Author's Note

This chapter took me a while to write, so apologies if anyone wanted the newest possible update to the story.

I wanted Ash and the others to know of Sunset's backstory so that it could build a better and stronger bond between them all. They won't judge Sunny based on her past.

A friend knows of your past, but leaves it there. In the words of Master Oogway from Kung Fu Panda, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. That is why it is called the present."

Peace out!
-PrinceOfDarkness.

Sunset's Truth.

Ever since she'd arrived in the Kalos region, she'd become best friends with Ash. He was like Rainbow Dash and Twilight combined.

She knew she'd need to tell him and the others of her past at some point. She planned to tell them later on. Sunset hoped they wouldn't judge her and abandon her like how her ex-friends had.

Sunset and her new friends sat around a campfire on some logs they'd found from fallen trees in the forest behind them. They'd made hot dogs and their pokemon ate the pokepuffs that Serena had kindly made for them.

She thought back to the sleepovers before Anon-A-Miss had happened. She remembered when they were friends and the times they'd hung out after school.

A frown formed on her lips as she felt tears form in her eyes. She wiped them away so her friends wouldn't notice. She didn't want pity from them. Sunset knew that thinking that way wouldn't help her, but she still felt the pain and betrayal of her ex friends.

She reminded herself that the friends she'd made around her weren't like the others. They cared about her and liked her for who she was.

"Are you alright? You look upset about something." Ash said, concern in his voice as he frowned. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder comfortingly.

"It's..." Sunset began, "It's about my past and some bad memories I've been dealing with recently." Sunset replied, her tone solemn. She never wanted to see the faces of her ex-friends again.

"You can talk about it if you want to. We won't force you." Ash said, squeezing her hand comfortingly. Sunset smiled, squeezing his hand in return.

"I..." She began, "I wasn't a very nice person. I come from a world where there are talking equines called Equestrians. There are the three tribes composed of unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies. Pegasi maintain the weather, earth ponies maintain the land and unicorns control and use magic. I was a unicorn back home." Sunset explained, not finished with her story. Bonnie's eyes widened in shock and joy as she hugged the bacon-haired teen tightly.

"My mom was a princess and I'd learned how to act as a royal from her. We used to be very close, but after a while, we had an argument and we fell out. She showed me a mirror which showed me my future. Or so I thought. The image on the other side of the mirror was me as a princess. I craved that future so that mom would still love me. After a while, she took in a pegasus called Cadance who became an alicorn, which is a combination of the three tribes." Sunset added, watching the reactions of her new friends.

They had solemn and focused looks. Clemont signalled for her to continue. She sighed, steeling herself so she could tell the rest of the story.

"Me and mom spent less and less time with each other, even if we were studying. I soon grew jealous and I snuck in to the restricted section of the library in the castle that I used to live in. Mom caught me and we argued. She then expelled me as her student and banished me from the castle and Equestria. I was about to be taken to the dungeons and I escaped the guards. I fled through a mirror and never looked back." Sunset continued, watching how her friends reacted to her story.

Ash had a look of disgust, which was soon replaced with anger and then a look of empathy. Bonnie folded her arms and pouted before hugging her. Serena's look was of sympathy for her. Clemont was still solemn. He wouldn't make any judgement, as it didn't seem to be the end of the story.

"Anyways, I fled to the mirror world on the other side of the portal and lived there ever since. I became a queen bee and became an awful bully. I was stopped by my mom's newest student who replaced me, Twilight Sparkle. I was angry, sad and heartbroken because I felt replaced by my mom." Sunset admitted, blinking tears out of her eyes as she sniffled.

Clemont's look morphed from a look of fury to sympathy. He knew there was more to this story.

"Twilight stopped me, well, she tried to. I put her crown on which fed off of my corrupted emotions and feelings, transforming me into a 'She-Demon' and I fought her. Twilight rallied the students of the school to side with her, and in the process, six girls who helped to stop me. Twilight's magic saved me from the corruption of the mirror's magic. After I was freed, I felt guilty and remorseful. I did a lot of community service and helped around the school. The six girls became my friends and tried to show me true friendship." Sunset admitted, sighing as she recalled the painful memories.

She hated what she'd became and didn't want that power ever again. She knew that she'd never be a princess and came to terms with it.

"Many months later, around christmas, an account on the website MyStable called Anon-A-Miss started spreading secrets about the students and everyone thought it was me. And they used colors that resemble me to make me look even more guilty. My friends, well, former friends believed them and turned on me. IT WASN'T ME! I WASN'T AND AM NOT ANON-A-MISS!" Sunset finished, yelling the last part as tears trickled down her cheeks.

She didn't dare look up. She couldn't face her friends. She knew that they possibly didn't want to be her friend anymore.

Ash growled, clenching his fist tightly. Pikachu's red spots on his cheeks started to crackle with electricity.

"How could those assholes do that to you!?" Ash yelled. Clemont covered Bonnie's ears so she wouldn't hear what Ash said.

"Ash! Language! There are children present!" Clemont scolded, motioning to Bonnie who looked at them confusedly.

"How could her friends betray her like that! A friend doesn't betray you like that! A friend sticks by your side through and through no matter what!" Ash declared, anger present on his face.

"Pika!" Pikachu growled, nodding at his trainer. No one hurts one of his friends. The electric mouse pokemon jumped into Sunset's arms, hugging her as he nuzzled her. Sunset felt a lump form in her throat as a tear dripped down her cheek. Serena walked over and hugged her, Bonnie doing the same.

Clemont was in disbelief and anger. A friend doesn't turn on another friend and abandon them just because of speculation and belief on past actions.

"Y-You guys don't hate me?" Sunset asked, shocked at how her newest companions and friends believed her and took her side.

"No, why would we?" Ash asked, confused at the question she asked him. He couldn't believe that her own mother had kicked her out. Most of all, he couldn't believe that her mom replaced her. He hoped that one day he'd get to meet her mom and tell her just how she hurt Sunset.

"A-After all I-I did? You don't hate me?" Sunset asked, tears once again dripping down her cheeks. How could they still be friends with her knowing what she did?

"Sure, you've done some bad stuff, but you made up for it and I know that you tried to make it up to everyone for what you did. I'm never going to leave your side, Sunset. We're friends for life, just like I am with Pikachu." Ash said, smiling as the electric mouse pokemon jumped onto his shoulder and nuzzled him.

Sunset was overjoyed. She pulled her friends into a tight hug, not wanting to let go. They were her best friends. They'd been much better than her other ex-friends. That was for sure.

The group of five eventually grew drowsy and turned in for the night. Sunset's mind wandered as she thought about how lucky she was for her new friends to accept and embrace her.

Soon, Sunset fell asleep with a smile on her lips.