My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Sunset on the Horizon, Part 2

My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Sunset on the Horizon, Part 2 is the second part of two interconnected Equestria Girls specials sharing the same name.
In this special, Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends, with the help of Princess Celestia and the Illusions, launch a desperate attempt to revive the late Sunset Shimmer.
== Summary ==
=== A Fallen Friend ===
The special opens in Equestria, with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna in front of the Crystal Mirror. Celestia prepares to go through, but Luna begs her not to do anything rash. Celestia snaps at her sister, still in anguish over the death of Sunset Shimmer, but immediately apologizes. Luna embraces her and lets her go through the portal.
In the human world, at Canterlot High School, the princesses' counterparts stand outside the Wondercolt statue, while the pony Mane 6 comfort their human counterparts nearby. Vice Principal Luna tells Principal Celestia that all the students had left, except for the two sets of Mane 6s. Celestia tells Luna that she can go, but she is staying to meet someone. After Luna leaves, Princess Celestia emerges from the portal, where she is greeted by her human counterpart. Starlight Glimmer and Spike approach them, happy to see their princess. When Princess Celestia asks where Twilight is, they tell her that she's been in the same spot she's been ever since Sunset was killed.
Celestia enters the empty gymnasium to find Princess Twilight still sitting over Sunset's body. When she approaches her, she hugs her and sobs, apologizing for what happened. Celestia then looks over at the motionless body of her former student, shedding some of her own tears.
: "My little sun..."
: —Princess Celestia
Princess Twilight and Celestia go back outside, where the two Mane 6s are waiting. The human Mane 6 begin to speak up, but Princess Twilight flies into a rage, screaming at them for abandoning her and Sunset and not listening to them, telling them that if they had listened, Sunset wouldn't have died. Leaving everyone around her in shock, Princess Twilight storms off.
Meanwhile, the grief-stricken Illusions and Starbolts act deliberately cruel or indifferent towards them, Wallflower remaining shell-shocked while the rest of the band acting hateful towards the Wondercolts, shoving their way past them.
Twilight Sparkle, meanwhile, breaks down again, now believing that it was their fault. The pony Mane 5 try to tell their counterparts that Princess Twilight is wrong, but they're too shaken to listen.
The pony Mane 5 then go to Princess Twilight, who tell her that she can't blame the Mane 6 for Sunset's death. They remind her of Shining Armor and Princess Cadence's wedding, where they were in a similar scenario. Princess Twilight realizes what she had done and goes to apologize to the Mane 6.
Fluttershy then asks what their next move is, but Princess Twilight just tells her friends that there isn't any way to get Sunset back. Then, Princess Celestia speaks up, telling the group that there might be a way to save her.
=== Hope Shines Eternal ===
The group heads back to Equestria and goes to the restricted section of the Canterlot Library. Princess Celestia retrieves an ancient text that details a realm where the souls of the deceased are kept. She says that few have ever managed to travel to this afterlife, and the ones that have found their way there never succeeded in reviving their loved ones. Because the resurrection of the dead when't against the very laws of nature and because it could become a very severe threat, should one with evil intentions ever succeed, the practice was forbidden in all realms by the Circle of Sorcerers, a council of representatives of the various realms who decided what would be best for the realms, which Celestia was part of as the representative of Equestria. After this law was created, nearly all objects that could be used for this necromancy were either destroyed, hidden or entrusted to faithful allies (including Celestia) and nearly all scrolls containing knowledge of the spell were burned, save for a few scrolls that were kept hidden but safe in case contacting the dead was absolutely necessary. 
When the human Mane 6 ask how to get to the afterlife, Princess Celestia tells them that they need a special type of magic relic to open a rift there. She reveals that when the Elements and Tree of Harmony were still intact, special gems were formed around Equestria as a by-product of their magic. Almost all of them were depleted in attempts to reach the afterlife, but there is still one left, which Celestia reveals is kept in her private study. She retrieves the gem, and the two Twilights and Starlight get to work on building a machine to harness its magic and open a portal to the afterlife.
While that happens, the pony Mane 5 take their counterparts for a walk around Canterlot to clear their heads. The girls are still shaken over Sunset's death, and they're worried that their attempt to a get to the afterlife won't work. Their pony counterparts comfort them again, and tell them about their own experience of loss, including Applejack, who lost her parents. They tell them that even if they can't get Sunset back, they'll always remember her and love her in their hearts. Their speech raises the human Mane 5's spirits, and they go back to Canterlot Castle.
At the castle, the two Twilights and Starlight have assembled a crude machine which they have placed the jewel in. They power it up, and then the two Twilights, Starlight, and Princess Celestia hit the gem with their magic. A portal begins to form, exciting the human Mane 6, but then, suddenly, the gem shatters, unleashing a shockwave that destroys the machine and knocks the group back.
The group is in shock that their last hope is gone, but then, Twilight realizes that they've seen a similar gem before. Princess Twilight and the human Mane 6 finally remember that a magic yellow jewel is in the possession of the human Sunset Shimmer.
=== Familiar Faces ===
The human Mane 6, especially Rainbow Dash, express their disbelief over the fact that their last hope is in the hands of Sunset's murderer, but Princess Twilight calms them down and formulates a plan to confront the human Sunset.
The group returns to the human world and make their way to the human Sunset's apartment, where they discover the door ajar and the human Sunset nowhere to be found. Rainbow Dash thinks that she made a run for it and isn't even in the city, but Princess Twilight finds a photo in a pile of loose papers, which reveals her location - Canterlot Lake.
The group drives over to Canterlot Lake, at which point a storm has started. Princess Twilight tells the group to stay in their cars and let her speak to the human Sunset alone. She makes her way down to the dock, where the human Sunset, surrounded by the parts of her dismantled magic suit, sits at the end of.
Princess Twilight addresses the human Sunset, and she turns around to look at her. She asks her what she wants, and Princess Twilight tells her she want Sunset back. The two girls argue in the rain, with Princess Twilight begging the human Sunset to help, and the human Sunset refusing. Princess Twilight finally asks the human Sunset to tell her her side of the story. The human Sunset responds with:
: "I'll do better than that. I'll show you."
