In a wizard's workshop, beneath a royal palace, set on a mountain peak at the heart of a land of fantasy and mythology, an amber-flanked unicorn stood facing a magic mirror...
... desperately seeking a way out. And hoping like anything she hadn't misread the activation spell.
Her horn gleamed. She firmly repeated the words she'd seen in Star Swirl's journal:
"Sit speculum portal aperta ad planum tangens de necessitates."
With an inrush of magic potential, the plane of the mirror became a swirling magenta vortex, then settled down to a curtain of shimmering light.
Sunset sighed in relief. That was the only part she'd been unsure about. It was all downhill from here.
Shrugging her carryall to be sure it was firmly belted around her barrel, she stepped up onto the platform of the mirror. Haltingly, she extended a forehoof to the shimmering portal. It tingled as her hoof passed through it. Her hoof appeared to stretch away into infinity, even though it otherwise felt completely normal.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward through the warmly shimmering vortex.
She'd only gotten about halfway through before it suddenly grabbed her and yanked her in.
With an echoing scream, she felt herself stretched like taffy and spun down an unending tunnel of blinding radiance. And then flung out the other end, landing heavily and painfully on a flat stretch of cold, sunlit concrete. Well... she thought, it was designed by a wizard who probably didn't get out much. Can't expect the ride to be that smooth. All right, time for a look around my brand-new, made-to-order world...
She stood up. Or tried to... her back legs were far too long. And her forelegs... Eww. There were things at the ends of them, like spiders, which twitched disturbingly when she wriggled them. Her snout... she nearly went cross-eyed staring at it... it was far too short, as if somepony had lopped off part of her face.
She hurriedly swept a forelimb back, feeling for her carryall. It was still there, but had changed shape: it was now a single large sack strapped to her back.
And her tail was missing. And she'd acquired clothing somehow.
What the hay?
She desperately felt at her mane, and realized with a sickening lurch of her stomach that her horn was gone.
That was the last straw for what little composure she had left.
"Aaaaaaaaah!"
She thumped back onto her tailless rump, clutching at her hornless mane with the spidery things on her forelimbs, unable to take any more strangeness...
And suddenly felt a comforting touch at her shoulder.
"Woah, there!" a friendly, twangy voice said. "Ya all right, sugarcube?"
Sunset looked up, and saw a bizarre-looking creature. It -- no, she -- looked a lot like Sunset now did. Tall, stocky, with a straw-blond mane and an eleven-gallon hat, and white freckles on a bright-orange, suntanned face. Plus a smile so honestly friendly, it was easy to trust her instantly.
"Ow!" Sunset gasped, with what wits she still had. "I took a bit of a fall. I'm fine, though."
"That's a relief! Ya had me worried. Name's Applejack." The stranger put out one of her appendages, and Sunset found herself automatically grasping it for a shake. "Mighty nice to meet ya... er...?"
"Sunset Shimmer."
"Ah! Thank you kindly! I thought you looked new. Hadn't seen you round the School before."
School... Sunset looked up at the tall, multi-winged building standing before her in the morning sunlight. That made sense... this world was supposed to suit her needs, and, well... she'd only ever known life in a school up to now.
With Applejack's help Sunset managed to stand on her hind legs, wobbling unsteadily, at least at first. Yet with every second she felt herself acclimatizing somehow, felt this new world settling around her like a familiar cloak. Unfamiliar words drifted to the surface of her thoughts. Hands, she thought, looking at them. Fingers. Feet. Shoes... no, sneakers.
It had to be part of the portal spell, adapting her to fit this world. Or the world to suit her. Either way, she wasn't going to complain.
The portal...
Behind her, there was a marble statue of a rearing horse. And the back face of its boxy plinth was shimmering ever so slightly. That must be the other end of the portal in this world, Sunset thought. I'll have to remember that, if I ever want to get back home again.
For a moment, she worried about what would happen if it closed on her. The portal is self-sustaining, she firmly reminded herself. The journal said so. It draws on the mirror's magic. I'm just going to have to trust it...
"You just transfer?" Applejack asked, interrupting her thoughts. "This your first day here?"
"Uh, that's right," Sunset said. "I transferred here... from my old school."
"Well then, welcome to CHS! Uh, Canterlot High School, that is. Too bad ya missed the Freshman Welcome Fair back in the fall. Would've been a great way to meet everyone. But come along with me! I'll introduce you to folks that I know here, and that'll be almost as good."
"Thanks, Applejack."
"Shoot! Ain't nothin'. Just bein' friendly-like. Right this way."
Applejack led the way, and Sunset followed along, up the central sidewalk between the wings of the school building, then up the front steps, and through the main entrance doors.
And into a madhouse.
There were dozens of the creatures -- humans, Sunset thought -- crisscrossing in every direction from one hallway to another. They banged open doors on the wall -- lockers -- to collect textbooks and other items. They exchanged greetings, traded possessions, played games, chatted endlessly and noisily. Sunset wanted to cover her ears at the din. How any of them could hear a word they were saying to each other was beyond her.
Applejack plowed straight through the mass of students with easy confidence, and Sunset had to move quickly to keep up, narrowly avoiding half a dozen collisions in as many yards.
She wished there was some way to get them to pay attention to where they were going, to notice that she was even there.
"Mornin', Rarity!" Applejack called, waving to a student with a long, perfectly-coiffed violet mane, spotless white blouse, purple skirt and boots, and a general air of studied sophistication.
"Morning, A.J.!" the girl trilled airily. "And who is this..." Rarity's eyes went wide. "Oh... my... gosh!" She pressed her balled fists to her cheeks in awe. "Eeee! Applejack, do you know who this is?"
"Uh, surely do, she's --"
"Sunset Shimmer!" Rarity reached eagerly for Sunset's hand and began pumping it excitedly. "Oh my word, darling! It's such an honor!"
"Er... thanks?" Sunset smiled uneasily.
Applejack looked from one of them to the other. "Mind tellin' me what I'm missing, Rarity? Or is today Let's Freak Out The New Girl Day, and nobody clued me in?"
"Oh, please!" Rarity rolled her eyes. "Sunset here is only a world-class sensation! Pop star, recording sensation... and the latest issue of Fashion Weekly reported you're considering a career in film! Once you've completed your studies, of course." Diving into her locker, Rarity came up with a glossy magazine, on the cover of which was... Sunset, as near as she could tell. She was giving the camera a pouty, sophisticated, heavy-lidded gaze.
Does my face really look like that? Sunset wondered. Gotta find a mirror here.
"Well, shut my mouth..." Applejack said. "Didn't know I was in the presence, so to speak. Ya didn't say nothin' bout it, Sunset!"
Sunset shrugged uneasily. "I... don't like to put on airs. I... prefer to let my work speak for itself."
"And indeed it does, my dear!" Rarity assured her.
"Sunset's just startin' today," Applejack said. "I was gonna take her round and introduce her to folks, but it's sounding like I might not need to!"
"Oh, it'd still be a help to me," Sunset said quickly. "After all, I don't know anyone here yet."
"Oooh! Do let me come along!" Rarity said. "I'm dying to see the looks on everyone's faces!"
Just then, a speaker mounted on the wall gave a loud, authoritative click.
"Sunset Shimmer... will Sunset Shimmer please report to the Principal's Office."
"Oh, dear," Rarity sighed. "It'll have to wait. You're being paged!"
"Yeah," Applejack agreed. "We'll take ya 'round afterward, if you like." She peered at Sunset, puzzled. "Somethin' wrong, hon? You look like you seen a ghost."
Sunset had frozen, and she stared up at the now-silent speaker like a mouse staring at a descending owl. That was Princess Celestia! she thought. Has she followed me here?
"Aw, don't worry, hon," Applejack said. "Nothing to fret about, your first day and all. Principal Celestia probably jes' wants to welcome ya, all formal-like."
"Excuse me..." Sunset asked, "... but, Principal Celestia?"
