//------------------------------//
// Betrayal 
// Story: Sunset's Redemption 
// by ThomasZoey3000 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 7: Betrayal


The next morning, the sky was filled with dark rain clouds coming from Cloudsdale. Heavy rains poured down and many ponies decided it was best to stay indoors instead of getting soaked outside. Despite the weather, Sunset Shimmer was feeling quite cheerful as she brushed her mane to it's regular style. She was looking forward to spending time with her sister, and meeting up with her friends again.

"I wonder if we'll meet up with anymore ponies I used to know," she thought to herself.

She then went back to the journal and wrote a message saying 'Everything is going smoothly, going out for a while, talk to you all soon. Your Friend, Sunset Shimmer.'

No sooner had she finished writing her message, then she saw Sunny Rays standing in the doorway. She was wearing a yellow floppy hat and a rain coat.

"I'm ready to go!" she cheered and gave a little bounce.

Sunset giggled, "Sunny Rays, we haven't had anything to eat yet. Let's have some breakfast first, then we'll go out. That a deal?"

Sunny Rays nodded happily and ran down the stairs towards the kitchen. Sunset followed closely behind, smiling the entire time.

When they got downstairs, they found their mother already working on breakfast as per usual, and their father reading the newspaper. Instead of saying good-morning to them, he just kept looking at the newspaper. Sunset was confused at first, but then thought he was reading a good article.

"Are you sure you want to go out today?" Sunrise asked her daughters, "the pegasi have brought in alot of rain today."
Sunny Rays nodded, as did Sunset, "we'll be fine out there Mom. We'll be wearing our rain jackets and hats, and we promise to come back with dry hooves."

Like the day before, the daughters helped their mother make the rest of breakfast. Then after helping to clean up, and they got their rain jackets and hats on, they headed out to explore the town of Canterlot. Sunrise was still smiling, but she was concerned about her husband.

"Moon Crest, is there something wrong?" she asked.

"You remember that thing we both discussed years ago? I think we need to go threw with what we said that night."
Sunrise groaned, "oh come on dear, you don't really want to do that, not after everything that's been going on. Why would you want to ruin everything?"

"You know why. When Sunset comes back with Sunny Rays, we're going to have that little chat with her."

"Oh, I was afraid this was going to happen."


Large puddles were on the streets and the rain was coming down in bucket loads, but the two sisters were smiling and talking the entire time.

"I hope to one day come and visit you in your world Sunset. From what you said, it's a lovely place."

"It is, but you'll need to walk on two legs and pick up things with objects called hands. I'll teach you all that when you arrive, but trust me, you're going to love the Canterlot in the world I'm living in."

"It'll be fun," she cheered again and bounced into the air.

Sunset smiled, but then a confused look came to her face. As they were walking along, ponies saw her, and turned away before she could even say hello.

"Okay that's unusual."

They soon reached Honey Tree's stall. Her business was open that day, so the sisters decided to visit and maybe get some honey biscuts.

"Good morning Honey Tree, all's well today?"

"You could say that," came the blunt reply. "Now what would you like?"

"We would like some honey biscuts," answered Sunny Rays.

Honey Tree went to find some. As she looked, Sunset spotted another filly inside the stall, "oh hello there, are you Honey Tree's little sister?" Sunset asked.

"Yes she is," answered Honey Tree. She had returned with a tray of honey biscuts.

"She's so adorable, what's her name?"

"Cheery Tree."

"Cheery Tree huh? Well that's a cute name." To Sunset's surprise though, the filly known as Cheery Tree backed up and hid behind her big sister. But then she thought, "she must be shy like Sunny Rays."

"Anyways, we got to go, see you around."

And before Sunset could say anymore, Honey Tree closed the shutters of the shop and ran out the side with her sister.

"Uh, was it something I said?"

"I don't know, but she didn't wait for you to pay for the biscuts."

"Indeed Sunny. Oh well, I'll leave some bits here for her." She placed the bits on the counter, then she and Sunny Rays set off.


For the rest of the day, Sunset and Sunny Rays were met with confusing moments. They met up with Silver Swirls at her shop, but before they could ask for anything, she closed her shutter and ran off. Music Note wasn't in his usual spot, but that was mostly because of the rain. Yet when Sunset knocked on his door, she got no answer from him, when in fact he was there. Then came Octivia Melody's concert. The two sisters were eager to go in and see her perform, but the guards stopped them.

