BORROWED TIME
An “Equestria Girls” fanfic
By Erin Mills
“My Little Pony: Equestria Girls” ©2018 Hasbro/DHX Media
It was late afternoon. The sun began to set behind the mountains to the west of Canterlot High School. Classes had ended an hour before and the school grounds were relatively silent compared to the hustle and bustle of the student body as they attended classes during the day.
Sunset Shimmer stood at the plinth that was in front of the school’s main entrance. The Wondercolt statue had never been replaced since its destruction during her time as a student. No budget for it, and none of the school’s many fundraisers had managed to scrape together enough to pay for a respectable replacement. By the time Sunset had graduated, no one had cared anymore. And now, nearly ten years later, no one but a few members of the faculty even remembered the statue had been there.
Of course, the statue wasn’t the only thing missing from the plinth these days. Sunset sighed and placed a hand on the concrete cube. Long ago, there would have been some give, a soothing warmth, and if one was to keep pushing, they would feel a sudden shift in density and found themselves in a magical land of talking ponies.
But that too was long ago. It had been five years since the portal inexplicably vanished from its home in the plinth. Five years since the magical journal Sunset had used to communicate with Princess Twilight Sparkle had stopped working. Five years since Equestria had become cut off from this world, leaving Sunset stranded with no way to return to the land of her birth.
Admittedly, she had decided some time ago that she would most likely remain in the human world for the rest of her life. But it had been comforting to know that she could return to Equestria any time she wanted, whether for a visit or permanently if she so chose.
Now that option was gone for good. Her self-imposed exile was now irrevocable. She knew that, deep down. But she still returned to the plinth. Usually just once a week, which could occasionally turn into a month or more, especially during convention season. But she always returned, some part of her still wishing and hoping that when she did, the portal would have returned just as mysteriously as it had vanished, and she could once again see the enchanted land she hailed from. She would probably continue visiting until she no longer was physically able.
However long that was.
“Sunset Shimmer?”
Sunset stiffened at the sound of the soft voice, so much like her old mentor’s and yet very much its own. She turned to see Principal Celestia walking down the front steps of the school. The school administrator hadn’t changed much in the last decade. Still ludicrously tall, she still had a good four or five inches on Sunset, despite her growth spurt in college. Her hair was still the pastel rainbow Sunset knew, except for the slight graying at the roots she could see as the principal came closer. Tiny laugh lines could be seen around her eyes. Unlike her unchanging royal counterpart in Equestria, this Celestia was older and most likely wiser than she had been during Sunset’s days as a student.
Time doesn’t wait for anyone on this side. Sunset stifled a sigh at the thought and smiled.
“Principal Celestia!”
The principal smiled. “It’s been almost a decade since you graduated, Sunset. I think we’re past formalities. ‘Celestia’ is just fine.”
Sunset let out a small laugh. “Right. Force of habit. Sorry.”
“It’s fine. How are things, Sunset?”
“Oh, pretty good. I’ve landed a few jobs with Zow Comics. Working with some great writers. I’m doing a prestige format mini-series right now, as a matter of fact.”
“Yes, I’ve confiscated a few of your comics from students over the years,” Celestia said. “And I’d be lying if I don’t get a little thrill of satisfaction when I see your name on the cover.”
“Really?” Sunset asked. “I didn’t think anyone here would notice.”
Celestia placed a hand on Sunset’s shoulder. “I know this isn’t really the kind of thing a school official should say, but you were always one of my favorite students, Sunset.”
Sunset blushed. It was amazing how much a word of praise from Celestia, any Celestia, made her feel so loved. “Thank you.”
Celestia seemed to pick up Sunset’s embarrassment. “And how are your friends? I understand they’ve all come back to Canterlot City over the last year.”
Sunset’s face brightened. “Yeah, it’s so good to have them all back. I mean, we kept in touch through college and everything with the internet and all that, but it’s not the same as knowing you all live in the same town and can get together whenever you want.”
Celestia nodded. “And what are they all doing these days?”
Sunset began ticking off her fingers. “Well, Rainbow Dash got a job as assistant coach for the Canterlot Horseshoes. The season starts in a few months, so she’s already putting the team through their paces. They’re terrified of her.”
The two of them laughed. Sunset resumed her report.
“Twilight Sparkle – excuse me. Doctor Sparkle is up at Canterlot University. She’s teaching undergrad courses right now, but she’s also heading up the robotics lab. I don’t know if you heard this, but Fluttershy’s spent the last few years with the Peace Corps.”
“I recall running into the Shys a while back,” said Celestia. “They mentioned something about that.”
“Well, she decided to come home a few months ago. She's working for the animal shelter again. Paid, this time.”
