What Goes Around, Comes Around
“Aw yeah! No school for an entire week!” Rainbow Dash cheered as she and five of her friends who consisted of Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Sunset Shimmer walked out the front doors of CHS to be embraced by the chilly air of a late November afternoon. The girls headed for their usual meetup spot by the Canterlot High School statue: which was now thankfully replaced sometime after the magical incident that happened during the final event of the Friendship Games back in September.
The pedestal which also happened to be the portal to Equestria was thankfully left unharmed when it was destroyed by a power-corrupted Twilight Sparkle, who was just actually a painfully shy and reclusive, but academically top-notch student at Crystal Prep High. She is also the counterpart of Princess Twilight Sparkle, who the girls and the rest of the Wondercolt student body grew more accustomed to; but have been considerate to welcome and get to know the Twilight of their own world when she transferred over to CHS.
There of course was some skill minor confusion among them all and uneasiness since Twilight nearly ripped reality apart in the intent for knowledge for magic in her corrupted form.
“You said it, sister!” Pinkie chimed in. “Ooh I cannot wait to throw my family the biggest Thanksgiving bash ever! I just know they’re gonna love it!”
“I’m sure they will, dear,” Rarity assured with an uncertain nod. The rest of the friends shared the same kind of uncertainty since Pinkie’s family was quite…plain to say the least, but not really bad people.
“If you get a big turkey for them, make sure you don’t get your head stuck in it during the stuffing process,” Rainbow said with a chuckle.
“Ah’m pretty sure everyone has the sense not tah do somethin’ like that, Dash,” Applejack stated with shake of her head. “Ah wouldn’t even see how anythin’ like that is even possible to begin with.”
“Well if you ask my dad, I’m pretty sure he can give you some valuable insight.”
The girls all looked at Rainbow with intrigued, but skeptical brows.
“What happened?” Fluttershy asked.
“Well,” Rainbow began with a smirk to express how amused she was going to be for explaining it to her friends. “You see, my family has it’s own Thanksgiving tradition of buying the biggest turkey that money can buy before anyone else can get it. As usual, we win of course.”
The girls just rolled their eyes without Rainbow even noticing because she already caught up in her boasting.
“My dad assigns himself to be the stuffer every year since he’s the fastest at the task. I tried to beat his record a few years ago, but only managed to be a few seconds short of it. I was bummed I tell you, but at least I’m a lot quicker at basting thankfully, so that’s what I’m put in charge of. Mom just cleans up before and after the feast preparations. Did I ever mention how quick she is at it by the way?”
“No. You haven’t really,” Sunset replied. “But I think we’re getting off topic here. How did your father even managed to accomplish a tactic such as on-purposely sticking his head inside a turkey?”
“Oh it wasn’t intentional,” Rainbow assured, maintaining her boasting attitude and smile. “Just last year while he was in the midst of his task, he forgot to remove his watch. Since it wasn’t secured properly on his wrist, it slipped off somewhere in the turkey when he brought his hand out. When he tried to find it by at first removing some of the stuffing he previously put in, then using a flashlight to get some more light within it… I’m guessing he thought that putting his entire head into it would help him see it easier.”
“Even if this story is true, and Ah’m not really sayin’ it is,” Applejack put in. “Didn’t ya at least tell him not tah do such a hogwash thing?”
“I did, but he’s too much of a doofus to even listen,” Rainbow sighed. “I can tell you though that my mom wasn’t too pleased with having our turkey ruined, and the kitchen to be a mess that’s for sure.”
Pinkie seemed to be the only one within the group that was entertained by Rainbow’s story while the rest looked to Rainbow and each other with unsure feelings. Fluttershy then looked around to notice that someone was missing from their gathering.
“Hey. Where’s Twilight at?” she asked.
The rest of the friends then looked around as well and acknowledged the absence of their new friend. Applejack was the first one to speak up.
“Ah’m not sure. She’s never normally this late tah meet up with us. Reckon that she’s stayin’ after school for one of her classes in order tah do some kind of assignment? That girl does like doin’ schoolwork after all.”
“Perhaps,” Rarity agreed. “But don’t any of you think that she would text one or all of us by now to let us know?”
The girls took a brief moment to consider the fact.
“Yeah,” Rainbow said finally. “I don’t see why she couldn’t. I don’t know about you all, but I smell a rat.”
“Oh don’t be so dramatic ‘bout this,” Applejack stated placing a hand gently on Rainbow’s shoulder. “That’s basically Rare’s thing.”
Rarity replied to this with a disapproving harumph.
