//------------------------------//
// Sunset and Stormy Track Down Someone Who Can Help Them... 
// Story: The Truth Behind Sunset Shimmer...? 
// by Teddie Williams 
//------------------------------//

Sunset sighed with relief when Stormy finally entered Sugar Cube Corner. Stormy flashed her a smile as she walked up to the unicorn. "Hey. So... when do I get to meet these amazing Cakes?"
Sunset quickly gestured to the counter where Mrs. Cake was working. "Right now. They own Sugar Cube Corner."
Stormy started at that, clearly surprised by that reveal, before sliding into the booth across from her. "Okay. I researched that article you told me about. What exactly was she thinking?"
"I...don't know." Sunset deflated slightly, even as Mr. Cake walked over and dropped off two of her favorite cupcake. "Thank you Mr. Cake."
"No problem. Safe for me to guess that this is your counterpart, Sunset Shimmer?" Mr. Cake turned to face Stormy, stretching is hand out for her to shake.
Stormy appeared flustered at that, but accepted the hand anyway. "Nice to meet you Mr. Cake, Sunset has told me a lot about you and your wife."
"All good things I hope." Mr. Cake chuckled, before disappearing back to the kitchen.
Sunset leaned forward, her brow creasing with worry. "I have already asked the Cakes if you could spend the night with us. They said yes."
"Wonderful." Stormy rubbed her head, stress from this whole situation giving her a headache. 
"You know, the guy that was following you most likely works for him." Sunset blurted out suddenly as she picked up one of the cupcakes.
"Gee, now I feel horrible for trying to loose him." Stormy groaned as she banged her head against the table.
"We, more like I, need to head back to Equestria and see if either Twilight or Princess Celestia knows anything about a Phoenixia back there as well." Sunset eyed the second cupcake.
Stormy noticed what Sunset was looking at, and quickly grabbed the sugary convention. "Hey! That's my cupcake."
Sunset merely smiled at that, not thinking twice about what she was about to say. "Technically, I'm your counterpart from a different dimension, so..."
"WHAT!?!?!?!?!?" Thunder Flash jumped up from where he'd been reading a newspaper, well, pretending to read a newspaper, his eyes the size of saucers.
"Different dimensions exist. I'm from one where everyone is some type of pony....or dragon...or kirin...or zebra... yaks.... mythical creatures that I can never remember what they're called... um...they're half pony half fish."
Stormy smacked her head as she watched Thunder Flash slowly lose his color. "I...I see..." 
"Great... I think you broke him Sunny." Stormy rolled her eyes skyward.
"Not my fault Stormy! Do you not realize how rare it is to talk about other dimensions is in a natural conversation? We haven't even gotten to the part where I explain that I'm a pony, more specifically an unicorn." Sunset protested, even as Thunder Flash stood up to leave, figuring fresh air might help him wrap his mind around this.
"So... is it okay if I come with you to visit your principal's counterpart?"



Sunset paused, eyeing the phoenix that was following them. His confused expression making it quite clear on who he was. "I think Thunder Flash's counterpart is following us to the palace."
"Um...can we try and not break this version of him...please?" Stormy shot Sunset a look that made it quite clear what she thought of the currently confused secret agent.
"I didn't mean to break him. Come on! We're almost there." Sunset lead the way through the streets of Canterlot.
Stormy felt nervous as they approached the large palace where the Royal Sisters abided. "What if they can't help us... or worse what if they don't like me!?"
"Um...Stormy... you are me. They like me, so it makes sense that they'll like you too. Besides...they know about the different dimensions already so there will be no breaking them."
"If you say so...."
"Know so. And we're here." Sunset stopped abruptly, standing before the entrance to the Royal Gardens. "Come on... this nice of a day, Princess Celestia will be in the maze."
Stormy nodded at that, trusting Sunset to keep things straight. It didn't take long after they entered the maze before they found the tall alicorn. Sunset smiled as she bowed to her ruler. "Princess."
"Sunset... I haven't seen you since you snuck into my room to see if I recognized the hoofwriting on that note." Celestia beamed at her, before turning her attention to her companion. "You must be Sunset's counterpart. Twilight mentioned that you were helping Sunset in looking into the mystery of a tiara."
"Yeah...we solved that one. It's from Phoenixia. Have you ever heard of it?" Sunset mentally crossed her fingers, since she didn't have any at the moment, that her mentor would know more about it.
"Phoenixia... Phoenixia...Phoenixia...hmm, has a fun ring to it." Celestia hummed, not being helpful at all.
"Sister, Phoenixia is the home of the Phoenixes." Luna stepped out from behind the hedge that she was hiding behind, shooting her sister a look. "The current king of the phoenixes was married to a unicorn if memory serves correctly."
"Was?" Stormy glanced over at Sunset, wondering if the past tense was for the same reason as it was in her dimension.
Sunset swallowed hard, her mind reeling. "Her counterpart apparently died in childbirth, is that what happened to her?"
"Yes. Oddly enough, I don't even know the gender of the Heir to the Throne." Luna shrugged, completely unabashed.
"Luna is a, surprising, expert on Phoenixes. I'm afraid that my knowledge of them is limited to their ambassador, Philomena." Celestia conceded the point, thoughtfully rubbing her right forehoof on her chin.
"Where is Philomena right now? I.... want to talk with her about what we discovered with our research on the other side of the portal." Sunset narrowed her eyes, Stormy nodding along in agreement.
"That would be easy. Her quarters for when she's here is located in the east wing. I believe she is still there. Packing for a trip back to Phoenixia if memory serves correctly." Celestia offered up that little tidbit of information.
Sunset and Stormy didn't bother to thank the princess, they just took off at a sprint to get to the ambassador before she could leave before they get to her.