When Friendship Shimmers Episode 1-Pilot
Two weeks. That's how long it has been since Sunset Shimmer's Half-brother; Sunburst; had gone missing. And this caused Sunset to be damaged emotionally. And it was visible all over her face and demeanor.
And on this day, Sunset was exploring outside the castle grounds for a change, wanting to change her routine up in hopes of finding something; anything really; to take her mind off her half-brother. This is when Sunset came across Princess Cadence and a purple unicorn filly no less than three years younger than Sunset was.
"Princess Cadence? What are you doing?" Sunset asked.
"Oh, hi Sunset. Even though I'm a princess, I figured I might as well do some foal sitting on the side. This is Twilight Sparkle." Cadence said.
"Do you know Cadence? She's the best foal sitter ever!" Twilight said.
Sunset felt something just then. "Heh. She does seem to do a good job with you." Sunset said.
"Where's the rest of your family?" Sunset asked.
"Momma and dadda are off at some food place, while big brother is off on his duties," Twilight said.
"Her brother is Shining Armor," Cadence said.
"Wow. Your brother is Shining Armor. That's some brother. He's currently on his way to becoming the next guard captain from what I hear." Sunset said.
"Yeah. He's my BBBFF!" Twilight said.
"BB what now?" Sunset was confused.
"Big Bwothew Best Fwiend Forever!" Twilight said.
With that, it felt like something within Sunset began healing itself. Her face softened even. "Do you got any other friends? Maybe some other siblings?" Sunset said.
"Nope. Shining Awmow's all I need." Twilight said.
"...He's a cool brother I'll give you that much. But I think you could do with a big sister figure in your life." Sunset said.
" I'm only three years older than you, and I feel like seeing as you are a fellow unicorn, I could help teach you. Play with you even." She added.
"You'd weally play with me Sunset?" Twilight asked.
"Whatever you'd like to play Twilight, I'm in." Sunset said.
Twilight bopped Sunset's nose. "Then let's play tag. Youw it!" Twilight said before she ran off.
"Hey wait up!" Sunset said before running off after Twilight.
It was at that moment, Shining Armor came onto the scene of Sunset chasing Twilight. "What's Sunset doing with my sister?" Shining Armor said.
"Chasing her." Cadence said.
"I can see that but why?" Shining Armor asked.
"Probably because she felt like being a big sister to your sister." Cadence said.
"...Perhaps then, this will be good for both of them." Shining Armor said.
The two had played together late into the day when the sun began to set and Sunset was sitting down with a bouncing Twilight. "Wow, you sure got a lot of energy in you, kiddo." Sunset said.
"Today was fun. I nevew got youw full name though." Twilight said.
"Well, that's on me for forgetting. My name is Sunset Shimmer. Don't forget it now, okay Twilight?" Sunset asked.
"Okay, Sunset. Same time tomorrow?" Twilight asked.
"Oh. I have classes tomorrow. I'm in Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns actually. But I'll be back here as soon as classes let up, okay kiddo?" Sunset asked.
"Wow. Youw weally nice then Sunset Shimmew. I hope we meet again." Twilight said.
"Heh. I garentee you we will Twilight." Sunset said and then left.
No one realized that a specific princess had been watching the whole thing: Princess Celestia.
"Hmm..." Celestia was contemplating what she just witnessed.
That night, Sunset returned to her room. "Twilight Sparkle. You are quite the special foal, I can already tell. I failed my own half-brother; I failed to be the big sister he needed. But I won't fail with you." Sunset said as she looked at a specific photo.
The photo was that of her mother and Sunset with a baby colt no older than Sunset in some distant run-down town. "And hopefully Twilight, with your help, I can help my mother. Before you know it, you'll be calling me your big sister's best friend forever. Or BSBFF for short." Sunset said and then put a photo of her and Twilight that Cadence took next to the first photo. "...I promise you Twilight, I won't fail you. I won't fail anyone anymore." Sunset concluded and then fell asleep.
