"Are you going are not?"
"Maybe... Maybe we try again tomorrow?"
A strenuous sigh came from the light brown pegasus stallion with a mane as dark as coal. His cutie mark held a crescent moon in a cradle of clouds. He floated in place above a small yellow unicorn. The same unicorn that was the cause of his current stress. The unicorn in question was smaller than the average mare. Where most would easily be able to look over such things as a trash can; the unicorn barely came up to it's lid.
Her coat was sleek and shined in the sun as her mane and tail were a soft shade of red and resembled pink to most. Her cutie mark was a sunflower that stood strong and proud amidst smaller of it's like.
"We've been doing this for a week now Everglow. If it's not one thing it's another with you. Why can't we do it this time?"
"I know. I know that I can't be putting it off forever but, I'm just... scared. I'm scared Moonchaser! What if she doesn't remember me?!"
Her yell attracted attention from the guards at their post. They looked from the front gate towards the two that had been hiding in the shadow of the building close to entrance.
"Hey!" the guards yelled approaching their position.
"Horsefeathers!" Moonchaser said going after his friend who immediately ran at the outburst.
Everglow ran without restraint and Moonchaser found it harder and harder to keep track of the mare in the crowds that were the norm close to the castle. Soon, he could no longer see her as the crowds started to gather collectively in front of the royal fountain. In frustration, he landed and caused a slight tremor for those around him.
"That idiot!" his voice was drowned out as the ponies he'd caused to fall started to complain.
The tiny mare stopped as she tried to catch her breath. She had ran for a while and found herself in an unfamiliar part of Canterlot. The buildings were lavish and the ponies more so the more she walked the streets and corners. The Sun was starting to set and lights were beginning to come alive.
"I've done it now. Moonchaser is going to yell at me again." she found a bench resting under a soft glowing light and set her saddlebags down. Her horn glowed with a light even softer than the streetlight. To other ponies it looked as if the light of the lamp was the unicorn's magic.
She searched through her things and pulled out a book devoid of insignia of any kind. It's brown cover had slight damage but hid the fact of it's constant care. She opened it to look through the pages she'd already memorized. Pages full of nothing but notes, graphs, revisions and signs of constant erasing. It had been that way since she'd first received the tome that became a treasure to her in it's own right.
As she reached the back pages; the notes came to an end. They were replaced with words she'd wrote herself. It had become a diary of sorts during the years it was in her possession.
The walls of the school were the same bland white as everything else in the building. Echoes of hoofsteps could be heard here and there as a chime signaled the students to be where they were needed. The sounds faded and the mumbled words that passed through the halls no longer rang through the ears of the one hiding.
The filly had cried at the very bottom of the windings stairs. In the shadow of the boxes that were left forgotten and the unused graphs that would never see the light of day. The filly had been crying in the same spot ever since the first week she'd started attending. Despite the fact she'd been accepted to the school, she'd often be the target of ridicule as the smallest pony even among her peers.
It was always the same. No matter where she went ponies would say the meanest things and never considered the one they'd hurt. They'd say things about her not belonging with older ponies and cheating at the exam since a pony her size couldn't possibly be as gifted.
Her tears stained her fur and her eyes would always be red by the end of the day. There was never a time she would find herself not crying. The noises around her were being drowned as she couldn't focus on anything other than her sadness. It even drowned out the sound of the pony talking right in front of her.
"Hey!"
The filly looked up and could see a hazy figure through her tears but couldn't quite make out who it was.
"Hey you! Stop that noise!"
"Huh? Wha?" was the response she could say as the older unicorn lifted her in a field of magic and brought her to a nearby room.
She was dropped onto a cushioned chair as the door closed with a slam.
"So? Care to explain why you've been making such a racket for so long?"
"I'm sorry..." the filly sniffled as she tried to wipe away the rest of her tears.
"As you should be. Your consistent crying spot is too close to my study and I don't appreciate it when others make a racket as I'm reading. Now, tell me why you've been making such a loud nuisance of yourself before I lose interest and patience."
The older unicorn began wiping the tears of the filly with tissues as she waited for an explanation. The filly couldn't make out what she looked like as her eyes hurt too much to focus. Her voice rang with determination and authority whenever she talked and she was tall enough to possibly be a senior student.
