As Sunset was awash with the sensory overload that was the portal that bridged the gap between two worlds several things were floating through her nervous mind.
Although Sunset was mostly excited to return to her home, she couldn’t help but worry about a few things. Namely how the others will treat her, this new girl that Princess Twilight kept talking about or her old mentor. And then there was the topic of her magic, sure Sunset has been used it in the human world but only in times of crisis. Of course, there was the time she was here last but Sunset had written that off as a fluke from the adrenaline of the moment.
Sunset had tried to calm myself before stepping through, by psyching herself up. Sunset kept on telling herself that she is a better person – er, pony- now and she had learned so much about friendship and the magic of it. The girls tried to give her words of encouragement but it did little to calm her frayed nerves.
When the princess had suggested Sunset spend her spring break in Equestria at first she was very apprehensive towards the idea. Things were just starting calm down after the Friendship Games and Sunset had certainly tried to explain to the princess that now would not be a great time.
But the Princess would not take no for an answer, for every excuse that Sunset could think of she was met with a well thought out logical reason for why those excuses were not a problem and Sunset definitely should come visit for a week. And she knew better than anyone that once Twilight gets her heart set on something she won’t let it go.
So Sunset told the Princess that would think about it but she would also talk to others to let them in the loop and the Princess gave her blessing.
“Yeah, it’s not like some terrible demon will attack while you’re away,” Sunset remembered Rainbow Dash exclaiming which was met with a few stern looks, “What! I can’t be the only one thinking that.”
Sunset had asked everyone to meet at Sugarcube Corner to discuss the Princess’s proposition with them before Sunset gave her final decision. Everyone was sitting at their favorite booth. It was practically in a permanent reservation.
“Rainbow has a point dear, we will be quite fine without you here for a week much less a day,” Rarity pipes up breaking the tension.
“I know, it’s just I am kind of nervous about starting over. The only ones that actually know me over there is Princess Twilight, Spike, and…” A sigh escapes from Sunset lips, “and Celestia.”
“Ah well sugarcube, you’ve made friends with everyone here. I’m sure you’ll make em quick over there too,” Applejack says trying to pick up the mood. Sunset give her a light smile of thanks.
“Yeah, besides from what the pony princess Twilight has said it seems that the pony us’s are clones of us us!” Pinkie Pie states pointedly before giving a giant grin.
All six of them then look at their Twilight who has yet to really voice her opinion.
“Ha eh, guess I’m the exception to the rule as it was or the rule with an exception,” Twilight starts to fidget in her chair and playing with the hem of her skirt clearly not used to all the attention quite yet.
“Oh I’d jump at the chance to meet a bunch of adorable little ponies, even if there are us,” Fluttershy squeaked from the other side of the table. Sometimes it’s hard to remember she is even here.
“Hey who are you calling adorable! Pony me is probably super awesome,” Rainbow bursts out, being met few giggles Sunset included. Rainbow blushes “Tell’m Sunset I’m the coolest over there right?” she looks at Sunset pleading.
“I’ve told you guys before I never met or even seen you before I came to the Human world. Pony or otherwise.”
A gasp from the other side of the table draws my attention. “I just had an absolutely fabulous idea” the gasp had come from Rarity. “Let’s get all the ponies gifts.”
“Ugh, we’re not making a bunch of dresses for ponies,” Rainbow rebutted.
“I wasn’t talking about dresses darling, but if I was to make a dress for something like a pony I wouldn’t even know where to start. First I would need their measurements and then…”
“Rarity, back to your initial point,” Applejack getting back on track.
“Right yes, another time, well the Princess wasn’t able to make it for Christmas because of the portal being closed and Sunset wasn’t able to do the same for her holiday…”
“Hearth’s Warming Eve,” Sunset corrected.
“Yes that, so what if we get gifts for all the ponies and send them over with Sunset when she goes in a few days.”
“Hey wait a minute I never said for sure that I was going!” Sunset slams her hands on the table.
“Come on dear, everybody needs a vacation.”
“But I can just stay here with you guys. That’s all the vacation I need,” Sunset crossed her arms.
“That’s sweet and all Sugarcube, but when was the last time you were even in Equestria?” said Applejack, “Besides some of us will be out of town.”
A chorus of yeps comes from Rainbow, Pinkie, Twilight, and Applejack.
“I didn’t think of that. And I haven’t been in Equestria since I took Twilight’s crown and before that when I first went through the portal.”
“I don’t know about you but if I was away from home for that long I’d be awfully homesick,” said Fluttershy hugging herself.
“Even I get a homesick for Crystal Prep sometimes,” said Twilight.
“We’re not trying to force you into going. We’re just saying that it would good for you if you did,” Applejack speaking what everyone was saying before.
Applejack’s words ring true as always. Sunset knows it would be good for her if she went but Sunset had just gotten comfortable here and the idea of starting at square one just made her anxiety worse. Most of it coming from meeting Celestia again since Princess Twilight would never let that go.
“All right I’ll go,” Sunset say finally.
Cheers all around. Rarity had set to work immediately to find out what to get the ponies with the others help.
Sunset was half way through packing for the trip when she realized that she wouldn’t really need all of this stuff. It’s going to be weird not wearing clothes again.
