My Little Pony ~The Phases of Sunset~

by JeNnDyLyOn

As the Sun Sets On the Third Day ~ Act II

Phase IV
As the Sun Sets On the Third Day

Act II

“I don’t need your help! I never did! I can take care of this and everything else just as I’ve always done – ON MY OWN!”

The High Five had just circled their way around the chasm’s cragged bend when they were struck by the fury of Sunset Shimmer. From its thunderous wake fled two fellows, who the young voyeurs recognized as the ex-tyrant’s seemingly former henchmen.

“Help!” one shrieked.

“She’s gonna kill us, eh!” cried the other. “Run for your lives!”

Down the lamp-lit boulevard the boys tore, their screams of bloody murder and cries of wolf fading to a mere whistle as they flailed off into the night.

Soon, all was quiet again, albeit a little too quiet. Even the crickets refused their song in the hush following the wrath of Sunset, leaving the air eerie and still. It was as if the whole world held its breath for what was about to unfold, an endeavor a certain multicolor-banged cynic was still apprehensive to trust.

“Yeah,” snorted Rainbow Dash, her voice underlined with all the sarcasm in the world and beyond. “Sunset isn’t a monster at all.”

Applejack felt the peppery-tongued teenager deserved an elbow to the gut.

"Ow! Hey, what’s the big i--!”

“Hush, Rainbow,” Rarity shushed with a sharp look. “Or you’ll scare her off!”

This time, it was the southern belle’s turn to raise an eyebrow.

“’Scare her off?’ This is Sunset Shimmer we’re talkin’ ‘bout here, not Bambi.”

“Which is precisely why we need to handle this with poise,” Rarity whispered back. “We can’t just rush in with open arms and expect the same in return.

“Ask yourself, how would you feel if you lost everything in one night?”

“Hmm,” pondered Rainbow as she rubbed the pain in her belly, courtesy of Applejack. “I remember there was this one time, I…well, someone I knew, who totally wasn’t me, caused her team to lose a soccer game and I…er, she didn’t talk to anyone for weeks.”

“After everything that’s happened,” Fluttershy peeped. “I don’t think she’d be eager to see either one of us.”

“Fine,” resolved Applejack with a sigh. “Ya’ll have it yer way then.”

“And Pinkie Pie, dear, I know it may be a little difficult for you, but please try to control your--er, Pinkie Pie?”

Just then, a yelp escaped Fluttershy’s lips.

“What’s the matter, Fluttershy?”

“L-Look!”

Pinkie Pie, now clad in khaki shorts, had slipped away from her company to advance toward the shambled academy.

“Now,” she drawled in a whisper as she crouched behind a humble boulder of debris. “Right over there is the former tyrant known as Sunset Shimmer!

“Isn’t she just gorgeous? Once the nastiest apex predator of this region and now, she’s forced to repair her school after losing a contest of magic against another alpha female.

“Crikey! Just look at the way she stares you down, as if to say,

‘Right’o, you try and come near me, aye, and I’ll take you out!'”

“What!”

Horrified, the rest of the High Five rushed to drag the The Ex-Bully Hunter off as she continued to holler in accent over their heads.

“You’re al’right, girl! You’re al’right!”

Indeed, Sunset Shimmer had been watching them. But with the difficult task of repairing the school’s entrance breathing down her sore neck, she decided not to dwell on their presence. Never would it have done her any good if she had. Fueled with bitterness, she turned on her dark heel and with one swift kick, took her frustration out on the pile of undone bricks before stomping back to her prior labor.

Trowel in hand, the flame-curled misfit struggled to portion a helping of plaster out of her bucket. No longer did the cement have the consistency of jelly, oddly enough, but chilled peanut butter. As she toyed with the scrumptious analogy in her head, a complaint gurgled from her stomach again. Yet in spite of her growing hunger, she pressed on, spreading the mortar along the base of the wall as best as she could.

The task proved difficult, more so than before. As she toiled with the mortar’s new texture, coupled with her hands still shaking with fury, Sunset failed to repeat the first, neat layer she attempted minutes earlier. Finally, she took a deep breath, steadied her hand and after smoothing the coating out again, it looked a tad better.

Once she scraped the excess plaster away, the former bully leaned back to observe how neat of a job she had done. Beaming with accomplishment, all things considered, she then reached for a unit of the next step. But when her hand graced mere pebbles instead, Sunset cursed herself as she suddenly remembered what she committed moments ago in the heat of anger. From where the far-flung bricks lied to the wheelbarrow of spares, the misfit’s eyes travelled and her heart sank.

‘Ugh, It’s so far…’ she complained to herself. ‘Can’t rebuild this wall without bricks though.’

With a sigh, she reluctantly rose once again to her aching feet and upon reaching the tumbrel, gripped its handles and pushed until,

“Ah…!”

For one skilled in wielding a mallet, lifting a trolley of blocks would have been feasible for the once-proud adolescent. But her body suffered much that evening and when that painful reminder ripped into her side, she collapsed to a knee. Unwilling to yield to weakness, Sunset attempted the feat again and failed.

From the wheelbarrow, the frustrated teen snatched as many bricks as her tired arms would permit her to carry. Having reached her limit of two, she ventured back, but did not make it far.

Clunk! Clunk! Thud!

Over a plank of broken wood, she stumbled, sending the bricks and herself flying across the ground. Knees scratched and skirt torn, Sunset stomped back to what tripped her and with the pointed fury of her black boots, kicked it mercilessly.

‘?#@*&%! Stupid thing!’ she cursed within. ‘Guess I should just move it out of the way before I end up killing myself!’

Fuming, the misfit snatched up the baneful board and after spotting a crate filled with collected junk, catapulted the splintered plank into it with heated fervor. Sunset then backtracked to retrieve the blocks she had dropped, dusting her hands off along the way. Upon doing so, she winced at a slight prick in her palm, and yet when she inspected it, saw nothing but grime.

‘Probably just a sprain.’

Having finally returned from her misadventure, the boiling Sunset tossed one of her bricks to the ground with a loud crash! Armed with the other, she knelt before her handiwork and laid the block atop the layer of plaster she laid prior. But it refused to stick and when she lifted the brick to investigate, much to her dismay, the paste had already dried.

‘Okay, the idea is to set the bricks down right away so the mortar doesn’t dry,’ Sunset concluded before pounding the cold coating with her fist. ‘Duh! A little annoying, but no biggie. I’ll just do it again.”

And so she did, though when she dipped the tool into the bucket, her hand failed to budge. The mixture was also drying up. Without a hint as to how the mortar was created in the first place, Sunset reasoned that water would be a good start.

For a moment, the ex-tormentor believed her prayers answered as the unveiled moonlight struck a ripple nearby. That is, until she spotted the now empty pail of water the two goons knocked over in their attempt to escape Sunset’s anger. Gazing at the puddle from afar, she sighed,

‘This is going to be harder than I thought…’

Drained of hope, Sunset sulked against the wall’s edge and brought her knees in close.

‘Maybe…Maybe I do need help…’

‘But who would ever want to help me?’

Just as the thought fluttered from her mind, Sunset’s glistening eyes caught movement and when she lifted her gaze to the grounds, much to her surprise, a set of familiar faces were staring right back at her. Alas, it was the High Five!

In mutual silence, the two parties gawked, frozen in time like a series of garden sculptures, neither side willing to utter the word that would break the spell over them, with the exception of…

“Red light!” Pinkie Pie whispered as she held the pose of a lawn flamingo.

“Oh, my, Sunset sure looks angry,” whimpered Fluttershy, cowering to the tail end of their group. “You know, on second thought, it is getting pretty late. Can’t we just go home?”

“And leave her there all by herself?” Rarity gasped, whose already statuesque form long-perfected the art of standing still. “Now what kind of Samaritans would that make us?”

“Really smart ones…” replied the antsy Rainbow, itching to move again.

“Quiet, ya’ll!” Applejack hissed as she veiled her face with her hat. “And stop movin’!”

