Without context or explaination, I was running down the hallways—constantly growing in length and shifting in lighting, causing me to lose my awareness as the dark, creeping voice called out to me.
“Sta-arlight!” Her voice called out to me.
I didn’t stop to turn around—I kept running until I hit a dead end. I turned around to confront my nightmare—I readied my fists and prepared to charge...
But a cold tendril wrapped itself around my neck and lifted my feet off of the ground. I grabbed the tendril, trying to pull it away from my airway, but that only made it wrap itself tighter. The slim, slender figure slowly approached me as her voice rang in my ears.
“Nice try,—but you can never escape me. You know that... don’t you?”
I tried to fight, but more tendrils wrapped around me.
“Face it, Starlight...”
Sunset Shimmer leaned into my face and forcibly grabbed the sides of my head, holding me in place as the tendrils started shaking me.
“...You are mine.”
A muffled voice calling to me fell silent as the tendril around my neck tightened--
My eyes shot open as I leaned forward, feeling my neck to see that I was not being choked out, and in fact, I was rather comfortable for a back-alley mattress that was being used for God-only-knows-what.
I got up and decided to go for a little walk, using my water bottle to dampen up the wash cloth in my pocket and clean my face to the best of my ability. I glanced at the torn car mirror and saw that I was rather clean, and to finish my routine, I grabbed my burlap-sack-hood and put it over my head, concealing my identity.
I walked over to my occasional spot and slumped down on it, looking across the street to see a young couple giggling and eating a rather large breakfast.
I rolled my eyes and glanced at my cup, seeing that it had a whole $3 in change in it. I smiled a little and pocketed the money, eager to add it to my little savings.
Before I could do anything else, I quickly heard someone approach.
I could hear the clicks of high heels as the stranger walked up to me, stop for a moment, and dig into their pocket.
“Here... you need it more than I do.” She said, slipping a $20 bill into an empty cup I was holding.
Her again. By this point, I was rather used to seeing her walk around, often putting a few quarters into my cup while I was doing something else... but this was the first time we were actually face-to-face, in a way.
Shewalked away, and there I was, glancing at the crisp bill in my cup, me looking back to ensure that it was her...
It was—I'd recognize that red-and-yellow hair and leather jacket anywhere.
A year had passed since she got me expelled from Canterlot High after revealing all of the things she blackmailed me into doing. Needless to say, it was enough for an expulsion... during that time, I was mugged, I ran away from home, and I was nearly killed by a group of students whose lives Sunset had me and her... sort-of boyfriend ruin. The only reason I made it out alive... was because I begged them.
Not to let me go... but to end it.
Now, I was in the streets, having lost everything and just waiting for the elements, some mugger, or whatever fate decides to throw at me to end it all...
“Thank you, enjoy the sweets!” The bouncy, high-pitched voice rang out as the tiny bell on the door rang as a customer left with a paper bag.
I somewhat turned my head towards the voice, seeing Pinkie Pie bouncing slightly as she went to close the door, but saw me and stopped.
I turned away as she walked over to me—the difference in us was staggering, with me wearing a worn out, darkened formerly white shirt, but now brownish, a burlap sack as my hood, and most likely an unbearable smell. Then there was her—bright colors, welcoming smile on her face, and the scent of cotton candy in the air, mixing with my natural stink to create a rather odd mixture.
“Hey, there!” She said, jumping as she spoke...
She always was bubbly... a friendly reminder of how things used to be.
I didn’t look at her—I didn’t want her to see my face and recognize me... that would just lead to a can of worms that I’m unready to see opened.
“How’ve you been, Starlighty?” She asked, pulling my hood down.
My blood ran cold and I clearly went pale as I quickly put my hood back up and rose to my feet...
“...What do you want?” My first real words in seven months...
She scoffed—but not in a rude way, more in a friendly way, if that were possible.
“To help you, silly! Sunburst’s been worried sick about you!” She said, pinching my cheek like a mother to a little boy.
I scoffed, rudely, and started walking away.
“Wait!” She said, breaking her bubbly voice for one of genuine concern.
I turned to her and instantly saw that her hair... started to deflate, in a weird way.
“I know that things have been tough... trust me, I’ve been there. But... please? The Cakes know about what happened to you, they won’t mind you staying here for the night—you can clean up, get a new set of clothes... please?” She asked, her eyes growing misty as she began to pout.
