Sunset awoke with a startle, sitting up rather quickly, hitting her head on the bottom of her top bunk. She was drenched with sweat. Rainbow Dash looked down from the top bunk, apparently startled as well. "Are you okay?" She asked. "You were mumbling in your sleep."
Sunset rubbed her eyes. "I was?"
"Yeah. Something about Cloudsdale." Rainbow replied. "I don't know what it means, I've been busy reading."
Sunset raised an eyebrow. "You were reading?" She asked. "Let me guess: Daring Do."
"What gave it away?" Dash asked.
"It's the only book you read. It makes me wonder how you survived in english class." Sunset said. "Wait, english class." Sunset stood up. "What time is it?"
Rainbow looked at the clock in her bunk. "About ten." She said casually.
Sunset let out a little shriek and looked at the clock. "We're late for graduation!"
"What?!" Rainbow shouted sitting up. "I can't miss graduation! I need that diploma! How else am I supposed to get into a professional soccer team?!"
"We haven't even packed!" Sunset said. "Okay, Sunset, breath, just breath." She was breathing heavenly, trying to figure out what to do. "Okay, the full on ceremony is at noon, right?"
"Right." Dash replied, climbing down from her bunk, her book in hand.
"That gives us about two hours." Sunset said.
"Yeah, two hours to shower, dress, pack, and reach the ceremony before our names get called." Rainbow explained.
"Yep. Which one of us will shower first?" Sunset asked.
"I think I'm gonna pack first. You go first." Rainbow said.
Over the next two hours, the two girls showered, packed, and dressed in their normal clothes. Sunset dress in her orange skirt, and purple shirt, and her favorite leather jacket. Rainbow Dash wore her pink and white skirt, white shirt, and blue jacket.
The girls then put their collage gowns on. The blue fabric was cold and itchy, and, just like anything else, Rainbow hated it. "Ugh!" Rainbow Dash groaned as she slipped her gown on. "It ruins any athletic properties."
Sunset, however, had a more positive outlook on it. She didn't like the fabric, but, she was still comfortable with her leather jacket on. She placed her stereotypical collage education hat on and asked, "How do I look?"
"No time !" Rainbow said. "It's eleven thirty, we gotta get to that ceremony now!" She put her hat under her arm and ran out the door, wheeling her trunk behind her. Sunset followed her friend, but, she wasn't as fast. Rainbow was a skilled athlete, and a fast runner. Sunset was fast, but not nearly as quick.
The girls ran across the courtyard to the auditorium. They dropped their trunks outside the building, and sneaked into the gym. They sat next to Applejack and Rarity, who had each shared a dorm, and they sat were sitting next to Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, who had each had a dorm.
"Where have y'all been?" Applejack asked. "We've been worried sick."
"I overslept." Sunset admitted. She had carried in her journal given to her by Princess Celestia in Equestria. Then again, she carried it with her everywhere. People often joked that she was the slowest reader on campus, but she didn't care, she was just waiting for the chance of a message, even though it had been over four years since her last message.
"That's not what I heard." A guy's voice in front of the girls said. "I heard you were snuggling." His name was Fire Sweater. He was the biggest bully in collage. His fraternity did everything they could to make life miserable. And his sense of humor was, well, drastic.
Sunset and her friends were always picked on, because they were girls who shared a room, two to a room, and who got together on a weekly basis. Sunset frequently wanted to punch his teeth out. She could only image what Rainbow Dash and Applejack would do to him if they found him in a dark alley. The mere thought made her shudder.
"Buzz off, Fire." Sunset said, and hit him in the head with her book.
"Oh, someone's has a fiery temper, don't they?" Fire said, a twinkle in his eye. But, it certainly wasn't a friendly twinkle.
This time, Sunset hit him directly in the nose. Fire recoiled in sudden pain. He rubbed his nose, and said, with anger in his voice, "Why you little..."
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Professor Atmosphere's voice boomed throughout the auditorium. "Welcome to the Cloudsdale University's graduation ceremony!"
Fire began to turn back. "You're off the hook this time, Shimmer." He said, turning toward the front of the auditorium. "Next time you won't be so lucky." Sunset smiled. Fire Sweater always lost in the end. Rainbow Dash gave Sunset a quiet thumbs up.
"As you all may know," Professor Atmosphere continued, "These fine students are some of the best we've ever had her at C.U. . Now, if you have children who've gone to this school before, might realize that I say this every year, but, that's only because the students get better every year.
