Almost there. Sunset Shimmer's destination was in sight. Though not running, she was in a hurry to get there. Sunset was on her way to meet up with her friend, and time was of the essence; this would be the only chance she would have to talk with her friend face-to-face for a while, and Sunset really wanted to talk to her. Sunset continued down the sidewalk, quickly maneuvering around person after person until she finally arrived.
Made it. Finally. Sunset Shimmer breathed out as she stood before the entrance to the Sunlight Café. Please be here.
Sunset entered the building to be greeted by the sound of strangers. This was to be expected; the café was moderately popular at this hour. Ignoring all of the chatter, Sunset began searching for her friend. She stood by the entrance and looked around but didn't immediately find Twilight Sparkle. Don't tell me she had to leave already.
"Sunset!" The bacon-haired girl looked toward the sound of her name to see Twilight waving to her.
Sunset smiled as she walked to the booth Twilight was occupying. "Twilight! There you are!" Sunset took a seat across from the Princess of Friendship. "I was afraid you already left for Equestria."
"Not yet. I'm still here," Twilight spoke in the most sincere voice. "It's good to see you, Sunset."
"You too. I can't thank you enough for coming," Sunset's face turned a little remorseful. "Sorry I made you wait. I just finished my shift a while ago. I came here as soon I could."
Twilight just smiled. "It's okay, Sunset. I understand," Twilight then pushed a paper cup across the table to Sunset. "I ordered for you. I hope I got it right."
Sunset gladly accepted the beverage. She took a sip and raised an eyebrow at Twilight. "Hmm...it definitely tastes like my usual mocha espresso with just the right amount of cream. Impressive."
"I take good notes," Twilight smirked. "I wasn't coming to visit my friend unprepared."
"Aw. So you do think of me," Her sarcasm was evident.
"Maybe a little," Twilight blushed. "But you're one to talk. You called me here, remember?"
"What?" Sunset played innocent. "A girl can't ask to see her best friend in person?"
"Oh," Twilight mockingly placed a hand on her chest. "I'm your best friend now?"
"Maybe. Just maybe," Sunset wore a devious smile on her face. "You could be, or you couldn't be. For all you know, I just called you here so I could see Spike. Speaking of which," Sunset looked around Twilight. "Where is he?"
"He didn't come this time; He stayed behind in Equestria. Spike volunteered to take care of some royal duties so I could visit you a little longer."
"Aw. He did that? I'll give the little guy a treat the next time I see him," Sunset took another sip from her drink. "How ya been, Twilight? Anything new been happening?"
"I'm good. No, nothing really new. Well, except for tomorrow. I'm lecturing a class from Canterlot about cutie marks."
"Oh yeah. You told me about that. You nervous?"
"A little, but it's nothing I can't handle," Twilight examined her friend a little more. "I like your new look."
"Thanks. It's a new outfit."
"Well, I think it suits you, Sunset."
"Thanks," Sunset rubbed her arm. "I actually didn't really like it at first. I thought my old clothes were just fine, but Rarity and Fluttershy were really persistent. They said my old leather-jacket was 'too worn out.' Haha. They're ones to talk. I haven't seen them or anyone else for that matter change their look. That's not a good fashion sense."
"Excuse me," Twilight sarcastically said after placing her hands on sides. "But some looks just suit us. You know what they say, Sunset, if it isn't broke, don't fix it."
Sunset gave Twilight a playful scowl. "So you're saying that Rarity and Fluttershy thought my old look was broken and you agree with them?"
"I'm just saying it's not a crime to change one's style every now and then."
"Just a minute," Sunset pointed a finger at her friend. "You haven't changed your style since the day we met."
"These clothes are prearranged for me for whenever I cross the portal. I have no decision in the matter."
"Nice try, Twilight, but that excuse won't work with me. I crossed the portal, too, remember? I've switched my prearranged clothes for these," Sunset tugged on her jacket and then gave Twilight a smug look. "So you don't have to wear just those clothes whenever you come here, making your argument is invalid."
Oh, Sunset. Twilight internally laughed as she rolled her eyes in response to Sunset's teasing.
