Expectations of Reality

Chapters

Reality
A Painful Hug
S.M.I.L.E
Danger
Love
Deal Gone Wrong
Detention Gone Wrong
Hospital Visit
Message Recieved
Missing in Action
Call from an Old Friend
The Equestrian Side
Newsflash
Maternal Instincts
To dream of a Princess
Area 51
Dream of a Nightmare

Reality

Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship was enraged. Her fists were clenched tight as she stepped towards the large smoking crater at the front of Canterlot High School. For the first time in a very long time, Twilight wanted revenge. She wished Sunset was dead.

The thought surprised her. She wasn't even sorry it crossed her mind. Sunset Shimmer betrayed her mentor. Sunset Shimmer stole her crown. Sunset Shimmer tried to kill her and her friends. Sunset Shimmer...

Twilight stopped at the edge of the crater cliff to see the young teenage girl laying at the bottom of the crater. Sunset groaned as she slowly moved her aching joints. Her body, from what Twilight could see, was covered in cuts and bruises. Some of her cuts were bleeding but they weren't too bad. She cried out in pain for a moment as she rested her hand on her shoulder. Twilight was starting to feel guilty...

She hated it. But she was the Princess of Friendship. She believed anypo- Anyone could change. Just because she was in a different universe, didn't mean it didn't also apply there. She took in a deep breath as Sunset looked up at her. Her light aqua eyes reflecting deep emotional and physical pain that made Twilight want to hug her right then and there. No.

No. At that moment, Sunset was still evil. She tried to kill her.

"You will never rule in Equestria. Any power you may have had in this world is gone. Tonight, you've shown everyone who you really are. You've shown them what is in your heart." Twilight snapped with rage, her fingernails leaving marks against her palm as she squeezed her fists tighter.

"I-I'm sorry." Sunset stammered. Her voice cracked under intense emotions as tears started streaming down her cheeks. She let out an ugly sob before continuing. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know there was another way."

Twilight bit her lip. Now she was really starting to feel guilty. Moments ago she wanted her dead, now she feels very bad for her. Twilight turned her head slightly towards her friends. If anyone could help Sunset Shimmer, it would be them.

"The magic of friendship doesn't just exist in Equestria. It's everywhere. You can seek it out, or you can forever be alone. The choice is yours."

"But..." Sunset took in a deep breath before wincing. Taking in a sharp breath from the pain. "But all I've ever done since being here is drive everyone apart. I don't know the first thing about friendship."

Twilight smiled as she gestured towards her human friends who moved to stand around her with soft smiles.

"I bet they can teach you."

Sunset looked down at the dirt in shame as the rest of the school surrounded the crater. Sending hateful glares at the girl below. Sunset slowly moved towards the wall of the crater, she favored her left leg as she limped. She began attempting to climb up but her strength was mostly depleted. Twilight held out her hand to her.

Sunset hesitantly took it. Twilight grunted as she used her strength to help bring Sunset back to the surface. Sunset crawled onto the ground, taking in deep breaths as Twilight knelt down on one knee and started rubbing circles against her upper back. Sunset yelped in pain. Choosing to move away from the comforting gesture as if Twilight's touch hurt her.

She kept mumbling apologies under her breath. Twilight cringed as she stepped away, unsure of her next move when Principal Celestia with a strained smile came out from the crowd towards her, followed by Vice-Principal Luna.

"I believe this belongs to you," Celestia announced, extending the Elements of Harmony crown towards her. Twilight gracefully knelt on one knee as Celestia placed it on her head. "A true princess in any world leads not by forcing others to bow before her, but by inspiring others to stand with her. We have all seen that you are capable of just that. I hope you see it too, Princess Twilight."

"I do."

The crowd cheered in celebration as there was a silent decision that the night must go on. Twilight followed the crowd back inside with her friends. Fully expecting to ask Flash Sentry to a dance. As everyone else went back inside the school through the now destroyed front doors, Twilight looked back to Sunset Shimmer.

She saw Principal Celestia sitting down next to her on the ground. Sunset refused to make eye contact as Celestia calmly explained in a quiet voice that Twilight could not hear. Twilight looked up to the Moon. She still had time before she had to go back to Equestria. Might as well enjoy it at least.

"Sunset Shimmer?"

Sunset didn't dare look at her. She didn't need to see Principal Celestia's disappointed glare to make her see flashbacks of Princess Celestia banishing her because she was a disappointment. Because she couldn't make friends. She was dealing with enough...Emotions right now. She didn't need flashbacks to add to that.

She was surprisingly thankful for her injuries. They supplied her with pain. Enough pain for her emotions to not overwhelm her to the point of a complete breakdown. She would be fine. She had to be fine. She saw Celestia sit down next to her on the ground. Sunset looked to the cement when Celestia rested a hand on her shoulder. An attempt to comfort her. In a strange way, it almost reminded her of when Celestia would use her wing to cover her back in a comforting gesture. Sunset felt nausea now.

"Sunset, what you did...Can not go unpunished. You understand that, correct?"

Sunset nodded without speaking a word. Afraid of what she would say. She knew she had to be punished. She knew she deserved it.

"Come. We should go to the main office."

Celestia slowly helped Sunset onto her shaky feet. She held the younger girl's arm as they slowly approached the school. Celestia noticed she was limping. Covered in scratches and bruises. It concerned her greatly. Maybe she should call her parents to pick her up?

"When we get inside, I will see if I can call your parents to come to pick you up. Alright?"

"Th-They aren't in town." Sunset muttered. Celestia had the gut feeling she was being lied to but decided to let the matter drop for a few minutes. They had work to do. Celestia nodded towards Luna as a greeting and a signal for her to follow them. Luna, who had been leaning against one of the inside walls of the school, looking pretty angry nodded back before following her sister and Sunset into the main office.

"She turned into a DEMON!" Vice-Principal Luna shouted in Principal Celestia's office. Luna slammed her hands down on her sister's desk as Celestia pinched her nose, trying to calm a growing headache.

"Keep your voice down, Luna." Celestia hissed. "She is sitting right outside the office. I would rather she didn't hear the Vice-Principal insult her to make her feel worse."

"She deserves it." Luna snapped back. "She had done horrible things is every single one of the students here and we just sat here. Having to listen to the horrible things. What did we do? Nothing. Absolutely fucking nothing. She has gone far too long without any formal punishment. This is our chance to expel her. Maybe even turn her over to the po-"

"We are doing nothing of the sort!" Celestia fired back. "Yes. It's true she did awful things. I am not going to deny that. But she might change. Probably will change based on her reaction. Sunset Shimmer isn't you or me, Luna. We paid for our sins. She will too. Just...Let's...Let's just find out how we will...punish her."

"I have an idea," Luna said as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Expel her."

"Luna..." Celestia said in a warning tone.

"Then turn her over to the police."

"Absolutely not. She is from another world. She probably doesn't have records of any kind. We would need to explain why she was even here in the first place! We might lose our jobs because we let someone with no records other than one page she filled out two years ago, enroll in this school. Do you really want that?"

Luna bit her lip. She did not. Celestia sighed as she got up from her desk and walked over to her cabinet filled with student files. It took her a minute or two before she found Sunset Shimmer's file, pulled it out, then place it on her desk.

Celestia sat back down and then opened the file. It contained suspension forms, report cards, and her personal information. Celestia had never actually read Sunset's file. She had this bad habit of trusting what students put down on their own information forms.

Celestia opened her computer, then opened google maps. Quickly typing Sunset's given address into the system when a result came up. Celestia shook her head, then leaned back in her chair with a worried scowl.

"Tia?" Luna asked with concern. "What is it?"

"The address Sunset gave us is wrong. It's to an old Chinese restaurant that was abandoned two years ago. I can only assume the rest of the information she gave us is false as well." Celestia explained as she grabbed the form and started to read it once again. "It says her mother is...Scarlet Fireglow. Her father is unknown."

Celestia typed the Mother's name into google before her eyes grew wide in surprise.

"Oh my god." She mumbled.

"What? What is it?" Luna asked.

"She...Is dead." Celestia whispered. Before Luna moved to look at her sister's screen to see a news article about a car crash, killing Scarlet Fireglow and an unknown child who was too badly burned to identify. Luna backed away from the screen, turning her head to look out the window of Celestia's office door to the girl with red and yellow hair sitting in the office under the supervision of Raven Inkwell, the school administrator.

"Does that mean she is...homeless?"

"I don't know for sure. There is no emergency contact either. W-What are we supposed to do now?"

Luna shrugged and she walked to the couch against the farthest wall before flopping into it.

"I don't know. I really don't know."

Celestia ran a hand through her hair.

"Let's focus on what we can do right now...Let's start with punishment. A punishment that doesn't lead to her being expelled or thrown into jail preferably."

"Alright. Fine." Luna agreed.

---End of Chapter One---

A Painful Hug

Luna really hated feeling emotions. They were confusing and with the right emotions, could send you down a rabbit hole of despair causing you to stab your sister at the age of 14 after your parents die, then sending 1000 days is Juvenille Detention hall.

Luna was having conflicting emotions. She was angry at Sunset Shimmer. She had never been so angry at a student before in her life. She wanted her to get the whole "You really screwed up" package. On the other hand, she felt sad about Sunset's parents. The thought that she might be homeless.

She kept quiet. Refusing to let anyone see her conflicted emotions because unlike Celestia, she didn't wear her heart on her sleeve. It would lead to trouble. A sort of trouble that Luna didn't need as she watched three teenagers stumble around the entrance of the school.

Snips and Snails pushed a wheelbarrow full of bricks she managed to find in storage (Because how else would they have gotten the bricks on such sort notice?) towards Sunset as she sat on the ground next to her own pile of bricks spreading mortar on each one she placed to fix like glue.

She tapped her foot with impatience as Sunset flinched in obvious pain, occasionally shifting her position on the ground to make her injured leg better. Where was Celestia?

As if Celestia was reading Luna's thoughts, she stepped into her view beside her with a concerned frown. Joining Luna in watching the misfits...Or some would call them criminals fixing the building slowly.

"Did you call their parents?" Luna asked after a tense moment of silence between the sisters. Celestia nodded.

"I called Snips and Snails' parents. They should be here momentarily." Celestia replied, followed by a sigh. "I wasn't able to contact anyone for Sunset. When I used the phone number she had given me, it was out of service."

"Typical."

They turned to see two cars driving up to the parking lot. Parking next to each other. A mother came out of one driver's side window for one car, a Father for the other car.

"SNIPS! DARLING! COME HERE!"

"SNAILS! YOU ARE IN REAL TROUBLE!"

Snips and Snails cringed before looking back at each other with horrified expressions. Then the drivers started shouting at one another. Hurling insults that no one should repeat if they are sane about who's parenting was worse. Luna waved them away to their parents. Snips and Snails almost looked terrified to leave as they started a slow but steady death march towards the two arguing drivers.

Sunset continued to work. Making sure she didn't look towards the portals as Twilight disappeared through the portal after one last hug. Leaving five girls to turn their attention to the fight in the parking lot. Luna looked back towards Sunset. Trying to block out the noise so when the police came for disturbance of the peace...Or something like that, she could play dumb. She didn't need them looking up her record anytime soon.

Sunset continued laying down mortar like a machine. Lay down mortar. Laying down the brick. Repeat. Finally, the arguing stopped with two last insults, followed by hearing the screeching sound of cars pulling away with angry honks. It's sad really that they live in the same part of town.

Celestia left Luna, walking towards Sunset. Sunset briefly stopped when she noticed her approach but decided to continue her work.

"Are you expecting a ride home, Sunset?" Celestia asked with that kind motherly voice.

"No." Sunset mumbled.

"Where do you live? Maybe I can dri-"

"I will be fine, Principal Celestia," Sunset said with a harsh tone. She looked down at the ground in embarrassment before resuming her work of laying down the mortar. "I can just take the bus. Can I go now?"

"Yes. Be sure to return on Monday unless you are sick. We will have much to discuss."

Sunset nodded, mumbling her goodbyes under her breath before grabbing her bag and walking towards the bus stop. Luna and Celestia watched her as Luna moved to stand next to her.

"Should we...investigate? She might need to go to a hospital..." Luna pointed out.

"No. At least not right now. It's late. Besides, she would need a guardian to be checked in. She doesn't have one it seems." Celestia explained. Luna nodded in agreement, then tugged on her sister's arm. Pointing towards their car in the facility parking lot.

"Come on. Let's go home."

Sunset Shimmer's home wasn't much. It was an old warehouse near the docks that was owned by the Flimflam. Inc. It was supposed to be demolished years ago but some legal mumbo jumbo got in the way, keeping Sunset's home safe. There were some holes in the roof and wall, rats running around and the security was awful but it was all she had.

Sunset used her phone flashlight to cross the large area and walk into a small corner where a small bed with some books, hidden food, a guitar, and other essentials to life where. She snuggled into her makeshift bed, leaning against the wall as she dug for an item hidden in the blankets.

The pain was starting to be less effective. It was still there. Especially on her back where her wings and tail had been, not to mention her splitting headache. But the thoughts were back. Stronger than ever. She felt her anxiety increase at an alarming rate as she thought of the insults she would receive when she returned to school. She knew they were all going to be true. She knew she deserved it all.

But that didn't make it hurt any less.

She slipped out a razor from her blankets. She removed the safety cap and took off her jacket. She rolled up her sleeve to press the double blades against her arm. She sliced.

It wasn't deep. It wasn't meant to be. It was deep enough to sting. It was deep enough to draw blood but not deep enough to kill. Part of Sunset was happy it couldn't do that unless she pressed it against her wrists. But most of her was disappointed. She could have ended it all. It would be painful. Slow. But eventually, it would be over in a matter of hours.

Now, if only she had the guts to do it.

She did a few more cuts. Taking deep breathes as her thoughts were pushed aside to welcome the new pain. It would only work for a matter of hours but she cherished those hours like a hug. A painful hug.

---End of Chapter Two---

S.M.I.L.E

Monday came quicker than anyone wanted. Especially Sunset Shimmer. She was still injured from her transformation. Her cuts and bruises were healing nicely, she still had a limp and the wounds on her back from where her wings and tail were still burned.

She didn't want to come to school. Not for the usual reasons of course, but because of the way they would insult her. Hurt her. She did it to others. She made others feel the way she did now but she was only one person. This was the entire school. No. She deserved every moment of it. She did this to herself.

