Good Changes, Bad Changes
After the end of that Saturday morning, the rest of the weekend just… happened.
Sunset decided to stay at home, only going out to buy some supplies that lasted until Monday and spending the rest of the time resting and forgetting about her problems.
The first goal was successful. The second, not so much.
The Rainbooms fared similarly. Applejack shirked her tasks on the farm, Pinkie asked Mr. and Mrs. Cake for some days off, Rarity kept her boutique closed, Fluttershy asked for a replacement for the animal shelter, and Rainbow did not even do her soccer drills.
The Crusaders, by order of their sisters, were forbidden from seeing each other, so they were also at home the whole weekend.
As for Princess Twilight, the fatigue of those two weeks of hard work finally took its toll. She spent most of the rest of the weekend asleep with a slight fever, and although she tried to pay the hospitality of the principals by helping at home, her condition promptly caused Celestia to practically order her to go lie down and rest.
*S*A*S*
Monday comes, as does a new week at Crystal Prep.
Sunset enters the school, feeling somewhat lighter, her weekend rest showing its benefits.
Her wounds had also healed properly; the bruises were gone, and the scars were faded enough to go practically unnoticed.
She sighs and allows herself a smile. There are no more tests, so the classes will be relatively quiet. She can finally relax a little.
As she walks in, a large cluster of students gathered at the opposite end of the door catches her attention, and she approaches to see what everyone is looking at. Stuck on a noticeboard covered with glass sheets is what looks like the results of the exams.
Sunset moves among the students and gets close enough to take a look.
They are many sheets, each one showing a list of about 20 students, positioned in a perfect arrangement that covers almost the entire, very large board.
Sunset looks for her name, mentally grumbling when she realizes the list isn’t arranged alphabetically but instead by test results. "Seriously?" she thinks. "How are you supposed to find yourself in this mess?" Sighing, she resigns herself to search one by one.
The first name on the list not surprises her, "Twilight Sparkle". Curious, Sunset checks Twilight’s scores in each test. Perfect scores in every single test. Again, she is not suprised.
Sunset allowed herself a chuckle; there are things that would never change. No matter the world, no matter the Twilight, she will always be really smart.
Sunset looks at number two. "Sugarcoat" is the next name, who got perfect scores in all subjects too. Sunset is curious, nevertheless impressed but decided to stop wasting time and searches name by name until finally finding her own.
"Sunset Shimmer: 85, 87, 82, 90, 87.” And similars in each subjects.
Sunset beams. "Not bad for a girl who only had two days to study the entire semester." She checks her rank on the list: number forty-two. She isn’t quite sure how to take that news—it’s far from the top ten but nowhere near the bottom of the list—so instead, she heads to her locker, satisfied with her performance.
Sunset does not realize that someone is watching her as she leaves. A girl with platinum hair tied into three tails looks at the list, adjusting her glasses as she sees Sunset’s position on the list.
*S*A*S*
Things at Canterlot High School have changed little. Winter continues to hit hard at school, leaving the students discouraged and somber.
Applejack and Rarity are in the hall, mired in an unpleasant chat.
"... Do you think we were too hard on them?" Rarity asks
"Ah don't know, sugar cube. Do ya think we were too soft?" Applejack responds.
The dressmaker sighs, resting her back on the lockers and looking at the floor. "I don't know how to deal with this situation."
"Same. Ah’d talk ta Granny, but... Ah think this is something Ah gotta solve myself."
"You’re right. It’s our fault this happened. We must take responsibility."
"Yeah. Ah was way too lax on her over the years. Guess I didn’t teach discipline firmly enough."
"Imagine how I feel," a third voice says.
Both turn around, watching their chromatic friend approach.
"I tell Scoots doing push-ups is good for training, but… am I in the right here? I mean... I'm not her sister after all, you know?"
Rarity is the first to speak to respond. "Scootaloo and you share a strong bond, darling. You shouldn’t worry about things like that."
"Yeah, yeah, but still, sometimes I feel I’m out of line, like I’m taking someone else’s place."
"Scootaloo is very fond of you, darling. I'm sure she wouldn't want anyone else to call sister."
The girls’ attempts to cheer up their athlete friend works, if only a little. Rainbow sighs and looks down at the floor. "I can't get mad with Scoots. I'm just as guilty as she is... even more..."
"We are all guilty, Rainbow," Rarity says.
