Monday morning. It was now two days left until the portal opened. The way her opinion, feelings, and plan changed so drastically over the past month and a couple of weeks boggled Sunset Shimmer’s mind. Early in the morning, Sunset stepped inside the school, aiming straight to her locker. She quietly entered the padlock's passcode before removing it and creaking open the green metal door. The quiet halls left a serene feeling.
Unfortunately, the night before resulted in nightmares of a fiery cruel demon who continued to berate her. Thankfully, Twilight was always there to answer her calls and texts.
By Sunday the two had gained many more parts for the motorbike and were planning to begin assembling by next week. With the lavender-skinned girl in her life, Sunset found herself making a decision she never in a million moons thought she would: to stay in the human world. It was a hard decision that she was still fighting with, but, with only her parents to check in on and have a long conversation with, Sunset found no other reason to try in a world that didn't give her something to see in the future. She had no point being there anymore. She’d only admit these thoughts to herself, she didn't know her purpose in the human world either. She had never felt so lost in her life. She felt like she was floating between two worlds, one that didn't want her and one that didn’t know what to do with her. The only hope for her being an adorable nerd with glasses and a ponytail.
As the halls began to crowd with the rising sun a sharp force hit the redhead dead in her spine, knocking her farther into her locker. She looked at the subject who purposely bumped her with angry eyes as they rounded the corner with vengeance in their eyes and a sadistic smirk. She turned back to her locker simply staring in for a moment, ‘I suppose that’s what I deserve.’
Sitting in her first period, Sunset shifted in her seat at the feeling of whispers and eyes staring holes in the back of her head. Those whispers and stares once filled with fear and caution were now filled with malice and hate. It made her sick to her stomach. It made her want to run out and to Crystal Prep to get into Twilight's gentle embrace where she knew everything would be okay.
By the time the last period of the day rolled around, Sunset caused a few students sitting near her to flinch as she broke her pencil in half with only her thumb when the fifth paper wad hit her head. Frustration had been building up in her all day as students took the opportunity to get hits, shoves and other minor assaults in. Whether it was a testy shoulder cross or backpack pull, each one added another sprinkle of anger to her emotion mixing bowl.
When the bell finally rang an hour later, aggression laced every motion the fiery-haired girl made. The boiling point of her rage had been reached many minutes ago and she was fighting with her whole being to keep the ricocheting lid on. The fortunate thing was it appeared her peers got the memo as their stares turned to quick glances and no physical contact as she stomped her knee-high leather boots loudly down the hall sounding like an impending titan that even Zeus would fear.
Even as Rainbow Dash passed she kept her eyes to herself. ‘Hm, so she can be smart. Good for inflate-brain.’
The redhead opened her locker fiercely after forcing open the lock. She traded her notes for her homework assignments and slammed her locker back shut as she slapped her boots harshly in the ground all the way home.
When she unlocked her door Magma greeted her. She was able to move her anger to the side for that one moment it took for her to pat the cat on the top of his head.
That moment hadn’t lasted too long as Sunset felt fury rushing back and threw her bag to the ground. She then stomped over to her already very abused mattress leaning against the wall and began punching.
It took her no time at all to find a rhythm as she threw both of her fists, each swing becoming harder and faster. Heat began to burn her insides making Sunset shove off her leather jacket.
The mattress, which now had a medium-sized hole in it, fell over. The redhead didn’t let that stop her and dropped on top of the other side of the mattress. Short screams joined each punch thrown, blood rushing in her ears was the only thing she could hear.
Words decided to join the person-to-mattress fight,
“How!” Bam!
“Could!” Bam! Bam!
“You!!” Bam! Bam! Bam!
Hot tears scolded her face as the rhythm was lost. She knew who she was talking to, she just didn’t want to admit it. Sunset wildly flew her fist in an unorganized symphony.
Bzzz! Bzzz!
The punches slowed.
Bzzz! Bzzz!
The world came back to her, leaving Sunset breathing heavily as sweat poured down her forehead and off her nose. Just before the call would have ended, Sunset answered.
“H-hello?” She said, out of breath as she whipped sweat off her head with her forearm.
“Sunset?” A familiar nerdy voice asked, “Are you okay? This is the third time I had to call.”
The redhead walked into her kitchen and grabbed an ice-cold water bottle, “Ask me that in three business days.”
Sunset heard Twilight huff out a puff of air from her nose in a laugh, “Okay. Were you on a run or something? You sound out of breath.”
She gulped down her take of water, “Just beating the dragon shit out of a mattress.”
