Equestria Girls - The Tale of Two Sunsets

After that invigorating fight, Sunset's hair and outfit had seen better days, but it seemed to matter not. When taking the risk to put aside her own safety for the sake of protecting a helpless child, she felt internally satisfied at essentially fighting off the type of girl she used to be. Whoever that self-proclaimed gang leader was, her interaction with the poor child had reminded Sunset all too much of treating Fluttershy in a similar manner, which admittedly almost made Sunset question if that girl was actually none other than Gilda herself. The thieving girl claimed to have been used to the rough street life, and had a habit of using the word 'lame' pretty frequently, but other than those connections, there just wasn't any way to conclude her identity for certain.

Regardless, whether or not she had truly fought the infamous troublemaker from CHS, it wasn't really important now, as much as guiding the lost child back to her guardians. Sunset rushed over to Lily, her heart racing not just from the adrenaline of the fight, but from the sheer terror she had seen in the child's eyes. It almost felt comforting to believe that the decision to step in had given Sunset the closure she needed, especially after doing the same to Fluttershy for so long. She knelt besides Lily, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright, did she hurt you at all?" Sunset wanted to make sure the child wasn't harmed. "You're so brave for standing up to her. Not everyone can do that, especially when they're backed into a corner like that."

"I'm okay, thanks to you..." Lily looked up at Sunset with admiration shining in her eyes. "My name is Lily Pad, by the way. I just... don't know what I would've done had you not showed up, I've never felt so afraid in my life."

"Lily, it's okay, you don't have to be afraid anymore." Sunset offered her hand to help the trembling child up. "But we need to get you home, it's not safe out here. Did I overhear that you ran from your parents from some diner?"

"That's right." Lily nodded. "I was with my mother at Coinky-Dink World, and she had to go pay the bill. Then out of nowhere, that mean girl swooped by and snatched the tablet right out of my hands, so I chased her down. Didn't do me a whole lot of good, and I even got separated from my mother."

"Coinky-Dink World, huh?" Sunset's eyes lit up slightly. "That's not too far from here, in fact, I think my friend works there, and I know the way. Let's go back and find her, I promise you won't have anything else to be afraid of this evening."

"Okay, thank you, Miss...uh, I don't know your name." Lily twirled her fingers.

"Sunset Shimmer, but you can just call me Sunset." She offered a gentle smile. "I'm sure you've had quite the rough night, but it'll all be better in the morning."

"I'm not so sure about that, after all, I'm not exactly off the hook just yet." Lily sighed. "My mother's going to be really mad at me for running off like that, I'll probably get punished for it."

"Don't you worry about that." Sunset assured. "Sometimes, we all make mistakes, but that's how we learn. When we face our fears and make things right, it shows our true strength."

"Sunset, tell me... why did you go out of your way to help me, even if it put you in serious danger?" Lily inquired. "I feel so bad that you ended up getting your clothes ruined, and your hair's all messed up too, all because of me."

"It's nothing to worry about." Sunset ignored the unfortunate circumstances the predicament had put her in. "I have a friend who's been there before, and she knew what it was like to feel scared and alone. And although I may've been responsible for making her feel that way, I've also helped her recover from it over time. Ever since, she now knows what it's like to have friends who'll help you out when you need them most, and sometimes, you just have to be that friend for someone else. Besides, it's all a part of growing up, and learning to stand up for what's right."

"I guess everyone makes mistakes, huh?" Lily looked up at Sunset with surprise. "Even you, who risked your own safety for me, a little girl that you barely know?"

"Everyone's got their own stories, Lily." Sunset nodded. "We've all been through tough times, and sometimes, all we need is someone to stand by us. That's what friends do, they help each other out, no matter what. It's true that I may not know you that well, but I know who you are, thanks to my friends. You were babysat by my friend Pinkie Pie, isn't that right?"

"Oh yes, she was so amazing!" Lily replied. "I wasn't really sure what to expect when I met her, but she always made me laugh with her funny faces and party tricks. She also said she knew a cool girl named Sunset, and she was totally right! Though didn't I see you during the holidays, at the Toys for Kids Festival?"

"That's right, you did!" Sunset said. "I was helping Pinkie and the rest of my friends collect toys for the charity, and we came up with a number of... creative ways to gather those toys. I'm surprised you remember me, since we didn't really talk there."

"I mostly remember that you were the one who gave me that super cool teddy bear." Lily recalled. "I didn't know you could fight like that, though. We learn something new about people every single day, it seems."

