//------------------------------// // And so it Begins... // Story: A Shifting Sunset Shimmer // by Vinyl-ScratchDJ17 //------------------------------// Dear princess Twilight Sparkle, It has now been a full month since the incident during the friendship games, as well as the battle between me and your Twilight counterpart, and things have gone back to normal. Even though that’s true, many students still talk about it as if it were yesterday. It felt pretty good to be the one to save the day for a change, instead of trying to take over like I had tried before, but you and the others showed me how much more powerful friendship can be. It’s quite a good feeling if you aske me. I remember everybody had hated me for what I did during the fall formal, but it seems to be that I have redeemed myself, and I’m making more friends than ever. It’s a really nice change from trying to be the boss, or hiding in shame from everybody else for being thought of as a monster. It seems to be with each day comes a new adventure, waiting to be discovered, whether it’s fighting off power crazed lunatics, like Applejack said during the battle of the bands, or if it’s just hanging out with the ones you care about most; your friends. Things have been getting a lot better since you came along, I have to say. Before, when I was at the top of the leaderboard, this was just another school full of jerks who, like me, tried to make themselves higher than others. But that’s all in the past now, and it’s as if you’re friends with everybody in the school. Although I do miss Equestria, I really like it here a lot a CHS. It’s like a second home for me for seven and a half hours a day. And to think I only came here from wanting to rule Equestria, and Celestia banished me here. The thought of that also gets me thinking that everything that’s happened wouldn’t have if I had been a good student like you while I was Celestia’s pupil. The ‘Dazzlings’ would still be powerless, and the friendship games would have just been another failed attempt to win by CHS. And as for Equestria, I would be a princess and you would just be another gifted unicorn to everpony else. From what you’ve told me, you would have never been sent to Ponyville, and you wouldn’t of met your versions of Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttrshy, or Pinkie Pie. It’s as if me being bad when I was, made only good things come from it. I’m smiling now just thinking about everything, and how great things are going in both of our worlds. Because of you. Your friend, Sunset Shimmer P.S I may need a new book, I’m running out of pages to use in this one! Sunset Shimmer smiled slightly, sliding her book back into her backpack. She gazed up at the afternoon sun after zipping her backpack shut as she sat in front of the portal to Equestria. The thought of returning home reocurred in her mind many times throughout each day, to see how much had changed since she had left years ago. Maybe everyone there still thought of her as a monster, and if she returned, they might either cower in fear of her presence, or shun her away. Maybe she could make it all up to them somehow, if she were ever to return to Equestria. She immediately dismissed the thought for another time if things ever came to that. She swung her backpack over one shoulder as she stood, facing the portal. She grinned slightly, wondering what her life would be like if she never came here, and frankly, she’s glad it happened. If she ever did go back for something, it would be to apologize to Celestia for all that she has done wrong. A small chuckle escaped her lips that she thought she would ever have the power to overthrow Celestia. Just seeing now how things have been going, taking on evil villains, with quite a lot of power already, she decided being princess just wasn’t for her. “Hey, Sunset,” called a familiar voice. She turned back to see Rainbow Dash heading towards her from the font of the school as all the other students file out through the doors. “Hey, what’s up?” “You aren’t planning on leaving us now, are you?” Rainbow snickered. “No, I hope not. I was just thinking what things are like now in Equestria, with Twilight being a princess and all,” Sunset gave a small shrug. “Oh, well, Me and the gang were wondering if you were coming to the sleepover at Pinkie Pie’s.” “Yeah, of course! Why wouldn’t I? I just need to do something first.” “Alright. See you there,” Rainbow smiled and waved goodbye as she boarded one of the buses that sat in front of the school with many other students. As soon as the other students had gone, and Sunset was left alone, she stood to face the portal again. Her reflection smiled back at her, a red and yellow haired girl. She put a hand up to it, ever so slowly reaching out to it. She slowly made contact, biting her lip, and instead of her hand being placed against