Equestria Girls - The Tale of Two Sunsets

After that heavy discussion with the Shadowbolts, Sunset could only feel nothing more than sympathy for whoever that mysterious victim was, having to drop out of school, just to escape Indigo Zap's bullying. She already knew that Crystal Prep Academy had a questionable inner reputation, especially after meeting their students and principal at the Friendship Games, but crossing a line like this was something else entirely. All Sunset knew for certain, was that she was glad about one particular aspect regarding her past, when she was no better than Indigo. If anything, this jarring discovery had only served as a cautionary tale behind psychologically irreversible damage, especially from making someone else feel bad about themselves.

It was only left up to imagination as to how bad Indigo had truly bullied that student, but just the fact that the student in question had no other choice but to throw away their entire general education, it must've been quite severe. Sunset was thankful that despite being the main bully at CHS herself for so long, she hadn't ended up making Fluttershy do the same thing, and ruining her future. Better yet, had the end results come down to Fluttershy dropping out of CHS, just to escape the constant bullying, Sunset felt that she could never forgive herself for such a horrendous act, especially after getting to know Fluttershy over the years.

Moving past this, Sunset noted that aside from the rest of the group, who expressed signs of genuine regret and remorse over what happened to that unfortunate victim, the remaining members were on the opposite side of the spectrum. Sugarcoat and Indigo Zap seemed completely complacent or ignorant over the situation, which seemed to signify one of two things. Either those two girls in particular had been influenced by Principal Cinch in the worst possible ways, or something was going on at home, notably when the other Shadowbolts claimed they knew how overbearing Sugarcoat's parents were.

Whilst on the subject of parents, Sunset then remembered the possibility of potentially meeting her own parents back in Equestria, and began thinking of clues on where to find them. Despite being completely focused on her studies as Princess Celestia's pupil, Sunset remembered quite well, that she still had this drive to spend some time with her parents at a young age. She seemed to have a motherly connection with her former mentor, and a vague memory of her dad. But even with this memory, Sunset thought back to her earliest days as a filly in Canterlot, and not once did she recall her father ever visiting, or checking up on her.

"Hmm, unless my records at the School For Gifted Unicorns has information regarding my parents' addresses, I might be out of luck when it comes to finding them, once I return to Equestria." Sunset said to herself, thinking of other options she'd most likely have. "I'm sure that either Princess Celestia or Twilight would know, if I asked them, but if they don't..."

As Sunset brainstormed ideas and potential places on where she could look, she suddenly brought her attention towards the other main discovery whilst conversing with the Shadowbolts, that being her old satchel. Just like Sunny Flare pointed out, Sunset examined the bag once more, and took notice of the distinct word that was deliberately engraved on the bottom. She knew that there had to be a reason as to why this was here, but was unsure if it had any connection to her parents. At the very least, her father, since Sunset oddly never had any distinct memory of her mother. Considering that she's had this satchel, even back when she was a filly in Canterlot, Sunset firmly believed this was likely the closest thing to a clue that she currently had.

"Solstice..." Sunset read the engraved word out loud, as she continued refreshing her memory. "I don't think that sounds familiar at all, so if I were to guess, would this be my dad's name, or the name of a brand line for satchels? But Sunny Flare claimed that there doesn't exist a brand by that label, so if 'Solstice' isn't the satchel's marque, then what could it be? Maybe it's my dad's name, but... it doesn't really sound like a stallion's name. Then again, I've been away from Equestria for a while now, so perhaps I'll figure it out in due time."

As she kept her satchel's mysterious engravement in mind, Sunset then envisioned everything she'd most likely be doing back in Equestria, including the honor of being at Princess Twilight's coronation. She certainly couldn't be more happy for her friend, who not only introduced her to the magic of friendship, but also often communicated warnings of unusual occurrences throughout the Human World, caused by Equestrian magic. This same friend was finally moving on to the next level of royalty, and taking the position of Princess Celestia herself. It was almost somewhat amusing to think, given how she was once Celestia's pupil, Sunset could've been on the same path, had it not been for her arrogance and pride.

"Heh, if I had taken friendship more seriously back then, even I could've become the princess of all of Equestria." Sunset jokingly reflected. "Although I'm technically now the leader of the Rainbooms, that certainly couldn't possibly compare to the same responsibilities for Twilight, once the coronation's over. But hey, even if I never got a chance to be a princess, I still feel quite privileged, being somepony from Equestria to truly and freely explore this unusual Human World."