"That may be a small part of who I am, but I only fight when I have no other choice." Sunset began reflecting on her own philosophy over the years. "I'm also a believer in second chances and friendship, considering it's what got me to where I am today. It's always about making the world a better place, and passing some kindness forward. I wouldn't immediately say the same could be said for that thief you encountered, but we can only hope that she'll learn that these kinds of actions have consequences."

"I guess everyone deserves a second chance, depending on the person." Lily nodded. "I just don't understand why people have to be so mean, I almost grew up thinking no one could ever be like that. Thanks to you, I've got my photos back, and even my money, as well. I certainly wish I had more friends my age, who were just like you, Sunset."

Sunset couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt upon hearing Lily's innocence, remembering the times at CHS when she had been the one causing that very type of pain and chaos. She took a deep breath, pushing aside the memories of her past, as she knew that she had done well this evening.

"I know it's not the same, but I'd like to be that friend for you, even if it's just for tonight." Sunset replied, folding her arms. "Now, let's go find your mother, I'm sure she's worried sick about you."

Lily looked up at Sunset, her eyes swimming with gratitude. The kindness she had shown was something she had rarely seen from anyone, especially not from within the same rough streets she had stumbled upon. Her small hand reached into her pocket, before feeling the reassuring crunch of the $50 bill. As this was happening, her mind raced the very thought of a way to thank this heroic stranger, before it suddenly dawned on her. Moments later, Lily pulled out the money and held it out to Sunset with a reassuring smile.

"Sunset, before you bring me back to my mother, please take this." Lily said. "It's not much, but it's all I can do to thank you for what you've done. You've proven to be braver than any knight in shining armor, and I know it's not easy to face fear like that. After all, if it wasn't for you standing up to that bully for me, I wouldn't even have this money with me anymore."

Sunset's eyes widened in surprise as she saw the bill in Lily's hands. She felt flattered at this, knowing that she had made a huge difference in protecting this child, but also knew that taking the money wasn't the right thing to do.

"Lily, I can't take this." Sunset shook her head. "Your family gave it to you, and it's your money. Besides, I didn't do this for the reward, I did it because it was the right thing to do. All I really need is for you to remember that when you're feeling scared or alone, there's always someone who'll be there for you."

"Please, Sunset." Lily insisted. "My parents won't know the difference, they're always giving me an allowance to spend on toys, anyways. This way, I'll know that you're okay too, especially after what you did for me. Maybe you can use this to buy yourself some new clothes, or anything else you need. Besides, it's like you said yourself, you've always wanted to make the world a better place, and pass your kindness forward. That's exactly what I want to do for you, to show that I've taken your words to heart."

Sunset couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through her chest at the child's earnestness. She knew that taking the money would go against everything she stood for, but also understood the weight of the gesture, in the sense that Lily also wanted to follow her own footsteps. Sunset looked into Lily's hopeful eyes, and she knew that she couldn't refuse such a heartfelt offer, and with a gentle smile, she accepted the money.

"Thank you, Lily." Sunset said with gratitude, as she was handed the $50 bill. "But remember, the most important thing is that you're safe and sound. I hope you'll know that no matter what happens, even after we part ways, you're never truly alone."

"I know you're right about that." Lily's eyes glistened with hope. "I'll never forget this night, and I'll definitely tell Pinkie Pie about you when I see her again!"

"I'm sure Pinkie would be pretty thrilled to hear this whole story." Sunset giggled. "Alright Lily, let's go find your mother, she must be worried sick about you. Let's see, I believe Coinky-Dink World is this way."

As Sunset and Lily approached the empty streets where the aforementioned diner was located, they heard the distant wail of sirens growing closer. The noise became louder and more urgent, until a police car came into view, its blue and red lights casting a frantic glow across the sidewalk. The vehicle screeched to a halt besides them, before a concerned officer stepped out, his hand resting on the handle of his holster. The officer then scanned thoroughly around the area, before approaching the duo, after taking notice of the child.

"How are we doing this evening?" The officer addressed Sunset. "We got a call about a little girl who ran off into the night and went missing, and according to the description we were given, she seems to be the child in question. This wouldn't happen to be... Lily Pad, would she?"

"Yes officer, this is Lily." Sunset nodded. "She's certainly been through a lot tonight, I found her being harassed by a girl who claimed she was a gang leader, and I had to fight that girl off in order to protect Lily. She had her tablet stolen, but I managed to retrieve it, and now, it's thankfully all over."