“Ah’m pretty sure she jus’ was so lookin’ forward to doin’ after school work before break began, that she forgot tah notify us. It’s a common mistake that we all sometimes make.”
“If that’s the case, then why would she want to do it on one of the back interior stairwells of the school?” Sunset asked as she displayed her own phone to the friends which currently had the signal tracking feature running. Sure enough, Twilight’s cellphone signal emanated from the western back end of the school, and was not within a space of a classroom at all.
“Told you something was up,” Rainbow sighed. “You know, with an app like that: do you think we should nickname you Sunset Stalker?”
“Real funny,” Sunset remarked sarcastically. “I should probably go and see what’s up. Me and her will catch up with all of you at Sugarcube Corner once we get things sorted out.”
“Are you sure you don’t want us to come with you?” Fluttershy asked looking a bit worried. The rest of the girls showed equal concern.
“Positive,” Sunset assured with her best sincerity. “I think that Twilight looks up to me as some kind of friendship counselor or teacher. It sounds silly I know, but since she’s kind of been where I was before learning everything about the wonders of friendship: we both have some kind of special connection I believe.”
“Are you just saying that to hide the fact that you maybe have a crush on her?” Rainbow teased, earning disapproving looks from the girls and AJ’s elbow into her ribcage.
“Ow! I was only kidding!” she cried while rubbing her sore side.
“I was being completely serious,” Sunset replied with a frown while holding back a light blush on her cheeks. “Look, I’ll let you guys know if I need any help. We shouldn’t be that long, I hope.”
The girls were hesitant for a bit since they felt that Twilight may need all of them if she was struggling with some kind of personal issue that required their multiple support. Then again, Twilight may feel overwhelmed if they are all egging her on to spill the beans, and something like that would just make things worse. Maybe Sunset had the right idea after all.
“Alright. Go on ahead, darling,” Rarity confirmed to Sunset. “We’ll all keep our own phones on incase you need us. We’ll also be sure to save some exquisite treats if you and Twilight arrive. Won’t we, girls?”
The friends all nodded and said various, overlapping responses of agreement.
“Thanks,” Sunset said with a smile. “I’ll do my best to not keep you waiting for an eternity.”
Sunset and the girls shared a small, but not really mutual laugh as they departed separate ways with the girls heading down into the city, and Sunset going back into the school to find the reason for Twilight’s apparently on-purpose, but not heartless ditch. At least, that’s what Sunset was optimistic on anyway.
As Sunset walked through the halls of the school, they were quite silent due to the school letting out just moments ago. There were still few students and teachers around that passed by and said hello to her, but it really wasn’t enough to get rid of the seemingly eerie feeling that a practically empty school delivered.
It wasn’t until Sunset reached the rear area of the school that it became a complete ghost town. Several empty lockers stood open ajar along both sides of the hall. There were few pieces of loose paper littering the tile floor that the school janitor would probably not be happy cleaning up, and one of the overhead lights flickered every once in awhile, giving off a creepy humming sound when doing so.
Sunset shook off her chills and headed for the designated stairwell which was just a locker row down from where she was. As she got closer to it, she could easily make out the sound of a female sniffing, followed by the sound of her blowing her nose into a handkerchief or tissue. It sounded at first like she had a cold, but Sunset could make out whimpers that indicated this person was actually crying softly to herself. She wasn’t alone however when an all too familiar male voice spoke up, and revealed the identity of the distressed individual.
“It’s going to be okay, Twilight,” Sunset heard Twilight’s pet dog, Spike say. Unlike his dragon counterpart from Equestria, Spike was just like any other pup who barked, was playful, and loved to have his stomach rubbed or ears scratched; until he was caught in the crossfire of Twilight’s pendant absorbing Fluttershy’s magical aura. This granted him the ability to talk like a human, along with the knowledge of one.
“I don’t think it can, Spike,” Twilight squeaked. “Thanksgiving, or any other family get-together celebration won’t be the same without her anymore. How can anything like that be okay?”
There was a pause as Spike thought about what he could say, but it was obvious that he was put in a difficult situation. Sunset just then arrived on top of the stairwell to see Twilight and Spike seated on the last two stairs before the mid-landing.
Twilight had changed her appearance a bit since her transfer. Instead of wearing her hair in a sophisticated bun like she did when attending CP, she had it in a raised ponytail that allowed her long locks to cascade down her backside. She still had her side and front bangs styled in the previous way though, but still it was quite a high noticable change. Not only that, but she no longer wore her uniform either.
