“The fuck?!” Spitfire cursed from her seat in the dining room, after she took one look at the headline for the newspaper.

“What’s wrong Spits?” Soarin asks as he entered the dining room with Scootaloo and Stormy Flare.

“Trouble.” Spitfire says as she hands Soarin the newspaper.

“Oh no.” Soarin mutters as he reads aloud the headline. “’Wonderbolts star athletes are seen with a young woman in her teens who bears a striking resemblance to Wonderbolts captain, Spitfire! Story on page 5’”

“Someone saw us yesterday and they think that Sunset is our daughter.” Spitfire comments as she clenches her fists in anger. “What I feared the most is finally happening, but unfortunately a completely innocent girl is being dragged into this mess!”

Spitfire feels something soft take hold of her hand and she looks down to see the concern look of her daughter.

“Mom, is Sunset going to be in trouble?”

Spitfire bends down and brings up the hand that Scootaloo was holding to caress her cheek. “Not if we can help it.”

“It looks like they don’t know her name or what school she goes to.” Soarin states as he reads the article. “But it looks like this article just added more fuel to the fire that we hooked up.”

“Great.” Spitfire says in an annoyed tone, despite keeping their relationship a secret it didn’t stop fans from speculating about the nature of their relationship. Fleetfoot, her teammate, maid of honor and Scootaloo’s godmother even showed her a forum where fans would speculate and show ‘proof’ that her and Soarin are in a relationship. From how close they have recently gotten, to even claiming that their married just by the subtle displays of affection that only married couples would do. Then there was a post claiming that Spitfire was pregnant with Soarins child and sited an interview where Spitfire wasn’t looking so good before excusing herself.

Scootaloo takes the newspaper from her father and looks at the image, “Um why were you guys with Sunset in the first place?”

“We wanted to apologize for the trouble you and your friends have caused her.” Spitfire states as she narrows her eyes at her daughter causing Scootaloo to whither under her gaze. Her gaze then softened and says, “Also to thank her for keeping you safe at school.”

Scootaloo blushed at this and returned her attention to the newspaper, she turned to the page of the article and as she read the article it sounded like this was big news. Wouldn’t be on the paper if it wasn’t. Scootaloo thought. She noted how the article compared Sunset’s hair to Spitfire’s, pointing out their similarities in color, as well as Sunset’s skin tone almost matching Spitfire’s. The article then went into speculation as to whether Sunset had inherited her parents athletic prowess? But then the article commented that Sunset had clearly inherited Spitfire’s beauty, Scootaloo brought her right hand up to touch her face.

If one didn’t know Scootaloo or her parents, one could argue that Scootaloo look nothing like them. But her father would also say how much she resembled her mother, while Spitfire could comment that Scootaloo inherited her father’s silly side. Scootaloo loved to hear how she was just like her parents, she wanted to be just like them. It was one of the reasons she joined the junior soccer league and looked up to Rainbow Dash because she reminded her of her parents. But the way the article started comparing Sunset to her parents got her thinking. Sunset was almost as strong as Applejack, she is very smart and athletic, she saw her practices with Rainbow and despite struggling at the beginning, Sunset caught up fast and really pushed Rainbow to her limits.

Scootaloo felt a familiar pang of jealousy, the more she thought about it the more Sunset started to sound like the daughter that her parents were expected to have. She pushed the feeling aside, jealousy is the reason she is in the mess she is in now.

"I better contact principal Celestia." Soarin says as he reaches for the house phone and pulls out a business cad with Celestia's cellphone number.

"Scoots, isn't your 'idol' going to be here soon?" Spitifre asks her daughter as she glances at the clock which read 8:05.

"Y-yeah, I better get ready." Scootaloo says before hurrying up the stairs and into her room.

