Sparks stood outside the Canterlot Animal Shelter. A sign depicting some cartoonish animals stood in its window, asking for volunteers. Sunset seemed nervous, obviously rethinking this. Sparks gave her a comforting smile and stepped forward, motioning for her to lead the way. Sunset nodded and took a deep breath. She walked up to the entrance and put her hand on the door, hesitating once more before turning the handle.

Chimes rang as Sunset opened the door. The inside of the Shelter was painted in a welcoming yellow, its walls covered with motivational posters about animal rights and the beauty of nature. A brown haired girl came to greet them. She was a few years younger than Sparks, wore glasses with think black rims, and had a wide welcoming smile.

"Hey, hey, want to adopt, we have the cutest, cutest, cutest animals here looking for homes, waddya say?" the girl said in a rush of enthusiasm. She constantly hopped from foot to foot, seemingly unable to stand still.

Sparks couldn't help but grin, it was pretty cute how excited the girl was, but she had to decline, Spike was enough work. Shaking her head, she explained herself, "Actually we were hoping to volunteer, if that's okay?"

"Okay? Okay? That's wonderful! I'll go tell Fluttershy, she'll be so excited, follow me!" the girl skipped down the corridor, leading them deeper into the building. "Fluttershy, we have volunteers. Isn't it amazing?"

The room they entered was filled with animal enclosures. A pink haired girl in green and white was attempting to put leads on a whole host of creatures, though mostly dogs. Sparks felt that Fluttershy looked familiar, but could not figure out why. Sparks was prepared for the confused look she received but was surprised by the brief expression of panic when Fluttershy looked at Sunset. Maybe this would be more complicated than simply doing some volunteer work.

As Fluttershy glanced back at her and smiled, Sparks realised how she knew her. They had met at the Everfree Pet Fair a year or so ago. The girl had been so outgoing and extroverted. She talked, asked questions, laughed, joked and gave a lot of advice for how to properly care for Spike. If she was the same charismatic girl she had met then, this would be easy.

"Hey, Fluttershy, right?" Sparks began. "You might not remember but we met once... though not as recently as you might think. Last summer's Everfree Pet Fair. You were really enthusiastic. Anyway, I'm not your friend from the dance, but it's good to meet you again."

"You're not Twilight?" Fluttershy asked shyly. "Sorry, I don't..."

"It's okay," Sparks assured her. "I wanted to say thanks, you gave me a lot of advice about Spike."

"Spike? I remember him, he was your really cute dog," Fluttershy's eyes shun with delight. "How is he? Did that diet I recommended work? He is going for enough walks, and socialising with other dogs, right? "

Sparks couldn't help but smile at the other girls energetic response, "Yes, yes and yes. He's good, thanks for asking. You can call me Sparks by the way, it's easier."

Sunset stood back in the room, looking at the animals milling around. She seemed uncomfortable. This was definitely not as straight forward as she had hoped, but maybe working together would remove the awkwardness.

Fluttershy turned to Sunset, looking uncertain, "So, Zippoorwhill said that you were planning on volunteering. Is that right?"

Zippoorwhill was dashing from creature to creature, petting them, picking them up, checking on them. Nodding enthusiastically and humming, all the while.

"I'd like to," Sunset replied. "If that's okay."

"Well... we don't get many volunteers," Fluttershy mumbled. "and ... there are a lot of jobs. So okay."

"Yes!" Sparks proclaimed, happy that Sunset would have the chance to make some progress. "So what do we need to do?"

Fluttershy straightened up, becoming more assertive, "A lot of these guys need feeding, playing, grooming and bathing. The rest will need to go for their walk. Zip, you stay here, I'll take them for their walk. Miss Fauna is in her office, if you need any help."

"Will do!" Zippoorwhill did a quick salute.

"So, who wants to come with me for the walk?" Fluttershy asked, looking towards Sparks hopefully.

"Well, I'd love to but I think..." Sparks began before Sunset cut her off.

"I'll stay here if that's okay," Sunset explained. "You go for the walk."

Fluttershy seemed relieved as she put leads on the varied host of animals. Was that a pig, and a goat.

"If that's what you want," Sparks sighed. The entire point of being here was for Sunset and this girl to spend time together, but if it felt forced it wouldn't work. Best to make the most of it. Maybe some one on one time with Fluttershy might give her an opportunity to smooth things out.

"Okay you take these," Fluttershy handed Sparks a mess of leads, enough that she was holding onto around five animals with each hand. "and I'll take the rest."

"Sunset, I'll see you later, okay?" Sparks called back as she was dragged forward by the hoard of animals.

"Zip, call Miss Fauna, if you need anything? I'll be back soon," Fluttershy said, following Sparks, her group behaving itself, even if it was twice the size. "Sunset... be good, okay?"

"Okay," Sunset answered with little enthusiasm.