"Miss, I appreciate your story, but we need to get to the bottom of this." The officer replied. "I can't quite help but feel skeptical of what you just described, considering it seems pretty farfetched, and you aren't somebody that the child knows. Am I to understand you were perhaps the kidnapper?"

"No, no, it's not like that at all!" Sunset's eyes grew wide, as she frantically tried to explain herself. "Look, the gang leader took the tablet, I got it back, and now I'm just trying to bring Lily back to her mother."

"As much as I would love to give you the benefit of the doubt, I'm afraid that we can't be too careful these days." The officer turned to Lily. "Little girl, can you tell me what happened tonight, in your own words?"

"I was with my mom at the Coinky-Dink World, and she had to go pay the bill." Lily began explaining everything. "Then some mean girl snatched my tablet, and I chased her into the alleyways, pretty far away from the diner. That's when Sunset came over and helped me, she fought off the bully and got my tablet back, and now she's trying to help me find my mom. The thief had a knife, but Sunset was really brave and didn't let her hurt me, she's not a bad person, she's a true hero!"

"I see... well in that case, we must bring you back to your mother, young lady." The officer said, before turning to Sunset. "And according to this girl... Sunset, was it? Wait a minute, if my memory serves me correctly... you are Sunset Shimmer? The girl who goes to Canterlot High?"

"Yes, that's me." Sunset replied tentatively, unsure of how this revelation would affect the situation. "How... do you know me, exactly?"

"So you're the girl who once dated a boy named Flash Sentry, is that correct?" The officer questioned.

"Well yes, I used to." Sunset nodded. "Though I'm not entirely sure what that has to do with this situation?"

"Ah, allow me to introduce myself, I am Sentinel Sentry." Sentinel began. "Flash Sentry's father, and the Chief of Police here in Canterlot City."

"Oh, so you're Flash's dad, well in that case, it's a pleasure to meet you, though I wish it were under better circumstances." Sunset expressed. "Then again, I'm sure that being a chief, you're usually pretty busy? I suppose that explains why Flash only introduced me to his mother, but not his father."

"I may often be busy fulfilling my duties and making the city a safer place, but I'm still quite involved in my son's life." Sentinel continued. "I mostly know of a Sunset Shimmer, since Flash often shared stories revolving around his first girlfriend. Sadly, he also came back home one day, expressing his grief over the fact that you two had broken up. Out of curiosity, was it my son, who was the problem in the relationship?"

"Ah, no, it was definitely me." Sunset said with a bit of guilt. "I had my own issues that I had to deal with back then, and I realized that I wasn't ready to be in a relationship. Contrary to what everyone at CHS believed at the time, it was actually a mutual decision, and I've made sure to move on from that, to become a better person."

"My son mentioned that you two remained on friendly terms, which is quite commendable, considering the dramatic breakup that took place." The chief commended. "He's a good boy, and he's always had a soft spot for you, especially since you were the first girl who was truly involved in his life. I've been told that he's even taught you how to play guitar as a bit of a side hobby, but I'm getting a little off topic here. Now that I know you are Sunset Shimmer, and not some random stranger accompanying this little girl here, I feel more assured to take your word on the matter."

"I've come a long way from who I was back then, and I'd never do anything to hurt an innocent child like Lily." Sunset's voice was firm, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes as she thought back to her past. "If there's any way I can help, I'm more than happy to assist. Maybe we can go to Coinky-Dink World together, and I can help find Lily's mother?"

"No need for that, I can take it from here." Chief Sentry insisted. "I suppose that fighting off this supposed gang leader is also the explanation for why you look like such a mess? Your clothes have certainly been roughed up pretty badly."

"It's a long story, but yes, I had to get a bit rough to protect Lily here." Sunset said with a small chuckle, trying to play off the situation. "I'm just glad that no matter what happened, Lily was safe and sound, and that she got her tablet back."

"Well in that case, I suppose you've done a fine job, Sunset." Chief Sentry nodded with a hint of respect in his eyes. "But let's not take any more chances, I'll escort the child back to the diner, and make sure that Lily is returned to her mother, safely. It's quite a relief to hear that in the many cases I've investigated, which involved missing children, this is one of the few where we were able to have the child in question, turn up."

