//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Foundation Damage // Story: Make My Way Back Home // by TempestDash //------------------------------// Years Earlier... Sunset Shimmer pushed the stack of books on her bed over and watched them fall onto the covers. They were useless.  They recited the same old story she’d heard over and over again and yet failed to answer the burning question in her mind. She had no choice, she had to ask her. “Shining Brow?” asked Sunset Shimmer immediately as the mare stepped into her room. “Whoa,” said a startled Shining Brow as she stepped quickly around Sunset and then gained her balance again.  “You shouldn’t go jumping out at old soldiers, little filly.” Sunset Shimmer groaned and turned to face Shining Brow. The pegasus was already heading for the overstuffed chair where she always sat when she was visiting. “Don’t call me ‘little filly.’  I’m a pony!” Shining Brow laughed. “You were always a pony. But you are still a filly and you are smaller than me. It wasn’t meant as an insult, my dear.” “It was!” said Sunset Shimmer.  Her guardian was always doing this.  She would come around every day and do nothing but tell stories and watch her, all the while treating her like a foal.  It was infuriating! “No, it wasn’t,” said Shining Brow slowly and in a stodgy tone, as if her words became truer when she spoke them deliberately.  “I have no reason to insult you; you are my charge.” Sunset grumbled.  She hopped up onto the bed and sat, her head facing away from Shining Brow. “I don’t like ‘charge’ either.” “So what was it that has you ready to pounce today?” asked Shining Brow.  She folded her hooves in front of her and sat down completely on the chair’s pillow.  “Do you need another book from the library?” She swallowed as much of her pride as she could and turned her head back towards her guardian. “What is Princess Celestia?” Shining Brow bobbed her head sagely.  “What, indeed,” she said. “I don’t want a legend,” said Sunset quickly, hoping to avoid another morality play.  “I want to know the truth.” “The problem with the truth is that it’s sometimes buried within legends,” said Shining Brow with a smile. Sunset turned away from the old mare and made a face.  “You just don’t know.” “Well, that is one way of putting it,” said Shining Brow.  “I don’t know really, other than the basics.  She is kind and good, soft spoken but determined, and has within her a well of infinite compassion for all ponies and the other races of Equestria.” Sunset rolled her eyes, and then looked back.  “I don’t mean what kind of pony she is, I mean what kind of pony is she?” “An alicorn,” said Shining Brow, as if that explained everything. “But what does that mean?” said Sunset as she began pacing around the room, her steps heavy on the tightly woven red and gold rug covering the tiles beneath her.  “How did she become an alicorn?  How come Celestia has so much power?” Shining Brow shifted her front legs out from under her and tapped the tips of her hooves together. The ticking noise was more than a little annoying to Sunset and she grit her teeth to keep herself from saying something rude and losing a chance to get a decent answer out of her. “I’m not nearly as old as Celestia,” said Shining Brow.  She stopped tapping her hooves.  “So all I have are legends and stories to tell me what might have happened generations ago.” “Or books,” said Sunset Shimmer. Shining Brow shook her head and held out a hoof towards the ceiling.  “Equestria was a very different place back then. Earth ponies used to fight with unicorns who used to fight with pegasi who used to fight with earth ponies.  Not all the books are as truthful as they claim.  The scrolls of the Unicorn Tribe used to paint the Pegasus Tribe as savages who would viciously send storms to destroy the cities made by unicorns, and hunt the earth ponies for sport.” Sunset frowned and stopped pacing. “Ugh.  That couldn’t have been true.  Why would they put that in a book?” “So their enemies could be easier to hate,” said Shining Brow.  She folded her hooves again.  “We all tell ourselves lies about the people we dislike, so we don’t have to recognize the things about us that are similar.” Sunset Shimmer jumped off the bed and walked closer to the pegasus. “But, what does this have to do with Celestia?” “Well, Celestia, as you know, was a special pony,” said Shining Brow.  She was apparently studying Sunset’s expressions as she spoke.  “But only in that she refused to lie about her adversaries. You see, in Equestria, there is power in finding harmony with those around you.  It keeps the more dangerous creatures away, and feeds the more helpful magics to make life easier and better.” “You mean all that Heart’s Warming Eve stuff with the wendigos?” asked Sunset Shimmer.  She turned and picked the storybook out of the pile on her bed and held it aloft with her magic. “Hearth’s Warming,” Shining Brow said and nodded.  “Celestia declared herself an advocate of friendship, and since then, all the friends she has made, and the friendships she has fostered empower her to continue her mission.” “So she’s powerful because she’s a super great friend?” asked Sunset Shimmer.  “That’s just what she tells everyone, there’s more, I know it.” “The stories are all I know.” Shining Brow shrugged. “My family has lots of them since we’ve served Princess Celestia for generations, but the truth is as much of a mystery to me as you. Stories come and go as people give their faith to them, not because are right.” “Is that why you’re so old, you gave all your power away to these stories?” said Sunset Shimmer, a little annoyed at the ambiguity.  This was hardly better than her books. “I suppose,” said Shining Brow.  She smiled widely and adjusted her folded wings. “So, tonight I have a question for you.  Why does it matter how Celestia became powerful?” “Because I want to be powerful,” said Sunset Shimmer without hesitation. “Okay, but why?” asked Shining Brow. “So I can do whatever I want,” said Sunset. “Well, what do you want to do, then?  What can’t you do now that you would be able to do with power?” Sunset frowned. “Stop ponies from treating me like a foal.” “That will come with time, not power,” said Shining Brow.  “Even the most immature will eventually get old. What else?” “I want answers to my questions,” said Sunset. “Ah, but even Celestia doesn’t have answers to all her questions,” said Shining Brow.  “If she did, even then she’d just have new questions.  Life isn’t about the answers.  It’s about the pursuit of the answers.” “That’s silly,” said Sunset Shimmer. Shining Brow nodded and leaned back in her chair. “Perhaps, but that doesn’t make it any less true.”  She sighed.  “What sort of questions do you want answers to?  Beyond Celestia’s origin.” Sunset Shimmer looked at her books.  One of them was a leather bound book with her cutie mark on it.  It caught her eye and she stared at it. She looked up at Shining Brow.  “Why was I abandoned?” Shining Brow bit her lip.  “Even Celestia doesn’t know that.” “Oh,” said Sunset Shimmer.  “So she doesn’t have enough power.” With a sigh, Shining Brow got off the chair and stepped over to Sunset.  “It’s not a matter of power, my dear. Not even the greatest ponies can see into the minds of others, even if we knew where they were.” “But a powerful pony could have forced them not to leave me,” said Sunset. “I wouldn’t be so sure,” said Shining Brow. “Don’t dwell on this, Sunset. Your life is greater every day you live it, no matter who is there with you.” “So I shouldn’t need them,” said Sunset. “You don’t,” said Shining Brow.  “Not anymore.  You have us now.” Sunset turned away from Shining Brow and walked over to the bed, resting her head on the blankets.  “Can I be alone for a bit?” she said. Shining Brow nodded.  “I can leave,” she said.  “But you’ll never have to be alone.  Not again.”  She left through the door and closed it gently behind her. Sunset looked back at the books and began to clean them up, pushing them to the side and stacking them neatly.  The last book on the pile was the one with her cutie mark, a gift from Celestia.  It puzzled her.  It was supposed to represent a connection between her and the Princess, but it was blank.  Did that mean the connection wasn’t there?  That the connection was meaningless?  She was too embarrassed to ask Celestia about it. No matter.  For once, Shining Brow was helpful.  She shouldn’t need her parents.  She shouldn’t need anyone. The supposed special book was empty, but the rest of these texts were not.  They would help her grow powerful, and keep her from needing anyone ever again.  Not her parents.  Certainly not Shining Brow.  Not Celestia.  Knowledge and magic would lift her up and she would be above it all, above being hurt. *** ( MLP ) *** The Present.... The doors – and walls, for that matter -- of the school were still rather permanently open, with large tarps stretched across the front atrium and large orange signs directing students to the side entrance of Canterlot High.  While many were dutifully following the posted directions and trying their best to go about their day, there were many times more gawkers, standing at the entrance and staring. Sunset Shimmer, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy arrived at the equine statue on the front lawn of CHS to find Rainbow Dash whistling loudly as she stared at the mess with Applejack beside her. “That looks a lot worse in the daylight,” Rainbow Dash said as they approached.  She turned and then blinked noticeably when she saw Sunset.  “Oh, you.” Applejack turned around and looked mildly surprised.  “Come to survey the destruction?” Sunset sighed and shook her head at the ground. “She’s here to make friends,” said Fluttershy. “That’s going to be fun,” said Applejack sarcastically. Fluttershy shrunk a little.   “I told her we’d help.” Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked at each other and a wide range of emotions flashed across their faces.  Eventually, Applejack looked back with a forced smile.  “That’s going to be fun!” she said with much less sarcasm but much less apparent sincerity. “It's fine,” Sunset said, raising her head again.  “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.” “N-no, we want to,” said Fluttershy. Sunset scoffed.  “I have no doubt you want to. You’d show sympathy to a fly. I just don’t believe they want to.”  She waved her hand one way towards Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and then back at Rarity.  The latter folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think you’re really in a position to be turning down help, darling,” said Rarity. “Oh, so, part one of making friends is giving up my dignity?” said Sunset angrily.  “I’m not allowed to have standards?” “You just can’t stop thinking yourself better than us, can you?” said Rarity.  She was tapping her fingers on her elbow impatiently. “I don’t want to be part of your pity party,” said Sunset.  “I don’t need help from someone who’s forced to do it.” “That’s an outrageous thing for you to say,” said Rarity.  “Who has ever done you a favor before today?” “I’m not sure anyone has done any today!” said Sunset. “Girls!” shouted Pinkie Pie.  She jumped between the two shouting ladies and put her hands out.  She waved them a little manically. “What?” both Sunset and Rarity said together. “We’re kind of getting the wrong sort of attention,” said Pinkie.  She motioned her head towards the staring students and, beyond, the short row of television vans with cameras pointed around including in their direction. Sunset and Rarity stared at each other for a few seconds more. Reluctantly, they both looked away. Rarity turned her back entirely on Sunset.  “Your ‘dignity’ aside, we won’t go back on our word to Twilight, so we will help you. “  She looked over her shoulder back at Sunset.  “If you choose to ignore our help that will be your decision.”  She faced forward and then started walking towards the side entrance. Rainbow Dash and Applejack reluctantly followed without much of a word.  Fluttershy stayed behind and looked up at the taller Sunset. “I don’t pity you,” she said softly. “I didn’t say you did,” said Sunset.  She sighed. “You two don’t have to hang around me, I’m not going to blow up the rest of the school if I’m alone.” “We’ll see you to your class,” said Fluttershy.  She smiled at Sunset. “Whatever,” said Sunset.  She started walking towards the rest of the crowd that was going into the side entrance of the school.  Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie walked beside her quietly, seemingly flanking her. That meant they got a clear view of the hateful stares coming in their direction as they got close to the door.   