//------------------------------// // 58 - End of the Beginning - Sunset's Reprise // Story: Sunset Shimmer - Six Friends One Heart // by Babroniedad //------------------------------// Sunset’s Reprise Sunset awoke. She heard the steady beep of a life support machine. Opening her eyes, she saw a blurry vision of her hospital room. “Ugh... “ she groaned. “I seem to be making a habit of this.” Blinking, her vision cleared. Looking around, she saw a bizarre sight. Both Twilights were asleep on a cot next to her bed, tumbled up together, snoring gently. Sunset snorted in quiet laughter. “Da-ahhh…. That’s so sweet!” she said softly. The girls stirred. Twilight opened one eye, and saw Twilight’s head burrowed into her shoulder. “Uhh… Good morning Twilight,” she mumbled. Twilight pulled her head off the shoulder, groaned softly, then looked up, eyes blinking. “Uh… Hi! Hi me. Good morning. Where am I…” “Good morning girls!” snarked Sunset. “Sleep well?” “Sunset!” both girls cried out, coming fully awake and turning to her. With a flurry of limbs and a few quick mumbled apologies, the girls awkwardly extracted themselves and rushed to her side. “You’re awake! Of course you're awake. You just said hello, so that means you have to be awake. So I don’t need to say you're awake. Unless you weren't awake. You could be asleep and still say hello. But you're awake…” “Sunset, don’t you ever do that to me again! I thought I’d lost you!” “Hello Twilight. Hello Twilight. Have I told you two how much I love you?” asked Sunset. Twilight leaned in, grasping Sunset in a tight hug. Twilight blushed and twisted one foot into the floor, head shyly askance. “Uh… hehe. Thanks?” she replied. “Sweet harmony you two are adorable. I could die of diabetes!” chuckled Sunset. “Oh!” Twilight exclaimed! “I’ll go get Celestia and Luna! They said to get them when you woke!” Twilight ran out the door and down the hall. Twilight clutched her tightly. “I’m never leaving you again, you blockhead! Stop trying to leave me!” she cried into Sunset's shoulder. “That would be kinda hard with the whole ‘Princess of Friendship’ thing, Twilight,” replied Sunset, gently stroking her friend's hair. “You know you have to go back.” She kissed Twilight’s forehead. “I love you too, you silly filly. You two are the sisters I never had.” Twilight held her tightly, gently crying. Twilight came rushing back, Celetia and Luna in tow. “Oh sweet harmony thank you! You’re awake!” called out Luna, rushing to her side and enveloping both Sunset and Twilight in a hug. Celestia came over and hugged them all. Sunset beamed. “I love you all so much!” “I love you too Sunset!” Celestia beamed. Luna smiled, hugging her tightly. “We all love you Sunset!” smiled Twilight, drying her tears. Pulling back, Luna and Celestia extracted themselves from the group hug. Twilight punched Sunset’s arm lightly. “Don’t you ever do that again!” “Ouch!” grinned Sunset. “Got it Twilight. Won’t happen again, promise!” “It better not missy, or We’ll ground you for life!” growled Luna. Celestia folded her arms, smiled and nodded. “Okay. Group hug everyone!” Sunset threw her arms wide. Both Twilights and the Royal sisters obliged. Shining Armor came by that afternoon to collect Twilight and get Sunset’s statement. Starlight and Trixie came by for a visit, as well as her friends. Many happy tears were shed. Afterwards everyone returned to their homes for some well deserved rest. The girls took Princess Twilight back to the portal so they could wish her farewell. “I'll be back tomorrow Sunset. Rest well!” Twilight kissed her forehead with a final hug, then left with the girls, Pinky talking a mile a minute. Sunset beamed at them as they left. By the time evening came, Sunset was exhausted, and fell into a deep sleep. She dreamed of the fields of Elysium, her and and friends all laughing and running, playing with Faust, dancing through the endless golden fields. Sunset smiled as she slumbered. Sunset was released the next day, with a further referral to Dr. Discord. When she arrived home, she found everyone waiting for her, Pinkie Pie having arranged one of her classic “Welcome Home Sunset! We’re so glad you didn’t die please don’t ever do that again!” parties, with all of her friends and family invited. Both Twilights, the girls, Shining and Cadence, Twilight’s parents, Trixie and Starlight - it was a full house, spilling out to the patio. Sunset made it a point to spend time with everyone, thanking them for being there and for being a part of her life. She was overjoyed to spend this time with all her friends. Late in the evening, after everyone had left - Pinkie having done her usual fantastic job, including a near miraculous clean up at the end - Sunset relaxed with Celestia, Luna, and Princess Twilight. Sunset tried to stay up with them, but exhaustion soon claimed her. She bid them good night and retired to her room. She again dreamed of Elysium’s golden fields.