“MOM!!!” I exclaimed running through the halls. Eventually I found her walking around in the hall looking really worried, heading toward a dark part of the hall. “Thank goodness…”
“Huh??” Mom looked down. “Crystal!!” She quickly picked me up. “Thank Celestia… where in the world did you go!?”
“I… I saw her…”
“Who??”
“Can’t believe I didn’t recognise you earlier.” A voice said from behind us. It being Sunset Shimmer. “Should’ve known that Princess Celestia would send her prized pupil to come after my crown… and her little dog too.”
“It’s my crown!” Mom exclaimed.
Sunset smirked. “Whatever, this is just a minor setback for me.” she walked around her. “You don’t know the first thing about this place, and I already rule it.”
“If that’s so, why do you even need my crown? You went through an awful lot of trouble to switch it with the one that belongs here.”
Sunset quickly turned to mom. “Pop quiz: What happens when you bring an element of harmony into an alternate world?” Mom paused looking like she didn’t know the answer to that. “You don’t know?? Seriously?? And you’re supposed to be Princess Celestia’s star student?” Mom looked like a nerve was just pulled on. “Then again, what are the chances of Princess Celestia to find somepony under her wing, after I decided to leave Equestria. A bit embarrassing that you were the best she could do.”
“STOP IT!” I screamed shocking Sunset. “You can’t talk to her like that!”
“You again…” Sunset scowled. “I don’t get it, how in the hoof are you a pony?”
“Because she was human in Equestria.” Mom answered. “Look, just leave her out of this…”
I just looked at Sunset angrily. “What’s wrong? Gonna bite again?” Sunset asked.
“If you hurt my mom again, I will!”
“Mom…?” Sunset slowly looked at mom. “That’s why you have so much faith in her…”
“More than just that…”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re telling mom that you were the best Princess Celestia had, right?”
“Of course…” Sunset answered curiously.
“Then here’s a pop quiz for you: Who is a Princess in this room, and who isn’t?” Mom just looked at me in shock, not believing that I just asked that.
But Sunset Shimmer looked at me only getting angrier. “You both better watch yourselves…” she glared at me before walking away.
Mom just looked back at me and pulled me into a tight hug. “What were you thinking…??”
“Mom, I’m sorry, but I hate hearing people say that.”
“I understand Crystal, but that was very dangerous…”
“I’m sorry mom, I was just trying to help…” Mom just sighed and hugged me.
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Sunset was walking down the hall until she stopped to see both Snips and Snails in a mess of streamers. She quickly unwrapped the two, and stopped them from spinning. “I want you to follow her…” She said referring to Twilight. “Bring me something I can use just like you did with that last girl who thought she could challenge me.”
“You got it Sunset Shimmer” Snips saluted away with Snails.
“I, for one, am going to be paying very close attention to this Crystal…” She clenched her fists as she walked away.
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“Excuse me.” a light blue girl said going in front of mom at the vending machine. “The Great and Powerful… TRIXIE!...” Trixie paused. “Needs some peanut butter crackers.” she said putting a quarter in, taking the snack out.
“Maybe Sunset Shimmer’s right… I really don’t know the first thing about this place.”
“Huh?... Mom, you know she isn’t right.” I said jumping down on the floor. “You just need to learn more about this place.”
“Yeah…” Mom slowly smiled. “Do a little research!”
“And how exactly do you plan on doing that?” Spike asked.
“This place has a school, so I have to assume it’s got a…” She stopped walking to see the large room. “Library!” She exclaimed walking into the library. I decided to go for another look around the school to try and find where the crown is. I just hope I don’t run into her again… I just want to get the crown and go back home!
“Hey.” A familiar voice said behind me while I walked in the hall. Not again… I slowly turned to see Sunset Shimmer with her arms crossed. “Listen, I recommend you to stay out of this.”
“And leave mom alone?”
“Yeah, how does that work?” Sunset asked. “She said you were human.”
“She took care of me. I didn’t have a home or family in my world.” I turned away. “And I just want to go back to Equestria with her.” I tried walking back into the library until I could feel myself getting risen in the air.
“And where do you think you’re going?”
“H-hey! let go of me!”
“Shut up!” She said covering my mouth.
“MMM!” I screamed trying to get Mom’s attention.
“You’re staying with me, you got that?”
I started to feel afraid. Mom… Mom please help me!! I thought to myself in a panic as I got carried out of the school building. With all this going on, I couldn’t even focus enough to use my magic. I was trapped… Sunset was walking on the sideway, not loosening her grip on me. I was scared for my life. And worst of all, I was scared that mom would go crazy trying to find me! The walk lasted about 20 minutes before I could hear the sound of keys opening a lock to a door. she walked inside and placed me on the couch and just stared at me for a minute with her hand to her chin. “I suppose I could use her as a hostage…” she said to herself but loud enough for me to hear.
“Why do you have to do this..?”
“Hm?”
“You always look angry and stressed. Wouldn’t everything be easier if you just made friends like my mom?”
“You don’t get it kid. The only way you can get around in life is with power, and that’s what I’m going to get on the night of the Fall Formal.”
“But are you happy?”
“That’s…” Sunset stammered. “Look, that’s none of your business.”
I paused for a minute thinking of something. “You know… you kind of remind me of a friend I have in Equestria, at school.”
