The Ballad of Sunset Shimmerby Child of StarsChaptersChapter 2: Radiant RumorsChapter 3: “Sunset!” Her Father SaidChapter 1: Down on Your Knees Before the QueenChapter 2: Radiant RumorsPR Chrysalis sped off down the halls and towards the school’s entrance, Twilight and co in tow. Starlight and Trixie prepared to follow but were stopped by a frowning Sunset. Sunset for her part was still thinking about that name, Radiant Hope, and who it was. ‘That pony, they’re important,’ Sunset pondered, the answer on the tip of her tongue, ‘But why? Who are they to me?’ “Ummm, Sunset? You okay?” Trixie spoke to her friend. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just can’t remember who Radiant Hope is,” Sunset replied. “You don’t?” Starlight questioned Sunset. “No? Should I?” Sunset asked, puzzled. “Y-yeah, she’s the other mare who ran against you for prom queen last year.” Trixie responded with a nervous stutter. “She is?” Sunset inquired. Then it all clicked, she knew Radiant Hope. She was that absolute nobody who ran against her and Twilight last year. Radiant Hope got a total of three votes, three out of hundreds. ‘Wow, that’s the loser everypony is freaking out about? Literal roadkill?’ Sunset internally laughed, ‘So she went and got her leg crushed. Well, guess she’s finally relevant in some way.’ “So why didn’t you say something when Chrysalis brought her up?” Sunset said as she, and consequently Trixie and Starlight, started walking after Chrysalis. “W-well,” Trixie began, “You told us never to interrupt you or speak to you unless we thought it was important.” “So I did it seems,” Sunset commented, not really paying attention, before exclaiming, “Alright, let’s hurry up and find that doormat!” At this the three mares all quickened their paces into a light jog. They hurried down the increasingly crowded halls of the school and made their way to the building’s entrance. Students parted as Sunset made her way through, she stopped just next to Chrysalis and Twilight’s group right at the front of the crowd. There in all her three legged glory was the mare of the hour Radiant Hope. She was currently getting helped by a few ponies, as walking for her was proving a bit difficult. ‘How pathetic,’ Sunset thought as a sly smile crossed her muzzle, ‘That amputee needs help walking and someponies are actually willing to help her? What losers!’ Right as Sunset was thinking this Trixie began to move towards Hope, reaching her hoof out. “Don’t.” Sunset simply stated, scaring Trixie back in line. Sunset continued to watch the struggling pink unicorn, staring her down. Hope looked up and locked eyes with Sunset for just the briefest moments before swinging her head over to the crowd of ponies on her right. She looked like she was going to say something, but before she could she stumbled and fell with a yelp. She hit the ground hard as she grunted in pain. Sunset couldn’t help herself as she quietly snickered at the pink mare’s misfortune. And her quiet laughter only grew louder as the poor mare began to speak. “Can somepony please help me?” Hope questioned, gazing at the crowd. All the ponies there, even the ones previously helping Hope, stood back from her as they all stared fearfully at a laughing Sunset Shimmer. Hope looked at Sunset with pleading eyes, only causing Sunset to laugh harder at the pathetic display. At this point Sunset was starting to tear up from laughter. She wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to rein in her laughter, turning to look down at Hope. “Now why would anypony help a nobody like you.” Sunset said with barely restrained laughter, “You are one of the lowest-” The rest of what Sunset had to say died in her throat when she heard a very familiar sigh, a sigh that belonged to a stallion who had trotted over to Hope and was currently helping her up. ‘Sombra is helping her…?’ Sunset’s brain stopped working as her world went red. Her rage built to its boiling point in an instant, her features contorting into a furious scowl. She ran full speed at Sombra and Hope, shoving Sombra off the amputee and magically slamming Hope to the ground. Hope’s body smacked the tile hard, her head violently snapping backwards hitting the school’s tiled floor. Sunset pounced on her and seethed in anger. “Bitch!” She screamed in Hope’s face. Tears started to stream down Hope’s face and the student body around the two mares looked aghast, but Sunset didn’t care. Screaming at the top of her lungs she continued, “How dare you! First, you have the audacity to run against me in last year’s prom queen nominations, a piece of trash like you! Now, you even dare get near my coltfriend! You fucking waste of space, you probably got yourself hurt on purpose just to get sympathy and attention. Whore!” At the end of her tirade Sunset had saliva hanging from her mouth and Hope looked terrified, her eyes like pinpricks. Tears streamed down Hope’s face as Sunset wiped a single tear from her own right eye. “I-I just…” Hope tried to utter, but only succeeded in getting Sunset’s full ire to be back on her. Sunset spit right into Hope’s left eye, before clocking her across the face with a hoof and making Hope bleed slightly. Sunset turned to walk away and gave the stunned crowd around her a hard stare. Hope in indignation attempted to stand up, only to be bucked back into a wall by an enraged Sunset. “Fucking disgusting slut.” Sunset said aloud, throwing her head back and smiling at Hope as she did. “Sunset!” Sombra yelled in desperation, a slight bit of fear and anger in his voice. Sunset turned towards him and frowned in disapproval, he backed down in almost an instant. “You’re awful!” Hope yelled at Sunset tearfully, “How could all you ponies stand there and take this?” “Because