Sunset Shimmer has just graduated from Canterlot High School, and while that would normally be cause for celebration, it fills her only with a nameless dread as her friends begin to scatter to the winds to pursue their futures. With the latent magic of the human world contained and categorized and the Rainboom's idyllic days of schoolwork over, she finds herself without aim and listless, as though something important is missing from her life.

Fortunately for her, Princess Twilight Sparkle might know what ails her.
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So. First time posting on the site after a VERY long period of lurking and reading and enjoying the tales this fandom can produce. To my surprise, I found a dearth of a certain subset of story that I wanted to read, and so I have done this, to put my thoughts to words. After all, it is said that one should write the story they want to read, yes? I've been inspired by a variety of stories like it that came before, and I hope to equal their quality.

I'll try to update roughly once every couple of weeks; please be patient with me and I hope you give this tale a once-over. Pre-emptively tagging with AU, that I might diverge freely from what may come if needed.

Sunset returns home for the holidays seeking forgiveness and reconciliation.

Warning contains: Comforting and excessive tears.

Cover art credits to Mrs.1989, who graciously gave me permission to use his art.

Graciously edited by MikeWalker.

*POSSIBLE RAINBOW ROCKS/FRIENDSHIP GAMES SPOILERS*

In an alternate take on the ending of Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks, Sunset Shimmer gains a pair of wings, she and Twilight realizing she's become an alicorn. But more has happened now. Because of Sunset Shimmer's ascension, magic, once thought non-existent in that world, starts to awaken as more and more gain the ability to use magic. And meanwhile, a shadowy force that once was the servant of a blank-faced nightmare begins to revive...

Takes place in the Waking Nightmares universe, starting two years before it and then with a couple of timeskips to get to the beginning of the Waking Nightmares timeline.

I did some things I regret in my life, both as a pony and as a human. They're mistakes that will probably leave traces in some form for the rest of my life.

But that doesn't mean I won't try to change. Even if the past does follow me wherever I go...

(First person, Sunset's POV, set after the events of Rainbow Rocks)

EDIT: While this was initially started as just a quick thing I wrote for the Equestria Daily Friend Off that I threw together at the last minute, I have now decided to improve on and expand it.

Sunset Shimmer finds it hard to leave her friends in Canterlot High to restart a life in Equestria. As she prepares for the new adventure she takes on, she realizes that if it weren't for Twilight Sparkle and the lessons she learned, Equestria and the human world would be in a state of unhappiness. Sunset becomes Twilight's new pupil in hopes of discovering her own destiny... no matter what she faces.

We all know the story: Sunset Shimmer strove to gain power in Equestria, going so far as to act aggressive towards Princess Celestia herself before she wound up diving through the portal into the human world. But was that the complete story, or did Sunset keep some details hidden from her friends that Twilight only recently discovered?

Why, despite her nerves, does she want so much to see her old mentor again? Why did she still watch the sunset even though she said she hated her former mentor? And what is that tune that Celestia sings....

Like Rarity's Mane, this is simply just something short and sweet that I had gotten into my head a week ago, and just had to express in words rather than images. I hope this gives you all at least some enjoyment.

It's hard to forgive yourself of past mistakes when you feel like the people you've wronged may still be harboring ill-will toward you. Sunset Shimmer desperately wants to move on with her life, to accept her new friends truly do love her for who she is, but she can't stop thinking about her past. So what do you do when you want to begin a road to healing? You go back to the beginning and find out where it all went wrong, then rebuild the bridges you've burned to bring you to a better future.

This story is a sequel to A Sun's Secret

Three months.
Three months since Luna discovered Sunset Shimmer was Celestia's daughter. Since then, Celestia has backed down from her promise to tell Sunset the truth.
Three months.
Sunset Shimmer's birthday is in three months.
Princess Luna is determined to reunite mother and daughter for the first time in years. The only way she can accomplish this is by enlisting Twilight Sparkle to help her convince Sunset Shimmer to return to Equestria for her birthday. But this requires more than a chat. It requires secrecy, breaking a silent promise, and hoping Twilight Sparkle can get the job done.

Reading the first story is heavily recommended.

This story is a sequel to The Twilight Before the Sunset

There is one month left until Sunset Shimmer's birthday. One month until Princess Celestia must confess that they are family. Luna and Twilight are anxious to hear Sunset's response when she hears about who her mother is, but Twilight is burdened with the duty to persuade Sunset to visit Equestria and Luna must try to reassure her sister that everything will be fine. The odds of her coming are slim, but they're determined to bring Sunset Shimmer back with her mother, to reunite mother and daughter.

That is, if Sunset will accept the truth.

Something's been on Celestia's mind these days. Luna can tell by the way her sister is acting, something isn't right. But is Luna prepared for the truth that her sister has been hiding for years?

Permission to use artwork from BreezyBlueYT on Deviantart, thanks a bunch!
Check out the previous version here!