Sunset Boulevard

by Mani-Roar

Rating: teen
Tags: Aria Blaze, Adagio Dazzle, Slice of Life, Sonata Dusk, Human, Sunset Shimmer, Sad, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe
Length: 6117

When the Dazzlings defeat the Rainbooms in an ultimate battle of the bands, Sunset Shimmer will have to find the courage to fight back against their reign over Canterlot High.

When the Rainbooms lose the Battle of the Bands to the Dazzlings, Sunset Shimmer finds herself to be the most hated person at Canterlot High yet again. With Twilight Sparkle missing and no one left standing to reunite the Rainbooms, Sunset and her few remaining friends must discover a way to bring down the tyrannical trio without falling under their spell.

Published 2014-11-06 04:00:03 UTC
Last updated 2015-01-06 06:47:44 UTC

Chapter 1: You Didn't Know That You'd Fell

Twilight Sparkle looked out over the stadium filled with cheering, adoring fans. Everyone was completely entranced by the allure of the spectacle in front of them. Everyone was facing the opposite direction of Twilight and her friends.

“How are you going to get your musical spell to project over the Dazzlings?” Sunset stood among the six close friends. She was the only one without an instrument or a microphone. As soon as she asked her question, Vinyl Scratch pulled her oddly short convertible up behind the recently re-banded musicians. They watched as the car, in a seemingly impossible manner, transformed into full sound system complete with a mix table and amplifier towers. Twilight smiled at Sunset and put her hand on her shoulder.

“Looks like our resident DJ has that covered” Sunset gave a crooked smile back at Twilight as she clutched her own elbow with her right arm. “Don’t worry Sunset Shimmer, nothing can get in the way of our friendship now.”

Our friendship

“Listen Twilight, I never got a chance to tell you before how sorry I am that I…” she was hushed when Twilight put her finger over Sunset’s lips.

“It’s ok, I know you are. You've really changed and everyone can see that now.” Sunset pulled her face away from Twilight’s hand.

“Not everybody” Sunset grabbed both of her elbows as if the wind was colder than it really was. A flash of light behind her caused everyone to look over to the Dazzlings on stage. Their power was more intense than ever and they were nearing the climax of their song.

“Well, hey, look at me getting in the way again. Listen, you girls rock ‘em dead ok? I’ll be cheering for you.” Sunset moved off to the side of the band and took a knee next to Spike. The mane six, tuned and primed for action, were ready to unleash their fury upon the tyrannical Dazzlings. They led in with a drum fill by Pinkie Pie.

Oh, oh, oh

I got the music in me

Oh, oh, oh

Suddenly flanked by multiple sources of music, the crowd snapped out of their drooling trance and turned to look at the Rainbooms. The Dazzlings were caught off guard enough to pause in the middle of their song. Adagio grinded her teeth hard enough to feel the pain.

“Twilight Sparkle” Adagio’s voice was full of hatred and bile.

“Yeah, she’s like, the new girl and stuff. She’s kinda good at magic if you hadn't noticed.” Aria seemed almost bored with the situation on stage. Adagio turned to snap at Aria.

“I know who she is, you moron. If we don’t do something to stop her, she could ruin everything.” she pointed directly at Twilight across the crowd.

“I dunno, I kinda like her singing voice.” Sonata tapped on her cheek.

“Shut up, shut up both of you and listen.” Adagio balled her hands into fists. “Do you think we've recovered enough power to open a dimensional portal?”

“Like, I don’t know, I guess we have.” Aria flipped her hair with her hand and sneered. Sonata’s face lit up with excitement.

“Oh my God, for realzies? Are we finally going home?” She started bouncing in place.

“No” Adagio looked at the ground. The tone in her voice got a little more bitter. “Starswirl made sure of that. But we aren’t the ones going through the portal.”

“The like, who is, Adagio?” Aria was inspecting her nails.

“Just get ready to cast it on my signal.” Adagio turned back to the Rainbooms and grinned. “If they want to have a real battle of the bands, then so be it.”