"Yep! She's in charge of the School." Applejack nodded. "And we couldn't hardly want for anyone better'n her watchin' over us. Nice as anything, and she don't miss a trick making this a great place for everyone to learn."
"But watch out," Rarity warned, "for Vice Principal Luna! She's in charge of discipline here. And don't get on her bad side. She's got a pret-ty creative mind when it comes to disciplining students!"
"Yeah, ain't that the truth!" Applejack said. "Wayall, best not keep the Principal waitin'. Better mosey on over there."
"Oooo-kay," Sunset said, looking around. "So... which door do I want?"
"Sorry!" Applejack smiled. "I keep forgettin' you're new here. Come on -- we'll walk ya over."
Unable to back out, Sunset gritted her teeth and accompanied them. As she did so, she noticed the amazed stares of the other students all around them, staring at her and chatting excitedly amongst themselves:
"It's her!... Sunset Shimmer!... I don't believe it!... She's actually going to school here!"
Well... Sunset thought to herself. This is an interesting development...
"First, I'd like to welcome you to Canterlot High, Miss Shimmer. And let me say how proud we are that you've chosen to pursue your studies with us."
Sunset sat tensely on the comfortable chair in front of the desk, staring at the tall, calmly authoritative woman seated behind it. It was Celestia... and yet it wasn't. Her face had the same brilliant, pearlescent tone, the same large, caring eyes. She had the same long, flowing hair with a touch of prismatic color to it. And she also had Celestia's firm, commanding voice... it was clear who was in charge at this school.
And yet, when she'd opened the door to Sunset, there had been no sign of recognition -- apart from the obvious. Like everyone else, she'd reacted to Sunset's unexpected fame in this world. And nothing more.
"Starting so late in the school year you may be at a disadvantage," Celestia went on, "but I'm sure a talented professional such as yourself will be able to find your way quickly, and make new friends. And they'll be able to help you fit in here."
"I've... made a couple of friends already," Sunset replied. "They offered to show me around, after."
"I'm very pleased to hear it." Celestia nodded. "Canterlot High may not be as large and well-known as other schools, but we encourage our students to be open and welcoming. And of course, if there is anything I can assist you with, be sure to let me know. My door is always open to you, Miss Shimmer."
"Well..." Sunset replied hesitantly, feeling out her steadily accumulating familiarity with this world, "I still don't have my locker, yet... or my class assignments, but..."
"Then by all means, let me help you with that," Celestia replied. "It'll only take me a moment." Turning, she pulled open a drawer in a cabinet behind her, extracted several folders, and quickly set to work, humming softly to herself.
Sunset stared at her, amazed.
She's in charge of this School... and she treats me like I'm the one behind the desk.
Relaxing a little, she smiled, nodding in understanding. The mirror creates a connection to a world that suits the caster's needs. So it's not surprising I'm well-known and respected here. Or that this world's version of Celestia wants to help me achieve my goals.
Sunset winced. Once I figure out what my goals are, she reminded herself.
What she needed was some way to protect Equestria. Something she could use to stand up against Nightmare Moon, something that...
"By the way," Celestia said, looking up from her paperwork, "since you've missed the Fall Formal this year, would you have any interest in running for the title of Princess of the Spring Fling? It's coming up soon."
"Uh..." Sunset went wide-eyed. "Did you say Princess...?"
Walking out of the Principal's Office in something of a daze, Sunset found herself immediately confronted with a crowd of nervously excited students.
At the head of which were Applejack and Rarity. Relieved to see familiar faces, Sunset willingly linked arms with them, and the three of then headed off to homeroom together. "Tell me you weren't waiting out here the whole time," Sunset said. "No, wait, don't tell me. I'm just glad you did."
"The pleasure is all ours!" Rarity assured her. "Though I suppose you could have just sent us a text when you were done, hmm?"
The way she'd said it was endearingly hopeful, and Sunset, wanting to be obliging, looked at her curiously. "Text?"
"On your phone, darling," Rarity brandished a simple, though stylish rectangle of glass and steel. "Oh, though I suppose you must have people to handle social media for you."
"Well... I am little unfamiliar with it," Sunset admitted.
Applejack smirked. "You an' me both! Ah'm still gettin' used to this new-fangled widget." She held up a serviceable-looking chunk of rugged plastic, aluminum and glass, which was battered and flecked with dirt and bits of apple peel.
"Well... maybe you could walk me through it, on mine?" Sunset automatically reached into a... pocket, she realized, even as she wondered at how she knew so readily where to reach and what to reach for...
She came up with a glistening slab of brushed titanium, with what looked like a sheet of cut diamond for a screen. Sitting in her hand, the thing positively simmered with power and capability.
"Woah, nelly!" Applejack said, staring.
"Indeed!" Rarity nodded, impressed. "That's an Apple Pi, isn't it? They're supposed to be the top of the line. They say anything you can't arrange with one is best ignored as simply not worth the bother!"
Sunset glanced at Applejack. "Uh... Apple...?"
"No relation," the farm girl said hurriedly. Then she grinned. "Though ya never know... I got kinfolk in places I never even knew were places!"
"Ahem! Right, then," Rarity said. "If it's at all like mine, what you need to do is..."
They spent the walk to homeroom exchanging contact numbers and phone tips with each other. Sunset was amazed... with the right app, you could ask about, or place an order for, just about anything on these pocket-sized magic mirrors. No wonder so many of the students had one practically glued to their hand or their ear, or both.
And then the three of them spent most of homeroom talking about doings at the School, and in their own lives... although Rarity and Applejack took every opportunity to pepper Sunset with questions about her own career. And there were more than a few nearby students who were clearly listening in as well. They were excitedly curious, but also clearly too nervous to speak to Sunset directly.
All of which made Sunset feel very guilty. She realized sheepishly she was going to have to take some time to read up on her own persona in this world, just to keep up appearances. For the moment, she got by with bland assertions and inventions, promising herself she'd set the record straight... uh, later.
And then all of them settled into the routine of classes... which followed a pattern, all day long. The teacher would introduce Sunset, the students would gasp and cheer excitedly, the teacher would ask if Sunset might like to say a few words, and she'd beg off, saying she'd "just like to get settled in and start my studies". And then the entire class would attempt to get back on track, with such a famous distraction in their midst.
By lunchtime Sunset just wanted to hide under her desk from all the attention.
As a diversion from her nervousness, she decided to check out the locker Celestia had assigned. It was in the main corridor, near the entrance. With some help from Rarity she spun open the combo lock and pulled open the door.
And for a moment, wondered if she'd gotten the wrong locker.
There was an expensive-looking, studded black jacket hanging in it. And matching knee-high boots, splashed with bold magenta. And a silken T-shirt in the same color, her two-toned flaming sun cutie mark on it.
Where did these come from? I didn't put them in here.
"Oh, these look absolutely di-vine!" Rarity enthused. "Who is your designer, my dear?"
"Whoever it is," Applejack said, "they got an expense account! Hoo wee, these are fancy duds!"
"Applejack!" Rarity chided. "Sunset is very successful! It's not surprising she can afford such quality. Oh, do put them on," she added, pleadingly. "I simply must see how you look in them!"
Curious herself, Sunset stepped into the nearby bathroom and swapped clothes.
And then stared at herself in the mirror-wall over the sink, running a hand through her red-and-yellow mane -- hair, she corrected herself quickly.
And liked what she saw.
Oh, yeah, she thought. I do look better in these. No surprise there. It must all be part of the mirror-spell: Equestria's magic, reaching through the portal and shaping this world, making these things available to me right when I need them.
Briefly, she wondered if that was safe... but decided that since this world was chosen by the mirror to suit her, nothing bad could happen, right?
When she re-emerged into the hallway, both Rarity and Applejack applauded her look. As did the other students standing around watching. Somehow, the change in clothes seemed to have broken the ice: they crowded around, asking her questions, asking for her autograph. They asked for "selfies" as well... which, once Sunset properly understood the term, were a lot of fun to do. You just put on a smile, let the other party have their moment with you, and they left happy, feeling they'd "made it" somehow.
