Chapters The hour had gone by and Twilight had all her things ready and packed for the trip and now all that needed to be done was wait was Sunset. The minutes felt like hours and Twilight was really hoping things were right with the portal on the other side, the book was in fine condition and the portal had recently be updated and tweaked after some repairs. Sunset was tar...tar...Tardy! Twilight knew that people got tied up but a big pet peeve was ponies or humans were tardy, she was a patient mare for sure but she was trying to stay on schedule and now she was officially three minutes and forty five seconds off schedule!
"Twilight..." Starlight deadpanned
"Hm? Yes?" Twilight said nervously and suddenly startled.
"You're nervous pacing again..." Starlight face-hoofed but chuckled regardless
"I am? But I don't feel like I'm trotting around..." Twilight began
"That's because your flying..." Starlight interrupted using her magic to bring Twilight down and sat her on her haunches.
"Oh...eheheh...oopsy..." Twilight said sheepishly with an embarrassed blush and equally sheepish goofy smile
"Why are you so nervous? Isn't she your friend?" Starlight asked quizzically
"Well yes of course it's just...I don't know, it's been so long since she's properly been back in Equestria...what if she changes her mind at the last minute or if something comes up or-" Twilight started to say as she sat in front of the portal with her back turned
"Hi Twi!" Sunset said happily in Twilight's ear
"Eeeeep!" Twilight yelped shooting into the air
"Gyah!" Starlight jumped back surprised by the amber coated mare with a fiery gold and crimson mane.
"Hahahaha still doesn't get old...got cha Twi!" Sunset grinned and giggled
"What...huh...how...when did you-" Twilight sputtered over her words with an embarrassed blush on her face
"While you were flight pacing, I used an invisibility spell and waited a little bit...geez I heard that was a nervous habit for pegasi but who knew it'd translate to you...you're just so easy" Sunset said through her chuckling as she flipped her a mane a little to look up at Twilight.
"Ha-Ha very funny...nyeeeeah" Twilight stuck out her tongue at Sunset and turned her nose up before she teleported down to Sunset and gave the mare a inviting and friendly hug. "Welcome back to Equestria Sunset Shimmer."
"Thanks Twi...So...where is it?" She returned her friends hug and once they broke she looked around with an eyebrow raised.
"Wheres what?" Twilight asked cocking her head to the side genuinely curious
"My welcome back to Equestria party...I'm sure Pinkie planned one right?" Sunset gave a knowing grin
"Knowing that mare she probably di-" Twilight started
"HI SUNSET!" shouted Pinkie who appeared out of nowhere in typical pinkie fashion with a earsplitting smile on her face
"Gyah!" Sunset jumped in the air and grabbed onto the hanging ornament in the room and looked down to see a grinning pony pinkie pie.
"Ha-ha! Not so funny when the horseshoes on the other hoof!" Twilight said triumpantly pointing a hoof up at Sunset who in response rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at the pony princess."Hi...pinkie pie...wait...are you pony pinkie or human pinkie?"
"Yes!" Pinkie nodded with a grin
"Uh...that's not what I-" Sunset began
"Anywhozzle I can't stay long, got a big trip with the cakes to a desert convention in Baltimare and I can't be too late, just thought I'd drop off your welcome to ponyville and back to Equestria party before I go!" Pinkie said hopping up and down excitedly.
Uh how is that even possi-" Sunset began again
"LOAD THE PARTY CANNON!" Pinkie said donning a pair of shades similar to that of Vinyl scratch. It was then Pinkie brought out a party cannon much larger than her normal one and Sunset's eyes contracted to the size of pinpricks. It was large, blue, covered in graffttii like art done by someone who loves a lot of dubstep and it read "Party Crasher" in pink and blue lettering and it bore Pinkie's cutie mark as well. It buckled, shimmered and shook, the energy tubes along the sides filling with pink, blue and yellow energy and the cannon barrel was pointed directly at Sunset as it energy built up. Pinkie scanned Sunset with some kind of scouter device and after pushing a few buttons she turned to Sunset with an almost sinisterly happy grin.
"Oh horseapples..." Sunset said a small pray in her head. Twilight if I die I wanna tell you that I've always really, really, really liked yo-
"GET DOWN!" Twilight and Starlight both said taking cover.
"YOU KNOW THE OLD SAYING....MARES LOVE CANNONS!!!!" It was then Pinkie fired off the cannon and Sunset just managed to get out of the way by teleporting and when the confetti and glitter cleared the entire room had been morphed into what could only be described as the perfect welcome home party for Sunset and the only thing missing were guests.
"Okay seriously there is NO WAY she can do that without some kind of magic!" Starlight said completely aghast and in awe
"You clearly haven't known Pinkie that long...but wow...this is a bit much...even by Pinkie standards. I swear if my Pinkie comes out with something like thi-ah ponyfeathers...so that's why she was asking Twilight to make those improvements to those party cannons she used at the friendship games!" Sunset face-hoofed.