Outside Sunset's room, Princess Celestia had heard everything. "Twilight Sparkle. Who are you? Before meeting you, Sunset was heading down a dark road. A road I knew she would not return from. I saw the signs. And yet...she decided to focus on you. And you brought her away from that dark road. Just by being you." Celestia said. "Could that mean then that you are the true spark? The one that brings the others together?" She asked. "I suppose time will tell. I thought for sure Sunset would be the spark, but maybe it was Twilight. Then maybe Sunset is that strange Empathy element." She said. "I'll have to keep my eyes peeled and see how Sunset's interactions with Twilight change my pupil. At least, my first one. I already have plans to make Twilight my next one." The white alicorn finished.
"Ray!" Sunset said from inside. Her baby dragon Ray was suddenly snuggling with Sunset. "Oh, screw it. Why not? You can sleep here tonight since you are already here." Sunset said and then went back to sleep.
Princess Celestia blinked. Normally, Sunset would prevent Ray from being in the same bed as her, but it seems she is letting Ray sleep in the same bed as his adoptive sister. "Interesting..." Celestia said. "I should take note of this." She added.
Little did the world know that this day would mark a rippling effect across the known timeline. Who knows what further changes will happen from here?
One month passed by. During this time, Sunset would be spending as much time as she possibly could with Twilight Sparkle. It was during this time that Twilight had been introduced to Ray; a yellow dragon with blue spines.
"Didn't know you had a dragon brother." Twilight had said when Sunset introduced Ray to Twilight.
"Ray's more of my adopted brother. My mother takes care of him most of the time, but Ray well...he's quite crafty. Oftentimes, he would sneak into my room and get into my bed. Guess that's just his way of telling me he cares for me." Sunset had responded.
"Do you have any biological siblings Sunset?" Twilight had asked.
"Just one: A little brother. I don't know where he is right now is the thing. Though he's more of my half-brother." Sunset had answered,
"What do you mean half-brother?" Twilight asked.
"Well, Twilight, what do you know about DNA?" Sunset asked.
"Oh, I've read a lot about DNA. DNA is the basis of our genes, which determines what our defining traits are." Twilight said.
"Something like that. See, the thing about DNA is that it can also tell scientists across Equestria who's related to whom." Sunset said.
"So like, if scientists tested my DNA against Shining Armor's, they'd find that our mother and father were Twilight Velvet and Night Light, right?" Twilight asked.
"That's correct Twilight. However, with me and my biological brother, they'd find that while he and I share the same birth mother, we do not share the same birth father." Sunset said.
"What happened to your birth father that caused your mom to get with your brother's father?" Twilight asked.
"Same thing that happened with my own father: They fell into a bad crowd and ended up committing a felony. So my mother was forced to divorce both of them so that she wouldn't be associated with them." Sunset said. "There are lots of good ponies in this world Twilight. You just got to find the right ones to become friends with." She added.
"But I'm fine with reading from books and having you and Shining Armor as my friends." Twilight said.
"...Heh. I remember when I used to think that way. But then once I actually started hanging out with ponies, I realized no amount of reading could prepare me for socializing. It's the very building blocks of Equestria as we know it today." Sunset said. "Think about it." She added and went off with Ray.
That conversation happened last week. And now, it was time for the Summer Sun Celebration in Canterlot which Twilight was granted front-row seats the courtesy of Sunset Shimmer. It was then that Twilight witnessed Princess Celestia raising the sun. After that, Twilight got the greatest idea ever: She wanted to attend Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns.
However, the moment she blurted that out, some fillies and foals her own age started to hangle her, trying to make Twilight doubt herself. Sunset was about to get involved when suddenly, another filly about Twilight's age got in the way.
"Hey, leave her alone! You should be ashamed of yourselves really." The filly said. "Honestly, she could very well get in with all of us." She added.
"Oh look, it's the local book nerd. Guess it's only fair that nerds like you would stick together." One of the bullies said.