Since it was lunchtime, with Applejack and Rarity in tow Sunset strolled into the cafeteria. And totally owned the place. Everyone wanted Sunset to sit with their group: the athletes, the fashionistas, the drama class, the eco kids, the techies, the rockers... in the end, there was an unspoken semi-diplomatic compromise: Sunset simply occupied a table in the middle of the dining hall, and the various groups all sorted out who among them would have the honor of joining her in a kind of all-school roundtable, bringing everyone together.
Everyone wanted Sunset's opinion. Everyone wanted her advice. She was the girl every other girl in class wanted to be like. And the girl every guy longed to be with.
Wow... Sunset thought, smiling. It might only be Equestrian magic making all this happen, but... I could get used to this!
The rest of the day passed in a happy blur of popularity. And suddenly the last bell had rung, and it was time to head home. And Sunset found herself wondering where exactly home was, here.
She, Applejack, and Rarity were standing together in front of the rearing horse statue, on the sidewalk facing the street.
Applejack nodded pleasantly. "Wayall, we'll see ya again tomorrow, Sunset!"
"If you do still want to hang out with us," Rarity added nervously. "Being so popular here, and all..."
"Are you kidding?" Sunset hugged them both. "I don't know how I would have made it through today without you two. See you in the morning?"
"Bright and early, my dear!" Rarity agreed. "Ooh, I nearly forgot to ask. Does someone pick you up, like me, or do you ride the bus like Applejack? I could offer you a lift if you needed one..."
Just then, a glistening stretch limo swung up to the curb. Its driver hopped out and came round to pull open the door. "Miss Shimmer," he greeted her, touching his cap.
Rarity and Applejack had their mouths hanging open. Sunset gently reached out her forefingers and pushed them shut. "Remember," she said mysteriously, "I'm full of surprises!"
"Ain't that the truth!" Applejack said, with feeling.
"My word!" Rarity agreed.
Sunset smoothly got into the back of the limo and then, while the driver was making his way around it, hurriedly figured out which button made the window roll down. As the limo pulled smoothly away she waved cheekily to her friends. They waved back, still somewhat awestruck.
And then Sunset sank back in the plush seat, allowing her worries to show on her face. Where was this four-wheeled yacht going? Was there another Sunset Shimmer in this world? Was she about to be dumped on this other girl's doorstep, and have to explain herself to everyone? What would she even say?
The driver said nothing as the vehicle made its way through afternoon traffic, passing through the city center, then up into the heights, into what appeared to be the wealthier part of town. And then the limo suddenly made a sharp turn, pulling up the curving driveway of what appeared to be a country-club or other huge, palatial establishment.
The driver brought the limo to a halt, got out, came round to open the door for her, touched his cap politely, and then without another word got back in and drove the car around to a garage to the left.
And Sunset stared at the mansion in front of her, realization slowly dawning.
I own this place. There's a key in my pocket that will open that front door... the one that looks like you could drive a haywagon through it without even clipping the door-frame on either side.
No... Way...
Sunset paused, standing there nervously, clutching her backpack.
She had a strong feeing there was a decision to be made here, and once taken, it could not easily be gone back on. Was this really the lifestyle she wanted? After all, this world seemingly allowed Sunset to call its tune. What tune did she want it to play?
Unh-unh, Sunset eventually decided. A ritzy, snobbish, exclusive mansion like this just isn't for me. I know who I am! At least... I think I do. Who exactly am I? And where would I want to live, given the choice?
After a moment, acting on a hunch, she pulled out her phone. She selected an app, made a call.
A few minutes later a local Arriba van pulled up at the sidewalk in front of the estate. "Hey, Miss Shimmer!" the driver -- a seedy-looking roadie type with green hair -- called out to her. "I was hopin' you'd be callin' us for a ride again, now you're back in town. But I figured I'd be pickin' ya up at CHS. What'cha doin' all the way out here?"
"Long story," she replied, hopping into the van's rear seat. She quickly glanced at the name shown on her phone. "Please take me home, Jeff."
"You got it!" Throwing the van in gear, he sped off, making Sunset hurriedly move to snap the seat-belt around her. The way Jeff was taking the corners made her wonder just how badly he needed the fare. She decided she'd add an extra tip -- if she could only figure out how to do that with the app.
Jeff sped all the way back across town, finally dropping her off at a nondescript brownstone building in a mixed-use urban block. And if she was any judge of the map on the phone's screen, it was only a few blocks walk away from the School.
Yeah. Sunset nodded. This is more me. Besides, I don't want to get too far away from the portal, and the School. In a pinch I can always just walk back there.
Using the key in her pocket, she opened the front door and stepped inside. And fell in love with the place. It was a cozy loft-style flat, with a living area and kitchen below, and a sleeping platform above that, reached by a flight of stairs. There was a big-screen television in front of a comfortable couch, computer equipment in a desk area below the bed loft, and books -- tons of books -- on shelves all over the place.
It was homely. It was lived-in. There was even a strand of soft-white holiday lights running along the railing of the loft as an accent.
It was perfect.
Hanging on the wall by the loft stairs were a selection of guitars, ranging from staid maple acoustic, all the way up to an expensive night-black axe that looked like one needed a hunting license just to pick the thing up.
Hesitantly, Sunset selected a flame-hued electric, slung it over her shoulder, plugged it into a handy amp. Even more hesitantly, she strummed the strings.
And then confidently belted out ten measures of pure, unleashed sound.
Oh, yeah, she thought. No worries about being some kind of duplicate of the real Sunset Shimmer in this world -- I am the real Sunset Shimmer!
She gazed around at her apartment... her home, her life... in wonder.
How could this get any better?
Next morning, Sunset pushed through the doors into the School's gymnasium. "Excuse me?" she called to the apparently empty room. "I'm looking for the head of the Spring Fling planning committee?"
"Ooooh! Me! Me-me-me-me-me!" called a high-pitched, sugar-rush voice from the rafters.
"Pinkie Pie!" Rarity called. "Whatever are you doing up there?"
"Testing a new streamer distribution system!" called down a girl with radioactively pink candy-floss hair. She was wearing goggles and a harness, and holding a huge cardboard canister.
"Geronimo!" she shouted.
And dove off the rafter she was sitting on.
Sunset was about to dive forward to try to break her fall, but felt a restraining hand on her shoulder. It was Applejack, pointing upwards to where Pinkie, suspended from a cord hooked to her back, was whirling around in a huge circle like a pink albatross, grabbing balled streamers out of her canister and flinging them in every direction. A few managed to loop over rafters or lights, but most simply arrowed down to the floor, littering it in a messy riot of color.
"Oh, well," Rarity called up, "that's all fine and good, dearest! But what do you do when you run out up there?"
"Not to worry!" Pinkie replied as she swung by overhead. "I got a plan!"
Timing it just right, she tugged a handle on the harness, unhooking herself from the cord. She plummeted towards the hardwood floor... with a bungee cord stretching out behind her.
She came to a momentary, upside-down halt next to a second canister of streamers, dropped the one she was holding, grabbed the new one, pushed off from the floor, and soared right back into the air... landing with a click back on the end of the cord that had been holding her. She continued swirling about, tossing streamers everywhere with abandon.
"Wheeeeeee!"
The total impracticality of the display, combined with Pinkie's unhinged glee in doing it, made Sunset first smile, then laugh out loud.
"There's my smile!" Pinkie called down happily. "I could do this all day! Yay!"
Getting control of herself, Sunset called up. "When you have a minute, Pinkie? I'd like to sign up to run for Princess of the..."
"... Spring Fling? No problemo! Be right down!"
Tugging her handle, Pinkie unhooked and hurled down towards them. Sunset found a clipboard and a pen quickly shoved into her hands, before Pinkie shot back into the air again. "All you have to -- do is sign your -- name and you're -- in the running!" Pinkie said breathlessly, each time she yo-yoed near them again.
Well, Sunset thought, I magically picked up some killer guitar skills. Let's see how good my penmanship is...
