Sunset Shimmer didn't end up in High school, she ended up in late 1960s America naked, and alone. While anti-war protests and the drug scene explode around her, Sunset reforges herself as Alice Shiner to survive a foster home, and the world of humans, before coming across a cult and its diarchy of enigmatic leaders that couldn't be any less like the grim but noble Celestia she ran from.
Co-written by Hope and McPoodle, this romp through history and a delicious AU goes deliberately off the rails for the sole purpose of having some dramatic fun.
Chapters (15)
So, just to let everybody know, this Prologue is 100% written by me, although under Hope's direction.
The actual collaboration starts with the next chapter.
Before I read this, I must know: Why did Sunset decide to change her name?
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To fit in.
You have to understand, this is the late 60's on an Earth that's a lot closer to our Earth than to the one in Equestria Girls. Back then, young American men were called slackers and traitors for the crime of growing their hair long. Under those circumstances, which name is going to get in the way less: Sunset Shimmer (a hippy-dippy Commie name!) or Alice Shiner (a good dependable American name!).
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America, the land of the "free."
Anyways, good start.
Alright, I'm liking the premise. Let's see where this goes.
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People always mistake that part. It's actually the land of the "fee".
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Good one.
Uh oh, I think Alice is involved with a cult.
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Hahaha maaaaybe
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If Sunset ever read the bible, I wonder if she would snark at the hypocrisy of a woman like Madam using the name of God, but not living up to His ideals.
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Pony Starlight Glimmer ran what was functionally a cult.
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Oh without a doubt. Maybe we could do a bonus chapter where Sunset reads the Bible and becomes increasingly more incredulous.
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OK, but how did she think up of the name Alice?
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She saw the name on a wanted poster
They are drawn to her the same way a fly can be drawn to a spider.
Yikes!
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Purposefully yikes!
Whelp, that's the end!
I mean, I'm pretty sure that's how our story ended. Right, Hope?
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Yup! Abandon all... Something, ye who enter here, hehehehehe
Poor Starlight, shouldn't have run a cult! Everyone knows that never ends well.
Yep, definitely a cult leader.
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Oh just a liiiiittle bit
Sunset, that's the most obvious strategy in the world!
Simply give humans your pony eyes, and you'll conquer Earth in a week.
Marcus, stop with the evil villain cliches!
Can't wait to see where this goes.
A lot of stuff going on in this chapter. I expect most readers will be fixated on the ending, for better or for worse. For my part, I want to point out the worldbuilding: the 1968 Chicago Riots in this world are the origin or the gender flipping in At the Inn of the Prancing Pony, where people take their last names from their mothers now instead of their fathers.
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I love the ties between these fics we've made lol, obscure special rare memes, basically.
I should make it quite clear that the parts about "hope" in this chapter are my contribution, not the primary author's. I think it's cute to sneak the theme into all of our collaborations, and she just puts up with it.
Oh, and don't go back and re-read the prologue if you want to believe that this story has a happy ending.
Which Glimmy was in the last chapter? Earth's or Equestria's?
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The pony was the actual Equestria Pony named Starlight Glimmer! The ages of the pony and human don't always match up.
"Mr Crowley won't you ride my white horse?"
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I hope somehow someway Glimmy and Sunny meet again.
T H E _ E N D
Anyway, I wrote this chapter solo, just like I wrote the Prologue (and the Credits because...of course I'd volunteer to write the credits). So address any criticisms of it to me.
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Don't read to the end of this chapter if you want this story to have an unhappy ending (hint, hint).
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McPoodle, as always you are the best co-author, and your attention to detail is far far beyond my own!
Point of interest: "Shaggy" is a nickname. The young man's actual name—in the Hanna-Barbera universe, anyway—is Norbert.
In any case, magnificent work from the both of you. I do regret not being here as the story developed, but at least I got an outstanding complete read out of it. (And goodness, this Earth just keeps connecting to more Equestrias, doesn't it?) Thank you for this.
Awesome! Going to reread the prancing pony now
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The wicked web we weave!
It must be depressing if you end up in America, and witness this kind of thing in the so-called land of the free: a police attacking its citizens and politicians squabbling amongst themselves for power.
The mare speaks the truth!
Knowing there is someone who has your back is one of the greatest feelings in the world.
AWWWW!
Damn Celestia, you know how to read between the lines.
Does the EG world still exist in this story, only for Sunset to end up in ours during the 1960s-1970s?
This was a story that deserved more credit, and I congratulate you for finishing it.
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It's... A multiverse situation. This Sunset isn't the EQG Sunset, quite.
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Thank you, McPoodle and I enjoyed writing it a lot!
Shouldn't that be
CSGU: Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.
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Thank you! Fixed it
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You are welcome!^_^