“I know you’re there, you insolent pest, Celestia’s perfect little pupil…!” Nightmare Moon bellowed, her voice echoing in the ruins of the castle of the two sisters, deep within the Everfree forest. “I want you to witness this end, and this beginning. Night will reign ETERNAL!”

Twilight Sparkle, much to her luck, wasn’t alone.

Taking cover, the two unicorns accessed the situation carefully. “Okay, Twilight. You’re sure you can get the elements working if you reach them?” Sunset questioned, keeping her gaze in the temple, fiddling with her armor.

“Y-yes– I’m pretty sure I can! The Elements of Harmony can defeat her!!-- As soon as I figure out how…!” She stammered, keeping her eyes anxiously set in the very same sight.

“Right. You can’t get to them with her in the throne room, though…” Sunset’s voice trailed off as she realized just what was about to happen. She turned to Twilight once more, and spoke calmly, yet sternly.

“Twilight. It’s been an honor serving you. Thank you.” She stepped out of cover. “I’ll buy you time While you get to the elements. Get them working, defeat Nightmare Moon, bring Celestia back. Equestria is counting on you. Go!”

“W-what?! W-wait, she’s an ALICORN! You can’t–” She stammered, sweating.

“This is not up for discussion, I’m not here to win. Now go get the elements working! If anypony can, it’s you!” She mustered a forced grin, before running forward, leaving her behind.

Of course the unicorn tried complaining, stopping her, but Sunset wouldn’t have it. As soon as Twilight was out of earshot, she exhaled deeply, and the grin faded. “Finally.” She muttered, as soon as the Alicorn of the night was in sight. “NIGHTMARE MOON!”

“What’s this? You’re not Celestia’s little runt– A paladin?” Approaching with a calm demeanor, she grinned widely, completely unintimidated.

“I am Sunset Shimmer.” She stated plainly, courageous, unyielding. “And I’m here to defeat you.” She lied.

Her eyes widened, and she nearly gasped, showing teeth. “I know you…! You were the latest vessel of the shadows…!” Her voice took another tone, as if there was another speaking through her. “What a shame, you lost your wings, you lost your power, you lost your position, all to that little runt…!”

“Twilight Sparkle saved my life.” She stated plainly. “She saved me from being you. I’m here on her behalf.” She exhaled, her heart beating furiously, as heat began to rise, sparks lighting up her obsidian armor. “So if you–”

“--What a shame. You really were a wonderful vessel.” She rolled her eyes, amused by the sight, completely unintimidated. “The power of a demon is not known to many outside tartarus, you know…? If only my foolish sister hadn’t banished you– If only that even more foolish apprentice of hers hadn’t cleansed you–”

“Shut up.” Sunset begged, standing her ground.

And naturally, the Alicorn of the night was utterly unintimidated, as she walked forward. “Look at you. What bluster– But you are just a unicorn now, all by Twilight’s making. How ironic. As a demon, maybe you could have stood a chance.” She amused herself towering over Sunset, grinning madly. “You know… It is not too late to embrace who you really are. The beast that lies within– Become a vessel of the shadows once more… Like me.”

“I’d rather die.” Sunset snarled, and with a single motion, teleported beside the alicorn, bucking her flank, launching her aside.

“What a poor choice of words.” A flash of anger appeared in Nightmare Moon’s face, as she recovered and raised her wings, seemingly unaffected by the attack.

The battle was one of teleportation, levitation and blasts of magic. The ruins were alive with their blows, with both light and darkness. Sunset’s fire did not spread far, she kept it leashed as she delivered strike after strike with her horn, all while Nightmare Moon tossed dozens of stones towards her opponent who dodged nearly all of them.

The Alicorn of the night amused herself the entire time, being both magically and physically superior to her opponent.

They locked horns, Sunset tried standing her ground, but the Alicorn could easily push her. “Look at all that rage. You would still be a wonderful vessel– Why not just simply let it loose?”