She had to repeatably remind herself of the fact as she stepped off the city bus and onto school property. The bell was ringing so students started to pour into school to head to classes. Sunset took in a deep breath when she pushed open the doors to Canterlot High, trying not the second guess herself when the world seemed to come to an abrupt and violent halt.

A large part of the student body stopped in the lobby. There were overdramatic gasps which almost made Sunset have to physically stop herself from eye-rolling. Then there were the hateful glares, the giggling of hate, and the insults. Sunset knew she had study hall. She wasn't sure whether to be relieved that she didn't need to be stuck in a class with 30 people for the next hour.

"That bitch demon should have died."

Sunset couldn't agree more. She tightened her hold on the straps of her bag but pushed on through the shaken crowd. She weaved past people, some more confident than others to throw empty cans or crumpled pieces of paper. Heavens knows they want to kill her. She opened the double doors of the Library, seeing that every table was occupied. She mumbled swear words to herself as some students noticed she entered, then leaned over to their friends to gossip when the bell rang again.

Some students left but Sunset didn't want to sit on the first level of the Library where most of the activity was. She made her way up to the second level, hiding in the corner of the large circular room behind bookshelves that Sunset was sure no one had been to in years based on some of the dust layers sprinkled among the shelves.

She sat down, yanking off her bag with a hard jerk. Making her back seize up in pain at the sudden movement. She took in slow deep breathes to keep quiet to ensure no one heard her.

"Um...You OK?" A breathy female voice called out. She looked in front of her to see a small girl, wearing a red scarf and black zipped up sweater with a scroll and quill on the front with jogging pants and small black boots. She was wearing small round glasses on the bridge of her nose that she had to push up to properly see through them, Sunset guessed they were too big for her face, messy hair that was mostly on one side, pulled into a ponytail mixed with a concerned expression. How did Sunset not hear or see her coming?

"Fine." Sunset snapped. Making the girl flinch. Sunset had only seen the girl occasionally. Strangely Sunset always only saw her in the Library working on some project, taking with Raven Inkwell like they were old friends, or in an art class. Trying to convince the teacher that fine art isn't the end-all, be-all of art.

"Clearly you are not." The girl replied. Stepping away from the cart of books, to walk towards Sunset, who was getting more uncomfortable by the minute. "No offense but you look like you got hit by a truck rather than a friendship laser."

"Friendship...Laser?" Sunset slowly repeated with surprise. "Why are you talking to me? You know what I have done."

"Yeah. I am well aware. I was brainwashed. Very uncomfortable by the way." She pointed out before pushing her glasses back up. "But you are in way worse condition. You suck but...I don't think even you deserve..."

The girl gestured to Sunset's injuries with an awkward gesture by circling her finger towards her. Struggling to find the right words.

"That..." The girl finally said.

"I am fine," Sunset assured her. But the girl was unconvinced. "Really, I am. Not worry about me. Go on doing...Whatever it is that you are doing."

"I am the Library assistant. I work here when I have lunch or a spare. Other than that I am in classes." The girl explained before holding out her hand towards Sunset. "I know who you are. But you probably don't know me. I am Bini Filters."

Sunset nervously looked towards Bini's hand, then back to Bini's blue eyes. Why was she being...Nice? It was starting to concern Sunset. Sunset shouldn't trust her. She would probably just stab her in the back. Sunset reached out and shook her hand slowly. Tensing up in case of a betrayal. Bini smiled, then pulled her hand back once the handshake was over.

"I am assuming you are up here because you are...Hiding?" Bini concluded. Sunset nodded. "Understandable. Almost everyone hates you at the moment. Gah, I mean..."

Bini started stumbling on her words, trying to take back what she said until Sunset grabbed her arm and stood up to make her stop babbling.

"It's fine. I know. I deserve it."

Bini didn't argue with that. She simply chuckled awkwardly and moved back towards the cart.

"I-I got to go. I have more books to shelve and I am sure an honor student like you has tons of work to do. I will see you around, Sunset." Bini said. She waved her goodbye before disappearing into another row of shelves. Leaving Sunset confused.

Luna sighed as she leaned against her sister's desk. Watching Celestia pace back and forth. It was never going to be a good sign when Celestia second-guessed her actions. It was never going to be a good sign when she started pacing. Luna tapped impatiently as Celestia fiddled with a lock of her hair, occasionally mumbling out a few words while she was pacing.

"Tia. This routine hasn't worked before. It won't work now." Luna casually called out. Celestia stopped for a moment, giving her sister a glare of annoyance before continuing to pace back and forth across her office.

"I should have insisted to drive her to the hospital!" Celestia finally said out loud. Expressing her concerns to Luna. "Did you see her this morning, Lulu? She still looked pretty badly injured. She was still limping! I am very worried about her."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Me?" Celestia almost yelled. "What about us?"

"Look I am not that one who has maternal instincts activated right now. I just work at a school. I take care of the student while they are on this property. That is my job. Your job too. But you seem to almost want to invite her into our house to stay!"

"Would that be such a bad thing?" Celestia asked. Luna rolled her eyes, turning her back to Celestia to brace herself against the desk. Now Luna had really done it. She now had confirmation that Celestia really was getting desperate to be a mother.

"Fine. We will take her to the hospital after school." Luna relented. "Wait...How are we supposed to do that?"

"We will tell her the truth," Celestia said as she shoved some files into her cabinet. Luna chuckled that grew into a full-on laugh. "Is something funny?"

"You...Think that simply telling the truth will make her come with us? That's rich! Hey, Sunset Shimmer. Nice to see you. By the way, we know your mother is dead, we suspect you are homeless and you look like hell right now. So we are going to the hospital because again, you look like hell. Yeah. That will go down really well."

"Well, obviously I am not going to say it like that, drama queen," Celestia said with a small smile.

"You might not say it like that but that's how it is going to sound to her," Luna replied. Celestia began pacing again.

"Yes. OK. I will figure it out. Now, for the matter of why I brought you here." Celestia sat down in her chair, then pulled out a file from her desk before handing it to Luna. "The school district has issued an investigation of the incident on Friday."

"Why?" Luna asked as she started to read the file.

"Nasa saw the Rainbow...Beam from space. They told the school board, wanting answers because it happened right outside our school."

"They saw it from...Space." Luna said slowly in disbelief.

"Well, it was very bright. They couldn't see much but they knew it wasn't normal. It wasn't a gas line explosion. We can't play that story. I tried. I spent 3 hours in that meeting on Saturday trying to convince them but...It didn't work. They are sending S.M.I.L.E over to investigate. An Agent...Sweetdrops, I believe is coming next week."

"Great," Luna muttered and handed the file back to her sister. "I think we are screwed."

"I will keep telling them it was a gas line explosion. Bad timing. I will order all teachers to relay that message to their classes to keep the truth from reaching the agency. They may not believe it but they will grow tired of hearing the same answers over and over again. Besides, it's not like they can prove what really happened. They saw the rainbow. Not the actual events on the ground."

Luna mutely nodded as she sat in one of the two chairs in front of her sister's desk.

"What does S.M.I.L.E stand for anyway? I never heard of them."

"Some sort of secret intelligence organization that works with the government to find explanations for events that don't make sense. I don't really know. When I asked they barely gave me anything on the matter. Simply claimed they were secret intelligence, working for the government and everything else was classified. I didn't even get an answer on if we can get more money to hire a construction crew to fix the entranceway. Sunset, Snips, and Snails can't do it on their own."

"That explains why you were so angry when you came home..." Luna said. Celestia nodded, then sighed.

"I hate Mondays."

---End of Chapter Three---

Danger

The bell rang for the first period to end. Bini grabbed a book about human anatomy to help her draw figures better. She waved goodbye to the head Librarian Cheerliee before heading into the halls of Canterlot High. Bini was a small girl despite being in grade 10 so she had to weave her way through carefully because no one really knew she was there in the first place.

She grunted as she exited the crowd into another hallway, thankful for space to breathe.

"Hey, bitch." A rough female voice rang out, followed by some snickers. Bini knew it wasn't directed at her. Her days of being called that word were over. It's not like she was a bully. No. she never was. She was just at the wrong place at the wrong time, in grade 7. She rubbed her good eye and pushed up her glasses to see further down the hallway. She was permanently blind in one eye and her good eye had trouble seeing far away but she was able to see Gilda, two girl members of the soccer team, and Trixie, the great and stupid magician who almost blew up the school last year approaching Sunset Shimmer. Who had been backed up into her locker, a locker that had been decorated by a crudely drawn demon with the words "She-demon bitch should die."

Not really creative on the scale of the insults but OK.

"Gilda. I never hurt you." Sunset said, each step Sunset took seemed to cause her some pain until the cold metal of her locker pressed against her back. "Leave me be."

"Can't do that, Sunshit." Gilda snarled turning into a way too big of a grin. "I have been wanting to do this for a long time. Right, Trixie? It's time for you to pay."

Trixie nodded with a glare at Sunset. Gilda brought back her fist. Sunset didn't even try to defend herself as the fist came down, slamming into Sunset's stomach. She cried out in pain, the doubled over when Trixie pushed her to the ground with an evil crackle.

Everything in Bini's head yelled at her to help Sunset. But Bini wasn't a fighter. It was true she was a red belt at Taekwondo but she was a weakling. Bini looked down at the large heavy book in her hands. For the first time, she thought about what it would be like to hit someone with that sort of book. Maybe Sunset Shimmer was rubbing off on her? Wait, of course not.

Bini marched towards the group, somewhere she thought this might be the end of her. She would probably get punched in the nose so hard that it somehow hit her brain and she died but anything is better than being a bully or a bystander. The group was too preoccupied with laughing as Sunset tried to get off the ground, only to have Gilda pick her up by her collar and slam her full force into her locker that Bini was pretty sure just got dented, to notice Bini walk behind them as they circle the poor girl, raise the book up and bring it down on Trixie.

Since Bini was small, Trixie was medium size and Gilda was tall, Trixie was her best bet to get the message across that Bini has a book and she isn't afraid to use it. It slammed into Trixie's head. Trixie screamed in alarm as she collapsed to the ground followed by everyone looking at Bini, still holding the book like a mad teenager on drugs over Trixie's body, whose head was spinning.

"Put down Sunset Shimmer, and I won't hit your lackeys with this book."

Bini thought it sounded a lot more threatening in her head. All she got back was sick laughter from people who enjoyed pain and a groan from Trixie below. Gilda used her free hand to point at Bini with a wicked grin.

"Deal with the idiot. Anyone who defends Sunshit deserves to get beat up." Gilda ordered. Sunset clawed at Gilda's hand as she struggled to escape.

"No! Stop!" Sunset pleaded but no one listened to her. The two soccer team girls started approaching Bini. Bini took a few steps back in alarm as the bell rang for the second period to begin. Gilda punched Sunset in the face to make her stop yelling. Bini held her book close as the girls moved to grab her.

One slid behind Bini and grabbed her arms, raising her off the ground, Bini started frantically kicking as the other girl ripped the only thing she had going for her out of her hands and slammed it to the ground. Suddenly she heard multiple people running. Everyone froze for a moment until Rainbow Dash, Captain of almost every sports team kicked Gilda in the stomach. Followed by Rarity, the school's local student fashion designer grabbing Sunset and pulling her away. Then Applejack shoved the girl holding Bini to the ground, making them both fall to hit the ground hard.

Applejack gave Bini and weak smile as she helped her up, picked up the book from the ground, then joined Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity who sat on the ground trying to see Sunset's injuries as Rainbow Dash marched up to Gilda with a scowl.

"What the fuck was that, Rainbow Dash?" Gilda yelled enraged as she pulled herself off the ground to have Trixie and the other two cower behind her. "She tried to kill you on Friday and now you are helping her!?"

"Look, she isn't my most favorite person in the world but she is trying to change! Beating an already injured girl is kind of weak anyway! So back the hell off, Gilda." Rainbow Dash argued back. Rainbow Dash turned to the group to make sure Sunset and Bini were okay.

"You guys OK?" She asked the pair. Bini and Sunset mutely nodded despite the fact Sunset clearly wasn't. Bini managed to grab her book and slip away from the group she knew she wasn't welcome in. They were heroes, Bini was just some random girl who was always at the wrong place at the wrong time. She ran down the hallway, not daring to look back as she headed to Art class.

Rainbow Dash continued her yelling match at Gilda, throwing insults at each other and in Gilda's case at Sunset Shimmer. Sunset sat on the floor against the lockers, tears were falling down her face as Rarity tried to convince her to see Nurse Redheart.

"What is going on here?" Vice-Principal Luna demanded, making everyone stop and turn to her with guilt expressions. Rainbow was the first to move, pointing an accusing finger at Gilda with a snarl.

"Gilda was beating up Sunset Shimmer, then sent her lackeys to hurt...Um...What's that other girl's name?" Rainbow Dash stopped and turned to her friends. Everyone looked at Pinkie Pie, the resident, I know everything about everyone, person. She smiled and pulled out her secret party planning book, turning to a page that showed Bini's information.

"Bini Filters! She likes art, really bad at math, spends most of her t-"

Applejack covered Pinkie's mouth before she went on a full-on rant about Bini's history. Luna walked over and checked on Sunset, who had a bruise forming on her cheek. She cringed away from Luna's touch as Luna lightly held Sunset's face towards her own to see the damage.

"Miss. Griffin," Luna said with more hostility than ever before. Making everyone, including Gilda want to sink into a dark hole and never come out. Luna pushed herself back up and glared at the student, who was doing her best to seem strong and brave in front of her 'friends'. "Go to the main office at once with your...friends."

They nodded without a fight but Gilda shot off one last insult to Sunset before running off. Luna sighed and looked down the empty part of the hallway before turning back to the six girls in distress.

"I will go find Miss. Filters. One of you takes Sunset to the infirmary. The rest go back to class. Alright?"

They all nodded. It was silently decided that Fluttershy would be the one to take Sunset since she had a spare. Fluttershy helped her up and they began slowly going down the hall as the rest of the friends broke up to head to their own classes. Each with a concerned expression as they disappeared deeper into the school.

Luna grabbed her school walkie-talkie and pressed the button to the main office.

"Inkwell. Do you know which class Bini Filters is currently in?" She asked. It took a moment but a response soon came back.

"Miss. Filters has Art class second period. Um...Is everything alright? I have Gilda, Trixie and-"

"There was an incident." Luna interrupted. "Just...Make them wait until I get Bini to talk to Celestia. They have a lot of explaining to do."

"Sure," Inkwell replied. They closed the channel and Luna headed off to find Bini.

