//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 - Sunset Shimmer is responsible for 95% of the rumors about Celestia // Story: Frozen Hearth // by Enza Ren //------------------------------// As the citizens of the Crystal Empire began their day, the Northwest Express pulled into the station. When the train came to a stop, the engineer ponies hopped out and began prepping it for the next leg of the journey. At the same time, a number of passengers stepped out into the brisk morning air, one of whom, was Sunset Shimmer. After breakfast, she had decided to take a walk during the train’s refuel. Twilight, meanwhile, had elected to stay behind and read. Unsure of how she should, or even could, spend her half-hour, Sunset headed to the visitor information kiosk, located just outside the station. Manning the stand, was a slim earth pony. He had a turquoise coat with matching eyes; a short, two-toned, Prussian-blue mane; and his cutie mark was a blue amphora. When he saw Sunset approaching the kiosk, he called out to her. “Welcome to the Crystal Empire! My name is Crystal Hoof! How can I help you? Would you like a map, directions, or recommendations?” he asked in a friendly and very eager-to-please voice. “How about recommendations,” Sunset answered. “I have thirty minutes to kill while the train is refueling. Is there anything interesting to see close by?” “Yes, there certainly is! If you’re looking to shop, all the buildings you see surrounding the station, are stores that sell a variety of Crystal Empire souvenirs. I’m partial to that one over there,” he said, gesturing to a small store across the street. “It’s called The Sweet Tooth, and it sells the most wonderful crystal candies you will ever taste. “Now, if sight-seeing is more what you’re in the mood for, the Hero’s Square is only a short walk from here. You’ll know it by the statue of the Crystal Empire’s greatest hero, Spike: The Brave and Glorious. There are a number of excellent cafes and bakeries there, making it a perfect place to start the day! It’s also a gathering place for public performances, such as juggling, dramatic storytelling, singing, music, statue ponies, sketch artists, fortune telling, crystal readings, and magic acts!” “Alright, the square sounds pretty interesting,” Sunset decided. With a nod, Crystal Hoof gave her more detailed directions, and she happily trotted off. Despite the early hour, the Hero’s Square turned out to be even livelier than described! There were dozens of ponies milling about the area surrounding Spike’s huge statue. To Sunset, it looked like a fair. There were booths with games and prizes; a number of performances that were being put on; and there was even a pony dressed as an Ursa Minor, handing out balloons. While the square was certainly a feast for the eyes and ears, something else soon grabbed Sunset’s attention, the aroma. The cafes and bakeries that encircled the square, all had their windows and doors thrown open, allowing the smell of coffee, pancakes, and cinnamon rolls to fill the air. The cloud of smells was so concentrated and warm, it felt as though Sunset had just woke up to breakfast in bed. Just as she began to drift toward the sweet-smelling goodness, an annoying voice in her head started to nag her about how she had already eaten breakfast that morning. With all the restraint of an avalanche, Sunset calmly took the voice, threw it down a flight of stairs, and headed off to get a second breakfast. A few minutes later, she left one of the bakeries with a large cinnamon roll in hoof. Pausing for a moment, Sunset glanced around the square, trying to decide what to watch while eating. Near one of the cafes, a pegasus ice sculptor was working to recreate a smaller version of Spike’s statue. Over in a grassy sitting area, a team of earth ponies were engaged in increasingly incredible acrobatic feats. But it was the two unicorn stallions on a makeshift stage, who won Sunset’s attention. One had a bright purple coat, a rich brown beard, and a dark green vest. The other had a bright yellow coat, a stylish black mustache, and a scarlet vest. The pair wielded rapiers in their magic and had drawn a large crowd by sparring while throwing witty banter back and forth. Sunset made her way to a bench near the stage and settled in to watch the rest of the performance. “Remember fillies and gentlecolts,” the unicorn with the mustache shouted, his voice carrying the dramatic