Equestria Girls - The Tale of Two Sunsets

Sunset's eyes kept focused on where this coldhearted thief was heading, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and determination. Despite the risks and dangers that came with chasing down a supposed criminal, she couldn't simply let this mysterious girl get away with Lily's tablet, with all those precious memories. Sunset's boots echoed through the narrow corridors as she navigated the darkness of the alleyways. It almost seemed reflective of what transpired back then during the CHS Fall Formal, when Princess Twilight and the other girls were chasing Sunset herself, ending with a huge fight for the crown.

Alongside the tables being turned, Sunset knew that she had to prevail with her plans this time around, not just for the greater good, but also the satisfaction of defeating the caricature of the awful girl she once was. It didn't exactly seem like a one-to-one comparison, since this other girl seemed to be more of a criminal who mugs people at night, rather than the stereotypical bully who demands the lunch money of other students. Still, the aggressive mannerisms and willingness to pick on the most helpless of all, it made Sunset almost treat this situation as the equivalent of fighting her past self, and she was more than willing to partake in such an act.

The thief was fast, but Sunset had spent years honing her athletic skills in the Human World, alongside taking martial arts classes in her free time. This persistent chase grew intense as the thief tried to lose her, deliberately knocking over garbage cans and sprinting through sudden turns in the alleyway. Each clang and attempt at escaping had only fueled Sunset's determination, as her goal became more clear by each passing minute. She had to recover the tablet and $50 bill, not just for Lily, but for anyone else who had ever felt the pain of losing something irreplaceable, due to a bully's greed. Eventually, the tall girl ended up making a misstep on her part, and found herself cornered at the dead end of an alleyway, with Sunset approaching her.

"You're pretty fast, I'll give you that." The girl looked back to Sunset, panting heavily. "But you're just wasting your time, you really think you're going to get this stuff back from me? That certainly won't happen, at least not without a fight!"

Sunset felt the heat of the chase in her veins, her eyes narrowing as she approached the trapped thief. She had seen enough in her life to know when someone was desperate, and this girl was definitely in that category. All the same, Sunset hoped that she wouldn't need to resort to violence, but kept in mind that if she had no other choice, it was still a risk that she was willing to take.

"Look, I don't want to fight you, I just want to make sure that little girl gets everything back, she's been through enough, don't you think?" Sunset's voice was calm, yet it carried an underlying tone that made it clear she wasn't backing down. "But if you force my hand, I'll do what it takes to get that tablet back, since I can certainly understand the sentimental value that it brings for her. It's not always just about how much something is worth from a financial standpoint, there's also the irreplaceable memories that you can't put a price tag on."

"Oh, you think you're so high and mighty, don't you?" The thief spat back, her eyes flashing with defiance. "You have no idea what it's like to live on the streets, to do whatever it takes to survive, and you want to lecture me about morals? You're just another spoiled brat who's had everything handed to her on a silver platter, in my eyes!"

"That's fair, I don't know what it's like to live on the streets." Sunset admitted, her voice steady. "But I do know what it's like to hurt others for my own personal gain, and the regrets that come with it. I've changed so much since then, and I'm hoping I can help you do the same. My friends have helped me see that, and they-"

"Blah, blah, blah!" The girl used her hand to mock Sunset's yapping. "I don't have the patience to listen in on another one of your lame lectures! You're literally the only thing that stands in the way of my gang and I being able to eat tonight, so I could care less about what you do in your personal life! It's naught but a mere distraction for me, as I crave nothing but to take from those more fortunate than myself!"

"You don't have to do this." Sunset said with a serious tone. "I've been in your position, and I know what it's like to feel desperate, but I've also learned that there are better ways to get by than stealing from others. If you're really that much in need of food or money, perhaps I could be of some assistance. My only condition for helping you however, is that you give back what you've wrongfully taken."

"What's your angle, huh?" The girl retorted with skepticism. "Why do you care about some random kid's tablet? Is she part of some rich family or something, and you intend to look good in front of them, so they can compensate you for your so-called heroics?"

"I've done things in the past that I'm not proud of, but I've changed because I had friends who believed in me." Sunset explained. "If I can prevent that pain from happening to someone else, then that's all the compensation I need. But if you won't give it back willingly, then you leave me with no other choice."

