My Little Pony
The Phases of Sunset
Written by JeNnDyLyOn (J. Dilbert)

For my best friend, Taran -
Our friendship truly was magical.
Until we meet again.

Hard to believe it's only been a couple of years since I left home. Between learning how to walk on two legs and trying to get by without magic, I feel like I’ve lived in this strange world forever. I guess it doesn’t matter now. Just a few more minutes and the way back to Equestria will open again.

All she had to do was make me a princess and things would’ve been fine. Maybe even more than fine. So I got a little overambitious, big deal! You’d think that aiming for the cosmos would be something the ruler of Equestria encouraged. But instead of appreciating my abilities, she pushed me away and wound up replacing me with somepony else apparently.

Pft! What’s so special about this newbie anyway? What does she have that Celestia never saw in me first? I wonder if my ex-teacher even bothered to tell her new student about me at all.

Shouldn’t be much longer now. The moon hasn’t even reached its full peak yet and the portal’s already starting to ripple.

I'm so nervous. It's been a long time since I’ve used magic, not to mention trotted on four legs.

Has Celestia kept track of how long I’ve been gone? What if those useless guards of hers are already under orders to capture me once I arrive? Whatever happens, I’m ready. I didn’t memorize volumes of spell books as a filly for nothing.

Can’t wait to have my horn back! If it hasn’t lost its touch, I should be able to detect the crown’s energy and find its exact location. I can’t mess this up. I have no choice.

Well, it’s been fun and annoying, being a teenage girl and all. Time to head home and finish what I started.

I guess that’s not entirely true. Though my return to Equestria was cut short, I still managed to escape with the crown.

I just wish I hadn’t tripped and woken everypony up! So much for making that dud, huh? With the whole castle on my beautiful tail, I had no choice, but to come back to this awful place.

Speaking of which, what did Celestia do to my room? Though mediocre at best, I thought it was just fine before. Now, it's all made of crystal and to be honest, pretty ugly. I think Celestia's lost it! Fortunately for my pretty eyes, I was in and out of there within an hour.

Not before I got jumped by some princess though! Can you believe that? Not very ladylike, if you ask me. To leave her crown sitting out in the open like that, she doesn’t seem to be too bright either. I mean, it’s not like it’s embedded with the Element of Magic, or anything!

Strange (yet not surprising) that there were hardly any guards around. Guess you don't need them as long as you have a baby dragon nearby. You'd think that after catching me in the Forbidden Section of her library years ago, she'd have learned a thing or two about how to protect her own palace. Guess not! I'm not even scared of dragons, let alone infant ones.

This may sound a little weird, but it's almost like Celestia planned for this to happen. Do her silly "lessons" go so far as to forsaking an Element of Harmony and possibly endangering not just one world, but two?

Anyway, when I got back, I didn’t see the crown anywhere so I freaked out. I thought maybe it got lost in the warp somehow, 'til I saw that weakling Fluttershy walking away with it!

Why doesn’t that girl ever mind her own business? If she had just left it alone, I would’ve grabbed it and already taken over this place before First Bell! Grrrrr! Now I gotta wait 'til after class to confront that pathetic, stray animal-loving pinhead and give her a piece of my mind.

Well, I’ve got to cut this short. Ms. Cherilee’s looking. What’s up with her? She always looks like she hates life.

This ruins everything! Now that the principal has it, I have to go through this whole Fall Formal Princess thing again just to get it back! That’s two days away! Oh well. If I can wait over two years for this moment, then a couple of days are nothing.

Besides, it’s not like anyone’s running against me. I think the girls around here are smarter than that. That is, unless they want to end up like that drama queen Rarity.

As I was giving Stuttershy a piece of my mind, some new girl actually had the nerve to get in my face.

Ha! She obviously doesn't know who I am. No one talks to me like that around here and it’s just a matter of time before she figures that out.

Still, there was something very familiar about her. She almost looked like – nah, it couldn’t be.