flair of an announcer. “Do not try this at home! We are professionals!” “That’s right,” the one with the beard added, with a solemn nod. “What you see before you, is the result of decades of poor parental supervision.” After a brief pause to allow the crowd to giggle, the mustache pony continued. “Now! Fillies and gentlecolts, please be amazed…” “…and please cheer…” “…as you watch two…” “…middle-aged ponies…” they both emphasized. “…fight, for your entertainment!” The audience sat silently on the edge of their seats as the swordsponies faced each other, readied their swords, and lunged forward… very slowly. The swords moved through the air in slow, dramatic arcs as their owners pantomimed what might’ ve been an impressive match, at regular speed. As if the slow-motion wasn’t silly enough on its own, the swordsponies were also punctuating each strike with their own sound effects. “CLANG!” “KSSSH!” “BOOM!” “WHOOSH!” After a minute or two of this ‘fighting’, the beard pony gave a deep, slow laugh. “Haa-Haa! I…. have…you…now.” He parried a thrust and countered with a wide horizontal slash that the mustache pony dodged by ‘jumping over’, with a single, exaggerated step. “Haa-Haa-Haaa! All…too…easy.” The mustache pony taunted as he lazily brought his sword to the tip of his partner’s nose. They backed up, faced the audience, and bowed. With his previous bombastic flair, the mustache pony cried out, “Well fillies and gentlecolts, what did you think of that!?” Despite his self-assured tone, the response was a wave of disappointed mumbling and some scattered, half-hearted, clapping. The mustache pony’s brow furrowed, and his smile drooped. “I don’t understand. Did you not like it? Me and Rapier Wit worked hard on that routine.” Rapier Wit stroked his beard, then turned toward his partner. “En Garde, my ol- middle-aged friend, I think they are unaware of how swordsponyship works.” En Garde nodded with a silent, ‘ah’. “You see fillies and gentlecolts,” Rapier Wit continued, turning back to the audience, “there are three elements that empower swordsponies, such as ourselves.” “First, A majestic vest!” En Garde declared. “Second, A dramatic voice!” Rapier Wit added. “And Finally…” “…and most importantly…” “…a narcissistic …” “…delusional…” “…and obnoxious amount…” “…OF CONFIDENCE!” They finished in unison. “To put it quite simply,” Rapier Wit explained, “the louder you cheer, the faster we fight!” A murmur of understanding passed through the crowd. “So, with this new information in mind… would any of you like to see that fight, again?” En Garde asked. The crowd replied with an uproar of cheers and excited stomping. The swordsponies turned toward each other and rushed forward, once more. This time, the sound of rapid sword strikes rang clearly throughout the square as the rapiers danced with astonishingly practiced speed and accuracy. The blades flashed so quickly, that it was hard for the audience to follow their movements, despite having just seen the entire fight in slow motion. No longer having to make their own sound effects, the swordsponies were free to engage in a bit of verbal sparring during the fight. “I shall finally chase that ridiculous caterpillar out from beneath your nose!” Rapier laughed. “Ha! At least I did not grow my mustache to hide my lack of a jawline,” En Garde retorted. “At least, I do not spend an hour every morning meticulously combing my beard!” “You should try it sometime; I can still see the remains of that sandwich you had last week.” “I’d prefer that to something that looks like it came with a false nose and a pair of spectacles!” “SIR! You go too far!” En Garde yelled, lunging forward. Rapier Wit parried the thrust. “Ha! You fight like my sister!” “I have fought your sister,” En Garde boasted, clearing Rapier's counter slash with a perfectly-timed side flip, “that’s a compliment.” Before Rapier could recover, En Garde's sword was at his nose. They both rose to a standing position and faced the audience. “Alright fillies and gentlecolts, was THAT more to your liking?” This time, the crowd exploded with applause as the swordsponies bowed graciously. “Fillies and Gentlecolts, thank you for being such a wonderful audience, we certainly hope you’ve enjoyed our antics,” Rapier Wit said, once the applause had calmed down. “Indeed, but now we must go. If you’d like to catch our show again, we’ll be here all through Hearth’s Warming.” The swordsponies waved