//------------------------------// // Goodbye, so soon // Story: Equestria Girls: It's Showtime – Looney Tunes // by Phantom-Dragon //------------------------------// It was a story very few people could hardly believe. In a galaxy far, far away, Sunset Shimmer, and the Equestrian Heroes, have been pulled away from their homes, into the middle of a galactic war, where they became separated. Princess Twilight Sparkle and friends had crash landed on Tatooine, where they met the young hero, Luke Skywalker, and a veteran Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Meanwhile, Sunset Shimmer was captured by the evil Empire, where she was tortured and corrupted by the evil Emperor Palpatine, into serving as the Emperor’s Fury, Darth Seraphina. Since then, for the next four years, Darth Seraphina has engaged in epic battles against her former friends, the Equestrian Heroes, while Luke Skywalker was left to contend with his father of the fallen Jedi, Darth Vader. Then, miraculously, on the Battle of Endor, calling on the Force and the Magic of Friendship, Princess Twilight succeeded in purging the darkness from her fallen friend, just as Luke Skywalker had done the same to his fallen father. Darth Seraphina and Darth Vader were no more, and from the ashes, the former servants of Emperor Palpatine have regained their true identities – Sunset Shimmer and Anakin Skywalker. The war was over. The Equestrian Heroes and friends have emerged victorious. However, in a bittersweet ending, instead of returning home with Princess Twilight and friends, Sunset Shimmer chose to stay behind, in the galaxy. Sunset had found her new home, where new adventures are waiting, far and wide, one planet to the next. But Sunset Shimmer’s farewell won’t end with Princess Twilight, however, for she has yet to extend it to her other friends. Her Equestria Girls. The streets were quiet. The sun was shining down on a friendly neighborhood. Walking down the streets, with her fiery hair blowing in the wind, and her beautiful moderate cyan showing a hint of sadness, the former Emperor’s Fury, Sunset Shimmer, swallowed a lump in her throat, knowing that it would be a painful farewell for her friends. Walking by her side, is the former apprentice of Darth Vader, Galen Marek. Tall, ruggedly handsome, with gentle brown eyes that matched his buzz cut brown hair, it was hard to believe that both he and Sunset were once enemies. “Are you okay?” Galen asked. “I...I...I knew I’m going to have to tell them goodbye, sooner or later,” Sunset sighed. “Let’s just get this over with. First, I’ll tell them what’s really happening, and then...we can go to my apartment and pick up some things.” Galen nodded in acknowledgement, before he offered another opportunity, “You know, Sunset. I love you and all, but...you don’t have to stay in the galaxy. You’re home now. You could just...stay here. Then, you don’t have to say goodbye to your friends, like you did with Princess Twilight.” Sunset shook her head, “I’ve made up my decision, sweetie,” Leaning up, Sunset kissed Galen on the cheek. “But thank you.” Eventually, their walk came to an end, when they arrived outside a familiar bakery that served as the favored hangout for Sunset and her friends. “Well, here goes,” Taking a deep breath, Sunset Shimmer walked into the store. As expected, Sugarcube Corner was packed with friends and family looking to have a good time together. Some of them are the people Sunset was familiar with. But for this day, she was looking for a special group. It didn’t take long before she found them, sitting at a table, in the corner, saddened, if not, bored out of their minds. “Hey girls,” Sunset greeted, startling the girls from their stupor. With a gasp, the girls looked up and were shocked to see their fiery friend, standing before them, as if she was a ghost. “Sunset Shimmer?” Sci-Fi Twi exclaimed. “Yeah, it’s me,” Sunset smiled sheepishly. “SUNSET SHIMMER!