//------------------------------// // Unnamed SunLight Story - Chapter 1 // Story: Unfinished Story Settings with Sunset Shimmer // by SamRose //------------------------------// Chapter 1 – Past's Collide Twilight had to admit, she had had some seriously weird mornings before. And while this situation wasn't one people would look at and say is the craziest, it certainly felt like it to her. With something as powerful as an Element of Harmony traveling with her, Twilight had fully expected a thief here or there to try and get their hooves on it. However, the first time it had actually happened, it was some strange mare who was claiming to be Princess Celestia's former student? What exactly were the odds of that being true? Especially since Twilight had never even heard of the mare before. ...Not that Twilight made a habit of looking into Celestia's former students, but maybe she would take the time to do so now if they were going to pop up into her life like this. She was now standing in front of the twin doors to Princess Celestia's chambers, one of the two royal guards having gone inside to inform the Princess of Twilight's arrival. The other guard was looking a little uneasily between Twilight and her prisoner. Twilight turned her head a little, just enough to look at Sunset Shimmer floating next to her in the grasp of her magic, horn and legs still shackled together. It had been easier to just carry her like this than to let her walk the whole way. “Why don't you take a picture? It'll last longer.” Sunset snarked at the guard who was staring, getting a grunt for a response out of him. “You probably will end up with some criminal mugshot you know.” Twilight raised an eyebrow at the mare. “They better capture my good side then.” Sunset sassed, twisting her head to toss her mane dramatically. Twilight couldn't help but roll her eyes at that. The door to Celestia's chambers opened once more, the guard who had entered stepping out. “The Princess says she will see you, and has requested to see you alone. However, should anything happen you need but call out and we will charge into the room.” The guard explained. “Thank you sir, though I'm sure it won't come to that.” Twilight nodded her head in understanding. “Hey, I'm not able to do anything, she's got me firmly under lock and key.” Sunset explained, lifting her legs and jingling the chain between her cuffs a little. “What am I gonna do? Squirm the wrong way?” “If you know what's good for you, you'll keep the sass to a minimum.” Twilight glared at the fiesty mare. “Oooh, scary look.” Sunset mocked back with a smirk. Twilight had to roll her eyes again, the mare was a little insufferable. With the guard's approval he moved aside and Twilight quickly stepped into Celestia's private chambers. The Princess of the Day was still stretching, waking her limbs from having been awoken in the middle of the night. Her horn lit up in golden light and a fresh cup of coffee appeared from thin air. “I apologize for waking you at such an early hour Princess, but this wasn't an issue that could wait.” Twilight explained as she set Sunset Shimmer down next to her, the chained mare shifting on her hooves to try and stand comfortably. “It is quite alright Twilight, you are welcome in my chamber at any hour.” Celestia lightly cricked her neck before taking a big drink from her cup of coffee. With a gentle sigh as the warm liquid made it's way into her system, Celestia turned to her student. “Though I will admit, I am puzzled by my guard saying you caught an intrud-” Celestia's words cut off as her eyes fell upon the red and yellow maned mare standing beside Twilight. Her eyes widened in shock, unable to believe what she was seeing. “Hey, long time no see Princess.” Sunset remarked with that cocky smirk still on her face. The magic grip on Celestia's coffee mug slipped and the porcelain mug went careening to the ground, shattering into pieces and letting hot brown liquid splash onto the carpet. “Is everything alright in there?” The guard's muffled voice asked through the door, having heard the glass shatter. “Everything is under control, thank you.” Twilight called back before turning to look back at Celestia with a bit of surprise. It wasn't like the regal to lose her calm like that. Celestia continued to stare for a few more seconds, before she closed her eyes, took a deep breath composing herself. “Sunset Shimmer... It has been a long time.” The Princess looked as if she was having trouble registering how to feel. “I... Wish this meeting would have been under better circumstances though.” Celestia furrowed her brow as her eyes wandered down to the chains of Sunset's hooves and the magic-inhibiting lock on her horn. “Twilight, you only informed the guard outside my room that you had caught someone trespassing into your room that claimed to know me... What was she doing there?” “That's a straight forward answer.” Twilight said turning to Sunset. Her horn lit up and lifted one side of Sunset's brown cloak to get at the saddlebags underneath. She reached into the bag with her magic and pulled out her golden crown, showing it to Celestia. “She snuck into