Five Nights at Equestria Girls

Back at CHS, crowds of students stood in the courtyard, filling the morning with indistinct conversations. In the student parking lot, Fluttershy was standing next to her van. She was bundled in her heaviest jacket, with a pair of light pink gloves and scarf to go with it. It appeared that the bitter cold of winter was going to come soon. As a strong breeze blew against her bare cheek, she shivered at the feel of it. Just then, a hot pink Volkswagen beetle pulled up alongside her van. Fluttershy recognized the car as belonging to Pinkie Pie, mostly by the balloons painted on the doors and trunk. As the car got parked, she saw her pink-haired friend jump out, groaning slightly before recovering with a wide grin on her face. Seeing that, Fluttershy smiled back at her. It was nice to see that despite her severe injuries, Pinkie Pie still had her infectious happy demeanor.

"Whew, it sure is chilly today. Good thing that I brought my famous peppermint hot cocoa," said Pinkie Pie as she pulled out seven cups from her car.

Each cup had gotten marked with each of the girl's unique symbols. That was something Pinkie Pie often did. It was her way to make each cake, drink, or whatever she had made, uniquely for each of her friends. And they loved the effort that she put into doing that, which made Pinkie Pie very happy to see. Nothing made her happier than seeing her friends' smiles when she made a cake or threw a particular party for them. After all, parties were Pinkie Pie's thing, and she loved having an excuse to throw one. Grabbing the cup with three butterflies all around it, she handed it to Fluttershy.

"Here you go, Shy," said Pinkie Pie as she grabbed her own. "Just what we need on this cold day."

"Thank you, Pinkie," Fluttershy thanked Pinkie Pie for the hot cocoa as she grabbed the cup. Taking a sip, she could taste the peppermint mixing in with the cocoa. "Mm, this is tastes delicious, Pinkie."

"Good. Now, let's go find the rest of our friends." Pinkie Pie grabbed the tray of cups and closed her car door.

Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie walked towards the Wondercolt statute. The air was chilly, making both of them grateful for their warm drinks. Several students were sitting around their cars, trying to keep warm against the fall coldness. Just as they got to where the bikes had usually gotten parked, they heard a motorcycle pull up. Looking in the direction of the sound, they expected to see Sunset Shimmer. Instead, they saw the prismatic-haired friend. As she took off her helmet, her rainbow locks fell free, landing around her shoulders.

"That's odd. Sunset is usually here before Rainbow Dash is," said Fluttershy, noting the absence of their fiery-haired friend.

"Yeah, I now. I wonder what happened last night after we left. Even Twilight is later than usual," replied Pinkie Pie.

"I don't know, but I hope Twilight and Sunset will talk to us. Assuming either of them comes to school today," said Fluttershy, taking a sip of her cocoa.

Rainbow Dash slung her leg over her bike, standing next to it. That was when she noticed the odd absence of Sunset Shimmer and her motorcycle. Usually, Sunset's bike would have gotten parked next to hers. However, today, it was missing along with its owner. That was strange, very strange considering that the redhead was always at school before her. Mostly because Twilight had a schedule, and both of them stuck to it. Setting her helmet in her backpack, Rainbow Dash sped over to her friends.

"Hey guys, have any of you seen Sunset?" asked Rainbow Dash as she appeared next to Pinkie Pie.

"Nope. Do you think something bad happened between Sunset and Twilight?" asked Fluttershy, taking another sip of her cocoa.

"Maybe. It is unusual for Sunset or Twilight to be this late," Rainbow Dash said as she reached for her cup of cocoa.

"Well, I guess we'll see if Twilight and Sunset show up today," said Pinkie Pie as she took a sip of her cocoa. "Hmm, that is good. And just what I need to keep warm."

Rainbow Dash did the same and said, "Yep. I love your peppermint hot cocoa almost as much as I love apple cider."

As the three girls made their way to the Wondercolt statue, they sat down in front of it. Sounds of students chatting filled the air around them. It seemed that no one except the girls noticed the absences of their two friends. The marble base of the statue offered little protection against the bone-chilling wind. Yet, they were glad for what little it did offer them. The girls huddled together, trying to keep themselves warm despite the cold air surrounding them. With their hot cocoas in hand, they waited for the rest of the girls to arrive.

Applejack, holding Rarity's hand, walked up to the Wondercolt statue. She felt the fashionista squeeze her hand as her head rested against her arm. That made the cowgirl's cheeks turn slightly red as she felt them heat up. Thankfully, the nip of the cold air hid the blush reasonably well. Ignoring the occasional glance, Applejack made her way to the marble horse statue. As she saw the girls, she noticed the lack of red and yellow amongst them. Furrowing her eyebrows, she looked over at where Rainbow Dash's bike was parked. Even the familiar flame-colored bike was missing as well.

"Hey, girls. Where's Sunset?" asked Applejack as Pinkie Pie handed her a cup with three apples around, similar to Fluttershy's.

"We don't know. Sunset hasn't shown up yet," replied Rainbow Dash as Applejack and Rarity sat down.

"Well, that's certainly strange. It's very unlike Sunset not to be here," said Rarity, her head still resting on Applejack's arm as she grabbed her cup from Pinkie Pie.

"Yeah, tell me about it! I have never been here before Sunset. And her and Twilight were usually sitting together when we all get here." Rainbow Dash moved her bangs out of her eyes.

Rarity looked around and noticed that Twilight Sparkle wasn't present among the girls. "Speaking of Twilight, where is she?"

That made the girls look around, realizing that she hadn't shown up yet. As Rainbow Dash turned to look at the parent drop off, she saw a familiar car. The fender was a bit scraped up from the years of use. And even the black paint had gotten chipped away by the sun's rays and regular washing routines. There was also a dent from where her bike had accidentally collided with back bumper. She recognized it as being Twilight's father's car. As it slowed to a stop, she saw the door open. And stepping out of the vehicle, was Twilight Sparkle. Setting her hot cocoa down on the pavement, Rainbow Dash sped over to her friend.

Twilight Sparkle closed the door, waving goodbye to her father. Her wings draped themselves over shoulders inside of the hoodie, protecting her against the cold air. Having feathers was useful to keep warm as she had discovered recently. Twilight watched her father drive off as she hoped that Sunset somehow would not show up at school. Although, she knew that it was unlikely as Sunset cared about her attendance almost as much as she did. As Twilight turned around and was about to walk into the building, she nearly bumped into Rainbow Dash. That took her by surprise as she didn't expect anyone to be behind her.

"Woah, Rainbow Dash! What the hell?! Don't sneak up behind me like that!" exclaimed Twilight Sparkle, adjusting her glasses. "I could've blasted you for doing that."

Rainbow Dash stared at Twilight Sparkle, shocked by the sudden outburst. Sure, she had seen Twilight get angry before. However, this time, it was different. It was like something had happened to make her more on edge than usual. And she could tell that her friend was no longer the same. There was a spark of something evil in her mulberry eyes, and that terrified the athlete. Whatever happened between her and Sunset, Rainbow Dash could tell that it hadn't gone well. Stepping back, she rubbed the back of her head with her head.

"Sorry about that, Twi. I didn't mean to sneak up behind you," Rainbow Dash said. "Want to join the girls and me? Pinkie Pie has made her famous peppermint hot cocoa."

Twilight Sparkle looked behind Rainbow Dash, at the girls. She saw Pinkie PIe give her a wide grin while waving at her. Looking away from Pinkie Pie, she saw that Applejack and Rarity were giving her worried looks. The only one who wasn't looking at her was Fluttershy. That made her look away, gripping the sleeve of the hoodie that covered her arm. Despite the nagging part of her that told her to ask the girls for the truth, Twilight couldn't do it. With all that had happened with Sunset, she just couldn't deal with them right now. And she didn't want to hear their reasons for all the excuses that they had told her for a year either.

"Uh, Twilight?" asked Rainbow Dash, waving a hand in front of Twilight Sparkle's face. "You still present?"

Twilight Sparkle blinked. Turning her attention back to her rainbow-haired friend, she gave her an annoyed glare. "Yes, Rainbow. I am still present. And no, I would not like to join you and the girls. I am not going to hang out with liars, not when they used to be my friends. Now, I have some important things to do in the library. By myself, just in case any of you get the idea to follow me," lied Twilight Sparkle, not wanting to admit that she couldn't stand being anywhere near the girls.