More specifically, the hateful stares coming in Sunset Shimmer’s direction.  Nobody said anything as they gently gave her space such that nobody was within an arm's-length of the student.   Fluttershy and Pinkie started to look less like friends and more like an escort. Sunset Shimmer barely reacted.  She strode forth, not waiting or pacing herself against Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie.  She kept her eyes focused on the door and appeared to not notice anything else. “Sunset Shimmer,” said a voice as soon as the trio stepped through the doorway.  Sunset turned to see Vice Principal Luna standing beside a row of lockers.  She stepped forward towards the group after she had their attention. “Vice Principal Luna,” said Sunset with a nod. “Can you please come with me?” said Luna.  She moved her arm in the direction of the front offices. Sunset nodded and then started walking alongside the vice principal.  Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie stayed behind as she stepped away.  Just before they were out of reach, Fluttershy reached out and patted Sunset on the arm reassuringly.  Sunset made a frown but kept walking. After entering the front offices, Luna directed them towards her own office and then shut the door behind them.  She sat down at her desk and looked down at Sunset.  “I understand my sister paid your family a visit on Friday.” “Yeah,” said Sunset with a nod. “And she explained to them what you did?” asked Luna. Sunset nodded without a noise. “And what did they do?” asked Luna. Sunset bit her lip, then shook her head. “Why?” Luna studied Sunset then stood up and walked over to her window.  She looked through the blinds at the students and trucks in the front of the school.  “My sister is a generous and forgiving person,” she said finally.  “I’m sure you’ve noticed this over the years.” Sunset said nothing.   She looked around the office, paying careful attention to the few but well cleaned pictures sitting on the desk.  They showed Luna standing in fairly exotic locations around the world with strangers in front of small buildings.  There was only one that showed her with Celestia and they were standing in front of this school. “She wishes to forgive everyone of everything and let it be quickly forgotten,” said Luna.  “But she has charged me with keeping order in the school, and that order is not best served by boundless charity.” Luna turned to look at Sunset.  “So there will be some rules, and there will be detention.” “Okay,” said Sunset slowly. “First the rules,” said Luna.  She moved to sit down at her desk and pulled out a piece of paper.  “You are not, under any circumstances, to talk to anyone outside this school about your role in the destruction of the lobby.” “Uh, why?” asked Sunset. Luna put the paper down.  “Because the official statement about the Fall Formal makes no mention of magical rainbows or mind controlling monsters or students with wings and pony ears.  This is because we all do not want to be judged insane, and we do wish to collect on our insurance to pay for the damages.” “Oh,” said Sunset. “Rule two,” said Luna, picking up the paper again.  “Your membership in any and all school funded clubs has been revoked and you will not be allowed to rejoin any for the duration of the calendar year.  These clubs are a privilege.  We will reevaluate this in January to see if you can be allowed to join for the remainder of the school year.” Sunset nodded. “Rule three,” said Luna.  “You are on proverbial thin ice.  Any reports of any kind that you have been bullying, or harassing, or forcing any members of the school body to do anything they do not wish to do, will result in suspension and the withholding of your diploma.” Not seeing any argument from the student, Luna continued.  “Finally, rule four.  Your continued attendance is required. There is no cutting, no skipping, no excuses.  You have always been an excellent student, Sunset, so I do not suspect this will be a concern for you, but Seniors – of any world, I imagine – tend to believe themselves entitled to certain privileges.  Allow me to be clear: you are not.  If I hear that you have missed your classes in any regard, you will be suspended and your diploma withheld.” Luna held the page out to Sunset.  She took it carefully and placed it on her lap. “Do you understand everything I’ve explained to you?” asked Luna. “Yeah,” said Sunset. “Good.”  Luna nodded.  “Now let’s talk about detention.  You will come here, daily, starting tomorrow and lasting for a month, and I will tell you what we will be doing.  It will not be cruel, it will not be laborious, and sometimes it will simply be homework. But you will come here, without fail, for a month.” Sunset nodded.  “Fine.” Luna looked stern as she stared into Sunset’s eyes.  “Do you understand how lucky you are to be given even this?” “Lucky?” asked Sunset. “How do you figure?” “I’m not sure what your plan was,” said Luna. “But detention and some rules forcing you to be a normal student is hardly what you should have expected.” Sunset rolled her eyes.  “Yes,” she said. “Of all the bad things that could have happened to me for screwing up, this is by far the least bad.  Is that okay?” “I wish for you to rejoin this school,” said Luna.  “But if that is beyond you at this point, I will accept attendance.” “Deal,” said Sunset.  She stood up and gathered her paper of rules and her backpack.  “Can I get to class?” Luna stood up so as not to be looked down upon. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out, and then, after a moment, she waved her hand dismissively. “Go ahead.” Sunset quickly moved to the door and left without hesitation. Luna sat down again at her desk and stared at its surface. Her eyes moved towards a coaster that lay beside her blotter. It was circular and made with dark metal save for a chrome crescent moon in the center.  Her fingers traced the moon idly. *** ( MLP ) *** It was an entirely innocuous event that caused things to head rapidly downhill.  Sunset wasn’t even initially aware of the students testing their limits, she had her own issues to deal with and the general anger being directed towards her had turned into a formless haze by lunchtime.  