: —Human Sunset
:
The human Sunset takes Princess Twilight to a small shack nearby, which she reveals to be her second living and working space. The shack is filled with magic-device prototypes and pieces of evidence and material regarding Sunset Shimmer. The human Sunset tells Princess Twilight all about how she discovered her pony counterpart and began to learn more about her and her world. She reveals that she had been present at every adventure that Sunset had been on since the Battle of the Bands. She goes over her motives, the history of her plan, and her experiments with magic and her jewel. Finally, she admits that she never wanted to kill her pony counterpart, because she was still fascinated by her and Equestria, even if she was angry at her for stealing her life.
When Princess Twilight pleads the human Sunset to help her once more, she makes a deal with her: She'll help revive the pony Sunset, but only if she goes back to Equestria forever once she's back. Ignoring the fact that Sunset would be taken away from her friends again, Princess Twilight agrees.
=== A Reluctant Alliance ===
Princess Twilight and the human Sunset return to the group, where Princess Twilight reports that the human Sunset will help them. The human Mane 6 make their distaste known to the human Sunset, who is as just as unhappy about the situation as they are. The human Sunset then tells the group that they need to retrieve her jewel from the lake. When asked how, the human Sunset tells the group about someone else who can help.
Following the human Sunset's directions, the group drives to a house further down the lakeside, which, to the group's surprise, turns out to belong to the human counterpart of Starlight Glimmer. The human Sunset reveals that she used to work with the human Starlight and she would be able to both help get the jewel and help with the construction of another machine.
The human Sunset and Princess Twilight go to see the human Starlight, who isn't happy to see her former partner. After the situation is explained to her, however, she reluctantly agrees to help. There is an awkward meeting between the two Starlights before the group continues on. Human Starlight dons a deep-dive suit and swims down to retrieve the jewel, then the group grab the parts needed for the machine from the human Sunset's places before returning to the school to begin building. However, the human Sunset warns them that if the jewel got wet in non-magic waters, it's magic would die permanently.
=== Making a Alliance with Rivals ===
However, as the group return, they are confronted by the Illusions. The human Rainbow Dash tells the group to get out of the way, to which Trixie snidely replies that now they care about Sunset, prompting the aura of a argument. However, just as Twilight attempts to step in between, Fireworm swoops in an steals the jewel, depositing it in Yellow hand. Yellow coldly asks the group what they were planning before shooting a look of pure loathing at Sunset's human counterpart, asking what the Rainbooms would want with a murderer. Twilight updates the Illusions and Trixie and Yellow offers the assistance of the Illusions and the return of the gem so long as Twilight and Celestia uses her authority as Princess and the Main 5 uses their geode powers to to allow any magical being who wish to live in the mortal realm to leave the kingdoms. Both is hesitant to do so, but relents; Starlight backs up her word. Starlight attempts to diffuse the tension by sharing gum, but no-one is interested. The group then prepare to resurrect Sunset, although they remain cold towards each other.
=== Searching for the Space Metal ===
Unfortunately however, Celestia reveal that, if they wanted to transport multiple people into the Spirit World, they would require a special metal connected to the stars, who's power the portal would require to harness in order to work. Human Pinkie Pie mistakes these words meaning, believing it mean't they had to travel into space, much to her excitement. However, Celestia corrects her, telling her that they would require a piece of a ancient meteor that fell to earth hundreds of years ago and that broken on contact and scattered across the realms. She reveals that, like the gems that were used to contact the deceased, the Circle of Sorcerers hide the meteorite pieces across the realm, all with powerful spells to guard them. She reveals, however, that one of the hiding places was quite nearby: the Forbidden Temple of Shadowgate, a dreaded building located in the Haunted Forests so terrifying no one, not even those with hearts of evil, would go near it. Though terrified, the group, determined to save Sunset, agree to travel there. After packing, Starlight, Princess Twilight, Yellow, Iiron, Lance, John, Scarlet, Blake and Night Light combine their magic and transport themselves to the temple's entrance. To their shock, they find themselves humans once again, which, according to Yellow, in due to the magic protecting the Temple being the magic of the Magicar Wizards. 
Though the group is briefly terrified, believing the two gruesome gargoyles are real, they soon recover. However, as they enter the Temple, it becomes clear the the Illusions were still furious at the Rainbooms for abandoning Sunset and the two groups keep their distances. After walking through several drafty rooms, they enter a long hallway lined with suits of armour. Lying on a red cushion at the end of the hall, in front of a stain glass window, underneath a archway with the runes ᛒᛖᚹᚨᚱᛖ, ᚨᛚᛚ ᚤᛖ ᚹᚺᛟ ᛖᚾᛏᛖᚱ ᚺᛖᚱᛖ. ᚹᛁᚾ ᛟᚱ ᛚᛟᛋᛖ, ᛚᛟᛋᛖ ᛟᚱ ᚹᛁᚾ. ᚨ ᛏᛖᛋᛏ ᛟᚠ ᚲᛟᚢᚱᚨᚷᛖ ᚾᛟᚹ ᛒᛖᚷᛁᚾᛋ. ᛏᚺᛁᛖᚡᛖᛋ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛒᚨᚾᛞᛁᛏᛋ ᛏᚢᚱᚾ ᚨᚹᚨᚤ, ᛟᚱ ᚤᛟᚢ ᚨᚾᛞ ᚤᛟᚢ ᚲᛟᛗᛈᚨᚾᛁᛟᚾᛋ ᚹᛁᛚᛚ ᚲᚢᚱᛋᛖ ᛏᚺᛁᛋ ᛞᚨᚤ (translation: BEWARE, ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE. WIN OR LOSE, LOSE OR WIN. A TEST OF COURAGE NOW BEGINS. THIEVES AND BANDITS TURN AWAY, OR YOU AND YOU COMPANIONS WILL CURSE THIS DAY) inscribed upon it, which the two Starlight translate together. The human Rainbow Dash, however, disregards the warning and rushed forwards. However, as Rainbow rushes forwards, the meteor shard's defense activates and reveals itself. The entire group, even Rainbow, step back as every suit of armour springs to life. United by a common enemy, the Rainbooms and Illusions fight side by side, using various means to take down the knights. Despite this, Rainbow Dash and Trixie fight for control of the group while Yellow tries to have them get along. In the end, they join forces and win against the armor and defeated them after Princess Twilight casts a spell to intercept and twist the spell animating the knights, causing the suits of armour to follow their dance moves. Twilight then is able to completely take over and end the animation spell, causing the knights to fall. 
