Sunset Shimmer was hungry after getting off the train, so she decided to get something to eat before starting to look for the ponies she was looking for. She asked the first pony she seen where she could find some food to eat.

“Hey, do you know any good places to eat?” Sunset Shimmer asked a pony running a flower stand, particularly roses.

“I really like this place over by the Town Hall called the Hay Café.” Roseluck said. “Would you like to buy any roses while you’re passing through?”

“Oh, no thanks.” Sunset Shimmer said, even though a fresh rose sure did sound delicious right now.

“Okay, well have a nice day!”

“You too.” Sunset Shimmer noticed all the ponies in this town are very nice and pretty considerate. And, wow! The place has really grown over the years. However, it’s not all that modernized. Everything in the small town looks very olden pony times, even the houses. Sunset Shimmer got to the Café, and takes a seat at an open table. She was happy to see that the place seemed to be pretty upkeep and quite fancy. A waiter came to her table.

“Hello ma’am, may I take your order?” The waiter said politely.

“Yes, I’ll take water, and a lily and pansy sandwich.” Sunset Shimmer said.

“Yes ma’am, your order will be out in just a minute.” The waiter said, walking back to the main restaurant.

Sunset Shimmer nodded to the waiter, and took a minute to survey her surroundings. She seen nothing out of the ordinary, and looked up at the sky. Ponyville must have a very good Weather Team, because there were only a few clouds up in the sky, and the few that were in the sky were white as snow. It seemed like a very quaint town. Then Sunset Shimmer remembered Princess Luna saying something about Twilight’s friends. She took out the pictures she received from Luna, and looked at the back of them, and seen that all of the backs of the letters had their location, and they all lived in Ponyville. Sunset swore under her breath, and became very paranoid.

“Here is your meal, ma’am.” The waiter layed Sunset’s order on her table. “Would you like to pay now?”

“…Oh, uh yes, thank you.” Sunset Shimmer stuttered.

“That will be seven bits, please.”

Sunset Shimmer gave the waiter the bits, and he bidded her a good day. Sunset scarfed her sandwich down in about five bites, and started looking around for the ponies named Minuette and Crescent Moon. She decided the fastest way to find them would be to ask around, so she went to the first pony she seen.

“Um, excuse me? I need to find two ponies named Minuette and Crescent Moon, do you know where I can find them?” Sunset Shimmer asked a minty green pony.

“Oh, of course!” Lyra beamed. “You can find Minuette at the dentist’s office, and Crescent Moon, I don’t really know where he works, or even lives, for that matter. Oh, and you can call Minuette ‘Colgate’ if you want! That’s what everypony calls her. Are you new to Ponyville?” Lyra asked Sunset Shimmer, hoping to get to know her better.

“Oh, thank you. I’m definitely not new to Ponyville, I've been here before. I've got to get going, though. Thanks for the help.” Sunset Shimmer said with as much positivity as she could muster. She knew she couldn't just go around making a scene everywhere, she would be easily spotted later on and taken to jail, and then assassinated Luna. She most definitely didn’t want that. Then she realized something.

“Wait!” Sunset Shimmer yelled back to the pony she was just talking to. “Where is the dentist?”

“Oh, just down that path that you’re on! You can’t miss it!” Lyra said back.

“Thank you!” Sunset Shimmer said.

“You’re welcome!” Lyra said back.

And with that, Sunset Shimmer was on her way. She walked about three blocks, and she could see the dentist’s office two blocks away. Her hopes were instantly raised, and she sped up her pace. However, her hopes were dashed just as quickly as they came. She noticed a cyan pegasus with an unmistakable rainbow mane in the sky above, and dove for cover in a nearby alleyway, behind some trash cans. The pegasus quickly and expertly flew over at amazing speeds. And like that, the cyan pegasus Sunset Shimmer knew as Rainbow Dash for obvious reasons was gone, out of sight. Sunset Shimmer let out a sigh of relief, and continued on towards the dentist’s office. She made it without seeing any other ponies that were friends of Twilight’s, and stepped inside. She surveyed the room, and all was clear except for a gray pegasus with a yellow mane that had mismatched eyes, and a receptionist that has a purple mane and a light lavender mane. Sunset Shimmer went up to the reception desk.

“I’d like to talk to Colgate, please.” Sunset Shimmer said to the receptionist.

“Did you schedule an appointment?” The receptionist said in a very monotone voice, obviously bored out of her mind.

“No, but I need to speak to her right now. It’s an emergency.” Sunset Shimmer said, hoping she wouldn’t have to wait any longer than she had to.

The receptionist sighed and said, “What is the emergency, and how do you know Colgate?”

Sunset Shimmer decided to go on the offensive. “The emergency is none of your business, and me and Colgate are friends!” Sunset Shimmer told the receptionist, hoping to be able to go and talk to Colgate right away.

The receptionist sighed again, and said, “Fine, go ahead.”

“Thank you!” Sunset Shimmer said offensively.

