Sunset Shimmer decided to spend Christmas alone. That is until Spike came for a visit.
It had been many moons since the Anon-a-miss incident that had scarred Sunset's life and puts her friendship in jeopardy.
Now that Christmas is around the corner, some old wounds begin to reopen for Sunset Shimmer, who decided to isolate herself from the rest of her friends, for the holiday.
However, when Spike the dragon-turned-dog came from Equestria to deliver a heartwarming gift for the girl, both he and her had a little heart-to-heart talk that reignites the Fire of Friendship from Equestria.
"We trusted you Sunset!" Rainbow growled. "We thought you were our friend!"
"How could you do this?" Rarity sobbed. "After all we've been through together?"
"I didn't do this!" Sunset replied. "I could never hurt any of you!"
"But you did!" Pinkie sobbed. "You must've just been pretending to be our friend, when all along you were after our secrets!!" At this point, Pinkie's sad face shifted to anger. "I knew you're still a bad guy! You secret stealer!"
"No! No!" Sunset protested. "I would never-not after everything. I'm not like that anymore!"
"But you are!" Fluttershy screamed with tears in her eyes. "You're still the pony we thought you weren't anymore. You're not our friend!"
"But I-" Sunset's voice cracked. "I am your friend. I promise!"
"Sorry Sunset," Applejack retorted. "But you've taken advantage of us far enough. You did this to us! You can tell whatever secret you want, but we don't have to listen to anything!"
At that point, Sunset eyes watered, and the pipes broke.
"You're not our friend!" Fluttershy's voice repeated.
"Secret stealer!" Pinkie's voice repeated.
"You did this to us! You can tell whatever secret you want!" Applejack repeated. "But we don't have to listen to anything!"
With a scream, Sunset jerked herself awake, panting heavily, while sweating a storm.
After she collected herself, Sunset hugged herself close, while resting her chin on her knees, 'My past is not today,' she thought. 'But it can still haunt me.'
The next day at CHS, Sunset went to school to see the whole facility, decorated from top to bottom with fake snowflakes, candy canes, hollies, and all sorts of decorations to match the theme of Christmas.
While everyone would feel rather festive at the sight of these decorations, Sunset felt rather solemn, since they only brought back memories of the event she's been trying to forget.
'And after everything,' Sunset thought. 'And they were so easy to turn their backs on me, like that?'
"Hiya Sunset!" Pinkie chirped, giving the fiery girl a jumpscare, which leads to Sunset quickly beating her chest. "Feeling jolly for a jolly holiday coming?!" the party girl bounced.
Sunset, rather than answering, shot Pinkie a deadpan look as she continues to be on her way.
"Howdy, Sunset," Applejack greeted, before she took notice of Sunset's darken mood. "Sunset? Ya feeling alright?" the farm girl asked in concern. "Ya look kinda down there."
"I'm fine, AJ," Sunset muttered, as she quickens her pace.
"Are you sure, darling?" Rarity asked with concern. "You look rather.....bleak."
"I'm fine, Rarity," Sunset replied, sounding slightly irritated. "I just want us to get to class. Okay?"
The girls, taken by surprise at Sunset's tone, decided not to question it further, as they all went to class. In silent.
Lunch
During lunch, Sunset Shimmer, decided to sit by herself, in the cafeteria, eating her box of sushi alone. Whenever the other girls saw her and tried to bring their lunch over to her table, she would quickly shoo them away with a sour look on her face, or just pick up her lunch and find another lonesome spot to sit.
The girls were, of course, shocked and dismayed at the sudden silent treatment they were being given. Sunset wouldn't allow anyone to sit beside her. Well, almost anyone.
"Sunset Shimmer?" a voice spoke.
"What?" Sunset asked irritably, turning to the speaker, softening her gaze when she sees who it really is. "Oh! Twilight, it's just you."
Looking at Sunset with concern, before readjusting her glasses, Twilight asked, "Can I sit with you? You looked kinda lonely by yourself."
Sunset, not feeling any bit irritable towards Twilight, nodded, "Not at all," she said, offering the girl a seat next to her.
Twilight accepted the seat, as she sat herself next to Sunset.
"Um, if I could ask," Twilight began. "Why are you sitting by yourself today? Normally, you're not so distant from the others."
Sunset sighed, "Look Twi. It's nothing you need to worry yourself over."
Twilight, was clearly not taking no for an answer. With that, the scientific girl placed a hand on the fiery girl's shoulder, as she spoke, "Sunset. I may still be learning a thing or two, about friendship. But if there's one thing I've learned from you, it's that when one of our friend is in trouble, we have to be there for them."
"Too bad what happened last year kinda contradicts that statement," Sunset frowned.
"What?" Twilight asked.
Sunset shook her head, as she tries to get away, "It's nothing. I'm not feeling hungry anymore."
"Wait!" Twilight spoke, stopping Sunset. "Look Sunset. Whether you'd like to talk about it, or not. That's fine with me. But just so you know, I'm here for you, if you have something you don't want to share with the others."
Sunset pondered on what Twilight had said. Granted, she's not exactly the Twilight from Equestria, but she's still Twilight. And in some ways, no one knows friendship more than Twilight does.
Taking the chance, Sunset walked over to Twilight, and vent. Needless to say, Twilight was just as shock, and saddened.
"Sunset...." Twilight whispered. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"How could you?" Sunset frowned. "You weren't even here when it happened."
"But still, it's just horrible," Twilight said solemnly. "And on Christmas, of all days!"
"All the more reason why I'm not in the mood for Christmas this year," Sunset frowned, before she got up. "Well, it's been nice talking to you Twilight. But I better go."
"Okay," Twilight replied, as she sadly watched her friend leave, while the rest of the girls came out of hiding, all looking sad glances at the fiery girl's way.
After the school bell rang, the students were all flooding out of school, eager to get on with the rest of their day. But not as much as a certain fiery girl, who was trying to avoid some particular girls.
Unfortunately, the girls she was trying to get away from, caught up to her.
"Sunset!" Applejack called, as she and the girls, minus Twilight, caught up.
Feeling her patience running thin, Sunset took a deep breath, before she turns, and as calmly as she can, spoke, "Yes, Applejack? What is it?"
Applejack and the others all had looks of sadness on their faces.
After a long awkward silence, Applejack broke the ice, "Listen Sugarcube. We just wanted to say we're sorry. We should've figured you'd be feeling like this."
"Oh, so now you figured it out," Sunset grumbled. "What? You couldn't figure that out sooner, as Rainbow would put it, 'ten seconds flat?'"
"Hey! Give us a break, Sunset!" Rainbow scowled, feeling hurt by the comment. "That happened a year ago!"
"Well forgive me if some old wounds are reopening again. It doesn't take away the fact of what you and everyone else had to put me through! Or what your sisters have done to me!"
"Sugarcube, we get it!" Applejack began, trying to reason with the fiery girl. "It was wrong for us to be so quick to accuse you like that. And yes, we know, Apple Bloom and her friends weren't in their right of mind to deceive us all like that. But it's over now. So just let it go."
Sunset looked to the side, casting her gaze elsewhere, "I can't," She replied. "I can't let it go, because I'm not holding it. It's holding me."
Needless to say, the girls were confused, "Uh, care to explain that, Sunny?" Rainbow asked, scratching her head. "I don't think we-"
"IT'S HOLDING ME!!" Sunset shouted, taking the girls by surprise, as well as the majority of the passing students. "Every day, since that fateful day when I changed for the better, it haunts me. Every night, when I go to sleep, I'm always reliving the same nightmare over and over again. And yet, despite all the goods I've done, I'm still struggling to earn complete trust and forgiveness!"
"And you have!" Applejack replied. "What more do you want?"
"What more? What more!" Sunset repeated angrily, "How about a bit of faith, or-" The fiery girl quickly ceased her ranting, as she resumes scowling. "Why do you even care?"
"Because we're you're friends, Sunset!" Rainbow Dash answered. "Whatever we did to you to make you feel this way, we're sorry. But we can make it all up to you. Just tell us what we did and-"
"Forget it," Sunset waved off as she turned her back on the girls and walked away.
"W-Wait, Sunset!" Pinkie shouted, before she bounced in front of the fiery girl. "Look, we're really sorry. And to make up for what happened, we're having another sleepover party tonight," The party girl smiled.
"So? Have fun," The girl was about to walk away, but Pinkie kept on blocking her.
"Actually, that's the start!" Pinkie began in a singsonging voice, "The best part is, you're invited!"
Sunset stopped dead in her track, as she turned to look at the party girl, with a deadpan expression on her face, "No thank you," She rejected the offer, and proceeded to walk towards the exit, much to Pinkie's shock and surprise.
"No thank you?" Pinkie repeated.
"Yes, no thank you," Sunset frowned.
"But why?"
"The last thing I want to do was to have another sleepover," Sunset frowned bitterly. "Less chance of me stealing any more secrets, or getting in between you and your sisters."
"Sunset...." Applejack spoke.
"Leave me alone," Sunset ordered.
"But...no one deserves to be alone on Christmas," Pinkie frowned.
"Oh sure. That's completely different compared to that time you girls left me during the whole Anon-a-Miss fiasco," Sunset frowned.
"C'mon, Sunset. We said we were sorry," Rainbow spoke.
"But are you really?" Sunset began. "Are you really sorry that you put your trust in someone else's words over mine? Even after all I did to redeem myself, you still see me as a threat? A villain?"
"Sunset, darling," Rarity began. "Couldn't we simply let bygones be bygones?"
"You should take that advice, yourselves!" With that, Sunset proceeded to walk away, with her back turned on the girls.
"Hey, don't walk away from us!" Rainbow shouted. "We're not done talking yet!"
"Watch me," Sunset challenged. With that, and a flash of light from her geode, in a blur of rainbow, Rainbow Dash ran at a blinding speed and stopped in front of the fiery girl. "Rainbow Dash, get out of my way!" She spatted, as she tried to walk around the girl, who kept on blocking her path.
"No, Sunset!" Rainbow frowned, as she held her arms out to block Sunset's path, while holding the girl back. "Not until we're done having this conversation!"
"Well I don't want to talk about it, so back off!!"
"Not yet!!"
"Hey, easy there you two," Applejack said, as she tried to break up the fight between the two girls. "Let's not get too excited."
But the two girls weren't listening as they continued to fight amongst each other, "Get away from me!" Sunset shouted, when she started running the other way, but was once again blocked by Rainbow Dash instead. "Why won't you leave me alone? It was so much easier for you to do it, last year!"
"Are you seriously living in the past?" Rainbow asked.
"Funny! I thought you and everyone else have been living in the past!" Sunset spatted.
"What are you talking about? We're not holding grudges. We've let go of that whole Anon-a-Miss shindig a long time ago!"
"I'm not talking about Anon-a-Miss! I'm talking about something bigger than Anon-a-Miss! Something where even you and everybody are at a fault!"
"US?! What did we do?"
"Exactly my point! It's no use of explaining anything to you or anyone else, when no one ever believes a single word I say! And I'm sick of it!"
"Then try us now! Tell us what it is! If this is beyond Anon-a-Miss, then what is it?"
"Like I said! FORGET IT!!" With a sweep of her leg, Sunset tripped Rainbow Dash off her feet, causing the fast girl to be sent skidding across the floor. "Had enough?" Sunset was about to walk away, when she was grabbed by Applejack.
"Hold it, Sunset!" Applejack began.
"Let me go, AJ!" Sunset ordered.
"No, not until we get the truth from ya. And ya know as well as I that ya can't win struggling with me."
"I just want to be alone! Okay?"
"Then tell us why."
"Don't act like you can understand me! You're not me! You don't have my power! You can't look into my memories and see my troubles! So what do you know about solving my problems?!"
"I only realized now that we should've been there for you, Sugarcube. But we are now. And this time we're listening. It's what families do for each other. Isn't it?"
At the mention of family, Sunset spoke venomously, "Family? What family? I don't see a family! We were never a family to begin with, Applejack!"
"What?"
"How can you girls call yourselves my family, after you were so quick to accuse me as Anon-a-miss, huh? How can you girls call yourselves as my family, after Wallflower Blush erased your memory, and all it took to convince you that something's wrong was a confession from her? And how can you girls even refer yourselves as family, when all those time you've overlooked Wallflower and left her in the dark, countless of times? Where were you when she needed you? I'm sure that would've saved us all the trouble if YOU hadn't ignored her, like you did with me!"
The girls were silent at the revelation, and they couldn't think of an answer, "Uh huh, that's what I thought," The fiery girl frowned, as Applejack released her grip on her arm. "Seems to me, that I'm cursed to endure all of this struggle. Probably best if we don't talk or see each other for the whole break."
Shocked at what they heard, Rainbow Dash spoke in a sad voice, "Sunset, wait! We're-"
"Just go away," Sunset muttered, disappearing into the snows, away from the girls.
With a sad sigh, Applejack tipped her hat as she placed her hand on Rainbow Dash's shoulder, "Let her go, Dash," She frowned. "Best we leave her alone for awhile."
"Is she going to be okay?" Fluttershy whimpered.
"Yeah. Just give her some time."
"....Okay," With that, the girls all complied, as they took their leave, while shooting sad looks at their fiery friend, whom they have scarred.
Meanwhile, from behind a column, Twilight and Wallflower saw how the whole scene unfolded before them, "Why couldn't I have just erased that memory?" Wallflower asked, with Twilight wrapping her arm around the girl for comfort.
At the same time, without anyone noticing, the portal to Equestria glowed in a rippling vortex of light. Then, at last, a paw stepped out, followed by the whole body of a little purple dog, who was carrying a gift wrapped box in his mouth.
"Wow," Spike muffled. "When's the last time me and Twilight visited this place? Oh well," The little dragon-turned-dog shrugged before he was on his way, "Now, where could Sunset be?"
The snows were falling ever so lightly upon the city of Canterlot, as all the people were rushing to and fro to be done with their Christmas shoppings, as well as exchanging some heartfelt, "Merry Christmas!" and "Happy New Year!"
In the midst of the hustle and bustle, a little dog finds himself lost in the crowd, as he searched for the person he was presenting his gift to.
"Where did Twilight say Sunset's building was?" Spike asked himself, looking at all the buildings in confusion, while avoiding the steps from all the people around him. "Whoa! Watch it there mister! Hey, I'm walking here!" He protested in muffles, stilling carrying the present in his mouth.
But it was no use. Nobody paid any attention to the little dragon turned dog, "Oh, why did I have to be a dog?" He asked himself in frustration. "If only I had my wings, I can just get a bird's eye view and find Sunset much quicker!" Spike turned his attention to the right, just to spot Sugarcube Corner. To further his luck, he finds the Rainbooms, with Twilight and Wallflower Blush. "Now we're getting somewhere!" He smiled and was on his way.
