//------------------------------// // Special: Forgotten Friendship PT1 // Story: Flash Sentry's EQG Chronicles // by Banshee531 //------------------------------// It was the end of another brilliant day at Canterlot High. The students and teachers were happy they had gotten through another day at the school and everything seemed perfect. In the hallways, Sunset Shimmer was walking around with a smile on her face and a camera in her hands. She was taking pictures of everyone she could find, planning on using them in the yearbook that she and her friends were working together on. As she took the pictures, she thought back to how much things had changed. At the beginning of the year, she had been the queen of the school and not for the best of reasons, but now she had truly changed for the better. And all thanks to the friends she had made. She then spotted her friends by their lockers, all of them talking. When they saw her, they smiled and waved her over. The girl ran over to them, soon spinning around and holding up her camera so the entire group could be in the picture. This would be just one of many photos she had taken of her friends. There was ones of Twilight and Flash studying, Flash and Rainbow rocking out on guitar, Rainbow and Pinkie playing soccer, Pinkie and Applejack baking apple themed treats, Applejack having her hat sown up with Rarity while adding a few extra decorations, Rarity and Fluttershy enjoying tea, Fluttershy and Sunset playing with animals, Sunset and Twilight working on a science project and so many more. Once the picture was taken, the seven headed for the room that was being used for the yearbook. As they did this, Sunset couldn't help but sing about how much better her life was since learning about the Magic of Friendship. She sung about when she had been originally beaten by the Pony Flash and Twilight, who were willing to forgive her while the others promised to watch over her. How they worked together to stop the Dazzlings, and how Sunset was able to use what she learned to save Twilight. And of course, how they managed to use their friendship to save the world from those that would use magic to cause problems and found their magical geodes. Sunset looked around and smiled at seeing everyone working on the yearbook, helping out and having fun in their own special way. She uploaded the picture from her camera to the main computer, then got up to grab something from one of the cupboards. She threw Flash and Twilight a thumbs up and stared at her at all her friends as she finished singing, smiling as she headed for the cupboard. But as she did this, she accidentally slammed into someone, and the pair fell to the floor with a moan. Sunset shook her head and looked at who she had run into, only to find it was a girl she had never met before. She was a green skinned girl with dark green skin, wearing blue jeans and a shirt that was two different shades of brown. "Excuse me," she told her while rubbing her head. "I'm sorry," Sunset replied, "I didn't see you come in." This made the girl glare at her while pointing at one of the desks. "I've been here for a while." This made Sunset blush as she picked up the books and papers she had dropped. "Sorry. I didn't realize." "I've been trying to get your attention for, like, half the song." This just made Sunset flinch as Applejack leaned over to Rainbow and spoke softly. "Ain't she the quiet one?" "Yeah," Rainbow nodded. "And we know some pretty shy people." She turned to Fluttershy, "Am I right?" "We do?" The animal lover asked, "Who?" This just made the pair roll their eyes and smirk while Sunset picked herself up. "I'm Sunset Shimmer," she responded, "President of the Yearbook Committee and editor-in-chief." The girl picked herself up, "Do you want to join? We could always use extra help." This statement made the girl tilt her head before pointing at herself, "I'm Wallflower Blush." "Oh yeah," Flash chimed in, "I've seen you around school. Aren't you part of the gardening club? I think I've seen you hauling bags of manure around." Rarity grimaced at this, while Sunset tried to show a kind smile, "Nice to meet you," she held out a hand and the girl frowned. "I've been on the Yearbook Committee all year." This got Sunset to start blushing again, her mind telling her that she knew she didn't know who this was as the girl added, "We met in ninth-grade English." "And..." Sunset tried to think, "I was...saying it was nice to meet you then. You didn't let me finish." Wallflower rolled her eyes and Flash and Twilight held back a snicker, the girl handing Sunset several pages of paper. "Anyways, I counted up all the votes for the yearbook Superlatives." This got their attention and the group rushed over, wanting to see who had won what. Sunset started reading through the category. "Most Likely to Succeed, Best Smile, Class Clown-" She would have kept reading, but in that moment, she spotted something that made her gasp. "Ooh! We won Best Friends! Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle, Flash Sentry and me!" "Ha!" Flash cheered. "Considering me and Twilight have only been at this school a short time, that's kind of a surprise." "You kidding?" Applejack asked, "Friendship ain't about how long ya'll been friends with someone. It's about how close ya'll are." They all nodded at this as Pinkie leapt up onto their backs. "I always knew I liked you all, but now it's official! In yearbook form!" She pulled them all into a hug, "The people have spoken!" They all laughed at this before Twilight pulled another page up, "Oh, good for Micro Chips." She forced a smile as she read, "Most Likely to Invent Cold Fusion." The others, aside from Fluttershy, stepped away from her carefully. "Not a reason to be jealous." She started crumbling the paper, "Pfft! I'm not!" She let out a laugh as Fluttershy calmly took the paper. "Don't worry, Twilight." She placed a hand on her shoulder, "We know you're a genius." "Besides," Rainbow went on, "It's just the yearbook." This statement got a bunch of gasps from the other girls, while Sunset looked almost insulted. "Just the yearbook?!" Applejack sighed and turned to Sunset. "Now ya gone and done it!" Sunset stepped over to her. "The student body has entrusted me with the responsibility of gathering their memories into the pages of this book. In thirty years, we might not remember everything, but we will remember what's in the yearbook." As she said that, Twilight noticed Flash staring at the girl's shoes. "What are you doing?" She asked her boyfriend, laughing at what he said next. "Waiting for the soap box to appear below her feet." "Well, I'm entrusting you not to put us next to Best Muscles." Rainbow grabbed one of the yearbook prototypes. "Every time you close the book, it'll be like we're kissing Bulk Biceps!" She opened and closed the book several times, the group imagining that exact thing happening and shivering in disgust until Rarity took it away from Rainbow. "Oh. Uh...why don't we take our picture at the beach on Saturday?" Pinkie's eyes went wide at hearing this, "Everyone's bound to look adorable." The pink party planner leapt up, standing on a desk before screaming happily. "BEACH DAY!" She leapt off the table and landed next to Fluttershy. "I'll make my world-famous fun-in-the-sun cupcakes!" She leaned over to the introverted girl and whisper, "The secret ingredient is edible sunscreen!" Fluttershy eyes went wide, "It's SPF fun-hundred!" "Yech..." was all she could say back. Before anyone else could say anything, the door to the room was flung open. They all looked over and moaned when they saw who it was: Trixie Lulamoon. "The Great and Powerful Trixie demands to speak to the yearbook editor immediately!" It was times like this they wished they lived in Equestria. They had heard stories of that world's Trixie changing due to becoming a princess' apprentice, something that likely wasn't gonna happen any time soon for them. Sunset let out a sigh. "Unfortunately for me, that's me. What do you want, Trixie?" Her reply was to grab the paper in Sunset's hands and read through it. "Ha!" She yelled, "Just as I suspected! I was not voted Greatest and Most Powerfullest!" She glared at Sunset, "Explain yourself!" Sunset rubbed her chin, trying to make it look like she was actually thinking. "How should I put this...you didn't win Greatest and Most Powerful because it wasn't one of the Superlatives!" Trixie raised an eyebrow before spotting a book that they had been using as a reference guide, which happened to be a previous year's yearbook. "Hmm. Neither was Biggest Meanie." Sunset's eyes went wide as she flipped through the book and stopped on a particular page, turning it to Sunset and showing a picture her trying to grab the camera with Snips and Snails behind her. "But that didn't stop you from winning it our freshman year." The others grimaced at this, knowing that Sunset's past was a sore subject for her. And it didn't help that that photo wasn't exactly flattering for her. "That was different," Applejack chimed in, "The whole school voted for her." Pinkie then jumped up and whispered to...no one in particular. "She was soooooooo mean." "Not helping Pinks," Flash added as Twilight placed a hand on Sunset's shoulder. "Of course, we all know you've earned the right to not be remembered that way." She grabbed the book and threw it away, Sunset smiling back at her while Flash noticed Wallflower pick up the book "Thanks." She then turned to Trixie. "We're not having a Greatest and Powerfullest Superlative. Sorry." Trixie looked insulted by this refusal, appearing ready to scream, only to take a deep breath. "Oh, you're the one who'll be sorry, Sunset Shimmer! When you least expect it, I'll have my revenge, and then I'll disappear! Like this!" She pulled something out of her pocket, "Behold! The Magician's Exit!" She threw it to the ground, causing a powerful cloud of dust and smoke to appear in the room. They all coughed at this, Flash grabbing a book and using it to fan the smoke away. Then they all heard a rattling sound and turned to the door, Trixie now pulling at the knob to try and open it, but it appeared to be stuck. "Err...Trixie? Might help if you didn't have your foot on the door." Trixie saw this and blushed, the others laughing as Sunset picked up a key. "Allow me. We were actually on our way