"Okay, that's enough!" Sunset said as she also got involved.
"Crap! It's Sunset Shimmer!" Another bully said.
"Leave them both alone, or I'll report this little incident to Princess Celestia herself," Sunset warned.
"You...you wouldn't." The first bully said.
"Make me," Sunset said, almost asking them to do it.
"...On second thought, I just realized, I need to go help my folks do laundry." The second bully said before running off.
"Yeah. Me too." The first bully said before also running off.
"Um...thank you," Twilight said more so to the filly.
"It was nothing. Those two always tend to bully me." The filly said. "My name's Moondancer. What's yours?" She asked.
"Twilight Sparkle," Twilight said.
"Then I hope we both get into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. See you later." Moondancer said before running off.
"...What just happened?" Twilight asked.
"It's like I told you last week: There are good ponies out there that can be good friends if you just search for them. And I think you've found one of those types of friends already." Sunset said.
"...Wow. I guess your right Sunset. Thanks for also coming to my rescue, BSBFF." Twilight said before she started to leave. "I'm going to go talk with my parents now." She added and then fully left.
"...Heh. BSBFF huh? Short for Big Sister Best Friend Forever I take it." Sunset said. "That Moondancer will be a good first friend for Twilight outside of Shining Armor and me," Sunset said.
"I see your already thinking of some things aren't you, Sunset?" Princess Celestia asked, and she was right behind Sunset.
"Princess, you saw all that?" Sunset asked.
"Yes. Unfortunately for me, those two have very influential families in Canterlot. Sometimes being a princess can be just as much of a curse as it is a blessing." Celestia said.
"You know, I've always seen you as my second Mother, Princess. However, I think there's a way you can make your position a blessing in the best way possible." Sunset said.
"Oh? And how would that be?" Celestia asked.
"You can speed up the approval process for Twilight's application. Get her in on the early tests." Sunset said.
"Are you sure Sunset? Those early tests are meant to test ponies' reaction to failure." Celestia warned.
"...Don't ask me why Princess, but I have a funny feeling that Twilight might just do what I did," Sunset said. "Also, nice try Ray. Come on, I'll take you home." She added, as Ray climbed on top of Sunset and started nibbling on her mane. So the orange unicorn started to take the yellow dragon back home.
"...Funny thing is Sunset, you may not be wrong," Celestia said once Sunset was out of earshot.
It had only been two days, but Twilight had gotten her acceptance letter in the mail which prompted Twilight to go to Sunset right away.
"That's great Twilight. Still, there's some time between now and when your testing starts which will be in two weeks' time." Sunset asked.
"Just two weeks? But doesn't the new semester start in four weeks?" Twilight asked.
"It does, but there are tests in place the two weeks prior and students who get accepted either get the earlier test or the later test. And trust me, there's a huge difference between being an early test or a late test." Sunset said. "I myself am one of the ones who got an early test." She added as Ray slept against her.
"Really? What's the later test?" Twilight asked.
"A more written exam. My brother said he wishes he got the earlier test instead of the written one though as he believed he was way too far behind the rest of his class as he just barely passed the written exam and really wished he got the earlier test which is more about a demonstration of one's own magic." Sunset asked.
"Wow. The one time I agree with such a statement. The school is about showing off what you are capable of magic-wise right? Then I wish the early test was the only test." Twilight said.
"Actually Twilight, those later tests are more so for those that sign up late. But even though you signed up late, seems the Princess has her eyes on you for some reason." Sunset said though she was lying at the end; not that Twilight would know. For good reason though: Sunset didn't want Twilight to find out that Sunset had used her position as Princess Celestia's own protégé to ensure Twilight got the early test treatment.
"I have my own magic to demonstrate. I think I'll be fine." Twilight said.
"Wouldn't hurt you though for me to give you some pointers and maybe even train you a bit.
Think of this less about an upperclassman tutoring you, and more of a big sister thing~" Sunset said with a wink at the end.
