//------------------------------//
// Episode 11: "Headmare Sunset" 
// Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Season 12 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
//------------------------------//

…

Since her back injury, Starlight Glimmer had been forced to sit on the sidelines when she should be with the students at the School of Friendship. She longed for the day when she would return to her post, but for the moment she was left to focus on her health, much to her reluctance.

"Okay, easy does it, easy does it," Spike coached as Starlight attempted to walk across a therapeutic bridge on her hind legs. "Almost there. Almost there!"

"Easy for you to say, Spike," Starlight winced as the sharp pain in her back grew. "Ow!" Taking another step while clenching her teeth, Starlight reached the end of the bridge and allowed herself to go back down on all fours.

Flying over to Starlight, Spike placed his left claw gently on the spot of Starlight's back where her pain was based. "Easy Spike!" Starlight cried in a sharp voice.

"I only touched it lightly," Spike remarked, unfazed by Starlight's sudden outburst. "You still have a ways to go with your therapy."

"I know, I know, but it still hurts," Starlight sighed, feeling slightly embarrassed at raising her voice at Spike as she walked over to a medicine ball. "Having back pain sucks. I bet wherever she is, Chrysalis is probably having a good laugh at seeing me suffer. I'd really like to teach that overgrown bug a lesson one of these days!"

Spike couldn't help but feel sorry for Starlight.

"And you know what I'm going to do once I get better?" Starlight asked the young dragon.

"What?" Spike nervously asked in reply.

"I'm gonna send a message to Chrysalis," Starlight seethed as she continued to stretch out her back on the medicine ball. "I want her to feel what I'm feeling right now. To suffer like I've suffered."

"I don't think that's a good idea, Starlight," Spike cautioned as he flew over to her. "Don't you think we've had enough violence and revenge? Don't forget to take Twilight and I into consideration…we've been hurt by Chrysalis and the others."

"This wouldn't involve either of you," Starlight hissed. "Just her and I like before."

It was becoming clear to Spike that Starlight needed distraction, a piece of her normal life before the issues with her back had put her in the position she was in.

Feeling another sharp bout of pain, Starlight loosened her grip on the ball and fell down on her side in exhaustion.

"I think you could use a little diversion from your back problems," Spike suggested. "Why not run the school from right here in the castle?"

To Starlight, that didn't seem possible as she was slowly helped onto all fours. "It isn't the same as being around the students in the school, Spike. I miss the atmosphere of it, seeing all the students…worrying about how Sunburst and Trixie are running things. It's not fair!"

Just then, the door to the gym opened and in stepped Sunburst and Trixie clearly exhausted from their duties. Sunburst's glasses were broken in the center, much to Starlight's shock.

"Hey guys," Starlight called as she felt another sharp pain twinge in her back. "What's up? How are things with the school?"

"Crazy, Starlight," Sunburst sighed, removing his glasses off his face as it was easy to see that they had been damaged. "Had to break up a fight in the hallways today."

"Who was fighting?" Starlight inquired, feeling her presence being more and more needed in the school. "Come on, Sunburst, tell me!"

"Gallis and Icarus," Trixie explained. "Not sure what set them off, they both said the other one started it. It's a good thing they didn't turn their claws on us, or else we would've suffered a lot worse than just damaged glasses and some bruises."

"Stuck them both in detention with Luna," Sunburst added, much to Starlight's surprise. "I'm sure she'll treat them like she did while she was princess."

This made Starlight's left eyebrow widen in suspicion. She had standards that everycreature in the school needed to follow. And without her presence, it didn't seem possible for the standards to continue to stand.

"Well, no disrespect to you, Sunburst," Starlight declared in an honest tone of voice. "But it seems to me that we need another headmare to help run things around the school. Especially when it comes to disciplinary issues."

As Starlight spoke, Spike could only think of one pony that would be what they were looking for.

…

…

Aboard the Friendship Express, Sunset Shimmer boarded the train with the objective of seeking employment now that she was back in Equestria, helping her homeland fight the biggest threat in years. "Okay Sunset," She said to herself in a low voice, looking up at the ceiling of the train. "You need to get this job. Everycreature at the School of Friendship will be grateful to have you as a teacher, right?"