Though the groups briefly bond with the victory, they quickly return to remaining cold to each other after Trixie and Rainbow Dash freeze mid-high five, despite Yellow's protests. Yellow attempts to thaw the ice between them by trying to get the group to join her in a team building exercise where members of each group have to compliment a member of the others, although Rainbow Dash stops it, telling the group they need to return to the palace and get the portal ready. The group then returns to the palace. 
The entire group helps build the machine, with Princess Twilight and the human Sunset and Starlight directing the construction. At one point, the human Sunset pulls Princess Twilight aside and asks why she hasn't told her friends about the deal. Princess Twilight just shrugs her off and gets back to work.
After hours of working, the machine is completed as the sun starts rising. The group activates the machine, and a yellow portal opens before their eyes. As they prepare to enter, the human Starlight and Illusions Adagio, Aria, Sonata, Lavender, Fuschia and Wallflower opts to stay and monitor the machine in case something goes wrong. Together, the group enters the portal, along with Sunset's broken body, into the afterlife.
=== Let the Sun Shine In ===
The group appears in a bright white landscape made entirely out of magic. After a few seconds pass, a being taking the form of a female alicorn appears, who introduces itself as simply "The Guardian." She explains to the group that she watches over the souls of the deceased, and guide any beings that manage to travel to the afterlife toward their desired goal.
The Guardian tells the group that to find the soul the seek, knowledge of the soul's past must be in reach. The alicorn's horn then glows with a ray of brilliant light and the group are transported to a pure-white landscape flickering with pictures. The Guardian tells the Rainbooms that they must know their friend's past to save her. Though Rainbow Dash is confident that they know their friend's history, stating simply that they knew that Sunset was once Celestia's student, the Guardian, though acknowledging that what Rainbow Dash said was true, asks the entire group if, apart from her studies, the Rainbooms new anything of Sunset's life before her studies, causing Celestia to remember how she found a 12 year old (pony years) Sunset sprawled unconscious and injured on the castle lawn and took the silent, haunt-eyed filly in as her apprentice. The Princess also reveals that even years later, Sunset never revealed where she came from, even after her mother was introduced, and tells the group that Sunset disappeared from her home when she was three.
The Guardian then pulls several of the flickering pictures into an orb and allows it to expand in a glow of white and envelope the group Within the glowing white landscape they found themselves in, the Guardian tells the group that the flickering pictures were memories before transforming the landscape into an image of a 3-year old Sunset searching through the grass. As she finds a gold and silver ball, a enormous shadow falls over the young filly, causing her to look up at an enormous bird-like creature swooping towards her, it's talons outstretched. The entire group watch in horror as the bird plucked off the ground and carries her, screaming, into the far distance. The scene changes to show the 3-year old Sunset (now a human, meaning she and the bird had crossed into another realm) clasped in the creature's talons before being dropped on the roof of a tall, Chinese-like tower where a group of cloaked, hooded men, women, children and creatures were waiting. The man standing in from of the group, who The Guardian reveals was the Dragon Lord) approaches the trembling Sunset and slips a mask across her face, as if by magic, telling her that he expected "them" to serve him with absolute loyalty before sweeping his cloak aside to reveal a trembling group of masked children the same age. As the image ends, a horrified human Fluttershy asks what the bird was, which the Guardian told her was the legendary guardian of the Equestrian Plains, Ho-oh, to which pony Rainbow Dash remarks that the bird didn't look like it was protecting. The Guardian reveals that 9 years ago, when Equestria and many other realms were in the middle of a great and bloody war with the terrible Lord of Shadows, the Dragon Lord, Ho-oh was under the enemy's control and kidnapped any young child who it recognized as having unique powers like Sunset, carrying them away to be raised by Dragon Lord servants and remarks that she was not surprised that Sunset was so powerful, considering that the Shimmers were that last direct descendants of Mooncrystal, the first ruler of a united Equestria. The Guardian then reveals to the group that Sunset was not the only one the knew that had been kidnapped by Ho-oh and other Dragon Lord servants for their talents, telling them that 7 more were standing behind them. The group turns to look at Yellow, Lance, Scarlet Nightingale, Iiron Lavanrda, John Windborn, Blake Stormfern and Night Light, who tell them that what the Guardian said was true, revealing to them that they had been kidnapped by Ho-oh/Dragon Lord's Servants and raised among the Masked Children, a group of children that were either kidnapped or joined the Dragon Lord willingly as his servants, where they were raised together in a group of 8 on the dreaded Isle of the Lost, to the group's horror. Sci-Twi exclaims that that explained how they knew each other and the Midnight Blazes so well. Though the Main 6 have many questions, Yellow tells them to drop it, telling them that none of them wanted to remember their old home here and now, causing Trixie to put a sympathetic hand on her shoulder, only to be shrugged of by Yellow as she strides forwards.
As the Guardian leads the group through the hall that marked Sunset's life, the group behold many more images of Sunset and the rest of the VKs (adopted Villain Kids) life of villainous manipulation and education (including several songs including Rotten to the Core and Ways to be Wicked) as well as what turned her against Celestia.
The Guardian leads the group through the landscape and past millions of souls suspended in magic spheres. They stop at a soul glowing bright orange, which the group immediately know to be Sunset's. But before they approach it, the Guardian explains that the only way to revive a soul is if it makes contact with the one who wants it back the most.
The group is confident that one of them is the one needed to revive Sunset. But as each one of them tries to take the soul, their hands simply pass right through it. Princess Twilight tries first, but to no avail. Each of the human Mane 6 tries, but they all fail to revive Sunset. Finally, Princess Celestia attempts to take the soul of her beloved student, but much to the group's shock, not even she is the one.
Believing that all of their work was for naught, the group slowly and sadly turns to leave. But then, the human Sunset steps up to the soul of her counterpart. To the group's amazement, she reaches out to the soul and it comes out of its magic sphere into the human Sunset's hands.