"Pinkie! I told you to be careful! The upgrades we made to your party cannon are very sensitive!" Twilight said in a huff
"Wait you helped upgrade her party cannon?" Starlight asked in total surprise.
"It was a birthday gift...ehehe i maaaaaaay have gone a wee bit overboard by integrating a magic motherboard system and a few other special bells and whistles...like a party scouter that scans the desired pony and tailors the perfect party to them in just a few seconds! I have to say its some of my finer wor-" Twilight had a small smug grin as she talked about her technological advancement.
"Neeeeeeeeeeeeeerd" Starlight and Sunset said bat the same time teasingly causing Twilight to blush in embarrassment and them to blush in awkwardness but regardless they are shared a laugh
"Hmph that's 'Princess Nerd' to you two..." Twilight turned her nose up and puffed out her cheeks indignantly with a hrumph.
"Heheh yes you're royal geekness whatever you say." Sunset said with a grin
"Yeah totally you're majestic dorkness we will forever obey your nerdy rule" Starlight said teasingly with a cheeky smirk standing next to Sunset.
"Oh hello you must both be the twins Sunset Pot and Starlight Pot, my name is Princess Kettle Sparkle, I have wonderful news for you both...ahem...YOU'RE BOTH VERY BLACK TODAY" Twilight snapped with a huff and stuck her tongue out at the two cackling mares.
They all shared a laugh eventually and when the laughing had finally died down Pinkie came back over.
"Besides Princess Nerd Kettle Sparkle, it's not like anypony got hurt see!" Pinkie motioned to the aforementioned perfect party that was spread across the main room where the cutie map and their thrones sat. The colors of the streamers and balloons were all gold red and orange, there was a big banner that read "Welcome Home Sunset Shimmer!" in neat fiery like lettering, sparklers placed around the room and all the balloons were even in the shape of her cutie mark. The literal icing on the cake...was an actual cake...a very big cake and it happened to be Sunset's favorite and the very sight of it made the fiery maned mare drool a little bit as she stared at it as Derpy Hooves would a muffin or Twilight an ancient book or Rainbow Dash an fresh brewed Cider.
"I-Is that..." She gulped and her tongue lolled out of her mouth and she moved forward slowly.
"An eight layer ice cream cake with all of your favorite flavors of ice cream perfectly blended and magically enchanted to be un-meltable so you can enjoy it for as long as you like without fear of it melting and won't give you brain freeze so you can eat as much as you want? hehehehe....maaaaaaaybe-" It was then Pinkie ducked to avoid Sunset diving in for the cake until the overly excited mare was stopped by a magical field from Twilight
"GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME!!!!" Sunset said rapidly wanting to devour the delicious treat that she had only ever seen in her dreams, her eyes literal stars and tongue hanging out of her mouth and hooves stretched out to take the cake.
"Easy Sunset, you haven't even introduced yourself to my other student here"
"I swear if Celestia shows up and steals this cake Twilight...we're fighting...princess or not" Sunset deadpanned narrowing her eyes at Twilight in a very serious manner. It seemed she shared Celestia's love for cake but Ice cream cake was certainly her favorite and was one of her many secret weaknesses right next to power pony comics and Daring Doo novels.
"Heheh I'm liking this mare more and more" Starlight said with a chuckle.
"Anyway...Twilight's right...that was as Rarity would say...uncouth of me...I didn't mean to lose it like that but...seriously?! That cake though! I've been dreaming about having that cake for when I came home to Equestria...I know that might seem selfish but..."
"Nonsense silly filly!! You wanted to feel happy and welcomed when you came home to Equestria and to enjoy this cake with your friends...I know it's a little sad we can't all be here right now because we're ubber busy but at least you have a brand new friend in Starlight here! Ohhh! and the baby is coming!!!"
"Speaking of which, shouldn't Flurry be arriving soon Twilight?"
"Oh your right! Shining Armor is bringing her in his personal airship!"
"Your brother has an airship?!?" Starlight and Sunset asked eyes wide.
"Yup! Isn't it neat!? Hehehe...it was of my own design..." Twilight said proudly.
"Of course it is." They both said
"Hey being the princess of friendship can be boring sometimes and I had a lot of free time so I did a lot of drawing and planning and-" Twilight began to ramble.
"Wow it's almost scary how alike you and human Twilight are." Sunset said with a chuckle shaking her head.
"Um Twilight...you also have to go meet with Luna and Celestia." Spike said as he walked into the room. "Sup Shimmer" Spike said
"You know I sometimes forget that your a dragon..."
"Why? What is he when he goes to your world?"
"A dog."
"ehehehe..."