The cool night air brushed against Sunset's skin as she wandered the now dimly lit streets, her thoughts continuing with the weight of her past, as well as the possibilities of her future. The gentle hum of distant traffic provided a rhythmic backdrop to her boots' steps on the pavement, but it seemed as if nobody else was around. Recalling that her friends had warned of a potential new threat, lurking within the shadows at night, Sunset realized that she had dwelled on everything for longer than planned, and that she should've been home by now. With this in mind, she began picking up the pace, hoping to be within the safety and comfort of her apartment, before noticing something out of the corner of her eye.

Looking over, a shadowy figure had caught her attention—a little girl, no older than a middle schooler, sprinting as fast as her legs would carry her. Alarm bells began to ring in Sunset's mind, since the child's solitude had suggested something was terribly wrong, especially since it was now nighttime. She couldn't shake the feeling that the girl's situation mirrored her own, as far as being lost, and searching for something precious. Regardless of what was happening, Sunset's heart prioritized the sketchiness of what she had just witnessed, as she quickened her pace, following behind the girl at a safe distance. She internally hoped that the girl wasn't in any real danger, but something at the back of her mind kept telling her that this likely wasn't the case at all.

After following the girl for a while, Sunset watched the child enter through a dark alleyway by herself. This was certainly not normal, let alone at night, when all sorts of sketchy activities often took place. Panicking from the situation, with the possibilities of what this little girl was likely digging herself into, Sunset had her instincts kick in. Should she call the police, or should she immediately protect the girl from whatever was lurking in that alleyway, potentially getting herself maimed in the process? But before Sunset could even consider either of those options, she slowly slid over and peaked over the corner, hoping to get a clear idea on the situation.

"Please, give me back my tablet!" The child said to a mysterious figure, standing in the shadows. "My mom worked so hard to get that for me!"

Upon first glance, Sunset recognized that the little girl was somebody that her friend, Pinkie Pie had babysat for. She had heard of this girl from Rarity, and also briefly saw her during the Toys for Kids Festival at the Canterlot Mall from around six months ago. Her name was Lily Pad, and Sunset knew that for the most part, Lily was a well-behaved, but rather shy girl, at least according to Pinkie and Rarity. This fact by itself made her actions of running off alone into an alleyway at night, even more unusual. That being said, Sunset felt that she would soon get an answer, as the culprit behind this situation began slowly emerging from the shadows, and walked right up to Lily. To Sunset, it appeared to be a tall girl that she had never met before, but it was clear that she had bad intentions.

"Oh, you want this so badly, do you?" The unrecognized girl spat, before she shoved the electronic into her jeans' back pocket, and turned back to Lily. "Listen up, pipsqueak, I'm out of cash to buy pizza for my crew tonight, and they're going to do unspeakable things to me if I come back to them, empty-handed. Normally, there's plenty of ways I could use clueless children like yourself to get some easy money, but luckily for you, I have a little proposition. You either pay me $50 in cash, or I take your tablet to a pawn shop and sell it, which means you'll never see it again. So what's it gonna be, are you going to be fine with my little hustle and pay up, or do you not value your precious little tablet?"

"But I don't have any money, I just need my tablet back, please!" Lily's eyes began to well up with tears, her voice quivering in fear.

"Don't have any money, huh?" The girl huffed, before pointing at Lily's small coat. "Then what do you call that $50 bill that's clearly hanging out of your pocket there!?"

"It's... it's all I have!" Lily held onto the bill and zipped it away. "My grandma gave me this as a birthday gift, and I need it for something else!"

"Is that so?" The girl folded her arms, before rolling her eyes. "I saw how you were back at that diner, your sad excuse of a mother taking the spotlight, bragging about how well-behaved her daughter is. One who carries a title such as that, should not be telling lies!"

Lily's eyes grew wide with fear as the girl's harsh words cut through the night, knowing that she couldn't fight back, nor outrun her. With trembling hands, she reached into her pocket, and with a heavy heart, pulled out the cherished $50 bill.

"Okay, okay, please, I'll give you the money." Lily whimpered. "Just... just don't take my tablet, it has all my irreplaceable family pictures on it!"

"Well, well, well, I guess you're still capable of making a wise decision, even if you've still got to work on your honesty." The girl stepped closer to Lily, taking the money from the child's hand. "But you know what, since I'm now holding all the strings here, instead of giving you the tablet back, I think I'll instead take both, and double my profits from tonight!"

"No, please!" Lily's eyes widened in horror as she watched her only hope of saving her tablet slip away. "That's all the money I have, you can't do this!"

