After escaping the former guards of the royals, Sunset Shimmer and a distraught Pipp were in an elevator, taking them down to the city of Zephyr Heights, with the intent on regrouping with Sunny Starscout's group.
Along the way down, Sunset Shimmer looked over to Pipp, huddling in the corner of the elevator, stewing in the mixed feelings she felt towards Sunset and the ponies responsible for her loss of fame, dignity, and life.
"Ahem," Sunset cleared her throat. "You're welcome?"
"No thank you," Pipp frowned. "Why would I even want to thank you? You turned my sister against me, you ruined my show, and...and you ruined my life!"
"Okay, yeah, that," Sunset scratched the back of her head. "But...I got you and your mom, didn't I?"
"Yeah, but then you ditched her to the guards!"
"I didn't ditch her! She sacrificed herself to save us!"
"All because you...you...YOU couldn't teleport us!" Pipp argued, as she got in Sunset's face. "What kind of a unicorn are you?"
Sunset gritted her teeth into a snarl, narrowing her eyes into a glare, "Oh-ho no, no, no. Don't you start, Miss High and Mighty! As I recall, you're the one who says only royals could fly. But turns out, you don't even know the first thing about magic. It was all wires and lighting, wasn't it? So don't act like you're a better expert at magic than me!"
"Oh yeah?" Pipp fired back. "Then how is it, that-that-that YOU'RE the only unicorn with magic? Zipp told me and mom that unicorns don't have magic! So I'd say you're a bigger liar than WE were!"
"I...I...I DON'T KNOW!" Sunset stomped her hoof, losing control of her magic that threw Pipp off her hooves, flying against the wall, nearly shattering the glass screen of the elevator. "I don't know why this is happening! I've been away from Equestria for many, many moons! Many, many moons, you hear me?! That's a long time in Equestrian years! I just came back, because I wanted to pay a dear friend a visit! But instead, I came back to find every ponykinds divided and Equestria deprived of its magic! Yet, I'm the only one with magic! Why am I a special case? What happened to Twilight? Why can't everypony just get along? And when and where did ponies get all these technologies?"
At the end of her rant, Sunset Shimmer took slow heavy breaths, before she looked over to see a frightened Pipp, shaking and quivering, in the corner, completely scared of the fiery unicorn. Composing herself, Sunset Shimmer took a long deep breath to calm herself.
"I'm sorry, for everything," Sunset said to Pipp. "We never meant to ruin your show. Or expose you as a fraud in front of...thousands of pegasi," Levitating the pegasus crystal from her saddle bag, Sunset continued to explain, "But this crystal. It's our only hope. Your sister's hope...of restoring magic. You don't have to believe me, but just know, your sister was done living a lie. She wants what's best for everypony. And I suggest you should start doing the same, for your PippSqueaks."
Pipp looked down, taking in what Sunset had said, "Easier said than done," Pipp frowned, taking out her phone, to reveal the dwindling number of followers on her account. "All of my PippSqueaks...gone."
Sunset nodded in acknowledgement.
"But Zipp...she's all I have left," Pipp frowned. "And she's out there...somewhere."
"Then I'll take you to her."
"How do I know I can trust you? You're a unicorn, and you have magic. I hear you unicorn types are tricky."
"You got a better idea?"
Unable to come up a better argument, Pipp spluttered a sigh, before she reluctantly nodded.
Meanwhile, out on the streets of Zephyr Heights, the sounds of police siren filled the air as Sunny Starscout's group, with Sheriff Hitch following close behind, were galloping for their lives.
Leading the escape is their new friend, Zipp Storm, "Quick! This way!" Zipp guided the group to take refuge in an alleyway.
"Ok," Hitch panted, after he dove behind an iron barrel. "I think we lost them!"
"Hitch, what are you even doing here?" Sunny asked the sheriff of her hometown.
"Arresting you," Hitch answered. "And saving you. So, you know, a little bit of both, actually. You're welcome!" He said sarcastically at the end.
"Oh, gee, thanks," Zipp rolled her eyes as she approached Hitch. "But we don't need any saving. OK?"
"And you are?" Hitch asked the pegasus princess.
"Her mom is the queen!" Izzy chirped.
"Wait a minute. So that means you're a princess?" Hitch asked Zipp.
"Huh, look at that," Zipp smirked in a mocking tone. "The sheriff just became a detective."
"What?"
Before another word could be exchanged, the TV screen announced a breaking news broadcast, before city's reporters, Sky and Dazzle, appeared, with a photo of Princess Pipp, hanging upside down.
