"Man, this bites!" Rainbow Dash complained, tossing her history test into the air in frustration.
Sunset Shimmer snatched it out of the air and looked at the bright red grade mark at the top of the page, wincing. "Ouch. That's gonna pull down your average."
"Don't fret too much about it, Rainbow," Applejack said boredly, looking over her own test. "Ah barely got a C-."
"Solid B here," Pinkie said cheerfully.
The others looked at each other with trepidation. "On three?" Sunset suggested. Fluttershy, Rarity, and Twilight smiled nervously. Sunset counted, and the four girls laid their papers down. None of them had scored less than an A. Twilight and Sunset had gotten perfect scores.
Rainbow threw her hands up in the air. "That's just not fair!" she cried. "How the hell?"
"Umm...we studied?" Fluttershy offered meekly.
"Yeah, Rainbow, all you gotta do is pay attention in class and study," Twilight said.
"It really isn't that difficult, darling," Rarity added.
Rainbow groaned, covering her head with her hands as she pressed her chin against the table. "Easy for you to say," she muttered. She glared at Sunset. "And how the hell did you ace a history test? You're not even from this world!"
Sunset rolled her eyes. "Gee, I wonder," she said. "What would an alien trying to blend in with a completely unfamiliar culture and a completely unfamiliar body have to do to not only convince everybody she was one of them and belonged here, but also dominate the school by becoming the most popular, and then the most feared, girl on campus?" She shot Rainbow an annoyed glare. "After I got myself set up here and starving to death wasn't an issue anymore, I spent sixteen hours a day studying everything I could about this world, including history and current affairs, just so I could keep up."
Jaws dropped around the table. "Sixteen hours?!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"Wow," Twilight said. "Even by my standards that's excessive." At the incredulous looks this drew, she blushed and fiddled with her collar. "Umm...I stop at twelve? Fourteen tops?"
"But darling, that would mean you only stopped studying to sleep, eat, and one would assume bathe," Rarity said. "You...you did nothing else with your time? At all?"
Sunset shrugged. "Having a social life would've gotten in the way of everything I was trying to do, except for when I was dating Flash to get noticed. Even then, most of our 'dates' were just study sessions. I'd go home from school, then from four to eleven I'd study everything I could get hold of. Not just history, but pop culture—TV, music, anything that it seemed it'd be useful to know."
"And all of it to carry out your evil plans," Rarity said, shaking her head.
"Yeah, well..." Sunset sighed. "Bad intentions aside, the end result is I crammed a lifetime's worth of information into my head in a couple of years, and now I'm..." She gestured vaguely. "Well, let's just say it paid off in the end."
"So, umm...you weren't like that before, right?" Fluttershy asked curiously. "I mean, back where you came from?"
Sunset tilted her head in thought, then grimaced. "Actually...yyyyeah, I kinda was," she admitted. "For totally different reasons, mind, but...if I wasn't studying magic, practicing magic, or trying to learn things Princess Celestia didn't want me learning, I...pretty much wasn't doing anything." She sighed. "Wow. I wasted a lot of my life." She shook her head with a rueful chuckle. "Wonder how much differently I'd have turned out if I'd bothered to make just one friend in that whole school..."
"Things'd sure be a lot different around here if you had," Applejack said. "Ah mean, we wouldn't'a had all th' magic shenanigans an' whut not, but...we'd also never'a met either Twilight, an'..." She frowned. "Huh. Well, Ah dunno whut else'd be different, honestly." She shook her head. "But Ah think we're better off with you here, an' Twilight, an'...an' all th' crazy stuff we done been through together."
"Well, maybe not all of it, darling," Rarity drawled, "but the sort of drama we've been through together has unquestionably forged strong friendships that...that might not have been as strong otherwise." She grimaced. "I mean, look at us. How different we are. If we hadn't shared such adventures together, I suspect we might have drifted apart by now."
"It's probably best not to think about things like that," Pinkie Pie said. "That kind of thing can turn into a real downer really fast."
"Pinkie Pie's right," Twilight said. "Don't worry about what might have been or what could've happened if things were different. Just...let's just all be happy we're all here together and that we'll always be best friends." She paused, shuffling her hands self-consciously. "Umm...right? Is that...is that right?"
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Sunset said with a warm smile.
Equestria, an alternate timeline...
"So it turns out becoming a princess just...isn't my destiny," Sunset Shimmer said.
"I thought that seemed rather far-fetched."
"It does seem like something that isn't...possible."
"Actually, it's not impossible. I mean, Princess Cadance wasn't born an alicorn princess. Unfortunately, no scholars in the history of Equestria have ever been able to study the phenomenon of how a pony becomes an alicorn, since...well, since it's only happened once in the history of Equestria."
"But still...I thought you said Princess Celestia told you you were going to be a princess one day? Her equal? Why would she tell you something like that, get your hopes up, and then dash them?"
Sunset looked around the table at her three friends, shrugged, then kicked up her hooves. "I asked her about that, actually," she said. "Thing is, you know the legend of the Mare in the Moon?" At her friends' nods, she continued, "Well, it's not so much a legend as it is historical fact. The Mare in the Moon, Nightmare Moon, is her sister Princess Luna."