After continuing their banter for a while longer, Twilight decided it was time to talk about why they were here. "So, why did you want to meet? Is something wrong?"
Sunset sighed at the question. I guess we had to get here eventually. "I don't know. Maybe, I guess," Sunset wasn't so sure herself. "I mean, I feel like something is wrong, but I don't know why it does."
"Well," Twilight began. "It certainly sounds like something has been on your mind."
"Yeah, there is something I've been thinking about," Sunset stirred the drink in front of her. "The Friendship Games."
"The Friendship Games?"
"It's a competition between Canterlot High and another school that's coming up real soon. The others and I are competing."
"That sounds nice."
"It is. But it's just..." Sunset thought. "Everyone at CHS is really looking forward to it, and I am too, I guess. But...just not as much. All anyone can talk about at Canterlot High is this big competition. They really want to win the Friendship Games. To them, this is the biggest thing that's happening all year, but to me...it's just kind of ordinary and, honestly, a bit silly."
Twilight was listening. "Why do you think that?"
"Well...It's just that no matter which way I look at it, the Friendship Games are just a...sporting event."
"And that's a problem for you?"
Sunset nodded her head. "Yes. Everyone else whose competing talks about how this is their big chance to shine, to be the school hero, and get noticed by all sorts of colleges and universities."
"Huh?" Twilight looked confused.
"Oh, right. Uh, they're institutions of higher education after high school. This dimension almost demands a higher degree of learning to make a decent living."
Twilight chuckled. "Okay, I get it."
"But," Sunset picked up again. "I think that's the problem. This is their chance to start on their future. This could be the first step towards the rest of their lives, but for me...it has almost no value. Even if I help CHS win, it won't help my future. Not here, at least," Sunset kept stirring her drink with a little spoon. "By all definitions, I'm an illegal alien in this world. That status alone takes away so many opportunities, including a higher education. I won't have anywhere to go after I graduate high school. It just makes me wonder if...there's more for me back home."
"In Equestria?"
Sunset slowly nodded. "Yes."
"Well," Twilight thought about the possibility of Sunset returning home. "There's certainly many more opportunities for you there. Being a former student directly under Princess Celestia is a testament to your potential. Your knowledge on magic and Equestrian history is very extensive. Not to mention, you probably know more about this universe and its magic than anypony else in Equestria.," Twilight grew more excited as she went on. "In fact, your magical abilities are among the best I've seen. Canterlot or the Crystal Empire could certainly use somepony like you. Better yet," Twilight brightened at the thought of her new idea. "You could come live with me in the Castle of Friendship as my official protégé!"
Sunset smiled. "You'd really let me live with you as your pupil?"
Twilight began to play with her hair. "I mean-I just thought it'd be nice to have somepony else around the castle and, you know, teach them about the magic of friendship," There was a faint blush on the princess's face. "And I'm sure there's nopony more qualified than you."
"Really?"
"Of course! Think about it; You were studying magic as Princess Celestia's prized student, left Canterlot on a quest of self-discovery, and discovered the magic of friendship in this new world. It's almost exactly like my journey to becoming the Princess of Friendship! In fact, your friends are even this dimension's counterparts of mine!"
Sunset rubbed the back of her head. "I think my journey was a bit more ambitious and slightly more evil than yours, Twilight."
"I said 'almost', Sunset," Twilight joked. She laughed for a moment before noticing Sunset wasn't laughing along with her. Twilight then composed herself back to a calm tone. "You turned out good in the end, Sunset. Look at you. You're so nice now, you're so happy, and you found friends who love you. You definitely have the magic of friendship inside of you."
Sunset blushed. "Thank you, Twilight. But" Sunset's voice became more delicate. "That's what makes it so hard to leave this world."
"Huh?"
"You said it yourself, Twilight. I'm in a much better place now."
Sunset sighed. "Throughout my entire life in a Equestria, I was a ruthless lowlife. I never cared about anypony else. I never thought they were worth my time. Power was all I desired, and I didn't care who I'd have to hurt to get what I wanted. I even turned my back on Princess Celestia," Sunset shook her head. "She said that I had talent and could be destined for great things, but that I was missing something special and she could help. She took me in and tried to show me the right way, but I didn't want to hear it. Then," Regret covered Sunset's face. "I betrayed her."