As the human Sunset begins to take Sunset's soul to her body, she tells the group just how guilty she felt after killing her double. She then lets Sunset's soul enter her body. The group watches as magic swirls around Sunset's body, healing it and restoring her soul.
Sunset Shimmer then finally awakens, disoriented and confused. Overjoyed, Princess Twilight and the human Mane 6 envelop her in a massive group hug, shedding tears of utter joy. The group explains to her what happened, before telling her that the human Sunset saved her. Sunset approaches her and is about to say something, but suddenly, a massive rumble is felt throughout the afterlife. On the other side of the portal, the jewel is finally giving out and is collapsing. The Guardian tells the group to get back to their own world before she disintegrates.
The group runs through the collapsing landscape, dodging falling chunks of land. The ground beneath them begins disappearing, leaving nothing but an endless white void. The human Sunset tries to keep up with the rest of the group, but the ground gives way underneath her. She clings from a ledge, desperately trying to get back up. Right before she falls into the abyss, however, she is grabbed just in time by her pony counterpart. With her double clinging to her, Sunset activates her geode and takes on her Friendship Power form, flying the human Sunset back to the group. Her friends follow suit, activating their geodes and flying their counterparts, as well as Princess Twilight, Trixie, Celestia and Starlight through the disappearing realm, while Yellow, Lance, Scarlet, Iiron, John and Blake ride on the backs of their dragons and Night Light shifts into her dragon form. They soar through the portal in the nick of time.
=== New Beginnings ===
The human Starlight and Illusions greets the exhausted group when they come out of the portal, which collapses as they come through. The human Mane 6 then give Sunset another group hug. Overjoyed to be alive and back with her friends, Sunset returns the embrace, telling her friends how happy she is that things will be back to normal.
Just then, Princess Twilight steps in, and tells everyone about the deal she made with the human Sunset, shocking Sunset and the human Mane 6. When asked why she did it, Princess Twilight start crying again, saying that she wasn't thinking about the human Mane 6 and just wanted Sunset back. Sunset hugs her, understanding. She then goes back to her friends, who hug once more.
Sunset then tells her friends how much they meant to her, giving them each personal praise and thanking them for everything they did. Her words start to fill the human Sunset with more regret. With a final goodbye, she turns away and her and Princess Twilight begin to make their way to the Wondercolt statue. As she walks past the human Sunset, she thanks her for saving her. Finally reaching her breaking point, the human Sunset speaks up just as Sunset and Twilight are about to step through the portal. She laments on just how wrong she was about her and realizes just how much she's done. She tells Princess Twilight that the deal is off and that Sunset can stay in the human world for as long as she wants. Sunset joyfully returns back to her friends.
Sunset then turns back to her double, telling her that she's still willing to help her. But instead, the human Sunset tells the group that she wants to start a new life in Equestria, to everyone's surprise. Princess Twilight and Celestia accept the offer and welcome the human Sunset to Equestria. Sunset and the human Mane 6 bid the Equestrians and the human Sunset goodbye, and they all enter the portal. The human Starlight also departs, having see enough magical craziness for one day. Trixie, the Illusions and VKs all walk inside to give Sunset some time with her human friends. Finally left alone, Sunset and the Mane 6 begin catching up on everything. After the gang recap on everything Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Sci-Twi and Pinkie Pie leave to join the part, leaving Flash and Sunset the only people remaining. The two look out at the bridge and shimmering haze of United Heroes Academy, where Yellow, Lance, Scarlet, Iiron, John, Blake and Night Light had just returned to, looking out at the dragon silhouette flitting in the setting sun rays. Sunset tells them she has to go, referring to returning to the Academy, which Flash tells her he knows. Sunset tells him that the Academy needs every person it can get to help it return to normal. Flash tells her that he knew that Sunset had been searching for a home since before he met her, and possibly this was her chance to find it and tells her that he would always be here for her. Sunset starts to shed tears of joy, then she and Flash share a passionately kiss. The next day, the Mane 5, Principal Celestia, Vice-Principal Luna, the Illusions and Flash see Sunset off, and after hugging her friends, Sunset, Ray on her shoulder, Shadow padding next to her and carrying her possessions in a suitcase, walks across the bridge and into the mists of fantasy. The group watch her go, yearning looks on several of their faces.
A few weeks later, when the school has more or less rebuilt itself, the entire school gathers for a outside assemble, the remaining Rebels still staying away from the Royals. That same day, the bridge is due to disappear. Sci-Twi, Princess Twilight and the pony Starlight are all standing in front of the stage, while Principal Celestia, Vice-Principal Luna, Princess Celestia and Luna and the Princess of Magicar, Princess Fader sit behind them. There, Sci-Twi is crowned Princess of the Fall Formal. As the human Applejack and Rainbow Dash sarcastically ask for a speech with magic, Sci-Twi announces that she cannot be someone worthy of her crown, nor her powers, because everyone is capable of being good and bad and she did not accept that someone else could cause the trouble they thought Sunset caused. Despite Fader's objects, with Princess Celestia and eventually the Magicar Princess's agreement, Starlight and the Twilights removes the border and creates a bridge, and the people of the newly merged society celebrate, where Sunset leads the Academyans to the outside world as magic rushes past them and spreads outwards in rainbows.
: "My Plan. Yes. Yes!"
: —Sunset celebrating the border beginning brought down
The last of the magical people to enter is Scarlet Fireglow, who arrives after all but Sunset and Flash have left to party. When both were kissing she asks her daughter and future-son-in-law if she's invited to their wedding. Flash greets her, nervously calling her mom, as Sunset happily runs up and embraces her. Scarlet then gives the couple her blessing, but while hugging Sunset, she scowls at Flash and silently gives him the "I'm watching you" signal while mouthing the words. Sunset, using her newly-released powers and the Staff of Elements undos the Curse of the Kingdoms, causing the foul darkness above United Heroes Academy to fade with a mixture of a scream of rage and sigh of relief. As the humans and magical beings party to "Set it Off", Sunset joins the rest of the VKs as they grin at each other in delight. However, when the others aren't looking, Sunset glances over her shoulder at the dark, storm-shrouded shadow that lay in the distance, far but still ever present and stretching into her future ...