The receptionist went back to doing absolutely nothing, and Sunset Shimmer went into a short hallway. At the end of the hallway, she could see a door that had a sign on it that read, “Minuette.” Sunset Shimmer walked towards the door, and knocked on the door.

“Hello? May I come in?” Sunset Shimmer asked, hoping to get answer.

“Who are you?” Sunset Shimmer heard a voice from behind her. She turned around, to see Colgate right there.

“My name is Sunset Shimmer, and I have come here for… special reasons. And your name is Minuette, although you go by Colgate.”

Colgate looked as though she realized something, and said, “Come into my office.”

Sunset Shimmer nodded, and allowed Minuette past her to open her office and went inside.

“So, who sent you?” Minuette asked Sunset Shimmer, in a serious tone.

“Princess Luna.” Sunset Shimmer said blatantly, knowing this pony meant business.

“To ensure you are not a spy, I must interrogate you. Please take a seat.”

Sunset Shimmer sat in a chair that Minuette had pointed to. As soon as she sat in the chair, metal bands come over her hooves and head, strapping her into the chair. Sunset Shimmer struggled to get out.

“Don’t bother. You’re not getting out of that chair. It has magical properties that negates you from using your magic at all. Now, here’s the rules. I will interrogate you on the information from Luna’s dream, and if you answer a question wrong, then I will kill you so fast, you won’t even have time to scream for mercy. Got it?” Minuette said coldly to the pony she’s barely knew for a minute.

“Y-yes!” Sunset Shimmer said, scared for her life.

“Very well. Now, first question. Where were you in the dream, and what moon phase was the moon in?”

“It was just a dark, flat, barren landscape. The moon was full.” Sunset Shimmer said.

“What was the first thing you heard?”

“Hoofsteps from behind me.” Sunset Shimmer said.

“What was the creature making the hoofsteps?” Minuette asked.

Sunset Shimmer thought for a second. “It… it was… it was a pony, but it was pitch black, and horrifying.”

“What did it do?” Minuette asked.

Sunset Shimmer got a chill up her spine at this question. "It slowly stepped towards me," Just thinking of that horrifying memory in her dream made Sunset Shimmer want to scream.

“…and then?”

Sunset Shimmer shivered while answering Minuette's question, "It came up to my face, revealed its sharp teeth, and screamed."

"What did it do after it was done screaming?" Minuette asked.

"It suddenly stopped screaming and burst into light," Sunset Shimmer said.

“Who then appeared in front of you after the light subsided?” Minuette asked, knowing this was an easy question, but a necessary one.

“Princess Luna.” Sunset Shimmer said, relieved they were past the nightmare.

“What appeared in your saddlebag after you woke up?”

“Fifty bits, a picture of you, a picture of a pegasus named Crescent Moon, a dark blue unicorn named Night Light, and five pictures of ponies that are Twilight Sparkle’s friends.” Sunset Shimmer said.

Minuette looked at her decisively for a second. "Very well," Minuette said. As soon as Minuette said this, the metal bracers retracted back into the chair, letting Sunset Shimmer free.

“Welcome to the New Lunar Republic, Sunset Shimmer,” Minuette said with a smirk.

“Well, it seems we have arrived at the Crystal Empire.” Luna said.

The chariot came and landed just outside of the Crystal Castle.

“Thank you, sirs.” Twilight said to the royal guards that pulled their chariots, who responded by snorting and standing proudly.

“Let’s go in, you must say hello to Princess Cadence and Shining Armor, and go and come back from this… ‘human’ world you spoke so fondly of.” Luna said.

Twilight nodded her head, and went in, along with Spike. Shining Armor and Cadence were waiting for them in the main foyer. Twilight gasped when she saw Cadence, and went straight up to her.

“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs, awake! Clap your hooves, and do a little shake!” They both sung and danced. Spike rolled his eyes thinking if they will ever get tired of that.

“It’s so good to see you again, Twilight!” Cadence beamed.

“Same here, Cadence! And hello, BBBFF!” Twilight said as she hugged her big brother.

“Hey, Twily! Happy to see you.” Shining Armor said.

“Ahem.” Luna spoke up. “The portal will close tonight, so we must move quickly. I’m sure Twilight is very excited to go back through the portal.” Luna said.

“You bet I am!” Twilight said with excitement.

“Come on this way, then.” Princess Cadance said. Everypony followed Princess Cadance through the halls to the room that holds the magical mirror.

“Are you ready, Twilight?” Luna asked.

“Yes yes yes yes yes! Come on, Spike!” Twilight said exuberantly.

“Coming!” Spike said.

“Remember when to come back, Twilight?” Luna asked worriedly of Twilight.

“Yes, before the three stars touch the moon, right?” Twilight asked.

“That is correct.” Luna said.

“Be careful, Twilight.” Cadence said.

Twilight nodded her head, and looked at the portal, thinking about her human friends, and how Sunset Shimmer was doing. She took a deep breath and walked through the portal, with Spike coming in after her.

Author's Note

Alright, you guys hang with me, because this story is just about to get good! I'm looking forward to releasing the next chapter.