Her hand moved across the paper, unfurling a decently readable scrawl. Impressed, Sunset handed the clipboard back to Pinkie, whom Applejack had just grabbed hold of to keep her at ground level for a bit.
Pinkie stared at the scribbled name. "Sunset Shimmer!" she gasped. "Huaaahhh! That's amazing! You are like the most world-famous-terrifically-awsomest-crazy-great-singer-songwriter-you-name-it I have ever met! Hee!"
"Yeah... that's me," Sunset agreed. "Though being Princess has a nice ring to it, too."
"Oooh! You're sure to win!" Pinkie smiled. "Especially since no one else is running," she added, matter-of-factly.
"Seriously?" Sunset peered at the clipboard again. She saw there were numbers next to the lines. Her name was on line one. All the rest were blank.
Pinkie shrugged. "Yah... seems like no one's into this kind of thing any more. Bum-mer! And after I put so much effort into the decorations for the Fall Formal, Spook Night, and the Holiday Bash!"
"And they were smashing, Pinkie," Rarity assured her. She sighed. "It's just... well, even before the school lost to Crystal Prep in the Games this year..."
"Again..." Applejack muttered.
"... this place just doesn't seem to have much of that old school 'pep' left."
"Well, then," Sunset said, looking around at them, "maybe I can do something about that."
"Really?" Pinkie gasped, eyes wide.
"Sure. After all, if I'm gonna be crowned Princess, I should show I deserve it, right?"
Pinkie beamed excitedly. "YES! Best... Spring Fling... EVERRRR!" She bounded out of Applejack's grasp, and soared back into the air, on wings of bungee and exhilaration.
Applejack scratched her head. "Ah'm not doubtin' you, Sunset. If you can turn things around here, Ah'm with ya all the way. But how you plan on doin' that?"
"Just watch me," Sunset said. Pulling out her phone, she placed a quick call.
Sunset took to the halls of Canterlot High School, night-black axe in hand. Behind her was Applejack, wheeling an amp on a trolley, with Pinkie scurrying from outlet to outlet, plugging and unplugging cords to keep the amp powered.
Sunset slammed knife-edged chords from the guitar and sang.
When you're knocked down, just get right up...
Second-best is not enough!
Wondercolts... Wondercolts...
Students looked up from their books, their phones, their lockers and hacky-sack games, surprised.
If you're feelin' back-of-the-pack...
Step right up and take it back!
Wondercolts... Wondercolts...
The students were nodding, smiling, and tapping their feet. Right behind Sunset was Rarity, carrying a sack of Wondercolt pony ears and blue-and-yellow ponytails, which she handed out to anyone who seemed likely to wear them -- or didn't move quickly enough to dodge her.
Sunset smirked at that, then cranked it up a notch:
They can try... all they can do...
Just one thing wrong...
They are not you!
Wondercolts! Wondercolts!
Call our name! Say it loud!
We will rise above the crowd!
They may jeer... And deride --
We'll show them our pony pride!
Wondercolts! Wondercolts!
Cannot win, if we don't play...
And when we win, one thing we'll say:
Wondercolts! Wondercolts!
WONDERCOLTS FOR-EV-ER!
Students were clapping, students were cheering. And even teachers, looking out of their classroom doors, were smiling tolerantly.
Sunset continued on through the halls, riffing and extemporizing, gathering the embers of enthusiasm and stoking them into a hearty blaze.
The rest of the day, she kept her eyes open, watching for any opportunity.
When she spotted a nervous, pink-haired girl being harassed by a couple of bullies for her lunch money, she stormed right over and glared at them.
"Uh, we didn't mean any harm!" Snips squealed, worried by the forbidding look in Sunset's eye -- the one she'd learned from watching Celestia laying down the law back home.
"Yeah," murmured Snails sleepily, "we were just goofin' around, eh?"
"Oh, really?" Sunset snarled at them. "Well, get this straight. Not how it goes down here. Not while I'm around! Now beat it!"
"Er, s-sure!" Snips stammered eagerly. "Absolutely! Anything you say, Sunset!" The two of them departed in a scrambling, disorganized rush, repeatedly colliding with and tripping over each other.
"Oh! Thanks ever so much, Sunset!" the girl said, smiling. "I didn't really have the money to spare, since I've been contributing so much to help the animal shelter."
"No problem! Glad I could help." Sunset shook her timidly-offered hand. "What's your name, by the way?"
"Oh... I'm..." She hunched nervously. "... fluttershy..." she whispered.
"Well, if I can ever help, you let me know," Sunset said. "And hey, why don't you shoot me a text with the name of that shelter." She held up her phone. "I'm sure I've got some spare funds I can chip in. That way you won't have to risk going without lunch."
"Oh! That would be so kind of you!"
Sunset shrugged. "Hey, no biggie. We're in this together, right?"
"Seriously?" Sunset crossed her arms and glared at Professor Cranky. "That's got to be the worst explanation of factoring I've ever heard!" She'd been sitting listening to his gruff, stumbling, formulaic babble for nearly fifteen minutes, becoming increasingly restless.
"Oh, really?" The grumpy math teacher uncomfortably smoothed back his orange toupé. "Maybe you think you can do better, Miss Shimmer!"
"Oh, I know I can!" A teacher of his caliber wouldn't have lasted five minutes at Celestia's school.
Getting up from her seat, she stormed up to the chalkboard. "It's much simpler than that. Look, terms can be broken down into products of things that don't divide further. The addition operator doesn't combine products -- that's why polynomials are written as sums of products -- but you can rearrange the terms, and break larger expressions into simpler ones, by learning to recognize typical patterns in the contents of the terms. For example..."
She went on, rapidly chalking up several representative cases. She quickly had the entire class nodding readily, seeing what she was getting at -- some of them for the first time in their lives.
Then she slapped down the chalk. "And that, Professor Cranky, is how you teach mathematics."
She walked back to her seat and sat down, to thunderous applause.
Cranky Doodle muttered and grumbled angrily, but managed to keep his composure. He grouchily assigned a problem set for the class to work on, "since Miss Shimmer has so graciously deigned to explain it all for us!"
Sunset just smirked. She wasn't worried in the slightest. It was hard for them to argue when you were right...
At lunch, as she was passing the table frequented by the rocker crowd, she heard one of them strumming an electric bass, trying out different riffs.
"You know, that sounds really good," Sunset said.
"Ahhhh, it's nothing," the blue-haired boy said. "Nowhere near as good as you."
"Hey, don't sell yourself short! From the sound of it, you're a lot farther along than I was, starting out. Seriously? When I first picked up a guitar, I wasn't even sure I'd be able to play it."
"You're kidding me, right. You? Sunset Shimmer?"
She gave him a look. "Truthfully. No idea it would work! All it took was some practice and a little confidence. You should keep at it, play for folks here. You've got the skills, you've got the music. Don't keep it to yourself!"
He looked honestly surprised. "You really think so?"
"Trust me. Even without an amp I can hear how good you are. And I never really knew how good I was until I started playing for others and saw how much it worked for them. Just find your crowd, and play for them. And never look back. Best advice I can give you."
He nodded, strumming the strings of the guitar. "That's good advice. Thanks!"
"Hey, no problem! What's your name, by the way?"
"Flash," he said. "Flash Sentry. Yeah, I know, weird name, huh? But hey, if I do go pro, it'd make a heck of a band name, right?"
"Absolutely. Lookin' forward to it!"
Flash smiled at her, and she smiled back... and suddenly felt her cheeks growing uncomfortably warm.
Flash looked away... then glanced back, grinning nervously.
"Ah," Sunset said hesitantly. "I'm... just gonna go sit with the gang over there. See ya round!"
Flash pointed at her, feigning coolness. "You know it. Later!"
Taking a deep breath, Sunset strode across to her table in the middle of the cafeteria, and sat down.
Rarity, sitting beside her, leaned closer. "Someone's got a cru-usssh..."
"Don't be ridiculous," Sunset objected, even though her cheeks were still burning.