Meanwhile, in a palace of black glass and stone covered in horrific images of the night and covered in mirrors showing the reflective side, a purple portal spitting sparks appears out of thin air. Suddenly, the enormous staff of black, twisted wood with a green jewel embedded into it's top, the very same that Sunset took when she turned against Celestia, that lies on a iron staff rack gives of a blinding light. Suddenly, a warrior clad in silver armour stands in a shaft of moonlight. As he rolls his shoulders, he takes the staff, which turns silver, commenting that the fact that the clash of Sun and Moon that had freed Sunset from the Spirit World has released him from his prison, and states, "It's good to be back" before smiling sinisterly. The sorcerer then conjures up a mirror and watch as Yellow tells her friend how now everyone had a choice whether they wished to follow the destiny or heart. As the image fades, the sorcerer smiles, commenting that something was in his “daughter’s” heart, claiming she could cast her spells, reveal in her power and celebrate in her victory, but that his first step to freedom was complete before letting lose a guttural cackle as the darkness cloaks him.
7 years later, Sunset and her friends are finally graduating. Sunset gives a speech to an audience, Princess Twilight and the human Sunset among them, about how her life changed for the better thanks to her friends. When she is finished, the audience and her friends give her a big round of applause. Sunset's friends join her on stage and shout:
: "TO THE FUTURE!"
: —The Mane 7
:
As the festivities start, the Mane 7 grab their instruments and perform the song "Look Out, Here We Come" with everyone dancing and singing. The special ends with a photo being taken of the Mane 7 in their graduation gowns, happy to be together one last time.
== Quotes ==
: Princess Luna: Sister, I really don't think this is a good idea. You need to think this through, let Twilight come back and maybe—
: Princess Celestia: Sunset Shimmer is gone!
: Princess Celestia: You're taking the meeting of your princess self from another world very well...
: Principal Celestia: Princess, ever since Twilight came here, I have laid my eyes on a lot of strange occurrences. This doesn't faze me in the slightest.
: Princess Celestia:: Where's Twilight?
: Spike: The same place she's been since it happened.
: Principal Celestia: She hasn't left her side...
: Princess Twilight Sparkle: You think you have the right to talk to me after what you did?! We tried to tell you the truth, we tried to get you to listen, but no! You just walked out on us and abandoned your friends without another word! You don't deserve to be the Elements of Harmony! If you had just listened for two minutes, actually thought about what might be going on, and weren't such stubborn, thick-headed, traitorous jerks, then maybe Sunset might still be alive!!!
: Pony Applejack: Twilight, do you remember the wedding? Remember how you were trying to tell the lot of us that Cadence wasn't really Cadence?
: Pony Rarity: We didn't believe you. We fell for the imposter's plot. And we all walked out on you and abandoned you.
: Pony Pinkie Pie: And it was only when Queen Chrysalis was revealed that we all realized we had made a mistake.
: Pony Rainbow Dash: How is this any different from that?
: Pony Fluttershy: You forgave us when we apologized. Why can't you forgive them?
: Princess Twilight Sparkle: Girls... I shouldn't have yelled at you. I'm sorry, it's not your fault.
: Twilight Sparkle: No, you're right. It is our fault.
: Applejack: This whole mess started when we jumped to conclusions and didn't listen to you.
: Rarity: We weren't willing to listen to the truth and let that dastardly double trick us.
: Fluttershy: We let ourselves believe that our friend, who we loved and appreciated for years now, was turning on us, when she would never do that.
: Rainbow Dash: And we threw her away, just like that.
: Pinkie Pie: And now... Sunny's the one who paid for our mistakes... with her life...
: Twilight Sparkle: You can do whatever you want with us, Princess, but... just know how guilty we feel.
: Princess Twilight Sparkle: You think you feel guilty? How do you think I feel? I let you all turn your backs on me. I turned my back on you, even. If I had just tried a little harder...
: Twilight Sparkle: It's okay, Twilight. You at least knew the truth. And we forgive you.
: Princess Twilight Sparkle: Well, then... I forgive you too.
: Rarity: Oh, I'm never going to get used to that portal...
: Princess Celestia: Before the Elements of Harmony were destroyed, their magic caused special jewels to form around Equestria. When harnessed right, their magic can open a gateway to this afterlife.
: Pony Applejack: Everypony has experienced loss. We all have, haven't we?
: Pony Rarity: For me, it was a grandfather.
: Pony Pinkie Pie: For me, it was a cousin.
: Pony Fluttershy: An aunt for me.
: Pony Rainbow Dash: An uncle for me. And I had to lose Tank for the winter.
: Applejack: What about you?
: Pony Applejack: It was... my parents for me...
: Princess Twilight Sparkle: That was it... that was our last hope.
: Twilight Sparkle: No it wasn't. Where have we seen one of those gems before?
: Princess Twilight Sparkle: Sunset Shimmer.
: Human Sunset: Princess. Didn't I tell you to go back to your own world?
: Princess Twilight Sparkle: You think I would listen?
: Human Sunset: What do you want, Princess?
: Princess Twilight Sparkle: I want my friend back.
: Human Sunset: Every adventure she went on... I was there. The Battle of the Bands... the "Anon-a-Miss" Christmas ... the Friendship Games... the Everfree trip... the dance contest ... the movie studio...the mirror incident...the memory loses at Canterlot High...the amusement park... the cruise... the music festival... I was there for all of it.
: Human Starlight: Are you still chasing that stupid double of yours?
: Human Sunset: Care to answer that for me, Princess?
: Princess Twilight Sparkle: She... killed her...
: Human Starlight: Just what the heck have you gotten me into, Shimmer?
:Rainbooms and Illusions: Watch your back, watch your back
: Watch your back, watch your back
:Human Fluttershy: We can counter their attack
:Rainbooms and Illusions: Hit them 'til the armor cracks
:Trixie: This could get a little sticky
: Handling this battle could be tricky
: But I know the best way
: Fall back, let me lead
: You fall in line
: And we'll bring them to their knees
:Human Rainbow Dash: Swords in the air if you're with me
:Human Applejack: Yah!
:Human Rainbow Dash: They got us out numbered one to fifty.
