A Shimmering Sunset

by GalaxyTheNightWing

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Dark, Sad
Length: 2965

Sunset Shimmer hasn't exactly had the most glorious past.........in fact, it's made her want to crawl into a hole and die on more that one occasion.......but not everything stays in the past.

Sunset Shimmer hasn't exactly had the most glorious past………in fact, it's made her want to crawl into a hole and die on more that one occasion…….but not everything stays in the past. Twilight has gained the ability to open the portal at will, and when Sunset catches wind of Iram and his Devil Dragons attacking, she's anything but happy. Sunset writes to Twilight about the danger, and convinces her to reopen the portal. Now, she has to face her past, and go back to save Equestria from the biggest and most deadly threat it's ever faced. But she can't face this danger alone.

Spoilers for Equestria Girls and Rainbow Rocks

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-10-10 18:19:37 UTC

Prologue

Growls sounded from up ahead. This was the end. Sunset knew that. She had known that before the battle even started. But if she was going down, she was taking the dragon's leader with her. Her horn lit up as she tapped into her stores of magic, feeling it pass through her entire body as she teleported, leaving a small explosion of pale cyan light in her wake. She appeared a long distance away, panting from the large use of magic. The growling was louder, and she cringed at the gleaming red-orange eyes that watched her. She activated her magic again, her horn glowing with bright cyan light and allowing her to see. A deep scarlet shape stepped forward. His curved, sharp horns were pure black, and had curving, serrated barbs near the gleaming tips. His black fangs were black and serrated, except for the two longest ones, that curved to a wicked point. His ebony colored, pitch black, serrated claws were arched, ready to attack and dig into any unlucky victim that wasn't prepared. His tail lashed, revealing sharp, serrated black barbs near the tip leading to a black, serrated barb that curved along his tail tip, long and deadly. Sunset's eyes narrowed. "Oh...hi, Iram......did you get bigger since last time?" She murmured, then growled internally at the hint of fear in her voice. Sunset couldn't back down, she'd risk all of Equestria.....not only that, she'd risk Twilight and her friends, the only ones who didn't treat her like a natural disaster with legs. The closest things to friends she'd had since before she jumped into the mirror.

"I can sense your unease, Sunny." The dragon hissed, his voice malicious and savage. Sunset's anger grew, overcoming the faint sense of fear she had. Somehow the creature's voice had roused...something in her. A spark. Her eyes grew wide, determined.

"Don't call me that, beast. You took away one of the only things that I actually liked. You killed them all, in one fell swoop. And for that you must die. I will avenge them, even if it kills me!" Sunset said, her voice carrying the rage she had kept inside of her ever since the war that lead her to leave Equestria in the first place.

"Give me your all, Sunset Shimmer." The beast snarled, leaping at her. Sunset thought fast, using her magic to teleport out of the way of his claws. She leaped over his tail, dashing out into the open. She glanced behind her, seeing the Devil Dragon had taken flight to pursue her. She yelped as he sent a ball of scarlet fire, singing part of her tail. Sunset's horn flashed brightly as she teleported again, gaining some more distance between her and the dragon.

"Oh, that is so not fair!" Sunset snapped, running faster. Her legs burned, screaming for her to stop or slow down, but she forced herself to keep running. Her life, and the lives of many others depended on it. She panted slightly, the burning seeming to spread through her very soul. She could hear heavy wingbeats as the dragon shortened the distance between them. She let out a cry as she ran into a large, jagged black crystal that had sprouted from the ground, crashing on her side with pain running through her like fire. She winced, eyes suddenly narrowed as the large black and red dragon landed, drawing his head closer to her injured form.

"Oh, the pages have turned on you now. It's time for me to win this fight. Prepare to die." He snarled, his red-orange eyes lighting up with savage anticipation.

Sunset Shimmer found herself with one thing on her mind.

Where did it all go wrong?

