Chapter VI: "It's who we are on the inside"

“Twilight?”
>The seconds become minutes, the minutes become hours.
>Every moment is a struggle to keep yourself together. Both mentally, and physically.
“Twilight, you need to wake up…”
>The sunlight crawls closer and closer to you, becoming less golden, and more a deep orange red as dusk fades and fades into the night.
>You see the change in small bursts. You’re having trouble keeping your eyes open.
“Twilight… Please…”
>Eventually the exhaustion, combined with the comfort and warmth of Twilight’s body and the gentle kiss of the sun win over your senses.
>You were meant to go right after him, but your body… your body can’t cope with anymore exhaustion.
>There’s no way you can carry Twilight anymore, and she won’t wake up.
“Please… Twilight.”
>One last vain attempt to reach her, then your eyes shut and you recede into your mind.
>You can’t sleep, not now.
>Just… move Sunset.
>Move!
>Move.
>…
>Move…
>…
>Much as you mentally berate your own body, you can’t find the energy to move it.
>All the while he’s getting further and further…
>You can’t wait any longer, you can’t let Anon be alone like this, in this place.
>Can you make it? Is he worth the fight? At this point can you ever make it right?
>No, you need to go after him, after what you did…
>It was just you, Twilight, and him.
>Now it’s just you and Twilight.
>How could you say that to him?
>Because he fought you, over and over again even Twilight was freezing and facing her end.
>It doesn’t solve anything, you didn’t want this. You wanted to repair your relationship with him.
>You say it like that’s all you’ve being doing so far. You know your actions are just your attempt to change who you are.
>No.
>That’s not what you wanted. You tried to forget about Anon for four long years and you couldn’t.
>You… wanted to see him end up happy.
>You still do.
>That’s true.
>Do you?
>Stop!
>…

You know which part of you talking is the person you want to be.
>But which is the person you really are?
>Can you change that?
>Can you ever stop making mistakes?
>What happened to trying to be a good person?
>Can you ever change?
>…
>You’ve changed before, haven’t you?
>Try and remember bit by bit, show yourself what changed and perhaps you can understand it.
>Twilight appears in your mind.
>The Twilight from Equestria, Princess Twilight.
>You would look down at the Twilight in your arms, but she’s no longer there.
>You’re back here, at the moment where you almost gave up any semblance of a normal life and tried to steal the crown.
>Princess Twilight is offering you her hand, and her friendship. Ready to pull you both out of the physical ditch you’ve found yourself in, and the miserable, lonely existence you’ve built for yourself.
>She’s smiling.
>The smile that made you feel safe, made you feel wanted. For four long years you felt like every smile was just hiding the truth from you, some ulterior motive to take you down and crush you.
>Twilight didn’t, even though she had every reason to, and due to that fact you suspected her the most.
>One day you got the chance to return that smile, that kindness, but it was to the other Twilight.
>You suppose you’ve projected a lot of what Princess Twilight did onto the other Twilight. She never saved you like the Princess did, but you still put everything, and will continue to put everything you possible can into helping her through this.
>If it can even be considered projection when they’re basically the same person.
>This is not the first time that thought of this. It never really mattered to you.>They have their differences, but on the inside, they have the same heart. The same compassion and drive for others.
>You can recognise it in her, even in her darkest, or her most timid moments.
>That’s the Twilight you know, the one you respect. The one you want to be like.

>A hand gently takes hold of yours.
>You look up from the ditch you put yourself in and see a different face.
>No longer Princess Twilight, but Anon.
>He’s gingerly holding onto your hand, not quite sure if it’s the correct thing to do.
>He has a nervous smile on his face.
>Probably embarrassed, there are people watching, some also giggling.
>You were never quite sure if he was embarrassed by that or whether it was from holding your hand.
>It’s nostalgic to think back and wonder.
>You embarrassed him sometimes, well, a lot of the time really. Despite that, your attempts to fit in with this world made him laugh, even when they would occasionally lead to some… awkward situations.
>He always used to make you laugh as well, something about the way he said things… Even though he used way too many adjectives.
>He didn’t exactly lead the most exciting life, or talk about the most exciting things, but he was always excited about them.
>It almost feels good to think about those times, but it’s mostly sad.
>These thoughts that were warm once are now baggage that weighs heavily on your heart.
>You would like to be able to remember the happy moments and smile, but the guilt that taints them always returns.
>You think of all the times you hurt him, and the monster you became.
>You question why your mind would call upon those bitter-sweet memories when your thoughts were focused on the moment it all changed.
>When Twilight rescued you.
>Perhaps the image of Anon pulling you onto your own two feet is more ingrained into your mind then you once thought.
>You briefly consider what might have been if Twilight hadn’t been there to save you.

With the magic of the crown, you considered almost anything would be possible to conquer.
>You’re sure that you would have tried at least, until eventually someone, or something stopped you, chances are that thing would not have had an ounce of the mercy that Twilight did.
>So you would have ended up dead and hated by everyone…
>Maybe nothing would have stopped you, maybe you would have gone on to conquer for as long as you lived. As unlikely as that would be.
>This world doesn’t have magic, but there are things in this world more dangerous than any magic you were ever capable of.
>Your plan was foolish from the start. No different to a school shooting, looking back on it.
>It would have brought you no closer to happiness then all the popularity you had did.
>All it did was hurt.
>All you do is hurt.
>You wonder if Anon might have become another part of your hive mind if Twilight hadn’t convinced you to put your old ways behind.
>This thought is worse than the rest.
>You’re not sure if you would have been able to handle seeing Anon like that, even under the influence of your demonic power.
>All of his intelligence, all of his passion, his insecurities, everything that makes him Anon. All of it, stolen away, leaving only an emotionless drone staring at you though his once-bright eyes.
>You would even take his glare over that.
>Not like the guilt ever goes away when you’re around him, glaring or not.
>Well, he’s gone now, isn’t he?
>Then why is the guilt still here?
>Is it only because he won’t leave your mind? After all it was his own fault you had to leave him behind.
>You want to let the guilt go, even for a moment so you can relax and focus on what’s important, but instead you’re envisioning all the terrible things you might have done to him if you had gotten your way.

