Like much of the town the museum district was reduced to ruins in many places. A battle between the police, monsters, and people simply taking advantage of the situation had ended with hundreds dead. Wallflower had picked off a number of monstrosities when she'd had the opportunity, usually when they were distracted or wounded, but dared not confront them directly. Invisibility and a few weapons, no matter how deadly, could only take her so far, after all.

The normal citizens who'd tried to organize and fight back had been massacred. She'd tried to save them from the shadows but a scant few had escaped. She'd hoped there were others like her with powers who hadn't lost their minds, but aside from the geode bearers she hadn't encountered any. No, like always she was a fluke. A freak of nature.

She'd wrapped herself up in a hooded cloak upon her return to a historical preserve where a number of weapons and armor had been looted. She wounded and chased off a number of burglars but couldn't bring herself to kill them. Adagio and Aria had quickly settled in, the latter having hot-wired a seemingly abandoned car, promising she wouldn't do stuff like that anymore unless the situation absolutely called for it. But under the circumstances she doubted the owner was even still alive.

Sometime later Sunset arrived with Sonata and Trixie in tow. “Sisters?!” The youngest siren's knees knocked when she looked at the pair, who'd summoned up their old costumes and suppressed their geode markings for the moment. “Why are you-”

“It's all thanks to Sunset.” Aria smiled warmly. “She saved our butts.”

Trixie did a double-take. “A-are you sure they-”

“It's cool,” promised Sunset. “I've helped them work through this.”

“If you say so,” replied Trixie who was tempted to take off and spill the beans. But since Sunset had welcomed her into a circle that otherwise would've rejected her, she felt compelled to stand by her no matter how much she doubted this decision.

Sonata played with her ponytail. “So, you're like tamed or something?”

“You could say that,” replied Aria. “Come here, little sis.”

“I...owe you both an apology.” Adagio cautiously approached. “I've always been so wrapped up in my ambitions I lost sight of what I'd fought for. I'm a hypocrite. I placed all the blame on Celestia, Luna, and the males of Equestria, but I treated you two worse than anyone. She hugged them both. “I've had my eyes opened. Of course, it doesn't change what we've done.”

Aria showed a thin, well-toned arm, where a tattoo suddenly a\\ppeared and shimmered. “It's our fault Rarity and Rainbow died. It doesn't matter how sorry we feel. Not like we can bring them back, no matter how much we wish to.”

“Oh no.” Sonata wasn't sure what to think. But she'd missed them terribly. “Rarity was so sweet to me, and Rainbow Dash was so full of life!” It was hard to reconcile whether she should be angry with them or happy to see them. Once they'd been everything to her. And even now after all the ways they'd hurt her the trio still shared a special bond. “What do we do now?”

“We make amends the best we can. That's what these powers are for. We'll fight in their name,” said Aria.

Adagio had carefully considered it and agreed with a nod. “It's all we really can do. We'll try and help Sunset fix this. I don't expect their friends would ever be able to forgive us, so we'd best keep away from them. Once this is over we'll turn ourselves in, let someone else decide what we deserve. Maybe Celestia and Luna back in Equestria. They're probably the highest authority.”

Sonata blubbered. “But I-I don't want to lose you two again! It's not fair!” She stomped like a child throwing a tantrum.

“It's what we deserve.” Aria stroked the nasty scars on her face. A constant reminder of past mistakes.

Sniffles escaped Dusk's runny nose. “We can fix this! I'll talk to them and-”

“It won't be that simple. Never has been.” Adagio sighed and crossed her arms. “We are monsters. But at least you'll be able to turn over a new leaf. Who knows? You'll probably be the last siren, after all.” She laughed and wiped away her little sister's tears. She'd rarely ever appreciated them until now. Unfortunately, she believed it was far too late for her and Aria.

“Hate to break up this little reunion, but we'll have to make a decision soon.” Wallflower unfolded her map. “From what we saw on the way here it looked like Sombra's hideout was hit hard. He's probably not there anymore, so we'll have to track him down later. That leaves Somnambula and Nightmare Moon. Which one should our team hit?”

