//------------------------------// // The Train Ride Back: Twilight Sparkle // Story: Sunset Shimmer's Equestrian Friendship Tour // by CapNTilfy //------------------------------// "So" said Twilight as the group of four found their seats on the train. "What should we do to pass the time?" Starlight and Sunset looked at each other and nodded. "Well, on the way here we both told each other about what all we've been through. Maybe you could tell us about your adventures." Twilight blushed. "Aww, I'm flattered." she said and thought for a moment. "...Okay, why not? I don't see the harm in that." Starlight and Sunset leaned in closely, excited. Twilight smiled. "I assume both of you are familiar with Nightmare Moon, correct?" Sunset and Starlight nodded. "Well one day I just happened to be reading a book called 'Predictions and Prophecies', and I noticed the signs signaling her return..." ---------------------------------------------- "...and that's how I ended up in Ponyville." said Twilight. Sunset looked at Twilight. "Wait. A library? What about your castle?" "I'm getting to that." Twilight said. "Starlight...did Trixie ever tell you about my history with her?" Starlight shook her head. "What I'm about to tell you is exactly what happened the first time we saw her." Starlight gave Twilight a nasty look. Twilight smiled. "I promise. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Starlight seemed reassured by this, so Twilight began. "I was practicing magic with Spike in the Golden Oaks Library that day. I had mastered many kinds of magic..." ---------------------------------------------- "...and then she ran off." finished Twilight. "Well. That definitely sounds like Trixie, all right." said Starlight. "And I can totally see Snips and Snails getting into trouble like that." said Sunset. Twilight nodded. "Starlight, you already know the next story I'm going to tell." Starlight blushed. "What is it? I already told Sunset about my village and time-travel schemes." Twilight smiled. "Remember when you showed up at my lecture about Cutie Mark magic?" "Oh, I see where you're going with this." said Starlight. Twilight nodded. "The Cutie Mark Crusaders, at the time still searching for their Cutie Marks, began asking me and each my friends how we got ours..." ---------------------------------------------- "...and then we sang a song." "Wow." said Sunset. You guys really do belong together, huh?" Twilight grinned. "Oh, there's plenty more stories. Starlight, how much do you know about Discord?" Starlight shrugged. "Not much, really." "Well...the first time the girls and I met him, things got a little, shall we say...chaotic." Twilight grinned. Starlight gave Twilight a flat stare. "Really?" Twilight giggled. "Sorry, I couldn't resist. Anyway, it started out like any other day..." ---------------------------------------------- Then we turned him back into stone using the Elements of Harmony." finished Twilight. Starlight held up a hoof. "But he's free now." "Don't worry about that." said Twilight. "I'll get back to him later. But by now I suppose you're wondering why I don't write friendship reports Princess Celestia anymore. Y'know, aside from these." she said as she unfolded her wings. "Might as well indulge you." said Sunset. "Well, I had just finished a checklist with Spike's help that day. We were spending the day at home..." ---------------------------------------------- "...so from then on, all of us had to write to the Princess." "Wow. I would've loved to see all that happen." said Sunset. Twilight rolled her eyes. "Speaking of princesses, Nightmare Night had come to Ponyville. I dressed up as Starswirl the Bearded..." ---------------------------------------------- "...and then Princess Luna scared Rainbow Dash away!" she finished. Everyone laughed. "Sunset." said Twilight. "I assume Starlight told you about Thorax?" "She did.", said Sunset. "Well, our first encounter with the changeling race wasn't exactly friendly..." ---------------------------------------------- "...then Shining Armor and Cadence's coach left." "Wow." said Sunset and Starlight in unison. "Tell me about it." said Spike. "I never got to plan that bachelor party." Everyone laughed. "Now I know for a fact that Starlight's heard Spike's story about the Crystal Empire, but Sunset hasn't." Said Twilight. "So...'Great and Honorable Spike the Brave and Glorious', you tell the story." Sunset gave Twilight a look. "Don't worry." said Twilight. "It'll make sense in the end." Spike cleared his throat. "One day, Princess Celestia had test for Twilight. The wasn't you average everyday test, either..." ---------------------------------------------- "...and I even got my own stained glass window!" Spike finished, a huge proud grin on his face. "Wow. Nice going, Spike!" said Sunset. "Thank you." he said. "But the peace didn't last too long, because shortly afterwards a mysterious pony in a black cloak came to Ponyville and started zapping specific ponies..." ---------------------------------------------- "...then she threw a smoke bomb on the ground and left, tripping on her way out." Sunset had a look of sadness on her face. "I can relate to that. Being corrupted by dark magic. But also learning from my mistakes." her facial expression turned into a smile. "Now we've all spoken of Changelings and Trixie, but now it's Discord's turn." said Twilight. Sunset and Starlight nodded. "One day, Princess Celestia had told us she'd be bringing a 'very special' guest with her to see us. Never in a million moons would we have expected Discord..." ---------------------------------------------- "...and then Fluttershy said 'He can be a real sweetheart once you get to know him.'" Starlight snickered. Sunset raised an eyebrow. "Fluttershy reformed the Spirit of Chaos? Why do I find that hard to believe?" "That doesn't surprise me." said Starlight. "He treats her so nicely." "That's true." said Twilight. "Now I know both of you don't really know the specifics, but here's how I got my wings..." ---------------------------------------------- "...and after the coronation, we all had an after-party at Sugarcube Corner." Starlight smiled. "Well now we know the whole story." Sunset blinked. "That's amazing." "So." said Twilight. "Here's how I got the castle we all know and love..." ---------------------------------------------- "...and the castle literally popped up from the ground!" Sunset stared in absolute shock. Starlight waved her hoof in front of Sunset's face. "Uhh...are you okay, Sunset?" Spike walked up to Sunset. "Equestria to Sunset Shimmer! Hello?" Twilight used her magic and yanked Sunset's tail. "Ouch!" yelled Sunset. "What was that for?" "Sorry." said Twilight. "You were totally out of it there." "Oh." said Sunset. "Well...it's just that in my world, Tirek is a video game character and not a real tyrant who was banished to Tartarus. That was just a huge shock to me." Twilight laughed. "Oh, I wish Tirek was just a video game character." Everyone laughed. "Ponyville Train Station!" called out the conductor. Twilight grinned. "All right, girls. Where to first?"