Author's Notes:

I made a few slight differences in this fic ,making it feel a little more real world (as real world as it can) to blend with everything else. Also I kind of made Canterlot a junior and senior high ( 7th -12th) to explain the Crusaders being there. They look younger than 14 to me. A bit. That and the other school is a junior/senior high too. Also I have headcanoned that some names are nicknames, and they have a different name on file. Sunset made hers up to match some of the people in the world. ‘Sarah Summers’.

When you’ve lost someone’s trust it’s really damn hard to get it back. Sunset Shimmer learned this very well after the Fall Formal, the hard way. The entire school hated her after what she did and even her friends were still so awkward around her , she sometimes wondered if they were her friends.

They were nice but it was clear they hadn’t forgotten. Why would they?

It was easy to not care that people dislike her before this. Her heart had been opened, and in a way it made it more painful at times. But she didn’t want to go back to what she used to be, because she would only dig her hole deeper.

The Dazzlings showed up and whipped the school into a frenzy. Everyone was whipped up into a hyper competitive craze over that Battle of the Bands thing. Well except the Rainbooms , but they had their own problems that were slowly building up. Sunset saw them and wanted to say something but what did the girl who terrorized Canterlot High for three years and turned into a literal demon know about friendship?

As she watched the school slowly lose itself in the frenzy, she started to see her old self in it all. A part of her she tried to suppress thought “well now they know what it’s like.” If they could only see themselves right now. Soon the Dazzlings’ power even corrupted her friends. Twilight, the one who they all looked to for answers had been too busy trying to write the perfect spell.

When she faced Twilight at the Fall Formal, Sunset learned that Twilight was more powerful and wiser than she gave her credit for. However this time around Sunset learned that Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship was still human (well in a manner of speaking).

When the Rainbooms’ problems all blew up into one big fight, Sunset watched her attempts to keep her concerns to herself blow up in her face. She watched the fighting and that little demon voice in her head reminded her that it was her fault. Just as much this time as last time. The mist surrounded them, and as she watched their friendship fall apart, it was as if her insides were pulling themselves apart. Without the Rainbooms she would have no one.

Was this was Twilight felt when she watched her her best friends’ sniping and yelling at each other? If so, Sunset told herself, she had a big apology to make, again.

But if they didn’t pull it together all of Canterlot High , and maybe the world was in trouble. To her surprise what seemed like a friendship ending fight was dissolved with some calm words.

Sunset didn’t expect that she would do much during the final fight. Twilight and her friends were the ones with the real power, the last time she had been in a magic battle, bad things happened. But the sirens were powerful enough to knock the instruments out of their hands, and into hers.

“Sunset, we need you!”

The most nerve wracking words she ever heard, She gulped and picked up the microphone, , behind her Vinyl started up a new beat.

‘Don’t mess this up, Sunset’.

Who could say why, but when she cleared her fears away the words just seemed to come to her.

You're never gonna bring me down
You're never gonna break this part of me
My friends are here to bring me 'round
Not singing just for popularity

Behind her, Twilight got up to join. The sirens were furious, but now outnumbered. Sunset continued, and as she sang she felt a comforting warmth around her. By the time she realized what was happened, she would normally have been scared, but she felt the opposite. Everything was going to be okay.

The magic coursed through her, this time soothing like cool water in the summertime, instead of painful and terrifying. She had forgotten how amazing Equestrian magic felt.

The power boost was just what they needed to clinch the win. The people in the crowd were treated to one heck of a lightshow as the Dazzlings were hit with a magical sky alicorn.

There was probably no special effects known to man that could match that.

In that one night she had gotten back , well, most of the school’s forgiveness as well as her friends. Sunset liked to think that after all that, and seeing what it was like to be who she used to be, that they wouldn’t be so quick to judge on her.

Well, so much for hoping…

It all started with an attempt to reach out to her, when she expressed loneliness about the holidays. That was the worst part of it all.

Sunset told Applejack that she was never one to really celebrate the holidays much. She lived alone and she had gotten used to being alone and not even bothering with the holidays. Apparently Applejack decided that just wouldn’t do. She got the other girls to get together and arrange sleepovers at their houses and inviting her.

The first was at Pinkie Pie’s house, much like the sleepover they had when Twilight was in town. It started with a cute family story Applejack told her about a nickname she was given as a kid. It made Sunset feel warm inside that Applejack trusted her with something like that. If asked if she would have mocked it on the internet, even before this all happened, Sunset would have told you ‘Celestia no!’.

They had a great time and nothing much happened.

Then the next one happened at Rarity’s house. Sunset took videos and pictures with her phone, true. But for her own use. That would come around to bite her in the rear, in a huge way.

That night she remembered writing in her journal to Twilight about what a great time she had. She set her phone to the side and fell asleep. If it had been taken she would have never known. She still thought about that, what she could have done differently.

Apparently soon after that, the pictures wound up on the internet again, on MySpace. Sunset knew because the girls confronted her with it, some person called Anon-a-Miss.

