Sunset had no grasp on reality. She kept slipping in and out of consciousness. She was back in that factory setting. She felt the pain of the wounds on her body, and the cold bite of the winter air.
The blade felt sharp against her neck, the cold steel threatening to drain her life in an instant.
Not that she really cared anymore. She would honestly welcome death at this point.
She couldn’t help but feel that something about all this felt strange…like she had lived it already before…
“Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll go to pony heaven…” A voice spoke darkly.
She opened her eyes to see who was in front of her, holding the blade to her.
It wasn’t who she had expected…
It was a familiar face. One that she had called a friend…
And had rainbow hair.
Sunset wanted to scream, but nothing came out.
She began hearing voices.
“She sold you out hook, line, and sinker.”
“Everything that has happened to you is because of her.”
“What part of “leave us alone” don’t you understand??”
“They’re not your friends.” A new figure approached Sunset, and with her, the temperature suddenly rose. But it rose past the point of comfort, and into an oven like heat.
“They said so themselves. It was no dream Sunset. They never were your friends. Look at what happened to you because of the likes of them!!
The demon slashed at Rainbow Dash, who then disintegrated into dust, freeing Sunset from the knife hold, but was then replaced with the demon who grasped Sunset’s neck.
“I offered to help you! I was the one who would have saved you, and given them all what they deserved! But you refused me, and got what you deserved because of it!” The demon threw Sunset like a ragdoll across the room.
Sunset felt like she had just broken several more bones as she came to a stop, sprawled across the floor. But no matter what, she couldn’t pass out.
“Welcome to Hell, Sunset.” The demon hissed as it approached her again.
“You can’t escape your own nightmares Sunset, and though it’s not real, you’d be surprised how “real” a nightmare can get.” The demon reached down to take Sunset in its grasp again. Sunset didn’t even try to escape. What was the point? She resigned herself to this….
“Sunset....” She heard a distant voice.
“Sunset, I’m here...” Suddenly, the scene around her faded, and the sounds of the nightmare dissipated until all was black….
“…..Sunset?...Honey, can you hear me?”
Sunset became aware of the sounds of whimpering, before realizing the sound was coming from her. She tried opening her eyes, but found it harder a task than it really should have been.
When she finally was able to open one of them, she wasn’t really able to focus on anything. Her eye wandered until she was able to land it on a figure above her.
She wasn’t able to focus quite yet, and an instinct told her there was something wrong. Was she still in that abandoned factory? Had she woken from one nightmare, only to awaken to another?
“Sunset, I’m here…” That voice…It couldn’t be…But it had to be....
“M-Mom?...”
She wasn’t actually, but it’s what Sunset had thought of her for most of her life. She had always been there for her…and Sunset had thrown her away for this…Sunset felt sick to her stomach at that thought. Celestia had been right to keep her from this world…
“Mommy?...Sunset whispered with all the innocence of a child, as a tear streaked down her face.
Celestia didn’t even know how to respond to that.
“I-...It’s Celestia Sunset. It’s me.”
“D-Don’t leave me.” Celestia had never heard Sunset sound so broken before.
“Oh, Sunset… I’m not going anywhere...” It truly broke her heart to see Sunset like this. She was so disfigured. How could she have let this happen at her own school?
She had some belief that maybe… just maybe, this could somehow be reconciled in the future.
But now, after actually seeing what this whole disaster had caused, she wasn’t so sure anymore…How could anything be made right again, after this?
Maybe Cinch was right…Maybe CHS was as good as down the tubes now.
After all, she wasn’t even sure she even wanted to continue her job as a principal anymore. Maybe she’d be better off in just a regular office job, where no child would end up paying the price if she slipped up, or became negligent in her job.
Crystal Prep had never had anything like this happen. Crystal Prep had surveillance cameras on campus, cameras which the students often protested, but it seemed to do the job anyways…
Celestia had become too prideful…Boasting that her school had no need of cameras in the hallways, outdoors, or in the….gym.
One thing was for certain…If there was going to be any chance that she did decide to continue her job, she would make CHS so full of security, it would rival even the security of President Discord.
“The princess has been in that room for hours.” One guard said quietly to another as they passed the room that had once belonged to Celestia’s renegade pupil, while doing their routine security walks. They remembered that particular student of her’s all too well.
They stopped for a moment, a little ways down from the room, talking quietly, so not to be heard.
“Don’t know what could possibly have her so absorbed in that particular room. All I know is that when she got back here from seeing Princess Twilight, she went straight into that room, demanding that nopony be let inside, or interrupt her… She hasn’t come out since.”
“And you didn’t hear anything concerning what went on when she went to see Princess Twilight?”
“Not a word. Though, there is a rumor going around that Sunset actually died in that other world. Whether that’s actually true or not, I’ve got no clue. And if it is true, don’t ask me what caused it.”
“No kidding?...The little pest bit the bullet?? Don’t know why that should cause so much care to the Princess. Ya ask me, she got what was coming to her.”
“I hear ya… Ehh, the princess has a soft heart…” He said as they continued their walk.
“She probably just needs some time and space. She’ll come around soon enough.”
Inside the abandoned room, Celestia laid curled up on Sunset’s old bed, clutching that dusty old music box, and sobbing.
More please.
I knew that would happen. Now the question is, what happens between them next?