Despite how close they were, Rainbow Dash has no idea who Scootaloo's parents are and neither do her friends. Scootaloo knows how big a fan Rainow Dash is of the Wonderbolts, and she did contemplate telling Rainbow about who her parents are. But because of Anon-A-Miss, Scootaloo didn't think now was a good time. She looked out her bedroom window and saw Rainbow approaching her home, she was looking at something on her phone and judging by the frown on her face it wasn't good. Scootaloo hurried down the stairs just as the door bell rang, she gave her mother and father a kiss goodbye and headed towards her front door, where Rainbow was greeted by her grandmother.

Upon noticing her, Rainbow says a simply 'hey' as Scootaloo joins her side.

"Have a safe journey." Stormy Flare bids them farewell.

"Bye Grandma!" Scootaloo hugs her grandmother tightly as they kiss each other on the cheek.

As Stormy Flare closes the door, Rainbow catches a glimpse of something reflected off a mirror behind Stormy Flare.

What was that? Rainbow thought as the front door fully closes.

" Um is something the matter Rainbow?" Scootaloo asks with a hint of nervousness, even though Rainbow did treat her like she did before Anon-A-Miss when she and Lightning Dust where helping her clean her locker, she didn't know if that was only temporary.

"Huh? oh, it's nothing squirt." Rainbow shrugs as she and Scootaloo make their way towards CHS, but along the way Rainbow Dash kept thinking about that post on Mystable. The post about a picture of two of her favorite Wonderbolts hugging Sunset and the article that says she's their daughter.

"That's just crazy." Rainbow Dash mumbled, she knew who Sunset's real mother is but everyone else doesn't.

"What's crazy?" Scootaloo asks curiously.

Rainbow Dash glances at Scootaloo who shrinks under her gaze, Rainbow contemplated telling her. Scootaloo did betray her after all. But seeing as this was already news and Scootaloo wouldn't be stupid enough to use this against Sunset.

"Take a look at this." Rainbow takes out her phone and shows Scootaloo the post.

Scootaloo's eyes widen at the post and especially the views. "That can't be good for Sunset."

"No kidding, Sunset doesn't need this right now." Rainbow says through gritted teeth, not much time has passed since Anon-A-Miss and this could make the still fresh wounds Sunset has worse.

The rest of their trip to school was spent in silence, as both girls contemplated what to do about this situation. One thing is for sure, Rainbow Dash needed to talk to Sunset.

Gilda tapped her foot impatiently as she, Trixie, Flash, Lightning Dust and Dumbbell waited for Sunset. She cast a glance at some nearby students who are whispering amongst themselves while looking at their phones or in the case of some, newspapers.

"I can't believe we have to go through this shit again." Lightning Dust complained from her spot on the front stairs of the school's entrance.

"But instead of being only in the school and on Mystable like Anon-A-Miss, Everyone in Canterlot is seeing this in the local paper and Mystable." Flash comments as he flips to the page of the article involving Sunset in his newspaper." At least they don't refer to Sunset by name."

The group then spots Snips and Snails running frantically towards them.

"Guys, guys we got trouble!" Snips shouts as he holds up a newspaper.

"We know." Gilda spoke as she motions to Flash's newspaper.

"I didn't know Sunset's parents were the Wonderbolts." Snails says as he looks at the cover of the newspaper.

"She isn't their daughter." Trixie says as she files her nails. "Sunset's mother is from equestrian, she's actually the spiting image of our principal."

"Not to mention that she's also adopted by our principal." Lightning Dust adds.

"Seriously?!" Dumbbell, Snips and Snails are shock to hear this.

"Yeah, she told me and Lightning yesterday." Gilda tells them before the students around them suddenly go quiet, signaling Sunset's arrival.

"Sunset!" Flash and the others hurry to her side. "Do you know what's going on?"

"I'm afraid so." Sunset says with a sigh.

"Is everything alright?" Lightning Dust asks as she notices that Sunset is a little tense.

"Just the fact that I had to sneak out of my apartment due to a reporter snooping around outside." Sunset tells them with a hint of annoyance. "He kept asking anyone who came out of my apartment complex if someone who looks like me lives in the building."

"That sucks." Dumbbell says as he felt bad for Sunset.

