Author's Notes:

There are only a few changes in this new version. The most prominent are near the end. The Fine Gentleman, which as most the original readers know in the main villain of this story, has gone through the biggest. Now for all purposes, he is called Fine Gentleman(instead of just 'the fine gentleman'), at least his true identity is revealed in a later.

The sound of blood dripping off the metal of a red blade resonated throughout Sunset's head. She could hear the blood plip against snow, the sound getting louder by the second. She saw in the distance what looked like two warriors clashing. The clang of their weapon began to echo over the sound of the blood. One warrior was shining like a crystal, and one covered in shadows.

“Wait, don't you know who you're firing that beam at?!?!” a voice screamed in terror, “Please don’t….. father stop!!” Sunset turned her head at that voice. It sounded familiar. So familiar. She knew she had heard the voice from somewhere before, but could not recall where.

Screams of terror could be heard in all directions. As Sunset looked around, she saw crystals, fire, shattered glass, and large amounts of ice. At the center of it all, she could see a crystal tower. On top of it, she could hear more fighting.

“This is where it ends, grandfather,” a new voice spoke. This one, completely unfamiliar.

Sunset flipped her head around as she heard the final words. Suddenly a pair of headlights came into clear view as the vision stopped. Sunset spun her head around once more as a lavender arm grabbed the wheel.

“Sunset, pay attention to the road!” Twilight nearly screamed as she yanked the wheel to dodge a passing purple Lamborghini. The scraping of metal could barely be seen as it passed by. It got so close, they could nearly see inside the other car.

Sunset waved her head one final time and straightened the wheel. “Sorry, Twilight. My mind wondered to somewhere else.”

“Really?” Twilight smirked at Sunset as she sat back. “And… I’m the one who’s sup.... supposed to be drunk here,” she hiccupped.

The two had just left from a party that Pinkie Pie had been throwing in everybody’s honor. Apparently, they all would be attending Túr Solais, the most prestigious college in the whole state. Not only that, but it had recently become the go-to place for magic users, ever since the city had been rocked by the several magical events over the years.

Sunset had managed to stay somewhat sober during the party, but Twilight had a lot more to celebrate for more than the new college. Just two days ago, her longtime boyfriend Timber Spruce, had popped the question. Of course, Twilight had told him that marriage would have to wait until she got done with at least one year in the new college.

It seemed everything was going well until tonight. The sound of sirens could be heard as Sunset looked through her mirror to see red and blue lights. “Crap, it’s a police car.” Sunset looked annoyed.

As Sunset pulled to the side of the road, Twilight laughed. “Oh, Flash is not going to let you live this down.”

“Shut up, Twilight,” she deadpanned.

The police officer walked up to the car window as Sunset rolled it down “License and registration,” he droned.

Twilight covered her eyes from the bright light of the flashlight as Sunset grabbed out what she needed. She showed it to the police officer only to hear a laugh. She looked at the police officer in confusion as he turned to his car, smiled and yelled, “Hey, Moonchaser, I was right. Now you owe me twenty bucks.”

Twilight facepalmed and Sunset’s eyes widened as they both suddenly recognized that all too familiar voice. “Wait a minute... Jack Nox?” Sunset looked to see the purple skin and curly green hair of Jack. This was really annoying for her to have been pulled over by her boyfriend’s partner.

“Yeah, just wait until Flash hears about this,” Jack gloated.

“What do you mean? I’m perfectly sober. Twilight’s the one drunk.”

“Sure, you’re perfectly sober. Tell that to the car you nearly hit. Now get out.”

Sunset looked so mad as she got out of the car. It was annoying enough to have a police officer pull her over, but it to be her boyfriend’s partner made it even worse. Flash had joined the police force just after high school and at first, it was fine until he got his partner. Jack had been Twilight’s biggest rival back in Crystal Prep. A former thief and a truly incredible genius inventor who could have had the perfect choice of any university, Jack chose to join the police force, purely to spite rich father Norman Nox.

