Okay, how hard can it be to find a bragging, rainbow maned pegasus? Oh right, she's a lazy, bragging, rainbow maned pegasus. How could I forget? Sunset blew a raspberry, looking around for anything cyan colored in the air. The Rainbow Dash from the other world always used every moment to fly around, when she was transformed. So naturally, this Rainbow Dash must love flying as well.
Since she had been searching for a good thirty minutes without as much as a clue of where Rainbow Dash could be, Sunset decided to ask around. By sheer coincidence, she just happened to be next to the most "abstract" building in town, which was a bakery by coincidence and thought she might as well get something to bite.
The inside at least looked more like a standard cafe. The decor was still in the same candy like style, like the building looked from the outside, but no way near as excessive. There were a couple of customers inside, all of them going silent as soon as the princess entered the building, making Sunset Shimmer almost regret her decision for a quick snack.
Ignoring the stares she was getting, Sunset was becoming really good at this, the alicorn arrived at the empty counter and pressed the little bell on the table. Two seconds later a blue mare, who was a little chubby, came out of the kitchen. Sunset raised an eyebrow upon recognizing Mrs. Cake, but shrugged it off pretty quickly.
Mrs. Cake professional smile vanished in an instant from her face and was replaced with one that just saw the end of the world standing at her counter. "P-P-P-Princess!!" The older mare exclaimed, appearing as fast as a teleporting unicorn on the other side of the counter. "W-what can I bring you princess?"
"Umm...I think I'll simply take one of your eclairs. Whoa!"
As quickly as not Pinkie Pie possible Mrs. Cake had produced the treat on top of the counter, surprising the alicorn princess a little. Acting as if nothing happened, Sunset Shimmer quickly produced the bits necessary and presented them in front of the eerily grinning mare. Resisting the urge to slowly walk backwards, she asked the baker: "Do you happen to know where I can find Rainbow Dash?"
"Rainbow Dash? W-why yes, she's the local head weather mare. She lives on the west side of Ponyville, in her cloud house, though normally you can find her flying around town at this time of the day."
"Yes, well, I have been looking for her all around town, but so far no luck. Aside from her home, is there a spot in town she really likes?"
Mrs. Cake put a hoof under her chin, thinking about the question. Nervously she shook her head.
"I-I'm sorry, Princess Sunset Shimmer, but I can't think of anything."
"Tough luck. Thanks anyways." Sunset grabbed the eclair with her magic and took a bite. "Mmh, this is really good." she said with her mouth full. Turning around, she waved casually and trotted away.
Outside Sunset all too quickly finished the tasty pastry. She considered getting herself more, but quickly lost that train of thought, when somepony bumped into her from the side. Quickly catching herself, she turned around and found a particular pink pony was lying on her back. The earth pony rolled on her hooves and jumped up.
"Whoopsie!! Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." Pinkie Pie dusted her legs off and then looked at Sunset. A sudden sense of dread entered the alicorn's mind, when she found Pinkie's eyes shrink to pinpricks.
"You!" she pointed her hoof at the princess. Onlookers started with their last prayers.
"Me?"
"Yes, you!" Pinkie Pie confirmed, her face completely serious. For a fleeting moment, Sunset was sure that the pink mare, bysome divine intervention, also knew the original timeline or reality and was about to beat the alicorn senseless, then tie her up and bring her to some kind of party torture chamber. Or possibly cupcakes.
"You are a new pony!!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
Now Sunset was just utterly confused.
"So?"
"That means I have to throw you a 'Welcome to Ponyville Party'!!"
A party, of course. Should have figured, it's Pinkie Pie after all.
"And it's the first time I'm gonna be throwing a party for a princess! That demands another party!"
"Actually-"
"Oh, I have an idea! We could throw a double party!"
Sunset smiled, knowingly. She put a hoof on Pinkie Pie's shoulder, in order to get the attention of the earth pony.
"Belief me, I would love to go to the party, but I just don't have the time today."
Pinkie's smile dropped immediately. "Aw really?"
"Hey, no frowny face." the princess chided playfully. "You know, the day before the Summer Sun Celebration, me and my sister will come here with a huge group of foals and fillies from Canterlot. How about you prepare a party for then?"
Sunset watched with interest and a little fear, as the mind of the party pony was processing the information. Her head was ticking like a clock, until it was straight up again with the biggest grin on the face, Pinkie Pie could possibly muster.
"That sounds like a super terrific idea! I have to start working immediately! Oh and Rainbow Dash is at Hay Burgers just down the road." Having her lines said, Pinkie Pie immediately disappeared into Sugercube Corner, leaving a dusk cloud that was shaped like her. For a moment Sunset considered going back inside and asking Pinkie as to how she knew the alicorn was looking for Rainbow Dash, but in all actuality, she already knew the answer. THAT creepy smile.