S-File #2712
Finally had some time to catch up on the "local" happenings of Equestria, thanks to some paper called The Crystal Chronicler I found during my little visit. Who came up with that name?

So the Crystal Empire’s curse finally lifted, huh? I guess that explains the hideous crystalline décor I saw earlier. It was like having mirrors all around you! Unless you were as beautiful as I was (and still am, despite being human now), who would want that? That Princess Me Armor Caddy-whatever must be pretty full of herself. What a vain pony.

Now that I think about it, something's been bothering me since I got back. When I left Equestria the first time, the mirror that brought me here was located in Canterlot Castle. But if that really was the Crystal Empire I was in the last time, that means Celestia had the mirror transported. Why would she do that? It doesn't make any sense. Maybe she got tired of looking at her uggo face. I know I did.

Moving on. Looks like some kind of event was supposed to take place there. Something called the "Princess Summit"? Of course, Celestia was going to be there (gag). But I didn't expect that her sister Princess Luna would be, too!

I guess the two sisters finally let bygones be bygones, which I just don't get. I was an only filly so I don’t know what it’s like to have siblings. But if I had a sister and she banished me to the moon for ONE THOUSAND YEARS, forgiving her would the very last thing I would do! So ridiculous.

Flashy homes and millennial grudges aside, the most interesting thing I got from the paper was the name of that pony I “met” in Equestria.

Though the castle was pretty dark, I know for sure that Twilight’s the rabid princess who attacked me. But I don’t remember hearing that name before back when I studied in Canterlot. So how is she a princess all of a sudden? She looks like a real tool. Even has a name just like mine. Her parents must've been fans.

I’d hate to be in Twilight’s horseshoes once Celestia finds out her new precious princess lost ~~her~~ my crown, not to mention the Element of Magic itself.

S-File #2713
Just finished lunch. PB & banana sandwiches again :) Yummy! Thanks, "Mom"!

Still waiting for those two blockheads Snips and Snails to get here. They’re taking forever! We’re going to check out the Formal’s preparations so far. If I’m going to go through this again, everything had better be perfect!

With Pinkie Pie on decorations, I guess it'll be okay, though I hate her strange obsession with balloons. All that static will ruin my hair! I did hear that Applejack’s in charge of the refreshments though. I swear, if she brought that disgusting Fizzy Apple Cider again, I’m going to lose it!

Between you and me, I never actually tried her cider. But it just sounds so gross. Is that bad?

Remember that girl I told you about who had the gall to say stand up to me earlier? Guess who she is?

When I went to check on the Formal's setup (which was absolutely horrific, by the way), I found out that someone else signed up to compete for my crown! Or should I say somepony.

As soon I saw that terrible handwriting on the sign-up sheet, I experienced...hmm, the humans here have a term for it. Deja vu! That's it! I remembered the first time I tried to write when I arrived here and how awful it looked (although I'd have to say that my handwriting looked a lot better than Twilight's). Right away, I knew that whoever this "girl" was couldn't have been from around here...

I felt it was time to have another little…chat with her, so I had someone deliver a note to her in class. We met in the West Wing and check this out! She tried to get smart with me, so I asked her a very simple question that anypony who studied at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns should know:

Can you keep a secret? I don't actually know what happens either. Now that I think about it, I don't think anypony's ever tried bringing an Element of Harmony into another dimension before. Since that so-called prized pupil wasn't able to fill me in, I guess I'll just have to conduct the little experiment myself.

Seriously, Celestia? After I left, THIS was the best you could do? Wow, just wow. I feel like I should be hurt, maybe even a little insulted. But I’m really not. After all, I told her that she’d regret dropping me as her protégé. She should’ve realized that nopony else could ever fill my horseshoes.

I knew Celestia wouldn’t allow such a powerful relic to go missing for very long. What I didn’t expect her to do was send a rookie like Twilight into another dimension instead of coming here herself to get it!

What a coward. Is she that afraid of confronting me? I guess nothing’s changed over the last thirty moons. Typical Celestia, sending others to do her dirty work. Am I ever glad that I got outta there before she tried to pull that trick on me.

