//------------------------------// // Shine Like Rainbows... // Story: A Visit By Sunset Shimmer // by Heavyhauler75622 //------------------------------// Celestia stared at the group. In her mind she saw the recent past, one involving the tangerine colored Unicorn. How she came to Canterlot Castle to tutor with Princess Celestia, just like Twilight Sparkle had. Things had started out well enough. Sunset learned quickly; understanding complicated and unusual spells almost as fast as Twilight had. But as time went on, Sunset started to chafe under the pace Celestia was holding her to. She wanted everything, and she wanted it all now. Besides the breathers to let Sunset gain some maturity before she reached toward more and more power, Celestia wanted her to actually get out and enjoy living at times. Balance was important; in Magic, and in Life. Sunset Shimmer resisted that, passively at first, just sulking in her rooms when Celestia asked her to go out and spend time in the Gardens, for example. Later, she’d disappear into the Libraries, sneak into the exclusive sections…and the books she would find and read. Celestia would have been appalled by them, had she known at the time. Then, the day Sunset Shimmer was working on teleportation…and struck Princess Celestia firmly on the jaw with a larger than usual field during the spell. Teleport bubbles had a shielding field for protection of the caster, just in case something went amiss, such as the example Celestia used in tutoring. Fillies and colts always paid close attention when she spoke about active lava flows. And teachers usually left enough space between them and the student to avoid such mishaps. But the one Sunset created was much larger than the usual bungles, which usually tended to be both weaker and smaller than needed, as it clipped her precisely on the chin. Celestia called it a day, after reassuring the Unicorn it was just an accident while Nurse Kindness attended to the bruise. But Celestia saw the sly smile Sunset didn’t fully conceal as she left for her rooms. Then that terrible day…the day when Sunset Shimmer stood before her and told Celestia she had failed her. Failed her in every way possible. Celestia’s restrictions and constraints were inhibiting her, not protecting her. That she was leaving Canterlot to find her own way in the world. Watched as Sunset Shimmer turned away and cantered off, never once looking back… Celestia hung her head. She had tried so hard… That night, she opened the door to watch over Twilight Sparkle as she slept. Sad, but resolute, she promised herself that she wouldn’t make those same mistakes with Twilight. Then a few months later, while she walked the halls on her usual weekly inspections, a familiar tangerine coat turned a corner in the storage wing. Intrigued, she turned down the hallway herself, walked toward the alcove at the end. The left hand door was ajar. She pushed it open. Sunset Shimmer stood before the Magic Mirror. Looking back, she smiled horrifyingly at Celestia. “Don’t worry, Princess,” Sunset Shimmer said smugly. “I’ll be back one day. But you won’t like it.” She stepped through…as Celestia’s eyes teared up. “No…” Celestia said softly, as she watched her go. No, she thought… Celestia thought about the things Twilight has written to her about Sunset in the other world. How she started. How she changed. All those things. And the other thoughts. Her worry over Sunset, alone in that strange place, herself, but not herself. How Celestia felt about her. How she wished she could help. Celestia felt the rawness in her throat as it closed down over the emotions. Just as one beckoned for attention… There. That one. That one must be said… “No,” Celestia said, as she looked at the ponies in the room. “Sunset Shimmer…you may not return to Equestria. You must go back to the other world and live there,” Princess Celestia said, a little more harshly than she probably should have through the thickness of her own set aside feelings. She swallowed against a dry throat. Sunset Shimmer’s eyes teared up. “Princess…please…” “No,” said Princess Celestia more firmly. “B-but Princess Celestia! She’s changed! She’s not that…she’s nothing like the demon…” Twilight started to say, a look of shock on her face. “I said no,” Celestia again stated flatly, slightly hoarse, her eyes narrowed. What was this? Sunset stared, tears in her eyes. “It’s not right! She’s a better person…pony…” Twilight