For what seemed to last for eons, Sunset Shimmer’s glare lingered upon the High Five like a cobra. Despite her body’s utter exhaustion, the ex-tyrant’s mind remained as sharp as a blade. She took note of the gang’s altered position, realizing they were closer than the last time she locked eyes with them. Albeit a little unsettled, she set aside her concern and recommenced her punishment.

Once their former enemy’s stare flickered away, the others deflated with sighs of relief. On Applejack’s signal, the posse resumed their journey to the damaged entrance in tip-toe.

“Tee hee!” snickered the pink jokester. “Green light!”

“Shhhh!”

Pinkie Pie’s silliness aside, the exchange between the former tyrant and her vanquishers truly possessed the nature of a game. Back and forth, the two parties seesawed; as one looked up, the other looked down, then vice versa while one toiled and the others approached with caution. For a moment, the High Five believed to have made short work of Sunset’s brooding through such play. But when she failed to hold up her end of the amusing bargain, their hopes, especially Pinkie Pie’s, were dashed..

Exhausted from the intrusive gang’s antics, Sunset meandered back to her punishment, still keeping a keen eye on the High Five. Rather than contemplate on what to do next, the disturbed ex-villainess could not help but growl and wonder,

‘Grr! Why are they coming back here? Don’t they all live the other way?

‘Maybe they’re just heading to the back parking lot to get to their cars.

‘No, they took a limo here, remember?

‘What snobs.’

Just then, Sunset’s speculation took a darker turn.

‘What if they want to make me pay further for what I did?

‘Would…they do that?

‘You never know. I mean, it’s not like they’re my friends or anything.

‘Rainbow Dash looks pretty ticked. Man, if looks could kill.

‘Well, I wasn’t exactly nice to her, or either of them, or anyone, really.

'They’re getting closer…!’

Despite her mild curiosity, Sunset had not another moment to spare on trying to decipher the mad reasoning that could have sparked the High Five’s return. To her surprise, the girls already arrived at the site and it was only a matter of time before they reached her. Refusing to face them from such a short distance away, she tried desperately to steer her attention to the task at hand instead, until…

Pit-pat-crrrunch-pit-pat-crrrunch.

Gritty footsteps signaled to her that the gang lingered at the foot of the stairs. Suddenly, panic took Sunset by the hand down to a brick hidden from sight. As the oblivious posse treaded up the steps, the misfit’s fingers tightened their grip about the block in response.

‘Please,’ she begged inside. ‘Don’t make me do this…’

In spite of her nerves, Sunset stalled her next move, silently hoping the girls would change their course. When they neglected to do so, she trembled something fierce.

‘I knew it!

‘They’re coming right at me!

‘What do I do?’

With nowhere to run, Sunset drew a deep breath, then just as the sparkle of the High Five’s fine dresses struck her eyes, she brandished the brick high!

At the sight of this, the unsuspecting group shielded themselves, wild-eyed and shrieking as Sunset cast the brick down…

…down…

…down upon the cold layer of plaster.

Slightly embarrassed, the others recovered and sighed in collective relief.

“Right,” Rarity chuckled nervously to herself before whispering, “So, um, who wants to go first?”

With no response, the dark-curled adolescent peered behind her to find the rest of her entourage had already voted by taking a step back.

“Fine!” she gritted. “Ladies first.”

Armed with all the nerve one so dainty could muster, Rarity took a big gulp then glided up to the toiling ex-tyrant with caution. As she tip-toed toward who she hoped to be a former enemy, the unobstructed sight of Sunset caught her breath.

Though such a comeuppance befitted the vile actions of her past, the humiliation of Sunset Shimmer was difficult for everyone to behold. Even the sour Rainbow Dash found the sight hard to believe, for no more than a day had passed since the former bully was last seen resting on cloud nine, beaming with all that a young girl could ever ask for - beauty, popularity, dominance. Little did they realize that within that haze brewed a storm, one which would eventually erupt and cast the adolescent down a path of darkness that would lead her to that very spot.

When she finally crossed the summit of dilapidated stairs, Rarity was struck hard by the familiar pair of burning eyes. For Sunset, to see the chic acquaintance was like looking into a mirror of the past.

‘Hi, Rarity, I bet you’re just loving this. Guess this is what a girl gets for forcing you to drop out of the Spring Fling.’

Feeling a slight pang of embarrassment, Sunset looked away. After spewing a mixed garble of um’s and uh’s, Rarity finally gathered the courage to speak.

“Sooooo, Sunset,” she began, belying her apprehension with charm. “It’s a little late, don’t you think? Perhaps Vice Principal Luna wouldn’t mind if you postponed cleaning this icky mess until tomorrow?”

In response, the stubborn Sunset picked up an unnoticeable shard of debris then turned her back without a single word. To Rarity, at least.

‘Tomorrow,’ Sunset repeated in her thoughts as she tossed the fragment of trash into the crate.

The former tyrant shivered as the frosty autumn breeze nipped at the flesh exposed within her tattered clothes. For comfort, Sunset allowed imagination to drift her far from the events that plagued the present and blemished the past. How she yearned to shed that cold human shell, to return to the buttercup-furred body of her four-legged self and gallop freely in the warm daylight brought forth from the glorious sun.

Caressed by the sweet nostalgia of rolling on soft pastures of emerald and lavender, Sunset’s labor stalled as exhaustion swept over. All she desired then was sleep…

‘Sleep…sleep…’

“Whoa!” Applejack shouted.

The hasty outburst woke the red-headed girl from her dreamscape, yet in her shock, suddenly lost her footing and stumbled forward!

Up the stairs, the southern belle bounded and from her pocket, she wielded a rope high into a blurred, golden hoop. Before Sunset could collapse into the crate of collected debris, Applejack cast the lasso over the ex-bully and caught her just in the nick of time!

“Huh!” Rainbow pouted to herself. “Show-off…”

“Phew, that was close!” panted Applejack. “You all right there, partner?”

Believing her past suspicions of captivity to be realized, the snagged Sunset twisted and squirmed about like a caterpillar.

‘Ahh! She’s got me!

‘I should’ve known! They’re going to take me away!

'Arrrgghh! Get it off!’

The others could not help but smile at the comical sight of their former nemesis squirming about. While some felt ill about taking delight at someone else’s expense, the rest found it harmless. After all she had put them through, it was the least she could allow.

Suddenly, one of Pinkie’s snickers escaped through her fingers and upon hearing the raspberry, Sunset’s wriggling ceased, as did the ovation of smothered laughter in the dark light of her fiery glare. Just as she was about to explode with anger, the High Five’s ex-tormentor felt a slight tug and upon her discovery, she was free.

With the rope now lying in a heap at her feet, Sunset brushed fingers through her hair shyly before returning to the crate, only to have the southern belle block her view.

“So, uh, whatcha got there?” Applejack asked, bringing her hands to her hips as she wandered around.

But when she leaned over to inspect its contents for herself, her heart sank.

“Heavens t’ Betsy,” she gasped, taking in the collection of broken glass, rocks and shards of wood. “There’s all sorts o’ junk in here.

“It’s pretty full,” Applejack noticed further. “Y’mean t’ tell me that you were plannin’ on liftin’ this all by yerself?”

To Applejack, Sunset said nothing. But to herself, she replied,

‘Not really. I mean, I thought about asking that rock over there for some help.’

“Might be a good idea t’ move this here crate outta the way, don’t you think?”

‘Please, someone give this girl a Nobel Prize.’

As if to display a show of her own strength, Sunset stretched limbs and cracked knuckles inches away from the country girl’s nose, gestures the others cringed to witness. But Applejack was not vexed in the slightest by her past nemesis’ abrasiveness. In fact, it charged her to know that Sunset still possessed a little gumption, despite her situation.

After straightening out her legs, Sunset then leaned over in a second attempt to lift the bin of rubbish. Much to the anti-bully’s irritation, Applejack interrupted the feat yet again.

“Y’know,” the southern adolescent chimed. “If you bend yer knees n’ lift with them instead o’ yer back, you’ll ‘ave more support! Plus, it causes less strain so you won’t be feelin’ it later.”

Sunset blinked in response.

“Here, I’ll show ya! We’ll do it together!”

‘Huh? Together?’

The fiery-banged teenager was incredulous and to show it, glared at Applejack with scrutiny.