I glanced at her, begging for a stranger she only talked to once, back in freshman year...
And I felt nothing.
But damnit, if I was going to say no to that offer.
“Don’t tell the others, don’t expect me to stay for longer than a night, and we have a deal.”
Her pout quickly changed into a massive smile as she nodded without saying a word.
As she said, the Cakes were almost relieved to see that I was okay—like parents, but I never talked to them, once. They eagerly let me use their shower... where I spent over an hour, getting every ounce of dirt and mud off of my skin, the caked grease out of my hair.
Once I was done, I looked in the mirror—seeing that I finally had that Rapunzel hair I wanted as a little girl, but it was unkept and messy, random hairs shooting in every direction...
I turned to see a sticky note on the glass, saying:
“Feel free to come down for a trim ~ Pinkie : )”
I couldn’t help but to smile at her cheerfulness as I got dressed with the clothes that the Cakes left for me—apparently, they were Mr. Cakes, back when he was my age. They fit rather fine as I unlocked the door and went down the stairs to quickly see six very familiar faces in the bakery.
I quickly clung to the walls, just making out purple hair and white skin at the table.
“...So, what’s the plan? We can’t just pretend that this isn’t happening.”
I cursed under my breath, knowing that I shouldn’t have trusted Pinkie Pie—Pinkie Pie—to keep a secret.
“I know! The Dazzlings could still be out there, and we don’t know if they’re coming back.” She said.
…
What?
“I don’t think they’re too much of a concern, darling. Their amulet-thingies are gone, and they’re just... gone.” Rarity said—good to know that her mannerisms haven’t changed--
She was... talking to Sunset Shimmer...
The same girl who blackmailed her kind-of boyfriend into a relationship with her and the same one who turned into a raging she-demon not too long ago...
What the hell was I missing?
“Pinkie, are you alright? You seem rather nervous. Have your powers been giving you problems?” Rarity asked her.
“Yeah, you’ve been... I dunno, weird.” Rainbow Dash’s scratchy voice added.
I could only hear, but I could tell that Pinkie was possibly sweating bullets.
“Um... well...”
Pinkie was a sweet girl, but she couldn’t keep a secret unless she swore a “Pinkie Promise”-- don’t ask what happens when you broke one. It was now or never, and I might as well make my presence known.
I rose up and walked down the stairs, as everyone turned to see me, almost clueless to who I was.
“Okay, who’s this, your girlfriend?” Rainbow asked Pinkie.
Pinkie didn’t say anything, she just waited for everyone else to put the pieces together.
I glanced at Sunset, and as soon as I made eye contact, she recognized me, letting out a gasp and covering her mouth, trying to suppress it.
“Sunset? What’s wrong, who is she--?” Rarity realized it, too...
I didn’t stay, I didn’t even wait for them to say anything, I just walked out, grabbing my cup with the $20 bill, somehow still in there, and pocketed it, walking down the street as the little bell rang again, and she was running towards me.
“Starlight, wait! Please!” She called out, in a tone I never imagined I’d hear her speak...
Desperation.
I gave in and stopped, turning around to see Sunset Shimmer, face-to-face.
Her jacket was a different one, but similar in a lot of ways. She had a blue blouse-like shirt underneath it, and her hair was done differently.
“Wait... please, let’s just talk.” She said, clearly fumbling her words, either from exhaustion, shock, or both.
I sighed, standing still and waiting for her to form her words.
“I know that ‘sorry’ won’t do anything, so what’s the point in saying it? Besides, how the hell can you apologize for something that... horrible? But... damn it, I gotta try.” She said, clearly forming an apology for what she did.
“Starlight... I ruined your life, and quite a few others. There’s nothing I can do or say that will make you want to forgive me, even if I proved that I’d changed. So... I... I’m sorry.” She said, sighing and somewhat throwing her arms in the air.
I didn’t say a word, and that clearly bothered her...
“Say something! Please...” She said, starting to form tears as she looked away from me.
She wanted forgiveness—she wanted to know her past wasn’t who she was now...
And I wasn’t about to give her that—she doesn’t deserve it.
“I’m sorry, Sunset... but I can never forgive you.”
She glanced up at me as I ran, turning into an alley and scaling the fence, disappearing and vowing to leave Canterlot as soon as I got the chance.
"...please, just leave her alone!" I tried telling the year-older Cloud Sweeper, who was seemingly forced to threaten a younger student.