Taking her eyes off of the ceiling, Sunset looked down at the outfit she was wearing: A modified pony version of the outfit from when she'd welcomed Crystal Prep to Canterlot High before the Friendship Games. "You certainly look the part of a teacher," Sunset whispered to herself. "Now go in there and execute it."

Soon, the train pulled into Ponyville Central Station and Sunset disembarked to see the small platform surrounded with royal guards. As she got off the train, she was stopped by a guardspony with a form in his aura.

"Please fill this out, miss." The guard ordered.

"Um…why?" Sunset asked in a confused tone.

"These are war times, miss," The guard replied. "We need to make sure that there aren't any rogue changelings running around."

Sunset blinked in further confusion. "Changelings?" Not wanting to argue with the guard though, Sunset took a quill in her aura and filled out the form, declaring herself as not a changeling. "Looks like there was something Twilight wasn't telling me in my last letter with her. Just how much has changed because of this war?" Sunset thought to herself.

…

Soon, Sunset made her way towards the School of Friendship right next door to Twilight's castle and at that moment, she saw Luna escort Gallus and Icarus through the front door.

"Now, I trust we will not have any more fights," Luna sternly told the two griffons. "Right?"

"Yeah, whatever you say, Professor Luna." Icarus muttered as he flew away, while Gallus looked over at Luna with an apologetic look on his face before following his cousin.

Once the two griffons were gone, Luna sighed and was about to walk back into the school when she saw Sunset. "Sunset Shimmer?" She asked, dropping her stern persona upon seeing her older sister's former student standing before her. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see if you had any teaching positions open," Sunset answered, before taking note of Luna's troubled look on her face. "What's wrong? You seem… troubled."

"Just finished holding detention for two trouble making students," Luna sighed again. "They were fighting in the hallways, and it took acting headstallion Sunburst and counselor Trixie to break it up."

Walking over the bridge between the castle and the school, Sunset came up to Luna to take a closer look at Luna's body language. "I'm sure it was difficult for you." Sunset remarked.

"It was, Sunset Shimmer," Luna sighed as they walked into the castle together. "They were fighting over some personal issues and Sunburst ordered them to be put in detention with me."

Sunset could sympathize with Luna, knowing firsthoof what it was like to be in detention.

"Maybe it's just that we are all suffering from Starlight Glimmer not being there for our students," Luna commented as they walked in through the front door. "In fact, this is probably what Grogar wants, to see us turn against one another." Exhausted, Luna proceeded upstairs while Sunset stayed at the bottom.

A few moments later, Celestia came out from the kitchen and saw her former student, much to her surprise and delight. "Sunset, it's good to see you again!" Celestia remarked as they embraced. "What brings you here so soon after your return?"

"I came to see if there are any teaching opportunities that are open," Sunset explained to her former teacher. "Since I'm going to be here a while, I might as well make some bits and be able to support myself."

"Starlight's upstairs finishing up her physical therapy if you want to wait a moment and talk with her," Celestia replied. "In fact, why not join us for dinner? We're having salad."

"Sure, no problem," Sunset politely offered, but the thought of Starlight Glimmer having physical therapy made her feel somewhat confused. "But uh, why is Starlight having physical therapy? Did something happen?"

A few moments later, the sounds of light moaning were heard as Starlight was helped down the stairs by Sunburst and Trixie with Spike flying overhead.

"There we go," Trixie commented as Sunset stood before the three unicorns. "Oh, who do we have here? A new student?"

"Um, hi…" Sunset said in a confused tone. "I'm Sunset Shimmer. You know, from the other world?"

"Sorry, Trixie doesn't recall seeing a pony like you, or hearing anything about this 'other world'" Trixie retorted, raising an eyebrow at Sunset. "But I'm the school guidance counselor if you wish to talk about anything. My office is always open."

"Actually, I would like to discuss something" Sunset firmly replied, much to Trixie's delight and sudden dejection. "But it's for Starlight Glimmer."

Her face falling flat, Trixie gestured for Sunset to walk over to Starlight (who felt a twinge of pain in her lower back).

Sunset and Starlight attempted to hug one another, but Starlight felt another sharp pain and had to back away. "You okay?" Sunset asked. "I didn't mean to…"

"No, no, it's not you, Sunset," Starlight gasped. "It's my back. Chrysalis did this to me a while back, and recently it flared up."

