AN: Here is the last chapter before the final confrontation with King Sombra. Possible trigger warning for brief suicidal thoughts.
Ch 13: Attack Part 3
Caramel
The earth pony stallion is sitting under his usual apple tree with the same blanket wrapped around him. 'Why am I here? I'm going to be leaving Ponyville today. I've got my stuff packed and my ticket bought. Why'd I come back here? I guess…even after everything, I wanted to talk with AJ one more time before I left. It's likely she'll try talking me out of it, but I just have to go. Staying would only make me hope for too much. I can't have Granny Smith as my grandmother, can't have Big Mac and Apple Bloom as my older brother and my baby sister, I can't have Sugar Belle as a sister in law, and I really can't have AJ as…' He trails off, unable to say the last word since he's afraid he'll burst into tears. 'The sky went suddenly dark a little bit ago. That doesn't bode well for my talk with AJ. Who am I kidding? She probably won't want to see me after what I did yesterday. None of the Apples do. It's like your mother said to you, Caramel. You are just a burden. Your birth was a curse. Why are you even alive? Maybe I shouldn't be.'
Laughter fills the air.
Caramel flinches at the sound before peeking around the tree. 'Have I gone totally nuts or am I seeing more than one King Sombra?! What's going on?!'
"Look at these apple trees," says the first Sombra.
"Doesn't a former holder of the Elements of Harmony grow these things?" asks a second.
"That's right," says the third. "She does."
A fourth shows up. "Let's have some fun."
As one, the Sombras start blasting the apple trees all around.
Caramel is shaking from how upset he feels. 'No! Stop it! The Apples put their hearts and souls into these trees! How dare you?! You…'
"It won't be long before our plan succeeds," says the first Sombra.
"Any minute, all of our greatest enemies shall be collected," says the second.
'AJ?' Caramel asks himself.
"What a surprise awaits the citizens of Equestria," says the third Sombra.
The fourth chuckles while placing a hoof on the very tree Caramel is hiding behind. "They shall know not to defy me once they see their greatest heroes executed!"
The earth pony stallion snaps. "NO!" He rushes out and tackles the nearest Sombra from existence. However, what little bravery Caramel had leaves him as the other copies grin at him.
"Another wannabe hero?" asks the first Sombra.
"Noble effort," says the second.
"Now die!" the third shouts as they all prepare to blast the earth pony stallion.
Caramel backs away and ends up tripping. It helps him just avoid the blasts. His blanket is not so fortunate. It's been reduced to scraps. Caramel looks up at the Sombras as they charge up their horns to blast again. 'I'm about to die. The screw-up will be gone. Apples, I know you are all better off without me, but I still love each one you. And AJ…I'm so sorry…for everything.'
Suddenly, one of the Sombras gets blasted by a beam of magic.
Caramel can't believe it. Galloping over are Big Mac, Sugar Belle, and Granny Smith.
"Leave him alone!" shouts Sugar Belle.
Granny Smith throws a lasso at one of the Sombras. She keeps pulling until there's enough pressure to make the clone vanish. "YEE HAW!"
Big Mac glares at the remaining clone. The earth pony stallion's brutish frame barreling at him makes the unicorn stallion feel a twinge of fear. Big Mac tackles him away. "Y'all messed with the wrong family."
Caramel stares as the three Apples approach him. "Guys…I—" He freezes up as they hug him.
"Glad you're safe," says Sugar Belle. "Don't want to lose any of my family."
"I plan on keeping all my grandchildren till the day I die," says Granny Smith.
"Don't ever leave us again, little brother," says Big Mac.
Caramel can't think of a response, he's so confused. Then, he feels another pony hug him. "Apple Bloom?"
The other three adults gasp at the filly's presence.
"What are you doing here?!" asks Sugar Belle.
"Thought we told you to stay in the house, little filly!" shouts Granny Smith.
"Eeyup," says Big Mac.
"I'm sorry," Apple Bloom says while showing off her crying face. "I just had to know Big Brother Caramel was okay."
The orange stallion feels his entire body trembling. "You all still think of me as family?"
"Course we do," says Sugar Belle.
