Secrets in Equestria

In front of Sunset were her parents. Her dad was a dark amber with a yellow mane. Her mother was purple with a purple pink mane with an aquamarine highlight. Her father’s cutie mark was a police baton crossing with another police baton while her mother’s was a police baton with a jail cell behind it. Both ponies were very strict, controlling, and abusive. Sunset couldn’t stand either of them.

“Sunset Shimmer, I’m very disappointed in you. Once we found out you moved here, we sent you a letter to tell you we were coming today. You should have gotten it. Why were you not ready for us?” Sunsets father, Shining Duty, said.

“I don’t want any poor excuses either Sunset, unless you were hospitalized, you should have had this place ready for us.” Sunset’s mother, Glisten Guard, said.

“First off, I only decided to stay her yesterday and second, Nightmare Moon-”

“Don’t give us that Nightmare Moon crap and even if it were real, that is no excuse for you not to have a room ready for us.” Glisten pulled out something gold from her saddlebag. “Why have you not delivered these to you friends yet? Celestia sent these to you to give to your friends.” She held out the gala tickets for Sunset to see.

Sunset’s eyes widened, her mother had gone through her stuff. She wasn’t sure why she was surprised by this, her parents had to know everything about everything with her. “What is wrong with you, you can’t just-” Sunset was cut off by a purple hoof and the pain in her cheek. She stood there trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.

“How dare you talk to us like that Sunset. It is your own fault for keeping secrets. We don’t like secrets and you know it. If it weren’t for your secrets, there wouldn’t be an issue right now would there?” Glisten put the tickets on the island and turned back to Sunset. “Now, tomorrow, you will take those tickets and give them to your friends.”

“No I won’t, I was never going to and they aren’t my friends.” Sunset grabbed onto her head where she felt a sharp pain.

“You selfish little brat, you will take these to them, friends or not.” Sunset shook her head defiantly. “SUNSET STAR SHIMMER, you will give the tickets to them.”

Sunset rarely backed down from her parents but when she did, it was because her full name had been used. She fell to her knees and crumbled before the two ponies in front of her. She watched as her mother grabbed a broom. She knew what was coming but it didn’t matter. She was frozen in place too scared to move. Her body shook nervously as she waited for her punishment. Glisten walked up behind Sunset, raised her rear in the air and began to spank her with the broom. Sunset was given five hard hits before her mother stopped.

She was told to stand and so she did. Once she found the strength, she turned to her parents and glared angrily. “I’m not you prisoner you have to watch over mom and I’m not a criminal dad. I’ll go tomorrow and give them the tickets.” Sunset started upstairs when her mother said something. “What, what more do you want?” Sunset asked fighting off tears.

“Where do you think you’re going? We will take your bed until we have a proper bed to sleep in. You will get the couch.” Glisten Guard and Shining Duty pushed pass Sunset.

Sunset ran over to the couch and yelled back to her parents. “I hate you, I HATE YOU BOTH!” Sunset dropped her head onto the couch and cried herself to sleep.

Sunset opened her eyes to a blinding bright light of many colors. She covered her face with her hooves in an attempt to block out the light. It didn’t help as the light pierced her hooves and hit her eyes. The light burned her eyes horribly and now her entire body was now burning. “What’s going on, what’s happening?” Sunset screamed as the light and the burning began to die down. She pulled her hooves away from her face but all she could see was black with small spots of color and then she heard a voice speaking.

“Sunset Shimmer, we are patient beings but you are starting off terribly. You must change or you will force our strength and power. If you don’t change in personality and attitude, you will change in appearance. All the nasty things you do will be seen in appearance. Beware Sunset Shimmer, we will not be patient forever.”

Sunset looked around but couldn’t find the source of the voice or anything for that matter. “Who are you, what kind of crazy speech was that? What’s going on?” Her eyes cleared and she found herself looking in a mirror. The problem was, the reflection was not one she recognized. In the mirror was what looked like a demon pony with changeling wings. The ponies coat was crimson but the mane was hers. The eyes were black and the pony was smiling at her. “BOO!” The reflection said as it hopped out of the mirror. Sunset screamed and jumped back. “It’s good to meet you Sunset, I’m sure I’ll see you eventually.” With that said, the demon pony disappeared.

“What the hay was that?” Sunset backed up and into somepony. She flipped around and found her parents staring at her. “Where did you-”

Sunset was cut off by her mother. “You just couldn’t be a good pony good you? You’re a disgrace to me and your father. Since you just had to become a demon and kill the stallion who should have been your husband; your father and I have decided to have another foal better than you. We should have known that you wouldn’t be worth more than trash to us. No foals or even friends, you’re disgusting.” Glisten turned and bucked Sunset away.

Sunset woke up screaming in a puddle of sweat, her breathing rapid and tears in her eyes. She tried to calm herself by saying that it had only been a nightmare and that she didn’t care what her parents thought of her. Unfortunately, she could hear her mother coming down the stairs. As hard as she might, she couldn’t get her breathing to slow and her eyes wouldn’t dry. As soon as her mother reached her, the conversation would not go well. “Sunset Shimmer, why are you screaming?” Glisten asked irritated and tired.

“It was just a nightmare mom, go back to bed.” Sunset said trying to yawn.

“A NIGHTMARE! I swear, next time you scream like that, it had better be because somepony is trying to kill you. Now…GO…TO…BED!” Glisten grumbled as she headed back upstairs.

Sunset grumbled as well and then looked at the clock. It was two in the morning. She should be tired but she wasn’t and she didn’t want another nightmare like that again. She did start to wonder why it had been so scary though. She couldn’t care less if her parents disowned her. That would be a miracle in her eyes. “That demon thing was just random.” Sunset whispered as she lay her head back down on the couch. She couldn’t wait until morning; she would be able to get away from her parents if even for an hour. It had been that thought alone that helped her to fall asleep again.