//------------------------------// // Sunset's Performance (Part 2) // Story: Sunset's Gone // by sapphirebluez //------------------------------// Sunset Shimmer jerked her head upwards and let out a shriek, a shriek that was extremely high pierced and loud. So loud in fact that many students had to cover their ears and cringed in agony. She sounded like a banshee from hell had just arrived. The shriek slowly changed to eerie giggles, then wicked chucking and followed by an evil demonic laughter that came out of Sunset’s mouth. Something was wrong. Sunset lowered her head, and opened her eyes, they were different, almost demonic with a slight tint of dark substance coming of the edge of her eyes. Sunset opened her mouth to speak, but her voice came out evil, demonic, as is it wasn’t the real, true Sunset Shimmer speaking. “You know, I have waiting for quite a while for this day to come.” “S-Sunset darling, what are you talking about?!!” A brief chuckle from Sunset which sent shivers down every student’s spine. “Hah, pathetic human, you see, I have been expecting this ever since my downfall many months ago…” “Expecting what? This whole…Anon-a-Miss thing?” Rainbow gasped. “S-Sunset, but-but if you knew, why didn’t you say something, anythi-” “Not that you stupid, miserable excuse of a human” Sunset growled. The student body gasped. But Rainbow, however just stood there, to shock to even move as her mind processed the words Sunset had just said to her. “Hhmp, quiet now eh? What happened to talking back huh? I thought you were so brave! You seemed to talk a lot and talk big along with your Rainbooms and everyone else when you accused me of being Anon-a-Miss! What happened? Cat got your tongue?!” Fluttershy got onto her knees as if on a begging position. “S-Sunset please! This isn’t like you to talk like this. Please PLEASE stop it!” “Hah just what I was expecting from a useless weakling like you, now you’re standing up for her?!” Sunset pointed her finger sharply to the still silent Rainbow Dash who had a few fears in her eyes as she stood there, slightly trembling. “Huh, a liar and traitor.” Sunset inhaled deeply before jumping off the stage and in to Fluttershy’s face screaming: “YOU ALL CHOOSE TO DEFEND YOUR FRIEND, BUT WHEN I WAS DOWN, BEGGING, PLEADING, REACHING MY HANDS OUT FOR TO HELP ME AND WHAT DID YOU DO??? HUH??HUH??” Fluttershy let out a cry of utter terror as she burst in tears and collapsed onto the floor, curling up into a ball weeping and sobbing. “Exactly, you left me, left be for the other students to jeer at and you Rainbooms just stood by and watched me wallow in my misery, you only needed me when trouble arrives, so you can call you REAL friend Twilight to help. I’m no friend of yours, in fact, now that I think about it, you all aren’t even worth being MY friends! Losers!! Traitors!! Jerks! The Rainbooms and the rest of the students could do nothing but stay silent with their heads down in shame whilst some started crying and let Sunset scream them over and over again. Just like how she was screamed at over something she was innocent of. A certain cloaked person, now with her hood down, was relaxing with a nice cup of warm water resting in between her hands. “Ahh, this feels so wonderful and relaxing.” she sighed. Suddenly, she jolted from her seat. "Something's wrong," She whispered. Standing up from her seat her cloak twisted and turned when she whirled around and start marching out the door. Sunset always thought she was unbreakable. Even when she was "evil" she regarded herself as being absolutely……unshakable, unbeatable, UNBREAKABLE. Well, look at her now. Screaming and screeching every last drop of anger, of hurt and disappointment, resentment and fears at none other than the people who, once, she thought as her angels and saviors. "That’s right you ungrateful pony, scream, scream and screech and cry and cower for you will NEVER be worth anything. Unshakable? You're shaking now. Unbreakable? You're breaking down. Unable to hold on anything, you might as well just GIVE UP!" The voice had done its mark. It had broken her final resolve, her calm composure, her carefully laid mental brick wall, now crumbling dust and would disappear with but a gentle blow. Every single horrible memory she had tried SO HARD to forget. The taunts, jeering, insults. Heck, some students even threatened physical violence on her! Every part of her she deemed not worthy of being shown, hidden feelings growing stronger and stronger. Anger. Hate. Despair. Fear. Rejection…… the list just goes on. They all played a part and now the act has