Chapter 8: Survival
The apartment door closed, and Sunny Skies released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Walking over to the old sofa in the main room, she sank into the seat, leaning her head back against the cushions. Behind her eyelids, the events of the day passed by.
Many ponies in Equestria viewed her as a master planner who was always several steps ahead. There was, of course, truth to that. Immortality had made her intimately familiar with both patience and long term planning, both of which paid off handsomely in ruling Equestria, allowing her to tackle and overcome many a problem.
But when it came to her success on this day in time, there was one unassailable fact: Celestia had been lucky. Very, very lucky.
Her plan had been simple. Once she'd finished the construct, she'd sent it across the portal so she could meet Sunset before the deadline. The two of them needed time, both to at least begin to reconcile their differences, and to work out a coherent story they could both agree on.
She'd created many parts of that story already. But since Sunset knew more about the current state of this world, Celestia wanted her to help fill any holes she might have missed. To that end, she'd legitimately gone to the principal's office to locate the wayward unicorn.
The absolute last thing she expected was to run into that Circinus woman. Sunset's descriptions, though brief, hadn't really done justice to the uncomfortable and unpleasant impression she gave off. Right away, she knew something had gone horribly awry prior to her arrival, and she'd had a fairly certain idea what it was. Even still, getting verbal confirmation later had just driven it home.
If she'd been even a few minutes late... one distraction at the castle, one delay of any kind, then Sunny Skies might have walked into that office to find nothing but bad news and a school with one less student. Just a few minutes, and Princess Celestia, despite all her efforts and experience, would have failed.
Just thinking about it made something inside her tremble. It was a humbling realization, and she whispered a string of silent thank-yous to her mother, wherever in the vast universe she was, for letting her be there just in time.
Yes, she reminded herself, close call or not, she had succeeded. She, or rather, Sunny Skies, had succeeded in so many things. She'd driven back that Circinus woman, and she'd met Sunset, something that Celestia had more than once considered to be impossible.
But she'd done it. She'd seen her, looked into her eyes, heard her voice. She'd held Sunset Shimmer, real and tangible and not the one that had sometimes sprung forth in her dreams alongside Luna.
The shock of her earlier thoughts was replaced by a warmth in her chest, and Sunny allowed a few happy tears to prick the corners of her eyes, having held them back only because her student had needed to cry more.
A knock at the apartment door shook Sunny from her reverie. Had Sunset forgotten something? Wiping the corners of her eyes, she walked over to the door and opened it, finding Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna standing in the hall, seeming just as surprised as she was.
"Excuse me," said Celestia slowly, her words fighting to cut through the sudden wall of awkwardness that formed between them. "Is... Sunset here?" She angled her head, trying to see past Sunny.
"She went out with her friends," replied Sunny with a small but welcoming smile. "Did you need to talk to her?"
"Yes, we did," answered Luna, clearing her throat. She turned her head toward her sister, and the two seemed to partake in some unspoken communication before Luna once again addressed Sunny. "But we'd also like to talk to you as well. You'll understand if we're a little concerned after everything that happened."
Ah, so they wanted the full truth, it seemed. "Of course. Come in," said Sunny, moving aside. "I'm sure Sunset won't mind."
The two administrators entered slowly, Luna taking the lead. Her cyan eyes glanced around at every corner of the room, taking it all in. "So this is where she lives," she muttered, and Sunny didn't miss the downward turn of the woman's lips as she spoke.
She allowed the two women to take the sofa, while she sat on the only other piece of furniture in the room, a worn-down armchair. "So," she began, smiling pleasantly at them, "what did you want to talk about?"
Not that she couldn't guess what their first question would be. But there was no reason to throw away civil conversation, especially now. The two had relaxed for the most part during their first encounter at the office, except for perhaps near the end. But Sunny could feel a tension present in these two women, a tension that was fully directed at her.
Luna took the initiative again, her elder sibling still seeming more interested in their surroundings. "You're from the same place as Sunset Shimmer, aren't you, that other world of hers?"
Sunny nodded her head, both in answer and to herself for predicting the opening to the conversation. She knew the two of them would figure that out, especially after her illusion spell. "I'm from Equestria, yes."
"I thought as much," said Luna with satisfaction of her own.
Finally, Principal Celestia spoke up, straightening her back against the sofa cushion. "What are your plans for Sunset Shimmer, exactly?" She leveled her narrowed gaze at Sunny, looking every bit as authoritative as you'd imagine a high school principal to be. "I couldn't help but notice Sunset looked quite distressed when you left."
"That was... a misunderstanding," admitted Sunny, more than a little ashamed of not realizing until they'd arrived at the apartment how much anguish the former unicorn had been feeling. "Sunset and I did not exactly part on good terms when we last saw each other, so when she realized who I was, she thought she was in a great deal of trouble."
She looked between the two sisters. The tension was still there, neither woman having truly relaxed since they got here. And there was worry written on their faces, worry for their student, undoubtedly. Their dedication would have made Sunny smile, if she didn't have a pair of suspicious faces directed at her.
"I can assure you, though," she told them, "I mean her no harm."
"I see," replied the principal thoughtfully. Beside her, Luna seemed to relax a little. "And would I be right in guessing," continued Celestia, "that the rest of your story was false as well?"
Sunny nodded. "Sunset is, or was, my personal student. She ran away from Equestria years ago when her ambition and arrogance got the better of her, and escaped through a magic mirror to this world. For what it's worth, I'm sorry for the trouble she caused you. I had no control over where the portal connecting our worlds ended up."
"I'd certainly like to have a word with the one responsible for that portal," muttered Luna darkly.
"As would I." Melancholy crept into Sunny's voice. "But unfortunately that pony is long gone."
Celestia leaned back against the sofa, studying Sunny for a moment. "You're me, aren't you? A version of me from your universe."
Sunny's mouth fell open. While she'd predicted being spotted as an Equestrian, she hadn't counted on being personally recognized so quickly. "What gave it away, if you don't mind my asking?"
"Sunny Skies," replied the principal. "She was a character I invented, a world traveler who faced adventure with a bright smile on her face. I spent a great deal of time pretending I was her when I was a little girl."
The pink-haired woman let out a chuckle. "I can't say I did the same, but it is a favorite name of mine whenever I need to travel incognito."
"Sister, that reminds me," interjected Luna, sporting a grin that stretched ear to ear. "Didn't you have pink hair once upon a time? I recall you experimenting with hair dye in the tenth grade."