"I've practically had to watch my own back since I was that kid's age, so I surely don't need your pity or help!" The girl snapped. "You know as well as I do that this world is run by the greedy, real crooks of society, and that those crooks somehow never end up behind bars! That makes them no different than me, so if you're going to cause a headache with your asinine lectures, why don't you find a topnotch CEO to spew such lame words?"

"You're right, the world isn't fair, and it's filled with people who take advantage of others." Sunset expressed a mix of determination and empathy. "But that doesn't mean we have to be like them, to put it simply, it costs nothing to be a kind person and do the right thing!"

"And you really think being 'kind' is going to fill my stomach or keep me warm at night?" The girl rolled her eyes. "Get real, I have to survive, just like everybody else, and if that means having to take from others, I'm more than willing to oblige with such actions! Now, if you wouldn't mind as to step out of the way, so that I can finally return to my gang, I'll completely forget about you coming here and interfering with my business!"

Just then, both Sunset and the thief turned their attention to footsteps coming from the alleyway's entrance, only to see Lily Pad. The child had finally caught up, as she felt a protective aura with Sunset, and she didn't feel safe remaining behind in a dark alleyway by herself. Lily watched on, as it seemed like the thief who took her belongings was already planning on making yet another swift escape.

"Wait, please don't go, I-I can't lose my tablet!" Lily cried, her voice trembling with fear and desperation.

"Enough of this prattle, I have no interest in continuing to waste my time with you two crybabies!" The thief hissed, before turning to Sunset. "That especially goes for you, who seems way too concerned with other people's problems to see the bigger picture! Now, just to make sure that you'll no longer be a barrier within my path, it seems you've left me with no other choice, but to resort to drastic measures!"

As the thief began growing increasingly desperate, she prepared to make a sudden move as a diversion. With a swift and practiced motion, she raised her boot and slammed it down onto Sunset's foot, hoping the injury would prevent her from giving chase again. The sound of the impact echoed through the alleyway, and for a moment, Sunset's eyes widened with pain. However, she had been through much worse, and thankfully, her boots had rather a thick leather coating, protecting her foot from the severity of the attack. Combined with this, her years of experience in combat had taught her to ignore the pain, and to focus on the task at hand.

Unfortunately for Sunset, the attack had stunned her body long enough, to where the thief had a clear opening to retreat outside the alley. As Sunset was trying to shake the pain off, the coldhearted girl made a break for it, completely ignoring Lily, who was seemingly standing in her way. This ignorance would soon lead to her downfall, in both a figurative and literal sense, as the child stuck out her leg at the last minute, causing the thief to trip over and fall to the ground. This quick thinking had given Sunset just enough time to process the sudden advantage she had, as she quickly ran over and grabbed the tablet from the thief's back pocket, and handed it back to Lily.

"Hopefully the tablet isn't damaged from that fall?" Sunset checked for cracks or scratches. "It looks fine, good thing she slid it into her back pocket."

"Th-Thank you, kind girl!" Lily took the tablet, clutching it tightly to her chest with tearful eyes. "I-I never thought I'd see it again!"

Despite the tides suddenly shifting in Sunset and Lily's favor, the battle had only just begun, as the two girls immediately took notice of the thief getting back up from her fall, and giving them both a nasty look. The child might've successfully gotten her tablet back, but unfortunately, this thief still had Lily's money, and was now completely bent on exacting her wrath upon these meddlesome strangers.

"You little..." The thief began to stomp her way over to Lily, who immediately hid behind Sunset. "You'll pay for that little stunt you pulled, and don't think I'll show you any mercy! Think I won't hit a child, do you? Well, think again!"

The girl immediately swung one of her fists, intending to pummel the child right in the face. But before her fist could even connect, Sunset immediately caught it with one of her own hands, as she narrowed her eyes at this monster's horrendous actions. If she wasn't here to intervene, this coldhearted bully would've gone as far as to harm an innocent child? This was completely unacceptable in her eyes, and Sunset knew she could no longer hold back or attempt to reason with her.

"You're going to pay for every tear you've made that child shed!" Sunset's voice was a mix of anger and disbelief. "I'm going to take you down, and make sure you're unable to do this to anyone else, ever again!"

"Oh really, you think you're so tough now?" The thief sneered, trying to pull her hand free from Sunset's grasp. "Let's see how much you're willing to risk for some random kid you don't even know! Given how righteous you are, I bet you don't even know the first thing about what it takes to be mean and tough in these cold streets!"