But it was between third and fourth period that Sunset turned the corner between her physics and US history classes that she ran square into Lyra Heartstrings. The blue-haired girl toppled back onto the floor and Sunset staggered and dropped the books she was carrying.  Her instincts told her to shout and threaten but her mind was still on the list of ‘rules’ that Luna laid down.  She bit her tongue, helped Lyra back to her feet, and wordlessly walked away. Perhaps if she had said something, or refused to help Lyra up, it wouldn’t have gone wrong so quickly. As it was, it kicked off open season on Sunset Shimmer. After history class, Sunset returned to her locker to find it covered in blank post-it notes.  She sighed. While standing in the lunch line, someone bumped her as she held her tray and ended up toppling her salad onto the floor.  She frowned and helped clean it up before getting another. Another student made a comment to a lunch server and Sunset ended up being charged twice for wasting the first salad on the floor.  She grit her teeth and nodded, and handed over half of her week’s lunch money to the cashier. Once Sunset sat down at a table by herself, she noticed someone had dropped a dead cockroach on her salad somewhere between the register and the table.  She slipped her – still sealed -- juice bottle into her pocket to keep it safe, pushed the tray aside, and held her head in her hands. “Howdy-ho, Sunset!” cheered the voice of an unmistakably happy student.  Sunset didn’t even have to look up. Nobody at this school would have to look up. “Go away, Pinkie,” said Sunset.  She didn’t want to deal with any of this right now. “We thought you would like some company,” said the soft murmur of Fluttershy. “You thought wrong,” said Sunset.  She pushed her palms into her eyes.  She heard the sounds of trays gently tapping down on the table.  She knew they wouldn’t just go away because she asked. “Are you feeling alright?” asked Fluttershy. “No,” groaned Sunset. “Are you going to eat?” asked Fluttershy. “Not hungry,” said Sunset. “You know, friends can help share—“ started Fluttershy, but Sunset abruptly rose her head to interrupt her. “I’m not really in the mood right now,” said Sunset as she glared at the two girls. Fluttershy cowered and turned slightly away.  Sunset immediately realized what she was doing and got angry with herself, adding the growing pile of annoyances that currently included the entire world. Pinkie, however, put her hand to her chin and leaned over the table to stare into Sunset’s face. “Hmmmmmmm,” she mused in an overly dramatic manner.  “Something’s wrong.” “Pinkie,” warned Sunset.  She did not want to talk about what the students were doing.  She was not going to talk about what the other students were doing.  Sunset was not a wimp, she was not a crybaby, she would deal with the problems she created by herself. “Did something bad happen with Luna this morning?” she asked. Sunset shook her head.  “No more than I was expecting.  Less probably.”  She shrugged.  Then she looked back at Fluttershy who was peeking at her from between strands of hair that had fallen over her eyes.   Much of the anger Sunset was feeling was rapidly deflating.  She realized that before now, when she abused Fluttershy -- or any other timid person -- she’d leave, or they’d run away. But now that Fluttershy was trying to be her ‘friend’ she was staying put, enduring the abuse, and lingering for Sunset to realize exactly how it was affecting her.  It was actually making her feel guilty. “Look, don’t do that,” said Sunset.  “I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s not your fault. I’m still trying to cope with what I did last week.” “I can help you,” said Fluttershy.  “So you don’t have to deal with it alone.” “You want to help,” said Sunset.  “I don’t think you actually can.” “We won’t know unless we try,” said Fluttershy. “How is someone so meek, so persistent?” grumbled Sunset.  She saw Fluttershy flinch again and felt even lousier. Sunset stood up.  “Look, I’m – well, no.  I’m not ready for this right now, I can’t do this. Maybe later.”  She picked up her tray and headed for the door.  She would find a study hall somewhere she could hide in.  She turned into the trash corner and tray return and dropped her ruined meal on the conveyor that took it back into the kitchen.  She turned on her heel and stepped towards the hallway. She got two paces before Pinkie Pie stuck her face in the way.  Sunset nearly yelped but managed to control herself. “What, Pinkie?” snapped Sunset. She nearly tried to pull the sharp words back into her mouth after she realized she was doing it again. “You’re a tricky one,” said Pinkie. “Huh?” said Sunset with a tired expression. “I’ll figure it out though.”  Pinkie nodded with a smile.  “Everyone deserves to laugh, even you.” Sunset envisioned a rube-goldbergian, butterfly-effect, storm of chaos set in motion by a grinning Pinkie and shuddered at the thought. “Look, I really, really—“ started Sunset, but then a crowd of students that was exiting the cafeteria behind her got very close and one of them bumped her in the side quite roughly. She yelped slightly and then turned to glare at the offender but couldn’t pick out who in the group of eight students – mostly seniors she recognized – did it. She rubbed her side gently and then looked back at Pinkie, who was no longer smiling.  “Back off,” Sunset said, unwilling to waste time on niceties anymore. She took a step towards the door… Then her heel slid out from under her and she fell hard onto her back. Her head throbbed as she heard the cafeteria erupt into laughter.  Of course they were all watching, they had all been watching her all day.  She rubbed her shoulders where they struck the floor on the way down and tried to get back onto her feet.  She felt her face burning in equal parts humiliation and rage.  She felt the urge to burn the school down while these jokers were still in it. She carefully placed her feet to avoid the suspiciously convenient puddle of salad dressing she slipped on and started to stand.  She stopped when she saw a hand reaching out towards her.  She snapped her head up to see who had the gall to do this to her and then even try— She saw Pinkie Pie standing there, in a crowd of laughing students, but she wasn’t laughing at all.  She actually looked sad. Sunset ignored the offered hand.  “There you go, everyone’s laughing,” she said. “That’s not—“ started Pinkie but Sunset ran out of the horrible place before she could hear anymore. *** ( MLP ) *** Last period.  Last.  Sunset wasn’t sure she’d even come back tomorrow so maybe it would be last period ever.  She just needed to bear through Shining Brow’s obnoxiously indulgent English class. Adjusting her chair, she reached down and grabbed the eraser that had ended up under her desk. It wasn’t really that she disliked the class, in fact, English and History were the two areas that were vastly different than Equestria, and sources of true learning for Sunset.  She loved to learn new things, and the delicate interplay between the numerous factions and empires and political forces made the simple peaceful monarchy of Equestria seem quaint.  Even the tyrants that Sunset liked to scare ponies with back home paled to the horrors that human dictators had visited on their own people. Sunset reached down and picked up her notebook off the floor of the aisle. On the opposing side, she learned rapidly that Equestrian understanding of math and science was far more universal than in this world.  Names of terms changed occasionally but the basics had been taught to Sunset a long time ago and she still recalled them perfectly.  Of course, magic was sort of an extension of math and science, so it was possible that her studies just exposed her to much more than a common public school education did in the human world.  Still, it was boring. She knew the formulas, she knew the answers, she didn’t have to think. Grabbing a napkin from her pocket, Sunset pulled the gum off her pencil. Still, even in English, Shining Brow could bore her.  The teacher seemed more likely to waste a period talking about how the recent teen romance movie was actually derived – four times removed – from an ancient classic from Grecian bardic history.  It was fascinating the first few times – Sunset didn’t really go to any movies or watch TV, so it was intellectually fascinating rather than a new understanding of something she’d seen – but after doing this all through Junior year it was clear that everything was derived from four or five different stories and it was starting to get tiring.  She yearned just to read a new book and talk about it. Sunset was about to lean back in her chair before she remembered the goo on her seat.  She folded her arms and sat straight. Then the last bell rang and Sunset finally let out a breath.  The other students shot up and grabbed their books and headed for the door.  She held back a minute to make sure she wasn’t in front of anyone she didn’t trust, then began picking up her things scattered through the room and putting them into her bag. “Sunset, can I talk to you?”  Shining Brow was behind her desk with one of her hands at her hip.  Shining Brow was an older teacher and quite proper.  Always dressed formally in a skirt and blouse, always clean and methodical, but she rarely forced those things on her students.  She encouraged everyone to find their own means of feeling comfortable and getting things done, even if that meant midnight reads of books and essays written in the AM hours before they’re due. Sunset finished collecting her things and walked up to the desk after everyone was gone.  She hoped this would be quick so she could escape. “Your books seemed to have gotten up and moved about the room quite a bit today,” said Shining Brow. “Yeah,” said Sunset.  “Pretty clumsy today.” “Pretty dramatic change from how in control you were these last few years,” said Shining Brow. Sunset sighed.  It was going to be another one of these conversations.  She wished people would stop helping her.  “Well, after last week I’m all about change.” “Yes, I’m sorry I missed the Fall Formal last week,” said Shining Brow. “I understand it was exciting for many people.” “You’re probably better off for not having been there,” said Sunset. “Maybe it was safer,” said Shining Brow.  “But such an important event would have been best to have seen firsthand.” “If you say so,” said Sunset.  “Is that all?” Shining Brow smiled.  “Sunset, are the other students giving you a hard time?” Sunset was pretty tired of having this conversation. “Leave it be,” she said. Shining Brow nodded, then she turned and picked up a book.  “So many of these stories we’re asked to teach show the folly of stepping beyond your limits and pursuing happiness at the cost of stability. It’s a lesson that needs to be taught, I understand that. But I can’t help wonder at the motivation of it all.” “Uh, okay,” said Sunset, suddenly confused about where this was going. “We teach following the rules, we teach community, we teach bravery for standing up for what our community values, and we teach punishment for deviancy,” said Shining Brow, as she leafed through the book.  “All great things to protect civilization save for the one thing that any true culture needs to thrive.” “What’s that?” asked Sunset. “Allowing for change,” said Shining Brow.  She closed the book. “It is painful at times, the metamorphosis we must go through to alter ourselves, but eventually we emerge, ever more terrible and beautiful.” “Terrible and beautiful?” asked Sunset. “Well, not all change is good,” admitted Shining Brow. “Even the books advocating stability show how change can go awry, usually before its beaten back into conformity or disposed of entirely.” “You seem to have a lot of love for the books you teach,” said Sunset skeptically.  She realized that this might be a reason why she spends so much time on literary ancestry rather than the assigned reading. “I do, actually,” said Shining Brow without sarcasm.  “But I am aware of the holes in our teaching. Each of these things has their place in the world.  The villains and heroes and the many more places in between.  But I bring up change because it is discouraging to go through, but has the greatest benefits if done right.” Sunset sighed.  “So how do I do change ‘right’?” Shining Brow smiled.  “I couldn't say. It is different for every person, but I will advise you this: pay attention.  Tricks and pranks will pass and focusing on them will only be a distraction.  Who are you and who do you want to be are important.  The rest will come naturally.” Sunset shook her head. “And if these things go on for years?” Shining Brow shrugged. “Eh, you’re graduating in June, can’t last that long.”  