"I thought I told you never to mention that," groaned Celestia, her cheeks reddening.
"You were just lucky it washed out," chided Luna. "As I recall, you hadn't actually paid attention to that particular detail on the box, and had a panic attack when you thought it was permanent."
"I did not have a panic attack," her sister snapped back.
"No, I'm fairly sure your reaction qualified. You kept screaming until mother finally managed to find the box buried in the trash and proved it was temporary. Now that I think about it, that might have been why she took it all so well. Perhaps she thought you’d suffered enough.”
Sunny laughed. "Actually, I had pink hair a long time ago as well, when I was young. Though in my case it was a natural color."
"Really?" said Luna, her grin somehow growing wider. "That would have been interesting to see on Tia."
"Quiet, Lulu."
"In any case," continued Sunny, cutting off the argument before it could gather any more momentum, "I suppose I should properly introduce myself. My name is Princess Celestia, immortal co-ruler of all Equestria along with my sister, Princess Luna."
Both sisters sat stiff, as if each had been struck by a bolt of lightning. "Princess?" squeaked Celestia.
"Immortal?"
"Yes, and yes," answered Sunny. "And before you ask, I'm 1,648 years old."
"I'm an immortal equine princess in another universe," muttered Celestia.
"We're immortal equine princesses in another universe," corrected Luna, her voice just as much of a whisper.
"Really," added Sunny, "I envy the fact that you only have a high school to manage. Ruling Equestria has been quite trying at times, particularly the nobles."
"I don't know about that. The school board definitely gives us our share of trouble," said the vice principal, clearing her throat as she regained some of her composure. "What I don't understand is, if you are a co-ruler, why are you only a princess?"
Sunny's mirth diminished. "It was a decision my sister and I came to. Mother had left Equestria to pursue important matters, and my sister and I didn't feel it appropriate to be queens since she wasn't dead." She paused, her mind sinking into the ancient depths of her memory. "Is mother still around in your universe?"
"Yes she is," replied Celestia with a sympathetic smile. "She's not in Canterlot City these days, but she's still working. She draws and writes every day."
"And pesters us about our love lives," added Luna under her breath with no small amount of annoyance.
"So, what now?" asked Celestia, putting the conversation back on track. "You do know that Mrs. Circinus won't be finished with Sunset."
Sunny nodded gravely. "I thought that likely, yes."
"More certain than likely," said Luna. "You didn't see the expression on her face after you left. I don't think I've ever seen someone look so absolutely livid." She put her finger to her chin in thought. "That was a very good trick you pulled with the identification card. Magic, I presume?"
"Illusion spell," explained Sunny. "I used that particular spell because I had no idea what identification here looked like. It made her see what I wanted her to, and she provided the details. But it only really works on one subject at a time."
The vice principal's eyes sparkled with fascination. "So it's something like the power of suggestion, then. But why does it only work on one person?"
"Because any more than that and problems can arise from differences in what everypony actually sees."
"Everypony?" muttered Luna, before simply shaking her head. "Yes, I can see where that would be an issue. But what if she decides to bring in someone else?"
Sunny's mouth set itself in a hard line. She hadn't entertained that possibility. "You think that likely?"
"I'd say it's best not to discount it," answered the vice principal. "That woman caught us by surprise in multiple ways already, and I wouldn't let her do it again if it can be helped."
Beside her, Principal Celestia nodded. "She's dangerous when she's well-armed, and sharp, as you no doubt noticed. She's very good at spotting weaknesses." Her whole body suddenly slumped, and her next words carried an unusual quietness to them. "Not to mention cruel."
Sunny pursed her lips, considering her options. "I suppose I'll have to forge physical identification, then, just to be safe. It should be possible, if I knew what it looked like."
"We can help with that," declared Celestia, the swiftness and sharpness of her response causing Sunny to jump in her seat. But if the principal had noticed, she gave no indication. She simply continued to address her counterpart. "If all you need is something to go off of, my sister and I can collect some things you can borrow."
Luna followed her sister's lead. "Yes, we'd be able to gather everything you'd need from home."
Sunny met the eyes of her doppelganger and those of her sister, both familiar, and yet, unfamiliar at the same time. These two didn't carry the weight of the centuries or that long, solitary millennium, but Sunny could still see herself and her own sister in them in so many ways, even from these few interactions.
Right now, she saw two pairs of eyes blazing with determination, and an unspoken but equally loud demand: please let us help you, let us do this. It was something they didn't just want to do, but needed to do, as if it was key to their continued survival.
In the face of those eyes and the emotions they carried, Sunny couldn't refuse them. Even if she'd wanted to, she couldn't have refused them. So instead, she just nodded her head, offering a heartfelt and soft "Thank you."
The answer seemed to satisfy the two women, their expressions softening. They stood back up, brushing off nonexistent dust from their pants. "We need to get back to CHS," explained Celestia, looking down at her wristwatch. She held out a hand to the other woman. "It was good to meet you, Sunny."
Tentatively, Sunny returned the gesture, still not completely used to these strange human limbs. "It was good to meet you too, Principal, Vice Principal," she said, nodding to each in turn.
"We'll be in touch," said Luna as the two headed for the door. "Expect a package from us soon, if we can't hand it to you in person."
Sunny gave them a bright smile befitting her name. "I will."
"... But when Twilight here figured that stealin' Princess Twilight's crown was a felony, we all realized you were in a heap of trouble, so we chased down your address," explained AJ.
"Yeah! We wanted to find you before you got locked up in a jail cell!" declared Pinkie. "We couldn't let that happen. And besides, you didn't have a tin cup to rattle against the bars, and who can be in a jail cell without a tin cup?"
Sunset laughed. For the last fifteen minutes, the seven of them had been sipping drinks, celebratory chocolate milkshakes to be precise, while her six friends filled her in on what had happened after she'd left them at school. "Never thought of it that way, Pinkie."
"I'm so glad we didn't have to fight," whispered Fluttershy as she took another sip. Somehow, Fluttershy always managed to be as quiet drinking beverages as she was all other times, even when reaching the bottom of the glass.
Rainbow, sitting right next to Fluttershy, took a loud sip of her own milkshake. "We so would have won anyway," she said, giving a cocky grin.
While Sunset found the sentiment extremely flattering, she still wasn't sure they would have come out on top. But she decided not to comment on the probabilities, and instead just gulped down another portion of chocolate ice cream. It was funny. Even across two universes dominated by species with very different diets, chocolate and ice cream remained the same.
