By the time Celestia and Luna arrived in Ponyville, night had come. Luna and Celestia landed on the floor. Luna couldn’t help but notice the ponies awake at night. It made her very happy, both because the ponies enjoyed the night and were nocturnal. Luna has always thought that Bat Ponies were the only night ponies, but it seems that in this timeline everypony sleeps during the day and stays up at night. While Luna was happy, Celestia was confused. Celestia didn’t understand why the ponies in this timeline preferred to stay up at night. The day is for the ponies to play and the night for sleep.
“Sister, I’m seeing the Golden Oka’s Tree Library!” Luna pointed to the library with a hoof.
Celestia smiled. Did Twilight Sparkle on this timeline still live in the library? She hoped so. They approached the library. Luna and Celestia looked at each other. “Should I knock, Sister?”
“If you want, Luna,” said Celestia.
Luna knocked on the door with a hoof. Footsteps were heard. Celestia expected to see Twilight Sparkle, but it wasn’t Twilight Sparkle that answered.
“Princesses! Do you two need something? Would you like to come in?” asked Sunset Shimmer.
“We don’t need anything, Sunset Shimmer. We came here to spend the days with you,” Luna replied.
Sunset Shimmer smiled. “Really? Then can come in. Garble is making breakfast. Feel free to explore the library. In the meantime, I make your beds.”
Luna smiled. “Of course, Sunset.”
Sunset Shimmer stepped inside and climbed the stairs. Luna stepped inside and looked back. Celestia hadn’t moved a hoove, her expression seemed to be one of sadness. Luna, worried, went to Celestia. “Sister? What happened? Why this face?”
“I was expecting to see Twilight Sparkle at the Golden Oka’s Tree Library. I wonder where she must be… ” replied Celestia sadly.
“Sister, don’t be sad. Sunset may not be one of your students who stayed true to you until the end, but at least she was the first pony that was your student,” Luna said with a smile.
Celestia managed to smile. “You’re right, Luna. It’s just that Twilight Sparkle always saw me as a mother and I always saw her as my daughter, that seeing Sunset Shimmer in place of Twilight made me a little sad.”
“Are you wanting us to return to our original timeline?”
Celestia was surprised. “What? No, Luna.”
Sunset Shimmer descended the stairs. “Princesses, I’ve already arranged your two beds.”
Celestia and Luna looked at Sunset Shimmer with a smile. “Thank you, Sunset.”
“Come on, princesses, come in.” Sunset Shimmer smiled before going to a chair.
Celestia and Luna went to where Sunset Shimmer was. Luna sat next to Sunset Shimmer. Sunset Shimmer looked at Luna. “Princess, how are things in Canterlot?”
Luna was surprised. No ponies ever called her “Princess,” ponies always called Celestia “Princess,” it was as if this Sunset Shimmer was loyal to her. “It’s going well, Sunset Shimmer. And to you? How are things in Ponyville for you?”
“They’re doing good too, princess. Garble is trying hard to win Sunny Flare’s heart this week,” Sunset replied. “Although Sunny Flare doesn’t seem to notice, I always encourage him to keep trying.”
Luna was confused. “Who is Sunny Flare?”
“It’s a Ponyville fashion designer unicorn, princess,” Sunset answered, now confused by Luna’s question. “Princess, I don’t mean to offend you, but why did you ask me that?”
Luna was sweating. “Well, I had forgotten who she was.”
Sunset Shimmer smiled. “Oh. Ok princess, no problem.”
Celestia was nothing but surprised to see Sunset Shimmer and Luna get along. It was like this Sunset Shimmer preferred Luna over her.
“Sunset! Lunch’s ready!” Garble came out of the kitchen with a plate of pancakes, but stopped when he saw Celestia and Luna. Garble fought to not drop the plate. “Princesses? What are you doing here? Do you intend to spend a few days here?”
“Yes, dragon.”
“Garble.”
“Yes, Garble.”
As much as Sunset Shimmer wanted to ask why Luna had called Garble dragon since the princess had known Garble’s name since she chose the name, she decided not to. Because she tried to imagine that Luna had forgotten to be too busy with royal duties.
“Should I prepare two more pancakes for the princesses, Sunset?” asked Garble.
