Sunset Shimmer: W-What?

(Y/N): You heard me. I wanna know why you became evil.

You said while standing in front of her as she was sitting at the edge of the crater. As everyone else was partying and having a good time inside, you were outside with Sunset wanting to know about her past. You walked over and sat next to her.

(Y/N): When you were consumed by the magic and became that... thing, you said that you had a terrible life back in Equestria. Is that true?

She looked away from you for a moment while pondering if she wanted to tell you about her past. It was honestly something that she wanted to forget about. Sunset couldn't also help but wonder why you even cared about something like that in the first place. She did so many bad things to you and your friends so why were you suddenly caring about her past in the first place? She thought for a few more seconds before coming to a decision. She sighed and looked back at you.

Sunset Shimmer: It's true. Before I came to this world, I... I didn't have the best life. I'm assuming Twilight told you everything about Equestria and who she really is?

You nodded.

(Y/N): She did. It was pretty much all of the basic info such as there being different races like ponies, griffons, and other beings and how magic exists there. But anyways Sunset, you became evil for a reason and I wish to know why.

Sunset Shimmer: You... you really wanna know?

(Y/N): Of course I do. If it'll help you in any way then I'm willing to do just that. Unless... if you don't want to that is.

Sunset shook her head.

Sunset Shimmer: No, no, it's okay. I want to. I owe you that much at least.

(Y/N): Okay then, you can start whenever you're ready.

Sunset took a deep breath and started.

Sunset Shimmer: Many years ago, I was raised by a wealthy family of nobles at Equestria's version of Canterlot. It may at first seem like a paradise to have that kind of luxury... but it wasn't. The reason being... my parents abandoning me.

Your eyes immediately widened.

(Y/N): What?! Abandoned?!

She nodded.

Sunset Shimmer: From what Princess Celestia told me, my parents had left me as a very young filly at the front doors of the castle without any note or anything else. I was found by one of the patrolling guards and was immediately brought inside. I was then brought to Celestia who was shocked by this. After some thinking, she decided to place me in a family of rich nobles. When I was brought over to the couple that I'd be staying with they seemed like they were ecstatic to have me there as they had always wanted a child but they were unable to. Anyways, a few years had passed and at first they seemed like decent ponies... but one day... they started abusing me.

(Y/N): That... that's just not right!

Sunset Shimmer: They started treating me as their slave instead of a member of the family. They made me work vigorously day and night and always made sure that I was at the top of any class that I was in. The only thing I wanted from them was to be loved by them but they never did.

You could only sit there with a shocked/appalled look as she continued.

Sunset Shimmer: Even with all of my achievements, it still wasn't enough for them. In response to this, I decided to enroll in Celestia's school of Gifted Unicorns to see if anything from them would change.

(Y/N): What did you have to do?

Sunset Shimmer: Well, first I had to use my magic in order to make a phoenix egg hatch. To my surprise, I was able to do it on the first try which astounded the judges. Immediately after that is when I got my cutie mark and how I discovered that I was really talented in magic. Little did I know that my efforts had garnered the attention of Princess Celestia who approached me one day and asked me if I was willing to be her personal student. I was beyond excited and I happily agreed to it. You can imagine my excitement about being able to work under THE Princess Celestia and to also have the chance to finally be recognized for my work from my adoptive parents.

(Y/N): You're right. I can only imagine something like that.

Sunset Shimmer: Anyways, even with this, it still wasn't enough to make them respect me. If anything, it just made things worse. Instead of being good parents and loving me, they urged me on even more to succeed as Princess Celestia's student because they only cared about boosting their status amongst the other nobles.

(Y/N): Really?

Sunset Shimmer: Yes, and if having horrible adoptive parents wasn't bad enough, I also had to deal with nasty fillies and colts who were mean to me because they were all jealous of me being Princess Celestia's student. And the ones who weren't mean wanted nothing to do with me. So, they never talked or consoled me.

She said in a sad tone before she sighed and looked down. You couldn't help but start to feel sorry for all she went through.

