//------------------------------// // The Sun Comes to Crystal Prep - Prologue // Story: Unfinished Story Settings with Sunset Shimmer // by SamRose //------------------------------// Prologue – The Transfer to the Academy “I'm still not convinced this is a good idea.” Rainbow Dash glared, her arms crossed. “It feels too much like I'm letting Twilight down by letting this happen.” “I can understand why you'd feel that way Dash...” Sunset sighed, grabbing another book from her locker and putting it into her bag, “But even you can tell this isn't working.” “Gotta say, I'm with Rainbow on this one. Letting you out of our sites seems like an easy for you to just go back to being the way you were.” Applejack narrowed her eyes as well, scrutinizing the girl who was currently packing. “Are you really sure this is the only way?” Pinkie pouted, though even she had to admit that she wasn't feeling particularly bad about Sunset's idea. Sunset grabbed the last book in her locker, a brown journal with her former cutie mark emblazoned on the cover. She ran a hand over it, removing a pile of dust that had gathered on it from neglect. She let out another sigh before pushing it into her backpack. “It's definitely appreciate you girls putting up with me on account of Princess Twilight but...” Sunset bit her lip in hesitation to speak, before closing her eyes and steeling herself to face them, “It's not hard to notice that even you five still hold some animosity towards me.” “...You were pretty awful.” Fluttershy murmured quietly, running a hand alongside the length of her hair as she hid behind it. “You're not the only ones that remember that either.” Sunset shook her head, “The whole school remembers. Twilight left me behind because this is my punishment, going back to Equestria isn't an option for me. I'm supposed to make amends for what I did, but... How am I supposed to make amends when no one will give me the chance?” The collective looks of the girls were all Sunset needed to see. Some turned away, other rubbed parts of their body awkwardly, Fluttershy had a face that spoke of regret. It was her point exactly. “That's why I have to go.” Sunset said, picking her backpack up and slinging it over her shoulders. “I need to go somewhere when I can have a clean slate, where I won't be judged by my past, where I can prove that I genuinely want to change who I was. And as long as I'm at Canterlot High I can't do that.” Sunset adjusted the straps on her backpack, feeling the extra weight that was added to it now. “Besides, it won't be forever. I'm sure Twilight will come back when the portal opens in thirty moons... And even if she doesn't, I'll come back by then at least as well. I'll show you all how I've changed...” Sunset hesitated, squeezing the straps of her backpack. “...And I'll even let you be the ones to judge if I'm allowed to go back to Equestria or not.” “Nnngh... I still feel like somethings wrong.” Rainbow growled, turning her head away, “But I can't deny you make a good argument.” “But darling, where will you go?” Rarity asked concerned, “Do you even have a plan of where you'll be going?” “I... Figured I'd just start downtown.” Sunset shrugged, “See if I can't maybe find a new school to transfer to or... Maybe just get a job I guess. I just need a new environment. I mean, I've moved to a new area on my own once before, now that I know what I'm doing, doing it a second time sounds like a piece of cake.” “So... I guess this just goodbye then?” Applejack asked uncertain. “You guys have my cellphone number.” Sunset shrugged her shoulders, “If you ever want to check in on me all you have to do is send me a text or a call. I promise I won't ignore it out of spite or something, if I have to answer to anyone it's you five.” “You won't even let me throw you a goodbye party will you.” Pinkie pouted against, crossing her arms indignantly. “I was kind of hoping to leave today... So, sorry Pinkie.” Sunset tried to give a sheepish smile, but it only came off awkward. “Very well, but I refuse to let a teenage girl head to downtown Canterlot without something to her name.” Rarity stomped her foot before reaching into a pocket and pulling out her purse. She reached in and grabbed several twenty dollar bills and thrusting them into Sunset's hand. Sunset blinked at the money, stammering for a moment. “Rarity! I can't accept this!” Sunset thrust her hand with the money in it back to Rarity to try and give it back, but Rarity just pushed the hand back away. “I won't hear of it. If you truly feel bad about taking my money then you can pay it back later.” Rarity turned her head with a huff. “Even if I have a hard time forgiving you for what you've done here, the last thing I want is