"Hm....that's funny...he told me he turned into a rugged young man" Starlight said teasingly casting a glance at spike
"Sure if a charming young man can fit in Twilight's backpack and loves doggie treats and belly rubs from Rarity...then sure total." Sunset replied with a chuckle
"Alright, alright you got me...anyway Twi-" Spike said noticing that Twilight was gone and he burped up a note and read it aloud.
'Couldn't be more tardy, teleported away while you were teasing Spike, Flurry will arrive in approx. 2 hours according to Shining Armor's last report, keep an eye out for the airship...you can't miss it and you'll know when it's arrived. In my study is a list of things that Flurry will need and a few other things that will help with her care; sorry to port and run but you know I hate being tardy! Have fun with Flurry and with each other.'
-Twilight'
PS: Pinkie left with me, I ported her to the train station to meet with the cakes.
PPS: Have fun girls! -Pinkie
"Ugh I hate when she does that...anyway i'm out too, gotta meet up with sweetie belle and the crusaders." Spike said burning the letter and headed out of the room waving bye to the two mares.
"Bye Spike, say hi to the girls for me and tell them congrats on their cutie marks for me too!"
"Ditto, see ya around Spike" Starlight said rolling her eyes with a chuckle and turned to Sunset. "Anyway I suppose formal introductions are in order...Starlight Glimmer...former evil mare now personal pupil to Princess Twilight." Starlight said with a slight sheepish smile as she extended a hoof to Sunset Shimmer.
Sunset chuckled and took the mares hoof and shook and smirked. "Sunset Shimmer, former student of Celestia, Queen B. of Canterlot High, Raging She-Demon and now student in friendship to Twilight Sparkle and leader of the Rainbooms."
"Wow...quite the resume you've got"
"I hear yours is nothing to snuff at either"
"Ehehe yeah...enslavement, cutie mark theft, brainwashing, torture by way of reconditioning, kidnapping a princess and the elements of harmony, attempted multiple homicide and the cherry on top? Tampering with the space time continuum...multiple times." Starlight said guilty and hung her head recounting each of her many sins.
Sunset stood there mouth agape at what the mare had just listed off and shook her head and whistled an impressed whistle. "Wow...that's um...Wow"
"And you?"
"Attempted murder of six alternate dimensional copies of the elements of harmony and Twilight, attempting to overthrow Celestia, brainwashing, blackmail, manipulation, abuse...a lot of petty but really cruel and messed up stuff while I was queen tyrant of Canterlot High School in that world...the things I did...well let's just say some people just don't forgive...Oh and the theft of the element of magic and turning into a raging she demon...still never gonna live that down" Sunset said down casting her eyes.
"Whoa...harsh...well...I um...guess Twilight was right...we do have a lot in common." Starlight grinned sheepishly.
"Yeah...anyway enough dwelling on the past though, its a party right? We've got two hours before Twilight's big brother and the baby show up, might as well enjoy it; get to know each other beyond our past experiences in our failure to murder the princess of friendship" Sunset said plainly with the wave of a hoof. "C'mon this cake won't eat itself! DIBS ON THE CUTIE MARK SECTION!" She rushed over and grabbed the cake knife near the cake and cut the cutie mark out of the cake and plopped the large slice onto a plate for herself.
"Yeah...that sounds...nice" I think i might have just found another best friend! Starlight thought in her head. I mean, Trixie is great, she's powerful, she's amazing, she's a great friend...but she's hardly ever in town unless she comes for a visit and while we do relate in that we used to be enemies of Twilights...Sunset and I are alike on a deeper level. When she thought about it, Trixie only tried to banish Twilight and take over ponyville and after having been shown up by Twilight beforehhoof...Sunset and Starlight literally tried to kill Twilight and ruin her life in very similar ways almost and yet the pony princess forgave them both and they were now humble students in friendship under her and were given a fresh start and a chance to become something better and they'd both taken it without a moments hesitation. Starlight knew about some of Sunset's fall from grace...but she yearned to know more...to get deep inside this mares mind to see just how alike they truly were and she kept wondering to herself. 'Does she feel the same about me?'
Old Friends & New Friends
As the minutes turned into hours Starlight and Sunset spent the majority of their time just chatting and getting to know one another as they waited for Shining Armor to show up with the baby. Sunset had decided to take her time to get to know Starlight first since she seemed to know the least about her thus far and Starlight spent quite a bit of time detailing her past in a very somber manner trying to stay upbeat and positive but clearly showing her disdain for the mare she'd once been due to her own bitter and lack of try for fear of failure or rejection. She recounted how she'd gotten her cutie mark, Sunset having taking particular interest since Starlight used to have a bias against them.
"So wait...explain your special talent to me again..." Sunset said in astonishment
"I have the ability to harness pure starlight...of course I can only really do it at night and I have to focus super hard but once I do it my magic reverses get shot through the roof! If i concentrate hard enough I can reach alicorn levels of magic but...well, my body can't handle it...that's why I was trying to get all those cutie marks..."
"I don't understand..."
