Sunset Shimmer walked through the snow her diary held tightly. The last thing Twilight had said was that she needed to find her family. What family. She’d tried one last time to convince her friend, her former friends, that she was not Anon-a-miss. It was over now. Anon-a-miss had done their work, and her life might as well be over. Ponies… ponies simply can’t live without friendship.

“Sunset?”

Sunset looked up, the blowing snow blinding her. Is that Spitfire? “What do you want?”

“Princess Celestia needs you.”

“What?”

“Please, come back to Equestria. Help us Sunset Shimmer, you are our only hope.”

“Is this a joke?”

“Sunset, Princess Twilight is missing. I used this enchanted crystal to trace you. We need you to come back. Please.”

“Are you really from Equestria?” Sunset asked. Her eyes opened on the realization that the diary had been buzzing for some time. She’d been in such a funk she’d been oblivious. She opened the book to see Princess Celestia’s writing. ‘Sunset, I need you. This might be the worst possible time for you, but I need you to come home. We can’t find Twilight. She left a note saying she needed to investigate something a mare named Starlight Glimmer was doing, and no pony has heard from her since.’

Sunset wrote a quick reply. ‘Are you sure she didn’t come through to this side of the portal?’

‘Sunset, it is so good to hear from you. Is Spitfire there. I’m so sorry about what’s happening over there, but won’t you pleas come home?’

Sunset was taken aback for a moment. ‘Are you sure she didn’t come through the portal?’

‘The portal was closed. You mentioned the snow, and she didn’t take her winter jacket.’

‘Twilight doesn’t always think these things through.’ Sunset added.

‘You’ve both a tendency to do that, but I’m almost positive she hasn’t gone through. Leave your diary with Principle Celestia just in case though. Please Sunset, Come home. And be sure to bring your element.’

Sunset looked up as Spitfire. “Twilight is really gone?”

“I looked for her. On this side as well as in Equestria.”

“Alright. Seems I’ve nothing left here anyway.” Sunset wrote a quick note in her book, closed it, and then went to Principle Celestia’s house.

“Sunset?” Celestia said momentarily after opening the door.

“I’m sorry to bother you...”

“No, come in. Spitfire too?”

“I’m sorry, I’m not your Spitfire. I’m taking sunset home.”

“Has it come to this?” Celestia asked.

“It’s worse. Princess Twilight is missing.” Sunset announced. “Princess Celestia wanted you to have this. It’s more than just a diary, it’s a key to open the portal between worlds. I guess she wanted you to have it just in case Princess Twilight shows up here.”

“We need to get going. Coming face to face with my counterpart might be awkward.” Spitfire stated.

“Here,” Sunset said offering the book to Principle Celestia. She took it, reluctantly, and then the two girls turned and made their way back to the school.

“Tia?” Luna called. “Close the door, you’re letting all the hot air out.”

“Sorry.” Celestia said, closed the door and went to sit down on the sofa with Luna.

“So who was it at this ungodly hour?”

“Sunset. She’s leaving, going home.”

“Oh.” Her tone was that of disappointment. “I’d hoped to find out who this Anon-a-miss was before it came to this.”

“It’s worse. Princess Twilight is missing.”

“I hope they find her. Is that her book?”

“Yes.”

“Give it here.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow, and then passed the book over to her. Luna opened the book, the last words, ‘I am coming home, I’ll drop the book off along the way.’

‘Thank you for being true to your word, Sunset.’ Luna wrote. ‘Thank you for keeping our secret.’

‘I’ll let her know.’ Princess Celestia wrote back. ‘Can I assume she’s on her way?’

‘Yes. Be sure to let us know when she arrives safely.’

‘Yes, I will. Thank you, Luna.’

“An interesting book, I gather you’ve seen it before.”

“I have, and it’s part of how I know she isn’t Anon-a-miss.” Luna offered. “She came here on an impulse never realizing she’d get stuck here. She showed me this last year when a rather personal secret got circulated. Naturally, my suspicions fell on her do to her activities where she was strong-arming certain students. I will admit that I turned a blind eye to it because her activities were keeping the school bullies under control. As proof, she showed me the book and explained that she was from another place and that she wasn’t even in the country legally. She also explained that she did not share the kind of secrets that had the potential to ruin lives. She was never that vindictive.”

“And how do you know that’s true?” Celestia asked.

“She knows we aren’t sisters. To date, that secret hasn’t been shared.”

“She knows?”

“She’s always known. Her Celestia is her mother. She knows all our secrets.”

🌞

“I screwed up? I screwed up!?” Scootaloo shouted back at Rainbow Dash. “You sent us that picture of your test paper. We thought you were OK with it?!”

Sugarcube Corner was as silent as it was loud a moment before.

“Dash?! How could you?” Rarity asked.

“Sunset was my best friend.” Pinkie stated as her hair slowly deflated. "I should have stuck by her.”

“We all should have,” Fluttershy said softly as ever. “We all should have.”

“You’re coming with me!” Applejack stated, got up, took Apple Bloom by the wrist, and all but drug her out of the cafe.

“But we’re sorry.” Sweetie Belle pleaded as she watched AJ and Apple Bloom go out the door.

“AJ?” Pinkie called. “Where’s she going? We need to find Sunset, and tell her we are sorry for turning our backs on her when she needed us.”

Dash got up knocking her chair over in the process and stormed out into the night.

“Dash!?” Rarity called as she stood up. “Come on, let's go look. Come on Sweetie.”

“You’re not mad at me?” Sweetie asked.

“I’m furious. Dwelling on it isn’t going to find Sunset. Now, are you coming or not?”

“Yes, I’m coming. I owe her a big apology don’t I?”

“You sure do.” Rarity stated.

“Count me in.” Pinkie offered.

“And me.” Fluttershy added.

“I want to help too.” Scootaloo offered.

“No one’s stopping you, darling.” Rarity replied. “In fact, I think we could split up. Sweetie and I, and Scootaloo, you go with Pinkie and Fluttershy.”

“You’re not just wanting to get me alone are you?” Sweetie half teased.

“Darling, your punishment is up to Mother and Father. It is not my place to condemn the accused. And you’ll be lucky if you don’t get your bottom tanned.” She stopped and turned to Spitfire who’d just walked in.

“Spitfire, darling did you find Twilight?” Rarity asked.

“Twilight?” Spitfire replied sounding confused.

“Weren’t you looking for someone named Twilight?” Pinkie asked.

“Not me. I don’t even know a Twilight other then the one from Equestria.” Spitfire offered.

“Oh no.” Fluttershy gasped. “She must be going back to Equestria.”

“We have to stop her.” Pinkie stated as she sprung to her feet. A moment later the remaining friends were out the door.

About two and a half blocks down they came across an accident scene. A girl had darted out in front of a car. It was rainbow dash. Dash would spend the next twenty years in a coma.

Scootaloo continued on by herself, but Sunset was long gone by the time she got to the portal.

The next morning Apple Bloom was found out in the family shed, and AJ was taken in by the police charged with homicide. Later the DA would go for a premeditated murder charge.

Pinkie dropped out of school and became a bag lady.

Fluttershy feared a little better and became a cat lady. Years later she would be institutionalized by the state.

Scootaloo was taken out of school by her parents to live with them and do homeschooling on location. She would later become a preeminent naturalist.

Rarity became a fashion designer, came close to overdosing on drugs but was saved by a socialite named Twilight Sparkle who took interest and got her help.

Sweetie Belle became a big Hollywood star.

Author's Note

Why yes, this is a troll post. Sorry not sorry, go right ahead and click that hate button.