Rainbow Dash was sitting on an outside table at the burger joint and enjoying her all too delicious hay burger.
Nope, don't think about it Sunset. Gotta keep your figure in check.
"Excuse me, Rainbow Dash, is it?" Sunset spoke up.
The pegasus head turned around, speaking something incomprehensible, since her mouth was full. The magenta eyes of said pegasus widened, when she saw she accidentally spit a princess in the face. Swallowing her food, the mare gave a weak grin.
"Hehehe...sorry, your princesshood?"
Being diligent, Sunset both facehoofed and wiped the spit filled food off her face. "Whatever. I was looking for you."
"For me?" Rainbow Dash seemed ecstatic.
"Yes you. Would you mind finishing up and meet me at the edge of the Everfree? There's something I need to talk with you about."
"...Sure?" Rainbow answered.
"Great. See you there, slowpoke." the princess mock-grinned and teleported away.
Sunset didn't have to wait long. A rainbow streak was coming at her at very high speed and it didn't seem to slow down anytime soon. In fact, the yellow mare was ready to cast a shield spell, when the streak hit the ground, throwing up dust and dirt everywhere.
Oh dear Celestia, she looks pissed.
"What did you say about me?" Rainbow asked in a dangerously low voice.
"Oh jeez, don't take it personally. It was just a joke." Sunset tried to defuse the situation.
It seemed to work on Rainbow Dash, as the mare cooled down and even smiled. "Hehe, and I thought you high and mighty ponies were all just a bunch of stuck up jerks. Eh, no offense."
"None taken." Sunset smiled, knowing full well what the pegasus was talking about. "I have met some of those stuck-up jerks myself. They're really annoying. But enough of this. The reason I wanted to talk to you is...well..." she rubbed the back of her head "I need your help."
"One of the princesses needs MY help?" Rainbow asked, before flying three quick loops and landing in front of Sunset Shimmer. "Rainbow Dash, reporting for duty, ma'am." she saluted.
Sunset couldn't help but laugh. "Easy there Dash, This isn't some dangerous mission, more like a personal favor."
The disappointment was present all over the pegasus' face.
"You see, I recently cast a spell...oh mare this is embarrassing to say. Okay, I'll be blunt. The spell backfired, I lost a good junk of my memory and somehow my muscle memory on certain parts got affected too."
"Uh...meaning?" Rainbow asked.
"I...don't know how to fly and need you to teach me, because I promised a filly I would take her on a ride on her birthday, which is in a couple of days."
Rainbow Dash's face froze upon hearing those words. The not want to be princess was sure that the cyan pegasus would laugh over the alicorn's misfortune, maybe make a stupid comment or two. What she didn't expect was Rainbow's face to harden and take a good, measuring look at Sunset.
"Damn, you're really tough." she commented. "Most pegasi I know would be really depressed if they lost their ability to fly. Don't worry, princess. You can count on me. Though, why are ya asking me of all ponies? Couldn't you like ask a guard or a Wonderbolt?"
Despite how she sometimes acts, she's not stupid at all.
"It's simple, really. A good friend of mine has described you as the best flier in all of Equestria. And I would trust that friend with my life."
"The best flier in Equestria? Of course, makes total sense! Don't worry, princess. We'll get you back in shape in no time at all! No, scratch that! When we're done, you'll be even better at this!"
At the end of the day, Sunset had way more respect for peagasi fillies and colts learning on how to fly. Rainbow's method of teaching or re-teaching, as Rainbow put it, was basically the way bird mothers taught their little ones on how to fly. Meaning, throwing the princess off the cliff or cloud or whatever the pegasus could find.
Aside from having a few close calls, Rainbow Dash actually let the princess crash into the ground. The first time that happened, Sunset was sure she had broken a few bones.
"What the hell Rainbow?! Are you insane?!?!"
"Oh relax, princess." the pegasus had replied. "I'll catch you, when it really gets dangerous. But, I guess you're right. It's time for some wing push-ups."
Now, the alicorn had always kept herself in shaped, but there was only so far the alicorn could push herself. Her wings were sore after they were down with the push-ups and continued straight with trying to get off the ground. And hey, she actually managed to get off the ground. Only to fall straight back at her stomach, when Sunset's stamina was finally drained.
"All right, five minute break."
"You know, I could always try a levitation spell..."
"Nope! No getting out of this princess!" Rainbow grinned, flying overhead, while the princess was walking on the ground.
"Urgh and what kind of torture lesson do you have for me now? Escaping a bunch of dragons?"
"Nah." Rainbow Dash waved off. "That comes tomorrow."