I hate games. I really do. But if this is how Celestia wants to play, then fine.

As of right now, Twilight has less than three days to get the crown back before the portal to Equestria closes again for another thirty moons. Too bad she’s caught in the middle of this vendetta.

Nothing personal, Twilight. There’s just no way I’m going to allow you to take what’s rightfully mine.

S-File #2715
Finished putting the final touches on the video! Time to upload.

For a couple of dimwits, Snips and Snails did a pretty good job getting me this embarrassing footage of Twilight. No way I looked this bad when I first arrived here and became human. I can’t stop laughing! Was she seriously trying to eat a book? No wonder she doesn’t know anything.

Speaking of eating, I'm hungry. Got so wrapped up in this video that I forgot to have supper. I’ll just grab something when I’m finished. A cucumber salad with sun-dried tomato bits and a glass of lemonade would really hit the spot right now.

Finally. This will show that goody four-horseshoes Twilight! Good thing I kept that list of email subscribers to the school paper I worked on. Just a couple of clicks away from insuring my title of Fall Formal Princess. Once everyone sees this, Twilight won’t be able to show her stupid face around the school again!

At least, for a little while. Had a real close call after Vice Principal Luna got wind of the video. She told me to take it down or else I risk getting disqualified. Whatever. What does she know about being a princess, let alone politics? Besides, it’s not like all of Canterlot High hasn’t seen the video already.

If everyone’s making fun of you, doesn't it make sense for you to just pack up and leave? Nope, not for Twilight! In fact, she’s still here and insists on continuing to make a total fool of herself! Last I saw her, the “princess” was out on the field, royally failing at playing soccer. Haha! Get it?

Anyway, what is Twilight up to? Why is she wasting precious time kicking a ball around when the portal to Equestria is closing tomorrow? Does she honestly think that learning how to play sports is going to clear her name and win her the crown somehow? I don’t get it. If you ask me, I think she’s just hungry for attention.

There’s something else. Twilight wasn’t out there playing soccer alone. That cocky Rainbow Dash was there and her supposed “four-mer” friends, too – Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.

Grrr! After all the trouble I went through in splitting them up, I thought the High Five’s silly little “friendship” was finished. How were they able to patch things up so fast? Is it because of Twilight?

I’ve got to keep those girls separated. Can’t risk them coming together again and becoming more popular than me.

As for Twilight, I don’t think there’s much to worry about anymore. At the rate she’s going, she’s totally done for.

S-File #2717
I think I’ll start writing my Fall Formal acceptance speech now. Since it’ll be my last one, it’s gotta be really good. But there’s so much noise happening down the hall, I can’t concentrate!

Not only has Twilight brought the High Five back together, she’s rallied the entire school!

I'm so confused right now. I thought the High Five hated each other. I thought everyone hated each other! What’s Twilight's deal? Is she trying to turn Canterlot High against me? Why would she do that? That's so...mean!

You should’ve seen how ridiculous they all looked – singing and dancing in the cafeteria like a bunch of howling hyenas. I mean, when did those girls even have the time to organize something like that? Where they found those ugly pony ears and tails, I’d really like to know! I thought I told Snips and Snails to trash them all last year! I swear, those two can be so worthless sometimes.

And where was Vice Principal Luna during all this? Twilight and those girls must’ve broken like, fourteen different rules!

Seems like I’ve got a few more tricks up my sleeves and unlike Twilight, I’ve been wearing them a lot longer.

Boy, is Twilight in for a real treat. With her flocking the students like sheep and the Formal just around the corner, I had to think fast. If this plan doesn’t work, nothing will. As School Disciplinarian, Luna won’t take something like vandalism too lightly.

I think Snips and Snails may have gone a little overboard though. All I told them to do was make a “quick little mess” that I can link to Twilight so she’d get disqualified somehow. But I didn’t think they’d go as far as trying to ruin the Formal itself! Streamers torn, tables turned over, food and drinks smashed to bits, balloons popped (thankfully) – it was a total wreck!