"Anypony who's read the annotated journals of Starswirl the Bearded knows that," the lone stallion at the table said.
"Yeah, well, most ponies haven't," Sunset said. "Anyway, there's this prophecy tied into Nightmare Moon's return that a powerful young unicorn will appear shortly before the thousand years have passed, and that unicorn will have the power to resurrect the Elements of Harmony. The prophecy says that unicorn will become a princess and change Equestria forever."
"And Princess Celestia thought it was you?" one of the two mares asked.
"Yeah, at first," Sunset said. "But...thing is, and she was so sad and so sorry when she told me this that I just couldn't stay mad at her...she forgot about the third Cutie Mark on the trunk of the Tree of Harmony."
"The Tree of Harmony?" the other mare present scoffed. "Now you're just making stuff up."
"No, it's real," Sunset said. "She showed it to me." She chuckled. "Big glowy tree in a cave in the Everfree Forest, has three Cutie Marks on the trunk. Hers, one she says belongs to Princess Luna, and a third. A six-pointed star." Sunset blew on her bangs. "Last I checked, I don't have a star on my flank."
"A six-pointed star," the stallion said thoughtfully. "I know a pony like that. A filly, just started going here a few months ago."
"Yeah," Sunset said. "That's her. Twilight Sparkle. She's the one who's supposed to be a princess...if she can learn everything Celestia wants her to learn."
"And you're not upset about this at all?" one of the mares asked. "That you've effectively been tossed aside like an old dress, replaced?"
"Nah," Sunset said. "I mean, okay, yeah, it's kind of a bummer I won't be a princess, but...I don't exactly envy Twilight Sparkle having to face down Nightmare Moon one day, you know?" She shrugged. "Besides, now that I know what's going on, I can relax, kinda ease up a little on my studies. Spend more time with you guys."
"Well, we'll certainly be happy for that."
"Yeah, maybe you can help me with that transfiguration spell I keep having trouble with."
"Oh! We could take a trip to my old village! That penpal I've been telling you about? I bet she'd love to meet you all! After all, it's thanks to your advice that I kept in touch with her."
Sunset smiled. "I'd like that." Her stomach rumbled. "But you know what I'd really like right now? A hayburger. C'mon, guys, let's go get some food. Sassy, it's your turn to treat."
"Sequins and sashes, I hope I have enough bits..."
Sunset Shimmer, Sunburst, Sassy Saddles, and Trixie Lulamoon left the student commons of the School for Gifted Unicorns, trotting through the streets of Canterlot. Sunset looked over her group of friends and smiled.
Life in Canterlot was perfect. Become a princess? Who needed it!
Holy crap.
Thank you, Pinkie Pie.
Well now, ain't that an AU?
This MUST be continued beyond this bare concept! I've no earthly idea of how it would go, but THIS would make for a simply amazing AU setting! Imagine, the adventures those 4 (or 5, including Starlight!) would have together! How they might serve as minor mentors/older sibling-figures for Twilight, thus helping her to learn her lessons of Friendship years sooner!
That...could be a very interesting AU.
Huh... now that is an interesting little AU you had going on there, I like it~ :D Good show!
While Flash massaged your tired shoulders.
Among other things.
Come on, he plays the guitar, you totally made use of those hands.
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I'd honestly read it.
I'd loooove to see more of that particular AU~!
At each fork road, a new universe is created.
And like all above, I would also like to see where this AU could go.
It is pretty fun to think how much things can change with just one different thing. That's the Butterfly Effect in action.
I'll never get over how nopony knows about the Tree of Harmony. I mean, I know the Everfree forest is dangerous, but it feels like sompony ought to have stumbled on it and written it down, and it feels like Celestia ought to have put a guard or two there to make sure it was doing okay without the Elements. And I don't get why Celestia never told Twilight about it. . . . Maybe she didn't want to put too much pressure on Twilight by showing her a magic tree with her Element in it. I only just now thought of that. A bit of dialogue about it might've been nice though.
But that's show stuff. Good chapter was good.
... Huh. Huh. I am really not sure how to feel about this concept. From the concept of alicornification being a purely predestined matter to what might have been to the sheer number of implicit divergences and implications to what might have happened to the human world...
Yeah, I'm honestly having a hard time figuring out how to react to this. And I find myself wondering which doomed timeline this will lead to.
They're going to run into Starlight, aren't they? I'm pretty sure that things might get a bit... fraught if Sunburst can't talk her down.
Interesting idea for an AU. Not sure exactly why Sassy Saddles is there with them, but I'm not complaining. The biggest differences would be how Trixie acts (having friends will surely temper her ego, maybe) and Glim-Glim won't turn her village (did it ever have a name?) into a cult.
Also, on a darker note, Sci-Twi will be stuck in Crystal Prep and with no magic to screw with, the Shadowbolts have no reason to become good, unless some other butterfly effect kicks in and changes something else. Also, Sirens will be forever stuck on just snacks.
Hm, that's an interesting AU, I'd be curious to see it developed further.
