Author's Note

So here is my first attempt at writing a bit of fanfic for the site, I apologies if it's not that great but hopefully someone gets a bit of amusement from it.

A Day in the Life of Sunset Shimmer Part 1

Winter was starting to creep up on Canterlot Highschool and despite this being her third time experiencing the cold season in her adopted home Sunset Shimmer still had to stop for a moment and stare at the world around her. Snow clouds were sweeping down over the town with no pegasus ponies pushing them into place. The last leaves of autumn still clung to the trees, no earth pony having run through the highschool grounds and cleared them away. Birds and animals had retreated to their winter homes with no one guiding them. Nature was doing all of this on its own.

And that still brought a sense of wonder to the unicorn's heart. This world she had chosen to stay in got by just fine without ponies doing everything for it and that was amazing to her.

“Um... Sunset.. are you alright?” asked the quiet voice of Sunset's kindest friend, the sound coming from behind the weather watching girl. “You've been just staring at the school for a while now...” muttered Fluttershy nervously.

“I'm fine Fluttershy, just enjoying the weather,” laughed Sunset as she turned towards her. Sunset Shimmer was ready to explain why to her friend but the sight of the shy girl stunned her. Fluttershy looked like her torso had doubled in size, the sheer number of layers of warm clothing the girl was wearing adding a surprising amount of bulk to the tiny girl.

“Oh I had no idea you like winter so very much Sunset,” said Fluttershy with a smile. Or at least Sunset assumed it was a smile, the unicorn couldn't quite make out her friend's lips given that half her face was hidden in the folds of a green turtleneck sweater. Fluttershy began to make her way up the steps to the school's doors, and having been pulled from her storm watching, Sunset followed.

“It's just so different to Equestria, it's nice to watch the first snow storms come through,” said Sunset, moving towards to open the door for her friend, the unicorn not entirely sure if Fluttershy could move her arms through so much sweater. The smaller girl happily strode through the opening that Sunset provided for her and for the briefest of moments Sunset could see the blush the cold had brought to Fluttershy's cheeks. Was it really that cold for her already?

“They don't have winter there?” asked Fluttershy as the pair walked down the crowded halls.

“Of course we do, it's just a bit different...” explained Sunset. “It doesn't just happen like it does here, all the ponies have to pitch in and make winter together.”

“Fascinating,” said Fluttershy with a smile just before she turned to Sunset and hugged her, having reached her locker and with Sunset still having some distance to go. “See you in class Sunset.”

“Um sure, Fluttershy,” stammered Sunset as she returned the hug with just a bit of awkwardness. Fluttershy was one of her dearest friends but years and years of isolation had made displays like this just a bit unfamiliar and awkward for the reformed villain. “I'll see you then...”

Sunset watched Fluttershy wave her goodbye for a moment before turning the corner to the hall her locker resided in, and just as she had suspected it looked like the tiny animal lover was having a bit of trouble getting her arm to drag around all the wool that was keeping her warm. Despite having a bad habit of saying just the wrong thing at the wrong time Fluttershy was a wonderful friend and Sunset was happy that she had managed to become so close to the girl that had often been the target of her misplaced venom just a few months ago. This world's Fluttershy may not have a necklace to prove it but Sunset was sure that the girl was kindness personified. So with an echo of the warmth of her friend's arms still around her Sunset quickly made her way to her locker.

Swinging open the door of her locker, not bothering with the lock as it hadn't closed right since the Fall Formal, Sunset briefly looked over the photos that she'd so recently stuck there. Pictures of her friends gathered together, of simple fun and crazy moments, even one candid shot of the 'pony up'ed Rainbooms as they'd unleashed their final assault against the Dazzlings during the Battle of the Bands a bit more than a month ago. Sunset's personal favorite picture was taped to the very top of the door, having been given that spot of honor just recently. In the photo Sunset Shimmer, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack and Rarity were crowded between two shocked looking girls with purple hair, the two Twilight Sparkles from two different worlds having been too shocked at seeing each other to really object as Pinkie Pie had pushed everyone together for a 'double-smarty-purple-pony-person-picture' as she'd called it at the time. That picture would never stop making Sunset smile.

“Giggling at that picture again dear?” asked Rarity, a knowing smile playing across her lips, making Sunset jump as she closed her locker. “You know that either Twilight would go to incredible lengths to get that little snapshot away from you.”

“Then it's a good thing they don't know I still have a copy isn't it?” replied Sunset with a smile, taking a moment to look over her fashionable friend. Rarity was, as always, impeccably dressed, wearing some kind of formfitting winter jacket and leggings that hugged her curves and had just a hint of fur to the collar and the openings of the sleeves. Colored a pale purple that complimented her hair the outfit made the clothing designer appear as though she was about to going skiing with a billionaire husband rather than attend class. Just as Sunset had finished her quick look over her friend she noticed that Rarity seemed to be doing the same to her, the fashionista's eyes roaming over Sunset's appearance. The designer's keen eyes and gorgeous outfit suddenly made Sunset feel very under-dressed in her old leather jacket and warm jeans.

As Rarity opened her mouth, no doubt about to try and drag Sunset Shimmer into 'modeling for her', a situation that always seemed to end up with Sunset or one of her friends ending up with arms full of new clothes Rarity 'just happened to have'. The bell for class rang, sending Sunset bolting down the hallway, smiling and yelling goodbyes to her generous friend. Sunset didn't mind that Rarity was always so excited to design new clothing for her and the others but at times she felt a bit guilty that Rarity would spend so much time and money on her, so a chance for escape was welcome. After all, the last time Rarity had had a look like the one she'd had just then the school's new Twilight Sparkled had disappeared under a pile of clothing that had taken Sunset, Rainbow Dash and Applejack a dozen trips to get home for her.