Right now, she was wearing a dark blue hand-crafted wool turtleneck sweater with denim blue jeans that cuffed at her ankles, along with sneakers that nearly matched the same hue as the jeans. Basically, she was wearing the same lower garments the day she first came to Canterlot High to investigate the energy, and when Sunset first caught her snooping around the portal.
“I’m sorry,” Spike finally said after his hesitation, and sounding like he felt as if he let Twilight down even more. “But I just can’t think of anything to say that might make you feel a bit better”
Twilight gave him a gentle pet on the head while giving him a small, but sad smile.
“It’s alright,” she reassured him. “I’ll get through this soon. We all will.”
“Twilight,” Sunset said gently so she wouldn’t startle the lavender girl, but just enough to get her attention.
Twilight turned around to see Sunset looking down at her with a look of concern. When Sunset looked back, she could see the redness in Twilight’s eyes from the excessive amount of tears she had been letting out previously.
“Oh. Hello, Sunset. When did you get here?” Twilight asked as she wiped her eyes dry and cleared up the glistening mess below her nose. Sunset knew Twilight was trying to clean up the evidence that she was upset, but she already heard and saw enough to know that something was up.
“Just about when I heard Spike tell you that everything was going to be okay,” Sunset replied as she began walking down the stairs. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop or anything, but I was just looking for you because me and the girls were worried when you didn’t meet up with us by the school statue like we normally do everyday.”
“I’m terribly sorry about that,” Twilight said as she looked away from Sunset a bit. “I just got a little sidetracked today by something. Everything is fine though. Don’t worry about it.”
Sunset wasn’t at all buying it.
“I’m sorry, Twilight. But I’m not just going to walk out and leave you like this,” Sunset said while she placed a comforting right hand on Twilight’s left shoulder. The touch made Twilight curl up a bit more, but she didn’t let it slip off. “You do realize you can tell me, or anyone of our friends if something is troubling you.”
“I know,” Twilight said a bit more softly as she held herself a bit more tighter. “But I’m not sure if I want to discuss it right now. Can we maybe talk about it tomorrow?”
Sunset shook her head.
“I’m afraid we can’t. I’m not wishing to impose on you or anything, but I feel it is better you get this out of your system now, and I’m willing to listen and do my best to comfort you anyway I can.”
When Twilight turned back around to look at and re-establish eye contact with Sunset, she saw the sincerity in her friend’s sparkling cerulean eyes and warm smile. This gave Twilight the right kind of comfort she needed to open up about what she was feeling; even if she still wished to hold back. However when she did so, she realized that Sunset was correct. Holding back on emotions while in the presence of one of your own best friends made the pain feel much worse.
“Alright,” Twilight began and took a breath to prepare and calm herself down so she wouldn’t lose her composure so quickly before she could explain anything. “Sunset...did I ever tell you, or any of the girls about my grandmother?”
“I don’t think you have,” Sunset replied. She already knew that whatever Twilight was going to tell her, it wasn’t going to be the best of news. “Why haven’t you though?”
“I guess because I didn’t want to talk about how great she was when her health was still good, and not about what her state is now when you all welcomed me into your school and group. I guess I didn’t want you all to feel sorry for me than you already have I suppose.”
“Now, Twilight. We would never think so low of you no matter what, and we never did,” Sunset explained while now giving Twilight’s shoulder a gentle rub. “Friends look out for one another, and feeling sorry for is not the term we use. We can feel bad bad for them yes, but that only shows how much they care… just as me, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack care about you.”
Twilight smiled and allowed tears of happiness to leak from her eyes. Sunset smiled back as well, but then suddenly realized she was letting a main subject drift off yet again.
“So, what was your grandmother diagnosed with that made her fall ill ?” Sunset asked. Sure it seemed out-of-the-blue and perhaps she should’ve eased Twilight back into it, but she had to know the point of all this as quickly as possible.
Twilight’s smile instantly faded and contorted into a slightly woobie frown as she forced back upcoming sobs. Tears continued to flow down her cheeks, but compared to the one’s of joy: ones of despair stung her sight as they left the punctum gland, and had a burning sensation to them as made their way down toward her chin.
“Breast cancer,” Twilight whimpered. “The diagnosis was confirmed six months ago. Every day since then, she slightly got more weaker and sick. Me and my family only got to visit her in Baltimare on the Fourth of July during summer vacation. She still had the heath and energy to keep spirits up, but we could all tell that it was wavering a bit. Uh....do you have any tissues I can borrow before I go on? I ran out of mine.”
“Sure,” Sunset said and reached into a small pocket on the side of her backpack before pulling out a small personal packet of soft tissues. She considerately opened up the pack before handing it over to Twilight. “Here you go.”
