//------------------------------// // Another one? // Story: Confusing Reality // by CrossRedstone //------------------------------// "Better?" Sunset asked as kindly as possible to the shy pegasus. Fluttershy could only nod meekly in return, feeling a little embarrassed after what happened. Rainbow Dash in the meantime eyed the princess suspiciously, until something caught the corner of her eye. Looking outside Fluttershy's window, Rainbow Dash could see a pair of royal pegasi guards approaching the cottage. "Yo, princess. Looks like your taxi is here." Rainbow Dash pointed at the window. Confused, Sunset followed the weather pony's hoof, until she herself spotted the approaching stallions. "How do they know I'm here?" the alicorn asked more herself than anyone else. "Looks like it's time for me to go. I'll see you girls tomorrow. If my wings don't fall off that is." "See ya tomorrow, princess!" "Bye." Sunset left the cottage went to her guards. "How did you guys know, where to find me?" she asked. The two pegasi bowed briefly, before the higher ranking guard spoke up. "Princess, we asked the populace about your whereabouts." "Oh, makes sense." Sunset admitted, blushing at the mental assumption she made about being supervised 24/7. She watched way too many crime shows back on the human world. "Your highness? Are you alright? No offense, but you look a little tired." the other guard voiced his concerns. "Don't worry about me. Just found a possible new drill sergeant for the pegasus guards." Back at the castle, the only thing Sunset wanted to do, was to use her huge, golden, private bathtub and possibly exploit her status as a princess and get a good message. It was really a shame Fluttershy couldn't give her one. She barely made it into the hallway, when she heard a loud scream: "COUSIN!" What followed was a pick blur that tackled the yellow unicorn to the ground. "Urrgh, who, what?" A pink pony was looking down at her, one that Sunset thought she should remember, but couldn't wrap her head around. "Where have you been?" the pony whined. "I am FINALLY back in Canterlot and one of my two cousins is nowhere to be found." Sunset took a better look at the pony in front of her and noticed the horn and the wings. Now she remembered, she saw this pony briefly, when she stole Twilight's crown, but never got her name. "Uh, sorry?" Sunset tried. "Sorry?! SORRY?! You better have a good explanation for not being here, when I arrived! Oh, is it a stallion?" "What?! Get off of me." The other alicorn giggled, as she was pushed off by Sunset. The yellow furred pony got back up onto her hooves and shook her wings a little, to get the dust out of her feathers. "So...uh...how was your trip?" Sunset tried. "Oh, no, no, no, no. You're not getting off the hook that easily." the pink alicorn said with a sly grin. She gracefully walked over to her cousin and threw a wing over the other. "So, where have you been, cuz?" Sunset let out a sigh and resisted the urge to slap the wing away. Whoever this alicorn was, if they were family, they were probably pretty close. "I was in Ponyville, if you need to know." "Ponyville?" the pink alicorn put a hoof under her chin. "It doesn't ring any bells." “It’s where Celestia wants to have the next Summer Sun Celebration. I had really nothing better to do...so I thought I might check it out. Y’know…” To Sunset’s dismay, the pink alicorn looked at her suspiciously. Oh crap. I probably acted out of character. Stupid me, I should have informed myself of how I usually act around here. Spike is already suspicious, but he’s a baby dragon. Hardly anyone would listen to him. But to….whoever that pony is, doesn’t matter, she’s an alicorn! “Checking the place out? Whatever happened to the mare who could think of nothing more than studying, studying and even more studying?” the alicorn asked clearly amused. Sunset in return rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. “She got caught up in an accident the other day, in which she apparently erased a few of her memories. All by herself” The other alicorn gasped, putting her hoof over mouth. “Oh dear. Are you alright at least?” “Yeah. I think so.” The yellow alicorn made a gesture with her hoof. “It’s coming back bit by bit. Though, I guess I have been acting a little off, at least from the looks others give me.” “Hmm...really? Well from the looks of things, you got the okay from auntie, so I guess there’s no reason to be worried.” The