Equestria...
Celestia watched her student Twilight try to perform the spell she messed up yesterday. As she watched her student try over and over, she could only think, 'My little student...you remind me so much of Sunset when I first found her...so full of promise and filled with a passion for magic...'
Then, Twilight finished the spell and began to jump around the room. “Hooray! I did it! I did it!”
“That you did.” Celestia said with calm smile. “Well done my faithful student.”
“Thank you princess!” Twilight said with a huge smile. “Thank you so much!”
Celestia looked at the magic book again and let out a small sigh. She looked at Twilight as she slowly went up to Celestia with an expectant look. 'She already wants to go to the next spell...' Celestia closed her eyes for a few seconds. 'I can't do this...'
“What's next princess?!” Twilight said with her eyes shining. Celestia showed her usual kind smile. “That's it for today Twilight.”
Twilight's face went from pure happiness to utter shock. “Already?! But...but...but half the day hasn't happened yet!”
Celestia let out another sigh and put her hoof on Twilight. “I...I need to tell you something Twilight.”
“Okay...”
Celestia levitated the magic book in front of Twilight. “I'm ready to tell you about this book...and Sunset Shimmer...”
Twilight's expression went back to happiness. “Really?! Are you sure?!”
“Yes.” Celestia nodded. “I can't delay it any longer...I need to tell you about Sunset Shimmer.”
Twilight paused for a second to think. “So...um, you know Sunset Shimmer? You mean, like before she lost her memories?”
“Yes.” Celestia didn't want to look at Twilight as she tried to say the next part. “You see Twilight...Sunset Shimmer was my previous student.”
“You mean...before me?”
“Yes.” Celestia nodded again. “Now, don't interrupt me over this next part, alright? I'll answer all your questions after I'm done...”
“Okay.”
“Alright...” Celestia stood up and let out a huge huff. “First off, when I first found Sunset Shimmer...she had incredible promise. She loved magic and knowledge...she showed so much power and strength in those subjects...yet...as I continued to teach her...she changed.”
“Changed?”
“Yes. She slowly started to become...greedy...and arrogant. She wanted more and more. She wanted things that...that ponies can't get unless they earn it.” Celestia began to rub her hooves in embarrassment. “I honestly don't want to tell you the next part Twilight.”
Twilight just sat there and said. “You don't have to tell me if you don't want to princess.”
Celestia just looked at Twilight and tears began to fall down her face. She got up and hugged Twilight. “Thank you Twilight.” Twilight hugged her back and thought, 'Wow...I never thought I would ever see Princess Celestia cry...just what happened between her and Sunset?'
After a few minutes of tears, Celestia rose back up and said in a calm tone, “Alright Twilight...what I'm about to tell you next...well...”
“Well what?”
“Let's just say...I believe I need your help in what happens next...”
Meanwhile...
Sunset followed Fluttershy after the two had gotten their meals. The two sat down at an empty table, where Sunset asked. “Um...are your friends late?”
Fluttershy gave a thinking face, “Well...its odd for Rarity to be late...though its pretty typical for Applejack and Rainbow...”
“Oh...okay. So I'll probably meet this Rarity first?”
“Probably.” Fluttershy said with a nod. She began to eat her food. “Let's go ahead and try to eat some before they get here so we have more time to talk.”
“Okay.” Sunset said as she followed suite. After a few minutes of eating, Sunset noticed a girl sit down at the table. This girl had long boots on, blond hair and plenty of freckles on her face. That and a big hat. Sunset did a slight gulp and said, “Uh...Hi.”
“Well howdy pardner!” the girl said in a loud voice as she extended her hand out. “You must be that there Sunset Shimmer, Fluttershy was talking about!”
“Uh...er...yeah. I'm Sunset Shimmer...” she said as she slowly brought out her hand to shake. “Nice to meet you...”
“I'm Applejack! It's always a pleasure to meet a new friend!” Applejack said as she shook Sunset's hand, which in turn shook Sunset's whole body. Sunset shook up and down as she said, “I...uh...its...ugh...”
Fluttershy quickly grabbed Sunset and pulled her away from Applejack. Sunset showed a nauseous face as she put her hand over her mouth. “Oooohhhh...I don't feel so good...”
“Applejack!” snapped Fluttershy. “Don't shake people like that! Not everyone is super strong like you!”
“Sorry!” Applejack said with an apologetic grin. “Ah didn't mean to!”
“I know...” Fluttershy said with a sigh. She turned to Sunset, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah...just a little...queasy...that's all...” Sunset let out a small breath and turned back to Applejack. “Applejack is it? I'm Sunset Shimmer. Now...um, could I ask you a question?”
“You sure as sugar can!”
“What did you mean by a 'new friend'?”
“Any friend of Fluttershy's is a friend of mine!” Applejack said with a huge smile. “After all, you saved her, didn't ya?!”
“Well...uh...” Sunset wasn't sure what to say next. Part of her wanted to ask why she thought that way, the other just wanted to shut up and keep eating. She decided to sit back down and stared at her salad. 'Guess I just don't understand people yet...' she thought, 'What do I say to her?'