my room to steal my Element of Harmony, Princess.” Celestia blinked, before her face turned cross. “Sunset Shimmer... What were you intending to do with Twilight's Element of Harmony?” Sunset could only roll her eyes at that response, before glaring at the Princess. “You know why I was trying to steal it Princess. It has the power to give me everything I deserve, everything that you tried to take away from me.” Sunset narrowed her eyes, as if trying to burn a hole through the alicorn. “Not that you ever cared about what was best for me.” In all her years of being Celestia's protege, Twilight had never seen a muscle twitch uncontrollably on the ruler's face. However, the fiery mare's words seemed to have dug under Celestia's skin, and she saw Celestia's eye twitch for just a single moment. Celestia took a moment to regain her composure, taking another deep breath and closing her eyes, letting the regal mask take over again as she looked upon Sunset with much more sorrowful eyes. “It seems that even after all these years you still don't understand anything.” Twilight could hear the hint of hurt in her voice that seemed to be lost on Sunset Shimmer. “Are you even aware of the weight of the crimes you tried to commit today? Grand larceny, endangerment of Equestria, treason!? What you attempted was not only foolish, but if you had actually succeeded you could have hurt hundreds, if not thousands of ponies!” “Glad to know you still think so little of me.” Sunset only snarked back, not breaking the glare. “I'm not some little foal who doesn't understand the world, Princess. Power is given to those who can be strong, it doesn't matter what world it is. I was always better than everyone else, I was stronger than them, I studied harder than them, there wasn't anyone who could match me. And you were the one who decided I was just going to be tossed aside like I was trash. What else was I going to do, oh wise and grand ruler of Equestria?” Silence fell upon the room as the ruler of Equestria and the angry former student glared daggers at each other. The tension in the room was so thick Twilight could cut it with a knife. She had been letting the two of them talk it out, seeing as it seemed to have been a bit of a dramatic reunion, but it'd seemed to have reached a boiling point and she wasn't having anymore of it. “Alright, that's enough.” Twilight spoke up, loud enough to break the two from continuing to glare at each and turn to Twilight. She stepped forward and stood between them. “There is obviously a lot more going on here than either of you are letting on, so I'm going to be the mediator of this conversation now.” “That is quite unnecessary Twilight-” Celestia began only to be interrupted by receiving a glare from Twilight. “I said, I'm going to be the mediator. Is that understood?” Celestia was taken aback by Twilight's actions, and though she wanted to rebuke the idea at first, she ultimately decided against it and closed her eyes. “Very well Twilight, I will trust your judgment.” The Princess responded with a hint of meekness to her voice. “Wow, you even let your new protege walk all over you? You really have grown more pathetic since I was gone.” Sunset remarked with a broad grin only to also be met with the fiery glare of Twilight's. She wanted to snark about the look, but found herself unwilling to say anything else, just turning away with a grumble. “I will ask a question, and you will answer it truthfully. And while one of you is talking, the other will not interrupt. Do I make myself clear?” Twilight laid out her demands as simply as possible. “Whatever.” Was all Sunset had to say on the matter, while Celestia gave a quiet nod. “Good. Now, first things first, I've gathered from that conversation that Sunset here really was your protege before I was, is that correct?” Twilight directed the question towards Celestia. “Yes, Sunset was my student before we had even met. She had studied here in Canterlot since she was a young foal herself and her tremendous magical talents had made themselves apparent. So I offered Sunset the chance to be my personal student, so that I could mentor her and help her talents grow for the betterment of herself and Equestria.” Celestia explained calmly. “Alright, then the next question I have I want to hear answered by Sunset.” Twilight explained, turning to the other mare. “This is my first time hearing about Celestia having a student prior to me. With that in mind, where have you been and what have you been doing all this time?” Sunset snorted at the question. “There's a short answer and a long answer to that question, which do you want?” “Give me the long answer, we're not leaving here till we have this sorted out and I'd rather have all the information.” Twilight replied. “Very well. As Celestia said, I was studying under her as her protege, and I was doing quite well too. One day after I had aced my mid-term she was giving me one of your usual lectures when she showed me a mirror and asked me what I saw in it.” A smirk appeared on Sunset's face as she spoke this next part. “And what I saw, was a mare with power. A powerful Princess, as