Sunset Shimmer: New Beginnings

by Mudslinger077

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life
Length: 42326

Sunset Shimmer is seeking to set things right after they went so wrong

(Post-Equestria Girls)

Sunset Shimmer ran away from Celestia, telling her mentor that she could pursue her own path and succeed. That led her into the human world, where she became a dominating celebrity and bullying figure at Canterlot High for more than two years. However, Twilight Sparkle pursued her into the human world to reclaim her Element of Magic from Sunset Shimmer. After Twilight had foiled Sunset Shimmer's plans to take over Equestria, Sunset tries to make up for the actions she made throughout her life. And then she moves on….

This had started as short epilogue to Equestria Girls. Now I'm making it a short set of stories following Shimmer in the human world and her eventual return to Equestria. Plus I know this story and other Sunset Shimmer fictions share some similar ideas - But I'm trying to be as original as possible here.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-11-22 00:29:30 UTC

Good and Evil

Rubble and broken glass were scattered everywhere on the floor.  The front entrance to Canterlot High had now become a wide hole blasted into existence.  And there was a crater in the middle of the courtyard, right next to the statue of a horse.

As Sunset Shimmer was cleaning the main entrance and as Twilight Sparkle was bidding goodbye her friends, everyone thought that their troubles were gone for good.

‘If only they knew better’ thought an invisible and bodiless entity. That entity was what remained of the demonic being Sunset Shimmer had transformed into.  The Demon was brought to life when Sunset Shimmer donned the Element of Magic.  They were one, with the Demon painfully taking over Sunset’s body and infusing it with dark magic.  In turn, Sunset’s goals, thoughts, knowledge, and ideals transferred into the demon’s mind, making them think alike.

After they were defeated by Twilight Sparkle and her friends, the Demon was forced out of Sunset’s body. But the monster was never destroyed, as the Elements of Harmony can never inflict harm or completely disabled their foes; they just threw them into a weaker state.

‘I was an incarnation of power…everything Sunset wanted to be for all these thirty moons…and right when she bought me to life, she failed….’ the Demon thought resting her back against the base of a statue.

She could hear Twilight giving a final farewell and walking into the portal.  The Demon found out earlier that she couldn’t access portal due to her current form.

‘Well it looks like I’m not the only one who won’t be going to Equestria tonight.’ She mumbled, seeing Sunset Shimmer race down the steps only to find out that the portal was closed.

The demon narrowed her eyes at Sunset, ‘It’s your entire fault, Sunset! As one person, we could have conquered Equestria, and ruled this world at the same time.  In the end, I hope rebuilding the school takes you the rest of your miserable life.’

The demon then stomped away from the school, to clear her thoughts.  She vowed to return some months later, hoping that the elements’ effect would wear off of her.

“If you will not embrace your destiny as the better of Celestia, Sunset, then I will make you.” She hissed.

Seven Months after Equestria Girls….

In the evening, Rarity and Applejack marched up to Twilight’s Sparkle’s door, ready for Twilight’s first slumber party. Applejack was carrying a sleeping bag tucking her toothbrush, night suit, and hairbrush inside it.  Rarity went through all the trouble of packing up three shoulder bags of clothing, make-up, and other ‘essentials’.

Having her hands free, Applejack rapped Twilight’s door lightly.

“Applejack, I think it is better to make use of the nearby doorbell.” Rarity scolded.

Applejack grumbled “For your information, Rarity, it makes totally no difference. It gets a person’s attention one way or another.”

“Well, what good is a doorbell if you can’t make use of it?  Twilight and her family are from the city, thus are part of sophisticated society.  Why, her father is a professor in astronomy, and her brother is the head of the city’s police department. You can’t just-”

“Applejack! Rarity! It’s so good you could make it.”

Twilight opened the door, sounding very enthusiastic. Her brother was on a vacation with his girlfriend, and her parents were out of town, so Twilight and the rest of the girls had the permission to spend a slumber party over the weekend.

“I could say the same here Twilight,” Applejack said, making her way inside.

Rarity sidestepped into Twilight’s house with her luggage dangling from her shoulders and arms. “Sorry, I packed so many bags, darling. I felt I should pack...”

“…Anything and everything?” Snickered Applejack.

Rarity glared at the cowgirl. “Oh, please. Applejack, it doesn’t hurt to bring your own stuff.”

“It’s okay guys,” Twilight said, trying to prevent an argument happening between the two. “I don’t mind what you bring. Just remember to place it in living room.”

But Applejack wasn’t finished arguing. “See Rarity? Twilight is nothing like the folk of the city, even at her home. So why do you have to be all snobby like them?”

“Never mind the Snobby folk of city. Why there is so much more to the city…” Rarity began, but then gulped.

“Like what?” Twilight asked.

Rarity beamed, “Why I am just envious that you have lived the life that I had always wanted – The glamor, the sophistication! I have always dreamed of living in the city! But…my mother and father, being country folk, wanted to settle here, thinking that a rural area is what I needed to grow up in.  And…I have my business at the boutique here and Sweetie Belle has Applebloom and Scootaloo. I can’t just leave all just at once.”

“Leaving is tough – But when I left, I had no friends or any special connections with anyone in my old school, other than the old Sunset Shimmer who is now long gone.” Twilight confessed.  “But I’m glad you are here with me now.”

“Same here.” Applejack added. “Despite all yer nitpickiness, I couldn’t have asked for a better dressmaker for each of my proms.”

A tiny smile formed on Rarity’s face.

Twilight shouted down the hall “Hey girls, Rarity and Applejack are here!”

In response, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash came over.

“Hey, guys.” Dash grinned. “Sorry I haven’t hung out with you that much.  I’ve been preparing the football team for their match against Manehattan High.”

Fluttershy said, “Sunset texted me that she was just finishing her shift at Smoothie Cube Corner-”

“WITH ME!”

Everypony looked behind Rarity and Applejack to find Pinkie at the doorway.

“Hey, Twilight. You should remember to lock your door after bringing in guests. It’s so unexpected to find someone pop up at your front door.”

“Hello, Pinkie.” Twilight greeted.  “Where is Sunset?”

“After our shift was over, she said she was going to head home to get her slumber party stuff.”  Pinkie explained.

Twilight pulled out a tiny pocket-sized guide book, announcing “Now, while we wait for Sunset, let me share with Applejack and Rarity the guide to our slumber party guide…”

“The egghead had put a lot into planning.” Rainbow Dash whispered to Applejack.

Scrolling through pages in her book, Twilight said aloud, “First off – makeovers, followed by scary stories and then truth or dare.  Once we are done with those, we’ll make some smores, and then end our party with the traditional pillow fight-”

“Hold on there – why not save ghost stories for last and have smores at the same time? That seems like more fun to me.” Applejack asked lowering the book from Twilight’s face.

“Maybe we also could throw in time for your brother’s Haystation 4 system.” Rainbow Dash suggested.

“Oh! I bought some dresses that would go nicely with the makeups!”  Rarity squealed setting on of her bags down pulling out an elegant magenta dress with a short skirt.

“Kaaaaariokie, anyone?!” Pinkie chimed, holding a radio and microphone.

Fluttershy asked “Oh, can we also watch Rescue from Midnight Castle...If that’s alright with you?”

Twilight shrugged, feeling partly obliged to stick to her schedule.

She sighed, “I guess we could put them into the schedule….As long as it’s fun.”

Flash Sentry drove Sunset Shimmer down the afternoon neighborhood and parked his car in Twilight’s driveway.  It had been a silent trip that Flash found unsettling.

“Okay, we’re here.  You excited?” Flash asked Sunset Shimmer

Sunset sighed “Sort of…I’ve been to other parties with these girls.”

“Sort of?”  Flash wondered. “Sunset, this is a nice time to get together with your friends. And this is not only Twilight’s first slumber party, but it’s yours too. Brighten up a little, will you?”

“Mmm…I just don’t feel like I should be here at this moment doing these happy things, Flash. I feel like I should be that bully I was a couple months ago. ”

“Why?” Flash asked

“When I was a bully I had big…dreams.  You know all that conquering-Equestria-stuff and becoming superior to everyone else. I enjoyed dominating the high school of CHS.  Now….I just go about studying, spending time with these girls and you, and holding my job at Sugar Cube Corner….it just feels…so….not me…”

Flash replied “Life is full of twists that turn that change people’s lives.  Sometimes it takes longer for people to adapt to that change. And sometimes they try to change back because it’s so hard to admit what has happened.   But sooner or later we accept it and move on.”

“Wow, when did you become philosophical?” Sunset wondered.

With chuckle, Flash though about it. “I have no idea….anyway, you better get going, Sunset. You don’t to be going inside when they are all asleep.”

Sunset waved goodbye to Flash Sentry as he drove out of the driveway. Carrying her sleeping bag, her own toothbrush, and her pajama’s, she walked up to the door of Twilight’s house.

When Sunset rang the doorbell, Rarity answered it having a mud mask on her white face.

“Sunset, do come in! We were just about to start makeovers!”

“Makeovers?” Sunset questioned, only to be yanked in.

Rarity guided Sunset over to the living room where everyone was giving each other makeovers, trying on some glittering dresses, or participating in karaoke.

“Glad you could make it Sunset! This is gonna be THE BEST NIGHT EVAR!” Pinkie shouted into a microphone, with her hair was filled more with hair rollers than Sunset could count.

“Makeovers, dress up, and karaoke…check,” Twilight told herself, marking it off in her pocket book.

“Could someone please help me with my hair?” Sunset groaned, trying to pull off one of several hair rollers.

“Let me help….” Pinkie offered, uncoiling one of the rollers out of Sunset’s hair.

All of sudden Sunset’s red and yellow hair snapped into a fashion that mimicked Rarity’s

“Nope. That wasn’t the one.” Pinkie commented, and began pulling out another hair roller.

Sunset’s hair then morphed into fashion that looked similar to Rainbow Dash’s.

“Hmmm…this will take a while…” Pinkie observed, then proceeding to pull out more hair rollers.  Sunset’s hair started to snap into different shapes and forms, until finally her hair rested in her normal state.

Checking her hair for no more hair pins, Sunset asked “Okay….what’s next?”

“Gaming on the Haystation 3!” Dash cheered.

“But Rainbow, there are only four controllers.” Fluttershy pointed out.

“So?  We’ll take turns.” Sunset shrugged.

Twilight thought about it for a while. “Why not do something altogether, like watching Rescue from Midnight Castle?"

“You have that?” Rarity beamed “Why I haven’t seen that movie since first grade! Let’s do it.”

“Gahh…it’s just some old movie from the eighties.” Dash moaned. “I always wanted to try out Shining Armor’s Haystation.”

“Ah know; Twilight, let’s take a vote.” Applejack suggested. “Ah vote for the Haystation: I’m up for some gaming against Dash.”

“Count my vote in for the game.” Pinkie chimed, joining Dash and Applejack.

“I…want to vote for the movie…I’m not much of a gamer…” Fluttershy said, shyly.

“I agree with Fluttershy.  The movie a beautiful and memorable classic we have not seen in a long time.  Besides, it is better that touching those sweat-drenched gaming controllers and staring at a screen like a mindless husk for endless hours.”  Rarity remarked. “No offense to your Brother about how he plays his gaming, Twilight.”

“None taken.” Twilight shrugged, knowing that Rarity was actually right.  “I vote for the movie. What about you, Sunset?”

Sunset could see herself caught in between two types of people that were both her friends. She hadn’t even seen Rescue at Midnight Castle or played on a Haystation.

“It’s just a vote.”  Rainbow Dash commented.

“I’m thinking…” Sunset sighed.

“Go on…say it.” Grinned Rarity

“Fine…that was a pretty good way to kill two hours when you are teen.” Rainbow Dash grumbled.

“I’ll agree,” Sunset added.  “The movie was actually pretty great.”

The plot of the movie was about ponies, unicorns, and pegasi, being threatened by a dark warlord, who lived in his ‘Midnight’ Castle.  It was no surprise to Sunset that this story ended up with a happy-ever-after for everypony, since the movie’s storyline was similar to legends in Equestrian History.  The colorful ponies in the movie, however, looked rather different from the ones in Equestria, having smaller eyes and more complex bodies.

“So, now that we are done with the movie…do you know any scary stories from Equestria?” Twilight asked Sunset.

Sunset thought about all the stories that she overhead other ponies talking about at night in the dormitories at her School. “Well…there is the ‘one eyed minotaur in this hidden maze’….And ‘The headless horse…’

“…With a horseman that had an actual head?” Pinkie asked.

“No, Just the horse without its head.” Sunset stated.

“Where would its brain be then?” Applejack asked.

Sunset gave dumbfounded look “How should I know?  It’s a ghost story…they are all made up in a minute.”

“Yeah, well not the one where five of us were attacked by a demon seven months ago….no offense.” Rainbow Dash replied, with Sunset replying with an irritated look.

Before either jock could say anything, Twilight said “I know; I’ll kick things off and we’ll all continue it one by one in circle.  That way we’ll all tell a part of a story.”

So all the girls dimmed the lights and got into a circle, with each of them sitting on their pillows.

Twilight began, “It all started with a night like tonight….”

Sunset followed “….Seven good friends just like us…”

Rainbow Dash added “…Huddled in tight circle and continued to spend their slumber party telling scary stories …”

Pinkie said “….the wind was blowing, and the moon was full….”

Rarity continued “…They took no notice of a creaking noise echoing around the house. And the owl that was eerily hooting.”  Rarity gave out a few ‘hoo’s’ which made everyone giggle.

“But when one of the girls was hungry, she left the group to go the kitchen without telling.” Applejack continued.

“Once she had fixed herself a midnight snack.” Twilight said “She went back into the room to find her friends weren’t there….”

“….and…uh…then all of sudden...she could hear voices… echoing across the hallways…” Sunset Shimmer whispered.

“…And the voices were calling out her name…” Rainbow Dash added.

“As soon as she realized that, the light’s flickered out and someone grabbed her from behind…” Pinkie hissed.

Simultaneously, the lights went out, causing the girls’ hearts to jump.

“Rainbow Dash, was that you?” Applejack hollered.

“Hey, it’s not my fault!  Pinkie probably planned it. You know how she is with….surprises.” Rainbow Dash pointed out.

“Not me, Dashie. I’m guessing it’s due to an electric bill that needs to be paid.” Pinkie stated.

Twilight went to nearby light switch, finding that the lights didn’t turn on. And then she peeked out the window into the street. “All the lights are out, girls. It looks like an electrical blackout is occurring.”

“There goes any chance of Haystation tonight….” grumbled Rainbow Dash.

“So, back to the story?” Rarity asked.  Just then, a creaking noise was heard elsewhere inside the house.

“I’m….I’m sure that just the wind.” Twilight stated, even everyone could see she was lying.

“Hey where has Fluttershy been all this time?” Sunset Shimmer asked.  No one had realized she had been absent for a while.

Unexpectedly, Sunset could feel a soft tap on her shoulder and a trace of cold breath running down her neck

“YIKES!” Squealed Sunset. She spun around and whacked whatever was behind her with her pillow.

There was the sound of tray falling to ground and a whimper upon the pillow’s impact.

Rarity reached for a flashlight in her bag and threw it on, shining it on….

“Fluttershy?” Sunset Shimmer realized.

Fluttershy was shaking on the floor from the impact of Sunset Shimmer’s pillow.  Next to her was a tray with five smores, with two more on the floor

“I-I thought I could make them quickly before we start telling stories. I’m sorry I scared you…and myself” She shivered.

“I was going to say the same thing.” Sunset replied, taking one of the smores that landed on the floor.

After some smores, scary stories, truth or dare (with the most memorable moment dare being Applejack forced to dress up in a frou-frou, glittery, lacey outfit), and pillow fight, everyone was setting up their sleeping bags on the living room floor, ready for the night, using their flashlights to brighten up the house.

Twilight Sparkle came down in her constellation-marked PJs and a grey rag doll in her hands.

“This is smarty-pants. He’s just a doll that I had when I little that I would use to stimulate schooling.” She introduced.

“That’s cute.” Sunset commented.  The grey doll seem to have been crudely made, having yarn sticking out of its head and two buttons for eyes to indicate where a face should be.  But it also had some heartwarming meaning to it.

“Don’t forget this doll!” Pinkie wailed from upstairs bringing down another doll. This one had blue yarn erupting from its head and was stitched together from cream-colored socks.  It came with a crude-looking jacket and pants.  It also had two blue buttons for eyes.

“Is that…Flash Sentry?” Applejack wondered.

Pinkie studied the doll in her hands “What do you know? It does look like-”

“It does not!”  Twilight panicked, dropping her smarty-pants doll and rushing upstairs to steal the stuffed Flash Sentry doll away from Pinkie. Pinkie tossed it over the banister and into Rainbow Dash’s hands.

“You guys, stop this!” Twilight cried racing down the steps.

Once she got down, a Rainbow Dash tossed it to Applejack. When an irritated Twilight darted at Applejack, Applejack threw it to Sunset Shimmer.

In her hands Sunset could see the doll did resemble Flash sentry, even sporting his shield-and-lightning-bolt emblem on his shirt.

Sunset Shimmer was about to continue the fun until Twilight knocked Sunset Shimmer over and the snatched the doll.

“That’s enough!” Twilight yelled.

Avoiding eye contact, Twilight began to stomp away from her friends, hugging the Flash Sentry doll close to her chest.

“Hey…we’re sorry, sugarcube.” Applejack assured

That made Twilight stopped in her tracks, looking at the doll.

“What’s there to hide, Twilight?  He already likes the pony you!” Pinkie asked, sliding down the banister and jumping in front of Twilight.

Pinkie’s words not only pained Twilight, but Sunset as well. Flash was her boyfriend…not PrincessTwilight’s - At least not anymore.

“Are you in love with…Flash?” Sunset wondered, coming over to Twilight.

Twilight hugged the Flash Sentry doll closer to her chest.  She took a deep breath before explaining.

“No, Sunset Shimmer. We aren’t in love.  I just…started to like him after you took me to one of his concerts and introduced me to him….I…couldn’t stop thinking about him for some time; he loved the pony princess me…so I thought he could love me too.  But he was your boyfriend so I felt that it would be wrong to try to take him from you. In order to ‘present’ my feelings for Flash Sentry, I made doll version of him.”

Sunset was feeling jealous that someone had the same feelings for her boyfriend as somepony else.  But then remembered what she had said to Flash in February about planning to one day go back to Equestria.

“It’s alright Twilight….” Sunset began but then stopped, thinking about what she was going to say. “I’m glad you respect Flash’s relationship with me. That what a true friend would do.”

Twilight murmured “No its, not.  A true friend wouldn’t have feelings for their for their friend’s boyfriends behind their backs.”

“And what’s wrong that?” Rainbow Dash stated “You’re not trying to drive them apart. You are just letting them be and moving on.”

“And that’s also what true friend would do.” Sunset said wrapping an arm around Twilight.

Feeling better Twilight replied “I appreciate your understanding…but…please, everyone, stay out of my room.  It’s….private…”

Just then some hooting and barking came from upstairs.  Much to everyone’s surprise an owl gilded down to the lower level, with a purple and green dog chasing behind it.

“What in tarnation?!” Applejack exclaimed.

“Oh! I am so sorry!” Fluttershy called from upstairs.  “I didn’t mean to wake them.”

The dog, which everyone assumed was Spike, continued to pursue the owl until Twilight scooped Spike up in her arms, holding both him and the Flash Sentry doll.  She started to scratch behind his ears, which instantly calmed him down.

“Everyone – this is Spike. I’ve had him since I was little girl.  And that’s Owlowiscious.” Twilight explained, referring to the dog and the owl, with the latter perching itself on Fluttershy’s shoulder.

“I’m so sorry!” Fluttershy repeated, “I just wanted to see the cute things.  I didn’t think they would wake up so easily and start fighting.”

“Don’t worry – They get on each other’s nerves a lot,” Twilight said “But they are good friends. They blame a lot of things on each other.”

*Hoo?* Owlowiscious hooted on Fluttershy’s shoulder.

“You and Spike.” Rainbow Dash replied.

*Hoo?*

“Spike.”

*Hoo?*

“Sp- Oh forget, it.”

*….Hoo?*

That made the girls giggle.  At that same time, Rarity was striding down the steps in her gleaming night gown, jiggling a necklace of pearls in her hands.

“Twilight, do ask your mother if I may borrow these for next year’s fall formal.  They would go nicely with new dress plan I can up with.”

“I….don’t know…” Twilight stated, “Those are my moms and they are real pearls…”

“By my stars – Spike-wikey!” Rarity exclaimed, dropping the necklace of pearls.

Spike jumped out of Twilight’s arms and brushed up against the fashionista’s bare legs.   Rarity, happily picked up the puppy and began to scratch behind his ears.  Despite him not being the same Spike from Equestria, Rarity found him adorable too.

Before Twilight could ask for Spike back, Sunset handed her the Flash Sentry doll.

“It’s not a bad at all, Twi,” Sunset commented.

“Thanks…my babysitter taught me how to make dolls like this.  I’m not that good though….” Twilight replied, as if she wanted to avoid talking about the doll at all.

“I wasn’t just talking about the doll,” Sunset whispered “I was talking about your feelings for Flash.”

Twilight’s face flushed red before taking her doll and the pearls back upstairs.  Sunset didn’t know if she was embarrassed, flattered, or angry.

Sunset stirred in her sleeping bag, feeling as though something was preventing her from sleeping.  She sat up in her sleeping bag and rubbed her eyes.

A hand swiftly lashed out from the darkness and clutched Sunset’s mouth shut. Sunset was to throw her hands up to this stranger in the dark, only to her hands fused behind her in a greenish glow.

The stranger’s emerald eyes started to glow, illuminating Sunset’s face.

“It would be smart choice to keep silent….” The stranger hissed, sounding a lot like Sunset herself.  Her emerald eyes lit up some more, so Shimmer could see an outline of her slender, winged body.

Sunset’s eyes nearly fell out as she gazed at the something – not someone – before her.  It was the demonic being she transformed into seven months ago.

“Only you can see me and hear me, Sunset; I made it so.” The demon hissed again, pulling her hand gently away from Sunset’s mouth, releasing her magical handcuffs.

“I bet there was a reason you woke me up, especially on this particular night.” Sunset sneered quietly as to not wake up her friends.

The demon hissed “The electrical blackout provided me with the right moment. And I have been watching for the right moment Sunset Shimmer, from the time I saw my creator abandon her ambitions all because of the magic of friendship…”

‘All because you failed’ Sunset thought. ‘Princess Twilight used the Elements on you – not me. And I’m not your creator.’

The demon leaned into Shimmer’s face, gritting her teeth and spreading her wings, yelling “I heard that! I hear everything you say, Sunset! Even in your head, you are not safe!”

“So you are in my head?” Sunset wondered, looking relaxed with the demon standing above her

“Yes, and I’m in theirs, too…” the demon said.

Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy started to wake up from their sleeping bags.  Even Spike started to rise from his basket nearby.  All their eyes were lime green and they began to moan unconsciously, acting in similar fashion to the students who were mind controlled during fall formal.

The demon grinned.  “While you were asleep, I possessed your friends, for you of course.”

“For me?” Sunset asked. “Don’t you mean against me?”

The demons shook her head. “I hope you didn’t forget the visions in mirror.  I saw them too.  I still see greatness in them. I am merely helping you fulfill them, despite your…or our…loss. Taking over your friends is the first step….”

Sunset surely did not forget her vision of herself as an alicorn ruler.  It’s what had gotten her trapped into this human world in the first place.

‘Why don’t you find that greatness yourself?’ Sunset thought. ‘I’m done trying to be something a mirror said I was going to be’

The demon sighed “Very well – I see that you think you have changed.  But I need your help so I’ll make an offer; come with me and I’ll show you the truth in the portal. If you refuse …”

A possessed Twilight Sparkle gripped Sunset’s right arm and begun to twist it so hard, Sunset felt several muscles being painfully, stretched. Spike ran up to Sunset’s covers and started to gnash his teeth at Sunset.

Sunset winced, knowing what the demon meant “Fine.  Just let my friends go.”

The demon stamped her fingers. Simultaneously, everyone in the room feel back into their sleeping bags.  Spike huddle himself into tight ball on Sunset’s sleeping bag.

“Let’s move.” The demon beckoned, transforming into a green glowing mist.

Once Sunset got out of her sleeping bag, she accidently brushed her feet against Spike’s nose.

Sunset followed the demon out the front door.  As she did so, she bumped against the doorbell. Hopefully, it would stir her friends up and they would help her…somehow

“What do you think you are doing?” Snapped the Demon in its mist form.

“It’s dark outside – I was looking for my shoes.” Sunset lied.

“Wait here and don’t move.” The demon demanded and phased past the front door.  She came out after a minute later, still in the form of a green mist.

“Your friends and that mutt are still asleep – forget the shoes. And don’t do that again.” The demons said floating away with a shivering Sunset Shimmer in tow.

The demon had led her across the pitch-black city to Canterlot High School.  Shimmer could relate her current situation to Princess Twilight Sparkle during fall formal.

“Magical Demon …me being completely powerless…night time…Yeah, I guess you and I aren't so different, Princess” Sunset murmured.

The demon transformed back into her monstrous form, pointing a red claw at the portal.

“I need you to look in there again.” The demon stated.

“For what?” Sunset asked

“To see what else is in store for your destiny.”

Sunset did as the demon asked, kneeling in front of the portal – but all she could see was her own reflection.  Sunset waited some more but no images started to appear on the reflective surface.

Knowing that portal always shown images whenever someone was in front of it, Sunset reached out and tapped the portal surface.  Still, there was no result.

“I don’t see any- ARRGGHH!”

Sunset dropped to the floor, feeling a pain that shot though her spine.  She spun around and found that the demon was not behind her.

“News Flash, Sunset; I had to drag you out here to take over your body.  Don’t even try to call for help; you are all alone and in the dark….now, on with the show!"

Sunset looked at herself. She was becoming slightly taller and her skin was starting to change into a pale tint of red.  Her hands grew in size and her nails became claws.  Two bat-like wings ripped out from the back of her night shirt.

Sunset began to cry, feeling painful pulses traveling though her body.  She collapsed in front of the portal.  Reflected in it, was her ongoing transformation seen by her panicked human eyes.

...huh…apparently you are too good for my magic to have a full effect…”

Sunset cradled her head, feeling the demon’s voice coming from there “Why…Why Are you doing this do me?!”

“This is your destiny… You can’t stop from happening, because I am going to take you there.”

“No, you’re wrong!” Sunset panted on her knees.

“How am I wrong? The portal spoke of your destiny!  It envisioned the element of magic in your grasp. That came true.  It envisioned you as being better than Celestia – which you were, too, when we became one! If you would just quit struggling and let us become one again, we can become powerful enough to rule two worlds!”

Sunset took every word in as she slowly felt her body surrendering itself to the demon. Right when she was about to admit defeat, she finally knew what to say.

“You think we are powerful enough to rule Equestria? We couldn’t even destroy Princess Twilight Sparkle!” Sunset croaked.

All of sudden the pain start to lessen, and the demon’s voice now sounded like she was on the defensive side

"Silence!”

As the demon freaked out, Sunset began to stand weakly on her legs.

“And what can you do now you are stuck in my head?  Make me look like a monster?”

I could come out of this body, and turn everyone into zombies, and have them rip you into pieces!

“But what about my destiny? Are you saving you would prefer to not have it fulfilled?” Sunset sneered.

The demon was silent.

“That’s right – I don’t need the elements of harmony to get rid of you. Just a few words…”

"Stop! I am the incarnation of your greatest-”

“Failures…mistakes….that’s all you are; just an idea that’s lost in the past. Now that I have changed myself and the course of where I am going, you can bet that I’m not that alicorn in the magic mirror!”

Lies! Lies!

