“Are you seriously just going to sit there and stare at me until this is all done?” Twilight asked, glaring at the troll sitting across from her.

Pinkie Pie blinked. “Well duh. I gotta make sure you get to the play. It's tonight, you know.”

“I am well aware of the location and time of the play,” Twilight murmured, turning her attention down to a rather soggy tome held aloft over a warming enchantment. “I am also aware that you have an important part in that play, and that I only need to be there fifteen minutes early. Unlike you.”

“And I still have hours before they need me,” Pinkie Pie retorted, sprawling out on the couch. “So you may as well get used to me hanging around, because I’m going to make sure this thing goes off without a hitch.”

“I suppose I do owe you after all.” Twilight sighed. “Well, we could at least talk while I work. Having you stare at me unblinking for over an hour is rather unnerving.”

“Oooh, good idea,” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, tapping her rocky chin and pursing her lips. “Now what to talk about… oh, I know! How do you think Spike’s date is going to go?”

“I’m sure it will go fine,” Twilight replied hastily. “Or at least I sure hope it does. Not like I know anything about dating though.”

“Oh, Twilight, you don't need to be a romance aficionado like Rarity to think they make a good match,” Pinkie Pie replied.

The undead unicorn turned the page and watched closely as they too began to dry. “I suppose that's true. It just seems like they are going awful fast. They hardly even knew each other before they started going out.”

PInkie Pie giggled. “Spike may be like a bajillion years old, but he's still a kid, you know. Teenagers move quickly, but they figure it out in time. Either that or they have a really awkward goth phase. Honestly it's fifty fifty.”

“What's a goth? Someone called me that back in Canterlot but noone ever told me what it means.” Twilight questioned.

“It's when you paint your hooves black, wear dark clothes and act all depressed.” Pinkie Pie bounced in her seat. “Oh oh, and you gotta listen to some bleak, sad music like all the time.”

“That doesn't sound very fun at all,” Twilight remarked.

“It's really hot though,” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

Twilight gave her friend an odd look, but ultimately didn't delve any deeper into that topic and merely shook her head. “You know this shouldn't take long, you don't have to wait for me.”

“But think about it, Twilight, those books were inside, how did they get wet?” Pinkie Pie questioned, hopping off the couch and gesturing to the pile of wet tomes sitting on the coffee table. “And they are the super duper important ones too!”

“I wouldn't say they are that important,” Twilight corrected. “Most are just history books.”

“Ancient history books!” Pinkie Pie shot back, lifting one of the books and gesturing to the soggy title. “This one is from like, three thousand years ago!”

“Pinkie, would you put that down? I placed them in that stasis field for a reason,” Twilight declared, glaring at the troll.

PInkie Pie hastily put the book back. “Sorry, Twilight, but you know what I mean, right? It's super mysterious.”

“It's really not that mysterious. Trees aren't exactly known for being watertight. Besides, they were just sitting on an end table after I forgot to send them to Dark Hallow,” Twilight exclaimed.

“Still. Obviously someone has it out for you,” Pinkie Pie stated, crossing her hooves over her chest.

“Though I won't disagree with you on that, given all the craziness that has been happening over the last few months, I must assure you that this library is secure,” Twilight claimed, gesturing to the tree itself. “I mean, I have my own guards for crying out loud.”

Pinkie Pie’s smile fell away and she slowly shook her head. “You don't understand. I have a feeling, and it's a doozy this time, trust me. You’re going to want me here, otherwise you won't be able to help with the play tonight!”

Twilight sighed and placed the book she had been working on on the table, turning off her heating spell. “This is very important work that has to get done before the books are ruined forever. If you can't be quiet, then I will have to ask that you leave.”

“But, Twilight, it's a doozy, like a doozy doozy! Think of the play,” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “You know I have absolute respect for your shaman things, but I have spent months layering this place in so many wards and spells that it would take an army to break through it all. Furthermore, I have two guards who are ready to jump in and help me at a moment’s notice. Both of whom are well-trained and well-equipped to handle any possible situation that may arise.”

“Yeah, but-” Pinkie Pie began, only to be interrupted.

“But nothing. My defences are nearly impenetrable, and may I remind you I am both already dead and a necromancer?” Twilight stood up and gestured to herself with a hoof. “I don't even know if it's even possible for me to get killed again, plus I have access to spells that only four people in existence even know about.”

“Look, I know you are confident, Twilight, but don't you think you are being a little too confident?” Pinkie Pie replied, frowning.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “I’m the most powerful unicorn in a hundred miles. No one in this town can break through my wards. So unless Dark Hallow has secretly been working against me this entire time, I think I’m going to make it to the play in time.”

Pinkie Pie pouted and crossed her hooves over her chest. “Fine, but then you have to do two things for me.”

Twilight sighed. “Fine, what are they?”

“First you have to wear the necklace and keep it on the whole night!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, pointing at the unicorn.

Who nodded slowly. “Alright, and the second one?”

PInkie Pie tapped her chin and hummed to herself. “Gimme a second.”

“Pinkie. Why did you say there were two things if you didn't even know what the second one was?” Twilight muttered tiredly.

“Aha, I got it!” Pinkie Pie shouted, pointing at Twilight. “You also have to do your restoration work in the basement next to the teleporter room. Oh oh, and you also have to leave the teleporter door open and the array powered!”

Twilight pressed her forehooves into her eyes and sighed. “Pinkie, the necklace I can understand as it empowers me when I wear it, but no one can come through the other side of that portal.”

“Okay, so maybe it's not super likely that any of the nice spider people are going to help you, but at least you’d have an escape route, right?” Pinkie Pie pointed out.

“I suppose,” Twilight admitted, her hooves falling to her lap. “If I agree to this, will you let me work in peace?”

“Fiiiiiine,” Pinkie Pie whined. “But if you end up needing me, I am allowed to hold an ‘I told you so’ party.”

“Agreed.” Twilight extended a hoof.

“You better do it,” Pinkie Pie warned, taking the other being’s hoof and shaking it vigorously.

“A promise is a promise,” Twilight stated evenly.

Twilight snorted irritably to herself, glancing around the dull basement and the open door leading to the teleportation array. The roots of the tree formed the walls of this space, and though the area was bereft of decoration, Twilight felt her gaze drawn up and down the tree’s many contours. The panic room which she had found the petrified Spike within was gone, the tree having made the door leading to it vanish shortly after his return.

Now there were only two doors, one which ultimately led to the undertower, and one which opened into the library above her. Twilight turned the page slowly, careful to not crinkle the now dry pages as she continued to hold the book over her enchantment. It was slow-going, but once she had gotten all of her stuff into the basement, her work had proceeded smoothly.