“Unsurprising, but rewarding for her. What about Rarity? I was expecting to see her clothing line at the mall by now.”
“She took a different route,” Sunset answered. “She got a commission to make a gown for some awards ceremony out in Applewood. Next thing we hear, she's designing costumes for movies. And the next time I saw her, she's on TV getting a Osric for Best Costume Design.”
Celestia laughed. “I remember that. And the rant she went on when they tried to play her off.”
“She insists that's why she hasn't won since then. But she decided she was tired of the Applewood life and wanted to open her own boutique, like Prim Hemline did. Oh, wait!”
Sunset reached into the pocket of her blazer and pulled out a business card. She passed it over to the principal. “Grand opening is next week. She's holding a mixer the night before.” Sunset gave Celestia a sly grin. “Open bar. I know teachers like anything that's free.”
“That, Miss Shimmer, is outright slander and I resent the implication,” Celestia said imperiously. She snatched the card from Sunset's hand. “And the fact that my sister and I will be delighted to attend Rarity's opening gala has very little to do with the fact that – wait, full bar or just beer and wine?”
“Full bar.”
“ – Has very little to do with the fact that there will be a full open bar there! We are thrilled to support our former student's business endeavor.”
The teacher and the former student looked at each other, then broke out in laughter. Celestia wiped her eye. “In all seriousness, please tell Rarity we look forward to seeing her and her new shop.”
“I will.”
“And what about Applejack and Pinkie Pie? I imagine Applejack is back on her family farm?”
Sunset nodded. “But here's something I bet you didn't know. She's a certified horse trainer now!”
“Really?” Celestia's eyebrows raised. “When did that happen?”
“While she was in college, she started doing rodeo. She came to the attention of Sky Rider. He's one of the top trainers in the country. He was so impressed with how she handled her horse during the barrel riding, he offered her an apprenticeship. She took it, and now she's training horses on her own.”
“Well, that's great! And Pinkie Pie? I know she opened a bakery in Baltimare and she seemed to be doing really well. Wasn't she on Dueling Bakers last year?”
“Yep. But it was a mixed blessing. Business tripled for her, but she got overwhelmed and burned out. Sold the whole thing six months after the show aired.”
“What's she doing now?”
“Enjoying the six figures she got from the sale, as I understand it.” Sunset grinned. “She's been talking about opening another place, but she's also considering professional party planning. Nothing solid yet.”
“Nothing wrong with that. She seems to be pretty stable.” Celestia frowned, then gave a sardonic smirk. “Well, it is Pinkie Pie, so maybe 'stable' isn't the right word.”
Sunset laughed. “True. Very true. Well, this was nice, but... um... I have to go. Deadlines to meet, you know.”
Celestia frowned. “Are you sure? You seem a little agitated all of a sudden.”
“No, no, I just got feeling a little nostalgic and decided to swing by and look at the ol' stomping ground, y'know?” Sunset smiled and immediately knew it had been a bad idea.
Celestia folded her arms and fixed Sunset with a look. “Sunset, you're not one of my students any more, but I'd to think on some level we're friends. So, to be honest with you, I've seen you on the security footage. You've been coming here nearly every week since the portal disappeared. Are you sure you're all right?”
Sunset felt her teeth clench then sighed. “I keep hoping the portal will be open again. That one day, I'll come here and Princess Twilight will be waiting for me with an explanation for what happened. I miss her. I miss Equestria.”
“I can understand homesickness,” Celestia said. Sunset shook her head.
“It's not that. Well, not just that.” Sunset trailed off and she grabbed her elbow, a gesture Celestia remembered all too well. Something was troubling her former student.
“Sunset?”
Sunset stepped back and leaned against the plinth. She refused to make eye contact with the principal. Celestia frowned and stepped forward. She put a hand on Sunset's shoulder.
“Sunset, what is it?” Concern was written on Celestia's face. She hadn't seen Sunset like this since the Friendship Games when she was in school. “I'm not going to press you, but if you need to talk, I'm willing to listen.”
Sunset sighed again. “It's not just homesickness. And it's not just that the magic is fading.”
Celestia's eyes widened. “It is?”
“Everything I've seen over the last few years indicates it. Our geode powers have been gradually diminishing. The journal I used to talk to Princess Twilight stopped working around the same time the portal vanished. And there's been... other unexpected side effects.”
Sunset's voice dropped and she looked down at the sidewalk. Celestia reached down and gently tilted Sunset's face upward. “What's happened, Sunset?”
Sunset turned her head and squeezed her eyes shut, feeling like a teenager again. When she opened them, her eyes were watery.
“I... I'm dying.”