unknown pony smiled. “Now, come on! Auntie and Twily are already waiting for us. Or did you forget the way to the dining hall?” “Ah, Cadance, Sunset.” Celestia greeted the two other ponies, as they entered the dining hall. “It’s good to see you’re back, my daughter. How was Ponyville?” The alicorn involuntarily shivered. “It was...something else to say the least.” If her muscles would be able to talk, they’d probably say that, that was the understatement of the year. “Oh? Well, now you know that there’s more out there, than just the luxuries of these walls.” The now dubbed Cadance gestured around the room. “I wouldn’t have figured.” Sunset muttered sarcastically. Celestia giggled. “Come, you two. Twilight, Spike and I have been waiting all day for you two. Sunset can tell us about her new experience, but first, Cadance, tell us about your trip to Prance. It’s been years since I have traveled there myself.” “Of course, auntie.” Cadance took place directly next to Twilight, while Sunset sat besides Celestia. “Oh, Equestrian cuisine.” the pink alicorn smiled. “Nothing against the Prench kitchen, but after a while you start to miss what you have here.” “Did you visit the-” “No Twilight, I didn’t visit any museum or historical site, aside from the tower.” Cadance gave Twilight a knowing look. Spike laughed, while the lavender alicorn looked disappointed. “I don’t understand you. You have so many opportunities to visit historical landmarks, all kinds of museums and you just miss out on them.” Twilight flared her wings aggressively. Both Cadance and Celestia shook their heads. “Well, excuse me, miss Princess of Books.” Cadance began in a mock-tone. “But I much prefer to view the landscapes and go on a little shopping spree every now and then.” “Ah yes, about that.” Celestia chimed in. “As of late, there seems to be a little empty space in one of the royal treasure vaults.” Sunset choked on her foot, having a hard time not to spit it out. Cadance puffed her cheeks. “Oh come on, auntie. I’m not buying THAT much. A mare is allowed to have a little variation in her closet.” “A little variation?” Celestia quoted. “I took the liberty to check on the latest transactions and as it turned out you bought no less than 50 clothes on your latest trip.” Sunset and Twilight choked on their food. Spike spit his half eaten gems right out and fell onto the floor, laughing and rolling around. Cadance for her part puffed her cheeks and let out a “hmph”, looking away from her aunt. “Sunset, why don’t you tell us a little bit about your trip?” the pink alicorn asked, causing Sunset to stop in mid-movement of putting the fork into her mouth. She placed it back on the plate, suddenly aware of everyone looking at her, especially Celestia. “Well...what’s there to say? It’s a nice little, quiet town with some friendly ponies in it. I managed to sort things out with the summer camp-” “Summer camp?” Her cousin interrupted. “Could you please elaborate on that?” “That’s right! You weren’t there.” Twilight looked eagerly up to Cadance. “Sunset bought an orphanage that was in financial crisis.” Cadance almost spit out her drink. “She...you did?!” Sunset’s cheek got a little red, as she looked to the sight. “What was I supposed to do? Watch as the kids get put onto the streets or overfill other orphanages?” “I..that’s...never mind, go on.” Sunset eyed the pink alicorn for a second, before she continued. “Okay. You see, the building really needs to be renovated from ground up and for the works to get done as fast as possible, it’s best if the kids stay out of it. Ponyville was organizing a Summer Camp, so I thought about bringing them there, until the worker ponies are done.” “I...see. Kind of unorthodox, but if it works.” the second oldest alicorn said slowly. “Mhm. Oh yeah, that reminds me, I’ll need to go to Ponyville again the next couple of days, to sort everything out. If that’s no problem.” the fiery alicorn looked over to her mother, who smiled and nodded. “Of course. Maybe you could even take Twilight and Spike with you.” The purple duo looked to the regal, white alicorn. “Really? We can?” Spike asked eagerly. Twilight didn’t share his excitement. “Uhh...as nice as this sounds, I have an awfully lot  of study material to go through, so-” “Oh, nonsense Twilight.” Celestia put a wing around her younger daughter. “You always spend your time studying, studying, studying. It’s high time for you to see the outside world. And museums