Rainbow Dash staggered back as Twilight Sparkle pushed past her. It shocked her to see her usually shy and quiet friend act so… cold and mean towards her. As she watched her walk away, she gripped her arm and lowered her head. A sinking feeling told her that she knew why Twilight chose not to hang out with her and the girls. And it was one Rainbow Dash wished hadn't been true. Head hanging low, she walked back over to the girls and sat next to her cup. She took a long sip, not wanting to let them know what happened, even though she knew that they were going to ask anyway.

"Rainbow, dear, why did Twilight push past you and not join us?" asked Rarity.

Rainbow Dash set her cup back down after she finished. The mintiness of the peppermint lingered in her mouth, making her feel like she just ate a whole bunch of candy canes. She pulled her backpack closer to her body, resting her arm around it. Rainbow Dash wasn't sure how the girls were going to take the news. However, it wasn't an option not to tell them, even if it was terrible.

"I-I think Twilight found that we have been lying to her – that Sunset's been lying to her. And I don't think she's happy with us because of that," replied Rainbow Dash as she looked at Rarity.

"Oh, dear. That's not good." Rarity looked at Applejack. "What are we going to do?"

The cowgirl adjusted her Stetson hat and sighed. "I don't know. I have only ever seen Sunset get angry. I'm not sure how to handle Twilight."

"And it doesn't look like Sunset is coming to school either," said Fluttershy, looking down at her hands. "I think something awful happened between her and Twilight."

"Yeah, it seems like the reveal didn't go too well. Do you think Sunset did something to Twilight?" asked Pinkie Pie. "I saw her gripping her arm. I think she is hiding something from us."

"I saw that too. Whatever it is that Twilight's hidin' from us, I think it's related to Sunset. However, given that she won't talk to us willingly, we're goin' have to find some way of gettin' her to do that," said Applejack, looking at her party friend.

Just then, the school bell rang, announcing that school was in session. All the girls slung their bags over their shoulders, keeping their cups in their other hand. Applejack helped Rarity stand up while Fluttershy did the same for Pinkie Pie, who was still having trouble moving with her stitches. Once all the girls were standing and had gathered up all of their stuff, they made their way towards the entrance of the school. As they walked in, they got greeted by crowds of students gathered in small groups around their lockers, though some of the kids weren't so secretive about the topic of theirs. Applejack looked over at a group of girls who kept talking about Twilight and why she was avoiding them. She ignored them and drowned out the sounds of indistinct conversations that filled the silence of the hallways. Making their way to Miss Cheerilee's classroom, the girls saw that Twilight had already beaten them to it. They noticed her sitting in her usual seat, next to the window… and the shelves full of math textbooks.

"Wow, she usually waits for us. I guess she is really mad at us," said Pinkie Pie as her hair lost some of its color bounce.

"Guess, so," said Applejack as she felt Rarity intertwine their hands together. "I just hope she isn't too mad at us."

"Me too," whispered Rarity as she and Applejack walked behind Pinkie Pie.

Twilight Sparkle turned towards the doorway just as she saw the girls walk in. As she met Applejack's worried gaze, she felt a pang of guilt wash over her body. She had felt terrible for how she acted towards Rainbow Dash. Her anger had gotten the better of her, and she was sure that the athlete wasn't expecting her to be so cold to her. Seeing the cowgirl's emerald green eyes darkened with worry, she sighed. She didn't want to make them worry about her. Yet, how could she face them now? They all lied to her for a whole year. And it was all thanks to Sunset, the one person Twilight thought she could trust. Twilight sat back in her chair, watching as all the girls sat down one by one. When Pinkie Pie walked past her, she saw her set down a cup.

"Here, I made this for you," said Pinkie Pie as she gave Twilight Sparkle a smile, which didn't reach her eyes.

"Uh, thanks." Twilight Sparkle took a sip, trying to ignore the guilty feeling that was slowly building inside.

Twilight could see that Pinkie Pie had forced her smile. Her usually perky, all-around joyous friend seemed low spirited, despite all Pinkie Pie's attempts to act like her usual self. It was as if Pinkie Pie was trying to hide the fact that she had gotten hurt by her refusal to hang out. Similar to someone who was trying to put on a fake mask for everyone else. Yet, the disguise wasn't fooling Twilight one bit. And that only added to the growing guilt she was feeling. Between the hurt look on Sunset's face last night and the girls' worried looks, Twilight was beginning to wonder if she should give them a chance to explain. Just as Twilight went to say something to Pinkie Pie, she was interrupted by Miss Cheerilee as she walked into the classroom. So, all she could do was watch her pink-haired friend make her way to her seat, her forced smile fading as she sat down.

"Okay, class. Today we are going to have a pop quiz," said Miss Cheerilee as she stood at her desk.

At that news, there were several groans of disappointment throughout the classroom. A few dissatisfied students even rolled their eyes, leaning back in the chairs. The mood of the room changed from happy to bored in mere seconds. It was evident that nobody wanted to have a pop quiz this early in the morning. Behind Twilight, a few chairs to the side, Rainbow Dash rested her head on the desk. Pop quizzes were the one thing she hated more than having to wait for a new Daring Do book. And that was hard enough for her to do, especially since she hated having to wait for anything.

"I should've studied last night," Rainbow Dash mumbled under her breath. "Guess I will have to wing it now. I just hope it's not equations or anything with too many numbers."

Twilight Sparkle, unlike her classmates, was happy to hear about the pop quiz. Pop quizzes to her were like a challenge to see how much she had memorized. And Twilight loved the proud feeling she got when she saw that she had aced a test. It was something that never got old, no matter how many times it happened. It was also one of the joys of school for her. She enjoyed studying and learning about anything, especially if it was related to science and math. And the happiness she felt was comparable to whenever she saw Sunset smile at her. Shaking her head, Twilight cleared her head of any thoughts about the redhead. She couldn't let herself think of her, not when she wanted to forget her and all the pain. Besides, all that thinking about Sunset did was remind her that she had pushed her closest friend away. Yet, Twilight's conscience refused to let her forget that and the fact that she had broken her only promise to her.

"Why does my guilty conscience have to be so annoying? Can't it just leave me alone?" thought Twilight Sparkle.

"Oh, but if I did that, you wouldn't talk to Sunset or the girls. Besides, it's my job to make sure you do the right thing," said Twilight's conscience.

"Ugh! You're back, great. Why don't you just shut the hell up and let me enjoy this pop quiz?" asked Twilight Sparkle as she looked down at her desk.

"I will let you enjoy the quiz, but only while I remind you of what you said to Sunset over and over again. I am not going to let you forget that you broke the one promise that you should've kept," replied Twilight's conscience.

"Fine. Just don't make me mess up with your nonsense," thought Twilight Sparkle, pulling out a pencil and an eraser.

Taking a deep breath, Twilight pushed Sunset aside and focused on the assignment. Today's pop quiz was a welcome surprise for her, one that she intended to enjoy. Plus, it offered a good distraction from her current problems, which she needed more than ever. And if her mind was going to continue torturing her with the events of the night before, she was glad to have something else to occupy it. Grabbing her pencil, Twilight waited for the quiz to get passed out.

With the test papers in hand, Miss Cheerilee started to pass them out row by row. As she made her way to the last row, she froze. At the other end of the walkway was Twilight Sparkle's massive purple wing. Its size meant that it jutted out into the small area, giving Miss Cheerilee no choice but to walk past it. There was no avoiding it, even if she attempted to do so. Steeling her nerves, she prepared herself to walk down the aisle and approach Twilight. Someone coughed in the otherwise silent room, and that caused Miss Cheerilee to jump. She could tell that her nerves were starting to get the better of her, which wasn't good. As a teacher, she had to remain professional while she was at her job.

Yet, the sight of Midnight Sparkle sitting in her classroom was unnerving to Miss Cheerilee, especially considering the events of the Friendship Games. She knew that her student was still Twilight Sparkle, only with a changed appearance. And that she posed no threat to her or the student body. However, it was still a challenge for her to see past the changes on the outside. It wasn't every day that she got to experience seeing someone who had massive feathery wings attached to them. And it was even rarer to have them attending class for almost a week straight. So, it had been a rather strange couple of days for the high school teacher.

Miss Cheerilee's heartbeat picked up pace as the distance between her and Twilight Sparkle shortened. Her nervousness was becoming more apparent as her hand began to tremble slightly. She knew that it was unprofessional to show any fear or anger at her students, but she couldn't help it. It was still a struggle to adjust to seeing Twilight looking like her she-demon self. Wanting to maintain her professional demeanor, Miss Cheerilee walked to Twilight's desk. When she bent down, she could feel the feathers brush against her skin, causing goosebumps to form. She tried to ignore them and set the paper down on the wooden surface of the desk.

