New Cover Art! See the full image here: https://www.deviantart.com/harwicks-art/art/Commission-What-My-Destiny-is-Telling-Me-969614816
Sunset Shimmer was a pony that always had her destiny in her control… but that was before. Now, trapped for months in a world where she no longer has magic, no longer has a plan and no longer even has her own body, she's lost. She found an unexpected lifeline, however, when she showed up at the Crumbles/Flanks residence, desperate for help, and formed a close bond with a human around her own age, Rarity.
Having lived together for several months, Rarity has grown to consider Sunset a sister, even as Sunset feels hesitant about the moniker. Shortly before the start of the school year, Rarity brings Sunset along on an annual camping trip, hosted by Applejack and Big Mac, hoping to better acquaint Sunset with her friends. But one morning, Rarity awakes to find Sunset, sleepless and distraught, struggling with concerns and fears she doesn't understand... as the specter of destiny continues to loom large in the former unicorn's mind.
And it's up to Rarity to provide some much-needed comfort.
Set in an alternate universe in which the timeline diverges after Sunset leaves Equestria. This story also deviates from the depiction of Sunset's past as portrayed in the comic The Fall of Sunset Shimmer. Chronologically, it takes place after the events of The Final Conversation, though reading that story is not a requirement.
Pre-read by The Sleepless Beholder and Ninjadeadbeard. Cover art by Harwick. Originally written for the Bean's Writing Group prompt "Let's Go Camping".
Featured on 8/23/22–8/26/22!
Minor Note: My stories generally treat Canterlot High School as a 7-12 school to justify the Cutie Mark Crusaders/Canterlot Movie Club being there in the main films. Keep that in mind if you notice some odd-looking age math in there; at the time of the story, Rarity and Sunset are about to start 9th grade (freshman year).
As much as this is tagged alternative universe and clearly indicates that the future would change from what we have seen, I still can't get over the theory that these nightmares actually consume her, that something had happened and it still went the way we have seen in the movie. Maybe that's why Sunset was so quick to stop on her way once stopped and Rarity's friends so quick to accept her…
A beautiful emotional story, your works always leave a good impression ^^
11340417
Thank you so much!
11340451
Now that is interesting
Sunset and Rarity having a sister relationship.
Im curious
I really like their dynamic. I'd be interested in seeing a prequel on how they met and how their bond developed. Nice work.
11340572
Thank you! I would love to be able to do more stories in this AU down the line - maybe a prequel and especially an alt-EqG1 story. While I don't currently have a full prequel, I do have a 150-word flashfic about their first meeting that I wrote for the most recent Flashfic150 contest, and I'll add it to my shorts anthology after the contest is over.
This really seems like a middle story in a series.
Noticed the link on the cover art does not take you to the art's source. Is this intentional?
I've heard this song before!
11340580
I'd read them!
11340718
Nothing wrong with that.
11341008
The link goes to the Midjourney AI website, which was how the art was created. If there’s a specific link to the art inside the app, I don’t have it. I used it with permission from the person who created it using the AI, who is credited in the description.
11341022
Yipe, I didn't realize it was used for art. Thanks for clarifying!
Now this is a charming little bit of character interaction, and an intriguing AU to boot. There’s definitely a logic to human Rarity taking in a stray unicorn that works. My favorite bit was Sunset’s description of the moment she slipped and said “when I’m princess” in front of Celestia… such a pivotal moment in her life, colored by our own understanding of what’s left unspoken by Celestia, and the damage that’s being done.
Nicely done!
I assume the story’s pretty much like this.
Unfortunately, I am completely illiterate, so I will never know.
11341784
A true tragedy. Fortunately, the video is in fact a perfect summation.
”Doesn’t that make Sweetie Belle my older sister?”
“Logically, yes, but I won’t tell her if you won’t.”
Truly delightful AU and character study. I loved every moment of this. Thank you for it. Any chance you’ll explore this timeline any further?
11342482
I definitely have ideas for more stories in this AU, and it certainly seems like there’s an interest. Thanks for reading!
Very cute fic that has a lot of lot of potential to build off.
Can we have a sequel?
While this part is just so adorable, I like how you "show" their sisterly relationship instead of describing it.
Rarity is patient with her adopted sister's faults and offers her help.
Aww. I'm not sure how I missed this story before, but let me congratulate you. I love both characters as it is, but there's something magical about them being not-officially-adopted siblings. Sunset opening up to someone else is one of my favorite things to read too, and you did a fantastic job here. Well done!
That still sounds like the old Sunset talking with that lie.
I doubt she'll care about your hair Rarity.
11342501
This was fun to read
This was sweet, although..
11342482
...now I want to see older sister Sweetie Belle in action
Cutie Mark Crusaders, alien fostering, yay!
11340580
I'm not always a big fan of AU but this one has me very intrigued especially with the 150 word one-shot, I would love to see a prequel and/or even an alternate EQG, seems like I have a new thing to keep an eye on.
Awwww
11342501
There is A LOT of potential for this
It took me a bit to buy all the differences the fic was selling, but I ended up enjoying this quite a bit. Looking forward to seeing what the rest has to offer!
Aw.
Oh, Sunset.
It's interesting to see it from her point of view here, certainly, when we know what Celestia actually meant.
That's true, right there. Sunset isn't a heartless bastard, just someone who's... complicated. And Rarity's managed to dig that heart out from beneath all of Sunset's bitterness.
Oh no.
All in all, I enjoyed it. It was a nice, warm little tale, and I certainly hadn't counted Rarity amongst characters I wanted to see Sunset with as siblings, but, you made it work, and colour me intrigued, alright
I look forward to reading the sequel
Even if Sunset doesn't steal the crown, no demon happens, no sirens, no Gloriosa Daisy, no all-the-other-stuff that world is doomed.
The portal on the island still exists, the Storm King's magic will still leak through, and that world will resemble the inside of a washing machine on rinse/spin cycle.
They're gong to need magic for that.
11546797
Thanks for the doom-and-gloom gotcha, I guess? But this is not the end of this little AU, and I am fully aware of how magic could make its way in here, and not just the Storm King's residual magic either.
Very nice. I hope you’ve written a story of their meeting or that you will write it at some point.
11556866
I do have a flashfic in my anthology series that has a short version of their meeting here! I may do a full-story version down the line but I’m not sure.
Anyways, thank you very much! Hope you get the chance to read the follow-up!