Chapters Christmas time, a time for everyone to be happy, for friends and family to be together, and Sunset Shimmer was looking forward to her first happy Christmas since she came to the human world, spending it with her five best friends.
If only it were that simple.
Recently someone had been leaking the secrets of people in Canterlot High, except for a rare few, Sunset being one of them. This, along with the first few secrets being leaked on her phone, has led everyone to believe she is responsible, and has returned to her old ways.
One week later, the leaked secrets had not ceased, and were now being spread by a user calling herself 'Anon-a-Miss' on several different socal media sites. Everyone in school was following her, as everyone wanted to know what secrets she would leak next.
The more secrets leaked the worse it got for her, even her best friends had accused her after all the secrets they had shared with one another during sleepovers were leaked, ones that no one else could possibly know, and now refused to speak to her.
She was sitting in the cafeteria, alone for the third time this week, trying to eat in peace, but she couldn't help but overhear some of those from the table behind her talking about her calling her a "Witch" or a "Hateful demon" among many other things.
One girl, whose voice, and name she, recognized said "Trixie can't believe we ever trusted her. Why hasn't Principal Celestia expelled her already?"
She had a point, why hadn't the Principal expelled her yet? Why wasn't she expelled after the fall formal happened?
Sunset was sure Twilight hadn't spoken to Celestia before she left about giving her another chance in school, so why was she still here?
Then she felt something, someone was watching her, the table just ahead, and to the left of hers. It wasn't a new feeling, but something about this was different, were people planning to jump her while she was alone, she wouldn't be suprised.
She decided she had eaten enough for today and got up to leave, with tears starting to form in her eyes, she overheard Trixie again as she got up from her seat.
"And another thing about her, she alw-" Trixie noticed the tears as she got up and left, "Oh, Trixie thinks she may have heard us." she said with a smug grin on her face, causing the whole table to start laughing as Sunset finally left the cafeteria.
Sunset made her way to the music room where the Rainbooms were having band practice, thinking to herself that one of them would listen to her. Occasional stopping to wipe her tears from her eyes, she wondered if any of them would be willing to talk to her, let alone believe her.
When she reached the music room she was about to knock on the door and enter, but then she thought to herself. "No... I'm not wanted in there. They haven't listened all week, why would now be any different? I'm not wanted anywhere here."
She started to cry again as she turned away from the door and begun to walk away. She stated to walk towards her usual place for the week, the girls bathroom, receiving scowls, stares and remarks from people around her. She looked at her watch and realised lunch had ended about a minute ago, and everyone was off to their next class, as Sunset hurried to the bathroom as quickly as she could.
With tears in her eyes, Sunset burst into the bathroom and immediately went and sat in the first stall. Here she knew she could be alone with her thoughts for the next hour while everyone else was in class. However all she could think about were the things being said about her, all she could do was sit there and cry to herself.
"Sunset?" a voice called out, causing Sunset to look up from the floor.
"W... who's there?" she mumbled.
"It's Applebloom, I saw you in the cafeteria. Are you uh... you alright?" the voice replied.
"Well I'm hated by the whole school for something I haven't done, even my so called best friends haven't spoke to me all week, and I'm crying in the only place I can without being laughed at of accused of faking it! What do you think?"
There was a small silence for about a minute, until Applebloom finally broke it. "Isn't there any one you can talk to? Anywhere you can go?" she asked, hoping Sunset said there was, but there was no answer.
"I'm so sorry Sunset, I didnt know I...'
"There is one place, one person I could turn to... But its a bit of a long shot." Sunset finally replied, cutting off Applebloom.
"Oh, well you should take it, I mean if its all you got, what could you lose?" Applebloom said as Sunset opened the stall door with a very weak smile, her tears had finally stopped.
"Thanks Applebloom, now what were you saying?"
Applebloom's eyes widened slightly, "Oh nothing, I'm just... glad I could help." As Sunset walked out the bathroom with some newfound energy, Appleblooms glance fell to the floor. "Glad I could help." she sighed.
When Sunset got back to her apartment she immediately got her book from Celestia out and turned to the next blank page, next to it was a message from Twilight last week, a reply to Sunset's message about the then recent Anon-a-Miss.
When she was done re-reading the letter she got a pen and started to write.
Dear Princess Twilight.
Despite my best efforts in trying to deal with this Anon-a-Miss ordeal, no one is believing me and it is only getting worse by the day, even our friends have turned aganst me, I dont have anyone else to turn to Twilight, I feel so alone, I need your help.
It took a moment until Sunset realised that writing that last part brought the tears back, she wiped them away and walked over to the fridge to get a can of soda, As she was about to open it however, the book started glowing and vibrating, telling her Twilight had replied.
That was quick. she thought as she walked over to the book and began to read the new letter on the next page.
Dear Sunset Shimmer.
I'm not really sure what I can do to help you from here, but know that if there is anything I can do to help, then don't hesitate to ask.
Princess Twil * Your friend Twilight Sparkle.***
Sunset read the letter and thought to herself, I wonder if, if I could... Would she and... Sunset then smiled.
"It's all I've got left." she said as she wrote her reply.
The next day Sunset walked into school at lunch, and headed straight for the music room. "Please be in there." she said to herself as she approached the room. As she was about to enter she took a deep breath and looked at the papers she was carrying in her hand, her mind set on what she was going to try to do, she opened the door and slowly walked in.
Immediately she was met with stares from the five other girls in the room. "Sunset... What are you doing here?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I just want to talk, that's all." Sunset said.
"No offence dear, but I dont think any of us really want to talk to you. I know Dash and I don't." Rarity stated, she was right, and Sunset knew it. None of them wanted to see her, but she felt she had to try and explain herself.
"I know you don't, but that's why I've got it all here, so if you don't want to talk, then at least take this." she handed Applejack the papers she had, but Dash smacked them out of her hand.
"What are you playing at, huh? We know now we can't trust you anymore. Right AJ." Sunset looked over to Applejack sitting with her bass in her hand.
"She has a point, you don't exactly have the most trustworthy reputation right now."
"You don't have to trust me, I'm just asking for you to listen to me."
"And just how is that any different?" AJ asked.
Sunset smiled slightly "Because one requires you trust what I have to say, the other requires you to just, just listen to what I have to say, and then come to your own conclusion."
"Whatever Sunset, we've listened to you and trusted you before... and all you did was hurt us, so give me one reason why I should listen." Dash stated.
Sunset had no answer to that. "I... Please if you would just lis-"
"No Sunset, you don't belong here anymore." Applejack said.
"You all think that... That I don't belong here anymore?" no one objected, not even Pinkie or Fluttershy, both of whom just sat together at the back, facing the wall, occasionally looking over at other four girls.
"I knew it." Sunset stuttered "I knew Twilight was wrong." The mention of Twilight's name made them all
look at her in suprise. Applebloom came running into the room as Sunset ran out crying.
Sunset ran through the school corridors as quickly as she could, she just wanted to get out of here. When she eventually got outside, she smiled as she saw the statue that was outside the school. She didn't stop running however, and ran straight into the portal.
Applebloom was determined to stop this. It had to stop today, and Sunset's friends had to know first. She ran down the schools corridor's towards the music room, and ran through the open doors. To her suprise Sunset was standing there crying, but in an instant, she was running out the room.
"SUNSET WAIT!!" she cried out but she was already gone.
"What's Twilight got to do with this?" Dash asked.
"No idea. We'll just have to ask her when we see her." Rarity answered.
"Hey sis, what in tarnation are you doing here looking for Shimmer?" AJ asked her out of breath sister, puzzled.
"Its about Anon-a-Miss, you see I-" Applebloom started, but was immediately cut off.
"She started spreading your secrets now to? I'm not suprised." AJ responded.
"Actually no, the truth is-" she continued, only to be stopped again.
"I wonder how long it will take for her to reach Sweetie Belle? I swear if she hurts my little sister she'll be sorry!" Rarity said, with anger growing in her voice.
"Will yall listen to me!" Applebloom tried geting their attention, but her words were falling on deaf ears.
"Calm down Rarity, we aren't gonna let that happen. The next time we see her, we'll get that book off her and write a message to Twilight. I'm sure she can help." Dash said.
"Um....Girls, well, I'm just wondering, what does Twilight have to do with this anyway?" Fluttershy asked, not really expecting an answer.
"I'M ANON-A-MISS!!!!" Applebloom shouted, causing the room to fill with silence.
"No, you're just kidding me, right sis?" Applejack asked, with a worried look on her face.
"Nope, I'm Anon-a-Miss, always have been. Well actually there's three of us, me, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. But it was my idea, so I'm to blame."
"But, if you're Anon-a-Miss then, everything Sunset told us was-"
"The truth? Yes." Applebloom finished for Rarity.
