History TearJerker / SpectacularSeven

** Meanwhile, despite both Twilight and Sunset's very best efforts, the stresses are growing because of Twilight's growing fixation on magic, her new job eating up much of Twilight's time, and her being unable to even talk about it thanks to an NDA, and the looming threat of the Spectacular Seven being split up once college and their adult lives role around.

*** Moondancer is also [[INeedAFreakingDrink rapidly chugging downing glasses of wine]] by the time Fluttershy approaches her. When this is pointed out, Moondancer bitterly notes her parents aren’t there to tell her otherwise.

* Vol 4 Ch 12:
** Moondancer is panicking because [[CorruptCorporateExecutive her company’s board of directors]] is pressuring her to succeed at hosting the Gala for fear of being voted out as Chairman, which would leave her VERY likely to be executed by Tempest or Tirek.
*** She’s also [[INeedAFreakingDrink downing glasses of wine]] by the time Fluttershy approaches her, bitterly noting her parents aren’t there to tell her otherwise.

* Chapter 15: After enduring weeks of Rarity prioritizing her own career over helping Coco save the Canterlot Revival, the poor girl angrily chews her out for it and storms off in tears.
** Meanwhile, despite both Twilight and Sunset’s very best efforts, the stresses are growing because of Twilight’s growing fixation on Magic, her new job eating up much of Twilight’s time and her being unable to even talk about it thanks to an NDA, and the looming threat of the Spectacular Seven being split up once college and their adult lives role around.

** Meanwhile, Applejack finally grows too sick of Rara’s celebrity lifestyle to stay silent, and vents about how miserable she is, not realizing [[RightBehindMe Rara is right behind her]]. When Applejack gets so upset she declares she hates most of Rara’s life (including her music), the poor girl runs away in tears, while [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Applejack is guilt-ridden]].

* Volume Four Chapter Twelve:

** Meanwhile, Applejavk finally grows too sick of Rara’s celebrity lifestyle to stay silent, and vents about how miserable she is, not realizing [[RightBehindMe Rara is right behind her]]. When Applejack gets so upset she declares she hates most of Rara’s life (including her music), the poor girl runs away in tears, while [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Applejack is guilt-ridden]].

** Lastly, Twilight is now furious at Adagio and when she hears she’s been spotted, tracks her back to her current hideout. Twilight confronts Adagio by herself, [[HopeSpot and actually does a decent job…]] then Adagio regains the upper hand and viciously beats her down. [[CruelMercy She then deliberately leaves Twilight alive]] because she can practically taste her hatred and sadness, and can’t wait to see how much worse she’ll be after this.

** Lastly, Twilight is now furious at Adagio and when she hears she’s been spotted, tracks her back to her current hideout. Twilight confronts Adagio by herself, [[HopeSpot and actually does a decent job…]] then Adagio regains the upper hand and viciously beats her down. [[CruelMrrcy She then deliberately leaves Twilight alive]] because she can practically taste her hatred and sadness, and can’t wait to see how much worse she’ll be after this.

-->'''Sunset:''' The Sirens came to us of their own volition, and they ''still'' turned out evil! What does that say about me? All of my changes are based off a curse subverting my free will half the time! This entire ''friendship'' is based off that! I'm no better than the Sirens!

* Volume II, Chapter 13 is all about the search for Sunset after she's kidnapped by Lamia under orders of Tempest Shadow, only for Sunset to have her soul stolen. It's got an undercurrent of AdultFear from Artemis and Selena, with Trixie also worried about her surrogate sister. But Twilight gets it the worst, as she's worried sick to the point she [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness ignores several magical goings-on]] during the search for Sunset, barely keeping herself from crying. It makes Twilight admit to herself that she really does love Sunset, and now, it might be too late to tell her.

* Volume III, Chapter 17: Sunset hits another low point after the Sirens pull a RedemptionRejection, attack Sunset and her foster family, and steal the staff that Tempest wants. Sunset [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone feels responsible for what happened]], since she convinced people to give the Sirens a chance, and it blew up in her face. But what really stings at Sunset's heart is the idea that she and the Sirens are NotSoDifferent; Sunset says that the only reason she changed was because [[{{Geas}} the Elements forced her to change]]. Sunset even says "people like us" don't change unless they have to change, showing that Sunset still thinks of herself as a villain. It hurts to see that Sunset's self-esteem, after all the good she's done, is still so horribly low that she can think she's not worth redeeming.

'''Sunset:''' The Sirens came to us of their own volition, and they ''still'' turned out evil! What does that say about me? All of my changes are based off a curse subverting my free will half the time! This entire ''friendship'' is based off that! I'm no better than the Sirens!