Sunset shook herself from her thoughts. She was still in the swirling vortex of a rainbow light show. Sunset certainly didn’t remember it taking this long before. At that moment a blinding light came up ahead. Oh there it is, Welcome back to Equestria, Sunset Shimmer.
Chapter 1: Coffee under the Stars Sunset’s eyes were still closed when she was thrust through the portal. So upon stepping on solid ground for the first time in what felt like hours Sunset felt her top half starting to fall forward. Luckily, her reflexes are quite quick. Unfortunately, she underestimated the impact of hitting the floor and her arms slide out from under her and she fell to my face.
“Skkt, careful that first step is a doses,” said an unfamiliar voice trying to cut itself off.
Sunset open her eyes to find that the room she was in was not nearly as bright and blinding as the portal was but still stunning in its own way. The entire room and a good portion of the furniture in it were made of shining crystal and gems. There are three giant windows that are all open causing the crystalline room to have a dazzling light show going on in it.
An extremely light purple, almost near pink, hoof comes into Sunset’s view.
“Here let me help you up,” says the pony in front of her. Sunset takes the hoof in her own and uses it to lift her pony body to her legs. Such is the nature of the Mirror Portal. Pony goes to the human world, human come out the other side and vice versa. And so Sunset was back in her original pony body. It’s been a while but doesn’t feel strange at all more like a homely feeling.
“Ugh, I don’t remember the trip being that rough,” Sunset lifts a hoof to her head tapping her horn absent mindedly.
“Hmm, it’s likely due to the portal being opening during a period when it’s not supposed to. Thus making the trip hard on the traveler, but that’s just my theory,” said the pony next to Sunset.
“Possibly,” Sunset then realizes the pony next to her is not Twilight, “Oh sorry, um I’m Sunset Shimmer,” she straightens herself and holds out a hoof to the mare.
The Unicorn in question had a coat of what can only be described as light pink but also light purple mix. To be perfectly honest Sunset wasn’t sure what to call the unicorn’s coat color. Her mane was mostly purple with an aquamarine highlight through it, same with her tail. Her eyes were a much darker blue than Sunset’s. Her mane was done up with a string of hair hanging like a bang on the right side of her head while the rest was tied up and left to flow down her neck. The Unicorn looked rigid and stiff.
The Unicorn took Sunset’s hoof in hers and shook, “I’m Starlight Glimmer, nice to finally meet you,” The introduction sounded almost too cheery.
“Likewise, when Princess Twilight said that she had got another student I was kind of surprised,” Sunset shifted her weight with the backpack, now saddlebags, on her back.
“Oh let me get those for you,” Starlight’s horn starts glowing a shade of blue much like her highlights, “She only told me about you last week so it was a surprise for me as well.”
A magic glow envelopes Sunset’s saddlebag and they are lifted off her back to the bed in the room. The room is furnished with a bed, a desk with a mirror, a chair, the mirror portal, a wardrobe, and a closet. All of which, except the portal, was made out the same crystal material everything else is.
“Oof, this is kind of heavy. I couldn’t imagine you needing a lot of stuff to pack,” said Starlight.
“He heh, yeah my friends thought it would be a good idea to give the others here gifts because Princess Twilight couldn’t make it for Christmas and I couldn’t make it for Hearth’s Warming Eve,” Sunset said sitting back on her haunches, cracking various body parts.
“Aw, well that is certainly nice of them,” said Starlight with a look of confusion that Sunset could only guess is from the word Christmas.
“Speaking of the Princess, where is she or anyone else for that matter?” Sunset said quizzically putting a hoof to her chin.
“Oh right uh, she had some princessy stuff to take care of in Canterlot and she deeply apologizes for not being here for your arrival. As for the others Twilight didn’t tell them when you would be around because of duties in Canterlot,” said Starlight in a way that sounded rehearsed.
“She must be very busy if she just forgot to tell them,” said Sunset.
“She has been pretty busy as of late, between the princess duties, teaching me, and then being there for you when you message her. It’s only understandable that she’d forget some things.”
“Oh well, then it’s just you and I in this giant castle until she comes back?” Sunset said disappointed.
“Well Spike is still here and you are free to roam Ponyville it is a vacation after all, you can do whatever you want,” Starlight floated Twilight’s book from above the mirror portal and stored it in the desk.
Well almost anything.
“Twilight had this room setup for you during your stay, just in case you didn’t know.” Starlight said before walking for the door to the room.
“That is most certainly nice of her,” Sunset follows her out the door.
The hallway was massive, the ceilings large, and everything was made of crystal. It reminded Sunset of her belief trip to the Crystal Empire which in turn brought up memories that made her shudder.
Starlight turns left out of the room and starts walking that way only to stop and turn around and go the other way. Sunset stops and stare at her wondering what she is doing.
“Um, are you lost?” Sunset asks after the third pace.
“No, no not at all, just confused on how to get to where I want to go,” Starlight’s face was contorted in concentration.
“Starlight, that’s just another way to say you’re lost,” Sunset said.
“I’m not lost, most certainly not lost. I’ve only been staying here a few months so I should have gotten the layout of this place memorized,”
“Well we are not going to get anywhere by pacing back and forth,” Sunset got up and went to the right down the hallway.
“Wait, do you even know where you are going?” Starlight exclaims running after her.
“No but then again it is my vacation so I have all the time in the world,” Sunset laughs as she leads Starlight through this maze of a castle.
