//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Coffee under the Stars // Story: A Week in Equestria // by Doughboy //------------------------------// Chapter 1: Coffee under the Stars Sunset’s eyes were still closed when she was thrust through the portal. So upon stepping on solid ground for the first time in what felt like hours Sunset felt her top half starting to fall forward. Luckily, her reflexes are quite quick. Unfortunately, she underestimated the impact of hitting the floor and her arms slide out from under her and she fell to my face. “Skkt, careful that first step is a doses,” said an unfamiliar voice trying to cut itself off. Sunset open her eyes to find that the room she was in was not nearly as bright and blinding as the portal was but still stunning in its own way. The entire room and a good portion of the furniture in it were made of shining crystal and gems. There are three giant windows that are all open causing the crystalline room to have a dazzling light show going on in it. An extremely light purple, almost near pink, hoof comes into Sunset’s view. “Here let me help you up,” says the pony in front of her. Sunset takes the hoof in her own and uses it to lift her pony body to her legs. Such is the nature of the Mirror Portal. Pony goes to the human world, human come out the other side and vice versa. And so Sunset was back in her original pony body. It’s been a while but doesn’t feel strange at all more like a homely feeling. “Ugh, I don’t remember the trip being that rough,” Sunset lifts a hoof to her head tapping her horn absent mindedly. “Hmm, it’s likely due to the portal being opening during a period when it’s not supposed to. Thus making the trip hard on the traveler, but that’s just my theory,” said the pony next to Sunset. “Possibly,” Sunset then realizes the pony next to her is not Twilight, “Oh sorry, um I’m Sunset Shimmer,” she straightens herself and holds out a hoof to the mare. The Unicorn in question had a coat of what can only be described as light pink but also light purple mix. To be perfectly honest Sunset wasn’t sure what to call the unicorn’s coat color. Her mane was mostly purple with an aquamarine highlight through it, same with her tail. Her eyes were a much darker blue than Sunset’s. Her mane was done up with a string of hair hanging like a bang on the right side of her head while the rest was tied up and left to flow down her neck. The Unicorn looked rigid and stiff. The Unicorn took Sunset’s hoof in hers and shook, “I’m Starlight Glimmer, nice to finally meet you,” The introduction sounded almost too cheery. “Likewise, when Princess Twilight said that she had got another student I was kind of surprised,” Sunset shifted her weight with the backpack, now saddlebags, on her back. “Oh let me get those for you,” Starlight’s horn starts glowing a shade of blue much like her highlights, “She only told me about you last week so it was a surprise for me as well.” A magic glow envelopes Sunset’s saddlebag and they are lifted off her back to the bed in the room. The room is furnished with a bed, a desk with a mirror, a chair, the mirror portal, a wardrobe, and a closet. All of which, except the portal, was made out the same crystal material everything else is. “Oof, this is kind of heavy. I couldn’t imagine you needing a lot of stuff to pack,” said Starlight. “He heh, yeah my friends thought it would be a good idea to give the others here gifts because Princess Twilight couldn’t make it for Christmas and I couldn’t make it for Hearth’s Warming Eve,” Sunset said sitting back on her haunches, cracking various body parts. “Aw, well that is certainly nice of them,” said Starlight with a look of confusion that Sunset could only guess is from the word Christmas. “Speaking of the Princess, where is she or anyone else for that matter?” Sunset said quizzically putting a hoof to her chin. “Oh right uh, she had some princessy stuff to take care of in Canterlot and she deeply apologizes for not being here for your arrival. As for the others Twilight didn’t tell them when you would be around because of duties in Canterlot,” said Starlight in a way that sounded rehearsed. “She must be very busy if she just forgot to tell them,” said Sunset. “She has been pretty busy as of late, between the princess duties, teaching me, and then being there for you when you message her. It’s only understandable that she’d forget some things.” “Oh well, then it’s just you and I in this giant castle until she comes back?” Sunset said disappointed. “Well Spike is still here and you are free to roam Ponyville it is a vacation after all, you can do whatever you want,” Starlight floated Twilight’s book from above the mirror portal and stored it in the desk. Well almost anything. “Twilight had this room setup for you during your stay, just in case you didn’t know.” Starlight said before walking for the door to the room. “That is most certainly nice of her,” Sunset follows her out the door. The hallway was massive, the ceilings large, and everything was made of crystal. It reminded Sunset of her belief trip to the Crystal Empire which in turn brought up memories that made her shudder. Starlight turns left out of the room and starts walking that way only to stop and turn around and go the other way. Sunset stops and stare at her wondering what she is doing. “Um, are you lost?” Sunset asks after the third pace. “No, no not at all, just confused on how to get to where I want to go,” Starlight’s face was contorted in concentration. “Starlight, that’s just another way to say you’re lost,” Sunset said. “I’m not lost, most certainly not lost. I’ve only been staying here a few months so I should have gotten the layout of this place memorized,” “Well we are not going to get anywhere by pacing back and forth,” Sunset got up and went to the right down the hallway. “Wait, do you even know where you are going?” Starlight exclaims running after her. “No but then again it is my vacation so I have all the time in the world,” Sunset laughs as she leads Starlight through this maze of a castle.