they know what happens to those I don’t like,” Sunset turned towards Hope and replied, “Example one, you. Besides, they have to love their queen, no?” “No.” Hope simply stated. “Well I hear no complaints from them,” Sunset looked at the crowd and asked, “Any problems?” The crowd quickly made it clear that they had no grievances with Sunset, all of them still shocked at Sunset’s unprecedented display of anger. Everypony to some degree feared Sunset, some less than others, but never had they seen her do something this violent. Hope just sat up against the wall shivering and crying as Sunset left her, beckoning her friends to follow, which they did in a fearful hurry. As the crowd began to disperse and share nervous looks amongst each other nopony came to help Hope, except one. Sunset couldn’t see but Sombra cautiously made his way over to Hope and helped her up. He talked with her and tried to calm her down as she watched Sunset make her exit. Sunset got called down from the math class she was currently in and to the principal's office. She assumed it was for her extreme outburst in justified anger from earlier, and she was right. The principal was reserved and clearly a little fearful at Sunset’s presence. He worked for Sunset’s father as a part time job on the side, one that raked in a lot of cash. So, as usual this call was just to keep up appearances. The principal would never dare get his boss’s daughter in trouble and because of that it was no more than five minutes before Sunset was already on her way back to class. This was a noticeable outburst though, Sunset barely got away with it and she knew she'd have to be more careful form now on. On her way back Sunset could have sworn she overheard a few ponies saying that they were going to vote Radiant Hope as prom queen. She scoffed at the idea that anypony would actually vote for a loser like that. She was surprised that Hope even had the gull to run against her. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ Sunset thought, ‘It’s not like she’ll actually win, or even get close.’ But, as Sunset kept hearing more and more rumors throughout the school day she began to grow worried. ‘I can’t rig the election, it’s controlled by faculty who I don’t have any hold over,’ She worriedly thought, ‘But even if it’s true that she’s really running, why would anypony even vote for her? A pity vote perhaps? It doesn’t matter, I'll just pay anypony stupid enough to vote for her off and secure my victory. Prom is everything after all!’ The bell rang for its final time signifying the end of a school day and the beginning of the newest prom election cycle. Chapter 3: “Sunset!” Her Father SaidPRO Sunset walked right through the front doors of her family’s large and lavish mansion. Her hooves met the plush red carpet as servants of the home took her bags to her room. She was making a beeline for the dining room where she knew her father would be, reading today's paper as he always did. And sure enough, there he sat. At the end of a very large and extravagant dinner table, made to house 20 ponies on both sides, sat Sunset’s father. Sunset quickly rushed over to him, excited to tell him that she had once again run for prom queen and was most likely going to win. As soon as she reached him she began to speak, “Father, I’m running for prom queen again! I have more competition this year, but I’m sure I’ll still win!” Sunset’s father didn’t even look up from his paper, his face obscured by its white pages. Sunset once again tried to get her father’s attention, “I know prom is everything to you and mom so I thought you’d be happy! Aren’t you?” Once again no reply, the only thing that happened was her father turning to the next page of his paper. Sunset got worried and hesitantly reached out to her father. “Father?” She questioned as her hoof brushed his shoulder. Sunset’s father quickly turned and sharply struck Sunset across the face, sending her crashing to the ground, pure rage apparent on his face. Sunset looked up meekly, teary eyed and fearful. “Sunset!” Her father said, “Life is a prom.” He got close to her face, his muzzle pressed against her’s. He had heard about her outburst at school today and was not pleased. She didn’t act how he told her to at school. She nearly did something he couldn’t have covered up, and then everything would be over for her, for him. He looked at her hard, disdain clear on his face. “You know what happens when you don’t perform in the way I want you to.” He said with scorn. Sunset’s eyes shrunk to pin pricks and she began to quake in terror, she knew all too well of father’s punishments. “Please no,” Sunset whispered as the stress of her day began to cause her to cry, “I’ll be good, I’ll do what you say father. Just please, not the basement.” “The basement alone is too good for you,” Sunset’s father simply stated, “ I was thinking more along the lines of the braid.” “No, no!” Sunset screamed and wailed furiously, a mixture of snot, blood, tears, and drool all pooling beneath her. Her father kept her magically held down as he stood over her, looking down at her and her increasingly swollen black eye. “Pathetic,” He chided, “Fine this time I’ll let it slide, but next time it’s the braid. No excuses.” “Thank you, thank you!” Sunset wailed in relief. “Just quit your crying, it’s unbecoming of you.” Sunset’s father scolded. “Yes of course father.” Sunset replied, wiping her tears away and getting up. She started to leave when her father called out to her, causing her to flinch. “Don’t forget to clean that up,” He said referring to her wounded face and gross mane, “Just cover it up with some makeup. And if you do a bad job, and somepony notices you? The basement for two months.” Sunset fearfully shook her head in response and headed to her room upstairs as her father called out one last thing to her. “Oh and Sunset, you better win prom queen. Because you don’t want to know what will happen if you don’t.” “Yes, of course father!” Sunset called back. “I know you won’t disappoint me and mom.” Her father concluded. Sunset knew her mother was on a business trip, but she feared her ire all the same. Even if she couldn’t express her disappointment now, she’d do so later. Sunset made her way into her room and shut the door behind her. As soon as it closed she fell onto the floor in a bundle of tears and fear. All of the day's stresses weighed heavy on her. First, that bitch Twilight runs against her, then that nobody throws everything into chaos, and finally her father’s anger. ‘They just don’t realize what I need!’ She thought to herself, ‘I need to be prom queen! I don’t want the braid…’ Sunset needed to destress, so she did it the one way that always worked. She levitated over a small metal shard from underneath her bed and began to tear at the flesh on her arms. It helped to detach from her home life and get back into the lie she told herself everyday. The lie that her life was perfect, and that nothing was wrong. She continued to cut into her forearms, vowing to cover up the self-inflicted wounds and the wounds caused by her father with make up later. She finished up with today’s session of cutting and made her way to her bathroom, getting into the shower and washing off her mane. She cleaned her wounds and tried her best to get the blood out of her coat. After her shower she bandaged up her wounds and looked in her vanity’s mirror. She smiled, she knew that the title of prom queen would be hers. No matter how much that wretched Radiant Hope wanted Sunset to lose and be beat, she wouldn’t let her. No matter what, Sunset would win. Thinking of Hope made Sunset remember her outburst against her. She wrote out a few letters and magically sent them to her friends in apology for her behavior, blaming it on a stressful day. Thinking of Hope also made her remember Sombra, her dear coltfriend Sombra. She had to talk with him pronto. She quickly wrote up a letter and asked him to join her for an afternoon lunch at the nearby park. ‘Tomorrow is a weekend so hopefully he’ll be free.’ Sunset thought. Almost as soon as Sunset magically mailed her letter to Sombra she got a response back. She was ecstatic that he answered back so quickly. So, she opened up his letter and read what was on the page in her head. “Sure, we need to talk anyway. I’ll bring the food.” ‘Well,’ She thought, ‘I’m not sure I like the sound of we need to talk, but I’ll be optimistic. Maybe he just wants to take our relationship to the next level! I am the perfect mare after all, who wouldn’t want me?’ As she thought that tears began to leak from her eyes as the smile that had slowly built up on her face left. All she could think about as she crumpled once more unto the ground was how there was somepony who didn’t want her, her father. Chapter 1: Down on Your Knees Before the QueenP ‘Life is perfect!’ Sunset Shimmer thought. It was true too, for her anyway. Life for Sunset Shimmer was nigh perfect. She had nearly everything that anypony in high school might want. She was the most popular mare at her school, she had a very attractive figure, she was cheer captain of her school’s squad, and she was rich. And as she walked through the halls of her school, with best friends Trixie Lulamoon and Starlight Glimmer in tow, she couldn’t help but give a little hop in excitement. For not only was she the mare with nearly everything, she was the mare with everything. She held her head high and looked at those around her with superiority. They knew their place, at the bottom, and she knew her’s, at the top. Her and her friends' hooves click clopped on the beige tiled floor as they made their way past all the other brown lockers to one in particular. A locker off to Sunset’s left, one that belonged to a very handsome stallion. Said stallion was just closing his locker, having grabbed what he needed from inside and levitating it within his blood red magic. Sunset rushed over to the stallion and embraced him in a tight hug. The stallion was surprised at this, and doubly surprised when Sunset locked her lips against his. Trixie and Starlight had caught up to the pair of unicorns just in time to over hear the start of their conversation. “Babe, right now? Really?” The stallion said as he pushed Sunset back slightly. “Oh, come on Sombra. What are you saying that you don’t want me?” Sunset questioned Sombra with a faux expression of despair. Sombra, the most stunning stallion in the school, all hers. Sunset reveled in the idea that on top of everything she had a hot coltfriend too. She really couldn’t have asked for a better life. Sombra’s ears fell slightly at this as he looked back at Sunset with a caring expression, “Of course I want you Sunset, just could we do this later? Maybe in private and not in front of everypony else?” Sombra’s comment caused Sunset to drop her act and take a look around the two of them with a quizzical expression. She saw many ponies looking at her and Sombra from the corner of their eyes, and even Trixie and Starlight were looking at the floor with blushes while rubbing the back of one of their forelegs. As Sunset’s gaze met the gaze of the other ponies they tried their hardest to look anywhere but her eyes. Sunset turned back to slightly nervous Sombra and put a hoof to his lips. She looked at him seductively and fluttered her eyelashes at him, then leaned in next to his left ear and whispered, “Okay then, we’ll do it later.” Sombra shivered slightly at that, and the magic around his curved horn flickered out for just a second. Sunset knew she had him wrapped around her hoof, which pleased her to no end. “Alright, see you later babe!” Sunset squealed as she pecked Sombra on his left cheek and turned to leave. “Yeah, talk to you later.” Sombra spoke with a sigh. Sunset continued past Sombra and down the hall, her two best friends right behind her. ‘Now then, I can move on to something else that’s very pressing.’ Sunset thought with a snicker. “Twilight!” Sunset yelled down the hall as she turned a corner. Twilight turned to look away from her friends and saw Sunset and crew approaching, the smile on her face instantly dropping. ‘I love that look.’ Sunset inwardly sneered. Sunset walked straight up to Twilight Sparkle, beaming right in her face. Twilight for her part tried to save face, but her contempt for Sunset was obvious to all around. “Sunset,” Twilight said with a forced tone of joy, “What brings you here?” “You already know!” Sunset replied, “I’m running for prom queen again this year. And since I’m sure to win it again I just wanted to know if I had you and your friends' votes?” “Well-” Twilight was cut off as Sunset interrupted. “Wait, you aren’t thinking of running against me again this year, are you? I mean after coming second to me by an embarrassingly large margin last year you wouldn’t possibly want to run ever again, would you?” “I am,” Twilight dropped the act and grumbled, “And this year I’ll win.” “Really now?” Sunset questioned, “And why are you so sure?” “Because everypony is sick of you and your attitude, that’s why!” “Oh, but no pony’s said anything yet. And I’ve seen no complaints, you want to know why?” “Not really…” Twilight spoke in a quiet tone as she lowered her head. “Well too bad,” Sunset replied smugly, “I have this school wrapped around my hoof, and I’ve got enough in the bank to pay off anypony to quit their complaints, shut their mouths, and do what I say.” “Just like Sombra?” Twilight stated menacingly, looking Sunset dead in the eyes. Sunset’s whole demeanor quickly changed at that remake. Her brow furrowed as she growled in anger, crouching low. She pounced on Twilight frighteningly fast, hitting her across her jaw and breaking her nose, causing it to bleed. Twilight yelped in surprise and pain as her friends stepped between her and Sunset. Sunset’s friends for their part attempted to hold back Sunset and restrain her. “You take that back!” Sunset yelled, “Sombra is my coltfriend because he loves me, not because I made him! He chose me and you’re just upset that you two broke up!” Twilight shoved past her friends and responded, “You keep telling yourself that. Maybe one of these days it’ll come true.” Sunset was livid, she was ready to beat Twilight to a pulp right there. The only things stopping her were her two friends and Twilight’s friends. Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy. The five parasites that always followed Twilight, not quite as insufferable as Twilight but each annoying in their own ways. Pinkie Pie would never shut up about food, Rainbow Dash would always brag about her athletic abilities and strength, Rarity couldn’t go a second without talking about fashion, Applejack was just an annoying country mare who fetishized apples, Fluttershy was an obsessive environmentalist, and Twilight was just a plain bitch. ‘Overall a group of six unsavory individuals who have no talent and no right to defy me.’ Sunset internally jeered. Sunset finally calmed down, shoving her friends off of her and staring down Twilight. The two unicorn mares glared at each other before Rainbow Dash broke the silence. “Um, Twi?” She questioned, “Weren’t you going to tell this prick something.” Twilight broke out of her impromptu staring contest with Sunset and remembered what she was going to tell Sunset before the conversation got derailed. And before Sunset could complain about Rainbow’s remark Twilight spoke, “I’m not the only pony running for prom queen this year, my friends are too.” Sunset quickly picked up on what Twilight was doing. ‘If she and all her friends run it’ll split the votes up more between all the candidates, making sure my lead will be lessened and one of them will have a chance to win!’ Last year it had just been Sunset, Twilight, and some random pink mare with a blue mane who ran. Sunset was the clear winner with Twilight and the other pony far behind her, but now with so many candidates her win might not be so secured. ‘No,’ Sunset thought, ‘She’s just trying to intimidate me, I know I’ll still win no matter who runs. And if anypony actually starts to gain on me I’ll just pay off the other students to vote for me in droves.’ “Nice try Twilight, but I’m not so easily intimidated.” Sunset said. Twilight attempted to respond, but at that moment Chrysalis, one of Sunset’s cheer squad members, rushed up to Sunset and tried to get her attention. “Chrysalis, I’m kind of in the middle of something.” Sunset said, annoyed. “I know but this is important!” Chrysalis said with an urgent tone in her voice. Sunset huffed a sigh and turned away from Twilight, who was listening to Chrysalis with mild interest, to look at Chrysalis. “Fine, what is it Chrissy,” Sunset questioned, “I don’t have all day.” “Yes I know Sunset,” Chrysalis said nervously, “You know Radiant Hope?” “No.” Sunset said with confusion. “Yes.” Twilight said at the same time as Sunset spoke. “Well she’s finally back after being out for so long,” Chrysalis spoke fast, “She hurt a hindleg in a carriage wreck, she had to get it amputated.” Twilight, her friends, and Sunset’s friends all gasped at this, but not Sunset. Sunset was still mulling over the name Radiant Hope and was wondering one thing. ‘Radiant Hope? Why does that name sound so familiar?’ Author's Note Hope you'll all enjoy this spooky story in celebration of this spooky month!