The pair has been walking through the hall for the past five minutes periodically checking the various doors for a possible way to wherever they were going. The two found several broom closets, bathrooms, guest room, small libraries/ reading rooms, and other hallways. But not enough to point them in the right direction. At this point Sunset was worried that she’ll never find her way back to the guest room.
“Sooo, care to tell me a bit about yourself Twilight was lax on the details stating it wasn’t her place to say,” Starlight broke the silence that they had found themselves in.
If I had a dollar.
“Alright, sure let’s get this out of the way,” said Sunset.
“Oh, if you don’t want to then you don’t have to,” Starlight winced.
“No it’s fine; I’ve should have gotten over it by now. Do you want the long or short version?” Sunset tests her horn on a door trying to get the hang of things again.
“Whatever works for you.”
“Short version it is, So Twilight might have told you that I was Princess Celestia’s personal student before her. Well that is true except I wasn’t like Twilight. I felt entitled for everything I ever got and studied solely to become more powerful. One day Celestia showed this mirror to me and asks me what I see in it.
“I say that I see myself as a princess she then hid the mirror away from me and never talked about it ever again. I got really angry at her for not letting me realize my destiny as I called the vision in the mirror. So after a while of getting nowhere I run off into the mirror only to end up in some alternative universe which I proceed to make its inhabitants miserable.
“Over the course of several years I sneaked peeks at the goings-on here in Equestria and I got really jealous at Twilight for replacing me. I then steal her crown to help create an army in the other universe and rage war on all of ponykind. Twilight and that universe’s versions of her friends stop me and I learn the error of my ways.”
No response, Sunset turned around to see if Starlight was still with her.
She was just stood there gawking at Sunset.
“What!” Sunset yelled nearing bringing out her scary voice as Pinkie had called it.
“Geez, it’s just well dang, I thought I did some bad things but that is something else, no offense,” Starlight said finally looking sorry.
“None taken, but what do you mean by you did some bad things.” Sunset hoof wave the stinging comment off.
“Now that is something I’d don’t want talk about.”
“Aww, come on I shared now it’s your turn,” Sunset tried another door again nothing of note.
“Well my past deeds are a little more recent. I haven’t gotten the time you had to get comfortable with talking about it,” Starlight’s voice tinted with irritation.
“Well aren’t friends supposed to share their insecurities or whatever, besides it’s not like I’m going to make fun of you or something,” Sunset’s face showed a warm and gentle smile, “If you think the things I did were bad then I doubt that the things you did were nearly as bad.”
“Agh fine,” Starlight cleared her throat, “When I was a filly my best friend got his cutie mark before me and then I never saw him again. I developed a hatred for the things even after I finally got mine. Later in life I founded a town in the middle of the desert where I took ponies cutie marks away and promoted equality not with just the three races but with each and every pony.
“One day Twilight and her friends come to visit and ruin my plans and liberate the town. I escape and plan my revenge on them. Several weeks and a trip to the Starswirl the Bearded Library later I travel back in time to stop Twilight and her friends from ever becoming friends in the first place. Apparently it worked, several times in fact, though I never saw what the result of my actions were except once and I didn’t particularly like it. Thankfully Twilight talked me down from permanently ending the world all to break up a few friends,” Starlight almost had tears in her eyes and her voice was cracking.
Sunset stopped checking doors and walked closer to Starlight. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
“No, it’s alright I’m just haven’t exactly forgiven myself yet,” Starlight wiped away her tears, “Like you seem to have.”
“Ha, you think I have gotten over it. Listen to me sister; Twilight wasn’t the only thing to go wrong my plans. When I put her crown on it changed me into, for lack of a better term, a demon. That was not what I wanted at all and then I proceeded to throw a fireball at Twilight and the others. I still have nightmares over that night. In a way I have forgiven myself but to say I have gotten over it. No, no I haven’t. But the way I see it is that, that was in the past and I don’t let that get to me here in the present and in the future,” Sunset sat down next to Starlight and pulled her into an awkward hug.
“Um… Thanks Sunset? For the assurance that I’m in this boat alone at least,” Starlight had fresh tears streaming down her face, “It has gotten better through hasn’t it?”
“Yes it has gotten better through it would be great if my friends didn’t remind me every five minutes that I turned into a demon,” Sunset had to force herself to say that dreadful word this time.
“Well I can’t say that anypony has done that yet it has mostly been me reminding myself,” Starlight rubs her face and starts walking down the hall again,” Come on let’s get out of this maze.”
The next few minutes proceeded much like the last time. Mostly silence punctuated by sounding out what was behind doors. Both ponies were pretty sure that they were lost and had no hope of really finding their way out or in depending on where they wanted to go.
“Ugh, this stupid castle is so confusing,” Sunset exclaimed after the 50th door check.
“I know, with all my intellect I’m totally unable to figure this dang thing out. It’s like it was made in the 4th dimension or something,” Starlight’s tone was of utter irritation.
“Let’s just go back the way we came,” said Sunset already turning around to round a corner, “It seems that we are getting nowhe-, “
As Sunset had turned to go back down the hallway she bumped into something smaller than herself. Nearly knocking her over as well.
“Oomf, you should really watch where you are walking Sunset,” A certain purple and green dragon spoke, “Ah, Sunset!” The tiny dragon embraced Sunset.