“Thank you,” Twilight said close to a whisper and blew her nose before drying her eyes with the clean area of the tissue. When she could gather herself some more, Twilight continued on with her story.
“Before all this happened, Gran was the most energetic and active relative I had on mom’s side of the family. She played all sorts of fun games with me and Shining when we were little kids, and read us to sleep when we stayed over at her house. I can still remember my favorite story being Moby Dick.”
Twilight smiled again at the memory, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t out of her sorrows.
“It didn’t take long for Shining to conk out since he found the story to be too long and boring. I however was to engrossed in every word that she read aloud to me, so I actually became more awake than tired. Frankly, I made her drowsy just by making her read on and on. The only thing that made me sleep was a nice cup of warm milk, if you can imagine.”
“Yeah. I believe I can,” Sunset said with a small chuckle that she didn’t draw out long since this was not really an appropriate scenario for amusement. “What did she do for you guys on any of the holidays?”
“She made each one of them memorable for us,” Twilight replied with a content sigh. “Easter, Christmas, New Year’s Day; but most of all, Thanksgiving. Her cooking was astounding, and it made us always have more servings until we were too full to even move.”
Once again, and possibly for good at this moment: Twilight’s smile was gone, and she looked on the very verge of her breaking point.
“But now just receiving a call from mom today, she told me that Gran is fully relieved of her illness...but….she’s….”
Twilight couldn’t even finish that sentence before all the sobs that she managed to swallow down came right back up and were successful at escaping from her mouth. Sunset didn’t hesitate a moment to bring Twilight into a hug and allow her cries to be suppressed into her shoulder. Sunset understood what has happened, and couldn’t imagine the emotional stress that Twilight was feeling for losing one of her most beloved family members-- and how it affected Twilight’s brother, and her parents altogether.
Soon enough, Sunset found tears of her own welling up inside her eyes, but refused to let them fall since she knew she had to be strong for Twilight who was truly the one needing the release.
Sunset continued to hold Twilight close to her for a good few minutes as her wails slowly began to dissipate to nothing but simple sniffles. Spike cuddled up by Twilight’s side for the entire time of her breakdown while emitting soft puppy whimpers every once in awhile.
Sunset then felt Twilight’s grip loosen from her as she took off her glasses to wipe her eyes dry, and blow her nose once again into a fresh tissue.
“You feeling better?” Sunset asked.
“I..think so,” Twilight assured with a nod. She then looked at the damp and sticky mark on Sunset’s shoulder where she buried her face and cringed a bit. “Sorry about you coat though.”
Sunset looked down on the area with a smile.
“It’s alright. This material is machine washable. Besides, I really don’t mind being a large tissue for anyone or anything.”
“Really?” Twilight asked with a raised brow.
“Well… actually I meant for anyone of our friends; and when I said anything, I didn’t really mean to imply that I wanted to be used if they had a cold or flu.”
This statement is what both girls laughed at for real this time. Twilight seemed to be lively again, so perhaps Sunset knew she had done the right thing is going in at this alone.
“I think I should let the girls know that we’re coming over to Sugarcube Corner now,” Sunset said and pulled out her mobile phone. “They’re probably eating all the bakery goods without us.”
“Um actually, Sunset. Is it maybe okay if I just go home instead?” Twilight asked to Sunset’s surprise. “It’s not like I don’t want to be with you guys or anything. I just think it’s better if I go and comfort the family: especially my mom. This is probably harder on her then it is on me, and the rest of us.”
Sunset was hesitant to accept Twilight’s request, but understood where she was coming from. Since she got Twilight through most of her grief, it was only fair that Twilight herself would do the same for her mother, and her other family members.
“Sure thing,” Sunset replied with a nod. “Do you want me to give you a ride there?”
“That’s very thoughtful of you, but I’m kind of terrified of riding on motorcycles,” Twilight admitted sheepishly. “I can have my brother come and get me instead if that’s alright.”
“That’s perfectly fine,” Sunset assured with an approving smile. It then faded a bit to a worried frown. “You will let me or any of the girls know if you need us for anything, right?”
“Sure thing,” Twilight confirmed. “You should probably go and meet up with them now. Oh, and be sure to give my regards to Pinkie that consuming too much sugar isn’t good for her tooth enamel, or her digestive system.”
Sunset couldn’t help but laugh.
“Oh believe me, Twi. That concern won’t stop that girl’s unlimited sweet-tooth and energy for junk food intake.”
