The next day, Sunset's friends; Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle,, Fluttershy, and her girlfriend, Rarity, came over to celebrate Sunset's birthday. They were joined my Sunset's cousin Trixie. The eight girls had taken over the basement entertainment room for the night. Rainbow, and Trixie were busy showing Twilight and Fluttershy how to play "Tirek's Revenge". Applejack, Rarity, Sunset, and Pinkie were playing a game of Monopoly.
"Sunset, darling," Rarity said, "I've always wondered, how did Celestia come to adopt you?"
"I never told you that story?" Sunset said, blushing.
"I think I'd rember." Rarity said, leaning over and giving Sunset a quick peck on the cheek.
"Ya don't have to tell us if it makes you uncomfortable." Applejack said, sensing her friends discomfort.
"It's a tale of epic adventure, romance and magic!" Trixie said.
"Do you guys really want to hear this?" Sunset asked looking each of her friends, each of them nodded silently, "Ok, it begins the day after I first arrived in this world..."
*****
Six Years Earlier
Sunset wasn't sure how long she had slept. She had dreamt of Princess Celestia. The princess was sure to send the Royal Guard, if not the UEP Guard after her. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Looking around, she was still in the rocky field. Her joints were stiff from sleeping on the ground. Sunset decided to try to stand up. She had figured out the the inhabitants of where ever she was were bipedal, and that she now resembled one. She needed to learn how to be like them if she was going to blend here and hide from Celestia.
As she stood she looked around again.
She noticed several similarities between Equestria and this place. The grass was still green, and the sky was still blue. The birds even sounded the same. Movement caught her eye. Turning to look she saw the same woman she had encountered the day before carrying a bouquet of flowers walking towards her. Sunset took off running.
"SUNRISE!" she heard the woman call after her.
***
"Wait, your name is Sunset," Pinkie said, "not Sunrise."
"Sunrise was my cousin, Celestia's real daughter, she died when we were eight." Trixie said not holding back the tears. She stood up and grabbed a framed photograph off of a nearby bookshelf and looked at it. Using her blouse to wipe some dust off of it before passing it around to other girls. The photo showed a younger Trixie and another girl both wearing party hats playing together. "This picture was taken at Sunrise's eighth birthday."
"Freaky deaky!" Pinkie said when she saw the young girl in the photo. Rarity could only gasp.
"Sunset, she looked just like you," Applejack said, stating what was on everyone's minds, "albeit, a much younger you."
"Remember how I told you girls that everyone in my world has a counterpart in this one?" Sunset asked, reaching out and comforting Trixie, "I'm fairly certain that Sunrise was my counterpart."
"It's strange how much our world reflects Equestria, from what you've told us Sunset our worlds have similar histories, what we consider myths is everyday life where you're from," Twilight said, "and we can't rule out Equestrian interference I through out history."
Rainbow rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, get back to the story." Rainbow said.
None of the girls heard Celestia come down the basement step. And stop when she heard Sunset's voice.
"Where was i?" Sunset thought aloud, "oh yeah, so mom called after me but I ran..."
*****
Sunset didn't stop running until she was out of breath and her muscles felt like they were on fire. She wasn't sure if that woman was Princess Celestia, having been changed after chasing her through the portal or if she was a native to this land who just so happened to look and sound similar to the princess. It was then that Sunset's stomach growled and she realized that she was hungry. She wandered around the part of town she was in until she found a place that looked inviting, it was a small cafe and bakery names Sugar Cube Corner. Sunset walked in and looked at all the tasty treats that were available. Sunset saw a blueberry muffin that caught her eye. She boldly marched up to the counter to place her order.
"Um, one blueberry muffin please?" Sunset asked meekly. The woman behind the counter looked at her, then shrugged and put the muffin in a small brown paper bag. Afterwards she she hit a few button on the register before her.
"That'll be $1.50 dearie" the woman said. Sunset reached into her pocket and came out with a handful of Equestrian bits. It was clear to the woman behind the counter that Sunset didn't have any other form of money.
"It's on the house dearie." she said after moment and cleared the register.
"Th-thank you," Sunset said be fore turning and walking out of the restaurant.
She had walked about half a block when she felt someone grab her shoulder. She spun around quickly and found herself face-to-face with the Celestia woman she had met the day before!
*****
Sunset paused in telling her story. A single tear ran down her cheek.
"What's wrong dear?" Rarity asked, gently using her finger to catch the tear as it ran down Sunset's face.
"That first blueberry muffin, was the best tasting thing I've ever had," Sunset said after a moment, "and I didn't realise it yet, but mom was only trying to help me. But I was so scared, that I couldn't see that yet."
Rarity leaned over and held Sunset in her arms for a long moment, allowing her girlfriend to calm down before continuing her tale.
"So, how did Principle Celestia know where to find you?" Fluttershy asked softly.
"Perhaps I am best suited to answer that." Celestia said turning the corner.
"Mom!" Sunset said seeing her mom. Celestia took a seat on couch between her daughter and her niece.
"I actually wasn't looking for Sunset..."