>You look down at your demonic claws, then back to him.
>All the fearless front he puts up against everyone around him falls away, and his eyes beg you to stop, but you don’t.
>You hear yourself cackle like the monster he sees you as, the monster that you are.
>Then, he is under your control.
>Blank, expressionless. Everything that he was is now gone.
>Gone…
>Like the smile he wore when you needed it, replaced by the glare that accuses every day.
>The friendship and dependence, replaced by the suffocating hatred that won’t go away.
>Why do these thoughts keep flooding your mind?
>In your dream, you’re surrounded by a thousand memories. Some of them of better things, but all of them bitter reminders of your mistakes.
>You want them gone!
>The you that failed Princess Celestia, the you that failed Anon, the you that failed everyone!
>You want to forget, about your pain, your past and to move on.
>Your past is not today!
>You want to stop asking yourself if you’re a good person or not.
>You want to stop seeing his face in your dreams…
>You want to wake up!
>You want to wake up, but you still have no idea what you’ll do in the waking world.
>So instead you sit alone, shivering in fear of your own mind.
>Twilight may still be asleep, Anon will still be gone.
>What will you and Twilight do?
>Can you even save Anon anymore?
>…
>Ignore yourself, there’s only one place to go.
>The Crystal Empire, as you and Twilight both know.
>The Crystal Empire…
>The poem Anon and Twilight mentioned, the story Anon told you, it’s here, protected.
>There’s magic somewhere in the city, where, thanks to Twilight, you have been directed.
>You’re pulled back to Equestria, in the libraries of Canterlot flaunting your truancy, deep in studies of forbidden magic
>Sombra had his own spells of darkness, but in the heart of the Empire, something else lies.
>A beating heart… that never dies…

>Maybe there, in the Crystal Empire you can make everything right.
>Forget your mistakes, and walk with Twilight through to the light.
>As you look down to the endless, incomprehensible pages, you hear a murmur.
>A voice, but faint.
>Calling to you.
>The sounds feels like it comes from nowhere, and right in front of you both at once.
>You look around to try and find the source of the voice, but find empty libraries around you. You’re smart enough not to let anyone see you here anyway.
>The voice comes again.
>You look out the distant windows, but the world doesn’t exist outside of the library.
>You look back to the book, but you can’t read the words.
>The voice chimes once again, calling your name.
>It’s time for the dream to end.
>The library falls apart piece by piece as Twilight’s voice calls you back.
>It feels good to have the memory fade away. You’ve spent too long in the past. It’s too painful to think of it any longer, even though the present isn’t much better.
>You at least have Twilight there, and the Crystal Empire.
>As darkness overtakes the dream world around you, you begin to make out peculiar shapes you could not in the beginning. Strange white shapes, almost like people… but off in some undefinable way.
>The shapes are gone by the time you register their presence, leaving only Twilight’s voice in the darkness.
>”Sunset?”
>You feel a tingle as she brushes her fingers lightly against your cheek, gently caressing your skin.
>You reach your own hand up to meet with hers, rubbing your thumb across her palm.
>”Sunset, You’re okay?”
>The numbness is gone, you’re able to feel again. The warmth of the sun has done its work.
>You smile softly and slowly begin to open your eyes. You prepare yourself for the sting of light against your retinas, but are surprised to only see the world in a soft orange glow, barely enough to illuminate your surroundings.
>You’re running out of sun.
>The thought would worry you more, but in the gentle illumination you witness Twilight. Still in your arms, wearing a reassuring smile.
“I’m fine Twilight. Everything’s fine.”
>It’s harder than you expected to get the words out. Your voice is hoarse.
>You can’t help but let your own smile grow wider as you pull Twilight up towards you and into a hug.
>You feel her silently shudder as she buries her head into your shoulders.
>”I’m glad you’re okay Sunset, but nothing is fine and you know it.”
>You raise a hand and rub her back, fighting back the stress by trying to ease the tension in her tired muscles.
>You feel her chest extend and retract as she breathes a deep sigh.
“I know, but there’s got to be something, Twilight. There’s hope in in the Crystal Empire, I know I’m right.”
>Your raspy voice struggles to push out the words, but it’s getting easier.
>After a pause, Twilight pushes herself away from you, looking you in the face with her concerned eyes.
>”You feel it too?”
>You nod.
>The Crystal Empire is where you need to go, because that’s where he went…
>”But… how can we be sure? Can we even make it?”
>You smile again.
“Not while we’re sitting down we can’t.”

>You force your legs under yourself and begin to drag yourself to your feet. The attempt fails almost immediately as you collapse back down.
>The numbness may be gone, but your overworked muscles need time to wake up.
>Twilight gets onto her knees and holds onto your shoulders, and keeps you stead as you once again attempt to ascend.
>”Are you sure we should be moving already Sunset?”
>Twilight looks at you with concern as you gradually find balance on your trembling limbs. Your legs re-adjusting to the sensation of walking.
“We have to Twilight, we haven’t got much time until we’re out of sunlight.”
>Twilight pulls her head away from you.
>”I know but…”
>Her voice trails off as she gazes back and forth into the darkness that surrounds, perhaps only really seeing it for the first time.
>Even silent, she still holds you steady as you manage to completely stand up straight.
>It amazes you that she has so much strength after everything the two of you have been through.
>Here your legs are still struggling under your own weight, and she’s strong enough for the both of you. You don’t know what you would have done without her.
>Well, you do know what you’ve done without her…
>You pull yourself away from the guilt and focus on waking up the muscles in your legs, stubbornly kicking away the stiffness so you can walk again.
>As you do so, Twilight still scans the darkness.
>Maybe it’s getting to her.
>Say something, get her mind onto better things.
“There’s magic in the Empire Twilight, I remember…”
>You close your eyes in order to reach into your bitter memories once again.
“Back in the other world, in Equestria, Sombra wasn’t the only source of magic in the Crystal Empire. If this Empire is anything at all like the one I read about, there will be powerful magic here.”