"We always want you here," says Big Mac.
"Ain't a full home no more without you in it," says Granny Smith.
Caramel is crying. 'I never let myself think it before…because I thought it'd turn out I was wrong or just kidding myself, but…the Apples are all my family and this is my home. I will never leave them again.'
Apple Bloom wipes away her tears. "It's like Applejack said. 'You're an Apple.'"
Caramel's happy mood comes to a screeching halt as he remembers what the Sombras said earlier. "AJ! She's in trouble! We need to help her!"
"If you haven't noticed, we're all in trouble," says Sugar Belle.
"But she's got it worse! Sombra wants to kill her!"
"Isn't that kind of obvious?" asks a newly arrived Tender Taps.
"You don't get it! She needs us!"
"As worried as I am, Applejack's shown she can take care of herself," says Apple Bloom.
"But her leg!"
"Ain't no busted leg gonna keep Applejack down," says Granny Smith.
"We can't be certain of that! I have to go to her!" Caramel scrambles to his hooves, but he gets grabbed by Big Mac.
"Nope," says the big stallion. "You're staying with us, where it's safer."
Caramel's desperation has made him angry. "No! I'm! NOT!" He bites the leg that Big Mac has around his neck.
"OW!" The large stallion releases Caramel to stop the pain.
The other stallion takes this chance to gallop away to Ponyville.
Tender Taps stops Apple Bloom before she can chase after Caramel.
"He bit me," Big Mac says while still hardly believing it.
Sugar Belle looks over the bite mark on her husband's leg. "That crazy stallion's galloping right into danger."
"Yeah," Apple Bloom says thoughtfully. "For Applejack."
Granny Smith smiles. "Just like my husband did for me all those years ago."
Meanwhile, Caramel is rushing through the craziness that's currently Ponyville in search of Applejack. He has to dodge creatures fleeing and the magic blasts from the Sombra clones. 'AJ! Where are you?!' He comes to a stop just outside an alley.
A small group of Sombras have Applejack completely surrounded. She's obviously in the most debilitating pain from her leg and frustrated that it's acting up now.
A frantic Caramel grabs a stray wheel from a cart and throws it. He can't believe his good luck when it hits one Sombra and ricochets into another.
Applejack looks over in utter shock. "Mel?!"
"AJ!" Caramel ducks just in time to avoid a magic blast.
Pissed at that, Applejack kicks the Sombra clone that fired with her good leg. The bad leg aches from that though, making the mare seize up.
Caramel rushes over and tackles the remaining clone. "AJ, we gotta get out of here."
"Not happening. I got a job to do."
"Are you crazy?! You can't keep fighting on that leg!"
"I ain't letting it stop me!"
"But Sombra wants to capture you and your friends, then publicly execute all of you so that those who'd dare oppose him would be discouraged!"
That makes Applejack pause, but only for a moment. "More reason for me to stick round." She turns to start walking.
"What?!"
"If Sombra's got my friends, I gotta try rescuing em."
"No! We need to leave!"
"You do that!" Applejack snaps while looking back at him. "It's what you've always done best!"
Caramel stares at Applejack, hurt by her words.
The mare turns and starts walking away, too stubborn to take back what she said.
"You're right about me always bailing since I never felt I belonged. Always thought that I didn't deserve to belong. That stops today. If you're heading into danger, then so am I."
Applejack turns to the stallion that's now walking beside her. "Now you're the one who's talking crazy, Mel!"
"I don't care if I'm crazy! And I don't care if I'm just a loser either! Screw all of my self-doubts, my shitty parents, and all the crap that's ever happened to me! I know where I belong in life now! It's with the Apple family and at your side, AJ, because I love you!"
Applejack's face is looking down at the ground, her hat hiding her reaction. "Know what I hate most bout you leaving that first time? We'd be hitched by now if you'd stayed."
Caramel can't believe what he's hearing. "I…what?"
Applejack looks back up, tears falling from her eyes. "Love you too, Dummy."
A sob escapes Caramel as he starts crying to. Then he smiles.
'That's it. The smile. If Granpappy ever smiled at Granny like this, there ain't no mystery why she fell for him. Mel's the only stallion for me.' Just then, she's dragged away.