Unbeknownst to Miss Cheerilee, Twilight Sparkle noticed the goosebumps that formed. That made her hide her face, trying to ignore the embarrassment that washed over her. It was embarrassing enough whenever her teachers would touch her wings, but to have her body react to it was not helping the situation. If the feathery appendages weren't so weak to touch any contact, it wouldn't have been a problem. However, with that said, it didn't make the incident any less traumatizing for her when the students would snicker and comment about it. Twilight did her best to shut out the rest of her classmates and sat up in her chair. She pulled her wing close to her body, trying not to freak out Miss Cheerilee any further. Besides, she didn't feel like having the incident repeated for a second time, not after the hell she had gone through the night before.

"I am sure you'll ace this, Miss Sparkle," Miss Cheerilee whispered, regaining her composure somewhat. "I hope you brought some books to read afterward."

Twilight Sparkle felt a proud smile form. "Oh, I have. I brought books about the history of mathematics, the greatest minds behind it, and a few others."

"Good, those are some excellent book choices, especially for this class," said Miss Cheerilee as she walked back to her desk, her hands no longer full of tests.

Setting a timer, Miss Cheerilee said, "Okay, you have 45 minutes to complete the quiz. If you have not finished, turn in what you have done. And remember, show your work."

"Alright, you can start…" Twilight Sparkle readied her pencil as her hand hovered over the paper. "Now." She flipped the paper over and immediately started on the first problem.

An hour later, the bell rang, ending the first class of the day. Twilight Sparkle, hearing the bell ringing, tried to hurry up and finish her homework. As she finished the last calculation, she jotted down the answer. Without wasting another second, Twilight tossed all of her books and stuff back inside of her bag. Slinging it over her shoulder, she walked up to Miss Cheerilee's desk, her homework in one hand and her drink in the other one. Even though she didn't want to see the girls, she was thankful that Pinkie Pie had given the cocoa. It reminded her that they still cared for her. Although it didn't change the fact that she was too hurt to confront them. And even her conscience couldn't convince her to do it either, though it was getting more annoying with every reminder it gave her.

"Here you go, Miss Cheerilee. I have already finished my homework," Twilight Sparkle said, a proud tone in her voice.

"Good job, Miss Sparkle. See you tomorrow," replied Miss Cheerilee as she took the homework and set it aside.

"Thanks." Twilight Sparkle waved at her teacher and made her way to the door.

Rarity, having finished putting all her books back into her backpack, looked up to see Twilight leaving the classroom. Not wanting her friend to go before she had a chance to talk to her, she jumped out of her seat. However, in her hurry, she hit her abdomen on the hard edge of the desk. The impact landed on her stitches, causing a sharp, stabbing pain to wash over her body. Rarity bent over, hoping to alleviate the stinging sensation which spread throughout her abdomen. She regretted getting up so quickly, even if it had been for a good reason. A few seconds later, it eased up and allowed her to go after Twilight. Just as she got to the doorway, Rarity grabbed her elbow, ignoring the few feathers that brushed against her skin.

Twilight Sparkle was about to step outside the classroom when she felt something brush past her wings and touch her elbow. It was warm and felt like a hand. Her pulse began to race as she realized how close it was to the bandage covering her lacerations. A few inches lower, and the hand would've sat on top of them. Images of Sunset's hand gripping her arm flashed through Twilight's mind, making her body tremble as she fought to keep her composure. Finally, after a few seconds, the images left her alone, and she managed to look down at the hand. She saw that it was a familiar pale white with dark purple nail polish on its nail. As Twilight moved her gaze upward, she found its owner. It was Rarity, the one she didn't want to talk to, mainly because she knew that Rarity would try to convince her to speak to the girls. And that was something she wanted to avoid.

"What, Rarity?" asked Twilight Sparkle, her voice cold and void of any emotion. "What do you want?"

Rarity pulled her hand back, her eyes wide with shock. She noticed the unusually cold and harsh tone in Twilight's voice. To hear that, it made her step back, unsure if she should've approached her today. Rarity could see that there was no emotion in Twilight's cold eyes as she stared at her. It was like someone else had taken over her friend, leaving nothing of her behind. She saw that Twilight had pursed her lips into a sort of frown as she stood still. Meeting the bookworm's gaze, she noticed that her eyes had a distant look to them, indicating that she had a lot on her mind. As the two girls looked at each other, Rarity could've sworn that she saw a look of betrayal and hurt flash across Twilight's face before her aggressive demeanor returned, hiding it once more. Her heart broke when she saw just how hurt Twilight was because of their actions.

"Sorry for bothering you, dear. I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Rarity replied.

"Well, I am not okay, Rarity. You all lied to me, Sunset lied to me…" said Twilight Sparkle as she looked away from the fashionista.

"I know, we're sorry for what we did. We shouldn't have done that," said Rarity.

"You're right. You girls shouldn't have lied to me," said Twilight Sparkle, returning her attention to Rarity. "I have to go now. And I think it's better if you leave me alone as well."

"Okay, Twilight," said Rarity as she glanced back at Applejack. "I guess I will go then."

Rarity watched as the person she thought she knew, walked away without so much as a glance back at her. It hurt to see the damage that had gotten caused by their choice to stand by Sunset. And although they never meant for Twilight to get hurt by it, she could see that there was no taking it back. Not to mention that there was little to no chance that Twilight would ever talk to them after this. Rarity jumped slightly as she felt a hand grip her shoulder. Turning, she found that it was Applejack.

"Twilight didn't want to talk. She seemed really hurt by what we did," said Rarity, her voice strained as she tried to contain the pain which she felt. "She said that it was best that I leave her alone."

Applejack sighed, her hand squeezing Rarity's Shoulder in a tight grip. "I'm sorry, Rare. I know you were just trying to be nice, but maybe Twilight needs her space. We can try to invite her to lunch with us."

"Okay," said Rarity, looking away. "I hope she is willing to sit with us and let us explain everything."

Rarity sounded disappointed, which only broke the cowgirl's heart. Nothing hurt more than to see her generous, caring, and loving girlfriend distressed and worried. Letting her hand fall from Rarity's shoulder, she felt the warmth and softness of Rarity's smooth skin as it made its way down to her hand. Applejack intertwined her fingers with the Rarity's smaller ones as she stepped closer. As she leaned over, she gingerly kissed her cheek.

"I'm sure that Twilight will talk to us… eventually. Give her some time," replied Applejack.

Rarity nodded. Still holding hands, Applejack and Rarity left Miss Cheerilee's classroom, heading to their next class. Leaving behind them was Fluttershy. She was walking in the same direction as Twilight as they both shared the next class. As she entered Mr. Ember's class, she saw Twilight sitting in Sunset's usual seat. That made Fluttershy stop for a moment, wondering if she should walk in. Deciding not to waste time standing outside the classroom and risk getting considered late, she made her way into the room. She sat in the only available seat, which happened to be next to Twilight.

"Hey, Twilight," said Fluttershy as she pulled out her sketchbook. "Do you want to see some of my sketches of the birds in my backyard?"

"First Rarity tries to talk to me, and now Fluttershy is. Can't they see that I just want to be alone?" thought Twilight Sparkle.

"They are your friends, and they want to talk to you. And you are sitting here, criticizing them for trying to be your friends," said Twilight's conscience.

"The girls lied to me; they are not my friends anymore," replied Twilight Sparkle, hoping to end the conversation soon.

"Right. That's why you are having doubts about walking away from the girls and Sunset," said Twilight's conscience, sounding snarky in its remark.

"Fluttershy, I don't-" Twilight Sparkle saw the animal lover's face fall as she spoke. Sighing, she rested a hand on her shoulder and said, "Show me."

With a gleeful squeal, Fluttershy opened her sketchbook. As she flipped through the pages, there were many drawings of animals – all ranging from birds, spiders, pigs, puppies, kittens, rabbits, and horses. There were even a few rough sketches of what the girls would look like as ponies. Picture by picture, Twilight saw Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and even Fluttershy herself as a pony. It was intriguing to see her sketch as she still had her signature cat-eye glasses on, which only served to make her look adorable as a pony. When Twilight saw a drawing of a pony labeled Sunset Shimmer, she stopped Fluttershy from moving on to the next one.

"Wait. Is that a picture of Sunset… as a pony?" asked Twilight Sparkle, studying the drawing.