"Well more specifically the cutie mark of an alicorn...when Twilight came to my village I was ecstatic! I knew I needed her cutie mark so I could reach my full potential...I would've used that power to become an alicorn princess...have my own kingdom...a kingdom where everypony could be the same and live in 'true harmony' like I thought I wanted back then." Starlight snorted in annoyance at her old way of thinking and flipped her mane. "I was...not right in the head...I felt so isolated and driven to make a change that I let my ambition drive me to do things i wish i never did... I made ponies give up who they were and what made them special...I denied them any kind of real happiness because I wasn't happy myself...I often feel like I don't deserve this cutie mark." Starlight admitted somberly and sighed looking at her flank . "You know I've thought about just using that spell I learned to take off my own cutie mark? but well then...I wouldn't be able to get it back unless somepony else cast the spell and put it back..."
"Starlight you shouldn't think like that...no pony should want to get rid of their cutie mark..." Sunset said her ears folding back as she sighed and looked at her own cutie mark. "But...I do understand though."
"You do?" Starlight asked
"Yeah...I got my cutie mark not too long after i became Celestia's student during the summer sun celebration. I was enthralled with her and her magic, I wanted to learn everything I could about her and her connection to the sun...heheh lo and behold that very same day while I'm practicing a new spell in the flower gardens, Celestia was setting the sun right around where I was and with me being so close to where the Sun was, I felt so much magic pouring into me at once I made the spell i was casting far stronger than I wanted and at first the field of phoenix flowers looked amazing but the spell got too strong and quickly they all caught on fire..."
"Whoa..."
"Yeah I know right? So then I'm freaking out, Celestia teleports in, sweeps all the fire away and had left the sun in it's set position and used her magic to level out mine until I calmed down from the intense amount of power rushing through me...she told me that I had a very special gift that was much like hers but a lot wilder. I can harness energy from the sun via the sunlight but I can't take in too much otherwise i'll burst into flames and be covered in third degree burns for the rest of my life if it doesn't kill me."
"Geez..."
"Yep and then she pointed to my flank and I saw my cutie mark..."
"Was your reaction similar to Twilight's?" Starlight asked knowingly.
Sunset blushed as she thought back to her younger self as a filly bouncing around the scorched flower garden on the hillside of Canterlot chanting 'yes' over and over to the amusement of a grinning princess Celestia. "Pft...No." She turned her nose up.
"You know Applejack trained me well to tell when somepony is lying." Starlight said smugly as she gave Sunset a knowing smirk.
"Whatever...point is, I was excited and I know she was proud but...for some reason I couldn't shake the feeling she felt only a slight bit disappointed, I always thought maybe it was because I torched the gardened and it was a section she really liked but she always told me it wasn't about that and that she felt nothing but happiness for me..."
"I sense there is a 'But' in there..."
"Yeah...but...I found out after I left that she got a new student and one that was destined to become a princess...'the one I've been waiting for' she said...I was so hurt...I felt used...and I took my hate out on innocent people...I couldn't use my magic there so I just resorted to making life a living Hell for everyone I felt lower than me...and back then...I felt EVERYONE was lower than me...and I was cunning and underhanded so I always got away wit the things I did..."
"Whoa..."
"Yeah...you name it I did it...blackmail...extortion...bribery...theft...assault...verbal abuse...cruel pranks and recording ones humiliation and exposing it...the list is as long as Starswirls beard..." Sunset downcast her eyes and sighed. "When Twilight beat me...for awhile I always looked at my cutie mark and wondered 'what does this mean anymore?' Is it worth anything anymore? I have no magic in this world...why should I bare a cutie mark anymore...what special talent do I have in this world now?" She smiled a bit then. "But it was when the girls took me in and made me their friend...and i made them my friends was when I truly understood what my cutie mark meant...the fire of the sun can be dangerous and destructive...but it can also be majestic and pure...two sides of one great whole...I started out on the golden path but drifted into the red path...and Twilight helped guide me back on the right track."
"She really is amazing...I'm still surprised she took it so easy on me when we fought though..."
"She fought you? Sheesh she just blasted me with a rainbow..."
"Really? I mean I did kind of cheat and put her in a time-loop but she was holding her power back quite a bit..."
"But quite a bit you mean...??"
"So much if she'd gone a fraction of her full power she'd have completely wiped me off the face of Equestria..."
"Oh...so...how did she stop you anyway?"
"She showed me an alternate timeline that was just....nothing...nothing but dust...everything was gone...not a pony in sight but me and Twilight and Spike was there too...would you believe that even seeing that I was still in denial that Twilight and her friends were important to the timeline?"
"Yeah that sounds pretty extreme...I mean, first rule of time travel, smallest change causes big change...which is more often than not disastrous..."
"I think somewhere in the back of my sick little head back then I knew that...but didn't care..."
