//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Canterlot Friendship Problem // Story: Sun's Hearth's Warming Eve Journey // by Pinkie Pie Sweets //------------------------------// On the first train to Canterlot, Twilight, Sun and all of their friends are on their way to solve a friendship problem. Before they leave Twilight is helping Sun with some readjustment on her hooves and magic, since the last time she's been a pony in Equestria. Luckily Twilight's friends are able to help out as well, and Rarity is able to put on a great disguise with her and Twilight's magic. Looking out the window, Sun is starting at the winter snow as the train goes on the mountain where Canterlot is. The disguise Twilight and Rarity use their magic on, turn Sun into a unicorn mare that has light gold fur, black mane and tail with light blue and pink streaks, and dark teal eyes. The cutie mark she has now is a sun, but it's bright yellow, and has sunrise round it. However, the girls can agree to keep calling her Sun and not use her full name. Rarity also has Sun wear some black boots, and a pink scarf for the cold winter. Sun turns back to Rarity and Twilight with a smile as she says, "You know, I can't believe you two did a great job on this disguise." "Thank you darling, I must admit, you look astonishing in that look, but your original look is more fascinating," Rarity complement. Sun blushes and says, "Thanks." "I still can't believe the map called you to back here. You must be over the moon, right Sun," Applejack says with a smile. "I am a bit excited to see Princess Celestia and Princess Luna again, but I'm really nervous about being back at my home town for so long," Sun replies as her face change from a calm smiling, to a nervous expression. "You must be nervous-cited then," Pinkie exclaims happily. Sun looks a bit confused and says, "Maybe, but I pretty sure that is not a real word, just like the other Pinkie would say." "Good to know," Pinkie says with glee. Pinkie then leaves the room at top speed, hoping to get something to eat. Sun then becomes a bit saden and face towards the window again, and the girls notice this. Twilight sits next to Sun and asks, "Still thinking about everything that happened this week." "Yes," Sun answers right away. Sun sighs and adds, "And that's not what's on my mind." "What is it?" Twilight asks. "I guess the fact of going back home after all these years is making me very nervous. Everypony thinks I'm dead, and I hate to think what will happen when ponies see the real me," Sun explains, looking worried. "I know that being at your hometown after so long is making you scared, but the map called you for a reason, and whatever friendship problem it is, all of us, including you are the right ponies to do the job," Twilight replies. "I know, it's just… the fact going back home and might end up facing my family at some point is making my stomach in knots," Sun says looking glum. Twilight gives Sun a reassuring smile, and says, "Don't worry, we'll first start figuring out our friendship problem, and then if you're ready then we along with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna can go see your family." "Thanks Twilight, I just hope I'll be ready when it happens," Sun replies. "Don't worry, and if things go well, we can give you a party!" Pinkie cheers spreading the confetti around the room. The girls simply laugh, and kind of wonder how Pinkie can be fast on her hooves, but they don't bother. After the long train ride, the girls exit the train into the City of Canterlot, where there ponies having a wonderful time in the snow while it slowly falls. Sun starts to remember all the fun times she used to have living her with her parents along with her brothers and sisters. Sun smiles as she shed tears because it's been a long time since she's hear. Fluttershy notices the tears from Sun's eyes, and sadly says, "Sun, are… are you feeling alright?" "I'm alright, just thinking of the great memories I used to have here," Sun answers wiping the tears from her face. "Don't worry about it, you probably get to have fun memories with us on your first friendship mission," Rainbow says with pride. "Thanks I guess," Sun relies. Sun then turns to Twilight and asks, "So do you know where in Canterlot we're supposed to go?" Twilight takes out the map and answers, "We're supposed to be heading there." The girls including Sun look at the map and can see the neighborhood around Canterlot. Sun is looking shocked to see where the map has taken there, and it's making her more nervous. Looking a bit nervous, Sun answers, "The map is taking us there." "Yes, why?" Twilight