Sunset Shimmer and her friends receive remarkable news: Princess Twilight is poised to become the queen of all Equestria! As the girls celebrate the invitation to their friend's upcoming coronation, Sunset's horrified to find that she's not just selflessly happy for her best friend. If not princesshood, what's she meant to do with her life anyway? What's her destiny in the human world?
As Equestrian Magic grows more powerful due to an ominous, inter-dimensional rip in space-time above Canterlot High, Sunset's friends are affected by a dangerous, new magic and she's left to wonder if she's done more harm here than good.
This story is a sequel to The Exes Club. Helpful, but not required reading. Themes and ideas introduced there are developed further here.
Story development, visual direction, and illustrations by the badass Bevin Brand.
Editing and support by the lovely Space Jazz and LordJanitor.
Special thanks to one of my best friends, Bookish Delight, for her immeasurable support, guidance, and all around awesomeness.
Featured on June 2nd, 2020
Featured as a Scouted Fanfic on Equestria Daily June 5th, 2020
Print Editions:
Colour Edition (Novel)
Black & White Edition (Novel)
Behind the Zines (Art Book)
Tagged with Sex for sexual discussion, no graphic depictions. Tagged with Profanity because teenagers.
You know, I (disappointingly) hadn't even considered how seeing Twilight take the throne would bring up those emotions from Sunset. She's got some angst coming on this one for sure.
Also - awesome unexpected sequel! Surprises like this are great.
It's here! Huzzah!
And so, we're off to the races. Sunny's still dealing with her insecurities, Flash's powers seem to be an amplifier, Princess Twilight's impeccable timing with dragonfire mail. I'm really looking forward to where this goes.
From what I gather, Twilight and Flash got a dose of what Sunset was feeling due to proximity. I hope Twi's going to spend some time giving her girl some extra affection to help her feel better. I have a feeling Sunny's going to need it.
Interesting start, I'll keep watching where it goes.
oh my god, okay, first of all, love the art!! Bevin did such a good job! second, i loved this chapter. i can definitely understand all that Sunset's going through, especially the parts where she forces herself to be 100% happy with things going on when she's not. and so far with Flash, my theory right now is that he somehow amplifies (??) the girls' power (basically agreeing with The Voice in the Water) and that's so cool. but even if it's not that, i'm excited to see what comes out of this!
Been looking forward to this for a while and its off to a fantastic start. The artwork is also fantastic.
Well this is interesting. Also, really like the artwork. Is it your or did someone else draw it?
I will definitely follow this! It reads great and the art is awesome.
"(vulgar horse noises)!"
Oh, Sunset. Burying your feelings don't make them any less real. It just twists them up something awful. This won't end well...
Oh, good, people are calling her out on that.
The irony is palpable.
And Flash is a supercharger. Makes sense to me. He always strives to be helpful. and in Timber's case, it was a case of enhancing the faintest spark of magic into something visible... presumably. I could be making some invalid assumptions there...
In any case, Sunset's issues have been laid bare. What her friends do with that information remains to be seen, to say nothing of what else may come from the interplanar fissure. Eagerly looking forward to more, especially since I've seen the art going up on Derpibooru for weeks now.
You’ve got my attention. This will be interesting.
This looks really good!
I'm sorta waiting to see how that image for the cover fits with the story...That's what I'm waiting for.
That was great!! Definitely tracking this one
10266242
Bevin Brand is the kickass artist behind all the rad art in this story! She used to be a storyboard revisionist for Equestria Girls back when it was still in production. We're best buds, so this collab is 1000% out of passion and the joy of working together.
10266242
"art by bevin brand" right there on the cover...
10267171
Its "right there on the cover" if you expand the info page. But thanx for taking time out of your day for snarky come back. Hope it made you feel special.
10267090
Thanx!
Good first chapter!! :D I'm intrigued ^^ I really would like to do a reading of this someday O:
10267816
Wow, oh my gosh, thank you so much!!! It's entirely up to your interest (and schedule) as the story progresses 💯
If you ever feel you want to give it a try, you know where to find me! ^^
10265792
Only reason I thought about is because when I saw the MLP finale, I was hoping beyond hope that they'd sneak Sunset in even just in the background of Princess Twi's coronation. Just somewhere. Wishful thinking on my part, for sure, and I wasn't disappointed she didn't make a cameo, but well, fanfiction is a wish your heart makes 😉
10265798
Hahaha, I think Sunset hopes that, too
10266329
HAHAHA! This single the best interpretation of that line. One of my friends who preread for me had this very thoughtful explanation that using the phrase "swears in Equestrian" makes it sound like Equestrian is a whole other language than (presumably) English, and how it raises all these questions about Sunset's linguistic abilities. Meanwhile I'm here all basic thinking it's something along the lines of "Ponyfeathers!" (a swear that just wouldn't make sense in the human world).