goodbye and headed offstage. As the crowd dispersed, Sunset was finishing her meal. The cinnamon roll had been warm, sweet, and delightfully gooey. However, she soon realized it had also left her face rather sticky. Berating herself for not picking up some napkins from the bakery, Sunset chomped down the rest of the roll and set off in search of a place to wash up. Mercifully, she soon stumbled upon a water fountain. While washing the remaining frosting from her face, a calm, curious melody reached her ears. Following the sound, Sunset came across a small crowd of ponies gathered around a yak who was seated in front of Spike’s statue and playing a bizarre-looking instrument. The yak had a shaggy gray coat and fog colored hair which was woven into two long braids that fell on either side of her head. She wore a purple hat and had a matching shawl draped across her back. The instrument she held was some kind of large bagpipe, and the music coming from it was incredibly smooth and soothing. While there were no benches near the statue, there was a fair amount of grass surrounding it. So, Sunset found a spot to sit down to listen. This music was very different from most pony songs. Rather than hitting a string of bouncy notes in rapid succession, the yak masterfully drew out the depth of each individual tone. The result was a slow, contemplative melody that made Sunset feel warm, calm, and secure. She closed her eyes and let her imagination drift freely in the music. The drone of the pipes painted a picture of a small village that was situated on top of a snow-covered mountain and bathed in the glow of a dancing aurora. A location cut off from the rest of the world. One that would be lonely and frigid, were it not for the warmth of friends and family. It was simple, wonderful, …and beyond Sunset’s reach. Matron? You wanted to see me? Yes Sunset, come in! I’ve just met a lovely couple that I think would be a good fit for you: Meadow Song and Snowbank. Meadow is a vocalist with the Baltimare Philharmonics, and Snowbank is an insurance risk analyst. They’re an outdoorsy young couple and enjoy things like running, tennis, and hiking. If you’d be willing to meet with them, we might be able to find you a new home. Wouldn’t that be nice? …but… what if mommy and daddy come back? Sunset… it’s been 8 months. If they were coming back, don’t you think they would have by now? …maybe they got lost? They were the ones who dropped you off, sweetie. They know where you are. If they didn’t come back for your birthday, I don’t think they’re going to come back, at all. …but...but why? Why would they leave me? I don’t know, sweetie. There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re clever, well-behaved, imaginative, and cute as a button. You’d be a wonderful addition to any family. …*sniff*… Oh, I know it hurts. But it doesn’t have to be like this. We can find you a real family! One that will love you, just as much as you love them. One that will always be there for you. One that would never throw you away. Wouldn’t you like that? …I guess. Well, for that to happen, you’re going to need to meet with prospective parents. This will give you a chance to get to know them, and give them a chance to get to know you. So, what do you say, Sunset? Can you do that for me? …ok, I’ll try. Don’t worry, Sunset. Like I said, there’s nothing wrong with you. If you give it your all, I bet we’ll have found you a new family by the end of the month. [8 Months Later] Oh my goodness, you made these Sunny!? Yep, do you like them? MMM! MHhhmHhHmmH! …What I think Quick is trying to say, is ‘Absolutely’. MM! Really? MMmmHHHm— Quick Whisk!! Eat OR speak, not both! I’m so sorry about him Sunset, I think he’s caught between loving your cookies and wanting to tell you how much he loves them. *giggles* That’s okay Mrs. Sheet. You can just call me ‘Cookie’ for now, Sunset. ‘Mrs. Sheet’ sounds so…formal. You can relax, we’re supposed to be getting to know each other after all. O-okay, Mrs. Cookie. Oooh! You are absolutely adorable. MHM! M- Quiiiiick *gulps* Heh. Sorry Cookie. Seriously though Sunny, where did you learn how to make such great cherry cobbler cookies? Well… I heard you both liked them, so I went to the library and found a book with the recipe. I’ve been practicing baking them all week. MM HMMM!? Cookiiiieee, eat or speak, not boooooooth~ Hmph! *giggles* Well, the effort certainly shows. When I was eight, I