"I'm just happy I was there to help." Sunset smiled. "One other thing, did you by any chance need a report regarding this thief in question? Word on the street is, there's someone going around, mugging people at night. I have no idea if this gang leader has any connection to them, but I suppose it's still something?"

"Hmm, I've been hearing sightings of this particular thug, but we haven't had any solid leads on them, lately." Sentinel Sentry took out a notepad and pen. "If you're willing, I'd like to get your full account of what happened tonight, it could be crucial to our investigation. More specifically, if you could describe what they looked like, or if they mentioned their name at any point?"

"Well, I unfortunately never got her name, but she claimed she was the Canterlot Street Gang's leader." Sunset thought back to the confrontation. "She had a brown leather jacket, yellow lipstick, and a purple top. Definitely a pretty violent one too, who carried weapons like a knife and cigarette lighter."

"Thank you, Sunset." The chief jotted down the details in his notepad. "We've had reports of someone matching that description causing trouble around these parts, but they've always been one step ahead. If she's got a gang, we're dealing with a more organized threat, so I'll make sure this information gets to the right people."

"One other thing I'd like to mention, is the fact that I may have a possible idea on who she was, thanks to my friends." Sunset continued. "Supposedly, there's this girl named Gilda, who had been expelled from CHS a few years ago, and she got arrested. According to some news article, Gilda also apparently broke out recently, which would coincide with why there's been mysterious robberies happening at night. However, this is only a theory that I barely guessed at, since there's no way to know for sure if that girl truly was Gilda."

"Ah, Gilda." The chief's expression grew serious. "She's a troublemaker alright, and she's been a thorn in our side for a while now. If she's indeed the one you encountered, we'll need to be on high alert. She and her cronies have been known to cause havoc with the other inmates when we had her in custody. Better yet, if she's back in action, it won't be long before we see more of her kind around here, and the crime rate skyrockets. Thank you for your help tonight, Sunset, you've given us a significant lead. I'll make sure to pass on your report to the officers handling her case."

"Well, as long as she's insistent on sticking around, I'm sure the Canterlot City police will handle it, sooner than we think." Sunset tried to keep positive. "Would it be alright now if I return home and get cleaned up? It's been a long night."

"Affirmative, your good deeds tonight will be crucial in helping us keep our streets safe." The chief nodded. "I'll take Lily to her mother now, and remember, if you ever see trouble again, don't hesitate to call us. As for you, little miss, let's go find your mother, she'll be absolutely relieved to see you're still alright."

"Thank you again, Sunset." Lily said with a small smile, as she climbed into the backseat of the police car. "I'll never forget what you did for me."

Sunset gave another reassuring smile to the child, before seeing Sentinel Sentry climbing into the driver's seat of his car, and rolling down the window. The chief seemingly had something else on his mind, which prompted Sunset to stay behind a bit longer.

"One other thing before we go off for the evening." The chief said from his car. "I know that you and Flash have moved on from your pasts, and that you're not really focusing on relationships now, is that correct?"

"Yes, Chief Sentry." Sunset replied. "I've been focusing on becoming a better person, and my friendships are what's most important to me right now, since I'm still trying to make amends for who I was before. Why, is Flash by any chance thinking of getting back together with me? Because he hasn't really discussed this with me since then, we've mostly been going our own separate ways for a while now."

"Ah, no, it's nothing like that." The chief's expression was a mix of amusement and understanding. "My son has moved on as well, and he's quite happy with his current life, from what I've gathered. However, I wanted to make sure that you know, should you ever decide to hang with Flash casually as mutual friends, you're more than welcome in our family's eyes. After all, if it wasn't for you, my son wouldn't have such experience and confidence in talking to girls. You wouldn't believe the amount of times in middle school, where he always decided to hide from any of his female classmates, even if they were being friendly with him."

"Huh, he's actually hinted at this when we were together, but I hadn't realized it was that severe." Sunset said with surprise. "Couldn't imagine he's always been that shy, but I was the one who approached Flash first back then, so there is that. Glad to hear that despite what happened between us, I was still able to help him grow more social amongst his peers, albeit unintentionally."

"Have you and Flash been talking much since then, just out of curiosity?" Sentinel questioned.

"I mean, we occasionally still do, but not as of lately, mostly due to the fact that we've been busy with our finals and community service hours for graduation." Sunset replied. "Don't get me wrong, Flash has always been a sweetheart who took me out to the movies, helped me adapt to my new life here in the city, and even shaped my own choices in fashion. I'm just not really interested in pursuing a relationship, mostly out of preference, and the fact I've got other plans after graduation, which would definitely complicate things."