“You want to know what was a lie? You really want to know? You.  You took over me when I thought I could be better than Celestia, when I ran away, when I became a bully at this school, and when I donned the Element of Magic.  And when we almost achieved what we thought was our destiny, you failed and left me in that crater. We can’t be one – and you aren’t more powerful than me, because I have seen the error of my ways….And you are the error.”

But…how? I….am you!

“You’re just in my head. I’ll remember you.  But I will never become one with you again in the future.  You’re a memory….”

Sunset felt as if some jolt of energy knocked her down. The intense pain in her head swiftly faded away.  The demon’s transformation began reversing, causing Sunset to be human again

The pain stopped and the night time world was eerily silent. A breeze swept over her weakened body.

‘She was strong…’ Sunset thought, ‘But how was I stronger?’

Feeling more of the cold nighttime air start to bite her, Sunset sprinted back to Twilight’s home.  However, She found out the front door was locked.

“Well this is just great, being out in the cold for the rest of the night…” Shimmer grumbled. Then she heard someone unlocking the door from behind.

Sunset opened it softly, and found Spike standing in front of her with the house keys in his mouth.  She patted the dog on her head and then headed over into the living room.

There were all her friends, sleeping peaceful as if nothing had happened.  Sunset Shimmer joined them and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the sleeping bag.

“MORNING, SUNSET!” Pinkie’s voice wailed.

Sunset darted into an upright position. Her tired eyes could see it was broad daylight, and everyone was up bright-eyed, huddling around her.

“What time is it?” Shimmer wondered.

“About Nine’o Clock.”  Twilight said. “You sure slept in longer than the rest of us.”

“Oh…” Sunset yawned “I better get ready then…”

Sunset got out of her sleeping bag and started to head for bathroom.  Only to be stopped by Rainbow Dash.

“Uh…Sunset? You’ve got….something on your back…”

“I’ll take care of it, whatever it is.” Sunset replied over her shoulder.  But now everyone was looking at it with surprise.

“Darling….there is holes in your night suit.” Rarity added.

“What? Where?” Sunset asked trying to get a better look.

Rarity looked in her bag for a mirror, and then had the girls take Sunset into the bathroom.  For a better look, Sunset was told to take of her shirt. She did so and saw holes in the back of it.

When Rarity came in with a small mirror, she told Sunset to look into it with her back towards the bathroom mirror.

Under her upper bra, and resembling two curves coming in a V-shaped formation, were two shiny, pink scars standing out from her skin.

Sunset shuddered at seeing this and dropped Rarity’s mirror.

“Sunset…what happened to you last night?” Twilight asked.  The girls hovered around Sunset looking more worried than ever.

Knowing that she couldn’t hide it, Sunset took a deep breath “Girls….You may think this is crazy…”

“Too crazy to be real? Just tell us; we’re used to crazy ideas that are real.” Rainbow Dash interrupted.

“Okay…apparently…the…demon I transformed into seven months ago….came back last night.” Sunset began, “While you guys were asleep, I was taken to the portal. Then, she began to transform me back into that monster…”

Sunset looked at the mirror behind her, glancing at her scars. “She almost did…”

“Sunset, is that demon coming back for yah?” Applejack wondered.

“No,” Sunset replied, firmly “…when she realized that she couldn’t take over me again, or convince me to surrender to her thinking…she just….became…a memory….”

There was long silence between all six friends in the bathroom, trying to take all what they had heard in in.

“Um…if…I could say something….” Fluttershy squeaked, prompting all eyes to look her. “I’m glad that you have changed for the better Sunset Shimmer.”

Sunset Shimmer blushed.  “I’ll admit there are times where I want to go back to being bully.  Yet…a friend told me that eventually we accept change.  The demon never accepted that change until the end.”

Pinkie gave Sunset warm hug, only to make Sunset Shimmer flinch away from her.

“S-sorry…the scars kind of sting when you touch them.” Sunset confessed.

“No worries, Sunset.” Pinkie stated

Twilight handed Sunset a spare a spare tee-shirt to cover her scars.

“Now that our demon problem has been dealt with, shall we chow down on some breakfast?” Applejack announced.

“Count me in.” Shimmer replied, throwing on the shirt and hiding her scars.

In Equestria……

Your Majesty,

I bring you news regarding Project Portal.

I happy to report we are nearing success; the portal/mirror opened briefly and the test subject, Sea Spray, placed her hoof through the mirror – she could see it slowly transform into the human appendage known as a hand.

A few seconds later we were encountering some drawbacks.  One of our machines had short circuited, causing the portal to close. Another one exploded, setting Moondancer on fire. Sea spray is alright but she could have risked either having her hoof infused with the mirror or having it being severed.  However, the mirror remains unscratched and undamaged and has reverted back into its closed state.

I ask that you continue to fund us.  We just need more machines and ponies for roughly another two months. By then, then we should be able to know how the magic mirror functions and control it.

Also, as we are working on the magic mirror some of us, including myself, are starting to see images in the mirror as we work.  The individual reports of these ‘visions’ can be found in folder that was sent with this letter.

Your lead scientist on Project Portal,

Lyra Heartstrings

PS; It’s a personal honor to work on this project

Princess Celestia finished reading the letter as she sipped tea in the dining hall within Canterlot Castle.  It was good to hear that some advancement was occurring within the project.

Celestia’s intention behind the project to have the Sunset Shimmer from the human world (who she addressed as ‘Shimmer’ as to remind herself they weren’t the same) sent home. Celestia had a bad feeling about Shimmer.

Four months after the time Shimmer had arrived, Celestia had come to learn that Shimmer was starting to cast high-level unicorn spells and advance through her lessons at a quickened pace, without the magic of friendship.  She had also been a jerk to some of other students, feeling superior in her human heart.

At the same time, Celestia was mailed a notice from Zecora regarding a sight in the Everfree Forest. Zebra had seen a unicorn walk into the Ancient Castle of the Royal Sisters and stay in it in for six days. Her description of the unicorn had matched Shimmer’s appearance.

Celestia was worried Sunset’s unusually quick progression in magic was connected to her journey into the Castle of the Everfree Forest.  Celestia couldn’t ask Shimmer about it, because if Shimmer felt that somepony was prying into her agenda, it would cause her to feel threatened and start using her magic dangerously. For now, Shimmer was going about her private lessons and acting like there was nothing wrong.

Once the portal could be accessed manually, Celestia also hoped to lock Shimmer up in that world for good.  Twilight had told her that magic couldn’t work in the other world unless an Element of Harmony was bought into it, so Shimmer wouldn’t be as great of a threat.

The princess blamed herself for believing that this human Sunset Shimmer would never come to be as evil as the other Sunset once had.

Finishing her tea and setting off to her bedroom with the mail from Project Portal, Celestia didn’t want to think about what Shimmer found in the Castle of the Royal Sisters.

‘The sooner the portal is up and running, the sooner I can rid myself of this worry’ she though, putting the folder of private reports under her wing.  With her magic She crumpled up the letter, the turned it into ashes, and dumped those ashes into a bin.  A royal guard patrolling the night strolled down the hall towards her.

“Dispose of this material immediately.”  Celestia commanded, gesturing to the bin

“Yes, your highness.” The guard said in his gruff tone, bowing.

As soon as Celestia was out of sight, the guard teleported himself and the contents of the bin to Shimmer’s quarters.

“Oh, I never get tired of fooling her with my disguise spell.”  The guard said, in a sly female voice.  His horn glowed and then his disguise fell away, similar to changeling’s ability to mimic other ponies, revealing Shimmer underneath.

Shimmer concentrated her magic on the ashes she had collected from the bin.  Slowing the particles clung to one another, each forming into a piece of the letter and then reconnecting with other pieces.

After she had read the reassembled letter, Shimmer had decided that two months was more than enough time to wait for a good moment to strike at Equestria’s leaders.

'Those stupid horses won’t see it coming…' she thought to herself

New Beginnings (Edited)

Rubble and broken glass were scattered everywhere on the floor.  The front entrance to Canterlot High had now become a wide hole blasted into existence.  And there was also a crater in the middle of the courtyard, right next to the statue of a horse.

Sunset Shimmer didn't know where to start cleaning up this mess.  She had settled on cleaning up the fragments of glass, pushing them off to the side with the small spade she was given.  The fact that it was close to midnight, and her recent experience as a demonic-being, had exhausted Sunset so much.  But she knew that after 30 moons of being a jerk, she no doubt deserved it.

Her two ex-henchmen, Snips and Snails, were at the far end of the main hall, avoiding eye contact as they loaded pieces of a bulletin board into a recycling bin.  Before all this, Sunset had felt superior to those two boys.  Now Sunset knew that they blamed her for everything that happened.

What distracted Sunset from her cleaning, was the presence of six friends gathering in the courtyard, bidding farewell to Twilight Sparkle.  Moments later, Twilight Sparkle bravely strode into the hidden portal at the base of the statue.  In a flash, she was gone.

Peeking from the holed front of the school, Sunset witnessed all that had happened.   Knowing that this could be her ticket back home to Equestria, she sprinted down the steps.

Yet Pinkie tried to follow Twilight through the portal, only to bump into the hard surface of the statute instead.

With the moon’s position in the sky confirming the portal was closed, Sunset realized that it would be another two years and three months before she could go home again.

“Are you alright, sugarcube?”

Sunset hadn't realized that she was now standing amongst Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash, all wearing unique and creatively designed dresses.  Standing in the middle of such a well dressed group, Sunset wanted to run back into the school and finish working, feeling out of place in her ruined everyday-garments and scratched up face.

Despite Twilight entrusting them as Sunset Shimmer’s new friends before she left, Sunset didn’t respond to Applejack’s question, and trudged back up the steps.  She told herself that she didn’t earn anyone’s forgiveness or friendship just because Twilight had saved the school’s population from becoming mindless zombies.

“Give the darling some time – even now I feel sorry for her.” Rarity advised.

Sunset overheard Rarity as she kept moving shards of glass into a corner.  Perhaps some people at the school did feel sorry for her.  And some probably despised her more or were relieved that she, as school bully, that finally met her match.

Principal Celestia came over to Sunset Shimmer.  “You better get some sleep, Sunset.  I’ll have you work on this after school with anyone who volunteers.  If someone asks, you will say that the school is getting a new entrance after it was destroyed by a prank done by unknown vandals.”

“Yes ma’am.”  Sunset replied, looking away from Celestia’s cold gaze.  She dropped the spade and sprinted past the entrance and into the school courtyard.  She disappeared into the night once she crossed the street.

“Hey! What about us?!” Snips hollered to Principal Celestia.

“Yeah? Why does she get a break only?” Snails moaned

Principal Celestia replied “You are free to go – but if I hear that you two are absent tomorrow because you didn’t want to come and work on this, the consequences will be severe.”

Then Snips and Snail walked together away from the rubble, arguing whose was to be blamed for joining up with Sunset Shimmer.

“I feel like ah really want to help Sunset Shimmer, but I don't know what ah can do.”  Applejack commented as she and her four friends walked home.

“I know what you feel, AJ.”  Rainbow Dash commented “But part of me says that Sunset deserved this ever since freshman year.”

“I mean…yeah she was kind of mean…but…”  Fluttershy stammered.

“Kinda?!” Pinkie boomed, scaring Fluttershy. “She called you pathetic! That's 'definitely' mean - not kinda.”

"Okay..." Flutterhshy whispered "But look at her eyes...she was sad."

Rainbow huffed "Yeah - she's soooo sad tonight. Then she going to go back to bully again. I think she she was pleading for help too quickly."

"Almost as quickly as she was going to be turned herself into a demon?" Applejack bought up.

"That I'm never going to forgive her for." grumbled Rainbow Dash.

Rarity sighed “I guess the entire school might as well be debating on whether or not to condemn Sunset for her actions. Now might as well be too soon for that….”

Just then a black sports car pulled up beside the six girls. The driver, Flash Sentry, rolled down his window and asked “Need a ride home, ladies?”

All five girls took Flash’s offer.  Rarity sat in the passenger seat with Flash while everyone else was sandwiched in the back.

"Five girls and guy in a car. We sure make you look like a ladies-man Flashy." Pinkie stated.

"Thats funny." Flash stated distantly. It a five seconds of silence until Rarity decided to ask a question.

“Flash?  You were Sunset Shimmer’s boyfriend, correct?”

“Yes, I was.” Flash answered, sounding distant as he drove around a corner.

“Did you know by any chance that’s she was…a pony too?” Rainbow Dash wondered.

It was a while before Flash spoke again.  “Yes, I did. It was about two years ago when I first met Sunset outside the school; it looked like she had phased right out of the base of the school statue.  She was so confused, acting oddly in her human form.”

“Excuse me, Flash…how did you and Sunset Shimmer …fall in love? If…you don’t mind me asking…”  Fluttershy asked Flash, barely audible.

“Huh?” Flash wondered

“What Fluttershy here is asking, is how did you two end up becoming the apples of each other eyes?” Applejack clarified.

“That?  Oh, that level of our relationship didn’t come until I danced with her last year’s Fall Formal.  Before that, I was busy helping Sunset get used to her new environment.  In return, she told me all about Equestria and her history as a unicorn.  Despite being magical and interesting, she left her home because she wanted to ‘prove something’ to her former mentor.  Months after we admitted we loved each other…Sunset Shimmer had changed…becoming mean…uncaring…unkind….”

“So after Sunset Shimmer became a mega-meanie-pants, she called off the best-high-school-romance-until-Twilight-came-along?” Pinkie said aloud.

Flash shook his head, concentrating on his driving. “No – I was the one who called off the relationship.  It was pretty hard to do at the time.”

Before the rest of her friends could interrogate Flash about his feelings for Sunset Shimmer, Rarity asked “Do you want to say anything more about it?”

“No.” Flash settled sternly, prompting everyone in the car to be silent.

Then he whispered “I’m just going to miss Twilight Sparkle a lot.  I didn’t want to say goodbye to her at that portal, because it always reminded me of the special feelings I once had for Sunset."

As tired as she was, Sunset felt too miserable to sleep.  Her head was filled with endless questions about the past, present and future.  Eventually she couldn't stand it anymore and walked silently to her mirror.

Sunset's face was cut up pretty badly and a few traces of dust had spotted her face.  Her clothing and her hair were in similar conditions.

Once she was done cleaning herself up, she kept thinking intently about how to make up two years of bullying…and how to establish a better picture of herself.  There was no doubt she would have to wait here for another two years before the portal opened up again, but that was something for the future.  Sunset knew she had to fix the mess she made here once and for all.

All of sudden, she began to ask herself why she was thinking this way.  Was it because she wasn't ruling the high school now? Or maybe because she had seen the power of friendship? Or...was it after she been the worst possible person she could be for roughly minute, she felt so much regret.

Sunset sighed, "Celestia....You were right about me. I wasn't ready for this."

Then, Sunset tore a piece of notebook paper from her binder and snatched a pencil from a coffee mug.  When she seated herself at the kitchen table, she worked on a speech, using the moonlight to see what she was writing.

Sunset Shimmer kept looking over her work again and again.  First it started out as a short apology to the school as whole – yet it didn’t feel like it was enough; it was the individuals at the school, not the building itself, that this apology was for.

It wasn’t until the break of dawn Sunset Shimmer had finished her speech.

In the middle of the day, Principal Celestia received a knock at the door.

Setting aside documents regarding repairs for the school and Sunset Shimmer’s record, Celestia stressfully replied “Come in.”

It was no surprise to her that Sunset Shimmer had been the one at the door, nor the fact she looked ashamed of herself or had a huge lack of sleep with bed hair and dark circles under her eyes.  What was unusual was a packet of papers she held to her chest as she came in.

“Principal Celestia?  Can…you…gather everyone in the cafeteria?”  Sunset requested.

“Most of them are there already, having lunch. However, I’ll make an announcement for everyone to report there, in case they may be at the library or still in class.  Why?”  Celestia asked, interested in Shimmer’s papers.

“I have a speech I want to give to them in person.”  Shimmer explained before showing it to Principal Celestia.

Sunset Shimmer was escorted to the cafeteria by Principal Celestia through the silent hallways.

It had been a quiet, nerve-wrecking walk – at every step, Sunset squeezed the speech in her hands, tighter and tighter.  Would everyone forgive her? What if this speech backfired and brought back terrible memories?  Would it make any difference at all? Was this too early?  Should she finish building the front of the school first?

“Just relax; you have showed me that you have reformed your true self, and the students will see it soon…” Principal Celestia advised, setting her white hand on Sunset Shimmer’s shoulder.

Sunset Shimmer silently nodded, before opening the cafeteria doors.  As expected, all the groups in the school were distracted by the noise of chatter and chewing, too busy to notice Sunset or the principal.

Sunset took a deep breath, knowing that if she made it this far, she could make it further.

“Ahem…may I have your attention please?”  Sunset called out, but everyone else remained occupied.

“May I have your attention?”  Sunset called out louder.  None heeded her except three familiar faces at a table.  It was Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack.

“I’ll take care of it for you shimmer!”  Pinkie squealed, yanking out a microphone from her hair.  After setting the volume to its highest peak, she shouted “EVERYONE!”

That sure got the entire cafeteria’s attention.

“Thank you – Sunset Shimmer has something to say. Then you may return to your drinks, meals, and vending machine snacks.”  Pinkie announced in the microphone before retaking her seat.

With all eyes on Sunset Shimmer and Celestia, Sunset was starting to feel alone and powerless.

Sunset then remembered that Twilight had accepted her apology.  Maybe these students would follow the same action as their new Fall Formal Princess did.

Sunset pulled her mind together and read her speech aloud and clear.

“Fellow students…I, Sunset Shimmer, would like announce that I’m sorry.  Not just for ruining the Fall Formal and damaging the school, but for two years of being a jerk.  I don't…know…if rebuilding the front of the school is enough, but I want you know that I’m sorry to what I’ve done to each and every one of you…”

Sunset looked to five familiar faces at the table in front of her. “Rarity, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Applejack.  I’m sorry for breaking up your friendship – it was something I could never understand at the time.  You guys aren't pathetic… you guys are awesome and now you are the first friends I ever had.  And for that, I thank you.”

Sunset glanced up from her papers, seeing the four of the five girls smiling warmly.  Rainbow looked rather upset, until applejack nudged her shoulder, causing Rainbow to Smile.  Sunset proceeded with the rest of the students in the cafeteria.

“Vinyl, I threw too much pressure on you during the Spring Fling.  It was wrong of me to request you buy all of that unnecessary audio equipment for the event.  Time Turner, I'm the one that broke your 'Screwdriver' in half.   Zecora, I helped spread the false rumors about your family consisting of evil enchanters and enchantresses.  Twist, it was me that sent those hurtful texts …..”

“…Roseluck, I framed Carrot Top as the one who spoiled your garden; I regretfully admit being the one that did it.  And Flash…I’m sorry about being a jerk to Twilight.  I should have just respect that you have found someone else and that you were happy….and….that’s it…I'm sorry for all what I have done to each and everyone of you… ”

Reading the list was very tiring and Sunset Shimmer’s mouth was dried up.   It had taken twenty minutes to go through it.

Pretty soon a student by the name of Ditzy Doo began to clap slowly, with the student next to her joining in.  Within five seconds, the entire table began to clap.  Within ten seconds, the cafeteria was cheering for Sunset Shimmer.

Then the cheering died down and the Cafeteria resumed its usual activity.  People ate, chatted, and didn't bother to give Sunset another chance.

Sunset sighed upon seeing how people could go back to their daily routines early.

Celestia followed Sunset out of the lunchroom.  "There are two things I want you to remember."

Sunset paused in her track and turned around.

"I was going to transfer you to another school far away and have your academic record terminated. If you live up to words for the rest of the year, then I won't mind keeping you. However, that wall has to be taken care of."

"How come?" Sunset asked, looking away "I sure deserve being sent away or thrown into jail. And I'm sure you want to forget about me.  Just like my mentor did."

Principal Celestia placed a hand on the teenager's should, prompting Sunset to look at Celestia's purple eyes. They were neither cold nor stern but rather held years of wisdom and experience.

"That's the second thing, Sunset Shimmer: I don't want to send away a bad student, like what you were.  I want to teach a lost student, who you are now, to be a good student."

"You don't think this is going to be a mistake you'll regret making?" Sunset asked.

Celestia frowned and her eyes looked away from Sunset.  Sunset spun around and saw Luna, upset and half-tired. The Vice Principal stormed into her office.

Sighing sadly, Celestia said "Please, don't make it one of my many mistakes. I don't want to send someone else away again."

"What happened?" Sunset insisted.

Celestia said immediately "I thought firing my sister from her job was the right choice any principal would make if a vice principal wasn't doing her job correctly.  Luna left me for months, until I cried for her to come back.  She did, but she never was the same little sister I once had. She was jealous of me, she hated me. I don't know if she still does."

Then Celestia left Sunset in hallway.

"No wonder Principal Luna is so grumpy." Sunset murmured.

Once School-hours had ended, Sunset had found herself sweeping the last bits of glass and rubble off to the side in pile.  Now that the floor was cleaned, she had to figure out how she was going to fix the front entrance and the hole in the courtyard.

“Why don’t we just ask for some help from the school?”  Snails wondered.

“Yeah, right.” Sunset uttered sarcastically “It’s our mess – we should be the ones to fix it.  I didn’t make that ‘I’m sorry’ speech because I regretted fixing up the school.”

“No…its your mess, and it’s all three of us that has to fix it.”  Snips groaned.

Sunset was about shout at Snails but she held in her anger, surveying the the damage she had caused.

She sighed “We're going to need some construction machines, new concrete, bricks, glass….”

“And some help.” Flash’s voice added behind her.

Sunset, Snips, and Snails, turned around, finding not only Flash, but the entire student population behind him.  Some students were carrying the required items Sunset had listed, with price tags indicating they were bought from nearby stores.

“It may be your mess…” Flash stated “…but we're doing this for our school.”

"No it's 'her' mess!" Snips pointed out.

"And this is our help so shut up and take it." Sunset demanded.

What was meant to be about five months work was completed in four days.  The students had sacrificed their free time to fix the school, with the first priority as filling up the hole in the courtyard.  Adults from the local construction department came over to supervise the students and provide materials.

The new school entrance looked fantastic compared to the old one.  It was bigger, in the shape of a semicircle, with layers of steps shaped in the form of horseshoes.  Once it was completed on a Wednesday afternoon, Principal Celestia rewarded all her students with service hours, some extra credit in their classes, and a day off tomorrow.

Sunset used that day off to get know her friends more.  She spent some time in her new beginning with having a rocking party with Pinkie Pie, learning how to make cider-pop from Applejack, trying out dresses that Rarity requested, meeting Fluttershy’s animals, and competing in a soccer match with Rainbow Dash.

A few days later……

“So what you are saying is that...you have found my human counterpart – the one that belongs to this world?” Sunset Shimmer asked Celestia.  Both were seated in front of each other in Celestia’s office.

“Yes; the school cameras caught a student that looked a lot like you. She was exploring the neighborhood during after-school hours.”  Celestia pulled up the recording on her computer and displayed it to Sunset. “It was about a day before the Fall Formal started.”

Sure enough, there was a person in the courtyard.  She resembled a lot like Sunset Shimmer, but she was dressed differently and had a slightly different hair style.  Sure enough, she wandered over to the statue and had decided to rest her back against where the portal was.  Before she noticed that she was sinking into base of the statue, she fell into it.  Then there was nothing else as the courtyard remained silent for the rest of the day.

“We never saw that Sunset Shimmer come back out. With the portal closed now, it seems that you have taken her place here and she has taken yours in Equestria. An interesting fact is that her file says that she lives alone, too.”

“What about Twilight – the human counterpart that belongs to this world?” Sunset Shimmer asked.

Celestia smiled “Oh, I know about her already.  She lives in the city and is in the honor roll at High School there.  Her brother is the head of the city’s police department and is the boyfriend to my niece. She doesn't know about the video you made of...the other-her.”

“How?”  Sunset asked.Though she had taken it down after the Fall Formal incident, she wanted to make sure that all loose ends were cut.

Before Celestia could give an answer, a figure dressed in a black jumpsuit with night vision goggles and wild pink hair kicked the office door open, making Celestia and Sunset jump out of their seats.

“Of course not, Sunset!”  The figure, who was Pinkie, chimed.  “…I had that video shown to be view in the school network only.  It was to make sure that only one Twilight Sparkle was hurt, in order to see that she needed help to win the crown for Fall Formal.”

“How did you get access into the school network and to my video?” Sunset asked.

“And…why are you dressed like a spy?”  Principal Celestia questioned.

Pinkie simply replied “To answer both your questions, its because the school policy doesn't says that I can't dress like this when I work. Also, I was able to logically guess the passwords of Sunset's Viewtube account and in the school administrator account.  But don't worry.  Your passwords are safe in a pinkie promise....also, this conversation never took place.  And I was never here.”  Then, Pinkie slammed the door shut.

“Well…I guess that takes care of everything….in fact I’m thinking about staying in this world for good.”  Sunset Shimmer said.

“Are you sure?” Celestia asked.

“Yes – because my old mentor, who was no different than you, sent me to places to learn the Magic of Friendship. The only place where I found it….was here.”

“The…magic…of friendship?  Is that another name for social philosophy?”  Principal Celestia wondered.

Sunset Shimmer shrugged. “Yeah, kind of. I’ll see you later, Principal Celestia.”

At the steps of the front entrance, a familiar face was waiting for Sunset Shimmer.  He was hiding something behind his back.

“Flash? What are you doing here?”

Flash responded “I’m here for you….because…I was wondering…”

“Yes?” Shimmer asked eagerly.

“…I was wondering...if we can start our relationship again.” Flash requested.

Sunset was about to erupt a train of ‘yesyesyesyesyes….’ and hug Flash, but a thought prevented that from happening.  “Weren't you in love with Twilight Sparkle?”  Sunset bit her lip after she said that.  She didn't know if she rekindled Flash’s possibly-buried feelings for Twilight.

“Sure, I loved her…” Flash stated looking at the portal, then looking back at Sunset “…since she reminded me of you when you first came here…”

Sunset still felt pained that Flash still had feelings for Twilight.  That pain dropped when Flash took Sunset’s hand.

“…Yet, no matter what I felt for her I could never stop loving you.  I asked Twilight for that dance because, well, you were different and we had broken up.  And when I danced with her it reminded me a lot of you when we first met.” Flash explained, before pulling Sunset closer with one hand, keeping the other one behind him.  “Now…I still see that same kind-hearted Sunset that I met two years ago.”

“I wasn't that kind-hearted…I was an ambitious jerk.”  Sunset refuted, blinking back tears “I didn't reveal like that until I…I learned all about the human world…from you…”

Flash presented with his other hand a Canterlot Wondercolt headband and tail-strap. “The past is the past Sunset…you’re not a demon or a jerk anymore…”

Flash first strapped the tail around Sunset's waist, tickling her as he did so.  Next he crowned the Wondercolt headband on her, kissing her on the forehead.  Sunset blushed so hard, that her face was as red as her hair.

“Now you’re someone….or somepony who is going in a new direction…”  Flash and Sunset pulled each other close and kissed on the lips for the first time in a few weeks.

From her office window, Principal Celestia smiled at the entire scene before closing the blinds and letting the two go about their afternoon.

Meeting the Other Twilight (Edited)

Four months after Equestria Girls….

The party last night at Sunset Shimmer's apartment was a blast.  However, it also emptied her fridge out quickly. After making a trip to the grocery store collecting enough food for the week, she walked home carrying a heavy brown-paper-bag in arms.

So far, making friends and setting new goals for herself in this world was going good.  Yet Sunset couldn't feel entirely happy after fixing all her mistakes, including repairing the school and giving a huge apology speech to the student population.  Sunset always wondered why this feeling persisted, especially when she was entirely alone.

Looking up at the human-world’s sun, Sunset thought of the Equestrian sun.  To her, it seemed illogical that the sun and moon moved by themselves in this world.  In fact, everything in this world seemed illogical at first to her, but somehow worked in a sense after two years of understanding it; the automobiles, the computers, the cell phones…

“Sunset Shimmer? Where have you been?”