At Sugarcube Corner, the Rainbooms were all drinking themselves cups of hot chocolate. Unfortunately, the hot, yet sweet delicacy of a drink was still not enough to take away the sorrow they all felt earlier, following their confrontation with Sunset Shimmer.
"Man, I'm such an idiot!" Rainbow grumbled.
"Oh come on, Rainbow. It's not just you, we're all to blame here," Applejack muttered, as she sighed, "But to be fair, it's all on me. I'm the one who started the idea of having Sunset Shimmer over for some slumber parties at our places. I'm the one who was supposed to be there for her, when she needed us most!" The strong girl ranted, raising her voice slightly. "I told her she was family, and yet I failed to act like one for her during that time of need when she was-"
"We get it, AJ," Rainbow interrupted. "But I should've known better. I should've known that Sunset wasn't behind all that from the start. I can't call myself a loyal friend to her then. And now, I'll never call myself a loyal friend for how stupid I was."
"Yep, you're stupid alright," Pinkie Pie agreed. "Just like how stupid you were on your 2nd Period Science essay on 'How Buoyancy Works!'"
"PINKIE PIE!!" The Rainbooms, except Rainbow, berated the pink girl.
Realizing what she just said, Pinkie blushed a shameful shade of red as she stammered, "Oops! I-I-I-That came out wrong! I mean-"
"No, it's alright, Pinkie," Rainbow shook her head. "You're right," The girl puts a hand over her tearful eyes as she hissed, "I'm such an idiot."
Pinkie Pie wrapped an arm around the rainbow haired girl, with her hair deflating slightly, "If you're an idiot, Dashie. Then I'm idiot to for not taking the situation so seriously back then."
"But I didn't want to believe Sunset Shimmer was Anon-a-miss back then, and yet I did!" Rainbow teared up. "Some loyalty I showed."
"Some loyalty we showed Rainbow Dash," Applejack frowned. "You were right back then. She was our friend. More than that-she was family."
"I even said that family can even make mistakes," Fluttershy whimpered tearfully.
"And then I asked if we can even forgive them though," Rainbow added.
"What a pity." A new voice sounded, to which the Rainbooms looked up to see Twilight standing by their table, with Wallflower Blush.
"You failed to find it in your heart to forgive Sunset Shimmer," Twilight began bitterly. "Even though the clues all pointed to her from the start, and even though you didn't want to believe she was Anon-a-miss then. And yet, once the truth revealed itself, you were so quick to forgive your sisters in a heartbeat. If it was so easy for you to forgive you family then, why couldn't you do the same for Sunset?"
"Darling, you have to understand," Rarity tried to reason. "It was hard for us back then. I don't know-"
"Just answer the question already!" Twilight exclaimed with tears in her eyes. "Just why?! Were you lying when you said Sunset was family?"
"Of course not!" Applejack replied. "We weren't lying! You would know well I'd never tell a lie."
"Then why don't you answer, Applejack! Why couldn't you do the same for Sunset, like you did with Apple Bloom?!"
"I honestly don't know! Believe me, I don't even have the answer!"
Twilight was silent for a moment, before she began, "You know, like Sunset Shimmer before, I never knew the first thing about friendship either. Sure, I may be held in high regards by Abacus Cinch when she was principal, and I may have once been part of the Shadowbolts for Crystal Prep, but even then I was all alone."
"We get it, Sugarcube," Applejack replied softly. "You were alone back then."
"....And yet, when I transferred to your school, I was welcomed by open arms as if I were family. Your family, correct?" The Rainbooms nodded. "And yet, when Wallflower Blush used the Memory Stone to make you forget about Sunset Shimmer, or how I became Midnight Sparkle, I take it then you don't remember how we even met in the first place," The Rainbooms looked at Wallflower Blush to see her nodding her head lightly, while looking shamefully away. "That's ironic, isn't it? How without Sunset Shimmer, then we'd never known each other to begin with. And yet, back then, all you remembered was that I was your friend. Well now that I think about it, it's kind of strange that you would quickly welcome a stranger like that, isn't it?"
"Why are you pinning that on us?" Rainbow inquired. "You're a victim, just like we were!"
"Don't try and change the subject, Rainbow Dash!" Twilight berated the athlete.
"Me?! I thought you were changing the subject when you started talking about the Memory Stone incident from Anon-a-miss!"
"Well to me, I think see a connection between these two events! For so long I believed you all when you said we're all family, and yet, we weren't there for Sunset or Wallflower when they needed us! Tell me, why?"
"Again, we don't know!" Applejack answered. "Look, can we just forget about this and-"
"There you go again!" Wallflower Blush shouted angrily.
"What?" The country girl and her fellow Rainbooms looked at the angry girl in shock.
"Forgetting so many important details, like always!" Wallflower Blush clarified. "You know, be ignored and left on the sidelines is one thing. But forgetting the reasons, the answers, or even the feelings, that's another! And I think I get it now. Your forgot Sunset was family, because you want to forget Sunset was family, just like how you want to forget any of this now! Is that right?"
The girls were taken aback, "Well, when you put it that way," Rainbow quickly elbowed Pinkie in the rib, who stammered, "Uh-uh-I-I-I mean, no! Of course not!"
"It's not like that!" Rainbow tried to reason, along with the rest of the Rainbooms. But Wallflower refuses to listen.
"Well. At least I remember one thing from you," She began with the pipes breaking. "You can say what you want, or you can forget what you want to forget. But I don't need to hear it. And I don't even need to remember it as well!" With that, Wallflower Blush took her leave, with Twilight and the Rainbooms following her with shocked gaze.
Fluttershy's lips quivered, "D-Do you think she's right?" She whimpered. "Did we really forget, because we wanted to?"
"The way she said," Twilight began. "I think maybe she's right."
"Now hold on! We-" Applejack was quickly silenced when Twilight raised her hand up to stop her.
"I can't believe you could just forget like that," Twilight frowned, before she looked sadly and shamefully away. "Which reminds me. I should probably go now."
"Well, if you find her, can you tell us where she is? Or if she's doing alright?" Rainbow asked.
"Why don't you try and find her yourself?" With that, Twilight turned her back on the Rainbooms and disappeared behind the door, and out into the snow.
Little did the girls know, their whole talk had been overheard by a common best friend they all share.
Meanwhile, Sunset Shimmer was out walking through the park, which was decorated with flashing lights, giant balloons of iconic Christmas characters, from Santa Clause to the Grinch, and other symbols of her least favorite holiday in the human world. The girl eventually found an empty bench to set herself down and huddled to herself close for warmth and comfort, "Why? Why does this have to happen to me?" She asked herself. "What more must I do? How many more mistakes must I have to atone for? Why is it whenever I try to do the right thing, something always comes up and ruins everything? I just wanted to be loved. Is that too much to ask?”
Tears started to flow as the pipe breaks, “Maybe I’m just cursed to be this way,” Sunset sobbed. “No matter how hard I try, no matter where I go, my past will always come back,” The girl covered her watery eyes as she wept, “It will never be forgotten. I’ll never live it down. I have no one. No family...no friends...I can’t count on anybody.”
As the girl wept in the snow, in the background, the song of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" can be heard playing. While many people would find the song catchy, joyful, and uplifting, to Sunset, it sounded too much of a taunt to her very existence. Unable to bear the joyful Christmas caroling that made her ears and heart ache with every lyrics any longer, Sunset took out a pair of headphones and plugged them into her ears, got out her phone to select a song for her to listen.
"Oh dear Sunset," A sad, quiet voice whispered in her head. "I told you not to give into friendship so quickly. It was too good to be true. Things were so much simpler back then, before Anon-a-miss happened. Before Wallflower Blush reminded us of our past. Before we dared to hope."
Sunset shook her head and sighed again, "I thought AJ really meant it all, when she said I was....her friend," Sunset puts a hand over her eyes as she took a few sharp breathings, "And yet, when Anon-a-miss happened the second time, she and the Rainbooms....." Sunset didn't have to finish her rant, as she breathed a long deep sigh and felt the ice in her heart melting away.
"This song is all I have to help me forget," Sunset mentally answered.
"Don't worry Sunset," The voice replied. "Just let it go. You don't need those girls anymore. They won't trouble you no more, just as you never caused anymore trouble since. Forget the past. Forget the friendship. Forget the so-called family, when you have yourself. Just as you have been, just as you always will be on this sad holiday."
Sunset sighed as she felt a tear flowing from her eyes, "It's just so hard to believe it was last Christmas when we....when I thought we're finally past it all. When I thought the nightmares would finally come to an end."
Sunset continued to listen to the song, feeling her sadness poured out. The song has yet to come to the end, when she felt something, or someone, tapping one of her legs.
“Sunset?” A familiar voice called out. "Sunset!"
Snapping back to reality, Sunset opened her eyes and was initially puzzled to see no one standing before her, "Who-who's there?" She asked.
"Down here," Sunset looked down and was greeted by Spike, with his gift in his mouth.
"Oh, hey Spike," Sunset sighed.
Spike was aghast, "Hey Spike?" He asked, setting the box down. "I came all the way out here from Equestria, and all I get was a 'hey, Spike?' Not even a 'hey, Spike. Merry Christmas,' as you would say in this world?"
Sunset's eyes widened upon realization, "Wait, SPIKE?!!" She exclaimed, "As in Twilight's dragon assistant, Spike?"
"Well, yeah," The dragon-turned-dog titled his head in confusion. "Who else?"
"Oh, sorry Spike," Sunset blushed, chuckling in embarrassment. "I guess mistook you for someone else. But, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back in Equestria, spending Hearth's Warming Eve, with Twilight? Princess Twilight, I mean?"
"Well, normally I would be," The dragon turned dog answered, before he nudged the present towards her, "But I came to bring this present to you."
"Oh, thanks Spike," Sunset smiled as she took the gift wrapped present from the dog. The fiery girl held the mysterious package up for closer observations. Feeling a pair of eyes looking at her, she looked down to see Spike was still there, sitting and gazing her like the puppy he was, "Uh, Spike? You can go now."
"Go where?" Spike asked.
Sunset was confused, "Um, the Friendship Castle? With Twilight?" She answered slowly.
"Oh, there. Nah!" Spike shook his head.
Now Sunset was really confused, "What? Why not?"
"Well, truth to be told, I was left out again," Spike frowned.
"Left out? Of what?"
"Eh, Twilight and the girls were having a party at Sweet Apple Acres," The dog shrugged. "They even included Starlight Glimmer, again. But they left me out."
"Oh...sorry I asked," Sunset frowned, as she got down to comfort the dog, with a scratch behind his ears.
"It's okay. I kinda got used to that by now," Spike frowned, before he lightens up the mood, "Enough about me. You looked as if you could use some company. So I guess I'll just hang with you for awhile, Sunset."
Though touched by the dog's offer, Sunset shook her head, "That's sweet of you, Spike. But I'd like to be alone right now. Thanks for the present though."
"That's okay," With a kick of his hind legs, Spike leapt up into the seat of the bench as he sat down besides Sunset. "I can be alone with you!" The dog did a double take, upon realizing what he just said. "Wait, that sounded better in my head."
The fiery girl couldn't help but chuckle to herself in amusement at the little dog's antic, "You're funny, Spike. But answer's still no."
"Oh come on. As Pinkie and Twilight would say, nobody should be alone on Hearth's Warming Eve...or in this case, Christmas." Sunset was about to say something, but was interrupted by Spike, "And I'm alone like you are right now. So, technically speaking, you can keep me company then," The dog said with a happy wag of his tail.
Sunset tried to protest, but finds herself unable to reject the little dragon dog's logic, "Well, since you put it that way. What's the worst thing that could happen? I mean, it's just you right?"
"Great!" Spike smiled as he happily wags his tail and leapt up to Sunset's face to lick her with his dog tongue. Spike quickly took a step back, "Oh, sorry Sunset. Don't know what came over me."
But rather than scowling in anger, or disgust, Sunset couldn't help but giggle at the little puppy's antic, "It's okay, Spike. I actually liked that to be honest."
Spike chuckled nervously, before he looked at all the Christmas decorations around them, "Wow. All these decorations are very beautiful, huh?" He asked.
"Yeah, I guess they are," The fiery girl frowned, still finding the decorations in questions too unbearable to look.
"They kinda remind me of the ones we have back in Equestria," The little dog turned his attention to something that made his mouths water, "Ooh! A candy cane!" With that, the little dog ran towards what he thought was a giant version of the sugar sweet.
"Uh, Spike, wait! That's not a real-Oh!" Sunset cringed, when Spike licked his tongue on the frozen metal pole and instantly got stuck.
"Hey!" Spike exclaimed, with his tongue stuck out of his mouth. "I'm stuck! I'm stuck!"
Sunset Shimmer couldn't help but laugh as she walked over, "Hang on, Spike. I'll help you out."
"Oh, my tongue," Spike moaned, as he was being carried away by Sunset Shimmer, through the city. "I'm never gonna eat candy canes in this world....ever."
"I should've warned you, that wasn't a real candy cane, Spike," Sunset chuckled lightly. "That and I probably should've warned about sticking your tongue on a frozen piece of metal."
"Now you tell me." He grumbled.
"Oh, come on, Spike. Just be glad that I knew what to do in that kind of situation. Otherwise, you would've been stuck out in the snow, for up until springtime. And we don't have Winter Wrap-Up here."
"Yeah, yeah. But enough about the whole metals and tongue thing. Let's go to Sugarcube Corner! I'm hungry!"
At the mention of the said cafe, Sunset immediately froze, "Actually, it's Sugarcube Cafe in this world, Spike," Sunset corrected the dog, before she turned. "And how about we try someplace else for lunch?"
"What else is there?" Spike asked. "Sugarcube Corner-I mean, cafe is all I can think about! I still remember the bagels they served there, the last time I was here with Twilight. They're pretty good!"
"Yeah, well I know of another place that serves even better foods than bagels," Sunset excused.
Later, the two friends were at the Canterlot Mall, where they both enjoyed themselves a plate of pizza. Cheese pizza to be precise.
"Hmmm!" Spike smiled, as he enjoyed his slice. "Wow, where've you been all my life?!" He asked the pizza, wolfing it down.
Sunset chuckled while enjoying to herself her own slice of the pizza pie, "I told you, you would like it," She smiled, before her eyes widened to see the Rainbooms walking down the hall. "Oh no!" She moaned, dashing to hide behind a large trash bin in the area.
"What? Is this 'mall security' coming?" Spike asked, about to turn his head around, but was suddenly snatched away by Sunset.
"Shhhhhh!" She hushed the dog. Sunset huddled to herself behind the bin, with Spike in her arms. The two stayed quiet as the Rainbooms walked past them and disappeared out of sight.
