//------------------------------//
// Healing Process 
// Story: Sunset's Student 
// by Manaphy 
//------------------------------//

	For the first time, a somewhat macabre atmosphere lingered during one of Carousel Boutique's social gatherings.

And even if the Wonderbolts and Minuette's group had joined Sweetie and her friends instead of returning Dinky back to her home, the dimly lit atmosphere of the entire boutique wouldn't have become brighter. They'd have performed the same glances over to Sunset and the brief conversations in a desperate attempt to liven up the mood.

Difficulties and frightening spectacles had occurred at or near Sweetie's home from time to time, but those always centered around a conflict with her sister, dresses not working out, or a monster wreaking havoc outside on rare occasions. As far as any outsider would've noticed, everything was quaint within the boutique as ponies all mingled with each other and sipped cups of hot chocolate. The tables and chairs sprawled throughout the room were all neatly organized. Mannequins and the dresses Rarity had toiled over until she sweated up a storm were all stowed in the closet and peeking at the ponies. Baked goods perched atop the plates and emitting a crisp scent that tickled Sweetie's nostrils.

Almost everypony present was feigning smiles. Sunset simply sat in the corner and gazed at an opened book. Her shoulders sagged, a soft sigh leaving her lips as she sipped from her cup of hot chocolate. Rarity and Trixie approached her and asked if there was anything they could've done to help her feel just a smidgen better. Everything from words of support to practical jokes had been muttered. But from what Sweetie noticed, Sunset merely shook her head and gently waved them away, politely requesting she have time to herself.

Without fail, those who approached her agreed to respect her privacy. Those shooed away regrouped with each other, glancing at Sunset from time to time.

As for Twilight, her focus was locked onto Sweetie. The latter only arched an eyebrow at Twilight, though the princess cracked the softest of smiles in return. Perhaps Twilight had an idea of sorts stewing in her head, but since reading minds was something far beyond what Sweetie was capable of yet, hypothesizing was all she could've done.

Sweetie juggled all sorts of phrases that might have helped her even a little, but with every possible question or request that flashed before her, they all faded away and were discarded in an instant.

Lame, rude, corny, and a myriad of other negative words replaced her ideas.

Sweetie pursed her lips and exhaled. Reaching over to the small cup next to her, she drank a bit of her hot chocolate, the warm and sweet flavors tickling her taste buds. It'd paint a bright smile across her face on most days.

Today wasn't like most days.

"There has to be a way to reach out to Sunset," Sweetie murmured to herself. Carrying the cup with her magic, she paced back and forth, head hung low. "But if she wants to be left alone, shouldn't I respect her decision?"

From what Sweetie recalled, Rarity always stressed the importance of respecting another pony's privacy depending on the context. Sweetie glanced over to where her sister was, the latter discussing something with Trixie. From what Sweetie heard, Trixie had attempted some jokes and puns to lighten the mood, a few of them earning a few chuckles. At least it prevented the room from being nothing but melancholy.

"If Rarity trotted away to respect Sunset's privacy, maybe I should do the same." Sweetie sighed, then sat down on the floor and took another sip of her drink. Its soothing warmth loosened her muscles ever so slightly. But it wasn't enough; the tension in the air still constricted Sweetie like an anaconda.

"You should do what's right," Trixie murmured. "Trust me, Trixie knows what she's talking about."

Sweetie glanced over to her right, Trixie trotting up to her and sitting beside her. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Gently rubbing Sweetie's shoulder, Trixie then chuckled for a split second. "Trixie—I learned that doing the right thing is one of the most important aspects of anypony's life. Being the Great and Powerful Trixie is one thing, but I haven't truly earned such a title if I can't spread smiles and laughs with other ponies. Doing what's right and moral can make the world a better place. Princess Twilight told me this once, and now I'm passing it on to you." She paused for a moment and pursed her lips. Sighing, she then made eye contact with Sweetie. "I've never told you about life after the incident with the Alicorn Amulet, have I?"

