Sunset Shimmer began to pant heavily after all the running around Pinkie Pie did dragging her along. “Please Pinkie Pie, don’t ever do that again…” Sunset huffed trying to catch her breath.
Pinkie Pie giggled embarrassed. “Sorry about that. Guess I got carried away again.”
“It’s not a big deal.” Sunset said smiling back at her. “I’m pretty used to it actually…” she smiled thinking about her Canterlot High counterpart Pinkie Pie.
“Hey, since we pretty much met everypony, can I ask you something?”
“Of course Pinkie. What is it?”
“How come you were trying to avoid us?”
Sunset’s face immediately changed from happy to some what embarrassed. “How did you know I was…?”
“My Pinkie sense silly!” Pinkie beamed. “I knew you were here the minute you came!”
Sunset looked down and sighed. “I guess I was just afraid at first… The night you first saw me, I didn’t exactly give off the best first impression.”
“The night we first saw you? Oooohhh! You mean the night you tried to steal Twilight’s element of harmony and use it for yourself for your own personal needs and trying to--”
“Yes, that!” Sunset snapped not wanting to hear the whole thing again. “I was afraid that you would still have mixed thoughts about seeing me again after that…” Right after that, sunset could feel the embrace again from Pinkie Pie. “Huh?”
“Don’t worry about it silly!” Pinkie smiled letting go. “It was the old you right? I don’t have any reason to be mad at you, and I’m sure the others won’t be mad either!”
“I just hope you’re right…” Sunset sighed as they got close to the castle entrance.
“Just trust me, okay?” Pinkie winked opening the door, leading the way inside.
“Gosh…” Sunset said looking around the castle. “Twilight mentioned to us that she had her own castle now, but I didn’t think it would be so breathtaking... “
“Yeah, it’s really big and shiny too!” Pinkie said smiling at her own reflection. She stopped and continued on her way to the main room where everypony else was. Sunset Shimmer just followed close behind her. “And this is the room where me and my friends go a lot!” she said standing in front of the big door. “Wait right here!” She smiled and quickly went inside seeing everyone getting ready to leave. “Oh, we’re gonna leave soon?”
“We’re leaving right now.” Twilight answered. “Were you able to meet the new pony?”
“Yup!” Pinkie beamed. “She’s a unicorn!”
“Oh, well where is she staying?”
“Here in the castle!” Pinkie smiled again.
The others just looked at eachother a little confused. Sunset Shimmer, who was behind the door listening, was a little confused as well. “Pinkie Pie, you didn’t tell me that…” Sunset said to herself.
“Where is this new unicorn?” Rarity asked. “Where is she from?”
“From Canterlot.” Pinkie answered. “She even had the same teacher as Twilight!”
“Princess Celestia was her teacher…? But…” Twilight stopped to think for a moment.
“You can come in now!” Pinkie exclaimed catching Sunset off guard.
The room was deathly quiet. Not a single sound was heard except the loud creaking sound of the door slowly opening with magic. When the door opened, everypony in the room was at a loss for words. They knew who she was but at the same time, they still couldn’t believe it. “Um…” Sunset was the first to say something. “It’s good to see all of you?” she said smiling sheepishly.
“Sunset Shimmer…” Twilight finally said stepping forward. “Is that really you??”
“Yeah it’s me…” Sunset answered rubbing the back of her head.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were going to stay in that other world.”
“Well, to be honest Twilight… I can’t stay there anymore as long as I still have a guilty conscience. I know I fixed everything with my friends there, but Equestria is my real home. Plus, I have to make up for the wrongs I did here as well.”
Rainbow Dash crossed her hooves with a skeptical look on her face. “This is a little weird…” she said keeping her hooves crossed.
“Why exactly did you come now of all times?” Applejack asked stepping forward as well.
“Well… after Twilight helped us in Canterlot High with the Sirens, I felt like I had done everything to earn their friendship.” Sunset answered looking back at Twilight. “And now I want to help out here any way that I can.”
“Well…” Twilight thought to herself. “We were about to head out to a new town because we believe there may be some sort of trouble.” She said pointing at the map at the spot where the six cutie marks were floating. “We don’t exactly know why it’s there, but we’re going to find out.”
“New town…? Do you mind if I come as well to help investigate?” Sunset asked.
“I don’t see why not.” Twilight smiled. “Besides, it’s good seeing you here again.” She turned to her five friends. “What do you girls think?”
“I say yes!” Pinkie exclaimed hugging Sunset again.
