Author's Note
Technically this is not my first MLP story, but it is the first one I have uploaded to Fimfiction. I realize there are some bumps in the story and I plan to fix it, but right now I am finding myself with a bit of writers block, so I am seeking anyone with editing skills to lend me a hand. I have really been trying to get back into writing fanfics for a long time, but haven't found the motivation.
It is late, so I will have to upload the story to Gdocs later and re-edit the chapter after that if this turns out to look bad upon first publish. I'm more used to DeviantArt and fanfiction.net when it comes to publishing stories from Word and/or OpenOffice.
Good night everyone!
Edit: I see I've actually made the front page under New Stories, which I suppose is good 
Still though, I feel as though I am missing some key elements to this story, ones that are keeping it from flowing well. I can't tell if it's the pacing which seems to go well in certain spots, but are rough in others, or the descriptive dialogue. I must confess that I have always had difficulty in the descriptive dialogue category. Then there are the scene changes and people coming in, etc. If I could get someone's help, it really would be appreciated.
Edit 2: I feel it is unfair for people to just read and give a down-vote without any explanation or help on the subject. I understand it's not a great start, but I'm looking to make it better, so please give me an opportunity by helping with suggestions. I have also changed the title to more accurately reflect what the Treaty, so to speak, is for.
Rainbow's Proclamation
“What's this?” Sunset Shimmer asked simply, staring at the stapled papers placed in front of her by a certain rainbow haired girl.
“A document of proclamation of course,” Rainbow boasted proudly, “It's for an assignment in History class, that I ACTUALLY wrote. Go ahead, read it and weep happily.”
“I-I'm not sure I should Rainbow Dash.” Sunset groaned, just picking at the papers in front of her. “Especially considering the source. What's it even for and what what's so important about it that I need to read it?
“Well for one I was hoping you'd proof it for me since you are the smartest here at Canterlot High. It's for like 70% of our grade in both History AND counts as a term paper in English.”
Sunset Shimmer raised an eyebrow at the girl. While it was true that this was an assignment that made up a huge chunk of two grades in two separate classes, the fact that Rainbow Dash did an assignment so quickly and seemingly thorough, judging the large stack of papers that seemed to be about twenty pages long, was astounding. Normally Rainbow was a straight B- student with a couple of C's scattered around and maybe an A or two, but it seemed that she may have found a academic niche.
“Rainbow Dash, there are plenty of people just as smart or maybe even smarter than I am that could have proofread it for you. I mean, you could have taken it to Fluttershy, Rarity or even Flash Sentry.”
“I know!” Rainbow exclaimed, “Fluttershy is the one who helped me to draft it and get my thoughts in order, your Flash and I began throwing ideas around during soccer practice and Rarity suggested you be the one to proof it since you have experience with this kind of stuff.” She paused and saw Sunset's look of confusion. “Look, when Mr. Dizzy began talking about how wars had agreements between certain parties were such a huge part of maintaining allies, and then Mr. Doodle came in and announced the assignment between the two classes, I figured we should have a treaty as the Rainbooms between us and Principal Celestia here at CHS like the Wonderbolts have with the U.N. in case there is a massive outbreak of violence that needed to be quickly silenced.”
If she wasn't interested before, Sunset was definitely listening now. What Rainbow had said started to pique her interest and when it came to the Wonderbolts, Rainbow Dash really knew her stuff. “Okay Rainbow, you've got my attention. What kind of treaty are you talking about?” she asked as she began scanning through the document.
“Well, since there has been an outbreak of magical chaos lately, first you and then the Sirens, I figure that in the case of preventing another magical disaster that all matters pertaining to magic be dealt by us, the Rainbooms.”
“Uhm, we already do that Rainbow Dash.” Sunset wisely pointed out.
“Yes, but remember when we attempted to Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna about the dark magic the Dazzlings presented, they didn't believe us!”
Sunset sighed, “That's true, but they were also already under their spell!”
“I know that! Which is why in this paragraph I stated that while we should still take the matter to Principal Celestia or Vice Principal Luna first, all final decisions should be made on behalf of you, Sunset Shimmer.”
“Wait, what?”
“See, you're the leading expert on all things magic here-”
“I'm the only expert on magic here, aside from when Twilight comes to visit.” Sunset interrupted, correcting her friend.
“Right, of course. What I'm getting at is the principal has the ultimate authority to kick students out like they should have with the Dazzlings, but as long as you're recognized as the expert on magic even if they are somehow brainwashed, we can remind them of that fact and with this agreement in place they can't not follow protocol as long as it's a rule.”