"Breaking story," Dazzle reported. "Zephyr Heights is in turmoil tonight after the shocking revelation that the royals cannot fly."
The broadcast then cuts to an interview with a pegasus foal, talking into the microphone, "Pipp used to be my favorite."
"If we can't trust our own royalty, who can we trust?" Another pegasus civilian asked, before the microphone was taken by a pegasus stallion.
"I blame the unicorns and the earth ponies," The stallion went on record saying. "They ruin everything!"
"Where is that bacon-haired unicorn, who helped Queen Haven and Princess Pipp escaped?" Another pegasus asked.
Sunny Starscout gasped in shock at the realization that, in their hurry, to escape with the pegasus crystal, they had accidentally left Sunset Shimmer behind. Much to her relief, however, the news broadcast showed a video footage of Sunset Shimmer igniting her horn, before disappearing with both the queen and Princess Pipp, in a flash of light.
"For the moment," Dazzle began. "The unicorn who had assisted in the royals' escape is still at large, together with the royals. But we have reassurance from the guards that they will be hunted and arrested on sight."
"Oh no," Sunny whimpered.
"Well, look on the bright side," Izzy began. "At least they got away."
Izzy's words were eaten, however, when Dazzle was given an update, "This just in," Dazzle reported. "Queen Haven has been arrested for being a phony pony full of baloney!"
Zipp gasped in shock, watching as her mother was escorted by the guards, "No comments," Queen Haven huffed. "And no photos!" But quickly, the queen changed her mind, "Okay, one photo." She said, striking a pose with a grin.
"Anypony care to explain?" Hitch asked.
"We had to get the crystal. Look!" Sunny reached into her saddle bag for the said crystal, only to find it was gone. "Oh, no, no, no, no. It's not here!" She exclaimed to Zipp, who was just as shocked.
"Seriously?" Zipp asked.
"Looking for this?" A voice asked, revealing herself to be Sunset Shimmer, levitating the crystal, with a smug grin.
"Sunset!" Sunny smiled, running up to the unicorn, throwing her hooves around her neck in a hug. "You're okay!"
"Ahem!" Another voice spoke up.
"Oh, right. Her," Sunset directed everypony's attention to an infuriated Pipp, who demanded an explanation, pointing at the crystal that Sunset was telekinetically holding.
"Can somepony explain why this thing was so important that you had to ruin my whole show over it?" Pipp demanded.
"Trust me, it was," Zipp galloped up to her sister, who got in her face.
"You left me hanging there in the spotlight," Pipp spatted in outrage. "I had to be rescued...by her!"
"I could've just left you behind, you know," Sunset rolled her eyes at the pegasus's ungratefulness.
"It doesn't matter anyway," Pipp sighed as she looked down. "Now everypony knows we can't fly." Just then, Pipp's phone vibrated, to which the princess took out to see another news broadcast from Dazzle, with a mugshot of Queen Haven.
"A warrant is out for the arrest of the princesses," Dazzle reported.
"Pipp! Zipp! Save yourselves!" Queen Haven exclaimed dramatically, before she posted for another photo snap of her profile.
"What?!" Pipp exclaimed as she entered a frantic panic state. "This isn't happening. This is so not happening!"
"Pipp!" Zipp snapped, getting her sister's attention. "Forget about all that. We think we can bring back magic, but we need that crystal."
Sunset was about to levitate the crystal to Zipp, only for Pipp to stop her.
"Have you lost your mind?" Pipp asked. "We can't trust them!"
"Don't you dare start that blasphemy talk about trust!" Sunset glared at Pipp angrily. "You and your mom lied to your own people at the notion that you can fly! You took advantage of their idolization of you, instead of being upfront and honest about! And look how that worked out!"
"Sunset?" Sunny began, walking up to the fiery unicorn's side.
"Trust isn't something to lie about to take advantage of!" Sunset continued, with tears pouring from her eyes. "It's all about honesty! Can you do that for once in your life? Like Applejack once did?"
Pipp was reduced to a ball of a scared little pony, intimidated by an angry Sunset Shimmer, with an intensive bright aura to match. For a brief moment, in her place, Fluttershy flashed before Sunset's eyes, who slowly calmed down.
"Who's Applejack?" Zipp asked.
"Doesn't matter," Sunset Shimmer turned back to the group, levitating the crystal. "Let's just go..."
"Wait!" Pipp desperately pleaded. "The truth is... I don't want to be alone anymore! Please, take me with you, Zipp! You're all I have left!"
Zipp turned to look down at the scared and sad eyes of her sister, who's time in the spotlight was cut short, and reduced her to a fugitive, just like she is now. Even though Pipp at times would drive Zipp crazy, she's still her sister. With their mother arrested, the two princesses need each other.