What we have in store

All we want and more

We will break on through

Now its time to finish you

The trio moved together in graceful unison as they sang their counter attack. Astral projections of the Dazzlings true forms rose into the sky and flew after the Rainbooms. Rarity played a key-tar riff that shot flying diamond crystals which held Sonata’s spirit at bay. Applejack fingered a bass line that created a sound wave thick enough to cause Aria’s spirit to veer off and fly away to protect itself. Rainbow Dash shredded a solo so fast it caused her fret board to heat up. The solo sent a rainbow lightning bolt straight into Adagio’s spirit, piercing it through the chest.

“Argh” Adagio clutched her chest and nearly dropped to her knees on stage. Twilight tried to take advantage of Adagio’s incapacitated state and belted a high note. Her note resonated over the DJ speakers and launched a spiraling sound wave toward Adagio’s spirit siren.

Adagio smirked.

“So you think it’s going to be that easy, Sparkle.” Adagio’s draconic essence opened its mouth in tandem with Adagio. She released a screeching high note that managed to drown out Twilight’s sound wave. The backlash knocked Twilight on her butt. Rainbow Dash and Rarity quickly helped her to her feet. All three siren spirits joined together and blasted a dissonant chord down at the struggling Rainbooms. They covered their faces and braced for the impact. Just as the triple note wave was about to hit them, Rainbow dash managed to dime the volume setting on her guitar and hit the distortion foot switch. She struck a power chord that was just enough to parry the blast and keep the band on its feet with the exception of Rainbow Dash. Not having enough time to prepare for the blast and play the power chord cost her her stance and sent her face first to the floor. Twilight ran over to pick her up.

"Dash, are you ok?" Twilight reached under Dash's arms and help lift her to her feet.

"Thanks egg head, I've for sure been better." Dash smiled and wiped a stream of blood from her mouth. She felt something jabbing into her abdomen. Looking down, she saw that her guitar was snapped where the neck meets the body. The broken edge was dangling in front of her, held together by the strap.

"My guitar!" Dash hopeless grabbed the pieces of her late instrument. She started hyperventilating. "It was like a part of me."

"Dash, this is no time to lose faith. We need your direction." Twilight put her hand on Dash's shoulder. Rainbow took in a deep breath and loosened her guitar strap, allowing her dearly departed axe to fall to the ground.

"Rarity, you're gonna have to play lead parts now. The runs will be really hard but I know you can handle it."

"Right," Rarity practiced a few scales in preparation of her new role.

"Applejack, you're pulling double duty on rhythm and bass now. Try adding the 5th of the chord to make the sound fuller when you play the bass line."

"I'm on it, sugarcube." Applejack switched her fingering from a slap style to finger plucking chords on two strings."

"Ok, pinkie, lead us in again. We'll go straight to the chorus." Dash pointed right at Pinkie Pie. Pinkie lit up with a fiery rage as she lifted her sticks to the sky.

"We're the Rainbooms, and we're here to talk about friendship and make you happy and stuff, 1, 2, 3, 4!" Pinkie attacked the toms on her kit and the Rainbooms came in on a cymbal crash.

Let it break down

Set myself free, yeah

Let it all go

Just let it be, yeah

Find the music in your heart

Let the music make you start

To set yourself apart

The Rainboom's speakers emitted a wash of colorful sound that resonated over the entire stadium. Everyone's eyes were on Twilight Sparkle and her band of technicolor teenagers, leaving the Dazzlings all but ignored.

"This is bad" Adagio looked over at Aria and Sonata. Both girls seemed perplexed as to what to do. Adagio knew that their success, once again, depended all on her. "I need an insurance policy."

She scanned the crowd looking for just the right subject for her experiment. Her eyes came across Flash Sentry and she made a crooked grin.

"Twilight Sparkle's new darling and Sunset Shimmer's old toy. You're gonna be the perfect pet for me." Adagio starting singing a melody without queuing the other girls. They looked at her shocked, not sure if they should join or just watch.