You should’ve seen me. I was so steamed at those two rejects! What possessed their puny little minds to do that?! I still had a coronation to go through and crown to win! I was ready to tear those boys apart…’til I saw the pictures.

Remember when I told you that Twilight was playing soccer earlier? Well, Snips and Snails were on standby capturing the whole thing. They also took pictures of the damage they caused and after working a little “magic” of their own, created photo “evidence” that showed Twilight as the one responsible for destroying the decorations instead. It’s no SnapShop but with the clock ticking, it’ll have to do.

If that purple-haired twit is connected to the crime, then I guess it doesn’t really matter if the Formal happens or not. After she’s disqualified, the school will have no choice, but to hand the crown over to me by default. I'm a little sad that I won't have a coronation. Still, I can do without the glitz and glamour, so long as I get what I want.

Saw Flash Sentry hanging around outside Luna’s office though. I wonder what that was all about. He always was a nosy guy, especially when we "dated".

Everyone likes to blame me for us splitting up. This may sound weird, but sometimes I wish people knew the whole story. Not that I’d ever tell them though.

Afternoon announcements are airing now. Can't wait to hear the news of Twilight being officially expelled.

Twilight’s still in the running! Even worse, they're pushing the Formal back to tomorrow night!

Ugh! This princess is turning out to be a real royal pain! How did she not get disqualified? Those pictures were so convincing! It doesn't make any sense! Did Flash have something to do with it? No, he couldn't have...unless he saw the cutouts in the trash. But that's a big stretch. Unless he was hungry, why would he be digging through the garbage? That's just gross!

I can’t let this happen. Since they’re not going to give the crown to me, the Formal has got to go on as planned! It’s the last day and if I don’t get the Element of Magic before the portal to Equestria closes again, I’ll be stuck here for another two years.

No way! I’ve got to try and fix things! But those two idiots caused so much damage…there’s no way I can get everything back together by tonight.

Despite everything, I’m pretty relieved to say that the Formal’s still happening tonight. I can’t believe how close it came to being cancelled. As much as I hate to give them any credit for anything, it wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for Twilight and the High Five.

After school, I dragged Snips and Snails to the gym so they can clean up that psychotic mess they made. But when we got there, somepony else had already stolen my idea. Far be it for me to lift a finger and help when everyone seemed to have the situation well under control.

It’s funny. Before, I was really looking forward to going to my final Formal. Had a very pretty dress picked out and everything. I worked really hard on my speech, too. But there’s no point in going through with the whole Princess thing now. I already know I’m not going to win. The school’s totally behind Twilight and altering the votes now would be impossible.

This is going to sound weird, but Twilight obviously brought some kind of power over from Equestria. But how? I know everything there is to know about magic, true magic. While it doesn’t even exist here in human world, I can’t think of any other explanation. I mean, how else could Twilight have accomplished so much in so little time?

Whatever. I don’t need stupid polls or silly competitions to get what I want. Nothing’s going to come between me and my magic.

Snips and Snails are on their way to fetch Twilight's precious mutt so I can lure her out. That should get her attention. I feel bad doing it though. The fleabag’s cute. Kind of reminds me of the one I used to have...

And to show Twilight just how serious I am, I think I'll take this sledgehammer with me for good measure. Can't wait to see the look on her purple face once I threaten to smash her one-way ticket back home into pieces. Not that I'd ever actually do that. Celestia still has to pay for all the pain she caused me.

A little over an hour 'til the portal closes again. Tonight, my years of embarrassment will end. No matter what, I will get that crown. Once I tap into its magic, no one and nopony will ever question who the true princess is again.

I still don’t know what’ll happen once I put on crown. I’m sure I can handle it though. If Twilight can control the Element of Magic, why can’t I?

Yours royally,

Princess Sunset Shimmer

My Little Pony ~The Phases of Sunset~

by JeNnDyLyOn

Shimmer Files ~ #2709 - #2721 ~