Princess Twilight Sparkle is a teacher, a ruler, and the occasional savior of Equestria, and she loves it. Her jobs can be rewarding and fulfilling, but they can also be a bit exhausting. Hearing her friend is feeling a little worn out from all the responsibilities she has, Sunset Shimmer offers Twilight a holiday together across the portal in the human world. No evil magic, no intramural sports, and no one else. Just the two of them spending the entire day together.

Original art by Uotapo
Cover text generously added by Novel Idea

First story in the Rays of SunLight series.

Sunset Shimmer, prized pupil of Princess Celestia, has taken the most brash decision of her life. She will now have to live in the human world for years before being able to return. Fortunately, she has the help of some natives to endure this experience.

Fair warnings:

This is a different take on Sunset's story pre Equestria Girls, where things happened differently. This story will contain Sunset exploring everything she possibly can about the human world, leading to subjects some might find uncomfortable. So you have been advised.

There is no sex in this story, but there will be talk about sex, although it'll be later on. Nudity will be common but not in sexual situations (at least not early on).

This story will also deal with bullying, but not too dark.

I will appreciate greatly all forms of feedback :3

After seeing a girl that looks like Sunset Shimmer at a carnival in town, Twilight spends a day with Sunset looking for her. Maybe seeing this girl will reveal a little more about what's eating Sunset.

Flash doesn’t understand why Sunset wants to break up, so she tells him the truth. She fell in love and is dating someone else. He’s dependable, durable, and he’s a football player. Flash is very confused and a bit insulted, but nobody cares about him. What matters is that Sunset found someone who was leagues better than Flash, and she dumps him for her new boyfriend. Everyone is happy except for Flash.

Twilight looked over to her dear mentor, Princess Celestia, and found she had once again fallen asleep mid-lesson. Her intense debate on awakening the princess was cut short when the decision was taken out of her hooves.

“Huh? Oh. Twilight, I am so sorry for falling asleep again. I think we need to reschedule this for tomorrow morning.”

Twilight nodded. After all, Princess Celestia was obviously overworked. If only there was something she could do to help.

Now with a dramatic reading courtesy of DRWolf.
Additionally, there’s a Spanish translation by Spaniard Kiwi over on Deviant Art.

Current Episode: Season Zero – Episode One
Next Episode: Twin Twilights

Art created from images by Tim015 and ShilaDaLioness.

So what does one do upon finding out that their best friend (and lately a bit more than that) has been hiding something from them? Namely, the fact that, once a month, they transform into the body of a destructive dark angel and spend the night hiding in their room?

Well, if you're Sunset Shimmer, you ask Twilight a magiphysiological question.

An entry into the Dialogue-Only Contest and the Sunset X Villain "Monster-shipping" Contest (2nd place winner!). Pre-read by Dewdrops on the Grass and The Sleepless Beholder.

Featured on 1-4 June 2024! Also featured on Equestria Daily!

As the eternal regent of Equestria, Princess Celestia's knowledge of magic is without equal. Over her long life, only a few gifted ponies who had a great destiny before them have had the honor of learning at her side. Sunset Shimmer was one such pony: one of Celestia’s best and most promising students. As she learned at Celestia’s hooves, their bond strengthened until they became far more than student and teacher to one another.

Sometimes those closest to us are the ones who can hurt us the most.

[Note: This story does not directly tie into Equestria Girls]

Sunset is accused of spreading everyone’s secrets on a Mystable page calling itself Anon-a-Miss, losing all of her friends and reputation in the process.

But it seems the school forgot one thing.

Sunset Shimmer isn't one to be easily broken.

A story dearly inspired by wanting something different out of the Anon-a-Miss 'Genre' of fics. Many are wonderful stories, but at the end of the day, most tend to fall into the same couple of tropes with slight alterations, and many of those tropes are ones I'm not terribly fond of.

So with my ever present desire to take a well trod genre and flip it on its head, I present my own take on this story, and one I have not personally seen. So I hope I deliver on giving you something different from the others!

Pre-Read by the Wonderful and Loveable baes: Uria, the Sacred Beast and Sunny Days

As fall begins, Sunset Shimmer has just started her first year at Canterlot High School. While she has no trouble with the work, she finds the school far too restrictive. When a strange arrival gives her a chance at freedom, she jumps at the opportunity. But is there more to find from this stranger who shares her face?

Written for the Sunset Shipping Contest: Changing Seasons. Thanks to Starscribe for pre-reading.