A Shifting Sunset Shimmer

by Vinyl-ScratchDJ17

First published

Sunset Shimmer comes across a severe problem she cant quite solve on her own

Soon after the defeat of the Dazzlings, Sunset Shimmer finds herself going through some changes she doesn't understand. With help from her friends, will she be able to fix her issue, or will she be stuck the way she is forever?

Thanks to mah proofreader: https://www.fimfiction.net/user/professorsawyer for all the help :D This story is dedicated to our great moderator: *drum roll* https://www.fimfiction.net/user/Eldorado

And so it Begins...

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Dear princess Twilight Sparkle,

It has now been a full month since the incident during the friendship games, as well as the battle between me and your Twilight counterpart, and things have gone back to normal.

Even though that’s true, many students still talk about it as if it were yesterday. It felt pretty good to be the one to save the day for a change, instead of trying to take over like I had tried before, but you and the others showed me how much more powerful friendship can be. It’s quite a good feeling if you aske me.

I remember everybody had hated me for what I did during the fall formal, but it seems to be that I have redeemed myself, and I’m making more friends than ever. It’s a really nice change from trying to be the boss, or hiding in shame from everybody else for being thought of as a monster.

It seems to be with each day comes a new adventure, waiting to be discovered, whether it’s fighting off power crazed lunatics, like Applejack said during the battle of the bands, or if it’s just hanging out with the ones you care about most;

your friends.

Things have been getting a lot better since you came along, I have to say. Before, when I was at the top of the leaderboard, this was just another school full of jerks who, like me, tried to make themselves higher than others. But that’s all in the past now, and it’s as if you’re friends with everybody in the school.

Although I do miss Equestria, I really like it here a lot a CHS. It’s like a second home for me for seven and a half hours a day. And to think I only came here from wanting to rule Equestria, and Celestia banished me here. The thought of that also gets me thinking that everything that’s happened wouldn’t have if I had been a good student like you while I was Celestia’s pupil.

The ‘Dazzlings’ would still be powerless, and the friendship games would have just been another failed attempt to win by CHS. And as for Equestria, I would be a princess and you would just be another gifted unicorn to everpony else. From what you’ve told me, you would have never been sent to Ponyville, and you wouldn’t of met your versions of Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttrshy, or Pinkie Pie. It’s as if me being bad when I was, made only good things come from it.

I’m smiling now just thinking about everything, and how great things are going in both of our worlds. Because of you.

Your friend, Sunset Shimmer

P.S I may need a new book, I’m running out of pages to use in this one!

Sunset Shimmer smiled slightly, sliding her book back into her backpack. She gazed up at the afternoon sun after zipping her backpack shut as she sat in front of the portal to Equestria.

The thought of returning home reocurred in her mind many times throughout each day, to see how much had changed since she had left years ago. Maybe everyone there still thought of her as a monster, and if she returned, they might either cower in fear of her presence, or shun her away. Maybe she could make it all up to them somehow, if she were ever to return to Equestria. She immediately dismissed the thought for another time if things ever came to that.

She swung her backpack over one shoulder as she stood, facing the portal. She grinned slightly, wondering what her life would be like if she never came here, and frankly, she’s glad it happened. If she ever did go back for something, it would be to apologize to Celestia for all that she has done wrong. A small chuckle escaped her lips that she thought she would ever have the power to overthrow Celestia. Just seeing now how things have been going, taking on evil villains, with quite a lot of power already, she decided being princess just wasn’t for her.

“Hey, Sunset,” called a familiar voice. She turned back to see Rainbow Dash heading towards her from the font of the school as all the other students file out through the doors.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“You aren’t planning on leaving us now, are you?” Rainbow snickered.

“No, I hope not. I was just thinking what things are like now in Equestria, with Twilight being a princess and all,” Sunset gave a small shrug.

“Oh, well, Me and the gang were wondering if you were coming to the sleepover at Pinkie Pie’s.”

“Yeah, of course! Why wouldn’t I? I just need to do something first.”

“Alright. See you there,” Rainbow smiled and waved goodbye as she boarded one of the buses that sat in front of the school with many other students.

As soon as the other students had gone, and Sunset was left alone, she stood to face the portal again. Her reflection smiled back at her, a red and yellow haired girl. She put a hand up to it, ever so slowly reaching out to it. She slowly made contact, biting her lip, and instead of her hand being placed against a hard surface, it went easily through.

The reflective surface of the portal warped around her hand, as it now took the form of a hoof on the other side. She giggled slightly at the feeling and drew her hand back.

“Ugh, come on! Let go you stupid thing!” Sunset grunted as she tried to pull her hoof out of the portal, but to no avail.

She tugged harder, with her feet propped up against the sides of the portal, when a sudden shock coursed through her body as she was tossed back, landing on her rump.

“Agh!” She shrieked. “What was that?”

She looked down at her hand to see it was still a hoof, half of her arm covered in her yellow fur, before slowly changing back to a hairless hand.

“Well that was weird," she said as she watched the fur disappear back into her arm.

She shrugged it off, and stood back up on her feet.

“Now, what was it I needed to do?” She tapped a finger on her chin, searching her thoughts, but only to come up empty. “Oh, well,” she shrugged, and began walking in the direction of Pinkie’s house.

*****

“Could ya turn that thing down, Rainbow Dash? We ain’t at no concert,” shouted an irritated Applejack, who had been covering her ears from Rainbow Dash playing her guitar way too loud, especially since they were in a small room being Pinkie’s bedroom.

Rainbow continued to play.

“Rainbow Dash!!” Applejack shouted again, but Rainbow only ignored and kept on ‘shredding’.

Two small sources of light appeared at the top of her head, and her back, and soon, cyan pony ears began to rise out of her head, and her wings poked out from her back, slowly opening as they grew. Her hair extended at the bottom as her whole body was surrounded in a blue light as she rose up off the floor, when the music suddenly stopped, her ears retreated back into her head as well as the wings, and she landed on the floor with a soft thud.

“Hey! Who unplugged my guitar!?” She looked about the room, spotting Applejack over by the pink dresser, with the cord in hand, and an angry face. “Now, why did you have to go and do that for? I was just getting in the groove!”

“Well, ah’m sorry, but my ears began to hurt, and ah think ah would like to keep my sense of hearing, Rainbow Dash,” she snarled.

“Ugh, whatever,” Rainbow grumbled, letting her guitar lay across her lap.

“Oh, cheer up, Dashie, I liked your music,” Pinkie cheered, smiling warmly at her from her bed.

“Yes, but I agree with Applejack. It was a wee bit too loud,” Rarity said with her hands close together as to make a gesture to her statement.

“Well, if it was too loud, then why did you guys let me play in the first place,” Rainbow snapped, as she threw her hands into the air.

“You did say you weren’t going to play that loud…” Fluttershy fumbled with her fingers, watching as her bunny, Angel was happily chewing on a baby carrot.

“See, Rainbow? That’s why I unplugged your guitar. it was too loud even for you to hear me yelling.” Applejack stated.

“I didn’t mind it!” Said an over joyous Pinkie Pie.

She opened her mouth as if to say something else, until a knock was heard at the door.

“I’ll get it,” Pinkie said as she hopped out of the room.

Rainbow sighed, plucking at the strings on her guitar, barely making a sound now that it was unplugged. She quietly played “Awesome as I Wanna be,” to where even she could hardly hear it, and at a slower tempo.

“So, now that it’s the weekend, what are we all gonna do?” Applejack thought, sitting back down on the floor next to Rarity and Fluttershy against the side of Pinkie’s bed.

“I’m not sure, but have any of you ever gotten the thought, that we were just a bunch of regular teens, except we hated each other then, until Twilight came from that other world? And now we’re pretty much the most powerful beings on the planet?” Rarity asked, staring down at her hands.

“Actually...no…” Fluttershy whispered.

“Now that ya ask, it’s actually quite an amazing feeling.”

“I’m baaaack! And look who’s here,” Pinkie pulled a blushing Sunset Shimmer into the room, hugging her tight.

“Heh, thanks, Pinkie Pie.” Sunset smiled, hugging her back.

“Okay, now that we’re all here-,” Applejack began, until;

“I’M GONNA ORDER PIZZA,” said Pinkie Pie excitedly, and ran back out of the room.

“So...what’s up guys?” Sunset asked, as she sat down next to Applejack.

“Nothing, really. Just hoping we don’t get a head ache from Rainbow’s loud guitar playing,” huffed Applejack.

Rainbow Dash shot her an evil glare to keep quiet.

“Seems fun,” Sunset chuckled.

“Not really.”

“So, Darling, how are things with you?” Rarity asked, in hopes of changing the current subject to disencourage any further confrontations.

“Well, I saw what my hand looked like as a hoof again.” Sunset shrugged.

“What do you mean, Darling?”

“Well, I put my hand in the portal is all. It didn’t seem to want to let go since I had to stuggle to get my hand, er, hoof out.”

“Hm. Maybe Equestria misses you, Sunset,” Applejack chuckled with a pat to Sunset’s shoulder.

“Maybe. But the weirdest part was when I got my hand out, It felt like I got a little electrocuted, and my hand was still a hoof.” Sunset stated as she gazed at her right had, flexing her fingers. “Half my arm was covered in fur, and it took a few seconds for it to change back.”

“It’s probably got a few bugs in it since the other Twilight obliterated it when she went all psycho after the friendship games,” Rainbow suggested, her voice cracking a couple times.

“That might be it, but it’s nothing too serious I bet.” Sunset added. “It was just so strange, you know?”

“Ah bet it was. Ah’d probably freak out a little if that happened to me,” said Applejack.