Chapter 2

Well, I suppose this is where my story *really** starts. Prepare yourself, this may get a bit confusing.....*

"Grr....I can't find anything.....any luck, Ember?" Sunset asked, looking at the phoenix. Ember landed on her perch, which was made of silver and covered in intricate designs matching the unicorn's cutie mark. Sunset was much bigger now, as was her avian companion. Sunset was now a full-grown mare, and Ember was a stunningly beautiful phoenix, with red and orange plumage that showed off just how graceful the bird really was. "Maybe I should just tell Celestia about the legend we found and have this be over already, considering all of the spellbooks and legends seem to be a bust." She growled a bit, setting down the books she was holding in her cyan magic.

A knock resounded on the door, and almost on instinct Sunset's horn glowed, the door swinging open whilst covered in a cyan glow. "Hello, Sunset." Celestia greeted as she walked into the room, her mane flowing as if blown by a nonexistant breeze. "I could hear you muttering from halfway across the castle. Is something bothering you?" The princess asked, seeming genuinely worried.

"It's....it's nothing. I just found some weird prophecy in a book and wanted to do some research, but all I can find are dumb legends and books about friendship." She hissed, practically spitting out the last word.

"Sunset......I believe you're putting friendship off as less than it really is." Celestia said, shaking her head a bit.

"But it's ridiculous!" Sunset snapped, whirling on her mentor and making Ember chirp in surprise, her fiery feathers ruffling.

"Sunset Shimmer." Celestia warned, her tone becoming serious and making Sunset internally wince. "I do believe it's time for you to make some friends of your own." The white alicorn said, eyes scanning the startled unicorn.

"And why in the wide world of Equestria would I do that? With all respect, Princess, I don't believe friendship to be necessary. I'm more interested in finding out about this legend." Sunset countered, narrowing her eyes.

Celestia folded her wings, shaking her head. "Sunset, friends are more than necessary, you need to learn that. In fact, I have a new mission for you." She announced.

Sunset blinked, ears pricking again. "What is it? Will it help with the return of the alicorn from the legend?" She insisted, driving away from the earlier conversation.

"I've been a bit busy preparing for the solar eclipse in a few days." Celestia began. After a nod from Sunset, the princess continued. "I am sending you to another part of Canterlot to make sure everything goes smoothly, and be sure to make friends." She said, emphasizing the last couple words.

Sunset blinked again. "Seriously?!" She snapped. "That's it!? You're sending me away from the castle to 'make friends' or whatever? Son of a...."

"Sunset Shimmer." Celestia cut her off. "This is more important than you think it is." She finished, and Sunset's ears flattened as she muttered, going off to pack her things.

Chapter 3

Sunset groaned as the chariot moved though the skies above Canterlot. Ember was perched on top of one if the sides of the chariot, looking around the city as they flew over it. She glared at the air, her red and yellow mane and tail blowing in the wind. "Make some friends, she says, it's completely necessary, she says." Sunset muttered, mocking Celestia's voice.

"Calm down, Sunset." Ember said, her words only seeming to agitate Sunset more.

"It's not the sending me to the outskirts of the city that bothers me, it's the purpose! She thinks I'm gonna make friends, or whatever." Sunset argued.

"Who knows, Sunny, maybe you will make friends." Ember replied, her bright yellow eyes focusing on the grumpy unicorn.

"I highly doubt it." She said, scanning the city below as the chariot approached the ground. "I think she just doesn't want me sitting around in the castle all day reading." Sunset huffed, leaping out of the silver chariot once it touched down. Ember flapped her wings, soaring over and landing on the unicorn's back. Sunset nodded to the pegasi who pulled the chariot, who nodded in turn before taking off again, turning back towards the castle and flying off.

"Well, at least try, please, Sunset?" Ember asked nicely.

"Fine. But I won't guarantee anything." Sunset grumbled, trotting along the streets. "This part of the city apparently has all kinds of ponies, not just unicorns." She said to Ember matter-of-factly. "If you're so insistent, I may be able to at least try and get on good terms with these ponies. As much as I hate to socialize. It wouldn't hurt." Sunset stopped, glancing around...before a large dog tackled her, sending her crashing to the ground while Ember shot into the air, hovering above her with a startled squawk. Sunset's eyes grew wide, and she looked at the dog who was currently - and quite efficiently - pinning her to the ground. The dog was a husky, with bright azure eyes and a tail that was moving so fast it had become a black and white blur.