Sweetie shook her head. "You haven't. Is there something about it you want to share with me?"

"A little bit, but it's important." Trixie took a deep breath, momentarily closing her eyes. "After that incident, I had some trouble getting back on my hooves. There were some places where I could resume life and my shows as if nothing bad had happened, but even then, my past still lingered above me. It—it was like being a ghost at times."

Sweetie arched an eyebrow. "A ghost?"

"Well, news of what happened spread throughout Equestria. While some ponies felt bad for me, others pushed me away. They were afraid of me, and it was only after showing extreme bouts of generosity and kindness that they gave me another chance." Adjusting her hat, Trixie then bit her lip. "I know it's odd telling you this now, but it does apply to what your friend must be going through. Even if I'm among the greatest in casting magic, I still have much to learn." She paused for a moment, then shuddered as her eyes widened. "You're studying magic, right?"

"Yep." Sweetie arched an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"

"I only learned this recently, but if you're looking to become the best you can at something, you must realize that there's always something new to learn." Trixie rubbed her hooves together. "And while I may still be somewhat boastful, not without reason, I've improved because I now know that knowing everything is practically impossible. There's always something new to discover."

"I see where you're coming from. Thank you for the advice."

"Not a problem. Trixie is glad to help out if you have any questions." She rubbed the back of her neck, sheepishly smiling. "I'll admit that I can't promise I'll know how to help out, but I can promise that I'll do my best. And there are few ponies who can match or exceed my best, you know."

"I guess so." Sweetie bobbed her head. "As we were saying, because Sunset had a rough past and some ponies haven't forgotten about it, showing she's become a better mare won't be easy in all cases. Your experience and Sunset's have some similarities as a result. But I have to ask, when did you realize kindness and generosity were the keys?"

"That's a good question." Trixie glanced at the ornate roof above her. Rubbing her muzzle, she hummed for a moment. "During my travels, I ended up helping out others or doing some heroic deeds. I figured it was the right thing to do, though I eventually came to realize it after repeated instances." She flashed a bright smile for the briefest of moments. "It made me happy knowing that I improved the day of somepony else. I was happy for them, more specifically."

Sweetie nodded again. "And that's how you cemented your—" she rubbed her muzzle "—redemption is the word, right?"

"I guess that word could work." A soft chuckle left Trixie's lips. "That being said, I think you should talk with Sunset. Princess Twilight agrees with me."

"How so?"

"I talked with her about how things were going ever since the aforementioned incident with the Alicorn Amulet. Princess Twilight would've talked to you herself, but given how I've lived through the same experience as Sunset, we agreed that I'd be the best pony to share this kernel of wisdom with you. In a way, we kind of combined our own ideas into one." Trixie briefly glanced to Twilight and then back to Sweetie. "There's something to be said about teamwork."

Standing upright, Sweetie donned a faint smirk. "Thank you, Trixie. And say thanks to Twilight for me, too."

"You're welcome." Trixie playfully rubbed the top of Sweetie's mane. The back and forth motion was rather ticklish. "I see some of myself in Sunset. While it may take some time for her to climb out of this, I know that if you're by her side, things will turn out well. She cares for you, Sweetie Belle. She cares for Rarity, Misty Fly, Princess Twilight, and me as well. But if anypony is going to cheer her up, it's you." Pausing, Trixie then gently poked Sweetie's back, the latter budging an inch forward. "Good luck. We're all here if you need help."

"Sounds good."

Noticing Trixie trotting back to where the others were, Sweetie took a quick breath and swiveled her head to where Sunset resided. As before, Sunset kept focusing on the book before her and occasionally sipping her cup of hot chocolate. Other than the few instances of her licking her lips or flipping the book's page, her expression and body were as static as a statue. Sweetie crept forward. Not a sound reached her ears whenever she took a step.