“PIZZA’S HERE,” cheered Pinkie Pie as she skipped into the room with two large white and green boxes. “I deciede to get something other than just plain old pepperoni this time, so I got their new chicken teryaki pizza,” She said as she placed the two boxes down on the floor in front of her friends.

They all leaned forward, sniffing in the aroma of freshly baked pizza.

“Mmm, smells good,” said Rarity with a nod of her head.

“Well, dig in!” Pinkie squeaked and opened the first box, revealing a steamy hot pizza with melted cheddar cheese, with teryaki sauce drilled over it, decorated with chunks of chicken over it. “I also paid extra for the stuffed crust!”

“Applejack took a slice eyeing it scepticaly. She took a small bite from the tip of the pizza, and chewed. She smacked slightly as she did, until her eyes popped wide with pleasure, and she took another large bite. “MMmmm, this is delicious,” she said with a full mouth.

The others agreed as they grabbed their own slice of the pizza.

“Oh, and I called Twilight and she said she miiiiight come over as well.”

“That’s nice,” said Applejack with a pizza stuffed mouth.

“Darling please don’t talk with your mouth full! It’s very unappetizing!” Rarity complained, before taking another bite from her own pizza.

Applejack only rolled her eyes and grabbed a second slice of pizza. “Say, how did they deliver this here pizza so fast,” Applejack asked, turning to Pinkie Pie for an answer.

Pinkie said nothing. Instead she went over to her window and pulled open the curtains. She pointed her thumb out of the window, where not too far down the street was a small corner pizza shop where the neighborhood gave way to the city under the early evening sky.

“Oh...Ah’ve never noticed that before…” Applejack chuckled nervously as a rosey blush appeared on her cheeks from embarrassment.

”It’s where I’ve been getting my pizza from for the past couple weeks,” said Pinkie with a large roll of her large blue eyes.

“Ah, see why they’re gettin a lot of business,” Applejack stated since almost every space in the small parking lot had been accompanied by a vehicle. “Their pizza is really good!”

“It is really good,” Sunset nodded in agreement. “So what are you all doing for the upcoming spring break next week?”

“Chores,” sighed Applejack.

“I’ve got to take poor Opalescence to the vet next week for a check up. She can’t stand the vet,” said Rarity.

"Well I’m probably just gonna sit around and play my guitar since I got nothing better to do,” said Rainbow Dash with a shrug.

“Me and Maud are taking boulder to the movies!”

“Wow, you guys all just seem so busy!” said Fluttershy. “I’m probably just going to sit at home and tend to my pets. What about you, Sunset Shimmer?”

“I’ve really got nothing to do.”

“Don’t forget guys, we have a concert to do next week as well, at the mall on Thursday,” Rainbow stated.

“I didn’t forget,” said Pinkie Pie.

“Well, it’s getting kind of late, and I usually go to bed around now, so I’m gonna hit the hay, if that’s okay,” yawned Sunset as she got up from the floor.

“See ya tomorrow!” the others said in unison.

Sunset gave a small wave as she made her way into the bathroom. She flipped on the light switch to a bathroom which had blue tiled floors, and pink painted walls, as well as the ceiling. To her left sat the toilet, and the right, the bath and shower, with cupcake decorated curtains. On the other end of the bathroom were the counters with a sink, and a cabinet mirror above it.

She approached the counter where she reached into her backpack, and pulled out a plastic zip-loc bag. Inside were a tube of toothpaste, dental floss, a toothbrush, and a small bottle of mouthwash. She pulled out the toothpaste and toothbrush and set to brushing her teeth. She watched in the mirror, trying to get every little bit of plaque off her teeth, until something on her forehead caught her attention.

A very small bump in the top center of her forehead. She eyed it suspiciously for a short moment before spitting out her toothpaste into the sink, rinsing her mouth out afterward. She rubbed the small nub with a finger, to find it was quite firm. It wasn’t a pimple. She shrugged it off, assuming it would go away in the morning.

She resumed washing her mouth out with the mouthwash, followed by a good flossing. When she finished, she cleaned her mess up and placed her things back in the plastic bag, and that back into her backpack. She then got out her night time clothes, and changed, setting her daytime clothes in her backpack, turning to leave the bathroom.

“Night, guys!” Sunset called out to the others as she turned down the hall, only to bump into something. She fell with a thud on the white carpeted floor on her tush. “Oh, sorry about that, Maud, I didn’t see you there,” said Sunset as she stood and helped Maud back to her feet.

“It’s alright,” she replied in her usual monotone tone. “I was just going to the bathroom.”

“Alright. See you later,” said Sunset as she finally entered the guest bedroom, since there wasn’t enough space in Pinkie’s room for her, since she tended to like some space during sleep.

She kicked her shoes off and climbed into bed, and crawled her way under the covers as she lay on her side, closing her eyes for a night or sleep.

*****

She woke the next morning at the same time as usual, the sun was barely coming up, giving off barely any light. Sunset let out a long and deep yawn as she sat up, and stretched her arms, letting the blanket fall most of the way off of her. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, and stood, her hooves making a hard thud on the floor.

Being tired and congested as she was, she never noticed, and just wanted to get ready for school. She grabbed her bag and shoes from the side of the bed and made her way into the bathroom again. She began to change into a new pair of clothes after brushing her teeth again, and was about to put her shoes on, until she saw something yellow and round.

By the looks of it, it seemed hard, and the strangest thing to her about was the fact it was coming out of the completely torn sock she was currently wearing. She rubbed her eyes, unbelieving to what she’s seeing, as her other foot was no longer there. Several meaningless thoughts raced through her mind so fast she couldn’t focus on any of them.

She pulled her ruined socks off to find her feet had become hooves, which followed into fur covered ankles. On instinct, her body took in a deep breath ready to scream. She quickly placed her hands over her mouth to muffle it, barely making a sound. She took a few deep breaths, assuming this was just a dream. Or at least she hoped it was.

Since she was normally a pony, she didn’t have much of a freak out. More of just surprised to see her hooves again, but she wanted to know why. She took her right hoof in her hands, seeing how the ankle reshaped to conform to it, making it seem as if she had digitigrade feet, except she had hooves. It surprised her she didn’t hadn’t realized it at first. She was at least thankful nobody had seen her. She then decides to wear pants instead of shorts.

So with a sigh, she slid her new pair of socks on, pulling them as high as she could to hide the fur that was there. After that, she placed her hooves in her shoes, only to find they slid right off.

“This isn’t going to be easy, is it?” she muttered. “I’m suddenly turning into a pony I’m sure, and all next week is testing before break. Now, how am i going to do this?”

She stared at her sock covered hooves, contemplating how she might go about hiding them, since her shoes no longer fit. Again and again she tried to keep her shoes on, each time ending in failure, when suddenly a light bulb appeared above her head, that as an idea had finally presented itself.

Once again she put her shoes on, and she stood. She dragged her legs across the floor, lifting slightly, so her hooves don’t come out of the shoe. Her hooves stayed inside she she began to shuffle around the bathroom to make sure. She ran a hand through her hair, still trying to register how this was all even possible, but as time passed, she came up with nothing.

She then proceeded to change her shirt, and when she pulled it off, something else seemed off about her. She stared with a tilted head in her confusion and wonder, lingering on as to know the answer to her trivial question. Or the lot of them it seems.

“D-did my boobs get bigger?”

She gazed upon them still, her mind had gone fuzzy since this was something she was not used to. Her breasts look to have grown a cup or two in size overnight. She really wanted to know what what was going on with her. She knew for one, ponies do not have breasts, and as she finds herself turning into one, her breasts have gotten bigger in the process.

“This is just crazy,” she said with a hand to her head. She sighed and finished changing as a knock came on the door.

“Who is it?”

“Pinkie!” said a high pitched cheery voice. “What’s so crazy?”

Sunset took in a deep breath, letting it out in a long sigh and opened the door.

“Nothing’s crazy...everything is just...fine!” She nervously twirled a finger around a few strands of her fiery red and yellow hair, hoping to keep her slow going transformation a secret.

“Oh, so there’s nothing wrong with that!?” Pinkie Pie pointed down to Sunset’s shoes, where her hooves went in all wrong, which made it look quite obvious something was happening.

“Has she been watching me? How does she know? Did she sneak into the room while I was asleep?” Sunset asked herself as she bit her nails.

Pinkie leaned next to Sunset’s ear and whispered; “Don’t worry! I won’t tell anybody you’re turning into a pony!”

Sunset let out a gasp, and pulled Pinkie into the bathroom, and shut the door with a hand over Pinkie’s mouth.

“How did you know!?”

Pinkie removed the hand that had been covering her mouth. “I’m Pinkie Pie! I know eeeeeverythiiiiiinng!” she giggled.

“Okay, just please...don’t tell anybody!”

“I Pinkie promise! Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my ey- ouch!”

Sunset gave a long sigh of relief. “Thank you, Pinkie Pie. I don’t know how everyone would react if they saw me like this.”

“Sunset, I don’t think they’d say anything! I mean you were originally a pony, and you’ve turned into three different creatures since we’ve known you! I don’t see how these are a big deal!” said Pinkie who now held one of Sunset Shimmer’s hooves in her hands. “I think you should just tell them after school. Unlike me they’re all a bunch of zombies at this time and they wouldn’t know a single thing that’s going on!”

Sunset couldn’t help but smile, seeing how accepting Pinkie Pie was. “I’ll tell them after school then. Or at least I’ll try.” She shrugged.

“Good! And, are you almost done in here, I need to get dressed for school.”

“Oh, uh, yeah, I’ll get out of your way.”