---End of Chapter Four---

Author's Note

My high school experience is pretty different than Canterlot high. For one thing, we have three Vice-Principals which sort of seems like overkill. We don't have a nurse's office. If we get hurt or sick we are sent home. Also, we have uniforms where we go. So some things might not be as accurate to a public school because I go to a catholic one.

I am in grade 12 right now, graduating in two months and I barely remember what grade 10 was like. That might be a problem...

Love

Author's Note

So I am introducing three new characters in this chapter! If you want to know their story you should read "Corruption." This story isn't connected to that one in any way but I do use the same OC in this one. But I will give you the short need to know the version of the OCs just so you guys don't need to read that story if you don't want to. Keep in mind, the version I am telling you is the versions they are in Equestria. Not humans.

(Spoilers for "Corruption" and the sequel "The Crystal Eclipse" (Not completed yet) are below.)

Bini Filters: A female Unicorn. Head Librarian at Canterlot Royal Library until she lost her job when Canterlot collapsed because of Princess Celestia turning evil and destroying the city.

Arone: A male unicorn (disguise)/ a changeling who was once a spy. Princess Celestia found him starving for love in the Canterlot Catacombs. She took him in and made him her personal Assistant until her downfall.

Chocolate Shadow: A female Earth pony. Assistant to Bini Filters. Lost her job when Canterlot was destroyed.

Rocky Snow: A male pegasus. Former Canterlot Castle Royal Guard. He was fired when he accidentally ate Celestia's cake. He was low on rent so he decided to become Bini's assistant. At the time, Bini didn't see any better choices so she accepted him. He lost his job when Canterlot was destroyed.

Hoped that helped! If you can, please read "Corruption" and/or (preferably and because it is a sequel) "The Crystal Eclipse"

Note that "The Crystal Eclipse" is still not complete yet. I am low on ideas for that story but will try to continue it soon.

Love

"Sunset. Sunset! Wake up!"

Sunset gasped for breath as she shot up in distress. She felt a pair of hands grab her shoulder and she reflexively grabbed them until she became aware of her surroundings. She was in the nurses' office on a medical bed, her shoulders were being grabbed by Nurse Redheart, who was in front of her. Holding tight.

"Sunset. Breathe. It's OK. It was just a nightmare. Breathe." The nurse insisted. Sunset took in deep, slow breathes. Redheart smiled then slowly removed her hands. Moving to help Sunset untangle herself from her blanket. Sunset noticed that she had some bandages on her arm...Where she cut herself. Oh no.

Redheart finished ticking her in, then stood back up, noticing Sunset's gaze on her bandaged arm.

"It's alright, Sunset. I understand. I won't tell anyone due to confidentiality but..." Redheart bit her lip as she considered her next words when Sunset looked up to her with fear. "I think you need to tell someone. I think you need a counselor. This isn't a healthy way of relieving stress."

Sunset nodded for the sake of agreement. That didn't mean she agreed with Redheart but she didn't have the energy to argue. She slumped against the fluffy pillow and let out a deep sigh of relief that the nightmare wasn't real. That she didn't actually kill anyone.

But the demon's words still echoed in her mind.

"I am you. You are me. You can never escape yourself. You will never change."

What if she was right? Sunset tensed up again as Redheart tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention.

"There is another matter I have to discuss with you. You should go to the hospital. You have bloodstains on your back, making your shirt stick to your back. I didn't want to remove it without a real Doctor present in case the wounds you have are deep. Which is what I suspect the most."

Sunset nodded again. Having no intention of doing that because of her lack of records.

"Hello, Nurse Redheart?"

Sunset didn't think it was possible to tense up any more than she had but apparently, it was. Principal Celestia entered the room, briefly looking back into the hallway to make sure no one saw her before she closed the door and Redheart waved her over with a grim smile.

"Principal Celestia has a Doctor she can trust at the hospital so she will take you...Now."

Sunset really hated Mondays now.

Art class was over. Finally. It may be Bini's favorite subject but that doesn't mean she has to like the teacher running it. She stepped into the Cafeteria for Canterlot High that was quickly filling up with students. She grabbed a tray and stood in line, slowly moving with the crowd as the food was plopped onto her plate and she was handed a drink by the cook Granny Smith.

She thanked Granny Smith before turning back to the large room. Navigating it with ease as she had gotten into a rhythm over the years of how to get through lunch. She sat down at a long empty cafeteria table that would usually be able to sit about twenty students. But since Bini wasn't a part of any popular group, or any group to be honest she sat alone until the first of her friends came.

Arone, a boy her age that had black hair, brown skin, and a green and blue shirt with dark blue pants and black running shoes moved to sit across from Bini. Immediately starting to shove mashed into his mouth.

"Hey, Bini." He said between chomps. Bini glared at him as he swallowed his food. "So-"

He was interrupted by another one of her friends Chocolate Shadow launched herself into hugging Bini despite Bini's clear protests against hugs. Although this time it seemed more out of panic than an attempt to annoy her. Then her last friend Rocky Snow with a mohawk, light yellow skin, a gray tank top with a shield and spear design on it, loose jeans and gray running shows with a tattoo on his arm of a shield and a pair of wings attached to it with the words "Fly Forever. Protect today."

Bini, who had known Rocky for almost a year, still had no idea what that meant. Bini managed to pry Chocolate off of her. Chocolate had black hair, tied up by a purple bow into a bun, light brown skin, a purple frilly dress that went to her knees, tied in the middle with a bow, high knee socks, and purple and white running shoes with smiley faces on them.

"Are you OK? Did she punch you?!" Chocolate asked in alarm as she grabbed Bini's face. Bini one again had to detached Chocolate from her and got her to sit down with Rocky sitting next to Arone as Chocolate sat next to Bini.

"Alright. Explain to me what exactly has you all fired up." Bini said as the three friends around her shared a confused glance.

"So...I assume this means you don't know." Rocky said to break the tension. Bini stabbed her juice box with her straw and nodded. Choosing to ignore Chocolate as she grabbed Bini's apple and took a big bite out of it. Seeming not too eager to go up and get her own.

"Know about what?" Bini asked with annoyance. Chocolate pulled out her phone and opened MyVideo. Everyone leaned into the middle of the table to watch the video Chocolate suggested start playing. It was a video from half of the fight, Bini's stomach dropped as it came from one end of the hall. She watched as Sunset was punched by Gilda, then slammed against the locker. Gilda pointed towards Bini, saying the words to order the other two after her. Then it continued to show when the lackeys got her. One picked up Bini as the other ripped the book out of her hands. Then the video abruptly ended.

Everyone was silent for a moment before Bini gulped and nervously looked at her friends.

"Does anyone know who took that video?" She nervously asked. Rocky and Chocolate shrugged as Arone nodded.

"Yeah...Someone called...Wallflower Blush, I believe. I have only ever seen her name in the yearbook with strangely no picture. Never met her but that's the name everyone is tossing around." Arone explained before shoving more mashed potatoes into his face.

Chocolate gestured to the expensive camera around her neck with glee.

"I could try to take a photo of her!" She suggested. Rocky chuckled and shook his head.

"You can't take a photo of someone if you got no idea what they look like!" Rocky pointed out. "Good luck next time."

Arone rolled his eyes and used his fork to gesture around the table.

"Sorry to interrupt this thrilling conversation but has anyone got any money? It's important." Arone said with the puff of his chest. Bini and Rocky shared a knowing look as Chocolate was too distracted with her camera to pay attention.

"Are you really asking us for money for that drug again? What was it called...Love? Geez, what a stupid name. Naming a drug after a stupid emotion. What type of idiot came up with that one?" Bini complained.

"Well, love has a better effect on me than other drugs!"

"You have only ever tried cocaine before this new one so what do you know about other drugs exactly?" Rocky asked with a smug smile. Arone gritted his teeth as he thought of a response.

"Well, love gives me intense happiness. Makes me feel like I am on cloud nine. Cocaine makes me feel happy for about ten minutes, then I want to bite someone's head off, also I don't look like an idiot when I take it."

"That's one way of looking at it. But debatable on the last point for sure." Bini muttered as Chocolate finished off her apple, then threw it a few feet into the garbage can, that got the attention of Mr. Cranky doodle who waved his fist (As the grandpas do in those old cartoons I think.) at her as she apologized by shouting "sorry" across the room.

"Right, right. So can I have the money or not?" Arone asked with impatience.

"No." Everyone said together.

"Get a job." Chocolate suggested before holding her camera up and taking a few photos of five colorful girls who recently saved the school sitting at a table nearby, seeming to be a bit concerned as they nervously checked around the cafeteria without trying to look suspicious.

"I already have a job!" Arone protested as Chocolate snapped more photos of the group. Bini yanked the camera down on the table, earning a death glare from Chocolate.

"Mowing Mrs. Doodles lawn and doing her chores during the winter so that you can get better grades in Mr. Doddles class doesn't exactly count as a job," Bini said with the wave of her hand. The other hand was still planted on Chocolate's camera which Chocolate was currently working on try to pry off. "Chocolate, quit trying to take photos of them."

"Hey, they saved the school." Chocolate barked before yanking the camera back. "It's called the freedom of the press. I am the school's newspaper photographer for a reason. Besides you might be in the Canterlot Press soon so try to look at least a little presentable this week, Bini."

"Me?" Bini said with confusion. "Why? I haven't done anything."

"Being Sunshit Shimmer's friend counts as doing something big," Rocky said.

"Can we please not call her Sunshit? I know she really screwed up big time but...Come on, guys!" Bini protested. Rocky, Arone, and Chocolate blushed.

"Sorry, Bini. It is sort of a habit now. News travels fast on the internet." Arone apologized.

"And for your information, I am not her friend. We are acquaintances." Bini continued. The three friends raised their eyebrows towards Bini with a slow blink.

"Smashing a really heavy book to defend Sunshi-Sunset seems like a big thing to do for just an acquaintance," Rocky said. The others nodded in agreement.

"I hit Trixie. She kind of had it coming for what she did last week."

"OK. Good point." Arone agreed as Chocolate raised her camera again to snap more photos.

---End of Chapter Six---

Deal Gone Wrong

Rainbow Dash sat down at her usual spot between Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy was deep into a conversation with Rarity. Trying to convince her that she was not made to be a model. Of course, Rarity was having none of it and assured her that she would look fabulous.

Rainbow picked at the food with her fork. finding that she didn't feel hungry at all. Applejack noticed this of course as she stabbed her straw into her juice box.

"Somethin' wrong, RD?" Applejack asked. Rainbow Dash sighed.

"Yeah, Applejack. Everything is wrong." She snapped back before tapping her fingers against the table in thought. "Sunset is getting beat up. Don't get me wrong here, she had it coming to her. She blackmailed, hurt, lied, and did countless other things. No one, not even us, were able to stop her in fear of her letting our secrets out but...You would think after years of dealing with it...Now that everyone is starting to get their revenge that her punishment would feel justified but it doesn't. I feel awful for her."

"That's natural, darling." Rarity said as Fluttershy stared down at the table, nervously looking towards her friends. "It's what makes us human."

"Well, I hate it." Rainbow Dash complained. "Has anyone seen her? I assume she went to the Nurse but I was sure she would be back in class by the end."

Fluttershy slowly started drinking but her eyes reflected guilt. Deep guilt. Pinkie Pie took notice and tilted her head towards her friend.

"You, OK? You look like you could use a party." Pinkie chirped. Catching the attention of the rest of the group. Fluttershy took a big gulp and nodded with an unconvincing weak smile.

"I am fine." Fluttershy insisted with her soft voice, then started fiddling with her hair out of nervousness. Rainbow Dash leaned over to her with a narrowed eye. Not buying it one bit.

"Clearly something is wrong. So spill it." Rainbow Dash ordered only to have Applejack shove her back down to her seat. Fluttershy whimpered and covered her face. Pinkie leaned in with her ear as Fluttershy continued to whimper as if trying to explain something.

"Sorry, Flutters we can't hear ya!" Pinkie said. "Speak up."

Fluttershy took a big gulp of air, then looked over to her friends with tears in her eyes.

"W-When I brought Sunset to Nurse Redheart, she took off her jacket and...And...I saw blood on her upper back."

Rainbow Dash and Pinkie had juice spraying out of their noses. Applejack gasped and Rarity almost fainted. Fluttershy wanted to hug Angel Bunny more than she ever did at that moment in her life as the group managed to pull themselves together enough to talk.

"A-Are ya'll sure?" Applejack asked as she fixed her hat. Fluttershy mutely nodded as Rarity seemed to be hyperventilating. Pinkie rushed over, grabbing supplies from her hair like cupcakes in an attempt to calm Rarity down.

"We need to find her..." Rainbow Dash said and they all started scanning the room with their eyes. Trying to see any trace of Sunset Shimmer. But they had no luck. They all looked back at each other with defeated expressions. "This might be a problem. What if someone hurt her again?"

"If someone hurt her again, we would probably know bout it by now." Applejack pointed out by waving her phone. "News travels fast, yall."

"Good point." Rarity said as she drank some of her juice, trying not to pay attention to the girl wearing a purple bow and purple dress taking pictures of the group across the cafeteria. Rarity just prayed she looked good. They took another look around the cafeteria. Each getting more worried about where Sunset could be.

Sunset could really do without the judging looks the nurse was giving her as she tucked her into her own bed in a room in the Canterlot Royal Hospital. They wanted to keep her overnight for observation because of the two gashes on her back. Sunset didn't really have a choice in the matter of course as Celestia filled out the needed paperwork, pretending to be her guardian.

"You really didn't need to do this, Principal Celestia." Sunset insisted as Celestia reentered the room with a smile.

"I am happy to help, Sunset. You need this." Celestia said as she patted Sunset's shoulder. "You are to be released tomorrow morning. I will come to pick you up."

Sunset's eyes grew wide and she grabbed Celestia's wrist before she could pull away.

"Ah, don't do that! M-My mother could just pick me up!" Sunset stammered.

"Sunset. I looked at your records. The name you put down for your mother is...False. She died in a car crash with a child a few years ago." Celestia explained. "Tell me the truth. Do you have a family?"

"O-Of course I do." Sunset snapped back with more hostility than she intended. "They just don't live in Canterlot City. That's all."

Technically Sunset told the truth. She did have a family. But her family lived in Equestria as ponies. Ponies who couldn't care less about what happens to her. She shifted uncomfortably on her bed.

"I am feeling pretty tired." Sunset finally said after an awkward moment of silence between the pair. Celestia nodded and moved away from Sunset, trying to read her emotions that she let show. Which to Sunset's credit was next to none.