to see you dead in some gutter alley.” “Rarity...” Sunset muttered under her breath, shocked at the girl's kindness. Sunset felt a pang of regret at what she was deciding to do now as she quietly stuffed the money into her own pocket. Maybe this was a bad idea after all. If it was, it'd just be another on the list of bad ideas that seemed to pile onto her life. “Just be careful Sunset.” Fluttershy spoke up next, “Things may have not turned out well at Canterlot High for you, but the world can be a scarier place than here.” “Look, I hate to offer it, but if anything bad happens to you, give me a call.” Dash put her hands on her hips, a look of reluctant anger on her face. “If I fail Twilight it's gonna bug my conscious for the rest of my life. So as much as I'd rather not, I'll bail you out in an emergency.” “I appreciate that Dash, I really do.” Sunset smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest. She started gritting her teeth as she snaked her thumbs under her straps, adjusting the backpack one more time. If she didn't leave now, she was going to start regretting this plan and stay there. “I should get going though, I was never much for sentimental goodbyes anyway.” “Well I may not be able to give you a goodbye party, but maybe I can give a house warming party or something once you find where you're going.” Pinkie swelled with pride. Even if she didn't like Sunset all that much yet, there was no excuse for her to be a lousy party host. “I guess I'll see you all later then.” It was more of a question than a statement, but Sunset was already second guessing herself and she needed to keep her resolve firm. She turned and made her way down the hallway, wanting to leave the school. “Do you think she'll be okay?” Sunset could hear Fluttershy's timid voice speak up. “I certainly hope so darling...” Rarity remarked before Sunset finally got out of ear shot. With a quick turn she stepped out into the front lawn of Canterlot High, watching several students milling about. She took a deep breath and let out a slow breathe, making her way towards the street to catch the bus. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Sunset sat alone in a cafe with a cup of coffee in her hands, letting out a depressed sigh. It had only been maybe two hours since she'd made her way downtown and already she was feeling the pangs of loneliness again. It was just like when she had first arrived at this world, feeling alone and abandoned. Though now she didn't even have the benefit of having a power-driven goal in mind. Alone with her thoughts, she sat there trying to think of how she was going to prove she had every desire to be a better person... And was drawing a blank. “Ugh...” Sunset let out an audible groan and leaned onto the table. She rested her head on her folded arms and closed her eyes, just trying to calm her mind. She was quickly starting to get disheartened by her own plan, but she was too far committed to it to change it now. Twilight's friends had tried to stop her, but in her usual stubbornness she was going to try and do everything on her own. It seemed that some things just don't change, even when you try to change yourself. “Hey! Watch it nerd!” A loud male voice called out, before the sound of shuffling was heard and someone clearly hit the floor, “You just spilled my coffee all over my new shirt!” Sunset lifted her head, noticing that a group of three older-looking males were hovering over someone else on the ground, though Sunset couldn't get a clear view of the downed recipient. “I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!” A strangely familiar female voice called out, though Sunset couldn't exactly pinpoint why it sounded familiar. “Do I look like I care?” The male who spoke up before reached down and grabbed the fallen student, lifting them up. They were hidden behind the male's back, but Sunset could already tell that this wasn't a fair fight at all. “This is a designer shirt that was a gift for my birthday! How exactly do you think you're going to fix this!?” “I-I can pay for cleaning! O-Or for a new one...” The girl begged, though it was clear she was on the verge of crying. Sunset pushed her chair back and stood up. “There's no just replacing a gift.” He snarled, before a wicked grin forming on his face. “But hey, we're reasonable guys. We'll come up with a much better way for you to repay us, right fellas?” The two guys to his left and right nodded in earnest. “Let her go. Now.” Sunset spoke up, much to the surprise of the three males. “And what are you going to do about it?” The male holding the girl asked, turning to face Sunset, before his face fell. The vision of Sunset's face filled the bullying boys with terror. To