Sunset Shimmer then left the bathroom and made her way into the living room where she sat on the opposite couch than her friends did. She hid her hooves by sitting on them, rather than Indian style like she usually sat. It was a tad bit uncomfortable, but to her it was worth it over having her secret be discovered.

Rainbow Dash was on the verge of falling asleep on Fluttershy’s shoulder, whereas Fluttershy was yawning as she tended to her pets. Applejack seemed just fine, but then again, she normally gets up early to do chores around the farm. Rarity seemed tired, but seemed to be fairly battling the need for sleep. Twilight sat alone on the recliner, wide awake.

She must have arrived after Sunset went to bed, since Sunset didn't see her at all. She contemplated whether she should just tell them. They were her best friends after all, and had accepted her even right after her defeat during the Fall Formals. She looked down at her shoes, imaging her hooves within, hoping this was just a dream.

Pinkie Pie came out of the bathroom about thirty seconds after Sunset had left, and Rainbow was up next to go get changed.

Pinkie sat next to Sunset, staring at her with a smile.

“Think I should just tell them?” Sunset whispered in Pinkie’s ear.

“Better late than never, Sunny,” Pinkie said.

“I will after they’ve all changed,” said Sunset “I just hope they won’t freak out too bad. And did you really just call me Sunny?”

Pinkie just nodded with a smile upon those rosy pink cheeks of hers.

It was about ten minutes later everyone had changed, and Pinkie had them back on the couch.

“Everybody!” she began, “Sunset Shimmer has something to say!” she shouted before sitting back down and Sunset stood.

“You see, I think what I told you guys yesterday about the portal and my hand being a hoof for a second has to do with this thing that’s suddenly happening to me.”

“And?” Rainbow deadpanned.

Sunset gazed down at her shoes, knowing they weren’t filled with feet anymore. She took in a deep breath.

“And I think I’m suddenly turning into a pony,” she said rather quickly, wincing her eyes, her hands balled into fists from the stress.

Rainbow was the first to to begin her fit of laughter, followed by Applejack, and then Rarity.

“I’m serious!” Sunset pleaded.

“And here I thought Pinkie was good for jokes, but that’s just ridiculous!” Rainbow laughed.

Suddenly Sunet felt herself being swept off her hooves as she fell back onto the couch, and Pinkie knocked off her shoes.

“Believe her now?” she deadpanned as everyone else in the room stared in shock and disbelief, while Sunset pulled her legs up to her chest, trying to hid her face behind them.

“Well, uh...that’s interesting…” said Rarity.

Rainbow Dash gave a slight shake of her head, “I think that’s pretty cool!”

“It’s um...intriguing?” Applejack said in a such a tone which told the rest of the group she was slightly embarrassed.

Sunset sighed and picked her shoes up off of the floor and began to put them back on her hooves. Never has she felt so humiliated in front of her friends.

Let This be a Nightmare

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Sunset sat away from everyone else on the bus, keeping quiet as she stared out the window.

“Why is this happening to me? Am I gonna end up going having to go to school as a pony? What’s even causing this to happen? Nobody just starts turning into ponies out of nowhere. My friends probably think I’m a freak.” Sunset thought with her cheek propped up on one hand, her forehead leaning on the cold, transparent glass.

“I’ve got hooves, and half my legs are covered in fur. My horn has gotten a bit longer, and my boobs got bigger. If I’m turning back into a pony, why are my boobs getting bigger?”

Sunset sighed heavily, turning her gaze to her friends at the front of the bus. They were chatting and laughing and smiling. Every now and again one of them would glance at her for a short moment, and maybe wave, but that’s it.

As the bus came to a stop in front of the school, Sunset felt even more nervous. How will everyone react? Are they going to stop being her friend? She really doesn’t want that, since she’s finally become a normal student among everyone else, and now she finds herself turning into a pony. She let out another sigh and exited the bus with her friends.

During the time they walked, Sunset had been keeping a keen eye out for anyone looking too closely who might see her changes. Her whole body tingled, and felt slightly numb, which had only made her feel worse, since she knew her body was still changing. While her friends chatted alongside her, Sunset was trying to make herself as invisible as possible.

Upon reaching the lunchroom, which had been half filled with other students it seemed, it would be hard to keep her changes from going unnoticed. Her friends seemed to be caught up in talking about their concert next week to even notice she was there, and right before they entered the cafeteria, Sunset managed to sneak away. She decided to hide out until the first class started as the best way to stay away from the other students.

“Why is this happening to me?” Sunset asked herself again as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

Her hair and changed to be more of the way it was as a mare, her horn was now about two centimeters long, but easily hidden in her hair. The yellow fur had now crawled half way up her upper legs, and her tailbone tingled slightly, signaling she’d be growing a tail soon. She hated the thought of being a pony in a school of humans, but it seems to be that she had somehow gotten on Karma’s bad side.

She stood with her hands tightly holding onto the sides of the sink, the light above giving off a bluish glow. The thought of her friends leaving her had started to become a reoccurring thought. The ones that helped her become who she was today, and had been with her through thick and thin, not giving a single thought as to how bad she used to be. To lose them, would probably shove her into the deep end of the pool of depression.

To be outcasted for the freak she was becoming made her feel horrible inside. She didn’t want to go back to everyone hating her. She didn’t feel strong enough to take that kind of mental stress. She felt the tears creeping into her eyes, and as one fell, the bell rang. She sighed heavily and wiped her face clean with her sleeve.

She left the bathroom into the hall which had been stuffed with students, squeezing to get past others as the go to and fro. Sunset held her arms across her stomach, looking down to hide the pain in her eyes as she made a right down the hall. She very highly considered skipping first period, since she had gym, which meant shorts, sports bras, and things like that, exposing her furry legs for all to see, as well as the possibility of a tail.

Even though she wish she could, she didn’t want to make anybody suspicious she might be going back to her old ways.

“Guess you gotta bite the bullet this time, Sunset” she muttered as she turned to go up a skinny flight of steps and to the girls locker room. She walked past the many rows of pink lockers and other teenage girls, all chatting about ‘whatever,’ but Sunset paid no mind as she came to her own locker.

She eased her arms and let her backpack fall with a heavy thud, and set to unlock her locker, undoing the master lock. Inside were a red sports bra and shorts, as what was given to her to wear for gym. She really didn’t want to wear these. Especially now. The ‘I forgot my clothes’ excuse won’t work since they were right there, and if she didn’t change, she’d get in quite a bit of trouble. But then again, if she did change, everyone would know her secret. It would spread out through the school about her legs being covered in fur, and she could only imagine the names she’d be called.

Why does it seem to be turning into a pony is making everything into a big struggle now? She knew she’d regret it, but she had to. She sighed and put her gym clothes on the shelf in the locker and closed the door, locking it back up. She’ll have to take a scolding or two, but it’s better than having the whole school thinking of her as a freak.

She sat on a bench away from the others, waiting for the teacher to come and call everyone down into the gym. She reached down for her backpack, unzipping the zipper, she pulled her book out to send a message to Twilight, since she may know what’s going on. She opened it to find she had gotten a reply to the message she sent yesterday. It read;

Dear Sunset Shimmer.

That was so much good news to hear from you! It’s good to know you’ve changed your ways are are still doing what you can to improve! I can bet things are still only getting better for you and the rest of the gang, and I miss you all, so I’m planning to visit sometime soon! The gang here all say hi, and wish you luck on making new friends and adventures!

Princess Celestia even told me to tell you she misses you, since you were her student before me, and she watched you grow. Much like she watched me grow. That was also a good point you had brought up if you hadn’t of been banished, or did you run away? I heard you ran away. It doesn’t matter.

Anyway, I think you are totally right in your hypothesis! There would have been no magic for the Dazzlings to use to turn everypony against one another. Sorry to say this, but you’d still be the old you as well. And the other me would have never been suspicious of CHS since there would have been nothing to be suspicious of!

Well, Spike just made a huge mess of books, so I’m gonna have to clean it all up now. Good luck with everything, and I will try to stay in touch!

Until next time, your friend,

Twilight Sparkle

P.S. Check your locker!

Sunset smiled, letting out a little giggle as well from reading. It was Spike’s aloofness that had got her to laugh, and the smile from just reading. It had always made her feel good she had such amazing friends like Twilight and the others. But then she remembered what’s currently going on with her body, and began to wonder if she was going to lose them, and how much longer would she have her friends? She sighed heavily from the thought, and while she read, she contemplated telling Twilight what was going on. She went into the smaller pouch of the bag and was about to start writing.

“Alright girls! Time to head to the gym!” a deep voice called into the locker room. Sunset peeked around the lockers to see the six foot tall, well built man with a light shade of brown to his skin, short black hair, and a clipboard and pen in hand. “Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!”

With a sigh, Sunset returned her things to her bag, and got up to leave. The teacher stood by the doorway, watching each student leave. For a reason since they’re female. Trying to spot a way to stay hidden, Sunset tried to hide behind a group of girls while walking out. It got her as far as just past the door.

“Sunset Shimmer!” the teacher boomed in a deep voice.

Sunset stopped and turned, knowing this was it. He was going to have her change, and everyone would know her secret. She looked up to see the face of bemusement from the teacher.

“Ye-yes, M-Mr. Browning?”

“Where are your gym clothes and why are they not on!?” he demanded, mere inches from Sunset’s face. She could just feel the pressure building up inside. She wanted to let it all out in a loud roar and be done with it.

“Well, I…” she gazed down, twirling a bit of her hair in her fore finger.

“I...lost them!? You better not have! Or did you forget them at home?”

Sunset shook her head.

“Then why is it you suddenly feel that you no longer need to change!?”

Sunset knew she needed to try and explain things to him and hope he has a big enough heart down in his chest somewhere.

