Chapters Chapter 1: What Exactly Happened?
The bell rang, and I walked out of algebra class with Applejack. She looked a bit uncomfortable for some reason. Was she possibly keeping something from me?
"Hey, AJ. Is something wrong?" I asked.
"What? Nope, everything is perfectly fine!" she said with an obviously fake smile. I rolled my eyes at her painfully obvious lie. Typical Applejack. I guess that's why she's the Element of Honesty. I decided not to press her any further. Whatever she was hiding, I would find out soon. I decided to change the subject.
"So, are you going to the Fall Formal?"
"Yeah. You?" she asked. "Oh, right. Sorry," she quickly added. Were they really still apologizing for mentioning that?
"No, it's okay. That was in the past. You really don't need to apologize every time you mention it. Yes, I am going," I meant it. Even though I hadn't forgotten the events of the last Fall Formal, it was in the past and I had put it behind me. Besides, all of my friends were going. Those weren't the only reasons though. Somehow, I had this feeling that this Fall Formal was going to be similar, but at the same time different from the last one. I don't know why, I just... knew.
I joined my friends at the cafeteria and sat next to Pinkie Pie, who was grinning away as usual.
"I still can't believe it's been a year since we became friends!" Fluttershy said, smiling at me. I couldn't believe it either. It felt like only last week Princess Twilight reached out to me and helped me finally make some friends, even after everything I did. I still think I didn't deserve it at the time, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
"Yes, well, about that, Sunset darling. There's something we've been meaning to ask you for quite a while," Rarity spoke up. I became curious.
"What is it? This is about the Fall Formal, isn't it?" I asked.
"Not exactly." said Fluttershy. She was clearly hesitant about asking whatever it was. "There's this thing about you we don't really know, so we decided to ask you about it. We know it's a personal question but..." Oh, great. Here it comes...
"What led you to come here in the first place?" an impatient Rainbow Dash blurted out. "Heh, sorry," she added when she saw everyone in the cafeteria was staring at her.
I knew it! I knew they were going to ask me about this someday! I love my friends to bits, but this wasn't really a subject I liked talking about. In fact, I hadn't talked about it to anyone, not even Princess Twilight. Before, whenever someone would try to ask me about my past, I would just avoid it by joking, "Where were you this whole school year?" Then they would laugh, feel bad about it, apologize, and leave me alone so I wouldn't have to answer any questions. It had worked a lot of times, but those people who asked me were all people other than my six friends (seven now, counting our world's Twilight) It didn't seem like the little trick was going to work here.
I tried to keep a smile on my face, but Twilight (our world's Twilight) noticed that I wasn't exactly eager to answer.
"Sunset, you don't have to answer if you don't want to," she said with a comforting smile. You could definitely tell she was Twilight, even if she was wearing glasses.
"It's just that it's been a year and that's a super long time to go without knowing something so important about one of your bestest friends! So, we got curious and just asked you so you would tell us!" Pinkie Pie chimed in, still smiling.
"But, you know, only if it's okay with you," Fluttershy said in her usual soft voice. Six pairs of eyes were looking at me with anticipation, but also reassuring smiles. I sighed. Pinkie Pie was right. A year was a long time to go without telling your friends something like this. They had told me everything about them, and they fully deserved to know about this important part of my life. I trusted them more than anyone with this.
"You're right. You should know about this, and there's no better time than now to tell you," I admitted.
"Why don't we head somewhere a little more private first? The band room, maybe? I don't think anyone goes there at this time," Applejack suggested. The others, including me, nodded in agreement. The question was indeed a personal one, but I really should tell them now. If not them, who else? If not now, when else? I had to do this.
At the band room, I was still thinking about where to start telling the story. "Should I start when I first became Princess Celestia's student, or the events that led to that? Oh, maybe I should start when I got my cutie mark! Wait, no. Before that. I am definitely not cut out to be a storyteller, even if I know the story better than anyone else..." I kept thinking.
"Sunset?" Twilight said, interrupting my train of thought. She looked concerned, but then she smiled and nodded and said "Whenever you're ready, just start at the beginning," I smiled back. I now knew exactly where to start. Now if only I could tell it without seeming like I'm justifying my actions. Not that I thought there was any way to "justify" them.
"Before I begin though, can I just ask you a question?" I asked. They replied with "of course" and "sure", and other forms of approval. I then took a deep breath and asked the question: "Do you think your parents love you and your siblings equally?"
Rarity went first. "Yes. When I was younger I didn't think so, but then I realized why they always seemed to "love" my little sister more. It took me a while to realize that they only spent more time with Sweetie Belle because every time they would ask me I would just say I'm busy or make some other excuse like that. They didn't do it because they liked Sweetie more, but only because they had my best interests at heart. After that, I made sure to be included in everything they did together. Well, except for the more... uncouth ones!" Her story received smiles from everyone, surprisingly including Rainbow Dash.
