Twilight Sparkle and the human counterparts of the Mane Six stood around the smoldering crater in front of Canterlot High. Slowly, other students and even teachers began crowding around them. They could all see Sunset Shimmer was laying at the bottom, quietly sobbing to herself. Twilight looked down at her with pity.
"I'm sorry!" Sunset Shimmer whimpered, looking up at everyone around her, pausing especially at Twilight and Spike. "I'm so sorry! I couldn't control myself! I only wanted to harness the crown's magic! I thought it would bring me closer to becoming a princess. just like you, Twilight! Honestly, I didn't mean to turn into that horrible monster, and I didn't mean to try killing or hurting anyone like that!"
Twilight knelt down over the edge of the small pit, and looked into Sunset's face, which was stained with dirt and tears. Twilight slid down, and approached her former enemy. To her surprise, Sunset squirmed away from her and flinched like a child about to be beaten.
"Please don't hurt me, Twilight!" Sunset gasped out. "I don't even want the crown anymore! You can take it! I don't want any more trouble here!"
The crowd above them were waiting uneasily, unsure of what to do but see what these two girls from Equestria were about to do. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were nervously biting their nails, and Spike, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash were trying to stop people from climbing down and separating the two.
"Look, I know we have a no-fight policy in our school!" Dash grunted, pushing people back with her magically-acquired wings and arms. "But they aren't actually in the school, these aren't school hours, and they're not fighting...yet."
"Besides, Sunset's from the same world as me and Twilight, so I think this is official Equestria business here." the purple dog said, before adding after he noticed people staring at him. "And yes, I can talk! But is that seriously the weirdest thing right now?"
"I beg you, Princess!" Sunset told Twilight, who was now looking her straight in the eyes. "I'm so sorry about everything I've done to you, and to everyone here! I know that I've been terrible in the past, and I--"
Then suddenly, the winged teenage girl sat down in the crater with the reddish-blonde girl. Her frown began a warm, welcoming smile.
"Sunset Shimmer, I understand." Twilight told her. "And I think I would be happy to have someone like you as my friend."
Sunset stopped crying, and looked at Twilight with a confused expression of her face.
"Your friend?" she repeated. "But I'm no friend! All I've done since I first got here was bully people and destroy others' friendships! I haven't even tried to make friends!"
"And until a couple of years ago, neither did I." Twilight said. "But I think that the two of us aren't too different."
"Aren't too different?" Sunset exclaimed. "How are we not different? You're a princess, and I'm just a dropout! I failed Princess Celestia, Twilight! I failed her! By extension, I've failed Equestria!"
Most of the people were wondering what the two were talking to each other about, but each sentence seemed to confuse them even more than the last.
"Sunset, you're no failure." Twilight told her. "You're one of the most intelligent, resourceful, and talented individuals I've ever met. We could really use somepony like you back in Equestria."
"Twilight, please." Sunset shook her head. "You're just trying to flatter me so that I can feel better about what I did before."
"No, I'm not." assured Twilight Sparkle. "I sincerely believe you could redeem yourself if you were to come with me to Equestria."
"But I caused so much trouble here in this world!" Sunset said, pointing up at the crowd around the crater. "Do you honestly think that they would just let me go to the other side, just like that?"
"Sunset, it wouldn't hurt to apologize to them." Twilight said. "And as you said before, there's still less than an hour before the portal to our world closes. That's plenty of time to think of something before we have to go back home."
"What do you mean, we?" Sunset asked. "What makes you think I want to go back home with you? I know that Princess Celestia's standing on the other side, ready to let me have it for running out on her! She hates me!"
"Sunset, she doesn't hate you." clarified Twilight Sparkle. "She misses you dearly. She even kept the mirror with her for the past two years, hoping that you'd come back home to Equestria."
"Then why wasn't the mirror in Canterlot palace, like before?" Sunset asked. "I thought she had sent it off to your new castle!"
