☩️Infinity Orbs Chapter Twelve: The Spirit of Empathy☩️

K A M I

"Here it is. The legend of the two sisters. That's what the dove said when it meant the place where the moon betrayed the sun." Roxy opened up the book and read it aloud. "Once upon a time, in the magical land of Aquarian, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her powers to raise the sun at dawn; the younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of people. But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The people relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger sister refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked witch of darkness: Nightmare Deville. She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to mankind: the Elements of Power. Using the magic of the Elements of Power, she defeated her younger sister and banished her permanently to the moon. The elder sister took on responsibility for both...sun and moon... but years went by and the two sisters solve their differences and now Aquarian is better than ever." Roxy read the book.

"The princess still must have a little bit of tension between them hence why the bird said, but the anger is still there. Also, the only way to get the spirit of you solve the problem that is required." Roxy added as they reached the castle to see Princess Sunset and Princess Eclipse.

Princess Sunset had long golden hair, a Balenciaga bridal dress, orange lace shawl apricot lace shrug, gold hammered effect torc necklace, filigree tiara, and Rupert Sanderson platinum gold Nappa sandals. Princess Eclipse has Black to dark blue ombre color curly synthetic hair, Noble Rhinestone Design one-shoulder ombre color pleated prom dress, Jayde black faux suede lace-up platform heels. Avenue blue faceted stretch bracelet and she had on black lipstick. "So the map sent you, Kami, to solve a problem?" Sunset asked as I nodded. "Well, there's nothing wrong here. Right, sister?" Sunset asked as Eclipse rolled her eyes. "No. Everything's perfect as usual, sister." Eclipse answered sourly.

After everyone introduced each other everyone left except me. As I walked into the room I was staying I started hearing something. "Psst!! Psst!!" a voice whispered as the music from the music box started playing, I looked over to the music box to see Carly's face where the ballerina face should be. "Carly? Is that you? How are you here?" I asked. "I'm not. I'm still in the town, it's an easy spell. I'll show you later." She answered quickly. "Anyways enough about me. I had to check on you. Not in a middling kind of way! In a friendly "how's it going?" kind of way. So, how's it going?" Carly asked.

"Not great. I think the problem might be between Sunset and Eclipse." I answered sighing. "Oh, no, that's terrible! I mean, what makes you say that?" Carly asked. "You know how some people say nothing's wrong but you can tell something's definitely wrong?" I asked. "Noooooo... Heh." Carly answered nervously. "That's basically what the princesses did when I said there was a problem I have to solve. Only they did it more, you know, really." I explained. "Oh, I wish I could help you, but I can't - both because this is your quest and because I have no idea! This is big! Like, really big! But I'm here if you ever need to talk. Or listen to music." the music box then started playing. "Heh. Comforting, right?" Carly asked as I sighed plopping down on the bed.

The next morning Sunset invited me down for breakfast. "Thank you so much for breakfast, princess. I can't believe you cook it yourself." I thanked as she passed me and plate of pancakes with strawberries for eyes and banana slices for a mouth. "Of course, Kami! I really enjoy doing it. It's a small way to say I care. " Sunset smiled as the door opened as Eclipse walked in looking like she had zero sleep. "Good morning, sister! Join us?" Sunset asked "Too tired. Please excuse me." Eclipse answered sourly as she grabbed an apple and ate it, walking off. "Wow. Last night must've been really hard on her." I said. "Perhaps. But she is like this every morning." Sunset sighed

Later that evening, I told everything that happened to Carly. "So I think Eclipse may be hurting her sister's feelings without even realizing it." I explained. "Poor Sunset. That's so sweet that she makes her sister pancakes every morning." Carly frowned. "She's your role model. I think you might be biased." I chuckled. "Fair enough. So what are you gonna do?" Carly asked. "Nothing, yet. I have to get all the facts. I asked Eclipse if I could spend some time with her this evening." I answered, there was then a sudden knock at the door as the guard entered. "Princess Eclipse is waiting for you, miss." I chuckled nervously and followed him to the glass stained windows hallway to see Eclipse hanging up bouquet of lavender flowers throughout the hallway.

"Wow, Princess Eclipse. You do this every night?" I asked as she nodded. "Lavender's calming scent is known to aid dreamers in achieving a restorative sleep. "That's so thoughtful." I sniffed, unfortunately, I have a small allergy to lavender. "I try my best to make sure the people in The castle sleep peacefully." Eclipse smiled as the doors opened and Princess Sunset and a Fleur De Verre walked in. "And so, then I said. "Touring? More like 'boring'!" Fleur De Verre laughed airily. "Oh, you really are a card!" Sunset laughed as they continued walking. "But as always, my sister is too busy having fun with dignitary people to acknowledge anything I do. Hmph!" Eclipse sighed as I help her hang up the rest of the lavender after that I went back to my room.