‘But why? Is this some sort of trick? Whatever this chick is up to, I’m not buying it.’

Like a hawk, Sunset leered at the country girl as the latter sidestepped to the other side of the crate. Meanwhile, Applejack cracked her own knuckles and, to the revulsion of Rarity, spat into her hands. Once the southern belle positioned herself in the manner suggested, Sunset, with eyes still locked on the blonde, mimicked the same posture.

“Okay, now,” readied Applejack. “On three!”

“Oh,” Rarity whimpered from afar. “Not the dress…”

“Ready? One, two, threeeeeee!”

For a farmhand like Applejack, the task should have been as simple as lifting mounds of hay with another person. But even with the extra help, it was proving to be most challenging.

“Boy!” the golden-haired adolescent whistled in eye-clenching strain. “This one sure is a doozy! You woulda broken yer back tryin’ to lift this thing all by yerself! But don’ worry, Sunset! That’s what I’m here for, to (phew!) help!”

“Um, Applejack?”

“(Oof!) Quiet, Rarity!” grunted Applejack. “Can’t you see we’re (ugh!) a lil’ busy here?”

“Applejack.”

“Oh right, your idea o’ busy is (guh!) gettin’ your nails painted n’ dressin’ all fancy-like! Well, (hrgh!) lemme tell you--!”

“APPLEJACK!”

“Dag’nabbit!” the southern teenager exclaimed, angling her neck around the container. “What is it?”

As she followed the pointed fingers of her comrades to the empty space on the other side of the crate, the green fury within Applejack’s eyes faded. Much to everyone’s disappointment, Sunset was no longer there, having stepped away to toil elsewhere.

After ever so coolly setting her end of the crate down, the red-faced Applejack straightened her hat and shuffled on over to the others.

“What?” she coughed.

Suddenly,

“Ow!”

The sound caught the High Five by surprise and upon heeding the direction from whence it came, found Sunset clutching her hand. In her efforts to soften the dried plaster without the aid of water, the old sting that pained her palm moments ago returned threefold. Over the prick, she graced with her fingertips to uncover a small bump. But in the cursed darkness, could neither see nor determine what ailed her appendage so.

Unlike the agonizing adolescent, the note of suffering ignited a different spark within Fluttershy.

“Oh, gosh,” the latter gasped. “Are you hurt?”

Past her company, the rosy-haired teenager gently crept over to the figure with the blazing curls and injured hand. From her pocket, she removed a small, white kit and as its scarlet emblem rose over the lip of her dress, the pain in Sunset’s hand quickly became the least of the rebel’s worries.

‘Sweet Celestia…

‘How did she know?’

“A first-aid kit?” Rainbow asked in monotone.

“Oh, how splendid! I knew sewing a secret pocket into that dress would come in handy.” Rarity beamed immodestly.

“I know it may seem a little strange,” Fluttershy blushed as she twirled the case in her hands. “But I always carry one with me, in case I should ever encounter a poor, defenseless, injured crea…ture.”

By the time Fluttershy realized what left her lips, it was already too late, for Sunset struck a look that could have frozen water, or in this case, a frightened youth with a poor choice of words.

“Oh, dear,” she stuttered, retreating back to her friends. “Um, I mean, a poor, defenseless, injured p-person?”

Within the sanctuary of her company, Fluttershy fortified herself once more. Then in an attempt to salvage whatever morality she had left, the embarrassed youth tossed a bandage in Sunset’s direction.

Though the bandage failed to reach its flame-haired destination miserably, the former tyrant flinched away from the dressing as if it were some kind of wild animal ready to pounce. Taking notice of the sudden shift in Sunset’s demeanor, the others exchanged glances and readied their tongues with questions. That is, until a flash of fuchsia burst onto the scene.

“Wow!” exploded Pinkie Pie. “I don’t know about you guys, but it is getting way too awkward here! How about some music while we work to GET-US-PUMPIN’!”

Reluctant smiles and nods of agreement flashed around, save for the newly roused ex-bully, who merely rolled her eyes. In her annoyance, she again made an attempt to exit, only to be denied by the colossal grin of Pinkie Pie.

“Sunset!” beamed the cheerful spirit. “Since you’re new to the group, we’ll let you pick what we listen to first!”

The former bully never even had a chance to refuse, for just as she opened her mouth to do so, had her words stolen away. By means Sunset could not even begin to fathom, Pinkie erected a flamboyant yet albeit impressive stereo system! Pinching her nose, she then cannon-balled into a batch of compact discs, giving Sunset a start when she re-emerged for air.

“So, who’s your favorite?” the music enthusiast asked brightly. “Cher? KISS? Ooh, wait! I know! I know! Michael Jackson!”

In pure Pinkie Pie fashion, the bubbly teen dressed in a menagerie of costumes, each reflecting a different musical artist as she called out the performers’ names. After donning a black fedora and a solitary sequined glove, Pinkie moonwalked her way over to Sunset before striking a pose immortalized by the King of Pop. Unimpressed, Sunset snidely replied,

“Chopin.”

Struck by the needle of Sunset’s response, the rosy teen sputtered and deflated like a balloon. Frantic to honor the request, she dove through her music collection in an effort to find anything remotely as calm and soothing as the classical artist. Away from the distressed deejay, Sunset turned triumphantly with a smirk and once again, dismissed herself elsewhere.

With any hope of befriending Sunset fading by the minute, the rest of the High Five looked on from a distance as the bully inspected a pile of felled tapestries.

“Well,” sighed Applejack. “At least she talked.”

Rainbow Dash, still unconvinced, groaned in disgust.

“See? What’d I tell ya! Sunset’s never gonna change. Forget this, I’m outta here!”

The prism-brushed rebel did not carry the claim far, for just as she readied to take her leave, was suddenly halted by a shrilling gasp!

“Rainbow Dash! Stop!”

And so she did, as Rarity, wide-eyed and frantic, rushed over to her frozen friend, the rest of the High Five not far behind.

The sudden outburst startled Sunset as well, but only for a moment. After all, she had things to do, like raveling up the tapestry lying in a stubborn mass at her feet. Still, that did not stop curiosity from luring the ex-villainess’ wandering eyes to discover what ill riled Rarity so.

Judging by Rarity’s wild behavior, everyone thought Rainbow Dash to be in some kind of distress and as they ran over, looked about to see what possible threat lied in wait for her. With one foot off the ground, Rainbow Dash started to feel a little silly, but kept her guard up for the unforeseen danger lurking nearby.

Much to her disappointment and the face-palming frustration of others, the peril sprawled in the form of a felled banner beneath Rainbow’s raised foot.

“There, there,” the dark-curled adolescent cooed, quickly gathering the fabric up in her arms as if it were a weeping infant. “It’s okay. Mama Rarity’s got you.”

Refusing to linger for such absurdity any longer, Sunset wasted no more time in trying to roll her own tattered tapestry up, dragging it over to the crate of junk to dispose of it instead.

“That’s what you were fussin’ about?” she overheard Applejack ask. “Why, that ain’t nuthin’ but a dirty, ol’ sheet.”

Rarity’s sapphire eyes widened in horror.

“A-a dirty old---? Hmph!” she stammered. “Why, Applejack, how could you say such a thing?”

Just as Sunset was about to heave the banner’s last tassel into the bin of trash, she stopped to listen.

“Just look at it!

“The rich burgundy of the fabric emphasizes the design’s impeccable golden stitching. Red symbolizes power and honor, while gold represents success, achievement and triumph. In summary, this banner truly complements the shining spirit of our school.”

Lost in Rarity’s analysis, Sunset curled a fiery tress about her finger.

“For such a fine piece of upholstery to be wasted would be an absolute travesty!”

Having heard Rarity’s insight, the former bully then slowly retrieved her banner from the rubbish, harboring a slight feeling of guilt for what she had done. Sure, she had seen those curtains before, hanging proudly from the ceilings of Canterlot High. But never in the light she just overheard, however, and as she caressed the indigo fabric, she wondered what sort of secrets and histories lied within its dark fibers.

‘Or,’ she scoffed as she heaved the drape back into the bin. ‘It’s just as Applejack said – nothing but a dirty, old sheet.’

