Sunset opened her eyes to darkness. This confused her for a moment, as this had never happened to her before. Normally she’d be dreaming already.
Wait, was she dreaming?
Sunset listened closely for any sounds that would give her an indication, like a passing car or someone else from the apartment complex closing a door.
Nothing.
Sunset blinked, and suddenly found that she was weightless. Weightless in complete and utter darkness. This unnerved her for some reason.
A shrill cacophony of laughter filled Sunset’s ears, and her unease turned into fear. A sudden flash of bright light and a wave of heat washed over her, forcing her to close her eyes. The light dimmed enough for her eyes to open, but she kept them shut. She knew who just appeared in front of her…
“If you think that keeping your eyes closed will help you,” the Demonself said in a loud, booming voice. “You’re wrong!”
Sunset opened her eyes, and they widened.
The Demonself stood before Sunset, larger than ever. Its sheer presence sent a chill down her spine, and the fact that it was big enough to crush her beneath those boots only made her feel smaller.
“How many times do I have to tell you, Sunset Shimmer,” the Demonself roared, nearly blowing Sunset back. “You can never escape me!”
“Celestia knows I’ve tried,” Sunset muttered under her breath.
“And no matter what you try, I’ll always come back. After all, I’m a part of you!”
Sunset grit her teeth in frustration as her fear gave way to anger. “I’m so sick and tired of your bullshit,” she roared. “What the hell did I do to deserve…” She trailed off as the answer came to her immediately.
Sunset had been a terrible person at Canterlot High. The people she hurt. The relationships she damaged and even destroyed. Everything she did was what she did to deserve this. Her face fell.
“Hey now, Sugarcube,” a familiar voice said. “How many times do you gotta hear it?”
Sunset whipped around. “Applejack!” She suddenly felt her feet touch solid ground.
“Ooh, ooh,” Pinkie chirped as she skipped forward. “Can I say it? Can I say it?”
There was a familiar scoff as Rarity entered. “Please, darling, wait until we’re all here first!”
“It’s the polite thing to do,” Fluttershy said as she put a hand on Sunset’s shoulder.
“Aww, yeah,” Rainbow said as she cracked her knuckles. “It’s go time!”
“Sunset,” Twilight said as she materialized right in front of Sunset.
“Your past is not today,” the girls chorused.
Sunset felt that warmth again. The warmth of friendship that she worked so hard to earn and keep. A tear fell from her eye.
“Thanks, girls. I really needed to hear that.” Sunset faced the Demonself, her eyes narrowed in determination. “This is your last warning. Leave me alone!”
The Demonself burst into laughter. “Or what? You’ll ‘friendship’ me to death?”
“We will,” Rainbow snarled. “If that’s what it takes to stop all your fucking guilt trips!”
Sunset gasped. Guilt. It all made sense now.
When she was in the rainbow, the Demonself had shown her everything she ever did. That was the first time she had ever experienced guilt. Since then, the Demonself had haunted her nightmares no matter what she tried.
You’ll never escape me!
That immense guilt had stayed with her for so long, it practically became a part of her!
After all, I’m a part of you!
“I know exactly what you are now,” Sunset said in awe. “You’re a manifestation of my guilt!”
The Demonself sneered. “Good for you. You figured it out! And what are you going to do about it?”
“For starters,” Curly Winds said as he walked in front of Sunset. “Now that she knows, she can take the proper steps to heal herself… and if you want her, you’re gonna have to go through me!”
“Not just Curly,” Cherry Crash said. “You’ve got me to deal with, too!”
An abrupt harumph caused Sunset to jump, and Cranky Doodle joined Cherry Crash and Curly Winds.
“As a staff member, it’s my job to ensure the safety of my students from harm,” Cranky said. “You just so happen to fall into that category, so beat it if you don’t want a serious whuppin’!”
“I try to avoid violence when I can,” Scribble Dee said as she adjusted her glasses. “But if it’s to defend a friend, I have no qualms!” She stood with Cranky and Cherry.
“Ya got dat right,” Pixel Pizzaz said with a grin as she joined the group. “Lay offa Sunset, ya bitch!”
“I’ve got a tennis racket with your name on it!”
“Back off of my girl, or I’ll give you a beatdown… and I’m not talking music!”
More and more people appeared alongside Tennis Match and Vinyl. Derpy, Torch Song, the Illusions, Soarin, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, Snips and Snails, Flash, Marble Pie, and Ms. Inkwell. All of them stood in support of Sunset.
Sunset felt that same humbling feeling when she had that revelation while speaking with Marble. It was a feeling she would cherish.
The Demonself stood defiant. “What do you think all of you could possibly do to me?”
“It’s not what we’re going to do,” Vice-Principal Luna said.
“It’s what Sunset’s going to do.” Principal Celestia said.
Upon the sisters’ arrival, the warmth in Sunset’s chest increased exponentially. It was then that she knew exactly what she needed to do.
“And what are you going to do, hmm,” the Demonself inquired mockingly.
Sunset slowly walked to the Demonself. “Like Curly said. I’m getting help.”
The Demonself moved slightly, then gasped.
“Everyone assembled here has been doing their best to help me cope… and it’s been working.”
The Demonself shrank slightly.
“Over time, you’ll grow weaker and weaker.”
The Demonself shrank further, and it noticed itself getting smaller and weaker with each step Sunset took.
“Until one day, I’ll be fully healed.”
By the time Sunset was close enough to touch the Demonself, it was as tall as her.
“But until then?”
Everyone closed their eyes and concentrated. Within moments, the Demonself found itself stuck in place. Trapped and unable to do a single thing.
“You’re going to spend the rest of your existence thinking about what you’ve done. Just like I did.”
Sunset turned around with a big smile. “Thank you... all of you."
Sunset closed her eyes, and as she felt herself waking up she could have sworn she heard a scream of impotent rage.