Forged in Flame

Oh Celestia, it hurts! It hurts so damn much! Why?! This isn’t what I wanted!

The full force of the Element of Magic was not merciful. Lost to the corruption of her own soul mixed with the power of the Element, Sunset Shimmer could not ignore the pain. Tears flowed uncontrollably down her cheeks, the only clear sign she was in agony. But before she could cry out for help, her body was lost to the twisted magic.

What’s happening to me?! This isn’t right!

Without warning, the pain surged through Sunset once again, but this time it was visible why. Her body was taking on a whole new shape and form befitting her infamous nature. Only one simple word could describe her now: Demon.

Once the transformation was complete, Sunset opened her eyes, now black as the void. At first, it felt like the worst had finally passed, but it wasn’t long before Sunset realized something was very wrong. Despite her body’s movement, and the smug cackle that escaped past her lips, the Equestrian Exile did not feel it was her own doing. She prayed for a moment someone else had simply snapped, and in their madness of all that had transpired couldn’t stomach the laughter inside, but this was not the case. Sunset was the one who had lost control.

Motivated by what felt like primal instinct, Sunset watched helplessly as she boasted how she would lead an army of slaves into Equestria with the intention of total conquest and subjugation of its citizens.

I’m going to do what?! No! No, stop it!

Sunset Shimmer was egotistical and demanding, but she was no tyrant. Every word she spoke was nothing but the mad ramblings of an aspiring conqueror drunk on her own power.

I have to stop this! I can’t…! Twilight! Help me!

Never in a million years did Sunset believe she would have ever heard herself plead Princess Twilight Sparkle to save her, but while the pain had subsided, the loss of command over her body terrified her beyond belief. She didn’t care how low she had to sink her head; she just wanted to be back in control.

A sickening feeling rose from Sunset’s gut up to her throat. She sensed the sinister thoughts running through her mind as Twilight and her friends opposed her, thoughts filled with murderous intent. With all the strength of will she could muster, Sunset demanded Twilight to get away from her, but the warning never made it out. The she-demon’s rational side could only watch herself unleash a ball of concentrated dark magic on the six friends. In the very moment of impact, Sunset unwittingly tortured herself with the mental screaming of her victims she believed to have murdered.

Much to Sunset’s hidden relief behind the confusion on her face, a miracle had presented itself in the form of the magical bond between the six. Twilight stood tall and proud upon the revelation of what had transpired, and took advantage of this moment while the tables were turned. With the proclamation that Sunset’s corruption of the Element of Magic could not stand up to what it truly represented, Twilight embraced her friends as they joined in unison, and their magic grew beyond anything Sunset thought possible.

Hand in hand, the Humane Six glowed fiercely with power, and in one fell swoop, they unleashed a colourful blast of magic upon Sunset, tearing away at her demonic shell and cleansing her of all the corruption she had bathed herself in.

Sweet goddess, it hurts! Celestia, please make it stop!

The feeling of layer upon layer of skin being ripped clean from her filled her with such indescribable anguish, she wasn’t sure if the screaming she heard was her own or that of her demon-half. Despite the relief that freedom was close at hand, Sunset was on the border of passing out from the trauma. For a moment, it seemed to be inevitable as everything went dark.

******

BRRR!... BRRR!... BRRR!...

A whole new sensation filled Sunset now. It wasn't unwelcome, but it definitely had its own brand of torture. Her body was heavy and sluggish, the latter of which couldn't have been more clear as she effortlessly slapped her hand a couple of feet away from where she lay, beating across the floor beside her mattress until her clenched fist came down hard on the electronic clock.

It was then that Sunset realized she had been having that dream again, and she forced herself to sit upright on her worn-out mattress to clear her head. As she rubbed the sand from her eyes, the young Equestrian Exile looked around what she could only describe as a pitiful excuse of a bedroom. Wallpaper was mouldy and torn, no carpets save for the one rug which was just about ready for the trash, and the dirty windows lacked curtains to shield her from the morning sun. Once she gathered her thoughts, she remembered the Fall Formal was already a week ago, and things had started to change since then.

“Wonderful.” Grumbling and pushing herself to her bare feet, Sunset Shimmer walked across the dirty floorboards, treading carefully over the empty plastic bottles, food wrappers, and the odd infuriating pebble. When she thought she was in the clear, a lonely little stone found itself embedded into her heel.

“YEOWCH!” Sunset screamed. She quickly lifted her foot off the ground and hopped her way to the archway leading to the kitchen, grasping around her ankle and desperately trying to rub the pain away. “Damn rock! You’re not even worth grinding into dust!”