“Come on, Rarity,” Rainbow laughed. “You’re joking, right?”

‘My thoughts exactly’, Sunset silently agreed.

“It’s all torn up!”

‘Destroyed…’

“Why even bother trying to fix it? It’s–“

“—ruined!”

A jolt struck Sunset’s heart as she heard the final word of her sentence echo nearby. Locking eyes with the prism-banged teenager, she could tell the effect was mutual. Upon realizing that they had finished a sentence in unison, the two blushed and looked away from each other.

“Ahem,” Rarity excused, answering everyone’s plea to break the uncomfortable silence at hand.

“Yes, of course, it may be ruined now. No doubt, the task of repair will be difficult. But with a little endurance and patience, beauty can be restored someday…

“…if we all work together.”

Something…an unknown something, but something nonetheless, touched Sunset’s heart as all eyes settled upon to her.

Though moved by Rarity’s words, the former villainess could not help but feel a sudden ache of discomfort rise within her. She became frustrated. Whatever that warm feeling was, she did not recognize it and for someone as intellectually sound as Sunset Shimmer, nothing upset her more than the inability to understand.

Fed up with the emotional enigma that taunted her so, Sunset lunged into the wheelbarrow and overturned it, strewing its contents across the ground!

Loyal to a fault, Rainbow Dash flew forward on lightning-swift instinct, planting herself between her friends and the destructive bully. Horror, defeat and disappointment lined the faces of the High Five as the temper-swollen Sunset turned on her ebony heel to storm off, when suddenly,

“Sunset Shimmer!”

“Uh oh,” Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy whispered together.

A voice, followed by the familiar click-clackity-clack of lavender heels, signaled the arrival of Principal Celestia.

As the moonlight struck the pastel hues of her hair, Sunset’s heart skipped a beat. For a moment, she thought the princess of Equestria bearing the same name had appeared. But thanks to the resetting of the portal’s clock, the possibility of seeing her former mentor anytime soon was nulled. In light of that knowledge, Sunset’s heart steadied slightly, though not by much.

The girls had barely stepped out of the way when Principal Celestia bee-lined to the ex-tyrant. Having not seen Sunset since the dust of the night’s catastrophes settled, Celestia feared the worst. In spite of the troubled youth’s crimes, she was still just a child and while the principal failed to fully accept the paranormal nature of some of those crimes, she approached with caution.

“Oh, thank goodness!” Celestia gasped, trying to hold back tears. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

“You have?” the flame-tangled student swallowed.

“Of course,” replied the principal. “We were so worried!”

Sunset was beyond baffled. No chance did she hear Celestia’s words correctly. Once more, she scanned the damage she wrought that evening, her mind throbbing to grasp why everyone failed to care or even notice the same. In a pure attempt to understand, she sought answers in the only manner she knew how,

“Why?”

The question unsettled everyone present, particularly the principal. In spite of this, she thought it best to set the disturbing inquiry aside for the time being.

“Fall Formal’s over, ladies,” she coughed as she towered over the High Five.

Catching the girls’ reluctant expressions, she could tell they did not wish to leave. Nevertheless, she stood her ground.

“If you five aren’t home soon,” the principal reprimanded. “Your families will throw a fit.”

“Wait a second!” Pinkie Pie halted as she threw her hands up to count. “There’s one, two, three, four, five, six of us, Principal C!”

“Yeah,” Applejack nodded back. “What about…her?”

Everyone looked over at Sunset Shimmer, a gesture the latter was beginning to grow tired of. To show it, she glanced at the ground and kicked it.

“Oh, please, Principal Celestia,” begged Rarity, batting her eyes unnecessarily. “Surely, you don’t mean to have Sunset repair this wall all by herself tonight, do you? Why, you said it yourself. It’s late.”

“’Repair the wall’?” Celestia quoted in shock. “Now, who—“

As soon as she asked, she understood.

“Ah, I see. Please excuse me for just one moment.”

Shaking her aurora-hued head, Principal Celestia removed a sun-stickered cellphone from the pocket of her golden blazer. As she and the buttons of her device chuckled softly, the youngsters exchanged glances, unsure of the anonymous conversation taking place.

When she was through, the principal sheathed her device then reverted her attention towards the posse of students once more.

“All right, you heard me!” she barked and clapped with authority. “Off you go!”

“But—“

“No buts, Miss Pie.”

Heeding the direction of their principal’s pointed finger, the High Five sighed in mutual surrender. As they trudged by, each member took her turn in acknowledging Sunset Shimmer, who made it a point to look anywhere but up. Once they reached a distance away, the girls glanced back at their former enemy one last time, even slowing their pace as they half-expected her to follow. But when she failed to budge, the High Five turned and retired for the night.

As foreign as the feeling was to embrace, Sunset did not wish to see those girls leave. Their constant meddling aside, she could never say that she was alone whilst in their company. Still ensnared by what little remained of her pride, the former tyrant delayed her own departure, wishing not to walk with, behind or in sight of them. Once ensured the group was gone, she retreated in the opposite direction, only to be denied by the monolith of Principal Celestia’s form.

“Except you, Miss Shimmer,” the obstructer added sternly.

Gritting her teeth, Sunset wrung the flap of her jacket tightly. Her eyes stung, her cheeks burned and a sudden urge to weep lingered in her gullet. Yet all she could do at that moment was pick up the trowel that lay at her feet and mutter,

“I guess I’ll get back to work then.”

As soon as the former bully lifted a boot off the ground to retreat, Celestia stopped her once again.

“That won’t be necessary,” the principal said softly as her hand beckoned for the trowel. “For now, at least.”

Churning with disbelief, Sunset hesitated to relinquish the tool. After all, the object she held in her hand and the wall with which she was charged to fix with it, was all she had left. What was to become of her, if not to be sentenced to the confines of that duty?

Before Sunset could press the principal as to what lied in store,

“Principal Celestia!”

…a third voice signaled the arrival of one other. Sunset failed to recognize it at first, only deducing that it was female, mature and seemed to herald from the shadows within the school’s foyer. Into the dark, the ex-tyrant squinted and as the form stepped into the light, Sunset’s blood ran cold.

As she emerged from the bowels of the university, a frantic figure in white uniform struck Sunset’s view like a beacon of undesired light in the dark. Save for the disheveled bangs that evidenced her hefty workload, the woman’s hair, soft pink and styled into a bun, sustained a cap decorated with crimson hearts and a cross. Her hurried demeanor aside, the snowy-garbed woman managed a gentle smile that Sunset, in spite of her fear, wished she could trust.

“Ah,” Celestia acknowledged warmly. "Nurse Redheart."

But Sunset did not. Instead, she gulped and took a step away.

“Sorry…I’m…(huff!) late,” the out-of-breath nurse wheezed, adjusting her crooked cap. “I got…your message and…(phew!) came as quickly as I…could…”

Just then, something other than a lack of air caught the medic’s breath.

“What’s that?” she asked, cocking an eyebrow at the object Celestia clutched.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” the nonchalant principal segued. She dipped the trowel behind her back and continued,

“You’re just in time actually. I’d like for you to please escort Miss Shimmer to the clinic.”

The final word of Celestia’s sentence compelled Sunset’s face to flash as pale as the lunar entity above.

“Oh, m-my,” gasped the rosy-banged pediatrician as she directed her attention to the tousled adolescent. “S-So, you f-found her…”

“As you can see, Sunset here has had a…rough night,” the principal resumed, placing a reassuring hand on the student’s shoulder, who flinched slightly at the touch. “I want to be sure she isn’t injured.”

Sunset stayed her silence no more.

“Principal Celestia, I’m fine,” the air of her statement sounded more like a plea for mercy than an assuring one. “Really, it’s just a scratch. No big deal. It doesn’t even hurt! See?”

To prove her case, Sunset flicked a scrape on her cheek. But the attempt proved far too desperate, as she neglected to hold back and soon, found herself cupping a hand over her cheek to stifle the throbbing sting.

“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that, Sunset.”

“Look, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I-I’ll fix the wall, do two years of cafeteria duty, whatever. I don’t even need anyone’s help.”