“Too much risk the Dazzlings will run into my friends if they go for Somnambula, so that's where I'll head.” Sunset worried they were spreading their forces too thin, but what choice did they really have? Better to hit their adversaries at the same time before they gathered any more strength. The last thing she needed was useless infighting between allies old and new.

Trixie hefted a few weapons left behind. Glass cases had been smashed and armor turned over. Shards were scattered across the floors. “Well, well, perhaps the Great and Powerful Trixie will finally be able to strut her stuff!” She certainly felt more powerful ever since she'd been vamped. “Now, what would suit me?” She experimented with a number of displays.

Of course she went for the flashiest stuff first. The more exotic, the better! But she quickly discovered a scythe was pretty unwieldy, a pair of nunchaku were far more likely to hurt her, same with a flail, and something like a mace or war hammer seemed too vulgar for her picky tastes. “I suppose this will do!” She settled on some sort of metal whip that collapsed into a sword. She lashed it about, laughing as she smashed open more cases, her eyes wild with a sense of empowerment.

“Careful now.” Wallflower ducked away. “Save some for the enemy! Sheesh. At least you're enthusiastic.” She laid her hands on Trix's arms, guiding her. “Here, I'll teach you. I've had nothing but time here to practice and study, so I've picked up a move or two. Why don't you come with us? We could use the numbers.” She smiled with a wink.

“Trixie wanted to stay with Sunset.” It was almost a defeated whine. She didn't want to admit she was one of her few close friends. Not to mention she hadn't forgotten what Adagio and Aria had done to her, and she couldn't help but shudder in their presence. “However, I do believe in trying new things. Okay.” She laid a hand on her bosom. “Count on me!”

She turned to Shimmer and sidled closer conspiratorially. “You know, you won't be able to keep this from them forever. Pretty sure Tree Hugger already suspects what's up. What will you do when they find out?”

“I don't know,” she confessed staring down at herself. “Maybe I'll be kicked out of the group...again. And maybe I'll deserve it. But we could use their help. If either of them go bad again, I'll deal with them personally.”

“Come on.” Blush took Lulamoon's arm. “Time for your first lesson!”

“You too Sonata,” added Aria. “Pick a weapon, too.”

“Ooh, sounds fun!” Sonata was like a kid in a candy store when she picked through the displays.

“We'll teach you how to better implement your powers,” noted Adagio.

“I can teach you two, too! Tree Hugger showed me this nifty meditation thing! Of course, I can't stay still long enough to do it too often!” Sonata bounced back-and-forth from one shoe to another while she rattled on.

Sunset nodded. “Look after Trixie. I have to head back.” Giving each of them a long hug and a kiss on the cheek, she headed back to her vehicle alone, summoning the cursed sword back into hand and staring at it. A part of her could almost thank the monstrous weapon. It had helped make her who she was now. Allowed her to be reborn. Sadly, it had also cost her much.

From she-demon, to spirit of vengeance, and finally an angel of mercy. She'd went through quite a transformation. However she finally felt settled in. Her motorbike rattled to life, and she revved it up, racing into the night on her lonesome.

Chambers locked behind Chrysalis and her followers, and holes in the walls started to funnel in sand, intended to bury the trio alive. With a nod to Applejack the cowgirl balled up a fist and wound up a punch that caved in solid stone amidst a cloud of dust. “Awww,” pouted Pinkie who held a two-handed mallet taller than them behind her. “I wanted to do that!” She giggled and skipped out beside them. They had crossed a number of traps the owner laid with little incident so far.

The interior had been rebuilt into a maze of death by Somnambula's slaves. She hoped to wear them down before she could claim these latest intruders too, and likewise amuse herself, but they continued to clear them with ease. “Amateur.” AJ spat. “Give us a real workout! Ya'll got nothin' on Rainbow Dash! Why, I reckon our butts haven't even broken a sweat!”

Pinkie slapped her friend's firm and freckled buttcheek with a loud smack to check. “Nope, not a drop!”