“S-SHUT UP!!” Sunset pleaded, as she teleported and tried striking her opponent, but the Alicorn blocked it with a barrier and retaliated, smashing her through a column.

The battle had already taken them through several rooms of the ancient ruins. Sunset was breathing quickly, and she was already tired. She tried keeping the fight on close quarters, but the Alicorn could easily throw her aside with her superior magic, every time.

Her armor was bending and denting in uncomfortable places, and she was waiting for the strike that would render her incapable of fighting, any second now.

Nightmare Moon landed directly in front of her. “I wonder… How bad are the scars on your back?” She relished every word with malice. “It must have been painful to lose those wings.”

“Shut…” Sunset preserved her breath, inhaling sharply, and teleported forward. “--UP!” She moved with agility, delivering swift strikes with both magic and hooves, and despite hitting their target, she would often be stopped by a barrier, or avoided– Nightmare Moon was barely being bruised.

With a vicious blow from her horn, the Alicorn sent her through a window, then crashing right through a rooftop.

The Paladin tumbled and struggled, but forced herself to get up. The alicorn landed in front of her, entering through the hole on the ceiling casually.

“About ready to give in?” She spoke calmly, reveling on how easy this was for her.

Sunset’s response was to attack her, fiercely, savagely, as flames built up around her and she lunged relentlessly.

Nightmare Moon was taken back, if only for a moment, after having received a few blows. “Insolence.” Her nose bled, and her response was to unleash a force of darkness that threw Sunset through a wall.

“Did you really think you could truly harm me?!” She leapt through the hole in the wall, standing before the Paladin. “Luna is the perfect vessel– Equestria has lost. It is time for the age of shadows.”

And that namesake spread through all of the room, all lights dimmed, as darkness consumed everything. Sunset forced herself to stand once more and galloped towards her opponent, who swatted her away like a fly with her magic.

The Paladin was violently smashed against a wall, and she fell down, unable to stand, breathing haggardly, her face drenched in her own blood.

“Bah.” Nightmare Moon scoffed at the sight. “For a warrior that claims to have never lost a fight, you sure don’t know how to pick them.”

She approached Sunset calmly, yet with murderous intent. “Oh well. Having another vessel would have been ideal, but I’ve already won.” She leaned down, grinning. “And be at peace, knowing that the only fight you lost is one you died in…”

“I’ve lost before.” Sunset wheezed out, unable to stand, laying on the floor.

The Alicorn tilted her head in confusion.

“Twilight… I lost to Twilight.” Sunset let out a frail smile, looking beyond the Alicorn. “And speaking of which…!”

Prismatic light bathed the room.

The shadows receded entirely.

The queen of the night shouted in despair, and leapt towards it with battling intent.

Rainbows reflected off of every surface, as the light shined brighter than the sun.

Twilight Sparkle adorned every element of harmony. Four anklets, a necklace and her crown. The jewels glowed intently, as did her eyes, she was magic incarnate.

And, the last thing Sunset saw…

…Twilight now had wings.

Exhaling, Sunset closed her eyes and let go, with her task done, ready to finally die.

And unfortunately for her, she woke up.

She was in an infirmary in Canterlot. Her body ached in nearly every place, and her head was pounding. She was no longer adorning her armor as she laid weakly in a bed, seemingly alone in the room.

There was a wave of despair that shot through her.

She was still alive.

“No, no, no, no…” Her eyes were dry, but she wanted to cry, and yet. she couldn’t bring herself to, as she shuddered. “Why, why, why, why…!”

She stopped herself, inhaling sharply, and looked around the small room. It was comfortable, cozy, and quiet– Except for the sounds of party and reverie in the distance, she could hear them through the window and echoing in the halls of the castle.

Laying on her side, she kept her eyes fixed on the stained glass windows, and the flashes of Fireworks that shined through them.

It didn’t take much to decode what that party was about; She could easily deduce. With another weary exhale, she forced her eyes shut, painfully pondering on just how ready she was to die, and how it didn’t take.