"I can relate...when I was plotting my coup of Equestria never once did think 'hey, celestia has as an army...and so does Cadence...and the other elements of harmony actually have their elements there with them to use and there was nothing really stopping Twilight from following me into Equestria...not to mention these humans probably won't be able to hold their own in a fight.' so I was willing to get innocent people killed but didn't care as long as I got what I wanted...only after Twilight shot me down did i see how truly wrong I was...all that power corrupted me and turned me into something ugly....something no one would look at and see as a princess as they saw Celestia...Luna...Cadence....or Twilight...I wanted so bad to be a princess and rule that I forgot why I truly wanted to in the first place and went on a mad power trip...but I'm thankful for that...if only for the fact that I know I'll never fall again now that I found the magic of friendship..."
"I know the feeling...when Twilight extended her hoof to me...I didn't know whether to take it or not...could I do it? Doom all of Equestria by denying Twilight her friendship? In that moment I thought to myself...'what would Sunburst think of you if he saw you now' and that's when I finally gave in-"
"Wait whoa...Sunburst..."
"Yes?"
"I...Have a cousin with that name..."
"Really? Well that's-"
The castle began rumbling and the two mares were startled right away.
"What was that?!" Starlight asked
"Either some big magical threat, a thunderstorm or Shining Armor's airship..."
"Please be an airship" Starlight repeated this several times as she made for the front door of the castle and upon opening it looked up to see it was indeed an airship. "HI SHINING ARMOR!"
"Hey there Starlight!" Shining Armor said from the intercom of the ship. "I'll be teleporting down with Flurry in a bit, I also brought along a friend!"
"Huh?" Starlight wondered what he was talking about.
Suddenly Shining Armor teleported down in front of Starlight, on his back was baby Flurry heart and standing next to him was Sunburst the royal crystaler.
"Hiya Starlight" Sunburst said.
"Sunburst! Oh it's so good to see you!" She playfully punched him in the shoulder. " You never told me you had a cousin..."
"Whuh? I mean yeah I never mentioned her because she's-"
"Hi Burst..." Sunset said coming out of the castle front door with a sheepish smile on her face.
"S-Sun-Sun-Sun...Sunset Shimmer?!?! What...When....Who...Whuh...How...Uuuuuh." He passed out and Starlight panicked a bit.
"Well...that wasn't as bad as i thought it might have been..." Sunset deadpanned. "Let's get him inside..."
"Hey...haven't I seen you somewhere before..."
"Yes I broke into your castle, stole your little sisters crown and tried to overthrow Celestia...but don't worry...reformed."
"Huh...so she's two for two? Good work Twilight..."
"Four if you wanna count Trixie & Luna..." Starlight added with a slight grin.
"Goo!" Flurry Heart blabbered giggled happily at the display.
"Awwwwww! She is so CUTE!!!!!" Sunset gushed over the little foal on Shining Armor's back and Flurry took well to sunset, simply eating up all the love she was giving her. "Awww who's a pretty little princess? You are! Yes you are! Eeeeeee Shining Armor seriously if I wasn't such a good mare now I'd steal this little angel from you! She's so precious!!"
"Heheh trust me...something tried..." Shining Armor rolled his eyes thinking back to a small incident where changelings foal-napped his daughter.
"Well don't you worry little one, you're safe and sound with your auntie sunny." Sunset said in a sweet motherly like tone as she nuzzled the excited little filly who promptly floated herself into Sunset's hooves with her larger than average wings and Sunset nuzzled her some more and blew raspberries on the fillies tummy.
"She's in good hooves...and so is he..." Starlight said picking up an knocked out Sunburst with her magic and taking him into the castle along with Flurry heart's baby bag which he'd been carrying.
"I trust you, say...wheres Twi-"
"Shiny!! C'mon we have to go!!!" Cadence said from the ships intercom
"Argh, Coming honey...pft...mares..." Shining huffed and teleported back up and the ship took off for its next destination, leaving the two mares alicorn foal and geeky royal crystaler all alone.
"Well this certainly got interesting rather quick-" Sunset began to say.
There was a series of knocks at the door of the castle
"Hm...You think Shining forgot something?"
"Starlight Glimmer? You there??" A familiar voice called
Starlight gave an excited gasp and put Sunburst down while he was still knocked out and dashed to the door and opened it to see none other than her great and powerful best friend.
"TRIXIE!!!"
"STARLIGHT!!"
"Trixie?!" Sunset said
"Um...Does Trixie know you?" Trixie asked tilting her head and then looked to see Flurry heart and her eyes became stars. "AND JUST WHO IS THIS LITTLE BUNDLE OF ADORABLE!!" She teleported over and gushed over the little foal and she was eating it up again. "Awww is she yours?"
"Eehhehe no...she's Twilight's niece..."
"Ah yes I do remember Twilight saying her big brother and former foal sitter had a foal...whats her name?"
"Flurry Heart..."
