//------------------------------// // 2 - Uncertain Origins // Story: The Chronicles of Eponia // by GallaicusBrony92 //------------------------------// The girls waited in front of the pedestal of the statue where the portal to Equestria was located. Suddenly it shone in a flash and from it came Princess Twilight turned human again wearing her characteristic purple skirt and blue blouse. "Twilight!" Shouted Sunset Shimmer, hugging her friend. “Sunset! Girls! I'm glad to see you again." She said looking at all the others. “Well... hello.” Said the human Twilight to her counterpart. “Hello… me” Replied the princess with the same shyness. “Gosh, this is still weird." Before the situation became more awkward Sunset decided to break the silence. “Look Twilight, we're really happy to see you, but what is going on? You left me worried with your message, is everything alright in Equestria?" Asked Sunset to get out of doubt. Twilight looked at her and said, “Don't worry, there’s nothing serious at the moment, but I need to talk to you, preferably in a discret place". “Sounds good to me.” She accepted, “we can discuss this in my place if you want.” “Fine by me, girls, are you coming too? maybe we can catch up." Said Princess Twilight. The group went directly to Sunset’s place while they talked with Twilight and shared their mutual adventures. Twilight began to laugh loudly when they told her certain anecdotes, like the failed attempt of Zephyr Breeze to impress Rainbow Dash and Applejack surfing on the beach, while poor Fluttershy hid her face due to the shame caused by her clumsy brother. “Well, here we are.” Said Sunset as she took the keys out of her pocket and opened the door. The girls sat on the sofa in the living room while Sunset hung her leather jacket on a hanger and offered something to drink to her guests. “Well, Twilight, are you going to explain me what’s wrong with that message? I don’t think you were in such a hurry just because you missed us." said Sunset sarcastically. The truth was that curiosity was killing her. Twilight sighed and began to explain the situation. "You see, do you remember the map I've told you about on several occasions?" Sunset nodded, “it turns out that it recently started doing very strange things, and what surprised us the most was that it was projecting some kind of symbols that we had never seen before. I even asked Princess Celestia if she knew anything about this, but what she told me surprised me more than anything..." Sunset looked at her strangely and watched her pull a sheet of paper out of her backpack. Twilight showed her the contents of the paper, and the expression of the girl with flaming hair changed completely, even worrying her friends... "You recognize it, right?" Twilight remarked the obvious. “Yes, I do but...” Sunset couldn’t find the words. “The Princess told me that you had an artifact that was always with you, and that it had those inscriptions, tell me, do you still have it?” Sunset got up without saying anything, and in an almost robotic way, she went to her bed. Just from below, she pulled out a wooden box with a lock and took it to the table in the living room, where the rest of the girls were. With a small key she opened it, and she took out something that looked like a horn. It was decorated with interlacing draws and had engravings similar to the ones Twilight saw on the map. “What in tarnation is that? A drinkin' horn? " Asked Applejack. “I think so, but I really don’t know what is it for.” Said Sunset Shimmer in a frustrated tone. "Sunset, do you know what those symbols mean?" Twilight asked anxiously hoping for an answer. “I'm afraid not Twilight, sorry...” said the fiery hair girl apologizing, which was a tremendous disappointment for the princess of friendship. “I... I don’t even know what to do with it, or why I have it, I only know that it’s mine since I was a filly." In that moment, the human Twilight came out with a very logical idea. “Then, if you've always got it it’s possible that it is some family legacy,” said the group scientist, “why don’t you ask your parents about it?” A very uncomfortable silence filled the place. Nobody wanted to break it for fear of taking out completely a fact of which they had suspected for a long time... “Sunset, do ya... do ya know where yer parents are?” Asked Applejack, probably being the one who could best understand her situation. “I ... you'll see ... it turns out that I ...” Sunset stammered, as if she was afraid to say what was going through her