"Sure. I am still picking you up tomorrow morning though. I was supposed to discuss the other parts of your punishment today but that can wait until school tomorrow. Alright?"

Sunset nodded and they said their goodbyes.

(One hour after school)

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!" Bini yelled as Rocky and Chocolate stumbled down an alleyway, holding Arone up by his arms, followed by Bini who kept frantically looking behind her with wide eyes. Bini looked into the street. They were in the bad part of town. The part of town where drug deals took place.

"Do you see him?" Chocolate asked as she took off her black jacket and pressed it against Arone's stomach that had a knife wound with blood. Rocky gently laid Arone down, who groaned from pain at the movements. Bini checked the streets, then triple-checked to make sure. She looked down at her phone, frantically trying to turn it on.

"I think he is gone but damn it, my phone is dead!" Bini yelled to her friends as she clicked the power button over and over. Chocolate yanked out her own phone and dialed 911.

"Hello? Operator? Yeah, hi. My friend got stabbed by a drug dealer. No. No, I am not on drugs! I am perfectly sane! My name? Um, Chocolate Shadow. Address...I um...Bini! HEY! WHERE ARE WE?" Chocolate asked. Bini looked at the nearest street sign, having to squint her eyes to see the words.

"Um...Tirek Lane?" Bini slowly replied uncertainly.

"W-We're on Tirek Lane. Yes. I am aware. Well, I was trying to save my friend from himself but that didn't quite work! Soon? OK. OK."

"What's the nearest hospital?" Rocky asked as he lightly slapped Arone on the cheek to keep him awake and Chocolate pressed her jacket harder against his wound.

"Um...Chanterlot Royal Hospital, I think." Bini replied.

---End of Chapter Seven---

Detention Gone Wrong

(One hour before the Incident)

The final bell of the day rang. Normally this would make Bini happy. It was her signal to disappear into the world until the next morning but today she had detention. Unfair detention in her mind as Trixie had it coming to her. She ignored the looked of hate as she passed students in the hallway. The news of her defending Sunset Shimmer had spread throughout the entire school by this point. People weren't throwing insults at her yet but she was sure if they spent enough time on the internet, someone would dig up something from her past to make fun of her.

She turned down another corner towards the detention room with a sad sigh. It was truly sad that her life had gotten to this po-

"BINI!"

Bini was tackled from behind. She yelled in alarm and hit the ground hard. She saw Chocolate pulled herself off of Bini with a wince, then grabbed her arm as she stood up. She groaned and slowly got off the floor as Chocolate ranted about something. Bini's head was spinning too much for her to really pay attention as Rocky ran over to join them, holding onto a guilty-looking Arone.

They all started talking at once. Chocolate was babbling about who knows what, Rocky and Arone broke into an argument that grew to involve Chocolate. Soon the three of them were yelling at each other until Bini swatted them in the back of their heads to get their attention.

"Hey, nutjobs. I need to go to detention so can you either give me the short version of what is going on or the long version when I am out of detention in an hour and a half on our group chat. Which one will it be?" Bini asked. Chocolate growled and tugged on Bini's arm as she pointed to a hallway leading to the front entrance...Well, what was left of the front entrance.

"Arone stole money from Rocky to get his drugs. He has a meeting with a new drug dealer today. We are going to offer him protection. You are too."

"Protection...Drug Dealer...Are you on drugs too?" Bini asked. Chocolate and Rocky, judging by the death glares they were giving her, really didn't appreciate that. "The only one who even has a chance of protecting Arone is Rocky."

"We are doing this to save Arone from himself. Maybe when he sees that his friends care enough to come with him, he will see the error of his ways."

"That's bullshit of a plan." Bini and Arone said at the same time.

"Besides," Bini announced as she adjusted her backpack strap on her shoulder. "Mr. Discord is in charge of detention today. I would rather I didn't get on that guy's bad side."

"Really? The drama teacher who wears those pooka dot orange suits?" Rocky said. "Now you have to skip. Come on. This will be much better than sitting in a class with that weirdo."

"That weirdo will tell VP Luna that I skipped," Bini argued. Rocky grinned and pressed a finger against Bini's chest with an evil grin.

"You are a chicken," Rocky concluded. Bini blushed.

"I-I We..Ex-Excuse me! I-I am not!" Bini stammered to her weak defense.

"So prove it." Chocolate chimed in as Arone rolled his eyes and pulled out his wallet to count his money. "Prove you're not a chicken. Chicken."

"Fuck you," Bini muttered as she zipped up her jacket and marched past her friends with a scowl towards the entrance of the school. "The bus to go downtown gets here in five minutes. Let's go."

Her friends scrambled after her, excitably chatting about their next plans.

Bini tapped her foot with nervousness. Unaware that she was starting to bite her nails as she stood with Rocky and Chocolate in an old abandoned building. They watched as Arone approached a shady character who Arone claimed was named "Crafty Crate." The guy was wearing leather of course with a five o'clock shadow beard.

Arone visibly gulped as he took another step closer to the man, then pulled out the needed money and handed it to him.

"Here is the money you asked for. Now. Where is-"

Arone was interrupted at the sound of a switchblade. Suddenly the man took a step forwards, getting in Arone's face with a knife pressed against his throat. Crafty grinned in delight to see the fear in Arone's eyes as he gestured the knife towards his friends.

"Give me all your money and I won't hack your friends' throat." He growled. The three friends looked at each other in fear unsure of what to do because if they were being honest with themselves, they didn't think anything bad would actually happen.

Each of them slowly pulled out their wallets. Rocky approached first, his mind was racing. Trying to come up with a possibility of how they were to escape that situation. As he set his wallet down at the enemy's feet, he jumped up and punched the man square in the throat.

"Son of a bitch!" The man yelled, yanking Arone closer to his chest. "You will fucking pay for that."

He yanked the knife into Arone's stomach. Arone screamed in pain when Crafty yanked it back out. About to issue more threats when Rocky kicked his square in the chest and Chocolate ran over to bite his arm that was holding the knife. He screamed and stumbled away as Rocky and Chocolate grabbed Arone by the arms and broke into a sprint. Bini grabbed their wallets and began running as the attacker chased after them.

The man stumbled, seeming to be out of shape as he chased after them. They ran as fast as they could into the street, Arone groaned and moaned as blood started to show on his shirt. Chocolate was yelling at Rocky to move faster as Bini kept looking behind them. They turned into another run-down street. The man started to lag behind but Bini couldn't stop herself from swearing-in pure fear.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!" Bini yelled as Rocky and Chocolate stumbled into the nearest alleyway. Bini checked the streets for any sign that the man decided to come back to kill them. No one. She checked again. Then triple-checked. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she heard her friend crying out in more pain than she had ever heard.

"Do you see him?" Chocolate asked as she took off her black jacket and pressed it against Arone's stomach that had a knife wound with blood. Rocky gently laid Arone down, who groaned from pain at the movements. Bini frantically clicked the power button on her phone with no luck. It was dead.

"I think he is gone but damn it, my phone is dead!" Bini yelled to her friends as she clicked the power button over and over. Chocolate yanked out her own phone and dialed 911.

"Um...Tirek Lane?" Bini slowly replied uncertainly.

"W-We're on Tirek Lane. Yes. I am aware. Well, I was trying to save my friend from himself but that didn't quite work! Soon? OK. OK."

"What's the nearest hospital?" Rocky asked as he lightly slapped Arone on the cheek to keep him awake and Chocolate pressed her jacket harder against his wound.

"Um...Chanterlot Royal Hospital, I think." Bini replied. Each of them looked back at Arone, who started to lose consciousness from blood loss. Bini wiped tears from her eyes as she looked back into the streets to see when the ambulance came as the 911 operator tried to calm Chocolate down on the phone.

"T-That's a good hospital, right?" Rocky asked, trying to not look down at his blood-stained clothes and hands. "Someone tell me he is going to be okay..."

"He has ten siblings and a mother who works in a secret intelligence agency. Arone can handle anything!" Bini said through small sobs before wiping her eyes again. "Damn it. Where the hell are they?"

Chocolate held a hand to her hair as she began to pace with her other hand holding the phone to her ear. She was ugly crying at that point, crying about the stabbing, crying about the literal blood on her hands, panicking about what her brother was going to do to her when he found out where she was.

Bini heard the distant sounds of ambulance sirens coming towards their location. She smiled despite the severity of the situation.

"Someone tell Arone that help is coming. It's going to be OK. It's got to be OK."

---End of Chapter Eight---

Hospital Visit

Sunset sipped her water. Carefully watching the TV news channel that was pretty boring. She sighed and turned off the television before looking out her window as the sky turned twilight. She sighed. The hospital was comfortable, much more comfortable than her current home but she wanted to escape. She wanted to be alone in case...In case she had more nightmares. She wanted to go home in case she needed to...Cut again.

She shifted her position slightly. Choosing to look at the open door to see passing nurses and patients out of pure boredom. It's not like she had anyone to talk to. Everyone hated her. Not that she could blame them. She was a horrible person.

Her breathing paused when she saw Bini walking past her door with determination but stopped and paused as someone called out to her. Bini stopped right outside her door, her eyes were bloodshot as if she had been crying. Then a girl with a purple dress and purple bow in her dark hair that was pulled into a messy bun ran up to her. Sunset stared at the unfamiliar girl's hands and dress. Was that blood? Bini had red stains on the front of her sweater and scarf and hands as well.

Bini wiped her hands on her pants in a frantic motion, but it was dried so none was coming off.

"It's not coming off, Chocolate. It's not!" She cried out as more tears filled her eyes and slowly trickled down her face. The girl, whose name Sunset now assumed was named "Chocolate" grabbed Bini's hands and pushed them to Bini's chest.

"C-Calm down. We can't panic now. He is only in emergency surgery. He could have easily died on the way over here but he didn't. It was only one stab wound. It's not like the drug dealer slit his throat."

Drug dealer?

Stab wound?

Against Sunset's better judgment, she began purposely eavesdropping. Her curiosity was peaked but she felt awful. She used to eavesdrop all the time, she was trying to change. She had to change or else...Or else...

Or else what? She would die? Would that really be such a bad thing?

"Right. Right." Bini said with a nod. She tightened her messy ponytail as a guy a bit taller than Bini and Chocolate with a mohawk, a tank top with some blood on it, and a tattoo on his shoulder.

"I called Crysalis. Arone's mom. She is coming over with two of his older brothers. Thorax and Pharynx, they just got out of college for the weekend." The guy said. Chocolate and Arone nodded.

"My brother is coming over, Thunder Afternoon. You guys have never met him but he is a pretty cool older brother. He rides a motorcycle but he was pretty pissed when I told him what happened. I am going to get the longest lecture of my life. Is anyone coming to meet up with you, Bini?"

"Um...No," Bini said with a guilty expression. "You guys know me. I am not on good terms with my family. Still living like a loner."

"You should not be proud of that." Rocky said with a wave of his hand. Bini simply shrugged.

Her friends rolled their eyes and continued down the corridor, talking with each other. Bini sighed and watched them for a moment until she looked towards Sunset's room. Her eyes grew wide when she saw Sunset staring back at her. She hesitantly entered the room before looking behind her, then back to Sunset.

"Um...Hi?" Bini said nervously. Sunset waved and gestured her inside.

"Hi, Bini. I didn't expect to see you here." Sunset replied. Bini nervously chuckled, her eyes stopping on her blood-stained hands for a moment which made her expression turn sad once again. "Are you alright?"

Bini sighed and sat down on the chair next to Sunset's bed.

"Honestly, I am not doing well," Bini admitted as she picked at the dried blood on her fingers. "I made a bad decision but I have found that I don't quite regret it. If I didn't go with them...It could have been worse. Or maybe I am just giving myself too much credit. But it doesn't change the fact that one of my friends almost died today."

"I hope you don't mind me asking but..." Sunset paused. "but...What happened?"

"Arone had a new drug dealer. Chocolate Shadow and Rocky Snow were concerned so I skipped detention to go to an abandoned building in the rundown areas of the city. The drug deal went wrong of course, as I should have expected. The guy tried to rob us without getting the drugs so when Rocky hit him, he stabbed Arone as payback. We managed to get Arone away but ran like hell until we lost him in an alleyway. Chocolate called 911. The Ambulance came. Arone is in emergency surgery now. The wound was pretty deep." Bini explained.

"That sounds like a lot. I hope your friend is OK." Sunset said. Bini nodded.

"Well, he didn't die on the way to the hospital so that is a good sign. So..." Bini shifted to her side as she grabbed her charger and phone from her jacket and plugged it into the wall outlet near her chair. "What's your story? You wouldn't be here because of the fight earlier would you?"

"That's part of it."

They settled into a tense silence as Sunset didn't know what to say next. She wasn't comfortable enough to tell Bini that her demon form had caused damage to her body. She cleared her throat, getting Bini's attention. Bini looked over to her with sleepy eyes that started to drop.

"I am going to the washroom. I will be back."

Bini nodded. Sunset grabbed her IV and shuffled over to the small but clean hospital bathroom. She closed and locked the door behind her. She briefly looked up to the small open window which brought a chill to the air as cold autumn air filtered in.

She went to the washroom and started to wash her hands in front of a small normal mirror. She tried humming to block out her thoughts when she looked up to see her reflect-

No.

Her demon form was smiling back at her through the mirror with an evil grin.

"You really thought you could hide from me forever. I feel almost bad about this. It's time we talked about our future." Her demon form said with a wave of her four-fingered hand.

"You are in my imagination. You do not exist."

"That was just insulting. No wonder everybody hates you." The demon muttered. Sunset gritted her teeth.

"If you came here to push me over the edge to commit suicide, I am already halfway there. I really don't need any more encouragement." Sunset barked. "I get enough from the people at school."

"I need you to live if I am ever to become whole again. If WE are ever to become powerful enough to-"

"I don't want to hear it." Sunset interrupted. "I am never going to become you ever again. I am a changed pon-person. I am a changed person."

"You don't honestly believe that. One wrong move and you could be back to your old ways in a heartbeat." The Demon growled. "No one will ever like you. No one will ever want to be around you. Except me of course."

"Shut up," Sunset begged as the demon's words hit her like a tone of bricks. "Shut the hell up and go away."

"They only want to be around you because of power. When we become powerful again they will just use us for their own selfish needs. You can not let those pathetic humans take advantage of us like that."