:The victory is ours 'cause I got a strategy
: you take the left and the rest of you can follow me (uh uh)
: This is my crew
:Trixie: Well this is my squad
:Human Rainbow Dash: This is my turf
:Yellow Caballero Del Bosque Verde: Oh my gosh, look guys
: We've got bigger fish to fry
: Put your differences aside
: Cause right now we're on the same side
:Until the night falls
: Everyone
:Rainbooms and Illusions: We'll stay together 'til the battle is done
: Watch your back, watch your back
: Watch your back, watch your back
: We can counter their attack
: Hit them 'til the armor cracks
: Until the night falls
: We're aligned
: It doesn't mean that we're on the same side
: Watch your back, watch your back
: watch your back, watch your back
: Hit them hard and hit them fast
: they're too heavy to react.
:Human Rainbow Dash: This situation's getting kind of heavy
: Hold your weapons tight keep them steady
: 'Cause if we stick together we can make it out alive
: I'll cause a distraction you attack them from the side
:Trixie: All my soldiers stand if you're ready
: We can cut them up like a confetti
: We'll hit them from the front, you counter from behind
: And don't forget the fate of a friend of both of our's on the line
:Rainbooms and Illusions: This is all-out war
: they got us out numbered
: The way the swords crash is the sound of the thunder.
:Yellow Caballero Del Bosque Verde: And we are not going under
: We will never run for cover
:Rainbooms and Illusions: We battle for the victory
: And ride for each other
: Until the night falls
: Everyone
: We'll stay together 'til the battle is done
: Back to back, back to back
: Back to back, back to back
: We can counter their attack
: Hit them 'til the armor cracks
: Until the night falls
: We're aligned
: It doesn't mean that we're on the same side
: Back to back, back to back
: Back to back, back to back
: Hit them hard and hit them fast
: They're too heavy to react.
:Princess Twilight Sparkle: Suit of armor strong and true, make this metal bust a move!
:Rainbooms and Illusions: (Hahahaha) Ahhh-ahhh
: Ahhh-ahhh
: Ahhh-ahhh-ahhh-ahh
: Ahhh-ahhh Ahhh-ahhh
:Chorus: Until the night falls
: You can trust
: I'm gonna help you in this battle because
: I got your back, got your back
: Got your back, got your back
: All for one and that's a fact
: Knights fall pitch black
:Rainbooms and Illusions: Yeah!
:Iiron Lavanrda: Come on.
:Pony Rainbow Dash: Yeah!
:Trixie: Yeah! We did that. That's what I'm talk...
:Human Rainbow Dash: Urgh
:Trixie: Hey, good job you
:Lavander Lace: Oh yeah!
:Human Rainbow Dash: Great work team
:Human Pinkie Pie: Awesome
:Yellow Caballero Del Bosque Verde: Guys, come on. This was so great. We were a team. We worked together. Come on. Come on. Who wants gum? Mm-mm. Argh. You know what we should try? An icebreaker. You say something you really like about the other person, okay? I'll start. Applejack ... ah non-equestrian Applejack. Ah. No offence.
:Pony Applejack: None taken.
:Yellow Caballero Del Bosque Verde: Anyway ... great accent. Now, you go.
:Human Rainbow Dash: Ah, is she always this perky?
:Yellow Caballero Del Bosque Verde: Oh, it wasn't really your turn, but thank you.
:Human Rainbow Dash: Let's go
:Princess Twilight Sparkle: No luck!
:The Guardian: To find the soul you seek; the knowledge of their history must be in reach.
:Human Rainbow Dash: That’ll be easy. I mean we ARE Sunset’s BFF’s.
:Scarlet Nightingale: Ha
:Human Rainbow Dash: Anyway, we know Sunset was once Celestia’s Prized Pupil. Done!
:Princess Twilight Sparkle: Weeeellll, there’s really more than that.
:The Guardian: Though what you say is true, that is only a small portion of the child’s life and she did not live all her life in the Castles of Canterlot, Is that not so you’re majesty.
:Princess Twilight Sparkle: Princess …
:Princess Celestia: What The Guardian says is true. Six years ago, I found Sunset sprawled unconscious across the castle lawn, her mane spraying across the lawn, her body covered in scratches and bruises, her breath ragged. We only found Sunset’s mother a year later and before that, she appeared to have no family, home or money. He eyes were hollow when she awoke and she shed away from anyone who approached her for a week and remained silent long after.
:Human Rarity: Really! Oh, why didn’t Sunset ever tell us she'd suffered such a unfashionable moment.
:Pony Rarity: Oh I agree profoundly
:Rainbow Dash (both): Really!
:Princess Celestia: She didn't like to share her negative emotions with others. Anyway, we eventually deduced she had suffered an event of terrible grief or suffering, though she never told us what it was this was, nor what happened to her during her nine years of unknown fate. I always wondered where she was and what happened to her
:The Guardian: Than let us see, for only then will you understand.
:3-year-old Pony Sunset Shimmer: Ha, ha, ha. Ah, found it.
: [Sunset rises ball with her magic]
:3-year-old Pony Sunset Shimmer: Huh. Ah. Ah. AHHHHHHH (scream)
: [Ho-oh appears and picks her up]
: [Ho-oh flies away]
: [Sunset dropped with a cry of pain]
:3-year-old Pony Sunset Shimmer: Ah — huh.
: [Sunset sobs silently in terror]
: [Mask slides onto Sunset’s face]
:Dragon Lord: Do not fear me, my dear, I will not harm you. You will be safe here, and I expect you all to serve me with absolute loyalty
: [Moves aside to reveal young masked Yellow, Lance, Scarlet Nightingale, Iiron Lavanrda, John Windborn, Blake Stormfern and Night Light]
:Dragon Lord: And NEVER let me see you sniveling like that again.
:Human Fluttershy: What … was … that!
:The Guardian: That was Ho-oh, the legendary bird that watches over the Equestrian plains.
:Pony Rainbow Dash: Correct me if I’m wrong but that bird didn’t look like it was being very protecting
:The Guardian: Though Ho-oh is usually a benevolent force, 9 years ago Equestria and many other realms were in the middle of a great and bloody war with a terrible enemy, the Lord of Shadows, the Dragon Lord. And during this time, Ho-oh was under the enemy's control and kidnapped any young child who it recognized as having unique powers, people like your friend, Sunset, carrying them away to be raised by Dragon Lord servants on the Isle of the Lost. It does not surprise me that who Ho-oh saw Sunset's potential. She is of royal blood after all.