could barely make a peanut butter sandwich. Really!? *gulps* It’s true. He was a very late bloomer, didn’t get his cutie mark till he was twelve. Ahhhh but now, I own the finest bakery in Manehattan. AHEM! …I mean, we own the finest bakery in Manehattan. That’s better. *giggles* Is it fun running a bakery? Oh, absolutely, Sunny. Getting to see the joy on each pony’s face when they bite into something you’ve made is incredible! What about you Sunset? Did you have fun making these cookies? I really did! It was hard work, but also really fun! I’ve still got the cookbook from the library, so I might try something else this week. …Sunny, I have a question for you. Yes, Mr. Whisk? What do you think is the best part of running a bakery? …getting to lick the spoons? Oh, that’s the second-best part! The best part is getting to bake together. Right Cookie? That’s right. You see Sunset, baking with ponies you care about, is much more fun than baking alone. So… for our next meeting, would you like to pick out a recipe that the three of us can bake… together? Yes! That sounds like so much fun! I’d love to! [8 months later] Sunset? Are you up here again? …yeah. You really shouldn’t sneak off to the attic, it’s dangerous for such a young foal. …I know. I’m sorry it didn’t work out with Night Sky and Constellation, but don’t give up! There are lots of prospective parents in Equestria! …I know, I’ve met them all. Well, at least you’ve maintained your sense of humor. …I really thought these two liked me. We went stargazing and things were great. I would find a constellation using their chart, and then, they’d tell me the story behind it. We were getting along really well, like…like a real family. They even told me we could be a family… if I wanted. I know. I’m sorry they changed their minds, sweetie. Evening Gale was… just a better fit for them, that’s all. It always turns out that way, somepony else is always a ‘better fit’. Nopony ever wants me. ...maybe I’m just not meant to have a family. Now, Sunset, there’s nothing wrong with you. If you continue to give it your all, I know we’ll find you a family soon! It’s like they say, ‘65th time’s the charm!’ Right? …sure. Great!! Now, what do you say we get you out of this dreary attic and get you some supper! …*sigh* yes, Matron Goodheart. It was a beautiful day in the city of Canterlot and a young Sunset Shimmer was out enjoying it. Well… she wasn’t technically in the city; she was actually resting in a small glade, on the side of the mountain, overlooking the city. Technicalities aside, the weather was perfect: the sun was hot; the air was deliciously humid, and there was just enough of a breeze to keep things from getting stale. Having finished her spinach, tomato, and rye sandwich, Sunset comfortably settled in for a lazy, early-afternoon nap. Unfortunately, shortly after her head hit the grass, the sound of wings and a set of hooves landing in her secret glade, cut the planned nap short. With an exasperated sigh, Sunset pushed herself back up into a sitting position and spotted a small pink alicorn, who had her mane pulled back in a ponytail. “This is my secret spot,” Sunset grumbled at Cadance. “How’d you find me?” With a smirk, Cadance simply glanced upwards and gave a pointed nod to Philomena, who was perched on a nearby branch. “Treacherous dodo,” Sunset mumbled, turning her attention back to Cadance. A light rustling of leaves was the only warning Sunset received before an acorn shot down from the canopy and smacked her right in the forehead. “Ow!” she exclaimed, rubbing the small welt that had formed just below the base of her horn. She glanced back up to Philomena, who was ‘innocently’ whistling. “Oooh noooo!” Sunset monotoned, narrowing her eyes at the flame feathered fowl. “I think that acorn has given me amnesia. I sure hope I don’t forget to do anything important this week: liiiike, order a certain bird’s imported tropical fruit!” Philomena stopped whistling and suddenly became very serious. She narrowed her eyes at Sunset, hopped down from her branch, and brought herself beak to nose with the scowling unicorn. For a moment, they simply glared at each other in a silent standoff, waiting to see who would break first. Then, while maintaining her scowl, Philomena leaned up and —somehow— gently kissed the small welt on Sunset’s forehead. “Oh, Philomena!” Sunset said brightly, as though she had only just noticed the phoenix. “Great