"But I was the one who told Sunset to leave school. If I just kept my mouth shut..."
"I doubt that would have changed anything," Pinkie says sadly from beside them. None had seen her arrive. Her friends immediately notice that her hair is no longer fluffy. Instead, it is completely straight and fallen. And it's not just her hair that changed; Pinkie's expression was devoid of all emotion. No joy, no sadness, nothing. It was just empty. It was like seeing her sister Maud but painted pink.
"Pinkie...?" Applejack begins hesitantly.
After a brief silence, Pinkie says, "Hi, girls. It's nice to see you." Even as she says that, her voice and face show no mention.
The three friends cannot take their eyes off her, too shocked by the sight of their party friend.
"Pinkie, what happened to you?!" Rainbow asks after recovering a little.
Pinkie does not respond immediately. Instead, she seems thoughtful. "I'm sorry, but starting today, I'd rather be called Diane."
None of the three respond, too surprised by what their usually bombastic friend just said and, just as importantly, how she said it.
"I liked seeing you, but I must go to class."
Again, with that voice and gaze so empty, Pinkie—or Diane—walks away from them, leaving them even more confused and shocked than they already were.
(NOTE: You may wonder why "Diane" and not Pinkamena, well, I see Pinkamena as a reflection of paranoia, it's like an explosion of emotions that Pinkie does not control at all. This on the other hand, is like an emotional block, I mean that Pinkie no longer presents emotions, but remains conscious, and it is she who decides to change her name, that is why it is not Pinkamena.)
*S*A*S*
Sunset walks through the cafeteria with her homemade lunch, looking for her usual companions. It does not take long for her to find them.
Twilight and Sonata seem to be having a quiet conversation, both sitting at one of the tables in the large room. When they see Sunset nearby, they both wave a greeting, inviting her to join the table.
Sunset starts to walk, when a voice stops her.
"Sunset Shimmer."
Sunset turns around, meeting a girl with platinum hair tied into three pigtails, orange glasses adorning her face. Sunset looks at her expectantly, waiting for her to do something. The girl looks back, her face serious, and for a moment, neither says anything.
"Um... hello..." Sunset finally says, confused by the situation.
"Sunset Shimmer, I apologize for my sudden appearance," the newcomer says in a soft but firm voice. "I come to represent a select group. We want to extend an invitation for you to join us at lunch today."
Sunset was not sure if she was more surprised by the words or the way she said them.
"I..." She turns to where her classmates are. Twilight and Sonata are also surprised.
"You had plans to have lunch with someone?" asks the girl in the same tone of voice.
"Ah... something like that... I guess..."
"Plans" was not really the right word. It was not like the three of them agreed to eat together. They had just met at lunch every day since they met each other.
It was more... a habit, maybe?
The bespectacled girl casts a glance at the table where Twilight and Sonata are. There is no change in her expression before returning her gaze to Sunset.
"I understand. Then, I formally ask that you accompany me. My colleagues and I want to talk to you about a certain issue. It will not take more than a few minutes, and then, you can go to your usual table."
Sunset is doubtful. She turns back to her companions, who never took their eyes off the scene.
"Um... What's the matter?" Sunset asked, doubtful. This school was certainly strange. Maybe not dangerous, but caution never hurt.
"Nothing that you should worry about," the girl answers with that monotone, emotionless voice, which doesn’t instill any confidence in Sunset, "but it's an important issue, and I think it may be of interest if you allow me to guide you. I promise it will just be a moment."
The girl turns around and starts walking. Sunset hesitates a few seconds. She turns to her companions one more time and, after gesturing them to wait, decides to follow the pigtailed girl, feeling, as usual, that it would be better to go with the flow.
A moment later, the bespectacled girl stops next to a table. She turns to look at Sunset and gestures to her, saying, "Thank you for coming. Please, take a seat."
Sunset looks at the table. Five students are seated around it. She is surprised to see a familiar face. Sunny Flare gives a small smile and a wink to the former equine.
Sunset’s guide, seeing that Sunset just stood there, decides to say, "I promise it will just be a moment. Please, take a seat."
As if in agreement, Sunny pats the space next to her. Finally, with a deep breath, Sunset obeys and sits down, the pigtailed girl sitting across from her.
Silence covers the table. Not knowing what to do or say, Sunset just looks at the others at the table. All keep a neutral expression, except Sunny, who smiles at her kindly.