The girls shared another laugh once more before parting ways and saying goodbye to each other for the time being. As Sunset walked out to her motorcycle, she couldn’t help but have a feeling that something was still amiss.
She knew that Twilight was feeling better for starters, but it didn’t feel like enough. Twilight’s grandmother seemed like a wonderful soul to be around, especially when celebrating family-traditional holidays. Now that Twilight’s grandmother had passed on, Sunset feared that Twilight and her family won’t experience any more great memories during Easter, Christmas, New Year’s, and especially during Thanksgiving.
She had to think of a way to fill in the gap that Twilight’s grandmother had, but then left empty. Asking Princess Twilight for a resurrection spell seemed like a great idea at the time, but Sunset felt as if that would destroy the balance between life and death...and surely the princess wouldn’t want that to happen either in Equestria, or Sunset’s new homeworld.
As Sunset rode down the road towards Sugarcube Corner, her mind seemed to be focused mostly on Princess Twilight. Now it wasn’t anything that let her lose focus on the main issue. Instead, it was a memory of when Princess Twilight reunited Sunset with her parents on Christmas of last year.
Sunset was afraid that her parents would disown her if they knew what she had become when she first left Equestria; but was instead reassured that they still loved and cared about her no matter what. That was the main motive right there.
Sure it wasn’t about finding a way to bring Twilight’s grandmother back from the grave, but instead give Twilight and her family a great new experience for them during Thanksgiving: and any other symbolic holiday after or before it.
Right now, it was only Thanksgiving that Sunset focused on… and she believed she already had an idea for it. She just needed to tell her friends first hand.
“Ya want to bring all our families together under one roof fer Thanksgivin’?” Applejack asked with a raised brow. “...and that the venue has tah be the barn on mah farm?”
“It seems huge enough to accompany all of us and our families,” Sunset stated matter-of-factly. “It’s not like there’s going to be much congestion.”
“Yeah, ‘cept for everyone’s sinuses when bein’ exposed to the cold air fer a long period of time,” the farmgirl argued.
“We’ll figure out a way to keep everyone warm and toasty, okay?” Sunset protested, looking and sounding a bit frazzled.
“Woah. Easy Shim,” Rainbow Dash eased with both hands raised. “No need to turn up the heat.”
The girls all looked at her with looks that said, “Not helping”.
“Okay. I admit that sounded pretty lame,” the technicolor-haired athlete confessed while sheepishly rubbing the back of her head with her right hand. “But seriously, there’s really no need to get worked up and all. I think it’s a pretty good solution, but AJ is right about the whole exposure to the weather thing. I really don’t watch to get sick before Winter season sports tryouts start.”
“I know, I know,” Sunset said while trying to calm herself down. “But this is Twilight we’re talking about here, our world’s Twilight. We can’t let her and the rest of her family down. We just can’t!”
Sunset planted her forehead onto the table and groaned in frustration. She then felt a hand gently touch her left shoulder. When Sunset looked up, she found that it was Rarity that did it while giving her a supporting smile.
“I understand what you mean, darling; and I for one want to lend a helping hand toward Twilight as well. The poor dear sounded completely devastated when you told us what went on between you and her back at the school. It only seems right that we do something like this for her, and the rest of her family as well. However like anyone else, I don’t wish to catch a dreadful bug while I’m in the midst of designing a new fashion line for this season.”
“Same for when I need to give flu vaccines to all the animals at the shelter,” Fluttershy added in.
“Well. It appears that heat is the only issue we seem to have here,” Sunset affirmed a bit hastily. “Not a problem, not a problem. I mean I only have five days to figure out how to warm an entire outside structure that doesn’t have it’s own ventilation, or any kind of insulation whatsoever for that matter. Heh heh heh.”
The girls scooted a bit further away from their seemingly disturbed redheaded friend as if she was an explosive ready to go off.
“Oh you don’t have to figure out anything, Shimmy. I already made a list for what we can do!” Pinkie Pie chimed in.
“Wha?!” Sunset gasped and seized the rather impressively large list from Pinkie’s outstretched hand and arm. She then scrolled through it to analyze the ideas which seemed pretty good, but either consisted of spending large amounts of money, or required the assistance of what magic could offer; but could be made possible with Princess Twilight’s help.
“How did you even come up with all this?” Sunset asked Pinkie who was just laying back and relaxing with both her arms crossed and resting behind her head and feet resting on the tabletop.
“What can I say, it’s surprising what you can do when you have some offscreen time. Even if it’s for a short while,” Pinkie replied with a prideful demeanor and tone of voice as if she was the heroine of some western-based movie.
