The party lasted late into the night, with most of the Riders crashing at Canterlot Castle. During the wee hours of the night, Sunset had managed to snag Starlight and Sunburst away. The stallion had a feeling that they would need to talk, and now would be as good a time as any. The three ponies sat in one of the private towers, with Sunset sitting across from Starlight and Sunburst.
“Thanks for meeting with me,” said Sunset.
“No problem, after everything you and your friends have done, it’s the least I can do,” said Sunburst.
Sunset nodded and hummed in contemplation. There was no easy way to go about this, no subtlety was needed, Sunset just needed to say it. “Sunburst…I’m sure you’ve noticed the similarities between us, right?”
Sunburst pushed his glasses back up his muzzle and sighed. “Yes…I noticed the same time you did back at Princess Twilight’s castle, it feels like I know you, despite the fact that we only met just yesterday.”
“So, you figured that we’re siblings as well?” Sunset asked.
Starlight glanced between her old friend and her new friend, when Starlight had saw their initial reaction to each other back at the castle, she had just assumed that it may have been a matter of attraction. As Starlight stated before she did find Sunset Shimmer physically attractive, she is a hot mare, and no doubt Sunburst had picked up on that. However, now that she actually took the time to look over both of them, they did seem pretty close in appearance. They had the same colored eyes, their coats were just a few shades apart, and their manes both had a fiery look about them.
“Wait…I don’t understand, I’ve known Sunburst since we were foals! How could you be siblings?” Starlight asked.
“I’m curious myself, we’re practically the same age, and unless we’re twins I don’t see how that’s possible.”
Sunset sighed. “I few years ago I stepped through a portal that sent me to another world. On that side I was put into the body of a fourteen-year-old, and spent the last three years or so there, but before that I was in the Canterlot Orphanage for most of my life until I was eight, and that’s when Princess Celestia took me in. After that I grew up in Canterlot for all that time, for all I know my parents could either be dead or have had another foal…which, it appears that it was the latter.”
Sunburst ran his hoof through his mane, and Starlight just stared at the table as she tried to grasp the situation. All the years Starlight had known Sunburst’s family, she never knew that they had given one of their foals up for adoption. Sunburst didn’t seem to take that well either, his mind still coming to grips with the fact that he had a big sister that he had no idea about.
“Well…W-We’re not exactly sure that you two are siblings, right? I mean, you two do have some uncanny similarities, but that doesn’t constitute that you are in fact related,” said Starlight.
Sunburst stroked his goatee in contemplation, “It’s certainly possible, but we’d have to do a DNA test to show if it is true.”
Sunset raised her hooves as if to stop the train of thought, “Look, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause you guys grief or worry. For all we know it is a coincidence that we’re similar in appearance. Believe me, the last thing I want to do is make you dislike your parents. But…if you want to, I will.”
“We’ll need some DNA from you, a strand of your mane will do. I’ll see about…ugh…visiting our village and obtaining a strand of my Mom’s mane, too,” said Sunburst with a bit of reluctance.
Starlight snickered at the prospect of Sunburst returning to their village and speaking to his mother, knowing how she could get. Sunburst heard his friend’s snickering and stated, “Oh, you’re coming with me, I’m sure your dad would like to see you, too.”
The lilac mare’s left eye twitched as she groaned loudly.
Sunset chuckled at Starlight’s reaction, “Probably a story I’d like to hear another day.” She then turned back to Sunburst and asked, “How long will the results take?”
Sunburst adjusted his glasses as he spoke, “Well, it shouldn’t take no more than twenty-four hours…but it will take a few days, after everything that’s happened I think it best to let everypony settle.”
The sun-yellow mare waved her hoof. “It’s no problem. I’m not in any big rush to know, strangely enough. I guess, since Princess Celestia has been like a – scratch that – has been my Mom for so long, I never really felt like I was missing a parent. However, I’d still like to know, y’know?”
Sunburst and Starlight nodded, they were happy that Sunset was content, but that she still at least wanted some answers, and truth be told, so did they.
