Chapter 1
Sunset Shimmer let out a sigh, watching her breath mist up in the cold night’s air. With each step the bitter night wrapped around her, causing her to shiver as she pulled on her hoodie strings. She was walking from Canterlot High School, having stayed behind to help clean up the library. Pinkie Pie had needlessly thrown a party for a shipment for new books… Silly string was going to be there for days, to say the least.
Shoving her hands into her sweater’s pocket, she pushed her head against her chest, speeding up her pace. A smile crept up on her face. She really was lucky to have such awesome friends, though. Everyone had stayed behind to help, even Dash who had soccer practice.
Tiny white flakes began to drop from the sky, swirling around her as icy wind blasted against her face. Her hands balled up as her boots crunched against the snow, her eyes squinting up. Had it not been for the streetlights, her vision would most likely be incapacitated.
Even if she loved Pinkie Pie, she really wished she would chose more convenient times to throw her parties. Walking in the middle of the night during a storm wasn’t exactly her idea of fun. Gritting her teeth, Sunset pushed through the storm.
Suddenly, her eyes were caught by a flyer blowing in the wind. Stretching out her hand, she grabbed for it, only for it to blow behind her. She turned to follow it. Luckily it had snagged against the brown picket fence on her one side. Snatching it with her numbing hands, she brought it close to her face while it lashed around in the wind. She struggled to make out the words.
It was a missing poster for some child. Feeling her chest tighten, she let it slip from her hands, weaving its way through the wind. She was frozen in place, watching it turn into a small dot. Why was she so upset?
She shook her head and rubbed her eyes with her gloved hands, turning back around. Resuming a brisk pace she dragged her hand against the fence, watching a car drive by, headlights shining. Her foot took a step towards the street. Why?
Her friends were too awesome. No questions on her backstory, who she was, why she was here, if there was a parallel to her…
She felt as if a mental wall cover the memories. Despite her best efforts to bring it up, nothing came. It was probably for the better she didn’t break down into tears in the middle of the sidewalk, though. She turned to the side, only to slip on the ice. A yelp escaped her lips as she flailed her arms to grab onto something nonexistent, instead catching herself on the ground as she fell forward.
Sunset had fallen like this.
A dark silhouette walked in front of her, arms crossed, hair huge, and eyes seemingly glowing. Sunset scrambled back up into a standing position, feeling her breathing grow heavy. The figure wore a large coat, pulling her hood down as she flashed a grin.
Pulling her arms from her coat, Sunset mimicked her stance. A cold silence sliced through the air. Ringing filled her ears as she stepped back only to feel herself push into something. Craning her head around, she locked eyes with two other figures. The one in front of her closed in.
“Ah, Sunset,” Adagio hissed, putting a finger under Sunset’s chin. She pulled her head up, looking down on her. Sunset jerked away to feel the sirens behind her catch her. “How convenient for us to meet up again.”
“Cut the crap Adagio, I know you’ve been following me,” Sunset hissed with a scowl, breaking free of Sonata and Aria’s grasp. “I’ve seen you creeping around the school for weeks now and didn’t say anything because I thought I’d rather avoid the trouble. Appears I was wrong to do so.” She spit the words out with venom despite feeling chills crawl down her spine.
“Ah, caught red handed!” Adagion feigned worry, dramatically throwing her hands up in the air with an exaggerated frown. “Whatever shall I do?” Aria and Sonata remained silent, ghastly simpers covering their countenances. Feeling her blood run cold, Sunset locked eyes with Adagio.
She scowled. Adagio pursed her lips. “Poor little Sunset, all alone.”
“What do you want?” Sunset said quickly, feeling her unease grow. Adagio broke out a grin mirroring her friends. Folding her hands behind her back, she straightened up, pacing in front of her.
“Why, we just wanted to catch up with our friend.”
Sunset deadpanned. Adagio rolled her eyes.
“We want to return to Equestria,” she replied smoothly while altering her stance, resting all her weight on one leg. “We’ve been watching. We know you can bring us to the portal.”
The snow began falling harder, Sunset’s mind searching for a way out. But she had a lingering feeling she knew why they needed her and how they'd get her; the missing poster reminded her quite clearly that her background was not clean, and the arrival of the second Twilight surely led to someone questioning her. Even if it wasn't her friends.
“Why do you need me, then?” Sunset pressed, trying to walk around her. Adagio grabbed her shoulder and sucked in her teeth.
“Because we need you to escort us where we need to go. If we’re with you, no one will question us so long as we're disguised. Besides, it’s not like you have a choice,” she stepped closer, pushing her face into Sunset’s as she backed away, “Unless you want your little secret to spill.”
Despite her tense muscles, Sunset managed to push the siren aside, continuing her walk down the snowy sidewalk. Biting her bottom lip, she listened to the three following her. “What secret?” She continued her walk, though this time she was in the direction of the school. She knew what they were going to say but still chose to deny it.
“Simple,” Adagio seethed out, putting her hands on both of Sunset’s shoulders as she trailed behind her. Standing on her toes as she followed, she leaned into her ear. “You killed Sunset Shimmer.”
Sunset stopped mid step, feeling her body shake as she shoved her hands into her pockets. Closing her eyes, she winced as the sirens cackled. Adagio backed off from her, circling to stare her in the eyes.
“Sunset Shimmer suddenly starts acting like a complete bitch to everyone she knows and moves out? You could’ve used some tact, you know.”
“I had to do something! H-how would I have taken her place?” Sunset whimpered, feeling her eyes grow wet as snow lashed her in the face. Adagio continued her assault, leaning into her face.
“Yes, she just had to die so you could shirk your past life from Equestria. Her poor family, friends, classmates watched as you sneaked into her place, pushing them all away while the real Sunset was dead?”
Adagio put a hand to her face, furrowing her eyebrows. “Though I must ask as a fellow villain, how did you pull it off?”
Sunset slammed her eyes shut, turning her head to the side as she felt her legs buckle. Wiping her eyes with her hands, she felt Adagio’s icy cold fingers wrap around her neck, pulling her closer.
“I don’t like to wait for explanations.”
Sunset drew in a sharp breath. “I-I studied her for a few weeks. I memorized her patterns, learned who she hung out with, how she acted. It was easy; she was so carefree and open. When she was home alone I did it quickly...” Sunset’s squinted her eyes, tears streaking down her cheeks. “I’ve changed! I didn’t mean to, I was just so scared and… I’m…” She fell down to her knees, burying her face into her palms. Adagio smirked. She was right where she wanted her. Putting a foot on her back, Adagio pushed down, Sunset gasping as she was forced face-first into the snow.
“If you want to redeem yourself in the slightest, how about you help some sirens in need?”
Adagio backed off. Sunset’s arms shook as she pushed herself up from the ground, cheeks wet as she looked Adagio in the eyes. “O-okay.”
They started to begin their walk, until Sonata’s voice piqued in from behind the group.
“What did you do to this world’s Sunset Shimmer?”
Everyone stopped. Sunset turned around the blue siren, watching her downcast eyes look up to her. “What did you do?”
Sunset swallowed. “I didn't kill her, I took her away. I put her in Equestria.”
Aria spoke. “Then how hasn’t she been found? How hasn’t she come back?”
Sunset sighed. “Simple. Changed her backstory, personality. Used potions and spells. Even found a spell to make her blend into ponies memories. It was…”
Adagio butted in. “So you gave her a new life and she can’t even remember her family? That’s almost crueler than death. What’s her name in this new world?”
Sunset tensed up.
“Moondancer.”