She turned and began picking up papers off her desk. “This isn’t helpful,” said Sunset. “That’s okay,” said Shining Brow.  “You might change your mind later.”  She looked up. “See you tomorrow.” “Right,” said Sunset.  She grabbed the last of her things and headed for the door. *** ( MLP ) *** They were all waiting for her. “This seems more like an attack than anything I’ve done to you before,” said Sunset as she looked at the lineup of Twilight’s friends.  They had varying expressions on their faces, from the distracted look on Rainbow Dash’s face as she watched the younger soccer players kick a ball around, to the slightly unsettled but pleasant smiles on Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack’s faces, to the utter displeasure on Rarity. At least the last of those was understandable. “Are you sure about that?” said Rarity.  Yup, that was the reaction she expected. “We’re thought we’d walk home with you,” said Applejack.  “Since you showed up with Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity this morning, we figured you were somewhere in their direction.” “And if I’m not?” asked Sunset.  She wasn’t actually anywhere near any of their houses as far as she knew – she wasn’t quite sure where Pinkie or Rarity lived, but she’d found out about the rest earlier in her grand failure of a plan. “Then we’ll walk with you as far as we can,” said Applejack. “So there’s no way out of this,” said Sunset. “You shouldn’t even be trying to get out of this,” said Rarity without looking in Sunset’s direction. “You should feel lucky we’re being this generous to you.” “Lucky?” shouted Sunset, but before she could say anymore Pinkie Pie jumped between her and Rarity and held up her hands. “Please,” said Pinkie, looking uncharacteristically serious.  “Let someone help you.” Sunset tried to stare down Pinkie but greater people had tried to no avail.  Instead she flicked her eyes in Rarity’s direction to see her still facing away, and then crossed her arms.  There was no battle that could be won there either. Turning on her heel, Sunset looked away.  “Fine.”  She tightened the strap on her bag and held it tight against her back.  “Let’s get just get this—“ “Look out!” shouted Rainbow Dash suddenly.  She leapt forward like an arrow in flight and pushed Sunset to the ground.  There was a loud cracking sound above her and then a faint growling. Sunset flipped onto her back to see Rainbow Dash standing over her, one hand partially extended and holding a softball in a tight grip.  Her eyes were narrow and watering, and her teeth were clenched together.  The growling was coming from her. “Hey!  You cowards!” Rainbow shouted angrily.  She pointed the softball in the direction of a pair of students who were quickly running away towards the treeline.  “You could have killed her!” The other students in the yard only watched as the two nameless students ran off.  Once they were completely out of sight, Rainbow Dash dropped the ball and clutched the arm that was holding up the ball. “Ack,” groaned Rainbow.  Her palm was bright red and looked to be visibly throbbing.  The rest of her friends quickly flocked around her. “Oh my,” said Fluttershy as she produced a handkerchief and wiped Rainbow’s sweating brow.  Pinkie Pie produced an ice cube from somewhere and dropped it into the handkerchief, which was then quickly tied around it. “Here,” said Rarity, who had produced a bottle of aloe from her purse and began applying it to Rainbow’s palm. Applejack had her arm around Rainbow’s shoulders.  “Ya could’a just moved out of the way.” “Yeah,” said Rainbow with a faint laugh. “But this was way cooler.” “Yes, I’m sure the pain you’ll be in for the next couple days will be awesome,” said Applejack. Fluttershy gently placed the wrapped ice cube into the open hand. Rainbow nodded towards everyone. “Thank you.” Then she looked past Rarity at Sunset.  “You okay?” Sunset realized she was still lying on the ground and slowly picked herself up.  She looked at Rainbow Dash’s shaking hand. “Why did you do that?” asked Sunset softly. “I’m not going to let you get hurt,” said Rainbow like it was the most obvious thing in the world.  “What kind of person do you think I am?” Sunset wasn’t sure. She had no idea who any of them were, really.  She wasn’t even sure who she was. She escaped that frightening thought into something much easier to comprehend.  She looked towards the fields. “Whoever they are, they are out of control.” “Hah,” laughed Rainbow.  “You can say that again.” Sunset shook her head.  “How long is this going to go on?” “It’s only been one day, cupcake,” said Applejack. “You ruled the school for three years,” said Rarity.  She raised an eyebrow at Sunset. “Oh, come on,” said Sunset, more than a little outraged at the comparison.  “They could have just murdered me, that hardly compares!  All I did was push a few people’s buttons.” The five girls stared at her, apparently incredulous. “What?” said Sunset. “Okay, so I roughed up a few people, socially.  And I manipulated a few bits of information to keep people out of my way.  I never wanted people to get hurt!” “And you don’t think that’s still a bad thing?” asked Applejack. “Well, no, I suppose it was still bad,” conceded Sunset. “I wasn’t really paying attention to whatever repercussions there might have been, so maybe something happened there.  I doubt it though.  I never took things from people!  Just kept them from getting what I wanted!”  She shook her head at the increasingly frustrating stares. “Fine! Yes, that doesn’t excuse anything! It was bad, I admit it. I shouldn’t have done it!”  She picked up the softball and waved it. “But it hardly compares to sending a weapon to my head!” “Words can be a pretty dangerous weapon,” said Fluttershy. Sunset spun and pointed her finger at Fluttershy.  “Are you kidding me?” she said loudly. Fluttershy recoiled as if she were about to get hit and the rest of the girls moved together to get mostly between her and Sunset.  It was so quick and natural it had to be reflexive.  Sunset was a little baffled by it until she realized she was still holding the softball in the hand she was pointing with. She tossed it quickly away. “Don’t look at me like that, I would never have thrown it,” she said.  