset to this overwhelming power.

They came upon the soft sand bank of the river, Twilight and Celestia had. But by that point, Sunset was already in the water. Panting and deathly fearful, Twilight cried out to the girl.

"SUNSET!!!!!!!!"

It was cold out, but Twilight didn't notice. She was hot and tired from the running. Celestia stood beside her and scanned the water wildly. There was no sign of her. It was as if she hadn't went into the water at all. Twilight shouted and screamed until her throat was sore and she no longer had a voice. All in the meanwhile looking for her. Twilight ran into the water knee deep and was about to go in and search for her when Celestia snatched her back.

"No! What are you thinking?!"

"S-Sunset!!!She's...she's..." Twilight argued hoarsely.

Tears streamed down her face and she hiccupped with deep sobs. Her eyes were full of sorrow and pain. She was lost. Without Sunset, her life was done. She needed her. Her other half was what the fiery girl was. Twilight was crying hard. She struggled against Celestia's arm to go out to the water to find the other girl that disappeared beneath its surface. Screaming hoarse words and shouting unheard cries...

Celestia had nothing to say but just cried along with her. Never had she ever experienced anything this extreme. In this dark night, she held her former student and listened to the agonizing sound of Twilight. All that was there to watch was the moon, high on it's throne ignoring this scene of desperation.

Sunset was gone.

The poison had not worked.