"That wasn't my castle, that was Princess Cadence's!" explained Twilight, with a chuckle. "Princess Celestia kept the mirror with her for safekeeping!"
"Princess Cadence?" Sunset said, remembering the name. "Wasn't she the one working on that love spell?"
"That's right." Twilight nodded. "She perfected it since you left. And she's married to my older brother, too."
"Wow." said Sunset, slowly standing herself up. "I've really been missing out on so much in Equestria. But are you sure that Princess Celestia won't be angry with me?"
"She might be a little angry." Twilight said. "But I don't think she'd do anything severe."
"You promise?" asked Sunset Shimmer.
Twilight Sparkle stood up, and hugged her former rival.
"I promise." nodded Twilight, as her purple wings comfortably enveloped the two humanized ponies.
Several members of the crowd slowly began to clap, happy to see the two enemies making up. Spike poked his head over the edge.
"Hey, um...Twilight?" he prompted. "We'd better get going soon. You'd better wrap this all up. The portal back to Equestria will close in half an hour."
Twilight and Sunset both jumped at this announcement, and clambered out of the pit quickly. The crowd was generous enough to part for both of the girls. They went over to the human counterparts of Twilight's friends. Sunset began shaking hands with the five human girls.
"Girls, I'm so sorry that you ruined your friendship." she told them, before turning to Rarity. "I know that I owe you all apologies, especially you!"
"Oh, don't worry, dear." Rarity said. "If you truly are sorry, then I forgive you."
"Pinkie, I'm sorry about what happened in the gym." apologized Sunset, before turning to the rest of the crowd. "But I think Snips and Snails deserve to apologize to!"
The two boys slow emerged from the other end of the crowd.
"Ye-yes, boss?" Snips asked.
"I'm going out of town for the next two years or so." Sunset told them, wearing an authoritative, but benevolent expression on her face. "And unfortunately, I don't have much time to kiss and make-up with everyone here. I want you two to spread the word: I'm sorry for being a total jerk to everyone here, and that I'm going away to a place where I can learn to be a better person."
"Wait, why don't you just--" Snails asked.
"Snips! Snails!" snapped Sunset. "There's no time to argue! I don't have much time to spare."
"But why not?" Snips and Snails both asked at once.
Suddenly, Sunset looked over at the school, putting her hands around her mouth.
"Hey, Vice Principal Luna!" she yelled. "I wanna tell you who destroyed Pinkie Pie's--"
"Stop!" Snips quickly shouted, jumping up and down. "We'll do what you want us to do!"
"Just don't tell the teachers about what we did!" added Snails, frantically.
"Thanks, boys." Sunset said, giving each of them a pat on the head. "Now you can start by apologizing to Pinkie Pie about the gym. Now!"
the two teenage boys gulped, and walked up to Pinkie Pie.
"We're sorry about how we wrecked your decorations." Snips told her.
"Yeah!" Snails added. "You're awesome at making decorations! In fact, we'd like to help you with them the next time around!"
Flash Sentry walked up to Twilight Sparkle, and decided to ask her a question.
"Hey, Twi." he said. "I know this is a bad time to ask, but...do you think we could have that dance, now?"
Twilight blushed, but shook her head when she noticed a distressed expression on Sunset's face.
"I don't know, Flash." Twilight said. "You're a really nice guy. But I need to go home soon. And I think there's someone that would like to make things up with you."
Twilight pointed towards Sunset Shimmer, who was nervously looking around. Flash walked up to her.
"So, Sunny. It looks like you're leaving us." Flash said. "Kind of a bummer, if you ask me. I was hoping we'd be able to start seeing each other again."
"I know, Flash." Sunset said. "I'm sorry that we broke up to begin with. But I was different, back then. But I don't think it would've worked out between us for too long, anyway."
"What do you mean, Sunny?"
"Flash, I'm a unicorn from a parallel world." Sunset told him, flatly. "Not only that, but I already have a human counterpart somewhere in this world."