Suddenly, the comforting warmth of Celestia’s hand abandoned the child’s shoulder.

“More lies, Sunset?”

The arctic shift in Celestia’s tone sent ripples through the student’s heart. Reluctantly, the latter peered skyward and what she saw was an expression she had hoped never to see again.

There they were, those eyes, filled with the same amethystine glare of disappointment that drove Sunset to madness on the night she decided to abandon Equestria. Sunset shrunk inside herself and suddenly felt like an insect. No, smaller, more insignificant, like dirt or a molecule of nothingness.

Though that bipedal manifestation was clearly not the entity whose teachings Sunset forwent thirty moons ago, they shared the same stare, the same voice, the same name. No matter what form she was in, whatever world displaced her, Sunset realized more than ever that she could never escape the haunting disapproval of her former mentor.

Just then, the pocket of Celestia’s blazer began to glow and sing.

“Oh! I have to take this,” the principal hurried, removing her cellphone once more as she retreated.

“B-but--!” the others gasped in unison.

“Nurse Redheart, I leave Miss Shimmer in your care. I’ll be along shortly.”

Before anyone could object further, Celestia was gone and for a moment, all was still between the student and the nurse, neither one possessing the nerve to put their best foot forward.

“Well, then,” gulped the rattled medic. “Shall we go? We’ll take a shortcut. It isn’t safe here.”

In spite of the horrors that shocked her evening, the nurse committed to embrace her duty as caregiver and held her hand out, rather half-heartedly, to the ex-tyrant for support. Courtesy of the sweat anointing the nurse’s palm, Sunset’s grip slipped once, then twice. When she finally managed to hold it, Redheart flinched terribly and began to quicken pace, nearly causing the former bully to fall forward. No more than a dozen steps later, the nurse’s nerves crumbled beneath her fear and from Sunset’s hand, quickly released her own.

“P-Perhaps I-I should l-lead the way!”

Prior to even completing her sentence, the nurse abandoned the child then careened around the academy’s perimeter, leaving a dejected Sunset behind…alone.

The wheels of Sunset’s mind spun rapidly. Was this her chance to finally escape? The portal leading back to Equestria may have been sealed, but so long as she possessed two legs, the shelter of darkness and a beat in her heart, she was as good as free. If she did it once, she could do it again.

Just as she lifted a boot to flee, the former bully heard the rustling presence of others nearby and cursed her luck once more. There was no need to investigate, for she already knew who lingered behind her.

“It’ll be okay, Sun--” a familiar southern drawl began, but Sunset was quick to cut such a lie short.

“Don’t.” she warned, still refusing to face them.

“Is there anything we can do to help, darling?” asked the voice Sunset recognized as Rarity’s.

Sunset’s eyes travelled to the ground. What were those girls playing at? Why did they insist on pretending to care when such a thing was just not possible? With half a mind to ask herself, she opened her mouth in inquiry.

But by then, it was already too late, for Nurse Redheart reappeared from around the corner and beckoned Sunset from afar. If ever there was such a time to come for answers, they would have to wait another day, another night, another moon. After all, she had thirty.

“Yeah,” Sunset replied. “Just leave me alone.”

Without even a glance back, Sunset marched toward certain doom of an uncertain nature.

---

In mutual agreement to travel side-by-side rather than hand-in-hand, the twosome of nurse and student made their way through the academy’s east wing. As they neared the gymnasium, Sunset slowed in stride, uncertain if any stragglers still lingered following the festivities that had taken place there. When silence assured her otherwise, the former tyrant resumed her original pace and continued the journey through the empty corridor.

A mixed aroma of pizza crust, cupcake wrapper and half-consumed beverages met the anti-bully’s nares. As she savored the aide-memoire of every topping and ingredient, her stomach rumbled in the reverie. She tried to recall when and what it was she last ate. But the guesswork only provoked her hunger and she pressed on.

Though the soiree had ended, one glimpse of its aftermath was all it took for Sunset to tell that this particular ceremony – minus the ruckus that nearly ruined it - was more extravagant than any Fall Formal, Spring Fling or Snow Ball of the past, when she herself competed for and won the coveted title of Princess. While pride struck her for doing so, deep down, she knew why.

Taking the hellish disasters into account, she still struggled to fathom how the festivities could have continued in light of such danger, how the students – even after being possessed and terrorized by her monstrous form – could carry on with merrymaking as if nothing ever happened.

Just then, the ex-tyrant leapt from her skin at the sound of a loud crack! down below and upon lifting her boot to investigate, discovered a pair of decorative buttons underneath. After stooping down to pick them up, she sidestepped to one of the few remaining lights illuminating the hallway. As she held the buttons beneath the glow, striking details veiled by shadow fell into view. Shaped into eight-pointed stars, the pins were violet and in bright print, read such things as, TWILIGHT 4 PRINCESS, TEAM TWILIGHT and VOTE 4 TWILIGHT.

Sunset’s face curdled. No one had ever made flair like that for her before. Seething with envy, the green-eyed adolescent squeezed the imaginary life out of the pins until she spotted a wastebasket nearby. Into the pail, she hurled the buttons and there, among the trash, streamers, and empty cups, very crudely-made nametags that read, Team Sunset.

“Come along, Sunset Shimmer,” the nurse beckoned her soon-to-be patient. “We’re almost there.”

THUMP-thump-THUMP-thump-THUMP-thump-THUMP-thump!

The ex-villainess’ heart pounded furiously. Sweat dotted her brow, a knot squeezed her chest. With every step she took, another breath was robbed. Tugging at the torn collar of her shirt, the delinquent tried to relieve the pressures mounting in her throat; but in her anxiety, only succeeded in stretching the garb out more.

As she reeled her head back for air, Sunset caught a glimpse of an arrow with the dreaded label, NURSE’S OFFICE printed over it.

“Ah, here we are.”

Indeed, there they were and as they turned the final corner of their destination, there it was.

Just ahead loomed the place Sunset Shimmer went to great lengths to avoid in either world. A cruel phobia coaxed her to believe that what lied ahead was not a mere door of wood and hinges, but the steaming mouth of a dank cave. Glowing above its dark entrance in menacing scarlet leered Nurse Redheart’s insignia and as its fizzled light lit her fear-struck eyes, the ex-bully’s heart sank another fathom.

Sensing the student’s sudden trepidation, Redheart set her own aside and took Sunset by the hand until…

“Ow!”

Unbeknownst to the nurse, Sunset’s appendage bore a painful secret, one the former villainess did not want Redheart or anyone else to know.

“Sunset, what’s wrong? Did you hurt your hand? Here, let me take a look at it.”

But the doubled-over student refused to obey, uttering nothing more than a whimper as the look of concern on Redheart’s face melted into a terrifying grimace and cackled.

Fueled with terror, Sunset broke the demon nurse’s hold with a shove and fled.

“Hey, wait!” the bewildered Redheart cried. “Sunset Shimmer, come back!”

Back from whence she came, Sunset flew as fast as her battered legs could carry her, the pleas of the nurse echoing in hot pursuit!

Down the corridor, Sunset sprinted until Redheart’s cries faded to a distant whisper. Even then, the escapee kept up her pace, for the nightly maze of the school was bound to yield danger around every bend. Praying the moonlit corridor meant an exit was not far behind, Sunset turned a corner. Spotting double doors in sight, she believed her prayers answered, until she approached them and her heart dropped.

Just outside of that pearly gate lingered Principal Celestia who, to Sunset’s relief, had her back turned. Taking advantage of the shadows, the runaway backtracked a ways before she careened around yet another corner to find Nurse Redheart’s searching form in the distance. Slipping backward, the runaway started to panic.

Door after locked door, Sunset yanked, twisted and pulled many a handle, praying at least one would yield a sanctuary for her. When one doorknob twisted further than the rest, her heart leapt and like a phantom, she slipped through to stumble upon a darkened room centered by a large, circular table.

T’was the only feature the runaway had time to notice, for suddenly, the shuffling sound of what she feared to be footsteps whispered somewhere behind her. Without a moment to guess where she was, Sunset bounded around the furniture and hid.

Tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock.