“Look...I need to show you something…” Sunset tried to grab his arm and to lead him into the locker room.

“What do you think you’re doing thinking you have the right to put your hands on me!? And there is nothing to be shown, since you just need to change!”

Sunset finally gave up knowing she wasn’t going to win, since nobody ever did, when it comes to arguing with Mr. Browning. She sighed again, feeling the deep hole in her chest as she went back to her locker. Once again she undid the master lock, and pulled her gym clothes out.

She pulled off her leather jacket and shirt, quickly replacing them with the sports bra, to find her breasts had gotten a bit bigger as well. Then she saw it. Out of the top of her pants, the fur was poking out, showing it had gone up to her waist. She sighed heavily, and closed her eyes as she changed. Her cutie mark was once again visible on her hips.

She couldn’t do it. She was now going with plan C: Skip. Scool. Entirely.

As fast as she could, she changed back into her normal, clothes and put her gym clothes away, grabbed her bag, and made her way to the door. The gym was just across the hall, but the door was down quite a ways. She could hear Mr. Browning blow his whistles, soon followed by the sound of balls hitting the floor. She can assume they’re playing basketball, but that was the least of her worries.

She took off running down the hall, and took a right down another hall. She kept running as if her life depended on it. Was she really going to do this? Skip school just like that after a year now of perfect attendance? Was she going to have to stay away from school nw? what would happen if the wrong people found out? What would happen to her then?

She came to a stop at the front door as she thought these terrible things, wishing she could just wake from this horrible dream, but this was reality. One she no longer knew. So forward she pressed, out the front door, and down the sidewalk, stopping only to look at herself for a second in the reflective surface of the portal.

She no longer liked what she saw, so she kept running, and running, never stopping until she reached the sanctuary of her home. The door was locked, so she took the key from under the rug to open the door and rushed inside, slamming it behind her, quickly locking it. She slumped against the door, slowly sliding to the floor, where upon landing, she held her head in her hands and cried.

She knew she could never go back. They’d all laugh and point. Call her names, reject her, push her away, and maybe even bully her. Whatever it was, they couldn’t do it here. She was safe here. Yes. Safe from the rest of the world which happens to be normal, not turning into ponies or anything.

Suddenly she felt a foreign movement upon the top of her head, to reach she did not reach, for she knew already what it was, and found it irrelevant to even bother looking.

This was it for her, she thought. That soon she might become the outcast nobody likes, and talks shit about. She couldn’t, and still she cried, pleading for help that may never come. As of now, all she can do is beg for this nightmare to be over with soon.

*****

She sat there, not knowing what to do for the first few minutes after bawling her eyes out, especially since she couldn’t avert her mind from her slowly changing body. She had moved to the couch where she now stared at a photo of her and her friends.

Rarity was to the right with a sweet smile, a kicked up heel, and a hand to her hip. Next to her was Rainbow Dash who wore a face of determination, followed by Applejack giving a tip of her hat as she smiled. Then it was Twilight in the middle, smiling at the camera with a hand out to hold it. Fluttershy looked shy as always, twirling her hair, with bunny in one arm. Next was Pinkie Pie who had a large grin, with her arms around Sunset’s neck. Sunset had a simple small smile, waving a hand. The photo was taken in front of the portal on a bright sunny day.

Sunset wanted to smile, she wanted to be happy, she wanted to hug the wooden framed photo, but she couldn’t knowing she’d just lose them. She felt her ears droop from the thought.

Bling! Came the sound of her phone, just receiving a new message.

She pulled her phone out from her pocket, having a red and yellow case, with the image of her cutie mark on the back. She pressed the power button to see who it was. After going into her messages, she came to find the text had come from Pinkie Pie.

“WHERE ARE YOOUUUUUUU!?” it read.

“At home. Not feeling good.” she quickly typed back.

She let out a sigh, and leaned back on the couch. For a little while, she thought about her situation, and why she was so worried. Her friends all knew that she was originally a pony, so if she’s turning into one, why should she fuss? They didn’t say anything bad or good of her, but it was the latter of the two that scared her. Maybe they they do think of her as a freak, but just didn’t say anything.

Her body tingled where the changes were currently happening. A stubby horn adorned her forehead. her feet had become hooves, and up to her waist is covered in fur. Her tailbone tingled the most. She sighed and looked back and lifted her shirt a bit, to see a small stub sticking out of her spine.

She groaned in frustration from the fact she had found herself turning into another species, with it showing no signs of stopping. How would everyone react? Would they laugh and point, bully her, support her and help her feel better? The latter of the few is what frightened her. She stared blankly at the photo of her friends in her hands as she took account to every thought over the matter of her situation.

Her stomach rumbled.

Sunset hadn’t eaten the whole day. She didn’t eat at Pinkie’s, nor did she eat breakfast at school, and Pinkie had texted asking where she was since she wasn’t there for lunch either. Now that she thought of it, she was pretty hungry, so she got up from her spot on the couch, and with a sound of clopping hooves, she shuffled her way into the kitchen.

She went into the refrigerator located by the door to the backyard across the kitchen, where she retrieved a carton of eggs, and a stick of butter. She set it down on the counter just to the right of the fridge. She then bent down to open the cupboard where she grabbed a frying pan from a stack of pans with the biggest ones at the bottom. After obtaining the necessary items to make eggs, she cracked two into the pan over a teaspoon of butter and began cooking.

A few minutes later after scrambling the eggs with a spatula, she scraped the eggs onto a plate where she garnished them with salt, pepper, and Montreal Steak Seasoning. With a glass of milk and plate of eggs in hand, she sat up on the counter, ‘stress eating’ away. The eggs didn’t taste the best, since she was too upset to care, and the milk served little to rid her throat of the bland and bitter after taste they left behind.

She ignored the never ending barrage of ‘blings’ her phone made due to Pinkie Pie non stop texting her. Quickly, she cleaned her dishes, and left to her room where she lay on the bed. She turned off her phone for the sake of peace as she climbed under the covered and closed her eyes, laying on her side.

She prayed that when she woke up everything would go back to normal, and soon, her sleep took over.

*****

“I’m worried about Sunny. She hasn’t texted back within the…” Pinkie trailed off, counting her fingers. “Six hundred and sixty six times I texted her!” She said as soon as she counted up to seven. “And for some reason, I feel that number is the phone number to a very bad person in an alternate world” Pinkie shrugged.

“I’d believe it.” Applejack stated, sitting in the chair across from Pinkie Pie at the lunch table.

“Yeah, I mean she totally called it that Twilight was a pony from a parallel universe!” Rainbow added.

Fluttershy gazed sadly down at her hands. “I’d really hate for something bad to happen to her. Besides her current...situation?”

“Ah for one don’t believe she’s sick. N-not that ah’m sayin’ anything bad about her! It’s just, ah’d assume she’s have gone home because of what’s happenin’ to her,” said Applejack. “Ah’ wouldn’t wanna be in school during an epidemic like hers, that’s for sure!”

The others nodded in agreement.

“Well, I think we should pay her a visit! See how she’s doing. I mean, we’re her friends and she’s obviously stressed about this. She didn’t say a word to any of us this morning, and she’s usually the one to start all the gossip and jibber jabber!” Rarity said with a spin of her hand.

“I don’t know why you guys would be so secretive about it.” Rainbow blurted. “If that was me I think it would be totally awesome! I’d have my wings, that’s for sure!” she said excitedly.

“If that was me, I’d probably have a party!” cheered Pinkie.

“Well, it's good to hear y’all wouldn’t mind it, but we aren’t Sunset who must be really confused right now. And Ah agree with Rarity about payin’ her a visit. Probably bring her some gifts to cheer her up!”

“CAKE!” Pinkie shouted, slamming her palms down onto the table with a wide smile.

“Perfect!” Rarity agreed as the bell rang to go to class.

“Well, I’ve gotta hit the gym, since that’s what I have next” said Rainbow, as she got up from the table.

“I’ve got life science” Fluttershy said quietly.

“I have foods class!” said Pinkie.

“Okay, ah’ think we all know who has what. Ah’ve got agriculture, and Rarity has fashion designing.” Applejack stated.

“Well, lets stop wasting our time here, telling each other what we already know, and head for class.” Rarity stood, swinging her bag over her back.

“Uh-huh!” The others agreed.

“So, if Sunset is turning back into her pony self here, what are we gonna do about our gig next week, since I know she isn’t going to wanna be there! I mean, she’s got the guitar solo this time,” said Rainbow worriedly.

The others stared back at her with the same worried expression.

*****

Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,

I wish I could say everything was fine and dandy, but since this morning, things have been quite the opposite. For me anyway. I woke this morning to find I had hooves in place of my feet, and a very small horn at the top center of my forehead. Throughout the day, I’ve been growing fur everywhere.

I don’t have a clue as to what caused it, but I may have a lead as to why. Yesterday after school, I was out by the portal, doing my homework, when I my hand through the portal. I saw it as a hoof and everything, but when I pulled it out, it remained a hoof for a few seconds before changing back. The portal didn’t want to let go of me for some reason, and when I finally got my hand free, I had felt quite the electric shock.

I’m not sure how my friends feel about this. They haven’t said anything to me since I came out and told them this morning. I’m getting the fear they might not like me anymore. I also ran away from school because of this. I’m practically a satyr as it is, and the changes keep happening. Half my body is covered in fur, and I’m growing a tail. I’m hoping maybe you have a way to stop this because I can’t take much more of it.

I’m writing this in hopes you may know why I’m turning into a pony all of a sudden, or if there is a way to stop it.

Your Friend, Sunset Shimmer.

