Shimmer of the Sunset

by Thunderhalk89

The Letters

Dear Sunset Shimmer,

I think it is a great idea for you to reconnect with Princess Celestia and I would be more than happy to relay any message you have to her. I can imagine that you would probably want your first correspondence since leaving Equestria to be private, so you could warn me before writing it and then leave a blank page before and after; I Pinkie Promise that I will not read it without your consent.

In regards to what Principal Luna said, I am inclined to side with her. The only way for you to overcome your demons, would be by accepting and then letting them go; at least according to several authors who have written on the subject of dealing with personal struggle. I would be more than willing to transcribe several for you if you would like.

Sincerely, your friend,

Twilight Sparkle

---

Twilight Sparkle's words floated through Sunset Shimmer's mind as she walked through town, making her way to Sugarcube Corner. Right before she had left her loft above the school, she had received a text from Pinkie saying that the location had changed to Sugarcube Corner and something about more ovens being more fun. She shifted her backpack, feeling the weight of the contents inside. One thing stood out more than the rest: the book she used to communicate with Twilight back in Equestria.

As the weight of the contents settled back into the center, her thoughts began to race again. She worried that by constantly complaining about her own problems, she might be neglecting any issues her new friends were having. She knew they wanted her to talk through her own problems, but at the same time, it seemed wrong to be taking control of them as she was.

At least, she felt like she was using them.

She shuddered at the thought. No, that Sunset Shimmer was behind her, and her past was in the past. She knew the road ahead would not be easy, and would be nearly impossible without help and guidance along the way. Still… there had to be some way to show that she was not just using them as a means to an end.

As she walked by large storefront windows that shimmered in the early morning light, she could not help but look at her reflection. She looked different somehow. Her appearance had not changed, but she looked… like she had broken free from a chrysalis and was now free. Perhaps her memory was warped, but she could have sworn that before Twilight had arrived, she had a darker and more sinister appearance. Now? She felt she looked normal. Well, relatively normal. She was still a unicorn in a strange bipedal body; but it was a normal bipedal body.

She rounded another corner and found herself standing in front of a combination coffee shop and bakery. She stared at the closed door and took several reassuring breaths. She tried to push back a memory of when she had submitted several false reports to the town's health inspector that had nearly shut the place down. Pinkie was not as mad as she thought she would be when she confessed.

Her friends and the rest of the school had always suspected that she was responsible for that, amongst other incidences. In truth, she did not even remember all of the things she had done to discredit and damage her fellow classmates on her way to the top. That was probably what hurt her the most right now.

Pinkie had offered her friendship and she had accepted it without even remembering what she had done to Pinkie and her second family. It was not until her friends had invited her to the shop that she remembered. She could not even bring herself to go inside that day. She had collapsed on the sidewalk and had begun to sob. When asked why, she blurted out what she had done, and Pinkie, in her usual way had reassured her that the Sunset Shimmer who had done those awful things was gone. That she had been reborn from the fire and flames of friendship into a new, more harmonious Sunset Shimmer.

She shook for only a second before entering the shop. The tiny bell above the door rang with jubilation as the door opened and she took her first steps inside. She was greeted first by the scent of fresh pastries and hot chocolate, followed swiftly by nearly every eye of the few who were inside enjoying their breakfasts. They were only looking for half a second, but in that second, she could feel every emotion that was flowing through them. She suspected that she would never get over the feeling of the subtle change in vibe whenever she entered a room. Just as soon as they had turned to look at her, their focus returned to their conversations and food.

Sunset quickly made her way behind the counter and into the kitchen. She smiled uneasily as she passed by Mrs. Cake. The establishment's matriarch avoided making eye contact with her. While Pinkie might have been quick to forgive her, Mr. and Mrs. Cake were not.

The kitchen was organized in typical Pinkie Pie fashion. That is to say, that it was in a state of organized chaos. Bowls filled with different kinds of batter were scattered about the island countertop with the spaces in—between stuffed with bags of flour and sugar. Tubs of frosting sat open with knives and spoons stabbed into what little may have been left. The heat from six preheated ovens warmed the air enough to be noticeable, but comfortable; especially when contrasted with the crisp early fall weather that was beginning to creep in.

"Hey'ya, Sunny!" chimed Pinkie Pie. She was dangerously close to rubbing her nose against Sunset's.

"Good morning, Pinkie Pie," Sunset responded as she took a few apprehensive steps to the side to allow for more personal space between her and her friend.