"No kidding, if they find out who Sunset is then it's only going to get worse." Gilda comments as she grits her teeth in frustration.

"Um can't the boss just tell them that they are wrong?" Snails suggested.

Sunset shook her head. "Without any proof they won't believe me, besides I would end up giving myself away."

"Can't your mom do something about it?" Gilda asks.

"I thought about that, but I'm not originally from this world. Even though Mom and Dad adopted me, I have no papers before that, so if someone decides to dig up my past and finds nothing; then an even bigger problem arises." Sunset explains, she looks at her friends and notices their upset expressions. They really care about me. Sunset thought as she smiled.

"Sunset!"

Sunset turns around to see Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy rushing towards her, her smile fell. "Yes?"

The girls look at Sunset and are surprised at what they see, instead of the demon's eyes, Fluttershy saw Sunset's teal eyes instead despite the rest of her looking like a demon. Pinkie looked into Sunset's teal eyes and didn't see the despair and defeat, but hurt and longing.

"Y-yes um. we saw the article in the newspaper and wanted to know if you were okay." Fluttershy explained as she shifted nervously.

"Yeah, Anon-A-Miss already hurt you and we thought that this might do the same." Pinkie Pie adds. "Is...is there anything we can do to help?"

Sunset observes the two, they sounded genuine in their concern and their willingness to help. But where was that concern when I really needed it? Sunset thought before responding. "Thanks for the offer, but at the moment we're still figuring out what to do ourselves."

The two girls nodded and as they turn to leave they saw Rainbow Dash approaching with Scootaloo.

"Hey guys, have you seen Sunset?" Rainbow asks before looking behind them. "Ah there she is, Sunset!"

Rainbow goes around Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie and goes towards Sunset, when she looks into her eyes she is surprised to see that Sunset's missing eye is not only there, but that both of Sunset's eyes are back to normal. Feeling a slight surge in confidence Rainbow Dash spoke.

"Sunset, I know you told us that you needed time to think. But I just saw something that you needed to see."

Rainbow reaches into her pocket to take out her phone and show Sunset the post, but Sunset stopped her when she spoke.

"That's not necessary Rainbow, I'm already aware of the situation."

"Really?" Rainbow asks.

"Yes, Gilda called me this morning and informed me about what's going on." Sunset explains as she casts a glance at Scootaloo. "Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie also came a minute ago to tell me the same thing."

"Well then...is there anything I can do to help?" Rainbow asks, she is going to be there for Sunset this time.

"Thank you for offering Rainbow, but like I told Fluttershy and Pinkie, we're still figuring out what to do ourselves." Sunset explains, she saw the disappointed look in Rainbow's eyes and felt an ache in her heart.

"Oh, okay then." Rainbow tried not to show it, but she felt hurt when Sunset mentioned we. Rainbow knew that Sunset was referring to the group behind her. "But if you ever need anything, I'm there."

So now you decide to be loyal. Sunset thought bitterly as she tried not to let it show on her face. "Thanks Rainbow."

Rainbow Dash nodded, but then they heard two familiar voices calling out Sunset's name.

"Sunset!"

Everyone looks to the direction of the voices and sees Rarity and Applejack running towards them, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom right behind them.

"Sunset darling, have you seen today's paper?!" Rarity asks urgently as she and Applejack stopped in front of Sunset.

"Whoa, calm down girls. Like I already told the others, I know the situation and we're currently thinking over what to do." Sunset states as she motions to her group of friends

"I-I see. that's good then." Rarity spoke after she composed herself. "If you need any assistance, please don't hesitate to ask us."

"Will do." Sunset thanks Rarity, giving her a strained smile. she notes how the two girls were rushing to tell her about the news article. The Rainbooms all showed great concern for her and a great willingness to offer their aid, but despite this, Sunset couldn't help but feel frustrated. Where was their aid and concern during Anon-A-Miss? Are they truly doing this because they care or simply to relieve the guilt they must be feeling?

"Um Sunset?" Applejack tries to get Sunset's attention.

"Yes Applejack?" Sunset asks.

