My Top 10 Favorite Sunset Shimmer Stories · 3:53am Mar 9th, 2022
For anyone that has read one of my stories, it's clear that I am a fan of Sunset Shimmer, in fact, she is one of my two favorite characters in the series along with Twilight Sparkle. If not for those two I would have never given MLP a chance and I love reading stories that involve these characters. I've been wondering what are my favorite stories that involve Sunset Shimmer as a main or major character, now this list is my personal opinion so take it with a grain of salt. And this was not an easy list considering half my favorites involve Sunset Shimmer. Onto the list.
#10 Code Lyoko: EG by Azure Sandora
Now if this was a list of stories in general this would likely be higher on the list, but this list is on Sunset Shimmer and the story. In this story which takes place in the world of Code Lyoko with the Mane Six as the main characters Sunset Shimmer is a later edition to the story. She has a role as a secondary major character and love rival to Fluttershy for Twilight's heart. As a character she is closer to her dark side than her light, being a criminal hacker on the run from the military but she has a good heart and genuinely cares for Twilight and eventually the others. Throughout the story she grows closer to the group, though not without some actions that would certainly be considered wrong and is a hero in this story. Of the stories on this list, she is probably the evilest heroic Sunset Shimmer and that does hinder her likability slightly. But the quality of the story and writing is why I put it at Number Ten.
#9 The Twin Students of the Sun by Whiteeyes
The most My Little Pony of the list feeling more like it's part of the show is The Twin Students of the Sun. A funny story of a different primer episode for the series. In this Sunset Shimmer never went through the mirror and has remained as Princess Celestia's student alongside Twilight Sparkle. Sunset is portrayed as a slightly lazy Unicorn with some self-esteem issues believing herself to still be evil despite positive relationship with Twilight Sparkle and Spike. While her personality doesn't change much over the story, she has several entertaining incidents throughout the story including fainting after being overwhelmed, accidently eating hot sauce cupcakes, drinking hot sauce, and celebrating when she was not the rude one in a conversation. A rather harmless and funny story where Sunset doesn't develop much, so I placed it at Number Nine.
#8 A Ray of Sunlight by BChunter426
Ever wonder what it would be like if Sunset was a normal human who had problems that had no connection to magic whatsoever? Well, that's where A Ray of Sunlight comes in. In this story focused on a human Twilight Sparkle transferring to a new school she meets a human Sunset Shimmer, a former bully trying to have a normal life. Throughout the story Sunset and Twilight grow closer until they start to date, but just when it seems like everything is going well for the couple Sunset's past comes back to bite her and nearly ruins Sunset's life. We see Sunset transform from a quiet former bully who chose to stop to a more open individual who believes that she can have happiness while still carrying the baggage of her past. I personally enjoyed the story as it connects to her cannon past while separating by making her a normal human, I also enjoy that here Sunset was never beaten, she chose to stop being a bully, a concept rarely done.
#7 Friendship Is Monsters by spotty8ee
Sunset is a Vampire, a concept done before, but this is my favorite interpretation of it. This story again focuses on a human Twilight Sparkle who lives in a world where monsters are well known and feared by humans. Twilight though saves a vampiric Sunset Shimmer from the sun and over the story the two grow close. In this story Sunset Shimmer is closer to her personality throughout the series, already friends with the girls and despite being a vampire acts as a regular teenager. This is also one of the more levelheaded depictions of Sunset, though you wouldn't tell from the first chapter, and is the clear leader of her group, and the one that helps bring the sheltered Twilight into the world and make friends with the Monster Mane Five.
#6 Myriad Thoughts by Tale Swapper
My favorite story involving Anon-A-Miss, in large part because it fails to convince the girls for long, where instead of severing ties with Sunset, Applejack embraces her heartbroken and homeless friend, bringing her into her home. I enjoy this story because of how it portrays the girls more accurately than the comic did and because Sunset and the girls close some lingering tension that was never addressed in the series. I particularly enjoy the ending, but I won't spoil it here because it is well worth the read to see it, I will say it involves one of the sweetest ends for Sunset Shimmer in an Anon-A-Miss story.