"AJ!" Caramel tries to go after her, but a barrier stops him.
"How lucky your leg is broken," one of the Sombras on the other side says to Applejack.
"Made it easier to capture you," says a second one.
"You are quite strong after all," says the third.
"I'm sorry, AJ!" shouts Caramel. "It's all my fault! I distracted you and let this happen!"
"It ain't on you, Mel," Applejack says before glaring at one of the Sombras. "It's this here no good slime for doing all this in the first place."
The Sombra clone glares back. "I'd hold my tongue if I were you."
"Why bother? Y'all are gonna kill us anyhow."
"So, you know my plans," says the second Sombra.
"That makes this easier," the thirds one says as he charges a teleportation spell.
Caramel pounds on the barrier. "NO! LET HER GO!" He falls forward as the Sombra clones leave with Applejack. The stallion's anguish makes him gasp for air. 'I failed! I couldn't keep her safe! I should've known this would happen! I'm destined to lose good things in my life! AJ's gonna die! And I'd just found out she loves me!' Caramel stops panicking. 'She loves me. Sombra's planning to kill the mare I love who loves me back.' He stands up, consumed with his rage. "YOU BASTARD! I WON'T GIVE HER UP WITHOUT A FIGHT!" The earth pony stallion charges forward, hoping he's right about his hunch telling him where everypony is.
Capper
The Abyssinian's train for Klugetown has long left Ponyville. He's not on it.
The feline had just been getting on when he'd seen Rarity with her friends on the platform. His curiosity getting the best of him due to the unicorn's unkempt appearance, Capper decided to hide somewhere he could listen to them without getting caught. He ended up feeling so glad that he missed the train. Hearing Rarity apologize to her ex and his girlfriend showed Capper she had finally taken a hard look at herself and already changed herself into somepony different from the mare she was last night. Her apology to Rainbow Dash though had clinched everything for him.
Rarity took the blue pegasus to the opposite side of the platform from the group, which just so happened to be very close to where Capper was hiding. She'd turned to her friend with a sigh. "I don't know even know where to begin in order to make up for the absolutely despicable things I said to you."
"Just try," said Rainbow Dash. "It might work, it might not. Let's see how it goes."
"Alright. Rainbow Dash, I made an assumption about you based on preconceived notions. You are most certainly not incapable of romance. You merely have a different standard for what you'd consider good romance from me."
"True. I don't like a lot of the things you do. I like my own things."
"I was not in a place at the time to understand that, but that will never excuse what I said to you. Love has no singular universal standard and I suspect that yours will be a very entertaining spectacle. Rainbow Dash, you most certainly have the capacity to find a loving relationship and I sincerely hope you do."
The pegasus let herself smile. "Thanks. That was cool. So…I'd say we're good."
The unicorn smiled. "I am glad."
Rainbow Dash then laughed a little. "So? You really think my future relationship's gonna be an 'entertaining spectacle'?"
Rarity nodded. "Of course. Considering who you are as a pony, would you feel satisfied if it was not one?"
"Good point." Dash looked to the other side of the platform to see the others were focused on Flash. "Let's head back." She flew over.
Rarity giggled to herself before she slowly followed after her, not knowing that there was a feline nearby who was smiling to himself over what he'd just heard.
Now, Capper is sitting on a park bench around lunchtime with his luggage beside him. He has been wandering around Ponyvillle all morning. 'I gotta talk to Rares at some point, but how do I do that without making it all about how I overheard her. That'd be weird to explain. Glad I took the time to memorize Ponyville's layout. Helped me take different routes when I saw Rares around town.' The Abyssinian sighs to himself. 'Can't avoid her forever, but I don't know how to start with her. Why's love so damn hard?' The feline stands up while picking up his bag. He only takes one step before he bumps into a pair of ponies, causing his bag to drop and spill some of its contents.
"Oof," both ponies say at once.
"So sorry," Capper says while bending down to collect his all his things. "I wasn't paying attention."
"That's quite alright," says the mare.
"Let us assist you," says the stallion.
Capper looks over in shock on hearing the stallion's voice.