a hard surface, it went easily through. The reflective surface of the portal warped around her hand, as it now took the form of a hoof on the other side. She giggled slightly at the feeling and drew her hand back. “Ugh, come on! Let go you stupid thing!” Sunset grunted as she tried to pull her hoof out of the portal, but to no avail. She tugged harder, with her feet propped up against the sides of the portal, when a sudden shock coursed through her body as she was tossed back, landing on her rump. “Agh!” She shrieked. “What was that?” She looked down at her hand to see it was still a hoof, half of her arm covered in her yellow fur, before slowly changing back to a hairless hand. “Well that was weird," she said as she watched the fur disappear back into her arm. She shrugged it off, and stood back up on her feet. “Now, what was it I needed to do?” She tapped a finger on her chin, searching her thoughts, but only to come up empty. “Oh, well,” she shrugged, and began walking in the direction of Pinkie’s house. ***** “Could ya turn that thing down, Rainbow Dash? We ain’t at no concert,” shouted an irritated Applejack, who had been covering her ears from Rainbow Dash playing her guitar way too loud, especially since they were in a small room being Pinkie’s bedroom. Rainbow continued to play. “Rainbow Dash!!” Applejack shouted again, but Rainbow only ignored and kept on ‘shredding’. Two small sources of light appeared at the top of her head, and her back, and soon, cyan pony ears began to rise out of her head, and her wings poked out from her back, slowly opening as they grew. Her hair extended at the bottom as her whole body was surrounded in a blue light as she rose up off the floor, when the music suddenly stopped, her ears retreated back into her head as well as the wings, and she landed on the floor with a soft thud. “Hey! Who unplugged my guitar!?” She looked about the room, spotting Applejack over by the pink dresser, with the cord in hand, and an angry face. “Now, why did you have to go and do that for? I was just getting in the groove!” “Well, ah’m sorry, but my ears began to hurt, and ah think ah would like to keep my sense of hearing, Rainbow Dash,” she snarled. “Ugh, whatever,” Rainbow grumbled, letting her guitar lay across her lap. “Oh, cheer up, Dashie, I liked your music,” Pinkie cheered, smiling warmly at her from her bed. “Yes, but I agree with Applejack. It was a wee bit too loud,” Rarity said with her hands close together as to make a gesture to her statement. “Well, if it was too loud, then why did you guys let me play in the first place,” Rainbow snapped, as she threw her hands into the air. “You did say you weren’t going to play that loud…” Fluttershy fumbled with her fingers, watching as her bunny, Angel was happily chewing on a baby carrot. “See, Rainbow? That’s why I unplugged your guitar. it was too loud even for you to hear me yelling.” Applejack stated. “I didn’t mind it!” Said an over joyous Pinkie Pie. She opened her mouth as if to say something else, until a knock was heard at the door. “I’ll get it,” Pinkie said as she hopped out of the room. Rainbow sighed, plucking at the strings on her guitar, barely making a sound now that it was unplugged. She quietly played “Awesome as I Wanna be,” to where even she could hardly hear it, and at a slower tempo. “So, now that it’s the weekend, what are we all gonna do?” Applejack thought, sitting back down on the floor next to Rarity and Fluttershy against the side of Pinkie’s bed. “I’m not sure, but have any of you ever gotten the thought, that we were just a bunch of regular teens, except we hated each other then, until Twilight came from that other world? And now we’re pretty much the most powerful beings on the planet?” Rarity asked, staring down at her hands. “Actually...no…” Fluttershy whispered. “Now that ya ask, it’s actually quite an amazing feeling.” “I’m baaaack! And look who’s here,” Pinkie pulled a blushing Sunset Shimmer into the room, hugging her tight. “Heh, thanks, Pinkie Pie.” Sunset smiled, hugging her back. “Okay, now that we’re all here-,” Applejack began, until; “I’M GONNA ORDER PIZZA,” said Pinkie Pie excitedly, and ran back out of the room. “So...what’s up guys?” Sunset asked, as she sat down next to Applejack. “Nothing, really. Just hoping we don’t get a head ache from Rainbow’s loud guitar playing,” huffed Applejack. Rainbow Dash shot her an evil glare to keep quiet. “Seems fun,” Sunset chuckled. “Not really.” “So, Darling, how are things with you?” Rarity asked, in hopes of changing the current subject to disencourage any further confrontations. “Well, I saw what my hand looked like as a hoof again.” Sunset shrugged. “What do you mean, Darling?” “Well, I put my hand in the portal is all. It didn’t seem to want to let go since I had to stuggle to get my hand, er, hoof out.” “Hm. Maybe Equestria misses