"Sunset?" Spike began. "What's going on? Why are you hiding from them? Aren't you girls supposed to be friends?"
"You can drop the act, Spike," Sunset sighed. "I know, you know about Anon-a-miss."
"What?! How did-Uh," Spike tried to compose himself as he struggles to feign his obliviousness, "What are you talking about? What's an Anon-a-miss?" Of course, Sunset was clearly not buying it, as she raised an eyebrow at him and scowled. "Okay, you got me," He sighed in defeat. "But how did you know?"
"With this," Sunset pointed to her necklace, containing her geode and its power. "Whenever I touch someone, I'm able to read their thoughts and memories. Including yours, when I was petting you back in the park."
"Oh! So you mean....I'm busted," Spike whimpered, as Sunset nodded her head. Knowing there's no point in talking his way out now, Spike began truthfully, "Alright, I admit it. I was out looking for you to deliver your present when I overheard the Rainbooms talking about this Anon-a-miss thing, and you know the rest by now. But I wasn't lying when I wanted to spend some times with you for a good time."
"I know, Spike," Sunset replied. "I know. But still...."
"Twilight would've wanted it." He justified. "That, and I would want to keep you company."
"Even if you're a victim to Anon-a-miss, and everyone are all pointing their fingers towards me? Spike, you weren't even there. You don't know what it's like!"
"Then tell me more about this 'Anon-a-miss' thing. What happened? How did it started? And why?"
"I....I don't know. I'd rather not relive through that horrible nightmare again."
"Come on, Sunset. I want to help you. But I can't help you as a friend, or an assistant, if you won't tell me." Again, Sunset was reluctant, "I'm here for you," Spike reassured, as he looked into her eyes. Though doubtful at first, Sunset complied as she relates the whole story to the dog.
"And that's how it happened," Sunset frowned. "I should've known they would be so quick to forget I was their friend like that, when it all happened. Though I don't blame 'em. Who could ever forget the demon I was? Even right now, I can tell, there will always be someone who finds it easier to remember me as the villain, than it is to forget I've changed and moved on from that," The fiery girl frowned, recalling the drama she went through, courtesy of Wallflower Blush.
Spike was, of course, saddened by her story, "Sunset, I...."
"Just go, Spike," Sunset stood up, taking her leave. "You've done enough for me, for today."
"But Sunset..."
"Tell Twilight I said, 'Happy Hearth's Warming Eve,'" Spike watched walking away. He happened to catch a small tear drop falling from her eyes, glistening in the light, which she tried to hide.
Spike ran forward to catch up to Sunset. "Sunset, hold on!"
"Spike. Please, don't make this harder for me than it has to be," The girl muttered.
"And I don't want you to be any lonelier than I was," Spike countered.
"How can you say you're alone? You've got your own family. You've got Twilight and her friends. Don't you?"
"Yeah, sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't." The dog shrugged. "But still, I was left out, just like you were. I don't want that to happen to you again. So please, just let me help you. Isn't that what family was all about?"
"Help?" Sunset cringed at the mention of family, as she sighed, "Applejack and Rainbow Dash once considered me family as well. But then when Anon-a-miss happened, they were so quick to turn a blind eye on me and left me out in the cold, as if I was never their friend! Like they just instantly forgot how I've changed, and how I helped in their fight to defeat the Dazzlings! Some help they were!" She hissed angrily.
"I know." The little dragon turned dog agreed. "That was wrong of them, just as much as-"
Looking at the purple dog, Sunset began, "Spike, I need you to be honest. Would you do the same thing to me, if your most embarrassing secret was revealed for the world to see? And would you, like everyone, be so quick to accuse me of being the suspect?"
Spike was silent, unsure of how to answer that question. Scratching his head a few times, he lets out a deep breath and answered, "I'll admit. I'd be very angry if that happened. If not, greatly humiliated. And if you were classed as the prime suspect, then....maybe?"
"Spike, I asked you to be honest. I won't accept a 'maybe.'"
"I know. Believe me, I'm really being honest with you," Spike scratched his ear, searching his thoughts before he spoke, "But again, I don't know what would happen or how it could be handled. And I guess it's kinda obvious, but it's much easier to just assume the accused as the prime suspect," Sunset, of course, was not too pleased with the young dragon's answer.
"That's what I'm afraid of," She frowned.
"But Twilight obviously trusts you," Spike said, to which Sunset looked at him with peaked interest. "And she did helped you to clear your name, when no one else would. She's really smart after all," Sunset nodded in agreement as Spike continued, "So if she can trust you, then I can too. I would've even helped you more than Twilight would!"
"So it's only if Twilight puts her faith in me that you would trust me then?" Sunset asked in an even displeased tone.
The young dragon turned dog was confused, "Isn't it a good thing?" Sunset shook her head as she took her leave. "Sunset, wait!" Spike barked, quickly running after the fiery girl. "How can having faith in Twilight not be a good thing?"
"The way I see it, it's only possible to clear my name from a crime I didn't commit, if Twilight was around to help," Sunset sighed. "But what happens when Twilight's not around and I'm in trouble again? Would you still have faith in me?" Stumped, Spike remained silent, unsure of what to answer, "That's what I thought."
"No, it's not what you think, Sunset!" Spike quickly spoke. "It's complicated, okay?"
"Life is always complicated, just as family is nothing but trouble!" Sunset frowned, "Admit it, Spike. You understand how it is, better than anyone! You're right about how lonely you're really are! Twilight and her friends have left you out on so many momentous friendship activities, and this one isn't any different!"
"Hey, leave them out of this!" Spike barked.
"No, actually, I'd like to ask you another important question, Spike," Sunset began. "This Starlight Glimmer, she seems to be getting along really well with Twilight and her friends. In fact, it seems to me she's replacing you."
Spike could hardly believe his ears, "What?! No, that's not true!" Spike whimpered in fright. "She can't! She wouldn't. I'm Twilight's number one assistant. Her best friend!"
"Number one assistant?" The fiery girl began in an angry tone. "Or what if you've become her number two assistant, what would you do then? Would you go out of your way to conduct a sabotage on the friendships between Twilight and Starlight Glimmer?"
"What?! No, of course not! Starlight's my friend too!"
"Oh really? What about the time when Owlowiscious came into Twilight's life and you felt threatened by him, because you were afraid he would replace you? Why is Starlight Glimmer so much different from Owlowiscious?"
"That happened a long time ago. We've moved on from that. I've moved on from that. I know better than that!"
"And yet, here you are, still left out. Just like the CMCs, before they decided to frame me for a crime I didn't do, and I was left out in the cold. And why did they do it? Because they were threatened I was replacing them in their families." Sunset said bitterly, not noticing the sadness taking over Spike, "It's only a matter of time before you decide to do the same to Starlight."
"You're one to talk," Spike frowned, "You're so big on how we wouldn't judge others, based on their pasts. And here you are doing the same thing to me."
"I was just making a point, Spike."
"Oh yeah? Well, what about your family, Sunset?" Spike countered. "Where are they now? Did you get replaced by them?"
Finally driven to her point, Sunset's eyes snapped wide as a tear threatened to drip down her cheek. Frustrated for a comeback, Sunset snarled at Spike, "You know what, Spike? Why don't you just go away!" She spatted. "I don't need this. I don't need you, just like your friends don't need you! In fact, I don't need anybody's sympathy for this holiday! I don't owe Equestria or this world anything!"
Letting her anger take full control, Sunset ranted, "Every time I trusted somebody and thought things were finally going right, I get burned! You, Twilight, my parents, Anon-a-miss, Wallflower Blush, the Rainbooms, EVERYBODY!! So you know what? I say FORGET about friendship, or family! What good are they if they'll never forget my past, and give me peace! There's just no point in me trying to be good anymore!"
Spike, if not, everyone else were all taken aback at the outburst from the fiery girl. Not to mention the force of the pent up rage she kept inside of her.
Slowly replaying Sunset's words in his head, Spike finally whimpered some tears, "At least I'm willing to keep my family," Sunset was taken aback by the shock from Spike's haunting whimper. "Do you have any idea what it's like for me? To be alone, without knowing what became of my family, or why I was alone to begin with? To be raised in a society where everyone treated me differently, because to them, I'm considered an outcast, or a foreigner? It was awful. Back then, the only ones who even considered me a family were Twilight, her family, and Princess Celestia!"
"Spike..."
"Maybe I was threatened to being replaced, maybe because they're my family. My only family! I have nowhere else to go! Not the Dragon Lands, not Canterlot, and probably not the Crystal Empire, because I'll never find Twilight in any of them! While you...you're just so easy to give up on your family, because you're too afraid to face your past again. I've made mistakes too, you know. And forever after, they'll always haunt me, but I never quit on Twilight or our friends because of them! You've seen my past. I'm sure you also got a glimpse of me as a rampaging out of control greedy dragon! But did I thought about running away from my friends because of that?"
"Spike...I-"
"Even now, with Starlight as our friend, and with Twilight and the girls including her more than they did with me, I still care because we're still family."
"I know. I'm-"
"And I thought I made the right choice when I decided to stay with you for awhile, because you needed some company. Maybe because when I looked at you, I thought I saw myself," Sunset gasped in further shock as she looked at the saddened dog, "But maybe you're right. You're better alone!" With a tear flowing from his eyes, Spike looked away, "Because I may be wrong. I'm nothing like you!" With that, Spike took his leave, dashing towards the nearest exit and into the snow.
"Spike, wait I-" Sunset frantically called out, as she chased after the little dog, forcing her way through the crowds. "Spike! Wait, I'm sorry! I-!" But it was no use. The dog was gone, leaving the girl to scream in frustration as she collapsed in the snow, "Why am I so bad at being good?" She wailed.
"Sunset?" A voice called, to which Sunset turned to see Applejack looking at her with concern, with the rest of the Rainbooms. In response, Sunset took off running, "Sunset! Sugarcube, wait!"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!!" Sunset screamed, picking up a fresh snowball and chunked it at the Rainbooms, before she too disappeared, leaving the girls with shock expression.
Chasing the Dragon (When Christmas Comes to Town) Ohana
"Spike?" Sunset called out, as she ran through town, searching desperately for the dragon turned dog. "Spike? Where are you? Come on, we can talk about this!" She reasoned, but the only response she received were the confused and sympathetic looks from the surrounding pedestrians. "Spike?"
Turning her attention towards the people around her, Sunset pleaded, "Has anyone seen a little dog? A little purple dog with green floppy ears? Someone, help me, please?" But it was no use.
The only answer she received were people shaking their heads in denial of ever seeing a little dog who matched Sunset's description.
Once again, Sunset lost all hope as she slumped down into the snow, huddling herself up close, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth and comfort, while hiding her tears from the world.
"Why? Why is it always me? Why can't this ever end?" Sunset cried. "What more do I have to do pay for my misdeeds? When will I fully be redeemed? Why is it so hard for me to be good? Why did I have to drive my friends away like this?"
"Maybe it's time we end this, don't you think?" Another voice echoed, to which Sunset looked up to see herself, from the past.
“W-What?” Sunset asked in disbelief. “Who-who are you?”
“I’m you, of course!” The other Sunset replied. “I’m the you you had rejected! Just like how your so-called friends rejected you! You said it yourself, remember?”
“What? No, I didn’t mean it!”
“Oh you don’t? Well, to me it seems that way. And you were right, we don’t have any friends. Friendship never worked out for us! Never did, and it never will!”
“It worked! When I-“ Sunset Shimmer shook her head in disbelief as she stammered, “Why am I even talking to you? You don’t know a thing about friendship like I do now!”
“Oh do you? Then I am to assume that this wretched annual holiday of your ‘friends’ betrayal you are doomed to endure forever and after is a part of this ‘magic’ of friendship?” The other Sunset Shimmer mocked. “Yeah, some joyous holiday this turned out to be! Are you so happy about it? Because I’m not!”
“You’re right. I’m not. I hate it! I hate this holiday! It was supposed to be a family holiday! Applejack called me family, and yet when Anon-a-miss came, I was left alone in the snow! She hated me, and yet, when Apple Bloom confessed, what did she say?!”
“Of course not Bloom, I never hate ya. You're family” The other Sunset Shimmer mocked with a toothy grin. “ Blech! What was that?! What kind of child rearing was that?!” Angry past Sunset then turned to the present, “Well you’re no better than her, either! When those insolent little brats confronted you and asked for your forgiveness, you were so quick to accept their apologies! How pathetic you were!”
“You’re right. What was I thinking then?”
“Face it, girlfriend. Friendship has made you weak.”
With every words spoken from her angered past, Sunset finds herself seething with rage as she hissed, “Rainbow Dash - Lazy, arrogant! Fluttershy - Weak! Rarity, forever whining how bitterly unfair life is. Applejack and Pinkie Pie are swines!”
Angry Sunset Shimmer couldn't help but chuckle in her own sense of twisted amusement, “Wow, I never knew you had it in you. Of course, I should’ve known better, considering you and I were one and the same.”
Sunset snapped back to reality when she realized, “What was I thinking?!” She sobbed. “I can’t... I can’t just hate them like that! They were just kids...who misunderstood! This isn’t right...but it hurts so bad!” Sunset wept, “I can’t keep hating. It’s just not right. That’s not who I am anymore. I tried to love everyone. And yet, I’m constantly struggling.”
A moment of silence passed, when suddenly the air around Sunset came alive. The winds howled fiercely as the snowflakes bit across Sunset Shimmer’s whole form. The clouds grew darker to match the shadows of the fiery girl’s emotions. Then, the sound of haunting ghostly wails filled the air, as they danced around Sunset.
“You’re right,” Sunset’s darker half hissed. “I hate those fools.” She breathed heavily, as she continued to rant, “Hate, hate, hate, HATE!! I hate for what those girls did to me! I hate how they made me weak! I hate how they tried to kill me! I hate how they never loved me! I HATE HOW THEY COULD NEVER GIVE ME PEACE!!!”
Before her vengeful self's ranting can go on any further, her ears perked up to a beautiful, melodious, soothing singing in the air. Lifting her head up from her slump, Sunset wiped the tears away from her red stained eyes as she turned her attention in the direction of the song.
At first, Sunset wasn't in the mood to listen the song. However, there was something rather different about this song. It has feelings in it. It had hooked the girl's attention. As if she was under a spell, Sunset stood up, brushed the snow off herself before she was on her way.
At last, Sunset arrived at the centre of the town, where a large Christmas Tree was on display. Standing before the tree was a chorus of children who were all singing the song.
Sunset just stood there in silence, listening as every notes from the children's song was like a chorus of angels from the heavens. Every words from the children chorus brought warmth and comfort, as she felt a fuzzy, warm feeling melting the ice that froze itself around her heart. In that moment, Sunset couldn't help but remember a time when she was a little filly, growing up in Equestria, how eager and excited she was to opening up her presents. Presents that she received from her loving parents who all looked at her with love in their eyes, and happiness written on their smiling faces.