She didn’t even dare to think of what would happen next in her life– She had never planned on surviving to consider it.

She stewed on that exhaustion and pain…

…Until she was interrupted by a familiar snore.

“Flash?!” She muttered, looking around and noticing the Pegasus guard napping on the one couch in the room. “What are you doing here?!”

No response, only more snores.

Frowning, she waved her horn, with a simple tilt of the head, she threw a pillow at him, waking him up instantly.

“Flash, wake up. What are you doing here.” She spoke sternly, annoyed.

Shaking himself off, the pegasus guard regarded her with pity, which did not help. “D-do… Do I need a reason?”

Angrily, she laid back on her bed, looking at the ceiling, groaning, rubbing her temples. “Fuck, of course. You’re literally the only pony in this stupid castle that might come even close to not hating me.”

“I don’t hate you!” He stated quickly, approaching her with that same look. “Y-you’re fine! Seriously!”

“Your mistake.” Sunset gritted her teeth, avoiding eye contact. “Oh yeah. The demon that rampaged through Canterlot castle is fine.” She rolled her eyes, blowing air through her nostrils.

“There weren’t… That many ponies hurt, then.” He grimaced, trying to make excuses for her.

“I chewed somepony’s leg and spat it out in front of Queen Celestia.” She stated simply. “This isn’t up for debate. I should be dead.”

He exhaled, shaking his head. “C’mon, it was years ago, you’re not–”

“Three years, four months and six days. Just stop. I’m sick of this conversation.” She huffed. “Are you here because somepony asked you to? Twilight? …Celestia?” Her gaze softened, but it still held contempt. “Or are you here for some stupid sentimental reason?”

“Wouldn’t either reason mean the same…?” He tilted his head with an awkward smile.

“Mean what?”

“That somepony cares about you…!” He gave her the warmest smile he could, which did seem to have a positive effect, even for a moment.

“I treated you like shit. You shouldn’t want to be here. You should leave.” She looked away, forcefully. “Isn’t there a party for you to be guarding or something?”

“Well, yeah, but still. I heard of what you did… You stalled Nightmare Moon so Twilight could use the elements of harmony! That’s pretty amazing!” He gave her a genuine smile of trust and excitement.

“Anypony could have done what I did– Even you.” She rolled her eyes. “I was just more enthusiastic about dying in battle than the average schmuck in your royal guard.”

“I still think it was pretty brave and selfless.” He nodded, almost wisely, trying to hide his concern. “I’m glad Twilight saved you!”

“I’m not. Now please get out of my room.” She barked quietly, using all of her energy to not go further than that.

“Don’t worry, I’ll go… But I still wanted to make sure you didn’t wake up alone.” He fidgeted, grabbing his guard helmet that was on the floor, post-nap. “That Twilight girl– Or should I say Princess? She was around for a while, waiting for you to wake up, but had to go– Big duties, I guess…!”

Sunset felt a sting pierce deeply on her gut.

Twilight Sparkle was now a Princess.

“That party outside is for her, isn’t it?” She briefly took a glance to the windows, then forced it back to the ceiling.

“Yep! Pretty huge one, too!” He smiled genuinely, flapping his wings with excitement. “Saw a bunch of creatures from all over Equestria celebrating the return of the Queen of the Moon– And the ascension of Celestia’s star pupil into Alicornhood!! It’s a pretty big deal!”

A frail, nervous chuckle instinctively came out of the unicorn as she forced her eyes closed. “She did it, then. Of course she did. Fuck.”

“Well, uh, I know that um…” Scratching his own chin absentmindedly, Flash looked at the floor. “I know how you always really wanted that for yourself back then, and stuff, but… At least you helped her reach it, right?”

“Flash, please leave me the fuck alone.” She stated coldly, unthinkingly.

“...I’ll go.” He resigned, exhaling. “Please don’t… Nevermind. Stay tough, Shimmer.” He sighed, leaving the room.

And just like that, she was alone.