Sunset closed her book and set it down on her nightstand next to the bed. With a sigh, she laid down under the covers, hoping to get the sleep she wants as she closed her eyes. She laid curled up on her side, with her head on her hands, slowly drifting off into a world of sleep.

*****

“N-no! Leave me alone!” Sunset cried as she stood in the center of the main hallway of CHS. The other kids surrounded her, laughing and pointing in her direction in a synchronized echo that assaulted her ear drums. Those other kids just happened to be Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity, with many other kids standing behind them.

“Look at her!” Rainbow chuckled.

“Yeah, what a freak!” Another kid remarked.

“Please, just go away!” Sunset pleaded as tears ran down her cheeks. he collapsed to the ground with her head in her hands. She was about to, when she noticed yellow fur begin to rapidly grow around her hands and fingers, quickly scaling her arms while the others laughed at her. She gasped in shock as it crawled up her legs.

She cried, trying her best to hide herself, but what could she do when she’s being surrounded by the whole school? The changes kept happening, and her feet were now hooves. There was a ripping sound as a long yellow and red curly tail burst from her shorts.

Applejack lifted her chin to look at her. “Ah haven’t the slightest clue why we were ever friends with a no good waste like you!” She glared and gave Sunset a hard shove.

“But I didn’t do anything! Don’t leave me!” Sunset begged as she was now covered up to her neck in fur. Her ears drooped as they now re positioned themselves atop her head. Next was for her mouth and nose to form a muzzle as her eyes largened.

Her friends tsk tsk’d and began to walk away with the laughing crowd, chanting and pointing.

“Time to go to class!” Pinkie smirked. “And don’t forget your cake!” Pinkie reached off to somewhere out of Sunset’s view and a large cheesecake appeared. “Here you go!” Pinkie drew her hand back and shoved the cake into Sunset’s face.

Sunet laid there, a bipedal pony freak, crying in the middle of the floor, with no one to save her. Shortly after everyone had left the scene, the bell rang as everything seemed to fade away.

“Ding dong! Ding dong!” only, it sounded more like a doorbell.

*****

“Ding dong! Ding dong!” it continued as Sunset woke with a start.

Sunset sprung up into a sitting position, and let out a sigh.

“Just a dream, Sunset...just a…” she trailed off until she saw herself.

Fur had covered her entire being, her tail lay at her side, and she could just see her muzzle at the bottom of her view. Her breasts had grown a bit larger again, which had caused her shirt to tear a little down the middle.

“Dingdongdingdongdindong!”

With a heavy sigh, sunset got up from her bed and shuffled her way to the front door. She opened it as far as the chain lock would allow.

“H-hello?” she asked quietly.

“Sunset, is that how you greet your best friends,” said Rarity’s voice in a humorous tone.

Sunset disregarded the statement. “What do you want?”

Pinkie answered this time. “We came to visit!”

“We all wanted ta see how ur doin’!” Applejack stated in a happy voice.

“Oh...I’m...fine…” Sunset gazed down sadly, knowing she was anything but fine. She’d become the creature from her dream, and found herself afraid to reveal herself to her friends.

“Sunset. Let us in, we know ya aren’t feelin’ well by how you skipped school, today.” Applejack said in a firm tone. “Ya aren’t sick either.” she said with a sigh.

“Darling, we know how you told us what’s going on this morning, and we came by to wish you best of luck and try to cheer you up. We don’t care what you might look like now-”

“We just wanna help!” Rainbow blurted.

“I don’t know…” Sunset said quietly, remembering her dream how they were all picking on her. “What if this is contagious…”

Applejack sighed again. “We’d happily go through it with you to make sure you’re alright. Can ya let us in?”

Sunset was quiet for a moment when she came to the realization they weren’t going anywhere, and so she unlocked and opened the door. The first of course to enter was Applejack who gave a small gasp. A tear fell from the tip of Sunset’s muzzle. She didn’t look at either of them until she saw a blur of orange pull her into a tight hug. She looked up to see Applejack and the rest of the girls all hugging her, and for the first time, she allowed herself to cry.

Awkward...

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Sunset sat, staring at the cake on her small plate. It was ironic how it looked identical to the same cake from in her dream. She left out a sniffle after having cried for about three minutes. She sat now on the couch, embarrassed, unable to look at her friends. She held the plate in her hands as she sat, somehow feeling she doesn’t deserve such good friends. She hadn’t touched her cake, either, too stressed to eat as of now.

“You guys must think I’m a freak…” Sunset said in a blunt and quiet manner.

She felt a hand on her shoulder who she saw to be Applejack, who wore a sincere smile.

“Sunset, you’re our friend, we’d never think anything like that of you. Yes you were pretty bad and rotten when we first knew ya, but that was then, and this is now. We’re here for ya, sugarcube. And whatever it is that’s causin’ this ta happen to ya, Ah’m sure we’ll find a way to change ya back.”

Sunset Shimmer was silent. She didn’t know whether to believe her or not. Based off of her dream, Applejack was the one telling her how she couldn’t believe she was friends with her. This time she’s saying she was always be friends with her. Several unanswered questions flew through Sunset’s mind, only making her stress worse.

Rainbow cleared her throat. “Okay, I don’t know if this is the right time to ask, so I’m just gonna say it.” Rainbow took in a breath. “Are you still up for our gig next week? I mean you do have the solo this time.

Sunset hung her head in shame. “I’m not going…” Sunset set her cake down on the table “Pinkie can eat it,” she said as she left the living room, with her ears drooping.

Within a nanosecond, the cheesecake Sunset put on the table was devoured by Pinkie. Everyone else sighed in defeat.

Rarity propped her head up on her hands, with her elbows on her knees where she sat on the couch. “What are we gonna do about poor Sunset Shimmer?” she asked softly, just above a whisper.

“Oh, I hope she gets better soon…” said Fluttershy.

Applejack stood up. “Ah don’t know what we can do to make her feel better as of now, but Ah sure ain’t lettin’ her sulk her life away!”

And with that, Applejack followed Sunset to her room. She quickly opened the door to see Sunset taking her shirt off.

“Hey!,” Sunset barked.

Somehow, someway, Applejack was quicker to close the door, than Pinkie was to eat that cake.

“Sorry!” Applejack called. She sighed in relief and went back out into the living room.

“I heard the door slam, what happened?” Rarity asked.

“Oh...y’all don’t wanna know…” Applejack said awkwardly, taking her seat back in the armchair.

Sunset sighed as she slipped another shirt on, hoping it wouldn’t tear. She also kicked her shoes off, seeing no point in hiding her transformation anymore, plus the fact her hooves felt really uncomfortable in there. She threw her ripped shirt into the trashcan by the door and went back out into the living room. Applejack looked away as soon as she walked out.

“Why did you come into my room?” Sunset asked.

Applejack blushed from embarrassment. “Ah didn’t know ya were changing ur shirt. Ah thought you were just locking yourself in ur room or somethin…”

Sunset shrugged. “Basically what I was doing till you guys came over.” Sunset took her seat back on the couch. “So now what?”

Rarity was the first to speak up. “Well, darling, we came to ask what we could do to cheer you up in your time of need, since we all care about you so much!” Rarity smiled.

“To be honest Sunset, since you’re just turning back into a pony, which everyone knows you were in Equestria, why would anyone care? Yeah it’s going slow, and you're some...pony...human mix kind of thing, I don’t think anyone would even bat an eye.” Rainbow stated.

The others nodded in agreement. Sunset twiddled her thumbs.

“Do...do you guys really think so?” She asked nervously.

“Well, they might look at you funny for a sec, and probably be curious, but that’s probably about it. Seriously, this isn’t even bad! Think of the other things you’ve turned into! Like, that raging-she-demon!” Rainbow said with her arms out.

Again, everyone nodded, and Sunset smiled a little with a small blush.

“Thanks, guys, this means a lot.”

“GROUP HUG!!” Pinkie hollered as she threw herself into Sunset, nuzzling cheeks with her, and soon everyone joined.

Sunset could only giggle, being immobilized by five bodies being thrown onto her, and the bombardment of cheeky nuzzles.

“Okay, that’s enough, guys!” Sunset laughed, and the others removed themselves from her, all with rose red blushes upon their cheeks.

“And thanks for...for cheering me up,” she smiled.

“Hey, th-that’s what we’re here for!” said Rainbow Dash.

“Well, I agree with Applejack about hiding myself away, so who wants to go for a walk? Maybe stop at a few places?” Sunset asked.

“Sounds good to me!” Applejack said with a smile.

“I’m trusting what Rainbow said about people not caring what I look like, so I at least wanna try and see how things will go.”

“I’m sure nobody would really care,” said Rainbow with a shrug.

Sunset nodded and began out the door, welcomed by the late afternoon sun. She took in a deep breath, wondering if this was a good idea or not. There was a slight breeze, which blew through her mane, slightly comforting the bipedal unicorn. She looked back to see her five friends standing there behind her with approving smiles on their faces. Applejack put a hand on Sunset’s shoulder with a sincere smile.

“We’re all here for ya, Sugarcube,” She said softly, with a tone of sympatheticness, showing they really cared.

Im mere seconds, the mare threw herself into Applejack, wrapping her in a tight hug, smiling wide.

“Thanks guys. For caring and all.”

“Don’t mention it,” Applejack chuckles slightly, hugging Sunset in return.

Sunset removed herself, blushing. “I know, it just means a lot. I thought you guys were avoiding me at first, and wanted nothing to do with me…” Sunset turned her gaze towards the cement walkway, with its grass and weeds growing between the cracks from old age.

“Well, let’s not waste our time standing around here, and let’s go!” Rainbow blurted with a determined expression.

“Ah agree! “ Applejack nodded and they began walking.