Cloud almost didn't answer me, but he did turn to notice me.
"...Just stay out of her way, okay?" He asked her as he turned over to me, signaling the younger student to run.
I wasn't scared by him-- I knew his situation with Rarity, his father leaving him... I'd rely on Sunset, as well...
"Please... trust me, you don't want to do this." He said to me, taking a glance forward.
I turned to see a dark, shadowy figure looking over us from the shadows...
"Hello, Starlight. You can go now, Cloudy-- I'll meet you at the apartment." She said, her voice low and dragged-out.
Cloud somberly nodded and walked away, leaving me with the demon herself.
"What do you want?" I asked her.
Sunset smiled and stepped closer to me, leaning over me for practically no reason of all.
"I want us all to work together..." She flashed an eerie smile to me...
$230, mainly in change, was my total savings, counting the bill that Sunset gave me. There was no way of bringing it all to the bank, I had no account, anymore. I simply packed it all up, every coin, dollar, bottle of water, and the odd snack here and there, all into a single backpack that I managed to buy at a sporting goods store.
There was nothing left for me here.
“Help! Someone!” I heard someone scream.
I could’ve ignored her—it wouldn’t have been the first time—but something in me decided “screw it” and I followed the screams. I had reached an alley where I saw two men mugging an older lady.
“Hey!” I shouted at them.
They turned towards me, and I noticed their symbol—it was... different.
“You talkin’ to us, little girl?” One of them asks me.
I chuckled and nodded, grateful that I bought a hunting knife at the store.
“Yeah... I am.” I said, pulling out the knife.
The lady let out a scream as she took her purse and ran.
Yeah, you’re welcome.
The two men let out a laugh and pulled out switchblades.
“Kid... you don’t know how badly you just fu--”
“Halt!” A loud, commanding voice rang out.
The two quickly pocketed the knives and entered a salute position...
I turned to see a woman a tad older than me—perhaps 21—with a scar running down her right eye.
“Who exactly are you?” She asked me, mannerisms very similar to Sunset’s, a year ago.
I chuckled at the similarities, and walked up to her, noting that she was a tad taller than me.
“Starlight Glimmer.” I told her.
She formed a small smile on her lips, turning her head a little.
“That was a rather brave thing you did, Starlight Glimmer. Not just anyone would’ve done what you did...” She said.
The two muggers behind me seemingly gulped, as the woman’s smile faded as soon as she looked at them.
“I’ll deal with you, later... stay here a moment, please.” She pet my head as she walked over to the two.
“What is the rule—the only rule I gave you?” She asked the two.
They were clearly too nervous to answer as Tempest simply walked up and grabbed their symbols, tearing them off.
“Keep. A low. Profile! What happens if that lady calls the police and you two idiots get arrested? Get back to the safehouse and wait for my arrival, and you better pray that my cops don’t get you... you better start running, you have a few blocks to go through.” She said with a cruel smile on her face.
Sure enough, the two ran down the road, vanishing into the life-filled city. I then turned to my “savior” and quickly scoffed and rolled my eyes.
“So... you’re the new Sunset Shimmer.” I said to her.
She clearly took offense to that, slowly stepping over to me while somewhat looking down on me.
“I can see how you may think that, but... I am nothing like Sunset Shimmer.”
I begged to differ, and I made my opinion heard.
“Well, let’s see—you just threatened two thugs who are no doubt in your payroll along with some cops, and you just... give off the same vibes, y’know?” I asked her.
She simply chuckled and shook her head, resting the back her hand on my shoulder. She then rested her index finger on my chin, slightly pushing my head up.
“Careful, Starlight Glimmer... you don’t know who you’re talking to, yet.” She said, smiling while she did so.
That was when it hit me-- I was being pulled back in. The same vicious cycle of being used and spit back out again, and you know what?
Fuck it. What can she take away from me? I already lost everything else.
“And who exactly am I talking to, then?” I asked her.
She simply chuckled and shook her head...
“Just call me Tempest. We should move—odds are that lady called the cops.” She said as she started jogging the same direction that the two henchmen ran off at.
There it was—the choice. I could just run, but...
This seemed too much fun to miss out on.
I ran along with her, and for a moment... I felt free again, in a weird way. Like before Sunset Shimmer, and before everything that happened a year ago.
But I’ve made a promise to myself, something that I often find myself muttering whenever I feel the weakest...
“Never again.”