“Now, now, be careful you two!” Chrysalis took the lead. “I want to return you both in one piece! I'll simply...borrow you until the big bads are taken out. Guess I'll have to settle on hunting the small fry afterwards.” She pulled a childish pout. “Oh well, don't think I'll hurt for targets while that portal remains open! Should keep me occupied for years, at least!”

“Whatever ya say, Queen.” AJ adjusted her stetson, seeing a number of well-chiseled men dressed in nothing more than loin cloths headed in their direction. The mistress had collected the most handsome men she could find across the town and converted them into slaves that had redesigned the museum to her specifications. Oil slathered their muscles and they came armed with curved swords and spears. The cowgirl took the lead, disarming one-after-another with her lasso.

At the same time Chrissy danced through their numbers, duel-wielding a pair of blades as she downed their enemies. At the back came Pinkie, who seemed to switch weapons almost on a whim to keep herself unpredictable; between her mallet, a yo-yo, a frisbee, and a handful of shiny jacks that she made explosive, she helped them clean up rather quickly.

“They're cute but a little braindead,” noted Pie who snickered when another crumpled before her. Were the huntresses average citizens they could have proven quite deadly, but fell quite easily despite their numbers before the succubus and her pals.

Bodies lied broken and bloodied before them. Sconces with blazing torches lined tunnels decorated in hieroglyphics.

While deeper in the pyramid-like museum Somnambula stomped a foot. “Infidels!” A string of foreign curse words escaped her at her followers' incompetence. Her sphinx rubbed her head upon her bare thigh, and she stroked her pet until she purred. She knelt and kissed the feline's temple. “Do you wish to hunt them? No, it is far too dangerous, my precious.”

She turned to Moondancer, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash, who'd been reborn from their baths in ancient chemicals inside the sarcophagi. Of course they were little more than hollow shells now, nude save for fishnet-like costumes that slid alluringly over their bared flesh whenever they moved. Upon a shelf sat the soul jars that housed their disembodied spirits.

They would throw themselves upon swords should she command it. The trio surrounded her with fans and fanned their Queen. She inhaled and tried to relax. Twilight Sparkle was still fighting the conditioning; she was tempted to simply pluck her soul out and be done with it. But no, she was convinced the little mad scientist would be an invaluable ally if conditioned to her cause.

“Prepare my bath. I tire of this farce. I shall leave the intruders to the swarm.” The women poured basins of steaming water they'd prepared into a tub she'd had constructed at the center of her throne room, added in perfumes, and removed her garments. They undressed too and stepped in with her. Their palms slathered oils into her tender curves.

She laid back into the waters which sloshed around her and dipped her hair. They surrounded her and lathered her up. Hands traced the supple slopes of her breasts, down her navel, over her child-bearing hips, over her thighs and buttocks, down to her feet. A buzz echoed in the chamber when a black cloud of locusts started to lift off to deal with the invaders.

The sarcophagus that imprisoned Twilight Sparkle shook. Being trapped in such a small space for so long caused her to panic and spiked her adrenaline, fight-or-flight instincts helping her burn off the sedatives flowing through her blood.

The repeated thunks made Somnambula wince in irritation. “Ugh. My bath is disturbed.” A splash sounded when she rose. Her handmaidens tried to towel her dripping frame but she waved them away dismissively. “Open the lid. She must be taught a lesson in proper manners.” They bowed and worked to slide away the top. She stalked towards her.

A hateful shriek escaped Twilight who hurtled free. Despite all the drugs she'd had pumped into her system to numb her, she managed to call upon her geode, markings flaring up all over her when she unleashed a telekinetic storm. Objects were tossed about haphazardly in the room. Many shattered, but the accursed soul jars proved almost indestructible, rolling across the flor unharmed. Hair whipped about and the trio of slaves and their mistress nearly lost their footing.

Pops sounded when bloated locusts burst into showers of goopy guts. They splattered and splatted when they were psychokinetically hurled about. “Restrain her,” ordered Somnambula but her maidens strained to break the barrage of wind that whipped them about. However the sphinx bounded forward, a crazed smirk upon her lips.