Sunset stopped in her tracks and her thought train, recognizing that voice. It was Twilight Sparkle's.

Sunset looked over her shoulder before fully turning around finding her face to face with the Twilight that belonged to this world (not the one that had gone through the portal four months ago).  Only how did this Twilight know her name?

“Oh…I, uh….What are you doing here?” Sunset asked, surprised.

Twilight had the same puzzled expression. “I was planning on attending Canterlot High after you said you would check it out for me that one day.  Then I never saw you again. Until now course.”

“Uh..I…um…”  Sunset Shimmer stammered, unsure of what to say. “...I forgot…”  Sunset wanted to kick herself so hard for saying that.  You never say ‘I forgot’.

Twilight did not ask further but eyed Sunset suspiciously "I also see you got a new look. You're….taller, prettier…different…”

Sunset Shimmer knew this human-world Twilight hadn't had a clue to who she really was talking to.  How was she supposed to explain that she was talking to someone who was a unicorn from another world?

“Well, You always promised you would be my 3F….”  Twilight stated, confusing Sunset even further.  She further clarified to a continually-confused Shimmer that 3F meant ‘First and Friend Forever.’

Sunset Shimmer wanted to yell 'I didn't promise anything!' to this half-stranger.

“Twilight…I…need some time to think about how I can explain this…” Sunset requested. Surely this Twilight Sparkle was just as tolerating as her pony princess counterpart.

“Wait, are you hiding something?  Why did you run away?”  Twilight asked, sounding hurt. “Is…it because you don’t want to be friends with me anymore?”

Trying to act more caring that confused, Sunset gave a fake grin and asked, “Hey….why wouldn't I be friends with you anymore? You’re….”

Twilight turned her back to Sunset before she could speak further, saying in a broken voice “It’s clear that you don’t want to be my friend anymore.  You left me at that private school, You clearly care more about your appearance as I’ve have seen you right now, and you pretend not to know me! How could you? You promised that you would come back!”

“Darnit, will you just listen to me?”  Sunset urged, feeling angered about something she was not responsible for.

“No - I’m done being your friend.  Even if I end up going to Canterlot High, I will never speak to you ever again! Our friendship is over.”  Twilight started to run down the street.

Later, Sunset continued to walk down the street in the opposite direction with her groceries, thinking about what had just happened.

“It’s not your problem, Sunset…” She told herself “This happens in high school – people make friends and then they leave them pretty quickly…it's all just teen drama...”

But part of Sunset Shimmer felt that even if this Twilight said she had wanted nothing to do with her, this Twilight would still have questions to ask her.

“She just left you before you tried to explain? That really isn't the Twilight Sparkle we met months ago.” Rarity commented, cleaning up the local boutique with her sister.  Sunset Shimmer needed someone to speak to and she found Rarity in the closest distance.

“From what Twilight said…she thinks I’m Sunset Shimmer from this world…”  Sunset commented, helping by stacking a pyramid of yarn balls on a shelf.

While putting the needles and scissors in their respective drawers, Sweetie Belle then suggested “Why not become friends with this Twilight, anyway?"

“Easier said than done, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity replied.  “For all we know this Twilight is an entirely different person.”

As Sunset Shimmer was carrying some clothes from the dressing room, she noticed something familiar about them.  “Hey – aren't these Twilight’s?”

In fact they were; a purple skirt with a magenta star on the side, a light blue button-up shirt, and her purple boots.

Rarity replied“Yes they are. But I forgot to have Twilight – Well, the princess Twilight - take those with her before she left. She even left her backpack here.”

“Well the portal opens every thirty moons, Rarity. So we'll just have to hang onto them” Sweetie Belle shrugged.

“Well I suppose so-” Rarity said, and the happily chimed, “I-de-a! Maybe if I start working on a welcome-back-gift for the princess Twilight today, it could end up being my finest creation when she arrives!  I would be welcoming real royalty! Oh, I am so excited to get started!” Rarity thought aloud, taking out some paper and pencil for a design, humming happily 'Art of the Dress' to herself. Sunset resumed cleaning up the boutique, concerned about what she would have to tell Twilight.

A few mornings later in dimly lit office, Celestia was wondering what to make of Twilight Sparkle coming the Canterlot High School.

“Any ideas, Sis?” Celestia asked, looking over the file for the Twilight Sparkle of this world.  She was a very academic student who formerly attended a private school.  Yet she was noted to be willing to sacrifice all her social time for her education.  That was the complete opposite of the one that the CHS student population had known to love.

Luna sighed “I have tried to inform every single student to keep their mouths shut about the events surrounding Fall Formal.  But my dear sister, this is a high school; nothing is a secret for long.”

“So what do we do? Tell her?” Celestia wondered.

Luna nodded “I don’t see any harm in it; so far the city does believe the new entrance was created due to a dangerous prank.  And That portal is closed for some two years or so. If we tell her, she with undoubtedly keep it s secret.”

Celestia nodded “…yes…but after Princess Twilight left,  all I wanted to do was revert things back to normal and under my control, like I thought this high school always had been. Ever since I discovered that portal, I’m worried about the next thing that comes out, even if it will come in two years...could it endanger us?  Or force this High School to shut down?”

Luna considered Celestia’s words, feeling the same. “Maybe we can sort through all this during after school hours. In the meantime, I will bring Twilight to your office as you requested.”

Sunset Shimmer, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy strode down the halls. for today was going to be the day when Twilight Sparkle was coming to Canterlot High.

“Okay the plan is simple.” Sunset stated. "Either I tell Twilight the truth or act like the Sunset Shimmer she knows”

“Don’t worry, Sunset.  Whatever you choose, we'll be right beside you in case things go south.”  Rainbow Dash explained.

"And how exactly will you help?" Sunset asked back.

“I-I can be here for morale support if that is alright…” Fluttershy stammered. “Besides, you have become a better a person since Fall Formal.  We believe in you.”

That made Sunset Shimmer smile from ear to ear, though she refrained from showing it to Rainbow and Fluttershy as she led them through the halls.

Pretty soon, the three girls could hear Pinkie Pie and Twilight conversing in the hallways. The trio crept closer wanting to hear more from behind a line of lockers.

“But, it’s true, Twilight!” Pinkie hollered

“For your information, dimensional travel is currently impossible and the claim that there is world filled with copies of us in the form of horses is also impossible.  And I have judged that on evidence – not hunches – that Sunset Shimmer is more occupied with her new friends and new life at this school, and is willing to put me out of her life for good.” Twilight settled and started to walk past Pinkie, only to have Pinkie repaper by bursting out of a locker on her right side her.

“That’s just a conclusion you are making too soon!”  Pinkie shouted.

Twilight was wondering how Pinkie managed to appear out of nowhere. “How did you…”

“You don’t know that Sunset Shimmer hates you for sure!”

"So you're saying she does hate me and I don't know it?" Twilight clarified, unamused

"NO! Just...just go talk to her again!" Pinkie pleaded trying to make things better.

Twilight grumbled.   “Listen here; if I asked Sunset Shimmer anything, the first thing she will do is lie to me.  I heard she was jerk at this school for a while.  And because she ditched me for four months, I can clearly see that she probably still is one.”

“But she’s making lots and lots of friends now, including me!” Pinkie wailed, hugging herself.

“Oh really?  Is that her excuse for dumping someone who…thought…she…had…only one friend in the world?” Twilight refuted, not wanting to admit what she was true.

“Dumping you? Sunset Shimmer never even met you!” Pinkie snapped “Well, at least ‘this’ you…”

“This me?” Twilight asked.

“We’ll…there is that pony princess you….”

Twilight moaned so loud, eveyone in hallway hear her. “All you people in this school are CRAZY! First I get told I'm a magical pony princess that fought magical demons, then I feel as though everyone knows me as some popular celebrity, what’s next?”

From her hiding place, Sunset wanted to rush out and to tell Twilight the whole truth just so she could stop being negative Nelly. But she stayed behind the lockers, thinking if it would make any difference.

“Ms. Twilight Sparkle,” The voice of the Principal Luna silenced Twilight and Pinkie’s conversation. “Principal Celestia would like to see you.”

Then, a relieved Twilight was escorted by Principal Luna, away from Pinkie.  Dash, Fluttershy, and Sunset then walked up to Pinkie.

“I’m sorry Sunset Shimmer - I tried my best.” Pinkie mopped.

“And I don’t blame you or anyone.” Sunset assured.

"This Twilight sure is…different…” Rainbow Dash noticed. “It’s almost like she doesn't know a thing about friendship, other than social psychology. What an egghead.”

“Well…at least Principal Celestia will probably explain everything to her for us….”  Fluttershy assured.

Even if Principal Celestia did clear things up, Sunset felt that it was wrong to just push away this issue.  She wasn't sure why, but the more time passed with this Twilight feeling hateful at Sunset, the more her gut twisted.

“I have to…do this alone, girls,” Sunset settled. “I may not feel anything for this Twilight, but she certainly feels something for me…”

“Yeah…while you are at it, we'll just explain to everyone in the school the whole thing with the new Twilight Sparkle.” Rainbow Dash said.

“Here is your updated schedule, Twilight Sparkle. It’s always a pleasure to have an honorable student such as you attending Canterlot High.” Principal Celestia stated to Twilight, giving her the schedule.

There was almost no difference compared to the Twilight Sparkle from Equestria.  It twisted Celestia's gut to know such a thing.

Twilight thanked Celestia when she got the schedule but looked in disappointed once she read it “….I thought I signed up for three honors courses.  Why is there only one on my schedule?”

Princess Celestial clarified “You have completed all the coursework for honors classes at your School for Gifted Girls.  However, your file states that you have a huge downfall in social activity.”

Twilight didn’t mean to argue with the principal, but the words came out of her mouth anyway. “But I don’t have time for social activity.  The future of world needs smart and intelligent people to solve problems, not-”

“- one more friendly person?” Princess Celestia interrupted, half playful.

Not wanting to be anywhere near a bad first impression, Twilight Sparkle politely thanked Principal Celestia as she walked to the office door.

However, it suddenly flew open and whacked Twilight in the face, knocking her down.  Sunset Shimmer was on the other end.

“My door is always open but you should have knocked first, Shimmer.”  Celestia advised sternly.

“I’m sorry…” Sunset replied, also seeing that she accidently open the door on Twilight. She held out a hand to help her up but Twilight brushed it away.

“I need to you to show Twilight the truth.” Sunset stated to principal Celestia

“What do you mean ‘show me the truth’?”   Twilight asked, getting up.

Sunset said to Twilight “What everyone is saying the halls…they aren’t crazy Twilight.  They are right - in a sense. And I am not Sunset Shimmer. Not the one you know.”

“Please, tell me…is this…some kind of joke?” Twilight asked, ready to snap.

“I think both me and Sunset have a lot of explaining to do.” Celestia began, pulling up some camera recordings on her computer, taking place around the Fall Formal.

“So there is this other magical world that has copies of us, but in the form of ponies, known as Equestria. I am the Sunset Shimmer from that world ….” Sunset explained as a recording showed Sunset popping out from the portal at the base of the school statue years ago.  She was really perplexed with her new body and started to lose her balance and trip repeatedly.  A young male student saw her and came over to help her.

“…In Equestria, I never knew Twilight Sparkle as a longtime friend.  In fact I didn't know anything about her until now.  She followed me into this place after I stole the element of magic….”  Shimmer explained, with Twilight listening but still doubtful.

The camera recordings then displayed Twilight and her dog-companion also popping out of the portal four months ago, with both of them trying to understand the new environment and their new forms.

“…there was a Spike there, too?” Twilight wondered not wanting to believe this one bit but it seemed too farfetched to be a prank.

“Yes, and he actually talked if that means anything to you….” Sunset confirmed. “Principal Celestia, could you show other recordings of me and Twilight?”

Celestia did so, showing the pony-Twilight trying to adapt to high school lifestyle and acting a lot like a horse in certain situations.  Sunset Shimmer was also shown messing things up and trying to mud-sling Twilight in any way she could.

“S-So…what happened to my pony counterpart? Is she still here?” Twilight asked.

Celestia and Shimmer shook their heads. They presented all what had happened at Fall Formal, and what had happened to Shimmer’s human counterpart.

“The Shimmer you know now is in Equestria, for she stumbled into the portal during afterschool hours when no one was aware of it.  She never came out ever again.” Celestia Spoke “Had I know there was a portal standing right outside my school I would've gotten rid of it as soon as possible, avoiding all this trouble. But what has happened has happened. You two are dismissed to class.”

Celestia signed two late-passes for both of them and smiled, “And as I told your ‘other’ before, my door is always open.”

As Twilight and Shimmer exited Celestia’s office, Shimmer wasn’t sure if she should say anything more to Twilight.

“Hey, um…” Twilight began struggling to look at Sunset in the eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you…when we first met.  It…kind of feels funny to call you Sunset Shimmer, even though you aren’t the one I was thinking of.”

“And I’m sorry for a lot of things that I did to the other you…” Sunset confessed.

“Does the portal really open every thirty moons? Can we even set up a communication with…the other world?”  Twilight wondered, thinking of the other Sunset Shimmer.

Sunset took Twilight by the shoulder and headed down the busy hall. “You know, that Sunset might like life in Equestria.  Its peaceful, colorful, and never a boring moment.  Speaking of this other Sunset Shimmer, what was she like?”

“Well…”  Twilight began, thinking. “…We became friends because we were the best students in the school.  But the Sunset Shimmer I knew, she always wanted to be at the top.  She would sometimes drop her regular courses and pursue her own path.  Often times, I would be there to bring her back to school.”

“Kind of sounds like the old me…”  Sunset murmured to herself.  She was worried briefly about the other Sunset Shimmer, running lose in Equestria.  But then again, Princess Twilight and her friends would probably take care of her.

Unnoticed to the two of them, Flash Sentry and Applejack were behind them, seeing Sunset and Twilight converse further down the hallway.

“You sure you don’t want to introduce yourself, partner?” Applejack asked Flash.

“No, not yet.” Flash stated “I’m still trying to wrap this around my head. This Twilight isn't the same one I danced with. And I'm a little concerned that…she may have the same feelings for me as her princess counterpart.”

Applejack gave a chuckle “Oh, Flash…I’m sure she will find a special somebody other than you.  After all, why did you hook back up with, Sunset?”

Flash thought about it “Don't know why.  Other that that fact she has name similar to Twilight Sparkle.” Flash joked.

“Come to think about it...what would your pony counterpart be doing with Princess Twilight in Equestria? Horse'in around?” Applejack asked.

Flash grinned “Probably doing the same things that I am doing with Sunset Shimmer, here."

Back in Equestria……

“Look – they actually are talking!” Rarity told to the rest of the mane six, who were spying on Royal Guard Flash Sentry and Princess Twilight Sparkle from a thick bush.  She could actually see they were having a great time near a shining lake with a picnic of fresh food.

“Who knew she would get a coltfriend faster than you.” Applejack whispered to Rainbow Dash, who rolled her eyes.

“For an egghead, Twilight has got the guts to ask a royal guard out, even if she was so scared to just talk to a really nice one like Flash Sentry.” Rainbow stated.

“Oooooo! Hugs are good! Look!” Pinkie cheered, seeing the couple go into a hug.  Everyone crowded around Pinkie seeing the same picture.

They all broke down into ‘awww’s.  Then Fluttershy quietly asked “But where is that new student that Princess Celestia said was coming? It’s too bad she won’t get to see this…”

Rainbow Dash surged “Don’t know - the student wasn’t at the train station so we thought she was in Ponyville already. But it turns out she wasn’t there, too.”

In truth the student was actually at the edge of the Everfree forest.  Striding into the forest like a cloaked phantom with a hood to cover her face, she knew that the first steps to ultimate power were just ahead of her.

All she had to do was find the secrets that would help her and keep them hidden, until she was ready.  She was alien to this world, but through the help of others, she had adapted to her environment easily.  Now her ambitious engines had kicked in and it was time to be at the top.

Her name was Sunset Shimmer.  A day before the portal closed, she was a human who stumbled into this world by accident and was transformed into a unicorn.  The guards had taken her into the dudgeon, thinking she was an criminal that sneaked into the Crystal Castle.  Princess Celestia found out and released her from captivity, taking her as a private student shielded from the public eye, only to have her interact with a few other students in Canterlot.  Although it was too late for this Sunset Shimmer to go back into the world she originated in, she was eager to get started with proving herself in this world.

Some Flashbacks

A few years ago…

During the late afternoon, Flash Sentry and his band started to exit Canterlot High School after their first concert was over and their audience had left. However, Flash realized that he had forgotten his car keys back in the school.

Telling his friends to leave without him, he rushed back in and retrieved them from his locker.  Then he walked to the School’s front entrance with his guitar case in held in one hand and his keys in the other, intent on just heading straight for his car and then throwing himself on his bed.

Before he opened the glass doors, he could see something past them. It was faint glow, coming from the base of the statue of a horse in the courtyard.

At first, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.  Then he noticed they weren’t, as the glow became brighter and brighter until a humanoid figure phased out from the glowing base. Once the figure was out of the base completely, the glow stopped.

Flash dropped both his items and hid behind a trash can that was right next to the front doors. Peeking from his hiding spot, he could see a figure. It was a girl dressed like a high school jock. She wore black boots, a short skirt and a black leather jacket. Her hair was mix of red and yellow, blazing on top of and behind her orange head.

There seemed to be a look of ambition in the girl’s vibrant green eyes. She seemed to be smirking deviously as she stepped though the portal.

Cowering behind his cover, Flash was terrified, trying to tell himself this was all a dream.  When he edged out from the behind trash can again, the girl now seemed confused looking at herself and the new environment.

The odd part came when she started to walk.  It looked like she had never walked before, trying to gain control of her balance.  Flash flinched when he saw the girl fall and almost slam head first in the sidewalk, just to be saved by her hands.  Displeased with her balance problems, she slammed her right hand into the cement with all her strength.

That caused tears to swell up in her eyes, as she held her bruised hand to her chest.

Flash didn’t know if it was a good idea to approach this strange human, but he began to feel sorry for her. Besides, he had to get to his car in the parking lot anyway. So he slowly picked up his keys and his guitar case, checked his hair in the reflection of the glass doors and proceeded outside.

“Uh…Hi!” He called out to the girl.

The girl wildly turned its head to him, looking surprised. “Hello…..”.

Flash wondered “Uh…what brings you here….” ‘Wow, Flash…treating this girl like some alien’ He thought to himself.

The girl looked around then demanded “First, you tell me what the hay here is!”

“Hay?” Flash Sentry asked, raising an eyebrow up.

“Yeah – what, you don’t have hay here?” the girl asked.

“Oh, we have ‘Hay’ here.  It’s just that we say ‘what the heck’ here.” Flash Sentry explained, keeping his cool

“Fine. Why don’t you just tell me where ‘the heck’ is here is so I can get going….” The girl barked “…somewhere…”

“Here is Canterlot High, in Canterlot, a modern suburban neighborhood.” Flash explain holding his arms out to the school and the surrounding area “So what are you doing here?”

The girl got up and tried to walk towards Flash. She stopped when her legs started to wobble.

"I take it, you saw me come through that magical portal," She pointed with her thumb over her shoulder to the statue's base.

“Magical…portal?” Flash wondered “I thought that was just a normal statue.”

“How could you possibly not know about magic? Aren’t there any of your species than can do magic?” The girl asked.

“We…don’t have magic in this world. And none of us can do it except for some magicians with fancy special effects.” Flash replied

“Special effects, my hoof!” the girl scoffed “Your world must not realize the full potential of mag- ”

“Hoof?” Flash wondered.  The girl then looked at her hands and then at her legs, noticing she had no hooves.

“Oh…never mind, you.” The girl replied in casual voice turning around “I will be off to explore this foreign realm. See you aroun -  Oof!”

The girl tripped due to her flawed footing and slammed face first into the sidewalk. Flash raced to help her up but he shrugged him off.

“I’m fine.” The girl replied.  She bought her hand to her nose and realized it was bleeding.

“If you come with me I can give you place to stay for a while….and maybe some bandages.” Flash offered. “You don’t want to be sleeping on the streets – it gets very cold and you will go hungry.”

The girl stood up and tried to walk away from Flash only to trip again. Flash darted over and saved her from another injury, by quickly wrapping his arms around her.

“Hey, I can take you in…and…well…I can get you up to speed on things in this world.”  Flash insisted as his arms let go of the girl.

Dusting her shirt, the girl mumbled “Fine.”

Flash then guided her to her car, offering her the passenger seat by setting his guitar case in the back. The girl eyed the vehicle’s interior and exterior as some alien vessel before taking her seat.

The girl then jumped onto his seat with her hands on the seat in between legs which stuck out.  Flash didn’t know what to say about it but his look prompted the girl to fix her seating with her legs forward and her hands on her lap.

“Don’t forget the seat belt” Flash advised, buckling up.  The girl observed and took her buckle by her mouth.  As she stretched it, Flash stopped her and took the buckle out of her mouth.

“Try using your hand.”  Flash advised giving the buckle back to her.  The girl, feeling so humiliated gripped the buckle with her hand and clicked it into the slot.

“Great…I feel like I’m back in magic kindergarten.” The girl mumbled.

“Magic kindergarten?  We don’t have any magic here.”  Flash reminded

“But you said there were magicians!” The girl replied, feeling confused.

“Well there magic is not really….magic…it’s just special effects that is setup to look like its magic.” Flash explained.

"So how do you know about magic?!"  The girl demanded.

"Uhhh...make-believe stories...I guess..." Flash answered

“I take it you don’t have winged beings too?” Shimmer grumbled. Flash nodded.

“Gaah!” she moaned “It’s going to thirty moons before I can go back! And now I’m stuck with a bunch of bipedal….things…”

Flash wondered what she had meant by that but he felt tired. Starting the engine of his car he asked “So…do you have a name?”

The girl just looked away from him, studying her reflection in the car window.

Present day

Five Months after Equestria Girls………

Sunset Shimmer wrapped a self-knitted scarf around her neck, after putting on some thick winter boots and a violet waterproof jacket.  She took her mittens off the floor as she was walking to her door, where she knew someone was waiting.

Standing outside was her boyfriend, Flash Sentry.  His face was pink due to the fact he didn't have anything to cover it. A coat of frost was on his blue hair.

“R-r-ready to go?” the shivering blue-haired boy asked.

“Sure thing.” Sunset replied, giving him a warm kiss on the cheek.

As they hiked down from the apartment building and into the streets, the snow crunched to their steps and snow silently fell from the paper-white sky.

Sunset asked “How come it’s snowing in February? I thought it was end of winter.”

Flash explained “Sometimes there is snow in February but it is very rare. What is even, rarer is that it’s snowing near Valentines day.”

Sunset smiled, for she was familiar with the romantic human holiday “That’s kind of magical if you ask me.”

The next morning, Flash woke up and headed downstairs after getting dressed, ready to have his breakfast in the kitchen.

Surprisingly he found the girl there too, eating some toast with butter on it.  In fact, the slice of toast was hanging from her mouth as she munched it down.

The girl made eye contact with Flash but then broke it quickly spitting out her toast back on her plate. He could see her nose had healed, thanks to help of the ointment in his bathroom.

“You know, I can whip up some eggs if you would like.” Flash offered still trying to be kind.

The girl asked “You don’t think I know how a toaster works in Equestria?”

“Equestria? Is that where you came from?” Flash asked taking some blueberry yogurt from the fridge.

The girl didn’t say anything.

Flash then seated himself in front of the girl. “Listen, I know that you are angry and confused about this non-magical place. But you owe me for patching up your nose and helping you find a place to stay. All I ask is that you tell me what you are doing here.”

The girl grumbled, “I came here because…I wanted to prove something to somepony…”

“Somepony? Sorry, keep going…” Flash was starting to guess that the world this girl came from had a lot to do with horses.

“Basically I know I’m ready for…these advanced lessons that she was setting me up for.  But she wouldn't ever listen to me. So I ran away to see if I could somehow prove myself elsewhere. However, now I see that coming into this world was pointless – there is no magic, no form of power, nothing that can help me.”

Flash Sentry asked “So what was that thing about thirty moons?”

“The portal that you saw me come through opens every thirty moons so…”

Flash didn’t know how long thirty moons were, but it certainly sounded like a long time.

“….So I guess you are stuck here with me.” Flash finished.

The girl glared at him. “With you?”

After an awkward silence, the two just focused on their breakfast. The girl took the toast with her mouth and started to munch it again. However it fell out of her mouth as she was chewing.

“It would be easier if you used your hands and your mouth when you eat.” Flash informed.

“Should I just use my hands for everything?” the girl groaned.

“Pretty much – basically for stuff like carrying, holding, catching…” Flash explained.  "..well, definitely not kissing or licking or..."

"Are you implying something?" The girl sharply asked. Flash shook his head, trying to look innocent.

Sunset found the nearby woods almost similar to Everfree, despite the huge difference what kinds of creatures settled there. Pillars of falling snow formed from holes in the treetops.  There was no sign of a building or another soul. It was if she was in another world

Flash walked beside her in silence. Held his gloved hand up and spotted a squirrel climbing up a frozen tree. Flash reached into his pocket and pulled out some nuts.

“Remember that time I took you to petting zoo?” Flash asked as he fed the squirrel.

Sunset chuckled “Please don’t remind of time I tried to hold a conversation to a pony as I fed it – that was so embarrassing in front of everyone.”

Then she started to pat the squirrel's head, feeling its soft fur and warm fur. “I used to have fur like you,” she cooed.

“Is there a reason why you want to come to school with me?” Flash asked, feeling worried.  They had exchanged some things about the human world and Equestria after breakfast, and Flash was able to get the girl walking properly very quickly.

“It’s the only place where I may learn how to fit in your ‘human society’.” The girl stated. As the two walked inside, some of the students didn't bother to glance twice at the new girl and Flash Sentry together.

But the girl seemed to have taken interest in a lot of boys and girls being together, chatting, kissing, and holding hands. Flash could see the look in her eyes, and he could sense that she never had a boyfriend before..

Flash thought, ‘here goes nothing…’ and asked “So….did you ever fall in love with someone?”

The girl frowned. “Nope, I was too busy for that. It’s a waste of time.”

“Oh…” Flash replied, partly taken aback “I asked because…even though I attract many girls here as a musician, I never really have time for them, either. Or any feelings.”

The girl replied “Yet it surprises me that you aren't swarmed by any right now, unless you aren't as popular as you say you are.  Has any girl stood out to you?”

Flash said “Well…only one….but I still don’t even know her name…”

The girl open her mouth to add some comment to make fun of Flash’s cowardice, only to stop when she saw Flash smiling at her

“….Are you talking about me?” She asked. Flash shyly nodded.

Then Vice Principal Celestia walked up to the couple. “Good Morning, Flash Sentry. It’s nice to see you again. Who is your friend?”

Flash was about to introduce the new girl to his Principal, but the girl was shocked as shown with her pupils shrinking and her jaw-dropped mouth. “C-Celestia? How did you…”

“Excuse me? I do not believe we have met before.” Principal Celestia placed a hand on her chin, observing the girl. Flash did not know why, but he felt had to find a way to help her out of it.

“Oh, I was telling her all about how great you are, Principal, because…” Flash begun.

“I…am…going to enroll here At….uh…Canterlot High School!” the girl shouted happily at the top of her lungs with her hands in the air as if she was cheering.

Principal Celestia replied “Welcome to CHS then.  You and I will have to drop by my office to complete your request to enroll here. Excuse us, Flash.”

Flash nodded silently to the girl, indicating to go ahead with what the Principal asked.

On their way back, Sunset and Flash walked cautiously across the slippery sidewalks.  Not many cars were on the icy roads but many boys and girls played in the streets ice-skating, snowball fighting, or making snowmen. Meanwhile some adults tried to shovel off the snow into a pile far away from the road.