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed happily, as she and her friends all leapt up from their seats and piled on top of Sunset, wrapping her in a group hug, and exchanging their heartfelt longing. “We’ve missed you so MUUUUUCH!!!” Pinkie Pie squealed, tearfully. “We thought we’d never see you again!” Fluttershy added. “Indubitably!” Rarity said, with her tears ruining her mascara. “It’s so great to see you again!” Sci-Fi Twi added. “Canterlot City hasn’t been the same without you!” “Ah knew you wouldn’t leave without sayin’ goodbye!” Applejack added. “Good to have you back!” Rainbow Dash added. “It’s great to see you girls again,” Sunset Shimmer smiled sadly. “But...I’m not here to stay.” With that, all joyful relief was quickly evaporated and replaced with heartbreaking shock, “WHAT?!” The Equestria Girls exclaimed. “...Can we just...talk...at my...former apartment?” Sunset asked. Later, at the said apartment, Galen Marek was in the process of packing up some of Sunset Shimmer’s belongings, in cardboard boxes. Her clothes, a scrapbook of her memories in the human world, even her favorite video games, which he finds very intriguing, compared to the technology of his galaxy. Sunset Shimmer was caressing her precious pet gecko, Ray. “Aw, Ray,” Sunset cooed as she coddled her pet. “How could I ever forget you, for...for four years?” “Ahem,” Applejack cleared her throat, reminding her friend of the group’s presence. “So...about your...farewell?” Applejack frowned sadly. “Yeah…” Sunset frowned, as she uneasily began. “I’m sorry girls. I really am going to miss you all, but I…” “Hey, hey, I understand,” Applejack reassured. “Ya just...wanna go out and...find yer place. And...who are we to stop ya? Besides, some of us have big plans of our own. I’ll be spending the rest of my days at Sweet Apple Acres, with Big Mac, Apple Bloom, and Granny Smith, and...helping the family worldwide. And Twi...she’s going off to some big university and...you get the idea.” “I do,” Sunset nodded. “Just...just promise me somethin’ Sunset,” Applejack began. “No matter where you go, or no matter what happens, don’t ever forget, you were one of us. Like apples to the core. Okay?” Sunset shed a single teardrop, as she and Applejack shared one last hug, “I promise.” Soon, Applejack released her grip on Sunset, allowing Sci-Fi Twi to walk up to the fiery girl. “Here, I...I made this for you,” Reaching into her pocket, Sci-Fi Twi produced what appeared to be a large ipad, with a cover that gives it the appearance of Sunset’s magic journal. “I wanted to show it to you, after our graduation from CHS. But you took off in a hurry, I...I didn’t get a chance to show you. It’s my latest invention. It’s like an iPad, but it’s modeled after the journal you and Princess me would use to communicate on a daily basis.” Sci–Fi Twi sniffled a tear as she whimpered, “It’s probably not as impressive as all the advanced high-tech gears, or lightsabers, we’ve seen in the galaxy. But...hey, I did the best I could…” Sunset couldn’t help but shake her head, “Twilight, Twilight, Twilight,” She scoffed, with a sly smirk. “Always selling yourself short. Sure, where I’m going, there’s jetpacks, or droids, or spaceships that can fly fourteen parsecs. But your inventions will always be topnotch for me.” “...I...I wish we could come with you,” Sci-Fi Twi frowned. “I wish you could let us come along. Everything will be new and exciting for you...but this town won’t be the same without you…” “But I’ll always be with you,” Sunset sympathized, as she walked over to put a comforting hand on Twilight’s shoulder. “Even if I’m several lightyears away, I’ll always be with you. And who knows? Maybe we’ll see each other again.” The two girls shared a quick hug, before Sunset shook hands with Sci-Fi Twi, “Goodbye, Twilight.” “Goodbye, Sunset,” Sci-Fi Twi smiled sadly, before she walked away, with tears in her eyes. “So, you off on a holiday?” Pinkie Pie chirped, as she skipped up to Sunset. “When are you coming back?” “Uh, Pinkie,” Sunset frowned, scratching the back of her head. “I’m...I’m not going on a holiday. I-uh...I don’t know when I’ll be back.” “Oh, okay!” Pinkie Pie chirped. “So then, will you be home in time for Thanksgiving? Christmas? Or what about your birthday?” “Pinkie...let me explain.” “Oh, I’m just kidding, Shim-Sham!” Pinkie Pie laughed, giving Sunset a playful slap on the shoulder. “What do you think I am? An airhead, or something?” “Hehehe. Never for a second,” Sunset chuckled, before Pinkie looked at her with teary eyes. “I’m going to miss you a lot, Sunset,” Pinkie Pie whimpered. “For all the parties I’ll never get to throw for you.” “I’m going to miss your parties 3000, Pinkie,” Sunset sniffled, as she and Pinkie shared one last hug, before the pink girl walked away. Soon, Fluttershy took over, “I-I-I...Here,” Fluttershy sniffled, holding out a paper bag, filled with carrots, broccolis, and other vegetables. “I...Just some snacks for the...for the road,” Fluttershy cried a waterfall of tears. “So...you wouldn’t have to be hungry.” “Aw, Fluttershy,” Sunset smiled as she pulled Fluttershy in for a heartfelt hug. “Thank you!” “I’m...I’m…” Fluttershy returned the hug. “I’m just thankful I got to know the Sunset Shimmer I’m happy to call...my friend.” Once Fluttershy parted, Rarity walked up to Sunset Shimmer, “I...I meant to give this to you, next Christmas. But…I suppose now is a good time to give it to you.”  