“I missed you too Spike. Well that’s not exactly true I only saw you a few hours ago, but you get the point I guess,” Sunset laughed.
Starlight came over from her side of the hallway, “Thank Celestia, we found you Spike we been lost in here for the past half an hour.”
“Ah come on, it hasn’t been that bad has?” Sunset joked.
Starlight only rolled her eyes and gave Sunset an annoyed look.
“Right sorry, other better uses of said time.”
Spike finally let go of Sunset, “And here I was thinking I was hearing things. I kept on hearing voices coming from this hallway then I remembered that Starlight came down this way for something I figured she probably got lost. Then I also remembered that Twilight told me something about you, Sunset, that you were coming to stay with us for a week and to prepare a guest room. So I put two and two together and now here we are,” Spike said with a flurry of hand motions.
“Aw, you were worried about me?” Starlight teased.
“What, no I just didn’t want hear you complain later that you got lost and how this castle is ‘stupid’,” Spike said.
“You gave Sunset a hug and not me. I’m hurt Spike,” Starlight pouted putting on her best puppy dog eyes.
Sunset tried her best to keep herself from laughing. Her best wasn’t good enough snickers could be heard coming from her mouth.
“If it’ll make you happy,” Spike said with an annoyed look. Spike walked from where he was standing in front of Sunset to hug Starlight.
“Thanks Spike it means a lot.”
“Yeah sure, anyways what are you two doing down here. It wasn’t that hard to get to everywhere else from where we set up the guest room,” Spike changed the subject.
“Oh um, we went right from the room,” Sunset getting a hold of herself now.
“Well that’s your problem you were supposed to take a left. Starlight, I told you how to get to the first floor from there all the time.”
“I forgot,” Starlight was rubbing her left leg with her right hoof and staring at the floor, “Then Sunset became all ‘leadery’ and went right.”
“In my defense, I have never been to this crazy labyrinth of castle,” said Sunset.
“Whatever let’s just get you two back to the rest of castle. It’s almost lunchtime so you two are likely to be hungry,” Spike sighed and turned to go back the way he came.
“Actually I am getting peckish and I would love to stop being lost. How about you Starlight?” Sunset walked after Spike.
Starlight shook her head and held it high, “Yeah I could eat after all that.”
The walk back to where the guest room was a relatively short one since the group wasn’t stopping every few feet to check what’s behind a door.
Maybe we weren’t as lost as we thought.
“So I heard that the other me talks. How is it having a talking dog around all the time?” Spike broke the silence.
“Twilight thinks it’s the coolest thing since the discovery of Penicillin. But the novelty of a talking dog is quickly lost when all he talks about is squirrels most of the time,” said Sunset.
Within in a few short minutes they were coming up on the door to the guest room.
“Oh, since we are at my room I need to get something,” Sunset walked toward the room, “You guys wait here.”
“Alright don’t take too long, I got a gem calling my name,” said Spike before Sunset closed the door behind her.
Sunset took a second to glaze upon the room. Being in this castle has reminded her of her time in Canterlot. Sunset silently wished for the good old days.
Sunset shook her head fiercely, those days were gone and it was no use thinking about them now. Sunset turned her attention to her saddlebags.
Sunset pointed her horn directly at the bags. Her horn glowed faintly and she started probing the bag for the objects of her desire. The process was slow going but it was good practice.
“Come on Shimmer, a foal can do this better than you,” Sunset whispered to herself hoping that the insult would help.
After some time, sweating, and cursing at herself, Sunset found the two boxes that she wanted to get. She could have just used her hooves but at this point with her magic she doesn’t really trust her hooves that much.
Floating the two boxes behind her, Sunset walked out the room and back into the hallway to find Spike missing and Starlight reading a book. “What the hay! I was gone for five minutes,” Sunset stomped her hooves.
“Hm,” Starlight looked up from her book, “Oh it’s been closer to 30 minutes actually,” Starlight dog-eared a page and closed her book. “What how?” Sunset’s sense of time was flipping over on itself.
“Well after 10 minutes, Spike went off to get a head start on lunch and I went to get a book,” Starlight pointed to the room across from Sunset’s, “from my room. We would have come in to help but we heard a lot of yelling. Are you okay?” Starlight looked genuinely worried.
“Yeah I’m fine, I just thought that I could relearn all my magic a lot easier than this,” Sunset sighed, almost losing control of the things she was carrying.
Like riding a bike, you never forget. At least I think that’s how the saying goes.
“Well I’m sure you’ll figure it out. I could help you if want?” Starlight floated her book on to her back and got up, giving Sunset a warm smile.
“Thanks, but the only thing I want right now is some food,” Sunset walked down the hallway with Starlight right behind her.
The two unicorns walk into the kitchen to see Spike putting the finishing touches on lunch.
“There you two are.” Spike said balancing two bowls on his claws and one on his tail,” I was worried about you, Sunset, but I was hungry more. Sorry, I didn’t wait around for you,”
“That’s okay, Spike. I lost track of time in my efforts to use the simplest of magic,” Sunset beat herself down.
Spike walked over to a table a short distance way and set the bowls on it, “Sorry to hear that Sunset. You’ll get a hang of it eventually and I am sure Twilight would love to help you too,” Spike ran back to the kitchen counter to grab napkins and silverware before going back to the table and setting everything up.