“Oh, at least it wasn’t a person. Do you want to talk about it?”
“No. Not really.” Sunset said shortly.
A second of silence.
“I’m sorry,” Sunset spoke.
“No, no. It’s okay, but if you want to talk about it, you know who will be here.” Twilight said the later half was almost shy.
The unicorn blushed, “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”
Even though she couldn’t hear it, Sunset knew the girl on the other side of the phone smiled. She checked on her feline friend, hoping she had scared him with her outburst. Fortunately, Magma was found playing happily with a jingle ball.
Twilight aided as a great distraction from the bit of anguish Sunset pretended wasn’t there. Math formulas and Twilight's voice became her only focus.
Early Tuesday morning Sunset stared at her clock. What she had once thought would be anticipation and happiness on this day was instead, uneasiness and fear. The type that made her stomach churn. It was officially twenty hours until the portal opened. She would go home and be ostracized and disowned by her parents for her immense failure. Of course, it’s not what she hoped for, but Sunset knew it was the most likely.
The unicorn-turned-human laid in her bed with too many thoughts and fears keeping her up. A furry orange friend jumped up onto the bed and rolled up on a pillow next to her head. Sunset reached over and scratched the cat's back and earned purrs in gratitude, “What am I gonna do buddy?”
Magma meowed at her before resting his head on hers. Sunset made sure she had her alarm set, realizing she only had four hours to rest before being lured to sleep with soft cat snores playing like a lullaby.
Pure and invincible power thrummed through her entire being, even bearing into her soul.
This feeling. This is what she had always dreamed of. What she always needed.
She couldn’t help but laugh at how great it felt to have all her magic back and more. Now, she would gain what she rightly deserved. What she worked, cried, and fought for for too many years.
Her parent’s pride in her. Princess Celestia’s respect. A crown, throne, and kingdom, all with a strong guardian and beautiful genius by her side.
She could cry tears of happiness as she finally gained everything she wanted.
Sunset placed an oversized foot down as she walked along the Canterlot Castle stained glass hall. A tall window with red sun rays beaming through showed an artistic depiction of a scarlet red dem- woman with flames for hair overtaking the Equestrian nation, an army of humans behind her.
The magically influenced Sunset looked forward to her throne room. A bright red fiery phoenix, a citrus orange manticore, and a young purple female all sat awaiting her.
The manticore playfully rolled around a large ball and the firebird sat proudly in the sun. The young woman held her head down, contrasting the two creatures.
Sunset, with her flaming hair sparking behind her, walked up to her lavender-skinned human in the pony mirror world, “Twilight?”
The girl looked up with sadness in her eyes, “Please, Sunset Shimmer, please let me go home.”
Sunset gave her a questioning look, “Why would you want to leave? We have everything we want.”
Twilight abruptly stood with anger clouding her violet eyes, “No!” She pushed the crimson-skinned creature back, “You have everything you want! It’s abhorrent what you’ve done, to your own home!” She gestured outside, the red sun beaming down, barely any ponies on the streets—the ones who have kept their heads down in defeat and anguish.
Twilight jabbed a finger at the demon's chest, “You're nothing like I thought. I should have known you can’t make terrible mistakes like you any better!”
She stared at Sunset with hatred and disdain, “I should have never become your friend! Everyone hates you and now I know why!”
Twilight then pushed a normal-sized human Sunset down to the ground. Her red and gold hair fell out in a fan under her as hurt and fear chilled her heart.
Twilight pulled out a dagger with a gold hilt and a flaming blade. Her face showed nothing on her face but twisted hate as she brought the dagger down.
Teal eyes flew open. Sunset found herself covered in a cold sweat as she gripped her sheets with a quickening breath. Magma's snores had been enough to bring her back down.
Sunset sat up with shaky limbs and looked at her alarm clock that notified only an hour had passed. Her dream continued to play in her mind, leaving the unicorn with too many feelings at once than she could process.
Disgust, fear, and disappointment. They all snaked around her heart and gave tight squeezes that made her want to curl up and hide in the deepest crater she could find.
With sleep unable to claim her, Sunset simply continued the novel she hadn't been able to pick up in the last couple of weeks, thanks to a certain ponytailed nerd. As she held her book open the redhead noticed her knuckles turning red but decided to ignore it, not having enough energy to care.
Hours passed and Sunset found herself getting dressed and restocking her cat's food and water bowl before heading out of the door.
As the redhead stepped onto the school’s campus students glared and sent her nasty looks. After yesterday, none had tried anything physical with her.