From the worn down kitchen cupboards, Sunset pulled out an old box of cereal and sat at the tiny table she had set up in the corner, digging in and stuffing her face with handfuls after every gulp. Dry food never bothered her so much back in Equestria, but growing accustomed to her new body made her appreciate some delicacies being drenched in milk or water, neither of which were available to her in this run-down shack she called home. Despite the unpleasantness, Sunset powered through it with a loud grumble and ate until she was ready to tackle the day.

With her shoulder bag stocked with the essentials, and the cleanest clothes she could dig out from the growing pile of laundry in the corner of her bedroom, Sunset Shimmer walked out of the aged bungalow and made her way down the street to Canterlot High. It was a little ways away, and Sunset had to get used to walking it since she couldn’t stomach the icy cold glares her fellow students gave her anymore.

“We’ll see who’s laughing when they get fat.” She did her best to find some pride in this, but she couldn’t lie to herself. She was feeling cowardly.

******

Despite the events of the Fall Formal, what with the damage done to the front of the school, Canterlot High remained open for the sake of its students, much to the disappointment of many who were looking forward to an easy week of lazing around.

“That’s why we have a back door,” said Principal Celestia, standing tall and proud beside her younger sister, Vice Principal Luna. One couldn’t help but notice the subtle smug grin that came with every greeting she handed out to her students.

“Careful, sister. Any more pride goes to your head and it’ll fall off.” Luna snidely remarked. Celestia openly chuckled but kept a level of professionalism about her before the teenagers.

“Sometimes the harsher lessons are the most important.”

“Lessons such as ‘an otherworldly incident with magical demons and witchcraft is no excuse to ditch school’?”

“Well, when you say it like that, it sounds ludicrous.” The eldest sister looked down to Luna with a raised eyebrow and a crooked smile. Her response was rewarded with a sly grin.

Sunset Shimmer couldn’t help but home in on the discussion. She listened carefully to their words, most likely out of fear they were talking about her, but her fears were put to rest when it was simply playful banter between siblings. Despite this world’s many differences, it was something of a pleasant feeling to see her former mentor’s familiar charm and playfulness, even if it were through the actions of another.

Sunset quickly remembered she was in no mood for talking, especially with Celestia. The fierce reception from her fellow students was tolerable, but fear held her back when it came to the principal. Alternate or not, the voice, the eyes, even the wisdom were all the same. And at this moment in time, Sunset couldn't bear to endure her harsh words.

“Sunset Shimmer! A word, if you please?” It felt like a cruel joke. At times like these, Sunset would have simply mingled with the crowd and try to keep as many obstacles between her and another as physically possible. Unfortunately for her, no one would have dared set foot in a five meter radius around her. She was exposed, so Celestia caught her easily. Swallowing the lump in her throat and clutching the strap of her shoulder bag, Sunset sluggishly walked to the principal.

“Yes, ma’am?” She asked with as much sincerity as she could muster, just so she could hide any lingering sarcasm that coated her words for so many years.

“I would just like to arrange a moment we could speak privately between your classes. Would you be able to make it to my office during lunch?”

“I guess so. Why?”

“You have been so busy helping with the repairs to the school, we haven’t had a chance to just sit down and talk.”

Sunset was curious, but mostly confused. “What’s there to talk about? I’m serving detention until the female gender learns how to grow a beard.” Her snark never abandoned her, even in her mind. Especially in her mind. “Well, okay. I can be there.”

“Wonderful,” Celestia smiled. “I look forward to seeing you. Have a pleasant day, Miss Shimmer.”

“Yeah, you too, or whatever...” She pulled down on the strap of her shoulder bag and walked up the steps into the school. So began another wonderful day of suspicion, contempt, and the occasional threat.

“You truly don’t know a lost cause when you see it, do you?” Luna wasn't above all the mistrust Sunset had been receiving, yet she didn't feel all that surprised her sister had the opposite mindset.

“I have yet to meet one, Luna.”

******

The first half of school was quiet, and not the comfortable kind. The kind that was filled with whispers behind Sunset’s back, harbouring cruel opinions and dodgy exchanges of pranks in store. She had never felt so paranoid in all her life, though she couldn’t find anyone to blame but herself. They were rightfully unforgiving, and it would take more than a week to make things right. This only made it all the more relieving when she met up with the Humane Five, the only students who showed her any form of compassion, outside on the field during first period break.