the rough males, instead of a teenage girl standing before them, it was as if a demon was standing there, ready to consume their soul in the fires of hell. Gulping down his fear, the boy let down the girl and sucked his teeth in anger. “Fine, come on guys let's get out of here.” Begrudgingly the three of them soon left the coffee shop, Sunset never letting them out of her site until they were well past the windows of the store. “T-Thank you for helping me...” The female voice spoke up, causing Sunset to break out of her anger induced trance. She blinked for a moment, before shaking her head and putting a hand to her head. So much for showing how different I am... She thought to herself with a short sigh. “I couldn't just stand there and let them do that. You alrigh-” Sunset stopped her sentence as she turned to look at a lavender girl with purple hair and pink stripes. “...Twilight?” “Oh... I'm sorry, have we met?” The lavender girl adjusted a pair of glasses on her face that Sunset only just noticed. Sunset stared in stunned silence, before blinking and looking the girl up and down. While on the surface this girl looked like the spitting image of the pony princess, Sunset couldn't help but notice there were some difference. For one, she seemed a little scrawnier than Princess Twilight, if not a few inches shorter. On top of that, she wore her hair up in a bun as well as a pair of glasses on her face. Then to top it off, her outfit was a lot more harsh than anything Sunset would expect to see Twilight wearing, a mix of purple and blues with a plaid skirt. It looked like a uniform. It took Sunset several moments for her brain to reactivate, before she shook her head and put a hand against it. “No, sorry, I just... I thought you were someone else for a moment.” Sunset tried to force an awkward smile, “Kind of weird that you're both named Twilight though...” “That is quite the coincidence.” This Twilight couldn't help but chuckle a little, in her own awkward way, “Though I suppose it's not impossible, after all my mother's name is Twilight too.” “That must get confusing.” Sunset couldn't help but chuckle at picturing family members calling out for Twilight and getting two responses. “We worked a system out. I go by Twilight in the house and we call my mother by her last name, Velvet.” Twilight nodded, before blinking and realizing something, letting a small blush form on her cheeks. “Sorry, I probably should properly introduce myself.” Twilight let out a quick cough to clear her throat before extending her hand, “My name is Twilight Sparkle.” “Sunset Shimmer.” Sunset said with a smile, taking the familiar girl's hands and shaking it. “I don't think I've seen you around before, are you new in town?” Twilight asked curiously. “I just haven't been to downtown much. I've only lived here for a little over two years now though.” Sunset shrugged. “I see. So I take it you go to school outside of downtown then?” Twilight asked curiously. Sunset fidgeted awkwardly, unsure of how to respond to that. “I... Well...” Sunset wasn't sure what the right course of action was at this moment. Should she be honest with this other Twilight? Should she lie and make something up? Sunset looked into the others Twilight's eyes and saw a genuine curiosity and kindness that seemed to be missing from most of the other people she'd talk to recently. She felt like there wasn't a way to properly lie to this Twilight without hurting her, so with a reluctant sigh she decided to go with a bit of truth. “ I do but... Quite honestly I've been considering just dropping out.” Considering was a good word, there really wasn't much point in telling Twilight she basically was already planning to just drop out completely by not showing up ever again. She didn't have any records for them to track her even if they came looking for her, so it was a solid enough plan in her book. However, Twilight reaction was a look of abject horror. “Drop out!?” Twilight said in shock, reacting as if she'd just been told her mother had been murdered. “Why would you want to drop out!? Don't you know how hard it is to get into college if you don't have a High School degree!? Sure, SOME community colleges will take a GED but no University worth it's name will take you in! Not to mention you'll even have difficulty finding a job that isn't entry level! Do you want to be stuck grilling burgers for the rest of your life!?” Twilight got up in Sunset's face as she yelled, causing the red headed teen to back up in surprise. “It was just a thought, yeesh.” Sunset rolled her eyes, turning away from the girl being overly dramatic at that moment. “Well you shouldn't even consider it in the first place!” Twilight stomped her foot, genuinely