powerful, if not more powerful, than even Celestia was.” Sunset's face went from one of confidence to one of scowling anger. “But when I asked about what I saw in that mirror, the only thing Celesita would tell me was that 'I wasn't ready to know about it yet.' As if somehow that mirror was so important or secretive that I couldn't just be told about what I had seen.” Sunset let out a grunt of frustration. “Do you know what the big secret is? Something so sacred that she couldn't just tell me?” Twilight did admit, the thought caused her to raise an eyebrow in curiosity. “It's just a portal, Twilight. A portal to another world.” Sunset scoffed. “A world without any kind of magic, that does everything with technology instead of magic. Not only that, it's not even a world full of ponies, it's a world filled with creatures called 'Humans' who can't get anything done on their own, they always need help from someone else or their things.” Sunset shook her head. “I know this, because after Celestia outright refused to give me that simple answer, I went searching for it on my own in the forbidden section of the Canterlot archives. And I found my answer, and then Celestia found me. “I questioned her teaching, I went to find the answers myself, and for doing both of those things, do you know what she did? She banished me. She decided I was no longer worth being her student and threw me out of the castle.” Sunset clicked her teeth as she turned to look away from Twilight. “I decided then that if she couldn't see my potential, I would show it to her. So, I jumped through the portal, and discovered the world on the other side. And that's where I've been all this time... Because the portal only opens every thirty moons. I didn't exactly have the liberty of just coming back whenever I wanted.” “Alright, well that explains your side of the story.” Twilight spoke up, turning to face Celestia next. She didn't need to have the monarch speak to know that Celestia had wanted to speak up against what Sunset had said, but true to her word she had stayed quiet. “Care to give your side of events?” “Sunset was correct in the order of events. I showed her the mirror to try and teach her an important lesson, but she became fixed on the mirror. However, after she had seen it, knowing more about the mirror became her sole objective. She refused to listen to any of teachings, only demanding that I teach her about what she wanted to know, not what I had to teach her.” Celestia closed her eyes, recalling the memories of her old student. “I had been watching Sunset's development, and realized that she was growing more dishonest and cruel in her attempts to obtain more power. I was hoping that I could teach her the value of friendship, so that she would better understand that life wasn't all about getting what you wanted.” Sunset gave a snort in response to Celestia, but she kept quiet so Twilight didn't need to give her another look. “Her insistence and arrogance continued to grow, and I'd finally had enough. When she went behind my back and my teachings to break into the forbidden section of the Canterlot archives, it was when she had truly turned her back on everything I tried to do for her. At that moment, she demanded that I make her a princess and just hand her everything she felt she deserved. In that moment I decided to dismiss Sunset from my teachings. If she could not overcome her lust for power, then there was nothing more that I could do for her.” “Permission to speak?” Sunset spoke up, a smirk on her face. “What is it?” Twilight asked a little more short tempered than she intended as she looked back at Sunset. “Have her tell you about how she was forcing her student to abandon the only home she had, with no family or money to speak of.” Sunset mocked Celestia. “I would have given you money and a place to stay at the very least!” Celestia slammed a hoof indignantly. “You were banished from the castle and my lessons only until we could have overcome these issues! And it seems we still haven't!” “OKAY ENOUGH!” Twilight shouted, her nerves at their limit. “Both of you have wronged the other here! Nothing will be solved by yelling or being angry at each other! Someone has to compromise somewhere!” She let out a loud snort as she took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself. “Oh yes, just what I want, a lecture from my replacement.” Sunset snarled, glaring at Twilight. “Replacement!?” Celestia gasped in shock. “Is that what you think I did? That I just threw you out and replaced you!?” “You can't tell me that's NOT what you did when she's standing RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!” Sunset's temper had reached a peak, and even Twilight's glare couldn't calm it down now. “ALRIGHT THAT'S IT! TIME OUT!” Twilight whipped around to Sunset, firing off a powerful spell that smacked into Sunset's barrel. Her eye's widened at being hit with it, before Twilight's magic aura surrounded her and in the next moment she vanished from the room. “...Where did you send her?” Celestia asked hesitantly. “She's in my magic reservoir, though I can only hold her there for a few minutes at