Sunset tapped her chin thoughtfully as she continued reading through the paper. Rainbow had done a good job of defending her position despite her using a double negative and it was certainly worth exploring. From what she was reading, it seemed like a strong document despite several errors.
“Okay Rainbow Dash, I could agree to this, but just one thing.”
“Yeah?”
“Your grammar skills stink. Run-on sentences, misspelled words, simple punctuation are just the beginning, this thing is riddled with errors. You are going to be in for a LONG week of intense training.”
This time it was Rainbow's turn to groan loudly, “Oh noooooo! Do I have to?” She wined.
“You had better believe it R.D.” Sunset confirmed. “I studied under a princess in a prestigious school that specialized in magic, math, science and politics, so expect me to expect perfection from you as your tutor.”
Rainbow Dash gulped, her eyes widening with horror. “I don't wanna become a.....egghead!”
Sunset Shimmer eyed her thoughtfully, slowly pulled out a pair of ear-plugs and then grinned. “One compound word R.D., Wonder-Bolts.”
Rainbow pulled at her hair and slumped to the floor before screaming, “YAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
_____________________*******_________________________
(A few hours later)
“So how did the tutoring go with R.D.?” Flash questioned, placing Sunset and his Sugah Cube Choc-Sod's in front of them.
“A headache. She gave me a freaking HEADACHE!” She slammed her head onto the table. “How in Tartarus was Twilight able to tutor pony dash for that Wonderbolts test so quickly and not lose any of her feathers?? It's not like THIS R.D. can just sprout wings and keep them long enough to observe everything from the air.
Flash winced. He had seen Sunset in a bad state before, but even after her defeat as a she-demon, that was nothing compared to how she looked now. “That bad, huh?”
“I have never met some one so stubborn! She even managed to make Moon Dancer testy when she tried to help! Not to mention how much louder she screamed every thirty minutes, she ACTUALLY blew out my ear plugs!”
Flash laughed nervously. “Yeah. We could hear it on the baseball field, several thousand yards on the other side of the school!” Flash glanced at another table at a certain golden haired, super white skinned, muscular student. “Put even Bulk Biceps to shame.”
As if on cue, Bulk bellowed out a very hearty “YEEEEEEEAHHHHHHHHHH!” grabbing the attention of everyone inside and outside around Sugar-Cube Corner.
Flash let out a laugh and even Sunset couldn't help but let a giggle slip out. “Point made.” he joked, making the two laugh even more.
Sunset smiled softly at Flash, “If I didn't know any better, I'd say you planned that.”
“Maybe I did.” He responded in a teasing manner.
Sunset just shook her head and kept on smiling. She began thinking about how good it felt having Flash around; it as if he had a sort of charm that she missed back when they had first dated. He had always been kind, caring and considerate towards her, even when she very rarely returned those same characteristics back. She had been too focused on gaining enough power to rule, but now she was learning how being meek and humble can have strong qualities as well, something Flash and her other friends also carried with them. Now everywhere they went, Flash would also tag along as if he were some sort of protector and Sunset was glad for it, she felt safer knowing he had their back.“Boy did I really have it all backwards. How often did I make their lives miserable and Flash was there to make sure that they didn't lose sight of themselves?” She wondered. “Was it because of him that Twilight could get the other five back together as friends so easily and even rally the school behind Twilight?”
“Yoohoo! Is everything alright Sunny?”
Sunset jumped in her seat as Flash waved a hand in front of her, thrusting her out of her thoughts. “Oh! Flash, you startled me.”
“You were lost in thought.” He explained. “Is there something wrong?”
Sunset began nervously curling her hair with a index finger as if she had been caught. She wanted to spill the beans and ask Flash directly what exactly he did behind the scenes for the sake of Canterlot High, but she wasn't sure how.
“Flash....I-”
“Yes?”
“Justtellhimalready!”
“YAH!” They both yelped, frightened by a certain cotton candy pink haired, teenage girl that was undoubtedly Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie, yes, she could be a very good distraction for Sunset Shimmer. “Hello Pinkie!” Sunset greeted her enthusiastically.
“HI!” She jumped around, waving excitedly. “How are two of my BESTEST friends today?! How are your Choc-Sods? I got the idea for them from a soda shop called Whit's End in a place called Oddysey andIthoughteveryonewouldabsolutely LOVE them, and the weird name at the end is because there they are called Wod-Fam-Choc-Sods because World Famous Chocolate Soda's was too big, but they REALLY lived up to their name! So do you like them????”