"I can, and I just did!" The girl stuffed the $50 bill into her pocket. "Besides, it's not like you can do anything about it, so you might as well give up and head on home, empty-handed. You'll understand when you get older, that what I'm doing is essentially just what's necessary for survival in this cruel world!"

"But that's not fair, you're just a thief!" Lily pouted. "How would you like it if others stole from you!?"

"Oh, I'd love it, actually." The girl said with a faux sweet tone. "It's the circle of life, kid, get used to it. Now scram, since I have no more business with you!"

Lily felt tears streaking down her cheeks as she realized she'd lost everything, as the cruel girl's laughter echoed through the alleyway like a taunting nightmare. Her thoughts raced, trying to think of a way to get her tablet back, but fear held her in place.

"Come on, can't you please have a heart, and give me back what's rightfully mine!?" Lily cried out.

"Heart, what's that, a fancy way of saying weakness?" The girl played it up, dramatically. "I don't have one of those, never did, never will. Now, unless you want me to demonstrate just what I mean by that, I suggest you turn around and leave, you're not worth the trouble. And besides, even if you don't like this, what exactly are you going to do about it?"

"You don't know what you're taking from me!" Lily whispered, her voice barely audible. "Those pictures are all I have of my dad, and he's not with us anymore! You're just going to throw them away for money and pizza? In fact, I know what I should do, I'll run back to my mom at the diner, she'll make you give me back my tablet!"

"Oh, so you're going to tattle on me, huh?" The girl's eyes narrowed at Lily's words, as she stepped closer, towering over the child. "That's rich, coming from someone who can't even hold onto their own stuff. You know what, I'll give you a taste of what happens when you don't play by the rules. If you step out of the alleyway right now, I'll be long gone, and you'll never see me, nor your tablet again! Better yet, I'd actually love to see how you'll try and get me in trouble, when you don't even have any evidence of this! For all we know, a homeless person stole your tablet!"

"You... you're horrific!" Lily sobbed, tears blurring her vision. "Why are you doing this to me!?"

"Oh please, save your sob story for someone who cares." The girl scoffed. "Better yet, even if you did go running back to your mommy, instead of caring about the tablet, I'd say she'll be more mad at you for running off by yourself, into the streets at night. You should've thought twice before you decided to mess up like that."

Lily's sobs grew louder as the girl's cruel words cut through her like a knife. She knew that she had made a mistake, but she never thought someone could be so heartless. Through her teary eyes, she watched as the girl began to leave the alleyway, her own heart feeling like it was shattering into a million pieces. The thought of losing her only connection to her father was unbearable, and she couldn't let this monster get away with it.

"I've messed up, when you're the one stealing from me!?" Lily called out. "You're the one who's messed up here-"

"EXCUSE ME!?!" The girl roared as she kicked a nearby trashcan to the ground, prompting Lily to lose every last bit of confidence to stand up for herself.

"N-Nothing..." Lily immediately backed down.

"That's what I thought, you little quiet kids are so easy to steal from." The girl smirked. "It's no wonder you also grow up to become the social outcasts, later on in school."

Hearing this entire exchange from nearby, Sunset immediately felt each of the girl's words pierce through her own heart like daggers. She remembered saying similar words to Fluttershy within the hallways of CHS, and knew that at the time, she was just as bad, if not worse than this thieving girl here. Being haunted by the past person she once was to this very day, Sunset understood what had to be done, and that she absolutely couldn't be a bystander to this injustice. She had already extended her empathy and friendship to others over the years, but the time had finally come for her to demonstrate everything she now knew, to essentially deal with the caricature of her former self.

"You're going to regret every single word you've said to her." Sunset stomped her boot on the concrete sidewalk, her eyes burning with a fiery resolve that hadn't been seen in her for a very long time. "I can't stand by and let you bully her any longer! Give her back what's rightfully hers right now, or face the consequences!"

Both Lily and the tall girl immediately looked over, watching Sunset step out from behind the building, and stand right in front of the alleyway like an iron wall. The girl was taken aback at this unexpected event, but all the same, couldn't help but snicker at this seemingly pathetic attempt to save this child from her actions.

"Oh, and what exactly are you going to do, huh?" The girl pointed. "You don't even know me, so I believe some introductions are in order. I'm the leader of the Canterlot Street Gang, we roam the streets at night, and pillage any bits of cash we can get our hands on, just to survive in this cruel world. If you know what's best for you, you'll walk away right now, and nobody will get hurt!"