"The queen of the changelings did this?" Sunset briefly stumbled back. "Twilight told me about her in one of our letters detailing her adventures. I knew it was bad but I didn't think it was this bad."

"Yeah, and apparently, Starlight's going to be out for a while among other things." Sunburst explained.

"Dinner's ready!" Grubber called from the kitchen and they all made their way to the dining room.

…

…

…

…

Sitting at the dinner table, Sunset kept her eye close on Starlight in the hopes of having a talk with the headmare about what openings (if any) were suitable for a former student back from another world.

"Uh, if you don't mind my asking, why do you look like when we used to attack you ponies?" Grubber asked Sunburst as he and Hannibal brought out the salad, much to Sunburst's irritation.

"Had to break up a fight today," Sunburst muttered to the hedgehog. "Two griffons, fighting over some stupid little griffon thing."

"Interesting." Grubber remarked.

"Yeah," Spike sighed. "But what were they fighting about?"

"I guess Icarus made a rude remark about how Gallus' father was a coward or something like that," Trixie explained. "Trixie doesn't like to get into the details. She doesn't want to spoil the atmosphere."

A moment later, Luna stepped into the dining hall and sat down at the table. The alicorn's face showed complete exhaustion from her long day of teaching and overseeing detention.

As all ate, another thought came across Sunset's mind. "Isn't Twilight home tonight?" Sunset asked.

"No, she's spending the night in Canterlot overseeing her royal duties," Celestia answered. "But, she'll be back tomorrow. Guess there's some vote that she and her friends are having trouble deciding on."

Sunset was puzzled. "What vote?"

"Something about an all volunteer militia being required to wear matching uniforms…or something like that," Spike answered. "Twilight told me that it would be best if I didn't show up for the vote. Said my help would be better spent here."

"How could she say that?" Sunburst pondered. "You're their head royal advisor."

"I wondered the same thing myself," Spike sighed. "But despite the fact that I'm royal advisor, I can't be everywhere with Twilight and the others all the time. My guess is she wanted someone to keep tabs on the school and on Starlight."

Starlight then turned her attention over to Sunset, sensing that she had found the solution to her school's problems. Looking her over, Starlight Glimmer felt she had every reason to believe that Sunset had the potential to be a good leader for the School of Friendship. She'd seen these qualities for herself at least twice.

"Um, Sunset," Starlight spoke at last. "I think I understand why you came here tonight."

"Yes," Sunset quickly replied, sensing where the conversation was most likely headed. "It was to see if there are any teaching opportunities available at the School of Friendship. Until we win this war, I'll have to find something to help me make a living here. I didn't exactly get a chance to plan everything out here."

"Well, there are some good opportunities for teaching," Trixie pointed. "I mean, besides classes devoted to the different Elements of Harmony there's also: General Equestrian History, Psychology, Science, all the various music classes…"

"I thought that Octavia does all the music classes," Sunburst interjected, taking another bite. "All the students seem to love her."

"But only one pony running an entire department isn't enough," Luna cautioned. "There have been moments where Octavia doesn't…"

"-Well, maybe DJ PON-3 could be a good co-music teacher, especially since I hear she and Octavia are roommates," Celestia suggested. "She can bring in the balance the music department needs."

"You're saying that because you love her music," Luna remarked while looking over at her sister. "Come on, admit it."

Shrugging her shoulders, Celestia admitted her love for DJ-PON 3's music.

"Well, we still have to improve on the amount of teachers that can teach our students," Sunburst pointed out. "And Celestia, Luna, as beloved and respected as you are, you two alone can't teach all the remaining classes."

"We teach other classes as well as our own," Celestia answered. "I teach history, magic fundamentals, team sports…"

"-That's Spitfire's job." Luna corrected.

"Yes, but when she's not available I take her place, just as you fill in for Octavia in music class," Celestia pointed out. "Personally, it doesn't overwhelm me. After all, I ruled alone for a thousand years"

"Well, I enjoy teaching all the art classes," Luna declared, looking back at her older sister. "Besides music there's also drama, stand up comedy…"

"-Wait!" Trixie interrupted. "Since when did you teach stand up comedy, Luna? Trixie thinks that it's something Maud Pie wants."

