Princess Celestia has finally decided to introduce her two prized pupils to each other, hoping that together they'll finally start to appreciate the beauty and magic of friendship. Sunset may be proud and brash, and Twilight might be obsessive and oblivious at times, but surely they'll get along fine, right?
They'll go above and beyond that in time, but the road they'll take to get there is a rocky one.
Written for Oroboro's Sunset Shipping Contest: Changing Seasons
Cover art by Novel-Idea
Original Sunset and Twilight image by Sikander-MLP
Featured on September 1, 2017!
Updated 10/27/17: Minor edits to existing chapters; 3 new chapters added (Reconciliation, The Twilight Zone, Sowing Seeds)
Updated 11/27/17: Cover art added!
Chapters (8)
Another contest already? Why so many?
8400021
People are free to hold whatever contests they want whenever they want, and I don't really see the problem with that. It encourages people to create, and I for one enjoyed writing my story - and reading several of the other entries.
I don't really understand what you mean.
Tis a nice fic about my OTP.
That was so sweet.
8400813
Well I hope you've found the time to read the rest of the story, and that it's lived up to your expectations.
8403132
Thanks for the compliments, I'm glad that both of you liked it.
8405805
"Get stuffed, Malfoy."
Can you do a sequel wher eSunset finally confronted Celestia over what she did to her and how she hurt her?
Make her realize what a failure of a teacher she is.
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As cathartic as something like that may have been...I don't think Twilight is really the type to say something like that, especially at the age she was in the beginning.
8419740
...no? Like, if you're referring to how things went down in canon (or at least the comics), then it should be obvious that things did not go down remotely the same in this story. And even if they had, I don't agree that what Celestia did was some horrible thing, or that she was a failure as a teacher for it. And if you're referring to the events of this story...the only thing I can think of that Celestia did wrong was not reminding Twilight that Sunset exists? But the blame for that whole drama should always lie squarely on Twilight's shoulders, and again I don't think it makes her some horrible person or whatever. But I get the feeling that's not what you were referring to.
8419791
Refering to how Celestia made Sunset feel she was nothing in the end, how Twilight was seemly her prefect choice and all the work she did all the effort, she put inher dreams was for naught.
It's only the fact she loved Twilight did Sunset not go mad.
8419943
??? Like, I get what you're trying to say now and if I do write a sequel series I do intend on exploring Sunset's feelings of inadequacy and loneliness and such and her relationship with Celestia, but I can't help but feel like you've misinterpreted things? Like, I don't know, you seem to be acting like Celestia was malicious or something rather than just being too busy dealing with, y'know, having a sister suddenly back in her life after a thousand years to have a perfect read on Sunset's mental health for a month. Like, yeah, she's not perfect, but I'd hardly call her a failure.
And I really don't know where you got the idea that Sunset would have gone mad had it not been for her love for Twilight. At no point in the story was that the only thing that kept her going, or anything like that. At most she was on track to becoming a more bitter and reclusive version of her pre-Twilight self.
8419997
See things different but ok.
Well maybe she not a failure but she did hurt Sunset, and would make for some clorsure, also what she did sounds like the same thing she did to luna in a way.
Ingoring her sister and her problems till too late, while not on purpose she hurt Sunset badly, and it needs to eb address for closure and so she may not repeat that mistake.
Ok Sunset may not gone mad, but she was MAD, and hurt, could seen her leave like she did before thru the mirror or head to the badlands or elsewhere.
If was only thanks to her love for Twilight that kept her from doing so I bet some small hope she came back.
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I think you should rewrite this, but make it much much longer.
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Hrmm...well, I can at least agree that if I do follow-up on this series there will be something like closure regarding Celestia, though it might be in the form of a flashback since I think at least part of it would have happened between chapters 4 and 5. And while yes, Sunset could have believably left had Twilight not come back, it wasn't love or hope or whatever that kept her in Canterlot. At least, not in my vision. As far as I'm concerned, Sunset stuck around out of a mix of stubbornness and not knowing where she'd even want to go.
8420985
While I can certainly understand the appeal of seeing this story expanded...a full rewrite isn't something I can see myself doing. Especially since I have another fic-universe that wants my attention. More likely, the parts of the story that take place between these five chapters will get told as either separate side stories or flashback-type chapters during a sequel series.
I quite enjoyed this! Even if it doesn't give us a lot of detail, I like "snapshot" style fics like this. It also helps that it's SunLight with pony Twi. :v
I featured this on episode 196 of my podcast, Pony 411.
