Sunset Shimmer's Time to Shine

by Perdita Finn

  The audience rose to their feet, applauding. What a show!

  “Encore! Encore! Encore!” they yelled.

  The Sonic Rainbooms played song after song late into the night. When, finally, the curtain came down for the last time, the girls looked at one another, exhausted and amazed.

  “What happened?” asked Sunset Shimmer, awed.

  “It was the Magic of Friendship,” said Rainbow Dash.

  And it was.

  Over the Rainbow

  Sunset Shimmer was soon very busy at Canterlot High. She tried out for the soccer team and joined the school newspaper. She volunteered at Fluttershy’s animal shelter and began offering free math tutoring on the weekends. But most of all, she was busy with her friends. She had discovered that her special talent was being helpful.

  There were photos to share and movies to go to and pizza parties and band practices and talking on the phone and texting all day long and gossiping at their lockers. The days flew by, and sometimes in the midst of giggling with Pinkie Pie or baking with Applejack, Sunset Shimmer would see a momentary cascade of the same rainbows that had filled the auditorium during the fashion show.

  As a former student of magic, she couldn’t help feeling just a little curious about them. One night at a slumber party, the girls were all working on a new song together. Pinkie Pie was experimenting with a syncopated beat. Rainbow Dash was trying out a melody, and Rarity and Applejack were singing harmony. Sunset Shimmer’s voice joined theirs, and she lost herself in the music. There it was. A little rainbow. Just for a second. Sometimes she wondered if she was the only one who saw them. Maybe they were just a reminder to her of how the Magic of Friendship really happened.

  “What are you thinking?” Fluttershy asked Sunset Shimmer.

  Sunset Shimmer smiled. “I’m thinking that I’m lucky to have such good friends.”

  “Me too,” said Applejack.

  But later that night when all the girls had settled down, Sunset Shimmer took out her journal. Dear Twilight Sparkle, she wrote. A lot has changed in my life because, when it comes to friendship, there’s a lot to learn and a lot to practice. Every day I discover something new about what it means to be a good friend. I have been wondering, however, about these little rainbows that appear sometimes. Sometimes they happen when we are singing and sometimes they happen when we are having a good time together. What kind of magic are they? Are they the same kind of magic as ponying up? Is there anything I should know about them? Just curious.

  In an instant, the journal began glowing and Twilight Sparkle’s response appeared.

  Dear Sunset Shimmer, Sometimes the magic really does happen, but you don’t have to understand everything. Just be grateful for it, as I’m sure you are. Your friend, Twilight Sparkle

  Sunset Shimmer put down her journal. She was grateful for the magic, for the friendship, for everything that had happened to her. Still. There’s nothing wrong with being curious, is there? she wrote back.

  The words materialized on the page. Careful, Sunset Shimmer! Careful!

  Back in Equestria, Twilight Sparkle shook her head and laughed a little. “I’ll just have to hope those girls keep Sunset Shimmer busy. Very busy.”

  For more great reads and free samplers, visit

  LBYRDigitalDeals.com

  Turn the page for a sneak peek of

  Equestria Girls: Through the Mirror.

  The Princess Summit

  The castle of the Crystal Empire sparkled brilliantly in the midday sun. Ponies pranced around the Kingdom, running their daily errands in the market or playing outside in the gorgeous weather. In fact, everypony was so busy that they didn’t notice that seven visitors from afar had just arrived through the front gate. It was six ponies and one small dragon, to be exact.

  The recently crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle trotted along with her friends, pulling her suitcase behind her and taking in the dazzling scene. She loved visiting her brother’s kingdom—this must have been her fourth or fifth visit so far! But for once, it wasn’t because somepony needed saving!

  This time, Twilight was here for another reason, and of course, her best friends had insisted on being there to support her. Okay, and maybe to sample a few Crystal berry tarts or check out the Equestria Games stadium if there was time. Either way, it was comforting to have her best ponies there with her.

  “Whoo-ee! Your very first Princess Summit. You must be over the moon, Twilight!” exclaimed Applejack, turning to her royal friend. Twilight Sparkle had taken up the lead, as royal ponies were known to do. Twilight furrowed her brow in concern and looked back at her crew.

  “Well, I am excited. But, to be honest…” Twilight stalled, then admitted, “I’m a little nervous, too.” Twilight hadn’t been a princess for very long, after all. Even after everything she’d learned from Princess Cadance and the Crystal Heart Spell, she still felt that there was much more to discover every day. Twilight just hoped she would have something to contribute to the Princess Summit.