Using magic to help collect the Abyssinian's luggage are Fleur de Lis and Fancy Pants.
'This…ain't good,' Capper thinks to himself. He feels kind of awkward being this close to a stallion he had been so jealous of when Rarity had been going out with him. Them breaking up and Fancy dating Fleur now doesn't change the fact that Capper doesn't exactly want to talk with him.
"There you go," Fleur says once everything's back in the bag.
"Thanks."
"Do I know you from somewhere?" asks Fancy.
Capper straightens up feeling worried. "Uh…nope. Just an Abyssinian passing through."
Fleur studies the feline for a moment. "I remember. The celebration of the Storm King's defeat. You were there. Capper Dapperpaws."
"That's me." 'Crap.'
Fancy also recognizes him now, giving the Abyssinian an intense stare. "Of course. I also remember you. You are close friends with Rarity."
Fleur smiles. "Why don't you join us for lunch, Mr. Dapperpaws?"
'Oh shit.' Wanting to get away from the pair (especially because of the stallion's staring), Capper tries refusing. "I don't wanna impose."
"We insist," says Fancy. "The least we can do after making you drop your bag."
Knowing he can't back out without coming off as rude, the Abyssinian caves.
The three eat lunch in a nearby restaurant and end up chatting. The conversation seems to center around Rarity. Whenever the topic strays from her, Fancy brings the subject back around and Capper is unable to stop himself from totally gushing over her.
Once the meal's finished, Fleur gets up. "Excuse me, but I must powder my nose. I'll only be a moment."
As the mare leave, Capper has to work really hard to not roll his eyes. 'Lots of females use that as code for going to the bathroom. Real dumb if you ask me. Rares used it too though and I thought it was cute then.'
Fancy turns to the feline. "You are in love with Rarity."
Capper almost bolts out the door from that. "What makes you say that?"
"It took very little effort on my part to keep Rarity as the topic and you practically jumped at the chance to continue talking about her."
The Abyssinian's ears flatten down.
"The old me would have said something two-faced that would seem to be accepting on the surface, but was actually very disapproving. However, the time Fleur and I spent being shunned for our perceived wrongdoing against Rarity has made us quite sympathetic towards the struggle of inter couples. We do not wish the treatment we experienced on anycreature. Knowing that all those relationships experience worse backlash is brutally disheartening."
"I know," says Capper. "Where I live, it's considered normal for different species to spend their nights together. In Klugetown, where most of us are thugs, you seek out comfort where you can."
"And Rarity?"
'She changed everything. Stopped me from going down a path too dark to ever come back from, inspired me to lead the reform effort in Klugetown, and made my days better with letters."
"That's right. Rarity did mention that you were pen pals. I should have known something was going on between you two by how delighted she was talking about you."
"I wish I could agree with you. I told Rares last night I wanted to be with her despite risks. She didn't feel I was worth it."
Fancy's slightly taken aback by this. "Hmm. I say that was the Rarity of last night talking. Considering what she said to us this morning, I believe that the Rarity of today would gallop into your arms and never wish to leave."
Capper sighs. "The truth is…I was at the train station. Heard everything she said. I know she'd take me now."
"Then why waste any more time here?"
That question makes the Abyssinian smile. "You know what? You're right. I shouldn't. I hope you two make it."
"It is my greatest wish," Fancy Pants says as Capper stands up.
Fleur de Lis finally returns. "Oh? Are you leaving, Mr. Dapperpaws?"
"Yeah. I've got somepony to meet with."
Fancy smiles. "Good luck then."
"I would consider hurrying along if I were you," says Fleur. "If the reactions of those who are outside is anything to go by, there is quite a storm going on."
Capper looks out the window to see what the mare's talking about. "They're not panicking about some storm." He turns to the restaurant's owner. "Get everypony under the tables and get these lights off. We've got an attack going on out there." The Abyssinian heads out the door as the lights go off. He quickly climbs up to the roof to see what's going on. 'An army of attacking black stallions who all look the same. Must be a cloning spell. The stallion? A book Rares sent me on Equestria's history described a guy like him. Think his name was King Sombra. Thought he was dead. If he's back, that means he'll be going after—' Capper gasps. "Rarity." The feline then leaps over to the next rooftop since it's higher than the restaurant's roof. 'Rares, where are you? Please be okay.' He finally catches sight of her.