The outgoing pile of books was now larger than the incoming one, and if her calculations were correct, she would be able to get all of them done before the play would start. The dead mare shook her head as she thought of the strange troll and her earlier insistence on staying near her. The very walls of Twilight’s home served to protect her, hiding rooms filled with bad memories, and generally stopping those who were not invited.

“Ridiculous,” Twilight murmured to herself, flipping another page and lifting up the book. “Hmm, well, at least this one is almost done.”

She didn't bother looking at the title of the book, as she knew she would have time to double check them later. Instead her gaze went down to the necklace which rested against her chest and the strange feeling of comfort she received whenever she wore it. The silver chain upon which the amulet hung was so perfectly crafted that it flowed like water and felt almost like ice, though not quite as cold. The full moon that dangled from the end was so perfect that it drew in the eye, as if demanding the viewer to behold its beauty.

Shaking her head, Twilight flipped the final page, and was about to grab the next book when she felt a presence near her home. It was strong, blazing with life, but also marred somewhat, as if it carried with it an incredible cancer that had somehow yet to kill it. Twilight felt her stomach turn and, as she tried to find the source, she couldn't help but be thankful that she no longer used her stomach.

“Strange,” muttered the dead mare, hoof already reaching for the next book after the strange life force vanished completely.

She never reached her target however, as her wards suddenly flickered and went down all at once. Standing up from her chair, Twilight lit her horn and was ready to figure out what had happened only for her spells to return a second later. Only now they were different, as if they had been rewritten by a skilled and knowledgeable mage. One who was capable enough to make Twilight’s defences all but useless while at the same time turning her most capable spells against the dead mare.

All over the house locking mechanisms were activated, and shields sprung into existence over the windows, blocking off any attempt to enter or leave. Twilight considered teleporting out of the library, only to realize that she couldn't even do such a complicated spell anymore. Her magic had become so altered by her necromancy that it was simply impossible, and she had yet to come up with a workaround for that particular spell.

Thinking quickly, Twilight turned and began to run towards the teleportation room, knowing full well that nothing could stop her from utilizing the powerful array. Only for the air in front of her to shimmer briefly before a familiar pony appeared before her, body covered in strange greenish rocks held together by thick black rope. The sight of the orange-furred and red-maned pony made Twilight’s heart leap into her throat and her entire body to grow tense.

Images of their last meeting flashed through Twilight’s mind, but she quickly pushed such concerns out of mind. If that pony was here, then she was here for a reason, and that could only be to finish the job she had started back in Canterlot. Twilight brushed aside her thoughts on the weird vest of rocks the other pony wore and lit her horn, the dead mare’s mind already formulating a plan of attack.

Sunset Shimmer was faster however, unleashing a wave of fire from her horn, the spell traveling along the ground and was heading straight towards the dead unicorn. Thinking quickly, Twilight leapt over the wave of fire, using the table as a springboard in order to clear the flames. Putting her directly in the path of a scorching ray aimed directly at her chest, slamming into the unicorn hard enough to send her flying.

Though Twilight was dimly aware of her ribs cracking and her skin coming alight in several places, there was only a sliver of pain. She didn't even bother extinguishing the fire, and merely reached out with her magic, latching onto Sunset Shimmer and attempting to drain her of life. The spell was quick to cast, and Twilight knew that like most necromancy spells, it couldn't be counterspelled, nor would a traditional shield block it.

The other unicorn didn't flinch however, even as Twilight began to greedily drink from the strangely massive amount of energy within the other unicorn. Several of the green rocks which had been tied together into the strange and primitive armor began to flicker and lose their light. Twilight didn't have time to ponder what exactly that meant before Sunset had already leapt forward and fired her next spell.

Twilight stumbled to the side, only partially escaping the eruption of superheated energy which exploded from the ground. Instantly the muscle attached to her back left leg was gone, leaving behind only charred bone and several scraps of flesh which barely clung to her hind quarters. Desperate, and with few other options, Twilight quickly cast a powerful fear spell, hoping to give herself some breathing room from her attacker.

Her smile faded when the fear aura settled over her opponent, only for the pony to glow a faint gold and the look of terror on her face to be quickly replaced by one of grim determination. Twilight continued to run, firing off several mana bolts which were easily deflected by a trio of perfectly conjured shields. Twilight was running a quick identification spell, trying to figure out what kind of defences the other pony had placed on herself.

When her spell completed, and information flooded her mind, Twilight felt the bottom of her stomach to fall out from under her. The other unicorn had placed more wards and enchantments on her flesh than what should even be possible. The only way such a thing would be feasible would be if the pony in question had carved the spell runes into her bones or onto her very muscles.

Sunset Shimmer was far from done however, and several flaming stones appeared above her head before shooting directly at Twilight. Though the dead unicorn managed to dodge two of the flaming orbs, the loss of a good amount of her flesh put her off balance. The final sphere slammed into her side with all the force of a thunderbolt, sending Twilight flying while at the same time burning through her decayed guts at a terrifying pace.

Skin burnt, organs boiled, and all Twilight felt was a hard pinch in her side which only let up after the white hot rock fell through her rib cage and landed on the ground in a pool of rotten flesh. Ignoring the pain wasn't terribly difficult, given the fact that she was already dead, but it was growing harder and harder as time passed. Unable to cast anything very complicated, Twilight pulled hard, trying to tear the life out of the strange rocks serving as Sunset Shimmer’s shield.

One by one they began to dim, filling Twilight with vigor, while at the same time the dead mare tried to run towards the stairs leading out of the basement. Her opponent proved faster yet again however, summoning a wall of flames to block Twilight’s ascent. Sunset Shimmer followed up that spell with a pulse of fire which caught Twilight on the shoulder and spread over her form, burning away her hair and a most of her skin.

Twilight cried out in pain and confusion as her eyes were flash boiled inside their sockets. As her eyeballs dripped out of her head, Twilight looked around in confusion, shocked that she could still see despite the loss. She didn't think about that for long though, as she poured everything she had into simply brute forcing her way through Sunset’s shield’s and draining the unicorn of every drop of energy she had.

More and more of the rocks began to dim, their energy funneling into Twilight’s mouth and vanishing into her ragged throat. So focused was the dead mare that she couldn't even muster a defence against the gout of fire which shot from Sunset’s horn. The eruption of fire burnt away what was left of Twilight’s flesh, leaving her as little more than charred bones and burnt keratin.