Applejack sat down and stared at the puzzled look Sunset was giving. She spoke up, “Say, you sure you're alright there sugarcube?”
“Um...I don't know.” Sunset back to twiddle her salad with her fork. “I...uh...wasn’t ready for you to say that, that's all...”
Applejack turned to Fluttershy with a worried expression. Fluttershy returned the look and said, “Um...why don't we just eat lunch for now Sunset...also, do you know where Rarity and Rainbow are? I know Pinkie called in sick but...”
“Ah don't know Fluttershy. Ah know Rainbow is here cuz ah had a class with before this. As fer Rarity, she might be doing some fashion nonsense or something...”
“Applejack! Don't insult Rarity like that!” Fluttershy said with a bitter tone. Applejack backed off a little and said with a small mischievous grin. “Sorry...couldn't resist...”
Sunset saw the two bicker a little along with small talk. After a few minutes, Sunset saw another girl sit down at the table. The girl had sparkling purple hair in a dress that Sunset wasn't sure if it was made for a student or a fashion model. Sunset ate another bite of her salad and said, “Uh...are you Rarity?”
“Why yes I am darling!” she said with a huge smile. “You must be Sunset Shimmer! It is a pleasure to meet you darling!”
“Uh...er...It's nice to meet you too?” Sunset said as she shook Rarity's hand. Rarity still showed her smile as she said, “But of course! After all, I am so happy to finally meet the one who helped our darling little Fluttershy!”
Rarity sat down and began to rant, “As you know, my name is Rarity dear. I'm a dress maker and a lover of all things fashion and jewelry! Tell me, what are your interests Sunset Shimmer?”
“Uh...I'm not sure. All I know is I like science.” Sunset felt like she must sound really disappointing right now. “Sorry, I don't have many interests...”
“Oh that is perfectly fine darling! All people have to look around a bit before they find their passion!” Rarity began to scan Sunset up and down, “Now...you look like you could wear just about anything and look good in it...your frame looks good too...”
“Uh...what are you doing?”
“Just observing dear...”
“Rarity, give her some space sugar.” Applejack said in a deadpan tone. Rarity leaned back and replied. “Oh...right, sorry. I got a little in the zone there darling. I apologize.”
“No, its fine.” Sunset said, trying to show a smile. “I have no idea what looks good on me anyways.”
“You don't?!” yelped Rarity. “My stars dear! If that's the case, you need to come to my place as soon as possible! I can fit you for any dress in an instant! I'll even do the first dress for free!”
'Wow...she sure is generous...' though Sunset as she let out a little sigh. 'Hate to disappoint her though...' Sunset twiddled her thumbs and said, “Um...I can't do that today...”
“Why not?”
“I have detention...for what happened yesterday...”
“Oh...alright then, we'll just meet after school tomorrow!” Rarity said in a joyous tone. Sunset stared for a few seconds, dumbfounded. “Um...are you sure you're okay with that Rarity?”
“But of course! That and Pinkie probably won't be able to join me and Coco like she promised so...this will help tremendously!”
“Um...okay. Say, you guys keep talking about this Pinkie...is her name Pinkie Pie?”
“Yes. I have feeling you've already met her?”
“Yeah...I don't know if you call it a meeting but...I met her yesterday.”
“Yes...she called in sick today, which is highly unusual for her. I do hope she gets better though.”
The next few minutes consisted of eating and chatting between the four. Sunset found it hard to talk to Applejack and Rarity but didn't mind. All she could think was what Celestia had told her. She kept thinking, 'Have I made friends? Is this what Celestia wanted me to do? I...I don't understand...Why is this so important?'
Rainbow Dash never showed up. Fluttershy informed everyone before lunch was done that Rainbow had just texted her, saying she was stuck talking to the soccer team. Sunset merely sat there, thinking about the phone, 'Huh...I remember the hospital people telling me what a phone is but...I think I need to try one before I understand it completely...'
Soon, lunch ended and the four exited the cafeteria, ready to go to their next classes. As Sunset began to roam the halls, ready to go to history class. She put her backpack off and looked inside, 'Hmm...looks like the book I need is in my locker...guess I gotta go get it...' she thought as she put the backpack back on. Sunset walked down another hallway, trying to get to her locker. Around the corner, a younger student stood there, looking at Sunset as she walked down the hallway. The younger student said to herself, “There she is...” she looked down at the rope she had in her hand. “I had a feeling she would go down this hallway eventually...and she doesn't even see the bucket of water I've hidden...this is gonna be great!”
Sunset continued to walk and saw a familiar figure walk up to her. It was Trixie, who began to wave and yell at Sunset. “Hey Sunset Shimmer!”
The younger student put a huge grin on her face and thought, 'Just a few more steps...and then-'
“And what do you think you're doing Screwball?!” yelled a very bitter tone, belonging to one teacher named Mrs. Harshwhinny. As the yell pierced Screwball's ears she accidentally let go of the rope. As Screwball tried to grab the now escaping rope, “Oh no! Wait!”
But it was too late. The rope pulled and one hidden bucket of water fell on the head of one student. A student called Trixie Lulamoon. What followed would not be pleasant.