"They keep saying I'm not suited for this place because of my size. I haven't done anything to them and yet each day it's the same thing."
There was silence as the filly blew her nose and the tissues were tossed into a bin. The elder pony walked away and came back holding a book in her magic before putting it inside her saddlebag.
"That's it? That's the big reason why you've been crying and being such a bother for the longest time? Listen kid, get over it."
"I can't just get over it!" the filly yelled and was suddenly pulled closer to the other pony.
"Never yell at me. Got it?"
"Y-yes."
"Good." she let the filly fall to the ground.
"If they make fun of you for not belonging then what do you care? It's not like their opinions will shape your life in any way. Besides, the ponies here are all idiots; barring me of course."
"But... it's so hard to ignore them."
"Ha! Hard? You want to know what's hard? Conducting three separate experiments for separate degrees and maintaining a perfect grade point average while still making time to do private lessons every day with a mare that likes to talk in riddles in order for you to figure everything out yourself."
"When you put it that way; it does seem like I have it easy."
"You do have it easy kid. Just take everything in stride and remember that the idiots that feel the need to ridicule you are only doing so because they're jealous."
"Jealous? Why would any pony be jealous of me? I'm a nothing important."
"How should I know? Figure that out yourself. I can't give you the answers to everything. Now stop rubbing your eyes and come on. I'll dump you on the next teacher I see and we can both get on with our lives."
The filly nodded and followed the amber blur as they walked out of the room and down the halls devoid of life. The clocks hanging on the walls ticked away as they passed their positions and the filly's eyes were beginning to see more than just shapes. She blinked several times and finally saw who she had been talking to this whole time. Just before she said anything else the mare spoke.
"Hey you! I found this filly crying under the stairs. Take care of it."
"That's no way to talk to a teacher young lady."
"Like I care. Just do it." The amber mare turned around and walked away only to drop a book from her saddlebags as she rounded the corner.
"Wait!" The filly ran and picked up the book only to find her so called savior gone.
"Come along now. Your eyes need to be seen by the nurse. What was your name?"
"Everglow Ma'am. You wouldn't happen to know the name of the pony that left would you?"
"Her? Unfortunately, I do. That was..."
Everglow smiled as she re-read the passages in the book. The advise she received that day wasn't the best but seeing the book that the mare dropped helped her take things in stride every day. It was obvious that the previous owner had dedicated much of her time to her studies and didn't let anything get in the way. It helped Everglow know that even ponies that seemed absolutely perfect seemed that way through hard work and determination. She never saw the mare again and always regretted not searching for her that same day.
It wasn't until two weeks ago that Moonchaser told her he'd spotted a mare that looked like the one in her story. She had told that story for years as it was that moment that helped shape who she was to that day. It was ironic in a way; that the same mare who told her other ponies opinion's didn't matter in life was the one that helped shaped hers.
"There you are!" Moonchaser's voice rang out as he landed softly in front of the bench before trotting over to sit next to her. "I've been looking everywhere for you. You could have at least waited on me."
"I'm sorry Chaser. I didn't know what else to do."
"What about explaining your situation to the guards? Who knows, maybe they'd even try to help us out."
"Do you really think so?"
"Honestly? I've no clue."
Everglow sighed and put the book away as she prepared to get up.
"Come on, don't give me that. At least we'd be doing something about it. I can't take another week of waiting out front Glow. It's killing me to just watch you fidget all day in the shadows."
"You're more than welcome to go do stuff on your own Chaser." Everglow huffed as she walked down the streets only to realize she didn't exactly know her location.
"If I did that, then you'd just end up never giving that book on your own." Moonchaser flew after her and pointed the way back to familiar sights. Everglow followed him from below looking downcast.
"I know. But, I just don't know how I'll take it if she doesn't remember. Maybe... maybe it's best I just keep it after all. I'll only be a bother if I show up to return a book she never bothered to retrieve after all these years."
The moon had risen the lights hummed as the streets were becoming less crowded by the minute. The guards could be seen patrolling and several businesses were closing while others were just opening for the night. The pair came back to the fountain area and Moonchaser stopped as Everglow stood staring at her reflection.
"Listen Glow, it's late. I'll get us something to eat and we can just try again tomorrow. Sound good?"