"I have to say, darling," said Rarity, taking a dainty sip of her own beverage, "it was," she gave a small cough, "interesting, seeing your apartment."
Sunset blushed. "Yeah, there was a reason I never invited you girls over."
"Well, I never imagined your living space to be so..." Rarity hesitated, struggling to find the right word.
"Crumby?" volunteered Pinkie Pie.
"Thank you, Pinkie." Rarity turned her attention back to Sunset. "I admit I didn't see much of it, but the decor was rather, shall we say, run down."
"You're not hurtin' for money, are you, sugarcube?" asked AJ with some level of concern.
"I'm fine, AJ, don't worry about it." Admittedly her budget was pretty tight at the moment, but with minimal spending she still had enough money for a couple more months' worth of rent. After that was a different story, but there was no sense getting her friends worried now. They'd all had enough worries over the last week.
Applejack gave her a flat stare. "You sure?"
Sunset held her hands up defensively. "I'm sure. And look, if I start having problems, I'll tell you." She turned her attention back to the others. "But now you know why I never volunteered to host sleepovers."
Sunset glanced over at the last members of their group. Twilight and Spike had been decently talkative during the beginning of their explanations, but now both had fallen strangely silent. The bespectacled girl was still staring at her phone, with Spike joining her from his position in her lap.
"You okay, Twi?"
"Huh?" said Twilight as she pulled herself away from the screen to see her new friends staring intently at her. "Oh, um, yeah. I'm just still worried about my mom." She set her phone down on the table, and Sunset could see the same article declaring Twilight Velvet a plagiarist.
Twilight's fingers wrapped themselves tightly around the hem of her tartan skirt. "It's just impossible. I know my mom and she'd never do that. And there are so many of them. What if she's disqualified for her awards? She will, won't she? They'll come by and empty mom's entire shelf."
A strand of Twilight's hair popped out of place as her breathing became more ragged. "Then they'll take the Nagatha Award. Mom will be devastated. Of course she'll be devastated, she idolizes Nagatha Christie. Then her publisher will drop her. And Mom will probably be too much of a wreck to work, not to mention the low probability of another publisher taking her after that."
Her eyes widened. "Have Mom and Dad paid off the house? I... I can't remember. What if we have to sell it? What if we have to move?!"
"Twilight, it'll be okay," reassured Spike, nuzzling his cheek against her arm. "And if anybody tries to take your mom's awards, I'll bite them."
"You shouldn't make a habit of biting people," reprimanded Twilight reflexively. Her eyes softened, and her arms pulled her canine friend into a gentle hug. "But thank you, Spike."
"I may not know much about writin' and plagiarism," said AJ as she adjusted her Stetson, "but personally, I smell a rat." She flicked her green eyes over to Fluttershy. "No offense."
"Oh, none taken," assured the shy girl. "Many rats, particularly ones in cities, have an odor problem from rummaging in garbage. Well, all the ones I've met other than Pete at the shelter. He's a very clean rat. And really quite cute."
"I already tried calling my parents while you girls were ordering," said Twilight. "But all I got was their voice mail."
"They could just be swamped between the press and trying to contact an attorney," said Sunset.
Twilight nodded her head in agreement. "I'm going to call Shining. He probably hasn't seen the news. If he had, he would have called me already."
Spike hopped down from her lap right before she got up from her seat, walking off to a more private place to call her brother.
"Um, Sunset?"
The fire-haired teenager turned to look over at Fluttershy. "Yeah?"
"Um, I was wondering... is Princess Celestia going to be around long? I mean, um, she said you would talk later but doesn't she need to get back to Equestria?" Around the table, the other girls looked on with curiosity, Rainbow even stopping her stream of texts with Thunderlane about their upcoming games.
"Not really. She said she used a spell to duplicate herself, sort of." Sunset shrugged. "I'd try to explain it to you if I could, but I've never heard of that spell myself."
"That's so awesome," said Rainbow. "I wish I could do that. Think of how many different positions I could play at once. I could be a whole team."
"You gotta leave room for other players, Rainbow," teased Applejack. "That does sound mighty useful, though. We do fine on the farm as is, but a few extra hands sure wouldn't hurt none."
"I certainly wouldn't mind," said Rarity. "I would be able to sew dresses so much faster."
"Ooh! And think of all the things I could do with multiple mes!" exclaimed Pinkie.
"No offense, Pinkie," said Rainbow Dash, "but I think there's only room for one of you in each universe."
"Princess Celestia said she'd be sticking around with me until she's sure everything's okay," continued Sunset, smirking in amusement when Pinkie stuck her tongue out at Rainbow, and Rainbow proceeded to copy her.
Although, now that Sunset thought about it, she realized that she hadn't allowed the words to truly sink in until now. Princess Celestia was going to be staying with her. The two of them would be living together again, just like they had before she'd run away to this world.
And yet, in every way the situation also seemed the exact reverse of before. Back in Equestria, they'd lived in the palace, and Sunset had been a guest in Celestia's home. Now it was Celestia who was the guest. Princess Celestia, staying in her run-down, third-rate apartment, nestled tightly inside a third-rate building.
She was still there now, waiting for Sunset to come back. Shame and embarrassment welled up inside her as she remembered the mess she'd left in her room, not entirely fixed by her attempt at packing. And then there was the messy state of the kitchenette, counters she hadn't thoroughly cleaned in a while, crumbs still scattered, the dirty dishes, what few she actually had, still in the little sink.
As Sunset continued to contemplate the cleanliness of her living space, Twilight and Spike returned, having, it seemed, succeeded in contacting her brother.
Nearby, Mr. Cake popped his head out from the door to the kitchen. "Honey, I've been checking the deliveries, and the supplier sent us way too much marzipan."
At their table, Pinkie let out a loud and horrified gasp. "THE PARTY!"
"Aww, dagnabbit, I completely forgot that was supposed to be this week," said Applejack.
"I know!" cried Pinkie. "That big meanie mean pants Mrs. Circinus made me forget all about it!" Her face grew uncharacteristically dark. "Now she's a real meanie. She nearly ruined a party!"
Pinkie rushed the counter, planting her hands firmly on the wood surface. "Mrs. Cake, when were you going to make the MMMM?"
The woman leaned away in discomfort at the sudden closeness. "W-well, we were thinking of tomorrow, dearie. Is there something wrong?"
"Yes!" exclaimed Pinkie with a hop. "We totally wanted to throw a thank you party for Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna for being so awesome this year and have them be the taste testers for the MMMM, and I was going to tell you about it but then this really awful lady Mrs. Circinus showed up and threatened to take Sunset away and make her super duper miserable and I forgot and would you mind if we threw a party?"