head. “I’m adopted ... and even before that I had this horn. My adoptive parents never told me anything, and they didn’t know about its meaning ... I have no idea who my real parents are, or if this has anything to do with them ... " She said while looking at the horn holding it firmly in her hands. The girls looked at their friend with compassion. Since she was reformed, they had rarely seen Sunset Shimmer sad or miserable, but now they could clearly see the pain in her heart, only that the accumulation of emotions made it difficult to know why she was so sad. Was it because she didn’t know about her past? Because she didn’t know her real parents? Or maybe because deep down Sunset knew she was alone in the world? “I'm sorry Sunset, I made you remember something painful.” said Twilight distressed. “Don’t worry, maybe this horn could be the only clue I have of my true origins, or it could be just a pileup that I have for unknown reasons, nopony has been able to give me an answer of what it is, or why I have it.” Said the former unicorn staring at the horn. “Do you mind I take a look Sunset?” Asked Rarity, which her friend lent her the device. “It seems a refined piece, could it be a magical artifact from Equestria?” “If it is, it has its power very hidden,” said Sunset, “When I studied magic with Princess Celestia, I had the vague hope that it was an artifact of great power, and if I could make myself more powerful, I could unravel its secrets." “It looks like something you would use at a medieval party.” Mentioned Pinkie Pie. “Or maybe something archaeological.” Said the human Twilight. “Or maybe it's just a horn with four engraved scribbles.” Said Rainbow Dash without giving it too much importance, which earned her a reproachful look from her friends. “What?” "I don’t think so Rainbow," said Twilight, "the fact that the map showed us something similar is already a message, and this horn is the proof that there must be some connection." Twilight remained pensive for a moment. “Maybe the problem is that we are simply not asking the right pony, I think we have to change the course in the research”. Twilight rose from the sofa at the watchful eyes of the others ... "Are you leaving now?" asked Fluttershy. “Yes, it's not that I'm in a hurry, but I think it's better to continue with this at home since we're back in a dead end.” Explained the princess. “Wait Twilight.” Said Sunset Shimmer rising like a spring and approaching to the princess. “Take me with you." Everyone was surprised at the proposition of the fiery hair girl. “Look, I don’t know what I can do but let me help you with this, please.” Asked Sunset. “Well, Sunset, I don’t want to say no, but are you sure?” Asked the princess. “It may take time." “Twilight seriously, I never ask you anything, just let me help you.” Said Sunset with decision in her eyes. “Besides, I still owe you one for your help with the Memory Stone, consider it my way of paying off the debt." Twilight could notice that there was something else in Sunset's request that she did not say, but the princess didn’t want to insist more, and simply agreed to the proposal of her friend. “Very good, then we can go back whenever you want.” Agreed the princess of friendship earning a big smile from Sunset. “But just for the record, you don’t owe me anything for that, you're my friend and it was the least I could do for you." Sunset smiled at her pony friend with bright shine in her eyes. “Wait a minute!” Pinkie Pie shouted suddenly putting herself between Twilight and Sunset. “Are you really thinking about to leave without more? Without celebrating a farewell party?” A big smile was drawn on Pinkie’s face. They know exactly what was coming. “Pinkie Pie is right,” said Rainbow Dash. “We should celebrate something together, who knows when we all will meet again?” “Rainbow they don’t go to war!” said Applejack laughing. “But it's true, y’all know that we must enjoy this time together.” Sunset Shimmer and Princess Twilight looked at each other and laughed, making it clear that it would be impossible to argue with Pinkie Pie if she had the others supporting her. “Ok, you win, slumber party in my house!” Said Sunset while all the girls cheered. The night arrived, and the girls enjoyed at Sunset's place eating pizza, playing video games, telling gossips and even taking some bottles of the "special cider" that Applejack managed to get on the farm without Big Mac or Granny Smith noticing; This was especially pleasing for Rainbow Dash who drank three