//------------------------------// // Chapter 46: Equestrian Memories // Story: The Lost Shimmering Sun // by Pinkie Pie Sweets //------------------------------// Back in Equestria, the country is having a cold winter of it's own. Right now, Twilight and her friends, along with Spike the dragon are at Canterlot to perform the Hearth's Warming Eve pageant. They are excited because they have done the pageant before. Another reason why they have come to Canterlot because Princess Celestia has informed them that Sun has send more entries in the journal. When they look at the entry Sun writes, they are surprised to see that there a lot of similarities to what her family and friends are celebrating with the one they are now. "So Sun ha a dream about Hearth's Warming Eve too?" Applejack surprisingly asks. "It seems like it," Twilight replies. "She even remembered the whole song and the plot of the play," Spike adds. Applejack starts to get suspicious and says, "If you ask me, this seems to be too much of a coincidence." "Yeah. There even some of the stuff she asked about," Twilight replies while showing her friends Sun's entry. Then Rainbow says with excitement, "Still, it seems so awesome that she's a Daring Do fan too. She even wrote that she has all of the books and just got the one about the Silver Knight." The girls can see that Rainbow is seems more happy about Sun being a Daring Do fan than about her entry. They think she is starting to get a little distracted right now. Rarity turns to Rainbow Dash and says, "Rainbow, I think you're getting a little bit off topic." "Right," Rainbow replies while blushing. "Still you're right about one thing Applejack, this is too much of a coincidence," Fluttershy replies. "Yeah. Including about the part about her celebrating a holiday called Christmas," Pinkie says talking really fast. She then turns to Twilight with a confused look and asks, "Hey Twilight, what is Christmas?" "According to Sun's letter, it seems to have a lot of similarities to Hearth's Warming Eve," Twilight answers while reading Sun's entry. Then Rainbow Dash says, "Basically, Sun is living somewhere that has similar holidays but called by a different name." "Sounds about right," Spike replies, agreeing to the idea. Applejack starts to scratch her chin with her hoof and says, "Maybe this whole theory of Sun living in another world isn't so far off after all," "Yes. But even if Sun is Sunset and living in another world…" Rarity starts to reply. "None of us, not even the ponies of Canterlot had any idea how Sunset Shimmer escaped the fire or if she really did," Fluttershy replies, finishing the explanation. "I do agree about it, but…" Twilight is about to say something, but stop because something is on her mind. Her friends are waiting for Twilight to finish her suggestion, but notice that she is feeling skeptical about her suspicions. "But what, Twilight?" Fluttershy asks. "I can't shake this feeling that Sun, the one who is writing me is Sunset Shimmer," Twilight explains. She then sighs and says, "But without actually meeting her, it's hard to tell if she really is her or not." "I guess that's understandable," Rainbow Dash replies. Then Pinkie asks, "So what do you think we should do now?" "Well, the best thing we can do is to wait until Sun remember anything else, and see if she writes more about where she's living," Twilight suggests. The girls and Spike agree to the situation and think it will be best if they wait until Sun sends them another message in the journal. After their discussion, they arrive at the dining room to see Princess Celestia and her sister, Princess Luna seeing the snow falling from the sky. They seem to be enjoy watching the snow coming down and know how cold it is. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna turn to see Twilight and her friends walking into the dinning room so they can meet them. The princess walk over to them to see what they think of Sun's entries in the journal. Princess Celestia calmly says, "Hello Twilight, how are you and your friends doing?" "We're doing fine there princess, but we're still confused about the entries Sun wrote," Applejack answers with a confused look. "Yeah. We still don't fully understand what Sun's entries mean," Rainbow Dash replies. Then Twilight explains, "The only thing we were able to understand is that she was able to remember a lot of things that happened in her past. She even knows Daring Do and her books, not to mention Hearth's Warming Eve and you in her dreams." Just then a voice comes out and says, "Let's not forget about the mirror as well." The girls, Spike, and the princesses hear the familiar voice and can tell who is here right now. They all look around to figure out where the voice is coming from, but having trouble finding it. Fluttershy looks around as she surprisingly says, "Discord!" Then a filly's voice says, "Up here Fluttershy." Everypony in