Principal Celestia smiled and very kindly said, “Im sorry to have asked you to come here so suddenly Sunset, but my sister has brought to my attention something very unusual, and I thought you could help us.” Sunset Shimmer looked over to Vice-Prinicpal Luna standing beside her sister, looking back at Sunset with a stern look. She seemed upset, but Luna always appeared upset when around the students; but when she carried that look around Celestia, Sunset knew something was wrong. She sat straight in her chair, suppressing a nervous tremor in her leg.

“Sunset, given your unique situation, I believe my sister and I have been quite generous. I can’t say Im entirely comfortable knowing the school grounds are a portal to a world we know little about, but I have full faith in both you and your friends, and have upheld my promise to keep the matter a secret between us.”

The portal. Sunset thought about the old statue in front of the school. A portal to another world, full of wonders found only the imaginings of fanciful daydreamers. A place where Sunset had a home and a family, and a friend she had abandoned out of spite; where she had found the mirror and first encountered human life.

And treated them like dirt, she thought. I came into a school full of innocent people going about their lives, people who didn't know me, yet treated me with some dignity, and I spat at them, cursed them, and made them afraid of me. I made myself a queen of my own little fiefdom, with subjects who hated me, and wanted me gone forever.

Then the portal opened, and I did leave, but came back worse than ever. Worse because I now had the power to take away the very things that made them so precious.  But Twilight stopped me, and everything crumbled away. I made amends, and regained the trust of everyone I hurt. I made friends; we lounged at the bakery, watched movies, took pictures together. I was given the chance to be a normal girl.

But Sunset knew, even as she thought about it, that she wasn't normal. She was a unicorn who came to this world through the portal, bringing with her the magic of Equestria. Even her friends were affected, permanently changed into magical beings. Then there were the Sirens, drawn by the magic she brought through the portal. And there was Twilight Sparkle.

“Sunset, have you been in contact with Miss Twilight Sparkle?” asked Celestia.

Sunset nodded.

“And can you confirm if she is here in Canterlot High?”

Sunset looked at Celestia, confused. If Twilight was here, she thought, she would have told me.

“What I meant to ask is if Miss Twilight is back in her own world, or here.”

“She shouldn't be here,” said Sunset, “and she’s Princess Twilight.” She did not know why she felt a need to correct Celestia. It simply seemed right.

“I apologize, but Luna recently had a rather interesting conversation with Princess Twilight.”

Sunset looked towards Luna, stunned. It was impossible, she thought; but they wouldn't call her here just to lie. I should speak up, tell her its some kind of mistake. She kept quiet.

“I met her earlier today,” said Luna, “wandering the grounds. She looked a great deal like your Princess, almost identical even; but she didn't seem to recognize me, and was quite surprised when I introduced myself.”

Sunset felt a shiver running through her like cold air running from her neck to her toes. Sunset felt her back tremble, and her body became rigid; her eyes remained fixed to Luna. Sunset could feel her heart beating faster. She thought of her friends, wishing that they could be here with her.

“Sunset,” said Celestia, “is the girl who Luna encountered Twilight Sparkle?”

Luna had her phone in hand, and Sunset knew their was no point in lying. They already know, she thought, they just need me to say it.

“She is,” said Sunset.

Luna handed Celestia the phone. Sunset felt sick. She knew what was coming. Not looking at her, Celestia asked, “And can I assume there is a Sunset Shimmer?”

Sunset could not remember how to speak. She wanted to lie, to wail, to plead and beg. She did nothing wrong, she knew it. But will they believe me, she thought. Celestia and Luna watched Sunset sheepishly nodding to them.

“Luna will escort you back to your class,” said Celestia. “We’ll continue this conversation after school.”

Sunset walked out of the office with Luna. She started down the hall, but stopped. I need to say something. I can't leave it like this.

“Sunset,” said Luna, “I want you to understand that my sister and I, are responsible for every student in this school, including you. You're not in any kind of trouble.”

Sunset was trembling; her voice shook as she spoke. “I didn't know. I didn't know there would be another Twilight.”

“I believe you, and so does my sister. But Celestia and I aren't sure how to handle the matter. We don't want to risk anything that might hurt you, or force you to leave this school.”

Sunset tried to stop trembling, breathing evenly.

“Come back to the office after school. We’ll settle everything then.”

She got back to Miss Cheerilee’s class just a few minutes before the lunch bell. She was still a little unsteady.

“Are you alright, Sunset?” asked Miss Cheerilee.

She nodded

“Did something happen?”

She shook her head, and made her way to her seat. The other students were already whispering among themselves. Probably pointless gossip, they didn't know anything.

“Are you alright?” whispered the girl beside her. “Do you need to see the nurse?” Sunset couldn't think of her name.

“Im fine, really,” said Sunset.

“Sunset, Octavia, we're still in class,” said Miss Cheerilee. Octavia, another person she mistreated. Sunset smirked, the girls words floating in her mind.