The sound of the clock’s inching hand struck the fugitive’s nerves like the deafening tolls of a bell. Seconds crawled by like years as Sunset lied in wait for an opportune moment to leave. Too frightened to flee yet too anxious to stay, she tried to calm her breathing. Unable to withstand the delay any longer, she ventured her worries to have subsided and slowly crept from her hiding place until,

Click.

Tip-tap-tip-tap.

Just as her cursed luck seemed to mock her all evening long, someone else had entered the room.

Whoever it was, the young escapee held not the slightest idea, though wished on every star in the sky he or she did not see her run in. She tried to control her breathing, but with the sound encroaching by the second, was easier said than done. Even in the cover of darkness, the unforgiving silence seemed to amplify something as miniscule as a blink one-hundredfold.

Jing-a-ling-a-ling.

CRASH!

Keys, and judging by the sound of them hitting the desk overhead, whoever lingered in the room with her had no intentions of leaving anytime soon. Despite her dismay, she had to keep it together. All she could do was hide and wait.

As the red-headed runaway tucked herself further beneath the desk, her knees began to throb with discomfort. Fearing the slightest movement could expose her location, Sunset remained in that position until she could withstand the pain no more. Gently, she planted her hands down, keeping herself elevated before she swept her legs aside, wary not to drag them across the carpeted floor. Once she nestled herself down, a divine relief swept over her and it took everything in her power not to express it aloud.

Just then, Sunset’s fingers brushed against an object tucked beneath the desk and from her already uncomfortable position, angling the neck to investigate was not an option. Instead, she continued exploring the object’s perimeters with her hand while her mind sketched an image of it.

Thick, firm, wide, rounded at the corners, fastened by what Sunset estimated to be a pair of rectangular prongs. She recoiled slightly as her fingertips then struck ice. She felt again. No, metal. Her examination resumed with the tracing of two fingers along the surface then around an elevated, metallic path to form a peculiar shape. Failing to define it at first, Sunset revisited the design and this time, determined it to be a hollow crescent.

Suddenly, a briefcase of midnight blue with lunar decoration flashed in her mind, which, to Sunset’s horror, could have only meant--

“Oh! Vice Principal Luna!”

Sunset’s head lifted with a start, only to be painfully denied by the wooden canopy of desk.

“Ah, Nurse Redheart,” she overheard the dean greet the panicked nurse. “Pray tell, what ails you at this late hour?”

“’Pray tell’?” parroted the medic. “Wh-- er, never mind. It’s Sunset Shimmer! She’s run off!”

“Not again. My sister had just entrusted Miss Shimmer to your care, did she not?”

“Y-yes,” Redheart stuttered. “But once we reached the clinic, she ran away! It was almost like…she was afraid of something…afraid of me….”

“Alas,” the vice principal sighed. “She has been through a lot.”

A soft, tingling feeling surged through Sunset’s body down to her legs. But before she could prepare for it, the sensation took an agonizing turn. Without thinking, Sunset inhaled sharply then, shocked by what she had done, hurriedly pressed a hand over her mouth.

Of all she suffered yet within that human anatomy, it was the feeling she despised the most, like being pricked thousands of times by pins and needles. Her eyes watering, she bit down on a finger to try and stifle the agony that was the recirculating of blood back to her legs. Upon doing so, she thought she heard murmuring and bit harder.

For what seemed like an eternity, Sunset writhed in discomfort, yet when the discussion above resumed, she could not have asked for any better form of relief.

“In which direction did she flee?”

“Well, I thought I saw her head this way, but—“

“Are there any other members of staff who still have yet to retire?”

“N-none,” the nurse replied shakily. “Only us and Principal Celestia, I believe.”

“Then let us make haste,” Luna resolved. “I will alert my sister of what has happened. In the meantime, I ask that you return to the clinic should Miss Shimmer decide to resurface. I shall accompany you in due time.”

There was a shuffling of feet, followed by the whine and ultimate click of the door closing, then finally, the most beautiful sound in the world…

…silence.

Believing herself to finally be alone, Sunset braved to budge from underneath the desk once more. Her knees were shaking again, out of tension rather than pain, which reserved itself for her nerve-spent chest and the aching muscle thundering within it.

BOOM!

Alas, no such luck. The thunderous noise, whatever it was, rolled into a series of thumps overhead, followed by a clank-clankity-clank of what sounded like…dishes?

Click!

Huuuuuuuummmmmmm….

The longer she remained there, the stranger the sounds became, and for the red-headed stowaway, not knowing was proving to be quite torturous. What was happening up there?

“You can come out now.”

Gulp.

Sunset swallowed hard to keep her heart from leaping out of her throat. Silently, she prayed, placing every ounce of hope left within her on the wager that the vice principal could have been talking to someone or something else.

“Miss Shimmer,” the voice beckoned again, and Sunset could ignore its bearer no longer.

With half a mind to escape, Sunset prepared her muscles to dart out. But enough was enough. She was tired – tired of running, tired of hiding, tired of trying.

“Please,” the student begged from under the table. “Don’t call her back here.”

“If I had intended to release you to Nurse Redheart,” the muffled reply of Luna resounded. “Then I would have already done so.”

“Wait. You knew I was here the whole time?”

“You sound surprised. Besides, this is my office. I can tell when something is amiss.”

The fugitive’s face lit up as she crept from underneath her haven.

“S-so…,” she gasped. “You’re letting me go?”

“Now, I do not recall saying that.”

Like a disturbed hermit crab, Sunset withdrew back into her shelter and folded her arms.

“I don’t understand,” she shook her head. “Why didn’t you just tell her I was here then?”

“That could easily be remedied,” Luna replied. “If that is what you wish.”

Horrified, Sunset watched the sudden movement of Luna’s shadow approach the desk, knowing full well the dean headed for the intercom.

“No!” Sunset bayed wildly, her eyes fixed on the shadow as if it were sentient itself. “Please.”

“Then I trust you need not for me to repeat myself.”

As if it was the most trying thing she was ever asked to do, Sunset took a deep breath and from her refuge, finally crawled out to face the inevitable terror that was Vice Principal Luna.

Too stunned to fully emerge from her hiding place, the former bully glanced up at the dean instead. Together, they locked eyes, the turquoise sights of a student’s fear and uncertainty versus the fixed, cerulean glare of discontent.

“Honestly, Miss Shimmer,” Luna sighed, folding her arms. “Only wild beasts cower about like that. You are…a lady, are you not? Now, rise.”

Sunset’s face burned. She was not wild and most certainly not a beast, at least not in this human’s definition of the word. In spite of her newly-scarred dignity, she ignored the insult and obeyed. Once on her feet, she could almost feel the hot iron of Luna’s belied scorn branding into her. To try and salvage what little remained of her self-esteem, the miffed adolescent fingered through her bangs, then readjusted what was left of her tattered garb.

The former tyrant shook terribly and her eyes moistened as tears threatened to return once more. She prayed that Luna did not see this, for the last thing she wanted was to be told how weak she was. From her shadowed peripherals, Sunset thought she saw the dean shake her head and prepped herself for the earful yet to come.

To her surprise, what happened next did not entail a scolding, but a warm, dampened washcloth and miniature basin. Sunset glanced upward at the dean. She was not sure what to make of the gesture, let alone the liquid soaking the towel before her, except that it looked like water, and yet smelled of jasmine.

Taking notice of the student’s apprehension, Luna took a step forward.

“I promise you,” she managed to assure warmly. “It is just an herbal soak.”

Though a little skeptical of the viscous liquid at first, there was something about Vice Principal Luna’s tone that put Sunset at ease. In a manner that would have rivaled even Fluttershy’s timidity, she wrung the washcloth, held her breath, and once she closed her eyes, pressed the towel to her face.

The sensation was heavenly, almost surreal. Even after all that happened, a small measure of peace seemed to exist in that washcloth. As Sunset dabbed the muck away from her cheeks, she drew in a whiff of the lovely vapor and allowed its heated effect to wash over her.

As reluctant as she was to take it, the student was just as uninclined to relinquish the relief. Still, when she was satisfied, she placed the washcloth back into the basin. Albeit a little unsure of the vice principal’s intentions, Sunset had no choice but to trust that she was safe, for now.

