Crankee Doodle checked his list twice as he unbuckled his seat belt. Sunset had completed the driving test for the third time. If she failed this time she would have to go back and retest for the permit. She passed that the first time she took it. This had been a lot harder but she parallel parked perfectly (or she hoped).
Luna had worked with her. Her Aunt Celestia had worked with her, as well as her Aunt Chrysalis. Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity had all helped her. Was all this enough. Sunset held her breath.
“Well Miss Shimmer I have to say you passed the test this time.” Crankee Doodle said.
“YES!!” Sunset exclaimed, throwing her hands up as far as she could in her car.
“Come on inside we will take your picture and get your license printed here.” Crankee Doodle said getting out of the car.
Heading inside Sunset had her picture taken and her license printed up. She was so glad that they could do all this right next door to Canterlot High. Luna had sat in her office with the shades pulled down so she couldn’t watch Sunset fail again.
Any moment that door was going to open and she would come in. Most likely almost in tears. One more time Luna would have to be “mommy to the rescue”. That was not a thought she relished.
When Luna’s door burst open it startled her. Here was Sunset with a huge smile on her face. She was holding in her hand a license. She had passed!!
Luna rushed over and hugged Sunset tightly; her daughter had her license. Luna was thrilled but it also meant that her little girl was growing up. Luna knew this day would come.
“Sunset, I am so proud of you!!” Luna exclaimed.
“Mom, I can't wait until my next date. My mommy won’t be driving me this time.” Sunset exclaimed, also trying to sound grown up. Luna couldn’t help but shed a tear.
“Mom, why are you crying?” asked Sunset.
“My Little girl is growing up.” Luna said, dabbing her eyes.
“I will always be your little girl.” Sunset replied, hugging her mom tightly.
“I know but one day you’ll be out on your own and…”Luna began.
“No I won't, I'm gonna live with you forever.” Sunset said, smiling and trying not to laugh.
“I told you, don’t you threaten your mother like that.” Luna joked back.
“I have to tell everyone.” Sunset said, pulling her phone out.
Luna just smiled and grabbed her purse and then she realized Sunset still had her keys. Luna realized her and Celestia were going to have to get Sunset a car pretty soon. Then there was the problem of insurance. The fact that Sunset could drive opened up a bunch of new problems.
Luna wasn’t going to ruin the mood. She wanted to let her daughter bask in the happiness of this moment and text her friends. When Sunset was done she started dialing the phone.
“Sunset, who are you calling?” Luna asked.
“Twilight she deserves to know personally.” Sunset said putting the phone up to her ear.
“You probably should have called her first. Give me the keys so we can get home.” Luna said, taking the keys from Sunset.
“Hey mom, I can drive now.” Sunset said, trying to get the keys back.
“Not while you are on the phone you’re not. You talk to your girlfriend while I drive us home.” Luna said.
Sunset relented and let her mom have the keys. The main reason she agreed to hand over the keys was Twilight picked up at that moment.
“TWILIGHT GUESS WHO GOT HER LICENSE TODAY??!!” Sunset exclaimed.
“Did they finally let Pinkie Pie have a license?” Twilight asked
“Not Pinkie Pie, me you goof.” Sunset replied following her mom out of the school.
“I know I was kidding, I am so proud and happy for you Sunset do you know what this means?” Twilight asked.
“It means mom doesn’t have to drive us.” Sunset replied.
“It means we can make out in the backseat afterwards too.” Twilight replied seductively.
“We should actually go on a date now that I have a license.” Sunset said.
“Well we should also see if we can get some time at the Starswirl Music Festival.” Twilight replied.
“That would be kind of great to finally hang out together.” Sunset replied.
“Well I guess now the race is on between me and Pinkie to see who will be next.” Twilight replied.
“Well I better go I’m gonna head home for a victory feast, talk to you later.” Sunset informed Twilight.
“A victory feast?” Twilight asked.
“That’s what mom called it.” Sunset told her.
“Um o.k. Then I will talk to you later, we should do a Shimmer Code episode about a driving game.” Twilight said.
“Way ahead of you, I will tell you my ideas later. Ciao” Sunset said, hanging up.
“That girl can really talk sometimes.” Luna said.
“Tell me about it.” Sunset said.
Later that night Luna invited Chrysalis and Potion Nova over. Celestia cooked Sunset’s favorite dish, vegetable lasagna. Sunset had dinner with her mom and her aunts.
That night Sunset made a short video for Shimmer code talking about getting her license. Sunset said her next video review would be her Throwback Thursday and she would review some racing games.
After doing some quick editing she posted it. Sunset got some congratulatory texts from Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and even Juniper Montage texted her congratulations as well.
After all the celebrations Luna did express concerns about all the girls going to the Starswirled Music Festival without an adult.
“After all, these music festivals had scalpers, pickpockets and…”Luna began.
“...and Post Crush reforming for one night only.” Sunset said finishing the sentence.
“I will help you with renting a camper and all but you and your friends better put some money in on it, plus I want all of the other girls' parents, or in Applejack’s case grandparents ok on this.” Luna told her.
“You got it mom.” Sunset said cheerfully.
“I better or you are going nowhere.” Luna said forcefully.