“Sunny! There you are!” bubbly Pinkie Pie burst into glee as their honorary sixth member approached the group relaxing under the shade of a tall oak tree, sheltering them from the sweltering sun.

“Sorry I’m late. I had to take a few diversions.”

“Others still givin’ you trouble, huh?” country gal Applejack said.

“Not so much trouble as giving me a reason to watch my back for any misplaced knives.” Sunset sighed and fell limp against the smooth bark of the tree, sinking her way down to the soft grass under her rump. She had found herself tucked between the colourful Rainbow Dash and the meek Fluttershy, the former of who was distracted with a spinning soccer ball on her finger.

“Oh my, is it really that bad?” Fluttershy inquired. Sunset didn’t answer, she figured it went without saying. She was the school’s number-one most universally hated, and they didn’t shy away from admitting that, not anymore. It used to be Sunset could inspire fear simply by walking the hallways. But nowadays, all that earns her is the odd spitball.

“Some friendship thing we’ve got going here. Twilight made one hell of a difference.” She grumbled. She was close to a full on rant before the elegant Rarity intervened.

“Now, Sunset dear, we all agree things are fairly rough at the moment, but it can only get better from here.” She rationalized. “And you have to admit, what Princess Twilight did has set you on the path to redemption, did it not?” Sunset didn’t want to admit her successor had done her any favours, but Rarity was right. If not for Twilight, Canterlot High would still be subjugated to Sunset’s once perfect social system of herding the students like cattle, and Sunset herself would still be lost to her own selfish desires.

“I guess.”

“Guess nothing! You know she helped you out big time!” Rainbow was quick to give her two cents on the matter, much to Sunset’s own irritation.

“Okay, fine! She helped! Not that her good intentions will do me any good now.”

“Urgh...” Rainbow slammed her head into the tree and hugged her soccer ball into her stomach to ease out the stress. Of all the Humane Five, Rainbow was the hardest for Sunset to bond with, but she still treated her better than anyone else outside the group.

“So what’re you gonna do ‘bout it, Sunset?” Applejack asked, arms folded and an eyebrow raised. Sitting around and complaining about things always rubbed her the wrong way.

“Oh! Oh! Why don’t we throw a huge apology party?! We can call it... an “Apolarty”!” Pinkie jumped to her feet and bounced with excitement at the prospect of planning yet another major party only a week after the Fall Formal. Half the time, Sunset wondered where she kept all this energy.

“No, dear. No more parties for now. I think what we need is something simple but memorable, like hosting a charity event.” Rarity stepped in with a more reasonable sounding idea. Sunset had to admit, that sounded rather promising. If it wasn’t going to earn her a little admiration, it’d at least prove she was trying to make amends one way or another.

“You girls... thanks.” She smiled softly.

“Fer what, Sunset?” Applejack asked.

“For giving me a chance. That’s more than what anyone else here is willing to do, and you girls have more reason to not give it to me than anyone else.”

“Well, Twilight did kinda make us promise, so-OOF!” Rainbow’s little quip was quickly cut off by an elbow from Applejack straight to the gut. Sunset couldn’t help but feel a little hurt, but that really was the case. If Twilight hadn’t said anything, Sunset would be fighting this battle alone.

“Once again, Princess Butt-in Sparkle’s gone and thrown me a bone. I wonder if she did all that just to get under my skin.”

“Um, Sunset...?” A quiet but soft voice broke Sunset out of her train of thought, a considerable feat considering the tussle going on right next to her.

“Oh, nevermind. Just lost in thought, y’know.” She smiled as best she could to ease Fluttershy’s worries. She was always too kind and caring for her own good, but Sunset was thankful she was no exception to her natural selflessness.

“You don’t have to worry about it anymore, Sunset. We’ll help you.” Her hand gently placed itself on Sunset’s shoulder across her leather jacket, which only provoked a grimace look on her face followed by a twitch of the eye. Sunset wasn’t used to being touched, not by anyone, but she endured it for now.

“I know. It’s just... I know.” She fumbled her fingers around and sheepishly smiled to Fluttershy. She wanted to believe her friends, but there was little reason to. The odds were against her on the path to redemption, and her inexperience with true friendship couldn’t have been more obvious. And then there was the Humane Five. How much of their support was sincere, and how much of it was to keep their promise to Princess Twilight? How far would they truly go for her?

“No, I can’t think about that! This’ll work, I’ll make it work!” Sunset was never one to give up so easily. She was ready to fight tooth and nail to fix her mistakes, and no self-doubt was going to impede her. She’ll make friends, even if it takes everything she’s got.