Sunset floated her two boxes down by her chair before sitting in it careful to not bump them over.
Starlight came and joined them, setting her book on the counter; she sat on the right side of Sunset while Spike sat across from them.
“What didja want to get in your room anyway?” Spike scooted his chair in.
“I’d rather wait until after lunch to show you, don’t want it to get cold,” Sunset answered looking down at her lunch.
In front of her was a bowl of yellow liquid with a twig of she guessed onion. It looked like soup but she couldn’t be sure. After getting so used to human world food Sunset must have forgotten how food was back in Equestria. She was, however, excited to eat Equestria cuisine when she agreed to her trip.
“Um, what is this? If you don’t mind me asking,” Sunset pointed at the liquid.
Spike was caught mid slurp, “Oh, it’s just some squash soup. I hope you like it.” Spike then returned to his bowl.
Well it is not like it is going to poison you.
Sunset glanced over at Starlight, who was floating her spoon between her bowl and her mouth in a way that even Rarity would applaud.
Sunset looked to her spoon. Her stomach growled quietly. Sunset fired up her horn and focused on the spoon.
Come on, Shimmer. You have done this a thousand times and will do a thousand times more before you die. You can do this.
Very slowly Sunset’s magic surrounded the spoon and was lifted from its spot on the table.
Sunset exhaled calmly and commanded the spoon with her magic. The spoon reached into the bowl and then inched closer to Sunset’s mouth.
Sunset blew on the soup to cool it a bit. With her magic, Sunset put the spoon in her mouth and she drank the soup.
The soup slithered down her throat and calmed the roaring in her stomach.
Sunset quietly put the spoon back down, “Oh my Celestia that was one of the best things that I have ate in a long time. And did you see that I mess up with the spoon either,” Sunset suddenly burst out.
Spike and Starlight jump in their seats, “Oh well, glad you like the soup,” said Spike not sure what to say.
“See you just needed some time and it would come to you,” Starlight put a hoof on Sunset’s shoulder.
“Yeah just needed some time,” Sunset picked up her spoon again and got back to her meal.
The soup truly was one the best meals she had in a while. Sunset’s own cooking wasn’t nearly as good. The only time she could think of a time when she had just as good food was when she was at one of friends’ homes.
A shudder went through Sunset as she was reminded of when she first went to the human world. Surviving off store bought soup with meager amounts of money. The memories just made Sunset enjoy the soup in front of her that much more.
After the spoon had made enough passes that Sunset was sure that she could do it without much thought, she turned to Starlight, “So you said something about traveling through time?” Sunset had an eager grin on her face.
Starlight dropped her spoon, “Oh yeah, that was nothing. Just altering a little spell and poof,” Starlight said with a hoof wave and a nervous smile.
“A little spell, I thought you said it was from Starswirl’s library,” Sunset egged on.
“It was a little spell from there. Starswirl has a lot of spells you know,” Starlight said.
“It was actually pretty cool seeing something that I had only heard in stories,” Spike interjected, “Except for the terrible outcome of Twilight and the others never meeting.”
“Spike! You’re not helping,” Starlight hissed.
“Starlight its fine, I just wanted to know about how you did it not everything else,” Sunset said calmly.
“Hm okay, the spell was originally only able to send the user back a few hours, a week tops. But I found out if you cast it with a central point, like say a map of Equestria, then you could go back farther,” Starlight lectured, “Plus it helps to be as well versed in magic as I am.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Sunset said, “So you were self-taught.”
“Yeah mostly, when I was a filly, I and my best friend taught ourselves magic. When he went away I picked up whatever material I could find on magic.” Starlight looked down at her soup.
“Even if I was back up to speed, I doubt I could out magic you. I haven’t done anything as amazing as travel through time,” Sunset said.
Sunset returned her attention to her soup. She swirled her spoon around, noticing how much better she has gotten at controlling it in the past few minutes.
A clatter of silverware knocks Sunset out of her stupor. Spike was done with his soup and was picking up his bowl and spoon. Spike hopped down from his chair and walked to the sink, cleaning his bowl.
“Ah that was a good lunch. I got some chores left to do. If you girls need anything just let me know,” Spike put his bowl and spoon on a drying mat and was about to leave.
Suddenly, Sunset remembered one of the things she got from her room, “Wait Spike, I got something for you,” Sunset lifted one of the boxes other under the table.
Spike stopped, walked to Sunset, and saw the box, “Wow, thanks Sunset,” Spike’s eyebrow rose, “Wait this is a gift right. Do you really think it is smart to give a gift to a dragon?”
“Pfft, Spike I’ve read books on dragons, I know the dangers. Besides this for Hearth’s Warming it should be fine,” Sunset waved him off and floated the box into his claws.
“Okay?” Spike took caution in opening the box. When he did he put a claw in and pulled out a very ornate pen.
“You got me a pen.”
“It’s more of a joint present for both you and Twilight but yeah it’s a pen,” said Sunset looking proud of herself.
“It’s a cool looking pen, don’t get wrong Sunset, but really a pen,” Spike held up the pen and pinched the bridge of this nose.
“I know it is not what you wanted but I went over it with Twilight and she said it was a fine idea,” Sunset said, “I just thought that you could use a different writing utensil then a quill, Mr. Greedy pants.”
