Sunset Shimmer walked arguably the longest road in her life. She took this route home everyday after school to her apartment, but this time, she had honest regret for her actions. What happened? What did I become? She asked herself in her mind. These questions would haunt her mind for the next few weeks. What possibly hurt the most was what Snips and Snails, the only two people left who she could call friends, left her to fix the school by herself. Despite her regret, she was not to keen on the idea of spending her entire weekend working on the school entrance alone.
She finally made it home. Her apartment was tiny, with only two rooms; one for sleeping and living that had a small coffee table and couch that served as a bed, and one bathroom, with just a sink, toilet, and shower. But given how much her job as a waitress paid her, she was lucky that she had the apartment, and couldn't complain. Sunset took off her boots and what remained of her jacket, and dropped right on her couch. She would need as much rest as she could get to fix the school as quick as possible. But whenever she would close her eyes, that, that THING would be right there, staring at her her, laughing. How could I let my ambition turn me into a monster? If only I cou- She was cut off by a knocking at her door. She got up to answer it, only to be greeted by five familiar faces.
“Hey sugar-cube.” said Applejack. “Ya mind lettin us in?”
Sunset slammed the door as fast as she could.
“Sunset! We just wanna talk!” said Rainbow Dash.
“Go away!” yelled Sunset.
“Please, if you could just give us five minutes of your time-” said Rarity.
"Didn't you hear me? I said leave!"
The girls stopped yelling, but Sunset could hear their muffled voices. She put her ear up to the door.
“Maybe we should just leave her alone. She clearly doesn't want us here.” said Fluttershy.
“You heard what Twilight said. She asked us to look after Sunset.” said Rainbow.
Twilight. Just the name wanted to make Sunset bludgeon herself to death. I can't believe that purple nerd thinks she can just decide my friends.
"And we still have to give her this diary." said Pinkie, pulling the diary out of her hair.
Diary?Sunset's curiosity peaked. She finally decided to open the door, much to the confusion of the girls.
“Come in.” said Sunset regretfully.
The girls did such, and walked into the minuscule apartment. There was a long, awkward pause between the six girls, until Pinkie Pie broke it.
“So, your house is really tiny. Where's your bedroom?.” said Pinkie.
"This IS my bedroom."
“Oh. Well, its very, um, nice.”
The long, awkward pause continued. This time, Sunset broke it.
“What did you guys say about Twilight and a diary?” She asked.
“Oh, well. I guess you heard that huh?” said Rainbow.
“The truth is, Twilight asked us to do two things before she left.” said Applejack.
“The first thing she asked us to do was look out for you while she's gone.” said Fluttershy.
“That's right. I remember that part.”
“The second thing she asked us to do was give you this.” said Applejack, holding out a diary.
Sunset took the diary, and opened it to the first page. Inside was a message.
Dear Sunset Shimmer,
A while ago, my teacher Princess Celestia sent me to a town called Ponyville to make friends, something I thought was meaningless. But through countless adventures, I learned that having friends is one of the most magnificent things in life. Now, I hope you will learn the same lesson.
Enclosed in this diary are several blank pages. I would like you to write about your findings of friendship while in this world, and report them to me the next time our paths cross.
Signed, Twilight Sparkle.
Reading this made Sunset furious.
“Really? She blasts me with some sort of rainbow typhoon, and then has the audacity to tell me to report on something as trivial as friendship?”
“Sunset, ah think Twilight is only tryin to-” said Applejack before Sunset cut her off.
“And she thinks that she can just assign my friends to me? Well, fat chance. I'm burning this diary the first chance I get. You guys can let yourselves out.”
“Now just hold on a second.” said AJ. Sunset started to listen to her.
“I don't personally know why Twilight decided to send this here diary to you. But, I reckon that she has a good reason to.”
“Oh yeah? What?”
“Because she cares about you and your well being. She wouldn't have left us in charge of you if she didn't.”
"Do...do you really think she cares about me?"
"I reckon she does."
Sunset felt a tear come down her face.
“Sunset, what's wrong?” asked Fluttershy.
She felt more tears stream down her face. “I have spent most of my time in this world tearing you five apart. Why do you want to be friends with me? Because Twilight said so?”