"So, both princesses are hurting each other without realizing it. And instead of talking about it, they're just getting colder and more distant." I explained to Carly. "And they're Sunset and Eclipse. So it's not like you can just confront them!" Carly added. "Actually, that's exactly what I was gonna do." I said so simply. "What?! Are you crazy?! I mean, heh, you do whatever you think is best. This is your mission." Carly sweatdropped. "Gee, thanks for believing in me, Carly." I said sarcastically. "I do. But the last time the princesses fought, Eclipse turned into Nightmare Deville, and Princess Sunset had to banish her for a thousand years! That can't happen again!" Carly warned. "Well, I can't do nothing. The princesses aren't the best at communicating with each other." I sighed as Carly gasped. "Sorry. It's just, you said "princesses" and "aren't the best" in the same sentence, and it's making me nervous!" I plopped down on the bed. "I'm not much help, am I?" Carly asked. "No!" I answered

The next morning I went down to breakfast with Sunset. She passed me and plate of pancakes with pineapple rings for eyes and strawberries for a mouth. "Wow. I almost feel bad eating this. It's adorable." I chuckled. "Like I said, I enjoy this part." Sunset reminded me as Eclipse walked in and grabbed a banana but instead of eating the banana she ate the peel by accident. "Hi." She greeted sourly with her mouth full as she walked towards the door. "Uh, Princess Eclipse! Wait!" Eclipse turned around. I took a deep breath in and started. "As you both know, the map sent me here for a reason, and I... think I found out what it is." I started. "Really? Oh, that is wonderful, Kami! What is it?" Sunset asked. "You two." I answered. "Excuse me?" They both asked. "I think you're accidentally hurting each other's feelings without realizing it. Princess Sunset, does it bother you that Eclipse never notices the wonderful breakfasts that you prepare for her?" I asked. "Y-Yes it does." Sunset answered.

"Princess Eclipse, tell Sunset how you feel about the fact that she never acknowledges the work you put into lining the hallway with lavender every night." I instructed as Eclipse turned towards Sunset. "Well it's not the best felling." Eclipse started. "I'm sorry I never noticed that you make fruit faces on pancakes, but nights are long for me. You might be a morning person, but I am half-asleep." Eclipse added. "You think I don't get tired? I'm exhausted! Oh, I apologize for not noticing flowers in a wall sconce. But by the time I get to retire for the night, I can barely see straight! Even so, I still make an effort to smile!" Sunset explained as she smiled. "Like smiling is so hard." Eclipse shot back. "I'm sure that's not what Princess Eclipse meant to say." I interrupted but they didn't hear me. "Is that what exhausts you? Smiling and being adored by everybody?" Eclipse asked.

"And you have it so much worse, do you?! You've spent your evenings flitting around giving people lovely dreams! Oh, it sounds just awful!" Sunset shot back as I came up behind them. "Don't presume to know what it is like to govern the dream realm!" Eclipse roared. "And yet you know exactly what it's like to be me?! Oh, please!" Sunset scoffed as I placed my left hand on Eclipse shoulder that had the moon birthmark on it, and my right hand on Sunset's shoulder that had the sun birthmark on it. "Enough! Transfer!" I yelled as they switched birthmarks. "There! Now you'll know exactly what it's like to... be each other." I gulped. "What have you done?!" Sunset gasped. "I... went with my gut?" I answered unsurely. "Switch out birthmarks back this instant," Eclipse ordered. "My apologies, your majesties! But I can't, even if I wanted to. The spell lasts twenty-four hours. I-It may have been extreme, but, uh, I think it's still a good idea?" I explained. "What?" Sunset asked seriously. "Y-You said it yourselves! Neither of you believes your sister knows how hard it is to be you. So this is your chance to prove it." I answered. "Well, I could use an easy day followed by a good night's sleep." Eclipse pondered. "You can try. I haven't had an easy day in, well, ever! But now, I get to sleep, and tonight will be a breeze. All right, Kami. We will do this." Sunset agreed. "Good choice! Not that you had one." I chuckled.

