Sunset stared at the ceiling of her room, tossing a tennis ball into the air and catching it before it hit her face. It had been two weeks since graduation. Sunset had made mental list after mental list of the reasons she should stay or go, but so many different aspects kept getting in her way. She was appreciative of Celestia for letting her say while she was in high school, but she knew the custom was to move out after high school, and Sunset did not know the first thing about life on her own She had no doubt that Celestia was ready for her to leave, after giving her free room and board, and even extra money so she could do things with her friends, it was time to stand on her own.
Then there was the matter of her friends. Dash and Fluttershy had already received their dorm assignments from the University of Cloudsdale, and her other friends were waiting to hear back from their first picks. None of them were going to stay in Canterlot. Sure, maybe one or two would stay together, but everyone was leaving.
She threw the ball hard enough to hit the ceiling, causing it to bounce off at an angle and hit the door. With a groan, she sat up and buried her face in her hands. It wasn’t fair. Why was she left alone to deal with this? Was this her penance for tearing her friends apart when she was still mad for power? She had to watch them slowly crumble from within? She took a deep breath and stood.
Her friends were leaving, going all over the country to further their education and set up their futures. This wasn’t Equestria. They didn’t start apprenticeships when they found their cutie marks. They had to work hard and forge their own path with no reassurance the path they were on was the right one.
This wasn’t Equestria, and Sunset wanted it to be. She wanted to go home. She had already arranged to visit Princess Twilight for an undetermined amount of time, and the only thing to do was wait. Celestia had agreed to drive her to the portal, though it seemed to be something of an inconviencance for her.
“You’re going to Equestria tomorrow?” Celestia asked. She sat down her fork. “For how long?”
Sunset shrugged, pushing the salad around on her plate. “I don’t know. A while, I guess.” She looked up, meeting Celestia’s eyes. “I can walk if you don’t want to drive me. It’s no big deal. I just didn’t want to leave my bike at the school.”
Celestia did not break eye contact as she looked at Sunset. It seemed a full minute passed before Celestia nodded, her shoulders falling. “I’ll drive you. Two, you said? That’s so early. Are you sure you want to go tomorrow?”
“Yeah, we agreed on tomorrow, she’s expecting me.”
“Very well then. Tomorrow it is.
A glance at the clock showed it was nearly one. Sunset got out of bed, straightening the bedding, and looked around the room. There wasn’t much to take with her, really. She wouldn’t need any of her clothes, or her wallet, or any of the things in the room. She would leave the pictures and come for them once she had found her own place in Equestria, so she would have something to remember her friends by. The only thing that could be useful was the journal, so she picked it up, putting it into the saddle bags she had worn the first time she crossed into this world, and walked out of her bedroom and into the kitchen.
Celestia sat at the table, holding a mug of tea in both hands. She looked up when Sunset walked in, a strained smile on her face. “Did you eat lunch yet?”
“No. That’s the first thing Twilight put on the plan, so I was just waiting until I got home.” Sunset sat in the chair opposite her. “It’s so weird. I’m finally going home.” Celestia winced at the word, but Sunset didn’t notice. “It’s going to be so different. So much better. I’m not the same bitter person I was, grabbing for power. Maybe I can appreciate what I have now. Maybe the Princess will even forgive me, welcome me with open wings.” Sunset grinned, expecting her expression to be mirrored on Celestia’s face.
Instead, she got a frown. “Well, it’s nearly time to go. Wouldn’t want to be late for your meeting with the Princess. Do you need help with your things?”
Sunset furrowed her brown. “No. I won’t really need to take anything, I mean. I’ll be in Princess Twilight’s castle, and ponies don’t really wear clothes. Well, not like humans do.”
“I see. So you aren’t going to take anything with you?” Celestia wasn’t looking at her now.
Sunset wasn’t sure what to make of the woman. While she had studied under Princess Celestia, she had never seen the mare angry or sad or any emotion that wasn’t positive. The woman before her, however, had been through the gambit of emotions, and Sunset had witnessed them all. It had come as a shock the first time she had ever heard Celestia cry, and after that, she realized that the pony and the person were two very different people. Sunset shrugged. “I’ve got my saddle bags and the useless Equestrian bits I brought with me the first time, just stuff that I originally brought over.”
“Oh.” Celestia stood, picking her keys up and walking toward the door. “It’s time.” They got into the car and Celestia pulled out, going a little faster than normal. The ride to the school was silent. Celestia kept a firm grip on the steering wheel and never looked over at Sunset once. This wasn’t the way Sunset was used to riding in the car to be. Normally it was full of talk and, often times, laughter. Maybe Celestia was ready to be rid of Sunset. It wouldn’t have surprised her any.