It had no colors, just black, white, and grey, but it was still clear to see it was Sunset. It was just a basic sketch, compared to the rest of the girls' drawings. It seemed like it was unfinished, a work in progress. The mane, though styled a bit differently because it had gotten designed for a pony, still had Sunset's signature wavy hairstyle. It even had the small curly piece of hair that always hung right above Sunset's eyes. Now, it sat around a small horn on top of the redhead's forehead. As Twilight stared at the sketch, she noticed a slightly smudged symbol on the pony's flank. Upon closer inspection, she realized that it was the sun symbol that Sunset was always wearing. Seeing that, Twilight looked up at Fluttershy.

"Uh, why does Sunset's pony drawing have that mark on her flank?" asked Twilight Sparkle, pointing to the sun symbol.

Fluttershy looked at what Twilight was pointing at in her sketch. Smiling, she said, "Oh, that's because Sunset said that in Equestria, ponies have marks called 'cutie marks' on their flanks. They represent whatever that pony's talent is or whatever is their passion."

"Wait. What? How does Sunset know that?" asked Twilight Sparkle.

"Uh, because Sunset said that she comes from a world where she is a pony. And that," Fluttershy pointed to the sun on the paper, "is her cutie mark, at least when she goes back home to Equestria."

"Back home? What do you mean by that, Fluttershy?" asked Twilight Sparkle as she tried to figure out what the animal lover was talking about.

Fluttershy gulped. "Sunset is from, uh, Equestria, a land of magical ponies and princesses." She watched as Twilight took her sketchbook and held it up. "Uh, Twilight? Are you alright?"

"So, you're telling me that Sunset is a pony, a unicorn by the looks of the picture? That she was never a part of our world?" Twilight Sparkle asked, still studying the picture. It was shocking to see it and to know that it depicted the truth about the redhead. That wasn't a normal thing to see.

"Yes," replied Fluttershy.

"Wow, Fluttershy. That is both amazing and… shocking. I am surprised that I never knew about this, then again, all of you did lie to me for a whole year. Yet, even knowing that, Sunset acts so much like us that it's almost impossible to realize that she isn't of our world…" Twilight Sparkle trailed off as she recalled all the things that she and Sunset had done together.

"Well, Sunset has been in our world for about three years or so now. So, it makes sense that she would've become accustomed to our world." Fluttershy grabbed her sketchbook back, not wanting the rest of the classroom to see her drawings. "However, don't bring it up around her. She doesn't like to get reminded of her old home."

"Why not?" asked Twilight Sparkle, pulling out her own sketchbook, which had very few drawings. Art… was not her strong suit, not like science or math was.

Fluttershy looked down at her sketchbook. "Sunset doesn't like to be reminded that she had left home for a… reason."

"A reason? What's the reason, Fluttershy?" Twilight Sparkle looked at Fluttershy, wanting an answer.

"Well, Sunset wasn't always the nicest person before. And from what she has told me, she left her home behind in search of something. Yet, she let her desire for whatever it was take over, and that led to her becoming Demon Shimmer. So, it's a painful subject for Sunset to talk about, Twilight," said Fluttershy, trying not to reveal anything that she shouldn't.

"I got that. I won't bring it up around Sunset, for now," said Twilight Sparkle, looking away from the animal lover. "However, I will ask her about it because I deserve to know the truth. And you girls should have been honest with me."

"I am sorry that we hurt you, Twilight. We never meant for that to happen. The girls and I just wanted to respect Sunset's wishes," Fluttershy said, her voice growing quiet as she spoke.

"Yeah, I know. You all have said that to me already. Frankly, I am not sure that I believe you," replied Twilight Sparkle, her harsh tone returning.

"Oh, okay. I think I will leave you alone now," said Fluttershy, no longer wanting to disturb Twilight.

Sitting, pencil in hand, Twilight Sparkle watched as Mr. Ember started the lesson for the day. A few minutes in, she knew that it was going to be a long class. Between Fluttershy's reveal that Sunset had lied to her about another thing and the events of the night before, her mind was beginning to feel tired. Having so many emotions at once was starting to make Twilight have a headache. It didn't surprise her to learn that the redhead had lied about something else, but it was shocking to realize that she wasn't from the same world. And although she didn't care that Sunset initially had been a unicorn, it didn't change anything. She had chosen to conceal her past and dragged the girls down with her. Twilight couldn't get past that, not yet anyway.

"Well, at least this class will distract me from all my problems with Sunset," Twilight Sparkle thought as she started to draw her sketch for the day.

Once she began drawing, Twilight Sparkle got lost in it. She completely tuned out the rest of the classroom, Fluttershy as well. However, she didn't mind that. It was actually a relief to be able to do something relaxing, just to tune out the world and her emotions. Not having to think about what she had said and her choice to push Sunset away, it made Twilight feel like a weight had gotten lifted. As she finished shading in the last of the hair, she sat back and admired her work. Yet, just as she examined her picture, she realized that she had drawn the redhead. There were two versions of her standing next to each other, one that was human and the other that was a pony.

"Great! Even when I think I can get a moment away from Sunset, I can't. She just always seems to be on my mind." Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes and closed her sketchbook, not wanting to see the pictures of Sunset any longer.

Just as Twilight closed her sketchbook, the bell rang. As she pushed her book back into her bag, she felt a hand lightly touch her wing. It made her freeze for a moment. The gentle touch was enough to remind her of when Sunset had done the same thing. And it reminded Twilight just how much she missed the soft caress from the redhead. Yet, the situation between them prevented her from having that. She knew that her conscience was right in calling her out, mainly because her actions betrayed the fact that her words were just that; words, with no clear indication that she meant them. Looking, Twilight saw that it was Fluttershy. Sighing, she decided to see what she wanted.

"What, Shy? I don't want to be late for my next class." Twilight Sparkle stood up and slung her bag over her shoulder. "Well, hurry up."

Fluttershy was shocked by the harsh tone that Twilight was using. It was almost like the tone Sunset used to use when she would bully her. However, instead of mentioning that, she just chose to remain quiet. It was better not to anger Twilight any more than she already was. Besides, Fluttershy wasn't in the mood to be yelled at, especially since she had tried to be respectful towards her. Moving her hair behind her ear, she swallowed.

"I… I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You didn't join us earlier, and you avoided us during Miss Cheerilee's class." Fluttershy's voice was quiet but audible.

"I didn't join you and the girls earlier because I don't want to sit with friends who knowingly lied to me. And did so for a whole fucking year." Twilight Sparkle walked past Fluttershy, purposely bumping into her with her one wing. "I have to go now."

"Okay… bye…" Fluttershy bent down to grab her backpack, but when she looked back at the doorway, Twilight was already gone. She sighed. "I guess she is furious with us."

The next two classes flew by quickly for Twilight Sparkle. After all, science was one of her favorite subjects, second only to math. Plus, Mr. Star was teaching the science class, and he was her favorite teacher besides Ms. Coral, of course. Her English class was not nearly as fun as science was, but then again, Mr. Cranky Doodle was the teacher for that specific class. Twilight wondered why he always seemed to be cranky. Even on a good day, he would be upset as if it was a rainy day, and he had to walk to school. Pushing her thoughts about her teachers aside, Twilight focused back on her assignment. Just as she finished it, she heard the annoying sound of the ringing bell that signaled the end of class. Sighing, she put away her notebook as she handed her paper to Mr. Cranky Doodle as he walked by.

Just as Twilight was getting ready to leave the classroom, she saw the girls walking towards her. Ducking behind a wall, she waited until they walked past. She tried to keep her wings hidden as she didn't want the girls to see her slipping her jacket on. If she could, Twilight wanted to avoid having to talk to them again. Just as they were near her, she heard some of their conversations.

"Twilight said what, dear?" asked Rarity, her voice pitching higher as she spoke the last word.

"Twilight said that she didn't want to sit with friends who lied to her," replied Fluttershy.

"Oh, my," said Rarity as she looked at Applejack. "That doesn't sound very nice."

"That is what Twilight said to me this morning. Man, she is really pissed at us," said Rainbow Dash. "I have never seen her be this harsh towards anyone, not even Spike."

"I just hope Twilight liked the hot peppermint cocoa I made for her," was the last thing Twilight Sparkle heard as the girls walked away from the classroom.

Stepping out from behind the wall, Twilight Sparkle sighed. She knew that the girls would be hurt by her actions towards them. Yet, she didn't expect them to be this hurt by what she had done. Although, in hindsight, she should've expected it. It wasn't like she was very nice… at all. First, with Rarity, Twilight suggested that it was better that the girls leave her alone. Then, with Fluttershy, she blatantly revealed that she didn't want to be near them and that they were liars in her eyes. That was true, but that didn't make Twilight's words any less hurtful.