timing! I just remembered something; I still need to place next month’s order for your imported tropical fruit. Would you mind putting the order form on top of my desk, so I don’t forget?” Philomena looked salty enough to melt the Frozen North. Nonetheless, she gave a begrudging squawk, spread her wings, and —with a single flap that messed up Sunset’s mane— launched herself off toward the castle. “You two get along really well, don’t you?” observed Cadance, who had been silently giggling at the interaction. Sunset shot her a questioning glance while trying to smooth her mane out, “You think THAT was ‘getting along’?” “Yeah,” Cadance replied, as though it were obvious. “What would you call it?” Sunset gave her mane a final vigorous shake, causing it to bounce perfectly back into place. “Winning,” she said smugly. Cadance rolled her eyes and moved to sit down across from Sunset. “That may be so, but you do understand each other really well. Better than most ponies I’ve seen, in fact.” Sunset turned to look in the direction that Philomena had flown off in. “We do get each other,” she agreed. “It’s been that way ever since the day we met.” Sunset’s expression continued to soften as a rare, genuine smile spread across her face. After a moment, she shook her head and turned her attention back to Cadance. “So, what brings you all the way up here?” “Well, Aunt Celestia is returning tonight,” Cadance explained, “and there’s something I want to talk to you about before she gets back.” A worried grimace crossed Sunset’s face. She had a pretty good idea what this was about. “Alright, what is it?” Cadance sighed. “Look, ever since Aunt Celestia told me about you, all I wanted, was to be your friend. But, from the moment I arrived, you went out of your way to make things hard for me and I just don’t get why! Especially since I know you’re not a bad pony! It had gotten so bad, that... I’d decided to tell Aunt Celestia about it, once she got back from her trip.” Sunset’s gaze dropped to the ground, her expression glum. It was true that she had spared no effort over the past two weeks in her attempts to drive Cadance away, and once Celestia learned about this, there was no doubt she’d kick Sunset out of the castle. After all, Cadance was everything to her. Celestia had spent months helping to organize the Southern Kingdom Summit. However, after Kibitz wrote to her yesterday, explaining that Cadance had nearly been kidnapped, she replied within fifteen minutes, informing him that she had canceled the rest of her meetings and was coming straight home. I wonder if she’d let me stay in the city, Sunset wondered briefly. ...No, probably not. While headstrong and magically adept, Sunset was still only thirteen years old. That being said, she had no intention of going back to the orphanage. Living on the streets in another city would be far better. Before she could get further along in working out the logistics of running away from a sun-raising demi-god, Sunset’s thoughts were interrupted by something Cadance said. “…I’m sorry, could you say that, again?” Sunset asked, certain she had misheard her. “I said, ‘I’m not going to do that’,” Cadance repeated. “You risked your life to save me the other day, Sunset. If it wasn’t for you, I’d be…who knows where. I’m not going to do anything that might get you into trouble. I want to resolve this between the two of us.” Sunset’s mind went blank. She was completely at a loss. Cadance —the same Cadance that she had spent the past two weeks trying to drive away— was protecting her. “I… thanks, Cadance.” “You’re welcome,” Cadance replied, with a smile. “That being said,” she continued, in a more serious tone, “I do want to know why you’ve been such a jerk to me.” Sunset looked away, an uncomfortable expression on her face. “It’s…really personal.” “Yeah, I figured it would be. But I still want you to tell me,” Cadance said firmly. “I’m not going to judge you, and I’m not going to tell anypony. I just want to help you work through… whatever this is.” There’s really no point in telling her, Sunset thought bitterly. There’s no way little miss sunshine and rainbows would get it. She’s had a perfect life. She saved her village with love, became a princess, and was made the niece of a princess. It’s straight out of a storybook! I bet her parents are so proud to have raised such a flawless little angel! Sunset blinked, surprised at the venom in her own thoughts. Calm down, that’s not thinking rationally. That’s just dismissing her out of hoof! Sunset took a moment to calm her thoughts, then she looked up and met Cadance’s gaze. Even if she doesn’t get it, she looks like she wants to help, Sunset thought. And it would be nice to have somepony to talk to about all this. I mean, it’s not like she’s given me any reason to doubt her! She’s not even going to tell Celestia about the past two weeks! Unless… that was just a trick to get me to open up. Sunset’s brow furrowed as doubts assaulted her mind. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and forced them all aside. Hope this doesn’t bite me in the flank. With that hope in mind, she started to tell Cadance everything. “When I was six and a half, my parents dropped me off at the Riverrun Orphanage: I never saw them again. It was horrible. It took me several months just to accept that they really weren’t coming back. Once I finally did, I began meeting with new couples in the hopes of getting adopted. The meetings almost always went well. In fact, several times I really thought I’d found a family. “Of course, that wasn’t what happened. No matter how well the meetings went; no matter how much they seemed to like me; no matter how hard I worked to impress them; they always wound up adopting somepony else. It wasn’t that they didn’t want me, it was just that they wanted another pony more. I was never good enough. That happened sixty-four times, over the course of two years.” Sunset paused to wipe her eyes, she hated reliving her time at the orphanage. The whole experience had been a living nightmare: the utterly crushing abandonment by her parents; the eternal dread that she’d never have a family again; and the overwhelming sense of worthlessness that was reinforced each time she was passed over for adoption. At the very end, she’d come dangerously close to…giving up. Sunset looked back at Cadance. The young alicorn was listening intently, but there was a curious expression in her eyes. Sympathy? No, something more… personal. Shaking her head, Sunset continued. “Eventually, I realized that if I wanted anything to change, I’d have to change. I’d have to become the best. That way, I’d never be passed up again. “So, I ran away. I came here to apply to Celestia’s school —the best magic school in Equestria— and spent the months leading up to the entrance exam, studying in the public library, and secretly sleeping in it’s attic. I survived mostly on free samples, or whatever I could swipe without attracting attention. It was hard, but in the end, it was worth it. I wound up becoming Celestia’s pupil and began my new life as a student. “Of course, with all the time we spent together, it didn’t take Celestia long to realize something was…off about my home situation. Every time she’d ask to meet my parents, I’d make up some excuse and change the topic. Eventually, she got suspicious and decided to follow me home after school one day. When she found me in the library’s attic, I had no choice but to tell her everything. “I was scared. I thought she was going to get rid of me, I thought she was going to ship me back to the orphanage, but she didn’t. Instead, she took me in. For the first time in my life, somepony chose to keep me around.” A look of pure bliss appeared on Sunset’s face as she described one of the happiest moments of her life. She still remembered her feelings of disbelief when Celestia had informed her that she’d be living with her from then on. At first, Sunset had been doubtful, thinking it was just a ploy to get her to stay while she contacted the orphanage. But that hadn’t been the case. For those first few weeks in the castle, Celestia handled all of Sunset’s lessons and they spent nearly every hour together. She woke Sunset up in the morning, and she was there to tuck her in at night. When they weren’t covering lessons, Celestia told Sunset stories, played with her, introduced her to the castle staff, showed her around the city, took her shopping, and helped decorate her room. The few times she had to leave, she always told Sunset exactly when she’d be back, and who to go to if she needed anything. It took a while, but eventually, Sunset began to feel secure in her new home. With a start, Sunset realized that she had been silently reminiscing for nearly a minute. “A-anyway,” she stammered, “Celestia was the first pony to actually take me in and…” Sunset paused, choosing her next