"As punishment, she terminated my status as her personal student and banished me from her castle. But I didn't let it end there; The moment the guards had escorted me out of her sight, I made my escape and fled to this dimension. The instant I stepped foot here, I was at it again."
"I was in a new world. Before I even knew anything about it, I wanted it for myself. It didn't take long for me to notice how different this place is from Equestria; Ponies aren't the dominant species, Celestia isn't the ruler, you walk on two feet, and there isn't any magic here. Well, there wasn't any at first, anyway," Sunset raised an eyebrow at Twilight with a light grin before gloomily returning to her story. "My magic was gone. The talent I had taken so much pride in had disappeared. I was stuck alone in a new dimension, and I couldn't even do a simple levitation spell," A tear shed from Sunset's eye. "It was scary, but I couldn't let it get to me. There was no time to feel scared. If I was going to make something of myself, I had to toughen up. I needed to study this world to learn how to survive and find a new way to gain power. It wasn't as hard as I thought it'd be. As different as this world is, living in it is similar enough to living in Equestria. Adjusting wasn't much of a problem at all after a while."
"After some research, I learned this world's Celestia worked at Canterlot High School. I confronted her to see if she knew anything about Princess Celestia or Equestria. Turned out she didn't know a thing. She thought I was just some ordinary student who came to register for classes. I actually played along with it. CHS provided food and I figured I could learn a lot more about this world from one of its schools. That day, I became a Canterlot Wondercolt. That's when things started to go my way."
"I didn't have my magic anymore, but I didn't need magic to control the students of CHS. I only needed one thing: fear. Blackmail, threats, humiliation, you name it. This world had the technology for me to ruin anyone's image in an instant, and I took full advantage of it. I made sure no one would dare cross me, and anyone who did paid the price. Soon enough, I was on top of the food chain at Canterlot High."
"But then something happened; in a personal reconnaissance mission back in Equestria, I learned that the Elements of Harmony had been rediscovered, the Crystal Empire had returned, and, most shockingly, Princess Celestia's new personal student had ascended to an alicorn and was crowned a princess in Equestria."
Twilight responded with a nervous look.
Sunset chuckled. "Don't worry about. I'm happy for you. I am now, anyway," Sunset looked ashamed again. "But back then, I was furious. 'It should've been me. I DESERVED it. She's only princess because I left.' That's what I kept telling myself. I hated everything about the situation. But at the same time, I was intrigued; Your crown was the Element of Magic. If I could take it and cross it through the portal with me, I would have the means for taking over this world while at the same time spitting in your face," Sunset suddenly remembered who she was talking to. "Er, so to speak. No offense."
"None taken."
"Okay. Anyway, I knew what you looked like after finding an Equestrian newspaper about your coronation. Your crown just so happened to look exactly like that year's Princess of the Fall Formal crown. I thought it was divine intervention. I waited for you to get close before I made move. Once you were..." Sunset shook her head with a light smile. "Heh. I think you know the rest. Your rainbow blast sure did a number on me."
Twilight looked a bit upset. She placed one of her hands over one of Sunset's. "Sunset...I am so sorry. It was never anything personal. I just needed to get the Element back, but...You were planning to invade Equestria. I...I had to do something, but I never wanted to hurt you...I'm sorry."
Sunset placed her free hand over her other and Twilight's. "Don't be. You did what you had to do. Besides," Sunset's eyes sparkled. "You coming to this world was the best thing that ever happened to me."
"What?"
"Twilight, I spent years making other people's lives miserable for my own benefit, and just when I got the power I desired, it was gone. My status, my reputation...everything I had disappeared. No one at CHS would give me a second glance. There was nothing left for me. I was so scared. I could've spent the rest of my life here alone."
Sunset then took Twilight's hand in both of hers. "But you didn't let that happen. At my weakest moment, you pulled me up and asked your friends to teach me about the magic of friendship. Because of you, they took me in, and for the first time in my life, I had friends," Twilight's eyes shimmered. "And ever since the battle of the bands, everyone else has forgiven me. Now, everyone here likes who I am."