Starlight sidled close to Sunset and gave her a mischievous smirk. “Soooooo, any chance I could come back with you?”
“Wait, what?” Sunset asked in confusion.
“Pleeeeeeease, I want to see what that otherworld is like!” Starlight begged as she put her hooves together in a pleading fashion.
“Do you honestly think that Princess Twilight would be okay with that?”
“I don't know for sure that she wouldn’t be okay with it,” said Starlight with an impish grin.
Sunset raised an eyebrow. “That’s not a particularly compelling argument. Besides, I need to make sure that you don’t have a double in that world, it could get hairy if there’s suddenly two of you running around.”
Starlight pouted. “But Princess Twilight has a double, and she can still crossover.”
“That’s because most of the school knows that there’s two Twilights, and if anyone outside of school asks, we can play it off as a Twilight having a twin sister, but it only works if both are in on it, if we run into another you, she’ll most likely freak out,” Sunset explained. “And that would lead to a whole lot of explanations that I don’t really need to get into with law enforcement or anybody else higher.”
Starlight frowned, but relented, seeing the trouble it would cause to her new friend if she did. “Alright, but promise I can come over at least once?”
“Sure, I may need to come back soon. The pages in my journal are running low and I might have a need to come back for a new one,” said Sunset with a smirk.
Starlight smirked as well, bumping her shoulder against the other mare’s. Sunburst couldn’t help but chuckle at their interaction, they barely interacted that much and already Sunset and Starlight were practically best friends, or partners in crime depending on the situation. The stallion glanced back at the strand of Sunset’s mane, his mind still wondering what was to come if this really did reveal a link between them.
***___________<U> X [D] ___________***
By the next morning, the day had come to say goodbye. The Riders all gathered together within the throne room of Canterlot Castle, the Princesses, Sunset, and all their friends exchanged goodbyes with each Rider.
“Now do try and take better care of yourself and your appearance, Eiji. Just because you are a traveling nomad, doesn’t mean you have to look like a vagabond,” said Rarity.
Eiji chuckled as he spoke, “I’ll try, Miss Rarity, with the spells you put on my clothes that shouldn’t be too much of a problem.”
Pinkie Pie and Oren were exchanging bear hugs, with the pink party pony lifting the minotaur off the ground, and then seesawing with Oren doing the same. Oren looked at Pinkie and gushed, “Oh little Rosé, I wish I could take you back with me!”
“Oh, I know, but don’t worry, I’ll be sure to make all the pastries that you shared with me!” Pinkie stated.
“And so shall I!” Oren replied.
The rest of the Armored Riders chuckled at the display.
“If you guys ever have another wild party like that, let us know, it’s been a while since we danced like that,” said Mai with fondness.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t mind doing that again,” said Kouta.
Mitsuzane nodded his response, missing the days when they were all just regular kids competing in dance competitions, but that was then, this is now. And, honestly, they’ve all grown into better people because of it.
Gentaro and Rainbow Dash were busy doing a hoof version of Gentaro’s handshake. Rainbow Dash smirked at the stallion and said, “Next time, y’know, when the world isn’t ending, you and I gotta race. I wanna see who’s faster. Me, or you in that fancy armor.”
The pompadour stallion grinned eagerly. “Now that sounds like fun, next time for sure.”
Luna nervously stood before Ryusei, rubbing her right foreleg. “Um, Ryusei, if you ever wish to return – just you or you and your marefriend – we’d be happy to have you at the palace. It’s been a long while since I met someone with an affinity for the stars as you have.”
Ryusei smiled at Luna and bowed respectively. “Thank you, Princess –”
“Just Luna, please,” she interrupted.
“Luna, I’ll definitely run that by her when I see her, we’ll most likely come back, with Tsukasa’s help.”
Trixie was lingering around Haruto as she eyed his many rings, a look that Haruto could tell was one of wanting. “No, you can’t have any of them.”
“B-But any one of these would make my shows even greater than they already are,” said Trixie with a pleading tone.