The baker stood there in stunned silence for a moment, trying to soak in the deluge of words. "Um, of course, Pinkie Pie. Carrot Cake and I would love to have taste testers."
"Great!" Pinkie dashed back to the table, looking Applejack right in the eye. "AJ, do you think you can get everything here tomorrow?"
"Shouldn't be too much of a problem, sugarcube," replied AJ with a nod of her head.
"And I can get the decorations," added Pinkie, a smile breaking out on her face.
"But how are you going to get Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna here?" asked Fluttershy.
"Don't worry," reassured Pinkie, "I have these." She pulled out a pair of envelopes. "Anonymous invitations. These will get them here no problem." She dashed back to Mrs. Cake. "I'll come by after school to put up some decorations. And—Sunny!"
Sunset, who had been watching the exchange in between thinking of anything else that needed cleaning in her little apartment, blinked. "Me?"
"No, silly," corrected Pinkie Pie with a giggle. "Your mom. We should totally invite your mom to taste test the MMMM too."
Sunset almost said no. After all, Princess Celestia was still busy, and it was a little weird to invite her for a party meant for her human counterpart. But the look in Pinkie's eyes made her reconsider. "I'll ask her. But I'm not entirely sure she'll say yes."
The answer seemed to satisfy Pinkie, and she dove back into an animated conversation with Rainbow Dash about... Sunset wasn't sure. Pinkie was talking far too quickly to keep up, though Rainbow didn't seem to be having too much trouble.
"That was your mom? I was wondering who you were with today."
Sunset turned to see Trixie standing nearby, hands planted confidently at her hips. "So what if she was?" asked Sunset, resisting the urge to grimace at the sudden source of annoyance.
"Personally," answered Trixie, "I expected your mom to have cloven hooves, horns, and bat wings. And maybe carrying a pitchfork."
Sunset rolled her eyes. "Demon jokes. Real original, Trixie." At least she hadn't called her "Sunset Satan." That had been one of the most popular nicknames she'd earned after the Fall Formal. "What do you want?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Oh, nothing," she replied airily, before giving Sunset a smirk. "Don't you think you're a little old to be holding hands? Or was she afraid you'd get lost?"
Sunset gritted her teeth. Trixie could hold a grudge like nobody's business, even if Sunset couldn't exactly remember what she'd done to her. It was hard to keep track of every awful thing she'd done to everybody by this point, even with her excellent memory. It was even harder if you added her behavior when she was at CSGU.
And besides that, Trixie just seemed to have an incredible knack for getting under your skin, to the point that Sunset wondered if it was possible to have that for a special talent. "My mom just missed me. She's been out of the country for a while," she defended.
What I wouldn't give to be able to use the old Hot Hoof spell right now.
"Where was she, native Transylvania?" Trixie mocked.
"Actually, Transylvania isn't a country," chirped Twilight. "While it is a region, with borders defined in part by the Carpathian Mountains, it's actually just part of Romania now. In fact, it hasn't been its own country for almost a hundred years, not since officially declaring its union with the rest of Romania on December 1, 1918."
Trixie scowled, turning an irritated eye to Twilight. "Oh go write a history book, Sparkle."
"And why don't you go do somethin' useful," countered Applejack, "like pull a rabbit out of a hat."
"I would, but unfortunately I left my hat at home," shot back Trixie snidely. "Unless you'd like to volunteer yours?"
"Not a chance, Trixie," said Applejack.
"Trixie," called out Mrs. Cake. "Your peanut butter cookies are done, dearie."
Trixie let out a huff, turning her back to the group, walking over to claim her snack. "Whatever. I have better things to do than waste my time with you anyway."
Applejack glared at the magician's retreating form. "I'll never understand what that girl's problem is."
"Eh, she's just jealous," said Rainbow, leaning back in her seat. "I mean we are pretty awesome. And she did lose to us in the Battle of the Bands."
Sunset could have pointed out how that victory was only because the Dazzlings convinced Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna to let them pass to the finals, but kept her mouth shut. It probably wouldn't do any good, not against Rainbow's ego.
"She was kind of right about one thing, though," said Fluttershy.
Sunset raised a skeptical eyebrow. "What's that?"
"Well, um, Princess Celestia does have hooves, a horn, and wings, doesn't she?" she replied, letting her hair fall over her eyes. "Not that I agree with her being mean like that."
For a minute, they were all silent. Finally, Sunset broke out laughing, with everyone else following suit. "So close, and yet so far," said Sunset in between laughter.
"I think you just cracked a joke, Shy," grinned Rainbow.
"I did? I wasn't trying to be funny..."
"You did!" declared Pinkie. "Maybe not a big one or the best joke ever, and I know some really good jokes, but it wasn't bad."
"Oh," said Fluttershy with a blush. "I don't think I'm that funny, though."
"That's okay too." Pinkie pulled the girl into a hug. "You can just leave the comedy to Aunt Pinkie."
"But we're the same age," argued Fluttershy. "And my birthday is before yours."
"Hey," said Pinkie, turning back to the group, "do you think I could make balloon cakes? You know, like balloon animals, but cake-shaped. That would be so great! I wonder how many balloons it would take. And what about colors? Rarity, what colors do you think would be best for balloon cakes? Red? White? Chocolate brown? Cosmopolitan? And how big should they be?"
Sunset laughed as, one by one, they were all pulled into a discussion on the design aesthetics of balloon cakes.
Sunset Shimmer turned her key in the lock, entering her apartment. Time had whittled away while she was out, and it was now 4:45 PM. She set her backpack beside the sofa, and had just sat down to remove her boots when a voice called out.
"Sunset? Is that you?" Sunset turned to see Sunny's head poking out from her bedroom doorway. "I was wondering when you were going to be back."
"What were you doing in my room?" she asked automatically, before mentally reprimanding herself when she realized the accusatory edge her voice had carried with it. "Sorry, that came out harsh. I—"
Sunny laughed. "It's alright Sunset, I understand. I probably should have asked first. I was simply interested in the view outside and your room has the only window. I didn't violate your privacy, I promise." She took a few steps, walking back into the main room. "Though I was disappointed that your window wouldn't open."
"It's stuck," replied the girl. "I've never been able to open it. Makes it pretty stuffy in here during the summer." She watched as the woman frowned, but otherwise let the explanation pass without comment.
