The world was dark and cold. The sounds of burning flames surrounded Sunset. She was curled up in a ball as the darkness was creeping closer. Black mist filled with glowing embers was surrounding her. The closer the mist got to her the more red her skin tone became. The darker her skin the louder she screamed out for help. All the people from the fall formal were there. Laughing at her, telling her she could never change, telling her that she would forever remain a monster. Dark misty red hands began to come from the black mist. The reached for her a voice along with the hands telling her to be strong, telling her that they were her only friend.
“Leave me alone, wake me up~!” Sunset yelled out as her eyes were filled with tears that were evaporating the moment they touched her cheeks. Sunset held her hands over her stomach as pain was resonating from there. She so badly wanted to wake from this nightmare. She cringed in pain as the whites of her eye turned black.
Sunset quickly sat up in bed now as she had finally awoken from the nightmare once again. She held her own palm against her forehead as she had the most excruciating head ache. Sweat was dripping off of certain aspects of her as she sat there in bed. She felt as if she was engulfed in flames. She was so distraught inside. After the events of the fall formal Sunset felt she would never be forgiven for what she had done. Ever since she had felt this way she had been having the strangest of dreams. In these dreams there was always some kind of burning pain along with a black and red mist offering her its hand. Sunset always felt evil from this mist. Sunset gazed at the clock that loomed on her wall. She had six hours before school even started. Two years since the fall formal, still she felt the dirty looks of the ones who watched her every move. Not a single teen in this town trusted her. The feeling of hate that swelled deep within Sunset always made her feel like she was burning. Her hate seemed to be wielding the mindset of a creature deep within. Sunset did her best to shake the feeling which was easy in this world. The feeling she felt deep within was a feeling of magic. She believed it was reminisce of the disastrous magical situation she had caused at Canterlot High.
“Can I please have one damn good night of sleep?” Sunset said to herself. “I don’t want to feel punished anymore, I want to move on.” She slowly got out of her bed. She was starving; she had to go find something she could use to fill the hole that was her stomach. Her pajamas were messed up from her nightmare. Her pajama bottoms were in a slant in a diagonal line that allowed part of her underwear to show. Her top was short enough that when she stretched it caused her midriff and curves to show. Her sleek body showed little signs of stress. Her eyes on the other hand showed allot of her internal torment. They were not very lively looking. The windows to her soul concealed the spunk that was her attitude. Instead it showed darkness and depression. Sunset Shimmer was such a wreck. She knew that if she continued to feel this way she was either going to die or do something she was going to regret. That was when an idea popped into her head. Sunset rushed for the bathroom and grabbed a comb as she began to straighten up her own hair. She was now thinking out loud as she paced back and forth. “The portal is going to be open for another three days. If I can get in without anyone here seeing me, I can then be with the creatures I can mend with.” Sunset was beginning to smile as she imagined herself with her magical abilities back. Excitement began to fill her body and her eyes were sparking to more lively as she thought about it. She could be in Equestria once again; she could finally continue her studies. She could look into the velvet eyes of the beautiful princess of friendship. Sunsets irises shrunk when that thought fluttered its way into her head. Since when did her mind have beautiful and twilight in the same context? That was when her phone began to vibrate violently with text messages. Sunset quickly took it out of her pocket and looked at the screen to see an unknown number calling her. Her cyan eyes stared at it for the longest time. Should she answer it? Or should she let it ring? Her thumb shakily pressed the answer button as she slowly pressed the phone to her head. “H-hello?” She said in a shaky voice.
“Hello this is the EQ association; we are calling for Sunset Shimmer is she around?” A Woman said on the other end. Over the phone the voice seemed oddly familiar to Sunset.
“Yeah y-you’re t-talking to her?” Sunset said in a questionable manor. She was confused as to why she was talking to an association she had never heard of. That was when the phone hung up and there was now nothing but an echo of the dial tone. Sunset stood there in her dark room for a little bit now. What the hell had just happened to her? Was she being pranked again by one of her fellow peers? She wouldn’t doubt it, though this phone call just gave her another reason to leave to Equestria. She looked over at the clock again and thought to herself. What better time to head to the portal then now. There was no way anyone was at school six hours before it started. She closed her eyes and thought about it for a bit. It didn’t take long for the idea to set in. She was going to Equestria, and she was going now. Sunset angrily grabbed her leather jacket as she exited the house she was living in. The cold air it her like a wall. She was quickly shivering before she knew it. Her breath leaving her mouth and nose were quickly turned into a visible mist as it hit the cold air. Her hair was swaying slightly as the cold air rushed by in the form of wind. Sunset didn’t care if the weather was this shitty. She had a place to get to and nothing was going to stop her. As she walked she could feel the anger inside swelling the closer she got to the school. The front entrance lined with newer brick from where she had lost control and used magic to turn it into a hole. Sunset couldn’t explain it very well but when she had turned into that demon she felt as if she wasn’t herself anymore. In the literal sense she felt that there was someone else there that this demon was something else.