Twilight never liked to hurt animals. Not even ones that creeped her out since this one had a woman's head and breasts. She seized her in mid-leap by concentrating and tossed her into the bath. A splash sounded, and the sphinx popped up with a growl, hating water like a typical feline. She mentally seized the soul jars and floated them to her. “Let my friends go! Now!”

By now most of the swarm had been crushed by the full force of Sparkle's power. A few buzzed lazily, confused and wounded, as the psychokinetic storm died down. Somnambula bristled and repeatedly stomped her foot. “Useless fools!” The wet sphinx raced to her side and nuzzled her mistress in attempt to calm her. All she'd built was quickly crumbling around her.

The chambers burst open under AJ's knuckles. She stomped in followed closely by Chrysalis and Pinkie. The would-be Queen darted her eyes about like a trapped animal, slinking down and holding the sphinx to her. “Flitter! Cloudchaser! Deal with them!” The twins rushed out from their hiding places with swords at the ready, poised to attack.

“Ah, there you are!” The duo paused when Chrysalis strutted forward. “Don't you recognize your Queen? Remember, you swore to serve me, now and forever!” They hesitated for several moments, then lowered their weapons. “Good. I suppose I can let your friends loose, now that we're even.” She swapped spit with AJ and Pinkie, who snapped out of their trance.

“M...mercy,” whispered Somnambula who shivered with the knowledge she was thoroughly defeated. “Do with me what you will, but do not let the culture of my people die. Have we not suffered enough indignities over the centuries? Oh, and please spare my sweet little pet. She simply did what I commanded her to.” The sphinx nuzzled her keeper.

Twilight walked up to her. “Okay. I'll decide what to do with you later. But first, how do I free my friends' souls from these jars?” She'd tried to pry them open with little success. She'd have to study them later.

“There's only one way. Someone must willingly trade their soul to take their place. Also, an exchange can only be made once. Lay your hands upon it, concentrate, and you will know intuitively how it is done. I am sorry. That is the pharaoh's curse.”

“I see,” mused Chrysalis who circled her. “So, it seems you're of no use to us anymore? What a shame.” With a swift motion she beheaded Somnambula execution-style, blood spattering her while she cackled. Twilight couldn't help but scream shrilly, Pinkie went boggle-eyed with shock, and Applejack gasped, the latter pair still coming to their senses. “Another one of the heads of the hydra...removed! Now, to hunt down the other would-be lords of the night! Flitter, Cloudchaser, come!”

With twins in tow, Chrissy funneled out. Somnambula's corpse toppled over amidst a blood-pool which the sphinx lapped at like a lowly beast, even as she mourned her mistress, unable to restrain her baser instincts. For a moment no one dared speak.

“You okay, sugarcube? A lot's happened. Don't know all the details myself, we'll work it out later.” AJ walked up to Moondancer, Rainbow, and Rarity. “Poor girls. I'd love to get my hands and whoever's responsible for all this.” She also looked at the latest victim's carcass and shook her head. “Seems like the darkness can warp almost anyone.”

“I know. I almost fell too,” admitted Twilight. “All it takes is the right spark on anyone could be twisted. Look closely.” She nodded at Rarity who still had somewhat visible segmented joints even after the sarcophagus healing elixirs had tried to fix her. “It seems she was mutated, too. Poor Rarity...” She stroked her cheek. “Maybe I can find a way to fix this.”

“All we need to do is trade some souls? That's easy,” chirped Pinkie.

“Hold up, now. No senseless sacrifices,” warned AJ who blocked her friend with a well-toned arm. Of course in truth she was ready to trade herself to save any of them. Even Moondancer who she'd never been close to. But how to choose between them? It simply didn't seem fair. “Guess we'll take 'em back with us for now, decide what to do with 'em later.”

“I agree. This isn't a decision to be rushed into.” Twilight wanted to believe there was some other way. But if there wasn't the only hope their friends could be returned were if someone was willing to sacrifice themselves for them. Thankfully the handmaidens now seemed to see her as the highest authority, and like the sphinx padded behind her. She'd need their shells to house the spirits until they could hopefully be freed. Right now all she wanted to do was get out of here as fast as possible.