They pulled to the side of the curb of the school, Celestia turning the car off. She took a deep breath and looked over to Sunset. “You’re sure this is what you want? To go back?”
“Of course it is. Equestria is my home. Why wouldn’t I?” She looked at Celestia for a moment, and when no answer came, she got out of the car and started walking toward the portal. Just as she reached the statue, a car door slammed behind her. She turned and faced the portal, seeing Celestia walking toward her. She reached out with a hand and razed the portal, a smile tugging at her lips. She looked over to Celestia, who had caught up, and the smiled broke out. “I’m going home. Why am I so nervous?”
It took a moment for Celestia to answer. “It’s been a long time since you were in Equestria for more than a few moments. Maybe things have changed. Maybe you’ve changed.”
Sunset scowled. “I have changed. I’m a better person now.” She tore her eyes away from Celestia and focused on the portal. “I guess the most important thing to do is just take that first step. Thanks for taking care of me. I really do appreciate it and I do want to pay you back, eventually.” She looked back over to Celestia, whose expression she couldn’t read. “I’ll be out of your hair now, though, so it’s a win-win. Bye.” With that, she walked through the portal.
She blinked as she looked around at the sparkling blues and purples. She took a step forward, and another, relishing in the sound her hooves made against the crystal floor. She heard giggling and looked around, spotting the purple alicorn watching her. “Having fun?”
Sunset looked back to the mirror, but saw nothing but her own reflection. “Yeah, I’m great. I’m a pony again.” She shot a zap of blue magic toward her saddlebags, which had fallen when she walked through the mirror, and levitated them onto her back. “My magic works,” she breathed to herself. She turned to face the other mare, a grin splitting her face. “I have to say, Princess Twilight, it is good to be home.”
Princess Twilight wrinkled her nose. “I know we haven’t really had a chance to discuss this, but could you maybe not call me princess? I just don’t like my friends being so formal.”
Sunset nodded. “Oh, of course. In the human world, when we talk about you, we call you Princess Twilight so we don’t confuse you with the other Twilight.”
“I see.” Twilight shuffled her wings. “Well, the gang is all upstairs ready for you. I did what you asked and I haven’t mentioned this to Celestia yet, but you know she is going to want to see you.” Twilight turned and led the way up the stairs. Sunset gulped but followed.
Stepping through the door was a surreal experience. She saw what was clearly the pony version of all her friends, one pony that she didn’t know, and…a dragon? Everyone was staring at her expectantly. “Hi everybody. I’m Sunset Shimmer.”
“Oh boy, I’ve heard so much about you!” Pinkie Pie squealed. “See, this is your welcome back party, but I also have planned a welcome to Ponyville party because I don’t think you’ve ever been to Ponyville before, and—“
“Pinkie, let her catch her breath. I’m sure it’s a big adjustment.” Rarity gave her a smile. “Perhaps you would prefer to sit and talk.”
Sunset looked around at the ponies that surrounded her, unsure how she was supposed to feel. She felt like she knew these ponies, but she doubted this Rainbow Dash played soccer, or that this Fluttershy helped in animal shelters. With a smile, she nodded. “Talking sounds great.” She levitated her saddle bags off her back and sat, looking at everyone. She found the one pony she didn’t recognize, a light purple unicorn with a dark purple and bright blue mane. “How about introductions. What’s your name?”
The unicorn looked at the others before looking back to Sunset. “Me?” she asked, raisnng a hoof to her chest. “I’m Starlight Glimmer.”
“I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Sunset Shimmer.”
Pinkie giggled. “Your names rhyme.”
“And not to be rude, Sunset, but you ain’t met any of us before.” One glance at the orange earth pony and Sunset knew that was Applejack.
She nodded. “Yes, I’m sorry. My friends back…in the other world. They’re strikingly similar.”
“I’m not among them?” Starlight asked.
The dragon rolled his eyes. “I doubt that Starlight tried to destroy Equestria by making sure the elements of harmony never met.”
“Spike,” Twilight reprimanded.
He gave a sheepish smile. “Heh, sorry.”
“Oh, I am terribly sorry,” Rarity said, standing up. “I wanted to stay longer, Sunset, but I have a pony coming from Manehattan, so I must get to my shop. Perhaps we can do brunch some time.” With a quick smile, Rarity was out the door.
“Her shop?” Sunset asked.
Twilight nodded. “Yes. She’s really branching out and opening stores in all the major cities.”
Sunset shifted. Opening stores? Maybe these ponies weren’t exactly like her friends after all.