Sunset still wasn’t sure how to feel about all of this, so she decided to just roll with it, to see how things will turn out. She was at least glad to know her friends cared about her, even in her situation. Her tail swished from left to right on instinct for balance, her fur made her warmer than usual, and her ears flicked now and again, but sunset didn’t mind.

She just wanted to be with her friends

Like normal, Sunset was the one to the left, next to Pinkie Pie who lost herself in petting sunset’s arm.

“So soft!,” she whispered with wide eyes, which made Sunset giggle.

“What are you doing, Pinkie?”

Pinkie drew her hand back, and gave a rather wide smile. “Sorry!”

“It’s cool, I don’t mind. it kind of felt nice, anyway. But then again, ponies always liked being pet, and what am I turning into again?” Sunset asked.

Pinkie shrugged as they walked. “I have no clue,” Pinkie giggled.

Sunset only shook her head. “You can pet me if you want,” said Sunset, offering her arm to Pinkie, who took it and ran her fingers over her arm. “So where are we gonna go?”

“Well, you’re the one who decided to leave, so why don’t you choose our first destination, dear?” Rarity suggested.

Sunset shrugged. “How about the first place that seems interesting?”

“Sounds good ta me,” Applejack said with a nod of her head as they entered town.

Sunset gazed around, seeing mostly everyone around had been staring at her with curious eyes. It made her feel rather uncomfortable since staring was never a good thing, due to her past experiences. She nervously twirled a finger around a bit of her mane, feeling rather awkward.

“Everybody is staring at me…” Sunset whispered. “I don’t like it…”

“Hey, it’s nothing bad! People always stare,” said Pinkie who fixed her eyes on Sunset Shimmer.

Flash! Went the camera on somebody’s phone, followed by giggling and then more flashing. Sunset turned to see Diamond Tiara and her friend, Silver Spoon taking pictures of her with their phone. Immediately she ducted into the nearest building for cover. She breathed heavily with a hand to her chest, from slowly building anxiety. She slumped to the floor and leaned against the wall as her friends came rushing in.

“Sunset, what happened!?” Applejack asked in surprise as she entered, to see her friend sitting on the floor, knees to her chest with her arms around them. “Sunset?”

“I don’t like it when people stare,,,and I really don’t like it when they take pictures...It’s because of...of this!” she gestured to her whole being.

“Oh dear…” Fluttershy whispered, with a face of worry.

“Well, who was it, Darling?”

“Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon…” Sunset sighed. She looked around to see they were in a music shop with short shelves lined with music equipment, CD’s, vinyl’s, and records. Straight down the alley, she saw a familiar two-toned blue haired teen walk up to the counter. She saw Sunset and her head tilted in confusion. Sunset sighed. “Everyone is gonna think I’m a freak!”

She lowered her head in shame. A few seconds later after a few sighs, Sunset felt a hand on her right shoulder. She looked up to see Vinyl Scratch smiling down at her with a hand out. She stared at it for a second or two, and hesitantly took it in hers, allowing herself to be pulled up.

“Th-thanks...I guess…” she looked down and away, only to be tapped. She turned back to face Vinyl who was offering a fist bump. Sunset shrugged and bumped fists with her and gave a slight smile.

Vinyl gave her a pat on the back and a thumb up.

“So now what?” Sunset asked. “I haven’t been out for long and I already can’t take it..” She gazed down in embarrassment.

Rainbow groaned. “I hope this is contagious, so I can show you there’s nothing to be afraid of, Sunset! Just ignore people, okay!?”

“It’s not as easy as you think it is…” she said in a sad tone.

“Sugarcube, you aren’t gonna get better if you just let these thing get to ya, okay?” Applejack stated.

Rarity spoke up next. “Darling, We’ve all had our own mishaps where we’ve been sad, but if you don’t try to overcome these things, you’ll just get worse, and you know we don’t want to see you like that.” Rarity pulled Sunset into a hug.

“Yeah, and we can’t help if you don’t let us!” yelled Rainbow.

Sunset sighed. “I know...it’s just not easy since I’m not used to...to bullying. I think I’m just gonna go home and call in sick tomorrow or something...I’m not ready yet to just go, hey world! I’m a freakish human pony hybrid! But I don’t mind!”

“Sunset…” the girls sighed.

With tears in her eyes, Sunset rushed out of the shop to find Diamond Tiara and Silver spoon had been videotaping her through the window. Her hands balled into fists as she growled at the two as she passed. She hurried home before the others could catch up, and once inside her home, she shut and locked the door.

She groaned as she slapped a hand to her face, wondering why no more changes have occurred yet, but she didn’t care. There’s nothing she could do about it anyway. She sulked off to her room, with her arms around her stomach, where she saw her book glowing a yellowish color on her nightstand.

She shuffled her way over to it, and sat on the bed, and read after opening it to the correct page.

Dear Sunset Shimmer,

I am deeply sorry to hear this is happening to you. Has it happened to anyone else? Are you sick running a fever because of this? And about your question, I’m stumped as to what may be causing it.

You told me how you put your hand through the portal and all, which I know it what caused it, but why it happened, I have no clue. I think I should make my visit early, to check it out to get a more thorough investigation on this.

Also, please try to stay strong and don’t be skipping school. I know it must be hard, and you’ve got many friends who will be there to help you every step of the way. See you soon!

Best regards, Twilight Sparkle.

*****

“Spike!” Twilight shouted as she shut her book. “Stop. Eating. The walls!” she yelled at Spike who was currently consuming part of one of the many pillars around the room that held up the ceiling.

Spike groaned. “Awe…”

“I know now the pillars and parts of the wall are covered in crystal, but it doesn’t mean to go and eat them!”

“This place is such a big tease.” Spike grumbled and began to leave the room which Twilight had the portal placed in.

Twilight groaned as well. She learned her lesson to keep a good supply of consumable gems for Spike, since Spike almost went hungry one day, and came to the realization that parts of the castle were made of crystal, which is just what he eats.

“Oh, and Spike, I’m going to the human world to check on this situation with Sunset Shimmer.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand and left the room.

Twilight shrugged.

She set her book back down on a nearby shelf, and slowly approached the mirror. With a sigh, she touched the mirror with a hoof. What she wasn’t expecting was for it to suck her in. She gasped in surprise, and after a few electrofied seconds, and a partially singed mane and tail later, she appeared a slightly smoking heap on the other side.

Her body ached and her eyesight was blurry. She groaned as her body twitched now and again where she lay on the ground, due to the electrocution. Slowly she tried to get up, her body feeling somewhat foreign. With multiple blinks, her eyesight returned as she sat up, and looked at her surroundings.

Canterlot High School was just ahead, as well as a few people who had stopped to see the commotion.

“T-Twilight?” A very familiar voice asked.

“Flash?”

She gazed up to see the fiery blue haired, yellow skinned guitar player standing above her. He wore a curious look, mixed in with confusion, and a hint of “Who roofied my drink!?”

“Flash...you look like you’ve seen a-WAH!?” she gasped.

She stared at her hands, but were covered in lavender purple fur, which continued up her arms,to her chest, and her legs. In sort of a freak out, she ended up scanning her whole body to figure out she still had the head of an equine, with a horn and wings upon her back. Her tail stuck out between her shirt and shorts, and her shoes were torn, not being big enough to fit her hooves.

“Twilight...is that you? Or...did you have some sort of humanoid twin…?” He asked, obviously sounding flummoxed. He held out a hand.

“N-no...It’s me...just something going on with this portal from what it looks like,” Twilight sad as she took his hand and stood. She blushed like she always does when she’s around Flash.

“Well...hi again..,” Flash blushed as well. “Well, I would love to stay in chat, but me and the band have a gig to rehearse for. There’s something going down at the mall next week where people are just going to play. You know, just to play.

Twilight put on a straight face. “So, suddenly gigs are more important than me?”

Flash blushed even further. “Of course not, it’s just…”

“It’s cool, Flash. I’m actually pretty busy to be sticking around. I gotta head over to Sunset Shimmer’s since she apparently looks like I do.”

“Oh. And your mane is a bit burned…”

Twilight sighed. “Don’t remind me.”

Not Afraid

View Online

Sunset Shimmer sat on the couch, suddenly regretting her actions at Vinyl’s music shop, Her friends were only trying to help and she just blew up at them. She wanted to go back, she wanted to say sorry, but there were too many people out who could see her. What she’d become, the freak she was. She lay balled up, holding her tail in her arms like a stuffed teddy bear, fearing whatever may come next.

She didn’t know how much more of this mental abuse she could take, or how long she would last. She did her best to hold back the tears that threatened to leak from her eyes, fighting the pain of her aching heart. She felt so alone, where everywhere she goes, everyone points and laughs due to her being a freak. She felt like she was going to lose everything. Everything she’d gained in the last year would be all in vain, and once again, she’d be alone.

She’d have to drop out of school, and try to find a job in a place where nobody would like her. She wouldn’t be able to pay her rent, and would be thrown to the streets, with nothing at all. She couldn’t hold it in any longer as a tear slipped from her eye, and soon found herself bawling her eyes out.

*****

Applejack let out a heavy sigh, which was soon followed suit by the rest of the gang. Being their friend, Vinyl did what she could to try and cheer them up, but what could such a mute person do in a music shop to cheer up five friends in distress?

“Ah’ feel really sorry for Sunset…”

“We all do, Darling” said Rarity with a hand on Applejack’s shoulder.

“Well what are we all doing here then!? Let’s go see if she’s okay!” Rainbow shouted, with determination in her voice.