don’t count.” Cadance laughed upon seeing the horrified expression on Twilight’s face. “Tell me, Sunset. Did you perchance meet some interesting ponies?” Celestia asked. “Now that you mention it, there was this crazy earth pony baker. I’d almost say she’s a relative of the spirit of chaos.” Sunset chuckled a little. “But she’s pretty funny and makes the best pastries I have ever tasted. Then there’s a unicorn mare, named Rarity. I was surprised to find a dress shop of all things in a small town like this. Of all ponies, she reacted the worst to me, even worse than the mayor.” “Worse? What do you mean?” Twilight asked. Sunset playfully rolled her eyes. “That mare almost fainted, when I entered her shop just out of curiosity. “Then there was this pegasus mare, Rainbow Dash. I swear she can even give the Wonderbolts a run for their money.” “That’s quite the statement.” Celestia commented. “I see that you have met quite a colorful of characters.” Sunset eyed the princess for a moment. Something about the way she said it, seemed somewhat off to the fiery maned alicorn. She just couldn’t put her hoof on it. “I...guess. And finally there was another pegasus I happened to stumble upon. Her name is Fluttershy and she got as many animals, as you would normally find in a zoo.” “Huh, is that so?” Cadance asked. “You need to see it for yourself, really.” Sunset concluded. “Maybe I should ask her if that bear of hers is up for adoption.” Later that evening, Celestia stood on her balcony, watching the moon intently, like she had done the past month. Each day seemed to pass faster than the previous. The princess needed to double check that she didn’t lower the sun too soon each day. Both Cadance and Sunset had excused themselves earlier, since they were exhausted from their trips, though Celestia had no idea what could be so exhausting about a little trip to a small town. As for Twilight, the poor sheltered mare desperately tried to argue that there was so many important things she had to study up, like how to properly interact with their subjects or the customs of the town she had never visited before. Celestia had simply argued that experience was better than any book and stood firm to her word. She giggled, remembering the puppy dog eyes her daughter had given her. “Uh...Celestia?” Her train of thought was interrupted by the voice of a certain dragon speaking. “Spike.” the princess turned around. “What brings you to me? Isn’t it past your bedtime?” she asked, walking back into her chamber, where the dragon stood. He was nervously shifting from one foot to another, while at the same time fidgeting with his claws. “Is something the matter?” the princess asked, sitting down in front of the dragon. “Well...it’s about Sunset. She’s been acting really weird lately.” the dragon said. Celestia blinked for a moment. “I think that is to be expected, after what she has put herself through.” “I know about the whole memory loss thing, but she didn’t lose ALL of them, right?” he asked. “Well, no. She didn’t. What exactly do you think is weird about her behavior?” “It’s...hard to tell. She’s just so...so...nice.” The alicorn titled her head. “I don’t see what’s wrong about that.” “It’s not wrong.” Spike argued. “It’s just not like her. She hadn’t yelled at any of castle stuff, she actually treated me ice-cream, I haven’t seen her obsessed with a book or hanging out with some noble stallion and then there’s the thing with the orphanage and Ponyville!” The little drake threw his arms up. “You can’t tell me she’s been always like that. I remember you scolded her a lot for not behaving like a proper princess.” Celestia closed her eyes, thinking for a minute. Of course she had noticed this herself, but wrote it down as to Sunset finally having learned her lesson after that accident she had. Celestia hadn’t shown it, but she had been ready to lock her daughter on the sun for a day, after she obviously did something foolish enough to do herself some serious damage. “Yes, I noticed.” she finally admitted. “Have you spoken to Twilight about this? Surely she should have noticed something.” In response Spike gave Celestia an “Are you kidding me?” look. “Like she would ever notice a difference. For her Sunset is the best pony that ever existed. No surprise there, since Sunset is always so nice to Twilight.” Celestia nodded. “Indeed. But personally, I think you shouldn’t dwell too hard on this matter. I think Sunset is finally taking