"You don't scare me with such empty words." Sunset's eyes narrowed into a glare that cut through the darkness of the alleyway, and her voice was firm, yet filled with a surprising calmness that was eerie to the core. "You think you're above everyone else, just because you consider yourself the leader of a gang? Believe me, I've seen your type before, and it's only a matter of time before the world chews you up and spits you out. You're not the boss of this town, and definitely not the boss of that little girl, there."

"Oh please, who are you, some kind of self-employed vigilante?" The girl taunted, taking a step closer to Lily, who was now cowering behind a trash can. "You don't know what it's like out here, this is our world, and we take what we want. If you're not a fan of how my gang operates at night, tough! Now I'm not going to warn you again, you'd better step out of here before I show you the true meaning of pain!"

"I've faced far worse, trust me." Sunset stepped into the light, revealing her determined expression, as she approached the bully. "All I know for certain is that I've seen plenty of bullies like you, using fear and intimidation to get what you want, but I've also seen how friendship and kindness can turn the tables. As of right now, I'm here to stand up for that poor child you're stealing from, especially because I have a friend at school, who certainly knows what it feels like to be in her position!"

"You think you can just waltz in here and save the day, do you?" The leader of the Canterlot Street Gang sneered at Sunset's bravado, noticing the confidence in her eyes, but not recognizing her genuine determination. "You're not in your fancy school anymore, this is where the real world bites. But either way, how could I ever expect one with such a limited perspective to understand my motives? Besides, does the shark feel the need to explain itself to its prey out there in the sea? I think not, it would immediately devour them like the lame, insignificant sea creatures they truly are!"

Sunset's eyes remained steadfast on the gang leader, her heart beating fast, but her resolve unwavering. She knew the kind of person this girl was, and she had already seen the damage that could be caused by such malicious intentions. Eventually, Sunset took a step forward, her boots echoing throughout the alleyway, before reaching out her hand, hoping to offer a peaceful solution.

"I'm not here to judge you or your life, but I am here to make sure that you don't ruin someone else's." Sunset glared at the girl with a serious demeanor. "Give her stuff back right now, or I promise you, it'll instead be you who'll regret this."

"And what's that supposed to mean, exactly?" The girl scoffed. "You gonna call the cops? Fat chance that'll do you any good, I already know my way around the city, and I'll be long gone before you even know it! Why don't you just give up this charade, and step away from the sidewalk? I'm not kidding when I'm warning you, don't make me get violent!"

"Violence is never the answer, and I'm not here to scare you, nor get you into trouble with the authorities." Sunset's voice remained calm but firm. "I've been where you are, and I know how it feels to think that you have to take from others, just to get by. The solution here is simple, you give her tablet and money back, let her go, and we'll forget about all this. What's it going to be?"

"You think I'm going to just roll over for some random chick with a savior complex!?!" The leader of the Canterlot Street Gang spat, her eyes glinting with anger. "You're not my mother, teacher, or even the cops, so what makes you think you have the right to tell me what to do? You know what, fine, I'll give this little girl her stuff back, if it means saving me the headache from your pathetic lecture! Does that suffice?"

"It would." Sunset nodded, feeling a small wave of relief wash over her. "Give everything you took back, and we'll go our separate ways. But I think I'll stay behind and watch you give everything back, before I let you go."

The gang leader's expression shifted from anger to smug amusement, as she feigned compliance, extending the tablet and the crumpled bill towards Lily. However, just as the child reached for them, she deftly snatched them back and sneered.

"But why would I do that, when I can just leave you both to cry like little babies?" The girl suddenly dashed towards Sunset, shoving her aside with surprising strength, and sprinting out of the alleyway.

"Nooooooo, she's getting away with my stuff!" Lily's voice was a mix of fear and desperation, as she watched the thief disappear into the night. "Is she... is she really going to get away with this!?"

"Not on my watch!" Sunset exclaimed, bolting after the retreating figure, her legs pumping with renewed vigor, as Lily followed behind.

Sunset's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, a mix of anger and determination. She couldn't just let this girl get away with everything, not after all she's learned about the importance of empathy and friendship. The night air rushed past her as she gave chase, her eyes locked on the fleeing thief. Her disbelief at the audacity of the gang leader's cowardly decision to flee, it only served to fuel her pursuit, prompting Sunset's body to move by pure instinct. The alleyways grew narrower, with the possibilities of danger increasing with every passing moment, but Sunset's resolve never wavered. She had to make this right, not just for Lily, but for herself, to make amends for the immeasurable pain she had once caused at CHS.