Sunset forgot, sometimes, how different Equestria could be to the plane of existence she now called home.
Back home, things were loud. Cars, electricity, lights, phones, technology in general. People were much like their pony counterparts: kind and generous. Things were recognizable, even. But that didn’t mean that things weren’t different.
Sunset was sure that back home, things were as they usually were. Loud, busy. People rushing around to get their last minute errands done before returning home to prepare for Hearth’s Warming Eve.
Equestria wasn’t so different, but it was so...quiet. Even here, in Canterlot, things were more still, less busy. No cars, no phones ringing. It was so quiet in comparison.
Less noisy was maybe the more apt description, but it reminded Sunset so sharply of her foalhood. Nights spent studying, staring out across the plains laid out in front of her now. Watching the lands of Equestria sprawl out from the base of the mountain town she’d considered home for so long. Towns in the distance, visible even at night from the lights that stood out in sharp relief from the darkness surrounding them.
It was night time, the sun had set a while ago, and in spite of the chill, Sunset wasn’t quite ready to head back into the castle proper yet. It was...weird, being on all fours again. Not bad, just different. She was sitting on a bench beside one of the great platforms that extended out from the side of the mountain. The waterfall was still flowing, sending frosty sprays into the air and giving just enough background noise that Sunset didn’t feel alone.
Canterlot was as beautiful as she remembered, it didn’t have much room in the way of growth. So businesses changed, but buildings stayed the same. The white marble still shone, the spires still rose into the air, even the many waterfalls and fountains were the same.
Out in the distance, Ponyville shone from out in the snow like a beacon. Twilight’s castle was highly visible and recognizable, even from a distance. Ponyville had grown in Sunset’s absence, and she couldn't help but wonder what else had changed while she was away.
She and the others exchanged letters, and she wrote friendship reports, when they could but it could be irregular. Mostly Sunset spent her time writing to Celestia, trying to make up for her actions and the time they’d lost. Sunset was grateful for Twilight Sparkle, and was grateful how things had turned out in the end, but she was still tangled with the guilt of how she’d hurt her mentor and friend.
Sunset let out a sigh, her breath puffing out in a cloud. Light against a star-filled sky. That was new, too, how different the sky looked.
Twilight, Twilight from this realm, said it was because of Luna. While Celestia had been able to shoulder Luna’s duties, she didn’t have the same artistry over the night like Luna did. Leaving the constellations in place, but other celestial bodies alone. And now Princess Luna was back, the sky was as beautiful as it had been.
Sunset, who had always enjoyed the peace of nighttime, was as enraptured with the night sky now as she had been as a filly. Even more so, maybe. Caught wondering how the ponies of old could have forgone something so beautiful and so natural as the night sky above them in favour of the sun.
A breeze rushed through her then, sending her shivering even with her coat, scarf, and hat. That was unexpected too, the winters back home were a little milder. Though, back home wasn’t halfway up a mountain either.
The chill wormed its way through her layers, sinking into her very bones. A harsh chill that set her aching, and would be difficult to shift if she had to guess. Yet still, she didn’t want to leave. Not quite yet.
It was quiet here, peaceful. Nopony was around to ask too many questions.
Sunset was doing better, was always improving her control over her temper and her ambitions, and a part of that was knowing when she needed a break. Celestia understood that, knew better than to follow. She wouldn’t judge Sunset for taking a break.
A soft cough jolted Sunset from her reminiscing, and she almost jumped out of her fur. Actually standing and taking a reflex step away from the bench in time with her half turning to face whoever it was who had interrupted her.
It was Rarity, and for a moment Sunset’s heart leapt, before reality came crashing back. It wasn’t her Rarity, the one who had hugged her tightly and waved goodbye with the rest as Sunset had stepped through the portal. No, this was the Rarity that Twilight mentioned in the journal they wrote messages back and forth with, and in their letters when they found the time to slip them through the portal.
“Forgive me,” Rarity offered a smile, “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“No, no, it’s okay.” Sunset took a deep breath and let it, shakily, out again. “My fault, just got stuck in my thoughts for a minute there.” Gingerly going to sit back down, then patted the empty spot on the bench beside her. “You can sit here if you want. Or, I could go?”
“No, no, please stay.” Rarity took the invitation and sat. Her horn was lit up with a light blue aura, magic holding two cups of steaming liquid. “I saw you here and thought you might like some hot chocolate.” Offering the one cup forth.
Sunset almost reached to take it with a hoof before remembering. Lighting her horn up to take the cup for herself, “Thank you.” Steaming or not, it was chill enough the hot chocolate probably wouldn’t remain hot for long. She chanced a sip, scalding her tongue but not minding in the slightest. It was good, not too sweet, and it was creamy, not watery.
“It’s not a problem!” Rarity grinned, her own breath fogging the air in front of them. She was wearing a blue coat, with blue boots, and a blue hat with white trim to match. She wasn’t wearing a scarf, but the coat had a fluffy hood that Sunset thought might serve the same purpose. “You’re Sunset Shimmer, correct? Twilight’s told us about you and the other world.”
“And you’re Rarity. Recognizable even here.” Sunset couldn’t help but return the smile, even if it was softer and more hesitant. “I...I feel like I should apologize, almost.”
“Whatever for?”
“Well…” Sunset let out a sigh, watching as the fog curled upward into the air and dissipated. “I already know a lot about you. Well, not you-you, but the other you. I don’t know how much carries over or what changes.”
Rarity nodded, brows furrowed. Clearly thinking, “It’s not your fault.” She decided upon after a moment. “So I don’t think you owe me an apology. Though the sentiment is appreciated.”