"Because of you, I'm less alone than ever before. Fluttershy and I like to take her animal friends through a walk in the park every week. I help Applejack on her farm every other weekend. Rainbow Dash and I have guitar practice after school everyday. My heart stops whenever Rarity asks me to model one her beautiful dresses. Almost nothing brightens up my day more than Pinkie Pie and her parties. Together, we're the Rainbooms," Twilight smiled. "I feel like I'm home. I have friends who care about me, and I care about them. I love them, and they love me," A teardrop fell from Sunset's smiling face. "Because of you, I finally feel like I belong somewhere. It's not easy to just get up leave."
Twilight nodded her head. "I understand, Sunset."
"But still, there's only so much this town can offer...I'm not sure on what I should do, Twilight."
Twilight lowered her and Sunset's hands on the table. She then freed her hand to gently wipe a tear that was forming in Sunset's eye. "I don't like seeing you sad," Twilight then rested her palms on the top of Sunset's knuckles. "Sunset, I understand how you feel. This wouldn't be an easy choice for anyone. But this isn't a decision you have to make right now," Twilight gave her friend a reassuring smile. "High school isn't over yet, and now we have a way to keep the portal open without a problem, so you can think about this as long as you want. If you want to stay here, that's fine. You can still visit Equestria if you ever feel homesick. If you decide you want move back to Equestria," Twilight blushed. "Then you'll have a castle and a friend waiting for you with open arms."
Sunset's eyes glimmered. "Thank you, Twilight."
"You're welcome, Sunset. Take all the time you need. There's no rush."
A waitress suddenly appeared beside the table. She gave them both a smile before leaving a ticket on the table and thanking them for coming.
Twilight picked up the bill to see its total. Oh my. She pulled out a few Equestrian bits from her backpack and began to worry. Oh Sweet Celestia...Of all things that DIDN'T change through the portal!
Sunset snickered before consoling her friend. "Ha. Don't worry. I got it. You can pay me back when I come to see you," Sunset got up with the bill. "I'll be right back."
As Sunset left to pay for their meal, Twilight took a moment to reflect on her conversation with her friend. Sunset, I'm glad you feel like you belong, and I'm glad you found friendship in this world, and I'll support whichever decision you make, but personally...I hope you do come back.
Sunset returned and stood by the table. She left a tip for the waitress and looked at Twilight. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah, I think so," Twilight got up. "I really should be getting back to Equestria now."
"Mind if I walk you to the portal?"
Twilight smiled. "Not at all."
They exited the café's door together. Just as they stepped out, Sunset spoke. "I hope you liked it here."
"Oh, I did," Twilight answered. "I really want to come here the next time I visit. What's this place called again?"
Sunset turned around and pointed at the sign in front of the building. "The Sunlight Café."
"Huh. I like that name."
"Me too. It's part of why this is my favorite café in town."
"Really?" Twilight turned to face Sunset. "I would've guessed it'd be this world's Sugarcube Corner. Why is this your favorite?"
Sunset shrugged. "It's close to work, the food is decent, it's affordable, and hey, I like the coffee here."
"Oh, I see." Twilight thought for a moment. "I wonder what Pinkie would be like if she drank coffee."
"Uh..." Sunset began to shiver. "It's best that never happens again, Twilight."
"It happened before?"
"Whenever I bring the girls here, or anywhere really, we always make sure to keep Pinkie far away from caffeine, but one day, she was able to elude our sight for just a moment and got a hold of some. It...wasn't pretty," It's best she doesn't know. "I only hope time really does heal all wounds."
Twilight didn't know if she should laugh or be concerned by the story she was just told. Instead, she decided to look at the only side of it that seemed bright. "Well, regardless of the events that transpired, I'm glad you love your friends enough to take them to your favorite café."
Sunset turned to face Twilight. With a raised eyebrow, she replied. "I love all my friends, Twilight."
With a light blush, Twilight twirled a finger in her hair and turned her head away. "I know," Twilight suddenly felt something grab her other hand. She looked down to see Sunset's fingers interlocked with her own.
"And since you're my best friend, I guess that means I love you a little more."
Twilight cheeks reddened. "I love you too, best friend.
End.