“Who?”
“Diamond Tiara… before she wasn’t always my friend. In fact, she hated me.” I stood up. “Diamond Tiara to me, feels like what you are to Twilight.”
“Well I’m not Diamond Tiara. I know who she is here too.”
I sighed. “Sunset Shimmer? Can I ask you something?”
“Depends on what the question is.” She sat down.
“What happened to you? What made you not be Princess Celestia’s student anymore?”
Sunset froze at the question quickly having memories of her time in Equestria.
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Sunset Shimmer was in a room that had a table and a plant on top of it. A few pony judges in the room as well. Sunset Shimmer was taking her entrance exam for Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns. “Now Sunset Shimmer... “ One pony judge said. “for your final test, you shall need to wow us. Give us the best you got.”
“We’re looking forward to seeing if you can top your “synchronized dancing cats” piece from last semester. That was a dazzler!” another judge said.
“As Princess Celestia’s own pupil, we expect big, big things today!” The final judge said with a grin.
“Well, you’ll certainly see that.” Sunset Shimmer answered with a smug grin on her face. Her horn started to glow, and so did something inside the plant.
“Oh! looks like she’s going to do a growth spell… classic! But is it enough?”
“Let’s hope it turns out better than Juniper Berry’s attempt.”
Not a moment later, what was before a plantless pot, grew into an enormous vine that spread around the building. And of course, who would be outside to see it, but Celestia. After that day, Sunset Shimmer learned much from her teacher, Princess Celestia. But the one thing she was never able to successfully learn… was the magic of friendship.
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Sunset Shimmer stood up and walked away. “Go to sleep.”
“Huh? But--”
“Go to sleep!!” She exclaimed shutting her door.
I sighed and looked around the house. It didn’t look like there was much. If I try to leave, I’ll have no idea how to get back… Mom… she must be so worried about me right now… I slowly got down on the floor. “Ugh… it’s so cold in this house… I guess she can’t afford a heater.” I looked around the house. “Small T.V… dusty… I kind of feel bad…”
“What are you doing in there??” Sunset asked from her room.
“I can’t sleep! I’m cold!”
Sunset sighed and opened the door. “Get in here.”
“Why?...”
“Do you wanna get warm or not??”
I gulped and went into her room. It was a little nicer than the rest of the house actually. “S-so where am I going to sleep then?”
“With me?” she placed me in bed. “You might have come with Twilight, but you’re still just a filly.”
“That’s nice of you…”
“Hmph.” Sunset huffed and got into bed with me. “Just go to sleep.” she got under the blanket with me.
Ugh… I’m still cold… I slowly looked up at Sunset. Her eyes were closed but I doubt she was asleep already. What the hay am I thinking right now…? I sighed and slowly got close to her… eventually hugging her. Okay, instead of feeling cold, I was starting to feel tense and scared. Sunset quickly opened her eyes to look down at me.
“Um…” she said as i kept my eyes closed. Sunset shrugged and wrapped an arm around me, surprising me this time. "Hang on a second..." Sunset said getting a text on her phone, then another right after. Both texts each containing video clips. She just smirked. "Guess I better start editing." She said getting out of her bed and onto her computer. I looked at her, and she had her phone connected to it. She quickly pulled out a recording microphone for her computer. "Heh, this is good..." I looked at her just confused. She the pressed the record button on her computer screen and... "Twilight Sparkle wants to be your fall formal princess... But how can we give someone like this... Such an important honor...?" She quickly stopped the recording and smirked getting to work.
"What was that all about?"
"Look, just go to sleep Crystal." She said not turning back to me.
"You're going to try and hurt my mom..." I hopped out of her bed.
Sunset paused and sighed. "Listen Crystal, you have no idea what I've been through, and I don't expect you to understand."
"But there's more to life than just ruining people's friendships and lives..." Sunset just continued with her editing, trying not to listen to me. When she finished the video, she uploaded it online. But by the time she looked back at me, I had already left her room.
"Crystal?" Sunset asked walking outside. "Where the heck did she go...?" She asked herself walking around the house. Until finally she saw me on the couch, with an upset look on my face. She sighed and sat down next to me. "Look, I hate to see a filly sad like this... She picked me up and held me like a mother holds her baby. "You just don't know what I've been through... All my life, I've strived for power; I knew I was meant for greatness... But then I got turned away."
"Sunset... Life isn't just about power. It's about enjoying life, making friends, and just being happy. That's what my mom told me..."
Sunset sighed. "You're heart's in the right place, Crystal. But I don't see that happening with myself." She carried me into bed with her again.
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Tears could be heard in the quiet, dark room of the schools library... They were my tears... "C-Crystal.. How could I be so careless and lose you again...?"
"I'm sure she's okay Twilight..." Spike said trying to calm me down. "Maybe she's somewhere in this school?"
"And what if she isn't, Spike...? What if Sunset Shimmer took her!? If something happens to her, I'm never going to forgive myself...!"
"Twilight, she's a smart girl... And even if she is with Sunset Shimmer, you don't think she'd be that cruel enough to hurt her, do you?"
"If she does anything to hurt her..." I tightened my new hands into fists.
"We'll start looking for her first thing tomorrow morning... But for now, you need rest."