"If yah don't mind me asking, what where you doing with those people and why were yah hugging them?" Applejack asks, as from what Sunset had told her, she was all alone here. so her hugging random people who are celebrities no less doesn't make sense.

Sunset blinked at the question, she forgot about that, "Uh."

"You don't have to answer Sunset." Rainbow Dash spoke up. "Whatever your reasons are, you're not obligated to explain yourself to us."

Everyone was completely taken by surprise by what Rainbow Dash had just said.

"You feeling alright Dash?" Gilda asks with concern as she looks at her former friend.

"Yeah." Rainbow Dash answers simply while giving Sunset a kind, gentle and understanding smile.

"Rainbow." Sunset whispers her name, she had never seen Rainbow smile like that. even her poise radiated gentleness, a bit of shyness and dare she say vulnerability. a complete contrast to her usual defensive, confident and aggressive stance.

Before Sunset could say anything more, the morning bell rang and the students started heading inside the school. The Crusaders approached Sunset and gave her their phones before everyone made their way inside the school. The Crusaders retrieved their books for first period and as Sunset guided them to their class, Scootaloo kept shooting nervous glances at her. When they reached the Crusaders class, Scootaloo gathered up her courage and turns to face Sunset.

"S-Sunset?"

Sunset turns to Scootaloo. "Yes?"

Scootaloo swallows the lump in her throat as she stares into demon Sunset's eyes. "C-can I t-talk to you in private?"

Sunset raises an eyebrow as she studies Scootaloo, she notices that Scootaloo is trembling a little and that she's fighting to maintain eye contact with her. She's absolutely terrified of me. Sunset thinks as she gives Scootaloo a gentle smile. "Sure, how about during lunch? is that alright with you?"

"Y-yeah." Scootaloo agrees, fighting with all her strength not to tremble as the demon smiles wickedly at her. "Sounds good!"

Sunset watches the girl hurry inside her classroom as she turns around to head towards her next class, Sunset had an idea as to what Scootaloo wanted to talk to her about.

The lunch bell rang and the students hurriedly exited their classrooms to head towards the lunchroom, Scootaloo waited outside her classroom as the passing students glared at her. She could hear some of them whispering about her, cursing her and her friends and how they wish to get back at them. Scootaloo expected this. She knew she and her friends would face an angry student body, the only think stopping them from carrying out their threats is Sunset.

Sunset. Scootaloo spoke Sunset's name in her mind. She recalls how Sunset was shunned by the entire school and despite the Rainbooms reaching out to her in friendship, Sunset was still miserable. She remembered the 'friendship' lessons Rainbow made Sunset do and how ridicules they were, she and Rainbow were trying hard not to laugh at Sunset. Applebloom and Sweetie Bell told her about how Sunset's friendship lessons with their sisters were more like them trying to get even with her, the Crusaders agreed that this is what Sunset deserved. the hatred of the school and being humiliated by their sisters. But despite what we did to her, she still stood up for us and is protecting us despite being a demon now. a chill runs up Scootaloo's spine as she pictures the demon's piercing gaze, this was all their fault. She hated how Sunset was stealing all of Rainbow's attention from her when they realized that Sunset could actually compete against her in soccer. making her an excellent training partner. The school slowly started warming up to Sunset and soon everyone loved her...almost everyone. Scootaloo hated seeing Sunset smiling as she basked in the adoration of everyone, it's as If everyone forgot what a rotten person she was.

But then she remembered the assembly they had yesterday, her anger dissipated as she focused on Sunset's behavior after the fall formal. Sunset's confidence was gone, she was more reserved to the point of being like Fluttershy during her reign. Scootaloo realized that all that stress that Sunset had to endure could have easily pushed her over the edge and made her end her own life. All of a sudden Scootaloo was very thankful that Rainbow Dash spent so much time with Sunset.

"Do you think what the paper says about Sunset is true? could she really be the Wonderbolts daughter?"

Scootaloo was broken from her thought at the mention of the Wonderbolts..