asks. "What's the matter, you're shaking harder than a rattlesnake's tail?" Applejack asks. Sun sighs and answers," Because the map is taking us to the part of the city I grew up at." Twilight and the others are looking a bit shocked to hear where the map is taking them. Pinkie replies, "Wow, what are the odds of that." "Yeah. Falling Star and I lived in the same part of the neighborhood," Sun says. "Really, because I lived at that part of the neighborhood too," Twilight replies. Sun smiles and say, "Really, it's kind of a small world." "Then what are we waiting for, let's go," Rainbow says with a smile. Rainbow flies fast so they can continue with their friendship problem. After sometime walking, the girls at the neighborhood where Sun and Twilight live before they go their separate ways in their lives. Sun can see the place has changed a little bit still remain the same. She feel a lot of her good memories are flowing into her. However, it's short lasted, when she hears someone screams, "Stop it!" Hearing the call for help, Sun and the girls rush over to see what's going on. When the look at one of the alley, they can see three young mares and three young stallions throwing snowballs at this one young mare. As she cleans the snowballs off of her, Sun and the girls are shocked to see Falling Star being targeted by these six ponies. Sun wants to do something, but the others think it will be safe to observe the situation. "Listen, I really need to get going so I don't have time to deal with you," Falling Star says. "What's wrong, scared about getting the taste of your medicine," One of the stallion remarks. "Yeah, you're not so tough after all," One of the mare replies. With that, the six ponies continue to throw snowballs at falling really start to make Sun upset seeing her friend being picked on like that. Can't take it anymore, Sun marches over and angrily demands, "How dare you talk and treat her that way?!" One of the mares turn around and angrily asks, "What was that?" "I said, how dare you talk to her that way," Sun firmly repeats herself. "Why are you even defending her?" One of the young stallions asks looking angry. "And why shouldn't I?" Sun firmly asks. "Do you have any idea what this pony's likes?!" One of the mares asks furiously. Sun mutters so the others won't hear, "Sadly, I do know what she was like." "Even though she claimed she change, that doesn't change what she did to us," The other mare says with a smirk on her face. "So you all have been torturing her even though she's changed to a better pony," Sun firmly asks. The six ponies nod their heads with confident smiles on their faces, like they're proud of it. "Oh really, thank you for telling me how immature your actions are, all of you," Sun firmly remarks. The six ponies come into shock to hear this that comment. Sun the points her hoof out of the alley and firmly says, "Now leave, and my friends and I better not catch you bullying her again." The six ponies leave the alley with angry glares and mutters with annoyance. When they are gone, Sun and the others decide to check on Falling Star to see if she's okay. Sun holds out her hood towards Falling Star with a reassuring smile, and asks, "Are you alright?" "I'm fine, thank you," Falling Star says grabbing her hoof with her own. Falling is kind of amazed to see that a pony she doesn't know is defending her like that. She look out the alley to see Twilight and the others are with her. This makes Falling Star very happy. Falling Star smiles and says, "Hi Twilight and friends, what are you doing here, is there anything I can help you with?" "Actually I think there's something we can help you," Twilight answers. Falling Star looks very confused, and asks, "Help me?" "Yes, my friends and I are sent here to solve a friendship friendship, and it looks like we found you," Twilight explains. "I guess that makes since, but who is she?" Falling Star asks looking at the new girl. Sun giggles and show Falling Star her special pendant as she explains, "It's understandable about that Falling Star. It's me Sun, Rarity and Twilight put on this disguise with their magic and I have a different form." Falling Star looks stunned to hear this, and questionably asks, "Sun… is that really you?" "Yep it's me, and I'm also called to solve a friendship problem, and i think you are the one with the problem," Sun explains. "Yeah, who were those ponies anyway?" Rainbow asks. Falling Star signs with sadness and says, "They're some of the ponies of from the school who still think me changing was an act. I kept trying to prove to everypony that I've changed and become a better pony, but there are