"Well, I'm an only child, so I don't need to worry about my parents loving my siblings more. I always get all their attention!" said Rainbow Dash.
Then Twilight gave her answer. "My parents love Shining Armor and me equally. I've never felt they don't, because I was a bit too caught up in studies to care. Even after I did start focusing on things other than studies, my parents gave both of us the same amount of attention,"
"You know, Fluttershy," I began "I haven't really met your family,"
"But I have!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "They're really nice people!"
"Pinkie, you've only seen them for two minutes," said Fluttershy.
"Nice people are nice people, regardless of how long you've known them!" Pinkie Pie said cheerfully. That was one thing I like about Pinkie, her endearing positivity when it comes to other people.
Fluttershy then gave her answer to my question. "Yes, Pinkie is right. My parents are really nice people. They do love my brother and me equally. They might listen to what he has to say more, but that's only because I'm not the most outspoken person around." I smiled at Fluttershy. This was the first time she actually gave details about her family.
"Ooh, ooh! My turn! My answer to Sunset's question is yes. I have three sisters, and all of them, including me, are loved equally! Also, I have no idea why, but everyone who ever meets my parents thinks they are grumpy people. They're actually really really really nice and fun to be around with!" Pinkie Pie said with all her usual enthusiasm.
Now, only one person was left: Applejack. Everyone looked at her, then back at me. I almost smacked myself. How could I forget? Her parents were a... sensitive topic for her. I apologized quickly. "Applejack, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to..."
"No, it's okay!" Applejack said quickly. I could tell she was trying hard to keep a smile on. Great. And I thought I was the only one who had to deal with personal questions. She didn't stay on it for long though. "If Granny Smith counts, the answer is definitely yes." A long and uncomfortable silence followed.
Those were all... really good answers. But of course it meant they couldn't relate to what I was going to tell them.
Fluttershy of all people was the one to break the silence. "Sunset," she began in a warm tone "does this have something to do with your story?"
"Yes. Yes it does," I answered simply before I began the story.
When I was a just a little filly, I wasn't a particularly outgoing pony. I spent most of my time locked up in my room doing the two things I really enjoyed: reading and magic. I didn't really talk to anyone, except my brother Sunburst. He...
"Wait, did you say Sunburst?" Pinkie interrupted.
"Yes, Pinkie. That stallion Princess Twilight wrote to us about was my brother," I confirmed.
"Sunset, how come you never told us when she wrote? Did you tell her?" Rarity inquired.
"No, I didn't tell anyone. Can I please continue?" Everyone nodded.
So, Sunburst was the pretty much the only pony who cared about me. He was really nice, and he often came to help me do little spells. He was also very smart, and our parents loved him for that. I wish I could say the same about myself.
One thing Sunburst always had that I didn't was love and support from parents. While they would always praise him for his talent, they would always ignore me and only notice me when I messed up. I guess you could say they loved him more.
That was the reason I was so shy as a filly. I figured that if my parents didn't care about me, no one would. It didn't help matters when Sunburst found a friend to play with. It was a little filly named Starlight Glimmer.
"You mean..." Rarity started to say.
"Yes, I did know her!" I answered before she got to finish.
Starlight was a really nice and sweet filly, at least that's what Sunburst told me. I was happy for my brother and all, but part of me felt... envious. Sunburst, the only pony who liked me, spent very little time with me after he met Starlight. I didn't do anything about it though. I never talked to him about how I was feeling. I never tried to make friends with Starlight, even though I should have. One of my many regrets from the past, I guess.
One day, Starlight was over at our house, playing with Sunburst. I was in my room, as usual. I was enjoying this really interesting book about Alicorn magic when I heard some sounds from the room in which they were playing. As I said, I was a bit jealous of my brother at that time, but there was no way I was going to let him get hurt.
When I saw what was happening, I couldn't believe my eyes. Books were circling around him one second, and when I blinked they were all on their correct shelves. He was doing magic! I was even more surprised to see what happened after: he got his cutie mark!
Part of me wanted to go down there, hug him, and celebrate like everyone else. Another part of me wanted to comfort Starlight, who looked really sad when Sunburst left. Most of me, however, was convinced everyone would be better off if I just stayed there, kept my mouth shut, and didn't do anything.
Then I found out Sunburst was accepted into magic school...
Author's Note
Just in case you're wondering, no, this isn't the only thing Sunset's story will focus on. If you have any feedback, constructive criticism, or anything you want to say about the story so far, please comment!
