“My head hurts,” I groaned and rubbed it with a hoof. “This is one of the worst pains I’ve ever felt.” Mom let out a low chuckle.

“I know. Twilight left some medicine. Apparently it’s your world’s version of Tylenol?” She shrugged and slid the bottle over. I levitated the bottle to me and my eyes slightly. This was the strongest type of medicine you get here. Super freaking hard to get. Must be nice to be a princess, you get shit like this on the daily I bet.

“Yeah it is. Works quick,” I unscrewed the cap and started drinking it eagerly. “What happened by the way? All you guys told me is my girlfriend and two of my family saved you and that the ship ended up crashing.” Mom sighed and looked at me.

“Apparently the engine had a failure and it exploded shortly before they found me. It’s how they got me out because the griffins were freaking out and trying to out the fires. Bon Bon, Lyra and Derpy willingly got themselves captured. Apparently Bon Bon knocked a guard out by herself and later saved her because she was nice to her from the getgo.”

I let out a low impressed whistle. I knew Bon Bon wasn’t the most violent of us all. If anything, I expected Lyra or Vinyl to have knocked some guards out. They probably did in all honesty.

“I guess I owe them a lot don’t I?” I nuzzled and sighed contently when she did it back. I will never admit it to my friends because of my pride but I do love getting affection from mom and Derpy. It’s a great feeling.

“We both do,” Mom corrected with a grin.

“It just feels like the dream was super real. It’s weird,” I mumbled into her mane.

“Dreams can feel that way. Kind of annoying, isn’t it?” I frowned slightly and nodded.

“Yeah it is.”

“So you mentioned knowing a spell that would let us go in the past,” Mom casually mentioned. “Something about your past and learning?” I quickly brightened up at the suggestion.

“Yes. Let me get the others.”

“We are only gonna focus on my past in Canterlot. We have to get back home shortly. We won’t have to worry about accidentally messing up the timeline by touching anything,” I explained. Twilight tilted her head curiously.

“Can I come?” She asked curiously and I shrugged.

“Sure why not. Just let me explain everything. You’re gonna see the Celestia I knew so don’t expect the Celestia you know,” I warned as Twilight slightly frowned before nodding. “Ready?”

I identified the voices of the others saying different versions of yes as Lyra was practically vibrating up and down. I swear that girl was going to make a hole in the castle floor. She could honestly be a pony jackhammer if she wanted. My horn glowed and a bright light filled the room.

“Woah,” Vinyl muttered as she fixed her glasses. “That wasn’t as painful as I expected.” I let out a low chuckle.

“Going in the past isn’t painful,” I admitted.

“It looks so different!” Twilight looked around the Canterlot streets. “I haven’t seen it look like this in years!” I trotted up to her and smiled.

“Yeah it’s beautiful. These are my memories so it’s gonna be going by fast so we can go home.”

“Okay,” Lyra muttered as we stared at a young me trotting up the road with her bags full of books and an arrogant smile. I winced and looked away. I remember this day like it was yesterday.

“Sunset Shimmer!” Minuette exclaimed as she galloped up with her friends. Young me sat down on a bench and started reading a book. “That vine you made was amazing!”

“Absolutely exquisite!” Twinkleshine pressed a hoof to her chest.

“Would you like to come have lunch with us?” Equestrian Lyra asked eagerly, her friends matching her expression.

“Hmpf! I have better things to do than socialize! I’m going to reread Advanced Elemental Magical Practices and then practice for my advanced summoning spells. What are you studying for? Nothing, that’s what!” Young me exclaimed as she stood up and grabbed her books before trotting away.

“Well she wasn’t very nice,” Morning Roast muttered with a sad expression.

“She’s right full of herself that’s what,” Lemon Hearts scoffed.

“Her loss. I’m awesome,” Minuette grumbled.

“I remember this,” Twilight looked at me. “They told me about this. I can’t believe I forgot about it.”

“Me too,” I sighed. “I relieve this everyday. Ever since you hit me with a rainbow, I felt everyone’s pain. The random fast food worker I insulted, the garbage man I was rude to. Minuette and the others. Derpy, Rainbow Dash everyone. I felt what they felt whenever I was rude or said something hurtful.”

“Did Twilight chose that as a punishment?” Derpy inquired as she hugged me.

“Nah,” I gave a bitter chuckle. “She had no control over that. Harmony is a real force in Equestria. I wasn’t emphatic or kind so when the rainbow hit me, the Elements forced me to be emphatic and kind by feeling the pain I caused others.” Twilight nodded her agreement as the scene suddenly changed to the castle.

“Where are we now?” Bon Bon asked curiously as we stood on the balcony of the castle.

“This is a few months later,” I replied as the same young me trotted slowly to the balconies edge.

“Can I try raising the sun? Can I?” She asked eagerly as Celestia joined her. She closed her eyes and grunted as her horn glowed.

“You’re not quite there yet Sunset. Maybe one day.”

“Principal Celestia looking wild!” Lyra chuckled.

“She talks about you often,” Twilight focused on me as I idly noticed young me and Celestia walking down a hallway. Apparently the scene changed again to later that night.

“I believe you. I’m not ready for that yet,” I admitted.

“You need to make friends Sunset,” Celestia sighed. “It will make you happy.”

“But I’m happy when I do magic,” young me pointed out.

“But why do you do magic?” Celestia pressed.

“To do good things.”

“Is that the portal?” Derpy asked in curiosity as young me approached the portal Princess Celestia was standing in front of.

“Yes,” I answered as we watched young me tentatively reach out with a hoof and touch it.

“Don’t touch that!” Celestia chided. “It’s for highly skilled students.”

“I’m not a highly skilled student?” Young me asked with a hurt expression as she yanked her hoof back.

“That’s not what I meant Sunset,” Celestia sighed.

“Then what did you mean?”

“Just that you’re not there yet. One day you will be. I assure you of that.” Young me looked away.

“You always say that,” she grumbled. “Why not now? I’ve aced my studies! I’ve learned spells other ponies couldn’t even dream of! I’m ready and you’re holding me back.”

“I’m not holding you back.”

“You’re just afraid of my potential and that I may outshine you one day! I have great potential and you refuse to recognize it!” Young me snapped.

“I recognize it believe me. Now is the not the right time,” she answered calmly. Young me spun around and trotted off.

“I’m going to my room.”

Author's Note

So for Sunsets back story, I'm pretty much using the comic and the fan made animation and merging the two. Both are called The Fall Of Sunset Shimmer if you wanna look them up.