Spike put the pen back in the box, “Sometimes you act just like Twilight, Thanks for the gift,” He turned to leave.
“Before you go Spike, I do have a favor to ask of you,” Sunset floated the other box on to the table, “And you too Starlight.”
“Huh, me?” Starlight had only been partly paying attention to the gift giving besides her opting to finish her soup before it got cold. Hearing her name snapped her out of her meal.
“Yes you, I want to get a picture of us,” Sunset was opening the second box and pulled out a camera.
“And we are supposed to take it with that thing,” Starlight gave the camera a quizzical look.
“I don’t really know what that thing is either Starlight. But the stuff they have over there is really advanced to what we have in here in Equestria,” Spike reassured her.
“It’s called a polaroid camera. It is only a few steps ahead of what you guys got. The girls wanted pictures of everyone so I couldn’t say no. Now shush and stand close together you two and smile,” Sunset floated the viewfinder in front of her eye.
Spike and Starlight did what they were told. With some careful thinking, Sunset pushed the button and took the picture.
A second later the picture came out at the bottom of the camera.
“Wow that was fast I was thinking you still can to get in developed,” said Starlight taking the picture from the camera.
“Now can I go? I still have chores to do.” Spike groaned.
“Yes you can go Spike,” said Sunset.
Spike ran out of the room only to poke his head back in, “Welcome back Sunset,” and he was gone.
“Thanks Spike,” Sunset yelled after him.
Starlight smiled and turned back to her meal. Then the camera was floated in front of her.
“Could you take one of me?” Sunset trying not to be rude, as she herself would like to get back to her probably cold soup. But her friends wanted pictures of everyone and that meant everyone.
Starlight grabbed the camera in her magic, “You know I hear that when you take trips you supposed to take pictures of other things and not yourself.”
“If I don’t take one of practically everything I will never hear the end of it. Especially from Fluttershy and Twilight,” Sunset stood straight and flashed her best smile.
“So I just look through this lens thing and press this button.”
“Yep,” Sunset quickly nodded.
The flash of the camera goes off and then the picture comes out. Sunset grabs it and puts it with other one.
“Now to our soup,” Sunset put the camera back in its box and looked to the soup. It looked cold, “Hm, do you know a heat spell, Starlight?”
“Actually I do,” Starlight looked at her soup and came to the same conclusion.
In a flash, the soup was back to its starting temperature.
“Thanks Starlight, I think this is the start of a wonderful friendship.”
The rest of lunch wrapped up quickly with both ponies opting to just quiet their hungry stomachs rather than small talk. The soup tasted just as good heated up again when Sunset first tasted it.
Starlight had excused herself saying that she had some studying to do. Not wanting to bother her new friend, Sunset left her to it. But with nothing else better to do and plenty of time to kill she felt like taking a walk.
Sunset went back to her room, took out all the other stuff in her saddlebags, and put the camera back in without the box. Sunset thought about leaving a few of the presents in the bags just in case she did run into any of the pony versions of her friends. But decided against it, thinking it would be odd if some random pony just walked up to you and gave you a present.
Although she has seen Pinkie do that multiple times in the halls of CHS. Sunset shrugged and just left them out.
Backtracking to the kitchen, Sunset was able to easily find her way out of this Goddess forsaken castle and outside.
Sunset would have squint her eyes to adjust to the light outside if it weren’t for how bright it was in the castle. Due to the nature of the construction material, Sunset thought that inside of the castle must be just as bright as the outside.
Sunset took a deep breath and exhaled. There was one thing that the castle doesn’t have good air circulation.
The first thing that Sunset noticed about Ponyville was how close the castle was to the rest of the small town. Granted everything in Canterlot felt like it was built on top of itself and Sunset never got a good look at the Crystal Empire. The placement of the castle just felt off to Sunset.
And as Sunset walked to the town proper and started seeing other ponies, she noticed how nice everypony was. Most of the ponies in Canterlot wouldn’t even give Sunset the time of day. Although now that she thought about her altitude at the time probably didn’t help matters. But every pony that Sunset walked past greeted her in some way. Whether it be a “Good Afternoon”, a nice “Hello”, or a “Hi, how are ya?”
Sunset greeted each and every pony back and even recognizing a few. It had been like that book that the girls had shown her because they were fed up with her not getting the reference. What was it called again “Where’s Faldo?” Almost everywhere Sunset looked there was a pony version of a student she knew at CHS. The Pony versions of the students almost looked like carbon copies of the students themselves, except that they were ponies and not humans.
Maybe it won’t be as hard to find the others as I thought.
Having nowhere to be and nowhere to really go Sunset just wandered, taking in the sights and sounds.
Sunset suddenly had found herself in the still busy market square. Sunset stopped and thought about doing some window shopping, since she had no bits which to speak of.
Then the most wonderful smell in the world tickled her nose. It smelled like apples and a bit familiar. Sunset looked all around but couldn’t see the source of such a delicious scent.
Well knowing them, they wouldn’t have the biggest stall.
Using her nose to track the smell, Sunset walked through the market trying to find where the smell was strongest.
After a couple of minutes, Sunset thought she had gotten really close but still couldn’t see the stall, if there was one at all.