Furthermore, after Anon-a-miss's reign of terror had ended, Sunset recalled how relieving it was for her to celebrate the holiday with her friends and their families, almost the same way she once celebrated with her families back in Equestria. Almost.
At the end of the song, the people all applauded the children for their performance. Sunset's, who suddenly experienced a soothing, warming embrace at the heart, was able to smile again, as if the song had reignited something deep within her, melting the ice away.
"That's so beautiful," She smiled tearfully.
"Yes it is," A familiar voice agreed with equal love, to which the girl turned her attention to the dog she had been looking for.
"SPIKE?!" Sunset exclaimed.
"SUNSET?!" Spike returned the surprise.
"What are you doing here?!" They both asked each other in unison. "What am I doing here? What are you doing here? Jinx!" The two looked at each other for a moment, before they started to exchange laughs.
After their laughter died down, Sunset explained, "I was just listening to that beautiful song."
"So am I!" Spike replied.
The two were later walking together, down the lit streets of Canterlot, before they arrived at park, "I was about to go back home to Equestria," Spike explained. "But then I heard that song and it just....just...I guess I just wanted to stay until the end of the song. Never thought I'd see a tree just as amazing and spectacular than the ones we have back in Equestria."
"Well we do have our own version of Twilight here, plus you," Sunset replied. "So it shouldn't come off as a surprise."
"Right....I guess this city's just too small for two Spikes then," Spike frowned before he turned to take his leave. "Well, see you around....I guess."
The girl turned her attention to the dog, "Back to Equestria?" She asked.
"Where else? It's home."
"Wait, Spike. You know you can stay here as long as you'd like," Sunset offered.
"Are you sure I wouldn't be a burdened to you? I mean, you just said you won't have anything to do with friendship anymore."
"I just said all that because I was angry. But I didn't mean any of them Spike. Honest."
"Whatever. I'll just be out of your hair soon."
"But didn't you say you were left out again, from Twilight?"
"Eh, Twilight and the girls forget me all the time. I kinda got used to it."
"But that's not fair, Spike! You don't deserved to be alone!" With that, Sunset Shimmer had an epiphany, as she recalled:
"Oh come on. As Pinkie and Twilight would say, nobody should be alone on Hearth's Warming Eve...or in this case, Christmas."
"And I thought I made the right choice when I decided to stay with you for awhile, because you needed some company. Maybe because when I looked at you, I thought I saw myself,"
Sunset gasped, before she quickly scooped Spike up in her arms.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" Spike exclaimed, before he was met with a loving hug from the fiery girl. "Sunset?"
"You were right, Spike," Sunset smiled. "You and I aren't that much different from each other. Like some of our friends, we're just as bad as we were in the past," The girl chuckled as she recalled, "I mean, I turned into a rampaging she-demon. But you...you turned into a 10 story out-of-control dragon, fueled by greed."
Spike couldn't help but smile along, before Sunset looked into his memories to see, "And you....you tried to frame Owlowiscious under the false notion that he'd replace you as Twilight's assistant? Or how you exploited Twilight's princess name to fulfill your own personal desire during Canterlot's royal summit?"
Spike blushed a shade of crimson pink as he replied, "I'm so ashamed."
"Aw, I know you are, Spike. I know," Sunset said as she gently stroke him on the head. "But believe you and me, I've done worst."
The young dragon turned dog looked up at Sunset before he barked, "But at least you've made it up for it, and got past all that. Right?"
Sunset smiled as she sat down on a bench, "You're right, Spike," She confirmed, while delving deeper into his thoughts. "Just like how you've started working harder to make up for those mistakes to Twilight and the girls."
"You got that right."
"So you know what?"
"What?"
"Let's be alone together. If our worlds chose not forget our past, then let them remember us for our misdeeds, and let us make new memories together. Memories worth remembering for a lifetime."
"You mean it?" Spike ask with hope in his eyes.
"Of course. Like you said, Spike," Sunset smiled as she petted the little dog on the head. "Nobody should be alone, especially on Christmas. Or as the people would say in Hawaii, 'Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind, or forgotten.'"
Spike pondered on the last words, which he repeated, "Nobody gets left behind or forgotten."
"Speaking of who...." Sunset sighed as she looks off to the city in the distance, "I'm gonna have to see my friends again, sooner or later. Let's get this over with," The girl soon got up and proceeded to walk back to the city, when she stopped and hesitated.
"What's the matter now?" Spike asked.
"....I'm scared," Sunset admitted. "I'm scared of how I can move on from here. I'm scared that this will happen all over again. I'm scared of history repeating itself."
Spike nodded in understanding, "I know how that feels. Believe me," He recalled the numerous mistakes he continued to make, despite having known better. "But don't you worry. Things will work out. I'll even go with you. I'm still just as bad as you were, aren't I?"
Sunset couldn't help but smile sweetly, "That's sweet of you of Spike," She said. "But you don't-"
"Hey, I'm not asking to go with you. I am coming with you. We've both made some big mistakes, but we can learn from them in the end. Life can knock us down. But we can choose to get back up. Right?"
Sunset smiled, wiping her tear away, "You're right," She sobbed happily, before she wrapped her arms around Spike, holding him close. "T-T-T-Thank you, Spike!"
"What are assistants for?" Spike asked, before they parted and he started off before Sunset. "Come on, let's GO-WHOA!!"
"SPIKE!!"
Spike had slipped on a patch of black ice, causing him to fall down a snowy slope and onto a frozen lake.
"Spike!" Sunset shouted, as she followed the dog. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I think so," Spike replied, as he got up.
However, the little dog spoke too soon, when cracks were starting to form beneath him, and the ice suddenly gave away, and Spike fell in.
"AAAAAHHHH!!!!" The little dog screamed, feeling the sheer cold, wet sensation running his fur up as the waters draped themselves over him with every splash of his paws. "HELP!! HELP ME!!"
"SPIKE!!!" Sunset shouted as she slowly, but carefully made her way towards him, across the ice that threatens to break beneath her. "Hold on, I'm coming!"
"Hurry! I'm freezing!!" Spike panicked, with his life flashing before him. Especially the memory he once had of when he first fell into a freezing lake, during Twilight's first Winter Wrap Up.
"Easy," Sunset said, as she laid down on her stomach and held her arms out to grab Spike, before she pulled him close for warmth. "Oh, Spike. Are you okay?"
"Yeah," The little dog sneezed. "Besides being dripping wet and cold, I'm okay. Thanks to you, Sunset."
"Twilight would kill me if I let anything bad happen to you," The fiery girl chuckled, as she turned to walk away. "Come on. Let's go." Unfortunately, the ice continues to be unfriendly, as they once more gave away beneath Sunset and Spike, and the lake reclaimed its lost prey, with an additional fiery girl with it.
Sunset quickly kicked her legs out as she swam back up to the surface, while carrying Spike in her arms, with the coldness of the dark lake attempting to seize both herself and Spike back to its dark depths. Nevertheless, Sunset kept on swimming until she reached the surface, only to her horror, she finds it's been frozen over herself and Spike. Sunset grunted bubbles from her mouth as she frantically bangs on the ice surface, struggling to break free with herself and Spike. But no matter how hard she pounded, the ice refused to break apart.
With every seconds that she pounded against the ice, Sunset felt herself and Spike lose their consciousness as they began to sink further into the darkness of the water.
But just when all hope seems lost, a hand broke through the ice from above, before a figure dives into the water with a thunderous splash and picks up the two friends and took them back up to the surface.
Sunset opened her eyes up, to see her vision was too blurry to make out the most accurate and clear image of her's and Spike's rescuers. Exhausted, cold, and wincing from the wind's bites as it blows across her dripping wet form, Sunset passed out, with Spike in her arms.
"Sunset!" Twilight called out, running through the streets, passing through a crowd of busy people who carried on with their shopping, while paying no mind to the desperate girl. "Sunset Shimmer? Sunset Shimmer?! Where are you?!! Sunset!!!" Just then, a little purple dog appeared, "Did you find her, Spike?" She asked.
"Sorry Twilight," Spike shook his head. "But no."
The girl let out a frustrated groan, "We have to find her, Spike. We need to at least make sure she's alright."
"Looking for Sunset Shimmer?" A voice asked, revealing itself to be Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo.
"Girls?" Twilight asked, adjusting her glasses to make sure she was seeing right. "What are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be..."
"We wish," Sweetie Belle sighed. "But it's just too depressing at home."
"This was our fault from the start than it is our sisters'," Apple Bloom added. "And it still is! We never meant for it to go this far, especially towards Sunset."
"So we're going to end it," Scootaloo added. "And we're going to do it right, with Sunset."
Twilight and Spike both looked to each other, before they turned back towards the girls, "I know where Sunset is!" Another voice spoke up, revealing itself to be Wallflower Blush.
"Wallflower?" The friends asked.
"Yeah, it's me," The girl sighed. "I have as much guilt than you girls for Sunset's suffering. Everybody were all finally moving on with their lives. But I'm the only one who was stuck living in the past."
"Yeah, yeah, we already know that, Flower," Puppy Spike barked. "But now we-"
"-we were all healing from all the past misdeeds, but I reopened the wound!" Wallflower continued. "I just....I know there's no excuse for what I did, but I'm really, really sorry for what I-"
"Wallflower...."
"Let me say something! I just...I just want to be noticed, but the attentions I've been getting were...."
"WALLFLOWER!!!!" Everyone shouted.
"AAAHH!!! WHAT?!" The girl exclaimed, finally snapped back to reality.
"Why don't you help us find Sunset Shimmer first, then you can apologize to her face, later?" Puppy Spike suggested.
The girl's face turned red with embarrassment, while holding a hand over her head, berating herself for making the situation longer than it needs to be, "Uh, right," Wallflower agreed.
With the moment finally calming down a bit, Spike's dog counterpart's ears perked up, "Hey!" He barked excitedly. "You hear that?" The girls all looked at the little dog, before he shouted, "It's Sunset Shimmer! She's in trouble!!"
"What?!" The girls shouted.
Not wasting another second, the girls were racing to the rescue, arriving in the park, at the frozen lake, where they saw the girl they've been looking for, walking across the treacherous fragile surface of the ice cold water.
"Sunset!" The girls all called out. But it was no use.
Sunset was too far away to hear them as she continued to walk across the ice, until finally, the ice broke, plunging Sunset Shimmer into the freezing water below.
"NOOOOOO!!!!" The girls and dog screamed in horror, as they raced down to the shorelines.
"We've got to help her!" Scootaloo was the first to step forward, only to be stopped by Twilight.
"Scootaloo, no! It's too dangerous!" The telepathic girl cautioned.
"But we have to save her!" Sweetie Belle said, frantically.
"And we will!" Twilight replied. "But we need help!"
As if she had read Twilight's mind, Wallflower Blush was already on the phone and was making one quick call, "Rainbooms!" Wallflower shouted frantically. "Rainbooms! You have to help! Sunset's in trouble!"
"Sunset?!" Applejack exclaimed, as she and the girls all sprang to life as they crowded around the girl. "Where is she?!"
Later
The rest of the Rainbooms panted heavily as they looked across the park, before they arrived at the lake, where the others were waiting.
"THERE! IN THE WATER!!" Scootaloo screamed, pointing to show a blur of orange and yellow, thumping beneath the ice cold surface in vain, with Twilight carefully levitating herself, slightly above the ice, reaching out for the fiery girl.
"HOLD ON, SUNSET!!" Rainbow screamed, activating her geo's power to race across the ice, only to slip on the icy surface. "Whoa!"
"DASH!!" Twilight shouted, holding her hands out, quickly catching the athlete just in time.
"Phew, thanks Twi," Rainbow panted, catching her breath as the rest of the Rainbows arrived on a set of Rarity's diamond shields, all crafted together as a makeshift raft.
From up above, they could see Sunset Shimmer desperately pounding against the icy surface, before her expression drained away completely, along with what's left of her energy, as she began to disappear into the darkest depths of the lake.
"SUNSET!!!" Activating her geo's power, Applejack punched the ice hard with her fist, breaking it apart to create a hole in it. Before the ice could have the chance to recover, the country girl tied a rope around her waist and held the other end to the Rainbooms. "As soon as I grab her, you'll pull us up!"
"Got it!" Rainbow Dash nodded, as Applejack dove into the water to rescue Sunset Shimmer.
The water was cold and dark, and Applejack can feel its bitter embrace as it prepares to claim her life as its next victim. Applejack can feel her lungs burning and straining through her chest as she held her breath, while swimming hard and struggled to locate her fiery friend amidst the murky water.
The water was too dark, and it was getting too cold for Applejack to stay submerged any longer. The strong girl was about to swim back up, when her geo amulet started to glow in its aura. And in that moment, Applejack could see a crimson red glow, piercing the darkness. It must be Sunset Shimmer! It has to be!
Applejack swam hard, towards the light, reaching her hands out.
Back on the surface, the Rainbooms and the CMCs all waited anxiously for their friends. Suddenly, the rope jerked, "Applejack's got something!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.
"Then pull!" Rainbow shouted, as everyone all grabbed ahold of the rope, and with all their might, they hauled Applejack, out of the lake to present her catch.
"SUNSET!!!!" The Rainbooms hauled the freezing, wet, and barely conscious Sunset Shimmer, back onto safe grounds before the lake could claim them as well.
"Is she alright?" Fluttershy asked anxiously.
"Not unless we get her somewhere warm and fast!" Rainbow answered. "C'mon! Let's go!"
"Hey! What's she holding?" Pinkie asked, prying the fiery girl's arms to reveal...
"Spike?!" The girls exclaimed in bewilderment, and confusion, as they repeatedly turned their eyes back and forth, looking at the Spike who was at a safe distance, to the Spike who was held in Sunset's arms.
“Two Spikes?!” Twilight said in confusion. “How can this be?”
“We’ll worry about that later!” Applejack replied, gently picking up Sunset and Spike, carrying them in her arms. “Let’s get these two warmed up! Nothing like a sip of my granny’s soup to beat the cold.”
“Well then let’s go already!” Rainbow Dash said anxiously, as the girls all bounded for home.
However, while no one was paying attention, the geode amulet around Sunset’s neck was surrounded in an uneasy aura of magic that crackled intensely. The same magic which flowed down Sunset’s arms, then towards Spike, and the two squirmed uneasily in their subconscious states.
Exit Anon-a-miss. Enter the Dragon. Phoenix Reborn
After they had rescued Sunset Shimmer and Spike from, what could’ve been, their icy, watery doom, the Rainbooms quickly rushed them to the nearby hospital.