The girls continued to protect Fluttershy.  “I can’t believe you would think I’m capable of such—such,” she struggled for a word. “Cruelty?” supplied Rarity. “Yes!” shouted Sunset. But she saw she hadn’t won her argument, she hadn’t even made a point.  The girls were very obviously on guard.  They didn’t trust her.  They probably did think she was cruel. To be fair she had been somewhat, distantly, remotely cruel in the past. But that was before. She didn’t have any reason to be that way anymore!  Couldn’t they see how hard she was trying not to be that way anymore? No, of course not.  Friendship has limits.  She knew this, she had always exploited it in her dominance of the school, and she should have realized that even the great Elements of Harmony would have those limits too. Sunset dropped her arms to the side. “You should have just let it hit me,” she said.  Then turned and walked away. *** ( MLP ) *** Normally, walking across the bridge over Lake Aquinas at sundown was a source of great pleasure for Sunset Shimmer.  The red sun over the reflecting lake was the perfect vista in her mind, the balance of the might of the sun with the inevitability of night, of power waning only to come back stronger the next day. But today she kept her eyes on the road as she walked.  Who knew at this point if there was a senior with a license out there waiting in the wings to run her over.  She kept her mind focused on the task at hand. Which left it idle enough to indulge in other annoyances. “Things will never get better if you keep pushing everyone away,” said Star Swirl the Bearded as he walked up beside her. “I really don’t need this now,” said Sunset Shimmer.  “Go back to whatever corner of my brain you live in when I’m at school.” “There are people going out of their way to reach out to you,” said Star Swirl. “They could do with less reaching,” said Sunset.  “It’s a little annoying.” Star Swirl galloped ahead and faced her.  “This isn’t a joke, they won’t keep trying forever.” “Great!” said Sunset with a wave of her arms.  “That’s the first good news I’ve heard all day.” “Do you want to be alone?” asked Star Swirl. “It sound preferable to that bunch,” said Sunset.  “I’d rather be hated universally than, whatever they’re doing.” “Dealing with you honestly?” said Star Swirl. Sunset stopped and looked at the unicorn on the road in front of her.  “That’s not what they’re doing.” “Why?” asked Star Swirl.  “When have they lied to you?  What have they done to you other than be honest and forthright?” “They believe the impossible,” said Sunset. “That makes them visionaries, not liars,” said Star Swirl. “Oh, that's a convenient manipulation,” said Sunset. “You were a real visionary, you should be appalled to see those girls called that.” “Why would that be?” asked Star Swirl. “I’m not diminished by their greatness.  All of civilization is raised up by those that find a way to make the impossible possible.  And while, in this case, they’re just trying to help you, I think that’s still a lofty enough of a task.” “Ha, ha,” said Sunset dryly. “Be sure to let Pinkie know that’s how to make you laugh,” said Star Swirl. Sunset continued walking and Star Swirl stepped out of the way when she reached him.  “It hardly matters,” she said as she walked past.  “They’ll be gone in a year and I’ll be alone no matter what happens.” “It doesn’t have to be that way,” said Star Swirl. “Making friends is something you can do again if you learn how.” “It’s not a skill,” said Sunset dismissively. “It’s a – a coincidence.  My tastes matched with someone else tastes and we don’t want to kill each other.” “You’re going to have to update that definition a little,” said Star Swirl.  He walked back up beside her and trotted along at her pace.  “You said you wanted friends before, why are you making this so hard?” Sunset pointed at Star Swirl’s ridiculous hat. “Because I don’t want to lie anymore to make friends.  And I never want to be in a place where I can’t say how stupid the bells are on your brim.” “I’m not asking you to be my friend,” said Star Swirl. “Good,” said Sunset. “I do want you to get better, though,” said Star Swirl. “You‘ve already missed your chance at that,” said Sunset. “What do you mean?” asked Star Swirl. Sunset looked at him.  “I mean, if the Elements of Harmony really cared about my wellbeing you could have just given me what I wanted instead of turning me into a monster and siding with Twilight.  Even if I somehow failed to defeat Celestia and Luna afterwards, I’d at least be back home in Equestria.” “Or Tartarus,” said Star Swirl. Sunset grimaced at the thought. “That would be bad, but at least I’d be myself – my pony self – and not stuck in this human body until the end of my days.”  She stopped again and frowned.  “Where’s the harmony in that, by the way?  I’m not even from this world!” “Who you are isn’t a matter of the shape of your body,” said Star Swirl. “Whatever,” said Sunset.  She continued walking. “And it wouldn’t have made a difference,” said Star Swirl.  “No matter what you wouldn’t have been able to go back to how you were.” “What does that mean?” asked Sunset. “You might have gone back to Equestria if you won here, but no matter what you were going to change,” said Star Swirl.  “Power causes change.  Without Twilight commanding the Elements to restore your form, you would have stayed a demon, even in defeat.  Everyone who touches this much power is altered in some way.  Even Celestia and Luna were.” “What are you talking about?” asked Sunset.  “Twilight didn’t.” “She did,” said Star Swirl.  “Or did you think becoming an alicorn was a coincidence?  Celestia expended a great deal of time and effort to make sure Twilight remained in control of her change.”  He shook his head.  “All the figures of legend were not originally what they became.  You know Nightmare Moon was just young Luna, but Tirek was a small monkey before learning the magic that stole power.  Even Discord was once quite different.” “The demon was my change?” asked Sunset.  “You’re lying, I came back!” “Twilight used the power of the Elements to give you another chance,” said Star Swirl.  “I’m not sure there are many in all of pony history who have seen the abyss of their power and had the opportunity to turn back. In fact, it’s possible only the incomplete magic I left behind that she finished made that reversal possible.”  