Sunset waved to her friends as they left their last class of the day. Her locker was on the other side of the school, so she told them she'd meet up with them again in a few minutes.
When she got there, she found someone she'd never thought she'd see for a while leaning against her locker in a purple hoodie.
Confused, Sunset ran up to her. "Twilight? What are you doing here?" She asked, alarmed. "Did something happen in Equestria?! Are you hurt?!" She said, lifting up the purple haired girl's arms and checking her face for bruises.
Twilight chuckled. "No, no! Everything's fine for once!" She said, smiling brightly. "I said I would come back, remember?" She reminded the other girl.
"Yeah but...it's been six months. What have you been up to? And why the sudden visit? I would have thought you would have sent me a message in the book before coming like this. I couldn't help but assume the worst." Sunset's eyebrows furrowed. "Why the surprise?"
Twilight smile grew brighter. "Well...In order for you to find out, you have to meet me at Sugarcube Corner at eight." She told her cryptically. “And sorry for such short notice, it kind of just happened so unexpectedly.”
"Oh, alright! I'll go tell the girls!" Sunset gushed, throwing her books down and turning around to fetch the rest of the humane six. "They won't belie-"
"A-Actually..." Twilight cut her off sheepishly.
Sunset turned on her heel and looked back at her questioningly.
"I'd prefer if it was just us." The Princess confessed. "You know, Equestrian to Equestrian.”
Sunset was still a little perplexed, but agreed. “Alright. I’ll see you then.” She said, opening her locker and getting her bag out. By the time she had closed it again, Twilight was gone. Shrugging, Sunset slung her back on her shoulder and walked down the hall.
Realizing she left her friends waiting for her, she ran out the front doors to find them all leaning against the statue at the front entrance. She quickly strode up to them. “Sorry, sorry!” She pleaded. “I had to....uh, talk to someone, and I completely forgot we were walking home together!”
“Took ya long enough! I was almost done convincing Applejack that we should leave you!” Rainbow Dash said, bouncing her soccer ball on her knees.
Applejack smacked her in the back of her head. “Yeah, that’s really loyal considerin’ yer supposed to be the Element of Loyalty.” She ducked as the soccer ball came flying at her head. “Hey! Watch where yer aimin’ that thing!” She yelled at the athlete.
“Who was it that you had to talk to, dear?” Rarity asked. “I hope it wasn’t any of the other students giving you trouble.” She worried. Even though she and the rest of the girls had practically saved the world, a lot of people’s opinions about Sunset hadn’t changed. The dirty looks she got did lessen, but the hostile atmosphere she received when she entered a room was still there.
Sunset shook her head. “No, actually, it was someone I was glad to see. Twilight was leaning against my locker and she told me she wanted me to meet her at Sugarcube Corner tonight.”
“Twilight’s here?!” Pinkie bubbled, shoving herself between Sunset and Rarity. “Where?! Where?! Oooh! We have to throw her a welcome back sleepover party!” She exclaimed.
Rainbow Dash smirked. “Aw yeah, count me in! You ready for a rematch, Applejack?” She asked the farm girl, bouncing the soccer ball in her hands off the other girl’s forehead, and laughing when it left a red angry mark on her orange skin.
“Why you little-” Applejack said, as she began to chase the rainbow haired girl around the statue.
“Actually, she kind of said she wants this visit to be a one on one thing. Equestrian to Equestrian. As she put it.” Sunset said, putting a hand on Pinkie’s shoulder to calm her down.
“Really? Why do you think she said that?” Fluttershy asked.
Sunset shrugged, for once not knowing the answer. “I don’t know. I guess I’ll find out later.” She looked down in discomfort. “Maybe I can ask her why exactly I grew ears and a tail like you guys. Especially since I don’t have a specific element.”
“Yeah, we've been wonderin’ that for some time now too.” Applejack agreed. “Maybe that’s what she came to talk to you about. Probably why she came unannounced too. She might just have an untested theory or something.”
“Thanks Applejack.” Sunset said, smiling at her friend as they began their walk home. Her words reassured her. Though Sunset’s stomach started to do somersaults. She couldn’t wait to see what Twilight had for her.
That night, Sunset shrugged on a hoodie and rode her bike over to Sugarcube Corner. It wasn’t a long ride, since her apartment wasn’t that far, but it felt like forever as her worries got to her. Not having any idea what Twilight wanted to talk to her about was an uneasy feeling, especially considering that the other unicorn turned girl was a Princess.