Chances were that Sunset still desired some time to herself. Sweetie's throat tightened. If there was something she deeply loathed, it was wasting time. Interrupting somepony was a smidgen worse, especially if that somepony happened to be Rarity. But this was a little different than the usual cases.

That dark frown drew Sweetie closer toward Sunset. Her heart twisted itself into a knot; hugging was perhaps the best option as far as Sweetie knew, but words needed to be spoken. Why the light within Sunset depended on a small filly only prodded Sweetie's mind, but if Twilight had faith in her to heal Sunset's wounds, it was good enough for her.

After all, nopony turned down friendship advice from the Princess of Friendship. Doing so would've been insane.

Gulping, Sweetie then cleared her throat. "Excuse me."

Sunset glanced up, making eye contact with Sweetie. "Do you need something, Sweetie Belle?" she questioned.

"Sunset Shimmer, can I talk with you for a bit?" Sweetie approached Sunset with short, light steps. Given how leaping to the main area of concern didn't work out thrice, perhaps starting small and slowly allowing Sunset to become more comfortable was the best option. She'd seen other ponies try this before, albeit with mixed results. "It's nothing major or anything. I just feel like chatting with you."

As if by magic, the faintest of smiles ran across Sunset's visage. A soft sigh left her lips. "Okay. If you insist."

Making her way toward Sunset, Sweetie sat next to her and peeked at the book. A myriad of words decorated the page; they all surrounded a complicated diagram composed of numbers and symbols. While the sentences themselves were readable, something about magical properties and mathematical theorems, Sweetie could've sworn the diagram was written in a foreign language. And even if the book was too complex for somepony her age, she couldn't help herself from gawking at it.

"Interested in the book?" Sunset asked. "It's something I found in one of Rarity's bookshelves. She told me it was originally from the old Golden Oaks Library and that she needed to borrow it for a dress' design—for some reason." She shrugged, Sweetie giggling in response. "But when Golden Oaks was destroyed, Twilight let Rarity keep the book for a little longer. She said it was because ponies had trouble getting used to a normal lifestyle after everything that happened that day."

Sweetie bobbed her head. "Yeah, I remember Miss Cheerilee looking so pale for the next few days. It wasn't until things calmed down to where she was her usual self again." Rubbing her muzzle, Sweetie glanced over to Sunset and flipped the page once the latter nodded. While it wasn't anything special, flipping a page with her magic counted as some practice in her view. "Anyway, it was the same story for a lot of ponies during those reconstruction days. You wouldn't believe how fast Ponyville can be rebuilt."

"I've got an idea." Sunset faintly snickered. A second later, she wrapped a foreleg around Sweetie and brought the filly closer to her chest. In response, Sweetie merely nudged toward Sunset. "When the mirror world's Twilight caused a bit of a mess, things were repaired in only around two days. It was a similar story for whenever something was damaged during my time in Equestria. With Equestria, I know the answer comes down to specialized magic that helps with gathering supplies and rebuilding what was damaged or destroyed. However, the mirror world—" Sunset shrugged "—the mirror world is kinda weird. I haven't figured out how it only takes a little longer to rebuild things."

Sweetie cocked her head. "Could it also be magic?"

"Not necessarily." Shaking her head, Sunset then glanced over to Sweetie and flipped the book's page. "There's little to no magic in the mirror world—at least until Twilight and I got involved. Other than that, magic is almost nonexistent, which is rather strange given the similarities between it and Equestria."

"Maybe magic functions differently there."

"That's a possibility I've done research in before. Unfortunately, I've noticed nothing resembling magic outside of the counterparts of Twilight's friends and myself. Magical occurrences sprout in the mirror world from time to time, though even applying methods designed to read magic have produced nothing outside of the previously mentioned instances." Sunset hummed for a moment. "I might try fiddling with the formula when I visit that place again."

Sweetie nodded. "That sounds complex, but I hope it goes well."