best.” Twilight grunted, feeling the strain on her magic. “An inanimate object is one thing, but a whole pony is another. But I just need her gone for a moment.” She shook her head with a grunt before looking at Celestia with a tired, worn out expression. “So, what do you plan to do about this?” “...I'm... Not certain.” Celestia let out a sigh, looking away from Twilight, looking just as tired as she did. “It's clear to me now that even after all these years, the issues between us are as strong as ever...” “That's not exactly what I wanted to hear, Princess.” Twilight grumbled, putting a hoof to her head as the strain of containing Sunset was starting to give her a migraine. “Are you even aware of how much she resents you right now? Do you even know what she could have done if she had gotten away with my Element of Harmony? You literally would've just made another Nightmare Moon, Princess.” Celestia actually slightly recoiled at that, a hurt look on her face as Twilight's words dug deep. She hesitated to say anything at that, before just lowering her head with a sigh. “You are right Twilight... Even after all my years of ruling, there are still times when even I don't know what is best for my subjects...” Celestia shook her head and looked mournfully at Twilight. “I genuinely want what is best for Sunset... I want her to understand that I care for her but... I don't know how to show her that while letting her behavior continue the way it's been.” “She is very snarky, I will admit.” Twilight rolled her eyes remembering Sunset's comments. “She's got a bit of a power complex as well, but it sounds to me like all she wants to do is prove herself. And I don't think she's going to get that if she's studying here in Canterlot again.” “...What would you suggest Twilight?” Celestia asked, genuinely looking to her student for advice. Twilight had to think about that, though it wasn't easy with her magic starting to strain, reaching it's limit with holding Sunset in her makeshift prison. Having Sunset around Celestia was a bad idea right now, though just throwing her into a dungeon or something wouldn't solve the underlying problem at all either. Apparently Celestia had tried to teach Sunset about the value of friendship, but had failed to do it successfully. And making friends had changed Twilight's life for the better, perhaps making some friends was what Sunset needed... “I think you just need to find something that can give you that kind of happiness. It could be something with your friends, it could be some kind of project, or it could indeed be finding someone special to love. You're a smart mare Twilight, I'm certain whatever you put your mind to, you'll solve it with ease.” “...If she can't stay in Canterlot to learn, perhaps she should come with me and my friend's to Ponyville.” Twilight spoke the idea before it had even fully fleshed itself out in her mind. “Going there to make friends helped me, perhaps I can help her the same way.” Celestia thought it over a moment before nodding her head. “Yes, that may very well be the best solution right now. You can keep me informed of Sunset's progress and hopefully she'll find what she's looking for.” “And you will eventually figure out how to approach her and make things right between you two, alright?” Twilight glared through her aching head at the Princess. “...Yes, I promise you I will figure out how to make things right between me and Sunset.” Celestia nodded her head. “Good, now that we have that all figured out...” Twilight turned her head and aimed her horn at where Sunset had been standing and a beam of energy shot forth. With a flash of light Sunset reappeared, wobbling on her hooves as she readjusted to coming back. “Ugh... Oh God where was I just now?” Sunset shook her head, trying to lift a hoof up to hold her head but found them still chained together, so she just hung it instead. “My head is spinning...” “At least you've calmed down now.” Twilight rubbed her own hoof against her head for a moment, trying to subdue the migraine pain. “We've decided on a plan.” “Oh good, more ponies deciding what's best for me.” Sunset grumbled with a shake of her head before rolling her eyes at Twilight. “That's definitely what I came back for...” “Well, it's either you do what we want, or you can spend the next several years locked away in a dungeon not doing anything.” Twilight said with just as much snark as Sunset would give. “Gee, what amazing options, whatever will I choose to do.” Sunset grumbled, glaring at Twilight. “Stop insulting my intelligence and just tell me what it is already.” “Very well.” Twilight grunted, before getting a broad smirk on her face. “What you need to do is a very essential task. We're sending you to Ponyville to make some friends.” ~*~*~*~*~*~ Though there were only five ponies currently present as guests in the Castle's dining hall, that was as many as it was needed to fill the area with noise and make it feel alive. The ever voracious Pinkie Pie had ordered several meals all for her own consumption and was currently bouncing in her chair in excitement for the oncoming meal. Applejack's simpler pallet had ordered