That one little mouth movement, however, was enough. The embarrassment she’d felt earlier at Sugarcube Corner reasserted itself. "I'm sorry this place is in such poor shape," she continued lamely, her eyes dropping contact with Sunny's. "I know you wanted to stick around, but I feel bad about you being here."
"Well, the cracks in the walls and sections of peeling wallpaper did give me the impression that this wasn't typically what human apartments are like," quipped Sunny.
That's an understatement.
"But you shouldn't feel embarrassed. As of right now, I'm only Sunny Skies, not a princess. I know you wouldn't be staying in this place if you had any real choice. However, there were a few questions I wanted to ask you."
Sunny moved across the room before placing herself next to the teenager on the sofa. "Sunset, how have you managed to survive all these years?"
Sunset kept her gaze aimed at her boots. "You won't like it."
Sunny reached out with a hand and lifted the girl's chin. "Tell me," she said softly.
"After I knocked out the guards, I knew there was a possibility I'd need things to survive on. I didn't really have many bits on me at the time, and I couldn't go back to my room, Even if I teleported, I didn't know how much time I had before I was discovered by you or some of the other guards."
The rush of her thought process that night came back to her. Sunset could almost smell the adrenaline that poured off her that night, hear the pounding of her heart as she'd formed a plan.
"The servants' quarters were nearby, so I, uh..." Sunset reached up, placing a nervous hand behind her head, "sort of broke into them and looted whatever bits or gemstones I could find."
"Hmm," said Sunny, now deep in thought. "I recall those robberies being reported the next day, but I never thought to attribute them to you. I always wondered who the culprit was. You know Tea Tray was extremely upset when she lost that necklace. It was supposed to be a birthday gift for her sister."
A lump formed itself in Sunset's throat, one that felt less like something made of saliva and more like a tiny thorn bush. "I.... uh, I know."
She'd known very well why Tea Tray, the head maid, had gotten that necklace, a thin gold chain ending in a hoofful of small sapphires. Sunset just hadn't cared in the slightest.
If anything, she'd been happy to steal it. She'd grown annoyed by the middle-aged mare, constantly interrupting her studies to fuss over her, whether it was missing meals, lack of sleep, straining her eyes, or the damage she'd done to her bedsheets during some of her experiments.
"Practically speaking," added Sunset, forcing down the horrible lump of guilt, "it ended up being a good idea. Humans don't even use gold for money anymore, but since gold and gemstones are less common here than on Terra, they're more valuable. I was able to pawn off everything I stole for human currency."
"I see." Sunny leaned back into the cushion. "And that lasted for all this time?"
"Well... not exactly." The first person she'd found to fence some of the bits she'd stolen had cheated her on their real value.
It was something she'd discovered afterwards with a little more research. Her buyer had only given her a sliver of what they'd been worth, figuring that she wouldn't know the difference since she'd only been, physically, an eleven-year-old girl.
Sunset had been absolutely infuriated. The next time she interacted with him, she'd made certain he understood just who he was dealing with. She'd demanded better prices, and emphasized her point with some choice pictures she’d taken while following him around with her newly stolen camera.
His first response was to try and grab her, but Sunset had simply fled onto the street. Thanks to a healthy set of lungs, she drew the attention of a small crowd of adults, making sure it included several maternal-looking women and some very burly men. With some decent acting, she convinced them that her fence was trying to kidnap her, and slipped away in the chaos that followed.
When she'd found him later, his face looked like a giant bruise. Staring down at him from atop a stack of old boxes like a small queen on a throne, she told the battered crook that her pictures were hidden in a place he'd never find, and that if he ever tried anything again, they'd go right to the authorities.
He'd been far more cooperative after that, and to this day, his nose was still crooked.
"For the rest," continued Sunset, "I got by however I could. Once I learned how to use these," she flexed her fingers, "I... um..." Her tongue tied itself in a knot. Why was it so hard to say? She'd already admitted to Princess Celestia that she'd robbed the castle servants.
Thankfully, Sunny spared her from any continued agony. "You went back to pickpocketing?"
Sunset just nodded, cheeks pink. Of course she remembered that particular, if brief, chapter of Sunset's life. How could Sunset expect her to forget it? Not that it made it any less embarrassing. If anything, the feeling only grew stronger by the fact that Celestia did remember.
"Once I developed some coordination in my hands, I started reading books on sleight of hand, for magic tricks, not thievery," she said, amending the last part quickly. "But I got good at it." She allowed herself a chuckle. "No more screw-ups anyway."
The corners of Sunny's mouth curled, right before being forced back into an expression of seriousness. "And what about shelter? Have you always been here?"
"No. At first, I stayed at CHS. Besides being really big, it's old too, built in 1951," said Sunset, reciting the facts she'd learned so long ago. "It's had lots of reconstruction over the years, and there are actually some spaces between the walls to sneak around in if you know where to look, and if you can fit. There are also some places that just don't get visited too often."
She'd basically haunted CHS for a long time, spying on the students and faculty, stealing food from the cafeteria, and reading every book in the library she could in order to understand the strange world she'd found herself in, and her equally strange body.
Eventually though, slipping around her secret passages had lost some of its charm, and she'd yearned for a proper place of her own where she wouldn't have to worry about being discovered. "I got this apartment because it was the cheapest place I could find that was close to the school and the portal."
Sunny raised a pink eyebrow. "And the landlord let you stay here without parents?"
"He's kind of a dirt bag, so he doesn't really care all that much," admitted Sunset. "That, and I blackmailed him into it."
The stern look in Sunny's eyes said continue or else.
"He hosts gambling events semi-regularly in one of his extra rooms. It's all illegal, of course. I threatened to expose him if he didn't stay quiet about my living alone and give me a discount on my rent."
Feeling Sunny's continuing stare, Sunset's tongue moved with a will of its own. "I participated a few times, and cheated my way to a few good wins, sleight of hand and mathematical probability. B-But," she stammered, watching as Sunny's face grew darker and more disapproving. "I stopped coming because even with the blackmail, I figured I didn't want to press my luck."
Sunny's face softened, and she let out a loud sigh. "Well I'm glad to hear you haven't added gambling to your list of vices, Sunset."
"Not like I could afford to lose much," muttered the girl.
"You were also wise to stop. Blackmail is a dangerous business, Sunset. The victims frequently attack their blackmailers, especially if they're actually guilty."
"Really?" True, her first fence had lashed out, but Rusty Nail? Sure, her landlord was tall and wide, but the latter was due to his pot belly, not muscle. Personally, he always seemed too lazy to ever get truly violent with anyone, even her. Kick her out, sure. Attack her, not so much.
