The darkness within: The Demons return.

The darkness within: The Demon's return.

Chapter 1.

The winter weather outside was cold and frightful a heavy snowstorm had been blowing for most of the day. The sky was as grey as used charcoal. Outside, it was negative 20 degrees with a minus 40 wind chill in the air. Ice clung to the school's roof like barnacles on a whale. Inside the school, however it was warm, cozy and peaceful. Sunset Shimmer sat in her classroom looking out a window watching the snowfall. The storm that was raging outside to her reminded her of the storm that once raged within her heart. Sitting across from her sat Fluttershy a beautiful, peaceful girl more timid than most people her age yet she had the biggest kindest heart that Sunset had ever seen in a person of the age of eighteen.

“I can’t believe she is sitting here next to me, her Fluttershy, she is so beautiful”. Sunset thought to herself her attention still drawn to the storm raging outside.

In Sunset’s mind she had never seen someone as gorgeous or as comely as Fluttershy was. That is except for Princess Celestia, Sunset Shimmer had been Princess Celestia’s student once many years ago but, had turned to a more darker path. That very same path sent her on whirlwind of destruction and self absorbed behavior. Sunset recalled how she had been all set to conquer all of Equestria as she sat at her desk watching the storm pass by. That was before she was stopped by Princess Twilight Sparkle at the Fall Formal her defeat left her both mentally and nearly physically broken as well. That was eight months ago.

“I can’t believe it has only been a few weeks since Twilight was here?” Thought Fluttershy as she looked over to Sunset watching her look out the nearby window. “I hope we don’t have to face such evil like that again”. Fluttershy whispered to herself while she continued to look at Sunset.

Fluttershy had fallen in love with Sunset Shimmer to her Sunset was everything she ever wanted in a girlfriend. She was strong, beautiful and brave. But Sunset was also unsure of herself and didn’t really open up to anyone least of all to her. So Fluttershy found herself hoping that Sunset felt the same way as she did about her. Little did she know or realize Sunset did feel the same way but, like Fluttershy she too was to afraid to tell her. Fluttershy turned her attention away from Sunset when she heard.

“Ms. Shimmer” the teacher tried to get Sunsets attention. “Ms. Shimmer please, pay attention”.

Fluttershy quickly looked back to Sunset only to see that she wasn’t paying attention at all. She quickly tried to get Sunsets attention by elbowing her in the side. Sunset was to lost in her own thoughts to feel Fluttershy elbowing her. Fluttershy watched as Sunset let out a soft sigh closed her eyes then slowly reopened them. Not wanting Sunset to get in trouble Fluttershy quickly jabbed her as hard as she could in the side causing the red and yellow haired girl to let out a painful yelp. Much to the amusement of the class who all laughed at Sunset’s expense. Sunset quickly turned her attention back to the class seeing that the teacher was trying to get her attention she quickly responded with.

“HUH? What?"

The teacher much to Sunset’s disappointment didn’t look the bit amused by this. Quickly realizing her mistake and taking notice of all the other students laughing at her. Sunset sank back into her chair a slight reddish blush showed on the bridge of her nose. Fluttershy giggled lightly to herself. She saw that Sunset looked more embarrassed than upset by the students laughing at her. The bell rang and Sunset got up to leave stopping when the teacher replied to her sternly.

“Sunset Shimmer,” The teacher called to her “please come to my desk before you leave class today”.

Sunset hung her head low but, did as she was instructed to do. Fluttershy stood by her own desk watching silently hoping that Sunset wasn’t in too much trouble. Getting to the desk she let out a forced sigh as the teacher replied to her with.

“I know you might think that not paying attention in my history class is acceptable Ms. Shimmer! Yet, I can rest assure you that it is not”. The teacher adjusted her glasses before continuing “Therefore if I catch you doing this again Ms. Shimmer, you will get a week's worth of detention and extra homework”. She picked up a stack of papers on her desk tapped them lightly then set them back down in an ‘out going’ box. “I fully expect all of my students to take this class seriously if you can not or, will not do this then I ask that you leave my class and not come back. When you come here tomorrow you will either pay attention or you will leave do you understand Ms. Shimmer?"

“Yes Ma’am” Sunset nodded “I do fully understand your requirements Ms. Flower Heart I will try to do better next time I promise”.