(Y/N): Sunset, didn't you talk to someone about what was happening to you like Princess Celestia? Didn't you tell her about how terrible your adoptive parents were or how the other fillies and colts were treating you?

Sunset Shimmer: No, I never did. I just wanted my adoptive parents to love me and care about me. So, I basically shut myself out and focused on my studies in the hopes that they would give me some recognition. I also didn't want anyone to get in the way of my studies so I put on a mean and cruel act by acting selfish and full of myself. If my adoptive parents wanted to mean and cold, then so would I.

(Y/N): But at the end of the day, you just wanted them to love you.

Sunset Shimmer: Yeah, I did. That's all I wanted. Anyways, I kept up the persona for so long that I actually legitimately became mean and cruel towards everyone. I became the very thing that I was pretending to be in other words. My studies continued until one day Princess Celestia wanted to talk to me. She said that she was concerned with the fact that I wasn't making any friends and that I was focusing too much on my studies. I disagreed and said that the only important thing in life was to be the best. That's when she showed me the Crystal Mirror which acted as a gateway to your world. Celestia asked me what I saw in it and I said that I saw myself as beautiful pony that had nothing but power and potential.

You intently listened as she continued.

Sunset Shimmer: She then reminded me to use humility while looking at myself and I then saw myself as not powerful enough but that I could be great and powerful... someone who could rule Equestria. Right as I said that... is when I saw it.

(Y/N): What?

Sunset Shimmer: I saw myself as an Alicorn. The most powerful of all types of ponies and also a princess. I honestly couldn't believe what I was seeing. Now that I think about it, it was probably my growing egotistical mind that was playing tricks on me. Anyway, I was so excited by the thought as it got me thinking. If I could become a princess then my adoptive parents could finally appreciate me and love me. I went home and told them about what I saw in the mirror and they became ecstatic by the idea and they told me that I needed to do anything and everything I could to ensure that the title of princess would be mine. I should have known that at the time they were only saying that so that their popularity with the nobles would increase.

(Y/N): Man, they sound like the worst parents in existence.

Sunset Shimmer: You can say that again. Back to the story, I told Princess Celestia about what I saw and I asked her to turn me into an alicorn but she refused and said that I wasn't ready for that kind of responsibility yet. I told my parents about this, which I definitely shouldn't have at the time now that I think about it, and they only urged me on and pressured me even more to become an alicorn princess. So, many times after that, I continued to ask Princess Celestia about making me an alicorn to which she always refused until she made me stop asking her. Finally, I had enough of her always refusing and decided to take matters into my own hooves by sneaking into the dark magic section of the royal castle's library which was strictly forbidden.

(Y/N): What were you able to find there?

Sunset Shimmer: I discovered information that told about the Crystal Mirror and that it was a portal to another world and that it only opened once every thirty moons. Little did I know that the librarian was still there when I was researching and she quickly went off to warn Princess Celestia and sure enough she showed up and confronted me. She wasn't happy that I had completely went against her orders and tried to learn this kind of magic behind her back. I screamed at her and accused her of withholding that kind of information from me and kept me from being a princess. She then had enough of my attitude and told me that the title of princess needs to be earned... and she then expelled me.

(Y/N): What?! She expelled you?! Then what happened?

Sunset Shimmer, Well, I was then being escorted out by two of Celestia's guards. As we were walking, I couldn't help but feel scared by what my adoptive parents would think. How disappointed they would feel if they found out that I was expelled. They probably would have kicked me out and left me on the streets!

Her voice increased in volume with every word as her eyes soon filled themselves with tears. You placed a hand on her back and gently rubbed it. She looked at you from the sudden contact.

(Y/N): Look Sunset, if it's too much for you then you don't need to continue.

She shook her head.

Sunset Shimmer: No. You need to know about my story. Anyways, I couldn't face them after that, so I quickly knocked out the guards and ran. I snuck into the castle's treasury and stole some of its jewels and quickly went through the mirror which I remembered at the time was a portal and it brought me to this world.