The girls all looked at the party girl with various bewildered expressions painted on their faces without saying a single word. Rainbow of course had at least one thing to say.
“You are so random, Pinkie.”
“I live for it,” Pinkie stated with the same delivery.
Five Days Later, Thanksgiving Day
Pinkie Pie thankfully managed to put together and organize the Thanksgiving party venue for her friends, and their family members as well. Granny Smith took some persuading however since she didn’t really feel comfortable with so many people she really didn’t know invading the farm.
When she heard of Twilight’s dilemma from Applejack, she gave her consolation to allow the event to happen: but under the condition that nothing got out of hand; especially anything magic related since Princess Twilight managed to create and loan Sunset a talisman gem which was implanted in a silly paper-mache turkey decoration which adorned the entrance to the barn entrance. The magical charm granted the interior of the barn a suitable temperature of sixty-five degrees fahrenheit. It was like an artificial air heater found in a basic suburban or country home.
Worst case scenario: it could possibly overheat and turn the barn into a ginormous oven if it is used over the specified time limit of twelve hours.
Around the time of five-thirty PM, the girls and their families started arriving at the Apple Family farm bringing in a selection of the most popular and traditional side dishes that were common at every Thanksgiving feast… whether it being potato salad, bean casserole, cornbread, cranberry sauce, and so on.
Rainbow Dash and her parents of course brought the main course, an eight pound roasted turkey that had yet to be cooked and stuffed. Whatever store sells turkeys’ of that size, it must be near a farm that must overfeed their stock before inevitably slaughtering it for profit.
The only hope that everyone had was that Rainbow’s father, Spectrum Prism wouldn’t bring shame upon himself, Rainbow, and his wife Firefly if he has another mishap with a simple job as stuffing the turkey… or cooking it for that matter.
When he brought it inside the farmhouse, Granny Smith looked down on it with some uncertainty.
“Ah’m not sure if our oven would be capable of cookin’ such a bird that size,” the eldest of the Apple clan remarked skeptically.
“Sure it can,” Spectrum smugly said. “All it needs is the right amount of heat and time, then this badboy will be tanned and cooked enough to even make his fellow fallen comrades drool with desire and envy.”
“Right,” Granny Smith drawled. “This way to the kitchen then.”
“Awesome!” Spectrum cheered and eagerly followed Granny Smith with Rainbow and Firefly still standing anxiously at the door.
“Think he’ll actually not screw anything up this time?” Rainbow asked.
“I’m not putting a wager on it,” Firefly replied with with a shake of her head.
“Betcha five bucks he blows it up to high heaven,” Rainbow said with a sneer grin.
Firefly furrowed a brow and pursed her lips, but seemed to show interest in her daughter’s challenge.
“You’re on,” she said with a cocky smirk that was obviously the trait of origin of Rainbow’s own signature cocky smile.
By the barn door, Sunset and Rarity were greeting the guests and taking their coats and jackets as they stepped into the mystical warm and cozy air of the barn. Most of them asked how the interior was so warm and insulated despite showing no evidence of any kind of ventilation or fibrotic material. Both girls just gave the same reply that it was just a special outdoor air heater being used that was hidden somewhere out of sight. It wasn’t a buyable lie, but none of the guests really took the time to try and find it, and instead just mingled about with the others.
Soon enough, Sunset’s parents Midday Glare and Sunrise Glint arrived in the company Pinkie and Fluttershy who decided to escort them this time. They’re faces lit up immediately when they spotted Sunset.
“Why, Sunny! How come you didn’t tell your father and I about your sudden change in style?” Sunrise asked as she looked over her daughter’s new apparel, including her signature leather jacket which was still quite unsuited for a formal holiday, but she planned to take it off during the feast.
Sunset looked down on herself before chuckling.
“Well I didn’t feel like I needed to write to you guys about my shopping life here. It’s not really that much, is it?”
“I was just pulling your hoof, dear,” Sunrise laughed. “Either way, it looks really great on you.”
“I was the one who suggested she’d pick it out,” Rarity stated proudly. “Glad you like my sense of choice.”
“Say, what kind of spell is being used to provide the heat here?” Midday suddenly asked with curiosity and enthusiasm in his voice as he walked into the barn and noticed the dramatic change in temperature.
His question turned some puzzled heads and questions among those who were in earshot.
Both Sunset and Rarity cringed in embarrassment. Sunset had to think of something to say, and fast.
“Oh, dad you big jokester you,” Sunset said loud enough for almost everyone to hear her. “Magic. That’s a good one. Ha ha ha!”