"Um, girls, you may want to read this." Fluttershy had picked up, and red the papers Sunset had in her hand when she entered, and passed them to Rainbow, as she started to cry.
"These are... All the letters she must have been writing to Twilight during this whole thing." Dash explained to everyone else.
"Check the last one." Fluttershy told them. Dash did just that, she looked at the final page and began to read.
Sunset, I know this will be hard for you, but I want you to try and talk to them, trust me, they're human versions of my friends here at home, so I'm sure you can convince them to listen to you.
Even if they have hurt you so much... I feel they need to know you're leaving.
The portal will be open two hours ago tomorrow, come through when your ready.
I promise you we won't turn you away.
Twilight Sparkle.
Sunset, even when you feel there is nowhere out there for you, know that there will always be a place for you here.
Princess Celestia.
"What have we... I can't believe we did this." Rainbow said, tears begining to form in her eyes as she looked around the room, no one had anything to say.
Applebloom noticed a piece of paper different from the others, "What's that one?" Dash looked at it, after a quick scan of the page she realised it was a note from Sunset, writen a normal piece of paper from school, and began to read.
I've gone back to Equestria, I can't put up with it anymore, Twilight and Celestia have promised me that they have a place there for me, and she thought you deserved to know I'm leaving.
Thank Applebloom for me, for giving me someone to talk to, and thank you. Despite recent events, I'm greatful that you girls were willing to give me a chance back then.
Thank you, and goodbye, Sunset Shimmer.
"I've got to catch her!" Rainbow said to herself as she was about to run out the room.
"RAINBOW DASH!" Rarity yelled, causing Dash to turn her head, "Did you forget? The portal's only outside the school... She's gone."
Applejack turned her attention to Applebloom "When did yo-" Applejack began.
"Yesterday, just after lunch I... I found her crying in the bathroom. It was there I realised this had to stop." Applebloom told everyone, as the realization that she was responsible for all this finally sank in, "I'm so sorry."
Pinkie got up off her seat and grabbed the piece of magic paper from Fluttershy, sat back down and began to write a small message at the top of the page.
The real culprit has come forward, I'm so sorry I didn't believe you.
your ex-best friend Pinkie Pie.
The other girls dicided they needed to sign it aswell.
Pinkie's hair then started to fall and become less 'poofy', "I can't believe we sent you away... I'm so sorry."
Rainbow and Pinkie made their way slowly through the school towards the music room. They hadn't done anything in class during first or second period, apart from glance at each other now and then, but neither of them said anything to anyone.
For Dash this was almost normal, as she was rather lazy when it came to things she didn't care about, and math was one of those, but Pinkie is what got everyone's attention.
She had her hair down straight, and an emotionless face equal to that of her sister Maud. That, combined with her complete silence made everyone, even the teacher, concerned for her, even telling her to go see the nurse or she would get detention. But she didn't answer, and barley moved the whole time.
When they finally reached the room, Dash opened the door, walked in and sat down without a single word.
"You uh, you okay Dash?" a worried voice asked, as Rainbow slowly looked up and around the room.
Fluttershy was sitting with her knees and face buried in her chest, a small sob coming from her.
Rarity was looking at Pinkie, asking her what was up with her hair, Like you don't know Dash thought.
Pinkie herself sat on the other side of the room, furthest away from everyone, looking just as she did in class.
Sweetie belle and Scootaloo were sitting on a desk, the latter being the one who spoke to her, they both seemed scarred. Dash was always the most aggressive out of all of them, and they knew that she knew they did this.
"I'm... I'm fine." she finally said, "Where are the Apples too?" she asked.
"I just got here, and Applebloom refused to come in." Applejack answered as she walked in and took her seat, setting her eyes on the two crusaders.
"We're really sorry for what we did, I don't expect you to forgive us." Sweetie said in response to AJ's stare.
Applejack remained silent for a bit, before eventually answering weakly, "I'm not even sure I can forgive myse-"
She was cut off by the sounds of everyone's phones going off. Everyone knew what it ment, and everyone was shocked, even Pinkie, showing emotion for the first time that day.
Then Dash lost it.
"WHAT ARE YOU THREE PLAYING AT!?!?" she exploded, "HAVEN'T YOU DONE ENOUGH DAMAGE!?" she yelled, storming over to the younger girls, rage filling her eyes.
This was exactly what they were afraid of. "We don't know, we're just as supprised as you are, we swear." Sweetie said, without any idea of what else to say.
Dash grabbed her shirt and liffted the smaller girl right off the ground, "DON'T LIE TO ME! NOW TELL MY WHAT YOU'RE UP TO!" she demanded, with tears in her eyes.
"Rainbow Dash! You put my sister down right now!" Rarity said, knowing full well she wouldn't listen.
"Now now, don't do something you'll regret later sugarcube." Applejack said, with just as much success.
"THEN TELL HER TO ANSWER ME!" Dash yelled.
"I know you're upset, we all are, but losing your temper ain't gonna help." Applejack continued.
"Please stop, don't fight anymore, please just stop." Fluttershy mutered to herself, still in the corner.
"Let her go Dash." Pinkie finally said, breaking her silence, causing everyone in the room, Dash included, to turn to her. "Do you really want to hurt someone else?" she raised her arm and pointed at the open door, where a large crowd had gathered to watch, "And it appears we have an audience."
Dash lowered Sweetie back onto the ground, and moments later broke down onto the floor crying, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." she cried.
Sweetie put her hand on Dash's shoulder, "It's okay Dash, you were just upset." she told her.
"No, not that." Dash responded, the six other girls around her knew what she ment.
"So, you girls coming to the gym?" a voice from the crowd asked.
"Why would we do that?" Applejack responded, rather puzzled.
Flash Sentry, one of the people at the front of the crowd pulled out his phone and showed AJ the message from Anon-a-Miss.
If you want to know who I am, meet me in the gym after break,
Anon-a-Miss.
"Sounds like Sunset's finally ready to own up to everything." a voice called out.
"About time she stopped being a little crybaby." another called out,
The mention of Sunset's name made the seven girls look at each other, wondering how the school would react to the news that they were actually going to get. "Uh, well then, lets go, I guess." Scootaloo said, as she noticed Applebloom amoung the crowd.
With that said, the now slightly larger crowd made its way to the gym.
As the crowd entered the gym, it was now time for the announcement of Anon-a-Miss. Everyone else in the school, teachers and student's alike, were already here head of them, as they had been held up, so to speak.
Applebloom walked around the gym, listening to what everyone was saying, of course it was all more or less the same thing.
"So how long until she finally shows her face, I'm getting bored."
"Bet you ten bucks everyone just jumps her as soon as she shows up."
"Bet you twenty she doesn't even show up."
"Sunset's dead meat."
"This ain't gonna go well, is it?" Applebloom asked herself, as she started thinking about whether or not she would make it out alive. Even if she was alot younger than everyone else, she still did this, wouldn't they just think the same anyway?
She took quick glances at the faces and eyes of those she walked past, none of them showed any sign of remorse. She thought about just bailing out right now, no one would suspect her, they're all dead set on looking for Sunset, who would notice if a small kid suddenly vanished?
But then she looked at the group next to the door, of course it was the late comers, and she knew their was no way that seven specific people would let her out that door. She made up her mind, and looked at the stage, she had put a small chair there ahead of time, hopefully it was all she would need.
She pulled out her phone and sent Sweetie and Scoot a simple text of Don't interupt, I got this. when they got it they were about to go ask what she was thinking, but it was too late.
Her mind ready, she slowly walked on stage, and took her seat.
Slowly the gym grew quieter, as everyone noticed the small girl sitting on what they thought was Sunset's seat, when there was almost silence, people started speaking up again.
"What's she doing there?"
"Isn't that Applejack's sister?"
"Hey kid, I dont think you want to be up there."
"Did she pay you to go in her place?"
"Is this some kind of joke?"
Upon hearing that, Applebloom shouted as load as she could.
"LISTEN UP!" the gym fell silent. "Anyone who thinks that this here is a joke, leave now. Cus I'm not moving from this seat until I've explained myself, so if you wanna leave, then go."
The large crowd looked at each other, but none of them moved.
"Ya'll probably guessed this by now, but I'm Anon-a-Miss."
The crowd just listened, to suprised to say anything.
Applebloom took a deep breath, "Over the last ten days I have spread the secrets of nearly everyone in this room, and in doing so I've caused the pain and torment of someone I use to call friend, and now she's gone."
Laughter suddenly started amoung the crowd.
"You expect us to believe that you, are the sole responsibility for this?" Lightning Dust laughed.
"Trixie must admit, this was a pretty funny stunt to pull, but really now, where's Sunset?" Trixie added.
"I told you I wasn't joking, and if you thought I was then why are you still here?" Applebloom responded.