words carefully, “…even though she’s only my teacher, she’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a family.” Cadance gave her a knowing nod. “Then, when I showed up, you felt that it was going to be a repeat of your time at the orphanage. You were scared Aunt Celestia was going to abandon you in favor of me. So, you tried to drive me away before that could happen,” she surmised flawlessly. Sunset’s mouth dropped open. “That’s… yeah, that’s exactly it.” Cadance grinned at the astonished expression. “Sunset, I get it. Honestly, if things had been slightly different, I could’ve easily been in your position.” Sunset blinked multiple times, once more thinking that she had misheard Cadance. “What?” “…What do you know about my past, Sunset?” Cadance asked quietly. The unicorn tilted her head in thought. To her surprise, she realized that she didn’t actually know much about Cadance’s life before Canterlot. “Only that you somehow saved your village with… love, transformed into a princess, and became Celestia’s niece as a result.” “Mmm, so just as little as I knew about you,” Cadance mumbled to herself. “Well, you’ll probably be surprised to learn our backgrounds aren’t that different. To start off, both of us were abandoned by our parents at a young age. You were left at an orphanage, and I was left in a forest.” Sunset’s mouth gaped. “You were just… left in a forest?” Cadance nodded. “Greenhoof Forest, specifically. I was only about a year old, too young to even remember my parents. I probably would have died back then, but a team of lumber ponies found me and brought me back to their village. That was where I grew up. “Now, I don’t want you to think that the village didn’t take good care of me, because they did…but…” she trailed off, biting her lower lip. “…they weren’t the family I needed them to be.” “How so?” Cadance’s mouth tightened. “I never really…belonged. None of the families wanted to adopt me, but they didn’t want to leave me at an orphanage either. So, they decided to share responsibility for my care. I’d stay with one family for a few weeks, then I’d be passed off to another. I was always treated well, but… I was never more than a guest in a household.” “How long did that go on?” Sunset asked quietly. Cadance gave her a sad grin. “Until last month, when Aunt Celestia adopted me: nearly fifteen years.” Sunset’s eyes went wide. Fifteen years! Her time at the orphanage had nearly broken her, and she had only been there for two! How did Cadance survive fifteen!? Sunset felt sick just trying to imagine it. “This leads me to something else we have in common.” Cadance piped up, regaining Sunset’s attention. “We both developed our talents trying to find a family. You enrolled in Aunt Celestia’s school and threw yourself into magic. In my case, I developed my capacity for love.” “What do you mean you developed your capacity for love?” Sunset asked, confused. “I thought that love was something that just…happens.” Cadance chuckled and shook her head at Sunset's comment. “It ‘just happens’, in the same way crops just grow in the wild. Yes, it occurs, but if you really want it to flourish, love is something you have to work at, both inside and outside yourself.” Sunset was intrigued. She had never thought of love as something you can practice and get better at. Cadance was surprising her a lot today! The most astonishing thing though, was how much Sunset found herself identifying with the pony she’d previously thought of as her nemesis. “Anyway,” Cadance continued, “I spent enough time around families to learn that love was the primary ingredient. Once I figured that out, I started making a concentrated effort to love everypony in the village. I was hoping that, if I loved them enough, eventually, they’d love me back, and some family would adopt me. “In the end, it was my love for everypony in the village that allowed me to save them, become a princess, and meet Aunt Celestia. So, in a way, I guess it all worked out,” Cadance finished, with a shrug. Sunset was speechless. Cadance had been so cheery all the time, she thought her life had been perfect. But in actuality, it was the opposite. Cadance was the way she was, not because her life was perfect, but because it wasn’t. Cadance’s entire self had been meticulously constructed and refined in a desperate attempt to get a family, any family, to love her! Like Sunset, she’d been abandoned and spent years struggling with