After many years away from Equestria, Sunset Shimmer decides it's time to go back and get things right with Princess Celestia. Even uncertain of how the princess would react to her, Sunset goes to meet her hoping Celestia has forgiven her as well as her friends, however, what she does not expect is that things are not so simple between her and her former teacher.

Edit 12.17.2021: I've realized that the previous title was a little too long, so I changed from Who we really are? (or just another Sunset Shimmer background story) to simply Who we really are?

What if Starlight wasn't the only pony to have a friendship lesson in the Crystal Empire? What if this pony didn't go as a pony? It's time for a long overdue reunion between teacher and student

The CMC is happy to be enjoying their time with their sisters without Sunset getting in their way, but despite that, they couldn't help but feel guilty about what they had done. When they see Sunset running out of the school they quietly follow and witness Sunset confronting what looks like Principal Celestia, it's not long before things start to turn sour as Celestia blames Sunset for Anon-A-Mis. Princess Twilight soon appears and also accuses Sunset of being Anon-A-Miss, and right before the CMC and a horrified Sunset, Celestia turns Sunset into stone. After leaving Sunset in a special spot, the two Princess return home but not before Twilight gives Sunset's journal to Applebloom to give to Applejack. The CMC now must live with the horrifying fact that they not only ruined Sunset's life but doomed her to an eternal prison in stone.

Luna didn't turn into Nightmare Moon and wasn't banished to the moon. One day, at the school of gifted unicorns, Luna and Celestia sees the potential of Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer. Each of the princesses chooses one of them as a student. Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer will spend their lives as students with their mentors as they grow together.

Background belongs to Magister39
Princess Celestia vector belongs to DashieSparkle
Princess Luna vector belongs to DashieSparkle

A story written by Neutralbrony (deviantart link http://neutralbrony.deviantart.com/) in memory of Nathan Maddox. I have his written consent expressing the ability to post this story here on his behalf. Edited by Malicious-Badger.

Fluttershy hasn't been seen in public for a few days, and her friends are beginning to worry...

The way others perceive us can affect how we perceive ourselves, and the results are rarely pretty. When a couple of Canterlot ponies from her past come to Ponyville, Twilight has a difficult time revisiting a traumatic event from her foalhood.

*Now on Equestria Daily! Thanks are in order to the pre-reader(s) who put their time aside for this story. Final scene changed from "alternate ending" to "epilogue", and extended, because sometimes we only think of scenes after things see publish.

Reading by Obabscribbler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bitGUNZKNmU

Sunset reflects on the horrible acts she has committed. She does not expect to be forgiven, but some people are willing to give her a chance. However, not many people are forgiving. She will learn through trial and error o what friendship really is and she will also learn that she is no longer alone in this world.

2 months after the infamous Mystable incident, Sunset has decided to temporarily leave the human world after the harsh treatment that she received from her former friends after being framed. After a while of pondering, our fireheaded girl finally decided that it's time to head back and hopefully try to move past it and to give her friends another chance. But once she arrives back to CHS, she is met with the most heartbreaking news.........................................one of the Rainbooms killed themselves. With the funeral to commence at the end of the week, Sunset wonders if she's ready to forgive the remaining Rainbooms and the CMC's out of fear of one of them following suit later on.

Sunset Shimmer, or Kyoku, as she was called now, found a much more unforgiving world beyond the mirror. Believing herself betrayed by princess Celestia, she was picked up by none other than the Manipulative Orochimaru.

Believing herself to had been saved by him, Kyoku served him wholeheartedly as a spy in the Sannin's former village, Konohagakure. Join her as she finds herself entangled by the webs of lies and commitments during her journey to find out what was most important to her.

Art was taken from clipart.com and a random google image moon background. Created by Powerpoint.
Posting Schedule Here

Sunset Shimmer moonlights as the street artist Flanksy, but not all of her paintings go off without a hitch.

This story has a sequel which can be found here.