Her nerves eased a bit when she stepped through the door and she saw Twilight sitting at a booth with a cup of tea. She quickly claimed the seat across from the girl. “Hey,” She spoke, rubbing her hands together. It was an especially chilly night and she had forgotten her gloves at home because of all her fretting.
“I ordered you a cup of tea. I knew you’d be kind of nervous and forget your gloves.” Twilight said, nodding towards Sunset’s shaking hands. She watched as the older girl clamped her hands around the cup and sighed as the warmth engulfed her.
“Thank you,” Sunset breathed. She definitely needed that. “So what is it you needed to talk to me about?” She said after taking a long sip. She noticed Twilight had her hands shoved deep inside her hoodie pockets.
“First, how has everyone been? I’m sorry I haven’t been able to write to you guys in a while. Being a princess has taken up a lot of my time, and finding time to write to you guys is kind of hard. I hope you guys didn’t think I forgot about you all.” Twilight gave Sunset an apologetic look.
Sunset waved off her apology. “Nah, it’s fine Twi. We all understand. A lot has been happening on our end too. Pinkie and Rarity planned the biggest Fall Formal CHS has ever seen, and surprisingly I was nominated Princess. And I won.” She let out a laugh of disbelief.
“Really? You won?!” Twilight asked, leaning over the table. She couldn’t believe it either.
“Yeah, somehow Pinkie had gotten everyone to vote for me. I cried like a total dork. It felt weird too, since the past three times were...you know...” The older girl trailed.
Twilight took her hand and rubbed it comfortingly. “You’ve changed. It’s a good thing.” She assured her.
Sunset smiled back. “Right. Also Pinkie kept begging me to write to you to tell you to come over the summer.”
She sighed happily. “The summer was when we all really bonded. We spent almost every night at Pinkie’s house eating pizza, playing video games and just...talking. It was really fun.”
Twilight couldn’t help but smile. She knew she had came back at the right time. The envelope in her pocket was just itching to come out, and she knew that now was a better time than ever to give Sunset what she had been sent to give her. “Um, Sunset?” She asked, drawing the girl out of her reverie.
“Yeah?” She asked.
“The reason why I told you to meet me tonight was because I have something for you. Something from Princess Celestia.”
Sunset’s eyes bulged. “F-From Princess Celestia?!” She nearly shouted.
Twilight nodded and took it out of her pocket. She slid the crisp, slim, envelope with Celestia’s cutie mark on it across the table to Sunset.
The older of the two tentatively picked it up, as if it were the rarest piece of gold in the world. Tears swelled in her eyes. “Um, is it okay if I open it now?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Twilight fought back tears of her own. “Of course.” She granted.
Sunset carefully opened the envelope and pulled out the letter inside. As she began to read, tears fell down her face.
Dear Sunset Shimmer,
If you are reading this, then that means Twilight saw that you were redeemed enough to receive it. And I’m proud of you. You’ve shown yourself to be a true Element bearer, or at least, from what Twilight has told me. And although we aren’t quite sure what exactly your element is yet, the fact that you have one is proof enough that you have redeemed yourself.
Your time with me has not been forgotten, and you have been completely forgiven for what had transpired between us so long ago. Do not beat yourself up. Twilight has told me of your frustrations, of how others perceive you.
Remember this Sunset: It does not matter how others perceive you. What matters is how you perceive you. Do not hold the opinions of others so highly. You will end up trying to please everyone but yourself.
Twilight has not seen what I have written in this letter, and I would like to keep it that way. Her relationship with me and your relationship with me are completely different.
Since Twilight is now in possession of the book, from now on you are to write to her of all your social endeavours. She is the Princess of Friendship after all, and I’ve decided that she can teach you further on what I couldn’t.
You are always welcomed back in Equestria.
Love, Princess Celestia.
Sunset looked up at Twilight bleary eyed. “S-She really wrote this? She really wrote this for me?” She squeaked, wiping away her tears with her sleeve and sniffling.
Twilight solemnly nodded.
Sunset smiled at her. “She said that I should write to you about all my friendship lessons. Like how you did with her.” She hiccuped. “I hope you’re fine with having me as a student.
Twilight hugged the older girl, her own eyes filled with tears. “Sunset, I’d be glad to teach you about the magic of friendship.”
As the two embraced each other again, a huge six pointed star with six little stars around it shined brightly. And then, a seventh little star flicked into place.