I then explained what happened to Carly. "You switched their birthmarks?! The actual princesses' birthmarks?!" Carly hyperventilated as the guard opened the door. "Are you okay?" He asked as I nodded and he closed the door. " I thought we moved passed this. It was the right call! I hope." I explained as I went downstairs to see Eclipse sitting on Sunset's throne about to talk to the palace staff. "As you can see, Sunset and I are switching places today." Eclipse started as the staff murmurmered confusingly. "I assure you, I am more than capable of handling all of Sunset's, heh, duties. Dismissed." Eclipse assured them left. "So, what is first on my dear sister to-do list?" Eclipse asked. "Looks like you have asked dew public appearances. Store openings, judging the royal rose contest... You know, that sort of thing." I answered. "Oh, I knew today would be easy, but I didn't think it would be that easy." Eclipse chuckled. After A long day of to do work. Eclipse did the picture with The school kid. And she tried her hardest to smile but when the guy took the picture he took it when Eclipse wasn't smiling making the kid cry. ""Princess Luna Unhappy with Student Fundraiser"? But I wasn't unhappy!" Eclipse denied. "Well you are scowling," I said. "Well, I-I didn't mean to! I've been smiling all day! My cheeks hurt! I stopped for one second! And that's when he took the picture!" Eclipse explained.

"Guess smiling all day isn't as easy as you thought?" I asked. "It says here that, because of me, the school didn't raise enough funds to go on their field trip! I-I didn't mean for that to happen!" Eclipse avoided my question as she buried her head into the table. "I know. But you can't dwell on that now. According to the list, some delegates are about to arrive for a luncheon. You need to dispel rumors of timberwolves in the White Tail Woods. The nearby towns have been in a state of panic for weeks." I explained. "B-B-But I have to fix this!" Eclipse pointed to the newspaper. "You can't. You need to put on a brave face and help those people. It's what Sunset would do." The door then opened and the delighted people entered. "Hello! Great news! There are no timberwolves!" Eclipse roared. "No, there are definitely timberwolves!" The delegates yelled as they ran out.

"I'm sorry. But I couldn't stop thinking about those poor students. Normally, I have all the time in solitude I need to work through my problems at my own pace." Eclipse apologize. "Well, your sister doesn't get that luxury." I explained as we arrived at the town hall. "The princess will definitely side with me!" Both Mayor Michael and Mayor Julian yelled. "Ready for the town hall?" I asked as Eclipse sighed and we walked in. After a while, we finally settled the argument. "You made it to the end of the day. Yay?" I asked. "Hmm? Oh. Yes, uh... I'm just going to turn in, then. Good night, Kami." Eclipse yawned as she went toward her room. Sunset then appeared behind me. "Oh, hello, Kami. I don't know about you, but I feel very well-rested. Where's Eclipse?" Sunset asked. "Um, uh, she already turned in for the night." I answered. "Did she now? It seems my duties were harder than my sister expected." Sunset chuckled. "Moon raised! It's even easier than raising the sun. What's next?" Sunset asked, I already was asleep.

NO ONES POV

"Of course. Everybody asleep at night. Heh. Luna works alone... Oh, but it's nothing I can't handle. All I have to do is watch over Aquarian, visit the dream realm, and protect people in their nightmares. My list was three times as long!" Sunset chuckled. "All right. Everyone's asleep. You're talking to yourself, a. Heh. But there's no else to talk to! Yet. I can talk to people in their dreams!" Sunset chuckled as she used her magic to enter the dream world. Once she entered little bubble circled around her showing everyone's dreams. "Now, to save some people from their nightmares. Which aren't real, so it shouldn't be too hard, right? Right. Good call, Sunset! And I'm talking to myself again." Sunset sighed.

Meanwhile in Kami's dream, the pancakes Sunset made circled around her saying. "I care. I care. I care. I care!" in Sunset's voice. Kami screamed as they pancakes turned into Carly. "This is big! Like, really big!" Carly yelled as Sunset appeared. "Kami! I'm here now. Tell me what's wrong." Sunset assured her. "Going with my gut was the wrong call! I was supposed to bring you two closer together! But I've only driven you apart! If you two can't see why you need each other, then-!" Kami then got cut off when Nightmare Deville appeared. "Then I'm back!" Nightmare Deville laughed evilly.

She has high cheekbones, a sharp nose, green eyes, and long brown hair. She wears a green and black full body jumpsuit with matching gloves and boots, and a white belt and holster with a small semi-automatic pistol, her main weapon. In this outfit, she wears her hair tied back in a ponytail. "Don't worry, Kami. I know how to handle Nightmare Deville." Sunset assured her. "Yes! But can you handle... me?! Daybreaker!" Sunset turned around to see Daybreaker. She had on a yellow bodysuit with red flames on it with a red cape with flames on it. "This can't be!?" Sunset gasphed. "If Luna can turn into Nightmare Deville, you can absolutely turn into me - Daybreaker! The better, prettier, and more powerful version of you!" Daybreaker explained. "No! I'll never turn into you!" Sunset yelled.