Rarity is running from a group of Sombras. She quickly stops, turns, and blasts one clone. With four still after her, the mare gets right back to galloping away.
Capper can tell where Rarity's going and gets to work on a plan he's already come up with. He slides down a drain pipe to the ground and grabs a stray length of rope. He heads to a narrow alley entryway, ties one end of the rope to a drain pipe, and brings the other end to the other side of the entryway. Noticing a flower pot nearby, the feline picks it up in case he needs to throw it. He peeks around the corner.
Rarity is standing at the other end of the alley, where she blasts another Sombra clone. She then starts running through the alley.
The Abyssinian waits for the unicorn to pass by him before pulling on the rope.
Two Sombras get taken out by the rope blocking the way. The last Sombra stops just short and turns to glare at the culprit.
In one fluid motion, Capper releases the rope and throws the flower pot at him. Smiling at his successful plan, the Abyssinian turns to see Rarity staring at him.
"Capper?" asks the unicorn.
"Good thing I missed my train," the feline says in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Rarity keeps staring.
Capper sighs and stands. "Listen, I—" He doesn't get to finish as he suddenly gets tackled. His back hits the wall and he slides down into a sitting position. Once he gets his bearings back, the feline realizes the mare has her front legs wrapped around his torso and her face buried in his chest as she sobs. "Rarity?"
"I was a fool! My behavior was horrid! And you were right! I almost drove my own little sister away when I tried stopping her from seeing that colt! I was wrong and I know what I want now! I love you, Capper! I want the whole word to know it!" Rarity finally backs away wiping her tears. "Look at me, prattling on to you while looking perfectly wretched."
Capper places a paw underneath the mare's chin and turns her head so she's looking at him again. "You've never looked more beautiful to me than you do right now." He leans in. "I love you so much."
The inter pair's noses are touching and they're shifting their heads to kiss when Rarity gets pulled away.
"What?!" Capper tries to rush after her, but he's stopped by a barrier. He's terrified when he sees Rarity restrained by a trio of Sombra clones.
"A pony with a bipedal cat?" the first clone asks with a hint of disgust.
"Who I choose to be in a loving and consensual relationship with is my business and is not your concern!" shouts Rarity.
Capper can't help smiling at that response.
"Ridiculous," says the second Sombra.
The third leans in close to Rarity. "Perhaps a fetching mare like you needs to be reminded what a good stallion can do."
Capper growls and pounds his fists on the barrier. "I'll claw your eyes out!"
All three Sombras laugh.
"Good luck with that," says the first.
The second Sombra chuckles. "If you'll excuse all of me and her, we have an appointment we must get to."
"The appointment being our enemies' execution," says the third.
Capper starts to claw at the barrier. "STOP!" He stumbles as the barrier disappears with Rarity and the Sombras. The feline is on the verge of a breakdown, but he forces himself to calm down. 'You lose it now, you'll never have a chance of saving Rarity. Think! You've spent years reading others as a con artist. Use that to figure out where he's taken her. Sombra is pompous. He's almost theatrical. Wants to be a big deal. Wouldn't call himself king otherwise. Castle of Friendship? No, he wants Canterlot's castle. Besides, Rares told you Sombra rejects friendship. Means the school's out too. The only place left that he'd go to is…' "THERE!" Capper takes off running for where he knows Sombra is keeping Rarity and the others.
Sunburst
The orange unicorn stallion is hiding in his office in the School of Friendship. He has been there the whole morning except to use the restroom. Sunburst is thinking about all of the talks he had with his group of students.
Smolder had been surprisingly quick to admit that she liked Spike. She did try playing off her insecurities about not being feminine enough for him due to his previous crush on Rarity, the most ladylike pony in Ponyville. She was then assured by Sunburst that Spike did not care about that since he was hanging out with her on Hearts and Hooves Day. That gave Smolder a boost of confidence and she took off for the train station.