The red dragon crouched and looked Trixie right in the eyes. “These rings aren’t the real magic, Trixie. They’re conduits, for my magic to flow out and wield. They’re not all fun rings, they’re rings I use to help protect people. That is what my magic is for. Your magic is to entertain and make ponies smile, to give hope. You have all the magic you need here.” Haruto pointed to her horn, and then placed his claw at her chest. “And in here.”
Trixie’s muzzle burned crimson from hearing that. Nopony had ever said anything like that to her before, not about her magic. “Um…W-Well…Since you put it that way, the Great and Powerful Trixie won’t rely on your trinkets, since Trixie’s above such things.”
Haruto chuckled as he said, “Glad to hear it.”
Nitoh shook his head, “First that Ryusei, now you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Haruto asked.
“Oh, nothing.”
Tsukasa and Sunset shook their heads at their fellow Riders as the laughed. Sunset turned to the veteran Rider and said, “Still wish you could stick around, I could learn a lot from you, and them.”
“I’m just a passing through Kamen Rider, remember that. And you’ve learned a lot already, besides, most Riders learn by doing, but I’ll be around.”
The Silver Veil appeared, five of them, each one leading to the world where each Kamen Rider hailed from. Gentaro flew up to Sunset and held out his hoof. Sunset figured it out and shook his hoof, she then bumped hooves with Gentaro three times in Gentaro’s friendship handshake – or rather hoofshake. “Don’t forget, you’re not alone, we got your back anytime.”
“I know, thanks Gentaro,” said Sunset.
The Riders all said their goodbyes as they passed through Veils, disappearing back to their individual worlds. Tsukasa was the last one, he turned to the ponies and gave them a salute, and afterwards he took a picture of the group. Tsukasa smiled at the new group of friends and entered the Veil. Although the Riders had left their world, what had transpired her in Equestria would not be forgotten.
***___________<U> X [D] ___________***
The train ride back to Ponyville was a steady one, which was fine by most of them. After two days ago, a little bit of nice and easy was in order. Discord had offered to teleport them back to Ponyville, but they weren’t in a hurry, unfortunately, today was the last day for Sunset, and she would need to return back to Earth before Monday rolled around. So, they decided drag it out as long as possible, especially since she hadn’t spent any real time with the pony counterparts of her human friends.
I really need to think of a way to thank Ms. Harshwhinny when I see her again, she really went out a limb to let me get of school for a week, Sunset thought.
“Twilight told us about the other us’ back in that other world, but since you’ve been there longer, you gotta tell me what the other me is like!” Rainbow stated.
Sunset chuckled as she could already tell the similarities between both Rainbow Dashs. “Well, she’s definitely younger than you – pretty much all your doubles are teenage girls – so she’s still got a lot of growing to do. I can definitely tell that you’re more mature than her.”
Rarity coughed loudly. “That’s relative, considering her insistent need to pull pranks, and especially that twenty-eight-day long streak of pranks.”
Rainbow sighed. “Okay, okay, I remember, and I learned my lesson. Sheesh. But anyway, what’s she like?”
“A lot like you, she’s athletic, the captain of every sports team at the school, and most loyal friend you’ll ever have. She’s also my partner,” said Sunset.
Rainbow raised an eyebrow as a strange grin appeared on her muzzle. “Oh, you’re ‘partner’, huh? I guess I could see us together, you are pretty hot.”
Twilight and Sunset’s cheeks tinted red, and at the same time, Twilight’s wings floofed. “Rainbow, Sunset means your double is her partner in crime fighting, she’s a Kamen Rider too!” Twilight clarified.
Rainbow shook her head and stared at Sunset in shock. “What?! No way, I’m – I mean – she’s a Kamen Rider!”
Deciding to just focus on the non-embarrassing portion of the conversation, Sunset answered, “Yes, she’s called Nasca, and she’s crazy fast, and can fly with her powers. We had a bit of a rough start, but we worked it out and now we make a pretty bada – I mean – we kick a lot of monster butt.” Sunset remembered the company she was in.