“Winter…man…” Sunset sighed happily as her hair was decorated with snowflakes and a white mist flowing from her mouth “I always loved winter in Equestria.  Where I lived, we could preserve the snow with are magic for a few days after it had ended.  As fillies we kept snowballs to play tricks on our friends.”

“Yeah…the snow…the weekends from school…the hot chocolate…” Flash added trailing off.

On their walk they passed by Canterlot High.  The school was planned to be open today but due to the large snowfall, it was cancelled.

“I can never get my eye of that new entrance we had built.” Flash said. “Feels as if that way lifetime ago”

“To me it always feels like it was yesterday.” Sunset said

“So, you say you were homeschooled until now?” Celestia noted, filling out the girl’s record on her computer.

“Yes,” the girl stated on the other side of the desk. So far, this Celestia wasn't the same Celestia that she ran away from, nor was she royalty. But she did seem to have a high rank and access to the various tools of this world that the girl had yet to learn about out.

Celestia continued to type not making any eye-contact. “Do you live with your parents?”

“…no…” The girl replied. Then realized that ‘yes’ may have been a better answer. But it was the truth, for back in Equestria she was in an orphanage until she became old enough to hold a part-time job and enroll in Princess Celestia’s School.

“No?  Where are they? How were you home-schooled then?” Celestia asked calmly and patiently.

Sunset took a quick breath in through her nose and put on her acting face “It’s hard to explain you see…”

“Do tell anyway…Sunset Shimmer…” Celestia started reading her name on the computer.

“Well…I lived with my aunt and uncle for long time, since my mom and dad didn't want me.  But eventually I grew tired of it and they let me go.  My uncle did not believe I could live my own life now, even though I couldn't drive nor had much money.  Then one night I arrived…in this neighborhood and met Flash Sentry.  I was in need of high school education so that’s why he directed me here, today.” Sunset lied.

Celestia followed her story well but to Shimmer she seemed to studying her for any deception.

Then she settled “Very well then Sunset,” Celestia finished filling out Sunset’s information. Sunset thought that this Celestia was too occupied to actually care if she was lying. Or maybe she knew too well...

“Here is your schedule of all your classes, as well as some syllabi that you need to read, sign, and give back by tomorrow morning.  I have also given you a forum, inviting you to partake in the princess competition within the winter-rap-dance-event that will happening in a week’s time.”

Sunset thanked Principal Celestia and walked out of her office, reflecting her smile.

“And remember, Sunset Shimmer, my door is always open.” Celestia said.

Just as soon as principal Celestia closed the door, Sunset Shimmer raced across the hall and out to the front courtyard.  There was the portal concealed within the base of the statue.

Placing her hand on the portal surface, she could only feel the solid reflective surface of the base.

“Good – no pursuit from Princess Celestia anytime soon…” She checked. But her business wasn't done just yet

Sunset concentrated on the portal, focusing to see if any images would come out. On the other side she saw herself as an alicorn who could rule Equestria.  If the portal could project that image in Equestria, what image would it project now?

Some colors started to swim but the image they formed was very blurry being sharpened very slowly.   Sunset could see a hallway of castle she had no knowledge of.  It was dark and a lone royal guard was patrolling these hallways.  But the image moved past these hallways into a dark room.  Its features were concealed by the darkness, but a faint shine could be seen on a bedside table.  It  was from a crown of some sorts, with a six-pronged magenta star in its center.  Somehow, Shimmer could feel an aura of immense power coming from the image of the crown….as if….it had so much magical power….

“An element of harmony…” Sunset mouthed. It had to be….it just had to be. If not, it was still something of great power.

Then the image shown human hands, clutching the crown off the bedside table. The image then moved away from the crown and towards the face of the human who was holding it.

Sunset soon could see that human was her, grinning with victory.

All of a sudden, the images vanished and all Sunset was looking at her own reflection.

“Are…you okay?” Asked Flash, from behind her. Sunset jumped and spun around. She just nodded, feeling awkward.  Flash took her to a nearby bench silently, thankful that no one was looking at them together.

“Hey…you miss your home, don't you?”  Flash asked.

“I didn’t like it that much…” Sunset denied

“You…seemed kind of desperate before I came along.”

Sunset turned away from him “No…I just….”

“Yes…you can tell me anything…” Flash assured.

“I just…need a friend.” Sunset said starting to give out crocodile tears. “I don't know anything about this world, or how it works, or….I…I’m just angry…and no matter where I am…I feel so alone….”

Flash then hugged Sunset.  This caused Sunset to blush red – she had never been hugged by a strange boy before. Nor she was prepared to be met with a hug so quick.

Flash spoke “Hey…I know we haven’t gotten off to a great start when we first met…but…I want to do everything I can to help you…”

“Really?” Sunset asked

“Really.” Flash confirmed looking into Sunset’s eyes.

For the first time as long as she could remember, Sunset wasn't thinking about power or Equestria.  She was now thinking about the boy before her. Her emerald eyes were looking back at his blue eyes….

The school bell rang and Flash cried, “Oh man! I’m late for music class!”  then he turned to Shimmer “What do you have for class?”

“Class?”

“Look under second period.”

Sunset pulled out her schedule and replied, “Same as you, Music…But I don’t even play an instrument on a regular basis! Wait – I didn't even have anything for any of my classes!”

“That’s okay…” Flash assured “The teachers will know you as a new student so I wouldn't worry now. We can go get supplies after school is over.”

Shimmer didn't know what to say…this boy was so…kind...gentle…he had offered her so much…

“Uh…Flash?” Sunset squeaked.

“Hmm?” Flash wondered.

“My name is…Sunset Shimmer…”

Flash just smiled warmly and held her by the hand and guided her back inside the school. “That is a beautiful name.”

Sunset’s eyes just sparkled all the way back into the school….she had a lot to learn about this world and looked forward to her time with Flash.  But in reality, her time at Canterlot High would keep her busy for another thirty moons until she was determined to embrace her destiny to get the Element of Harmony in her clutches.

‘After all if I'm going to be the ruler of Equestria when I get back, I might as well start practicing in this world’ she thought to herself

Flash and Sunset sat down on a school bench - That same one they sat on a few years ago - looking at the portal from where they sat. The snow dotted their hair, their coats, and their frostbitten faces.

“Tell me…do you ever miss Equestria?” Flash asked.

Sunset nodded “Yeah…sometimes I do.  I mean it’s good that I choose to settle down here…but deep down, I keep telling myself I want to go back.  It would be convenient if the portal to Equestria could be working twenty-four seven.”

“Mmmhhmm….” Flash said “We have come a long way from when we first met. It will be something to tell your mentor back home.”

They sat in silence for a while as the snow collected and the air grew colder.

“Flash…I’m torn….I really want to go back. I want to go back to Equestria and stay there.”  Sunset confessed.  “But….part of me can’t because…of my friends….and you….”

Flash seemed puzzled “What? Why? I thought you were happy here.”

Sunset nodded “Yes, but being human feels so different when you realize you are pony on the inside. I mean with humans, they forget a lot…and they seem to live without any magic – in some cases, the magic of friendship - going about their lives with each other until they leave each other. Then they forget you and what they did with you, as they forgot about Princess Twilight or even the fact we rebuilt the school as a whole.”

Flash looked at Sunset in the eyes, understanding what she had meant. He replied “I’m sorry, Sunset…I’m sorry that you have to feel this way as a human.”

“I didn't feel it all the time…” Sunset noted “…When I enrolled here, I was glad to be a human, looking all attractive and beautiful and popular…but now…when realize who you actually are, more than ever you want to be who are.”

“And that is?”

“A unicorn.  Somepony. That wants to just be back in a world of harmony.”

Flash said “I bet your ‘other’ in Equestria is feeling the same – maybe she one day wants to come back here and be a human….And maybe you could go back to Equestria when the portal opens for both of you.”

Sunset refuted, “But Flash, going back for good could mean breaking up with you.”

Flash gave his assuring smile “Maybe I could tag along then.”

“You have your band, your fame…and all your friends…., and your dream to be on a country tour.  Could you give all up that…and be in strange world, away from a place you always called home, living in a way that is considered different for a huge chunk of your life, if not all of it?”

Flash wanted to deny it but Sunset looked at him in the eye, asking for the truth.

“I…I…” Tears started to come to his eyes. “I…don’t want to say it, Sunset….but if letting you go makes you happy then….”

Shimmer put a finger to his mouth and held his hands in her lap “Shhh…I’m still here for another twenty five months – I won't be going soon. I just want to make sure that both of us are ready for it and strong when it happens…”

The couple stood up and began to walk back home, trying to put their previous thoughts out of mind as the snowflakes still drifted around them.

Short Spin-Off: Sunset Sitter

2/25/2012 NOTE: Apparently this is a section of a chapter that was planned to be published but I never felt that it would fit in with the themes of Sunset Shimmer: New Beginnings, which revolves around Sunset Shimmer righting wrongs and her relationship with Flash Sentry and her future.  However, I feel though you guys deserve something from me so here it is.

This was meant to have taken place eight years after Equestria Girls, during the summer. However it hasn't been looked over thoroughly so you'll run into errors here and there.

Thank you guys for being so patient and understanding.

*Squee*

Eight months after Equestria girls…

With the smoke alarm beeping nonstop, the scent of burnt food seeping through her door and the constant argue of ‘the freshman three’ in the kitchen, any plans for sleeping in through the summer morning was denied.

Clattering off her bed in order, Shimmer grumbled to herself about taking three graduated freshmen into her apparent for two nights.  Rarity had wanted Sweetie Belle to be with a ‘mature figure’ while she was filling out a long list of orders twenty-four/seven at the boutique.

Applebloom thought that Sweetie belle was having a summer sleepover at Sunset’s so she telephoned Scootaloo and both graduated freshmen met Sunset at her front door.

Not wanting to say no, Shimmer accepted offering the other two girls to bunk at her place, thinking it would be wonderful experience.

“Darn you, Sunset…” She grumbled to herself, throwing the bedroom door open.

The graduated freshman were all  bright-eyed and vibrant compared to sleepy Sunset still in her Pjs.  Behind them was a stove boiling out bubbles of liquefied oatmeal. Salt and sugar were spilled all over the floor.  Any cooking machine that could generate heat was coughing out puffs of smoke.  In the sink, a bowl of salad was placed under a waterfall of cold water on full blast.  lined long the counter were towers of dirty pots and pans.

“In the name of Celestia, what are you doing?!” Shimmer shouted, promoting all three turn away from the disaster and glanced at the angered teenager in front of them.

"Aw shucks, I knew she would be up before breakfast was ready." Applebloom pouted.

"Or cleaned up." Scootaloo grumbled, flour covering half her face.

Before Sunset could snap again she practiced the breathing technique Twilight showed her.

"Okay...just....why are you making a mess in my kitchen?"

"We were trying to see if we have found our talent in cooking and were so close!" Applebloom stated.

"It was going well...until I burned a quiche." Sweetie belle admitted her curly hair smelled like table salt.

"And when I tried to make pancakes they got stuck on the ceiling." Scootaloo added.  Sunset gazed up at the dozens of undone pancakes sticking on her ceiling.

"Is there....anything else I should know about?" Sunset asked, almost saying 'is there anything else you guys bucked up?'

"We'll this isn't messed up!" Applebloom presented a cereal bowl filled dark brown flakes floating in milk.

"Kid, anyone can pour a bowl of chocolate cereal. Even a pony can do it." Sunset scoffed.

"I know...." Applebloom sighed.

"Uh...that's not chocolate. That was supposed to be a golden wheat flakes cereal bar....I just put it in all in bowl when I.....burned it" Sweetie belle admitted shyly.

A pancake detached of the ceiling and landed on Sunset, sticking to her hair.

"Okay girls, while I appreciate the favor...." Sunset began. Her eyes shifted to the empty pantry and fridge. Her hands formed into a fists, causing the freshmen to take a step back.

"I think it would be best to go out and eat." Sunset finished, pulling the pancake gently from her her hair.

After filling up two garbage bags of wasted food, and throwing on her signature leather jacket and boots, Sunset dragged the kids to Ditzy’s Diner, the only restaurant within a block of Sunset’s apartment that was still serving out breakfast.

Once Sunset’s anger had cleared up she asked “So….excited for sophomore year?”

Sweetie Belle shrugged “I don’t know….I took all sorts of electives and participated in all the clubs this year.  But I wasn't good at anything. What's going to be different about next year?"

“Yeah...no matter what we do we always mess up and we have no idea how we're going to spend the rest of our lives.” Scootaloo added, some of her hashbrown patty in still in her mouth. “And you saw that cooking wasn't one of them.”

“Is there anything you haven't done?” Sunset asked

“Well there is sky gliding, rock climbing, Prom Princess, Leaf collecting...” Applebloom listed off, cutting her waffle into pieces.

“We were hoping you could give us some ideas on finding our talent.” Sweetie Belle said, mixing her Salad.

“Like?”

“Like…maybe helping you date Flash!” Scootaloo said

“I’ll pass.” Sunset injected.

“But we can help set up a romantic gazebo, just like we did for mah brother!” Applebloom added

“Except we found out that we were setting him up with the librarian….so…it was…awkward” Sweetie Belle began.

“Yeeeah….Thanks, but I don’t need help with Flash; we are having good time together already.” Sunset replied.  These girls had a reputation for causing all sorts of trouble. “How about entrepreneuring?”

“No way!” Applebloom grumbled “I tried doing that a hundred times!  First With apples.  And then with lemons! And then with pears!”

“What about...sports?” Shimmer suggested.

“Been there, done that.” Sweetie Belle sighed. “Even Fluttershy is better than me!”

“...uh...Math?” Shimmer shrugged.

“Lame.” Scootaloo commented, her food still in her mouth.

Applebloom eyed Sunset’s shirt “Wait...what's your special talent?”

Sunset scratched the back of her head. She had told Applebloom that a ponies’ special talent was a mark on her flank.   In fact, Sunset had told so many people this, yet none ever asked her what her special talent was until now.

Probably because according to an exclusive long-held tradition of Canterlot and nearby towns, somebody would have to wear an image representing his or her special talent somewhere on his or her clothing. This mark could be applied to their garments as soon as they discovered their talent and presented it to their family to test that talent.  Sometimes the mark even shown a little bit of personality of the person as well.  For example, Fluttershy has butterflies on as her mark because her talent is taking care of animals and because she could be considered as quiet as one. Cheerilee had smiling flowers because she her talent was causing wisdom to bloom out from students and because deep down she actually had a really cheerful personality.

“Well, many think it has to do with the sun.  But actually it has to do with emitting energy, power, and pride like the sun...or a really magical unicorn.  And it also displays many intense emotions that I go through sometimes.” Sunset explained

“Maybe…we can be magicians - Like that Trixie girl! And because Sunset knows magic she can help us!” Sweetie Belle suggested.  The others agreed.

But Sunset lowered her gaze and looked at her human hands “Not anymore girls….I am only a unicorn in Equestria.”

“Well, why don’t we help you get back to Equestria?” Sweetie Belle wondered

“And how would you get me back? The portal can't be opened manually,” Sunset said, rolling her eyes. “Anyway back to the topic on cutie marks…”

“Cutie mark?” Applebloom wondered.

“Whatever….” Sunset grumbled.

While the two worlds shared the same concept of a cutie mark they did not share the same name.

Its gets worse....

(keep in mind: Sunset = the girl we saw in EQG and Shimmer = the counterpart to the EQG one who is residing in Equestria)

Nine months after Equestria Girls, within the human world….

Seventeen-year old Sunset drove her motorcycle through the streets, feeling very ill about a tragedy that occurred not so long ago.

That tragedy still lingered in the cloudy sky of a coming summer storm and in the grayscale town around her.

“Dammit, you guys just had to…go…?” Sunset wept to herself.  Parking her motorbike along the sidewalk she removed her helmet. After throwing up the kickstand, she tried to think clearly about where things went so wrong.

It was two days ago.  Two people almost died.  Both were in the hospital. Both were Sunset’s best friends. Both….

An arc of lightning streaked across the sky, with thunder booming with it. Simultaneously, rain drops bombarded Sunset’s clothing, causing her to leave her motorcycle where it was, and rush into Smoothie Cube Corner.

Behind the counter were Mr. and Ms. Cake.  Both looked depressed too.

“Morning…” Sunset greeted, holding off on saying ‘good’ morning.

The Cakes both return the greeting. “How are you doing, dear?” Ms. Cake asked.

Sunset shrugged “A little…down...but I’m ready to work.”

Knowing what was bothering Sunset, Mr. Cake asked “How are they doing?”

“They aren’t coming out of the hospital any time soon.” Sunset noted. When no one said anything else, Sunset got into her uniform for the work day.

There weren't that many customers today and more customers would have helped distract Sunset.  She was almost done with her shift when a lady who covered herself in a long aqua rain coat strode up to the counter.

“Just a strawberry smoothie, please. Nothing else.” The lady requested, holding out a dollar and fifty cents.

Once Sunset had placed the smoothie in front of her cloaked customer, Sunset studied the customer’s pink face.

“Do I know you?” Sunset asked.

The lady replied “Of course you do.  I’m Ms. Amore Cadenza…The music teacher at the high school.”

Sunset nodded. “Ah, I remember…”

Cadenza, who usually addressed herself as ‘Cadence’, was Twilight Sparkle’s former babysitter, her brother’s fiancée, and principal Celestia’s niece.

“It was pleasure having you, Twilight, and Flash in my class before you all graduated from junior year.” Cadenza noted.

“Best first period I’ve had…” Added Sunset, still thinking of what had happened not so long ago. “Cadence….you’re not mad at me, are you? For what happened to Twilight?”

Cadenza paused and then placed a hand on arm “I know…I said some things that I shouldn't have said. In fact, getting mad doesn't help anyone. I’m sorry, Sunset.”

Tears started to surface from Sunset’s eyes, but she rubbed them away. “Had I know they were in a trouble sooner…maybe they wouldn't be is hospital for so long…”

Cadence hugged Sunset, as if giving the same sisterly hug she would have given Twilight.  “It’s okay Sunset…there is still a chance they can make it…You need to believe in it.”

Sunset didn’t want to turn to believing, even if it was the only solution left. To her, the best thing to do was trying to push it away and move on with life.

“Are you planning to retake music for senior year?” Cadence asked, wanting to move the conversation away from troubling thoughts.

Sunset knew that there was possibility she would be the only one to return out of Cadenza’s favorite three students.

“Yeah.” Sunset replied

Nine months after Equestria Girls, in Equestria….

“It’s true you don’t see many male alicorns…” Twilight said to Flash Sentry as they took a peaceful stroll down the gleaming Quartz Garden located within the Crystal Empire.

“Really?” Flash wondered “I always thought there were females only.”

Twilight chuckled “There are males, Flash, but they look so handsome, so eye-catching, and so stunning, that often they are mistaken for female alicorns.”

Flash tore off a crystal flower from a bush with his mouth and placed it behind Twilight’s ear, its blossom blooming next to the magenta jewel on her crown.

“Honestly, how does one become an alicorn?”

Twilight immediately answered “Well Flash, One does not ask for it. I was turned into one after I had earned it.  The same went for Cadence.”

“So what about Celestia and Luna?” Flash wondered.

“They were born as alicorns, the daughters of two entities called ‘Craigasus’ and ‘Fausticorn’. However, Celestia and Luna are really different compared to other alicorns. They both have lived quite a long time and have a higher level of magic than anypony in Equestria.”

“Talk about being born to rule….” Flash chuckled. “There’s also something else I wanted to ask.”

“Fire away.” Twilight replied

“Why did the Elements of Magic turn Sunset Shimmer into that demon? That doesn't seem…harmonic….”

Twilight thought about it for a moment “The Elements of Harmony…I really don’t know how or why the Element of Magic turned Sunset into that…thing.  All I know is that they reflect who we are inside, like Rarity is generous and Applejack is honest…”

“So Sunset was like some demon-figure on the inside. Yeah, I get that. But if the Elements of Harmony can’t do anything harmful to anyone… why did they harm her?”

Twilight seemed puzzled “What do you mean?”

“As you recall…she was just wicked for a few moments and then was on her knees the next.  It looks to me that the Element of Magic....or the Elements...did something to her.” Flash stated.

Twilight shifted an eyebrow “Why is this so interesting to you?”

“How the Elements of Harmony work is one of the great mysteries of Equestria.  And I’m just curious.” Flash admitted.

Twilight sighed, wanting to move the topic away from Sunset Shimmer.  “Maybe once the elements showed Sunset who she was on the inside, it broke her heart. And if I was Sunset…I’d be crying, too. I really wished I could’ve have convinced her to come back to Equestria.”

Flash looked away for a moment “Why did she stay?”

Twilight whispered “Sunset Shimmer was too angry to see that this was her only chance back home. I tried to reason to her, but she hated me for what I had done to her.”

Flash sighed “Just like my old drill sergeant told me, Sometimes we have to live with the choices we make without ever going-”

In mid-sentence, Flash’s keen eyes caught slight shudder in a nearby crystal bush.

“I’m…sure it’s just the wind, Flash.” Twilight remarked.

But Flash crept to it cautiously, his royal guard instincts taking over.  “This is not a trick of wind - Its poor infiltration.”

The guard marched over to the bush and jabbed his forehoof into it.

“Hey! Wha-” a familiar voice cried out, only to have its small owner plucked out of the bush by Flash and dropped in front of Twilight.

“Spike! Were you spying on us again?” Twilight shouted, irritated with her ‘number-one assistant’.

“What – No, of course not! I just got bored back at the castle and thought I might, uh, help out with...um….” Spike stated.

“…with Prince Shining Armor?” Flash Sentry interrogated.  Twilight’s brother had been caught snooping into her love life six times since Twilight and Flash started dating

“Yes - I mean no, no, no, no, no!” Spike panicked, until Flash held his hoof up.

“One no would have been enough.”  Flash murmured.

“I’m so sorry Flash. I didn’t think my brother would send Spike out to spy on me.” Twilight said, shooting spike a disappointed look.

“I’m not here to spy on you, Twilight! I’m here to tell you Shining Armor told me that Princess Celestia would like to speak you. C’mon.” Spike informed.

In the same room where Twilight and her friends had made plans to work on a crystal fair, Cadence,Luna, Celestia waited for Twilight and Shining Armor to arrive.

“Doctor Heartstrings say that using the portal is very risky, you highness.” Cadence uttered. “Recently, a test subject was electrocuted when attempting to go through the portal.”

Celestia looked away from outside window towards Cadence “We will not discuss about any matter regarding the portal until Twilight is here.”

“Well…we’re here now.” Shining stated, bringing Twilight, Flash, and Spike into the room.

Flash bid farewell to Twilight. “Meet me down at mirror room once you are done.”

“Will do,” Twilight replied. Shining hid his disgust for Sentry and stomped silently into a corner.

Seeing that she had gathered four of Equestria’s princesses and Spike around a table, Celestia announced:

“Welcome, my fellow princesses. Today I have to share a secret that I have been keeping from all of you…I have taken a private student for nine months, and her name is…Sunset Shimmer.”

That made everypony look at Celestia as if she suggested in giving up her throne to the griffins or changelings.

Twilight was the most bewildered out of all of them “How can that be possible?! Sunset Shimmer never came back through the portal.”

“Remember you said that in the world beyond the magic portal, there was human that mirrored everypony this world? This Sunset Shimmer was not my former student, but rather the one who originated from the human world.” Celestia explained.

“Why not send her back while the portal was still open?” Cadence asked.

Celestia shook her head “I presumed that if I took this Sunset Shimmer under my wing, I could educate her better that the Sunset Shimmer that was left in the human world.  However, the greed and the lust for power in Sunset, my ex-student, are also eminent in this  Sunset Shimmer, and Shimmer appears to be up to something not good.  Currently we have a team of expert scientists trying to open the portal manually so I may send her back home. Leaving Shimmer here could endanger all of Equestria.”

“Run the test again!” Lyra Heartstrings barked, bashing a smoking generator with her backleg.

“Sorry, ma’am.” Sunbeam noted, poking his head into a side compartment of the generator. “This machine has short circuited for good.”

A look of defeat hung on ten snouts of scientists and technicians in the magic mirror room. That was the last spare generator they had been given.

“Well, what in the hay are we going do?!” Lyra shouted “As a student from Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns and as head for Project Portal, I declare we should not give up!”

“No one has given up for nine months ma’am,” Seaspray added “But no matter how far we go in progress, we are always pushed back to the beginning. And our budget is lower that depths of Tartarus.”

Lyra slammed her head on the generator. Never had her colleagues seen her so upset.

“Maybe I can provide some help.”  Said a sly voice within the crowd. It was orange unicorn with fiery mane. None of scientists seemed to be familiar with her.

Lyra stomped up to the  unicorn, stopping inches from her snout. “Where did you come from?”

“What? You don’t recognize your old pal, Sunset Shimmer?”

Lyra was surprised that her former colleague had reappeared after three years but she wasn’t in mood to properly greet somepony, especially if it was Sunset Shimmer. “Whatever – are you here to help or gloat?”

“I’m here to help myself to your project.” Shimmer sneered. “Tell your co-workers to move all these old-fashioned computers off to the side.”

Lyra cocked an eyebrow “What’s…a computer? These are generators, seismographs and -”

“Just move it.” Shimmer demanded.

Knowing that if Shimmer had the potential to help greatly (the pompous mare was renowned as a high level unicorn, after all), Lyra directed her team members to disconnect all the equipment from the portal.  The crowd of curious scientists huddled behind Shimmer, who faced the Mirror.

The orange unicorn closed her eyes and concentrated on her magic, her horn glowing in an emerald aura.

Then the aura change from emerald to violet.  Sunset closed her eyes as a shadowy mist was leaking from her eyes

When she opened them, they were entirely black. Then she projected a bolt of magic from her horn at the mirror.  Upon impact, ripples were sent through the mirror and fingers of lighting started to creep out from it.

Then the mirror calmed down into the state of an inanimate object.  Sunset Shimmer’s horn also calmed down as well, a stream of black smoke rising up from it's tip.

Everypony, including Lyra, were blown away.

“How the hay did you do that?!” She shouted, her previous bitterness to Shimmer vanishing.

“Why during my absence, I looked for answers…” Shimmer boasted, her horn glowing again “…And I found the ones I was looking for.”

If Lyra’s attention hadn’t been distracted from Shimmer’s comment she would have noticed that the orange unicorn’s horn was glowing again

The magic from Shimmer's horn began to affect the other ponies in the room. First their eyes started to turn into a sick green.  Then they began to groan unconsciously.

“Good – Now get outta here and take these machines out too. And then hide yourselves.” Shimmer ordered.

Once all the ponies obeyed her command, Shimmer faced the mirror again.  “Ah…I see a beautiful person with power and potential trapped in the body of some horse with a magic wand on its head….”

She placed her hoof in the mirror to check if it was working. When her hoof went through and materialized into a hoof, it confirmed that her spell was a success.

“…who wasted her life as some pawn to the dull-minded and dogmatic in human world…who knew that she should ascend to something higher…”

The mirror soon displayed Shimmer on the crystal throne. Shimmer could see herself wings, Celetsia’s crown on her head, and was grinning from ear to ear.

“Hmmm, I like the way you think.” Shimmer replied to magic mirror and teleported herself away from the mirror room.

Little did Sunset Shimmer know that a Royal Guard had witnessed all that had happened from around a corner.

“Shimmer was seen in the Castle of the Royal Sisters on the day I sent her to spend time with you, Twilight. When Shimmer returned she was more powerful than any other pupil at the academy.”

“Dangerously powerful, if you ask me.” Cadence noted.

Luna nodded. “The Castle of the Royal Sisters holds many secrets that were meant remain buried and hidden from the face of Equestria.”

“What kinds of secrets?” Twilight asked.

Luna looked to Celestia and Celestia looked back at Luna.  It was if it was secret that had to be safeguarded and only revealed with each other’s permission.

“Dark Magic” Luna explained.  “A whole underground level of the Castle is dedicated to it. Back when the Castle was still functional, unicorns living in the Everfree were mastering it when we took over.”