"Poor Sunset," Fluttershy frowned, looking sadly at the once fiery girl, who now lies in bed, squirming under the layers of thick blankets over her for warmth. "Aw Spike, the poor dear," The timid girl said, looking down at the dragon-turned-dog she is carrying in her arm, wrapped in a bundle of wooly cloths.
Like Sunset, Spike was squirming uneasily in the shy girl's arms, kicking and thrusting his paws out aggressively, attempting to wriggle himself free from Fluttershy.
"Looks like the little guy's got it, worse than Sunset!" Rainbow frowned in concern.
"Oh I'm sure," Fluttershy nodded. "If I had ever fallen into that lake, I....Oh! I just can't bear to imagine how horrid it must be!" She said, tightening her embrace around Spike.
At the same time, Twilight, and the other Spike walked into the room, with Applejack and Wallflower Blush following, "How are they doing?" Applejack asked. "Anything yet?"
"They're still zonked out, that's for sure," Rainbow frowned. "I'm just glad we managed to find them in time."
"Just a few more minutes, and they'd be goners for sure!" Pinkie spoke up, receiving disturbed stares from the others. "What?"
Forgetting what the eccentric girl just said, the Rainbooms all turned their attention to Sunset, seeing the uneasy expression clear on her face, together with the sound of her moans, that are strangely in sync with Spike's.
For what felt like an endless passing of long hours, Sunset began to open her eyes, to an endless void of darkness.
"Where-OH!!" Sunset began, slowly getting up, and was met with a blast of cold wind. So cold, it threatens to freeze her.
The girl quickly wrapped her arms, struggling in futile to warm herself from the sheer cold, "Where...where am I?" Sunset shivered, her teeth chatting, feeling her fingers and toes turning numb, as if she's experiencing a severe frostbite. "Spike?" The girl cried out for the little dragon. "Spike? Spike! Where are you!!"
No answer came. For a moment, her only companions was silence and the cold. To further the girl's discomfort, dread took hold of her, as the clammy feeling of loneliness started crawling up her back, fueling her anxiety that she could be trapped in a state of limbo, where she could be alone for all eternity.
Shaking those fearful thoughts away, Sunset desperately called out, "Help! Is anybody there?!" Another blast of the wind knocked her down, with another ice cold sensation. "Please, help me!"
Again, there was no answer. At least, for a short while. An answer came, in the form of her friends' angry accusations, with hints of demonic tones.
"How could you do this to us?" Applejack sounded.
"We trusted you Sunset!" Rainbow's voice snarled. "We thought you were our friend!"
"How could you do this?" Rarity sobbed. "After all we've been through together?"
"You must've just been pretending to be our friend, when all along you were after our secrets!!" Pinkie's voice hissed from sadness to anger. "I knew you're still a bad guy! You secret stealer!"
"You're still the pony we thought you weren't anymore." Fluttershy teared up. "You're not our friend!"
"Am I?" Sunset's voice was heard, much to the cold frighten girl's confusion. "AM I?!!! LET US FIND OUT!!!"
Every hateful words spoken from the Rainbooms from the past is like a blade cutting across her skin. Every shots fired at her heart. Every thing Sunset's every stood for to make a difference being skewered by accusations and betrayal.
To further her torment, Trixie's voice was heard, "Why, I assumed you were. You tricked your friends, stole their secrets, and posted them for all to see. I could've done better."
Then, came the most heart wrenching flashback of all. One that Sunset would never knew, had Wallflower not interfered.
"I remember this one!" Sunset moaned, as an image projected itself before her. "I saw it! Moments before the Memory Stone was destroyed!"
In her vision, Sunset could see Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy sitting in the cafeteria together, surrounded by angry students, all fighting amongst themselves, brothers, sisters, friends, all divided apart, "All because of Anon-a-Miss," Rainbow Dash sighed.
"Do you really think Sunset Shimmer is Anon-a-Miss?" Fluttershy asked.
"I don't know!" Rainbow replied. "I don't want to believe it, but who else could've gotten all our secrets?"
"I know what you mean," The shy girl spoke. "We let her into our hearts, and now...."
"She was our friend! More than a friend-she was family!"
"Maybe-Even family makes mistakes."
"Maybe. I don't know if you can forgive them, though."
Those last few words echoed, ringing like bells all around Sunset, threatening to break both her mind and heart.
"So even though they didn't want to believe I was Anon-a-Miss, they still chose to believe it was me," Sunset muttered, tightening a hand into a fist. "They chose to believe.....they chose Anon-a-Miss OVER ME!!!!" She wailed.
More haunting whispers were heard. Each more ice chilling than the last that can drive a person mad.
"Anon-a-miss."
"Secret stealer."
"Thief."
"Omg did you see what she posted about u???."
"Keep posting more."
"What kind of monster."
“No! No! No! PLEASE!!!” Sunset pleaded. “Stop! Stop! Make it stop!”
But the nightmare didn't listen as they continue their hateful assault on the girl, who was left alone to plead for them to cease and desist.
"It won't stop!" A demonic voice boomed. "It will never stop! None of this will!" In a burst of fire, the figure revealed herself before Sunset's fearful eyes.
There, standing before her, flapping those horrid, monstrous bat-like wings, looking down at her with those icy cold eyes, was Sunset herself. Her past demon. Her inner demon. Her dark side.
"No!" Sunset pleaded, straining to deny the sight of her she-demon. "It can't be!"
"But it is," Demon Sunset cackled menacingly. "You can deny all you want, but it's never going to change. You knew this was going to happen, sooner or later. Me, stuck deep inside you. Did you really think you could get rid of me that easily?" The demon mocked. "Well, I have bad news for you girl. You can't! I was never gone. Because I am you. The real you. When the Elements of Harmony struck me with their magic, I was trapped inside. A prisoner of this pathetic, goody-two shoes persona you so desperately tried to pass yourself off as. But now, thanks to those three ungrateful brats and that sniveling Wallflower Blush, and her Memory Stone, they had reminded us of the pain we had endured from those who betrayed us.”
“They rejected us!” The demon continued to rant. “Turned the world and our ‘friends’ against us! They reminded us that they were never our family! Face it, Sunset. Friendship has failed you. Anon-a-Miss has scarred us for life. There’s no healing for such wound as deep as Anon-a-Miss.”
“They wronged us, and I will make it right! And there’s no one to blame but the CMC, the Rainbooms, and Wallflower for their betrayals. They all played a part in my resurrection. And they will all pay dearly, with their lives!!”
"No! You can't!" Sunset winced, struggling to get up, but was forced back down by an invisible force.
"Oh please, dear sweet Sunset," The demon chided. "There's no point of making a change, when the world can't forget about our misdeeds. You said it yourself. We're cursed to endure all this. History will keep repeating itself for you. You did something wrong, you try and make it right, but then something goes wrong, and so on and so forth. It's never gonna change." Sunset shook her head, struggling to deny every words the demon said. But she continued, "Let me take charge, sweetie. No more bad memories. No more pain. No more fear. Isn't that wonderful?" The demon grinned deviously.
Sunset turned her head away, not daring to look at the demon again. Once more, she was assaulted by all of the haunting, hateful voices surrounding her, each growing more demonic by the seconds.
But somewhere amidst the hissing, the screams, and the scornful hates, a single tearful cry was heard. It sounded almost like that of a child.
Slowly opening her eyes, wincing from the hates that recoiled in her ears, Sunset looked past the murky shadows and her demon to see a faint blur of purple.
Her visions began to clear up as she got up to her feet, ignoring the cold winds that continues to bite her skin, and the voices ringing in her ears, she started taking careful steps closer to the blur, to see it was none other but Spike, in his true dragon form.
"Spike!" Sunset gasped, in which all the demonic voices ceased and fell silent, as the girl slowly stood up on her feet, wincing from the colds that continues to numb her skin.
"Oh, look," Demon Sunset muttered. "It's that little purple runt of a dragon." The demon looked down, sneering at the sight of Sunset braving the cold, as she makes her way towards the dragon. "What are you doing?”
“I...have to get....to him!” Sunset shivered, while taking a few steps towards the dragon. “Save....him!”
“Aw, how cute. You're trying to save him. The last noble thing you will ever do." The demon taunted, before she shrugged her shoulders, “But of course, you and he aren’t that much different. I should know, I’ve seen it all.” The demon snickered as an emphasis on all. “Why don’t I take the liberty to shed some lights on the little dragon's story, with my perspective on things."
With that, Sunset's whole world was swallowed up by blinding lights, and she began to see a series of visions, each narrating different parts of Spike's story.
The first vision Sunset could see was an image of Spike’s egg.
"I'm sure Twilight has told you bits and bits of her's and Spike's story, like how he came to be her number one assistant," Demon Sunset narrated. "But I can assure you, his story holds a deeper meaning than that. While we both came from humble beginnings; plain old unicorns who have great potentials to be so much more, the little runt was forced to endure the difficulties he had to face, growing up in a society, completely foreign from the one he came from, never knowing his biological mother and father, nor his roots, his heritage, or even his name."
"Instead, fate had a wry sense of humor, as it decided the young dragon was to be found an orphan egg. A test subject for the entrance exam of Twilight Sparkle. Twilight passed the exam with, literal, flying colors, hatching the young dragon, starting their life story together. True, Twilight may have hatched Spike, but she was never his mother. But she was the only family he had ever known. Pity that she and their friends did not treat him enough to properly secure that bond."
Winter Wrap Up
The first vision Sunset Shimmer saw were all the ponies, gather around, after a successful Winter Wrap Up. But then, one pony who bears a resemblance to Applejack laughed, "Spike's sure gonna be in for a hog-sized surprise when that last piece of ice melts."
With that, the ponies all laughed together at the sight of the young dragon, snoring and curled up into a ball, on a block of ice, oblivious to the fact that he was floating out in the middle of a lake.
But rather than joining in the laughter, Sunset was rather disgusted at the ponies' amusements, as if they don't care what happens to Spike.
"Yes," Demon Sunset hissed. "Heartless, isn't it? Poor little guy. He's only a baby dragon. And a dragon his age shouldn't have to experience such cruelty."
Then, the visions shifted to when Spike was fished out of the water, shaking violently from the bitter cold, dripping down his scales, sneezing with a burst of green flames, while the ponies continue to laugh at him.
"Spike," Sunset frowned, holding her hands out.
"Don't worry, Sunset," The demon smiled deviously. "This won't go unpunished. We'll get to that, soon."
Owl's Well That Ends Well
"Spike. What is this?" Twilight asked, in a demanding and stern voice. "You said this book was missing. Well, Owlowiscious found it right where it belongs, but like this. How did it get this way?" The Princess of Friendship, back when she was a regular unicorn, presented to a frighten young Spike, with charred remains of what was once a book.
"Uh... Well, um... You see, I... I just didn't wanna disappoint you and, uh..." Spike admitted, frightened at the fact he is now busted. "Have you ever seen a dragon sneeze?"
"I've seen a dragon lie. I'm very disappointed in you, Spike," Twilight frowned.
Then, as if it wasn't crazy enough, Spike went as far as to put on a top hat, a long dark cape, and a mustache for a villain persona as he hatched a diabolical scheme to frame the owl.
"So lifelike," The dragon said, as he held up a little toy mouse. "And when Twilight discovers it shredded up on her floor, she'll think mouse-eating Owlowiscious is to blame. And I'll be number one... again! Muhahaha!"
"Reminds you of someone else, Sunset?" Demon Sunset asked.
Later, when Twilight wasn't home, Spike attempted to fake the scene of the crime, but was caught in the act. Nevertheless, he feigned horror, "That poor little field mouse! Torn to pieces! It must have been Owlowiscious! You know, since owls eat, you know, mice. What a terrible, terrible bird! He must be punished! Right?"
Of course, Twilight wasn't stupid, and didn't bought the story, "Spike! I don't know what upsets me more. That you deliberately tried to set up Owlowiscious or that you actually thought this pathetic attempt would work! You've let your jealousy get the best of you, Spike. I am truly disappointed. This is not the Spike I know and love."
Spike, of course, was heartbroken to hear this, "She... She doesn't love me anymore."
"Of course she doesn't Spike," Demon Sunset cackled. "She was never your mom, so it shouldn't be a surprise. What happened to you at the end of that Winter Wrap Up was proof enough!"
The Best Night Ever
"Yeah! This is gonna be the best night ever. You know why? 'Cause we're all gonna spend time at the Gala to..." Before Spike could finish, the girls instantly abandoned him."-gether. Or not." He sighed.
Sunset held her hands out for the young dragon, seeing the look of neglects and hurtful loneliness in his eyes. They mirrored the ones she's experience before.
"Awful, isn't it?" The demon continued. "To be left alone and neglected, in pursuit of some self interests. Pity this isn't the last time Twilight and her friends have forgotten to include Spike on those happy bonding moments they cherished so much."
With that, Demon Sunset Shimmer went on to list all the episodes in which the said Princess Of Friendship was together with her friends, yet Spike was out of the picture.
Sonic Rainboom - After Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy left Ponyville for Cloudsdale to enter in the Young Flyer's Competition, Twilight and the other girls followed, courtesy of Twilight's Walk-On-Cloud Spell. Yet, she had neglected to use that spell on Spike, thus leaving him behind in Ponyville, while they left to cheer their athletic friend.
Sweet and Elite - After receiving a letter from Rarity, stating that she is unable to return to Ponyville from Canterlot in time for Twilight's birthday, the Ponyville friends all took the next train to Canterlot. All, except one dragon who was left behind.
MMMystery on the Friendship Express - While the ponies were onboard the train towards Canterlot to enter a cake in the National Dessert Competition, Spike was absent in the contest at Canterlot. Where could he be? Where else, at the Golden Oak Library to watch over the place.
Just For Sidekick - Princess Cadence had invited Twilight and her friends to come to the Crystal Empire to help with a welcome committee, specifically for the Head of the Equestria Games. Yet, for some odd reasons, the Crystal Princess overlooked the young dragon, who is the hero of the empire.
Maud Pie - This was the Ponyville girls' first time to meeting Pinkie Pie's sister, Maud Pie. Yet, Spike wasn't present to meet her in pony. And no one even noticed he wasn't there.
Saddle Row Review - It was during which the Ponyville friends traveled to Manehattan to assist their fashionista friend, Rarity, in opening her new shop. One would think Twilight's Number One Assistant was not too far behind. But he was once again, left behind.
All Bottled Up - Twilight and her friends were leaving for Manehattan to enjoy themselves a Friendship Retreat, yet they didn't bother to bring Spike along for the trip. He was once again left behind in Ponyville, with Starlight and Trixie to watch over him.
The Mean Six - Once again, Twilight and her friends have planned themselves another Friendship Retreat. But the cruel irony was that Spike was not included in this second retreat. Instead, Starlight Glimmer had taken his place.