>Twilight turns back to you as you speak, but it appears your words have done little to calm her, as her face is stricken with anxiety
>She opens her mouth to speak, but at this point you know, and dread what she is going to ask.
>”Sunset, where’s Anon?”
>The lump in your throat returns as she stares you down.
>Your legs are shaky again.
“He…”
>”What is it Sunset?”
>Her eyes quiver as she watches your reaction.
>”Oh my god, is he…?”
>You solemnly shake your head.
“He’s… gone Twilight.”
>You drop your vision from eye contact, your shameful memories flooding into your mind. Twilight continues to stare, eyes scanning you, not quite understanding.
>”What do you mean ‘gone’? If he’s not… then he’s missing?”
>She looks downward, observing as a shiver returns to her hands.
>”I – I don’t remember anything. I just remember the Crystal Empire and Moondancer… I don’t remember what happened to him.”
>Part of you is glad she doesn’t remember how you left him behind, but why has she brought up Moondancer?
>”Oh god… did I do something, Sunset?”
>What?
>The words cause you to immediately snap your head back up to Twilight, whose eyes are a mix of guilty fear and anxious anticipation.
>She really thinks she was the one?
“No, it wasn’t your fault, you fell, I went to help you…”
>Your voice trails off as her expression changes.
>Eyes wide with realization, as if someone just whispered an answer she never thought of into her ear.
>”If it wasn’t me who did it, then was it you, Sunset?”
>Her eyes are fixed open in a fanatic stare.
>Like when she was running towards the structure in her obsessive haze.
>You’d like to run now, wouldn’t you?

>You place a hand on your arm, rubbing up and down, as if some innocuous movement would somehow make it easier to formulate an answer.
“I…”
>You want to speak, but your tongue refuses to cooperate. All that happens when you try is that your mouth dries up completely.
>Twilight looks you up and down. Her expression softens. You can only assume she recognised your distress.
>”I’m sorry, I’m not accusing you, but you need to tell me what happened.”
>She lightly places her hand on your arm.
>She’s so supportive, even now.
>Supporting you, when you’re such a monster.
“No, no, no, no.”
>You shake your head as the words come out.
“You’re right Twilight. I… I just got so angry.”
>She stares at you, perplexed, almost cautious. Like a timid animal, trying to decipher whether or not you’re a predator.
>She deserves to find out, to know the truth.
“He was fighting me, even when I knew you needed help. He told me to leave him, so I did, but by then, it was too late, you’d already fallen…”
>Twilight squints her eyes as you talk, possibly probing her memory for her own recollection of the events.
>She won’t remember a thing because she wasn’t conscious for it. All she’ll know is what you tell her.
>Would it be easier to make up excuses and hide?
>No, things would only get worse if you lied.
“You fell into a ditch… I had to carry you up and I was so tired. Then he just, walked up… he walked, and after everything he still wanted to blame me for what happened.”
>Twilight watches and listens, still silently. The soft orange illumination only barely reaching far enough to shed light on one side of her body. Leaving the other side in darkness.
“I got so angry, I couldn’t control myself. I didn’t’ want to say the words, I tried to stop myself from saying them.”
>That’s true is it?
“I couldn’t stop. I just screamed at him…”

>Your voice trails off as you force out the words. Why does she have to make you remember?
>Twilight watches you, waiting patiently for you to continue.
>The two of you are silent, long enough for the position of the sun to further tilt. Twilight waiting as long as she can to retain faith in you to admit to your guilt.
>Eventually, she has to pull it out of you.
>”What did you even say to him?”
>You shake your head.
“I… I can’t even remember all of it.”
>Is that true?
“I told him… to leave… That if he acts like he wants to be alone all the time then he should just go.”
>You don’t want to remember, your mind stops you, to protect yourself from the guilt.
“I – I tried to apologize, but it was too late.”
>You pull both your arms around yourself and break away from her gaze.
>Twilight waits another moment, seeing if you’ll continue, then queries you again.
>”That’s all you said?”
>You hesitate. Then respond.
“No… I know there was more. I told you, I can’t remember, okay?”
>You come off as more defensive then you intended, Twilight pays little mind to it however.
>”So he just left?”
>She asks.
>”Where did he go?”
>You look towards the structure.
>Twilight follows your gaze, turning completely towards it.
>You realize you never truly looked at it from this distance, as, for the first time, you notice a doorway. Grossly oversized, enough to fit a double-decker bus into.
>The passageway is shrouded in darkness, it would be nought but frightening, but something about it actually feels inviting.
>Perhaps because the Crystal Empire lies beyond it, still enticing.
>Twilight moves towards the dark passage, briefly looking around to the dark terrain around her, and up to the fading sun.
>”Then we do have to go”
>Just like that?
>She’s just dropping it without a single attack?

>You stare at her in complete disbelief at her unwillingness to pry further.
>Did she not even care about Anon? Is she glad that he’s gone?
>You carefully approach Twilight as she drops her vision back down to the passage.
>No, she wants to press forward and find him
“You think… We can catch up to him?”
>Twilight raises an eyebrow.
>”Well, not like he would have gotten far with the leg. It wasn’t that long since he ran off on his own right?”
>Right.
>It… could have been a long time since he left. You can’t be sure, and you’re not sure if you should tell her that
“I don’t know-“
>”I mean, how long could it have been right? You wouldn’t have just… fallen asleep or something after he left.”
>Or maybe she already knows
>Twilight crosses her arms
“I – I-“
>”It’s not like he’s been gone for hours, in the freezing cold…”
>She doesn’t show you her expression. She just starts walking.
>Whatever impression of genuine forgiveness she gave you has melted away. Instead revealing the stoic determination to move forward and push the troubled thoughts behind her.
>As you gingerly scurry along to keep by her side, you silently wish you could be more like her.
>All she cared about was keeping the three of you together, forgetting your petty troubles and focusing on surviving the harsh world around you, and all you did was ruin it…
>As the two of you reach the threshold, it becomes harder and harder to tell when the darkness of the passage begins.
>The last glimmer of light before the night is creeping above you, getting thinner and thinner and setting at the top of the structure like a lone star twinkling out in an empty black sky.
>What will you do when you can no longer see?

