The door to Sunset’s apartment swung wide open, with the resident standing proud on the other end. She slowly stepped inside for the first time in days, and breathed in the familiar air that was her home. She obviously loved Princess Twilight’s accommodations, as gaudy as the decor was, but she had grown so attached to her nice, little apartment that nothing could replace it for her.
She pulled out of her pockets four photographs she had taken with her from Equestria, fondly remembering the memories associated with them.
The first was her enjoying lunch with Starlight and two additional ponies…
***
“So, this is the Trixie you’re best friends with?” Sunset asked, pointing a hoof at the vibrant blue unicorn.
“Yep!” Starlight said. “Isn’t she so much better than the one we met at the spa?”
Sunset nodded, noting that Trixie was actually sitting politely, yet to shout her signature boast.
“See, not even Trixie is as fabulous as the Great and Powerful Trixie!” she put a hoof to her chest, her chin high up.
Sunset shrugged; Trixie wouldn’t be Trixie without her attitude, after all.
A gray pony with a straight purple mane and heavy mascara arrived at the table with a tray hanging on her neck. “Here’s your fatty nourishment,” she said in a voice that struck Sunset as even more dry than Sugarcoat’s, which she didn’t think was possible.
“You sure she’s really related to Pinkie Pie?” Sunset whispered to Starlight.
“Yeah, it sure takes some getting used to,” Starlight replied. “Still, she is really nice to have around. She’s so considerate, she has a fascinating rock collection, and we even fly kites together!”
“...Kites?” Sunset said as she grabbed her hayburger from the tray.
“It’s an engaging study of aerodynamics on delicate structures,” Maud explained, slowly blinking.
“Yeah, I know what kites are, I just didn’t really see Starlight being interested in something like… that.”
“It’s hard for me to really explain why,” she said. “I just… like kites.”
“Don’t worry, Sunset Shimmer,” Trixie added on. “Trixie honestly doesn’t see the appeal in these kites either.”
Sunset took the first big bites of her hayburger. It was even more scrumptious and perfectly textured than she remembered.
***
Sunset stood in the hallway, right outside the door to the throne room. She could see Princess Celestia sitting on her throne, sorting through paperwork looking just as regal as ever.
“...No, no!” she whispered. “I can’t do this!”
Starlight and Twilight looked at each other with determined faces. And next thing she knew, Sunset found herself being pushed into the throne room with a force of magic.
“Go on,” Starlight encouraged.
Sunset gulped. She slowly and quietly walked up the long carpet toward the very pony she had feared. “No turning back now,” she thought nervously.
“P-p-prin…” She hesitated, short of breath. “...Princess… Celestia?”
The celestial ruler levitated her papers to the side, shutting her eyes with a neutral expression. “What is it you ask of me, my little po…” The instant she opened her eyes, she gasped, her eyes locked on the pony she had always hoped to but was losing hope she’d ever see again.
Sunset’s expression completely matched Princess Celestia’s, neither of them moving an inch or saying a word for what seemed like a long time.
Starlight and Twilight were overlooking how things were going from outside the door. “I’d say things are going well,” Twilight said proudly.
***
Sunset and Starlight stood several feet apart of each other just outside Twilight’s castle, fiercely staring at each other. They were sweating and panting like crazy, the magical auras still wisping off their horns.
“Given up yet?” Starlight asked, standing tall and confidently.
“Are you kidding?” Sunset replied. “I could do this all day! You’re just scared of me!”
“Like when you had to face Princess Celestia?” Starlight playfully mocked.
“Well, how was I supposed to know she would offer to let me be her student again?”
“The same way I know you’re going to lose!”
“Oh yeah? I may have gone a few years without my magic, but I’ve proven I still got it!” Sunset’s red aura grew once more as she confidently stepped.
“We’ll see about that!” Starlight said, charging up her own magic.
Sunset began to envelope herself with her magic, which subsequently burst into a beautiful ring of fire with her majestically hovering in the center. Ponies standing or walking nearby awed at the flowing reds and yellows, with a hint of teal thrown in for good measure.
Starlight began her counter by fully encompassing her body with magic, allowing her to freely hover in the air. She then twirled her forehooves to shape her magic into a small sphere, which she then threw just in front of Sunset, who awkwardly stared at the sphere as it sunk into the ground.
“Give it a sec,” Starlight remarked.
Sunset glanced at Starlight out of curiosity before her ears perked up with the sound of rumbling. Before she knew it, a bunch of large vines and plants, including tasty vegetables, burst from underground. She found herself being lifted by the strong force until she was directly in front of Starlight, who looked especially pleased with herself.
“Alright, so you win this one,” Sunset said, recovering her smile. “Best 4 out of 7?”
***
The last picture Sunset looked at, and the one that elicited the strongest reaction, was a group picture. It was taken just before she left, and featured her standing in the center, with Twilight, Starlight, and all their friends surrounding her in a loving embrace. She couldn’t help but shed a tear recalling just how much the six reminded her of her own friends. She then lifted her head to her wall of memories.
Grabbing some tape, she took the image and pasted it in the center of the wall, right next to the defeat of the sirens, then settled on the couch to relax with some nice TV.
Sunset was more than happy that she made the trip back. She may do it again sometime, or possibly Starlight visiting her again. But no matter what, there was no denying that Sunset was glad to be back at Canterlot High - the place where she truly belonged, her home.