"Spike!" Sunset shed a single tear, looking at the dragon with limitless empathy.
Back in the void they were both trapped in, the young dragon huddled himself even closer, feeling colder and colder with every passing seconds.
"Aw, it hurts, doesn't it?" The demon taunted. "It's no wonder you never did learn how to share....otherwise, this probably wouldn't have happened."
Secret of My Excess
In this next vision, Sunset watched as the young dragon was celebrating his first birthday in Ponyville, with Twilight and their friends. Unfortunately, after receiving his presents from the girls, as well as a sapphire cupcake from the Cakes, a hat from a pony who is Cheerilee's counterpart, and a ball from a random pony, the dragon got greedy.
Initially, it started off as a simple growth spurt, in which Spike finds his arms and longs extended the next day, with an itch to plunder and steal whatever he's set his sights on. At first, all Spike stole were just a bundle of apples from Sweet Apple Acres. Then he sets his sight on toys, books, and cakes.
With every items he stole, in his unquenchable thirst of greed, the more out of control he became, before he was mutated into a huge, monstrous, rampaging dragon that nearly destroyed Ponyville.
"No! No! STOP IT!! PLEASE!!! NO, NOT MY HOME!!!" Spike screamed. "NOT MY HOME!! STOP!! NOOOOOO!!!"
"Spike!" Sunset called out to him. "It's okay, this isn't real! It's just a vision from the past!"
"Don't waste your tears on these ponies, Spike!" Demon Sunset continued to rant. "They had this coming for their disrespect and neglect! If they had spent more time with you, then I'm certain they would've known this would happen if greed goes uncheck. But they didn't! And let's not forget, THIS!!!"
The Best Gift Ever
It was last year, when Twilight and her friends were celebrating Hearth's Warming together with their friends and family, at Friendship Castle. Of course, like Sunset Shimmer's, this holiday was nothing but relaxing.
After Discord had duped Rainbow Dash into bringing a WinterChilla, which later became a Winter-Zilla at dark, the creature went on a rampage, eating anything it sees that sparkles, even Spike, whom Twilight didn't hesitate to use as live bait.
"A live bait!" Demon Sunset screamed, furthering Spike's torment. "I mean, what kind of a friend would go out of their way to use someone like you for bait? That's a new low, even for us! Doesn't that make you, angry?"
With that, Sunset Shimmer was warped back to the cold dark void, just in time to see the young dragon, engulfed in a coat of fire.
"Spike!" Sunset gasped, walking her way towards the dragon, only to suddenly fall to the cold floor, facedown by another blast of the wind.
"After all I did for them," Spike panted heavily, with the fires around him coming to life. "After everything we've been through together.....is this all the thanks I get?"
"Spike?" Sunset looked up, eyes widened in horror to see her inner demon was hovering over the young dragon.
"These insolent fools don't deserve any forgiveness," Demon Sunset said venomously. "They don't deserve us, and they especially don't deserve YOU!!! Every little good deeds we do, every requests we fulfill, they are all for nothing! History will repeat itself again and again. Just like Anon-a-Miss with us, and Winter Wrap Up and the Grand Galloping Gala with you."
From her position, Sunset looked at the expression on Spike's face, seeing the discomfort written clearly at the last two painful reminders were both a jab to his aching heart.
"You're right, Spike," The demon continued, as she snarled a devious grin. "You're right about the both of us. We're not so different after all. We're both alike in our own ways. We've been downgraded so much, when we should be getting respect!" She said, emphasis on respect by clenching her claws into a fist, emitting a bright fiery aura. "Every dreams made real, every wishes fulfilled. We can rule all, have all!"
The demon got down to Spike's level, as she placed her finger beneath Spike's chin, directing his gaze up towards her. "Just allow me inside your soul, and the worlds will be ours!"
Sunset's eyes widened in fright, quickly realizing what the demon was trying to do. She turned her attention to Spike, seeing how conflicted he is on the offer that was given to him.
Not daring to wait and find out what his decision would be, Sunset forced herself up with all her might, "STOOOOOOOPPPPPP!!!!" She screamed, rushing towards the young dragon, only to be blown away by the winds.
"Don't prolong the agony, Sunset," The demon grumbled. "This is doing what is right and just. The two worlds had this coming. So now, they must pay! With the power of the geode, this little dragon's firepower, merged with the darkness of such negativity we both share, nothing will stop us!! The world will know the terrible beauty of our fury!"
"No! Not yet....!" Sunset struggled, as she once again reaches out for the dragon. "Spike! You must believe me, this isn't the way!"
"Why not?" The demon asked on Spike's behalf. "The worlds rejected us! We don't owe this world or anyone, anything!"
"Even so, this won't make a difference!" Sunset began. "This can never take away the difficulties we had to endure from Anon-a-Miss! This is getting too far enough as it is!"
"Oh, poor naive Sunset," The demon mocked. "This is no longer about you and I. This is about little Spike here, remember? This is doing what is right and just for all the times Princess Twilight has wronged him!" Then, with a wave of her hands, the demon conjured a stain glass window, depicting the Winter Wrap Up event, when Spike was cruelly left out in the middle of the lake, and succumbed to a cold afterwards. "Go ahead. Do it Spike. You know you want to. Give it a try." The demon beckoned.
"Spike-" Once again, Sunset was silenced by the demon.
"This is for....." Spike breathed heavily, as that painful memory flashed before his eyes, fueling his rage. "This is for dropping me into that freezing lake!" Spike roared, blasting a burst of green fireball at the window.
"Bravo, Spike! Bravo!" Demon Sunset applauded gleefully, while Sunset watched helpless as the young dragon's rage unfolds before her.
"This is for using me as bait for that Winter-Zilla!" Spike roared, blasting another stain glass window that depicted an image of him, nearly getting eaten by the creature.
"Make time stand still, Spike!" The demon encouraged.
"For always leaving me behind, and forgetting me!" The dragon continued to vent out his pent-up frustration, blasting several windows in which they depicted only Twilight and the girls, with him being absent. "For never including me in any Friendship Retreats." He muttered, as he destroyed the last windows where Twilight and the girls had done some bonding experiences, but he wasn't included.
"For someone who dared called herself your friend? For someone who you looked up to as family. Yet, where was she when you were all alone? Where is she now, when you needed her the most?" Spike was about to answer, but the demon stopped him. "No need to answer, I know where. She's at a party, at Sweet Apple Acres, with her friends. And you weren’t even invited to come along?"
Spike closed his eyes, dipping his head sadly, failing to hold his tears back, "No," He shook his head. "Twilight wouldn't even let me come. She just gave me more chores to do, and to do the dishes."
"Ah, yes. The worst thing about her being the Princess of Friendship," Demon Sunset nodded, conjuring up a memory from Amending Fences. "Here. Let me put you out of YOUR MISERY!!!” The demon screamed, clapping her claws together on both sides of Spike’s head.
“AAAAAAAHHH!!!!!” Spike wailed in pain, feeling the intense heat and wave of the darkness flowing into him.
“SPIKE!!!” Sunset screamed, as she suddenly finds the strength to get back up and fought her inner demon. "Leave him alone!"
"STAY BACK!!!" The demon snarled, throwing Sunset off.
“Spike, listen to me!” Sunset said frantically. “You’re being misguided! I’ve seen more than what she has! The love we all have for you, the appreciation for all the good deeds you have done!”
“ENOUGH!!!” Demon Sunset snarled, as she raised a free hand out and fired several fireballs blasted them at Sunset Shimmer, who quickly ran around the void, to evade the fires.
“I understand you, Spike!” Sunset continued. “I know what it means for you to grow up, alone in a world that is completely foreign to the one you come from! And I know what it means to have your friends as your only family. But this isn't the answer!"
"You hear that, Spike?" The demon spatted, while maintaining her grip on the young dragon. "Sunset's telling you what to do. She's talking like she's Twilight!"
"Only because I know Twilight, just as much as you do!" Sunset quickly ducked her head, dodging an attack from the demon. "I know there's no excuse for all the times she's left you out. But she really does care about you. Her friendship for you is true! Remember, when you left Ponyville to join the Great Dragon Migration? Where was she, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash?"
Spike blinked his eyes, as he recalled, "They were....they were right behind me."
"ENOUGH!!!" The demon screamed, as she sent another gust of wind, which blew Sunset away, then she turns on Spike again. "Friendship is just a fleeting sentiment. Don't let her prolong your torment. It's time we end this now, or history will continue to repeat itself."
Again, Sunset refuses to let the demon have her way, "Spike. Don't let her take you! You're better than this! Remember what happened at the Grand Equestria Summit? When all that power got to your head? This is what she wants! And I know you don't want that!"
See Princess Spike.
"But just think of all the respects you will have," The demon tempted. "No pony will ever forget you again. No one will ever humiliate you again, or left you behind, because they will remember you for what you are. Do you want to be a leader? Or a downgraded follower?"
Spike was silent for a moment, as he pondered, "Well....being a leader does sound nice," He admitted.
"Okay, Spike. You can be a leader if you want to," Sunset spoke up. "But you're not a tyrant either. Remember, the Gauntlet of Fire? You gave up the chance to be the Dragon Lord to Ember, just for the sake of Equestria. You're a hero!"
See the Gauntlet of Fire.
"Don't you mean a zero?" The demon spatted, as she forced Sunset back, blasting an explosive fireball. "Think for a moment, Spike. If you are truly a hero, then why aren't you remembered as one? Why are you not respected as one, besides Twilight and her friends? Your name could've been known throughout all of Equestria, yet here you are, still in the shadows!"
"There's more to being a hero than just being famous, Spike!" Sunset spoke again, while holding her inflicted arm that was scorched from the blast. "It's not the amount of attentions that makes the creature a hero, but the power that comes from the heart. Remember the courage you've shown to saving the Crystal Empire, when King Sombra returned? Or the second time after that, when you saved an entire stadium from a giant frozen cloud? Or when you befriended Thorax?"
See the Crystal Empire Part 2, the Equestria Games, and a Time When They Are Changelings.
"You did all that, because you know it was the right thing to do!" Sunset continued. "You're a friend to everyone! Now, think of yourself as a friend again, and do what you truly think is right!"
At this point, the demon scowled in frustration, as she flies towards Sunset, carrying Spike in her arms, "NO MORE WORDS!!!" With that, the demon brought her claws down on Sunset.
Sunset braced herself for the blow, but it never came, "STOP!!!" Spike barked, as he held the demon's arm back. "Leave her alone!!"
"And what are you going to do about it?" The demon asked.
Spike turned to Sunset, seeing how bruised, battered, and cold she looked, before turning back to face the demon, "The same thing Sunset would do," He said, feeling an intense heat rising in his throat. "Fight for my family and for what is right," With a strong exhale of breath, a great burst of fire erupted from the dragon's mouth, burning the demon.
"NOOOO!!!!" Demon Sunset wailed, struggling to fight back. "Don't you see? I'm offering you a chance of recognition! A chance to finally free ourselves from these torments! You are sealing your fate!"
"But if we ever to choose between you, or fate," Sunset scowled, as she got back up. "We'll choose fate, all the way!"
“I NEED YOU!!!” Demon Sunset desperately wailed, before she vanished completely.
With the demon gone, everything around Sunset and Spike quickly warmed up, as every trace of dark magic melted away.
"Spike," Sunset panted, heavily from the exhilaration. "Thank you."
"No..." Spike turned to Sunset, as he bowed his head, respectfully to her. "Thank you, Sunset."
The fiery girl couldn't help but blush, as she rubbed her scorched arm with the unharmed one. It was all so overwhelming for the fiery girl, for this is actually the first time in her life, when she has actually seen Spike for what he really is. A dragon.
The girl recalled one of her studies, in which she had viewed dragons to be fearless, greedy, destructive beasts. But the young one she sees before her is living proof that contradicts everything she once believed.
Speaking of which, Sunset senses the feelings of doubts and fear that still lingers in the young dragon, "Is something the matter, Spike?" Sunset asked. "Do you want to talk about it right now?"
Knowing there's no fooling Sunset, the dragon admitted, "I'm....I'm a little scared. I'm not sure how I'll talk to Twilight again...I..I still-"
Not giving the young dragon a chance to finish, Sunset quickly picked him up in her arms, and she held him close, hugging him like he was just a toy, in need of comfort, or in this case, warmth, because of how cold they both are upon contact.
"Shhhh," Sunset quietly hushed, acting like something Fluttershy would do. "There, there Spike. Everything’s going to be okay."
The young dragon had a look of confusion, but still felt somewhat relieved as he felt most of his heartaches melting away, and a heavy weight being lifted. And yet, he was still unsure.
"Why?" Spike asked. "Why are you-I didn't ask for a hug....."
"But you need it," Sunset replied, tightening the embrace. "And I need it too."
Still unsure of what the girl just said, Spike slowly, but gladly returned the gesture, wrapping his claws around the girl's neck, nuzzling his cheek closer to Sunset's face.
"Thanks, Sunset....I...I," The little dragon wept in gratitude. “But I still....I don’t know....why? I'm always left behind, or alone. And I've made so many mistakes."
“Because it's not fair!" Sunset answered. "Sure, I've made as much mistakes than you have, and I know what it's like for me and Wallflower to be forgotten by my friends, or to even be left behind, during Anon-a-Miss. But overall, it’s not worth isolating yourself. I-“ Sunset instantly had another epiphany. “You know what? Maybe I’ve got to invite you instead.”
“Really?”
“Uh huh." The girl nodded. "We’re not cursed! But we're not perfect either. Not even our families. Because that's just life. Families make mistakes. Sometimes, they can or cannot be forgiven and forgotten. But in truth, despite all of the hates and aggressions, we still need each other. And right now, I need your help, Spike!”
“You do? But why? And how can help you? I’ll probably just-“
“Spike, It’s okay. Everything will be okay. I’ve been there, remember?" The little dragon slowly nodded as the girl lifted his chin up to look in her eyes and she continued, "Hey. Hey, I know it. You didn't mean to hurt everyone, or ruin everything." The girl sighed, "I know that you just....you just feel scared and alone, because you missed out so much."
Spike looked up at Sunset's with eyes widened in wonder, as if her words took effect on him, "I know how that feels for you to be treated unfairly, just because you're so different from the rest, or to be judged unfairly by your past mistakes. So I just want you to know that I forgive you, just as Twilight and our friends have forgiven us."
“And I’m sorry with the way I said that 'I don't need you, or anybody.'" A single tear managed to escape Sunset's eyes, which she was unable to hold back. "What I should’ve said was....I-I-I wished we didn't have to fight all the time."
Spike looked up at Sunset, shedding some tears with her, as he recalled the haunting mistakes he's made with Owlowiscious, his birthday greed, the time when he abused Twilight's princess name, how he initially didn't trust Thorax, was afraid of introducing both Thorax and Ember together, and how he instantly puts Sludge's trust over Twilight's.