"Uh Adagio, do you want us to..." Aria began but stopped when Adagio shot a burst of energy behind her that smacked Aria in the face. "Alright geez, you could have just signaled."

Unlike their combined attacks, Adagio's solo traveled in a straight line as a single beam of energy. Flash Sentry literally had no idea what hit him. His body felt warmer than usual and he felt the insatiable urge to look at the stage. When he saw Adagio singing directly to him, his heart beat accelerated. He felt a yearning sensation the likes of which he had never experienced before. If someone had asked him about Twilight Sparkle in that moment, he wouldn't even have remembered who she was. Flash’s legs involuntarily moved toward Adagio. He knew he had to go to her and would have fought through anyone who tried to stop him. Adagio lifted her hand, indicating for Flash to stop. She winked at him and put her finger to her lips like she was telling him to hush. Flash obeyed and stopped in the middle of the stadium crowd. He gave Adagio a dorky looking smile and stood with his shoulders slumped towards her.

“Now’s our chance girls. Aria, move your essence behind the band. I’ll go above them and Sonata will come at them directly over the crowd. On my signal, we attack them together from all sides.” Adagio balled her fists as she laid out the battle plans to her singing mates.

“How come I’m always the one who attacks from the front?” Sonata looked up and tugged her chin the way she usually did when she was trying to process something.

“Because the one that attacks head on is most likely to absorb all of the enemy’s attacks.” Adagio dismissed Sonata and looked out toward the Rainbooms.

“Oh, ok that makes sense.” Sonata nodded and flipped her hand at the wrist. “Wait…” she looked confused again.

“Never mind that, we attack.” The Dazzlings flexed their transparent wings and levitated over the stage. Their eyes glowed bright red as they sent their essences out toward the Rainbooms again. The green mist that covered the stadium was so thick that the crowd below was almost completely obscured.

“Fluttershy look out!” Applejack was barely able to warn her in time. Fluttershy just avoided Aria’s essence as it zipped past her.

“They’re surrounding us” Dash watched as the Dazzling encircled her band. Without her guitar, there wasn't much she could do except shout directions at the others.

“We need to cast a defensive spell. If I had my horn, I could just surround us in a force field.” Twilight barely got her sentence out before she had to start her next verse.

We shall overcome you

With the magic of friendship

“Great, so how do we cast a force field then?” Dash’s confidence was returning to her as she balled her hand into a fist.

“I don’t know. How are we doing these magical musical attacks in the first place, darling?” Rarity was furiously making runs up and down her keyboard to fill in the lead parts. Her wrists felt like they were about to fall off.

“I have no idea. And I don’t think Twilight is solid on it either.” Dash looked around at how her band members were positioned. “Everyone tuck in tighter. We’re gonna do a bunch formation.”

“A what formation?” Rarity raised an eyebrow, still focusing entirely on her key-tar.

“Just stand really close to each other and play in sync more; less individual parts.” The girls huddled up as close as their instruments would allow them. They stood right in front of Pinkie’s drum kit that was housed on Vinyls speaker platform. They started playing playing chords together in the same rhythm so that it sounded homophonic. Twilight and fluttershy sang a beautiful harmony just a 3rd interval apart from each other. Applejack’s bass line copied Rarity’s base notes an octave down. It was a true symphony of harmony. As their music style tightened, a glowing bubble surrounded the girls.

The Dazzlings unleashed a fury of sound onto the Rainbooms. Their three beams clashed against the dense force field that protected the young pony tailed musicians. Every time Twilight took a breath for the precious air required to produce her resonant vocals, the shield buckled a little bit. It looked like her singing was the key to keeping the field in tact. However, her voice was beginning to feel rasped and tired. She felt a tension in her throat and jaw that was making it harder to stay in tune without aching.

Sunset Shimmer and Spike had been forced to take refuge inside the force field. She clutched the helpless hound to her chest as she sat against the side of the speaker platform.