"Sunset, I'd like to go with you." he said. "I wanna see where you came from."
Sunset felt her eyes watering, but she declined.
"Flash, it wouldn't be the same." Sunset told her ex-boyfriend. "I want you to understand that humans and ponies really don't mix. Imagine if I came here as a unicorn instead of looking like this?"
"Okay, Sunset." Flash frowned. "You're right. But could I still visit you someday?"
"Flash, I don't know that, either." admitted Sunset. "But you have friends and family here. I have neither. You shouldn't throw your life away for something that's not even supposed to be there!"
"But I'm glad it was, anyway." Flash smiled.
"Sunset, it's getting close to go!" said Twilight Sparkle. "Eight minutes left!"
"Okay, Twilight!" Sunset called back. "See you later, Flash."
Sunset gave Flash Sentry a hug, and kissed him on the cheek.
"Bye, Sunset." Flash said, reluctantly. "I hope you become a princess, just like Twilight."
"Me, too." nodded Sunset. "Though, really. I wouldn't mind if I didn't."
"Hey, Twilight!" Spike suddenly shouted. "We almost forgot the Element of Magic."
The Equestria trio were all looking around for the crown. It had been sent through the air when Sunset Shimmer's demon form was defeated. Then Flash cleared his throat, and the three's attentions were all on him.
"Twilight, I think this belongs to you." he said, handing the headdress over to Twilight Sparkle. "I was hoping that I could get one last dance out of this whole experience before you had to go. But I guess it's not happening."
"Flash, I'm so sorry that I haven't been able to spend as much time with you, but..."
But then Twilight felt Flash put a warm hand on her shoulder.
"I understand, Twilight." the young man said. "Just promise me that Sunny won't be treated badly, wherever you're taking her. She was my girlfriend, after all."
"I'll gladly make that promise!" said Princess Twilight Sparkle, before turning to the purple dog and the reddish-blonde girl in the dusty leather jacket. "Alright, everypony! Time to head back to Equestria."
Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, and Spike all stood side-by-side, facing the statue. The two girls bent on all fours, with Spike climbing on Twilight's back. Then Twilight and Spike dove into the base of the statue, and Sunset followed suit just a few seconds later. They all disappeared in a shimmer of light. Flash just stood there, watching the spot where she disappeared. Principal Celestia, Vice Principal Luna, and Twilight's human friends had gathered around Flash, wondering what would be in store for the three that crossed back to the other side.
In Princess Cadence's palace in the Crystal Empire, the three Princesses and the remaining five Elements of Harmony were waiting restlessly around the mirror. They knew it would close any minute.
"Princess Celestia, what would happen to the other Elements if Twilight doesn't return with the crown?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Is something bad going to happen to them?"
"I don't know, Rainbow Dash." answered Princess Celestia. "I just hope that Twilight is fine."
Suddenly, a purple alicorn emerged from the mirror, with a baby dragon on her back. It was--
"Twilight!" the five Elements said together, rushing up to congratulate her on retrieving the crown.
Spike climbed off of Twilight, relieved to be able to walk upright again.
"Hang on, everypony!" exclaimed Twilight. "I've brought somebody else with me!"
Everyone present was quiet. Princess Celestia went up to her student.
"Twilight, who else is coming?" she asked.
"Three...two...one." Twilight was counting down, looking eagerly at the mirror.
Right on cue, an amber-colored unicorn emerged from it. She had a curly red mane and tail with blonde streaks, and her eyes were light green.
"Hey, that's the thief!" Princess Cadence and Rainbow Dash shouted, recognizing the young mare that appeared.
"Stop!" Twilight and Spike both shouted. "Don't hurt her!"
The two both skidded to a halt. Princess Celestia looked over the other mares present, and was examining the unicorn, who was looking back at her uneasily.
"Um...hi, Princess." the unicorn said, nervously. "I'm back home again!"