The two sat in a near awkward silence for a couple of beats, sipping their hot chocolate and watching the stars.
“I take it you’re visiting, then?”
“I am.” Sunset confirmed. “Will go back home as soon as possible, but for now I’m just enjoying...this.” Gesturing loosely to the world around them.
“Good.” Rarity said. “I’m glad. It’s important to sit and relax every now and again. Even better when there’s such a beautiful view.” Gesturing to the sight of the land stretching out under and before them. “Ponyville looks so much different than it used to, and it’s still so small.”
“I thought it looked bigger.”
“It is. But still small in comparison to this mountain, and this city.” Rarity said, shooting Sunset a small smile. “I’m here to pick up a few last minute things. As much as Ponyville has grown, Canterlot still has some of the best selection of Hearth’s Warming Gifts. Aside from Manehatten, of course, but the train ride would be too long.”
“For your sister?” Sunset asked, before realizing, “...I hope you have a sister.”
“I do, so perhaps the pony-person, you know isn’t so different from me. Her name is Sweetie Belle?” Rarity asked. Sunset nodded in confirmation, and Rarity continued, “Partially. I make many of my Hearth’s Warming gifts. In part because the time and effort it takes to make everything is worth it, and in part because of my work. I can usually tell what somepony needs in terms of clothing. A new, sturdy coat, good boots, a new hat.” She shrugged, “Not always, of course. Sometimes I know another designer who could make it better, or my friends want or need something else.”
“You, the other you, gave me a blanket last year. She made it herself.” Sunset admitted. “I needed a new one. Must’ve heard me complaining about the cold.”
Rarity chuckled, “Exactly. Blankets are usually a good bet, anyhow. I’ve got several patterns for them memorized by now.”
“I bet that helps.”
“It does, makes things go a little smoother.” Rarity sat back on the bench, swirling her hot chocolate in its cup absentmindedly, “So I needed to pick up a couple of things to finish off my current projects. I always mean to start earlier, give myself more time, but inevitably I end up missing something or I’ve forgotten the last minute detail I needed something for but already used the fabric or gem or special ribbon up on another project. So, I tend to end up here around this time, if I can’t have one of my suppliers send it post-haste.”
“That’s…Does it get annoying?”
“Sometimes, but seeing everypony so happy makes it worth it. And, when I’m here, and need to spend the night before taking the earliest train home, it’s nice to take a break. Look out at the stars, and Ponyville, and think.” Rarity’s smile was soft, genuine, the corners of her eyes crinkling in a way she rarely allowed. “And sometimes I get to talk to fascinating ponies, like you, and Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna.”
Sunset nodded, “That’s nice.”
“What about you, what are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be at the party in the grand hall?”
Sunset sighed, “That’s why I’m out here. Just...needed a break. From the ponies, the noise, the lights, it was getting a bit much. Celestia saw me go, and I’ll go back before too much longer. Just needed some time to think, I guess.”
“We all need that sometimes. Besides, I can’t imagine spending Hearth’s Warming with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.” Rarity shook her head softly in wonder, “What is it like?”
“Not too different from normal Hearth’s Warming, I think.” Sunset shrugged, “A little more extravagant maybe, and Luna sleeps through most of the morning, but it isn’t too bad. We eat good food, open presents, catch up and talk. It’s...nice, traditional. Even they need a break sometimes, so they capitalize it as much as they can. Today is busy, but Hearth’s Warming day isn’t too bad, but the day after is busy too. Parties, ceremonies, that sort of thing.”
Rarity nodded. “That sounds like it can be a lot to handle sometimes.”
“It is, but again, that’s why I like coming out this way. Most people are home because it’s cold, and they’re spending time with family, or friends.”
“What about your friends?”
“I miss them, but we’re all in school so we do things before and after the holiday, not on. We’ll probably exchange gifts when we come back to school from break.”
“That sounds nice, a little less stressful, maybe. Give you more time to gather things, or make things.”
Sunset nodded in agreement, “Yeah. Equestria is good, too, though. It’s not so noisy. The sky is nicer, the stars and all. It’s prettier out than it was.”
“It’s still weird sometimes, seeing the moon and not seeing the mare.” Rarity admitted. “It’s not so strange now, I think we’ve all acclimated, but so many stories are just gone now. Sweetie will remember seeing the Mare in the Moon, but other younger ones won’t.”
“There are illustrations, and stories, and folk tales, and photographs.” Sunset countered. “So they won’t see it themselves, but it’s not like the myths will disappear overnight.”
“True.” Rarity acquiesced.
The two lapsed into silence again, sipping at lukewarm hot chocolate and not looking at each other, just watching the lights of distant cities twinkle on the horizon.
“I’m glad to have met you, finally.” Rarity said at long last. “Twilight told us what she could, of the other world, about you, but it’s different to see you, you know?”
“I know. Sometimes I forget Equestria is here too.” Sunset admitted. “I spent so long pretending it didn’t, pretending my life before was just a means to an end or a weird dream. And it’s nice to see that Twilight wasn’t kidding, about the effects of friendship. How you all changed her for the better.” A pause. “So, I guess what I’m saying is it’s good to meet you too.”
“We should write, when we can.” Rarity said hesitantly.
“We should.” Sunset nodded, trying not to think too hard about the logistics. Would Princess Twilight mind sending messages along? And then re-writing replies back? Would letters be easier to manage? Sunset wasn’t sure, so she pushed those thoughts away for now.
The two sat in silence. Drinking the last of their hot chocolate, and drawing a tentative sort of comfort from one another.