Sunset stopped in front of the portal side of Canterlot High’s mascot statue with a dead look. Tonight would be a long one, she knew that for sure. All she wanted to do with the portal now was to avoid Celestia and talk to her parents. Sunset just hoped that talk wouldn’t end in exile or disownment.
When Sunset arrived at her locker she realized the tenderness of her hands as the pain lacing through them became noticeable.
‘Maybe I did too much.’ She thought she slowly opened her locker hoping to decrease the thumping pain.
“Shimmer.” A country accent said.
Sunset shifted her eyes to the speaker, “Jack.” Sunset paused for a moment, “Actually I take that back, just Jack sounds weird.”
Applejack turned to face Sunset while at her own locker, “Ya mind tellin’ me what the end goal is?”
Sunset kept her eyes on her locker as she gently placed her satchel bag on the steel hanger, “End goal to what?”
“End goal to,” Applejack used a hand gesture around the area, “whatever this is.”
“I genuinely don’t know what you're talking about.” She answered and placed her history and calculus binders in her arm.
The farm girl rolled her eyes, “Yeah right. Ah’m still keepin’ a close eye on you.”
“You have fun with that,” Sunset said and slammed her locker shut, ignoring the pain pounding in her knuckles.
Applejack searched Sunset’s demeanor and words with conflicting eyes, “If yah really aren't plotin’ anything, then why the sudden change of heart?”
‘I finally have someone who cares about me.’
Sunset instead of saying her personal thoughts out loud, she simply shrugged instead, “Bored.”
Sunset then tucked her school supplies into her chest and walked away before Applejack could respond.
As the day went on, students proved themselves to be smart enough to not anger her. The furthest hostility they showed was glares. At least that’s what Sunset Shimmer thought until the lunch period had started. She walked through the cafeteria with her lunch bag in hand. She had to pass through to grab a water bottle before she made her way to the library to enjoy her lunch in quiet peace. As she did so, the comments and building rumors the other students were saying grabbed her ears.
“Do you see how red and swollen her knuckles are? You think she killed somebody?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me. She's probably in a gang.”
Sunset heard one table theorize.
“I heard she’s a prostitute and had to handle a pushy customer.”
“Makes sense, her tits are big enough to be one.”
The boy's conversation made her cringe and skin crawl with disgust, causing her to zip her leather jacket closed.
Sunset sped up her walk through the cafeteria. As angry as she wanted to be with others spreading rumors around her, she couldn’t be. She had done the same thing not long ago. Granted, those were true…well, most of them anyway. She was starting to see this all as a taste of her own medicine.
Sunset walked down the hallway leading to the library and sped up again when she heard heavier footsteps slap the ground not too far behind her.
“Sunset! Wait up!” A familiar male voice called.
The unicorn turned around to see Flash hastily catching up to her.
When he got to a close enough distance he spoke again, “Are you okay?”
The redhead simply stared at him for a moment, “What do you mean?”
Flash scratched the back of his neck, “Well I don't mean that. It’s just,” he sighed before giving her a sad look, “I heard some dumb stuff, stuff that obviously isn’t true, but are your hands okay?”
Sunset looked down at the back of her hands, they were both crimson red and swollen. The right one in particular looked double the size it was supposed to be and had dried specks of blood along the open-skinned knuckles. She had tried to whip it off but the pain had been too great. The first half of the day in classes she had tried writing with her left hand only for it to look like a filly learning to write with their horn magic for the first time, so she simply did her best to ignore the pain.
“Yeah, why?” She asked, ignoring the skeptical look Flash gave her.
“Honestly, Sunset, your right hand looks like it’s broken or fractured at the least. We should go to the nurse and get it checked out.”
The redhead shook her head, “No thanks. She's gonna want to send me to the hospital. I definitely don’t want that.”
“But-“ Flash started until Sunset felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Her instinct told her what to do and she immediately pulled her phone out of her jeans pocket. Pain shot through her hand and caused her to gasp and drop the phone, it clattered to the ground.
Sunset held her wrist as her hand hurt far too much to directly touch. The male next to her inched closer, “See? Come on, that needs to have a cast on it.”
“No!” Sunset backed away, “I-I can’t go to a hospital. I did this to myself, I’ll deal with it myself.”
The blue-haired guitar player gave her a troubled look, “Sunset, the nurse has a temporary cast,” he tried to use as a compromise, “Let’s just have her help and put it on for now. I understand being afraid of the hospital but that’s gonna need to have something.”
The throbbing pain becoming too much finally influenced her decision, “Fine.”
After Flash picked up her phone for her, the two made their way to the nurses' office.