"Really. And while I can't approve of the things you did, I know you were just trying to survive." Sunny pulled the girl closer. "I think the important thing is that you know it's wrong."
Sunset gave her mentor a little smile. "Thank you." Taking a glance at her watch, she realized how much more time had slipped by. "Shoot, I need to get to my homework."
The older woman seemed surprised. "Is the work at CHS really that hard?"
"Not especially, at least not for me," admitted Sunset with a shrug as she finally slipped off her boots and stretched her toes. "But essays don't write themselves."
Sunny chuckled. "That's very true. Well, don't let me get in your way."
Sunset gave a nod as she went into her room. Sitting down at the little desk, she opened her laptop. The red-painted machine let out a little whine as it booted to life.
She reciprocated with a groan. "Yeah, yeah, I know you're not happy. Just boot already." Her laptop was old, and it was typically a little slow to start. But with her finances the way they were, she couldn't afford to buy something better.
Not that she'd paid for this one in the first place. Like her trusty little red blackmail camera, this piece of electronics had been stolen.
Finally, the machine turned on. Sunset opened up her English class essay and began to type. She was about a third of the way done with it, and it was due by Friday. Normally she'd have gotten much further along, but like Pinkie's party, it had been set on the back burner amidst her battle with Child Protective Services.
Sunset had been typing away into a second paragraph when Sunny's voice interrupted her. "Sunset? I'm sorry, but I was wondering what the noise was." Sunset glanced back to see Sunny hanging back in her doorway, a perplexed expression written all over her face. "What is that?" asked the woman, pointing at the desk.
"It's my laptop," answered Sunset.
Sunny's eyes just clouded over in complete non-comprehension.
"A computer," she clarified.
The woman's face lit up in recognition. "Ah... yes... Twilight mentioned these... computers," she said, stumbling over the word like a foal just learning to speak. "Honestly, much of what she said about human technology was hard to believe."
She walked into the room until she stood beside Sunset. "Twilight told me these machines were used for all sorts of things."
"They are," said Sunset, "though mine is a little less capable, since it's older. They started as adding machines big enough to fill the throne room at the castle. But as time went on, humans managed to make the parts smaller and smaller, until they made things like these that regular people can buy."
"Fascinating," said Sunny, eyes pouring over the machine with clear interest. Moving up to the screen, she pointed a finger at the text. "Is that your essay?"
The teenager nodded. Looking back at the document, she knew she needed to keep working away at it. But then another idea popped into her head. "I could give you a crash course in them if you want."
Sunny stared at her in surprise. "But don't you have school work you need to finish?"
"Yeah, but if you're going to be staying for a while, I might as well take some time and help you get familiar with these things, since you'll be seeing them a lot." She grinned widely. "And besides, when else am I going to get the chance to teach you?"
Sunny laughed. "Ah, so the student has become the teacher, I see." Sunny picked up the single extra chair in the room and planted it next to Sunset. "Alright then," she said as she sat down, "teach away Sunset. You have your pupil's full attention."
Sunset turned her eyes back to her screen, the plastic reflecting back the grin that had only seemed to grow wider. The idea of her teaching Princess Celestia anything was just too funny, and her chest ached just from trying to contain her laughter. Maybe this was why Pinkie laughed so much.
Still, even with how funny it was, there was a practical point to this thing. Celestia expected Sunset to be able to teach her something about these things. She expected Sunset to succeed. And Sunset Shimmer was going to ace this like she aced all her tests.
Well... almost all her tests. The only reason she was here was because she failed a test of character. But Sunset was choosing to ignore that for the moment. This was academic, and her track record there was still one of the best.
Taking a deep breath to relax, she placed her fingers back on the wireless mouse, moving the cursor across the screen. "Okay, so this right here is the mouse."
Sunny tilted her head. "A... mouse?"
"The general shape of the machine resembles a mouse's body, so that's what they decided to name it," Sunset explained. "Anyway, you use it to move this around, which is called the cursor, and here's the desktop..."
Sunset Shimmer yawned as the light of the rising sun stirred her from sleep. Rubbing her eyes, the teenager slipped out of her bed and moved straight out to the kitchenette in the main room. She hunted through the cabinets for a box of cereal, letting out another enormous yawn as she finally found it.
Her body moved on autopilot as she picked out a clean bowl, then combined the contents of the box with a healthy portion of milk from the one, half-full carton in her fridge. Sunset had just placed a spoon into her meal when she felt the need to stretch her still-stiff arms and legs.
Raising her head upwards from the counter, her sleepy brain finally registered the other person laying on her sofa, and she remembered her new roommate.
The lesson on computers had amounted to little more than an introduction, as Sunset had still needed to get back to her essay among other, lesser assignments. They'd gotten decently into the topic, considering the numerous questions or points of confusion Sunset had had to deal with.
Why was it called a window when the entire screen was like a window? Why was it a monitor if it didn't watch anything?
What powered these machines other than magic? Why was it the internet if it wasn't used to capture something like a net? Were computers sentient, since they were "intelligent" and had their own language? How did the letters get from the buttons to the screen?
Using YourVids as an example of the internet in use raised more questions. How did they fit movies inside the screen? Was Sunset sure there was no magic here, because those things in that "video" seemed impossible otherwise. How was there a dragon here? Why was it destroying that city? Were the people capturing these images even safe? What about the poor people below, and the struggling army? When had this happened? Were there monsters in Canterlot City too?
In hindsight, showing her a clip of an old Japanese monster movie hadn't been the best choice for an example video. Sunset had just gone with the stuff on the homepage, and that one was a recent watch thanks to the latest movie marathon. But eventually she'd calmed Sunny down by explaining the nature of modern special effects, or semi-modern in this case.
Still, thinking back on Sunny, on Princess Celestia, looking so confused and alarmed by the world of computers and the internet as a whole made the corners of Sunset's lips curl in amusement. It had taken every ounce of her willpower not to laugh while she tried to untangle it all for her.
I should have taken pictures. Then again, she probably wouldn't have let me.
Bringing her thoughts back to the present, she regarded the woman on the sofa again. Was she really still asleep? Princess Celestia had always been an early riser by necessity, so how could she be sleeping away when it was already morning? "Princess, are you awake?"
Getting no response whatsoever, Sunset walked over to the sofa to get a closer look. Sunny Skies was flat on her back, eyes firmly closed with her arms stuck at her sides. She definitely seemed asleep. "Princess?" she asked again. "Princess, it's six-thirty in the morning."