"Maybe I shouldn't have been as mean to them." Twilight Sparkle walked out of the classroom, heading towards the cafeteria. Thankfully, her class was close to the cafeteria. As she approached the entrance, she spotted them. "But… they did lie to me, even if I was mean about it."

As Twilight walked past the girls, she felt a hand grab her arm and stop her from walking away. Looking, she saw that it was Applejack. As she met the cowgirl's gaze, she a mix of anger and hurt in her emerald eyes. Somehow, the emotions darkened the green in her eyes, despite the luminescent lights all around them. That made Twilight regret her words even more.

"Sugarcube, we're sorry, but you can't keep avoiding us forever," said Applejack, her voice stern yet gentle at the same time.

Twilight Sparkle stayed silent, saying nothing to Applejack.

"Will you at least join us for lunch, please?" Applejack took off her Stetson and held it to her chest. "Please."

Twilight, again, said nothing. Instead, she just yanked her arm free from Applejack's grip and walked away. She couldn't sit with the girls, despite their pleas to do so. As Twilight had said earlier, she couldn't sit with liars, even when those liars were her friends. And it was a struggle to look at them and not think about Sunset. All they did was remind her that her closest friend had betrayed her. Not wanting to deal with that, Twilight sat at a table that wasn't near the girls. She had packed her lunch, so she didn't have to stand in line with them. However, just as she sat down and was about to open her lunch bag, a familiar face joined her.

"Trixie is wondering why you are sitting here instead of over there with your friends. Did something happen?" asked Trixie, setting her lunch tray down and sitting next to Twilight.

"I don't want to talk about it, Trixie," Twilight Sparkle replied, taking a bit of her apple.

"Ooh, now Trixie really wants to know. Do tell," Trixie scooted closer to Twilight. "Trixie won't tell anyone, she promises."

"Trixie, I said I don't want to talk about it! Can't you just drop it?" shouted Twilight Sparkle, her wings pushing against the hoodie as she spoke. "Please…?"

"Oh, but Trixie really does promise to keep it a secret," begged Trixie.

That made Twilight Sparkle look at the magician. She could see that there was genuineness in Trixie's eyes. And that was something that she hadn't seen before. Perhaps there was more to her than Twilight had thought. Taking a deep breath, she reluctantly decided to give the amateur magician a chance. Besides, what could happen? The school already knew about her situation thanks to her, so there wasn't much more damage that could occur.

"Well… if you must know Trixie, the girls and I are having a few trust issues," replied Twilight Sparkle, taking another bite of her apple. "So, that is why I am sitting here, instead of with them."

Trixie's eyes widened as she heard what Twilight said. She realized that Sunset had told her about what happened on Thursday. And that in the process, Twilight realized that the girls had also lied to her because of Sunset. Looking back at the girls, Trixie was shocked by the damage that had gotten caused. Sure, she expected Twilight to be angry; she had a right to feel that way. Yet, to see her push away the ones who had welcomed her, it wasn't the reaction she thought Twilight would've had.

"Wow, and I thought I was dramatic," thought Trixie as she looked back at Twilight.

Trixie remembered the video she had of Sunset transforming into Demon Shimmer. When she had gotten home that night, she had made a copy of it and put it on her phone. Trixie needed to have a second copy just in case the redhead decided to change her mind. Not that she would've been stupid enough to risk her getting attacked by the school. Trixie pulled out her phone, wondering if she should show Twilight the video. She hesitated for a moment before deciding to wait on letting Twilight see it. Grabbing her fork, she gathered some of her spaghetti, wrapping it around the pronged utensil.

Swallowing the spaghetti, Trixie said, "Oh, so you finally found out about the Demon Shimmer incident?"

"The… Demon Shimmer incident? Does the whole school know about what happened to Sunset?" asked Twilight Sparkle.

Trixie twirled her fork in her spaghetti again. "Yep, pretty much. I mean, the whole school did see Sunset transform into Demon Shimmer."

Twilight Sparkle was taken aback by the fact that the whole school knew about Sunset's transformation. Yet, she was kept out of the loop by the redhead herself. That made her regret not noticing all the little things that never added up. And the shock of realizing that an entire school knew about the redhead's past nearly made Twilight miss the magician talking in the first person. It was odd and definitely took her by surprise.

"Hey, what happened to you talking in the third person? Don't you always do that?" asked Twilight Sparkle, calling Trixie out on her slip up.

Trixie rolled her eyes. "Talking in the third person is so tiring having to do it all the time. So, occasionally, like right now, I stop. I can only keep it up for the sake of the magic act. Otherwise, it gets too hard."

"Ah, so it's all for the sake of performance, then?" Twilight Sparkle set her apple down, taking a sip of her milk as she waited for Trixie to continue.

"Yep. The Great and Powerful Trixie does have to keep up appearances. But sometimes, it gets too tiring, even for me," replied Trixie. "Now, back to you. So, did you really not know about what happened to Sunset?"

"Yes, I didn't. How did Sunset manage to keep that from me for so long?" asked Twilight, setting her milk down as she stared at Trixie.

"Honestly, I don't know how Sunset did that. But I do know that the girls didn't want to keep it from you. However, for her, they agreed," replied Trixie, taking another bite of her spaghetti.

"Is that true, Trixie?" Twilight Sparkle asked, glancing back at the girls. "Did they really not want to lie to me?"

"Yes, the girls did, especially Applejack. You know her, always one for-"

"Her honesty. Yes, I know that," Twilight Sparkle said, cutting Trixie off.

"Exactly." Trixie took a drink of her milk, having finished half her spaghetti during the course of her conversation with Twilight.

Twilight Sparkle turned back to the magician. "So, I have been wondering about something you did."

"You have?" asked Trixie, almost choking on her milk as she got caught off guard by Twilight's statement. "What have you been wondering about me?"

"Well, when you yanked off my hoodie almost a week ago, you didn't seem scared of me. Yet, everyone else did. So, did you fear me at all, or were you really not scared of me?" Twilight Sparkle's voice had a genuine tone of curiosity to it.

Trixie looked down at the table, poking her spaghetti with her fork. Twilight's question had taken her aback. She wasn't expecting her to ask if she was scared, mostly because she herself didn't know that answer. All the magician could recall from that day was taking off Twilight's hoodie and seeing her look like Midnight Sparkle. Whether she was scared or not, she couldn't remember. The events of that day had escalated quickly, and she didn't want to make a point of keeping that in her memory. Trixie did know one thing; sitting in front of Twilight now, she felt no fear.

"I-I don't know, Twilight. After what happened to you, I didn't make a point of remembering it. I still feel guilty about what I did to you." Trixie took a sip of her milk, not wanting to choke again if Twilight said anything to surprise her.

"Oh, sorry. Well, if it's any consolation, I have forgiven you." Twilight Sparkle started to pack up lunch, knowing that lunch was almost over.

"Thanks, Twilight. I appreciate that, but…" Trixie looked over at the girls, "I think your friends would like to know if you have forgiven them for making a mistake. After all, even I can see that they care. You're lucky to have friends like that, Twilight."

Twilight Sparkle looked down at her arm, pulling up her sleeve and revealing the white bandage over her lacerations. As she stared at it, she wondered if she could ever forgive her friends, Sunset, especially. The lies that she had believed for a whole year had shattered, and that left her questioning the girls' loyalty. It also hurt to know that they had sided with Sunset. And helped her keep the lies up, even if they didn't agree with her choice. However, Twilight remembered what she had said to her back at the Friendship Games.

"And going by my own experiences, they'll forgive you."

How could Twilight not have known that Sunset went through something similar then? It was so evident and right there in front of her. Yet, she still didn't see it because she wanted to believe that Sunset was her friend. Now, that belief was gone thanks to the reveal that Sunset had hidden a part of herself, and likely would've continued to do so if their circumstances hadn't occurred. However, she was right about one thing: the girls did forgive her for what she had done. And that made Twilight consider doing the same for them. Besides, she did miss hanging out and talking with them.

Trixie, curious as to what Twilight was looking at, leaned over. She saw the bandage on her arm and furrowed her eyebrows.

"What's that?" asked Trixie, pointing to the bandage. "Did you get injured?"

Twilight Sparkle quickly pulled down her sleeve, stuffing her lunch back into her bag. She didn't want the magician to see the lacerations caused by Sunset. Yet, Twilight knew it was too late to explain it away. She had seen the bandage and would likely pester her until she got an answer. So, instead of walking away and hoping that Trixie wouldn't follow her, she stayed where she was.