“If she’s your friend, I suppose it’s worth giving her a chance.” Rarity said smiling.
“I don’t mind.” Fluttershy smiled as well.
“Should be nice gettin’ to actually know her.” Applejack said giving Sunset a pat on the back.
“I don’t mind… I guess.” Rainbow said still with a skeptical look on her face. The rest of the girls, excluding Sunset, gave Rainbow a sort of glare.
“It’s settled then, she will be coming with us as well.” Twilight smiled hugging her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The seven ponies were almost at their destination. One of them however was staying a little bit behind, not exactly feeling all that comfortable yet. “Sunset Shimmer, what’s the matter?” Twilight asked looking back at Sunset.
“Oh, don’t worry about me.” Sunset fake smiled. “I’m fine back here.”
“Sunset, there really is no need for you to be so nervous… Come walk with us.” Twilight smiled holding her hoof out. Sunset looked at the others first before going next to Twilight. “We’re here.” she stopped and looked down at the town.
Everyone looked at the town curiously. But none of them could really see any problem here. Everypony was smiling, and the only strange thing was their cutie marks. “Um, there doesn’t seem to really be any problem here...” Sunset said.
“Great… another boring adventure.” Rainbow huffed. “Why the hay would the map send us here then?”
“I don’t like it!” Pinkie said with a serious look on her face. “I don’t like it one bit! I know smiles, and those smiles are just not right.”
“Forget the smiles. Look at the cutie marks!” Twilight pointed out, noticing that everypony indeed had the exact same cutie mark being an equal sign.
“Okay… that’s weird.” Rainbow said having the same expression.
“An entire village with the same cutie mark…?” Sunset said. “How is that even possible?”
“I bet there’s some sort of horrific monster behind it.” Rainbow said.
“What makes you say that?” Twilight asked.
“Because fighting a horrific monster would be super awesome!” Rainbow said while Sunset facehoofed.
“I reckon we just head into town and talk to some locals.” Applejack said turning to Twilight. “Find out what’s goin’ on.”
“Great idea AJ!” Rainbow exclaimed. “Let’s go!” without another second of hesitation, she zoomed off.
Pinkie however did not seem amused at all. “Those smiles are bad news…”
The seven ponies then proceeded to head through the town, passing the creepily smiling ponies. Each one of them all saying “Welcome!” as they passed by.
“This must be the most pleasant place in Equestria.” Fluttershy smiled looking around at the town.
“Welcome!” a dark blue pegasus with a white mane and tail said making Fluttershy giggle.
“Ugh… thanks a lot map…” Rainbow said in annoyance.
“Welcome!” A male unicorn said walking up to the girls. “Pardon my forwardness, but are you an alicorn?”
Twilight just smiled nervously in response as Applejack answered for her. “That there is the Princess of Friendship!”
“Well, you’ve certainly come to the right place for friendship.”
“What brings you to town?” A white earth pony asked walking up to the girls as well.
“We’re not… entirely sure.” Twilight admitted.
“I see.” The white earth pony said. “All are welcome here in our little village. My name is Double Diamond and this is Party Favor.” he said pointing at the male unicorn next to him.
“Howdy Double Diamond. I’m Applejack, and this here’s Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Sunset Shimmer, and Twilight Sparkle.” Applejack said pointing at each of them as she said their names, as Twilight let out another sheepish smile.
“And you all have your own unique cutie marks!” Double Diamond point out while Pinkie tried to cover hers.
“If you don’t mind, has there been any sort of trouble here lately?” Sunset asked stepping forward.
“Trouble? Why, I don’t think we’ve ever had trouble in our little village.” Double Diamond responded.
“It’s true, you’ll see.” Party Favor added.
“Perhaps you care to speak to our founder, Starlight Glimmer.”
“I wish that everypony in Equestria were as friendly as these ponies are.” Fluttershy said with a smile.
“I’ve got my eye on them…” Pinkie said glaring at the other ponies in town as they all followed the two new ponies to somepony’s house. “Something's rotten in… whatever the name of this village is that we’re in right now!”
The two ponies both just knocked on the door they were in front of. “Starlight? We have some new visitors.” Double Diamond said walking inside letting the girls follow.
"Get ready." Rainbow whispered. "We don't know what could come out that door!" She said as all the girls turned their attention back to the door.
"Welcome!" A pinkish unicorn with purple hair said smiling.
"Ugh..." Rainbow Dash groaned.