Again, Sunny didn't even move. Tentatively, Sunset poked at Sunny's arm. Nothing. She pressed harder, but still nothing. Sunset knitted her brow, her brain now shedding the last vestiges of sleep. This time, she gave a tug at the older woman's arm. "Princess, shouldn't you be up by now?"
Sunny didn't make a sound, even when the teenager gave another, sharper tug that should have woken anyone with a functioning pain response. Even Rainbow would've woken up from that, and she slept like a rock.
Unsure of what else to do, Sunset gave one last powerful tug. It was enough to pull the pink-haired woman off the sofa. Her body rolled, landing with a thud on the room's thinly carpeted floor, completely limp.
Sleep had already given way to wakefulness, and now wakefulness was giving way to a pervasive sense of panic, which only increased when Sunset realized how little the woman was breathing.
"No no no no no." Like lighting, Sunset turned Sunny onto her back before pressing her ear against the woman's chest. She was greeted only by a faint beating. Far too faint.
Sunset shook Sunny violently, shouting right in her ear. "Princess Celestia! Princess, say something! Wake up!"
What was this? A coma? Do coma patients usually have low vital signs? Sunset wasn't sure. Could an alicorn even go into a coma?
Sunset's mind raced at the possibilities, trying to recall anything and everything she'd read or learned about alicorns in the years prior. The end result didn't amount to much, and none of it shed any light on whatever was going on.
An image flashed in her mind of the princess back in Equestria, a giant vegetable on a bed, surrounded by frantic guards and servants, the sun still missing from the sky.
Sunset's heart hammered in her chest. What if it was something else, like a disease? Or maybe some new villain had done something to Celestia. What if they went after Luna, or Cadance, or Princess Twilight? This was bad. This was very bad.
Sunset raced to her room, grabbing her phone and her watch. Taking hold of Sunny's wrist, her fingers scrambled to find a pulse, before finally detecting the faint beat under the skin. Her eyes fixed themselves on her watch face and the ever-moving numbers of the second counter.
It probably wasn't the most assuring thing in the world that she'd only seen this done on television, but she didn't have much of a choice, and didn't really care. The first plan was to call Twilight, both Twilights. Both of them would probably know more about medical science for their respective species than she did, especially if it was a disease.
But they'd both want data. Not just "a weak pulse and heart" but specifics. Sunset could at least count the beats per minute, get an idea of just how weak a pulse they were dealing with.
That, and counting the beats might keep her from teetering off the edge into hysterics. Maybe. Hopefully.
".... Sunset, what are you doing?"
Cyan eyes shot upwards to look at Sunny's face, wide awake and staring at her in utter confusion. "Why does my right arm hurt?" asked the woman. "And..." she looked around at her position. "How did I end up on the floor?"
Sunset dropped Sunny's arm like a hot coal and wrapped her own around the woman's neck. "YOU'RE ALIVE!"
"Yes, Sunset," replied Sunny slowly. "I've been alive for quite some time. Now would you mind telling me what's going on?"
"I thought you were in a coma or something," answered Sunset, resisting Sunny's every attempt to wrench her off. "You wouldn't wake up, you were barely breathing, and your heartbeat was so low. I thought something had happened to you!"
"... Oh."
"Oh?" repeated Sunset incredulously, pulling away to look at her mentor with narrowed eyes. Irritation gushed upwards, boiling into full anger. "I started to panic and that's all you have to say? Oh? What the hay just happened?!"
"I'm sorry that I scared you, Sunset," apologized Sunny, looking more than a little sheepish. "It's just the spell."
Sunset crossed her arms over her chest. "How?"
"This body doesn't sleep, not in the traditional sense," explained Sunny. "Instead I simply relaxed the connection between it and myself. Here, I'll show you." In an instant, Sunny fainted, eyes slamming shut as she went as limp as a deflated balloon.
Sunset examined the woman's body. Her breathing was once again reduced to almost nothing, and a quick touch of the wrist confirmed the same weak pulse.
About fifteen seconds later, Sunny's eyes snapped open, completely alert. The artery under Sunset's fingers roared back to life, beating so steadily that it was impossible to think that just a few seconds ago, it had been all but gone.
"See?" asked Sunny as she sat up once more.
"That's just... just... freaky," Sunset said, finally finding a word to express the bizarre sight before her. Breathing a sigh of relief, she ran a hand through her still messy hair. "But I guess it'll just take some getting used to. Sorry for pulling you off the sofa."
"It's alright, Sunset," said Sunny as she placed herself back on the seat. "Don't let me keep you from getting to school."
"Right." Walking back over to the counter, Sunset sat back before her breakfast. She raised her spoon, only for her hand to freeze in mid-air. "Hey, princess, do you want any breakfast?"
She glanced at her cabinets, despite knowing they were practically hollow. She frowned at them in disappointment, as if it were their fault she had little to offer her guest and not because she seriously needed to go grocery shopping.
Sunny shook her head. "This body also doesn't need to eat."
Sunset supposed that made sense. In fact, now that she thought about it, Sunny hadn't asked about food when Sunset had gotten her own meager dinner last night. She’d been too wrapped up in homework to even think of asking. But at least it would make things easier on groceries in the near future.
Sunset did discover a downside to that revelation, however. Namely, it was sort of awkward having someone sitting there, just watching you eat. In response, she took slower, self-conscious bites of her now extra soggy cereal. After a few minutes, Sunny seemed to pick up on the problem and directed her attention elsewhere.
No longer having an audience, Sunset dug into her breakfast and went through the rest of her morning routine, retreating to the bathroom. When she emerged later, dragging a brush through her hair a few more times, she found Sunny still on the sofa, eyes closed, as if meditating.
Finally, Sunset's memory kicked in. "Oh, right, I forgot. The girls and I are throwing a party for Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna at Sugarcube Corner today. It's a thank you for being so easygoing with everything that's happened."
Sunny opened her eyes, smiling warmly. "That sounds like a wonderful idea."
Sunset nodded her head. "Pinkie said they could be taste testers for some new dessert the Cakes are making for a competition. She calls it the MMMM. Trust me, the full name is a mouthful, no pun intended," she added with a chuckle.
She brushed out a few knots at the ends of her hair. "But she also wanted you to come too. If you want to, that is. I mean I know you're busy and if you can't eat you can't actually taste the food, so I can just tell the girls—"
"I'd be delighted to go, Sunset," answered Sunny. "It will be nice to get to try the MMMM properly for once."
