//------------------------------// // The Dream // Story: Sunset Shimmer's Sick Day // by CapNTilfy //------------------------------// Sunset looked at Princess Celestia, confused. "Begin? Begin what?" Princess Celestia looked at Sunset Shimmer fondly. "Sunset Shimmer. You have been through so much. Princess Twilight has informed me of your actions at the Fall Formal, the Battle of the Bands, the Friendship Games and Camp Everfree. I saw in pony how much you changed during the Memory Stone incident." Typical Princess Celestia, Sunset thought with a smile. She hardly ever gives anypony a straight answer. Equestrian Pinkie Pie gasped. "Are you going to turn Sunset into an Alicorn?!" That question earned her angry looks from all but the Celestias and Equestrian Pinkie Pie's human counterpart, who had covered her head in her hands. Equestrian Pinkie Pie's face turned almost completely red from embarrassment. "Oh. Sorry about that. Totally misread the context there." Sunset giggled. "I've heard that one before." She said. "I believe you are ready for a task I've had in mind ever since Princess Twilight returned with her crown." Said Princess Celestia. "You...what?" Sunset said, shocked. "In order to complete this task, you must return to Equestria." Sunset remained silent, her mouth agape. Princess Twilight Sparkle chimed in. "Princess Celestia helped me fulfill my destiny by making me the Princess of Friendship. This will be your journey to discover your destiny." Sunset, still in shock, could only utter the words "My...destiny?". Princess Celestia nodded her head. "Your path to redemption has been a long one, Sunset Shimmer. And with this journey, you will finally complete it." Principal Celestia smiled. "You've come such a long, long, way." "I thought we weren't turning her into an Alicorn!" Human Pinkie Pie blurted out. Equestrian Rarity rolled her eyes. "Please, Miss Pie! Both of you! Appreciate the moment we're all having." Human Pinkie Pie blushed in embarrassment. "Shutting up now!" Sunset laughed, recovering from her initial shock. "That's a relief. I thought she was broken." Equestrian Rainbow Dash said. "Oh for Celestia's sake, Rainbow Dash! Not you too!" Equestrian Rarity yelled. Equestrian Rainbow Dash covered her face with her wings in embarrassment and shame. "Well, at least it's lightening the mood a little." Said Sunset. "I know it's a lot to take in, but I know you can do it!" said human Twilight. "Yeah! You're the most awesome person I know! ...Next to me, that is." said human Rainbow Dash. "We all have faith in you!" said human Fluttershy. "Oooh! And when you get back, we should have a full-weekend sleepover party at your place!" said human Pinkie Pie. "It would be a divine bonding experience." said human Rarity. "A weekend of holding nothing back. Nothing but the truth. Get to really know each other." said human Applejack. That's oddly specific, Sunset thought. But this isn't an average dream for me, so there must be something to it. "Twilight has shown me all of your paintings, Sunset Shimmer. You have quite the talent for art!" Said Equestrian Rarity. "You've been working hard to prove yourself to your school. I can get behind that." Said Equestrian Applejack. "When you come over, you better tell me all about the awesome adventures you had!" Said Equestrian Rainbow Dash. "We can have a 'getting to know you' party!" Said Equestrian Pinkie Pie. "Ooh! We could have a tea party!" Said Equestrian Fluttershy. "It'll be great to see you again! And It'll be great for you to meet my Equestrian friends!" Smiled Princess Twilight. "You've got this." Her Equestrian self said. Sunset found herself tearing up. "You guys..." She choked up. Suddenly, the landscape slowly shifted again, the ground slowly disappearing bit by bit. Sunset's eyes widened as she started falling. "Oh, fu-" She cut herself off. I can't believe I forgot this is a dream! She sighed and concentrated. Focusing, she stopped in midair. Her Equestrian self levitated next to her. "Yeah. You've totally got this." Her pony counterpart smiled. Slowly, everyone levitated toward Sunset. Both Princess and Principal Celestia, both Twilight Sparkles, Raritys, Pinkie Pies, Fluttershys, Applejacks and Rainbow Dashes and her Equestrian self embraced her. All together, they said "See you soon!" Feeling all of their warmth and love, the sunlight grew brighter until it engulfed everyone. ---------------------------------------------- Opening her eyes, Sunset Shimmer woke up. Staring at the ceiling, she began to process all that happened in her dream. What on earth and Equestria just happened?, she thought. Sitting up, she started tearing up again. Deciding it best to let it all out, she cried tears of joy and inspiration. Hugging herself as she wept, Sunset thought about how she'd tell her closest friends what happened in her dream. A few minutes later, she finally got control of herself. Wait a minute... She realized that she was no longer sweating. "FINALLY!" she shouted. "Back to one hundred percent!" Glancing at her bed and pillow, she noticed they were drenched with sweat. Yuck. I should wash these. She changed the sheets on her bed and her pillow cover. After putting the sweat-filled ones in her laundry basket, she grabbed her phone off her nightstand and ran down the stairs, using the guard rail for support. Reaching the floor, she took the quickest shower she ever had. She then ran back up the stairs, put her pajamas in her dirty clothes basket, got dressed and eagerly texted her friends. Hey girls! Guess who's back to 100%? - Sent by Sunset Shimmer Awesome! - Sent by Rainbow Dash Yay! - Sent by Fluttershy This calls for a party! Wait, haven't we said all these things before? - Sent by Pinkie Pie Wonderful to hear, darling! - Sent by Rarity Glad to hear, sugarcube! - Sent by Applejack All right! - Sent by Twilight Sparkle Something amazing happened! I have so much to tell you all, and something to show you! Meet me at the mall in a few hours. - Sent by Sunset Shimmer Sitting at her desk, she grabbed a set of colored pencils and a piece of paper. Still fresh in her mind, she began drawing the picture her dream inspired, grinning widely.