It was a lunchtime at Canterlot Highschool, it was usually at this time when The Rainbooms started Band practice . Ever since the Battle of the Bands, The Rainbooms kept playing, usually school functions, The animal shelter, the odd benefit. Point is, they were still a band.
Rainbow and Sunset were usually the first to practice and set everything up. Rainbow would say it’s to Teach Sunset guitar, but really it’s to have a guitar contest to see who plays lead. After they both set up the stage and their guitars. Rainbow gave a signal to Vinyl Scratch, the Rainbooms’ resident sound mixer. Scratch nodded and played a simple Clap Beat.
Rainbow started a fairly slow guitar jam, and Sunset responded in kind. It Progressed until they wordlessly agreed on entering a chorus. Both really got into the song, backing each other up as they traded off lead. By the second instance of the chorus, they both really got into the jam. Sunset then picked up the tempo and played a Solo that soared over the rest of the song and ended it there.
“You really need to stop showing off, Sunset,” Rainbow snarked in her usual way.
“I don’t need to take that from you, Miss “Awesome as I Wanna Be”,” Sunset shot back almost replicating Rainbow’s singing voice perfectly.
The two girls shared a laugh as they noticed their other friends standing in the doorway. Applejack and Rarity both had cheeky smirks, Fluttershy just stood there bashfully, and Pinkie was just jumping up and down, in her own world.
“How long were you guys standing there?” Sunset inquired
“Long enough to hear you to rocking from here to Las Pegasus.” AJ stated, Her natural drawl lending itself to snark.
“Darling, You have such amazing Talent!” praised Rarity, her hands clasping together while her eyes were sparkling.
“It’s really not that amazing, Flash just taught me how to play when we were dating” Sunset confessed.
“Yeah, She’s good, but She’ll be even better when I get through with her” Rainbow boasted.
Sunset raised her finger, about to contest that point, but Fluttershy just put her hands on Sunset’s arm, and lowered it, shaking her head.
A strange ‘zap’ sound emanated from Sunset’s backpack. Sunset went over and took out her magical journal.
“Do you keep that book with you everywhere you go?” AJ questioned, cocking her eyebrow a bit.
Sunset stared at her friend through half closed eyes, “Of course, I am Princess Twilight’s Student after all,”
Rainbow scoffed and crossed her arms, “Yeah, and probably something more.”
“What, Th-That’s Ridiculous, It’s a strictly professional, Student-teacher Relationship, that’s all” Sunset stammered
“Why, Sunset Shimmer, your face is getting redder than your hair” AJ teased.
“Guys, come on, there’s nothing there, besides, I’m like at least 5 years older than her.”
The Rooms then chorused into various sounds of shock. Mostly it was just variations of “What !?”.
“Well I was already about 21 when I came here,”
Pinkie burst out from the crowd and started to jump in place “ WOW, so you should, like, be in college, with Twilight’s twin, Partying it up! Oh, I hear colleges have the wildest parties, like they’re so fun the Police show up because that amount of fun should be illegal! OH! When we graduate, I am SO throwing a party every chance I get, I already have AJ’s secret Cider Recipe on standby, I could make cider sooooo good-”
AJ slapped a hand over her cousin’s mouth, “Calm down there, cuz, you’re making everyone a bit overheated,”
Indeed, the other girls stood there, confused at Pinkie’s Random stream of consciousness.
“I have so many questions…” Sunset said, while her eye twitched, She then shook her head and looked at the book, “Anyway, yeah, I don’t really know the mechanics behind the mirror, Trust me I’ve wasted enough time trying to understand that thing. For now, I have a message from our princess friend and as her student, I have to pay attention to what she says,”
Sunset opened the book and saw a Lengthy letter to her, Usually she wrote the more verbose letters detailing a friendship lesson and Twilight would respond with something like “I am glad to see you learning about friendship”, Or “I wish I could have seen how you handled that”. This message was very formal.
“My dear Sunset,” The letter started, “ When I was Princess Celestia’s Student I would send Letters almost weekly, and I would wonder how Celestia felt to receive these letters detailing some concepts so simple as ‘Don’t take a friends generosity for granted.’ I imagine she felt the same way I feel when I get your letters. I know technically you’re my senior, but I can’t help but feel so proud of you. I’ve been looking into the psychological effects of The Elements of Harmony and to that end, I have an assignment for you. I know during the battle of the bands you dealt with a lot of adversity and then some. Your first assignment as my student of friendship is to tell me how you were affected by the Elements, and how your friendship grew. I expect this report as soon as possible.”