Alone to stew in all of her mistakes.

Alone to stew on her predicament.

Alone to stew on her future.

Alone to stew on her present.

Alone to–

“Excuse me, where is Sunset Shimmer’s room?” A voice giddily asked in the hallway outside her room.

“Oh it’s that room over there! Can’t miss it!” Flash responded with the same joy in his voice.

Sunset’s blood ran cold and hot at the same time, as she considered the anger she felt on being disturbed at such a horrifically vulnerable time.

A Pink pony with a fluffy mane and an almost jester-like outfit entered the room, humming, bringing a balloon with her mouth.

Sunset narrowed her eyes, trying really hard not to incinerate this clown on sight.

“Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie the bard!! Nice to meet you! Celestia told me some fun things about you– And I said to her, ‘Queen, Sunset sounds like an absolute riot, of course I’ll go check on her!!’” She stated happily while tying the balloon to the side of Sunset’s bed, of which said ‘get well soon’.

“What the fuck are you doing here–” Sunset snarled instinctively, gritting her teeth. “Wait– you’re the court jester, aren’t you?! What the fuck are you doing here?!”

“You tell me, smartypants.” She raised a smug eyebrow, as she swiftly and quickly placed decorations around the room all with the same theming of getting better soon. “I’ve been told you’re super smart! Guess!”

“Fucking clown.” Sunset gritted her teeth, forcing her eyes shut, suppressing a volcano’s worth of rage. “I don’t need ‘cheering up’. Go back to Celestia and tell her to leave me alone.”

“No can do, buckaroo!” Pinkie gleefully opened the window, and shot out a party popper signal high in the sky. “Besides– I’m here on the behalf of two Queens AND a Princess!!”

No response from the unicorn other than rageful seething grumbles.

“Queen Luna was super worried that she walloped you when she was possessed by darkness or whatever– Gosh. I get her remorse! I’d feel super bad if I hurt a buncha ponies because I was possessed by darkness, wouldn’t you?”

If mere glances could kill, Sunset Shimmer’s livid, irritated glare would have incinerated Pinkie Pie

“And then Celestia, of course, she seemed super worried for your safety! She told me you were her first pupil and she took care of you since you were a foal– Gosh, that is just so sad!!”

Sunset’s anger was replaced with the desire to crawl out of that room if necessary to escape this clown.

“And then, last but very much not least, Twilight Sparkle, newly appointed Princess of Friendship. Aching because her bodyguard nearly died protecting her! Now that’s a heart of gold, right there. I was like. ‘Girliepop, isn’t that part of the bodyguard’s job description?’”

“It is. She just won’t let me go.” Blowing air from her nostrils, Sunset narrowed her eyes.

Quietly, noticing the minefield she had just so carelessly danced over, Pinkie offered something incredible to her; A somehow perfectly intact slice of cake from her bag, and a bottle of water.

Silence.

Pinkie placed the slice of cake atop Sunset’s bed, and like an animal, she couldn't resist, devouring it without another word.

“Heheh, I knew you’d like my cake.” Pinkie giddily unwrapped more sweets, and kept placing them on the small table near Sunset’s bed, quickly within reach. “I baked most of these! Can’t compete with royal caterers, but as the Queen of the Sun’s unofficial party committee advisor, I can veeeeerry much help.”

“Whatever.” Sunset forced the word out of her while she delighted herself on the sugary bliss of a baked good providing her sustenance. “Don’t think this is going to ‘cheer me up’ or whatever the fuck you’re trying–”

“--How about this?” Pinkie let out a sly, smug smile, as she placed a vintage bottle of liquor on the table.

Sunset’s eyes widened as she eyed that bottle with desire.

“Full disclosure. Princess Twilight told me just a bit about your situation, and I took it as a challenge.” Pinkie continued to smugly nod, as she fiddled with a harp she had taken from her nearly bottomless bag gleefully. “Such a sourpuss case, I figured I could try my best to–”

Sunset grabbed the bottle, removed the lid with her teeth, and nearly drank its full contents right then and there, silently, while Pinkie’s expression turned to a grimace of concern.