some who still hold a grudge against me and are not accepting the new me, so they bully me like how a I bullied them." Rarity huffs and says, "Well if you ask me, what those ponies did was completely immature, and barbaric." "Not to mention, it's wrong," Sun adds. "Yeah, holding a grudge and taking revenge is not very smart, and it will only make you act like rotten apples," applejack adds with an angry look. "Trust me, I know. In desperation, I'm actually thinking of homeschooling myself so I won't have to be around them," Falling Star replies. Sun hugs Falling Star and say, "Falling Star, you can't let those ponies get to you like that. I know because when I ended up giving in to your bullying it got me nowhere, but when I finally remembered who I am and who you are, I know I had to defend myself. I'm also not the type to hold a grudge and take revenge, those ponies just proved that they are acting as bad as the pony they think you still are." Falling Star shed tears a little with a smile, as she says, "Thanks Sun." Then Twilight says, "I'm glad you're okay, maybe you can take up to your house, and then we can spend sometime together, and find away to prove to everypony that you've changed." Agreeing to the idea, Falling Star show them to her house. When they are inside, Falling Star takes the girls to her bedroom. In her room, Falling Star explains to them that all this start when she arrive back at the school. Even though she hasn't been mean to everyone, some pony are still harboring grudges and have been being mean to her. Lately the ponies who do accept her, star to ignore her, and stop talking to her. Falling Star finds herself alone and with no friends, but Sun and the girls say that she still have them as a friend. After the story, sun and her friends know the real reason why they are called here. Twilight says, "Well girls it looks like our best way is to try and convince everypony that Falling Star has fully changed, and get them to change their act." "That sounds about right, it seems the ponies who accepted her change started to avoid her to avoid being picked on," Rainbow adds. Sun sighs and says, "It won't be easy, it shows that ponies are still holding a grudge." Before anypony can say anything, the door opens to reveal another mare. The mare has dark teal and light teal streak mae and tale, moderate pink fur, and yellowish green eyes. She's wearing purple glasses and her cutie mark is a black wand shooting out bright yellow magic stars and stream of white magic dust. The mare walks into the room and says with sarcasm, "Hey little sis, seeing that you actually gain some so called friends. "What is it, Star Shower?" Falling Star asks not amused by this. "Nothing much just want to see what ponies you managed to somewhat convinced before they back out on you," Star Shower remarks. Sun and the others are not liking how she is behaving. Twilight firmly says, "My friends and I are here to solve a friendship problem and it seems our good friend Falling Star has one, and we're going to help her." Falling Star shows a shy smile to hear Twilight saying this. But Star Shower who doesn't give a care, says, "Oh I see, you are here because Falling Star is your friends. You don't know about my little sister one bit. She may act like she changed but lots of ponies know the truth, and soon Falling Star will go back to her mean rotten self." Out of nowhere, Sun angrily shouts, "You don't know Falling Star at all!" The girls including Falling Star and her sister become stunned for Sun's sudden outburst. Sun who is still disguise, angrily adds. "I've seen Falling Star and she's a different pony that who she used to be. You're supposed to be her sister to back her up, and to give her a chance, and I can' believe you acted like the same ponies who been bullying her. Sometimes those who still holds a grudge can create problems and sometimes change ponies, it can sometimes show the worst in ponies. So I'd suggests you leave and think about it because losing friends is one thing, but losing a family is another. Is that what you really want to happen, Star Shower, is it?" Falling Star, Twilight, and the others are amazed to hear Sun defending a friend like that. Star Shower simply shows an annoyed expression and leaves the room. When the sister is gone, Falling Star makes a sad look on her face. Sun can see that Falling Star problem is also in her own family. The girls know they need to figure this out before this end up ruining Falling Star's life for good. They decide to come up with a few plans to help Falling Star get through this, and to get everypony to open their eyes to the truth.