//------------------------------//
// Greetings, Your Highness 
// Story: Sunset, Sunrise 
// by Pwincess 
//------------------------------//

I cantered out of the castle, Canterlot hadn't changed. As I walked around the corner, I prayed that the Joe's Donut Shop was still in business. I smacked my lips, remembering how mouthwatering his donuts were. I especially loved his glazed with sprinkles, no other shop in Equestria on sold that. I paused.

"Should I head to the train station for Ponyville or stop for donuts?" I pondered, finally shaking my head and leaping through the doors of the Donut Shop. "Joe! May I have a Glazed Delight With Sprinkles as per usual?"

"Uh... I don't think I've seen you before. But sure, I'll whip that up."

"Joe, it's me, Sunset Shimmer!"

"Nope, dunno who you are." I quietly pulled on a poker face, throwing on sixteen bits onto table. 

*Thank heavens I kept my allowance all those years ago*

I stuffed the donut in my mouth. It was, absolutely wonderful. I wiped my mouth, thanked Joe, and galloped out.  The train station was just two blocks away. 

When I arrived in Ponyville, I found a buttercream coloured pony with a pink mane awaiting me. She had with her a purple and green dragon. "Uh. Hello, I'm called Sunset Shimmer. And you are?"

"F...f...fluttershy."

"Pardon?"

"F...f...ffluttershy."

"Her name's Fluttershy. I'm Spike! You remember me, right?"

"Yes Spike. It was easy to recognise you."

"I know, right? Anyway, Twi said we had to take you for hayburgers."

"Oh. Alright then."

"Let's go." Spike grinned at me and tugged us towards the tiny fast food restaurant. 

~~~
The odour of grease poured out of the kitchen. Twilight wiped her cheeks from the tomato sauce as she noticed me enter. She waved her hoof, smiling and calling me. I blushed a little, than walked forwards. The chairs were extremely uncomfortable, and I had to squirm around to properly sit.
"Good Evening Twilight, 'ello... Uh. What's 'yer name?"


"My name is Sunset Shimmer, Applejack."

"How do you know ma name? Eh, never mind. Anyway, what can I get you?"

"Wait. Applejack, aren't you supposed to be harvesting apples in Sweet Apple Acres? When did you get a job here?"

"It's a long story. In short, I got dared." 

"Ah, right. I think Sunset just needs the menu for now, AJ. Thanks anyway." Applejack nodded her head, confirming that they could bring me the menu. I scanned through the menu, Which was just:


Hayburgers
Hayburgers
Hayburgers
Hayburgers
Hayburgers
Water.
Cost, two bits each.

I sighed, claiming to have understood. 

"This one please." 

"OKEY DOKI LOKI!" Pinkie Pie shoved Applejack, smiling as she wrote the order.

"Anything else?"

"How 'bout a bandage? Maybe some manners?" Applejack moaned, throwing her hoof in the table and pulling herself up.

"Sparkling Water, please." Pinkie nodded, rushed to the counter and threw a first aid kit at Applejack's already sore head.

"I resign from this dare! I give up!" 

"Well that was interesting..."

"At least they aren't boring, right? Anyway, let's discuss the topic. You want to become my Personal Protégé. Okay. But I will require hard work. Okay?" I nodded my head in understanding. If always worked exceedingly hard, even in Celestia's care, "good. You'll nead someplace to stay.  My castle is really large. You can have a room."

"You have a castle?"

"Yup! It's over there!" She pointed out of the window, and a gradient, crystallised tree came to view. I gave a gasp of adoration and nodded.

~~~
Finally, we were done and left. I smiled as Spike and Fluttershy desperatly followed us. The large, shimmering castle was so tall I could not identify where it ended. It seemed to tower above us like a giant. Twilight pushed open the doors, and we were met with a gorgeous entrance. Doors were everywhere, and Twilight pointed to the one on the left. 

When we climbed up the many staircases that followed the door, Twilight pushed another one. Inside it was a beautiful and alluring bed which was scented to be like roses. A diamond wardrobe and display case were each on both sides. There was a desk with a Phoenix's Feather, used as a quill, In a little bowl of ink. Hung on the walls was a portrait of myself, watching the sun set.

God, I was so impressed. I lay my ragged doll (SmartyPants) onto the bed. Turning to Twilight, I thanked her. "It's nothing, really. I'm going to leave you to settle down. See you at dinner!"