“Twilight’s starting to lose it.” Spike looked up at Sunset.

“She has to hold on, the Dazzlings can’t win or everyone will be trapped in their spell.” Sunset looked at Twilight.

The bravery and audacity that Twilight brought to every battle was still present on her face. It was the same determination that Sunset saw when she was defeated by her.

No wonder Celestia picked her. She really is someone worth following.

But none the less, Twilight was beginning to waver.

“We won’t get another chance like this. The Dazzlings know what these girls are capable of. We’ll never catch them off guard again.” Sunset watched in horror as Twilight’s voice cracked causing her to pause and clutch her chest. The force field fell and the three Dazzling blasts hit Twilight at same time. They had exclusively aimed for her. Twilight shrieked and fell to the ground. The microphone jettisoned from her hand and rolled next to the foot of Sunset Shimmer. The band girls stopped playing and rushed to aid Twilight. Sunset looked down at the microphone by her feet.

“Sunset Shimmer, we need you!” Twilight’s voice was hoarse and weak. Sunset felt a wave of fear crawl up her spine. She looked down to Spike who nodded in agreement with Twilight. Sunset gently set spike on the ground and stood up. She threw her leather jacket off, revealing a light purple evening top with her cutie mark embroidered on the front. She picked the microphone up off of the ground and stood front and center between the Rainbooms and Adagio. Dash nodded to Pinkie Pie who led the rhythm section in again. Sunset’s voice rang out across the stadium.

You’re never gonna bring me down

You’re never gonna break this part of me

My friends are here to bring me around

Not singing just for popularity

Sunsets words of clarity and truth were already beginning to lift the green fog over the crowd. Flash Sentry looked away from Adagio for the first time since she had sang a song just for him. He saw Sunset Shimmer pouring her heart out on stage. She looked gorgeous and completely in her element. It filled him with rage. Who was she to condescend to everyone? Not after all she had done to the school. Not after all she had done to him. A red light flashed over his eyes. He pointed to Sunset and screamed so that the whole crowd could hear him.

“Hey look, it’s the raging she-demon. Don’t let her get near any magic, she might turn into a monster again.” Some of the crowd laughed at Flash’s remarks. Others started booing the Rainbooms.

“What? No, I’m not like that anymore.” The boos were getting louder. Sunset tried to hide her face with her hand.

“No please, stop it. I’m different now, please.” People started throwing dirt clumps and concession trash at Sunset. She dropped to her knees crying. The crowd was jeering so loud that no one could hear Sunset’s pleading anymore.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Why won’t you forgive me? What do I have to do?” She sat on the ground and buried her face into her knees.

Adagio cackled from the stage.

“Well, well girls, it’s looks like we win this one after all.”

What we have in store

All we want and more

We will break on through

Now It’s time to finish you

The Dazzlings shot another tandem blast. This time they hit Vinyl’s digital set up. Her speakers exploded and sparks flew out from her mixing board. She and Pinkie Pie jumped off the platform to avoid the flames. The Rainboom’s set was done for the evening.

“Sunset” Twilight moved in front of Sunset and tried shield her from the errant objects being thrown at her. “Sunset are you ok?”

“What is the point, Twilight?” Sunset was profusely sobbing into her hands. “What is the point of having friends if nothing ever changes? If everyone sees you the same way no matter what?”

“Sunset, friendship is always worth it. Don’t every give up on it.” Twilight was about to say more but was cut off by Adagio’s booming voice.

“Twilight Sparkle” Adagio’s voice was projected by her draconic essence. “I think you've lingered in this world long enough.” Lightning scraped across the sky and the clouds grew black and gathered together. They swirled like a funnel cloud faster and faster until it looked a giant hole had been torn in the sky.

“It’s a portal, they've opened a portal to another world.” Twilight and Sunset watched fearfully as deafening thunder and lightning flashes roared from the perimeter of the portal. Twilight screamed as she was suddenly levitated into the air.