Before I could finish my sentence, I found myself in a hug, courtesy of Pinkie Pie. The surprising part was that it wasn't one of her bear hugs that are so tight you can't breathe. This was a warm, heartfelt hug. What she said next was even more warm and heartfelt.
"This is what I should have done when I first met you,"
"Pinkie, it's really not that bad. Besides, the day I met you was the day I tried to drive you five apart," I said.
"We don't talk about that!" said Rarity.
"Not being loved by your parents is what you call 'not that bad'? That's something I can't even imagine!" Applejack said. I could see why they were taking this so seriously, but maybe this was a bit too much.
"Yeah. Sunset, you sure you're not just saying that?" Rainbow Dash asked. "You kind of looked about ready to tear up when you were telling that part."
I decided to continue. "Right, as I was saying..."
When I found out Sunburst was accepted into magic school, I was sad. Not the jealous kind of sad though. I was sad because I would barely even see him again. Sad because I now had no one who cared about me. Last but not least, I was sad because I wouldn't be able to help him there. I knew that he was very smart, but just that. He knew a lot, but he couldn't do a lot more than basic unicorn magic. I wanted to help him, but I couldn't.
When he came into my room to say goodbye, I didn't know how to tell him all that, so all I said was, "Good luck. You deserve this. Write to me if you get the time,"
In response, he just smiled and said, "Thanks. Of course I will write to you,"
I gave him a blue wizard cape as a goodbye present. It was too big for him at the time, but he was still happy with it.
A chariot came to take him to the school. I helped him put all his bags, which were all filled with books, into the chariot. Before I could yell one final goodbye, the chariot took off into the sky.
I spent a good few minutes crying in my room until I heard a knock at the door. "Sunset! Get the door!" yelled my mother in her usual condescending voice.
I sighed. "Yes, mom."
At the door I saw Starlight Glimmer, looking sadder and more timid than she usually is.
"Is Sunburst here?" she asked while looking around the room. "He left, didn't he?"
Before I got a chance to answer, she walked away dismally, muttering something about wishing Sunburst never got his cutie mark.
"Probably nothing," I thought.
"Wow." Rainbow said simply.
"Yeah, it does sound weird in hindsight," I agreed.
"So, when are we actually getting to the happy part?" Pinkie asked.
I smiled coyly. "Pretty soon actually. Despite what you might think things weren't all bad!"
"Continue!" everyone shouted. I smiled and rolled my eyes at their enthusiasm.
It was a few days after he had left. Since I had finished all my books, I walked to the library to find some more. Of course, I went straight to the magic section. I picked out a book about different spells used throughout Equestrian history. To spice things up with fiction, I took another book about this unicorn in magic school who never seems to catch a break with fighting monsters.
I didn't want to go home, for obvious reasons, so I just sat down at a table and started reading. A pink pegasus filly with a pink, purple, and gold mane came up to my table and smiled.
"Mind if I sit here? All the other tables are full," she asked.
"Sure, go ahead," I answered, too engrossed in my book to care. We just sat quietly for the next few minutes. I was reading my book, and she was reading one of those romance novels that I really don't get sometimes. I started giggling at some of the weird stuff that was happening in my book. Like for example, it turned out none of the "villains" were actually evil and the actual threat was...
"Wait," I thought. "WHAT? But... why? This... I don't like this book," I slammed the book shut a bit louder than I intended, earning a few glares from the librarian.
The filly gasped when she saw the cover.
"You're a fan of the series?" she asked softly.
"Yeah. At least I was until this one!" I remarked.
"Don't worry. It gets better," she giggled.
"Pfft. I sure hope so! I mean really, the bad guy was a bunny ? Really?" I joined her in making fun of the book. It felt good, finally talking to someone and having a nice conversation. At least it was good until the librarian kicked us out for being too loud. I swear, librarians were my worst enemies back then.
"I'm Cadance, by the way," she said after she recovered from her giggle fit. "Are you new here? I've never you around here,"
"Sunset Shimmer. And no, I'm not new. I just don't go out very often," I answered. It actually felt a bit weird interacting this way with somepony I didn't even know, but it was a good kind of weird.
"Well, it was nice meeting you, but I need to leave. I'm trying to look for someone I can foalsit for!"
I did wonder why she was looking for a job foalsitting, but I didn't question it too much. I just wished her luck and walked back home with my new books.
"Wait, Cadance?!" Twilight asked. I nodded.
"We did meet again later, but it wasn't as pleasant," I explained.
Just then, the bell rang and it was time for class. I promised them I would continue the story tomorrow and raced to class.
Author's Note
So sorry about this taking so long. Long story short, I had writers block, and now I don't! Have some fun library shenanigans to lighten the mood. Don't worry, this will be important later.
Next chapter: How Sunset got her cutie mark.