out." Trixie stepped aside and Sunset opened the door, the magician turning her nose up at the help and storming out of the room. They all laughed again and left the room as well, Flash being the last on out before Sunset. A moment later, Sunset's eyes went wide. "Ooh." She walked back into the room, "Forgot to turn off the lights." She slapped them off and left the room, Flash smirking at this, only to come to a stop. "Did that Wallflower girl leave?" He asked, Sunset raising an eyebrow at this as if to say 'Who's Wallflower?' But after a few moments, she seemed to remember. "Oh yeah. I'm sure she left. She would have said something if the lights had switched off without her in it." "I...guess that's true." Flash slowly replied. "Does anyone actually remember seeing her before?" Rarity asked, "I'm trying to think, and I can't for the life of me recall ever speaking to her or running into her. The way she's dressed, I'm sure I would have offered to give her a makeover at some point." "Ah don't remember," Applejack nodded. "She said she's in the gardening club, but ah don't remember seeing her in the few times ah've gone ta check it out." "What exactly do they do in the gardening club?" Rainbow added, getting deadpan stare from the others, "What?! I know they garden, but it can't just be that! Do they do lectures on different ways to plant or something, cause they do that in a couple of the other clubs." "Other clubs do lectures about different ways to plant?" Pinkie asked before giggling, "That's just silly." Rainbow let out a long huff, "I mean they do lectures on...whatever subject the club's about! Not just gardening!" The others laughed at this. "So, what do they do at the club?" They all turned to Applejack as she tried to think, but was drawing up a blank. "Huh, can't really remember. Weird. Ah usually remember anythin' ta do with clubs ah check out, but ah got nothing." "That is weird," Flash chimed in, "I know I remember seeing Wallflower around a few times. She doesn't seem to have any friends or anything." "That's kind of sad," Fluttershy quivered, the others exchanging a glance. The group know she probably knew how Wallflower felt more than anyone, given she had been in the same boat during the time Sunset had broken their friendship up. "Too bad she left already," Pinkie added, "We could have invited her to the beach tomorrow." "Doesn't mean we can't invite her to something else later," Sunset pointed out, "Next time we run into her, let's get her number so we can send an invite or something." They all nodded as they headed out the door, making their way for Sugarcube Corner to celebrate being chosen as best friends. That night, Sunset was in her studio apartment getting ready for the beach day tomorrow. It wasn't anything fancy, but the place was her own sanctuary. It still amazed her that a rather common gem she had bought in Equestria sold for so much in this world, which had allowed her to buy this apartment and have enough left over to support herself all the way through college as long as she wasn't stupid with it. After Sunset had gotten her bag ready, complete with blanket, sunscreen, shades and a couple of snacks, the girl changed into her pajamas and got into bed. Laying on it, she was too excited to sleep, especially after learning over their victory in the best friends category. And after a few minutes of laying there, she looked over and spotted her journal to Equestria. She smirked at it and grabbed a pen before opening it up to write. Dear Princess Twilight, I thought you'd be happy to hear that the girls and I were voted Best Friends in the yearbook today. She stopped for a second and pulled out the same yearbook Trixie had shown her that afternoon, opening it up and staring at the image captured by the camera. She frowned at remembering those days, but that frown vanished when the image of Princess Twilight offering to help her out of the crater flew through her mind. She threw it away and kept writing. After all, if you hadn't forgiven me, I'd still be the arrogant student I was when I left Equestria. You gave me the second chance I didn't deserve, and I'll never forget it. Your friend, Sunset Shimmer. She shut the book and sighed in relief, carefully putting the book away before getting back into bed and switching off the light. This time, she had no issues falling straight to sleep. But as she did this, she was unable to see something come into her room. Flying past her window was a red tape-like energy construct, which glowed a bright red as it flew through the air like a snake swimming through water. It was followed by a second tape, then another and another and another and so on. If there was anyone out at the time, they didn't seem to notice as these tapes lit up the sky and slithered toward Canterlot High. They then flew past the building and into the small wooded area behind the school and started swirling above it like a whirlpool, the tape slowly flowing down into the trees. And when the last tape flew down and disappeared into the woods, a brilliant glow filled the air. A glow that would have drastic ramifications for everyone in the city, and for one person in particular.