“Twilight!” Sunset grabbed Twilight’s arm and tried to pull her back down. Twilight grabbed onto Sunset’s arm with her other hand. “Twilight, hold on to me. We need you. I need you.”

“I can’t hold on” The other girls ran over to help pull Twilight back down but they were too late. Sunset had lost her grip of Twilight. All they could do was watch as their great and fearless leader was swept up into the air and tossed through the portal like a shirt thrown into the dryer. The remaining girls held each other, afraid that one of them may be sucked into the portal next. The Dazzlings laughed in unison as their essences flew around the girls, taunting them.

Sunset wasn't sure if it was from a magic attack or exhaustion, but at some point she passed out. When she opened her eyes again, she couldn't believe what she saw.

****

Chapter 2: Blind Sided By The Beat

Sunset looked up to find herself standing in Canterlot Castle. She felt the familiar sensation of standing on all four hooves again. Her first instinct was to run away as quickly as she could. She hadn't been in the castle since Celestia kicked her out and was afraid that she may be arrested on the spot. The next impulse she had was to try and find Celestia as quickly as possible. She ended up compromising by observing the stained glass windows. The one that caught her eye the most was a depiction of her banishment. You could see Celestia and all of the ponies of Canterlot cheering as Sunset walked into the fading glow of the sunlight over the horizon.

Did they really cheer when I left?

"Sunset Shimmer" A commanding voice declared her name from across the hall. Sunset tilted her head and hunched her shoulders. Ashamed to even be standing in the great hall, she was sure that her incarceration was imminent. She turned and saw the princess standing in the wing. Her mane glowed with the royal translucent effect of a Canterlot Alicorn.

"P-princess luna" Sunset was confused but somewhat relieved that it hadn't been Celestia who had found her. She bowed to the legendary moon princess whom she had never met it person.

"You seem to be quite taken with murals here in the great hall." Luna casually walked toward the trembling Sunset Shimmer.

"I'm sorry for trespassing. I don't even know how I got here. I'll leave immediately." Sunset avoided eye contact with the looming princess standing over her.

"Ah but you see, it is I who is trespassing. For it is not in the Canterlot Castle that we are standing, but rather the very precipice of your own mind." Luna tapped her hoof onto Sunset's bowed head. She took that as a queue to stand.

"My mind? Are you saying this is a dream?" Sunset looked around frantically. "So that means none of this is real?" She turned back to look at her own special stained glass scene.

"Everything in a dream has its own truth to it. A dream is merely the way in which your unconscious mind perceives reality." Luna watched as Sunset put her hoof on the glass menagerie in front of her. "Although, I can assure you that, that particular fabrication does not represent my sister's feelings toward you."

Sunset looked Luna in the eye for the first time.

"Well there has to be some truth to it. You said so yourself." Sunset assumed her old tough girl face as it seemed preferable to crying.

"Perhaps the truth in this window is not about Celestia but rather is meant to reveal a truth about you?"

"Yeah, the truth that I'm awful." Sunset dropped to a sitting position. She drooped her head and let her hair hang over her face.

"Take heart young miss Shimmer" Luna gently placed her hoof under Sunset's chin and and lifted her face. "For the reports of Twilight Sparkle and the words of my sister lead me to believe otherwise."

Sunset gave a rough chuckle and forced a grimace.

"So you've read up on me. That's great. Do I have a stats sheet? My own gossip column?"

Luna sighed.

"You know, I realize how hard it can be to face one's own past. A pony is not the sum of her past deeds, but a representative of who she is now." Sunset set jumped to her feet again.

"Are you kidding me? I am completely defined by my past deeds. No matter what I do, no matter how hard I try I cannot get away from my past. Maybe nobody ever really changes." Sunset paused a few moments and held her gaze with Luna. "We just get caught and learn to behave for a while."

Luna sighed again and looked at the floor.

"If you truly believe that, then I cannot help you."  Luna started to back away.