Sunset took in deep breathes, trying to not believe the demon's words but she found it was getting increasingly difficult. She shook her head and braced herself against the sink with rage directed at her other side.

"I won't abuse magic ever again. I learned my lesson."

"What lesson? You have become pathetic. Becoming a doormat like that...That...Animal freak Fluttershy. You didn't even defend yourself when that bitch Gilda hit you. You had to rely on the idiot assistant at the school Library. You are worthless. Princess Celestia was right to abandon you."

"Shut up!"

Sunset smashed her fist through the mirror. The glass shattered to the ground as she stumbled back hitting the wall hard. She bit her lip to prevent yelling in pain to alert anyone else. She deserved it. She shouldn't even be alive. Alive. What was the point anymore?

She had considered the topic of suicide before. She had considered it when she was in Equestria as well. But she had more of a reason now. She picked up and long sharp piece of glass in her bleeding hand from the ground and considered her life. Her life was worthless. She had no future. She couldn't let the demon hurt anyone else, but she would. There was always a chance she could return with Sunset alive.

She unlocked the door and slowly opened the door to her hospital room to see Bini in a deep sleep, curled up in the chair. She quickly crossed the room and picked up her clothes from beside her bed. She reentered the bathroom to dress then exited being careful of her injured hand.

She slipped the glass shard into her leather pocket. She grabbed her bag, taking one last look at Bini as the sky turned dark when the night took over. She checked the hallway to make sure they were clear before running to the nearest elevator.

---End of Chapter Nine---

Message Recieved

Sunset Shimmer dropped her bag in the front of the Wondercolt's mirror. It was late at night. Around ten o'clock. Sunset didn't care that the office lights in the school were on. Sunset didn't really care about anything at that moment. As she crossed town on the bus she kept wondering what the point of her living was. She was hoping. A small part of her hoped that she would be reminded why she needed to live. Of why her life was so important.

But no answers came.

When she felt like this, she would usually go to cutting herself. But even in those times, there was a little hope left for her. Now. Now, she was tired. She was tired of constantly having flashbacks to her old life that left her longing for a family. She was tired of crying herself to sleep. She was tired after only three days of fighting with that fucking demon in her nightmares.

Sunset pressed her hand against the cold marble where the portal would usually open up for only three days every two years. She had her chance to go back. She had a chance to make amends with the Princess.

She was a coward.

She shivered as the cold air ran through her leather jacket. She clenched it tighter around her body to no avail. The cold wouldn't matter to her in a few minutes anyway. Why should she even try? She sat down on the ground, pulling out a leather book with her cutiemark symbol stitched onto the front.

She opened the book, not bothering to read over the pages of text exchanged between two ponies who once had a strong relationship the dissolved into mistrust and lies. When Sunset was a filly, she remembered Princess Celestia telling her she had potential but never expanded on it. Sunset silently always wondered why the Princess lied to her. She didn't have potential. Like every living creature on this planet, she was marked for death. So what was the point in trying to change the world if she wasn't going to be around to see it?

Sunset grabbed a black pen and pressed it against the page as unresolved anger at herself and the Princess flowed through her.

"When I was a filly, you told me I had potential.

Why did you lie to me?

-Sunset Shimmer."

Sunset stared at her words as big wet tears rolled down her face. When she woke up this morning she didn't think today would be her last day to live. But...It wasn't like she was taking any action to stop it. She sat in the cold for a good five minutes. She didn't expect the Princess to write back. Hell, she didn't even know if the book still worked because she wasn't in Equestria anymore.

That didn't stop her from wanting an answer.

Yet wanting and needing are two different things. Sunset knew that once she died, it wouldn't matter. Why did she-

She gasped when her journal page lit up. She cautiously watched as a response was given back.

"My dear Sunset Shimmer.

I never lied to you. You were the most powerful unicorn I had known at the time. You were destined to do great things. You still are. I am sorry for how things ended between us. Twilight Sparkle told me what happened with you and the element of Harmony. I can not help but feel I am to blame for your downfall. I am so sorry, Sunset.

-Princess Celestia"

Sunset shook her head and grabbed her pen once again.

"It doesn't matter if you are sorry or not. It's too late for me or you to make amends.

-Sunset Shimmer."

Sunset grabbed the glass shard she had in her jacket. It cut her hand as she pulled it out by she didn't mind. She didn't mind one bit. She glanced down at the writing that began to appear once more.

"Sunset, there is always time to make amends. It's never too late."

Sunset let out a dry chuckle and used her free hand to write her final response.

"One can't make amends if they are dead, Princess."

The writing she got back was written in messy frantic hoofwriting. Celestia must have gotten the pieces together.

"Stop, please!"

Princess Celestia couldn't order her around anymore. Tears fell onto the journal as Sunset raised her chin to expose her neck. She pressed it against her throat, preparing for the sweet embrace of darkness. Where she couldn't hurt anypony anymore-

"Sunset! STOP!" A female voice yelled. Two pairs of running footsteps reached her position within moments.

---End of Chapter Ten---

Missing in Action

Celestia yawned as she shut off her computer. Having been able to finally complete the last of her work. The construction company agreed to start working tomorrow and accepting the help of Snips, Snails, and Sunset Shimmer for two hours a day.

She rubbed her eyes. Hearing the sound of Luna locking up her office before knocking on Celestia's door. She cleared her throat and straightened her posture.

"Come." She said. Luna entered with a tired smile.

"Hey, Tia. Ready to go home?" Luna asked. Celestia nodded and slowly got up from her desk. Taking a moment to stretch before she grabbed her light yellow trench coat from behind her chair.

"Yes. Lulu. Construction crews should be able to start fixing the doors tomorrow and then work extra time during the weekends." Celestia relayed. "Do you still want dinner? I know it's pretty late but I forgot to do groceries on Saturday."

Luna nodded as she put on her own coat, holding her purse close.

"Sounds good. Maybe I can even get you to pl-"

Celestia held up her hand to silence Luna before she could continue.

"Don't even start with that, Luna." Celestia said with a chuckle as she met Luna at the door. She flicked off the lights to her office. They continued to talk as they closed up the main office then entered the main foyer. Their footsteps echoed across the floor as they walked through the broken main doors, inhaling the cold air when they started to head towards the facility parking lot.

"You would not believe who I caug-" Luna started to explain when Celestia grabbed her sister's arm and pointed towards the Wondercolt's statue. They both saw a familiar girl sitting at the base with some sort of book in front of her. Her body shook from crying.

"Luna, does that look like...Sunset Shimmer?"

They started to head towards the statue with growing concern.

"I thought you took her to the hospital, Tia!" Luna said as her voice grew in panic when the moonlight hit a sharp object in her hand as she raised it up to her throat.

"Oh, dear faust, I did! Run, LUNA!" Celestia ordered. Luna broke into a full-on sprint, followed by a slower Celestia. Sunset raised her chin to press the glass against her throat.

"Sunset, STOP!" Luna yelled, she tackled Sunset making the glass slip from her hands and clatter to the pavement. Luna held her to the ground as Celestia picked up the glass, making her hand get cut in the process. She hissed in pain as her blood dripped onto the book in front of Sunset.

"I am not going to let you kill yourself, Shimmer!" Luna yelled as Sunset struggled to get away from her.

"Let me go! Leave me alone!" Sunset yelled out. Luna grunted as Sunset tried to use her upper body strength to push Luna off of her. "I should be dead! I should have died years ago!"

"She has a death wish!" Luna yelled at Celestia, who nodded, trying to hold back tears as she looked at the glass in her hands. "Sunset, stop struggling! Please stop!"

Sunset grunted as she slowly began to stop resisting. Celestia closed up Sunset's journal, then packed it into her bag. Luna looked over to her older sister with questions and many many concerns.

"S-Sunset..." Celestia stammered. She knelt on one knee to look down at the poor girl, who had tears going down her cheeks. "Sunset, it's going to be OK..."

"NO!" Sunset screamed. "No! I am so tired! I am just so tired. I just want to sleep forever. Why is that so hard for people to accept?"

"I know everything seems a bit down..." Luna said, getting a look from Sunset and Celestia. "OK, it is very bad but it couldn't get worse."

"It almost just did." Celestia pointed out with a raised eyebrow to her sister before she turned back to Sunset, who was still being held down by Luna. "You are coming with us, Sunset. We can't let you live on the streets, especially in your condition."

"I don't need any help! I am fine!" Sunset growled through gritted teeth as she clawed at Luna's arms. "I have been living alone since I got into this world. I don't need help now!"

"You are suicidal! I am pretty sure that qualifies as you needing HELP!" Luna argued back. Sunset groaned as she finally relaxed against the ground. Knowing that the battle was over. Luna and Celestia won. Sunset Shimmer lost. Celestia put Sunset's belongings in her bag before picking it up.

"Are you ready to come with us, Sunset? We promise you will have your own room, good food, warmth. Just please try to trust us." Celestia pleaded. Sunset looked at them with an uneasy expression, then slowly nodded as some tears went down her cheeks.

"Alright." She whispered. "Alright, I...I will accept."

Luna slowly got off Sunset, making sure to watch Sunset's every move. Celestia helped her up, she realized that Sunset wasn't making eye contact with her. She decided it was her embarrassment of the situation. She handed Sunset her bag and then gestured towards the lone car in the facility parking lot.

"Our car is over there. Come. Let's go. This may a school neighborhood but it can be dangerous at night." Luna warned.

"Hey! Hey, Filters! Wake up!"

Bini groaned as she felt her shoulder being shaken. "Come on! Wake up already!"

Her eyes fluttered open to see Arone's brother Thorax staring down at her in wide eyes. She screamed in alarm, making Thorax jump back making him stumble into an empty medical bed.

"Bini, what the hell?" He yelled. Bini clutched her chest and took in deep breathes.

"Don't sneak up on me like that!" Bini said before her eyes started dropping again. "Why are you so bright?"

Thorax took a moment to looked at himself. He was wearing bright green and yellow clothes with a pair of fake orange horns on his head and a glowstick attached to a string around his neck.

"Um...I might have been at a rave party with Pharynx when we got the call from mom to meet her at the hospital." Thorax admitted with a blush. Bini raised an eyebrow towards him as she shifted in her seat to be more comfortable, then she gestured to the horns.

"What's with the horns?" She asked. Thorax cleared his throat and leaned against the empty bed, running a hand through his orange and black hair that he recently dyed.

"Pharynx got me them at the party. He said they would look cool." Thorax revealed before looking around the empty room. "Why are you in here anyway?"

"I was sitting with a fr-" Bini paused when she realized that Sunset was gone. She slowly got up and looked around the room. There was no evidence that Sunset was there other than a discarded IV at the bathroom door, a messy bed and...Bini slowly approached the bathroom to make sure Sunset wasn't in there, being closely followed by Thorax out of curiosity.

She pushed open the door to see a smashed mirror, glass laid scattered around the small space with a few droplets of blood. Bini and Thorax gasped. Bini honestly didn't think her day could get any worse but damn, she was wrong for the second time in a matter of hours about something of great importance.

"What happened?" Thorax thought out loud as they couldn't seem to take their eyes off of the mess. Bini gulped and looked back at Arone's brother with wide eyes.

"Sunset Shimmer was here...I don't know who her family is but...Arone once mentioned that your mom has Principal Celestia's number right?" Bini asked. Thorax nodded.

"Yeah. They have been friends since high school. Or course she has her number. Why?"

"Well we need to tell someone that Sunset is missing, don't we? Why not tell the Principal of the damn school Sunset and I go to? She might have a way of contacting Sunset's family to let them know."

"Right, right. I will go get my Mom." Thorax said before running off to find his mother Chrysalis. Bini groaned and leaned against the door frame, staring at the droplets of blood on the floor. Praying to a God, she didn't believe that Sunset Shimmer was OK.

---End of Chapter Eleven---

Call from an Old Friend

Sunset sat in the back of the car with her bag, looking out the window at the passing streets and cars. Luna sat next to Celestia, fiddling with her phone and occasionally looking back at Sunset to make sure she was OK. Celestia kept her eyes on the road as the sound of Celestia's phone ringing filled the silence.

"Luna, could you answer that for me?" Celestia asked as she turned down another street. Luna nodded, leaning to space in between them to dig into Celestia's purse. It took her a moment but she finally pulled out a phone with a blue case and a sun on the back. Luna entered in Celestia's password that Sunset was surprised she even knew and held the phone to her ear.

"Hello? This is Luna Eclipse speaking." Luna said. Luna suddenly brightened up with a smile. "Crysalis? Hey! Oh, sure. Hold on, I will put you on speakerphone." Luna lightly placed down the phone, soon a woman's voice that Sunset never heard before began speaking.

"Thanks Lulu." The woman said before clearing her throat. "I assume Tia is driving?"

"Yes, I am." Celestia replied, keeping her eyes on the road. "Is there a problem? You usually don't call us this late unless something big has happened."

"Yeah. Something big happened alright. A couple of big things happened. For one, I had to learn that my son was stabbed from the hospital instead of my two friends! Explain to me why you didn't call me that one of my baby boys was STABBED!"

Luna and Celestia quickly shared a look of alarm and surprise.

"Stabbed? Which one of your boys was stabbed?" Luna asked with concern.

"The only one that goes to Canterlot High currently, knucklehead." Chrysalis snapped back. "Wait, do you guys not know? I thought it happened at school..."

"Of course we don't know!" Celestia said. "Is Arone alright? Is he going to make it?"

"Yes. They are putting him in a room now. He is pretty weak. I tried getting answers to what happened from his friends that brought him in but they aren't saying anything. All I know is that it either happened when school ended or sometimes an hour after it did. He should be fine physically. Emotionally I am not so sure." Chrysalis explained. "Which brings me to another problem. Do you know who Sunset Shimmer's parents are? You need to contact them."

Luna quickly gave a questioning look at Sunset before looking back at the phone.

"Um...No. I can't say I know them off the top of my head. Why?" Luna asked. Sunset relaxed, happy to know the sisters weren't going to reveal her current living situation.

"Bini Filters, one of Arone's friends who brought him in. You probably know her, she was talking with Sunset earlier today but fell asleep in Sunset's room. When Thorax found her, she started freaking out that the Sunset girl was gone and came to me with Thorax begging me to call you guys to contact her parents. Did she keep rambling about something like a broken mirror? I don't know. Doesn't matter. The point is, someone has got to tell her family."

"Um...We will handle it." Luna insisted. There was silence, then a sound of a long irritated sigh.