Miss Cheerilee’s class talked about literature. Sunset doodled on some scrap paper, trying not to think about her conversation with Luna and Celestia. She drew a mountain, with a castle along its side, and a purple unicorn, with wings and a crown. It was a crude picture, almost childish. But it made Sunset smile, and calmed her nerves. The teacher knew, of course, that Sunset wasn't paying attention, but she didn't bother her. She was a good student, and could afford at least one moment to daydream.

The bell rang. Everyone rushed out of the classroom. Some were headed to the computer lab. A few left the school, rushing to the bakery, Sugar Cube Corner. Sunset stretched her hands outward and remembered the first time she saw her fingers. Before she could make a pen float in the air, press it lightly against creamy white paper, and, using nothing but force of will, make it write words more beautifully than anyone in her school. Now her writing was crude and sloppy. Sunset wiggled her fingers. I've been here this long and I'm still having trouble with these.

“Everything alright, Sunset,”

“Yes, Miss Cheerilee”

“You'd best hurry, I hear the Cake’s are selling their lemon muffin surprise today.”

Sunset nodded and got up. The others were already gone. Her friends were probably waiting for her. But their were also people waiting for her in the hallway, bad people. They could say what they wanted. Sunset had no reason to be afraid of them.

It was Adagio, of course. She wasn't anything special, not anymore at least; but she and her friends were also from Equestria, and Sunset knew they still had some magic in them.

“Hey Sunset.”

Just ignore them.

“Heard you got into a bit of trouble with Principal Celestia, figured you needed a friendly ear.”

She’s just being snide. Anything I say will just encourage her.

“Oh come now, their doesn't need to be any bad blood between us. We’re all exiles here. Best to stick together, especially if someone’s poking around.”

Sunset glanced at Adagio. Stay cool, don't give her anything.

“Going outside might not be the best idea,” said Adagio. She wasn't letting up. “Word is someone’s prowling the school, asking all sorts of questions. It’d be a shame if she came across some magical outsider.”

Sunset glared at Adagio, both in anger and fear.

“Oh don't look that way, word travels fast. The girls and I just wanted to make sure you were kept in the loop. Would want to get your story straight before everyone starts asking questions.”

Sunset reached out to grab Adagio. She wanted her to shut up. But Adagio pulled away in time. Her friends grabbed ahold of Sunset.

Sunset did not want Adagio to know she was scared, but her voice gave out.

“Don’t you dare.”

“You don't have to be so dramatic, I would never betray one of our own.”

“I'm not a tone-deaf seahorse.”

Now it was Adagio who wanted to hurt Sunset, but she kept her composure. Her friends let go of Sunset and the three left to the cafeteria.

“Just be careful, not to get caught. Or they might ask what happened to the real Sunset Shimmer.”

For a moment, Sunset couldn't move. Then she remembered her friends and left to the bakery. They were all wondering what kept her. Sunset, however, was trying to figure out if they knew about what happened. If they didn't then she needed to keep calm, otherwise they would know that something was wrong. Then they’ll ask questions. But if they did know, then they were waiting for the right moment to bring up the subject.

So Sunset walked by herself to the register, and placed her order. The cashier politely listened, and cashing her order, handed her a receipt along with a ticket number. The cashier was new, and Sunset didn't feel like sitting down with her friends with Adagio’s words still in her head.

The cashier handed Sunset her coffee and smiled.

“Did you need something else, ma’m?” he said.

“Oh no, sorry,” said Sunset. She needed to talk about something, anything to distract herself. “I haven't seen you around. Are you new here?”

“Just moved here, I'm transferring to Canterlot High.”

“Thats great, most of the people here are from there. Its a really great school.”

“So I've heard. Especially from the pink lady over there.”

“Are you an exchange student or something?”

“Something like that.”

Sunset was happy. The cashier didn't seem to mind small talk. Sunset glanced at her coffee, then at the cashier. He had a kind face. Sunset smiled, stifling a giggle. He kinda looks like Fluttershy.

A bell rang. “Oh, I'm sorry, your order’s ready,”  he said.

Sunset had not intended to put her hands on the cashier’s, but when she reached for the bag carrying her purchase, her fingers grazed his, and she felt a sudden burst of energy traveling through her body. The cashier had faded away from her view, replaced by a large, winged, white unicorn, looking angrily down at her. Tears were traveling down her cheeks, and Sunset immediately got on her knees pleading with the pony.

“I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left. I just wanted to be a better student.”

The pony glared at her mercilessly and spoke,“Its not me you have to apologize to.”

Then Sunset was looking at herself, a much angrier version of herself. She grabbed Sunset by the collar of her jacket, tears rolling down her eyes.

“You cant just come and steal someone else's life.”

“I-I didn't mean to.”

“This was suppose to be my life, my friends, and you stole them from me.”

The images faded away and Sunset was again looking at the cashier. A second had not even passed, but Sunset did not know this. She wordlessly took the bag with her and seated herself with her friends. Applejack sat beside her, looking, with concern, at an almost catatonic Sunset Shimmer.

“Hey, are you alright?” she asked.

Sunset laid her head against the table, cushioned by her arms and cried. I'm just like the Sirens. Take my magic and my friends away, and I'm just like them. Next Chapter: Adagio Estimated time remaining: 39 Minutes