"Maybe, I mean why else would she be hugging them." a female student responded to her friend.

"Well she does look similar to Spitfire." A male student spoke. "Despite her looking like a demon in real life, the photo clearly shows a non demon Sunset smiling as she's hugging them."

"Not to mention that she is a pretty good athlete." Another student noted.

Pretty soon everyone that walked by Scootaloo was talking about Sunset's relation to the Wonderbolts. her parents. That familiar jealousy began to creep it's way into Scootaloo's heart as well as anger.

"Scootaloo?"

Scootaloo was started at hearing her name spoken in that demonic voice and quickly spun her head to her left to come face to face with the demon.

"Sunset!"

"I've been trying to get your attention for a while now, is everything alright?" Sunset asks with a hint of concern.

All the anger and jealousy instantly left Scootaloo as she stared into the demon's eyes. "Yep, everything's fine!"

"Oh? then what did you wanted to talk to me about?" Sunset asks as she glances around her to the passing students who kept their distance from them.

"It's about the article in the paper." Scootaloo whispers but Sunset still managed to hear her.

"Is that what you were thinking about earlier?" Sunset questioned, Scotaloo gave a small nod. "Do you wanna talk about it in private?"

Again Scootaloo responded with a nod and Sunset led the girl down the halls and towards the library, Sensing Scootaloo's confusion, Sunset explained their reasons for being here.

"I know a spot that hardly anyone knows about, plus the fact that everyone's terrified of me, and barely anyone is in the Library right now; we'll have plenty of privacy."

Sunset lead Scootaloo through the Library to her special spot and true to her word, it was indeed private, Sunset sat next to a pile of books that looks suspiciously like a bed and motions Scootaloo to sit next to her. With a bit of hesitation, Scootaloo takes a seat next to Sunset.

"So, what do you want to tell me?" Sunset asks.

"Well...just that my parents are upset about the fact that you're being dragged into what they feared would happen to me. And also that they were going to talk with Principal Celestia for some reason." Scootaloo explained, now that she thought about it, why would her parents involve her principal in all this?

"That's because Principal Celestia is my mother." Sunset informs Scootaloo, causing the girl to go wide eyed.

"R-really?!" Scootaloo questions as she never would've guessed that Sunset was their principal's daughter.

"Yes, although not by blood. You see the Celestia from my world visited me two days ago and at first I was afraid that she had personally come to take me back to equestria." Sunset began her explanation.

"Why would you think that?" Scootaloo asks curiously.

"You see, my mother is actually the ruling princess of our country and is responsible for raising and lowering the sun and the moon." Sunset grinned as she watches Scootaloo go wide again and her jaw dropping. "I was her student at the time and I was no different then who I was before the fall formal, long story short I demanded to be made a princess, we argued and she ended my studies under her and threw me out of the castle but I overpowered the guards and escaped through a mirror portal into this world."

"That's...that's awful!" Scootaloo was aghast, she couldn't imagine being thrown out, much less by her own mother.

"It wasn't well deserve though, anyway because I stole princess Twilight's crown and used it during the fall formal, I feared that my mother had come to not only take me back; but to punish me for what I did." Sunset clarified, she took notice that Scootaloo's fear of her was temporarily forgotten as she was absorbed in Sunset's story. "In reality she came to see me because she was worried about me after princess Twilight told her about Anon-A-Miss."

At the mention of Anon-A-Miss Scootaloo froze, Sunset's mother. a princess. who raises and lowers the sun and the moon knows about what she did to her daughter. she was so screwed.

Sunset notices Scootaloo start trembling and realizes why. "Don't worry Scootaloo, I'm sure my mom won't be seeking revenge on you."

"You sure?" Scootaloo asks fearfully.

"Positive." Sunset assures her with confidence.

"That's good." Scootaloo sighs in relief, both girls completely unaware that Rainbow Dash felt a small fraction of Celestia's wrath.

"Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

"No, just that my parents are going to try t fix this mess." Scootaloo tells her.