(Y/N): That must have been quite the shock for you.

She slightly chuckled.

Sunset Shimmer: Yeah, it was. I freaked out at first but I was able to handle it after some time. After that, I managed to find some information about this world such as there being no magic here. Since my life back in Equestria was ruined, I decided that I would start a new life in this world. Using the jewels that I stole, I was able to sell them and buy my own place. I then started enrolling at Canterlot High School in order to learn even more about this world and to also blend in after I discovered that the portal was closed. From then on, I had vowed to both Princess Celestia and my adoptive parents that I was worth something.

Sunset then took a moment to think about something.

Sunset Shimmer: You know, I always blamed Princess Celestia and my adoptive parents for every bad thing that ever happened to me. But do you know who I blamed the most out of anyone?

She asked to which you shook your head.

Sunset Shimmer: The ones that I blamed the most... were my real parents. The ones who abandoned me on the front steps of Canterlot castle. I always hated them the most because if they had never left me then I probably never would have gone through all of that turmoil. I probably would have had a normal life.

She then looked down with a sad look. You then began to rub her back gently.

(Y/N): Look Sunset, I'm sure that they had a legitimate reason for doing that. Maybe they weren't financially capable of taking care of you or maybe... some other reason. And I'm also sure that they never intended to make you go through all of that.

She sighed after that.

Sunset Shimmer: I don't know. We might not ever know. That was always something that I wanted to know. Why? Why did they desert me? I change my mind. When I said that the approval of my adoptive parents was the only thing I wanted, I didn't mean it. What I wanted more than anything was to seek revenge on my parents for ditching and leaving me.

She then continued.

Sunset Shimmer: Anyhow, after I had enrolled at CHS, I decided that I wanted to gain respect from my fellow classmates through fear and manipulation so I became a bully and started picking on anyone who dared to stand against me. This continued until... well... the day you showed up.

Your eyes widened at that.

Sunset Shimmer: You were the only person to oppose my reign at the time and I was rather angry because of it. Some time after I had met you was when the portal reopened to which I quickly went through it. I searched around for anything that I could use to help me with becoming the new ruler of Equestria until I had soon found out about some things. I had learned that Princess Celestia had apparently taken on a new student named Twilight Sparkle. How she had made many friends and together, they found the Elements of Harmony, defended Equestria from many threats and just recently, she became an Alicorn and was crowned a new princess.

Y/N: I'm guessing you didn't take this set of news very well, did you?

She shook her head.

Sunset Shimmer: No, I didn't. I felt anger, rage, and jealousy over someone else having stolen my chance at becoming a princess. After that is when I decided to steal her crown which is the Element of Magic and bring it back with me through the Crystal Mirror so that I can become the new ruler. I snuck into what looked like the Crystal Empire and stole the crown. But when I tried to get away Twilight saw me and chased after me. We soon fought over the crown until it was sent flying through the portal. I soon chased after it until I had found out that Fluttershy had taken it and gave it to Principal Celestia. That's when I went and confronted her about it and... well... the rest you know.

She finally finished. Meanwhile, you were sitting there just processing every detail that she had brought forth. Her real parents leaving her on the front steps of the castle, having to deal with an awful set of adoptive parents, the both of them forcing her to work day and night just to impress them, having her work under the stress of trying to become a princess just because they only cared about boosting their popularity with the other nobles. Not to mention her becoming desperate to please them by betraying her teacher which resulted in her getting expelled which also lead to her fearing what her adoptive parents would do which finally lead to her having to run away and that she had no friends or anyone else to speak to. She then accidentally wound up here in this world and that she only wanted just one thing more than anything... to feel like she mattered. To be loved and cared for. Something that she was denied for her entire life.

You didn't need Applejack's help to tell that she wasn't lying during any of this. You were also able to sense that her energy hasn't changed once during her long explanation. She was telling the honest truth.

You then did something that you never thought you would do... you gave her a surprise hug. She gasped at this.

Sunset Shimmer: W-Wha- Y/N?

