//------------------------------// // Canterlot // Story: Sunset Shimmer's Equestrian Friendship Tour // by CapNTilfy //------------------------------// Sunset and Starlight exited the train. Sunset took deep breath, then exhaled. "Ahh!" she sighed. "It's nice to finally see something familiar!" Starlight giggled. "Overwhelmed by all the new information?" Sunset rolled her eyes and smiled. "Yeah, kinda." she admitted. Suddenly, an idea formed in her head and her eyes popped wide open. "Hey! Once we see Twilight we should totally go to the art museum!" Starlight gave Sunset a questioning look. "Why's that?" Sunset smiled fondly. "Did I ever show you any of my paintings when you visited?" "I don't think so..." "Well," Sunset said. "When I was just a filly, I saw an absolutely beautiful painting of Princess Celestia raising the sun. It's what got me into art in the first place. I saw it in Vanhoover, but I was hoping it'd be here. You know how some art pieces circulate." Starlight smiled awkwardly. "Not really, no. I never got into art, but I'd be willing to take a look on the off-chance it's being featured. You make it sound so good." Sunset grinned. "Of course it's good! It changed my whole life, after all." As they walked through Canterlot, Sunset looked around. "At least this place hasn't changed much. Then again, I wouldn't really expect it to." She took a deep breath as she took in the scents surrounding herself. Coffee, hay, tea, cake, and...oh. That's a new and interesting scent. "Starlight?" asked Sunset. "Are you hungry?" Starlight whiffed the air. "Is that smell making you hungry?" she smiled. "Well it certainly stands out. Want to get something to eat?" said Sunset. Starlight shrugged. "Sure, why not?" Starlight and Sunset sniffed the air, following the scent as it became stronger and stronger. Eventually, they stopped in front of a building that stood out from all the others. A small staircase which led to the entrance was sandwiched between two shrubs. The wall was painted a dark orange, decorated with swirls and flowers. The two windows of the entrance were shaped like spires. Just above the entrance was an elephant holding a spoon in its trunk, which was in front of an open flower. "The Tasty Treat?" Asked Starlight. "Huh. Never seen this restaurant before. I wonder why." Sunset smiled and licked her lips. "Sure stands out though, doesn't it?" she grabbed Starlight by the hoof. "C'mon, let's eat!" she said excitedly as she pulled Starlight inside. "Welcome to The Tasty Treat! Make yourselves comfortable!" said the waiter. "Saffron Masala! Ready the stove, we have customers!" "Yes, father!" said a voice in the kitchen. ---------------------------------------------- Sunset sighed in satisfaction. "Whew! That totally hit the spot! I forgot how great Equestrian cuisine was!" Starlight flinched. "Oof. Reminds me of how hard it was to keep human food down. That ice cream from the mall was great, but oh, Celestia, did I pay for it later." Sunset shuddered. "I remember helping you through that. I didn't think it was that possible for any creature to get that sick, and I went through the same thing. Can we not talk about that though? I want to keep my food down, thank you very much." "Sorry." said Starlight, blushing. "It's okay." said Sunset. "So what now? I don't want to take up too much time. You know, destiny and all that." she smirked. "Right. Had enough fun then?" Starlight said with a teasing look. "Well..." said Sunset. "I wasn't told it was an urgent situation..." she said slyly. "What do you have in mind?" asked Starlight. "Hmm..." said Sunset as she put her hoof to her chin. "Oh! I know! Got room for dessert?" Starlight smiled. ---------------------------------------------- Twilight Sparkle was outside the Canterlot Library, tapping her hoof. I can only wait so long before I start to get impatient...where is she? "Something on your mind, Twilight?" said Spike, her faithful assistant and close friend. Twilight sighed. "Sunset should be here by now. What's taking her so long?" "Maybe she got lost in the castle. You remember how lost Starlight was her first few times around? I think the castle needs a map or something." Spike said. Twilight put her hoof to her chin. "I suppose, but I'm not leaving this spot unless there's an emergency. When Sunset gets here I hope she has a good reason for taking her sweet time..." ---------------------------------------------- "Okay." said Sunset. "Now I'm full. Totally worth it." she smiled. Starlight smiled. "You said it. Now I really think we should get to the library. We don't want Twilight any more...'peeved' than she already might be." Sunset laughed. "Okay, okay. You're right. No more distractions. Let's be on our way. For real this time." ---------------------------------------------- If Twilight wore a watch on her hoof, she'd be staring at it impatiently right now. Seriously! Where in the name of Celestia is she? Maybe I should have put more urgency into that message. "Oh!" said Twilight. "Spike!" "Yes, Twilight?" asked Spike. "Why don't you go and find Sunset? That way I don't have to leave this spot!" Said Twilight. "Okay, Twilight. Will do!" said Spike with a smile, then ran off in search of Sunset. ---------------------------------------------- "So...got any crushes?" asked Starlight. Sunset blinked. "Where did that question come from?" Starlight smiled. "Just curious. Thought I'd make some small talk on the way." "Well, to be honest, no. I don't have a crush. Never have. Not yet anyway." said Sunset. Starlight looked shocked. "Wait. Really? Never? I've had at least two crushes, but that was before I got all...you know." Sunset sighed. "You remember what I told about my past?" Starlight thought for a moment. "Well, you told me you poured your heart and soul into magic studies..." "Exactly." said Sunset. "Studying magic was the obsession that drove me. Aside from basic self-care, that was all that I did. I never bothered to find romantic love or friendship because at the time I viewed both those things as unnecessary. It was such a narrow focus of mine that once everything fell apart for me after the Fall Formal, I had nothing. I was a blank slate. I had to find out who I was all over again, and I'm still in the process. I don't even know my own sexual orientation." Starlight gave Sunset a look of shame. "I...I'm sorry. I had no idea." Sunset smiled warmly. "You don't have to apologize, Starlight. Of course you didn't know. We're still finding out things about each other and ourselves." "Wait..." said Starlight. "Is that...Spike?" "There you are, Sunset! ...Starlight? What are you doing here?" Spike said as he caught up to the two mares. Starlight smiled. "I'm guessing you're looking for us on behalf of Twilight?" Spike nodded. "Well then, let's get going! I'll tell you why I'm here on the way, okay Spike?" said Starlight. "Okay!" he said as they headed towards the Canterlot Library.