a few garish meals that the attendants had wrinkled their noses at, but were obliged to fill the orders out anyway. They much preferred Rarity's refined tastes, as her orders were more akin to what they were used to filling out. Fluttershy had ordered a very simple meal and Rainbow Dash just ordered a double of what Applejack was having. “Ah wonder what's keeping Twilight, it's not like her to be late to breakfast when we're together like this.” Applejack asked with a mouth half-full of buttered toast. “The guards said she had some business to take care of with the Princess darling. I'm sure whatever it is she'll inform us about it when she gets back.” Rarity said to assure her country friend as she delicately applied a bit of jam to the end of an English muffin. “I hope everything's alright, Twilight's been a bit glum anytime Princess Celestia has come up lately.” Fluttershy spoke up in worry, barely eating the garnished salad before her. “This is Twilight we're talking about here. I'm sure she'll tell us what's up once she gets here.” Rainbow Dash offered as well, before jabbing a piece of pancake with a fork and holding it up to her wife's face. Fluttershy blinked in confusion at first, before letting out a slight blush and a smile as she happily ate the offered piece of pancake, making Dash break out into a grin. “I have to agree!” Pinkie added, after having scarfed down an entire plate of turnovers. “Not only for the reasons Rarity and Rainbow Dash gave, but I've got this tingly feeling in my spine that today's going to be full of surprises and wonderful news!” She quickly reached for a second plate adorned with fresh waffles topped with all sorts of syrups and sprinkles. “What, is that more of yer Pinkie Sense talkin'?” Applejack asked curiously. “Nope! Just a normal gut feeling this time.” Pinkie giggled before diving in head first into the plate of waffles. “Well, ah certainly hope ya'll are right.” Applejack shook her head before taking another bite of her toast. Her friend's could only give so much comfort until she saw Twilight herself, but it'd have to do. She didn't have long to wait however, as the grand halls of the opened fairly dramatically and the lavender mare in question began walking into the room. “See? There she is, none the worse for wear.” Dash spoke up before turning to Twilight and waving. “Hey Twilight, I hope you don't mind that we started breakfast without you!” Twilight couldn't help but smirk at that. “No, I don't mind at all. Though I hope you don't mind waiting for us to finish breakfast either than.” She said walking in. Following close behind Twilight was Sunset Shimmer, still dressed in the make-shift cloak she had made for herself, though lacking the cuffs around her hooves. However, there was a still a particular ring wrapped around the base of her horn as well as a very displeased look on her face. Any further commentary the girls would've brought up was silenced at the sight of the mare. Once Twilight had gotten closer to the table, she stopped and cleared her throat causing Sunset to stop in place behind her. “Girls, I'd like you to meet Sunset Shimmer. Sunset Shimmer, these are my friends Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash.” “Charmed.” Sunset responded, her voice dripping with sarcasm. It was apparent to everyone present that Sunset would rather be anywhere else in the world right now, which caused all of Twilight's friends to look at each other in a bit of confusion. “Ah, well, it's nice to meet ya too Sunset... Ah suppose...” Applejack was the first to speak up, fiddling with her hat for a moment. “Though ya don't seem none too happy to be here.” “Noooo, did I make it too obvious?” Sunset snorted rolling her eyes. “Even in this world you're not that bright.” “What'd you say?” Applejack growled back, glaring at the new pony. “Sunset, be nice.” Twilight demanded, giving Sunset another glare. “Whatever.” Sunset huffed, turning away from Twilight without a care. “What's stuck up her butt?” Rainbow asked bluntly, raising an eyebrow as she stared at Sunset. “She's a bit moody since she didn't exactly get what she wanted this morning. However, she will be joining us for breakfast, won't you Sunset?” Twilight barely waited for a reply before taking her seat at the dining table. Sunset only gave a roll of her eyes and a snort as a response anyway, before taking the seat next to Twilight. As the two girls ordered their own breakfast from the castle staff, the five friends looked at each other with a hint of skepticism and confusion. Pinkie however, looked as if she was brimming with joy at the possibility of meeting a new friend and was the first to speak up. “So! Sunset Shimmer, how do you know Twilight? Are you an old friend of hers? A cousin maybe? A classmate? Oh, oh! Maybe you're some sort of long-lost rival who appeared from across a magical portal coming to best her on the field of battle?!” Pinkie belted her questions out. Sunset looked at the pink mare in bewilderment, blinking a few times to try and comprehend everything she just said. “Don't mind Pinkie Pie, she kind of does that sometimes.” Twilight explained