(Y/N): Sunset... I'm so sorry. I honestly had no idea that you had a hard life. I'm sorry that your real parents had left you. I'm sorry that you were alone for such a long time and that your life was ruined by trying to impress your adoptive parents when you just wanted them to love and care for you. I'm sorry that it all drove you to become just like them which lead to you getting expelled and running away. All you ever wanted was to be loved, to be cared for... to matter. You did anything to achieve that... even if it resulted in becoming a bully. You never deserved any of that. I... I truly am sorry.

You said sincerely before breaking the hug.

Sunset Shimmer: What am I supposed to do now Y/N? I manipulated and bullied everyone and I even went as far as becoming a demon! They're all going to see me as nothing but a monster!

(Y/N): Don't think like that Sunset! They may not be willing to forgive you right away, but they will come around eventually. I'm able to both sense and see that you've changed. You just need to prove that to them.

Sunset Shimmer: Do you really think I can do that?

(Y/N): I'm absolutely sure of it. I mean, have I ever been wrong before?

You said with a close-eyed smile. Sunset did nothing but stare at you quizzically. You reopened your eyes and nervously coughed into your fist.

(Y/N): Umm, don't answer that. Look, the point is that I fully believe that you can convince everyone that you've changed. Also, you don't have to do it all alone. I can help you with that.

Sunset Shimmer: You... you really wanna help me?

(Y/N): Of course I do. Before tonight, I used to think of you as nothing more than just an evil bully with no redeemable qualities, but now I see a girl who has spent her entire life having to please people... or... ponies in this case who she never should have tried to please in the first place. I now see that you have suffered a lifetime of sadness and anguish. And that stops tonight. I guess what I'm trying to say is this. Sunset Shimmer... will you be my friend?

Sunset honestly couldn't believe what you just asked her as she stared at you for several moments. She spent most of her life trying to gain the admiration and love from her adoptive parents which resulted in nothing, betrayed her mentor and got herself expelled in the process, ran away in a panic due to not being able to face her adoptive parents, and became the evil bully queen of CHS. Now, here you were, asking her to be your friend despite all of that? How could she say no to that request?

She soon began to shed tears of joy at the thought of being given a second chance, a chance to end a lifetime of loneliness in the form of your offer. She then quickly grabbed you and pulled you into a tight hug.

Sunset Shimmer: Yes! Please be my friend Y/N! I can't handle being alone anymore!

You smiled while also slightly cringing in pain from how tight the hug was as you embraced her. This continued for many moments before you finally separated from each other.

(Y/N): It's gonna be fine Sunset. Everything will be fine. You won't have to worry about being alone anymore because I'll always do my best to be there for you.

Sunset Shimmer: You promise?

(Y/N): I promise. I'll make sure that you will never feel abandoned or unloved ever again.

You reassured her.

Sunset Shimmer: ** Thank you... thank you so much.

She said quietly while sobbing.

???: Um, Y/N?

You suddenly heard a quiet voice behind the both of you. You were able to instantly recognize the voice belonging to Fluttershy before you turned and saw the (Hu)Mane 6 as well as Spike who looked at you two with faces of regret, sadness, and remorse.

(Y/N): I-I'm uh... I'm guessing you girls heard all that?

Applejack: W-We did sugarcube.

Rarity: We wanted to know what you both were going to talk about so we came by and decided to listen.

Twilight Sparkle: Sunset... all of those things you said.. are they all true?

Sunset Shimmer: Yes... they are.

Fluttershy then proceeded to walk up to Sunset and crouched down to her level.

Sunset Shimmer: F-Fluttershy?

Then... Fluttershy pulled Sunset into a surprise hug and began sobbing on her shoulder.

Fluttershy: I-I'm s-so sorry S-Sunset! Y-You never d-deserved a-any of t-that!

Rainbow Dash: Y-Yeah, you didn't. I'll tell ya one thing, if I ever saw those adoptive parents of yours, I'd personally punch the both of them in the face! You never should have been treated so unfairly!