Roseluck stretched her hooves out and stepped off the train as Derpy and Roseluck looked around curiously.
“So this is Canterlot,” Roseluck mused as Sunset and Screw Loose stood next to her. “I’ve never been to the big city before.”
“Aren’t you from Manehatten or something?” Trixie reminded her with a tilted head. “That’s a big city. Trixie has been there once or twice.”
“Yeah but I’ve never been to Canterlot before so this is a first for me,” Roseluck replied as she and the others followed Sunset through the city.
“You sure know your way around,” Silverspeed noted as Sunset laughed dryly.
“This is my city after all. It’s night time too so most of the city folk are at the Gala,” Sunset explained as she paused and dropped a dozen bits into a homeless pony’s pot. “You girls go ahead, I’ll be right there.”
“Thank you,” the dirty looking mare looked up as she smiled faintly.
“You’re welcome. Go to the hotel downtown and tell them Sunset Shimmer sent you. Also get some dinner,” Sunset said as she levitated the mare onto her hooves before placing the bits on the mares back. “Have a good night.”
Sunset galloped to catch up to her friends as they gave her looks.
“What took you?” Shoeshine asked as Screw Loose licked Sunset’s cheek.
“Nothing,” Sunset said finally as she watched the homeless mare walk towards the hotel Sunset had pointed to. “Let’s keep going.”
Sunset trotted ahead of the group as she lead them to the castle as she glanced at Derpy next to her.
“I saw what you did,” Derpy said casually as she flitted her wings. “I’m proud of you. You didn’t have to help her, you could have walked right past her like half the town does.”
“I have no clue what you are talking about,” Sunset said as her eyes flicked to Derpy.
“Yes you do.”
“Fine, I helped her out. So what?” Sunset commented as she stopped walking.
“Nothing, just proud of you is all. Not many ponies would have helped her. I would have but I don’t have the bits,” Derpy said sheepishly as Sunset’s anger disappeared.
“Yeah I know. If you need help, you know where to find me.”
“I know.”
“Sorry for uh ya know, yelling a bit there,” Sunset rolled a hoof sheepishly. “I’m not entirely used to be talked about when I give bits away.”
“You’re fine. Wanna keep going?”
Sunset nodded as she started leading them again.
“Woah,” Trixie said in awe as they stared up at the castle. “You used to live here?”
“Yeah,” Sunset said as she watched two ponies leaving the castle. “It’s nothing too crazy.”
“What?” Shoeshine said in confusion as she shifted on her hooves. “Not many ponies say they lived at the Canterlot castle!”
“True. I try to not flaunt it around you girls,” Sunset admitted sheepishly as she crossed her forelegs.
“Ah,” Roseluck mused as she threw a foreleg over Sunset’s back as she and the others admired her orange and red dress that matched her mane. “You look really good by the way.”
“She’s right,” Silverspeed chimed in with a smirk. “Maybe you’ll find a colt friend tonight.”
“Nah,” Sunset shook her head and turned red. “I’m uh into mares ya know? Is that gonna like, end our friendships or-?”
“Ew no,” Trixie scoffed as she rolled her eyes. “Trixie bats for both teams.”
“I don’t care either,” Shoeshine shrugged as Roseluck nodded her approval. “Who you wanna sleep with or date with is your business. Berry is dating Minuette after all.”
Sunset didn’t know that Minuette was like but wasn’t surprised. She, Lyra and Lemon Hearts always did act a bit unique in school. And then there was Moondancer dating Twilight that everypony knew about. Sunset had been admittedly stunned by that.
“I don’t care,” Derpy hugged Sunset. “I’ll admit, I’ve dated mares in middle school. No biggie.”
“Bark!”
“And Screw Loose agrees with her,” Trixie translated.
“Me too,” Silverspeed announced as she placed a wing on Sunset’s back. “Maybe you’ll find a mare then.”
“Nah, I’m not looking at the moment. Maybe in the future,” Sunset shrugged with a small smile. “Thanks for not shoving me to the curb.”
“We’re your friends,” Trixie scoffed and rolled her eyes. “We won’t just toss you aside ever. You’re stuck with us.”
“Joy,” Sunset joked in mock sadness. “Pity me.”
“Shut up,” Roseluck rolled her eyes and nudged Sunset with an elbow. “Come on, I hear there’s alcohol inside. This mare needs a glass of wine or two.”
“Oh by the stars,” Derpy rolled her eyes as Roseluck trotted ahead. “I’ll see you girls inside. We should meet here at the end of the night so we don’t get lost. I should probably catch up with Rose.”
Derpy took off after Roseluck as she flapped her wings and disappeared inside towards the front doors.
“We should get inside. I’m hoping none of the mares I dislike are there,” Sunset gritted her teeth. “This will be so annoying if Twilight is here.”
“Who?”
“The mare that was at the library and the Summer Sun Celebration. Got pissed about the party in the library and got thrown out by a drunk Thunderlane.”
“Bark, bark bark!”
“She says she is a unique mare,” Silverspeed said as she and Screw Loose hugged. “Not a huge fan of Screw Loose unfortunately.”
“Then I hate her,” Shoeshine growled as she cracked her forelegs. “Anypony who hates my sister is my enemy.”
Sunset gave a nod as she and the others trotted up the steps of the castle, faintly making out Princess Celestia greeting guests as Silverspeed hastily stopped Screw Loose from eating her own dress. It had admittedly taken all of them to get Screw Loose in one but it had gotten down. Trixie did almost lose her head by Screw Loose biting at her but risk is reward.
“Ah hello Sunset,” Celestia nodded at the mares. “Happy to see your friends here with you. I hope you all have fun tonight.”
“Thank you Princess,” Sunset and the others bowed quickly before standing up and trotting away. “Oh you have got to be kidding me.”
Standing in front of them, was Sunset’s enemy Twilight Sparkle.