waving her hoof. “It just means she thinks you'll make a good friend. She'll bombard you with questions if you're not careful though.” Twilight chuckled a bit, while Pinkie gave a big grin that seemed to squeak as she did it. Sunset pursed her lips and just turned to look away from Pinkie with a huff. “Sunset, darling, not to be rude or anything, but I can't help but notice that you're wearing... Um... Hm... How do I put this delicately...” Rarity spoke up next, trying to find her words. “It's a curtain.” Sunset deadpanned. “I'm wearing a curtain.” “Hm, yes, well, far be it from me to question your um... Personal tastes, but I feel your wardrobe could use a bit of spicing up.” Rarity remarked, trying to keep herself civil. “If you'd like I'd most certainly be willing to help you acquire clothes that would accentuate that gorgeous mane of yours.” Sunset raised an eyebrow suspiciously at Rarity's words before looking up at the red and gold locks hanging from her head. She raised a hoof to it, as if wanting to run something through it but realizing she was missing the required digits, so ended up flicking it with the back of her hoof instead. “I uh... I guess that'd be fine? I don't have any money to pay you though...” Sunset replied apprehensively, looking away from Rarity. “Oh think nothing of it darling! I feel a personal responsibility to help a pony in need, especially when it comes to the needs of fashion.” Rarity expressed with delight, a bright grin on her face as if she was pleased with herself. “And what exactly do you get out of that?” Sunset grunted, trying to glare at Rarity but finding herself unable to give one at full force. “I beg your pardon?” Rarity blinked in confusion at Sunset's response. “Exactly what I said. There's no money in it for you, and you're not asking me to do anything for you, so why would you do that for me?” Sunset growled some more, not trusting Rarity's offer at face value. “Why darling, is it so weird to want to do something nice for another pony?” Rarity tilted her head in curiosity at Sunset. “In my experience, people only do 'nice' things for you because they want to use you, to have something to hold over your head, or to get something in trade. They don't just do something to be 'nice' about it. So I don't exactly trust that your offer has no strings attached what-so-ever.” Sunset snorted again, venting her frustrations. “Well, I don't know what kind of unruly ponies you've had the misfortune of encountering in the past, but I can assure you that my offer is one hundred percent genuine.” Rarity spoke with emphasis before taking a bite out of her food, wanting to put an end to Sunset's refusal. “Yeah well, I'll believe it when I see it. I'm sure you're just like the rest.” Sunset huffed one more time, turning her head to try and look away from the mares in front of her. “That's not very nice...” Fluttershy spoke up in response. “The world's not a nice place.” Sunset snarked back. “...You don't have to tell me that...” Fluttershy murmured quietly, lowering her head to look back at her food. Before Sunset could remark any further, the servants had finally arrived with her and Twilight's breakfast. Rather than continue on with the meaningless conversation, she decided filling her empty belly was a better use of her time. She picked up a fork with her hoof and began to dig in to her plate of pancakes and eggs. “...Alright, I'm asking it, whose the mare Twilight? And why is she eating with us?” Dash asked, leaning on a hoof against the table. She was casting her own glare at Sunset now, not appreciating the way she had sassed her wife. Sunset didn't bother looking up, far more interested in her breakfast than in Dash. Twilight finished chewing a bite of her own blueberry muffin before speaking. “Well Dash, Sunset will be coming home to Ponyville with us. After all, Princess Celestia entrusted her with a very important task.” Twilight smirked before taking another bite of her muffin. “To make some friends.” Sunset snorted in response but continued to eat. “You mean we get to be FRIENDS!?” Pinkie bounced up in her seat, far more eager than anyone else at the table at the prospect. “What, you mean like when you came for the Summer Sun Celebration?” Applejack raised an eyebrow at Twilight. “That don't mean there's some big bad whatsit coming to wreck Equestria again does it?” Sunset paused her eating for a moment, glared down at her plate, and then shoved another forkful of egg into her mouth. The motion didn't go unnoticed by Twilight, who only let out a chuckle as a hint she'd seen Sunset's little moment. “No Applejack, Celestia is done keeping secret about any major threats to Equestria from us. Sunset, however, needs to take this mission very seriously none-the-less.” Twilight nodded before tossing the rest of the muffin into her mouth. “Hm... Well I guess the Princess does know best.” Rarity commented tapping a hoof against her chin in thought, before looking at Sunset a little warily. “Though she hasn't exactly made a good first impression...” “I mean, if she wants us to think she's a bitch, she's doing a good job.” Rainbow commenting