Diary of the Dead

Sunset’s apartment seemed rather lonely that evening. She made her customary microwaveable dinner, and sat down at the one chair that graced her table. Yes, the entire room seemed to tower over her, filling her with a sense of dread and sadness. No matter what, all she could think about was Fluttershy and the horrific decision that had almost been made. The more that it assaulted her mind, the more she saw what a bad choice it was. Thankfully, she had friends who had convinced her that suicide was not the way out.

You were right, as usual, Twilight, Sunset told herself, Fluttershy would have been devastated if I’d done something so terrible. I can’t leave my friends or the school. I still have a lot to live for, and she’d want me to chase my dreams. So, Fluttershy, I swear to you that I will. Someday, I’ll realize every wish I’ve ever made…I promise.

After making her silent promise, she dug through her fettuccini with a determined look on her face. Some element of sadness still existed, but it was quickly evaporating in favor of a certitude unlike any she’d ever known. To be utterly frank, it felt amazing. She saw Fluttershy standing in front of her, urging her forward. She’d made a promise to her deceased friend, and she intended to keep it. The ghosts of the past might haunt her mind forever, but she knew a bright future lay in her path. She was now more eager than ever to find it and to erase the damage she’d done beforehand.

When her dinner had been scarfed down, she threw away the container and turned her attention elsewhere. She sat down on her bright red couch and pulled the diary from its place in her jacket. Sitting it on the coffee table in front of her, she began mulling over some ethics. On the one hand, it was Fluttershy’s very personal diary. She didn’t feel quite right in pawing through it. But on the other hand, it could open up so many doors to how Fluttershy truly felt. Sunset had often wondered just how deep of a sisterly love Fluttershy had for her. The diary could be the answer to everything!

“Alright,” she said out loud, staring at the book, “I’m gonna look through you…in Fluttershy’s memory.”

So, she flipped it open to entry number one. It was from December, and Sunset recalled it as the time both she and Fluttershy had first arrived at CHS as freshmen. Sunset was cold and angry, enrolling in the school just to satisfy her plans for world domination. Fluttershy was as quiet and kind as she’d ever been. Sunset recalled how, on the first day of class, she’d bullied the poor girl in order to establish dominance. The horrible memory racked her mind, until she couldn’t take it anymore. But then, Fluttershy’s image appeared once again, beckoning her down to the page.

Dear Diary,

Today was my first day of high school. It might be a tad bit silly for someone my age to be keeping a journal. But I find writing to be a solid and solitary form of escapism…especially from the world I’ve found myself in. High school is, no doubt, some form of ancient torture. I thought the political and social hierarchies at Canterlot Middle School were bad. But here? Here you have to look, sound, dress, and act like everyone else! Individualism? Forget it. I tried to explain my love of animals to someone, and not only did they laugh at me, they told me that I wasn’t worth anything! Oh…I miss my friends from CMS! They stood beside me, and didn’t berate me no matter what! But they all went to other schools far away…and I…I had to go here…to this stupid institution where I have no friends!

“Wow,” Sunset said aloud, “I had no idea Fluttershy could be so…angry.”

The entry continued:

Nobody likes me here, and I feel I’ve stumbled upon a thorny patch in the garden of life. I was forced to eat lunch alone today, while I watched everyone else join up with their ridiculous cliques. Ugh! I hate cliques! Always bitching and moaning about everything while making life hell for everyone else!

But that wasn’t even the worst part. I met this girl, Sunset Shimmer. She seemed very cross about something, so I tried to warm up to her…and she hit me! She punched me right in the arm! I’ve never been treated so awfully in my life by anyone! She even forced me against a locker and tried to take my books away! Oh…will I ever find peace at this horrid academy?

Sunset was in tears all over again by the time she finished reading the entry. She closed the diary and held it to her chest, thinking over and over of that fateful meeting. The feel of Fluttershy’s skin on her clenched fist echoed through her mind. It was then that she formed another regret: taking the diary in the first place. If she hadn’t, then she wouldn’t have been forced to remember that terrible day.

“But, perhaps,” she said to nobody as she sniffed, “…perhaps I was meant to find this. To see just what my behavior was, and how much of a monster I’d become. Oh, Fluttershy…I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for everything!”

“I’m sure she forgave you,” came the kind, concerned voice of Twilight Sparkle.

Sunset jumped up in a start. “Twilight! You’re here!”

“Well, Celestia did ask me to act as your accountability partner this week,” Twilight said, “and, from the looks of things, I got here just in time. You weren’t about to-“

“No, I wasn’t,” Sunset said, getting the gist of Twilight’s speech, “I was just…looking through this diary we found.”

“Ah, I see,” Twilight said as the two settled on the couch together, “anything interesting?”

“Plenty,” Sunset responded, “I’ve only read one installment, but it’s taught me a lot.”

“What about?”

“The way she felt when she came to CHS,” Sunset said, “…and the day I first hit her.”

“Whoa…,” Twilight said, “…I mean, I know you weren’t exactly the nicest girl back then. But, hitting Fluttershy?”

“Yep, I did,” Sunset said, “and I’m not proud of it at all. I used to be, because I thought I was putting Fluttershy in her place. But, now…now I just hate myself for it.”

“You made a mistake,” Twilight said, “but your friendship with Fluttershy made up for it.”

“I don’t know if that could ever make up for it,” Sunset said, “but I know one thing that can.”

“What’s that?”

“Following my dreams,” Sunset said, “and achieving the impossible. Not just for me…but for her as well.”