  Pinkie Pie trotted up to join them, a wide smile on her face and an extra bounce in her prance. “You’re just nervicited!” Her curly fuchsia mane bounced wildly as she spoke. “It’s like you want to jump up and down and yell, ‘Yay me!’” She took a soaring leap into the air. A ray of sunlight glinted against her pearly white smile and sparkled. All of a sudden, she became serious and her face fell. “But you also want to curl up in a teeny-tiny ball and hide at the same time!” Pinkie fell to the ground and curled herself up, rocking back and forth.

  Rarity and Rainbow Dash exchanged a skeptical look at the dramatic display before Pinkie Pie popped back up and patted Twilight reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Twilight. We’ve all been there,” Pinkie said knowingly.

  Fluttershy, who had floated into the air for a moment to stretch her pale yellow wings, landed gracefully on the ground. “I’m there almost every day,” she agreed in her soft voice. Up front, Twilight Sparkle took in her surroundings with just the slightest trace of hesitation. Even though she had visited the Empire several times before, the first glimpse of the Crystal Castle always stirred something inside her. It was just so big and beautiful. And intimidating. She took a deep breath and kept walking.

  Applejack, who was trotting right beside her, noticed Twilight’s frown. She was just about to toss a few more comforting words the princess’s way when Rarity gasped in shock, stopping all six ponies in their tracks. “Sorry, darlings, but I just noticed that Twilight’s not wearing her crown!” Rarity was always shocked that Twilight still felt self-conscious about wearing it.

  “Don’t worry, Rarity,” Twilight assured her. “It’s safe here in my bag.”

  “But you’re attending a Princess Summit! I’m telling you, if I had a gorgeous crown like that I’d never take it off!” Rarity exclaimed. “Why, I’d sleep in the thing.”

  As soon as Twilight and her friends entered the foyer of the Crystal Castle, her nerves began to melt away like ice cream on a warm summer day. The Empire was starting to feel a little more like a home away from home to her. Twilight attempted to hold her head high in order to give off an air of confidence to anypony who might be watching, but the sound of royal trumpets suddenly blared through the castle. Twilight was startled by the loud racket and stumbled. Unfortunately, being a princess didn’t automatically make a pony graceful.

  “Ooof!” Twilight grunted as she braced herself on the chest of a handsome Crystal Royal Guard with a bright blue mane. He leaned forward to help her regain her balance with a small smile on his face. Then he remembered his duty and immediately snapped back to attention in time to announce her arrival.

  “Her Highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle!” he projected his voice into the echoey Crystal corridor. Twilight blushed a little more than usual at the attention, though she didn’t know why. It’s not like she even knew this particular royal guard pony.

  Nearby, Pinkie smiled wide with delight at all the pomp and circumstance. It just so happened that she loved pomp and
also circumstance. But together—they were super-duper fun!

  Suddenly, Princess Cadance, Princess Luna, and Princess Celestia delicately trotted up to meet the six ponies and Spike. The ponies of the Crystal Royal Guard straightened themselves to appear even taller than before.

  Cadance smiled warmly. Her pink-and-purple mane cascaded into soft waves around her face, and she wore her own shimmering golden tiara so confidently, it seemed like it was a part of her. Maybe someday Twilight would, too. “Twilight! It’s been so long since I’ve seen you!” Cadance nuzzled her young sister-in-law.

  Princess Celestia stepped forward to join them, looking just as elegant and regal as the young princesses. Her pastel mane and tail flowed behind her. “We have so much to discuss. But it can wait until tomorrow. You all look tired from your journey.” A quick glance at the pack of weary travelers was enough to confirm that she was right. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy all had dark circles forming under their eyes. Rarity’s mane was looking a bit frizzy. And Pinkie Pie was twitching a little bit. But that could have been from excitement—it was hard to tell with her.

  The ponies nodded in agreement and happily accepted Celestia’s invitation to make their way to the guest quarters of the castle. As they hoofed their way down the hallway, their eyelids drooped with the heavy weight of sleep. Rarity was the only pony who remained alert—but that was just because she couldn’t help but gawk at every gem and crystal encrusted in the archways and window frames. It was the type of decor she’d always envisioned herself living with.

  It was really too bad that the friends were all either too dazzled or sleepy to notice that somepony was nearby. Somepony who was hiding in the shadows and watching their every move. Somepony who wanted to remain hidden.

