I hadn't been prepared to lose. Everything that I had done up to that point, I had done solely for the purpose of allowing me to return to Equestria and conquering it. Twilight and the element bearers wouldn't be able to stop me, not with the Element of Magic under my control.
But, as I quickly found out, I wasn't prepared and I wasn't in control. The Element of Magic awakened something deep inside of me. Something that I wasn't prepared for and hadn't been aware of.
The Element of Magic turned me into a demon. I was aware of my actions, but I wasn't in control. SHE was, and I was along for the ride.
I tried pleading with the demon to stop, the last thing that I wanted was to hurt anyone. She wouldn't listen. I can still hear her laugh and her cruel taunts. She thought that she had won.
Then we got blasted into oblivion by weaponized friendship. To the six girls that would later turn out to be my saviors, it only lasted a few seconds. To me it lasted for a lifetime as I was forced to relive every cruel thing that I have ever done. I can't apologise for everything I've done, and there are some things that will never be forgiven.
But that wasn't all, the demon made sure to leave a physical reminder of what she had done. I still have the scars on my back. No one could see them at the time since I still had my leather jacket. Everyone else returned to the dance as if nothing had happened. I, however, was put to work cleaning up the mess that I had made in the front of the school.
I left as soon as Luna said that I was free to go. And I was glad that I was still free. Princess Twilight had every right to haul me back to Equestria in chains. But she didn't. I guess that she was the first one to see it. A little spark inside of me that was worth redemption. For that I'm thankful.
At the time I was living in an abandoned gas station two blocks away from the school. The rats were my only company. Even Snips and Snails had no clue where I lived. I hid there all weekend. I was worried when the cop car pulled into the station and I didn't move the whole time that he was there. But he stayed in his car either eating his lunch or working on paperwork. I guess that I got lucky. Unfortunately I hadn't supplied myself with enough food. I hadn't planned on being in this world any longer and I had let my supplies dwindle. I was out of food by Sunday night, but I was too afraid to leave. I was certain that the students of CHS were after me to exact their revenge. Leaving my sanctuary wasn't an option. I tried scrounging for food. I almost ate a rat, but the thought of it made me throw up.
Eventually my need for food won out over my need of self preservation. I remembered that there was a homeless shelter not to far from where I was staying and that they didn't ask to many questions. So I made my way to the shelter. I was only interested in a meal and maybe a shower. My back was covered in small scratches and as I would learn later two large scars where the wings had protruded from my back.
I didn't notice the familiar red pick-up truck that was parked outside the shelter that night. And it was noisy inside while I stood in line waiting to get the first meal that I had eaten in days. I wasn't prepared for the voice that addressed me.
"Would you like some mashed potatoes Sugarcube?" The familiar voice asked, I looked up and found myself eye to eye with Applejack. Only the service line was between us. I had a choice. I could either stay or I could run. I knew enough about human nutrition and anatomy to know that if I ran I probably wouldn't get very far.
"Mashed potatoes please," I managed to squeak out. It seemed like my voice had abandoned me as well. That's when Applejack really looked at me.
"Whoa there Sunset," Applejack said, "I didn't recognize you. What're ya doin here?"
"Trying to survive," I mumbled.
"What was that?" Applejack asked, "I didn't hear ya."
"Just trying to get something to eat," I said a little louder. I then managed to find a place to sit and eat. It wasn't long before Applejack was confronting me though.
"Sunset, what are you doin at a place like this?" Applejack asked me once she got me outside.
"The same thing as everyone else," I replied, "trying to eat."
"Well yeah," Applejack said, "but this is the homeless shelter..." Then all the pieces seemed to fall into place in Applejack's mind.
"Sunset," Applejack said softly, "why didn't you tell anybody that you are homeless?"
Because nobody cares about me, I wanted to scream at her.
"Who would I have told?" I asked.
"Well, I guess you could have said somethin to Principal Celestia." Applejack replied.
"Hmph," I said, "I doubt that she cares that much."
Applejack looked at her watch and then grabbed me by the wrist. Next thing I knew, she was loading me into the passenger side of her family's truck and I found myself sandwiched between her and Big Mac.
"Where are you taking me?" I managed to ask.
"We're taking you back to the farm." Applejack said, "atleast there you'll be able to get a hot shower and better food than ya can get at the shelter. Plus it'll give me an opportunity to look at your back, I can tell that you're in some pain."
"Why are you doing this," I said, "I've only ever been mean to you."
"Well Sunset," Applejack said after a quiet moment, "the road to friendship has to start somewhere."
"Eyup." Big Mac said.