Neither girl seemed to want to deal with the other, but Sparks was confident that taking baby steps would work, in between praying that the hoard would at least move as a cohesive whole, and not run in every direction once they were outside.

Sunset watched her new friend, confidante... acquaintance walk out with the girl she had bullied for around 5 years. This was a mistake. She couldn't take back what she had put that girl through just by bathing some animals. Still, she had to try.

"Hey, listen, hey, hey, listen," She was broken out of her ruminations by Zippoorwhill tugging on her arm. "We have a lot to do, so lets not look sad and get started. Okay. The critters like smiles not frowns."

Sunset felt her mood lighten, chased away by Zippoorwhill's cheesy grin. "Okay, what do I need to do?"

"Singing helps the most," Zippoorwhill answered as she spun around the room, holding a terrier. "Otherwise, they don't behave."

"Singing, really? I am not singing. I don't sing. It's not something I do," Sunset said with finality.

"But, Miss Fluttershy always sings" Zippoorwhill announced, looking up with watering puppy dog eyes. Even the terrier she was holding seemed to be begging Sunset to sing. Her resolve crumbled.

"I'm only good at one kind of singing. If we are going to do this, we are going to do it right. So you'll have to get in character and help me out," Sunset thought for a second, trying to think of a suitable story for the song. "Once upon a time..."

Sparks held on with all her might. The group was splintering, wanting to explore the outside world, in different directions and different speeds. Calling up books on group psychology, she knew she had to show that she was in charge. With a sharp tug on the leads she halted both groups, and gave her animals a stern, commanding glare. Once pacified she walked forward, and they, thankfully kept pace. Looking over at Fluttershy she saw that her ridiculously large collection was well behaved and not fighting for control. Sparks was impressed to say the least.

They continued in silence for a few minutes, taking up the entire sidewalk, as they made their way through the town. Sparks noticed that Fluttershy kept

"So Twi... Sparks, How do you know Sunset?" Fluttershy asked nervously.

Sparks grinned, maybe she could make some progress after all, "I saw her in the square, looking pretty sad about something. She thought I was the other Twilight, so we got talking about, well, everything."

"I'm sorry that she was sad," Fluttershy sighed. "But... she deserves it. She was mean for so long. If she does anything to Zip and the animals, I'll..."

"She'll be fine. She's just trying to be a better person. She reminds me of my friend, Shimmer, unsurprisingly, considering that in a way they are the same person. Sunset just took the wrong path. Stubborn, headstrong, but brilliant, if she knows how to shine. She just needs friends to show her when she loses her way," Sparks reassured the other girl.

"Shimmer... you know this worlds Sunset?" Fluttershy mumbled. "What's she like?"

Sparks felt confused, this shouldn't be a difficult question. "Well... she's like a force of nature. This means she can be over protective, rash, sometimes down right unhelpful and rude... but she cares people a lot. She gives them her time because she wants to help them, or inspire them to help themselves. It's easy to get caught up in her flow, and when she declares something, even if it sounds impossible, suddenly it becomes improbable. She'll slowly wear it down to doable, likely, and eventually you'll feel certain that it'll occur. Even if the odds are stacked against you. You wouldn't believe what she can do."

"You must really like her," Fluttershy replied with a smile, but it faded as quickly. "I wish Sunset was like that."

"Maybe she could be. I mean all she really needs is friends right," Sparks suggested with a meaningful glance.

Fluttershy looked away, focusing on the pack in front her, "I'm sorry. I don't think I can. I'm not strong like the others, and she was so cruel. I can't forgive her."

The trip continued for an agonisingly long time in silence. Sparks wasn't sure what to say. Sunset needed this. She had somehow messed things up with the others, and if she felt that this sweet girl could never forgive her, she might think herself beyond redemption. She had to think of something to convince Fluttershy to give Sunset another chance.

The quiet was broken when one of the dogs Sparks was holding saw a cat walking atop a nearby wall. The german shepherd almost pulled Sparks over, when it started barking and jumping at the wall. Recovering her senses she held on, but was in danger of losing control of the group.

"Cuddles, Sit" Fluttershy commanded. Her tone was not loud, and yet it brooked no arguments.

The dog, Cuddles, immediately stopped trying to chase the cat. Its head hung low, showing regret and guilt. The rest of the animals also sat, and looked away from the offending animal.

"Cuddles, I have told you before about being a bully, and trying to chase Mr. Whisker Kisses. Now say you are sorry, not to me, but to Kisses."

Cuddles looked up at the cat and barked a soft sad bark. The cat, bizarrely, nodded and walked on.

"Good boy, but don't do that again. No one likes a bully, but I'll forgive you this time," Fluttershy rubbed the dogs head, and he perked up. "Now say sorry to Sparks. She is being very nice, and you almost made her fall over."