"Funny story behind that..." Starlight said with a giggle
"And you are?" Trixie looked at Sunset.
"Sunset Shimmer, student of princess twilight and former evil unicorn and student of Celestia" she extended her hoof "Nice to meet you." 'Again' she thought with a smile
"Ah...I see...Well ahem...I am the..."
"Great and Powerful Trixie..."
"How did you know? Are you physic?!"
"Maybe..." Sunset grinned
"And who in Tartarus is that? And why is he knocked out?"
"My cousin Sunburst and her fillyhood best friend who passed out after finding out I wasn't dead after being gone over for five years."
"Whoa now that sounds like a juicy little story"
"You have no idea...so what are you doing her Trix?"
"Trixie had decided to take up living here in Ponyville and came to deliver you the good news!"
Starlight's smile almost split her face in two and she fainted promptly after that next to Sunburst.
"Hehe guess they have that in common too" Sunset quipped.
"I knew that news would knock her off her hooves...ha-ha! Still got it Trix"
"Geez your puns are almost as bad as the other Trixie..." Sunset deadpanned under her breath
"What?"
"Oh nothing...funny pun, heheh" Sunset smiled sheepishly.
The Castle of Friendship; Twilight's Personal Study
It was just another normal day in Ponyville Equestria, the friendliest place a pony could live they'd say and they were right. It was also home to Equestria's greatest heroes, the elements of harmony and their 'leader' Princess Twilight Sparkle. Today would be a very big day for the young pony princess because she was to be taking on a very important task, one so important it could very well shape the future of Equestria itself! Foalsitting an alicorn baby! Needless to say the purple alicorn was taking every needed precaution to make sure her beloved niece had a wonderful stay with her for the next week.
"Everything has to be perfect! Is the entire castle baby proofed? SPIIIIIIIIKE! HAVE YOU FINISHED BABY ALICORN PROOFING THE REST OF THE CASTLE YET?!"
"Um Twi...you're the only one trying to super alicorn baby proof the castle...and besides why are you freaking out so much? We capped Flurry's power during the crystaling so she won't be blasting hole in the castle roof or teleporting all over the place...Really you have nothing to worry about" Spike said aloofly waving a dismissive claw at his caregivers usual panicking.
"Nothing....to...worry about? NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT?!" She teleporting over to Spike and he tumbled over on his back and she stared down at him. "THERE IS EVERYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT SPIKE!! EVERYTHING!!!" Twilight began speaking as rapidly as Pinkie Pie in a tizzy panic attack only Twilight could do. "What if she gets her and the magic wears off that capped off her powers and she destroys ponyville!? Or what is a villain tries to foalnap her?! Or if she doesn't like me foalsitting her and cries the whole time until Cadence gets back and she thinks I'm a bad aunt cause I made her foal cry and she tells Celestia and Celestia takes away my princess'ness and the castle and banishes me into the frozen north and-" Her rapid and panicked ranting was cut short by a magic bubble placed around her created by a newly entered to the room Starlight Glimmer who wore a rather amused look at Twilight.
"Twilight don't you think you're freaking out just a tiny bit too much?" Starlight asked keeping Twilight locked in the bubble till she calmed down.
Twilight would preform the breathing relaxation technique taught to her by Cadence and sighed hanging her head in defeat. "Okay maybe but...what if Flurry really doesn't like it here or if something goes wrong? I don't want to be a bad aunt...or foalsitter..."
"Twilight your a great foalsitter, I the cake twins or even Applebloom Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo; you've foal sat for them plenty of times and they always have fun right?"
"Yeah but that's them Spike...this is Cadence and Shining Armor's newborn filly...my niece...i want to make a real good first impression; last time we just spent the entire time trying to hold her down and cap her powers while simultaneously trying not to freeze to death..." Twilight stated in a deadpan-ish tone.
"Well when you put it like that..." Starlight said scratching the back of her head and mane.
*Burp* "Um..Message from Celestia...tastes urgent..." Spike said handing it off to Twilight whom Starlight let out of her bubble.
Taking the letter in her magic she began to read it to herself and after reading it she dropped the scroll and looked at Starlight with a very plain look. "Starlight..."
"Yes Twilight?"
"Please cast that bubble spell around me again...and...make it extra strength..." Her eye twitched and she seemed to be steaming at the ears.
"Do it quickly before she-!" Spike began taking cover behind Starlight who put the shield around Twilight without a second thought.
"GYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Twilight screamed and thrashed about in the bubble throwing the mother of all temper tantrums.
"What did that letter say?!" Starlight exclaimed in shock and confusion.
"See for yourself..." Spike held up the letter to Starlight who began to read aloud.