Sunset couldn't help but laugh, because despite Pinkie speaking in run-on sentences, she really was quite bright, having seen Principal Celestia's records for all students firsthand. Pinkie's G.P.A was a respectable 3.7, just point two behind Rarity and point three behind her own, Flash and Fluttershy on a weighted 4.0 scale. If it were un-weighted, it would likely be higher as they would soon find out with A.P. Exams just around the corner.
“We love them Pinkie, thank you.” She replied, Flash nodding in agreement.
Pinkie cheered with sugary excitement “WOOOHOOO!” She quickly grabbed a seat beside them and began questioning Sunset. “Soooooo, Sunny!”
“Yes Pinkie?”
“You were about to ask Flash here about why he was so kind to you and the rest of us even when you treated all of us so badly and caused you to split and that he was also the reason we didn't completely lose sight of ourselves and WHY he helped Twilight when he could have just stayed in his own popular group and now he's completely forgiven you and hangs out with us ALLLL the time like some sort of protector and helping hand.....right?”
Sunset let her mouth hang wide open in shock. How could she possibly know what she was thinking? She knew Pinkie had a strange sixth sense about things and really she denied all laws of physics on a constant basis, but now she was reading her mind? Now to make matters even harder, Flash was staring at her all goofy like, his gears churning at this new revelation. “Pinkie! How could you possibly know what I was thinking????”
Pinkie Pie just closed her eyes and smiled innocently, “Oh, just a hunch!”
“But....it.....I” Sunset jumbled over her words, trying to come up with an explanation, “know you're......it's just......AAAAGH!” She just simply buried her hands in her head and laid it all back down on the table, the headache from earlier definitely returning. Then she felt a calm hand rest on her forearm, causing her to slightly spread her fingers apart so that she could see. It was Flash, looking at her with concern.
“Sunnyset? Is this true?”
Sunset was now just a mixed bag of emotions. Between frustration with helping Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie causing her to become more agitated with confusion and now Flash Sentry giving her a concerned yet such a soft look, it was enough to send chills down her spine and tears come to her eyes and now she couldn't even think.
“Y-yes.” Is all she said.
Pinkie Pie raised her hands up in the air victorious like and screamed, “Called it!”
Flash Sentry immediately looked over at Pinkie, frowned and gave her a look that could rival Fluttershy's stare. “Enough Pinkie.”
Pinkie let her hair flatten and even her ears somehow drooped a little, this time confusing even Flash. “Oh. Too much?” Flash only nodded in response. “I'm sorry Sunny!”
“It's alright Pinkie Pie. I know you only meant well.” Sunset replied flatly.
Pinkie raised an eyebrow of uncertainty, but shrugged it off, “Oki doki loki.”
“So,” Sunset began, “Is it true? That you did all of that for me, for them and for Twilight?”
This time it was Flash's turn to smile sadly as the memories began flooding back. “It....well....yeah. Believe it or not Sunset, when you first arrived at CHS I thought it was impossible! The thing is, I knew this worlds Sunset Shimmer back when we were first toddlers and before she was killed along with her parents in that awful car accident in Baltimore.”
Sunset thought back to her research on this world when she first arrived, remembering that this worlds Sunset had died at just twelve years old, just a month before her birthday, on nearly the same day she had arrived. It was enough to make her question for a split second whether what she was doing was right by seeking revenge before going ahead with it anyways.
Pinkie Pie was just heartbroken by this. “That-that's terrible Flash!”
“Yeah. We had grown up together. She was just like you Sunny. Almost EXACTLY like you to a tee. Wild side, pushed the limits and had determination to be the best. She got on my nerves at times, but I loved her, I just didn't realize it until we began planning her surprise birthday party. I know that seventh grade is quite a young grade to start thinking about love, but after all we'd been through it was as if we were the exact duplicate of a Topanga, like in that one show. I was going to tell her then, at her party. Then, before I could, she was gone.”
“OH DARLING! That's just dreadfully awful!” A voice called out in horror.
They all looked up to find Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack and Rainbow Dash all standing there with aghast looks on their faces. Apparently all four had come in quietly and began listening in.
“Ah los' my parents years ago in an accident too; it still hurts like the dickens.” Applejack solemnly told them. If it weren't for you five gals, and Flash, ah dun think I'd of made it through.”
“So you all knew each other even before Junior High?” Sunset wondered.