-->'''Sunset:''' If things had been a little different... would I have ended up like the Sirens?\\
'''Rarity:''' Of course not. You ''wanted'' to change.\\
'''Sunset:''' No. No I didn’t. I ''had'' to change. If the Elements hadn’t put a penance on me, I never would have even put myself in a position to be better. I would have avoided you girls like the plague! And if by some miracle you girls ''did'' get me to start spending time with you and someone like Tempest came along, I would have stabbed you in the back in a heartbeat! Don’t you see the difference here? The Sirens never had their free will subverted! I did! We're virtually the same! People like us don't change! Not unless we're ''forced'' to!\\
'''Twilight:''' That's not true. You did change. You became a better person.\\
'''Sunset:''' Yeah, at metaphorical ''gun point!'' This is ''why'' the Elements made me obedient! Because I was so terrible, I would have done exactly what the Sirens just did!\\
'''Applejack:''' But you didn't!\\
'''Sunset:''' Because I ''couldn't!'' I was ''forced'' into being a good person because I couldn’t change on my own!\\
'''Fluttershy:''' Sunset--\\
'''Sunset:''' Sure, the princess asked you to be my friends, but I never would have said yes to any of your hangouts if the Elements hadn’t forced me to do it!\\
'''Rarity:''' Sunset--\\

'''Fluttershy:''' ''No!'' It’s obvious you like him more than me! If you want him, fine, I won’t stop you! ''I hope you two are very happy together!'' ''(Fluttershy runs off crying)''

* Volume III, Chapter 7: Fluttershy goes through TranquilFury at seeing Soarin getting close to Rainbow, since Fluttershy CannotSpitItOut that she's in love with Rainbow. In the break between the two laser tag games, Sunset talks to Fluttershy, saying that she should confess her feelings. But Fluttershy, who's TryingNotToCry, won't do it. While she says it's because [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy she wants Rainbow to be happy]] Sunset speaks from experience that such a thing is only going to end in heartache. It makes both of them have to confront some rather depressing things.

** The same chapter also has Lamia show up at the CHS prom, [[DrowningMySorrows apparently drunk]], complaining to Sunset about how she can't stand to listen to Scarlet Inferno's whispers in her ear anymore, revealing that she's been Scarlet's vessel, used by Tempest and Moondancer. Lamia is clearly at the end of her rope being the ButtMonkey of the villains, finally screaming that she doesn't want to have anything to do with this anymore. As bad as she is, it's enough to make Sunset and company [[SympathyForTheDevil feel sorry for her]].

** The same chapter also has Lamia show up outside of Canterlot High School, [[DrowningMySorrows apparently drunk]], complaining to Sunset about how she can't stand to listen to Scarlet Inferno's whispers in her ear anymore, revealing that she's been Scarlet's vessel, used by Tempest and Moondancer. Lamia is clearly at the end of her rope being the ButtMonkey of the villains, finally screaming that she doesn't want to have anything to do with this anymore. As bad as she is, it's enough to make Sunset and company [[SympathyForTheDevil feel sorry for her]].

* Volume II, Chapter 16. While Sunset and Twilight are reunited after a long time apart, it's not under pleasant circumstances. When Sunset is found in the factory, she's catatonic, malnourished, and covered in bruises. She's taken to the hospital immediately, but she won't wake up. This is because her soul has been taken, but [[DramaticIrony the heroes don't know that]], so not even magic can help her. This is also where Twilight admits she loves Sunset, even if Sunset isn't around for her to hear it. The author even admitted that this was [[DarkestHour the lowest point, emotionally, for the heroes]].

* Volume I, Chapter 9 opens with Selena, Trixie and Sunset all paralyzed with grief after [[spoiler:Artemis is captured by the Sirens, and presumed dead after his crystal ball goes dark]]. Between the screams of anguish and the slow, soft crying of Trixie to her mother, it really tugs at the heartstrings how much the situation is effecting them all.
* Volume I, Chapter 14 is rather unkind to Sunset's psyche. At first, Selena thinks she's found a way as to how the Sirens escaped their captivity. But then, it takes a cruel turn. [[spoiler:After learning about leylines, which are magic streams that travel to places called leygates, Selena says they need a large concentration of magic to form. Sunset immediately realizes how one formed; it was her being blasted with the Elements of Harmony. In essence, Sunset's selfish actions not only made her almost destroy the school, but now she's put the whole world in danger. [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Sunset's guilt immediately kicks back in]], to the point she [[HeroicBSOD just goes upstairs and lies down with a knot in her stomach]].]] The poor girl just can't catch a break.