"Thanks." Sunset cracked a smirk, eyes brightening. "It's not as high of a priority as what I'm currently doing with Twilight, but it's still something I've been curious about." She paused for a moment and exhaled, staring at the book and then back to Sweetie. "Have you ever thought about researching something in the future?"

Sweetie shook her head. "Not really. I've been so focused on getting my cutie mark for a while. And after I got it, I've been leaning toward practicing music." She paused. A moment later, her cheeks flushed and a soft giggle left her lips. "Oh, and there's obviously learning about magic." Lighting her horn, Sweetie turned the book's page again. "Maybe research might be something that will interest me."

"Sweetie Belle, being a researcher involves all sorts of experiments in things that may seem unimportant at first." Sunset scanned the perimeter of the room, focusing on one of the empty chairs in the corner. "Remember when we tried moving objects to start out?"

Nodding, Sweetie's mouth remained shut. While she had already made tremendous progress, the struggles of lifting the sack of flour still poked her nerves. Yet with her being able to teleport a bit and cast light in dark places, recalling that day stung a bit less.

"Research is kind of like that. You often start small, working with what is already known in order to get the hang of the process and how ponies ended up making the discoveries they did. Some are simple in hindsight while others are complicated to this day." She caught her breath. "And everything, no matter how small, has a part. The reason is that these discoveries and previous research may pave the way to new and exciting leaps in a field."

"As they say, every bit counts."

"Precisely. You're already learning so much."

"Yep." Sweetie smirked. Whenever she heard such words from Sunset, a ticklish sensation covered her coat until she cracked a grin. It wasn't the most fascinating of reactions, but it was among her favorite nonetheless. "Thanks for helping me with that, too."

"My pleasure."

Sunset donned a radiant grin. Just glancing at happiness returning to her tutor warmed Sweetie's heart. Perhaps constantly prodding Sunset's nerves regarding her past wasn't necessary. Just a little conversation was all she needed, and as Sweetie kept gazing into Sunset's eyes, she couldn't help herself from looping it back to Starlight, Trixie, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and so on.

Sweetie then glanced at Twilight for a moment. The princess merely smiled and waved, her expression tickling Sweetie's coat at the sight.

She then brought her attention back to Sunset. Neither of them spoke a word.

Sunset then sighed and straightened her posture. "You're probably concerned about me. I know I just turned everypony else away while I moped by myself. I—I think being approached again might've urged me to speak up." Sunset stood up without warning. Her eyes scanned the room as she stretched her forelegs. "I saw your conversation with Trixie."

"You did?" Sweetie sprung upright. "Was that part of why you decided to talk with me?"

"Yep. Also, there's something unique about you." Sunset placed a hoof to her chest. "I can't exactly explain it, but you know just how to approach ponies and strike up a conversation, even if it's just small talk." Sunset glanced back to Sweetie. The smirk decorating her visage was back and brighter than before. "Maybe it's a part of your special talent."

Sweetie arched an eyebrow. "Well, my special talents are supposedly singing, helping ponies find their special talents, and helping ponies discover the meaning behind their cutie mark, so—" she gently nodded, smiling "—so maybe it is a part of my special talent. Honestly, cutie marks take so many meanings it's hard to keep track of them."

"Just ask Twilight about it." A chuckle left Sunset's lips. "She's still learning new things about her cutie mark. It's also kind of funny you bring that up as well. While we were researching magic together last night, she told me that the meanings behind her cutie mark could fill up a book with hundreds and hundreds of pages."

"That's a lot." With shrunken pupils, Sweetie gasped. "How could anypony have a cutie mark that complicated?"

"Maybe it was hyperbole."

Sweetie blinked. "Oh. That makes more sense."

"I should tell the others what's going on between Starlight and me as well. But—" Touching her chest, Sunset took a deep breath and extended her foreleg out "—but it might be tricky. There's a bit more to it than what was said back at the Everfree Forest, and since I'm standing again, perhaps now is when I should spill the beans. It'd just bottle up if I didn't speak up."