"We are under strict instructions to not let you in," said one of the guards, pointing a hoof at Sunset Shimmer.

"The young filly is fine though, she can go in."

"But why?" asked Sunset, "Octivia is one of my friends, I have to go in and see her perform."

"I'm sorry, but we cannot let you in."

"Well if Sunset can't go in, then I'm not going in either. We go in together, or not at all."

"Then I'm afraid you'll have to leave."

Not wanting to cause a scene, Sunset and Sunny Rays walked away from the concert hall. They were confused, "did we actually meet up with them last night, or was that dinner just a dream?"

"It wasn't a dream, it was for real," said Sunny Rays.

"I thought so, so why is everypony avoiding us? Maybe it's my breath, maybe that's driving them away." She lifted a hoof and blew on it and sniffed, "nope, smells like Strawberries, so that can't be it. Maybe it was something I said."

"I don't think that's it Big Sister, you didn't say anything wrong."

"Then what in the name of Celestia is going on around here?"

They soon found out as a pony was delivering papers. Despite being scared of her, the pony gave Sunset a newspaper. She looked at the front page, "Sweet Luna, what is this? MANICE IS BACK IN TOWN. RESIDANTS ARE TO BE CAREFUL AROUND SUNSET SHIMMER."

"Why would it say that?"

"I don't know, let's read and find out."

As they read the article, Sunset found out it had been written by her old boyfriend; Pen Pal. It went on to explain all the bad things Sunset Shimmer had done when she was younger, and what she did the night she disappeared.

"Yeah I regret that, but how in Equestria did he learn that?"

"I don't know, maybe he did some research."

"You might be right there Little Sister." Sunset read on and gasped at the rest of the article, "I think we need to go home now. We need to talk to Dad right away."

And so, they headed off back to the Shimmer family house.


When they got back, something told Sunset Shimmer to get the journal and her saddlebag. Unsure as to why, she went upstairs and got them, along with her Captain Equestria doll that had been packed on the first day she returned. Then she went to speak with her father. He was still looking at the newspaper, while Sunrise stood with Sunny Rays in the doorway to the kitchen.

"Dad, you've been reading that newspaper for quite some time, is there anything interesting in there?"

"Yeah, there's quite a bit in here," came the answer.

"Really? Have you looked at the front page?"

"Maybe, why?"

Sunset stomped a hoof, "I know Pen Pal wrote that article about me, and that you were talking to him. But what I don't get is why you would say such horrible things about me."

Moon Crest put down his newspaper and got up from his chair, "alright you want the truth?"

"Yes, I want the truth."

"Okay fine, you're going to get it. It's because it's how your mother and I feel about you."

"What?" Sunset was shocked to hear this, "but you said you're terrible at holding grudges."

"Ever heard of a lie? Of course you have, you told them all the time. I said what I said to Pen Pal because I don't believe you'll ever get redemption for all the things you have done. You left scars that are way too deep to ever heal over time. You left them on everypony, including us, we suffered the wrath of angry townsponies because of you."

"Hey hold on, I'm saying I'm sorry. I'm working hard to make up for what I've done."

"Are you? Or is this a show? Cause to be honest, it feels like a show, a bad one at that."

"But Dad, you were being kind to me when I came back, so why now?"

"I didn't want to cause a scene, or upset Sunny Rays." He took in a deep breath and continued, "you always were a troublemaker, you never cared about anypony other than yourself, and your mother and I were ashamed to call you our daughter. We didn't even think we were going to have anymore fillies or colts running around this house, but when Sunny Rays came into our lives, we both agreed to never tell her about you. It was to make sure she didn't go down the same path you did, and make us suffer even more."

"I can't believe this," Sunset groaned. "Mom, tell me this isn't true."

"I...well that's to say...I..."

"Your mother and I are in an agreement on this." He then lifted the back of his mane up, "I'm sure Sunset you remember this. I got this thanks to you, that incident in the workshop."

Sunset thought back and gasped, "but that was an accident."

"No, it wasn't. You stuck out your back hooves and tripped me on purpose, and made me bash the back of my head on the workbench, then to make the situation worst, you laughed as you ran away. You're lucky though that another pony came and took me to the hospital."

"No wait, that's not what happened, let me explain."