8421414
And I'll definitely check out the podcast when I get the chance.
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!
This was a very enjoyable and heartwarming read. I would love to see this timeline revisited, both in the spots between the time jumps here and continuing on from what happens next after the end.
Lugu oli suurepärane! Ma armastan tegelaste arengut ja seda, kuidas te stseenide vahel liikusite! Teie kirjeldus tegi mulle hea meelega ja ma loodan, et sa teed hästi! Veenduge, et sa ei pane kastme pesu!
8425370
I do definitely think I'll be revisiting this timeline with a sequel series that will likely include flashback-sort-of chapters detailing some things that happened between the time jumps, as you put it. Though it'll be some time before I can get to it, as I have a not-inconsiderable amount of prep work to do first.
Thanks!
8433269
Even if you did leave your comment in Estonian. But it does appear that you liked the story, if google translate is anything to go by. Though the last line seems to be an idiom, since the literal translation doesn't make sense to me like the rest of it does.
Also thank you!
Yes so much interest yes! Not only is sunlight one of my favorite ships but I love AUs that diverge at the start of it all like this. Please continue this universe. I very much enjoy the history between them you created and can say; Like you even with all my digging I haven't found much if any that sets their meeting in this way.
8444530
Sorry for such a late reply, but I am genuinely happy to hear such enthusiastic interest. If you don't already know, you'll no doubt be happy to hear that I'll be both expanding this fic as well as continuing the timeline as a whole. The new content for this fic specifically should hopefully be out by the end of the month, so keep and eye out for it!
Four? Why not more? Because he was worried Twilight would actually register his question, and not just give a generic 'yes' reply?
If I was Spike, I would move about eleven books - ten around the bookcase (preferably in different 'genres'), and hiding one behind it (or laying it horizontally on top of several books).
Hey, at least it's not the "Twilight Realm"; that place was once used as a 'dumping ground' for the worst villains - first the Dark Interlopers, then the Demon King of Darkness himself, after he survived an execution by the Sages (and killed one in the process).
Sneaking into an ancient ruin of a castle, finding five rocks, and defeating an old mare's tale sounds perfect, don't you think?
That's one Celestia has been dying to receive for almost an entire millennium, because she could share it with her estranged sister as a sign of forgiveness.
...Because you didn't have a brother or royal foalsitter until the end of Season 2?
Nopony's realised that the Elements of Harmony have been missing for almost exactly one millennium? Or cross-referenced that with the last usage of the Elements - that of Celestia sealing Nightmare Moon in the Moon?
It should be freaking obvious the Elements went missing immediately after Nightmare Moon was defeated, and have been left in the old castle (which a quick archeological examination should've uncovered).
So...you've got the 1000th Summer Sun Celebration, the tale of the Mare In The Moon which states she would break free in 1000 years a thousand years ago, and information that the Elements of Harmony have been missing for 1000 years - nopony sees any connection? Really? Not even Twilight, Sunset, or actual archeologists? I call bull on that one, Hasbro.
It's as ridiculous as the three Princesses leaving the "Twilight Sparkle coronated" stained-glass window unaltered during Tirek's invasion, when they wanted the existence of a fourth Princess to be a secret. Or the fact that the sun and the moon continued to move when Celestia and Luna were taken by the changelings, and placed within the radius of a magic-absorbing throne - despite the sun and the moon getting stuck when their movers were taken by plundervines. Or the fact Rainbow Dash, the Element of LOYALTY, abandoned her friend Twilight when she said "Princess Mi Amore Cadenza" was a fake. Or Rainbow Dash making fun of, and getting annoyed at, Fluttershy's timidity and poor flying skills when the six had to convince a dragon to leave, despite later revealing she protected the yellow mare from bullies who went after her for the exact same reasons when the two were fillies.
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Well, you seem to have been a bit prolific, even if a lot of your remarks are complaining about canon and the snags that necessarily come from multiple writers building a world on the go. But, well, I'll attempt to answer some of your remarks here anyway.
First, I only had Spike move four books for his 'epic prank' because Spike is not a good prankster. One of the points of that scene was that Spike is not as good at pranking Twilight as he thinks he is. Thus he thought moving only four books was perfectly sufficient to get one over on her.
Second, while Celestia certainly would like the gift of her sister's return, Hearth's Warming is hardly the proper season for it.