"You are hiding something from me, Lulu. Is Tia involved with this? If so I can get Discord to figure out what is up. Very bad idea to lie to one of your oldest friends and a very bad idea to hide information from one of your oldest lunatic friends."

"He isn't a lunatic," Celestia mumbled, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the wheel tighter. Luna used her hand to cover her mouth, trying to stop chuckling.

"Well you would know about that wouldn't you, sister?" Luna said, removing her hand to give her a cocky grin.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Celestia snapped back.

"He has asked you out five times!" Chrysalis said on the phone. "There must have been at least one time where you gave in. Come on! Tell us!"

"Shouldn't you be focusing on comforting your son, Arone?" Celestia snapped at the phone when they pulled into a quiet neighborhood. "My love life is-"

"Non-existent." Luna interrupted, making Celestia swat her on the back of the head.

Chrysalis started laughing when Luna yelped in pain and shot Celestia a death glare.

"Someone hit a nerve," Chrysalis said through chuckles as they pulled into a driveway of a modern-looking house. Sunset gazed up at the modest house. It wasn't much. It could certainly use a new paint job. Sunset looked towards the sisters. Not sure whether or not to trust them.

"No." The demon echoed in her mind. "They are trying to get on your good side to use your magic. Just like the Princess. The Principal won't be any different. She is her counterpart after all."

"OK. Discord is our friend and he works at the school! I am not going to date someone who I...Luna...What's that look for?" Celestia stared back at her sister, who was raising her eyebrow, trying to stop smiling.

"So you have thought about it? That's the message I am getting here." Luna teased.

"LUNA!" Celestia started blushing and looked away in embarrassment. Sunset rolled her eyes and looked out the window to watch the street. Not that anything was really happening out there anyway since it was so late. "Quit it!"

"Guys, as much as I would like to stay and grill Celestia about her tragic love life or lack of any, to be honest, I have to go comfort my boys. The nurse just came to tell me they got Arone in a room. I will call the school tomorrow to give him a few days off but his friends seem pretty eager to get back to school. They are literally discussing homework assignments right now as we speak."

"Right, of course. Give our best wishes to your family and his friends, alright Chrissy?" Celestia said as she turned off the car and grabbed her purse and keys, followed by Luna picking up her own purse and Celestia's phone.

"I will be sure to do that. Right after I grill him on how the hell he got stabbed in the first place." Crysalis replied with restrained anger. "Bye."

The call ended and the sisters relaxed before Celestia turned to give Sunset a weak smile.

"Sorry, about that, Sunset. Come on. We have a spare room. Let's get you into bed for the night. You probably really need the sleep." She said. Sunset mutely nodded. She silently got out of the car with the sisters and started to follow them to the dark house. Why would they be so nice to her, she wondered.

She hated to think it but there was a chance she was being used. She couldn't ignore that valid fact just because she hated who suggested it. It was a valid point. She had to keep her guard up no matter what.

---Chapter Twelve---

The Equestrian Side

Celestia and Luna guided her into the dark house. There was a living room with comfy furniture and a dining room to her left. On her right, there was a large kitchen, complete with a small table in the middle and a bathroom in the main hall that lead to the stairway to the basement and the stairs to the second level.

The trio made their way upstairs for Luna to gestured to her and Celestia's room on the left side. Each sister's room was marked by their cutie mark symbol painted onto each door. Then they showed her the bathroom on the right with the house closet right beside it to her left and finally the spare bedroom at the end of the hall to her right as well. Celestia quickly got her a pair of pajamas and ushered her into the room. Insisting, like a concerned mother to get some sleep because tomorrow would be a hard day.

Sunset nodded and closed the door to her new room. She flicked on the light switch to see a very plain-looking room. Nothing was special about it other than the flowers on the nightstand that seemed to be wilting. She looked over to the window, considering for a moment that she could escape right then and there.

No.

That would be wrong. They are trying to help. But why? Sunset shook her head. She needed to stop asking that question or she would spiral down a rabbit hole. She took off her clothes and put on her pajamas carefully, being sure to try to not hit her injuries that weren't covered up in bandages.

She finally completed that action and folded up her clothes. She put them into the dresser and then made her way to the light switched. She paused for a moment as she heard mumbled noises of the sisters talking somewhere downstairs. Probably about her. Probably about what they were going to do with her next.

Sunset sighed, her energy drained from the excitement of the day. She failed to complete her act, just because she couldn't sleep forever right now, doesn't mean she couldn't sleep a little. She flicked off the light and crawled into bed with wet tears running down her cheeks.

She should be dead right now.

She failed.

Princess Celestia couldn't sleep. She doubted she would be able to sleep again for a long time as she sat in her dark room. The only source of light she had was the dying fire of the fireplace casting a warm glow over the room. Celestia was silently crying as she stared down at an open page of a leather book that was once used to communicate with Sunset Shimmer.

"One can't make amends if they are dead, Princess."

That last message from Sunset had been sent a little more than two hours ago, followed by a drop of blood making its way onto the page a few minutes later. Celestia had never felt worse in her life. Even when she banished Luna. She might have driven her former student to...to...

Celestia didn't even want to think the word. She ran her hoof on the drop of blood that had passed to her side of the journal. Was she dead? Celestia might never know. The portal was closed. Any hope of helping Sunset Shimmer was lost. She heard a soft knocking on her door. She looked over to the entrance of her room to see Luna poking her head in with a worried expression.

"Are you alright, sister? You look like you are in distress." Luna commented as she took hesitant steps forward towards her elder sister. Celestia didn't bother to deny it as she pushed the journal away in her grief. She couldn't bear to look at it again.

"I...I think I killed her." She whispered before letting out a quick sob and looking towards the ceiling with tears going down her cheeks. "She might be dead because of me and I can't even...I can't even see her, see if she actually followed through with it. I can't do anything to help her."

Luna moved to sit beside her sister and read the page of the journal she was referring to. She sucked in a sharp breath in surprise and worry before lifting the book up with her magic and gently closing it but didn't make a move to bring it over to Celestia or herself. She simply left it hovering with her magic in front of them.

"Do not jump to conclusions, sister." She said softly. "She is still a pony. If she is sleeping, I may be able to reach her dreams but it would require more effort than usual. We could send a letter to Twilight Sparkle requesting she research ways to open the portal once again. There must be a way. Not all hope is lost."

"She might already be dead, Luna," Celestia whispered back. Luna wrapped her wing around her sister's back and nuzzled her. "The first time I hear from her in years and...and she...I was so awful to her." Celestia mumbled. Breaking into heartwrenching sobs as her body shook from grief.

Luna stared at the book as her sister buried her face in her hoofs. Luna felt it was better for her sister not to look at the contents of the book anymore to try and soften her grief. She stayed there for a few more minutes until her sister's breathing evened out. She had cried herself to sleep. Luna carefully lifted Celestia into her bed and tucked her in.

She left her sister's room with the book tucked beneath her wing. After many twists and turns, she entered the Canterlot Royal Library. In the middle of the room, sitting at a table that surrounded a large hourglass sat two unicorns, pegasi, and an Earth pony surrounded by hundreds of books.

A female unicorn, known as the head Librarian named Bini Filters, who was wearing small circle glasses and a red scarf look up from her scroll that she was writing on to see Luna approaching the ground. She elbowed Celestia's personal assistant Arone, who was asleep beside her to wake up. Arone, the male unicorn with light green fur and a short black mane and tail glared at Bini.

Bini ignored this and whistled at her two assistants. Rocky Snow, male pegasi who had light yellow fur and a mohawk purple mane and tail, and Chocolate Shadow, a female Earth pony with her light brown fur, a purple bow in her mane, pulling it into a messy bun and one purple bow at the start of her tail looked over to Bini through the sea of books.

"Princess Luna is here!" She called out. Everyone jumped to attention and stumbled out of their spots in the book madness and onto a clear part of the Library with nervous smiles. Bini brought over one of several lamps that had been lit to provide more light to the area they were standing in.

"Princess Luna. It's a pleasure to see you!" Arone spoke up as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Luna nodded towards the group, taking a moment to look at the mess behind them.

"May we ask what thou art doing?" Luna said.

"It's that time of year when we need to start reorganizing the Library for the new year. It usually takes a few weeks but with Arone helping us I am sure we will be able to get it done faster." Bini explained.

"Well done. We have a book we need you to put in the Archive. It is very important you do not read such a book. Understand?" Luna asked. The group shared a concerned glance before giving the Princess a weak smile.

"Of course. I will put it in the restricted section of the Archive." Bini said as Luna hesitantly levitated the book over to her. Bini caught it with her blue magic and studied the curious design on the front of the leather book. Luna said her thanks and quickly left the Library. Leaving the four friends staring at the book.

"So...What do you think is in there?" Arone finally asked. Bini shrugged and started to walk towards the direction of the Archive.

"I am not sure. I am not sure I even want to know to be honest." Bini admitted. Rocky flew over her with concern as he looked between Bini and the book. Bini raised an eyebrow and let out an irritated sigh to her fellow assistant. "OK. I will bite. What's wrong?"

"We have to deliver a shipment of books from the Archive to Princess Twilight in a few weeks. Are you sure you want to put it in the archive? You might mix it up with the rest of the books. Remember, we are sending about two hundred. Most of them only have symbols on the front because of how old they are." Rocky explained. Bini chuckled and gave a cocky grin.

"Ha! Yeah right. Like I could confuse a book that looks as special as this with any of those old things. They are falling apart. I don't even understand why she wants them in the first place." Bini said with a wave of her hoof as the group weaved through bookshelves.

"You have a history of screwing up book orders." Arone pointed out.

"Yeah. Before you guys came along. That shipment will be different. Now get back to work! We are already behind on schedule as it is!" Bini ordered. Rocky, Arone, and Chocolate mumbled to themselves as Bini disappeared farther into the Library.

---End of Chapter Thirteen---

Newsflash

Wait for it.

The Bell rang across Canterlot High for classes to start. Bini Filters stood at the Wondercolts statue waiting for everyone to get inside before she sprinted into the school, running full speed towards the Library to avoid the looks and insults she was sure to get.

The last of the students entered the school, Bini started sprinting towards the door. She quickly opened it, ignoring how a fair amount of people stopped and heckled her. How they threw trash at her like she was the one who became the stupid demon.

She dodged a few pieces of trash, her years from playing dodge ball were kicking in but being blind in one eye does have its disadvantages. Bini was running, so focused on making it to her destination that she failed to notice Lighting Dust outstretch her foot in Bini's path purposely.

Bini tripped, slamming into the floor, then sliding on the cold floor from the impact. Her head was ringing, her body hurt, people surrounded her, shouting insults for her helping the She-demon.

This is exactly why she waited. So something like this didn't happen. She pushed herself off the floor. Grabbing her bag and head that was still in pain. She stumbled, pushing people out of her way as she saw the glass double doors of the Library. She could still hear the laughter in the hall as she felt her phone vibrate.

She yanked it out of her pocket, giving angry glares at anyone who would dare look in her direction. She answered the call without looking at the number as she held it up to her ear.

"WHAT?" She barked, making the Librarian Cheerlie shush her across the room. She waved her hand in apology and ran up to the second level where fewer people were.

"Sorry?" The weak voice of Arone said in her ear. "Did I call at a bad time?"

"Yeah, kinda. I was just considering transferring from Canterlot High because everyone here is a dick." She hissed into her phone, ducking into a corner of the Library that was rarely visited. Arone whistled into the phone.

"Damn. So I guess your day started out pretty bad?" Arone said.

"Yeah. I got tripped on purpose in the hall. It was...Embarrassing to say the least." Bini said with a blush. "Look. I get why everyone hates Sunset Shimmer. She bullied people, blackmailed them, some people almost committed suicide because of her. But...Geez, they are so angry that they are hurting anyone who shows even a little bit of kindness towards her."

"If yesterday proved anything, it's that the world is a really screwed up place. You can't change them. Only they can change themselves."

Bini chuckled.

"You are very cringy sometimes."

Arone chuckled back.

"Shut up, Bini! Besides I only need to stay in the hospital for three more days, soon I will be back and annoying you, Chocolate, and Rocky about what happened. Remember, we can't tell my mom anything."

"Yeah, yeah. You don't need to remind me. She would kill us."

"She would kill us, resurrect us, then kill us again over and over until she felt we had enough punishment-"

Suddenly there was a click, followed by a bright flash. Bini yelped and rubbed her eyes, looking over to the source to see Chocolate pointing her camera at her with a tired grin. Bini accidentally clicked the speakerphone button as she got up from her spot on the ground.

"What was that!?" She snapped. Chocolate shrugged and took another picture before she lowered her camera.

"Gabby Gums is doing a piece on you. I needed to get your picture." Chocolate explained as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"I am your friend! Are you seriously selling me out to Gabby Gums of all people!" Bini exclaimed.

"That's cold." Arone said through the phone. Chocolate nervously tugged on a loss strand of hair before clearing her throat. "I haven't even been gone for a day and you guys are already turning on each other."

"I am not turning on Bini!" Chocolate said to Arone on the phone. "This is my job! I have a duty to the newspaper to take photos!"

There was a moment of silence.

"So you are being blackmailed?" Arone finally asked.

"W-What no, no, no. O-Of...No." Chocolate stammered as she fiddled with her camera. "There is no way that a kid from middle school could blackmail me with information about my brother that she obtained somehow that I am still trying to figure out."

"Diamond Tiara?" Bini asked as she crossed her arms over her chest. Chocolate let out a defeated sigh and nodded.

"The one and only."

"How is it that no one got any blackmail stuff on her? Her father is Filthy Rich. He has more money than anyone in town! No one gets that much money without doing some pretty awful things." Arone said.

"Maybe he killed someone?" Bini said with a smile that made Chocolate nervous. "Ohhh, think about the media circus if that got out!"

"The chances of that happening are low." Arone said. Chocolate gasped and ran over to the second-floor railing to look at the floor below. She started taking multiple pictures of the people below before heading back towards Bini and her phone with a triumphant smile.

"I got pictures of Sunset Shimmer. The boss will be pleased indeed." Chocolate said. Bini ran over to the railing and looked below to see Sunset sitting at one of the computers with headphones on at full blast, ignoring the whispers of students around her.

"Didn't she go missing yesterday?" Arone asked.

"Uh...Yeah, she did. She..." Bini squinted her eyes to get a better look at Sunset after adjusting her glasses. "She looks...Fine to me...At least from up here."

"Appearances can be deceiving," Arone said in a high tone like he was about to break out in song.