"I'm always here for you, Sunset." Sweetie trotted up to where Sunset stood. She never took her gaze off of her. "Just let it all out and don't worry about what everypony else thinks. I promise things will go well."

"Are you sure?" Sunset bit her lip. Sweat dripped down her forehead for a moment. "It gets ugly at points."

"I promise things will go well. We promise to not judge and I know everything will go smoothly."

Approaching the other ponies, Sunset's cheeks tautened and turned pale. "I'll share, but I hope you're right."

If Sunset was as pleasant as she'd been since they met, her past couldn't have been much worse than what Starlight described. Twilight's behavior around her, their shared smiles and laughs and prolonged conversations, suggested a close friendship. At most, Sunset probably just teased or belittled those below her. Tears must've been shed and regret seeped into Sunset in the future. Diamond Tiara was proof regarding how bullies turning nice worked.

Sweetie was certain that was the case.



Never had Sweetie been so wrong about something before.

"What?" everypony but Sunset and Twilight shouted.

Silence swirled within Carousel Boutique with all eyes glued to Sunset. Few of the ponies present even blinked, some had their mouths agape. Sinking into the couch's plush cushions, Sunset covered her face and blushed. Twilight rubbed Sunset's shoulder; she wore a glum frown and whispered into her friend's ear. Sweetie didn't pick up the exact words. After all, snooping on somepony's conversation constituted as rude.

Rudeness typically ended up with a fierce scolding that blurred her vision.

It wouldn't have mattered. Sweetie's cheeks tickled just watching Sunset shielding herself from everypony.

"A demon?" Rarity blurted out, eyes widened. "That can't be true! You're a marvelous angel, Sunset." She caught her breath. "Even if you were once nasty like you said, becoming a demon is just something I couldn't envision. A ghastly monster doesn't suit somepony like you." Her ears twitched. "How did that even happen?"

"And why did you want the Element of Magic so much?" Sweetie asked. Cocking her head, she raised an eyebrow. There was something about Sunset's story that just didn't add up, the missing details prodding her nerves. "So you were bitter since your falling out with Princess Celestia." She paused and collected her thoughts. "Okay, I have that much down. However, why did your plan for getting what was supposedly yours involve stealing that crown?" She rubbed her muzzle. Sharp twinges formed on her forehead. "I'm lost."

Twilight nodded. A glum expression adorned her visage as her shoulder sagged, sighing. "I was directly involved in that day, but even I'm a bit confused."

"How so?" Sunset questioned.

"Well, it's only because of how much you already knew about the Element of Magic." Twilight blushed; she bit her lip trying to hold back a giggle. With a deep breath, she straightened her seating posture and ruffled her wings. "But I think I've got most of it down. Aside from the weirdness that was when we first met, your story starts out just like how Starlight described you."

"That's correct." Sunset rubbed her eyes. "Back then, I always saw myself as the best and deserving of appreciation. I even—" Sunset then interrupted herself. Squirming a tad, she glanced over to where Sweetie sat. The filly merely nodded and feigned a smile, her heart twanging as she gazed into Sunset's sparkling eyes. Yet after a few seconds of silence, Sunset cracked a smile and shuffled closer to Twilight. "I even thought I was deserving of becoming a princess. It was awkward."

"A lot of ponies have felt they should become princesses," Trixie said. A faint giggle left her mouth. "Trixie admits feeling the same at one point. Like you, it's something I've also been kind of embarrassed about, though Trixie still sees herself as the Great and Powerful Trixie." Trixie winked at the other ponies. "I can't discard all of my confidence, you know."

"I know." Sunset feigned a nervous chuckle. "I still have some of my old self in my heart."

"How so?" Sweetie asked.

"It's hard to explain. There's just a small part of me that's still the brash, spoiled mare I grew up as. Of course, I've been anything but with you and everypony else ever since Twilight helped me learn about friendship, but it's been so hard to let go of my past. I've tried bettering myself and despite being successful in some areas, I haven't made amends with those I've wronged in Equestria." Pursing her lips, Sunset pressed her hooves together. She wiggled her tail. "It's a part of the reason why I decided to return."