"Wait, where are you going?" Sunset stepped toward Luna. Luna's eyes glowed white as she spread her wings and hovered into the air. Her voice boomed across the hall so loud it seemed that all of Canterlot could hear her.

"Sunset Shimmer, your dream will be ending soon. But before I go, I must deliver a message to you."

Sunset covered her face as a vortex of winds emitted from Luna's wings.

"Twilight Sparkle has returned safely to Equestria."  Luna's good news finally perked Sunset up.

"She has? Oh thank Celestia. We need her back, the Dazzlings have..." Luna's deafening words cut Sunset off.

“Twilight Sparkle cannot return to the other world”

“What? But she has to, we can’t win without her.” Sunset took a step toward Luna through the gale force winds.

“We are aware of your situation. However, because of dangers beyond our control, we cannot open a portal to the other world.” Luna started to drift away from Sunset.

“Then we’ve lost. There’s no way to beat them.” Sunset reached out her hoof toward Luna. She could still see her but it seemed like she was miles away. Luna’s voice was the only part of her that hadn’t diminished.

“Sunset Shimmer, are your bonds of friendship so weak that they cannot stand up to the smallest gust of wind?” The walls of the great hall twisted and contorted around Sunset until they looked like an abstract painting. Luna thrust her wings one more time and and the dream world was washed away into a wave of white light. Sunset blinked her eyes until the white light took the form of florescent lights on a ceiling.

****

Sunset woke up in the nurse’s office at Canterlot High. She was laying on a firm observation table with a cheap sheet of plastic paper underneath her. The lights from the ceiling were obscuring her view of the person who was standing over her. She seemed to be wearing a nurse’s scrub and had a hazard mask over her mouth. She held a clipboard and had big pink poofy hair.

“Ah, I see that the subject is awake. Better note that in the log.” The nurse scribbled something on her clipboard.

“Pinkie Pie?” Sunset started to sit up but Pinkie gently stopped her with her free hand.

“Subject is over eager in trying to leave, we need run some more tests.” Pinkie continued to write something down.

“Pinkie, what’s going on? Why are you dressed like a nurse?” Sunset’s eyes started to adjust to the light.

“Oh no. There’s an irregularity in her deedle-bob thinga-ma-gig.” Pinkie dramatically pulled down her hazard mask and looked at Sunset like she was seeing a ghost. “If we don’t operate right now, we might lose her.”

“Pinkie, you’re scaring me.” Sunset tried to scoot back on the table and bumped her head into the wall.

“Subject is going into Cadillac arrest. Activating emergency CPR maneuvers.” Pinkie balled her hands into a double fist and held it over her head.

“No, please don’t hurt me.” Sunset covered her face with her arms and braced for impact. She jumped a little when she felt something running along her sides and stomach. It caused Sunset to burst out with uncontrolled laughter and convulsions. “Oh Celestia, oh, no, no, haha, stop it, Pinkie, ah, no, haha, seriously....”

Pinkie viciously tickled Sunset and joined in with her giggling spree. By the time she mercifully stopped, both of them were out of breath and still giggling a little.

“Subject, expected to make a full recovery.” Pinkie jotted her note down.

"You are so weird Pinkie." Sunset grinned a little wider than she had in a while. "Thanks, I think I needed that. So what happened?"

Pinkie put the clipboard down and tapped the pen against her mouth.

"Well, we kinda lost the battle."

"We lost?"

"Yeah, we lost pretty hard too. Our stuff exploded and everything." Pinkie was her usual casually flippant self.

"What about Twilight, wasn't she..."

"She's gone, swept up into a portal to who knows where." Pinkie tossed the pen upward and it wedged into the ceiling.

"I have a feeling she's safe back in Equestria." Sunset dipped her head and grabbed her elbow.

"Well that's a relief. It would be awful if she were to be stuck between dimensions, trapped in the infinite nothingness, screaming constantly without making a sound, never to be seen or heard from again." Pinkie threw her hands up into the air.