But the best and now canon way to interpret that is that the first thing out of Sunset's mouth in this story is a horrible braying horse noise. Now that's how you open an Equestria Girls story
10266892
😉
10268163
Oh, that's a good point. Do you think I should change it to "ruler of all Equestria"?
10268756
No. That’s not what I meant. You seem like a good writer. Don’t waste your talent on anything concerning that terrible final season and its premise.
*spams E*
Meeeeeeeeeediiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiic!!!!!!
Is that a mother-loving PatchworkPoltergeist reference?
But is she answering said texts? Failure to do so will only going wind up Twilight until her mainspring threatens to snap.
Sunset just cannot accept that people might legitimately sympathize with her. That they see how far she's come and want her to see the same degree of progress. They want to take the flagellant's whip away, and she clings to it all the tighter. Forget Principal Celestia, someone needs to send Princess Luna to talk to her.
Oof. "And then what?" can be the three hardest hitting words in the English language.
Interesting. Did Sunspot Shimmer have more power than Daydream, or is Sunset just editing out one of her greatest triumphs because it doesn't fit with her self-loathing narrative? Or she just has the demon on her mind.
I'd argue that they're going to have entirely different measurements on the other side of the portal, but I suppose good tailoring carries over... assuming the mirror won't eat their outfits completely. (Goodness, the look on Rarity's face if that happens...)
My word, you could build a tank out of this thick-headed irony.
Magical combinatorics! What fun. Though we already know what happens when all seven girls combine their powers: Rainbow Beam of Fix Everything but Sunset's Insecurities.
Huh. Timberporting. Didn't see that one coming, but goodness knows he could use it. It's a long way between Camp Everfree and Canterlot.
You can always ask Twilight, Sunset. Journal's right there.
Of course, anxiety so rarely listens to logic...
Oh yeah, Sunset, you're definitely not the leader.
Arguably more, given Flash's continued presence.
I really do hope Sunset gets some therapy soon. Goodness knows she needs it. But at this rate, it may take a nervous breakdown before she admits it. (I also hope Timber isn't lost in the æther, of course, but that's a relatively simple problem.)
Oh Sunny. I love you dearly, so your self-esteem issues really hurt. I know that the sympathy they're showing you makes you feel like you're being pitied, but maybe they're showing it because they care. Maybe they don't pity you. Maybe they see you for who you are, not who you see yourself as.
I had a feeling from the line last chapter about Timber ending up in the lake that he was a teleporter. Suspicions confirmed. Now hopefully he's okay. Magic A ≠ Magic B conflations are always fun.
Beautiful work as always. Looking forward to the next one.
I love this group of friends.
10268756
She did make a cameo in the Last Problem in the song The Last Song where you see her in a montage.
Hey A story Were nobody hating on Timber. Love the story by the way.
10268709
I might! ^^ keep up the good work!
It is now! I mean we're both referencing an indie song called Somewhere Only We Know, but hey, I'll take the association!
Oh god, I don't even want to know how she reacted to getting anything below an A+ in art class...
cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635521175224844361/718675358584668241/hqdefault.jpg
10269551
Maybe, just maybe people can actually care about you...
sounds fake but okayAlso eyyy, glad you caught the bed in the lake thing! Poor Gloriosa, taking the wrap for magic once again. When will that girl catch a break? (She says, not planning to give her one)
10269710
Awww, I'm so glad this is readable with your dyslexia. That's awesome!
10270773
For once, Timber doesn't have to be characterized as an asshole. He's a good guy who just got a raw deal in the fandom! And glad you're enjoying it so far!
Ok this magic is getting weird now.
yo did sunset and timber switch bodies? 😳
So, here I am, reading a wonderfully romantic chapter that's making me feel all floaty with just how darn cute and precious SciSet are being, and I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop, and "bam!" there it is.
Then, I'm thinking, "happy reunion, back to the date, etc. etc."
Then I'm like "okay, I did not see that coming. Gaia I hope this isn't permanent, or the two of them are going to need to learn a whole bunch of new skills when using the bathroom. Among other things."
Twilight Sparkle looked sharp! Sunset was pretty amazing too, but Twilight stood out more because she's usually less flashy.