She could vividly remember being able to see what she was doing. She remembered that she knew what she was doing was wrong but no matter how hard she tried to stop herself she couldn’t. Maybe this was the reason she was tormented with these dreams. Was it her subconscious punishing her for her heinous actions? Sunset looked at the horse statue as she was now close enough to touch it. She placed a hand on the face of it. A fire looking color spread across it as she touched it. This color gave her a warm welcoming feeling. This place was not her home.
“What are you doing out here?” A familiar voice sounded from behind her. Sunset really wished it wasn’t who she thought it was but when she turned around she saw it was none other than Flash himself.
“What the hell are you doing out here?” Sunset said as she angrily approached him.
“I could have sworn I had asked you that first.” Flash said as he let out a soft chuckle. “But seriously it’s freezing out here.” Flash took off his warmer jacket and held it out to her. Sunset eyes followed the jacket as it came towards her. Of course at first she was cautious to grab it. She slowly reached out taking it and putting it on.
“T-thank you flash.” She said in a soft and slightly embarrassed tone of voice.
“Oh don’t worry about it. You used to wear it all the time. You might as well keep the thing.” Flash said as he looked around. “You do realize school doesn’t start for another five hours right?” He said crossing his arms in question.
“Flash I’m leaving.” Sunset said rather bluntly. “I’m not happy here in your world anymore, I have to go.” Flash looked at her as if he was slightly surprised.
“You mean the girls haven’t been making you happy this whole time? From what I have noticed you smile a lot around them.” Flash said in mention of rainbow dash and such.
“No don’t get me wrong they have been doing a great job of helping me, it’s just not enough to ease my mind.” Sunset closed her eyes and the image of the demon flashed in her head immediately as she did. She cringed slightly at the sight. She slowly opened her eyes looking at Flash once again. “I want to stay here, just not if I am going to be plague with my past every time I close my eyes. I feel that maybe on the other end of this portal is where I am supposed to be.
“What’s so different there from here Sunset~! There are people here whom want to help you. You’re just going to leave them without a goodbye or even a thank you?” Flash sounded kind of angry now.
“Flash you have no idea what I see every time I close my eyes. I don’t feel right inside and I believe there is only one pony who can truly know what’s wrong with me.” She turned and put her hand in the portal. She could see a hoof on the other end now. This sight only made her want to lunge right in. Flash watched as if he was no longer there to convince her to change her mind. After all he was used to losing arguments with her. Sunset felt she had one thing she needed to do before she went. She turned around and gave Flash a friendly kiss on the cheek. “Maybe we will see each other again someday.” Sunset felt terrible for doing that but she felt it needed to be done. She looked at the stone statue with eyes of fascination. This portal was the whole reason she was here in the first place. She stepped in all the way and the portal began to transport her. Something was very wrong during transmission. The colorful rainbow array that was the portal was starting to turn a dark black with a mixture of Cyan. A bolt of blue electricity shot from one of the portal walls and into Sunset Shimmers chest. Sunset screamed out in pain as the whole area around her went black.
Sunset slowly opened her eyes. She had such a headache which made it incredibly hard to concentrate. She finally gained focus to see her own hooves now in front of her. A Smile immediately spread across her amber face. She jumped up into the air excitedly.
“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.” Sunset yelled out in excitement. “I’m home, I’m finally back.” She nearly began to cry. She hadn’t felt this kind of happiness in a very long time. Sunset looked back to see the portal behind her. The glass was swirling in a black and cyan color. She was confused because last she remembered it just looked like glass. Sunset looked around to see a crystal floor around her. The portal used to be in Canterlot, which did not have crystal floors. She had read about the crystal Empire before but it did not physically exist when she was last here. So she was very confused now as well. She had no idea where she was. Then she thought back to when she had stolen the crown. Nothing had changed it was still in the same building. Then again back then she wasn’t really focused on her surroundings. She was mostly focused on getting the crown so she could have revenge on Celestia who had never let her be an alicorn. Sunset felt tears well in her eyes as she remembered what it had been like. She closed her eyes and let her tears flow. She didn’t care who heard her at this point.
“Sunset Shimmer things like this take time, I cannot make you an alicorn when you have done nothing to earn it~!” Celestia had her wings spread in aggression. “Don’t act like this, don’t be like this~!”
“You’re only scared because you know the greatness I could bring. Your scared that Equestria will no longer need you once they have me~!” Sunset had yelled at her so loud. Guard nearby were in ready position… scared that the small unicorn would attack their princess.
“Greatness is not something you would bring… You don’t understand the meaning of harmony and friendship. You would bring nothing but tyranny and disharmony. I refuse to make you what you are asking. You are not ready~!” Celestia yelled in return “Stop this Sunset before you do something you will regret~!”
