Sweetie Belle was horrified at the smirk that Sunset’s face now illustrated. She was at a complete loss for words. A little cautious about the new situation, the crusader shimmied away from Sunset; who noticed her anxiety.
“Sweetie Belle, please. You’re not in any trouble. I just wanted to be sure of the truth.”
The truth? It's a lot more than just the truth! “How…how did you know I was a unicorn?”
Sunset smiled. “Lucky guess. And for the most part, my writing was also terrible for my first few weeks here. Since I had to use my hands instead of unicorn magic.”
Sweetie Belle’s fear now turned to bewilderment. Unless Sunset had not meant to phrase it in that way, the teen sitting close to her was from Equestria too.
“You mean, you…you were a unicorn?”
“Yeah, I was. I still am. Changing into a human didn’t alter who I am underneath. I’m still a unicorn in Equestria.”
Mindblown. That word was all Sweetie Belle’s brain could process at this moment. It felt scary, to know that the person watching you from day one knew everything about where you come from and your way of life there. At the same time though, it was comforting as well as exciting; quite like when she had met her counterpart for the first time.
“So where did you live?”
Sunset smiled and closed the gap that Sweetie Belle had created. “I grew up in Canterlot. During my fillyhood, I enrolled in Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns and eventually went on to become Princess Celestia’s student.”
“Like Twilight?”
“Yeah, like Twilight. I was the princess’s student when Twilight was still a filly.”
Sweetie Belle nodded in comprehension. "But, in this world, Twilight's around your age so how does that work?"
"I think the simple answer is that humans age slower than ponies. The human year is a lot bigger than the Equestrian year."
"So why did you leave Equestria?”
Sunset sighed, her face taking on a sadder expression. “I got frustrated with how quickly I was learning about magic. I became impatient and wanted to be powerful like Celestia, but for the wrong reasons. When the princess wouldn’t allow me what I wanted, I fled.”
Sunset’s tone saddened again as she continued. “I fled into this world in the hope of planning my revenge out of Celestia’s reach. I became even crueller in my desire for power and then when I got the opportunity I tried to steal Twilight’s crown to enact my masterplan of taking over Equestria.”
Sunset looked briefly at Sweetie Belle, who was surprisingly un-phased by most of the story.
“After Princess Twilight and her friends defeated me, they gave me another chance and welcomed me in as one of their friends. And here I am now, trying to make amends for my mistakes. I couldn’t be more grateful to Twilight for showing me the magic of friendship.”
After Sunset concluded her story, Sweetie Belle smiled. “Wow, that’s quite a story.”
“Yeah, it’s a doozy,” Sunset admitted. Remembering her initial purpose in visiting, the teen soon perked up. “So…are you sure there’s nothing wrong with Apple Bloom?”
Sweetie Belle blushed, causing Sunset to swallow a giggle. “Well, I sup- wait! You’re not going to tell anyone are you?”
Sunset put an arm around Sweetie Belle. “Well that will depend on how cooperative you are. I’m really just worried about you three, really. If you don’t tell me what’s going on, I’ll have no choice but to tell your sisters. But if you do tell me, I can keep it a secret until I can be sure of whether this is safe or not. Sound fair?”
Sweetie Belle sighed. “I guess…”
“I came here with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo from Equestria, so I guess that answers your question.”
Sunset nodded and then interrogated the unmasked unicorn further. “So where are this world’s Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo?”
“They’re in Equestria.” Sweetie Belle blushed as she recounted the next part. “We sorta made a bet on whether we would get found out for being impostors if we switched places. Guess we didn’t fare so well, huh?”
Sunset laughed. “Well you had everyone else fooled. It was just dumb luck that you ran into an exiled unicorn like me. And I really must say I’m impressed by how well you’ve adjusted to the human world. If I were to guess, you switched places just when I picked you girls up from the school, right?”
Sweetie Belle’s face turned ever so slightly worried. “Yes?”
“Hmmm. Which means you must have used Twilight’s portal to get here?”