The girl immediately used her other fist to punch Sunset in the stomach, causing her to stumble back in pain. In return, Sunset retaliated by doing the same, and then used her leg to swing an uppercut kick, slamming her boot onto the back of the thief's head.

"You're about to see how mean I can get!" Sunset threatened, almost feeling reminded of the Memory Stone incident, when she said the same thing to Wallflower.

The alleyway had suddenly turned into a battleground of wills, as Sunset and the gang leader stood directly in front of one another, each fueled by their own brand of determination. The mysterious girl's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and hunger, as she took in the challenge presented by Sunset's unyielding stance. Around the brawling duo, the air grew tense, as the thief's punches and kicks rained down upon Sunset, who deftly dodged and countered with a grace, true to her own fiery spirit. The sound of fists connecting with flesh, along with the grunts of exertion echoing throughout the night, they were a stark contrast to the quiet, desolate streets of the city.

Sunset's eyes never left the thief's, as she readied herself for the next blow. Her opponent was admittedly much stronger than she had expected, but she wasn't going to let that deter her from her goal. The pain from the stomach punch washed over her, and she knew she had to keep fighting. Using her martial arts training, Sunset blocked another swing with her forearm, then swiftly retaliated with a kick to the ribs, sending her opponent to the ground. Sunset could then feel the thief's breath hitch, but she didn't let up, especially in the chance that this was only an act meant to lower her guard.

"You think you're special because you go to some fancy school?" The girl growled, fiercely. "Let me tell you right now, I've got a whole gang backing me up, and we don't play by the rules that you're used to! I should make it clear that if you so much as interfere with our operations at night, we'll search the ends of the city to track down your whereabouts, and make sure you pay dearly for this!"

"Your threats don't scare me, I've faced worse than a pack of street bullies." Sunset's eyes flashed with a fiery determination. "Better yet, if you're going to keep making trouble for others, even after I'm through with you, I'm going to keep coming back, until you learn that fear and intimidation won't work on me. This is practically any bully's main tactic, always resorting to intimidation, because deep down, you're just a coward who chooses to run from the problem, instead of resolving it!"

"Grrrrrr, you insolent cur!" The thief breathed heavily with anger, before she lunged at Sunset, her fists a blur of motion. "I'll show you the very sticks and stones that'll break your bones! Think you're so much better than me, and can just waltz into our territory and take over? Let's see how you'll do against the rest of the Canterlot Street Gang, when I call them over and teach you a lesson you'll never forget!"

But Sunset was more than ready, her own years of experience in combat had shaped her into a formidable opponent. She sidestepped the thief's clumsy attack, landing a firm blow to her jaw, which caused the thief to stumble back. Her eyes widened with shock, the taste of bitterness filling her mouth. The thief had never encountered someone who could stand up to her so easily, and it was infuriating. She spat out a mouthful of spite and glared at Sunset, her eyes gleaming with pure malice.

"You're nothing but a glammed-up fool playing dress-up with your rich friends, let me show you the kind of world I live in!" With a roar, the girl charged at Sunset again, her fists flying with a rage that seemed almost feral.

Despite the sudden attack, Sunset swiftly blocked each blow with precision, her eyes never leaving the girl's. She knew that she had to be careful not to go too far, as to not become the very thing she was fighting against. This inadvertently gave the thief the upper hand, as she began noticing her opponent focusing more on defense, rather than offense. With her previous comment about Sunset merely being a fool playing dress-up, it suddenly gave the girl the idea to deliver a quick kick to Sunset's face, which Sunset herself was unable to block in time, sending her crumbling to the ground.

The thief's grin grew malicious as she saw the open advantage, before she reached into her pocket, and pulled out a small but deadly-looking pocket knife. She flicked it open with a practiced ease that sent a shiver down Lily's spine, as she could do nothing much besides watch in horror. With a sadistic twirl, the girl began to cut into Sunset's clothing, tearing through the fabric and spiky pins, and transforming her once luxurious outfit into a big mess of threads and scratches. With a sinister intent on leaving her opponent even more exposed and vulnerable, the sound of the knife slicing through the material was merely the least of Sunset's concerns, as she braced herself for the inevitable sting of cold steel against her skin.

