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]

Coverart edited version of ranban's Two Friend

What does it mean to be a unicorn? To have spells that create fire, and have light at one's beck and call? The ability to conjure illusions, and grasp and throw objects with just a thought?

There is a point in every unicorn's life when they must decide whether to live with magic as a mundane thing, a simple tool, or to steep themselves in the higher learnings that is their birthright.

For three young mares that have been chosen to be taught by Princess Celestia, herself, their studies have only just begun.

PLEASE share your thoughts about the story in the comments!

The wheel of time turns, as destiny and history clash together.

Fifty years into the future, Sunset Shimmer is Princess Twilight Sparkle's most faithful student. She is smart and eager, but doesn't always think things through. Her life had been perfect, right up to the End of the World.

With a ruined future, Sunset travels into the past to alter the course of history. With only her mentor's cryptic word to go on, Sunset and the Elements of Harmony must solve the riddle of the Dark Regalia and stop the mysterious Vesper Radiance from rising to power. But the further Sunset goes, the more she feels like she's been through it all before.

Is destiny set in stone, or can Sunset shape her own future? Only time will tell.

Featured on Equestria Daily 6/16/13
Gratefully edited by JustAnotherTimeLord, Icarus_Gizmo, Cerulean Voice and Bad_Seed_72

The Sunset of Tropes page!

Three years. Three years it had taken Celestia to finally be able to see the real Sunset Shimmer hidden beneath all the greed, disgust and hate. But now that she saw the real Sunset for what she was, she was determined to finally help the girl. It wouldn't be easy; Sunset had many skeletons in her closet and the path before was marred and twisted with her past mistakes. But perhaps, perhaps if she plays her cards right, Sunset could have the one thing she always dreamed of. A family.

Inspired by every fanfic where Sunset gets adopted by Celestia and/or is Celestia's kid.

The wedding was a disaster, Twilight abandoned by her friends and family alike during it yet expected to get things fixed up after the defeat of the changelings, it is understandable that she is upset. Trying to clear her mind she takes a walk and comes across a normally guarded corridor, though is left unguarded due to the recent crisis causing her to investigate. It isn't to get out of worrying about a wedding she isn't invited to, not at all.

She finds the portal mirror and enters it to explore it, her anger at the others encouraging her to skip any safety precautions. Unfortunately, she ends up trapped on the other side on the run from people trying to catch her. That is until one girl finds her, a girl willing to believe her story and offers to help. A girl with a much more painful past who is still working on her own issues. A girl who goes by the name of Sunset Shimmer.

Featured on:
April 25, 2016
April 26, 2016
A big thanks to everyone who made this possible!

On a fateful night in a world far away from her, Princess Celestia mourns the idea that her two most beloved students are fighting. One battles for her friends and home while the other opposes, seeking her own selfish desires. When only one of them returns home, Celestia knows the worst has come to pass.

Still, hope lingers in the darkness. Sunset did return—but not as anyone remembers her.

Can Celestia, given a second chance to do things right, give Sunset the chance she never had?

Submission for the More Most Dangerous Game contest under the prompt of Past Sins.

Massive thanks to Cerulean Voice, vren55 and The Albinocorn for editing and prereading! Without them, this story may not have happened.

Alone and afraid, Sunset Shimmer has been living off of the streets in Canterlot ever since she ran away from home. She is barely holding on as it is and winter is coming soon, and Sunset doesn't know how she's going to survive this one. On a particularly cold night, she's out searching for something to eat when she bumps into the last pony she expects to see walking through the slums: Princess Celestia.

Edited by Alcatraz
Cover art drawn by Dilarus

YouTube Reading!

Sunset Shimmer is faced with something she hadn't cared so much about. Life after High School. With her friends making plans to attend different schools, some far from Canterlot High, and a growing homesickness, Sunset isn't sure where to turn. She decides to return home and restart her life as a pony, but sometimes home isn't what we think it is.

Traveling back to Equestria for summer vacation seemed like the best idea ever. However Sunset Shimmer's home brings back memories and thoughts that haven't surfaced since her reformation. Forgiveness is never easy especially when it comes to forgiving oneself. That coupled with a deadly changeling plot against Princess Twilight has Sunset running in circles to protect her friends and figure herself out.

Extra Tags: Chrysalis, Changelings, Flash Sentry (I'm so sorry).
This may be subjected to change as the story progresses.

Extra side note: the cover art for this story was done by me
Extra Extra side note: To everyone who has faved and liked thank you so much!
Final Side Note: I've edited the spacing and scene transitions so it's less of an eye sore.

MUST READ: So an awesome friend of mine has started working on an animation for this story. He has a rough cut of the first scene in the first chapter. Check it out here and leave some feedback!
Summer Sunset Chapter 1 Animation Test

Proof Read/edited by: 1DATMLP

After the Fall Formal things don't go so well with Sunset Shimmer she slowly spirals downward before hitting rock bottom, moments away from doing something she will regret when, to her, the least likely of people come to her rescue.

Takes place after the first Equestria Girls movie.

Oh wow! My very first featured story on 3/12/2015! Thank you all so much!