"Very funny." Sunset groaned, when her wings aching got worse again. "So where are we going?"
"To my friend, Fluttershy."
Sunset almost stopped in her tracks, but continued. "Fluttershy?"
"Yeah. She's not really good at flying, but she got this paste, which she always put on my wing muscles after training. She said it relaxes them. Plus, she's really good at massages."
"Alright." Huh, didn't know that. And I really could use a massage. I just hope Fluttershy won't faint, when she sees me.
Soon enough, a cottage came into view, one that had a small stream in front of it and a lot of animals occupying the surrounding area. Said animals didn't pay the two ponies much mind and just went on with whatever they were doing, be it flying, swimming, singing or just lazing around.
I wonder what would have happened if the mirror didn't turn me into a human and I would have met Fluttershy first.
Rainbow Dash flew a ahead and knocked at Fluttershy's door. Before Sunset arrived on hoof, the door opened. She wasn't close enough to hear anything, because it was Fluttershy speaking there. However, she could understand the last thing she said before fully opening the door.
"O-okay. I'll help the pony, if she doesn't mind, that is."
"Thanks Shy. Just, please don't freak out."
"Freak out?" the other pegasus asked, before Sunset Shimmer came into her view. Immediately the shy mare's eyes widened, after which she let out her trademark "EEP" and threw herself to the ground. Sunset gave Rainbow a look, who smiled apologetically.
The situation reminded Sunset way too much of her early days at Canterlot High and how she treated Fluttershy there. Walking up to the mare, the princess spoke in a soft tone to the trembling mare.
"Hey, there's no need to bow, really."
Fluttershy remained in the bowing position, still shaking in fear.
"There's no need to be afraid, really." the alicorn tried to reassure, now standing in front of the pegasus. Fluttershy did look up, but couldn't suppress the escaping whimper.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Sunset pondered.
Frowning, Rainbow Dash stepped between the princess and her best friend. "Sorry princess. Can you give us like five minutes or so?" the pegasus asked, wrapping a wing around Fluttershy.
"Sure. Take all the time you need. Maybe I should go for now anyways. My chariot arrives in 30 minutes or so anyways. I, owe, think I'll manage a little bit of pain until then. Ow."
Sunset winced at her aching wing muscles. Suddenly she wished she could teleport all the way back to Canterlot, but it seemed even alicorns had their limits. Turning around, she also accidentally slammed her left leg against the door frame, leaving a rather huge splinter in her foreleg.
"Ow! Shit! That was stupid..." she cursed, removing the splinter with her magic.
Rainbow Dash snickered at the misfortune of the other pony, whereas Fluttershy on the other hand, got up from her crouching position and flew to the alicorn.
"Oh dear, let me have a look at this." And before anyone could react, the shyest mare in all of Equestria held Sunset's leg with her own two forelegs, carefully removing fur and was inspecting the wound.
"Oh dear me. Looks like there some tiny splinters left. We have to remove them, carefully."
It just then so happened that Fluttershy realized as to what she was doing. With another trademark "EEP" she let go of the leg and went straight back to the ground. Rainbow just groaned at this point.
"I-I'm so sorry, princess." the pegasus whimpered, having her wings fold over her eyes. "Please don't throw me into the dungeon."
"Shy, I tell you the princess ain't like that." Rainbow tried to explain. "She's really cool."
Fluttershy looked up again, her face showing still feat, despite her best friend's reassurance. The alicorn couldn't stand seeing her friend like this anymore and decided to do something about it, remembering her own past.
It had only been a few days since the Fall Formal and once again Sunset was alone in the library, crying to herself in a corner. She knew full well that she deserved all the hate she was getting from the other students, but it didn't ease the pain one bit. It actually made it worse. The teachers didn't do anything about it, but then again, Sunset couldn't really blame them.
She had avoided Twilight's friends to her best efforts and so far was successful, knowing very well that one day they will corner her and pay her back in the worst possible way. Maybe it would have been better, if she went with Twilight back to Equestria and let herself be locked away in a dusty old cell. At least there she would be forgotten rather quickly and could spend the rest of her miserable existence in peace, rather than being forced to endure the revenge of the student body every day.
She was snapped out of her train of thought, by a looming shadow above her body. Looking up, she could see that Fluttershy had finally found her. Whimpering, Sunset lowered her head in shame. The girl would probably not resort to violence or anything, that wasn't like her. But what she most likely would do, was calling her friends, who would then take care of Sunset.
What the Equestrian did not expect, was for the girl to get down and give the crying girl a hug.
Sunset slowly rubbed the back of Fluttershy in a circular motion, while soothingly whispering to the other mare.
"Shh, it's alright. I promise I won't hurt you."