“Oh I so gotta go there and meet me!” Rainbow tapped her hoof against her chin. “Also, I’m curious about how I look, Twilight described, and even drew out what she looked like, but I’d like to get to know my other self…personally.”
Sunset could practically see the lewd undertones of that statement. One thing apparenly universal, no matter what universe, Rainbow Dash was a bit of pervert. Not that Sunset had room to call her out on it, being a bit of one herself.
“Onto something a little less…ahem…rude, tell me about myself? Does she also design clothes as well?” Rarity asked.
“Yep, she works in a pretty fashionable clothing store, and creates the bands’ outfits for our special performances. Otherwise, she’s aspiring to be a fashion designer, and considering the success you’ve had here, I don’t doubt that that same drive is in her as well,” said Sunset.
Rarity giggled happily. “It’s to be expected I suppose, the other me is a teenager, and I really didn’t start Carousel Boutique until I was just a tad bit older and started to live on my own.”
The rest of the train ride was spent with Sunset Shimmer regaling them with the tales of Canterlot High, all their ups and downs, their recent confrontations with the Dopants, as well as the people they helped along the way. Applejack could’ve sworn she saw a tear fall from Applejack’s face when she told them about the Puppeteer Dopant Incident, which involved her fillyhood friend Coloratura. Apparently, they had a similar incident a while back, but she did find it a bit surprising when Sunset told her that that Coloratura had a crush on Applejack. Making the farm mare wonder if their Coloratura felt the same.
“I wouldn’t stress it, Applejack. If that’s how your Coloratura feels, she’ll tell you, it took a bit for the one on Earth to final admit it to your double,” said Sunset.
“Yeah, probably best Ah let it happen naturally, heck, for all Ah know, my Rara don’t swing that way,” said Applejack.
Sunset might’ve been imagining it, but she swore she heard just the tiniest bit of sadness. Did Applejack have a crush on this pony version of the popstar? Best to keep that under wraps from my AJ for now.
Eventually, the train pulled into Ponyville Station, and the group disembarked, all happy to be home. The ponies of Ponyville cheered for the hero who saved their world, Kamen Rider Unicorn, or rather Sunset Shimmer. The sun-yellow mare blushed at the attention, it felt nice to have people – ponies – appreciate all she had done. The girls went their separate ways, some went back to doing their normal routines, while some decided that after the battles and the partying, that it might be best to just sit at home and relax.
Starlight, Spike, Twilight, and Sunset returned to the castle. Sunset had gone to her room and gathered her things into her saddlebags, sighing as she prepared herself, mentally, to return back to Earth. Sunset admitted it, she was going to miss Equestria, especially the magic, using it was like second nature, but every instance that she could use it was exhilarating. However, if she was honest with herself, she also missed her home on Earth, more specifically, she missed her friends. Even though their doubles were right here in Ponyville, they didn’t share the same experiences, those same experiences that made them unique in comparison.
“Still wondering if you want to go back?”
Sunset turned around and saw Starlight standing in the doorway. “Kind of.”
“You don’t have to sound ashamed, Equestria’s your home. Plus, considering that you and Princess Celestia are on better terms again, and the fact that you’re a hero, you could stay.”
Sunset smiled at Starlight. “Yeah, I could. But after a while, that world is also home to me. Even with the minimal amount of Equestrian magic seeping through, it’s where my friends are. It’s also where I turned my life around for the better. I feel like I can do more good there, too. Not just as a Kamen Rider, but as just me. I know it sounds egotistical to think that I can make that big a change on my own…”
“I don’t,” said Starlight. “Anything big starts small, and it starts from somepony wanting to help others.”
The fiery maned mare smiled at Starlight. “Spoken like a student of Princess Twilight.”
Starlight escorted Sunset to the library, where Twilight and Spike awaited. The journal was floating in Twilight’s magic, waiting until Sunset arrived to place it into the portal machine. “I wish your vacation wasn’t so hectic and stress inducing, maybe next time you visit you can have a proper vacation.”