Collapsing to her side, Twilight tried desperately to hold the feeling of panic at bay, but the confusing sensations of having what was left of her flesh burnt away nearly overwhelmed her. She fell, confused and terrified onto her side, horn sparking as still more energy went from the strange stones and into Twilight’s mouth. That was until Sunset Shimmer walked up to her and kicked the dead mare’s horn right off of her head, stopping the flow and cutting off the last offensive weapon Twilight had in her arsenal.

“You are lucky to have such a powerful artifact you know,” Sunset Shimmer exclaimed, gesturing to the amulet which remained untarnished around Twilight’s skeletal neck. “You would likely be little more than ash at this point without it.”

“Wha-what are you-”

“The necklace,” Sunset Shimmer interrupted, pointing down at the mare. “It was one thing I couldn't account for.”

Twilight blinked, or at least tried to, as her eyes had been replaced by twin purple flames glowing within an otherwise empty skull. “Why are you doing this? Why chase me to the ends of the world?” she asked, looking up at the other mare.

“For the same reason you defend yourself. Because we must,” Sunset Shimmer replied grimly, her horn glowing brightly as she gathered power for one final spell.

For a moment the universe stood still, time stopped and Twilight was left to sit there on the cold floor, contemplating her own mortality. She knew that Sunset Shimmer would be able to kill her once and for all, despite Twilight’s earlier bragging to Pinkie Pie. After all, Sunset Shimmer wouldn't be here if she wasn't certain that she could end their nearly six month long chase. With that in mind, Twilight also knew that her pursuer wouldn't be here if there was no chance of Twilight winning.

The dead mare remembered well what she had learned while trapped in the nightmare’s grip, and understood that the other pony didn't truly want to win. With that in mind, Twilight considered the pony’s words once more, quickly remembering the strange insistence Sunset Shimmer had placed upon the amulet Twilight wore. Realization dawned on the dead mare like a shooting star, and all at once Twilight poured everything she had into the necklace.

Every ounce of magical and spiritual power she had, including that which she had pulled from Sunset Shimmer was all but shoved into the moon-shaped object. The enchantments within struggled to contain the sheer amount of energy being pushed into it, the moon warping and bulging under the strain of it all. With no place for that magic to go, the amulet was seconds away from turning into a tiny bomb, but Twilight had a better direction to send all that energy.

Rerouting all that magic towards a single powerful call, Twilight put everything she had into summoning the nightmare. Time slowly began to return to normal, and Sunset Shimmer’s spell blazed with life, forming into a ball of white hot fire intent on obliterating Twilight utterly. The second before it left her horn, Twilight released her own spell and cried out with every drop of power she had.

The second the spell released the amulet was annihilated, having been reduced to dust by the sheer amount of energy that had coursed through it. Twilight couldn't even be sure that it had completed its job before being destroyed, but in the end it didn't matter as all she could do was hope. Hope and pray that she wouldn't die at the hooves of the same mare who had killed her mother not long ago.

The fireball erupted from Sunset Shimmer’s horn and rocketed towards the fallen unicorn, the ball of plasma screaming through the air. With a dull boom, it collided with something, detonating prematurely and violently throwing both unicorns back, blinding one of them. Twilight however, did not have the limitations of organic eyes, and so she was able to watch as the flames spilled overtop of a strange black wall which had sprung up between her and the deadly spell.

The wall descended into the ground, and slunk towards her, slipping into Twilight’s shadow and filling her with a strange warmth. That warmth quickly shifted, leaving Twilight with the feeling as though a thousand needles were getting jammed into her soul before injecting it with a strange and utterly foreign presence. Even through the pain and strange sensations Twilight knew that this wasn't an act of malice and merely gritted her teeth as the agony rolled over her.

And then it was gone, leaving Twilight strangely energized.

Rising to her hooves, the dead mare looked down at her opponent who was healing her charred eyes and wincing in pain. Twilight wouldn't give the pony a second to breathe and charged forward, summoning forth a spectral hoof to clock the pony in the jaw while Twilight ran. Though the blow was dissipated somewhat by one of the many enchantments Sunset had placed upon herself, it was still enough to disrupt her attempt at recovery.

Backing up, Sunset Shimmer abandoned her attempt to heal her eyes and summoned a spray of electricity, bathing the room in hundreds of tiny lightning bolts. Reacting on instinct, Twilight raised her right hoof, creating a wall of darkness which shielded her from the deadly attack. Twilight wasn't about to let Sunset Shimmer a moment to gather herself however and jabbed her hoof in the unicorn’s direction while at the same time reaching out with her magic, draining the mare of life force.

Energy flowed from the few rocks which were still filled with energy, their power giving Twilight a boost while her shadow stretched towards the mare, who had already conjured a bubble and had begun to try and heal her damaged eyes, only to receive a surprise hoof to the stomach. Undeterred by the shield, the nightmare had slipped through the cracks in the ground and was driving the pony back.

Several teeth flew from the mare’s mouth, and she stumbled back, her vision having been only partially returned to her. Squinting, the unicorn fired off a burst of kinetic energy, trying to force her opponent back and give Sunset the time to come up with a better plan of attack. The nightmare was not made of flesh and blood however and simply walked through the wave of force before headbutting Sunset square in the face.

Twilight strode forward, watching as the last of the odd green stones began to dull and fade completely. When it was drained of energy, a sudden crack filled the room, and Sunset Shimmer’s entire body glowed a faint gold. Her wounds closed, her teeth grew back and when next she opened her eyes, they stared intently at Twilight.

Unbothered by her opponent's sudden rejuvenation, the nightmare continued its assault, delivering a right cross followed by an uppercut. Sunset Shimmer swatted aside the first attack before rolling to the side and dodging out from under the second. The semi-sentient mass of shadow was close behind her, trying to stomp the pony into the ground by growing itself larger and bringing both hooves down on her.

It never managed to deliver such an attack as a flare spell caused it to recoil, its body nearly disintegrating under the intense light. Forced to abandon her attempt to sap Sunset of life force for the moment, Twilight pushed her magic into the nightmare, reforming it while also firing off a ray of black energy. The beam passed straight through the other unicorn’s barrier like a hot knife through butter and slammed into her back right leg. The attack caused Sunset Shimmer’s leg to fall slack and for a small circle of flesh to turn a necrotic black.

Biting her lip, Sunset Shimmer dropped her shield, ran to the right and fired off her own scorching ray, putting her attack in the path of both the nightmare and Twilight, who were both forced to dodge out of the way, lest they be damaged by the blinding golden flames. Rather than run away from Sunset, Twilight turned towards her, intent on closing the distance and attacking her from both sides at once with the help of the nightmare.