The mare nodded and heard the pegasus fly off. She closed her eyes as couples walked by or stopped to admire the night sky and the sounds of the water as they danced in the fountain. She thought about why she was doing this in the first place. Was it really worth it to barge in on a mare that didn't even pay her any mind years ago? Especially to just return a book? Was she expecting anything out of it or did she really only want to give it back? Would the mare mind she'd used it as a diary of sorts?
"Are you ok?" a voice asked from behind.
"Yea. I'm sorry was I blocking any pony's path?"
"No. I was just wondering why you were crying."
Everglow reached up to her eyes and found tears were indeed falling. It came as a surprise as she'd rarely cried these days compared to her fillyhood.
"No. I mean, yes. I'm sorry. I'm ok."
"You don't exactly seem ok. Here let me get that for you."
A hoofkerchief floated towards her and wiped away the tears still hanging on. It stopped in front of her and she grabbed it in her own magic and blew before the other mare's magic took possession once more.
"Ugh... I mean, feeling better?"
"Mhmm." Everglow blinked away the last tear away and looked up to find herself relatively speechless.
"Uh.. something wrong? You're kind of just staring at me."
"Sunset Shimmer?"
"Yea... Do I... do I know you?" Sunset asked with a raised eyebrow and uneasy look.
"I... uh... I..." She'd lost proper use of her vocabulary as the mare from so long ago stood right in front of her. Everglow had never gotten a clear look at her way back then but now that her vision wasn't as blurred she took in the sight.
She had seen pictures of Sunset Shimmer long ago as her achievements were hung around the school up until whatever incident occurred that resulted in her vanishing. The pictures did not do her justice. Her soft amber coat and long flowing red and gold mane. Her tail that hung softly around her perfect figure and that voice. The voice that was so distinct and full of pride had now become so different that she didn't recognize it immediately. It had become full of care and carried gentle concern as she asked Everglow if she was okay.
"Yea... Well, I can see you're doing good. I'll just leave you to it then. Take care." Sunset turned to walk away.
"Wait!" Everglow's voice rang louder than she'd ever thought possible. "Please, I... I have something for you." She dug around her saddlebags as Sunset waited for her with a confused look. A brown book covered Sunset's vision as Everglow found it and floated it to her.
"Do you remember this?" hope hung heavily in the small mare's voice as she asked.
"Uh... am I supposed to?" Sunset turned the book over inspecting it but didn't once open it due to suspicion. "Sorry. I don't think it's mine. You've probably got the wrong pony. It was nice meeting you but I have somewhere to I need to go. Bye." Sunset floated the book back and picked up her pace before rounding a corner and just as Chaser returned with a pair of sandwiches.
"Was that? Did you finally...? Glow? Glow, what's wrong?" Chaser dropped the food as Everglow shook and tears were once again falling from her face.
"She didn't remember. She didn't even open the book. This was all a mistake." Everglow tried to stop the tears in vain as she wiped them away and sat down. The book fell in front of them and Chaser picked it up before speeding away.
"Sunset!"
"Twilight! Sorry I'm late. I kind of had a weird run in with this strange pony."
"Oh? Did something happen?"
"No. It was just... I'll tell you later. Let's hurry before the shop close..."
A whistling sound made the pair of mares turn upwards to see something diving their way. They stepped back only to fall flat as a brown pegasus collided with the earth and caused a tremor.
"Hey! What's the big..." was all Sunset could say before the stallion grabbed her by the scruff and headbutted her.
"What's the meaning of this?!" Twilight yelled as she watched the scene unfold.
A familiar tome was thrown at Sunset as she laid on the ground with a pounding headache. She looked at it and then the stallion before picking it up.
"Years! She's waited for years to give that back to you and you can't even take the time to listen to her?! She's made you out to be some sort of hero in her mind because of what you said to her and this book and all you've turned out to be is a huge bitch. The least I can do for her is give it back so she won't have to be reminded of you ever again. I hope you're happy with yourself."
Twilight stood silent as she and Sunset watched the stallion fly off in the direction Sunset had come from. Twilight ran over to her friend and helped her up while grabbing hold of the book in her magic.
"Sunset! are you ok? What was that about? Who was that?"