And as for the Elements of Harmony stuff... Part of it I think is that the vast majority of ponies, even in the archaeological community, don't think of Nightmare Moon as anything other than a mythological figure associated with a holiday. In their view, while the Elements of Harmony were (presumably) real, the notion of an evil alicorn princess having actually been sealed away in the moon by them is absurd. At best the story was exaggerated; at worst it was fabricated whole cloth. And why fear the prophecy of her return if she never existed in the first place? And that's even if they know about the prophecy to begin with, as "Predictions and Prophecies" doesn't seem like standard reading material for an archaeologist.
Of course, who's to say nopony hasn't connected the dots before Twilight? What would they even be able to do about it? There's no guarantee their peers would believe them, and Celestia would just tell them not to worry about it. Because the last thing Celestia wants, I think, is ponies to panic because of Nightmare Moon's future return. There's really no reason the Elements-Nightmare Moon connection has to reach Twilight's head before Celestia wants it to. Same with Sunset, to be honest.
DAWWWWWWW
Heh, this was an adorable chapter that really shows the progression of their friendship while not changing them. It's quite nice to see them bouncing off one another now that there's less hostility; it leads to good banter.
All the antics between Sunset and Spike while Twilight was in the Twilight Zone were great. XD
Another fine addition with showing the two contrasting even as they try to work together. Of course, it's their similarities that are the problem, thinking they need to be grander than just baking a cake for Celestia when really, that's all it would take. It makes sense, given their characters. Sunset always wanted to be Celestia and Twilight wanted to be like her, really putting her on a pedestal higher than all of Equestria does.
Very nice chapter with good interactions all around. I loved the scenes leading up to and the revelation of Shining dating Cadance. And Sunset and Twilight continue to have good banter. I also loved how you brought up on what they might do after their studies are done. The talk of Sunset wanting to travel certainly brings up many possibilities for the future on wanting to do it or not and how that would contrast with Twilight's daily life in Ponyville.
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Honestly, I'm super happy with how their progression as friends turned out here. The banter, the antics, the contrast... it really fleshes out their developing friendship, something that was missing in the original version. And like you said, it ended up allowing me to set up a few things I may or may not revisit in the future... 
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I know I'm late replying to these, but I'm so glad you liked the added chapters!
I don't know about Celestia's methods here. Every school Ive gone to tried to do the same thing, pretty much forcing friendship, but it never worked. Then again, these two are eggheads, so maybe...
Whatever panicked question she was about to ask next was lost when her checklist and quill were unceremoniously stuffed into her mouth.
I gotta know, has anyone ever tried that with Twilight in the actual show!?
8515206
c' mon only 11 I'd redo the whole shelf hide a couple and not in easy places either and then mess with the books she's read
Twilight be a savage
Although during that part I half expected Twilight to actually be paying attention.
Hmmm I think I know a pers... err pony
Seems to me someone has the same idea
Spike you have no idea how right you are
Oh hell no. oh wait there's an apostrophe
I think someone knows something and isn't sharing
I find it obvious too but I'm just not good at writing or sharing ideas
Not only was that a really sharp turning point, but the excitement happened off-screen. I wouldn't call that a good thing.
He swallowed immediately and without trouble. “Oh yeah. She's just, y'know-” he leaned forward conspiratorially with a claw raised to shield his lips from nonexistent readers- “in the 'Twilight Zone' right now. Has been all day.”
Apparently, in this AU, Sunset and Twilight are both students of Celestia at the same time AND this Spike is a hybrid between Spike and Pinkie Pie.
8536744
Celestia wants them to learn friendship with each other, and Cadence just happens to know their significant others.
Hmm...
That magical thing Princess Celestia won't let Sunset see. That's got to be the trans-dimensional mirror.
You have no idea
Well friends do compete look at Rainbow and Applejack.
LOL
8520372
Yeah.
8400384
I don't mean to offend you. It's just that I found it unusual you entered a contest right after you finished the previous one.
8535637
What human teacher has students that don't have doubts about their intelligence, wisdom, or knowledge. Cause I'm pretty sure that Sunset and Twilight don't have them, at least at this point in time.
8725345
Ah, who am I kidding, you're right.
Very cute and fun!
Sunset...sweetie...I love you...you know this but dammit you need a swift kick in the cutie mark and about 50 CC's of friendship PRONTO
Well that was fast...good ol' magic duel fixes everything.
8553276
You’re about to enter a world where “insert catchphrase here,” where “weird and nonsensical event” is “ominous setting that instills dread” and “some other description that could vaugky describe whatever saying is on the show or a parody of it.”
“Line leading into title” The Scary Door.