As Jack was setting up the straight line for Sunset to walk on, Moonchaser got out of the car and walked over to Twilight. He was a tall white man with deep red hair. He had been Jack’s buddy for years, though he was more laid back then Jack. With the fact that Flash had taken the night off to have some fun at the party, Moonchaser was more than happy to work with Jack.

As Twilight and Moonchaser talked, Sunset walked across the line. “Hey Jack looks like Timber finally popped the question,” Moonchaser shouted as he saw the amethyst ring.

“Seriously that is too strange.” He walked over, seemingly ignoring Sunset.

“What do you mean?” Twilight questioned.

“I mean just a few days ago I popped the question on Moondancer,” he gloated as he held up his expensive silver and gold ring.

“Well, I’m sure you're happy for your sister, Moonchaser.” Twilight looked at him while purposely ignoring Jack.

“You bet I am. Plus I and my best bud will soon be family.” He wrapped his arm around Jack with a tight grip that could rival Pinkie Pie's.

As the three continued to talk, Sunset grew confused as her eyes began to blur once more.

“Now I claim the Moon.”

She turned hearing a new voice. There was nobody there, however, the area around her began to change. She found herself in the middle of snow. She looked in the distance to almost see what looked like a crystal castle with shades of purple. On top of the castle was a very familiar cutie mark. Then, she heard an explosion. Looking to the sky, her eyes widened in horror as the Moon began to crack. Cracks could be seen all over as it was slowly ripped apart. Her mouth fell agape in terror, and she found herself running towards it.

However the vision stopped as another pair of headlights came into view, heading right towards her. She could barely hear Twilight scream to her as Jack tackled her out of the way of a passing red and black Ford Mustang. “Okay, you are drunk.”

She waved her head back and forth, then knocked Jack back. “No, I’m not drunk.”

“How about you look where you are at.”

She got up and looked around. Her eyes widened to see that she had run to the other side of the road. At that moment, she facepalmed while he wrote up a ticket. “Look, Jack, just let us get home. We need to get some rest. We have our first day of school tomorrow.”

“Yes, I know, that prestigious college. But you’re either drunk or those freaky magical powers of yours, are affecting your mind. So I'll be taking you to the police station.” Jack walked her back to Twilight. “Both of you.”

“Oh come on. Do you know how angry the police chief is going to be mad at me,” Twilight whined?

“Wait a minute, you never told me you knew the police chief. I haven't even met him yet.” Sunset looked confused.

“Oh they go way back,” Moonchaser answered as he took Sunset’s car keys. “But don’t worry he’s not that moody all the time. And about your car, I’ll be gentle with it.”

On that, Jack placed Sunset and Twilight in the back of his police car, while Moonchaser took Sunset’s car. The two cars went up to the station. As they drove off, a mysterious girl with red hair could be seen watching them from a distance with a pair of binoculars.

A smile came over her face as she spoke, “Well, I wonder what you saw, mare.” She put away her binoculars and placed her turquoise motorcycle helmet back on, then revved up her motorcycle and went in the same direction as they did.

******

While Sunset and Twilight were in the back of the car, Twilight tried her best to look sober. “What are you doing?” Sunset questioned, as she saw her cleaning up her face and checking her breath.

“Dang it, he is so going to tell Cadence about this.”

Sunset laughed. “I can’t believe you're still worried about that.” Despite Twilight now being old enough to drink, she still acted rather juvenile, especially when drunk. Though Sunset thought it was strange that Twilight would be worried about being seen by the police chief.

“Yeah….. Well, what happened earlier, Sunset? You seemed so off.” She looked at her with a concerned expression.

“Well, I don’t know, I think … I think I saw a vision.”

“Strange, that's not how your powers work. Heck, you don't even have your red geode with you.”

“I know, which is why I thought it was strange too,” her head fell. “The strangest thing is what I saw.”

“What did you see?” Twilight asked curiously.

“The first one I can’t remember, but the second one…. or maybe it was the third one, I saw the Moon being ripped apart. And I heard a male’s voice, saying that he claimed the Moon.”