“Well, that maybe one reason.” said Rarity.
“But the main reason is that we truly believe that you deserve a second chance.” said Pinkie.
Sunset felt a warmth grow in her heart. She had never had a true friend before. But now, she was being given five.
Sunset smiled, and her friends smiled back at her. Pinkie jumped behind her and began to hug her. The other four girls ran in to hug Sunset as well. Sunset felt strange, she was not used to hugs. But she remained silent. She did not want to ruin the mood.
The Next Day
Sunset stood in front of the school, joined by five girls she originally hated.
“You know you guys don't have to do this, right?” she asked.
“We know we don't have to. We want to.” said Rainbow.
The six girls began to fix up the school as Vice-Principal Luna watched. And, in no time, work that should have taken days to complete, was finished in mere hours.
“Looks like the school is finished girls. You can go home now.” said Luna.
The girls left the school after that.
“Hey girls...” said Sunset “Thank you, for everything.” The girls answered with another group hug, this time Sunset embracing her new friend's hugs.
“Let's see, how's here?”
“Hmm, maybe move the bucket a bit to the right?”
“Okay, now?”
“Ooo, that's perfect!”
“Pinkie, I'm gonna say this now, this can only end in failure.”
“Come on Sunset, everybody loves a good prank.”
“SOME people like pranks. What would happen if, say, a teacher walked in and was doused in water?”
“Sometimes you just gotta take those kinds of chances."
“Well, I don't want to see the poor sap that walks though that door. I'm going back to finish my lunch.”
“Hey, don't leave." cried Pinkie. "If anyone needs a good laugh, it's you Miss Sour-Puss."
“You'd be sour too if you were hated by everyone."
“I think a someone's coming. Let's get behind the desk before they see us.” The two girls hid behind the Teacher's desk. Why did I ever agree to this? Sunset thought to herself. To her credit, at least Pinkie was trying to get Sunset back into everyone's good graces. Pinkie's hair began to twitch.
“Uh oh.” Pinkie said, confusing Sunset.
The door opened, and what the two girls saw absolutely froze them in fear. A woman with a tall, imposing build, light pink skin, and a mixed hair color of pink, blue, and green. The principal of the school, Ms. Celestia. Despite her best efforts at jumping, Pinkie could not stop the bucket, and the principal was doused in water.
“Oh my gosh, Principal Celestia, I didn't mean to...”
“Hahaha, how cute.”
“What?” the duo responded.
“Come on girls, I'm not some big stick in the mud who can't take a harmless prank once in awhile.”
“So, we're not in trouble?” Sunset asked.
“Well, not exactly. While I personally don't mind pranks, I can't just let a student get away with a prank. Otherwise, the other students would think they can prank any teacher without consequences.”
“So, how long will our detention be?”
“Hm, I believe detention may be a bit harsh on you girls for just a minor, and might I add, cliched prank.”
“Sister, why don't they help us move the damaged boxes from the flood?” The two girls failed to notice that Vice-principal Luna had followed her sister. They were blinded by their fear of the wrath Celestia would rain down on them. To Sunset's confusion, Pinkie hid behind her when she heard Luna spoke up.
“Um, flood?”
“Oh yes, that's an excellent idea Luna. You see girls, we live together, and the other week one of our pipes broke, causing a minor flood in our basement. Some of the stuff was damaged, old stuff we've been needing to get rid of anyway. I guess you girls will help us throw the stuff out as punishment.”
“That sounds fair.” Sunset said.
“We'll see you over the weekend.” said Luna. The two sisters left. The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, and the beginning of the next period.
“Hey Pinkie, what was with you being scared of Luna?”
“Well, I...” Pinkie began, before they heard another voice.
“Pinkie, let's go! Those laps won't run themselves!” yelled Mr. Iron Will.
“I'll tell you later Sunset. Right now I gotta get to gym class. Bye.”
“Alright, bye.” Sunset had to get to her English class. When she got there, she heard a familiar, slightly annoying voice.
“Sunset Shimmer!” yelled a blue girl with silver hair.