Gallus was more of a challenge. It was obvious that he wanted to talk about his issues, but the griffon was too full of pride to immediately say what it was that was bothering him. He tried to bring up random topics and, while Sunburst was accommodating, the stallion still circled back around to the main point. Eventually, Gallus told his teacher he liked Silverstream. The griffon believed he was too low class to ever have a shot with the royal hippogriff. Sunburst gave him a few comforting words, reminding Gallus that Silverstream is a very loving individual and would never think less of the griffon for his feelings. The unicorn also pointed out to him the hippogriff already felt Gallus was good enough to hang out with as friends, so dating wouldn't be that much different in the end. The griffon felt a lot better and got the nerve to head out to ask Silverstream to be his Hearts and Hooves date.
Ocellus was a different story altogether. Sunburst had barely said a word to her before the changeling gave a long-winded speech about all her issues. Finding out Terramar liked her from Silverstream, feeling awkward about it being a friend's brother that liked her, unsure if she even had feelings for the younger hippogriff, worried about breaking his heart is she didn't, and scared of being any good at a romantic relationship if she did. Sunburst addressed each problem. It's a good thing to be seen as attractive even if you don't reciprocate, Silverstream would support both of them, spending time with Terramar would be a good way to find out if the changeling had any feelings for the male hippogriff, being gentle would be the best way to let Terramar down if there is no future there, and a relationship is only as good as the spark between them and putting in the effort. With that, Ocellus decided to spend the day hanging out with Terramar.
Sunburst is sitting at his desk now thinking over what he'd said. 'I told the students to take chances, but I'm hiding from Starlight in my office. That's so hypocritical of me. I should follow my students' examples, but I'm so scared. Why would I be any good for her as a boyfriend?'
The door to the office slams open, revealing an annoyed Trixie carrying two boxes of food. "Thought I'd find you hiding in here." She walks over to the desk and places one box in front of Sunburst. "Brought you lunch."
"Thank you." Sunburst starts digging in. "How was the morning show?"
Trixie stops eating before giving a blank expression. "The show itself was as amazing as it always is. I'm a little put out that Starlight and her group weren't part of the audience."
"Maybe they'll be at the afternoon show."
"I hope so."
The rest of the meal is spent in silence.
Sunburst dreads the end of the meal since he notices Trixie is occasionally glancing at him. He just knows she wants to have a serious talk once they're done.
Of course, once everything's eaten and the boxes are thrown away, Trixie gets right into it. "Hiding like this is a coward's move."
Sunburst sighs. "I know."
"If you know, then stop this and actually go out there."
"But then I might have to face Starlight and confess that I lied."
"Good! You should!"
"But I'm scared! I—"
"Trixie!" a new voice interrupts them.
The unicorn mare groans.
"Who's that?" asks Sunburst.
"Keep quiet and maybe he won't find us," Trixie whispers back.
Unfortunately for her, the source of that voice enters the room. The stallion stares at them, clearly looking upset. "Trixie? Is this why you ran away from me? Are you cheating on me?"
"Yuck! Sunburst is just a friend and so not my type!"
Sunburst is too shocked by the other stallion's identity to feel that offended by his friend's comment. "Trixie? Your boyfriend is…Prince Blueblood?"
"Ex-boyfriend."
The white unicorn stallion gasps. "What? No." He walks over to Trixie. "This must be a joke."
"It's real. I'm done with you."
"But…why?"
"I deserve better than being a dirty little secret!"
"Trixie, you know why we can't be open about our relationship."
"Because you're ashamed of me!"
"That is not true!"
Trixie pulls out a necklace that had been hidden by her robe.
Blueblood looks afraid. "What are you doing?"
"Showing you that we're really through."
The prince's fears have just been confirmed. "No! I gave it to you as a symbol of my love for you!"
"YOUR LOVE IS A LIE!" Trixie makes to stomp the necklace.
"STOP!" Blublood tries to dive for the necklace.
Neither succeeds as the necklace is pulled away and set down gently on Sunburst's desk.
The orange stallion looks between the two ponies. "I think we should all stop, sit ourselves down, and discuss this like adults."