Sunset couldn’t help but laugh, in retrospect, this whole week was absurd. Fighting villains from other dimensions, meeting other Kamen Riders, and in the end obtaining a new power that was sure to come in handy in the future. “It was a crazy vacation, and yet, I don’t feel like it was a total mess. I kind of feel refreshed, in a different way though. But I’m more than likely going to go back to my loft and sleep until the Monday morning.”
“You definitely earned it,” said Spike.
Sunset nodded to the young drake. “Thanks, Spike. Twilight, I’m ready.”
The alicorn mare placed the book into its designated spot atop the portal machine, and immediately the contraption whirred to life, transferring the magic properties of the book straight to the mirror, and opening the portal to Earth. Sunset hugged Spike, and then hugged Starlight. When it was time for Twilight, the mare sighed and wrapped her forelegs around Sunset.
“Don’t forget, you’ll always have friends and family here, Equestria will always be with you,” said Twilight.
Sunset let a stray tear fall, but smiled nonetheless. “Thank you, Twilight.”
The fiery maned mare separated from the Princess of Friendship and strode up to the portal. She gave on last glance over her shoulder to Spike, Starlight, and Twilight, smiled at them, and turned her head forward and made the plunge.
***___________<U> X [D] ___________***
“And that’s pretty much all that happened,” said Sunset as she reclined in her sofa.
The girls all stared at Sunset, their mouths hanging open, eyes wide as saucer plates, and every now and again they would make a noise that could be construed as an attempt at speaking. Once Sunset had returned from Equestria, she and the girls headed back to her loft, where she regaled them with the tale of her seven days of fighting Nega-Shocker and meeting other Kamen Riders. Needless to say, for the most part, they were practically hanging on every word, even Pinkie Pie sat still in disbelief and sheer awe at the tale she told.
After a minute, Rainbow Dash shook her head, snapping herself out of her surprised state, and said, “No way that all happened right? I mean – that’s just – no way!”
Sunset reached into her saddle bag and pulled out the three medals she had been awarded for her actions in defending Equestria. And to top it all off, Sunset removed the Shining Memory and placed on the coffee table alongside the medals. The girls stared at the objects, still mesmerized by the fact that Sunset had done all that, and became a national hero for it, and acquired a powerful Gaia Memory to boot.
“Wow…you…uh…wow,” Applejack managed to say.
“Dear, it doesn’t sound like you had the chance to relax at all,” said Rarity.
Sunset couldn’t help but laugh. “Ha, ha, you’re right, you’re right. I had some moments, but overall, yeah I was in full hero mode the whole time.”
“Jeez, and I thought the monsters we’ve fought were bad. Magic monsters, cosmic monsters, a dark Kamen Rider, and a giant dragon-centaur! I need to sit down,” said Rainbow Dash as she plopped onto Sunset’s lazyboy chair.
“Sunny, you need a vacation, from your vacation,” said Pinkie, finally uttering a word after all that.
“The pony you would definitely agree. But, still, it’s good to be back. I missed Equestria, but, I can’t deny I didn’t miss this world either. Even with the lack of magic permeating everything, Equestria doesn’t have you guys,” said Sunset. “So, what happened with you guys? I didn’t get any messages, so I assume it was a quiet week?”
The others shifted nervously, a sign that Sunset took as a no. In the end it was Pinkie Pie who sat next to Sunset and draped an arm over her shoulders as she spoke. “Well in a nutshell. The city got attacked by three Dopants, Dashie went and fought them, but they kinda kicked her butt. After that we started to go into investigation mode, and Rainbow went rogue to try and find out more, but ended up in the hospital.”
At this Sunset’s eyes went wide as she stared at Rainbow Dash with concern, but she withheld barraging Rainbow until Pinkie Pie was done.
“After that, she told her parents she’s a Kamen Rider –”
“Rainbow Dash –!” Sunset interrupted.
