//------------------------------// // A Sad Day Turns Weird // Story: ULTRA LIVE! Sunset Shimmer // by Cojo5536 //------------------------------// It is a cold, dark day in the forests outside of Canterlot, no place for a girl, yet there is one walking there. Sunset Shimmer wanders these woods in a depressed stupor after a terrible day at school. "Why didn't they listen to me?" She asks, tearfully reflecting on the previous days. About two days ago, a user by the name of Anon-A-Miss appeared on the social media site MyStable and started posting secrets, starting with her friend Applejack's embarrassing nickname. Then, just today, another post went up showing Rarity's Closet of Shame, with pictures from Sunset's phone somehow. Despite Sunset's attempts to defend herself, her friends accused her and cast Sunset out of their lives. So now here she was, a depressed girl wandering a snowy, dark forest, with no direction and no clear reason why she went there to begin with. Sunset finally stopped in a small clearing, having finally shed all the tears she could shed and composed herself. "Well I suppose I should head back, for whatever it's worth," she said with an air of resignation. However as she turned to walk back to Canterlot High, a glint of light caught her eye. Searching for the source, she found an object shaped like a dagger that would not be out of place in a science fiction film leaning against a tree. "What is that? A toy?" Sunset asked, "Strange, I think I would have noticed it on the way here." After briefly looking around the clearing for a possible owner, Sunset walked over to the futuristic dagger to pick it up. Upon clutching it in her right hand, however, the object emitted a blinding light and filled her head with images of giant humanoids fighting equally giant creatures, and two titans of light and dark locked in combat. When the visions finally stopped, Sunset found herself on her back, having apparently fallen at some point during the mental assault. "Uhg, what was that?" Sunset asked, now noticing a significant headache coming on, "Did I just imagine that? Was it magic?" Suddenly, Sunset noticed something glowing on the back of her right hand. Upon turning it over, she gasped. There, on her hand, was a shining symbol of some kind. "Wh.. What is this?" Sunset asked, becoming increasingly frightened of the situation she had found herself in. "THERE IT IS!" Shouted a new, masculine voice, giving Sunset a tremendous fright. "Who... Who's there?" Sunset asked with trepidation. "Down here!" called the voice. Sunset looked down and could not believe what she was looking at. At her feet was a small red and silver colored humanoid whose head was adorned with a pair of horns. What was more troubling though, was that it was waving at her. "I have been looking for that for the better part of the day since it somehow disappeared from my watch," the man, no bigger than a toy said as if this made sense to Sunset, "wait, what is that on your hand?" Sunset looked at the symbol on her hand again when the talking toy suddenly gasped. "IT'S YOU! YOU ARE THE ONE THE GINGA SPARK HAS CHOSEN! Oh this is a grand day! I feared the darkness would consume this world before its user would be found. Oh, excuse me, I am-" The figure continued, not realizing that a major problem was arising. Sunset scared, confused, and far out of her depth, did something that any girl in her situation would do. She threw the device, and the toy and ran screaming back to CHS. *////* Sitting in a classroom being glared at by her fellow students was not Sunset's idea of an ideal time, but it was a vast improvement over dealing with that device and talking toy at least. It had taken some time to calm down from the shock, but the world was making sense again. There was, however, still a problem. What am I gonna about Anon-A-Miss? Sunset thought, sadness returning to her heart at the memory. "Miss Shimmer," Mrs. Harshwhinny sternly said, snapping Sunset out of her thoughts. "Uh, yes Mrs. Harshwhinny?" Sunset replied. "Unless you have a very good reason for it, turn your phone light off," Mrs. Harshwhinny commanded. Sunset was naturally confused by this given that she usually turns her phone completely off while in class, "Phone light?" "In your bag," Mrs. Harshwhinny said, becoming obviously irritated. Sunset, still confused, turned to look at her bag, but froze when she saw a bright light emanating from it. No way. It couldn't be. Please don't let it be. Sunset thought. Suddenly, Sunset noticed that she was now the center of attention of the entire class. "I will get on that now ma'am," Sunset said, dreading what she would find in the bag. With a great deal of trepidation, Sunset slowly opened her bag, ready to run at the first sign of horns. Her worst fears were realized when a voice shouted from the bag, "HEY! WHAT IS-!" Sunset shut her bag faster than she ever had before with a scream. "I NEED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM!" Sunset shrieked, and ran out of the classroom before Mrs. Harshwhinny could reply to dispose of the talking toy and device in the trash. *////* What is going on today? First my friends ditch me, now a talking toy that's following me? Does the universe just have it out for me? Questions