"Oh come on dork," Diamond Tiara said, "you couldn't pull something half this big off even if your life depnded on it."
"I can prove it if you want." she replied.
"Go on then." Diamond said, with a grin on her face.
"Alright then." Applebloom answered, pulled a phone out from her pocket, and began doing something on it.
Moments later everyone recieved a text, and they all looked at what it said.
I am Anon-a-Miss, if you still don't believe me I can send some more convincing evidence.
Applebloom.
The three girls who questioned her didn't answer.
"As I was saying, my actions caused yall to think it was Sunset doing all this, although the only reason I didn't spread her secrets is because she had none. Everyone knew everything about the girl from another world who turned into a demon," her glance fell to the floor, "and in turn I unknowingly caused her so much pain, and torment here that I drove her away, and she's not coming back." she placed her hands over her eyes as she started to cry.
Sweetie belle and Scootaloo just stood there, wanting to say something, do something, they were just as responsible as she was.
"I never should have let this get out of hand, I should have stopped after the second day, I didn't know what I was doing." she cried, her tears starting to form a small puddle on the stage.
No one in the crowd had anything to say to her, some of them looked angry, and ready to give Applebloom what she felt she deserved, and some looked regretful, knowing that they blamed the wrong person the whole time.
Luna and Celestia looked at each other, nodded, and walked on stage.
"Right, everybody out, I think we've heard enough, and schools out for the rest of the day." Celestia said, but no one moved, they were all stuck in place.
"Hold on, I... I'm not done yet." Applebloom said through her tears.
"Yes you are." Luna said, before taking a deep breath, "EVERYBODY OUT! NOW!!" she demanded, which seemed to get people moving.
Celestia looked at Applebloom, who in turn looked back, "We'll deal with this after the holidays Applebloom." as she and her sister left as well.
Trixie walked up to Rainbow, as the realization that she was one of the main people behind the aforementioned pain, hit her like a truck, and asked "C-cant we just, call her or, or something like that?"
"It's not that simple," Dash started, "she's from another world, like Twilight and the Dazzlings are."
"You dont mean-" Trixie began.
"Yeah, we do," Applejack interupted, "when my sis said she's gone, she doesn't mean out of town."
Trixie just stood there frozen, as the truck sank in, she looked around to see almost everyone else had left, save for a couple others.
The three crusaders were on stage, as Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were trying to calm Applebloom down.
"Why'd you do that without us Bloom?" Scootaloo asked, trying not to cry.
"We would have helped you." Sweetie belle told her as she huggged her.
"This way, you two don't have to be hated as well," Applebloom sobbed, "and don't go telling everyone you had a part in this."
There was one more school day before christmas break, and Applebloom knew it would be hell on earth for her tomorrow.
"Isn't there any way to reach her, like you did Twilight when the Dazzlings showed up?" Flash asked.
"Yeah but, she doesn't want to speak to us." Dash said, pulling a folded piece of paper from her pocket, and handing it to him.
He unfolded the paper and began to read, "Look at the top of the page." Pinkie told him.
At the top was an apology from the 6 girls, not including Sweetie belle and Scootaloo.
"She hasn't writen back, and I don't think she will." Rarity said as four of girls left the gym. Fluttershy asked Flash for the paper and wrote Merry Christmas Sunset, Fluttershy. on it before handing it back to Flash and headed out the gym to join her friends.
Sunset ran straightforward into the portal, tears falling from her eyes, hoping Twilight had opened it as she promised, and in a bright flash of light, she was suddenly inside somewhere, laying on a floor.
"Sunset! What happened?" A worried voice asked.
She looked up to see a very worried Twilight looking at her.
"Th... They all hate me." Sunset sobbed, "They wouldn't listen Twi, you were wrong... They just... Just wouldn't..."
"It's okay, they can't hurt you anymore." Twilight told her, as she put a wing around her, trying to comfort her, "But please tell me what hap-"
"Please dont leave me alone Twi, I swear I've changed, I didn't do anything!" she interrupted.
"We're not gonna leave you Sunset, we told you that." a voice behind her said, causing Sunset to look behind her.
"Princess Celestia!" she immediately ran over to her ex mentor, "I'm so sorry for everything I've done, please forgive me."
"It's alright Sunset, but please, you need to calm down." Celestia told her.
Twilight levitated the book off of the device on top of the mirror, closing the portal, just then, the book started to glow and vibrate, drawing all of their attention.
Sunset took the book from Twilight with her own magic, and threw it across the room. "I dont care what You wrote, i don't want to know!" Sunset yelled as her body started shaking, and she broke down onto the floor in tears.
The two princesses looked at each other, not knowing what to say, and knowing that they would simply have to wait for her to calm down, however long that took.
After some time , Sunset eventually stopped shaking, and her tears had stopped. "Sorry about all that," she said, her voice now calmed, "guess I just needed to let it all out."
Twilight was reading the apology from the five in the human world, unsure what to think about it, and Celestia was writing a note to someone, though Sunset didnt know who. Probably Luna, she thought.
"Are you sure you don't want to know what they said?" Twilight asked, puzzled as to why this had come through so soon after they apparently blew up against her.
Sunset didn't answer.
Celestia and Twilight looked at each other and nodded. "So we were thinking," Twi begun, "since it seemed like you were so alone over, Pinkie had the idea to throw you a welcome party."
Sunset just looked at her.
"Of course I think we can all agree that you may not want that anymore, it's what this is about." Celestia continued, showing her the letter.
Spike,
tell the others the party's off, I'm afraid Sunset is in too bad a condition right now concerning our friends human counterpart's.
Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight.
"You wanna throw me a welcome party?" she asked, rather supprised.
"Of course we do! Pinkie always throws parties for everypony in Ponyville." Twi answered.
"I'dont know Twi." She repilied, her gaze back down to the floor.
"Can you at least give it a chance" Twilight asked.
Of course I can give you a chance, but what about the others? "Alright I... I'll give it a try."
"Great, well lets go, everypony should be waiting at sugercube corner." Twilight said as the three of them were about to leave for the aforementioned party location.
"Wait, Princess Celestia. I just want to say I'm sorry for everything I've done."
Celestia gave a slight chuckle, "I know you are, and there will be time to talk about that later, but right now, their are alot of ponies expecting us, and we don't want to be late."
"Are you sure they're coming?" Applejack asked.
"They should be, Twilight said Celestia would send me a letter if there was a change of pl-" Spike said, but was cut off by a letter being sent.
"You were saying." Dash spoke, trying not to laugh as spike opened the letter and read it to himself.
We're on our way now, but Sunset isn't exactly at her best, so please be careful what you say to her.
Twilight.
Spike showed the letter to the other five around him, knowing the full message was intended for them.
"They're on their way here now, get ready." Pinkie yelled to everypony else present, before ducking into her hiding place, as everypony else did.
"So no mentioning of the whole demon thing, and no questions about the other world right?" Dash asked in a whisper.
"Right." Applejack answered as Dash flew up to the window to keep a lookout.
"I hope she's okay, I wonded what happened over there?" Futtershy whispered to herself.
"That doesn't matter anymore dear, what does matter is that we make her feel better and-" Rarity began.
"they're coming!" Dash shouted, as she flew behind her own hiding place, turning off the light switch in the process.
As the door opened and the lights turned back on, everypony jumped out off their respective spots to greet Sunset.
"WELCOME TO PONYVILLE" they all shouted in unison.
Sunset was a bit surprised at just how many pony's there were in the building, just as she was about to respond however, a pink pony quickly bounced over to her.
"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie and threw this party just for you!" Pinkie began, a large smile on her face.
"Oh, uh, nice to meet you Pinki-" Sunset answered.
"Nice to meet you to!" she continued, "You see Twilight here told me that where you were you were super dooper lonely, and when she said you were moving here I just knew I had to throw you a Super-Amazing-Fantabulous-Welcome-To-Ponyville-Party, and invited everypony in town!"
"Thanks Pinkie, i appreciate it." Sunset replied, with a kinda forced, kinda natural smile.
"Now let me introduce you to everypony, you've got Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Spike, our little town dragon over there, Vinyl Scratch and Octavia Melody over there, Lyra Heartstrings and Bon-Bon up there..."
Sunset followed Pinkie's hoof as she pointed out the names of everypony who had come, quickly realizing that most of them had a human counterpart in Canterlot High, and even those who didn't have a counterpart in school she had at least heard about while she was around town.
"...and finally we have the Cutie Mark Crusaders over there, consisting of Applejack's sister Applebloom, Rarity's sister Swettie Belle, and Dash's sister Scootaloo."
Wait, Scootaloo is Dash's sister?
As if reading her mind, Pinkie replied "Well they're not actually sisters, but they're so close they may as well be." both Dash and Scoot gave a little smile towards each other at that comment.