you, Sunset,” Applejack chuckled with a pat to Sunset’s shoulder. “Maybe. But the weirdest part was when I got my hand out, It felt like I got a little electrocuted, and my hand was still a hoof.” Sunset stated as she gazed at her right had, flexing her fingers. “Half my arm was covered in fur, and it took a few seconds for it to change back.” “It’s probably got a few bugs in it since the other Twilight obliterated it when she went all psycho after the friendship games,” Rainbow suggested, her voice cracking a couple times. “That might be it, but it’s nothing too serious I bet.” Sunset added. “It was just so strange, you know?” “Ah bet it was. Ah’d probably freak out a little if that happened to me,” said Applejack. “PIZZA’S HERE,” cheered Pinkie Pie as she skipped into the room with two large white and green boxes. “I deciede to get something other than just plain old pepperoni this time, so I got their new chicken teryaki pizza,” She said as she placed the two boxes down on the floor in front of her friends. They all leaned forward, sniffing in the aroma of freshly baked pizza. “Mmm, smells good,” said Rarity with a nod of her head. “Well, dig in!” Pinkie squeaked and opened the first box, revealing a steamy hot pizza with melted cheddar cheese, with teryaki sauce drilled over it, decorated with chunks of chicken over it. “I also paid extra for the stuffed crust!” “Applejack took a slice eyeing it scepticaly. She took a small bite from the tip of the pizza, and chewed. She smacked slightly as she did, until her eyes popped wide with pleasure, and she took another large bite. “MMmmm, this is delicious,” she said with a full mouth. The others agreed as they grabbed their own slice of the pizza. “Oh, and I called Twilight and she said she miiiiight come over as well.” “That’s nice,” said Applejack with a pizza stuffed mouth. “Darling please don’t talk with your mouth full! It’s very unappetizing!” Rarity complained, before taking another bite from her own pizza. Applejack only rolled her eyes and grabbed a second slice of pizza. “Say, how did they deliver this here pizza so fast,” Applejack asked, turning to Pinkie Pie for an answer. Pinkie said nothing. Instead she went over to her window and pulled open the curtains. She pointed her thumb out of the window, where not too far down the street was a small corner pizza shop where the neighborhood gave way to the city under the early evening sky. “Oh...Ah’ve never noticed that before…” Applejack chuckled nervously as a rosey blush appeared on her cheeks from embarrassment. ”It’s where I’ve been getting my pizza from for the past couple weeks,” said Pinkie with a large roll of her large blue eyes. “Ah, see why they’re gettin a lot of business,” Applejack stated since almost every space in the small parking lot had been accompanied by a vehicle. “Their pizza is really good!” “It is really good,” Sunset nodded in agreement. “So what are you all doing for the upcoming spring break next week?” “Chores,” sighed Applejack. “I’ve got to take poor Opalescence to the vet next week for a check up. She can’t stand the vet,” said Rarity. "Well I’m probably just gonna sit around and play my guitar since I got nothing better to do,” said Rainbow Dash with a shrug. “Me and Maud are taking boulder to the movies!” “Wow, you guys all just seem so busy!” said Fluttershy. “I’m probably just going to sit at home and tend to my pets. What about you, Sunset Shimmer?” “I’ve really got nothing to do.” “Don’t forget guys, we have a concert to do next week as well, at the mall on Thursday,” Rainbow stated. “I didn’t forget,” said Pinkie Pie. “Well, it’s getting kind of late, and I usually go to bed around now, so I’m gonna hit the hay, if that’s okay,” yawned Sunset as she got up from the floor. “See ya tomorrow!” the others said in unison. Sunset gave a small wave as she made her way into the bathroom. She flipped on the light switch to a bathroom which had blue tiled floors, and pink painted walls, as well as the ceiling. To her left sat the toilet, and the right, the bath and shower, with cupcake decorated curtains. On the other end of the bathroom were the counters with a sink, and a cabinet mirror above it. She approached the counter where she reached into her backpack, and pulled out a plastic zip-loc bag. Inside were a tube of toothpaste, dental floss, a toothbrush, and a small bottle of mouthwash. She pulled out the toothpaste and toothbrush and set to brushing her teeth. She watched in the mirror, trying to get every little bit of plaque off her teeth, until something on her forehead caught her attention. A very small bump in the top center of her forehead. She eyed it suspiciously for a short moment before spitting out her toothpaste into the sink, rinsing her mouth out afterward. She rubbed the small nub with a finger, to find it was quite firm. It wasn’t a