The ringing of her alarm meant the start of a new day for Sunset Shimmer. Sunset had slightly gotten used to her time at school, but it still felt odd. Sunset showered and got dressed still not fully used to her new bipedal body. She then headed to the kitchen where a very pleasant aroma greeted her.

"What's that smell?" asked Sunset.

Melody was at the stove.

"Good morning dear. I made pancakes from scratch." said Melody.

"Those do smell good." thought Sunset.

Melody served three pancakes onto a plate and put them on the table with silverware.

"Eat up or you'll be late." said Melody.

"Okay." agreed Sunset.

Sunset sat down and began to eat.

"How are they?" asked Melody.

The elderly woman sat down.

"Delicious." answered Sunset.

"Good to hear." replied Melody.

Sunset continued eating.

"How are you doing at school?" asked Melody.

Sunset choked a bit before swallowing the food in the mouth.

"Fine." answered Sunset bluntly.

"That's good." said Melody.

"Whatever." shrugged Sunset.

"Just know that I'm here if you need me." said Melody.

Sunset blinked and for a moment saw Celestia.

"It can't be." said Sunset shaken. Are you okay?" asked Melody.

"I got go. Thanks." replied Sunset.

"I understand." said Melody.

Sunset grabbed her things and ran off. As she made her way through Canterlot, the image of Celestia she saw continued to haunt her. No matter how hard she tried, Sunset found herself unable to shake the image. Finally, she arrived at Canterlot High. The first thing Sunset set her sights on was the portal.

"I will go back." muttered Sunset Shimmer.

"Hi!" cried a hyper-energetic voice.

Sunset cried in surprise.

"I'm Pinkie Pie! I've been planning a welcome to Canterlot High party since you arrived, but I didn't know anything about you! I tried to figure out what you'd like and even tried talking to friends! Then I found you didn't have friends so I'll be your friend..." rambled Pinkie.

Sunset used her hand to cover Pinkie's mouth.

"When I remove my hand, you will slow down and talk like a rational po...being." said Sunset.

Pinkie nodded in agreement.

"Okay." sighed Sunset.

Sunset removed her hand.

"Go." said Sunset.

Pinkie extended her hand.

"I'm Pinkie Pie." said the girl.

Sunset looked at Pinkie.

"I am Sunset Shimmer..." began Sunset.

"I know that silly." laughed Pinkie.

Sunset Shimmer scowled.

"You will remember by name." vowed Sunset.

"Okay Dokie Loki!" declared Pinkie.

Sunset Shimmer rolled her eyes.

"Whatever." muttered Sunset.

Sunset began walking away.

"Hey! You didn't shake my hand!" declared Pinkie.

Sunset sighed once again.

"Because I didn't want to." revealed Sunset.

"That's okay." shrugged Pinkie.

"Do you have a disorder?" asked Sunset annoyed.

"Nope." answered Pinkie.

"Leave me alone!" snapped Sunset.

Sunset stormed off leaving a deflated Pinkie Pie behind. The first half of the day passed by as slowly as possible. For Sunset Shimmer, these high school classes where things she covered under Celestia. At least she managed to impress the staff which she felt could be useful. Finally, lunchtime came and the students made their way into the cafeteria. Sunset straggled and decided to scout out the student body ready to make her move.

"Who to target first." thought Sunset.

Sunset Shimmer scanned the room before seeing a meek looking boy.

"What a wimp. Perfect." thought Sunset.

Sunset walked over to the boy.

"Oh hello." said the boy nervously.

"What's your name?" asked Sunset.

"Featherweight." answered the boy.

Featherweight gulped nervously.

"You seemed so stress." noted Sunset.

"Girls don't pay attention to me." explained Featherweight.

"I have a problem and I was hoping you'd help me." said Sunset.

"What's the problem?" asked Featherweight.

"I don't have lunch money." answered Sunset.

"That's terrible." gasped Featherweight.

Sunset did her best to suppress a smirk.

"You see, that's where you come in." said Sunset.

Featherweight seemed confused.

"I assume you have money." said Sunset.

"Oh, I get it." said Featherweight.

Featherweight dug into his pocket.

"I guess I could give you..." began Featherweight.

Before Featherweight could continue, Sunset was violently jerked aside.

"What gives?" asked Sunset annoyed.

Sunset found herself facing a dark skinned girl in a brown MA - 1 bomber jacket.

"I should ask you the same dweeb." answered the girl.

Sunset pulled her arm away.

"The name's Gilda. I'm the top of the food chain here." said Gilda.

Gilda eyeballed the girl.

"Are you new?" asked Gilda.

