//------------------------------//
// Sweet Feather Sanctuary 
// Story: Sunset Shimmer's Equestrian Friendship Tour 
// by CapNTilfy 
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Sunset took a look around. She and her friends were in an open field in the midst of trees. A small creek was flowing, letting the sound of rushing fill her ears. There was a waterfall from the top of a stone cave that had several entrances. There was a hammock hanging between two palm trees on one small section of the cave. The other section had many trees with planks of wood nailed into and onto them, so creatures could climb and eat to their hearts' content. Many animals were enjoying themselves in various parts of the sanctuary.

"Nice place. Has this been here long?" asked Sunset.

"No, not really." said Twilight. "Fluttershy had said that it's been her dream to open a sanctuary for animals, so we all helped her in building it. Not that it went well at first."

"What happened?" asked Sunset.

Twilight told Sunset what happened, from beginning to end. Once she finished, Sunset rolled her eyes.

"Ugh." Sunset said in disgust. "I can't stand those types. Thinking their ideas are better despite the client basically spelling out what they want. Good on Fluttershy for sticking up for herself though."

There was a rustling noise coming from one of the bushes. Twilight trotted over to the bush. "Fluttershy? Is that you?" Startled by Twilight's voice, a squirrel leaped out of the bush and fled. "Huh. Guess not."

"Is she even here?" asked Sunset.

"She should be." said Twilight. "This is where she spends most of her time when she's not with us or at her cottage."

"Fluttershy, are you here?" Spike called out.

Off in the distance, the four spotted Fluttershy slowly walking toward them. "There you are!" said Twilight.

Fluttershy caught a glimpse of Sunset. She blinked, a bead of sweat trailing down her forehead. "H...Hello, Sunset." she said anxiously.

"You don't have to put on a brave face, Fluttershy. She's come a long way since the last time you saw her." said Twilight.

Fluttershy exhaled deeply, a look of relief on her face.

Sunset quirked an eyebrow. "Just like that?"

Fluttershy giggled and trotted towards her. "You're not the only one who's come a long way, Sunset. If Twilight trusts you, then so do I." she smiled.

"Well, you did reform the Spirit of Chaos." said Sunset.

Fluttershy blushed. "Twilight told you about that?"

Sunset nodded. "That and pretty much every major adventure you guys have had since."

Fluttershy smiled. "So, what have you been up to?"

"Twilight hasn't told you what's happened?" asked Sunset.

Fluttershy shook her head. "Not since the trouble with the sirens."

Sunset looked at Twilight. "What? They don't really ask about you."

I suppose that's a fair point. thought Sunset. They don't know me too well. "You're going to want to sit down for this. It's a long story." she said.

As Sunset told Fluttershy all that had happened to her, Fluttershy listened intently, nodding from time to time. When Sunset finished, Fluttershy blinked.

"Goodness." said Fluttershy. "That was a long story."

Twilight was blushing heavily.

Sunset looked at Twilight with a grin, imagining what she was thinking. "You okay there?" Twilight stared off in the distance. Payback time. she thought. She used her magic and lightly yanked Twilight's tail.

Twilight let out a yelp and fell over. "What was that for?" she asked Sunset.

"You were kind of spacing out there. Weirded out by the fact that your mirror counterpart is dating?" asked Sunset.

"No!" said Twilight. "...Okay, yeah. A little bit." she admitted.

"What's so weird about it?" asked Fluttershy.

Twilight sighed. "I guess I'm still used to the fact that there's an alternate version of me. I feel like I'm still having an identity crisis over it."

"You'll be fine, Twilight. You always know what to do." said Fluttershy.

"Thanks." Twilight smiled.

"So, what do you do here?" Sunset asked Fluttershy.

Fluttershy's eyes lit up. "I take care of animals, of course! Animals who need help, animals who are lonely...all animals are welcome here!"

"Oh! I almost forgot." Sunset said as she took her drawing out of her saddlebags. "What do you think of this?" she floated the picture to Fluttershy.

"Oh...my..." tears almost immediately welled up in her eyes. "It's beautiful...simply beautiful! You drew this?" asked Fluttershy.

"I did." said Sunset, smiling. "I'm glad you liked it. I'll make some copies when I get home later today."

"That would be wonderful, Sunset Shimmer." Fluttershy said, wiping a tear from her face.

"So." said Sunset. "Anything you want to do?" she asked Fluttershy.

Fluttershy thought for a moment. "Not that I can think of." she said. "I already have my hooves full taking care of all these animals." Her eyes lit up. "Would you like to help me take care of them?"

"Sure!" said Sunset.

Sunset, Starlight, Spike and Twilight helped Fluttershy at her sanctuary for a while. After some time had passed, they decided to take a break.

"What time is it?" asked Sunset, not used to not having her phone on her. "Does anypony know?"

"I don't." said Twilight. "And I'm not sure how much longer we can stay here. We still have yet to visit Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres and Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner."

"Oh dear!" said Fluttershy. "Don't let me keep you from your destiny!" she said to Sunset.

Sunset laughed. "It's okay, Fluttershy. I had a lot of fun helping you out with your animal friends."

Fluttershy smiled. "I'm glad you were able to help out and have fun at the same time."

"It was nice meeting you. Who knows? Maybe I'll come visit you again." said Sunset.

"Oh, that would be wonderful. I look forward to seeing you again! Goodbye!" said Fluttershy.

As they all said their goodbyes, the four discussed where to go next.

"Okay." said Twilight. "All that's left is Sugarcube Corner and Sweet Apple Acres."

"All that work did make me hungry...but something tells me we might have more work ahead of us if we went to Sweet Apple Acres..." Sunset thought out loud. She put her hoof to her chin. "Eh. Dinner first, dessert later! Let's go to Sweet Apple Acres."

"You got it!" said Twilight, and they teleported away.