The platinum-haired girl takes the floor. "Thank you for coming, Sunset Shimmer."
"Um, you're welcome?"
"I'll start by introducing myself properly. My name is Sugarcoat. It's a pleasure."
"Yeah, likewise," Sunset says hesitantly.
Sugarcoat signals to the light-skinned girl with pink hair sitting next to her. "This is Fleur de Lis."
Sunset looks at her. Fleur looks back, giving a courteous smile a nod.
"Next to Fleur is Trenderhoof," continues Sugarcoat, pointing to a boy with dark skin, blond hair and white glasses. He, too, gives a small smile and a greeting.
"Across from Trenderhoof is Jet Set." Jet Set is a boy with black hair and thick glasses. Peculiarly, he wears his school vest tied around his neck in a sort of cape. Unlike the previous ones, when Sunset looks at him, he simply nods, maintaining his neutral expression.
"And I believe you've already met Sunny Flare," Sugarcoat finishes.
Sunny, still smiling, says, "A pleasure to see you again, honey."
"Um, yeah, nice to see you, Sunny Flare," Sunset responds, trying not to sound nervous about the curious situation.
Sugarcoat speaks to everyone at the table. "Everyone, this is Sunset Shimmer. She transferred here three weeks ago. I assume all you have heard of her at some point."
Jet Set says with a contemptuous tone, "Certainly. I heard that she has been involved in certain… conflicts."
Sunset cannot help but shrink a little before the mention. Sunny says, "Oh, don't get upset, honey. Lighning Dust is quite infamous for causing problems, especially with new students."
Trenderhoof nods in agreement. "Students like her are the ones who give our noble institution a bad name. I don’t know why they have not expelled her yet."
Jet Set says with some annoyance, "If we're just going to talk about students who should be expelled again, I'd prefer to go back to my lunch."
Sugarcoat says, "I agree. We have not come to talk about other students but about Sunset Shimmer."
"Yeah, what’s up?" Sunset says, trying to contain her hunger.
"I will not beat around the bush," Sugarcoat responds, nodding. "Sunset Shimmer, your performance on last week's exams has impressed us."
"What?" Sunset asks, confused.
Sunny speaks to Sunset in a lively voice. "You've been in school for only three weeks, but you're already among the top fifty students."
Sunset did not know what to say. "... I just did well on some exams. That doesn’t mean—"
Sugarcoat interrupts her. "Exams for which you were not prepared, considering that it was only your second week here and that you arrived in the middle of the semester."
Trenderhoof continues, "You had everything against you. Anyone would have failed, and with just reason."
Sunny speaks again, smiling more widely, "But not only did you not fail, but you received very high marks."
Sunset is stunned. "Oh, yeah. Well, I guess... I'm just lucky, heh..."
"It's more than just luck," Sugarcoat interrupts her again. "Sunset Shimmer, you have proven to have a very high intellect."
"Uh, well, you know…” Sunset says, bashful. A thought occurring to her, she says, “Wait, you brought me here just to tell me I'm smart?"
"Not at all," responds Sugarcoat. "Although I agree, let's get to the subject that interests us. Sunset Shimmer, we cordially extend an invitation to you to join our Academic Society."
Surprise and confusion comes to Sunset’s face in equal parts. After a moment of silence, she hesitantly asks, "Is it a school club?"
"It's more than a mere club, you ignorant girl!" Jet Set snaps, startling Sunset.
Sunny looks reproachfully at the boy next to her. Sugarcoat also seems to glare at him, although it is difficult to determine in her otherwise neutral expression.
Sugarcoat continues, "In legal terms, it is registered in the school as a school club. However, it is more serious than that. As I said, it is an association made up of the best students in the school."
Sunny continues the explanation. "The best students come together to share knowledge and ideas. We participate in scientific and theoretical debates, and we find ways to advance in the future and be better than we are now."
"Oh. I understand... I think," Sunset responds after the explanation.
Trenderhoof says, "We’ve seen your amazing performance, and we wanted to contact you and invite you to join us."
"Who is ‘we’?" Jet Set mumbles. Sunset looks askance at Jet Set, who does not bother to look back at her and, unlike the others, decides to start eating his lunch.
Sunny returns to the conversation. "Anyway, Sunset, what do you say? Do you want to join?"
"Um... I... I'm not sure..."
"You do not need to give us an immediate response," Sugarcoat says without haste.