“For the most part!” Rainbow replied. “Fluttershy and I have been really close friends since we were toddlers, met A.J. when we moved from Cloudsdale to the outskirts of town when we were six. Then we all met Pinkie Pie on our first day at school who then introduced us to Rarity. Come to think of it, I think I remember Flash and the other Sunset.”
Rarity gasped in realization, “She's right! Flash was the glue that brought our group together, but I believe Sunset had another friend at the time as I remember her being quite a bookworm.”
Flash looked down. “Yeah, she was very diligent. When we weren't together, she was often in the library.”
“Ah do 'member her being rather reserved. Always wanted to be the best at everything and get what she wanted.” Applejack laid eyes on Sunset and something began to dawn on her. “Now that ah think of it, ah don't think we ever really noticed she had left!” She exclaimed.
Sunset was confused, “What do you mean Applejack?”
“Because I never told any of them.” Flash interjected, a ashamed look on his face began appearing. “I never wanted them to know what happened. When you arrived, it was as if Sunset had returned from the grave. I wanted everything to be the way it always had been so I kept it a secret. I immediately took Sunny under my wing, so to speak, and made it seem like everything was normal.”
Sunset gasped in horror, “AND THEN I BACKSTABBED AND FRAMED YOU ALL!” She screamed, tears streaming down her face.
“Uh-oh.” Fluttershy whimpered quietly.
Sunset was now shaking in her chair, beginning to sob uncontrollably as the rest began nervously glancing around the bakery. No one had seemed to notice yet, but if Sunset was to get any louder, it would definitely attract attention.
Fluttershy was the first to begin attempting to calm her down, “Oh you poor poor thing,” she said, but before she could reach Sunset, Flash had literally in a flash, jumped in the seat next to her and hugged her tightly, the rest of the girls quickly following suit. This surprised Sunset enough to make her momentarily stop crying and figure out what was happening. Slowly they all pulled away from her, except for Flash who continued to stay by her side and while scratching her back and hold her hand.
“It's alright dear! We are here now and we have forgiven you.” Rarity explained. “Why, if it weren't for you our friendship wouldn't be as strong as it is now!”
“Yes indeedily!” Pinkie Pie readily agreed.
“Really?”
“DUH! Yes, really!” Dash exclaimed. “Geez, for an egghead you sure are slow sometimes.”
Applejack gave Dash a cross look, “Gee Dash, couldn't you be any less tactful? Still though, they're right sugar cube.”
“When I first discovered you coming out of the portal, I saw the same Sunset I had known, in you.” Flash continued. “I always had faith that deep down, you were would be just as wonderful and even when you treated all of us badly, I held onto that. So when Twilight came, I knew right away that she could save you.” He looked around at his other five friends. “For a while I began to despair that you were too lost, but I still had a feeling that somehow all of you were special, and when I saw that Twilight managed to bring you all back together again, that hope came back. I helped as much as I could behind the scenes, which is why I readily supported Twilight for Fall Formal Princess.”
Rainbow gave him a teasing look. “Oh? Besides flirting with her?”
Flash flushed furiously at this statement as the girls stifled in their laughter. “Har har, very funny Dash.” Much to his dismay, Sunset let out a giggle at Flash's expense. “Not helping Sunny.” He grumbled which just made her giggle even more and soon the laughter became contagious as the other girls began laughing too. He sighed. “How embarrassing.” He mumbled.
(An hour later)
Once Vinyl Scratch had showed up, everyone had begun talking amongst themselves. Pinkie had gone back to serving customers, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Vinyl comparing music while Rarity and Fluttershy began discussing pets, fashion and design. Flash and Sunset on the other hand were now just enjoying the company of their friends and their occasional silly banters. What Flash didn't notice was sunset occasionally
“Hey Flash?”
“Hmm?”
“Thanks for being there for me.”
Flash smiled softly. “Anytime Sunny. It was my pleasure.” He replied before turning their attention back to their friends. Except that would be short lived as Sunset broke the silence again.
“I'm sorry if I didn't turn out like the old Sunset. I'm sure that must have been disappointing.”
Taken aback, Flash gave her a stunned look. “Don't say that Sunny. I wasn't....well maybe I was just a little bit. But you were you! So similar yet so different. I liked you both for who you were; I believed in both of you.”
She was smiling, but tears were coming down her face, ones of happiness. “Thank you Flash,” she replied before leaning up and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
Immediately, conversation between the group halted and all stared at the scene that had played out before them. A blush began spreading across Sunset and Flash's faces. “WHAT?” They both wondered aloud.
“Oh” Dash snickered, “Nothing. Nothing at all!”