"What are you doing!?!" Sunset exclaimed, her eyes widened with shock and fear. "You're not going to solve anything with that weapon!"

"You really think I'll heed such meaningless words?" The girl scoffed, as she then jabbed the knife through Sunset's hair, messing it up. "This is all about making sure you learn to stay out of our business, nobody messes with the Canterlot Street Gang, especially not some school girl with a pretty face, who decided to end up in the wrong part of town! But if you really felt the need to step between my gang's operation like some filthy homeless person, I might as well make you look like one!"

Sunset felt a chill run down her spine, as the blade of the knife was inevitably going to do some serious damage to her body. With a sudden burst of strength fueled by her drive for friendship and protection of the innocent, she pushed herself off the ground and rolled away from the girl, narrowly avoiding the knife's edge. She quickly got to her feet, and kicked the girl in the back, her eyes flashing with a fiery resolve.

"You might not know this, but I'm someone who's been through the fires of adversity, and came out stronger, because of it!" Sunset roared. "I won't go anywhere until you return that child's money, so it's up to you, whether or not you want to make this easy for yourself!"

The thief, seeing Sunset's quick escape from the knife's path, simply snarled in frustration. With a sadistic glint in her eyes, she then came up with another plan, before reaching into her pocket, and instead pulling out a cigarette lighter. Flipping it open with a metallic click, she held the flame to the crumpled $50 bill, which she had managed to keep ahold of during their scuffle.

"Looks like you're out of luck, rich girl!" The girl sneered, holding the flame closer to the cash. "This is what happens when you mess with a gang leader, didn't think it would come down to this, did you!? Unless you want me to burn this cash right in front of the child, you'll give me that tablet right now, without a fight!"

Sunset's mind raced as she watched the thief hold the lighter to the cash, but eventually realized that this was simply another empty threat. She knew that the gang leader was desperate, and that the money was likely just as important to her, if it meant being able to feed her gang for the night. As such, Sunset began to take a clever risk, a gamble that played on the thief's own desperation, whilst utilizing some reverse psychology. She subtly looked back and winked to Lily, hoping the child could understand that she knew what she was doing.

"Fine, you win." Sunset reiterated, similar to the time she conceded defeat and dropped the sledgehammer, years ago at the Fall Formal. "Go on ahead and burn that $50 bill, if you please."

"Oh, you really want to test me, do you!?" The thief's eyes widened in shock, her grip on the lighter and bill tightening. "No, you can't be serious, I'm not playing around! Mistaking foolishness for bravery is not a wise decision at all, you hear!?"

"I'm more than serious." Sunset's voice was calm, yet firm. "If you burn that money, you're not only proving my point, but also ensuring that you won't get to eat tonight. Think about it, you're already at a disadvantage with the tablet in our possession, so if you destroy the money, then what will you have left, and how are you going to face your gang, of which you claim to hide behind?"

The thief's hand wavered for a moment, with the flame of the lighter dancing closer to the bill, then away again, as if in sync with her indecision. This almost felt like the equivalent of being called on in class, not knowing what the answer to the teacher's question was, and then getting humiliated by the showoff, smart kid. A brief moment of indecision from the gang leader was all Sunset needed, as she knew that she couldn't let this opportunity go to waste.

With a swift and precise move, she kicked the lighter out of the thief's hand, the flame extinguishing as it shattered upon the hard concrete, along with the lighter's fluid spilling everywhere. The girl's eyes darted down in disbelief at her favorite lighter being destroyed, which allowed Sunset to snatch the crumpled up $50 bill from her grip with ease. Sunset then turned to Lily, handing it back to the child with a gentle smile.

"That'll teach her for stealing from a child." Sunset said, feeling satisfied at serving justice.

Tears of gratitude streamed down Lily's cheeks as she took the crumpled $50 bill, clutching it to her chest, but it was too soon to celebrate, as the duo soon noticed the gang leader approaching them, completely enraged at losing everything. Now she would most likely get a real thrashing from the rest of her gang, and knew that if anybody needed a thrashing first, it was these two crybabies. The tall girl pulled the pocket knife out once more, and was prepared to show her enemies absolutely no mercy.

"Alright, so the cur is not all bark..." The girl seethed, her knife glinting dangerously in the dim alleyway light. "But will you still have that BITE, upon witnessing the kind of pain I can inflict with this blade, here!?"

