Sunset Shimmer sat at a pristine crystal table, a steaming cup of tea sitting in front of her. Her hooves rested on the table next to the mug, and both were visibly shaking. She was doing her best to contain the various emotions swelling inside her, letting loose only silent tears that slipped down her cheek, splashing to the table below. Twilight stood at the counter of the kitchen, making a dinner for two.
A majority of the day had passed, the hours since Princess Celestia's departure dragging by. Twilight had been able to coax Sunset out of the library, where the pony had spent most of her day, and downstairs for a meal. The air was filled with a pregnant silence, one that seemed to permeate the walls around them. Neither knew what to say. Twilight didn't know how to comfort Sunset, and Sunset didn't know what to say to Twilight. With this mindset, the two said nothing to each other. And so when Twilight broke the silence, it was incredibly startling to Sunset.
"Dinner's ready, Sunset, can- oh, goodness!" Twilight quickly flocked over to Sunset, who had accidentally spilled her tea at the sudden voice. "Are you alright?"
Sunset nodded rapidly, and on instinct, attempted to summon some towels with her magic. Twilight recognized the distinctive look of magical concentration, and winced in sympathy. "Here, let me," she said softly, dabbing at Sunset's matted fur with the dish towel she had held in her magical grasp.
Realization dawning on her, Sunset grimaced. "N-no, I got it," her hoarse voice came, shooing the lavender alicorn's help away with her hooves, and plucking the towel from her. She dabbed at the wet spot herself, the tears now slipping down her cheeks much more rapidly.
Twilight sighed, watching as the pony in front of her fiddled with her fur, clearly distressed. Ever since Celestia had left, Sunset had seemingly locked herself up, not letting Twilight - or anypony - help her, or comfort her. At least Sunset had let her cook dinner for- THE DINNER!
"Oh no!" cried Twilight as she rushed over to the stove, where their dinner was being prepared. She had left the pot unattended, and it had boiled over, thin spaghetti noodles spilling all over the stove top, and sizzling as they dried out from the intense heat. "Oh, horseapples..." mumbled the alicorn as she fiddled with the knobs, turning them off. Sighing, she stepped back and looked at the carnage that had taken place atop the stove.
The pasta was hopelessly ruined, most of it a brittle mass stuck to the sides of the pot, and the vegetables cooking beside it were charred beyond recognition. It didn't look like the two would be eating their dinner... at least not the pasta for dinner.
"Well," began Twilight, trying to brighten the mood. "Guess I wasn't really in the mood for pasta anyways!" She chuckled lightly to herself, hoping the action would be contagious. It was not.
Thinking for a moment, another idea came to the alicorn. "Why don't we just go out to eat tonight?" she suggested. "I bet you missed Equestria's traditional food." She smiled softly at Sunset.
At the mention of leaving the castle, Sunset's eyes widened in fear. "N-no!" she said quickly. "No pony can see me like this!"
Twilight was speechless. The amount of fear in Sunset's eyes was immense. She could only compare it to the look she had seen almost a year ago, when Sunset had climbed out of the smoldering pit and embraced friendship for the first time. The memory pained Twilight to think about, and she winced internally.
"Sunset," she said softly, causing the pony to clam down a little. "I..." The alicorn hesitated slightly. What she was about to suggest would be in direct violation of Princess Celestia's decree. "I can give you your horn and wings back," she finished.
The look of fear left Sunset's face, and was replaced by shock. "You, y-you can do that?" she stammered, bewildered.
Twilight nodded. "I can," she confirmed. "They'll only be cosmetic, though. I'm not powerful enough to actually infuse magic into them."
Sunset was still in a state of disbelief, despite the setback. "But... but what about Princess Cele-"
"Ponyville is my domain," Twilight said. "I am an equal to Celestia, but I can overrule her orders when it comes to the safety of my town... or in this case, pride of my town."
Sunset was still shocked. "You would do that for me?" she asked softly, her eyes once again pooling with tears. Twilight only nodded. Sunset was silent for a few more moments, playing with her front hooves as she thought. "C-can... can you make me look like a unicorn again?" she asked softly, looking into Twilight's violet eyes.
Twilight cocked her head, confused. "Yes, I could, but-"
"I don't want to turn so many heads..." the pony in front of her explained. "And I don't want you to get in anymore trouble just because of me."
The lavender alicorn was touched at the gesture. "Of course Sunset," she said softly. "Of course I can."
---
The great oak doors to Twilight's palace opened slowly, almost ominously, as the light of the setting sun flowed freely into the castle atrium. Twilight took the first step outside, breathing in the fresh, evening air as she looked around at the beautiful scenery of Ponyville. It was early Fall, and the leaves were just beginning to change color, creating a magnificent image of green and gold around the town. Smiling, she turned back to her companion, who had yet to step outside.
"It's a beautiful day, isn't it, Sunset?" she asked, reaching a hoof out to her friend.
Hesitantly, Sunset Shimmer took the hoof and let Twilight gently pull her outside, the light of the sun falling on her golden coat and horn. Her turquoise eyes shifted nervously, but there was nopony there to mock her.
"Yes," she finally replied. "I suppose it is."
Twilight let Sunset's hoof drop back down, and she headed down the crystal steps. "Comeon, Sunset. I know a great restaurant to go and enjoy dinner at!"
Together, the two walked off into the light of the setting sun, with Sunset Shimmer finally feeling a little bit normal again.