Pulling out from behind her back, Rarity held out what appeared to be a brand new leather jacket, encrusted with colorful jewels that are shaped as the Rainboom’s respective geodes, on the collar, and a beautiful, flaming, purple phoenix, printed on the back. “Rarity! It’s beautiful!” Sunset Shimmer smiled, donning up her new jacket, and marveling at the handiwork of her fashionista friend. “It’s totally me!” “I’m glad you liked it, darling!” Rarity frowned. “I guess this is goodbye. I’ll never forget you....” Sunset walked over to Rarity, and they both shared a hug, “I’ll wear it, and I’ll always think of you. And...I’m sorry again about the...spring debacle, when I was–” “Oh pish-posh, and tut-tut, darling,” Rarity waved. “It’s all waters under the bridge now.” Sunset and Rarity shared one heartfelt laugh, before Rainbow Dash marched up to Sunset, and glowered. “So! This is how our story ends?” Rainbow frowned angrily, with sad tears betraying her eyes. “You’re leaving us? Just like that? After ALL we’ve been through?” “Rainbow...don’t take it like that,” Sunset frowned, saddened by her friend’s outburst. “Yeah, yeah, whatever!” Rainbow Dash huffed. “It’s not like we secretly joined Princess Twilight, the Rebellions, and secretly risked our necks, just to save you for nothing. You got a new boyfriend, and you two will make quite the dynamic duo, fighting aliens, bad guys, and...and stuff. BUT WHAT ABOUT US, HUH?” Rainbow barked, with tears in her eyes. “WE NEED YOU HERE, TOO! What if some more Equestrian Magic got loose and started causing more problems for us, huh? WHAT DO WE DO WITHOUT YOU THEN? I THOUGHT WE WERE A TEAM!” “...I guess you’re just going to have to...wing it?” Sunset shrugged, using Rainbow Dash’s words against her. “...Fine. If that’s how it is, then go!” Rainbow scowled. “But if you need help! You’ll call, right? Because we’ll come after you! And you know that, right?” “Of course, Rainbow Dash,” Sunset smiled tearfully, as she walked up to the tomboyish girl. “Just...take care of yourself. And excelsior.” “Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Rainbow cried, as she walked away. At that moment, Galen Marek came over to Sunset Shimmer, with the last box. “Take care of her, Galen,” Applejack called to the young man. “She’s everything to us.” Galen bowed his head in response, “I will,” Turning to Sunset Shimmer, Galen asked, “Ready to go?” Before Sunset could answer, the door to her now cleaned out apartment burst open to reveal Flash Sentry, with Juniper Montage, Wallflower Blush, and the CMCs, in tow. “SUNSET! WAIT!” Flash Sentry and his entourage shouted. “Flash Sentry!” Sunset exclaimed in surprise. “What are you guys doing here?” “I texted them,” Pinkie Pie explained. “I figured it wouldn’t be fair for them, if you left without saying goodbye to them.” “And...I’m...glad she did,” Apple Bloom panted heavily. “I thought we weren’t gonna make it in time.” “We all wanted to say goodbye, Sunset!” Sweetie Belle said as she and the CMCs all wrapped their arms around Sunset in a group hug. “And good luck!” “Yeah! Kick some bad guys’ butts for us, will you?” Scootaloo added, before she and her friends held out a yearbook. “And...can we have your autograph?” “I’d be flattered, girls,” Sunset smiled as she signed her name on a page. “Just do me a favor, will you girls? Stay out of trouble. And keep up with your academics. In time, you’ll graduate from CHS.” “We will,” Apple Bloom smiled. “And when you get back, we’ll make you proud!” After the CMCs, Flash Sentry soon took over, scratching the back of his head, “So...you and Galen, huh?” He asked, before he smiled. “Well, you two make a lovely couple.” “I’m sorry, Flash,” Sunset frowned sadly, feeling ashamed, if not, awkward. “I…” “You don’t have to apologize, or anything, Sunset,” Flash reassured. “If you’re happy, then...I’m happy for you.” “Thanks Flash.” Turning to Galen Marek, Flash began, “So...Galen. Do you mind if I call you, G–Man?” Galen simply shrugged, “Not at all.” “Right then, G-Man. Do me a favor. Promise me you’ll take good care of her. We’ve been through a lot together, in highschool.” “I promise.” With that, the two young men exchanged handshakes, before Flash Sentry walked away to let Juniper take over. “Hey, Sunset,” Juniper greeted. “Can I get...one last picture of you, before you