//------------------------------//
// There and back again. 
// Story: Home or hearth? 
// by keroko 
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The portal at the base of Canterlot High's statue shimmered, and Sunset jumped out. She was prepared for the disorientation this time, and only stumbled a little bit. Quickly glancing around the school's front yard, she sighed in relief when she saw nobody in the area. 

One worry less, at least. 

Not wanting to push her luck, Sunset quickly set off in the direction of her apartment. It was a chilly winter evening, and getting close to dinnertime, so few people were on the street. That suited Sunset just fine, she was in a good mood and didn't want to ruin it by running into anyone with a problem with her. 

Sunset's apartment was not that far from school, just little over half an hour walk. That always made it easy to dodge public transportation fees. Her path took her past the shopping street. She quickened her pace as she passed the café where she usually got her breakfast. She didn't see anyone she knew inside at a  glance, but it was a rather popular café. For a good reason, she remembered. Their coffee was one of the few actual coffees in town, which always helped her get through those early morning slogs, and the owner was always kind enough to keep a fresh bagel behind the counter for her. 

She would have to let him know she wouldn't be visiting for a bit. 

She pushed on, marching past store windows as fast as she could without running, until she reached the front door of a tall one room apartment building. Sunset fumbled in one of the pockets of her jacket, pulling out a door key and opening the door. A small hallway greeted her, with only one door to her right. Opening that door as well, Sunset took a deep breath.

It was a familiar scent. The kind of scent you get so used to you don't realize it's there until you leave and come back after being gone for a bit. 

The smell of home.

The couch, TV and console combo she had spend so long saving up for greeted her first, being straight ahead into her room as they were, and as she glanced to her left she saw the fridge and microwave, her only cooking appliances, behind which she knew was her desk with her PC. On the far left were the stairs that would lead up to her loft where she kept her books next to her bed. 

An unexpected wave of nostalgia hit Sunset as she remembered the times spend in this apartment. The joy at making a barely legal deal to stay here with her landlady, the years she had spent in this room learning everything she could about humans and scheming in frustration to become the social queen of the school, all the while keeping her eventual goal of claiming her 'rightful due' and becoming a true Princess and show Princess Celestia just how wrong she had been. 

Then she remembered the days following her defeat at Twilight's hands. The days where even getting out of bed seemed like a mountainous task, her mind racked both with the stinging sense of failure at accomplishing any of her objectives and a sudden mountain of guilt over her actions she had previously barely experienced. 

But slowly those days had gotten better. The girls had kept their promise to Twilight and had dragged Sunset along with them on their events, keeping her mind from her guilt. Most of the time anyway. She still remembered the first time the girls had invited themselves to walk home with Sunset, which turned into the first time she invited friends in her home. Rainbow Dash had claimed the couch and a controller before she could blink, and challenged Sunset to one of her games. It was the first time she'd ever done split-screen multiplayer. It had been a riot.

So many firsts, even just in these four walls. Some of them were terrible. A lot of them, really, as most were just stepping stones to her ambition.

But not all of them. 

There were... good memories here. She could almost see the girls. Rarity snooping through her wardrobe, Applejack complaining about Sunset's lack of kitchen appliances, Pinkie Pie dangling from the edge of her loft, Rainbow Dash on her couch trying to beat one of her games and Fluttershy on the ground in front of her, content to just watch. 

Sunset blinked, and her friends were gone. She sighed. They were good memories, which made their abandonment hurt all the more. 

Maybe she could invite Twilight over someday and show her what this world's video games had to offer. She chuckled to herself as she tried to imagine Twilight on her couch, her tongue sticking out, eyes scrunched in concentration, flicking between the screen and the controller in her hand as she tried to figure out how to match what she had to do with her hands to what she wanted the character on the screen to do.  And yet... Almost unbidden, Rainbow Dash appeared next to the couch, shouting instructions that were as useless as they were enthusiastic. Fluttershy was still on the floor, calmly watching the screen with Spike in her lap. Rarity and Applejack hung off the back of the couch while Pinkie was dancing around with pom poms in the background. 

And then she saw herself on the couch next to Twilight, controller in hands and a steely look of determination in her eyes as she guided her character across the screen, but all with a smile on her lips as she was having fun. Not just with playing the game, but playing the game surrounded by her friends.

With a grunt, Sunset shook her head, dispelling the images. This wasn't what she came here for, she was here to get what she needed so she could be away from thinking about this. Grumbling to herself, Sunset marched up to her desk and grabbed all her schoolbooks and notes, stuffing them in her backpack until it was fit to bursting. Slinging the bag over her shoulder, she marched out the door. She paused, just for a moment, to take one more glance at the couch, but it remained empty. With a sigh she stepped back outside, closing the door behind her. 