“Good” Ms. Flower Heart replied sternly “You are hereby excused and may go home now”.

"Thank you Ms. Flower Heart". Sunset replied quickly

Returning to her desk a few seconds later Sunset thought to herself.

"What is home to me? Just an old worn, run down, building that smells like fish and piss".

She quickly gathered her things headed out the door and down the hallway. Getting to the front of the school several minutes later she was glad to see her friends Rainbow Dash and Applejack standing next to the front the doors waiting for her and Fluttershy. Sunset let out a soft sigh then stood next to Applejack leaning her back against the white grey brick walls of the main entry way. While she stood with her back against the wall she replied to both Applejack and Rainbow with.

“Hey girls, how was your day today”?

“It was awesome as ever of course!” Rainbow beamed a great smile “that is because I am like you know just as awesome as ever!” Rainbow exclaimed throwing her arms up into the air.

“It was a mighty fine day Sunset”. Applejack replied kindly.

“That’s good to hear girls” Sunset looked around for a quick second “So uh, tell me where are Rarity and Pinkie Pie? I thought they were going to meet us out here after school today?"

“You know Rarity, Sunset” Rainbow rolled her eyes “She can’t leave without making sure one of her fashions is at it’s most awesomeness.” Rainbow chuckled lightly “And as for Pinkie she is more than likely in the cafeteria getting ready for A.J’s bake sale tomorrow”.

“I see, well in that case I need to head home I have a lot of homework to do and I want to get to bed early so I can help Applejack with her bake sale tomorrow. I’ll see you girls tomorrow please tell Pinkie and Rarity that I am sorry for not sticking around".

“Will do Sunset” Applejack replied tipping the brim of her hat towards her with a single orange finger. “You get some rest and I’ll stop by your place tomorrow to pick you up”.

Sunset gulped when she heard this she hadn’t told any of her friends that she was homeless and living in an abandoned run down, factory on the outskirts of town. To her friends they all thought she lived in an apartment ten blocks away from the school.

“N..no there is no need to pick me up Applejack. I will be fine getting here on my own really I will.” She replied nervously.

“Hey Sunset are you sure about that?” Rainbow injected “I mean it's like no big deal if A.J. and I stop by your place to pick you up I for one wouldn’t mind seeing your awesome place”.

“I am sure Rainbow besides my place is a...bit messy and I wouldn’t want you girls to think I can’t take care of myself”.

“Well if you are sure then I guess we could let it go at that, but I was kinda hoping to see your pad I know you showed it to Applejack and Fluttershy”.

“I understand that Rainbow but, I am very tired and I really don’t want to have company over right now you...do...understand right?"

“Yeah I do we’re cool".

Getting the answers she was looking for Sunset felt it was time to head home. Turning to face the door she placed her hand onto the blue steel door of the school's main entry way. It felt cold as ice yet to her it was soothing and relaxing at the same time. Pushing the door open she stepped outside into cold biting weather of the raging storm. Seeing how cold it was outside she quickly raised the collar of her coat up against her neck trying to fend off the cold biting wind while it nipped at her bare skin. The chill in the air gave Sunset pause for a second while she looked around. Her vision was slightly masked by all the snow blowing about her. She turned to the right and started to walk home alone. Stopping when she heard a soft voice behind her squeak out from behind her.

“S..Sunset, c..can you hold up for a minute please?"

Sunset stopped for a second turned around to see Fluttershy standing behind her. The custard colored girl was shivering in the cold. The wind blew wildly as Sunset replied to Fluttershy.

“Yes Fluttershy, what is it?"

“Oh,” Fluttershy looked down at her feet for a second the wind blowing her hair over her face. “I..I just wanted..t..to know if you wouldn’t mind..m..me walking..h..home..with yo..you is a..all” The wind blew Fluttershy's hair into her eyes she tightened her collar around her neck like Sunset in an attempt to stave off the numbing cold weather. “I was..th..thinking we could m..maybe..get something to eat to..together once w..we get..h..home".

Sunset could scarcely believe her ears the very girl that she had fallen in love with had wanted to walk home with her. Not really believing what she had just heard she slightly turned her head to the right replying to Fluttershy with a half confused look on her face.

“Wh..whose...home would we be” she gulped slightly as her next words slipped passed her lips. "going to?"