finally begun. A beautiful sonata, the most highest of caliber of dramas on that would have put the drama students to utter shame, the centerpiece that every artist had always wanted to achieve. The unraveling of Sunset Shimmer. The steady rhythmic tapping of sneakers quickened as the black figure whooshed past people. Each of them looked curiously at the hooded figure rushing past but then turned away. They each had their own lives after all, no need to take part in anyone else’s problems. Harsh intakes of air filling desperate lungs, the soft rasping hidden under the even softer panting. The rustle of clothes, shifting about nervously, of fear and anger. The nearly inaudible whimpers, and the soft shushing and cooing to comfort someone. The quiet rumbling of thunder in the distance. These sounds were not meant for her. She didn't fit in this perfect little drama they had created in this kind, merciful stage. She didn't belong, never did and probably never will. She wasn't the main actor, merely just a substitute, a puppet. She never received truthful kind words, never received such affection or sympathy. She never was excused for making a blunder once or twice. When Sunset had stepped in and defeated the sirens, did anyone ever thanked her? Did anyone even appreciate her? Sure, she wasn’t shunned anymore, but no one even bothered to show her kindness or any signs of friendship. She, was just a shadow, only to appear under the spotlight when needed. She, after all, was the oddity. A pony from another world. With her own two hands, she began to destroy this carefully constructed stage that was meant for her. The other Sunset Shimmer had returned and she returned with a vengeance. He never meant to hurt her. Heck, he didn't even know her well! He had joined this "Miss Anon-a-Miss is Sunset!" bandwagon without any semblance of proof that she had done it. Student following another student. The blind following the blind. And he regretted it, seeing the trembling girl onstage, curling her hands in fists and unclenching them. Destroying everything that he and the other students worked hard to build. He regretted the moment of him decision to torment this girl with hurtful words and stabbing painful knives of accusation. Most of all, he regretted not getting to know this girl, for not helping her, for not giving her a chance. But then again he was yet another life in the sea of sinners. Sunset stood up and started walking on shaking, trembling legs forward. "Ya know, you're all laughing all the time, but never see a thing," she said bitterly, the smile no longer malicious but instead, resentful and sad. There was a slight downturn at the corner of her lips. The slight scrunch of her eyebrows. The glistening eyes filled with unshedded tears. It was wrong, as if it was painted on crooked, broken in such a way that was painful. "I remember all the times I laughed with you guys.” Sunset’s voice was hoarse and broken, like her heart. “But now I have nothing. All of it was reduced to ashes." The terrible cacophony of voices settled down slightly, the ugly screeching and wailing in Sunset's mind ceased. "Look at me now." spreading her arms out wide, she continued. "I am nothing but a wasted shell, sitting and crying on this oh, so broken ruins of a stage. I have no dignity anymore, no happiness and no peace in my mind. I am just a simple husk of a bruised and battered porcelain doll." Thunder rumbled the sky, the soft pitter - patter of rain almost non-existent as everyone held their breath, fearing of what might come next. "With nothing I can do, how shall I continue on this shattered environment, the good I once had? What shall I do without anything, destined to be someone who no longer truly lives anymore? My heart shall beat, my mind will speak but with the sharp glass pieces of the past, but how can I move forward?" She smiled, twisted and crooked, set all wrongly on her tear drenched face. "All these feelings." she sighed almost reverently, then speaking again in a cold tone, "I don't want them." "Sunset-" "And this is when you shall say "Come join us again, we promise not to hurt you" repeating empty promises and with my broken trust I shall follow you back." Her smile vanished leaving a somber look on her face. The cloaked figure approached the hall, panting and wheezing from exertion when she suddenly froze while opening the door. "But in this final chapter of a tragic play, I am the Juliet which shall fall in the end. Because not all stories have a happy ending." Turning towards the cloaked figure. “Isn’t that right? Princess Twilight Sparkle?