like this and more ran through a frazzled-looking Sunset's mind, hoping that she had lost the toy and device for good this time. Compared to that toy, Anon-A-Miss was very quickly shifting down her priority list and becoming a minor problem. However, it seemed that here in the library, she had found some safety. "WHY ARE YOU RUNNING!?" the toy suddenly yelled. Sunset screamed and bolted once again, knocking her chair over in the process, "GET BACK HERE AND ACCEPT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!" This pattern would repeat itself throughout the day. *////* Wallflower Blush was not expecting company in the greenhouse that was considered her domain, yet here she was, staring at a manic-looking Sunset Shimmer quietly muttering to herself. "Uhm, ca-can I, h-help you?" Wallflower shyly asked. "Shhhh, is it here?" Sunset whispered as though on the verge of a mental breakdown. "What?" Wallflower asked, is this something to do with Anon-A-Miss? "The talking toy! Is it here?" Sunset replied with audible terror. "Talking- Wait you? You're the one Taro was waiting for?" Wallflower asked incredulously. Sunset gained a confused look at that response, expecting to be called crazy for mentioning the toy, "Taro? Who's Taro?" "ME! I AM TARO!" the toy screamed out. Sunset looked down to see the toy carrying the device. Once again she screamed and made to run. "ENOUGH RUNNING SHIMMER! ULTRA PSYCHOKINESIS! the toy shrieked. Sunset suddenly found her legs frozen mid-run and found herself painfully falling face-first into the ground. She turned over, looking at Wallflower and the toy in terror. "Now are you going to sit quietly and listen to what I have to say, or do I have to use my psychic powers again?" the toy demanded, leaving no room to argue. Sunset kept her terrified look briefly before sighing in resignation, "Okay." *////* "There, now that we are all settled, we can finally begin. I am Ultraman Taro," the toy, now called Taro said from his perch on one of the garden tables. "I'm sorry, but I need to interrupt," Sunset said, "This question is pertinent to me, are you from Equestria?" "Huh? Equestria? What's that?" Taro asked, sounding genuinely confused. However, Sunset needed to be sure. "Don't play dumb, you came through the portal at the base of the statue didn't you?" "This is the first I've heard of it. Wallflower, why didn't you mention that?" Taro asked. Wallflower froze when she realized she was being addressed, "Um... I didn't think it was relevant?" she said unconvincingly. "Not relevant!" Taro said, aghast, "The situation is more dire than I originally thought, now two worlds are in danger!" "Now wait a minute!" Sunset yelled, "You two obviously know each other, but I'm the outsider! Answer my question Ultraman Taro." "Uh, sorry," Taro sheepishly replied, "I come from Planet Ultra, in the M78 Nebula." Sunset was briefly silent, "You're saying you're a space alien?" "Yes," Taro bluntly replied, but much to his great annoyance, Sunset started laughing. "Hahaha! No way, space aliens don't exist," she said before resuming her laughter. Wallflower, however seemed to take offence to Sunset's mirth, "Why are you laughing? You're not exactly an Earthling yourself." Sunset's laughter died immediately. Crap she has me there. "Um. That's-" "What does she mean by that?" Taro asked. "NOTHING!" Sunset yelped, wishing to keep her origins a secret. Unfortunately, Wallflower did not allow it. "She came from Equestria." "So you were laughing about me being an alien while you yourself are an alien? How does that make sense to you?" Taro asked apparently now taking offence himself. "Okay okay, you're an alien!" Sunset relented, eager to not dig a deeper hole for herself, "I think we have gotten distracted. Continue your story." "Oh, yes, I suppose we have. As I have told you I am Ultraman Taro of Planet Ultra. I, and my brothers and allies, were engaged in a war against a vast army of monsters and evil aliens. In the moments before I was reduced to the form you see before you,a final, decisive battle was waged that would decide if good or evil would prevail. Both sides fought fiercely, neither willing to give ground to the other. Just as it would seem the battle would last forever, a truly titanic being of darkness, bigger than any Ultra, alien, or monster, appeared wielding a device much like the Ginga Spark you now possess. In a single stroke, the dark giant ended the battle, and changed all the participants into forms like the one before you now." Sunset looked down upon the device, now called the Ginga Spark with a look of warriness, "How do you know it wasn't the Ginga Spark? And what happened to the dark giant?" "Because I can feel the light within it. I do not know what happened after the battle, however. Perhaps another defeated it, but, more likely, I fear that it merely retreated, hiding on this world while it regains its strength. Our first priority should be to find Spark Dolls," Taro said gravely. "Spark Dolls?" Sunset asked. "That is what this form is called, a Spark Doll. You can recognize them by the symbol on their left foot or equivalent," Taro said, showing the sole of his left foot for emphasis. "Oh. You know, I've been wondering something, how do you and... Wallflower was