"Ok," Zipp nodded, walking over to her sister, helping her up. "You can come with us. And we're taking the pegasus crystal. It might be our only chance."
"Fine," Pipp replied, before she took the lead. "I know a way out. Follow me."
"Can she be trusted us?" Hitch asked.
"She's got nothing left to lose," Sunset replied. "Let's follow her." She said, magically giving the pegasus crystal for Sunny to keep.
"What? Wait! You can't just..." But Sheriff Hitch was in denial as all the other ponies took their leave. "I'M THE SHERIFF!" Hitch whined.
"Not in this town, Donut Lord!" Sunset Shimmer frowned, using her magic to drag the earth pony along. "Now c'mon!"
"Uh, first off, who died and made you leader?" Hitch asked. "And second, how is that you still have magic?"
"Every other unicorns in Equestria don't have magic, besides me! I know, I'm freaking out too! And I'm starting to have gray hair!" Sunset scowled, when Izzy checked her mane and tail.
"Hmmm, I don't see any grey hair yet," Izzy inspected with a magnifying glass. "I think you're in the clear."
During the walk, Zipp walked up besides Sunset, "So, about what you said to Pipp..."
"I know she's your sister," Sunset rolled her eyes. "And I'm sorry for yelling."
"Oh no, no, no, that's not what I want to talk about," Zipp corrected. "You mentioned somepony named...Applejack?"
"Oh. Right. Her."
"And the way you worded it, she sounded like...my kind of pony?"
"Even if she's an earth pony?"
Zipp smirked as she gestured to Sunny, "Wouldn't be the first time I've befriended an earth pony. So what's this Applejack like?" Zipp asked.
"Oh, she's amazing!" Sunny began to explain passionately. "She's a real country gal. Hardworking, stubborn, but above all, honest about her feelings and problems."
Sunset could only smile to herself, listening to Sunny Starscout's admiration and respect for Applejack.
"Really?" Zipp asked, liking what she's learned about the Bearer of Honesty. "Even about her problems. Why didn't she just lie about it?"
"Well, from what my dad told me, she tried once," Sunny explained. "But it got out of control and her whole family ended up in a hospital."See Season 6 Episode: Where the Apple Lies.
"Ouch!" Zipp chuckled, cringeworthy.
"Eesh," Izzy added. "I'd hate to be in her horseshoes."
"Yeah, you'd have to be there to believe it," Sunny giggled, before she perked up. "Oh! You were there when it happened, weren't you, Sunset? You saw what happened, right? Applejack was your friend, wasn't she?"
"Uh..." Sunset Shimmer searched for the right words.
In a manner of speaking, Sunset is indeed friends with an Applejack. But not the same Applejack who is a pony, and a friend of Twilight Sparkle. Still, Applejack is Sunset's friend, one world to another, so technically speaking, they're still talking about the same Applejack.
"Technically, it's a yes and no," Sunset answered. "Yes, Applejack was my friend. And no, I wasn't there when it happened. She told me about it."
"Aw, I wanted to know how it happened," Izzy pouted.
"But the lesson is true, kid," Sunset stated seriously. "Don't lie. The more you lie, the bigger it gets, and the harder it is to keep it under control."
"Got it," Zipp nodded. "Noted. Honesty."
Ever so eager to learned more, Sunny bit her lip as she walked up besides Sunset Shimmer.
"So, what other words of wisdom did Twilight and friends imparted on you, Sunset Shimmer?" Sunny giddied.
Great and man did Sunset snap, and man did she yelled at Pipp, that was too harsh even for her, I don’t blame her because she was gone from equestria for so long she blame herself for not being there, at least she calmed down and she starting to see more of her friends in those five ponies, talked about deja vu and descendants and not to mention how she try to get through to ponies like Pipp and Hitch, at least she is carrying out the friendship lessons that twilight and her friends did to the new generation, and I wonder how they will react in the dazie fields and Izzy home. But awesome job you did there, keep up the great work.
Lol nice reference to Sonic the Hedgehog the Movie
Ohh yeah that was bad that's why she doesn't want to live anymore and that's why she was such a terrible liar even now
Ohoho Sunset called Hitch, Donut Lord from Sonic the Hedgehog movie! Reference from Hitch’s VA who also played Tom the Donut Lord.
Does anyone know if the new animated series will be another slice of life series?
I love this story so far and I can't wait to see what happens next!!!