"That's quite brave of you," Twilight said as a matter of fact. Stretching her foreleg out, she rubbed the back of Sunset's neck. "Were you planning to apologize to Starlight at some point?"

Sunset bobbed her head.

"Are there any other ponies you're looking to meet up with?"

As before, Sunset nodded. "Yeah, Starlight wasn't the first or the last pony I wronged during my life in Equestria. Meeting them all would take too much time, and I'd hate not having enough time researching magic with you or tutoring Sweetie Belle." A smirk ran across her face; she hiccuped. "I think it's no secret that spending time with both of you is something I cherish. While I can't do it all the time, it'd just—" Sunset touched her chest, wincing a tad "—it'd just hurt knowing that I was doing something futile when I could've been helping you."

"But Sunset, rebuilding bridges and possibly making new friends isn't something futile." Twilight propped herself upright. She kept her vision fixed on Sunset. "Starlight Glimmer and Trixie both started out as—unpleasant." In a flash, she glanced over to where Trixie sat. "No offense."

"None taken," Trixie replied. "I can't hide from the past forever."

"Anyway, both of them made huge steps when it came to learning about the magic of friendship. In terms of Starlight, she even made the first steps toward making amends with those she hurt before. And she wasn't the only pony to do this. Trixie had done the same thing before. One of Rainbow Dash's friends from Griffonstone did the same thing."

"Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon did it, too," Sweetie added.

"And I did it as well."

Sunset arched an eyebrow. "You have?"

"A little over a year ago, I accidentally broke a friendship with somepony I cared for because I was so focused on my studies. It was the day I first arrived in Ponyville, too, and ended up staying there all the way up to the present." A sigh left Twilight's mouth. Her head hung low, wings folded against her sides. "I never realized how much my actions hurt Moondancer until I ended up meeting her again." Her head rose again and faced Sunset. "But I never gave up in trying to make amends for my past misdeeds."

Sunset leaned closer to Twilight. "Did it work?"

"It did. Moondancer and I are closer than ever."

Blinking, Sunset then scurried over to where Twilight stood until they were inches apart. "Then that means there's still hope?"

"There's always hope."

"Yeah, I never gave up in searching for my cutie mark," Sweetie chirped. She made her way toward Sunset, warmth bundled throughout her body. "Everything will work out. I promise things will be okay, Sunset Shimmer. And even if they don't, we've still got each other. As long as we continue working together, nothing will bring us down!"

Not a peep left Sunset.

However, she smiled, occasionally wiping her eyes and sniffling.

Among the most wonderful sights Sweetie gawked at, most of the examples that came up typically involved stunning creations of nature or a dazzling display of lights or magic. The end of a camping trip she took with her friends definitely ranked among the most vivid and memorable, Sweetie certain she could've marked exactly where she dined on ice cream with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Yet all of those paled in comparison to the radiant expression Sunset wore. It was as though the light was reignited within her soul.

It was further proof in Sweetie's eyes that she could learn advanced spells.

And even if the conversation's conclusion was a little corny, she couldn't have cared less.

There was light at the end of the tunnel.

"Mind if we chat with each other like this again in the future?" Sunset asked. She snickered, the first genuine one in what must've been ages in Sweetie's view. "I mean, supporting each other and checking up on how things are doing." Sighing, she rubbed her eyes again. "I'm still not fully better, but I actually feel like I can stand up again. So would being open with our feelings be okay?"

"Sunset, we're your friends," Twilight said. Without warning, she wrapped the mare in a tight hug. "We'd be honored to help out."

"And will Princess Celestia help out as well?" Sunset stepped back, cheeks pale. "I've—wanted to apologize to her as well. I think you know why."