“Who’s voice was it?”

“I don’t know, but he sounded familiar.”

Soon they arrived at the police station. Twilight and Sunset were taken to the head office, where Sunset found the most shocking surprise as she sat down in a chair and saw the police chief. The police chief had a slick, jet-black hair, tall crew cut, with a distinct single red streak going all the way back through the center. On the nameplate, was the name Sombra.

“Looked I’m sorry Police Chief Sombra.” Twilight apologized.

“In some ways, I’m a little surprised and in some ways, I’m not,” he answered as he placed a stack of case reports aside so they could talk. “I mean, yes you’re allowed to celebrate your proposal, but letting Sunset drive while she is clearly as drunk as you are.”

“Hey, I’m not drunk,” Sunset complained.

The chief looked at Sunset sternly. At that moment she felt a distinct chill of fear going down her spine. A chill that instantly silenced her. As Twilight and Sombra continued their talk, Sunset tuned it out as she tried to figure out what had happened earlier. Her powers always revolved around skin contact and reading people's thoughts and seeing into their mind. So why was this happening? Was it really happening?

As Sombra got finished talking to Twilight, he got up and left the room to make a call. As he did, a file fell from his desk. It was a recent report of strange killings that had been happening in the area. Sunset saw the file. As she looked, she had the strangest feeling to grab it. Maybe pick it up, or……

But as she reached for it, she could feel the distinct feeling of dread. However, everything else was telling her to touch it. At the same time, nothing else seemingly mattered and she moved closer to it. It was like nothing else existed but her and that file.

Soon she grabbed it and to everybody’s horror, her eyes dilated widely, and she fell to the ground out cold. As everybody ran to her, her mind moved to somewhere else altogether, and she heard a voice speaking, “Where is she?!”

******

Sunset found herself now wandering the land of Equestria, or what was left of it. The place looked like it had gone through a warzone, of the most brutal proportions. Bodies laid ripped apart, limbs laid about like discarded toys. Some were too damaged to even see their faces. It was a terrible sight.

Sunset tried her best to hold back tears as she walked past the bodies. It was truly terrible. What had happened here? Why was it happening? Who was responsible for this atrocity?

Soon she came upon a wooden sign that said Ponyville. It was soaked with blood. Upon seeing it, she ran for where she had been told that Twilight’s castle was suppose to be. As she did, she completely ran passed a tall stage, where a pegasus stallion was being held up to the wall by knives stabbed deeply into his yellow fur. The stallion was weak, beaten bloody. Blood poured slowly from his spiked blue mane. Even with all of this, though, he was strong enough to barely see through the rips in curtains that covered most of the stage. He looked outward to see Sunset running off in the distance. “Is that, Sunset Shimmer? Please Sunset, don't look into his eyes.”

Finally, Sunset arrived at where the castle would be. However, she found nothing at all. She could see the indent in the ground like something was once there. But now it was like the castle had been ripped out of the ground. Yet there was no disturbance in the dirt. It was more like it had vanished without a trace.

She backed away slowly, hoping the worse had not happened. So much anxiety was gathering over her. She couldn’t take it so she ran away from there. Running to somewhere or anywhere help would be, hoping she would find it soon.

Suddenly, she was tripped over by something and fell to the ground. She slammed her fist into the ground as she got up. Looking to what tripped her, her eyes widened in horror. It was a body with all its flesh removed, and it’s head was gone. At that, upon seeing all these terrible things. It was that moment when she finally let the tears she had been holding back loose. “What could have happened here?” she questioned as the tears fell.

She was stopped upon hearing the scream of a mare with a western accent in the distance. She got up at that. “No, no more tears.” She ran towards the sound as rain began to pour over the entire town. It poured and poured with each step she made. It was like the world was crying over the loss she had seen.