Sunset tilted her head, forgetting about her brush. "What do you mean?"
"I've met the Cakes in Equestria. They entered that dessert for a nation-wide dessert competition in Canterlot a while ago."
"So you got to try it?"
"No," replied Sunny. "I was going to, but I never got the chance." Her brow furrowed. "Something about a mishap in transit. By the time the contestants arrived, all the desserts were combined into one, and even then Pinkie Pie ate most of it," she said, her tone full of disappointment and a touch of irritation. "I only got a tiny slice before it was all gone."
Sunset gave her teacher a sympathetic look. For a pony with her sweet tooth, that had to stink. "But wait," she asked in confusion. "You said you can't eat."
"This body doesn't need to eat, but I'm certain that it still can," corrected Sunny. "What time is the party?"
"Three-thirty," answered Sunset. "I can come back here after school to drop off my stuff and we could head out."
Sunny nodded in agreement. "Three-thirty it is, then. I'll be ready to leave when you get back."
Putting her hairbrush back in the bathroom, Sunset grabbed her backpack and keys and walked to the front door. Opening it a couple inches, she turned around. "You going to be okay while I'm gone?"
Sunny gave the teenager a look of reassurance. "Don't worry about me. I'll find something to keep myself occupied. Go on and get to school. You don't want to be late."
Sunset's legs stalled for a second, unwilling to start walking and leave the woman alone, but she forced herself to relax. Stepping out into the hallway, she gave a little wave. "I'll see you later, prince—uh," she looked around, searching for anyone that could have overheard. "Mom."
She shut the door behind her and headed down the hallway. As she stopped at the top of the staircase, she paused. "Mom?" Shaking her head, she started the walk down the steps.
This was definitely going to take some getting used to.
In a room of Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia popped into existence, golden light piercing through the darkness of the windowless chamber. Looking around to confirm her location, she turned to face a set of large oaken doors, and quickly cast a powerful sound dampening spell.
The room she found herself in was the "Royal Gift Room". Perhaps not the best name, but an apt one nonetheless.
In their centuries of life, Celestia and Luna had accumulated many gifts, either personal or gifts to the crown, given by regular ponies, ambassadors, heads of state, and many other such individuals.
Some of them were on display throughout Canterlot Castle. Others of a more personal and intimate nature, the sisters had kept stored in their private spaces. But the number of objects had grown so numerous, that a separate space had been required to place them all. Hence, the allotment of this room.
It was chosen by the strong suggestion of her captain of the guard many centuries ago, Argus. He believed the personal gifts and treasures of the princesses deserved the highest protection, which was why the room had only the one, perpetually locked entrance, flanked day and night by a pair of armed guards.
Argus had been an excellent soldier, but, oh, how he'd grated on her nerves at times. He'd been high strung, and his zeal for both his work and the code of the guard had bordered on neurotic. Under his command, the castle guard had been quadruple what it was now and ran triple the number of drills.
Celestia sneezed as she took a breath. Everything in here was coated in dust. Par for the course with how infrequently she visited. But she didn't have time for cleaning. Celestia had a task to accomplish. She was in between Day Court and a meeting to mitigate between ponies from San Franciscolt and Los Pegasus. Once again, the two were fighting over water distribution.
Her meeting yesterday hadn't borne the fruit she'd hoped. Los Pegasus was still clamoring for extra rainstorms, particularly from their northern neighbor, in spite of Cloudsdale's weather schedule for the region having been set, and previous discussions on the balance of climate. Now she needed to mitigate between the two parties before things escalated and somepony did something rash and stupid, as had happened in years past.
Honestly, the two of them reminded her of a pair of toddlers fighting over a toy. Had she and Luna been this bad when they'd bickered as foals? If they had, Celestia owed their mother an apology. Or maybe two.
The sun princess estimated she had a total of five minutes at most to return to her quarters before her escort arrived, and she needed to make the time count.
Casting her eyes over the room, she found her first object of interest, a solid gold goblet of simple design. It had been a gift from a griffon ambassador, a thank you for helping his son when he'd been stricken with fever. Considering the hoarding nature of griffons, and the fact that it had belonged to the ambassador's father, the gesture had spoken volumes.
A sad smile crossed the sun princess's lips. I hope you understand, Geoff, wherever you are. It's for a good cause.
Taking up the goblet, she slipped it into the saddlebags placed over her back. Looking around, she spotted a little gem statue, crudely shaped like a dog, before grabbing that as well. Another diplomatic memento, but far less pleasant.
Walking along, hooves disturbing the layer of dust on the carpeted floor, Celestia moved to a section holding some of her old accessories. In a glass case sat a headband of gold, decorated with a variety of gemstones. Celestia gingerly lifted the glass before taking up the object in her magic.
She'd never particularly liked the thing. It always irritated her forehead horribly. And yet, it had been a gift from an influential noble, so she'd been expected to wear it. Celestia was sure there were still tiny marks on her skin from where the metallic edges had incessantly poked her, even after all these years.
Holding it in front of her, she dislodged the gems from their settings before adding them to her bag. She had three minutes left before she needed to leave.
Kicking up the dust with another step, Celestia coughed, and mentally reduced her window. She'd need time to thoroughly clean herself off. Aside from his other nasal problems, the Los Pegasus delegate was highly allergic to dust. If there was even a speck of it on her during the meeting, he'd be sneezing as much as yelling.
She gave the contents of her bag one last look, assessing the items she'd grabbed along with the small hoofful of bits that had already been present. It would have to do for now.
As she prepared to teleport back, her mind turned over Sunset's story again. She'd been robbing ponies under Celestia's nose all this time. Sunset didn't admit to it, but Celestia knew she was most likely responsible for all the other, similar waves of petty theft that occurred at the castle over the years. All, she now realized, coinciding with the portal opening. How had she been so dense not to make the connection?
Celestia thought of all the ponies that had been stolen from, bits and gems and little personal possessions. She thought of how many people Sunset must have stolen from, all the things she'd taken, all the acts she'd committed, just to survive in that foreign universe.
Celestia understood it, she truly did. And she'd forgiven Sunset for all of it. And yet, thinking about it made her mouth turn horribly sour, choking out the lingering taste of the sweet, syrup-coated pancakes she'd eaten for breakfast, like a weed wrapping around a plant.
Celestia charged her horn for the teleportation spell. Sunset Shimmer wasn't going to need to steal ever again.
Of that, Celestia would make absolutely sure.