Then a voice graced Sunset’s ears, “Thank ya for the purchase,” The voice was coming from a nearby corner of the square.
Sunset excused herself through a crowd of ponies. When she came out the other side, she saw the most humble stall that she had seen yet today.
The stall was all brown stained wood with a green tablecloth on top. The front of the stall was painted with a bunch of red apples. Two posts held up a small sign that read “Sweet Apple Acres”.
Sunset smiled at the small thing and looked back at all the other stalls in the square. Most had flashy decorations and fancy fabrics to draw the eye.
Sunset had remembered of the few times she had helped Applejack and the rest of the Apple family at the local flea market. When she got to the flea market, Sunset had noticed the same thing she did now. That all the stalls were all showy to attract customers while the Apple’s stall was a miserable pile of sticks. Sunset had asked Applejack why she doesn’t do the same as everyone else at the market. Applejack had said that the product should sell itself not a bunch of smoke and mirrors to get someone to buy it.
Guess these two worlds are more alike than I first thought.
Sitting behind the stall was a pony that Sunset had to guess was Applejack because she looked just like her. Same blond hair, er mane, done up in a ponytail. Same orange skin, er coat, and same Stetson hat.
Hm, how should I do this? I mean I technically know her but it would probably be weird if I just walked up and started a conversation with her. Although it’s not like anypony or person would mind if I did that, as long as I am friendly.
Sunset shifted her weight from one side of her body to the other and back, unsure of what to do. Then she noticed that Applejack was staring right at her. In all of Sunset’s nervousness she failed to catch what Applejack was doing.
Seeing that the cat was out of the bag, Sunset tip-hooved up to the stall. She opened her mouth to apologize but Applejack cut her off.
“So is that how ponies introduce each other in that other world of yours, staring at one another,” Applejack said with a smug grin.
“Ah no, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to be…,” Sunset floundered then her mind caught up, “Wait did you?”
“Yep,” Applejack’s grin got wider.
“But how?”
“Your name’s Sunset Shimmer. It isn’t hard to sush out what a pony looks like judging from a name like that. Besides I’ve never seen you before and I haven’t seen a whole lot of new ponies around these parts in a while.”
“Wow, so does everypony else know?”
“Probably not, except maybe Pinkie, Twilight only told us your name and that you were a unicorn. I’m just smarter than what everypony thinks I am.”
“Well at least your words of wisdom have yet to steer me wrong yet.”
“Oh and I thought Twilight was supposed to be the teacher. So this other Applejack is the same as me.”
“Yep, in fact I’m pretty sure she has this exact same stall,” Sunset brought up a hoof and tapped the stall a few times.
“Huh like looking though a mirror I guess,” Applejack snickered, “How do you like it back here?”
“Well before I went through the mirror the first time, I never really traveled very far from Canterlot. This is my first time in Ponyville and I would have to say that I get why ponies would live here. Everypony is so nice and it’s so quiet as opposed to Canterlot.”
“I hear ya, Canterlot isn’t for everypony,” Applejack leaned on the stall, “So what are you doing out here? I’d figure you’d be out doing magic or whatever.”
“Yeah I guess after several years of not really using it I got a bit rusty,” Sunset winced, “And what’s wrong with just taking a walk just because it’s a vacation doesn’t mean I have to do things I wouldn’t normally do.”
Applejack put a hoof to her chin, “I guess that’s true. Sometimes the only thing I want to do when I got no work to do is just relax.”
“Heh, Yeah,” Sunset shifted a bit then remembered something, “Hey do you mind if I take a picture of you?”
“Not at all Sunset, but how are you going to do that?” Applejack’s ears perked up.
“With this,” Sunset’s horn started to glow then the Polaroid camera popped out from her saddlebags.
“And what the hay is it?” Applejack stared at the camera with paranoia.
“It’s just a camera kind of like the ones you guys have here but newer,” Sunset laughed, “Now smile.”
Sunset put the viewfinder up to her eye and pressed the button.
“There just like that. You can even see the picture you look almost instantly,” Sunset took the picture from the camera and placed it on the stall.
“Huh, would ya look at that usually we have to wait a day or two for Photo Finish to develop them but that was dang fast,” Applejack pushes up her hat with a hoof.
The picture was put into the saddlebag along with the camera, “Well I guess I will see you later then. Let you get back to business,” Sunset turned to leave.
“Wait Sunset,” Applejack ducked under the stall and brought out two of the shiniest red apples Sunset has ever seen, “Have these for the road.”
“Applejack I don’t have any money.”
“No cost for a friend,” Applejack smiled.
“You barely know me,” Sunset deadpanned.
“How ‘bout friend of a friend and in my book that still counts,” Applejack pushed the apples closer to Sunset.
“Thanks Applejack, have a good day,” With that Sunset took the apples and waved goodbye.
Sunset chomped into one of the apples as she sat on a park bench.
Oh Celestia that’s good. It’s not much different than the apples I get from the human world but it’s still good.
Sunset would have to thank Applejack again.
Sunset looked up to sky; the sun was still high up there. It was pretty weird to not have a phone or watch to check the time. But if Sunset had to guess it was about two o’clock in the afternoon.
Sunset sweep her gaze across the park. It was perfectly serene and quiet, except for a few fillies and colts playing a ways away.