“And they ended up using it for the wrong purposes.  One unicorn tried to launch an uprising with brainwashed Ursa majors.  Another one transformed his followers into a horde of draconequi for short time.  Somba was known to spread teachings of this magic before he took over the Crystal Empire.  Even Luna used it on herself and became Nightmare Moon. And since her return, we swore never to cast, reveal, or study deeper into such magic, for the safety of Equestria.” Celestia finished.

“What kinds of spells could this Sunset Shimmer have learned?” Spike asked.

“Various.” Celestia warned “Age-chaining, transformation, telekinesis on celestial bodies, mind control…

“Princess! Princess!” Flash Sentry cried, blasting through the doors, and galloping back into the chamber.

“Soldier. You are supposed to be guarding the mirror room.” Shining Armor informed, Causing Flash to skid to a halt.

“Uh…about that…I was on my way there, when-” Flash began nervously.

Shining continued “And you were not summoned to this court nor did you bow before the princesses.  Lieutenant Sentry, I am very-”

“Thank you, Shining.” Twilight interrupted, the softly spoke.  “Flash, what’s going on in the mirror room?”

“Doctor Heartstrings and her group just left with all the equipment. I asked why but they just moaned unconsciously with…these green eyes. And there was an orange unicorn that just opened the portal. With her magic!” Reported Flash.

“Was this an orange unicorn with a fiery mane and emerald eyes?” Celestia asked.

“Yes your majesty… ” Nodded Flash “…You know this mare?”

“Heck yeah, she does.  Or as you horses would say…Hey yeah…”

The voice of Sunset Shimmer echoed throughout the walls promoting everypony to search of the voice in wall and ceiling.

“Sunset Shimmer, Show yourself!” Luna boomed.

“Uh…what if I said ‘no?’  After all I ‘illegally immigrated’ into your world and I have started to cast and practice dark magic spells under your nose for years’. So why should I suck up to the laws of a foreign ruler?”

“Under her…nose? You mean a muzzle or a snout right?” Spike corrected.

“Yeah, whatever…anyway I would like you all present in throne room for my…coronation…” Shimmer chuckled.

“Let’s make haste and take extreme caution!” Ordered Celestia.  “Twilight – hide your crown in your room!”

When the group galloped to the throne room, Sunset Shimmer relaxed comfortably on the crystal throne.

“Sunset Shimmer, What is the meaning of this?”  Celestia demanded. “You were trusted!”

“You trusted me?  Then why did you plan on sending me back through the portal? Was it because I was a disappointment to you? Or because I’m stronger than you?” Shimmer shot back.  “You planned to ditch me as you had done with that other Sunset Shimmer! What kind of ruler does that?”

“That’s it – Dungeon or deathbed for you!”  Shining roared and charged at Shimmer.

A violet mist seeped from Shimmer’s glowing eyes. Her horn flashed between violet and emerald auras, like giving out a warning.  Shining kept galloping at her, but Sunset Shimmer unleashed a bolt from her horn, exploding upon hitting the stallion.

When the smoke cleared, all that was left was Shining’s personal guard’s pony saddle.

Everypony gasped. Tears escaped Cadence’s eyes.

Twilight gasped “Dark magic can do that!?”

“Of course, Twilight Sparkle. Have you lost your hope, already?”  Shimmer sneered triumphantly.

“Hey! It’s dark in here!”

It was Shining’s voice coming from the saddle. Soon, a small colt crawled out of the Saddle.  He looked like a miniature sized version of Shining.

“Oh, Shining you are alright!” Cadence cried.

“Of course I am!”  Huffed Shining, “Why do you all look surprised?”

“Shall I get a mirror for you, Sir?”  Flash Sentry snickered, unsure of what to say.  Spike was having trouble holding his laughter.

“Why?”  Shining wondered, noticing a change in his squeaky voice.

“…’Cause you turned into a kid when you should have been reduced to ashes!” Sunset Shimmer shouted.  Shining looked at himself, shocked by his own transformation.

Celestia whispered to Twilight, “Well…thats a relief; it looks like Shimmer hasn't master all of the spells properly. ”

“Oh well…who says I can’t try again?” Sunset stated, charging up another magical blast and aiming it at Shining.

“No!  My Shining!” Cadence cried, rushing forward, against Celestia’s orders.  Shimmer could see Cadence coming for her husband and blasted a magic beam right at her muzzle.

“Yeah! headshot!” Shimmer cheered.

Cadence, was thrown back to hooves of Twilight, Flash Sentry, Celestia, Luna, and Spike. She too was reduced to a filly, and was unconscious from the blast.  Shining armor galloped over and helped his spouse up.

“Two down and five to go.  Anypony care? If not, I would glad to take this Empire from your hooves without further commotion.” Shimmer taunted. She didn’t seem to care that she was getting the vaporizing spell wrong but would enjoy intimidating her adversaries with it.

Luna whispered into Flash’s ear.  “Tell the guard to begin civilian evacuation.”

Flash gave slight nod and ran in the opposite direction with Spike cowardly in tow behind him.  That only left three alicorn princesses facing the orange unicorn mare.

“Tsk, tsk…it’s hardly a challenge now.  But I’ll get this over with.”  Shimmer stepped off her throne and used her dark magic to envelope Celestia and Luna into changeling cocoons. The sisters didn’t have even a second to react.

Shimmer charged up another bolt from her horn “How would you like it if I sent your sister back to the moon and you to the sun, Celestia? You should consider seeing things from your sister's perspective!”

“No!” Twilight panicked.  She teleported behind Shimmer and began to wrestle with Shimmer’s horn with her forehoves. Doing so broke Shimmer’s concentration and the bolt of energy struck the ceiling, causing the cocoons holding the princesses to fall and break open.

Yet Twilight noticed that as soon as she gripped Shimmer’s horn, she was losing strength while Shimmer seemed to be getting stronger.

“What’s happening?” Twilight croaked, noticing a pair of wings growing from Sunset Shimmer’s back. She lost her grip and collapsed

“See for yourself, Princess.” Shimmer replied, magically throwing Twilight into a wall.

Recovering from the impact Twilight felt that something was missing on her back.  Then she could see that Shimmer had ‘absorbed’ her wings.

Defenseless, Twilight started to gallop back to Celestia and Luna only to have Sunset Shimmer teleport in front of her.

“Tell me, and I will let you live: Where are the Elements of Harmony?”  Sunset asked, her voice sounding demonic.

“What in the wide, wide world of Equestria makes you think I’ll just tell you?”   Twilight asked back.

Behind Shimmer, Luna was captured in the emerald glow of Shimmer’s magic and was reduced to a filly, then placed alongside with Shining and Cadence.

“Well this sucks.” Shining grumbled, upon seeing Luna.

“At least we aren’t babies.” Cadence replied.

Shimmer kept her emerald eyes fixed on Twilight.  In her demonic-voice, Shimmer shouted. “Tell me so that I may be the sole princess of Equestria! A Destiny that has yet to be fulfilled.”

Then Shimmer ensnared Twilight Sparkle in a violet aura. “And I’ll make an example of you to the rest of the world unless you decide to cooperate, Twilight!”

Just then, Celestia fired a beam of golden pure energy from her horn, which spiraled into Sunset and knocked the fiery alicorn away.  The Shimmer collided into the throne’s base and groaned in pain.

Seeing that Shimmer was knocked out for a while, Celestia helped Twilight up.

“I’m sorry I didn’t do that sooner, Twilight.  But I needed some time to charge enough energy to even have any effect on…whatever Shimmer is has become.  I shouldn't have taken this former-human as a student."

"With all due respect...Why did you?!" Twilight shouted, half-angry.

If Celestia wasn't a princess she would have cried in front of her student, or paused to give into the shame present at her. But the imposing alicorn stood over Twilight, ready to make a defense on her point.  " I wanted to give Sunset Shimmer another chance…”

Twilight stated “That’s not Sunset Shimmer – not the one you and I know who has changed. We need to stop this abomination!”

“But how?  The rest of the elements aren’t with us, Luna is too weak assist, and I can’t hold out on keeping Shimmer down forever.” Celestia warned.

“Then I should use the crown. It’s the only way!” Twilight stated.

“Are you willing to risk it? What if Shimmer gets a hold of it?” Celestia reminded.

Twilight looked between Shimmer and her mentor, sweat beading down her forehead “Well… I should do something! Otherwise, Sunset Shimmer has won...”

“Is that going to be problem?” Coughed the demonic-sounding, Sunset Shimmer that was starting to get back up.   Sunset was also using her magic to transform her height and size similar to Celestia's

Celestia commanded to Twilight “Get your crown! Now!”

Twilight and the foals were then teleported away from the throne room by Celestia.

Shimmer hissed, “You know all you can do is buy your number-one-student some time, Celestia.”

Celestia readied herself for an intense battle. “This isn’t the first time in my life that I have met my match, Shimmer – and it will never be the last.”

Twilight crashed snout first into the floor of her quarters, with Shining, Cadence, and Luna beside her.

“What was Princess Celestia thinking?!” colt-Shining asked.

"That if she can give me time to get my crown maybe we can-"

Twilight paused as she drew the crown from out a drawer.  To her surprise, the magenta jewel now was replaced with an emerald of a shimmering Sun. The emerald matched the color of Sunset Shimmer' eyes.

“What…happened to my crown?!” Twilight panicked.

Luna gasped “Twilight Sparkle….I…fear…that when Shimmer absorbed your alicorn wings, she also absorbed your link to your element.”

Twilight asked "Why don't I use it anyway? Sunset - the other Sunset, not Shimmer - still was able to use my element..." Twilight slowly levitated the crown onto her head....

"NO!" Luna warned, prompting Twilight to drop the crown onto the floor "Its' possible that Sunset was corrupted by the dark magic pulsing from the element when it did not recognize its bearer! Its not worth using it if we are going to lose you."

"There has to be a way we can use it! Its still an Element of Harmony!" Twilight refuted back at the indigo alicorn filly.

"That's the problem, Twilight. We can't use this Element of Magic or interfere with its link to Shimmer.  Me and Luna are foals. You're not alicorn. And Celestia has cut her link with it long ago." Cadence reminded, softly. "It's Shimmer's Element of Harmony now."

Twilight began to breathe rapidly “Who can else use it then!?”

Luna sighed. "No pony can."

Twilight dropped her crown on the floor, causing it to bounce lightly as if it hollow. She sat with her back against the bed and threw her hands to her face

“It’s over….” She sobbed in front of three foals looking up at her. “It’s…over…”

“C’mon, Twily!” Shining comforted "Its never over until you have a solution!”

Twilight remained in her position as she continued to cry.  She was crying just as hard as….

“Sunset….” Twilight whispered. She slowly raised her head and looked to her crown. Her eyes widened in realization.

Placing the crown in a bag, she whistled “Pony up, fillies! We are going into the human world!”

“What? Why?” Cadence wondered.

“To get someone who can help us!” Twilight declared. “Sunset Shimmer!”

“Well…I hate to say this but how do we know for sure Sunset will help us?” Shining asked.

“She will.” Twilight settled. “Equestria is her homeland. And this-” she magically floated the crown out of her bag "- is her Element!"

Twilight had expected some objections, yet the fillies in front of her remained silent.

“…so…no one is worried about it?”

“Just one thing, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna began “Equestria will need its Prince and Princesses, even if they aren't in their…prime. It is you alone who must take the crown back through the mirror.”

Though she wanted to stay too, Twilight nodded “I understand...”

“Very well.” Luna replied. “Cadence, Shining, and I will depart Canterlot with the help of the guard. Good luck Twilight Sparkle….”

Then Luna used her alicorn magic to teleport herself, Candace, and Shining away from the crystal Empire.

Twilight kept starring at where they had disappeared, suddenly amused at the thought of two alicorn fillies and unicorn colt at Canterlot Castle warning about the disaster yet to come.

Then Twilight raced out of her room without another thought , with The Element of Magic in her saddlebag.

The emptied halls of the Crystal Empire yawned before her, as she searched for the mirror room.

“Do you think it was the right idea to leave Twilight back there with that monster?”  Spike asked Flash Sentry who was directing crystal ponies to evacuate in different directions.

“No, but I’m trying not to think about it. I have orders.  You should have stayed with her if you wanted.” Flash Sentry stated, not paying his full attention to Spike.

“But this is a huge crisis! You saw what that monster-Sunset-Shimmer did do Shining Armor and Princess Cadence! What if Twilight is filly? Or worse? What if she exploded?! Or-or- ”

Flash Sentry violently put a hoof over Spike. “I. Am. Trying. Not. To….” Flash Sentry took a deep breath understanding that Spike was worried sick for Twilight as a son would be for his mother.

Flash hugged Spike and said “I doubt she can do anything too horrible to Twilight.”

Right there and then, an explosion flowered out of the Crystal Tower, causing everypony in the streets to pause and stare at the smoke rising from the side of the Tower.

A fiery-themed alicorn soared in the sky, announcing in a demonic voice. .“Citizens of the Crystal Empire!  I, Princess Shimmer, declare myself as the new queen of the Crystal Empire. All your previous princesses have fallen and abandoned you. BOW BEFORE ME!”

That sure left Spike in fear and in tears as he gripped Flash Sentry's. Meanwhile, panicked citizens began to either bow  gallop away from the tower.

In the midst of the chaos, Flash Sentry tugged a pegasus guard close to him.

“Sir?” The guard questioned.

“Soldier, tell the here guard to evacuate all what they can! Tell the superiors at Canterlot to send warnings to other areas of Equestria, and calls for help to every species. Make sure the rest of the Elements of Harmony and their bearers are safe and far away from that Alicorn. Clear?” barked Flash Sentry.

The guard shivered but gave a quick nod. “Y-y-yes, sir!”  And then he flew off.

Flash Sentry looked to the Crystal tower again.  This time, he could see a white alicorn zip out from the smoke and slam into Shimmer.  Pretty soon, the two Alicorns engaged another in an aerial fight, flying hurling bolts of magic faster than the eye could track

“C’mon Spike!”  Flash Sentry beckoned “We have to see if Twilight is safe!”

Spike wasted no time leaping on Flash’s back as he galloped in the opposite direction of crowd.

Twilight galloped down the hallway until she ended up at the doors to what she assumed was the mirror room.

The unicorn was prepared to open the doors with her magic but they were sealed shut with counter-spell.  Then Twilight tried pushing them open but they seemed locked.

“Oh sweet Celestia! What am I going to do?” Twilight worried, only to hear the sound of hooves galloping towards her.

Flash Sentry and Spike came over to them, surprised that twilight was missing her wings.

“Please tell me you have the keys to open these doors, Flash.” Twilight pleaded.

Flash looked through the hidden pockets on his saddle. “Dang! I must have dropped it!”

“Dropped them!?” Twilight shouted “How could you have dropped them!”

Flash sheepishly looked away “I….Uh…was in a hurry?”

“Great! Could this get any worse?!” Spike wailed.

In response to the dragon’s rhetorical question, Celestia crashed through the ceiling and into the hallway. Resting in front Twilight, Flash, and Spike.  She was still as stone and was hardly breathing. Her white coat was bruised, burned, and scarred.

“Princess Celestia?” Twilight cried.  No response from the white alicorn came.

Shimmer had glided through the hole in the ceiling, triumphant that Celestia seemed defeated for good and the ponies were cornered.

“Plot Twist: I knew all about Celestia’s plan to gather the princesses here after she left me back in Canterlot without notifying me.  So I followed her here….and now I will finish you off, Twilight Sparkle, once and for all if you don’t give me that crown!”

“Never!” Twilight stated, spreading out her legs and pointing her horn at Shimmer “Didn't you at least learn from the mistakes of the other Sunset Shimmer?”

Shimmer grinned “I’m no pathetic Sunset Snivel! I’m better!”

Lightning erupted from Shimmer’s horn and targeted Twilight’s position. Twilight rolled out of the way as the bolt blasted into the door.  It created a hole, with the magical mirror on intact on the other side.

Shimmer was about to strike again, yet Celestia had recovered and launched herself at Shimmer, pinning the fiery alicorn to the ground

“Princess Celestia –I need to get to Sunset Shimmer – the other Sunset! My link to element has been cut!” Twilight explained.

“Go, then! Go through the portal!” Celestia commanded, before Shimmer lunged a hoof at the white alicorn’s snout. Celestia would have given a thought about it but she was too busy to debate.

Flash, Twilight, and Spike jumped through the hole in the doors and approached the mirror.

Twilight took one look back, no wanting to leave her wounded mentor behind as she brawled with Shimmer.  However Flash and Spike dragged her in, before she could have a second thought.

In a flash, the two ponies the baby dragoon were gone.

Celestia took a glance at the portal, seeing that Twilight's small group had made it.  Then, in the midst of a horn-lock with Shimmer, she used her magic to blindly teleport the magic mirror away.

“Curses!” Shimmer shouted breaking the horn-block and backing away from Celestia, panting.

Celestia also panted as well, taking a moment to study Shimmer though her ruined mane. Shimmer definitely mirrored the alicorn in Sunset’s vision.  Only she was taller than Celestia and Luna.  And eyes were starting to turn black, holding only two emerald irises.

“I blindly teleported the mirror, Shimmer,” Celestia breathed. “Even if you torture me….you will never find it.”

“What about the other royals?!” Shimmer demanded.

Celestia panted “They are…far from you….warning Equestria about you…”

Shimmer didn’t say anything, using her magic to levitate an object from the rubble. It was Celestia’s crown.  “If there is one thing we can agree on, Celestia, Equestria must be ruled by a princess….”

Shimmer then used her magic to don disguise similar to Celestia’s, except she had created a few scars on her coat to display signs of battle.

Then in Celestia’s voice, Shimmer continued “…a princess who is powerful and will not let anything stand in her way of achieving her goals. A princess who dreams big.  Not a princess who holds herself or others back.”

Staring at the Celestia-disguised Shimmer before her, Celestia breathed. “…I...never held myself back from giving you a chance…otherwise I would have left you chained to that cell…”

“What a dear mentor….now it’s time to learn from that mistake…And I know just the place.” Shimmer said, giving a sly smile in her Celestia disguise.

Celestia was surrounded by violet magic aura, with Shimmer grinning back wickedly in her disguise.

The aura blinded her vision and Celestia could smell the scent of a forest around her.

When the aura cleared Celestia was standing within a tower of the Castle of the Royal Sisters, overlooking the vast frontier of the Everfree Forest.

Celestia began to move toward the window to take one look at Equestria in its peaceful state.  The soft click of a chain prompted her to see that her hooves were restrained to the ground.  Her wings were bound tightly to her sides by an elastic material and her horn was coated in dark crystals.

“Wherever you are Twilight… please hurry….” Celestia begged before collapsing into exhaustion onto the stone floor.

The Search for Sunset

In human world….

“Flash, just take it easy …” Spike stated, in his dog-like form.

Flash Sentry was in confusion as he eyed every bit of his appearance. His guard armor was, much to his dismay, gone and replaced with jeans, a jacket, and shirt.

Twilight was still wearing her flashy pink and white prom dress from the Fall Formal and carried a backpack that held the crown in it.

“…there is no reason to fear anything. We just came through the portal” Twilight assured Flash. “Now, our first step is locating Sunset Shimmer. She is the only unicorn I know of that can make use of the Element of Magic.”

“What if we run into one of our human counterparts?” Flash asked.

“Then we’ll just have to hope we can avoid making a scene.”  Twilight replied, walking in the direction of the newly constructed entrance to Canterlot High.

“Well…Sunset sure was busy.” Twilight mumbled, seeing the new look of school.

As she walked on her two legs towards the doors, Flash and Spike clawed behind her.

“Uh…technically humans aren’t classified as animals. So you have to walk on two legs. At least I think that’s why.” Spike specified.

“Like This?” Flash asked, standing up slowly and taking a few steps forward.  A few steps later and he seemed to not have any balancing issues at all.

However, it started raining and the Equestrians rushed over to the front entrance. Twilight struggled to open the door, only to find it locked.

“Okay… any ideas?” Twilight wondered.

Flash though about it “We could….break down the doors with our backlegs”

“Uh no.” Twilight shook her head “Damage here takes longer to repair than damage in Equestria, where you have magic and wings. So breaking anything will cause people to be very mad.”

“How else are going to get in?” Spike asked.

Just then a car pulled up infront of the school, its lights fixed on the two human and the dog. The driver stepped out of the car and rushed towards them in a drenched rain coat.

“Friend of yours?” Flash asked.

When the figure approached them, she had stunned look on her face, as though she were in dream. Her wise purple eyes winded, and her slalom color lips dropped upon seeing them. A few streaks of lavender, pink, and blonde hair trailed down her face.

Twilight shook her head. “No…But I can guess who this is….”

The figure then looked as if she was going to start crying tears of joy.

“T-twilight…? Flash…?”

The down pour started to increase, its sound ceasing distant traffic sounds.  As rhythm of the drops increased and grew louder, The Equestrians seemed to be taken back by this strange woman who appeared before them.

“Uh….we never met before…” Twilight stated.

“I’m….Ms. Cadenza?  How…. How come you don’t remember me?  And…why are you two out of hospital so soon?” She asked her eyes drifting between Flash and Twilight.  Flash looked to Twilight, feeling completely confused. Twilight was biting her lip unsure of what to say.

Spike stepped forward. “Uh…hey…Principal Cadence? How goes the….schooling?”

Cadence observed the talking dog in front of her wide-eyed.

“Oh….I think I’m dreaming…” Cadenza said, clutching her head. Twilight was a little sorry that her first encounter with the Candace of this world was treated as alien.

“We’re real.” Flash stated. “Do you have a means of unlocking these doors? As you can see we are all cold.”

Candenza nodded, and her shivering hand reached into her pocket and pulled out a key chain with several keys and a tiny crystal heart wrapped around it.

“Thanks….” Twilight replied.

“Y-yes Twilight…” Cadenza stammered, opening the door. “I’m just surprised to see you…alive and in your prom dress….I’m not dreaming am I?”

Once inside the familiar hallway, Twilight said “Cadence, We’ll explain all of this once I can start looking for Sunset Shimmer.”

“Sunset Shimmer?”  Cadenza stated “She…she was just ending her shift Smoothie Cube Corer.  She should be home soon….Why?”

Twilight warped an arm around the tall pink human and whispered to her “Cadenza. Let me clear things up; first off, how much do you know about Equestria?”

“Equestria?” Cadenza wondered “Sunset said something about it…being a world filled with ponies.”

“So you've heard of it?” Twilight asked.

Cadence nodded “I found out about it…from you and several others…”

‘Not me…not exactly’ Twilight thought

“And second...you know the base of that statue?  That is a portal to Equestria. In there, everyone has pony counterparts that mirror their personality. I’m the Twilight from that world.  And assuming you know about her friend’s too, I have bought the Spike and Flash Sentry from that world because Equestria in danger. We need to find Shimmer because Equestria is in danger…”

After Twilight explained non-stop for a few minutes longer, Cadence nodded, showing her understanding

“Good.  Now…where can I find Sunset’s house?” Twilight asked

But Cadenza was silently starring back at Twilight.

“Cadence?”

“S-sorry…” Cadenza replied, wiping a tear from your eye.  “It’s just that…. You and Flash nearly died.”

“Died?!” Echoed Flash and Twilight

Cadence sat down the hallway floor and explained “Recently…the Twilight…and Flash of this world….they…they…they were caught in collision.  Help….didn’t come in time. Sunset said she was just talking to them as soon as they crashed.”

“A crash with what?” Flash asked.

“Human transports; a collision occurs when two or more high speed human transports get into a dangerous wreck.  I read in it the library.”  Twilight explained “Sorry to interrupt Cadence.”

“It’s alright….anyway, Sunset…I don’t know why she didn’t call earlier…but maybe it was because she was shocked.  I couldn’t speak to anyone for a long time…because…I always kept thinking of those two…”

Twilight rested a hand on Cadence’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for your loss Cadenza. But I need to find Sunset Shimmer.”

“Of…of…course…” Cadenza stated “You may want to try asking Mr. and Ms. Cake down at Sugar cube corner. I don’t know where she lives.”

“Okay…let’s roll.”  Flash declared.

Just then Twilight tugged the collar of Flash’s jacket.  “Wait a minute, Hedgehog. I need change out of this prom dress if we are going to be walking out in the rain.”

Hedgehog was one of Twilight’s many nicknames for Flash.

“And maybe some wigs so people don’t think you’re the same Twilight and Flash that are in the hospital.” Spike added.

The human Cadence stood up and said in confident voice “I know just the place for a quick chance of clothes.”

Cadence knocked lightly on the principal’s office.

“Come in.” Said a familiar voice.

“Is that…” Flash wondered.

“Yeah…Celestia is a Principal.  It makes sense when you think about it.” Spike informed.

The door open and Celestia appeared.  At first she was astonished to see Cadence with the company of Twilight and Flash and Spike, but then her expression calmed down and gave a small smile.

“Let me guess: From Equestria?”

“Yeah.” Flash nodded.

“Then welcome back, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”  Principal Celestia greeted giving a quick bow.

“Just Twilight, please.” Twilight requested entering the office with everyone else in tow.  “I’m just going to be here briefly because Flash and I…need…”

“A disguise?” Celestia asked. “Well if you two would follow me I might have something in the cabinet.”

The white human guided the two Equestrians and spike over to closet.  Inside was an unorganized set of sneakers, jackets, and all sorts of clothing.

“This cabinet is for people who underdress themselves or need a spare jacket or gloves.  Take your pick.”

“Alright -” Flash stated, being to take off his jacket and his shirt. However, Twilight stopped him when he was pulling up his shirt revealing part his worked-out thorax.

“Remember what I said about human nakedness?” Twilight stated.  Her cheeks were blushing red as her hands gripped Flash’s shirt from behind.

“Oh…sorrry….is.” Flash stated, now blushing intensely too with Twilight arms on her shoulder and reaching across his shirt. “I’ll…just pick first.”

Meanwhile, Spike was observing Ms. Cadenza take off her rain jacket.   The human curves had revealed some sense of beauty built into them and her multi-colored hair gleamed when it was partly wet.  Those traits made Spike think more fondly of Rarity.

“Its…so…weird….that two days after I that collision, I speak with Sunset Shimmer for the first time and meet the same Equestrians of two people that just got hurt. I just wish it was sunny day rather than a summer storm.” Cadence murmured.

“Sunset Shimmer is taking it hard, huh?” Spike asked.

Cadence nodded to the talking dog before “Yes….She is….a little harder than most of us…”

“What are you and Celestia doing here anyway? Isn’t the school closed for the summer?” Spike asked.

“We’re here to help create new schedules for students next year.” Cadence sighed “It’s a really tiring process.”

Cadence drove Spike, Twilight, and Flash to Smoothie Cube Corner.  The downpour had increased and Twilight was worried that the town could flood.

“Okay so I’ll park the car and you can go in and ask one of the employees about where Shimmer lives.” Cadenza advised.

“Got it,” replied Twilight Sparkle. who was wearing a green shirt, thin jeans, and a black rain jacket. Flash picked out a brown trench coat and a baseball hat.

“I’m staying here.” Spike said from the shotgun seat. “No point in going out in the cold.”

So Twilight and Flash ran from Cadenza’s car and through the doors of Smoothie Cube Corner.

Behind the counter stood Pinkie, serving out smoothies to the rest of her friends. Despite most of them having their backs turned to Twilight, she could assume that they were sadden from how they were hunch over and avoiding eye contact.

“Excuse me….” Twilight began nervously.

Then all five faces spun around and looked at Twilight and Flash. They gazed back as though they were in a dream.

“Woah…these humans are your friends?” Flash stated.

“Yup.” Twilight replied.

“Is that…” Rarity began, tears swelling up in her eyes.

“It’s sure is!” Applejack grinned.

A smile was starting to widen across Pinkie’s face.

“TWILIGHT! AND FLASH!  YOU’RE NOT DEAD!” Pinkie shouted jumping over the counter and hugging them tightly.