it?" Sunset asked getting a quick nod from the green-haired girl, " Know each other, and how is she connected to the Ginga Spark?" "Oh yes, we never told you that! Well," Taro paused, "actually, Wallflower, why don't you tell Miss Shimmer the story?" "You don't need to call me that you know, just call me Sunset. Miss Shimmer makes me sound old." Taro and Wallflower ignored Sunset, "ME!? But-but-but-" "Wallflower," Taro said with all the gentleness of a kindly father, "I cannot be your only friend forever. This is a chance to spread your wings and start on building further friendships." Wallflower continued to hesitate, "Please." Poor Wallflower seemed ready to burst into terrified tears, but Taro's gentle encouragement finally won her over. "*Sigh* I originally found the Ginga Spark. It was several months ago, I was tending my garden at home when a fireball smashed into my greenhouse. I was terrified for my plants so I went into the house for a fire extinguisher, but when I got back to the greenhouse the fire was already dying out and the Ginga Spark was in the crater. I don't know why, but I took it. Then, about a month after that, I walked in on Taro inspecting the Spark, we have been friends ever since." "So if you originally had the Ginga Spark, why couldn't you just use it?" Sunset asked the obvious question. "You think I didn't try?" Wallflower snapped, earning a disapproving glare from Taro, "Sorry. Taro tried to get me to use it, but it wouldn't work for me. He said it 'must not have chosen me.'" "Do know exactly when the Ginga Spark appeared in your greenhouse?" Sunset asked. "No, but it couldn't have been much long after you and your friends defeated the Dazzlings," Wallflower replied. Sunset tried to recall anything that could have happened in that timeframe that could have resulted in the Ginga Spark choosing her. The only thing she could think of that might fit was a backyard campout at Sweet Apple Acres where she and her friends saw a meteor shower and just to humor them Sunset- She suddenly slammed her head into the garden table, startling Taro and Wallflower. "What is it Miss Shimmer" Taro asked, alarmed. Sunset emitted angry growl and grabbed the Ginga Spark, "Is this thing telling me, that it chose me, BECAUSE I WISHED UPON A STAR!? WHAT KIND OF FAIRYTALE HORSEAPPLES IS THAT!?" She threw the Ginga Spark away in anger. "Miss Shimmer-" "My name is Sunset!" "... Sunset calm down, getting angry at the Ginga Spark won't solve anything. We need to find the Spark Dolls and defeat the evil that has taken root here," Taro urged. "Look Taro! I would love to help you on your little scavenger hunt, but I have my own problems to fix, like Anon-A-Miss and my friendships," Sunset said, irritated that she was being dragged into another adventure and turned to leave. "Sunset," Taro said in a grave tone, making her stop, "if you don't fight against this evil, you might not ever get a chance to repair your friendships." Sunset turned to face Taro the gravity of the situation suddenly hitting her. However, she was still unsure, "But. I've always had my friends for problems like this." "I understand Sunset. Really I do," Taro said once more with kindness, "But if this darkness is allowed to proliferate unchecked, both Earth and Equestria will be doomed. Please. I promise that we will help you with your friends, but you have to trust us." Sunset, still uncertain, turned to Wallflower. The green haired girl offered her a small smile of encouragement and in that moment, something happened within the red and gold haired girl. Walking over to where the Ginga Spark landed, Sunset bent over, and picked it up. "Okay, I'll do it." Wallflower and Taro were ecstatic. Finally, they had a chance to fight back. "BUT!" Sunset said to calm them down, "If I'm going to use this, I want Princess Twilight to oversee its first usage." "What? But why?" Taro asked. "You are asking me to use something I have never seen before, don't know how it works, or what effect it will have on my body," Sunset listed off. "No offence, but I have only just met you two. I want someone I know on hand to make sure everything goes off without a hitch." Taro considered this, then said, "Fair enough. We will begin tomorrow." "Thank you, Ultraman Taro," Sunset said then walked out hiding a small smile on her face. When Sunset was out of earshot, Taro turned to Wallflower and asked, "Who is Princess Twilight?" Wallflower blushed and said, "I'll tell you when we're home. I still need to tend the school greenhouse." As Wallflower began her work, she thought about the next day with a smile. Whatever would happen, it promised to be amazing. *////* On a dark corner at an empty bus stop, a blue-skinned, silver-haired girl furiously muttered to herself about a secret that Anon-A-Miss posted about her. Unknown to her, however, she is not the only one at this stop. A shrouded figure watches from the shadow. "My lord, are you certain this is the one?" It asks, pausing as though listening to a silent third party. "Yes, I feel it now. Her heart calls to your darkness. She will make a fine User." The figure stepped out of the shadows, revealing a bizarre looking red and blue creature wielding a dark object, the Alien Metron. The poor girl never stood a chance.