without flinching. Sunset could only smirk at the comment, though Rainbow got a nudging from Fluttershy over that. “Rainbow, we've talked about making comments like that.” Fluttershy huffed a little, though Dash could only roll her eyes. “I'm just calling it like I see it babe. Besides, she started it.” Dash pointed an accusatory hoof at Sunset. “You can still be the better mare and you know it.” Fluttershy huffed confidentally, making sure her point was understood. “Yeah yeah, I'll keep it in mind.” Dash half acknowledged before shoving another slice of pancake into her mouth. “So Twilight, you haven't answered a very important question!” Pinkie spoke up, at some point having gotten up from her seat and zipping over to Twilight. A very big grin was plastered all over her face. “Where's Sunset staying?” ~*~*~*~*~*~ “A library in a tree.” Sunset deadpanned as she stared at Golden Oak Library. “You live in a library... That's in a tree.” “Hey, for the foreseeable future, this is where you're going to be living too. So I'd get used to it.” Twilight smirked cockily as she opened the front door. “...So should I start planning your murder now, or wait till your asleep?” Sunset said with an almost too serious tone to her voice. “Considering how well your 'steal my crown' plan went, I'd expect about the exact same results. Especially with your magic still restricted.” Twilight nodded her head towards her living room. “Now come inside so I can give you the tour.” Sunset glowered and pursed her lips, running through the various comments she could possibly say in response. However, none of them would really improve her situation, or her mood, so rather than continuing to sass Twilight she accepted the offer and stepped inside. The moment she stepped inside she could tell she had entered a library. She couldn't describe it perfectly, but that combination of musty tomes, thin layers of hidden dust, and an eerie silence that seamed to permeate all libraries gave the sense that it was indeed it's namesake. Twilight closed the door behind her and stepped forward. “This is what I call my 'Living Room' but it's also the main floor of the library. Visitors are welcome during library hours so it's not too uncommon to see a pony just walk in and start browsing for something to read, or to see them sitting at the table enjoying a book.” Twilight explained, waving her arm around as she explained. “So... You literally just let people walk into your house, whenever they want, unsupervised... Do you even have a checkout system set up?” Sunset quirked an eyebrow. “We run on the honor system in Ponyville. So far it's worked out, and there's only been a few times where I've had to send out Spi-...” Twilight seemed to catch the word in her throat before coughing and resuming. “Where I had to sent out return notices to some ponies. I've yet to have an incident beyond a slightly damaged book, but they're easily replaced.” “I just... Wow.” Sunset shook her head groaning. “I can't believe how naive that sounds... And yet, somehow I'm willing to believe it actually works because this is Equestria after all.” “Well, I know in Canterlot they run things a little more formally, with a proper checkout system and keeping tabs on how long books are kept for, but a lot more ponies visit that library.” Twilight turned around, walking towards the other side of the room. “Honestly though, very few ponies actually use the open-door policy during open hours. Most ponies in Ponyville have taken to just asking for a book or a book subject and returning it later. I think most ponies think of this place more as my home than as an open library.” “Gee, I can't imagine why.” Sunset rolled her. “Kitchen is this way.” Twilight said pointing through a door on the side of the room. “As long as you're living here you have free reign to what you want to eat and drink. I only ask that you clean up after yourself and don't make huge messes. If you don't know how to cook, please do not burn the place down.” “I lived by myself in an apartment for nearly three years without magic Twilight. I learned how to cook. It was literally a matter of life or death.” Sunset explained with frustration clear in her voice. “...Yes, well, that's good.” Twilight hadn't quite expected Sunset to know how to cook. “There is a bathroom down here, though it only has a toilet and sink since it's partially the public bathroom. There is a private one with a proper shower and bath upstairs.” Twilight stepped away from the doorway to the kitchen and began to climb a nearby set of stairs to the upper floors, Sunset following behind. At the top of the stairs was a door that led to two short splitting hallways. “Down that hall is the personal bath, and down this hall leads to the main bedroom.” Twilight stepped down the hall, it opening up to a large circular room filled with just as many books as downstairs. “This is my personal library, if ponies can't find a book they're looking for downstairs they can ask me if I have one up here and if I have it I'll share it with them.” She pointed to a few doors in the corners of the room as well, “Closets for clothes and other