"Oh and I almost forgot, final finally we have The Great And Powerful Trixie , I'm sure you two will have a lot in common!"
So you're saying I'm like the stuck up pony who thinks she's better than everypony else? Thanks Pinkie. she thought, although looking over at Trixie, there did seem to be something different about this one, her smile didn't seem forced or smug in any way, as it probably would in CHS.
"Now that our two royal guests have arrived," Pinkie pointed at the two princesses, "and our guest of honour is here, how about we get this party started?"
Pinkie was met by a loud "YEAH!!" from the crowd as she went over to turn on the loud party music, as the majority of other pony's went up to Sunset, curious about her.
"So where are you from?"
"How do you know Twilight?"
"Why did you choose to move to Ponyville?"
She and Twilight had fabricated a story that they had met while she was in Canterlot studying under Celestia, as she was, but Celestia thought that Twilight would be a better teacher considering what she was studying, and Twi and Sunset had been keeping in contact with one another for some time, Twilight had agreed to take her as a student. Which, given what had happened with them, wasn't exactly wrong, but wasn't exactly righ either.
Twilight eventually deided to go talk to her five friends, all of whom were talking amongst themselves.
"This is a great party Pinkie, I think you might have out done yourself this time." Twilight said as she approached.
"Thanks Twi, but there is no such thing as trying to hard with a party," she looked over to Sunset, as her face turned a bit more serious than usual, "especially for a matter as serious as this one."
"Pinkie has a point darling, what exactly happened over there between her and, well us I guess." Rarity asked, a question that the others wanted to know the answer too.
"I'm not a hundred-percent sure, but this isn't the time for that." Twi responded, "Oh Rarity, is that order of mine done yet?"
"Yep, I've got it for you right here." Rarity levitatd a bag over towards Twilight, who then took it off her, before looking inside.
"Perfect, now could we arrange something for tomorrow, I really want her to spend some time with each of you and get to know you girls."
On the other side of the room, Sunset was talking to basically everypony else at the party, as Celestia walked up to her.
"Sunset, I'm afraid I must be off now, but you said before you wanted to talk to me, so is there anything you want before I take my leave?"
"Well yeah, but I'd rather not....in front of everypony."
She chuckled "Would you all mind if I took the guest of honour outside for a minute?" Celestia asked, to which the crowd simply nodded almost in unison.
As the door closed behind them Sunset quickly began, "I'm so sorry for every thing I've done, for every doubting you and your methods, and for trying to steal the element of magic, I swear I'll never do anything stupid like that again."
Celestia looked at her with a smile, "Do you regret stealing the crown?" she asked.
"Wha... Of course I do, it was the dumbest thing I've ever done, and the biggest mistake too." She answered, her gaze falling as she finished her answer.
"Really?" Celestia replied, the smile still on her face, "So you regret meeting Twilight, is that right?"
Sunset immediately looked up at her. When it came down to it, stealing the crown was what brought her here, it got her her friends, and allowed her to gain forgiveness for her demonic ways, or so she thought. But even if the forgiveness there was fake, she was now home, surrounded by friends who really cared for her, what more could she ask for.
"Well I realy must be off, I think Luna might be getting a bit jealous that the sun isn't down ye-"
"Wait, Luna!" Sunset interrupted, gaining Celestia's attention, "Luna, as the princess of the night, can she help with...night terrors?"
"Are you..." Sunset nodded, "I'll speak with her about it."
"One more thing Sunset," Celestia added as she began to take flight, "despite eveything you've done, know that I have never been prouder of you than I am today." a huge smile grew on Sunset's face as Celestia finally flew away, the sun began to fall, and Sunset headed back inside.
The moon was high in the sky by the time Sunset, Twilight and Spike got back to Twilight's castle.
"So how was the party?" Twilight asked, noticing the huge smile now on Sunset's face.
"Best night of my life Twi, that was the best party I've ever been to."
"I'm glad to hear it, but could you do me a favour tomorrow?" Twilight asked.
"Sure, what is it"
"Well I know this may be hard for you, given... recent events but..." she started.
A frown slowly started to apear on Sunset's face, as she thought she knew where this was going, Go back to the other world and talk to them about this? she thought.
"...could you go around town and talk to Pinkie, AJ, Rarity, Dash and Fluttershy? I know you've had problems with them over in the other world, but I asure you this time things will go differently."
"Oh, sure." Sunset was relieved that the conversation wasn't going where she thought it was.
"Good, because I might of already asked Pinkie to show you around tomorrow."
Sunset laughed a bit "No problem Twi, but I'm beat after all that, where's the spare bed?"
"The spare bedroom is the third door on the left."
She walked into the room to find a large bed made for her "Wow, nice room. Night Twi, see you in the morning."
She got herself comfy and noticed a note on the bedside table.
Welcome home Sunset, sweet dreams.
Twi and Spike.
She closed her eyes, and was out like a light.
Sunset found herself in front of Canterlot high, the school in ruins and the portal-statue now a pile of rubble.
"What happened here?" she asked herself, about to receive that very answer.
"You know we really must thank you Sunset Shimmer." a somewhat familiar voice told her.
Sunset turned around to see the three Dazzlings behind her, each with a dark grin on their faces, and three shinny necklaces.
She slowly backed away, "Wh... what do you mean, thank me?" she asked nervously.
Adagio closed the gap Sunset was trying to make "Thanks to you, we had more negative energy to feed on than we ever have before in such a small place, it's amazing really."
"What did I do?" she asked again, not sure if she wanted to know.
Aria laughed "All those secrets you were spreading around, everyone hates you for it."
"I didn't do that!"
"Doesn't even matter any more, the hate is real, and a certain five gave us all the Equestrian energy we could ever need to rule this pathetic world." Adagio told her her, pointing behind her.
She turned around to see her five friends staring at her.
"Why'd you do it sugarcube?" Applejack asked
"I didn't do anything, I swear!"
"You were never our friend!" Pinkie told her with an iron stare.
She broke down onto the ground, with her hands on her head, "I'm not a bad pony! I'm not a bad pony! I'm not a bad pony!" she told herself over and over.
"I'm done trying to help you Sunset, you deserve to be alone!" Rainbow declared as they all slowly started to disappear.
"Why Sunset... I thought we were friends." She looked up to see Twilight looking at her, with sadness in her eyes, as she too, began to disappear.
"No, Twilight! Please don't leave!" she reached a hand out to grab her, but she was already gone.
"I don't want to be alone."
"ENOUGH!!!" a voice shouted, as Sunset was enveloped in light.
When she could see again, she was a pony once more, outside Twilight's castle, as a dark blue alicorn flew down to her.
"Prncess Luna?!" she said as she pulled herself together and stood up.
"Sunset Shimmer I presume?" Luna asked as she got to the ground. "My sister wanted me to see you tonight, and from the looks of things, I could have got here earlier."
"I, uh, yeah, thats me, and thanks for that." she eventually answered.
"So what was all that about."
"Just something from my past," she sighed, "something I'm trying to let go of."
"Ah concerning the crown? Twilight did fill us in with what happened with you all those months ago."
"Not that, this is a lot more recent, and the reason I'm back in Equestria." she sighed again, before sitting back down.
"We've all done things we regret, but ask yourself this, would you be here if you hadn't taken that crown?"
"Celestia told me that yesterday, and I think she was right." she answered.
Luna began to fly up in the air, "About these nightmares, I can't come to you every night, so you may want to talk to somepony about them, maybe they can help." and then in a blink, she was gone.
Sunset woke up the next morning feeling better than she ever had during this whole ordeal, as she slowly got up and made her way around the castle.
she eventually found the raher large main room and was met by a friendly smile sitting at a table.
"Sleep well?" Twilight asked her, "Oh, Spike made pancakes for breakfast."
Could have been better. "Yeah, beter than I have in a long time."
"You know what you said to me in one of your letters, about how you feel so alone?" Twi asked, her smile starting to fade.
"Yeah, you said you had no idea what that could feel like." Sunset replied, fairly intrigued.
"Actually last night I remembered something." Twi started "When Discord broke free, he ended up turning all my friends against me, I was about to leave Ponyville when-"
She was cut off by a knock at the door, one that didn't sound like it would stop until answered.
"Oh that's Pinkie, she's early."
"Wait what time is it," Sunset asked, "and how long was I asleep?"
"Well it's half twelve now, and we got back to the castle at about ten to nine." Twi responded as she opened the door.
"Hey Twi, is Sunny ready to go?" Pinkie asked as she darted up to the table. "Oh, hi Sunny, so has Twilight told you that I'm going to give you a tour of Ponyvile?" she asked her, pulling her in for a hug.