"Yeah, we've been considering Maud for a few teaching positions here," Sunburst said as he took a bite of his salad. "Stand up comedy being one of them. It's hard though because she's a married mare and she has her own job already."

"Well, I enjoy seeing others expressing themselves in what they enjoy," Luna confessed, sitting back in her dining room chair "Especially after a day like today, I could use some amusement. And it's important to teach respect for the various arts: Written and performed alike."

"Is it really this dysfunctional here?" Sunset whispered, only for Starlight to nod that it was. "Oh boy. You're really in over your heads."

…

…

Once dinner had ended, Sunset followed Starlight out of the dining room and the two made their way up to Twilight's library shutting the door behind them. Sitting on the sofa while feeling some slight pain, Starlight prepared herself for an important conversation.

"Starlight," Sunset said as she sat across from her fellow unicorn. "It seems to me like that there might be more to offer me than just being a teacher."

"You guessed correctly," Starlight replied. "You can see what we're up against. This whole war of Grogar's is driving divisions amongst everypony and everycreature. We're understaffed and we don't have any sense of direction. My leave of absence due to my injuries haven't helped."

Taking a drink of her glass of water, Starlight sighed deeply while reflecting on the pressures of trying to run the School of Friendship to the standard of what Twilight had before her abdication to become supreme princess.

"If you don't mind my asking, what do you want to have accomplished here?" Sunset questioned, treating this as a likely job interview.

"For one thing, we need more dedicated teachers on a more permanent basis," Starlight explained. "The teachers we do have are not enough to serve our students, and when we do need teachers to step up, it's really myself or Sunburst that have to do it. We've already stretched the former royal sisters thin as it is to cover absences."

Having experienced life in a high school setting, Sunset couldn't help but feel the anxiety Starlight was feeling. It was clear to her that help was needed and fast.

"And aside from today, have there been any fights between students recently?" Sunset asked.

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Starlight answered. "Usually, the students who offend are usually scolded and given a verbal warning. I just don't understand why this is happening. When Twilight ran the school, all the students behaved well more or less. She didn't have to discipline them as much as I have."

"Do you think that maybe Twilight leaving to run Equestria has had some kind of negative impact on some of the students who looked up to her?" Sunset questioned. "Especially since it happened so soon?"

Sighing, Starlight felt another sharp twinge in her back. The pain in her eyes made her see that something needed to be done. "Why is it that the students aren't respecting me as much as they did when Twilight was running?" She questioned and lamented aloud.

"You can't blame this on all the students, Starlight. Some of them respect you, but not all of them will," Sunset pointed out. "Even back in the other world there were students who never respected the authority of either the principal or the vice-principal."

"They respect Celestia and Luna because of the fact that they were former princesses! They respect Trixie because she knows how to bring the fun!" Starlight cried. "Maybe I'm not being tough enough on some students, and I have a feeling that Sunburst is feeling the same way."

"Look," Sunset sighed. "I think I can see the problem here. Some of the students were getting used to having a famous pony like Twilight running a School of Friendship, and then Celestia and Luna decided to retire and everything fell like a deck of cards. Some of the students handled it in their own way, either by adapting or rebelling. I mean, I rebelled against Celestia, but it was because I was too impatient to reach my ultimate goal."

Having heard this, Starlight felt another sharp twinge of pain that caused her to develop tears in her eyes. "S..ss…sorry," Starlight hissed in pain. "My back is really bothering me."

"I think I can see another problem here," Sunset concluded. "You were putting too much pressure on yourself to be a good headmare, to the point where you neglected your own mental and physical health. Did you have back problems before what happened the day you were rushed to the hospital?"

Starlight said nothing, not wanting to relive that moment.

But Sunset had her suspicions and placing her hoof on Starlight's, she channeled her powers and saw inside Starlight's mind the day that Ms. Harshwhinny came to the school. The day when Starlight's back pains had become impossible to ignore.

…

…

"She should be here any minute," Sunburst commented as he saw Starlight begin pacing back and forth in front of him. "Starlight, take it easy! Why are you getting so worked up?"

"Sunburst, I just want this day to be perfect and…" Starlight started to reply, only for her to get another twinge of pain in her lower back that caused her to go down on one foreleg.

"Um, right now, things aren't really that perfect if you ask me," Sunburst remarked, going over to Starlight and helping her up. "Also, this might sound embarrassing but, is something wrong with your back?"