Applejack shook her head. “Sometimes people need their space, and qh’ think she ran off because she wants some time to herself. Ah’m just hoping she doesn’t start to…”

Rarity gasped slightly, “You don’t mean what I think you mean...do you?”

Applejack hung her head, “Ah’ do.”

“Poor Sunset. We wouldn’t be able to tell if she does that, because the fur on her arms would just cover the scars…” Rarity sighed sadly.

“That’s why ah’m worried. She could use that fact to her advantage if she started. If she ever changes back, ah’ don’t wanna see scars all the way up an’ down her arms…”

Rarity sighed. “I hope Sunset is strong enough to fight any urge to do so.”

“I really don’t think we should be leaving her to her lonesome. I mean, there’s a lot more than cutting that depressed people will do, to get rid of their pain!” Rainbow blurted. “I mean, if we’re her friends who will always be there for her,” she said with emphasis, “then we should be there right now!”

Applejack sighed heavily. “We all know that’s what we said, but sometimes people do need some time alone.”

Rainbow got up from where she sat on the floor. “You guys do what you want, I refuse to leave a hurting friend on her own!”

With that said, Rainbow left the building.

“She is the element of loyalty in the other world,” Rarity stated. “So I can understand why she doesn’t want to leave Sunset to herself.”

Applejack and the other two nodded in agreement. Vinyl nodded as well.

After a few minutes of speed walking, Rainbow approached Sunset’s home, where she began knocking on the door. “Sunset, open up!”

Sunset was up in her room, about to call herself in sick tomorrow, when the knock came. She let out a low groan as she stood from her bed again, and snuffled her way out to the living room. She peeked out of the keyhole, to see Rainbow Dash lift her hand to knock again.

“What do you want, Rainbow?” Sunset asked, sounding a little frustrated.

“Let me in” she shouted through the door.

Sunset sighed with a roll of her eyes. “I’m trying to take a nap!”

“Well, either you let me in or that nap ain’t gonna happen,” said Rainbow Dash with crossed arms.

“How come I can’t just go to sleep?”

Rainbow put a hand under her chin, gazing upwards questionably. “Let’s see here! You took a nap already today, you’re really upset, you stormed out of the store, and now you’re using a ‘nap’ as an excuse to get me to leave. Well it ain’t happening! I know how depressed people make up excuses to get away from everyone because they feel their friends don’t care. I care, and I won’t settle with no for an answer!” Rainbow shouted with a single bang on the door.

“Fine” Sunset groaned as she unlocked the door.

Rainbow walked into a glare from Sunset Shimmer.

“Now, you’re acting mad to get me to leave” said Rainbow with a shake of her head. “Just stop trying because I am not leaving!” Rainbow glared back, and locked the door after shutting it.

Sunset’s glare faded into a frown turned towards the floor. Rainbow sighed and pulled her into a tight hug. “I just wanna make sure you’re okay, okay? I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if you got hurt, and I didn’t do a thing to help. I know you want some time alone, but I’m just scared you might hurt yourself or something” Rainbow said softly.

“Do you really mean that?” Sunset asked. Rainbow nodded as she pulled away.

“To be honest, I’m kind of jealous” Rainbow blushed. “You look so cool like that in my opinion! Would be neat if it happened to me too, but oh well.”

Sunset couldn’t help but giggle. “Thanks Dash. Th-this means a lot to me. Sorry for yelling…”

Rainbow smiled. “Don’t worry about it.”

*****

Twilight ignored the stares as she boarded one of the city busses to get to Sunset’s place. All eyes were fixed on her, and her awkward appearance. She had been used to stares from much larger crowds, so this was child’s play compared to that. The bus driver gaze an unbelieving stare as she paid her fare. Just a regular mare hoping to get from here to there.

She took her seat, in the front most spot, as the bus parted from the curb. The whole while, she had been asking herself why the portal was causing such problems, and was curious as to why she hadn’t turned fully into a human. She didn’t mind what the portal had turned her into, since she was more concerned about Sunset Shimmer.

Luckily the bus would pass right by her house along its route, so Twilight could just tell the driver to stop. It was a long ride for the bus to go down that very road. Being her first time on a bus, she was slightly scared such a huge vehicle wouldn’t be able to make the turns and avoid hitting other cars.

“Hey, I need to get off here” said Twilight to the bus driver as soon as Sunset Shimmer’s house came into view.

The bus driver gave a nervous nod, pulling the several ton vehicle to a stop at the curb just down the road. Twilight grabbed her bag and unboarded the bus. As she was walking down the sidewalk, Rainbow Dash came into view.

“Sunset, you’re not cooping up in there all day! I know you’re upset, but I won’t allow it, now get out here!” Rainbow yelled towards the house.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight called out, quickening her pace.

Rainbow turned her head, smiling and about to wave. “Twilight?” Rainbow tilted her head.

“Yeah, it’s me” she smiled as she neared. Rainbow groaned.

“Man, why does it seem like everyone else is turning into awesome ponies but me!?” Rainbow huffed with crossed arms as Sunset came into view.

Sunset rolled her eyes. “It’s only me who changed, you silly filly.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes back. “Then how do you explain this!?” Rainbow gestured to Twilight as she came up to the house.

Sunset gasped and threw herself into Twilight, wrapping her arms around her. “Twilight! You’re here!”

“Not...for much...longer...if...I can’t...breath,” said Twilight gasping for air.

“Oh, sorry! I’m just happy to know you’re here.” Sunset removed herself, blushing.

Twilight giggled a little. “Now then, how about we try to figure out what’s causing this, and change you back?”

“I would really like that, but let’s go inside.” Sunset looked down. “I didn’t have the best experience when I was out and about last. Like this…”

“Of course!” Twilight smiled.

Rainbow tapped Twilight on the shoulder. “Hey, if you can change her back, maybe you can change me into that?” Rainbow asked, blushing slightly from such an odd request.

Twilight sighed. “I don’t think that would be a great idea, with how Sunset Shimmer is making it seem like.”

Rainbow face palmed. “That’s because she’s thinking negatively about it! Come on, please!? I wanna have wings permanently!” Rainbow pleaded. “Please?”

Twilight gave a groan of slight frustration. “Fine. If I find a way, I will, but if it ends up not being what you want, don’t say I didn’t tell you so. Now come on.”

“Yess!” Rainbow fist pumped as she followed Twilight inside.

Sunset took a seat in the armchair, while Rainbow and Twilight sat on the couch. All had been silent for a short time while Sunset stared at her hands, and the thin fur that covered them. She wanted so badly to just turn back, knowing it probably won’t happen. Twilight was confused as well as to why she was a humanoid alicorn, while Rainbow was jealous she wasn’t one. She wore a slightly irritated expression with her arms crossed over her chest.

The smell of lavender that emanated from Twilight’s coat had eventually filled the room with its smell. The only things to be heard were the sounds of breathing and the ambience of the grandfather clock, located by the door. After the first minute or two after entering the home, Twilight cleared her throat to speak.

“So, this began yesterday, right? The whole turning into a pony thing?”

Sunset nodded. “I don’t think any other changes are going to happen. I’ve been this way for a few hours now without anything else changing.”

“And you had gotten electrocuted when you put your hand in the portal?”

Sunset nodded again.

“Hmm,” Thought Twilight. “Maybe the portal is taking in too much magical use or something. Also, when I went through the portal to get here, the end of my mane got fried.” Twilight showed Sunset her blackened mane with a slight frown.

“That could be it,” Sunset agreed. “And sorry about your mane.”

Twilight gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “It’s alright. I’ll probably do some magic level tests on the portal, and how much of the lingering magic there is here, and is being used.”

Rainbow put her hand up. “Can I say something?”

“Yeah, go ahead,” said sunset.

“So, if all the magic we’ve used since Twilight came here, did that all just come out of nowhere, or did it come from Equestria? I mean all that magic had to of come from somewhere! So, maybe that’s putting a strain on the portal, since it’s the gateway from here to there. Maybe that’s what’s doing it,” shrugged Rainbow.

Twilight nodded in agreement. “You seem to be onto something, Rainbow Dash!” Twilight grinned as the door opened, and Pinkie walked in.

“AAAANNDD!” Pinkie began as the rest of the girls walked in. “Now that the magic is here, and so much of it, makes it think it’s still in Equestria! And the magic in Equestria is what makes Equestria...Equestria! You and Sunny are the only two here from Equestria, which in turn with the magic, are transforming to your original equine bodies!” Pinkie smiled wide with her hands behind her back, while Sunset Shimmer, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle all stared with dropped jaws. “Smart, ain’t I!?”

“You’re right…” said Twilight. “I mean, you’re never wrong, so, you must be right.”

“Well, at least we know what’s happening to me. But, what’s keeping me from changing any further?” Sunset asked curiously.

“Weeellllllll.”

Pinkie closed the curtains to the windows, and brought one of the lamps te the floor in the center of the living room, and flipped it on.

“You see, your body is also under the influence of this world, which used magic to turn you into a human,” said Pinkie who made a shadow puppet of Sunset Shimmer with a hand. “So, if you mix the human transformation, and pony transformation magic.” Pinkie made a pony shadow puppet of Sunset with the other hand. “And when you mix those two together, you get what humans in an alternate world who are probably watching us right now, call an anthro, or furry!” Pinkie then pushed her hands together, making a human pony mix. “Get it?”

Pinkie turned around to the audience of six girls, watching her immensely with her hands stuck together, her fingers all tied up in ways never thought possible. Sunset gave out a sigh, leaning back further into her chair.

“Yeah, I get it. Would be nice if it never happened in the first place. I can’t even leave the house any more…” Sunset muttered, bringing her knees to her chest. “I’m gonna be stuck in here my whole life!”