>You follow Twilight, using your ears far more than you use your eyes as darkness envelops you. As her silhouette disappears completely, you reach out for her shoulder.
>You stumble as your hand finds nothing, grunting in surprise as you regain your footing.
“Twilight?”
>Harsh lighting flashes across the passage as Twilight unlocks her phone.
>She faces you directly, locking her gaze with yours.
>You know nothing you can say could break the tension, the silence and the accusation, so you just wait. Wait, dry mouthed until the moment ends.
>It’s all you can do, as the guilt will follow you.
>Only the sound of the wind gently sweeping across the stonework is heard, and the soft brushing of Twilight’s thumb across the surface of her phone.
>She looks down to her phone and her violet eyes hidden behind the reflection of light on her glasses.
>”Why do you have to be this way?”
>You don’t answer, you don’t have one.
>”It’s so self-destructive… Why do we both have to be this way?”
>You turn your face slightly.
>What does she mean?
>You’re the only one who failed someone, Twilight’s done nothing but try and help the three of you survive.
>You haven’t got the courage to open your mouth and ask, so instead you wait anxiously for her to continue.
>”You and Anon, both of you are so blind.”
>She turns away from you and continues to walk down the passageway.
>You follow behind, still remaining silent.
>”If you’d stop blaming each other, you’d realize the two of you aren’t even that different.”
>Not that different?
>…
>How can she say that? When has he ever doubted himself like you do?
>Where you push people away because you can’t overcome your nature, Anon doesn’t even give nature a chance to shine through and pushes people away intentionally.
>”Maybe then you wouldn’t end up like me and Moondancer”

>Moondancer again.
>Part of you feels like it’s better not to pry, that you won’t learn anything about her if you tried.
>…
>But you need to know. A deep sense of longing to understand and connect with Twilight overcomes what, at this point you assume to be your better nature.
“Do you… do you want to talk about it, Twilight?
>You run your hands across the wall, echoing a soft scratching sound across the tight area as you travel.
>She remains silent as you do this, not quite ready to answer.
>You turn your head to the wall, pale in the weak and bitter light.
>You notice strange patterns on its surface. Carvings, intentionally made by hand and tool. You can barely make them out, but based on what your eyes and fingers can decipher, they appear to be some depiction of wind, constantly flowing against you.
>You are walking against it, against the howling wind.
>”I… I hate remembering Moondancer, even though there were good times, but it’s like they’re tainted by the fact it all ended so badly.”
>She looks around at the pale walls.
>”In this place though… It’s like a voice in my head that keeps reminding me. It’s all I can think about.”
>She peers over her shoulder and then back to you.
>”Just like it’s all I can think about when I see you and Anon.”
>She turns back and continues to walk, her pale light leading the way.
>What she’s talking about, it sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
“How did it end so badly?”
>She shrugs.
>”I don’t know, not really. These things just happen and then you look back and realize how much you hurt someone.”
>Twilight squeaks as she stumbles.
>Your arm whips out and catches her before she loses balance.
>With hand in hand you both observe as the hallway stretches downwards in a long staircase. The wind carvings still flow upwards towards you, as the entire passage narrows to fit one person comfortably.

>But not much more than one.
>Twilight glances at you and sighs with relief.
>”Thanks.”
>You let go of her hand and she continues her descent.
“Don’t mention it.”
>The gratitude is gone as fast as it came.
>At times like this you know it’s unnecessary to thank each other for each and every barely-missed disaster.
>Unless it’s because she just doesn’t want to thank you after what you’ve done to her.
>You look down at the steps as Twilight presses on further and further.
>You witness the steps, and can’t stop the image returning to your mind.
>He’s falling…
>falling…
>falling… and you can’t catch him.
>The light starts fading around you. Twilight has no interest in stopping.
>Your exasperated breath fills the air as she leaves you behind.
>Just like you left him behind, even though you know you had a choice, on the inside.
>She’s going to leave you too…
>You can’t bear to see the light die out, so you close your eyes, and before you know it, the her footsteps have stopped.
>She’s gone, and you’re alone.
>Alone…
>”Neither of us had many friends, but you already knew that.”
>She speaks coldly and plainly, not wanting to show her emotions.
>You open your eyes, and she’s still there.
>Enough light to guide your way.
>”It was hard for both of us to take that first step.”
>She lets the question hand in the air as she watches you patiently.
>Her face is as stoic as her voice, but it’s not un-welcoming either.
>The first step…
>”You can do it, Sunset. No one is falling.”
>Your eyelids flutter, as if some spell over you had just been broken.
>You realize her message, and gingerly start the decent after her.
>She waits for you to reach her, and when you do you put a hand on her shoulder, only half for support.
“Thanks…”
>She gives a half-exhausted, half-sincere grin.
>”Don’t mention it.”

>The two of you continue down the steps, with you slowly getting past the initial shock of your memories.
>Why must they cast a shadow over all your actions like this?
>The only sound to avert your thoughts for a time is the pacing of feet over stone, until Twilight continues.
>Her voice contains the same cold tone as before, still attempting to conceal her emotions.
>”We were friends since I started at Crystal Prep, well, after a couple of months of going there we started to become friends. It wasn’t quite as instant as you and Anon.”
>You rub your shoulder.
“It wasn’t really instant for me…”
>For him maybe…
>You remember how many times he tried talking to you and you just wouldn’t respond.
>You were so scared, so confused, but so is everyone at one point in their life.
>”Well in this case it wasn’t instant for me or Moondancer, but we had so many things in common it was bound to happen.”
>Twilight shrugs.
>”We had classes together, hung out after school and talked on the internet, played games together, watched movies. Everything you’d expect. Until… until about a year ago.