Sunset could sense that there was something the girl wasn't telling her. "Scootaloo, how do you feel about this situation?"

"What?" Scootaloo was caught off guard by Sunset's question.

"You must be doubting your own worth when everyone keeps comparing me to your parents huh?" Sunset states in an understanding tone.

Scootaloo remained silent, she contemplated about telling Sunset what she felt, but then she remembered that because she never told Rainbow how or her grandmother about how she was truly feeling about Sunset that led her to helping out with Anon-A-Miss. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she spoke up.

"The newspaper talks about how whether or not you have my parents athletic prowess and how much you look like my mom." Scootaloo began, a bit of bitterness seeping into her tone as she started at her clenched fists resting on her lap. "Everyone at school agrees and I've seen for myself how good of an athlete you are, meanwhile I'm nowhere near as good as you or Rainbow Dash much less my parents."

Sunset places her hands on Scootaloo's shoulder causing her to look up and into the demon's eyes. "Scootaloo, it's completely understandable that you feel this way. I myself have felt like I was being replaced and betrayed when I learned that my mother had taken up another student after I left. But never forget that 'you're' their daughter. not me. "

"You're the one who they think about when they're out on the field, you're the one they miss whenever they are apart from you, you're the one who brings them joy whenever they see you." tears fill Sunset's eyes as she thinks of her own mother. "you're the one they eagerly look forward to seeing when they come home...you're the one they love. "

Scootaloo is left speechless, despite looking like a demon and sounding like a demon, Scootaloo felt how genuine Sunset's words are. And those tears. Scootaloo looked into the demons eyes and she caught a glimpse of something, something that radiated understanding. Could this have been the true Sunset Shimmer, the part of her that Scootaloo refused to see? Tears welled up in Scootaloo's eyes as she finally understood, the real Sunset Shimmer, the person who is protecting her and her friends from the backlash of Anon-A-Miss, the person who is helping her even now, the person who Rainbow Dash and the Rainbooms use to proudly call their friend was this amazing, kind, compassionate person who strived to make up for her past mistakes, who understood her and cares about.

Scootaloo throws herself at Sunset, ignoring that she's a demon and wrapping her arms tightly around the girl's waist. "I'm sorry Sunset, I'm so sorry for hurting you!"

Sunset is taken aback by Scootaloo's hug, she feels the girl sob against her as she mutters how wrong she was about her and how she'll work extra hard to make it up to her. Sunset smiles as she places her hand on top of Scootaloo's head.

"It's okay Scootaloo, I forgive you."

Scootaloo's eyes widen at the sudden chance in tone of Sunset's voice, she pulls back but doesn't let go of Sunset as she stares at Sunset's, the black that consumed the whites of her eyes is gone.

"Y-you forgive me?"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean I'm not still upset with you." Sunset teased,

Scootaloo saw the red demon skin begin to recede and give way to light amber skin, Sunset's hair turned back to normal as the demon wings faded away. Scootaloo stood in amazement as the demon Sunset was gone and Sunset was back to her normal self, Scootaloo could help but smile as she hugged Sunset again.

"Yay, your back to normal!"

Sunset smiled as she understood what Scootaloo meant. "Yep, but your still not off the hook though."

Scootaloo pulled back to look at Sunset, a determined look in her eyes. "I know, I promise to work extra hard to make it up to you and everyone else that I have hurt."

"It's not going to be as easy as you think, but I'll be there with you every step of the way." Sunset promised Scootaloo as the two hugged once more.

Sunset waved goodbye to Scootaloo as her grandmother drove her back home, throughout the remainder of the school day and in detention her mood had drastically improved.

"I guess, I also ended up benefiting from our talk too." Sunset mutters to herself, unable to stop the smile that spread across her lips.

"Some one's in a good mood."

Sunset's eyes widen as she recognized the voice, she sharply turned to her right and came face to face with none other than Aria Blaze.

"Sup." Aria greeted as she gave Sunset a cheeky grin

Author's Notes:

Here's the next chapter, I hope you guys enjoy it and I loook forward to your comments.