//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: Back Home in Equestria 
// Story: An Uneasy Reunion 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
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For the first time in a long time, Sunset Shimmer stepped through the portal and was now back in Equestria. What's more, she felt herself on all fours again knowing now that she was back to being a Unicorn pony. Upon stepping out of the portal, Sunset admired the surroundings that she was in.

"Are we back in Equestria, Twilight?" gasped Sunset.

"We are, Sunset," replied Twilight as Sunset continued to take in what was around her. "This is my home, the Friendship Rainbow Castle. Not a bad place to live once you get used to it."

Sunset liked the castle, but she began to wonder why they came through here when they were in a different location when Sunset stole Twilight's crown.

"But, wasn't the portal in a different place?" asked Sunset. "I mean, this is nice and all. But, what about…?"

"You mean, the Crystal Empire?" said Twilight. "Well, my sister-in-law, Princess Cadence initially guarded it, but now it is me who guards it. So, anypony or anything that comes from your world will go through my castle library. Would you like me to show you around?"

"Yeah, why don't you?" remarked Sunset. "I might as well catch up on what I have missed all these years."


So, Twilight showed Sunset around all the areas of her castle and soon, they ended up in the castle throne room, where the map of Equestria shimmered before them. Sunset gasped in shock at the scope of the throne room with a giant chandelier that was once the Golden Oak Library hanging right above it.

"I take it that this is your throne room," said Sunset, walking up to the round table. "You must have a great responsibility to your role, Twilight. It certainly is a lot better than the classrooms at Canterlot High if you ask me."

Sunset then placed her front left hoof on the armrest of Twilight's throne and began to think of what her life could have been if she didn't follow the path that she did.

"It certainly is," replied Twilight, walking over to join Sunset at her throne. "Although, I will admit, it doesn't feel like where I used to live, you know."

"Where did you once live?" asked Sunset and Twilight then motioned for Sunset to look up at the Golden Oak Chandelier, with its ornaments marking important moments in Twilight's journey since she and Spike moved to Ponyville. "This was where you once lived?"

Twilight let out a deep sigh, the memories of her time in the Golden Oak Library still fresh in her mind along with all the personal items that she held dear to her heart. However, the memories of seeing the library destroyed by Lord Tirek were just as fresh in her mind as getting this castle that she now called home.

"Yes," she said sadly, lowering her head for a moment. "When I first came to Ponyville, the Golden Oak Library was my home along with Spike. A little while ago, a demonic Centaur destroyed it along with everything that Spike and I ever owned."

Much like Twilight in the human world, Sunset was now beginning to have a renewed respect for Twilight. Sunset then patted Twilight on the shoulder as a show of support.

"I'm sorry for what you went through, Twilight," replied Sunset, solemnly. "But, at least you have your friends and Spike to still be in your life, much like our Canterlot High friends."

"Well, you're right on that, Sunset," said Twilight, perking up a little bit. "As long as I have them in my life, then that is what matters."

"Of course," sighed Sunset. "Like you, I can never get back moments that held in great deal to me. I wanted to be Celestia's students, but my impatience caused me to lose it all."

“Well, you now have a chance to start anew, Sunset," Twilight told her. "Prove to everypony in Equestria that you are not the same pony anymore that stole my crown. You can start by reuniting with Princess Celestia again and making up for the problems that you caused each other a long time ago." 

Sunset carefully took in what Twilight had said to her and realized at that moment that she needed to meet with Celestia again. True, they couldn't be student and teacher again, but at least Sunset was going to be given the chance to start anew. 

"Well, it's not going to be easy," she sighed. "But, it needs to be done, Twilight. I've hidden my feelings for a long time, Twilight and I have got to face them. But, how they are going to turn out is a great mystery to me."

“Trust me, I know a pony who is going through a lot of similar feelings right now,” Twilight told Sunset Shimmer. “Her name is Starlight Glimmer, and she’s my student. I hope that you will have the chance to meet her while you are here.”

“Where is she now? And where’s Spike for that matter?” Sunset Shimmer asked.

“They’re both probably still sleeping,” Twilight replied. “Spike especially tends to be a heavy sleeper.”


Suddenly, the two ponies felt a flash of light coming through the windows of Twilight's throne room. It was a sign that Celestia was starting a new day in Equestria by raising the sun as she always had done.

"Perhaps maybe now is the time to start your redemption," Twilight said to Sunset Shimmer. “Let’s go to Canterlot, I know Princess Celestia will be glad to see you.”

“But what about Spike and Starlight?” Sunset Shimmer asked.

“I’ll leave them a note explaining where I’ve gone, and how to reach me,” Twilight replied. “Hopefully, when we come back from Canterlot, they will be awake and you’ll be able to see them. You’re going to be quite surprised to know that Spike is a dragon. A baby dragon, but still a dragon.”

“No way! I thought dragons were extinct in Equestria!” Sunset Shimmer exclaimed “You are so lucky to have one.”

“Well, Spike isn’t just my number one assistant, he’s like family to me,” Twilight explained “I don’t know what I’d do without him, and I can’t imagine what life would be like if I never hatched him.”


Meanwhile, as Sunset and Twilight started their journey to Canterlot, Celestia had raised the sun and began a new day in Equestria while Luna lowered the moon and went to her quarters to rest after another long night. The conversation that the two sisters had shared regarding a reunion with Sunset were still fresh in their minds.

"Are you still thinking about Sunset Shimmer, sister?" asked Luna. “Like I said before, I doubt she has any intention of returning to here ever again, and for good reason. Most ponies know nothing of the world beyond that magic mirror, in their eyes they would see Sunset Shimmer not unlike how they saw me just after I was freed from Nightmare Moon. Is that really what you want her to subjected to?”

"She will prove herself to be otherwise," answered Celestia, sharply. "The question now is when she will decide to return to Equestria and accept me as a friend again."

"Only time will tell, sister," advised Luna. "Sunset Shimmer will decide to return when she does, and who knows what she will think."

Just then, a royal guardspony came up and approached the two sisters, bowing to them as he stopped in front of them.

"Princess Twilight is here with a pony that claims to have been your student," said the guard and the two sisters gave a worried look, knowing now that Sunset and Celestia would be facing each other again…