Rumbles sounded around them. As if somehow connected to its mistress and seeking to entomb them, the museum started to collapse, kicking up sand clouds when columns started to crumble and topple. Healing elixirs bubbled over and boiled when they spilled out. The party made its way out, AJ smashing and pushing over collapsed pillars and stones when needed, Pinkie blowing open walls that slid to block them, and Twilight telekinetically grabbing debris that rained down on them.

An inferno engulfed the Equestrian Suicidal Girls headquarters. The blaze was swift to spread and crackle as smoke poured out in a dense cloud. Sunny cackled when she almost danced throughout the air. “You two, wait here. You're not fighters, no sense risking those cute buns!” She licked her claws that ended in demonic nails. Inky and Pacific hung back, the latter holding onto Sombra's shriveled form. “Time to flush whoever did this to me out! Yo, bitch! Let's see how you like it!”

Windows shattered when Nightmare Moon rode out atop Onyx. She laughed back at the she-demon and the pair met in mid-air. Fires danced and clouds of darkness erupted from hands when the Queen of the night called upon the blackest arts. A dazzling display of colorful pyrotechnics filled the sky when they traded attacks, dodging and testing their nemesis.

“Help,” came a banshee-like cry from within. “P-please...”

Inky rose cocked an eyebrow. “That voice is so familiar...Dean Cadance?” She handed Sombra over to her Glow. “Keep an eye on him, please. I can't simply abandon her.” She ran into the burning wreck, heedless of what happened. She'd already made so many mistakes. What did it matter if she died now? At least maybe she could still save someone.

“Be careful,” called Pacific who bit her pouty lower lip. Her eyes watered when she looked between her sister and the two monsters that battled above in the permanently stained sky. “Get her, Sunny!” The raver cheered with a sad smile.

“Help me,” murmured Sombra in a brittle voice. “Let me feed.” His pitiful eyes met hers. She winced and turned her head aside. Thin hands trembled and pulled at her top, but she refused to so much as speak to him anymore.

The mistresses of darkness seemed equally matched. Both struggled to gain an advantage, sizing one-another up while they battled, at first more playing around but their duel escalating rather hastily. A part of Sunny wanted to thank her for what she'd done to her. Another part hated to be messed with. Especially since she'd tried to use her like so many others.

By contrast Nightmare Moon was impressed and disappointed in the monster she'd helped awaken. She'd hoped to craft a new servant but the girl's will was stronger than she'd first believed. “Impressive,” purred Nightmare. “May I propose an alliance? Do you truly believe your former friends will accept you now, after what you've become? They'll hunt you down like a dog.”

“Maybe.” Sunny tried to shrug it off but she had a point. She was a demon now. She doubted there was any way to turn back now. The pair continued to circle each other while she considered it. “Hmmm...eh, why not? I mean, it's not like I have something better to do. Don't have any real attachment to this world. It's always been screwin' me over, after all.”

“Excellent! We'll bring this town to its knees!” She cast back her head with a melodramatic laugh. “Let me collect my property.” She doved back into the burning HQ, and helped Inky who was busy freeing Celestia and Cadance, carrying them out upon her steed. “Come with me, little lost goth girl.” She helped the coughing Inky pile the her captives on.

Onyx trotted outside with Rose by his side and the half-conscious women slung over a muscular back. The group stopped under the bloody moon to watch the ruins smoulder and crumble. For Inky it was full of so many memories. She'd been the face of the company and its spokesperson. Embers popped and the crackling fire reflected off the entranced audience.

Nearly an hour passed while they watched in silence. Sombra was placed on the ground so that Inky and Pacific could hold hands. He shriveled up into a fetal position, quivering. “I'll...we'll need a new lair,” quickly corrected Nightmare. So why not seek out the source? This mouth to Hell must have an origin, after all. Let's seek it out and claim it for our own!”