"I must admit, with how fondly Flash had spoken of you back then, I always kept joking that our family had already found our future daughter-in-law." The chief reflected. "However, we may already be expecting another, in a few years from now."

"Hmm?" Sunset became curious. "What do you mean by that, has Flash... already found someone else?"

"It's nothing too serious yet, but from what I've gathered, Flash seems to have his eye on this other girl." The chief explained. "He didn't tell you? I suppose he didn't want to break the news to you just yet, fearing how you'd react. I mean, you both have clearly been through a lot together back then, so perhaps he didn't want to make you feel jealous or hurt. My apologies if that's the case, after finding out about this."

Sunset felt a sudden wave of nostalgia, remembering the memories that she and Flash had shared. She always knew that they weren't meant to be together, but it was a comforting feeling to know that he had found happiness in the form of another girl. Despite feeling more surprise in this revelation than anything else, Sunset managed to keep her smile in place, especially after hearing that she was technically responsible for Flash overcoming his shyness in his social life.

"No worries, I'm happy for him." Sunset assured. "We've both moved on, and I'm sure he'll be focusing on a new life with her after graduation. Just out of curiosity, is she nice? The kind of girl you'd want to bring home to meet?"

"Well, like I've said before, thanks to the alarming rise in crime rates around the city, I'm swamped with all kinds of reports and investigations to focus on." The chief replied. "I haven't met my son's new girlfriend yet, nor do I know of her name, but I'm sure that Flash has his reasons for believing she's the one for him. Perhaps once the investigations are wrapped up, I'll be able to come home to enjoy a dinner with the whole family, but until then, I'll be one busy man."

"I understand completely." Sunset nodded. "He's a good judge of character, so I'm sure she's wonderful. In the meantime, tell Flash that I said hello, and that I wish him luck on whatever path he plans to pursue after graduation."

"Will do, Sunset." The chief began turning the keys in his car's ignition. "You have my gratitude for retrieving and rescuing this child, and I'm sure Lily's parents would feel the same way. Have a good evening, and remember to report to us, should you see any further suspicious activity going on in the city."

As the police car pulled away, its lights kept flashing rhythmically in the night, while Sunset couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment and relief. Lily Pad had gotten her stolen tablet back, and would soon be reunited with her parents. The encounter with her ex's father had been unexpected, yet it brought back a flood of memories from her time with Flash. Despite the breakup and mistreatment towards Flash back then, it was heartwarming to hear that he had moved on. After learning of Flash's relationship with his father, Sunset then thought about her upcoming journey, in returning back to Equestria, and rebuilding her bond with her own parents.

The cool evening air whispered around her as Sunset began to walk back to her apartment, her thoughts drifting to the mysterious 'Solstice' engravement that Sunny Flare had pointed out earlier. Her stomach fluttered with a mix of excitement and nervousness, as she contemplated the potential revelations within the near future. Sunset couldn't help but wonder, even if she were able to find her biological parents, would they even remember or accept her back into their lives again? After all, it suddenly dawned on Sunset that for the most part, during her time as Princess Celestia's pupil at the School For Gifted Unicorns, neither of her parents had ever visited her, and Celestia herself had been taking care of her, almost like a mother-figure.

Although it was rather sweet to know that Flash had two caring parents, and that his father almost played with the idea of Sunset being their future daughter-in-law, Sunset unfortunately couldn't say the same about having a loving family. Outside of Celestia, and extremely vague memories of having a father when she was very young, Sunset almost felt as if her parents' absence from her life, especially when growing up as a filly, contributed towards her problematic behavior in her later years. The same behavior that ended up splitting her and Flash up, as well as abandoning the only pony in her life, who was the closest she had to a mother.

These thoughts kept swimming around Sunset's mind as she slowly made her way back to her apartment, and knew that she would most likely get a clear answer, soon enough. If anypony were to know of what must've happened back then, during her time growing up in Canterlot, Princess Celestia herself would surely have that bit of knowledge. Not only in regards to where Sunset's parents were, but also what specifically could've contributed towards this rebellious nature that made Sunset end up in the life she now had. Sunset was already fully aware that Celestia kept the knowledge of the magical mirror hidden from her back then, which made her wonder if the princess had also been intentionally hiding a dark truth regarding her parents...