Very little I can say that the other reviewers haven't already said better, but I do appreciate how well you did on the exchanges, characterizations and future chapter set-up, as usual.
i hope sunset becomes an alicorn and take over equestria like twilight. Think about it was here intrest to be come a princess and all that work she did in equestria girls shows she ern it.
Well then at least everybody got them self out of there before the cops showed up and they just only arrested Queen Haven and of course pipp that's not too happy of the situation same with sunset because I'm sure she is so done with her bratty attitude I do like how you change some of the dialogues to make it more develop with the characters so that was pretty cool and I wonder how will sunset and the others will get through this one I guess we'll find out next time
Sunset's really starting to grow into her role as the New Mane 5's mentor...
Donut Lord!
10992353
I understood that reference.
10992496
i think that was the reference
Excellent Sonic the Hedgehog reference.
What this rendition of the story does a great job in is exploring the fragility of Pipp Petals. I will admit that while I enjoyed the movie, they honestly didn't really do much with Pipp. I mean yes we've seen how annoyed and flustered she was having her spotlight taken from her (Add to the utter humiliation). But we see that she's a very scared, frightened mare knowing that without her fan support and without her fame, she is just a pony with very little who care for her (Aside from her mother... and her sister... and even the dog...).
And honestly, I don't blame Sunset for utterly losing it during this most stressful point of the adventure. Nothing's made any sense to her since coming to this landscape, and a pony has the gull to question 'why' she's the only pony with magic (Presumably lying about the other unicorns having no powers) when that same Pegasus was embracing a lie about being among the only few with the ability to fly. A pretty hypocritical argument on Pipp's part... no wonder why she's low on the 'Best of the Mane 5' poll on Equestria Daily.
😍
HA! XDD
Well then at least everybody is out although sunsets patient is running thin with princess pipp which I don't blame her which she's acting all bratty and everything I will say something Now they had to get to Izzy's home and oh boy sunset is gonna have a field day with this one what happened to the unicorns. And nice reference to Sonic the Hedgehog of the donut Lord because of the actor was in there
On I hope the next chapter is soon because this story updates fast after watching the movie and I’ve been rereading it for some time a lot because this story is great
10993223
Wonder if the magic returning at the end is going to super-charge Sunset's geode enough for her to finally become an alicorn (it's something she has certainly already earned several times over by this point anyway and it would be a nice way to throw her a pretty sizeable bone).
Hey man they just add in the “My Little Pony: A New Generation” tag now, you can add it to you story here
10995001
Got it. Thanks!
10995035
Your welcome
i just want to say this story is so good so far. I feel sad for Sunset that she has come back to equestria realizing Twilight, Spike, Starlight, and everyone else she knew is gone and that she is in a new age which is more advanced. I two was kind of surprised of how advanced equestria was with technology while watching the mlp g5 film so I don’t blame Sunset at all. Though I like how you are showing Sunset’s character development throughout the story itself. I can’t wait to read more of this story
I just have one question
When the special and the series come the next year you gonna follow the history?
10995061
no again look at Equestrian history. before Twilight it has existed for well over 1000 years, could easily be 2000 or 3000 years of Equestria. so lastign that logn as a unified country then say 1000 years after Twilight evenrythign is like PreEquestria is a hard sell
I LIKE IT MORE PLEASE 🙏🥰😍
Well, I'm not sure what I think about this story.
G5 - nice, Sunset Shimmer in G5 - even better and could be explained by some time dilation shenanigans between the universes. However, this story is uninspired as it can be. Author brought Sunset Shimmer in G5 and all she does is basically watching that movie with us as author retells it almost frame by frame. It's almost like her entire role so far is to fix imbalance between 3 tribe in that group. And that's it.
Seriously, how long chapters will be if we cut the movie out? I know a lot stories here which could stand if you cut entire G4 show out of them because while they revolve around G4 events they have plenty of their own stories to tell.
At this point I only hope there'll be more after the movie events and story won't just end because there's no more frames to describe in text. Because so far this is text version of the movie with Sunset Shimmer as a decoration and this is quite sad.
10995182
Technically it might have worked so well for at least a thousand years because Celestia kept everything together. Even then quite a lot of pony cities remained primarily single tribe. Especially cities like Canterlot and Cloudsdale. In case of some catastrophically event which took all the alicorns away instead of uniting they might have drifted even further apart. A thousand years is a lot of time. Hell, even 300 years is a lot of time. That easily can fit 10 generations in where last one only similar to the first one in a biological sense, but with extremely different mentality.