upset by Sunset's thought. “Seriously, what would make you even consider skipping out on your education!? I want an answer!” Sunset let out another sigh, adjusting her jacket as she felt a little uncomfortable. “I don't have anything against getting an education Twilight... It's more like...” She hesitated to say what was on her mind before getting her words, “...There's nothing left for me at my old school.” “Nothing left...?” Twilight murmured quietly at Sunset, before putting a hand to her chin in thought. “It's not like I don't like learning or something, in fact my grades are probably the highest in school. But there's just... I don't have any friends and I don't have any aspirations. I actually came to this cafe to just sort of get away from it a bit and think things over.” It wasn't the whole truth, but somehow Sunset felt the whole truth right now might just make the situation worse. “Well...” Twilight hesitated for a moment, as if she was about to say something crazy. “If things aren't working at your old school... Maybe... You'd like to come to my school instead?” Now there was something Sunset never quite thought she'd be hearing. Being invited to go to another school instead of being relegated to her only option. She furrowed her brow at the thought, not sure what to make of it though. “Would it even be that easy? Not to mention, what exactly would make your school different from mine?” The only thing that came to mind for Sunset was that no one there would know her, which was what she was looking for after all... “Well, my school is very strict and rigorous about it's academics. If you aren't being challenged at your old school, then it likely just means you need a higher standard, and it can definitely provide that!” Twilight beamed, almost as if she was gloating. It was weird talking about someone so positively about school. “Plus... If you have no friends at your old school...” Twilight paused awkwardly again, adjusting her glasses as she looked away, “I suppose... I could be your friend...” “I dunno Twilight. Don't you think the whole 'becoming the friend of the person who saved me from bullies' thing is a little cliche?” Sunset couldn't help but tease Twilight. Twilight's flushed as she stammered, her hands tapping against each other as she fumbled about. “W-Well I mean, I guess we don't have to if you don't want to, it was just a suggestion! P-Plus the academics really are the more important parts-” Twilight was struggling with her words, but this only caused Sunset to laugh at the antics. “I'm teasing you Twilight.” Sunset said with a smile, “I'd like to be your friend.” The words came out far more naturally than Sunset ever thought they would. Making friends... It was how Twilight was so strong, and it was likely how she was going to redeem herself in this world. Though making friends with an alternate version of the girl who defeated her was a little out there, she couldn't but feel it was a perfectly ironic starting point. “Really!?” Twilight lit up like a beacon, before blushing again and clearing her throat, pushing out the creases on her skirt with her hands, “I mean, that sounds fun!” Twilight cleared her throat again, before putting her arms behind her back with a smile. “We can talk to my sister-in-law about getting you transferred to our school! She's the Dean there, so she has a lot of pull, I'm sure she'll be able to get the paperwork done lightning fast!” “Sounds convenient.” Sunset chuckled. “When did you want to set up a meeting?” Twilight thought carefully about that. “Why not right now?” “Uh, what?” Sunset asked blinking. “Seriously, why not?” Twilight smiled, “We could probably walk to my school from here and she's gonna be working late, so I'm certain she could squeeze in a meeting with us! So the sooner the better right?” “I guess so.” Sunset mumbled, though she couldn't help but feel like life was suddenly speeding off at 60mph on her. One moment she was depressed over what she was going to do, and now here was Twilight telling her to come to school with her. “Great!” Twilight was beaming once more. She reached out and grabbed Sunset's hand and quickly led her out of the coffee shop and leading the way. 'I feel like I'm getting swept away again.' Sunset thought to herself. She wasn't even sure if she knew just what she had fully agreed to, but in some way she didn't mind. It was like life had just handed her the perfect opportunity to show that she really had changed, and all she had to do was let go of her anxiety and seize it. 'I guess it's just nerves.' Sunset shook her head, picking up the pace as she followed Twilight. She was going to leave her past behind and start making a new future for herself. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Sunset had been taken aback by the look of Twilight's school, which she introduced as Crystal Prep Academy. While in layout it didn't look all that much bigger than Canterlot High, Sunset couldn't deny that it had a far more imposing feel to it. It practically towered over you and made you feel small and insignificant, with a somewhat cold and rigid exterior. The inside wasn't much different, pristine floors and walls that seemed to sparkle as if freshly polished, brand new lockers lining the walls, classrooms that looked like they all had new equipment and seating, it was all a bit much for Sunset to take in. It was nothing like CHS, to the point it felt like she had walked into yet another brand new world. They finally came to a stop outside an office door as Twilight declared they had arrived. As she knocked on the door, Sunset took a look at the name engraved on the class window and felt yet another shock to her system. Dean Cadance... She couldn't help but shake her head. It seemed there was no escaping the names from her past. At CHS it had been Celestia, and at Crystal Prep it was Cadance. Memories of terrifying the poor scared pink alicorn came to mind, and she had to let out yet another sigh of past regret. “Come in!” Another familiar voice called from behind the door. Twilight quickly opened it and led the way in, Sunset following behind. From behind a desk, a woman with multi-colored pink hair and skin looked up from her desk, and without a doubt Sunset recognized her as the Princess of Love, Cadance. 'Twilight and Cadance in the same building... I guess this is fitting for my punishment.' Sunset couldn't help but put on a bit of a cynical smirk. “Oh, hello Twilight. I thought you went to the cafe for your after school studies today.” Cadance spoke in a kind manner that Sunset remembered, another pang of guilt plucking at her heart. “I did, but while I was there I ran into this girl. She was looking into transferring to Crystal Prep and I thought you could help.” Twilight explained with a smile. “Oh?” Cadance raised a curious eyebrow, turning to look Sunset up and down. “And who might you be?” “My name's Sunset Shimmer ma'am.” Sunset expressed a bit stiffly, trying to both maintain her manners and not break out into apologies to a woman who she didn't owe them to. “Well Sunset, I must say, it's a bit unusual to have a student come to my office asking to transfer.” Cadance opened her hand to two seats in front of her desk, “Why don't you two have a seat and we can discuss it?” Not one to argue, Sunset took an open seat and Twilight took the one next to her. “I must ask for the sake of curiosity first though, how did you meet Twilight, Sunset?” “Oh, uh, well, you see-” Twilight began to explain, but she was cut off but Sunset. “I was at the cafe when I saw Twilight run into some trouble with some bullies. I scared them off and she wanted to thank me.” Sunset shrugged her shoulders. Cadance's eyes widened in surprise and Twilight looked as if she had frozen in her seat. “Twilight, is this true? You're being bullier?” Cadance asked, frowning hard at the lavender girl. Twilight didn't move for several seconds, and Sunset looked back and forth between the two. 'Oh...' Sunset realized what she had done, Twilight finally looking down at her legs as her shoulders collapsed, a forlorn look on her face. “It didn't look like they came from this school though.” Sunset explained quickly, “They purposefully bumped into Twilight and spilled coffee on themselves to make it look like she did it. They were just trying to extort money from her.” “I see...” Cadance said, her lips pursing at the hasty addition to the story. “While I can't say I'm happy about hearing that my sister-in-law ran into some hooligans, but I'm glad you were there to help her Sunset.” Cadance looked at Twilight, whose gaze hadn't moved from her lap, “As for you Twilight, if for any reason you're being bullied at school you need to inform me. Crystal Prep has a very strict anti-bullying code of conduct and we will enforce it. We don't want our students feeling unsafe on campus, understand?” “Yes Dean Cadance...” Twilight mumbled just loud enough to be heard. “Good.” Cadance took a deep breath, before her smile returned and she focused on Sunset. “Alright, with that out of the way, tell me Sunset, why do you think Crystal Prep would be a good school for you?” “Well, from what Twilight's told me it'd be a good place for me to get a fresh start.” Sunset shrugged. “Plus while I had the highest grades at my old school, I wasn't feeling academically challenged. So with the chance to have a new place to make friends and feel like I was actually learning