:Dragon Spike: Royal what!!
:The Guardian: You do not know? Why the Shimmers are the last direct descendants of Mooncrystal, the first ruler of Equestria after it's three races united. And as Sunset Shimmer is the heir to the family lineage, she is also directly in line for the Equestrian Throne.
:Princess Celestia: Mooncrystal. I thought none of her children ever had any children of their own.
:The Guardian: Her last child, Star Diamond, did. But she relinquished her claim to the throne after seeing that you ancestor, Sun Sear the Brilliant, was a better candidate.
:Human Fluttershy: Wait, wait a minute ... um, when you have the time. You mean ... Sunset was take away from her family and raised by evil.
:Human Appejack: No wonder she was so bullying, even after Celestia’s teaching, when she first got to Canterlot High. Her entire early life was dictated by evil. She didn't really know how else to act.
:The Guardian: Indeed. But your friend is not the only kidnapped child you have known. Seven more stand behind you.
:Human Rarity: Yellow? Lance? Scarlet? Iiron? Night Light? John? Blake? You! You mean –
:Yellow Caballero Del Bosque Verde: Yes! We were all stolen from our family’s by Ho-oh or … others and raised with Sunset on that ... that Isle, being taught the ways of evil.
:Sci-Twi: That’s why you all know each other so well, I always wondered, but I never imagined you were raised together. I have so many questions! How –
:Yellow Caballero Del Bosque Verde: Stop! Just Stop! Look, we survived just fine but don’t ask us or Sunset about it. Not here. Not now.
:Past Scarlet Nightingale: They say I'm trouble
: They say I'm bad
: They say I'm evil
: And that makes me glad
:Past Lance Amarillo Del Bosque Verde: A dirty no-good
: Down to the bone
: Your worst nightmare
: Can't take me home
:Unnamed Women.1: Argh
:Past Yellow Caballero Del Bosque Verde: So I've got some mischief
: In my blood
: Can you blame me?
: I never got no love
:Past Iiron Lavanrda: They think I'm callous
: A low-life hood
: I feel so useless
:All: Misunderstood!
:Past Yellow, Scarlet, Night Light and Sunset Shimmer: Mirror, mirror on the wall
: Who's the baddest of them all?
: Welcome to my wicked world, wicked world!
:Chorus: I'm rotten to the core, core
: Rotten to the core
: I'm rotten to the core, core
: Who could ask for more?
: I'm nothing like the kid next, like the kid next door
: I'm rotten to the, I'm rotten to the
: I'm rotten to the core
:Past Blake Stormfern: Yah
:Past Scarlet Nightingale: Ah, ha, ha, ha
:Past Yellow Caballero Del Bosque Verde: Mwa ha, ha, ha, ha!
:Past John Windborn: Whoa
:Past Night Light: Call me a schemer
: Call me a freak
: How can you say that?
: I'm just... unique!
:Past Blake Stormfern: What, me? A traitor?
: Ain't got your back?
: Oh, we're not friends
: What's up with that?
:Unnamed Man.1: Hey
:Past Sunset Shimmer: So I'm a misfit
: So I'm a flirt
: I broke your heart?
:Unnamed Man.2: Eeur
:Past Sunset Shimmer: I made you hurt?
:Past John Windborn: The past is past
: Forgive, forget
: The truth is
:All: You ain't seen nothing yet!
:Unnamed Women.2: You thief! Look what you’ve done to my apples.
:Past Yellow, Scarlet, Night Light and Sunset Shimmer: Mirror, mirror on the wall
: Who's the baddest of them all?
: Welcome to my wicked world
:Past Lance Amarillo Del Bosque Verde: Ah, ha!
:Past Yellow, Scarlet, Night Light and Sunset Shimmer: Wicked world!
:Past John Windborn: Ha ha ha
:Past Iiron Lavanrda: Come on!
: (Instrumental bridge)
:Past Blake Stormfern: Haha!
:Past John Windborn: Gimme That!!
:Past Iiron Lavanrda: Yeeeeaaaah!!
:Past Yellow Caballero Del Bosque Verde: Badooo!
:Past Sunset Shimmer: Haha! Ah
:Past John Windborn: Yeah!
:Chorus: I'm rotten to the core, core
: Rotten to the core
: I'm rotten to the core, core
: Who could ask for more?
: I'm nothing like the kid next, like the kid next door
: I'm rotten to the, I'm rotten to the
: I'm rotten to the core
:Past Sunset Shimmer: I’m so tired of pretending.
: Where’s my happy ending?
: I followed all the rules,
: I drew inside the lines,
: I never asked for anything that wasn’t mine.
: I waited patiently for my time,
: But when it finally came, he called her name.
: And now I feel this overwhelming pain.
: I mean, it’s in my veins.
: I mean, it’s in my brain.
: My thoughts are running in a circle like a toy train,
: I’m kinda like a perfect picture with a broken frame.
: I know exactly who to blame.
: I never thought of myself as mean,
: I always thought that I’d be the Queen.
: And there’s no in-between,
: 'cause if I can’t have that then
: I will be the leader of the dark and the bad.
: Now there’s a devil on my shoulder where the angels used to be
: and he’s calling me the Queen.
: Being nice was my past time,
: but I’ve been hurt for the last time.
: And I won’t ever let another person take advantage of me,
: The anger burns my skin, third-degree.
: Now my blood’s boiling hotter than a fiery sea,
: There’s nobody getting close to me.
: They’re gonna bow to the Evil Queen,
: Your nightmare's my dream.
: Just wait until they fall to my wicked schemes.
: I never thought of myself as mean,
: I always thought that I’d be the Queen.
: And there’s no in-between,
: 'cause if I can’t have that then
: I will be the leader of the dark and the bad.
: Now there’s a devil on my shoulder where the angels used to be
: and he’s calling me the Queen of Mean.
: The Queen of Mean.
: The Queen of Mean.
:Golden Queen (through her scepter): Sunset.
:Past Sunset Shimmer: Something is pulling me,
: It’s so magnetic.
: My body is moving,
: Unsure where I’m headed.
: All of my senses have left me defenseless,
: This darkness around me is promising vengeance.
