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// 4 Knocks 04: Mad Hatter 
// Story: The Many Destinies of Sunset Shimmer 
// by ratedoni 
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No matter how bad Sunset’s day was, she was always someone that always did things right. From how she sat down all prim and proper, from her days of bully and queen to those days on which she had become the hero and number one girl that students trusted and asked for advice.

Now, there she was, sitting down at the lunch table with her legs tucked under her chin as she rocked back and forth while the six girls that were her best friends watched her from afar, their faces showing the fear and confusion they felt at the moment.

It had been a complete day since the moment of Chrysalis… defeat, but nothing was rosy as the Canterlot girls were used to. The Princess had been notified of the demise of Equestria’s most wanted villain. Sadly, the only way in which Princess Twilight would be able to get the body would be to use several boxes for the many remains… probably 20 matchstick boxes would be good.

The problem wasn’t that, but the way in which Sunset had been muttering, walking and screaming at everything and everyone. Now it was the turn of their teacher, the mysterious Doctor, to get any answer, or at least one that will make sense.

“Sunset… Master… I know how you feel right now; I had to use the Chameleon to hide. Please, I know you are still there,” the skinny man said as Sunset finally stopped rocking and one eye was seen from underneath the hair curtain of Sunset’s head.

“Do you? Really, please, enlighten me on that part.”

“Before this, you would have started shooting at me or the other girls, I know there is good inside of you and-” before he could go on Sunset moved as if she was a spring toy, jumping on top of the table, sending plates, cutlery and trays flying. On hands and knees Sunset’s face was right in front of the Doctor.

“How can you even think that everything is right?! No, wait, that’s not the right question, not even the right answer! Do you see now? This is what I am, I feel my head and my body being pulled at 5, no, 6 different ways!” Sunset began to say as she started to pace all on fours on top of the table. This reaction took the students by surprise but there were several that could do nothing but be mesmerized by the insanity of the redhead.

“What do you mean? Talk to me, please, I want to help you.”

“Yeah yeah, because we are the last ones. Bravo my dear, you finally did what I could not, but that’s not important, they are not important. My head and body want! I want to be the Master, but I want to be Sunset and that’s not all! I want Equestria, but I want to fight for Earth, I want Harmony and I want Twilight’s pus- heart! Let’s go with Heart! Do you see now? I’m bonkers! The only worse than me is Pinkie Pie!”

“Hey!”

“I have proof of that!”

“Sorry sugarcube, Sunset… ah, Master? She is not wrong, Ah think that’s why we are getting a little used to this entire shindig,” The blonde said and all of them felt a little sad that their lives had become so that the insane ravings of a friend could be seen as part of studying at Canterlot High.

“As if it were that simple!” Sunset said tumbling down from the table kneeling down in front of her friends “I feel it, the calling! To destroy and become the true master of this world! Although taking it on perspective that’s nothing out of the ordinary,” she said with one hand under her chin as the others simply nodded, all except Twilight who was still processing what Sunset had said about wanting her… before she could go on with her ruminations she felt something holding unto her leg making her want to jump back, but Sunset’s weight anchored her to the floor.

“Sunset!”

“Sparky! Please, don’t abandon me! I feel that you are the only thing that makes it possible to choose Sunset as me! Oh heaven, even talking is crazy with me!” Twilight’s face was quickly becoming a new sun due to the amount of heat it was emanating at having Sunset hugging her leg and slowly rubbing herself on it.

“Doctor, is that normal?”

“When we regenerate or… wake up, things are a little hectic, but this is The Master that had been the target of a full emphatic blast from another dimension. What I am surprised of all this Roseluck, is that Sunset is behaving. Now I don’t know what to do.”

“What do you mean?”

“This is the Master, one of my greatest enemies and friends. She is truly trying to be normal, but she was affected by our time in Gallifrey… I don’t know if she would be able to fight the madness inside her.”

“Is that how it’s going to be?” The Mad Time Lord said finally ungluing herself from Twilight’s leg, presenting her wrists to her old nemesis “are you going to put me in chains? Just make sure they are tight, we both know you like it when I beg!” Sunset’s maniacal smile said everything the Doctor needed to know. It would be an uphill fight, but he could see the madness fighting against the girl that wanted to make Earth her new home. She would need a lot of help… and him a lot of aspirins.