As the pale pink-haired woman inspected her hand, she hummed and brought a light closer, “Hmm, well it is not completely broken, but it’s definitely fractured in a few places, two of your knuckles to be exact. Mind telling me what happened?”
Sunset shrugged as Flash looked at the illuminated hand with worried eyes, “I was boxing.”
“Boxing?” The nurse with skepticism and Flash Sentry with surprise asked.
The portal traveler nodded, “Yeah, I guess I didn’t realize how hard I was punching.”
“Yes, well I hope it was a bag and not a person, Miss Shimmer.” Nurse Redheart said she typed something on the school's computer.
Sunset rolled her eyes, feeling offended at the accusation and being reminded of what she heard in the cafeteria. If the nurse saw she pretended not to.
Sunset knew she had been a tyrannical evil scheming bitch but she never physically assaulted anyone. Even when she had really wanted to.
Nurse Redheart stood up and pulled a drawer open. The woman walked back over to Sunset with a red temporary cast, one that was usually used for the athletes when they got hurt during the games.
“As an emancipated minor, I have no authority to make you go to the hospital, though I strongly suggest it. If you choose not to, I suggest having this on as much as you can.” The nurse informed her.
Sunset nodded, “Thank you.”
Redheart then addressed both of them, “You have about ten minutes till the lunch period ends, feel free to eat in here to not waste any time.”
At that, the nurse left the room. Flash grabbed a turkey sandwich in a ziplock bag and chips from his backpack and Sunset pulled out her last container of the vegan casserole Twilight's mom had given her. The two ate in relative silence, the only sounds being chewing. Sunset then remembered the message she needed to reply to.
“Flash, can I get my phone back?” Sunset asked.
The boy appeared surprised before he reached into his front pocket and handed the flip phone to the scarlet and gold-haired girl, “I still can’t believe you don’t have a normal phone.”
Sunset read the message, it being one that brought a smile to her face and lifted her mood significantly.
“Dang, who’s got you smiling like that?” Flash asked her with a sly smirk.
Sunset blushed, “Smiling like what?”
Flash chuckled, “Smiling all giddy like. Trust me I know how hard it is to capture the heart of Sunset Shimmer.”
Her blush deepened, “I- My heart isn’t captured by anyone!”
The male laughed harder, “Someone doesn’t yell that, especially not with a tomato-red face when they don’t like someone!”
Sunset slugged his shoulder hard with her good hand, the pain medication starting to make its effects, “Shut up!”
Flash laughed harder causing Sunset to give him a light scowl. When he finally settled he looked at her with bright friendly eyes, “Seriously though, whoever that person is, they seem to be doing you a lot of good,” he took the last bite of his sandwich, “A lot better than I ever did anyways.”
“Flash…” Sunset started in a sad, apologetic tone before he stopped her.
“Hey, it’s okay. I know I was so busy with my band and being the school guitarist that we ended up not being as very girlfriend and boyfriend as I had hoped. I’m just glad that this person that seems to be making you happy… is.” Flash said senserially.
“I’m not sure if I deserve her friendship,” Sunset admitted, looking at her bruising hand, beginning to play with the fingers she could, “She wanted to become my friend. Despite me being mean and trying to deter her. I’ve never had that happen before,” Sunset kept her eyes down as she spoke, her voice now becoming quiet, “Nobody has ever done that before. It's surreal, I’m still having trouble believing it.”
Flash placed an arm around her shoulder, “I think that you deserve her friendship because you have been mean. You needed it to help you and I know I’m thankful, and I can tell you are too.”
Sunset nodded, “I am. She’s just so beautiful, insanely curious, intelligent and compassionate. I’m very thankful she knocked over my trashcan and that she’s stubborn.”
Flash gave her a knowing look and the blush reappeared on Sunset's face, “I can’t like her. I’m not ready for something like that.”
“You can’t help how you feel,” Flash said.
Sunset was quiet until the bell rang. The two gathered their things and moved out into the hall, before they went their separate ways Sunset paused and turned back to Flash, “Thanks, Flash.”
The guitarist smiled and lopsided smile, “No problem,” Flash began to turn to head down the hall he needed to, but before he readdressed Sunset, “Oh, and by the way, ‘Thanks’ is a really nice word to hear from your voice.”
Sunset smirked, “Don’t get used to it, E string boy.”
They both chuckled as they walked in opposite directions of each other.
“Alright, here we go!” Twilight said excitedly as she finished setting up all of her equipment. The light shining from their screens gave a glare to the lenses of Twilight’s glasses, truly giving her the mad scientist look.