Sunny crossed her arms in a lackadaisical manner. “Sounds like a plan.”

Inky whispered to her. “Are you sure about this? She can't be trusted. What if she betrays us?” Sunny simply smirked to expose her razor-sharp teeth. While she doubted this alliance, it wasn't like she and her sister had anywhere else to go. Would Sunset and her friends take them back? Maybe. However, she wasn't certain they deserved their forgiveness so soon.

A whoosh sounded when several arrows rained towards them. Onx reared up to protect his mistress, taking most of the shafts which stabbed into his barrel. She cried out to see her pet harmed, but before they could figure out who attacked them, smoke bombs rained around them, and shurikens whizzed into Nightmare's side, embedded deep as her wounds oozed.

Sunny sailed into the air and her balled up fists were afire. “There you are!” She hurled a fireball at Adagio, who summoned a barrier, an explosion sending out shock waves. “Haven't forgotten how the Dazzlings helped screw up my life!”

A starry cape trailed behind Trixie, who reached into the pockets sewn into it, where she'd hidden a number of smoke bombs. Her pointy hat rested on her head. She'd dressed for the occasion in her flashiest manner, almost treating it like a game, less out of arrogance and more trying to hide her fear by acting bold. In truth she knew she was the weakest link on her team.

Even Sonata proved a bigger threat than her, a little more used to her vampiric abilities. Not that she'd admit it aloud, but she was determined to help out however she could, rather than risk dragging them all down.

In a blur Aria whipped by and scooped up Cadance who'd fallen off the steed. “You're safe now,” she told the unconscious woman and hurried back. “Wallflower, get her out of here, will you? Gotta try and get Celestia, too.”

Wallflower materialized when she picked up Cadance. “Careful now, okay? Don't get your ass killed.”

“Yeah, I know. I don't deserve a heroic death.” Aria sped back off in a flash. In the meantime Adagio continued to summon constructs to cover them, while Trix's bombs left trails of colorful plumes, and she set off a number of loud rockets and fireworks which erupted with screams. While they were little more than noisy distractions, they helped add to the unfolding chaos.

Nightmare Moon knelt beside her mortally wounded horse and sobbed. “Onyx...no...” She barely registered the battle around her anymore. The hate seemed to burn out of her, until the darkness evaporated back into the atmosphere, and she transformed back into Luna, who draped upon her almost lifelong companion as his breathing continued to slow. “Don't leave me!”

A crimson mess spilled over the lawn. Sombra watched his former followers retreat amidst the bedlam, and realized that they were all so preoccupied, they'd completely lost track of him. He shook and weakly pressed his lips to the red mess. Slurps sounded when he sucked the horse's essence up. It wasn't much...but he could feel himself becoming stronger!

He managed to cup his hands and pooled up the crimson nectar which he drank down. Warmth burned in his stomach. It pumped into his veins and his ruined muscles started to partially rebuild themselves. He took all he dared, knowing he couldn't afford to be caught, then staggered away, straining while he limped along. He needed more sustenance, and fast.

Perhaps if Satan were real he smiled upon him now. He observed a red trail away from the battlefield and quietly followed through the haze of colored smoke. A stray shuriken had hit Pacific, little more than a flesh wound on her hip, which she clutched while trailing after her sister who led the way ahead. He closed in upon her from behind.

Before she realized his presence he dug his fingers into the skin of her throat and ripped it open. She gurgled and collapsed, eyes hazing over when she weakly turned to stare saucer-eyed at her assailant, who drank from the torn flesh even while he dragged her into the bushes. Tears spilled down her cheeks. She started to go limp in his grasp, her heartbeat slowing.

He groped one of her udders, a wet patch forming in her top, when dribbles of milk beaded through. She was still somewhat swelled from how he'd altered her. Still had her belly bloated like she'd been impregnated. With every passing second her fading strength became his. He yanked down her hot pants, baring her bottom half, which he smacked.