"There is nothing to explain, you did it on purpose. Before that day, I knew you were bad, but I didn't think you were capable of doing that. You disgust me, and you are a disgrace to this family."

Tears were now starting to form in Sunset's eyes, "but I thought you loved me."

"Loved you? Ha! That's a stupid joke. We don't love you, we hate you, and I know your old friends hate you as well. I had to pay them just so you could talk with them for a short time. Once the deal was done, they could avoid you again, just like everypony will for now on."

"But...but..." Sunset was on the verge of crying, she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"You caused enough damage, I suggest you leave and don't bother coming back."

Now it was Sunrise's turn to be shocked, "hey whoa, hold on a second here. We agreed on grounding her for a while, not kick her out of our house. Come on Moon Crest, that's going too far."

"No, it's not far enough. I want you Sunset to leave, and so help me, if I catch you near Sunny Rays ever again, I'll extend the same treatment you gave me. Now get out!"

"But Daddy..."

"Don't call me that! Now get out!"

"But..."

"OUT!!"

Still in a state of shock and with tears rolling down her face, Sunset turned, opened the door with her magic and ran out, dropping the Captain Equestria doll on the floor. Moon Crest picked it up with his magic, "Sunrise, put this back in that room and put it back in the toy bin. We have no further use for it."

Sunrise sighed, but said nothing as she took the doll and went upstairs. Sunny Rays meanwhile was too shocked to say anything.

Moon Crest walked past her, but stopped a foot away, "one day you'll thank me Sunny Rays," and he left to go back to his workshop.


At the Sparkle family house, Twilight was showing Moondancer some of the old books she used to have when she was a filly, "I remember alot of these books, they went out of stock years ago. Good thing your parents kept them all."

"Yeah I guess so."

As Moondancer began reading another book, there came several knocks at the door. Moments later, Night Light; Twilight's father, called out to Twilight, "you have a visitor, and she needs to talk to you right now."

Moondancer and Twilight Sparkle ran towards the door and were stunned to see a soaking wet Sunset Shimmer with tears pouring down from her eyes.

"Sunset, what's the matter? Is everything okay?"

"No, I was told to leave by my parents."

"What?! Why would they do that?"

Sunset couldn't bring herself to speak. Night Light turned to Spike, "get a box of tissues and a towel, this poor filly is going to need them." Spike didn't need to be told twice, he went off to get those things.

Sunset finally came into the house and after Twilight Velvet; Twilight's mother, brought out some tea, she told everypony and dragon about what happened back at her house.

Night Light sighed unhappily, "I had a feeling he was going to do that."

"You did? But how could you know Dad?" Twilight asked.

"Because I was there that day. You see, I was just walking along threw the street when I suddenly heard crying from a young filly. It was Sunset Shimmer..."

"Oh yes, I thought you looked familar," interupted Sunset, then she went quiet again.

"She was crying and pointing to her backyard. She told me everything that happened and I went to help. I got Mr Shimmer to the hospital while she stayed behind to clean up the pool of blood that was on the floor. It was four hours later when he woke up," he continued, "he thanked me for helping him, but as I was leaving, I heard him say 'I'll never forgive that little monster'."

"Oh great, now he's calling me a monster. Raging She-Demon would've been better."

"I don't think either one is good," said Moondancer.

"But I thought he would've just yelled, I didn't expect him to throw his own daughter out of the house," said Night Light.

Twilight looked down to Spike, "what? No comment this time Spike? You're not going to say 'I Told You So'?"

Spike shook his head, "there's nothing to joke about at a time like this. I actually feel sorry for Sunset Shimmer."

Another flood of tears was about to pour down from her eyes, "I just want to be alone for a while, can I be alone please?"

"Of course you can," said Twilight. "You can stay in my room if you want."

"Thank you," and with that, Sunset ran up the stairs to Twilight's bedroom. After finding it, she buried her face into the pillow and the waterworks started again. Sunset then looked back to her saddlebag, but to her horror, she found that her Captain Equestria doll wasn't in there, only the journal Twilight used to open the portal. More tears poured out and onto the pillow.

What had began as a day for more chances at Redemption, quickly turned into the worst nightmare she could ever have. Only it wasn't a nightmare, it was reality. Sunset Shimmer couldn't have felt more lonely than she was right now.