Sunset never got into MySpace. She tinkered with it a bit when she first arrived but then dismissed it for other important things.

Seeing her pictures up on that site she had no memory of making, saying things she had no memory of saying, she was left with nothing to say. She drew a blank. No matter what she said those were her pictures, and she had a huge track record against her.

The girls all had their turn chewing her out. Sunset was left sobbing on the floor, all her friends lost.

She couldn’t blame them for being suspicious, she would be. But she wished they had thought to ask themselves ‘why’? Why would she do that after all she’d done to earn back their forgiveness.

What would she have to gain? She wouldn’t have the fear of the students, only their ire.

Was it really that hard to ask why?

It wasn’t long after that she was locked out of band practice. Word had spread around and now everyone was giving her looks. Anon-A-Miss kept spreading around secrets and everyone glared at her as if she was doing it. Sometimes Sunset found herself not even sure of what she knew.

She was alone again.

Almost a week felt like a month, and she dreaded coming to school. The next Friday in math class the principal's voice came over the intercom asking to see her in the principal’s office. Many of her classmates smirked at her and swore she heard a few whispering their hopes she’d be expelled.

She sighed and grit her teeth as she got up and went to the door. At this point, she wouldn’t mind being expelled either.

Maybe she was still remembering what the Principals were like under the Dazzlings spell, but she half- expected to be chewed out thoroughly. She took a deep breath before opening the door preparing herself for a good telling off. She’d probably end up in tears today somehow anyway.

She opened the door and sat down, resigned to her fate.

“Hello Sunset, we……” There was a pause’ “Sunset...are you all right?”

“I know what this is about. I can’t prove I’m not Anon-a-Miss. I know I’m not, at least I think I do, but I can’t really prove it. All I know is that I wouldn’t do this ...I wouldn’t. Not after all…..do you know what I had to get through to get back everyone’s trust?” And from there she broke down, spilling every vulnerable thought she’d had since this all started, maybe before. Before she knew it she was sobbing into her hands, and talking about how she should just give up hope. Hoping never did much for her anyway. Things just kept getting worse,

“Sunset….Sunset…. sweetheart calm down” She had never heard the Principal call anyone that. “We can’t let you just walk out if we think you’re going to harm yourself. There’s got to be something we can do about this”.

“Why? I-it’s not like” Sniff “It’s not like there’s anything that can be done. No one will ever- no one here will trust me again” Oh no, she was ugly-crying, wasn’t she? Was that a snort. Urgh. She felt almost disgusted with herself now.

Celestia couldn’t even argue with that.

“Look Sunset, I understand you’re having a hard time. I don’t think you did it. I can do what damage control I can.”

“I…”Sniff “I appreciate the offer, b-but there’s no way to make anyone believe anything.”

“I can make sure no one gives you a hard time.” Still she wouldn’t have any friends. Sunset tried to dry up her tears before more came.

“You know” Vice Principal Luna said, “If this school environment is going to be difficult , we can always transfer you.”

Sunset looked up abruptly. “You can?”

“I don’t know ...maybe this will all be solved if we give it time.” Celestia said.

“Come on” Sunset said. “You know how they used to look at me, you think they’ll forgive this?”

“...do you?” Luna asked, raising an eyebrow. “You know how long a teenager can hold a grudge.” Sunset groaned and buried her face in her hands.

“That is true.” Celestia sighed. “Well still let’s give it some thought. See what happens in a few days and if anything happens we promise we’ll transfer you immediately.”

Sunset promised she would think on it, she thought about writing to Twilight Sparkle, but hesitated. She didn’t think she could take it if someone else was suspicious of her.

‘But Twilight wouldn’t do that, she’d listen to my side of the story’ Sunset told herself.

‘But what if she didn’t?’ The demon voice asked.

“She will” Sunset shook it off and moved on, getting through the rest of the day. She thought about what Celestia said. Maybe if she tried to talk to the girls. She walked by them in the cafeteria and tried giving a smile, but all she got were glares.

Rainbow leaned over to Applejack and muttered something. “She’s mocking us, I know it.”

Sunset sighed and walked away, not even bothering to look back and see the gesture that Rainbow was giving her.

Why even put herself through the stress?

She got through her days gritting her teeth and ignoring everyone. It got increasingly easier as her resentment built. Her conscience kept telling her she should talk to Twilight about this. But the doubt lingered in the back of her mind. If her friends could easily turn on her, who’s to say Twilight wouldn’t.

She told herself she’d try in the morning before she went to bed. At least until the dream she had. She was writing in the journal telling Twilight everything that had happened. She waited with baited breath for Twilight to provide an answer.

“Why should they trust you?”

What?

“I didn’t do it. What would I have to gain by it?”

“I don’t know, but you had no trouble before? How can they trust you? Besides, you said yourself, you had doubts.”

“But that’s….I mean...I didn’t mean it like that!”

Sunset’s heart pounded.