“Um, your house” Fluttershy nearly squeaked out. “I think your house is closer than mine, don’t you think?"

Sunset nodded to her but, did little else. She had wanted nothing more than to walk home with her yet to show her the truth of ‘how’ she was living was too much for her. Without thinking about it or even realizing she was doing it Sunset suddenly turned and bolted down the sidewalk. Leaving Fluttershy standing in front of the school with a dumbfounded look on her face. Fluttershy thought she had seen tears running down Sunsets cheeks as she watched her run down the sidewalk. Looking to her friends who saw the whole thing from inside of the school she timidly replied to them in a half whisper as they came out of the school.

“What, just happened?" Fluttershy looked over to Applejack "Do you think she was upset with me? Is that why she just ran away like that?"

“That girl looked more scared than a rabbit being chased by a fox.” Applejack replied tipping her hat back.

Rainbow looked from Fluttershy then to Applejack and back again before she added in her two cents to the conversation.

“Scared of what A.J.? What could she possibly be so scared that she would leave Fluttershy standing in the cold like that?” Rainbow threw her arms out punching the air with her fist “That was like soooo lame of her to do that!” she exclaimed in anger “I should chase her down and kick her ass for doing that to you Fluttershy.”

Both Fluttershy and Applejack gave Rainbow very disapproving looks, which in turn caused the blue skin athlete to take a step backwards. Before any of them could get in another word edge wise they all heard a very excited high pitched voice say behind them

“Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack I just got the best news ever!!”

Everyone turned to see Pinkie standing behind them with Rarity standing next to her. Pinkie danced around them much to her friends annoyment flapping her arms like a bird.

“What is it Pinkie” Fluttershy shyly asked in her timid voice “What do you want to tell us”

“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh” Pinkie jumped about happily taking out two cupcakes from out of sheer pure thin air popping both into her mouth. “We’re getting new students in the morning” she squealed like a giddy child “I am so going to throw them a party.” she hopped from one foot to the other waving her arms around throw confetti everywhere. “I’ll call it, ‘Hiya welcome to Canterlot High School it's nice to meetcha’ that’ll work”.

“Uh, Pinkie don’t you think it would be better to let them see how awesome this school is first then throw them a party” Rainbow chimed in.

“What? That is just silly talk!” Pinkie bounced around like a rubber ball “no way I mean what better way to show these new students how great this place is than to throw them a party?”

“Pinkie when are y'all planning on a-throwin' this here party of yurs?” Applejack tipped her hat back a slight bemused look came across her face “y'all know I have that bake sale tomorrow” She stopped Pinkie from bouncing all around Pinkie smiled back widely to her “y'all know my family is a-countin' on that there money right?” Applejack laid a strong but, gentle hand onto Pinkies right shoulder “I mean how am I done supposed to sell my apple fritters ayn' pies with y'all a-throwin' a party on the same day?” Applejack narrowed her eyes to Pinkie who simply smiled back to her happily.

Before Pinkie could reply Rarity chimed in as well.

“Really darling to throw a party for new students is a good thing and while I wouldn’t want to try to prevent you from doing this.”She took out her vanity case from her purse looked at herself in the mirror of it then put it back into her purse before continuing. “To throw a party the same day that your friend is trying to make money for her family is completely unladylike like.”

Pinkie’s hair lost some of its bounciness as she came to realize that Rarity was right. Just as quickly as her hair lost some of its fluffiness it bounced back as she quickly stated to her friends.

“Then I’ll have the part the next day after the bake sale silly.” She tossed out her hands throwing more confetti out covering her friends with the multi colored little bits of paper. “That way Applejack can have her bake sale then I can still throw the party and make sure the new transfer students really like this school.” She squealed happily.

No else said anything on the matter as they all headed home Fluttershy was still thinking about why Sunset would take off the way she did. When Fluttershy got home a half hour later she found her father in the living the room sitting in his favorite recliner reading from the morning's paper. Her mother was in the kitchen making dinner. Setting her backpack down next to the couch she plopped down letting out a soft sigh. Her father got up from his chair motioned her to join the two of them in the kitchen which she did with little hesitation. The family sat at the table eating their dinner in quiet silence each enjoying the company of the other. Once dinner was over Fluttershy headed down stairs to her bedroom taking her backpack with her. She would spend the next three hours doing her homework, once completed she headed to bed.