"You got it, BSBFF!" Twilight said.
Throughout the next two weeks, Sunset trained Twilight in magic, hoping to tap into some hidden potential. There seemed to be quite the buildup of magic in Twilight's body for some reason, but Sunset ignored it for the most part, helping Twilight reign it in.
Then the day of the test came, and three foals ahead of Twilight; two of whom were the bullies from earlier; tried the test and were allowed in the school admittedly, and when it was Twilight's
Turn, she too was presented with the test: Hatching a dragon egg.
Well, this is it, Twilight; hope you can pull this off. Sunset thought to herself. While Twilight looked nervous; even as she tried with all her might to hatch the egg; Sunset was more nervous. And after some time with no results, Sunset began to look worried. I don't understand...she should have a lot more magic in her than this. Is she really going to just give up here? She thought to herself.
Out of nowhere, a mysterious rainbow explosion caused Twilight's magic to run anywhere. Twilgiht hatched the egg sure, but it soon started to affect the judges and Twilight's parents.
Even Sunset herself was almost affected before she acted quickly and encased herself with Twilight's Parents in a magic bubble. Soon the dragon that was hatched from the dragon egg grew to a massive size as the judges were turned into objects. Princess Celestia soon arrived on the scene and reigned in Twilight's magic.
"Twilight, are you alright?!" Sunset exclaimed as Celestia undid the effects of Twilight's magic outside of hatching the dragon egg.
"I...I have a really bad headache now..." Twilight said.
"That's understandable Twilight. You did just expunge a bunch of magical energy all at once. A filly with that much magic in them has not been around since the dawn of Equestria itself." Celestia said.
"P-princess I-" Twilight said.
"Now now Twilight. You did hatch the egg. And for now, I've placed a seal on your magic. I believe I can help you as and Sunset in controlling the massive amounts of magic you hold. That's why I believe you would do best as my second student." Celestia said.
"Second student?" Twilight asked.
"The first one would be me of course. Didn't want you to feel like you had to walk on eggshells around me. I get so tired of other ponies doing that, I decided to keep that little fact to myself so you could actually get to know me." Sunset said.
"Fair enough BSBFF." Twilight said.
"Also..." Sunset motioned to Twilight's flanks.
Twilight was in glee. "My cutie mark! I got my cutie mark!" Twilight said.
Later that night after working things out, Twilight was heading home from the castle when the two bullies from before suddenly got the drop on her.
"Little cheat. You cheated." The first bully said.
"Yeah. No unicorn can hatch a dragon egg. So you cheated." The second bully said.
"Won't matter if your Celestia's new personal student. Not only is Sunset not here to bail you out, but you are one hundred percent alone. And ain't no one around for miles." The first bully said.
"We're gonna beat you up so bad, you'll drop out of school right away!" The second bully said.
Suddenly, both bullies were hit by a mysterious slash attack. "WHAT THE HELL?!" The first bully exclaimed.
"Who did that?" The second bully aside. As the skies above cleared away for the moon to shine and light up the street, yellow rings glowed to further illuminate Twilight's rescuer, revealing an odd shape.
"I did." The creature said. "Prince Throsten of Starview Fields." The creature added.
The two bullies groaned and collapsed in front of Princess Celestia, Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Sunset's Mother Stellar Flare, Night Light, Twilight Velvet, and the parents of the two bullies as Prince Throsten stood before them all.
"Prince Throsten. Didn't think you were in our neck of the woods." Princess Celestia said.
"I was in the area, looking around the neighborhood. Equestria is just south of the Frozen North which itself is south of Icicle Vally after all." Prince Throsten said. "If I'm going to be a good king
someday, then I got to know the allies of the various Eeveelution kingdoms." He added.
"Your kingdom still considers us an ally after...you know..." Celestia noted.
"My father understands completely the circumstances and doesn't hold it against you. None of my kingdoms does." Prince Throsten said. "I must be heading back though. I've got a bravery test to endure if I want my sweet Glacia's heart." He added and then left; though no one saw him leave via the doors.