Sunset Shimmer seemed to see this coming however, and a flash of magic caused her to grow a pair of flaming wings. Which she flapped twice, leaping over Twilight’s head and evading the skeleton’s attack but not the nightmare’s. Which had come in the form of two enormous claws which left deep wounds in Sunset Shimmer’s flank. The attack seemed to tear through both the unicorn’s flesh and her magical defences in equal measure with enchantments flaring before bursting into a kaleidoscope of sparks.

Seeing her opening, Twilight stomped her forehooves into the ground, imbuing the nightmare with an aura of unnatural cold. Sunset hardly had a chance to right herself after getting airborne before she received another slash down her belly. Blood all but poured out of the gaping, blackened wounds, the nightmare’s attack freezing the flesh on the underside of the pony’s body.

Flaring her wings, Sunset Shimmer flapped hard, hitting the nightmare with a spray of fire and causing the dark creature to recoil in pain. Immediately after she drove one enemy away, the unicorn dove down, dodging out of a sickening brown beam that shot forth from Twilight’s forehead. Sunset followed this up with an attack of her own, firing off several orbs of fire in Twilight’s direction, not bothering to aim the attack itself.

Not like she needed to, as the flaming orbs exploded the second they hit the ground, bathing the area in fire and inadvertently incinerating the books Twilight had been working on. Twilight didn't give them a second glance however, and simply leapt out of the way before quickly firing a cone of cold. The small flames which had begun to lick at tree’s roots were instantly stifled, while at the same time the nightmare pressed its attack.

Its forelegs split into a dozen clawed limbs, each sporting two long hooks which reached out and grabbed at Sunset’s backside. Though the now winged unicorn managed to dodge the majority of them, two of the claws managed to bury themselves in her side. The wounds the attacks left behind festered angrily, as if they had already become gangrenous before the nightmare’s claws had even fully withdrawn.

More enchantments sparked and were rendered inert by the nightmare’s attacks, creating an opening the creature ultimately couldn't follow up on. This was due to Sunset Shimmer suddenly beginning to glow, her body radiating an amazing amount of heat and light which drove the nightmare back. Wounds were cauterized, and flesh closed, but the damage was already dealt, and blood was now splattered across a good chunk of the basement floor.

Twilight recalled the nightmare into herself, using its presence to shield herself from the waves of heat beating down on her skeletal body. Normally such an attack would be useless against someone without flesh to burn, but each pulse of magic hit the dead unicorn like a hammer blow. With the nightmare’s touch the attack lost a bit of its strength, something Sunset Shimmer seemed to notice as well.

The final pulse of heat was much more intense, and the ensuing wave of flames which spread over the library started several small fires. Twilight made a note to extinguish them as soon as possible while at the same time keeping her attention fixed on the airborne unicorn floating above her. Their eyes locked on one another, both combatants merely taking a moment to take stock of the damage they had sustained and dealt.

Sunset Shimmer had lost a good amount of blood, and both of her back legs hung limply in the air. Yet she had also received a considerable amount of healing magic which had staunched the flow of blood and had stopped her from bleeding out. One thing she could not repair were the wards and protective charms she had used on herself, as doing so would take minutes if not hours to accomplish.

Twilight, despite being little more than a skeleton with magenta flames for eyes, had not taken much damage. Sure, her flesh had been all but burnt away and her horn had been removed, but Twilight knew she didn't need the appendage to cast necromancy spells. Furthermore, her magical reserves were still strong, and had been bolstered even more after the nightmare’s arrival. That wasn't to say she had come out without a scratch however, and Twilight knew that if she ran out of magic, or her body took much more damage, she would die a second time.

A sudden twitch, and the battle was joined once more with the nightmare leaping upwards while Twilight fired a pair of energy beams towards the winged unicorn. Who flew overtop of them both before conjuring a wreath of flames around her hooves and bringing them down hard atop the nightmare’s head. The creature of darkness didn't dissolve this time, and merely split itself down the middle, causing Sunset Shimmer to overcompensate.

The two smaller nightmares leapt upon the flailing unicorn, one biting down on her back while the other scratched at Sunset Shimmer’s face. More enchantments sparked and failed as several more deep cuts opened on the unicorn’s form, a cry of pain and rage spilling from her lips. Twilight was quick to follow up this opening by firing a twisting, contorting mass of cruel green magic at her opponent.

Upon hitting the unicorn’s chest the magic visibly crawled into Sunset Shimmer’s open wounds, causing her skin to crack and flake away. The contagion spread quickly, causing muscle to atrophy and flesh to wither, but even still Sunset did not give in. Pushing magic into her wings, the unicorn willed the appendages to explode violently, bathing the area in another burst of heat and causing the nightmare to give up its attack.

Landing roughly, the unicorn stumbled forward, golden magic pouring out of her wounds like the pony was made of little more than paper. From the gaping hole in Sunset’s neck sprouted a glowing yellow snake with two deep pits of fire for eyes. Its appearance seemed to cause Sunset Shimmer no small amount of pain and discomfort, though her other wounds did begin to close.

Acting on instinct once more, Twilight scrambled backward before raising her hooves and recalling the nightmare to herself. The snake sprouting from Sunset’s neck brought its head back and belched another gout of fire, only these flames were pure gold and didn't seem to affect the tree at all. It did however, affect the nightmare, causing it to dissipate and recoil back into Twilight’s shadow the second the strange creature’s flames touched it.

Forced back, Twilight heaved with her magic, causing a second wall to appear just before the first had vanished. Unlike the first one, this one was made of pure life energy, and stopped the fire in its tracks, rendering the attack completely useless. In response, Sunset Shimmer lurched forward like she hung from the strings of a cruel puppeteer, her horn glowing a mix of gold and red as she did.

A circle of fire sprung up around Twilight’s hooves, forcing her to drop her shield and lurch forward suddenly. Immediately the snake’s mouth opened, and a pair of long fangs emerged, ready to deliver the killing blow Sunset Shimmer had not been able to deliver. A twinge of fear coursed through Twilight’s body, and for a moment she thought this may be the end for her, only for her body to compress until it was nearly two dimensional.

Though the feeling was uniquely disturbing, Twilight trusted the nightmare, and watched as she passed under the confused unicorn and emerged fully formed behind her. Without wasting a second, Twilight lit her horn and leapt forward, the nightmare molding itself around Twilight’s bones. When her hooves struck the other unicorn’s back, Twilight’s limbs had taken the form of a pair of swords which plunged deep into the living pony.

Sunset Shimmer screamed in agony, and the snake’s head which had grown from her neck turned towards Twilight. It seemed ready to strike, but the dead mare had one last trick up her sleeve, and began to pull at Sunset’s life force as hard as she could. Instead of the magic pouring into her mouth however, it was ripped directly from the unicorn’s body and funneled through Twilight’s forelegs.