“Can’t…breath!” Flash wheezed , his face turning paler that it already was from Pinkie’s hug.

“Pinkie, I’m…the Princess Twilight.”  Twilight explained to the human.

Pinkie released her hug, shocked. “You’re…what?!”

It took longer than expected to explain, but Twilight told the five high school students that she and Flash were the Equestrian counterparts. She also told them about Sunset’s human counterpart taking over Equestria and that she needed to know where Sunset Shimmer was.

“How come you’re looking for her only?” Dash asked.

Twilight pulled The Element of Magic from her back pack. “Shimmer casted a spell on it so that the element is linked to her only.” She said, indicating to emerald sun-shaped jewel on the crown “But that should mean that Sunset is able to use it, too. Now where is she?”

The girls looked at each other and then at Twilight.

“Well?” Twilight asked Impatient.

“If you want to talk to Sunset, she’s in the girls bathroom.  She was about to leave Smoothie Cube Corner but then we came along and wanted to turn that frown of her’s upside down….but she just kept crying.” Pinkie stated.

“I’ll…I’ll speak to her.” Twilight said. “In the meantime Flash, Could you stay here with these humans?”

“Uh…Yes ma’am….” Flash replied, though he did seem nervous about standing in front of five alien girls while Twilight walked into the bathroom.  She made sure that icon of the person on it was a dress-donning figure before proceeding.

“Well, howdy Flash. Name’s Applejack, though I bet you met my pony counterpart.” Applejack said, tipping her hat.

Flash took and a deep breath and gave his signature Smile.  “Yeah...you know you aren’t much different form your pony counterpart.  In fact none of you are.”

“Well, you’re quite a handsome young gentle man….like your human counterpart.” Rarity flirted.

“Well, I am Twilight’s royal guard.”

“Twilight’s royal guard?” Grinned Rainbow Dash “You watch her even when she sleeps?”

Flash blushed “No, no way….I…that’s… creepy. I would lose my job.”

Fluttershy squeaked “If you don’t mind me asking…but is Twilight your girlfriend?”

“Uh…special somepony specifically.” Flash stated, blushing.

The girls launched into pack of awes and giggles.

Back in Cadenza’s car, Spike’s caught the faintest giggle from Rarity’s voice.

Twilight entered the girls’ bathroom, which didn’t look much different from the school bathroom, except all the wall and floor tiles were white.

Just like the room of an asylum for mentally insane ponies Twilight thought wildly.

A rectangular stall took up both corners of the bathroom, leaving only gaps below and above the stall wall.  Twilight could see that there were two feet within the stall.  The Equestrian would’ve crawled under the stall just to see if it was Sunset, were it not for the sniffling coming from behind the door.

“Uh…Sunset?” Twilight asked.

The sniffing stopped.  And then there was silence.

“Who’s there?” asked Sunset’s voice. It reminded Twilight of sunset crying in the ditch after she faced the Magic of Friendship.

“It’s Twilight! Princess Twilight Sparkle. I need to speak with you.” Twilight called out.

Sunset Shimmer remained in her stall.  Twilight could hear some more whimpering on the other end.

“Sunset…Equestria needs you!” Twilight begged “Your double Sunset Shimmer is planning to take over Equestria! You are the only pony who can use the Element of Magic!”

Just then Twilight could hear the stall door being unlocked from the inside.  When it opened Twilight was surprised to find Shimmer angered.  Tears still streaked down her face.  Her eyes were red with hate and shame.

“Get….LOST!” Sunset yelled and slammed the stall door in Twilight’s face.  A few moments later, Twilight continued to hear Shimmer’s weeping.

“Sunset?” Twilight called out, yet the weeping continued.

Taking a deep breath and putting on stern face, Twilight opened the unlocked stall door.  She found Sunset on the side huddled up into a ball on top of a toilet seat.

Twilight edged closer and gently said “Sunset…what’s wrong?”

Then Sunset jumped off her toilet seat and rammed a fist into the fist of Twilight’s face.   Then the angry teenager pinned Twilight to floor.

The she began to choke Twilight, both crying and shouting “I said I was sorry WHY DO YOU COMING BACK TO ME!?!”

Sunset’s bitten fingernails dig further into Twilight neck.   Meanwhile, Twilight eyes widened in confusion and shock, as if Princess Shimmer in Equestria seemed to be just a bad dream compared to this one.

“YOU’RE DEAD AND YOU SHOULD STAY DEAD!” Sunset shouted her squeeze on Twilight’s neck tighten and tightening.

Everyone heard screams coming from the girl’s bathroom.

“Sunset has been on the edge lately…but it can’t be anything bad….I think…” Pinkie said.

Flash eyed the door as he continued to hear more screams, but before he could march forward. Rainbow tugged him back.

“Dude…that’s a girl’s bathroom.” Rainbow said.

“I’m a guard.  I can pull rank on norm.” Flash sternly replied, shrugging off Rainbow’s arm.

Then Ms. Cadenza came through the front doors of Smoothie Cube Corner, carrying Spike in her arms.

“Hello girls.” Ms. Cadenza greeted, showing a smile of shiny, tiny teeth.

And “Helloooo, Rarity” Spike smirked.

All the girls were suddenly attracted to Spike, distracting them from Flash, who started to march towards the bathrooms again.

“What…are you talking about!?” Twilight gasped

“LEAVE ME ALONE!” Sunset shouted now trying to punch Twilight in the face with one hand while griping The Equestrian’s neck with the other.

“Sun-GAH-Sunset!” Twilight screeched, as Sunset delivered blows to her eyes, nose, and mouth. Twilight could feel a tooth start to loosen and tear leaking from her eyes.

Sunset continued to throw punches but her punches slowed and eventually the orange human gave into tears again.

Just then, Flash came out of nowhere and yanked Sunset off of Twilight. As he did so, he rammed Sunset into the wall and pinned her arms by her shoulders painfully.

“What is this about, Huh?!” Flash shouted into Sunset’s face, his voice ringing in Sunset’s ears.   His red face and narrowed eyes signaled that his combative instincts taking over. Sunset continued to weep as Flash kept bombarded sunset with the same questions.

“WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO HER!?” Flash shouted.

“I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I…I didn’t mean to…” Sunset cried, looking away from Flash.

“FOR CELESTIA’S SAKE WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!”

“I said I’m sorry! I love you Flash!” Sunset cried.

Twilight was terrified to see Flash like this acting like this.  She had never seen him in action – or enraged. But what did Sunset mean exactly by ‘loving Flash’?

Standing up, Twilight shouted “Flash, Leave her alone! She’s just confused.”

Twilight could have pulled her rank on Flash’s by saying ‘that’s an order’.  But she didn’t dare do such a thing on a close friend.

Flash, upon hearing Twilight’s word, loosened his grip on Sunset. Sunset trebled and collapsed in front of Flash’s knees.

“I’m sorry! I….I didn’t…mean to kill…you…please…..Forgive me….” Sunset wept.

Flash just stared back her, unsure of how to help the human before him.

Twilight came over and helped Sunset up gently onto her knees. As Twilight gave a soft smile, some of the bruises on face started to ache.

“Is….is everything alright in there, Princess?” Applejack asked from outside.

A few minutes later Sunset was resting her aching head on the counter with Cadenza massaging it.

“So …Flash and Twilight…have come here because they needed my help….” Sunset said.  She hadn’t said a word after the brawl in the bathroom until now.

“Yes.” Cadenza replied.

“I…I can’t believe it….” Sunset replied “…its…I...all this is….”

“Hush now,” Cadenza said. “When you’re ready you can tell everyone.  But no matter what we still love you.”

Sunset sniffled “Why should I love me?”

On the other side of the dining room, Flash was silently applying ointment to Twilight’s face.  The five rest of the humans huddled around them silently.

“I’m…sorry you had to see me like that Twilight.” Flash admitted.

“You should say sorry to Sunset. We need her help and she has been through something rough recently.” Twilight replied.

Flash’s angered eyes looked away from Twilight.  His coated hands rested on both of Twilight’s cheeks when he said. “Understood.”

“Look at me Flash – please tell me it’s still you.”

Flash forced himself to look up and relaxed his expression, but didn’t smile. He gave a nod.

Twilight gave Flash a quick kiss on his head, whispering “Thank you for at least protecting me.”

Flash shrugged “It’s okay…but what did Sunset mean that she loved me?”

“She loves the other you, Duh!” Pinkie Pie stated happily. She pulled up a picture of Flash and Sunset kissing in front of the new entrance. “See! You two make such an adorable couple….even though she is pony too.”

Flash eyed the picture curiously “Am I really that…”

“Handsome? Yes.” Twilight chimed.

“I was gonna say pale. It’s as if the guy is color of butter.” Flash stated, joking.

Pinkie scrolled through her pictures some more. “Oh and here is a funny picture with your counterpart Twilight and her new ‘First and Friend Forever.’”

The next picture was of an angry Twilight and Sunset in a Spa room glaring back at the viewers, with Pinkie’s thumb partially obscured the picture.

“That’s me?” Twilight guessed, pointing her human counterpart.

“Yup…but she has two left brains, apparently.”  Pinkie stated. She flipped her phone through some more pictures.

“And these the war-scars Sunset got.” The picture was of Sunset, playfully modeling in bikini, her back to the viewers. Two faint scars were between the top and bottom of her suit

Twilight blushed in embarrassment as Flash was gazing at the picture, though he couldn’t comprehend meaning behind the wet and bare human curves were trying to convey.

“You guys have wars here?” Flash looked around.  The area seemed as peaceful as Equestria.

“I was over exaggerating” Pinkie explained. “But she got those cuts through a crazy story.”

Meanwhile Rarity cuddled Spike in her arms, “So do tell me more what the situation is like back at your home.”

“Are those little ponies in trouble?” Fluttershy asked.

“Don’t worry, ponies always get into trouble in Equestria.” Spike shrugged.

“So why come to me?”

The one who had asked was Sunset Shimmer, who approached her friends and the Equestrians. Her cheeks were damp and her eyes were sore, almost glowing in red.

Twilight pulled out the crown from her back pack. “This here is why Sunset.”

Sunset eyed the crown which had emerald jewel of shimmering sun. “I don’t follow.”

“This is the Element of Magic.  Your double has taken over the crystal empire and has cut my link to my element and my Alicorn powers. Equestria is in peril.”

Sunset sighed “That’s nothing new.”

“Well, it appears that you may be the only other pony who can use this Element of Harmony!” Twilight shirked. She even surprised that Sunset hadn’t considered that she had her very own element now.

Sunset crossed her arms and through for moment.

“Why should I bother?”

“What?” Twilight, Spike, and Flash gasped.

“I said why should I bother? Princess Celestia ditched me, while ‘principal’ Celestia gave me a second chance. Besides, Celestia is the most power being in all of Equestria so why not go to her first?”

“Well, Celestia just took a huge beating as we were running for our lives. And most of royals have been weakened by Shimmer’s power.” Flash explained.

Sunset paused for a moment then stated. “I’m not going back.”

“Could we bribe you with gems? At least two?” Spike offered

Sunset shook her head.

“Sunset what has gotten into you?” Rarity demanded.

“Is this because of what happened Twilight and Flash?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“NO!” Sunset shouted, taking everyone by surprise.

“I…I mean…not really….” Sunset shrugged.

“Is there something we should know about?” Rainbow Dash said.

Sunset looked away and said “Yes.”

Cadenza pulled a chair up and Sunset began her tale.

“Recently, Flash and I have been having a rough time with our relationship.  Two days ago I called up Flash on my cellphone because my motor bike was being repaired and I was done with my afternoon shift, wanting a ride home. I was surprised to find Twilight – the other Twilight – on the receiving end….”

“Time out; What’s a ‘cell’-phone?” Flash asked.  Sunset flipped out her phone as an example and snapped a picture of Flash.

Sunset continued “Anyway, Twilight said that she and Flash were driving back from a presentation at the city institution.  I was furious with Twilight because it seemed that Flash was going out with her and not me.  So I got angry, I just….lost it…”

“Sunset…why?” Cadenza wondered. “You were as calm as Fluttershy months ago.  Why were you so mad?”

“In February, I told Flash I was thinking about going back to Equestria. And a few months later, Twilight tells me she has hidden feelings for Flash. So I thought Flash had hooked up with another girl, probably one that reminded him of some’pony’ who he had a liking for.” Sunset explained glaring at Princess Twilight and Royal Guard Flash.

“You can’t judge what people like, Sunset.” Flash replied.

Sunset eyes narrowed at Flash “You’re not my Flash Sentry.  You don’t know what it meant to me when we got together again.”

“Anyway back to the story.” Applejack interrupted, not wanting another fight to start up.

Sunset inhaled and continued “So, Twilight and I have this back and forth argument on whether or not Flash is in love with me. Then Flash snatches the phone from Twilight and begins to shout at me for being so naïve. Then we start yelling over the phone for a few seconds. Gosh we were so mad, that Flash forgot that he was driving his car on the highway….”

“…the crash…” Twilight realized

“…I heard a honk over the phone.  Next was a crash and Twilight was screaming at the top of her lungs. Almost as if the tragedy was in slow motion, I could hear it all – the screams, the glass shattering, the tires screeching, the air bags releasing, Flash’s car spinning out of control….and then more crashes and horns blaring came. I heard it all over the phone.  Then I….I…I didn’t hear another thing for a while.  I was in shock over what I had just done.  I thought I had killed my two best friends.  A half an hour passed before I called up everyone else and told them what had happened.  Then my motor cycle was repaired and I drove to the crash scene.  Flash’s wrecked car was in the center of a smoking wreck. An ambulance was carrying away the wounded and the police, including Officer Shining Armor, were there to direct people away from the scene.  While I was there I managed to pick up Flash’s phone before the Police could get a hold of it...”

Within her leather jacket, Sunset pulled out a black and blue smartphone with cracked screen.

“..I…I didn’t want to be held accountable for another crime. Once I came home…I…I wanted to see if Flash really was in love with Twilight….when I pulled up some notes on his phone, Flash stated that he was making plans – surprise plans – to cancel going on a country tour with his band and spend time with me wherever I went, even into Equestria. I couldn’t forgive myself after that.  I cried….and…everyone seemed to be so depressed for the next few days. It was hard trying to talk to Twilight’s family.  Gosh, they were so proud of her….and Flash was loved by everyone in town for his good nature….They kept coming back in my dreams demanding to know why I put them in that crash.  I couldn’t sleep without going through several nightmares.

"But nobody could guess why they got into that crash….until, Officer Shining came into my apartment yesterday to ask me why I had known about the crash beforehand. So I lied to him that Twilight was talking to me on the phone and our conversation had nothing to with Flash’s driving. In return, he told me that Flash and Twilight had a slim chance to live.  Then I decided to visit them after work….today…”

Sunset finished her story. With Twilight and the others glancing back in in several emotions. Even Cadenza seemed to be shaken.

Without another word, Sunset snatched the bag from Twilight and proceeded out the door.

“Sunset why-”

Sunset glared at Twilight “It’s my element  - I might as well keep the darn thing from turning me into a monster. I’ll be at the magic mirror within an hour.”

Sunset then headed for the door.  Fluttershy tried to give a hug but Sunset brushed her away, without looking at her.

Outside in the pouring rain, The Equestrian and humans could see Sunset make her way to her motorcycle and drive down the street.

In Equestria….

Shimmer grumbled in disappointment as she flew across the Crystal Empire.  Her plan to instantly conquer the rest of Equestria failed in the first few seconds.

She had teleported back to Canterlot, only to find herself surrounded by the royal guard.  Despite efforts to brush past them and overrule protocols, Shimmer made it only as far as to the castle entrance where her horn was stuck by a bolt from coming from Luna, who was hiding behind a cloud

Despite the bolt being powerless (since it came from alicorn filly), it disrupted Sunset’s magic, causing her Celestia-disguise to flicker away. Then somepony with the guard’s to shout “Crepuscular!” and surrounded her with spears.

However, before anypony could make another move, Shimmer had flown off, leaving a trail of sparks within the air. Looking back to Canterlot, none had dared to pursue her.

But now the element of surprise was no longer on Shimmer’s side. She was also furious that she didn’t put up a fight before retreating. Or that she had retreated at all, since going back would make her look like she had forgotten to fight.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid HORSES!” Shimmer roared, causing her mane to explode out white-hot sparks.

Also what was the point in calling her ‘Crepuscular?’ was it a new name for her?  A new title?

‘Princess Crepusculara Shimmer…’ the fiery alicorn thought to herself. ‘A new beginning for me. And the new beginning for the new era of Equestria led by me!’

“Hi!”

Crepusculara Shimmer found a grey pegasus with blonde mane flying behind her blazing tail. She was tugging a bag filled with letters by her neck and chest and her mail cap was about to fall off.

“Can you direct me to the Crystal Empire?” The pegsus asked.

“Sod off, Blondie.” Crepusculara Shimmer scoffed and resumed her course.

“‘Crepuscular’ is a code word the guard made in the event that some pony is impersonating as the royals, ma’am.”  Colt-Shining Armor explained to Luna.  He was the one who was shouted out Crepuscular within the group of guards. Even as a clot he too wanted to participate.

“That’s quite a mouthful.” Luna replied, flying down from her cloud and into the circle of Shining’s royal guards

“With all due respect, ‘Spy’ is too obvious…ma’am” Shining grinned.

“Back to the situation at hoof, all we know is that Shimmer has taken over the Crystal Empire...and that Celestia has been defeated.” Luna stated

“So now what?” One of the guards asked..

“I will look for my sister….And Shining Armor will have you guard Twilight’s friends.” Luna ordered, taking flight.

Shining rushed over to her “Your highness, you’ll need-”

“No escort is needed. Not for what will happen next” Luna replied as she continued to fly.

“But Shimmer is still out there!” Shining argued.

Luna kept flying away, whispering “Exactly.”

Shimmer saw that the mail pegasus was still trailing behind her, only now as hypnotized slave.

“Muuuuuuuffiiiiins…Muuuuuffiiiiins….Muuuuffiiiins…”

“Shut up, please.” Shimmer groaned.  But the mail pegsus kept moaning ‘muffins.’

Finally Shimmer couldn’t take it anymore and fired up a blast from her horn.  It hit the mail pegasus in the chest, sending her mail bag and cap flying down into the ground below.

Hovering in mid-air was a grey muffin, sprinkled with blonde dots.

“Well…I guess this day calls for a glorious feast.” Shimmer chimed, bringing the muffin over to her.  She opened he fangs and-

“SUNSET SHIMMER!”

A twinkling indigo blur zipped right across Shimmer’s eyes, snatching the muffin out of her reach.

Home and Away (edited)

(The part where Sunset visit's Flash Twilight has largely been edited. Take a look at it plz.)

The indigo blurr vanished as quickly as it had appeared.  Crepusculara Shimmer only had enough time to look around before she was put under the shade of a thundercloud.

“Surprise….” Luna hissed.

Crepusculara Shimmer zipped away before a lightning bolt could strike her.  Seeing that Luna was on the cloud above her, Shimmer roared in anger and unintentionally let out a stream of emerald flame from her mouth.

The flame vaporized the cloud, but Luna teleported to cloud father away. The alicorn filly stuck out her tongue at Crepusculara Shimmer.

“Why you pathetic little brat!” Crepusculara Shimmer cursed and zipped towards Luna.

Luna was expecting it. As a result she teleported to another cloud just as Crepusculara was going to get her hooves on Luna.

The process repeated with Luna teleported to another cloud as Crepusculara was in reach of getting her hooves on Luna. As a result, Crepusculara grew tired and fled off in frustration.

Luna chased after Crepusculara, magically towing the muffin that was the messenger pony beside her.

Despite the fact that Crepusculara Shimmer was obvious a larger alicorn, she only had the flying experience for about half a day, even though she bested Celestia due to fact that Celestia wasn't a a natural-born fighter by resorting to magic, in Shimmer would revert to her more powerful dark magic.  Luna had been flying for an untold amount of years and her size as filly gave her an edge Crepusculara Shimmer lacked; low air resistance.

However, Crepusculara realized she was running away from Luna again.  In response, the demonic alicorn spun around and launched emerald fireballs from her horn and mouth.  Luna dodged past them as they stuck nearby clouds, condensing them into water.

Luna then forcefully rammed herself into Crepusculara’s chest, pounding the demonic alicorn with her tiny hooves.  Annoyed, Crepusculara’s fangs caught Luna by her starry mane and flung her into the sky, where she flew a long distance away before she crashed through several clouds until she landed onto one of them.

Then Crepusculara hovered over Luna as she was recovering.  After a deep inhale, she exhaled out a jet of green fire at Luna.  Luna recovered and threw up a shield around her, the muffin, and the cloud, but at she did so, the heat began to dizzy her.

Crepusculara ceased her fire breathing, allowing some time to catch her breath. As for Luna, she collapsed on the cloud panting and soaked in sweat.

seeing her chance, Crepusculara Shimmer brought forth thunder clouds nearby and levitated them over Luna and the muffin.  Then she enhanced them with dark magic, causing the clouds to appear almost pitch-black.  Shimmer circled them over Luna like sharks in the sea.

“It would be quite a shock Luna to your subjects that you perished…You should have known better than to come after me.” Crepusculara hissed before causing the clouds to emit a deep rumbles and sloshing sounds.  She bought the swirling circle of clouds together, into one big thunder cloud (roughly the size of an airship). Below it, Luna bought the muffin close and braced for terrible thing whatever came out.

Instead, a milky brown substance poured from the cloud and drenched Luna and the muffin in sticky, sweet smelling-

“Chocolate?!” Crepusculara screeched, banging her head with her hooves “That was supposed be to electrified water, or - or acid, or even lava! WHY CAN’T I GET THIS HORSE MAGIC RIGHT?”

In response, Luna used her magic to cease the chocolate rainfall (which she would enjoy telling Discord about, once he got back from exploring the dragon lands) and magically wedged an irritated Shimmer between two large clouds.  Luna started to roll the clouds and Shimmer together, like hay-dough being coated over a solid object.  Shimmer struggled to break free and fought to use her magic, but her concentration was broken as she was being mashed up by the clouds.

“Successful dark magic….requires more than just reading it…” Luna, still drenched in chocolate, lecture to Shimmer. The tiny blue alicorn began to levitate the dark chocolate cloud over the thrashing restrained Crepusculara Shimmer.

“It requires purpose, feelings, and will. It’s how I was able to master it and turn into Nightmare Moon.  And a thousand years later, the dark magic in me grew more.” Luna explained “And it seems as if you have a long way to go.”

Luna then shut her eyes, causing a black mist to leak from her eyelids.  Crepucuslara creased struggling and glanced at the enormous and imposing cloud above her.

A tiny drop of liquid landed on her nose. Then it started to sizzle though it, causing Crepucuslara to whimper in pain.  Another drop landed in her fiery mane, bringing the same kind of pain with too. And another landed on her hoof, followed by many more.

“While you are still alive, tell me…” Luna hissed after opening her eyes “…Is acid rain like this back at your home?”

In the human world….

Parking her motorbike in the soaking rain, Sunset snatched the back and raced into the front doors, crashing into a man in a wheelchair as she opened then.

"Ow - er, I mean sorry." Sunset said, backing away and opening the door for the man.  The man grunted, pulled his over his head, and went about his business, leaving Shimmer with slight-throbbing ankles.

After making getting directions for Twilight and Flash's room, Sunset rushed to their rooms.  She was feeling very uncomfortable that she was here, and thought she would've have been so had she asked the gang, or at least Ms. Cadenza, to come along.

Then she began to question why in fact she was here. The last time she caused a whole lot of trouble - during fall formal - she had walked to get as far away as possible from this place. Now that the portal was open she couldn't figure out why she was still here.

But before she could think anything else a doctor in hallway approached her.

"Hello -  I assume you are Sunset Shimmer?"

"Y-yes - how did you know?" Sunset wondered.

"You were listed in my daughter's, Minutte's, yearbooks as the most popular kid in class for three years - quite a tiebreaker. You must have been loved by everyone." The doctor admitted.

Sunset smirked, knowing this doctor had no clue "Yeah....say do you know where Twilight and Flash are?"

"Just the one on your right - though in a few minutes visitor hours will end"

Sunset frowned, not believing her bad luck. She then made her way into enter Flash and Twilight's room.

Both were resting, but signs of pain were eminent. Their skin color had changed into various shades of white and purple from blood loss and bruises. Flash’s right arm was mummified in a cast and had bandage on his chin. A gash dug into Twilight’s left cheek - not a deep one though – and was a centimeter below her eye. Intravenous tubes were taped to their arms and their stomachs elevated and descended.  On both their beds a notice on the front in big letters saying "DO NOT DISTURB"

Sunset stared at what she had caused. She wished she could wake either of them...but maybe they weren't in a condition to hear her.

"Hey...guys...." Sunset began "I'm....sorry I..."

Just as she was talking, Sunset heard a faint hum. It was coming from her backpack.

Opening it she found out that the Element of Magic (My element of magic, she thought) was humming and glowing in emerald.

The world around her was gone in blinding light.

********

Sunset found herself shaking wondering what the element had done to her, though she seemed unharmed and unchanged.

But she wasn't in the hospital anymore - infact she found herself floating in a sea of stars and emerald nebulas. Sunset was thinking she was falling through space, but instead she was just standing on some invisible ground.

"That crown obviously hates me..." Sunset murmured, gazing in the infinite directions of stars and nebulas.

Then footsteps echoed in front of Sunset Shimmer.  Out of the darkness, Flash sentry appeared in a hospital gown with the same cuts and bruises Sunset had see him with before, with the exception of cast over one of his arms. In his arms he was carrying an Twilight, who was in similar state, yet motionless.

The only feature that Flash had  present to Sunset just now were his eyes with painful bloodshot eyes – the kind one earns from crying or staring at a computer screen for hours.

Sunset and Flash’s gazes never left each other’s eyes.  Not in love, but in conflict.

“So…What…is this about….Huh?” Flash wheezed.  Shimmer caught the sight of a chipped tooth in his mouth.

Sunset turned away from as if she wanted this dream to end.

"I...I don't know where I am..." Sunset stuttered. Her hands went up her head and found out her crown was missing.

"Its...something that has to do with the crown...And....are you real?" Sunset asked Flash

"Of course I -" Flash coughed violently a couple times, almost dropping Twilight "- I am real...am I dreaming?!"

"The crown...it...had something to do with this." Sunset explained. “I'll tell you more, but I want to say that I’m sor-”

“I know that.” Flash barked. “You were sorry for the damage to the school, sorry for wanting to leave to Equestria. I’m sure you’re sorry that you put us in that wreck.”

Sunset reached into her pocket, and was relieved when she found Flash’s cracked phone. She then walked over to Flash.  Hopefully if this was some way to communicate with Flash, she would take every advantage of it before she left.

“I am….because I didn't know any better until now.” Sunset sighed, unsure of what else to say. “Flash…I…”

Flash frowned at the sight of his cracked phone - Sunset was worried that he had remembered using it before the crash. He placed Twilight on the ground and slapped it out of Sunset's hand.  The phone then dropped past their feet into the infinite space of stars below them.

“Hey!” Sunset exclaimed “What’s wrong with you?” She didn't mean to shout but she was surprised that the invisible ground She, Flash, and Twilight were standing on would let inanimate objects fall

Not answering, Flash turned his back to Sunset and lifted Twilight to his arms as he stomped away from Sunset.

“Oh, so I guess you do like Twilight, Since I'm a pony with a horn on my head.” Sunset sneered, as she picked up the phone “Is that too awkward for you, you hotshot?!”

“Stow it!” Flash groaned spinning around. "Did you even think about  where I was? Or that I was driving!"

"Nope - was I supposed to think of everything?" Sunset sneered. "I came to say I was sorry - but now that you are alive and awake-"

"-I'm asleep. And in the hospital.  Twilight here is in a Coma." Flash argued.

"How do you know that?" Sunset asked.