Sunset's heart pounded in her chest as the knife grew closer, but knew that she couldn't let fear control her, especially not when a child's safety was at stake. She reflected on the many times she had stared down danger itself, and how her friends had always been there to support her. Drawing upon that strength, Sunset stepped protectively in front of Lily, the knife now pointed at her.

"If you want to hurt someone, you'll have to go through me, first!" Sunset said, her voice steady.

"You think you can just come in here at the last minute and take back what I've earned!?" The girl took a step closer, holding the blade, firmly. "Why don't you save yourself the trouble and run along now, and maybe I'll spare you the same fate I had planned for that kid. I've got better things to do than play games with the likes of you, so I insist, go on and run, I won't stop you!"

"I'm not running anywhere, and I'm definitely not letting you get away with this." Sunset shook her head. "You've hurt enough people for one night, and spewing some meaningless threats like that, it certainly doesn't make you a fierce wolf!"

"Such hubris!" The girl snapped, getting ready to attack. "I'm still the one with the teeth here, and you're about to be ripped to shreds! In that case, even if you run now, I'll make certain that you'll never have the opportunity to interfere with my gang's operation, again! You should feel so lucky to suffer by the hand of one of the Canterlot Street Gang!"

Hearing this, Sunset understood that by this point, the girl was completely bent on relentlessly chasing her with the pocket knife. Her eyes darted around the alleyway, searching for anything she could potentially use to her advantage, before her gaze landed upon a pile of trash cans at the far end, with a family of raccoons rummaging through them. Seeing this, she suddenly formed yet another risky gambit that might just turn the tides in battle, at least as a temporary distraction, meant to chase the thief away. She took a step back, before whispering to Lily, wanting to keep the child safe from harm's way.

"Quick, hide behind those dumpsters." Sunset whispered to Lily, as she watched the child scurry away.

Turning back to the thief, Sunset stepped aside, making it appear as though she was retreating. The gang leader saw this supposed fear, feeling triumphant, before taking the bait and lunging forward with the knife. The two girls ran around in circles throughout the alleyway, with Sunset looking back upon the thief, showing absolute determination to put an end to their fight. After a while of relentless chasing, Sunset kept sprinting until she was almost within reach of the trash cans, making it seem like she was going to jump over them. However, at the very last minute, she stopped short and moved out of the way just in time, throwing her attacker off.

Before she could even react, the gang leader looked back for a moment in confusion, then crashed directly into the pile of trash cans, knocking them over and spilling the contents everywhere. In addition to becoming coated with smelly garbage, the family of racoons were incredibly displeased at their home being destroyed. As such, the scavenging critters hissed and snarled, as they raised their claws, preparing to attack as a whole family. The girl's eyes grew wide with shock as she realized she had been outsmarted, but it was already too late, once she noticed the raccoons swarming all over her, with their sharp claws and bared teeth.

"Agh, get off, you oversized rats!" The thief tried desperately to get the raccoons off of her, before glaring at Sunset, trying to ignore the pain of the animals clawing and biting her. "I've... underestimated you, how foolish of me! How can this be... an ordinary schoolgirl outsmarting the gang leader, who's used to living the rough and tough street life!? Hear my words closely, I vow to discover who you are, and exactly where you live! And when I unveil that bit of knowledge... I will bring the rest of the Canterlot Street Gang's might to bear... and make you suffer... for making us all starve tonight! So sleep with one eye open from now on, and you shall soon know the lame taste of defeat, yourself!"

The girl stumbled away, yelling and swiping at the raccoons that clung onto her, but their tiny claws and teeth proved to be surprisingly effective against her resistance. As the sounds of her retreating footsteps echoed down the alley, Sunset turned around to check on Lily, who was still shaking behind the dumpsters, her eyes wide with fear. Sunset hurried over, her own heart still racing from the encounter, but was happy that despite the injuries in that battle, she had not only succeeded in protecting the helpless child, but also emerged victorious over the caricature of the mean girl she used to be.

However, the gang leader's last words had concerned Sunset greatly... was there any truth to them? Would she actually go out of her way to learn more about who she was, and return someday to exact her vengeance? No, it was most likely the hollow posturing of a bitter defeat, especially coming from someone who ended up proving to be more bark than bite. Despite all this, Sunset knew her work wasn't quite finished yet, as the child still needed somebody to escort her back to her parents, after running off alone at night.