“Is that what that was? I didn’t know it belonged to Twilight.”
“Well you had to have stepped into a mirror-like gateway right? From Twilight’s Castle?”
Sweetie shook her head. “We were nowhere near Twilight’s. The portal was at the back of this great boulder in Equestria. And when we stepped through it, we wound up here.”
“Did you come out of the portal facing a statue? Like that Wondercolt statue in front of CHS?”
“Uh-uh. We saw it afterwards but we came out into this world in some thick bushes.”
Sunset pondered on that. Thick bushes?
A moment passed before Sweetie Belle’s anxiety kicked in. “W-What are you going to do, Sunset?”
Sunset turned her attention back to the worried pony. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Rarity or anything. But I think I’m gonna take a look for that portal. Do you remember where it is?”
Sweetie Belle shook her head. “I honestly can’t.”
Sunset looked intently at her before standing up and walking to the door. Looking back, she saw Sweetie Belle’s wavering happiness.
“Trust me, Sweetie Belle. No matter who you are in Equestria, you’re a human now. And I’m not going to treat you any less kindly or more harshly than the Sweetie Belle I know…cuz it’s you! Anyway, I'd better go."
And that she did.
A rustling of leaves and a mucked up jacket. That was the reward for Sunset’s fruitless labour as she searched for this other portal to Equestria. The bushes around Canterlot High were dense and enshrouding; hardly anything could be seen within the jungles it possessed. Not to mention, the soil clinging to her shoes and the little bits of twig that had seeped into her clothes - poking her as she searched.
“Pfft, no wonder I’ve never seen this portal if it’s this hard to find!” she said aloud to herself.
Another few minutes of scrounging went by before Sunset got a fortunate surprise.
“Hey Sunset, whatcha doing?”
Sunset poked her head back out of the bushes and it happened upon Rainbow Dash and the girls; just like Sweetie Belle had told her. They both gave their mentor a greeting smile though Sunset caught a glimmer of worry in Apple Bloom.
“Hey, Rainbow! Sweetie Belle told me you guys were here. I was actually trying to find something.”
Rainbow’s smile grew larger. “Need any help?”
“It’s not a biggie. Though…I could use Apple Bloom’s help.”
Apple Bloom looked stunned. “Why me?” she asked abruptly.
“Because I think you would be very good at helping me. Won’t you please, Apple Bloom?” encouraged Sunset, who completely caught onto Apple Bloom’s anxiety.
Apple Bloom considered it. She was also considering all the eyes that were being directed at her, even from her equine in common, Scootaloo.
“Uhh…sure. Ah’ll help ya, Sunset.”
Sunset smiled. “Great! If you can stay here and help me then; I’m sure we can let Rainbow Dash get on with whatever she needs to do.”
“That is, if she has anything,” she added, looking over at her friend.
“Nah, not really. I was just gonna chill with Scoots at my house and play video games. Are you sure you don’t need any more help?”
“I should be fine with just Apple Bloom’s help,” she confirmed, as Apple Bloom walked over and stood next to her.
“Cool. I’ll catch ya later then, Sunset! Come on, squirt.”
“Bye, AB!” Scootaloo waved to her crusader friend, clearly happy about spending more time with her adopted big sister.
After the duo were out of sight, Apple Bloom noticed that the warm smile on Sunset’s face was now a rather large smirk. Her eyes were narrowed and she had her arms folded. She was clearly cross with her and she could understand why. But why is she smiling?
“Hey, Sunset, ah’m…ah’m awful sorry for runnin’ off like that earlier. Ah was uhhh…”
“I wouldn’t worry about it, Apple Bloom. I already know what’s going on.”
Apple Bloom’s face turned to shock faster than she could even say ‘horseapples’. She struggled to remain standing - in her mind, the little filly was cowering in fear.
“H-h-how did ya find out?”
“Sweetie Belle. She told me everything.”