Sunset with much less enthusiasm stood with her orange tabby by her side as she tapped her foot up and down nervously. Only a few minutes now until the portal opened.
Twilight sat on top of one of the large measuring machines, “I can’t believe I’m actually out this late and on a school night!”
Sunset leaned against the base’s edge of the statue, “Yeah.”
“Are you not excited?” Twilight asked as she adjusted her glasses.
The redhead sighed, “Not really gadget-girl, I’m more nervous.”
Twilight hopped off her perch and embraced the natural-born unicorn, “Oh, fire blaze, I’m sure everything will be okay.”
Sunset pulled a bit away from the embrace, “Fire blaze?”
Twilight looked up at her with the dopiest smile, “You call me gadget-girl and Sparkes, I wanted a nickname for you too.”
“Hmm, and you like that nickname?” Sunset asked.
The scientists nodded.
Sunset eyed a shimmer and a sparkle before they multiplied and began to gather before she spoke again to the other girl, “Well keep it.”
Twilight pouted until she noticed her machine spitting out paper with red zig-zagged lines, “Oh my stars! Oh my stars! Oh, my stars!”
She ran over and put a bucket under the spitting paper slott, so it would catch as many readings as the machine would capture, “Ah! I’m so galvanized!” Twilight flipped a few switches on another machine, “I’m a scientist! This means it’s my job to discover new things and research them to the furthest possible extent! I would have never guessed my first major discovery would be multidimensional magic and portals!,” She again moved to her third and last piece of equipment that had numbers running over the screen, “This means so many questions.”
Twilight stood straight and pressed a tapping hand to her chin and her other hand holding her thinking hands elbow, “What allows portals to happen? How were and are they created? How many dimensions are there? Is there a limit to the number of dimensions? And if so, then why? Are they all mirror worlds coinciding with each other or are there worlds completely different from others? What if our world had access to magic? I need my notebook!”
Sunset had mostly blocked out what the girl was ranting about. She had already heard the girl's giddy curious questions when Twilight became fully convinced of the portal. Sunset was then practically forced into admitting she was from the other side of the portal. Of course, she had left out the whole being from a world of magical ponies and unicorns and pegasi. Sunset found herself surprised that she had forgotten about that event on Sunday. How Twilight used the drone to look at the portal’s activity for nearly the whole night. How she was then asking if it was truly a portal. When the girls snuck out Sunday- much to the younger girl’s objection but ended up joining in the name of science, to get a look at the portal Twilight placed her hand on it and almost screamed in terror when only her hand fell in.
The last sentence of Twilight’s excited ramble had brought her attention away from the shining portal back to the human-born girl. Magic for all humans. Based on their history and how many humans there were. She didn’t like the idea.
Magic was easily tracked, regulated, and controlled due to having natural goodness and a much smaller population. Something like Equestria and powerful magic would not be possible in the human realm, not without terrible repercussions. It would soon turn evil and disastrous if every human had easy access to magic, Sunset felt.
The portal glowed brighter into a flashing climax and then returned to looking normal. Both girls stepped up the portal, Sunset immediately put her hand in the portal, watching her arm become submerged in with rippling effects surrounding it. Twilight was much more hesitant until she saw Sunset inspiring her to do the same.
The young genius gasped at the feeling of magic swirling her arm, “Are you sure I can’t join?”
Sunset chuckled, “For now, let’s just keep to one. Plus I don’t think your parents would appreciate me randomly taking you to a different dimension. Especially on a school night.”
Twilight sighed heavily, “I know you're right,” she pulled the fiery-haired girl into another hug, “I’ll miss you.”
Sunset joined her in the hug, “I’ll miss you too. It’ll only be three days at most. One at the least.”
“Okay,” Twilight reached down and patted Mamga on the head, “Be a good boy and be there for your mommy.”
The cat purred and meowed in response. When Twilight came back up Sunset placed her wounded hands in Twilight’s delicate ones. That was something that worried the lavender-skinned girl greatly when she saw Sunset's hand in a cast and her other hand bruised. The girl dotted over them insisting her parents would take the girl to the emergency room to have them checked out. Still, Sunset’s fear of being found out of being a dimensional crossing unicorn influenced her to refuse the offer.
The unicorn with nervousness and fear squirming in her stomach stepped up to the portal, “You ready, Magma?”
The feline gave a ‘yep!’ In meow form. Sunset hoped deeply that the cat would transform into a giant manticore instead of some ocelot. If he was a wild beast she could claim she tamed it. It wasn’t much but it was something she could claim if things went awry. Even if it… was… a lie.