"Yeah, she told me last night." she replied, trying not to lose air from the tight hug.
When Pinkie let her go she turned back to Twilight "What were you saying Twi?"
"Oh that can wait, you two go and enjoy yourselves now." Twi replied as the two of them left. "I'll see you two later." she said with a smile and a wave as Pinkie and Sunset left and closed the door behind them.
"Wait, Twilight's not coming?" Sunset asked.
"Nope, she has boring princess work to do, so she asked me to show you around Ponyville instead."
"Oh, alright, so where to first?" she asked
"Sugercube Corner." Pinkie replied excitedly.
"But wasn't I there yesterday?"
"Yep, but Twi wanted me and the others to get to know you, so we decided to do just that today!" she answered, smiling and bouncing along side her.
"Oh... ok, lead the way." she smiled and followed the hyperactive pony.
The two mares entered the corner to find the others waiting for them already seated at a table.
"About time you two got here, I was starting to get hungry." Dash said as she saw them enter and approach the table.
"You know we never said you couldn't get something before they got here." Rarity replied with a rather smug look.
Applejack was the first to address Sunset herself, "howdy Sunset, how's Twilight doing? She told us she couldn't join us today." she asked with a smile.
Sunset however wasn't about to let her guard down around them, given past experience. "She's ok, apparently she has some princess business to take care of, at least that's what Pinkie told me." she replied as she took her seat.
"It's nice to finally meet you." Fluttershy told her with the same welcoming smile Aj had.
"Yeah, Twilight's told us all about you." Pinkie began, bringing a slightly worried look to Sunset's face.
"All... about me?"
"Yep, like how this one time-"
"Um... Pinkie." Dash muttered, noticing it was making their guest uncomfortable.
"-you apparently tackled Rainbow Dash off of a stage while she was performing a song, hey did that actually happen? Cuz that sounds like it might of been funny to see,-"
"Pinkie." she muttered again, a bit more agitated this time.
"and also about a time when you helped blast three all powerful sirens out of the sky and saved EVERYPONY!"
"Pinkie!" Dash grabbed her.
"Whaaaat?"
"I think she gets it."
"No, she's alright," Sunset said, knowing they all wanted to avoid the elephant in the room, "what else has she told you?"
"Oh... ur, well she told us that right before the whole siren save the day thing, we all got into a fight over there, and it was you that calmed us all down." Pinkie answered, knowing what she wanted to hear.
"Anything else?"
"Well uh, there was that time you uh, apparently it was pretty funny at the time, it had something to do with whipped cream..." Pinkie said with an uneasy look.
"We know what you want to hear, we decided we wouldn't bring that up but, we know." Dash said, pulling Pinkie back into her seat.
"That really doesn't bother you at all?" she asked, beginning to let her guard down.
"Of course not dear," Rarity told her, "why we've..." she looked over at Fluttershy for a second, "befriended the lord of chaos, so what if you tried something like that once."
Sunset couldn't believe what she just heard, "Wait, lord of chaos? You don't mean Discord?"
They nodded, "Well it's more like Fluttershy did, the rest of us don't trust him all that much, especially after that last stunt he pulled with Tirek." Dash replied.
"He's not that bad when you get to know him," Fluttershy told them, "but I will admit I have been a lot more careful around him since then."
"Oh that reminds me!" Pinkie said as she bounced out of her seat and landed next to Sunset, "Did you talk to Trixie yet? Cuz if not, she's right over there." She pointed a hoof excitedly at a blue unicorn with a box of cupcakes at the table next to the window, who had heard her, and was now looking at them.
Slowly she made her way over to the her, who still looking at back at Sunset. "Um, hi." she started with a rather forced smile, "I'm Sunset Shimmer, apparently Pinkie wanted me to talk to you for some reason."
"I heard, take a seat." the blue unicorn replied, using her magic to move a seat for her to sit on, "Cupcake?" she offered.
This is Trixie right? "Sure.. why not." she said as she took her seat.
"Trixie Lulamoon, nice to meet you."
This is wierd. "Apparently Pinkie thinks we have something in common with each other, any idea what she means?"
Trixie shrugged, "No idea, I wonder what that crazy pony's up to now?" she laughed.
Okay what is wrong with her? "Yesterday she called you the great and powerful Trixie, what was that about?"
Her smile fell, "I use to be quite the...smug, selfish arrogant pony, I'm not exactly proud of it. I would even talk in third person," she laughed slightly, "if you can believe that."
"Third person, what does that mean?" she asked, still wondering if this really was the pony version of the Trixie she knew from the human world.
"You don't want to hear it, it sounds stupid anyway." she replied, taking a bite from one of her cakes.
"Oh come on, I can take it." she said with a reasuring smile.
"Fine." she muttered, before taking a deep breath, "The great And Powerful Trixie doesn't need to prove or explain anything to a lowly unicorn like yourself, now get out Trixie's way!"
Alright, that's her.
She slouched down onto the table "That's what I use to be like, to everypony around me, I was terrible."
"So what made you change?" Shimmer asked, curious as to what could ever change Trixie.
"I, might have tried to... take over Ponyville with an ancient magical artifact."
Sunset realized what Pinkie had ment.
"I'm amazed they still talked to me, let alone forgive me. I swear you could try to take over all of Equestria, and they'll still forgive you as long as you're truly sorry for what you did."
Sunset couldn't help but laugh "Funny you should say that actually, because that's almost exactly what I did."
"Yeah right, you're funny." Trixie replied, sounding rather annoyed.
"No really, I did, but is was with Twilight's magic crown." she said as she was slowly calming down.
Trixie just looked at her "You... You're serious aren't you?" then she too started laughing.
Suddenly Pinkie's head popped up next to them "What's so funny you two?"
Sunset realized that all five of them had approached them, each trying not to laugh.
She looked over to Applejack, as a sudden realization hit her.
No Sunset, you don't belong here anymore.
"You were right Applejack, I don't."
"Hm, what did I say?" she asked puzzled.
Sunset quickly got up and started heading for the exit, "I'll talk to you girls later, I gotta go talk to Twilight." she said as she left for the castle, leaving the other six rather confused.
"I'll see you two later." Twilight said with a smile and a wave as Pinkie and Sunset left and closed the door behind them.
Twilight's face then immediately turned more serious as she made her way to the mirror room.
"Are you sure about this Twi, I mean what if she comes back early?" Spike asked as he followed behind her.
"She wont be." she answered confidently, "I asked Pinkie and the others to spend time with her today, so there's no chance she'll be back before I am."
As they enrtered the mirror room, Twilight put Celestia book on the pedistal above the mirror, thus opening the portal.
"Alright, but how are you going to find them without being bombarded with people asking about Sunset?"
Twilight then pulled out a blue hoodie that looked like it would fit a human, "I asked Rarity to make me this three days ago, and luckily enough it was done by yesterday."
"So you plan to just hide your face? Pretty sure that would also draw attention Twi."
"I thought about that last night, so I started looking through some of the books Celestia has been moving here, and I found this." she floated an open book over to spike, a certain spell circled, and then began to cast a spell.
""Mirage Veil, Hide in plain sight,"" Spike began, ""for one hour per cast you can remain practically invisible to those around you," you've got to be kidding Twi, how do you know this even works?"
"Well look at me." she responded.
"Alright I wil-" upon looking at Twilight all Spike saw was a purple blur, and his eyes kept drifting away from her whenever he tried to focus on her. "Okay that is wierd." he said as he rubbed his eyes.
Twilight on the other hand was clapping her hoofs, "Yay, it works."
"Alright, so it works, but what about the poorly crossed out part here that says "This spell is outlawed, anypony found using this spell will be-""
"Sorry Spike, I can't hear you, tell me later." she interrupted as she picked the hoodie and walked through the portal.
When on the other side Twilight took a minute to gather herself, before putting on the hoodie that had trasported with her, and proceeded to enter the school.
When she entered the building, and made her way down one of the school corridors, still not completely sure of the layout. She noticed that no one was taking any notice of her, and that they all seemed rather angry.
She smiled slightly, she always loved it when she was right, but that smile quickly disappeared as she overheared a particular group of people.
"Wonder where the school demon is today?"
"Probably out looking for something to spread."
"Who cares where she is?"
"It's best if she isn't here anyway."
"I wonder how long she's gonna play the crying innocent gir?"
"Heard she was seen running out the school yesterday."
"We're not falling for it, no matter how long she keeps it up."
"I heard Gilda and Lightning Dust were gonna jump her today, maybe they already got her."
Did she really have it this bad off everypony here? she thought, That message said Anon-A-Miss admitted who she was yest- .
Suddenly everyones phone began to ring, and everyone took them out to look at them. Twilight was able to get a look at the message over someones shoulder.