>”It wasn’t that we… grew apart so much that she grew apart from school.”
>Her timid pause reveals the pain she is trying to hide.
>”She wasn’t un-academic, but it was like she stopped caring at all about her grades. When it was at a time when that’s all I cared about.”
>She pushes her hair back with her free hand.
>”I was determined, no, absolutely crazy to get into the Everton Independent Study Program.”
>The program, otherwise known as Twilight’s one-way ticket out of Crystal Prep.
>A study program that would lead her directly out of CP and into college.
>Twilight would have been a shoe-in with a little determination, but she gave it up to go to Canterlot and get herself into this situation…
>”I’d only just heard about it. I had a year before I could apply, and I needed my grades to be as high as possible, but I wasn’t the only one who wanted it.”
>She’s silent for a moment, then continues.
>”You remember Sunny Flare, right?”
>She looks back at you as she waits for an answer.
“How could I forget?”
>Sunny appears in your mind, along with all the wild accusations and personality swings.
>You, her unwitting executioner, who sent her to Anon just to have her heart broken.
>Twilight turns back to watching where she’s going.
>”She also wanted in on the EISP. She was a lot nastier about it than I was.”
>You raise an eyebrow.
“Are we talking about the same Sunny? She practically had a posse, and volunteered for the Friendship Games. Why would she want to leave CP?”
>You have trouble seeing the same well-dressed socialize putting her nose to the books to get a scholarship. She’s like a female version of Flash Sentry.
>…
>At least the way other people see Flash Sentry.

>”I don’t think it was specifically about getting out of CP for her, although, honestly, I really don’t know.”
>Twilight shrugs.
>”It’s not so crazy that she wanted to get a head-start on her future, but you don’t know Sunny like I do. She hated the Crystal Prep teachers. You saw how much she hated MacRoonie?”
>You can’t really blame her for that after how the guy went after Anon…
>…
>Even thinking about that makes you feel guilty…
>”She clashed with them a lot… but maybe it was even more than that. Not everyone likes who they are, so they do anything they can to change that.”
>Her voice trails into silence, lost in the ambience of travel.
>The soft brush of your finger over stone, the patter of your feet down the steps as the absence of Twilight’s voice breaths an uncomfortable air along the passageway.
>She is content to pause as many times is necessary. You can understand it’s just as painful as her to remember, as it is for you.
>The past is a thickle thing.
>You understand how Sunny could want to change, but by now you’ve realized that people can’t help but stay the same.
“It’s not easy to change.”
>Twilight snorts a solemn chuckle
>”I believe that, coming from you.”
>Does that mean she thinks you’ve changed, or that you failed to?
>It couldn’t be the former, you’ve already decided you can’t, no matter what you do.
>The absence of Twilight’s voice continues for a few more moments before she continues. Long enough that you begin to notice how enormously long this staircase is.
>Every now and then, the image of Anon reaching out to you as he falls flashes into your mind, but you try to ignore, at least this time.
>”Whatever reason she wanted to leave does not excuse how she treated Moondancer and me.”

>Her voice returns, more stern and controlled then before.
>”As soon as Sunny found out I wanted EISP, her and her friends were on top of me day in and day out.”
>As she talks, you recognise the sensation of wind caressing your skin and flowing through your hair, as well as its eerie whistle.
>It’s possible you’re finally getting near the end of the passageway.
>”I needed the school equipment for studies and experiments I wanted to present for my application, she made sure her and her ‘posse’ had every computer room and science lab booked out, every laptop rented and every study room filled to the brim. I could get in sometimes, but then I’d just get harassed so I couldn’t get a damn thing done.”
>She spits like a venomous snake as she recounts the events, hissing at all the memories that caused her stress.
>”I talked to teachers of course, but they can’t punish kids for studying. Most of them knew I wanted to leave, and that I was a good student. They’d rather I stay so the GPA for Crystal Prep stays sky-high, as if they couldn’t do that already.”
>You remember Cinch, how all she cared about was ‘reputation’. Ironically, all her obsession did was destroy her own reputation as an educator.
>”I might have been able to handle it if I had Moondancer with me, but she just disappeared from school all-together and suddenly I was all alone against Sunny.”
>Her stern voice becomes shaky as the snake’s venom clouds her mind.
>”As if I didn’t need another distraction, she kept asking for me to drop precious study time to come and spend it with her because she didn’t see me at school anymore. Of course I didn’t see her, she never came!”
>You see her fist clench as the light of her phone waves sporadically in her hand.

>”’I’m finally coming out of my shell’ she’d say. Saying she wants to spend more time with me, but apparently she couldn’t come to school? Why couldn’t she just come?! Why did she always hide?! I needed her! I needed her by my side!”
>The shaky venom explodes in all directions, he voice shattering the ambience and rocketing up and down the narrow passageway.
>You swear you feel the wind pick up just as her voice does, and dying down just as quickly.
>Twilight responds to the wind by billowing out an exhausted.
>You recognise this feeling.
>The same thing that drove away Anon.
>You fight back your self-deprecating guilt and place a hand on Twilight’s shoulder, assured that you will be able to comfort her.
>When you hand meets her shoulder, she shivers, but places her hand on top of yours, accepting your concern.
>”I… took it all out on her.”
>Her tone deflates to a sad admission of guilt.
>”I stayed bitter and gave up on her. Ignored her texts and calls for god knows how long. Eventually she did come to school.”
>She looks back on you, no longer hiding her eyes, which are moist with the tears she’s holding back.
>”It was just before the summer, I was so exhausted, and so bitter. She asked me to come with her on the archaeology dig with her father… the one to this place.”
>Your hand slides off her shoulder as she examines her surroundings.
>”She said it might help with my studies because apparently the crystals they dug up had unusual qualities. She even gave me one, but I didn’t want to listen to her.”