"I survived the crash - I was alive and in shock but Twilight...her eyes were closed. We were was trapped and bleeding until the paramedics came and the tore both of us of the car. Before the gave me sedative to allow me to rest, the last thing I insisted was that Twilight and I get the same room, because I wanted to know if she was alive or not. And NONE OF THAT has to do with our relationship other than- "

Then Flash started to cough again. Raising his free arm to his mouth he gave out three violent coughs. He began to lose his footing and almost dropped Twilight had Sunset not rushed rushed over and stabilized him.

“Sun...Sunset....” Flash’s voice was becoming dry and his eyes began to water. Together he and Sunset placed Twilight on the invisible ground  and sat beside her.

Taking deep breath, Sunset placed a hand on Flash's shoulders saying “Take it easy, alright? I know I didn’t help our relationship and Twilight should have never gotten involved.  Now that I think about, you were the only thing that always came back to help me, after I first came into this world, after Fall Formal, but not after now.  I understand why; it’s because I had hurt you so bad, that I had almost lost you. In fact maybe I have.”

Flash listened, He eyes looking back at Sunset weakly.

“Now here is what I have to say. I’m not only sorry….” Sunset began “…I’m ashamed of myself.  Everything was going alright after Fall Formal.  You, I, and my friends have made it alright.  Then I blew it.  I put you and Twilight into that crash.  I thought you loved her more than me.  I thought you would trade a former jerk for…a really kind egghead.  Or a pony for a human. It just made me feel left out. Rejected. Different. Sure, I was angry, but I should’ve talked it over with you…elsewhere.”

Flash didn’t say anything starring back at Shimmer blankly. Then she hugged Sunset and Sunset hugged back.

“Also….today…Princess Twilight came back.”

“Did she?  It ’hasn't even been a full year.” Flashed stated, a tiny smile appearing on his lips. Sunset tried her best to ignore it.

“Well…not on a cheerful occasion. There is good news and bad news. Equestria is under attack and I’m going back.”

“And the good news?” Flash asked.

“No that’s the good news, since it’s a trip back home for me.  The bad news is that it’s the other Sunset Shimmer – Twilight’s friend at S.F.G.G. – that I’ll be put up against.”

Flash murmured “So what's there to worry?"

"She's a bad-flank. And I think she about to take over Equestria." Sunet replied.  All this time she hadn't noticed the mood of the conversation changed as she explained away the situation back in the land of Harmony.

“Anyway the fact is that This Sunset Shimmer has now rid Twilight of her link to Element of Harmony and now she is planning to take over Equestria and….”

Flash gave a confused look.

“Ughhh…” Sunset growled,“Remember that magical-tiara-crown-thingy that had a magenta star on it?  Apparently now Twilight is not connected to it.  My double now is - which means that if she get to it she can use it to it fullest potential without messing up like me. However, that could mean I could use it too….safely….”

“And not turn into a wicked demon that plans to militarize the school for an invasion on a land of ponies and harmony?” Flash added, smiling

Sunset gave a sheepish looked. “Actually…..I lost my mind when I was controlled by that demon. It wasn’t part of my original plan…well, to take over only the school...”

“Back on the subject, so you are going back to Equestria?” Flash asked.

“Yes…” Sunset replied.

Flash eyes met Sunset’s. “I hope the journey goes well for you then.”

Sunset gazed back, thinking she knew what Flash meant. “I’ll come back.”

Flash sighed happily “For me? Nah….You always wanted to go home since Fall Formal. And I won't be out of the hospital for a while.”

“Maybe I could use the crown to heal you or…or…” Sunset stated, but Flash shook his head.

“This world really can’t take another magical indecent from that crown. People will start asking questions about me and you.”

Sunset pleaded “Still…I…maybe...I could leave the portal open. We could see each other whenever we want.”

"It really is open 24/7 now? How?" Flash wondered

"I...didn't ask..." Sunset shrugged

Flash reach out to with his own arms pulled Sunset closer “I think…now is the time to take the chance while you still can. Even without me. Principle Celestia would want that portal closed for good now.  But I'll still think fondly of you, wherever you are.”

Before she could sniff or cry, Sunset kissed Flash.  She tasted a sour feel of his arid saliva and dry mouth, cutting off from the air and smelling a scent of his blood.

As they did, the sea of stars around them grew brighter and brighter....

"Goodbye..." Flash whispered

************

Sunset opened her eyes and found herself back in the hospital room. The crown was back on her head, and Flash and Twilight were still resting on their beds.

"Wow...did that happen?" Sunset asked, though she wasn't sure what exactly had happened.

Rubbing her tired eyes from the dreamy dimension she was in, she walked over to Flash.  Now Flash seemed to almost be smiling. It was kind of smile he would give after a kiss.

Sunset felt it was sign that she had actually spoken to Flash.

"Goodbye..." Sunset whispered.

Then a doctor came inside, the same one that directed Sunset into the room. "Visiting hours are over, Sunset."

"Oh..okay..." Sunset sighed, disappointed that she didn't get to talk to both of them. However, Twilight probably couldn't hear her anyway.

"And...what with the crown? It's quite lovely." The doctor said.

Sunset's face turned red as she stuffed the crown back into the backpack. Thankfully it wasn't glowing or humming. Though she promised to ask Princess Twilight how it sent into that other dimension once she had the time to do so.

"Nothing- Nothing...it was gift from Flash." She lied.

Crepusculara would not stop screaming in pain as the acid dug into her coat and internal organs, burned her hair, and rotted away pieces of her flesh, revealing the bare bone underneath. A drop landed into her eye and began to painfully dissolve it

“MAKE ITS STOP!” Crepuscular cried.

And Luna did. Once the acid rainfall came to an end, Crepusculara could see some of skin and hair start to slowly grown back.  In turn the pain was reduced, yet she as still trapped in her cud-prison, under the acid raincloud

“Where…is…my…sister?” Filly Luna growled from a safe distance on her cloud, with muffin still by her side.

Shimmer didn’t speak, unwilling to give into the alicorn filly before her.

“You want another sixty seconds under acid rain?” Luna barked.

“I thought you were…harmonic…” Crepusculara groaned. “And why the heck was I able to put up fight with Celestia and but not her….little…sister?”

However, Crepusculara knew Luna tapped into dark magic in order to bring the acid rain and be able to put up a fight, as indicated by the mist seeping from Luna eyes when she casted a spell on the cloud.  However, Luna wasn’t willing to admit it.

“Wow Luna – You think Celestia would be proud of you after what you did to me?” Crepuslara snickered

“Where is my sister….human?” Luna hissed.  A drop of acid was released from the cloud above Crepusculara and burned though her left ear.

“Ow – okay! The castle – The castle in the Everfree forest! Now get me outta here!”

Luna remained on her cloud, eyeing Shimmer for a while.

“How do know what you speak isn’t a lie?” Luan interrogated.

“Because it the only abandoned place I know of? Or maybe I sent her there because it was first place I had in mind where she wouldn’t interfere with my plans.”

“What are your plans?” Luna barked.

“What are you talking about, o’ pretty princess of the night?” Crepusculara mocked “It’s conquering and making other lives miserable! It’s obvious! Now how many questions do I have to answer before you can free me?

Instead of answering, Luna levitated the Muffin beside her and headed off in the opposite direction of Shimmer.

“Goodbye for now….human.” Luna sneered as she flew

“YOU’LL REGRET THIS!” The demonic alicorn shouted.

Luna halted in mid-flight.  Then she concentrated her magic on the cloud Shimmer was trapped in.

“No.” Luna announced not turning back to Shimmer. “I’ll do this for the best of Equestria. Even I must revert to dark magic or make you suffer. And when I do so, what is there to regret?”

Just then Crepusculara Shimmer could feel her cloud-like prison beginning to harden.  Its color went from a bright white to a solid grey.  The hollow inside of the cloud was filled up with a rough and rigid inside forming around her.

Pretty soon, Crepusculara Shimmer could see that Luna had turned the cloud that trapped her into a rock.

When Luna ceased her levitation spell, Crepusculara – confined in her new rock-like prison – whizzed down towards the Equestrian land at high speed.

Crepusculara's distress grew with every cloud that passed her face, knowing she would be strike whatever ground was behind the layer and layer of clouds face first.

The apartment wasn’t much to anyone else, since it needed a new carpet, the sofa had a few holes in it, and the only decorations Sunset had were a few picture frames and school awards.  The kitchen was clean, yet Sunset could clearly remember how messy it was when the freshman three made breakfast. In her bedroom, the bulky monitor and printer were outdated, and there was huge bedside mirror that Flash got for her. Sunset took a seat on her messy bed.  On the bedside table was picture of Sunset and her friends graduating from junior year.

She took it all in and sighed.  “A monster used to live here.”

Three years and nine months ago this was a retreat for her, a place where she could be safe from Princess Celestia. Then it became a kingdom for her to boss people around.  Now it was a second home.

Sunset couldn’t feel a deeper connection with the place. Picking up the bag holding the crown and taking her keys with her, she turned off the lights and prepared to leave her apartment.

Sunset walked down the flight of stairs, wishing that it was snowing and that Flash was right beside her again.  But it wasn’t; the rain was beginning to stop and the overcast sky arched above her.

She drove her motorcycle back to Canterlot High.  She tried to focus on the fact she was going back to Equestria, yet she kept thinking of all that she would leave behind.

Once she got to Canterlot high, Sunset could see five of the main six, the equestrians, Ms. Cadenza, and Principal Celestia, sitting on the school.

After parking her bike, Sunset walked casually towards them.  She remembered the front of school as where she met Flash for the first time and where their relationship reignited.  As Sunset gazed the entrance, she never felt prouder of making up for her mistakes

“You…ready?” Sunset asked Princess Twilight.

Twilight nodded.  Flash and Spike silently got up and bid quick farewells before walking towards the portal.

As Twilight and Sunset followed, Twilight asked “Anything you want to say before you go back?”

Halting, Sunset glanced at the portal. “I don’t see why we can’t leave it open.”

Twilight shook her head whispering “Princess Celestia would rather close it after this.  It’s for the best of both worlds to remain separated.”

Sunset understood.  She spun around and gave one last look to her five friends and the principals

“I’m sorry to leave you…weather I come back or not for a visit – you will all be friends for life to me.  And for that I thank you all.” Sunset stated, feeling that what she was saying sheepish and cliché.

However, Fluttershy broke down and threw herself at Sunset drenching her tears into her shirt as she wrapped her arms around Sunset.  Pinkie came forth, eager to hug her. Rainbow followed, and then Rarity, and finally Applejack.  Together the girls didn’t cry or weep, but enjoyed the closeness of their friendship.

After a few more seconds Twilight gently placed a shoulder on Sunset, telling her it was time to go.  Sunset nodded and pulled away from the group hug.

As Twilight and Sunset walked toward the portal, the human world around them felt colorless, dark, and cold as if its magical aspect had taken a dark turn.  Before Twilight entered the portal, Sunset glimpsed back towards the humans.

“Be safe, Sunset Shimmer.” Principal Celestia whispered.

Sunset nodded, and turned back toward the portal. She stepped into the solid stone and then she was gone in a flash.

The humans kept staring blankly at the portal. Pinkie felt a sudden urge to go through the portal, but Rarity tugged her back when she did so.

“Maybe she’ll come back someday….” Celestia settled “…I’ll see you girls next year.”  Taking Mr. Cadenza with her, the two staff members strode silently into the school.

Rainbow Dash glanced at Sunset’s motorcycle.  “Hey, she left the keys in the ignition!”

Applejack shook her head “No way Rainbow.  You can't drive.”

“Of course I can!” Rainbow barked back.

“She means legally.” Rarity clarified.

“Well…is right it drive Sunset’s motorcycle when she’s not here?” Fluttershy shyly asked.

“For your information, not stealing!” Rainbow Dash retorted “I’m just…uh, keeping it secure.”

“Speaking of which we should skedaddle down to Sunset’s apartment, just to make sure it’s locked up.” Applejack stated

“We can plan a surprise party there!” Pinkie wailed.

“But she’s not coming back in long time.” Fluttershy reminded.

Glancing at the portal Rarity asked “Will she ever come back?”

Post-Crepusculara

(For those who doesn’t understand this part later in this chapter it’s recommended that you read the edits in the previous chapter)

Celestia gazed as the sky changed from light blue to a warm orange-purple to a star-spotted indigo within her tower. Her chains had locked her facing away from the setting sun, (which Luna or a group of High Level unicorns would take care in her absence), so the change in colors felt as if the sky was altering its own appearance.

Such a sight reminded her of both Sunset and Twilight.  Both were students who had a lust for power and knowledge…

“…they also didn’t really care for friendship in beginning…so did I mess up?” Celestia wonder.

However, Sunset wasn’t as modest or noble as Twilight was.  Had Twilight been the one caught in the dark magic library wing, she would’ve got down on her hind legs and cried for mercy in front of Celestia.

Celestia wondered if she had given Sunset Shimmer too much slack in the past which eventually led to her becoming power-hungry.

“Well….I did let her raze the school with an enormous plant.”

Then the Princess of the Sun shook her snout. “Oh Celestia, stop blaming yourself for everything that goes wrong…You’re not the best teacher or princess, but that wouldn’t have made Sunset a better candidate. She didn’t want to see that reality and ran away – so it was her choice…And now….I wished that I could have hurled Shimmer back though the portal…”

When they first met, Celestia didn’t want to believe the clueless Shimmer was just like Sunset.  Had she taken care of her studies more or maybe she had-

“Wait a minute….how the heck was the portal opened?!” Celestia shouted, only to remember Flash describing to her how Shimmer opened the portal.

“Ah…dark magic…” Celestia frowned, glancing at her chains, the elastic metal around her wings, and the crystals sprinkled on her horn.

“I wish I remembered the type of spells….then maybe I could free myself” Celestia said.  Since Nightmare Moon’s banishment, she seen to it had burned every text that contained dark magic.  Though some spells have escaped the scroll-burning as Celestia turned her attention to other matters than dark magic.

“If I ever get out of this…I’m going to…to…” Celestia began angrily and then stopped, calmly resuming “I’ll just send Shimmer back into the portal and lock the mirror in some bunker in the San Palomino Desert…surrounded by Twenty  hundred guards….”

“You can forget about Shimmer, sister – she’s dead.”

Celestia lifted her head and glanced all around her seeing Luna, as a filly, flying through a hole in the castle.

“Luna! What are you doing here?” Celestia wondered, “Who is keeping the Crystal Empire safe? Where is-”

As soon as Luna hit the floor, the sound of gear turning could be heard. Then it gave away, causing her to fly upwards.

“Careful – some of the traps in this castle are still active.” Her sister advised.

“Does art thou remember which ones?” Luna asked, causally.

Celestia shook her head. “None that remember off the top of my crown or horn.  But why are you here?”

“Shimmer has fallen.  I had seen it done with my own eyes.” Luna explained. “As for the Crystal Empire…”

“Are you really certain that-?” Celestia urged, leaning over her ‘little’ sister

“She’s dead!” Luna bellowed “Tia, we must free you now-”

“Nay sister – this is dark magic have been bound by, not high level unicorn magic.” Celestia shot back.

“Then I must try!” Luna shouted back, closing her eyes and causing mist to seep from her eyes and her horn to glow in purple and green.

But before the spell could take full effect, Celestia leaned in and swung her crystal-sprinkled horn at Luna’s tiny horn.

“Ow!” Luna screamed “Thou ask why thy did that!”

Celestia leaned in “Luna….we swore not to use dark magic for the better when you returned. And even with my horn disabled…I’m sensing trace of dark magic on your horn before you came to rescue me.”

Filly Luna frowned and then trembled.

“Luna…did you used dark magic on Shimmer?”

Luna was silent for a while before repeating “Shimmer is dead; what difference does it make?”

“Luna!” Celestia roared upsettingly “Dark magic does not cease evil – it advances it and corrupts the user beyond redemption! Have you not learned anything from Nightmare Moon?!”

“Pfft.” Luna replied, irritated “I saved Equestria and vanquished a menace.  Besides, I used dark magic on a cloud….not myself.”

“Shimmer could be further corrupted! Remember Sombra? When we came to Equestria we sought out to save the crystal empire first – instead we unutilized dark magic and Sombra was able to exile it! We. Messed. Up. Because of Dark Magic!” Celestia yelled, furious. “I made it clear when I wanted dark magic to be cleansed from Equestria.  Using it to kill Shimmer is no excuse.”

Luna wanted to point out that because of dark magic, Shimmer hadn’t been able to best her and imprison her (unlike Celestia), but the indigo filly scrunched her mouth and grumbled “Fine…I’ll just get you out since I’m here anyway.”

Luna started up her dark magic spell, with Celestia giving a disappointing look back. Then again if Twilight was here, she would want to use dark magic too, unless she could use the Elements of Harmony.

“Luna…when you said Shimmer fell…how did she fall?” Celestia asked as Luna was hard at work on removing the dark crystal’s on Celestia’s horn.

Luna paused and then said “From a height.”

“I mean…will she get back up?” Celestia said.

“Nay. I am certain.” Luna repeated, finishing the last of the crystals on Celestia’s horn.

“Luna…Aggression does not cease a dark presence….it increases it. Only the magic of friendship can cease it.” Celestia lectured softly.

“We couldn’t use against Shimmer when she is the bearer of an Element.” Luna stated working on the Eleatic metal wrapped around Celestia’s wings.

“No…I hoped we could though….” Celestia sighed

“Princess Crepusculara Shimmer!”

Just as the heard Shimmer’s voice in the crystal tower, the royal sisters could hear Shimmer’s voice shake though the castle wall and freeze then in their places for a while.

Luna’s heart dropped while Celestia gazed out into the horizon, though a window towards the source of voice, within the unicorn range in the dance

“Luna…hurry up…” Celestia whispered. “Shimmer is alive.”

Shimmer’s hate of this world grew with her throbbing wounded body, free of her rock prison that had apparently disintegrated and melted around her before contact with the ground. After the humiliation, the acid rain, and the fall within a rock prison, she was weakened to the point where she could only lie beneath a thick layer of chilling snow of the unicorn range, mumbling curses at Luna as the blizzard within the mountains began top pile more snow on top of her.

The demonic alicorn was close to freezing to death, yet the will to get revenge on Luna and this world of horses kept alive.

With every ounce of hate she was throwing at herself and her enemies, she could feel her strength being restored.  So she kept at it, her anger helping her rise up from the chilling snow and the biting blizzard above it.

Shimmer briefly considered going back home, back to the human world.  Maybe she wasn’t meant to rule this world….maybe she was meant to be at home as a fearless student who was ready to prove her worth…

“No….No…” Crepusculara angrily hissed to herself.  “I have only been underestimated!”

She didn’t see herself as worthless, nor as a one who would give up easily.  She could only imagine herself at the top of everything – she had gone too far as person dedicated to power to throw away her progress and go back.”

“I...am…” mist formed around Shimmer’s eyes as if they were tears… when she opened them, the black and green irises were replaced with a glowing emerald glow…

“Princess Crepusculara Shimmer!” she shouted. Then a blinding light exploded from her eyes and her horn, sent snow flying in every direction, creating a huge crater within the mountain.

Once the snow cleared, Crepusculara was revealed to be no more an alicorn.  In the place of the alicorn stood a tall humanoid figure, her skin in chilling blue tone.  Her once fiery mane was now hung like a patch of vines running down from her hair in the colors acid-green and shadowy purple.

Crepusculara Shimmer’s dagger-like eyes opened up and gazed upon her new body.  It was completely anthropological, partially covered up by a tattered skirt and separate upper-garment revealing her belly, her back and her limbs. She opened and closed her clawed hands, for she hand never had hands in a long time.  Her legs seemed human, yet from the knee down they were furred, muscular, and ended in powerful hoofs.   Behind her Crepusculara saw bat-like wings spanning outwards and a tail below them.

In addition to that, Crepusculara felt a tingle coming from her forehead.  Her claws went up to it and she found out she was touching her horn.

“This is an interesting development…” Crepusculara hissed before taking flight though the blizzard with her bat wings.

Shining tore through his books, furious that he couldn’t find anyway spells on changing his out of place appearance.  He couldn’t revert to high level unicorn spells because those did nothing on Shimmer’s age-changing spell.

“Um…Shining.” Squeaked Cadence from behind him.

“Not now…” Shining replied.  His eyes had dark circles under then his mane was mess, and he was surrounded by several books.

“You look like…”

“Yes I look like a really cute pony that needs sleep, dear.” Shining replied not taking his eyes off the book.

“I was going to say you look like Twilight.” Cadence giggled.

Shining grunted, yet a smile broke out on his face. Then he could see Luna, still an alicorn filly, and Celestia stride into the library wing.

“I have to agree with Cadence - apparently I though your sister had returned from this seeing whole mess.” Teased Celestia.

Shining rushed over to Celestia a bowed before her.

“You majesty…” Said Shining “Please can you turn me back into my former self? I’m a laughing stock among the guards here!”

“That is unfortunate news Shining but I fear that I cannot turn you back to what you once were with tapping into Dark Magic to undo Crepusculara’s Spells.”

“Crepusculara?” Shining wondered.

“It’s Shimmer’s new title.” Luna explained.

“Auntie Celestia.” Candace asked “What about the ponies in the Crystal Empire?”

“I cannot be sure of their status, though I know that Shimmer would want to only conquer them, not destroy them.”

“And Twilight?” Shining asked.

“I’m sorry…but I don’t know where I teleported that mirror. I don’t even know if she has returned or succeed in getting the other Sunset Shimmer.” Celestia admitted. “And with Shimmer recovering it’s too dangerous to head out into the night. At least no civilians other than the Crystal ponies seem to be involved.”

At the mention of that Luna mumbled “Well…actually…”

“Yes Luna?” Celestia asked a look of worry on her face.

“Remember what you said about needing to use dark magic to turn Shining Armor and Princess Cadence back into their old selves…” Luna said, trying to avoid eye-contact with her sister.

“Yes…go on.” Celestia urged

“Sister, easily today a pony that was at the wrath of being…consumed…by Shimmer…and I saved her…”

As soon Shimmer took to the sky she practiced using dark magic on the nearby clouds.  She was pleased to see them rain a gallon of acid into the snow bellow. Then she started to create weapons such as swords and maces from rocks using her horn (She was disappointed she couldn’t make a Barrette Colt .25 Sniper Rifle).  She swooped down to the forest at the base of the mountains, slicing trees in half with the edges of her wings and her new found claws.

However, her experimenting was short lived as she could see figure in the rushing straight towards her.

At first she though it was Celestia, judging by its alicorn body. But as the figure drew closer, she could see a milky, golden streak trailing behind its head and flank. The figure was in a shade of grey and approaching Shimmer had high speeds.

Before Shimmer could fly off, the alicorn rammed into her and pinned her to forest floor.

“Shim…mar…” hissed the alicorn in a low, droopy voice.  Shimmer’s hear heart dropped when she gazed into the eyes of the alicorn – they were golden and cross eyed, as if they were a reptile that suffered dizziness.  In addition to that, the cutie mark was of bubbles in a form of a muffin-shaped constellation and Shimmer could only remember one specific pony with bubbles from earlier that day.

“You! You’re that Blondie-messenger-pony!” Crepuscularsa cried.

“No! I am not Blondie…I am Bad Dream Ditzy Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”  Growled the alicorn, displaying its fangs

“More like dreamy Dim-witted Derpy Poo.” Murmured Crepusculara.

In anger, Ditzy reeled her hooves back. Crepusculara teleported as they stuck the ground where she once was.

Crepusculara reappeared next to Ditzy’s side and gave her a powerful kick to her snout.

Ditzy snarled in fury and pointed her horn at Crepusculara. Out came a gold bolt than Crepusculara evaded.  The bolt struck a tree and melted the tree into a bubbling soapy pit. It even smelled like soap.

“Two can play at that game.” Hissed Crepusculara, running with hoof-like legs around the forest with Ditsy in pursuit.

Eventually she came across a medium size rock. Crepusculara pick it up and transformer it into a glowing spear.

When Ditzy was close enough, Crepusculara threw the spear straight into Ditzy, where it went half way into the center of her chest.

Crying out a hurt neigh, Ditzy struggled to keep her massive alicorn body in balance.  Crepusculara picked up two twigs with her claws, transforming it into maces and dealt a blow to Ditzy’s

Ditzy went flying into the air, and upon her decent she skidded a long ways away to a stop, violently knocking down trees and throwing dirt, wood, and plats up into air roughly a mile away from Crepusculara.

Crepusculara followed the clearing that Ditzy had caused to her resting point.  Lying down in the dirt, The alicorn breathed weakly as it lifted its hurt head and blindly shot a magic blot at Shimmer

The bolt stuck one of Shimmer’s maces. It fell out of her claw and dissolved into sweet smelling and steamy bits of mouthwatering muffin bits

With her claw freed, Crepusculara clutched Ditzy by the mane. She held her free mace ready to shatter the alicorn’s skull –

Then Crepusculara stopped, felling an odd, yet familiar tingle in her body.

Celestia felt it too in her throne room.

Without bothering to tell her guards she galloped to the balcony and looked out into the distance.

“The mirror,” She gasped.  Her trances of magic were still connected to the mirror hours after she blindly teleported it.  And the fact that she would come to sense such trace of magic now could mean one possible thing; the mirror was used.

But if she could sense it then so could Crepusculara Shimmer.

Celestia closed her eyes and began to concentrate on its exact location. After that she noted to alert the guard to secure ponies from that location.

The first thing that Sunset noticed that when she walked out from the portal was that ether the gravity was inverted or she was upside down.

She crashed horn first into grass. Twilight rushed over and helped her up, also placing Sunset’s element of harmony back into her backpack.

Sunset gasped at where they were. To their left was a huge roaring river leading into a waterfall. To their right was a huge clearing leading into a dark forest.

“Neighagra Falls.” Flash said, coming up from behind Sunset with Spike. “They always said it was a beauty at night.”

“Yeah…” Sunset agree trotting close to the roaring white-and-blue river. Combined with the constellations above, it had a mystical feel in its nature.

“Pretty nice welcoming, huh?” Spike said.

Sunset smiled yet faded.  “To now think that I was going to rule this land once with an iron fist…was once…impossible…”

Sunset took a seat by the rushing water as Spike walked up to her. Meanwhile Twilight and Flash chatted to themselves.

“So…it’s…weird…that you were once demon but now…I feel safer around you.” Spike stated.

“What did I do?” Sunset questioned.

“Actually it what you are going to do; You’re take down Shimmer.”

“I don’t wanna talk about this…” Sunset said

“You don’t?” Spiked wondered

“No – Shimmer meant nothing to me before this and I don’t want her to mean something after this.”

“Okay…so what are you planning to do after this?” Spiked asked.

Sunset paused for a while, glancing at her hooves and her tail. She hadn’t realized she had no trouble feeling like a pony again. “Maybe I’ll be writer, since I hate math and computers.”

“Me too…but what’s a computer?”

“It’s something you’ll love, only if has internet or a game.”

“Ah…it’s a human thing right?”

Sunset looked into the sky, tracing invisible constellations with her eyes “I can’t decide if I’m a human or a pony thing. I feel like I’m always explaining one of them to other. I look almost like an always an alien, even after all what I had done.”

“Well, you’re a pony now.” Spike stated flicking a stone into the rushing river.

Twilight and Flash came up to Sunset’s side. “We should get going and start making our way back to Canterlot. Princess Luna ought to be there. ”

“Can’t we teleport back?” Sunset asked.

“I’m too far away to do that…and I didn’t bring a map.” Twilight looked around. “Whatever Celestia did, she sure put it in the least populated place.”

“So…we can’t even get help?” Sunset asked.

“Nope – we’ll be walking to the nearest place that has chariot stand...though…where would that be?” Flash said.

“Either the Crystal Empire or the Hollow Shades village.” Spike stated, trying to remember the map of Equestria as best as he could.

“To Hollow Shades it is!” Twilight declared and they began to trot to the forest.