Back in Ponyville, a glassed Luna was nosing her way through the book she had been loaned. Literally nosing, given the lack of hands and fingers. 

"Are you sure it's all right for me to stick my nose in a book like this?" she asked, and Twilight looked back from the shelves she was stacking books with her magic with a giggle.

"Of course! Not every pony is a unicorn. In fact earth ponies like yourself make up the majority of Equestria's population. It would be odd if nopony except unicorns were allowed to read books." 

"But won't this damage the books?"

Twilight shook her head, another giggle escaping her lips. "Of course not. Trust me, I nosed my way through a lot of books, starting as as a filly when I didn't have enough magic, but even nowadays I still do it. There's just something relaxing about finding a nice place to lie down, relax, and nose through a book."

"All right," Luna nodded in acceptance. If a bibliophile like Twilight was confident enough that it wouldn't harm any books, Luna saw no reason to doubt her. If there was one new thing Luna had learned about Twilight, it's that the Princess loved her books. Books everywhere were neatly organized, even the seemingly scattered books being used for research had a system to them, or so she'd found out when Twilight had started rearranging the pile of books she had knocked over in her speedy arrival here.

She carefully nosed another page over, skimming the text. Her eyes fell on a particular line, and she frowned lightly. "Say, Twilight?" she asked. That was another thing she noticed: It became easier and easier to think of Princess Twilight as 'just' Twilight. Perhaps it was something in her nature as Princess of Friendship, or perhaps just because the girl -no, mare- wasn't used to her status yet, but Twilight was so approachable and friendly that, baring a few slips, it quickly became easier to slip out of a high decorum around her. 

The Princess's repeated requests to leave them out also helped. 

She felt hear ears twitch as the clip-clop of Twilight's hooves against the crystal floor approached. "Yes?" the lavender pony asked.

"This 'Hearth's Warming' holiday, the text seems to suggest that it's an actual historical event. Is it religious in nature?" 

Twilight tilted her head. "No? It's just actual history. It celebrates the founding of our nation, and finding friendship in the midst of ages old hatreds." 

"Are you sure? This sounds like the kind of history that got embellished over time." 

"Pretty sure," Twilight responded with half lidded eyes and a grin. "After all, your counterpart here in Equestria lived through it." 

Luna smiled sheepishly, her ears unwittingly lowering. "Ah yes, the thousand year old Princess. Sorry, I'm still having a bit of trouble separating fact from fiction. In my world, anything as fanciful as fighting off evil frost demons with powerful magic would be labelled as the stuff of fantasy." 

Twilight put a hoof to her mouth to hide a chuckle. "Don't worry about it. I can't even imagine how confusing it is to see a world of magic after living in a world without it your whole life. Hay, I've visited your world and I still gawk at every new thing the girls show me. Like those 'smartfones' that everyone carries. I could barely understand what I was doing when Rarity showed me hers."

Luna let out a chuckle herself as she remembered seeing Twilight fumble with a smartphone, before turning back to the book. There were a lot of similarities between Hearth's Warming and Christmas that she could see. A decorated pine tree, gifts for friends and family, and a theme of getting together. Though the underlying history was where it started to diverge.

"So Hearth's Warming is a way to celebrate the forming of your nation?" 

"Hmm hmm" Twilight hummed with a nod. "But more importantly, it celebrates the day we began putting our difference behind us and work together to create a better life for everypony. And some ponies say that celebrating Hearth's Warming is all that keeps the windigos away." 

Luna felt her ears flick up in alarm. "Is that true?" 

Twilight shrugged. "Nopony knows. There are several stories about the windigos returning if Hearth's Warming stops, the most famous being 'A Hearth's Warming Tale', where a pony named Snowfall Frost uses magic to make Hearth's Warming disappear, but nopony has seen much of a reason to actually try it outside of stories."

"No Hearth's Warming means no presents, after all," Spike remarked dryly as he walked into the library with a tray of cookies. "Aaaand the whole 'turning the world in a frozen wasteland of strife' part. But mostly the presents." 

Twilight gave the little dragon an admonishing glare that lost all its power because of the smile on her face. Spike responded with a toothy grin as he deposited the plate of cookies on the table. 

Luna smiled at the exchange, but even as she picked up a cookie with her teeth her mind was pondering on what else the story of Hearth's Warming was telling her. The threat of an eternal winter would explain why Equestria had such a peaceful history. And it also implied a lot of things in regards to Twilight's 'punishment' of Sunset stealing her crown and planning to invade her kingdom, as well as Sunset's expectations on how she would be treated afterwards. 