>”I was still so angry… and it was the last time I saw her…”
>Twilight looks downward, forward along her path, and continues to walk upon it.
>You hesitate, still entranced by her story, then place your hand on the wind-engraves wall and push forward with her.
“I’m sorry Twilight… that’s awful.”
>She doesn’t answer, perhaps distracted by the detail that takes your eye.
>An end, a bottom to the stairway, accompanied by a soft and unnatural shade of blue light.
“Twilight, do you see that?”
>She doesn’t answer, but it must be visible to her, no matter if her mind is hazy.
>Unless you’re just going completely crazy.
>You shake off the thoughts and focus on what’s ahead.
>The two of you finally reach the end of the ever-extending stairs.
>The illumination of Twilight’s phone meets the deep blue of the unnatural glow and crawls along the edges of the tunnel, revealing that it leads to one last narrow corridor, much smaller then what you went through.
>At the end of the final passage, lies a door. Far narrower than the entryway you originally came through.
>The blue glow radiates forth from behind the door, pushing through any gap it can.
>Twilight continues forward, once again leaving you on the steps.
>You cannot, this time you are rendered silent.
>You can’t move, you can’t breathe, and you can only stare.
>She walks past it so casually, so uncaringly it’s scary.
>He’s there, fallen, then broken.
>Lost and forgotten.
>Once cared for, now begotten.
>Who once had a friend, now has none.
>It’s Anon.

>You lips can only quiver as you stare at his lifeless body.
>Your breath is trapped within your lungs, you are unable to release it just like you cannot breath in.
>Tears well up in your eyes and your entire body shivers in the darkness.
>He’s there, he’s there.
>Look what you’ve done…
>Look!
>LOOK!
 >”What’s wrong?”
>Your pupils dart to Twilight, as you’re unable to direct any other part of your body.
>An eyebrow is raised, not understanding your alarm
>You look back at his body, and feel your gut turning.
>He’s…
>Everything that makes him Anon… gone…
>You’re light headed, and it’s not because you’ve stopped giving yourself oxygen.
>It takes you a few moments for you to regain your breath, all while Twilight is watching.
>Eventually, although your gasping as well as sweating, you force out a whisper.
“You… you don’t see it?”
>Your gaze goes back to him. Twilight follows your gaze, with a perplexed expression still on her face.
>”See what?”
>You turn back to her.
>The blue light waves and flickers behind her, but she doesn’t seem to notice.
>Just like she doesn’t seem to notice him…
>Is she lying? He could be dying and she doesn’t care.
>Why would she? That’s your burden to bear.
>…
>She… she wouldn’t lie about that. Maybe you are crazy.
>You dare to again look upon his form, turning your insides and watering your eyes.
>You can’t look at this anymore.
>You walk past the body. Legs still shaking
>”Sunset, is something wrong? You can tell me.”
>You creep past the body, using every ounce of your willpower to stop yourself from looking at it again.
>You approach Twilight, who is now concerned. Closer to the way out.
>”Sunset?!”
>You puts a hand on your arm and shakes you.
>You stare at her blankly, then your wisdom wanes and you stare back at Anon.
>To find nothing.

>You witness the empty space where he was, staring intensely as if you can somehow will it back into existence.
>”Sunset!”
>She puts a hand on your cheek and forces your face to turn towards her.
>You scan her confused and exasperated face up and down and give her the answer.
“It’s nothing, Twilight.
>She shakes her head
>”It is something. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
>Perhaps you have.
“No, it was just my mind playing tricks on me.”
>Her eyes furrow in frustration as she fails to get a real answer out of you.
>Her hands fall away and she sighs angrily.
>”Stop lying. You’re not okay.”
>You shrug.
“So? Neither of us are.”
>She keeps a stern expression for a moment, but her anger falls away.
>”That doesn’t mean we need to hide it from each other. We’re all we have, and we can get through this. This place”
>She turns around and heads to the door.
>How can she still trust you after that? Still be so strong.
>You’re not sure you could ever be like that. That resilient.
>You’re angry there was ever a time where she doubted herself.
>Whatever it was…
“I understand, Twilight.”
>Twilight has one hand on the door, the other with her phone, illuminating its texture. You see that the stone carved wind bellows from it, with large, strange symbols upon its surface.
>They float to the back of your mind as your words wish to draw from a different place.
“What happened with Moondancer. It’s so awful it had to happen that way.”
>She keeps her hand on the door, still as the wind has become.
>”A lot happened to me at the beginning of this year.”
>She turns back to you, one hand still on the door, the other blazing a harsh light against your senses.
>”During summer, I tried to get in contact with Moondancer, to apologize, but the only texts I got back were that she… never wanted to see me again.”

>Her voice is stoic, even in the face of the pain she’s hiding.
>”I got some more texts like that, and some just… strange. Eventually, I stopped trying.”
>She’s in her own world, thinking back to the painful moments held within her mind.
>Memories that hurt and bring back guilt, none are kind.
>”I spent all summer studying, eventually got my own equipment so Sunny couldn’t screw me over anymore.”
>What’s the point in holding onto the past if all it ever does is hurt?
>For what? Is enlightenment what it’s worth?
>”After summer. The first thing I remember about the school year was being told that Moondancer wouldn’t be attending anymore.”
>Wouldn’t you rather to never grow if it meant you’d never hurt?
>”I eventually found out she went off with her father and they were both presumed dead.”
>You put your hand over your mouth, almost involuntarily. Even though your mind is enwrapped with bitter thoughts, you’re still listening in her story.
>”Sunny also came to me and apologized for what happened. Sincerely. She felt guilty as well. Apparently Sunny wasn’t just bullying me…”
>Her voice trails off and she faces the ground.
>The tears she’d tried to hold back are now dripping.
>”It was never about me.”
>She takes a deep breath and the drips stop. She turns back to the door.
>”Y’know, looking back at some of those texts… maybe she didn’t just want to be friends…”
>Twilight presses against the door, which eagerly gives, allowing the deep blue light to flood your surroundings.
>”Sometimes, the person who needs your help is also the person who hurt you..."