"We don't need your psychology analysis bullshit right now," Bini said into her phone. "Or whatever it is you are trying to pull."

"Someone is in a bad mood." Chocolate muttered behind Bini as Bini heard the sounds of Chocolate's camera flashing again. Bini tightened her grip on the railing and looked down at the other judgemental students below. She watched them judge Sunset. She knew if she stepped down there, they would judge her.

She didn't need that sort of pressure.

What happens if she got beat up?

Maybe she should transfer? No. That would be wrong. Her friends would still be at CHS if she left. She couldn't leave them. But damn, she really wanted to go to a school where no one knew her once again. A fresh start.

Bini shook her head. Quickly dismissing the silly thought. She couldn't transfer. She wouldn't. She cleared her throat and turned to Chocolate with her phone held to her chest.

"I...I need to get to work." Bini said, glancing behind her one last time to the cart of books that needed reshelving below.

"Are you sure you want to go back down there? It could be...Dare I say...Dangerous." Chocolate said. Bini nodded in acknowledgment.

"I know. But this whole thing should blow over in a couple of weeks. As long as no one pulls a knife on me, I should be fine. Right?" Bini asked with a shakiness to her voice that told Chocolate and Arone that she didn't quite believe herself.

"Yeah...Fine." Arone said softly. "I should get going. Thorax is coming in soon. Chat later."

The call ended before the two could say their goodbyes. Chocolate stepped towards her friend hesitantly.

"Are you sure you can handle this?" She asked. Bini nodded with a weak smile.

"Yeah. It's not like I am Sunset Shimmer."

Three girls sat in the empty cafeteria with guilty expressions as they looked at the photo evidence of Sunset Shimmer's cruel actions that they found over the years in front of them. Applebloom gulped and picked up a photo of Sunset destroying the Fall Formal design that she tried to pin on Twilight Sparkle.

"She turned in a demon," Sweetiebelle said with a shake of her head. "S-She brainwashed us. It's only right to get payback by publishing all her dirty deeds in the school newspaper right? She bullied our sisters."

"Yeah." Scootaloo said slowly as she picked up the photo of when Sunset Shimmer was first crowned Fall Formal Princess. "Besides if we don't...You know what Diamond Tiara will do."

"Ah know we feel bad but we have done this before, ya'll." Appleblood said. "We are Gabby Gums. We got to give them what they want."

Sweetiebelle and Scootalo nodded.

---End of Chapter Fourteen---

Maternal Instincts

Sunset Shimmer nervously entered the cafeteria. The student body reacted as she expected them to. Throwing insults and glares in her direction. She took in a deep breath and quickly grabbed a tray of food from Granny Smith before turning around to see if there were any empty tables.

She finally saw one empty table. She quickly made her way over it, taking the most direct route she could. She smiled as she sat down at the empty table in the corner of the cafeteria, happy that something had finally gone right for once. She started to eat, watched the students, most of them wouldn't bother glaring at her the entire lunch so they resorted to whispering about her to their friends. She looked over to Bini, Arone, and Rocky who seemed to be scared of something. Especially Bini.

Bini was fiddling with her phone, occasionally looking up to look at the passing student before Arone and Chocolate spoke to her. She would shake her head and wave her hand as if she was trying to act like everything was fine. But it clearly wasn't as Bini tried to discreetly wipe a tear from her eye.

"Um...H-Hey Sunset." A raspy female voice said in front of her.

Sunset looked up in alarm at the five girls standing in front of her with nervous smiles. Their posture told her they didn't want to be there. Their eyes told her they were scared of her. She couldn't blame them. She was scared of herself these days.

"Is it alright if we...sit, darling?" Rarity nervously asked. The group looked at each other with uncertainty, then back to Sunset for an answer. Sunset, in all honestly, wanted to be alone. But she couldn't refuse them. They were trying to be nice for reasons Sunset may never understand. She mutely nodded.

There was an awkward moment when the girls sat down around her, the students around them stopped with obvious confusion on their faces but quickly recovered and moved on with puzzled and worried expressions.

"Do you think the demon brainwashed them?" She heard one student ask another. Rainbow Dash heard this and gritted her teeth towards the student who quickly ran off with their friend. She settled back down and started to munch on her apple.

"So...How are ya doin' Sugarcube?" Applejack asked as an awkward silence fell among the group.

"I-I am fine, thanks." Sunset mumbled as she picked at her food. Suddenly she yelped as Pinkie Pie narrowed her eyes at her, getting much closer to Sunset than she would have liked. Her eyes narrowed. She looked almost angry for a moment when she suddenly gave her a bright smile.

"We should have a "Good thing you aren't a demon anymore" Party!" She chirped. Rarity gave herself a facepalm with a groan.

"Oh dear..." Fluttershy whimpered as her eyes darted between Pinkie and Sunset with fear. Sunset cleared her throat and frantically shook her head.

"P-Please don't do that. I don't really like parties." Sunset admitted.

Pinkie looked like she was about to have a heart attack. She clutched her chest and swayed dramatically until she leaned against the table and looked at Sunset with wide disbelieving eyes.

"How do you not like parties?" She screeched, opening her mouth to say more but was silenced as Applejack covered her mouth with a tired and embarrassed grin.

"Anyway..." Rainbow Dash said, throwing Pinkie Pie a warning glance. "We would like to be your..." Rainbow Dash paused again as if unsure if she was making the right choice. "Friend."

Sunset's brain stopped working momentarily. She seriously asked herself if they lost their minds.

"You are too stuck up, Tia." Discord, the drama teacher said as he lit a cigar in his office and leaned against Celestia's desk in his mismatched suit. Celestia angrily typed on her computer as she looked up to her friend with annoyance.

"Dizzy. For the last goddamn time, no smoking in my school." She snapped before returning to look at her screen that showed their budget. Their non-existent budget. The school was flat broke. Discord mumbled something under his breath as he extinguished the cigar and tossed it in Celestia's garbage.

"Again, you really should loosen up like Lulu. When was the last time you took a vacation?" He asked with a grin. Celestia gave him a tired stare.

"If this is another one of your creative ways to ask me out, I am flatly denying like the last four times." Celestia mumbled.

"Oh come now, our prom night was fun."

"I only accepted because you made a big show of asking me out in front of the entire school after that stupid school play!" Celestia complained as she ran her hand through her hair. "Besides it's not like my evenings are free anymore."

Discord raised an eyebrow and leaned over to Celestia. He narrowed his red eyes as he carefully watched her reaction.

"You got a boyfriend or something? Is that why you are rejecting me?"

"WHAT, NO!" Celestia almost yelled. A soft knocking came at the door and Luna poked her head in with a big smile.

"Are you guys dating? I heard something about a boyfriend." She said. Celestia and Discord blushed.

"No, Lulu." Celestia insisted. "Discord tried asking me out again and I rejected him because I don't want to go on another date with him, and second our evenings are not free anymore."

"Not free? What are y-" Luna paused then nodded. "Right. You have a point."

Discord looked between the two sisters with confusion.

"Alright, is someone going to tell me what is going on with you two?" He snapped. "If you don't I may start creating more chaos than you like..."

"You already do," Luna said with a flat tone. "Yesterday afternoon we took Sunset Shimmer into our home. She needs guardians and Tia here had maternal instincts kicking in for the girl."

"I am just worried about her is all!" Celestia insisted. "In all honesty, she tried to kill herself last night! If it wasn't for Luna and me, she would be dead right now."

"I think you are giving yourself too much credit-"

"You weren't there! It was...worse than awful. I don't even want to think about it." Celestia said with tears in her eyes. "Hopefully Luna and I can help get her better now."

Discord and Luna silently nodded. Unsure of how to comfort Celestia.

---End of Chapter Fifteen---

To dream of a Princess

Author's Note

As I mentioned in my blog yesterday, I am currently going through Writer's block so it's kind of hard for me to write at the moment. Also, as much as I like writing this story, which proves an outlet for me, I have also run out of ideas. So if anyone has any ideas for the story that they would like to share with me, please tell me because I am really desperate over here.

I hope everyone is liking the story so far and hopefully I can continue it until it is completed...Whenever that may be.

To dream of a Princess

Sunset entered Luna and Celestia's house after a long day. Sunset had to stay two hours past the school day as part of her punishment. She had to help rebuild the entrance of the school (Mostly just placing bricks and laying down mortar) with also counted as her detention for after school as part of her punishment for becoming the she-demon that almost killed everyone.

All things considered, Sunset got off pretty easily.

Her body hurt all over as Celestia and Luna headed to the kitchen, bickering to each other about their day as Sunset trudged up the staircase, into her new bedroom, and flopped on the bed with a groan of exhaustion. She felt sleep coming towards her like a train heading towards its final destination. Her eyes dropped as she didn't even try to stop herself from entering her hellish nightmares.

Her eyes fluttered up to see the darkened hall of the throne room. The only light came from explosions of fireballs and burning buildings outside. She saw her former mentor sitting in front of one of the shattered windows. Celestia calmly watched the destruction of her ponies. That left Sunset more unsettled than she thought.

She opened her mouth to ask the Princess what was going on. But she had a feeling she already knew what fate had befallen the capital city. Tears sprang to her eyes as guilt hit her in waves. There was nothing she could say that would make the situation better but Celestia needed to know Sunset wasn't completely heartless.

"I-I am sorry." Sunset said in an unsteady voice as the castle shook from an explosion. Celestia's sad eyes filled with regret didn't move from the pack of ponies she watched being burned alive in the streets below. She simply stared.

"Saying sorry won't bring them back." Her former teacher replied with a cold tone. "Saying sorry won't stop the demon."

Sunset slowly looked out the window to see her demon form flying through the city, followed by the demon versions of Snips and Snails. Burning everyone and everything in their path with sick delight. Celestia took a sharp inhale of breath as a lavender Alicorn flew into the air to confront the demon.

Twilight's eyes were red and green, the signs that she was using dark magic. Sunset looked over to Celestia in desperation.

"Why is she using dark magic?" She said softly despite her overwhelming fear. "Why is she so angry?"

Celestia let out a dry chuckle and for the first time since Sunset appeared, she looked towards her former student with a frown.

"You killed her friends of course. She has no reason not to use it anymore. But...Like the ponies before her, she will fail."

On cue, Twilight was flung across the sky after her brief struggle with the demon, she crashed through the throne room window and slammed into a pillar. The pillar cracked but did not break as Twilight's broken body fell to the dirty marble floor lifeless.

Celestia didn't move.

Sunset, on the other hoof, galloped over to the fallen Alicorn. Twilight's horn was broken, parts of her body were burned and her chest had a large bloody hole. Sunset started panicking as Twilight's blood pooled on the floor and found itself attached to Sunset's hoofs.

Sunset looked over to Celestia, who was still watching the battle below.

"DO SOMETHING!" She screamed in desperation. Celestia didn't move. She didn't react. "Please! You must!"

"Why?" Celestia said as if she didn't have a care in the world. "What's the point? We are all doomed anyway."

Sunset gritted her teeth in rage. She was angry at herself and Celestia. Why wasn't she doing anything!? Sunset started to slowly approach the Princess of the Sun, who seemed to have lost all hope and was a bit too comfortable to watch everything and everyone go up in ablaze.

"Sunset Shimmer."

Sunset paused. She heard a female voice she had never heard before but...Wait...It...Sounded...No. No, that wasn't possible. She turned slowly to see Princess Luna staring back at her with concern dancing in her eyes. She had never seen Princess Luna before, why was she here? Was she going to help? Luna took a hesitant step forward as the castle shook.

"Sunset Shimmer," She repeated slowly. "You are in a dream."

Sunset did a slow blink of confusion.

"W-What?"

"You are in a dream," Luna repeated as she got closer. "I am Princess Luna of the night. I guard ponies against their nightmares, nightmares such as this."

"How are you here?" Sunset asked. Not quite believing the dark Alicorn before her. Luna's horn lit up and Sunset soon found herself in a void of darkness. She floated in the nothingness before looking back at the only pony who was with her, Luna.

"To put it simply, it took a great deal of effort but I was able to connect my magic with your magic dispite you being in a different world, Sunset Shimmer," Luna said. "My sister was concerned for your wellbeing after your last conversation in the book."

"No," Sunset said with a shake of her head. "Princess Celestia wouldn't...She hates me. I betrayed her in the worst possible way."

"How so?"

The scene changed to one of the hallways in Canterlot Castle years ago. The pair watched as the pony form of Sunset Shimmer ran down the corridor with a black cloak. She turned around the bend, heading towards the room at the end of the corridor. The guards lit up their horns at her approach.

"Stop!" One of them ordered. Sunset gritted her teeth. She wasn't about to be swayed from her goal just because someone ordered her to stop. She slammed her magic into the guard's chest, making him hit the wall hard, effectively knocking him out.

The other guard looked from his friend to Sunset in slight fear but moved to block her path anyway. He fired at Sunset, Sunset blocked the spell with a shield and fired back at the guard who was hit in the head. Throwing him back into the door. The door opened from the impact enough for Sunset to see her final goal.

The mirror. The portal.

She galloped faster towards the room.

Suddenly, there was a flash of light, as bright as the sun. Sunset gasped and came to a stop to shield her eyes. She slowly opened them to see Princess Celestia standing at the entrance of the room with a furious expression with two more guards pointing spears at her.

"Get out of my way." Sunset barked with hostility. Celestia took a step forward, igniting her horn in case of an attack.

"No. I banned you from the castle. You are not allowed here. Get out." Celestia snapped back.

"Get out of my way or I will have to use force." Sunset threatened. The guards gave an uneasy glance to Celestia as Celestia gestured them towards Sunset.

"Arrest Sunset Shimmer."

The guards, no matter their personal feelings or emotions, galloped towards the intruder. Sunset dodged one of the guards as she levitated the other one up and slammed them against the wall before kicking the one in the head that charged towards her. She stumbled to the middle of the corridor again, taking in deep breathes as she looked back up at her former teacher with hatred.

"This is all your felt!" Sunset yelled. Celestia flinched but didn't move. "I told you I wanted to know more but you had to be selfish about it! You didn't want me surpassing you! You knew I can be more powerful than you will ever be. It's pathetic. Truly pathetic."

"Sunset, stop." Celestia pleaded. "You used-"

"Shut up!" Sunset yelled. "Just shut up. I don't want to hear any more of your fucking excuses. I will kill you if I need to. So get out of my way."

Celestia gritted her teeth but stood strong.

"I can not do that." She said. "You know I can't."