"Yes, I got injured, Trixie," replied Twilight Sparkle.

"Was it because of Sunset and her… changes?" asked Trixie, shifting closer to Twilight.

"Yeah. Wait. You know about what happened to Sunset?" asked Twilight Sparkle as she looked at Trixie. "When did you find out?"

Trixie looked around at the cafeteria, grabbing her phone and pulling it out. "Yes, I know about Sunset's transformation. And I found out about a week ago."

"How did you find out?" Twilight Sparkle gripped the magician's arm. "Did Sunset tell you before me?"

"No… I kind of, um, spied on Sunset when she was in the gym that night. I wanted to have something to blackmail her with, but I realized that I couldn't do that," replied Trixie.

"What? You were there when Sunset had transformed into Demon Shimmer?" asked Twilight Sparkle, loosening her grip on Trixie's arm. "What exactly did you get to blackmail her?"

"Yeah, I was there. And I got a video of Sunset's transformation," said Trixie as she looked at her phone. "But I wish I hadn't recorded it, especially the last part."

"Can I see the video, please?" asked Twilight Sparkle, her curiosity piquing.

Trixie hesitated for a moment before saying, "I shouldn't show you, but I will. I think you need to see what happened to Sunset, especially considering she isn't here. And I think that you need to understand why she chose to keep it from you, at least for the time being."

"Can I see the video now?" asked Twilight Sparkle as she let go of Trixie's arm.

"Yes, but not here," replied Trixie as she slipped her phone back into her pockets as the girls walked past. "We need to get somewhere a bit more private."

Twilight Sparkle slung her backpack over her shoulder as she and Trixie got up. They walked out of the cafeteria, heading towards an empty classroom nearby. The crowds of students had dissipated as most of them had gathered outside. That gave Twilight and Trixie time to get in without being spotted. Besides, neither one wanted the girls to see them and question them about what they were doing. As they entered it, both girls made sure no one was coming in before they locked the door behind them. Trixie sat down in one of the desks and pulled out her phone. Twilight did the same, setting her bag down next to her.

"Show me the video, please," said Twilight Sparkle as she held out her hand for Trixie's phone. "I want to see what Sunset's transformation was like."

"Twilight, you need to know that the video got filmed without Sunset's permission and that it is personal. I invaded her privacy to get it, and I am only showing it to you because I think you need to understand her perspective," said Trixie, pulling out her phone. "You need to know that Sunset never meant to hurt you. She was afraid that you'd reject her as a friend if you knew how she used to be."

"Oh, great. Now you're going to give me that lecture too?" Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes.

"No, what I am saying is that I was there when Sunset was trying to change, becoming the person she is now. And I know that she was afraid to let you see her past because of how ashamed she was of it. And this video," Trixie unlocked her phone and opened her gallery, "is an example of that pain. And while I shouldn't be showing this to you, you need to know about what happened, especially since I have a feeling you're the reason that she isn't here."

"And how is it that you know that?" asked Twilight Sparkle.

"Mostly because you two are usually together. And yet, Sunset isn't here, you are. That, and the fact that I knew Sunset was scared that you'd react the way you did," replied Trixie.

"Sunset was scared of my reaction to her appearance?" Twilight was surprised to learn that the redhead was afraid to tell her what happened because she feared her reaction to it.

"Yeah, I even have that on video," said Trixie as she clicked on the video and handed her phone to Twilight. "Sunset was seriously frightened of losing you because her appearance had changed. And I guess she had a right to, given how I am here with you instead of her."

Twilight Sparkle grabbed Trixie's phone and pressed play on the video. It was a bit shaky, but she could see Sunset standing in the somewhat lit gym. She watched as Sunset attempted to remove her jacket while yelling in protest to the changes. As the leather jacket got pulled back a bit, she saw the same red skin that Sunset now had, except it hadn't spread all over her body. That reminded Twilight of how her transformation had occurred and how her skin had changed similarly. She was jolted from her thoughts as the redhead let out a scream of agony and fell to her knees. Unable to continue watching, she paused the video and looked at Trixie.

"How the hell did you manage to record this when Sunset was in this much pain?" asked Twilight Sparkle.

"I didn't do it without feeling guilty. I shouldn't have invaded Sunset's privacy like that," replied Trixie, looking down at her hands. "Yet, I let my pride and ego get the better of me. I only recorded that video to get back at her for punching me when I exposed you."

"Wow. Also, I am kind of happy Sunset punched you for that. It was hurtful and extremely embarrassing to have you exposing my changes like that," said Twilight as she set Trixie's phone down.

"Hey, I did apologize for that," Trixie said in a playful tone, turning to Twilight.

"I know, but you did deserve at least one punch for that," replied Twilight Sparkle, looking down at the video. "Sunset always supported me, even when I tried to push her away, didn't she?"

"Yep. Everyone can see that Sunset cares for you, even I do," said Trixie. "I am surprised you two aren't dating already given how often you two hang out."

Twilight Sparkle remained silent, trying to ignore her feelings towards Sunset. She didn't want to remember how much she had cared when all it did was get her hurt.

"Anyway, finish the video before someone comes in here and sees us," continued Trixie as she glanced at the locked door. "I don't want to get into trouble again. Besides, I also want you to stop using me as a distraction."

"Wait. How could you tell that I was uncomfortable?" asked Twilight Sparkle.

"Uh, when have you wanted to talk to me when you have Sunset and the girls?" asked Trixie, placing her hand on her hip. "I mean, I am the Great and Powerful Trixie, but you haven't talked to me until now."

"Okay, fine. I am uncomfortable watching this, but it's hard when I now know that Sunset lied to me," replied Twilight as she looked down at the paused video.

"I know. I can't say that I understand how you feel, but I think you should see why Sunset had a hard time letting you know about this part of her," said Trixie. "So, please, watch the video and stop trying to ignore your friends who care about you."

Twilight Sparkle unpaused the video and continued watching it. Looking at the length of the video, she saw that it was a half-hour long. That took her by surprise and made her realize why Trixie was so serious about the video. Her transformation into Midnight Sparkle hadn't taken this long. So, Twilight was shocked to see how long it had taken for Sunset to transform into Demon Shimmer. As she looked at the screen, she saw Sunset's leathery wings burst out from her leather jacket. The sight reminded her of her own experiences and made her want to look away. Yet, she forced herself to keep watching the video, knowing that she had to try and understand Sunset's side of things.

"I didn't realize that it took this long for Sunset to transform into Demon Shimmer…" thought Twilight Sparkle as she heard the cries of pain emanating from the redhead. "No wonder she was so hesitant to let me see what happened."

As the video continued, Twilight saw Sunset tentatively touch her wings, almost as if she was hoping that they weren't there. That made her recall the time she had touched them when she had gotten a ride home from the redhead. She could still remember how sturdy they felt, and even the fabric couldn't hide the fact that they were leathery. A part of Twilight wondered what they would've felt like if she had taken the chance to touch them when Sunset showed them to her.

"Why did I have to run away like a coward from my friend?" thought Twilight as guilt began to wash over her.

As she sat there, Twilight remembered the worried look in Sunset's eyes. That look haunted her, never letting her forget that her actions had done some damage to Sunset. She was unable to pull herself away from the screen as she saw Sunset huddle into a ball. Her eyes started to brim with unshed tears as she struggled to keep herself from crying. Twilight could see now why Trixie regretted recording Sunset; it was very personal. She couldn't ignore the redhead's suffering, especially when it mirrored her own. As she heard the echoing sobs coming from Sunset, a single tear ran down her cheek.

"Was Sunset's transformation that painful and traumatic for her? Does she still hate this part of herself?" Twilight Sparkle asked herself, wiping the tear off her cheek.

Twilight watched Sunset as she stayed huddled on the floor crying, trying to keep her composure. Seeing her act unlike her usual confident self made Twilight realize that Sunset was just as vulnerable as she had been after her transformation. It also forced her to remember how the redhead had a similar demeanor when she revealed the changes to her. The image of her sitting in the window seat had gotten ingrained in Twilight's head, and she looked as vulnerable there as she did in the video. And it began to dawn on her that she had taken advantage of the situation and deliberately hurt Sunset.

"I said Sunset was the monster, but what if it was me? What if I was the monster, not her?" thought Twilight Sparkle as she paused the video for a moment.

"Oh, now we're acknowledging the fact you are a monster?" asked Twilight's conscience.