>Before you lies a breathtaking, yet gloomy vista.
>The first thing that takes your attention is the pillar in the distance.
>No, a tower.
>All the structures are symmetrically places around it and it shimmers like a lantern, blue light eradiating across its surface and gently washing across the world around it. Ancient buildings litter this landscape, all in ruins, many destroyed or reduced entirely to rubble.
>The tower is so mighty it rises up past the dark ceiling, breaking through hard rock and stone in an attempt to reach the outside world. All these broken structures seem have sunken towards the tower, as if the rim of the city is the event horizon, and the tower, the singularity. Its presence alone being enough to pull everything towards it.
>The tower is not the only light, however. Across the ruins are specs of deep blue light shining in the ambiance, like stars in the night sky, too distant for you to make them out for what they really are.
>Whatever roads might have existed have been covered in heavy snow, enveloping the land in an eternal winter, like an unmoving snowglobe.
>You and Twilight pass through the threshold and look down from the top of, yet another, long staircase.
>You’re prepared this time for the nauseating memory of Anon to appear in your mind again, but nothing comes.
>Perhaps Twilight’s story has hardened your cognition for such things, or maybe it has just distracted you enough from your own memories.
>Twilight is content to distract herself from her own memories, stepping forward and marvelling at the surroundings.
>“This is it, isn’t it?”
>She whispers, her words lifting up in her chest as she witnesses the Crystal Empire.
>You step forward with her, petering at the edge of the stairwell.
“Thank you for telling me that story, Twilight.”
>She glances towards you, offering a smile in return for your gratitude.

>”To be honest, I feel a little better after telling you that. It… wasn’t easy to say, but it wasn’t easy to just keep down either.”
>She looks back at the stairs.
>”You’re… not going to freak out again, are you?”
“No, no I’m fine.”
>You put your arms up and reassure her with a smile. Or at least the best smile you can muster.
>You’re glad she’s looking out for you, you just wish you weren’t such a wreck that she had to.
>”Alright, ready to go then?”
>Twilight is done wasting time. You share a similar sentiment.
>This close to your destination, you don’t want to waste time with pointless hesitation.
>Twilight proceeds first, glancing between you and the steps to ensure her safe descent as well as your own. You follow confidently, intent to prove your capability to do so.
>However, the first step immediately shatters your façade.
>Your world erupts in a flash, the same memory of Anon falling. It last for fraction of an instant, but it’s enough to make you stop.
>Even when you’re so prepared for it, your mind still torments you
>”Sunset?”
>Twilight is immediately wise to your hesitation, her question more suspicious than concerned.
>Your only hope is to change the subject
>You shake off the delirium as fast as you are able and post a question of your own.
“So, have you ever told anyone else about Moondancer?”
>Her face relaxes and she rolls her eyes before drifting her attention back to the stairs.
>Smooth, Sunset.
>At least she trusts you to go down the stairs now.
>You bite back your doubt and force yourself down the steps as Twilight continues.
>”Of course other people knew, especially Sunny and Sugarcoat, but I never told anyone… everything, quite like that.”
>It doesn’t surprise you that Sugarcoat was somehow involved, or at least knew what’s going on. Maybe that’s why Twilight has such a problem with her.

“What do you mean by ‘quite like that’?”
>Twilight hesitates. Possibly only now considering what she actually meant with her statement.
>The two of you are about half-way down the stairs before she answers.
>”Well… everything. No lies, no hiding, no trying to act injured or innocent. I just let everything out. I’ve never been able to be that honest with anyone.”
>You see a smile appear on her lips.
>”You’re a good listener.”
>’Good listener’?
>You’re sure there’s more to it then what you hear, after all it’s not like you listened to Anon when he was here.
“I don’t feel like I’ve ever been good at listening.”
>Twilight shrugs.
>”You have for me.”
>Is that true?
>You think back to what she could mean, and you mind brings you back to the Friendship Games.
>The memory is fuzzy, somehow.
>It’s never been like this before, you’re not sure why.
>You see yourself in some angelic form, confident and content in your actions, helping someone else who’s lost their way find it again.
>It brings you great pains to recall the event, as with all of your recollection. A mixture of fondness for the moment, and regret of how much you’ve lost of that self-realization.
>It hurts too much to continue to remember fully, you can only let the memories list aimlessly into the back of your mind.
>”You opened up to us didn’t you? About Anon?”
>Why must she always recall the past again?
>This one you do remember, as it is still yet too soon for you to forget.
“Does it really count as opening up when you guys backed me into a corner like that?”
>That was… a bad way to say that.
>Twilight doesn’t appear to mind however.
>”Sometimes you need a push. Didn’t you feel better after you told everyone? Y’know, after you freaked out?”

