Secrets in Equestria

Pinkamena returned home, her mane was disgustingly pink and fluffy but appearances were necessary. If she were to walk into Ponyville gloomy looking, she wouldn’t get very far. The mental institute wouldn’t send her back looking glum. What’s worse is that she had to act the part. It wasn’t like she wasn’t used to acting happy. The time she spent in the institute was proof of that but it didn’t make her any happier. The minute she stepped into Ponyville, she had to wonder if everypony figured out what happened. The streets were empty, it was like a ghost town. ‘Who beat me here, I’m the one supposed to cause complete and total panic.’ Pinkamena thought and then she saw her. The pony with the stripes and cloak. Pinkamena backed up and started to turn and run when she saw Sunset Shimmer followed by Rarity and the others. “Girls, what are you all doing out here with her.” Pinkie pointed to the striped pony.

“Pinkie, you’re back!” The group wrapped Pinkamena up in a group hug.

“Yeah, so what’s going on?”

“Sunset there has lost her marbles.” Applejack said and looked back at Sugarcube corner to make sure Apple Bloom wasn’t following.

“Quiet, she is convinced that pony is perfectly normal. She insisted on talking to her.” Rarity said shaking a bit from being so close to the stranger. The group looked on in curiousity and fear, preparing themselves to defend themselves if it came to that. Sunset talked and talked with Zecora, then out of nowhere, Sunset began laughing. She rolled onto the ground and just laughed and laughed. “Oh my, Zecora must have put a curse on her.”

Applejack straightened her hat and nodded. “Now I don’t like Sunset much but somepony had better save her before this gets out of hoof.” AJ ran forward followed by everypony else and stood between Zecora and Sunset. “Free her of your curse or we’ll take you down.” Sunset then cut in.

“Oh come on, I’m not under some curse hay seed, I’m laughing at the stupidity of this town. Seriously, all Zecora wanted to do is shop and all of you ran off with your tails between your legs.” Sunset ignored the irritated look on Applejacks face and then noticed Pinkie. “So they let you out of the nut house, didn’t take long did it.” Sunset turned and walked away.

Applejack shook her head. “Sorry about that Zecora, she isn’t the nicest pony.”

Zecora shook head and told Applejack not to apologize for Sunset. Zecora may not have been welcomed into ponyville but Sunset’s attitude was not good. Zecora nodded and left for home. Applejack and the others waved goodbye.

When Sunset arrived home, she stopped and fell to the ground. “What’s wrong with me?” Sunset asked and looked down at her leg. It started glowing red from the knee down to her allusion spell that covered up the rest. Every day her leg became redder and redder. She had no idea what to do. She had it checked out but it wasn’t a rash or anything that anypony recognized and she wasn’t about to tell Princess Celestia. She also found herself becoming more and more vicious. She then heard a window blow open and in the window stood the masked mare. “What do you want?” The masked pony shook her head and looked toward the crown on it’s pedestal. The pony hopped into the room and walked over to the crown. She just stared at it and it bugged Sunset. “Stay away from my crown.” Sunset shot off a bolt of magic but missed as the masked mare jumped back without effort.

“This crown that you guard so weakly is the cause of all your problems.” The pony looked at Sunset.

“Who are you and why are you following me?” Sunset yelled and used her magic once again and again missed.

“In time, you will know though I’m surprised you haven’t figured it out. You always were too caught up in yourself to notice things like this. You will suffer should you keep what doesn’t belong to you.” With that said, she disappeared in a flash.

Sunset stood and walked over to her desk. She levitated her book and a quill over to her and began to write.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Is there a pony missing from the school? Some mare in a mask seems to be stalking me. She says I should know who she is but I don’t. I hope you can find somepony missing so you can do something about her.
Sincerely your Student,

Sunset Shimmer

“While I wait, oh good, she wrote back.” Sunset opened her book and read the response. She couldn't believe how fast Celestia respond to her. It was unbelievable. When she finished reading, her jaw dropped. “Nopony, nopony is missing from the school? How, the mare says I should know her but I don’t. How could I if she doesn’t go to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns? Who could, wait, of course, my sister. It has to be her and the next time she comes here I will beat her to a pulp and then kick her out of my life for good.”

“Who are you kicking out of your life?”

Sunset turned around to see Pinkamena at the door. “Why are you here? Ready to try and kill me?”

Pinkamena chuckled and slammed the door. “No, not yet. I’ll be honest, I’m not interested in you at the current moment. When I arrived here, I realized that if I went after you, I wouldn’t have a chance at getting my friends back. So, who were you talking about?”

Sunset scoffed and pushed Pinkamena to the side. “Somepony who I refuse to say the name of. Now get out.” Sunset opened the door and shoved Pinkamena out. She shut the door and waited for Pinkamena to leave. Once the pinkish gray mare made herself bright pink again and disappeared from view, Sunset opened the door and left. “I’m gonna go have a talk with Zecora, maybe she can help me.” Sunset grabbed her saddlebag and left in hurry.

Once Sunset arrived in the forest, she made a mad dash for Zecora’s hut after a bit of searching and a bit of avoidance. She was in no mood to deal with Timberwolves. When she reached the hut, she knocked and waited. Soon the door opened and she was let in. “Zecora, was it?” Zecora nodded. “Question, my hoof is turning red. I’m not sure what it is but I’d like it to leave.”

Sunset revealed her red hoof to Zecora. The zebra stared for a moment and then turned back to what she was doing. “No surprise it’s happened to a pony so rude, you want it gone, change your mood.” Zecora then pushed Sunset out of the hut.

“Oh sure, I come for help, get pushed out without getting any, and I’m the rude one?” Sunset scoffed and ran angrily back to town.