#5 Looking Glass by Krickis
A story where we see the arrival of Sunset Shimer on Earth and her time before she returns to Equestria to steel the crown. In this Sunset Shimmer arrives as a little girl and is trapped in the world, unable to find the portal, and is forced to adjust to the human world. Over time she even convinces herself that she hallucinated Equestria and she was just an orphan human girl. And with each step she drives herself further and further into the darkness, denying the opportunities to embrace friendship throughout the story. As you read you will be begging Sunset to change her ways while being enthralled by watching her reason her actions right up until she puts on the crown.
#4 Cross the Rubicon by Majadin
My second favorite Sunset Shimmer redemption story and one of my two favorite ongoing stories. In this we see a reformed Sunset try to redeem herself in her own eyes and the eyes of the school while keeping a secret relationship with the human Twilight Sparkle. We see Sunset get beaten down to a low point that boards on depression and slowly climb to a healthy life with positive relationships, yet enemies constantly aim to tear away her happiness and while the story is so far incomplete it is still one of the best stories I have read on this website and has my jumping in my seat when I read its next chapter.
#3 Fractured Sunlight by Oroboro
Ever wondered where the human Sunset Shimmer was in the world? Well spoilers, here she is dead. In this story, we focus on Sunset Shimmer from Equestria and a human Twilight Sparkle who watched the human Sunset Shimmer die years ago and has come to Canterlot where she meets the girls and Sunset Shimmer. Sunset Shimmer is more cynical than usually depicted than her normal reformed stories, not caring about classes and believing she has no life in the Human world and is only hanging around for her friends. Throughout the story she and the human Twilight form a relationship, neither certain if it's a good idea or not but willing to take a chance, with some tension on the question of where the relationship will go with Twilight aiming to become a famous scientist while Sunset plans on leaving for Equestria. The story climaxes in such an investing way that you have to read it to full appreciate the story.
#2 Spectacular Seven by The Albinocorn
My favorite still continuing story and the sequel to a story that you will be seeing very soon Spectacular Seven feels less like fanfiction and more like a professional novel series. Focused around the Spectacular Seven as they are called it shows their adventures and challenges against a multitude of magical threats and betrayals of those close to them. Sunset Shimmer is an uncertain protagonist, not sure where her future will take her and fearful that her evil side will return and treasures the friendships she has formed and the adorable love she holds for Twilight Sparkle. It is hard to say too much about this story because it is so amazing, I don't want to spoil anything for any new readers, just know that whenever I see a new chapter, I end up cheering out loud.
#1 Long Road to Friendship by The Albinocorn
The greatest Sunset Shimmer redemption story that I have ever read and like its successor Spectacular Seven feels more like a professional novel you would pay money for than a fanfiction. In this story we see Sunset Shimmer still reject that she was wrong after her defeat and cursed by the Elements to push her into the light. As it goes on, we see Sunset slowly turn from her evil self into a repentant individual that learns to embrace friendship. Sunset Shimmer herself is such an enjoyable character as you route for her to reform and still laugh at her misfortunes that she often brings upon herself. Along with its A+ writing it is a hilarious story that had me laughing for almost every chapter. And the relationships she forms throughout the book, building a unique friendship with each of the girls and a slow romance between her and the human Twilight Sparkle is so cute and enjoyable. If you ever read any story involving Sunset Shimmer, I would recommend this story above all others and more than deserves its place as my number one favorite Sunset Shimmer story.
Well that's my list, do you agree or disagree, what would you put as your top 10 Sunset Shimmer stories? Comment below if you want, I'd love to know and, if I haven't read it, see it for myself.
Honorable mentions to
Her Knight in Sunlit Armor by AliceLiz
Seeking My Purpose In The World by The Sleepless Beholder
Firebird Dahila by Albinocorn
Finding Home by Cirrus Sky
Full Circle by Sotharan
The Student and The Princess by ModMCdl
The Sunset of a Frozen Princess by DaylightHobbyist
All of these are quality stories that I recommend looking up as well.
I've read a few of these stories myself and they are indeed great and I'll definitely read the other ones listed I have yet read in the future.
I've read Twin students of the sun which I didnt like because the Elements are assigned to the wrong ponies. Rainbow Dash is given generosity for literally helping others out of a dream. I also read Firebird Dahlia which was quite a nice story. I don't care for many stories listed her because I don't care for Twilight/Sunset shipping.
Eyy, glad to make your top ten! And thanks for the plug, it means a lot