pimple. She shrugged it off, assuming it would go away in the morning. She resumed washing her mouth out with the mouthwash, followed by a good flossing. When she finished, she cleaned her mess up and placed her things back in the plastic bag, and that back into her backpack. She then got out her night time clothes, and changed, setting her daytime clothes in her backpack, turning to leave the bathroom. “Night, guys!” Sunset called out to the others as she turned down the hall, only to bump into something. She fell with a thud on the white carpeted floor on her tush. “Oh, sorry about that, Maud, I didn’t see you there,” said Sunset as she stood and helped Maud back to her feet. “It’s alright,” she replied in her usual monotone tone. “I was just going to the bathroom.” “Alright. See you later,” said Sunset as she finally entered the guest bedroom, since there wasn’t enough space in Pinkie’s room for her, since she tended to like some space during sleep. She kicked her shoes off and climbed into bed, and crawled her way under the covers as she lay on her side, closing her eyes for a night or sleep. ***** She woke the next morning at the same time as usual, the sun was barely coming up, giving off barely any light. Sunset let out a long and deep yawn as she sat up, and stretched her arms, letting the blanket fall most of the way off of her. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, and stood, her hooves making a hard thud on the floor. Being tired and congested as she was, she never noticed, and just wanted to get ready for school. She grabbed her bag and shoes from the side of the bed and made her way into the bathroom again. She began to change into a new pair of clothes after brushing her teeth again, and was about to put her shoes on, until she saw something yellow and round. By the looks of it, it seemed hard, and the strangest thing to her about was the fact it was coming out of the completely torn sock she was currently wearing. She rubbed her eyes, unbelieving to what she’s seeing, as her other foot was no longer there. Several meaningless thoughts raced through her mind so fast she couldn’t focus on any of them. She pulled her ruined socks off to find her feet had become hooves, which followed into fur covered ankles. On instinct, her body took in a deep breath ready to scream. She quickly placed her hands over her mouth to muffle it, barely making a sound. She took a few deep breaths, assuming this was just a dream. Or at least she hoped it was. Since she was normally a pony, she didn’t have much of a freak out. More of just surprised to see her hooves again, but she wanted to know why. She took her right hoof in her hands, seeing how the ankle reshaped to conform to it, making it seem as if she had digitigrade feet, except she had hooves. It surprised her she didn’t hadn’t realized it at first. She was at least thankful nobody had seen her. She then decides to wear pants instead of shorts. So with a sigh, she slid her new pair of socks on, pulling them as high as she could to hide the fur that was there. After that, she placed her hooves in her shoes, only to find they slid right off. “This isn’t going to be easy, is it?” she muttered. “I’m suddenly turning into a pony I’m sure, and all next week is testing before break. Now, how am i going to do this?” She stared at her sock covered hooves, contemplating how she might go about hiding them, since her shoes no longer fit. Again and again she tried to keep her shoes on, each time ending in failure, when suddenly a light bulb appeared above her head, that as an idea had finally presented itself. Once again she put her shoes on, and she stood. She dragged her legs across the floor, lifting slightly, so her hooves don’t come out of the shoe. Her hooves stayed inside she she began to shuffle around the bathroom to make sure. She ran a hand through her hair, still trying to register how this was all even possible, but as time passed, she came up with nothing. She then proceeded to change her shirt, and when she pulled it off, something else seemed off about her. She stared with a tilted head in her confusion and wonder, lingering on as to know the answer to her trivial question. Or the lot of them it seems. “D-did my boobs get bigger?” She gazed upon them still, her mind had gone fuzzy since this was something she was not used to. Her breasts look to have grown a cup or two in size overnight. She really wanted to know what what was going on with her. She knew for one, ponies do not have breasts, and as she finds herself turning into one, her breasts have gotten bigger in the process. “This is just crazy,” she said with a hand to her head. She sighed and finished changing as a knock came on the door. “Who is it?” “Pinkie!” said a high pitched cheery voice. “What’s so crazy?” Sunset took in a deep breath, letting it out in a long