But best not to rush to conclusions. Luna was more strongly than ever convinced that this was part of how they got into this situation in the first place. She needed time to properly get her facts together. And perhaps a good talk with everyone involved soon. 

Swallowing the last of her cookie, Luna turned back to Twilight. "So Hearth's Warming, is it coming up soon?"

"We're almost there, actually, why?" Twilight answered.

"I was thinking, the holidays are starting back home soon, but maybe we should try and get everyone together and talk this over. You, Sunset, and her friends."

"Uhh, is... that really a good idea? Sunset's still kinda upset right now." Spike hesitantly said. 

Twilight drew in a deep breath. "I agree. Just this morning Sunset ran into this world's Rarity and her first reaction was to teleport all the way from the spa back to the castle. I hate to say it, but Sunset needs more time to calm down." 

Luna nodded. "I understand, and I did not mean right this moment. But perhaps after the holidays are over?"

"I'll ask her, but I'm leaving the final decision up to Sunset. Don't get me wrong!" Twilight said, raising her hoof as Luna opened her mouth to protest. "I want nothing more than to settle this fight between Sunset and her friends. Believe me, as Princess of Friendship -and more importantly, as Sunset's friend- seeing her and her friends fight hurts me, but I know from experience that you can't force a conversation like that. Not with tensions so high, and something like Anon-a-Miss still looming over all of them." 

Twilight's ears drooped and she turned her head away slightly. "I tried that once, and it went... badly. We fixed it, eventually, but if I can avoid that happening to Sunset, I will." 

"What do you suggest, Twilight?" Luna asked.

"We keep going as we have been for now. Sunset will stay here for a while, back in the home of her birth. I noticed that it's doing Sunset a world of good in a lot of ways, even many that don't have anything to do with her problems in your world. Meanwhile you guys try to find out who this Anon-a-Miss is and why she is doing all this. We'll stay in touch using the journal. I assume you and Principal Celestia have it now?" 

Luna nodded. "Yes, we took it out of her locker to keep it safe from any potential vandals. We don't think anyone would destroy the journal, but better safe than sorry." 

Twilight nodded. "Good, keep it safe. It's the anchor that is keeping the portal stable. If either is destroyed, the portal will go back to using the lunar cycles as their anchor, and it will be a long time before we will see each other again." 

"... Did you know about the journal when your first returned home?" Luna asked. 

Twilight shook her head and chuckled. "No, the idea to use the books came from Pinkie Pie, of all ponies. I'd thought the portal was completely closed until she pointed out that if the book could send messages, it obviously wasn't entirely closed. After that, it was just a simple matter of getting the proper equipment, constructing an artificial dolmen gate, then stabilize the portal matrix using the books on both sides to anchor the planar coordinates." 

"Yeeeess. Simple." Luna glanced at Spike, who simply gave her a 'don't look at me' shrug. She shook her head, feeling her light blue mane bounce around, as she returned to the question she wanted to ask.

"But in that case, and I apologize if I come of as being rude here, if you knew the portal would be closed for a long period of time... why did you leave Sunset with us?" 

Twilight set down the cup of tea she had been levitating in her magic, and looked at Luna with some concern in her eyes. 

"Because I believed, and still believe, that Canterlot High is an important place for Sunset to learn about friendship. An important part of friendship means apologizing for what you did wrong, and making it up to those you wronged. If I had dragged Sunset to Equestria, all she would have had when she got here was the guilt of what she did wrong without the lessons of what to do right. I know I wasn't there to guide her, but... I had hoped that the girls would have been the ones to guide her. I was so happy when I had to come over for the Battle of the Bands, because even if she was struggling, I saw Sunset make new friends there. She was learning. Smiling." Twilight slumped, her wings drooping at her sides. 

"I just don't know where it all went wrong." 

Luna nibbled on another cookie as she let Twilight's words run around in her head. Her suspicion as to where things had gone wrong was growing. "I think that when next we meet, we should talk about that. About where it went wrong. I think it will help us to prevent it from happening again, now and in the future." 

Twilight nodded, a small smile on her muzzle. "I'd like that." 

Luna sighed and shook her head. "Would that we could have prevented this from happening in the first place." 

"Hey, you're here now, that matters a lot," Spike piped up, earning him a warm smile from Twilight.

"Spike is right. You're here for Sunset now. And since we can't do much about Anon-a-Miss from here, I will leave that in your capable hands." 