"Pinkie, what a horrible thing to even think about."

"Yeah, but it almost certainly probably didn't happen so it she should be fine." Pinkie flipped her hands down.

"Remind me not to get my betting odds from you." Sunset sat up on the table. "How long have I been out? An hour or two?" Sunset rubbed her head.

"Two days." Pinkie said like it was two minutes.

"Two days?" Sunset jumped down from the table. She wasn't prepared for how weak her legs were and nearly lost her balance.

"Yep, two days. You were really out of it.”

“What’s happened in two days?” Sunset supported herself against the examining table as she tried to regain the strength in her legs.

“Well, after you passed out, we wanted to take you to the hospital but Principle Celestia was afraid that the dark magic in you might be released and that could be dangerous.” Pinkie did a pirouette and threw her hands out to demonstrate her point.

“Dark Magic?” Sunset looked confused.

“Yeah, so they brought you back here and had nurse Redheart take care of you. You wouldn’t wake up but she couldn’t find anything wrong with you. Celestia wanted to send you back to your house but I convinced nurse Redheart to let you stay here.” Pinkie’s facial expression suddenly looked a little upset. “You see, they’re thinking about expelling you from Canterlot High.”

“Expelling me?”  Sunset stood straight up.

"We got blamed for the disturbance at the battle of the bands. Celestia gave me and the other girls in school suspensions but since you already popped off a giant magical force of evil once before..." Pinkie paused when she noticed the glaring look Sunset was giving her. "Sorry."

"But it wasn't evil, it was the magic of friendship. We were trying to save everyone." Sunset grabbed both of her elbows. It was her go to stance when she felt like the smallest person in the world.

"Well yeah, we know that. But don't you remember the pop singing, the hip swaying, the green smoke, and the engaging stare of seductive eyes that draw you in; defeating your inhibitions until you’re a helpless zombie to their every command?” Pinkie held her hands forward and tilted her head to the side like she was a zombie.

“What?”

“Principle Celestia and Vice Principal Luna are under the Dazzling’s spell” Pinkie threw her hands up.

"Oh of course" Sunset slapped her forehead. "The spell, that's how they're getting Celestia and Luna to think whatever they want. So they want me expelled? Why would they want me expelled?"

"Duh silly" Pinkie knocked on Sunset's forehead like a door. "Cause you're the best chance we have at beating them. You're from the same world as Twilight and you know magic and stuff too."

"I wasn't very helpful two days ago." Sunset folded her arms. "I don't know what to do, I guess I'll just go back to class until they make a decision." Sunset started to walk toward the door but Pinke stepped in her path.

"Um, yeah, about that. You're kinda not supposed to be at the school right now." Pinkie twiddled her fingers in the air. "They kind of suspended you until they make a decision on rather you're expelled or not."

"What? I gotta get out of here, I can't let anyone see me." Sunset paused for a moment. "But if nurse Redheart treated me, don't they already know I'm here?"

"Oh no, you see that's a secret too. Right nurse Redheart?" Pikie ripped the curtain that was dividing the room open to reveal nurse Redheart sitting at her desk shoving a cup cake into her mouth.

"Hi Pinkie," Redheart waved politely to her.

"I had to promise her free cupcakes for a month to get her to keep quiet about you being here." Pinkie bounced in place a few times when she mentioned cup cakes.

"You just keep these coming miss Pie and I won't say a word." Redheart gobbled her last piece of cup cake. "Miss Shimmer, how are you feeling?"

"Uh good, I guess. A little woozy." Sunset teetered a little and re-balanced herself against the table.

"You're dehydrated, you need to drink some water, and a bite to eat would do you good since you've been unconscious for two days." Redheart got up from her desk. She poured water into a plastic cup from the sink and grabbed a banana off of the counter. She handed them to Sunset with a smile.

"Here you go. Try to avoid heavy physical activity or anything overly stressing for a while."

"Thank you." Sunset took the banana and water cup.