“Sure, Garble.” Smiled Sunset Shimmer.
Garble set the plate of pancakes on the table before returning to the kitchen. Luna was curious. “Sunset, is Garble your slave?”
Sunset Shimmer looked at Luna in surprise. “What? No princess, he’s just my assistant.”
Luna smiled. “It’s all right, Sunset Shimmer. I’m not saying that angrily.”
Sunset Shimmer smiled. “How nice. For a moment I thought you were mad at me.”
Celestia was quiet all the time. She couldn’t believe Sunset Shimmer was preferring to talk to Luna more than her. Why? Sunset Shimmer was her student.
Garble came out of the kitchen with two plates of pancakes and set them on the table. Garble sat next to Celestia. While Sunset Shimmer ate, she stroked Luna with her head. Luna couldn’t deny that she loved feeling it. No one has ever shown feelings of loyalty or love to her. While Celestia looked sad, she wanted Twilight to have here instead of Sunset Shimmer.
After they had finished eating, Sunset Shimmer invited Luna to read a book with her and Luna gladly accepted. Celestia watched Sunset Shimmer pick a book off the shelf before sitting on the floor, Luna did the same and began reading with a smile. It was like Sunset Shimmer was her student. Celestia felt she should be in Luna’s shoes. She wanted Sunset Shimmer to spend more time with her than with Luna. But why did she feel that? Was she jealous? Celestia decided to go to the balcony. She saw the full moon in the sky and let out a breath. At first, she thought this alternative timeline would be good, but it looks like she was wrong. In this timeline, it seemed that everypony had their eyes on Luna and that everypony would prefer night than day. Was it wrong for her to feel that?
After Luna and Sunset Shimmer had finished reading, they decided to leave Golden Oka’s Tree Library for a walk. Celestia watched Luna leave with Sunset Shimmer. She wanted to cry because this Sunset Shimmer preferred Luna more than she did.
Where are you, Twilight Sparkle of the alternate timeline?
Luna and Sunset Shimmer were strolling in Ponyville. They had smiles on their faces. Luna was nothing more than happy.
This can only be a dream. There is a pony who is loyal to me and seems to like me. I wonder if Celestia could let me to live here.
The two mares arrived at the park and decided to sit under a tree. They watched the moon.
“Princess, I love your night,” smiled Sunset Shimmer. “I always wake up early to enjoy the night.”
“I’m happy about that, Sunset Shimmer,” said Luna.
The sun was rising over the horizon and Celestia was still on the balcony. She felt like crying. Until she heard a voice coming from behind her. “Princess Celestia, is everything all right?”
Celestia looked back and saw Garble worried. “No.”
“What’s up, princess?” asked Garble.
“I feel that Sunset Shimmer prefers Luna more than me,” replied Celestia.
“Princess, I’m so sorry you’re feeling this. Is there anything I can do to cheer you up?” asked Garble.
“No, Garble,” replied Celestia.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of the door opening and closing. Celestia and Garble went downstairs and saw Sunset Shimmer and Luna with smiles. Sunset Shimmer felt that she had somepony else besides Luna and looked up the stairs to see Garble and Celestia. “Ah. Garble, could you go to make the dinner, please?”
Garble smiled. “Yes, Sunset.”
Sunset Shimmer and Luna went to the table to continue talking. Celestia knew this Sunset Shimmer was loyal to Luna, but she wanted the yellow unicorn to talk to her too.
“Did you have fun today, Princess?” asked Sunset Shimmer.
“Yes, Sunset,” replied Luna, smiling. “What have you been doing before Celestia and I came here?”
“Days ago, I spent time with my friends,” replied Sunset Shimmer. “But today, I stayed at the Golden Oka’s Tree Library.”
“What did you do at Golden Oka’s Tree Library, Sunset Shimmer?” asked Luna.
“I kept reading a bit in my free time,” Sunset replied. “Although reading isn’t my hobby, it’s the only thing I can do being here.”
Garble came out of the kitchen with a pan of pasta. Celestia decided to sit down too. Luna stared at the pan pan, before putting some pasta on the plate and getting started to eat. Celestia did the same. Sunset Shimmer looked at her plate before starting to eat. Luna smiled as she watched Sunset Shimmer eat.