“Sunset,” Twilight began. “Don’t think like that, okay? I just got a bunch of stares on my way here is all!” She chuckled slightly. “I mean, Flash Sentry saw me, and we were both blushing up a storm!”

“That’s because Flash is into you, and wants to be with you. I bet everybody on the internet knows about me, since Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were recording me on their phones,” said Sunset with another sigh.

“Wait a sec!” Rainbow blurted, taking out her phone. “Let me check something!”

With a few bleep bloops, taps and screen swipes, Rainbow handed her phone to Sunset, as the rest of the girls grouped up to see. Sunset took the phone in her hand and a gasp pierced her lips at what she saw.

“What kind of costume even is that?” Diamond asked in a hushed whisper as Sunset and the rest of the girls came walking down the street. The phone turned to the left to get a view of Silver Spoon giggling up a storm as she took her own phone out.

“I don’t know, but it’s freaky” laughed Silver Spoon. Diamond Tiara turned the phone back to see Sunset and the girls. “Wait...is that Sunset Shimmer?”

They could make out the general idea of who the girls were, but at such a distance, they couldn’t tell who the other person was, especially with a ‘freaky’ costume on.

Diamond leaned forward to get a better look as the girls neared, with winced eyes.

“I’m gonna take a picture!” Silver Spoon gave a devilish, sly smile as the girls neared, somehow not taking notice to them yet. “Juuuuusssst wait for it.”

The two mischievous girls saw Pinkie was petting what looked like fur on Sunset’s arm, which only made them giggle a little more. Diamond zoomed her camera in while recording to get a better look.

“Here we seem to have what looks like Sunset Shimmer turning into a sasquatch!” Diamond stated, fighting back a laugh.

As the girls came closer, Silver Spoon set the camera to flash to hopefully give her a spook.

Closer they came, closer and closer. As soon as Silver Spoon felt they were in range, she lifted her phone up, and snapped a photo, while Diamond’s phone caught Sunset’s reaction, which ended up with her taking refuge in Vinyl’s record shop.

“Wait, how many views does this have?” Sunset asked. She noticed Rainbow had the video on fullscreen so, she minimized it, to see it already had, “Over two thousand already!? Either people are watching this over and over, or everybody in town knows already! I…” Sunset gave Rainbo her phone back with a small sniff,a s a tear streamed down her right cheek.

She quickly got up and ran to her room, shutting and locking the door behind her.

Applejack sighed, where she leaned against the wall near the front door. “Poor Sunset.”

It wasn’t too much longer before a soft cry was heard coming from Sunset’s room.

Twilight got up from the chair and made her way down the hall to Sunset’s door. “Sunset, are you okay in there?

“Leave me alone” muttered Sunset. “I’m never leaving this house again!”

“Rainbow, what are the comments on that video?” Twilight asked, returning to the living room.

“I’ll look.” Rainbow replied. She scrolled along the screen, reading various comments. She came to find most of them had been positive, defending Sunset against Diamond’s cruel ways, thus most of the votes on her video were downvotes. It was seldom seen that there were comments agreeing Sunset was a freak, but about nine out of ten commenters felt bad for her. “Hey, Sunset!” Rainbow called.

Sunset groaned, throwing the covers off, and drying her tears, which was a bit difficult since the fur on her cheeks were soaked and matted down with them. With a sigh, she got up and walked over to her door, just about to open it as Rainbow came it.

“What do you want? Nothing is gonna make me-”

“Just look at this.” Rainbow interrupted. Sunset rolled her eyes and took the phone.

“This has to be a joke. Nobody would actually like me like this…” she gave the phone back and sat on her bed.

“How about this?” Rainbow dialed a few numbers into her phone. After a few rings, the phone was answered. “Oh, hey, Lyra! I just wanted to ask you something!”

“Yeah, what is it, Dashie? Talk quick, I’m trying to watch this video I heard about Sunset Shimmer turning into a sasquatch!”

Rainbow facepalmed. “She didn’t turn into a sasquatch. She turned into a humanoid pony, okay?”

“Really!? That is so cool! Only if that were to happen to me…” Lyra muttered.

“I totally agree! I’m so jealous! Well, not much, but still!”

Lyra smiled. “Well, tell Sunset I say hi!”

Rainbow nodded. “Sunset, Lyra says hi.”

Sunset looked confused for a few seconds. “Sure. Tell her I say hi back.”

“Sunset says hi.”

“Alright. and maybe we’ll turn into ponies too!”

“That would be so cool! Twilight said if she can, she’ll try to turn me into a pony!”

“Oh, Dashie, I hate you! Tell her to turn me as well! I-if she can.”

Rainbow nodded again. “I’ll see.”

“Lyra, who are you talking to?” Came another voice from Lyra’s end.

“Oh, hi, Mom! It’s Rainbow Dash! We’re talking about Sunset Shimmer!” Lyra replied excitedly. “Sorry, Dashie, I gotta go! Bye!”

Beep! Was the sound that had indicated Lyra had hung up, and thus, rainbow reposited her phone back into her pocket.

“See, Sunset? People didn’t hate you, so I don’t see what you’re getting all upset about.” Rainbow shrugged.

“Lyra loves ponies, so I think it would be understandable for her to be the only one besides you guys to care!” Sunset snapped, with a roll of her eyes, crossing her arms.

“Sugarcube,” said Applejack with a hand on Sunset’s shoulder. “You saw the comments yerself, an that the larger majority of people who saw, were defending you. And that larger majority kind of out-weighed the haters by like….”

“Ten thousand, four hundred and twenty seven to aboouuuttt eight hundred and sixty four. The other three hundred and nine people haven’t seen it yet.” Pinkie smiled. “It’s like I told Sunny. I know everything!”

“What color are the underwear I’m wearing?” Rainbow asked with a flat expression.

“Cyan of course!”

Rainbow facepalmed. “Pinkie, I’m really starting to consider the act that-”

“That I’m really a secret spy working for some spooky cool government, where they make miniscule cameras that I put in all your houses to watch you guys from?”

Rainbow sighed. “Yes, Pinkie.”

“Well, in that case, I don’t” shrugged Pinkie.

“That’s not important right now, anyway.” Rainbow deadpanned.

Sunset let out a heavy sigh. “Yeah I think I’d like it if everybody would tke their colored spy underwear business out of my room.”

“An’ we’d like it if ya came to play with us at the mall.”

Sunset gazed down to the floor. “I can’t…”

“Sunny, darling, if I may say something” Rarity began where she stood against the wall by the door. “We all know how Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon can be a couple of trouble makers, so I think you should give the outside world another try, since it’s no surprise they’d pick on you.”

“What’s up with this new nickname all of a sudden?” Sunset asked. “Not that it’s a bad thing, it just came out of nowhere” said sunset with gestures of her hands to go along with what she was saying.

“Well, I heard Pinkie call you Sunny a few times, so I thought I would try it!” Rarity blushed.

“Alright. Also, Can I wear a hoodie? If I don’t feel too comfortable I can just put the hood up.”

Rainbow smirked. “What about your horn?”

“What abou- oh, yeah...can’t hide that. Or the tail...or hooves.” Sunset sighed. “But yeah, I’ll try again...if it makes you guys happy.” Sunset muttered, deciding it was futile to prolong the inevitable.

Twilight spoke up. “Before we go, we need to know how long I’m going to be here since I have dutie back in Equestria and all, and can’t be gone too long, and how long it’s going to fix this whole situation. Also, when is this thing at the, mall supposed to happen exactly?”

“A week from now,” answered Sunset. “Maybe have this fixed at least before then?”

“Oh...because I can just feel how much magic there is, as if I’m still in Equestria, where there’s been a lot of shortages, where someponies just can’t use magic anymore. Like whole towns! So, the more magic that is used here, sucks it out of Equestria from what I see.” Twilight stated. “To shove all that magic back into the portal will take quite some time.”

Sunset sighed, gazing at the floor. “Guess I won’t be going, then,” she shrugged where she sat at the edge of her bed.

The rest of the girls sighed as well.

“I’m sorry, Sunset,” said Twilight. “I don’t think it can be done in a week. Plus I would have to find away to get it all back through the portal.”

“I know.” Sunset muttered.

“Then none of us are goin” said Applejack.

Fluttershy nodded. “We’re not Rainbooms if we aren’t all together” said Fluttershy, twirling her hair with a finger. “It just wouldn’t be the same without you.”

The rest of the girls nodded with Fluttershy.

Rarity kneeled down in front of Sunset. “You gotta realize, darling, that we’re here for you. Just like everyone else. Remember Vinyl? She didn’t care what you were. She saw you were hurt, and helped you up again. Nobody hates you, Sunset. Yes you’ve done wrong in the past, but that was then, and now, you’re one of the most popular girls in the school!” Rarity smiled. “I’ve even seen a few guys checking you out.”

Sunset blushed. “Stop it! You’re making me blush! Besides, who’d look at me like that anymore, like this? I’m half horse, okay!”

Twilight stood up from where she sat next to Sunset. “Well, so am I, but I’m not letting it get in the way of me helping you, and you should do the same for your friends. Do you know why?”

“Why?”

Twilight winked to the other girls, sending them telepathic messages using very little magic. They nodded and stood in front of Sunset, linking their arms together. “Because…” Twilight smiled, reaching a hand out to Sunset, and in unison they sang “We’re here to sing our song out loud! Get you dancing with the crowd! And together, we will never be afraid of the dark!”

Sunset took a second to comprehend what they were doing, and as she did, a smile formed upon her cheeks. As the girls sang, she took Twilight’s hand.

“We got the music in our hearts! We’re going to blow this thing apart! And together, we will never be afraid of the dark!”