Just then something caught Shimmer’s eye in the night sky.  Though it was moving towards them, she couldn’t tell its exact shape.

As it got closer she could see glowing emerald eyes, bat like-wings and claws reaching out.  There appeared to be hair flowing behind it and there was tiny horn stuck jutting out of its hair.

“Incoming!” Sunset shouted. Twilight, Flash and Spike saw the incoming create head toward them.

Before one of them could say anything else the creature hulled what appeared to be spiked ball at them.

Twilight saw it and telelported herself and her three friends a meter away as the ball impacted the ground where they once stood and exploded. The creature snarled and flew back into the night sky.

“What the heck was that?” Spike bellowed

As he said that the creature made a shape U-turn in the sky and was flying back toward them, this time launching multiple glowing disks from her claws.

“Run!” Flash shouted and the ponies started to gallop in the opposite direction, dodging explosions on either side of them.

“Cower you want you pathetic tiny horses!” Chortled the creature in a demonic tone“Or face the fury of Crepusculara Shimmer!”

“That’s the other me!?” Shouted Sunset.

“Beats me - if she is, she definitely got a new name.” Twilight called back, barley dodging a disk that cut few hairs from her mane.

“And a new body!” Flash added.

“And a new magic!” Spike shriek, almost tripping as a disk exploding in the ground in front of him.

As they continued to run away from Shimmer as fast as they could, Sunset could hear a fait hum emitting from her saddlebag.  Glancing at it she could see a burly outline of the crown glowing inside it.

“Oh, not again!” Sunset groaned

“What again?” Twilight asked.

Crepusculara saw the glowing outline of the crown as well. She cast a magical disk and aimed it at Sunset’s side.

Sunset gave a shriek as the disk cut through her saddlebag and her skin. She tripped and collapsed on her side, staring at the clean cut red cut running from her cutie mark to her neck.  As it was starting to bleed, Sunset remembered the crown.

She could see it a few feet away from her in the grass.  And she could see that Crepusculara Shimmer was already hovering over it.

“No!” Sunset screamed.

She teleported to the crown and desperately grabbed on one end of it with her teeth.

Crepusculara’s claws yanked the other end, causing the pony and the monster to engage in a tug of war. And as they did the element glowed brighter and brighter.

Crepusculara summoned a mace from one of her claws.  She swung it at Sunset, causing her to lose her grip on the crown.

Sunset painful fell to grown, feeling her skull almost ready to crack and a tooth missing.  But it wasn’t over as Crepusculara kicked Sunset onto her to back and forced her powerful hoof-tip leg on to Sunset neck’s, adding pressure to it with each second.

“And when I’m done with you, I’m going rob every element from each of their bearers. And then I’ll go back home…with a real army!” Crepusculara announced levitating the crown in her hand.

Sunset gasped, losing air quickly. “A...a...act…”

“I can’t hear yoooooooou….” Chimed Crepusculara.

“Action….speaks...louder…” Sunset wheezed. Then she fired an intently bright beam into Crepusculara’s face.

Crepusculara growled and stumbled back bit, her eyes cooked by the intense beam of light Shimmer had projected.  She lifted her leg off of Sunset and dropped the glowing crown.

Meanwhile, Flash socked Crepusculara right in the face with his forehoof, and then bucked her in the belly. The Crepusculara fell to her knees, allowing Flash to dash back to Sunset, who carried the glowing crown in her mouth.

“No takedown is complete without a ‘Flashbang’…” Grinned Flash. “Can you walk?”

“I’ll try…” stated Sunset limping towards Flash.

“That’s not good enough.” Flash replied, allowing Sunset to throw herself on his back as he galloped towards a nearby forest.

“Just hang on – Twilight and Spike are just up ahead in a forest.” Flash assured, but all he got a response was groaned of pain from Sunset.

“Sweet Celestia, help her…” Flash prayed.

Behind him, Crepusculara had recovered and was flying toward them, claws opened and ready to snatch the crown and slice the two ponies into red ribbons of flesh and fur.  She was close to yanking Flash by the tail when…

“SHIMMER!”

Crepusculara look up I the sky above her, finding none other than ‘Bad-Dream Ditzy’ Zipping through the star and dashing right for her.

“Oh, that mother of a-” Crepusculara hissed, before being rammed into the ground by Ditzy, sending up a wave of dirt in all directions.

The two ferociously clashed, with Shimmer slashing at Ditzy with her claws, and Ditzy pounding Shimmer and biting her with razor Sharp teeth.

As the two abominations fought their own bloody battle, Flash galloped, still carrying Sunset and the crown, into the forest as the moon rose higher and higher into the night sky.

To be or Not to be

Flash galloped past trees and over roots and rock until he found Twilight and Spike rest by a tree.

“Did we lose her?” Spike wondered

“Yeah…we did…” Flash panted, setting down on his fours. Also he reported about the grey-golden alicorn that saved them from Shimmer.

“I didn’t get a good look at her but I am certain that it wasn’t Celestia – it didn’t sound like her.” Flash noted.  He also realized that he couldn’t hear Crepusculara nor the alicorn clashing and roaring now, either because they were too far away or the fight between them had ended.

“How is Sunset?” Twilight asked, levitating the sunny-colored pony off of Flash.  In the process the crown Sunset was biting down on fell from her mouth.

“Not good.” Flash stated.

A cut that ran across Sunset’s side was still oozing out warm blood as Sunset’s face body began to pale.

“Oh my….I don’t think I know any spell that handle can injuries as bad as this.”

“There’s not spell for that?” Flash wondered

“There’s not a spell for everything Flash.” Spike shrugged.

Twilight began to trot in circles trying to think of a solution. “Think…Think…Think…”

Flash was also thinking of solution, trying to remember what a guard should do at a time like this.  Meanwhile, Spike studied the crown trying to figure out as to why it was glowing brighter every time he held it close to Sunset’s limp body.

Then he flew up to and started to bite some leaves off it.  He then applied the leaves to Sunset’s wounds, each one being drenched in brown-red color as they stopped the bleeding

“How did you that using leaves would stop the wound?” Twilight asked.

“I didn’t.” Flash replied “I just….though about what ponies would do in survival movies. Most of its untrue, you know?”

“Okay then – We’ll need to get Sunset to a doctor fast.  Spike how far away is Hollow Shades?” Twilight asked. But no response came.

“Spike?” Twilight asked again, looking around.  Spike was gazing into the crown unable to hear Twilight.

“Spike…what are you doing?” Twilight wondered.

Spike shook head and placed the crown atop of Sunset. “Sorry Twilight…Hollow Shades should…be….about a few hours away. We’ll just need to cross some railroad tracks and then proceed into another forest.

“It’s a good thing these places are uninhabited.” Flash bought up.

“Actually Flash, the northern forests are home to some of the most…well, creatures that are only hostile when provoked such as the pyre-flies and the bolder bears….”

As Twilight lectured on about the ecosystems of the northern forests, Sunset resented unconsciously on Flash’s back as he and Spike followed Twilight out of the forest.

Not one of them noticed the crown had stopped humming or glowing as soon as Spike had set it on Sunset’s head.

Sunset found herself no longer in pain but in the starry emerald nebula where she had met the human Flash.

Only this time she was as pony, and this time all no one came to speak with her.  So all Sunset could do was to count the infinite number of stars.

She couldn’t remember what made her feel so weary and exhausted. She couldn’t really shout out to the stars or nebula to bring forth someone because she just felt so tired.

“Do you know what’s more fascinating than mirrors?”

Sunset’s shot eyes open, seeing the golden shoes of Princess Celestia.

“Oh Bugger….”

“Sunset Shimmer….I hope I’m not interrupting your rest.” Celestia said.

“You just are” Sunset replied, causing Celestia to frown slightly.  Standing up to full height she said, “Why are you even here?”

“*Here* is a starry realm similar to the one where I made Twilight an alicorn. It’s not the same since Crepusculara Shimmer took the crown from her.”

“And made it mine…and hers” stated Sunset. Celestia took a seat next to her, as if no grudge had even happened between them. Both former mentor and former student gazed into the starry nebula.

“Your Highness….” Shimmer said after a long silence “….I realize now you were right all along.  I wasn’t ready for what I was setting for myself.  I ended up hurting a lot of people and making things worse.  But …”

Celestia eye spun to Sunset.

“Forget it.” Sunset said, not want her gut to melt further in front of her teacher.

Celestia nodded silently, with a pitiful look. “It was part of my fault things like Crepusculara happened. Had I never shown you the portal…or never underestimated what lengths you would go to maybe…things like this wouldn’t have happened.”

Sunset still avoided looking back at her mentor. “One way or another I was going to learn what I was doing was wrong. And…that’s was what kicked me off to learn the magic of friendship.”

“Oh?”

“Yes…I mean, Princess Twilight has probably already told you that in the human world there isn’t any magic at all. But the real kind of magic there…is friendship. Other than smoke and mirrors.”

Celestia looked back her student “You’re now calm….not….boastful or arrogant.”

“That pony is still in me….I’m just tired. Do you know what happened while I was out? I couldn’t think clearly after shining some light into Shimmer’s face”

“No…I was at my Castle….I directed the flight teams to go recover you before Shimmer did. It turn out my worst fears were realized; She got there first.”

“Yeah…she almost got the crown and…” Sunset paused and then looked to her side.  It was huge cut, covered in leaves.

“I…nearly…died….” Sunset stated.

“Same here…I don’t understand why Crepusculara didn’t want to kill me. Or Anyone else” Celestia stated. “She tried countless times…but she couldn’t.”

Looking to her mentor Sunset replied “It’s probably luck that saves everypony from her claws. But Shimmer is definitely out to hurt ponies.”

“Yes…she’s just out to make us her slaves.  She does not belong here.” Celestia stated, looking at her mentor.

“That doesn’t meant she doesn’t she deserves to be back in the human world.”

“True...but there she is much less of a threat-”

“Why not just kill her off? She almost killed you.” Sunset bought up

“And you almost killed Twilight less than a year ago. Would make you any different?” Celestia inquired

“Crepusculara’s corrupted! I’m not!” Sunset shot back. “We’ll just use the Elements on Crepusculara-”

“The elements don’t redeem a pony upon impact – they show who we are or punish us or do something we can never understand.  Twilight had faith in brining you back.  In my heart I do not wish to see a monster again.”

“And you won’t! In fact if you don’t think I’m redeemed, then what can show you that I am?”

Celestia paused and then uttered “Do…not…kill...Shimmer….”

“Oh maybe you want to replace me with her?”

“Maybe…or I don’t want you see yourself as evil as her.”

“Evil as her my hoof. It’s easier if I kill her and then…and then…”

“Ponies will come to fear you…they will hide in their homes as you walk the streets. You will be glorified across Equestria  as the ruthless killer…everypony will be afraid even to offer you a place to stay or a job…and then you will be angered at the ponies you saved… and you know where that anger will lead to. Back to the bully you once were. And what of your friends in the human world? Will you see that you have saved them to though killing Shimmer and demand that they provide service to you? Will you have forgotten friendship?”

Sunset paused, sinking in Celestia’s prediction. Before she could object, Celestia turned around and started to trot away.

“You don’t know that!” Sunset shot back as Celestia left her. “I have an Element of Harmony! I can…I can….”  Sunset couldn’t bring up another argument.

“Wait!” Sunset called out “After this is over…can we talk?”

“We are already talking…anyway…sleep well….” Celestia replied not even looking back

“I sent Mercury Squad out to retrieve the ponies, but we could find was the mirror, a few drops of blood in the grass and a huge crater.” Shining reported to Celestia as royal guards pushed and pulled the mirror into the room.

“Crepusculara wasn’t there?” Celestia asked.

“The unicorn in Mercury Squad identified huge trances of dark magic across the area…notably in the crater.” Shining responded. “There is no evidence that Twilight or the rest didn’t make it out safe.”

Celestia sighed. “Dismissed.”

Shining left and Celestia sat on her throne wondering what would happen if Crepusculara Shimmer had defeated Twilight and Sunset and had the crown in her clutches.

Or if Sunset got out of control, just as they had discussed in the starry realm.

Sunset open her eyes.

A soft morning light and a strong smell of the forest woke her up. As she was sitting upright a jolt of pain to her side caused her to fall off the bed.

Looking at her side, she could a bandage where the massive cut had been.

“Good mornin’ ma’am. Slept well?” A pony – presumably a doctor -  said.  His accent was mix between a ponyville and a canterlot one.

“Yeah…” grunted Sunset as she got on her fours. “I…had an awesome dream….”

“An Awesome dream?” The doctor wondered. Sunset seemed puzzled.

“Oh, I’m actually a psychologist, specifically on dreams. But ponies here in Hollow Shades call me *Doctor Horizon Line* anyway because I know so much. So do tell me about the dream.”

Wanting to get it over with Sunset said “I was just talking with Princess Celestia.”

“Talking, eh? What did she say?” The Horizon asked, being very curious.

“I don’t…Remember….” Sunset replied, annoyed that Horizon was taking up her time.

“What about the setting of the dream? And Celestia’s mood” The doctor asked.

“How should I know? I just had it at the last minute!” Sunset shouted, upset with this interrogation. Why should the business of the starry realm be of any significance to the doctor?

“Well…how long did-”

“Thank you, Horizon Line…I’ll take it from here.” Twilight said, coming up from behind Horizon Line.

“As you wish Princess,” Horizon Line uttered, and walked away without another word. Twilight came up to Sunset and gently brushed her hair.

“How are y-”

“Good….I’m good.” Sunset replied.

“What was all that about a dream?” Twilight asked.

“Nothing…just something I made up.” Sunset lied as her stomach rumbled.

“Looks like you’re hungry.” Twilight giggled. “C’mon, Flash and Spike are eating breakfast at the locale inn. I hear they have great muffins.”

Bad Dream Ditzy was chained to a wall within the Crystal Tower dungeons.

Crepusculara didn’t know how a horse was tortured in Equestria so she had Ditzy – who was powerful enough to evade being hypnotized, chained to a wall with red-hot chains around her hooves and neck.

A hypnotized pony had whipped Ditzy ten times on her grey chest. Crepusculara signaled him to crease.

“Alright Ditzy…I want two things from you.” Crepusculara hissed, pinching Ditzy’s snout

“In what order? Alphabetically? Or numerically?” Ditzy scoffed.

Crepusculara “First off…Stop following me!”

“NEVER!” Bellowed Ditzy “SHIMMER must pay!”

Crepusculara grabbed a stump of bone within Ditzy’s mane that was all that remained of her horn.

“Felt this? I’m gonna fry your wings off too if you don’t give me at least the second thing!”

“Which is muffins?” Ditzy beamed.

“No…” Crepusculara hissed “...I want you to tell me everything about Twilight and her friends. Where do they live? And where are the elements of harmony?”

“Not telling you….Anything” Ditzy hissed

“Oh really? Because I make great muffins….” Crepusculara hissed.  It was about time she discovered the former mailmare at extreme obsession with muffin.

“MUFFINS!?” Ditzy shouted in the Canterlot voice “It’s a deal!”

“Ah-ah-ah!” Crepusculara waved her claw. “First you need to tell me-”

“Ponyville – everythingisinponyville. WHERE ARE THOSE MUFFINS?!” Ditzy asked.

“Did you say ponyville? That small hayseed village with all the weird horses?” Crepusculara asked.

“Yup – MUFFINS!” Ditzy begged.

Crepusculara casted a tray of muffins a few meters away from Ditzy, instead of bringing it in front of her.

“Hey!” Ditzy whined.

“I promised you muffins, but I didn’t promise you a meal.  Thank you for your service, blonde.” Chuckled Crepusculara as she left Ditzy chained in her cell.

“Next stop, anywhere but here.” Flash chanted as Twilight, Sunset, Spike boarded the chariot.  Originally it was a rent, but Twilight was given it for free due to her princess rank.

Sunset was disgusted that Twilight offered free stuff, while she herself – during her ‘reign’ at Canterlot High – had to go through the trouble of demanding free stuff.

When they left Hollow Shades and took to the skies, Sunset didn’t brother to say anything or even think about anything.

She opened up her pack and glanced at the crown, which was placed in a new backpack.

“How does it feel to have your own element of harmony?” Twilight asked.

“Not much different from not having one.” Sunset replied, not wanting to tell Twilight about the mysterious realm the element had placed her in before.

“You know, Celestia will happy to see you when we reach Canterlot.” Twilight chimed “I told her I could guarantee you would in safe hands.”

“Yup” Sunset replied looking down at the clouds ` below.

Her eyes then saw large shadow on the clouds trailing not too far behind them. Looking up Sunset cloud see Crepusculara trailing behind them, her face twisting in disappointment (the kind that Sunset knew she would make at Snip’s and Snail’s mistakes)

“So much for stealth!” Crepusculara hissed.

Twilight, upon seeing Crepusculara Shimmer, threw up a force field around the chariot, expecting Crepusculara to attack back.

Instead Crepuculara swooped underneath the Chariot and glided straight ahead of it, increasing the distance away from it.

Disabling her force field, Twilight said “It’s definitely a trap! Flash stay on course Canterlot.”

“What? No! We need to find out where she is going.  If she is looking for a fight she can get one!” Sunset argued.

“She already wounded you, Sunset.  I will not allow it again.” Twilight replied.

“Well every time she’s alive she’s hurting somepony else!” Sunset barked back. “I came here to get rid of Shimmer – let me do my job, Princess!”

“As Princess of Equestria I declare that we stay on course for Canterlot.”

“And as bearer of your crown currently, I say that we follow Crepusculara!” Sunset shimmer barked back.

“Guys?” Spike asked.

“What?!” Both unicorns shouted.

Spike pointed a claw to a clearing within the clouds.   It was Ponyville.

And Crepusculara was also flying towards, Ponyville at high speeds.

“Oh…no…” Twilight Gasped “The other Elements of Harmony!”

Equestria Girl

Twilight, in her panic state, had teleported the chariot all the way back to her library treehouse, causing it to violently crash into the wooden floor.

Sunset was about to make a remake of that, but Twilight galloped towards a display case in the back, holding five other elements.

“Ah Home sweet home – until I have to clean it.” Spike uttered.

“This is your home, Spike?” Sunset asked.

“Yup and it’s still Twilight's.” Spiked replied.

Sunset was surprised Twilight had consider to stay within this outdated library rather than a palace or Canterlot Castle.  It…was so…

“Unfit.” Sunset uttered in disgust.

“What?” Twilight wondered, coaxing her out of her worry

“Nothing…just…” Sunset stated “What’s the plan?”  Twilight was too worried to remain silent.

“We round up the other Elements and their Bearers.  Since Crepusculara Shimmer is here, we can take her out.”

Twilight cocked an eyebrow “And by *take her out* you mean-”

“Just using the elements on her and seeing what happens.” Flash replied. “We don’t need to kill her.”

“I wish we could,” Sunset grumbled silently.

Just then then the library door burst open and then –

“Aw, poo – my party canon misfiled again!”

“Pinkie?” Twilight wondered.

“Yup!” The pink pony said hopping into the treehouse. “I thought I saw you coming back in a golden chariot so I was going to give you  a surprise but then my canon-” Pinkie gasped upon seeing Sunset “Oh my gosh…”

Sunset took a few steps away from the pink mare – true this was Pinkie but it wasn’t the pinkie she had come to know.

“Uh…hi…I’m…”

“Sunset Shimmer!” Pinkie cheered, giving Sunset a warm hug.

"You know me?" Sunset wondered.

"Duh? Remember that night you stole twilight's crown"

"Oh." Sunset replied

As Sunset was struggling to breathe, Twilight could hear few more ponies galloping her way. Out the door she could see Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack.

“Twi – Yer safe!” Applejack beamed “We feared the worst when we heard about the ruckus at the Crystal Empire.”

“But now there’s a monster in ponyville….he...or she almost looks like a human…” Fluttershy stuttered. “..we didn’t know if you were home...but we though the elements would help us…”

“A human?!” Sunset laughed “Humans don't have horn or wings….or horse hind legs…”

“Sunset Shimmer I presume?” Rarity said eyeing unicorn with distrust.

“Yeah – you gotta a problem….Rarity?” Sunset asked.

“Oh no I don’t have a problem seeing you have appeared out of nowhere and are known across Equestria and the only thief of Twilight’s crown.” Rarity replied, sarcastic “What we do have a problem currently with is why you are here.”

“This is why,” Twilight levitated the crown from Sunset’s backpack and donned it on her head. “It’s a long story. Where did you see Crepusculara?”

“Crepu-who-whatta?” Applejack wondered.

“The…monster… that supposed to be my human counterpart.” Sunset hastily explained.

“What?!” The mane six, except for, Twilight shirked.

“Oh her….She’s at the town hall – threatening the mayor.” Pinkie said causally.

“We can do this the hard way or the easy way – where are the elements of harmony!” Crepusculara growled as she wrapped her claws around the Mayor’s throat

“I don’t know - this is classifi- *aaak* - hidden information!” The mayor responded.

“What a liar.” Crepusculara grumbled squeezing almost all of the air out of the mayor when…

A lightning bolt struck her from behind. The Mayor fell out of her claws and cowered back into the Town hall.

“Leave her alone!” Rainbow Dash glowed, with a thunder cloud at the ready.

“Ah – Rainbow Dash of Loyalty.” Crepusculara eyed. “Perhaps you will lead me to Elements.”

“In your dreams, Monster!” Dash stated and bucked the thunder cloud sending a fork of lighting at Crepusculara.

Crepusculara threw up a magical shield which directed the lighting back at Dash’s cloud, causing it to explode.

Rainbow Dash went flying through the air yet managed to skid across the ground on her hooves. Just then see could see Twilight and the rest of the six, Spike, and Sunny unicorn rushing towards him.

“Twilight!” Rainbow Dash called out.  “Glad to see you’re here.  Let’s Rain-blast this - hey where are your wings?”

“Long story.” Twilight replied coupling the element of loyalty to Rainbow’s neck.

“Okay…Everypony get in the formation!” Rarity ordered.

Just then Rainbow could see, Sunset Shimmer  donning Twilight’s crown and the magenta star no longer on the crown, replaced by an emerald sun.

“Wait – what’s she doing here?!” Dash sneered pointing at Sunset. “What did you do with the crown, Sunset Shimmer?”

“Things have changed Dash.” Twilight interjected before Sunset could speak. “I lost my Element and now Sunset is the only one who can safely wield it.”

“My flank.” Dash retorted “Why should we trust Sunset?”

“Maybe, you don’t see anything different about me since we last met – and sometimes I don’t. But you just have to believe me.” Sunset begged.

“Hah.” Crepusculara scoffed “Believe her? Oh please…she wants to kill me, as she wanted to kill Twilight.”

The ponies around her gasped, but Sunset totted towards Crepusculara “I want to kill you. Or imprison you.  Or hurt you in thousand ways you could never imagine. But after thinking about it for a while, I will not become the monster you have become.”

“I’m no monster, Sunset Shimmer. I’m better. And I’m an example of what you could have become that night you failed and backed down from the magic of friendship. I could have been your destiny.” Hissed Crepusculara

“We’ll see – the magic of friendship is a greater magic that you can’t achieve. If you refuse to see in action, it then stand down and surrender.” Sunset replied back

“If *you* refuse to bow before the power of dark and alicorn magic combined within me, then I’ll correct mistake you made; ending Twilight Sparkl's life.” Crepusculare roared as a miss formed around her eyes, hear erupted into flames of green and purple. she unleashed a jet of green fire from her horn.

“NOW!” Sunset ordered.  The five other element bearers joined her and their jewelry glowed. Beams erupted from the other five elements and stuck the crown on Sunset’s head.

Sunset trembled before the power of her element yet held her ground and focused the beams on Crepusculara’s jet of fire.

The colorful beam divided the jet of fire in two and overpowered Crepusculara.

“No! You darn horsessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!”

In Canterlot Castle, Shining, Cadence, and Luna popped back into their normal sizes.

In the Crystal Empire, Several hypnotized civilians awakened and wondered if the terrifying demonic alicorn they had seen was just a bad dream.

In the dungeon, Bad Dream Ditzy felt her horn grow back.  She used it to liquefy the chains holding her back and helped herself to the muffins.

Celestia overlooked from her balcony and witnessed below the blast from the Element of Harmony. She Flew from her balcony towards Ponyville at high speeds.

Twilight witness the entire blast – and then she felt her wings grow back and her magic restored.

“I believe this is yours princess.” Sunset said, levitating the crown back to Twilight. Now it had a magenta star on it.

“It was fun while it lasted.” Sunset continued.

“Yup…so….now what…”

“PARTY TI-”

“Not now.” Sunset replied back “I’ve….got something to do.”

Sunset walked over to the smoking grown where Crepusculara once was.  When the smoke began to clear, a pony – mirroring Sunset’s appearance – layer within the heap crying.

“H-have….mercy…” Crepusculara cried.

“I’m not going to kill you. You can seek Magic of Friendship or you can forever be alone." Sunset hissed.

“B-but…but…how am I going to forgive everyone for what I’ve done?” Crepusculara wondered

“Start writing apologies.” Sunset replied. “I was forgiven and you can be forgiven too.”

“B-but I’m-”

“You’re no different from me now. You can do it. And they can help you.” Sunset said, helping Crepusculara up.

“After she says that she is sorry.” Dash demanded, only to be nudged by Applejack. “You may my word.”

“Good…Now everything is alight here, I’ll won’t outstay my welcome.”

“What about party?! You’ll miss it!” Pinkie wailed.

“No – I’ll be there.” Sunset said winking at Crepusculara before she teleported.

Sunset then reappeared in Canterlot Castle in an empty hallway - or so she thought.

“You came here for something?” Celestia asked.

“Yeah – just to go home.” Sunset replied.

“It was rude to leave the celebration party…” Celestia replied.

“I didn’t want to have second thoughts about going home.” Sunset replied.

“You mean…”

“I’m sorry my teacher….but…I can’t choose…But if Shimmer chooses to stay here then I will take her place back there.”

“I’ll will watch over her more carefully now.” Celestia notified. “I’m proud of you.”

“As am I…” Sunset responded.

“Now…what’s it like…*back home*?” Celestia said, guiding Shimmer to table with tea cup ready.

A couple weeks later. Summer Sun Celebration…..

“I told her it was fascinating.  After that we talked about trivial matters and then I bid her goodbye.” Sunset responded taking a sip of her punch.  She was in a gold-trimmed dress with flowers in her hair.

It was the Summer Sun Celebration. Golden balloons and streamers hung around every building ng in Canterlot neighborhood.  Particularly a fair was being held in Canterlot High’s Soccer Field.

“Sounds like it was quite an adventure” Flash said. His arm was still broken and he had a missing tooth, but his face had healed up perfectly.

“Yup.” Sunset replied.

All of some rammed Sunset into the grass.  Sunset feared she was being a attack but then a familiar giggle came from the tackler.

“Twilight?” Sunset gasped, happily.  The two friends embraced tightly.

“Sure is!” Twilight replied back, she still had a gash on her cheek but it was healing. “So how was Equestria? I’m eager to one day return there.”

“Well I hate to say this but the portal is sealed for good now.” Sunset replied “So nothing gets in or out now.”

“Aww…I guess it’s all over then.”  Flash groaned.

“What’s over?” Sunset asked.

“You know...all your struggles with your mentor, friends, restarting, building the school, and battles with demons. Now what? Are we just going to go back to…our normal lives?” Flash asked.

“Let me answer that question with a question – am I normal girl with normal life or an Equestria girl?” Shimmer purred, her nose nuzzling Flash’s like a pony.

The three friends joined up with the rest of main six from CHS and then continued to enjoy the Celebration as the sun began to set upon Canterlot neighborhood.

The End.

*Message to followers* Thank you for 100 thumbs ups

*Message to followers* Thank you for 100 thumbs ups

Thanks for 100 thumbs up.  It sure means alot to someone who thought he couldn't write three years ago.

from the deepest part of my heart,

Thank You <3,

Mud