sigh and opened the door. “Nothing’s crazy...everything is just...fine!” She nervously twirled a finger around a few strands of her fiery red and yellow hair, hoping to keep her slow going transformation a secret. “Oh, so there’s nothing wrong with that!?” Pinkie Pie pointed down to Sunset’s shoes, where her hooves went in all wrong, which made it look quite obvious something was happening. “Has she been watching me? How does she know? Did she sneak into the room while I was asleep?” Sunset asked herself as she bit her nails. Pinkie leaned next to Sunset’s ear and whispered; “Don’t worry! I won’t tell anybody you’re turning into a pony!” Sunset let out a gasp, and pulled Pinkie into the bathroom, and shut the door with a hand over Pinkie’s mouth. “How did you know!?” Pinkie removed the hand that had been covering her mouth. “I’m Pinkie Pie! I know eeeeeverythiiiiiinng!” she giggled. “Okay, just please...don’t tell anybody!” “I Pinkie promise! Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my ey- ouch!” Sunset gave a long sigh of relief. “Thank you, Pinkie Pie. I don’t know how everyone would react if they saw me like this.” “Sunset, I don’t think they’d say anything! I mean you were originally a pony, and you’ve turned into three different creatures since we’ve known you! I don’t see how these are a big deal!” said Pinkie who now held one of Sunset Shimmer’s hooves in her hands. “I think you should just tell them after school. Unlike me they’re all a bunch of zombies at this time and they wouldn’t know a single thing that’s going on!” Sunset couldn’t help but smile, seeing how accepting Pinkie Pie was. “I’ll tell them after school then. Or at least I’ll try.” She shrugged. “Good! And, are you almost done in here, I need to get dressed for school.” “Oh, uh, yeah, I’ll get out of your way.” Sunset Shimmer then left the bathroom and made her way into the living room where she sat on the opposite couch than her friends did. She hid her hooves by sitting on them, rather than Indian style like she usually sat. It was a tad bit uncomfortable, but to her it was worth it over having her secret be discovered. Rainbow Dash was on the verge of falling asleep on Fluttershy’s shoulder, whereas Fluttershy was yawning as she tended to her pets. Applejack seemed just fine, but then again, she normally gets up early to do chores around the farm. Rarity seemed tired, but seemed to be fairly battling the need for sleep. Twilight sat alone on the recliner, wide awake. She must have arrived after Sunset went to bed, since Sunset didn't see her at all. She contemplated whether she should just tell them. They were her best friends after all, and had accepted her even right after her defeat during the Fall Formals. She looked down at her shoes, imaging her hooves within, hoping this was just a dream. Pinkie Pie came out of the bathroom about thirty seconds after Sunset had left, and Rainbow was up next to go get changed. Pinkie sat next to Sunset, staring at her with a smile. “Think I should just tell them?” Sunset whispered in Pinkie’s ear. “Better late than never, Sunny,” Pinkie said. “I will after they’ve all changed,” said Sunset “I just hope they won’t freak out too bad. And did you really just call me Sunny?” Pinkie just nodded with a smile upon those rosy pink cheeks of hers. It was about ten minutes later everyone had changed, and Pinkie had them back on the couch. “Everybody!” she began, “Sunset Shimmer has something to say!” she shouted before sitting back down and Sunset stood. “You see, I think what I told you guys yesterday about the portal and my hand being a hoof for a second has to do with this thing that’s suddenly happening to me.” “And?” Rainbow deadpanned. Sunset gazed down at her shoes, knowing they weren’t filled with feet anymore. She took in a deep breath. “And I think I’m suddenly turning into a pony,” she said rather quickly, wincing her eyes, her hands balled into fists from the stress. Rainbow was the first to to begin her fit of laughter, followed by Applejack, and then Rarity. “I’m serious!” Sunset pleaded. “And here I thought Pinkie was good for jokes, but that’s just ridiculous!” Rainbow laughed. Suddenly Sunet felt herself being swept off her hooves as she fell back onto the couch, and Pinkie knocked off her shoes. “Believe her now?” she deadpanned as everyone else in the room stared in shock and disbelief, while Sunset pulled her legs up to her chest, trying to hid her face behind them. “Well, uh...that’s interesting…” said Rarity. Rainbow Dash gave a slight shake of her head, “I think that’s pretty cool!” “It’s um...intriguing?” Applejack said in a such a tone which told the rest of the group she was slightly embarrassed. Sunset sighed and picked her shoes up off of the floor and began to put them back on her hooves. Never has she felt so humiliated in front of her friends.