“...Jeez, that bad, huh?” Was all she could note on, as soon as the bottle was put down.

“You have no fucking idea, Pink.” She exhaled, shaking her head, feeling the burn, and embracing it. “...Thanks for this.” She said quietly, forcing the words out of herself, and then speaking no more as she began digging into more sweets.

“You know… It doesn’t take a genius to be able to tell that you’re absolutely overworked.” Pinkie affirmed, inspecting the unicorn thoroughly. “Like– You’re majorly in need of a break.”

“That’s not really in the parameters of my job.” The Paladin scoffed, ignoring eye contact, chewing. “I’m Twilight’s bodyguard– Not that she ever needed one. I was just stupid to pledge myself to her before asking her what her profession was.” If she had known who Twilight was, her replacement, things would have been different.

“She accepted it though!” Pinkie tilted her head, looking through her. “That’s gotta count for something.”

“Whatever. Do you have a point?” She asked, and regretted enabling the conversation near instantly.

“Yes. This bottle here, girl? It’s just the beginning. You and me. Bar hopping. Take a sabbatical from your unofficial job or something– You won’t regret it.” She spoke almost with wisdom. “Party like there’s no tomorrow– It’s the BEST cure for believing there’s no a tomorrow!”

Sunset’s first instinct was to toss the clown out of a window, but every word she stated made sense. Frankly, Sunset Shimmer wished she had died, long ago. Ever since she became a demon, she had reconsidered her worth and place in the world; And as soon as Twilight saved her, had ample proof of just how replaceable and worthless she truly was. And for the past months she felt like she was living on borrowed time– And maybe numbing herself was exactly what she needed.

Professionalism didn’t make her feel better. Running from her problems didn’t make her feel better. Drinking, though?

“So– The Alicorns really care about you, clearly.” Pinkie affirmed wisely. “Like, that Celestia, isn’t she your mom?”

“She isn’t.” Sunset responded coldly, trying her best to stave off the insinuations and what emotions they stirred within her.

“Be that as it may–” Pinkie spoke with a forced accent and comical posture. “It is my professional party master bard’s opinion that you are grumpy and you need to party it out. And maybe get laid a whole bunch–”

They were interrupted by the sound of teleportation outside– And Sunset already knew exactly who it was. “Ah, Princess Twilight!” Pinkie proclaimed with a smile “You got my party popper-beacon message–”

“S-Sunset! Thank goodness!!” Twilight walked forward into the room, ignoring Pinkie completely. “You’re awake…! You’re okay…” Her smile and her worry was genuine.

“...Yeah.” The unicorn did not make eye contact, her gaze was fixed on Twilight’s wings.

Concerned, painful silence. One Sunset cut with a blank statement. “...Nice dress.”

It really was a gorgeous wonderful blue dress adorned with stars, and frills that did not get in the way of her new wings. Twilight looked stunning. The wings looked beautiful on her, none of which helped Sunset’s mood in the least. “U-um! Yes! My friend Rarity made it, it was kind of a rushed job, but it was just in time for the ceremony…! Remember her? Fashionista, wants to be a Princess?”

“Your friend Rarity…” Sunset squinted, looking past her. “That’s the horny one, right?”

“Oh. Um. Yes. She’s the horny one.” Twilight sighed, thinking that might as well be a way to identify her friend.

More silence, as Sunset kept her eyes on her wings. They suited Twilight. She had earned them in full, and she looked stunning with them.

“Um…” The Alicorn grimaced in concern. “Celestia wanted to see you when you woke up, should I call her…?”

“I don’t want to see her.” Sunset affirmed instantly; It wasn’t necessarily a lie. Nothing would comfort her now more than a hug from her mother, but the last thing she needed was another physical representation of all her failures feeling more pity towards her.