said, her voice faltering. And for a moment, as she looked at her teacher and mentor, Twilight felt her own anger building, her face twisting with the emotion. Celestia, being so judgmental, so final? She wanted to scream her disappointment at the Princess of Warmth, her defiance against her cold dismissal of the flame colored Unicorn. Celestia saw the disappointment in Twilight’s eyes, the pain in Sunset’s. They don’t understand suddenly flashed through her mind. They don’t understand at all what I mean. Her eyes closed, Celestia gently raised a hoof as she centered herself. Twilight quickly managed to bite down on the unkind retort she was about to say. Only the quiet sobbing of Sunset Shimmer remained. Celestia walked over, and then sat down in front of the despondent Unicorn. Gently, she lifted her chin, staring into the tear-filled turquoise eyes. She took a deep breath, tried to shed her own whipsawing emotions in regard to her. Kindness. Friendship. Love. Magic. The Magic Celestia herself has seen. The Magic that accepted the Unicorn before her. The Magic that Celestia trusted. “I’m so sorry, my little pony. I’m afraid I didn’t explain myself properly at all,” she smiled gently. “Student Sunset Shimmer…you are always welcome to visit this land of your birth; to spend time with your new…” she gestured to the Elements of Harmony, “…friends, as well as spend time with your old ones…” as she took in herself and Twilight Sparkle. “I have learned banishment is not a proper means of solving problems.” Luna walked forward, gently laid a wing along Celestia’s back. Celestia smiled for a moment, and then took a breath. She turned back toward Sunset. “The Equestrian Magic that Twilight Invoked on that world during her first visit…that Magic that both defeated and saved you…is very important, and has influenced my decision in regard to you. The Magic that also allowed you, Princess Twilight Sparkle, and The Five to defeat the Sirens. The Magic that you catalyzed and Invoked…that beautiful Magic I just watched.” Sunset Shimmer stared at Celestia, astounded. “My little pony…no, that’s not right. Sunset. The Magic knew of the change inside of you. And it helped you. You protected that world the night you defeated the Sirens. It saw in you the same potential I did. You, and your friends; the Five.” Celestia gently helped her up from the ground, as she held the head steady, staring into her eyes. She then tenderly hugged the gently weeping mare. Twilight and her friends were crying now. Celestia held the mare gently in her forehooves. “There may be more dangers to those humans on that world than just the Sirens. Starswirl was not noted for his patience. He may have brought other creatures there.” Sunset pulled back, her eyes wide with concern. “My friends…!” “Will have need of you, my student. Pardon. Our student,” she chuckled, as she pulled a confused Twilight into the mass. “I didn’t mean to brusquely enforce your banishment. Rather, I wanted you to understand you are needed greatly there. We already have our Six,” she laughed openly now. “But I think they need their Six, too.” “You mean, I’m…” “Ohmygosh. You’re the final Element!” Princess Twilight Sparkle said, amazed. “You’re not just a catalyst! You’re the center, the Element of Magic! All of you…you’re us!” Sunset smiled wryly through watery eyes. “Even more than we already are?” “Only through association,” Celestia said firmly. “Every being is unique in their own way, Sunset. But the beats of true hearts are within you all. The Magic knows. The one best lesson I tried then to teach you. Leave it to her, my once Faithful Student, to instruct you, to have the lesson take as it has now,” she said with sunlight tones…and a tiny bit of envy, as she tossed he head at Twilight Sparkle, who beamed like a searchlight. The rest of the time in Equestria was a blur for Sunset. A ridiculous, joyful whirlwind of faces, parties, gatherings, and conversations. Moments of happiness with a group of new old friends. And all too soon, it ended, after a small visit with her cousin Sunburst. She gave the clothes to Rarity, said her goodbyes to the sad ponies there, as she walked through the Mirror to her other life… The return had been well timed. There were plenty of cars on the street during rush hour, but all the drivers were preoccupied with the traffic, not the girl that suddenly stood at the base of a statue. She wobbled slightly on her