Sunset then looked back at the sky but in a specific spot. From where she was sitting she could just make out the top of Canterlot castle from beyond the trees.
Sunset sighed, part of her wanted to just teleport right in front of Celestia and get it over with but the other part of her wanted to avoid the interaction at any cost. But Sunset knew that the latter wasn’t going to happen. Sunset knew that Twilight wasn’t the type of pony to force anypony to do anything but she knew that there was no way Twilight was going to let her stay here for a week without at least meeting Celestia once.
Sunset finished her apple, hopping off the bench and taking aim at a nearby trash can. Sunset lined up the shot, taking in account of any wind, with a flick of her horn the apple was sent flying through the air and directly into the trash can.
Sunset pumped her hoof and yelped with joy of making the shot. She then walked off in random direction.
Hmm, what should I do now? I don’t have the greatest idea of where things are in this town but I have some hunches as to where things could be. Maybe if I go this way.
A few twists and a lot of turns with a hint of a flip Sunset’s gaze fell on the place that she was looking for. It’s the only thing in town that looks like it, a positive shining star of fashion in a sea of rustic hometown architecture.
Sunset looks up at the carousel like building and shakes her head.
Only Rarity would have something like this as her place of work. Leave it to her to stand out.
Wasting no more time, Sunset walked inside the boutique hoping that this won’t be as awkward as last time. The bell above the door ringed with a voice calling out from the back, “Coming.”
She had the same sing-songy primp proper voice that sounded like someone trying to be better than everyone else. It used to annoy Sunset, now she thinks it’s about as normal as everything else in her life and would hate to see it go.
The inside of the boutique was just as fancy and beautiful as the outside. Sunset walked around the shop looking at various dresses, remembering all the dresses Rarity has made for her in the past. One of these days she really has to make it up to Rarity whether she likes it or not.
Sunset was looking at a greenish dress when she heard a door swing open followed by the pitter patter of hooves from behind her. “Why hello there dearie, How many I hel-,” Rarity gasped, “Oh my Heavens.”
Sunset turned around to find out why Rarity was freaking out. Instead Sunset saw Rarity staring her up and down.
Maybe she already knew who I was.
Suddenly, Rarity rushed to Sunset pushing her up on to the stage and starting taking measurements, “I am making you a dress this instant, darling.”
“What, Why?” Sunset tried to follow Rarity with her eyes but the crazed unicorn wouldn’t stop zipping around her.
“Why, WHY, have you looked into a mirror lately? You are simply glorious darling. That coat, those eyes, and that mane. I have never seen anything like it, that’s why. And you simply must tell me where you get your mane styled,” Rarity was moving and working faster than Sunset had ever seen her do before.
Other than the times when Rarity had taken her to get her hair done, Sunset never really bothered with it, “Um, no pony, I just brush and wash it nothing more.”
Rarity sounded like she got the wind knocked out of her, “Ha, you must be joking?”
Rarity stared into Sunset, “Uh no not joking, the only pony to have my mane styled was yo- er one of my friends. She just as obsessed with fashion as you are,” Sunset waved a hoof over the shop.
Sunset didn’t know why she was trying to keep the truth away from Rarity, it’s not like it’s a secret.
Rarity tilted her head, possible pondering the statement, “Well whoever this pony is they did a wonderful job. Your mane practically sticks in place,” Rarity finally said getting back to her measurements.
“Heheh, yeah sometimes I don’t even brush it at all,” Sunset joked, “Then my one friend gets really mad at me,” Then she deadpanned.
Rarity didn’t stop working this time, “Hrumph, Well your friend has every right to be mad. To let this gorgeous go to waste would be a travesty. If I wasn’t the pony I am I’d have half a mind to slap you right now just for even admitting that.”
Rarity stepped back from Sunset floating a clipboard in front of her jotting down notes, “Hm, I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name. It would be rather silly of me to make a dress for a pony and not know their name.”
I’d rather not lie to her.
“It’s Sunset Shimmer,” Sunset looked hurt and rubbed the back of her neck.
“Alright, Sunset Shimm-,” Rarity stopped writing and looked up at Sunset and then back down at the name she had written.
“That only makes sense that somepony like me would be the only pony to have your mane styled like that,” Rarity tossed aside the clipboard.
“So you’re not mad at me,” Sunset looked dejected.
“No not at all darling, it wasn’t like you were lying or intentionally not telling me. I just got swept up in my process that you weren’t able to introduce yourself. Besides I was planning on making you a dress anyways,” Rarity smiled.
“Wait why? Is it because you’re just being generous to a friend of a friend,” Sunset said.
“Em partly, I do make dresses for all my friends no matter who they are. But you must already know of the party in Canterlot at the end of the week,” Rarity’s clipboard flew back to her and she resumed a partially started sketch.
“Um, I wasn’t told anything about this party. Care to fill me in,” Sunset worried.
“Oh, yes well Celestia announced a few weeks ago that she was going to hold a party similar to the Grand Galloping Gala in the castle. This party is to be a bit less formal than the Gala. She promptly sent out invites to everypony, Starlight included. Then Twilight said that you were coming and asked for another invite for you. Celestia obliged and sent one over straight away. I think that’s it.”
“Oh great,” Sunset screamed internally.
It was only a possible certainty that I was going to meet Celestia this week. Now it is an absolute certainty.