The golden snake lurched forward, its body beginning to lose its definition even as it sought to bury its fangs in Twilight’s skull. With both forehooves trapped inside Sunset Shimmer’s torso, Twilight had no way to defend herself, thankfully for her, the nightmare faced no such restriction. The head of a raven lurched out from Twilight’s shoulder, catching the snake just as it was about to land its deadly attack.

The powerful beak clamped down hard on the serpent, stopping it dead in its tracks and causing it to hiss in pain. The nightmare wasn't done yet however, and with a turn and a sharp tug, it tore the magical entity out of Sunset Shimmer’s body and threw it to the ground. Without its support, the dying unicorn fell to the ground, her body collapsing under the weight of her grievous injuries.

The golden construct thrashed on the ground, writhing in agony while crawling back towards its former host. Twilight wasn't about to let that happen however, and in one swift movement she tore her hooves from Sunset’s back and slammed them down upon the magical beast. The serpent continued to burn for a split second before exploding in a burst of light, and in the stillness that followed Twilight felt profoundly changed.

Her magic felt different, her body felt different, her every sense changing in ways that no living being could ever experience. She pushed those thoughts from her mind however, and quickly trotted over to the dying mare bleeding out only a few feet away. As she approached, her vision went white, and she no longer looked down at a dying unicorn but at a kneeling pony whose head was bowed in supplication.

And then it was gone, leaving Twilight staring at Sunset Shimmer as the dying mare coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Twilight knelt before the pony, some part of her knowing that her opponent was no longer a threat. “I’m sorry it had to be this way,” she whispered.

Sunset Shimmer smiled faintly. “At least I get to die a free mare,” she retched suddenly, blood pouring out of her mouth. “Thank you, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight watched as the mare who killed her mother slumped to the ground in front of her, the light in her eyes flickering briefly before vanishing.

Sunset Shimmer hung weightless in a vast black void, and though her body felt distant, her senses remained keen. Despite knowing her senses were still with her, Sunset couldn't seem to detect any sound or sense other than the darkness that closed in all around her. It didn't last long however, the pony finding herself thrust back into a deep memory, one that saw a very young Sunset Shimmer playing with her favorite childhood toy.

That happened to be a velvet sun filled with some kind of small pebbles which the filly Sunset was busy chewing on. For a moment the unicorn felt a bizarre sense of vertigo, only for her mind to shift and she felt a wave of innocent calm and utter joy wash over her. There was a bit of embarrassment that came over the pony as she watched her much younger self, but the simple pleasures washed away that feeling.

I guess it's true, your life really does flash before your eyes when you die, Sunset thought to herself.

The scene didn't linger for long, just enough for Sunset to get reacquainted with the innocent pleasure of being a child. Things sped up after that, going through years in what felt like seconds, and yet Sunset Shimmer felt every last second of her life during that time. The unicorn could tell that the unpleasant moments of those early years were dulled, and the good parts shone through.

Playing with her toys, being carried around by her mother, Sunset’s first words, first steps, and first spell. It all felt so real, and yet slightly disconnected, her mind reliving every moment but also knowing full well that it was reliving those moments for a second time. Sunset Shimmer especially enjoyed seeing her mother again, even if those moments were bittersweet.

In every memory the grey-furred and red-maned mare was seen smiling, her bright blue eyes twinkling no matter how well-lit the room was. Though a tad thinner than what was probably healthy, Sunset Shimmer knew her mother was surprisingly strong. Which made sense, considering all the years spent serving as a royal maid. Sunset Shimmer felt her gaze lingering on her mother’s cutie mark which happened to be a single beam of sunlight illuminating a yellow flower atop a hill.

I wonder if I’ll see her again? Sunset Shimmer thought to herself, hoping against hope that she would indeed see the elder unicorn soon.

Images of the castle flashed through Sunset Shimmer’s mind, starting from the tallest tower and ending with the lowest hiding spot in the garden. Filly Sunset had seen them all, usually with her mother who carried the young pony in a pouch at her side while she worked. With a feather duster in her grey magic, the older pony would occasionally turn back to the baby strapped to her side, flashing her a smile.

Each time she did, Sunset Shimmer felt her heart swell with love, and she found herself unable to look away from those big blue eyes looking back at her. Years flicked past, and Sunset began to gain independence, attending the daycare in the ill-used east wing as well as going to kindergarten. Sunset attended school, made friends, went home to her single mother, and generally enjoyed her carefree early years.

An outside observer may have considered that time boring, but Sunset Shimmer coveted every single memory she witnessed. Though anything associated with Celestia would unfortunately be poisoned by the alicorn’s actions later in life, to a young Sunset Shimmer the world was just as it should be. That Sunset thought the sole ruler of Equestria was perfect, the alicorn having even assisted in getting her into a better high school than what her single mother would have been able to afford on her own.

The unicorn would have assumed that the memories she had of Celestia would make her blood boil, and yet it all felt so distant. Sunset Shimmer was dead, gone, and there was no reason to be angry anymore, no reason to rage at what the alicorn had done to her. All the hardships and horrors Celestia had put her through were things of the past, and soon Sunset Shimmer would be gone from this world.

And so time passed, with Sunset Shimmer graduating high school and starting to date a pegasus mare a few years older than her. Blazing Aria had been the mare’s name and the two of them had both a similar temperment as well as a similarily colored mane. They fought and butted heads more than the average couple, but in the end they almost always made up.

Years passed, and Sunset was accepted into a prestigious college of mages where all the teachers had been trained by Celestia herself. It was the chance of a lifetime, and though it was a demanding, stressful position, Sunset Shimmer relished the opportunity. Especially after her mother grew ill, the young unicorn threw herself completely into her studies, determined to help in some way.

Her time was split between visiting her mother in the hospital and spending every other waking moment studying. Her relationship faltered and finally ended, with both parties silently admitting that it was just something they couldn't handle. The two remained friends, though it was at a distance, with Sunset Shimmer focusing entirely on gaining the knowledge needed to save her mother.

In the end it simply wasn't enough, and the cancer won out against the best unicorn doctors in Canterlot. The funeral was small, the old maid having accumulated few acquaintances and even fewer friends over the years. What few beings did show up wept openly for the fallen pony, all save for Sunset Shimmer herself, who found herself unable to shed a tear.

Sadness and guilt still hounded her every thought, making the poor unicorn wonder if she could have done something different. In the end she buried her mother in a small plot on the edge of town, her tombstone bearing a fitting and simple epitaph.

Here lies a pony whose love knew no bounds.

