Sunset
I yawned softly as I packed up some of my souvenirs Derpy and I had bought while here into to my saddlebags. I had enchanted my saddlebags so they turned into a backpack once I went through the portal.
“Have you thought about my offer?” I jumped slightly and glanced at the door. Princess Cadence stood in the doorway and I nodded.
“No,” I admitted and shrugged my saddlebags on. “Can I get a bit longer to decide to just up and join the Royal Guard?”
“Yes,” Cadence said instantly as Flurry Heart waddled in. “You’ll be saved a leader ship spot. Your sister, Spitfire is already training recruits. She actually recommended you for the job, you know.”
“Spitfire shows her love in a different way than others do,” I chuckled. “I can believe that. I hope we see each other again Cadence.”
“As do I.” I made eye contact with the princess and bowed my head slightly.
“May we meet again.”
“May we meet again?” Cadence asked in confusion.
“It’s a thing in a TV show Derpy and I like,” I explained with a smirk. “Character’s say it when they are about to die, risk their life and don’t know if they will ever see someone again.”
“Ah I see,” Cadence nodded slowly. “May we meet again.”
“We will.” Cadence levitated a cotton ball in and jammed it in my cheek. “What the fuck?”
“Twilight wants to do a DNA test,” Cadence said sheepishly as she put it in a test tube. “She’s testing to see if you’re related to any of us but don’t tell her I said that.”
“You could have asked,” I grumbled and rubbed my jaw. Cadence hid a laugh behind a hoof.
“Sorry Sunset.”
I yawned as I rested my head on Derpys as she snored. It was late as hell and the train was putting the rest of us to sleep, except me and Lavender. We were over halfway to Ponyville. I had already spent an hour talking with Sunburst. He was super difficult to say goodbye to.
“Hey Sunset?” Lavender said as I glanced over at her. My fellow unicorn propped her head up with hooves as her tail flicked back and forth as she looked eagerly out the window as the rocks sped past us. “You ever miss your family when you leave?”
“Yeah all the time,” I admitted as I shifted slightly under Derpys wing. “Why?”
“Just curious,” Lavender answered as she yawned. “Equestria is nice. Cadence is nice too.”
“Yeah she is,” I agreed with a faint smile. “I’m going to sleep. I’ll see you when we get to Ponyville.” Lavender chuckled and stayed quiet as I wrapped my tail around Derpys and fell asleep.
I don’t know how long I was asleep as I felt me being moved and faint voices. I shifted closer into the mane of some pony and snored softly.
“That’s adorable,” Octavia giggled as I shifted again. “Wake up Sunset.”
“I so have to get a picture of this!” Aunt Cherry snickered as I made out a camera being pressed and I opened my eyes. I stared at the dark pink coat and light pink mane of the pony I vaguely identified as Mom.
“Hello,” Mom snickered as I slid off her back. “We couldn’t get you to wake up so I just carried you off the train to the castle. Let’s get you home.” I nodded briefly and my horn flashed. I didn’t know the if the spell was still cast to let Rainbow and the others see us but better to be safe than sorry.
“Actually we have something to talk about with you all,” Adagio announced and we all looked at the three sirens. “We’re not coming with you.”
“What?” Lyra demanded as she glared at them. “What do you mean?”
“What she means is she wants to stay with Twilight,” Aria explained as she scuffed a hoof on the ground. “I’m joining the Royal Guard.”
“And these ponies really need to know the wonders of tacos!” Sonata exclaimed happily.
“We are forever in your debt,” Adagio admitted and looked at me. “Especially you. You believed in us when the school hated us.”
“This isn’t goodbye,” Sonata chimed in as I hugged Adagio. Sonata seemed surprisingly serious for once. “It’s just goodbye till next time. We will see each other again.”
“She’s right,” Aria added. “I’m being assigned to look into the assassination threat on Twilight. This isn’t the end. We hope you will come visit us four.”
“Wait four?” Lightning echoed as we all looked at each other in confusion as Lavender coughed and we stared at her.
“I’m staying too,” Lavender admitted sheepishly.
“What would Trixie, Fuchsia and Cloudkicker think?” I demanded.
“You have to tell them for me,” Lavender grabbed my hooves and held them. “Fighting the changelings was well terrifying. I’ve never been so scared in my life. But it’s a simple life here. I love Equestria. We’ve dealt with a cyber bully, a powered up Twilight and a changeling invasion together. We won’t stop being friends because of where we are. It’s why I was talking to Cadence. She and the others gave me a house in Ponyville along with a shop in town to sell my fireworks.”
“You’re our family,” Adagio pressed a hoof into my chest. “We will always be. But this is where we belong. I know we will see each other again. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. Ow!” We all laughed as Adagio rubbed her eye in pain and I wiped a tear away from my own eyes.
“May we meet again,” Aria bowed her head slightly. One by one we hugged them as I gazed at Lavender. “This isn’t the end of our story. We’ll be back for Camp Everfree.”
“Take care of yourselves love,” Octavia whispered as she hugged Sonata. “We’re a book away.”
“As for that,” Sonata chimed in. “We have our own books to give you all. If you ever need us, you know where to find us. And how to contact us.” The three sirens pushed a bunch of books our way with our names on it as we accepted them.
“Kick some ass for me,” Lightning hoof bumped Aria. “Only way you know how.”
“Lavender,” I hugged her and pressed my horn to hers. “Forgive me.”
“For what?” Lavender asked curiously as she hugged me back as I made out a sniffling sound coming from her.
“For this,” I said and cast a sleeping spell on her as she went limp and started snoring in my hooves. “Cloudkicker would never allow her to stay. She told me to look after her.” The others angry faces turned to understanding as I carried Lavender through the portal. I hated doing this to her but well I hope she will understand.
Damn you Cloudkicker.