A message from Anon-a-Miss, telling everyone to be in the gym if they wanted to know who she was, everyone, Twi included, started making their way to the gym.
After about ten minutes of standing with a large, impatient crowd of people in the gym, Twi finally noticed the girls she wanted to talk to, all of whom looked rather depressed, walk in with Flash Sentry, the CMC, and a bunch of other people she didn't recognize.
She noticed Applebloom begin to walk around the gym. No one noticed her, that was until she stepped on stage and took her seat on the lone chair.
Applebloom then confessed that she was behind it all, and while some were not convinced at first, a text that was sent to almost everyone in the room made them think otherwise, and despite what she was saying, Twilight knew there was a bit more to it.
But they're right aren't they, this is to big for you to pull off alone. her gaze turned to the other Crusaders, as the realization hit her "Gabby Gu-"
She was cut off by a small magical shock go through her body.
What?! It can't of been an hour already, I should have at least fifteen minutes left. Right? she thought to herself in a brief moment of panic.
"EVERYBODY OUT! NOW!!" Luna yelled causing the majority of the crowd, Twilight included, to do just that.
When she was out of the gym she ducked into the first classroom to escape the crowd and waited for the five she wanted to talk to, who eventually walked by.
"Girls." she said to gain their attention, stepping out the classroom and taking down her hood.
"Yeah, wha- Twilight!?" Dash replied, wide eyed.
"We need to tal-" she was cut off by a crying Fluttershy grabing her arm.
"Please Twi, tell her we're sorry, we didn't know any better, and we can't believe we-"
"Calm down Shy," Applejack told her as she pulled her off Twilight's arm, "what have you got to say Twi?" she asked as she pulled her hat over her eyes in shame.
"I just want to know why you did it, why did you turn her away?" she asked them.
"Well...it all started happening on her phone," Rarity began, "so everyone assumed it was her, us included."
"Didn't any of the things you had been through together mean anything to you?" None of them said anything. "The battle of the bands and the sirens, didn't that mean anything to you?"
Still no answer.
"After the formal she needed somepony to turn too, and you were willing to help her then, willing to believe she could change, did that really mean nothing to any of you?" she asked, starting to get annoyed at them.
The conversation was also starting to gain the attention of the people around. "We wanted to believe her sugercube but, we just couldn't." Applejack finally answered.
"We know now we should of listened to her instead of treating her like we did," Pinkie continued "and we're all so sorry for doing just that."
"And we completely understand if she doesn't ever want to see us again." Fluttershy added, still sobbing lightly.
"Well from how she threw the book away when you wrote to her, I don't think she does." Twilight sighed.
"You cant just blame them Twilight."
She turned around to see the three Crusaders, and the two principals behind her, Applebloom being the one who talked to her.
"Everything here is my fault, so blame me, not them." Applebloom told her, her eyes fixated on the floor.
"You can't just do this witho-" Sweetie Belle started, but stopped as soon as Bloom gave her a quick elbow jab in her side.
"Yeah, you're not alo-" Scootaloo continued.
"You two go home. I reckon Twi will want to talk to me, and I my be a while." she purposely interrupted.
"But-"
"JUST GO! We'll... we'll talk later."
Sweetie and Scootaloo looked at each other and begrudgingly obliged, and began walking past Twilight, towards the other five.
"Actually I only have one thng to ask you Applebloom." Twilight said, bringing the two to a stop, and all three of them looked up at her, "Why'd you do it?" she asked calmly.
There was silence throughout the corridor as everyone gathered in in the crowd, Twilight's friends, and the two principals awaited Appleblooms answer, while the other two crusaders just wanted to admit their involvement, and not leave their friend alone.
"I...I thought it would... be funny to see some peoples reactions to it, just as a joke, I never thought it would get this bad." she finally said, breaking the scilence, "I mean, what's the worst that could happen? Get caught, have detention for a few weeks, so what? It'll be worth the laughs until the holidays, there's only two weeks of school left until then. But if I had known this would-"
"Applebloom you can't just-" Sweetie began, but was cut off by her sister grabbing her arm.
"Now now Sweetie Belle. I understand that Applebloom is a good friend of yours, but you can't just go taking the blame for her." Rarity told her in a rather worried voice.
"But sh-" Scootaloo continued only to be cut off herself by Dash.
"She's right. You two don't want to get involved in this." she said as she put a hand on Scootaloo's shoulder.
Luna looked around at the crowd of people. "We said school is out for today, SO UNLESS YOU WANT TO STAY BEHIND TOMORROW AS WELL THEN I RECOMEND YOU ALL GO HOME NOW!!" she yelled, getting them to move.
"You can talk in one of the classrooms, take as much time as you all need." Celestia said, as she turned to walk presumably towards her office, while Luna made sure the crowd was moving.
They all entered the classroom Twilight had momentarily hid in.
"Why did you stop me there sis?" Sweetie mumbled to herself.
Rarity immediately hugged her sister tightly as she broke down in tears, "Because I dont want you to get hurt!" she cried.
"But...but I did this, not just Applebloom."
"I don't care if you did this, you're my little sister and I don't ever want to see you hurt, understand."
"I... I'm sorry sis, I didn't know you were worried about me." Sweetie said as she returned the hug.
"This place has hurt enough people recently, we don't need two more." Dash said as she sat on one of the tables.
"What was that about?" Scootaloo asked, ""Thought it would be funny", what were you thinking saying that?"
"I had to say something didn't I?" Applebloom answered, "The truth is I don't even know anymore." she sat on a chair and rested her head onto the table in front of her, "What would you have said?" Scoots didn't answer, "Thats what I thought."
"So you two are also part of this?" Twilight asked, already knowng the answer from personal past experience.
"Yeah but, Applebloom wants us to stay out of this, and I think I'm starting to see why." Sweetie answered as Rarity had finally let go of her and had calmed down.
"I'll be okay on my own. Us Apples, we're tougher than look." Bloom replied.
"Anything else you want to ask us before you go Twi?" Applejack asked.
"No, I think I'm gonna head home now, I'll tell her you're all sorry, and who Anon-A-Miss really is," she replied as she looked around at all her friends, "and maybe I can get her to come talk to you tomorrow."
"How is she?" Pinkie asked weakly.
"She... She's ok, I think it may take a while for her to adjust back to life in Equestria but, she's doing ok." Twi answered as she walked towards the door.
Pinkie smiled for the first time that day "That's good, she doesn't belong here anyway." Everyone, Twilight included, turned and looked at her, "She has friends she can actually rely on over there, she'll be better off over there, she deserves better than us. After all I've been a horrible friend to her."
"Pinkie you're being to hard on-" Dash began, but then just sighed to herself, "You're right, we're terrible 'friends' aren't we."
Pinkie then looked up at Twilight. "Take care of her ok." Twi nodded as she finally left the classroom.
"See you girls tomorrow... I guess." she told herself as made her way to the schools exit, and towards the portal.
"Do any of you think Twilight can actually get her to come back tomorrow?" Fluttershy asked.
"Doesn't matter, she's better off where she is, and thats all that matters." Pinkie answered as her smile started to fade, "Right?"
I've gotta talk to Sunset, their must be a way we can fix this. Somehow. Twilight thought as she walked back through the portal.
As Twilight came back through the portal, she telepoted the hoodie off of her, and made her way into the main castle hall to see Spike sitting down reading one of his comics.
"See Spike, I told you I'd be back befor-" she was cut off by the front door to the castle flying open, as Sunset ran in.
"Just barley." Spike laughed to himself.
"Twilight!... I need.... to talk..... to you." she said, clearly out of breath.
Same here, "Oh, are you alright? Did something happen? What's wrong?" she asked as she walked over to her.
Sunset took a few deep breaths to regain all her lost energy. "Ok, you're probably going to think I'm crazy for saying this, but I need to go back to the human world! Can you open the portal for me, like now?"
Well thats convenient. "Wait, why do you want to back all of a sudden?" she asked, quite puzzled.
"I just need to talk to them one more time, that's all." Sunset replied.
Same to them. "But what about-"
Sunset quickly interrupted."And no, I don't care whether they want to see me or not, or even if they just ignore me again, they need to know something."
"Well okay, if you're sure," Twilight then remembered that school was canceled for the day, "we'll have to go tomorrow, I've got some stuff I need to do today, and I don't want you to go over there alone."
"Why can't we go now? It won't take long." she asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Because... I'm really behind on some of this stuff, It's why I couldn't join you today. Sorry about that." was the only quick response she could think of.
"Well, alright, sorry for bothering you then." Sunset sighed, as Rainbow came flying in through the still open door.
"Hey, what was all that about? You just up and bolted out. Did we say something?" Dash asked concerned.