Cuddles presented his paw to Sparks, and she was barely able to shake it, with her hands filled with leads. Thus forgiven he rejoined the pack, although made a noticeable effort to not pull against her.

"Sorry, about Cuddles, he is a good boy really," Fluttershy apologised. "He just has some bad habits he needs to work on."

Sparks nodded, she knew what she needed to say. Though it was another few blocks before she broke the silence again.

"So," she began. "Cuddles can be a bully sometimes. Was he always like this, or has he gotten any better?"

"Oh no, he was really improved. When he was first rescued, he was mean to all the other animals, and then they wouldn't be his friends. They wouldn't trust him." Fluttershy explained softly.

Sparks acted surprised, "Oh really, what did you do?"

Fluttershy spoke with the same enthusiasm and confidence that she had shown when Sparks first met her "Well, I gave him a firm talking to, and I convinced the others to try and give him another chance. It took a long time, but he is really trying. He just falls into old habits sometimes."

"What would have happened if you hadn't convinced them to give him a chance?" Sparks queried with hesitation.

Fluttershy's eyes dropped, tearing up slightly, "That would have been awful. he would have felt so alone, and might have become a bully again."

"Maybe you could do the same thing for Sunset. I mean it worked for Cuddles, right? She is trying, but if no one gives her a chance, she'll be alone. Someone needs to keep her on the right path." Sparks explained slowly. It was not the strongest of arguments, but it was all she had.

Fluttershy's eyes lit up, thinking about it, "So call her out when she slips into bad habits, and pat her head she is good. Maybe even give her some treats. That sort of thing?"

"Sure," Sparks answered with relief. It was not an ideal model, but better than nothing. Besides, everyone likes getting treats.

They entered Canterlot Park as Sparks finished telling Fluttershy about how she and Shimmer had been involved in organising the Everfree Pet fair, and that it might be something that Fluttershy and Sunset might think about doing for Canterlot. Sparks even offered to help them with the paperwork and getting some council funding. She could probably even get some of the "gangs" to come out for the day.

"That's a pretty neat idea, actually. The girls would probably want to get involved too. It'd also give Sunset a way to give back to Canterlot, only..." Fluttershy's voice became almost a whisper towards the end.

"Only?" Sparks asked curiously. She was walking much easier now, having gotten used to signalling her intentions to the animals.

"Well, I don't know all the details, but, Sunset had a fight with Rainbow Dash about something, and they are not exactly speaking right now," Fluttershy mumbled.

Sparks took in the view of the park. It was weird, so much sadness on such a beautiful day, "Yeah, she mentioned she had done something, but wouldn't say what. Any ideas?"

"Sorry, I really don't know. Rainbow won't say anything either." Fluttershy answered in her soft voice. "I'd help if I could"

They continued in silence once more, but was a more comfortable one. The animals seemed pretty excited to be in the park. Sparks noticed that Fluttershy seemed to be on the lookout for something. She perked up as they approached a juice stand.

"Hey, Flutters, and.... Twilight?" a girl with multicoloured hair called to them. She reminded Sparks of someone a friend of hers used to talk about.

"Hey, Dash. This is Sparks, she's the Twilight from Everfree." Fluttershy explained.

"Sparks, weird, met another Sunset earlier." Rainbow said downcast.

"You met Shimmer?" Sparks asked, then recognising the new girls mood, got worried. "She didn't do anything bad did she?"

"Yes, no, she gave out to me about something that happened a long time ago. Something I was happy to forget," Rainbow answered awkwardly. "But... she wasn't completely wrong. Not sure how I feel about it, really. Wow, it's weird. I know you aren't Twilight but I guess I trust you. Like I said, weird day."

Suddenly Sparks realised that she was talking about Gilda. She understood why Shimmer had gotten angry, but let it go. Rainbow was already thinking about it, and Shimmer had probably been overly harsh.

"It'll be okay. Sorry if she came off bad. She just worries about people sometimes. If you meet her again, she'll probably be a lot less confrontational. So don't worry about it," Sparks reassured the girl. Today seemed to be the day for cleaning up after Sunset Shimmers.

Fluttershy looked around expectantly, "Is Applejack around?"

"Nah, she went after Su... Shimmer. I'm watching the stand," as Rainbow explained her frown became a smile. She waved to a younger girl trying to get a kite into the air. "She promised me cider enough for me and Scoots if I did a good job."

"Oh okay," Fluttershy seemed a little down. "I'll catch her next time. Anyway, we should be getting back."

"I'll tell her you called by," Rainbow assured her. Then she jumped with enthusiasm, calling to the girl with the kite. "Go, Scoots, go. It's flying. You did it!"

"See you, Dash," Fluttershy called as she led her pack forward.

Sparks waved as she followed on, "It was nice to meet you."