Pinkie continued to stand in place smiling until the beeping of a timer caused her to flinch. She back flipped through the air and landed in a gymnast's pose, her arms held high, in front of an oven. Without missing a beat, she reached in with a pair of oven mitts and pulled out a steaming tray. The smell of chocolate erupted forth with the steam filling the entirety of the kitchen. Sunset breathed in the delectable aromas. The sweet, bitter fragrance of chocolate calmed her mind. The only way she could describe it was if her friendship with the sometimes—odd girl had become corporeal. She briefly wondered if Equestria's Pinkie Pie was the same. Based on what Twilight had told her, she knew that her friends' Equestrian counterparts were similar, but different enough to not be mistaken as the same pony… or person.

"Good morning, darlings!" Rarity came through the door with Fluttershy following several steps behind her. "I'm so sorry we are late, Pinkie. But, we were having such a wonderful time at the spa that I completely lost track of time."

"No probla—rino! I know how important your weekly spa sessions are. It's why I scheduled this so late."

"Thank you for being so considerate."

As Sunset Shimmer watched this exchange, she could not help but be amazed at how well they were getting along. It was only a month ago that they hated each other. It stung her that it had been because of her own actions.

"Oh my, these smell lovely," Fluttershy cooed, leaning over the brownies Pinkie Pie had just removed.

"I think it’s the extra mint leaves I mixed in with the batter," Pinkie replied while pouring batter from a mixing bowl into an empty tray with one hand and sprinkling a handful of green leaves with the other.

"When are Applejack and Rainbow Dash coming?" Fluttershy asked.

Pinkie looked up in thought as she absentmindedly tapped the freshly poured batter, releasing any air bubbles, "Applejack's preparing for their fall harvest in a few weeks and Dashie's probably sleeping."

"I never could figure out how someone could sleep as much as she does," Rarity responded, opening a preheated oven as Pinkie slid the tray inside.

"This time, I think it's because she wants to be all rested and awake for tonight's game."

"There's a game tonight? Which one?"

"Wow, Fluttershy. You really need to pay more attention to school functions," Rarity chided.

She blushed, "Sports really aren’t my thing."

"I think last night was softball and tonight is soccer," Sunset Shimmer answered.

Rarity blanched, "Two games in two days! No wonder she sleeps so much"

"Soooo," Pinkie turned to Sunset Shimmer, "When are you going to tell us what Twilight said?"

"How did you know she wrote to me?" Sunset asked as she removed her backpack and began rummaging through it to retrieve the book she used to communicate with the Equestrian Princess.

"Just a hunch," Pinkie Pie shrugged.

---

"It is wonderful that Princess Twilight is willing to go through so much to help you," Rarity responded after Sunset had shared the letter with her friends. "I have to wonder if perhaps she is onto something with her agreement with Luna's assertion."

"I really don't think so," Sunset Shimmer retorted, "I just don't feel like that makes much sense."

"I know we've already gone over this, but is there any reason why?" Fluttershy asked.

"I don't know," she shrugged, brushing a hand through the wavy lengths of her hair. "I just feel like by making amends with others I'll be able to come to grips with what I've done. Like… that’s the only way to truly set myself free," She looked at each of her friends in turn. Fluttershy was her meek self, albeit standing a bit taller than she used to. Rarity was biting her lower lip, while Pinkie just beamed at her. After taking a breath, she added, "It just feels kind of cliché. Y—you don't mind me bringing this up all the time, do you? I feel like I've been complaining about this so much."

Rarity pouted, "Why on earth would you think that?"

"Yea!" Pinkie jumped, "You got a problem and we're here to help you solve it. Plus, somethings are cliché for a reason: because they happen all the time."

"I just feel like I've been complaining too much."

"I don’t think so, either." Everyone turned to look at Fluttershy, who briefly cowered behind her bangs before becoming more firm. "I think that if you had kept this from us, then there would be an issue. You're trying to reconnect with your old teacher that you feel like you abandoned in your home world. I think it's great that you are trying to rebuild your friendship with her."

Sunset thought about that for a moment. A smile slowly began to grace her as her facial muscles grew less tense, "Thanks, Fluttershy. I guess I just needed to hear that," she looked at Pinkie and Rarity again, "From all of you. I've just had this weird feeling that I don't really have much time left to do this."

"I'm sure Princess Celestia will understand how hard it is for you to relay your feelings to her," Rarity said. "For now," she turned to Pinkie, "I think we came here with another objective in mind."