Sunset laughed to herself, "No, it's fine, just had to ask Twi something, I'll explain later. Sorry about all that,"
Dash looked at Twilight, who just looked back with a smile "She's fine, no need to worry. You girls go and enjoy yourself." Sunset and Dash made their way back out the door.
Rainbow turned back at Twilight "Is... she really okay?"
"She's fine Dash, don't worry about it." she answered as Dash closed the door
The next day.
The mood was dead in the music room, as it was yesterday, when Pinkie walked in after her first two lessons that day. she looked around to see her friends, and two of the three crusaders.
Fluttershy was again, sitting in the corner, although she wasn't crying today.
Rarity and Sweetie Belle were sitting at a table, both looking at each other rather worried.
Scootaloo was looking out the back window, quickly looking around to acknowledge Pinkies presence in the room, before turning back to the window.
Applejack was sitting opposite Rarity and Sweetie, with her hat covering most of her face, but from what Pinkie could see, she looked either angry, or annoyed.
Rainbow was standing up against a wall, arms folded, with bruises on her right hand, Pinkie noticed some red stains on the wall she was resting on.
Finally, Pinkie herself was wearing a clearly fake wig of her normal ‘poofy’ hair. Her actual hair was clearly visible, in the same style it was yesterday, sitting straight down her neck and her back.
"Come on girls," Pinkie said, with the most forced smile she had ever pulled, "you don't want to be all sad and mopey when Sunset gets here." everyone looked at her "Right?"
"She's not coming." Dash replied, "She's not coming and you know it, we all do."
"Of course she is! I bet she's already here, about to walk through that door any minute now." they all looked away, "Come on girls... Girls?"
"Just drop the act Pinkie, it's not working, and Dash is right, she's not coming." Fluttershy muttered.
"She is coming! S-so cheer up, we wanta greet her with smiles and open arms, not this, right?"
""Cheer up"?" Applejack said, looking up at Pinkie "How can I cheer up knowing my little sister is out there, all by herself, with literally the whole school after her?" she continued, with anger growing in her voice.
"It-it'll be okay," Applejack got up and walked over to Pinkie, gaining the attention of the others in the room, "j-just as soon as Sunset ge-" she replied.
"SHE'S NOT COMING PINKIE!!! " AJ yelled as she pulled Pinkie's wig off, "And even if she was, how would that help my sister? Heck, she'd probably just join in wouldn't she." Pinkie had no response to that, "What was she thinking, doing this without me? “I'll be fine on my own,” “you don't need to worry about me," of course I'm gonna worry about you."
"I know how you feel." Rarity muttered as she put an arm around Sweetie.
Pinkie's smile fell quickly, "Sorry AJ, you're all right, she's never coming back."
Scootaloo was still looking out the window, "Wait, isn't that..." her eyes widened when she realized she was right, "SHE'S HERE!" Everyone gathered around and looked where Scoots was pointing. Sure enough, they all saw Sunset and Twilight among the crowd of people outside, walking towards the school entrance.
"Well I'll be... You were right after all." Applejack said, "Sorry I ever doubted you Pinkie." she turned to see Pinkie already standing in the doorway.
"Save the apologies for the one who needs it. Now are you coming, or am I going alone?" she joked, bringing a smile to their faces as they all walked over to her.
"Wait, hold on a sec," Sweetie pulled out her phone, "you go on ahead, I'll call Applebloom." they all nodded and left.
Twilight and Sunset emerged from the portal, they looked around to see a large group of people just ahead of them.
"Must be break time, they should be in the music room right now." Sunset said to herself.
"I swear I get a little headache everytime i come here." Twilight mumbled.
Sunset just laughed."Well you coming, or you just gonna sit there?" she helped Twilight up and they made their way to the schools entrance.
about halfway there, Sunset heard someone, "Hey, there she is." she looked around to see everyone looking at them, as they just kept walking, Sunset was listening to the passing comments.
"Didn't think we'd see her again."
"I can't believe she actually came back."
"I wanna know why she even bothered coming back."
As they entered the school Sunset turned to Twilight, "Apparently my disappearance yesterday didn't go unnoticed."
You don't know the half of it. "I guess not."
"Come on, the music room's thi-" she was suddenly tackled by Pinkie, "Wha... Get off Pinkie"
"I'm so so sooo sorry Sunny, you see what happened was-"
"Pinkie! get off her!" Dash said as she and Applejack pulled Pinkie off of the now, rather confused Sunset.
"Wait, sorry? That's not what I expected to hear."
"Well why not? didn't-" AJ looked to Twilight, "You did tell her, right?"
The other six of them looked at her aswell. "Tell me what?" Sunset asked, just as confused as the others.
"I thought it would be best if you heard it from them instead of me." Twi said as she nodded to the others.
"What do you mean?" Sunset got up off the floor and turned towards the six Twi's nod was directed at, "What is she talking about?"
"When you came to us two days ago," Rainbow began, "as soon as you ran off, Anon-A-Miss told us who she was. I was about to chase after you but, you were already gone."
"So then, who is she?" Sunset asked.
"Then we decded to right you an apology," Fluttershy continued, "but I guss you didn't get that."
"Yesterday she even admitted it to the whole school." Rarity said, "It was, quite... unexpected to say the least."
"So who is she?" Sunset asked again.
"That was also when Twilight came here to talk to us, and well, here we are." Pinkie said.
"Who. Is. Anon-A-Miss?" she asked a third time.
"That's the part you're not gonna like." Scootaloo replied.
"Why no-" Sunset saw behind them were the other two crusaders, slowly approaching, one in particular caught her attention. "Is that... Applebloom? What happened to her?" she ran over to her, joined first by Applejack, and then the others. "What happened to you?"
Bloom was covered in bruises along her arms, had a rather shiny black eye, and was also cluching her stomach. "Howdy Sunset, yall hear the good news?" she said with a cough. Applejack was paralysed at the sight.
"What are yo-" Sunset began.
"You want to know who Anon-A-Miss is?" Scootaloo asked, "You're looking at her."
"Wait, you mean..." Sunset turned back to Bloom as she thought about what Scoots was saying. "No, that can't be right, it doesn't make sense."
"Course it does," Applebloom replied, "why else was I the only one who listened to you?" Sunset couldn't believe what she was hearing, that the only person she could turn to here was the one who caused her all the pain in the first place. "And why'd you think I look like this?"
"Y-you did all this?" Bloom nodded, "Over the last two weeks, everything I went through, it was all, because of you?" she nodded again.
Sunset walked closer to Applebloom, her eyes filling with anger, causing Applejack to run over and stand between her sister. "Oh no you don't! I don't care what she's done, you're not gonna lay a finger on her Shimmer!" she declared. She knew first hand that when Sunset was angry, no one ever messed with her, and if anything could bring the old Sunset back, it was this. She couldn't just let this happen to her sister.
"Applejack, it's alright, move out the way." Bloom said as she tried, and failed to move AJ out of the way, still clutching her stomach. "If I can take a kick in the stomach from Lightning Dust, I can take a punch in the face from Sunset."
"Twilight, would yall talk some sense into her!" AJ asked desperately.
"Applejack... Move out the way." everyone, bar Sunset and Applebloom, turned to Twilight with the exact same reaction of 'WHAT!?!?' "I said... Move out the way. Trust me." Twilight smiled, and AJ begrudgingly moved back towards the others.
Sunset finally closed the gap between her and Applebloom, who just closed her eyes and prepared for the worst, Applejack did the same. Sunset grabbed Bloom's shirt and pulled her closer with one hand, as the other clenched itself into a fist.
Sweetie was standing behind Applebloom, she had backed away at Sunset's approach, but was close enough to see the rage in her eyes. This is bad, she's gonna do it. Sunset slowly lifted her arm and pulled it back, ready to bring her fist forward into Bloom's face. "TWILIGHT YOU'VE GOT TO STOP HER!!!" Sweetie shouted, Twilight just continued smiling, not saying a word.
After what felt like forever, Sunset lowered her arm. "It's not worth it." she sighed as she let go of Bloom's shirt. "I guess I should thank you really." she said as she wiped newly formed tears from her eyes.
"W-what?" Bloom replied, confused out of her mind.
"It's why she came here," Twilight began, still smiling, "if I didn't tell her what you all told me yesterday, why would she want to come here?" she looked at the others, all just as confused as Bloom was, "She has, or maybe had something to tell you." they all looked back at Sunset.
"I remembered something yesterday, something you told me Applejack." she began, ""You don't belong here Sunset.""
Applejack's face fell when she heard that, and she almost immediately knew where she was going with this. "I know I said that, but I didn't know any better, you gotta understa-" she said.
"But you were right," Sunset interrupted, "I don't belong here. I never did."
"So why are you thanking her exactly?" Dash asked.