She could just add it to the list of regrets.
Twilight’s voice entered Sunset's running thoughts, “Are you okay?”
Sunset turned to her, “Yeah,” she then smiled at her friend, “See ya soon.”
Twilight smiled back, “Be safe! Make sure you come back with lots of stuff to tell me about.”
The soon-to-be unicorn chuckled, “Definitely Sparkes,” she then turned to her feline, “Let’s go, Magma.”
At that command, the unicorn in the human realm and her feline companion stepped into the rippling portal with a magical dimension on the other side.
Sunset Shimmer yelped as she was thrown out of a mirror and into a crystalline wall.
A deep gravelly trilling sound came next as a large body skirted next to the golden-coated unicorn.
Sunset shook her head and stood up, surprisingly her front hooves weren’t in any pain after the damage she had done to her hands. It was something both Twilight and she were curious about: if the wounds would be transferred over. The former prodigant student of Princess Celestia in particular was nervous about it if she had to walk around on painful hooves. Luckily it appeared she was in the clear.
Sunset looked around the crystal room and found the portal and a… giant orange manticore!
She smiled brightly at the sight of her Magma standing on his new giant paws and swishing his scorpion tail behind him, “Look at you boy!”
Magma roared in his mother's pride and flapped his bat wings. The fiery maned unicorn stepped to the only window in the room seeing the sun go down behind snowy mountains, illuminating the crystal houses of where she was.
The Crystal Empire. Of course, Sunset knew about it, even though she wasn’t supposed to. It was one of the things she read up on during one of her secret ventures to the restricted section of the Canterlot Library.
But why was she in the Crystal Empire? The empire had been lost hundreds of years before due to a corrupt unicorn king. It must have been returned somehow. That brings up the question of why was the mirror portal in the empire suddenly. Based on Sunset's vision days before it was very much still in Canterlot.
“Alright, let’s find the library and a map. After I see where Canterlot is from the Empire, we’ll be set to see Mom and Dad. I hope they are not upset with me for not returning their letters and disappearing for nearly three years,” as the anticipation of seeing her parents grew she realized more and more things like that. They hadn’t heard from her at all. She ran away in a hurry, on impulse. She hadn’t said a word to her parents since the holiday before, not that they had said anything either. Only a holiday card, not even anything in it, not so much of a name signature from them. What did Princess Celestia tell them? What did they say to her about their daughter’s disappearance?
It was all questions she would have to answered soon.
Sunset quietly creaked open the door and ducked as she saw a guard with his horn lighting the hallway as he walked past. As he disappeared around the corner she lightly pressed her hooves to the crystal floor, her lion hybrid beast behind her, tapping his paws just as quietly.
Though they were quiet, they moved quickly. Turning down a few hallways and hiding in a few dark corners, Sunset finally found the crystal castle's library. The large size and sparkling bookshelves immediately made her think of Twilight and how excited the girl would be to see this.
The sound of strong hooves echoed in the hallways, edging closer to the library the unicorn and manticore had just entered. At first, the team had hidden behind a crystal pillar, but when the guard with a light shining around the room from his dark gray horn entered the library, Sunset quickly threw an invisibility spell on Magma and herself.
The two watched as the guard walked right past them, lit the library, and looked around before being satisfied and exiting the large Athenaeum and closing the large double doors. Sunset let go of the spell and held a hoof to her head near her horn. Not using magic for a while and suddenly using a complicated spell like invisibility left her feeling winded and light-headed. A giant wet nose at the end of a lion's muzzle tapped the back of her head in comfort, “I’m okay, Magma. Let's find that map to Canterlot and get out here.”
Magma did as instructed and followed her down a large staircase, then he started sniffing at the books on the shelves. Sunset used her magic to conjure a spell that summoned books with the information she was thinking about. A spell she had created herself as a filly.
“Yes!” She said in quiet excitement as a map of modern Equestria appeared before her in the middle of a leather-bound book. She gasped and ducked with Magma as many voices and hoof steps walked past the closed doors. The voices sounded giddy and excited.
When they disappeared down the hall Sunset hopped back up, “This Castle is too active,” she took the way to Canterlot and prepared her magic for teleportation. Her horn glowed teal and then climaxed into a large flash.
When the blinding greenish-blue disappeared into the air Sunset found herself in the elite noble section of Canterlot. Despite the sinking feeling in her stomach Sunset, with Magma in his large form by her side, stepped up to her young childhood home. Where she expected her parents to still be. It was a large expensive home made of marble and white stone with fiery gold accents.