It was like that the rest of the day: Sunset strolled confidently from class to class, with Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy close at hand. Everywhere she went, students smiled, students gave her a thumbs-up, or a pumped fist. They didn't pester her for autographs or selfies... because they knew they didn't have to worry anymore: she was one of them, she wasn't going anywhere.
And word of her signup for the Spring Fling had gotten round. She was still running unopposed, and they'd already started calling her "Princess" as a nickname. Or Princess Shimmer, or Princess Sunset.
Whichever... it sounded just fine to her. Looks like that Spring Fling crown is in the bag, she thought happily.
She was enjoying it all immensely. She was liked and respected, even looked up to, almost as if she ran things at the School. And why shouldn't I feel like that? Sunset thought. It's my world. I made all this happen. Why shouldn't they treat me like I'm in charge?
Just then, the loudspeaker on the wall clicked authoritatively.
"Sunset Shimmer... Sunset Shimmer will report to the Vice Principal's office at once. That is all."
Sunset looked at her friends. "Who was that?" Her friends looked at each other nervously.
"Vice P-p-rincipal --" Fluttershy whispered, her voice suddenly faltering.
"-- Luna!" Rarity finished for her, eyes wide.
"Ah." Sunset tugged her jacket closer about her. "Well. Better not keep her waiting. Uhhh... I just have one question...?"
Luna apparently liked her office dark. The sun outside barely managed to slip through the slats in the blinds, casting stark shadows in the gloom. The Vice Principal herself sat behind her oval desk, stiff-backed and stern, her expression revealing nothing. Her two-toned blue hair was like a shroud, her cyan eyes coldly observed the student sitting before her.
"No one objects," she said, her voice cold and strict, "to encouragement of school spirit. It is the manner in which it is expressed that concerns us. A certain level of respect, of decorum, must be observed for the maintenance of discipline here at CHS. Do you not agree?"
"Look, if this is about Professor Cranky..."
"It is more than that." Luna rose, and stode to the window, peering through the blinds as if checking something in the parking lot outside. "Your accomplishments outside this school, while impressive, do not grant you license to act as you will. At CHS you are a student like any other. And we expect you to comport yourself accordingly."
"Principal Celestia doesn't seem to mind," Sunset objected. "Or why hasn't she said anything about it?"
"Such matters generally fall to me," Luna said archly. For once, a trace of irritation was visible in her expression. "Since Principal Celestia prefers to present a caring, understanding, likable persona. It is left to me to investigate things that don't properly add up. Like you, Sunset Shimmer." Turning, she crossed back to her desk. "To that end, I am curious to know one thing: why are you here at CHS?"
"Excuse me?"
Luna crossed her arms, a derisive look on her face. "Sunset Shimmer... a pop sensation, if the magazines I am occasionally required to confiscate are any authority. Who could afford to attend any school of her choice, or even hire private tutors. Instead she elects to attend a lowly public school."
"Is there anything wrong with doing that?"
"Perhaps not," Luna allowed. Then she eyed Sunset narrowly. "Provided one is entitled to do so. What is your home address?"
Sunset gave the address of her loft apartment. Luna shook her head.
"I mean the address of your parents' home. I assume they are residents in this area?"
"216 Cedar Street, Canterlot Heights. It's my aunt's address -- she has legal custody of me." At least, she would have, Sunset thought to herself. If such a person even existed. Sunset didn't even want to guess at the expense of that particular legal dodge. That's what lawyers were for...
Luna eyed her. And then quizzed her rapid-fire on her previous schooling and activities at Hoofington Elementary and Canterlot Junior High. All of which Sunset had previously looked up and memorized, just to be on the safe side.
Momentarily stymied, Luna tried changing gears and smiling to lighten the mood. She wasn't very good at it.
"It's encouraging to see how you rose from such humble beginnings to become a world-renowed sensation... at such an early age," she added icily.
"Yeah, I'm just naturally talented," Sunset said. And then shut up. Say as little as possible, she reminded herself. Don't give her anything to catch you out on
Luna put a finger on a list on her desk. And began rattling off a series of dates. Tour dates, for Sunset's most recent series of concerts. "And somehow," Luna finished, "you have managed to find the time to study and complete your classwork. With not merely passing grades, but exceptional ones -- if your school transcripts are to be believed."
Sunset shrugged. She didn't even have to fudge this one. "School isn't all that hard for me. People say I test well."
"Indeed." Luna frowned at her. "One wonders if your alleged musical 'talents' are to be believed, as well."
Okay, ma'am, Sunset thought. You asked for it.
She pulled out her phone, selected an app, clicked a song title. A karaoke version of her latest top-ten track began playing. And Sunset sang along to it, bar after bar, exactly on key, not missing a note. And smiling at Luna as she did so. Then she killed the music mid-chorus, and grinned cheekily.
"If you want, I can have my roadie deliver my guitar and I'll play you a set."
Luna should have looked supremely frustrated by that. Instead, she was smiling, as if Sunset had walked right into her trap. "Which brings us back to my original question." She tapped the desk with a finger. "Why are you here? With all this talent, all this ability, why choose to complete your studies at a lowly public school?"
Sunset shrugged. "It's my home town. I like it here."
"Try again," Luna challenged.
Sunset managed to keep calm. You wouldn't believe me, even if I was willing to tell you.
"I prefer being with other students," she replied evenly, looking Luna right in the eye. "You know... people who respect me for who I am, and what I can do."
Luna stared at Sunset strangely for a moment. Then shook her head.
"Sorry. I don't believe a word of it."
"What?"
"You do not strike me as the sociable type, Sunset Shimmer. You are no more here to make friends than I'm here to turn this School into a day-care for students with something to hide. You seek one thing: influence... disruption... control. In a word... power. And I'm very curious to know why you expect to find anything like that here, of all places..."
She leaned on the desk, eyeing Sunset coldly.
"Why... are... you... here? Who exactly are you, Sunset Shimmer?"
Sunset felt put on the spot. And didn't like it, not one bit.
This is my world, she thought. Do I really have to put up with this? No way!
She jumped up from the chair, slammed her fists angrily down on the desk, faced Luna glare for glare.
"Who am I?" she shot back. "Well, I'll tell you one thing! I am fed up with all this questioning! You think I'm hiding something? Fine, bring it to Principal Celestia! See what she makes of your crazy ideas!"
Luna stared at her. Disbelief and outrage warred for control of her face. She wasn't used to students talking back like this. And Sunset wasn't even through yet:
"Personally? I think you've been sitting in this dark room for way too long. It's starting to affect your judgement. And I've had enough for one day. I'm outta here!"
She swung round to leave.
Angered, Luna abruptly lunged across the desk, grabbed her hand to stop her --
-- and there was a brilliant flash. Suddenly, Sunset was staring at Principal Celestia... through Luna's eyes...
"...and I know we've talked about turning the Office of Principal into a co-operative role," Celestia was saying, "but I'm sorry, Luna, it's just not going to happen as soon as we hoped. The Education Association simply isn't open to the idea yet. Maybe with this new Chancellor coming in, we'll be able to propose the idea again. Until then, I'm sure you wouldn't mind continuing in the role of Vice-Principal just a little longer. No one values your contributions more than I do, you know..."
Of course I wouldn't mind, Luna thought -- and Sunset was surprised to learn thoughts could grit their teeth like that-- I don't mind at all... languishing in your shadow as I always seem to do... chastising students so you don't have to worry about your spotless image as their benevolent guide and teacher. You don't have to worry about them learning to dislike you, to hate you, as they do me. You never have to worry about anything it seems...
A dizzying flicker, and Sunset was again looking at Celestia, though at a different time -- earlier today, she realized.
"This new student, Sunset Shimmer," Celestia was saying. "I like her fire, her energy. She's really helping the students find what's best in themselves. I honestly think she's got a career in education ahead of her. With the right guidance, she might even wind up Principal of her own school some day. What do you think, Luna?"
Oh, absolutely, Luna thought sourly. Not like those of us who've slaved away for years, unnoticed and unrewarded. No one ever notices those who pick up the trash and keep the lights on at night...