“Your friend and mentor, Princess Twilight Sparkle of ponyville” Sunset finished reading.
Rarity sat down, next to Sunset, “So the princess wants to know the how you handled becoming our friend?”
“Hoo wee, Do we have stories for her then,” AJ stated wistfully.
“ Yes, you probably do.” Sunset said quickly as she got up and tried to make a beeline for the band equipment, “However, this is my assignment and oh look at the time, we should start practicing,”
Rainbow blocked Sunset’s path, “Hey, what’s with the sudden jitteriness?” Rainbow’s lips curled up in a cat like manner, “You afraid we’ll embarrass you to your girlfriend?”
“That’s ridiculous! A-and I already told you, It’s not like that!” Sunset shouted
“Come on, Sunny, We have a lot of stories to tell The Princess! Who better to tell stories about friendship than your friends.” Pinkie said.
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Sunset deadpanned
Applejack put an arm around Sunset, “ Tain’t that bad, Right? I mean, I’m sure Twilight has some crazy stories.”
“I-I guess I can let you guys write-” Sunset started, but was interrupted by Pinkie stealing her journal.
“Oh, you won’t regret this, Sunny, It’s nice to remember things and laughing, and-”
Applejack took the book from the dancing pink person, “I think we should start off small, like the time Sunset helped on the farm.”
Sunset nodded, “That actually sounds nice.”
Aj took out a pen and started writing.
“Howdy Twilight,” AppleJack started to write, “I hope everythings going good in your world. I’m just writing to tell you about the time Sunset helped out on my farm. I know you gave her the assignment but I think we can tell you these stories better.
It all started a few days after the Fall Formal….”
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“Winter wrap up, winter wrap up… “ Sunset sang how ever unsteady her voice was.
The song didn’t really match what she was doing, but it was the only equestrian folksong about work to come to her mind, never mind that it was the exact wrong season to be singing that song. Winter was just beginning! Nevertheless, it was a song she could sing to herself while laying bricks.
“Alright, You’re done for the night,” A voice drawled from behind Sunset.
Sunset looked behind her to see Applejack with her hands on her hips. Sunset froze in the middle of her work. Unsure of what to do, the two girls just stared at each other. Sunset’s tear stained eyes were wide in surprise. Applejacks eye drooped to a half lid as she called out to Sunset again.
“Well, are you gonna keep starin, or are you gonna come with me?” Apple jack Drawled as she crossed her arms.
Sunset got to her feet and ran to the orange girl.
“What happened? Is everypo-,” Sunset caught herself, It was strange but she found herself slipping back into pony customs ever since Twilight showed up, “Is everybody alright?”
“Calm down, Missy, Everyone’s fine, I’m just relievin ya from your punishment over there,” Applejack assured
“ How?”
AJ took out a piece of paper and held it to Sunset,
“The girls and I convinced Principle Celestia to ease on your punisment, a mite,”
Sunset looked a the paper, which turned out to be a time card.
“You’re still doing community service, but at least ya got us now, and today, you’re helpin me on the farm.”
Applejack motioned Sunset to follow her. They both arrived at Big Macintosh’s pickup truck.
“Alright, Big Mac, I’m Ready now!” AJ called
a “Eeyup” emanated from the truck and the two girls climbed in.
“Mac, I believe you’ve met Sunset Shimmer,” AJ introduced.
“Pleasure,” Big mac said in a way that was sorta hard to read. It would have been apathetic if there weren’t a taste of edge in his voice.
It was an awkward ride all the way to the farm. Really there was no way for it not to be awkward. Applejack was trying her best, but it was just generic southern hospitality, nothing warm like Sunset saw when Applejack talked to her friends. Applejack didn’t even call her “Sugar”, something she called everyone.
The Truck pulled up to the farm and the two girls got out of the truck.
“Alright, Sunset, first thing we’re gonna do: Finish harvestin’ the apples.” Applejack said as the two went over to the shed.
Applejack pulled a ladder out and handed it to Sunset and they both walked to the orchard. AJ put the ladder to the tree, grabbed a bucket and motioned for Sunset to climb the ladder. Sunset just stared.