"Yes." answered Sunset.

Gilda flared her nostrils.

"Since you're new I can let you off with a warning." replied Gilda.

"I'm Sunset Shimmer and I don't need a warning.' said Sunset.

Gilda scowled at this.

"Don't pick a fight with Gilda." warned Featherweight.

"You should listen to him." said Gilda.

By now, the entire cafeteria had turned their attention to the ongoing situation.

"And if I don't?" asked Sunset.

Gilda laughed at this.

"Then I break your fucking face." answered Gilda coldly.

"I'm not afraid." said Sunset bluntly.

Before Gilda could act, a cyan girl with rainbow hair intervened.

"Yo Gilda, whatever this chick did isn't worth getting suspended over." said the girl.

Gilda thought for a moment.

"You're lucky Dash saved your ass. Next time, you'll learn your lesson." warned Gilda.

"Let's go." said Rainbow.

Rainbow Dash and Gilda walked away as things returned to normal.

"Looks like I've got competition to deal with." thought Sunset irked.

Sunset finished the rest of the school with a fake smile on her face. While this phony mask made it seem as was okay, in reality Sunset's demeanor was anything but chipper. Her run-in with Gilda was still on her mind and the fact she had this hurdle to jump annoyed her greatly. Sunset left school and headed back to her residence. As soon as she opened the door, a delicious smell hit Sunset.

"That smells good." admitted Sunset.

"Is that you deary?" asked Melody.

Sunset rolled her eyes.

"Yeah." answered Sunset.

Sunset Shimmer followed the smell to the kitchen where Melody stood at the stove.

"I just made oatmeal cookies." revealed Melody.

"You like to cook." mused Sunset.

"In my family, meals are a time to come together and be a family." explained Melody.

Sunset Shimmer felt her stomach grumble.

"Dammit, I was so caught up with Gilda that I forgot lunch." thought Sunset, angry with herself.

"Have some." offered Melody.

Melody served up several cookies on a plate.

"Careful, they're hot." warned Melody.

Sunset took one of the cookies and took a bit.

"These are good." admitted Sunset.

"That means a lot." replied Melody.

Sunset slouched in a chair and continued eating.

"Sunset, I can tell something is bothering you." said Melody.

Sunset groaned a bit hearing this.

"It's nothing." replied Sunset.

"I'm here if you need to talk." said Melody.

For some reason she couldn't explain, Sunset felt her resentment melt away.

"Fine." relented Sunset.

Melody sat down in a chair.

"At lunch, I tired to...make friends with another student." began Sunset.

Melody nodded.

"She bought it." thought Sunset pleased.

Confident, Sunset continued.

"Anyway, before I could a bully interrupted me." continued Sunset pouting.

"Oh deary." gasped Melody.

Sunset had to suppress a smirk.

"She harassed me for begin new." continued Sunset, with a phony sadness.

"I'm so sorry to hear that." replied Melody sympathetically.

"Luckily, her friend intervened." sighed Sunset.

"Did you tell the principal?" asked Melody.

"She threatened me." answered Sunset.

"I'll go with you." offered Melody.

"That's fine!" declared Sunset.

Melody frowned a bit.

"I can handle this on my own." said Sunset.

"I trust you." said Melody.

"Too easy." thought Sunset smugly.

Melody walked over to Sunset.

"I am really proud of how you've been doing." said Melody.

"What do you mean?" asked Sunset.

"Inside, there is a good person." answered Melody.

Sunset once again saw Princess Celestia.

"No!" cried Sunset.

Melody gasped in surprise.

"Are you feeling ill?" asked Melody worried.

"I'm fine. I'm going to my room." answered Sunset.

Sunset raced upstairs and threw herself onto her bed.

"Why in the Tartarus do I keep seeing her?" asked Sunset to herself bitterly.

Sunset tossed and turned.

"I ditched her for a reason! She was holding me back!" declared Sunset.

Sunset Shimmer rubbed her face.

"She was nice though." admitted Sunset.

Sunset Shimmer shook her head.

"So is Melody." mused Sunset.

Sunset Shimmer smirked a bit.

"She's a nice person and she's always trying to make me feel better." said Sunset.

Sunset shook her head.

"I cannot get soft!" exclaimed Sunset.

Sunset Shimmer sat up.

"I've got to ditch this dump." vowed Sunset.

Author's Note

A/N: That is where we'll end this chapter. I hope you liked this return and I want to stick with this. Especially since I hope it has improved. It will be three months (minimum) before I return to this story because the the sequel "On The Dark Side" will be top priority. Next time, Sunset makes her next move and another important character is introduced. Please review.