“And Miss Pie, it’s cardiac arrest not 'Cadillac' arrest. And we usually refer to our patients by their name not 'subject.'"

"So as long as I stay here I should be fine. I'll wait until after dark to leave. I would hate to get expelled for breaking my suspension." A flash of annoyance flew across Sunset's face as she furrowed her eyebrows. "Even though it's not really my fault that I'm here."

A crackling sound resonated from the PA speakers.

"Sunset Shimmer please report to the principal's office. Sunset Shimmer please report to the principal's office."

Sunset Shimmer froze staring at the PA speaker. Pinkie scratched her head.

"How in the dickens did she find out you were here? Woah, did I just say 'dickens?' Who says 'dickens' anymore?" Pinkie tapped her fingers on the counter. It had been a while since she had played her drums and she was already missing them. The speakers cracked again.

"Also, nurse Redheart, please do not accept food bribes from the students. It sets a bad example."

Nurse Redheart bit her bottom lip.

"Someone must have squealed." Pinkie pointed to the ceiling and pantomimed smoking a large cob pipe with her other hand. "It's a mystery to solve who the squealer is."

"Don't bother Pinkie." Sunset put her hand on Pinkie's shoulder. "They already know I'm here. There's nothing to do but face it. Besides..."

Sunset walked toward the door but turned around before leaving, "You have about 800 viable suspects in this school anyway." Sunset held the door frame and looked down at the floor. Pinkie walked up to Sunset and gave her a big hug from behind.

"Well there's at least five suspects I can eliminate right off the bat."

Sunset looked over her shoulder at Pinkie and gave her a crooked smile.

"I know." She hugged Pinkie back and stepped out into the hallway. Pinkie ran out into the hallway and watched Sunset walk away.

"Don't forget, you're innocent until proven a jerk." Pinkie gave her a thumbs up. Nurse Redheart could be heard from back in her office.

"It's innocent until proven guilty miss Pie."

Sunset took a deep breath and sighed. She'd been in trouble before. Last fall formal was probably the biggest punishment she'd ever received. In the past, when she would walk to Celestia's office, she was always smug and confident. She knew she had the administration wrapped around her finger and could manipulate them to bend to her will. Today she was finally on the receiving end of someone else manipulating the faculty.

Is this how I made other people feel?

The thought wasn't very comforting. Part of Sunset felt that she deserved anything that could be thrown at her, including expulsion.

Sunset paused as she read the door in front of her. Principal Celestia's Office. She wondered if this would be the last time she ever walked these halls again. When Celestia banished her from Canterlot Castle, she didn't stop to think about that at the time. She was just so angry at Celestia for taking from her what she thought was hers.

So what do I do if Celestia banishes me twice?

Sunset chuckled a little bit. Even though this was a different Celestia, it was still a pretty profound coincidence. Sunset opened the door to the principal's office and to her surprise, he was standing there.

"Thank you Flash Sentry, that will be all for now. I appreciate you coming to me with this information." Celestia politely smiled at Flash. He turned around to see a somewhat startled Sunset Shimmer staring at him.

"Heh, 'bout time you got here. We were starting to think you were still trying to hide." Flash buried his hands into the pockets of his lightning jacket. A wave of green light flashed in his eyes and disappeared. Sunset was about to say something but Celestia cut in first.

"Please have a seat Miss Shimmer." Celestia coldly pointed to the chair in front of her desk. Sunset took her seat in silence.

"Don't worry Shimmy, I told her all about what you were planning at the battle of the bands so you don't have to bother with lying about anything." Flash reached for the door. "See ya later babe." He closed the door behind him as he left. Sunset didn’t know what to think. Her stomach was swirling with so many emotions she felt like she might throw up. She took a seat in front of Celestia. She was about to say something but Celestia held her hand up, stopping Sunset Shimmer mid breath. Celestia slowly dropped her hand down to her desk.

“This ends today Sunset Shimmer.”

Chapter 3: Are You A Loser Or A Fighter?

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