//------------------------------// // The Road Home // Story: Journeys // by The Crazed Werewolf //------------------------------// Sunset, Flash, Starlight, and the rest of the Rainbooms sat on the bleachers at CHS. Even though it was a Saturday, many students used the fields to play or hangout on the weekends. "So let me get this straight," Applejack said, "you have a brother in Equestria that you haven't seen in years?" "Decades really," Sunset said, "and he is my half-brother." "Silly Sunset," Pinkie said, "you can't have only half of a brother. Well you could, but it would get messy and the police would get involved..." "Pinkemena, you aren't helping." Rarity said before looking at Sunset, "well what are you going to do darling?" "I want to go see him, but I don't know if he wants to see me," Sunset said, " last time we saw each other he was still a foal. We've both grown up and gone our own ways." Sunset looked at her friends, she could see in each of their eyes that they would support her no matter what choice she made. Strangely, it was Twilight who spoke first. "I think you should see him, he is your family after all." Twilight said taking off her glasses to clean them. The rest of her friends nodded in agreement. "All of you think I should do this?" Sunset asked. "Sunset, the others weren't there, but I saw you break down when you were telling Starlight and I about Sunburst." Flash said, "you need to heal some wounds in your soul." Sunset looked at her boyfriend. "You're right of course." Sunset said finally, "I'll do it." "Ooh can we come too?" Pinkie said. "Better not, I nearly destroyed Equestria once," Starlight said, "I don't want to be responsible for a world shattering paradox that destroys two worlds." Everyone except Sunset looked at Starlight with wide eyes. "We've all been there." Pinkie said handing Starlight a red velvet cupcake. ================================== The journey through the portal had been uneventful, as had her reception at Ponyville, Princess Twilight had gone to Canterlot to visit her friends there. "Sunset, what was Starburst like as a foal?" Starlight asked. "He loved to play Dragon Pit." Sunset said, "and his favorite book was the illustrated edition of Legends of Equestria." "Really? We used to play Dragon Pit when we were growing up." Starlight said. "He also loved to watch me practice my magic." Sunset thought aloud. "NEXT STOP THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE!" the conductor called, "ALL OUT FOR THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE!" Sunset and Starlight disembarked from the train. Sunset marveled at the beauty of the Crystal Empire. "Is that a statue of... Spike?" Sunset asked eyeing a large crystal sculpture of a familiar looking dragon. Yeah, he's kind of a big thing here in the Empire." Starlight said and then she proceeded to tell Sunset the story of how Spike had saved the Crystal Empire twice. "That sounds incredible." Sunset said as they approached the Crystal Palace. "Well it's true." Starlight said with a laugh. Once inside the castle they made their way to the throne room. "Starlight, Sunset, how nice of you to visit, what brings you back to Equestria Sunset?" Princess Cadence asked. "Um, we're here to see Sunburst." Sunset said nervously. "That can be arranged, I believe he's in the castle library. Starlight, do you remember where it is?" Shining Armor said. "Yes, I'll lead Sunset there." Starlight said. Sunburst was so focused on the book he was reading that he didn't notice Starlight and Sunset enter the library. Starlight found a quill and used it to tickle Sunburst's ear, much to Sunset's amusement. Sunburst looked up. "Oh hey Starlight, Sunset," Sunburst said, then he got a good look at who was with Starlight and his voice filled with anger, "SUNSET!"