Early Sunset Gets the Shimmer
Back in Ponyville, certain things were common knowledge: the Everfree Forest was a dangerous place, magic could be dangerous if used by the wrong hands, bits weren't always just chocolate shaped like money...
And most importantly, Princess Celestia raised and lowered the sun.
Among all the pieces of information that were drilled into the young Sunset Shimmer's head, this bit was the one that stood out. While the other bits, she could sometimes forget or even misinterpret, Celestia being in charge of the sun was as clear as the fact that people thought her hair looked like bacon at certain angles.
Personally, she didn't see it, but hey, everything's on the eye of the beholder.
So, the bacon-haired pony thought that fact would be universal across all existence. After all, it's not like she knew alternate worlds existed until she invaded the Equestria Girls world.
However, after staying there for several months, the pony-turned-girl got quite a shocking revelation:
"Sunset, the sun doesn't rise because of Celestia."
The girl stopped herself and held on to her books as tightly as she could.
"W-Wait, what?!"
Sunset turned to the person who told her the statement, who was none other than Mrs. Cheerilee.
"What do you mean the sun doesn't rise because of Celestia?!"
The woman wanted to cut the chase and tell Sunset it was because things worked differently in their world, but, knowing the bacon-haired girl, this would only cause her to ask further questions.
So, she decided to explain to the best of her ability.
"Sunset, this world might've been struck by magic a couple times, but the sun was rising and setting long before magic entered the picture, and especially long before Celestia was even born."
"B-But, how could that be possible?" Sunset scratched her head. "Where I'm from, I was told that it was Celestia herself who raised and set the sun!"
"Well, I don't know what community you came from, but I'm sorry to tell you that they might've been lying to you," Cheerilee answered, putting a hand on Sunset's shoulder. "Either that, or Celestia's been up to some shady business I'd rather not look deeper into."
Sunset lowered her head and frowned.
"If Celestia doesn't raise and set the sun, who does?"
Cheerilee took a deep breath.
"Nobody does, Sunset. It's because the Earth rotates that the sun "rises" and "sets" in the first place."
Sunset lowered her head further, until her hair covered her eyes, remaining motionless as Cheerilee brushed her hair in a reassuring manner.
"I know this might come as a shock to you, but it's the truth. And if there's any other information that community told you about, I'll be more than happy to help you confirm if it's true or not."
With that said, Mrs. Cheerilee walked past Sunset and left the school, leaving the girl to gain a brand new goal for tomorrow.
"I don't consider you a liar, Mrs. Cheerilee..."
Sunset raised her head, and flashed a determined look.
"But I must confirm this myself!"
5 AM.
That was the time that the sun began rising over the city that housed Canterlot High School, at least, that's what Trixie told her.
Sunset had a feeling she shouldn't take what she said at face value, but since she was the only person she asked whose answer didn't seem to be doubtful, so she had to work with what she got.
She also gathered the courage to ask Vice-Principal Luna at what time Principal Celestia usually woke up. She didn't seem particularly baffled by the question, and she gave Sunset a straightforward answer.
6 AM.
A whole hour after the sun began rising.
And right now, Sunset was sitting on the rooftop of her house, holding first seat to witness the sun rise over the horizon.
The girl literally couldn't ask for better circumstances.
"Alright then, Cheerilee, I'm going to see if you're right about the sunrise! I'm going to sit here, wait to see if the sun rises before or after Celestia supposedly wakes up, and then we'll see if it really can rise and set without her-"
But then, something unexpected happen.
The scenery began gaining an orange, radiant tint.
"W-Wait, that tint..."
Sunset stood up and got a better look at the surrounding area as the tint progressively covered it, moments before a strong, cold wind began to blow.
"I forgot today was going to be a windy day..."
The wind blew once more, sending a shiver down Sunset's spine and prompting her to hug herself.
"Good thing I'm on my pajamas, 'cause my normal outfit would make this cold affect me even more!"
Sunset looked over the horizon, where, although she could see the sky gain the same orange tint as the rest of the scenery, she couldn't see the giant yellow hot sphere that was known as the sun.
"Wait, where's the sun?"
Then she looked down, and saw a large, thin shadowy figure spreading across the scenery, oddly shaped like her form.
Could this imply that her demonic form was still haunting her? That it could still gain form to torment her for days to come? That maybe, in trying to find out if the sun really rose and set without Celestia's assistance, she gave her evil self a away to gain sentience somehow?!
...
Actually, on closer look, it turned out to just be her shadow as a reaction of the large light from behind her...
It was at this point Sunset realized she was facing away from the sun.
So, one slap in the face later, Sunset turned around, faced the giant ball of fire in the sky, and was promptly left mesmerized by what she witnessed.
A giant ball of fire, illuminating the once ignorant Sunset's entire body at once, while the girl found herself standing in place, unable to move or look away from the giant circle in the sky.
And what's more? It was still too early for Celestia to wake up.
"Mrs. Cheerilee was right..." Sunset spoke after gazing at the sun's form for a minute. "It really does rise and set without her."
After watching it for a few more minutes, Sunset flashed a smile, and shed a tear of delight.
"It's so beautiful..."
Skipping the rest of the weekend, Sunset found herself back at Canterlot High School, where the rest of the Humane Seven immediately noticed something was... different, about her.
Maybe it was the wide, joyful smile that screamed that the girl was happy to have decided to call this place home.
Maybe it was the sparkles coming out of her around her face, which couldn't be touched by the girls.
Pinkie Pie verified it.
But one thing was clear to them: Sunset was happy.
"Good morning, Sunset," Rainbow Dash greeted. "You seem... happier than usual."
"Happier, nothing, she looks radiant!" Rarity remarked, scratching her chin. "Something wonderful must've happened to you, right, darling?"
Sunset nodded.
"I stood on my house's rooftop this Saturday, and got to see the sun rising for the first time, with my very eyes."
The girls immediately became concerned.
"What?!"
"Sunset, you're not supposed to look directly at the sun for too long!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "That thing's so bright that watching it for too long can leave you blind!"
"Yeah, take it from me: I once challenged the sun into a staring contest, and he won after just a few seconds!" Pinkie Pie stated, clenching her fists. "What's worse is that I still haven't been able to get payback for it!"
"What Pinkie's trying to say is that you should go see the nurse as soon as possible, Sunset," Twilight said.
"We can take you to her if your sight's a little foggy, too," Fluttershy added.
"It's okay, girls, I can see just fine," Sunset replied, waving her hand in a dismissive manner. "But just in case, I'm going to go there for a check-up."
The girls nodded, and Sunset promptly walked to the nurse's office, coming across a familiar face in the process: Mrs. Cheerilee.
"Good morning, Sunset," the teacher answered. "I can see that you're feeling quite relieved."
"That's because I am, Mrs. Cheerilee," Sunset answered with a nod. "I managed to confirm your statement about the sun rising and setting: Celestia doesn't do it after all."
Cheerilee raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really? What did you do to find that out?"
Sunset beamed a smile.
"I stood on my rooftop and looked at it rise with my very eyes."
Cheerilee pointed at the corridor nearby, sporting a nervous smile. "The nurse's office is over there, please head there immediately."
"Alright, alright."
Sunset giggled as she walked past Cheerilee and headed to the nurse's office, now with the knowledge the sun could work without Celestia's involvement in another universe.
This world was certainly more interesting than she thought.
