Sunset's Shimmer's Return to Equestria
Meanwhile, back in the alternate world that Sunset Shimmer lived in, she notified all the human counterparts of the mane 5 what Princess Twilight wrote in Sunset’s journal. Shocked, happy, and confused, the human mane 5 helped Sunset barricade the statue portal that leads back to Equestria. Before they could finish, Rarity was still unable to understand why they had to do this.
Rarity eventually stopped working on the barricade and walks up to Sunset Shimmer. "Sunset darling, I still don’t understand why would these so-called Unicornians wanted to invade Equestria."
"Me neither." Applejack added. "I mean, what do ya know about Unicornia, ah?"
Sunset took a deep breath before explaining about the history of Unicornia. "When I was still her prized pupil back in Equestria, I remember Princess Celestia telling me that, before Equestria was founded, it all started on this one Hearts Warming Eve many centuries ago. As long as any pony can remember, there were 3 separate pony nations lead by their leaders: Princess Platinum of Unicornia, Commander Hurricane of the Pegasi, and Chancellor Puddinghead of the Earth Pony tribe. They moved away from their separate countries to claim a new land only to find themselves bickering and fighting over the very same land that they set their hoofs on. When the Windigos came, they cast a freezing spell over all 3 pony leaders. Their advisors, however, were able to come to an understanding and eventually they formed a bonding friendship that banished the Windigos and helped free their leaders from their frozen prison. All pony nations were able to live in harmony, love, and friendship, conquering all hate and grief, and therefore shared the whole land, naming that land Equestria. They’ve been at peace ever since."
Unconvinced by the history of Unicornia, Rarity did not find any of this making any sense. "But that doesn’t explain why would the Unicornians…"
Before Rarity can say any more, Sunset finished her sentence for her. "Invade Equestria, I know; that’s why I’m going back to Equestria, to meet up with Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight and figure out what drove Unicornia to such belligerent madness."
The human mane 5 noticed that Sunset Shimmer is putting some food, a long sword, a spear, combat knifes, handguns, assault rifles, and all sorts of explosives in her backpack. Rainbow Dash was the first to asked Sunset about it. "Now that you mentioned it, I can’t help but notice, why are you bringing all those weapons with you, Sunset Shimmer? You’re not going to fight Unicornia are you?"
Sunset turned to face Rainbow before answering her question. "I don’t think I have a choice Rainbow. After reading what Twilight wrote in my journal recently, I got a very bad feeling that, once I step one hoof in Equestria again, I’ll be fighting for my life. It’s a risk I’m willing to take in order to make it up to Princess Twilight. I’m sure she needs my help too, so I won’t take any more chances. Therefore, no matter what those rabid Unicornian devils are going to throw at me, I will have to stand my ground alongside Twilight."
Rarity steps in and grabs Sunset's backpack. "Darling, you don’t have to do this. You could sit this one out." Rarity protested in a worried tone.
"Rarity, when I went back to Equestria to seek forgiveness from Princess Celestia, it was a success, but not for Princess Twilight. What I didn’t see coming was this: In all my life, I have never experienced such horror and sadness from anything else other than seeing the very same pony princess that helped reformed me lay dead inside a glass coffin before me. I DIDN'T EVEN GET A CHANCE TO TELL TWILIGHT HOW SORRY I WAS!!!" Sunset cried as she shouted at Rarity.
After a few seconds in silence, Sunset started breaking down. Before they knew it, Sunset started wailing while covering up her face, with tears coming out of her eyes. Shocked by seeing Sunset sobbing on the ground, the Mane 5 went in to comfort her, right after Rarity lets go of Sunset's backpack. After Sunset stopped crying, she eventually looked at the Mane 5 as she made a tearful smile before continuing her conversation with them.
"However, after reading what Twilight wrote in my journal recently, I know now that I can't give up hope for Equestria's future yet. Since she came back from the dead, I won't back down anymore because this is might be my only chance to make it up to her. And if I were to see the Golden Age of Democracy that Princess Twilight has promised us, I will do my best to make sure nothing will stand in her way this time. As for Princess Celestia, she was like my mother. You guys should've seen the look on her face when I told her everything that I've been through after I repented from my evil ways. They may not be as forgiving as you guys and Princess Celestia are and that they still hate me because of how I mistreated them, but it doesn't change the fact that Princess Celestia still cared about me as much as she cared about Princess Twilight. She already convinced me not to give up living, for there is always a way to seek redemption, even though the hardships of life. Also, because if I give up on living, she will suffer even more further. I won't let her break down anymore. I'm doing this because I have to get ready before going back to Equestria. In fact, I'll do anything for Princess Twilight and for Princess Celestia, as well as saving both our worlds from whatever cataclysm is erupting from it."