the room look up to see Discord and the young filly Screwball floating on top of the ceiling having some chocolate milk. "Hi Discord. Hi Screwball," Fluttershy says with a smile. "What are you two doing?" Twilight asks. "Screwball and I thought it will be a good idea to visit our favorite pony and her friends," Discord answers while giving Fluttershy a hug. "Yeah. I love visiting my big sister," Screwball adds with a smile. "Well, we're glad to see you two, but we're discussing something important," Twilight firmly explains. "It's about Sun right," Screwball guesses. Pinkie surprisingly asks," How do you two know?" "We were listening to the conversation in the room, but we were invisible," Discord answers. "And daddy told me about your friend who also has a sister named Screwball, just like mine," Screwball replies. Twilight walks over to the chaotic pair and says, "Now Screwball, we don't know for sure where Sun is living or that the Screwball who is with her has the same personality as you." "Aw, a filly can dream, can't she," Screwball replies with annoyance. Then Screwball says, "Either way, I have a great way on how to make the pageant more realistic and exciting." "What do you have in mind," Rainbow Dash asks suspiciously. "I was thinking about using actually snow and making illusions of all the happening going on in the story. Maybe getting real windigos for the play, and how about…" Screwball explains her plans for the pageant. But is interrupted when the girls shout, "No!" "Screwball, we don't think having real windigos is a wise decision. They leave a very cold weather everywhere they go and will cause harsh winter in Canterlot," Princess Luna explains. "And nopony wants to be turned into frozen popsicles," Rainbow Dash adds. Screwball believes her plans has failed and says with disappointment, "Aw well, there's go plan B." "It will be nice to make the pageant more fun and realistic, but it's not a good idea having windigo freezing everypony in the theater," Pinkie replies. Princess Celestia turns to Twilight and asks, "So, what exactly did Sun wrote in her entries?" "Well, she's been sending us some more about her dreams, and about the stuff she's been doing in her home. Some of them are a bit confusing, but she seems to be very happy there," Twilight explains. Hearing Twilight's story, Princess Celestia can tell that Sun seems to be having a good life and it seems that it's winter where Sun is at as well. But deep in her heart, she still wants to believe that Sun is Sunset Shimmer and will know for sure that her old student is alright. Even if she isn't Sunset Shimmer, she will be glad that Twilight has a special friend she can talk to from where ever she is. Then with a calm smile, Princess Celestia says, "Well, I'm glad to see that you surely made a good friend. I hope we are able to hear from her soon." Then Pinkie comes out and says, "Come on everypony let's go have some fun and go practice for the pageant. The girls and Spike, along with Discord, Screwball are glad to hear it and wants to go have some fun with the holiday. However, Princess Luna can see that something is still on her sister's mind and she knows what it is. She still feels sad for her sister ever since she and everypony else in the alter learns about what Queen Chrysalis has done to Sunset Shimmer. Luna says in her thoughts, "Sister, I know you are trying to hide it, but I know how much you are hoping to know if this Sun is Sunset and would really like to know if she's alive or not. She decides to let it slide until the time is right. She then follow her sister and the others to the theater and practice for the play. She knows that someday her sister will be able to be cheered up and will go on with her life from the awful incident and truth she's been through. Later in the night, the pageant is one of the best ones. Twilight and her friends play the same role they have done before. Discord and Screwball are able to help with the set and the scenery and help make it more realistic, but not too real. The Hearth's Warming Eve pageant is one of the best things in this holiday for Equestria. After the pageant, all the ponies who are in the pageant and one who help with them are in the castle ballroom having a little party with their family and friends. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are also there watching the ponies. Just then, the ponies who are walking towards them are the ones she hasn't seen for a while. They are Sunset Shimmer's family. Sunset's father, Pheonix Dawn. Her mother, Sun Stone. The eldest son, Scarlet Clef. The eldest daughter, Rosemary. The young colt, Rocky. And finally the young filly Sunshine. Sun Stone comes up to the princesses and says, "Hello Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, how are you doing?" "We're doing fine, Sun Stone. How are you and your family doing?" Princess Celestia calmly replies. "We're all doing fine, princess," Phoenix Dawn replies. "And we're having a great Hearth's warming," Sunshine says happily. "Well it's good to see you all having a good time," Princess replies with a smile. "Yeah. It sure was," Scarlet Clef replies. He then sighs sadly and says, "If only Sunset was still with us." Princess Celestia looks a bit sad and says, "I know Scarlet. I miss her too. I still wish there is a way to know if she's still alright or not." "We understand princess. But I'm sure Sunset wouldn't want you to feel sad and not be able to move on," Rosemary replies with concern. Princess Celestia calmly says, "I guess you're right. Sunset wouldn't want us to feel that way. I only hope that someday we'll find out where she is and are able to bring her home. "I sure hope so princess," Sun Stone replies. "I hope so to, Sun Stone," Princess Celestia calmly replies. After their small discussion, family bow to the princesses and leave to continue having their time together. After they are gone, Princess Luna turns to her sister and family says, "Sister, we need to talk." Princess Luna start to head towards the balcony and her sister follows her. When they both are outside, Princess Luna closes the doors so nopony will overhear them. Celestia looks at her sister and asks, "So… what is it you need to talk about?" "I think you're still having trouble letting Sunset go," Luna bluntly answers. Celestia sighs in defeat and says, "Yes. I am having trouble letting go. I haven't been since the incident in the throne room." "I understand what you mean. You've told me about what happened and how much she meant to you," Luna exclam. "She does," Celestia replies. Celestia then starts to look at the stars and remember one of the moments she has with Sunset before the incident at Canterlot happen that very night. In her memory, she and Sunset are watching the moon and the stars as part of her studies. During the time, Sunset can name a lot of stars and their constellation. Sunset turns to her teacher and says, "Wow! You sure made some great stars in the night sky." "I did, but I don't think they'll ever compare to my sister's beautiful night sky," Celestia calmly replies. Sunset then start to notice that Celestia is starting to feel sad about her sister. She remembers asking the princess about the elements and how she has used them to banish her own sister to the moon. "Princess, do you ever miss your sister sometimes," Sunset asks in concern. "I do. I think about her everyday since I banished her," Celestia answers. She then sighs sadly as she look up at the moon and says, "Sometime I wished there was another way to save my sister, but she didn't gave me any other choice." Sunset can see Princess Celestia really misses her sister. She can't think of what it's like without her brothers and sister being with her. What worse, even though Princess Celestia has her subject and student being with her, she doesn't have that many family memories. Other than the princess' sister, Sunset knows her nephew, Prince Blueblood, and her nice, Princess Mi Amore Cadence or Cadence for short. She then sits down next to her princess and asks, "Do you think Luna will be able to return to her old self again?" "If she did, she'll still be Nightmare Moon, but someday Luna will return back to normal," Princess Celestia replies. "I hope so too," Sunset replies. After that, Princess Celestia and Sunset Shimmer simply watch the night sky together and are glad to have this talk. Celestia hopes that someday her sister will come back and are able to rule Equestria together like they used to. After having the memory and shared it with her sister, she starts to shed a little tears and look at the night sky. Princess Luna is kind of surprised that her sister even told Sunset about her being banished and her feeling. Luna then comes to her sister and says, "I never know you and Sunset talked about me that way before." "We did. After our discussion, she told me that she wished there is a way to help bring you back, but I told her that this is something that will be entirely up to you to do." Celestia explains. "You're right. After being changed by to normal by the elements, it was up to me to decide want to do from there. I finally decided to be with you and rule together like we used to," Luna replies with a calm smile. Celestia smiles back and says, "And I'm glad you are able to be with me again. I'm sure Sunset will be glad you're here too. "I'll bet she will," Luna replies. For the rest of the night while the party is going on, Celestia and Luna watch the night sky and the snow continues to fall from the sky. Then Celestia puts her wing over Luna as her way of giving her a warm hug. Luna smiles back and glad to be with her sister. Sometimes love and friendship will last a long time and even though the ones she loves have been gone, she will always keep her hopes up and faith will help guide the way to them.