I didn't think that both Celestias would be affected by Sunset. I'd still like RD to own up to her mistakes and for someone else to help Sunset. That bit about President Discord having a lot of security cams is a mite jarring given his penchant for chaos.
7475194 Why wouldn't both be affected? The Equestrian Celestia has been in Sunset's room since she went to see Twilight, and got the news of what happened to Sunset.
Ahhh yes, pain and suffering. My bread and butter. I hope this is followed up by another round of just desserts. it may spoil my appitite but I just can't help myself!
7475320 I dunno... I mean, eh, what the heck. This is Celestia we're talking about. She cares about her students like children.
7475405 Which Celestia do you think wouldn't be affected by what happened to Sunset? The principal, or the princess? And why?
I would think that one would have to have something wrong with them to not be affected by what happened...
7475480 Good point, good point. There is one version of Celestia, but I won't name her because doing so leaves a bad taste.
Well... shit. And the wrong Celestia is present to hear that.
Yeah I'm pretty sure there's lot's of job opportunities lined up for you after you serve some jail time. Is there even criminal charges on child negligence for a Principle?
And they're going to rub it in everyone's faces.
To quote from a Skywalker, "Your overconfidence is your weakness."
Yeah good luck convincing the board for additional founding when parents starts pulling away their kids from a cesspool school, a negligent Principle who knows nothing about responsibility, and a rival school looking to petition that shutdown of CHS.
7475194
SERIOUSLY!?!
A Principle feels bad because she failed her school. She failed to maintain order. She failed to dowse the flames. She failed to take action in finding out who's responsible. She fail to protect those that are hurting from this incident. And because of her failures Sunset nearly died and she may end up living the rest of her life with brain damage, never damage, possibly loss of limbs if tissue death hasn't occurred, and not to mention PSTD. All this because Principle Celestia turned a blind eye or was too late to help!
As for the Princess, the closest thing she has to a daughter almost died. And WHEN Sunset decides to return home, she'll be coming back BROKEN physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually because of the event and it'll be up to Twilight, Spike, and Celestia to help pick up the pieces and put her back together. Not to mention Sunset may live the rest of her life in isolation to avoid the ponies whose counterparts either abandoned her or tried to MURDER her.
And you're saying that BOTH Celestias shouldn't have to care and be cold hearted bitches?
7475655 No. Both of 'em shouldn't be cold-hearted bitches. I forget that Celestia doesn't have to focus all her love on just Twilight.
7475598
Ouch.
Wait, wait, wait... PRESIDENT Discord?
*looks out the window and sees the skies are still clear and free of cotton candy clouds that rain chocolate and the streets clear of ballerina buffalo*
Tch, typical politician never making good on his promises...
But serious though man, the feels in this chapter.
Reading this branch off and Re-reading Dainn's fic makes me think of this song. It fits well with both, in my opinion.
7478126 I'm listening to that song, but all I'm hearing is "Join the Herd"
7478329
The Crusaders on making the Anon-a-miss account and framing Sunset.
Sunset when everyone is accusing her of being Anon-a-miss while she's trying to find the real culprit
Dash on how she betrayed Sunset by giving Gilda and 30-plus students Sunsets information along with Dash's phone so they can lure her into a trap
Gilda and her gang beating Sunset within an inch of her life, and Sunset believing that she was going to die and finding out who set her up.
The Human 5 on not believing Sunset's innocence and how they've been treating her since.
Twilight angrily giving the crusaders and human 5 a piece of her mind on the whole situation
Poor girl got beaten out of her mind.
Or maybe the doctors have her on something that left her a little loopy.
I swear I could kick rainbow dash for this
7479212
This is a bit late, but I think this one works too.
7513904
I can see that, yeah.
Can't go wrong with A7X!
Why are updates taking so long!?
7475858 *Insert joke about 2016 election*
7607517 True, true and I sometimes forget that AJ can be very stubborn when she thinks that she's right.
Well now I've seen everything...
7513904
Just thought of another one. Alice in Chains "Shame In You" fits when imagined through Sunset's perspective, I think.
7658418
If she dies, "Missing" by Evanescence.
7718593 note that that particular chapter is no longer canon to the story.
I can't wait for this to be continued. I've only just found it recently but i love it.
Updates...???
jessicamariebaumgartner.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/more.jpg
Any eta for a next chapter?
New chapter?
Wow.....Celestia's guards are assholes.
7756385 well, they only saw her as the little brat student who demanded something Celestia didn't want to give her and abandoned everything to run away to a different world. And if I'm not mistaken she even attacked the soldiers that acompanied her at that time to get to the portal.
They don't truly know of their connection and the past of them, so I think it's not so surprising for them to think like that
i know this chapter was dark but does anyone else want to see a side story about president discord.
I'm sorry, but the only thing I can fully focus on in this chapter is how much I want Discord to wreck those fucking guards for what they were saying.
Like, those bits with Celestia and Sunset were great, but dude, seriously. Someone incinerate those guards. Just because they don't know what all has happened doesn't mean shit to me. Fight me, guards, you useless wastes of space and armor.
8489335
Yeah i so want to smack those two. With a barbed wire bat. In the crotch
I am literally Nauseous reading this. Your descriptions of everything are too good like honestly, I think I am too empathic for this. (But bet Celestia's white wings I am going to keep reading).
10/10 for Kicking my feels so hard they've broke
Awww thats sad and cute though, I hope Sunset and Celestia repatch this relationship now.