In a flash, Sunset found herself back in her own head, reeling a bit from the vision or hallucination -- whatever it had been.
Luna too, appeared disturbed... though also thoughtful, pensive. She let go of Sunset's hand and stood tautly, arms crossed. She eyed Sunset unreadably.
There was a tense, silent moment between them.
"Well?" Sunset finally demanded. "May I go?"
Luna finally nodded. "You are dismissed. But I will be watching you closely, Sunset Shimmer. So mind yourself, henceforth."
Sunset gave her a sour look. Then she turned, crossed to the door, and left the room, not looking back once.
And Luna stared after her, her gaze dark and archly superior. And whispered softly to herself:
"No, dear Sister... I don't mind in the sightest... if you say there can be only one Principal, so be it..."
In the corridor outside, Sunset paused for a moment and stared at her hand, the hand that Luna had grabbed.
Where the hay did all that come from? she wondered nervously. I've never been able to do anything like that back in Equestria. That doesn't seem like my kind of magic at all...
She glanced down, at the two-toned sun on her T-shirt: her cutie mark. Does my magic, my talent, express itself differently here, in this world? I can somehow access other people's memories, just by touch? She shook her head. She'd have to watch that around her friends. Wouldn't like to pick up something embarrassing by accident, and have no way of explaining to them how I know it.
Like with the Vice Principal.
Sunset grimaced. It's no wonder Luna's so cold and tense all the time, she thought. With that kind of resentment bubbling beneath the surface.
Despite her anger at Luna's persistent questioning, Sunset felt a reluctant sympathy for the Vice Principal... overlooked, unable to achieve her goals...
I know how that feels. Wish there was something I could do to help...
Sighing, Sunset turned and set off down the corridor. Okay... time to get back to being Princess around here...
Despite Sunset's lingering worries about what Luna might decide to do, the rest of the afternoon passed uneventfully. Sunset finally summoned Jeff and his van to give her a lift back to her place -- going the long way round, just so her fans at school wouldn't be tempted to follow her home and camp out on her doorstep.
Going to the kitchen, she reached a hand toward the cupboard she'd come to think of as her "pantry".
What'd be good for dinner? Maybe something with noodles, and spicy sauce? Yeah, the kind that's just shy of burning your tongue off...
She opened the cupboard, and found a covered serving container, containing noodles in spicy peanut sauce... with mixed vegetables.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention those. Thanks for keeping me healthy!
It was a real time-saver, being able to just want things and have them appear on cue, as a result of the portal spell. But even as Sunset slapped the dish in the microwave to warm it up a bit, she realized with a start that she'd lost track of her original goal here: to find something to help activate the Elements. Or battle Nightmare Moon... or both.
She thought about it while, waiting for her dinner to heat.
And then the microwave dinged.
Sunset smiled. Okay, Princess Shimmer, she said to herself. Time to earn that crown. Let's hit the books!
The next morning found her sitting in the library at the School, stacks of books all around her, a half-eaten doughnut and the remnant of a cup of very strong coffee going cold by her elbow.
"Oh... there you are! Hi, Sunset."
It was Fluttershy. The pink-haired girl timidly approached and looked over Sunset's shoulder at the books in front of her. "Finishing up some homework?"
Sunset looked up at her blearily... and a little crossly. "No, just a project I'm working on. Trying to stay focused here."
"Oh. I'm sorry." Fluttershy hunched, embarrassed. "It's just... the gang were looking for you. We missed you in homeroom, and the classes we're in together. And lunch. We didn't know if you were out sick or something."
"Yeah... thanks."
"Um. Okay." Fluttershy nodded. "I'll just... let you get back to it..." She started to wander away, clearly heartbroken.
And Sunset sat up, a startled look on her face, and quickly turned to call after her. "Fluttershy?"
"Yes?"
"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. It's just... well, I've been all through my own books at home, and the library here. As much of it as I can comb through in a few hours, anyway. And I'm just not coming up with any answers."
"Oh! What're you trying to find out?" she asked, coming back over.
"Well... this is gonna sound kinda weird, but I was wondering if there was actually such a thing as, you know, real magic? Like impossible stuff happening, or powerful forces that aren't explainable by ordinary physics, or people being able to make things happen, just by wanting them to?"
"You mean, aside from you?" Fluttershy smiled. "With all the things you've been able to do since you started here, it's felt like magic, sometimes." She hunched nervously. "I hope you don't think I'm being silly for saying so."
"No, not a bit." Sunset smiled sheepishly. "It's kinda the reason I was looking into this. But I was specifically wondering if there was anything... you know, magical around this School? Any old legends, or secret rooms, or mysterious stuff no one can explain?"
Fluttershy laughed at that. It was startling -- Sunset wasn't sure she'd ever heard the girl laugh before. It was an endearingly pleasant, hummy sort of laugh. "You should talk to Rainbow! I think you'd have a lot in common."
"Rainbow...?"
"... Dash," Fluttershy said, nodding. "She and I went to Cloudsdale Junior High together, so we're still good friends, even though we're not much alike. She's really into sports, and adventure stories, anything really active. When we first came here, she was convinced this old building had secret passages, or a crypt in the basement, or something occult about it somewhere. She scoured the place top to bottom, first few months we were here. If there's anything remotely like that here, she'd know about it."
"Wow... thanks, Fluttershy!" Sunset shut the book on the table. "Do you know where I might find her?"
Fluttershy nodded. "She'll likely be out on the playing field, practicing. She's in the Wondercolts, and bucking for team captain one day." She smiled. "I'm sure she'll make it."
"That's a huge help. Would you do me another favor? Tell the others I'm all right and I'll see them in class later?"
"Assuming you and Rainbow don't get lost looking for the crypt?" Fluttershy replied with a mischievous smirk. "Sure, I'll tell them!"
"Thanks again! S'cuse me!"
Twenty minutes later, a large metal trap door on the roof of the school stirred, rattled... and then was kicked open by a knee-high athletic boot.
"So, that's pretty much it," Rainbow was saying, as she climbed the ladder leading up from the attic. "We got the crypt in the basement that turned out to be just an old storage room for chem-class. We got the secret passage in the back wing that was really just a mistake in the original blueprints for the building. We got the weird knocking sound under the second-floor floorboards, which I'm pretty sure is the pipes, since it only happens when someone flushes in the bathroom next door..."
She stood up on the roof, glancing around to make sure the coast was clear, then reached down to help Sunset climb up after her. "Like I said, none of it turned out to be all that strange, once Fluttershy and I checked it out."
And then Rainbow took on a crafty look, the wind riffling through her rainbow-striped hair. "And then you got -- this! The piece de re-sis-tance!"
She gestured proudly towards the six-foot-high horsehead ornament poised at the end of the front dormer of the building. The star-spire tip of the crown atop the horse's head was glowing, ever so slightly.
"I noticed it myself, right away," Rainbow went on. "It doesn't do it all the time, just every now and then. C'mon! We'll take a closer look."
Skipping across the rooftop, Rainbow came to the ridge of the dormer itself. It was a flat, domed curve a foot and a half wide, and thus quite easily walkable... so long as you ignored the precipitous slope to either side, leading down to the castellated parapet encircling the walls of the School. And the two-story drop beyond that.
Without hesitation, Rainbow strolled right out to the horse's head. She leaned on it casually, looking back at Sunset.
"Soooo... you coming over here, or what?"
Nerving herself, Sunset followed. There was one dicey moment when the breeze picked up a little, but she kept going and soon was standing next to Rainbow, looking up at the crown.
Which wasn't glowing any more.
"Yeah, it does that," Rainbow said. "Wait for it..."
Slowly, ever so slowly... the crown brightened again. About as fast as the clouds overhead were moving.
Realization dawned, and Sunset looked up at the glass dome of the library behind them, saw the early afternoon sunlight glinting from a pane of glass near the top.
"Yeah, I got suckered in by that, too," Rainbow said, chuckling. "Still, it got me all the way out here, and I found this..."