‘Well if you can’t explain it why should anyone believe you?’

“Twilight….” Tears blurred her vision.

‘I’m disappointed in you Sunset. I thought you could be better than this. If I’m going to have a student, it’s going to be someone who I can trust and who won’t fail me. Don’t contact me again Sunset. You failed...you failed Celestia and you failed me.”

Sunset sat upright in her bed, her chest heaving. She felt tears rolling down her face. She had dreams about being chastised by her own demon self, and Celestia. But hearing it from Twilight, now was just too much.

She stared at the journal on her desk, now with dread. She couldn’t.

Not right now.

She got up and slammed it shut and stuffed it in her bag. She decided then that tomorrow she was going to go to the principal’s and ask about transferring. What happened that morning didn’t make her decision any harder.

She was walking to her locker avoiding everyone around her. It was less painful if she went to her classes like a guided missile, disregarding everything in between. As she was turning around to go to class she felt something hit her in the back, knocking her to the ground.

“Hey Sun-slut!”

It was one of the football boys.

She grit her teeth and pulled herself up. She tried anyway, until she was knocked down again. Ugh, why was she so dizzy?

“What’s the matter, Demon girl? is it hard work snooping out everyone’s secrets?” She tried to push herself up to face her attacker. Urgh… she leaned against the lockers.

She could vaguely make him out as her vision cleared.

“Not going to say anything huh? You know you’re guilty.” Another shove.

“No...I’m...I’m not” She wished she had gotten more sleep last night. One thing stood out in her mind as she fell against the locker too dizzy to stand up. Was there no one who would stand up for her?

“Hey! What’s going on here” Oh thank Celestia….

That was Celestia

“It was an accident!”

“We were just messing around”

“Yeah right” Celestia sounded downright furious. “Vice Principal Luna will take care of you until I’m done making sure she’s okay”

“Why are you protecting her? Do you know what she did?”

“I think I know what she did better than you. All of you follow Luna.” And Celestia called out a name that made Sunset’s blood run cold. “Flash Sentry! Get over here!”

Flash?

Had Flash just watched her get ganged up on and not done anything?

She knew she was never kind to him, but did he hate her that much?

“You, go with them I saw you there. You’re not innocent in this.”

“But- I didn’t..”

“Go” There was no room for arguing there.

She would have been crying if she didn’t feel so sick.

“Sunset, are you alright?”

“Yeah...I-I think” She groaned.

“Can you see how many fingers I’m holding up?”

“....two….three….I guess” Celestia groaned and started helping her up. She was helped to the nurse’s office slowly getting her vision back, again. She was relieved when the door was shut behind them, and she could lie down and finally rest. She ended up dozing off to sleep again. The last thing she heard was “could be a concussion.”

It was nice to get a dreamless sleep sometimes, especially when she was already having nightmares. If she had to guess it was because her body was too exhausted to wind her up about anything.

She wasn’t sure when it was that she woke up. When she did she was still in Nurse Redheart's office.

“Good afternoon, Sunset.” Celestia was at her side. “Did you sleep well?”

“For once, yeah.” She said rubbing her head.

“For once? Have you not been sleeping well?” She looked concerned, as did Nurse Redheart.

“Not since this all started. The nightmares I used to have came back.” She said. “Back before everyone forgave me. I couldn’t get her voice out of my head.”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone about this.” Sunset pursed her lips, thinking. How could she say this without worrying anyone more?

“Well...to be honest I kinda thought I deserved it.” She said, looking away from the expressions of shock and sympathy she was probably getting.

“Nobody deserves this, Sunset.”

“Yeah…..I guess…” Tell that to her subconscious.

“I wish I had known about this sooner.” That was a surprise. To be honest she had long since thought that Celestia and Luna hated her too. “I think, in light of recent events, moving you to a different school would be a good idea. This isn’t good for you or anyone else. I can get Luna to give you a ride home while I get the papers ready.”

“Sunset, you should stay home for a few days.”

“I think I’d like that”

“Get some rest. You need it, and you deserve it. No matter what you did, you shouldn’t have to put up with this treatment.”

Principal Celestia looked all over the school system for a fitting school She didn’t choose too close, because she was looking for somewhere that Sunset could truly get a new start. Schools around their city might know what happened. Eventually she found a school one city over that looked like a good possibility.

James Jasper Junior/Senior High.

She had gone to school with some of the Jasper family and knew that they were pretty decent. The school itself had a few rumors floating around it, but most of those had to do with the historical reputation of the town.

Witchaven, Illinois.

Rumored to this day to be home to all sorts of supernatural urban legends. However none of that had to do with Sunset, as none of it was magic from where she came from. She may not like being far away from the portal to her home, but she’d be happier at this school than Canterlot High at the moment.

The only question remaining was, how would she get to school?

Celestia pushed that thought away to worry about later. She looked into the staff at the school and made a call to Jacob Jasper. about a 'Sarah Summers'. Well that was the name she put into the file anyway.