It wasn't grandiose, but then again the mare herself had not been a grand person in life. She chose her friends carefully and, though open with those friends, she was generally a quiet, secretive mare. Sunset Shimmer’s father did not attend the funeral either, though Sunset Shimmer couldn't be certain of that as her mother had not once spoken of the stallion.

Even still, Sunset Shimmer had never felt unwanted, as her mother had gone to great lengths to express her profound love for the filly. Accident or not, it didn't matter to her, and thus it didn't matter to Sunset Shimmer herself. Now that she was gone however, Sunset Shimmer felt a weight settle on her back, and joy was a rare experience to the mare. Worse yet, without the older mare’s soft spoken wisdom, Sunset Shimmer felt as though she were lost and alone.

Loneliness and her became old friends as Sunset Shimmer plunged deep into her work, burying herself in ancient texts and lengthy equations. The loss of her mother may have stopped a lesser unicorn from pursuing knowledge, but Sunset Shimmer was not like most unicorns. She knew there were other Other ponies large and small whose lives would be inevitably ruined by a preventable and tragic death.

And so it was that years flew past like leaves born on an August wind, each one barely even registering in the unicorn’s mind. They were dull and filled with little more than theory, lectures, and long-winded conversations with helpful teachers. Only near their end did time seem to flow more normally, slowing down right when Sunset Shimmer had been granted access to the primal levitation spell.

The very existence of such a spell was a closely guarded secret, one that the young unicorn had been trying to access for as long as she had known about it. The spell itself was simple in the extreme which made sense given that young unicorns would unconsciously learn and mimic it when they saw an elder use the spell. Yet no one had actually laid eyes on the spell itself in ten centuries, with the ancient parchment having been locked away in Canterlot’s deepest vaults.

Her teacher had gone on and on about the importance of the spell’s secrecy, but Sunset Shimmer didn't even mind all the red tape. She was on the precipice of greatness and not even a three hour long lecture on special containment procedures could hamper the unicorn’s excitement.Time blurred as Sunset Shimmer’s studies recommenced, and months flew by in the blink of an eye until one day an epiphany was had.

Sunset Shimmer couldn't help but feel proud even at the very end of her life, and she smiled even despite knowing what would happen next. She expected to witness the damning meeting, to remember the pain and agony that came after, but Sunset Shimmer did not expect to get pulled so visceraly into the memory. The world blurred and suddenly she was no longer viewing things from a distance, but rather from behind her own eyes while inhabiting her own body.

Sunset Shimmer stood before the enormous doors of the throne room, her spell tucked away in a rune inscribed glass container which floated next to her. A few minutes earlier, Sunset Shimmer’s teacher had taken one look at the completed spell and pointed her towards Celestia herself. Such an event would normally have been exciting, and yet the grave look on the old stallion’s face had planted a seed of worry deep in Sunset Shimmer’s heart.

“You may enter,” announced one of the gold-armored stallions standing on either side of her.

Sunset Shimmer jerked upward and nodded. “T-thanks,” she stuttered, reaching towards the door and pushing it open with a hoof.

Taking a stumbling step into the enormous sunlit room, Sunset Shimmer found herself struck dumb by the sight. She had only ever been in this room once, and it had been after dark, and when she had been much younger. That first time had been at her mother’s side, with the maid having snuck her filly into the legendary hall under the cover of darkness.

There they had marveled at the panes of stained glass, the tall golden throne, and all the small intricate details carved into seemingly every surface. Together mother and daughter had gawked at the mosaics painted on the floor and the carvings done on the ceiling. They had spent what felt like forever walking in silence, merely staring with wide eyes until the guard that had let them in had informed them that they had to leave.

It had been an evening of quiet splendor, and it was a memory Sunset Shimmer cherished highly. Though now all those subtle artistic flourishes and images of long dead ponies seemed to stare down at her, judging the unicorn before she had even opened her mouth to speak. Worse still was the harsh, almost accusatory look being leveled her way by Celestia herself.

The alicorn sat tall and proud atop her throne, her regalia glimmering in the light which poured in from seemingly every direction at once. From her position on the ground Sunset Shimmer had to crane her neck just to meet the princess’ gaze. Steeling her nerves, the unicorn trotted forward and bowed low, as was expected of someone of her station.

“Rise,” Celestia commanded.

Sunset Shimmer did as ordered, standing as tall as she dared. “I was told to present my findings to you directly,” she shakily announced.

Celestia nodded slowly. “Your mentor sent word of your arrival, though he did not say why he was sending you before me.”

Sunset Shimmer breathed a little easier, silently thankful that she had at least a chance to defend herself. “I am not sure as to why he has deemed such a thing necessary either, but here I am.”

“Here you are, indeed,” Celestia repeated, gesturing toward the mare with an open hoof. “Well, go on then. We may as well humour him.”

The unicorn cleared her throat and retrieved her spell from its case, levitating it before her. “As you no doubt already know, I was granted access to study the original telekinesis spell several months ago. My intention was to create a tool that could assist surgeons and enable them, in conjunction with a scrying spell, to operate without having to open the pony up, so to speak.”

“A most daring proposition, but one that may be worth it, provided you have succeeded,” Celestia replied. “So tell me, Sunset Shimmer, did you do just that?”

“I did,” Sunset replied confidently. “Through much trial and error, I have been able to create a second telekinesis spell. One that would be able to do everything I had hoped it could.”

“Show me,” Celestia declared, extending an open hoof.

Sunset Shimmer levitated her spell into the other mare’s waiting hoof. “Of course, Princess. I think you will find everything is in order and that every precaution has been taken.”

Celestia nodded slowly and unraveled the spell. “I will be the judge of that, though your attention to detail is noted.”

The unicorn gulped silently and took an unconscious step back, watching closely as the alicorn began to read. The silence that followed was nothing short of oppressive, and Sunset Shimmer could feel sweat beginning to build on her brow. Worse still was the simple fact there was no one else around, only her, Celestia, and the many images of long dead ponies looking down at her from their stained glass prisons.

The soft, indirect lighting felt harsher by the second, and Sunset Shimmer stared up at Celestia as the alicorn poured over Sunset’s spell. The unicorn tried to remind herself that Celestia had been the one to help her get into a better school when she was younger and that the alicorn had even given Sunset a letter of recommendation, helping the young unicorn get into the highest echelons of unicorn learning.

Surely she would see how helpful her spell would be, and all the good applications it would have. Yes, there were some ways one may utilize it for nefarious purposes, but so long as it was only taught to a select few surgeons, that wouldn't be a problem.

Right?

The temperature of the room suddenly rose several degrees, and Sunset Shimmer scampered away from the beam of light on her flank. Glancing nervously up at the alicorn, Sunset Shimmer watched in horror as her spell was burnt to a crisp. The alicorn’s eyes blazed with an inner fury and her jaw clenched tight as she glared down at the much smaller mare.