"Applejack?" Sunset asked as she turned around to face the cowgirl.
"Yes?" Applejack replied.
"I’m leaving this journal to you and this world’s Twilight so that I’ll let you both know what is happening back in Equestria. As for the rest of you guys, once I go through the portal once more, I want you to finish barricading it with everything you got." Sunset told Applejack as she walked up to her before handing over her journal.
"I understand." Applejack responded as she took the journal from Sunset Shimmer. "Are ya sure ya wanna to do this?"
"Yes, I do Applejack." Sunset answer her question. Sunset still haven't forgot that she came from Equestria. "Equestria isn’t just my home; it’s my birthplace. I’m a pony too, after all."
The rest of the human Mane 5 gather around for a group hug with Sunset Shimmer before she leaves Canterlot High through the portal.
"Sunset Shimmer, no matter what happens in the other world, you’ll always be our friend." Rainbow Dash said as she hugged Sunset.
"And if you ever get back, I’ll be throwing in a really big party for your homecoming victory." Pinkie Pie added in, followed by a friendly squeal.
"Thanks Pinkie Pie." Sunset said as she let Pinkie join in the group hug.
"Sunset Shimmer, if you ever see Twilight again in the other world, please tell her we said hi and that we missed you." Fluttershy said in a gentle voice.
"I will. Thanks, Fluttershy." Sunset replied.
After disengaging the group hug, Applejack makes one last encouragement for Sunset Shimmer. "Ya go kick the buck out of them bad guys Sunset Shimmer, ya hear?"
"You got it, Applejack." Sunset responded as she finished packing up and puts her backpack on her shoulders. "Everyone, if you do not hear from me in the next 24 hours, everything in my locker will be yours for the taking."
"We’ll wish you luck Sunset Shimmer." The Human Mane 5 said as they stepped back from Sunset Shimmer.
Sunset walks right up to the portal. When she touched the portal, a ray of light started shinning at right where her hand is, indicating that the portal is open. She turned around to face her friends one last time. "Guys, before I leave, there is one more thing I want to say to you all."
"And what will that be Sunset?" Applejack asked before rest of the Mane 5 could say anything.
"It’s been an honor being your friend but don't worry, I will return someday once this is all over. Farewell everyone." Sunset said as she smiled before turning around to face the portal once again. She soon as she went through the portal, she disappears immediately, leaving a gap of light before it disappears along with her.
"Y’all heard what Sunset Shimmer said. Let’s finish barricading this statue and be done with it." Applejack ordered everyone as she and the rest of the Mane 5 went back to work. Mane 5 all nodded in agreement and put the last board up before the screen turns black.
Meanwhile in Equestria, Sunset Shimmer comes out of the portal in the Canterlot Palace. She sees herself as a unicorn pony again, with a red-yellow mane and tail and a yellow body bearing the cutie mark of a red and yellow sun. Unaffected by the weight Sunset is carrying in her backpack, she makes her way down the palace hallways. Before she can reach the exit, Sunset Shimmer spots magic blasts in a distance, from a nearby window, hitting a shield barrier that is protecting all of Canterlot. "I haven't got much time. I've got to find a way out of Canterlot before I get caught up in this chaos. Then, I'll find where Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight are at." Sunset muttered to her self as she heads into the Memorial Gardens.
Before Sunset can proceed any further into the gardens, she hears some guards muttering to each other. She dives into a nearby hedge, hopefully no one will see, before taking a look and eavesdropping on what they're saying. "I don't understand. Why would Princess Celestia take Princess Twilight's body with her?" One Guard in strange black armor asked. "Beats me. We need to report this to Queen Majesty Blueblood." Another Guard suggested. "I hope we'll deal with Twilight's corpse as soon as we Unicornians conquer all of Equestria."