"Freeze! Oh no, I am so, so, so sorry about her! She's really hyper...." A pegasus said as she ran up. The husky turned her head, barking happily before bounding over to the mare. Sunset blinked, getting to her hooves and shaking the dog slobber that the hyper canine had covered her in while it was licking her. She then looked at the pegasus, finally getting a good look at her. The mare was a pale, blue-ish silver, with a long, wavy sky blue mane and tail. Her eyes were bright blue, and her cutie mark resembled a snowflake being blown by a breeze represented by three long spirals. "Um....I...I'm Breeze Cloud, by the way."

"Sunset Shimmer." Sunset said as her phoenix companion flew down, perching once again on her back. "And this is my phoenix friend, Ember."

"Wait a second....I've heard that name before.....aren't you Princess Celestia's student?" Breeze inquired, her voice quiet.

"Why yes, yes I am. She sent me to make friends, as if that'll help." Sunset replied, blinking at the silver pegasus. "Why?"

"Well, if...if it helps....I'll...be your friend." Breeze suggested. "Streamer said I could use some more friends, after all."

"Hmm....it couldn't hurt." Sunset said, smiling a bit. "Sure, why not? And who's Streamer?"

"A friend of mine. Almost as hyper as Freeze, here." She explained. "I think I might know where she is, if you want to meet her." The pegasus said softly.

Sunset nodded. "Alright."

Chapter 4

Okay, I suppose I have a confession to make. You don't think I'd be the one to want to make friends, right? Well, I admit when I first met Breeze Cloud, I was just trying not to let her down. After all, if you just got tackled to the ground by the dog that belongs to a shy pegasus who probably only has a handful of friends in her life, would you want to just turn around and leave them? Didn't think so. I was also trying to prove something to Ember, so ha.

Sunset Shimmer rolled her eyes as she followed the shy pegasus through the outskirts of Canterlot. The phoenix perched on top of her was watching Breeze Cloud with keen yellow eyes, chirping every couple seconds, though the sound was nearly inaudible. "Ember, hush." Sunset whispered sharply, making Ember draw her head back, blinking, before ruffling her feathers and looking away.

"She should be around here somewhere....I think." Breeze said softly, her ears flattening for a split second before pricking again. She glanced around, her azure eyes scanning the crowd of unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies, and the pegasus yelped when a blur ran into her. Sunset blinked, stepping back a bit. A pale pink earth pony had Breeze Cloud pinned to the ground. The mare had a poofy, dark purple mane and tail with sky blue streaks in them, dark magenta eyes, and a rolled up purple party blower surrounded by sky blue confetti for a cutie mark.

"Ohmygosh, hi Breeze!" The hyper earth pony said, grinning. Her gaze traveled to Sunset, and she immediately leaped off of the startled pegasus. "Ooooh, you're new! I haven't seen you around here before! I'm Streamer, by the way, what's your name?" She continued, talking very quickly.

"Uh....Sunset Shimmer...." Sunset said slowly, her ears flattened ad Ember lifted her head. "You see...."

"You're the personal student of Princess Celestia and you hatched a baby phoenix when you were a filly and now you're all grown up and so is the phoenix and the Princess sent you out here to make friends because you found a legend and she didn't belirve you and she says that you need to have friends and see the magic of friendship for yourself?" Streamer said, smiling wider.

Okay, well, I'm not gonna lie here. Streamer kinda scared me when we first met. I mean, she knew EVERYTHING. How does one even DO that!? Ahem, anyway....back to the story at hand...

"How did you........?" Sunset gasped, eyes growing wide.

"Just a hunch!" The pale pink pony said cheerfully. "So, we gotta get you some friends, huh? I can help with that! Gimme JUUST a sec!" Streamer said, darting off.

"Wait...that's not......what.....huh?" Sunset said, completely confused.