  Being the pony she was, Twilight couldn’t go to sleep until all her belongings were unpacked and stowed away safely in the appropriate places. There had to be a certain order to things, whether she was at home in Ponyville or not. Routines helped her to feel like the same old Twilight she’d always been. Twilight’s purple Unicorn horn glowed as she used her magic to put each item from her suitcase folded in a drawer, hung in the wardrobe, or placed on the bookshelf. (She’d packed only a couple of books.) Spike watched with mild interest, his attention being tested by the abundance of jewels everywhere. His gem-hoarding dragon instincts were starting to take over.

  Twilight lifted the princess crown from her bag and tried to position it on her head. The delicate gold tiara supported a shimmering magenta gemstone—an Element of Harmony, a very powerful stone infused with Magic. But instead of looking pretty like Cadance’s, the shining tiara dipped awkwardly down to one side, smushing Twilight’s bangs. One look at her reflection confirmed Twilight’s anxieties. She was no princess, and here she was at the Princess Summit! A summit of princesses!

  “What’s wrong, Twilight?” asked Spike, suddenly snapping out of his daydream about a peanut butter and jewelly sandwich.

  The crown slipped a little farther down Twilight’s face. It was no use. It floated up off her head as she used her horn to magically put it down gently on a table. “I’m just… worried, I guess. Princess Cadance was given the Crystal Empire to rule over. What if now that I’m a princess, Celestia expects me to lead a kingdom of my own?” Twilight stared at the crown, sitting lonely on a small, ornate table by her bed.

  Spike marveled at the idea of his Twilight running a kingdom. Maybe she’d make him into some royal advisor or better yet—jewel commissioner. “That. Would. Be. Awesome.”

  Twilight frowned. “No. It wouldn’t!” She began to pace around. “Just because I have this crown and these new wings, it doesn’t mean I’d be a good leader.”

  “Sure, you would,” Spike said, using his last ounce of energy to cheer up his best friend. A wave of exhaustion washed over him. “Now come on. You should get some shut-eye. Big day tomorrow!” And with that, he crawled into the tiny bed that was set up next to Twilight’s and made himself snug in his blanket. A short moment later, he was fast asleep, sucking on his claw.

  It wasn’t so easy for the new princess, however. She was absolutely desperate to find a comfortable position in which to rest her new wings. For the next ten minutes, she squirmed and stretched. She rolled and reached. She wiggled and wormed. Twilight had never realized how much work the feathery things could be! As she twisted around in her bed, Twilight made a mental note to discuss optimal wing-sleeping positions with Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash in the morning. Finally, she found a good spot. That’s better, she thought, closing her eyes at last.

  Sproing! Suddenly, her left wing popped out of the covers. Twilight sighed heavily. Apparently, there were a lot of things about her new life that were going to take some getting used to—summits, wings, and crowns were only the start. But, hey, at least she didn’t have to sleep in her crown.

  CONTENTS

  Cover

  Title Page

  Welcome

  Dedication

  CHAPTER 1

  A Ray of Sunshine…Not

  CHAPTER 2

  Storm on the Horizon

  CHAPTER 3

  Lightning Strikes

  CHAPTER 4

  Getting the Green Light

  CHAPTER 5

  Made in the Shade

  CHAPTER 6

  A Tempest in the Kitchen

  CHAPTER 7

  Blueprint for Disaster

  CHAPTER 8

  Sunset Shimmer’s True Colors?

  CHAPTER 9

  After the Storm

  CHAPTER 10

  Out of the Blue

  CHAPTER 11

  Picking Up the Pieces

  CHAPTER 12

  A Golden Opportunity

  CHAPTER 13

  Tickled Pink

  CHAPTER 14

  With Flying Colors

  CHAPTER 15

  Sunset Shimmer Shines

  CHAPTER 16

  Over the Rainbow

  How It All Started

  Equestria Girls: Through the Mirror

  Copyright

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  HASBRO and its logo, MY LITTLE PONY, EQUESTRIA GIRLS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. © 2015 Hasbro. All rights reserved.

  All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  Little, Brown and Company

  Hachette Book Group

  1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104

  lb-kids.com

  mlpeg.com

  Little, Brown and Company is a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  The Little, Brown name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.

  First ebook edition: May 2015

  ISBN 978-0-316-29510-9

  E3

 

 

 
>