* Volume II, Chapter 9 invokes some SympathyForTheDevil from Artemis to Moondancer. Thanks to some ObliviousGuiltSlinging, Artemis makes Moondancer feel bad about the kinds of things she'd doing to get what she wants, as well as giving Moondancer [[LonelyRichKid the attention and affection she'd been craving so desperately]] with no strings attached. She even keeps the pink dress he helps her pick out, just because he was nice to her. Moondancer's [[BeneathTheMask mask of civility]] almost cracks, and she nearly tells Artemis everything, but holds herself back. She might be a RichBitch, but the chapter does paint Moondancer sympathetically. [[spoiler:At least until her VillainSong at the end where she says that Twilight belongs to her.]]
* Volume II, Chapter 13 is all about the search for Sunset after [[spoiler:she's kidnapped by Lamia under orders of Tempest Shadow, only for Sunset to have her soul stolen]]. It's got an undercurrent of AdultFear from Artemis and Selena, with Trixie also worried about her surrogate sister. But Twilight gets it the worst, as she's worried sick to the point she [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness ignores several magical goings-on]] during the search for Sunset, barely keeping herself from crying. It makes Twilight admit to herself that she really does love Sunset, and now, it might be too late to tell her.
* Volume II, Chapter 16. While Sunset and Twilight are reunited after a long time apart, it's not under pleasant circumstances. [[spoiler:When Sunset is found in the factory, she's catatonic, malnourished, and covered in bruises. She's taken to the hospital immediately, but she won't wake up. This is because her soul has been taken, but [[DramaticIrony the heroes don't know that]], so not even magic can help her.]] This is also where Twilight admits she loves Sunset, even if Sunset isn't around for her to hear it. The author even admitted that this was [[DarkestHour the lowest point, emotionally, for the heroes]].

* Volume II, Chapter 13 is all about the search for Sunset after [[spoiler:she's kidnapped by Lamia under orders of Tempest Shadow, only for Sunset to have her soul stolen]]. It's got an undercurrent of AdultFear from Artemis and Selena, with Trixie also worried about her surrogate sister. But Twilight gets it the worst, as she's worried sick to the point she [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness ignores several magical goings-on]] during the search for Sunset, barely keeping herself from crying. It makes Twilight admit to herself that she really does love Sunset, and now, it might be too late to tell her.

* Volume II, Chapter 13 is all about the search for Sunset after [[spoiler:she's kidnapped by Lamia under orders of Tempest Shadow, only for Sunset to have her soul stolen]].It's got an undercurrent of AdultFear from Artemis and Selena, but Twilight is worried sick, to the point she [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness ignores several magical goings-on]] during the search for her, barely keeping herself from crying. It makes Twilight admit to herself that she really does love Sunset, and now, it might be too late to tell her.

* Volume II, Chapter 9 invokes some SympathyForTheDevil from Artemis to Moondancer. Thanks to some ObliviousGuiltSlinging, Artemis makes Moondancer feel bad about the kinds of things she'd doing to get what she wants, as well as giving Moondancer [[LonelyRichKid the attention and affection she'd been craving so desperately]] with no strings attached. She even keeps the pink dress he helps her pick out, just because he was nice to her. Moondancer's [[BeneathTheMask mask of civility]] almost cracks, and she nearly tells Artemis everything, but holds herself back. She might be a RichBitch, but the chapter does paint Moondancer sympathetically. [[spoiler:At least until her VillainSong at the end where she says that Twilight belongs to her.]]

* Chapter 9 opens with Selena, Trixie and Sunset all paralyzed with grief after [[spoiler:Artemis is captured by the Sirens, and presumed dead after his crystal ball goes dark]]. Between the screams of anguish and the slow, soft crying of Trixie to her mother, it really tugs at the heartstrings how much the situation is effecting them all.
* Chapter 14 is rather unkind to Sunset's psyche. At first, Selena thinks she's found a way as to how the Sirens escaped their captivity. But then, it takes a cruel turn. [[spoiler:After learning about leylines, which are magic streams that travel to places called leygates, Selena says they need a large concentration of magic to form. Sunset immediately realizes how one formed; it was her being blasted with the Elements of Harmony. In essence, Sunset's selfish actions not only made her almost destroy the school, but now she's put the whole world in danger. [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Sunset's guilt immediately kicks back in]], to the point she [[HeroicBSOD just goes upstairs and lies down with a knot in her stomach]].]] The poor girl just can't catch a break.

'''Sunset:''' Yes it can! I know it can! It’s too real! It’s not just a dream, it’s a prediction! I knew it — I knew using magic was a bad idea! It’s like she’s sitting right there! Right on the edge of my heart. One mistake… one mistake and I’ll… I’m scared, okay? Scared of what’ll happen next.

-->'''Sunset:''' One day... I can’t go one day without being reminded of how badly I screwed up.

* Chapter 9 opens with Selena, Trixie and Sunset all paralyzed with grief after [[spoiler:Artemis is captured by the Sirens, and presumed dead after his crystal ball goes dark]]. Between the screams of anguish and the slow, soft crying of Trixie to her mother, it really tugs at the heartstrings how much Artemis means to his family.