things are around here, and that staircase there leads to the beds.” Twilight quickly walked up the short staircase at the side of the room and stood on a small balcony overlooking the circular room. “There are also some staircases to the side that lead to the various balconies on the tree, so you can sit outside and read or even stargaze if you want, but that's pretty much my home. What do you think?” Sunset took another moment to look around, before furrowing her brow. “I thought living in a library would offer more space than this, but you've only got this one room to yourself? Where exactly am I supposed to fit in here?” “Well, the plan was for you to take today to get adjusted to Ponyville. Pinkie is already planning a surprise party for you to introduce you to everyone, it's sort of her thing.” Twilight explained. “Not much of a surprise if you just tell me about it.” Sunset deadpanned. “It's Pinkie Pie. If you know her for more than twelve seconds she's going to throw you a party. She won't even be subtle about it.” Twilight chuckled, reminiscing about her first party in Ponyville. “Huh... I guess that makes sense. She was kind of the same way in the other world too...” Sunset murmured under her breath before shaking her head. “Still, that didn't exactly answer my question so let me be more blunt. Where am I sleeping?” “I was getting to that.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “For tonight, you have two options. You can either share my bed for tonight or I can set up a sleeping bag for you, your choice. Tomorrow, the plan is for us to go into town and get you your own bed. Rarity also wants to see you so she can get you fitted for some dresses.” “I thought I told her I wasn't interested.” Sunset glared, feeling indignant about being ignored. “She's not going to let you continue going around in an old dusty castle curtain Sunset. I don't even understand why you're still wearing it.” Twilight shook her head. “I have my reasons okay? I know ponies normally don't wear clothes, but I don't feel comfortable without any, and it shouldn't be an issue.” The fiery mare didn't want the issue pressed and stamped her hoof to make that clear. “Fine, whatever, but you should at least take a bath before Pinkie's party. You haven't taken it off since I met you and it's starting to smell.” Twilight wrinkled her nose. Sunset's eyes shot open in a glare as her face reddened in either embarrassment or anger at the comment. “I would appreciate it if you didn't go around smelling me!” With an indignant huff she turned towards the hallway with the bathroom and stormed out of Twilight's bedroom. It was a short walk to the bathroom and stepping inside she found it to be more ornate than she expected a bathroom to look. The floor was a pristine white, the tub was large enough to lay down in or stand under the tap with a fairly luxurious curtain to cover it. The toilet even had a plush purple cover on it that made it more comfortable to sit on. Lining a bench near the tub was a line of products that was a lot more than Sunset had been expecting. All she needed was a soap, shampoo, and conditioner, but she didn't recognize half of the labels on the bottles. Some of them even seemed to say they were for 'more manageable scales' but that didn't make sense to her. Twilight didn't have any 'scales' and she couldn't think of anything on a pony's body that would be considered that. Shrugging the thought out of her head she finally found one that had a simple label of 'shampoo' on it and turned on the shower. Warm water quickly sprayed out from the shower head and it was only then that she realized how much she really could go for a hot shower at that moment. The warm steam was filling the air and calming her nerves. She reached a hoof up to her makeshift cloak and began undoing it, letting it finally fall to the floor around her. “I'll take that.” Twilight's voice came from behind Sunset, causing her to nearly leap out of her skin. Sunset's tail instinctively tucked itself between her legs as she whirled around and raised a hoof to cover her barrel, her face turning bright red. “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?” Sunset yelled at the lavender mare standing behind her, levitating Sunset's curtain-cloak in her magic. “What am I doing?” Twilight raised an eyebrow confused. “I was going to go put your cloak in the wash so it'd at least smell fine for the party. What are you doing?” Twilight pointed a hoof at Sunset's hoof covering her barrel. Instead of responding, Sunset's teeth ground against each other as her face was full crimson at this point. “GET OUT!” Sunset roared, grabbing a nearby bottle and chucking it as hard as she could at Twilight. “Gah!” Twilight deflected the bottle with her cloak as she backed up. “Okay okay! I'm going!” Twilight barked back indignantly quickly stepping out of the bathroom. Sunset ran up and slammed the door shut behind Twilight, leaving Twilight very confused as she stared at the bathroom door. “...Okay, I know I signed up for this willingly... But that was just weird...” Twilight shook her head before heading off to wash Sunset's cloak.