"I'm don't know." Sunset grabbed the book in her magic. "It's probably something to do with this though." She flipped open the book with an angry stare only for it to soften as she realized what it was. She stayed silent as she reached the back end and found the diary portion by it's second owner.
"Sunset? What is it?"
"I have to go." Sunset closed the book and teleported away leaving behind an incredibly confused purple pony princess.
Sunset found herself in front of the fountain once more and looked around for the mare she'd previously encountered. She found her sitting on one of the benches outside a shop with it's light flickering on and off.
As she walked closer she could hear the small mare sniffling. Sunset stopped for a moment as she realized who the source of the tears were in this case. She shook it off and continued forward with a familiar fire in her eyes.
"Hey you! Stop that noise!" a voice rang out making Everglow raise her head to see a pony she'd never thought possible.
"Sunset Shimmer?" Everglow sniffled trying to wipe away the tears again.
"Yea. I thought I told you that your crying made you a nuisance."
"You... you remember?" A warm smile came across the tiny as Sunset sat down next to her.
"Yea. Your friend helped knock some sense into me."
"Moonchaser?" Everglow gasped as she saw the bruise on Sunset's forehead. "I'm so sorry. I'll be sure to talk to him about it. I..."
"It's ok. Really. I kind of deserved it."
The two sat silently for a minute until Sunset pulled out the book.
"I've read your passages. They helped me realize exactly who you were. I can't believe you've kept this for so long."
"I tried to give it back to you years ago but you never came back to the school. I didn't want to throw it out and well... it helped me calm down looking at how much hard work even perfect ponies put in."
Sunset laughed at the thought of being considered perfect. "I'm far from perfect. I was a real bitch back then. Heck, I'm pretty sure I treated you pretty poorly. Sorry about that." She looked down at the distant memory of her past self.
"No. It was the way you acted and the advice you gave me that made me realize that you were right. Ponies can keep saying what they want about me but they don't have control over what my life will be like in the end. I might not be as big as a regular mare but I've found my place in the world and I owe it all to you."
"Wow. I didn't really think I'd be able to help any pony as I was back then."
"Oh, trust me. It took a while for me to actually follow the advice but I did eventually and that's what counts. In hindsight, it was pretty bad advice to give to a kid who barely understood anything at all."
They both laughed and Sunset gave the book back to Everglow. "Thank you. I think you're the first pony that's ever said anything good came out of my past."
"It's like you said. Not all of us are perfect. However, to me as a filly all those years ago, you were perfect in my eyes. I've never forgotten how, despite being so rough, you helped me be the pony I am today."
Sunset hugged Everglow and the mare responded in turn. Everglow felt a few drops hit her coat and paid it no mind as she realized the older mare was crying. It wasn't until a tremor hit that they broke away. Sunset wiped away the tears before any pony could see and Everglow looked to find Moonchaser in front of them.
"What's she doing here?!" he yelled coming closer with a look of fury.
"Chaser!" Everglow yelled causing the stallion to stop immediately and look at her.
"G-Glow?"
"How could you hit a lady?!"
"What? But she..."
"No excuses. You do not hit a lady ever! Got that?!"
"Y-Yea... sorry Glow."
"I'm not the one you should be saying sorry to." Glow motioned to Sunset as the older mare got off the bench and walked over to Moonchaser.
"I'm sorry Ma'am. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you for any reason." he said looking down with a sullen expression.
He felt a hoof on his shoulder and looked up to find Sunset smiling at him. He smiled back only to see her reel back and sucker punch him.
"I forgive you. Come on kid. We can catch up some more while I treat you to dinner."
"Sure! Oh and my name is Everglow."
"Sunset Shimmer."
They shook hooves and laughed as they walked off towards where a certain confused Twilight was waiting. It wasn't until they hit the corner that Sunset stopped as Everglow ran back to her friend.
"Sorry, Chaser. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" she kissed his cheek as he tried to get his vision straight. "Thank you."
Moonchaser touched the cheek she'd kissed and smiled as he saw the pair disappear. "Worth it." he said before spitting out a tooth.
Author's Note
Just a short story I came up on the fly. It was on my mind while trying to write a chapter for one of my other stories.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read my story. Please leave a comment or critique below as any critique helps me grow as a writer. Have a great day!