"I am not acknowledging that just questioning if maybe I was wrong for saying what I did," replied Twilight Sparkle, annoyed that her conscience had come back.

"Ah, you're still a hypocritical bitch, I see. Well, try to gain some insight from the video, or at least some compassion for what Sunset endured," Twilight's inner voice said before going silent.

"Was I wrong to push Sunset away? She did come over and allow me to see her as Demon Shimmer, despite my obvious and hurtful reaction to it. And I did break a promise to her…" The thought swarmed in Twilight Sparkle's head as she continued watching the video.

After a few seconds had passed, Twilight noticed that Sunset was reaching a hand up towards her ear. Upon closer inspection, she saw that her ears had begun to shift, taking on the same red hue that had spread over Sunset's body. She continued watching as Sunset touched her ear, resulting in her cutting it and letting out a pained cry. The sound made Twilight grip her bandaged arm as memories of Sunset's claws on her flashed in her mind. She knew first hand how sharp they could be and the damage they can cause.

"Gah! Sunset, why did you have to grab me? Couldn't you let me run away from you? Why did I have to get injured because you couldn't stand me being afraid of you?" thought Twilight Sparkle as she pulled her hand away.

"Would you listen to yourself, you hypocrite? Sunset didn't want to run away because she was afraid to lose you. If you had paid any attention, you'd know that Sunset wanted you to see that she was still herself, despite the recent change of appearance," said Twilight's conscience. "Are you seriously so in denial that you can't see that she didn't want you to push her away? That Sunset didn't want the person she loves to reject her because of her past?"

Twilight Sparkle remained silent.

"I rest my case. Just watch the video and try to find your ability to be kind again. I think you lost it when you became a complete and utter bitch to the people closest to you," was the last thing Twilight's conscience said.

However, just as Twilight's thoughts began to drift, her attention had gotten back to the video. She noticed that Sunset had now hunched over, and was clutching her abdomen as a barely audible groan escaped from her. Sweat drenched her shirt and allowed Twilight to see the physical changes that were occurring. And that made her realize the sheer amount of pain Sunset was enduring in the video. Sure, her transformation back into Midnight Sparkle was reasonably painful. Yet, it was not nearly as bad as what the redhead was going through. And that made Twilight feel even worse for how she had treated her.

"No wonder Sunset was scared to show me everything. If I had endured this kind of pain, I don't think I would've told the girls either. And I guess I didn't make it any better becoming afraid of her as soon as I saw the changes…." thought Twilight Sparkle, cringing as she recalled her actions from the night before.

Twilight's stomach tightened as she watched the redhead lay down on the floor, unfurling her wings. Watching that made Twilight recall when she had removed her hoodie and allowed her to see the leathery appendages. The image of them stretching to their full size in front of her still made Twilight shudder every time she thought about it. And the video did little justice to show the massive size of Sunset's wings when she saw them in front of her. She understood how the moniker 'Demon Shimmer' had stuck and why it did.

"I can see why Sunset wanted me to remember that she was still herself, despite the changes. Yet, I can't get past how frightening she looks now…" Twilight Sparkle's wings shifted inside her hoodie, making Trixie shift in the chair next to her.

Shaking her head, Twilight tried to focus on the video as Sunset sat up, covering her mouth in the process. The action made Twilight realize what change was happening next; her fangs. As she heard the redhead let out a scream from the agony she was feeling, she jumped in her chair and nearly knocked Trixie's phone off the desk. However, she managed to regain her composure and placed the phone back to its original position. Twilight paused the video and glanced over at the magician, seeing that she had turned her back to her.

"Wow, I have never seen Trixie like this. She must regret recording this video," thought Twilight Sparkle as she returned her attention to the video and unpaused it.

The video got a bit shaky as Twilight heard Trixie back away quickly. Ignoring the brief wave of nausea that hit her, she continued watching it. Sunset let out another scream of agony, and that caused Twilight to flinch away. Her heart ached as she saw the emotional and physical pain that Sunset was going through increase. A small part of her wanted to stop watching and walk away from the video before she saw the end of it. Yet, something in her kept glued to the chair, unable to move away.

"I have to see the video. It's the least I can do for Sunset. After all, I didn't exactly give her a chance to explain anything. I was a horrible person, wasn't I?" thought Twilight Sparkle as she watched Sunset scream again as the red color spread to her face.

"Yes," replied Twilight's conscience.

Twilight remained silent as she heard Sunset beg for the transformation to stop. She saw Sunset touch the small of her back, just above her tailbone. She watched as the red and yellow-colored tail slowly appeared. When Sunset reached out a hand and touched her tail, Twilight could see that she didn't want it to be real. And that was something she understood, given her transformation.

"Sunset didn't want this to happen; she wanted to stop it. Just like I did…" Twilight Sparkle looked down at her bandage for a moment, another tear making its way down the side of her face.

As the video zoomed out from Sunset, Twilight saw her wings fold up against her back as she attempted to get back on her feet. She could see Sunset's legs trembling as she struggled to stand up. That caused a quiet sob to slip from her lips as she lost her composure for a moment. Sitting here, watching a very personal video of Sunset, it was starting to take a toll on Twilight's conscience and ability to ignore the fact that she hadn't been a good friend. She covered her mouth and tried to stifle her building sobs.

"Let yourself feel the pain, the guilt, the regret, Twilight. You hurt the person you love, and now you see that she suffered in ways that you weren't aware of. Acknowledge that Sunset is someone you care about and that you want to forgive her," said Twilight's conscience, forcing the emotions that she didn't want to feel up to the surface. "I know that you want to be with Sunset, but you have to accept that you didn't treat her right when she tried to be vulnerable with you."

Twilight watched as Sunset staggered weakly to the girls' locker room. The swinging motion of the video nearly brought back Twilight's nausea, but she managed to keep her stomach under control. She kept her eyes on the screen as she saw the camera pan up from the ground towards the bathroom mirrors. However, as she saw Sunset's reflection in the mirror, she jumped out of the chair. The sight of Sunset's eyes changing was too much for Twilight, and she needed to get away from it. She ran over to the door and was about to unlock it when she felt a hand grab her arm.

"Twilight, wait. You need to see the rest of the video," said Trixie as she tightened her grip on Twilight's arm.

"I can't see anymore, it's too much for me," replied Twilight Sparkle, her voice quivering as she glanced over at the phone.

"You need to see the end of the video, Twilight. There is something that Sunset says that you need to hear," said Trixie, hoping to get Twilight to stay.

Twilight Sparkle turned and looked at Trixie. "I-I am not sure I can continue watching, Trixie. I can't stand watching Sunset suffer, knowing what I did and said to her."

"Twilight, I recorded that video to spite Sunset, to blackmail her. Yet, she made me realize that I was wrong. And I am letting you see the video because I want you to hear what she said that night," said Trixie, pulling Twilight towards her phone.

"Trixie, I can't-"

Trixie let go of Twilight as she grabbed her phone and skipped to the part where Sunset spoke. "Here, watch this."

Twilight Sparkle reluctantly pressed play on the video and listened to Sunset said in the video.

"Oh, Celestia! Please, don't let Twilight be frightened of me. I can't take losing her to the disgusting monster that I am now…" said Sunset Shimmer.

The phone trembled in Twilight's hand as she listened further.

"No! I can't do that! If Twilight sees this, she'll push me away forever. And if I lose her, I am not sure that I can accept that," said Sunset Shimmer, her head lowering as she looked down at her claws. "She'll never look at me the same after she sees this side of me."

Tears slowly streamed down Twilight's face as she heard the last thing Trixie recorded of Sunset.

"Nobody will ever look at me again… Twilight will never be able to see past this monster I have become. I am too frightening for her to be able to do that…"

Hearing that Sunset thought she was too frightening almost made Twilight drop Trixie's phone. She felt hurt by the fact that Sunset hadn't trusted her to see past the changes. Yet, she couldn't deny that her actions proved the redhead right. Twilight stared at the image of her standing in front of the mirror; her head turned away from her reflection. Seeing Sunset look so worried, so terrified, it made Twilight understand why she looked hurt by her reaction to her appearance. It was apparent now that she had confirmed the redhead's worst fears, and pushed her away when she tried to apologize. She had gotten so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realize Trixie's phone was beginning to slip from her hand. Luckily, she managed to hand it back to the magician before she dropped it.

"Twilight, are you okay?" asked Trixie, putting her phone back into her pocket.

Twilight Sparkle adjusted her glasses as she grabbed her backpack. "I-I have to go."