Trenderhoof follows up. "But take into account, please, that meeting with the best will help you in school and, well, in everything."
"It’s an opportunity to meet people on your level. People you can trust," adds Sunny Flare. "That will help you excel once you have graduated."
Sunset still does not know what to say. "I'll think about it, I guess. Um, if it's all..."
"You are free to go," responds Sugarcoat. "Our meetings are held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday in room 206. The entrance is open for you whenever you want."
"Yeah, thanks…"
Sunny, Fleur and Trenderhoof give Sunset a farewell gesture as she leaves the table. After she leaves, silence reigns at the table of five for a minute.
Trenderhoof is the first to speak. "I don't think she was very interested."
"Let's give it time. She still needs to acclimate," Sunny Flare responds.
Jet Set seems still upset. "I honestly do not see why you are so interested in her."
"Well, we founded this society for a reason,” Trenderhoof ansewers. “Great minds must stay together."
Jet Set is not convinced. "Yes, but that girl has not been here for a month, and she has already caused plenty of trouble."
"Well, yes," Trenderhoof admits, "but we cannot blame her, either."
"Besides, she's always so close to Sparkle and that blue girl. I have a particularly bad feeling about the latter."
Fleur de Lis decides to speak for the first time. "It seems to me that Jet Set is focusing too much on unimportant details."
"Oh, look who’s talking."
Sugarcoat takes the floor. "Certainly, her actions are intriguing, but that does not change the fact of her performance, and we all agree that that is the only real requirement to be part of our society."
A nod is shared by everyone except Jet Set. "Hmm, if you're so determined, I cannot refuse, but that doesn't mean I like the idea,"he says.
The conversation dies there, and Jet Set continues his lunch while the others begin their own.
*S*A*S*
"YOU REJECTED IT?!"
Sunset jumps at the sudden shout. "Sonata, you don't have to shout. Besides, I didn't reject them. I just… didn't give an answer."
"Well, you should go and accept it now!" exclaims Sonata again.
"Why?"
Twilight responds, "The Academic Society is where the best students meet, and that certainly gives many possibilities to improve your performance in classes and... many other things."
Sonata continues, "Being there means you're the best, and being the best is... well... THE BEST! That's what Adagio always says."
Sunset does not know what to answer but says, "I'm not interested in being the best. I'm happy here, where I am."
Sonata almost seems upset. "What, sitting at a table with a nerdy reject and a lonely weirdo?"
"Well, yes." The answer leaves both girls surprised. "I'm not interested in being better or superior or someone important."
Neither Twilight nor Sonata say anything. They only gaze with astonishment at the redhead.
"It may seem strange, but I'm more comfortable here, with you two."
Sunset realizes that what she said was pretty corny, and she blushes and looks away, trying to distract herself with her lunch. Soon she feels both of her companions take her free hand. Looking up, she sees Twilight and Sonata smile at her.
Those smiles. It had been a while since someone gave her a smile like that.
Sunset kept looking at them for a moment. They never took their eyes off her. Finally giving in to the desire, she returned the smile.
The three smile at each other, their smiles growing every second.
Something changes at that moment.
Something grows.
Something... forms.
There is something new surrounding them, enveloping them.
A feeling? A desire? Or something else?
Whatever it is, it's something...
Magical…
Sonata opens her eyes in surprise. She jumps to her feet, surprising her companions. The siren touches her throat, feeling a tingling in her body.
Sunset looks at her, confused. "Sonata?"
There is no answer. The blue-haired girl circles her throat with her hand. Her body begins to tremble slightly.
She felt something, an unstoppable desire, that she had not felt in a long time. She wanted—she needed—to sing.
Sonata’s voice starts to be heard all over the place. Harmonious, melodious, beautiful and so soft.
All voices are silent, all eyes turn to see her, all ears are attentive to that beautiful voice that resounds in the great cafeteria.
All the students and even the kitchen workers listen enchantedly to the lovely voice of the siren who, with her hands on her chest, her eyes closed, and a big smile on her face, sings her heart out in an aria that captures everyone’s attention, filling herself with a bliss without comparison.
Twilight looks in awe at the girl, smiling and marveling at the beautiful melody.
Sunset, however, is perhaps the most surprised of all the spectators.
She was familiar with the song. The last time she heard it, it had been used for evil. Sunset even came to fear that song.