my advice to heart and is trying to be a better mare in general.” “...Just like that?” Spike asked with a raised eyebrow. “Of course I belief the spell to be part of the reason of her changed behavior. It might have opened her eyes.” “I dunno.” Spike shook his head. “I think it would take more than that to change her mind. Remember the time she blew up one of the labs at your school?” “Only all too well.” Celestia said resigned. “Woops. I forgot to calculate the minus over there.” “What happened here?!” “Sorry mom! But it’s not like you don’t have the money to rebuild everything, right?” “I still don’t know how she got her hooves on the arcanite crystals…” she mumbled, but then shook her head. “Still, I believe she finally had her wake-up call and decided to try to change.” “If you say so…” Spike mumbled, before yawning. Celestia smiled and picked the little dragon up with her magic. “I think it’s high time for you to go to bed. Baby dragons do need their sleep after all.” The purple dragon didn’t complain, as the white princess put him onto her back and made it himself comfortable there. Twilight was nervous to say the least. Ever since the revelation of her aunt (and actually having an aunt for that matter) being Nightmare Moon, who was probably really mad right now and would escape her prison in a couple of days, she had a hard time keeping a clear head. Her books certainly helped her keeping her thoughts away from what was about to happen, though it didn’t help that she was currently researching the Elements of Harmony and Nightmare Moon. The best source available at the moment was of course her mom, but she had already made it pretty clear that she wanted neither Twilight or Sunset involved in all of this. Normally she would listen to her mother, but at the same time she didn’t want to see her mother being hurt. And by how serious Sunset had sounded by saying that they needed the Elements of Harmony, it only helped increasing Twilight’s worries. *knock* *knock* “Ah!” Twilight jumped. “Come in!” she called, glad nopony saw her acting like she did. The purple alicorn was surprised to see her mother entering her room, but that surprise disappeared, once she noticed Spike sleeping soundly on Celestia’s back. “Did he fall asleep on the floor?” Twilight asked amused. She took the burden of carrying Spike away from Celestia, by levitating Spike into his oversized basket, which was positioned next to her own bed. “No, he was just worried about Sunset. He said she acts a little off, ever since she woke up with her slight amnesia.” “Off?” Twilight repeated. “I don’t know what everypony is talking about. I heard some of the staff mumbling that Sunset was acting differently. I think they’re just exaggerating, like they always do, when somepony from the high society starts acting a little differently. I haven’t noticed any differences and I’m her sister.” Twilight argued. “I should be the first one to notice if anything is off about her.” Celestia smiled her usual regal smile. “If you say so. I’m glad Sunset is recovering quickly. Be a dear and keep an eye on her, just in case.” “Of course.” Twilight smiled, nuzzling her mother. “And one more thing. Please stop looking into the legend of the Elements of Harmony.” Twilight was completely taken aback by the statement. She looked up to her mother, surprised. “B-but how did you-?” Celestia laughed, her melodic voice echoing through Twilight’s room. Spike turned around in his basket. “Oh Twilight, have you forgotten who your mother is? Sunset going to Ponyville, using the convenient task of her new responsibilities as an excuse? While she investigates, you stay behind and study, like you do half the time anyway?” Celestia ruffled her daughter’s mane. “I can understand that you two are worried, but please, stay out of this.” She nuzzled Twilight’s neck. “I couldn’t bear seeing one of you getting hurt.” “But I...Sunset...we...there has to be something…” Twilight couldn’t find the right words. Celestia pulled her daughter into a hug, wrapping both wings around the little pony. “There’s no need to worry Twilight. I’ll come back. And I will bring your aunt back as well.” Sunset sighed in relief, upon feeling the warm water finally relaxing her sore muscles. The oversized bath was so luxurious, there was even a cushion for her to place her head on, in case she wanted to sleep during her bath. And that was exactly what she was going to do. “Hello, my dear niece.”