10272804
Our guess is that is the combination of Sunsets and Timbers power. Sunset using empathy and Timber using teleportation, effectively teleported their emotions and personalities into the other person's body.
The date was so beautifully written I honestly have no idea what to say. The whole scene just felt so warm and full of love. You did an absolutely fantastic job.
And the ENDING had me audibly saying “oh noooooo”— I can’t wait for the next chapter
And now I dread Covid-19 hitting this world and city...
"Pedantiprattle" is an amazing word, especially when applied to Kibitz.
Oh, hello women in suits. I wasn't expecting my greatest weakness here today. Seriously, I don't care how you're built or how you identify, everyone looks good in a well-tailored suit.
Rarity in a nutshell. She'll eviscerate you for your own good and stitch up the wound herself.
"Honestly," said Sunset, "I'm still stuck on the show ponies."
Let's quietly ignore that Sunset was probably born before Princess Twilight. There's definitely some kind of temporal jiggery-pokery going on with the mirror.
One could unpack a lot of layers from this. Sunset was Celestia's personal student, to say nothing of the culture of Canterlot she grew up in. She's used to having a princess, someone impossibly perfect to be there for her and bring the sunshine. She tried to be that for herself in this world, and now doesn't trust herself to do so. Now Sunset looks to her girlfriend, all but begging Twilight to accept the crown so she doesn't have to.
Never mind that they already do. Oh, Sunset...
Why not ask them? If you feel so guilty about endangering them, then at least respect their opinions, you—
Okay, I already knew this was a good story, but it's clearly amazing given how I want to crash their date and shake Sunset until she can get over herself. Of course, it won't be anywhere near that easy.
I'm mildly disappointed Flash didn't come in with their orders at that exact moment.
This is also acceptable.
Okay, Sunset? Gloves. Invest in them. You know what they say, enchant me once, shame on you, enchant me twice, shame on me.
At least the power combo makes perfect sense. What is mind switching but simultaneous teleportation of two consciousnesses? And if Timber can get this kind of range on his own, linking up with Flash may offer an alternative route to Equestria.
Absolutely looking forward to more.
I do wonder how Sunset first reacted to non-sapient equines in this world...
Weeeeell... as FanOfMostEverything said, seeing as Sunset was Celestia's student before Twilight, Sunset is certainly older than Twilight by a pretty significant degree. She was already a mare by the time Twilight was but a filly.
10273493
That does seem to be one of the most consistent signs of a great Sunset characterization, doesn't it?
10272804
Flash's little waiter outfit made me real happy, too. What a prim and proper boy!
10272846
Timber's got on a Nordic hat that he picked up while in Northway. Other than that, he's currently in the same day clothes he was wearing when he teleported.
10272912
You aren't wrong, my dude, you aren't wrong. The awkward realities of magic
But also, yeah, this was definitely a "when's that other show gonna drop?" kind of chapter. The vast majority of it is so what the characters want that you know I had to take it away at some point. Aye, narrative momentum be a harsh mistress.
10273185
Bevin did a fantastic job showing how Twilight cleans up nice 😉
10273234
The sweetness and softness can only last so long, sadly! I wanted to indulge and give us a nice, long date before taking it all away so having a full date chapter was a joy to write. Of course, Sciset is always a joy!
10273493
It's a joy to read your comments, it really is. And not the least of which because we share the same Greatest Weakness.
Being a bisexual woman myself, oh my god, I can't tell you how much yes this statement deserves. All the yes, if possible.
It was very tempting to have them both be in suits, I gotta say. Curse the Daydream dress and its symbolism!
Ha, yeah, no kidding. I've seen it addressed well in other fics. I think here, if I had to have a headcanon, I'd say Sunset... doesn't entirely know what age she is anymore??? She obviously would know how old she was when she went into the portal, but if she went back to being 14 at the start of her high school years at CHS, then I feel like she herself doesn't entirely know how old to consider herself.
It's that wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff I've heard so much about since about 2014...
😉
Flash: "Bavarian sausage for the lady? It's tonight's special."
This is why we always use protection, kids.
Apparently, Sunset's second magic ability is being able to rode a motorcycle in a tight dress.
All kidding aside, this story seems interesting and definitely has my attention what with all the magic shenanigans.
One of the harshest in existence.
Timber and Sunset's interactions were so fun to read here, especially how smiley Timber was in Sunset's body (
i miss genuinely smiley Sunset).so we get introduced to CHS' magic counsellor! i'm really interested to see what he's like and his experiences (so he says) with magic.
New villain detected.
Huh. Monochrome Juniper Montage looks remarkably like Twilight...