Of course movie depicts events quite... odd and exaggerated. Unicorns wouldn't survive in the woods with that attitude for long. And it doesn't explain how things got to this point at all. It really is stage how a thousand years of peace and budding friendship with neighbor races just disappeared, but we do know examples from our own history when entire civilizations with all their culture were wiped out by some barbarians. The sad part is that even upcoming show likely won't explain anything.
10995640
Don't worry, there will a 44 minutes special on spring 2022 that takes place after the movie so we will be seeing more and figure out the mysteries on how the magic and friendship faded from equestria and after that special we will be heading for the tv series so we are pretty much on the right track, and that other story about sunset wasn't like this she was watching it like the audience we were when we watch the movie, and in this one she journey the future of equestria to try and bring back the magic, and the only reason she's like that because she more like a middle age woman because at the first chapter it tell she'd graduated college and sometime later in her middle age years she return to equestria to visit twilight but find out she is in the future of the new generation, and she is rust because age is catching up to her both magicly and physically after being away from adventure and equestria for so long.
10995686
ButnEquestria existed before Celestia so that doesn't fly. Again the planning of this new gen is crap. And it is netflix
10995701
Hmm, nice to know they'll be a special supposed to explain what caused this downfall.
The problem with Sunset in this story is that so far she's completely inconsequential to it. She's just tagging along. Yes, she's a middle aged woman at this point which almost forgot how to pony, but what is the point of her being here in this situation? What is the point of a character which is just present in the scenes, but completely inconsequential to the story? Well, maybe this is an alternative universe where things should have went wrong in a hundred different ways and she's the only reason they stay on track, but how could we possibly know this when the story doesn't even hint this.
The thing is every element in the story must be necessary and everything irrelevant should be removed. We know this principle as Chekhov's gun. Of course it's important to add red herrings to keep story from being predictable, but what is Sunset in this story?
10995731
Well the point there is for her to be there is to show that at least one pony from ancient equestria is in a new generation and to try and fix twilight legacy and make the new generation more great we well, sure she’s only presents on the scenes and looking after the new generations ponies but give it time, her moment to shine will show, she may not show much but she still got the wisdom of friendship that twilight showed her to make equestria remember the magic of friendship again, sure the movie show g4 references and artifacts from ancient equestria and it was awesome to watch but only sunny knows that along with her friends (well Pipp and hitch believe it after convincing them) but just give it time, we will see more of sunset in action
10995741
That's exactly what I'm hoping for here. It's the presentation that doesn't give me much to hope for. Instead of telling her story from her perspective this one just retells scenes from the movie and I already watched it. As the result I end up scrolling through most of the book only stopping on paragraphs which mentioned Sunset and there's not that many.
10995750
Just give it time, it's only been almost a week since the movie came out and he just started in September 1 and waited until the movie gets out on the 24, he did just watch it and he hasn't updated yet because if you can tell from the chapters updated times, he's a quick chapter posting, and he hasn't updated this one that quick yet so he must be putting in some actions and ideas that might involve Sunset. Just give it time until he finish.
Yes, yes, keep writing, it turns out right very well, and sunset fits into the story as well as possible, that's right very cool everything
Just found this today and hooked, i was wondering if their was an author that create a story involving g5 movie and sunset. ^^ Cant wait for next chapter.
10997063
Yeah. I can certainly see that. Possibly even early-40s.
Though, yeah, I could see her backing up Hitch and Zipp when they go to at least try to slow down Sprout's war machine. It would be quite appropriate to have an Earth pony, a Pegasus and a unicorn on EACH of the two teams. Plus, Hitch and Zipp might be the two most athletic, but Sunset, being the only one who still has magic, is the most powerful AND the most experienced (the latter given the Dazzlings, Midnight Sparkle, Gaea Everfree, etc.) , so the three of them would stand the best chance against the war machine.
When will the next update show, I’ve been growing anxious on wanting to see the next chapter
Guess she still has some stuff to work out.
How about the fact they published and distributed their Friendship Journal?
The fan fiction is good and cool, and there will be a continuation, otherwise everything is frozen
i'm sure there will be a way for sunset to see her friends again
as for everyone reading, i'm sure he'll post the next chapter when he has time
Sonic the Hedgehog movie reference, huh? Funny!
Cool! Can’t wait to see everypony’s reaction to “Back in my day..” stories from Sunset Shimmer!
This is a great story! Keep it up!
Oh man I’ve been waiting for the next chapter of this great story the suspense is killing me of anxious to see what happen next
10992498
Thanks for telling me.
11004352
no problem
I am really enjoying this, I hope they bring back some of the characters of the G4 generation like Discord or even Sunset.
I don't mean to rush but when do you think the next chapter will come because I really want to see what happens next.