Dear Twilight Sparkle;
I do hope all is well in your 'kingdom' of ponyville and while I do know of little baby Flurry's impending arrival I am afraid I must call you away on some rather urgent business that simply cannot be avoided. As I'm sure you remember as i have my side of the royal family that has extended over the past thousand years, as have Luna's before her banishment and recently one of her nieces just got married and had foals of her own; very exciting I know. Luna and I are headed to their home in the Shade Lands in Neighville in a few days and much as the situation was for Flurry our powers will be needed to help royally indoctrinate the newborns at the midnight hour when the moon is full which will only be for 2 nights this week and it will take us at least 3 to reach the designated location. I do know this must be disappointing as you must now change plans to watch Flurry Heart but I am sure you will figure things out. Meet at the castle by the end of the day, this should give you ample time to find a replacement foalsitter. I suggest asking a friend.
-Love
Celestia
"Oh..."
"I'm...Such...A....Flank-head! How could I forget that we had that trip?!? Gyah horseapples!!!!"
"Twilight!?"
"I'm sorry pardon my language but I'm just so....PEEVED at myself right now, ugh! What am I going to do!? All the girls are busy with their own things this week and no offense Spike but your not equipped to watch an alicorn baby..."
"None taken, I wouldn't want to watch her alone..."
"Well...I can do it Twilight"
"Starlight I couldn't possibly..."
"Yes you can! This can be my next big friendship lesson! Plus I really wanna get a chance to bond with the baby...aaaaand maybe do a little studying...it's still so interesting that she's the first natural born alicorn, I just have to know more!"
"Well...um...I mean I guess...Oh I just wish there was somepony that could stay with you, just in case...it's not that I don't trust you Starlight it's just that-"
"It's alright Twilight, honestly I wouldn't want to leave anypony alone with her for too long either...and there's NOPONY in Equestria you can call to help?"
"Nopony who can get here in time unless they had a super teleporting spell or a magic port-" Twilight immediately got an idea and her grin almost split her face in two. "TO MY STUDY!!" Twilight teleported out of Starlight's bubble.
"Wait you could've just busted out anytime?!"
"Yeah that tantrum wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be...didn't burst into flames this time..." Twilight giggled and dashed into her study leaving Starlight stunned and she mumbled to herself. "How did you not kill me when we fought?!" Starlight said with an inward cringe remembering back to their battle. Come to think of it back then it seemed Twilight was holding back quite a bit, had she been using her full power...oh dear Luna I was bucking insane....had some serious horse-apples...but insane!
Twilight in her infinite rushing and prepping for the arrival of her baby niece Flurry Heart had completely forgotten that she had promised to go with Celestia and Luna to celebrate and cistern the newborn foals of Luna's niece Princess Nightshade and her husband Prince Moonshine whom was a Bat pony in Luna's night guard. They were the first bat pony offspring in over 1000 years to be born and it was tradition for them to be bathed in the pale midnight moonlight as a special ritual that had been apart of Bat pony culture for centuries and only Twilight and Luna knew the spell to do so since they were both well versed in night magic with Twilight having been taking many a lesson from Luna in the realm of that sort of magic, creating stars, moving the moon and so much more; she was so thankful to Luna for all she'd learned and was more than happy to say yes to helping welcome the newborn foals but never did she mean to have things overlap this way! However luckily her quick thinking had come in handy and she remembered that she had at least one more friend she might be able to turn to...Starlight was right...no one in Equestria could help her right now...luckily for her...this friend didn't live in Equestria and from what she remembered from her last few letters with her, she'd just gotten back from a summer camping trip with the other girls and wasn't in school for awhile. After all she did say she'd been wanting to come back to Equestria for a visit sometime, and while it may not be the proper visit she'd hoped for she'd at least get to see the castle, meet the baby and even meet Starlight!
"Where...Where...AHHA! There!...Oh please, please, pleeeeeeeease don't be busy Sunset..." Twilight said as she lifted the book baring her friends 8 pointed sun cutie mark of yellow and red on it and opened it up to a fresh page and began to write quickly with her magic.
Dear Sunset Shimmer,
Hi Sunset, it's Twilight...but you knew that already. How's life in the human world treating you? Having a fun summer vacation? I hope so...I was also wondering if you might be able to do me a favor...like a big favor...like so big i'll pay you your weight in royal gems and ancient books if you do it pretty pretty please?! Okay so Luna has a niece named Nightshade and she got married to a Bat Pony from her night guard and they just had foals recently! Much like the situation with my niece baby Flurry Heart(more on that later) I need to go with Luna and Celestia to help preform an ancient ritual and how could I say no? But then Shinning Armor asked if I could foalsit Flurry Heart because he and Cadence had been called to help calm a civil war happening in Saddle Arabia and didn't think any of the royal nannies would be very well equipped to handle little Flurry plus she really wants to see me...according to Shinning she keeps crying "auntie twi" whenever she gets sad or throws a tantrum it's adorable!