"Oh, Sunset Shimmer!" Princess Celestia smiled. "It's so great to see you again!"
"It is?" Sunset asked, nervously. "I thought you'd be angry with me?"
"Sunset, more than two years have passed since we last spoke with each other." the princess told her. "I was afraid that you would stay in that world forever! But are you certain that you are here to stay, this time?"
"Yes, Princess Celestia." Sunset Shimmer said. "Thanks to Twilight Sparkle, I was able to see the error of my ways, and she was the one that convinced me to come back here. She said that I could help out around here."
"Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer." Princess Celestia said. "I am very proud of both of you right now."
Sunset Shimmer felt her jaw drop.
"Both of us?" she asked. "But I didn't even..."
"I will explain it all later, Sunset." said the princess. "For now, we should all go back to sleep. We've waited a long time for things to be settled between you and Twilight."
"Right...me and Twilight." Sunset said, nervously. "So, where am I going to be sleeping, anyway?"
Ten minutes later, Sunset Shimmer was comfortably tucking herself into her bed...in a tiny room between Applejack's and Pinkie Pie's. Sunset's ears were blasted by the sounds of Applejack's unusually loud snoring and Pinkie Pie's babbling in her sleep. The unicorn tried as best as she could to sleep peacefully, but to no avail. Eventually, she gave up, and decided to take a walk around the castle. Eventually, she found herself on a low balcony looking over the city around the palace. She looked on, and stared in awe.
"Wow, this is so beautiful." she whispered. "But where am I, anyway?"
"This is the Crystal Empire." said the voice of Princess Cadence.
Sunset looked back, and saw the pink alicorn looking at her.
"Hi, Princess." Sunset said. "And good evening."
"And good evening to you." said Cadence. "Let me guess: Sleeping problems, right?"
"Snoring, actually." answered Sunset.
"You don't say?" Princess Cadence said. "That must be Applejack's doing. I had to sleep next door to her earlier this year. It was very bothersome."
"Ugh...I could only imagine."
They both chuckled.
"So, you used to be Princess Celestia's student?" asked Cadence.
"I sure was." Sunset said, quietly. "And I'd rather not talk about it, if you don't mind."
"Fair enough." nodded Cadence.
"So this is the Crystal Empire, huh?" Sunset asked. "I read about this place. I thought it disappeared a long time ago."
"Until recently, it did." said Cadence.
Then Sunset bowed her head, with a depressed expression on her face.
"You know, Princess." she admitted. "I feel somewhat uncomfortable right now."
"Why so?"
"About what I did in the past. It seems like I've always been a problem, and never a solution. I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it up to Princess Celestia."
"You shouldn't be so negative, Sunset." said Cadence. "I'm willing to give you the benefit of a doubt. Why can't you do the same, and give yourself a chance?"
"Okay, okay." said Sunset. "Well, I'm glad we had this talk, princess. Good night."
"Good night, Sunset Shimmer." said Cadence.
Sunset Shimmer went back to her bedroom, when she suddenly bumped into a pegasus guard in the darkness.
"Ooph!" sputtered Sunset. "Sorry about th--"
She recognized the orange pegasus she had just bumped into.
"Flash Sentry?" she said, softly.
"Hello, ma'am." said the pegasus guard. "Having sleeping problems, are we?"
Sunset Shimmer looked into Flash's eyes, and smiled.
"Not anymore." she said, happily. "Thanks."
She moved her head so that it was level with Flash Sentry's, and kissed him on the lips. Not a lick that was typical of ponies in Equestria, but an actual kiss.
"Good night." she casually said to the awestruck equine counterpart of her ex-boyfriend.
Flash Sentry turned to look at the amber mare as she went back to her bedroom. He stared blankly at her, confused. It wasn't until the unicorn telekinetically shut her door, that he finally broke out of his trance-like gaze, shrugged his wings, and then continued his patrol along the corridor.