“I was just about to brew some tea.” Luna mentioned, setting the bowl aside. “Would you care for a cup? It will help calm your nerves.”

“No.”

One glare from the vice principal was all it took for Sunset to mend her response.

“No…ma’am.”

“As you wish.”

There in the darkness of Luna’s office, Sunset paced about as the dean assembled her tea tray. It was no secret. Whether on the invitation of privilege or punishment, everyone, including teachers, avoided the disciplinarian’s office. Though as the fire-plaited student’s eyes roamed, it was hard to find reasons why.

Sunset had been there before, that was true, but only during the day. Much like the galactic entity its owner was named after, Luna’s office seemed to show another side of itself after dark. What looked like drab, muted hues in the daylight now sparkled in rich ebonies, silvers, blues and ivories in the moonlight. Even the décor itself seemed to carry on new meaning. Such was their careful arrangement that when struck by the moon’s glow, illuminated the room without the aid of electricity.

The human world did not possess magic; Sunset knew this, having embraced that unfortunate fact long ago when she first stumbled into that dimension’s concrete terrain. Yet as she lingered in that makeshift nocturnal ambiance bathed in cosmic light, Sunset dared to christen the atmosphere as nothing but enchanting.

Soon, the unmistakable aroma of herbal steam filled the room, entrancing the student’s senses elsewhere. Her taste buds swam with ingredients. Apple. Chicory. Hibiscus. She took another whiff, savored the fragrance upon her palate and sighed. Cinnamon. Orange peel. Seven drops of honey.

As Luna stirred her cup, she took notice of the new height Sunset’s nose had lifted and raised an eyebrow.

“There is plenty, should you change your mind.”

With a heavy heart, Sunset’s unrelenting pride forced the child to decline once more.

“Then, please, have a seat.”

Glancing at the door nervously, the refugee reluctantly obeyed as Luna, caressed by moonlight, did the same.

From a dark, starry mug, the vice principal drew her first draft of tea and too, sighed. Seeing how relaxed she looked, Sunset cursed herself for not taking Luna up on her refreshing offer. Achingly, she watched, moistening her lips as Luna’s throat flashed with every gulp. With the list of herbs still fresh in her mind, the misfit could only imagine just how delicious the beverage tasted.

Finally, Luna set down her cup.

“Well,” she began. “This evening was rather…interesting.”

“I didn’t finish it.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“The wall…I didn’t finish it.”

A thickening silence overtook the office and the child’s muscles tensed up as she braced herself for possibly the absolute worst reprimand of her life.

“I know.”

The déjà vu of Sunset's former unicorn self perked her ears up.

“My sister and I had a little chat,” the vice principal continued. “We decided that reparations of the school’s entrance are to be postponed until further notice.”

“Y-You mean…?”

“Repairing the wall is no longer your duty, nor that of Snips and Snails.”

Before Sunset could even react, Luna lifted her full attention to the student and upon her face was an expression Sunset had never seen the vice principal display before.

Since her enrollment in that academy of two-leggeds, Sunset had always known Luna to be stern and quite hardened in nature. Several times did the troublemaker serve as spectator to the decree of some harsh punishments, in which the disciplinarian never once flinched.

But on that night, she seemed troubled, almost vulnerable. Her eyes were soft and her lips, parted with uncertainty. In that moment, Luna’s icy demeanor waned to reflect a side of her Sunset never knew existed. One of regret. One of sorrow.

“I must admit,” resumed the navy-curled adult. “That it was quite foolish of me to delegate such a difficult task to mere children. Old habits die hard, I suppose.

“I pray that you forgive me…”

Were it not such a taboo custom in that world, Sunset would have rather kissed the vice principal for bestowing such great news upon her. In her elation, she could not find the proper words to say anything, for none in any language or dictionary held the sheer gratitude she felt.

Stifling a squeal of delight, she nodded her head instead and rose to dismiss herself.

“And just where do you think you are going?”

“You just said—“

“What I said,” the dean interrupted. “Is that you are relieved of having to repair the wall. At no point in time did I actually dismiss you yet.”

Her face souring, Sunset rolled her eyes in secret before seating herself back down.

“Patience is a virtue, Miss Shimmer. You would do well to remember that.”

“How long are you going to keep me here?”

“Long enough for us to share a few words of our own.”

By the millisecond, Sunset's impatience grew. The longer she loitered around, the higher the chances climbed of Nurse Redheart returning to drag her away to her dungeon of torture.

If Vice Principal Luna was telling the truth and did indeed know of Sunset’s presence during the brief conversation with Redheart, why cover for her only to then prolong the inevitable?

Shuddering at the possibilities, the ex-villainess wasted little time in trying to give Luna what she wanted.

“Well?”

“Pardon?”

“Aren’t you going to ask me about what happened? I mean, that is what you want to talk about, right?”

“Only if you are prepared to provide answers for questions of the sort.”

Sunset breathed, opening her mouth to speak. But even in her desperation, failed to muster the nerve to utter a single word. Tightening the cross of her arms, she looked away.

“I did not think so,” Luna affirmed with a face of stone. “Nevertheless, matters of that magnitude have a tendency to step into the light on their own accord.

“No, I am more curious to learn of your whereabouts earlier. We searched high and low for you, feared something else may have occurred without our knowing.”

‘But something else did happen…,’ Sunset thought.

She recalled the abandoned corridor, the bathroom, her reflection, its demonic metamorphosis, the painful escape, Princess Twilight, the High Five, the portal...

“Miss Shimmer.”

Sunset roused with a start.

“May I ask where you were hiding?”

Still, Sunset said nothing, yet began to wonder if she would have been better off with Nurse Redheart. She shifted in her chair in discomfort.

“One of your fellow students, whose name shall remain confidential, spotted someone descending from the upper west wing. That someone was you, was it not?”

Sunset swallowed hard as she wrung the hem of her tattered skirt.

“Maybe.”

“Of course, you are aware that the upper west wing is off-limits to students. If I may be so bold as to ask what you were doing there?”

Before the horrible memory of her time spent in hiding slipped her tongue, Sunset suppressed the urge to reveal it and instead, replied,

“Thinking.”

“About what, I wonder?”

“I just…thought it’d be a better idea.”

“And what would that be?”

The look in Sunset’s eyes told the vice principal all she needed to know.

“Sunset Shimmer,” she sighed as she leaned in close, folding her hands. “We have all committed our own fair share of misdeeds. Now, this may come as a bit of a surprise, but I, too, have been--”

Sunset could not help but scoff and shake her head, much to Luna’s chagrin.

”Forgive me if I do not find this particular conversation of ours very amusing.”

“Okay, my turn,” Sunset coughed, ignoring the principal’s tempered tone. “What was the worst thing you’ve ever done? Send the wrong kid to lunch detention? Arrive for your shift fourteen minutes early instead of fifteen minutes early?”

“Now, Sunset---”

“With all due respect, Vice Principal Luna,” the teenager interrupted tiredly. “You have no idea what I’m going through. Okay? So don’t act like you know what it’s like to be in my shoes because you don’t!”

An interlude of silence and then,

“Do you wish to discuss it?”

“No!” Sunset snapped. “And even if I did, what’s the point? You’d never understand anyway.”

”If only that were true…”

Just then, Sunset caught yet another melancholic glimmer lingering within the vice principal’s eyes.

“W-what do you mean?”

Suddenly catching herself, Luna ignored the student in response and moved to stand.

“We should really get you cleaned up,” she segued. “Your wounds need tending to.”

“No, wait--!”

“If they go untreated for too long, then infection is inevitable.”

“Vice Principal Luna, please!”

Vexed by Sunset's demeanor, the dean slammed the desk.

“It is late, Sunset Shimmer, and you are exhausted. We shall resume this conversation another time, if you would like. But for now, you must--!”

As Luna reached for the intercom, pure instinct launched Sunset forward to stop her. In a single swipe, the ex-villainess seized the microphone, knocking Luna’s beverage along with her volume of books to the floor. Devoid of thought, she flung the device against the nearest wall, where it shattered to pieces.