A few days later the parents (and grandmother) all had a meeting at Luna and Celestia’s home to discuss this music festival.
“You know Luna, we have to let them grow up a little bit, you know.” Cookie Crumbles said.
“I agree we need to show our girls that we trust them.” Twilight Velvet chimed in.
“But they're just kids.” Luna said desperately.
“But not little kids, they're all 16 and 17 all soon to be High School Seniors. We need to trust them a little bit. Some of them are going to be adults in about a year.” Windy Whistles added in.
“None of us are comfortable with this Luna, least of all me. Ah’m on the fence about letting Applejack do this. Now Big Mac said he would go along wit’ them and that makes me feel a lil’ bit better.” Granny Smith added in her country twang.
“Am I being over protective?” Luna asked.
“No Luna, you're being a good parent. You're worried about your daughter. We all are worried about our girls. If Big Mac can get one other adult I'll agree to it.
We have four licensed drivers and two more with permits. So no one has to do all the driving. It is a well thought out plan.” Twilight Velvet brought up.
“You know these girls, including your daughter, have saved the school and even the world several times. They are more mature than you think.” Cookie Crumbles added.
“You’re right, ok we can let them go.” Luna said against her better judgment.
* * *
Potion Nova had just finished cooking dinner for her and Chrysalis and was
setting the table when the doorbell rang. Chrysalis looked up from the newspaper she was reading and decided she better answer the door.
Nova watched as Chrysalis opened the door. There stood a woman almost as dark skinned as Chrysalis with short pink hair that was kind of messy. She was dressed in all black and Nova noticed she had a scar over one eye yet that eye seemed to work fine.
“My goodness it has been a while. Nova come here you got to meet one of my old military buddies. Potion Nova meet Tempest Shadow.” Chrysalis said, motioning Tempest into the house.
“Hello. Chrysalis has mentioned you a time or two.” Nova said, shaking hands with Tempest.
“Really I deny everything.” Tempest joked.
“Even Fizzlepop Berrytwist?” Potion Nova asked.
“Of all things that's what you tell her.” Tempest said glaring at Chrysalis.
“I didn’t know you come walking in my door. Speaking of which, why don't you join us for dinner and tell us why you’re here.” Chrysalis offered
“I don’t want to intrude unless Potion Nova here is okay with it.” Tempest said secretly hoping Nova made enough food
“Well, any friend of Chrys is a friend of mine.” Potion Nova said still not sure what to make of Tempest.
So after Chrysalis set an extra place at the dinner table and while Nova finished dinner while Tempest talked to Chrysalis in the den.
“Listen Chrysalis, the reason I’m back is because something major is on the horizon.” Tempest told her.
“Major how?” Chrysalis asked,
“The Syndicate has been sniffing around CHS. They are very interested in that pedestal that used to have the Canterlot Wondercolt statue on it.” Tempest told her.
Chrysalis sat back taking all this in. Even if they did go through it would take time and if they just passed through what would Princess Twilight do upon their arrival.
“You realize they will be poking around for a little while. Doesn’t your niece attend there?” Tempest asked.
“Yes she’s about to start her senior year.” Chrysalis asked.
“At 16?” Tempest asked
“She was in advanced classes. She will be 17 when she graduates.” Chrysalis replied.
“I fear Sunset will have some role to play in this before it is all over.” Tempest said.
“I know that Tempest, she has already played a role through this whole story. Thanks to Sunset there is a group of about eleven girls who couldn’t be closer. Twelve if you count Juniper Montage who is away at college.
She also played the role in me gaining a sister, actually two almost and in a way is responsible for me hooking up with Potion Nova so if you ask me, she already played a role. Now she wants to be in a band, run a gaming channel on YouTube and graduate high school is that such a bad thing?” Chrysalis asked finishing her rant.
“The Syndicate is not going to rush in there in fact if I know how they work they will let someone else investigate for them.” Tempest said
“How do you know so much about this syndicate? Who is going to investigate for the Syndicate? Mulder and Scully?” Chrysalis asked.
“How? They are a shadow government organization, they have only appeared because they had too. They are not going to openly send agents out to investigate. They won’t let Mulder and Scully investigate it. They would need someone else, not in an official capacity to investigate it.” Tempest replied.
“Abacus Cinch and Gilda Griffon.” Chrysalis said, realizing who her old Commanding Officer was talking about.
“Exactly.” Tempest replied.
“The Dazzlings too.” Chrysalis added.
Tempest pulled out what looked like two sheets of paper and handed them to Chrysalis. Chrysalis took the sheets and her eyes widened in horror when she saw that the Dazzlings were playing The Starswirled Music festival-the same festival that Sunset and her friends were going to with a lot of kids from CHS.
“Sunset and her friends are in danger.” Chrysalis said in a hushed tone.
“Not a big public event like this music festival. Yet if someone gets as close as Twilight did this past March to finding the portal. Then we are all in danger.” Tempest added.
“You still tell it like it is. Lieutenant, that has never changed about you.” Chrysalis remarked.
“We may not be serving together in Afghanistan, but I am still not going to sugarcoat the truth.” Tempest replied.
“Dinner’s ready!!” Potion Nova called a second later from the kitchen.
Both Tempest and Chrysalis went in to eat.