But now, she felt as if she heard it for the first time. She did not feel afraid. She felt... at peace. Happy.
The show ends as suddenly as it started. Sonata smiles, her eyes watering as she sits back down.
Twilight cannot resist giving a round of applause. "Sonata, I didn't know you could sing like that."
"I was... I..." The siren cannot even speak. But her smile is so bright, and even as the atmosphere of the room begins to return to normal, that atmosphere of joy persists at the table of three for the rest of the period.
Something had changed, and given the joy and wonder the girls felt, it was for the best.
hey hello everyone! 
Thank you for reading this chapter and I regret the long wait. Updating this is costing me more than I would like. 
Well I hope you enjoying the story, as usual I sorry for the grammatical errors, and I hope to have the next chapter soon. 
Thanks for your comments and your favorites, that always make my day. 
I love you everyone, I'll see you all in the comments. 
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So things for Crystal Prep are looking up and things for Canterlot High are looking down.
8866351
What what you expect? CHS's students fucked up, and so far CP hasn't fucked themselves over too much yet, and Sunset is spreading friendship over there while CHS is spreading hate and lies.
Guess the main 5 don’t have any other ideas on trying to get Sunset to forgive them then
So happy every time a chapter is released :)
Keep going!
You describe her hair as three pigtails. I looked it up and...well...
vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/7/73/Sugarcoat_%22you_are_kinda_being_a_doormat%22_EG3.png/revision/latest?cb=20151014025937
vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/b/ba/Sugarcoat_walks_away_from_Twilight_EG3.png/revision/latest?cb=20151014030000
vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/a/aa/Twilight_looks_at_Crystal_Prep_students_uncertain_EG3.png/revision/latest?cb=20151014030317
It's a better description than I have, because I have no idea how to describe it. It's very much Sugarcoat's hairstyle, and that's all I got.
8866351
Yep
8866367
you said it
8866414
After the cake, there are not many options
8866538
Thank you!
8866745
Nevermind
ha ha I always thought they were three pigtails, I never noticed that.
Jet Set reminds me of Byakuya Togami.
8866868
No, it's cool. Three pigtails, one just stylized. I think that's the best description of that hairstyle we're going to get without getting a professional stylist to comment.
I bet the other two sirens heard Sotana singing but shocked for a different reason and that is there is no feeding behind it.
EG Pinkie Pie (2013 - 2018).
I hope that soon we know the punishments of the CMC and that all CHS know the true identity of Anon-A-Miss
Damn, I don't know what's more shocking, Pinkie now walking as a shell of her former self or Sonata having the ability to sing so beautifully like she never lost her pendant...
8867361
patience, we'll get there
8867024
now there is another magic to feed her
8867835
someones win, and others lose
I think what just happened sent out a wave of pure magic. Adigo, Aria and Princess Twilight Sparkle all felt it. I wonder if it will have negative effects on the ex-Rainbooms.
I think pinkie is a lot more hurt then she is letting on. I think that violent rejection of apologizing threw her for a loop and dropping her in a pile of horse apples from 50 foot loop.
Pinkie will snap first. Or maybe she had already?
8866868
Well I guess the only questions some of us have is, will this end well, will this have a happy ending, will Twilight ever return to Equestria and will Sunset ever forgive her friends, figure out how to fix this when she finds out and return to Canterlot High?
For some reason when she started to sing I thought something was gonna catch fire, I may or may not have been playing too much Parasite Eve.
Sunset carries friendship and magic. By transferring she took all of the love and compassion with her cause at Canterlot there was nothing but hate and corruption. Makes sense how magic, love and joy is rising at Crystal Prep.
What is going to happen to everyone, their is something coming and it's not good. I get a bad feel that it's going to be big no it's going to be hell on earth
Overall I am enjoying this story, thigh at times it is hard to follow
Am I the only one who got that Voldemort and the Death Eaters Feel from the part with the Academic's Society, from when Riddle was in Hogwarts?
If this explanation belongs anywhere, it’s at the end of the chapter, where it won’t screw over the pacing.
Personally, I believe such justifications are rather pointless. If it’s not part of the story, and as a note, it is not, then it’s just head canon. Authorial head canon, but still just head canon. Leave the characters’ behavior as is and let the reader interpret the characterization.
Ladies and gentlemen without further ado give it up for the return of Sonata dusk mighty siren of Equestria hail and well-met