Sunset held a hoof up in hesitation to the large double front door. When her animal friend nudged her gently Sunset smiled at him and finally knocked.
She then waited several moments. Nothing. Nothing happened. No butler, no parents. Sunset with her heart now pounding, knocked again, “Mom! Dad! It's me, Sunset! I know you haven't heard from me in a while, I’m so sorry for that! I'm hoping we can talk!”
Still, meet with nothing. The unicorn looked around the outside of the large home noticing no lights were on. She looked to the Canterlot Castle, as much as she was trying to avoid going there, something told her that was where she needed to be to find out what was happening.
Sunset began a slow walk witnessing how her hometown was fairing without her. The town shined and glittered with wealth and power.
“Sunset Shimmer?” a posh rich accented voice asked with disbelief. The golden-rod unicorn turned around to see some pony at the very bottom of her list of ponies she never wanted to see again, Upper Crust. An unknown stallion to Sunset stood by her side.
“What are you doing,” she pointed a hoof at the manticore, “with that thing?”
Sunset ignored the question, “Where are the ponies that live here?”
The stallion spoke, “They moved a couple of months ago. Somewhere on the other side of Canterlot.”
Sunset would have stumbled back if it weren't for Magma practical holding her. Her heart stopped and a boulder dropped to the bottom of her stomach. Sunset simply nodded in acknowledgment and began to walk away with Magma following behind and the two ponies watching her leave.
When she allowed her hoofs to lead her, the fiery-maned unicorn found herself in front of the castle. She looked up and saw a tower towards the back of the castle that gave a perfect view of the setting sun from its large window. It also was once Sunset's room.
“I know where to go.” She said, mostly to herself but Magma still nodded in agreement. Backing out of further sight of the guards standing at the huge, grand front doors, Sunset charged up a teleportation spell. Within a second her and her beastly companion spawned into the room.
It had looked exactly the same as she had left it. The room looked like it was still regularly cleaned as there was zero sign of dust.
The unicorn walked around her room curiously. The only thing new she was able to spot was an envelope. Specifically from her parents.
‘…Only one?’
Sunset's thoughts ran a mile a minute. She could barely hear them, everything was beginning to feel like a garbled mess.
“That’s fine!” Sunset proclaimed with an uncertain smile, “I bet it’s just because Princess Celestia let them know I left for a while!”
She turned around just to find a manticore with a sad look on his face.
Sunset levitated the envelope and opened it. What layed inside was a simple holiday card. With her heart thrumming faster than a wonderbolt in her chest, she opened the card, only to find two measly signatures. Something she had grown used to seeing with all the other holiday, anniversary and birthday cards. They always only signed their names. No happy, no loving, no missing you messages ever awaited her.
The fiery unicorn made the envelope vanish before stomping her golden hooves over to the side of the originally born cat, “Come on, unfortunately, we’re going to need Princess Celestia for some answers.”
Princess Twilight Sparkle walked, with all five of her best friends by her side, down a long light blue hall that glistened and shimmered with the rarest gems the castle was made of. She was here in the Crystal Empire. It wasn't too long ago when her friends and she restored the Empire. Spike, her number-on dragon assistant was the one to complete the last and largest step. She couldn't be more proud of her scaly friend whom she thought of as a little brother.
The princess and her friends reached the throne room doors with protective guards in and out as she prepared to greet the three other princesses of Equestria.
The unicorn guards sitting outside the doors smiled at her and illuminated their magic around the handles, “Good evening, Princess Twilight Sparkle.’
Princess Twilight gave an uncomfortable smile at the title. Her friend with an ivory coat and royal purple mane smiled warmly at her, “Darling, you are a princess now, no need to be so modest.”
She sighed, “I know. I’m just not used to all this yet.” Rarity nodded in understanding as they walked through the row of crystal guards.
A pegasus guard announced her arrival as the princess of love trotted up to Princess Twilight with a giggle before they engaged in their many-years-old ritual. Twilight could hear her friends making their own conversations before the ruler of Equestria greeted them.
The solar princess opened her mouth with a smile, about to speak before it turned downwards in shock along with every pony else as a sudden blue flash sparked into the center of the room. Directly in front of Celestia.
“You!” An angry voice shouted. The voice was warm and had a hint of raspiness to it. As the magic disappeared into the air guards acted quickly, pulling out spears as they surrounded a golden-coated, fiery-maned unicorn with a manticore. Rainbow Dash shot into the air ready to protect the princesses. Applejack hopped in front of Princess Twilight in protection. Rarity stood shocked while Pinkie Pie shook like she was having a pinkie sense attack and Fluttershy hid, lowering herself to the ground as much as she could.