"And we will leave Sunset in your capable hooves." Luna answered in return.

"See? We got this," Twilight smiled, and Luna couldn't help but smile in return. There was something encouraging about that smile. Like the Princess was telling her that they could do anything they set their minds to, as long as they did it together. 

She took a deep breath, and let it out. "Well, I had best get to work then, shouldn't I?" 

Luna hopped down from the low seat, Twilight and Spike quickly following suit. Twilight floated the glasses and book into Luna's saddlebag, and floated them over to her back. Luna marvelled at how odd, yet right it felt to have a double backpack on her sides instead of on her back.

"This is going to feel strange when I go back, isn't it?" she asked as she walked back to the mirror.

Spike and Twilight chuckled as they followed her. "A bit, but don't worry, you'll get the hang of it," Twilight said. "Just try not to run this time", she added with a wink. 

Cheeky Princess.

Luna smiled as the group reached the mirror. "Well then, I'm off. We'll be in contact, but happy holidays in advance." 

"You too, Luna. It was good seeing you again. Give my regards to Principal Celestia." 

Luna nodded, before turning to the mirror and slowly pushing herself through. That proved to be enough, as the moment the majority of her body had passed through the mirror she felt the rest being pulled through as well. Once again she felt herself pulled through a world of rainbow light, barely registering as her body shifted shape before reaching a bright light on the other end. 

The portal didn't spit her out this time, it felt more like a push. As she blinked away the last of the lights, she noticed that she was on her hands and knees behind the Canterlot High statue, the saddlebags on her side having returned to her usual bag.

"Vice-Principal Luna?" a familiar voice spoke up, and Luna looked up to see Sunset Shimmer, human again.

"Here, let me help you," the unicorn-turned-human said as she reached out with a hand. Luna gratefully took it and let Sunset help her back to her feet. She wobbled a bit, but she found her balance again faster than she had on the other side.

"Yeah, returning is easier than the first crossover you make. At least as long as you don't stay on one side too long," Sunset said, a bit of sheepishness creeping into her voice as she grinned. 

Luna took a moment to study the girl. With her leather jacket, high heeled boots and a backpack bulging with schoolbooks and homework, Sunset looked every bit the teenage high-schooler. Luna found it hard to imagine that this young looking girl was around her age. 

"Vice-Principal Luna?"

Luna shook her head. "Sorry, Sunset Shimmer. Just need a moment to adjust back to being bigger again." 

Sunset snorted. "Don't worry, the you back there is also bigger than me." The girl's eyes fell on her own bag. "...Are those the translation glasses we enchanted?" 

Luna reached back and took them out, pleasantly surprised that they seemed just the right size for a human head. "Yes, they are. Twilight lent them to me along with a book on Equestrian culture. I hope that's not a problem?" 

Sunset shook her head with a smile. "No big deal, it'll just give me a chance to practice some more. I'm terribly out of shape magically." 

"And what about you? Did you find what you needed?" Luna asked. 

Sunset's smile fell, just for a moment, before it was back and the girl slung the backpack of her back. "Everything I could find. I might need to jump through before it bursts, though." 

"I recommend against jumping," Luna responded dryly, but with a smirk tugging at her lips. She and Sunset exchanged a glance and chuckled. 

"Sunset Shimmer," Luna spoke up, and placed a hand on Sunset's shoulder. "I know you have been through a lot this past year. But every since the Fall Formal, the entire faculty has been keeping a close eye on you, and we are all proud of the girl you are shaping up to be. You still have some rough spots, but that you are working on them just makes us even more proud. You should know that we all consider it nonsense to expel someone who is trying so hard to make up for her mistakes, regardless of what, or who, the hallways accuse you of being." 

Sunset's mouth opened and closed as if she was looking for a response, and Luna lowered herself to Sunset's eye level. 

"Leave Anon-a-Miss to us. Go home to study and rest in peace. And when you get back, we'll be here to help you pick back up where you left off." 

Sunset's mouth opened and closed a few more times before the girl drew in a deep breath. Luna could see a bit of moisture in the corners of those aqua eyes as Sunset smiled. 

"Thank you... and I'll be back." 

Luna smiled back and stepped aside, letting Sunset walk to the portal. Sunset took one look at her, the smile still on her lips, as she walked through the portal back to her homeland.

The Vice-Principal let out a soft sigh of satisfaction, before gripping her bag and marching towards the school and her sister. Seeing Sunset smile again had felt like a victory, but she had a lot of work to do still before this job was done. Beginning with a long talk with her sister, and then some lengthy reading.