//------------------------------// // In the alley // Story: Lovely Parallels // by Phoenixfire Productions //------------------------------// Sunset Shimmer couldn't imagine a perfecter life. She only had one opponent in the race for Princess of the Fall Formal. She'd make an example of the unfortunate girl, then she'd prepare herself for the portal reopening the next year. It was important that she completely wiped out the competition so that she'd have time to go through the portal without the chance that someone might steal her title. Sunset pondered her life as she strolled down the streets of Canterlot City. I wonder if Celestia found another prodigy... not that I care. My life is great. But I can't help but think that it could be better somehow. But how? I can't imagine a better life, so how is this one not the best? Sunset wondered. A noise in the alley she was passing yanked her out of her thoughts. "Who's there?" Sunset asked, turning to look in the direction of the sound. She listened closely, soon hearing the sound again. It was the sound of sobbing, sobbing so pitiful that even Sunset felt sorry for whoever it was. "Do you need help?" Sunset asked, her eyes searching for the source of the sound. She spotted it in the back of the alley, a young girl who seemed as if she hadn't been cared for. She made no move when Sunset walked toward her, instead just sobbed uncontrollably. "Did she send you?" the young girl asked, throwing Sunset an unreadable look. Confused, Sunset took a small step closer. "Who's she? If you don't want to tell me, it's fine. But I'd prefer you do, just so I could help you." Sunset said softly. "She is Thorny Rose, my mother. But don't tell her I said that. She says not to call her 'mother' because I am not good enough." the little girl replied. "That's terrible! Your father?" Sunset was careful to speak loud enough for the girl to hear, yet soft enough so the girl wouldn't be scared. "Dead. My name is Alien, by the way. She says it is fitting for a creature like me." the girl replied, standing up. "My name is Sunset Shimmer. Is there anything your dad called you?" asked Sunset. She carefully reached out a hand to the girl, who she refused to call Alien. "Father wished to call me Evening Star." the girl responded. She took Sunset's hand, and began to walk out of the alley with Sunset. "Then from now on I'll call you Evening Star, maybe Star for short." Sunset said firmly, leading the girl to the abandoned house within view of the city. It was broken down, and often referred to as the House of Hope, in honor of the fact that homeless people often found their way there to spend the night. It symbolized the warmth of a home for those without one. It inspired people to find their own home. "And that's my entire story." Star said, finishing her life story that Sunset had asked her to recall. "So let me get this straight. Your father and his entire species was exiled from another world a super long time ago, he married your mother, and died before meeting you. Oh, you poor thing." Sunset said as she reached out to give Star a hug. "Why do you still like me? Most people hate me for being a Tantabus. Bringer of nightmares, destroyer of dreams, the evil creature from Equestria. All the scary titles make me seem terrible, but I'm weak from never causing a bad dream. So why did you bring me home without question?" Star asked, her eyes begining to water as she prepared herself for her world to turn back into a nightmare. "I'm from Equestria as well, except I came here on my own free will. But the reason I wanted to help you was because you needed it." said Sunset gently while she wiped away Star's tears. Her eyes widened when she rembered a book about Tantabi she had read when she was back in Equestria. Tantabi needed to create nightmares in order to collect the negative energy the ponies having them gave off. Tantabi then turned the negative energy into magic. And Star had never gotten the chance to collect negative energy. "I wish I had magic so I could help you fix this place up." Star sighed. Sunset knew from Star's story that she was used to sitting on the floor, so the feeling of a bed must've been a luxury to her. Star was thinking of Sunset instead, showing just how sweet she was. "Why don't I help you with that? You can mess around with my dreams. Anytime you want. In return, you allow me to become your legal gaurdian." Sunset responded kindly. Star pulled away, looking deep into Sunset Shimmer's eyes. "I would love that, big sis." said Star, hoping that she wasn't pushing it. "I'm glad to hear that, little sis." Sunset replied. Evening Star looked around Sunset's dream. It took place in Canterlot High School. In it, Sunset was talking to five average girls. Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. Star walked closer to her new gaurdian- if you lost your mind enough to call Thorny Rose her old gaurdian- and listened in on the dream conversation. "That outfit looks fabulous on you, darling." Rarity was saying as Star wandered over. Not having enough experience with creating nightmares to be able to turn the dream into one suitable for Sunset Shimmer, she tried to wing it. "If you were blind, of course. The bad girl look was never in style. And your emblem- if someone advised me to wear it, I'd faint." Rarity countinued. The other girls agreed, making Sunset frown angrily. Star could feel the negative energy. The sadness at being regected, the anger at the ones who did it. Star could feel all the emotions she had stirred within Sunset, and quickly turned the raw negative energy into magic. "Would you help me pick out an outfit, then?" Sunset asked calmly. However much she wanted to deny it, Star enjoyed turning the dream into a nightmare. For one thing, she wasn't hurting Sunset. Star was feeling all the emotions she caused so she could turn it into magic, so Sunset wouldn't be able to feel any negative emotions. "Help a meanie like you? I'd prefer to give up my secret cupcake stash then do that!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie. The other girls agreed, and soon the emotions Sunset would be feeling was instead being felt by Star. Star, feeling her magic stores full up at Sunset's rejection, decided to try going into other dreams.