“You want me to climb up there?” Sunset questioned
“Well duh, Girl, Those apples ain’t gonna pick themselves!” Applejack said flippantly
Applejack handed Sunset a bucket and held the bottom of the ladder. Sunset slowly picked the apple and filled the bucket. She struggled to keep her balance, but Applejack was there to catch her, and that made her feel safe somehow. When the Buckets filled, Applejack would pass Sunset another bucket. It was still silent.
“So, why are you Girls doing this?” Sunset said While climbing down the ladder after gathering ten buckets of apples.
“Pardon?” AJ Responded.
“Helping me, trying to make my punishment not as bad,”
“ Aw, no, You’re not goin to do this whole, ‘I went evil, I don’t deserve to be your friend’ nonsense!” AJ Exclaimed
Sunset was taken aback by this.
“Listen here, Missy. What you’ve done in the past don’t matter no more. Twilight showed us that even the most messed up of friendships can be mended.”
Sunset closed her eyes halfway, “Yeah, Sweet sentiment and all, but I was a raging She-Demon, I don’t think I can recover from that easily”
“I suppose not.” Applejack pondered as she put the last bucket into the cart, “If’n I’m bein honest, I don’t really know what to make of you yet, I don’t think none of us do. But we’re tryin and maybe our small group of friends may go a long way.”
Sunset set her gaze to the ground.
“I guess I don’t know what to make of my self.”
AJ put an arm around Sunset, “Aww, don’t worry yourself none, Look, I have a surprise for ya if ya do a good enough job on the rest of the chores,”
Sunset cocked her eyebrow, “A Surprise?”
AJ wagged her finger “Not until we finish, we’re plowing the fields next”
When most people think about plowing the fields, they think about putting a harness on a horse, and the horse pulls the plow. Sunset thought that too. She was wrong. As soon as they got to the field, AJ fitted Sunset with the plow harness, or as close as she could with Sunset being human and all.
“You know just because I used to be a pony, doesn’t mean I can do this kind of stuff” Sunset said.
“Oh, I figure, but yer not done bein punished and this is a tried and true Apple family Punishment.” Aj Explained with a cocky smile
“What did you guys do?”
“Let’s Just say, Big Mac’s not allowed near the cider anymore.”
Sunset stood silently for a moment and trudged onwards. The plow was heavy and only got heavier and heavier as she went on. Sunset pulled along still singing the winter wrap up song. Applejack wasn’t so hard on her that she didn’t allow her the odd break for water. These breaks weren’t enough to stop Sunsets legs from hurting but were enough to keep them from falling off. Sunset plowed out 6 rows before AJ declared that sunset was done.
“How… Did … you… do… this…” Sunset gasped.
“Our legs are naturally strong,” Applejack replied, scribbling on the time card, “Well, I think it’s time for your surprise!”
“AJ, I appreciate it, But I think I lost all control of my legs,” Sunset groaned, Her legs her so stiff, she couldn’t even collapse.
“Aw, Don’t be such a baby, Come On!” Applejack grabbed Sunsets arm and dragged her away.
Sunset didn’t know where Applejack was dragging her to. All she knew was that she would possibly be going to school in a wheelchair tomorrow. On the plus side, her legs were going to look totally awesome. She finally felt AJ stop and opened her eyes.
“Dear Sweet Celestia,” Sunset gaped
“Still kinda weird that you swear to our principal” Applejack drawled.
They had stopped at the horse stable. Sunset’s eyes were wide in awe as she beheld the sight. While Applejack stood at mild amusement.
“You Mean… I can… With them!” Sunset all but squealed.
“I mean, If you don’t try anythin weird with the stallions” AJ snarked,
Sunset ignored that and ran over to the ponies that were outside. Naturally she was spoiling them, giving the best ear scratches, and giving them strawberries.
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“Seein Sunset like that made me forget that she turned into a she demon that almost enslaved the entire school” Applejack wrote, she then looked up to Sunset, reading over her shoulder.
“Uhhh, No -” AJ started and then was interrupted
“Don’t even start,” Sunset commanded, with a stern glance.
“Quite a lovely Story, but it’s missing something…” Rarity commented, “Ah, I have a story that the princess will LOVE!”
“Well, Write it, Pearly White,” AJ said while handing the book to Rarity.
“How many times must I tell you to stop calling me that,” Rarity sighed as she opened the book.
“To her Royal Highness Princess Twilight Sparkle of…” Rarity paused in the middle of writing, “What’s your world called, again, Darling”
“Equestria,” Sunset deadpanned
“Ah Yes…” Rarity continued writing, “...of Equestria, Regarding Sunset, I have a story that will show you the full extent of her reformation process”
“Celestia help me,” sighed Sunset, thumping her head tiredly against the pillow her arms formed on her lap.