Sweetie Belle? No…
Apple Bloom found herself subconsciously being backed into a corner; her legs beginning to do just that. Her head shook in disbelief as the farm girl created distance between herself and Sunset. She was about to set to run when Apple Bloom stumbled on a rock behind her and fell to her knees; leaving the seemingly menacing Sunset standing over her. She burst into tears and choked as she spoke.
“PLEASE, SUNSET!! PLEASE, DON’T BE MAD!! AH’M SORRY FER LYING TA YA AND…”
The last parts became incomprehensible as Apple Bloom continued to bawl her eyes out in front of Sunset; her pleads dying away into gibberish whimpering. To her utter surprise, Sunset bent down, grabbed Apple Bloom close and also began crying softly.
“I’m not angry at you. I’ll never be unfair to you. I’m sorry if what I said seemed unkind, that wasn’t my intention.”
Sunset let out a soft whimper. “I’m just glad that I know that nothing’s wrong with you. I’ve been so worried the last few days about you, Apple Bloom. And Applejack has too.”
As Apple Bloom took in Sunset’s words, her crying subsided - leaving her with a sense of confusion even if she felt more at ease. After the two parted, Apple Bloom looked questioningly at Sunset, who was still knelt at eye level with her.
“But why?”
“It doesn’t matter if you’re equine or not. You’re still Apple Bloom and I love you. I love all of you. I won’t ever let you guys down.”
Apple Bloom’s eyes filled again with tears, this time a wide smile crossing her lips. It was really strange that someone would ever say those words to her; particularly one who had only been known to her for less than week. The reality of living in a different world didn’t change the fact that her personality was the same to everyone, whether they were humans or ponies. And the crusader couldn’t deny the strong connection she felt between Sunset and herself. Someone she could depend on and put her utmost faith in. Just like Applejack. Just like another sister.
“Ah love ya too, Sunset.” Apple Bloom said softly, wiping away her tears to get a good look at Sunset’s appreciative smile. As the two of them stood up, Sunset looked ready to ask the humanised pony another question.
“Now, can you guess what I’m looking for? Do you know where it is?”
Apple Bloom didn’t look so surprised at that. “Yeah. It’s right over there.” She pointed to a place in the bushes much further down from where Sunset had been looking and began to walk towards it.
Sunset followed Apple Bloom, who didn’t look at all nervous about showing her the portal. She stayed back as the crusader ventured into the bushes alone before beckoning Sunset to follow her in. The spot did seem rather secluded, Sunset lamented; her face soon turning to face the portal and her eyes recognizing it instantly.
Unlike the portal below the statue, it was completely transparent – enabling any passer-by to poke their eyes in at the beauty of Equestria. She could clearly make out the landscape, after having seen it a few times from Canterlot. The style of the portal itself looked so familiar to that of the portals that Twilight had summoned during her and Sunset’s confrontation at the Friendship Games a while back. Sunset’s mind clicked at that thought.
I shut the portals with the magic that my friends gave me, right? I guess I must have missed this one.
Whatever the case, the portal looked harmless. Until someone OR somepony OR both happened to catch a glimpse of the other world and either freak out or in this scenario, change places.
Sunset approached the portal cautiously, sticking her hand into the portal to check for any abnormalities. Everything seemed ok.
“What are you going to do?” Apple Bloom asked.
“I’m going to check if the others are alright. I don’t think I’ll be long but I would head back to the farm in any case, Apple Bloom. AJ is worried about you and it would be good if you could tell her what’s going on. Can you do that?”
“Yeah, ah guess. Now that ya know, ah guess ah’m not so scared anymore.”
“That’s the spirit, Apple Bloom. Wish me luck!” Sunset was about to immerse her full body within the portal before the concerned crusaders tugged her back slightly.
“Wait! What if ya get lost? Bein’ a pony fer the first time can be difficult ta get the hang of, let alone bein’ a human!”
Sunset smiled. “Then, it’s lucky I was a unicorn once.”
She giggled at the newfound shock on Apple Bloom’s face and jumped through.