"Twilight, wait. I called Sunset a monster when I confronted her that night. I was wrong, so please don't call her that. Don't make the same mistake I did when I tried to get back at her," said Trixie as she met Twilight's gaze. "Sunset cares for you, and she just wants you to accept this part of her."

Twilight Sparkle remained silent.

"Look, all I am saying is listen to Sunset and allow her to explain why she kept her demonic self from you. Just give her a chance, Twilight," said Trixie. "Do you think that's something you can do for her?"

"I-I don't know, Trixie," replied Twilight Sparkle before opening the door and walking out of the classroom.

Finally, the school day was beginning to come to an end. And Ms. Coral's class was easier to bear now that she and Ms. Coral had talked yesterday. It was nice to have at least one teacher not feeling uncomfortable or nervous around her, especially since she wanted to speak to her after class. Twilight wanted someone to help her decide what she should do about the girls. It was something that she couldn't do alone, and her mother was out of the question. She didn't want to involve her mother because she didn't want to expose Sunset's situation to anyone else. And Twilight wasn't sure how she would react to knowing that Sunset was also a she-demon like herself. As the bell rang, and the students exited the classroom, she walked up to Ms. Coral's desk.

"Ms. Coral?" Twilight Sparkle shifted nervously from one foot to the other. "Can I ask you a question?"

Ms. Coral stopped looking at the stack of assignments she had to grade and met Twilight's worried gaze. She pushed her chair out and walked in front of her desk, leaning against the edge.

"Sure. What is it, Twilight?" asked Ms. Coral, her eyes showing her concern.

"Well… I just found out that my friends were lying to me. And because of that, I have been avoiding them. However, someone reminded me that they once forgave me for… you know," replied Twilight Sparkle.

"I do know. So, you're wondering if you should forgive your friends?" asked Ms. Coral.

"Yes, I am not sure what to do. I was hoping you could help me decide." Twilight looked down, still embarrassed. "Would you mind helping me, please?"

Ms. Coral was about to speak when she saw Twilight's friends approaching her classroom. She could see that their expressions ranged from hurt to confused. It was apparent that they were worried about Twilight. Standing up, she walked behind her desk and took a seat in her chair. As Ms. Coral sat down, she met the cowgirl's gaze. That made her realize that the girls wanted to talk to Twilight. Sighing, she looked back at her student.

"I will offer you a piece of advice that someone once told me." Ms. Coral glanced briefly at the girls. "They told me that if your friends really care about you, they will not intentionally hurt you."

"So, you're saying…" Twilight Sparkle looked up. "That my friends do care about me?"

"Yes, that is exactly what I am saying because if your friends do make a mistake, they'll try their hardest to fix it," said Ms. Coral.

"So, what you're saying is that if the girls made a mistake, they'd try to fix it?" asked Twilight Sparkle, remembering how Sunset had tried to do the same with her.

"Yep." Ms. Coral walked out from behind her desk and over to the girls. "And it looks like your friends are here to make amends for what they did."

Twilight Sparkle turned to see that the girls were standing in the doorway. For a moment, she and Applejack met each other's gaze. The cowgirl conveyed an 'I'm sorry' look in her emerald eyes that only made Twilight wish she hadn't acted so harshly. Looking at Rarity, she could see that she was holding tightly onto the cowgirl's hand. Sunset momentarily crossed her mind as she recalled the party at Applejack's farm. Twilight's wings tensed inside of her hoodie as her mind replayed Sunset's hand resting over hers. However, before the memory could play out further, she pushed it aside. As she looked behind Rarity, Twilight saw Fluttershy looking at her, allowing her to see the pain in her cyan eyes.

"Maybe I was a bit harsh towards Fluttershy and the girls. After all, Fluttershy was just trying to be nice," thought Twilight Sparkle.

"And you were also extremely harsh towards Sunset. Don't forget that," added Twilight's conscience.

Sighing, Twilight Sparkle ignored her conscience and walked over to the girls.

"So, how long have you been standing there?" asked Twilight Sparkle.

"Long enough to hear that you're considering forgiving us," said Rarity, managing a weak smile.

"Yes… I am," replied Twilight Sparkle, looking at Ms. Coral.

Ms. Coral got the hint. "I have to run some errands. So, I will leave you girls to discuss your private matters here."

Ms. Coral walked out of her classroom, heading down the hall before making a left and disappearing from the view of the girls. After Ms. Coral left, the girls walked into the classroom, with Pinkie Pie closing the door behind them. Applejack was the first to approach Twilight, letting go of Rarity's hand.

"Why did you avoid us? Was it because we lied about Sunset?" asked Applejack, her voice stern yet gentle.

"Yes. Why did you girls not tell me?" Twilight Sparkle looked at the cowgirl, her eyes showing her hurt and betrayal. "Why did you girls tell Spike, but not me…?"

Applejack sighed. "Sugarcube, we didn't want to lie to you."

"Then why did you?!" shouted Twilight Sparkle, her glasses momentarily becoming flames as her hands balled into fists. "Why did you lie to me about Sunset?"

"We did it for Sunset because we thought she would tell you herself. But we see now that it was a mistake," said Rarity, stepping up to Applejack, resting a hand on her girlfriend's shoulder. "We're sorry."

"How come you told Spike about what happened?" asked Twilight Sparkle, sounding a bit calmer.

"We didn't mean to tell Spike. He overheard us, and Sunset was the one who decided to tell him," replied Fluttershy, coming out from behind Rarity. "We were discussing telling you when he walked up."

"You were planning to tell me? Then, why didn't you? Because Sunset wanted you to? Because she was scared of losing me?" Twilight removed her hoodie and let her wings wrap around herself. For once, it was a comfort to have them.

"Well… yes," said Pinkie Pie as her hair lost its usual bounce and curliness. "We tried to convince Sunset that she should tell you the truth."

"Yet, that didn't work, did it? Because I saw what Sunset looks like, and it was…" Twilight trailed off, not sure if scary was the right word.

"Terrifying? Shocking?" said Fluttershy as she made her way towards Twilight. She stopped short when she noticed her backing away. "That's how I felt when I saw what had happened to Sunset last night. But… I faced my fears and was able to see past her, um, changes."

"Wait. You were scared of Sunset? All of you?" Twilight Sparkle saw the Fluttershy nod in response. She looked at the rest of the girls, shocked to hear that they hadn't reacted well to Sunset's transformation.

"Yes, we were all scared of Sunset… at first. Then, we realized that she was still herself. That she was still Sunset, no matter what her appearance is now," replied Rarity.

"I… don't doubt that. But…" Twilight Sparkle's hand came to her arm, resting above the bandage. "Sunset, she…" She couldn't finish her sentence; it was too painful.

"What did Sunset do?" Applejack approached Twilight, grabbing her hand and pulling it away from her arm. "What happened to you?"

"Sunset…" Twilight looked down at her arm, debating whether she should show the girls the lacerations. Deciding it was going to get revealed anyway, she turned her arm and allowed them to see the bandage, saying, "She injured me last night."

Applejack stared wide-eyed at the red-tinged bandage on Twilight's arm. There were five faint lines of blood going across it. As she looked at her friend's arm, she saw that the bandage nearly covered her whole forearm. That made the cowgirl sick to her stomach, not wanting to imagine what lay beneath the bandage. Covering her mouth, she glanced at Rainbow Dash, who was also looking back at her. She could see the disgust and shock that was present in the rainbow-haired girl's eyes.

"Sunset did… what?!" asked Rainbow Dash, turning to Twilight, wanting to make sure that she heard her correctly.

"Sunset… uh, injured me, but-"

"Sunset injured you?! That's it. I'm going to find her and give her a piece of my mind," Rainbow Dash said as she stormed towards the door, her expression unreadable, despite the angry tone in her voice.

"So much for Sunset not being Demon Shimmer like she said…" thought Rainbow Dash as she sped off down the hallway.

"Dash, wait! Twilight didn't say if Sunset was Dem-" shouted Applejack, but it was no use. Rainbow Dash had sped, heading to her bike. "Great! I guess someone has to follow her and make sure she doesn't overdo it with Sunset, even if she is Demon Shimmer again."

"Why does Rainbow Dash always have to jump to conclusions…?" thought Applejack as she returned her attention to the rest of the girls.

The cowgirl gave Rarity a quick peck on the cheek. "I'll be back, assuming Dash hasn't done somethin' drastic. If I need you girls, I will text you."

"Wait, Apple-" Twilight Sparkle didn't have time to finish her sentence as she watched Applejack follow Rainbow Dash, heading to her truck. "It wasn't like that…"