“B-but…! She was so worried–”

“What happened to the elements of Harmony?” Deflecting her concern entirely, Sunset kept her gaze far from Twilight’s eyes.

“O-oh…! Well…” Twilight shuddered with concern. “Celestia deemed them weapons of mass destruction, and I couldn’t agree more. They're capable of a lot of good, but... Unless the entire world is in jeopardy, we aren't considering them. The three of us sealed them away somewhere safely so the power wouldn’t tempt any of us.”

“How the fuck weren’t you corrupted by their power?” The question was rhetorical, she knew Twilight was incorruptible, but it escaped her lips anyway.

“Oh, they were fine…! It was certainly weird… Adjusting…” She quickly looked at her wings, moving them, still shocked at their existences. “But otherwise everything was fine! I brought Luna back, cleansed the shadows, and even kept you stable!”

“...Great.” Sunset spoke unenthusiastically, her vision fogging up.

Even Twilight could read the body language, and see through Sunset’s mental state.

“S-Sunset…!” She came even closer to the unicorn, with that same look of pity and concern. “Y-you don’t hate me for getting wings, do you…? Please don’t hate me…!”

Inexplicably, Twilight Sparkle was one of the few ponies where Sunset could always contain her anger when near– Even if it was a struggle, this night. “I’m not a foal, Twilight.” She muttered, shaking her head. “I’m not jealous.” She lied, questionably. “I knew you were better than me since the first fucking day I met you, when you saved me.” She spoke truthfully, gritting her teeth, looking away. “So let’s not do this pity party song and dance.”

“Yeah! Especially when there’s an actual party going on!!” Pinkie mused herself, pointing to the windows.

No matter what Sunset would have said, Twilight would have still looked and felt guilty, and so she did.

Shuddering, suppressing anger, Sunset finally looked the Princess in the eyes. “Do you still need me to maintain my pledge? Am I free to go? You’re an Alicorn now. You don’t need me to protect you anymore–”

“B-but I do!” Twilight muttered, fidgeting. “I have no clue what I’m doing in a fight, I usually just got lucky when you weren’t around, Queen Celestia said as much herself–”

“Bullshit– You’re much more magically capable than me.” Sunset defended her immediately. “Hell, now that you’re an alicorn, I imagine even Celestia would struggle to keep up!”

Pinkie snickered, listening to the whole thing. “None of that matters if she’s a pacifist though, lol”

They both ignored her, and Twilight continued to express concern. “All the things we’ve done together these past months– Would you really just run away…?”

“It was all part of the job.” She lied, averting eye contact again. “I’d be a pretty shitty Paladin if I didn’t protect you like I did.”

“Celestia would miss you.” She spoke earnestly.

“I wouldn't miss her.” She lied overtly.

“I’d miss you.” She spoke earnestly again.

Dozens of responses formulated on Sunset’s head instantly, but she forced herself to keep her mouth shut.

1) Your mistake.

2) We’d just have to live with that.

3) I would have preferred it if you had let me die.

4) Just let me go, I don’t matter, I’ve never ever mattered.

5) The Paladin Sunset Shimmer, the failed pupil of Queen Celestia, the orphan that came from nothing, would have redeemed herself by dying fighting the same forces that she once was corrupted by. You took that away from me. I have nothing left.

Silence. Sunset looked down, averting eye contact.

For a moment, Twilight actually considered it. “W-where would you even go…?”

“...Anywhere but here.” Sunset spoke earnestly, looking out the windows.

Sitting, leaning on the bed, Twilight almost frowned, visibly upset by the paladin’s resignation. “Well I don’t want you to go.”

And there it was.

It wasn’t just the nature of the pledge– It wasn’t just her professionalism as a paladin.

If Twilight Sparkle ordered it, she would do anything, without hesitation.

This instinct, alongside the instinct of protecting her, came above anything, even her own shame and self loathing.

“...I’m staying, then.” She resigned, with an exhale.

All Twilight could do for a response was let out a sigh of relief, a very noticeable one, at that.

