A Bitter Sunset

“You’re kidding me, right?” Sunset Shimmer growled as she pushed herself up off the ground of the crater she currently resided in. She gave a pained hiss as heat lanced through her back, a hand shooting towards her shoulder blade only to receive a sticky welcome as her digits as they slipped through her torn clothes.

“W-What?” some loose debris slid down the edge of the hole towards Sunset as the lavender girl who currently loomed above her took a half step back.

“You think just cause you won that I’m gonna roll onto my back and accept your stupid offer!?” Sunset’s snarl sounded feral as she brought her fingers in front of her eyes blood oozing down them as she looked up at the supposed Princess.

“You really are pathetic, you know that?” she chuckled as she hauled her injured body to its feet, fresh pain lancing through her as she slowly climbed her way out of the hole to stand before the Equestrian Princess. “To let her control you so much… Would you tell your guard puppy to stand down?”

“Hey!” came the indignant cry from the rainbow maned youth that stood glaring behind Twilight. “What makes you think you can say anything, Sunset!? We won in case you just forgot!”

“How could I forget?” Sunset grumbled darkly under her breath as she tried to take a step forward, only to stagger as a noticeable cracking sound filled the air as one of her boot heels broke, causing her to fall to the concrete roughly, further scraping up her body.

“Sunset, please! Let us help you!” Twilight’s annoying voice, filled with Sunset only could describe as pity rang through the air as the other Equestrian once again reached a hand out towards the amber girl. “You’re obviously hurt and alone and-”

“Oh nooo,” came the snarky, eye rolling response from the girl who was currently removing her boots with an almost nonchalant apathy. “I’m totally fine. I love bleeding from three different holes in my back as a bunch of monkeys chuckle all around me.”

The Princess’ lips grew thin as she watched her fellow countrywoman slowly get up to her feet and glare around at the gathering of CHS students who were pointing at her and and whispering among themselves. There was no doubt in her mind that Sunset was currently running off pure adrenaline, anger and pain, and she wanted nothing more than to help her fellow Equestrian.

“Snips, Snails!” the amber hued girl called out to the pair when she spotted them, fingers snapping as her hand raised into the air. The pair stood there, looking at one another before looking back at her and shaking their heads.

Of all the days to grow a spine… she thought as the pair disobeyed her for the first time. “Fine. I’m gone.”

“Hey! Where are you going?” Twilight called out to the departing girl, finally noticing the bloody state Sunset’s back was in.

“I have nothing else here, so why would I stay? Besides, if anyone comes after me, the camera over there is my proof.” the same cocky, self sure grin Sunset had worn during Twilight’s entire stay in this world blazed brightly on the other Equestrians face, but her usually brilliant aquamarine eyes seemed shadowed as she turned back around and started to hobble away from the grounds of Canterlot High School.

“Leave her be, shugahcube.” Twilight felt a strong hand rest itself on her shoulder as Applejack came to rest behind the shorter girl. “She’s none o’ our business now, Ah reckon.”

“You five.” Twilight surprised the human versions of her friends with how quickly she spun around, a determined look on her face. “Promise me you five will help her!”

“What the heck are you-”

“Promise me!” Twilight begged, interrupting Rainbow Dash. “She’s hurt and alone in another world. She isn’t fine… Please…”

“S-Sure, I guess…?” Rainbow scratch the back of her head with an uneasy chuckle. “But after all she’s done? Does she really-”

“Yes. Anypony- one can change. Look, the portals going to close, and I can’t afford to remain here for another thirty moons. I’m sorry, but please… do this for me.”

<(‘-‘<) ^(‘-‘)v v(‘-‘)^ (>‘-‘)>

Sunset let out a low groan as she collapsed against the wall of the alleyway, gritting her teeth as she let out a ragged breath. She slowly reached up with a shaking hand to wipe away the tear that was making its way slowly down her cheek.

The brave facade she had been wearing back at the school crumbled as soon as she had rounded the corner and headed into the alleyways, the soles of her feet had slowly become raw from rough concrete and pavement she was walking upon.

She gave a loud yelp of pain as she put her left foot down, pain exploding from it as she stumbled and slid down the wall, her knee retracting closer to her chest as her hands shot down to her foot, tears now flowing freely down her cheek.

Her eyes slowly fluttered open, a small, telltale glint emanating from the broken glass on the ground that she had just stepped onto, the sticky warmth of her blood oozing down her injured foot.

“Fuck my life…” Sunset’s voice wavered as she struggled not to break down into tears. Everything had gone wrong for her tonight. Her single, overriding objective for the last three years had just been stolen out from under her, she had been abandoned by her minions, and now she was probably infected with some disease thanks to putting a bottle through her foot.

Sunset felt something in her head literally snap as she looked down at the various pieces of glass on the ground beside her. She reached out with a shaking hand, grabbing one of the larger pieces of glass as a maniacal grin spread across her face.

She had nothing left to lose now, after all. She had no chance of a life in this world, especially after her defeat tonight, and the instant she went back to Equestria…

She paused, and turned to the side as the pounding in her mind reached a fever pitch. A trio of shadows stood above her, a menacing aura radiating off of them.

“What do you want?” Sunset intended to ask, only for the world to go dark.