"I haven't told Princess Celestia about your return yet." Twilight shrugged. "Honestly, it never even crossed my mind that you'd wish to meet with her again." She giggled for a moment. "Maybe I got too caught up in our research. Anyway, Spike and I can easily craft a letter for the princess informing her on what's going on and if she knows of any way to help out, whether big or small."

Trixie gently raised her hoof. "Maybe you should write some of the letter in addition to Twilight," she said. "That way, not only will Princess Celestia know it's coming from you based on your writing, but you'll also be able to express more clearly what you want to say in your apology." She shrugged, brow raised. "Just a thought."

"You could also leave a photograph of some sort, darling," Rarity added. "As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so it might be wise to send one alongside your letter. And I'm certain the princess will be so proud of how much you've learned since you last saw each other."

"I think Princess Celestia will trust Twilight's word," Sunset replied. "However, I may write a little bit of my own words into the letter just to reconnect with her." Slowly nodding, she then swished her tail a little. "And I could ask somepony to help with photographs, though I think Celestia remembers what I look like." A slight chuckle left Sunset's lips. "Thanks for the suggestions, everypony. And thank you for the support as well." She placed a hoof to her chest, sniffling. "It means so much to me."

"You're welcome, dear. We're all glad to lend a helping hoof to our friend."

Twilight stood upright and trotted toward Sunset. "I'm so glad to see you're feeling a bit better," she said. "We'll get this all solved at some point in the near future." She gently rubbed Sunset's shoulder. "As your friend, I promise you that things will work out. There's nothing we can't do when we work together."

Nodding, Sunset smirked a bit. "I hope things work out as well."

"Anyway, do you have anything specific in mind?"

"I'll keep tutoring Sweetie as usual, though in addition to the letter we'll write together, I'd like to head on over to Canterlot and speak with Princess Celestia. There's just—" Sunset swallowed a lump, cheeks tautening "—there's just something about seeing her again and speaking with her that a letter can't accomplish." She paused. "Furthermore, maybe we should experiment with some of the methods for sending letters as well."

"We could possibly accomplish two things in one task!" Twilight donned a beaming expression; she hopped over toward Sunset and wrapped her forelegs around her. "Sunset, you're a genius! And maybe we could incorporate some of Sweetie's lessons as well! Maybe we won't do the complicated stuff to start out, but it'll be almost perfect! Why didn't I think of that earlier?"

Sunset returned the hug. "I hope it's perfect as well." Releasing Twilight from her warm embrace, she shifted her focus to Sweetie. "How does that sound to you, Sweetie Belle?"

Sweetie nodded. "I like it!"

Saying she liked the idea may have been the understatement of the year, at least from what Sweetie knew when it came to understatements. The truth was that electricity coursed through her veins as her eyes sparkled like stars. If she somehow managed to assist Twilight and Sunset in the experiment, it'd be a dream come true. She danced around just thinking of the possibilities. And while her mind drew blanks as to how the experiment would go, she couldn't have cared less.

She was working with Princess Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer.

That was a reward by itself.

"And one more thing," Sunset said.

Freezing in place as though time halted, Sweetie then raised her head and swiveled it to face Sunset. "What is it?"

"When we're done with that lesson, we'll do the spells with Trixie as we promised."

"Trixie hopes you're prepared for dazzling displays," Trixie added. "Are you up for it?"

"Of course!" Sweetie chirped. She hopped around, never standing in place or catching her breath. "I'm totally up for it!"

Tomorrow was already shaping up as one of the best days ever. And as Sweetie thought about the events that had transpired earlier, today wasn't as awful and gut-wrenching as she'd believed. While Sunset's dilemma had twisted her heart into a corkscrew and the escapades that resulted in such revelations turning her coat pale just recalling it, everything worked out okay in the end. The net gain was always something Sweetie found as important. Rarity and Miss Cheerilee have taught her such valuable lessons, after all.

Life taught her the same lessons as well.

And with some of the light flickering in Sunset's eyes once more, perhaps things were slowly returning to normal.