“I-I-I didn’t tell them who you were! I just told them that I was a Kamen Rider! I Pinkie Promise!” Rainbow Dash quickly went into the gestures of the solemn oath that was the Pinkie Promise.
Sunset looked around the room, a quick round of nods confirmed Rainbow Dash’s story. “Continue.”
“And after that she admitted how she was kinda trying to be you and step up, but neglected to think things through. Afterwards she fought them again, and used that Gaia Memory she won off of Lightning Dust to be them, saving two who were innocent and one who wasn’t.”
Sunset blinked as she looked to Rainbow Dash again. “You manage to get Accel under control?”
Rainbow nodded with pride.
Twilight adjusted her glasses and smiled sheepishly. “I’m just glad that you’re safe now, and we’re all glad to have you back, Sunset.”
“It just doesn’t feel the same without you,” Fluttershy added.
The former unicorn felt her heart swell, despite all she had done in the past. These girls, her friends, would always have her in their hearts, whether she was gone for a little while or…longer. Sunset dismissed that thought, she made her choice long ago, this was her home now, and she would defend it with all she had. From threats both magical and –
Suddenly, a loud explosion ripped the girls from their reunion. Rainbow grabbed the TV remote and switched the channels to the news.
{Breaking news from downtown Canterlot City. Moments ago, another mysterious creature appeared and started to attack the city and nearby civilians. We now go live to the situation from our reporter Namby Pamby, Namby, what’s happening?}
The image switched to a woman in her mid twenties, she had mint green skin, and long flowing hair that was colored a bright pink, like rosé. Her blue eyes darted from the cameraman and back to the action below as she held the microphone in her hand.
{We’re currently over the skies of the city, where a monster is just…shooting off lightning from its body, and seems to be attacking indiscriminately at anyone in its path. The police Special Crimes Unit is currently en route to the scene, but quite possibly, everyone is waiting to see if the city’s masked heroes, Kamen Riders Unicorn and Nasca, are going to appear.}
Rainbow Dash scoffed, “Like we’re not going show up – oh. Um, you can hang back Sunset, you already saved a whole world, let me deal with this punk.”
Sunset sighed as she stood up, grinning at the girls. “After all that, fighting some lowlife with a Gaia Memory is going to be relaxing. Let’s ride!”
Rainbow Dash and Sunset Shimmer ran out of the loft and mounted their bikes, their friends yelling out “Good luck” as they drove away. As they approached the city, Sunset and Rainbow summoned their Drivers and activated their Gaia Memories.
< UNICORN! >
< NASCA! >
“HENSHIN!” they cried as one.
> UNICORN! <
> NASCA! <
A field of electrical energy, colored blue and turquoise, surrounded both girls, donning them in the armor of their heroic personas, Kamen Rider Unicorn and Kamen Rider Nasca. Their bikes had shifted into their supped-up Rider forms, granting them a burst of speed as they tore through the streets, weaving around all the incoming cop cars and emergency service vehicles. Some of the civilian cars parted ways for the two heroes, and some even gave a thumbs up. Unicorn passed by one of the squad cars, and saw Twilight’s big brother, Shining Armor all suited up and ready to combat the Dopant. Their eyes met for a moment, and Unicorn gave the officer a salute before peeling away.
The two Riders came a screeching halt as they approached the Dopant. The monster was made of pure lightning energy, with white armor that clasped around his forearms, legs, chest, and face, as if to maintain his physical appearance. The Dopant’s yellow eyes, met the gazes of the two Kamen Riders and growled at them.
Equestria was Sunset’s home, it always will be. But she had a second home, here on Earth, where her friends lived, where she changed for the better, and where she can ensure that no one else makes the same mistakes as she once did. Sunset would always call both worlds her home, and just like Equestria, she would defend both with all she had.
“It’s good to be back home,” said Unicorn. “Ready, Nasca?!”
“Ready, partner,” Nasca replied. “Delivering justice at sonic speeds! Kamen Rider Nasca!”
“The Magic of Friendship unleashed! Kamen Rider Unicorn!”