“Sunset Shimmer. What exactly were your intentions when creating such a spell?” Celestia demanded, her voice low and carrying such a powerful weight that Sunset Shimmer couldn't help but answer.

“I wanted to help doctors,” Sunset Shimmer hastily exclaimed, the words feeling strangely hollow despite them being the truth. “I figured it could stop what happened to my mom from happening to other ponies if they had more tools to fight things like cancer.”

“So you did not intend to give every single unicorn in Equestria the ability to kill anyone at any time, and get away with it scot free?” Celestia retorted.

Sunset Shimmer recoiled, shrinking inwards. “N-no, I didn't, but I mean so long as it's only taught to a select few, then-”

“Then it will eventually be picked up by a child or someone learning magic for the first time, and it will spread like the plague,” Celestia finished.

“W-well, I wouldn't say that. It is slightly more complicated than the base telekinesis spell. I don't think it could be learned on sight like the normal spell,” Sunset Shimmer replied weakly.

“And how long do you think it will take before one of these doctors slips up and accidentally uses it around a particularly brilliant child?” Celestia retorted. “A hundred, maybe two hundred years?”

“Uh, n-never?” Sunset Shimmer replied, already wincing before she had even finished speaking.

“Everything gets out eventually,” Celestia stated, the alicorn’s eyes beginning to glow a faint gold. “You must always plan for such an eventuality. History has taught us that much.”

“I d-don't know of a spell that has-” Sunset began.

“You don't know, because I don't deem it necessary for you to know of such an instance!” Celestia shouted, her voice nearly knocking Sunset onto her backside. “Imagine if every single unicorn was capable of spreading death and destruction on a scale akin to the screaming sickness. Imagine if it didn't matter how much magic they had, imagine if a child could accidentally murder their mother because they wanted to grab something with their magic.”

“T-that would- I didn't mean-” Sunset stuttered, sweat pouring down her face.

“This spell could unwind our entire society singlehoofedly, you damned fool!” Celestia continued, the mare standing up suddenly and trotting slowly towards the unicorn. “I have spent eleven centuries fighting to uphold the delicate order our society, neigh, our very existence is built upon. And you would render all that effort moot in the span of a decade if given the opportunity.”

“No! I would never do such a thing. I swear!” Sunset shouted.

“And yet here you are, anyway. Doing exactly that,” Celestia replied, her every step closer increasing the heat in the room by several degrees.

“I just wanted to help ponies. Please, you have to believe me,” Sunset Shimmer pleaded, the mare falling to her knees.

“Oh, you will help ponies. I will make sure of that. But first I must ensure that you cannot teach that spell to anyone,” Celestia declared, her horn beginning to glow a bright, almost unnatural gold color.

“W-what do you mean?” Sunset Shimmer whispered fearfully, staring up at the towering alicorn.

“Do not fear, my little pony. Though you have become an agent of chaos through your foolhardy pursuit of knowledge, I will remake you into someone better. Someone who will help to uphold the order that stands as the central pillar of this great nation,” Celestia all but whispered, her eyes narrowing. “Now hold still. This will hurt, a lot.”

And then the screaming began.

The memory mercifully faded shortly after, leaving Sunset in an empty void for several seconds, as if to allow the pony time to adjust. A change of pace Sunset Shimmer was quite thankful for as the terrifying moment had stuck with her, reminding Sunset of all the horrible things done to her. Whatever force that controlled this strange memory movie quickly moved past that event, sweeping aside the torture that had followed.

It also seemed to know that Sunset Shimmer did not have any desire to see herself do the horrible things she had been forced to do as Celestia’s pawn. As such, it slipped past those events at a rapid pace, each memory hardly even registering in Sunset Shimmer’s mind before being brushed aside. The few that did were at least less horrible, such as her strange interactions with the forest beast.

As well the memory of when Sunset Shimmer had realized the chimera she had sent at Twilight had failed and had not been killed. She also remembered the brief scrape she had with the timberwolves that had been under Twilight’s control and the game of fetch she had played with them. More than that Sunset Shimmer remembered watching Twilight as she went through trials and tribulations both big and small.

Though her programming forced her to consider the unicorn as little more than a target, deep down Sunset Shimmer couldn't help but respect the dead mare. She was so willing to give up anything for her friends, all while she struggled with her own inner demons and loss which plagued her constantly. Yet even as her respect for the other pony grew, so too did Sunset Shimmer’s guilt whenever Twilight returned from another adventure.

It was clear to Sunset that this random strange unicorn was everything Sunset herself had wanted to be in life. She was kind, caring, and always put others before herself, while at the same time being one of the most brilliant beings Sunset Shimmer had ever seen. Though Sunset Shimmer herself had been called a genius and a prodigy she could tell that Twilight was on another level entirely.

The unicorn smiled as she watched her past self steal the love rations from the changeling merchant. That grin remained even as she fashioned them into an armor that would protect her while also giving Twilight a potent weapon. The creation of this double-edged sword was perhaps the closest she could get to helping Twilight without Celestia’s magic stopping it.

And so it was with a strange amount of joy that Sunset Shimmer watched herself take advantage of some random happenstance that left Twilight alone. The ensuing battle was brutal, but brought a weird smile to Sunset Shimmer’s non-existent face, though that faded soon after. As now that she was removed from the pain and confusion of the actual fight, Sunset Shimmer realized how close the battle had been. If Twilight had not worn the amulet, the dead mare would have been annihilated twice over, once when the protection enchantments had stopped Twilight from being turned to ash and a second time when it had allowed her to summon the nightmare.

Which was a sight that was as surprising as it was welcome.

The memory quickly wound down after that, ending with Sunset’s heartfelt thanks before fading away into nothing. Now utterly alone in the void, Sunset Shimmer breathed in and then out, a smile coming to her face as a sense of contentment filled her very being.

At long last, peace, she thought as the void began to swallow her whole.

And then her eyes snapped open, and she was left confused and more than a little startled by the skull which looked down at her, whose eye sockets were filled by a flickering purple fire, which happened to be a sight that stirred a distant memory at the back of Sunset Shimmer’s mind. Which in turn caused Sunset to shift awkwardly as her body felt strangely while her senses felt wrong for lack of a better word.

“Oh wow. It actually worked,” exclaimed the skull in a clearly feminine voice.

Sunset Shimmer wondered how the skull had spoken, given that it had no lips, nor a voice box for that matter, but she pushed such thoughts from her mind. “Where am I?” she asked. “This doesn't seem like the afterlife.”