“Oh, hey Trixie.” Despite her annoyance, Trixie was the only student other than her circle of friends to not hate Sunset with a passion. Trixie kinda owed her for getting Snips and Snails off her back.
“Trixie has heard that you are going to Ms. Luna's home this weekend.”
“Okay, how?”
“Trixie could hear you and Pinkie talking in the halls. But that's not important. What is important is Trixie's warning. You cannot go over there.”
“Why?”
“You haven't heard? Luna is a criminal.”
“What?”
Trixie started speaking in a whispered voice. “There is a rumor going around that Ms. Luna used to be the leader of a bank robbing group named the Nightmare Forces. Back then, she went by the alias of Nightmare Moon.”
Sunset could only look at her in disbelief. “Trixie, that has got the be the stupidest thing I've ever heard.”
“Say what you want, but when all your money is stolen, don't come crying to Trixie.”
“Trixie...”
“BEWARE SUNSET, BEWARE!” Trixie yelled, throwing a smoke ball on the ground, blinding Sunset.
When the smoke cleared, Sunset saw Trixie, her cape stuck in the door.
“Um, could you help me?” Sunset, with a roll of the eyes, walked over and removed her cape from the door. “Thank you. AND BEWARE!” Trixie ran away.
That Weekend
“Alright girls, here's what we're going to do.” said Celestia. “Pinkie, you'll help me with this section of the basement.”
“And Sunset, you'll help me with this side.” said Luna. She opened a door, leading to the second side of the basement.
“Sounds good to me.” said Pinkie.
Sunset followed Luna through the door. “Alright, what do you want me to clean first.”
“You see those boxes over there? You can throw them in this trash bag.”
“Okay.” Sunset walked over, and, out of curiosity, opened the boxes.
“Aw, are these pictures of you and Ms. Celestia from when you were kids?”
“Yeah, those were some fun times. See that guy back there?” She pointed to another picture, with Celestia and Luna looking at an old man who appeared to be teaching them. “That was our private tutor, Mr. Star Swirl.”
Sunset's mind was flooded with memories from when she was Celestia's student. She would study about the great Star Swirl the Bearded, and the mysteries surrounding his life. Luna woke her from her daze.
“Sunset? Come on. We can't keep looking through these boxes. Celestia and I have to write a speech to the students this Friday, and we haven't started yet.”
“Speech?”
“Yes. The students have been shaken up after what you did to...” Luna looked at Sunset, seeing a sudden uncomfortable look in her eyes. “Well, you know.”
“Yeah. Listen, can we just continue our cleaning?”
“Alright Sunset.”
The two girls continued to remove the boxes, supposedly containing nothing of importance. After a half hour, only a few boxes remained.
“Hey Sunset. I'm going to go to the bathroom for a second. Think you can handle the rest while I'm gone?”
“Of course Luna.” Luna went to the other basement, the one with the stairs in them. As Sunset continued to remove the boxes, she noticed a strange symbol on the wall. It was what looked like a crescent moon. As Sunset removed more boxes, she began feeling around the wall, eventually touching something that felt like a doorknob. It wasn't a wall, it was a door.
"No, Sunset. You're better than this." Sunset told herself. But curiosity even effects ponies. She turned the knob and opened the door, seeing something that confused her.
The secret room contained multiple news clippings, each saying something along the lines of “Nightmare Forces strike again!”, “Nightmare Moon still at large!”, “Nightmare Moon caught!”. The last one had a picture of Ms. Luna being held by police. In the background, Sunset could see a crying Celestia. In the center of the room, there was a cornflower blue suit of armor, bearing the same crescent moon as the symbol on the door.
“I was hoping no one would ever see this room.” said Luna, suddenly appearing behind Sunset.
"Luna, I...I..."
"It's okay Sunset. I can't blame you. I would have done the same thing."
“What is this? Please don't tell me those rumors Trixie said were true.”
“I'm afraid they are. I've heard them myself. They're why most students try to avoid me.”
“So, you were the leader of a criminal gang?”
Luna let out a deep sigh. “Yes. Back then I went by Nightmare Moon.”
“But, why?”
“I wasn't in the right frame of mind. I've spent ten years of my life in jail, and I've learned that what I did was wrong.”
“Then why keep this room?”