go?” “Sure,” Sunset granted, as she and Juniper took one last selfie for old time sake. “Mr. Buried Lede still giving you and Wallflower a hard time at work?” Juniper simply gave a lighthearted chuckle, before she replied, “Don’t worry about us. We’ll be okay. I...I just wanted to wish you luck. And...I’m sorry again for the whole trapping you and your friends in a magic mirror business…I was a real jerk back then.” “Don’t worry,” Sunset chuckled. “I know a thing or two about being a jerk. Speaking of whom,” Sunset turned and looked around the room. “Where’s Wallflower?” “I’m right behind you…” Came the quiet voice of Canterlot’s local gardener, and former founder of the Garden Club at CHS. “Wallflower! Hey!” Sunset greeted, holding her arms out for a hug. “I–” “I know,” Wallflower frowned, in her usual mutter, before she held out a memory book. “Here.”  Turning the pages open, Sunset looked to see it contains all the captured, happy memories of Sunset Shimmer and friends, from the Fall Formal, to their Spring Break on a yacht, right up to their CHS graduation. But the magical part of it was that all the photos in the book were all moving, like in Harry Potter’s memory book. “I...I asked Princess Twilight...if she could ask Discord to...put this all together, for you,” Wallflower muttered. “I...I hope this makes up for...what I did to you and your friends, some time ago,” The girl cringed, as she looked away, feeling more and more embarrassed of herself, by the seconds. “What did you do?” Galen asked curiously. Ignoring Galen, Sunset walked over to Wallflower Blush and pulled the gardener in for a hug. “Thank you, Wallflower,” Sunset smiled. “This means a lot to me, from you.” Still, the sad frown wouldn’t leave Wallflower’s face, “Why? Why does it have to end so soon? I...I feel like we were just starting to get to know each other! And now that you’re...you’re leaving us...does this mean...we stop being friends?” “Never,” Sunset shook her head, as she reassured, “Listen, Wallflower. Don’t think of it as the end. Think of it as a beginning. A new beginning. The story of a new chapter for our stories. One that we can all share together. And no matter the distance, no matter the time, we’ll always be together, as one big friendship team.” “...Team,” Wallflower muttered, with a tear rolling down her cheek. “You know, it’s funny. I’ve never been part of a team before,” Turning to Sunset Shimmer, Wallflower gave the fiery girl one last solemn smile. “At least, not until you opened my eyes to what friendship is all about. So...thank you…” Turning her back, Wallflower whispered to herself, “I love you.” After hearing the last farewell from her friends, Sunset turned to look back at Galen Marek, and nodded, “Time to go,” She clasped her hand, with Galen’s, while looking down at Ray, in his cage. “Hold on tight, Ray.” Talking into a comm, Galen Marek called, “Okay, Discord. Do your magic, or whatever…” “Goodbye everyone!” Sunset waved to her friends present in the room. “Goodbye, Sunset!” The group all waved, watching as Sunset Shimmer disappeared, with Galen Marek, all of her belongings, in a flash of light. “So long, Sunset,” Sci-Fi Twi said, with a heartfelt sigh. “She’s gone…” “But she’ll always be our friend,” Applejack reminded. “And we’ll never forget her.” “She’s not that easy to forget,” Wallflower quipped. “For infinity and beyond!” Pinkie Pie added. “Still, if it weren’t for her,” Flash Sentry began. “We wouldn’t all be here, now would we?” “Nope,” The girls shook their heads in response. “So, riddle me this, girls,” Juniper began. “What’s next?” “Whoo!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, when her hair went bouncing and vibrating like crazy. “My pinkie senses are tingling!” Meanwhile, somewhere in town, a large pile of dirt was kicking up, following a trail that went into town, until finally, it came to a stop in Sweet Apple Acres. Emerging from the burrow, stood an anthropomorphic gray and white rabbit. “Here I am! Pismo Beach!” The rabbit hollered, before he took a better look at his new surroundings. “Hey! Wait a minute! Dis ain’t Pismo Beach,” Diving back into his hole, the rabbit pulled out a map, which he examined, “I knew it. I should’ve made that turn at Alberquerque and–” But before he could continue with his rant, he was interrupted by the sound of an old lady barking. “Consarnit! Them gophers are at it again!” Granny Smith grumbled as she came barging into the orchard, to find the rabbit intruder. “What in tarnation?” “Eh...what’s up, doc?” The rabbit asked, casually munching on a carrot.