"I just wished I knew what to do, in a situation without Twilight. But I don't, because all I know was being all alone, and just being good at it," Sunset sobbed. "I still have a lot to learn about friendship, because I'm not as lucky as Twilight is, because I never have anyone like you to be my first friend, or an assistant. Because you weren't there, and....and I wished I could get all of that time back! I-I need my friends! I need you Spike!” Sunset sobbed, holding the dragon closer. “I need your help! I need my family!”
Feeling his heartstrings pulled by the girl’s sorrow, Spike shed a single tear of understanding as he cried, “Me too.”
Then, with that one tear, upon landing on the dark icy floor, the cold evaporated. A single fiery light ignited from Sunset’s heart, as she was surrounded in a warm yellow fiery aura.
At the same time, a green light illuminated from Spike’s mouth, before erupting into a great storm of green fire that turned purple, further encasing Sunset in a fiery cocoon.
“Sunset?!” Spike called out.
Then, a great burst of light, as dazzling as fireworks, Sunset appeared before Spike with great blazing wings and the Fire Of Friendship glowing in her hands, banishing the cold, enveloping the void in a blinding light.
Sunset's eyes slowly blinked open, to see nothing but multiple blurs of colors, and blinding lights.
“Ah!” Sunset groaned, closing her eyes shut to shield her blurry vision from the intense light, while feeling a burning sensation from the tips of her eyelids.
“Sunset!” A voice sighed in relief, before the vision cleared up to reveal the Rainbooms, minus Fluttershy, Twilight, plus Wallflower Blush standing by her bed in concern.
“Easy Sugarcube,” Applejack shushed. “Ya had a serious hypothermia there!”
"What?" With that, Sunset looked at her surroundings, before she was able to fully process and found herself in bed, in a gown, in the hospital.
“You’re lucky we found you in time!” Rainbow added. “You must be crazy to be out on the ice like that!”
“Actually, It’s a good crazy!" Pinkie added. "If she hadn’t been out there, then Spike would’ve been a goner for sure!”
“Spike? Spike!" Sunset exclaimed, as she remembered. "Where’s Spike? Is he-“
“He’s alright Sugarcube.” Applejack reassured. “Fluttershy and Twilight....and the other Spike are all watching over him."
Shivering slightly, while barely holding onto what’s left of her strength, Sunset strained to ask, “How....is he...doing?”
"He's doing fine, since you are fine." The country girl took her hat off to scratch her head, "We heard just about everything you said.....to him.” She admitted.
"What?" Sunset asked, while breathing heavily. "What do you-"
“You were both talking to each other in your sleeps.” Wallflower answered, before she sighed. "But we gotta know....do you really mean all that stuff you said...to him...to the dog...to the dragon dog?" The girl stammered.
Nevertheless, Sunset understood what she struggled to ask as she nodded to confirm, "Every word."
"Well, Sunset," Rainbow began. "...I can say we all know for a fact that we feel the exact same way...that dragon feels." At the end, the pipes broke as Rainbow Dash cried.
"Aw, Dashie!" Pinkie frowned sadly. "Are you crying?"
"N-N-No!" Rainbow struggled to deny. "It's just....Sunset....I..I'm kinda allergic...to dragons and d-d-dogs. Of course I'm crying girl! What do you think?!" The athlete exclaimed.
After sharing a few laugh, and a short smile at the athlete's humiliation, Sunset's face shifted to a look of concern, "I...I have to go..." She struggled to get out of bed, but Applejack stopped her. "Let me see....Spike."
"Ah, no, Sunset," The country girl said. "Ya need to stay here and rest."
"ACHOO!!!" Spike sneezed, as he continues to huddle himself closer and warmer in the bundle of blanket he was wrapped in.
While Sunset was recovering in the hospital, Spike was taken to Canterlot's Animal Shelter.
"Bless you!" Fluttershy exclaimed, as she and Twilight worked together on warming the young pup up, by rubbing their palms, repeatedly stroking his back, over and over.
In the meantime, puppy Spike was barking and wagging his tail excitedly at his Equestrian counterpart.
“So you’re me, as a dragon from, where I, I mean, from where you come from?” The dog asked excitedly.
"Yes, A-CHOOO!!" Dragon Spike sneezed, before he coughed hoarsely.
"Cool!" Puppy Spike continued. "So, do I get wings? Do I breathe fire? OH!! And am I bigger than a building?"
Dragon Spike could only shake his head, feeling rather irritated from being bombarded with so many questions, "Please leave me alone, I'm having a very bad headache. A-CHOOO!!! A-CHOOO!!!" The little dragon-turned-dog went in an all out sneezing fit, much to his increasing misfortune. "Ow."
"Oh you poor thing," Fluttershy cooed, comforting the little dog with a quick gentle stroke to his back, right when Apple Bloom and her friends came into the room, with a bag.
"Here are the medicines you ordered, Fluttershy," Apple Bloom said as she handed Fluttershy the bag of medicine.
"Thank you, Apple Bloom," Fluttershy proceeded to open the bag and pulled out the medicine for Spike. "Here you go."
Spike complied as he took the medicine from Fluttershy's hand, but quickly regrets it, when he is met with an unpleasant flavor that's bitter and sour than anything he's ever eaten before. To him, it reminded of the one time he was eating salad, and it had some veggies that rotted terribly. It didn't take long before the little dragon-turned-dog spits the medicine out in repulse.
"Oh, that's disgusting," Spike groaned.
"Well what did you expect? Apple cider?" After a moment of getting settled, Twilight pets the little dragon-dog, stroking her hand across his head, "Get plenty of rest, we'll check up on you later."
With that the girls took their leave, while Spike was left alone in the room. At the same time, the girls at the hospital left Sunset Shimmer alone to recuperate in her room. Little did they know, once again, magic was at work between the two, as flickers of sparks were ignited on Sunset's geode, and Spike's collar.
That night, Sunset Shimmer finds herself in a dream. The first thing she could see was darkness. Furthermore, instead of the soft, warm feel of her bed, she felt herself lying on her back, on a hard, rock solid floor. Sunset Shimmer tried to sit up, but finds that she couldn’t.
“What?” Sunset struggled to get up. “What’s going on? Why can’t I move?” The fiery girl strains with all of her might. But no matter how hard she tried, she was unable to get up. It felt as if her whole body was frozen in place.
“Help?” Sunset called out for help. “Hey! Can anyone hear me? I’m stuck! I can’t move!”
But there was no reply. There was only silence.
“Somebody help! Please?” Sunset continued to call out, until she stopped for a moment to catch her breath.
But before she could call again, she heard what sounded to be singing. It was haunting, yet soothing at the same time.
“...You're frozen....when your heart’s not open...”
Sunset struggled to get up, while straining to move her head, searching for the source of the voices. However, she can't say that she denies every words of the song. There are truth to them.
"Love is a bird. She needs to fly. Let all the hurt inside of you die. You're frozen, when your heart's not open."
Before Sunset knew it, materializing out of the darkness before her is what appeared to a horse. But it's transparent in appearance and is coated in an icy cold aura that made the very air around it matching its temperature.
"What?" Sunset gasped. "It can't be..."
The horse walked up to Sunset, bending its head down to sniff her, before it raised its front hoof up, ready to bring it down on the fiery girl. Sunset immediately closed her eyes, bracing herself for what's about to come. The horse stomped its hoof down. But Sunset was not its target. Did it missed? She looked up, and her eyes widened to see, not a cold transparent horse, but a luminous, fiery horse that burns a bright aura of magenta, banishing away the cold.
Sunset was in awe at such beauty, before she begins to feel the warm air that snuggles around her. She starts moving her head and realizes, she can move again. She sat up, looking at her surrounding and realizes, she was somewhere in an icy tundra, surrounded by mountains of snow, and blocks of ice.
"What the-" Sunset exclaimed. "How did I get here? What am I doing here? Why did you bring me here?" Sunset asked, looking up to the fiery horse.
In response, the horse turned its whole body and begins to walk away, before turning its head to look in Sunset's direction.
"Y-You want me to follow you?" Sunset asked, to which the horse nodded with a curt nod of its head. "But where are we going?" But the horse didn't answer. Instead, it proceeded to walk away, slowly vanishing into the distant darkness, "Guess I'll just have to find out then." Wearily standing up, Sunset quickly ran after the horse, catching up to it in time to see it standing atop a hill, looking up into the dark sky.
Sunset followed its gaze, but she could only see billows of dark clouds that blocked out the sky, as if to shield the land, depriving it of the lights from the sun and the moon. Before Sunset could question, the fiery horse lets out a loud neigh that echoed across the land, shaking the snows, and banishing the dark clouds away. Then, with another neigh, the fiery horse released a colorful breath of multi-colored fires from its maws, painting the sky in its colorful lights.
Sunset was bedazzled at such majesty. She remembered from class that the lights are best known as the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. But to her, it looked like a dragon.
And speaking of which, up in the sky, appearing from the light show, is Spike himself.
"Spike?!" Sunset exclaimed.
"Sunset?!" Spike shouted, before he flaps his wings, slowing himself down to a stop for a gentle landing.
"What are you doing here?" They both asked. "What am I doing here? What are you doing here? Jinx!" The two friends burst out laughing, before they got settled.
"How did you get here Spike?" Sunset asked.
"I was going to ask you the same thing," Spike replied. "But I remember falling asleep back in the animal shelter. Next thing I know, I'm on top of a mountain, when BOOM! There was a burst of light, and here I am."
"Huh, fancy that," Sunset replied. "I was in the hospital, when I met this beautiful speck of light here. You wouldn't have anything to do with us being here, do you?" She asked, directly towards the fiery horse.
The fiery horse turned to face both Sunset and Spike, as it spoke in a deep, haunting, but gentle voice, "You two appeared lost. You are both from the land called Equestria," It turned its head, directing its attention to Sunset Shimmer. "Since the very beginning, my ancestors have plagued your ancestors. Their hatred, grievances, angers, and sorrow have all been our salvation. Their negative emotions have always fueled our powers, granting us controls over the ice. It was only a single spark of positive emotions that defeated them. A spark so powerful, it was ignited into a fire so great, so beautiful, that melted our powers," It then turned its attentions to the northern lights it had created. "Like the cold that plagued the land and all living creatures, emotional conflicts can freeze the heart, depriving it of all life. Only through the magic of friendship, love, and joy, can the frozen heart be thawed and healed to shine its light."
"Alone, fire and ice are their own separate elements. But together, there's beauty," It lectured, while displaying a simply block of ice, which it used its fires to properly melt its shape and structures into that of a graceful ice sculpture.
Sunset and Spike both walked up, admiring the light show, while understanding the meaning to the horse's message to them, "It's beautiful. So many colors." Sunset said, while shedding a tear, admiring the beauty of the light.
"Yeah, I know," Spike agreed. "It's enough to make this dragon cry."
The two both turned their attentions towards the fiery horse, but just in time to see it vanishing into tiny sparks of light that flies up to greet the light show above, "Do not forget the fire of friendship," Its voice echoed, as it took its leave, leaving Sunset and Spike alone to watch the light show.
"Funny isn't it?" Sunset began. "I've always wanted to see the Northern Lights up close, and in person. But not like this."
"Well for me, whenever I want to see a dazzling light show in the night sky, all I have to do was buy a ticket and its off to the Crystal Empire," Spike said.
Sunset couldn't help but chuckle, "The Crystal Empire huh?" She smiled. "When I was just a student, learning under Princess Celestia's tutelage, I always thought the Crystal Empire was a myth. But then again, just about everypony thought it was a myth. And I've only been there, only once," Her smile disappeared as she recalled her first meeting with Princess Twilight Sparkle. "Back when I was...."
Knowing what she was getting at, Spike quickly changed topic as he insisted, "Just forget it, Sunset. It's all in the past. Besides, if you want, I can give you a personal tour of the Crystal Empire the next time you're in Equestria."
"Really? You'd do that?"
"Girl, you're looking at Spike the Brave and Glorious. Savior of the Crystal Empire. Official Dragon Land Ambassador and promoted assistant of Princess Twilight Sparkle. It's what I do. I mean, am I a friendly neighborhood dragon or am I a friendly neighborhood dragon?"
Rolling her eyes, Sunset Shimmer chuckled as she pulled the dragon close and hugged him, "You're more than that, Spike. You're the best friend we've ever had." She said.
With a smile and a blush, Spike complimented, "You're a good girl, Sunset. Well, sort of."
"Merry Christmas, Spike."
"Merry Christmas, Sunset."
When morning came, Sunset and Spike were both awaken and sat up in their respective locations, to find themselves rejuvenated and rid of all cold and of all negativity.
It was a miracle when the doctor and the Rainbooms, plus Wallflower Blush, came into the room to check up on Sunset Shimmer, to find her right as rain, restored to good health and everything. The doctor and nurses were all baffled to see how Sunset's temperature was restored to normal.
The Rainbooms were all thrilled to see Sunset was well again, even more happier when she held her arms out, inviting them all in for a group hug.
"Oh darling!" Rarity smiled happily. "I can't tell you how relieving it is to see you well again!"
"We thought we'd never see you again," Fluttershy whimpered.
"You nearly died!" Pinkie added, as she and the Rainbooms all tightened their grips around Sunset.
As for the fiery girl, despite having recovered, it was still a lot for her to process everything that's happened. To her, it was both relieving and conflicting. It's hard for her to believe that just the other day, she was considering isolating herself away from her friends, because of a scar that they've inflicted upon her, last Christmas. But right then and there, she was getting a group hug from the same friends, who all desired nothing more than to atone for the mistake they've made long ago.
Sunset doesn't know what to say, but her conscience tells her not to ruin the moment. So out of impulse, she did the only thing her heart tells her to do and simply wrapped her arms around the girls, pulling them close. For the first time, she was able to clearly see the world around her again, the beauty, and the magic of friendship her friends all shared for her, and her scars begin to heal. Almost though.
Looking up, Sunset could see that Wallflower Blush was just standing on the sidelines, looking unsure, "Yeah, you can join in if you wanted to," Sunset said, inviting the shy girl into the hug.
With that, Wallflower complied, wrapping her arms around Sunset and the Rainbooms. Thus, both Sunset and Wallflower Blush felt a large heavy weight has been lifted from their backs.
"Wow, this is good," Wallflower Blush admitted. "I mean, it's a good feel. I mean, it feels good. I mean-"
"Just go with it, Wallflower," Sunset advised, before she and the girls all parted away. "I'll admit, I miss having those hugs with you."
"Who doesn't want to get a hug?" Pinkie Pie asked. "Even I can be such a grump sometimes. And all it takes to turn my frown upside-down is a big hug from my friends! Even Maud likes to get hugs sometimes."