Princess Celestia stood stunned as she stared at Sunset Shimmer, her gone awry former student, who wore an angry look on her face. One that the Princess had seen one too many times.
“Stand down.” Princess Celestia announced. She turned her head back to address Sunset, “Sunset-”
“NO. I don't want anything from you.” Sunset made an envelope appear, “Where are my parents? You must have seen them at parties and summits. What did you tell them? Why is the only one of them left a simple card with nothing in it months after I left?!”
Princess Celestia sighed sadly, “My little po-”
“Don't call me that,” Sunset said with a growl, her manticore guardian joined the growl making the command clear. The sun princess wondered for a moment how she had tamed one when this whole time she had been in another world. Despite the Throne room being full of other ponies it felt that these two were the only ones occupying the space.
“Sunset, I fear… your parents don't know what happened. They never asked. And I… I never gained the courage to tell them.”
The look of despair and pain on the talented unicorn’s face broke Princess Celstia’s heart. Sunset didn't show it too much as she looked around only now noticing the others.
Sunset swallowed the tears down, “What do you mean they don't know I’ve been gone?”
“They don’t. Your mother and father were never informed of your leave.” The most powerful princess said slowly.
“They never asked? Even years later?!” Anger began to enter her voice as it raised.
“No,” Princess Celestia said. The regal princess stepped closer to her former student, “I’m sorry. This doesn’t mean you have to leave again.”
The fiery-maned unicorn kept her head down, her eyes dark and unseen from the sun goddess, “Yes it does,” she muttered. Then turned around only to stop dead in her tracks.
“Twilight?” Sunset said in a whispered shock. The lavender coated alicorn stood straighter and gave her a confused look.
“Who-“ The princess of friendship was cut off when Sunset whipped around and rubbed the base of her horn with her hoof, “I’ve really reached the darkest, coldest depth of Tartarus, haven't I?”
“Sunset, please-“ Princess Celestia tried as she stepped forward.
“No,” Sunset backed up, shaking her head. “I know the truth. I should have known all along. I think some part of me did.”
She looked up at the tall alicorn, tears overflowing from her eyes, “No one, not one pony in this damn nation ever cared about me! I was so stupid for thinking anything else!” Sunset shouted before the manticore and her poofed out of the room.
The throne room stayed in stunned silence for many moments before someone spoke again.
“Princess Celestia?” Princess Twilight started, “Who was that?”
Fluttershy stood timidly on a chilly Wednesday morning in front of Canterlot High Schools wondercolts statue. She pulled her long sleeves of her oversized green sweater over her hands.
Her right hand held more fliers for the shelter’s promotion. Thanks to Sunset the shelter had never seen so many people helping and volunteering in one weekend. Fluttershy hoped to be able to do that again, maybe by different means than forcing fliers into people's hands and property.
“Um hello!” She started, the passing students turned her way. She actually managed to capture someone’s attention!
“T-this is for the shelter. The helpless animals in need could really use your help!” The student took the flier and walked away.
She couldn’t believe it! For the first time she had managed to get someone to take a flier!
Suddenly a warping sound came from behind her. Then a flash of red and black followed the sound, causing a large tumble. Fluttershy managed to keep a grip on her papers and shook her head from the dirt of the tumble.
When the shy young lady looked up, Sunset Shimmer sat hunched over, her completely healed fist digging into the rough concrete. A cat meowed worriedly by her side.
“Sunset?” Fluttershy asked quietly.
The redhead stood up, a dark look covering her face.
Fluttershy's head, with an alarmed expression, followed Sunset as she walked away. The pink haired girl stood up and brushed herself off. Then the kitten pawed at her long pink skirt, resting just above her ankles.
“Hello, little kitten. Your Sunset’s, correct?” The animal caretaker asked as she rubbed his head gently. Magma meowed as if saying yes before purring.
The slam of a heavy door startled both of them and the other students walking to the school's front door. The ground seemed to shake as the fiery haired girl stomped like a snoring dragon in a mountain top cave.
Sunset stomped before Fluttershy and her kitten, “Move.”
Fluttershy felt her heartbeat break into a jog, “Sunset? Why-“
“Just move,” Sunset commanded, “please.” She said in a broken whisper.
The girl picked up the young feline and moved to the side. She, along with gathering students watched as Sunset Shimmer pulled a sledge hammer from behind her back. She then slammed the hammer hard into the statue causing it to crack. Fluttershy along with the other students gasped in horror.