Suddenly stricken by the reality of what she had done, the wide-eyed Sunset spun towards Luna.

“I-I’m sorry..,” the guilty party yelped, dropping to the floor as she desperately tried to clean the mess. “I-I didn’t mean to…I-I just--!”

“Silence.”

“B-but, Vice Principal Luna, I—“

“I will hear no excuses!” the dean lowed. “Consider this added to your school record, not to mention your already hefty bill of property damages.”

On that note, Luna snatched the collected tomes from the bewildered student’s hands.

Slumping in a defeated heap against the desk, Sunset curled to bury her face in shame. Just then, something snatched her attention. Despite the darkness flooding the office, its moonlight shone across a familiar shade of burgundy and gold among Luna’s armful of books.

There, beneath a solitary ray of the moon’s glow, as if the union of book and cosmic light was fated to meet at that moment, sparkled a solar insignia that was all too familiar to Sunset Shimmer.

The former tyrant gasped, her pupils tightening as they fixated on the object, for what Luna clutched in her hands filled Sunset with more dread than anything yet.

“W-Where…,” she choked. “Where did you get that…?”

“All in due time, Miss Shimmer,” Luna replied as she quickly recovered the book from sight.

Dipping below the lip of her desk, the disciplinarian moved to tuck the book away. When she reemerged, Luna was startled to find Sunset standing just a few feet away. Tome still in hand, the vice principal inched away from the student, whose wide, green fixation refused to falter from the cerulean concern of Luna’s own.

Like an animal stalking its prey in the dark of night, Sunset crept closer.

“Did you read it?”

“Do not be absurd,” Luna replied, who, in spite of her nerves, stood her ground, never taking her eyes off of the encroaching child before her. “Of course, I di--“

“Give it to me.”

“Miss Shimmer?”

“Give…it…back!”

Sunset’s voice oozed with malice. Around the desk, she prowled, her eyes trained on the binding of paper and leather she coveted so fiercely. Her diary. Every secret; every stain of her misdeeds; every who, what, where, when, why and how of her very existence, unicorn and otherwise, lied within those pages. Damned be her if she ever allow anyone, let alone a primitive, two-legged creature, take a peek inside.

“Sunset Shimmer,” the dean cautioned, taking another step back. “I must ask that you calm down.”

“That’s MINE!” Sunset snarled in turn. “You have no right to keep it!”

“On the contrary, Miss Shimmer,” Luna clutched the diary tighter, which only seemed to vex the student even more. “I am afraid I do. In light of recent events, this must be retained for…evidence.”

The final word of Luna’s claim ignited Sunset’s wrath like a charge! Fears bursting to life, she exploded, lunging at the vice principal in all of her fury. As she clawed for the book held captive in Luna’s grasp, even the office itself seemed to erupt as cascades of documents, articles of décor among other things spun and fell to the ground in their wake.

The adolescent was swift, yet so was the dean, dodging Sunset’s predatory spasms left and right. When her chance for escape came, Luna, diary still in hand, ran towards the door, only to be denied again by the incensed form of the teenager.

With every step Luna took backwards, her attacker advanced twice as fast. Sunset’s eyes, ablaze with viridian rage, burned like ghostly torches in the noir of Luna’s office. They were wild, unnatural and seemed alight with an appetite for something more than a book.

With no other exit left to the dean, her own eyes widened in terror as what resembled a large, razor-winged shadow loomed toward the ceiling over Sunset Shimmer.

“I meant no harm...” was all Luna fared to whisper.

But the villainess would have none of it and in a tone only heard in the darkest of nightmares, she bellowed,

“I SAID, GIVE IT BACK TO ME!”

Just then, the door to Luna’s office flew open and from its entrance poured a pair of frantic silhouettes.

“Sunset!”

Whatever rage sunk its jaws into Sunset Shimmer loosened its grip at the very sound of that voice and soon, all the rage that blinded her before swiftly melted away.

“M-Mother?”

---

Author's Note:

*Gotta go to work in like 6 hrs LoL Will definitely write better author's notes tomorrow, but just wanted to say that I do not own Bambi, The Crocodile Hunter, KISS, Cher or Michael Jackson. Thanks for reading!*

Comments

[00RaiserGundam]

OK, what? When it comes to Sunset Shimmer's mother, that could refer to anypony for all we know. I wonder who it will be in the next chapter.

[JeNnDyLyOn]

5499710

Hmm, yes, I wonder

Thanks for the interest and support

[00RaiserGundam]

5501434 No Problem.

[Pitchy Black]

Wow,I only just now has the time to finally read this. This was a very intense chapter. Very interesting. Can't wait for the next one :)

[JeNnDyLyOn]

5678795 Thank you so much I'll be dabbling in that as well. Should be an exciting journey! Best of luck to you with your writing.

[Infinity_Dash]

So far I'm really enjoying this! Your characterizations are spot on and you have a very unique and engaging writing style. The way you portray Sunset's internal struggles as well as the High Five's dilemma is realistic and even relatable (No one can truly fully relate to turning into a she-demon and destroying part of a high school, but you know what I mean. We've all felt some of the same emotions as Sunset and the High Five that you express so vividly in this story). Looking forward to more!

[Gammer14]

Glad I finally got a chance to read this story, it's really good so far, and I'm excited to continue reading it. The humor at the beginning especially Pinkie pretending to be the crocodile hunter made me laugh. The later part too was very interesting, the reaction with Sunset and the high five, and especially the reaction Sunset had with nurse Redheart and Luna make me really curios and interested to see what happens next. There are so man questions left to be answered in this chapter, and I'm excited to see the answers to them later on.

Also I was really glad Sunset didn't have to build the wall by herself, for reasons stated in the comment last chapter haha.

Edit: oh wow it's already 3:15 am, man I really got caught up in this chapter. Oh well, 6 hours of sleep never hurt me before haha.

[Misago]

As someone who is a big fun of character showcasing/development and world building, I am enjoying this story quite a bit. You are very descriptive, especially about the inner life of Sunset, her struggles, her fears and how she has changed (including ow she needs to learn to accept this change), but the Mane Six Mane High Five get theirs as well. Really curious what the deal is with Sunset and her "mother", even though I am a tad scared of learning what Sunset might have done to the EQG-world Sunset Shimmer.

If you keep this pacing and level of description up, it'll be a pleasure to see how long it takes for Sunset to find redemption, and get to the point where she is in Rainbow Rocks and beyond.

[JeNnDyLyOn]

6203819 Ha, only time will tell of what Eq. Sunset did to her doppelganger (actually, by the end of the month, if I can refocus on completing the next Act)

As for finding it difficult to care about Sunset after what she did, that was the objective. To have the audience torn between caring about her and wanting to see some retribution come out against her as well. It's all based on perspective, really. I'd go into further detail, but I don't want to spoil anything.

Thank you so much for your interest as well as the insightful comment Much appreciated!

[Artemis Fowl II]

6300823
So uh...this is still going on, right? It's just...a tiny, little while since the last update. Just a smidge.

"My goal is to finish 1 chapter a week. Hooves crossed that I can make it happen!"

[JeNnDyLyOn]

6745096 Hey Artemis ^^" Yess, this is definitely still ongoing Just finished up a side project that took up the majority of my time focusing on, as well as getting back into art since it's been a while I tackled any of that.

I hope I can at least finished the next act by next month, since there's music in the works that coincides with this part of the story.

Thanks for checking up on the status, your continued interest is much appreciated!

[Artemis Fowl II]

6752134
Oh?
Well, not that it's any less but now you've got me hooked on both projects...XD Good luck!

[Jordan179]

Seriously liked your song "The Siren and the Seamare."

[Midnight Quill]

6752134 I just realized that the lyrics of the song are from you :D I am listening to it since days. I love it!

P.s.

"My goal is to finish 1 chapter a week. Hooves crossed that I can make it happen!"

Oh I can so much relate to this^^ I tried the same with my first story and sadly ended up with 4 chaps in 7 weeks
I wish you more luck with this than I had ;)

[JeNnDyLyOn]

6934046
Thank you so much! Still struggling with the fic thing LoL But I decided to return to art and tell my stories that way