“What was that?” Tempest asked, somewhat slowing down.
I realized that I said it, instead of mumbling it, and shook my head.
“It was nothing, where’re we going, exactly?” I asked her.
She laughed and just kept on jogging, almost ignoring me.
I then began to notice that she had been wearing almost a skin-tight black shirt, along with rather tight leggings, leaving very little to the imagination. I growled to myself and shook any gathering thoughts away.
Never again, I told myself...
Never again.
But why did she seem so... interesting? Like a change in pace that I was easily morphing to?
Tempest took a sharp right, and I followed her, entering a secluded alleyway with a single door on an abandoned warehouse.
“Give me a moment, just stay here, ’kay?” She asked, flashing me a smile as she entered the building.
I then looked around, seeing that we were in fact close to CHS...
The memories of that damned school... it was truly agonizing to me.
Sunset Shimmer... turning a new leaf?
No—not her... not after what she did to me.
Tempest knocked on the door and I turned, with her signaling me to enter. I walked inside the dark, empty warehouse where my eyes took a moment to adjust to the darkness...
When they did, I saw at least 50 of those goons from the alley, wearing some form of military armor and Tempest walking through a gap they formed, all while they saluted to her...
What the hell did I just walk into?
“Starlight Glimmer... I believe that we both want the same thing—justice for everyone who Sunset Shimmer hurt.” Tempest said to me, standing behind all of her little goons...
Then I realized something—for weeks, I had noticed a single cloaked figure watching me from the shadows when they thought I wasn’t looking...
“You... you were watching me.” I said.
Tempest let out a laugh and shook her head.
“Welcome to the Legion, kid... My name is Tempest Shadow... but for anonymity, you can call me the Storm King... it throws everyone off-guard.” She said, gesturing me to come to her.
I slowly walked forward, and as I did, I noticed the others around me...
I knew some of them.
I could’ve sworn that I saw the janitor that was in Sunset’s pocket that fateful day, along with them, a few students who disappeared after Sunset’s rise to power. Closest to Tempest, I saw a blonde girl holding a baby...
“Derpy?” I asked her.
Derpy turned to me, her baby in her arms, and nodded to me, her bubbly personality now gone.
“We are the same as you, Glimmer—we were all hurt by Sunset Shimmer, and where’s our justice? Where’s Sunset’s arrest warrant? No—instead, Sunset’s let off easy—making friends, a pet gecko, a hobby or two, even fucking livestreaming after she ruined the lives of everyone in this room and many more...”
I instantly knew what this was—this wasn’t a stranger helping someone in need...
This was an initiation.
And I was completely on board.
“All of you tell me—does Sunset Shimmer deserve forgiveness?”
They all rose their arms and kept looking straight forward.
“Hell no!” They all screamed.
She only smiled as I was simply amazed...
Yeah, I usually had nightmares about her coming for me, but in others, I was the one hunting her down, making sure that the demon was silenced... now, there are 50 others like me...
“Tell me, Starlight Glimmer... should Sunset pay for what she did?” Tempest asked me.
In that moment, I thought back to our meet by the café-- how her mannerisms had changed...
And I threw all of that out the window.
“Yes...” I said to her, nodding.
Tempest chuckled and tilted her head.
“What was that? I couldn’t really hear you.” She said.
I knew what she was doing, making me confirm my hatred of her...
I felt my anger boil as I let out a primal growl.
“Yes!” I screamed, satisfied over the year of hardened, internalized rage finally beginning to crack.
With that crack, came the inevitable tears beginning to form. Tempest only smiled and held out her arms, embracing me as my tears became sobs, and my sobs made way for wails—filled of sadness, hate, anger, and most of all...
Happiness.
After a year of wandering, I may have found where I belonged.
“...Out in the streets, I heard you say 'never again'... and you're right-- never again will an innocent person's life be ruined by Sunset Shimmer, the Shadowbolts, or anyone else who feels the necessity to be at the top... no more power, Starlight... no more power." Tempest said as she rested her hand on my cheek, me somewhat enjoying the embrace.
She moved her hand away from my face and faced the 50 others who seemed jealous of me.
"Get ready, all of you... we begin soon." She said with a cruel smile on her face.
Author's Note
After at least a year and a (in my opinion) failed sequel, this universe is finally, properly, updated. It may be a little while before the next NDSB story, but I now have a collected plan for this universe... just give it time. 