"My back? Pah! Not you too, Sunburst!" Starlight huffed and snorted. "What's this? 'Telling Starlight about her back pain day'?! It's probably just anxieties, Sunburst. I mean, didn't you have back pain once when you were nervous?"

"Uh, no," Sunburst remarked with a look of confusion on his face. "If I ever had back pain, I would have told you about it. I know Twilight said she used to get breakouts before exams with Celestia, but I know pain caused by anxiety when I see it and back pain isn't usually a symptom."

"Look, let's just get through this day, alright?" Starlight groaned as she irritably looked at Sunburst. "Ms. Harshwhinny is expecting us to welcome her and show her around, and that's just what we're going to do, okay?"

"Well, you certainly aren't welcoming me now." A familiar stuffed up voice declared as both Starlight and Sunburst were greeted by the sight of a female earth pony wearing a purple suit jacket with white shirt, and a pink scarf around her neck.

"M-Ms. Harshwhinny!" Starlight nervously chuckled, clearing her throat and approaching the new EEA head while extending a hoof out to her. "On behalf of the students and faculty of the School of Friendship, I welcome you to the School of Friendship."

"You said your institution's name twice, Ms. Glimmer. I do hope this is not how you greet all visitors." Ms. Harshwhinny dryly remarked, much to Starlight's embarrassment.

"Sorry," Starlight nervously chuckled while motioning for Sunburst to step forward. "This is Vice Headstallion Sunburst."

"Charmed to meet you," Ms. Harshwhinny declared while shaking his hoof. "I dare say you seem much more capable of running this school from what I've seen so far."

"I'm only here to share leadership," Sunburst explained. "Headmare Starlight and myself work together."

"Of course," Ms. Harshwhinny declared while looking over at Starlight. "Now, as the new head of the Equestrian Education Association it is my responsibility to get acquainted with all the schools that we have accredited. So, would you care to show me around?"

As she watched, Sunset saw Starlight's rear leg start to give way slightly and then channeled to the moment when Starlight's back gave out, seeing the pained smile Starlight had forced upon herself.

"My back! MY BACK!" Starlight cried out as Celestia placed a hoof on the area. "OW! DON'T TOUCH ME! IT HURTS!"

…

Not wanting to see anymore, Sunset released her grip on Starlight and backed away, her face filled with shock and disbelief!

"Starlight," Sunset gasped. "Why didn't you…?"

"I had to work that day," Starlight protested. "How would you feel if the head of the Equestrian Education Association came to your school?! Sure my back was bothering me, but I wanted to walk it off. I had no other choice!"

"There's no such thing as walking off an injury," Sunset protested back, kneeling in front of Starlight. "Listen, you need help to get the school in a proper direction. If you want, I can be intern principal or acting headmare or whatever I need to be to help out Sunburst and Trixie until the doctors say you can return."

"You mean that?" Starlight asked, gasping slightly.

"I swear on it," Sunset answered firmly. "Because I promise you, the students will need direction and proper leadership from someone who has been in a school environment. And if you want help with discipline if needed, I can do that."

Feeling as if a great weight was lifted off her shoulders, Starlight sat back in her chair as Sunset backed away to give her some space.

"I promised Twilight that I would contribute to this war," Sunset declared in an authoritative and firm voice. "And that's just what I'm going to do. You have yourself a substitute headmare. I won't take no for an answer!"

Having heard enough, Starlight bent forward and sobbed into her hooves, feeling as if more of a great weight was being taken off of her shoulders.

…

A few moments later, Sunset helped Starlight down the stairs, catching the attention of Sunburst, Trixie and the ex-royal sisters.

"I have an announcement to make," Starlight declared to them all. "For the time being, Sunset Shimmer is going to serve as acting headmare of the School of Friendship."

Stunned, Celestia walked up to her former student and hugged her tightly and Luna followed suit. It was a big moment for a pony who had once abandoned Equestria for another world, and was now back to play her part in the greatest conflict Equestria was involved in.

"It looks to me like we're finally going to get the help we need, Trixie." Sunburst remarked.

"I think Trixie would agree with you on that, Sunburst." Trixie replied.

Very soon, the reign of Sunset Shimmer as acting headmare of the School of Friendship would begin!

…

…