They continued through the park, when Sparks remembered something, about how Fluttershy had acted at the juice stall.

"You mentioned Applejack earlier, she was one of the girls who stood up to Sunset. What's she like?" Sparks asked with curiosity.

"She's amazing, she is always really helpful with animals whenever she has time to help. She is honest and dependable. She can be really patient too, which is nice. She asks me over to the farm sometimes to check up on some of the animals. She is so kind to her dog, Winona. It's really heart warming," Fluttershy said with a fond smile. Her eyes shone as she continued. "She always tries to have time for me, and helps out when she can."

Sparks smiled, sensing some very deep feelings within the other girl.

"But... sometimes she gets withdrawn. Like she can't be herself. Maybe it's because we weren't friends for a while, because of... well, you know. I don't know if her brother approves of me. I mean, he's always nice and polite, and I can't sense any negative feelings. It's just that, when he's around she'll be more removed. Maybe, maybe he blames me for leaving her alone, when we were fighting," Fluttershy left her hair fall in front of her face, as though she was trying to hide from the words she was saying.

Sparks sighed. It seems that fallout from Sunset's reign of terror was still being felt. She'd have to try and clear this up too if she got a chance. Though she was not sure how. As they made their way out of the park, her phone started ringing. She barely managed to take her phone out of her pocket with all the leads, but seeing that it was Shimmer, she hesitated. She hit the reject button. She hoped Shimmer would be okay, but she'd call her back when she was not ferrying a herd through the city.

They arrived back to the sound of singing, it was weird. Like a villain song in a cartoon. Fluttershy ran forward with her pack and opened the door to the back area, with Sparks close behind. The room was filled with animals in tubs of shampooed water. Sunset was busily washing a group of puppies, while singing.

"Get into the depths," she sang in a maniac chorus.

Zippoorwhill bounced around the room, like some sort of crazed minion, also singing, "Down to the deep."

"Was away your sins," Sunset stood as her voice rose higher. "or your souls, I'll keep!"

It was evident that they had not noticed their audience, until they heard the soft sound of Fluttershy clapping.

"Uh, didn't see you there," Sunset replied shyly, obviously uncomfortable with having been caught.

"Miss Fluttershy, wasn't that amazing, Sunset is a great singer, and she was a villain, and I was her minion, and we fed them, and played, and we just finished giving them their baths. It was so great!" Zippoorwhill enthused.

"It was very good," Fluttershy gave them both an approving gaze. "So I'll give you both a treat. How about I make some lemonade?"

"Yes, yes, yes, your lemonade is the best!" Zippoorwhill answered drying off a sheepdog.

Fluttershy gave Sunset a reassuring smile, "Would you like some too?"

"Yeah, sure, I mean, yes please," Sunset answered with a smile.

Sparks was glad to see some progress being made, but thinking about Shimmer she felt a pang of guilt. She had abandoned her earlier, and while understandable it was not fair.

"Hey, I have to go get lunch with a friend. Where's good?" Sparks asked taking the leads from the surprisingly well behaved charges.

"I like the 'Hey! Burger'. They have the most delicious food." Zippoorwhill answered with the same energy she did everything.

"Sounds good, Sunset, I'll meet you here later if that's okay. Fluttershy, that's okay with you right?" Sparks asked, anxious to get back in touch with Shimmer.

Both girls nodded, and then smiled at each other. Progress was indeed being made.

Sparks reached for her phone as she left the building.

Shimmer wandered the streets of Canterlot. She had tried calling Sparks but only got voice mail. Maybe Sparks was still angry at her. Maybe she should call again, or just try and find this Rarity and learn more about her double, or perhaps she should give up and go back to the Everfree. Her thoughts were interrupted when her phone rang. It was Sparks.

Shimmer pushed her worried to the back of her mind, and tried to sound relaxed. "Hey... No, it's cool...Yeah, lunch sounds nice... The 'Hey! Burger'?... I'm sure I can find it... I'll see you soon."

Consulting a map on her phone, she made her way with a spring in her step. Sparks called her, and didn't sound mad. Maybe this trip would work out after all. Besides she's need Sparks help to learn more about her double. She tended to deal with things with force of will and determination, but Sparks had a more subtle touch, that grounded her, and this was a problem that called for a balanced approach.

Author's Note

Sorry for the huge break in updates. My course got pretty intense in the last few weeks, but it's over now so I can put time into writing again.

It feels good to be back.

I wrote a sort of Human in Equestria fic in the meantime, because it was an odd idea that was bouncing around, and I wanted something that was a standalone.

Not going to lie, every time I sit down to write this, ideas for other stories plague my mind. Procrastinating from procrasting, is like "Procrastinception."

Also to everyone who has favourited so far, (and liked) thank you. Sorry for not posting thanks on your page, I was not aware it was a thing to do until people started doing it for me.