I’ve been trying to get this out for nearly a week and a half and with some time to myself, I was finally able to get it done ^{^}

Sunset Shimmer

Sunset is the oldest child of five foals and absolutely lived for bossing around her younger siblings. Her parents admired her “initiative” when it came to helping them, which really just consisted of her constantly telling her brothers and sisters what they needed to do.

Sunset was allowed to help name some of her siblings once she was old enough. From oldest to youngest, there was Sunset Shimmer, Sunburst, Dream Catcher, Sunshine, and Stellar Star. Sunset is very proud of her sibling-naming skills and always told adults of such achievements when she was younger.

Coming from a rather well-known and powerful unicorn family, it wasn’t much of a surprise when Sunset got her cutie mark as a talented wielder of magic. With such an impressive cutie mark and a clear magical prodigy, Sunset’s parents immediately enrolled her in Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. She passed her entry test with flying colors and immediately caught the attention of Princess Celestia herself, being tutored at least once a week by her.

With Celestia’s teaching, Sunset Shimmer was at the top of her classes and began to grow close to her tutor. The two started to regularly spend time together outside of the academy, and at one point, Celestia mentioned to Sunset that she could make a worthy successor if one was ever needed. It was clear that the princess was lonely from ruling by herself since Luna was unable to be by her side, and she confided in Sunset often about such matters.

Because of Celestia’s praise and remarks of potentially becoming a princess, it pushed Sunset to work even harder than before. Her skill and need to become more powerful started to worry her professors, who decided to go to Celestia about it. Having grown close to Sunset, the princess brushed off their concerns and warnings.

It wasn’t long after the teachers voiced their concerns that Sunset grew impatient with her progress. Already having the best scores in her classes and no real challenges, her ambition started to become her downfall. Her behavior began to become entitled, and she started demanding to know when she could become as powerful as Celestia. Now understanding that her comments, which she intended to be encouraging, had made Sunset expect things that were never promised. When Celestia finally confronted her student and told her that these things were earned after much time and many trials, Sunset became enraged and said she had been lied to and that she was worthy of becoming a powerful being like the princess. In a fit of anger, Sunset swore she would do whatever she had to do to become stronger and knowing how this situation happened with her sister, Celestia decided to be proactive.

It was about a week before Celestia contacted Sunset, and told her she had decided to hear her student out about becoming her successor. Although Sunset felt like the princess gave in easier than expected, she decided to meet her. The two took a walk through the castle and Celestia told Sunset the hard decisions she would have to make as a princess. As the one-way conversation ended, the princess brought Sunset to a room with nothing but a mirror and told her that it was enchanted to show them whether or not Sunset would truly be worthy to become one of Equestria’s rulers. In a desperate moment to know the truth, Sunset stepped up to the mirror and only managed to see Celestia approaching her from behind before she was thrown into the portal and became trapped in the mirror.

After her many adventures in the mirror, Sunset decided to return home to Equestria, pending each princess’s approval. Twilight was more than happy to have her friend back where she belonged and after explaining the situation, Cadence and Luna saw no problem with her returning, as long as she was closely monitored for as long as they needed to feel comfortable. Celestia, however, took a good long while to decide on whether or not she felt comfortable with Sunset beck in Equestria. With Twilight enlisting the help of Luna, the two convinced Celestia that they would be with Sunset personally while she readjusted to life back in their dimension. It was then, and only then, that Celestia reluctantly agreed.

Sunset knew that she would miss her friends in the mirror, but felt relieved to be returning back to Equestria. She was welcomed with open hooves from a few close friends and family, helping her adjust back to Equestrian life. After being trapped in the mirror for years, simple things like walking and performing spells were very difficult for her. Twilight was with her every step of the way and even hosted Sunset at the Ponyville Palace while she recovered.

Celestia avoided seeing or speaking to Sunset for a very long time, having no idea what to say or how to feel about her former student’s return. But bit by bit, Twilight and Luna helped Celestia see how just seeing Sunset would make her feel better. The eldest princess agreed after months of avoiding the subject and met with Sunset, where the two cried and laughed and talked about what had happened.

Sunset adjusted rather well to being back in Equestria and made plenty of new friends with the help of Twilight and the Mane 6. She began to look for work while she was staying at Twilight’s castle and after some consideration, Twilight and Starlight asked Sunset if she would like to work at the School of Friendship. She agreed and said it may only be temporary, but doesn’t seem to be looking for more work.