Chapter 2: Radiant RumorsPR Chrysalis sped off down the halls and towards the school’s entrance, Twilight and co in tow. Starlight and Trixie prepared to follow but were stopped by a frowning Sunset. Sunset for her part was still thinking about that name, Radiant Hope, and who it was. ‘That pony, they’re important,’ Sunset pondered, the answer on the tip of her tongue, ‘But why? Who are they to me?’ “Ummm, Sunset? You okay?” Trixie spoke to her friend. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just can’t remember who Radiant Hope is,” Sunset replied. “You don’t?” Starlight questioned Sunset. “No? Should I?” Sunset asked, puzzled. “Y-yeah, she’s the other mare who ran against you for prom queen last year.” Trixie responded with a nervous stutter. “She is?” Sunset inquired. Then it all clicked, she knew Radiant Hope. She was that absolute nobody who ran against her and Twilight last year. Radiant Hope got a total of three votes, three out of hundreds. ‘Wow, that’s the loser everypony is freaking out about? Literal roadkill?’ Sunset internally laughed, ‘So she went and got her leg crushed. Well, guess she’s finally relevant in some way.’ “So why didn’t you say something when Chrysalis brought her up?” Sunset said as she, and consequently Trixie and Starlight, started walking after Chrysalis. “W-well,” Trixie began, “You told us never to interrupt you or speak to you unless we thought it was important.” “So I did it seems,” Sunset commented, not really paying attention, before exclaiming, “Alright, let’s hurry up and find that doormat!” At this the three mares all quickened their paces into a light jog. They hurried down the increasingly crowded halls of the school and made their way to the building’s entrance. Students parted as Sunset made her way through, she stopped just next to Chrysalis and Twilight’s group right at the front of the crowd. There in all her three legged glory was the mare of the hour Radiant Hope. She was currently getting helped by a few ponies, as walking for her was proving a bit difficult. ‘How pathetic,’ Sunset thought as a sly smile crossed her muzzle, ‘That amputee needs help walking and someponies are actually willing to help her? What losers!’ Right as Sunset was thinking this Trixie began to move towards Hope, reaching her hoof out. “Don’t.” Sunset simply stated, scaring Trixie back in line. Sunset continued to watch the struggling pink unicorn, staring her down. Hope looked up and locked eyes with Sunset for just the briefest moments before swinging her head over to the crowd of ponies on her right. She looked like she was going to say something, but before she could she stumbled and fell with a yelp. She hit the ground hard as she grunted in pain. Sunset couldn’t help herself as she quietly snickered at the pink mare’s misfortune. And her quiet laughter only grew louder as the poor mare began to speak. “Can somepony please help me?” Hope questioned, gazing at the crowd. All the ponies there, even the ones previously helping Hope, stood back from her as they all stared fearfully at a laughing Sunset Shimmer. Hope looked at Sunset with pleading eyes, only causing Sunset to laugh harder at the pathetic display. At this point Sunset was starting to tear up from laughter. She wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to rein in her laughter, turning to look down at Hope. “Now why would anypony help a nobody like you.” Sunset said with barely restrained laughter, “You are one of the lowest-” The rest of what Sunset had to say died in her throat when she heard a very familiar sigh, a sigh that belonged to a stallion who had trotted over to Hope and was currently helping her up. ‘Sombra is helping her…?’ Sunset’s brain stopped working as her world went red. Her rage built to its boiling point in an instant, her features contorting into a furious scowl. She ran full speed at Sombra and Hope, shoving Sombra off the amputee and magically slamming Hope to the ground. Hope’s body smacked the tile hard, her head violently snapping backwards hitting the school’s tiled floor. Sunset pounced on her and seethed in anger. “Bitch!” She screamed in Hope’s face. Tears started to stream down Hope’s face and the student body around the two mares looked aghast, but Sunset didn’t care. Screaming at the top of her lungs she continued, “How dare you! First, you have the audacity to run against me in last year’s prom queen nominations, a piece of trash like you! Now, you even dare get near my coltfriend! You fucking waste of space, you probably got yourself hurt on purpose just to get sympathy and attention. Whore!” At the end of her tirade Sunset had saliva hanging from her mouth and Hope looked terrified, her eyes like pinpricks. Tears streamed down Hope’s face as Sunset wiped a single tear from her own right eye. “I-I just…” Hope tried to utter, but only succeeded in getting Sunset’s full ire to be back on her. Sunset spit right into Hope’s left eye, before clocking her across the face with a hoof and making Hope bleed slightly. Sunset turned to walk away and gave the stunned crowd around her a hard stare. Hope in indignation attempted to stand up, only to be bucked back into a wall by an enraged Sunset. “Fucking disgusting slut.” Sunset said aloud, throwing her head back and smiling at Hope as she did. “Sunset!” Sombra yelled in desperation, a slight bit of fear and anger in his voice. Sunset turned towards him and frowned in disapproval, he backed down in almost an instant. “You’re awful!” Hope yelled at Sunset tearfully, “How could all you ponies stand there and take this?” “Because they know what happens to those I don’t like,” Sunset turned towards Hope and