"Who was that, Princess?" Sunset asked.
"That was Prince Throsten, the current heir to the crown from one of the nine Eeveelution kingdoms known as Starview Fields. From what I understand, when he was just an Eevee, he fled his home in an attempt to become brave. When he came back, he had become an Umbreon and many who knew him before he returned said it was almost like talking to a different 'mon altogether." Celestia said. "I never thought he'd be around in Equestria though." She added.
"You've GOT to tell me the names of all the other royals from those kingdoms once we're done here. Twilight too." Sunset said.
"Yes. I suppose that would be best." Celestia said. "Now as for you two..." She added. The two bullies gulped.
Sometime later, the two bullies could be seen mopping the floors of the castle, groaning as they do so.
"Wow. Not only are they now forced to take the late test and get at least 90% of the answers right if they want to stay in the school but in the meantime, they are being forced to mop the floors?" Sunset asked. "Wow, remind me not to piss you off, Princess." She added.
"Sunset, language! Twilight is right here you know." Celestia said.
"Buck if I care if she's here. Besides, I want to hear about those other Eeveelution Kingdoms." Sunset said.
"Yeah. I wouldn't mind the full details." Twilight said.
Celestia sighed in defeat. Dear Faust, I do hope Twilight doesn't pick up Sunset's bad language. Celestia thought to herself. "Well, where to start? Starview Fields is home to the Umbreon, then you have Icicle Mountain to the north of the Frozen North that Throsten Mentioned; it's home to the Glaceon. From there you have-" She was saying when suddenly an earthquake struck. "WHAT ON EQUES?!" The white alicorn exclaimed.
"Princess, there's something strange happening near Mt. Morter. Our scouts are reading strange volcanic activity." Shining Armor said as he came up to the group. A pegasus guard suddenly whispered in his ear. "...WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE are SPIRIT DRAGONS COMING OUT FROM THE TOP OF THAT VOLCANO? AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN PRINCE THROSTEN WAS SEEN WITH SOME SORT OF GOLDEN ARMOR ON?!" Shining Armor exclaimed.
A day passed from there, and an urgent meeting with Prince Throsten who was now King Throsten was scheduled.
"So, funny story: Turns out I'm a descendent from the legendary Eeveelution hero who long ago sealed the spirits of those dragons up in that volcano. And I managed to get rid of them for real this time." King Throsten said. "...And just to top things off, not only am I now going to be marrying Glacia as a result of stopping the 'mon who summoned those dragon spirits, but I'm also going to be marrying princesses from the other eight kingdoms thus forming a harem, but the nine areas at the base of Eevee Mountain will no longer be their own kingdoms. I'll basically be in charge of everything." He added.
"Aren't you nervous? Like at all?" Sunset asked.
"Why would I be?" King Throsten asked.
"Well, it's just; you're not scared?" Twilight asked.
"Nah. Compared to dealing with a crystal that turns your worst fears into physical projections, a psychotic killer who makes even Lord Tirek look tame, and various other baddies; running nine different lands as the ultimate king is going to be a piece of cake by comparison. Seriously, running nine lands as the ultimate king has got nothing on that psychotic killer I mentioned. And that's not counting everything before that crystal." King Throsten said.
"...Wow. Princess Celestia was right: It's like you became an entirely different person while you were away." Sunset said.
"Well anyways, there's going to be a party happening after my coronation. I'll check in on you often." King Throsten said and then left.
"...Well...that happened," Celestia said.
"Tell me about it." Twilight said.
"...So about those lands, King Throsten is in charge of..." Celestia began again. And thus, she listed off the nine lands Throsten became the grand king of Scorching Desert, Ribbon Prairie, Sunlit Hills, Nuclear Wastes, Lush Jungle, Starview Fields, Icicle Vally, Oceanside Beach, and Thunder Plains.