But now to the heart of the matter(no pun intended) could you come through the portal for a couple of days and foalsit Flurry and watch the castle while I'm away? It'd be a very big help and trust me I wouldn't bother you with something like this unless I had no other choice...I hope that didn't sound mean...anyway can you help? I have everything you could need at my castle...a library, a lab, an observatory...did I mention the library is HUUUUUUUGE?! So many books...I'm rambling again...please respond back asap.
Your friend,
Princess Twilight Sparkle.
PS: I will have another friend here to help you so you won't get lonely
She finished her writing and closed to book and hoped and prayed to Faust that Sunset would answer quickly.
"So who did you message Twilight?"
"You recall Sunset Shimmer yes?"
"Yeah, that pony in the other world filled with those weird creatures called um..."
"Humans..."
"Right, those 'things' and she used to be....bad....like me..." Starlight's ears folded back
"Starlight you need to stop beating yourself up over that...I've already forgiven you..."
"I know but...the more I think about it and look back on it the more i realize how horrible I was...and how you could have easily just squashed me like a breezy..."
"What do you me-"
"You held back..."
"Huh?"
"In our fight...you held back against me...didn't you?"
"I-I mean I um..."
"Twilight?..."
"Okay yes...I did...I wanted to believe you could be reasoned with but it also seemed like just talking wasn't going to work but I wasn't going to result to my full power Starlight...odds are that would have also possibly done damage to the timeline, which was why I decided to show you the future you'd created instead...to show you that if I had...or hadn't...that would be the future that would come about...it was never my intent to harm you Starlight...only stop you from dooming everypony else...including yourself..."
"You're a lot wiser than you give yourself credit for Twilight."
"Thank you."
"So this...Sunset Shimmer...what exactly is she like? You didn't tell me much about her aside the fact that she was once a bad pony who used to be Celestia's student just like you and fled to that other world in an act of rebellion and you were forced to chase after her when she stole your crown..."
"Heheh right...honestly it'd be better if you got the full story from Sunset...I have to go and get some stuff ready for when i have to take off...I hope sunset can come...she's really a great pony...in fact you and her aren't so different...your alike in a lot of good ways...and I couldn't be happier with the two students I've made..."
"Wait whoa back up...she's your student too?!"
"In a roundabout sort of way yes...we write each other all the time and she always sends me reports on what she learns about friendship and asks me for advice...but I guess nowadays the student has become the teacher since she's now friendship mentoring the human world version of myself..."
"Wait what?!?!"
"Yeah did I forget to mention that?"
"Obviously!"
"Starlight relax, no need to make a big deal out of it."
"But...I thought I was your first student..."
"Starlight its not a competition to see who is the better or more experienced student...you both still have much to learn about friendship and I'm willing to help teach you both and guide you...Sunset learns her own way and so do you...like I said, you'll click fine with her when you meet her I'm sure of it."
"Okay...I hope your right..."
"Have I ever steered you wrong?"
"Well there was that time with Trixie..."
"Honest mistake" Twilight blushed and averted her eyes
It was then the book began to vibrate with magic and Twilight's face lit up as well as her horn
"Well that was fast!"
"Amazing, so it does that every time you get a message from her?"
"Yep, it can get a bit annoying when we are exchanging late night letters but otherwise very effective."
Opening the book she'd read Sunset's response.
Dear Princess Twilight,
Things are going great here in the human world! I've been making a ton of new friends, especially during the camping trip! I'm much better friends with Trixie now and even made friends with a bunch of new kids that are going to our school that we met at camp! They're really nice people; I wonder what they'd be like as Pony's? hehe question for another day I guess. And sure it'd LOVE to help Twilight, I've been trying to make time to come visit but I've been busy with my summer job and doing gigs and parties with the Rainboom's, we've become pretty popular around town, Pinkie Rainbow and Rarity get us shows booked all the time and we always rock out! Human Twilight is our tech manager now and helps with special effects and even took to your role as a back up singer for the bad, she was really hesitant at first but after a little encouragement and a reminder that she just had to trust in her friends and have fun she did great! She can even 'pony up' now though it took a bit of time for her to learn to control it what with the whole 'Midnight Sparkle' side of her trying to claw its way out but its all good now. I can totally come through for a few days, my job gave me a few days off since I've been working overtime everyday for the past week and the girls are all doing their own thing for this week. How does tonight sound? I can pack a few things and be at the portal asap since I live around the corner from the school.
Let me know what you want me to do and I'll get right on it. I can't wait to see the baby!
Your Friend,
Sunset Shimmer
PS: I can't wait to meet your friend too! Also you had me at library ^_~
"Yes!" Twilight hoof-pumped
"Well looks like we've having company..." Starlight said
Twilight began to write again
Dear Sunset;
So glad you agreed to help, I really appreciate it. Come through in about an hour if possible, I'll be waiting for you, the portal will be open in exactly one hour. Thanks again and no need to pack too much...not like you'll need a change of clothes when you get here right? See you soon!
-Twilight