With a tip of her hat, Applejack stepped forward and began, "Sunset. I know sorry isn't gonna cut it, and I know we can't take back what we've said and done to ya in the past, but if ya'll could.....I mean, if you want to, that is. Would ya maybe reconsider and...well, spend the holiday with us....again?"
Sunset looked at Applejack, then towards the girls around her, giving them a solemn look. She leaned against the walls, as she ponders, with the girls anxiously waiting for her response.
Finally, Sunset looked up and gave them her answer, "What other choices do I have? I've been hurt way worse, from you girls, minus Twilight, of course. And I tried to avoid that same misery by isolating myself from all of you, and look how that's turned out. I'm just lucky enough to be alive and-Sweet Celestia!" The girl exclaimed. "Spike! Is he-?"
"Yeah?" Two Spikes greeted, poking their heads out of Twilight's backpack.
After Sunset was checked out of the hospital, the first thing she did together with the girls, including Wallflower Blush, was going out to do some Christmas shopping at the mall. Joining them for their shopping trips are none other than the CMCs, who've all been meaning to make up with Sunset Shimmer for quite awhile, being the true masterminds behind the Anon-a-miss incident and all.
Despite not being the same girls from back Equestria, Dragon Spike still chewed them out for the troubles they've caused and the humiliations they've inflicted on countless innocent lives, besides Sunset Shimmer's. Given to his past experience with their pony counterparts, when they were "Gabby Gums", needless to say, the CMCs were reduced to tears from the dragon-dog giving them a piece of his mind.
“You girls have SOME nerve, you hear me?!” Dragon Spike ranted. “Sunset went through a lot of trouble to make amends. Not to mention how if it wasn’t for her, then YOU, and I mean ALL OF YOU would’ve been slaves to the Dazzlings if it wasn’t for her! And that, THAT was how you repay her?!!”
“We know,” Apple Bloom frowned sadly. “We know that now and we’re sorry.”
“No, no, no. Sorry is when you step on someone’s foot at the theater, that’s sorry,” Spike barked. “Sorry is when you say, ‘when’s the baby coming?’ But it turns out the creature is FAT!! That’s sorry! SORRY is when you sneezed and burned someone’s book to ashes!!! YOU GOT THAT ANON-A-MISS??!! YOU THREE ARE AS FAR AWAY FROM SORRY THAN YOU EVER WERE WHEN YOU WERE GABBY GUMS ABD HUMILIATING ALL OF PONYVILLE AND ALL OF EQUESTRIA!!!!”
Spike’s barking and outburst was so loud and so intense that a lot of the Rainbooms were taken aback, with the CMCs cowering and tearfully pleading him to stop.
But still, he continued, “IF WE WERE BACK IN EQUESTRIA AND I WAS STILL A FIRE BREATHING DRAGON, I’D ROAST YOUR LITTLE FLANKS SO MUCH THAT NOBODY WILL EVEN KNOW YOU HAD A CUTIE MARK!!!”
Thankfully, Sunset was able to reel in the little dragon, “Okay Spike. You’ve made your point. Calm down! You’re making a scene! You’re turning RED!!” She shouted, before he could escalate the scene any further if not the heartbreak for the younger girls.
“Whoa...” Rainbow Dash gasped. “You have some serious issues there...”
“That actually hurts,” Sweetie Belle whimpered.
Of course, with all the dramas set aside, the friends continued to have a good time, with the obvious determination to not let anything ruin their holiday again this year.
Their first stop was at a bakery, where the girls all enjoyed themselves to rounds of hot chocolates, while the Spikes helped themselves to plates of gingerbread cookies. Poor Dragon Spike. He did love hot chocolates, and he's more than disappointed to learn how he couldn't have any chocolates, being a dog and all. Still, the gingerbreads and milk made up for him.
"Mmmmm, this is good!" Dragon Spike commented on the gingerbreads. "But not as good as Chancellor Puddinghead's Hearth's Warming Eve's pudding recipe."
The girls, minus Sunset, all exchanged looks, "Chancellor Puddinghead's Hearth–That's quite a mouthful," Applejack commented.
"Nah, the mouthful would be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," Pinkie Pie stated.
"Chancellor Puddinghead's pudding is real?" Sunset exclaimed. "Seriously? I mean, that stuff is a legend! It's so delicious that it could even cure depressions with just one drop of it."
"And best part is, Twilight perfected it!" Dragon Spike smiled. "You should come back to Equestria soon, Sunset. If there's still a bit of the pudding left, we'll let you have some."
"I'd like that," the fiery girl smiled.
"Ooh! And can we have some too?" Pinkie Pie eagerly asked, with the Rainbooms all joining in.
"If Flurry Heart doesn't mess up the ingredients again," the little dragon turned dog replied. "Last time that happened, she nearly drowned all of Ponyville in pudding, let me tell you," with that, the friends all laugh at the little dragon's reply.
Later, the gang all went their separate ways, going through different stores, finding and buying various items as presents for one another.
Sunset Shimmer went to a store, with Dragon Spike riding in her backpack, holding up a notebook to check off everything on the list. The fiery girl was starting to see the benefit of having someone like Dragon Spike as their Number 1 Assistant.
"Candy hat for Pinkie Pie, check!" Spike announced. "A cookbook for Applejack, check. Lightning chain for Dash, check. And Twilight, a book. Obviously," He rolled his eyes playfully at the last part.
"Well, Twilight wouldn't be Twilight without books, would she?" Sunset asked rhetorically.
"Now that's like saying Pinkie Pie not being Pinkie Pie," Spike looked back at the list, "Now what kind of book would Twilight like? She likes just about every books," While looking at the list, the music the store was playing started to take control of his body, and he finds himself shaking his tail to the rhythm of the song, before his whole body followed.
Before long, out of impulse, Spike broke out dancing and singing, much to Sunset's bewilderment. But the more she sees that Spike was really into it, she smiled and decided to watch the show. In the meantime, Spike's musical performance attract the attentions of a lot of customers. They've never seen a dog that can talk, let alone sing before.
Jolly old St. Nicholas, lean your ear this way Don't you tell a single soul what I'm gonna say Christmas Eve is coming soon, now, you dear old man Whisper what you'll bring to me, tell me if you can
"Hey Sunset," Rainbow Dash called out as she and the rest of their friends arrived. "What's going on? Who's laying down those beats?" In response, Sunset pointed the girls' attention to the little dragon-turned-dog.
Jolly old St. Nicholas Whatcha gonna bring to me? Is it a stash of gems that I can eat all day and night? Or is it a diamond ring that I can give to Rarity?
Spike blushed in embarrassment, putting his paws over his mouth after that last verse escaped from his mouth.
With bemused grins, the girls couldn't help but giggle, before encouraging the little dog to resume. The CMC couldn't help but film the whole dog's performance on their phone and posting it all on the MyStable social network. For entertainment and promotional purposes, of course. No one would believe there was such a thing about a talking dog, let alone a singing one, anyway.
When the clock is striking twelve and I'm fast asleep Down the chimney broad and black, with your pack you'll creep All the stockings you will find hanging in a row Mine will be the shortest one, you'll be sure to know
Scatta-boop boop, badda-do bap ba! Come and gimme those Christmas presents Scootily-boop, scootily-boop, scootily-boop ba! Don't make me wait no more Babba-doop boop Give me some presents! Doodle-oop boop daddila boop ba! Scabba-doo, scabba-doo Come give it to me, Santa, yeah!
"Wow, he's got a nice set of pipes, for a little pup," Applejack commented.
"Who knew?" Sunset shrugged her shoulders.
Pinkie Pie wants a candy hat and Applejack wants to cook Rainbow wants a lightning chain and Twilight wants a book Rarity wants a set of lace and Fluttershy wants a nest Now choose for me and Sunset Shimmer, dear Santa Claus, what you think is best
Jolly old St. Nicholas Whatcha gonna bring to me? Jolly old St. Nicholas Whatcha gonna bring Whatcha gonna bring to meeeeee?
After they were done with their Christmas shoppings, Sunset and Dragon Spike both broke off from the Rainbooms, Wallflower Blush, and the CMCs, and were back at the fiery girl's home to get some much needed rest.
Sunset walked over to a glass tank, where her pet gecko lives, "Hey Ray," Sunset greeted the little lizard. "How's my favorite little ray of sunshine doing?" She cooed, running her fingers across the gecko's back in an affectionate stroke, while he was eating his lettuce.
In the meantime, Spike sat down on a rug, in front of a large TV, "I'm glad you're happy," Spike sighed, before he looked up at the clock. "Twilight will be here anytime now."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"Maybe. Though I was kinda wanting to stay here a little longer with you."
"Hey, don't worry about me, Spike. I'll be alright," the girl sat down beside Spike and picked him up to give him an affectionate stroke on the head. "I'm just more worried about you right now. No one should ever be left alone this much. Especially you, Spike."
"Well, like I said, I kinda got used to it. Besides, whenever I'm alone, I have Big Mac, Discord, or even some of my other Ponyville guys to keep me company."
"But are you happy about it? About Twilight and the girls leaving you behind?"
Unable to deny it, Spike admitted, "No. Not really," He looked up at Sunset, seeing the loving and sympathetic shades of turquoise staring back at him. "But why are you asking me about that? You could've just looked into my thoughts and everything. Couldn't you?"
"Well, I guess I could," the fiery girl scratched her head. "But honestly, I like it better to hear from you, you know. To hear your honest opinion about it."
"Well, okay," with that, Spike began to speak up his whole heartfelt emotion. "Before we came to Ponyville, obviously it was just me and Twilight. She was so proud of herself to be Princess Celestia's prized pupil, and granted, she may be a bit, distant, if not, a real bookworm. But she's my bookworm. I was so happy to be her number one assistant, because I get to be with her every single day. I know it makes me sound a little clingy, but can you blame me? She was the one who hatched me from my egg. She brought me into the worlds. If not for her, I wouldn't be here today. I pretty much owed my entire life to her. She meant so much to me. But ever since we came to Ponyville, she's always spending a lot of times with the other girls, and I'm always left behind to clean up after them. It's like I hardly meant anything to her, and sometimes, it hurts."
"Because she's your only family, right?" Sunset correctly deduced. "I don't blame you, Spike. I know how that's like. Before I came to this world, I hardly got in touch with my parents. They lived so far away, and I hardly got to see them. I wrote them letters to keep in touch, but they hardly ever wrote them back. Finally, I just gave up. And I guess that's how I started losing...." Sunset dared not to go on any further.
"It's okay, Sunset. I can guess what happened after that," Dragon Spike said. "But do you miss your parents?"
"I don't know. As of late, I hardly remember their faces, or their voices," a trickle of tears escaped from Sunset's eyes. "I guess so much has happened that I don't even remember what my life was like before I came here. I don't even know if they even loved me. I can't even remember my mom's lullaby, or my dad's love. I....I....I....." before the pipes could break again, Spike interrupted her by wrapping his paws around her neck, pulling her in a loving hug.
Overcome by the hug, Sunset slowly calmed herself down, as she tenderly wrapped her hands around Spike, returning the hug, "Ha ha....I...don't want to..... let go," Sunset chuckled.
Nevertheless, both she and Spike parted, and the little dragon-dog went running up to her counter, and nudging a cup of hot chocolate. Sunset walked up and took the cup in hand, and slowly drank the hot refreshment, feeling more at ease as the sweet, hot, and soothing content calmed her.
"Nothing like a good cup of hot chocolate," Spike sighed. "I remember whenever I get upset, Twilight would always give me a cup of hot chocolate to calm me down."
"Same here," Sunset agreed. "So even if you've been left behind so much, you still love Twilight, don't you?"
"Of course I do! She's my best friend! My family! My sister! She's my whole world." Turning to the side, Spike looked to the floor, while feeling doubtful. "Though sometimes, I'm not sure if she felt the same way."
"Aw Spike. I'm sure deep down, she has a special place for you in her heart," the fiery girl comforted. "If I was put in her place, I would."
"If you were Twilight? Let's just hope you don't freakout as badly than she does," Spike joked, to which both he and Sunset burst out laughing, when a knock at the door interrupted them.
"Hello? Sunset? Spike? Are you there?" the two friends knew who that was.
Getting up from her seat, Sunset walked over to the door, turned the knob opened and greeted the visitor, "Hey Twilight! Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas, Sunset," Princess Twilight replied. "So where's Spike? You said he would be here."
"He is. Over there," Sunset pointed.
"Hey Twilight!" Spike greeted.
"Spike! I'm glad to see you're okay," Twilight smiled, walking up to hug the little dragon-turned-dog. "So how were you? Did you have a great time here with Sunset?"
"Oh have I got a story for you," Spike answered.
"Well come on. Let's go home then, and you can tell me all about it," but before the two reunited friends could leave, Sunset stopped them with a hand to Twilight's shoulder.
"Actually, I'd like to talk to you about something important, Twilight," Sunset looked down at Spike, "Why don't you play with Ray for a bit, Spike? This may take awhile."
"Okay," With that, Spike walked over to the little leopard gecko's tank, while Sunset and Twilight went to the next room to have a private talk.
"So what's so important that you need to talk with me now, Sunset?" Twilight asked. "We kinda need to get back right now, and you could've just–" Before Twilight knew it, Sunset grabbed her by the scruff of her coat, and the flaming red haired girl pulled her close and she glared into her lavender eyes.
"You and your friends had better start treating Spike right, because you mark my word. One of these days, Spike will get sick and tired of being left out on so much of your bonding experience that it'll be the last time you'll ever see of him again!" Sunset scowled. "I mean, do you have any idea what happened to him, because you weren't here?"
Still shocked, if not frighten by Sunset's sudden angry outburst, Twilight shook her head, "No? What happened?"
"He slipped and fell into a lake of freezing water, that's what happened to him!"
"WHAT?! When did–"
"Oh don't you start freaking out now, Ms. Princess of Friendship. Don't think I don't know about that Winters Wrap Up event, where you and every pony else all just stood back and laughed at him when he fell asleep on a floating block of ice, and then it melted, and he fell in and caught a cold!"
"When have I–"
"And let me ask something else. Where was he when you and your friends had your birthday party moved to Canterlot, because Rarity's cat was sick? Huh? Aren't you even the least bit worried that something bad would happen to Spike, if you left him alone again?"
"Of course I do!" Twilight finally answered. "I'm always going to worry about Spike! But...he's a growing dragon. I just thought he'd like to have some time to himself to become the dragon he's meant to be."
"Well, do you ever talk to him about it? Let him know how you feel for him? Or ask him how he felt about it? You think he's okay with you and the girls leaving him out so much on so many overdue bonding experiences? You need to set the records straight, and don't say I didn't warn you Twilight."