“Well, I suppose technically it's your afterlife, but it's not the afterlife,” stated the skull, which giggled. “Sorry, necromancer joke.”

“Wait, necromancer…” Sunset Shimmer’s jaw hung open and she looked around the room, noting the familiar scorch marks which covered the walls of the basement. “You brought me back.”

“Sort of,” the skull winced somehow, “I am not capable of performing a true resurrection yet, so I’m afraid you are in the same boat as I am.”

Sunset Shimmer looked down, noting that her former enemy had not a single scrap of flesh left on her bones while Sunset Shimmer herself appeared normal on first glance. A quick visual inspection stifled Sunset’s relief however as the gaping wounds in her back were still there, as were the blackened patches of flesh. Yet Sunset Shimmer felt no pain, and though it was uncomfortable to say the least, she was strangely calm about the entire situation.

“I see that,” Sunset Shimmer muttered weakly, only to perk up slightly when a thought occurred to her. “Wait, you have to get away from me, quickly. If I’m alive, that means she is going to make me attack you.”

The zombie stumbled into a stand and began to backpedal, preparing to mentally fight off Celestia’s magic before it overwhelmed her.

“You don't actually have to worry about that,” Twilight stated evenly, the skeleton rising to a stand and walking over to Sunset Shimmer. “All remnants of her magic vanished the second you died.”

Sunset Shimmer heard what the other undead had said, yet she kept her eyes closed and remained tense for several seconds. That was until the unpleasant sensation of losing control did not return, and her thoughts remained free and unmolested. Opening one eye, Sunset Shimmer looked down at herself, half expecting her limbs to start moving on their own or for that terrifying embodiment of Celestia’s magic to return.

When neither of those things happened, the zombie fell to her knees, crying, her entire body becoming limp. Though no tears were actually shed, Sunset Shimmer didn't notice as the pony was completely overwhelmed with joy. Twilight winced as she watched her former enemy collapse into a heap and begin to sob uncontrollably.

“Sorry about the state of your body,” Twilight muttered weakly. “I don't know enough about necromancy to heal all the wounds you suffered.”

Sunset sniffed and shook her head. “Are you kidding me? This is perfect.”

Twilight’s fiery orbs briefly winked out, as if the skeleton was blinking in shock. “What are you talking about? You do know you’re a walking corpse, right?”

“That may be, but I’m free!” Sunset Shimmer stood suddenly and began to skip around the room, unbothered by the blood which trickled from her still open wounds. “I’m myself again!”

Twilight stood there as she watched the zombie hop, skip, and jump around like she had just won the lottery, rather than be told she was now little more than a reanimated pile of meat.

“I suppose that is true. The spell I used brought back your mind and spirit as they were on the moment of your death, so you should be completely free of her control,” Twilight explained.

Sunset Shimmer stopped and turned towards the skeleton, her eyes wide and filled with shock. “Why would you do that? I was just trying to kill you, for crying out loud! What if I got back up and tried to finish the job?”

Twilight winced under the angry tirade, raising her hooves defensively. “Well, I mean your magic will take a day or two to return, so no offence, but I don't think you’d be much of a threat.”

Sunset Shimmer tried to cast a spell, only to find that the skeleton’s words were true. “Still. That was dangerous. You should have at least set up a containment ward or something,” Sunset Shimmer retorted.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “That really isn't necessary. A necromancer can destroy undead with a wave of her hoof, or whatever manner of limb we possess.”

Sunset Shimmer nodded slowly. “Good, though I am still a little disappointed you brought me back at all.”

“Why?” Twilight cocked her head. “Don't you want to be alive, or at least half alive?”

“Of course I do,” Sunset Shimmer declared, stomping her hoof. “But I certainly don't deserve to be, especially not if it was you who gave me life.”

Twilight raised a hoof. “Woah there, it's okay, really. I had something of a revelation during an unfortunate encounter a while back. Which allowed me to understand you a little better.”

Sunset Shimmer cocked her head, noting that Twilight’s shadow seemed to stretch away from her, as if it were embarrassed. “What do you mean?”

Twilight shook her head. “I won’t get into details, but suffice it to say I was able to figure out that you were being controlled and that you didn't want to do those things you did.”

“That doesn't change the fact that I did them,” Sunset Shimmer retorted.

“Look, I brought you back for two reasons. One was that I had thought you would want to make up for what had happened and the other was that I assumed you wanted revenge,” Twilight explained.

Sunset Shimmer opened her mouth to speak, only to close it and really think about what she wanted to say. Twilight was right on both assumptions of course, but in the confusion of Sunset Shimmer’s sudden reanimation, the unicorn hadn't thought about either of those things. Her death had helped heal the hate in her heart, but now that she actually had a chance to get revenge while atoning for her past actions…. that changed things.

The unicorn dropped into a low bow, her nose nearly touching the ground. “Twilight Sparkle, I Sunset Shimmer, do hereby solemnly swear to serve you faithfully for the rest of my days. Until my bones are but dust and my very spirit gives its last in your defence.”

“Woah, you don't have to go that far,” Twilight hastily declared.

“I’ve seen the way you help ponies, witnessed how you are willing to sacrifice for them, and know that in your service I would be able to give back everything I’ve ever taken,” Sunset Shimmer replied, her nose still hovering above the ground. “Please accept this most solemn of vow.”

Twilight’s shoulders slumped. “You aren't going to take no for an answer, are you?”

“No, no I am not,” Sunset announced, smirking.

Twilight stared down at the zombie for several seconds before letting out a sigh. “Fine then. Sunset Shimmer, I accept your vow.”

Sunset Shimmer rose slowly, a smile on her face. “Well, I hope you don't mind looking at this ugly mug of mine, ‘cause I’ll be sticking with you until the end of time itself.”

The skeleton chuckled. “Well I can change that part at least, though it may take a bit of studying to figure out the best way to alter your appearance.”

Sunset nodded slowly. “I suppose a walking corpse may cause a bit of panic.”

Twilight waved a dismissive hoof. “Oh, I’m sure that part would be fine. I just worry that you may start to well… stink. Given that you are not a revenant such as I.”

“I’m so glad that was the sense that didn't come back,” Sunset Shimmer exclaimed.

“It should return in a few hours. Hopefully by then we’ll have figured a way to patch you up,” Twilight replied.

“That would be too much effort. I’ll just burn away this useless meat,” Sunset Shimmer stated.

“Well I suppose if that's what you want,” Twilight remarked, shrugging.

Sunset Shimmer pursed her lips. “You do know she’ll send others now. Celestia won't let this insult go unanswered.”

Twilight smiled. “That's fine. We’ll face her together. All of us.”

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