"Stay out of this!" shouts Trixie.
Sunburst glares at the mare. "You wanted me to take action this whole time, so I'll just go ahead and take action now." He uses magic to close the door and lock it.
"Not like this!"
"Please sit down."
Blueblood is too emotionally vulnerable to fight this and Trixie knows that Sunburst won't budge on the issue, so they both take chairs and sit in front of the desk.
Sunburst points to Trixie. "Give your side, but don't do too much shouting. I'll use the air horn beside me if you do and you remember how long your ears rang the last time it was blown."
Trixie glares at Sunburst before turning to Blueblood. "I can't bear being in a relationship with no future anymore. I refuse to be a side dish while you're looking for an honorable bride to satisfy your family's wishes."
Sunburst nods at the mare before turning to Blueblood. "Now your side."
The white stallion sighs. "Trixie, you have no idea how much I wish I could get married to you. Believe me, I would love nothing more than to tell the world that we are in love. The issue is that my family would disown me if I went against their desire for me to marry a noble mare. I would lose my title."
Sunburst decides to interject before Trixie can retort angrily. "What's so important about your title?"
Blublood shakes his head.
"You need to say why."
The other stallion shakes his head harder.
"It could help save your relationship."
Blueblood stops shaking his head, but his face scrunches up.
"Why is your title so important to you?"
"Because it's all I have!" Blueblood covers his face after saying that.
Trixie stares at him feeling both concerned and confused.
"I think I get it now," says Sunburst. "You pushed away all the other potential brides with overly excessive rudeness because you knew they only wanted you for your status and you want something meaningful. At the same time, you fear that being a prince is the only thing about you that's worthwhile. So, being disowned would take away the one thing you see as giving you any value in life. Am I right?"
Blueblood's sobs serve as an answer.
Trixie sets a comforting hoof on the white stallion's shoulder. "Bluey?" She smiles at her boyfriend's surprise at hearing the familiar nickname. "You helped come up with all those tricks for today's show and you made sure to work out all the safety issues. You're intelligent, helpful, and caring."
"I did all that because I love you."
"That's all I need. If your family does disown you, you'll always have a place with me."
Blueblood smiles at his girlfriend, then notices the necklace that's now floating by his face (Sunburst's doing). Seeing Trixie present her neck, the stallion takes the floating necklace out of the air and puts it on her. He then kisses Trixie.
Sunburst smiles, then he gets up and starts heading for the door.
"Where are you going?" asks Trixie.
The orange stallion looks back with a determined grin. "I'm going to see Starlight."
"Good for you."
"I'd take an umbrella if I were you," says Blueblood. "The clouds outside are suggesting a rather formidable storm is coming."
Letters pop in for Sunburst and Trixie from Spike. Both are horrified by the content.
"Ponyville's under attack!" shouts Sunburst.
"By King Sombra!" Trixie adds in.
Sunburst heads back over to his desk. "Prince Shining Armor has declared the school as a safe zone. We need to set up defenses."
"I wish to help," says Blueblood.
"Use these spells," Sunburst says as he throws a list to the other stallion.
The three go around the school casting defense spells. Once done, they all stand waiting at the entrance to welcome the incoming citizens.
As the population is entering, Trixie turns to Sunburst. "Go find Starlight. We got this."
The orange stallion heads out, passing many that he knows while doing so (Lyra, Bon Bon, Cheerilee, the Cakes, Yona, Sandbar, and so many more). He sees a big dragon he recognizes as a transformed Ocellus keeping hold of a struggling Terramar.
"I need to find Silverstream!" shouts the young hippogriff.
"She'd never forgive me if I let you go out there and you got hurt!" Ocellus counters. "I'd never forgive myself either because I figured it all out! I do like you!"
Terramar freezes and looks in Ocellus's transformed face. "Really?"
Turning back into a changeling, Ocellus smiles at him. "Yeah."
The hippogriff gives a little smile. "Cool. But I'm still worried about my sister."
"I'll find her!" Sunburst shouts to the pair as he passes them.
"Thank you!" the new couple shouts to the unicorn as he leaves.