With that memory of Canterlot Highschool's newest student still in her mind Sunset slipped into her first class of the day, a class that she shared with Twilight Sparkle. The bookish girl had saved Sunset a seat next to her and that would mean she'd have questions for Sunset. A lot of questions. Not about the Maths class they shared, both would have the work finished in moments, and their teacher Mr. Cranky had always tolerated the pair quietly chatting after they'd finished. No, Twilight would be asking her about magic, about Equestria and about friendship. Sunset was only an expert on two of those and always felt like she hadn't quite earned the right to be teaching her new friend about the third. The unicorn had only had friends for a few months herself so far after all.

Sitting next to Twilight Sunset didn't bother to say hello, the new girl already had her nose in her work and Sunset had quickly learned that when Twilight started to study she was lost to the world. A couple of weeks ago Sunset had questioned her on this, asking if the work that Mr. Cranky gave out was harder than the work she'd been doing at Crystal Prep, Twilight had denied this, saying that it was a matter of getting it done fast enough to maximize the time she could spend talking to her new friend. And so Sunset started on her on work...

“Do you think the ambient magic levels around the school have been going up lately?” Twilight asked quietly when she noticed that Sunset had finished her work. “Because I've been investigating and it seems like my scanners have been picking up an increase over last month, but only for brief periods and the increase in marginal...”

“Twilight...” groaned Sunset, her pencil not having left her hand yet. “I must have told you a hundred times already that ambient magic tends to flux a bit based on the season and the lunar cycle.”

“Well yes but the levels have been increasing steadily every time and after the incident at the Friendship Games I'm just worried I might have changed something...” muttered Twilight as she pulled out a notebook that seemed to be entirely dedicated to the discussions the pair had during their classes together. As the curious girl flipped through the pages Sunset caught the briefest glimpse of a heart drawn on one of the later pages.

“Whoa, hold up there, Sparkle, I think I saw something worth investigating,” smirked Sunset as she reached for the notebook.

“Was it the energy collection formula? I was fairly certain I wasn't heading somewhere useful with that..” questioned Twilight as she quickly handed over the book, eager for the unicorn's input. As the book landed in Sunset's hands she quickly flicked to the page she had noticed and performed an overly dramatic chin stroking action that she hoped was a decent Starswirl the Bearded impression.

“Oh no Twilight, not that, this is so much more important...” said Sunset as she leaned in close to her newest friend, and being careful to shield the notebook from prying eyes around the room she spun the book back to its owner, tapping a doodled heart in one of the book's margins.

A heart that in flowing script read; “Twilight + Pinkie”

A heart that was followed by hastily written and crossed out names; “PinkiSpark, Twinkle Pie, TwiPie.”

“I think we have something a bit more serious to discuss than some shifting magic levels,” said Sunset to her now blushing friend.

“How did that... I have no... I mean...” stammered Twilight as she grabbed back her notebook, quickly slamming it shut. “I don't think about... Well I do but not... I mean...”

Sunset just took a minute to watch her friend mumble through a dozen half-denials and explanations, the girl's face getting redder and redder until Sunset was certain the girl would pass out.

“Relax, Twilight, your secret is safe with me,” smiled Sunset as she put her hand on the other girl's shoulder in what she hoped was a reassuring manner. “Pinkie Pie is a ton of fun, and I'd bet that half the school has had a crush on her at some point.”
“But... she's a... well she's a she... and so am I...” whispered Twilight to her smiling friendship and magic mentor.

“So? You humans make such a huge deal about that stuff here,” said Sunset with another smile, gently rubbing twilight's shoulder. “But back in Equestria there are so many more girls than boys if I'd only been interested in stallions I probably wouldn't have had a date until I was Princess Celestia's age.”

“So you've... you know... kissed a girl?” whispered Twilight, the information she'd been provided seeming to ease a bit of the worry out of her face.

“Well a mare technically, but yeah,” said Sunset, a touch of sadness in her voice as she quickly sketched out a symbol of two crossed wands in her own notebook. “Her name was Dancing Sparks and she was really nice, dark mane, long legs and well... a cute flank... she put up with a lot from me before my studies ended up making me push her away.”

“So you think it's okay that I like... Pinkie?” asked Twilight, the last word barely a whisper escaping the blushing girl's lips.

“I think it only matters if you think it's okay, Twilight,” smiled Sunset, pulling the new girl into a hug. “I think that's all that matters.”

The tender moment was interrupted by the sound of a ringing bell that demanded the pair break their embrace and move to their next set of lessons. As the two collected their notes, their books and their stationary Sunset noticed that Twilight looked a great deal more relaxed than she had at the start of the class. Which made what Sunset had to tell her friend a great deal harder.

“Hey, Twilight... There's something you probably should know about Pinkie if you think you're interested,” Sunset said as she gently pulled her friend into a less used hallway. “I don't know if Pinkie really does what we'd call relationships.”

“I'm not sure what you mean...” said Twilight with a curious look.

“Well it's just that I've heard about Pinkie spending time with a lot of people over the years, guys and girls by the way, but I think that for her it's more about the fun of it than about dating and romance,” Sunset explained, one of her arms grasping the other as she delivered the bad news.

“Sunset, after everything I went through at Crystal Prep, some fun sounds like just what I need,” Twilight said with a bit of a smile. A smile that had a layer to it that Sunset couldn't quite put her finger on. As Sunset watched Twilight rush off to her next class, home economics with the group's sugar powered prankster, she saw the bookish girl bit her lip. And all of a sudden that extra layer made sense to Sunset Shimmer.

“I'm not sure who I should be more worried for there,” laughed Sunset to herself as she slowly walked off to her next class.