“Something I will regret? You will regret your whole existence if you make this mistake. That mirror showed me what I can be. You hid its magic from me. You couldn’t even tell me you possessed something that traveled to another world. You don’t want what’s best for me you want to hinder my abilities, my greatness~!” Sunset said as her horn was glowing in an opal aura. “I demand you make me an Alicorn or I will leave my studies behind. Don’t you see what I’m going to do here? You will lose me; you will lose your last hope.” Sunset growled in anger towards her teacher.
“Then leave, I once knew a mare that would do anything to learn more. I knew a mare who felt love and affection. Clearly you are not her. So go~!” Celestia folded her wings and looked at the guards to escort her away. Sunset couldn’t let this happen; if she was escorted out she would never get what she deserved. That’s when she rushed for the portal.
“Why was I so foolish back then? I could have been something.” Sunset said as she had finally remembered the errors of her old ways. Sunset started to cry louder when she felt something wrap around her. She looked to see a white wing embracing her. She looked to see that the wing was attached to a very familiar face. This face also had tears in it.
“Sunset I n-never thought I would see you again.” Celestai said as she now wrapped both wings around the unicorn in an embracing hug. “I longed for this day, I longed for it so badly.” Celestia said as she used her wings to now wipe the young mare’s eyes of tears.
“C-celestia I am so sorry I n-never meant to cause this.” Sunset said as she buried her snout into the larger mare’s chest. “P-please forgive me I am willing to learn about friendship. P-please take me back please?” Sunset said as she was literally pleading for forgiveness and help. Celestai was slightly surprised by Sunsets demeanor. Despite all that it wasn’t going to change what she said next.
“Sunset Shimmer I am afraid it is far too late to take you back as my student, I hate to let you done but I will have to decline.” Celestia said as she let go of Sunset. Her massive wings no longer embracing her, she was now no longer emotionally helping Sunset. Something ticked deep inside Sunset upon hearing those words. Like an internal alarm clock a burst of energy left sunset. This wave was powerful enough for even none magical beings to feel it for miles. Celestia felt it strongly as it left Sunset, whom was the only one who had no idea this invisible wave of energy had just happened. The energy was so dark and clouded. The feeling of it resonated nothing but evil.
“W-why, I don’t understand.” Sunset lowered her head now. All she wanted was another chance. Celestai was still slightly stunned by the dark energy that had just left her former Student. She thought for a moment when her solution came to her.
“I will not teach you but I know the perfect princess whom can teach you about friendship.” Celestia said with a huge change in heart. Sunset lifted her head and tilted her head as she listened. “From this moment and until you are finished studying. I dub you the student of the princess of Friendship herself, Princess Twilight Sparkle. Those words hit Sunset like a train going sixty. The mare she was officially crushing on was now going to be…her teacher?
“Wait you’re going to have her teach me? Why can’t you teach me? Why are you abandoning me so easily?” Sunset began to question. She had so many questions swimming in her head now.
“If you truly wish for Change Shimmer you will take what I have offered you. You are safe with her. I failed you last time, it would be wrong for me to try again and possibly end with a similar outcome.” Celestia said in a way that seemed she believed Sunset would fail again. “Now if you will follow me I would like you to have your first meeting with your new teacher.” Celestia said as she was now walking for the door. Sunset Shimmer felt she had little to no choice but to follow the white flank of Celestia. She took a deep breath and began to walk. She was wobbly at first but quickly regained the ability to walk fluently on four legs. The moment she stepped into the hallway she was hit with rays of light entering the great hall of the crystal empires castle. The light reflected off her Amber coat allowing her to shine much like the sun itself. She was a very graceful and beautiful pony. It was one of the reasons she was so full of herself in the past. Her tail ladened with dual colors of vibrant yellow and crimson swayed back and forth as she walked.
“Celestia, where are we?” Sunset finally asked “I was here only once before, never stopped to ask where I was.” Sunset said as she found it funny to imagine a cloaked pony asking a guard where she was.
“You are in a safe place…” Celestia said as vague as ever. This made Sunset slightly agitated which was bringing her close to the internal alarm clock inside her.
“W-well alright p-princess.” She said in a cough of a voice. She felt kind of belittle right about now. She was beginning to feel how it felt to be the people she had bullied in the other world. Sunset was growing more and more nervous as she thought about seeing Twilight again. How would she react upon seeing her here? Her questions were quickly answered once they entered another room. There she stood the winged beauty that was making Sunsets mind melt slightly. She had never imagined feeling for another mare. Twilight looked back and she smiled brightly upon seeing Sunset. Her eyes showed she was worried as well. Sunset was good at reading the looks on faces. She was especially good at identifying fear and anxiety.
“Princess twilight, I would like you to meet your new student…Sunset Shimmer.” Celestia said in a soft and kind voice. Despite the kindness Sunset now felt she was being put on the spot.