Sunset landed roughly on the floor of the hallway where some student had pushed her. She didn't know who, but she knew why. As was the same with the students surrounding her, trapping her now: they thought she was the one behind this all. Spreading rumors all throughout the school.
Anon-a-Miss.
Verbal insults were thrown from all directions and she hugged her knees to her chest as the tears streamed down her face. It was all she could to try and protect herself, despite no one physically attacking her since the rude abrasive shove.
She was breaking. The girls- the very same she began to see as the family she never had- and hurled her out as fast as possible. They never even gave her a chance. Her life was crashing down once more and it felt as though she'd never be able to build it up again.
Hey. Sunset.
A familiar voice called for her. She blinked a few times, straining to hear the voice, figure out where it was coming from over the mob. She didn't have to, however, because it wasn't one of the many, many angry students. It was coming from herself. Or, her mind more specifically.
It only took her a moment, but soon it clicked. She knew what- rather, who- this was.
Demon Shimmer. The closed off, almost shy version of her who held the form of herself corrupted by the Element of Magic. If you had told her even a few days ago that the reserved being would approach her of her own volition, she'd have laughed in your face. Yet, here she was, doing just that.
In her mind's eye, she saw Demon Shimmer materialize next to her. The pointy-eared girl sat with her legs crossed in front of her, her claws fidgeting slightly with her tail. Sunset let the world around her dim as she focused on what was happening in the mindscape, sniffling and crying all the same as she was actually.
Finally, after an almost uncomfortable silence, Demon spoke up again.
"I.. I would ask if you're alright but, I think it's pretty clear you aren't."
Sunset whimpered and buried her face in her knees, "I just don't understand why someone would do this, now of all times. This school is much worse than when I broke it apart or even when the Sirens made everyone fight. They've all become such, well, jerks!" She choked back another sob
"Wow, really? I didn't notice," Demon muttered under her breath. With a sigh, she uncrossed her legs, uncurled her tail and leaned back against it. Her wing wrapped around Sunset in some sort of comfy side hug. She was warm. It was nice. "Look, I know I can be.. Distant, but I'm not gonna let you suffer through this alone. In fact, I'm not gonna let you suffer any longer!" She proclaimed.
Confusion spread across the baconette's face, and she raised her head to direct it at her demonic self, "What are you talking about..?"
Instead of answering her directly, a red claw pointed at a now visible image of the real world. Specifically, at the journal Sunset had dropped when she had fallen. It was open to that latest entry from Princess Twilight.
Sometimes all you can do is stay strong.
Stay yourself.
And find your family.
Sunset shook her head sadly, "I don't see what you're getting at. It just says to find my family, yet that's impossible. My family's been gone my whole life, and the closest thing I had.." She shuddered, "...I'm not ready to face, nor would she be happy to see me."
Demon chuckled softly, "Sunset, family doesn't have to be blood related. Nor does it have to be of those who raised you. Family is who you love, those you would stand by, who you would do anything for. Not for recognition, but because you care."
Sunset ran the words through again, before looking back at the journal entry. Then, it clicked.
"The girls... The girls were my family."
A small grin was tossed her way and the girl beside her nodded.
"But, they left me behind. They didn't listen to me. They all think I'm guilty of being Anon-a-Miss." She whispered, her tears were threatening to return in full force.
The warmth around her back and side disappeared as Demon Shimmer suddenly stood up, a fire ablaze in her eyes.
"Then make them listen," she said, holding out her claw to the still kneeling girl before her, "and let them understand just what they've done."
Sunset stared at the four pointed digits outstretched before her, preparing to grab it before she hesitated, her own hand hovering above the demon's. She bit her lip.
"And, if it doesn't work?"
"Then I'll still be right here with you, and we'll figure things out from there. No matter what happens, it'll be okay, got it?" Was the quiet, assured response from the being.
Sunset sniffled one last time, and took the offered hand, allowing herself to be gently pulled to her feet and back into the surrounding world.
She jumped to her feet, snatched up the journal, and sprinted out of the building. She was going to find her family, and even if she couldn't, it would be okay. After all...
She'd already found part of it.