The sound led her to an apple farm. Stepping over quietly through the mud, she saw three strange figures gathering four full body bags. As one of them with a light tan coat brought over the fifth and final body bag, he spoke to the one that was most likely the leader “Alright I did your dirty work. Now let the rest of the Apple family live.”

The leader wore a dark gray, tall collared, thin steampunk trench coat and a bright, neon yellow dress shirt, tie and pants that were clearly meant to be a bullseye for his enemies. The strangest of all was his choice in gloves. The left one was red, and the right one was blue. It was uncertain what kind of pony he was due to the fact he wore a tall, gray top hat, but she could at least tell he had a dark green mane and his coat color look somewhat like a rotting white.

The leader spoke with a calm demeanor despite the subtleness in his tone that gave a sign of something very unusual “Really? Did I make that part of the deal? If I really did that, then my defected allies would have nothing to eat." His voice was devoid of even the smallest hint of emotion as he patted the back of the short one beside him. The short one grinned happily and licked his lips with anticipation.

“What?! You sick twisted dem--,” At that moment the leader threw several bone knives into the one with the light tan coat, silencing him and seemingly killing him as the force of the attack launched him into a nearby building.

“Oh come on No. 544, you know I’m much worse than any demon.”

“Five, no please let it not be them,” Sunset whispered as she became more concerned with each step closer while hiding behind a fence. This was not good at all. Was it really them? Could it had been simply five other ponies?

“Now that we have the five, we just have to wait for the final target,” the short one laughed as he jumped up and down like a monkey. His joy was incredibly hyper. “Soon Twilight’s little student will be found.”

“Indeed, I will hunt down my pre--” Sunset decided to hear no more of the emotionless words of the leader as without even thinking she grabbed a nearby pitchfork and threw it at him. Expecting him to fall by the pitchfork or maybe dodge it, he did the unthinkable. He grabbed his nearby short ally and threw him at the pitchfork, stopping it. The pitchfork punctured through the short one's chest. The short one fell into the muddy ground, dead. His blood quickly filled the muddy holes of earlier footprints.

The leader was still standing. Sunset had failed, to kill him, or stop him in any way. Instead, she revealed her position to him. Because within a blur of light, he somehow instantly got within mere inches of her and stabbed his hand through her stomach. Her eyes widened as pain filled her entire body.

She coughed up blood as blood gushed out of her chest in large amounts. It soaked the leader’s arm quite quickly. He pushed his fist in deeper and deeper into her chest, twisting as he went. She looked up to his face. She saw the strangest eyes. Devoid of all color and reptilian looking in nature. Her own eyes began to seemingly pull tricks on her because it seemed like everything around them was slowing down. It was like time itself was slowing down. Yet just a few feet away from them the rain was still going. It looked like a sphere surrounded them. In it, time was moving a different length. Sunset tried to struggle as thing moved even slower. Soon though everything began to go blurry as the vision began to clear.

******

Sunset woke up screaming in pain. She grabbed her chest only to feel no hole at all. Twilight grabbed her, trying to calm her down, "Sunset, calm down, it’s over, it’s over.”

She quieted down soon after seeing Twilight beside her bed. She looked around to see herself back in the world she knew. Upon realizing she was back, she held her legs close as Twilight crawled onto the bed. She shivered and shivered as Twilight tried her best to calm her. Twilight, completely unknown to what Sunset saw and what pain she went through.

******

Miles away a red and black Ford Mustang pulled up to a tower. Stepping out of it, was a Fine Gentleman. His face could not be seen, but he wore a fine green business suit, a clean gray dress shirt, a perfectly laid blue tie, a pair of glistening white gloves and incredibly clean black dress shoes. He went inside the tower and went to an elevator.

The elevator led to an underground lab. Inside was a strange machine that was glowing yellow. He walked over and pulled a strange left half yellow gem necklace out of a slot. As it stopped glowing and shut down for the night the Fine Gentleman placed the gem in a combination lock suitcase. He took out a notebook and finished his work. Once done, he left the room with the suitcase and took the elevator back up to the surface. “Four visions. Looks like the first test was a success."

******