Shocked by what they said, Sunset Shimmer covers her mouth realizing that those guards must be the Unicornians that Twilight was warning her about. After they left the Memorial Gardens, she spots the very same grave that she visited when Sunset came back to Equestria the last time. Twilght's grave is now empty, with nothing but a shattered glass coffin lid lying a couple of feet away from the casket. "It looks like Twilight really did came back from the dead." Sunset whispered to herself.
Sunset eventually came out her hiding place and approached to a nearby exit tunnel that leads outside of Canterlot. Before she made it to the other side, she hears another voice that startled the living vibes out of her. "WHO'S THERE?!" One of the Unicornian guards shouted coming from behind her. "Uh Oh!!!" Sunset thought as she made a run for it.
As Sunset Shimmer ran down the tunnel, she hears some magic shots firing at her but miss. "IN THE NAME OF THE UNICORNIAN QUEEN, I ORDER YOU TO HALT!!!" One of the guards shouted as he fired three more blasts at Sunset. Ignoring the Unicornian guard's orders, Sunset uses her magic to shield herself as she ran as fast as she could. Behind her, 5 unicornian guards were pursuing Sunset down the tunnel.
The guards kept chasing Sunset Shimmer down the maze of tunnels until she reaches a dead end. However, before the Unicornians could come any closer and restrain her, Sunset started to use her magic to teleport out of the tunnels. "I don't have time to deal with you vermin, I have more important things I need to take care of right now!!!" That was the last thing Sunset Shimmer said to the Unicornians before she enraptured herself in a green, flashing light and disappears before their very eyes.
"Curses, she got away!!!" One of the guards shouted to himself.
"Forget about her. She can't do anything to Queen Majesty Blueblood anyway." The second guard said
"If she shows up again, she won't escape next time." The third guard said as they all went back outside of the tunnels to report back to Queen Majesty Blueblood.
Outside of Canterlot, Sunset Shimmer reappeared at a nearby valley. "That was close." Sunset gasped. "Though, I have a very bad feeling that I will not be seeing the last of them." As she walked up the hill, she spots the Unicornian Army occupying Ponyville from a distance. Despite Unicornia invading Equestria during the civil war, Sunset Shimmer dauntlessly starts her journey towards the north. Hopefully, towards her redemption, she will find a way to meet up with her former teacher and mother figure, Princess Celestia and her friend Twilight Sparkle.
"Princess Celestia! Princess Twilight! Please, hang on for a little longer." Sunset Shimmer said to herself as she makes her way across the war-torn land of Equestria. "I'll be there very soon."
Sunset starts singing her song about everything that that she has been through until to this very day.
They say there's a place
where dreams have all gone
They never said where but I think I know
It's miles through the night, just over the dawn
On the road that will take me home!!
I know in my bones, I've been there before
The ground feels the same, though the land's been torn
I've a long way to go, the stars tell me so
On this road that will take me home.
Love awaits for around the bend
Leads me endlessly on
Surely sorrows will find their end
And all of our troubles will be gone
And all that I've lost
And all that I've won
When the road finally takes me home!!
During her trek, Sunset finds herself close to a nearby stream in the Everfree Forrest. The moment she stops to catch her breath, Sunse takes a little break close to the water. As soon as she drops her backpack right next to her, Sunset took out a snack while looking up into the clear blue sky. Up in the clouds, Sunset sees the faces of Princess Celestia, Queen Faust, and Princess Twilight looking down on her with smiles on their faces. Feeling relieved, Sunset believes that the images in the clouds will be what will guide the yellow pony to redemption. After finishing up her break, Sunset puts her backpack on again and makes her way down the stream all the way to the north. On the way, Sunset looks at her reflection in the water before looking up towards the direction she wants to go. At the same time, Sunset resumes her song.
And when I pass by, don't lead me astray
Don't try to stop me.
Don't stand in my way.
I'm bound for the hills
Where cool waters flow
On this road that will take me home.
Love awaits for me around the bend
Leads me endlessly on!!!
Surely sorrows shall find their end
And all of our troubles will be gone.
And all that I've lost
And all that I've won
When this road finally takes me home~!!!!
As soon as she is done singing her song, Sunset Shimmer finds herself outside of the Everfree Forest yet still close to the stream, in which lead to a river heading up north. In a dauntless act, Sunset walks directly towards the light of the sunrise.