: The price that I’m willing to pay is expensive,
: There’s nothing to lose when you’re lonely and friendless.
: So my only interest is showing this princess,
: that I am the Queen and my reign will be endless.
: I want what I deserve,
: I want to rule the world.
: Sit back and watch them learn,
: It’s finally my turn
: If they want a villain for a Queen,
: I’m gonna be the one they’ve never seen.
: I’ll show them what it means,
: Now that I am that, I'll be the ruler of the dark and the bad.
: ‘Cause the devil’s on my shoulder where the angels used to be,
: and he’s calling me the Queen of Mean.
: The Queen of Mean.
: I want what I deserve
:The Guardian: In order to resurrect a lost soul, it must be taken by the being who truly wants it restored in their world most of all.
:Rainbow Dash: Well, that's easy. It has to be one of us! Who else could it be?
: The Guardian: I am truly sorry. This is not the first time that this has happened. Many have come here seeking a lost soul, only to find that they are not the ones needed.
: Human Sunset: I hope you can all find it in your hearts to forgive me...
: Human Sunset: You saved me?
: Sunset Shimmer: Well, you saved my life. Now I'm returning the favor. Turnabout is fair play, after all.
: Human Sunset: You started a new life. Now I think it's time that I do the same... in Equestria.
: Pony Rarity: It was nice to meet you, darlings. Maybe someday we can meet up on less dire circumstances.
: Pony Rainbow Dash: Yeah, you guys are awesome.
: Pony Applejack: You take care of yourselves, you hear?
: Applejack: Likewise, sugarcube.
: Twilight Sparkle: So did you like being humans?
: Pony Rarity: It was... an experience. But it will be nice to get back to my pony form.
: Sunset Shimmer: Would you look at that sunrise.
: Twilight Sparkle: It's beautiful.
: Rarity: Simply marvelous.
:Sunset Shimmer: I have to go
:Flash Sentry: I know
:Sunset Shimmer: They can't do it without me ...
:Flash Sentry: And you need to find out about your family, your heritage. You've been looking for a home since the first day I met you Sunset, and maybe this is finally your chance to find it. Just know that we will always... I will always be there for you.
:Yellow Caballero Del Bosque Verde: My plan. Yes! Yes!
:Sci-Twi: It's time to bring it together
:Time for a brand new start
:Sunset Shimmer: We gonna put it in mo-o-otion
:Break down what keeps us apart
:Sci-Twi: No more, no division, we down
:New team, got the vision, unite
:Sunset Shimmer: So we stand, now we living marching
:In the light, one two, one two like
:Sci-Twi: I see you
:Sunset Shimmer: You see me
:Sci-Twi: Imperfect
:Sunset Shimmer: Perfectly
:Sci-Twi and Sunset Shimmer: Face to face we can see clearly our similarities
:Day and night, wrong or right
:We come together for a good time
:All: We're gonna break this down
:We're gonna rock the town
:Everyone all around
:Let's be whoever like this
:Stronger together like this
:Sunset Shimmer: Believing in second chances
:Scarlet Nightingale: And we're all starting today
:John Windborn: Marching on in a new land
:Magical People: Our world's a better, a better place
:Human Rarity: Welcome, the addition new love
:Human Rainbow Dash: Unity, new beginning for us
:Human Applejack: Harmony, that's the mission, marching
:All: In the light, one two, one two like
:Canterlot High Students: I see you
:Magical People: You see me
:Canterlot High Students: Imperfect
:Magical People: Perfectly
:Face to face we can see clearly our similarities
:All: Like day and night, wrong or right
:We come together for a good time
:We're gonna break this down
:We're gonna rock the town
:Everyone all around
:Just be whoever like this
:Stronger together like this
:We reunited like this
:Bringing it, bringing it, b-b-b-bringing it down
:Bringing it, bringing it, b-b-b-bringing it down
:Bringing it, bringing it, b-b-b-bringing it down
:Bringing it, bringing it, b-b-b-bringing it down
:Sci-Twi: Down!
:All: We're gonna break this down
:Sci-Twi: Break this down
:All: We're gonna rock the town
:Sunset Shimmer: Oh, we're gonna rock this town
:All: Everyone all around (Oh, around)
:Just be whoever like this (Come on!)
:Stronger together like this (Ooh)
:We reunited like this
:We're gonna break this down (Come on! We're gonna break this down)
:We're gonna rock the town (Come on, everybody on the isle gonna like this)
:Everyone all around (Oh, around)
:Just be whoever like this
:Stronger together like this (Stronger together like this)
:We reunited like this (Hey!)
:Bringing it, bringing it, b-b-bringing it down!
:Bringing it, bringing it, b-b-bringing it down!
:Pony Sunset Shimmer: Your Majesties, with your permission
:Princess Celestia: Proceed
:Pony Sunset Shimmer: From bad to good; to better from worse, from Magicar I now remove this curse! The nightmare's done; the day has dawned. So let's join as one and party on!
:Dragon Lord: Ah, finally! The clash of Sun and Moon has released me from my prison! It's good to be back!
:Yellow Caballero Del Bosque Verde (through mirror): Now those of the kingdoms can choose whether they wish to live a life of magic life or follow their heart.
:Dragon Lord: Oh somethings in your heart my daughter. Cast your mighty spells; revel in your newfound power and celebrate your victory ... My first big step toward freedom is ... Complete. Mwah ha ha.
:Sunset Shimmer: I used to be someone different. I used to think that I was everything, and that everyone around me were just ants for me to walk on and crush under my feet. I made myself superior and made sure that no one got in my way. And then someone did get in my way, and everything came crashing down. I thought it was over. And then seven hands reached out, pulled me out of the crater that I was left in, and helped me. They helped me become who I am today. I'm not a bully jerk anymore. Now, I'm a friend. The girls and I have done a lot. We've helped a lot of people, we've gone on lots of adventures, and we've found out who we are. Our lives have been the most craziest I've ever seen. Heck, my life ended for a brief period! But thanks to my friends, I'm still here, and better than ever. And today, I join my friends and my peers in graduation. We have no idea what the future has in store for us. But I know that together, with our geodes on our necks and our friendship strong, we will power through whatever comes our way. Because we are the future. And we know... that friendship is magic!