>You shake your head
“Honestly, it’s hard to tell. Everything’s just gotten so crazy-”
>The two of you stop when you realize the stairs don’t flow into a mound of snow as you though. They end. Abruptly.
>In fact it’s at least a ten foot drop from the bottom of the stairs to the ground below.
>You and Twilight exchange nervous glances. She puts a finger onto her chin.
>”Do you think the snow is soft at the bottom?”
>You peer over the side.
>It’s difficult to tell.
>You can’t see any obvious soft snow, like mounds, or objects buried by a build-up.
>Aside from the obvious-
>”Wait, what am I saying of course-“
>Twilight is cut off when you grab her hand.
>She stares back at you in surprise for a brief moment.
“Nothing left behind us, Twilight, so nothing left to lose right?”
>Without hesitation, you follow your gut and jump off the stairwell, dragging Twilight along with you.
>”Wait, Sunset No!”
>Twilight’s screech ricochets across the expanse, flying away from you and the two of you plummet toward the ground,
>and just before hitting said ground you very briefly wonder what Twilight was about to say.
>The next thought you have is how glad you are that you didn’t wear a skirt today as you are buried knee-deep in powdery snow.
>Your jeans… or leggings possibly, you’ve honestly forgotten at this point, protect your legs from the snow, Twilight however is not so lucky.
>She stands there, her arms glued to her side and her face wide with alarm. You seize your shoulders and bite your lips in as you see her bare legs buried in snow.
>She shivers for a moment before rigidly reaching down and yanking each leg out individually.
>You do so yourself, but much more comfortably.
>Your fashion sense has benefitted you more than once in your nightmarish misadventure.
>It’s just unfortunate that you’re the benefactor of such protective clothing, as by all rights, it would be far more well deserved on Twilight.

>You try and reassure Twilight as she stiffly trudges through the snow
“It’s okay. A little… freezing cold, never hurt anybody.”
>You would almost giggle at the situation, but the threat of the cold is too real.
>In fact, you’re a little disgusted in yourself, both that you jumped so thoughtlessly, and that you would try make humour of a dire situation.
>”T – This makes no sense, why is the snow so fresh?”
>Twilight eventually reaches a plateau where the snow is not deep enough to reach her bare legs.
>You clomp after her, thinking to yourself as you do.
>She’s right, why is the snow like this?
>Weren’t you just thinking that?
>”It should be like packed ice at this point! Where is it falling from?”
>Nothing makes any sense right now, but it’s far beyond the point to try and make sense of anything.
>Better not to question, such things are better explained by a flaw in perception. Explanations will not come, to search would lead you to dawdle, and right now you must press on as long as you are able.
>”Why did you jump off like that Sunset? We could have broken our legs.”
>She turns back to you in time to catch a glimpse of your jacket being laid over her shoulders.
>”What-?”
>She doesn’t react make to your offer. Only too eager to accept more warmth, like your arms, as you wrap them around her in addition to the jacket.
“I’m sorry Twilight, I don’t know what came over me.”
>Don’t you know how to do anything but apologize?
>She hesitates for a moment, then chuckles.
>”I’ve been hearing that a lot today…”
>You wish you didn’t always have to use that excuse, but you have no other explanation.
>After a few more moments together, she shuffles in your grasp.
>”I’m fine.”
>You gently release her and she steps away.
>She’s not shivering nearly as much as you would have expected.
>Why is that?
>You look back, examining the mound you and Twilight landed upon.
>…
>It’s snow alright.

>You’re not exactly sure what you expected.
>Wait.
>The indentations of you and Twilight landing are still imbedded heavily in the mound, but something else catches your eye.
>A tiny glint of light.
>“My god, are you seeing this Sunset?”
>In the background Twilight marvels at the area while you brush snow away from the glinting object.
>”It’s everything Moondancer tried to tell me it was…”
>First a frame, then the glass, the cracks, and…
>A face.
>You immediately shoot up from your crouching position and take a few paces back.
>You stare bug-eyed at Anon’s face as he lies dead in the snow, his skin so pale it’s almost impossible to tell it apart from the ice that surrounds. His twisted, broken glasses barely fitting over his eyes.
>”Hey, you okay?”
>He’s accusing you, and he should too. It’s always been for your fault no matter what you do…
>A hand lands on your shoulder, causing you to jump.
>”You told me you weren’t going to freak out. What’s going on? Let me help you.”
>You force your eyes to look away, and to Twilight.
“Don’t you see it?”
>You motion your eyes back and forth towards his body, not keeping your vision set on him for more than an instant.
>Twilight follows your direction and looks at the face in the snow.
>She approaches, gingerly and crouches down.
>”Oh no…”
>You dare to glance again as Twilight picks the glasses off of his corpse.
>She motions them towards you as her voice begins to quiver.
>”This is bad. Didn’t you say Anon is practically blind without his glasses?”
>You stare at his body, still as a statue.
>”Sunset?”
>You notice you’ve stopped breathing
>You take a breath and look back at Twilight.
“He can barely see anything.”
>Twilight raises her eyebrow and hesitates a moment before walking past you.
>”Then this is really, really bad. Look at this place, Sunset!”
>Your eyes follow Twilight as she turns, not willing to look back for a moment.

>The snow is thick where you are, but the snow distribution is inconsistent in on the road before the two of you.
>These are the city streets, or what’s left of them, there’s no doubt of that.
>”Imagine going through this, blind.”
>The road might have once been straight and symmetrical, but now the stone that once made it has been dramatically misplaced, like the results of an earthquake.
>It dips up and down as with dangerously sharp drops littered across its surface, and to its side lies the ruins of houses, any that is not already reduced to rubble looking frail enough to topple over at the slightest push.
>The snow desperately tries to cover the shame of the long dead kingdom, but even one thousand years of build-up is not enough.
“It’s…”
>”Impossible, right? He couldn’t have gotten far from here.”
>Twilight scampers ahead, scanning over the ground for any signs that Anon has been through here.
>You amble slowly behind her, but do not imitate her investigation. For fear of the face you might find.
>Just forget it, Sunset.
>Move forward, be strong.
>You promised Twilight you would be.
>Find him, the real him, and you’ll all get out of it.
>He’s alive...
>You just wish he’d stop torturing you…
>”He must have gone by here, somewhere. Can you see anything?”
>You’re not looking at the ground.
>”Are you even looking? Sunset?
“’Within the buried castle, a room that holds the prize.’”
>Twilight hesitates for a moment, and looks at the tower in the distance, along with you.
>Your mind is purged for the time needed to recall the words, it feels almost like waking up from a dream.
>”There’s no way he’d get anywhere near there. While blind, after what his leg was like?”
>You shake your head, still dazed, and still confused.
>”It’s impossible, he’d know that.”
“But he’d still try.”