A thoughtful look washed across the face of Sunset Shimmer, as she looked around the room at the sleeping forms of her friends, her family. It had worked. She had gotten them back, and as a seeming bonus, Anon-a-Miss had been revealed. Over the course of this new, past week, she had begun to mend the wounds with the girls caused by the whole event. They apologised profusely, but Sunset forgave them. She understood how with her past, they might react in such a way.
But now, they had truly accepted her, and were able to look past her previous actions. Now it was time for the former pony to do the same.
Closing her eyes, she entered truly the space where her demon-self resided. While she hadn't spoken up since Sunset had taken her offered 'hand', she could feel her presence much closer throughout the past week, warm and comforting. Usually, the demon did her best to stay out of sight and out of mind- as possible as could be.
Sunset wandered, not caring where she was headed. Her feet made no sound against the space beneath her. No walls greeted her. What surrounded her was nothing more than an abyss, stretching infinitely in all directions. Soft taps came from behind her, soon falling into sync with her stride.
The two walked a while, an easy silence over the two. Sunset finally broke it, "why is it that you hardly ever talk?" She turned her attention to Demon Shimmer.
A nonchalant shrug was tossed in her direction, "is there any reason to?"
Sunset contemplated this response for a bit. She wasn't quite sure what she had been expecting from her other self, but it wasn't that.
"Anyways, I get the feeling that's not why you wanted to talk to me," a sigh, "so, what didja need?" The red clawed demon tried to seem at ease, but was failing at it. Her concern- and... fear? -was clear.
"It's just... Well," they had stopped walking at this point, "I've done a lot of reflection recently. I had figured before all, y'know, this anon-a-miss stuff, that I'd finally been forgiven for all the bad things I did. I was positive the Battle of the Bands was the big turning point, that suddenly I'd be able to laugh and joke along with everyone else about the Fall Formal," she shook her head solemnly, remorse in her tone, "but I was wrong."
The demon cocked her head, curiosity sparking in her glowing eyes. She said nothing, waiting for the girl to continue. When she did, more confidence lined her voice.
"I realize now. How are others expected to so easily forgive me, if I couldn't even forgive myself? That's why all their quips would hurt so much, because I couldn't look past my own mistakes. And not only did my own actions project onto them, I projected it onto you, too."
Surprise filtered across the demon's face. Her previous fears waned. This is not where she had expected this to lead.
"I called you Demon because that's all I thought you were, the monster I became at the formal. I've learned though, and you don't deserve to be called what you aren't. Which is why I'd like to give you a nickname. As a kind of, refreshed start," Sunset took a deep breath, "A name that isn't going to hold weight."
Silence.
Her demonic self stared at her. She didn't say anything, didn't even blink. The baconette felt her earlier confidence start to drain. Did the fiery being not approve of such a thing?
Then, there was laughter. And laughter. Sunset looked up to see Demon Shimmer barking in the joy-filled sound. She didn't understand what was so funny, but at least it wasn't mocking. Eventually, the laughter quieted down into a few giggles as the demon contained her laughter.
"Sorry, sorry," she breathed, "it's just that was like, super weird to actually hear," a grin split her features as she snarked, "and kinda sappy too."
Sunset rolled her eyes. The two resumed their walk.
"I'm up for a nickname though. What’d you have in mind?"
"Well.. I was thinking, maybe.." She glanced up nervously, "Dee?"
The being seemed to think for a few moments, still grinning. Then, she chuckled.
"Dee, huh?" She lightly elbowed Sunset in the side, "Sounds like a lazy escape of a name to me, but..."
Her snarky grin disappeared, and was replaced by a small, sincere smile as she turned to face the former pony. Sunset couldn't resist the way her own smile popped up in happy surprise. This marked the first time Sunset could remember seeing Dee truly smile.
".. I like it."
Author's Note
my name is [sunset] I'm the [pony] sent by [twilight to upload this story].
GTwilight's gonna kill me for putting that reference oop-
Anyways, I originally wrote this wanting a way to introduce the use of Demon Shimmer's nickname, Dee, into Dear Twilight Sparkle without it being out of the blue (and to help further develop the timeline of the story, I guess). It gives a small little slice of what Sunset's and Dee's relationship had been like.