bottles almost at once. “Rainbow you’ve got to calm down, ah don’t want to take yer drunken ass to the bed.” Said the farmer girl. “oh, chillax AJ, it’s just cider.” Said the athlete not giving a damn. When it was time to sleep, all fell exhausted, all but Sunset, who took the mysterious horn and watched it under the moonlight without any of her friends realized, or so she thought ... "Sunset?" The aforementioned startled, and turned to observe the two Twilights who looked at her with concern. “Hi there girls, don’t you sleep?” “We could ask you the same,” said the human Twilight, “What's going through your mind?” Sunset sighed as both Twilights sat on either side of her. “You know, I always wondered what this horn has to do with me, why do I have it? Maybe this is the opportunity I need to solve the mystery.” Sunset seemed determined in everything she said. "That's why you want to come back to Equestria, right?" Said the princess, at which Sunset nodded. "Sunset, it won’t be me who prevents you from accomplishing that goal, but I would like to know more." “Yes, me too, unless it's too painful for you to tell us.” Said the human Twilight. “Don't worry about that ... look, most of my past is a blank page, I was adopted by a couple of wealthy unicorns from Canterlot, but ... the truth is that they never treated me like a daughter. They were my protectors, my caretakers ... but I never considered them my parents. When I entered the magic school of Princess Celestia, I had the vague hope that if it made me more powerful maybe they would change their attitude towards me ... but I just let myself be carried away by my ambition and greed. I thought owed me something... But you know what? After all this time I realized something, all that I did wasn't only for greed or ambition, it was mostly because of a feeling of loneliness that I could never fill." A rebellious tear fell down Sunset Shimmer’s cheek. “Sunset, now you're not alone” said Princess Twilight touching her shoulder. “You have friends who love you and are there for you, and you’ve got me too for whatever you need; heck! You also managed to reconcile with Princess Celestia, now you know that you are welcome in Equestria whenever you want.” Sunset smiled gratefully at Princess Twilight's words. “Thanks Twilight, both of you ... but still, this is something I have to find out, for the first time in years I’ve got the feeling that this device will give me an answer, maybe this is the moment I've been waiting for so many years." “We understand it Sunset, and here we will support you in your decision.” Said the human Twilight. “Well, I think I’ll go back to sleep,” she said going towards her sleeping bag. “You should rest too." Sunset nodded and like the two Twilights, she fell asleep ready to face the coming day. The next day all the Rainbooms went to the portal of the statue to say goodbye to their equine friends on their return to Equestria. “Do you have enough clothes darling?” Asked Rarity. “Rarity, we don’t usually wear any clothes in Equestria.” Laughed Sunset at the comment of her dressmaker friend. “Take care sugarcube, Ah really hope y’all find what yer looking for.” Said the group's country girl. “Thanks Applejack, I hope so too." “Be very careful wherever you go.” Said Fluttershy worried. “We’ll be Fluttershy, don’t worry." “Good luck Sunset, I'm pretty sure you'll find what you're looking for, and come back with tons of good adventure stories.” Said Rainbow Dash affectionately beating on Sunset's shoulder. “It’s a shame we can’t go with you." “Yeah, you can say that again Rainbow." Answered Sunset laughing. “Don’t forget tell my other self to celebrate a super-duper cool party when you solve the mystery.” Added Pinkie Pie excited and hugging Sunset. “I don’t think you need to say that twice.” Laughed Twilight at such occurrence. “Sunset, take care of yourself, I really hope you can find the answers you need.” the human Twilight approached to her friend and gave her an affectionate hug. “Good luck friend, come back soon." “Thanks Twi, if everything goes well, We'll be back soon." Said Sunset breaking the hug. “Well girls, I wish we could have been longer together but duty calls” said Princess Twilight about to enter the portal “I promise that when we return, we will be more time together”. Twilight looked at Sunset with a determined face: “Ready?” “As always” said the girl with flaming hair with the same decision in her eyes. Both crossed the portal, it shone, and the girls vanished after it.