“A shame I can only claim one of my whores one last time.” Her eyes started to go dim when he parted her thighs, and he slammed into her, making her judder while he ripped open her top. All the while he drained her, and her last thoughts were focused on Inky Rose, the sister who'd always loved and taken care of her, before she finally blacked out forever.

The warlock continued to pound her corpse to release. When he finished, he dropped her like so much trash, and rose to his feet. His muscles were still tender, but at least now he could move without much pain, offering him a chance to start anew. Her cunt juice mixed with his semen and pooled from her loose vaginal lips. A perverse part of him would always miss her.

While Sunny proved able to weave around most of the arrows sent her way, a few managed to strike her, and she fumed in frustration. “A little help, Nightmare Moon or whatever your name was?” But she noticed Luna was all that remained, the darkness arising from her and Onyx like a black cloud. “Tsk, tsk. Guess you're no use to me anymore.”

She spread her arms and opened her mouth wide. The dark fog was siphoned into her every orifice, and she welcomed it inside her, an unnatural cold biting into her womb which she found oddly pleasant. Almost like it was helping complete her. More shafts hurtled into her but she simply cackled, enveloping herself in a great ring of fire which ate up most of the missiles.

Perhaps it was what every would-be master of darkness subconsciously desired. To eventually seek the source of this chaos and become one with it. It was like she was now connected with the portal to Hell itself. Like it communicated with her. But she needed to come closer. Until she claimed its power, she would forever feel empty at the core.

“Inky? Pacific?” She saw neither of them, and deciding that after she'd taken them this far they could manage on their own, she decided to travel on her own. “Take care of yourselves, sisters. I hope we won't become enemies. It's...better this way. I guess this is who I am now. The spawn of Satan. A shame Sunset and I will surely come to blows, but as they say, there can be one!”

The sky burned when she rocketed off in a frenzy of crazed laughter.

Working without pause from the schematics left behind, Sunset and Flash tried to complete their latest devices, to little success. She cursed in frustration, knowing there wasn't time for this. Even with all the resources scattered in the basement's lab she struggled to complete a workable prototype. “Damn it...I don't have Twilight's or Moondancer's expertise in this area. I've always been more of an intuition sort. Hands-on. Trouble is, we could use some of that tedious research about now.”

“Don't beat yourself up too much. It was a good idea.” He sighed and slumped down next to her. “Were we...really an item?”

“Yeah, once. It fell apart, then we started to work it out again, with Twilight. Kind of a relationship between all three of us, seeing where it would go. Guess I blew that chance.” She linked her fingers with his, suddenly inspired. “Maybe I can fix this? Would you be willing to let me inside, try and dreg up those old memories, fill them in wherever I can?”

He smiled. “Sure, but first we'd-” His heartbeat quickened when Tree Hugger came down the stairs. A part of him wasn't certain he wanted his old life back. He'd fallen hard for this little hippie ever since she started taking care of him.

Tree frowned at them. “We need to talk. Sunset, I know you'll do the right thing.”

She turned her head aside. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean, chickadee. Don't play dumb, okay?” She softened a little. “It'll hurt, but the longer this is tucked away, the bigger it will grow. Like, I've held back to give you time, but it's totally weighing on my conscious, too.”

“Fine. I did plan to tell them eventually.” She'd dreaded this moment. How could they understand? Whatever the Dazzlings had done she knew enacting vengeance wouldn't solve anything. Weren't they supposed to be about forgiveness? Beyond that, they would likely need their help. No, she was convinced this was a suitable part of their punishment as well as a way to atone.

She headed upstairs with shoulders slumped like she was on the way to her execution. “Gather around, everyone. I have a confession to make.” Well, it was only her, Flash, Tree Hugger, Fluttershy, and Spike. But before she could even start to breathe easy a car rolled up. “Oh no.” She paled at the sight of Twilight, followed closely by Applejack, Pinkie, and the shells of Moondancer, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash. Most curious was the sphinx which strutted behind them.

A part of her was thrilled to see them. But another part knew this would be even more painful now. At least her friends had escaped Chrysalis' spell. With a pat on the floor she directed the newcomers into the circle and steeled herself.