She tugged a loop of the horse's mane -- and a door swung open. Inside, there was a small chamber, littered with candy-wrappers, and scrawled with graffiti that looked to be as old as the School itself.
"Probably just a maintenance hatch, in case these gargoyles developed termites or something. But it makes a cool hideout," Rainbow said. "Kinda cramped though, so you couldn't really turn it into a clubhouse or anything."
"But..." Sunset said, reaching down to rap on the floorboards, "if you put another trap-door inside here, and a ladder leading down into the front of the attic below, and walled it off with boxes or something -- you could make a clubhouse. With a secret entrance and everything..."
"No way!" Rainbow laughed. "I had the exact same idea!" Then she shrugged. "But... it'd take a lot of work. And I'm not sure the School would go for it. They wouldn't be crazy about us putting even more holes in the roof. Still, it's cool to think about, right?" Rainbow grinned at Sunset. "Ya know, Fluttershy was right about you. We are a lot alike! Thanks for standing up for her, by the way. When I heard about that, I knew you were someone we could depend on. You'd never let your friends down."
Swinging the door closed, Rainbow led the way back along the dormer to the roof of the School.
"Well," she said, "that's it. Nothin' else weird, as far as I can see. Yeah, everybody talks about magic, but it's just a bunch of hot air. In the end, it always turns out to be something boring and explainable."
"What about..." Sunset asked cautiously, "... that horse statue in front of the building?"
"Oh yeah! Almost forgot about that." Rainbow made a frightful face, waved her hands eerily. "One stormy night... it just... appeared! Out of thin air!"
"Oh." Sunset gave her a look. "Seriously?"
Rainbow sniggered. "Actually, it came on a flatbed truck. And they needed a ten-story-high crane to swing it in there. It's some old war memorial from the city that the town planners decided was too important to bust up, so they shipped it out here. It goes with the pony theme at least. But magic? Phfhfh! Gimme a break. Nothin' magical about this place. 'Cept for me, of course..." She struck a pose. "... but that's just 'cause I'm awesome!"
"You sure are. Thanks, Rainbow. You've saved me a ton of hunting around. Lemme know if there's anything I can do for you sometime."
"Well..." Rainbow said, hopefully, "you could always come to our next game. Maybe play that sweet Wondercolts song you were playin' in the hallways? Help us get our A-game on, so we can whip Crystal Prep's butt?"
"I think I can manage that," Sunset said.
"Cool! Ya know, Sunset, school's been a lot more fun since you showed up."
Sunset sighed.
"I'm really getting to like it myself," she said quietly.
Sunset didn't think it was wise to skip any more classes. She didn't want to give Luna any further ammunition to assign her detention or something. But it was hard to focus on the lessons. She kept turning over and discarding possibilities in her mind. There had to be something, some reason the mirror chose this world, this school, this horse statue, to link to. What am I not seeing? she asked herself, feeling a familiar sense of frustration.
The feeling persisted, as the final bell rang and Sunset walked with her five friends out through the front door and down onto the sidewalk towards the statue. In the afternoon light, the flat rear face of the statue's plinth shimmered ever so slightly, showing the portal was still open.
I could walk right on through that, she thought. Right now. And be back in Canterlot. But I don't dare go back, don't dare show my face until I figure this out. Until I have what I need to stop Nightmare Moon, and prove to Princess Celestia that I'm alicorn princess material...
"Hello? Earth to Sunset!" Rainbow called.
"What? Oh, sorry, I was lost in thought there for a minute."
"It's all right, darling," Rarity said. "We were just thinking, since it's such a lovely evening, we might all take a break together. Go down to the mall, get something at the diner, maybe take in a movie. Make an evening of it, that sort of thing."
I don't have time to waste, Sunset thought. I have to keep looking. I have to figure this out...
Then she looked at her friends. They were staring at her hopefully. This wasn't going to happen, not unless she came along, their looks all said.
And Sunset nodded willingly. "Know what? That sounds like a great idea!"
"Woo hoo! There's my smile!" Pinkie crowed.
"Oh, yeah!" Rainbow said, pumping a fist.
"Smashing!" Rarity replied.
"yay," Fluttershy whispered happily.
"All righty!" Applejack said. "So, next question... who's drivin?"
"Uhhhh... maybe the question we should ask first," Rainbow said uncomfortably, "is... who's got a car?"
Sunset looked at their sudden downcast looks.
And reached for her phone. "Don't worry," she said. "I've got this."
Five minutes later a stretch limo pulled up, and Sunset and her friends excitedly piled in. The limo set off, heading for the mall. But the party had already started.
Seriously... Sunset wondered. Where does Pinkie even hide all that confetti?
Late that evening, Sunset tottered into her apartment, very happy but also very tired. She kicked the door shut behind her, climbed the stairs to the loft, managed to take off her jacket and pull off her boots.
Then she simply flopped back on the bed, and drifted off to sleep.
The last thing she saw, as her eyes slid closed, was the Moon through the window, rising into the night sky.
Moon, she thought, wearily. Something about... nightmare... zzzzzzz...
The next morning, Sunset awoke with a start.
Something didn't feel right.
She looked at the clock, realized with a shock that she'd overslept. Hurriedly she clambered out of bed, and stood there, in her rumpled clothing and bare feet, peering down at the room below.
Things had changed. The large, glossy framed tour posters were missing from the walls. So was the night-black electric guitar from its place by the turn of the stairs. There weren't even holes in the wall to show where the thing had been hanging.
There were lesser differences as well. The television and computer equipment were less fancy. There was a stack of unpaid bills on the desk. And unswept dust and litter on the floorboards.
Shaking her head, Sunset went to the cupboard, thinking she'd have a quick bite and then head off to school.
Or not... She stared at the bare shelves inside in mounting worry. She hadn't even thought to lay in a box of cereal for emergencies. Just have to get something at the caf, she thought. If I still have time.
Thankfully her jacket and boots were still where she'd left them. But as she passed the window on the way to the door, she saw something else surprising -- and worrying.
It was raining outside. The skies were leaden, rain dripped down the panes. She'd never seen it other than sunny and warm, all the time she'd been here.
Sunset went to the closet and was relieved to find an old hoodie hanging in it that she could throw on against the damp. When she stepped outside she was doubly glad for it -- there was a chill in the air, as well.
Thinking she'd ring up Arriba and get a lift from Jeff, Sunset pulled out her phone --
-- and saw it was an ordinary, serviceable steel-and-glass make. Not shabby, by any means, just not the hyper-performant networked sushi-knife she was used to seeing. Quickly, she checked her accounts on it, was relieved to find there was still a trust fund in her name at the bank... though it was not nearly the mountain of tour-earned bits she was accustomed to drawing from.
Suddenly not wanting to waste a moment waiting for a ride, Sunset set out through the rain, running down the street.
The hoodie was sopping by the time she reached the school, though at least the rain appeared to be tapering off. Sunset raced past the rearing horse statue, pounded up the stairs and through the doors into the lobby.
And got another shock.
She was being jostled by the crowds again. Even after she'd pulled off the dripping hoodie, students were pushing past her thoughtlessly, as if they'd never seen her before. As if she was just another student.
Increasingly worried, Sunset went to her locker, wrung out the hoodie over a handy floor drain, then hung it up inside to dry off.
"Well! Look what the cat dragged in!" sneered a voice right behind her.
"Yeah... a drowned rat, eh?" replied another voice.
Sunset turned, and found herself facing Snips and Snails. Who were looking far more confident and aggressive than then last time she'd chased them off. They were crowding in on her from both sides, scowling menacingly.
"Okay," Snips said, holding out a hand. "It's your turn, new girl -- lunch money! Pay up!"
"Are you kidding?" Sunset shot back, glaring at him. "Back off, you weasel!"
"Ooooh!" Snips was unfazed, and pounded a fist into his other hand. "That's gonna cost ya!"
"Yeah," Snails agreed. "Like... enough for some chocolate milk, too?"
"Aw, shut up, Snails!"
Sunset gritted her teeth, and balled her fists, ready to give as good as she got...
