Sunset Shimmer strolled through the halls of Canterlot High School. She wasn't actually a high school student, she was an adult pony from another dimension. She had been angry and bitter before Princess Twilight Sparkle had met her. She had put a stop to Sunset and helped her through some dark times.
"Hi, Sunset!"
"Speaking of Twilight," Sunset said as she leaned on a locker. The human counterpart of the pony princess was standing in front of her with a nervous but relieved smile. She had a purple skirt with a blue shirt. Not like the pony Twilight when she came, but close. She had her talking dog Spike with her.
"What? What do you mean?" Twilight asked. She picked up Spike. Sunset shook her head.
"Never mind, it isn't important." Sunset pet Spike with a smile. "Ready for your first sleepover at my house? Not that it's really a house." She walked to the library. "Gonna show you the way, just for a day. Even if it takes a while, I will show you the way."
Twilight stared at her. "You sing really well." Sunset blushed. "Thanks. Bet you sing well, too. I mean, I have heard you sing."
Twilight blushed. "Thanks."
Sunset took her hand and started to sing. "I know how it feels to die inside, but you get up and build it back. No need to hide. Once the magic is inside, you feel it. No need to conceal it."
"But no matter how hard I try, I just need to hide," Twilight continued. "How can I do it if I can't conceal it?"
"You have friends who will always be there for you. You just have to get up and do what you need to." Sunset sang as she ran to the library while Twilight hurried to keep up.
"But you get up and you try, no need to cry when you have friends by your side!" They sang together as they got to the library. Sunset pushed open the door. She turned to Twilight. "See? It'll be fine."
How completely wrong that was.
In the forest of Everfree, something stirred. In the halls of Canterlot High, something stirred. And in Crystal Prep, something stirred. Everywhere, something stirred.
Sunset paused over the book. "Okay, this talks about dresses. Rarity would love that." She put it near Twilight. "Is there one Rainbow would like?"
Twilight giggled. "I don't think she likes books, Sunset."
"Oh she does, she likes Daring Do. Is there any more? I mean she can borrow mine, but..." Sunset trailed off as she heard a bang from the crafts room. "What was that?"
Twilight wrapped her blanket she had brought around her. "Uh, Sunset?"
"What?"
"Is the door unlocked?" she said, pointing to the dome.
"No. Maybe we should unlock it. Just in case." Sunset and Twilight crept to the door and there was another bang. "Hurry!"
They ran to the door, and Sunset took out her keys. "Don't worry, I have keys." Twilight hopped frantically. "Please hurry, please please."
"At least you aren't paralyzed with fear," Sunset muttered. She twisted her key in the lock and heard a click. "Got it." Twilight practically glowed with relief. "Oh, thank goddess."
BANG!
"Where are you? I can hear youuuuuuu."
Sunset and Twilight froze. "Who- or what- is that?" Twilight whispered.
"OOOH, please keep talking. I can follow your voices."
Sunset grabbed the book that allowed her to communicate with Princess Twilight.
"Dear Twilight, how's life treating you back home? Right now me and your counterpart are being chased and hunted by something. It can hear us, and it will track us down. We have the dome door in the library unlocked, but what if it still chases us? Please help."
As Sunset finished writing, all she could do was hope Twilight knew what she was doing. She also hoped Princess Twilight was near her book. When the book vibrated and glowed, Sunset grinned. Maybe it was an insane grin, but a grin all the same. Twilight, however, jumped up in surprise.
"Jumping? How nice."
They froze again. Sunset pulled the book out to see what her friend had replied.
"Dear Sunset, life is going well. My niece was just born, and she is so cute! But it seems you have a big problem."
"Can you describe what is going on if you can? Don't worry, I will send help over as soon as possible."
Sunset looked around frantically. What? How? She grabbed Spike, who was still sleeping and gave him to Twilight.
"It has really good hearing, and maybe a good sense of smell. It keeps making a banging noise. It talks in a singsong voice."
She kept the book open as she and Twilight ran into the roof. Spike was still sleeping, but groaned a bit.
"Doors, doors, I found you. You're...in....here!" The thing slammed the doors to the library open, only to see nothing. "What?" There was a small breeze that made the open door move, and it looked up. "Aha."
Sunset and Twilight ran and they got to the edge.
"I'm on my way!"
Sunset didn't want this. She could die, but she wouldn't let Twilight die. She grabbed Twilight forcefully.
"What are you-" Twilight started as she was yanked off the edge. Sunset angled their fall so she would be on the bottom, then Twilight, then Spike.
They hit the ground, and Sunset had problems breathing. The air had been knocked out of her. She gasped and stumbled as she tried to get up. "Co-come on Twilight."
The fact had woken up Spike, who looked around. "What did I miss?"
"Fill you in," Sunset coughed, "if we survive."
The three friends stumbled to the portal. That would be their safest bet. Almost....there....
"Found you!"
They jumped to see a creature that looked like a mess of hair, paint, and weeds. It was beyond filthy, and the smell of paint fumes mixed with cut grass was overwhelming. And, if that wasn't enough, it had a knife in it's hand.
Sunset was in no condition to fight. She had barely managed to not black out because Twilight had to be safe, but she was spent. She couldn't do it. "Tell....Tell the princess I'm sorry."
"Actually, that won't be necessary."
Princess Twilight stood in front of the portal with some strange device in her hands. Her friends counterparts all stood there, including another girl with purple hair that had a light green-blue stripe through it. They all had the same devices in their hands, and with the nod from Princess Twilight, they were fired.
Sunset couldn't see exactly what happened when it did, but when it was over she saw the remains of the creature, and soon even those had disappeared. She was helped up by Pinkie Pie and Rarity. "Hello Sunset."
"Yeah." And with that last word, Sunset blacked out.