"Deep inside, you know how powerful you are. You don't need Eclipse." Daybreaker shot back. "That's not true! Even when we were apart, I knew I needed her!" Sunset denied. "Oh, please! You don't need anybody! You can do whatever you want. And all you have to do is get rid of anybody who stands in your way!" Daybreaker shot her magic at Sunset, but she dodged it. "I never should've banished you to the moon! I should've destroyed you!" Sunset yelled as she zapped Nightmare Deville.

"Without balance, there's no harmony!!" Kami yelled as Nightmare Deville and Daybreaker shot magic at each other creating a giant boom! Nightmare Deville growled. "Who needs balance when you can have it all?!" Daybreaker laughed as Nightmare Deville landed a magic shot at her. "Ugh!" Daybreaker groaned. "You can't get rid of me so easily, sister! Unless you plan on smiling me to smithereens!" Nightmare Deville laughed. "Enough!!" Sunset yelled blocking both of the magic rays. " I told you I was more powerful than you!" Daybreaker reminded her as Nightmare Deville created a black sheild. "Ugh. So much black. We get it. You're sad. You could really use some... sun!" Daybreaker shot a fireball at the sheild breaking it causing everyone to fall back. "This is all my fault! I never should've gone on this mission! Now Aquarian is doomed!" Kami breathe heavily.

Meanwhile in Eclipse's dream. "Why don't you want us to go on our field trip?" The little school girl from earlier that morning asked. "I don't...!" Eclipse's teeth started to fall out. "I mean, I do!" Eclipse corrected herself. "That smile's too wide... It's obviously not real..." The little children chanted singsongy. Suddenly Sunset appeared from the mirror inside of Eclipse's dream. "Sunset! I'm so glad you're..." Sunset then pulled her inside the mirror as they entered Kami's dream to see that Nightmare Deville and Daybreaker continued fighting. "I've seen a lot, but I haven't seen this before." Eclipse said normally. "It's Kami's. She's afraid this is what will happen if we continue to fight!" Sunset explained.

"What was I thinking?! I'm never going with my gut again!" Kami sobbed. "If you don't fix this soon, it could have a grave consequence on Kami's psyche." Eclipse warned. "But my magic isn't powerful enough! I thought if we worked together...!" Eclipse then cut off Sunset. "I have your magic, remember? It doesn't work in the dream realm. It has to be you!" Eclipse said. "Oh, Eclipse, I can't do this! I was wrong! Your job is so incredibly hard! You have to battle nightmares and work in the darkness and do it all alone! It takes such a brave, strong person to do what you do!" Sunset explained.

"And that person is you. I walked a day in your shoes. I thought all you had to do was smile and be adored all the time, but I was wrong. There is so much more to it than that." Eclipse explained. Daybreaker laughed maniacally as she zapped Nightmare Deville. "Ugh!!" Nightmare Deville screamed. Daybreaker then shot another fireball at Nightmare Deville. "Don't do this to each other!" Kami yelled. "In order to defeat Daybreaker, you need only to trust in your strength as I do." Eclipse explained. "You can't destroy me! I'm everything you want to be!" Daybreaker laughed as her's and Nightmare Deville's magic short went toward each other. "No, you're not! You are not real, and you will never exist again!" Sunset then sent both of the magic shots at the respected owners causing them to both disappeared.

"You did it!" Eclipse cherred. "Only because you were here. I don't know how you do this alone." Sunset hugged Eclipse. "So, um, did you talk to yourself?" Eclipse asked. "Um, a little." They both laughed as the dream ended and they were all back in the real world. "Welcome back, sister! I know you had a long night, so I made you some pancakes!" Eclipse brought Sunset and Kami some badly made pancakes. "Oh! Heh. H-How... eh, nice. Ahem." Sunset ate the pancakes, they were terrible. "They're... delicious. Heh. Thank you." Sunset and Kami both sweatdropped. " I know that face! They're not. I know you have to be perfect for everypony else, and you do an amazing job. But you don't have to do it for me." Eclipse laughed.

"But it means a lot that you tried. I love you, sister." Sunset smiled. "I love you too." Eclipse hugged her. Suddenly a transparent dove spirit, with a neon aura, a white feathers with gray swirl patterns, it had a little collar with a tiny piece of parchment tied into it, swooped into Kami's lap. Kami undid as it showed the Chinese characters 移情精神. "What dose it translate to?" Carly asked. "Spirit of Empathy." Kami translated as she looked back at the bird. "You have found the 2nd of the 5 spirits need to find the Spirit Infinity Orb. Your mission doesn't end here. The next spirit, The Spirit of Jealousy, will be found at the land where roads are yellow and tin talks, were a woman turned green because of jealousy, where cities are emerald green, and where a sister became mean." The bird spoke as it turned into a pink mist and went into the clear spherical glass bottle making the pink mist swirl slowly inside the bottle.