This is a concept that should be continued. I would love to see Sunset become a mentor to Twilight and become her unofficial BSBFF.
I have to echo that this setup for an AU seems pretty great. Honestly I'm probably more interested in Sassy, Trixie, Sunburst and Starlight as characters more than I am in the mane 6 (minus Pinkie, I love Pinkie). The only character who's completely uninteresting to me in this group is Sunset herself, but that's no different from how it is in EqG.
I am one of the people who pretty much subscribes to the idea if Sunset didn't run away she'd take a big sister role for Twilight. Probably make Twi more outgoing, and easier for Celestial to "herd" to her destiny. Sunset might convince Celestial to send Twilight to Ponyville sooner than in cannon. Even a few months of extra socialization could make big difference against Nightmare Moon.
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Actually, in that AU it seems that Sunburst kept in touch with Starlight. She might actually be sane in this timeline.
This might turn into another "Oversharing" incident, Mothy. Because now I want to see what could have happened.
[EXPRESSION OF INTEREST OVER THE AU SUGGESTED!]
Sorry
Wow Sunset and Celestia blew that one. If both had a more level head about Sunset's possible destiny they could have prevented a few issues that came up. Also I hope someone does that AU you came up with it sounds interesting.
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I figured it was kept secret for reasons of national security, but that's just me.
Okay, Sunburst and Trixie I kind of get...
But why Sassy?
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Definitely an idea worth exploring in the future. Imagine the magical hijinks...
By the by Moth, how's the next chapter of Oversharing coming along?
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Probably the one caused by Flim and Flam
Hm... debating on whether or not to write AU...
That is an AU i would love to read about :3
And seing the others comments looks like Mythril you just painted a target on you back in neon
Hmm, I've also pondered other AU's stemming from what would have happened if Sunset never went back to steal the crown. Most of them are kinda boring. This AU though might be interesting.
It probably would have been better if Celestia had made it clear early on that Sunset was not going to get wings after she saw Sunset's cutie mark. Although I prefer to think some other ponies could have the potential to ascend, but unfortunately the show has made it clear that without Twilight, Equestria is doomed, and even announced her as the chosen one a thousand years early. But then that's part of why I find Sunset's backstory fascinating, her kind of raging against destiny (for the wrong reasons, but still). If she really did just move on so easily, well, there wouldn't have been a spin-off movie (though Sunset and at least a few other ponies would have been happier). Yet another interesting sounding AU, but that glimpse was enough too.
This chapter was nice. Here's an idea that can work for a new one that is similar to an earlier chapter. How about the Humane 7 discuss the great music of the web show, "RWBY", or the show itself? Just a suggestion that can be used for some good dialogue between the characters.
I just want to say that as AUs go, that would have been an objectively better world.
Strictly speaking, that only means that Sunset won't undergo apotheosis from that event. Given the shenanigans that Celestias students get up to, it's not out of the question for it to happen for other reasons.
Tis a silly place.
i love this chapter
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Please don't ask people to write things tailored to your niche interests. That's one of the most obnoxious things a reader can do.
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Sorry
Very nice.
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Because 3 is the magic number for almost everything. Rule of thirds, hop skip and a jump, comedy comes in threes, etc. Sunset needed an obligatory 3rd friend and unicorns that are older then the mane 6 and grew up in Canterlot are hard to come by.
That being said, I'd be interested in this. I'm not really a fan of the whole predestination thing. Then again, it fits in with the fact that Twilight only had to finish a poem to jumpstart the princess light show. I can only imagine the exchange between Sunset and Celestia regarding the prophecy.
"Nightmare Moon is coming soon, Why aren't you doing anything?!"
"Sunset, you really need to get your head out of those boo,"
"I know she's your sister Luna. I know the myth is real. I know about the tree of Harmony. In know that statue in the garden wasn't a gift from your lover 500 years ago."
😔
"And I know Tirek isn't the only thing you hide in Tartarus.
🙄
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See, i get Sunset having three friends, all unicorns.
But why pick Sassy to be the third?
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The way I see it, it's not so much that predestination is the only way to become an alicorn. It's more that the Tree of Harmony prophesized Twilight's ascension. After all, the series never shows anything that suggests that Cadance's ascension was predestined. All this story suggests is that if Sunset were to ascend, it won't be the same way Twilight did.
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Because I knew it would confuse and annoy you.
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Touche.
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derpicdn.net/img/2012/7/22/52641/medium.jpg
I NEED a story like this in my life!
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Well yeah. But if your parents have been telling you you're one gender since birth, why would you have reason to question the validity of such?
I tend to seriously overthink these things.
Loved the ending, specially since the penpal mentioned is obviously Starlight, meaning Sunset also unknowingly already resolved two crisis without knowing.
Shimmerglimmer!
Think of all the things we've shared and seen,
Don't think about the way things might have been...
-- Phantom of the Opera
You wanna know what the funny thing is? If literally anyone else had come up with the same idea, they'd have made Sunset & friends the Elements of Harmony (and Sunset a Princess) anyways.
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Those six. You have to include Flash Sentry (yeah, I have a problem).
Love it!
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Or if you count a reformed Discord or Chrysalis.