"Because I've been welcomed back there, by Twilight, Princess Celestia, and even all of town, but none of that would of happened if it wasn't for Applebloom. Now I finally have a place I can call home." she said as tears started to form in her eyes.
"Wait, so you're saying that everything we put you through... was a good thing?" Pinkie asked.
"I... I guess I am." she replied, wiping her eyes.
"Please don't leave, we can sort this out, you don't have to leave!" Fluttershy cried as she ran up and hugged her.
"There's nothing to sort out Shy."
"Of course there is!" she replied, as her grasp on Sunset got tighter. "We know what we did was wrong, and we're really sorry. Just please give us a chance!"
"Shy's right, you can't just up and leave now," Dash began, "we can sort this mess out."
"I know it might not mean anything anymore," AJ sighed, "but I'm really sorry for everything sugercube."
"Fluttershy, let her go." Rarity said, placeing a hand on her shoulder and lightly pulling her off. "I know I can't ask you to stay, so I won't, but know that... know that we're really gonna miss you dear." she pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and wiped her tears from her eyes.
"Take care of yourself," Pinkie said, "and be happy, you've got you're old life back now, you don't need us anymore." Sunset looked around at all of them, not sure what to do.
Just then the school bell went off, "We should be going now, don't want to draw anymore attention to us." Twilight said.
"Yeah, I guess." she replied as she and Twilight left out of the front doors, and walked over to the portal. When they reached it, they were about to walk through it, back to Equestria, when Sunset took a glance back at the front of the school, the others were watching them from inside. "Um... Twil-"
"You don't have to come back if you don't want to." Twilight interrupted, "You can stay here if you want."
"But what about-"
"I'll always be here if you need me, and so will Equestria." Twilight looked over at the girls in the school entrance, "But right now, I think they need you more than we do." she said.
"You're really ok with me staying here?" Sunset asked, still looking towards the school.
"I'll explain everything to everypony back home, don't worry about that." Twilight said as she started to walk through the portal.
A thought came to Sunset's mind, "Wait! I need to go back and get my book."
Twilight giggled, "Check your bag." she said as she walked through the portal. Sunset opened her bag and saw her book was there. She grinned, closed it back up and walked back over to the school, and the only eight people not making their way to class.
"Come on Fluttershy, we're late for class." she said weakly, as she walked past them.
"Sunset? You're staying?" Pinkie asked, to which Sunset gave a nod.
"I don't get it, why?" Dash asked, "Why would you want to stay here now?"
Sunset stopped, and turned around. "When I had done something unforgivable, you were all willing to forgive me, and give me a chance to prove I'd changed." she smiled, "I think it's only fair that I give you the same chance."
"Thank you!" Fluttershy said as she hugged her again, though not as tightly this time, "We promise we won't let this happen again!"
Sunset hugged her back, "Don't mention it, we can talk more about it later, we're late enough as it is." she said as Fluttershy let her go, and everyone all made there way to their respective class.
AJ and Dash, now separated from the others, turned to each other. "This isn't gonna be easy, is it?" Dash asked.
"Nope, we've got to prove to her she can trust us," she stopped walking and her eyes fell to the floor, "and I'm not even sure I can trust myself right now."
"I know how you feel. Sorry I brought it up." Dash mumbled under her breath, as AJ looked up at her, and they continued walking, knowing they had a long way to go.
One Week Later (Epilogue)
It had been one week since Sunsets return, and the five others had been trying all week to make up for what they did. They had never left her side all week, having a week long sleepover session, changing houses each day. Tonight was a sleepover at Applejacks, and things were going nicely.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me!" Rainbow frowned at the big 'You Lose' plastered on one half of the screen. She looked over at Sunset next to her, who had a rather large grin.
"That's three defeats in a row Dash, I thought you were good at this." Sunset giggled.
"I swear this controller's busted, it's not me." Dash replied.
"It was fine last I used it sugercube. So if it's broken, you're buying me a new one." Applejack said, trying not to laugh at the look on Dashs face.
"You know, you'll soon run out of excuses if you keep losing like this dear." Rarity added as she looked up from her phone.
"Oh come on, I don't make excuses, I just... Give reasons why you all had some kind of unfair advantage over me." Dash replied back, "Besides who's keeping track?"
"I am!" Pinkie pulled a small USB out of her hair, plugged it into her laptop, and opened up a list. "You've lost three times due to controller failures, four times because you were too hungry to properly concentrate, another four because of faulty audio apparently hurting your ears, once because of distorted graphics preventing you from properly seeing what was happening, five times because you made the game crash when you hit the console cus you saw a fly on it riiight before you were about to lose anyway-"
"Alright Pinkie, I get it! I need to get my stuff fixed."
"Your stuff? this all happened at Fluttershy's, all the excuses you made at your place starts on page twenty-one." the whole room erupted with laughter.
"You... You've got twenty-one pages of excuses from her?" Sunset asked as she started laughing harder at her own question.
"Thirty-five actually." Pinkie answered as she put the USB back in her hair.
"Oh don't worry Dash. We can only hope that one day we'll beat you fair and square." Fluttershy told her jokingly.
Sunset looked over at an empty pile of bottles in the corner, as the laughter slowly stopped. "I'm gonna go get us another bunch of drinks, you want anything specific?" she asked as she got up, received an answer off each of them, and then left the room.
"How do you think we're doing?" Fluttershy asked quietly.
"I think we're doing ok," Rarity began, "at least some of her smiles and laughs don't seem forced anymore."
"Yeah..." Pinkie turned to Dash, "You do know that if you keep losing on purpose, she's gonna realize eventually."
She just shrugged in response, "Yeah I know."
After about a minute Big Mac walked in with a bag of bottles, and Applebloom poked her head around the doorway. "Uh, Sunset asked us to bring these up to you, she said she was going outside for some fresh air. She ok?" she asked them, as all of their smiles fell.
"Yeah, she seemed fine to us." AJ answered as she took the bag from Mac, "Did she say why she went out?"
"Nope." Mac moved out the way as Dash ran past him and down the stairs.
AJ was about to run out also. "Hold on AJ!" Shy called out, "Maybe we're trying to hard, I mean we've barely given her enough room to breath lately. Maybe she just needs a bit of space."
Dash ran down stairs, grabbed her coat that was hanging on the wall, put her shoes on as quickly as she could, and ran out the open front door. She saw Sunset sitting on the ground with her back against the wall.
"What are you doing out here? It's freezing!" she asked as she sat down next to her.
Sunset looked up at her, "Dash? I just wanted some fresh air is all." she turned her gaze back to the ground, "You should head back inside, I'll be there in a minute."
"What's wrong?" Rainbow asked.
"I'm fine Dash." Sunset replied.
"Is it about me letting you beat me over and over?" she joked, hoping it would lighten the mood, or at least make her smile.
"I'm fine Dash, really." she answered.
Rainbow sighed, "Look, I know it's been hard, but you have to believe me when I say that, I wanna help you," Sunset looked back up at her, "but I can't do that if you don't tell me what's wrong."
"I'm just..." she looked right in Rainbows eyes, she saw Dash was greatly concerned for her, and that she wasn't going back in alone. She took a deep breath, and finally replied "I'm scared Dash."
Dash put her arm around her, "We know, you don't want to be abandoned again, but we're not gonna leave you alone ever again." she told her reassuringly.
"I know." she replied, "But, it's not you I'm really worried about.."
"Then who is it?" Dash asked.
"It's everyone really. The way everyone at school just, they just all seem to flip so easily." she replied.
"What do you mean, "flip"?"
"Well, first they all hate me, then they all like me, and then after the first two days of this, they're all against me again. Sure, they're all gonna be friendly to me again I guess, but how long until they flip again?"
"They won't, I'm sure they know now that you've really changed." she replied.
"But so did you." Dash didn't reply. "You all really believed I had changed, but in the end, you still turned. So why should I trust you? How long before I'm left alone again?"
"Look," Dash thought about what she was about to say, and if she should say it in the first place. "I'm gonna tell you something I really shouldn't say, but you need to hear it anyway. And don't tell the others I said this!" Sunset looked at her as she took a deep breath. "You have absolutely no reason to trust any of us right now, but know that we are never gonna leave you alone like that every again."
"So how long until I should trust you?" Sunset asked.
"That's for you to decide, not us." Dash answered as she got up, and reached out a hand to Sunset, "Now can we go back inside now? It really is freezing out here."
"Sure, the others are probably worried about me." she grabbed her hand and pulled herself up, only for Dash to pull her into a hug.
"Yeah, we were. Now promise me you won't go doing this again!"
"I promise Dash, I won't do this again." Sunset told her as she broke the hug.
"You can trust us, you shouldn't right now, but you can." Dash said as they both went inside and back upstairs.
You're right Dash, I told you girls I was gonna give you a chance, and that's what I'm gonna do.