He raised his eyebrows. “If I were you, I wouldn’t expect to get a third chance.” Sunset slowed to a stop.  She turned and looked out over the lake. She had left the bridge but there was still a small picket fence at the side of the road.  She leaned her arms on it saw the setting sun. “I was screwed either way,” she said. “No,” said Star Swirl.  He leapt over the railing and cantered before the lake. “This way, the way it happened, you have the ability to do it again, the right way.” Sunset looked down. “I’ll never have that much power again.” “Maybe not,” said Star Swirl.  “But that doesn’t mean you won’t have more power than you do now.” Sunset bit her lip.  “How do I keep it from turning me into a monster next time?” Star Swirl stepped closer.  “Find out what you really want, deep in your soul, and embrace it.  Until then, be open to anything.  Experience will teach you what sitting alone and thinking could not.” Sunset turned her back on the lake and she leaned against the fence.  “That’s easier said than done.  I just—I just don’t even like most people.”  She tapped her fingers against her arm.  “How do I stop hating people?” “Think about why you really dislike those who you’ve spurned, and decide if it’s really their fault you feel that way,” said Star Swirl.  “Maybe what you see in the people you dislike is yourself.” *** ( MLP ) *** On Tuesday, Sunset got up at the crack of dawn and headed out.  She had to get to certain people early if she was going to get to them at all.  She had a plan today, and while she wasn’t absolutely crazy about it, it was at least something that made sense for once. She arrived at Fluttershy’s house well before she normally left for school.  For the second time in a row she surprised her, but this time she didn’t stay.  She repeated to herself everything she intended to say once in her mind before she said it just to be sure she wasn’t about to say something accidentally mean to the enormously thin-skinned girl.  She was slow to respond, but got through the conversation quickly enough to get the information she needed.  Then she was off again. It was another ten minutes before she reached her destination, almost at the time she expected the girl to be leaving, so she quickly rang the doorbell and introduced herself to the woman who answered.  She didn’t look angry or shocked at her introduction, so Sunset imagined that Rarity hadn’t mentioned her much, which was a blessing.   She asked Sunset if she wanted to come in, but was declined.  Sunset didn’t want to do anything to screw this up and the greater distance between them the better.  She waited patiently on the porch before the door opened a second time. “You,” was the response.  Again, curt, and annoyed, but exactly what Sunset expected Rarity to say.  She understood her, at least, and felt this was the easiest place to start. “Yeah,” said Sunset.  “Me.” “So what sort of tragedy are we shooting for today?” asked Rarity with a bored expression. “I wanted to talk to you,” said Sunset.  “I know that I wasn’t behaving well yesterday, and I really just got crushed under all the things happened to me.  It wasn’t you all, it was me. I took out my frustration on the only ones who were being forthright with me.”  She took a breath.  “And I’m sorry, it was wrong.” Rarity’s expression changed to one of puzzlement but she didn’t look as bored or angry anymore. “And, I think I understand why you were meaner to me than the others,” said Sunset. The puzzlement was swiftly replaced with anger.  “Meaner?” “No, no!” said Sunset. She put her hands up defensively. “I understand it, it’s okay. I get it.” Rarity crossed her arms. “I can’t wait to hear this.” “You’re Generosity,” said Sunset.  Rarity blinked. “Well, your counterpart in my world is the Element of Generosity, it’s her – and your – power, or rather your personality.  It’s what makes you worthy of that power you used on me at the Fall Formal.” Rarity stared, looking no less frustrated. “I’ve been quite a selfish person,” said Sunset slowly.  “I didn’t like seeing others had more power or people listening to them or even greater destinies.  I took what I felt I deserved and pushed aside those in my way.  I was incredibly selfish in that regard and that must have been incredibly galling to you, the Element of Generosity. “But I want to get better,” Sunset continued. “I don’t want to be that way anymore, I don’t think it helped me in the end.  So, I’d like to say I’m sorry, and I hope that you’ll help me be less… self-centered in the future.” Rarity stared. Then she smiled. Then she laughed out loud. It didn’t sound like a friendly laugh to Sunset’s ears. “That’s your apology?” said Rarity as she started to calm down.  Her furrowed brow returned though.  “You still don’t understand, do you?” Sunset looked awkwardly around.  “No?” “Dear, I see selfishness all the time, every day,” said Rarity.  “I can’t change that, I don’t even try to.  I’m not some sort of primal force. If I’m being generous – and it’s not because I’m the bearer of some super power – it’s for the sake of being generous.  Because I like to share the things that make me happy.” Rarity pointed her finger between Sunset’s eyes. “What I am angry about – and what you have still shown no remorse for – is what you did to my friends.  The way you drove us apart for little more than your ambition.”  She put her hands on her hips.  “When they needed each other - when they needed me - I couldn’t be there.   I thought they didn’t want my generosity.” “What you can’t give back are the years they spent lonely and vulnerable when they didn’t have to be,” continued Rarity.  “That’s what friendship is, Sunset.  The ache you feel to help those you love even when they don’t want or need it.  And you came here, asking for a chance for us to help you feel better about yourself?  You’re still being selfish!  And I don’t feel I need to hear your apologies until you figure that out.” Rarity stepped back into her house and grabbed the doorknob. She looked back over her shoulder.  “When you figure out how to help someone other than yourself, that’s when I’ll be ready to listen.” Then she shut the door, leaving Sunset on the porch. She stood there for another minute before she turned and walked silently away. Not even Star Swirl said anything.