"But, today, we're not here to make jokes, we're here to celebrate the graduation of these students." Atmosphere proceeded to give a twenty minute long speech about how great the students were. And during that twenty minutes, Rarity complained about the gowns, (partially because they designed by Suri Polomare) Fluttershy was, well, shy, Applejack ate an apple, Pinkie Pie was struggling to stay in
her chair, and Rainbow Dash fell asleep.
After the speech the students were lined up in alphabetical order. Fluttershy was a few spots behind Sunset, and Fire Sweater was a few spots behind her, much to his dislike.
Along the way a teacher walked up to Sunset and asked, "Would you like me to hold that book for you while you get your diploma?"
Sunset looked at him with a smile. "Thanks for the gesture, but no thanks." The teacher nodded and walked away.
When Atmosphere called Sunset's name, he pushed his glasses closer to his eyes, and studied the paper. "Sunset Shimmer, you have completed the programs, and earned your diploma. Congratulations." Atmosphere handed her his diploma, and stared at her with a look of sheer contempt, as she walked off the stage.
Outside, that Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity, all went to their families with their trunks full of clothes and odds and ends they had obtained throughout the school year. Sunset Shimmer, however, was left standing there, with her trunk next to her, and her head hanging down.
Unlike all her friends, Sunset had no family to go to. Her family was gone. Twilight had told her what had happened to them, during Tirek's assault on Equestria. Tirek had entered their home in Fillydelphia, trying to steal their magic to make him stronger, but Sunset's parents did not go without a fight. They had injured Tirek's leg, and he did not take it kindly. He stole their magic, and while leaving the house, collapsed the roof on them.
Twilight had been unaware of the events for several weeks, while Tirek's destruction was cleaned up. Sunset's parents were almost unable to recognize, as they were mingled, and had begun to rot. They couldn't even get a proper burial. Sunset couldn't bear to step hoof into Equestria for years, she was so mentally damaged.
But, Sunset did want to return to Equestria one day. It was still her home, after all. She just wasn't sure when.
Sunset walked to a bus stop, and sat down. It was overcast now, and thunder roared through the sky. It was as if the weather knew how she was feeling.
Sunset closed her eyes, remembering her sorrow, when her arms began to vibrate. She opened her eyes and noticed her book was glowing and vibrating. Twilight must have sent her a message. She open to the next page where a message was written. It read:
Sunset,
I need you to come to Equestria as soon as you can. I have activated the mirror so you can just walk through it to get here. You will be in my castle. I will have a guard stationed there who will escort you to my study. Princess Cadence will be there as well. I hope to see you soon.
Your friend,
Twilight
Sunset looked up from her book as the bus pulled up she grabbed her trunk and walked into the bus. She sat down, and wasn't sure weather to be excited or worried. Then a message appeared just below the other one.
P.S. Do you like rainbows?
Princess Twilight Sparkle sat in her study, and just finished adding the P.S. to the message she sent to Sunset Shimmer. Princess Cadence sat behind her, with a frown upon her face. "I still don't think this is a good idea." She voiced openly.
Twilight turned to look at her. "How come?" she asked.
"Sunset Shimmer has had a history of being...unstable." Cadence replied. "She has done things that have damaged the world she lives in, as well as Equestria. Bringing her in on this, is not such a good idea."
"We need powerful magicians for this, and there are very few in Equestria." Twilight explained. "I've seen Sunset's magical abilities first hoof, and we need her for this."
"But, why don't you let Princess Celestia, or Luna know what you've uncovered?" Cadence asked.
"Because, I think they may already know." Twilight replied.
Cadence narrowed her eyes. "What are you implying?"
Twilight stood firm. "I think this conspiracy goes deeper than we first thought. If it's as deep as I think it is, we can't trust anyone."
"Then why do you trust me?" Cadence asked.
"I've known you longer then any of the other princesses, including Princess Celestia." Twilight explained. "You've been with me since I was a filly. I trust you more then most ponies."
Cadence smiled. "Thank you Twilight." Cadence said, with much sincerity. "But, I'm still worried about bringing Sunset Shimmer in on this."
"I know. I'm worried too." Twilight acknowledged. "But, I honestly think she's changed. Besides, her magical abilities can, and will help with this."
Cadence sighed. "All right, I trust you, but I'm still not keen on this plan."
"Neither am I." Twilight said. "But, I don't think either of us are very keen about this scenario."
Cadence lowered her head. "No, not at all."
A guard came walking in the study. He bowed and said, "Your Highnesses, the mirror is active."
Twilight sighed. "Go get her, and then bring her here."
"Yes, your majesty." The guard walked out of the room.
Twilight sighed, and hoped this would go well. But, she did have her doubts. In fact, she had more doubts than she would admit to anyone. Even Cadence.