“Girls. Girls. I think you’re ignoring the obvious solution here.” Pinkie stepped forward, with a peppy grin. “Me!”

The two others blinked in confusion.

She fiddled gleefully, as she addressed the unicorn. “Sunset, it’s lovely that you’re staying, I bet your mom is gonna be really happy!”

“Not my mother.” She grumbled.

“But cleaaaaarly you need a break, like, big time.” She gestured towards the alcohol bottle with a smug smile. “So? Shall we?”

Silence.

Sunset cleared her throat, trying to regain professionalism. “Princess. I’m still at your service. But if you don’t mind, as soon as I can walk properly… I’m going drinking.”

Author's Note

So. I said I was taking a hiatus from the Shimmerverse... But I didn't say I was taking a hiatus from writing >:3c

Okay I do need to explain and justify some things about this fic. The Princess and the Peasant was my most 'oc' piece of work, because all I did was take molds of existing characters and existing stories and bend them to my will until they broke, in the best way. And because of it, I have such a fondness for this little universe I made, I already thought of plenty of stories I want to tell in it!! Funny enough it feels like I'm doing what series like marvel always does lmao. Make new adaptations of characters you know! Seeing where to improve while keeping the root and nature of the character the same, just on a diff universe!

This universe being "Friendship is magic but its more high fantasy and the characters are a bit more edgy/fantasy counterparts"

I'll explain. A lot of my writing tends to work a bit less with canon, but instead, with the meta. If you've kept up with the shimmerverse, you know what I mean-- I take ideas and concepts that are unexplored, but very much present, and fully flesh them out.

Easiest example, the untold idea that Celestia adopted Sunset at an early age, and filled her head with wishes of greatness, and how that strained their relationship when it wouldn't cut it. The idea that Sunset failed as both a pupil AND a daughter is haunting to her, and yet, Celestia would still want her by her side. Soft spot.

Another being the simple fact that Twilight and Sunset would have very different ways to deal with problems considering their particular ways of overachieve, meaning kindness and diplomacy vs violence and intimidation.

Another being forcing the Sunset Demon to be an inescapable tangible truth that affected all of her already strained relationships, and how its guilt is personal to her.

Another being things like. No matter how cute, righteous and true Twilight is, her managing to become an alicorn would hurt to Sunset, whether they were enemies or friends.

OKAY. most important meta narrative aspects for me, in ANY Sunlight fic, but specially the ones I'm writing.

1) Sunset Shimmer does not ever return to Equestria in canon, and nobody misses her, no matter how much good she did on earth, or how much good she could have done.

2) Twilight Sparkle rules alone in canon, and single. Her rule is an abysmal failure that ends up in the banishing of all magic and the separation of all pony races, even stronger than when before Equestria was founded.

These two meta subtexts can and should coexist-- The idea that Sunset is capable of so, so much good, but the world wouldn't miss her, and the idea that Twilight unknowingly would doom Equestria, on the guise of a solo rule, adored by all. I see a pretty perfect, completely unbiased solution here.

ALSO, having written a multiverse fic, I've kind of begun recycling writing on purpose. I've begun making constants and variables in my fics, to demonstrate how these characters really are the same people, even on different universes/circumstances; LOTS of references, heheh.

So I apologize if all of this seems a bit OC-- To be fair, it kind of is. I've already expressed that I could rewrite all of the Princess and the Peasant to be an original story by making original characters, and this is no different, lol. This is me taking my favorite character and pushing her into my own mold.

But either way-- If you've read the Princess and the Peasant, you know how their relationship ends up, but I will still delight myself with this fic either way.

Because full disclosure-- I'm only writing this because this is a setup for maybe, in the future, rewriting forgotten friendship in this universe. I think its the best piece of MLP media, and I think I can improve it. I've been wanting to write Wallflower Blush for ages, but it has to be on MY terms. MY world. >:)

Keep it hush hush though I'm not rushing to do it, lol. One step at a time!