"Great! Now let's get baking!" Pinkie cheered. "These brownies aren't just going to appear for tonight's game, now are they?"

---

Twilight sat amongst a throne of pillows and cushions as she diligently jotted down notes. Several tomes that lay open in front of her divided her attention as her quill flew across a scroll. Spike was sitting at a table reading one of his comics. At first, she had been apprehensive about allowing him to add a comic book section to her castle's library, but quickly changed her mind when she saw it as an opportunity to get him into reading more.

Her devious scheme had already begun to come to fruition: whenever he would ask her to explain a new word or idea, she would point him in the direction of a text and have him research the answer himself. Now, if only she could convince Rainbow to do the same and stop pestering her about geography whenever she reread a Daring Do story. It was not like there was some sort of giant holographic image of the entire nation she could look at, or anything. No, such a device would be just as absurd as books and scrolls containing detailed information about Equestria and its neighbors.

Hick!

Her attention to her tomes shook as she looked around the castle's library for the source of the sound.

Hick Hup!

Spike hiccupped again and then let out a large belch. A small plume of green flame erupted from his yawning maw. The ball of fire shrunk down to a singularity before bursting forth into the shape of an envelope. She began to rise to investigate when she froze and watched with curiosity as it began to fly around the room. Normally letters and scrolls from Celestia would fall to the ground unless Spike managed to catch them first.

It continued to fly around until it flew under a sealed door. With a gasp, she began galloping after it. With a burst of telekinesis, she flung the door to her personal lab open. Scrolls and chalkboards filled with equations took shape as lanterns and a magical light illuminated the room.

"What's going on?" Spike asked as he approached from behind her.

"I have no idea," she answered as she continued to look under tables and behind several chalkboards. "I think Princess Celestia was trying to send me a letter…" she froze. She began to move excitedly, "Maybe she found some information in the Canterlot archives about where my castle came from and the source of that chest beneath the Tree of Harmony!"

"Or maybe she wanted to write to our friends back at Canterlot High."

Just as she was about to turn around and respond to how ludicrous that sounded, she saw the letter ramming itself into the mirror to the other world. "Huh… that's weird."

"I know, right."

---

It was not one of the bigger games of the season, nor was it against their rivals, but that did not stop students and faculty alike from showing up to watch the game that evening. One such student was sitting at the base of the statue of the Wonder Colt on the front lawn of the campus. She watched as more people walked by as the shadows became elongated from the setting sun. She smiled and waved as several of her classmates walked by.

Her quiet introspection was soon interrupted by a rectangular object as it shot overhead. The breeze blew through her blonde hair, throwing its lengths over her face. She pulled two strands apart and watched as what appeared to be a golden envelope bounced through the air. It made several sputtering sounds like a backfiring engine as it dove into the sidewalk and slid for several feet before coming to a smoldering halt.

Cautiously, she approached the now smoking letter. The nondescript envelope had almost a glossy sheen to it. She poked it with an outstretched finger, before flinching away. She almost expected it to be warm to the touch with how much it was smoldering. Instead, it was cool: the temperature one would expect a random envelope lying on the sidewalk to be.

Flipping it over, elegant golden writing gleamed in the rays of the evening sun. The letter was addressed to "Sunset Shimmer". She gasped and looked around. She grabbed the letter and rushed toward where the crowd was meandering. She did not know if Sunset Shimmer would be at the game, but she knew that at least one of her friends would have to be there.

She froze and skidded to a stop. Her face scrunched as she glared at the envelope. She could easily just forget that she ever saw it. She looked over and saw a trashcan. No one would even have to know that the letter had existed. She slowly turned it over and stared at the sealed flap. One little peek would never hurt anyone. She might as well know what it was that she was about to destroy.

She shook her head. No, Sunset Shimmer was no longer Sunset Shimmer. Sure, she had done many awful and terrible things, but that was no reason to open someone else's mail. She looked around again. She had to find someone who knew where Sunset was, or lived. She would make it her mission to ensure that the letter would find its recipient!

She clutched the letter tightly and followed the crowd into the stadium. Her eyes darted in every direction as she searched the sea of students for any sign of Sunset or her friends. Her pursuit ceased as two girls approached her. The cream—colored one with wavy curls appeared to remain neutral, while her aquamarine, messy haired companion waved energetically.

"Hey, Derpy!" the aquamarine girl shouted as she and her friend got within talking range.

"Hi, Lyra," Derpy responded, still looking around. "Say, you and Bon Bon didn't see Sunset Shimmer or her friends around, have you?"