replied, “Example one, you. Besides, they have to love their queen, no?” “No.” Hope simply stated. “Well I hear no complaints from them,” Sunset looked at the crowd and asked, “Any problems?” The crowd quickly made it clear that they had no grievances with Sunset, all of them still shocked at Sunset’s unprecedented display of anger. Everypony to some degree feared Sunset, some less than others, but never had they seen her do something this violent. Hope just sat up against the wall shivering and crying as Sunset left her, beckoning her friends to follow, which they did in a fearful hurry. As the crowd began to disperse and share nervous looks amongst each other nopony came to help Hope, except one. Sunset couldn’t see but Sombra cautiously made his way over to Hope and helped her up. He talked with her and tried to calm her down as she watched Sunset make her exit. Sunset got called down from the math class she was currently in and to the principal's office. She assumed it was for her extreme outburst in justified anger from earlier, and she was right. The principal was reserved and clearly a little fearful at Sunset’s presence. He worked for Sunset’s father as a part time job on the side, one that raked in a lot of cash. So, as usual this call was just to keep up appearances. The principal would never dare get his boss’s daughter in trouble and because of that it was no more than five minutes before Sunset was already on her way back to class. This was a noticeable outburst though, Sunset barely got away with it and she knew she'd have to be more careful form now on. On her way back Sunset could have sworn she overheard a few ponies saying that they were going to vote Radiant Hope as prom queen. She scoffed at the idea that anypony would actually vote for a loser like that. She was surprised that Hope even had the gull to run against her. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ Sunset thought, ‘It’s not like she’ll actually win, or even get close.’ But, as Sunset kept hearing more and more rumors throughout the school day she began to grow worried. ‘I can’t rig the election, it’s controlled by faculty who I don’t have any hold over,’ She worriedly thought, ‘But even if it’s true that she’s really running, why would anypony even vote for her? A pity vote perhaps? It doesn’t matter, I'll just pay anypony stupid enough to vote for her off and secure my victory. Prom is everything after all!’ The bell rang for its final time signifying the end of a school day and the beginning of the newest prom election cycle.
Chapter 3: “Sunset!” Her Father SaidPRO Sunset walked right through the front doors of her family’s large and lavish mansion. Her hooves met the plush red carpet as servants of the home took her bags to her room. She was making a beeline for the dining room where she knew her father would be, reading today's paper as he always did. And sure enough, there he sat. At the end of a very large and extravagant dinner table, made to house 20 ponies on both sides, sat Sunset’s father. Sunset quickly rushed over to him, excited to tell him that she had once again run for prom queen and was most likely going to win. As soon as she reached him she began to speak, “Father, I’m running for prom queen again! I have more competition this year, but I’m sure I’ll still win!” Sunset’s father didn’t even look up from his paper, his face obscured by its white pages. Sunset once again tried to get her father’s attention, “I know prom is everything to you and mom so I thought you’d be happy! Aren’t you?” Once again no reply, the only thing that happened was her father turning to the next page of his paper. Sunset got worried and hesitantly reached out to her father. “Father?” She questioned as her hoof brushed his shoulder. Sunset’s father quickly turned and sharply struck Sunset across the face, sending her crashing to the ground, pure rage apparent on his face. Sunset looked up meekly, teary eyed and fearful. “Sunset!” Her father said, “Life is a prom.” He got close to her face, his muzzle pressed against her’s. He had heard about her outburst at school today and was not pleased. She didn’t act how he told her to at school. She nearly did something he couldn’t have covered up, and then everything would be over for her, for him. He looked at her hard, disdain clear on his face. “You know what happens when you don’t perform in the way I want you to.” He said with scorn. Sunset’s eyes shrunk to pin pricks and she began to quake in terror, she knew all too well of father’s punishments. “Please no,” Sunset whispered as the stress of her day began to cause her to cry, “I’ll be good, I’ll do what you say father. Just please, not the basement.” “The basement alone is too good for you,” Sunset’s father simply stated, “ I was thinking more along the lines of the braid.” “No, no!” Sunset screamed and wailed furiously, a mixture of snot, blood, tears, and drool all pooling beneath her. Her father kept her magically held down as he stood over her, looking down at her and her increasingly swollen black eye. “Pathetic,” He chided, “Fine this time I’ll let it slide, but next time it’s the braid. No excuses.” “Thank you, thank you!” Sunset wailed in relief. “Just quit your crying, it’s unbecoming of you.” Sunset’s father scolded. “Yes of course father.” Sunset replied, wiping her tears away and getting up. She started to leave when her father called out to her, causing her to flinch. “Don’t forget to clean that up,” He said referring to her wounded face and gross mane, “Just cover it up with some makeup. And if you do a bad job, and somepony notices you? The basement for two months.” Sunset fearfully shook her head in response and headed to her room upstairs as her father called out one last thing to her. “Oh and Sunset, you better win prom queen. Because you don’t want to know what will happen if you don’t.” “Yes, of course father!” Sunset called back. “I know you won’t disappoint me and mom.” Her father concluded. Sunset knew her mother was on a business trip, but she feared her ire all the same. Even if she couldn’t express her disappointment now, she’d do so later. Sunset made her way into her room and shut the door behind her. As soon as it closed she fell onto the floor in a bundle of tears and fear. All of the day's stresses weighed heavy on her. First, that bitch Twilight runs against her, then that nobody throws everything into chaos, and finally her father’s anger. ‘They just don’t realize what I need!’ She thought to herself, ‘I need to be prom queen! I don’t want the braid…’ Sunset needed to destress, so she did it the one way that always worked. She levitated over a small metal shard from underneath her bed and began to tear at the flesh on her arms. It helped to detach from her home life and get back into the lie she told herself everyday. The lie that her life was perfect, and that nothing was wrong. She continued to cut into her forearms, vowing to cover up the self-inflicted wounds and the wounds caused by her father with make up later. She finished up with today’s session of cutting and made her way to her bathroom, getting into the shower and washing off her mane. She cleaned her wounds and tried her best to get the blood out of her coat. After her shower she bandaged up her wounds and looked in her vanity’s mirror. She smiled, she knew that the title of prom queen would be hers. No matter how much that wretched Radiant Hope wanted Sunset to lose and be beat, she wouldn’t let her. No matter what, Sunset would win. Thinking of Hope made Sunset remember her outburst against her. She wrote out a few letters and magically sent them to her friends in apology for her behavior, blaming it on a stressful day. Thinking of Hope also made her remember Sombra, her dear coltfriend Sombra. She had to talk with him pronto. She quickly wrote up a letter and asked him to join her for an afternoon lunch at the nearby park. ‘Tomorrow is a weekend so hopefully he’ll be free.’ Sunset thought. Almost as soon as Sunset magically mailed her letter to Sombra she got a response back. She was ecstatic that he answered back so quickly. So, she opened up his letter and read what was on the page in her head. “Sure, we need to talk anyway. I’ll bring the food.” ‘Well,’ She thought, ‘I’m not sure I like the sound of we need to talk, but I’ll be optimistic. Maybe he just wants to take our relationship to the next level! I am the perfect mare after all, who wouldn’t want me?’ As she thought that tears began to leak from her eyes as the smile that had slowly built up on her face left. All she could think about as she crumpled once more unto the ground was how there was somepony who didn’t want her, her father.
Chapter 1: Down on Your Knees Before the QueenP ‘Life is perfect!’ Sunset Shimmer thought. It was true too, for her anyway. Life for Sunset Shimmer was nigh perfect. She had nearly everything that anypony in high school might want. She was the most popular mare at her school, she had a very attractive figure, she was cheer captain of her school’s squad, and she was rich. And as she walked through the halls of her school, with best friends Trixie Lulamoon and Starlight Glimmer in tow, she couldn’t help but give a little hop in excitement. For not only was she the mare with nearly everything, she was the mare with everything. She held her head high and looked at those around her with superiority. They knew their place, at the bottom, and she knew her’s, at the top. Her and her friends' hooves click clopped on the beige tiled floor as they made their way past all the other brown lockers to one in particular. A locker off to Sunset’s left, one that belonged to a very handsome stallion. Said stallion was just closing his locker, having grabbed what he needed from inside and levitating it within his blood red magic. Sunset rushed over to the stallion and embraced him in a tight hug. The stallion was surprised at this, and doubly surprised when Sunset locked her lips against his. Trixie and Starlight had caught up to the pair of unicorns just in time to over hear the start of their conversation. “Babe, right now? Really?” The stallion said as he pushed Sunset back slightly. “Oh, come on Sombra. What are you saying that you don’t want me?” Sunset questioned Sombra with a faux expression of despair. Sombra, the most stunning stallion in the school, all hers. Sunset reveled in the idea that on top of everything she had a hot coltfriend too. She really couldn’t have asked for a better life. Sombra’s ears fell slightly at this as he looked back at Sunset with a caring expression, “Of course I want you Sunset, just could we do this later? Maybe in private and not in front of everypony else?” Sombra’s comment caused Sunset to drop her act and take a look around the two of them with a quizzical expression. She saw many ponies looking at her and Sombra from the corner of their eyes, and even Trixie and Starlight were looking at the floor with blushes while rubbing the back of one of their forelegs. As Sunset’s gaze met the gaze of the other ponies they tried their hardest to look anywhere but her eyes. Sunset turned back to slightly nervous Sombra and put a hoof to his lips. She looked at him seductively and fluttered her eyelashes at him, then leaned in next to his left ear and whispered, “Okay then, we’ll do it later.” Sombra shivered slightly at that, and the magic around his curved horn flickered out for just a second. Sunset knew she had him wrapped around her hoof, which pleased her to no end. “Alright, see you later babe!” Sunset squealed as she pecked Sombra on his left cheek and turned to leave. “Yeah, talk to you later.” Sombra spoke with a sigh. Sunset continued past Sombra and down the hall, her two best friends right behind her. ‘Now then, I can move on to something else that’s very pressing.’ Sunset thought with a snicker. “Twilight!” Sunset yelled down the hall as she turned a corner. Twilight turned to look away from her friends and saw Sunset and crew approaching, the smile on her face instantly dropping. ‘I love that look.’ Sunset inwardly sneered. Sunset walked straight up to Twilight Sparkle, beaming right in her face. Twilight for her part tried to save face, but her contempt for Sunset was obvious to all around. “Sunset,” Twilight said with a forced tone of joy, “What brings you here?” “You already know!” Sunset replied, “I’m running for prom queen again this year. And since I’m sure to win it again I just wanted to know if I had you and your friends' votes?” “Well-” Twilight was cut off as Sunset interrupted. “Wait, you aren’t thinking of running against me again this year, are you? I mean after coming second to me by an embarrassingly large margin last year you wouldn’t possibly want to run ever again, would you?” “I am,” Twilight dropped the act and grumbled, “And this year I’ll win.” “Really now?” Sunset questioned, “And why are you so sure?” “Because everypony is sick of you and your attitude, that’s why!” “Oh, but no pony’s said anything yet. And I’ve seen no complaints, you want to know why?” “Not really…” Twilight spoke in a quiet tone as she lowered her head. “Well too bad,” Sunset replied smugly, “I have this school wrapped around my hoof, and I’ve got enough in the bank to pay off anypony to quit their complaints, shut their mouths, and do what I say.” “Just like Sombra?” Twilight stated menacingly, looking Sunset dead in the eyes. Sunset’s whole demeanor quickly changed at that remake. Her brow furrowed as she growled in anger, crouching low. She pounced on Twilight frighteningly fast, hitting her across her jaw and breaking her nose, causing it to bleed. Twilight yelped in surprise and pain as her friends stepped between her and Sunset. Sunset’s friends for their part attempted to hold back Sunset and restrain her. “You take that back!” Sunset yelled, “Sombra is my coltfriend because he loves me, not because I made him! He chose me and you’re just upset that you two broke up!” Twilight shoved past her friends and responded, “You keep telling yourself that. Maybe one of these days it’ll come true.” Sunset was livid, she was ready to beat Twilight to a pulp right there. The only things stopping her were her two friends and Twilight’s friends. Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy. The five parasites that always followed Twilight, not quite as insufferable as Twilight but each annoying in their own ways. Pinkie Pie would never shut up about food, Rainbow Dash would always brag about her athletic abilities and strength, Rarity couldn’t go a second without talking about fashion, Applejack was just an annoying country mare who fetishized apples, Fluttershy was an obsessive environmentalist, and Twilight was just a plain bitch. ‘Overall a group of six unsavory individuals who have no talent and no right to defy me.’ Sunset internally jeered. Sunset finally calmed down, shoving her friends off of her and staring down Twilight. The two unicorn mares glared at each other before Rainbow Dash broke the silence. “Um, Twi?” She questioned, “Weren’t you going to tell this prick something.” Twilight broke out of her impromptu staring contest with Sunset and remembered what she was going to tell Sunset before the conversation got derailed. And before Sunset could complain about Rainbow’s remark Twilight spoke, “I’m not the only pony running for prom queen this year, my friends are too.” Sunset quickly picked up on what Twilight was doing. ‘If she and all her friends run it’ll split the votes up more between all the candidates, making sure my lead will be lessened and one of them will have a chance to win!’ Last year it had just been Sunset, Twilight, and some random pink mare with a blue mane who ran. Sunset was the clear winner with Twilight and the other pony far behind her, but now with so many candidates her win might not be so secured. ‘No,’ Sunset thought, ‘She’s just trying to intimidate me, I know I’ll still win no matter who runs. And if anypony actually starts to gain on me I’ll just pay off the other students to vote for me in droves.’ “Nice try Twilight, but I’m not so easily intimidated.” Sunset said. Twilight attempted to respond, but at that moment Chrysalis, one of Sunset’s cheer squad members, rushed up to Sunset and tried to get her attention. “Chrysalis, I’m kind of in the middle of something.” Sunset said, annoyed. “I know but this is important!” Chrysalis said with an urgent tone in her voice. Sunset huffed a sigh and turned away from Twilight, who was listening to Chrysalis with mild interest, to look at Chrysalis. “Fine, what is it Chrissy,” Sunset questioned, “I don’t have all day.” “Yes I know Sunset,” Chrysalis said nervously, “You know Radiant Hope?” “No.” Sunset said with confusion. “Yes.” Twilight said at the same time as Sunset spoke. “Well she’s finally back after being out for so long,” Chrysalis spoke fast, “She hurt a hindleg in a carriage wreck, she had to get it amputated.” Twilight, her friends, and Sunset’s friends all gasped at this, but not Sunset. Sunset was still mulling over the name Radiant Hope and was wondering one thing. ‘Radiant Hope? Why does that name sound so familiar?’ Author's Note Hope you'll all enjoy this spooky story in celebration of this spooky month!
