Sunset waited outside the assembly hall, gazing down at her hands. Her mind was going over the spell again and again, remembering what the Princess had said, so long ago.
Behind the doors she could hear, even feel, the rumble of conversations inside the large room. No doubt everyone there knew what they wanted to say and do to her.

When Sunset Shimmer realized that the real reason the school had acted as it had was because of her past actions—and her willingness to pretend they had never happened—she decided to put an end to the whole thing.
Anon-a-miss.
The past.
And the hurt she had caused others.

Twilight is awoken in the middle of the night by a cryptic text from her best friend; just what could Sunset want to talk about at 4 am?

This story is a sequel to The First Step

It has been a few weeks since the fall formal. The school has been repaired, Sunset has been, begrudgingly at least, accepted back into the student body, and she even has a few friends.

They all have so much energy to them. They laugh, they tease, the fight and make up. Sunset can't do that. Not yet. It takes too much energy, energy she doesn't have. Being around them is great. They've been so kind to her. They stand by her. Sunset only wishes she had the energy to do the same for them.

-- Cover art by JanaDashie over on Deviant art.

On a cold winter evening, I met her, her cheeks chapped from tears frozen from the cold.

We took up talking for a while, and as I listened, I could tell she was out of aces, bound for nowhere.

She had the look of someone running away, with nowhere to go. Fleeing, not advancing.

I had a bit of advice. I've got no clue whether she took it.

I just hope she remembers the gambler whenever she gets to a place she could call home.

Sunset Shimmer's life has been on the up and up. She turned from her past, made new friends, and is now passing the magic of friendship to others, including this world's Twilight Sparkle.

Which is why, of course, this is all just a mistake. Things got a little out of hand, but it's over now. So now they can just move past this. Why, it'll be a funny story to tell in a few months.

------

Special thanks to the following:

SoloBrony, for being who he is.

CarcinoGeneticist, for his charitable contribution cleaning up the grammar.

Nadnerb who along with Solobrony convinced me to work toward publishing this stuff, even when I didn't want to.

And Skeeter the Lurker, Tourquillian, Nyerguds, and Prane for arguing in the Gdoc about what worked and what didn't.

The catalyst for, but not part of, The Shelf Cleaning Intiative

Now has a spiritual sister story in So You've Just Seduced Your Best Friend. For more details on that, check here.

We all know the story: Sunset Shimmer strove to gain power in Equestria, going so far as to act aggressive towards Princess Celestia herself before she wound up diving through the portal into the human world. But was that the complete story, or did Sunset keep some details hidden from her friends that Twilight only recently discovered?

Why, despite her nerves, does she want so much to see her old mentor again? Why did she still watch the sunset even though she said she hated her former mentor? And what is that tune that Celestia sings....

Like Rarity's Mane, this is simply just something short and sweet that I had gotten into my head a week ago, and just had to express in words rather than images. I hope this gives you all at least some enjoyment.

Sunset Shimmer didn't think twice about the assignment from her literature teacher, Mr. Turner, to read and analyze 'Harrison Bergeron' - at least, until she actually read the story and found herself fascinated with the ideas it presents. Unable to settle her thoughts, she goes to class the next day brimming with questions, only to find that Mr. Turner has the day off, and their substitute is an unusual teacher named Starlight Glimmer.

I highly suggest that anyone who has not had a chance to read
Harrison Bergeron give it a read.

Note: This story presents some of my opinions. If you disagree with something I have said, feel free to comment as I am always willing to participate in an open discussion.

I also would like to thank my wonderful Proof-Reader Song Coyote.

It has been a few days since the Fall Formal. Sunset is the construction crew's gopher, she still eats lunch alone, and she's feeling worse than ever. At the very least, she can feel proud of not having been a total she-demon since the dance. In fact, other than being lonely, she's been a model student.

So why in the name of Celestia is she being called to the principal's office?

With the memory stone crisis behind her, it's time for Sunset to deal with an even bigger challenge:

A caring Princess Celestia interested in seeing how Sunset lives on Earth.

* Takes place right after Forgotten Friendship, Teen for some tame Sun x Sci-Twi Romance Fluff
* Helps to have seen the two minute short Rarity's Display of Affection
* Cover From a Picture by akainu7
* Editing help by Clancrusher
* Featured on Equestria Daily's 2018 Sunset Day 50 Fic list!
* Translated into Chinese on Fimtale by Cyber Poison

Recommended - PresentPerfect

With a single post, just a handful of pictures from her phone, Anon-A-Miss managed to destroy months of effort to redeem herself. Even her actions at the Battle of the Bands seem to mean nothing in the face of this apparant treachery.

But when the Rainbooms confront Sunset, about her sudden betrayal and cast her out, she gives a response none of them had anticipated.