legs, and then stood firmly. Well, she thought, I can tell Twilight the more you commute, the easier the transition gets. With a start, her biggest problem now came to the front. “I can do this, “she said to herself as she started walking. “I just have to trust the Magic. It’s there; I can feel it. I just have to try to reach for it, deep inside there…” Sunset Shimmer walked into the small room. Adagio was there. Once more, curled up on the bed. Sunset suddenly saw her with new eyes. Eyes of wisdom. She didn’t see the calculating, avaricious, evil Siren she fought. She also didn’t see the cocksure, arrogant girl from that dim hallway… She saw a girl that felt she was without a friend in the world. The usually extremely precisely kept hair was unkempt in spots, as if the owner finally just gave up at that point. The minute but evident flaws in the makeup as depression exerted its influence. The frequently cried over pillow covers in need of washing. The wrinkled bedspread underneath, where the exhausted teen would throw herself on it to sleep in whatever she was wearing at the time. She pulled her cell phone from her pocket, dialed a number. “Fluttershy? It’s me, Sunset. Listen, I need a HUGE favor. Could you get everyone together and come here to my place? I need some help. Yeah. And listen…I need Sonata and Aria too. Aw, c’mon, Flutts, don’t *eep* out on me. It’s important. Really. Yeah, everyone. I have a friend that needs help, and I need help with her. Okay, see you all when you get here. Bye.” “Go away,” Adagio said from the bed, as she turned her back to Sunset. “Not this time, Adagio. It’s friendship time. Even if we all have to shoehorn ourselves in here together and sit with you.” “There’s already one too many in here as it is,” sighed laboriously from the bed. “Exactly. You’re coming with us. ALL of us. Aria and Sonata too.” “To do what? I’ve been at a farm for two days. I’m tired. I want a nap.” “You’re coming to band practice. We need help. Some background vocals should be just the thing for you.” A derisive snort. “We can’t sing, remember? And I’m in no mood to pose as one, especially with the Rainbooms.” A flash of rising anger. “I said, go away!” “No. You’re going. You can at least shout ‘Hey!’ with the rest of us when Rainbow Dash starts up with ‘Awesome as I Want to Be,” Sunset Shimmer said with happy tones. She readied herself. That should… Adagio rolled and leapt up from the bed, the anger now at full boil. “I SAID N…” Right into Sunset Shimmers open arms, as she gathered her close, held her tightly. Adagio was trembling, almost violently, as Sunset Shimmer held her in a tight hug. Rage and anger, disappointment…fear. Self-loathing. Almost overwhelming sadness. Sunset pulled her even tighter. She smelled the sunshine. Apples of every kind. A pint or so of Applejack’s very best cider. She smelled a few blades of sweet timothy hay, caught up in Adagio’s hair, from Big Mac’s hay rake and bailer. Celestia’s wings…I so miss timothy hay. I wish I could go back…but… Sunset thought sadly. Her tears finally burst through again. A moment later, Adagio’s broke through her own wall. Her arms rose up, and wrapped around Sunset as well… A few minutes later, Fluttershy, with Sonata, cautiously opened the door on the sounds of crying, then stood quietly, tears running down their faces, as Sonata’s grief flowed away. Aria held out the longest, but in the end, she succumbed to it as well, burying her face in Pinkie’s shoulder, as all of the Five, including the unusually resistant Rainbow Dash, wept along with them. Adagio recovered first. She rubbed her eyes angrily with the heel of one hand, stared accusingly at Sunset Shimmer. “Why?” Sunset smiled kindly. Adagio hadn’t taken her other arm from around Sunset’s neck. Breakthrough. “Because friends…” Sunset helped her away from the bed, led her to the other Sirens, and then puddle hugged everyone she could get arms around, as all the girls all started up again. It felt a little ridiculous, and definitely crowded, but she didn’t care one bit. She had plucked one stalk off of Adagio’s huge mane, and chewed the end delightedly with a sigh of contentment. Timothy hay…and friends. Her world was now exactly where she wanted it to be. The Dazzlings hung out together for the first time since that night of The Battle, as the Rainbooms worked through their set. There were several moments of inadvertent toe-tapping despite efforts to