The onlookers looked even more baffled by the display. Sensing that she was just making more of a scene for herself and her father, Sunset gently took her father by the arm and carefully pulled him out of the barn.
“Sunny? What was that all about?” Sunrise asked with a highly inquisitive brow.
Sunset took a breath before saying, “Sorry about that, but you two must know that the subject of magic isn't really a thing to be discussed in this world. I apologize for not mentioning that sooner, especially on your first visit here.”
Both Midday and Sunrise looked at one another since they were both a bit taken aback by this sudden news; but understood their daughter’s mistake since their first visit was quite the emotional ride between them, Sunset, and the girls who stood off to the side. With a condition such as that, there was really no planned out time to discuss the rules of logic between Equestria, and this alternate world of humans.
“That’s perfectly alright, sweet pea,” Midday reassured. He then rubbed the back of his head and sheepishly said, “Sometimes I have a knack for being some kind of spell enthusiast, I must admit.”
Sunset chuckled.
“Some things never change I guess,” she said. “Oh. Would you like me and Rarity to take your coats now?”
“That would be nice of you two,” Sunrise praised with a gracious smile as she and her husband slipped off their winter coats before walking inside.
“That was to much of a close call,” Rarity sighed with relief as she and Sunset headed for the coat racks that were placed along the barn’s interior walls.
“Tell me about it,” Sunset agreed. “I know this kind of secret can’t be kept away forever from those who haven’t yet witnessed Equestrian magic here, but it’s probably still best to keep it at a low profile until then.”
“But what if some of our peers, or the students at Crystal Prep already told their own family members about it?” Rarity fretted.
Sunset took a beat before her reply.
“I’d say they'd make them see a therapist.”
Both of the girls laughed lightly, but uncomfortably as they headed back toward the barn entrance.
As soon as they came back, they were in time to see Twilight, her parents, Shining Armor, and Spike arriving last. Sunset had sent a text to Twilight one day ago, inviting her and her family to come on over to Sweet Apple Acres for the Thanksgiving party, and to bring over any prepared dishes that they already made for their own traditional dinner--- and an extra turkey as well.
Twilight and her family were happy to accept the invite considering that their own Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be very eventful since it would only be the four of them due to Twilight’s aunt and uncle who were supposed to come down from Fillydelphia to join them for the holiday; but a severe snowstorm unfortunately cancelled their flight so they wouldn’t be able to make it in time.
“Glad you all could come,” Rarity greeted them warmly when they approached. “May we take your coats?”
“Well that’s very thoughtful of you….Rarity, correct?” Twilight’s mother, Twilight Velvet asked. She was carrying a sealed white pot container which carried of what seemed to be mashed potatoes with peas mixed in.
“Indeed,” the teenage fashionista confirmed politely.
“But it’s quite chilly out here. Why would we ever want our coats off?” the older woman asked a bit perplexed.
“Step inside and find out,” Sunset instructed with an innocently cute, but semi-deviant smile.
Twilight’s family members were a bit hesitant at first, and suspicious of what these girls were up to. They really weren't exactly in the right mood for pranks since they were still coping a bit with a family loss, and that weren't going to be amused at all if a joke was really being pulled on them in an insensitive manner.
“I’m pretty sure it’s because of the body heat everyone’s giving off, combined with the equipped overhead lighting in there,” Twilight jumped in. Sunset told her about the talisman, but warned her not to tell her family about it. “With those two kinds of variables, you wouldn’t even want to have a coat on for the time being. Believe me.”
Twilight’s family looked at her to analyze and make sure that Twilight was being truthful with them, despite the fact being obvious. Twilight was always honest and unbelievably clever, but there was a slight chance that her new friends might’ve corrupted some small aspects of her personality. That of course seemed wrong to assume about someone who was dear to them, and to stereotype her own friends.
They just decided to go along with it without much choice.
Fortunately enough, they were astounded as the welcoming toasty air enveloped them the moment they walked through the open frame of the barn door. No further suspicion came from either of them anymore as they walked in to join the company with Rarity following them in with coats in hand. This left only both Twilight and Sunset alone for the time being. Well, there was Spike as well who was still being held in both of the younger girl’s arms.
“So how are you feeling, Twilight?” Sunset asked to start what hope wouldn’t end up turning into some kind of awkward conversation.
“I’m feeling quite well. Actually, better than well to be precise,” Twilight replied with a slight shrug of her right shoulder. She then placed her left hand on Sunset’s left shoulder while wearing a caring smile and expression on her face. “I wanted to thank you for looking for and finding me that day by the way.”