feelings of never being good enough. She had just…taken a different approach to dealing with it. Just what was that village’s problem!? Sunset seethed internally. Cadance made herself into a freaking beacon of love. But, apparently, that wasn’t good enough for any of them! If none of them wanted to adopt her, why’d they keep her around!? Why not try to find her an actual family!? They had to have seen how much she was suffering! As Sunset thought more about it, the anger inside her went from ‘simmering’ to ‘boiling’ to ‘volcano’. “THAT’S SO MESSED UP!” She erupted. Startled, Cadance watched, with a bewildered expression, as Sunset began to stomp around the glade while angrily —but certainly not quietly— muttering to herself. “How could that lousy village just pass you around like some kind of…classroom pet?? Didn’t any of them think that maybe you needed some stability in your life? That perhaps you needed more than just a kind caretaker? Didn’t they think you’d want a place to call your own? A family to belong to!?” As Sunset continued ranting and raving on her behalf, a wide smile slowly crept across Cadance’s face. She stood up and draped a wing across the angry pony. “It’s alright, Sunset,” she assured her. “I’m alive because of them, and I’m who I am because of them. I don’t hold anything against them. In fact, I consider them all close friends. They really were wonderful to me, even if they weren’t my family.” Sunset’s anger cooled noticeably, though she still appeared sore. “Well, you’re certainly more forgiving than I am.” “Lucky for you, huh?” Cadance teased. Sunset’s remaining indignation vanished with a snort of laughter. “You’re right, I’ve got no room to talk,” she agreed sheepishly. “Look Cadance, I'm sorry for…everything. I thought that your life was pretty much perfect. I didn’t know about all that you’d been through, or that Celestia was your only family.” “It’s okay, Sunset,” Cadance assured her. “It’s only natural you’d feel insecure and defensive given what you went through. Honestly, if the roles were reversed, I’d probably have done the same thing. Still," Cadance continued, shooting an annoyed glance down at the city, "I do wish Aunt Celestia had just told us all this before we met. It certainly would’ve saved us a lot of trouble.” Now it was Sunset’s turn to chuckle and shake her head. “Oh, she’s never that direct. At most, we’d have gotten a vague hint that would’ve led us down some convoluted breadcrumb trail, ending with us having this very conversation, and accomplishing some secondary objective in the process.” Cadance looked at Sunset skeptically. “Isn’t that a bit… out there?” “Oh, absolutely. But that’s Celestia through and through. In fact…” Sunset paused, eyes widening in realization, “…there’s a chance that all this was just part of a carefully calculated plot to bring about Tarnished Knife’s downfall!” Cadance blinked. Then, she placed a wing across the unicorn’s forehead with a worried expression. “It’s pretty hot out today. How much water have you had, Sunset?” Sunset rolled her eyes and gently pushed the concerned pony away. “Yes, I know it sounds absolutely crazy. But you have to realize something, Cadance, Celestia isn’t like you or me; she’s thinking thirty, sometimes forty moves ahead. This is a mare who has spent the past seven hundred years, subtly influencing who rich ponies marry, purely for the purpose of breeding a less obnoxious, more pliable nobility.” Cadance narrowed her eyes at Sunset, searching her face for any hint of deception. “You’re lying,” she whispered suspiciously. “Am I?” Sunset replied, with a completely straight face. The two mares were able to maintain their serious deadlock for a whole four seconds before Sunset snorted and they both broke down completely. For the next several minutes, the glade was filled with laughter. “Hey, Cadance… can I ask you something?” Sunset murmured when they had both calmed down. “Mmm?” “Are you… still interested in being friends with me?” Cadance pondered the question for a few moments, before turning to Sunset, with an odd expression on her face. “Hmmm well, here’s the problem with that,” she began, clapping her hooves together, “I already have several pen pals across Equestria; about a dozen ponies that I’ve met here in Canterlot; and a whole village of friends! I’m kinda full on friends, Sunset.” “Oh… right,” Sunset nodded, with a weak smile. “But…I’ve never had a sister.”