Luna looked around at the news clippings. “To remind myself what happened all those years ago. I deserve to live with my sins.” Luna began to cry.
"Luna...I'm so sorry."
“Do you know what the worst thing was?" Luna could barely speak. "My sister was the one who had to turn me in. Imagine what she's been thinking all these years. I haven't been able to forgive myself for putting her through that.”
“So, I guess Sunset knows now.” said Celestia, coming through the hidden door's room.
“Celestia! I'm so sorry. I know I wasn't supposed to let anyone in this room, but...” said a frantic Luna
“Luna, it was an accident. They happen. But is that what you've really thought all these years?”
“What?”
“All these years, have you not been able to forgive yourself because of what you think I was hurt?"
“Well, yes.”
“Luna, what happened, happened. The past is in the past. We can't change that. But, what we can do is work and move onward to a better future. But before that, you have to forgive yourself. Do you think you can do that?”
Luna paused, and looked at the floor. She eventually looked up, now with a confident look on her face. “Yes, I can.”
“Excellent. The next step is admitting your mistakes to people willing to listen. The students, I'm sure, will be more than willing to listen. If you do that, you will be forgiven.”
“But, how can I do that?”
“I think I know what to do.” said Sunset, finally deciding to speak up.
The Speech
The student body sat in the auditorium, waiting for their principal to make her announcement. Celestia, Luna, and Sunset were all standing behind the main podium, waiting for the students to quiet down. When they did, Celestia whispered to her sister and Sunset.
“Are you two sure you want to do this?”
The two looked at each other. “Yes. We are.” said Sunset.
“Alright.” Celestia now had the attention of every student. “Hello everyone. Now, I know many of you were expecting a speech from Vice-principal Luna and myself. However, I have decided to let one of your fellow students make my announcement. Sunset Shimmer!” Sunset stepped up sheepishly. Only five students in the audience clapped. The least said about what the others did, the better.
"Alright." Celestia said. "Luna, would you like to begin."
“Everyone. By now, I'm sure you have all heard the rumor that I use to be a criminal known as Nightmare Moon. I'm here to say that those rumors are, in fact, correct.” The second her sentence was over, the students shared both a surprise and frightened look. “And I'm okay with this. And my friend Sunset would like to say something as well.” Luna stepped down, and Sunset walked to the podium. The students were either dismissive, or angry. Sunset looked into the audience, and found her five friends, smiling and waving at her. She opened up her diary, reading what she wrote inside.
“My fellow students. My name is Sunset Shimmer. Awhile ago, I stole a tiara belonging to a former student, Twilight Sparkle. What many of you may not know is that the tiara was infused with magic. That magic brought out what was really inside my heart, a hateful and envious demon who took control of all of you. Words cannot describe how sorry I am for that, and all other wrong doings I have committed. But I would like you all to hear one thing. I have accepted my past. This past weekend, our Principal taught me a very valuable lesson. The first and second step on the road to recovering from your past is forgiving yourself and admitting what happened. Ms. Luna and I have accepted our past sins. We hope that you all will not judge us based on our past, and help us move towards a better future for everyone.” Sunset closed the diary, and stepped down. Celestia stepped up again.
“Thank you all for your time. You may go back to your classes.”
The students got up, and walked towards the doors. Sunset waited until everyone but her friends, who stayed behind with her, left. The six girls left together. Sunset was expecting a storm of hatred to be thrown at her. In the halls, her phone buzzed.
“Yo Sunset.” It was a text from DJ Pon-3. “I just wanted to say that, while I still don't like what you did, you got my acceptance. It takes a lot of guts to step up in front of a group of people and own up to what you did in the past.”
DJ was by a door, and waved to Sunset. Sunset happily waved back.
DJ left, and after her, a surge of other students came after her, each of them saying something along the lines of “You're back in my good graces.” However, other students just walked by her, glaring. One even threw a paper ball at her.
“It looks like there are still some students that hate you.” said Luna, walking towards Sunset. Sunset waved bye to her friends, and talked to Luna.
“Yeah, I expected that. And I'm okay with it, even if they never accept me back, at least I have good friends that accept me.”
"That's excellent news."