Sunset wasn’t expecting such a ‘thank you’ as that, but she smiled at and accepted it.
“It was my pleasure really. No biggie at all.”
“Truthfully: it was actually.”
Sunset raised a brow in perplexion.
“Huh? How so?”
“I don’t know what would’ve become of me if you hadn’t done so,” Twilight explained. “The emotional trauma I was enduring at that very moment would’ve left me in a state that might’ve influenced me to push everyone I cared about away from me when I desperately wanted and needed help… even from you girls.”
Sunset was taken by this confession, but couldn’t help but feel relieved that she arrived just in time.
“You do realize that we wouldn’t give up on you either way,” she stated.
Now it was Twilight’s turn to look a bit dumbfounded.
“You wouldn’t?”
“Of course. It’s another part of friendship to learn about.”
Twilight shrunk down a bit in slight shame.
“I guess I have a long way to go, huh?”
“There’s nothing wrong with that though,” Sunset assured and placed both her hands on the upper part of each of Twilight’s arms to express her deepest sincerity. The action relieved Twilight’s insecure posture, and somehow even caused a faint blush to form on her light lavender cheeks. “Believe me when I say there are possibly hundreds of things to learn about friendship, but we pace ourselves and learn one thing at a time. I did decide and plan out this party specifically for you and your family as one such example after all.”
Twilight was yet again baffled by yet another fact that she didn’t even know about, but she couldn’t help but feel overjoyed at it.
“I’m not sure how many more surprises I can take,” the younger girl admitted. “But I’m grateful for each one of course; and I’m not only speaking on my behalf, but for the rest of the family to.”
“I’m just glad I could help. That’s all really,” Sunset politely pardoned.
“Yeah. But can I ask what was the cause of your inspiration to pull something off like this?” Twilight then asked. “I’m not asking in a negative way or anything if you thought I was.”
Sunset smiled and held back a chuckle at Twilight’s rather adorable awkwardness.
“All I can say is that someone created a miracle for me on Christmas of last year that gave me the strength and closure I needed to become the person I am today. It also healed some emotional wounds and mended together gaps that needed to be filled within my own soul. To summarize it all though; I was helped out of a dark area of my life, and I vowed to do the same for those who have similar dilemmas.”
“Wow,” Twilight managed to say in awe. “Does that mean I’m now capable of passing on the favor to someone else I may or may not know?”
“That’s perfectly up to you actually, but it’s not an impossibility when you believe the right moment has arrived.”
“I see,” Twilight said as she put a hand under her chin to express her interest on any possible scenario’s, and the time when she could feel like a way better person for helping another individual. “I’m also going to theorize that this someone you mentioned earlier was the other me, correct?”
Sunset was surprised by this guess, but took it with an amused giggle.
“Was that obvious, huh?”
“Believe me when I say Twilight hardly lets anything get by her,” Spike remarked.
The trio shared a laugh before a rumbling in their stomachs signaled what kind of time it was.
“Well. We better join the other’s now,” Sunset said. “I’m starving and I really can’t wait to sample that turkey that Rainbow’s family brought.”
Sunset realized just how out of context that was of her to say since she was once, and still very much a pony at heart who would prefer oats, or any other kinds herbivorous nutrition. Still, there was the fact that Sunset’s taste buds and appetite had steadily genetically re-altered themselves to adapt over a long period of time that reluctantly converted her to an omnivore.
“I second that,” Twilight agreed. “But is there a reason why you requested that we bring a second turkey here?”
“You see…” Sunset began, but was interrupted when a sound of a mild explosion which came from the direction of the farmhouse.
Rainbow Dash and Firefly were the first ones to run out of the barn past Sunset and Twilight in time to see a column of smoke and blackened soot emanating from the kitchen windows. The rest of the startled guests following suit behind.
“Well there goes my five dollars, thanks to that idiot husband of mine,” Firefly muttered and pulled out her purse to hand over her debt to her cheering and self-celebrating daughter.
“...that’s exactly why,” Sunset continued to a stunned Twilight. “You think this will be a memory worth keeping for your family?”
“Don’t worry,” Twilight assured and turned toward Sunset with an assuming smile. “I’m sure this will do the trick-- even if it’s not what I really had in mind to help bring closure to our loss. But it should do, maybe.”
“Yeah...I guess it could,” Sunset said, hiding her uncertainty. She really didn’t have this kind of event in mind either. Frankly, it could’ve been a bit better if Rainbow’s father did infact get his head caught in the turkey again.
That would've been more preferable than a kitchen explosion any day.