"She can be kinda...sudden. Guess I should have warned you before." Breeze said, smiling a bit. "She's probably off to get our other 4 friends." The pegasus explained.

"This is going to be a LONG day......." Sunset groaned as she lowered her head.

True to her word, Streamer hadn't taken long. In no less than five minutes, the pale pink earth pony came back, bouncing up and down on the road and stopping in front of Sunset. "Didn't she say she was gonna bring her friends...?" Ember said, before blinking as three ponies approached. One earth pony, one unicorn, and one pegasus.

"Well hello there." The earth pony said, smiling. She was cream colored, with a dark red-purple mane with a pale lavender streak in it, pale green eyes, and a cutie mark representing a rose. "My name is Rose Thorn. You must be the one who Streamer was talking about." She introduced, dipping her head in a bow.

"And my name's Static Boom." The pegasus introduced herself. Static Boom was black, with a silvery gray mane and tail and ice blue eyes. Her cutie mark was a single yellow lightning bolt. "This is Gemstone." Static said, jerking her hoof over to point at the unicorn, who was white with purple eyeshadow and a long, glossy red mane and tail. Her cutie mark consisted of three turquoise gems.

"Hello." Sunset greeted, scanning the five ponies around her. "Ahem. My name is Sunset Shimmer. The princess sent me here to.....ugh...try and make friends...." She flattened her ears, groaning.

"Don't worry, Sunset, it'll be fine. Not like it's the end of the world or anything." Ember said, making Sunset's head shoot up in alarm.

"The legend! Oh no, I COMPLETELY forgot!" Sunset burst out, taking off at a run and using her magic to drag Ember behind her. "We have to stop it before it's too late!" She skidded to a halt suddenly. "Ember, where are we supposed to stay?" She inquired, looking at the phoenix as she released her from the magical hold.

"Library...." Ember said, disoriented.

"Good. Come on, then." Sunset said calmly, trotting off towards the library.

Well, yeah, I was an egghead back then. But I spent my entire life in a castle with no company but Princess Celestia. Hehe.....

Chapter 1

I suppose I'll start from the beginning, or, at least close to the beginning........things started when I was....quite young, to say the least....

"Alright, you can do this, Sunset Shimmer...." Sunset murmured to herself, her small hooves making subtle clicking sounds on the floor of the castle. She glanced at Princess Celestia, then at the flame-colored egg that was nestled in a basket near the solar alicorn.

"Do not worry yourself, Sunset." The filly's mentor said, her voice soft and calming. Celestia never failed in calming the young unicorn, and this time was no different. Sunset smiled a bit, her horn beginning to glow a pale, greenish cyan that matched the color of her eyes. The magic swirled around her horn, as a cyan aura swirled towards the fiery egg, wrapping slowly around it. It sank into the egg, making it glow a bit before Sunset finished her spell, the bright glow fading from her horn quickly. She panted, ears flattening. The spell was complicated for her age, and took a lot out of her. She didn't even know if she was successful.

"Did it work?" Sunset asked,and her eyes narrowed as a small crack appeared on the surface of the brightly colored egg, quickly followed by several more. She backed up a bit, trembling slightly as more cracks began to appear on the top, and flinched visibly when it split apart. What she saw next, however, calmed her down quite a lot. Among the shattered remains of the egg was a small bird, which was made of flames. Her eyes went wide, and she tilted her head. "Is that what I think it is...?" She wondered out loud.

Celestia gave a short nod. "It's a phoenix." Then, lowering her head to make eye contact with Sunset, she finished. "And she's yours."

"Mine?" Sunset inquired, blinking at the newly hatched immortal bird.

"You can name her, too, if you wish." Her mentor said, smiling. Sunset's eyes grew wider, and she scanned the tiny phoenix to think of a good name.

"Uh....I think I'll call her.....Ember." Sunset said, giggling a bit as Ember chirped, flapping her tiny wings and gliding over to perch on the filly's horn, wobbling a bit before steadying her talons.

Little did I know, that Ember would spark the start of something new to me.......and eventually change my life.