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Sunset didn’t know how she got into this, helping out local business did count as community service, however….
“Darling, are you ready?” Rarity’s voice called from beyond the curtain Sunset found herself behind.
“Is this really an appropriate costume?” Sunset responded, gesturing downwards with her hands .
“Oh, don’t worry Sunset, It’s perfectly acceptable” Rarity responded, nose in the air, “as if a woman of my culture would suggest something scandalous.”
Rarity pulled the string to her show curtain to reveal, in many senses of the word, Sunset Shimmer in a very skimpy version of a japanese school girl outfit. It was black and only consisted of , for lack of a better term, breastplate with red suspenders that covered only just enough. The suspenders were connected to a skirt that is certainly too short for any sane person.
“This barely counts as a costume!” Sunset whined, in itself a rare occurrence, If she was still a horse, her ears would be flat against her head. As she was not, they could not assume that position. This didn’t stop them from making an earnest effort.
“Nonsense, I’ve adhered to the convention’s guidelines perfectly!” Rarity then turned her whole body to face Fluttershy sitting next to her, “What do you think, Dear?”
Fluttershy gazed down at the floor and scuffed her foot against the tiles, “Well, It’s…. It’s very true to the series,”
“Yes, Continue…” Rarity pried, making small beaconing motions with her right hand.
“Well It’s just that this show is very played out, and We’ll see at least ten of these costumes.” Fluttershy squeaked, two balled fists pressed tight against her lips.
“You have a point there, Hmmm.” Rarity rubbed her chin in thought.
“Can I change my clothes now?” Sunset cried using a curtain as cover.
“Oh, Yes, of Course dear, so sorry,” Rarity said expansively motioning Sunset to the dressing room, ushering the other young woman with both arms.
Once Sunset was in the dressing room, Rarity looked to Fluttershy, “Are,you sure, you don’t mind Sunset being here?” Rarity cocked her head to the side, letting it drag her whole body somewhat diagonal in a parody of curiosity.
“Oh no, not at all,” Fluttershy said, shaking her head fervently, “ In fact, she seems to be shying away from me in particular,”
“She should be, She was absolutely horrid to you.” Rarity waggled a finger at Fluttershy
“Rarity,” Fluttershy’s voice took on a more scolding tone, “ Princess Twilight told us to show Sunset the magic of friendship, we shouldn’t be holding grudges.” She gently grabbed Rarity’s finger to stop the wagging, then quickly pulled her hands back like she had been burned.
Rarity sighed, “You’re Right, I guess it’s a challenge for all of us.” She put one of her hands on her hips, and the other on her forehead, then posed a moment.
“Um, Rarity! Are there any more costumes I should try on?” Sunset called from the changing room.
“There should be another box on the left of the Mirror there, deary!” Rarity called out, hands theatrically located to the sides of her mouth in the universal shouting gesture
“ I didn’t know you made so many costumes, Rarity,” Fluttershy commented, holding her fists together in front of herself.
“Inspiration comes from many great places, But I have to admit, most of the costumes are commissions for when the next comic book convention comes to to town. You’ve been to some, Yes?” Rarity said, attempting to brush Fluttershy’s hair out of her face so that Rarity could see both of the other girl’s eyes. It didn’t work.
“Oh yes, they are so fun and there are so many costumes” Fluttershy commented, flinching away from Rarity’s hands.
Sunset’s voice called from the other room, “Rarity, is there more to this costume?”
“Everything should be there…” Rarity responded, with a heavy lidded stare.
Sunset walked out of the dressing room wearing a red Scarf, a tan bikini top with a dark green miniskirt, with boots and a blue headband.
“Oh, I should have realized the the scarf would clash with your hair…” Rarity said, hands pantomiming braiding hair behind her head.
“ I don’t get it, do video game characters not get cold or something?” Sunset questioned.
“That’s okay, Dear, you can change into your normal clothes.” Rarity generously offered, palm up.
Sunset walked back into the dressing room and changed back to her normal outfit. She walked out.
“So am I done here, Should I… ?” Sunset asked indicating the door.
“ Oh, no, you can stay..” Rarity said indicating her feet.
“If you want to, that is…” Fluttershy added, indicating nothing in particular.