keep it from happening. Their newly placed mikes sat unused, however. Sunset whammy bar’ed through the last guitar chords, then watched as RD set herself up for her big moment on stage. The ears, wings and tails popped back out of sight for the moment. “Okay, you three. No more watching. Get in with the band!” Sunset called out cheerfully. Adagio took the lead, as a resigned Aria and an unsure Sonata stepped up to the mikes. “We still can’t sing, Sunset.” “Don’t need to. Dashie’s all frontgirl for this one. ‘Awesome as I Want to Be’, remember? Just yell ‘Hey!’ on the beat. And try to tolerate it like we do. It ends…eventually,” Sunset pointed out in a cheerfully snarky tone. Rainbow Dash shot her a withering glance. “C’mon guys, give me a break here!” “Cain’t. Y’all need yer hands for the other songs, Dash,” Applejack said crossly. Then smiled with a wink. “Oh, brother. Pinkie, count us in,” RD said, posing, getting ready to shred. “Do I have to?” Pinkie Pie wailed plaintively. Dash ignored it. “Ready?” Adagio snickered. “How did you manage to beat us?” “Question for Eternity, darling,” Rarity scoffed imperiously, smiling. Fluttershy nodded, eyes large. “Nevermind!” Dash yelled. “One, and a two, and a three…” The band launched into the song. Adagio and the Dazzlings joined in the shouting, Sonata giving it a good go, Aria a passable job. Adagio threw in, just because, like Sunset Shimmer said. Despite all the protestations to the contrary, the Rainbooms were actually into it, noodling around and through Dash’s riffs, making it sound pretty good, actually. Rainbow Dash herself was helping them, giving the band places to jump in and push it up. Adagio smiled a bit. The Rainbooms were actually not bad, though ‘Awesome’ was really simple to sing to. She was starting to enjoy herself, despite her reservations. Yelling ‘Hey!’ really wasn’t all that much of a musical challenge to start with… The Rainbooms started to change again, their normal ears disappearing, the ‘adorable pony ears’ as Rarity called them poking up through their hair, as it lengthened, bound up in ponytails, new color streaks appearing. Two sets of wings, one on Fluttershy, the other on Rainbow Dash showed up as well, RD coasting across the floor on her knees, guided and assisted in the motion by hers. Adagio started to let go, getting absorbed into the moment, the fun of it, as she floated up… FLOATED???!! Adagio stopped singing in mid shout. Her eyes shot toward Aria first, floating alongside her, the same old Siren… No. Not the same. The pony ears were there, like on the others. But her wings… The wings were different. Still diaphanous, membranous, true; not the feathery things the Pegasi had. But less harsh and, well, wicked looking. Sail-like. Like batten-supported sails. Streamlined. Beautiful. Adagio pulled herself back into the song, but mistakenly jumped back in on the melody. As she followed it, her voice became stronger, more precise. Like hers, but not hers. Uplifting. Dashie caught it, stopped playing. So did everyone else. Adagio ran the measure herself, then petered out when she realized she was the only one singing. She looked around Everyone was looking at her. In awe. “Adagio…” Aria said, staring dumbfounded. Sonata was staring too, but with a smile on her face. Adagio looked back, watched two golden sweeps of airfoils fold neatly along her back as she touched down softly. They then popped out of existence along with her pony ears. She suddenly, desperately wanted to see them again. She took a deep breath… A precise, mid C sounded like a trumpet call. She swept it up, a higher D, then the G. Perfect. She dropped to the A, the note thunderous in the suddenly very quiet room. She went back up the scale to the E. The guitar tuning meter sitting forgotten on a table flickered to life, glowing a brilliant green, even brighter than usual. Then she came back to the C… Followed by the major triad, as Aria and Sonata matched Adagio’s C with an E from Aria, and the G from Sonata. All perfectly pitched. The meter let go with a loud 'pop' as it burned out... The Dazzlings stopped and looked at each other. “Rainbow,” Adagio said quietly. “Play that song.” Rainbow smiled impossibly wide, started strumming as Sunset backed her. The others fell right into their places. “Shine like Rainbows” filled the air… Wings, tails, and ears flicked into existence… And three Dazzlings filled the background to overflowing…