It doesn't take very long for Sunburst to find Silverstream with Gallus, Smolder, and Spike as they're flying to catch up with the tail end of the crowd with a group of Sombras after them.
Spike and Smolder both turn and breathe fire on a portion of the clones.
Gallus and Silverstream both make U-turns to take out a few more.
Sunburst blasts the remaining clone, then heads over to the students and Spike. "Get to the school!"
"But Terramar's still out there!" shouts Silverstream.
"No, he's not. Ocellus has him."
"See?" Gallus asks Silverstream. "I told you he was okay."
Sunburst can tell by the way those two are looking at each other that they're a couple now. "I need to know where Starlight is."
Spike points back the way the group came. "She's holding back a lot of those Sombras by herself."
"Bring her back okay!" Smolder shouts to Sunburst as he heads out. Feeling Spike holding her hand to lead her towards the school is surprising to her, but it really shouldn't since they have been a couple for a few hours now.
Sunburst soon finds Starlight blasting away at a large group of Sombras.
The mare can see the clones are closing in despite all her best efforts. She decides to take a page from her mentor's book by creating a barrier and expanding it outward. Unfortunately, due to being a unicorn and not an alicorn mixed with all the magic blasts earlier, Starlight uses up her magic doing the barrier just once. She gives herself up for lost seeing three Sombras approach.
This is when Sunburst joins in and blasts two of the Sombras before they can react. He just barely dodges a magic blast from the third Sombra before getting rid of that one too. The orange stallion reaches Starlight and helps her up. "Come on. Let's get you to the school."
Starlight puts a hoof out to push him away. "You…idiot!"
"What?"
"How dare you lie to me!"
"Lie?"
"You didn't have plans today!"
"Oh. You found out. So…was it Trixie who told you?"
"It was Cadance! She told me how you'd do the same thing back in the Crystal Empire all the time! How could you?!"
Sunburst hates that Starlight is choosing now to talk about this, but he knows she won't let it go until they get through it. "I just couldn't do it."
"What does that mean?!"
"You deserve better than hanging around me!"
"What?! Why would you think that?! I want you in my life!"
"But I'm no good for you! I promised you I'd return from magic school the most powerful wizard in Equestria and I broke that promise! I have no right to be your friend! No right to even be around you!" Sunburst starts crying. "I have no right to love you!"
At first, Starlight doesn't say anything. Then, she punches the stallion's shoulder.
"Ow!"
"Do you have any idea what you've put me through all my life?!"
"No."
"You were my only friend when we were foals, Sunburst! I never cared if you became the most powerful wizard in all of Equestria, the weakest, or even a wizard at all! I just wanted you to come back! When that didn't happen, it wrecked me so bad! You know what I did because of that! Now that you're finally back in my life, I tried so hard not to let my old dreams come back to me! I couldn't risk getting hurt by you again!"
"What dreams?"
"The stupid foalhood dreams of being married to you!"
Sunburst's jaw drops. "You…really mean…?"
"I've always loved you, you jerk!"
The two foalhood friends just stare at each other, not sure what to do now that they've both confessed to being in love.
The decision gets made for them when Starlight gets pulled away.
"WAIT!" Sunburst shouts before getting stopped by a barrier.
"So, you are Princess Twilight's star pupil," a Sombra on the other side says to Starlight.
"You won't get away with this," says the mare.
"I already have," says a second clone.
The third Sombra laughs. "Such a delicious opportunity. Before I execute the princess, I'll make her watch as I take the lives of her friends and her star pupil!"
"NO!" Sunburst shouts while trying to blast away the barrier. He can only watch as the three Sombras teleport away with Starlight. The orange stallion uses a sensory spell. 'Where did they go?! Come on! There they are!' Out of desperation, he begins to charge up a teleportation spell. 'Please, work for me. Starlight loves me back! I can't lose her now!' With that, Sunburst disappears.
AN: Finally, Caramel catches a break with requited love! Rarity is ready to openly be with Capper now! How many of you saw Trixie x Blueblood coming? Sunburst x Starlight is another of my favorite ships. Still, not my absolute favorite ship. That comes in the next chapter, as well as the final confrontation with King Sombra! See you all then!