“I mean we know next to nothing about you, dear.” Rarity pursed her lips theatrically, pressing a thumb against her chin, and tapping a forefinger against her cheek.
Sunset rolled her eyes “ What you saw was what you got , Really, It’s no big secret”
“Oh, come on, Sunset, there must be something there” Rarity suggested and then something hit her as she gasped and sang, “Ideaaaaa!”
“ Oh my…” Fluttershy sighed.
“ We should all sleep over here, you, Fluttershy, and I” Rarity said, while holding Sunset’s shoulder
“That sounds fun,” Fluttershy said standing behind Rarity, arms tight and stiff against her side .
“Yes, We can talk and bond with our newest friend” Rarity thumped Sunset solidly on the back.
Sunset smiled a bit, but on the inside her guts were twisting inside of her. She wasn’t all that ready to share with her newfound friends just yet. Sort of comes with the territory with megalomania, you can’t really find a kindred spirit for that. Really Sunset Shimmer was like that as long as she can remember.
The three girls sat in Rarity’s room, all in pyjamas. Snack foods put down meticulously on the floor.
“Okay, Sunset, tell us…” Rarity commanded while laying on her stomach, Her hand propping her face up.
Sunset cocked an eyebrow, “Tell you what?”
“About your past, Darling!”
“I told you, There’s not that much different about me then than at the Fall Formal,” Sunset said, slouching over herself.
“Oh, Come now, Dear, We all have ugly sides we would rather not talk about,” Rarity consoled.
“I once took an assertiveness seminar and it took an entire month before anyone at school stopped cowering in front of me.” Fluttershy admitted, looking out from her hair.
“One time I was in charge of school decorations and I got so Carried away, you can still find the odd bow around the school.” Rarity shared, putting the back of her hand on her forehead.
Sunset winced guiltily. “I... don’t really think the situations are comparable.”
“You’re stalling, Darling,” Rarity sang.
Sunset sighed “... Fine…” Sunset laid on her back, sighing once more.
Sunset began to describe her escapades from when she passed the entrance exam for the School for gifted unicorns and became Celestia’s personal student. Her discovering the mirror. Her fight with Celestia, and then subsequently going through the mirror.
“I had thought that the mirror led to a great power, and by the time I got here, the portal closed, and I was stuck in high school. I’m also pretty sure I’ve been banished from Equestria.” Sunset deadpanned, though the effect was ruined from the redness of her eyes and snot on her face from prior emotional moments in the story.
“Sunset! Why would you say such a thing!” Rarity exclaimed, while hugging her pillow.
“It’s probably true,” Sunset said her, eye drooping down to the floor.
“Well If your Celestia is anything like our Celestia, then she’d be more than willing to give you a second chance.” Fluttershy offered.
“Your Celestia isn’t a magical sun horse.” Sunset extolled in deep sarcasm
“That may be, Dear, But I’m willing to bet that they are both kind, compassionate and caring.” Rarity sashayed
“... Maybe when the Mirror opens again… I’ll go back,” Sunset slowly said. She rolled the words reluctantly across her tongue.
“ Until then, you have us Darling.” Rarity then hugged Sunset, and then Fluttershy joined in.
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“I think That was the first time I felt truly connected to Sunset” Rarity finished writing, she went to close the book when suddenly Sunset shouted.
“Wait, don’t close the-” *klunk* A puff of dust wafted out from between the closed pages.
It was too late, Rarity had closed the book, and a wave of magic energy flowed through the book, signifying the sending to the recipient.
Sunset stood silent for a moment before commenting, “Well, There goes my report…”
“Aw don’t be so sad, Sunset, At least they were happy stories,” Fluttershy said while massaging the redhead’s shoulders.
Sunset sighed, “I guess you’re right, they weren’t as embarrassing as I thought,”
Rainbow Dash scoffed and said, “ At least Pinkie didn’t write about the time she taught you accordian,” The Rainbow haired girl indicated Pinkie Pie, who now was holding the offending instrument on her frame.
“Speaking of which…” Pinkie started.
“Pinkie, it was very clear, and unanimous, that the Rainboom Party Polka is not going to happen,” Sunset Interrupted, as she went over to her guitar and picked it up.
“Besides, I have something to show you guys,” Sunset continued as she strummed her guitar.
It was finally time for the Rainbooms to practice. But unbeknownst to them, they were going to have visitors. The thing about Celestia’s kindness and care, it provides second chances to those who want them. Those second chances usually come to those who seem… unsavory.