something, I thought I might apply.” It was a fabricated truth stapled together by her own half-lies and what Twilight had talked to her about, but to anyone not in the known it sounded perfectly reasonable. “Hm, yes, those are good reasons to apply.” Cadance nodded her head in an understanding smile. “Are your parents aware of this? I assume you've talked to them already.” Sunset grimaced looking away from Cadance. The look raised an eyebrow of suspicion from her as Sunset reached up and rubbed the back of her neck. “I... I don't have any parents...” Sunset mumbled. “Oh...” Was all Cadance had to say to that, “What about your legal guardian then?” Sunset shook her head again, causing Cadance to furrow her brow in confusion. “How were you enrolled into your previous school then?” “I'm not entirely sure.” Sunset said shrugging, “They gave me a form to fill out, I filled it out and they accepted me in. I guess they didn't care as much because it was a public school.” It was the best answer Sunset was going to be able to give. It wasn't an answer that sat well with Cadance. “Mmm... Well Sunset, if they have enough information to enroll you into school, then it's likely you have enough to enroll here. We can even have your files transferred to us.” Cadance lifted her hands and curled her fingers together on her desk, “The main problem, however, would be talking about financing.” “Financing?” Sunset raised an eyebrow curiously. “It seems Twilight dragged you in here all excited but neglected to tell you everything about trying to enroll here.” Cadance glanced over to Twilight, who just shrunk into her chair embarrassed. “Crystal Prep Academy is, as it's name implies, a preparatory school focused on making sure it's students are college bound. This gives them early college credits, scholarships they might not otherwise be available for, and the chance to quickly enter the field of their choice. However, these services come at a premium, which means that to be part of Crystal Prep, you have to pay to enroll for classes.” Sunset let out a sigh as the reality of the situation hit her. “I guess it really was too good to be true then.” She mumbled, shaking her head. “I'm sorry for wasting your time Dean Cadance, but I only have the money in my pockets right now. And I doubt it'll be enough to cover the cost of learning.” Sunset stood up from her chair, Twilight looking up with wide eyes. “Thanks for trying Twilight, I'm still willing to be friends if you want, but I should probably look elsewhere.” Sunset shrugged her shoulders and made her way for the door. “W-Wait! B-But! Cadance! Isn't there ANY way for her to be able to afford the entrance fee!?” Twilight begged her sister-in-law, eyes as big as a newborn fawn. Sunset reached up to the Dean's door and gripped the handle when she was stopped by the Dean's voice. “You know...” Sunset turned to look at Cadance, “It really isn't every day that Twilight drags someone new into my office begging me to help them get enrolled...” Cadance tapped a finger against her desk, before swiveling her chair and reaching down into one of the side cabinets. “While it's true that most scholarships are meant for college, it is possible for you to get a scholarship for Crystal Prep as well.” Cadance pulled out several papers before placing them on her desk. “It's not a guarantee, but if your grades really are as good as you say they are at your old school, then you should have no problems getting enough payment through them to come here.” Cadance explained with a smile. Twilight lit up happily again, turning to Sunset with a bright smile. “This is it Sunset! This is how you can come to Crystal Prep with me! You'll be able to get it for sure!” Sunset couldn't deny that there was something about the girl's enthusiasm that was catchy. It was like, if she was happy you had no choice but to be happy with her. “Alright, I'll give it a shot.” Sunset couldn't help but chuckle as she turned from the door and walked over to look at the paper work on the desk. “Very good. While you two fill that out, I'll go ahead and make some calls about getting your paperwork transferred over to the Crystal Prep database. What was the name of your old school?” Cadance asked quizzically. “Oh, I was going to Canterlot High before all this.” Sunset said, still reading through the paperwork. Cadance couldn't help but blink at that, before letting out a bit of a chuckle. “Yeah, that might explain a lot. And will make things a lot easier for us as well.” Cadance smirked a little. Sunset had no idea what that look was supposed to imply, but it seemed like this weird plan of her was becoming a reality. Sunset Shimmer was going to become a student at Crystal Prep Academy.