//------------------------------// // Friday Dec 16 a // Story: A Past Returned // by TacoTues4Eva //------------------------------// Groaning in annoyance at the alarm clock’s incessant nagging Sunset forced herself to sit up in her bed to glare at the offending device. Why couldn’t her alarm clock be normal? Scratch that, why did Twilight have to leave that stupid pendant with her before leaving to go back to Equestria a few weeks ago after the Battle of the Bands. At least appliances were normal around her then. Since then it seemed like everything with a computer chip became sentient around her and tried as hard as it could to give her a migraine. “Girl, if you don’t get that butt up out of that bed or you are going to be late for school!” The alarm clock said again, its voice sounding almost like a stuffy butler with an English accent. “Leave the poor girl alone, Geeves, you know how much trouble she has been having at school lately.” Her phone replied, its voice sounding like a concerned mother defending Sunset. “You baby the girl too much Marigold, she needs a good education or she will be stuck in a cramped little apartment like this the rest of her life with no prospects of getting anything better.” Geeves huffed in indignation as Sunset ran her fingers through her hair. She ignored the two as they continued arguing while not even bothering to get her input on the matter. Climbing from the bed she took time to change Ray’s water and give him a good breakfast, something she was unsure if she was going to have this morning as she didn’t feel like risking a trip to the store last night. The clock did have a point; she was going to be late if she didn’t hurry. Not that it really bothered her as much as it should as lately she has been asking herself why she cared so much about it. It wasn’t like she had anyone waiting for her there with everything going on. It was more pain and sorrow attending another day of harassment that had become her normal school day since a few days ago. Her pride of being a top student at the school and her wariness from the harassment and lack of sleep because of weird dreams warred within her as she took a hot shower. “Hurry it up girl!” Geeves voice echoed from the other room making Sunset sigh, once again making her think about the mysterious pendant Twilight have left with her. Once again Sunset found herself wondering if the thing really belonged to her or if it was just another magical artifact Princess Celestia just wanted to get rid of. “Oh, I almost forgot!” Princess Twilight gasped just seconds before stepping into the portal home. Rummaging through the saddle turned messenger bag Twilight grumbled quietly to herself as the girls crowded around her to see what was going on while Sunset stood behind them shaking her head. Everything was happening so fast since defeating the Sirens the day before. The girls actually started to open up to Sunset more with many of the students doing the same. It was enough to fill Sunset with an emotion she hadn’t felt this strong in such a long time, happiness. “Did you want to give us some cool magical thingy in case some other magical meanie starts trouble?” Pinkie Pie asked, her energy almost making her seem like she was vibrating as she rocked back and forth on her feet. “Actually, Princess Celestia sent Sunset something that she says belongs to you Sunset Shimmer.” Princess Twilight said as she finally found what she was looking for and pulled out a small crystal pendant and held it out to Sunset. Reluctantly Sunset took the small piece of jewelry by the black rope it hung from and almost dropped it when she felt a jolt run through her body as it started glowing a pinkish color. “I don’t understand, this isn’t mine.” Sunset said slowly, unable to take her eyes off the slowly spinning gem. “The Princess said that it was on you when she found you.” Princess Twilight explained with a shrug. “When she found me? You mean when I was having my magic surge?” Sunset asked finally tearing her gaze from the gem, a strong urge to protect it overcoming her for some reason. It was as if it was extremely important though she truly had no idea why. “She said she planned on giving it back to you sooner, but you ran away before she could. She was having some of the royal mages studying it to make sure it didn’t pose a danger to you or is what caused your surge in the first place.” Princess Twilight said, “Anyways, I have to get going, I’m really sorry. Bye girls!” After waving goodbye one last time Princess Twilight disappeared through the portal as Rarity was giving the new gem a thorough inspection. “It is a bit tacky darling, but if you want I can try and make a few outfits to match it.” “Thanks Rarity, but I don’t think I will be wearing this thing much. She was wrong though, Sunset ended up keeping the thing with her at all times around her neck and hidden under her tops. She wasn’t sure what it was, if it was hers or something she was being tested with, but a part of her just couldn’t separate from it. It was like reuniting with an old friend though she had no memories of it. Dressed and ready for school Sunset made sure the pendant was secured before heading out and locking the door behind her. “Excuse me miss, I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me?” A light peach colored woman with black hair tied back wearing a dark pant suit asked. Looking up at her Sunset saw a dark skinned man standing out buy a dark vehicle at the road taking pictures of her dressed in much the same way. She had never met any people like them before though she knew of their existence in the surrounding counties. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. I’m already late.” Sunset apologized clutching the strap on her bag. She didn’t know who they were, but she didn’t exactly trust them. Rainbow Dash always talked bad about them claiming people like that all hated them and called them crayons because of the different skin shades that were wildly different than most of the world. She knew Rainbow Dash wasn’t the most trustworthy source of information because of her brash attitude and act before thinking way of life. The others never contradicted her usually so Sunset couldn’t help feeling a little nervous. “Please, it’s very important. We are looking for a missing girl, have you seen her.” The woman asked pulling out a photograph of a young redheaded girl with short hair that looked very familiar the longer Sunset stared at her. If you changed the skin tone and made her hair longer, add a few golden streaks and make the eyes darker and it would look like a younger version of Sunset. It felt like the floor fell out from under Sunset as she realized that the picture looked nothing like her, yet her mind quickly did those things and tried to tell her that it did look like her when she first came to this world if she added the changes. “Are you okay Miss?” The woman asked reaching out to steady the unbalanced girl. “My name is Sunset Shimmer and I’m sorry, I have never seen anyone like her before.” Sunset explained as she regained her equilibrium before pushing past the woman. “Please, take another look, she has been missing for over three years and her mother is desperate to find her.” The woman said, a little more pushy as she obviously didn’t believe Sunset. “I said I don’t know!” Sunset snapped as she stormed off away from the woman trying to put distance between them. She felt horrible for the woman who was missing her daughter, but something about the whole thing was creeping Sunset out. Given the choice between dealing with the feelings seeing the photograph and the harassment at school, she was looking forward to school. Despite the late start Sunset actually managed to get to school in plenty of time giving her tie to debate getting something quick from the cafeteria for breakfast. It shouldn’t hurt her tight budget much, but she didn’t want to face the crowd of students either. As she walked toward her locker she ignored the angry looks from her now former friends as she stuffed her afternoon books and papers into her locker while ignoring an angry growl from her phone. “What in tarnation is this Bloom?” Apple Jack demanded after picking up her sister’s phone off the floor where it was just dropped and noticing what was up on the screen. “I can explain.” Apple Bloom whimpered out, the girl clearly scared and trying to come up with excuses. “You can explain why you are logged into this Anon-A-Miss account with a post half created spilling one of Fluttershy’s secrets?” Apple Jack demanded. “What did you say darling?” Rarity asked aghast as she realized if Apple Bloom really was behind this then there was a high chance that her own sister was too. And to think she blamed Sunset Shimmer for this. “What do you mean she’s logged onto Anon-A-Miss?” Several other students demanded crowding the group, one of them snatching the phone from Apple Jack and looking at it before holding it up for the others to see. “Sunset was telling the truth.” “It really wasn’t Sunset.” “I can’t believe we fell for that.” Those were just a few of the whispers sweeping the rowing crowd as many regretful gazed turned to Sunset. A few even stepped forward to try and say something, but Sunset wiped the growing tears from her eyes and hurried away from the crowd just as the Vice Principal was coming up to the crowd to see what was going on. By the time lunch time came around there was an announcement as to what had happened with the three young girls admitting to everything and everyone knew the truth behind it. Sunset had learned from her phone that it had spoken to Apple Bloom’s as the younger girl’s phone could see what was going on and made sure to vibrate out of the girl’s hands and onto the floor where her sister picked it up. It was a bit anticlimactic and despite knowing she should feel happy and vindicated, Sunset couldn’t help feeling depressed. She didn’t really want to hear the apologies of most of the students, especially her so called friends. They had hurt her beyond belief and she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was happening all over again. She wasn’t sure how it could be happening again as she never really had friends before as she was always afraid that most ponies only wanted something from her because of her position or tormented her claiming she didn’t deserve her position as the student of the sun. When she came here she didn’t want to make friends as she only wanted to gain power to prove something to Princess Celestia. What she wanted to prove she wasn’t entirely sure of at the time, it was just a driving force behind her actions. Now she knew though, and she knew she went about it all in the wrong way. She wanted to prove that she was just as good as Princess Cadence, that she could be a Princess to and be loved by Princess Celestia because of it. Love. It was behind all of her actions and something she wasn’t sure if she ever had it. She thought she did at first with Princess Celestia, but when she accidentally called the Princess Mom at an important gathering, Celestia started pushing her away. Then Princess Cadence showed up, it seemed like Sunset became more or less just an after thought. Then after the battle of the bands she thought she earned the forgiveness and love of her friends and peers, yet again she seemed to lose it yet again. She wasn’t sure about before that though as she had no memories before meeting Princes Celestia. Well, she did remember pain. A lot of pain from her magical surge that earned her cutie mark that was so similar to the Princess of the Sun. A surge so powerful it permanently gave her golden streaks in her mane from what the Princess said and apparently wiped Sunset’s memories. Thinking back to the photograph Sunset had to admit that she did once have a purely red mane from Princess Celestia’s account. That didn’t explain the different eye color though, much less the skin tone. It especially didn’t explain why she had a feeling that the picture was very familiar and resembled her to some very small degree. The more she thought about it though the more she came up with arguments against the feelings she had looking at the picture. “Hey Sunset, over here!” Pinkie Pie cried out as Sunset entered the Cafeteria, the pink haired girl waving excitedly from their usual table. The girl sat down heavily, her hair deflating a little as Sunset ignored her as well as most other students trying to strike up a conversation with her. She didn’t hate them, she was angry sure, but she didn’t hate them. She just had way too much going on right now to try and sort through what she was feeling toward them. Her world was in danger of shattering and she had no idea what to do or think. Anon-A-Miss, the mysterious pendant and the electronics coming to life, and now the mysterious photograph that has stirred up all kinds of conflicting thoughts and emotions over something that has nothing to do with her. While one was resolved, the aftermath wasn’t making things any easier on her to deal with along with her other problems.