Sunset leaped forward, throwing her most powerful spell at Celestia, Celestia brought up a shield to counter it as Sunset used it against her. Celestia was distracted with countering the first spell so Sunset leaped into the air, bring one down over the shield.

The spell hit Celestia in the chest, shattering her jewelry and burning the fur underneath. She cried out in pain and stumbled back into the dark room. Sunset fired multiple spells at her former teacher, Celestia used her wing to block the attacks, burning some parts of her wings of course.

"Sunset, this isn't you. You aren't evil."

Sunset tackled the alicorn to the ground, using her front hoofs to slam the Princess down on her back.

"You don't know me at all!" She screamed. "You never cared about me! You wanted to use me as a weapon and when you realized I was becoming too powerful for you to control, you tossed me aside!"

Sunset jumped off Celestia's body and galloped towards the mirror as fast as she could. Her hoofs went through the mirror as she felt Celestia's magic start to grab out to her. She passed through effortlessly, it was over.

Sunset Shimmer was gone.

Sunset was soon returned to the void with Luna staring down at her. Sunset sobbed and covered her face with her hoofs.

"I am an awful pony for what I did. I deserve everything awful that I get."

Luna gave her a sad smile and brought her closer using her wing.

"Everypony has darkness in them, Sunset Shimmer. But that doesn't mean they are awful." Luna pointed out. "I have done awful things, just like you. But I am trying to be a better pony. Based on what Twilight Sparkle has told me about you, you were going to try the same thing when she left."

Sunset nodded.

"Everypony deserves a second chance."

Sunset woke up with a gasp at the abrupt end of her dream. She groaned and rubbed her eyes as she heard a soft knocking on her door.

"Come." She mumbled with a yawn before Celestia opened the door. Making Sunset feel guilty as the memories she saw in her dream were still fresh.

"Dinner is ready. Do you want to join Luna and I downstairs?" Celestia asked. Sunset nodded with a small smile.

"Um, yeah. That would be nice. Thanks."

---End of Chapter Sixteen---

Area 51

The news was spreading fast.

No. Not the news about Bini defending Sunset. That got easily pushed aside for the video that showed someone taking a video, from one of the houses across the street from CHS, about what happened at the Fall formal.

They got everything.

They got Sunset turning into a demon, destroying the front of the school and finally, the Rainbow beam to save them all. Oh, damn. It was trending on every social media platform. Most people thought it was bad CGI. Other people thought it signalled the end of the world. Then there were other people claiming to have seen the beam from across the city.

Bini was sweating as she sat staring at her phone with big eyes. For once she was alone at Sugar Cube Corner. Chocolate and Rocky had gone earlier to the hospital to pay Arone a visit. Bini wanted to stay back a little while longer to finish her Hot Chocolate. As she scrolled through her Facebook to see her wall flooded with theories and conspiracy theories on whether the video was real or not.

What Bini didn't understand is how it took until Wednesday for the video to get out. It had been out for less than an hour after school ended. Why then? Why today?

Maybe the world was working against her. Yeah. That made sense. Everyone from CHS, from what Bini could tell, was freaking out in the fear that the government would come and take them all away for testing for even being near the strange event. Everyone was practically yelling at each other on the CHS Facebook group page to either "Chill out and not act so guilty" or asking them if they have a "death wish" and actually want to be experimented on.

Bini didn't want to be experimented on. She knew that for sure. Bini looked around Sugarcude Corner to see everyone from CHS huddled in their own after-school groups with scared expressions. Whispering secrets to each other as outsiders watched every student carefully.

Bini thought Monday was bad, Bini thought she was going to die on Tuesday, now she thinks Wednesday might be the end of CHS as she knew it...Not counting the Fall Formal...It's only Wednesday. How could it possibly get any worse than this? Bini groaned in despair and took another sip of her warm drink. Which, unfortunately for her, did nothing to smooth her nerves.

Her phone started to vibrate rapidly. She glared at the name that popped up on the screen. She was in no mood to talk at the moment but knew if she didn't answer she was going to get a lecture so she hesitantly accepted the call and held it up to her ear with a defeated expression.

"Hello. This is Bini Filters. How may I help you?"

"Bini? You know damn well who this is!" The angry tone of Chocolate snapped back, followed by the mumbled of agreement from Arone and Rocky somewhere in the hospital room with her. "By the way, you are on speakerphone."

"Why are you angry at me? I just live in this stupid world." Bini snapped back with equal, if not, more hostility.

"You are right. I am sorry. I am just angry about...The news from school. The video. I assume you saw it."

"Yeah. I sure did." Bini said as she took another long sip. "The government is going to get us. We are going to find ourselves in Area 51 soon. Better say your prayers."

"Bini!" Arone called out. "Don't be an idiot. Rocky already thinks that. You know how he is."

"I am right here." Rocky barked. "I can hear you just fine."

"Area 51?" Chocolate repeated. "Isn't that where they keep Aliens? We aren't aliens."

"That is a myth. There are no aliens in Area 51" Arone argued.

"Oh, really? Then explain all those UFO sigh-"

"I swear to the sun, if you bring up UFO sightings again, I will punch you in the stomach so hard that your spirit flies out of you and you end up in that weird pony world that Sunset Shimmer comes from." Arone threatened.

...

"I got you...You son of a bitch."

"Dear Lord, did Bini just quote the Alien franchise?" Chocolate complained with a loud slap to the forehead. "This world is a disgrace."

"Hell yeah! Great delivery, Bini!" Rocky said. Bini chuckled as Chocolate yelled at Rocky to not encourage Bini in the background.

"Can we please focus?" Arone snapped, breaking the playful mood. "We might be dead soon."

"Now you are just overreacting," Bini said with a wave of her hand from dramatic effect despite none of her friends could see her. "The only way we would be dead from this is if the government somehow got involved and decided we were all aliens and needed to die."

"...I can see that happening." Chocolate said after a short pause.

"NOT HELPING!" Arone yelled back.

"Dude, eat a snickers. You aren't yourself when you are hungry."

"SHIT!" Luna swore loudly, enough to make Sunset drop her phone in her room and Celestia to run out of her room in worry, followed by Sunset to meet in the living room to see Luna. Luna was standing in the middle of the living room, one hand was on her video game controller while the other was holding up her phone that had caught Luna's attention.

"Luna?" Celestia said slowly as she approached her sister with caution. "Are you alright?"

"They know..." Luna muttered. Luna raised her phone for Celestia to see the video of the fight from the fall formal playing on-screen from inside one of the houses from around the school. "They know everything."

---End of Chapter Seventeen---

Dream of a Nightmare

Bini nervously tapped her pencil against her sketchbook. She had drawn some fanart for Star Trek for the first drawing assignment. "Draw whatever you want." Mrs. Harshwinny the art teacher said for the drawing exercise (Bini was convinced she wasn't actually an art teacher based on Mrs. Harshwinny's ability to not give a shit about art on a daily basis, well to her credit she made it clear she liked Fine art so that was something.). Now she could see the teacher judging her as she looked over her drawing as she passed to Bini to the next student.

It only hit her now, as she sat in class for ten minutes that maybe she screwed up badly by helping Sunset Shimmer. Sunset Shimmer was being a real jerk about a week ago. She had been the "biggest meanie" since grade 7, so why was it now that Bini thought she could suddenly change just because she was blasted by a rainbow beam. Maybe she had a twisted perspective on the matter. After all, Sunset only bullied her once in grade 7 and that was when she was just starting out so it wasn't nearly as bad as it was when she ended her tyrant ways.

No. She did the right thing, Bini repeatedly told herself as she continued to tap her pencil. Failing to notice the annoyed glances she was getting from her peers around her and when Luna entered the room, beginning to talk to Mrs. Harshwinny, then pointed towards Bini.

"Bini." Harshwinny announced with that tone that made Bini want to scratch her eyes out. Bini was brought out of her jumbled thoughts and looked towards Luna and Harchwinny with a dreaded feeling. "You are coming with Vice-Principal Luna."

And just like that, the day got worse.

The class heckled her as she walked in shame across the class, regretting everything in her life. She gave Luna a small smile as Luna gestured her to follow her. They left the class and walked through the empty halls in silence.

"Are you going to explain to me what happened before class?" Luna finally asked to break the tense silence. Bini gulped and slowly nodded as students passed, looking at them with curiosity.

"I guess I have no choice," Bini mumbled. "OK. So I was going down the hall, minding my own business keep in mind when I saw Gilda, Trixie, and her two friends ganging up on Sunset. So I...May...Have..."

"May have what?"

"May have hit Trixie was a very big book on the back of the head." Bini said as she cringed at the memory. "She fell to the floor, getting the rest of their attention after Gilda punched, then slammed Sunset against her locker. Gilda ordered her lackeys against me and then the heroes of the fall formal helped us."

"I appreciate you helping Sunset Shimmer. But I would also appreciate you avoiding hitting people with large books." Luna commented. Bini nervously chuckled again to release some tension as they entered the office. Bini awkwardly waved to Raven Inkwell as Luna lead her past the group of trouble makers giving Bini the death glares, followed by Bini and Luna entering Celestia's office.

Celestia sat at her desk, filling out paperwork when Luna closed the door. Celestia looked up to see Bini looking down at the floor with a guilty expression.

"Miss. Filters...Bini. Come sit." Celestia gestured to the chairs in front of her desk. "How are you?"

"Um...Fine?" Bini said. Her eyes darted around the room before she settled back to looking at Principal Celestia. "I assume I am here about the fight before class."

"Correct," Celestia confirmed with a nod of her head. "So, tell me about it."

Bini relayed the story of what happened to Celestia in more detail than what she gave Luna. Celestia occasionally nodded as she sipped her tea.

"Alright. Thank you, Bini. Unfortunately, I still must punish you for hitting Trixie Lulamoon. You have detention after school."

Bini waved goodbye, respecting her punishment despite clearly not being happy about it, and swiftly left the room. Luna sat on the sofa as Celestia groaned in despair.

"Sunset."

Sunset (In her pony form) slowly walked down the grand throne room in Canterlot Castle. It was dark out. The room was dark so she couldn't make out the figure sitting on the throne. She carefully took a few steps forward, crossing halfway into the room.

"Hello?" Sunset called out, then took another step towards the throne to see if she could make out who was on the throne in the darkness. "Who...Who are you?"

The figure slowly, in jagged movements got up and stepped away from the throne. Going down the small staircase until she reached Sunset's level. The figure stepped into the moonlight shining from one of the windows against the wall... Revealing her old mentor, Princess Celestia.

Only she was injured. Badly. Deeply injured. One of her front hoofs had a deep cut. One of her wings was barely attached to her, there was a large hole in her stomach. Parts of her face and body were burned. Her mane had been cut short but still waving despite her weak state.

Yet she continued to slowly limp towards her former student. She opened her eyes for Sunset to see that one was badly burned. She left a trail of blood behind her when she finally stopped a meter away from her. Her breathing was deep and slow. Any normal pony would have died from blood loss at that point but this was Princess Celestia. The Alicorn of the sun.

"Princess, w-what happened?" Sunset said, frozen from shock at the current state of her former teacher. Tears trickled down Celestia's face as she looked at Sunset with fear. She was scared of her.

"You...You turned into a demon. You...Killed so many...I tried to stop you...I didn't think you hated me enough to..."

Celestia stopped briefly to watched as a fireball slammed into one of the few houses not burning in the streets of Canterlot below. Screams of pain and terror echoed in the citizens below, followed by a low booming cackling of delight from the demon side of Sunset somewhere in the city. Celestia lowered her head as she sobbed.

"I couldn't save them from you...My little ponies are dying because I was too weak..."

"NO!" Sunset cried out in distress. She galloped up to Celestia, desperate to see some hope in her eyes. "W-We can stop this! We just need Twilight and the others!"

"Dead," Celestia said softly. "After she killed Twilight and her friends in the human world, she killed them here. Right where you are standing. You killed them. You killed my precious student."

Sunset's jealously flared for a moment. A brief moment but was quickly pushed aside in panic as the pony version of her demon flew past the window, followed by an army of brainwashed pegasi moving to protect her. Sunset Shimmer yelped in pain as she felt the sudden jagged pain in her hoof, she lifted it up to see a blue color fading from the crystal fragment stuck in her hoof.

"Are...these...?" She said softly as she yanked it from her hoof with her magic, ignoring the gash it left drawing blood, carefully holding the fragment to eye-level with other pieces with different colors scattered around her and Celestia. "The Elements of Harmony?"

"Yes."

The castle shook, the walls cracked, windows shattered around them. Sunset put up a shield around them but the glass cut through it anyway, cutting the already wounded Alicorn and the failure of a unicorn. Tears poured down her cheeks as her actions hit her like a tone of bricks. She couldn't believe she did this. She didn't want to kill anypony.

The walls cracked more, Sunset looked to the city outside to see the bottom of the city collapse. The foundation was coming apart. She saw ponies fall off the side of the city, through the cracks. The city was starting to fall off the mountain. The castle floor cracked open. Separating Sunset and Celestia.

"You have to stop this! Stop her...Stop me!" Sunset begged the elder Alicorn. Celestia softly smiled despite the circumstance and her battered body. Her horn flickered to life, her eyes grew white as she was slowly lifted into the air.

"I will not let my ponies be tortured to death. Equestria is doomed. My last action as Princess will make their death short...Painless. They must not suffer any longer."

The sky grew red as the sun rose into the sky. Celestia...Or maybe it was Luna somewhere who didn't bother lowering the moon. The room heated up dramatically. Making Sunset sweat more at that moment than she ever did in her life. Then the sun grew bigger and bigger in the sky, the heat got worse.

Then Sunset looked towards her mentor in fear.

She was slamming the planet into the sun. Sunset covered her eyes, along with the rest of the pony nation, followed by the dragons, griffins, and other species who populated the small planet as the sun...No...The sky got too bright, burning their eyes. Then it was over.

The heat stopped. The smell of fire and burning flesh stopped. The screams of terror stopped. In the castle, her mentor disappeared. The crumbling castle disappeared. Sunset found herself floating in the dark void. Her heart hammering in her chest at what she just witnessed. She frantically looked around until she spotted her demon self (In her human form now) floating above her with a satisfied evil smile on her lips.

"I am you. You are me. You can never escape yourself. You will never change."

Sunset took in deep breathes as fear was her only emotion. Her mind was screaming at her to get away. But to where?

"Sunset. Sunset! Wake up!"

---End of Chapter Five---