"Hey, y'all! Git! G'wan now!" It was Applejack, bearing down on them. She'd tilted her hat forward, and rolled up her sleeves, and looked ready to dish out a barnyard of hurt.
"Aw, geez, the cavalry," Snips grumbled. "Come on, Snails. Let's get outta here!" The two of them turned and scurried off, looking for other victims.
"You all right, sugarcube?" Applejack asked her.
Sunset nodded, relieved. "I'm glad to see you, A.J. Not sure what's gotten into those termites."
"Ahhh, they're always like that. Don't pay 'em no mind. You just need to learn to show 'em a little moxie, and then they won't bother you none."
Sunset stared at her. "Uhhh, Applejack... this is going to sound weird, but... do you notice anything different about me today?"
Applejack shrugged. "Cain't say as I do. You change your hairstyle? What do you mean by different, exactly?"
"I'm not sure... let's go find the others, and sort this out."
"Okay. Uh..." Applejack looked puzzled. "The other who?"
To her mounting confusion and terror, Sunset found that none of the other four girls recalled being her circle of friends. Each of them recalled meeting Sunset, of course, but little beyond that. And it was the same with pretty much the rest of the entire School. As far as anyone she spoke to knew, Sunset had arrived three days ago, and... well, that was pretty much it, really.
Even Flash Sentry, passing in the hall toting his guitar, almost looked straight through her. When she waved to catch his attention, he looked at her uncertainly.
"Er, right... you're uh, Sun... something. Er... Sunrise Glimmer?"
Sunset just stared at him, realized it was hopeless, then turned and hurried onward.
"Uh, hey!" he called helplessly after her. "Nice... seeing you again?"
Eventually Sunset was seated in homeroom, the other five sitting at desks around her. Sunset was still trying to sort out what had happened. Some things were the same, and others simply... weren't. And the most important things were in the latter category.
The others were more than willing to listen, though puzzled by her mounting concern.
"Look," Rainbow said, "if you say that yesterday you were some kind of big-shot celebrity, and we were all your friends, and today you're not, then fine. Not sayin' I buy it, it still sounds crazy to me, but why would that even happen in the first place? I mean, you're just a student, no different from any of the rest of us, right?"
Sunset was still debating whether to tell them the truth when there was a sharp click from the loudspeaker on the wall.
"Attention, all students."
It was Vice Principal Luna, sounding unusually forceful and confident.
"It is my duty to inform you that Principal Celestia has been called away on an urgent matter, for an indefinite period. I will therefore be assuming the role of Principal of Canterlot High School, effective immediately."
Students looked at each other, surprised and more than a little worried.
"And it occurs to me," Luna continued, "that this is an excellent opportunity to review our academic standing, and enact certain changes to help improve our ranking against other schools, such as Crystal Prep."
"Oh great!" Rainbow grumbled. "I know what that means... more homework!"
The others shushed her.
"There has also been a certain laxity in the enforcement of the rules of CHS. This will change. Students will be expected to be in strict compliance with school rules at all times. Infractions will be dealt with firmly."
"Uh oh," Applejack muttered. "Ah'm not likin' where this is goin'..." She put a hand to her hat. "What if she enforces the rule about appropriate headwear and all?"
"Furthermore," Luna went on, "owing to lack of interest and participation in social events, I feel our time is better spent on study, in an effort to improve our test results. Consequently, the Spring Fling dance is hereby... cancelled. That is all."
The speaker clicked off loudly and abruptly, like a guillotine blade slamming home.
"Awwww!" Pinkie whined, the curl going out of her hair. "Bummer!"
"Indeed," Rarity said. "I had the perfect gown in mind for the Fling."
"Well... I suppose it makes sense," Fluttershy whispered, sadly. "No one even wanted to sign up to run for the Princess crown..."
"Now hold on, that's not true," Applejack said. "I know Sunset was keen on signing up. Right, Sunset?"
They all looked around.
"Er... Sunset?" Applejack said. "Shoot! She was here a second ago. Where the hay did she go?"
Sunset smacked through the front doors of the school, and raced down the sidewalk to the horse statue.
She came to a halt facing it, hoping against hope. She put out a hand, cautiously touched the plinth's back surface.
It was just flat, dead stone. Not a single flicker of magic at all.
"No..." she whispered. "The portal... where's the portal?" In increasing desperation, she felt around the flat surface, seeking any sign of it. And finding nothing.
Hands clutching her hair, she sank down on the pavement, leaning against the statue. It's closed, she thought, unable to believe it, to accept it. There's no way back to Equestria... I'm cut off, trapped here!
"Princess Celestia..." she breathed. And then shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "No! She wouldn't just shut the portal! She wouldn't just strand me here!"
Without the portal, without magic from Equestria flowing through it, influencing and shaping this world, bending it to her will and her needs... she was just an ordinary student. Not world-famous. Not automatically respected. Not magically talented...
... and not a Princess either, even in name.
No... No, no, no!
She gazed around, lost and helpless.
I had what I wanted, she thought miserably. I had what I needed. I had respect, and a following. I was going to find an answer, a way to save Equestria, a way to prove I should be made an alicorn Princess...
... and she took it away from me!
She shut her eyes, clamped her mouth tight shut, refusing to give in to the rage welling up inside her. Gritting her teeth, she grimly considered her options.
And then remembered the journal.
Shrugging loose her backpack, she dug into it, pulled out the heavy tome with her cutie mark on it, and located a ballpoint pen as well. She flipped open the journal on her lap...
And hesitated.
If I ask for help, she thought bitterly, I'm as much as admitting that I've failed, that I was wrong. Admitting that challenging Celestia and coming here on my own was a big mistake...
Her shoulders slumped.
And maybe that's the truth, she told herself, honestly. I need to own up to that, accept it.
Nodding, she put pen to paper:
Dear Princess Celestia --
The mirror portal has closed on me, and I'm stuck over here. I realize now that I've made a huge mistake, and I need to ask your help to get back. Can you please try to forgive the things I said to you? At least enough to send someone through to get me? I'm waiting right on the other side of the portal. Please don't leave me here. I know I can make things right again. I'll do whatever it takes.
Please, please don't give up on me!
Your faithful student,
Sunset Shimmer
She sat there, the open book on her lap, watching the facing blank page, hoping for Celestia's familiar elegant script to appear on it.
She waited a minute, five minutes, fifteen...
Eventually, the cold certainty settled on her heart. She's not replying, Sunset thought. She's not sending help.
Princess Celestia has given up on me.
She slammed the journal closed.
Okay, she thought. If that's how it has to be, then that's how it has to be. I'm on my own. Without Equestrian magic, and with nothing but my wits and what few resources this world has to offer.
Standing, she flung down the journal in disgust.
"All right, Your Highness!" she shouted. "If I can't have what I want by being your pleasant, humble little faithful student... if that's not enough for me to earn my place... then I'm just going to have to reach out and take it! Take what I want for myself! And the only thing, the only thing, I feel sorry for... is anyone who's stupid enough to get in my way!"
Scowling, she thought rapidly. Without magic, she was just an ordinary student, a nobody. And with the portal closed, she couldn't count on magic leaking through from Equestria any more. So she needed to find a way to bring a source of magic here, into this world. Given that, she could use her power and her talent with spellcasting again...
... and then she'd have her revenge...
She'd show Celestia who the real Princess was here!
Sunset's breath rasped. She stared down at her balled fists, tense and white-knuckled.
And suddenly sobbed.
She sank down at the base of the statue again, head buried in her arms.
Please, she thought. Please don't make me do this. I want to come home. Please...
But there was no one to listen to her.
And it began gently raining once again...
The End
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, its characters and indicia are the property of Hasbro.
No infringement is intended. This story is a work of fan fiction, written by fans for fans of the series.
Author's Note
Fear not... this needs to end on a tragic note, but all hope is not lost. There's a reason Celestia didn't immediately respond to Sunset's call for help, which will become clear in Sunset's entry in the Not Exactly Friends AU...