Bon Bon blew a breath of air into her bangs and scoffed, "Humph. Why would you want to look for her? The only thing she's any good for is causing trouble."

"I found this letter," Derpy said, presenting the envelope and showing the golden script, "I'm trying to deliver it. I think it came from Princess Twilight's world."

"Why?" Bon Bon asked again.

"She's just trying to be nice, Bonnie," Lyra said.

Bon Bon seethed, "Can you blame me for not caring about her after what she did to me? She posted my personal diary online for the whole school to see."

"You have no proof that she was the one who posted it. And besides, it wasn't all bad." Lyra smiled comfortingly as she looked into her eyes, "How else was your 'secret crush' going to find out that you liked her."

"She might not have been the one who actually posted it, but she was involved. I say you rip that thing open and read it in front of everyone. Give her a taste of her own medicine."

Derpy gasped and hugged the envelope close to her chest, "Just because she did something awful doesn't mean you should. She's changed…," her eyes rolled softly in opposite directions as she thought for a moment. "She's at least making an effort to change," she said softly, "and make amends. It's possible she doesn't remember all the bad things she's done. And even if she does, she's not the same person."

"By your logic we should also turn her into some kind of zombie and attempt to invade another world," Lyra added with a smile.

Bon Bon sighed, "I still don't agree with helping her, but I guess if I see her I'll let you know."

Derpy and Lyra beamed.

"Forget that, I'm going with her!" Lyra cheered. "I think I remember Pinkie saying something about the Pep and Glee club giving out brownies tonight. Follow the chocolate and we'll find someone who knows where Sunset Shimmer is."

Bon Bon rolled her eyes as she followed the two girls. "Can you at least tell me where you found it?"

"Found what?"

She smacked her palm into her face hard enough to make an audible clapping sound. "The letter…"

"Or right, that," Derpy blushed. "It came from the statue. Didn't I say it was from Twilight Princess?"

Bon Bon blinked, her face perpetually locked in a deadpan expression.

Derpy blinked one eye after the other.

"You mean the statue she used as a gateway?" Lyra asked.

"Yup. That's the one."

"Hmm… I thought she could just walk through whenever she wanted to now. So, why would she need to send a letter?" Lyra pondered.

"I don't really care. Can we just hurry up and deliver the thing so we can watch the game?"

"Don't be such a sour lemon drop, Bonnie." Lyra grabbed her arm and held her tight, "It'll be fun: our first adventure."

"I guess," she mumbled. "At least I can say that I've had worse dates."

"You two are dating!?"

Bon Bon groaned as Lyra held her arm tighter and began skipping through the crowds toward the stands.

---

Comments

[Filraen]

"Or right, that," Derpy blushed. "It came from the statue. Didn't I say it was from Twilight Princess?"

It reads better as Princess Twilight. (That raises the question, is she recognized at CHS as Princess Twilight?)

"You mean the statue she used as a gateway?" Lyra asked.

"Yup. That's the one."

"Hmm… I thought she could just walk through whenever she wanted to now. So, why would she need to send a letter?" Lyra pondered.

I found funny how they shrug the fact there's an active portal to another world.

Good chapter here.

[Thunderhalk89]

6283966
I think they all do recognize her. At the end of Equestria Girls, when the whole school is surrounding the smoldering crater, Twilight kneels and is crowned (and referred to as a "Princess") by Principal Celestia.

As for the "Twilight Princess" line; that was my attempt at humor (if I recall I wrote that line during one of my 3 am writing sessions shortly after ch2 went up), but could also be slight reference to the video game.

Shrugging off the idea of another universe populated entirely by magical ponies was always a fun idea for me. One of my favorite scenes was when Twilight's new friends' reaction to her admittance to her true form and identity. Then of course, you've got Flash "savior of the universe" Sentry who seems to not mind having a crush on a pony princess.

[Filraen]

6290719 I think I misworded my question. Of course most at CHS know Twilight Sparkle, how she was crowned as the princess of the Fall Formal and grew wings when she stood against and beat the then-she-demon Sunset Shimmer.

My question was more to know if she's better known as Twilight Sparkle or as Princess Twilight Sparkle at CHS, even if most don't know she's actually a pony or when they say princess we readers know if has a different meaning than when somepony in Equestria calls her Princess.

[Dragonwaz]

I don't know if you can change tags or not but I think fimfic recently added an Equestria Girls tag so people could tell the difference between Human in Equestria stories and Equestria Girls stories.